in the forneys wyth the stones and thys nyght coÌ„mauÌ„de ye thys Fulgentius that he go erly in the mornynge to your werkmen and that he aske them whether they haue fulfylled your wyll or not and than shall they accordynge to your coÌ„maundement cast hym in the fyre and thus shall he dye an euyll deth Sothly quod the Emperour thy counseyle is good therfore call to me that rybaude Fulgentyus And whan thys yonge man was coÌ„me to the Emperour he sayde to hym thus I charge y e vpon payne of deth that thou ryse erly in the mornynge and go to the brenners of lyme and brycke and that thou be wyth them before y e sonne ryse thre myles from this house and charge them on my behalfe that they fulfyll my commauÌ„dement or else they shall dye a shamefull deth Than sayd thys FulgeÌ„tius My lorde yf god â—ende me my lyfe I shall fulfyll your wyll though I sholde go to the worldes ende Whan Fulgentyus had thys charge he coude not slepe for thought but that he must aryse erly for to fulfyll hys lordes coÌ„maundement The Emperoure aboute mydnyght sente a messenger on horsbacke vnto his brycke makers coÌ„maundyng them vpon payne of deth that who so euer came to them fyrst in the mornynge sayinge vnto them the Emperours commaundement whych is before rehersed that they sholde take hym cast hym in to the fyre and brenne hym to the bare bones The bryckmakers answered sayd it sholde be done And than the messenger rode home agayne and tolde the Emperoure that hys coÌ„mauÌ„dement sholde be fulfylled Erly in the mornynge folowynge Fulgentyus arose and arayed hym towardes hys waye and as he wente he herde a bell rynge to masse wherfore he went to that chyrche for to heare masse and after the eleuacyon of the blessed sacrament he fell a slepe there he slepte a longe whyle so that the preest ne none other myght awake hym The stewarde desyryng inwardly to heare of hys deth and how he dyd aboute one of the clocke he wente vnto the workmen and sayd to them thus Syrs quod he haue ye done the Emperours coÌ„maundement or not They answered hym agayn and sayde Nay sothly we haue not yet done hys commaundement but anone it shall be done And wyth that they set handes on hym Than cryed the stewarde wyth an hygh voyce sayde Good syrs saue my lyfe for the Emperour commaunded that Fulgentyus sholde be put to deth Than sayd they the messenger tolde not vs so but he bade vs tha who so euer came fyrst to vs in the mornynge saying as is before rehersed that we sholde take hym and cast hym in to the farneys and brenne hym to asshes And wyth that worde they threwe hym in to the fyre And whan he was brente Fulgentyus came to them and sayd Good syrs haue ye done my lordes commaundement Ye sothly sayde they and therfore go ye agayn to the Emperour and tell hym so Than sayd Fulgentius For Chrystes loue tell me that commaundement We had in commaundement sayd they vpon payne of deth that who so euer came to vs fyrst in the mornyng and sayd lyke as thou hast sayde that we sholde take hym and cast hym in to the forneys But afore the came the the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesu Chryst. Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Delphinus whych had no chyldren saue onely a doughter whyche was a fayre creature and greatly beloued of her father As thys Emperour walked vpon a daye on huntynge in the forest sodeynly he rode forth out of hys waye and lost his men wherfore he was greatly disconforted â—or he wyst not whether he rode ne in what place he was tyll at the last whan he had rydden thus al the daye alone in the euenynge he sawe a house and thyder he rode a great pace and knocked at the gate Anone the good man of the house herde hym and asked the cause of hys knockyng and what he wolde haue Dere frende quod the Emperoure lo it is nyght as ye may se therfore I desyre you of lodgynge for the loue of god Whan he had thus sayde the good man of the house vnware that he was the Emperoure answered thus and sayde Good frende quod he I am the Emperours foster and haue plente of venyson and other vyteylles for you Whan the Emperoure herde thys he was ryght glad in hys mynde neuerthelesse he tolde hym not that he was the Emperoure And than the foster opened the gate and receyued hym as worshypfully as he coude set hym to hys supper and serued hym honestly And whan he had supped the foster brought hym to hys chambre and whan tyme was he wente to bedde In the same nyght it befell that the fosters wyfe was trauaylynge of chylde in an other chambre fast by and was delyuered that same nyght of a fayre sone And as the Emperour laye in hys bedde slepynge hym semed he herde a voyce saying to hym thryes these wordes Take take take And wyth that he awoke and meruayled greatly what it myght be sayinge to hymselfe thus A voyce byddeâ—h me take take take what shall I take And anone he fell a slepe agayne and the seconde tyme he herde a voyce sayinge vnto hym these wordes Yelde yelde yelde And wyth that he wakened agayne and wondred greatly sayinge vnto hymselfe What may thys sygnyfye Fyrst I herde a voyce that sayde take take take and nothynge I receyued And ryght now I herde another voyce that sayde yelde yelde yelde what sholde I yelde And as he laye thus thynkynge in hym selfe he fell a slepe agayne And than he herde the thyrde voyce sayinge these wordes thryes Flee flee flee for this nyght is a cyylde borne that after thy decese shall be Emperour Whan the Emperoure herde thys he wakened and wondred greatly what it myght be In the mornynge erly folowynge the Emperoure arose and called to hym the foster sayd Dere frende I praye the that thou wylte tell me yf ony chylde be borne thys nyght to thy knowlege My wyfe quod the foster thys nyght is delyuered of a fayre sone I praye the sayd the Emperoure shewe me thy sone Whan the Emperoure had seen the chylde he sawe a token in the chyldes visage wherby he myght knowe hym an other tyme and than he sayde to the foster thus Dere frende knowest thou who I am Nay sothly quod the foster for I sawe you neuer before thys tyme as farre as I am remembred neuerthelesse it semeth that ye sholde be a gentylman Than answered the Emperoure and sayd I am quod he the Emperour your lorde whome ye haue lodged thys nyght wherfore ryght hertely I thanke you This hearynge the foster fell downe vpon bothe hys knees at his fete and besought hym of mercy yf that he had offended hys hyghnes in ony thynge prayinge hym of forgyuenes Than answered y e Emperour sayde Drede the not for I thanke the hertely of
thy good chere thy sone that was borne to nyght I wyll haue for to nourysshe brynge vp in my courte and to morowe I shall sende for hym A my gracyous lorde quod the foster it is not agreable that suche a noble Emperour sholde nourysshe the chylde of hys subgecte and seruaunt neuerthelesse your wyll be fulfylled for whan your messengers comme I shall delyuer them my sone Whan thys was sayde the Emperoure toke hys leue and rode home towarde his palays And whan he was comme home he called vnto hym suche seruauntes as he trusted best and sayde to them thus Go ye quod he vnto my foster wyth whome I was lodged thys nyght in the forest and receyue of hym his sone of whyche hys wyfe was delyuered thys nyght and vpon payne of deth I commaunde you that ye flee hym by the waye and cast hys flesshe to the dogges but brynge wyth you the herte to me And but ye fulfyll my commauÌ„dement ye shall dye the moost foulest deth that can be thought Anone hys seruauÌ„tes wente to the forest and receyued the fosters sone and brought hym wyth them And whan they were comme nere vnto the palays one of them sayde How shall we do that we may fulfyll our lordes coÌ„maundement in sleynge of thys chylde Some answered sayde that the chylde sholde be slayne and some wolde haue saued hys lyfe and whyle they stroue thus amonge themselfe one of them that was moost mercyfull sayde vnto the other O my good frendes heare my counseyle and ye shall not forthynke it Yf we murther thys innocent chylde we shall greatly offende almyghty god therfore here be yonge pygges sleâ—we one of them and than may we beare wyth vs hys herte and present it vnto the Emperoure sayinge that it is the herte of the chylde and thus shall we not shede the chyldes blode Than sayde they thy couÌ„seyle is good but what shall we do wyth the chylde Good frendes quod he let vs wrappe hym in some clothes laye hym in some holowe tree for perauenture god wyl helpe hym and saue hys lyfe And whan he had thus sayd they dyd gladly after hys counseyle in all thynges and slewe the pygge wente theyr waye and bare home with them the pygges hertâ— to the Emperoure sayinge vnto hym thus Loo gracyous lorde we haue slayne the chylde as ye commauÌ„ded vs and wyth that they shewed hym the pygges herte The Emperoure supposynge that it had ben the chyldes herte toke it kest it in to the fyre despyteously sayinge Loo that is the herte of hym whyche sholde haue ben Emperoure after me Loo what is to byleue in dremes vysyons whyche be nought else but fantasyes and vayne thynges The seconde daye after that the chylde was put in to the holowe tree thâ—re came an erle for to hunte in the forest and as hys houndes chaced an harte they came to thys holowe tree where the chylde laye and whan they felte the sauour of the chylde they wolde go no farther The erle seynge thys meruaylled greatly why hys houÌ„des abode there and smote his horse with the spurres and rode a great pace tyll he came to them And whan he came vnto the tree wherin the chylde was layde he loked in at an hole sawe there the chylde lyenge and than was he ryght glad and toke vp the chylde in hys armes full louyngly and bare hym home vnto hys castell sayinge vnto the countesse hys wyfe Loo my dere wyfe thys daye by fortune I haue â—ounde a full fayre chylde in an holowe tree as I hunted in y e forest wherof I am ryght glad And bycause that I neuer begate sone ne doughter on the ne thou neuer yet conceyued a chylde therfore I exhorte the that thou wylte feyne thy selfe trauaylynge of chylde and saye that thou hast borne thys chylde The countesse fulfylled ryght gladly the erles wyll and desyre and sayde My moost dere lorde your wyll in thys thynge shall be done Not longe after this tydynges wente thrugh out all that countree that the countesse was delyuered of a fayâ—e sone wherfore euery man made great ioye The chylde began to growe and was ryght well beloued of euery man and moost specyally of the erle and of the countesse It befell after whan the chylde was .xv. yere of age the Emperoure made a solempne feest vnto all y e lordes of hys Empyre vnto the whyche feest thys erle was called And at the daye assygned he came and brought the chylde w t hym whyche was at that tyme a fayre yonge squyer carued at the borde before the erle The Emperour greatly behelde hym and espyed the token in hys forâ—heed whyche he had seen before in the fosters house â–ª wherfore he was greatly moued vexed wythin 〈…〉 and sayd vnto the erle in this wyse Whose sone is this Sothly sayd the erle he is my sone Than sayd y e Emperour By the fayth and trouth that thou owest vnto me tell me the trouth The erle seynge that he myght not excuse hymselfe by no maner wyse but that nedes he must tell hym the trewth than tolde he hym al togyther how he had founde hym in the forest in an holowe tree Thys hearyng the Emperoure was almoost out of his ryght mynde for anger and called vnto hym his seruauntes whyche he had sente before to slee y e chylde And whan they came before hym he made them for to swere vpon a boke that they sholde tell hym the trouth what they had done wyth the chylde Gracyous lorde sayde they we put vs vnto your grace goodnes for wythout doubte pyte so moued vs that we myght not â—lee hym and than we put hym in an holowe tree but what afterwarde befell of hym sothly we knowe not and in his stede we slewe a pygge and brought you the herte therof Whan the Emperoure had herde the very trewth of thys mater he sayd vnto y e erle Thys yonge man quod he shal abyde here wyth me The erle anone graunted though it was greatly agaynst hys wyll And whan the feest was ended euery man toke hys leue at the Emperoure and wente where as them lyst And at that tyme it fortuned that the Empresse her doughter soiourned in a greate countre farre fro thens by the coÌ„maundement of the Emperoure It befell not longe after the Emperour called vnto hym that yonge squyer and sayde The behoueth quod he to ryde vnto the Empresse my wyfe wyth my letters I am redy at your coÌ„maundement my lorde sayde he to fulfyll your desyre Anone the Emperoure let wryte letters wherof the entent was thys That the Empresse sholde take the bearer of these letters and let hym be drawen at a horse tayle and after that she sholde let hym be hanged tyll he were deed and that vpon payne of deth Whan the letters were all made and sealed than the Emperoure toke them vnto the yonge squyer coÌ„maundynge hym to spede hym on hys iourney And
forsaken all thynge for me all that is to saye ye that haue forsaken the wyll of synne shall receyue an hoÌ„dred tymes more that is to saye ye shall not onely receyue the tree of paradyse but also the heritage of heuen These two other sones ben bastardes for why that they behote in theyr baptym they wrought all the contrary thrugh theyr wycked lyuynge And therfore he that desyreth to optayne the ioyes of heuen hym behoueth to abyde stedfastly in werkynge of good werkes and than by reason may he optayne the tree of paradyse vnto the whyche that lorde brynge vs whyche lyueth regneth eternally worlde wythouten ende Amen IN Rome there dwelled somtyme a noble Emperour named DyoclesiaÌ„ whych aboue all worldly goodes loued the vertue of charyte wherfore he desyred greatly to knowe what fowle loued her byrdes best to the entent that he myght therby growe to more perfyte charyte It fortuned after vpon a daye that thys Emperour walked to the forest to take hys dysporte where as he fouÌ„de the nest of a great byrde that is called in latyn strutio wyth her byrde the whyche byrde themperour toke wyth hym closed hym in a vessell of glasse The mother of thys lyttell byrde folowed after vnto y e Emperours place and entred into the hall where her byrde was closed But whan she sawe her byrde and myght by no meanes coÌ„me to her ne gete her out she returned agayn to y e forest there she abode thre dayes and at y e last she returned agayne to y e palays bearyng in her mouth a worme that is called thumare Whan she came where her byrde was she let the worme fall vpon y e glasse thrugh vertue of whyche worme y e glasse brake the byrde escaped sâ—ewe forth w t hys mother Whan themperour sawe thys he praysed moche y e mother of thys byrde whyche so dylygently laboured for the delyueraunce of her byrde ¶ My frendes thys Emperour is the father of heueÌ„ whyche greatly loueth them that ben in perfyte loue charite Thys lytel byrde closed in the glasse takeÌ„ fro the forest was Adam our forefather whyche was exiled fro paradyse and put in the glasse that is to say in hell Thys hearyng the mother of the byrde that is to wyte the sone of god descended fro heuen came to the forest of the worlde and lyued here thre dayes more bearyng wyth hym a worme that is to say manhode accordyng w t the psalmyst sayinge Ego sum vermis etnoÌ„ homo That is to saye I am a worme no man Thys manhode was suffred to be slayne amonge the iewes of whose blode y e vessel eternall was brokeÌ„ and the byrde went out that is to saye â–ª Adam wente forth wyth hys mother the sone of god flewe vnto heuen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a worthy emperour and a wyse whyche had a fayre doughter and a gracyous in the syght of euery man Thys Emperour bethought hym on a daye to whome he myght gyue his doughter in maryage saying thus Yf I gyue my doughter to a ryche man he be a foole than is she lost and yf I gyue her to a poore man a wytty than may he gete hys lyuynge for hym and her by his wysdome There was that tyme dwellynge in the cite of Rome a phylosopher named Socrates poore wyse whyche came to themperour sayd My lord displease you not though I put forth my petycyon before your hyghnes Themperour sayd what so euer pleaseth the tell forth Than sayde Socrates My lorde ye haue a doughter whome I desyre aboue al thyng Themperour answered sayd My frende I shall gyue the my doughter to wyfe vpon thys condicyon that yf she dye in thy felawshyp after that she be wedded to the thou shalte wythouten doutelese thy heed Than sayd Socrates UpoÌ„ thys condicyon I wyll gladly take her to be my wyfe Themperour hearyng thys let call forth all y e lordes states of his Empyre and made a greate feest at theyr weddynge And after y e feest Socrates ledde home his wyfe to hys owne house where as they lyued in peace and helth longe tyme. But at the last thys Emperours doughter syckned to deth Whan Socrates perceyued thys he sayde to hym selfe Alas and woo to me what shall I doo and whether shall I flee yf themperours doughter that is my wyfe sholde dye for sorowe this Socrates wente to a forest there besyde wepte bytterly The whyle he thus wepte mourned there came an aged man bearyng a staffe in hys hande asked y e cause of Socrates why he mourned Socrates answered and sayde I wedded themperours doughter vpon thys coÌ„dycyon y t yf she dyed in my felowshyp I sholde lese my lyfe now she is syckened vnto the deth I can fynde no remedy nor helpe therfore I mourne more than any creature can thynke Than sayde the olde maÌ„ be ye coÌ„forted for I shall be your helper yf ye wyll do after my counseyle In this forest be thre herbes yf ye make a drynke of the fyrst to your wyfe of the other two a plaester yf she vse thys medicynall drynke and plaester in due tyme wythout doubte she shall recouer to perfyte helth Socrates fulfylled al as the old man had taught hym And whaÌ„ hys wyfe had vsed a whyle that medicynall drynke pleaster wythin shorte tyme she was perfytly hole of al her sycknes And whan the Emperoure herde that Socrates wrought so wysely and how dylygently he laboured for to heale his wyfe he promoted hym to great dyngnyte and worshyp ¶ Dere freÌ„des this Emperour is our lord Iesu chryst hys doughter so fayre so gracyous is the soule made at the similitude of god whych is full gracyous gloryous in the syght of hym of hys auÌ„gels whyle that she is not defouled abydeth in her owne propre clennesse Thys soule god wolde not gyue it to a ryche man but to a poore man that is to say a man that is made of the slyme of the erth Thys Socrates is a poore maÌ„ for why euery man coÌ„meth poore and naked in to this worlde from hys mothers bely euery maÌ„ taketh hys soule in wedlocke vpon suche coÌ„dicyon that yf she dye in hys felawshyp by deedly synne wythout doubte he shal lese eternal lyfe Therfore o thou man yf thy wyfe sycken so thrugh deedly sinne do thaÌ„ as Socrates dyd go vnto the forest that is holy chyrche and thou shalte fynde there an olde man with a staâ—â—e that is a discrete coÌ„fessour whyche shall tell the of these thre herbes for he hath power to bynde to vnbynde The fyrst herbe is contricyon of whome thou sholdest make thy drynke of teares Ambrose sayth that teares wassheth awaye synne where shame is to knowlege it and these two other herbes ben confessyon and satysfaccyon yf these herbes be vsed in plaester the synner wythout doubte shall receyue his helth
smyteth the carbuncle that is to saye youth strength and power of man and than lyeth he wrapped in darknes of synne â–ª in whyche darknes oftentymes he dyeth Therfore study we to flee the worlde and hys desyres and than shall we be sure to wynne euerlastynge lyfe vnto the whyche Iesu brynge bothe you me Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperoure named Tytus a wyse man a dyscrete whyche ordeyned in his dayes suche a lawe that what knyght dyed in hys empyre sholde be buryed in hys armure who so euer presumed to spoyle any knyghtes armure after he were deed he shold dye wythout ony withstandyng or gaynsaying It befell after within fewe yeres that a cyte of y e empyre was besyeged of themperours ennemyes wherfore that cyte was in peryll of lesyng â–ª for nâ—ne that was wythin that cyte myght not defendâ— themselfe by no maner of crafte therfore great sorowe and lamentacyon was made thrugh out all y e cite But at the last win fewe days there came to the cite a yonge knyght and a fayre and doughty to do dedes of armes whome the worthy men of the cite beholdyng vnderstandyng his doughtynesâ—â— cryed w t one voyce O thou most noble knyght we beseche the yf it please thy worthynesse to helpe vs now at our most nede loo ye may so this cyte in is peryll of lesynge Than answered he sayd 〈◊〉 ye not syrs thâ—â— I haue none armure yf I had armure I wolde gladly defende your cyte Thys â—earynge a myghty man of the cyte sayd to hym in secrete wyse Syr here was somtyme doughty knyght whyche now is deed and buryed within this cite acâ—orâ—dynge to the lawe yf it please you to take his armure ye myght defende thys cite delyuer vs fro peryll and that shall be honour vnto you and profyte vnto all the empyre Whan thys yonge knyght had herde thys he wente to the graue toke y e armure arayed hym selfe therwyth fought myghtyly agaynst hys ennemyes and at the last he opteyned had the vyctory delyuered y e cite from peryll And whan he had so done he put the armure agayne in to the graue There were some men in the cite that had great indignacion and enuy at hym bycause he had opteyned the vyctory and accused hym to the iudge saying thus Syr a lawe was made by themperour y t who so euer despoyled a deed knyght of hys armure sholde dye thys yonge knyght founde a deed knyght toke away hys armure therfore we beseche y e that thou procede in the lawe agaynst hym as agaynst hym y t is breker of y e lawe Whan the Iustyce herde this he made y e knyght to be takeÌ„ to be brought a fore him And whaÌ„ he was examyned of this trespace agaynst the lawe he sayd thus Syr it is wryten in the lawe â–ª that of two harmes the leest is to be chosen it is not vnknowen to you that this cite was in peryll to be lost but I had taken thys armure I had neyther saued you ne the cyte therfore me thynketh ye ought rather to honour worshyp me for thys good dede that I haue done than thus shamefully to repreue me for I am ledde as he that is redy to be haÌ„ged and also good syrs an other reason I may laye for myne excuse He y t steleth or robbeth vyolently purposeth not to restore y e thynge that he robbeth but it is not thus wyth me for though I toke the armure of the deed knyght for your saluacyon whan I had opteyned the victory I bare it agayne to y e same place so the deed knyght hath that is hys by the lawe Than sayd the Iustyce a thefe that breketh a hous that he may stele bere away suche as he may fynde though he brynge agayn that he hath taken I aske of the yf that the brekyng of the hous be lawfull or not The knight answered somtyme the brekynge of an hous may be good where as it is made in feble place whych sholde cause the lorde of the hous to make hys wall stronger that the theues after y e breke not the walles so lyghtly in auoydyng of more harme Than sayd the Iustyce yf the brekyng of the hous be good neuerthelesse in that brekyng violence is done to the lorde of the hous And so though thou dydest good wyth the armure of y e deed knyght neuerthelesse thou dydest wronge to the deed knyght in takyng away hys armure The knyght sayd I haue tolde you how that of two harmes the leest is to be chosen and that harme where thrugh great goodnes coÌ„meth ought not to be called harme but it sholde rather be called good For yf that ony hous wythin the cite were on fyre began to brenne it were more better to throwe it to the grounde and thre or foure houses therby than they sholde be set on fyre also wherby all y e cyte myght be brente Ryght so yf the armure oft y e deed knyght had not ben taken the cyte and ye all had ben lost And whan the Iustyce herde y t he answered so well so reasonably he myght gyue no iudgemeÌ„t agaynst hym But the whyche had accused thys knyght slewe hym for whose deth there was great wepyng thrugh out all the cyte hys body was worshypfully buryed in a neeâ— tombe ¶ Dere frendes thys Emperour is the father of heuen and thys cite is y e worlde the whych is besyeged of the deuyll and deedly synne And as many as were within this cyte were al in peryl to be lost This yong knyght that came to the cyte is our lorde Iesu Chryst whyche had not the armure of our manhode tyll he went to the graue that is to saye to the wombe of y e gloryous vyrgyn Mary by the annuÌ„ciacyon of the aungell sayinge The holy goost shall lyght in the. c. Lo thou shalt conceyue bere a sone And thus in the wombe of the vyrgyn he toke the armure of y e deed knyght that is to say he toke the manhode of Adam ourfore father saued the cyte that is the worlde wyth maÌ„kynde from peryll by hys blessed passyon whych he suffred on the crosse than he put hys armure agayn in to y e graue whan his blessed body was buryed but y e cytezyns enuyed hym that is to saye the iewes of Iury accused hym to Pylate and layde the lawe agaynst hym saying Yf thou suffre hym thus thou arte not the Emperour Cesars frende we haue a lawe after y e lawe he ought to dye And thus our lorde Iesu Chryst of his ennemyes was coÌ„dempned to the deth of the crosse after ascended vp to heuen where our lorde Iesu brynge vs all Amen THere regned somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour and a wysed named Betolde whych ordeyned a lawe that what woman were taken in anoutry her husbande beynge alyue she
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
is wrytâ—n in my foreheed And than they loked vp sawe thys posey wryten TeÌ„pore mutantur homines determinaÌ„tur Tymes ben chaunged men ben worse worse For who wyll saye the trouth shall haue his heed broken therfore go ye forth to your lorde and tell hym all that ye haue redde seen The messengers wente forth tolde y e Emperour all that they had herde seen Than sayd y e Emperour arme your selfe and go to the ymage yf that ye fynde ony man that hath bosted or thretened the ymage bynde hym hande and fote brynge hym to me Than wente the messengers forth to y e ymage sayd vnto it Tell vs y e trouth yf ony maÌ„ hath thretened the and we shall auenge the anone Than sayd the ymage Take the smyth Focus for he is the man that wyll not honour the natyuyte of the Emperour Anone the messengers ledde forth that smyth before theÌ„perour anone examyned hym why he kepte not the daye of themperours natiuyte in reuerence honour accordyng to the lawe Than answered the smyth sayd Reuerend lorde I beseche you that ye wyl heare myne excuse yf I answere not reasonably to all maner of poyntes y t ye wyll aske me I wyll put me fully to your grace Than sayd themperour I shal heare the and that that is ryghtfull I shall do Than sayd the smyth It behoueth me to haue viij.d euery day in the weke that I can not gete wythout greate labour therfore I may in no maner wyse kepe y e day holy day more than other dayes Than sayd the Emperour Why behoueth it the to haue these viii d Than sayd y e smyth I am bouÌ„de to pay dayly ij.d and ii.d I lende and ii.d â–ª I lese and ii.d I spende Than sayd the Emperour Tell me more expresly of these viij.d Than sayd the smyth I am bounde euery day to paye ii.d. to my father for whan I was yonge my father spent on me ii.d dayly therfore am I bouÌ„de to helpe hym paye hym agayn hys ii.d for hys sustentacyon Also ii.d I lese on my wyfe Than sayde themperour why lesest thou that ii.d on thy wyfe Than sayd he where se ye euer woman but she had one of these poyntes eyther she is wylfull or contrary to her husbande or of hote coÌ„pleccyon therfore that I gyue her I lese Also ii.d I lende to my sone wherwyth he is susteyned that whan I coÌ„me to age pouerte that he may paye me agayn ii.d lyke as I do to my father Also I spende ii.d on my â—elfe in meate drynke and that is lytell ynough Than sayd themperoure thou hast answered well wisely Not longe after it befell that the Emperour dyed thys smyth Focus was chosen to be Emperour bycause he spente hys viii.d so wysely so profytably thus he ended hys lyfe in peace and rest ¶ Dere frendes thys emperour is our blessed sauyour Iesu Chryst whych ordeyned by hys holy lawe y t euery man sholde worshyp the sondaye This Uirgil that made thys ymage is the holy goost whyche is set vp amonge vs a precher to teche vertues to repreue vices that he sholde not spare the poore ne y e ryche But now yf a precher wolde saye trouth agaynst ony man anone he shall be thretened of the ennemyes of Chryst that is to saye by euyll men that neyther loue god nor man wherfore the precher may saye now a dayes that posey whyche was wryten in the fore heed of the ymage Tymes ben chaunged from good to yll men ben dayly worse and worse For who so wolde saye the trewth now a dayes shall haue his heed broken Therfore it is nede they be armed that is to say that euery precher be armed w t good dedes in ensample of other than it nedeth not to drede in so moche that they haue god trewth to staÌ„de by them accordyng to y e apostles sayenge Si deus nobiscuÌ„ quis contra nos Yf god be wyth vs who may be agaynst vs. By thys smyth Focus is vnderstande euery good chrysten man whyche dayly sholde werke merytoryous dedes than ought he to be presented before the heuenly Emperour Thys Focus payde ii.d to hys father so we sholde paye to our father of heuen ii.d that is to saye honour loue For whan we were the chyldren of wretchednes put in bondage almyghty god sente downe to the erth hys sone to redeme vs accordyng to saynt IohnÌ„ the euangelyst sayenge Deus dilexit munduÌ„ vt filiuÌ„ suuÌ„ vnigenituÌ„ daret pro minido God loueth the worlde so well that he wolde gyue hys onely sone for the saluacyon of the worlde Also this Focus lente ii.d to his sone that is to saye euery chrysten man ought to lende to y e sone of god our lord Chryst Iesu good wyll merytoryous dedes in our lyfe that the may paye vs agayn at y e day of dome whan soule body shal be gloryfyed in that he is our brother it may well be proued by y e texte of Esaie saying thus â—uer natus est nobis c. A chylde is borne to vs. This Focus lost ii.d on hys wyfe Thy wyfe betokeneth thy flesshe vpon whom thou hast lost ij d that is to saye vnlawfull loue consent to synne for why the flesshe is coÌ„trary to y e goost euer is redy to harme Thys Focus also spente ij.d on hym selfe y t is to saye by y e fyrst peny ye shall vnderstande penauÌ„ce done in whyche the soule greatly delyteth in heueÌ„ and there is gloryfyed And by the seconde peny we ought to vnderstande the stedfast abydynge in doynge of penaunce for he that abydeth vnto the ende shall be saued And who that spendeth well these two pens shall optayne euerlastynge lyfe Unto the whych brynge vs our lorde Iesu Chryst. Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a noble Emperour whyche among all other vertues loued best mercy wherfore he ordeyned a lawe that euery blynde man sholde haue an hondred shyllynges by yere of hys treasour It befell on a daye that there came certayne men to a tauerne to drynke wyne after that these men had sytten in the tauerne thre dayes the fourth daye they were greatly in the tauerners dette and had no money to paye for theyr wyne wherfore the tauerner came to them charged them y t they sholde not voyde tyll they had payde for theyr wyne ThaÌ„ sayd one of y e drynkers to hys felowes Syrs quod he themperour hath made suche a lawe that euery blynde man shall haue an hondred shyllynges of his treasour therfore let vs cast lottes amonge vs to whom the lot falleth let hys eyen be put out and so may he go to themperours palays gete an hondred shyllynges And this greatly reioysed them sayd that the couÌ„seyle was ryght good wherfore they cast lottes amonge them the
in good helth he was ryght glad wherfore he promoted hym to great worshyp whych lyued after y e longe tyme in great honour and worshyp at y e last ended hys lyfe in peace rest ¶ Thys Emperour betokeneth the father of heueÌ„ his sone betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst whome many men desyre to nourysshe at eester whan they receyue y e sacrament He nouryssheth hym that best iusteth wyth the deuyll and ouercoÌ„meth hym thrugh penauÌ„ce The knight that toke this chylde w t hym betokeneth a good chrysten man that fasteth truly and blyssedly all y e lente before Therfore do we as y e knyght dyd sende we before messengers to dyght to make clene y e castel of our herte from al spottes of synne by workes of mercy so shall this chylde Iesu rest lyght in the myddes of our herte The well betokeneth mercy whyche ought to be nexte our lord For who so euer is wtout mercy trewth may not nourysshe that blessed chylde Iesu. But it happeneth ofte y t the knyghtes wyfe y t is y e flesshe of man bereth the key of mercy and ofte leueth y e wel open and than coÌ„meth the bere that is the deuyll and casteth venym in to y e well of mercy and who that tasteth therof shall be infected wyth y e lepry of synne The wyndowe wherin the sonne shyneth is y e grace of y e holy goost by whom men lyue and are coÌ„forted goostly by this wyndowe the egle coÌ„meth in that is to say the power of almighty god and toke away y e chylde Iesu from y e herte of man thaÌ„ man hath great cause to wepe but what shall he do whan y e chylde is gone but sende for a subtyl phisycyan that is to saye a discryte coÌ„fessour whyche shall gyue hym couÌ„seyle to let hym blode all his housholde that is to saye to put out synne thrugh coÌ„fessyoÌ„ of tonge before his goostly father Than must he bathe hymselfe w t teares of coÌ„tricyon coÌ„punccion of tonge after y t take the medicyne of satisfaccyon than shal he be made clene froÌ„ al maner of synne And whan he hath done thus he must lepe on y e palfray of good lyfe ryde forth w t his thre squyers that is to say fastyng prayer almes dede than wtout doubte he shal fynde the chylde Iesu in the valey of humilite not on a hyll that is to saye pryde And yf he do thus doubtles he shall haue myght and power to nourysshe that blessed chylde Iesu for whose nourysshynge the father of heuen shall promote hym vnto euerlastynge ioye Unto the whych ioye god brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperoure named Fulgentius whyche gouerned hys people nobly loued theÌ„ so moche that he made to proclayme thrugh out all nacyons that who so euer wolde coÌ„me to hym ryche or poore at a certayne daye sholde haue theyr petycyons what so euer 〈◊〉 were Whan y e myghty men herde thys they were glad came at the daye assygned euery man put forth thâ—yr peticions vnto the Emperour anone theyr petycyons were graunted fulfylled in so moche that almoost all the empyre was departed amonge them And than euery man was ioy full went home agayn toke sâ—a syne of suche landes castels as the Emperour had gyuen them Anone after the poore men gadred them togyder and sayd A coÌ„mune crye was made that all men bothe poore ryche shold coÌ„me to y e Emperours palays theyr they shold haue what so euer they asked y e ryche men haue ben there lately and optayned theyr peticioÌ„s Therfore go we now wyte yf we may optayne ony good of y e Emperour That couÌ„sel was approbate alowed amonge them all wherfore they went forth tyll they came to y e Emperours palays there they put forth theyr petycyons accordynge to theÌ„perours proclamacyon And whan the Emperour had herde them he sayde to them Dere frendes I haue herde all your peticyons it is trouth that my proclamacyon was y t euery man indifferently sholde coÌ„me haue theyr peticyons but the ryche mighty men haue ben here afore you to whom I haue gyuen all that I had saue onely the royalte of my lorâ—shyp and so haue I nothyng lefte to gyue you A good lorde haue mercy vpoÌ„ vs let vs not go voyde agayne for we knowe well that is our owne defaute that we came not rather w t these other ryche myghty men but syth it is so we aske your grace that we may optayne somwhat by the whyche we may lyue Than sayd the Emperour Good frendes though I haue gyuen all my landes rentes tenementes all y e castels to the ryche men that came before you Neuerthelesse I haue kepte styll in myne owe handes the lordshyp ouer theÌ„ and that lordshyp I gyue to you and so shall they be your seruauntes be obedyent to you all And whan the poore men herde thys they were greatly reioysed kneled downe to the Emperour thaÌ„ked hym saying â—o though we coÌ„me late yet we be made lordes ouer all these other And with this they toke theyr leue and wente home agayne But whan the ryche and the myghty men herde that they were greatly moued and set a coÌ„mune parlyament among them selfe And thus it was spoken amonge them Alas alas how may we serue them that somtyme were but chorles our subiectes in al maner thynges now they be made lordes ouer vs. Therfore go we al wyth one assent to themperour praye we hym of remedy Whan thys was sayd theyr couÌ„seyle was coÌ„mended forth they went to the Emperour sayd to hym Reuerende lorde what may this be those y t were our seruauÌ„tes be made our lordes we beseche you mekely that it may not be so ThaÌ„ sayd the Emperour Good frendes I do you no wronge for my crye was coÌ„mune that what so euer ye asked of me ye sholde optayne your peticyon ye asked nothyng of me but landes rentes honours and all that haue I grauÌ„ted you at your owne wyll in so moche y t I kepte nothynge for my selfe eche of you were well content at your away goynge after y t came symple and poore men asked of me some goodes accordynge to my proclamacyon I had nothynge to gyue them for I had gyuen you all that I had saue onely the lordshyp ouer you whyche I kepte in my handes whan the poore men so cryed on me I had nothyng to gyue them saue onely the lordshyp ouer you and therfore ye sholde not blame me for that ye asked ye had Than sayde they A good lorde we praye you effectuously of your couÌ„sell in thys case of your helpe The Emperour answered sayd Syrs yf ye wyll werke after me I shall gyue you good profytable couÌ„seyle Than sayd they Lord we be redy to
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
deth wyth all maner of turment thou shalte neuer haue me to consent to suche synne Whan he herde thys he vnclothed her all saue her smocke and henge her vp by the heare vpon a tree and â—yed her stede besyde her and so rode forth to hys felowes tolde them that great hoost of men meâ—te hym toke the Empresse away from hym And whan he had tolde them thys they made all greate sorowe It befell on the thyrde daye after there came an erle to hunte in that forest and as he rode beatyng the brakes there started a foxe whome hys houndes folowed fast tyll they came nere the tree where the Empresse henge And whan the dogges felte the sauour of her they left the foxe ranne towarde the tree as fast as they coude The erle seynge this wondred greatly and spurred his horse and folowed them tyll he came where as the Empresse henge Whan the erle sawe her thus hangynge he meruayled greatly for as moche as she was ryght fayre and gracyous to beholde wherfore he sayd vnto her in thys maner wyse O woman who art thou and of what countree and wherfore hangest thou here in thys maner wyse The Empresse that was not yet fully deed but in poynt redy to dye answered sayd I am quod she a straunge woman and I am comme out fro farre countree but how I came hyther god knoweth Than answered the erle and sayd Whose horse is thys that standeth here by the bouÌ„de to thys tree Than answered the lady â–ª and sayde that it was hers Whan the erle herde thys he knewe well that she was a gentylwoman and coÌ„me of some noble kynrede wherfore he was the rather moued wyth pyte and sayde vnto her O fayre lady thou semest of gentyll blode and therfore I purpose to delyuer the from thys myschefe yf thou wylte promyse to go wyth me and nourysshe my fayre yonge doughter and teche her at home in my castell for I haue no chylde but onely her yf y u kepe her well thou shalte haue a good rewarde for thy labour Than sayd she As farforth as I can or may I shall fulfyll thyne entent And whan she had thus promysed hym he toke her downe of the tree and ledde her home to his castell and gaue her the kepynge of hys doughter that he loued so moche and she was cherysshed so well that she laye euery nyght in the erles chambre his doughter wyth her in hys chambre euery nyght there brent a lampe the whyche henge bytwene y e Empresse bedde and y e erles bedde Thys lady bare her so gentylly that she was beloued of euery creature There was that tyme in the erles courte a stewarde whyche moche loued thys Empresse aboue al thynges and oftentymes spake to her of his loue But she answered hym agayne sayd Knowe ye dere frende for certayne that I haue made a solempne vowe that I shall neuer loue man in suche wyse but onely hym whome I am greatly beholden to loue by goddes coÌ„maundement Than sayd the stewarde Thou wylte not than consent vnto me My lorde quod she what nedeth the ony more to aske suche thynge the vowe that I haue made truly shall I kepe and holde by the grace of god And whan the stewarde herde thys he wente hys waye in greate wrathe and angre thynkynge wythin hymselfe yf I may I shall bewroken on the. It befell vpon a nyght wythin shorte tyme after that the erles chambre dore was forgoten and lefte vnshette whych the stewarde had anone perceyued And whan they were all a slepe he wente and espyed by the lyght of the lampe where the Empresse and the yonge mayden laye togyder and wyth that he drewe out his knyfe cutte the throte of y e erles doughter and put the blody knyfe in to the Empresse hande she beynge a slepe nothynge knowynge therof to the entent that whan the erle awaked he sholde se y e knyfe in her hande that he sholde thynke that she had cutte hys doughters throte wherfore she sholde be put to a shameful deth for his myscheuous dede And whaÌ„ this damoysell was thus slayne and the blody knyfe in the Empresse hande the countesse awaked out of her slepe and sawe by the lyght of the lampe the blody knyfe in the Empresse hande wherfore she was almoost out of her mynde and sayd to the erle O my lorde beholde in yonder ladyes hande a wonderfull thynge Anone the erle awaked and behelde on the Empresse bedde sawe the blody knyfe as the countesse had sayd wherfore he was greatly moued and cryed to her and sayd Awake woman of thy slepe what thynge is thys that I se in thy hande Anone y e Empresse thrugh hys crye awaked out of her slepe and in her wakyng the knyfe fell out of her hande and wyth that she loked by her founde the erles doughter deed by her syde and all the bedde full of blode wherfore wyth an huge voyce she cryed sayd Alas alas welaway my lordes doughter is slayne Than cryed the countesse vnto the erle wyth a pyteous voyce and sayd A my lorde let that deuyllysshe womaÌ„ be put to the moost foule deth that can be thought that thus hath slayne our onely chylde And whan the countesse had sayd thus to the erle she sayd to the Empresse in thys wyse The hygh god knoweth that thou mischeuous woman hast slayne my doughter w t thyne owne handes for I sawe the blody knyfe in thy hande and therfore thou shalt dye a foule deth Than sayd the erle in thys wyse O thou woman were it not that I drede god greatly I shold cleue thy body wyth my swerde in two partes for I delyuered the from hangynge now thou hast slayne my doughter neuertheles for me thou shalte haue no harme therfore go thy waye out of this ciâ—e without ony delay for yf I fynde the here this day thou shalte dye an euyll deth Than arose thys wofull Empresse and dyd on her clothes and after lepte on her palfray rode towarde the eest alone without ony safe conduyte And as she rode thus mournynge by y e waye she espyed on the lefte syde of y e waye a payre of galous and seuen sergeauntes ledyng a man to the galous for to be haÌ„ged wherfore she was moued wyth great pyte and smote her horse wyth the spurres and rode to them prayinge them that she myght bye that mysdoâ—r yf he myght be saued froÌ„ deth for ony mede Than sayd they Lady it pleaseth vs well that thou bye hym Anone the Empresse accorded wyth them payed hys raunsom than he was delyuered Thus sayde she to hym Now dere frende be true tyl thou dye syth I haue delyuered the from dethe On my soule quod he I promyse you euer to be true And whaÌ„ he had thus sayd â–ª he folowed the lady styll tyll they came nygh a cyte and than sayd the empresse to