my trespace that I haue done agaynst themperours coÌ„mauÌ„dement he is my lorde mercyable therfore better it were that I go mete w t hym wyth all honour humylyte accuse my selfe to hym aske hym mercy than ony other sholde go before to accuse me to my lord of my treason Than this stewarde anone dyd of all his clothes saue his breche his sherte and toke thre ropes wysh hym in his ryght hande and bare fote wente mette the Emperour But whan themperour had espyed hym coÌ„mynge a ferre in such a wyse he woÌ„dred greatly And whan the steward was coÌ„me so nere that he myght speke to themperour he fell downe on hys knees salewed hym reuerently Than sayd y e Emperour what is befallen y e that thou metest me in thys araye for as moche as y e art my stewarde thou sholdest haue mette me w t a great company of knyghtes A my lorde quod he there is befallen me an heuy case for the whyche it behoueth me thus to mete your hyghnes Than sayd themperour what case is that that is befallen the. My reuerend lord quod he it behoueth fyrst your hyghnes to aske of me why I brynge w t me these thre ropes Than sayd themperour why bearest thou these thre ropes in thy hande in suche a wyse Than answered this wofull steward sayd This fyrst corde I brynge wyth me to bynde my handes fete so harde tyll the blode brest out on euery syde for y t I haue well deserued The second rope I brynge wyth me â—o drawe me by hors tayle vpon y e pauement tyll that my bones de bare wythout flesshe for that shal profyte me for the great treason y t I haue done agaynst you The thyrde rope y t I haue brought is to hange me w t vpoÌ„ an hygh galous so longe that the byrdes lyght on my heed on my body fede themself of my flesshe these thynges ben due to suche trespacers brekers of the lawe as I am therfore my reuerende lorde haue mercy on me for I dare not knowlege my trespace tyl I be certayne of thy mercy pyte Than sayd themperour I se in the great mekenes contricion therfore tell forth thy trespace sothly y u shalte fynde mercy grace Alas alas than sayd he I haue defouled thy doughter put her out of thy palays now for great defaute she beggeth her breed from dore to dore I haue also despoyled thy knyghtes of all theyr goodes now some of them for defaute of goodes ben theues some manquellers the mayster of y e knyghtes I haue slayne But I haue fedde thy greyhounde w t the best as longe as I myght and tyed hym wyth a chayne but at y e last he brake hys â—hayne wente hys waye so y t now he renneth aboute in the countre Whan themperour herde thys he was sore astonyed sayde Hast thou defouled my doughter whome I loued so well also exiled my knyghtes and slayne theyr mayster the greyhouÌ„de whyche I loued best of whome I gaue the charge is gone also sothly were it not that I had forgyuen it the that y e mekest thy selfe so greatly I sholde put the to the moost vylest deth that coude be thought Therfore go thou anone brynge agayne my doughter than mayst thou wedde her and yf ony harme here after befall to her in thy defaute than shall I double thy payne Also brynge thou agayn my knyghtes restore to them theyr goodes set them in theyr state and offyce as they were before And also seke diligeÌ„tly my greyhouÌ„de tyll y u fynde hym and than bynde hym fast so that in the here after may be founde no defaute And whan y e stewarde herde this he bowed downe hys heed thanked the Emperour of hys great mercy And than he wente forth and sought thrugh out all the Empyre so longe tyll he had founden the Emperours doughter and the knyghtes and also they greyhouÌ„de and brought them agayne And after that wedded the yonge lady wyth great honour ioye â–ª and also restored agayne the knyghtes goodes And at the last he ended hys lyfe in peace and rest ¶ Thys Emperour betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst Hys doughter betokeneth y e soule of man made at the similytude of our lorde god And the .v. knyghtes betokeneth the .v. wyttes armed wyth y e vertue of baptym to kepe â–ª the soule The mayster of y e knyghtes is reason whyche ought to rule the wyttes The greyhounde is the flesshe of man The steward betokeneth euery man to whome god hath gyuen lyfe and soule to kepe vnder payne of lesyng euerlastyng lyfe But a wretched man remeÌ„brynge that is to coÌ„me full often corrupteth defouleth hys soule by synne dryueth her from her palays of heuen than goth she froÌ„ dore to dore that is to say froÌ„ synne to synne He despoyled these .v. knyghtes of theyr goodes that is to saye the .v. wyttes of theyr vertues takynge away the lawfull syght fro the eyen exhortynge them vnlawfully also steryng the eares to heare sclauÌ„der backbytyng so forth of al y e other wyttes thus some be made theues some maÌ„quellers The mayster of these .v. wyttes is slayne whan so euer man is ruled by wyll not by reason The greyhouÌ„de that is the flesshe wherin a man delyteth was fedde bounde w t the chayne of reason whyche he breketh full ofte renneth out doth moche harme The coÌ„mynge agayne of thys Emperour from y e holy lande betokeneth the coÌ„mynge of our lord Iesu Chryst at the daye of dome to deme all maÌ„kynde Therfore do we as the steward dyd accuse we fyrst our selfe of our synnes leest the deuyl the worlde accuse vs than it were to late to aske mercy therfore do we of our clothes betime that is to saye our synfull lyfe take we thre ropes in our handes The fyrst rope y t sholde bynde our handes and fete betokeneth the rope of contrycyon whych not onely ought to bynde our handes and fete but also our other membres bothe wythin and wythout so harde that the blode brast out on euery syde that is to saye that the synne might voyde Hereto accordeth Ezechiel saying thus In quacuÌ„que hora egerit penitentiaÌ„ pâ—toÌ„rum saluus erit Whan so euer y e synfull man doth penauÌ„ce he shall be saued The seconde corde for to drawe y e trespacer is confessyon whyche sholde drawe vs from the begynnynge of our lyfe vnto this daye by y e penauÌ„ce of our mouth vnto the tyme that the flesshe be fallen froÌ„ the bones that is to saye tyll the lust of y e flesshe be turned away by the stones of penauÌ„ce For in lyke wyse as the stone by nature kynde is harde ryght so penauÌ„ce ought to be harde The thyrde rope that sholde hange the felon is y e rope of satisfaccyon of
to a lyttel ylande wherin was nothyng but lyons lybbardes dyuerse other beestes that swam thyder from other landes Whan thys Emperour had taken lande in that yle he espyed a yonge lyon fyghting with an olde lybbarde the lyon was almoost ouercoÌ„men The Emperour had great coÌ„passyon on y e lyon drewe out his swerde slewe y e lybbard The lyon euer from that tyme forth folowed the Emperour wolde not leue hym for nothynge but euery day y t praye that this lyon toke he brought layde it afore themperours fete anone themperour smote fyre on the flynt stone and boyled the body in the skynne thus was he fedde longe tyme tyll at the last as he walked to y e see strande he sawe a shyppe coÌ„me saylynge by anone w t an hye voyce he cryed And whan y e shypmen herde thys voyce they wondred what it myght be wherfore they sayled towarde hym whan they were coÌ„me to hym he sayde Good frendes take me w t you I shal paye you a good freyght And anone they toke hym in to theyr shyppe the lyon folowed hym swymmynge in the see after the shyppe And whan the lyon was in poynt to haue ben drowned the shypmen had pyte on hym toke hym in to the shyppe And whan the Emperour came to lande he payde hys freyght whan he had payde them he wente forth tyll he came nere hys owne palays where he herde troÌ„pettes claryons wyth all maner of other mynstralsye as he herkened what it myght be there came fro the palays a squyer toward hym that was of his knowlege but y e squyer knewe not hym to whome the Emperour sayd thus Good frende I praye the tell me what melody is thys that I heare The squyer answered sayd The Empresse is maryed thys day and there ben all the states of th empyre at her feest therfore they make suche melody to make her gestes mery Than sayde themperour to y e squyer where is her husbande that was Emperour before The squyer sayde y t he was gone to the holy lande was drowned by the waye in the see Than sayd themperour I praye y e syr that thou woldest do myne erande to thempresse to y e lorde that wolde be her husbande that I may coÌ„me in to y e palays playe afore them w t my lyon â–ª The squyer graunted to do his erande went in tolde the lorde the lady that at y e gate was a goodly olde man that desyreth to coÌ„me in play with his lyon afore you Than sayd the newe wedded lorde brynge hym in yf he be worthy percase he myght gete hys meate for hys playe Whan the Emperour w t hys lyon was brought in the lyon anone wtout ony coÌ„forte or settyng on ranne vpoÌ„ the yonge knyght y t was newly maryed slewe hym whan he had so done he ranne vpon the Empresse dâ—noured her to the harde bones before all y e lordes of the Empyre And whan the states sawe thys they were greatly agast began to flee But the emperour w t hys fayre speche coÌ„forted them sayd Loo thys is the vengeaunce of god for thys is my wyfe y t hath vsed auoutry longe tyme wyth thys knyght that lyeth here deed and she ymagyned my deth w t the mayster of y e shyppe and here vpon the mayster threwe me in to the see but god saued me fro y e deth bycause I holpe ones y e lyon at a nede he forsoke me neuer syth and now as ye se al whan I came in to my palays wtout ony coÌ„forte of me he hath slayne bothe the auouterers therfore vnderstande ye for trouth that I am your lorde y e Emperour Anone whan they herde thys they lyft vp theyr eyen behelde hym and at the last they knewe hym for theyr lorde wherfore they were greatly reioyced praysed god for that myracle whyche had saued theyr lord and Emperour And they lyued after in rest and peace ¶ By thys Emperour ye may vnderstande euery chrysten man that purposeth to vysyte y e holy lande that is to saye to gete euerlastynge lyfe thrugh the workes of mercy But hys wyfe that is the wretched flesshe murmureth agaynst the soule loueth better her lemman that is deedly synne than her husbande Thys Emperour went in to the shyppe takyng hys iourney toward the holy lande that is to â—aye he wente to holy chyrche whyche is y e waye to god But the wyfe that is to saye flesshly men accused hym to y e mayster of y e shyppe that is to saye to the prelates of the chyrche for great mede whyche oftentymes blyndeth y e syght of many iustyces where thrugh many ê‘fyte men ben cast out of y e shyppe in to the see to be drowned y t is to saye out of y e chyrche in to the see of thys worlde But what shall he do than that is thus casten to be troubled in thys worlde certaynly thus ought he to do let hym lerne to swymme that is to say let hym put al hys hope in god than by hys grace he shall coÌ„me to an ylande that is to say the religyon of clene herte that he shall loue euer y e better to kepe hymselfe out of thys worlde and therfore sayth saynt Iames thus A clene relygyon vndefyâ—ed is a precyous thynge in y e syght of god he y t is in this religyon shall fynde a lyon whome hym behoueth to gyue agaynst the deuyl This lyon is our lorde Iesu Chryst that came of y e kynrede of Iude whyche fyghteth euer agaynst the deuyll yf a man hath holpen this lyon at ony tyme trust well than that he wyll not forsake hym but be w t hym at all his nede accordyng to the psalmist saying thus CuÌ„ ipso suÌ„ in tribulatione I am w t hym in trouble By thys lyon â–ª thou mayst take thy wyfe y t is to say thy flesshe wyth penauÌ„ce â—lee thy synne than wythout doubte y u shalt optayne the Empyre of heuen Unto the whych brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a myghty emperour named Gorgony whych had maryed a curteys lady a fayre to hys wyfe This yonge lady in due processe coÌ„ceyued bare hym a sone a fayre chylde and an amyable Whan thys chylde was .x. yere olde hys mother the Empresse dyed And anone after y e Emperour wedded an other wyfe Thys seconde wyfe loued in no wyse themperours sone but dyd hym al the shame and reprefe that she myght Whan the Emperour ê‘ceyued thys wyllyng to please hys wyfe exiled his sone out of hys empyre And whaÌ„ thys chylde was exyled he went and lerned physyke so that wythin shorte tyme he was a subtyll a coâ—â—ynge phisycyan It befell soone after that the Emperour his father syckened was almoost deed wherfore whan he herd
great rychesse And whan I herde that I was glad and let downe a corde supposyng to haue drawen vp hym than I haled vâ— a lyon after that an ape than a serpent and at the last your stewarde The lyon gaue me ten asses charged w t marchaundyse the ape gaue me as moche wode as myne asse myght beare the serpent gaue me this stone y t I haue solde you but your stewarde bette me wouÌ„ded me so sore for my good dede that I was borne home vpon myne asse Whan y e Emperour herde thys hys herte was greatly moued agaynst y e steward wherfore he examyned hym of that false dede but he was dombe wolde not speke for so moche y t he coulde not deny his falshede Than sayd y e Emperour O thou wretched creature vnreasonable beestes as the lyon the ape the serpent rewarded hym for hys good dede and thou that art a reasonable man hast almost beaten hym to deth that saued the and toke the out of the pyt therfore for thy falshede wyckednes I iudge the to be hanged this daye on the galowes and all thy goodes landes I graunte to syr Guy also I ordeyne that syr Guy shall occupye thy place and be stewarde and so it was done Whan syr Guy was thus rewarded by the Emperoure and made stewarde he was well beloued of euery man as longe as he lyued and at y e last ended hys lyfe wyth honour and good peace ¶ Thys emperour betokeneth the father of heuen the poore man betokeneth euery maÌ„ that coÌ„meth in to this worlde feble naked from his mothers bely at y e last is promoted to great rychesse worldly honour as the psalmyst sayth Destercore erigens paupereÌ„ God lyfteth vp the poore man out of fylthe many suche men knowe neyther god ne theÌ„selfe but cause to make depe pyttes that is to saye vnkyndnes and malyce they ordeyne agaynst symple men in the whyche pyt y e deuyll causeth them ofte to fall accordyng to a texte in Ecclesiastico HoueaÌ„ qui alteri facit ipse incidit in eaÌ„ That is to saye who maketh a pyt to an other man oft tyme he falleth therin hymselfe whyche texte was well proued by Mardocheus Thys Guy that went dayly to y e forest w t his asse to gader wode betokeneth euery ryght full man dredyng god in y e forest of this worlde y t wode that he gadereth betokeneth his meryâ—oryous werkes that he caryeth on hys asse whyche betokeneth y e body of man wherwith his soule may ioye lyue in y e tabernacle of heuen And as the steward the lyon the ape the serpent that fell in to the pyt ryght so whan a synfull man falleth in y e pyt of synne The lyoÌ„ of y e kynrede of Iude that is Iesu Chryst descendeth with hym as oftentymes as the synner hath wyll to coÌ„me to grace Therfore sayth the psalmyst Cum ipso sum in tribulatione That is ta saye I am with hym in tribulacioÌ„ Thys Guy draweth vp y e lyon y t is to say Iesu Chryst out of the pyt by the rope of vertues He drewe vp y e ape also that is to say contrary wyll to reason y t he myght obey to reason For of all maner beestes the ape is most lyke to man ryght so amonge all the strengthes of the soule wyll ought to be lykened vnto reason and to obey reason He drewe vp also a serpeÌ„t by the whych is vnderstande penauÌ„ce for two causes For the serpent beareth in hys mouth venym and his tayle is a medicyne Ryght so penaunce beareth at the begynnynge bytternes to the doer neuerthelesse it is full swete medicynable vnto the soule at y e ende therfore euery ryghtwyse man sholde drawe to hym the serpent of penauÌ„ce And at the last he drewe vp the steward from the pyt of synne accordynge to Chrystes saying I am not coÌ„me onely to call ryghtwyse men but synners to penaunce Also it is wryten that Seneca whyche taught an Emperour many lores vertues of trewth and at the last lyke thys stewarde caused to slee his mayster Seneca Also Chryst gaue power to Iudas to werke myracles lyke as he dyd to other dyscyples neuerthelesse he betrayed hym at the last Ryght so now a dayes be many chyldren of Belial whych delyte more to do harme thaÌ„ good in especyall to them y t wolde â—eche them perfytly bothe for the soule for the body The lyon gaue to the ryghtwyse man .x. asses charged with marchaundyse that is to saye our lorde Iesu Chryst gyueth to euery ryghtwyse man .x. coÌ„mauÌ„dementes charged wyth vertues by the whyche he groweth to y e rychesse of heuen The ape also gadereth hym wode as ofte as the ryghtfull maÌ„ werketh wylfully y e dedes of charite For wode is profytable for two thynges that is to saye to make fyre to buylde houses Ryght so â—fyâ—â— charite heateth the aungell accordyng to scrypture saying Quia magis gaudiuÌ„ est angelis c. That is to say More ioye is to aungels for one synner doynge penauÌ„ce c. Charite also reyseth the hous of heuen agaynst the coÌ„mynge of the soule The serpent also gaue hym a stone of thre dyuerse colours the whyche he betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst whome we seke by penaunce Therfore sayth saynt Ierome in the seconde table thus â—ost naufragiâ—â— est premiaÌ„ That is to saye We sholde do penaunce after our trespace That Chryst is a stone may be proued by hymselfe saying thus Ego sum lapis viuus That is to saye I am a lyuyng stone Chryst hath thre colours whyche betokeneth y t myght of the father the wysdome of the sone the mekenes of the holy goost Therfore who that may gete thys stone shall haue the empyre of heuen ioye without sorowe plente wtout ony defaute lyght wythout darknes Unto whyche lyght brynge vs our lorde Iesu Chryst that dyed for you and me and all mankynde Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour named Anselme whych had wedded y e kynges doughter of Iherusalem a fayre lady and a gracyous in the syght of euery man but she was longe tyme wyth the Emperour or she waâ— coÌ„ceyued wyth chylde wherfore the nobles of y e Empyre were ryght sorowfull bycause theyr lorde had none heyre of hys body begoten Tyll at the last it befel that this Anselme walked after supper in an euenynge in hys gardeyn and bethought hymselfe how he had none heyre and how the kynge of Ampluy warred on hym coÌ„tynually for so moche as he had no sone to make defence in hys absence wherfore he was ryght sorowfull wente to hys chambre and slepte And at the last hym thought he sawe a vysyon in hys slepe that y e mornynge was more clerer thaÌ„ it was wont to be that the mone was moche more paler on that one syde than on that other And after he sawe
saued fro the galowes lame and also the mayster of y e shyppe distraught out of his mynde and all were coÌ„me to her for to be healed of theyr sycknes but they knewe not her for al that they knewe not her she knewe them well Than sayd she vnto the Emperour thus My reuerend lord though ye wolde gyue me al your Empyre I may not heale your brother nor none of these other but yf they knowlege openly what they haue done Whan the Emperoure herde thys he turned hym towarde hys brother and sayde vnto hym Brother knowlege opeÌ„ly thy synne before al these men that thou mayst be healed of thy sycknes Than anone he began to tell how he had ledde hys lyfe but he tolde not how he had hanged the Empresse in the forest by y e heare Whan he had knowleged all that hym lyst the Empresâ—e sayd Sothly my lorde I wolde gladly laye vnto hym my medicyne but I wote ryght well it is in vayne for he hath not made a full confession The Emperoure hearynge thys turned hym towarde hys brother and sayd agayne in thys wyse What euyll sorowe or vnhappy wretchednes is in the seest thou not that thou 〈◊〉 foule lepre therfore knowlege thy synne truly that thou mayst be hole or else auoyde my felawshyp for euermore A lorde quod he I may not tell my lyfe openly but yf I be fyrst sure of thy grace What hast thou trespaced agaynst me quod the Emperour Than answered his brother and sayd Myne offence agaynst the is greuous and therfore I aske mercy The Emperoure thought not on the Empresse for as moche as he supposed that she had ben deed many yeres before he coÌ„maunded his brother to tell forth what he had offended hym and he sholde be forgyuen And whan the Emperoure had thus forgyuen hys brother he began to tell openly how he had desyred the Empresse to synne wyth hym and how he had hanged her by the heare in the forest bycause she wolde not consent to hym And whan the Emperoure herde thys he was almoost besyde hymselfe and in hys woodnes sayd thus O thou moost wretched creature the vengeaunce of god is fallen vpon the and were it not that I haue pardoned the thou sholdest dye the moost shamefull deth that coude be thought Than sayd the knyght that â—lewe the erles doughter I wote not quod be of what lady ye meane but well I wote that my lorde founde on a tyme suche a lady hangyng by the heare in the forest and brought her home to his castell and betoke her hys doughter to kepe stered her as moche as I coude to synne wyth me but she wolde in no wyse consent to me wherfore I slewe the erles doughter that laye wyth â—er â–ª whan I had so done I put the blody knyfe in y e ladyes hande that the erle sholde thynke she had slayne his doughter wyth her owne handes and than was she exiled thens but where she became I wote not Than sayd the thefe I wote not of what lady ye meane but well I wote that seuen sergeauntes were ledynge me to the galous and suche a lady came rydynge by and bought me of them and than wente I wyth her and afterwarde I betrayed her vnto a mayster of a shyppe Suche a lady quod y e mayster of the shyppe receyued I whan we were in the myddes of the see I wolde haue layne wyth her but she sate downe to her prayers and anone there arose suche a tempeest that y e shyppe all to brast were all drowned saue I but what afterwarde befell of her wote I not Than cryed y e Empresse wyth a hye voyce sayd Sothly dere frendes ye are now clene confessed wherfore I wyll now laye to my medycyne and anone they receyued theyr helthe Whan the lady had thus done she opened her face vnto y e Emperoure he anone knewe her ran to her enbraced her in hys armes kyssed her oftentymes for ioye wepte bytterly sayinge Blessed be god now haue I founde that I desyred And whan he had thus sayde he ledde her home to his palays wyth great ioye and after whan it pleased god they ended bothe theyr lyues in peace ¶ Thys Emperour betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst The empresse betokeneth a holy soule The emperours brother betokeneth the flesshe to whome our lord hath gyueÌ„ charge of thys Empyre but mooâ—â— pryncipally to the soule Neuerthelesse the wretched flesshe oft steretâ— the soule to synne But the soule that loueth god aboue all thynges wythstandeth that temptacyoÌ„ calleth to her her goostly power that is to saye reason wyl vnderstandynge conscyence maketh them to enpryson the flesshe that is disobedyent to the â—oule in the prison of penauÌ„ce vnto y t tyme he obey to reason in al thynge And thus iÌ„ hope of mercy he synneth agayn to whome holy scripture sayth Maledictê° homo â— peccat in sâ—e Cursed be that man that synneth in hope And at y e last the soule enclyneth to the flesshe and letteth hym out of the pryson of penaunce wasshetht hym from the fylth of synne arayeth hym wyth good vertues maketh hym lepe on the palfraye of charite and so rydeth forth to mete our lorde an ester daye But alas full ofte the synner trespaceth agaynst holy scripture wherfore the herte that is to saye the lust of the flesshe of synners aryseth before hym and after renneth great houndes that is to saye â–ª euyl thoughtes and so longe they chase tyll the body the soule be lefte alone thaÌ„ the flesh se stereth that noble soule the spouse of almyghty god to hym But the blessed soule that is so well beloued wyth god wyll not forsake her lorde coÌ„sent to synne wherfore y e wretched flesshe ful ofte despoyleth her of al her clothynge that is to saye of all her vertues hangeth her vp by the heare on an oke that is to saye on lustes and delytes and there she hangeth vnto the good erle coÌ„meth that is to saye a dyscrete confessour in the forest of thys worlde to preche teche the worde of god and taketh her downe and ledeth her forth to y e chyrche to nourysshe his doughter that is to saye to nourysshe conscyence wyth werkes of mercy The erle had in his chambre a lampe ryght so euery discrete confessour or precher sholde haue afore hym the lampe of holy scrypture wherby he may se bothe the greuaunce the profyte of the soule in techynge of vertues and puttynge awaye of vyce The stewarde that stereth her to synne is not else but pryde of lyfe whych is stewarde of thys worlde by whome many men be deceyued But whan the soule that is so well beloued with Chryst wyll not consent vnto the synne of pryde than taketh thys euyll stewarde the knyâ—e of couetyse wherwyth he sleeth the erles doughter that is to saye conscyence accordynge to scripture saying Golde 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
lyfe in worldly ioye or worldly helpe more than in the helpe of god whyche is mighty to do al thinges wherfore he sayth hymselfe thus Saluator si habueritis fideÌ„ sicut granuÌ„ sinapis poteritis c. Yf ye haue fayth as y e grayne of mustarde than may ye saye to y e hylles go thou forth it shall go But many of vs now a dayes hath ouer feble fayth therfore they shall sodeynly fall in the claye of desperacyon by deedly synâ—e oftentymes they offende god Also thys kynge had not brought with hym his father and hys mother By the father whych is cause of generacyon is vnderstaÌ„de humylite wythout whome there is no vertue in no maÌ„ And therto accordeth saynt Gregory sayinge thus Si qis ceteris virtutes sine humilitate congregat c. He that gadereth al other vertues wythout humilite is lyke a man that casteth dust in y e wynde Hys mother betokeneth hope therfore he that wyll optayne euerlastyng lyfe hym behoueth to haue the cloke of charyte brydge of fayth a father of mekenes a mother of hope as y e apostle sayth Spe salui facti sumus Also thys knyght wente the strayte path waye the kynge the brode waye For he that wyll be saued behoueth to go a strayte waye that is to say the waye of fastynge almes dedes chastyte penauÌ„ce Of the whyche waye speketh the apostle Stricta est via que ducit ad vitaÌ„ eternaÌ„ The waye is strayte y e ledeth to euerlastyng lyfe But many men go that other way whyche ledeth to hell that is to say by y e waye of flesshly lust suche men ben gone out of the waye of euerlastynge lyfe but suche men be deceyued thrugh y â— waye Therfore study we to walke that waye wherby we may optayne euerlastynge lyfe Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a noble Emperour named Agyas whyche had with hym a knyght called Gerarde whyche was a doughty warryour neuerthelesse he was as meke as a lambe in the Emperours hall but in y e felde he was lyke a lyon Thys Emperour had a fayre doughter whome the stronge and myghty erle of palester rauysshed defouled neuerthelesse it displeased more themperour y e defoulyng of his doughter than the rauysshynge wherfore he called vnto hym his counseyle sayd Dere frendes it is not vnknowen to you the despyte violence done to me in defoulyng of my doughter therfore I purpose to gyue batayle to the erle wherfore I praye you to be redy at a daye set to procede with me in batayle And they sayd lorde we be redy to lyue dye w t you in batayle Whan the daye of batayle came they mette on bothe sydes a cruell harde batayle was gyuen on bothe sydes all that were of themperours party were slayne And as themperour sholde haue ben byheded the knyght Gerard put hymselfe amonge hys ennemyes before theÌ„perour fought manfully so themperour escaped and the knyght abode and slewe the erle neuerthelesse thys knyght had dyuerse wouÌ„des This not withstandyng he abode fought styl tyl the blode ranne down to hys heles And whan hys ennemyes sawe that y e erle was slayne they â—edde and the knyght wyth hys people folowed on y â— chace tyll he came to y e place where themperours doughter was ledde her wyth hym And thus wyth triumphe vyctory he returned agayn to themperour For y â— whiche victory getyng agayne of themperours doughter he was greatly praysed of all people Not longe alter it befell that thys knyght had to do in themperours courte wherfore the knyght came vnto themperour prayed hym mekely to be fauourable in hys cause farthermore he prayed hym to do y e rayson asked Whan themperour had herde hym he called to hym a iustyce and sayd Go thou and do iustyce to thys knyght that that the lawe wyll And whan y e knyght herde thys he cryed w t a lowde voyce Alas alas who herde euer suche a thynge of an Emperour thou were sayd he in batayle where thy heed shold haue ben smytten of and I in myne owne persone none other men put mi selfe in ieopardy for the saued the now thou hast assigned an other maÌ„ to be iudge in my cause alas that euer y u were borne And wyth y t worde the knyght dyd of all hys clothes shewed y e woundes that he had receyued in the batayle vnto all y e men that were there present sayd Lo what I haue suffred for the and I put none other man in my stede now thou assygnest an other man in my cause Forsothe I saye to y e that I neuer serued suche a lorde before Whan themperour herde thys beynge almoost coÌ„fouÌ„ded in hymselfe sayd thus O dere frende all that thou sayth is trouth thou saued me froÌ„ deth thou wonnest my doughter agayne and for my sake y u hast suffred many wouÌ„des Forsothe it is ryght that I comme downe make an ende of thy cause suche as may be honour ioye to the. And than themperour laboured besyly in thys mater and made therof an ende accordyng to y e knyghtes entent wherfore all men greatly coÌ„mended the Emperour ¶ Dere frendes thys Emperoure may be called euery chrysten man or else al mankynde whyche had a fayre doughter that is to saye the soule made to the symilytude of god Thys erle betokeneth y e deuyll whyche rauysshed and defouled by synne the soule of man thrugh eatyng of the fruyte of y e tree knowynge good euyll wherfore al mankynde was in seruage tyll a stronge valyaunt knyght came put hymselfe on the crosse bytwene the deuyll mankynde For yf that had not ben we had all ben dampned euerlastyngly thys knyght brought agayn the foule of man vnto y e chyrche wherfore he suffred many great woundes in hys body And now thys knyght that is to say our lorde Iesu Chryst hath a mater to do amonge vs that is to saye to fynde in vs pâ—rfyte lyfe wherfore he calleth on vs dayly that we sholde be redy at all tymes saying thus in the apocalipse .iii. Ecce sto ad hostium et pulso si qs mihi aparuerit in troibo et cenabo That is to saye Lo I stande and knocke at the dore yf ony man wyll open to me I shall coÌ„me in soupe wyth hym But many men dothe as thys Emperour dyd the whyche gaue y e ynyght an other iudge than hymselfe But now a dayes there ben some men that wyll do no penauÌ„ce for the loue of hym whyche assygned no man but hymfelfe to fyght for vs. And therfore agaynst vnkynde meÌ„ it shal be sayd thus Lo he hangeth on y e crosse despoyled of all his clothyng and sheweth to vs all hys woundes y t he suffred for vs. Be we therfore kynde that we may suffre for hys loue some penaunce and that at the daye of dome we may
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
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
anone y e yonge squyer receyued them gladly and put them sure in a boxe and rode forth on his iourney Whan he had rydden thre or foure dayes on his iourney in an euenynge he came vnto a castell where as dwelled a knyght and prayed hym mekely of a nightes lodynge The knyght seynge and beholdynge the good fauour of thys yonge squyer he graunted hym lodgynge made hym good chere and well to fare and afterwarde brought hym vnto hys chambre And whan he was there he wente to bedde and anone fell on slepe for he was full wery of hys iourney and forgate hys boxe wyth the letters lyenge openly in hys chambre Whan the knyght sawe the boxe he opened it founde the letters sealed wyth the Emperours sygne manuell and was greatly tempted to open them and at the last he opened them full subtylly and than he redde how the Empresse vpon payne of dethe sholde put the bearer of them to dethe and than he was ryght sorowfull sayde wythin hym selfe Alas quod he it is great pyte to slee suche a fayre yonge man and therfore yf I may it shall not be so And anone the knyght scraped awaye that wrytynge and wrote in y e same paper a letter sayinge these wordes Upon payne of deth I commaunde the that thou take the yonge squyer bearer of these letters and let hym be wedded wythout ony delay vnto my doughter and yours whyth al the honour solempnyte that can be tought and whan they be wedded that ye take hym as your owne sone and that he kepe my rowme tyll I comme vnto you my selfe Whan the knyght had thus wryten he closed the letters subtylly put them in to the boxe agayne Erly in the mornynge the yonge squyer arose and hastely made hym redy and toke hys leue of the knyght and rode forth on hys iourney and the thyrde daye after he came vnto the Empresse and salewed her ryght worshypfully in the Emperours behalfe and toke her the letters And whan the Empresse had redde them anone she sent her messengers thrugh the countree coÌ„maundynge the states and gentylmen to comme vnto her doughters weddynge at a certayne daye assygned Whan they day was coÌ„me thyder came many greate lordes and ladyes and anone this yonge squyer wedded the Emperours doughter wyth great honour and worshyp accordynge to the tenoure of the letters and was ryght well beloued and moost honoured amonge y e people Not longe after it befell that the Emperoure came in to that countre And whan y e Empresse herde of her lordes coÌ„mynge she toke wyth her her sone in lawe wyth moche other people and wente agaynst y e Emperoure for to welcoÌ„me hym Whan the Emperoure sawe thys yonge squyer ledynge the Empresse hys wyfe he was greatly moued wythin hym selfe and sayde O thou cursed woman bycause thou hast not fulfylled my coÌ„maundement thou shalte dye an euyll deth A my dere lorde quod she all that ye commaunded me to do I haue fulfylled Nay cursed 〈◊〉 man sayd the Emperour it is not so for I wrote to the that thou sholdest put hym to deth and now I se hym alyue My lorde quod y e Empresse sauynge your grace ye wrote to me that I sholde gyue hym your doughter to wyfe and that on payne of deth in wytnes wherof loo here your letters wyth your owne seale manuell Whan the Emperoure herde thys he wondred greatly and sayd Is he wedded than to my doughter Ye sothly sayd the Empresse longe agone w t great solempnite and worshyp and as I byleue your doughter is wyth chylde Than sayd the Emperoure O thou lorde Iesu Chryst it is great foly to sâ—â—yne agaynst thyne ordynaunce therfore syth it is so thy wyll must nedes be fulfylled And with that he toke his sone in lawe in his armes kyssed hym whyche after hys deth was Emperour and ended hys lyfe in rest and peace ¶ Thys Emperour may betoken Herode or else euery synner whyche walked alone wythout trouth tyll he came to the fosters house that is to saye the chyrche whyche is the house of god Thys Herode wolde haue slayne thys chylde Iesu wherfore he sente messengers to seke hym accordynge to the scrypture of saynt Mathewe tellyng how he coÌ„mauÌ„ded y e thre kynges to seke hym and brynge hym tydynges agayne where he was y t he myght coÌ„me worshyp hym also but thys sayde he not for loue but for deceyte The foster betokeneth Iosep our ladyes husbande whyche kepte hym But whan the messengers came that is to saye whan the thre kynges came they slewe hym not but worshypped hym on theyr knees and lefte hym in the holowe tree of hys godhede The erle that came foude thys chylde betokeneth the holy goost whyche warned Ioseph by the aungell in hys slepe that he sholde take our lady and her sone and flee in to the lande of Egypte Thys moralyte may be vnderstande of yer wyâ—e Thys Emperoure may betoken a synner that walketh in the forest of thys worlde sekyng vanytees and nought els vnto the tyme he comme to the house of god and there he is receyued benygnely of the prelate of the chyrche yf he wyll obey the coÌ„maundementes of god But many of vs now a dayes slepeth in the chyrche whan they obserue not the werkes of mercy and therfore ought they to drede the voyces whyche I haue rehersed by y e fyrst take that may be vnderstande the great benefyte that he gaue the whan he put in the a soule made at hys owne symylytude By the seconde take is vnderstande the sone of the father of heuen whyche was borne of the blessed virgyn Mary By the thyrde take is vnderstande the same sone of god whych dyed vpon the crosse By the fyrst yelde is vnderstande that we ought to yelde our soule vnto almyghty god as clene as fayre as he gaue it vs after the wasshynge of our baptysme By the seconde yelde is vnderstande that we ought dayly to yelde honour and worshyp and loue vnto almyghty god By y e thyrde yelde is vnderstande that we ought to yelde to god true confessyon contrycyon and satisfaccyon The fyrst flee betokeneth synne whych we sholde flee The seconde flee betokeneth the worlde whyche we sholde flee for the greate falshede temptacyons that ben therin The thyrde flee betokeneth euerlastynge payne the whyche we ought to flee thrugh merytoryous workes by the whyche we may coÌ„me the rather vnto euerlastyng ioye and blysse Unto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Sauracinus whyche ordeyned for a lawe that who so euer rauysshed a virgyn sholde dye yf she were rescowed than he that rescowed her sholde haue her to wyfe yf hym lyst and he wolde not wedde her than sholde she be guyded and wedded by hys couÌ„seyle It befell vpon a daye that a tyraunt named Poncianus wolde rauysshe a virgyn ledde her wyth hym into a