and his soule shall be delyuered from synne and by al ryght he shall haue euerlastyng lyfe Vnto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus SOmtyme there regned in Rome a myghty Emperour and a wyse named Frederyke whyche had an onely sone whome he loued moche Thys Emperour whan he laye at the poynt of deth he called vnto hym his sone sayd Dere sone I haue a ball of gold whych I gyue the vpon my blessyng that thou anone after my deth shalt gyue it to the moost foole that thou mayst fynde Than sayd hys sone My lorde wothout doubte your wyll shall be fulfylled Anone thys yonge lorde after the deth of hys father went sought in many realmes founde many recheles fooles bycause he wolde satysfye hys fathers wyll laboured farther tyll he came in to a realme where the lawe was suche that euery yere a newe kyng was chosen there thys kyng had onely the guydynge of y e realme but a yere at the yeres ende he was deposed put in exile in an ylande where as he shold wretchedly fynysshe hys lyfe Whan themperours sone came to thys realme the newe kyng was chosen w t great honour all maner of mynstralsye wente afore hym brought hym wyth great reuerence and worshyp vnto hys regall sete And whan the Emperours sone sawe that he came vnto hym and salewed hym reuerently sayd My lorde loo I gyue the thys ball of gold on my fathers behalfe Than sayd he I praye the tell me the cause why thou gyuest me thys ball ThaÌ„ answered thys yonge lorde and sayd My father charged me in hys deth bedde vpon payn of forfeytynge of his blessynge that I sholde gyue this ball of y e moost foole y e I coude fynde wherfore I haue sought many realmes haue founde many fooles neuerthelesse a more foole than thou art founde I neuer therfore thys is the reason It is not vnknowen to the that thou shalt regne but a yere and at the yeres ende thou shalte be exiled into suche a place where as thou shalte dye a myscheuous deth wherfore I holde the for the moost foole that euer I founde that for the lordshyp of a yere thou woldest so wylfully lese thy selfe therfore before all other I haue gyuen to the thys ball of gold Than sayd the kyng wythout doubte thou sayst sothe and therfore whan I am in full power of thys realme I shall sende before me greate treasoure and rychesse wherwyth I may lyue and saue my selfe from my scheuous deth whan I shall be exiled put downe And so thys was done wherfore at the yeres ende he was exiled lyued there in peace vpon suche goodes as he had sente before and he dyed afterwarde a good deth ¶ Dere frendes thys Emperour is the father of heuen the whych byquethed the ball that is to saye worldly rychesse to fooles and ydyottes whyche sauoureth no thynge but that is erthly This Emperours sone that is to saye a precher and a discrete coÌ„fessour serched about many realmes landes to shewe to mysbyleuing men fooles theyr peryll The realme wherin no kyng myght regne but a yere is this worlde For who so had lyued an hondred yere whan he commeth to the deeth hym shall seme that he hath lyued but the space of an houre therfore do as the kyng dyd whyle that ye be in power of lyfe sende before you your treasour that is to say almes dede other merytoryus dedes certaynly whaÌ„ ye be put in exile out of thys world ye shall lyue in peace shall fynde y e mercy of god plentefull wherby ye shall optayne euerlastynge lyfe Unto the whych brynge vs he that for vs dyed on the rode tree Amen DIoclesyan regned in the cyte of Rome in whose empyre dwelled a noble phylosopher y e whych let vp by hys crafte an ymage in the myddes of yeâ—ite of Rome the whyche ymage stretched out hys arme hys formest fynger whervpon stode thys posy wryten in latyn Percute hic Smyte here Thys ymage after the deth of thys phylosopher stode styll a longe tyme many greate clerkes came thyder for to rede the superscripcyon that was on y e fynger but none of them vnderstode what it mente wherfore there was greate wondrynge amonge the people And at the last a longe tyme after there came a strauÌ„ge clerke out of ferre couÌ„trees whan he sawe thys ymage he redde y e scripture Smyte here And than vpon a daye whan he sawe the shadowe of the hande he toke a mattocke brake vp y e grounde vnder the hande where the shadowe was accordyng to the vnderstandyng of the superscripcyon anone he founde an house al of marble vndernethe the grouode wherin he entred came in to a hall where he founde so moche rychesse so many yewelles and so great meruayles that he neuer sawe ne herde of suche nor so many before that tyme. At y e last he sawe a borde couered and all maner of thynges necessary therto set ther vpon He be helde farther and sawe a carbuncle in a wall that lyghtened all y e hous And anenst thys carbuncle on that other syde stode a man holdynge in hys hande a bowe wyth an arowe redy to shote The clerke merualled moche whan be sawe all these thynges and thought in hymself yf that I tâ—ll thys forth there wyll no man byleue me therfore I wyll haue somwhat of these goodes in token of profe And wyth that he sawe a knyfe of golde vpon y e borde whyche he toke wolde haue put it in his bosome But anone the archer smote the carbuncle and brake it wherwyth all the hole hous was shadowed made darke And whan y e clerke perceyued it he wept more bytterly than ony man myght thynke for he wyst not by what way he myght go out for as moche as the hous was made darke thrugh the brekynge of the carbuncle And that darknesse abode styll for euermore after And so fynisshed the clerke his lyfe there in that darknesse ¶ Dere frendes thys ymage so standyng is the deuyll whyche sayth euermore Smyte here That is to saye take hede to erthly rycheâ—se not to heuenly treasour Thys clerke that smote with the mattocke betokeneth the wyse men of thys worlde as pleders of y e lawe atturneys and other wordly men that euer be smytyng what by ryght what by wronge so y t they may gete the vanytees of thys worlde in theyr smytynge they fynde great wonders meruayles that is to say they fynde therin the delytes of the worlde wherin many men reioyseth The carbuncle that gyueth lyght is the youth of man whyche gyueth hardynes to take theyr pleasure in worldly rychesse The archer w t hys arowe is deth whyche layeth watche anenst man to slee hym The clerke that toke vp y e knyfe is euery wordly man that weneth euer to haue all thynge at hys wyll Deth
couÌ„seyle I praye the that faythfull frendshyp may coÌ„tynue bytwene vs and in token of loue that thou wylt drynke my blode I shall drynke thyne that none of vs departe ne fayle other in this iourney The folysshe knyght sayd it pleaseth me ryght well all that ye say wherfore they were bothe letten blode and eueryche of them dranke others blode Whan thys was done they wente forth togyder on theyr iourney and whan they had gone thre dayes iourneys towarde the cyte where y e treasour was they came to a place where was two wayes one was sharpe stony full of thornes that other way was playne and fayre and full of swetnes delytes Than sayd the wyse knyght to hys felowe Dere frende here be two wayes one sharpe and thorny neuerthelesse yf we go thys waye we shall coÌ„me to thys cite that is so ryche there shall we haue that we desyre Than sayd thys folysshe knyght to hys felowe I wonder greatly of you that ye speke suche thynges for I wyll rather byleue myne eyen than your wordes I se here openly so do ye that here is an harde waye full of thornes as I haue herd say there be thre champyons armed in thys waye redy to â—yght agaynst all men that go that waye towarde the cite of y e eest therfore I wyll not go that waye but here is as ye may se an other waye playne and easy to walke in and in thys waye there ben thre knightes redy to serue vs gyue vs al maner thynges necessary to vs and therfore by this waye wyll I go not by that other waye Than sayde the wyse knyght certaynly yf we go by that way we shall be ledde in to the cyte of the north wherin there is no mercy but perpetuall payne sorowe and there shall we be taken bounde and cast in pryson Certaynly sayd the folysshe knyght thys waye is y e redy waye as I byleue it is more profytable than y e other waye Than wente they bothe forth y e fayre waye anone thre knyghtes mette wyth them whyche receyued them reuerently as for a nyght gaue them all maner of thynge that was necessary to them And on y e morowe they toke theyr iourney forth to warde y e cyte And whan they were wythin the cyte anone the Emperours offycers mette w t them sayd Dere frendes why coÌ„me ye hyther in so moche that ye knowe y e lawe of this cite so cruell of longe time here before sothly ye shall be serued now after y e lawe Anone they toke the wyse knyght and bouÌ„de hym and put hym in pryson â–ª and after that they toke the folysshe knyght bounde hym fast and kest hym in to a dyche Soone after it befell that the Iustyce came to the cyte to gyue iudgement on them that had trespaced y e lawe and anone all the prysoners were brought forth before the Iustyce amonge whome these two knyghtes were brought forth one from pryson and that other froÌ„ the dyche Than sayd the wyse knyght to the Iustyce Reuerende lorde I complayne of my felowe that is gylty of my deth for whan we two came to the two wayes wherof that one ledde to y e cyte in the eest that other to thys cyte I tolde hym all the peryll of this cite the rewarde of that other cyte he wolde not byleue me sayd to me in thys wyse I byleue myne owne eyen better than thy wordes and bycause he was my felowe I wolde not let hym go alone in thys waye thus came I wyth hym wherfore he is cause of my deth Than sayd the folysshe knyght I complayne that he is the cause of my deth â–ª for it is not vnknowen to you all that I am a foole he a wyse man therfore he sholde not so lyghtly haue folowed my foly for yf he had forsaken thys waye I wolde haue folowed hym therfore he is cause of my deth Than sayd the Iustyce to y e wyse knyght bycause that thou wyth all thy wysdome and great vnderstandyng so lyghtly coÌ„sented folowed the wyll of the foole his folysâ—he werkes thou foole bycause thou woldest not do after the counseyle ne fulfyll the holsome wordes of thys wyse man byleue hym I gyue iudgement that ye be bothe hanged for your trespace And so it was done wherfore al men praysed greatly the Iustyce for hys dyscrete iudgement ¶ Dere frendes thys emperour is almyghty god in the eest is y e cyte of heuen wherin is treasour infynyte And vnto this cyte is an harde waye full of thornes that is to say the waye of penauÌ„ce by y e whyche waye full fewe walketh for it is harde strayte accordynge to holy scrypture saying thus Est arta via que ducit ad vitaÌ„ It is a strayte way that ledeth to euerlastyng lyfe In thys waye ben thre armed knyghtes that is to saye the deuyll the worlde the flesshe w t whome it behoueth vs to fyght to optayne the vyctory or we may coÌ„me to heuen The seconde cyte that is in y e north is hell And to thys accordeth scrypture sayinge thus Ab aquilone pondetur oeÌ„ maluÌ„ Out of the north coÌ„meth all euyll Certaynly to this cyte is y e waye playne brode walled aboute on euery syde wyth all maner delycates wherfore many men walke by thys waye The thre knyghtes y t gyueth to euery man goynge this waye what thynge them nedeth ben these Pryde of lyfe couetyse of eyen concupyscence of the flesshe in whyche thre the wretched man greatly delyteth at y e last they lede hym in to hell Thys wytty knyght betokeneth the soule the folysshe knyght betokeneth the flesshe the whyche is alway folysshe at all tymes redy to do euyl These two be felowes knytte in one for eueryche of them drynketh others blode that is to say they shall drynke of one cup eyther ioye or payne shall they haue after the day of dome The soule chosech the waye of penauÌ„ce in as moche as she may she sâ—ereth the flesshe to do y e same But the flesshe thynketh neuer what shall coÌ„me after therfore she goth in the delyte of this worlde fleeth the delyte of penauÌ„ce And thus the soule after the deth is cast in to hell the flesshe is cast in to the dyche that is to saye in to the graue But than the Iustyce coÌ„meth that is our lorde Iesu chryst at the day of dome to deme al mankynde ThaÌ„ y e soule shal complayne vpon the flesshe the flesshe vpon the soule But whan y e Iustyce that wyll not be deceyued neyther by prayer ne by pryce shall condempne y e soule bycause she folowed y e fraylte of y e flesshe also he shal condempne the flesshe bycause it wolde not byleue the soule wherfore let vs study to tame our flesshe that
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
man whych studyeth euer to watche in doynge of good werkes yeldynge to god for synnes the fyre of charyte and the water of contricyon But afteÌ„tymes the tyraunt whyche betokeneth the deuyll putteth out the fyre of charyte fro mennes hertes and casteth out y e water of contricyon so that they may not nourysshe the lyttel chylde Iesus Therfore let vs watche as Ionathas dyd that we entre not in to temptacyon And call we vnto vs masons that is to saye dyscrete confessours whyche can make in our hertes a chambre of stone that is to saye a sure fayth and hope Than call we to vs paynters that is to saye prechers of goddes worde whyche can paynt in our hertes ten ymages that is to saye .x. coÌ„maundementes whyche yf thou kepe and obserue dayly wythout doubte thou shalte be honoured in heuen And yf thou kepe well the Emperours sone thou shalte syt in a chayre of golde crowned with a crowne of gold And yf that thou nourysshe hym not well wythout doubte thou shalt be haÌ„ged on the galous of hell From the whych preserue vs our blessed sauyour Iesus Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperoure named Menaly whyche had wedded the kynges doughter of Hungary a fayre lady a gracyous in all her werkes and specyally she was mercyfull On a tyme as the Emperour lay in hys bedde he bethought hym that he wolde go vysyte the holy lande And on y e morowe he called to hym the Empresse hys wyfe hys owne onely brother thus he sayde Dere lady I may not ne I wyll not hyde from you the preuytees of my herte I purpose to vysyte the holy lande wherfore I ordeyne the princypally to be lady and gouernour ouer all myne Empyre all my people And vnder the I ordeyn here my brother to be thy stewarde for to prouyde all thynges that may be profytable to myne Empyre to my people Than sayde the Empresse Syth it wyll none otherwyse be but that nedes ye wyll go to the holy lande I shall be in your absence as true as ony turtyll that hath lost her make for as I byleue ye shal not escape thens wyth your lyfe The Emperour anone coÌ„forted her wyth fayre wordes and kyssed her and after that toke hys leue of her and of all other and so wente forth towarde the holy lande And anone after that the Emperour was gone hys brother became so proude that he oppressed poore men robbed ryche men yet dyd he worse thaÌ„ thys for dayly he sâ—erâ—d the Empresse to synne wyth hym But euer she answered agayne as an holy and a deuoute woman and sayd I wyll quod she neuer consent to you ne to none other as longe as my lorde lyueth Neuerthelesse thys knyght wolde not leue by thys auswere but euer whan he founde her alone he made hys complaynt to her and stered her by all the wayes that he coude to synne wyth hym Whan thys lady sawe that he wolde not cease for no answere ne wolde not amende hymselfe whaÌ„ she sawe her tyme she called to her thre or foure of y e worthyest men of the Empyre and sayd to them thus It is not vnknowen to you that my lorde the Emperour ordeyned me pryncipall gouernour of this Empyre and also he ordeyned hys brother to be stewarde vnder me and that he shold do nothynge wythout my conseyle but he dothe all the contrary for he oppresseth greatly poore men and robbet ryche men and yet he wolde do worse yf he myght haue hys entent wherfore I commaunde you in my lordes name that ye bynde hym fast cast hym in pryson Than sayd they Sothly he hath done many euyll dedes syth our lord themperour wente therfore be we redy to obey your coÌ„mauÌ„dement but in thys mater ye must answere for vs to our lorde the Emperour Than sayde she drede ye not for yf my lorde knewe what he hath done as welles I he wolde put hym to y e foulest deth that coude be thought Anone these men set hande on hym and bounde hym fast wyth yron chaynes and put hym fast in pryson where as he laye longe tyme after tyll at the last it fortuned there came tydynges that the Emperour was coÌ„mynge home and had optayned great worshyp and victory Whan his brother herde of hys coÌ„mynge he sayd Wolde to god my brother myght fynde me in pryson for than wolde he enquyre y e cause of myne enprysonment of the Empresse she wyll tell hym all the trouth how I desyrey her to synne and so for her I shall haue no grace of my brother but lose my lyfe thys knowe I well therfore it shall not be so Than sente he a messenger vnto y e Empresse prayinge her for Chrystes passyon that she wolde vouchesafe to coÌ„me vnto y e pryson dore that he myght speke a worde or two wyth her The Empresse came to hym enquyred of hym what he wolde haue He answered Tayde O lady haue mercy vpon me for yf the Emperoure my brother fynde me in thys pryson than shall I dye with out ony remedy Than sayd the Empresse yf I myght knowe that thou woldest be a good man leue thy foly thou sholdest haue grace Than dyd he promyse her sykerly to be true and to amende all hys frespace Whan he had thus promysed the Empresse delyuered hym anone and made hym to be bathed and shauen arayed hym worshypfully accordynge to hys estate and than she sayd vnto hym thus Now good brother lepe on thy stede and coÌ„me wyth me that we may mete my lorde He answered and sayd Lady I am redy to fulfyl your wyll and coÌ„maundement in all thynges And than the Empresse toke hym wyth her many other knyghtes and so rede forth to mete wyth the Emperoure and as they rode togyder by y e waye they sawe where a great harte ran afore them wherfore euery man wyth suche houndes as they had chased hym on horsbacke so that wyth y e Empresse was lefte no creature saue onely the Emperours brother whyche seynge that no man was there but they two thus he sayd vnto y e Empresse Loo lady here besyde is a preuy forest and longe it is agone that I spake to the of loue coÌ„me now and consent vnto me that I may lye wyth the. Than sayd the Empresse Al foole what may thys be yesterdaye I delyuered the out of pryson vpon thy ê“messe in hope of amendment and now thou arte returned to thy foly agayne wherfore I say now to the as I haue sayd before there shal no man do suche thynge wyth me saue onely my lorde the Emperour whyche oweth of very duty so for to do Than sayd he yf thou wylte not consent to me I shall hange the here vpon a tree in this forest where no man shall fynde the and so shalt thou dye an euyll deth The Empresse answered mekely and sayde Though thou smyte of my heed and put me to
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
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