partes of his body sought all about the toure and serched tyll at laste he founde the hole or the secrete way the the knyght had made as he saw that than cryed he and weped and sayd Alas alas this knyght in whom I hadde so grete confydence truste hath taken away my wyfe was I not a fole that I gaue more fayth in to his wordê then I dyde to myne owne eyen ¶ Than sayd thempresse My lorde haue ye vnderstand what I haue sayde Themperour sayd ryght wel in the best wyse Then sayd thempresse remember how that he trusted the knyghte yet he deceyued hyÌ„ In the same manere wyse ye haue confydence in the. seuen wyse maysters / and they laboure for to destroye me that am your wyfe ye gyue more fayth vnto theyr wordes than ye do vnto your owne eyen for ye haue well sene how that youre sone rente and scratched me Wherof yet I bere and haue the tokens the markes as ye may see And also ye knowe well how that your cursed sone hath me ashamed ye marke not howe they defende hym in his foly and falshede Therfore it is to be dradde that it shall happen to you as it dyde to the kynge that too you I haue spoken of Themperour sayde I byleue myn eyen better than theyr wordes therfore I say you that to morowe I shall do Iustyce of hym On the morowe the Emperour commaunded that his sone sholde be hanged Tho began ayen a grete noyse in and THere was a knyght that had a fayre yonge wyfe whome he entyrely loued in so moche that he coude not be out of her syght It hapned on a tyme that they played togyder at the chesse the knyght by chauÌ„ce helde a knyfe in his hande she playng fortuned to smyte her hand vpon the knyf that a lytel blode began to appere Whan the knyght sawe that his wyfe bled he sorowed moche and was sore aferde of his wyfe that he fel to the grounde in a swoune his wyfe cast colde water vpon his vysage that he a lytell came ayen too hym selfe sayd lyghtely call the curate with the holy sacramente for I muste deye for the blood that I haue seen come out of your fyÌ„ger hath smyten the deth to my herte The preest came and houseled hym anone after he dyed wtout ony taryeng for whoo 's deth there was made grete sorowe bewaylyÌ„ges and specyally of the wyfe And after that the obsequyes buryenge was done accordynge She went and lay vpon the buryel or graue and there she made the gretest sorowe of the worlde and sayd that she wolde neuer departe from thens but as a turtyll douue she wolde for the loue of her husbonde there abyde dye Tho went her frenvnto her and sayd what auayleth this for his soule to lyue dy here it is better that ye go to your house gyue almes for the loue of god that shal more auayle his soule than in this place to abyde To whom she answerd be styll ye are euyll couÌ„selours CoÌ„syder not ye how I am fro hyÌ„ seperate departed by his deth for a lytell blode that he sawe com out of my hoÌ„d or fyÌ„ger therfore I shall neuer fro hens departe Her frendes heryÌ„ge that lete make a lytell house or lodgynge nygh vnto the graue put therin all thynges that to her was necessarye went theyr wayes thyÌ„kynge that within a whyle she sholde be wery to be alone so desolate from all company that therby she sholde desyre ayen the company of people In that cyte was thenne a lawes that whan a trespassour or offendour ayenst the lawe were hanged that the shyryf all that nyght sholde watche kepe the body all armed yf it hapned that the body of hym hanged were stolen away the seryf sholde lese all his londe his lyfe at the kynges pleasure At hapned sone after that the knyghte was dede a man too be hanged for trepasse that be had done so that the sheryf after the lawe of the londe all the nyght watched by the galowes that was not fer fro the cyte that chyrche yerde was not ferre from the walles of the same Tho became the sheryf so colde that he wyst not but to dye for colde wtout the rather that he myghte warme hym it was so feruent a colde so stronge a a froste and he behelde fro thens about hym sawe that fyre in that chyrcheyerde hasted hym came therto whan he was come he called knocked at the lytyll house The woman spake who is that that at this houre is knockynge at the house of this sorowfull woman I am the shyref that so moche colde suffreth that wtout anone ye late me in I shall frese to deth She sayd I fere me yf that I lete you come in ye sholde shewe me such wordes that sholde cause me for to be more heuyer he fayd I promyse vnto you that I shall saye no wordes to your dyspleasure Then lete she hym in and whan he a whyle had sytten by the fyre was well warmed he sayd to her O fayre woman with your lycence wolde I fayne speke but one worde vnto you She answered to hym syr say what it pleaseth you He sayd O lady ye be a fayr gentyl woman ryche yonge were it not better more conuenyent for you to dwell at home in your house to gyue almesse than to destroye consu me your lyfe here with wepynges cryenges She sayde syr knyght had I knowen this afore ye had not come herin for I say to you as I haue sayd too other oftentymes Ye knowe well that my husbonde loued me so well that for a lytyll bloode that he sawe me blede on one of my fyngers he is dede wherfore I shall here deye for the loue of hym As the knyght herde this he toke leue and wents to the galowes whan he was there come he sawe that the theef that he left there hangynge was stolen caryed a waye began therfore to wexe heuy full of sorowe sayd wo is me what shall I do for I haue loste my lyfe and all my good And he goynge thus full of sorowe heuynesse wyste not whyche waye to torne hym or to go at the laste bethought hym to go to that deuoute desolate lady she we vnto hyr the heuynesse of his herte to wyte of that she coude gyue hym ony gode counseyll And whan he was thenÌ„es come he called she axed the cause of his knockynge Tho sayd he madame I am the shyref that was here ryght no we with you I wolde feyne shewe you the secretes of myn herte Therfore I praye you for the loue of god open the dore and he wente in sayd to her O moost vertuous lady I come to haue your counseyll and aduys for ye knowe
thynge or not this done he wakynge gretely marueyllynge lyftynge vp his eyen towarde the rofe of the chamber feruently The maysters seynge that sayd Wherfore lyft ye vp your eyen so sharply He answered it is no merueyll for in my slepe I saw the vppermost parte of the chamber inclyned towarde the erthe or vnder me it was lyfte vp This heryÌ„ge the maysters sayd amonge themselfe Yf this childe maye lyue he shal be a man of grete connyÌ„ge fame ¶ How the Emperour by the couÌ„seyll of the grete pryÌ„ces lordes of his Empyre wedded an other wyfe ¶ How themperour toke an other Wyfe THe prynces and grete lordes of the Empyre in the meane tyme came to the Emperour sayd My lorde ye haue only but one sone it is possyble that he myght happen to dye And therfore it were profytable that ye sholde wedde an other wyfe to engendre and make mo chyldren to thentente that the Empyre of Rome be not lefte without heyre Also ye are so myghty that yf it sholde happen you to gete many chyldren ye may promote auaunce them all to grete dygnytees and lordshyppes Therupon answerde themperour It is your counseyll that I shall take an other wyfe than seke me one that is gracyous / pure vyrgyne / fayre and gentyll borne than shall I folowe your counseyll and aduyse They wente sought and serched many kyngdomes and londes at the laste they founde the kynges doughter of Castyle that ryght fayre was beateuouse her they gaue the Emperour to wyf She behad her so well that anone in her loue he was taken so sore that he forgate and put in oblyuyon all the heuynesse sorowe of of his herte that he had taken for the deth of his fyrste wyfe And they lyued longe togyder wtout chyldren And as Thempresse sawe that she myght not coÌ„ceyue For she herde that themperour had a sone with seuen wyse maysters to lerne nourysshe to the behouffe ê“ufyte of Th empyre she thought in herself wysshed his deth And from that houre forth she ymagyned how she myght conspyre his deth It hapned on a nyght as the Emperour lay in his bed he sayd to thempresse My Howe themperour rode to mete his sone WHan themperour perceyued that his sone was comynge vpon the waye he rode with grete Ioye to mete hym The maysters vnderstandyng the comynge of themperour sayd to the chylde It is best that we departe in the meane whyle we maye ê“uyde how we may saue your lyfe The chylde sayd it pleaseth me well that ye so doo but haue mynde of me in tyme of my necessyte As they that herde they toke theyr leue and departed towardes the Cyte The chylde came after accompanyed ryght honourably And as he and his fader themperour were mette for ioye gladnesse he toke hym about the necke kyssed hym and sayd My dere sone how is it with you / is it longe sythen that I sawe you He bowed down his hede and and answerd no thynge The fader had grete wonder why that he spake not and thought in himselfe that his maysters had hym so enformed that he rydynge sholde not speke And whan they were comen to the palays and were descended from theyr horses The fader toke his sone by the honde lad hym in to the hall and set hym next hym behelde him sayde Say me how it is with your maysters how they haue enformed you for now it is many yeres syth I saw â—ou He enclyned downe his hede gaue none answere The fader sayd wherfore speke ye not to me And whan thempresse herde that themperours sone was comen she was ryght Ioyous and glad sayd I wyl goo to se hym She apparaylled her with ryche vesture atyre toke with her two of her gentylwymen Howe thempresse ladde Dyoclesyan in her chamber for to make good chere wente there as the emperour was syttyÌ„ge with his sone she sette her downe by the chylde she sayd to themperour is this your sone the hath ben nourysshed with the seuen wyse maysters he sayd / it is my sone / but he speketh not She sayd Delyuer to me your sone if euer he spake I shall do hym speke Tho sayd themperour ryse go with her The sone dyde reuereÌ„ce to the fader as thoughe he sayd I am redy too accoÌ„plysshe your wyll went with her ¶ Howe thempresse ladde Dioclesyan themperours sone with her in her chamber for to make good chere with hym the whiche he withstode THempresse lad hym with her in to her chamber commaunded all other to auoyde set hym by her afore her bedde sayd O my best beloued dyoclesyan I haue moche of your persone beaute herde but now I am glad that I may se you with myn eyen that my herte coueyteth loueth for I haue caused your fader to sende for you / that I haue solace Ioy of your persone Wherfore I wtout faute gyue you knowlege that I for your loue vnto this day haue kepte my vyrgynyte Speke to me lete vs goo bed togyder But he gaue her no worde to answer She seynge that sayd to hym O good dyoclesyan haue the half of my soule wherfore speke ye not not to me / or at the leest shewe me some token of loue / what shall I do speke to me I am redy to fulfyll and perfourme your wyll whan she had thus sayd she enbraced hyÌ„ wold haue kyssed hys mouth he torned his vysage from her in no wyse wolde coÌ„sent Tho sayd she ayen to hyÌ„ O sone wherfore do ye thus with me beholde there is none that may se vs. lete vs togyder slepe / than shall ye well ê‘ceyue that for your loue I haue kept my vyrgynyte and he torned his vysage frome her / She seynge that he was of her ashamed shewed vnto hym her naked body and brestes and sayde beholde my sone what body I haue att your wylle gyue me youre consent or elles it shall be herde for me to passe with my ryght myÌ„de He neyther with sygne ne with countenauÌ„ce of vysage shewed her ony maner of loue but as moche as he coude wtdrewe hyÌ„ from her whaÌ„ she sawe that she sayd O my moste swete sone yf it please you not to coÌ„sent to me ne yet speke haply for some resonable cause Lo here is paper pen ynke yf ye wyl not speke with your mouth than wryte your wyl yf I ony tyme herafter may trust in your loue or not The chylde wrote as hereafter folowed O lady god forbede that I sholde defoule my faders orcheyerde yf I shulde defoul it I wote not what fruyte I shold haue of it I knowe wel one thyÌ„ge that I sholde synÌ„ in the syghte of god I sholde ren in the maledictyon of my fader therfore from hensforth prouoke or styre me no more therto /
beholde see the people goynge by amonge all other she sawe the sayd knyght and knewe that he was the same man that she had dremed of And the knyght by chaunce lyfte vp his eyen perceyued the lady syttyng in the wyndowe anone his mynde shewed hym that it was she that he the dremes of had he began to synge a songe of loue And as she herde yt. she was anone taken with his loue The knyghte from thensforth dayly went walked aboute that castell beholdynge it ouer all that yf in ony maner wyse he myght gete to her too shewe his mynde The lady perceyuyÌ„ge that she wrote a letter cast it downe to hym And whan he had sene ouer the letter vnderstode the wyll of that lady he began to haunte Ioustes tournamentes dyde so many gret merueylous actes or dedes that the name of hym came to the kynge And as the kynge herde that he sent after hym sayd to hym Syr knyght I haue herde moche honour of you yf it wyll please you for to abyde to dwell with vs. we shall gyue you large gyftes rewardes The knyght answerd O ryght myÈty prynce I am your seruaunte wolde god that I coude do ony seruyse to please your magnyfycence wtout takynge of rewarde saue one thyng afore all other I desyre The kynge sayd shewe it boldely what thynge that it is The knyght sayd my lorde sythen that it hath pleased you for to take me as your seruauÌ„t one of youre counseyll me semeth that it were expedyent for bothe our solaces that I hadde a place nyghe too the wall of the castell that I myght at all tymes be the more redy at your callynge whan that ye haue nede ThenÌ„e the kynge sayd I consente it to you make it as ye thyÌ„ke it beste Tho wente the knyght hyred werkemeÌ„ made a fayre logynge by the walles of the toure whaÌ„ it was all redy He made a couenauÌ„t with a werkeman for to make out of his house a secrete way in to the tour whan it was made redy after his entente he kylled the werkeman by cause he sholbe not dyscouer went in to the quene dyde to her reuerence accordyÌ„g they talked of many thynges that at th ende he desyred for to slepe by her which she oftentymes denyed but neuer yeles she coÌ„sented to hyÌ„ After that the quene thought what shall I do yf I sholde gyue knowlege herof vnto my husboÌ„d therof sholde come two euyls that one is my shame the by auenture he shode vtterly forsake me dryue me out of his londe for euer the knyght he sholde sle for fro that dethe he coude not escape therfore it is better that I be styll tell not The knyght after that as of tentymes as it pleased hym he went in to the quene dyde his wyll with her And she gaue hym a rynge the whiche the kyng had gyuen vnto her at theyr weddynge This knyght in euery batayll and tournameÌ„t hadde the vyctory wherfore he wus and stode in grete fauour with the kynge in somoche that he made hyÌ„ his stewarde gouernoure of al his Regyon lond ¶ At happened vppon a daye that the kynge dysposed hym selfe for too goo too chase or huntynge and he commaunded his stewarde for too make hym redy vppon the morowe for too goo with hym whertoo he offred hym selfe all redy ¶ And on the morowe after they entred in to the forest all that daye they chased folowed the wylde bestes that they were so wery that the kynge by a fontayne sate hyÌ„ downe to reste the knyghte by the kynge fyll on slepe by hym hauynge the ryÌ„ge vpon his fynger the whiche the kyng marked knewe After that the knyght perceyued that the kynge had sene the rynge fayned hymself seke sayd My lorde I fele my selfe sore seke that yf I fynde not hastely remedy therfore by the meanes physyke I am but a dede maÌ„ therfore I pray you lycence me to go home To whome he sayd go my dere frend in goddes name he anone gate on his horse hasted hyÌ„ to his house wente to the quene gaue her ayen the rynge tolde her how the kynge hud marked it sene it on his fynger prayed her yf he made ony questyons of the rynge that he sholde shewe it to hyÌ„ This done he went downe ayen to his lodgyÌ„ge And anone ofter that the kynge came to the quene she receyued hym ryght louyÌ„gly after that a lytyl tyme was passed the kyng sayd My lady shew me where the ryng is that I gaue to you I desyre to se it O my lorde to what entente at this tyme desyre ye to se it Than sayd he yf ye shewe if not to me IncoÌ„tyneÌ„t it shall repente you She rose anone vp went to cheste brought the ryÌ„ge to the kynge And as he sawe the rynge he was halfe ashamed sayd vnto her O howe lyke is the knyghtes rynge vnto this rynge whyche I sawe vpon his fynger and I bileued that it had ben my rynge and therfore it was that I asked it of you so hastely after the rynge And of this euyll suspecyon I yelde my self gylty ayenst you my dere lady in this behalfe for the strength of the toure deceyued me For I thyÌ„ke the noo man myght come therin but I my self alone She sayde My dere lorde wonder not for one rynge is lyke an other for werke men make seldome ony werke but the other make the same but god forgyue it you that ye haue had me suspect whan ye knowe the strength of the toure the keyes ye haue alway by you byleue no man ther wt. After that the knyght lete ordeynÌ„ a grete dyner sayd to the kyÌ„ge My lorde it is so that my lady in loue is come out of my countre I haue done to be made a feste or a dyner gladly I wolde pray you that at this tyme ye wyll doo me honour take suche mete as is in my house The kynge sayd I shal gladly do you that worshyp more The knight was therof glad by his secrete way went to the quene sayd to her My lady this day ye shal come to my house by my preuy way clothe you in ryche clothynge after the way of my couÌ„tre ye shal syt at the table with the kynge as my souerayne lady make hyÌ„ good there She sayd as ye wyll I shall in all thyÌ„ges fulfyll whan the houre of mete was come the kyÌ„ge from the castell was comyng to wardes the knyghtes house In the meane tyme the quene entred by the secrete way in to the knyghtes lodgynge apparayled her after the maner of the knyghtes countre and whan the kynge was entred in to the house she salued hym reuerently and receyued hym and whan the
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
ther with may saue that ye may haue also that is to you requysyte behouefull And also me semeth it were expedyent that ye afore your departyng sholde mary my doughter Tho answerd Alexander wyll it please you my lorde too spare me at this tyme at my comynge home ayen I shall wedde hir with all honoure as to her apperteyneth The kynge answered sythen it is your wyll to go to themperours court I lycence you and therto I consente Alexander toke leue of the kynge toke with hym tresoure ynoughe went to themperours courte And whan he was come with a fayre companye he wente afore the Emperoure felle on his knees and salued hym dyd hym reuerence Themperoure rose frome his sete imperyall and kyssed hym asked of hym of whens what he was wherfore he was comen He answered and sayd I am sone heyre to the kynge of Egypte am come to do seruyce to your moost hyghe maieste yf it please you to accepte me Themperour sayd that he was ryght welcome cōmytted hym to his stewarde and made hym his keruer The stewarde ordeyned hym a fayre chamber purueyed hym all thynges that were necessary to the same And Alexander behaued hym so well wysely that in shorte tyme of all people he was beloued Not longe after that came the kynges sone of Fraunce to do seruyse to themperoure to lerne nurture whome themperour receyued honourably and demaūded his name of what kynred he was come He answered I am sone to the kynge of Fraūce I haue to name Lodwyke your seruaūte Tho sayd the Emperoure I haue made Alexander my karuer ye shall be my cuppe berer that al wayes ye shall do seruyse afore me at my table cōmaūded his stewarde to assygne hym a lodgynge whome he assygned with Alexander in his chamber These were soo lyke in stature in vysage in condycyons that vnneth the one myght be dyscerned fro the other but that Alexander was more in cōnyng lyghtlyer in his dedes than Lodwyke was for Lodwyk was a femynyne man shamfast these two yong men loued well togyder This Emperoure had a doughter oonly named Florentyne the which was ryght fayr gracyous shold be his heyre whome he loued entyerly whiche had a courte by her selfe seruaūtes to her assygned To whome the Emperour euery daye was accustomed to sende frome his table of his deyntes in tokenyng of loue by the hande of alexander wherupon the doughter began to haue hym meruaylouslye in her fauoure bycause of his wysdome his gracyous demenure It hapned vpon a day alexander at the mete tyme had suche a besynesse that he serued not at the table nor none other gaue attendaūce for hym in his rowme Lodwyk perceyued that serued in his stede And whan he had serued the Emperoure in his laste seruyce vpon his knee the Emperoure cōmaūded hȳ to bere a dysshe vnto his doughter as he was wonte to do thynkyng hym to be Alexander Tho toke Lodwyke the dysshe yede to the palays of the Emperours doughter salued her with grete reuerence set the mete afore her but vnto that tyme he had not seen her she perceyued anone that it was not alexander sayd to hym in this manere what is your name whos sone are ye he answered to hyr sayd Madame I am the kynges sone of fraūce my name is Lodwyk She sayd I thanke you of your laboure he toke his leue departed In the mene tyme came Alexander to the table they fulfylled ther seruyce The dyner done anone Lodwyk went to his bedde sore seke And Alexander apperceyuynge that went to his chamber sayd to hym O my best beloued frende felowe Lodwyk how is it with you what is the cause of your infyrmite He answered hym sayd the cause of it I knowe not but I fele me soo seke that I fere me I can not escape the dethe Alexander sayd the cause of your infyrmyte and dysease I knowe well For to daye whan as ye bare the mete vnto the Emperours doughter ye behelde hyr vysage beaute so feruently that your herte is taken rauysshed with her loue Therupon he answered O Alexander all the physysyans in the worlde coude not more truly Iuge my sekenesse but I fere it shall be my dethe Then sayd Alexander Be of good comforth I shall helpe you vnto my power yede vnto the market bought with his owne moneye a fayre clothe sette with precyous stones vnknowynge to Lodwyke presented it on his behalue vnto the mayden as she sawe that she asked hym where he myght that costely precyouse cloth fynde to bye he sayd Madame it is the sone of the moost crysten kynge that sendeth it vnto you for youre loue for he but for one syght that he hathe had of you is so seke that he lyeth vpon his bed vnto the dethe therfore yf ye suffre hym to perysshe ye shall neuer recouer ayen your honoure Tho sayd she O Alexander wolde ye this coūseyll me the I shold soo lese my vyrgynyte god defende that be ye sure Alexander that of suche messages ye shall neuer more haue ne wyn thanke therfore go ye out of my syght speke no more therof to me whanne Alexander herde that he dyd his obeysaunce departed the nexte daye Alexander wente ayen to the cyte bought a chaplet that was two tymes more in value than the cloth and therwith he yede to the maydens chamber yaue it to hyr on the behalue of Lodwyke And whan she sawe that costely gyfte she sayd vnto hym in this manere I marueyle of you that soo oftentymes as ye haue seen and spoken with me that ye haue not done your owne erande or spoken for your selfe but for an other Then he answered O madame I haue not ben so disposed by cause that my byrthe is not to be compared with yours And also it happened me neuer suche a case that my herte was so wounded he that hathe a gode felawe is boūde for to doo hym good true felysshyp and therfore moost eccellent pryncesse of youre moost habundaūte pyte haue compassyon vpon hym make hym hole that ye haue se woūded vnto the deth that it be not for euer layde vnto your crueltee impyteouse herte she answered hym go your wayes for at this tyme I wyll gyue you none answere therof And as he herde ye. he toke his leue departed And the thyrde daye he wente vnto the market boughte a gyrdell that thre tymes was more in value costelyer than the chaplet was presented it vnto her on the behalue of Lodwyk And whan she sawe behelde the so precyouse she sayd vnto Alexander Saye to Lodwyk that he come to my chamber aboute the thyrde hour in the nyght and he shall fynde the dore open Alexander herynge that