we may obey god and than shal we haue euerlastyng lyfe Unto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Frederyke whyche had no chyldren saue a doughter tho whome this Emperour after his decese bequethed all hys empyre Thys vnderstandynge an erle that dwelte there besyde came vnto thys yonge lady wowed her stered her to synne all that he myght wherfore thys yonge lady in shorte processe of tyme enclyneh to the erle this erle anone lay with her defouled her after that he put her froÌ„ her herytage and chaced her out of her empyre wherfore she made great lamentacyon fledde vnto a realme there besyde where as she dayly wept mourned It befell after on a day that whyle she sate mournynge besyde a waye there came rydyng by her a fayre yonge knyght vpon a good hors whyche came towarde her a greate pâ—ce worshypfully salewed her and asked the cause why she mourned so sore Than answered she sayd My reuerend lord I am an Emperours doughter coÌ„men of a royall kynne my father is deed whyche lefte me all hys empyre bycause he had none other heyre after his decese an erle there besyde deceyued me toke from me my maydenheâ—e after that he put me vyoleÌ„tly out of myne herytage so that now I am fayne to begge my breed from dore to dore this is the cause of my sorowe Than sayd the knyght fayre damoysell I haue great coÌ„passyon on thy beaute and on thy gentylnes therfore yf thou wylte graunte me one thynge I shall fyght for the agaynst y e erle and I behote the the victory Than sayd she alas alas I haue nothynge y t I may gyue to the but my selfe And I aske no more of the sayd the knyght but that thou woldest be my wyfe and loue no man so moche as me Than sayd she Reuerende syr that wyll I do gladly more yf I myght Than sayd the knyght I wyll that thou do for me one thynge that yf it fortune me to dye in batayle for the opteyne the victory thou shalte take my blody sherte hange it vpon a perche in thy chambre and thys shalte thou do for two thynges The fyrst is y t whan so euer thou beholdest the sherte thou shalt wepe for me The seconde is that what so euer man comme to wowe the to be his wyfe than shalte thou hastely renne vnto thy chambre beholde my blody sherte thynke hertely wythin thy selfe thus The lorde of this sherte dyed for my loue in batayle the whyche recouered my herytage god forbede that I sholde take ony other maÌ„ after his deth Than sayd she Reuerende syr all thys I shall fulfyll bi the grace of god And whan y e knyght heâ—de this he gaue batayle agaynst the erle oâ—teyned the victory and y e erle was ouercome â—ledde And thys yonge lady was brought receyued agayne in to her herytage Neuerthelesse thys knyght was deedly wouÌ„ded in that batayle wherof he dyed but or he dyed he bequethed hys blody sherte vnto this damoysell desyrynge her to kepe her promesse Whan thys yonge lady herde of his deth she wepte sore made great lamentacyon for his deth And in hys sherte was wryteÌ„ this verse Thynke on hym haue mynde that to y e was so kynde Anone whan she had receyued the sherte she hanged it vpon a perche in her chambre as oftentymes as she behelde it she wepte bytterly It befell not longe after that the states of her Empyre came to her desyred her to take a husbande But than she wente to her chambre behelde the blody â—herte than waxed she sorowfull sayd oftentymes alas alas thou suffred deth for my loue thou also recouered agayn myne heritage god forbede that I shold take ony other man but the. And thus she answered euery man that came to her so they wente away vnsped and she ended her lyfe in peace and rest ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour is the father of heuen and his doughter is the soule of man made at the similitude of god to whome god gaue bequethed the empyre of paradyse But ther came an erle y t is the deuyl and styred her to synne whan she ete of the apple sayd to her thus In what houre ye â—ate of y e apple ye shall be lyke goddes wherfore we brekyng goddes comaundement we were all exiled out of paradyse chased to the realme of thys worlde here to lyue in greate wretchednes lyke as the psalmyst sayth In sudore vultus tui c. In the swete of thy vysage thou shalte eate thy breed But than came a fayre yonge knight a stronge that is to saye our lorde Iesu Chryst whych had compassyon vpon mankynde toke our flesshe our blode and gaue batayle to the deuyl and ouercame hym and thus wanne he agayne our herytage Therfore let vs do as thys yonge lady dyd put we thys blody sherte that is to saye the mynde of y e passyon of Chryst on the perche of our hert and thynke we how â—ur lorde Iesu Chryst shed hys precyous blode for vs. And yf ony maÌ„ that is to saye the deuylt or ony other wolde styre vs to synne anone thynke we on y e passyon of Chryst saye we thus I shall take none other but the whyche hast shedde thy blode for me thus shall we wynne euerlastyng lyfe Unto the whyche god brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour named Apolloninus whyche ordeyned for a lawe that euery man vpon payne of deth sholde worshyp the day of his natiuite This Emperour called to hym a clerke y t hyght Uirgyll sayd My dere mayster there be many heed synnes done contrary to the lawe therfore I praye the that thou by thy connynge wolde make some craft wherby I myght knowe who trespaceth agaynst y e lawe pryuely or pertly Than sayd Uirgyll My reuâ—â—eÌ„de lord your wyll shall be done Anone thys Uirgyll thrugh hys crafte made an ymage in the myddes of the cyte of Rome whyche dysceuered tolde themperours messengers who trespaced agaynst the lawe who not There was that tyme dwellyng in y e cyte of Rome a smyth that hyght Focus whych for no thynge wolde worshyp the natyuyte of the Emperour It befell vpon a nyght as the smyth laye in hys bedde he thought vpon the ymage that had accused so many men before dred leest the ymage wolde accuse hym wherfore he rose went to the ymage sayd I make a vowe to god yf thou accuse me I shall breke thy heed And whan he had thus sayd he went home The Emperour on the morowe after folowynge sent hys messeÌ„gers to the ymage as he was wont before to knowe to vnderstande who had trespaced agaynst the lawe And to them than sayd the ymage lyfte vp your eyen behold what
hous thou spekest to me lyke a foole Whan thys was sayd they rode farther tyll they came to a great water and a depe the kyng smote hys hors wyth hys spurres lepte in to y e water so that he was almoost drowned Whan the knyght sawe thys was ouer on that other syde of the water wtout peryll he sayd to y e kynge Ye were in peryll therfore ye dyd folysshly bycause ye brougt not wyth you your brydge Than sayd the kynge thou spekest meruaylously my brydge is made of lyme stone coÌ„teyneth in quantite more than halfe a myle how sholde I than beare with me my brydge therfore y u spekest folysshly Well sayde the knyght my folysshnes may turne the to wysdome Whan the kyng had rydden a lyttell farther he asked y e knyght what tyme of the daye it was Than sayd the knyght yf ony man haue lust to eate it is tyme of the daye to eate therfore my reuerent lorde I praye you to take a sop wyth me for that is no disworshyp to you but great honour to me before y e states of this Empyre Than sayd y e kyng I wyll gladly eate with the. They sate bothe downe in a vyne gardyn all y t were wyth the kynge wyth the knyght dyned And whan dyner was done that y e kyng had wasshen the knyght sayd to the kynge My lorde quod he ye haue done folysshly for that ye ledde not w t you your father your mother Than sayd the kynge what sayst y u my father is deed and my mother is olde may not trauayle how sholde I than brynge them wyth me therfore to the I saye y e trouth a folyssher man than thou arte sawe I neuer Than sayd the knyght euery werke is praysed at the ende Whan y e kyng had rydden a lyttell farther was ny hande themperours palays the knyght asked leue to go from hym for thys cause he knewe a nerer waye to the palays to the yonge lady y t he myght coÌ„me fyrst and lede her wyth hym Than sayd the kynge I praye the syr tell me by what place purposest thou to ryde Than sayd y e knyght I shall tell you trouth this daye vii yere I lefte a nette in a place now I purpose to visyte it drawe it to me yf it be broken I wyll leue it yf it be hole than wyl I take it to me kepe it as a precyous iewell and whan he had sayd what hym lyst he toke hys leue of the kyng rode forth and the kyng kepte the brode hye waye Whan themperour herde of the kynges coÌ„mynge he went agaynst hym w t a great company worshypfully receyued hym let do of his wete clothes arayed hym agayn wyth newe clothes And whan themperour the kynge were set to meate themperour dyd hym all y e châ—â—e â—â—lace that he coude And whaÌ„ they had dyned thâ—mperour asked tydynges of the kyng My lorde sayd he I shall tell you what I herde thys day by y e waye There came a knyght to me reuerently â—alewed me anone after that there came a great raine coÌ„fouÌ„ded greatly my clothing anone the knyght sayd syr y â— hast done folyshly for so moche thou brought not w t the thy hous Than sayd themperour what clothing had y â— knight on him A cloke quod the kynge Than sayd themperour for sothe that was a wyse man for the hous wherof he spake was a cloke therfore he sayd to you that ye dyd folysshly bycause ye came wtout your cloke for yf ye had brougt w t you a cloke thaÌ„ had not your clothes ben defouled wyth the rayne Than sayd y e kyng whan we had rydden a lytâ—l farther we came to a depe water I smoote my hors w t the spurres almoost I was drowned he rode on the other syde of the water founde no peryll than sayd he to me ye haue done folysshly for so moche y â— ye ledde not wyth you your brydge Forsothe sayd themperour he sayd trouth for he called the brydge your squyers y t sholde haue rydden before assayed the depnes of y e water Than sayd the kyng we rode farther at the last he prayed me to dyne wyth hym whan we had dyned he sayd I dyd vnwysely for I ledde not w t me my father my mother Sothly sayde themperour he was â— wyse man sayd trouth for he called your father mother breed wyne other vytayles Than sayd y e kyng we rode farther and anone after he asked me lâ—ue to go fro me I asked dylygently whether he went And he answered agayn sayd Thys daye .vij. yere I lefâ—e a nette in a preuy place now I wyll ryde to vysyte it yf it be broken or torne thaÌ„ wyll I â—eue it yf it be hole as I lefte it than shall it be to me ryght precyous I shall beare it wyth me Whan themperour herde thys he cryed with a lowde voyce sayd O ye my knyghtes and my seruauntes go ye lyghtly vnto my doughters chambre for sothly that is the nette wherof y e knyght spake And anone hys knyghtes and hys seruauntes wente vnto hys doughters chambre founde her not the sore sayd knyght had take her with hym And thus the kyng was deceyued of the damoysell and he went home agayne to hys owne countree confounded ¶ Dere freÌ„des this emperour is our lord Iesu Chryst and hys fayre doughter is euerlastyng lyfe the whych theÌ„perour had ordeyned for kynges knyghtes other men The knyght that loued thys yonge lady is euery good christeÌ„ soule which holdeth hymselfe not worthy to coÌ„me in the syght of god vnto suche ioye as y e apostle sayth Non est condigne passionis huiê° teÌ„poris ad futuraÌ„ gloriaÌ„ They be not so worthy of suffryng to coÌ„me vnto the glory that is to coÌ„me Thys knyght went .vii. yere on pylgrymage lyke as a good chrysten man al y e dayes of his lyfe sholde labour trauayle iÌ„ fulfyllyng the .vii. werkes of mercy By thys kynge y â— came wtout a cloke in the rayne is to vnderstande the myghty men of this worlde as Iustyces Mayres Baylyes that haue no clokes to couer all theyr other clothes By this cloke is vnderstaÌ„de charite as the apostle sayth Charitas cooperit multitudineÌ„ pctoÌ„rum Charyte couereth al our synnes But many men haue not thys cloke wherfore they be wete in y e rayne of pryde auaryce lechery This kyng also was almoost drowned bycause he lacked hys brydge that is to say perfyte fayth For we sâ— dayly that there may no man passe ouer a great water brode depe wythout a brydge or some other thynge y t is able to beare hym Ryght so wythout fayth it is impossyble to please god And thus may no man be saued wythout fayth whan they set theyr
rowers of y e see betokeneth all mankynde whych was taken wyth the deuyll by the synne of our fore father Adam and was cast in to the pryson of hell wyth great sorowe and payne His father wolde not rauÌ„some hym that is to saye the worlde wolde do nothynge for hym Thys fayre doughter betokeneth the godhede whych came downe from heuen and toke manhode of the vyrgyn Marye and so made a goostly maryage bytwene hym and man And vpon thys condicyon he delyuered mankynde out of thys pryson of hell whan he came fro heuen and forsoke the felawshyp of auÌ„gels for to dwell wyth vs in thys wretched valey of teares But the father that betokeneth y e worlde grutched euer agaynst hym and wolde not suffre that the soule of man sholde becoÌ„me the spouse of Iesu Chryst but that she sholde alway serue hym and forsake our lord Therfore yf we folowe the worlde hys vanytees sothly we shall fall in to the snare of the deuyll Fro the whyche defende vs our blessed sauyour Iesu Chryst. Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a noble Emperoure of great lyuelode named Alexander the whyche aboue all vertues loued y e vertue of largesse wherfore he ordeyned a lawe for great curiosite that no man vnder payne of deth sholde turne a playce in his dysshe at hys meate but onely eate the whyte syde and not the blacke and yf ony man wolde attempte to do the contrary he sholde dye wythout remedy but or he dyed he sholde aske thre bones of the emperour what hym lyst excepte hys lyfe whyche sholde be graunted hym It befell after on a daye that there came an erle his sone of a straunge countree to speke wyth the Emperoure And whan thys erle was set to meate he was serued wyth a playce and he whyche was hungry and had an appetyte to his meate â–ª after he had eaten y e whyte syde he turned the blacke syde began to eate therof wherfore anone he was accused to the Emperoure bycause he had offended agaynst the lawe Than sayd the Emperoure Let hym dye accordynge to the lawe wythout one delaye Whan the erles sone herde that hys father sholde dye anone he set hym downe on bothe his knees tofore the Emperour and sayd O my reuerende lorde for hys loue that henge vpon the crosse let me dye for my father Than sayd the Emperoure It pleaseth me well that one dye for the offence of the lawe Than sayd thys erles sone syth it is so that I shall dye I aske the benefytes of the lawe that is to saye that I may haue thre peticyons graunted or I dye The Emperour answered and sayde Aske what thou wylte there shall no man saye the nay Than sayd thys yonge knyght My lorde ye haue but one doughter the whyche I desyre of your hyghnes that she may lye wyth me a nyght or I dye The Emperour grauÌ„ted though it were agaynst his wyll in fulfyllynge of his lawe Neuerthelesse this knyght defouled her not as that nyght Therfore pleased he greatly the Emperour The seconde peticyon is thys I aske al thy treasour And anone the Emperour graunted bycause he shold not be called a breker of his owne lawe And whan thys erles sone had receyued y e emperours treasour he departed it bothe to poore and ryche wherfore he optayned theyr good wylles My thyrde peticyon is thys I aske my lorde that all y e eyen may be put out incontynent whyche sawe my father eatynge of the blacke playce Wherfore the Emperour let make an inquisicyon anone who it was that sawe the erle turne y e playce And they that sawe hym turne the playce bethought them and sayd wythin themselfe Yf we knowlege that we sawe hym do thys trespace than shall our eyen be put out and therfore it is better that he holde vs styll And so there was none founde that wold accuse hym Whan the erles sone sawe thys he sayd to the Emperour My lorde quod he ye se that there is no man accuseth my father therfore gyue ye ryghtfull iudgemeÌ„t Than sayd the Emperour For as moche that no man wyl knowlege that they sawe hym turne the playce therfore I wyll not y t thy father shall dye Lo thus the sone saued his fathers lyfe after the decese of the Emperour wedded hys doughter ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour betokeneth the father of heuen whyche ordeyned a lawe that no man sholde turne the blacke syde of the playce that is to say there sholde no man labour for rychesse or lordshyp by couetyse and falshede The erle that came to the Emperour betokeneth Adam our for father whyche came out of the lande of Damasse to the courte of paradyse and turned vp the blacke syde of the playce whan he ete of the apple wherfore he sholde haue ben dampned to euerlastynge deth But hys sone that betokeâ—eth our lorde Iesu Chryst. For he toke flesshe of Adam and profered hymselfe wylfully to dye for hym The father of heuen graunted that he sholde go downe to dye for mankynde Neuerthelesse or he dyed he asked thre peticyons of his father of heuen The fyrst was thys y t he myght haue by hym hys doughter whyche betokeneth the soule of man and brynge her wyth hym into the bosome of heuen accordyng to y e wordes of Osee saying Desponsabo eam michi That is to saye I shall wedde her to my wyfe The second peticyon was thys All the Emperours treasour whyche betokeneth the treasour of heuen accordynge to thys scrypture Sicut disposuit michi pater That is to saye Lyke as my father hath disposed for me so I dyspose for you The thyrde petycyon was thys that al theyr eyen shold be put out that is to saye that the deuyll whyche dayly accuseth man that he myght be put fro the lyght of heuenly grace And thus saued he mankynde and ledde hym vp wyth hym vnto the palays of heuen Unto the whyche palays brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour named Lemycyus whyche on a daye rode to a forest for to sporte hym where as he mette sodeynly wyth a poore man to whome he sayde thus Frende whens coÌ„mest thou who art thou My lord quod he I coÌ„me fro the nexte cyte and your man I am Than sayd the Emperoure thou semest poore therfore yf thou wylte be good and true I shall promote the to great rychesse and honour Than answered this poore man and sayd My lorde I promyse you faythfully to be true to you as longe as I lyue The Emperour anone made hym knyght and gaue hym greate rychesse Whan he was thus promoted he waxed so proude that he thought hymselfe more able to be an Emperour than hys lord wherfore he made suggestyon to dyuerse lordes of that Empyre that he myght vsurpe take vpoÌ„ hym thrugh strength of them to be Emperour Whan y e Emperour herde thys anone he exiled hym and al those that were coÌ„sentyng to hym
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
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
in good helth he was ryght glad wherfore he promoted hym to great worshyp whych lyued after y e longe tyme in great honour and worshyp at y e last ended hys lyfe in peace rest ¶ Thys Emperour betokeneth the father of heueÌ„ his sone betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst whome many men desyre to nourysshe at eester whan they receyue y e sacrament He nouryssheth hym that best iusteth wyth the deuyll and ouercoÌ„meth hym thrugh penauÌ„ce The knight that toke this chylde w t hym betokeneth a good chrysten man that fasteth truly and blyssedly all y e lente before Therfore do we as y e knyght dyd sende we before messengers to dyght to make clene y e castel of our herte from al spottes of synne by workes of mercy so shall this chylde Iesu rest lyght in the myddes of our herte The well betokeneth mercy whyche ought to be nexte our lord For who so euer is wtout mercy trewth may not nourysshe that blessed chylde Iesu. But it happeneth ofte y t the knyghtes wyfe y t is y e flesshe of man bereth the key of mercy and ofte leueth y e wel open and than coÌ„meth the bere that is the deuyll and casteth venym in to y e well of mercy and who that tasteth therof shall be infected wyth y e lepry of synne The wyndowe wherin the sonne shyneth is y e grace of y e holy goost by whom men lyue and are coÌ„forted goostly by this wyndowe the egle coÌ„meth in that is to say the power of almighty god and toke away y e chylde Iesu from y e herte of man thaÌ„ man hath great cause to wepe but what shall he do whan y e chylde is gone but sende for a subtyl phisycyan that is to saye a discryte coÌ„fessour whyche shall gyue hym couÌ„seyle to let hym blode all his housholde that is to saye to put out synne thrugh coÌ„fessyoÌ„ of tonge before his goostly father Than must he bathe hymselfe w t teares of coÌ„tricyon coÌ„punccion of tonge after y t take the medicyne of satisfaccyon than shal he be made clene froÌ„ al maner of synne And whan he hath done thus he must lepe on y e palfray of good lyfe ryde forth w t his thre squyers that is to say fastyng prayer almes dede than wtout doubte he shal fynde the chylde Iesu in the valey of humilite not on a hyll that is to saye pryde And yf he do thus doubtles he shall haue myght and power to nourysshe that blessed chylde Iesu for whose nourysshynge the father of heuen shall promote hym vnto euerlastynge ioye Unto the whych ioye god brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperoure named Fulgentius whyche gouerned hys people nobly loued theÌ„ so moche that he made to proclayme thrugh out all nacyons that who so euer wolde coÌ„me to hym ryche or poore at a certayne daye sholde haue theyr petycyons what so euer 〈◊〉 were Whan y e myghty men herde thys they were glad came at the daye assygned euery man put forth thâ—yr peticions vnto the Emperour anone theyr petycyons were graunted fulfylled in so moche that almoost all the empyre was departed amonge them And than euery man was ioy full went home agayn toke sâ—a syne of suche landes castels as the Emperour had gyuen them Anone after the poore men gadred them togyder and sayd A coÌ„mune crye was made that all men bothe poore ryche shold coÌ„me to y e Emperours palays theyr they shold haue what so euer they asked y e ryche men haue ben there lately and optayned theyr peticioÌ„s Therfore go we now wyte yf we may optayne ony good of y e Emperour That couÌ„sel was approbate alowed amonge them all wherfore they went forth tyll they came to y e Emperours palays there they put forth theyr petycyons accordynge to theÌ„perours proclamacyon And whan the Emperour had herde them he sayde to them Dere frendes I haue herde all your peticyons it is trouth that my proclamacyon was y t euery man indifferently sholde coÌ„me haue theyr peticyons but the ryche mighty men haue ben here afore you to whom I haue gyuen all that I had saue onely the royalte of my lorâ—shyp and so haue I nothyng lefte to gyue you A good lorde haue mercy vpoÌ„ vs let vs not go voyde agayne for we knowe well that is our owne defaute that we came not rather w t these other ryche myghty men but syth it is so we aske your grace that we may optayne somwhat by the whyche we may lyue Than sayd the Emperour Good frendes though I haue gyuen all my landes rentes tenementes all y e castels to the ryche men that came before you Neuerthelesse I haue kepte styll in myne owe handes the lordshyp ouer theÌ„ and that lordshyp I gyue to you and so shall they be your seruauntes be obedyent to you all And whan the poore men herde thys they were greatly reioysed kneled downe to the Emperour thaÌ„ked hym saying â—o though we coÌ„me late yet we be made lordes ouer all these other And with this they toke theyr leue and wente home agayne But whan the ryche and the myghty men herde that they were greatly moued and set a coÌ„mune parlyament among them selfe And thus it was spoken amonge them Alas alas how may we serue them that somtyme were but chorles our subiectes in al maner thynges now they be made lordes ouer vs. Therfore go we al wyth one assent to themperour praye we hym of remedy Whan thys was sayd theyr couÌ„seyle was coÌ„mended forth they went to the Emperour sayd to hym Reuerende lorde what may this be those y t were our seruauÌ„tes be made our lordes we beseche you mekely that it may not be so ThaÌ„ sayd the Emperour Good frendes I do you no wronge for my crye was coÌ„mune that what so euer ye asked of me ye sholde optayne your peticyon ye asked nothyng of me but landes rentes honours and all that haue I grauÌ„ted you at your owne wyll in so moche y t I kepte nothynge for my selfe eche of you were well content at your away goynge after y t came symple and poore men asked of me some goodes accordynge to my proclamacyon I had nothynge to gyue them for I had gyuen you all that I had saue onely the lordshyp ouer you whyche I kepte in my handes whan the poore men so cryed on me I had nothyng to gyue them saue onely the lordshyp ouer you and therfore ye sholde not blame me for that ye asked ye had Than sayde they A good lorde we praye you effectuously of your couÌ„sell in thys case of your helpe The Emperour answered sayd Syrs yf ye wyll werke after me I shall gyue you good profytable couÌ„seyle Than sayd they Lord we be redy to
fulfyll what so euer ye saye to vs for our profyte Than sayd themperour My good frendes ye haue of me bothe landes and tenementes wyth other mouable goodes and that great plente the whyche by my couÌ„seyle ye shall departe w t the poore men that they may graunte you the lordshyp And anone these ryche men gladly grauÌ„ted to this departed al theyr goodes amonge the poore men than they gaue them agayne the lordshyp ouer theÌ„ lyke as they had of y e ryche men And thus were they bothe content themperour was greatly coÌ„mended of al the people bycause he accorded bothe the partyes so wysely ¶ By thys Emperour is vnderstande our lorde Iesu Chryst whych made a proclamacyon by hys ê“phetes patriarkes apostles prechers that euery man bothe poore ryche sholde coÌ„me aske euerlastynge ioye and wythout doubte they shall optayne theyr peticion But y e ryche and myghty men asked none other thynge but worldly honour transytory rychesse for thys worlde shall passe all his couetyse wherfore he gaue them so moche of worldly goodes that he had nothinge lefte to hymselfe accordyng to scripture The byrdes of heuen haue nestes y e foxes in erth haue caues but y e sone of god hath nothyng in erth where he may put hys heed The poore men be suche as be meke in herte Of the whyche poore men speketh our lorde saying Blessed be the poore in herte for the kyngdom of heuen is theyrs And yf it sholde seme that they haue lordshyps aboue myghty men of thys worlde therfore these ryche men ought to departe theyr rychesse wyth poore men accordynge to the scrypture saying thus Gyue ye almes all thynge shall be cleue to you And thus may ye gete a lordshyp in heuen vnto y e whyche lordshyp I beseche almyghty god to brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a myghty emperour named Domicyan whyche had two doughters of whome one was passynge fayre that other foule vgly to beholde wherfore he let crye thrugh out all his empyre that what man wolde haue hys fayre doughter to wyfe sholde haue nothynge w t her but her fayrnes And who that wedded hys foule doughter sholde haue all hys empyre after hys deth And whan the proclamacyon was made there came many lordes y t desyred to wedde hys fayre doughter Tho whome the Emperour answered thus Syrs ê™ he ye wote not what ye desyre ryght well ye knowe that yf ye wedde her ye shall haue nothynge w t her but her fayrnes farthermore yf I gyue her to one of you not to another than wyll ye stryue for her therfore yf ye wyll nedes haue her forsake my foule doughter you behoueth fyrst to iust for her and he that wynneth her shall wedde her Than were the greatest states of y e empyre greatly reioyced anone onely for he loue they wolde iust also fyght wherfore they set a day of batayle many worthy men were slayne on bothe sydes neuerthelesse one optayned the victory and wedded that fayre lady The seconde doughter that was foule and vgly sawe thys that her syster was wedded w t great solempnite mourned wepte dayly wherfore the Emperour her father came to her and sayde Dere doughter why mournest thou thus Alas dere father quod she it is no wonder though I mourne seynge my syster wedded wyth so great honour gladnes euery man is fayne of her no man loueth my felawshyp and therfore dere father what I may best do sothly I wote not Than sayd the emperour O my dere doughter all y t is myne is thyne and it is not vnknowen to you that he whyche wedded thy syster had nothynge w t her but her fayrnes therfore I shall proclayme in myne owne ê‘sone thrugh all myne Empyre that what man weddeth you I shall make hym sure by letâ—re pateÌ„t of al myne empyre after my deth ThaÌ„ this yonge lady though she was foule vgly neuerthelesse she reioyced in y e promesse of her father anone after the proclamacyon was made than there came a yonge knight a gentyll wedded y e lady after the deth of the Emperour he seased all the Empyre and was crowned Emperour and she Empresse ¶ This Emperour betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst which hath two doughters that one fayre that other foule That one fayre betokeneth thys worlde whych is ful fayre delectable to many meÌ„ That other foule betokeneth pouerte trouble whome fewe men desyre to wedde Neuerthelesse a coÌ„mune crye was made by holy scripture that who so wold haue his fayre doughter that is the worlde sholde haue nothynge wyth her but her fayrnes that is to saye the worldly vanyâ—ees whyche fade fall a waye lyke as the fayrnes of man But who that wyll wedde the foule doughter that is to say wylfully to receyue pouerte trouble for goddes loue wythout doubte he shall optayne y e empyre of heuen accordyng to scrypture saying Ye that haue forsaken all thyng for my loue to folowe me shall haue euerlastyng lyfe Many noble and worthy men haue iusted for the fayre doughter that is to saye haue foughten bothe by see by lande for thys worlde for couetyse of worldly rychesse at the last there be many slayne for there is nothing here but pryde of lyfe couetyse of eyen or of the flesshe where thrugh all the worlde is put to great myschefe But he that weddeth the fayre doughter that is y e worlde is he that setteth all hys affeccyon desyre in the wrecchednes of thys worlde wyll not for nothyng forsake thys worlde lyke a wretche couetous man But he that weddeth the foule doughter is a good chrysten man whych for the loue of y e kyngdom of heueÌ„ forsaketh all this worlde not onely doth thus but also despyseth hymselfe bodyly obeyinge vnto his soueraynes in all thynge Suche a man certaynly shall optayne the Empyre of heuen Unto the whyche Iesu Chryst brynge bothe you and me Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a myghty emperour named Andromyke whych aboue all thynge loued melody Thys Emperour had wythin hys castell a well of suche vertue that who so euer were dronken dranke of the water of that well sholde incontynent be fresshe agayn be delyuered froÌ„ all maner of droÌ„kennes There was also dwellynge in thys Emperours courte a knyght named Ydrony whome y e Emperour loued moche but oftentymes he was dronken whych vyce the emperour hated aboue all thynge And whan thys knyght perceyued hymselfe dronken than wolde he go to the well drynke of the water refresshe hym selfe so that what so euer the Emperour sayde to hym he wolde answere hym so reasonably that no dronkeÌ„nes myght be seen in hym for hys wytty answere he was greaâ—ly beloued of the Emperour Neuerthelesse his felowes of the courte enuyd hym moche ymagyned amonge themselfe how they myght departe y e
of y e coÌ„mynge of thys poore maÌ„ Whan y e stewarde herde that he went out all to bette thys sely Guy lefte hym in peryll of deth Whan hys wyfe herde thys she came w t her asse ledde hym home as she myght all y t she had she spente vpon surgyens phisyciens to helpe hym And whan he was perfytly hole he went to the forest as he was wont for to gader styckes small wode for hys lyuynge And as he went aboute in that forest he sawe a stronge lyon dryuynge before hym asses that were charged w t chaffer and marchauÌ„dyse Thys lyon droue forth the asses before Guy whyche dred sore the lyon leest he wold haue deuoured hym neuerthelesse whan he behelde the lyon better he knewe well that he was the same lyon y t de drewe out of the pyt This lyon lefte not Guy tyll all y e asses with the marchauÌ„dyse were entred in to hys hous and than the lyon dyd hym obeysaunce ranne to y e wode Thys Guy obteyned these fardels and founde great rychesse therin wherfore he made to ê“clayme in dyuerse chyrches yf ony man had lost suche goodes but there was none that chalenged them And whan Guy sawe thys he toke the goodes bought therwyth hous lande so was made ryche Neuerthelesâ—e he hauÌ„ted the forest as he dyd before And after y t as he walked in the forest to gader wode he espyed the ape in the top of a tree the whyche brake bowes besyly with her tethe clawes â–ª threwe them downe so that in shorte tyme Guy had laden hys asse And whan the ape had so done she wente her waye Guy went home And on the morowe Guy went to the forest agayne as he sate byndyng hys fagottes he sawe the serpent that he drewe out of the pyt coÌ„me towarde hym bearyng in hys mouth a precyous stone of the colours the whych stone y t serpent let fall at Guyes sete an 〈…〉 ad so done she kyssed hys fete wente her 〈…〉 Guy toke vp the stone meruayled greatly 〈◊〉 vertue it myght be wherfore he arose 〈…〉 went to a seller of precyous stones named Peter sayd 〈◊〉 brother I praye â—he tell me the vertue of this pâ—ecyous stone I shal rewarde the well for thy labour WhaÌ„ thys stone seller had well beholden and vnderstode the nature of this stone he sayd Good frende yf the lyâ—â—â—o sâ—ll thy stone I shal gyue the an C. marke Than sayd Guy I wyll not sell my stone tyll thou tell me truly the vertuâ—â—â—erof Than sayd the marchaunt wythout doubte this none hath thre vertues the fyrst vertue is thys that who so beareth thys stone vpon hym shal haue ioye wythâ—uâ— sorowe the seconde vertue is that he shall haue plente wtout defante the thyrde vertue is he shall haue lyght wtout darknes and it hath also another vertue that no man may sel it but for as moche as it is worth yf he do the contrary the stone returneth agayn to y e fyrst owner Whan Guy herde thys he was ryght ioyful sayd to hymselfe in a good houre I drewe these beestes out of the pyt Not longe after it befell that this Guy by the vertue of this stone was made passyng ryche bought great possessyons lyuelode wherfore wtin a whyle he was made knyght It was not longe after y e emperour had knowlege how syr Guy had a stone of suche vertue wherfore he sent for syr Guy coÌ„maundyng hym to coÌ„me to hym in all haste so he dyd And whan syr Guy was coÌ„me to y e emperour the Emperour sayd to hym My frende I haue herde say that somtyme thou were in great pouerte now art made ryche by y e vertue of a lytel stone therfore I praye the that thou sell me that stone Syr Guy answered and sayde y t may I not do for so longe as I haue that stone I am sure of thre thynges that is to saye of ioye without sorowe plente wtout defaute lyght wtout derknes Whan the Emperour herde thys he had greater desyre to bye that stone than he had before sayd Syr Guy of two thynges thou must chose one that is chose whether thou wylt forsake thys empyre and all thy kynrede or else sell me thy stone Than sayd syr Guy My lorde yf it must nedes be thus be it at your wyll neuerthelesse I shall tell you the peryll of thys stone yf ye paye not therfore as it is worth wtout doubte it wyll coÌ„me to me agayn Than sayd y e Emperour sothly I shall gyue the suffycyent for thou shalte receyue of me therfore a thousande pounde so it was done syr Guy receyued the money wente home On y e morowe erly he opened his cofer and fouÌ„de the stone than he tolde to the lady hys wyfe how he had solde the stone to y e Emperour and delyuered it how he fouÌ„de it agayn in hys cofer Than sayd his wyfe good syr in all y e haste ye can go agayne to the Emperour and take hym the stone for drede that he be not wroth thrugh malyce put some fraude in vs. Than wente forth syr Guy agayne to the Emperour sayd to hym My lord yesterday I solde you a stone y t whyche yf it please you I wolde fayne se. The Emperour went for the stone to hys treasour fouÌ„de it not wherfore he was ryght sorowfull came agayn tolde syr Guy how it was lost Than sayd syr Guy My lord greue you not for I told you yesterday that I myght not sell it but yf I had the value therof yesterday I receyued a thousand pouÌ„de of you therfore this day I fouÌ„de it in mi cofer agayn and therfore yf I had not brought you the stone agayn perauenture ye wold haue shewed me your heuy lordshyp wyth that he shewed forth the stone wherat the Emperour meruayled greatly sayd Syr Guy by thy trouth that thou owest to me tell me how thou camest by thys stone Than sayd syr Guy By my fayth that I owe to you I shall tell you y e very trouth as touchynge thys stone Your steward that is ê“moted vp of nought let make many depe pyttes in your forest it fortuned not longe after that he fell downe in to one of them hym selfe myght not ryse agayne for depnesse of the pyt it fortuned also the same daye that a lyon an ape a serpent fell in to the pyt w t hym that tyme was I a poore man as I walked in to the forest wyth myne asse for to gather wode he cryed to me that I sholde helpe hym out of the pyt saue hym fro deth for there were in the pyt wyth hym thre venymous beestes that is to saye a lyon an ape a foule serpent than he behyght me by mouth to ê“mote me all my kynne to
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
syluer hath blynded the eyen of iudges hath ouerthrowen wyse men so that equite and ryghtwysâ—es myght not entre but stode aferre and turned theyr backes Thys lady also bought a man froÌ„ hangynge that is to saye from euerlastyng deth whyche he had deserued by deedly synne Therfore do we as dyd thys lady smyte we our horse that is to say our flesshe wyth the spurres of penaunce so ryde we â—orth in all haste to saue our neyghbour from the galous of deedly synne helpynge hym bothe bodyly and goostly as Salomon sayth Wo be to that man lyenge in deedly synne that hath no man to lyfte hym out therof Therfore awake thy neyghbour and helpe hym For a brother that is holpen of an other is lyke a sure cyte yf he gyue no more but a cuppe of colde water to hym in the waye of helpe he shall not lose hys rewarde But many now a days be full vnkynde as was thys thefe whyche falsly deceyued hys lady after y t she had saued hym froÌ„ hangyng The mayster of y e shyppe betokeneth y e worlde by whome many men be deceyued But neuerthelesse as ofte as a man taketh on hym wylfully the charge of pouerte obeyeth vnto the coÌ„maundementes of god and forsaketh the worlde than breketh the shyppe For it is impossyble to please god man and the worlde at ones Whan thys lady had escaped the tempest of the see she wente to a nonry that is to saye the soule after y e troubles of thys worlde wente to the holy lyfe than she healed all maner sycke folke that is to saye euery man that is troubled in hys soule that is to say infecte wyth dyuerse sycknesses that this lady healeth thrugh holy lyfe But the soule myght not be seen of Chryst her husbande tyll she had knowleged openly all her .v. wyttes how she had spent them But whan she had made a pure coÌ„fessyoÌ„ than y e Emperour our lord god her husbande knewe her toke her in his armes ledde her home to the palays of heuen Unto the whyche almyghty god brynge vs all Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour named Martyn whyche for loue kepte wyth hym hys brothers sone whome men called FulgeÌ„tyus Wyth thys Martyn dwelled also a knyght that was steward of hys Empyre and vncle vnto the Emperour whyche enuyed thys FulgeÌ„tius studyed day nyght how he myght brynge the Emperour thys chylde at debate wherfore the stewarde on a daye wente vnto the Emperour sayd My lorde quod he I that am your true seruauÌ„t owe of duty to warne your hyghnes yf I heare any thynge y t toucheth your honour wherfore I haue harde suche thynges that I must nedes vtter it in secrete vnto your lordshyp bytwene vs two Than sayde the Emperour Good frende quod he saye on what the lyst My moost dere lorde quod the stewarde Fulgentius your cosyn and your nye kynsman hath defamed you wonderfully and shamefully thrugh out all your Empyre sayinge that your breth stynketh and that it is deth to hym to serue you of your cup. Than the Emperour waxed wrothe and was almoost besyde hym selfe for anger and sayde to hym thus I praye the my good frende tell me the very trouth yf that my breth so stynketh as he sayth My lorde quod the stewarde ye may byleue me I neuer perceyued a swâ—ter breth in my dayes than yours is Than sayde the Emperoure I praye the good frende tell me how I may brynge thys thynge to a good profe The stewarde answered and sayd My lorde quod he ye shall ryght well vnderstande the trouth for to morowe nexte whan he serueth you of your cuppe ye shall se that he shall turne awaye hys face from you bycause of your brethe and thys is the moost veray profe that may be had of thys thynge Forsothe quod the Emperoure a truer profe can not be had of thys thynge Wherfore anone whan the stewarde herde thys he wente streyght to Fulgentius and toke hym asyde sayinge thus Dere frende thou art my kynsman and also nenewe vnto my lorde the Emperoure therfore yf thou wylte con me thanke I wyll tell the of the vyce wherof my lorde the Emperoure complayneth ofte and thynketh to put the from hym but yf it be the rather amended and that myght be a greate reprofe to the. Than sayd thys Fulgentius A good syr for hys loue that dyed vpon the crosse tell me why my lorde is so sore moued wyth me for I am redy to amedde my defaute in all that I can or may and for to be ruled by your good and dyscrete couÌ„seyle Thy breth quod the stewarde stynketh so sore that hys drynke dothe hym no good so greuous is vnto hym the stynkynge breth of thy mouth Than sayde Fulgentyus vnto the stewarde Truly that perceyued I neuer tyll now but what thynketh you of my brethe I praye you to tell me the very trouth Sothly quod the stewarde it stynketh greatly and foule And this Fulgentius byleued all that he sayde and was ryght sorowfull in hys mynde and prayed the stewarde of hys counseyle and helpe in thys wofull case Than sayd the stewarde vnto hym Yf that thou wylt do by my counseyle I shall brynge thys mate to a good conclusyon therfore do as I shal tell the. I counseyle the for y e best and also warne the that whan thou seruest my lorde the Emperoure of hys cuppe that than thou turne thy face away from hym so that he may not fele thy stynkynge brethe vnto the tyme that thou hast prouyded the of some remedy therfore Than was Fulgentyus ryght glad and sware to hym that he wolde do by hys couÌ„seyle Not longe after it befell that thys yonge man Fulgentyus â—erued hys lorde as he was wonte to do and therwyth sodeynly he turned his face froÌ„ hys lorde as the stewarde had taught hym And whan the Emperoure perceyued the auoydyng of hys heed he smote thys yonge Fulgentius on the brest wyth hys fote and sayd to hym thus O thou noughty rybawde now se I well it is true that I haue herde of the and therfore go thou anone out of my syght that I se the no more in thys place And wyth that thys yonge Fulgentyus wepte full sore and auoyded the place and wente out of hys syght And whan thys was so done the Emperour called vnto hym hys steward and sayd How may I put thys rybawde from the worlde that thus hath defamed me My moost dere lorde quod the stewarde ryght well ye shall haue your entent For here besyde wythyn these thre myle ye haue bryckmakers whyche dayly make greate fyres for to brenne brycke and also they make lyme therfore my lorde sende to them thys nyght and charge them vpon payne of deth that who so euer coÌ„meth to them fyrst on the morowe sayinge to them thus My lorde commaundeth you to fulfyll hys wyll that they take hym and cast hym
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