Then the emperour had knowlege of his vyfage kyssed hym sayÌ„g O good alexander nowe I see you in that same forme whiche I haue often tymes dylected in blessed be god that euer I hadde thyse chyldern by the whome ye be holpen and made hole yet wyste no man of the deth of the chyldern saue oonly the emperoure alexander whan as the emperoure sawe that alexander was parfytly heled he sayd vnto hym I shall ordeyne to you an honeste companye ye shall go frome hens ten myle the next daye sende vnto me a messager that ye shew openly vnto me of youre comynge and I shall then with all solempnyte come mete you ye shall abyde with me vnto the tyme that we maye otherwyse prouyde for the recouerynge of youre realme This couÌ„seyll pleased alexander ryght well accordynge to the same it was done For on the nexte daye came the messager vnto the emperoure shewynge hym that comynge of kynge alexander whanne the empresse herde that she was ryghte gladde sayd vnto the emperoure O my lorde haue ye not nowe a cause of greate ioye that kyng alexander whome we of a longe tyme haue not seen and yf it please you to go and mete hym with youre lordes and seruauÌ„tes I shall folowe you with my ladyes gentylwymen yet wyste she not the dethe of hyr chyldern Then rode they forth with a grete companye and met with the kynge alexander and whan they mette togyder with greate reuerence and honoure they receyued hym and with grete gladnesse and Ioye they broughte hym in to the palays and whanne the tyme of dyner was come alexander was set at the table betwyxt the emperour the empresse all the chere that she coude make she dyd to hym and whan the Emperour perceyued that he was ryghte well pleased sayd O myne owne Florentyne I Ioye aboue all thynges that ye do make to kynge alexander soo gode chere Then sayd she wherfore sholde I not is not his comynge to vs bothe Ioye gladnesse but more to you my lorde for this dygnyte that ye are in by hym ye are promoted many tymes he hathe saued you fro the dethe Themperour sayd than I praye you myn owne Florentyne that ye wyll take hede to my wordes that I shall saye to you Sawe ye not the foule laser whiche the laste daye sate before oure table and prayed me for the loue of god kynge alexander that I shold gyue hym drynke she sayd My lorde I saw hym well a more horryble man I neuer behelde then sayd Themperoure I demaunde nowe this of you I put case that he were kynge alexander that he in ony wyse coude not be made hole but with the blood of your sones the whiche ye in one daye krought in to this worlde wolde ye not that theyr bloode were shed that he myght bathe hym therin to the entente that by the same he myght haue parfyte helthe as ye nowe se hym in She sayd my lorde wherfore demauÌ„de ye me that question I saye lete you haue knowlege for trouthe that yf I hadde ten sones I sholde gladly slee them with min owne handes to prepare ordeyne for hym a bayne sholde wasshe hym therin myne owne selfe rather than I sholde leue hym in suche peryll for god myght well sende vs mo chyldern but suche a true frende were as a thynge impossyble for vs to recouer or fynde whan themperour herde this of hyr he was well coÌ„tente pleased in his mynde sayd O wyfe had ye leuer haue your chyldern dede than alexander shold be in that sekenesse of lepery therfore shall I open and shewe to you nowe the trouthe of the mater That foule laser the whiche ye sawe was alexander that syttethe here by that maner he is made hole with the blode of our sones they are dede as the Empresse herde yt. she began to sorowe as nature wolde all thoughe she had sayd afore that she had leuer see hyr chyldern dede than she wolde suffre alexander in suche payne The nourysshes of the chyldern vnderstandynge this with grete cryenge wepynge went to the nourysshery or chamber of them grete sorowe bewaylynge was made thrughe themperours courte for his sones whan the nourysshes came into the chamber they fouÌ„de the chyldern playnge syngynge of the moost blessed vyrgyne Mary aue maria gracia plena dnÌ„s tecum tho went they ayen in all haste vnto the Emperour shewed hym that his sones were lyuynge that about theyr throtes there as they were cutte they haue a cercle of threde of golde therof was grete Ioye gladnesse in all the conrte gaue thankynges vnto alyghty god to the blessed vyrgyne mary his moder of the grete myracle after that themperoure with a grete multytude and company of people gadred assembled went with alexander in to Egypte set hym ayen into his royalte possessyon of his Realme the quene with the knyghte whiche lyued togyder in auoutry he dyd theÌ„ both to be brent in too poudre And whan this was all doÌ„ne the Emperoure hadde a syster oonly whom he gaue alexander vnto his wyfe And whanne kynge Alexander had all his Realme obteyned ayen was sette in gode reste peas the Emperoure wente ayen vnto his Empire the kynge Alexander ryght wysely maniy gouerned hymselfe in all his feates actes so that he ouercame all his enmyes rebelles And whan he was in al his glorye peas myght he hadde thought mynde vpon his fader moder by whome he was caste into the see whiche dwelled in ferre partyes frome thens he sent to them a messager dyd them to haue knowelege that the kynge of Egypte vpon suche a daye wolde be with them to ete to drynke make good chere and whan the messager was come too them they receyued hym with grete Ioye with gyftes largely to hym gyueÌ„ sent hym ayen saynge that theyr seruyces sholde be redy at all tymes to do the kynge plesure but that coude they neuer by powerfully deserue that he wolde wouchesauf to shewe them the hâ—noure wherto they were not worthy he for to come to them to ete to drynke sporte hym The messager wente ayen vnto the kynge shewed how gladlye that they wolde receyue hym what rewarde they had gyuen hym how faythfully they were redy to do hym seruyce at his coÌ„mauÌ„dement where with the kynge was well coÌ„tente And whan the daye was comen that was prefyxed the kynge with a fayre coÌ„pany rode towarde his faders house the whiche as well to the knyght his fader as to his moder was vnknowen that he was theyr sone whanne the kynge was come nygh vnto his faders castell the knyght rode to receyue and mete hym whan he come nyghe vnto the kynge he descended frome his horse reuerenced hym with
Whan she had that cedule seen red she brake it with her teth tare or rent her clothes with her nayles to her nauyll her vysage al to scratched it was al blody cast from her al the ornameÌ„tes of her hede cryed with a loude voyce come hither my lordê help me afore that thê rude euyll body / shame rauyssh me Howe thempresse complayned to themperour of the shame to her done by his sone THe Emperour was in his halle and herde the crye noyse of thempresse he hastely ranne towardes his chambre his knyghtes and other of his seruauntes folowed hym after for to see what there was to done Tho beganne thempresse to crye and to speke to themperour thus O my lorde haue pyte and compassyon vpon me beholde this yonge man is not your sone but the foulest rybaude harlot that euer was borne a defouler of wymmen for as ye knowe wel I lad and brought hym with me in to my chamber sholde haue exhorted and caused hym to haue spokeÌ„ I haue done asmoche therto as I can or may why les I with my wordes exhorted and meued hym for to haue spoken he hath endeuoyred hymself with me to haue synned by cause I wolde not to hym conseÌ„te but withstode as moche as I myght for to flee the shame he my vysage hath made all blody my vesture and ornamentes of my heed broken all to torne as ye may openly se And yf ye had not so sone comen vnto my callynge / he had accomplysshed in me his mooste foule and worste wyll whan themperoure this sawe and herd fulfylled with grete malyce woodnesse / commaunded his seruauntes that they sholde lede hym to the galowes hange hym And after his lordes herde that sayde / Lorde ye haue no moo but this sone only It is not good that ye thus lyghtely putt hym to deth / the lawe is put and ordeyned for transgressours mysdoers and yf it be so that he muste deye lete hym by the lawe dye leest that it be sayd that themperour in his grete furour and Ire without lawe and Iustyce he hath put his only sone to dethe As themperour this herde commaunded him to be put in pryson vnto the tyme that iugement were gyuen ayenst hym And whan thempresse vnderstode that the chylde was not put to dethe / she cryed weped bytterly wold haue no reste whan the nyght was comen the Emperour entred in to his chamber to go to bed and founde his wyfe wepynge sorowyng To whome he sayde O my mooste dere lady / for what cause are ye thus sorowfull She answered Knowe ye not how that your cursed sone hath me thus moche shame done offended / and ye haue commaunded hym too be hanged and yet he lyued / your worde is not performed ne my shame is not wroken To morowe sayde themperour he shall dye by the lawe Then sayd she Shalle he so longe lyue ThenÌ„e myght it happen to you as it dyd vpon a burgeys of Rome of whome an example is sayd The Emperoure sayd I praye you shewe me that example That shall I doo gladly sayd the Empresse ¶ The fyrst example of the Empresse this was The gardyner heryng his mayster obeyed hym hewe downe the tree And as this was done the yonge plante all holy perysshed and came to nought wherof came grete harme for whan the poore the seke people perceyued that the tree was so destroyed they cursed all them that were of counseyll helpers therto / by the whiche they all afore tyme were heled cured of theyr infyrmytees maladyes Then sayd the Empresse vnderstande ye what I haue sayd yes ryghte well than sayd she I shall declare to you what I haue sayde The declaratyon of the Example ¶ This tree my lorde betokeneth your moste noble persone / that with your counseyll and helpe many pore seke folke are gretly holpen conforted And the yonge ympe that vnder the grete tre is vp growen is your cursed sone that now by his cunnynge begyÌ„nith to growe and studyeth how he fyrste may the armes and bowes of your myght cutte of / and to wynne too hym the londe praysynge of the people and ouer that he ymagyneth to destroy your person that he may hyÌ„selfe reygne But what shall fall than therof come all poore and feble people shall curse all them the whiche myght haue destroyed your sone haue not done it / I counseyll you whyles ye are in your power helth that ye destroye hym leste that the curse of the people fall vpon you Tho sayde the Emperour ye haue gyuen me good counseyll To morowe I shall condempne hym to the moost vylest deth that can be thought whan the daye was come / the Emperour went sate in IugemeÌ„te commaunded his seruauntes that they sholde lede his sone to be hanged with trompettes blowynge in to kenynge of deth And as themperours sone was lad throughe the Cyte the comen people began too wepe crye alas the onely sone of themperour is lad towardes his deth / therwithall came Pancyllas rydyng vpon a hors the fyrste mayster whan the chylde sawe hym / he bowed his hede to hym as though he had sayde Haue mynde vpon me whan ye come afore my fader se how I am lad to wardes the galowes Than the mayster sayd to the seruauntes / make no haste for I hope by the grace of god this day to delyuer hym froÌ„ the deth Then sayde all the people O good mayster haste you to the palays and saue your dyscyple he smote his hors with the spores tyll he came to the palays / kneled before the Emperour dyde hym reuerence / To whome themperour sayd It shall neuer be to the good which answerd I haue deserued a better rewarde The Emperour sayd there lyest yu. for I delyuerd to the thy felowes my sone well spekynge / in alle thyng well manered now he is dompe that wors is he wolde haue oppressed my wyf therfore this day he shall dye ye all shall dye a shamefull dethe The mayster sayd O lorde as for your sone that ye saye that he speketh not that knoweth god without a cause it is not as ye shall vnderstande And that ye saye more / that he your Empresse wolde haue defowled I shall saye you of a trouth he hath ben in our company by the space of xvi yeres we neuer coude perceyue suche thinges by hym And therfore my dere lorde I shall shew you one thynge that yf ye put your sone to deth for the wordes of your wyfe it sholde happen too you wors than to a knyght the whiche that kylled his beste grey hounde thrugh the wordes of his wyfe whiche saued his sone from the deth Tho sayd themperour to the mayster tell me that example The mayster sayd Lorde that shall I not do
/ for afore or I coude make an ende therof your sone myght be dede thenne in vayne with out fruyte I sholde reherce it but yf it please you this notable example to here / call ayen her sone tyll to morowe as ye thynke by reason then do with hym youre pleasure As themperour that herde anone he lete the chylde too be called ayen in the meane tyme be he sette hym in pryson whyles the mayster sholde fynysshe his tale And then he beganne to saye in suche maner as folowith The example of the fyrste mayster THere was a valyaunt knyght whiche had oonly one soone as ye haue The whiche he loued so moche that he ordeyned for his kepynge thre nourysshes the fyrste sholde gyue hym souke fede hym the seconde sholde wasshe hym kepe hym clene the thirde sholde brynge hym to slepe to reste This knyghte had also a greyhounde a fawcon that he also loued ryghte well The greyhounde was so good that he neuer ran too noo game but he toke it helde it tyl his mayster came And yf his mayster dysposed hym to go to batayle yf he sholde not spede in the batayll / anone as he sholde mounte vpon his horse the greyhounde wold take the horse tayll in his mouth drawe bakwarde / wolde also cry howle meruaylously loude By thise sygnes the knyght vnderstode yf that he sholde spede in his iourneye or not The faucon was so gentyll and so hardy that he was neuer caste of to his praye but he toke it This same knyght had grete plesure in iustynge turneynge so that vpon a tyme vnder his castell he lete proclame a tornement to the whiche came many good lordes and knyghtes The knyght entred in to the tourney his lady went with her maydens to se it And as they went out after went the nourysshes lefte the the chylde lyenge alone in the cradell in the halle where the greyhounde laye nygh the wall and the hauke or faucon standynge vpon a perke In this halle there was a serpente lurkynge or hydde in a hole to all them of the castell vnknowen The whiche whaÌ„ he felte that they were all absent he put out his hede of his hole as he no man sawe but the chylde lyenge in in the cradell he went out of his cauerne towardes the cradell for the chylde to haue slayne The noble faucon seynge that behelde the grehounde that was slepyÌ„ge / she made suche a noyse rustelynge with her winges or feders that the greyhounde a woke and rose vp and whan he sawe the serpente nyghe the chylde anone ayenst hym he lepte / they bothe faught so longe togyder tyll that the serpente hadde greuously hurted and wounded the greyhounde that he bled sore soo the the erthe about the cradell was al be bled with the blode of the greyhounde The greyhounde whan that he felte hymselfe so greuously hurted and wounded sterte fyersly vpon the serpente and faught sore togyder and so egerly so that betwyne theym the cradell was ouer caste with the chylde the botome vp warde And by bycause the the cradell had foure pomelles or fete they saued the chyldes vysage his lyfe frome ony hurtyÌ„ge fallynge to wardes the erthe what shal I say more Incontynent therafter with grete payne the greyhounde ouercame slewe the serpente / went layd hym downe ayen in his place lycked his woundes / And anone after as the iustes torneye was done the nourysshes were the fyrste that came in to the castell / as they sawe the cradell reuersed with bloode vppon the erthe enuyronned and that the greyhounde was also blody they thought and sayde amonges themselfe that the greyhounde hadde slayne the chylde and they were not soo wyse as too tourne vppe ayen the cradell with the chylde for too haue seene what was therof befallen But they sayd / lete vs fle or ren away leest that oure mayster put or lay the blame vpon vs and slee vs. And as they were thus away rennynge / they met with the knyghtes wyfe and she sayd to them wherfore make ye this sorowe / whether wyl ye ren they sayde O lady woo and sorowe be to vs and to you why what is there happened shewe me The grehounde they sayd that our lorde mayster loueth soo moche hath deuoured and slayne youre sone / lyeth by the wall all full of the bloode As the lady this herde she fell to the erthe and began to wepe and crye pyteously sayd alas O my dere sone be ye thus slayne dede what shall I nowe make that I haue my onely sone thus loste her withall came in the knyght frome the torneye beholdyng his lady thus cryenge makyng sorowe he demauÌ„ded her wherfore that she made so grete sorowe and lamentacyou She answered hym O my lorde youre greyhounde that ye loue soo moche hath slayne your onely sone lyeth by the wal sacyate with bloode of the chylde The knyght hugely angred went in to the hall the greyhounde went to hym to mete and to fawne as he was wonte to doo And the knyght drewe out his swerde with one stroke smote of the houndes heede and went to the cradell and founde his sone al hole and by the cradell the serpente slayne And by dyuers sygnes perceyued that the hounde hadde foughten ayenst the serpent for the saluacyon of the chylde Then with grete sorowe wepyng he tare his here and sayd woo be to me that for the wordes of my wyfe I haue slayne my good greyhounde the whiche hath saued my chyldes lyfe hath slayne the serpente Herfore I wyll put my selfe to penaunce brake his swerde in thre peces and went to wardes the holy londe abode there all the dayes of hê lyfe Then sayd the mayster to themperour Lorde vnderstande ye what I haue sayd And he answerd and sayde ryght well The mayster sayd Yf that ye do youre sone to dethe for the wordes of your wyfe it shall come to you wors than it dyde too the knyght for his greyhounde The Emperour sayde ye haue shewed me a fayre example wtout doute this daye shall not my sone dye Tho sayd the mayster yf ye do so ye do wysly but I thanke you that ye haue hym spared this daye for my sake ¶ The seconde complaynte of the Empresse ¶ Whan the thempresse herde that the chylde was not yet deede She began to wepe bytterly sate her downe vpon the erthe in the asshes wolde not holde vppe her heed As themperour that herde he entred in to the chaÌ„ber sayd to her O good wyfe wherfore make ye all this sorowe trouble your selfe so moche She sayd demaunde ye me that knowe ye not well what grete despyte shame that I haue suffred of your vnhappy sone haue ê“mysed me that ye shold se iustyse ouer hyÌ„ done
holy euaungelyes by all that god hathe made that thou haste hadde knowlege haste defouled the Emperours doughter and that I shall make good vpon thy hede where vpon they lepte vpon theyr coursers fyersly ranne togyder with theyr speres that they bothe brake shyuered in peces they drewe theyr swerdes faught longe togyder tylle at the laste Alexander with grete myght and strengthe at one stroke smote of Guydoes hede and sent it vnto the Emperours doughter wherof she was ryght gladde bare it vnto her fader sayd Fader beholde the hede of hym that you me hath falsely defamed whan that the Emperoure perceyued the vyctory anone he sent for Alexander whome that he beleued hadde ben Lodwyk sayd O Lodwyke this daye youre honoure my doughters ye haue saued ye shall stande be the more in my grace fauour what soeuer he be that hereafter more defame you he shall for euer stande in my indygnacyon Alexander answerd god helpethe saueth theym that trusteth in hym alwayes wreketh the blode vndeffectyue or innocent But now my mooste redoubted lorde of one thynge I requyre you at my departynge fro my fader I lefte hym sore seke that it wyll lyke you for to lycence me to go se how it standethe with hym yf that it be ony thynge amended I shall incontynent come ayen Then the Emperour sayd that pleaseth me well but ye maye in no manere wyse leue me for fro hensforth I can not be without your presence Alexander toke leue of the Emperoure and bad hym fare well rode ayen vnto his realme whome whan Lodwyk sawe he made greate chere gladnesse ryghte frendlye receyued hym sayd O moste true frende of all frendes tell me howe ye haue done spedd in your iourney nede and what ende ye haue brought it to Then sayd he Goo to the Emperoure and serue hym as ye haue done tofore I haue goten you more grace and fauoure of hym than euer ye haue hadde afore tyme I haue also smyten of the hede of youre enmye and aduersarye Then sayd lodwyk ye haue not only at this tyme saued my lyfe but many a tymes here afore the whiche as yet I can not deserue but god rewarde you so departed wente ayen vnto the Emperoure there was no man that knewe of the absence of Alexander saue oonly Lodwyke And whan as the nyght was come he wente to bedde with the quene anone he hadde with hyr swete frendly wordes her embraced kyst Tho sayd she ye haue made this tyme all to longe that ye haue not shewed ony thyng of frendshyp or loue how may this be Thenne sayd he wherfore saye ye that She sayd euery nyght as I was in my bed ye haue layde betwyxe you me a naked swerde and ye haue neuer tasted or torned you towardes me more than nowe And whan the kynge herd yt. he thought on the trouthe of hys felowe sayd vnto hyr O my moost dere lady quene it was not do for none euyll wyll but for a gode probacōn for a perpetuall loue But she thought in her selfe that loue shall ye neuer more haue of me but that dyspyte she thought I shall auenge vpon the. Tho was there a Knyght that she afore had a lytell loue and fauour vnto she began for to loue hym more more so longe tyll at the laste they thoughte ymagyned how they myght destroye sle the kyng therfor they gate poyson poysoned the kynge soo that yf he had not ben ryght stronge of complexyon he had deyed therof but it wrought in hym so sore that it caused hym to be the moost foule and horryble lepre or laser that euer was sene vpon erthe The lordes noble men of his realme the quene also seynge this despysed hym sayd that it behoued not a lepre to regne vpon vs. for he sholde not procure nor engendre ony fayre or clene heyres And so he was deposed of the dygnyte royall dryuen out of his realme ¶ In the meane tyme deyed the Emperour of Rome Lodwyk wedded the doughter after that Lodwykes fader deyed so that Lodwyke reygned bothe Emperoure kynge of Fraunce at ones whan kynge alexander herde that he thought in hymselfe Nowe my felowe reygneth togyder vpō th empyre the realme of Fraūce to whome maye I better goo than to hym for whome many tymes I haue aduentured my lyfe and vpon a nyght he rose vp made hym redy toke with hym hys staff claper yede towarde themperours courte and whan he was come nyghe to the yate he set hym amonges other lasers abydynge the gyuynge of the almesse and on a season as the Emperoure went out of his palays all the pore lasers began to rynge theyr clapers the gode kynge alexander dyd lyke the other but there was none almesse gyuen to them He taryed so longe vnto the tyme that themperour was set serued at the table Tho went kynge alexander vnto the yate knocked therat the porter asked who was there alexander answerd hȳ I am a pore despysed man but for the loue of god I require you that ye torne not your syght fro my vysage and that ye wyll for the rewarde of god do my message vnto the Emperour he asked what is the mater alexander sayd go tell hym here is a laser that ryght horryble is to see the whiche prayeth hym for the loue of god kynge alexander that he wyll graūte hȳ this daye to ete his almesse afore hym vpon the erthe in his hall The porter sayd I wonder that ye dare desyre that of my lorde for why all the hall is full of lordes noble mē yf they beholde you they sholde all abhorre leue theyr mete But for so moche as ye haue requyred me so profoūdly for the loue of god I shall go do youre erande what so euer happen therof so he yede forthe afore themperour dyd his message whan the Emperour herde the porter name alexander the kynge of egypte he sayd to the porter go bryng hym in afore me how horryble that so euer his vysage be ordeyne hym a place afore me that he may ete his mete afore me in my presence The porter brought hym in anone ordeyned hym a place set hym to mete afore the Emperour whan he was well refresshed he sayd vnto one of the Emperours seruaūtes My dere frende do me thys erande to the Emperoure Saye vnto hym that I praye hym for the loue of god kynge Alexander that he wylle sende me his cuppe with wyne The seruaūt sayd for the loue of god I shall doo it but I beleue it wyll not be for yf ye ones drynke of my lordes cuppe he wyll no more drynke of the same neuerthelesse he dyd the erande Anone as the Emperoure herde
yet he lyueth of trouth it shall hapne too you as it happened vpon a shepeherde a boore The emperour sayd I praye you shewe me that exāple for my lernynge and she sayd yesterday I shewed one and I sawe none effecte that therof came too what entente sholde I now shewe Neuertheles I shal this notable example telle declare vnto you / in this maner here after folowynge THere was somtyme an Emperour the whiche had a grete foreste / wherin was a bore that was so cruell so fell that all men goynge through the forest he kylled and deuoured The emperour was therof ryght heuy and lete to proclame thrugh all his empyre that who soeuer he was that coude sle the bore sholde haue his oonly doughter too wyfe therto his Empyre after his deth as this in all places proclamed was there was not one man founde that durst medle or intromytte Than was there a shepeherde whyche in hymself thought myght I this bore sle wyn̄e I sholde not not only auaunce my self but also al my generatyon kynred he toke his shepeherdes staf in his honde and went in to the forest And as the boore had of hym a syght he drew hym to wardes the herd man and he for fere clymmed vpon a tree Than the bore began to byte and gnawe the tree / so that the herde thought shortely that he sholde haue ouer throwe it This tre was laden with grete plente of fruyte The herde gadred and plucked therof and cast them to the boore In so moche that whan he had fylled hym ther with he put and layde hym downe to slepe The whiche perceyuynge the herde by lytell lytell he descended with the one hande he clawed the bore with the other he helde hym selfe on the tre / seynge that the boore slepte soundly faste drewe out his knyfe and smote that bore to the herte kylled hȳ wedded thēperours doughter to his wyf aft the deth of her fader he was made emperour tho sayd she my lorde wote ye not what I haue sayd He sayd ryght well Then sayd she this myghty bore betokeneth your mooste noble persone / ayenst whome maye no man with stande neyther by wysdom ne with strength This shepeherde with hys staffe is the persone of your vngracyous sone which with his staff of connȳge begynneth to play with you as the herdman clawed the bore and made him to slepe after kylled hym In that same maner the maysters of your sone by theyr fals fables and narracyons clawe glose vnto the tyme that your sone slee you that he may regne Tho sayd themperour god forbede that they sholde doo too me as they dyde to the bore sayd vnto her this day my sone shall be hanged And she answered yf ye do so ye do wysely Than themperour the seconde tyme syttȳge in iugement cōmaunded to lede hym to the galowes hange hym And whyles he was goȳge the seconde mayster came before themperour doynge hym reuerence as it is before shewed in the comȳge of the fyrste mayster To whom the seconde mayster sayd O my lorde themperour yf ye sholde do sle your sone for the wordes of your wyfe it myghte worse come to you than it dyde to a knyght which for the wordes of his wyfe was vniustly put in a pyller Themperoure sayd O good mayster tell me how it hapned And he sayde my lorde I shall not saye it but yf that ye wyll doo call ayen your sone from the deth vnto the tyme that thexample be tolde the whiche yf it tourne you not frome your purpose your wyll be fulfylled The emperour cōmaūded that the chylde sholde be called ayen And vnder sorowfull neuerthelesse she knocked to haue come in Tho spake the knyght out of the wyndowe O thou moste euyll vnclene wyfe now I knowe am experte that many a tyme ye haue forsaken my bedde gone and done auoutrye now shall ye stande tyll the bel be rongen and that the wakers may take you and doo with you accordyng to the lawe The wyfe answered My lorde wherfore lay ye that to me In trouth I shall saye you I was called by my moders mayden fetched in the nyght whan I sawe that ye slepte so swetely I durste not a wake you bycause that ye are olde and therfore I toke the keyes went to my moder the whyche is sore seke that I fere too morowe she muste bee anoynted or aneeled notwithstandyng for that I sholde not you offende or dysplease I haue hasted me ayē to you haue lefte her lyenge in grete payne infyrmyte Therfore I pray you for the loue of god lete me in afore the bel be rongen The knyght answered So shall ye not come in ye muste there abyde vnto the tyme that the bell be rongen tyll that the wakers come and take you Then she sayde that sholde be to you to me to all our frendes kynred a grete shame and rebuke Therfore atte the reuerence of almyghty god lete me come in Than sayd he Haue in thy mȳde euil and false wyfe how oftentymes ye haue forsaken my bedde and doone auoutrye It is moche better that ye suffer shame and bee wayle for youre synnes here in this worlde thanne for too suffer payne in helle She sayd ayen to hȳ I praye you for the loue of hȳ that was crucyfyed dyed vpon the crosse haue mercy vp on me The knyght answered ye laboure all in vayn̄ for ye shall not come in but ye shall tary the comynge the wakers As she herde that she sayde my lorde ye knowe well that by this dore standyth a well yf ye lete me not come in I shall therin drowne my selfe rather thanne all my frendes sholde be shamed for me Then̄e sayd he wolde god that ye had be drowned long afore or ye in my bedde came And as they thus spake togyder the mone went down was al derke Tho sayde she yf it wyll none otherwyse be I shal drowne miselfe but yet afore as a trewe crysten woman I wylle make my testament Fyrst I bequethe to god to oure lady my soule my body too be buryed in the chyrche of saynt Peter of all other thȳges goodes that god hath sent me I gyue vnto you to dyspose for my soule after your wysdome dyscrecyon whan she had thus sayd she went to the well a grete stone ther beynge with bothe her armes she lyfte vp sayd Nowe I drowne my selfe caste the stone downe in to the well wente ayen pryuely and stode by the dore The knyghte herynge that noyse cryed with a lowde voyce saynge / alas alas my wyfe is drowned and hastely came downe and ran̄e to the well And whan she sawe that the dore was open anone she entred and locked and made faste the yate / went vp to the chamber
trespace of one or yet of twenty may not founde to the rebuke blame of all other for ouer al the worlde there bee bothe good euyll But one thynge of a trouth I shall shewe you that euyll shall come to you yf ye this daye do your sone to deth for the wordes of your wyfe the whiche I wolde shewe by a notable example Than sayd the emperoure woll ye that recyte for our lernynge The mayster sayde yt ye wyll calle ayen your sone kepe hym tyll I haue made recytacyon of the example than what someuer ye shal thīke best to done with hym doo it I shall reherce this example or elles not The emperour cōmaunded that he sholde be called ayen / and desyred the mayster to say as here after ensueth or foloweth ¶ The example of the fourthe mayster THere was an olde knyght a ryght wyse mā that longe lyued without wyfe chylde His frendes came to hym many tymes counseyled and exhorted him that he sholde take a wyfe The knyght thus counseyled styred by his frendes soo oftymes that at the laste he agreed too theym And they gaue hym to wyfe the doughter of the prouost of rome that ryche was ryght fayre whome whan he had seene anone he was made blynde taken in her loue began to loue her meruaylously wel and whan they had ben a certayne space togyder had no fruyte ne chylde Vpon a tyme in a mornynge it happened that she went to the chyrche where she met with her moder saluted her as it behoued My dere doughter sayd the moder how pleaseth you your maryage your husbōde She sayd ryght euyll for ye haue gyuen to me an olde lame man / me in al thȳges dyspleasynge I wolde ye had that same tyme buryed me for I had leuer lye ete with a swyne than with hym and therfore I may no longer thus eudure but I must loue an other Tho sayd the moder god forbede that My dere doughter howe longe tyme I haue be with your fader yet hytherto I neuer medled me with suche folysshenes The doughter sayde moder it is noo meruayle for ye bothe in your youth met togyder the one toke solace of the other I may receyue of hym noo maner of solace corporall for he is colde / vpon the bed he lyeth as styll as a stone or as a thyng immouable The moder answered yf ye wyll ioue an other say me what he is The doughter sayd a preest I wyl loue to whome the moder sayd it were better to you lesse syn to loue a knyght or a squyer than a preest the doughter sayde If I shold loue a knyght or a gentel squyer in shorte tyme he wolde be wery of me after that he wolde do me shame tell it ouer all so it is not of the preest for he wyll holde and kepe his owne honoure counseyll as well as myn̄ And also spyrytuell men be more true to theyr loues than the seculer men The moder sayd Here my counseyll it shall be good for you Olde folkes are wylly fell tempte your husbonde fyrst yf ye scape hym wtout doynge ony harme or smytȳge than loue the preest The dought sayd I maye not so longe abyde The moder sayd vpon my blessynge abyde tyll ye haue proued hym The doughter sayde vpon your blessynge I wyll abyde so longe tyll I haue attempted hȳ but fyrst say me how that I shal proue hym The moder sayde He hath in his orchyerde a tree whiche he loueth moche do that to besmyten downe whyles he is oute at hontynge ayenst his comynge make hym there a fyre yf he forgyue it you thā maye surely loue the preest As she had herde the coūseyl of her moder she went to her house To whom her husbonde sayd Where haue ye ben so longe She answered I haue ben in the chyrche where as I met with my moder with her a lytell I haue talked comyned so began proprely for to dyssymyle After mydday the knighte rode out for to hūte Then she thynkȳge vpon the counseyll of her moder went to the gardyner sayde to hȳ Cut downe this yonge tree newly planted that I may make a fyre therof to warme my lorde withal at his comynge from huntȳge For it is a grete wynd a ryght sharpe colde The gardyner sayde Madame that wyll I not do for my lorde loueth better that tre than he dothe all the other trees neuertheles I shal wel helpe you to gadre wood ynough for to make withall a good fyre but in ony wyse this I wyl not hewe downe She herde that boldly she toke the axe from the gardyner hewed downe the tree her selfe made the gardyner with other to bere it home At euyn whan the lorde came from huntynge he was sore a colde The lady lete make a grete fyre went met with hym set hym ou a stole afore the fyre to warme And as he a lytell whyle had sytten he perceyued the odoure of the fyre called to hym the gardyner sayd I fele by this odour that my newe plante brenneth in the fyre The gardiner sayde Lorde it is trewe my lady your wyfe hath felled it down The knyght sayd to her god forbede that my plante sholde be cut downe by you She answerd anone sayd Lorde I haue done it knowyng the weder colde you also colde therfore I haue ordeyned this fyre for your cōforte As the knyght that herde he loked angrely vpon her sayd O cursed woman how werest thou so hardy to hewe down so gentyl a yonge tre the whiche thou knowest wel that I loued aboue al other trees As she that herde she began to wepe excuse her selfe sayd My lorde I haue done it for your good prouffyte ye take it so greuously began to cry wo wo be to me Anone as the knyght sawe the wepȳge teeres of his wyfe herde her cause we was meued with mercy saynge to her Cesse of your wepȳg be ware how the ye ony more angre or trouble me in ony thȳge / that I loue The next daye erly in the mornȳge / she went ayen to the chyrchewarde met with her moder comȳge ayenst her they salued eche other Than the doughter sayd to her moder O dere moder I wyll loue the preest for I haue attempted my lorde as ye coūseyled me / but all for nought for he anone forgaue it whan he sawe me a lytell wepe Tho sayd the moder though olde men one tyme forgyue / they double the payn vpon an other tyme. therfore I counseyll you that ye an other tyme attempte hym Tho sayde the doughter I maye no lenger abyde for I suffer so moche payn for the loue of the preest that with my tonge I canne not tell therfore ye shall perdone me
I wyll noo more folowe or do after your counseyll than sayde the moder for the loue that the chylde sholde haue vnto the moder attempte hym yet ones for your faders blessyuge / and thenne yf ye goo quyte wtout ony harme or betinge loue the preest in the name of god tho answered the doughter it is to me a grete payn so long tyme to abyde neuertheles for the blessyng of my fader I shal ons atēpte hym but say me how I shall begyn the moder sayd I vnderstande that he hath a lytell hoūde that he loueth wel that kepith his bed cast the hoūd with so grete might afore his face that it dy yf ye scape wtout a strype or that he forgyue it lyghtely in the name of god than loue the preest Than sayd the doughter I shall in all thynge doo after your coūseyll for there is noo doughter lyuynge to day that wolde more gladly haue that blessynge of the fader the moder than I. And so she bad her moder fare well / went to her house ayen / that day with grete importunyte trouble of herte she she brought too the nyght whan the nyghte was comen she cōmaunded the bed to be couered with pupure with clothe of golde the whyles the knyght sate by the fyre And whan the bed was thus made redy the lytell hounde as he was accustomed lepte on the bedde she toke hym by the hynder legges with a wood a malycyous herte she cast it ayenst the wall that it lay styll dede Whan the good olde knyght that sawe / he was merueylously angry sayd with a loude voyce too his wyfe O worste most cruell of all wycked wymmen now coudest thou fynde in thyn herte that lytell gentyll hounde to sle that I somoche loued Lorde sayd she haue ye not sene how the hounde with his foule fete hath our / bed that is soo precyously couered with ryche clothes made foule comynge out of the myre And the knyghte sayde with moche anger Knewe ye not that I loued moche better that lytell hounde than the bed whan she herde that anone she began petyously to wepe sayd woo be to me that I was borne For all thynge that I doo for the best it is all tourned in to the worste The knyght wolde not suffre the wepynge and weymentynge of his wyfe but for that that he loued her soo moche he sayd to her leue or cesse your wepȳge for I forgyue you it all togyder And I counseyll you that ye beware how that ye dysplease me from hens forth / they went toogyder to bed Vpon the morowe she rose vp erly went to the chyrche where as she found her moder / to whome whan she hadde done reuerence as it behoued She sayd Moder now wyll I loue the preste For I haue nowe attempted the seconde tyme my husbonde all thynges he suffred The moder sayde O my dere doughter there is noo cruelte or falshede aboue the cruelte of olde folkes therfore I coūseyll you the ye yet ones proue hym To whom the doughter answered Moder ye laboure in vayne for yf ye wyst what how moche payne the I suffer for the prestes loue ye sholde rather helpe me yf ye loued me The moder sayd Here me doughter this one tyme. I shal neuer let you more Thȳke howe that ye haue souked mylke of my brestes the grete payne that I suffred for you at your byrth By thyse paynes my dere doughter I de syre of I charge you that ye denye me not this good petycyon I promyse to god I shall no more let nor hȳder you of your entente but rather helpe you therto / Tho answered the doughter it is to me a grete payne to absteyne me forbere my selfe so longe from the loue of the preest neuerthelesse for the grete charges that ye haue layde too me also for that ye haue made a vowe no more for to lette me but to further me tell me how I shall attempte hȳ I shal ones yet put it in aduenture The moder sayd I know well that on sondaye next comyng he entendeth to haue vs all to dyner there shall be your fader I and all your frendes al the best of the cyte And whan ye are set in your place all the metes are brought serued vpon the table / faste one of the keyes preuely that hangeth at your gyrdell in the table clothe than fayne to haue forgoten your knyfe and say thyse wordes openly Se what a shorte wytte that I am of I haue forgoten my knyf in my chambre / ryse vp hastely go that cloth with al the metes ye shall caste down ouerthrowe vpon the grounde And yf ye scape wtout payn I make a vowe to god that I shall neuer let you after The doughter say de that shall I gladly doo so toke her leue departyd The feste daye came that all as the moder sayd were bodeu The seruaūtes made redy couered the table All were set at that table the doughter sate ouer ayenste her lorde And whan the table was well serued with metes other thynges as therto belonged / the lady of the house sayd with an hygh voyce Se how forgeteful I am of mynde I haue lefte my knyfe in my chamber the whiche I muste fetche / rose hastely vp and drewe the clothe with all the mete that was vpon it with her ād all the golde vessels saltes lay vpon the groūde The knyght vexed sore angrye in his herte but for shame he dyssymyled afore his gestes cōmaūded on other clene clothe other metes to be brought with Ioy and myrth he solyted meued his gestes to ete and make good chere so that by hȳ they were all gladed The feste or dyner done they gaue all thankȳges to the knygh toke theyr leue departed euery man to wardes his owne house Vpon the nexte day in the mornȳge the kny ghte arose erly went to the chyrche herde a masse the whiche ended went to a barbour sayd too hym Mayster are ye experte in blode letynge in what vayne that I wyll desyre you He sayde syr I am experte in what vayne that ye can name in mannes body The knyghte sayd I am well contente come on with me whan he was comen to his house he entred in to his chamber where his wyfe laye in bed sayd to her Ryse vp shortely Than sayd she what shall I do vp thus erly it is not yet nyne the clocke The knyght sayd ye muste ryse vp for ye muste be letten blode on both your armes She sayd I was neuer laten blode / shall I nowe blede Tho sayd the knyght that is trouth ther for ye are a fole For thȳke ye not that ye hewe fyrst downe my tree an other tyme
ye kylled my lytell houÌ„de yesterday ye shamed me afore all our frendes parentes the fourth is yf I sholde suffer you thus too go forthe ye sholde me for euer confouÌ„de shame the cause herof I consyder that ye haue euyll wylde blode with in your body therfore I wyll that that corrupte blode shall be drawen out that ye from hensforth shal no more put me to shame angre and lete to be made a grete fyre and she stode and cryed and helde vp her hondes to wardes the heuen and sayde My lorde forgyue me this tespace / and haue pyte vpon me at this tyme. and I shal neuer more offende you The knyghte sayd pray for no mercy for by the mercy that god hath wroughte without that thou holdest oute thyn arme strayte I shall sone haue thyn herte blood And he sayd also to the barbour smyte harde make a depe hole in her arme or elles I shall gyue you a grete strype Than smote the barbour so sore that the bloode came habundauÌ„tly out and the knyght wolde not suffer hym to staunche it vnto the tyme that she chaunged coloure in her vysage And as this was done the knyght bad to be stopped or stauÌ„che that vaynÌ„e bad that barbour smyte the vayne vpon the other arme ThenÌ„e cryed she with a loude voyce My swete husbonde haue compassyon vpon me for now I deye The knyght answered my wyfe ye sholde haue afore thought on thê or that ye haue done to me thyse thre euyll tournes or despytes ThenÌ„e she helde out her lefte arme the barbour smote therin an hole that the blood came out ryght hudgely suffred her to blede vnto the tyme that the coloure in her vysage chaunged that she swouned / Than sayd the knyght now bynde that arme stauÌ„che it sayd to her now goo to bed studye and thynke hensforth how ye maye amende your self or elles I shall drawe the bloode of your herte And as this was done he gaue the barbour his rewarde and he wente ayen vnto his owne house and the wyfe vnder the handes of hir maydens nyghe deed was ladde to hyr bedde bad one of hir handmaydens go to hyr moder in all haste say that she come speke with me afore I de ye The moder whan she harde the she was gladde of the correctyon of hir doughter hastely came to hyr / the doughter whaÌ„ she herd hyr moder sayd to hir O my moste swete moder I am almoste dede for I haue so moche blode bled that I byleue that I shal not scape the deth Tho answered the moder / sayd I not too you that olde men are ryght cruell fell wyll ye nowe loue the preste Whiche sayd The deuyll may the preest confounde shame I wyl neuer loue other but my husbonde Than sayde the mayster to themperour Lorde haue ye vnderstande me And he answered ryght well For amonges all other that euer I haue herde this was the best example Thre euyll dedes she dyde vnto her husbonde I doute not but yf she had done the fourth she sholde haue shamed hym for euer Than sayd the mayster therfore I counseyll you that ye beware of your wyfe leste that it happen worse to you for why yf ye doo to deth your onely sone for her wordes ye shall be deceyued in the ende for euer ye shall forthynke it The Emperour sayd truly mayster this day my sone shal not dye The mayster sayd My lorde I thanke you that ye for min example and my sake this day haue spared your sone ¶ The fyfth complaynte of the Empresse ¶ The empresse heryÌ„g that the chylde was not yet dede apparayled clothed her in her vesture or clothyÌ„ge lete to be ordeyned her waynes cartes / as thoughe she wolde haue gone to her fader home in her couÌ„tre for to haue coÌ„playned of the grete shame that was done vnto her coude haue no remedy herof The seruauÌ„tes seynge yt. went shewed it to themperour that thempresse was goynge in to her countree Whan he that perceyued he went to her saynge whither are ye goyng I hoped that ye had loued me so moche that in all the worlde ye sholde haue sought no solace but with me To that she sayd That is true therfore I go from you for I had leuer here of your deth than to see you dye wtout doute ye delyte soo moche to here thyse maysters that it shall happen vpon you as it dyde to Octauian themperour the whiche wes so coueytous that the noble men of the empyre buryed hym quycke fylled his mouth with molten golde Themperour sayd Dere wyf do not that an other tyme the blame to you or to me myght be layde Than sayd the empresse truly the blame is yours for haue ye not promysed me many tymes that your sone sholde dye yet he lyueth therfore from hensforth I wyll no more byleue you Then sayd themperour It becometh not a kynge euery cause lyghtly too dyscusse with out aduyse specyally vpon his sone vpon whom it is not behoueful lyghtly to gyue Iugement And ther fore I say pray you that ye wyll tell me somwhat by the whiche I may my selfe gouerne for it is vtter destruccoÌ„n of a kynge wtout aduyse vndescretly to gyue Iugement She answered sayde I wyll gladly tell you a notable example so that from hensforth ye shall not be coueytous or desyrous to here the maysters And began to saye in this forme The fyfth example of the Empresse OCtauianus themperour reygned in Rome ryghte ryche coueytous aboue all thynges he loued golde The cytezyens that tyme of Rome dyde moche harme many grete out rages to other nacyons In soo moche that dyuerse nacyons regyons were meued styred ayenst the Romayns In that tyme the re was mayster Virgilius the whiche excelled in magique in other scyences all other maysters The cytezeynes prayed hym that he by his arte connyÌ„ge wolde make somwhat by the whiche they of theyr ennemyes myght haue warnyÌ„g knowledge byfore Wher by that they myght puruey for themselfe the better He lete doo make by his arte and connyÌ„ge a toure aboue vppon the toure dyde to be set as many ymages as in al the worlde were regyons or prouyÌ„ces and in the myddes of the toure he let to be made and set an ymage whiche helde in his hande an appell or a grete rouÌ„de balle of golde And euery ymage of the toure helde in his hande a lytell bell and stode torned lokynge to wardes his owne prouynce to hym assygned And as oftentymes as ony prouynce wolde styre or rebel ayeÌ„ste the romaynes so often torned hym the ymage of that lende range the bell That heryÌ„ge the cytezeyns of Rome armed themselfe to that prouynce yede with all theyr myght for that londe to kepe vnder and soo was there no londe
so grete that coude wreke them vpō the romaynes and therfore were they bedradde and fered ouer all the worlde After that mayster Vlrgilius made for the solace and conforte of the poore people a lyght that alwaye brende and by that lyghte he made two bathes the one of them hote in the whiche the poore people myghte bathe and wasshe theym / that other colde in the whiche they myghte theymselfe refresshe and betwyx that lyghte and the bathes he made an ymage standynge in whos forhede was wryten He that smyteth me shall anone haue vengeaunce This ymage stode there many yeres At the laste there came a clerke and behelde that ymage radde this wrytynge / and thoughte in hymselfe what vengeaūce myght he fynde therfore I byleue better that yf ony man sholde smyte the that thou fyllest there with to the erthe he sholde fynde some tresoure vnder thy fete therfore is thy wrytynge that no man sholde haue it the clerke lyfte vp hys hande gaue the ymage a grete stroke that it fell to the groūde anone the lyght was out the bathes vere vanysshed away he foūde no tresoure The poore folke that perceyuynge were all sorowfull sayenge cursyd mote he be for euer more that for his synguler couetyse hathe destroyed this ymage vs hathe robbed of so grete solace cōforthe Here after assembled thre kynges the whiche of the Romayns had ben oppressed suffred greate wronges went to coūseyll with them of theyr coūseyll how they myght best of the Romayns be auenged some of thē sayd we labour in vayne as longe as there standyth the tour with the ymages we maye no thynge do ayenste theym To that counseylle arose vp foure knyghtes and sayd to the kynges we haue thoughte a goode remedy how we shal destroye the toure with the ymages and that to do and brynge aboute we wyll our lyues sette to pledge yf that ye wyll do that coste Tho sayd the kynges what coste shall we do They sayd we muste haue iiii tonnes full of golde Than sayd the kynges take that golde fulfyll youre promyse The knyghtes toke the golde went towardes Rome whan they were thyder come in the nyght wtout one of that yates in the dyche with water they drowned one of the tonnes with the golde an other tonne they drowned by the secōde yate the thyrde tonne by the thyrde yate the fourth ton̄ by the fourth yate they drowned And whan they had thus done erly in the mornynge they entred in to the cyte at an houre conuenyent whan that themperour went ouer the marte they dyde to hym reuerence as it behoued Themperour seynge them demaunded frome whens they were or what scyences or what seruyce that they coude do Whiche answered we are of ferre coūtrees we be sothsayers so perfyte the there was neuer thynge so preuely or secretly hydde but that we shall fȳde it by our dremes we haue herde that ye laboure haue pleasure in suche thynges and therfore came we to you for to wyte yf ye had ony nede of our seruyce / Themperour sayd I shall proue you yf it be so that I fynde you true ye shall haue of me grete rewardes thanke they sayde we aske no thynge but the haluen dele for our rewarde of the golde that by vs shall be foūden The emperour sayd I am therwith wel content And thus had they with the emperour many wordes At euen whan themperour was goyng to bedde they sayde too hym My lorde yf it please you this nyghte shall the oldest of vs set his connynge a werke dreme the thyrde day we shall shewe you his dreme what it sygnefyeth Themperour sayd goo in goddis name And they weut forth with grete gladnesse all that nyght they passed ouer with derysions myrth vpon truste that they sholde come to a good purpose whan the thyrde daye was comen they went erly too themperour the fyrste of them sayd My lorde pleaseth you to goo with vs without one of the yates of thy cyte I shall shewe you where as a tonne full of golde is hyd Themperour sayd I shall go with you and se yf it be true that ye saye Whan they were comen to the place they drewe out the tonne that they there afore had put / The emperour whan he that sawe was gladde and gaue to them theyr parte Tho sayde the seconde dremer my lorde this nyght I shal dreme Themperour sayd god gyue you a good dreme the next nyght came he toke out the other tonne and gaue it to themperoure toke hym his dele In lyke wyse dyd the thyrde the fourth vpon the whiche themperour was out of all mesure ioyus glad sayd he had not sene afore soo true experte sothsayers or dremers as they were / Than sayd they al togyder at ones as it had ben out of one mouth my lorde we haue one after another dre the whiche as ye haue sene be all true proued But now yf it please you that we may dreme all togyder this nyghte we truste that too vs shall bee shewed where we shall fynde a greate quantyte or substaūce of golde of rychesse the Emperoure sayd god gyue to you a gode dreme that to me and to you may be proffytable Unto the next morowe they came ayen vnto the Emperoure sayd to hym with Ioyouse gladde vysages or coūtenaūces My lorde we brynge gode proffytable tydynges for this nyght in our slepes such so grete a tresour is to vs shewed ye. whiche yf ye wyll suffre it for to be soughte ye shall be so moche enryched that in this worlde shall be none to you lyke Themperour sayd where sholde ye fynde the hoorde or tresoure they sayd vnder the fundament of the tour that the ymages standen on The Emperoure answered God defend that I sholde for loue of golde destroye that toure with ymages wherwith that we of oure ennemyes be defended warned They sayde too hym ayen My lorde Haue ye founde vs in oure saynges otherwyse than true ryghtful Themperour sayd nay O lorde sayd they we with our owne hondes shall gete oute the gold wtout hurtynge of the tour or of the ymages And it is expedyent that secretly in the nyght by vs it be done for drede of resorte and concours of the people leste that ye sholde ren in the noyse clamour of theym and also that they sholde not take that good and golde away from you and vs. The Emperour sayde Goo in the name of god and doo your beste as ye well can̄e and I shall to morowe erly come too you Tho went they with Ioye and gladnesse and in the nyght they were laten in too the toure and with grete haste and dylygence they vndermynded it on the next daye erly they mounted vpon theyr horses rode ayen towardes theyr owne
she be not seen of the people The kynge answered sayd I am well content whan the nyght was comen the stewarde lad his wyfe to the kynges bed made faste the dore yede his waye Erly in the mornȳge the stewarde arose went vnto the kynge sayd My lord it shall be daye wtin a whyle it is good that ye performe your promise let the woman go The kyng sayd this woman pleseth me so well that so sone she shall not departe from me whan the stewerde that herde he departed thens al sory vnneth he taryed ony whyle but came to the kynge and sayd My lorde the mornynge is comen therfore let the woman goo leste that she be ashamed as I haue promysed her The kyng sayd yet shall she not go from me therfore goo out and shet the dore ayen The stewarde ryght sorowfull departed and wente vp downe with an heuy an angry herre tyll that the fayre the clere daye appered and than entred ayen in to the chamber and sayd My lorde it is clere daye suffre that woman to departe that she be not therwith ashamed The kynge answered / I saye to you for a trouth she shall not yet departe for her cōpany is to me ryght pleasaūt acceptable The stewarde that herȳge coude no lenger forbere ne holde his owne coūseyll but sayd vnto the kyng O my good and gracyous lorde I beseche you suffre her to departe for it is myn owne wyfe The kynge herynge that sayd to hym Open the wyndowe whan it was open the fayre the bryght day appered he behelde the woman ryght fayre goodly perceyued that it was the wyfe of the stewarde sayd to hym O thou moste worste rybaude or knaue why haste thou for so lytell money ashamed vndone thy good fayre wyfe her vnto me vnwetyngly haste delyuered Therfore haste the gete the out of my realme neuer more herafter come in my syghte for frome hens forth yf euer I may se the thou shalt dye the moost shamefull horry blest dethe that euer canne be ymagyned Whan the stewarde herde that he fled his waye durste not abyde was neuer so hardy ony more to come in to that real me And the kȳge kepte the wyfe al his lyue dayes in grete worshyp and gaue to hyr plente of all thynges that to hyr behoued appertayned After that the kynge lete do gadre assemble a grete a myghty armye puyssaūce of men of werre went to Rome with grete myght besyeged the cyte on all sydes so long tyll that the Romayns wolde haue delyuered hym for to haue departed and withdrawen hymself from thens the bodyes of the holy apostles Petyr Poule Than was there in that cyte seuen wyse maysters as ye nowe haue by the coūseyll of whome all the cyte was gyded gouerned And the cytezeyns came too theym and sayd What shall we do it behoueth vs as that we delyuere vnto oure dedely ennemyes the bodyes of the holy apostles or elles the cyte Tho answered the fyrste mayster I shal with my wysdome connynge this day the cyte the body of the apostles saue so one after an other promysed to doo the same eueryche of theym for one daye In lyke wyse as the maysters haue promysed your sone with that the kynge began to assaute the Cyte on all partyes Tho began the fyrste mayster to saye to alledge so wysely for to haue pease that the kynge that day lefte his assaute makynge withdrewe hym a lytyll fro the cyte soo dyde all the maysters one after an other vnto the laste To whome came the burgeyses sayd O mayster ye shall vnderstande that the kynge hath made his othe sworne that to morowe with al his puyssaunce strength he wyll haue wynne the cyte Or elles we muste all be in Ieoperdye too lese our lyues Therfore in aquytynge of your promyse defende kepe vs from daunger lyke as all your felowes afore haue done to that answered the mayster sayd be of good comforte fere not For too morowe I shall by my connynge shewe suche a werke and operacyons / that the kyng with all his puissaunce and myght shal fle leue the syege The nexte daye the kynge made gaue a grete assaute too the cyte Tho went the mayster and endued or clothed hymselfe with a meruayvesture or clothynge hauynge therin the fethers or the tayles of pecockes and of other foules of dyuers coloures and toke two bryght swerdes in eche hande one and went there with all and stode vpon the hygheste toure of all the cyte and began too meue and torne or shewe hymselfe aboute on all partes towarde the oste so that they myght all beholde se hym and he helde in his mouthe the two bryght swerdes that merueylously shyned They wtout of the kynges hoost that seyeng sayd to hym O lorde beholde vpon hyghest of yonder toure a wonderfull thynge or fygure Ye I se it wel that it is merueylous / but what it is I knowe not They sayd to hym It is Ihesus the god of the crysten folke that is come out of heuen vs al to sle destroye with his two swerdes yf wee here ony lenger abyde The kynge herynge that trembled for fere and sayde what shall we do there is but one way and that is that we anone go and departe fro hens leste that theyr god auenge hymselfe vpon vs. Tho began the kynge with all his oste to fle notwithstondȳge there was no nede but that they of that mayster were begyled deceyued And whan the romaynes that sawe they hastely moued after al armed in good ordynaunce the kynge with many of his people they kylled destroyed also in that manere by grete subtylte of the mayster was the myghty kynge with his folke ouercomen Then sayd thempresse to themperour Lorde haue ye vnderstande what I haue sayde He sayd ye Well in the best wyse She sayd haue ye no herde what I haue sayd to you at the begynnynge of this narracyon of the stewarde that the kynge trusted so moche which for lucre of good shamed his owne wyfe he for that was dryuen banysshed out of the londe In lyke wyse your sone for the desyre and appetyte that he hath to the empyre entendeth to cōfounde and destroye you But while ye be in your myght power do with hym as the kynge dyd with his stewarde yf ye wyll not put hym to deth banyssne him out of your empyre that ye without fere may leue in furete of your lyue And haue ye not also herde how the kyng lay before the cyte of Rome howe he was by the wyse maysters dectyued scorned that he with his folke were kylled slayne In the same wyse the seuen maysters entende to do with you by theyr false wyles and subtyltees to desceyue you
well the lawe of the londes are that whan so euer ony man is hanged stolen a waye of the galowes than the shyref his lyfe and godes be in the kynges handes Nowe it is happened in the tyme that I was here with you warmed me the theefis stolen a way frome the galowes therfore I praye you for the loue of god gyue me your aduys what is me beste to do She answered I haue compassyon vpon you for by the lawe ye haue loste lyfe goodes to the kynge Do nowe after my couÌ„seyll ye shall neyther lese lyfe ne godes He answered therfore I came to you hopynge to haue gode comforth She sayd wyll ye than promyse to take me to your wyfe the knyght answered wolde god that ye wolde do yt. but I fere me leste that ye wolde dysdeyne so moche to humble you too me that am so pore a knyght She sayd I gyue you my wyl therto he yaue her ayen his wyll consented too be her knyght durynge his lyfe Tho sayd she ye knowe well that suche a day my lorde was buryed whiche for the loue of me deyed take hym oute of his sepulture go hange hym in stede of the theef The knyght answered lady your couÌ„seyll is good Tho went they togyder opened the graue drewe hym out The knyght sayd howe shall we nowe doo by cause or the theef was taken two of his vpper tethe were smyten oute I fere me yf that were perceyued I shold be dede She sayd to hym take a stone and stryke oute two of his tethe The knyght answerd madame that may not do for while he lyued he was my wel beloued felowe it sholde be to me a grete rebuke yf I coÌ„mytted soo dysloyall a dede vnto his body beynge dede She answered for your loue I shall do it toke a stone smote out two of his tethe sayd to the shyref take hyÌ„ hange him vpon the galowes lyke to the theef The knyght sayde I fere me to do it for the theef in takynge of hyÌ„ was wouÌ„ded in the hede he wanted both his ere 's therfore yf it were serched founde otherwyse it sholde be to my vtter vndoynge Than sayd she take out your swerde make hym a grete wounde on his hede cut of his ere 's O madame god forbede the I do that to the dede body that I loued so well in his lyfe Than sayd she gyue me your swerde I shal for the loue of you do it toke the swerde smote a manly stroke vpon the dede maÌ„nes forhede cut of bothe his ere 's And whan she hadde thus done sayd Now take hange hym wtout company than the knyght answered yet I fere me to haÌ„ge hyÌ„ for the theef wanted both his stones yf that were serched fouÌ„de wtout all our labour were in vayn Then sayd she I sawe neuer so feerfull a man seyng that mater so clere sure Take a knyfe cut of his slones And be answered that may I not do in no wyse and therfore I pray you spare me ye knowe well what a man is wtout his stones She sayd for the loue of you I shall do it And toke the knyf in her hande cutte of husbondes stones and to hym nowe take this churle thus dysfygured and hange hym vp withoute drede And went forth togyder and henge vp the body vpoÌ„ the galowes so was the shyref delyuered out of the kyÌ„ges daunger Tho sayd the lady now be ye quyte of all your daungeours fere all thy sorowes by my couÌ„seyll And therfore I wyll that ye wedde me in the face of the chyrche The knyght sayde I haue made a vowe that I shal neuer wed other as longe as ye lyue which I wyl holde but afterwarde he sayd O thou moost shameful worst womaÌ„ of al wyÌ„men who wolde take the to his wyfe An honourable a louynge knyght was thy husboÌ„de whiche for a lytel blode that he sawe of thy fyÌ„ger shed dyed now haste thou smyten out two of his tethe thou haste cutte of his ere 's his stones thou haste made hyÌ„ a grete wounde in his hede what deuyll wolde wed ye. by cause that thou shal neuer shame more good man I shal rede ye. drewe his swerde with one stroke he smote of her hede The mayster sayd My lorde haue ye vnderstande what I haue sayd The emperour sayd ryght well Amonges all wymmen was this the worste the knyght rewarded her accordynge so as she sholde no more men shame And theÌ„perour sayd more ouer O my good mayster myght I ones here my sone speke I sholde gyue no charge of my lyfe Tho sayd the mayster To morowe ye shall here hym speke afore you afore al the lordes of th empyre he shall shewe the very trouth of all the varyaunce betwyxte vs thempresse as I hope toke his leue of themperour departed ¶ How that Dyoclesyan themperours sone coÌ„playned on thempres how that he excused him of her coÌ„playnt ANd after that all the maysters assembled togyder toke theyr counseyll how in what maner they shold brynge out the chylde of pryson lede to the palays tho they went to the chylde there as he laye in pryson afore the mydday his wyll his couÌ„seyl to here To whome the chylde sayd what that shall please you shall please me but in no wyse besye you not howe that I shall answere or what I shall saye for with Ioye I shal answere to all thyÌ„ges that shal be demauÌ„ded of me whaÌ„ that seuen maysters herde that they were ryght glad clothed hym in purpure in clothe of golde two maysters went afore hym one on his ryght honde an other on his lyfte honde the other thre folowed hym after afore them al went xxiiii men with dyuerse instrumentê of musyke brought hym with grete melody and honour to the palays And whan themperour herde al this melody he demauÌ„ded what it was Then it was tolde hym Syr emperour it is your sone that whiche cometh tofore you afore all your lordes to speke excuse hyÌ„selfe of all thynges that are layde to his charge / Themperour sayd that is good tydyÌ„ges myght I here my sone speke And whan the chylde was come to the palays he ran vnto his fader sayd vnto hyÌ„ hayle fader my moost honourable And whan themperour herde the voyce of his sone he was so glad that for Ioye he fyl downe to the erthe but the chylde toke hym lyghtly vp ayen and whan he was come ayen to hyÌ„self Tho begaÌ„ THenne sayd the sone vnto the fader beholde this rybaude that many a nyghte hathe with your wyfe lyen in your chamber in auoutrye haue defouled your bedde therfore the Empresse loued hym so well the whiche ye knewe not
letters wherby that ye are acertayned that the lorde your fader is sore seke lyeth vppon his dede bed desyreth to se you speke with youre persone to dyspose his kyngdome his godes afore he departe out of this world desyre his lycence for the loue of your fader that ye maye go vysite hym that he wyll proroge lengthe the daye of bataylle whyles the ye maye go come And whan ye haue obteyned his congye or lycence as hastely as ye may go secretely to the kynge alexander whan ye are come to hym take hym aparte shewe hym the cause of youre comynge requyre hym in this youre vtter extremyte that he wylle vs helpe ayde and whan that Lodwyke had herd this coūseyll it pleased hym well dyde hereafter Hys leue goten lenger daye or terme of batayle prefyxed and assygned departed toke his iourneye to wardes the realme of Egypte neuer letted daye nor nyght tyll he came vnto kynge alexanders castell whan the kynge alexander hadde vnderstondynge of his comynge he was moche glad went to mete hym receyued him honourably had wonder of his comyn̄ge Tho sayd Lodwyk O my dere lorde my beste byloued frende my lyfe my dethe is in youre handes for as ye sayd to me afore that I sholde haue an other felowe the whiche sholde lye in awayte to aspye me too destroye me / wtout I save the more wysely to my selfe as longe as I myght I absented me tyll that I coude no lenger but afterwarde the kynges sone of Spayne makynge watch soo longe on me tyll that he perceyued the trouthe hathe accused me vnto the Emperoure so that frome this daye vnto the .viii. daye hereafter prefyxed it behoueth me to come fyght with hym body ayenst body and as ye knowe well he is a stronge an hardy man and I am weyke feble therfore hathe Florentyne coūseyled me that I sholde not hyde this my charge frome you For she knoweth you for a faythfull frende that ye wolde not leue vs in this necessyte Then sayd alexander is there ony body that knoweth of your comyng vnto me for this mater more than Florentyne He answered hym sayd no creature lyuynge for I toke leue of the Emperoure to go vysite my fader lyenge greuously seke Then axed alexander hym what coūseyll hathe Florentyne gyuen to you howe in what wyse I myght helpe you He sayd O moost constaūt faythfull frende in this wyse she hathe coūseylled me cōsyderynge that we be lyke that ye sholde come do the batayle wyth hym no man shall knowe you but she and the batayll done I shall come ayen to the court ye vnto youre coūtree Then he asked whan the day sholde be of the batayle and he sayd this daye .viii. dayes Thenne sayd alexander yf I sholde this daye tary then can I not come to that daye prefyxed Therfore se what I shall do I haue boden all my subgectes that to morowe they sholde come be at my weddynge brydale and yf I sholde go than is that daye loste / and yf I go not do the batayle than Florentyne ye are bothe vndone what thynke ye nowe beste for to doo whan Lodwyke herde that he fell to the erthe began to syghe sorowe oute of mesure saynge sorow and heuynesse come to me on all sydes Then sayd alexander vnto hym be of good comforte for I shall not forsake you thus thoughe that I sholde lese my wyf kyngdome but herken what that I haue thought in so moche as we are bothe lyke soo that the one of vs can not be knowen frome the other but we be bothe togyder I am not yet gretly knowen here but my barons other folke shall take you for me therfore here shall ye abyde tary mary my wyfe in my stede holde the feest brydale do in all thynges as though I were there my selfe present excepte whan as ye come to bedde with my wyfe loke that ye be there true faythfull I shall wtoute taryenge go take my horse ryde theder as the batayle shall be yf god gyue me the vyctorye that I maye ouercome vaynquysshe your enemye I shall come ayen secretlye and ye shall go ageyne to youre partyes and dwellynge place Thys done alexander badde Lodwyke fare well and toke his Iourneye towardes the Emperours courte for to fyght and to do the batayle with Guydo Lodwyk abode in Egypt in the stede of kynge Alexander and vpon the next mornynge came Lodwyke as though it hadde be kynge Alexander solemply in the face of the chirche maryed and spoused Alexanders wyfe helde the feest brydale with grete royalte of delycate precyous metes plente of all maner wynes dyuerse melodyes of instrumentes of musyke and he made greate Ioye chere to all the noble men to all other people the there was assembled And whan the nyghte was come he wente to bedde with the quene layd betwyxt hym and her a naked swerde wherof she had greate wonder but no thynge she sayd and also he laye with hir euery nyght as longe as Alexander was out ¶ The kynge Alexander at the daye that was prefixed sette came vnto the Emperoure sayd O most drad souerayne lorde it is so that I haue left my fader ryght seke Neuerthelesse I am come for to defende myn honoure my forwarde to performe The Emperoure sayd ye do ryght well accordynge to a noble man fortune shall fauoure you in your iuste ryght wysse quarell And whan the Emperours doughter vnderstode that Alexander was comen anone she sent for him whan as he was come to hyr she embraced hym with ioye gladnesse she kyste hym blessed the tyme that she myght see hym ayen demaūded hym where he that hadde lefte hyr frende and louer Lodwyke Then he shewed declared vnto hyr all the processe how he had left hym kyng in his realme toke his leue at hyr wente in to Lodwykes chamber there was no creature that thought otherwyse but it was lodwyk oonly excepte Florentyne The next daye folowynge afore er Alexander went vnto the batayle he sayd vnto the Emperoure in the presence of Guydo My moost redoubted souerayne lorde this Guydo hath falsely vntruely accused me vnto your noble grace that I sholde be of suche aqueyntaūce with youre doughter that sholde be vnto the dyshonoure of your moost noble persone hyrs vnto that I swere afferme by this holy euaūgelyes that she was neuer in ony maner by me in suche wyse knowen as he hathe to you alledged enformed that this daye with the ayde the helpe of god I shall proue make good vppon his body Then sayd Guydo yet ones I saye ayen swere by the
his knee on the erthe but the kynge toke hym vp shortly commaūded hym to ascende ayen vpon his horse rode so togyder cheke by cheke vnto the castell And whan they were come theder the moder came them to mete felle vpon hyr knees to the erthe welcomed hym gladly The kynge toke hyr louynly vp kyssed hyr ryght frendly she sayd My moost honorable lorde ye do vnto vs vnworthy grete honour with the presence of your persone moost-honourable The whiche we neuer more can deserue After that all the mete was all redy the tyme of the day was come to go to dyner The fader came with a basyn with an ewyr the moder with a towell saynge Syre all thynge is redye please it you to wasshe whan the kyng sawe that he smyled sayd vnto hymselfe Nowe is the songe of the nyghtyngale true for my fader my moder sholde gladly fulfyll as I sayd yf that I my selfe wolde therto consente and suffre them to do it But he wold not suffre theym for to doo too hym suche seruyce saynge youre aege is for to be honoured and worshypped / therfore I wyll not of it and called vnto hym one of his seruauntes the whiche serued hym therof Thenne sayd the knyght ye wyll not suffre vs too do it for our honour for we are not worthy therto The kynge sayd haue not I sayd that for your aege I forbere you it whan the kynge was set at the table he set his moder on the ryght hande of hym his fader on his lefte syde they as moche as they myght behelde his vysage coūtenaūce The dyner ended the kynge entred in to a chamber made the knyght with his lady to come in to hym cōmaūded all other to auoyde goo out and whan they were thus alone the kynge sayd vnto them haue ye no chyldern They answerd we haue neyther sone ne doughter and the kynge sayd had ye neuer none The knyght answered we haue hadde one sone but he is longe agone dede The kynge asked of what dethe deyed he The knyghte sayd a naturall dethe Tho sayd the kynge yf I maye otherwyse knowe that he deyed than are ye foūde with a defawte Tho asked the knyghte My lorde wherfore enquyre ye thus after oure sone The kynge answered that do I not wtout cause therfore I wyll knowe of what dethe he deyed yf ye wyll not tell me I shall cause you to deye a shamefull dethe whan they herde that they fell too groūde vpon ther knees afore hym asked hym mercye forgyuenesse of theyr lyues The kynge wolde not suffre them to knele but scortly toke them vp sayd To that entente came I not in to your house to ete youre brede to betraye you but saye me the trouthe ye shall be saued for it is gyuen me to vnderstāde that ye haue put hym to dethe yf that come in iugemente ye muste deye a shamefull dethe Than sayd the knyght lorde pardone me my lyfe I shall shew you the very trouthe The kynge sayd fere not for I shall do you no harme Tho sayd he Souerayne lorde we had a sone oonly that was wyse lettred ryght well vnderstande And vpon a tyme as he stode afore vs serued at the table There came a nyghtyngale that ryght swetly songe whoo 's songe he began to interprete and tell vs what it mente sayd This byrde syngeth that I shall become so grete myghty a lorde that it shall be to youre honoure aduaūsemēt in suche wyse that ye my fader shall be gladde to holde the basyn with water to wasshe in my handes my moder the towell yf that I wolde suffre it And whan I herde that I was sore meued toke caste hym in to the see for too drowne Tho sayd the kynge what euyll myght haue come to you yf he hadd ben made so grete myghty me thynketh it sholde haue been youre honoure proufyte The knyghte sayd lorde it was no reason but a woodnesse The kynge answered that was a grete folysshnes of you that ye wolde do ayenst the ordynaūce wylle of god But nowe ye shall knowe for trouthe that I am youre sone that ye caste in to the see god of his grete mercye goodnesse hathe saued me by his grace hathe brought me too this astate dygnyte And the fader moder herynge that with fere Ioye replenysshed fell flat to the groūde whom he louȳly frendly toke vp sayng fere not but rather be glad Ioyous for ye shall no thynge suffre but my exaltacyon shall be your glorye ioye proufyte kyste bothe his fader moder with grete Ioye gladnesse Tho began the meder to wepe Than sayd the kynge wepe not but be of gode chere for in my realme ye shall be hononred aboue me durynge my lyf toke them with hym in to his realme where they dwelled togyder in honour Ioye ended theyr dayes with Ioye myrthe ¶ Here foloweth the applycacōn of the exāple to purpose ¶ Tenne sayd the Emperours sone lorde haue ye vnderstande what I haue sayd Themperoure sayd ryght well Tho sayd the sone My mooste honourable redoubted fader all thoughe that god hathe gyuen indued me with wysdome vnderstandyng aboue many other the sholde not be in appayrynge of youre honoure myght but more for the preseruacyon of the same So in lyke wyse the kynges maieste which was no thynge to the hynderaunce of his fader but rather for his worshyp proufyte for as long as they lyued they were honoured in his realme Than sayd themperoure My dere sone I wyll all hole resygne to you th empyre too gouerne for I perceyue well by youre narracōn that ye haue to me declared that it is beste to me moost for myn ease that I leue this besynesse labour take me to more reste for I am olde feble The sone answered his fader My lorde fader so shall it not be but as longe as ye lyue ye shall haue the auctoryte and myght of th empyre to do and commaunde as it apperteyneth vnto an Emperour but in all besynesses that are labourouse I wyll alwayes be redy to mynystre to serue you accordynge to my dute of execucyon there to be brent we iuge also gyue sentence ayenste the rybaude that he shall be quartred smyten in peces his flesshe caste vnto the houndes byrdes of the ayre for to deuoure hym this sētence was approbate alowed of all people ¶ Hereafter in shorte tyme deyed the Emperoure Dyoclesyan his sone gouerned ruled th empyre with grete wysdome helde kept his maysters with hym in grete honoure glorye By whoo 's coūseyll wysdom he gouerned the Empyre that he excelled all his predecessours in rychesse in doynge iustice ryght And his maysters loued hym aboue all other thynges in the worlde So that many tymes they put themselfe in grete perylle ieoperdye of ther lyues for hym And so they ended theyr dayes in grete Ioye honoure and cōmended theym to almyghty god ¶ Thus endeth the treatyse of the seuen sages or wyse maysters of Rome Enprented in Flete strete in the sygne of the sone by me Wynkyn de worde