saying thus Est arta via que duâ—â—t ad vitam It is a strayte way that leadeth to euer lasting lyfe In this way are thrée armed knights that is to say the diuell the world and the flesh with whome it behoueth vs to fight and to obtaine the victory or wée may come to heauen The second Citie that is in the North is hell and to this accordeth Scripture saying thus Ab aquilone pondetur omne malum Out of the North commeth all euill Certainely to this Citie is the way playne and broad and walled about on euerie side with all maner delicates wherfore many men walk by this way The three Knights that giue to euery man going this way what thing them needeth are these Pride of lyfe couetousnesse of the eyes coÌ„cupicence of the flesh in which thrée the wretched man greatly deliteth at the last they leade him to hell This wittie knight betokeneth the soule the foolish knight betokeneth the flesh the which is alway foolish and at all times redie to doe euill These two are felowes knitte in one for either of them drinketh others blood that is to say they shall drinke of one cup either ioye or paine shall they haue after the daye of dome The soule chooseth the way of repentaunce and in as much as she may she stirreth the flesh to doe the same But the flesh thinketh neuer what shal come after and therefore she goeth in the delight of this world and fléeth the delight oâ— repentaunce and thus the soule after the death is cast into hell and the flesh is cast into the ditch that is to say into the graue But then the Justice commeth that is our Lord Jesus Christ at the daye of dome to iudge all mankind Than the Soule shall complaine vpon the slesh and the flesh vppon the Soule But than the Justice that will not bee deceiued neither by prayer ne by price shall condempne the Soule bicause shée folowed the fra â—tie of sleshe and allso hee shall condempne the flesh bycause it would not beleeue the Soule wherefore let vs studie to tame our flesh that wée may obay God and than shall wée haue euerlasting lyfe Unto the which bring vs our Lord Jesus Christ Amen The Argument The soule of man beeing possessed in the princely territory of Paradyse was by the diuell prouoked to sinne against hir creator and for the same transgression so beeing thence into this wide world exiled lost that hir former heritage But by Christes precious death and passion was restored vnto a more happie heritage of euerlasting felicitie The 11. History THERE dwelled sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour named Fredericke which had no childreÌ„ saue one only daughter to whom this Emperour after his decease béequethed all his Empyre This vnderstanding an Earle that dwelt there béeside came vnto this young Lady wooed hir and prouoked hir to sinne all that hée might wherefore this young ladie in short processe of tyme enclyned to the Earle and this Earle anone lay with hir and defiled hir and after that shée departed from hir heritage and exiled hir out of hir Empyre wherefore shée made a great lamentation and fled vnto a realme there beside where as she dayly wéept and mourned It befell after on a day that while she sat mourning by the hye way side there came riding by hir a fayre young knight vpon a good horse which came toward hir a great pace and very courteously saluted hir asked the cause why she mourned so sore Then answered she and saide My reuerend lord I am an Emperours daughter descended of roiall blood my father is dead which left me all his Empyre bicause he had none other heyre and after his decease an Earle there beside deceiued me deslowred my virginitie and after that he put me violently out of mine heritage so that now I am fayne to begge my bread from dore to dore and this is the cause of my sorrow Then sayde the knight farre damosell I haue great compassion on thy beautie and on thy gentlenesse therfore if thou wilt graunt me one thing I shall fight for thée against the Earle I protest vnto thée the purchase of the victory Then sayd shée alas good sir I haue nothing that I may giue vnto you but my selfe And I aske no more of thee said the knight but that thou wouldest be my wyfe and loue no man so much as mée Then sayde she Reuerend sir that I will doe gladly and more if I might Then said the knight I will that thou doe for mée one thing that if it fortune mée to dye in fight for thée and obtaine the victorie thou shalt take my bloodie shert and hang it vpon a beame in thy chamber and this shalt thou do for two things The first is that when so euer thou beholdest the shert thou shalt wéep for mee The second is that what so euer man come to wooâ— thee to be his wyfe then shalt thou hastely runne vnto thy chamber and béehould my bloodie shert and thinke heartelye within thy selfe thus The Lord of this shert dyed for my loue in baftayle the which recouered my heritage God forbid that I should take any other man after his death Then saide shée Reuerend sir all this shall I fulfill by the grace of God And when the knight heard this hee assaylled to fight against the said earle and obtained the victory and the Earle was ouercome and fledde and this yong lady was brought and receiued agayne into hir heritage Neuerthelesse this knight was deadly wounded in that battayle whereof hee died but or hée died hée béequeathed his bloody shert vnto this damosell desiring hir to keepe hir promise WheÌ„ this yong Lady heard of his death shée wept sore made great lamentation for his death And in his shert was cuÌ„ningly wrought this verse Think on him and haue in minde that to thee was so kinde Anon when she had receiued the shert shée haÌ„ged it vpon a beame in hir chamber and as oftentimes as she beheld it she wept bitterly It béefell not long after that the states of hir Empire came to hir desired hir to take a husband But then she went to hir chamber beeheld the bloody shert then wared shée sorofull sayd oftentunes woe alas thou sufferedst death for my loue thou also recoueredst againe myne heritage God forbid that I should take any other man moe but thee And thus shee answered euery man that came to hir and so they went away disapointed of their purpose and ended hir life in peace and rest The Morall Déere friends this Emperour is the father of heauen his daughter is the soule of man made to the similitude of God to whome God gaue and bequethed the Empyre of Paradise But ther came an Earle that is the diuell prouoked hir to sinne wheÌ„ shée eate of the apple and said to hir thus In what houre yee eat of the apple
leaue of the king and redde foorth and the King kept the broad high way When themperour heard of the Kings comming he went towards him with a great company royally receiued him causing him to shift his wet clothes and attyre him againe with new clothes And when the Emperour and the king were set to meat the Emperour welcommâ—d him with all the chéere solace that hée could And when they had dined themperour asked tidings of the King My Lord said hée I shall tell you what I heard this day by the way There came a knight to mée and reuerently saluted mee and anone after there came a great raigne which greatly spoiled my apparell anone the knight saide sir thou hast done foolishly for so much as thou broughtst not with thee thy house Then said themperour what clothing had the knight on him A cloake qd the king TheÌ„ said themperour forsooth that was a wise man for the house wherof hée spake was a cloake therefore hée saide to you that yée did foolishly because yée came without your cloake for if you had brought with you acloake then had not your clothes ben spoiled with raine Then saide the king when wee had riden a little farther we came to a déepe water I smote my horse with my spurres and almost I was drowned and hée 〈◊〉 on the other â—â—de of the water and found no peril and then said he to mée ye haue done folishly for so much that ye ledde not with you your bridge Forsoth said themperour he sayd truth for he called the bridge your â—quires that should haue ridden before you and assayde the déepenes of the water Then said the king we rode farther at the last he prayed me to dine with him and when we had dined he saide I did vnwisely for I ledde not with mée my father and my mother Sothly saide the Emperour he was a wise man and said trouth for he called your father mother bread and wine and other vitailes Then said the king we rode farther and anone after he asked mée leaue to goe from mée and I asked diligently whether he went And he answered agayne and sayde This day vii yéere I left a Nette in a priuie place and now I will ryde to visit it and if it bee broken or torne than will I leaue it and if it bée whole as I left it then shall it bée to mée right precious and I shall beare it with mée Whan themperour heard this he cryed with a lowde voice and said O ye my knights and my seruaunts come ye with mée spedily vnto my daughters chamber for sothly that is the nette whereof the knight spake And anone his knights and his seruaÌ„ts went vnto his daughters chamber and found hir not the soresayde knight had taken hir with him And thus the knig was deceiued of the damosell And hée went home againe to his owne country ashamed The Morall Déere friends this Emperour is our Lord Jesu Christ and this faire daughter is euerlasting life the which themperour had ordained for kings knights and other men The knight that loued this young Lady is euery good christian soule which holdeth him selfe not worthy to come in the sight of God vnto such ioy as the apostle saith Non est condigne passionis huâ—s temporis ad futuâ—aÌ„ gloâ—aÌ„ They be not so worthy of suffering this time to attaine vnto y glory that is to come This knight was viiyéeres absent from his loue like as a good Christian man all the dayes of his life should labour and â—rauaile in â—ulfilling the vii workes of mercie By the king that came without a cloake in the raine is to vnderstande some nyghtie men of this world as that haue cloaks to couer all their other clothes By this cloake is vnderstood charitie as the apostle saith Charitas cooperit multitudinem peccatorum Charitie couereth the multitude of â—innâ—s But many men haue not this cloake wherefore they be wet in the rayne of pride auarice and lecherie This king also was almost drowned bicause he lacked his bridge that is to saye perfect faith For we see dayly that there may no man passe ouer a greate water broad déepe without a bridge or some other thing that is able to beare him Right so with out faith it is impossible to please God And thus may no man be saued without faith when theilet their life in worldly â—oy or worldly helpe more than in the help of God which is mightie to doe all thinges wherefore he saith himselfe thus Si habueritis fide sicut granum sinapis poteâ—â—s c. If ye haue faith as the grayne of musterd then may ye say to the hills remoue out of your places they shall remoue But many of vs now a dayes hath ouer féeble faith therefore they shall sodainly fall in the clay of desperation and by deadly sinne oftentymes they offend God Also this king had not brought with him his father his mother By â—he father which is cause of generation is â—o vnderstande humilytie without whom there is no vertue in any man And thereto accordeth sainâ—t Gregory saying thus Si quis ceteâ—â—â— vertutes sine humilitate congregat c. He that gathereth all other vertues without humilytie is like a man that 〈…〉 th dust in the winde His mother betokeneth hope therefore he that will obtaine euerlasting lyfe him behoueth to haue the cloake of charitie bridge of faith a father of méekenes a mother of hope as the apostle saith â—pe saluâ— facti sumus Also this knight went the straight path way the king the broad way For he that will be saued it behoueth him to go a strayt way that is to saye the way of fasting almes déedes chastitie and repentaunce Of the which way speaketh the apostle Stricta est via que ducit ad vitam eternam The way is strayte that leadeth to euerlasting life But many men goe the other way which leadeth to hell that is to say by the way of sleshly lust such men bene gone out of the way of euerlasting lise but such men be deceiued through the way Therfore studie we to walke that way wherby we may obtaine euerlsting life The Argument ¶ By this history is figured as apeareth in the morall the soule of euery good christian to him holden as his daughter But beeing seduced caryed away and defiled by sathan our fowle enimy she is reduced by the helpe and valiant prowes of our heauenly champion Christ Iesus vnto his former habitation Yet man being vngrateful to his Redeemer forgetteth his dutie and for good rewarding euill to his champion Christ Iesus deliuering him to be iudged by the law as an offender but when the champion auoucheth what he hath done for man his soule than is he with shame of his ingratitude constrained to haue remorse call for grace to repent amend his life by the death passion of this champion Christ
serue him and should forsake our Lord. Therefore if wée follow the world and his vanities certainely we shall fall in to the snare of the diuell From the which defende vs our blessed Sauiour Jesu Christ Amen The Argument ¶ It is the ordinance of God that no man shall labour for worldly promotion by couetousnesle and falsehood Man for his first transgression should haue bene adiudged to perpetual torment in hell had not the sonne of god voluntarily offered him selfe to the death to saue mankinde and destroy sathan â—is enimie so that thereby he might place him in the habitacle of heauenly ioyes euerlasting The 35. Historie SOmetime in Rome there dwelt a noble Emperour of great liuelood named Alexander the which aboue all vertues loued the vertue of bountie wherefore hée ordained a law for great curiositie that no name vnder pâ—yne of Death should turne a Playce in his dishe at his meate but onely eate the whyte sayde and not the black and if any man would attempt to doe the contrary he should dye without remedie but or he died he shold aske thrée requests of the Emperour what him lyst except his lyfe which should be graunted him It befell after on a day that ther came an Earle his sonne of a strange couÌ„trie to speake with the Emperour And when this Earle was set to meat hée was serued with a Playce and hée which was hungry and had an appetite to his meate after he had eaten the white syde hée turned the black side and béegan to eate thereof wherfore straight way hée was accused to the Emperour béecause hée hadde offended against the law Than sayd the Emperour Let him dye according to the law without any delay When the Earles sonne heard that his father should dye immediately he sate him down on both his knées beefore the Emperour and sayd O my reuerend Lord for his loue that dyed vppon the crosse let me dye for my father Than sayd the Emperour It pleaseth mée well that one dye for the offence of the law Then sayd this Earles sonne sith it is so that I shall dye I aske the benefits of the law that is to saye that I may haue three petitions graunted or I dye The Emperour answered and sayde aske what thou wilt there shal no man say thée nay Than sayd this young knight My Lord ye haue but one daughter that which I desire of your highnesse that she may lye with mée a night or I dye The Emperour granted though it were against his will in fulfilling of his law Heuerthelesse this knight deflowred hir not as that night Therfore pleased hee greatly the Emperour The second peticion is this I aske all thy treasure And immediately the Emperour grauÌ„ted bicause he shold not be called a breaker of his owne law And when this Earles sonne had receiued the Emperours treasure he imparted it both to poore and rich by meanes whereof he obtained their good wills My third petition is this I aske my Lord that all the eyes may be put out incontinent which sawe my father eating of the blacke plaice Wherefore the Emperour let make inquisition immediately who it was that saw the Earle turne the black Plaice And they that saw him turne the playce bethought theÌ„ said within themselues If we knowledge that we saw him do this trespasse than shall our eies be put out and therfore it is better that wée hold vs still And so ther was none found that would accuse him Whan the Earles sonne saw this he said to the Emperour My Lord quod he yée see that there is no man accuseth my father therfore giue ye right full iudgement Than saide the Emperour For as much that no man will knowledge that they saw him turne the place therefore I will not that thy father shall dye Loe thus the sonne saued his fathers lyfe and after the decease of the Emperour married his daughter The Morall Déere friends this Emperour betokneth the father of heauen which ordained a law that no man should furne the black side of the Plaice that is to saye there should no man labour for riches or promotion by couetousnesse and falsehood The Earle that came to the Emperour betokeneth Adam our fore father which came out of the lande of Eden to the Court of Paradise turned vp the black side of the Plaice when he eate of the Apple wherefore he should haue bene condempned to euerlasting death But his sonne that betokeneth our lord Jesu Christ For he tooke slesh of Adam and profered himselfe voluntarily to dye for him The Father of Heauen graunted that hée should goe dwone to dye for mankinde Neuerthelesse or he dyed he asked thrée petitious of his father of heauen The first was this that hée might haue by him his daughter which betokeneth the Soule of man and bring hir with him into the bosome of heauen according to the wordes of Osee saying De sponsabo cam mihi That is to saye I shall wed hir to my wife The second petition was this all the Emperours treasure which betokeneth the treasure of heauen according to this scripture Sicut disposuit mihi pater That is to say like as my father hath disposed for mee so I dispose for you The third petition was this that all their eyes should be put out that is to say that the diuell which dayly accuseth man might be put from the light of heauenly grace And thus saued he mankinde and led him vp with him vnto the Pallayes of heauen Unto the which pallayes bring vs our Lord Jesus Amen The Argument ¶ The Father of Heauen of his meere grace promotith some poore men raising them from the dust to sit amongst Princes But extolling themselues without regard of gods goodnesse they are made abiects vnto him the diuell worketh deceipt in his members against the godly Christ came downe from heauen to minister the water of eternall life vnto man and by his death and passion to reâ—iâ—e our soules which before were dead vnto the firme state of eternall felicitie The 36. History IN Rome there dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour named Le mâ—â—us which on a day rode to a forrest to disport him where as he mette sodainly with a poore man to whome he sayd thus Friend whence commest thou and who art thou My Lord quod he I come from the next Cittie and your manne I am Than sayde the Emperour thou séemest poore therefore if thou wilt be good and true I shall promote thee to great riches and honour Then answered the poore man sayd My Lord I promise you faithfully to bée true to you as long as I liue The Emperour anon made him knight and gaue him great riches When hée was thus promoted hee waxed so proud that hee thought himselfe more able to bée an Emperour then his Lord wherfore he made suggestion to diuerrse lords of that Empyre that hee might vsâ—rpe and take vpon him through strength of them to bee Emperour When
thiefe that béetrayed hir to the Maister of the shippe was lame and full of the Crampe And the Master of the shippe distraught out of his wittes When the Emperour heard that so holy a woman was in such a Citie hée called his brother saide to him thus Goe wee déere brother vnto this holy woman that is dwelling in the Citie that she may heale tâ—ée of thy lepry Would to God quod hee that I were healed Anone the Emperour with his brother went toward the Citie And when the Citizens heard of his comming they receiued him Worshipfullye with procession And then the Emperour enquired of the Citizens if any such holy woman were among them that could heale sicke folke of theyr diseas The Citizens answered and sayde that such a one was there Then was the Empresse called foorth before the Emperour but shée muffled hir face as well as shée could that the Emperour hir husband shold not know hir when shée had so done shée saluted him with great reuerence as it appertained to his estate And hée againe in lyke wise saying thus O good Ladie if thou lyst of thy grace to heale my brother of his lepry aske of mee what thou wilt and I shall graunt it thee for thy reward When the Emprisse heard this shée looked about hir and saw there the Emperours Brother a foule Leprie shée saw there also the knight that slew the earles daughter blynde and deafe The thiefe that shée saued from the gallowes lame and also the Master of the Ship distraught out of his wittes and all were come to hir for to be healed of their sicknesse but they knew not hir for all that they knew not hir shee knew them well Then sayd shée vnto the Emperour thus My reuerend Lord though yée would giue mee all your Empyre I may not heale your Brother nor none of these other but if they knowledge openlye what they haue done When the Emperour heard this hée tourned him towardes his Brother and sayde vnto him Brother accknowledge openly thy sinne before all these men that thou maist bée healed of thy sicknesse Then anone he began to tell how hée had ledde his lyfe but hée tolde not how he had hanged the Emprisse in the Forrest by the haire of hir Head most dispightfully When he had knowledged all that him lyst the Empresse replyed and saide Sothly my Lord I would gladly laye vnto him my medicine but I wot right well it is in vaine for he hath not made a full confession The Emperour hearing this he tourned towarde his brother saide againe in this wise What euill sorrow or vnhappy wretchednesse is in thée seest that not how that thou art a foule lepry therefore knowledge thy sinne truely that thou maist be whole or else auoide my company for euermore A Lord quod hée I may not tell my life openly but if I be first sure of thy grace What hast thou trespassed against mee quod the Emperour Than answered his brother and saide Myne offence against thée is grâ—euous and therefore I aske mercie The Emperour thought not on the Emprisse for as much as he supposed she had beene dead many yéeres béefore hee commaunded his brother to tell foorth what hee had offended him hée should bée forgiuen And wheÌ„ the Emperour had thus forgiuen his brother hée béegan to tell openly how he had desired the Emprisse to comemitte adultry with him and hée hadde hanged hir by the haire in the Forrest bycause shée would not consent by any meanes to him And when the Emperour heard this hée was almost béeside himselfe and in his rage he sayd thus O thou most wreched creature the vengeaunce of God is fallen vpon thee and were it not that I haue pardoned thee thou shouldest dye the most shamefull death that could bee thought Then sayde the Knight that slew the earles Daughter I wot not quod hee of what Lady ye meane but I wote that my Lord found on a time such a Ladye hanginge by the hayre in the Forrist and brought hir home to his Castell and hée tooke hir his daughter to keepe I prouoked hir as much as I could to sinne with mee but shee would in no wise consent to mee wherfore I slâ—w the earles Daughter that laye with hir and when I had so done I put the bloodie Knife in the Ladies hand that the earle should thinke shée had slaine his daughter with hir owne hands and than was she exiled thence but where she became I wot not Than sayde the theife I wot not of what Lady ye meane but well I wotte that seuen officers were leading mée to the gallowes and such a Lady came riding by and bought mée of them than went I with hir and afterward I béetrayed hir vnto a master of a ship Such a Lady quod the master of the shippe receiued I and when wée were in the middest of the sea I would haue layne with hir but shee sate downe to hir prayers and anone there arose such a tempest that the shippe all to brast and wée were all drowned saue shée and I but what afterward befell of hir I wote not Than cryed the Emprisse with a loud voyce and sayde Soothly déere friends yee doe now truely confesse and declare the trueth wherefore I will now apply my medicine and anone they receiued their health When this lady the Emprisse had thus done she opened hir face to the Emperour and he foorthwith knew hir and ranne to hir and imbraced hir in his armes and kissed hir oftentimes and for ioy he wept bitterly saying Blessed be God now haue I found that I desired And when he had thus sayde he lead hir home to his Pallayes with great ioye and alter when it pleased almightie GOD they ended both their liues in peace The Morall This Emperour betokeneth our Lord Jesu Christ The Emprisse betokeneth a holy soule The Emperours brother betokeneth the flesh to whom our Lord hath giuen charge of this Emayre but most principally to the soule Neuerthelesse the wretched sleshe oft prouoketh the soule to sinne But the soule that loueth God aboue all things withstandeth that temptation and calleth to hir hir ghostly power that is to say reason will vnderstanding and conscience and maketh them to enprison the flesh that is disobedient to the soule in the prison of true repentaunce vnto the tyme hée obey to reason in all thing And thus in hope of mercie hée sinneth agayne to whom holy writ saith Maladictus homo que peccat in spe Curssed be that man that sinneth in hope And at the last the soule enclyneth to the flesh lettith him out of the prison of repentance washeth him from the filth of sinne and arayeth him with good vertues and maketh him leape on the palfray of charytable humilitie and so rydeth foorth to méete our Lorde with the sacrifice of thankes giuing But alas full oft the sinner trespasseth against holy scripture wherfore the hart that is to say
possesseth lyfe of euerlasting ioy and blisse The 15. History SOmetime dwelled in Rome a noble Emperour named Agias which had retaining vnto him a Knight called Gerard which was a worthy warrior neuerthelesse he was as méeke as a Lambe in the Emperours courte but in the field he was like a Lion This Emperour had a faire daughter whome the strong and mightie Earle of Palester carryed perforce away and defiled neuerthelesse it displeased more themperour the defiling of his daughter than the carrying of hir away wherefore he called vnto him his counsayle and sayde Déere friends it is not vnknowen to you the despite and violence done to mée in deflowring of my daughter and therefore I purpose to giue battaile to the Earle wherefore I pray you to be ready at a day that ye may procéede with me in battaile And they sayde Lord we be readie to liue and dye with you in battaile When the apointed day of battaile came they met on both sides and a cruell sharp conflict was prosecuted on both sides and all that were of themperours part were slaine And as themperour himselfe should haue bene sorceably assayled the knight Gerard put himselfe among his enimies before themperour and fought manfully and so Themperour escaped and the knight aboad and slew the earle neuerthelesse this knight had diuers wounds This notwithstaÌ„ding he aboad still till the blood ran downe to his foote And when his enimies saw that the Earle was slaine they fledde and the Knight with his people â—â—â—â—owed on the 〈…〉 till hée came to the place where themperours daughter was and â—â—dde hâ—r with him And thus with triumph and victory he â—â—â—urned againâ— to themperour For â—â—â— which victory and reobtaining of themperours daughter he was greatly peaâ—â—â—d of all people Not long after it befel that this knight had a suâ—e to moue themperours court wherefore the knight came vnto themperour prayed him méekely to be fauorable in his cause and furthermore he prayed him to doe the reason touching his honest demaund When Themperour had heard him he called to him a Justice and sayd â—ir Justice our will is that you performe all equitie vnto this knight and that that the Law will And wheÌ„ the knight heard this he cryed with a lowd voice Alas alas who heard euer such a thing of an Emperour thou wert said hee in battaile where thy head should haue béene smitten off and I in myne owne person and none other man put my selfe in ieopardy for thée and saued thée and now thou hast assigned an other man to bee Judge in my cause alas that euer thou wert borne And with that word the knight put of all his clothes sheweh his wounds that hée had receiued in the battâ—â—â—e vnto all the men that were there present and sayde Loâ— what I haue suffered for thee Oh Emperour and I put none other man in my stâ—de and now thou assignest an other man in my cause For sooth I say to thée that I neuer serued such a Lord béefore When the Emperour heard this being almost confounded in himselfe said thus O Déere friend all that thou sayest is trouth thou sauedst mée from death thou diddest reobtaine my daughter againe and for my sake thou hast suffered many wounds For sooth it is right that I in my owne person come downe and make an end of thy cause such as may bee honour and ioye to thée And when themperour labored busily in this matter and made thereof an ende according to the knights entente wherefore all men greatly commended the Emperour The Morall Déere friends this Emperour may bée called euery Christian man or else all mankinde which had a faire daughter that is to say the soule made to the similitude of God This Earle beetokeneth the diuell which carryeth away deflowreth by sinne the soule of man through eating of the fruite of the tree knowing good and euill wherefore all mankind was in thraldom til a strong and valiant knight came and put himselfe on the Crosse to suffer death as a redéemer of mankinde from the diuell For if that had not béene wée had all beene partakers of thraldome euerlaistngly and this Knight reduced and reobtayned the Soule of man vnto the Church wherefore hée suffered many great wounds in his body And now this knight that is to saye our Lord Jesu Christ hath a matter to doe among vs that is to saye to fynde in vs perfecte life wherefore hee calleth on vs dayly that wée shold bée redy at all times saying thus in the Apocalipse iii. Eccesto ab hostium pulso si quis mihi aparuerit introibo câ—nibo That is to say Loe I stand and knocke at the dore if any man will open to mee I shall come in suppe with him But many men doe as the Emperour dyd the which appointed the knight an other Judge then him selfe But now a dayes there bée some men that will doe no repentaunce for the loue of him which assigned no man but himselfe to fight for vs. And therefore against vnthankfull persons it shal bee sayde thus Loe hée suffered for vs on the Crosse despoyled of all his clothing and showeth to vs all his wouÌ„ds that hee suffered for vs. Bée wée therefore thankfull vnto God for his graces that wée may suffer for his loue some sorowfull repentaunce For hée that suffereth paine for the loue of God in this life shall receiue an hundrid tymes more reward in the lyfe euerlasting and also hée shall obtaine euerlasting life vnto the which our Lord Jesus bring all mankinde Amen The Argument The soule of man is heere warned to eschew the pleasant baites and subtill craft of the diuell that shee yeeld not to his allutments least shee bee ouercome of him and hee get the vantage of this mortall course from hir and bereue hir of the ioyes in the lyfe to come The 16. History THere dwelt somtimes in Rome a witty emperour namid Pompey which had a fayre daughter called Aglas This daughter had many vertues aboue all other women of that Empyre First shee was faire and gracious in the sight of euery man She was also swift in running that no man might ouertake hir by a great space When Themperour vnderstood these two vertues in his daughter hée was right ioyfull wherefore hée made to proclaime throughout all his Empyre that what man poore or riche would runne with his daughter should haue hir to wyfe with great riches if hée might ouerrunne hir and come sooner to the marke then shée and if shée ouer runne him and come sooner to the marke then hée his heade should bée smitten off When the states of that Empyre as Dukes Earles Barrons and knights heard this crye they offered themselues one after an other to runne with hir but euer this young Lady ouer-ranne them all wherfore they lost their heads according to the law That time there was a poore man dwelling in Rome which thought within himselfe I
giuen most of my lands rents tenements and cattells to the rich men that came before you Neuerthelesse I haue kept sâ—ill in mine owne hands the Soueraigntie and dominion ouer them and that I doe giue to you and so shall they be your seruaunts and be obedient to you all And when the poore men heard this greatly hereat reioysing knéeled downe to the Emperour and thanked him saying Lo though wée come late yet wée be made Lords ouer all these other And with this they tooke their leaue went home againe But when the rich the mightie men heard that they were greatly moued and ordained a common parliameÌ„t among themselues And thus it was spoken among them Alas alas how may we serue them that sometime were but pesants and our subiects in all maner thinges and now they bée made lords ouer vs. Therefore goe wée all with one assent to Themperour pray him of remedy When this was sayd their counsayle was commended and foorthwith they went to the Emperour and said to him Reuerend Lord what may this bée those that were our seruants be our lords we beséech you méekly that it may not be so Than said the Emperour Good friends I doe you no wrong for my crye was common that what so euer you asked of me you should obtaine your petition and ye asked nothing of me but lands rents and honours and all that haue I graunted you at your owene will in so much that I kept nothing for my selfe and each of you were well content at your away going after that came simple and poore men and asked of mée some goods according to my proclamation and I had nothing to giue them onely the Souer aigntie and Dominion ouer you which I kept in my handes and when the poore menne so cryed on mée I had nothing to giue them saue onely the authoritie ouer you and therfore ye should not blame mée for that ye asked ye had Than sayd they A good and gracious Lord we pray you effectuously of your counsayle in this case and of your help The Emperour answered and sayd Sirs if ye will work after mée I shall giue you good and profitable counsayle Than sayd they wée be readie to fulfill whatsoeuer ye saye to vs for our profit Then said Themperour My good friends ye haue of mée both landes and tenements with other moueable goods and that great plenty the which by my counsayle ye shall depart with to the poore menne that they may graunt you the soueraâ—gntie and dominien which they haue And anone these rich men gladly graunted to this and departed all their goods among the poore men and than they gaue them againe the authoritie ouer them like as they had of the rich men And thus were they both content and the Emperour was greatly commended of all the people bicause he accorded both the partes so wisely The Morall By this Emperour is vnderstood our Lorde Jesu Christ which made a proclamation by his Prophets Patriarks Apostles and Preachers that euerye man both poore and riche should come and aske euerlasting ioy and without doubt they shall obtaine their petition But the rich and mightie men asked none other thing but worldly honour transitory riches for this world shall passe all the couetousnesse thereof wherefore he gaue them so much of worldly goods that he had nothing left of himselfe according to the Scripture The byrds of heauen haue neastes and the Foxes in the earth haue caues but the sonne of GOD hath nothing in the earth where he may put his head The poore men bée such as be méeke in hart Of the which poore men speaketh our Lorde saying Blessed bée the poore in heart for the kingdome of heauen is theirs And if it should séeme that they haue soeueraintie in Heauen aboue mightie men of this world therefore these rich men ought to depart thir temporall riches with poore men according to the scripture saying thus Giue yée alines and all thing shal be cleane to you And thus may yée attaine vnto the kingdome of heauen vnto the which I béeseech almightie God to bring vs all Amen The Argument The Emperour of eternall glorie Christ hath two daughters the one faire the other foule the faire daughter is this world and the pleasures thereof the soule is pouerty trouble The fayre daughter is desired of many the foule daughter of fewe who so loueth the world setteth not by god nor heauenly things but by the vanites of this world who so loueth God heauenly things will suffer in Christ all persecution trouble for the obtaining therof dispising the world all that therein is The 27. Historie SOmetime in Rome dwelt a mightie Emperour named Domician which had two daughters the one of them was passing fayre but the other foule and euill fauored wherfore hée lette crye throughout all his Empyre that what man would haue his faire daughter to wyfe should haue nothing with hir but hir beautifull and comely personage And who so would marry his foule daughter should haue all his Empyre after his death And when the proclamation was made there came many Lords that desired to marry his faire daughter To whome the Emperour answered thus Sirs quod hée yée wote not what yée desire right well yée know that if yée marry hir yee shal haue nothing with hir but hir beautifull comely personage and farthermore if I giue hir to one of you and not to an other then will yée striue for hir therefore if yée will néedes haue hir and forsake my soule daughter it shall béehoue you first to Just for hir hée that winneth hir shall wed hir Than the nobles stats of the Empire greatly reioysed and anone onely for loue of the beautiful damosell they would iust and also fight wherefore thy set a daie of battaile and many worthy men were slaine on both sides neuerthelesse one obtained the chiefe victory and espoused that faire Lady The second daughter which was foule and euill fauored séeing hir sister so béestowed with great solempnitie mourned wept dayly therefore the Emperour hir father came to hir and saide Déere daughter why mournest thou thus Alas déere father quod shée it is no wonder though I mourne séeing my sister is married with great honour gladnesse and euery man is ioyfull of hir no man loueth my company and therfore déere father what I may best doe sothly I wot not Then saide the Emperour O my déere daughter all that is mine is thine and it is not vnknowen to you that hée which marrieth thy sister had nothing with hir but hir beutiful corps therfore I shal proclaim in mine own persoÌ„ through all my empire that what man marrieth thée I shall make him assurance by letter patent of all mine Empyre after my death Then this young Lady though shée was foule euill fauored neuerthelesse shée reioyced in the promisse of hir father immediatly after the proclamation
shall reward thée well for thy labour Whan this Jeweller had well béeholden and vnderstood the nature of the stone he sayd Good friend if thee list to sell thy stone I shall giue thée an hūdreth mark Then sayd Guy I will not sell my stone till thou tell mee truely the vertues thereof Then sayd the marchant without doubt this stone hath thrée vertues the first vertue is that whosoeuer beareth this stone vpon him shall haue ioy without sorrow the second vertue is that he shal haue plenty without want the third vertue is he shall haue light without darkenesse And it hath also an other vertue that no man may sell it but for as much as it is worth and if he doe the contrary the stone returneth againe to the first owner When Guy heard this hée was right ioyfull and sayd to himselfe in a good houre I drew these beastes out of the pyt Not long after it béefell that this Guy by the vertue of this stone was made passing riche and bought greate possessions and liuelode wherefore with in a while he was made knight It was not long after the Emperour had knowledge how sir Guy had a stone of such vertue wherefore hée sent for sir Guy commaunding him to come to him in all hast and so hee did And when sir Guy was come to the Emperour the Emperour sayde to him My friend I haue heard saye that sometime thou werte in great pouertie and now thou arte made rich by the vertue of a little stone therefore I pray thée that thou sell mée that stone Syr Guy answered and sayd that may I not doe for so long as I haue that stone I am sure of thrée things that is to saye of ioy without sorrow plenty without want and light without darkenesse When the Emperour heard this hée had greater desire to buy that stone then hée had beefore and said to him Sir Guy of two things thou must choose one that is choose whether thou wilt forsake this Empyre and all thy kindered or else sel me thy stone Then sayde Syr Guy My Lord if it must néedes bée thus bée it at your will neuerthelesse I shall tell you the perill of this stone if yée paye not therfore as it is worth without doubt if will come to mée againe Then said the Emperour sothly I shall giue thée sufficient for thou shalt receiue of mée therefore a thousand pound and so it was donne Syr Guy receiued the mony and went home On the morrow early hée opened his cofer found the stone and then hée told to the Lady his wife how hée had sould the stone to the Emperour and deliuered it how he found it againe in his cofer Thē said his wife good sir in all that hast yée can goe agayne to the Emperour and take him the stone least that hee bée displeased and through mallyce repute some deceipt in vs. Then went foorth sir Guy againe to the Emperour and sayde to him My Lord yesterday I solde you a stone the which if it please you I would faine sée The Emperour went for the stone to his treasure and found it not wherefore hée was right sorowfull and came againe and told Syr Guy how it was lost Then sayde Syr Guy My Lord grieue you not for I tolde you yesterday that I might not sell it but if I had the valew thereof and yesterday I receiued a thousand pound of you therefore and this day I found it in my Cofer againe and therefore if I had not brought you the stone againe peraduenture you would haue shewed mée your heauie countenance and with that hée shewed foorth the stone whereat the Emperour maruailed greatly sayd Syr Guy by thy troth that thou owest to mée tel mée how thou camest by this Stone Then sayde sir Guy By my faith that I owe to you I shall tell you the very troth as touching this stone Your steward that is promoted vp of nought let make many déepe pittes in your Forrest and it fortuned not long after that hée fell downe into one of them himselfe and might not ryse againe for déepenesse of the pit it fortuned also the same day that a Lyon an Ape a serpent fell into the Pitte with him at which time I was a verie poore man tooke great pains for my liuing as I walked into the forrest with mine Asse for to gather wood hée cryed to mée that I should help him out of the pitte and saue him from death for there were in the pit with him thrée venemous beasts that is to say a Lyon an Ape a foule Serpent and then hee promised mée by his worde to promote mée and all my kinne to great riches And whē I heard that I was glad lette downe a long corde vnto him supposing to haue drawen him vp and then I haled vp a Lyon and after that an Ape and then a Serpent and at the last your Steward The Lyon gaue mée ten Asses charged with marchandise the Ape gaue mée as much wood as mine Asse might beare and the Serpēt gaue me this stone that I haue sold you but your steward beat mée and wounded mée full sore for my good déede that I was borne home vpon myne Asse When the Emperour heard this his heart was greatly moued againste the Steward wherefore hée examined him of that false déed but he was dome and would not speake for so muche that hée could not deny his falsehood Then sayde the Emperour O thou wretched creature vnreasonable beasts as the Lyon the Ape and the Serpent rewarded him for his good déede thou that arte a reasonable man hast almost beaten him to death that saued thée and tooke thée out of the pitte therfore for thy falsehood wickednesse I iudge thée to bee hanged this daye on the gallowes and all thy goods and landes I graunt to Sir Guy and also I ordayn that Sir Guy shall occupy thy place bée Steward and so it was done When Sir Guy was thus rewarded by the Emperour and made steward hée was well beloued of euery man as long as hée liued and at the last ended his life with honor and good peace The Morall This Emperour betokeneth the Father of Heauen the poore man béetokeneth euery man that commeth into this worlde féeble and naked from his mothers wombe and at the last is promoted to great riches and worldly honor as the Psalmist saith De stercore erigens pauperem God lifteth vp the poore man out of the myre and many such men know neither God ne themselefe but cause to make deepe pittes that is to saye vnkindenesse and mallyce they ordaine against simple menne in the which pit the diuell causeth them oft to fall according to a text in Ecclesiastico Boueam qui alteri facit ipse incidit in eam That is to saye who maketh a Pyt for an other man himselfe falleth therin which text was well proued by Mardocheus This Guy that went dayely
shauen and apparelled him worshipfully according to his estate and then shée said vnto him thus Now good brother take thy stéede and come with mée that wee may méete my Lord. Hée answered and sayd Lady I am redy to fulfil your will commaundement in all things And than the Empresse toke him with hir and many other knights and so rod foorth to meeâ— with the Emperour and as they rode together by the way they sawe where a great hart ranne afore them wherefore euery man with such hounds as they had chased him on horse backe so that with the Empresse was left no creature saue onely the Emperours brother which seeing that no man was there but they two thus hee saide vnto the Empresse Loe Lady heere beside is a priuie forrest and long it is agone that I spake to thée of Loue come now and consent vnto mee that I may lye with thee Then sayde the Empresse a foole what may this bee yesterday I deliuered thée out of prison vpon thy promise in hope of amendement and now thou art retoâ—rned to thy folly againe wherfore I saye now to thée as I haue sayde before there shall no man doe such thing with me saue onely my Lorde the Emperour which ought of very duty so for â—â— doe Then sayde â—ee if thou wilt not consent to mée I shall hang thée héere vpon a trée in this Forrest where no man shall finde thée so shalt thou dye an euill death The Empresse aunswered méekely and sayde Though thou smite of my head and put mée to death with all maner of torment thou shalt neuer haue mee to consent to such sinne When hee heard this hée vnciothed hir all saue hir smock and hanged hir vp by the haire vpon a trée tyed hir stéede beside hir and so rode foorth to his fellowes and tolde them that a great hoast of men met him and tooke the Empresse away from him And wheÌ„ he hadde tolde them this they made all great sorrow It befell on the third day after there came an Earle to hunt in that Forrest and as he rode beating the barks there started a Foxe whome his hounds followed fast till they came néere the trée where the Empresse hanged And when the dogges felt the sauour of hir they left the Fore and ranne towarde the Trée as fast as they could The Earle séeing this wondred greatly and spurred his horse and folowed them till he came wher as the Empresse hanged Whan the Earle â—aw hir thus hanging he maruailed greatly for as much as she was right fayre and gracious to behold wherefore he sayde vnto hir in this manner wise O woman who art thou and of what countrie and wherefore hangest thou héere in this manner wise The Emprisse that was not yet fully dead but in point ready to dye aunswered and said I am quod she a straunge woman and I am come out from far countrie but how I came hither God knoweth Than aunswered the Earle and said Whose horse is this that staÌ„deth by thée bound to this trée Than answered the lady and said that it was hirs WhaÌ„ the earle heard this he knew well that she was a gentle woman and came of noble linage wherfore he was the rather moued with pitty said vnto hir O faire lady thou seâ—est of gentle blood therfore I purpose to deliuer thée from this mischife if thou wilt promise to goe with mée nourish my faire yong daughter teach hir at home in my castell for I haue no childe but onely hir if thou kéepe hir well thou shalâ— haue a good reward for thy labour Than said she As far soorth as I can or may I shall fulfill thine entent And when she had thus promised him he tooke hir downe of the trée and led hir home to his castel and gaue hir the kéeping of his daughter that he loued so much and she was cherished so well that shée lay euery night in the earles chamber and his daughter with hir and in his chamber euery night there brent a lamp the which hanged beetwéene the Empresse bed and the earles bed This lady béehaued hir so gently that she was beloued of euery creature There was that time in the earls court a steward which much loued this Emprisse exceedingly aboue all things and oftentymes spake to hir of his loue But shée answered him againe and sayd Know yée déere friend for certainetie that I haue made a solempne vow to God that I shall neuer loue any man in such maner wise but onely him whom I am greatly beholden to loue by gods commaundement Than sayd the Steward Thou wilt not than consent vnto mée My Lorde quod shâ— what needeth thee any more to aske such thing the vow that I haue made truely I shall keepe hold by the grace of god And when the steward heard this hée went his way in great wrath and anger thincking within himselfe if I may I shall be reuenged on thée It befell vppon a night within short time after that the Earls chamber dore was forgotten and left vnshet which the steward had anone perceiued And when they were all a sleepe hee went and espied by the light of the lamp where the Emprisse and the young Mayden laye to gether and with that he drewe out his Knife and cut the throte of the Earles daughter put the bloody knife into the Emprisse hande shee beeing a sléepe and nothing knowing thereof to the intent that whan the Earle awaked he should see the knife in hir hande and that hée should think that she had cut his daughters throte wherfore she should bée put to a shameful death for this mischeuous déede And when this damosell was thus slaine and the bloody knife in the Emprisse hand the countesse awaked out of hir sléepe and sawe by the light of the Lampe the blouddie knife in the Emprisse hande wherefore she was almost out of hir wittes and sayd to the Earle O my Lorde behold in yonder Ladies hand a wonderfull thing Anone the Earle awaked and beheld on the Emprisse bed and saw the bloody knife as the countisse had sayd wherefore he was greatly moued and cried to hir and sayd Awake woman out of thy sléepe what thing is this that I sée in thy hand Anone the Emprisse through his crye awaked out of hir sleepe and in hir waking the knife fell out of hir hand and with that she looked by hir found the Earles daughter dead by hir side all the bed be sprent with blood wherefore with an huge voyce shée cryed and sayd Alas alas and welaway my lords daghter is slayne Than cryed the couÌ„tisse vnto the Earle with á pitious voyce said A my lord let the diuelish woman be put to the most foule death that can be thought which thus hath slaine our onely childe And when the countisse had sayde thus to the Earle she sayde to the Emprisse in this wise The high God knoweth that
the lust of flesh and of sinners ariseth before him after runneth great houndes that is to say euill thoughts so long they chase till the bodie and the soule be left alone and than the fleshe stirreth that noble Soule beeing the Spouse of Almyghtie God But the pure and vndesiled soule that is so wel beloued with God wil not forsake hir Lorde and consent to sinne wherefore the wretched flesh full ofte despoiâ—eth hir of all hir clothing that is to say of all hir vertues hangeth hir vp by the haire on an oake that is to say on lustes delights and there she hangeth till the good earle commeth that is to say a discréete preacher in the forrest of this world to preach and teach the woord of god and taketh hir downe and leadeth hir foorth to the Church to nourish his daughter that is to say to nourish consciens with fruitfull faith The earle had in his chamber a lamp right so euery discréet Preacher should haue afore him the Lamp of holy Scripture whereby he may see both the greuaunce and profit of the Soule in teaching of vertues and putting away of vice The steward that stirreth hir to sinne is none else but pride of life which is steward of this world by whome many men be deceiued But when the soule that is so well béeloued with Christ will not consent vnto the sinne of pryde than taketh thys euill steward the knife of couâ—tise wherwith he slaieth the earls daughter that is to say conscience according to Scripture saying Gold siluer hath blinded the eyes of Judges hath ouethrowen wise men so that equitie righteousnes might not enter but stoode afar turned their backs This Lady also redeemed a man from death that is to saye from euerlasting death which he had deserued by deadly sinne Therefore doe we as dyd this lady smite we oâ—r horse that is to say our flesh with the spurres of repentaunce so ryde we foorth in all hast to saue our neighbour from the sinck of deadly sinne helpe him both bodily ghostly as Saloman saith Wo be to that man lying in deadly sinne that hath no man to lift him out thereof Therefore awake thy neighbor and help him For a brother that is holpen of an other is like a sure citie and if he giue no more but a cup of cold water to him in the way of helpe hee shall not lose his reward But many now a dayes be very vnkinde as was this theife which falsely deceiued his lady after that she had saued him from hanging The maister of the ship betokeneth the world by whom many men be deceiued But neuerthelesse as oft as a man taketh on him voluntarily the charge of pouertie and obeyeth vnto the commaundements of God and forsaketh the worlde then breaketh the shippe For it is impossible to please God and man and the world all at one tyme. When this lady had espyed the tempest of the sea she went to a Citie that ie to say the soule after the troubles of this world went to the holy lyfe and than shee healed all maner sicke folke that is to saye euery man that is troubled in his soule that is to saye infecte with diuers sicknesses that this Lady healeth through holy lyfe But the Soule might not bée séene of Christ hir husbande till shée had knoweledged openly all hir fiue wittes But when she had made a pure acknowledgement of hir sinne than the Emperour our Lord God hir husband knew hir and tooke hir in his armes and ledde hir home to the pallaice of heauen Unto the which almightie God bring vs all for his sonnes sake Amen The Argument ¶ Euery supreme magistrate and other inferior is to be honoured and reuerenced Euery true Christian man ought to consider his dutie heerein euery false Christian peruerteth the wayes of the godlye the reward of such is hid vp in hell but the iust shal inherite the blessed life euerlasting The 41. History IN Rome dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour namid Martin which for entier affection kept with him his brothers son whom men called Fulgencius With this Martin dwelt also a knight that was steward of his Empyre and vncle vnto the Emperour which enuied this Fulgentius studying day and night how he might bring the Emperour and this child at debate wherfore the steward on a day went to the Emperour sayd My Lord quod hee I that am your true seruaunt am bound in dutie to warne your highnesse if I heare any thing that toucheth your honour wherfore I haue heard such things that I must needs vtter it in secrete to your Lordship béetwéene vs two Then sayde the Emperour Good friend quod hée say on what thée list My most déere Lord quod the steward Fulgeneious your cosâ—n and your nigh kinsman hath desamed you wonderfully and shamefully throughout all your Empyre saying that your breath stinketh and that it is death to him to serue you of your cuppe Than the Emperour was grieuously displeased and almost belide himselfe for anger sayde to him thus I pray thee my good friend tell mée the very trouth if that my breath so stincketh as he sayth My Lord quod the steward ye may beeléeue mee I neuer perceiued a swéeter breath in my dayes than yours is Then sayd the Emperour I pray thee good friend tell mée how I may bring this thing to a good proofe The steward answered and sayd My Lord quod hée yee shall right well vnderstand the troth for to morrow next when hée serueth you of your cuppe yée shall see that hée will turne away his face from you bicause of your breath and this is the most certain proofe that may be had of this thing Forelooth quod the Emperour a truer proofe can not be had of this thing Wherefore anone when the steward heard this hée went straight to Fulgencious and toke him a side saying thus Déere friend thou art my kinsman and also nephew vnto my Lord the Emperour therefore if thou wilt bée thankfull vnto mee I will tell thée of the vice whereof my Lord the Emperour complayneth oft and thinketh to put thée from him except it be the rather amended and that might bée a great reproofe to thee Then sayd this Fulgencious A good sir for his loue that dyed vpon the crosse tell mée why my Lord is so sore moued with mée for I am ready to amend my default in all that I can or may and for to be ruled by your good discréete counsaile Thy breath quod the steward stincketh so sore that his drinck doth him no good so gréeuous is vnto him thy stincking breath of thy Mouth Then sayd Fulgentious vnto the Steward Truely that perceiued I neuer till now but what thinke you of my breath I praie you to tell mée the verie truth Truely quod the steward it stinketh greatly and foule And this Fulgentious béeléeued all that hée saide and was right sorowfull in his
child Some aunswered and saide that the child should bée slaine and some would haue saued his lyfe while they stroue thus among themselues one of them that was most mercifull saide vnto the other O my good friendes heare my counsayle and ye shall not forethinke it If ye murther this innocent childe wée shall greatly offend almightie god and therefore héere bée young Pigges kill wée one of theÌ„ then may wée take with vs his hart and present it vnto the Emperour saying that it is the heart of the Childes blood Then said they thy counsaile is good but what shal we doe with the Child Good friends quod hee let vs wrap him in some clothes and late him in some holow trée for peraduenture God will help him saue his lyfe And when hée had thus said they did gladly after his counsaile in all things and killed the Pigge and went theyr way and carried home with them the Pigges hart to the Emperour saying vnto him thus Loe gracious Lord wée haue destroyed the Child as ye coÌ„maunded vs and with that they shewed him the Pigges heart The Emperour supposing that it had bene the Childes hart tooke it and cast it into the fire despitefully saying Loe that is the hart of him which should haue ben Emperour after me Lo what it is to beeléeue in dreames visions which be nought else but fantasies and vaine thinges The second day after that the Childe was put into the hollow tree there came an earle for to hunt in the forrest and as his houndes chased an harte they came to this hollow trée where the Childe laye and whan they felt the sauour of the Childe they would goe no farther The Earle séeing this maruailed greatly why his houndes abode there and smote his horse with his spures and rode a great pace till he came to them And when he came vnto the trée wherin the Childe was laide he looked in at an hole saw there the childe lying and then was hée right glad tooke vp the Childe in his armes full louingly and bare him home vnto his Castle saying vnto the Countesse his wise Loe my deere wise this day by fortune I haue found a very faire Childe in an holow trée as I hunted in the forrest whereof I am right glad And beecause that I neuer begat sonne daughter on thee ne thou neuer yet conceiued a childe therfore I exhort thée that thou wilt faine they selfe trauailing with childe and say that thou hast borne this childe The Countesse fulfilled right gladly the earles will and desire and said My most déere Lord your will in this thing shall bee done Not long after this newes went throughout all the country that the countesse was deliuered of a fayre Sonne wherfore euery man reioysed much The Childe beegan to grow and was right well beloued of euery man most specially of the earle and of the Countesse It beefell after when the Childe was xv yéeres of age the Emperour made a solempe feast vnto all the Lords of his Empyre vnto the which feast this earle was called and at the day assigned he came and brought his Childe with him which was at the time a fayre yong squire and â—aruer at the bord before the Earle The Emperour greatly béeheld him and espyed the token in his forehead which hee had séene beefore in the Fosters house wherfore hée was greatly moued and vexed within him selfe and saide vnto the Earle in this wise Whose Sonne is this certes said the Earle hee is my sonne Than saide the Emperour By the saith and trouth that thou owest vnto mée tell mee the trouth The earle séeing that hée might not excuse himselfe by no manner wise but that néeeds hee must tell him the trouth than told hée him altogether how hée had found him in the forrest in an hollow tree This hearing the Emperour was almost distracte of his wittes for anger called vnto him his seruants which he had sent before to destroy the Childe And when they came béefore him hée made them to sware vpon a booke that they should tell him the trouth what they had done with the Childe Gracious Lord saide they wée yéelde vs vnto your grace goodnes for without doubt pitie so moued vs that wée might not destroy him and then wée put him in an hollow trée but what afterward befell of him certainely we know not and in his steade we kilde a Pyg and brought you the hart thereof When the Emperour had heard the very trueth of this matter hee said vnto the earle This yong man quod hee shall abide heere by mée the earle immediatly grauÌ„ted though it was greatly against his will And when the feast was ended euery man tooke his leaue of the Emperour went whereas they list And at that time it fortuned that the Emprisse and hir daughter soiourned in a great countrie far fro thence by the commaundement of the Emperour It befell not long after the Emperour called vnto him that yong Squyre and saide it béehoueth thée quod hee to ride vnto the Emprisse my wife with my letters I am ready at your commaundement my Lord sayde hee to fulfill your desire Immediately the Emperour lette write letters whereof his intent was this That the Emprisse should take the bearer of these letters and let him bée drawen at the horse taile and after that shée should let him bée hanged till he were dead and that vpon paine of death When the letters were all made sealed then the Emperour tooke them vnto the yong squire commaunding him to spede him on his iorney And straight way the yong Squier receiued thé gladly and put them â—ure in his bore rode foorth on his iourney When hée had rydden thrée or foure daies on his iourney in an euening hee came vnto a Castle wher as dwelt a knight and gently desired him of a nights lodging The knight seeing and beeholding the good fauour of this young squier grauÌ„ted him lodginge and made him good cheere and well to fare and afterward brought him vnto his chamber when hée was there hee went to bed And immediatly fell on sléepe for hée was full wery of his â—ourney and forgot his boxe with the Letters lying openly in his chamber When the knight saw the bore hee opened it and sound the letters sealed with the Emperours signe manuel was greatly tempted to open them at the last hée opened them full subtylly and than hee redde how the Empresse vpon paine of death shoulde put the bearer of them to death and then he was right sorrowfull and saide within himselfe Alas quod hee it is great pitie to destroy such a fayre young man therefore if I may it shall not bée so And immediatly after the knight raced out that writtinge and wrote in the same paper a letter saying these words Upon paine of death I commaund thée that thou take the young Squire bearer of these letters and let