heed and thanked the Emperour of his grete mercy And than he wente forth and sought thorughe out all the Empyre so longe tyll he had founden themperours doughter / and the knyghtes and also the grehounde and brought theym agayne And after that wedded the yonge lady with grete honoure and Ioye / and also restored agayne the knyghtes goodes / and atte the laste he ended his lyfe in pease and in reste Amen ¶ This Emperoure betokeneth oure lorde Ihesu cryst His doughter betokeneth the soule of man made at the symylytude of our lorde god And the .v. knyghtes betokeneth the .v. wyttes armed with the vertue of baptyme to kepe yâ— soule The mayster of the knyghtes is reason whiche ought to gouerne the wyrtes The grehounde is the flesshe of man The stewarde betokeneth euery man to whome god hath gyuen lyfe and soule to kepe vnder payne of lesynge of euerlastynge lyfe But a wretched man not remembrynge that is to come ful often corrupted and defoyled his soule by synne and dryued her frome the palays of heuen / and than goothe she fro dore to dore / that is to saye frome synne to synne He dyspoyled these fyue knyghtes of theyr goodes / that is to saye the fyue wyttes of theyr vertues takynge awaye the lawfull syght fro the euen and exortyngetheym vnlawfully / and also styrynge his eeres to here sâ—lauÌ„der and bachytynge and so forth of all other wyttes and thus some be made theues and some manquellers The mayster of these fyue wyttes is slayne whan someuer man is ruled by wyll and not by reason The grehounde / that is the flesshe wherin a man delyteth was fedde and bounde with the chayne of reason whiche he breketh full often and renneth out and dooth moche harme The comyÌ„ge agayn of this Emperour from the holy londe betokeneth the comynge of our lorde Ihesu cryste at the daye of dome to deme all mankynde Therfore do we as the stewarde dyde accuse fyrst our self of our synne leste the deuyll and the worlde accuse vs and than it were to late to axe mercy / therfore do we of our clothes by tyme / that is to saye our synful lyfe / and take we thre ropes in our hondes The fyrste rope that sholde bynde our hondes and feet betokeneth the rope of contrycyon whiche not onely ought to bynde our hondes and feet but also our other membres bothe within and without soo harde that the blode brast out on euery syde / that is to saye that the synne myght voyde Her to accordeth Ezechiel saynge thus InquacuÌ„â—â— hora egerit penytenciam peccatoâ— saluus erit Whan someneâ— the synfull man dooth penauÌ„ce he shal be saued The seconde corde for to drawe the trespasser is confessyon whiche sholde drawe vs frome the begynnynge of oure lyfe vnto this daye by the penaunce of our mouth vnto the tyme that the flesshe be falle frome the bones / that is to saye tyll the lust of the flesshe be torned awaye by the stones of penaunce For in lyke wyse as the stone by nature and by kynde is harde And ryght soo penaunce oughte for to be harde And the thyrde rope whiche sholde hange the felloâ—â— is the rope of satysfaccyon of whiche hangynge speketh the appostle and sayth Suspende elegit anima mea My soule hath chosen to be hanged For lyke as a man is lyfte vp frome the grouÌ„de by hangyÌ„ge Ryght so a synner is lyft vp fro synne towarde heuen vnto god by the hangynge of satysfaccyon vpon this galous we sholde hange tyll the byrdes of heuen came doune / that is to saye tyll the Appostles come doune for to fede vs with our good dedes For there is more Ioye of one synner doynge his penaunce afore the aungels of god in heuen c. Lyke as the stewarde brought agayne themperours doughter So it behoueth vs for to seche about by dyuerse werkes of mercy fynde our soule whiche we loste and brynge her agayne to the churche and gouerne well our fyue wyttes / fe dde our grehounde as sholde make our lyfe so clene and pure the we falle not agayne in synne for drede yf it fortune vs worse and that we haue no layser for to aske mercy agayne at our nede And yf we fulfyl al this truely tyll our lyues ende without doubte we shall opteyne euerlastyÌ„ge lyf Vnto the whiche our lorde bryÌ„ge vs al Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour and a wyse named Edfenne / the whiche ordeyned for lawe the who someeuer rauysshed a mayde sholde be at her wyll / whether she wolde put hym to deth or that she wolde haue hym to her husbande It befelle after on a daye that a man rauysshed vpon a nyght two maydens / the fyrst damoysell desyred that she sholde dye / the seconde desyred weddynge The rauyssher was taken and ledde before the Inge that sholde satysfye to the these damoysels thrughe his wysdome and ryghtfulnesse The fyrst mayde euer desyred the dethe accordynge to the lawe And than sayd the seconde and I desyred hym for to be my husbande / for lyke wyse as thou haste the lawe for the / in lyke wyse I haue it for me And neuerthelesse my petycion is more and better than yours for it is more chary table / therfore me thynketh in my reason that the Iustyce sholde gyue sentence with me Than the Iustyce vnderstandynge the grete mercy of the seconde mayden gaue Iugement that he sholde wedde her and soo it was done ¶ This Emperour betokeneth our lorde Ihesu cryste The rauyssher beketoneth euery synner whiche rauysshed goddes mercy as often as he dyffoyleth the commaundementes of god by synne / for the deuyll may neuer ouercome man but yf it be suffred by wyll For saynt Austyn sayth Non est peccatum nisi sit voluÌ„tariuÌ„ It is no synne but yf it be voluÌ„tary The synner rauyssheth the mercy of god as ofte as he hath very contrycon The rauyssher also is called afore the Iustyce whan the soule is departed frome the body / anone the fyrste damoysell the is the deuyll larde ayenst the synner that ought to dye euerlastyngely by the lawe of ryghtwysnesse But that other mayden that is cryste layde for her yâ— mercy of god ought to helpe by contrycyon and confessyon whiche is the hyghe waye to euerlastynge lyfe Vnto the whiche god brynge bothe ye and me Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour and a ryche named Lypodyus whiche toke to his wyfe a fayre virgyn and a gentyll and was the kynge of Assyryens doughter This yonge lady conceyued and bare a chylde / and in the byrth of her sone she dyed And anone after her dyscesse this Emperour wedded an other wyfe begate her with chylde also And anone after the these chylderne were borne he sente them bothe in to straunge londe for to be nourysshed Than sayd the moder of the seconde chylde My reuerente lorde x. yere ben passed sythen I bare my chylde yet sawe I hym
agayne atte the daye of dome whan soule and body shall be gloryfyed / and in that he is our brother and it may well be proued by the texte of Ysaye saynge thus Puer natus est nobis c A chylde is borne to vs. This Focus lost .ii. d. vpon his wyfe Thy wyfe betokeneth thy flesshe vpon whome thou hast lost .ii. d. that is to saye vnlawfull loue and consente of synnes / for why / the flesshe is contrary to the goost and euer is redy to harme This Focê° also spended .ii. d. on hym selfe / that is to laye / by the fyrste penny thou shalt vnderstonde penaunce done in the whiche the soule gretely delyteth in heuen and there is gloryfyed / And by the seconde penny we ought to vnderstande that sted fast abydynge in doynge of penaunce / for he that abydeth vnto the ende shall be saued And who that spended well this .ii. d. shall opteyne euerlastynge lyfe Vnto the whiche brynge vs our lorde Ihesus cryste Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperoure whyche amonge all other vertues loued best mercy / wherfore he ordeyned a lawe that euery blynde man sholde hane an hondred s by yere of his tresoure It befelle vpon a daye that there came certayne men to a tauerne to drynke wyne / and after that these men had sytten in the tauerne thre dayes yâ— fourth daye they were gretely in the tauerners dette and had no money to paye for theyr wyne wherfore the tauerner came to theym and charged them that they sholde not voyde tyll they had payed for theyr wyne Than sayd one of yâ— drynkers to his felowes syrs quod he themperour hath made suche a lawe that euery blynde man shall haue an hondred s of his tresour therfore cast we lotte amonge vs / and to whome the lotte falleth late his eyen be put out so may he go to themperours palays gete the hondred s thus this gretely reioysed and sayd that the counceyll was ryght good / wherfore they cast lottes amonge theym and the lotte felle on hym that gaue the counceyll / than his folowes forth with put out his eyen And whan he was blynde he wente forth to themperours palays and axed of the stewarde an hondred s accordynge to the emperours lawe Dere frendes sayd the stewarde thou myghtest se with bothe thyne yesterdaye / and thou also vnderstandest the lawe amys / for the lawe is made for men that are blynde thrugh infyrm y tees or by the wyll of god and yesterdaye thou haddest thy syght in the tauerne / but wylfully thou hast lost thyne eyer therfore go thou to the tauerne agayne to thy folowes and make thy pease and quyte thy selfe for here getest thou not a ferthynge Than wente this wretched man forth tolde his felowes of the stewarde answere / and with that came in the tauerner and dyspoyled theym of all theyr clothes and bete theym and thus droue them with shame out of the cyte and soo were they there neuer seen after ¶ Dere frendes this Emperoure is oure lorde Ihesu whiche ordeyned for lawe that euery blynde man sholde haue an hondred s of his tresoure This blynde man betokeneth euery synner whiche synned thrugh infyrmytees of entysyÌ„ge of the deuyll the worlde the flesshe whiche shall receyue an hondred s yf he be Inwardely repentaunt of his synnes / that is to saye he shall haue an hondred tymes more / Ioye accordynge to the scrypture saynge thus CentupluÌ„ accipietis vitam eternam possidebitis Ye shall receyue an hondred tymes more Ioye yf ye be repentaunt and torne frome synne / also ye shall haue euerlastynge lyfe These men that came to the tauerne and drynkyn the wyne be synners whiche oftentymes comen vnto the tauerne of our aduersarye the deuyll and drynken / that is for to saye / they do consume and there wast a waye all goostly vertues whiche they receyued whan they toke crystendome at the fonte stone / wherfore the deuyll our enemye dyspoyleth theym and maketh theym to lese all theyr good dedes that euer they wrought before they casted lottes / that is to saye they caste amonge theym the custome of synne / and this lotte of synne falleth on them that is worshypful and without mercy and suche a man wylfully becometh blynde / that is to saye he becometh wylfully a foule synner lyke Iudas that betrayed oure lorde withoute ony subgeccyon or entysynge / therfore suche men synne more greuously whan they come before the stewarde / that is to saye before the prelates of yâ— chirche they maye not lyghtly opteyne the Ioye of heuen / for why / they be not in the ryght waye to leue theyr synne Therfore studye we with all our dylygence to plese god the we maye opteyne euerlastynge rewarde Vnto the whiche brynge vs our lorde Ihesus Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour named Pylomiê° whiche had no chylde but a doughter a fayre mayden and a gracyous in the syght of euery man and was named Aglaes There was also in themperours palays a gentyll knyght that loued this lady aboue all thynge in the worlde It befelle after vpon a daye that this knyght taked with this lady vttred in secrete wyse his desyre to her Than sayd she curtoysly / syth ye haue vttred to me the preuytes of your herte I shall in lyke wyse for youre loue vtter to you the secretes of my herte / and truly I saye that aboue all other I loue you best Than sayd the knyght I purpose to vysyte the holy londe / therfore gyue me your trouth the this .vii. yere ye shall take none other man but onely for my loue that ye shall so longe abyde me / yf I come nor agayn to this day vii yere take than what man that ye lyst best And in lyke wyse I shall promyse you that within this .vii. yere I shal take no wyfe Than sayd she / this couenaunt pleaseth me wel whan this was sayd eueryche of them bytrouthed other / than the knyght tooke his leue of this lady wente forth to the holy londe Anone after that themperour treated with the kynge of Hungry of maryage for his doughter Than came yâ— kynge of Hungry to themperours palays to se that yonge domoysell / and whan he sawe her maruaylously he lyked her of her fayrnes and goodnes soo that the Emperour the kynge were accorded in all thynges touchynge yâ— maryage vpon the condycyon that the damoysell wolde consent Than called themperour the yonge lady to hym and sayd O my swete doughter I haue prouyded for the that a kynge shall be thy husbonde yf the lyst to thyn assent / therfore telle me what answere thou wylte gyue to this Than sayd she to her fader it pleaseth me well / but of one thynge dere fader I you beseche yf it myght please you to graunte me for the loue of god I haue auowed my chastyte only to god for this
the mayster of shyppe / and here up on the mayster threwe me in to the see / but god saued me frome that dethe and bycause I helped ones the lyon atte a nede he forsoke me neuer syns / and now as ye see all whaÌ„ I came in to my palays withoute ony comforte of me he hathe slayne bothe the auoutrers And therefore vnderstonde ye for trouthe that I am youre lorde the Emperour Anone whan they herde this they lyfte vp theyr eyen / and behelde hym / and atte the laste they knewe hym for theyr lorde / wherfore they were gretely gladded / and praysed god for that myracle whiche had saued theyr lorde and Emperour And the lyued in reste and pease ¶ By this Emperour ye maye vnderstonde euery crysten man that purposed to vysyte the holy londe / that is to saye togete euerlastynge lyfe thrugh werkes of mercy But his wyfe / that the wretched flesshe murmured agaynst the soule and loueth better her lemman / that is deedly synne thaÌ„ her husbande This Emperour wente in to the shyppe takynge his Iourneye to warde the holy londe / that is for the saye he wente vnto holy chirche whiche is the waye to god But the wyfe that is to saye flesshly men accused hym to the mayster of the shyppe / that is to saye to the prelates of the chirche for grete mede whiche oftentymes blyndeth the syght of many Iustyce where thrughe many parfyte men ben caste out of the shyppe in to the see to be drowned / that is to saye out of the chirche into the see of this wretched worlde But what shall he doo than that is thus casten to be troubled in this worlde / certaynly thus ought he to do / lete hym lerne to swymme / that is to saye let hym put all his hope in god and than by the grace he shall come to an ylonde / that is to saye the relygyon of clene herte / and that he shall loue euer the better to kepe hymself out of this worlde / and therfore sayth saynt Iames thus A clene relygyon and â—ndefoyled is a precyous thynge in the syghte of god / and he that is in this relygyon shall fynde a lyon to whome hym behoueth to gyue ayenst â—â— euyil This lyon is our lorde Ihesu cryst that came of the kynrede of Iude which â— fyghteth euer agaynst the deuyll And yf a man hath holpen this lyon atte ony tyme trust well than that he wyll not forsake hym but be with hym atte all his nede / accordynge to the psalmyste saynge thus CuÌ„ipÌ„o sum in tribulacioÌ„e I am with hym in trouble By this lyon thou mayst take thy wyfe / that is to saye thy flesshe with penaunce and slee thy synne and than without doubte thou shalte optcyne the Empyre of heuen Vnto the whiche brynge vs our lorde Ihesus Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour named Gorgony whiche had wedded a gentyll damoysell and a fayre to his wyfe / this yonge lady within due processe conceyued and bare hym a sone a fayre chylde and an amyable Whan this yonge chylde was x. yere olde / his moder the Emppresse dyed And after the Emperour wedded an other wyfe This seconde wyfe loued in no wyse the Emperours sone / but dyde hym all the shame and repreef that she myght Whan the Emperour had perceyued this wyllynge for to please his wyfe exyled his sone out sone out of his Empyre And whaÌ„ this chylde was exyled / he wente and lerned physyke / soo that within a shorte tyme he was a subtyll and a connynge physycyen It befell sone after that the Emperour his fader sykened and was almoost deed wherfore whan he herde that his sone was suche a physycyen he sente for hym by letters praynge hym that he wolde come to hym withoute delaye And than the sone wyllynge to obey and to fulfyll his faders commaundement in all thynge and soo in all hast came to hym And whan he had seen his fader and groped his pouces and his vaynes / all maner of sykenesse that he had was soone helyd with his medycynes frome all maner of daungers Soone after that the Empresse his stepmoder began to waxe syke And many physycyens sayd the she wolde deye and whan themperour herde this he prayed his sone for to helpe her of her sykenesse Than sayd his sone / certaynly fader I wyll not laye hande on her Than the Emperour at this began to waxe wrothe and sayd / yf thou wylte not obeye my commaundement thou shalte voyde my felaushyppe His sone answered and sayd / yf ye do soo dere fader ye doo vnryghtfully for well ye knowe the ye exyled me out of your Empyre thrughe her suggestyon / myn absence was cause of your sorowe sekenesse And in lyke my presence is cause her sekenesse / and therfore I wyll not medell with her / and also I wyll vse nomore medycynes for oftentymes physycyens ben desceyued / and therfore I bare not laye hande on her leste men wolde saye that yf it fortuned her to dye that I were cause therof Than sayd the Emperour she hath quod he the same sekenes that I had His sone answered and sayd / thoughe she haue the same sekenes neuer thelesse ye be not of one complexyon For what so euer I dyde to you ye helde you contente And whan ye sawe me come with in the palays ye reioysed of my comynge and gretely were eased for to see hym that ye begate But whaÌ„ my stepmoder sawe me she swelled for anger waxed euyll at ease / and therfore yf I sholde speke to her her sorowe wolde encrease / and yf I touche her she wolde be frome her self And also a physycyen prouffyteth nought but where as the seke man delyteth in hym And whan the chylde had sayd he escaped and went his waye ¶ This Emperour betokeneth euery crysten man whiche is wedded to his crystendome at the fonte stone for whan the soule is made the spouse of cryste on whome man begeteth a sone / that is to saye reason But this wyfe / that is to saye crystendome dyeth whan someuer a man lyeth in deed ly synne and after her a man wedded a stepdame / that is to saye wyckednesse as oftymes as he is gouerned by wyl and not by reason / wherfore a man that lyueth by flesshely lust of tyme eryleth reason / and than anone the soule waxeth seke for the absence of reason is cause of the sekenesse of the soule But whan reason whiche is bothe goostly and bodely the physycyan is bryngyÌ„ge agayne by werkes of mercy thaÌ„ anone man is heeled of his sykenes But than the stepmoder waxed seke / that is to saye whan frowarde wyll waxed seke than is the flesshe oppressed by penaunce And therfore study we to oppresse our flesshe soo by penaunce the we may come vnto euerlestynge Ioye Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour named Folemê° whiche had wedded the kynges doughter of
duchelonde a fayre lady and gentyll whiche within shorte tyme was conceyued bare a sone Whan this chylde was borne the states of the Empyre came vnto the Emperour eueryche of them syngulerly besought the Emperour to nourysshe his sone The Emperour answered sayd / to morowe shall be a torneye there shall ye all be / whiche of you doth best opteyneth the vyctory shall haue kepynge of my sone / and yf he nourysshe hym wel I shall promote hym to grete dygnyte and honours And yf he do the contrary he shall dye the foulest dethe yâ— can be thought Thansayd they Ryght reuerent lorde all this pleaseth vs well On the morowe whaÌ„ euery man was come to the torney The states Iusted and scarmusshed full manfully longe tyme tyll at the last there came a doughty knyght named Iosyas the so manfully bare hym selfe amonge them all that he wanne the vyctory And anone whan all was done / this Iosyas toke the chylde and led hym forth with hy â— / bycause this Emperours sone shol de be receyued in his countree he sente before to his castell coÌ„maunded his offycers the it sholde be dyght bo the without and within / that the chyldes bedde sholde be made in the myddes of the castell / and also the seuen sâ—yences sholde be paynted aboue the chyldes bedde the whan the chylde wakened out of his slepe he myght lye in his bedde rede his lesson This knyght had a fructefull an holsome well by the chyldes beddes syde wherin he vsed to bathe hym selfe therin / the knyghtes wyfe bare the keye of this wellâ— there was a wyndowe yâ— the sonne myght come in shyne It fortuned vpon a daye the the lady the kepte the keye lefte the wyndowe open thrughe neclygence And whan the lady had done there came a bere sawe the wyndowe open wente vnto the wel and vathed hym therin / of whose bathynge the well sauoured after for grete hete the was the tyme / wherfore whose so euer dronke therof waxed lepre within shorte tyme. And soo it fortuned within a lytell space after the the lorde the lady and also theyr housholde were lepers not withstoÌ„d yÌ„ge it appâ—ered not sodeynly And in the meane tyme there came a 〈◊〉 Egle in at the wyndowe there as the Emperours sonclaye bare the chylde awaye oute of his cradell And whan the knyght perceyued this he wepte bytterly sayd Alas alas wo to me wretched creature the euer I was borne what shall I do for now I am the sone of deth / for I am a foule leper so is my wyfe also all myn housholde And the whyle he was thus mournynge there came vnto hym a physycyen sayd to hym in this maner Syr yf ye well do after my counceyll it shall not repente you Fyrste it behoueth you your wyfe all your housholde also for to be laten blode / after that to be hathed wasshen clene / than shall I laye to my medecyne And whan yâ— art hole thaÌ„ shall you your wyfe also all your housholde walke vnto the mountaynes and hylles and seke the Emperours sone for the Egle hath leten hym falle in to some place The knyght wrought all thynge by the counceyll of this physycyen / and anone after he was leten blode and had receyued the medecyne / and than he was hole and his wyfe also all his houssholde wherfore he lepte on his horse toke with hym thre squyers and robe forth and sought and chylde And at the last he founde hym hole and sounde lyenge in a baleye and thaÌ„ he was gretely reioysed And for the grete Ioye and gladnesse that was in hym for fyndynge of his lorde the Emperoures sone he made a grete feest / after the feest soo done he ledde the chylde home to the Emperour And whan the Emperour sawe his sone in good helthe he was ryght glade / wherfore he promotd hyÌ„ to grete worshyppe whiche lyued after that longe tyme in grete honoure and worshyp and atte the laste he ended his lyfe in pease and in reste ¶ This Emperour betokeneth the fader of heuen His sone betokeneth our lorde Ihesu cryste whome many men desyre to nourysshe at eester whan they receyue the sacrament Neuerthelesse he the hest Iusteth with the deuyl ouercometh hym thrughe penauÌ„ce The knyght the toke this chylde with hyÌ„ betokeneth a good crysten man the fasted truly blyssedly all the lente before / therfore do we as the knyght dyde sende we before messengers to dyght to make clene the castel of our herte frome all spotte of synne by werkes of mercy so shall this chylde Ihesu reste and lyght in the myddes of out herte The welle betokeneth mercy whiche ought to be next our lorde For who souer is without mercy and trouth may not nourysshe the blyssed chylde Ihesu But it hapned ofte the the knyghtes wyfe the is the flesshe of man bered the keye of mercy and ofte lefte the welle open / than cometh the bere the is the deuyll caste the venym in to the well of mercy / who the hast therof shall be Infected with the leper of synne The wyndowe wherin the sonne shyneth is the grace of the holy goost by whome men lyued and are comforted goostly by this wyndowe the Egle cometh in / that is to saye the power of almyghty god toke awaye the Chylde Ihesu from the herte of man than man had grete cause to wepe / but what shall he do whan the chylde is gone but sende for a subtyll physycien that is to saye a dyserete confessoure whiche shall gyue hym counseyll to lete hyÌ„ blode all his houshol de that is to saye to put out synne thrughe very confessyon of tonge before his ghoostly fader Than must be bathe hyÌ„selfe with teres of contrycyon coÌ„punccyon of tonge / after the take the medycyne of satysfaccyon than shall he be made clene from all maner of synne And whaÌ„ he hath done thus he must lepe on the palfray of good lyfe tyde forth w e his thre souyres / that is to saye w e fastynge prayer almesdedes / and than without doubte he shall fynde the chylde Ihesu in the valey of humylyte and not in a hyll / that is to saye pryde / and yf he do this doubtles he shall haue myght power to nourysshe that blyssed chylde Ihesu / for whose nourysshyÌ„ ge the fader of heuen shall promote hym vnto euerlastynge Ioye Vnto the whiche Ioye god brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour whiche was named Fulgenctê° whiche gouerned his people nobly / and loued them so moche the he made to proclame thrughe out all nacyons the who someuer wolde come to hyÌ„ryche or poore atte a certayne day sholde haue theyr petycyon what someuer it were Whan the myghty men herde this
the Emperour herde that so holy a woman was in suche a nonry he sayd to his broder thus Goo we quod he dere broder vnto this holy woman that is dwellynge in the nourye that she may hele the of thy lepre wolde god quod he that I were heled Anone the Emperour his owne persone wente with his broder towardes the Nonery And whan that the Nones herde of his comynge they resceyued hym worshypfully and with processyon And than the Emperour enquyred of the pryoresse of ony suche holy woman were amonge them that coude hele seke folke of theyr maladyes The pryoresse answered and sayd / that suche one was there Than was the Empresse called forth afore the Emperour / but she muffled her face as well as she coude / that the Emperourt her husbande sholde not knowe her / and whan she had soo done She salued hym with grete reuerence as perteyned vnto his estate / he agayne in lyke wyse saynge thus O go de lady yf the lyst of thy grace to hele my broder of his lepre Axe of me what thou wylte I shall graunt it the for thy rewarde / whan y◠Empresse herde this she loked aboute her sawe there the Emperours broder stode and was a foule lepre She sawe also there the knyght that slewe the Erles doughter blinde defe The thefe that she saued fro the galowes lame also the mayster of the shyp dystraught oute of his mynde all were come to her for to be heled of theyr sykenesse but they knewe her not / for all the they knewe her not thoughe she knewe them Than sayd she vnto themperour thus my reuerent lorde though ye wolde gyue me all your Empyre I may not hele youre broder nor none of these other but yf they knowelege openly what they haue done / whan that Emperour herde this he torned hym towarde his broder sayd to hym broder knowelege openly thy synne before all these men that thou mayst be heled of sekenesse Anone he began to telle how he had lyued his lyfe / but he tolde not how he had hanged the Empresse in the foreste by the heere / whan that he had knoweledged all that hym lyste The Empresse sayd sothely my lorde I wolde gladly laye vnto hym my medycyne But I wote ryght well it is in vayne for he hath not made a ful confessyon The Emperour herynge this torned hym towarde his broder / sayd agayne in this wyse what euyll sorowe or vnhappy wretchednesse is in the feest thou not that thou arte a foule laser Therfore knowelege truely thyne synne that thou mayst be hole / or elles auoyde my felawshyppe for euer A lorde quod he I may not tell my lyfe openly but yf I be sure of thy grace / what hast thou trespaced ayenst me quod the Emperour His broder answered and sayd / myn offence agaynst the is greuous / and therfore I aske mercy The Emperour thought not of the Empresse for as moche as he supposed she had be dede many yeres before / he bad his brother telle forth what he had offended hym and he sholde be forgyuen And whan the Emperour had thus forgyuen his broder he began to telle openly how he had desyred the Empres to synne with hym / how he had hanged her by the heere in the forest by cause she wolde not consente to hym whan the Emperour herde this almoost wretched creature the vengeaūce of god is fallen on that and were not that I haue pardoned the thou sholdest dye the foulest deth that coude be thought Than sayd the knyght that slewe the erles doughter I wote not quod he of what lady ye ment / but well I wote that my lorde foūde suche a lady hangȳge by y◠heere in foreste brought her home to his castell bytoke her his doughter in kepynge / I styrred her to syn̄e with me as moche as I coude but she wolde not consent / wherfore I slewe the erles doughter the lay with her And whan that I had so done I put the blody knyfe in the ladyes hande that the erle sholde thynke she had slayne his doughter with her owne hande / than was she exyled thens but where she became wote I not Than sayd thefe I wote neuer of what lady ye mene but well I wote y◠seuen sergeauntes were ledynge me to the galowes / suche a lady came rydynge by bought me of them / and than wente I with her and afterwarde I betrayed her vnto a mayster of a shyppe Suche a lady quod he receyued I. And whan that we were the myddes of the see I wolde haue layne with her but she satte doune to her prayers / anone there arose suche a tempeste that the shyppe all to braste and were all drowned saue I But what after that befell on her wote I not ¶ Than ctyed the Empresse with an hyghe voyce and sayd Sothly dere frendes ye are now clene confessed / wherfore now wyl I laye to my medycyne / and anone they receyued theyr helthe / whan the lady had thus done she opened her face vnto the Emperour / and he knewe her anone and ranne to her braced her in his armes and kyssed her oftentymes / and for Ioye wepte bytterly saynge thus Blyssed be god now haue I founde that I desyred And whan he had thus sayd he led her home vnto his palyce with grete Ioye and after whan god wolde be pleased they ended theyr lyues both in pease ¶ This Emperour betokeneth our lorde Iesu cryste The Empres betokeneth an holy soule The Emperours broder betokeneth that flesshe to whome our lorde Ihesi cryste hath gyuen charge of his Empyre / but moste prȳcipally to the soule Netheles y◠wretched flesshe ofte styreth the soule to synne But the soule whiche loueth god aboue all thȳge withstandyth that temptacyon and calleth to her / her goostly power that is to saye reason wyll vnderstandynge and concyence and maketh theym to enpryson the flesshe whiche is dysobedyent to the soule in the pryson of penaunce vnto the tyme he obeye vnto reason in all thynge / and thus in hope of mercy he synneth agayn whome holy scrypture saȳge thus Maledictus homo qui peccat in spe Cursed be that man that synneth in hope And atte the last the soule enclyneth to the flesshe and letteth hym of the pryson of penaunce and wassheth hym frome the fylthe of synne and arayeth hym with good vertues and maketh hymn lepe o◠the palfray of charyte and so rydeth he forthe to mete our lorde on Esterday But alas for full ofte the synner trespaceth agaynst the holy scrypture wherfore the herte that is to saye / the lust of the flesshe and of synners aryseth before hym and after renneth grete houndes that is to saye euyll thoughtes / and so longe they chase tyll the body and the soule be lefte alone / than the flesshe styreth that noble soule the spouse of almyghty god vnto
to bynde and to vnbynde The fyrst herbe is contrycyon of whome thou sholdest make thy drynke of teeres Ambrose sayth that teeres wassheth synne where shame is to knowlege these two other herbes ben confessyon and satysfaccyon / yf these herbes be vsed in playster the synne without doubte shall receyue his helth and his soule shal be delyuered fro synne / and by all ryght he shall haue euerlastynge lyfe Vnto the whiche brynge vs our lorde Ihesus SOmtyme there reygned in the cyte of Rome a myghty Emperoure and a wyse named Frederyk whiche had onely but one sone whome he loued moche This Emperoure whan he lay in the poynte of deth he called vnto hyÌ„ his sone and sayd drede sone I haue a balle of golde whiche I gyue the vpon my blessynge that thou anone after my deth shall gyue it to the moost fole that thou mayest fynde Than sayd his sone My lorde without doubte thy wyll shall be fulfylled Anone this yonge lorde after the dethe of his fader wente and sought in many realmes and founde many foles rycheles / by cause he wolde satysfye his faders wyll laboured ferther tyll he came in to a realme where the lawe was suche that euery yere a newe kynge sholde be chose there / this kynge hath only the gydynge of that realme but a yere / at the yeres ende he shall be deposed and put in exyle in an ylende where as he sholde wretchedly fynysshe his lyf / whaÌ„ themperours sone came vnto this realme the newe kynge was chosen with grete honoure / al maner of mynstralsye wente afore hym brought hym with grete reuerence and worshyp vnto his regal sete And whan the Emperours sone sawe that he came vnto hym and salued hym reuerently and sayd My lorde lo I gyue to the this balle of golde on my faders behalfe Than sayd he I praye the tell me the cause why thou gyuest me this balle Than answerd this yonge lorde and sayd thus My fader quod he charged me in his deed bedde vnder payne of his blessynde that I sholde gyue this balle to the moost fole that I coude fynde / wherfore I haue sought many realmes and haue fouÌ„de / wherfore I haue sought many realmes and haue fouÌ„de many foles neuerthelesse a more fole than thou arte founde I neuer therfore this is the reason It is not vnknowen to the that thou shalt reygne but a yere at the yeres ende thou shalte be exyled in to suche a place where as thou shalt dye a myscheuous deth / wherfore I holde the for the moost fole that euer I founde that for that lordshyp of a yere thou woldest so wylfully lese thy selfe / therfore before all other I haue gyuen to the this balle of golde Than sayd the kynge with out doute thou sayeth me sothe / and therfore whan I am in full power of this Realme I shall sende byfore me grete tresoure and rychesse wherwith I may lyue and saue my selfe frome myscheuous deth whan that I shall be exyled put doune and so is was done / wherfore at the yeres ende he was exyled and lyued there in â—pease vpon suche goodes as he had sent before / and he deyed afterwarde a good dethe ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour is the fader of heuen the whiche byquethed the balle / that is for to saye worldely rychesse to foles ydeotes whiche sauereth no thyÌ„ge but that erthely is This Emperours sone / that is for to saye a prechour and a dyscrete confessoure serched about many realmes and londes to shewe to mysbeleuynge men and foles they peryll The realme wherin no kynge myght regne but a yere is this worlde For who so had lyued an hondred yere whan he cometh to the dethe hym shall seme that he hath lyued but the space of an houre therfore do as the kynge dyde whyle that ye be in power of lyfe / sende before you your tresour that is to saye almes dedes other good merytory werkes / certaynly whan ye be put in exyle out of this worlde ye shal lyue in pease shall fynde that mercy of god plentefull wherby ye shall opteyne euerlastynge lyfe Vnto yâ— whiche brynge vs he / that for vs deyed on her rode tree Amen OYoclesyan reygned in yâ— cyte of Rome / in whose Empyre dwelled a noble phylosopher the whiche sette vp by his crafte an ymage in the myddes of the cyte of Rome the whiche ymage or fygure streyght out his arme and his formest fynger where vpon stode this poyse wryten in latyÌ„ Percute hic Smyte here This ymage after that dethe of this phylosopher stode styll a longe tyme. And many grete clerkes came thyder for to rede the superscrypcyon that was on yâ— fynger / but none of them vnderstode what it mente / wherfore there was grete wonder amonge the people And at yâ— laste a longe tyme after there came a straunge clerke out of ferre countrees / and whan he sawe this ymage he redde the scrypture Smyte here ¶ And than vpon a daye whan he sawe the shadowe of the hande he toke a mattocke and brake vp the grounde vnder the hande where yâ— shadowe was accordynge too the vnderstandynge of the superscrypcyno And anone he founde an house all of marble vnderneth the grounde where in he dyde dyscende / and entred in to an halle were he founde so moche rychesse so many Iewelles soo grete meruaylles that he neuer herde ne sawe suche neyther so many before that tyme. At the laste he sawe a borde couered and all maner of necessarye thynges accordynge therto layde thereupon He hâ—helde ferder and sawe a carbuncle in a wall that lyghtened all the house And afore ayenst this Carbuncle on that other syde stode a man holdynge in his hande a bowe with an arowe râ—dy for to shote The clerke maruaylled moche whan he sawe al these thynges and thought in hym selfe / yf that I tell this forth there wyll no man beleue me / and therfore I wyll haue somwhat of these goodes in tokâ—n of proue And with that he sawe knyfe of golde vpon the borde whiche he toke and wolde haue put it in his bosome But anone the archer smote that Carbuncle and brake it wherwith all the hole house was shadowed and made derke And whan the clerke perceyued it he wepte more byttterly than ony man myght thynke / for he wyst not by what way that he myght go out For so moche that the house was made derke thorughe the brekynge of that carbuncle And that same derkenesse abode stylle for euer / more after / and so fynysshed yâ— clerke his lyfe there in that derkenesse ¶ Dere frendes this ymage so standynge is that deuyll / whiche sayth euermore Smyte here That is for to saye Take hede vnto erthely rychesse / not to heuenly tresoure This clerke whiche smote with the mattocke betokeneth the wyse men of this worlde as pleders of lawe / vocates / other worldly
.vii. yere sayd he lefte I a precyous nette in a preuy place / and nowe I wyll ryde and vysyte it / yf it be broken or to torne than wyl I leue it / and yf it be hole as I lefte it than shal it be to me ryght precyous I shall bere it with me Whan the Emperour herde this he cryed with a lowde voyce and sayd O ye my knyghtes and my seruauntes goo ye lyghtly vnto my doughters chamber for sothely that is the nette where of the knyght spake And anone his knyghtes and his seruauntes wente vnto his doughters chamber founde her not / the forsayd knyght had take her with hym And thus the kynge was dysceyued of the damoysell he wente home agayne to his owne countree confounded ¶ Dere frendes t is Emperoure is oure blyssed lorde Ihesus Cryste And this fayre doughter is euerlastynge lyfe the whiche that the emperoure hadde ordeyned for kynges knyghtes and for men The knyght that loued this yonge lady is euery good crysten soule whiche holdeth hym selfe not worthy to come in the syght of god vnto suche Ioye As the appostle sayth Non est condigne passionis huius temporis ad futuram gloriam The be not soo worthy of sufferynge to come vnto that glorye that is to come This knyght wente seuen yere on pylgrymage / lyke as a good crysten man all the dayes of his lyfe sholde laboure in fnlfllynge the seuen werkes of mercy By this kynge that cometh wtoute cloke in the rayne is to vndestande the myghty men of this worlde / as Iustyces Mayres balyes whiche had noclokes to couer al their other clothes by this cloke is vndstaÌ„de charyte / the whiche as the appostle sayth Caritas cooperit multitudinem peccatorum Charyte couerth all our synnes But many men haue not this cloke / wherfore they be wete in the rayne of pryde auaryce / and lechery This kynge was also almoost drowned for by cause he lacked his brydge / that is to saye parfyte fayth For we see dayly that there may no man passe ouer a grete water brode and horryble depe wtout a brydge or somme other thynge that is able for to bere hym Ryght to without fayth it is Impossyble for to please god / and thus may no man be saued withoute fayth whan they sette theyr lyfe in worldely Ioye or wordely helpe more than in the helpe of almyghty god whiche is myghty for to do all thynges / wherfore he sayth hymselfe thus Saluator si habueritis fidem sicut granuÌ„ sinapis poteritis et cetera Yf he haue fayth as the grayne of mustarde / than maye ye saye vnto the hylles Goo thou forth and it shall goo But many of vs now a dayes hath to ouer feble a fayth therfore they shall sodanly falle in the claye of desperacyon / and by deedly synne often tymes they offende god Also this kyÌ„ge had not brought with hym his fader and his moder By the father whiche is cause of gouernacyon is vnderstande humylyte without whome there is noo vertue in no man And therto accordeth saynt Gregory saynge thus Si quis ceteris virtutes sine humilitate congregat et cete He that gadereth al other vertues without humylyte is lyke a man that casteth duste in the wynde His moder betokeneth hope therfore he that wyll opteyne euerlastynge lyfe hym behoueth to haue the cloke of charyte / brydge of fayth a fader of mekenesse / and a moder of hope / as the appostle sayth Spe salut facti sumus Also this knyght wente the strayte pathe waye / and the kynge the brode waye / for he that wyll be saued behoueth to goo a strayte waye / that is to saye / the waye of fastynge / almes dedes / chastyte / and penaunce / of the whiche waye speketh the appostle ¶ Stricta est via que ducit ad vitam eternam The way is strayte that ledeth to euerlastynge lyfe But many men gone that other waye whiche ledeth to helle / that is to saye by the waye of flesshely luste and suche men gone oute of the waye of euerlastynge lyfe / but suche men be deceyued thrughe the waye Therfore study we to walke that waye wherby we may opteyne euerlastynge lyfe Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty stronge a bataylous Emperoure named Agias whiche had with hym a knyght whome men called Gerarde whiche was a doughty warryour neuerthe lesse he was as meke as a lambe in the Emperours hall / but in the felde he was lyke a lyon This Emperour had a fayre doughter whome the stronge and myghty exle of palaster rauysshed dysfloured neuerthesse it dysplesed more themperour the dyffoylnge of his doughter than the rauysshynge / wherfore he called vnto hym his counsel and sayd dere frendes it is not vnknowen to you the despyte vyolence done vnto me in deflourynge of my doughter and therfore Iaurpose to gyue barayle to the erle / wherfore I praye you to be redy at a daye sette to procede with me to batayle And they sayd lorde we redy to lyue and dye with you in batayle Whan the daye of batayll came they mette on bothe sydes a cruell harde betayle was gyuen on bothe sydes / all that were of themperours partye were slayne And as themperour sholde haue ben byheded the knyght Gerarde put hym selfe amonge this enemyes before themperour and fought manfully and so themperour escaped and the knyght abode and slewe the erle / neuertheles this knyght had dyuerse woundes This not withstondynge he abode fought styllâ—tyll the blode ranne to his helys And whaÌ„ his enemyes sawe that the Erle was slayne they fledde / and the knyght with his people folowed on the chace tyll he came to the place where themperours doughter was and ledde her with hyÌ„ and thus with tryumphe vyctory he retorned agayne to the emperour For the whiche vyctory and getynge agayn of themperours doughter he was gretely praysed of all people Not longe after it befell that this knyght had to do in themperours courte wherfore the knyghte came vnto themperour and prayed hym mekely to be fauourable in his cause / and ferthermore he prayed hym to do that reason asked Whan the emperour had herde hym he called to hym a Iustyce and sayd goo thou and do Iustyce to this knyght and that / that yâ— lawe wyll And whah the knyght herde this he cryed with a lowde voyce Alas alas who herde euer suche a thynge of an Emperour / thou were sayd he in batayle where thyn heed sholde haue be smyten of / and I in myn owne persone and none other men put my selfe in Ieoperdy for the and saued the / now thou hast assygned an other man to be Iuge in my cause / alas that euer thou were borne And with that worde the knyght dyde of all his clothes shewed the woundes that he had receyued in the batayle vnto all the men that wher there presente and sayd Loo what
they we re gladde and came at a day assygned and put forth theyr pertycyons euery man syngulerly to the Emperour / anone theyr pertycyons was graunte fulfylled In so moche that almoost all the Empyre was departed amonge them And than euery man was Ioyfull wente home agayne toke seasyen in suche londes and castelles as that the Emperour had gyuen them Anone after the poore men and symple gadred theym to gyder thus they sayd A commune ctye was made the all men bothe poore ryche no persone excepte sholde come vnto the Emperours palays there they sholhaue what someuer they asked And the ryche men haue ben there but late opteyned theyr petycyons Therfore go we nowe wyte yf we may optayne ony good of the Emperour That counsell was approbate and alowed amonges them all wherfore they wente forthe streyght tylle they came vnto the Emperours palays / there they put for the theyr petycyons accordynge to the Emperours proclamacyon And whan that the Emperour herde theym come he answered them so and sayd Dere frendes I haue herde all your petycyons / it is trouthe that my proclamacyon was this wyse as that euery man Indyfferently sholde come they sholde haue theyr petycyons But the ryche men the myghty men hauve ben here before you to whome I haue gyuen all that I had saue onely the royalte of my lordeshyppe vnto them and so haue I nothynge lefte for to gyue you A good lorde haue mercy vpon vs and lete vs not go voyde agay / for we knowe well that it is in our owne defaute that we came not rather with these other ryche myghty men But sythen that it is so we aske your grace that we may opteyne somwhat by the whiche we may lyue Than sayd the Emperour Good frendes here ye me for though I haue gyuen all my londes / rentes / and tenementes / and all the castelles to the ryche men whiche came before you Neuerthelesse I haue kepte styll in to my owne hondes the lordeshyp ouer theym / and that lordeshyp I gyue vnto you so they shall be your seruauntes and be obedyent vnto you all And whan the poore men herde this they were gretely gladded kneled lowe doune vnto the Emperour thanked hym saynge thus Lo thoughe we come late yet we be made lordes ouer all these other And with this they toke theyr leue and wenvnto theyr owne dwellynge But whan the ryche and the myghty men herde that they were gretely meued / and sette a commune parlyament amonge theymselfe And thus it was spoken amonges theym Alas alas vnto vs how may we serue theym that somtyme were but churles and oure subgettes in all maner thynges and nowe they be made lordes ouer vs. Therfore goo we all with one assente to themperour and praye we hym of remedy Whan this was sayd theyr counsell was commended and forth they weure to the Emperoure and sayd to hym Reuerente lorde what may this be tho the whiche were our seruauntes be made our lordes we beseche you mekely that it maye not be soo Than sayd the Emperoure / good frendes I doo you no wronge for my crye was commune that what soeuer ye asked of me ye sholde opteyne your petycyon / and ye asked nothynge of me but londes rentes and honours and all that haue I graunted you atte youre owne wyll / in soo moche that I kepte nothynge for my selfe and eche of you were well contente atte your awaye goynge / and after that came symple men and poore and asked of me some goodes accordynge vnto my proclamacyon / and I had nothynge to gyue them for I hadde gyuen you all that I hadde before saue onely the lordeshyppe ouer you whiche I kepte in my handes / and whan the poore men soo cryed on me I had nothynge to gyue them saue onely the lordeshyppe ouer you and therfore ye sholde not blame me for that ye asked ye had Than sayd they A good lorde we praye you effectually of youre counsell in this case and of youre helpe The Emperour answered and sayd Syrs yf ye wyll werke after me I shall gyue you very good counseyl and prouffytable Than sayd they Lorde we be redy for to fulfyll what some euer ye saye vnto vs for our prouffyte Than sayd the Emperour My good frendes ye haue of me bothe londes and tenementes and rentes with other meuable goodes and that grete plente the whiche by my counsell ye shall departe with the poore men that they may graunt you the lordeshyppe and anone these grete ryche men gladly graunted to this and departed all theyr goodes amonge the poore men and that they gaue theym agayne the lordeshyppe ouer them lyke as they had of the ryche men yâ— lordshyp ouer them / thus were they bothe contente themperour was gretly coÌ„mended of all peope bycause he accorded to bothe yâ— partyes so wysely ¶ By this Emperour is vnderstande our lorde Ihesu cryst whiche made a proclamacyon by his prophetes patryarkes appostles and prechours that euery man bothe poore and ryche sholde come and asked euerlastynge Ioye without doubte they shall opteyne theyr petycyon But the ryche the myghty men asked none other thynge but worldely honoure and rychesse transytory / for this worlde shall passe and all this couetyse / wherfore he gaue theym soo moche of worldely goodes that he lefte no thynge to hym selfe accordynge to the scrypture / the byrdes of heuen haue nestes foxes in erth haue caues / but the sone of god hathe no thynge in erthe where he may put his heed The poore men be suche as â—e meke in herte of the whiche poore men speketh our lorde saynge thus / blyssed be the poore men wherte / for why thy kyndome of heuen is theyrs / and yf it sholde seme that they haue lorshyppes aboue myghty men of this worlde Therfore these ryche men ought to departe their rychesse with poore men accordynge to the scrypture saynge thus Gyue ye almes and all thynge shall be clene to you thus may ye gete a lorshyppe in heuen vnto the whiche lorshyppe I beseche almyghty god to brynge vs Amen IN Rome somtyme dwelled a myghty Emperour named Domicyan whiche had two doughters of whome one was passynge fayre and that other foule oughly to beholde wherfore he lete crye thrughe all his Empyre that what man wolde haue his fay doughter to wyfe sholde haue no thynge with her but her fayrenesse And who that wedded his foule doughter sholde haue all his Empyre after his dethe And whan the proclamacyon was made there came many lordes and desyred to wedde his fayre doughter To whome the Emperour answered thus Syr quod he ye wote neuer what ye desyre ryghte well ye knowe that yf yewedde her ye shall haue no thynge with her but her fayrenesse / and furthermore yf I gyue her to one of you and not to another than wyll ye stryue for her Therfore
hym But the blyssed soule whiche is so welbeloued with god wyll not forsake her lorde and consente vnto synne / wherfore the wretched flesshe full ofte dispoyleth her of all clothyne This is to saye of all her vertues / and hangeth her vp by the heere on an oke That is to saye on lustes and delytes / and there she hangeth vnto the good eâ—le cometh That is to saye / a dyscrete confessoure come in the forest of this worlde to preche and teche the worde of god and taketh her doune ledeth her forth to the chirche to nourysshe his doughter That is to saye / to nouryce concyence with werkes of mercy The Erle had in his chamber a lampe Ryghte so euery dyscryte confessoure or precher sholde haue a fore hym the lampe of holy scrypture where by he may see bothe the greuaunce and profyte of the soule in techynge of vertues and puttynge away of vyces The stuarde that styreth her to synne / is not elles but pryde of lyfe whiche is stuarde of this worlde / by whome many meÌ„ be deceyued But whan the soule that is so welbeloued with cryst wyll not consent to the synne of pryde / than taketh this euyl Stywarde the knyfe of couetyse where with he sleeth the erles doughter / yâ— is to saye concyence accordynge to the scrypture saynge thus Golde and syluer hath blynded the eyen of Iuges and hath ouerthrowen wyse men so that equyte and ryght wysnes myght entre but stode a ferre and torned theyr backes This lady also boughte a man frome hangynge that is to faye frome euerlastynge deth whiche had deserued by dedely synne Therfore do we as dyde this lady / smyte we our horse that is to saye our flesshe with the spores of penaunce and soryde we forth all hast to saue our neyghbour from the gaious of deedly synne helpynge them both bodely and goostly as Salamon sayth wo to that man lyenge in deedly synne that hath no man to lyfte him out therof Therfore awake thy neyghboure and helpe hym For a brother that is helpen of an other there is lyke a sure cyte / and yf he gyue no more but a cuppe of water vnto hym in waye of helpe he shall not lose his rewarde But many now a dayes ben full vnkynde as was this thefe whiche deceyued falsely his lady after that she had saued hym fro hangynge The mayster of the shyp betokeneth the worlde by whome many men ben beceyued But neuerthelesse as ofte as a man taketh on hym wylfully the charge of pouerte / and obeyeth vnto the commaundement of god and forsaketh the worlde Than breketh the shyppe For it is vnpossyble to please bothe god and man and the worlde at ones / whan this lady had escaped the tempest of the see she wente to a Nonery that is to saye / to the soule after the troubles of this worlde wente to the holy lyfe And thâ— she heled all maner syke folke that is to saye euery man that is troubled in his soule yâ— is to saye Infecte with dyuerse sekenesses whiche this lady heleth thrughe holy lyfe But the soule myght not be seen of cryste her husboÌ„de tyll she had knoweleged openly all theyr .v. wyttes how she had spent them But whan she had made a pure confessyon than yâ— Emperour our lorde god her husbande knewe her toke her in his armes led her home to the palycs of paradyse Vnto the whiche almyghty Ihesu bryÌ„ge vs al Amen IN Rome somtyme there dwelled a myghty Emerour named Martyn whiche for loue kept with hym his broders sone whome men called Fulgenctê° with this Martyn dwelled also a knyght that was stuarde of his Empyre vncle vnto the Emperour whiche enuyed this fulgenciê° / studyed bothe day nyght how he myght bryÌ„ge the Emperour this chylde at debate wherfore the stewarde on a day wente vnto that Emperour sayd My lorde quod he I whiche am youre true seruauÌ„t owe of duty to warne your hyghnesse yf I here ony thynge that toucheth your honoure wherfore I haue herde suche thyÌ„ges that I muste nede vtter in secrete to your sordshyp bytwene vs .ii. Than sayd yâ— Emperour Good frende quod he say what thou lyst My lorde qd the stuarde Fulgenciê° your cosyn your nye kynnesman hath dyffamed you wonderly and shamefully thrughe all your Empyre saynge that your brethe stynketh the it is deth to hym to serue you of your cup. Than the Emperour waxed wrothe and almoost out of hyÌ„ selfe for veray angre / and sayd to hym thus / I praye the good frende tell me the very trouth yf that my breth so stynketh as he sayth My lorde quod the stuarde ye may beleue me for I perceyued a sweter breth in my dayes Thà sayd the Emperour I praye the good frende telle me how I may brynge this thynge to preefe The stuarde answered and sayd My lorde ye shall ryght well vnderstonde yâ— trouthe For to morowe nexte whan he serueth you of your cuppe ye shall se that he shall torne awaye his face frome you by cause of your brethe / and this is the moost veray prefe that may be had of this thynge For sothâ— sayd the Emperoure a truer profe can not be hadde of this thynge / wherfore anone whan the stuarde herde this / he wente to Fuigencius and toke hym a syde saynge thus Dere frende thou arte my kynnesman / and neuewe to my lorde the Emperour / therfore yf thou wylte conne me thanke I wyll tell the of the vyce wherof my lorde complayneth ofte and thynketh to put the fro hym but yf it be rather amended and that myght be grete reprefe to the. Thenne sayd this Fulgencius A good syr for his loue that dyed on the crosse telle me why my lorde is soo meued with me / for I am redy to amende my defaute in all that I may / and for to be ruled by your couÌ„ceyll Thy brethe quod the stuarde stynketh sore that his drynke dooth hym no good / soo greuous vnto hym is the stynkynge of thy brethe Than sayd Fulgencius truely that perceyued I neuer tylle nowe / but what thynketh you of my brethe I praye you tell me that trouthe Sothely quod he it stynketh foule Neuerthelesse he byleued all that he sayd This Fulgencius was ryght sorowfull prayed hym of his councell and helpe in this case Than sayd the stewarde yf thou lyste for to do by my councell I shall brynge this mater to good conclusyon Therfore I counceyll for the beste and also I warne the that whan thou seruest thy lorde of his cuppe than torne awaye thy face frome hym that he may not fele thy brethe tyll that tyme that thou haste prouyded the for somme remedye Fulgencius thenne was gladde and sware that he wolde doo by his councell Not longe after it befelle that the chylde serued his lorde as he was wonte to doo Sodeynly he torned his face frome the lorde by the techynge
the that thou sholdest put hym to deth now I se hyÌ„ alyue My lorde quod she safe your grace ye wrote to me â— I sholde gyue hym your doughter to wyfe / and that on payne of deth In wytnesse wherof lo here is your seale your letters with your owne seale Whan the Emperour herde this he wondred gretly sayd is he wedded thaÌ„ to my doughter ye sothly sayd the empresse longe agone with grete solempnyte / and as I beleue your doughter is with chylde Than sayd the Emperour O thou lorde Ihesu it is grete foly to stryue agaynst thyne ordynauÌ„ce / therfore syth it is so thy wyll must â—e fulfylled / with yâ— he toke his sone in lawe in his armes and kyssed hym whiche after his dethe was Emperour and ended his lyfe in reste and pease ¶ This Emperoure may betoken herod or elles euery synner whiche walketh alone without trouthe / tylle he come to the fosters house That is to saye the chirche whiche is the house of god This herode wolde haue slayne this chylde Ihesu / wherfore he sente messengers to seke hym accordynge to the scrypture of saynt Mathewe tellynge how he commauÌ„ded the thre kynges to seche hym brynge hym tydyÌ„ges agayne where he was the he myght come worshyp hym / but this sayd he not for loue but for dysceyte The foster betokeneth Ioseph oure ladyes husbonde whiche kepte hym / but whan the messengers came That is to saye whaÌ„ the thre kynges came they slewe hym not but on theyr knees worshypped hym lefte hym in the holowe tre of his god hede The Erle that came and founde this chylde Betokeneth the holy goost whiche warned Ioseph by the aungell in his slepe that he sholde take oure lday and her sone and flee in to the londe of Egypte This moralyte may be vnderstonde in other This Emperour may betoken a synner that walketh in the forest of this worlde sechyÌ„ge vanytes / not elles vnto the tyme he come vnto the house of god there he is receyned benyngnely of the prelate of the chirche yf he wyll obey the coÌ„manÌ„dementes of god But many of vs now a dayes slepeth in the chirche whaÌ„ they obserue not the werkes of mercy And therfore they ought to drede the voyces whiche I haue â—â—hersed by the fyrst take yâ— may be vnderstonde yâ— grete benefyte yâ— he gaue the whaÌ„ he put in the a soule made at his owne symylytude The secoÌ„de take is vnâ—stonde the sone of the fader of heueÌ„ / whiche was borne of the blyssed holy virgyn mary By the thyrde take is vnâ—stoÌ„de the same sone of god whiche dyed vpoÌ„ the crosse By the fyrst yelde is to vnâ—stoÌ„de the we ought to yelde our soule vnto almyghty god as clene / as fayre as he gaue it vnto vs after the wasshynge of our baptyme By the seconde yelde is for to vnderstande that we ought dayly to yelde honour / and worshyppe and loue vnto god The thyrde yelde is vnderstonde that we yelde to hym true confessyon / contrycyon satysfaccyon The fyrst Flee betokeneth synne whiche we sholde flee The seconde betokeneth the worlde that we sholde flee for the grete fallsehede and temptacyons that is therin The thyrde flee betokeneth euerlastyÌ„ge payne whiche we ought to flee thrugh â—erytory werkes by the which we may come the rather to euerlastynge Ioye Vnto the whiche brynge vs our lorde Amen THere dwelled soÌ„tyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Sauracinus whiche ordeyned for lawe that who so euer rauysshed a vyrgyÌ„ sholde dye / yf she were rescued / than he that rescued her sholde haue her to wyfe yf hym lyst / and he wolde not wedde her than sholde she gyded be wedded by his counceyll It befelle vpon a daye that a tyraunt named Poncianus had rauysshed a vyrgyn and ledde her with hym to a forest and defloured her of her maydenhode And whaÌ„ he had so done he wolde haue slayne her / and as he was despoylynge her clothes ther came rydynge by that foreste a gentyl knyght whiche herde yâ— cryenge of a damoysel Therfore he smote his horse with his spores and rode a grete pase into the foreste to wyte what it myght be And thenne he sawe a woman standynge naked saue her smocke / than sayd the knyght arte thou now she quod he that cryed soo Than answered the mayde and sayd ye sothely quod she / this man that standeth here hath rauysshed me and defoyled my maydenhode and now he wolde slee me / therfore he hath dyspoyled me of my clothes that he myght smyte of myn hede / for the loue of god gentyll knyght helpe me now than sayd the tyraunt She lyeth quod he for she is my wyfe and I haue founde here in auoutry with an other man and therfore I wyll slee her Than sayd the knyght I byle ue better the woman than the / for lo the tokenes of trouth appereth openly in her vysage that thou hast rauysshed her and therfore wyll I fyghte with the for her delyueraunce And anone they sterte togyder and foughte egrely tyl they were bothe sore wounded Neuerthelesse the knyght opteyned the vyctorye and put the tyraunt to the flyght Than sayd the knyght vnto the woman Loo I haue suffred for thy loue many sore woundes and haue saued the frome the deth wylte thou thou therfore be my wyfe That I desyred quod she with all my herte therupon I take you my trouthe whan she was thus ensuered the knyght than sayd / here besyde is my castell / go ye thyder and abyde there tylle I haue besyted my frendes my kynnesmen to prouyde for all thynge nedeful for our weddynge For I purpose to make a grete feest for thyn honoure and worshyppe My lorde quod she I am redy to fulfyll thy wyll Theme wente she forthe to the castell where as she was worshypfully receyued And the knyght wente vnto his frendes to make hym redy agaynst the daye of maryage In the meane wyle came Poncianus the tyraunt to the knyghtes castell prayed her that he myght speke with her Than came she downe frome the castell to hym This tyraunt subtylly flatered her and sayd Gentyll loue yf it lyst you to consente to me I shal gyue you bothe golde and syluer and grete rychesse and I shall be your seruaunt and ye my souereyne / whan the woman herde this / dysceyued she was thrughe his flaterynge and graunted hym to be his wyfe and toke hym in with her in to the castell It was not longe after but that this knyght came home founde the castell gate shyt knocked therat / but longe he was or he myght haue answere / and atte the last the woman came demauÌ„ded why he knocked so herde Than sayd he O dere lady hast yâ— chauÌ„ged so sone my loue / lette me come in Nay sothly sayd she thou shalte not come here for I haue here w e