lot fell on hym that gaue the counseyle than hys felowes forthwith put out hys eyen And whan he was blynde he wente to themperours palays asked of y e stewarde an hondred shyllynges accordyng to thēperours lawe Dere frende sayd the stewarde thou myghtest se wyth bothe thyne eyen yesterday thou also vnderstandest y e lawe amys for y e lawe is made for men y t are blynde thrugh infirmytees or by y e wyll of god yesterday y u haddest thy syght in the tauerne but wylfully y u hast lost thyne eyen therfore go y u to the tauerne agayn to thy felowes make thy peace quyte thy selfe for here getest thou not a farthyng Than went this wretched man forth tolde hys felowes of y e stewardes answere wyth that came in y e tauerner despoyled them of al theyr clothes and bette them thus droue them w t shame out of the cyte and so were they neuer sene ther after ¶ Dere frendes thys emperour is our sauyour Chryst whych ordeyned for a lawe y t euery blynde man sholde haue an hōdred shyllinges of his treasour This blinde man betokeneth euery synner whyche synneth thrugh infirmytees or entysyng of the deuyl the worlde the flesshe whyche shall receyue an hondred shyllynges yf he be inwardly repentaūt of hys synnes that is to saye he shall haue an hondred tymes more ioye accordynge to scrypture saying thus Centuplū accipietis et vitā eternā possidebitis Ye shall receyue an hondred tymes more ioye yf ye be repentaunt turne frō synne also ye shal haue euerlastyng lyfe These men that came to the tauerne dranke the wyne be synners whyche oftentymes cōme to y e tauerne of our aduersary y e deuyll and drynke that is to say they there consume waste away al goostly vertues whyche they receyued whan they toke christendom at y e font stone wherfore y e deuyl our ennemy despoyleth them maketh them to lese all theyr good dedes y t euer they wrought before they cast lottes that is to say the cast amonge them y e custome of synne this lot of sinne falleth on them that is worshypfull wythout mercy suche a man wylfully becōmeth blynde that is to saye he becōmeth wylfully a foule synner lyke Iudas that betrayed our lord wtout ony suggestyon or entysing therfore suche men synne more greuously whan they cōme before the stewarde that is to saye before the prelates of the chyrche they may not lyghtly optayne the ioyes of heuen for why they be not in y e ryght waye to leue theyr synne Therfore study we wyth all our diligence to please god that we may optayne euerlastyng rewarde Unto y e whych brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperoure named Pylomyus whyche had onely a doughter a fayre damoysel a gracyous in y e syght of euery mā and was named Aglaes There was also in themperours palays a gētyll knyght y t loued thys lady aboue all thynge in y e worlde It befell after vpon a daye that thys knyght talked wyth thys lady vttred in secrete wyse hys desyre to her Thā sayd she curteysly syth ye haue vttred to me the preuytees of your herte I shall in lyke wyse for your loue vtter to you y e secretes of my hert truly I say that aboue all other I loue you best Than sayd y e knyght I purpose to visyte y e holy lande therfore gyue me your trouth that thys .vij. yere ye shal take none other man but onely for my loue to tary me so longe and yf I cōme not agayne to this day .vii. yere take thā what man ye lyke best And in lyke wyse I shall promyse you that wythin thys .vij. yere I shall take no wyfe Than sayd she thys couenaunt pleaseth me well Whan thys was sayd eueryche of them betrouthed other thā this knyght toke hys leue of this lady went forth to the holy lande Anone after that y e Emperour treated wyth the kyng of Hungary of maryage for hys doughter Than came the kynge of Hungary to themperours palays to se his doughter whā he had seen her he lyked meruaylously wel her beaute and her goodnes so that themperour the kyng were accorded in all thynges as touchyng y e maryage vpon the condicyon that the damoysell wolde consent Than called themperour the yonge lady to hym sayd O my fayre doughter I haue prouyded for the y t a kyng shall be thy husbande yf the lyst to assent therfore tell me what answere thou wylte gyue to thys Than sayd she to her father it pleaseth me well but of one thyng dere father I you beseche yf it myght please you to graunt me for y e loue of god I haue auowed my chastite onely to god for thys .vij. yere therfore dere father I beseche you for al the loue y t is bytwene your gracyous fatherhode me that ye name no man to be my husband tyll these .vij. yere be ended and than I shall be redy in all thynges to fulfyll your wyll Than sayd themperour syth it is so that thou wylt no husband haue these .vii. yere I wyll not breke thy vowe but whā the .vii. yere ben passed thou shalt haue y e kynge of Hungary to thy husbande And than themperour sent forth hys lettres to y e kyng of Hungary praying hym yf it myght please hym to abyde .vii. yere for y e loue of his doughter thā sholde he spede of his entent without fayle Hereof the kynge was pleased and graūted to abyde And whan these .vij. yere were ended saue a daye the yonge lady stode in her chambre wyndowe wepte sore sayinge thus Alas alas as to morowe my loue promysed to be wyth me agayne fro the holy lande also the kynge of Hungary to morowe wyll be here for to wedde me accordyng for my fathers promyse yf my loue cōme not at a certayne houre than am I vtterly deceyued of the inwarde loue of hym Whan the daye came the kynge arayed hym towarde themperour w t a great company to wedde hys doughter was royally besene arayed in purple And whyle y e kyng was rydyng on hys way there came a knyght sodeynly ryding bi hym to whom he sayd thus Dere frende whens arte thou whens cōmest thou The knyght answered and sayd I am of th empyre of Rome and now am cōme late fro the holy lande am redy to do your seruyce suche as I cā And as they rode talkyng by the waye it began to rayne so fast that all the kynges aray was almoost loost Than sayd y e knyght My lorde quod he ye haue done folysshly for as moche as ye brought not w t you your hous Than sayd the kyng how spekest thou so my hous is large brode made of stones morter how sholde I than beare wyth me my
fulfyll what so euer ye saye to vs for our profyte Than sayd themperour My good frendes ye haue of me bothe landes and tenementes wyth other mouable goodes and that great plente the whyche by my couÌ„seyle ye shall departe w t the poore men that they may graunte you the lordshyp And anone these ryche men gladly grauÌ„ted to this departed al theyr goodes amonge the poore men than they gaue them agayne the lordshyp ouer theÌ„ lyke as they had of y e ryche men And thus were they bothe content themperour was greatly coÌ„mended of al the people bycause he accorded bothe the partyes so wysely ¶ By thys Emperour is vnderstande our lorde Iesu Chryst whych made a proclamacyon by hys ê“phetes patriarkes apostles prechers that euery man bothe poore ryche sholde coÌ„me aske euerlastynge ioye and wythout doubte they shall optayne theyr peticion But y e ryche and myghty men asked none other thynge but worldly honour transytory rychesse for thys worlde shall passe all his couetyse wherfore he gaue them so moche of worldly goodes that he had nothinge lefte to hymselfe accordyng to scripture The byrdes of heuen haue nestes y e foxes in erth haue caues but y e sone of god hath nothyng in erth where he may put hys heed The poore men be suche as be meke in herte Of the whyche poore men speketh our lorde saying Blessed be the poore in herte for the kyngdom of heuen is theyrs And yf it sholde seme that they haue lordshyps aboue myghty men of thys worlde therfore these ryche men ought to departe theyr rychesse wyth poore men accordynge to the scrypture saying thus Gyue ye almes all thynge shall be cleue to you And thus may ye gete a lordshyp in heuen vnto y e whyche lordshyp I beseche almyghty god to brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a myghty emperour named Domicyan whyche had two doughters of whome one was passynge fayre that other foule vgly to beholde wherfore he let crye thrugh out all his empyre that what man wolde haue hys fayre doughter to wyfe sholde haue nothynge w t her but her fayrnes And who that wedded hys foule doughter sholde haue all hys empyre after hys deth And whan the proclamacyon was made there came many lordes y t desyred to wedde hys fayre doughter Tho whome the Emperour answered thus Syrs ê™ he ye wote not what ye desyre ryght well ye knowe that yf ye wedde her ye shall haue nothynge w t her but her fayrnes farthermore yf I gyue her to one of you not to another than wyll ye stryue for her therfore yf ye wyll nedes haue her forsake my foule doughter you behoueth fyrst to iust for her and he that wynneth her shall wedde her Than were the greatest states of y e empyre greatly reioyced anone onely for he loue they wolde iust also fyght wherfore they set a day of batayle many worthy men were slayne on bothe sydes neuerthelesse one optayned the victory and wedded that fayre lady The seconde doughter that was foule and vgly sawe thys that her syster was wedded w t great solempnite mourned wepte dayly wherfore the Emperour her father came to her and sayde Dere doughter why mournest thou thus Alas dere father quod she it is no wonder though I mourne seynge my syster wedded wyth so great honour gladnes euery man is fayne of her no man loueth my felawshyp and therfore dere father what I may best do sothly I wote not Than sayd the emperour O my dere doughter all y t is myne is thyne and it is not vnknowen to you that he whyche wedded thy syster had nothynge w t her but her fayrnes therfore I shall proclayme in myne owne ê‘sone thrugh all myne Empyre that what man weddeth you I shall make hym sure by letâ—re pateÌ„t of al myne empyre after my deth ThaÌ„ this yonge lady though she was foule vgly neuerthelesse she reioyced in y e promesse of her father anone after the proclamacyon was made than there came a yonge knight a gentyll wedded y e lady after the deth of the Emperour he seased all the Empyre and was crowned Emperour and she Empresse ¶ This Emperour betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst which hath two doughters that one fayre that other foule That one fayre betokeneth thys worlde whych is ful fayre delectable to many meÌ„ That other foule betokeneth pouerte trouble whome fewe men desyre to wedde Neuerthelesse a coÌ„mune crye was made by holy scripture that who so wold haue his fayre doughter that is the worlde sholde haue nothynge wyth her but her fayrnes that is to saye the worldly vanyâ—ees whyche fade fall a waye lyke as the fayrnes of man But who that wyll wedde the foule doughter that is to say wylfully to receyue pouerte trouble for goddes loue wythout doubte he shall optayne y e empyre of heuen accordyng to scrypture saying Ye that haue forsaken all thyng for my loue to folowe me shall haue euerlastyng lyfe Many noble and worthy men haue iusted for the fayre doughter that is to saye haue foughten bothe by see by lande for thys worlde for couetyse of worldly rychesse at the last there be many slayne for there is nothing here but pryde of lyfe couetyse of eyen or of the flesshe where thrugh all the worlde is put to great myschefe But he that weddeth the fayre doughter that is y e worlde is he that setteth all hys affeccyon desyre in the wrecchednes of thys worlde wyll not for nothyng forsake thys worlde lyke a wretche couetous man But he that weddeth the foule doughter is a good chrysten man whych for the loue of y e kyngdom of heueÌ„ forsaketh all this worlde not onely doth thus but also despyseth hymselfe bodyly obeyinge vnto his soueraynes in all thynge Suche a man certaynly shall optayne the Empyre of heuen Unto the whyche Iesu Chryst brynge bothe you and me Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a myghty emperour named Andromyke whych aboue all thynge loued melody Thys Emperour had wythin hys castell a well of suche vertue that who so euer were dronken dranke of the water of that well sholde incontynent be fresshe agayn be delyuered froÌ„ all maner of droÌ„kennes There was also dwellynge in thys Emperours courte a knyght named Ydrony whome y e Emperour loued moche but oftentymes he was dronken whych vyce the emperour hated aboue all thynge And whan thys knyght perceyued hymselfe dronken than wolde he go to the well drynke of the water refresshe hym selfe so that what so euer the Emperour sayde to hym he wolde answere hym so reasonably that no dronkeÌ„nes myght be seen in hym for hys wytty answere he was greaâ—ly beloued of the Emperour Neuerthelesse his felowes of the courte enuyd hym moche ymagyned amonge themselfe how they myght departe y e
¶ Here after folowâ— the hystorye of Gesta-Romanorum SOmtyme there dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour whyche had a fayre creature to hys doughtar named Atleâ—ta whome dyuerse great lordes many noble knyghtes desyred to haue to wyfe Thys AtleÌ„ta was wounders swyfte on fote wherfore suche a lawe was ordeyned y t no maÌ„ sholde haue her to wyfe but suche as myght ouer renne her take her by strengthe of fote And so it befell that many came ranne wyth her but she was so swyfte that no 〈…〉 course of reunynge At y e last 〈…〉 Pomeys vnto her father sayd to hym thus 〈◊〉 lorde yf it myght please you to gyue me your doughter to wyfe I wyll gladly renne wyth her Than sayd her father there is suche a lawe ordeyned set that who so wyll haue her to wyfe must fyrst renne wyth her yf he fayle in hys course y t he ouertake her not he shall lese hys heed yf it fortune hym to ouertake her than shall I wedde her vnto hym And whaÌ„ the Emperoure had tolde hym all the peryll that myght â–ª fall in y e wynnynge of her the knyght wylfully graunted to abyde that ieopardye Than the knyght let ordeyne hym thre balles of golde agaynst the rennynge And whan they had begon to renue a lyttel spare the yonge lady ouer ranne hym than y e knyght threwe forth before her the fyrst ball of golde And whan the damoysell sawe y e bal she stouped and toke it vp and that whyle the knyght wanne before her but that auayled lyttell for whaÌ„ she perceyued that she ranne so fast that in shorte space she gate before hym agayne And than he threwe forth the seconde hall of golde and she stouped as she dyd before to take it vp and in that whyle the knyght wanne before her agayne whyche thys yonge damoysell seynge coÌ„strayned herselfe and ranne so fast tyll at the last she had hym at a vauntage agayn was afore hym and by that tyme they were nygh the marke where they sholde abyde wherfore y e knyght threwe forth y e thyrde ball before her and lyke as she had done before sâ—ouped downe to take vp the ball whyle she was in takynge vp the thyrde ball the knyght gate afore her and was fyrst at the marke And thus was she wonne ¶ By this Emperour is vnderstande the father of heuen and by thys damoysell is vnderstande the soule of man with whome many deuylles desyre to renne and to deceyue her thrugh theyr teÌ„ptacyons but she wythstandeth them myghtyly and ouercoÌ„meth them And whan they haue done theyr power and may not spede than make they thre balles of golde and casteth them before her in the thre ages of man that is to saye in youth in manhode in olde age In youth he casteth the ball of lechery before her that is to saye the desyre of the flesshe neuerthelesse for all this ball oftentymes man ouercoÌ„meth the deuyll by confessyon contrycyon and satisfaccyon The seconde ball is the ball of pryde the whyche the deuyll casteth to man in hys manhode that is to saye in hys myddle age but thys ball man oftentymes ouercoÌ„meth as he dyd y e fyrst But let hym beware of the thyrde ball whyche is y e ball of couetyse that the deuyll casteth to man in hys olde age whyche is dredefull For but yf a man may ouercoÌ„me this ball wyth these other two he shall lese hys honour that is to saye the kyngdome of heuen For whan man brenneth in couetyse he thynketh not on goostly rychesse for euer his hert is set on woorldly goodes and recketh not of prayers ne of almes dedes and thus leseth he hys herytage to y e whyche god hath bought hym wyth hys preâ—yous blode vnto the whyche our lorde Iesu Chryst brynge bothe you me al mankynde Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour a wyse named Anselme whyche bare in his armes a shelde of syluer w t fyue reed roses This Emperour had thre sones whome he loued moche he had also contynuall warre wyth the kynge of Egypte in the whyche warre he lost all hys temporall goodes excepte a vertuous tree It fortuned after on a daye that he gaue batayle to y e sayd kyng of Egypte wherin he was greuously wouÌ„ded Neuerthelesse he opteyned the vyctory notwythstandynge he had hys deedly wouÌ„de wherfore whyle he lay in poynt of deth he called vnto hym his eldest sone sayd My moost dere and welbeloued sone al my teÌ„poral rychesse I haue spente almoost nothynge is lefte me except a vertuous tree the whyche standeth in the myddes of myne Empyre I gyue to the all that is vnder the erth aboue y e erth of y e same tree O my reuerent father ê™ he I thanke you moche Than sayde themperour call to me my second sone Anone his eldest sone greatly gladded of his fathers gyfte called in hys brother and whan he came than sayd themperour My dere sone quod he I may not make my testament for as moche as I haue spent all my goodes excepte a tree whyche standeth in myne Empyre of the whyche tree I bequethe to the all that is greate and small Than answered he sayd My reuerent father I thanke you moche Than sayd y e Emperour call to me my thyrde sone and so it was done And whaÌ„ he was coÌ„me the Emperour sayd My dere sone I must dye of these woundes I haue but onely a vertuous tree of the whyche I haue bequethed thy bretherne theyr porcyon and to the I bequethe thy porcyon for I wyll that thou haue of the sayd tree all that is wete drye Than sayde hys sone Father I thanke you Soone after that y e Emperour had made hys bequest he dyed And the eldest sone anone toke season of the tree Whan the seconde brother herde thys he sayde My brother by what lawe or tytel occupy ye thys tree Dere brother quod he I occupy it by thys tytell my father gaue me all that is vnder the erth aboue of the sayd tree therfore by reason thys tree is myne Unknowynge to the quod the seconde brother he gaue me all that is in brede lengthe depnes of the sayd tree therfore I haue as great â–ª ryght in y e tree as thou This hearyng the thyrde sone came to them sayd O ye my best beloued bretherne it behoueth you not to stryue for this tree for as moche ryght haue I in this tree as ye for well ye wote by y e lawe that the last wyll testament ought to stande for sothly he gaue me of the sayd tree all that is wete drye therfore by ryght the tree is myne but for as moche as your tales ben greate myne also my couÌ„seyle is that we be iustyfyed by reason for it is not good nor coÌ„mendable that any stryfe or dyssencyoÌ„ shold be amonge vs. Here besyde dwelleth a kyng of
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
saye thus Haue we not done penaunce in our lyfe For he that suffreth payne for the loue of god shall receyue an hondred tymes more rewarde and also he shall optayne euerlastynge lyfe vnto the whyche brynge bothe you and me and all mankynde Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a wytty Emperour named PoÌ„pey whyche had a fayre doughter called Aglas Thys doughter had many vertues aboue all other women of that Empyre Fyrst she was fayre gracyous in the syght of euery man She was also swyfte in rennynge that no man myght ouertake her by a great space Whan the Emperour vnderstode these two vertues in hys doughter he was ryght ioyfull wherfore he made to proclayme thrugh out al hys Empyre that what man poore or ryche wolde renne wyth hys doughter shold haue her to wyfe wyth great ryches yf he myght ouer renne her coÌ„me sooner to y e marke than she yf she ouer renne hym coÌ„me sooner to the marke than he hys heed sholde be smytten of Whan the states of y e empyre as dukes erles barons and knyghtes herd this crye they offred them selfe one aâ—ter an other to renne w t her but euer this yonge lady ouer ranne them al wherfore they lost theyr hedes accordynge to y e lawe That tyme there was a poore man dwellynge in Rome whyche thought within hymselfe I am a poore man and coÌ„me of poore kynrede there is made a coÌ„mune crye y t what man so euer myght ouer renne the Emperours doughter by ony wyse sholde be promoted to greate honour and rychesse therfore yf I myght ouercoÌ„me her by ony maner waye I shold not onely be ê“moted to great honour but also al my kynne Thys poore man prouyded hymselfe of thre Iewelles wherby he myght wynne her Fyrst he made a garlaÌ„d of reed roses and of whyte Secondly he made a fayre gyrdell of sylke craftely wrought Thyrdly he made a purse of sylke set full of precyous stones wythin the purse was a ball of thre colours and vpon thys purse was wryteÌ„ thys posey who playeth w t me shall neuer be wery of my playe Than puthe these thre thynges in hys bosome went forth to y e palays gate cryenge sayinge CoÌ„me forth fayre lady comme forth for I am redy to renne wyth you fulfyll y e lawe in all thynges Whan themperour herd this he coÌ„mauÌ„ded his doughter to renne wyth hym Thys yonge lady wente to her chambre wyndowe whan she sawe hym she despysed hym and sayd I haue ouercoÌ„men sayde she many worthy knyghtes now must I renne wyth a chorle neuerthelesse I shall fulfyll my fathers coÌ„mauÌ„dement Anone the damoysel arayed her for to renne wyth hym And at y e last they ranne togyder within shorte space the damaysell wente ferre afore hym Whan thys iugler sawe thys he threwe forth the garlande of floures before her And whan y e damoysell behelde sawe that she stouped downe toke it vp set it vpon her heed that whyle the iugler went afore her And whan thys yonge damoysel sawe this she wepte sore for sorowe she threwe y e garlande in a dyche ranne after hym dylygently at the last ouertoke hym lyft vp her ryght hande gaue hym a buffet saying to hym thus Abyde thou wretche it besemeth not thy fathers sone to haue me to hys wyfe And this yonge lady went before hym a great space And whan the iugler sawe thys he toke out the gyrdel of his bosom threwe it before her And whan she sawe that lyghtly she stouped downe toke it vp anone gyrde her therwyth and than the iugler wente agayne before her And whan she sawe that she made greate lamentacyon toke the gyrdell wyth her tethe tare it in thre peces than threwe it from her and than she ranne fast after hym at y e last ouertoke hym than she toke vp her hande gaue hym a great blowe saying these wordes O wretche wenest thou to ouercoÌ„me me with that she ranne before hym a great space The iugler was slye subtyll abode tyll that she was almoost at the marke than he threwe forth before her the purse And whan she sawe thys purse anone she stouped downe toke it vp and opened it founde the ball and redde the posey who playeth wyth me shall neuer be wery of my playe And than began she to playe and so longe she contynued in playinge tyll that the iugler was before her at the marke And thus he wanne the Emperours doughter ¶ Dere frendes thys emperour is our â—auyour Chryst and hys fayre doughter is mannes soule whyche was made clene wyth the water of the holy font was also full lyght to renne that is to say in vertue whyle that she is in clennes so y t no deedly synne myght ouercoÌ„me her Thys iugler that is coÌ„me of so whyly blode is the deuyll the whyche studyeth day nyght to deceyue innoceÌ„tes He prouydeth hym of thre thynges Fyrst of y e garlande whych be tokeneth pryde by thys reason for why a garlaÌ„de of floures is not set vpon the arme nor vpon the fote but vpon the heed that it may be seen Ryght so pryde wolde be seen agaynst proude men speketh saynt Austyn saying thus QuecuÌ„que suê‘bâ—uÌ„ videris filiuÌ„ diaboli dicinoÌ„ dubitetis That is to say what proude man that y e mayst se doubte ye not to call hym the sone of the deuyll Do thou therfore as the mayden dyd be wepe thy synne drawe of the garland of pryde and cast it in the dyche of contrycyon so shalte y u gyue the deuyll a great buffet ouercoÌ„me hym But whan thys iugler that is to say our goostly ennemy y e deuyll seeth hymselfe ouercoÌ„me in one synne thaÌ„ he returneth and tempteth a man in an other synne casteth before man the gyrdel of lechery But alas there be full many gyrde wyth the gyrdell ef lechery of the whych gyrdell speketh saynt Gregory saying thus Gyrde we our loynes wyth y e gyrdell af chastyte for who so euer is gyrte wyth thys gyrdell shal not lese the course of lyfe Than casteth the iugler forth y t is to say the deuyll the purse wyth the ball The purse that is open aboue close vnder betokeneth y e hert whyche euermore sholde be close vnder agaynst erthly thynges open aboue to heueÌ„ly ioye the two strynges y t openeth shytteth the purse betokeneth the loue of god of our neyghbours The ball whych is rounde mouable to euery parte of hys dyfference betokeneth couetyse whyche moueth euer bothe in yonge in olde therfore the posey was good and true that was wryten on the purse who so playeth wyth me that is to say wyth couetyse they shall neuer be fulfylled Therfore sayth Seneca CuÌ„ oiÌ„a pâ—taÌ„ senescunt sola cupiditas inuenescit Whan y t all synnes waxe olde than
wythout wtin full of deed mennes bones and thervpon was wryten thys posey Who so choseth me shall fynde that he deserueth The seconde vessell was made of fyne syluer fylled wyth erth wormds and y e superscripcyon was thus Who so choseth me shall fynde that hys nature desyreth The thyrde vessel was made of lede full wythin of precyous stones and thervpon was wryten thys posey Who so choseth me shall fynde that god hath disposed for hym These thre vessels the Emperour shewed to the mayden and sayd Lo here doughter these be noble vessels yf thou cose one of these wherin is profyte to the to other than shalte thou haue my sone And yf thou chose that wherin is no profyte to the nor to none other sothly thou shalt not wedde hym Whan the mayden sawe thys she lyfte vp her handes to god sayd Thou lorde whych knowest all thynges graunte me grace thys houre so to chose that I may receyue the Emperours sone And w t that she behelde the fyrst vessel of golde whyche was forged and grauen royally and redde thys scrypture Who so choseth me â–ª c. sayinge thus Though thys vessel be full precyous and made of pure golde neuerthelesse I knowe not what is wythin therfore my dere lorde this vessell wyll I not chose And than behelde she the seconde vessell that was of clere syluer redde the superscrypcyon who so choseth me shall fynde that hys nature desyreth Thynkynge thus wythin her selfe yf I chose thys vessell what is wythin I knowe not but well I wote there shall I fynde that nature desyreth and my nature desyreth the lust of the flesshe and therfore thys vessell wyll I not chose Whan she had seen those two vessels gyuen an answere as touchynge to them she behelde the thyrde vessell of lede redde the suê‘scripcyon who so choseth me shall fynde that god hath disposed Thynkyng within her selfe thys vessell is not passyng ryche ne precyous without forth neuertheless y e suê‘scrypcyon sayth who so choseth me shall fynde y e god hath dysposed without doubte god neuer disposed ony harme therfore as now I wyll chose this vessell WhaÌ„ the Emperour sawe thys he sayd O good mayden open thy vessell for it is ful of precyous stones and se yf y t hast well chosen or no. And whaÌ„ thys yonge lady had opened it she fouÌ„de it full of golde precyous stones lyke as the Emperour had tolde her afore And than sayd the emperour O my dere doughter bycause thou hast wysely chosen therfore shalt thou wedde my sone And whan he had so sayd he ordeyned amaryage and wedded them worthyly togyder wyth moche ioye and honour so contynued to theyr lynes ende ¶ Thys Emperour betokeneth the father oâ— heuen the whyche was longe tyme wythout a 〈…〉 wherfore many men were perysshed and wente to hâ—â—l The Empresse conceyued whan the aungell Gabryelâ— sayd Lo thou shalte conceyue beare a chylde And than the fyrmameÌ„t began to clere whan this lytell chylde lyghtned y e worlde wyth his byrth The mone than began to wexe pale whan the face of y e vyrgyn Mary was ouer shadowed by vertue of the grace of the holy goost not onely her face was thus shadowed but also her body for she was great w t chylde an other woman wherfore Ioseph wold haue forsaken her pryuely and gone away The lyttell byrde that came from the one syde of the mone betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst whych at mydnyght was borne of our lady wrapped in clothes and layde in an oxe stall The two beestes betokeneth y e ore the asse that Ioseph brought wyth hym â–ª whyche honoured hym in hys byrthe These other beestes that came from farre betokeneth the herdes in the felde to whome the auÌ„gell sayd thus Ecce nuncio vobis gandiuÌ„ magnuÌ„ Lo I shewe to you great ioye The byrdes that songe so swetely betokeneth the aungels of heuen whyche songe at his byrth thys mery songe Gloria in excelsis Ioye to god aboue and peace to men in erth The kynge of Ampluy whyche helde warre agaynst y e Emperour betokeneth al mankynde that was contrary to god as longe as he was in the deuyls power But anone whaÌ„ our lord Iesu Chryst was borne he bowed hymselfe to god besought hym of peace whan he receyued hys baptym for at our baptysyng we behote â—o drawe onely to god forsakr y e deuyl all his pompes This kynge gaue hys doughter in maryage to y e Emperours sone Ryght so eche of vs ought to gyue hys soule in maryage to goddes sone for he is euer redy to receyue our soule to his spoule accordynge to scripture saying â—â—sponsabo ipsam mihi I shall spouse her to me But or the soule may coÌ„me to y e palays of heuen her behoueth to sayle by y e see of this worlde in y e shyppe of good lyfe but oftentymes there aryseth a tempest in the see that is to saye the trouble of thys worlde the temptacyon of the flesshe the suggestyon of the deuyl aryseth sodaynly drowneth the vertues that y e soule receyueth at the font stone neuerthelesse yet falleth she not out of y e shyppe of charite but kepeth her selfe surely therin by fayth hope For as y e apostle sayth Spe salui facti sumê° By hope we be saued For it is impossyble to be saued wout hope or fayth The great whale that folowed the mayden betokeneth y e deuyll whyche by nyght and by daye lyeth in a wayte to ouercoÌ„me the soule by synne therfore do we as dyd y e mayden smyte we fyre of charite loue out of the stone that is Chryst accordyng to hys saying Ego suÌ„ lapis I am a stone And certaynly the deuyll shall haue no power to greue vs. Many men begyn well as dyd y e mayde but at the last they be wery of theyr good werkes so slepe they in synne And anone whan the deuyll perceyueth thys he deuoureth the synner in euyll thoughtes delytes consent weâ—ke Therfore yf ony of vs fele our selfe in suche lyfe vnder the power of the deuyll let hym do as the mayde dyd smyte the deuyll wyth the knyfe of bytter penauÌ„ce than kyndell the fyre of charite without doubte he shal cast the on y e londe of good lyfe The erle that came with hys seruauntes to slee the whale betokeneth a discrete confessour whych dwelleth besyde the see that is to say besyde the worlde not in y e worlde that is to saye not drawynge to worldly delectacyons but euer is redy wyth good wordes of holy scripture to slee the denyl and destroye his power we must all crye wyth an hye voyce as dyd thys mayden knowlegynge our synnes than shall we be delyuered from y e deuyll and nourysshed wyth good werkes The Emperoure sheweth thys mayden thre vessels that is to saye god putteth before man lyfe deth good euyll whyche of
rowers of y e see betokeneth all mankynde whych was taken wyth the deuyll by the synne of our fore father Adam and was cast in to the pryson of hell wyth great sorowe and payne His father wolde not rauÌ„some hym that is to saye the worlde wolde do nothynge for hym Thys fayre doughter betokeneth the godhede whych came downe from heuen and toke manhode of the vyrgyn Marye and so made a goostly maryage bytwene hym and man And vpon thys condicyon he delyuered mankynde out of thys pryson of hell whan he came fro heuen and forsoke the felawshyp of auÌ„gels for to dwell wyth vs in thys wretched valey of teares But the father that betokeneth y e worlde grutched euer agaynst hym and wolde not suffre that the soule of man sholde becoÌ„me the spouse of Iesu Chryst but that she sholde alway serue hym and forsake our lord Therfore yf we folowe the worlde hys vanytees sothly we shall fall in to the snare of the deuyll Fro the whyche defende vs our blessed sauyour Iesu Chryst. Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a noble Emperoure of great lyuelode named Alexander the whyche aboue all vertues loued y e vertue of largesse wherfore he ordeyned a lawe for great curiosite that no man vnder payne of deth sholde turne a playce in his dysshe at hys meate but onely eate the whyte syde and not the blacke and yf ony man wolde attempte to do the contrary he sholde dye wythout remedy but or he dyed he sholde aske thre bones of the emperour what hym lyst excepte hys lyfe whyche sholde be graunted hym It befell after on a daye that there came an erle his sone of a straunge countree to speke wyth the Emperoure And whan thys erle was set to meate he was serued wyth a playce and he whyche was hungry and had an appetyte to his meate â–ª after he had eaten y e whyte syde he turned the blacke syde began to eate therof wherfore anone he was accused to the Emperoure bycause he had offended agaynst the lawe Than sayd the Emperoure Let hym dye accordynge to the lawe wythout one delaye Whan the erles sone herde that hys father sholde dye anone he set hym downe on bothe his knees tofore the Emperour and sayd O my reuerende lorde for hys loue that henge vpon the crosse let me dye for my father Than sayd the Emperoure It pleaseth me well that one dye for the offence of the lawe Than sayd thys erles sone syth it is so that I shall dye I aske the benefytes of the lawe that is to saye that I may haue thre peticyons graunted or I dye The Emperour answered and sayde Aske what thou wylte there shall no man saye the nay Than sayd thys yonge knyght My lorde ye haue but one doughter the whyche I desyre of your hyghnes that she may lye wyth me a nyght or I dye The Emperour grauÌ„ted though it were agaynst his wyll in fulfyllynge of his lawe Neuerthelesse this knyght defouled her not as that nyght Therfore pleased he greatly the Emperour The seconde peticyon is thys I aske al thy treasour And anone the Emperour graunted bycause he shold not be called a breker of his owne lawe And whan thys erles sone had receyued y e emperours treasour he departed it bothe to poore and ryche wherfore he optayned theyr good wylles My thyrde peticyon is thys I aske my lorde that all y e eyen may be put out incontynent whyche sawe my father eatynge of the blacke playce Wherfore the Emperour let make an inquisicyon anone who it was that sawe the erle turne y e playce And they that sawe hym turne the playce bethought them and sayd wythin themselfe Yf we knowlege that we sawe hym do thys trespace than shall our eyen be put out and therfore it is better that he holde vs styll And so there was none founde that wold accuse hym Whan the erles sone sawe thys he sayd to the Emperour My lorde quod he ye se that there is no man accuseth my father therfore gyue ye ryghtfull iudgemeÌ„t Than sayd the Emperour For as moche that no man wyl knowlege that they sawe hym turne the playce therfore I wyll not y t thy father shall dye Lo thus the sone saued his fathers lyfe after the decese of the Emperour wedded hys doughter ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour betokeneth the father of heuen whyche ordeyned a lawe that no man sholde turne the blacke syde of the playce that is to say there sholde no man labour for rychesse or lordshyp by couetyse and falshede The erle that came to the Emperour betokeneth Adam our for father whyche came out of the lande of Damasse to the courte of paradyse and turned vp the blacke syde of the playce whan he ete of the apple wherfore he sholde haue ben dampned to euerlastynge deth But hys sone that betokeâ—eth our lorde Iesu Chryst. For he toke flesshe of Adam and profered hymselfe wylfully to dye for hym The father of heuen graunted that he sholde go downe to dye for mankynde Neuerthelesse or he dyed he asked thre peticyons of his father of heuen The fyrst was thys y t he myght haue by hym hys doughter whyche betokeneth the soule of man and brynge her wyth hym into the bosome of heuen accordyng to y e wordes of Osee saying Desponsabo eam michi That is to saye I shall wedde her to my wyfe The second peticyon was thys All the Emperours treasour whyche betokeneth the treasour of heuen accordynge to thys scrypture Sicut disposuit michi pater That is to saye Lyke as my father hath disposed for me so I dyspose for you The thyrde petycyon was thys that al theyr eyen shold be put out that is to saye that the deuyll whyche dayly accuseth man that he myght be put fro the lyght of heuenly grace And thus saued he mankynde and ledde hym vp wyth hym vnto the palays of heuen Unto the whyche palays brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour named Lemycyus whyche on a daye rode to a forest for to sporte hym where as he mette sodeynly wyth a poore man to whome he sayde thus Frende whens coÌ„mest thou who art thou My lord quod he I coÌ„me fro the nexte cyte and your man I am Than sayd the Emperoure thou semest poore therfore yf thou wylte be good and true I shall promote the to great rychesse and honour Than answered this poore man and sayd My lorde I promyse you faythfully to be true to you as longe as I lyue The Emperour anone made hym knyght and gaue hym greate rychesse Whan he was thus promoted he waxed so proude that he thought hymselfe more able to be an Emperour than hys lord wherfore he made suggestyon to dyuerse lordes of that Empyre that he myght vsurpe take vpoÌ„ hym thrugh strength of them to be Emperour Whan y e Emperour herde thys anone he exiled hym and al those that were coÌ„sentyng to hym
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