yée shalbée like Gods wherfore wee breaking Gods commauÌ„dement we were all exiled out of Paradise chased to the realme of this world héere to liue in great wretchednes like as the psal saith In sudore vultas tui In thou sweat of thy visage shalt thou eate thy bred But then came a fayre young knight and a strong that is to saye our Lord Jesu Christ which had compassion vpon mankinde taking vpon him our flesh and our blood gaue battaille to the diuell and ouercame him and thus wan hée againe our heritage Therefore let vs doe as this young Lady did lay wée vp this bloody short that is to saye the minde of the passion oâ— Christ on the beame of our heart and think we how our Lord Jesu Christ shed his precious blood for vs. And if any man that is to say the diuell or any other would stir vs to sinne anone think wee of the passion of Christ and say wee thus I shall take none other but thée which hast shed they blood for mee thus shall wée win euerlasting life Unto the which God bring vs all Amen The Argument ¶ Wee are â—eere generally aduertised of honorineg the Saboth day how for the redeeming of time to bee occupied in Ghostly contemplation profitable to the soule and bodie The preachers of Gods word oft times for sayinge trueth purchase inconuenyence if wee beestow our talents in the amplyfying of fayth and furdering one another with good workes Wee shall then inheritie the â—râ—iâ—on of eternall blessing prepared for the elect of Christ Iesus The 12. Historie SOmetime dwet in Rome a mightie emperour named Apolloninus which ordained for a law that eury man vpon paine of death shold celebrate the daie of his Natiuitie This Emperour called to him a clarke that hight Virgill and sayde My déere master there bee many hamous offences done in my Empyre contrary to the law therefore I pray thée that thou by thy cunning would make some crafte wherby I might know who trespasseth against the law priuely or appertly Then said Virgill My reuerend Lord your will shall be done Anone this Virgill through his craft made an Image in the middest of the Citie of Rome which denouÌ„ced told the Emperours messengers who trespassed against the law who not There was that tyme dwelling in the Citie of Rome a smith that hight Focus which for nothing would celebrate the natiuitie of the emperour It befell vpon a night as the smith lay in his bed hee thought vpon the Image that had accused so many men beefore and dread least the Image would accuse him wherefore hee rose and went to the ymage and said I make a vow to God if thou accuse mée I shall breake thy head And when hée had thus sayde hee went home The Emperour on the morow after following sent his messenger to that Image as before times he was accustomed to know vnderstand who had trespassed against the lawe And to them then said the Image lift vp your â—yne beehold what is ingrauen in my forhead And then they looked vp and saw this posie written Tempore mutanâ—ur homines determinatur Times bee chaunged men bée worse worse For who will say the truth shall haue his head broken therfore goe yée foorth to your Lord and tell him all that yee haue reade and séene The messengers went foorth and told the Emperour all that they had heard and seene Then sayde the Emperour arme your selfe and goe to the Image and if that you finde any man that haue mencioned or threatned to hurt the Image binde him hand and foote bring him to mee Then went the messengers foorth to the Image and said to it Tel vs the truth if any man haue threatned thée and we shall auenge thée anone Then said the Image Take the smith Focus for hée is the man that will not honour the natiuitie of the Emperour straight way the messengers led foorth the smith béefore the Emperour and there vpon examined him why he kept not the day of the Emperours natiuitie in reuerence honour according to the law Then answered the smith said Reuerend Lord I beseech you that yee will heere mine excuse and if I aunswere not reasonably to all maner of poyntes that yée will aske mée I will yeld mée fully to your grace Then sayd Themperour I shall heare thée and that is rightfull I shall doe Then sayd the smith It behoueth mée to haue vâ—ii d. euery day in the wéeke that I cannot get without great labour and therefore I may in no maner wise keepe that day holy day more than other dayes Then sayd the Emperour Why behoueth it thee to haue these viii d. Then saide the Smith I am bounde to paye dayely ii d. and ii d. I lend and ii d. I léese and ii d. I spend Then sayd the Emperour tel mee more eâ—pressely of these viii d. Then sayd the Smith I am bound euery daye to pay ii d. to my Father for when I was young my father spent on mée ii d. dayly and therefore am I bound to help him and pay him againe his ii d. for his sustentation Also ii d. I léese on my wife Then said the Emperour why lesest thou that ii d. on thy wife Then saydâ— hée where saw ye euer woman but she had one of these points eyther shee is wilfull or contrary to hir husbande or of hotte complection and therefore that I giue hir I léese Also ii d. I lend to my sonne wherwith he is sustained that whan I come to age and pouertie he may paye me againe ii d. like as I doe my Father Also I spend ii d. on my selfe in meate and drincke and that is little ynough Then said the Emperour thou hast answered well wisely Not long after it befell that the Emperour dyed and this Smith Focus was chosen to be Emperour bicause he spent his viii d so wisely and so profitably and thus he ended his life in peace and rest The Morall Déere friends this Emperour is our blessed sauiour Jesu Christ which ordained by his holy law that euery man should kéepe holy the Saboth day This Virgill that made this ymage is the holy ghost which establisheth among vs Preachers to teach vertues and to reproue vices and that should not spare the poore ne the riche But now if a Preacher would say the truth against any man anon he shall be thretened of the enimies of Christ that is to saye by euill men that neither loue God nor man wherefore the Preacher may say now a dayes that posey which was written in the forehead of the image Times bene chaunged from good to ill and men bene dayly worse For who so would saye the truth now a dayes shall haue his head broken Therefore it is néede they be armed that is to say that euery Preacher be armed with vertuous examples of their good lyfe towards other and than it needeth not to
child Some aunswered and saide that the child should bée slaine and some would haue saued his lyfe while they stroue thus among themselues one of them that was most mercifull saide vnto the other O my good friendes heare my counsayle and ye shall not forethinke it If ye murther this innocent childe wée shall greatly offend almightie god and therefore héere bée young Pigges kill wée one of theÌ„ then may wée take with vs his hart and present it vnto the Emperour saying that it is the heart of the Childes blood Then said they thy counsaile is good but what shal we doe with the Child Good friends quod hee let vs wrap him in some clothes and late him in some holow trée for peraduenture God will help him saue his lyfe And when hée had thus said they did gladly after his counsaile in all things and killed the Pigge and went theyr way and carried home with them the Pigges hart to the Emperour saying vnto him thus Loe gracious Lord wée haue destroyed the Child as ye coÌ„maunded vs and with that they shewed him the Pigges heart The Emperour supposing that it had bene the Childes hart tooke it and cast it into the fire despitefully saying Loe that is the hart of him which should haue ben Emperour after me Lo what it is to beeléeue in dreames visions which be nought else but fantasies and vaine thinges The second day after that the Childe was put into the hollow tree there came an earle for to hunt in the forrest and as his houndes chased an harte they came to this hollow trée where the Childe laye and whan they felt the sauour of the Childe they would goe no farther The Earle séeing this maruailed greatly why his houndes abode there and smote his horse with his spures and rode a great pace till he came to them And when he came vnto the trée wherin the Childe was laide he looked in at an hole saw there the childe lying and then was hée right glad tooke vp the Childe in his armes full louingly and bare him home vnto his Castle saying vnto the Countesse his wise Loe my deere wise this day by fortune I haue found a very faire Childe in an holow trée as I hunted in the forrest whereof I am right glad And beecause that I neuer begat sonne daughter on thee ne thou neuer yet conceiued a childe therfore I exhort thée that thou wilt faine they selfe trauailing with childe and say that thou hast borne this childe The Countesse fulfilled right gladly the earles will and desire and said My most déere Lord your will in this thing shall bee done Not long after this newes went throughout all the country that the countesse was deliuered of a fayre Sonne wherfore euery man reioysed much The Childe beegan to grow and was right well beloued of euery man most specially of the earle and of the Countesse It beefell after when the Childe was xv yéeres of age the Emperour made a solempe feast vnto all the Lords of his Empyre vnto the which feast this earle was called and at the day assigned he came and brought his Childe with him which was at the time a fayre yong squire and â—aruer at the bord before the Earle The Emperour greatly béeheld him and espyed the token in his forehead which hee had séene beefore in the Fosters house wherfore hée was greatly moued and vexed within him selfe and saide vnto the Earle in this wise Whose Sonne is this certes said the Earle hee is my sonne Than saide the Emperour By the saith and trouth that thou owest vnto mée tell mee the trouth The earle séeing that hée might not excuse himselfe by no manner wise but that néeeds hee must tell him the trouth than told hée him altogether how hée had found him in the forrest in an hollow tree This hearing the Emperour was almost distracte of his wittes for anger called vnto him his seruants which he had sent before to destroy the Childe And when they came béefore him hée made them to sware vpon a booke that they should tell him the trouth what they had done with the Childe Gracious Lord saide they wée yéelde vs vnto your grace goodnes for without doubt pitie so moued vs that wée might not destroy him and then wée put him in an hollow trée but what afterward befell of him certainely we know not and in his steade we kilde a Pyg and brought you the hart thereof When the Emperour had heard the very trueth of this matter hee said vnto the earle This yong man quod hee shall abide heere by mée the earle immediatly grauÌ„ted though it was greatly against his will And when the feast was ended euery man tooke his leaue of the Emperour went whereas they list And at that time it fortuned that the Emprisse and hir daughter soiourned in a great countrie far fro thence by the commaundement of the Emperour It befell not long after the Emperour called vnto him that yong Squyre and saide it béehoueth thée quod hee to ride vnto the Emprisse my wife with my letters I am ready at your commaundement my Lord sayde hee to fulfill your desire Immediately the Emperour lette write letters whereof his intent was this That the Emprisse should take the bearer of these letters and let him bée drawen at the horse taile and after that shée should let him bée hanged till he were dead and that vpon paine of death When the letters were all made sealed then the Emperour tooke them vnto the yong squire commaunding him to spede him on his iorney And straight way the yong Squier receiued thé gladly and put them â—ure in his bore rode foorth on his iourney When hée had rydden thrée or foure daies on his iourney in an euening hee came vnto a Castle wher as dwelt a knight and gently desired him of a nights lodging The knight seeing and beeholding the good fauour of this young squier grauÌ„ted him lodginge and made him good cheere and well to fare and afterward brought him vnto his chamber when hée was there hee went to bed And immediatly fell on sléepe for hée was full wery of his â—ourney and forgot his boxe with the Letters lying openly in his chamber When the knight saw the bore hee opened it and sound the letters sealed with the Emperours signe manuel was greatly tempted to open them at the last hée opened them full subtylly and than hee redde how the Empresse vpon paine of death shoulde put the bearer of them to death and then he was right sorrowfull and saide within himselfe Alas quod hee it is great pitie to destroy such a fayre young man therefore if I may it shall not bée so And immediatly after the knight raced out that writtinge and wrote in the same paper a letter saying these words Upon paine of death I commaund thée that thou take the young Squire bearer of these letters and let
him be wedded without any delaie vnto my daughter and yours with all the honour and solempnitie that can bée thought and whan they bée marryed that yée take him as your owne sonne and that hée keepe my roome till I come vnto you myselfe Whan the knight had thus written hée closed the letters subtylly and put them into the bore againe Early in the morning the young Squire arose and very hastely made him redie and toke his leaue of the knight rode foorth on his iourney and the third daie after he came vnto the Emprisse and saluted hir right worshipfully in the Emperours beehalfe and toke hir the letters And when the Empresse had redde them anone she sent foorth hir messengers through the countrie commaunding the states and gentilmen to come vnto hir daughters wedding at a certaine daie assigned When the daie was come thether came manie great Lordes and Ladies and anone this young Squire espoused the Emperours Daughter with great honour and worshippe according to the tenour of the letters was right well beloued and most honoured among the people Not long after it befell that the Emperour came into that Countrie and when the Empresse heard of hir Lords comming shee toke with hir hir sonne in law with much other people and went towardes the Emperour for to welcome him When the Emperour saw this yong Squire leading the Emprisse his wyfe he was greatly moued within himselfe and sayde O thou curssed Woman bycause thou hast not fulfilled my commaundement thou shalt dye an euill death A my déere Lord quod shée all that ye commaunded mee to doe I haue fullfilled Nay curssed woman sayde the Emperour it is not so for I wrote to thée that thou sholdest put him to death and now I see him aliue My Lord quod the Emprisse saueing your grace you wrote to mee that I should giue him your dauhter to wyfe and that on payn of death in witnesse wherof loe here your letters with your owne seale manuell When the Emperour heard this hée wondred greatly and sayd Is he espowsed then to my daughter Yea soothly sayd the Empresse long agoe with much solempnitie and great worshippe and as I perceiue your Daughter is with childe Than sayde the Emperour O thou lord Jesu Christ it is great folly to striue against thy ordinaunce therefore sith it is so thy will must needes be fulfilled And with that he tooke his sonne in law it his armes and kissed him which after his death was Emperour and ended his life in rest and peace The Morall ¶ This emperour maybetoken Herod or else euery tyraunt which walked alone without truth till he came to the fosters house that is to say the Church which is the house of God This Herode would haue slaine this childe Jesu wherefore he sent messengers to séeke him according to the scripture of saint Mathew telling how he commaunded the three kings to séeke him and bring him tidings againe where he was that he might come and worship him allso but this saide he not for loue but for deceipt The Foster betokeneth Ioseph our Ladies husband which kept him But when the messengers came that is to say when the thrée kinges came they slew him not but worshipped him on their knées and left him in the holow trée of his Godhead The Earle that came and found this childe betokeneth the holy ghost which warned Ioseph by the Angell in his sléepe that he should take our Lady and his sonne and flée in to the lande of Egipt This moralitie may be vndestoode otherwise This Emperour may be token a sinner that walketh in the forest of this world seeking vanities nought else vnto the time he come to the house of god there he is receiued benignely of the Prelate of the Churche if hée will obey the Commaundementes of GOD. But many of vs now a dayes sléepe in the Churche when they practyse not according to their profession and therefore ought they also to dreade thée voyces which I haue rehearsed by the first take that may be vnderstoode the great benisit that he gaue thee when hée put in thée a soule made at his owne similitude By the second take is wnderstoode the sonne of the father of heauen which was borne of the blessed Uirgin Mary By the third take is vnderstoode the same sonne of God which dyed vpon the crosse By the first yéelde is vnderstood that wee ought to yéeld our Soule vnto allmightie God as cleane as faire as hée gaue it vs after our regeneration in haptisme By the second yeld is vnderstood that we ought to yeld honour worship and loue vnto Almightie God and man By the third yelde is vnderstoode that we ought to yeld to God true confession of faith contricion of hart and amendement of life The first shee beetokeneth sinne which we should â—lee The second flee betokeneth the world which we should flee for the great salsehoode temptations that are therein The third â—lee betokeneth euerlasting paine the which we ought to â—lee through faith and hir fruits by the tyrant She lyeth for she is my wife and I haue found hir in adultry with an other man and therefore I will slea hir Than sayde the knight I beleue better the woman theÌ„ thee for loe the tokens of truth appere openly in hir visage that thou hast rauished hir therefore wil I fight with thée for hir deliueraunce And immediately they buckled both together fought egerly till they were both sore wounded Neuerthelesse the knight obtayned the victorie put the tyrant to slight Then said the knight vnto the woman Loe I haue suffered for thy loue many sore wounds and haue saued thée from thy death wilt thou therefore promise to be my wise That I desire you quod she with all my hart and therevpon I betake thee my trouth When shée was thus ensured than said the knight as foloweth Héere beside is my Castell go thether and abyde there till I haue visited my friends and my kinsmen to prouide for all thinges néedefull for our weddinge for I purpose to make a great feast for thine honour and worship My Lord quod she I am ready to fulfill your wil. Than went she foorth vnto the Castell where as shée was worshipfully receyued And the Knight went vnto his friends for to make him readie against the day of marriage In the meane while came Poncianus the tirant to the knights Castell and prayed hir that hée might speake with hir Than came she downe from the castell to him This tirant subtilly flattered hir saide Gentle loue if it please you to consent to mée I shall giue you both golde and siluer greate riches and I shall be your seruaunt ye my soueraigne When the woman heard this full lightly shée was deceyued through his flattering language graunted him to be his wife and tooke him with hir into the castell It was not long after but that thys knight came
espyed at the ende of the forrest a poore man sitting beside a water playing on a harpe so swéetly that themperour before that day heard neuer so swéete a melody Then saide themperour good friend procéedeth this melody from thy harpe or no. The poore man answered sayd My reuerend Lord I shal tell you the trouth Beside this water my wife and my childe and I haue dwelled xxx yéere God hath giuen me such grace that when so euer I touch my harpe I make so swéete melody that the fishes of this water come out to my hand and so I take them where with my wife my childe and I be sustained dayly in great plenty But alâ—s welaway on the other side of this water there commeth a whistler whisteleth so sweetly that many times the fishes forsake mée and goe to his whistling and therefore my reuerend Lord I besech you of help against his hissing whisteling Then said themperour I shall giue thée good help couÌ„saile I haue héere in my pursse a golden hooke which I will giue thée take thou it binde it fast at the ende of a rod with some worme for the bait vpon the hooke then cast thy rod into the water forthwith ply thy play vpon thy harp and when thou perceiuest the fish to byte on the baite draw them vp to the lande with that hooke then his whisteling ne hissing shall not auaile When the poore man heard this he reioysed him greatly and did all thing as hée had taught him And wheÌ„ this poore man began to touch his harpe the fishes came to the bayte than he tooke them vp with his hooke liued there by in better estate long time and at the last ended gratiousiy his life in peace and rest The Morall ¶ This Emperour betokeneth Jesu Christ which greatly delighteth to hunt the soule of mankinde in the forrest that is holy Church Hee loueth also the melody of the harpe that is to say he loueth much those that teach the holy word of god This poore man that sate by the water side betokeneth the prelats of the church and the preachers of the word of god which ought to sit beside the world and not in the world that is to say they should not set their delight in worldly things The preachers ought to haue the harp of holy seripture wherewith they may praise and honour God and also therewith draw out of this world the sinners Therfore saith the psalmist thus Praise ye god in timpanes and sing ye to him on the harpe the psalter of the x stringes But now a dayes the preacher may say alas for when I preach and teach holy scripture the diuell commeth whsteleth so swéetly that the sinners draw to him and will not heere the word of god but they turne themselues onely to the delight of sinne The diuell deceiueth also mankinde by diuerse wayes First in time of preaching he maketh some to sléepe and them that he cannot make to sléepe he causeth them to talke clatter and them that he cannot make to clatter hée maketh them so dull that they may not vnderstand what the preacher saith and them that he cannot beguile by these meanes hée putteth in them businesse and causeth them to goe out of the Church Lo so many waies the diuell hath to deceiue mankinde and to let the woord of God Theresore euery prelate euery Preacher béehoueth to haue the golden hooke of gods grace against this whiseeling by the which grace they may draw sinners out of this world vp to heauen vnto the which bring vs our Lord Jesus Amen The Argument ¶ Mans soule the daughter of our Sauiuiour is so deere vnto him that he being careful for the conuersation of hir in state of sincere liâ—e is yet seduced by the sugestion of the flesh which beeing a greeuous transgressor is by earnest repentance and amendemeÌ„t of life enforced to bâ—ing the said soule againe vnto dutifull obedience towards God man that thence forwards coÌ„tinuing she may attayn vnto the â—oâ—es of euerlasting blislednesse c. The 18. Historie THere dwelled sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour and a wise named Polemus which had no childe saue onely a daughter whom he loued so much that daye and night hée ordayned to haue hir garded with armed knights And aboue these knightes he ordayned a comptroller well erperienced in euery thing for to teach and instruct them how they should doe Hée ordayned also a steward for to guide his household And when all this was done on a night as hée lay in his bed hée béethought him that hée would goe visit the holy land And then when all thing was ready for his iourney according to his purpose hée called vnto him his steward and sayd My trusty seruant I purpose now to goe see the holy land and therfore I leaue my daughter in thy kéeping also I charge thée that she lack nothing but that shee haue all maner of ioye and gladnesse that pertaineth to a virgin Secondly I leaue in thy kéeping fiue knights that beene hir kéepers and charge thée that they lack nothing which to them beehoueth Also I leaue to thée my greyhound commaunding that thou nourish and féede him as it appertaineth and if thou fulfill all this that I haue sayd thou shalt at my comming againe receiue a great reward TheÌ„ said the steward my dere Lord in all that I may I shall fulfill your will When this was said the emperour tooke his iourney toward the citie of Ierusalem and the steward a long time kept well and truely themeperours ordinaÌ„ce and charge enioyned him But at the last it befell vpon a day that this steward had espyed this yong Lady walking alone in an Orcheyard with whose loue hee was sodainly surprised wherfore straitway against hir will hée desâ—oured hir And when he had committed sinne with 〈◊〉 hee gaue hir â—ll language and hated hir more after thâ—n euer hee loued hir 〈…〉 and dr 〈…〉 hir out of the pallais wherfore this da 〈…〉 by this meanes being driuen to 〈…〉 and great po 〈…〉 went from dore to dore begged hir bread But when the knightes that were hir kepers heard of this they reâ—orâ—ed shamefully the steward of that sinfull deede Then the steward waxed wroth and for great hate that he had in his hart he dispoiled the hâ—ights of their goods droue them fro the pallayes And when they were thus robbed exiled some for lack of liuings became theeues and some mankillers which through this inconuenience they wrought great harme Soone after this ther came tidings that themperour was arriued in far lands comming homeward And when the steward heard this hée was greatly troubled and moued in himselfe and thus thinking in himselfe hée said thus This may not bée but néedes I shall bée accused for my treaspasse that I haue committed against themperours coÌ„mandemeÌ„t hée is my God and mercifull Lord therfore
dignitie estate being men of cinceare life they that did contrary to the meaning of dutifull behofe heerin are worthie of euerlasting death The 38. Historie SOmetime there dwelt in Rome a mighty Emperour named Donate which dyd let make thrée Images of the which one held out his hand straight vnto the people and had on his finger a ring of Gold The second Image had a beard of gold And the third had a mantell of Purple commaunding vpon paine of death that no man should beare these Images of the ring the beard nor the mantell It befell afterward vppon a time that one Dyonise tyrant came into the temple and toke away the ring from the first Image the beard from the second and the mantell from the third And when he had thus done he was foorthwith accused vnto the Emperour and brought before him and straightly examined of that trespasse why hée dispoyled the Images against the Emperours commaundement Than aunswered Dionise and said as followeth My Lord it is lawfull to answere for mée when I entred into the Temple the first Image held foorth his hand straight to mee as who would saye I giue thee this ring and therefore I toke the ring at the guift of the Image béeing loth to refuse his gentle offer And when I law the second Image hauing a beard I thought thus with in my selfe I knew sometyme the father of this Image which had no bearde and now his sonne hath a beard which is against reason the sonne to haue a bearde and the father none and therefore I tooke from him his bearde that he should bée like his father After that whan I saw the third Image clothed in a mantell of Golde I thought that a mantell of gold was not behoueable to him in winter for gold is naturally colde which might be cause of his death and therefore I tooke it from him bicause it was to colde in winter to hotte in sommer When Dionise had excused him by these reasons the Emperour answered and said Thou hast answered wickedly for thy selfe what shold cause thée rather than any other man to dispoyle these Images for as much as I commaunded that no man should take any thing away from them thine owne mouth hath condempned thée Anone the Emperour called to him one of his Squires and charged him to smyte of his head and so it was done The Morall This Emperour betokeneth Almightie God the Father of Heauen The thrée Images betokeneth the poore men the rich men and the mightie men of this worlde The tyrant Dionise béetokeneth all officers in euery estate lewdely behauing themselues which take away from poore menne the ringe of theyr fingers and saye thus I may take that is giuen me But when the poore man hath ought to doe he must needes put foorth his hand to giue whether he will or no if hée shall spéede They take also the beard from the rich man an say thus This man is richer thaÌ„ his father was therefore take we his liueloode from him and make him like his forefather They take also the mantell of â—olde from the mightie men when they sée any man of honour of good â—â—â—ing wâ—ling to correct such misdoâ—â—s then saye they this man is to colde for he enclyneth nothing to our opinions and also he is to hot of power in working against vs therfore goe we and take from him the mantill of might and so they accuse him and put him out of office But certainely all such men stand in perill of euerlasting death From the which saue vs he that shed his precious bloud for vs. The Argument ¶ Man ought to nourish Christ in his hart by faith and fruits of good lyfe The reward of such as haue care vppon the conseruation of Christ his institutions we must watch least wee enter into temptation these thinges concidered we shall then by gods gracious good prouidence atâ—ayne vnto the reward of his heauenly and euerlasting blisse The 39. Historie THere dwelt sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour named Euas which had a fayre yong Lady to his wife vpon whome he had begotten a fayre sonne Whan the states of the empyre heard this they came vnto the Emperour besought him to haue the keepeing of his sonne Immediately the Emperour sent a Herould throughout the citie proclaiming that in whose house were firste founde fyre and water the good manne of that house should haue his sonne in kéeping and to nourish And than the emperour made a proclamacion that who so euer had his sonne to kéepe should nourish him cleanly féede him with wholesom meats and drinckes And when the childe came to age than should the keeper be promoted to great honor wherefore many men let make redy fire and water in hope to haue the childe But on the night when euery manne was a sléepe there came a tyrant named Sulapius that quenched the fire and threw out the water Neuerthelesse among all other there was a man named Ionathas that laboured so diligently that hée kept both day and night fire and water In a morning earely the Herauld at the Emperours commaundement went through the Citie and sought in euery house for Fyre and Water but hée could finde none tyll hee came to Ionathas house where as hée founde both Fyre and Water readie wherefore hee was brought béefore the Emperour and deliuered him his sonne according to his proclamacion When Ionathas had the Emperours sonne he led him home vnto his house And soone after he sent for masons and carpeÌ„ters let make a strong chamber of lyme and stone And when the chamber was made he sent for painters and let paint on the wall within the chamber x. Images with this posey paynted aboue their heads Who so defileth these Images shall dye a cruell death And than he lette draw on the dore agallous figure of a man hanging thervpon with this posey paynted aboue his head So shal he be serued that noursheth the Emperours sonne amisse Also he lette make a chaire of golde himselfe sitting therein crowned with a crowne of golde with this superscription aboue his head Who so nourisheth the Emperours sonne cleanly thus shal he be honoured Whan this was done often tymes as hée was a sléepe hée was greatly tempted to defyle these ten excelent Images but anone hée reade the superscription aboue their heads than all the temptations ceased And when the Emperours sonne was euill kept than went he to the gallows and read that posey which was writteÌ„ aboue his own head and for dread thereof kept the child better and was diligent to giue attendaÌ„ce on him And when he beheld the chayre and himselfe sitting therein crowned with a crowne of golde hée was right ioyfull thinking to haue a good reward for keeking of the Emperours sonne Whan the Emperour heard of his diligent demeanour aboute his sonne hée sent for him and for his sonne thanking him for his well keeping and
nourishing of him and after promoted him to great honor and worship The Morall This Emperour betokeneth the father of heauen The Empresse béetokeneth the blessed virgin Mary The Emperours sonne betokeneth our Lord Jesu Christ The Herauld that was sent throughout the Citie betokeneth saint Iohn Baptist which was sent before our Lord to prepare the way for him according to holy scripture Ecce mitto Angelum c. Loe I sende myne aungell before mée c. The states that desired the Emperours sonne to nourish beetoken the Patriarkes and Prophets which desired greatly to nourish our Lord Jesu Christ and also to see him but they might not see him ne nourish him for fyre and water which should haue béene cause of their sight was not with them perfectly The fyre betokeneth the holy Ghost which had not yet appered in them for they were not washed with the water of Baptisme Also yée may vnderstand by the fyre perfect charitie and by the water true contricion which two now a daies faileth in many men and therfore they may not haue the little childe Jesus in their hearts Ionathas that watched so diligently betokeneth euery good Christian man which studieth euer to watch in well doeing yéelding to GOD for sinnes the fyre of charitable repentaunce the watter of contrition But oftentimes the tyrant which béetokeneth the diuell putteth out the fire of charitie from out of mens harts and casteth out the water of contrition so that they may not nourishe the little childe Jesus Therefore lette vs watch as lonathas dyd that wâ—e enter not into temptation And call wee vnto vs Masons that is to saye descrete Preachers which can make in our hartes a chamber of stone that is to say a sure Faith and hope Than call wée to vs Painters that is to saye ministers of Gods word which canne painte in our harts ten Images that is to say the x. commaundements which if thou kéepe and obserue dayly without doubt thou shalt bée honoured in heauen And if thou kéepe well the Emperours sonne thou shalt sit in a chayre of Gold crowned with a crowne of Gold And if that thou nourish him not well without doubt thou shalt bée in daunger of torment in hell From the which preserue vs our blessed Sauiour Jesus Amen The Argument ¶ The soule of man espoused vnto Christ the flesh procureth the same to sinne The Christian soule by faith withstan death temptation The redemption of mankinde from sinne death The deceits of vnthankfull heartes The spirit healeth the defectes of the flesh after a pure repentaunce followeth perpetuall ioye and felicitie both of soule and body The 40. History IN Rome dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour named Menaly which had wedded the Kinges daughter of Hungary a fayre Lady and a gracious in all hir woorkes and specially shée was mercifull On a tyme as the Emperour lay in his bed hée bée thought him that hée would goâ— visitâ—e the holy lande And on the morrow he called to him the Emprisse his wife and his owne onely brother and thus he sayde Deere Lady I may not ne I will not hide from you the priuities of my heart I purpose to visit the holy land wherefore I ordaine thee principally to be Lady gouernour ouer all mine Empyre and all my people And vnder thee I ordaine héere my brother to be thy steward for to prouide all things that may bée profitable to mine Empyre and to my people Then said the Emprisse Sith it will none otherwise bee but the needs yée will goe to visit the Citie Ierusalem I shall bee in your absence as true as any turtle that hath lost hir mate for as I beeléeue yée shall not escape thence with your life The Emperour anone comforted hir with faire words and kissed hir and after that tooke his leaue of hir and of all other and so went foorth vnto the citie of Ierusalem And anone after that the Emperour was gone his brother became so proude that he oppressed poore men robbed rich men and yet did he worse theÌ„ this for dayly he stirred the Emprisse to commit sinne with him But euer she answered again as an holy and deuout woman saide I will quod shee neuer consent to you ne to none other as long as my Lord liueth Neuerthelesse this knight would not leaue with this answere but euer when he founde hir alone hee made his complaint to hir and stirred hir by all the wayes that hee could to sinne with him When this Ladie sawe that he would not cease for no answer ne wold not amend himselfe when shée sawe hir tyme shée called to hir three or foure of the worthiest men of the Empyre and sayd to them thus It is not vnknowen to you that my Lord the Emperour ordained mee principal gouernour of this Empyre also he ordained his brother to bee steward vnder mee and that hée should doe nothing without my counsel but he doth all the contrary for he oppresseth greatly poore men and likewiâ—e robbeth the rich men and yet he would doe worse then this if hee might haue his entent wherefore I commaund you in my Lords name that you binde him fast and cast him in prison Than said they sothly he hath done many euill déedes sith our Lord themperor wâ—nt therfore we be redy to obay your commaundement but in this matter ye must aunswere for vs to our Lord the Emperour Than said she dread ye not if my Lord knew what he hath done as well as I he would put him to the foulest death that could be thought Immediately these men sette hand on him and bound him fast with yron chaines and put him fast in prison where as he lay long tyme aâ—ter till at the last if fortuned there came tydings that the Emperour was comming home and had obtained great worship and victory When his brother heard of his comming hée said Would to God my brother might find mée in prison for than would he enquire the cause of myne enprisonment of the Emprisse she will tell him all the trouth and how I procured hir to commit sinne so for hir I shall haue no fauour of my Brother but loose my lyfe this know I well therefore it shall not bée so Then sent hée a messenger vnto the Emprissee praying hir for christes passion that shee would vouchsafe to come vnto the pryson dore that he might speake a word or two with hir The Emprisse came to him and enquired of him what hee would haue Hee answered and sayde O lady haue mercy vpon mée for if the Emperour my brother finde mée in this prison then shall I die without any remedy Then said the Emprisse if I might konw that thou wouldest be a good man and leaue thy folly thou shouldest haue grace Then dyd hée promise hir assuredlie to bee true and to amend all his trespasse When hee had thus promised the Emprisse deliuered him anon and made him to be bathed and
shauen and apparelled him worshipfully according to his estate and then shée said vnto him thus Now good brother take thy stéede and come with mée that wee may méete my Lord. Hée answered and sayd Lady I am redy to fulfil your will commaundement in all things And than the Empresse toke him with hir and many other knights and so rod foorth to meeâ— with the Emperour and as they rode together by the way they sawe where a great hart ranne afore them wherefore euery man with such hounds as they had chased him on horse backe so that with the Empresse was left no creature saue onely the Emperours brother which seeing that no man was there but they two thus hee saide vnto the Empresse Loe Lady heere beside is a priuie forrest and long it is agone that I spake to thée of Loue come now and consent vnto mee that I may lye with thee Then sayde the Empresse a foole what may this bee yesterday I deliuered thée out of prison vpon thy promise in hope of amendement and now thou art retoâ—rned to thy folly againe wherfore I saye now to thée as I haue sayde before there shall no man doe such thing with me saue onely my Lorde the Emperour which ought of very duty so for â—â— doe Then sayde â—ee if thou wilt not consent to mée I shall hang thée héere vpon a trée in this Forrest where no man shall finde thée so shalt thou dye an euill death The Empresse aunswered méekely and sayde Though thou smite of my head and put mée to death with all maner of torment thou shalt neuer haue mee to consent to such sinne When hee heard this hée vnciothed hir all saue hir smock and hanged hir vp by the haire vpon a trée tyed hir stéede beside hir and so rode foorth to his fellowes and tolde them that a great hoast of men met him and tooke the Empresse away from him And wheÌ„ he hadde tolde them this they made all great sorrow It befell on the third day after there came an Earle to hunt in that Forrest and as he rode beating the barks there started a Foxe whome his hounds followed fast till they came néere the trée where the Empresse hanged And when the dogges felt the sauour of hir they left the Fore and ranne towarde the Trée as fast as they could The Earle séeing this wondred greatly and spurred his horse and folowed them till he came wher as the Empresse hanged Whan the Earle â—aw hir thus hanging he maruailed greatly for as much as she was right fayre and gracious to behold wherefore he sayde vnto hir in this manner wise O woman who art thou and of what countrie and wherefore hangest thou héere in this manner wise The Emprisse that was not yet fully dead but in point ready to dye aunswered and said I am quod she a straunge woman and I am come out from far countrie but how I came hither God knoweth Than aunswered the Earle and said Whose horse is this that staÌ„deth by thée bound to this trée Than answered the lady and said that it was hirs WhaÌ„ the earle heard this he knew well that she was a gentle woman and came of noble linage wherfore he was the rather moued with pitty said vnto hir O faire lady thou seâ—est of gentle blood therfore I purpose to deliuer thée from this mischife if thou wilt promise to goe with mée nourish my faire yong daughter teach hir at home in my castell for I haue no childe but onely hir if thou kéepe hir well thou shalâ— haue a good reward for thy labour Than said she As far soorth as I can or may I shall fulfill thine entent And when she had thus promised him he tooke hir downe of the trée and led hir home to his castel and gaue hir the kéeping of his daughter that he loued so much and she was cherished so well that shée lay euery night in the earles chamber and his daughter with hir and in his chamber euery night there brent a lamp the which hanged beetwéene the Empresse bed and the earles bed This lady béehaued hir so gently that she was beloued of euery creature There was that time in the earls court a steward which much loued this Emprisse exceedingly aboue all things and oftentymes spake to hir of his loue But shée answered him againe and sayd Know yée déere friend for certainetie that I haue made a solempne vow to God that I shall neuer loue any man in such maner wise but onely him whom I am greatly beholden to loue by gods commaundement Than sayd the Steward Thou wilt not than consent vnto mée My Lorde quod shâ— what needeth thee any more to aske such thing the vow that I haue made truely I shall keepe hold by the grace of god And when the steward heard this hée went his way in great wrath and anger thincking within himselfe if I may I shall be reuenged on thée It befell vppon a night within short time after that the Earls chamber dore was forgotten and left vnshet which the steward had anone perceiued And when they were all a sleepe hee went and espied by the light of the lamp where the Emprisse and the young Mayden laye to gether and with that he drewe out his Knife and cut the throte of the Earles daughter put the bloody knife into the Emprisse hande shee beeing a sléepe and nothing knowing thereof to the intent that whan the Earle awaked he should see the knife in hir hande and that hée should think that she had cut his daughters throte wherfore she should bée put to a shameful death for this mischeuous déede And when this damosell was thus slaine and the bloody knife in the Emprisse hand the countesse awaked out of hir sléepe and sawe by the light of the Lampe the blouddie knife in the Emprisse hande wherefore she was almost out of hir wittes and sayd to the Earle O my Lorde behold in yonder Ladies hand a wonderfull thing Anone the Earle awaked and beheld on the Emprisse bed and saw the bloody knife as the countisse had sayd wherefore he was greatly moued and cried to hir and sayd Awake woman out of thy sléepe what thing is this that I sée in thy hand Anone the Emprisse through his crye awaked out of hir sleepe and in hir waking the knife fell out of hir hand and with that she looked by hir found the Earles daughter dead by hir side all the bed be sprent with blood wherefore with an huge voyce shée cryed and sayd Alas alas and welaway my lords daghter is slayne Than cryed the couÌ„tisse vnto the Earle with á pitious voyce said A my lord let the diuelish woman be put to the most foule death that can be thought which thus hath slaine our onely childe And when the countisse had sayde thus to the Earle she sayde to the Emprisse in this wise The high God knoweth that
thou mischeuous woman hast slain my daughter with thine owne hands for I saw the bloodie knife in thy hand therefore thou shalt dye a foule death Than sayde the Earle in this wise O thou woman were it not that I dread God greatly I should cleaue thy bodie with my sword in two parts for I deliuered thée from hanging now thou hast slaine my daughter neuerthelesse for mée thou shalt haue no harme therefore goe thy way out of this cittie without any delaye for if I doe finde thée here this daye thou shalt dye a most euill death Than arose this wofull Emprisse and dyd on hir clothes after leapt on hir palsry and rode toward the east alone without any safe conduct And as shée rode thus mourning by the way she espyed on the left side of the way a payre of gallous and seuen officers leading a man to the gallous to be hanged wherfore she was moued with great pittie and smote hir horse with the spurres rode to them praying them that she might redéeme that misdoer if he might be saued from death for any meede Than sayd they Lady it pleaseth vs well that thou redéeme him Anone the Emprisse accorded with them and payed his raunsome and than he was deliuered Thus sayde she to him Now déere friend be true till thou dye sith I haue deliuered thée from death On my soule quod he I promise you euer to be true And when hée had thus sayde he followed the Lady still till they came nigh a citie and than said the Emprisse to him Good friend quod shée goe foorth thy way afore mée out of the Cittie and take vp for vs an honest lodging for ther I purpose to rest a whilâ— This man went foorth as she commaunâ—â—â—â— tooke vp for hir a good lodging and an honest whereas she abode long tyme. Whan the men of the Citie perceined hir bewtie they wondred greatly wherefore many of them craued of hir vnlawfull loue but all was in vaine they might not speede in any wise It fortuned after on a day that there came a Shippe full of marchandise and ariued in the hauen of that Citie When the Ladys heard this she said vnto hir seruaunt Goe to the shippe and see if there be any câ—oth for myne vse Hir seruaunt went foorth to the shippe whereas he found many precious clothes wherefore hée prayed the master of the shippe that-hée would come into the Citie and speake with this Lady The master graunted him and so he came home to his lady beefore and warned hir of the comming of the master oâ— the shippe Anone after the master of the ship came and sâ—luted the Ladye worthyly And the lady receiued him according to his degrée praying him that she might haue for hir mony such cloth as might bâ— profitable for hir wearing Anone hee grauÌ„ted that shee should haue and soone they were agreed wherefore the seruaunt went emmediately again with the Maister of the Shippe And when they were both within the Ship boorde the Maister sayd to the Ladies seruant My déere friend to thée I wold open my counsaile if I might trust in thee help mee thou shalt haue of mee a great reward Then answered hée and sayd I shall quod hee bee sworne vnto thée on the holy Euangelist that I shall kéepe thy counsaile and fulfill thine intent as far foorth as I can Then said the Maister of the shippe I loue thy Lady more then I can tel thee for hir fayrenesse is so great that I would giue for the loue of hir all the gold that I haue and if I may obtaine the loue of hir through thy help I shall giue thée what so euer thou wilt desire of mée Then saide the Ladies seruaunt tell me by what meanes I may best speede Then sayd the Maister of the Shippe Goe home to thy Lady againe and tell hir that I will not deliuer to thee my cloth except she come hir selfe but bring hir to my Shippe except the winde bée good and able for then I purpose to lead hir away Thy counsell is alwayes good quod the Ladies seruant therfore giue me some reward I shall fulfil thyne intent And when he had receiued his reward hee went againe to his Lady and tolde hir that by no meanes the Master of the shippe would not deliuer him the cloth but if shée came hir selfe The Lady béeléeued hir seruaunt went to the ship And when she was within the ship bord hir seruaunt abode without When the Maister saw that she was within the Shippe and the winde was good hee drew vp the sayle and sayled foorth When the Lady perceiued this thus shée sayde to the master O Master quod shee what treason is this that thou hast done to mée The Maister answered and sayde Madame certainely it is so that I must needes lie with thée and afterwarde espouse thee For sooth quod shée I haue made a vowe that I shall neuer commit such sinne but with him vnto whom I am bound by right and by the law Soothly quod he if yée will not graunt mée with your good will I shall cast you out into the middest of the sea there shall yée die an euill death If it be so quod she that I must néedes consent or else dye than I pray thee to prepare a priuie place in the ende of the Shippe whereas I may fulfill thine entent or I dye but first I pray thée that I may say my prayers vnto the father of heauen that hée may haue mercy on mée The Master béeléeued hir wherfore hée let ordaine hir a Cabbin in the end of the Shippe wherevnto shée sette hir downe on both hir knees and made hir prayers saying on this wise O thou my Lord GOD that hast kept mée froÌ„ my youth in cleanenesse keepe mée now that I be not desâ—oured so that I may serue thée euer with a cleane heart and minde When shée had thus ended hir oryson ther arose sodenly a great tempest in the sea so that the Shippe all to brast and all that were within perished saue the lady that caught a Cable saued hir selfe the Master of the Ship an other neuerthelesse she knew not of him ne he of hir for they were driuen to diuerse coastes This ladie landed in hir owne Empyre beeside a Citie where in shée was worshipfully receiued and shee lyued so holy a life that GOD gaue hir grace and power to heale sicke folke of all manner of diseases wherfore there came much people to hir both crooked blinde and lame and euery man through the grace of God and hir good demeanure were healed wherfore hir name was knowne thorough diuerse regions Neuerthelesse she was not knowen as Emprisse In the same tyme the Emperours brother that had hanged hir beefore by the heyre was smitten with a foule Lepry The knight that slew the earles Daughter and put the bloody knife in hir hand was blynde deafe and had the palsey The
minde And praied the Stewarde of his counsell and helpe in this woefull case Than saide the stewarde vnto him if that thou wilt doe by my counsell I shall bring this matter to a good conclusion therefore doe as I shall tell thée I counsell thée for the best and also warne thée that when thou seruest my Lord the Emperour of his cuppe that thou that turne thy face away from him so that hée may not féele thy stincking breath vnto the time that thou hast prouided thée of some remedie therfore Then was Fulgentious right glad and swere to him that he would doe by his counsell Not long after it béefell that this young man Fulgentious serued his Lord as hée was wont to doe and therewith sodainely he tourned his face from his Lord the Emperour as the Steward had taught him And when the Emperour perceiued the auoyding of his head hée smote this young Fulgentious on the breast with his foote and saide to him thus O thou leude varlet now sée I well it is true that I haue heard of thée and therfore goe thou anon out of my sight that I may sée thée no more in this place And with that this yong Fulgencious wept full sore auoided the place and went out of his sight And when this was so done the Emperour called vnto him his Steward and sayd How may I ryd this varlet from the world that thus hath defamed mée My most déere Lord quod the steward right well you shall haue your intent For héere béeside within these thrée miles yée haue brickmakers which daily make great fires for to burne brick also they make lyme therfore my Lord send to them this night charge them vppon paine of death that whosoeuer commeth to them first on the morrow saying to thē thus My Lord commaūdeth you to fulfil his will that they take him and cast him into the Forncis with the stones and this night commaunde you this Fulgentious that he goe earely in the morning to your workmen and that hee aske them whether they haue fulfilled your wil which they were commaunded or not and then shall they according to your commaundement cast him in the Fyre and thus shall hee dye an euill death Surely quod the Emperour thy counsell is good therfore call to me that varlet Fulgentious And when this young man was come to the Emperours presence hée sayde to him thus I charge thée vpon paine of death that thou rise early in the morning goe to the brenners of lyme brick and that thou bee with them earely before the sunne ryse thrée myles from this house and charge them in my behalfe that they fullfil my commaundement or else they shall dye a most shamefull death Then spake this Fulgentious My Lord if God send mée my lyfe I shall fulfill your will were it that I should goe to the worlds ende When Fulgentious had this charge he could not sléepe for thought but that hée must arise earely for to fulfil his Lords commandement The Emperour about midnight sent a messenger on horseback vnto his bricke makers commaunding them vppon paine of death that who so euer came to them first in the morning saying vnto them the Emperours commaundement which is before rehearsed that they should take and bynd him and cast him into the fire burne him to the bare bones The Bryck makers answered and sayde it should bée done And then the messenger returned home againe incontinent and told the Emperour that his commandement should bée diligently fulfilled Earely in the morning following Fulgentious arose prepared him towards his way as hée went hée heard a bell ring to seruice wherefore hee went to that Church for to heare Seruice and after the ende of seruice he fell a sléepe and ther hée slept a long while so that the priest ne none other might a wake him The steward desiring inwardly to heare of his death as he did hope about one of the clock he went vnto the workmen and saide vnto them thus Syrs quod hée haue yée done the Emperours commaundement or no. The Brickmakers answered him againe and saide Nay surely wée haue not yet done his commaundement but anone it shall bée done with that they layde handes on him Then cried the steward with an high voice and saide Good sirs saue my Lyfe sor the Emperour cōmaunded that Fulgentious should bée put to death Then saide they the messenger told not vs so but hée bad vs that whosoeuer came first to vs in the morning saying as ye before rehearsed that wée should take him and cast him into the Fornace bourne him to ashes And with that word they threw him into the fire And when he was bournt Fulgentious came to them and said Good sirs haue you done my Lords commaundement yea soothly said they and therefore go◠yée againe to the Emperour and tel him so Thē said Fulgentious For Christes loue tell mée that commaundement Wée had in commaundement saide they vpon paine of death that who so euer came to vs first in the morninge and saide like as thou hast saide that wée should take him and cast him into the Fornace But béefore thée came the Steward and therefore haue wee fulfilled on him the Emperours commaundoment and now is hee bournt to the bare bones And when Fulgentious heard this hée thanked God that hée had so preserued him from death wherfore hée tooke his leaue of the workmen and went againe to the Pallaice When the Emperour perceiued him hée was almost distract of his wittes for anger and thus hee sayde Hast thou beene with the Bryckmaker and fulfilled my commaundement Soothly my gracious Lord I haue béene there but or I came there your commaundement was fulfilled How may that bee true quod the Emperour Forsooth said Fulgencious the steward came to them afore mee and sayd that I should haue sayde and when they heard that they tooke him and threw him into the forneis and if I had comen any rather so would they haue done to me and therfore I thanck God that hath preserued me from death Then sayd the Emperour tell mée the trueth of such questions as I shall demaund of thee Then saide Fulgentious vnto the Emperour As I béeleue you neuer sound in mee any falsehoode and therfore I wondred greatly why ye had ordained such a death for mee for well ye know that I am your own brothers sonne Then saide the Emperour to Fulgentious It is no wonder for that death I ordained to thee through counsell of the steward bicause thou didst defame mée throughout all my Empyre saying that my breath did stinck so grieuously that it was death to thée and in token hereof thou turnedst away thy face whē thou seruedst mée of my cuppe and that saw I with mine eyes and for this cause I ordained for thée such a death and yet thou shalt dye except I heare a better excuse Then answered Fulgentious and sayd A my most deere
Lord if it might please your highnesse for to heare mée I shall shew you a subtill and a deceitfull imagination Say on quod the Emperour The steward quod Fulgencious that now is dead came to mée and sayde that ye tolde him that my breath dyd stinck and there vpon he counsailed mée that when I serued you of your cuppe I should than turne away my face I take God to witnesse I lye not When the Emperour heard this he beleued him said O my neuew now I see through the right wise iudgement of God the steward is brent and his owne wickednesse and enuie is fallen on him selse for he ordained this malice against thee and therfore thou arte much bound to almightie God that hath preserued thée from death The Morall Déere friends this Emperour béetokeneth euery supreame magistrate and other inferiours And Fulgentious his neuew béetokeneth euery true christian man which should duely truely serue them with faithfull homage and duetifull loyalty like as Fulgentious serued the Emperour of his cup wherefore ye shall be greatly loued of God This steward betokeneth euery false Christen man as Cayne which oftentimes turneth the harts of right wise men from God saying that his breath stinketh that is to say that the life of the magistrate is not acceptable to GOD nor man which is against this Scripture saying thus Nolite iudicare c. That is to say iudge not and ye shall not be iudged But oftentimes such malicious peole accuseth righteous men wherefore they shal be cast into the euerlasting fire of hell where is wayling wéeping and misery without charitie And rightwise shall ascend to euerlasting lyfe Unto the which bring vs our Lord Jesu Christ Amen The Argument ¶ Tyrants and vngodly persons walke without knowledge of the truth tyll they come to the Church of God the wicked persecute the godly But they are preserued by the mightie prouidence of god so we ought not to sleep in sinne A figuratiue speach of three seuerall meanings videlicet Take Yeelde and Flee the significacion thereof The 42. Historie THere dwelt sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour named Delphinus which had no childreÌ„ saue onely one daughter which was a fayre creature and welbeloued of hir father As this Emperour walked on a day on hunting in the Forrest sodainly he rode out of his way and lost his men wherfore he was greatly discomforted for he wist not whether he rode ne in what place he was till at the last when he had rydden thus all the day alone in the euening he saw a house and thether hée rode a great pace knocked at the gate Immediately the good manne of the house heard him and asked the cause of his knocking and what he would haue Deere friend quod the Emperour lo it is night as ye may se therfore I desire you of lodging for the loue of God When he had thus sayd the goodman of the house vnware that he was the Emperour aunswered thus and sayd Good friend quod he I am the Emperours Foster and haue plenty of venison and other vittailes for you When the Emperour hearde this he was right glad in his mind neuerthelesse he told him not that he was the Emperour And the Foster opened the gate and receiued him as worshipfully as hée could and set him to his supper and serued him honestly And when he had supped the Foster brought him to his chamber and when time was he went to bed In the same night it befell that the Fosters wife was trauailing of childe in another chamber fast by and was deliuered that same night of a faire sonne And as the Emperour lay in his bed sléeping him séemed he heard a voice saying to him thrise these words Take take take And with that hée awoke meruailed greatly what it might bée saying to himselfe thus A voyce biddeth mée take take what shall I take And immedately he fell a sléepe againe and the second time hée heard a voyce saying vnto him these wordes Yelde yelde yelde And with that he wakened againe and wondred greatly saying vnto himselfe What may this signifie First I heard a voyce that sayed take take and nothing I receiued And right now I heard another voice that sayde yeld yeld yeld what shoulde I yelde And as he laye thus thinking to him selfe he fell a sléepe againe And when he heard the third voyce saying these wordes thrice flee flee flee for this night is a childe borne that after thy decease shal be Emperour When the Emperor heard this he wakened wondred greatly what it might bee In the morning carely solowing the emperour arose called to him the foster and said Deere friend I pray thée that thou wâ—lt tell me if any childe be borne this night to thy knowledge My wife quod the Foster this night is deliuered of a fayre son I pray thée sayd the Emperour shew me thy sonne When the Emperour had séene the childe he saw a marke in the childes visage whereby he might know him an other time and than he sayd to the Foster thus Déere friend knowest thou who I am nay southly quod the Foster for I saw you neuer before this time as farre as I am remembred neuerthelesse it séemeth that ye be a gentleman Than answered the Emperour and sayd I am quod he the Emperour your Lord whome yée haue lodged this night wherefore right hartely I thanke you This hearing the foster fell downe vpon both his knées at his féete besought him of mercy if that he had offended his hightnesse in any thing praying him of forgiuenesse Then aunswered the Emperour and said be thou nothing afrayed for I thanke thee hartely of thy good chéere and thy sonne that was borne to night I wil haue for to nourish and bring vp in my court aud to morrow I shall send for him O my gratious Lord quod the foster it is not agréeable that such a noble Emperour should nourish the childe of his subiect and seruaunt neuerthelesse your will be fulfilled for when your messengers come I shall deliuer them my son Whan this was sayde the Emperour tooke his leaue and rode home towarde his pallaice And whan he was come home he called vnto him such seruaunts as hée trusted best and sayd to them thus Goe yée quod hée vnto my Foster with whom I was lodged this night in the forrest and receiue of him his sonne of which his wife was deliuered thys night and vpon payne of death I commaund you that yee destroy him by the way and cast his flesh to the dogges but bring with you the hart to mee And except ye fulfill my commaundement yée shall dye the most foulest death that can be thought Anone his seruaunts went to the forrest and receiued the Fosters sonne and brought him with them and when they were come néere vnto the pallaice one of them said How shall wée doe that we may fulfill our Lords commaundement in distroying of this