to be hanged this day on the galowes / al thy goodes londes I grauÌ„te vnto gye / also I ordeyne that syr gye shall occupye thy place be stuarde so it was done WhaÌ„ syr Gye was thâ— rewarde by the Emperour and made stuarde he was well byloued of euery man longe tyme / and at the laste ended his lyfe with honoure and good pease ¶ This Emperour betokeneth yâ— fader of heuen The poore man betokeneth euery man the whiche cometh in to this worlde feble and naked frome his moders bely / and at the laste is promoted to grete rychesse and worldely honoure as the Salmist sayth De stercore erigens pauperent God lyfteth vp the poore man out of fylth / and many suche men knowe neyther god ne hym selfe but maketh hym selfe to make depe pyttes / that is to saye vnkyndenesse and malyce they ordeyne ayenst symple men in the whiche pytte the deuyll causeth them oft tyme to fall accordynge to a text in yâ— â—â—cctiastico foueam qui alteri facit ipse incidit in eam / that sayth thus / who maketh a pytte to another man oftyme he falleth therin hym selfe / the whiche text was well proued by Mardochy / and anone this Gye that wente dayly to yâ— forest with his asse to gader wode betokeneth euery ryghtfull man dredynge god in the foreste of this worlde the wode that he gadereth betokeneth his merytory werkes that he caryed on his asse whiche betokeneth yâ— body of maÌ„ wherwith his soule may Ioye and lyue in the tabernacle of heueÌ„ and as that stuarde / the lyon / the ape / and the serpente that fell in to the pytte Ryght soo whan a fynfull man falleth in the pytte of fynne True lyon of the kynred of Iude that is god almyghty descendeth with hym as often tyme as the synner hathe wylle to come to grace Therfore sayeth the Salmist thus â—um ipso sum in trybulacyone That is for to saye I am with hym in trybulacyon This Gye draweth vp the lyon / that is to saye almyghty god oute of the pytte by the rope of vertues He drewe vp the ape also that is to saye contrarye wyll to reason that he myght obey vnto reason For of all maner of beestes the ape is moost lyke vnto man Ryght soo amonge all the strengthnesse of soule wyll oweth namely to be lykened to reason and to â—bey reason He drewe vp also a serpente by the whiche is vnderstoâ—de penaunce for two causes For the serpente bereth in his mouthe venym / and his tayle is a medycyne Ryght so penaunce bereth at the begynnynge bytternesse vnto the doer Neuerthelesse it is ful swete and medycynable vnto the soule at the ende And therfore euery ryght wyse man sholde drawe vnto hym the serpente of penaunce And atte the laste he drewe vp the stewarde frome the pytte of synne accordynge vnto Crystes saynge thus I am not come onely to calle to me ryghtfull / but synners vnto penaunce Also it is wryten that Seneca called Senck that taught an Emperour many lores and vertues of trouthe And at the laste lyke this stewarde he lete slee his mayster Senek Also Cryste gaue power vnto Iudas to werke myracles lyke as he dyde vnto other dyscyples Neuerthelesse he bytrayed hym atte the laste Ryght soo nowe a dayes be many chyldren of Bellyall whiche delyteth more to do harme thaÌ„ good in especyall to theym that wolde teche theym in parfyte bothe for soule / and for body The Lyon gaue vnto the â—yghtfull man ten asses charged with marchaundyses that is to saye oure lorde Ihesu cryste gyueth vnto euery ryghtfull man ten commaundementes charged with vertues by the whiche he groweth in to the rychesse of heuen ¶ The ape also gadred hym wode as ofte as the ryghtfull man worcheth wylfully the dedes of charyte For wode is profytable for two thynges / that is to saye to make fyre to buylde an house Ryght soo perfyte charyte heteth the aungell bothe accordyÌ„ge to yâ— scrypture saynge thus Q ma magis gaudium est angelis c. That is to saye More Ioy is to aungelles for one synner doynge penaunce c. Charyte also arayeth the house of heuen agaynst the comynge of yâ— soule The serpente also gaue hym a stone of thre dyuerse maner of coloures the whiche betokeneth our lorde Ihesu cryste whome we seke by penaunce Therfore sayth saynt Ierome in the seconde table thus â—ost naufragium est premiam That is to saye We sholde doo penaunce after our trespaas That cryste is a stone may be proued by hym selfe saynge thus Eâ—go sum lapis viuus That is to saye I am a stone of lyfe Cryste hath thre coloures whiche by tokeneth the myght of the fader the wysdome of the sone / and the mekenesse of holy goost Therfore who that may gete this stone shall haue the Empyre of heuen / and Ioye without sore and plente without ony maner defaute / and lyght without derkenesse Vnto the whiche lyghte brynge vs our lorde Ihesus Cryste that dyed for the and me and all mankynde Amen Amen Amen for saynt charyte SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour whiche was named Anselme whiche wedded the kynges doughter of Ierusalem a fayre lady and a gracyous in the syght of euery man / but she was longe tyme with the Emperour or she was conceyued with chylde / wherfore the nobles of the Empyre were ryght sorowefull bycause theyr lorde had none heyre of his owne boody bygoten Tyll atte the laste it befelle that this Anselm walked after souper on a nyght in his gardeyne / and â—ythoughte hym selfe howe he hadde none heyre and how the kynge of Ampluy warred on hym contynually for soo moche that he hadde noo sone to make defence in his absence / wherfore he was ryght sorowefull and wente to his chamber and slepte â–ª and atte the last hym thought he sawe a vysyon in his slepe that the mornynge was more clere thenne it was wonte for to be and that the mone was moche more paler on that one syde then on that other syde And after he sawe a byrde of two coloures and by that byrde stode two beestes whiche fedde that lytel byrde with their hete / and after that came many mo bestes and bowed theyr hedes towarde the byrde wente theyr way And than there came dyuerse byrdes that songe so swetely and so shyll that the Emperoure awaked In the mornynge eâ—ly this Anselme remembred his vysyon and wondred moche what it myght sygnyfye / wherfore he called vnto hym his Phylosophers and also that states of his Empyre and tolde theym his dreme chargynge theym to telle hym the sygnyfyenge therof vpon the payne dethe And yf they tolde hym the true interpretacyon therof â–ª he behoted theym grete rewarde Than sayd they Lorde telle vs your dreme and we shall declare vnto you what it betokeneth Thenne the Emperour tolde theym frome the begynnynge to the ende lyke as it is
Gesta romanorum SOmtyme there dwelled in Rome a puyssaunte Emperour whâ—che had a doughter a fayre creature and was named Atlenta whome dyuerse and many knyghtes and other grete lordes desyred her to theyr wyf This Atlenta was won derswyfte of foote / wherfore suche a lawe was ordeyned that no man sholde haue her to wyfe but suche as myght ouer renne her and take her by strength of foot And so it befell that many came ranne with her / but she was so swyfte that no man myght ouertake her by cours of rennynge At the laste there came a knyght named Pomeys vnto her fader sayd to hym thus / my lorde yf it myght please you to gyue me your doughter to wyfe I wyl gladly renne with her Than sayd her fader there is suche a lawe ordeyned and sette that who so wyll haue her to wyfe must fyrste renue wich her / and yf he fayle in his cours that he ouertake her not he shall lose his hede / and yf it fortune hym to ouertake her than shall I wedde her vnto hym / and whan the kynge had tolde hym all the peryll that myght falle in the wynnynge of her / the knyght wylfully graunted to abyde that Ieopardy Than the knyght lete ordeyne hym thre balles of golde ayenst the rennynge And whan they had begonne to renne a lytel space the yonge lady ouer ranne hym / than the knyght threwe forth before her the fyrste balle of golde And whan the damoysell sawe the ball she stouped and toke it vp / and that whyle the knyght waune before her but that auayled lytell / for whan she had that perceyued she ranne so fast that in shorte space she gate before hym agayne And than he threwe forth the seconde balle of golde / and she stouped as she dyde before to take it vp / in that whyle the knyght wanne before her agayne / whiche this yonge damosell seynge constreyned her selfe and ranne so fast tyll at the last she had hym at a vauntage agayne and was afore hym and by that tyme they were nyghe the marke where they sholde abyde / wherfore the knyght threwe the thyrde balle forth before her / and lyke as she had done before stouped downe to take vp the balle / and the whyle she was in takynge vp the thyrde balle the knyght gate afore her and was fyrst at the standynge / thus was she wonne ¶ By this Emperoure is vnderstande the fader of heuen / and this mayden is vnderstande the soule of man with whome many deuylles desyren to renne / and to dysceyue her thorugh theyr temptacyons / but she with standeth theym myghtly ouercometh hym / and whan he hath done his power / and may not spede than marketh the thre balles of golde / and casteth them before her in the thre ages of man / that is to saye / in youth / in manhode / and in olde age In youth he casteth the balle of lechery before her That is to saye the desyre of flesshe / neuerthelesse for al this balle often tymes man ouercometh the deuyll by confessyon contrycyon penaunce and satysfaccyon The seconde balle is the balle of pryde the whiche the deuyll casteth to man in his manhode / that is to saye in his myddell age / but this balle man oftentymes ouercometh as he dyde the fyrste But late hym beware of the thyrde balle whiche is the balle of coueryse that the deuyll casteth vnto man in his olde age that is full dredefull For but yf a man may ouercome this balle with this other two than he shall lese his honoure that is to saye that kyngedome of heuen For whan man brenneth in couetyse he thynketh not on goostly rychesse for euer his herte is sette in worldly goodes and recketh not of prayers ne of almes dedes / and thus leseth he his herytage to the whiche god hathe bought hym with his precyous blode vnto that whiche Ihesus brynge you and me and all mankynde Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour and a wyse named Ancelme whiche bare in his armes a shelde of syluer with fyue reed cosys This Emperour had thre sones whome he loued moche / he had also contynuall warre with the kynge of Egypt / in the whiche warre he lost all his temporall goodes excepte a vertuous tree It fortuned after on a day that he gaue batayll vnto the sayd kynge of Egypt wherin he was greuously wounded Neuertheles he opteyned the vyctory notwithstandynge he had his dedely wouÌ„de / wherfore whyle he laye in poynte of deth he called vnto hym his eldest sone sayd / my moost dere welbeloued sone all my temporall rychesse I haue exspended almoost nothynge is lefte me excepte a vertuous tree the whiche standeth in the myddes of myne Empyre I gyue to the all that is vnder the erthe and aboue the erthe of the same tree O my reuerent fader quod he I thanke you moche ThaÌ„ sayd themperoure calle to me my seconde sone Anone his eldest sone gretely gladded of his faders gyfte called in his broder / and whan he came than sayd themperour / my dere sone quod he I may not make my testament for so moche that I haue spent al my goodes except a tree whiche staÌ„deth in my Empyre of the whiche tree I gyue byquethe to the all that is grete and smale Than answered he and sayd My reuerent fader I thanke you moche Than sayd themperoure calle to me my thyrde sone / and so it was done And whan he was come the Emperour sayd My dere sone I must dye of this sekenesse I haue but onely a vertuous tree of the whiche I haue byquethed thy bretherin theyr porcyon and to the I byquethe thy procyon / for I wyll yâ— thou haue of the sayd tree all that is were drye Than sayd his sone Fader god thanke you Soone after that the Emperour had made his byquest he deyed And the eldest sone anone toke season of the tree whan the seconde broder this herde he sayd broder myn by what lawe or tytell occupyed thou this tree Dere broder quod he I occupyed by this tytell / my fader gaue me all the is vnde erthe and aboue of the sayd tree and therfore by reason this tree is myn Vnknowynge to the quod the seconde broder he gaue me al that is in brede length depnes of that sayd tree / and therfore I haue as grete ryght in the tree as thou This herynge the thyrde sone came vnto theym sayd O ye my best beloued brethern it behoueth you not to stryue for this tree / for as moche ryght haue I in this tree as ye / for well ye wote by the lawe that the last wyll testament ought to stande / for sothely he gaue me of the sayd tree all that is wete and drye and therfore by ryght the tree is myn / but for as moche as your tales ben grete and myne
men whiche smyteth euer what by ryght what by vnryght that they may gete the vanytees of this worlde / in their smytynge they fynde grete wondres and maruayllesse / that is to say they fynde therin the delyces of the worlde wherin many men reioyseth The carbuncle that gyueth lyghte is the youth of man whiche gyueth hardynes to take theyr pleasure in worldly rychesse The archer with his arowe is deth whiche layeth watche ayenst mā to sle hym The clerke whiche toke vp the knyfe is a worldly man that weneth euer to haue all thynge at his wyll The deth smyeteth the carbuncle / that is to saye the youth strength and power of man / and than lyeth he wrapped in derkenesse of synne in the whiche derkenesse oftymes he dyeth Therfore studye we to fle the worlde and his desyres that and than be we sure to wynne euerlastynge lyfe / vnto the whiche Ihesu brynge you and me Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour named Tytus a wyse man dyscrete whiche ordeyned in his dayes suche a lawe y◠what knyght dyed in his Empyre sholde be buryed in his armure / who someuer presumed to spoyle ony knyghtes armure after he were dede he sholde dys wtout ony withstondynge or saynge It befell after within fewe yeres that a Cyte of that Empyre was besyeged of themperours enmyes wherfore that Cyte was in peryll of lesynge / for none that wass within that cyte myght not defende them selfe by no maner of crafte / therfore grete sorowe and lamentacyon was vnyuersall thrught out the cyte But at the last within fewe dayes there came to the Cyte a yonge knyght and a full fayre and doughty to doo dede of armes whome the worthy men of the cyte beholdynge and vnderstondynge his doughtynes cryed with one voyce O thou moost noble knyght we beseche the yf it please thy worthynesse to helpe vs now atte our moost nede / lo ye may se this ryte is in peryll of lesynge Than answered he and sayd / se ye not serys that I haue no armoure / and yf I had armour I wolde gladly defende your Cyte This herȳge a myghty man of the cyte he sayd to hȳ in secrete wyse Syr here was somtyme a doughty knyght whiche now is dede buryed within this cyte accordynge vnto the lawe / and yf it please you to take his armoure ye myght defende this cyte and delyuer vs fro peryll and that shall be honoure vnto you and prouffyte vnto all the Empyre Whan this yonge knyght had herde this he wente vnto that graue toke his armoure and arayed hym selfe therwith faughte mygtely ayenst his ennemyes / and at the last he opteyned and had the vyctorye and delyuered the cyte frome peryll And whan he had soo done he put the armoure agayne in to the graue There were some men in the cyte that hav grete Indygnacyon enuy vpon hym bycause that he opteyned the vyctorye and accused hym vnto the Iuge saynge thus Syr a lawe was made by themperoure that who soo euer dyspoyled a deed knyght of his armoure sholde deye This yonge knyghte founde a deed man and toke awaye his armoure therfore we beseche the that thou procede in the lawe ayenst hym as ayenst hym that is breker of the lawe Whan y◠Iustyce herde this he made the knyght to be taken and to be brought afore hȳ And whā he was examyned of this trespas ayenst the lawe he sayd thus Syr it is wryten in the lawe that of two harmes the leest harme is to be chosen It is not vnknowen to you that this cyte was in peryll lyke to haue be loste / and but I had taken this armoure I had nouther saued you ne the cyte / therfore as me thynketh ye ought rather to honoure me for this good dede that I haue done to you than thus shamefully to repreue me / for I am ladde as he that is redy to be hanged / and also good syrs an other reason I may laye for myn excuse He that stelethe or robbeth vyolently purposeth not to restore the thynge that he robbed / but it is not thus with me / for though I toke the armoure of the deed knyghte for youre saluacyon / whan I had opteyned the vyctory I bare it agayne to the same place and so the deed knyght hath that is his by the lawe Than sayd the Iustyce a theef that breketh an house that he maye stele and bere awaye suche as he may fynde and though he brynge agayne that he hath taken I aske of the yf that the brekynge of the house be lawfull or not The knyght answered / somtyme the brekynge of an house may be good where as it is made in feble place whiche sholde cause the lorde of the house to make his wall stronger that theues after that breke not the walles so lyghtly in voydynge of more harme Than sayd the Iustyce yf the brekynge of the house be good neuerthelesse in that brekynge vyolence is done to the lorde of the house And so thoughe thou dydest good with the armure of the deed knyght neuerthesse thou dydest wronge to the deed knyght in takynge awaye his armoure The knyght sayd I haue tolde you now that of two harmes the leest is for to be chosen And that harme where thrughe grete goodnesse cometh ought not for to be called harme / but it sholde be rather called good For yf that ouy house within the Cyte were on fyre and began for too brenne it were more better too throwe it to the grounde and thre or foure houses therby than they sholde be sette on fyre also wherby all the Cyte myghte be brent Ryght soo yf the armure of the deed knyghte hadde not be taken of the Cyte and all ye hadde ben loste And whan the Iustyce harde that he answered so well and so resonably he myght gyue no Iugemente ayenst hym But they whiche that had accused this knyght slewe hym for whose deth there was grete wepȳge thrugh all the cyte / his body was worshypfully buryed in a newe tombe ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour is the fader of heuen / and this Cyte is the worlde the whiche is besyeged of the deuyll and deedly synne And as many as were within this Cyte were all in peryll to be loste This yonge knyght that came to the cyte is out lorde Ihesu cryste whiche had not the armoure of our manhode tyll he wente vnto the graue / that is to saye to the wombe of the gloryous vyrgyn Mary by the annūciacyon of the aungell saynge The holy goost shall lyght in the. c. Lo thou shalt conceyue bere a sone And thus in the wombe of the vyrgyn he tooke the armure of the dede knyght / that is to saye he toke the manhode of Adam our fourme fader and saued the cyte that is that worlde with man kynde frome peryll by his blyssed passyon whiche he suffred on the crosse / than he put
his armure agayne in to the graue whan his blyssed body was buryed / but the cytezyns enuyed hym / that is to saye the Iewes the paynyms of Iewrye accused hym to pylate and layde the lawe afore them ayenst hym saynge / yf thou suffre hym thus thou arte not frende to Cesar themperour / we haue a lawe after that lawe he ought to dye / thus our lorde Ihesu cryste of his enmyes was dampned to deth hangynge on the crosse buryed in his graue arose the thyrde day fro deth to lyfe and after ascended vp to heuen Vnto the whiche Ihesu bryÌ„ge vs all Amen THere regned somtyme in the cyte of Rome a myghty Emperour a wyse named Betolve whiche ordeyned a lawe that what woman were taken in auoutry her husbonde beynge a lyue that she sholde be cast in to perpetuell pryson There was that tyme a knyght whiche had a fayre lady to his wyfe whiche dyde auoutry vnder her husbonde was with chylde therfore by the lawe she was put in pryson / where within shorte tyme after she was delyuered of a fayr sone This chylde grewe vp tyl he was seuen yere olde / his moder dayly wepte hertely And whan the chylde herde this he sayd to his moder thus O moder why wepe ye thus / for what cause is your body thus turmented Than sayd his moder O thou my swete sone I haue grete cause to morne thou also / for aboue oure hedes is the walkynge of people and the sonne shyneth in his clerenesse / grete solace hath all men that are aboue vs / we be here contynually in suche derkenes that I may not se the ne thou me / alas / alas / that euer I conceyued the. Than sayd the sone / suche Ioye ne suche lyght as thou spekest of sawe I neuer ne yet perceyued / for I was borne here in this derkenesse therfore yf I had mete and drynke ynough here wolde I lyue all the dayes of my lyfe Therfore moder wepe ye not but shewe vnto me solace The whyle the lamentacyon was bytwene the moder and the sone / themperours stywarde stode aboue theyr hedes herde all theyr mournynge / wherfore he had grete conpassyon of them and wente vnto the Emperour and knelynge be sought hym of his grace for the moder and the sone / that they myght be delyuered of pryson The Emperoure as a mercyfull lorde graunted that they sholde be delyuered Neuerthesse yf they tresspased soo in tyme to come they sholde be punysshed with double payne / after that they were delyuered this woman ended herlyfe in that cyte ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour is the fader of heuen whiche made this lawe that what wedded woman / that is to saye what soule whiche is wedded to our lorde do aduoutrye / that is to saye deedly synne sholde be caste in the pryson of helle / therfore a synfull soule hath grete cause to wepe for she is departed fro lyght / that is to saye frome the Ioye of heuen Her sone that desyred mete drynke ben the myghty men of this worlde whiche sayen to the prelates of that chirche and to the prechours whiche preche vnto them the Ioye of heuen / that whyle we may lyue and haue all the solace of the worlde we desyre none other Ioye of heuen The stuarde whiche herde theyr lamentacyon is oure lorde Ihesu the whiche knoweth all the preuytees of our hertes and contrycyon of out synnes besought the fader of heuen for vs that we myght be delyuered frome the pryson of synne / and that we may come to euerlastynge lyfe / vnto the whiche brynge vs our derelorde Ihesus Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme an emperoure named Pomper whiche aboue all other thynges was mercyful This Emperour lete crye thoroughe al his Empyre a grete feest and that poore ryche sholde come to this feest And who soo euer came to that feest sholde not onely be well fed but also he sholde haue grete gyftes Whan the heraude had warned al maner of meÌ„ to come to this feest att the tyme there were two feble men lyenge by the waye and the one was lame and yâ— other was blynde This blynde man sayd vnto the lame man Alas and wo to me and the how shall we doo / for themperoure hath lete crye a feest and who soo eâ—er cometh therto shall not onely be well fedde but also he shall haue ryght grete gyftes / and I am blynde and thou arte lame how shall we do What sayd the lame man to the blynde man I shall tell the good counsell / yf thou wyll do after me thou shalte lette for no thynge I am lame and feble and may not goo neuerthelesse I may see / and thou art stronge and blynde and mayest not see / take thou me vpon thy backe and bere me and I shall lede the / the ryght waye and thus shall we bothe come to the Emperours feest Than sayd the blynde man after thy good counceyll I doo / come on my backe and I shall bere the and thou shalte lede me the ryght waye / and soo they dyd that bothe of theym came to that feest and receyued grete rewarde and gyftes amonge other men / and thus endeth theyr lyues in pease ¶ Dere frendes this Emperoure is oure lorde Ihesu cryst the whiche lete crye a generall feest / that is to saye the Ioye of heuen / vnto the whiche Ioye he called all mankynde and forsaketh noo man that wyll come vnto hym This lame man betokeneth the prelates of the chyrche prechours and confessours whiche that haue no thynge of theyrowne but lyuen by techynge and almes of other men And this blynde man betokeneth laye men whiche knoweth not the ryght waye vnto heuen It behoueth that the blynde man / that is to saye the laye men to bere the lame man / that is to saye the prelates of the chirche susteynynge and fedynge theym with the tythynge of almes and other oblatyons / than the prelates be beholden to teche and infourme vs the way towarde heuen where as we shall not onely haue a feest but also grete Ioye and rewarde / to the whiche god brynge vs therto Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled an Emperoure named Folliculus yâ— whiche was ryghte wyse mercyfull and ryghtfull in all his werkes this Emperoure buylded in the eest a noble cyte whe rein he put al his tresoure and precyous stones / and ryches to be kept / vnto this cyte was the waye stony and full of brymbles sharpe thornes / thre knyghtes were armed redy to fyght with theym that wolde come to that cyte Therfore themperour ordeyned that who soeuer ouercome these knyghtes sholde entre the cyte and take at his wyll of themperours tresoure After yâ— this Emperoure lete make in the northewest a cyte wherin he ordeyned all maner of payne tormentynge sorowe and myscheef to the whiche was a brode waye full delectable growynge ful of roses and fayle lelyes
couetyse of eyes / and concupyscence of flesshe in the whiche thre that wretched man gretely delyted and atte the laste they lede hym in to hell This wytty knyght betokeneth the soule / the folysshe knyght betokeneth the flesshe the whiche is alwaye folysshe and atte all tymes redy to doo harme These two ben felowes and knytte in one / for eueryche of theym orynketh others blode / that is to saye they shall drynke of one cuppe eyther Ioye or payne they shall haue after the daye of dome The soule cheseth all the waye of penaunce / and in as moche as she may she styreth the flesshe to do the same / but the flesshe thynketh neuer what is to come after / therfore she gooth in the delyte of this worlde and fleeth the way of penaunce / and thus the soule after the deth is caste in to helle / and the flesshe is caste in to the dycke / that is to saye in to the graue But than the Iustyce cometh / that is oure lorde Ihesu cryste at the daye of dome to deme all mankynde Than the soule shall complayne vpon the flesshe / and y◠flesshe vpon the soule But than the Iustyce whiche wyll not be deceyued neyther by prayer ne by pryce shal condempne the soule bycause she folowed the fragylyte of the flesshe And also he shall condempne the flesshe bycause it wolde not byleue the soule / wherfore lete vs studye to tame oure flesshe that we maye obey god and than shall we haue euerlastynge lyfe Vnto the whiche brynge vs oure dere lorde Ihesus cryste Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperoure named Frederyk whiche had no chylderin saue a doughter to whome this Emperour after his dyscesse byquethed all his Empyre This vnderstandynge an erle that dwelt there be syde came vnto this yonge mayden and wowed her and styred her vnto synne all that he mught / wherfore this yonge lady in shorte processe enclyned to the erle / and this erle anone laye with her and defoyled her / and after that he put her frome her herytage and chased her oute of her Empyre wherfore she made grete lamentacyon and fledde vnto the realme there besyde where as she dayly wepte and mourned It befelie after on a daye that whyle she satte mournynge by a syde waye there came by her a fayre knyght rydynge yonge and ryght honest vpon a good horse whiche that came to warde her a swyfte pace and worshypfully saluted her and asked that cause why that she so sore mourned Than answered she and sayd My reuerent lorde I am an Emperours doughter comen of royall kynne / my fader is deed whiche that lefte me all his Empyre by cause he had none other heyre / and after his dyscesse an erle there besyde dysceyued me and toke frome me my maydenhode / and after that he put me vyolently out of myn herytage so the I now am fayne to begge my brede frome doore to doore / and this is the cause of my sorowe Than sayd the knyght / fayre damoysell I haue grete compassyon on thy fayrenesse and of thy gentylnesse / therfore yf thou wylt graunt to me one thynge I shall fyght for the agaynst the erle and I behote vnto the the vyctory Than sayd she Alas alas I haue no thynge that I may gyue vnto the but my selfe And I aske no more of the sayd the knyght but that thou woldest by my wyfe and loue no man so moche as me Than sayd she Reuerent syr that wyll I doo gladly more yf I myght Than sayd the knyght I wyll in certaynte that thou shalte doo for me one thynge / that yf it fortune me to dye in batayll for the to opteyne the vyctory that thou shalt take my blody sherte and hange it vpon a perche in thy chābre / and this shalte thou doo for two thynges The fyrst is that whan someuer thou behold este the sherte thou shalte wepe for me The seconde is that what someuer man come for to wowe the to be his wyfe / than thou shalte hastely renne vnto thy chambre and beholde my blody sherte and thynke hertely within thy selfe thus The lorde of this sherte dyed for my loue in batayll the whiche recouered myne herytage / god forbede that I sholde take oony other man after his dethe Than sayd she Reuerent syr all this I shall fulfylle by the grace of god And whan the knyght herde this he gaue batayll agaynst the erle and opteyned the vyctory / and the erle was ouercome and fledde / and thys yonge lady was brought and receyued agayne in to her herytage Neuerthesse this knyghte was deedly wounded in that batayll whereof he dyed / but or he dyed he byquethed his bloody sherte vnto this danioysell desyrynge her to kepe her promesse Whan this yonge lady herde of his dethe she wepte sore and made grete lamentacyon for his dethe And in his sherte was wryten this verse Thynke on hym and haue mynde / that to the was soo kynde Anone whan she hadde receyued the sherte she hanged it vpon a perche in her chambre / and as oftentymes as she behelde it she wepte bytterly It befelle not longe after that the states of her Empyre came to her and desyred and counseylleo her for to take an husbonde / But than she wente vnto her chambre behelde the blody sherte / than waxed she sorowfull and sayd oftentymes alas alas thou suffred deth for my loue and thou also recouerest agayne myne herytage / god forbede that euer I sholde take ony other man but the / and thus she answered euery man that came to her and soo they wente awaye vnspedde and she ended her lyfe in pease and reste ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour is the fader of heuen / and this doughter is the soule of man made atte the symylytude of god / to whome god gaue and byquethed the Empyre of paradyse But there came an erle / that is to say the deuyl styred her to syn̄e whā sheete of y◠appel sayd vnto her thus in what hour ye ete of that appel ye shal be lyke gods where for brekynge goddes commaundement we were all exyled out of paradyse and chaced vnto the realme of this worlde here to lyue in grete wretchednes / lyke as the psalme sayth In sudore vultus tui c. In the swete of thy vysage thou shalt ete thy brede But that came a fayre yonge knyght a strōge / that is to saye our lorde Ihesu cryst whiche had compassyon on mankynde and tooke our flesshe and our blode and gaue batayll to the deuyll ouercame hym / and thus wanne he agayne our herytage Therfore late vs do as this yonge lady dyde put we this blody sherte / that is to saye y◠mynde of the passyon of cryst in the perche of our herte thynke we how oure lorde Ihesu cryste shedde his blode for sv And yf ony man / that is to faye / the
heed and thanked the Emperour of his grete mercy And than he wente forth and sought thorughe out all the Empyre so longe tyll he had founden themperours doughter / and the knyghtes and also the grehounde and brought theym agayne And after that wedded the yonge lady with grete honoure and Ioye / and also restored agayne the knyghtes goodes / and atte the laste he ended his lyfe in pease and in reste Amen ¶ This Emperoure betokeneth oure lorde Ihesu cryst His doughter betokeneth the soule of man made at the symylytude of our lorde god And the .v. knyghtes betokeneth the .v. wyttes armed with the vertue of baptyme to kepe yâ— soule The mayster of the knyghtes is reason whiche ought to gouerne the wyrtes The grehounde is the flesshe of man The stewarde betokeneth euery man to whome god hath gyuen lyfe and soule to kepe vnder payne of lesynge of euerlastynge lyfe But a wretched man not remembrynge that is to come ful often corrupted and defoyled his soule by synne and dryued her frome the palays of heuen / and than goothe she fro dore to dore / that is to saye frome synne to synne He dyspoyled these fyue knyghtes of theyr goodes / that is to saye the fyue wyttes of theyr vertues takynge awaye the lawfull syght fro the euen and exortyngetheym vnlawfully / and also styrynge his eeres to here sâ—lauÌ„der and bachytynge and so forth of all other wyttes and thus some be made theues and some manquellers The mayster of these fyue wyttes is slayne whan someuer man is ruled by wyll and not by reason The grehounde / that is the flesshe wherin a man delyteth was fedde and bounde with the chayne of reason whiche he breketh full often and renneth out and dooth moche harme The comyÌ„ge agayn of this Emperour from the holy londe betokeneth the comynge of our lorde Ihesu cryste at the daye of dome to deme all mankynde Therfore do we as the stewarde dyde accuse fyrst our self of our synne leste the deuyll and the worlde accuse vs and than it were to late to axe mercy / therfore do we of our clothes by tyme / that is to saye our synful lyfe / and take we thre ropes in our hondes The fyrste rope that sholde bynde our hondes and feet betokeneth the rope of contrycyon whiche not onely ought to bynde our hondes and feet but also our other membres bothe within and without soo harde that the blode brast out on euery syde / that is to saye that the synne myght voyde Her to accordeth Ezechiel saynge thus InquacuÌ„â—â— hora egerit penytenciam peccatoâ— saluus erit Whan someneâ— the synfull man dooth penauÌ„ce he shal be saued The seconde corde for to drawe the trespasser is confessyon whiche sholde drawe vs frome the begynnynge of oure lyfe vnto this daye by the penaunce of our mouth vnto the tyme that the flesshe be falle frome the bones / that is to saye tyll the lust of the flesshe be torned awaye by the stones of penaunce For in lyke wyse as the stone by nature and by kynde is harde And ryght soo penaunce oughte for to be harde And the thyrde rope whiche sholde hange the felloâ—â— is the rope of satysfaccyon of whiche hangynge speketh the appostle and sayth Suspende elegit anima mea My soule hath chosen to be hanged For lyke as a man is lyfte vp frome the grouÌ„de by hangyÌ„ge Ryght so a synner is lyft vp fro synne towarde heuen vnto god by the hangynge of satysfaccyon vpon this galous we sholde hange tyll the byrdes of heuen came doune / that is to saye tyll the Appostles come doune for to fede vs with our good dedes For there is more Ioye of one synner doynge his penaunce afore the aungels of god in heuen c. Lyke as the stewarde brought agayne themperours doughter So it behoueth vs for to seche about by dyuerse werkes of mercy fynde our soule whiche we loste and brynge her agayne to the churche and gouerne well our fyue wyttes / fe dde our grehounde as sholde make our lyfe so clene and pure the we falle not agayne in synne for drede yf it fortune vs worse and that we haue no layser for to aske mercy agayne at our nede And yf we fulfyl al this truely tyll our lyues ende without doubte we shall opteyne euerlastyÌ„ge lyf Vnto the whiche our lorde bryÌ„ge vs al Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour and a wyse named Edfenne / the whiche ordeyned for lawe the who someeuer rauysshed a mayde sholde be at her wyll / whether she wolde put hym to deth or that she wolde haue hym to her husbande It befelle after on a daye that a man rauysshed vpon a nyght two maydens / the fyrst damoysell desyred that she sholde dye / the seconde desyred weddynge The rauyssher was taken and ledde before the Inge that sholde satysfye to the these damoysels thrughe his wysdome and ryghtfulnesse The fyrst mayde euer desyred the dethe accordynge to the lawe And than sayd the seconde and I desyred hym for to be my husbande / for lyke wyse as thou haste the lawe for the / in lyke wyse I haue it for me And neuerthelesse my petycion is more and better than yours for it is more chary table / therfore me thynketh in my reason that the Iustyce sholde gyue sentence with me Than the Iustyce vnderstandynge the grete mercy of the seconde mayden gaue Iugement that he sholde wedde her and soo it was done ¶ This Emperour betokeneth our lorde Ihesu cryste The rauyssher beketoneth euery synner whiche rauysshed goddes mercy as often as he dyffoyleth the commaundementes of god by synne / for the deuyll may neuer ouercome man but yf it be suffred by wyll For saynt Austyn sayth Non est peccatum nisi sit voluÌ„tariuÌ„ It is no synne but yf it be voluÌ„tary The synner rauyssheth the mercy of god as ofte as he hath very contrycon The rauyssher also is called afore the Iustyce whan the soule is departed frome the body / anone the fyrste damoysell the is the deuyll larde ayenst the synner that ought to dye euerlastyngely by the lawe of ryghtwysnesse But that other mayden that is cryste layde for her yâ— mercy of god ought to helpe by contrycyon and confessyon whiche is the hyghe waye to euerlastynge lyfe Vnto the whiche god brynge bothe ye and me Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour and a ryche named Lypodyus whiche toke to his wyfe a fayre virgyn and a gentyll and was the kynge of Assyryens doughter This yonge lady conceyued and bare a chylde / and in the byrth of her sone she dyed And anone after her dyscesse this Emperour wedded an other wyfe begate her with chylde also And anone after the these chylderne were borne he sente them bothe in to straunge londe for to be nourysshed Than sayd the moder of the seconde chylde My reuerente lorde x. yere ben passed sythen I bare my chylde yet sawe I hym
make after the cours of nature came and gendred with her Neuerthelesse the absence of her make she toke ofte tyme another make dyde auoutry / and whan she had this done Than wolde she descende to the welle / and bathe his selfe that whan her make come he sholde fele no sauoure / ne euyll odoure of that she hadde done / whan the knyght had seen this on a tyme he locked yâ— well / and whan the nyghtyngale wolde haue descended to bathe her selfe after her auoutry she founde the well closed wherfore she fledde vp to the tree agayne and mourned sore in her maner and left of her swete songe Than came her make and sawe that she had trespassed agaynst her nature he wente agayne / and in shorte tyme he brought ayen a grete multytude of nyghtyngales whiche slewe his make and â—are her in smale gobettes / and thus was the wyse knyght put awaye and the nyghtyngale slayne / and the Emperour put and delyuered frome his pleasure and grete solace suche as he was wonte to haue ¶ This Emperoure betokeneth our lorde Ihesu cryste the whiche loueth gretely the songe of perfyte deuocyon For whan we praye we speke with god and whan we rede god speketh with vs. The welle that was in the palays betokeneth confessyon that is in the chirche Therfore yf ony man be dronken with synne / lete hym drynke on the welle of confessyon / and with out doubte he shall be safe This ydrony betokeneth euery man that wylfully torneth agayne vnto synne after his confessyon / lyke as a dogge whiche maketh a voment and casteth oute the mete that he hathe eten before / and after whan he is hungry cometh eteth it agayne Neuerthelesse yf a man that hath synned thus wyll drynke of the welle of confessyon he shal receyue his goostly strengthes The nyghtyngale that satte on the tree betokeneth yâ— soule that sytteth on a tree of holy doctryne And her songe betokeneth the soule that sytteth on the tree in the deuoute prayers to god But this soule dothe auoutry as ofte tymes as she consenteth to synne Neuerthelesse yf she renne to confessyon and bathe her with the water of contrycyon god shall loue her But her totemen whiche betokeneth the sendes of helle seynge this that god soo mercyfull / they stoppe the welle of confessyon / that is to saye the mouthes of men that wolde shryue theym selfe / with shame and with drede of theyr penaunce that they dare not tell forth theyr synnes to theyr confessyon And thus ben many exyled and putte to dethe euerlastynge And therfore study we to bathe our lyfe in the welle of confessyon with the water of contrycyon / and than may we be sure to come to euerlastynge lyfe Vnto the whiche I praye god brynge both you and me Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Darmes whiche had a myghty stronge Cyte and well stronge walled aboute and a belle hangynge in the myddes of the Cyte and whan so euer this Emperour wente to batayle without the cyte this belle sholde be ronge / but there sholde no man rynge the belle but a vyrgyn / wthin shorte tyme after it befelle that dragons and serpentes and many other venemous beestes empoysened moche people so that the cyte was almoost destroyed wherfore the states of that Cyte wente by one assent to the Emperour / and sayd Lorde what shall we doo lo our goodes / our Cyte are destroyed and ye and we bothe in peryll to be perysshed thrughe these felle beestes that consumeth vs. Therfore take we good couÌ„ceyll or elles we ben all loste Than sayd the Emperoure what saye you is beste to be done in this mater / and howe may we best be defended Than answered one of them that was wysest and sayd my lorde here my counceyll and doo therafter and ye shall not for thynke it / ye haue quod he in your place a Lyon / and sette vp a crosse and hange this lyon therupon with nayles whan other venymous beestes se hym thus hangynge on the crosse they wyll drede and so shall they forsake this cyte / and we shall be in reste and ease Than sayd yâ— Emperour it pleaseth me well that he be hanged in sauynge of you Than toke they the lyon and hynge hyÌ„ on yâ— crosse faste nayled And other lyons venymous dragons come towarde the cyte and sawe that lyon thus hangynge they fledde awaye for drede / durste come no nere ¶ This Emperour betokeneth the fader of heuen the cyte wel walled with the belle in the myddes betokeneth yâ— soule walled aboute with vertues The bell betokeneth a clene conscyence whiche warneth a man to batayll whan he sholde fyght agaynst the deuyll that he myght arme hym selfe before with vertues The vyrgyn that sholde rynge this bell is reason the whiche as a vyrgyn declyneth all to ryght full clennesse The venymous dragon that bereth fyre betokeneth the flesshe of man whiche bereth yâ— fyre of glotonye and lechery yâ— whiche brent Adam our formest fader whan he ete of the forboden appell The venymous beestes that poysoneth thus the men betokeneth the fendes of helle whiche for the moost parte hath destroyed mankynde The states of the cyte betoken Patryarkes and prophetes whiche besought god of good counceyll and remedy that mankynde myght be saued and anone it was counseyled for yâ— beste remedy that a lyon that is cryste sholde be hanged vpon a crosse accordynge to yâ— scrypture saynge in this wyse â—xpedit vnus morâ—atur homo pro populo et non gens â—eat c. That is for to saye It behoueth a man to dye for the people lesse all folke be perysshed Than toke they cryst henge hym on the crosse / for yâ— whiche the deuyil dredeth crysten men and dare not neyghe theym and thus by the grace of god crysten men shall come to euerlastynge blysse vnto the whiche brynge vs he / that for vs dyed on yâ— rode tree Amen THere dwelled somtyme in yâ— cyte of Rome a myghty Emperoure and a mercyfull whiche was Named Menalaye whiche ordeyned suche a lawe that what mysdoer were taken and brought in to pryson yf he myght escape and come to the Emperours palays he sholde be there safe for all maner felons / tresons / or trespasses that he had done in his lyfe tyme. It was not longe after but it befelle that a knyght trespassed wherfore he was taken and in pryson stronge and derke where as he had ben longe tyme and had no lyght but at a lytell wyndowe where as a skante lyght shone in that lyghtned hym to ete the symple mete that was brought vnto hym by his keper wherfore he mourned gretely and made grete sorowe that he was thus shette vp faste from that syght of men Neuerthelesse whan that keper was gone there came dayly a nyghtyngale in at that wyndowe / and sange ryght swetely of whose songe this wofull knyghyt ofte
/ and wrote vnto the that thou woldest paye my raunsome that I myghte be delyuered / thou woldest not helpe me But this mayden of her gentylnesse and for pyte saued me frome dethe and delyuered me frome pryson Therfore sothely she shall be my wyfe / wherfore he wedded her forthwith grete honoure with her ended he his lyfe ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour betokeneth the fader of heuen The yonge man that was taken with the rowers of the see betokeneth all mankyned whiche was taken with the deuyll by the synne of oure fore fader Adam and was caste in to the pryson of belle with grete sorowe and payne His fader wolde not raunsome hym / that is to saye the worlde wolde do no thynge for hym This fayre doughter betokeneth the godhede whiche came doune from heuen and toke manhode of the vyrgyn mary / and so made a goostly maryage bytwene hym and man And vpon this condycyon he delyuered mankynde out of the pryson of helle whan he came fro heuen forsoke the felawshyp of aungelles for to dwell with vs in this wretched valey of teares But the fader the whiche betokeneth the worlde grutched euer agaynst hym and wolde not suffre that the soule of man sHolde become the spouse of Ihesu Cryste / but that she sholde alwaye serue hym and forsake our lorde Therfore yf we folowe y◠worlde his vanytes sothly we shall falle in the snare of the deuyll Fro the whiche defende vs our lorde Ihesus Amen SOmtyme there dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour of grete lyuelode Named Alexsander / y◠whiche aboue all vertues loued largesse / wherfore he ordeyned a lawe for grete curiosyte that no man vnder payne of dethe sHold torns a playse in his dysshe at his mete / but onely eete whyte syde not the blacke / ony mā wolde attempte to do the cōtrary he sholde die wtout remedy / but or he dyed he shold aske iii. bones to the Emperour what so hym lyst excepte his lyfe whiche sholde be graunted hym It befell after on a daye that there came an Erle and his sone of a straunge countre to speke with the Emperour And whan this Erle was sette to mete he was serued with playse / and he whiche was hungry and had appetyte to his mete / and after he had eten the whyte syde he tourned the blacke syde began to ete there of wherfore anone he was accused to themperour bycause he had offended agaynst the lawe Than sayd the Emperour late hym dye accordynge to the lawe without ony delay / whan the Erles sone herde that his fader sholde dye anone he sette hym doune on bothe his knees afore themperour / and sayd O my reuerent lorde for his loue that henge on crosse late me dye for my fader Thenne sayd the Empeour It pleaseth me well that one dye for the offence of y◠lawe Than sayd this erles sone sythe it is so that I shal dye I aske the benefytes of that lawe that is to saye that I may haue thre petycions graunted or I dye The Emperoure answered and sayd / aske what thou wylt there shall no mā say nay Than sayd this yonge knyght My lorde ye haue but one doughter the whiche I desyre of your hygnesse that she may lye with me a nyght or that I dye The Emperour graunted though it were agaynst his wyll in fulfyllynge of his lawe Neuerthelesse this knyght deffloured her not as that nyght Therfore he plesed the Emperour gretely The seconde peticions this I aske all thy tresoure / and anone the Emperour graunted bycause he sholde not be called a breeker of owne lawe And whan this erles sone had resceyued the Emperours tresoure he deperted it bothe to poore men and ryche / wherfore he opteyned there good wyll My thyrde peticion is this I aske my lorde that all theyr eyen may by put oute in contynent whiche sawe my fader etynge of the blacke playce wherfore the Emperour lete make an inquisycyon anone who it was that sawe the erle turne the playce / and they that sawe hym turne that playce / bethought them and sayd within them selfe If we knowledge that we sawe hym do this trespas than shall our eyen be putte oute And therfore it is better that we holde vs styll / and so there was none founde that wolde accuse hym / whan this Erles sone sawe this he sayd vnto the Emperour My lorde quod he ye se that there is no man accuseth my fader / therfore gyue ye ryghtfull Iugemente Than sayd the Emperour For soo moche that no man wyll knowlege that they sawe hym torne the playce Therfore I wyll not that thy fader shall dye Lo the sone thus saued the lyfe of the fader And after the desease of the Emperour he wedded his doughter ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour betokeneth the fader of heuen whiche ordeyned for lawe that no man sHolde torne the blacke syde of the playce that is to saye There sHolde no man laboure for rychesse or lordshyppe by couetyse and falsehede The Erle that came to that Emperour betokeneth Adam our fore fader whiche came out of the londe of Damasse to the courte of paradyce and torned vp the blacke syde of the playce whā he etc of the apple / wherfore he sholde haue ben dampned vnto euerlastynge dethe and eternall dethe But his sone whiche betokeneth our lorde Ihesu Cryste For he toke flesshe of Adam seynge this profered hym selfe wylfully to deye for hym the fader of heuen graunted that he sholde go doune to dye for mankynde Neuerthelesse or he dyed he asked thre petycyons of his fader of heuen The fyrste was this that he myght haue by hym his doughter whiche betokeneth the soule of man / and brynge her with hym in to the bosome of heuen accordynge to the wordes of Osye saynge thus Dispensabo eam mihi That is to saye I shall wedde her to my wyfe The secōde petycyon was this All themperours tresoure whiche betokeneth the tresoure of heuen accordynge to this scrypture Situt disposint micht pater Lyke as my fader hath dysposed for me soo I dyspose for you The thyrde questyon was this / that all theyr eyen sholde be putte oute / that is to saye / that the deuyll whiche dayly accuseth man that he myght be put fro the lyghte of heuenly grace And thus sued he mankynde and ledde hym vp with hym vnto the palayce of heuen vnto the whiche palayce brynge vs oure lorde Ihesus Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Lemicius whiche on a daye rode in dysporte to a foreste where as he met sodeynly with a poore man to whome he sayd thus / frende whens comest thou and who arte thou My lorde quod he I came fro the nexte cyte and your man I am Thenne sayd the Emperour thou semest poore / therfore yf thou wylte be good and true I shall promote the to grete rychesse and honoure Thenne answered
this poore man and sayd My lorde I promyse you my fay the fullly for to be true vnto you as longe as that I lyue The Emperoure anone made hym knyght and gaue hȳ grete rychesse whan he was thus promoted he waxed so proude that he thought hym selfe more able for to be an Emperour than his lorde / wherfore he made suggestyon vnto dyuers lorde of that empyre that he myght vsurpe and take vpon hȳ thrughe strengthe of theym to be Emperour whan the Emperour herde this anone he exyled hym and all tho that were consentynge to hym soo that they were put in grete wretchednesse sorowe and than the Emperour ordeyned other men in theyr stede and gaue theym all the possessyons of the traytours and of there felawshyppe And whan the banysshed men herde that straungers had take possessyon in theyr lande and goodes Anone they conspyred agaynst hym thrughe treason prayed theym vnto a feeste / and they as Innocentes thynkynge no treason came at the daye assygned / and were serued with fyue meases / whiche were enpoysoned / wherfore as many as tasted of that vytayll dyed in contynent / whan the Emperour herde this / he was gretely moued and called his counceyll to wyte what was beste to be done of this treason and of theyr dethe Than sayd the Emperours sone My lorde I am youre sone / and ye be my fader / and therfore I shall gyue you good ceunsell and profytable to all men Not ferre hens is a lytell realme wherein dwelleth a fayre mayden and gracyous in the syght of euery man whiche hathe an orcherde wherin there is a welle / wherof the water is of suche vertue / that yf it be caste vpon a dede man / anone he shall lyue agayne and recouer his lyfe Therfore my lorde I shall descende vnto the realme and seke that water by the whiche they that were slayne at the feest myght ryse agayne to lyfe And whan the Emperour herde this / he was gretely gladded and sayd Sone thy coūcell is ryght good and anone the Emperours sone wente in to the sayd realme and felle in conceyte of the mayden in soo moche that he entred in to the gardyne and sayde of the welle And whan he hadde soo done he made fyue depe trenches in the grounde in the whiche the water ranne tylle it came where the deed men laye buryed / and anone whan the water touched theym they arose frome dethe to lyfe / and thenne the Emperours soone ledde theym vnto his fader And whan The Emperour sawe this he was ryghte Ioyes full / wherfore he crowned his sone with a lauryate croune in token of vyctorye / and soo he ended his lyfe in pease ¶ This Emperour betokeneth that fader of heuen The poore man that was promoted betokeneth Lucyfer y◠whiche was made of nought and exalted in the Empyre of heuen in so grete Ioye and clerenesse that hym semed thrughe his pryde that he wolde be lyke almyghty god / and not onely lyke hym selfe but also more than almyghty god / wherfore the fader of heuen exyled hym and all theym that consented vnto hym to helle / and in theyr place man was exalted to grete Ioye and honoure The deuyll seynge this enuyed hym that man sholde come to suche glorye and honoure / bad Adam and Eue. vnto a feest whan they ete of the apple agaynst goddes commaundement / and counceylled them thus saynge In what houre he ete of the apple ye shall be lyke goddes And in this cursed feest they were serued with fyue meases the whiche were enpoysoned / that is to saye / theyr fyue wyttes were accorded in etynge of that apple wherof man was infecte and dyed This herynge the Emperours sone meued with mercy came doune frome heuen in to this worlde and acquaynted hym soo well with the blyssed vyrgyne Mary that he founde in her the well of man hode and conioyned it to his godhede acordynge to the scrypture I am the well of lyfe who drynketh on it shall not thurste After that he lete make fyue trenches in the grounde / that is to laye fyue woundes in his body of the whiche ranne bothe blode water wherby all mankynde were reysed fro dethe to lyfe / and soo he ledde theym vp in to the palyce of heuen Vnto the whiche our blyssed lorde Ihesus Cryste that shed his blode vpon the rode tree for the and me and all mankynde Amen Amen Amen for saynt charyte SOmtyme there dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour the whiche was named Dunstane In whose Empyre dwelled a gentyll knyght the whiche had two sones One of his sayd sones wedded hym selfe astaynst his faders wyll to a comune woman of the bordell The knyght herynge this exyled his sone frome hym And whan he was thus exyled he begate on this woman a sone / and sone after that he wexed seke and nedefull wherfore he sente messengers to his fader besechynge hym of his mercy This herynge his fader had compassyon and ruthe of hym wherfore he was reconsyled And whan he was thus brought agayne to his faders grace / he gaue his sone whiche he had begoten afore of this nedeful woman to his fader And he kyndely receyued it as his sone and norysshed it whan his other sone herde this he sayd to is fader Fader quod he it semeth that thou arte out of thy ryght mynde the whiche I preue by this reason For he is out of his mynde that receyueth a false heyre / nouryssheth hym / whose fader hath done hym anguysshe dysease afore But my brother whiche begate this chylde hath done the grete Iniurye whan that he wedded the comune woman agaynst thy wyll and commaundement Therfore me semeth that thou arte oute of thy ryght mynde Thenne answered the fader and sayd By cause that thy brother is reconsyled thou arte enuyous to me and also vnkynde to thyn owne brother / wyllynge for to put hym from my felawshyp for euer more sothely none vnkynde man shall haue myn herytage but yf that he be reconsyled But yet thou were neuer reconsyled of his vnkyndnesse for thou myght haue reconsyled hym but thou woldest not / therfore of myn herytage get est thou no parte ¶ The fader of the two bretherne betokeneth the fader of heuen And this two sones betokeneth that nature of aungelles and nature of man For man was wedded vnto a comune woman of the bordelle whan he ete of the apple agaynst the commaundement of god wherfore he was exyled by that fader of heuen and putte fro the Ioyes of paradyce The sone of the comune woman hetokeneth mankynde This knyghtes sone that is to saye Adam began to be nedefull / for after his synne he was putte frome Ioye in to this wretched valey of teares and wepynge accordynge to this scrypture In sudore vultus c. In the swete of thy vysage thou shalte ete thy brede But after by the passyon of cryste he
the that thou sholdest put hym to deth now I se hyÌ„ alyue My lorde quod she safe your grace ye wrote to me â— I sholde gyue hym your doughter to wyfe / and that on payne of deth In wytnesse wherof lo here is your seale your letters with your owne seale Whan the Emperour herde this he wondred gretly sayd is he wedded thaÌ„ to my doughter ye sothly sayd the empresse longe agone with grete solempnyte / and as I beleue your doughter is with chylde Than sayd the Emperour O thou lorde Ihesu it is grete foly to stryue agaynst thyne ordynauÌ„ce / therfore syth it is so thy wyll must â—e fulfylled / with yâ— he toke his sone in lawe in his armes and kyssed hym whiche after his dethe was Emperour and ended his lyfe in reste and pease ¶ This Emperoure may betoken herod or elles euery synner whiche walketh alone without trouthe / tylle he come to the fosters house That is to saye the chirche whiche is the house of god This herode wolde haue slayne this chylde Ihesu / wherfore he sente messengers to seke hym accordynge to the scrypture of saynt Mathewe tellynge how he commauÌ„ded the thre kynges to seche hym brynge hym tydyÌ„ges agayne where he was the he myght come worshyp hym / but this sayd he not for loue but for dysceyte The foster betokeneth Ioseph oure ladyes husbonde whiche kepte hym / but whan the messengers came That is to saye whaÌ„ the thre kynges came they slewe hym not but on theyr knees worshypped hym lefte hym in the holowe tre of his god hede The Erle that came and founde this chylde Betokeneth the holy goost whiche warned Ioseph by the aungell in his slepe that he sholde take oure lday and her sone and flee in to the londe of Egypte This moralyte may be vnderstonde in other This Emperour may betoken a synner that walketh in the forest of this worlde sechyÌ„ge vanytes / not elles vnto the tyme he come vnto the house of god there he is receyned benyngnely of the prelate of the chirche yf he wyll obey the coÌ„manÌ„dementes of god But many of vs now a dayes slepeth in the chirche whaÌ„ they obserue not the werkes of mercy And therfore they ought to drede the voyces whiche I haue â—â—hersed by the fyrst take yâ— may be vnderstonde yâ— grete benefyte yâ— he gaue the whaÌ„ he put in the a soule made at his owne symylytude The secoÌ„de take is vnâ—stonde the sone of the fader of heueÌ„ / whiche was borne of the blyssed holy virgyn mary By the thyrde take is vnâ—stoÌ„de the same sone of god whiche dyed vpoÌ„ the crosse By the fyrst yelde is to vnâ—stoÌ„de the we ought to yelde our soule vnto almyghty god as clene / as fayre as he gaue it vnto vs after the wasshynge of our baptyme By the seconde yelde is for to vnderstande that we ought dayly to yelde honour / and worshyppe and loue vnto god The thyrde yelde is vnderstonde that we yelde to hym true confessyon / contrycyon satysfaccyon The fyrst Flee betokeneth synne whiche we sholde flee The seconde betokeneth the worlde that we sholde flee for the grete fallsehede and temptacyons that is therin The thyrde flee betokeneth euerlastyÌ„ge payne whiche we ought to flee thrugh â—erytory werkes by the which we may come the rather to euerlastynge Ioye Vnto the whiche brynge vs our lorde Amen THere dwelled soÌ„tyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Sauracinus whiche ordeyned for lawe that who so euer rauysshed a vyrgyÌ„ sholde dye / yf she were rescued / than he that rescued her sholde haue her to wyfe yf hym lyst / and he wolde not wedde her than sholde she gyded be wedded by his counceyll It befelle vpon a daye that a tyraunt named Poncianus had rauysshed a vyrgyn and ledde her with hym to a forest and defloured her of her maydenhode And whaÌ„ he had so done he wolde haue slayne her / and as he was despoylynge her clothes ther came rydynge by that foreste a gentyl knyght whiche herde yâ— cryenge of a damoysel Therfore he smote his horse with his spores and rode a grete pase into the foreste to wyte what it myght be And thenne he sawe a woman standynge naked saue her smocke / than sayd the knyght arte thou now she quod he that cryed soo Than answered the mayde and sayd ye sothely quod she / this man that standeth here hath rauysshed me and defoyled my maydenhode and now he wolde slee me / therfore he hath dyspoyled me of my clothes that he myght smyte of myn hede / for the loue of god gentyll knyght helpe me now than sayd the tyraunt She lyeth quod he for she is my wyfe and I haue founde here in auoutry with an other man and therfore I wyll slee her Than sayd the knyght I byle ue better the woman than the / for lo the tokenes of trouth appereth openly in her vysage that thou hast rauysshed her and therfore wyll I fyghte with the for her delyueraunce And anone they sterte togyder and foughte egrely tyl they were bothe sore wounded Neuerthelesse the knyght opteyned the vyctorye and put the tyraunt to the flyght Than sayd the knyght vnto the woman Loo I haue suffred for thy loue many sore woundes and haue saued the frome the deth wylte thou thou therfore be my wyfe That I desyred quod she with all my herte therupon I take you my trouthe whan she was thus ensuered the knyght than sayd / here besyde is my castell / go ye thyder and abyde there tylle I haue besyted my frendes my kynnesmen to prouyde for all thynge nedeful for our weddynge For I purpose to make a grete feest for thyn honoure and worshyppe My lorde quod she I am redy to fulfyll thy wyll Theme wente she forthe to the castell where as she was worshypfully receyued And the knyght wente vnto his frendes to make hym redy agaynst the daye of maryage In the meane wyle came Poncianus the tyraunt to the knyghtes castell prayed her that he myght speke with her Than came she downe frome the castell to hym This tyraunt subtylly flatered her and sayd Gentyll loue yf it lyst you to consente to me I shal gyue you bothe golde and syluer and grete rychesse and I shall be your seruaunt and ye my souereyne / whan the woman herde this / dysceyued she was thrughe his flaterynge and graunted hym to be his wyfe and toke hym in with her in to the castell It was not longe after but that this knyght came home founde the castell gate shyt knocked therat / but longe he was or he myght haue answere / and atte the last the woman came demauÌ„ded why he knocked so herde Than sayd he O dere lady hast yâ— chauÌ„ged so sone my loue / lette me come in Nay sothly sayd she thou shalte not come here for I haue here w e
me my loue whiche I loued before Remembre yâ— quod the knyght that thou gaue me thy trouthe to be my wyfe / how I saued the frome deth / yf thou ponder not thy fayth beholde my wouÌ„des whiche I haue suffred in my body for the loue And anone he vnclothed hym selfe naked saue his breche the he myght shewe his woundes openly / but she wolde not se them ne speke more w e hyÌ„ but shyt fast the gate wente her way / whaÌ„ the knyght sawe this he wente to the Iustyce made his complaynte praynge hyÌ„ to gyue ryghtwys Iugement on this tyraunt this woman The Iuge called them before hym / whan they were come this sayd this knyght My lorde quod he I aske the benefytes of the lawe whiche is this / yf a man rescue a woman from rauysshynge the rescuer shall wedde her yf hym lyst And this woman delyuered I fro the handes of the tyrauÌ„te Therfore I ought to haue her / forthermore she gaue me her trouthe fayth to wedde me And therupon she wente to my castell / I haue done grete cost agaynst our weddyÌ„ge / therfore as it semeth me she is my wyf as by the lawe ThaÌ„ sayd the Iuge vnto the tyrauÌ„t Thou knowest well the this knyght delyuered her from thy handes for her loue suffred many smerte wouÌ„des therfore well thou wotest the she is his wyfe by the lawe yâ— the hyÌ„ lyst But after her delyuerauÌ„ce w e flater yÌ„ge speche thou hast dysceyued her / therfore this daye I Iuge the to he hanged Than sayd the Iuge to the woman in lyke wyse O woman thou knowest how this knyght saued yâ— frome deth therupon thou tokest hyÌ„ thy fayth to be his wyfe / therfore by two reasons thou art his wyfe / fyrst by the lawe / after by thy fayth This notwithstandyÌ„ge yâ— consented afterwarde to yâ— tyraunt and brought hym in to the knyghtes castell shyt the gate agaynst the knyghte and wolde not se his woundes whiche he suffred for thy loue / and therfore I Iugey e to be hanged and soo it was done / bothe the rauyssher and she that was rauysshed were dampned to the dethe / wherfore euery man praysed the Iuge for his ryghtwys Iugement ¶ This Emperour betokeneth the fader of heuen whiche ordeyned for lawe that yf the ioulâ— of man were rauysshed frome god by synne / the sauer of the soule sholde wedde hyÌ„ yf hym lyste The woman that was rauysshed betokeneth the soule of man whiche was rauysshed by synne of our fore fader Adam and ledde out of Paradyse and ledde in to the foreste of this wretched worlde by the tyraunt poncyanus whiche betokeneth the deuyll and he not only defloured her but by lesynge of herytage of heuen / but also he wolde slee her with euerlastynge payne But the soule cryeth with an hyghe voyce / whose crye our lorde Ihesu cyrste herde This crye was made whaÌ„ Adam cryed after oyle of mercy And patriarkes and prophetes cryed for remedy saynge O thou hyghnesse of the Eest and so for the vysyte thou vs. c. The knyght betokeneth our lorde Ihesu cryste whiche came frome heuen and faught with the tyraunt / that is for to sayethe deuyll / and bothe they were sore wounded For our lorde Ihesu Cryste was wounded in his flesshe / and the deuyll in his lordshyppe / wherfore the woman / that is to saye the soule gaue her truthe vnto almyghty god whan that she became crystened saynge that I forsake the deuyll and all his pryde / and byleue in god the fader almyghty Than ordeyned our lorde Ihesu a maryage bytwene hym and her with the seuen secramentes of the chirche wherof may be made a stronge castell agaynst the deuyll Also our lorde commaunded the soule to kepe her styl in the castel of vertue tyll he went vnto his frendes to prouyde the was nedeful / that is to laye oure lorde Ihesu on the assencyon daye assended to heuen to aray for her a dwellynge place of euerlastynge Ioye where as we sholde dwelle after the day of dome with our lorde god in honoure and glory But alas in the meane tyme came the deuyll begyled the wretched soule by a deedly synne so he entred in to the castell of oure herte whiche sholde be the castell of god The knyght Ihesu knocked at the gate of our herte accordyÌ„ge to this scrypture â—â—cce sto ad hostium et pulso Lo I stande at the dore and knocke / yf ony man wyll open that I may entre in / but where the deuyll is / god may not entre but yf the synner wyll receyue hym by penaunce / whiche seynge the gentyll Ihesu shewed hym selfe naked hangynge on the crosse that we may se his blody woundes whiche he suffred for vs that we synners sholde be the rather myndefull of his lone For frome the crowne of his heed vnto the sole of his feet / was lefte none place hole place Therfore sayth the ê“phet Ysaye Attendite et videte si est dolor sicut dolor meus / c. Byholde and se yf ony sorowe be lyke my sorowe Therfore is he a wretched man the wyll not be conuerted for all this vnto his lorde god but lyeth styll in deedly synne / wherfore whan he is called afore the hyghe Inge he shall be dampned to euerlastynge dethe Therfore studye we to open the dore of oure hertes with merytory werkes vnto almyghty god / and than without doubte we shall opteyne euerlastynge lyfe Vnto the whiche bryÌ„ge vs our lorde Ihesu whiche haue mercy on vs Amen ¶ Thus endeth the boke of Gesta Romanorum EmpryÌ„ted at London in Flete strete By me Wynkyn de Worde