child Some aunswered and saide that the child should bée slaine and some would haue saued his lyfe while they stroue thus among themselues one of them that was most mercifull saide vnto the other O my good friendes heare my counsayle and ye shall not forethinke it If ye murther this innocent childe wée shall greatly offend almightie god and therefore héere bée young Pigges kill wée one of theÌ„ then may wée take with vs his hart and present it vnto the Emperour saying that it is the heart of the Childes blood Then said they thy counsaile is good but what shal we doe with the Child Good friends quod hee let vs wrap him in some clothes and late him in some holow trée for peraduenture God will help him saue his lyfe And when hée had thus said they did gladly after his counsaile in all things and killed the Pigge and went theyr way and carried home with them the Pigges hart to the Emperour saying vnto him thus Loe gracious Lord wée haue destroyed the Child as ye coÌ„maunded vs and with that they shewed him the Pigges heart The Emperour supposing that it had bene the Childes hart tooke it and cast it into the fire despitefully saying Loe that is the hart of him which should haue ben Emperour after me Lo what it is to beeléeue in dreames visions which be nought else but fantasies and vaine thinges The second day after that the Childe was put into the hollow tree there came an earle for to hunt in the forrest and as his houndes chased an harte they came to this hollow trée where the Childe laye and whan they felt the sauour of the Childe they would goe no farther The Earle séeing this maruailed greatly why his houndes abode there and smote his horse with his spures and rode a great pace till he came to them And when he came vnto the trée wherin the Childe was laide he looked in at an hole saw there the childe lying and then was hée right glad tooke vp the Childe in his armes full louingly and bare him home vnto his Castle saying vnto the Countesse his wise Loe my deere wise this day by fortune I haue found a very faire Childe in an holow trée as I hunted in the forrest whereof I am right glad And beecause that I neuer begat sonne daughter on thee ne thou neuer yet conceiued a childe therfore I exhort thée that thou wilt faine they selfe trauailing with childe and say that thou hast borne this childe The Countesse fulfilled right gladly the earles will and desire and said My most déere Lord your will in this thing shall bee done Not long after this newes went throughout all the country that the countesse was deliuered of a fayre Sonne wherfore euery man reioysed much The Childe beegan to grow and was right well beloued of euery man most specially of the earle and of the Countesse It beefell after when the Childe was xv yéeres of age the Emperour made a solempe feast vnto all the Lords of his Empyre vnto the which feast this earle was called and at the day assigned he came and brought his Childe with him which was at the time a fayre yong squire and â—aruer at the bord before the Earle The Emperour greatly béeheld him and espyed the token in his forehead which hee had séene beefore in the Fosters house wherfore hée was greatly moued and vexed within him selfe and saide vnto the Earle in this wise Whose Sonne is this certes said the Earle hee is my sonne Than saide the Emperour By the saith and trouth that thou owest vnto mée tell mee the trouth The earle séeing that hée might not excuse himselfe by no manner wise but that néeeds hee must tell him the trouth than told hée him altogether how hée had found him in the forrest in an hollow tree This hearing the Emperour was almost distracte of his wittes for anger called vnto him his seruants which he had sent before to destroy the Childe And when they came béefore him hée made them to sware vpon a booke that they should tell him the trouth what they had done with the Childe Gracious Lord saide they wée yéelde vs vnto your grace goodnes for without doubt pitie so moued vs that wée might not destroy him and then wée put him in an hollow trée but what afterward befell of him certainely we know not and in his steade we kilde a Pyg and brought you the hart thereof When the Emperour had heard the very trueth of this matter hee said vnto the earle This yong man quod hee shall abide heere by mée the earle immediatly grauÌ„ted though it was greatly against his will And when the feast was ended euery man tooke his leaue of the Emperour went whereas they list And at that time it fortuned that the Emprisse and hir daughter soiourned in a great countrie far fro thence by the commaundement of the Emperour It befell not long after the Emperour called vnto him that yong Squyre and saide it béehoueth thée quod hee to ride vnto the Emprisse my wife with my letters I am ready at your commaundement my Lord sayde hee to fulfill your desire Immediately the Emperour lette write letters whereof his intent was this That the Emprisse should take the bearer of these letters and let him bée drawen at the horse taile and after that shée should let him bée hanged till he were dead and that vpon paine of death When the letters were all made sealed then the Emperour tooke them vnto the yong squire commaunding him to spede him on his iorney And straight way the yong Squier receiued thé gladly and put them â—ure in his bore rode foorth on his iourney When hée had rydden thrée or foure daies on his iourney in an euening hee came vnto a Castle wher as dwelt a knight and gently desired him of a nights lodging The knight seeing and beeholding the good fauour of this young squier grauÌ„ted him lodginge and made him good cheere and well to fare and afterward brought him vnto his chamber when hée was there hee went to bed And immediatly fell on sléepe for hée was full wery of his â—ourney and forgot his boxe with the Letters lying openly in his chamber When the knight saw the bore hee opened it and sound the letters sealed with the Emperours signe manuel was greatly tempted to open them at the last hée opened them full subtylly and than hee redde how the Empresse vpon paine of death shoulde put the bearer of them to death and then he was right sorrowfull and saide within himselfe Alas quod hee it is great pitie to destroy such a fayre young man therefore if I may it shall not bée so And immediatly after the knight raced out that writtinge and wrote in the same paper a letter saying these words Upon paine of death I commaund thée that thou take the young Squire bearer of these letters and let
acknowledging of sinne the second repentaunce and the third newnes of lyfe according to the will of GOD if these hearbes be vsed in plaister the sinner without doubt shall receiue his health and his soule shal be deliuered from sin by all right he shall haue euerlasting lyfe Unto the which bring vs our Lord Jesus The Argument ¶ Many folish Idiots of this world doe commonly flow flote in abundance of worldly wealth pomp with thinking they shall liue heere alwaies are labored vnto by the preachers of gods word to be admonished of their momentany felicities and so to prepare themselues in bestowing well theyr short time heere to emoye the blessings of euerlasting felicitie in the world to come The fift History SOmetime there raigned in Rome a mightie Emperour and a wyse named Frederike which had one onely sonne whome he loued much This Emperour when hee laye at the point of death hée called vnto him his sonne and sayde Déere sonne I haue a ball of Gold which I giue thée vpon my blesseing that thou anone after my death shalt giue it to the most foole that thou maiest finde Then saide his sonne My Lord without doubt your will shall bee fulfilled Anone this young Lord after the death of his father weÌ„t sought in many Realmes found many rechlesse fooles bicause hée would satisfie his Fathers will laboured farher til hee came into a realme where the law was such that euerie yeere a new King was chosen there and this King had onely the guiding of that Realme but a yeere and at the yéeres ende hée was deposed and put in exile in an Ilande where as hée should wretchedly finish his life When the Emperours sonne came to this Realme the new King was chosen with great honour and all maner of Musical instrumeÌ„ts went before him and brought him with great reuerence and worship vnto his regall seaâ—â— And when the Emperours sonne sawe that hée came vnto him and saluted him reuerently and said My Lord loe I giue thee this ball of gold on my fathers behalâ—e Then saide hee I praye thee tell mee the cause why thou giuest mee this ball Then answered this young Lord and said My father charged mee in his death bedde vpon paine of forfaiting of his blesseing that I should giue this ball to the most foole that I could find wherfore I haue sought many Realmes and haue found many fooles neuerthelesse a more foole then thou art found I neuer therefore this is the reason It is not vnknown to thee that thou shalt raign but a yeere and at the yeeres end thou shalt bee exiled into such a place where as thou shalt die a mischeuous death wherfore I hold thée for the most foole that euer I found that for the Lordship of a yéere thou wouldest so wilfully leese thy selfe and therefore before all other I haue giueÌ„ thee this ball of gold Then saide the king without doubt thou saiest truth and therefore when I am in ful power of this realme I shall send béefore mee great treasure and riches wherewith I may liue saue my selfe from mischeuous death when I shal bee exiled put downe And to this was done wherfore at the yeeres ende hee was exiled and iued there in peare vpon such goods as hee had sent beefore hée died afterward a good death The Morall ¶ Déere friends this Emperour is the father of heauen the which â—eequetâ—â—d the ball that is to saye worldly riches to fooles ydiots which sauoureth nothing but that is earthly This Emperours sonne that is to say a preacher and a discréet minister trauailed about many Realms lands to shew to misbeeleeuing men and fooles theyr perill The Reame wherein no King might reigne but a yeere is this world For who so had liued an hundred yeere when he commeth to the death him shal seeme that hee hath liued but the space of an houre therefore doe as the King did while that yee bee in power of life sende before you your treasure that is to say firme faith in Christes merits and the fruits of Gods word procéeding from the same Then certainely when wée bee put in exile out of this world we shal liue in peace shall finde the mercy of God plentifull wherby wée shal obtain euerlasting life Unto the which bring vs hée that for vs shed his precious blood The Argument The euill disposed whcked wise men of this world are heere aduertised of their greedie groping after the sweet temptation of the diuel wherein such doe reioyce till death comming sodaynly vpon them then fall they into the horrible pitte of desolate darckenesse due to their deserts The sixt Historie ¶ Dioclesian reigned in the citie of Rome in whose empire dwelt a noble Philosopher the which sette vp by his craft an ymage in the middest of the Citie of Rome the which ymage strethed out his arme and his formost finger whervppon stoode this posie written in Latine Percute hic Strike heere This ymage after the death of this Philosopher stoode still a long time and many great clarkes came thether for to read the superscription that was on the finger but none of them vnderstoode what it ment wherfore ther was great wondring among the people And at the last a long time after there came a strange clarke out of farre countries and wheÌ„ hée saw this ymage he read the scripture strike héere And then vpon a day wheÌ„ he saw the shadow of the hand hee tooke a mattocke brake vp the ground vnder the hand where the shadow was according to the vnderstanding of the superscription and anone hée found an house all of Marble vnderneath the ground wherin he entred and came into a hall wherin hée found so much riches so manie Jewells and so great maruailes that he neuer saw ne heard of such nor so many béefore that time At the last hée saw a table redy couered and all maner of things necessary therto set there vpon Hee beheld further and saw a carbuÌ„cle in the hall that lightened all the house And Against this Carbuncle on that other side stoode a man holding in his hand a bow with an arow ready to shoote The clark maruailed much when he saw all these things and thought in himselfe if that I tell this foorth ther will no man beeleeue mee and therefore I will haue somewat of these goodes in token of proofe And with that hée law a knife of golde vpon the table the which hoe tooke and would haue put it in his boosome But anon the Archer smote the Carbuncle and brake it where with the whole house was shadowed and made darke And when the clarke perceiued it he wept more bitterly then any man might thinke for he know not by what way he might goe out for as much as the house was made darke through the breaking of the carbuncle And that darknes abode still for euermore after And so finished the clarke his life
treasure felicitie is a narrow crâ—ked craggy and painfull way hauing three enemies the d uell the world and the flesh To hell being the citie or cincke of sorrow and sadnesse a â—ayâ—e way broad plaine easâ—e hauing three guâ—â—es to wit pride of life couetise of the eyen concupiscence of the flesh The tenth History SOmetime in Rome dwelt an Emperour named Folliculus the which was right wise mercifull rightfull in all his works This Emperour builded in the East a noble Citie wherein hée put all his treasure and precious stones and riches to bee kept Unto this Citie the waie was stonie and full of brambles and sharp thorns and thrée knihgts were armed ready to fight with theÌ„ that would come to that Citie Therefore themperour ordained that whosoeuer ouercame these knightes should enter the Citie take at his wil of the emperours treasure After that this Emperour did make in the North west a citie wherin he ordained all maner of paine formeÌ„ting sorrow mischiefe for malefactors to the which was a broad way verte delectable growing full of Roses and sayre Lâ—â—kes and in that way were thrée knights euer waiting if any man came towards the citie of the north to serue him with all maner of delicates and necessary prouision And if it fortuned any man to enter within that Citie the custome was such that the people should take binde him hand and foote and cast him in prison there to abide the comming of the Justice When this was cryed through out all the Empyre there were two Knights dwelling in a citie there beeside one named Ionatas who was a wise man the other hight Pirrius which was a foole neuerthelesse there had continued betwne them great loue This Ionatas sayde to Pyrrius Déere friend there is a common crye made throughout al laÌ„ds that the Emeperour hath made a Citie in the East wherein hee hath put all his treasure who so euer may enter that citie shall take of the treasure that hée list therefore my counsell is that wee goe to that Citie Then sayd Pyrryus thy counsell is good and I desire to fulfill it The wise Knight saide if it bée so that thou wilt follow my counsell I pray thée that faithfull friendship may continue beetwéene vs and in token of loue that thou wilt drinke my blood and I shall drinke thine that none of vs depart ne faile other in this iourney The foolish knight saide it pleaseth mée right well all that yée saye wherefore they were both letten blood and eche of them dranke others blood When this was done they went foorth together on theyr iourny and when they had done thrée dayes iourneis toowardes the Citie where the treasure was they came to a place where was two wayes one was sharpe stonie full of thornes the other was plain and fayre and full of swéetnesse and delites Then sayde the wise Knight to his fellow Deere friend héere are two wayes one sharpe and thornie neuerthelesse if we go this way we shall come to this Citie that is so riche and there shall we haue that we desire Then saide the folish Knight to his felow I wonder greatly of you that you speake such thinges for I will rather beeleue mine eyes than your wordes I see heere openly and so doe yée that here is a hard way and full of thornes and as I haue heard saye there bée three Champions armed in this waye redy to fight against all men that goe that way towardes the Citie of the East and therfore I will not goe that way but here is as ye may see another way playne and easie to walk in and in this waâ— there are three knights readie to serue vs and giue vs all maner things necessary to vs therefore by this way will I goe and not by that other way Then sayde the wise knight certainely if we goe by that way we shall be ledde into the Citie of the North wherein there is no mercie but perpetuall paine and sorrow and there shall we be taken and bound and cast in prison Certainely sayde the foolish Knight this way is the ready way and as I beléeue it is more profitable then the other way Then went they both foorth the fayre way and anone thrée knights met with them which receiued them curteously for one night and gaue them all maner of thing that was necessarie to them And on the morow they tooke their tourney foorth towarde the Citie And when they were within the Citie anone the Emperours officers met with them and said deere friends why come ye hether in so much that ye know the law of this citie is so cruel of long time heere before soothâ—y ye shal be seâ—uâ—d now after the law Anone they tooke the wise knight and bound him and put him in prison and after that they tooke the foolish knight and bound him fast and cast him into a dich Sone after it befel that the Justice came to the Citie to giue iudgment on them that had tresspassed the law and anone all the prisoners wer brought foorth before the iustice among whome these two knights wer brought foorth one from prison the other from the dich Then said the wise Knight to the Justice Reuerend Lorde I complaine of my fellow that is guiltie of my death for when we two came to the two wayes whereof the one ledde to the Citie in the East and the other to this citie I told him all the perill of this Citie and the reward of that other Citie and he would not beleeue mée and said to mée in this wise I beléeue mine owne eyen better than thy words and because he was my fellow I would not lette him goe alone in this way and thus came I with him wherefore hee is the cause of my death Then said the foolish knight I complaine that hée is the cause of my dâ—ath for it is not vnknowen to you â—ll that I am a foole and hâ—â— wise man and therfore he should not to â—â—ghtly haue folowed my folly for if hâ— had forsaken this way I should haue followed him and therfore he is cause of my death Then saide the Justice to the wise knight because that thou with all thy wisedome and great vnderstanding so lightly contented and followed the wil of the foole and his foolish works thou foole because that thou wouldest not do after the counâ—aile ne fullfill the holesom words of this wise man beléeue him I giue iudgmeÌ„t that ye be both hanged for your trespasse And so it was done wherfore all men praised greatly the Justice for his discrete iudgment The Morall Déere friends this Emperour is almightie God and in the East is the citie of heauen wherein is treasure infinit And vnto this citie is an hard way full of thornes that is to say the way of repentance by the which waye full few walketh for it is hard straite according to holy Scripture
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
giuen most of my lands rents tenements and cattells to the rich men that came before you Neuerthelesse I haue kept sâ—ill in mine owne hands the Soueraigntie and dominion ouer them and that I doe giue to you and so shall they be your seruaunts and be obedient to you all And when the poore men heard this greatly hereat reioysing knéeled downe to the Emperour and thanked him saying Lo though wée come late yet wée be made Lords ouer all these other And with this they tooke their leaue went home againe But when the rich the mightie men heard that they were greatly moued and ordained a common parliameÌ„t among themselues And thus it was spoken among them Alas alas how may we serue them that sometime were but pesants and our subiects in all maner thinges and now they bée made lords ouer vs. Therefore goe wée all with one assent to Themperour pray him of remedy When this was sayd their counsayle was commended and foorthwith they went to the Emperour and said to him Reuerend Lord what may this bée those that were our seruants be our lords we beséech you méekly that it may not be so Than said the Emperour Good friends I doe you no wrong for my crye was common that what so euer you asked of me you should obtaine your petition and ye asked nothing of me but lands rents and honours and all that haue I graunted you at your owene will in so much that I kept nothing for my selfe and each of you were well content at your away going after that came simple and poore men and asked of mée some goods according to my proclamation and I had nothing to giue them onely the Souer aigntie and Dominion ouer you which I kept in my handes and when the poore menne so cryed on mée I had nothing to giue them saue onely the authoritie ouer you and therfore ye should not blame mée for that ye asked ye had Than sayd they A good and gracious Lord we pray you effectuously of your counsayle in this case and of your help The Emperour answered and sayd Sirs if ye will work after mée I shall giue you good and profitable counsayle Than sayd they wée be readie to fulfill whatsoeuer ye saye to vs for our profit Then said Themperour My good friends ye haue of mée both landes and tenements with other moueable goods and that great plenty the which by my counsayle ye shall depart with to the poore menne that they may graunt you the soueraâ—gntie and dominien which they haue And anone these rich men gladly graunted to this and departed all their goods among the poore men and than they gaue them againe the authoritie ouer them like as they had of the rich men And thus were they both content and the Emperour was greatly commended of all the people bicause he accorded both the partes so wisely The Morall By this Emperour is vnderstood our Lorde Jesu Christ which made a proclamation by his Prophets Patriarks Apostles and Preachers that euerye man both poore and riche should come and aske euerlasting ioy and without doubt they shall obtaine their petition But the rich and mightie men asked none other thing but worldly honour transitory riches for this world shall passe all the couetousnesse thereof wherefore he gaue them so much of worldly goods that he had nothing left of himselfe according to the Scripture The byrds of heauen haue neastes and the Foxes in the earth haue caues but the sonne of GOD hath nothing in the earth where he may put his head The poore men bée such as be méeke in hart Of the which poore men speaketh our Lorde saying Blessed bée the poore in heart for the kingdome of heauen is theirs And if it should séeme that they haue soeueraintie in Heauen aboue mightie men of this world therefore these rich men ought to depart thir temporall riches with poore men according to the scripture saying thus Giue yée alines and all thing shal be cleane to you And thus may yée attaine vnto the kingdome of heauen vnto the which I béeseech almightie God to bring vs all Amen The Argument The Emperour of eternall glorie Christ hath two daughters the one faire the other foule the faire daughter is this world and the pleasures thereof the soule is pouerty trouble The fayre daughter is desired of many the foule daughter of fewe who so loueth the world setteth not by god nor heauenly things but by the vanites of this world who so loueth God heauenly things will suffer in Christ all persecution trouble for the obtaining therof dispising the world all that therein is The 27. Historie SOmetime in Rome dwelt a mightie Emperour named Domician which had two daughters the one of them was passing fayre but the other foule and euill fauored wherfore hée lette crye throughout all his Empyre that what man would haue his faire daughter to wyfe should haue nothing with hir but hir beautifull and comely personage And who so would marry his foule daughter should haue all his Empyre after his death And when the proclamation was made there came many Lords that desired to marry his faire daughter To whome the Emperour answered thus Sirs quod hée yée wote not what yée desire right well yée know that if yée marry hir yee shal haue nothing with hir but hir beautifull comely personage and farthermore if I giue hir to one of you and not to an other then will yée striue for hir therefore if yée will néedes haue hir and forsake my soule daughter it shall béehoue you first to Just for hir hée that winneth hir shall wed hir Than the nobles stats of the Empire greatly reioysed and anone onely for loue of the beautiful damosell they would iust and also fight wherefore thy set a daie of battaile and many worthy men were slaine on both sides neuerthelesse one obtained the chiefe victory and espoused that faire Lady The second daughter which was foule and euill fauored séeing hir sister so béestowed with great solempnitie mourned wept dayly therefore the Emperour hir father came to hir and saide Déere daughter why mournest thou thus Alas déere father quod shée it is no wonder though I mourne séeing my sister is married with great honour gladnesse and euery man is ioyfull of hir no man loueth my company and therfore déere father what I may best doe sothly I wot not Then saide the Emperour O my déere daughter all that is mine is thine and it is not vnknowen to you that hée which marrieth thy sister had nothing with hir but hir beutiful corps therfore I shal proclaim in mine own persoÌ„ through all my empire that what man marrieth thée I shall make him assurance by letter patent of all mine Empyre after my death Then this young Lady though shée was foule euill fauored neuerthelesse shée reioyced in the promisse of hir father immediatly after the proclamation
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
the help of his soule But the wretched manne lying in dispayre saith Alas alas to mée beecause I serued not almightie God my maker redéemer heere in times past while I was in youth in prosperitie but now there is nothing left but onely the lees and the dregges of all wretchednesse therfore what shall it auayle mée now to turne toward GOD. But for such men wee should lament Neuerthelesse God is so mercifull that though he might haue no seruice of man in all his tyme yet is hée contente to haue the lées of his tonne that is to saye his good will though hee may not serue him otherwise so shall his good will stand him in stéede of penitent life For in what houre the sinner doth repent him hee shall be saued as Ezechiel witnesseth But there bee many that will giue no wine ne none other thing to him wherefore god shall complaine vnto the Kinge of Ierusalem that is to say to his Godhead at the iudgement day and then as hée is God man shall hée giue a sentence defensible against such men saying Esuriui non dedistis c. I haue hungred yée gaue me no meat I haue thirsted ye gaue me no drinck Loe thus shall hee rehearse to thee the fruits of faith And when this is done then shall they be put to euerlasting payne and the iust men into euerlasting blisse where they shall haue Joye withouten ende Unto the which bring vs our lord Jesu Christ Amen The Argument ¶ Man beeing captiued by sathan the worlde refuseth to doe for him till the godhead of the heauenly Father bearing an earnest affection vnto him dyd espouse him and imbrace him within the bosome of inward and entyer loue aduentured what he might to set mankinde at libertie yet grudgeth the world that we should alway serue our God and forsake the world therfore to eschew all the snares therof wee are taught in this history The 34. History IN Rome dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour named Antony vnder whose raigne the Rouers on the Sea hadde taken prisoner a mightie mans sonne of an other Region and brought him to the Emperours prison beeing bound When this young man was thus in prison hee incontinent wrote to his father for his raunsome but his father would no raunsome paye ne none other thing send to comfort him This when his sonne heard hée wept sore and might not be comforted for the vnkindnesse of his father This Emperour had a fayre daughter which visited euery day this prisoner comforted him as much as shée might To whome the prisoner answered and sayde How shall I bée merry or how may I ioye thus for to lye fast bounde in prison from the sight of man and not withstanding this it gréeueth me more that my father will not pay my raunsome When this mayden heard this shée was moued with pittie and said Deere friend I am sory for thee neuerthelesse if thou wilt graunt mee one thing I shall deliuer thée from this anguish and paine What thing is that quod hee That thou wilt take mée to thy wyfe Then saide the prisoner I promise you surely to fulfill your intent and desire and for the more assurance I plight you my troth When hée had so done it was not long after the Damosell deliuered him out of prison fled away with him home to his fathers house When the father saw his sonne and the Mayden together he asked the cause why hee brought the Mayden with him Then sayd his sonne Sir this Damosell deliuered mee out of prison therfore shée shall bee my wyfe Then said his father I will not consent that shée shall bée thy Wife for two reasonable causes which I shall foorthwith shew thée The first is this it is not vnknowen to thée that the Emperour hir Father might haue hadde for thy deliueraunce great foyson of riches and for as much as she was vntrue to hir owne Father and true to thée it séemeth well that thou shouldst not trust long in hir for who is false to hir owne Father by reason should bée verye false and vntrue to an other manne The second reason is this The cause why shee deliuered thée out of prison it was neithar for pittie nor for loue but for carnall lust that shée had to thée For at thy deliueraunce she made couenaunt with thée to be thy wife and had of thée thy troth therfore sonne saith hée it is not reaâ—on that shée should bee thy wife The Maiden answered to this question and saide As for the first reason that thou layest against mee that I should bée vntrue to my father that is falfe for my father hath plentye of riches and thy sonne is but poore and therfore I holpe him for pittie and for none other cause and neuerthelesse thou that art his father wold not pay his rauÌ„some that hée myght bée deliuered out of prison Loe for this cause I haue deliuered him therefore I am kinder to him then thou that art his owne father and he is more béeholding to mee then to thée Unto that other reason whereas thou sayest that I deliuered him béecause of carnall lust I answere and say playnely that it is no troth For all manor of carnall loue is cause of strength or else of fairnesse but thy son is not strong for his imprisonment haue done away his strength Hée is not fayre for by the payne that hee hath had in prison he is brought low and vnlully to the sight and therefore pittie onely moued mee to deliuer him and not carnall lust Then sayd the sonne vnto his father Déere Father for as much as I was in perill of death and wrot vnto thee that thou woldest pay my raunsome that I might bée deliuered and thou wouldest not help mee but this Damosell of hir gentilnesse and for pittie hath saued me from death and deliuered mee out of prison and therefore sothly shée shall bee my Wyfe therfore foorthwith hée marryed hir with great honour with hir ended his lyfe The Morall Déere friendes this Emperour héetokâ—neth the Father of Heauen The young man which was taken with the Pyrates of the sea betokeneth all mankinde which was taken with the diuell by the sinne of our forefather Adam and was cast into the prison of hell with great sorrow and paine His father wold not raunsome him that is to saye the world would doe nothing for him This faire daughter betokeneth the godhead which came down from heauen and tooke manhoode of the virgin Mary and so made a ghostly marryage beetwéene him and man And vpon thys condition he deliuered mankinde out of this prison of hell when he came from heauen and forsooke the felowship of Angells for to dwell with vs in this wretched valley of tears But the Father that betokeneth the world grudged euer against him and would not suffer that the soule of man shouâ—d become the spouse of Jesu Christ but than she shold alway
minde And praied the Stewarde of his counsell and helpe in this woefull case Than saide the stewarde vnto him if that thou wilt doe by my counsell I shall bring this matter to a good conclusion therefore doe as I shall tell thée I counsell thée for the best and also warne thée that when thou seruest my Lord the Emperour of his cuppe that thou that turne thy face away from him so that hée may not féele thy stincking breath vnto the time that thou hast prouided thée of some remedie therfore Then was Fulgentious right glad and swere to him that he would doe by his counsell Not long after it béefell that this young man Fulgentious serued his Lord as hée was wont to doe and therewith sodainely he tourned his face from his Lord the Emperour as the Steward had taught him And when the Emperour perceiued the auoyding of his head hée smote this young Fulgentious on the breast with his foote and saide to him thus O thou leude varlet now sée I well it is true that I haue heard of thée and therfore goe thou anon out of my sight that I may sée thée no more in this place And with that this yong Fulgencious wept full sore auoided the place and went out of his sight And when this was so done the Emperour called vnto him his Steward and sayd How may I ryd this varlet from the world that thus hath defamed mée My most déere Lord quod the steward right well you shall haue your intent For héere béeside within these thrée miles yée haue brickmakers which daily make great fires for to burne brick also they make lyme therfore my Lord send to them this night charge them vppon paine of death that whosoeuer commeth to them first on the morrow saying to thē thus My Lord commaūdeth you to fulfil his will that they take him and cast him into the Forncis with the stones and this night commaunde you this Fulgentious that he goe earely in the morning to your workmen and that hee aske them whether they haue fulfilled your wil which they were commaunded or not and then shall they according to your commaundement cast him in the Fyre and thus shall hee dye an euill death Surely quod the Emperour thy counsell is good therfore call to me that varlet Fulgentious And when this young man was come to the Emperours presence hée sayde to him thus I charge thée vpon paine of death that thou rise early in the morning goe to the brenners of lyme brick and that thou bee with them earely before the sunne ryse thrée myles from this house and charge them in my behalfe that they fullfil my commaundement or else they shall dye a most shamefull death Then spake this Fulgentious My Lord if God send mée my lyfe I shall fulfill your will were it that I should goe to the worlds ende When Fulgentious had this charge he could not sléepe for thought but that hée must arise earely for to fulfil his Lords commandement The Emperour about midnight sent a messenger on horseback vnto his bricke makers commaunding them vppon paine of death that who so euer came to them first in the morning saying vnto them the Emperours commaundement which is before rehearsed that they should take and bynd him and cast him into the fire burne him to the bare bones The Bryck makers answered and sayde it should bée done And then the messenger returned home againe incontinent and told the Emperour that his commandement should bée diligently fulfilled Earely in the morning following Fulgentious arose prepared him towards his way as hée went hée heard a bell ring to seruice wherefore hee went to that Church for to heare Seruice and after the ende of seruice he fell a sléepe and ther hée slept a long while so that the priest ne none other might a wake him The steward desiring inwardly to heare of his death as he did hope about one of the clock he went vnto the workmen and saide vnto them thus Syrs quod hée haue yée done the Emperours commaundement or no. The Brickmakers answered him againe and saide Nay surely wée haue not yet done his commaundement but anone it shall bée done with that they layde handes on him Then cried the steward with an high voice and saide Good sirs saue my Lyfe sor the Emperour cōmaunded that Fulgentious should bée put to death Then saide they the messenger told not vs so but hée bad vs that whosoeuer came first to vs in the morning saying as ye before rehearsed that wée should take him and cast him into the Fornace bourne him to ashes And with that word they threw him into the fire And when he was bournt Fulgentious came to them and said Good sirs haue you done my Lords commaundement yea soothly said they and therefore go◠yée againe to the Emperour and tel him so Thē said Fulgentious For Christes loue tell mée that commaundement Wée had in commaundement saide they vpon paine of death that who so euer came to vs first in the morninge and saide like as thou hast saide that wée should take him and cast him into the Fornace But béefore thée came the Steward and therefore haue wee fulfilled on him the Emperours commaundoment and now is hee bournt to the bare bones And when Fulgentious heard this hée thanked God that hée had so preserued him from death wherfore hée tooke his leaue of the workmen and went againe to the Pallaice When the Emperour perceiued him hée was almost distract of his wittes for anger and thus hee sayde Hast thou beene with the Bryckmaker and fulfilled my commaundement Soothly my gracious Lord I haue béene there but or I came there your commaundement was fulfilled How may that bee true quod the Emperour Forsooth said Fulgencious the steward came to them afore mee and sayd that I should haue sayde and when they heard that they tooke him and threw him into the forneis and if I had comen any rather so would they haue done to me and therfore I thanck God that hath preserued me from death Then sayd the Emperour tell mée the trueth of such questions as I shall demaund of thee Then saide Fulgentious vnto the Emperour As I béeleue you neuer sound in mee any falsehoode and therfore I wondred greatly why ye had ordained such a death for mee for well ye know that I am your own brothers sonne Then saide the Emperour to Fulgentious It is no wonder for that death I ordained to thee through counsell of the steward bicause thou didst defame mée throughout all my Empyre saying that my breath did stinck so grieuously that it was death to thée and in token hereof thou turnedst away thy face whē thou seruedst mée of my cuppe and that saw I with mine eyes and for this cause I ordained for thée such a death and yet thou shalt dye except I heare a better excuse Then answered Fulgentious and sayd A my most deere
him be wedded without any delaie vnto my daughter and yours with all the honour and solempnitie that can bée thought and whan they bée marryed that yée take him as your owne sonne and that hée keepe my roome till I come vnto you myselfe Whan the knight had thus written hée closed the letters subtylly and put them into the bore againe Early in the morning the young Squire arose and very hastely made him redie and toke his leaue of the knight rode foorth on his iourney and the third daie after he came vnto the Emprisse and saluted hir right worshipfully in the Emperours beehalfe and toke hir the letters And when the Empresse had redde them anone she sent foorth hir messengers through the countrie commaunding the states and gentilmen to come vnto hir daughters wedding at a certaine daie assigned When the daie was come thether came manie great Lordes and Ladies and anone this young Squire espoused the Emperours Daughter with great honour and worshippe according to the tenour of the letters was right well beloued and most honoured among the people Not long after it befell that the Emperour came into that Countrie and when the Empresse heard of hir Lords comming shee toke with hir hir sonne in law with much other people and went towardes the Emperour for to welcome him When the Emperour saw this yong Squire leading the Emprisse his wyfe he was greatly moued within himselfe and sayde O thou curssed Woman bycause thou hast not fulfilled my commaundement thou shalt dye an euill death A my déere Lord quod shée all that ye commaunded mee to doe I haue fullfilled Nay curssed woman sayde the Emperour it is not so for I wrote to thée that thou sholdest put him to death and now I see him aliue My Lord quod the Emprisse saueing your grace you wrote to mee that I should giue him your dauhter to wyfe and that on payn of death in witnesse wherof loe here your letters with your owne seale manuell When the Emperour heard this hée wondred greatly and sayd Is he espowsed then to my daughter Yea soothly sayd the Empresse long agoe with much solempnitie and great worshippe and as I perceiue your Daughter is with childe Than sayde the Emperour O thou lord Jesu Christ it is great folly to striue against thy ordinaunce therefore sith it is so thy will must needes be fulfilled And with that he tooke his sonne in law it his armes and kissed him which after his death was Emperour and ended his life in rest and peace The Morall ¶ This emperour maybetoken Herod or else euery tyraunt which walked alone without truth till he came to the fosters house that is to say the Church which is the house of God This Herode would haue slaine this childe Jesu wherefore he sent messengers to séeke him according to the scripture of saint Mathew telling how he commaunded the three kings to séeke him and bring him tidings againe where he was that he might come and worship him allso but this saide he not for loue but for deceipt The Foster betokeneth Ioseph our Ladies husband which kept him But when the messengers came that is to say when the thrée kinges came they slew him not but worshipped him on their knées and left him in the holow trée of his Godhead The Earle that came and found this childe betokeneth the holy ghost which warned Ioseph by the Angell in his sléepe that he should take our Lady and his sonne and flée in to the lande of Egipt This moralitie may be vndestoode otherwise This Emperour may be token a sinner that walketh in the forest of this world seeking vanities nought else vnto the time he come to the house of god there he is receiued benignely of the Prelate of the Churche if hée will obey the Commaundementes of GOD. But many of vs now a dayes sléepe in the Churche when they practyse not according to their profession and therefore ought they also to dreade thée voyces which I haue rehearsed by the first take that may be vnderstoode the great benisit that he gaue thee when hée put in thée a soule made at his owne similitude By the second take is wnderstoode the sonne of the father of heauen which was borne of the blessed Uirgin Mary By the third take is vnderstoode the same sonne of God which dyed vpon the crosse By the first yéelde is vnderstood that wee ought to yéeld our Soule vnto allmightie God as cleane as faire as hée gaue it vs after our regeneration in haptisme By the second yeld is vnderstood that we ought to yeld honour worship and loue vnto Almightie God and man By the third yelde is vnderstoode that we ought to yeld to God true confession of faith contricion of hart and amendement of life The first shee beetokeneth sinne which we should â—lee The second flee betokeneth the world which we should flee for the great salsehoode temptations that are therein The third â—lee betokeneth euerlasting paine the which we ought to â—lee through faith and hir fruits by the tyrant She lyeth for she is my wife and I haue found hir in adultry with an other man and therefore I will slea hir Than sayde the knight I beleue better the woman theÌ„ thee for loe the tokens of truth appere openly in hir visage that thou hast rauished hir therefore wil I fight with thée for hir deliueraunce And immediately they buckled both together fought egerly till they were both sore wounded Neuerthelesse the knight obtayned the victorie put the tyrant to slight Then said the knight vnto the woman Loe I haue suffered for thy loue many sore wounds and haue saued thée from thy death wilt thou therefore promise to be my wise That I desire you quod she with all my hart and therevpon I betake thee my trouth When shée was thus ensured than said the knight as foloweth Héere beside is my Castell go thether and abyde there till I haue visited my friends and my kinsmen to prouide for all thinges néedefull for our weddinge for I purpose to make a great feast for thine honour and worship My Lord quod she I am ready to fulfill your wil. Than went she foorth vnto the Castell where as shée was worshipfully receyued And the Knight went vnto his friends for to make him readie against the day of marriage In the meane while came Poncianus the tirant to the knights Castell and prayed hir that hée might speake with hir Than came she downe from the castell to him This tirant subtilly flattered hir saide Gentle loue if it please you to consent to mée I shall giue you both golde and siluer greate riches and I shall be your seruaunt ye my soueraigne When the woman heard this full lightly shée was deceyued through his flattering language graunted him to be his wife and tooke him with hir into the castell It was not long after but that thys knight came