anone y e yonge squyer receyued them gladly and put them sure in a boxe and rode forth on his iourney Whan he had rydden thre or foure dayes on his iourney in an euenynge he came vnto a castell where as dwelled a knyght and prayed hym mekely of a nightes lodynge The knyght seynge and beholdynge the good fauour of thys yonge squyer he graunted hym lodgynge made hym good chere and well to fare and afterwarde brought hym vnto hys chambre And whan he was there he wente to bedde and anone fell on slepe for he was full wery of hys iourney and forgate hys boxe wyth the letters lyenge openly in hys chambre Whan the knyght sawe the boxe he opened it founde the letters sealed wyth the Emperours sygne manuell and was greatly tempted to open them and at the last he opened them full subtylly and than he redde how the Empresse vpon payne of dethe sholde put the bearer of them to dethe and than he was ryght sorowfull sayde wythin hym selfe Alas quod he it is great pyte to slee suche a fayre yonge man and therfore yf I may it shall not be so And anone the knyght scraped awaye that wrytynge and wrote in y e same paper a letter sayinge these wordes Upon payne of deth I commaunde the that thou take the yonge squyer bearer of these letters and let hym be wedded wythout ony delay vnto my doughter and yours whyth al the honour solempnyte that can be tought and whan they be wedded that ye take hym as your owne sone and that he kepe my rowme tyll I comme vnto you my selfe Whan the knyght had thus wryten he closed the letters subtylly put them in to the boxe agayne Erly in the mornynge the yonge squyer arose and hastely made hym redy and toke hys leue of the knyght and rode forth on hys iourney and the thyrde daye after he came vnto the Empresse and salewed her ryght worshypfully in the Emperours behalfe and toke her the letters And whan the Empresse had redde them anone she sent her messengers thrugh the countree coÌ„maundynge the states and gentylmen to comme vnto her doughters weddynge at a certayne daye assygned Whan they day was coÌ„me thyder came many greate lordes and ladyes and anone this yonge squyer wedded the Emperours doughter wyth great honour and worshyp accordynge to the tenoure of the letters and was ryght well beloued and moost honoured amonge y e people Not longe after it befell that the Emperoure came in to that countre And whan y e Empresse herde of her lordes coÌ„mynge she toke wyth her her sone in lawe wyth moche other people and wente agaynst y e Emperoure for to welcoÌ„me hym Whan the Emperoure sawe thys yonge squyer ledynge the Empresse hys wyfe he was greatly moued wythin hym selfe and sayde O thou cursed woman bycause thou hast not fulfylled my coÌ„maundement thou shalte dye an euyll deth A my dere lorde quod she all that ye commaunded me to do I haue fulfylled Nay cursed 〈◊〉 man sayd the Emperour it is not so for I wrote to the that thou sholdest put hym to deth and now I se hym alyue My lorde quod y e Empresse sauynge your grace ye wrote to me that I sholde gyue hym your doughter to wyfe and that on payne of deth in wytnes wherof loo here your letters wyth your owne seale manuell Whan the Emperoure herde thys he wondred greatly and sayd Is he wedded than to my doughter Ye sothly sayd the Empresse longe agone w t great solempnite and worshyp and as I byleue your doughter is wyth chylde Than sayd the Emperoure O thou lorde Iesu Chryst it is great foly to sâ—â—yne agaynst thyne ordynaunce therfore syth it is so thy wyll must nedes be fulfylled And with that he toke his sone in lawe in his armes kyssed hym whyche after hys deth was Emperour and ended hys lyfe in rest and peace ¶ Thys Emperour may betoken Herode or else euery synner whyche walked alone wythout trouth tyll he came to the fosters house that is to saye the chyrche whyche is the house of god Thys Herode wolde haue slayne thys chylde Iesu wherfore he sente messengers to seke hym accordynge to the scrypture of saynt Mathewe tellyng how he coÌ„mauÌ„ded y e thre kynges to seke hym and brynge hym tydynges agayne where he was y t he myght coÌ„me worshyp hym also but thys sayde he not for loue but for deceyte The foster betokeneth Iosep our ladyes husbande whyche kepte hym But whan the messengers came that is to saye whan the thre kynges came they slewe hym not but worshypped hym on theyr knees and lefte hym in the holowe tree of hys godhede The erle that came foude thys chylde betokeneth the holy goost whyche warned Ioseph by the aungell in hys slepe that he sholde take our lady and her sone and flee in to the lande of Egypte Thys moralyte may be vnderstande of yer wyâ—e Thys Emperoure may betoken a synner that walketh in the forest of thys worlde sekyng vanytees and nought els vnto the tyme he comme to the house of god and there he is receyued benygnely of the prelate of the chyrche yf he wyll obey the coÌ„maundementes of god But many of vs now a dayes slepeth in the chyrche whan they obserue not the werkes of mercy and therfore ought they to drede the voyces whyche I haue rehersed by y e fyrst take that may be vnderstande the great benefyte that he gaue the whan he put in the a soule made at hys owne symylytude By the seconde take is vnderstande the sone of the father of heuen whyche was borne of the blessed virgyn Mary By the thyrde take is vnderstande the same sone of god whych dyed vpon the crosse By the fyrst yelde is vnderstande that we ought to yelde our soule vnto almyghty god as clene as fayre as he gaue it vs after the wasshynge of our baptysme By the seconde yelde is vnderstande that we ought dayly to yelde honour and worshyp and loue vnto almyghty god By y e thyrde yelde is vnderstande that we ought to yelde to god true confessyon contrycyon and satisfaccyon The fyrst flee betokeneth synne whych we sholde flee The seconde flee betokeneth the worlde whyche we sholde flee for the greate falshede temptacyons that ben therin The thyrde flee betokeneth euerlastynge payne the whyche we ought to flee thrugh merytoryous workes by the whyche we may coÌ„me the rather vnto euerlastyng ioye and blysse Unto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Sauracinus whyche ordeyned for a lawe that who so euer rauysshed a virgyn sholde dye yf she were rescowed than he that rescowed her sholde haue her to wyfe yf hym lyst and he wolde not wedde her than sholde she be guyded and wedded by hys couÌ„seyle It befell vpon a daye that a tyraunt named Poncianus wolde rauysshe a virgyn ledde her wyth hym into a
and his soule shall be delyuered from synne and by al ryght he shall haue euerlastyng lyfe Vnto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus SOmtyme there regned in Rome a myghty Emperour and a wyse named Frederyke whyche had an onely sone whome he loued moche Thys Emperour whan he laye at the poynt of deth he called vnto hym his sone sayd Dere sone I haue a ball of gold whych I gyue the vpon my blessyng that thou anone after my deth shalt gyue it to the moost foole that thou mayst fynde Than sayd hys sone My lorde wothout doubte your wyll shall be fulfylled Anone thys yonge lorde after the deth of hys father went sought in many realmes founde many recheles fooles bycause he wolde satysfye hys fathers wyll laboured farther tyll he came in to a realme where the lawe was suche that euery yere a newe kyng was chosen there thys kyng had onely the guydynge of y e realme but a yere at the yeres ende he was deposed put in exile in an ylande where as he shold wretchedly fynysshe hys lyfe Whan themperours sone came to thys realme the newe kyng was chosen w t great honour all maner of mynstralsye wente afore hym brought hym wyth great reuerence and worshyp vnto hys regall sete And whan the Emperours sone sawe that he came vnto hym and salewed hym reuerently sayd My lorde loo I gyue the thys ball of gold on my fathers behalfe Than sayd he I praye the tell me the cause why thou gyuest me thys ball ThaÌ„ answered thys yonge lorde and sayd My father charged me in hys deth bedde vpon payn of forfeytynge of his blessynge that I sholde gyue this ball of y e moost foole y e I coude fynde wherfore I haue sought many realmes haue founde many fooles neuerthelesse a more foole than thou art founde I neuer therfore thys is the reason It is not vnknowen to the that thou shalt regne but a yere and at the yeres ende thou shalte be exiled into suche a place where as thou shalte dye a myscheuous deth wherfore I holde the for the moost foole that euer I founde that for the lordshyp of a yere thou woldest so wylfully lese thy selfe therfore before all other I haue gyuen to the thys ball of gold Than sayd the kyng wythout doubte thou sayst sothe and therfore whan I am in full power of thys realme I shall sende before me greate treasoure and rychesse wherwyth I may lyue and saue my selfe from my scheuous deth whan I shall be exiled put downe And so thys was done wherfore at the yeres ende he was exiled lyued there in peace vpon suche goodes as he had sente before and he dyed afterwarde a good deth ¶ Dere frendes thys Emperour is the father of heuen the whych byquethed the ball that is to saye worldly rychesse to fooles and ydyottes whyche sauoureth no thynge but that is erthly This Emperours sone that is to saye a precher and a discrete coÌ„fessour serched about many realmes landes to shewe to mysbyleuing men fooles theyr peryll The realme wherin no kyng myght regne but a yere is this worlde For who so had lyued an hondred yere whan he commeth to the deeth hym shall seme that he hath lyued but the space of an houre therfore do as the kyng dyd whyle that ye be in power of lyfe sende before you your treasour that is to say almes dede other merytoryus dedes certaynly whaÌ„ ye be put in exile out of thys world ye shall lyue in peace shall fynde y e mercy of god plentefull wherby ye shall optayne euerlastynge lyfe Unto the whych brynge vs he that for vs dyed on the rode tree Amen DIoclesyan regned in the cyte of Rome in whose empyre dwelled a noble phylosopher y e whych let vp by hys crafte an ymage in the myddes of yeâ—ite of Rome the whyche ymage stretched out hys arme hys formest fynger whervpon stode thys posy wryten in latyn Percute hic Smyte here Thys ymage after the deth of thys phylosopher stode styll a longe tyme many greate clerkes came thyder for to rede the superscripcyon that was on y e fynger but none of them vnderstode what it mente wherfore there was greate wondrynge amonge the people And at the last a longe tyme after there came a strauÌ„ge clerke out of ferre couÌ„trees whan he sawe thys ymage he redde y e scripture Smyte here And than vpon a daye whan he sawe the shadowe of the hande he toke a mattocke brake vp y e grounde vnder the hande where the shadowe was accordyng to the vnderstandyng of the superscripcyon anone he founde an house al of marble vndernethe the grouode wherin he entred came in to a hall where he founde so moche rychesse so many yewelles and so great meruayles that he neuer sawe ne herde of suche nor so many before that tyme. At y e last he sawe a borde couered and all maner of thynges necessary therto set ther vpon He be helde farther and sawe a carbuncle in a wall that lyghtened all y e hous And anenst thys carbuncle on that other syde stode a man holdynge in hys hande a bowe wyth an arowe redy to shote The clerke merualled moche whan be sawe all these thynges and thought in hymself yf that I tâ—ll thys forth there wyll no man byleue me therfore I wyll haue somwhat of these goodes in token of profe And wyth that he sawe a knyfe of golde vpon y e borde whyche he toke wolde haue put it in his bosome But anone the archer smote the carbuncle and brake it wherwyth all the hole hous was shadowed made darke And whan y e clerke perceyued it he wept more bytterly than ony man myght thynke for he wyst not by what way he myght go out for as moche as the hous was made darke thrugh the brekynge of the carbuncle And that darknesse abode styll for euermore after And so fynisshed the clerke his lyfe there in that darknesse ¶ Dere frendes thys ymage so standyng is the deuyll whyche sayth euermore Smyte here That is to saye take hede to erthly rycheâ—se not to heuenly treasour Thys clerke that smote with the mattocke betokeneth the wyse men of thys worlde as pleders of y e lawe atturneys and other wordly men that euer be smytyng what by ryght what by wronge so y t they may gete the vanytees of thys worlde in theyr smytynge they fynde great wonders meruayles that is to say they fynde therin the delytes of the worlde wherin many men reioyseth The carbuncle that gyueth lyght is the youth of man whyche gyueth hardynes to take theyr pleasure in worldly rychesse The archer w t hys arowe is deth whyche layeth watche anenst man to slee hym The clerke that toke vp y e knyfe is euery wordly man that weneth euer to haue all thynge at hys wyll Deth
we may obey god and than shal we haue euerlastyng lyfe Unto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Frederyke whyche had no chyldren saue a doughter tho whome this Emperour after his decese bequethed all hys empyre Thys vnderstandynge an erle that dwelte there besyde came vnto thys yonge lady wowed her stered her to synne all that he myght wherfore thys yonge lady in shorte processe of tyme enclyneh to the erle this erle anone lay with her defouled her after that he put her froÌ„ her herytage and chaced her out of her empyre wherfore she made great lamentacyon fledde vnto a realme there besyde where as she dayly wept mourned It befell after on a day that whyle she sate mournynge besyde a waye there came rydyng by her a fayre yonge knyght vpon a good hors whyche came towarde her a greate pâ—ce worshypfully salewed her and asked the cause why she mourned so sore Than answered she sayd My reuerend lord I am an Emperours doughter coÌ„men of a royall kynne my father is deed whyche lefte me all hys empyre bycause he had none other heyre after his decese an erle there besyde deceyued me toke from me my maydenheâ—e after that he put me vyoleÌ„tly out of myne herytage so that now I am fayne to begge my breed from dore to dore this is the cause of my sorowe Than sayd the knyght fayre damoysell I haue great coÌ„passyon on thy beaute and on thy gentylnes therfore yf thou wylte graunte me one thynge I shall fyght for the agaynst y e erle and I behote the the victory Than sayd she alas alas I haue nothynge y t I may gyue to the but my selfe And I aske no more of the sayd the knyght but that thou woldest be my wyfe and loue no man so moche as me Than sayd she Reuerende syr that wyll I do gladly more yf I myght Than sayd the knyght I wyll that thou do for me one thynge that yf it fortune me to dye in batayle for the opteyne the victory thou shalte take my blody sherte hange it vpon a perche in thy chambre and thys shalte thou do for two thynges The fyrst is y t whan so euer thou beholdest the sherte thou shalt wepe for me The seconde is that what so euer man comme to wowe the to be his wyfe than shalte thou hastely renne vnto thy chambre beholde my blody sherte thynke hertely wythin thy selfe thus The lorde of this sherte dyed for my loue in batayle the whyche recouered my herytage god forbede that I sholde take ony other maÌ„ after his deth Than sayd she Reuerende syr all thys I shall fulfyll bi the grace of god And whan y e knyght heâ—de this he gaue batayle agaynst the erle oâ—teyned the victory and y e erle was ouercome â—ledde And thys yonge lady was brought receyued agayne in to her herytage Neuerthelesse thys knyght was deedly wouÌ„ded in that batayle wherof he dyed but or he dyed he bequethed hys blody sherte vnto this damoysell desyrynge her to kepe her promesse Whan thys yonge lady herde of his deth she wepte sore made great lamentacyon for his deth And in hys sherte was wryteÌ„ this verse Thynke on hym haue mynde that to y e was so kynde Anone whan she had receyued the sherte she hanged it vpon a perche in her chambre as oftentymes as she behelde it she wepte bytterly It befell not longe after that the states of her Empyre came to her desyred her to take a husbande But than she wente to her chambre behelde the blody â—herte than waxed she sorowfull sayd oftentymes alas alas thou suffred deth for my loue thou also recouered agayn myne heritage god forbede that I shold take ony other man but the. And thus she answered euery man that came to her so they wente away vnsped and she ended her lyfe in peace and rest ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour is the father of heuen and his doughter is the soule of man made at the similitude of god to whome god gaue bequethed the empyre of paradyse But ther came an erle y t is the deuyl and styred her to synne whan she ete of the apple sayd to her thus In what houre ye â—ate of y e apple ye shall be lyke goddes wherfore we brekyng goddes comaundement we were all exiled out of paradyse chased to the realme of thys worlde here to lyue in greate wretchednes lyke as the psalmyst sayth In sudore vultus tui c. In the swete of thy vysage thou shalte eate thy breed But than came a fayre yonge knight a stronge that is to saye our lorde Iesu Chryst whych had compassyon vpon mankynde toke our flesshe our blode and gaue batayle to the deuyl and ouercame hym and thus wanne he agayne our herytage Therfore let vs do as thys yonge lady dyd put we thys blody sherte that is to saye the mynde of y e passyon of Chryst on the perche of our hert and thynke we how â—ur lorde Iesu Chryst shed hys precyous blode for vs. And yf ony maÌ„ that is to saye the deuylt or ony other wolde styre vs to synne anone thynke we on y e passyon of Chryst saye we thus I shall take none other but the whyche hast shedde thy blode for me thus shall we wynne euerlastyng lyfe Unto the whyche god brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour named Apolloninus whyche ordeyned for a lawe that euery man vpon payne of deth sholde worshyp the day of his natiuite This Emperour called to hym a clerke y t hyght Uirgyll sayd My dere mayster there be many heed synnes done contrary to the lawe therfore I praye the that thou by thy connynge wolde make some craft wherby I myght knowe who trespaceth agaynst y e lawe pryuely or pertly Than sayd Uirgyll My reuâ—â—eÌ„de lord your wyll shall be done Anone thys Uirgyll thrugh hys crafte made an ymage in the myddes of the cyte of Rome whyche dysceuered tolde themperours messengers who trespaced agaynst the lawe who not There was that tyme dwellyng in y e cyte of Rome a smyth that hyght Focus whych for no thynge wolde worshyp the natyuyte of the Emperour It befell vpon a nyght as the smyth laye in hys bedde he thought vpon the ymage that had accused so many men before dred leest the ymage wolde accuse hym wherfore he rose went to the ymage sayd I make a vowe to god yf thou accuse me I shall breke thy heed And whan he had thus sayd he went home The Emperour on the morowe after folowynge sent hys messeÌ„gers to the ymage as he was wont before to knowe to vnderstande who had trespaced agaynst the lawe And to them than sayd the ymage lyfte vp your eyen behold what
fulfyll what so euer ye saye to vs for our profyte Than sayd themperour My good frendes ye haue of me bothe landes and tenementes wyth other mouable goodes and that great plente the whyche by my couÌ„seyle ye shall departe w t the poore men that they may graunte you the lordshyp And anone these ryche men gladly grauÌ„ted to this departed al theyr goodes amonge the poore men than they gaue them agayne the lordshyp ouer theÌ„ lyke as they had of y e ryche men And thus were they bothe content themperour was greatly coÌ„mended of al the people bycause he accorded bothe the partyes so wysely ¶ By thys Emperour is vnderstande our lorde Iesu Chryst whych made a proclamacyon by hys ê“phetes patriarkes apostles prechers that euery man bothe poore ryche sholde coÌ„me aske euerlastynge ioye and wythout doubte they shall optayne theyr peticion But y e ryche and myghty men asked none other thynge but worldly honour transytory rychesse for thys worlde shall passe all his couetyse wherfore he gaue them so moche of worldly goodes that he had nothinge lefte to hymselfe accordyng to scripture The byrdes of heuen haue nestes y e foxes in erth haue caues but y e sone of god hath nothyng in erth where he may put hys heed The poore men be suche as be meke in herte Of the whyche poore men speketh our lorde saying Blessed be the poore in herte for the kyngdom of heuen is theyrs And yf it sholde seme that they haue lordshyps aboue myghty men of thys worlde therfore these ryche men ought to departe theyr rychesse wyth poore men accordynge to the scrypture saying thus Gyue ye almes all thynge shall be cleue to you And thus may ye gete a lordshyp in heuen vnto y e whyche lordshyp I beseche almyghty god to brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a myghty emperour named Domicyan whyche had two doughters of whome one was passynge fayre that other foule vgly to beholde wherfore he let crye thrugh out all his empyre that what man wolde haue hys fayre doughter to wyfe sholde haue nothynge w t her but her fayrnes And who that wedded hys foule doughter sholde haue all hys empyre after hys deth And whan the proclamacyon was made there came many lordes y t desyred to wedde hys fayre doughter Tho whome the Emperour answered thus Syrs ê™ he ye wote not what ye desyre ryght well ye knowe that yf ye wedde her ye shall haue nothynge w t her but her fayrnes farthermore yf I gyue her to one of you not to another than wyll ye stryue for her therfore yf ye wyll nedes haue her forsake my foule doughter you behoueth fyrst to iust for her and he that wynneth her shall wedde her Than were the greatest states of y e empyre greatly reioyced anone onely for he loue they wolde iust also fyght wherfore they set a day of batayle many worthy men were slayne on bothe sydes neuerthelesse one optayned the victory and wedded that fayre lady The seconde doughter that was foule and vgly sawe thys that her syster was wedded w t great solempnite mourned wepte dayly wherfore the Emperour her father came to her and sayde Dere doughter why mournest thou thus Alas dere father quod she it is no wonder though I mourne seynge my syster wedded wyth so great honour gladnes euery man is fayne of her no man loueth my felawshyp and therfore dere father what I may best do sothly I wote not Than sayd the emperour O my dere doughter all y t is myne is thyne and it is not vnknowen to you that he whyche wedded thy syster had nothynge w t her but her fayrnes therfore I shall proclayme in myne owne ê‘sone thrugh all myne Empyre that what man weddeth you I shall make hym sure by letâ—re pateÌ„t of al myne empyre after my deth ThaÌ„ this yonge lady though she was foule vgly neuerthelesse she reioyced in y e promesse of her father anone after the proclamacyon was made than there came a yonge knight a gentyll wedded y e lady after the deth of the Emperour he seased all the Empyre and was crowned Emperour and she Empresse ¶ This Emperour betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst which hath two doughters that one fayre that other foule That one fayre betokeneth thys worlde whych is ful fayre delectable to many meÌ„ That other foule betokeneth pouerte trouble whome fewe men desyre to wedde Neuerthelesse a coÌ„mune crye was made by holy scripture that who so wold haue his fayre doughter that is the worlde sholde haue nothynge wyth her but her fayrnes that is to saye the worldly vanyâ—ees whyche fade fall a waye lyke as the fayrnes of man But who that wyll wedde the foule doughter that is to say wylfully to receyue pouerte trouble for goddes loue wythout doubte he shall optayne y e empyre of heuen accordyng to scrypture saying Ye that haue forsaken all thyng for my loue to folowe me shall haue euerlastyng lyfe Many noble and worthy men haue iusted for the fayre doughter that is to saye haue foughten bothe by see by lande for thys worlde for couetyse of worldly rychesse at the last there be many slayne for there is nothing here but pryde of lyfe couetyse of eyen or of the flesshe where thrugh all the worlde is put to great myschefe But he that weddeth the fayre doughter that is y e worlde is he that setteth all hys affeccyon desyre in the wrecchednes of thys worlde wyll not for nothyng forsake thys worlde lyke a wretche couetous man But he that weddeth the foule doughter is a good chrysten man whych for the loue of y e kyngdom of heueÌ„ forsaketh all this worlde not onely doth thus but also despyseth hymselfe bodyly obeyinge vnto his soueraynes in all thynge Suche a man certaynly shall optayne the Empyre of heuen Unto the whyche Iesu Chryst brynge bothe you and me Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a myghty emperour named Andromyke whych aboue all thynge loued melody Thys Emperour had wythin hys castell a well of suche vertue that who so euer were dronken dranke of the water of that well sholde incontynent be fresshe agayn be delyuered froÌ„ all maner of droÌ„kennes There was also dwellynge in thys Emperours courte a knyght named Ydrony whome y e Emperour loued moche but oftentymes he was dronken whych vyce the emperour hated aboue all thynge And whan thys knyght perceyued hymselfe dronken than wolde he go to the well drynke of the water refresshe hym selfe so that what so euer the Emperour sayde to hym he wolde answere hym so reasonably that no dronkeÌ„nes myght be seen in hym for hys wytty answere he was greaâ—ly beloued of the Emperour Neuerthelesse his felowes of the courte enuyd hym moche ymagyned amonge themselfe how they myght departe y e
clere ynough that is to saye he is not apte to serue god And whan god may not haue of the second tonne than asketh he of the thyrde tonne that is to say of y e thyrde tonne of hys youth Than answereth the wycked man and sayth that wyne is to stronge myghty and therfore hys youth ought to be spente aboute dedes of this worlde and not in penaunce whyche sholde make hym feble weyke Whan god seeth that he may not haue of thys tonne than asketh he of the fourth tonne And than answereth the wycked man sayth that an aged man is feble may not fast ne do no harde penaunce yf he dyd he shold be cause of hys owne deth And than asketh our lorde of the fyfth tonne that is to say of his olde age whan he dothe crepe may not go wythout a staffe But the wycked man excuseth hymselfe sayth that thys wyne is to feble to gyue suche a feble man for yf he sholde fast one day it were tyme on y e morowe to make hys graue And whan our lorde seeth that he may not haue of the fyfth tonne than asketh he of the syxth tonne that is to saye whan a man is blynde and may not go to synne no more yet desyreth he of suche a man drynke that is to saye the helpe of hys soule But the wretched man lyenge in despeyre sayth Alas alas to me bycause I serued not almyghty god my maker redemer her in tyme past whyle I was in youth in prosperyte but now there is nothynge lefte but onely y e lyes the dregges of all wretchednes therfore what sholde it auayle me now to turne towarde god But for suche men we sholde mourne Neuerthelesse god is so mercyfull that though he myght haue no seruyce of man in all hys tyme yet is he coÌ„tent to haue the lyes of hys tonne that is to say his good wyll though he may not serue hym otherwyse so shal his good wyll staÌ„de hym in stede of penauÌ„ce For in what houre the synner doth hys penaunce he shall be saued as Ezechiel wytneâ—seth The apostle sayth Alas alas welawaye for there be many that wyll gyue no wyne ne none other thynge to hym wherfore god shal complayne vnto the kyng of Iherusalem that is to saye to hys godhede at the day of dome than god man shal gyue a sentence defensable agaynst suche men saying Esuriui et non dedistis c. I haue hungred ye gaue me no meate I haue thursted and ye gaue me no drynke Loo thus shall he reherse to the the seuen werkes of mercy And whan this is done than shall they be put to euerlastyng payne and the ryghtfull men into euerlastynge blysse where they shall haue ioye wythouten ende Unto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesu Chryst. Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperoure named Antony vnder whose reygne the rowers on the see had taken prysoner a myghty mannes sone of an other regyon brought hym to y e Emperours pryson fast bouÌ„de Whan this yonge man was thus in pryson he wrote to hys father for hys rauÌ„some but his father wold no rauÌ„some paye ne none other thyng sende to conforte hym This hearynge hys sone wepte sore myght not be coÌ„forted for the vnkyndnes of his father Thys Emperour had a fayre doughter whych visyted euery daye this prisoner conforted hym as moche as she myght To whome the prysoner answered sayd How shal I be mery or how may I ioye thus for to lye fast bounde in pryson froÌ„ the syght of man notwithstandyng thys it greueth me more that my father wyll not paye my raunsom Whan thys mayden herde thys she was moued wyth pyte and sayd Dere frende I am sory for the neuerthelesse yf thou wylte grauÌ„te me one thynge I shall delyuer the froÌ„ this anguysshe payne What thynge is that quod he That thou wylte take me to thy wyfe Than sayde the prysoner I promyse you surely to fulfyll your entent and desyre and for the more sykernes I plyght you my trouth Whan he had so done it was not longe after the damoysell delyuered hym out of pryson and fledde awaye wyth hym home to hys fathers hous Whan the father sawe hys sone the mayden togyder he asked y e cause why he brought her wyth hym Than sayd hys sone Syr thys daâ—oysell delyuered me out of pryson and therfore she shal be my wyfe Than sayd hys father I wyl not coÌ„sent that she shal be thy wyfe for two reasonable causes whych I shall shewe the. The fyrst is this it is not vnknowen to the that the Emperoure her father myght haue had for thy delyueraunce great good and for as moche as she was vntrue to her owne father and true to the it semeth well that thou sholde not trust longe in her for who is false to her owne father by reason shold be very false and vntrue to an other man The second reason is thys The cause why she delyuered the out of pryson it was neyther for pyte nor for loue but for flesshly lust that she had to the. For at thy delyueraunce she made couenaunt wyth the to be thy wyfe and had of the thy trouth and therfore sone it is not reason that she shold be thy wyfe The mayden answered to thys questyoÌ„ sayd As for the fyrst reason which thou layest agaynst me that I sholde be vntrue to my father that is false for my father hath plente of rychesse thy sone is but poore and therfore I holpe hym for pyte and for none other cause and neuerthelesse thou that art hys father wolde not paye hys raunsome that he myght be delyuered out of pryson Loo for thys cause I haue delyuered hym therfore I am kynder to hym than thou that art hys owne father he is more beholden to me than to the. Unto that other reason where as y e sayst that I delyuered hym bycause of flesshly lust I answere and saye playnli that it is not trouth For al maner of flesshly loue is cause of strengthe or else of fayrnes but thy sone is not stronge for his enprysonment hath done awaye hys strengthe He is not fayre for by the payne that he hath had in prison he is made lowe and vnlusty to the syght and therfore pyte onely moued me to delyuer hym and not flesshly lust Than sayd the sone vnto hys father Dere father for as moche as I was in peryll of deth and wrote vnto the that thou woldest paye my raunsome that I myght be delyuered and thou woldest not helpe me but this damoysel of her gentylnes and for pyte hath saued me from deth and delyuered me out of pryson and therfore sothly she shal be my wyfe wherfore forth wyth he wedded her wyth great honour and wyth her ended hys lyfe ¶ Dere frendes thys Emperour betokeneth the father of heuen The yonge man whyche was taken wyth the
and brought before hym and was examyned of that trespace why he despoyled the ymages agaynst the Emperours coÌ„maundement Than answered this Dionyse and sayd My lorde it is lawfull to answere for my selfe where as none wyll answere for me whan I entred in to the temple y e fyrst ymage helde forth hys hande streyght to me as who sayth I gyue y e thys rynge and therfore I toke the rynge at the gyfte of the ymage And whan I sawe the seconde ymage hauyng a berde I thought thus wyth in mi selfe I knewe somtyme the father of this ymage whyche had no berde and now hys sone hathe a berde whych is agaynst reason the sone to haue a berde and the father none therfore I toke from hym hys berde that he sholde be lyke hys father After that whan I sawe the thyrde ymage closed in a mantell of golde I thought that a mantell of golde was not behouable to hym in wynter for golde is naturally colde whyche myght because of his deth and therfore I toke it from hym bycause it was to colde in wynter and to hote in somer Whan Dyonyse had excused hym by these reasons the Emperoure answered and sayde Thou hast answered wyckedly for thy selfe what sholde cause the rather than ony other man to despoyle these ymages â–ª for as moche as I coÌ„maunded that no man shold take ony thynge awaye fro them and thyne owne mouth hath condempned the. And anone the Emperour called to hym one of hys squyers charged hym to smyte of hys heed and so it was done ¶ Thys Emperour betokeneth almyghty god the father of heueÌ„ The thre ymagenes betokeneth the poore men the ryche men the myghty men of thys worlde The tyraunt Dyonyse betokeneth iustyces sheryffes baylyes sergeauntes and catchpolles and al other offyces whyche take away from poore men the rynge of theyr fyngers and saye thus I may take that is gyuen me But whan the poore man hath ought to do he must nedes put forth hys hande to gyue whether he wyll or no yf he shall spede They take also the â—erde from the ryche men and saye thus Thys man is rycher than hys father was therfore take we hys lyuelode fro hym and make hym lyke his fore father They take also the mantell of golde from the myghty men whan they se ony man of honour and of good lyuynge wyllynge to correcke suche mysdoers than saye they This man is to colde for he enclyneth nothynge to our opynyoÌ„s and also he is to hote of power in werkynge agaynst vs therfore go we take from hym the mantell of myght and so they accuse hym and put hym out of offyce But certaynly all suche men stande in peryll of euerlastyng deth From the whyche saue vs he that dyed for vs vpon the rode tree Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Euas whych had a fayre yonge lady to hys wyfe vpon whome he had begoten a fayre sone Whan the states of the Empyre herde thys they came vnto the Emperoure and besought hym to haue the kepynge ef hys sone Anone the Emperoure sente a sergeaunt thrugh out the Cyte sayinge that in whose house were fyrst founde fyre and water the good man of that house sholde haue his sone in kepynge to nourysshe And than the Emperour made a proclamacyon that who so euer had his sone to kepe sholde nourysshe hym clenly and fede hym w t holsom meates drynkes And whan the chylde came to age than sholde y e keper be promoted to greate honour wherfore many men let make redy fyre and water in hope to haue the chylde But on the nyght whan euery man was a slepe there came a tyraunt named Sulapius that quenched y e fyre and threwe out the water Neuerthelesse amonge all other there was a man named Ionathas that laboured so diligently that he kepte bothe daye nyght fyre and water In a mornynge erly the sergeaunt at the Emperours coÌ„maundement wente thrugh the Cyte sought in euery house for fyre and water but he coude fynde none tyll he came to Ionathas house where as he founde bothe fyre and water redy wherfore he was brought before the Emperour and delyuered hym hys sone accordyng to hys proclamacyoÌ„ Whan Ionathas had the Emperours sone he ledde hym home vnto hys house And soone after he sente for masons and carpenters and let make a stronge chambre of lyme stone And whan the chambre was made he sente for paynters and let paynt on the wall wythin the chambre .x. ymages wyth thys posey wryten aboue theyr heedes Who so defouleth these ymages shall dye a foule deth And than he let drawe on the dore a galous and a fygure of hymselfe hangynge thervpon wyth thys posey wryten aboue hys heed So shall he be serued that nouryssheth the Emperours sone amysse Also he let make a chayre of golde and hymselfe syttynge therin crowned wyth a crowne of golde wyth thys superscripcyon aboue hys heed Who that nouryssheth the emperours sone clenly thus shall he be honoured Whan this was done oftentymes in his slepe he was tempted to defyle these ymages but anone he redde the superscrypcyon aboue theyr heedes than all the temptacyons seaced And whan the Emperours sone was euyll kepte than weÌ„te he to the galowes and redde they posey that was wryten aboue hys owne heed and for drede therof he kepte the chylde the better was dylygent to gyue attendaunce on hym And whan he behelde the chayre hymselfe syttynge therin crowned w t a crowne of golde he was right ioyful thynkyng to haue a good reward for kepynge of the Emperours sone Whan the Emperour herde of hys diligent demeanour about hys sone he sente for hym for hys sone thankynge hym for his well kepynge nourysshynge of hym and after promoted hym to greate honour and worshyp ¶ This Emperour betokeneth y e father of heuen The Empresse betokeneth the blessed virgyn Marye The Emperours sone betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst. The sergeaunt that was sente thrugh out the Cyte betokeneth saynt Iohan Baptyst whyche was sente before our lorde to make redy for hym accordynge to holy scripture Ecce mitte angeluÌ„ c. Lo I fende myne aungell before me c. The states that desyred the Emperours sone to nourysshe betoken the patriarkes and ê“phetes which desyred greatly to nourysshe our lorde Iesu Chryst and also to se hym but they myght not se hym ne nourysshe hym for fyre water whych sholde haue ben cause of theyr syght was not wyth them perfytly The fyre betokeneth the holy goost whyche had not yet appered in them for they were not wasshen w t the water of the font Also ye may vnderstande by the fyre perfyte charyte and by the water true contricyon whyche two now a dayes fayleth in many men therfore they may not haue the lyttel chylde Iesus in theyr hertes Ionathas that watched so dylygently betokeneth euery good chrysten
deth wyth all maner of turment thou shalte neuer haue me to consent to suche synne Whan he herde thys he vnclothed her all saue her smocke and henge her vp by the heare vpon a tree and â—yed her stede besyde her and so rode forth to hys felowes tolde them that great hoost of men meâ—te hym toke the Empresse away from hym And whan he had tolde them thys they made all greate sorowe It befell on the thyrde daye after there came an erle to hunte in that forest and as he rode beatyng the brakes there started a foxe whome hys houndes folowed fast tyll they came nere the tree where the Empresse henge And whan the dogges felte the sauour of her they left the foxe ranne towarde the tree as fast as they coude The erle seynge this wondred greatly and spurred his horse and folowed them tyll he came where as the Empresse henge Whan the erle sawe her thus hangynge he meruayled greatly for as moche as she was ryght fayre and gracyous to beholde wherfore he sayd vnto her in thys maner wyse O woman who art thou and of what countree and wherfore hangest thou here in thys maner wyse The Empresse that was not yet fully deed but in poynt redy to dye answered sayd I am quod she a straunge woman and I am comme out fro farre countree but how I came hyther god knoweth Than answered the erle and sayd Whose horse is thys that standeth here by the bouÌ„de to thys tree Than answered the lady â–ª and sayde that it was hers Whan the erle herde thys he knewe well that she was a gentylwoman and coÌ„me of some noble kynrede wherfore he was the rather moued wyth pyte and sayde vnto her O fayre lady thou semest of gentyll blode and therfore I purpose to delyuer the from thys myschefe yf thou wylte promyse to go wyth me and nourysshe my fayre yonge doughter and teche her at home in my castell for I haue no chylde but onely her yf y u kepe her well thou shalte haue a good rewarde for thy labour Than sayd she As farforth as I can or may I shall fulfyll thyne entent And whan she had thus promysed hym he toke her downe of the tree and ledde her home to his castell and gaue her the kepynge of hys doughter that he loued so moche and she was cherysshed so well that she laye euery nyght in the erles chambre his doughter wyth her in hys chambre euery nyght there brent a lampe the whyche henge bytwene y e Empresse bedde and y e erles bedde Thys lady bare her so gentylly that she was beloued of euery creature There was that tyme in the erles courte a stewarde whyche moche loued thys Empresse aboue al thynges and oftentymes spake to her of his loue But she answered hym agayne sayd Knowe ye dere frende for certayne that I haue made a solempne vowe that I shall neuer loue man in suche wyse but onely hym whome I am greatly beholden to loue by goddes coÌ„maundement Than sayd the stewarde Thou wylte not than consent vnto me My lorde quod she what nedeth the ony more to aske suche thynge the vowe that I haue made truly shall I kepe and holde by the grace of god And whan the stewarde herde thys he wente hys waye in greate wrathe and angre thynkynge wythin hymselfe yf I may I shall bewroken on the. It befell vpon a nyght wythin shorte tyme after that the erles chambre dore was forgoten and lefte vnshette whych the stewarde had anone perceyued And whan they were all a slepe he wente and espyed by the lyght of the lampe where the Empresse and the yonge mayden laye togyder and wyth that he drewe out his knyfe cutte the throte of y e erles doughter and put the blody knyfe in to the Empresse hande she beynge a slepe nothynge knowynge therof to the entent that whan the erle awaked he sholde se y e knyfe in her hande that he sholde thynke that she had cutte hys doughters throte wherfore she sholde be put to a shameful deth for his myscheuous dede And whaÌ„ this damoysell was thus slayne and the blody knyfe in the Empresse hande the countesse awaked out of her slepe and sawe by the lyght of the lampe the blody knyfe in the Empresse hande wherfore she was almoost out of her mynde and sayd to the erle O my lorde beholde in yonder ladyes hande a wonderfull thynge Anone the erle awaked and behelde on the Empresse bedde sawe the blody knyfe as the countesse had sayd wherfore he was greatly moued and cryed to her and sayd Awake woman of thy slepe what thynge is thys that I se in thy hande Anone y e Empresse thrugh hys crye awaked out of her slepe and in her wakyng the knyfe fell out of her hande and wyth that she loked by her founde the erles doughter deed by her syde and all the bedde full of blode wherfore wyth an huge voyce she cryed sayd Alas alas welaway my lordes doughter is slayne Than cryed the countesse vnto the erle wyth a pyteous voyce and sayd A my lorde let that deuyllysshe womaÌ„ be put to the moost foule deth that can be thought that thus hath slayne our onely chylde And whan the countesse had sayd thus to the erle she sayd to the Empresse in thys wyse The hygh god knoweth that thou mischeuous woman hast slayne my doughter w t thyne owne handes for I sawe the blody knyfe in thy hande and therfore thou shalt dye a foule deth Than sayd the erle in thys wyse O thou woman were it not that I drede god greatly I shold cleue thy body wyth my swerde in two partes for I delyuered the from hangynge now thou hast slayne my doughter neuertheles for me thou shalte haue no harme therfore go thy waye out of this ciâ—e without ony delay for yf I fynde the here this day thou shalte dye an euyll deth Than arose thys wofull Empresse and dyd on her clothes and after lepte on her palfray rode towarde the eest alone without ony safe conduyte And as she rode thus mournynge by y e waye she espyed on the lefte syde of y e waye a payre of galous and seuen sergeauntes ledyng a man to the galous for to be haÌ„ged wherfore she was moued wyth great pyte and smote her horse wyth the spurres and rode to them prayinge them that she myght bye that mysdoâ—r yf he myght be saued froÌ„ deth for ony mede Than sayd they Lady it pleaseth vs well that thou bye hym Anone the Empresse accorded wyth them payed hys raunsom than he was delyuered Thus sayde she to hym Now dere frende be true tyl thou dye syth I haue delyuered the from dethe On my soule quod he I promyse you euer to be true And whaÌ„ he had thus sayd â–ª he folowed the lady styll tyll they came nygh a cyte and than sayd the empresse to
in the forneys wyth the stones and thys nyght coÌ„mauÌ„de ye thys Fulgentius that he go erly in the mornynge to your werkmen and that he aske them whether they haue fulfylled your wyll or not and than shall they accordynge to your coÌ„maundement cast hym in the fyre and thus shall he dye an euyll deth Sothly quod the Emperour thy counseyle is good therfore call to me that rybaude Fulgentyus And whan thys yonge man was coÌ„me to the Emperour he sayde to hym thus I charge y e vpon payne of deth that thou ryse erly in the mornynge and go to the brenners of lyme and brycke and that thou be wyth them before y e sonne ryse thre myles from this house and charge them on my behalfe that they fulfyll my commauÌ„dement or else they shall dye a shamefull deth Than sayd thys FulgeÌ„tius My lorde yf god â—ende me my lyfe I shall fulfyll your wyll though I sholde go to the worldes ende Whan Fulgentyus had thys charge he coude not slepe for thought but that he must aryse erly for to fulfyll hys lordes coÌ„maundement The Emperoure aboute mydnyght sente a messenger on horsbacke vnto his brycke makers coÌ„maundyng them vpon payne of deth that who so euer came to them fyrst in the mornynge sayinge vnto them the Emperours commaundement whych is before rehersed that they sholde take hym cast hym in to the fyre and brenne hym to the bare bones The bryckmakers answered sayd it sholde be done And than the messenger rode home agayne and tolde the Emperoure that hys coÌ„mauÌ„dement sholde be fulfylled Erly in the mornynge folowynge Fulgentyus arose and arayed hym towardes hys waye and as he wente he herde a bell rynge to masse wherfore he went to that chyrche for to heare masse and after the eleuacyon of the blessed sacrament he fell a slepe there he slepte a longe whyle so that the preest ne none other myght awake hym The stewarde desyryng inwardly to heare of hys deth and how he dyd aboute one of the clocke he wente vnto the workmen and sayd to them thus Syrs quod he haue ye done the Emperours coÌ„maundement or not They answered hym agayn and sayde Nay sothly we haue not yet done hys commaundement but anone it shall be done And wyth that they set handes on hym Than cryed the stewarde wyth an hygh voyce sayde Good syrs saue my lyfe for the Emperour commaunded that Fulgentyus sholde be put to deth Than sayd they the messenger tolde not vs so but he bade vs tha who so euer came fyrst to vs in the mornynge saying as is before rehersed that we sholde take hym and cast hym in to the farneys and brenne hym to asshes And wyth that worde they threwe hym in to the fyre And whan he was brente Fulgentyus came to them and sayd Good syrs haue ye done my lordes commaundement Ye sothly sayde they and therfore go ye agayn to the Emperour and tell hym so Than sayd Fulgentius For Chrystes loue tell me that commaundement We had in commaundement sayd they vpon payne of deth that who so euer came to vs fyrst in the mornyng and sayd lyke as thou hast sayde that we sholde take hym and cast hym in to the forneys But afore the came the the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesu Chryst. Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Delphinus whych had no chyldren saue onely a doughter whyche was a fayre creature and greatly beloued of her father As thys Emperour walked vpon a daye on huntynge in the forest sodeynly he rode forth out of hys waye and lost his men wherfore he was greatly disconforted â—or he wyst not whether he rode ne in what place he was tyll at the last whan he had rydden thus al the daye alone in the euenynge he sawe a house and thyder he rode a great pace and knocked at the gate Anone the good man of the house herde hym and asked the cause of hys knockyng and what he wolde haue Dere frende quod the Emperoure lo it is nyght as ye may se therfore I desyre you of lodgynge for the loue of god Whan he had thus sayde the good man of the house vnware that he was the Emperoure answered thus and sayde Good frende quod he I am the Emperours foster and haue plente of venyson and other vyteylles for you Whan the Emperoure herde thys he was ryght glad in hys mynde neuerthelesse he tolde hym not that he was the Emperoure And than the foster opened the gate and receyued hym as worshypfully as he coude set hym to hys supper and serued hym honestly And whan he had supped the foster brought hym to hys chambre and whan tyme was he wente to bedde In the same nyght it befell that the fosters wyfe was trauaylynge of chylde in an other chambre fast by and was delyuered that same nyght of a fayre sone And as the Emperour laye in hys bedde slepynge hym semed he herde a voyce saying to hym thryes these wordes Take take take And wyth that he awoke and meruayled greatly what it myght be sayinge to hymselfe thus A voyce byddeâ—h me take take take what shall I take And anone he fell a slepe agayne and the seconde tyme he herde a voyce sayinge vnto hym these wordes Yelde yelde yelde And wyth that he wakened agayne and wondred greatly sayinge vnto hymselfe What may thys sygnyfye Fyrst I herde a voyce that sayde take take take and nothynge I receyued And ryght now I herde another voyce that sayde yelde yelde yelde what sholde I yelde And as he laye thus thynkynge in hym selfe he fell a slepe agayne And than he herde the thyrde voyce sayinge these wordes thryes Flee flee flee for this nyght is a cyylde borne that after thy decese shall be Emperour Whan the Emperoure herde thys he wakened and wondred greatly what it myght be In the mornynge erly folowynge the Emperoure arose and called to hym the foster sayd Dere frende I praye the that thou wylte tell me yf ony chylde be borne thys nyght to thy knowlege My wyfe quod the foster thys nyght is delyuered of a fayre sone I praye the sayd the Emperoure shewe me thy sone Whan the Emperoure had seen the chylde he sawe a token in the chyldes visage wherby he myght knowe hym an other tyme and than he sayde to the foster thus Dere frende knowest thou who I am Nay sothly quod the foster for I sawe you neuer before thys tyme as farre as I am remembred neuerthelesse it semeth that ye sholde be a gentylman Than answered the Emperoure and sayd I am quod he the Emperour your lorde whome ye haue lodged thys nyght wherfore ryght hertely I thanke you This hearynge the foster fell downe vpon bothe hys knees at his fete and besought hym of mercy yf that he had offended hys hyghnes in ony thynge prayinge hym of forgyuenes Than answered y e Emperour sayde Drede the not for I thanke the hertely of
thy good chere thy sone that was borne to nyght I wyll haue for to nourysshe brynge vp in my courte and to morowe I shall sende for hym A my gracyous lorde quod the foster it is not agreable that suche a noble Emperour sholde nourysshe the chylde of hys subgecte and seruaunt neuerthelesse your wyll be fulfylled for whan your messengers comme I shall delyuer them my sone Whan thys was sayde the Emperoure toke hys leue and rode home towarde his palays And whan he was comme home he called vnto hym suche seruauntes as he trusted best and sayde to them thus Go ye quod he vnto my foster wyth whome I was lodged thys nyght in the forest and receyue of hym his sone of whyche hys wyfe was delyuered thys nyght and vpon payne of deth I commaunde you that ye flee hym by the waye and cast hys flesshe to the dogges but brynge wyth you the herte to me And but ye fulfyll my commauÌ„dement ye shall dye the moost foulest deth that can be thought Anone hys seruauÌ„tes wente to the forest and receyued the fosters sone and brought hym wyth them And whan they were comme nere vnto the palays one of them sayde How shall we do that we may fulfyll our lordes coÌ„maundement in sleynge of thys chylde Some answered sayde that the chylde sholde be slayne and some wolde haue saued hys lyfe and whyle they stroue thus amonge themselfe one of them that was moost mercyfull sayde vnto the other O my good frendes heare my counseyle and ye shall not forthynke it Yf we murther thys innocent chylde we shall greatly offende almyghty god therfore here be yonge pygges sleâ—we one of them and than may we beare wyth vs hys herte and present it vnto the Emperoure sayinge that it is the herte of the chylde and thus shall we not shede the chyldes blode Than sayde they thy couÌ„seyle is good but what shall we do wyth the chylde Good frendes quod he let vs wrappe hym in some clothes laye hym in some holowe tree for perauenture god wyl helpe hym and saue hys lyfe And whan he had thus sayd they dyd gladly after hys counseyle in all thynges and slewe the pygge wente theyr waye and bare home with them the pygges hertâ— to the Emperoure sayinge vnto hym thus Loo gracyous lorde we haue slayne the chylde as ye commauÌ„ded vs and wyth that they shewed hym the pygges herte The Emperoure supposynge that it had ben the chyldes herte toke it kest it in to the fyre despyteously sayinge Loo that is the herte of hym whyche sholde haue ben Emperoure after me Loo what is to byleue in dremes vysyons whyche be nought else but fantasyes and vayne thynges The seconde daye after that the chylde was put in to the holowe tree thâ—re came an erle for to hunte in the forest and as hys houndes chaced an harte they came to thys holowe tree where the chylde laye and whan they felte the sauour of the chylde they wolde go no farther The erle seynge thys meruaylled greatly why hys houÌ„des abode there and smote his horse with the spurres and rode a great pace tyll he came to them And whan he came vnto the tree wherin the chylde was layde he loked in at an hole sawe there the chylde lyenge and than was he ryght glad and toke vp the chylde in hys armes full louyngly and bare hym home vnto hys castell sayinge vnto the countesse hys wyfe Loo my dere wyfe thys daye by fortune I haue â—ounde a full fayre chylde in an holowe tree as I hunted in y e forest wherof I am ryght glad And bycause that I neuer begate sone ne doughter on the ne thou neuer yet conceyued a chylde therfore I exhorte the that thou wylte feyne thy selfe trauaylynge of chylde and saye that thou hast borne thys chylde The countesse fulfylled ryght gladly the erles wyll and desyre and sayde My moost dere lorde your wyll in thys thynge shall be done Not longe after this tydynges wente thrugh out all that countree that the countesse was delyuered of a fayâ—e sone wherfore euery man made great ioye The chylde began to growe and was ryght well beloued of euery man and moost specyally of the erle and of the countesse It befell after whan the chylde was .xv. yere of age the Emperoure made a solempne feest vnto all y e lordes of hys Empyre vnto the whyche feest thys erle was called And at the daye assygned he came and brought the chylde w t hym whyche was at that tyme a fayre yonge squyer carued at the borde before the erle The Emperour greatly behelde hym and espyed the token in hys forâ—heed whyche he had seen before in the fosters house â–ª wherfore he was greatly moued vexed wythin 〈…〉 and sayd vnto the erle in this wyse Whose sone is this Sothly sayd the erle he is my sone Than sayd y e Emperour By the fayth and trouth that thou owest vnto me tell me the trouth The erle seynge that he myght not excuse hymselfe by no maner wyse but that nedes he must tell hym the trewth than tolde he hym al togyther how he had founde hym in the forest in an holowe tree Thys hearyng the Emperoure was almoost out of his ryght mynde for anger and called vnto hym his seruauntes whyche he had sente before to slee y e chylde And whan they came before hym he made them for to swere vpon a boke that they sholde tell hym the trouth what they had done wyth the chylde Gracyous lorde sayde they we put vs vnto your grace goodnes for wythout doubte pyte so moued vs that we myght not â—lee hym and than we put hym in an holowe tree but what afterwarde befell of hym sothly we knowe not and in his stede we slewe a pygge and brought you the herte therof Whan the Emperoure had herde the very trewth of thys mater he sayd vnto y e erle Thys yonge man quod he shal abyde here wyth me The erle anone graunted though it was greatly agaynst hys wyll And whan the feest was ended euery man toke hys leue at the Emperoure and wente where as them lyst And at that tyme it fortuned that the Empresse her doughter soiourned in a greate countre farre fro thens by the coÌ„maundement of the Emperoure It befell not longe after the Emperour called vnto hym that yonge squyer and sayde The behoueth quod he to ryde vnto the Empresse my wyfe wyth my letters I am redy at your coÌ„maundement my lorde sayde he to fulfyll your desyre Anone the Emperoure let wryte letters wherof the entent was thys That the Empresse sholde take the bearer of these letters and let hym be drawen at a horse tayle and after that she sholde let hym be hanged tyll he were deed and that vpon payne of deth Whan the letters were all made and sealed than the Emperoure toke them vnto the yonge squyer coÌ„maundynge hym to spede hym on hys iourney And
forest and defouled her of her maydenhede And whan he had so done he wolde haue slayne her and as he was despoylynge of her clothes there came rydyng by that forest a curteys a gentyll knyght whych herde the cryenge and lamentynge of a damoysell wherfore he smote hys horse wyth hys spurres and rode a greate pace in to the forest to wyte what it myght be And than he sawe a woman standynge naked saue her smocke than sayd the knyght Art thou she sayd he that cryed so lamentably Than answered the damoysell and sayde Ye sothly for thys man that standeth here hath rauysshed me and defouled me of my maydenhede and now he wolde slee me and therfore he hath despoyled me of my clothes that he myght smyte of my heed for the loue of god gentyll knyght helpe me now Than sayde the tyraunt She lyeth for she is my wyfe and I haue founde her in auoutry wyth an other man and therfore I wyll slee her Than sayde the knyght I byleue better the woman than the for lo the tokens of trouth appere openly in her vysage that thou hast rauysshed hâ—r and therfore wyll I fyght wyth the for her delyueraunce And anone they sterte togyther and fought egerly tyll they were bothe sore wounded Neuerthelesse the knyght optayned the vyctory and put the tyraunt to flyght Than sayde the knyght vnto the woman Loo I haue suffred for thy loue many sore woundes and haue saued the from y e deth wylte thou therfore be my wyfe That I desyre you quod she wyth all my herte thervpon I betake you my teouth Whan she was thus ensured than sayde the knyght Here besyde is my castell go ye thyder and abyde there tyll I haue vysyted my trendes and my kynnesmen to prouyde for al thynges nedefull for our weddynge for I purpose to make a greate feest for thyne honour and worshyp My lorde quod she I am redy to fulfyll your wyll Than wente she forth vnto the castell where as she was worshypfully receyued And the knyght went vnto hys frendes for to make hym redy agaynst the daye of maryage In the meane whyle came Poncyanus the tyraunt to the knyghtes castell and prayed her that he myght speke wyth her Than came she downe from the castell to hym Thys tyraunt subtylly flatered her and sayd Gentyll loue yf it please you to consent to me I shall gyue you bothe golde and syluer and greate rychesse and I shall be your seruaunt and ye my souerayne Whan the woman herde thys full lyghtly she was deceyued thrugh hys flateryng language and graunted hym to be hys wyfe and toke hym in wyth her into the castell It was not longe after but that thys knyght came home and fouÌ„de the castell gate sheâ—â—e 〈◊〉 therat but longe it was or he myght haue an answeâ—â— And at the last the woman came and demaunded why 〈◊〉 knocked so harde at the gate Than sayde he to her 〈◊〉 â—ere lady why hast thou so soone changed my loue 〈…〉 comme in Naye sothly sayd she thou shalte not 〈…〉 here for I haue here wyth me my loue whyche 〈◊〉 â—oued before Remembre quod the knyght that thou gaue me thy trouth to be my wyfe and how I saued the from deth and yf thou ponder not thy fayth beholde my woundes whyche I haue suffred in my body for thy loue And anone he vnclothed hymselfe naked saue hys breche that he myght shewe hys wouÌ„des openly But she wolde not se them ne speke more wyth hym but shette fast the gate and went her waye And whan the knyght sawe thys he wente to the Iustyce and made hys complaynte to hym prayenge hym to gyue ryghtwyse iudgement on thys tyraunt and thys woman The iudge called them before hym and whan they were coÌ„me the knyght sayd thus My lorde quod he I aske the benefytes of the lawe whyche is thys Yf a man rescowe a woman from rauysshynge the recower shall wedde her yf hym lyst and thys woman delyuered I from the handes of the tyraunt therfore I ought to haue her to my wyfe and farthermore she gaue me her fayth and trouâ—h to wedde me and thervpon she wente to my castell and I haue done great cost agaynst our weddynge and therfore as it semeth me she is my wyfe as by the lawe Than sayd y e iudge to the tyraunt Thou knowest well that thys knyght delyuered her from thy handes and for her loue he suffred many greuous woundes and therfore 〈◊〉 thou wotest that she is hys wyfe by the lawe yf 〈…〉 lyst But after her delyuerauÌ„ce wyth â—â—aterynge speche thou hast deceyued her therfore thys daye I iudge 〈◊〉 to be hanged Than sayde the iudge to the woman 〈◊〉 lyke wyse O woman thou knowest how thys 〈…〉 saued the from deth and therupon thou betokest 〈◊〉 thy fayth and trouth to be hys wyfe therfore by 〈◊〉 reasons thou art hys wyfe fyrst by the lawe and a 〈◊〉 by thy fayth and trouth Thys notwythstandyng thou coÌ„sented afterwarde to the tyraunt and brought hym in to the knyghtes castell and shette the gate agaynst the knyght an wolde not se hys woundes whyche he suffred for thy loue and therfore I iudge the to be hanged And so it was done bothe the rauyssher and she that was rauysshed were dampned to the deth wherfore euery man praysed the iudge for hys ryghtwyse iudgement ¶ Thys Emperoure betokeneth the father of heuen whyche ordeyned for a lawe that yf the soule of man were rauysshed from god by synne the sauer of the soule sholde wedde hym yf hym lyst The woman that was rauysshed betokeneth the soule of man whyche was rauysshed by synne of our fore father Adam and ledde out of paradyse in to the forest of thys wretched worlde by the tyraunt Poncyanus whych betokeneth the deuyll and he not onely defouled her by lesynge of the herytage of heuen but also he wolde slee her wyth euerlastyng payne But the soule cryed wyth an hygh voyce whose crye our lorde Iesu Chryst herde Thys crye was made whan Adam cryed after y e oyle of mercy 〈…〉 tyll 〈…〉 was nedefull 〈…〉 the ascencyon daye 〈…〉 a dwellynge place of 〈…〉 sholde dwell after the daye 〈…〉 in honour and glory But alas in 〈…〉 the deuyll and begyled the wretched 〈…〉 synne so he entred in to y e castell of our 〈…〉 sholde be the castell of god The knyght I 〈…〉 at the gate of our herte accordynge to 〈…〉 Eccesto ad hostium et pulso Lo I stande 〈…〉 and knocke yf ony man wyll open that I 〈…〉 But where as the deuyll is god may not entre but yâ— the synner wyll receyue hym by penaunce whyche seynge the gentyll knyght Iesu shewed hymselfe naked 〈…〉 〈…〉 of Geâ—â—a Romanâ—rum 〈…〉 London in Crede lane by 〈…〉 Kynge In the yere of our 〈…〉 god M. â— LUII