saued fro the galowes lame and also the mayster of y e shyppe distraught out of his mynde and all were coÌ„me to her for to be healed of theyr sycknes but they knewe not her for al that they knewe not her she knewe them well Than sayd she vnto the Emperour thus My reuerend lord though ye wolde gyue me al your Empyre I may not heale your brother nor none of these other but yf they knowlege openly what they haue done Whan the Emperoure herde thys he turned hym towarde hys brother and sayde vnto hym Brother knowlege opeÌ„ly thy synne before al these men that thou mayst be healed of thy sycknes Than anone he began to tell how he had ledde hys lyfe but he tolde not how he had hanged the Empresse in the forest by y e heare Whan he had knowleged all that hym lyst the Empresâ—e sayd Sothly my lorde I wolde gladly laye vnto hym my medicyne but I wote ryght well it is in vayne for he hath not made a full confession The Emperoure hearynge thys turned hym towarde hys brother and sayd agayne in thys wyse What euyll sorowe or vnhappy wretchednes is in the seest thou not that thou 〈◊〉 foule lepre therfore knowlege thy synne truly that thou mayst be hole or else auoyde my felawshyp for euermore A lorde quod he I may not tell my lyfe openly but yf I be fyrst sure of thy grace What hast thou trespaced agaynst me quod the Emperour Than answered his brother and sayd Myne offence agaynst the is greuous and therfore I aske mercy The Emperoure thought not on the Empresse for as moche as he supposed that she had ben deed many yeres before he coÌ„maunded his brother to tell forth what he had offended hym and he sholde be forgyuen And whan the Emperoure had thus forgyuen hys brother he began to tell openly how he had desyred the Empresse to synne wyth hym and how he had hanged her by the heare in the forest bycause she wolde not consent to hym And whan the Emperoure herde thys he was almoost besyde hymselfe and in hys woodnes sayd thus O thou moost wretched creature the vengeaunce of god is fallen vpon the and were it not that I haue pardoned the thou sholdest dye the moost shamefull deth that coude be thought Than sayd the knyght that â—lewe the erles doughter I wote not quod be of what lady ye meane but well I wote that my lorde founde on a tyme suche a lady hangyng by the heare in the forest and brought her home to his castell and betoke her hys doughter to kepe stered her as moche as I coude to synne wyth me but she wolde in no wyse consent to me wherfore I slewe the erles doughter that laye wyth â—er â–ª whan I had so done I put the blody knyfe in y e ladyes hande that the erle sholde thynke she had slayne his doughter wyth her owne handes and than was she exiled thens but where she became I wote not Than sayd the thefe I wote not of what lady ye meane but well I wote that seuen sergeauntes were ledynge me to the galous and suche a lady came rydynge by and bought me of them and than wente I wyth her and afterwarde I betrayed her vnto a mayster of a shyppe Suche a lady quod y e mayster of the shyppe receyued I whan we were in the myddes of the see I wolde haue layne wyth her but she sate downe to her prayers and anone there arose suche a tempeest that y e shyppe all to brast were all drowned saue I but what afterwarde befell of her wote I not Than cryed y e Empresse wyth a hye voyce sayd Sothly dere frendes ye are now clene confessed wherfore I wyll now laye to my medycyne and anone they receyued theyr helthe Whan the lady had thus done she opened her face vnto y e Emperoure he anone knewe her ran to her enbraced her in hys armes kyssed her oftentymes for ioye wepte bytterly sayinge Blessed be god now haue I founde that I desyred And whan he had thus sayde he ledde her home to his palays wyth great ioye and after whan it pleased god they ended bothe theyr lyues in peace ¶ Thys Emperour betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst The empresse betokeneth a holy soule The emperours brother betokeneth the flesshe to whome our lord hath gyueÌ„ charge of thys Empyre but mooâ—â— pryncipally to the soule Neuerthelesse the wretched flesshe oft steretâ— the soule to synne But the soule that loueth god aboue all thynges wythstandeth that temptacyoÌ„ calleth to her her goostly power that is to saye reason wyl vnderstandynge conscyence maketh them to enpryson the flesshe that is disobedyent to the â—oule in the prison of penauÌ„ce vnto y t tyme he obey to reason in al thynge And thus iÌ„ hope of mercy he synneth agayn to whome holy scripture sayth Maledictê° homo â— peccat in sâ—e Cursed be that man that synneth in hope And at y e last the soule enclyneth to the flesshe and letteth hym out of the pryson of penaunce wasshetht hym from the fylth of synne arayeth hym wyth good vertues maketh hym lepe on the palfraye of charite and so rydeth forth to mete our lorde an ester daye But alas full ofte the synner trespaceth agaynst holy scripture wherfore the herte that is to saye the lust of the flesshe of synners aryseth before hym and after renneth great houndes that is to saye â–ª euyl thoughtes and so longe they chase tyll the body the soule be lefte alone thaÌ„ the flesh se stereth that noble soule the spouse of almyghty god to hym But the blessed soule that is so well beloued wyth god wyll not forsake her lorde coÌ„sent to synne wherfore y e wretched flesshe ful ofte despoyleth her of al her clothynge that is to saye of all her vertues hangeth her vp by the heare on an oke that is to saye on lustes and delytes and there she hangeth vnto the good erle coÌ„meth that is to saye a dyscrete confessour in the forest of thys worlde to preche teche the worde of god and taketh her downe and ledeth her forth to y e chyrche to nourysshe his doughter that is to saye to nourysshe conscyence wyth werkes of mercy The erle had in his chambre a lampe ryght so euery discrete confessour or precher sholde haue afore hym the lampe of holy scrypture wherby he may se bothe the greuaunce the profyte of the soule in techynge of vertues and puttynge awaye of vyce The stewarde that stereth her to synne is not else but pryde of lyfe whych is stewarde of thys worlde by whome many men be deceyued But whan the soule that is so well beloued with Chryst wyll not consent vnto the synne of pryde than taketh thys euyll stewarde the knyâ—e of couetyse wherwyth he sleeth the erles doughter that is to saye conscyence accordynge to scripture saying Golde and
forsaken all thynge for me all that is to saye ye that haue forsaken the wyll of synne shall receyue an hoÌ„dred tymes more that is to saye ye shall not onely receyue the tree of paradyse but also the heritage of heuen These two other sones ben bastardes for why that they behote in theyr baptym they wrought all the contrary thrugh theyr wycked lyuynge And therfore he that desyreth to optayne the ioyes of heuen hym behoueth to abyde stedfastly in werkynge of good werkes and than by reason may he optayne the tree of paradyse vnto the whyche that lorde brynge vs whyche lyueth regneth eternally worlde wythouten ende Amen IN Rome there dwelled somtyme a noble Emperour named DyoclesiaÌ„ whych aboue all worldly goodes loued the vertue of charyte wherfore he desyred greatly to knowe what fowle loued her byrdes best to the entent that he myght therby growe to more perfyte charyte It fortuned after vpon a daye that thys Emperour walked to the forest to take hys dysporte where as he fouÌ„de the nest of a great byrde that is called in latyn strutio wyth her byrde the whyche byrde themperour toke wyth hym closed hym in a vessell of glasse The mother of thys lyttell byrde folowed after vnto y e Emperours place and entred into the hall where her byrde was closed But whan she sawe her byrde and myght by no meanes coÌ„me to her ne gete her out she returned agayn to y e forest there she abode thre dayes and at y e last she returned agayne to y e palays bearyng in her mouth a worme that is called thumare Whan she came where her byrde was she let the worme fall vpon y e glasse thrugh vertue of whyche worme y e glasse brake the byrde escaped sâ—ewe forth w t hys mother Whan themperour sawe thys he praysed moche y e mother of thys byrde whyche so dylygently laboured for the delyueraunce of her byrde ¶ My frendes thys Emperour is the father of heueÌ„ whyche greatly loueth them that ben in perfyte loue charite Thys lytel byrde closed in the glasse takeÌ„ fro the forest was Adam our forefather whyche was exiled fro paradyse and put in the glasse that is to say in hell Thys hearyng the mother of the byrde that is to wyte the sone of god descended fro heuen came to the forest of the worlde and lyued here thre dayes more bearyng wyth hym a worme that is to say manhode accordyng w t the psalmyst sayinge Ego sum vermis etnoÌ„ homo That is to saye I am a worme no man Thys manhode was suffred to be slayne amonge the iewes of whose blode y e vessel eternall was brokeÌ„ and the byrde went out that is to saye â–ª Adam wente forth wyth hys mother the sone of god flewe vnto heuen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a worthy emperour and a wyse whyche had a fayre doughter and a gracyous in the syght of euery man Thys Emperour bethought hym on a daye to whome he myght gyue his doughter in maryage saying thus Yf I gyue my doughter to a ryche man he be a foole than is she lost and yf I gyue her to a poore man a wytty than may he gete hys lyuynge for hym and her by his wysdome There was that tyme dwellynge in the cite of Rome a phylosopher named Socrates poore wyse whyche came to themperour sayd My lord displease you not though I put forth my petycyon before your hyghnes Themperour sayd what so euer pleaseth the tell forth Than sayde Socrates My lorde ye haue a doughter whome I desyre aboue al thyng Themperour answered sayd My frende I shall gyue the my doughter to wyfe vpon thys condicyon that yf she dye in thy felawshyp after that she be wedded to the thou shalte wythouten doutelese thy heed Than sayd Socrates UpoÌ„ thys condicyon I wyll gladly take her to be my wyfe Themperour hearyng thys let call forth all y e lordes states of his Empyre and made a greate feest at theyr weddynge And after y e feest Socrates ledde home his wyfe to hys owne house where as they lyued in peace and helth longe tyme. But at the last thys Emperours doughter syckned to deth Whan Socrates perceyued thys he sayde to hym selfe Alas and woo to me what shall I doo and whether shall I flee yf themperours doughter that is my wyfe sholde dye for sorowe this Socrates wente to a forest there besyde wepte bytterly The whyle he thus wepte mourned there came an aged man bearyng a staffe in hys hande asked y e cause of Socrates why he mourned Socrates answered and sayde I wedded themperours doughter vpon thys coÌ„dycyon y t yf she dyed in my felowshyp I sholde lese my lyfe now she is syckened vnto the deth I can fynde no remedy nor helpe therfore I mourne more than any creature can thynke Than sayde the olde maÌ„ be ye coÌ„forted for I shall be your helper yf ye wyll do after my counseyle In this forest be thre herbes yf ye make a drynke of the fyrst to your wyfe of the other two a plaester yf she vse thys medicynall drynke and plaester in due tyme wythout doubte she shall recouer to perfyte helth Socrates fulfylled al as the old man had taught hym And whaÌ„ hys wyfe had vsed a whyle that medicynall drynke pleaster wythin shorte tyme she was perfytly hole of al her sycknes And whan the Emperoure herde that Socrates wrought so wysely and how dylygently he laboured for to heale his wyfe he promoted hym to great dyngnyte and worshyp ¶ Dere freÌ„des this Emperour is our lord Iesu chryst hys doughter so fayre so gracyous is the soule made at the similitude of god whych is full gracyous gloryous in the syght of hym of hys auÌ„gels whyle that she is not defouled abydeth in her owne propre clennesse Thys soule god wolde not gyue it to a ryche man but to a poore man that is to say a man that is made of the slyme of the erth Thys Socrates is a poore maÌ„ for why euery man coÌ„meth poore and naked in to this worlde from hys mothers bely euery maÌ„ taketh hys soule in wedlocke vpon suche coÌ„dicyon that yf she dye in hys felawshyp by deedly synne wythout doubte he shal lese eternal lyfe Therfore o thou man yf thy wyfe sycken so thrugh deedly sinne do thaÌ„ as Socrates dyd go vnto the forest that is holy chyrche and thou shalte fynde there an olde man with a staâ—â—e that is a discrete coÌ„fessour whyche shall tell the of these thre herbes for he hath power to bynde to vnbynde The fyrst herbe is contricyon of whome thou sholdest make thy drynke of teares Ambrose sayth that teares wassheth awaye synne where shame is to knowlege it and these two other herbes ben confessyon and satysfaccyon yf these herbes be vsed in plaester the synner wythout doubte shall receyue his helth
saye thus Haue we not done penaunce in our lyfe For he that suffreth payne for the loue of god shall receyue an hondred tymes more rewarde and also he shall optayne euerlastynge lyfe vnto the whyche brynge bothe you and me and all mankynde Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a wytty Emperour named PoÌ„pey whyche had a fayre doughter called Aglas Thys doughter had many vertues aboue all other women of that Empyre Fyrst she was fayre gracyous in the syght of euery man She was also swyfte in rennynge that no man myght ouertake her by a great space Whan the Emperour vnderstode these two vertues in hys doughter he was ryght ioyfull wherfore he made to proclayme thrugh out al hys Empyre that what man poore or ryche wolde renne wyth hys doughter shold haue her to wyfe wyth great ryches yf he myght ouer renne her coÌ„me sooner to y e marke than she yf she ouer renne hym coÌ„me sooner to the marke than he hys heed sholde be smytten of Whan the states of y e empyre as dukes erles barons and knyghtes herd this crye they offred them selfe one aâ—ter an other to renne w t her but euer this yonge lady ouer ranne them al wherfore they lost theyr hedes accordynge to y e lawe That tyme there was a poore man dwellynge in Rome whyche thought within hymselfe I am a poore man and coÌ„me of poore kynrede there is made a coÌ„mune crye y t what man so euer myght ouer renne the Emperours doughter by ony wyse sholde be promoted to greate honour and rychesse therfore yf I myght ouercoÌ„me her by ony maner waye I shold not onely be ê“moted to great honour but also al my kynne Thys poore man prouyded hymselfe of thre Iewelles wherby he myght wynne her Fyrst he made a garlaÌ„d of reed roses and of whyte Secondly he made a fayre gyrdell of sylke craftely wrought Thyrdly he made a purse of sylke set full of precyous stones wythin the purse was a ball of thre colours and vpon thys purse was wryteÌ„ thys posey who playeth w t me shall neuer be wery of my playe Than puthe these thre thynges in hys bosome went forth to y e palays gate cryenge sayinge CoÌ„me forth fayre lady comme forth for I am redy to renne wyth you fulfyll y e lawe in all thynges Whan themperour herd this he coÌ„mauÌ„ded his doughter to renne wyth hym Thys yonge lady wente to her chambre wyndowe whan she sawe hym she despysed hym and sayd I haue ouercoÌ„men sayde she many worthy knyghtes now must I renne wyth a chorle neuerthelesse I shall fulfyll my fathers coÌ„mauÌ„dement Anone the damoysel arayed her for to renne wyth hym And at y e last they ranne togyder within shorte space the damaysell wente ferre afore hym Whan thys iugler sawe thys he threwe forth the garlande of floures before her And whan y e damoysell behelde sawe that she stouped downe toke it vp set it vpon her heed that whyle the iugler went afore her And whan thys yonge damoysel sawe this she wepte sore for sorowe she threwe y e garlande in a dyche ranne after hym dylygently at the last ouertoke hym lyft vp her ryght hande gaue hym a buffet saying to hym thus Abyde thou wretche it besemeth not thy fathers sone to haue me to hys wyfe And this yonge lady went before hym a great space And whan the iugler sawe thys he toke out the gyrdel of his bosom threwe it before her And whan she sawe that lyghtly she stouped downe toke it vp anone gyrde her therwyth and than the iugler wente agayne before her And whan she sawe that she made greate lamentacyon toke the gyrdell wyth her tethe tare it in thre peces than threwe it from her and than she ranne fast after hym at y e last ouertoke hym than she toke vp her hande gaue hym a great blowe saying these wordes O wretche wenest thou to ouercoÌ„me me with that she ranne before hym a great space The iugler was slye subtyll abode tyll that she was almoost at the marke than he threwe forth before her the purse And whan she sawe thys purse anone she stouped downe toke it vp and opened it founde the ball and redde the posey who playeth wyth me shall neuer be wery of my playe And than began she to playe and so longe she contynued in playinge tyll that the iugler was before her at the marke And thus he wanne the Emperours doughter ¶ Dere frendes thys emperour is our â—auyour Chryst and hys fayre doughter is mannes soule whyche was made clene wyth the water of the holy font was also full lyght to renne that is to say in vertue whyle that she is in clennes so y t no deedly synne myght ouercoÌ„me her Thys iugler that is coÌ„me of so whyly blode is the deuyll the whyche studyeth day nyght to deceyue innoceÌ„tes He prouydeth hym of thre thynges Fyrst of y e garlande whych be tokeneth pryde by thys reason for why a garlaÌ„de of floures is not set vpon the arme nor vpon the fote but vpon the heed that it may be seen Ryght so pryde wolde be seen agaynst proude men speketh saynt Austyn saying thus QuecuÌ„que suê‘bâ—uÌ„ videris filiuÌ„ diaboli dicinoÌ„ dubitetis That is to say what proude man that y e mayst se doubte ye not to call hym the sone of the deuyll Do thou therfore as the mayden dyd be wepe thy synne drawe of the garland of pryde and cast it in the dyche of contrycyon so shalte y u gyue the deuyll a great buffet ouercoÌ„me hym But whan thys iugler that is to say our goostly ennemy y e deuyll seeth hymselfe ouercoÌ„me in one synne thaÌ„ he returneth and tempteth a man in an other synne casteth before man the gyrdel of lechery But alas there be full many gyrde wyth the gyrdell ef lechery of the whych gyrdell speketh saynt Gregory saying thus Gyrde we our loynes wyth y e gyrdell af chastyte for who so euer is gyrte wyth thys gyrdell shal not lese the course of lyfe Than casteth the iugler forth y t is to say the deuyll the purse wyth the ball The purse that is open aboue close vnder betokeneth y e hert whyche euermore sholde be close vnder agaynst erthly thynges open aboue to heueÌ„ly ioye the two strynges y t openeth shytteth the purse betokeneth the loue of god of our neyghbours The ball whych is rounde mouable to euery parte of hys dyfference betokeneth couetyse whyche moueth euer bothe in yonge in olde therfore the posey was good and true that was wryten on the purse who so playeth wyth me that is to say wyth couetyse they shall neuer be fulfylled Therfore sayth Seneca CuÌ„ oiÌ„a pâ—taÌ„ senescunt sola cupiditas inuenescit Whan y t all synnes waxe olde than
couetyse al onely waxeth yonge Therfore let vs take hede y t we playe not w t this bal of couetyse than wythout doubte we shall optayne wynne the game with y e tenes ball in y e blysse of heuen y t neuer shall haue ende Unto the whyche blysse brynge vs he that shedde hys blode for vs vpon the rode tree Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a myghty Emperour a wyse named Theodose whyche aboue all thynge loued best melody of harpe huntynge It befell after vpon a day as thys Emperour hunted in a forest he herde so swete a melody of harpes that thrugh the swetnes therof he was almoost rauyshed froÌ„ hym selfe wherfore he sought about the forest to fynde that melody at the last he espyed at the ende of the forest a poore man syttyng besyde a water playing on a harpe so swetely that themperour before y e daye herde neuer so swete a melody Than sayd themperour good freÌ„de coÌ„meth this melody of thy harpe or no. The poore man answered sayd My reuerende lorde I shal tell you y e trouth Besyde this water my wyfe my chylde and I haue dwelled .xxx. yere and god hath gyuen me suche grace that whan so euer I touche my harpe I make so swete melody that y e fysshes of thys water coÌ„me out to my hande and so I take them wherwyth my wyfe my chylde and I ben fedde dayly in great plenty But alas welaway on the other syde of thys water there coÌ„meth a whysteler whysteleth so swetely that many tymes the fysshes for sake me go to his whysteling and therfore my reuerende lord I beseche you of helpe agaynst his hyssyng whystelyng Than sayd themperour I shall gyue the good helpe and couÌ„seyle I haue here in my purse a golden hoke whyche I shall gyue y e take thou it and bynde it fast at the ende of a roode and wyth y e smyte thy harpe whan y u seest the fysshe stere drawe them vp to the lande wyth that hoke than his whystelyng ne hyâ—syng shall not auayle Whan y e poore maÌ„ herd thys he reioysed hym greatly dyd al thynge as he had taught hym And whan thys poore man began to touche hys harpe y e fysshe moued than he toke them vp wyth hys hoke lyued therby longe tyme at the last ended gracyously hys lyfe in peace and rest ¶ Thys Emperour betokeneth Iesu Chryst whyche greatly delyteth to hunte the soule of mankynde in the forest that is holy chyrche He loueth also the melody of the harpe that is to saye he loueth moche those y t teche the holy worde of god This poore man that sate bithe water syde betokeneth the prelates of the chyrche the prechers of y e worde of god whyche ought to syt besyde the worlde not in the worlde y t is to saye they sholde not set theyr delyte in worldly thynges The prechers ought to haue the harpe of holy scrypture wherw t they may prayse honour god also therwith drawe out of this worlde y e synners Therfore sayth y e psalmist thus Prayse ye god in timpanes crowdes and synge ye to hym on the harpe the psalter of .x. strenges But now adayes the precher may say alas for whan I preche teche holy scripture the deuyll coÌ„meth whysteleth so swetely that y e synners drawe to hym wyll not heare the worde of god but they turne themselfe onely to the delyte of synne The deuyll deceyueth also maÌ„kynde by dyuerse wayes Fyrst in tyme of prechynge he maketh some to slepe them that he can not make to slepe he causeth them to talke clatter them that he can not make to clatter he maketh them so dull that they may not sauour ne vnderstande what the precher sayth them that he can not begyle by these meanes he putteth in them be synesse causeth them to go out of the chyrche Lo so many wayes the deuyll hath to deceyue mankynde to let y e worde of god Therfore euery prelate euery precher behoueth y e golden hoke of goddes grace agaynst thys whysteling by y e whych grace they may drawe synners out of this worlde vp to heuen vnto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour a wyse man named Polemus whyche had no chylde saue onely a doughter whome he loued so moche that dayly nyghtly he ordeyned to kepe her wyth armed knyghtes And aboue these knyghtes he ordeyned a mayster well taught in euery connynge for to teche them to enferme them how they shold do He ordeyned also a steward for to guide his houshold And whan all thys was done on a nyght as he laye in hys bedde he be thought hym y t he wolde go vysyte the holy lande And than whaÌ„ all thynge was redy for his iourney accordynge to hys purpose he called vnto hym his stewarde sayde Dere frende I purpose to se the holy lande therfore I leue my doughter in thy kepyng also I charge the that she lacke nothynge but that she haue all maner of ioye gladnes that pertayneth to a vyrgyn Secondly I leue in thy kepyng fyue knightes that ben her kepers that they lacke nothyng y t to them behoueth Also I leue to the my greyhouÌ„de that thou nourysshe fede hym as it apperteyneth yf y u fulfyll all thys that I haue sayd thou shalt at my coÌ„mynge agayne receyue a great rewarde Than sayd y e stewarde My dere lorde in all y t I may I shal fulfyll your wyll Whan thys was sayd the Emperour toke hys iourney to warde the holy lande and the stewarde a longe tyme kepte well truly themperours ordynauÌ„ce But at the last it befell vpon a daye that this stewarde had espyed this yonge lady walkyng alone in an orcheyarde with whose loue he was sodeynly taken wherfore anone agaynst her wyll he defloured her And whaÌ„ he had synned wyth her he gaue her yll laÌ„guage hated her more after than euer he loued her before droue her out of y e palays wherfore this damoysel for great pouerte and defaute wente fro dore to dore begged her breed But whan the knyghtes that were her kepers herde of thys they reproued shamefully the steward of y t synful dede Than the stewarde waxed wroth for great hate that he had in his herte he despoyled y e knyghtes of al theyr goodes droue them fro the palays And whan they were thus robbed exyled some for defaute of goodes became theues some manquellers that thrugh thys incoÌ„uenyent they wrought great harme Soone after thys there came tydynges that themperour was arryued in farre landes coÌ„mynge homewarde And whan the stewarde herde thys he was greatly troubled and moued in hymselfe thus thynkynge in hymselfe he sayd thus Thys may not be but nedes I shall be accused for
to a lyttel ylande wherin was nothyng but lyons lybbardes dyuerse other beestes that swam thyder from other landes Whan thys Emperour had taken lande in that yle he espyed a yonge lyon fyghting with an olde lybbarde the lyon was almoost ouercoÌ„men The Emperour had great coÌ„passyon on y e lyon drewe out his swerde slewe y e lybbard The lyon euer from that tyme forth folowed the Emperour wolde not leue hym for nothynge but euery day y t praye that this lyon toke he brought layde it afore themperours fete anone themperour smote fyre on the flynt stone and boyled the body in the skynne thus was he fedde longe tyme tyll at the last as he walked to y e see strande he sawe a shyppe coÌ„me saylynge by anone w t an hye voyce he cryed And whan y e shypmen herde thys voyce they wondred what it myght be wherfore they sayled towarde hym whan they were coÌ„me to hym he sayde Good frendes take me w t you I shal paye you a good freyght And anone they toke hym in to theyr shyppe the lyon folowed hym swymmynge in the see after the shyppe And whan the lyon was in poynt to haue ben drowned the shypmen had pyte on hym toke hym in to the shyppe And whan the Emperour came to lande he payde hys freyght whan he had payde them he wente forth tyll he came nere hys owne palays where he herde troÌ„pettes claryons wyth all maner of other mynstralsye as he herkened what it myght be there came fro the palays a squyer toward hym that was of his knowlege but y e squyer knewe not hym to whome the Emperour sayd thus Good frende I praye the tell me what melody is thys that I heare The squyer answered sayd The Empresse is maryed thys day and there ben all the states of th empyre at her feest therfore they make suche melody to make her gestes mery Than sayde themperour to y e squyer where is her husbande that was Emperour before The squyer sayde y t he was gone to the holy lande was drowned by the waye in the see Than sayd themperour I praye y e syr that thou woldest do myne erande to thempresse to y e lorde that wolde be her husbande that I may coÌ„me in to y e palays playe afore them w t my lyon â–ª The squyer graunted to do his erande went in tolde the lorde the lady that at y e gate was a goodly olde man that desyreth to coÌ„me in play with his lyon afore you Than sayd the newe wedded lorde brynge hym in yf he be worthy percase he myght gete hys meate for hys playe Whan the Emperour w t hys lyon was brought in the lyon anone wtout ony coÌ„forte or settyng on ranne vpoÌ„ the yonge knyght y t was newly maryed slewe hym whan he had so done he ranne vpon the Empresse dâ—noured her to the harde bones before all y e lordes of the Empyre And whan the states sawe thys they were greatly agast began to flee But the emperour w t hys fayre speche coÌ„forted them sayd Loo thys is the vengeaunce of god for thys is my wyfe y t hath vsed auoutry longe tyme wyth thys knyght that lyeth here deed and she ymagyned my deth w t the mayster of y e shyppe and here vpon the mayster threwe me in to the see but god saued me fro y e deth bycause I holpe ones y e lyon at a nede he forsoke me neuer syth and now as ye se al whan I came in to my palays wtout ony coÌ„forte of me he hath slayne bothe the auouterers therfore vnderstande ye for trouth that I am your lorde y e Emperour Anone whan they herde thys they lyft vp theyr eyen behelde hym and at the last they knewe hym for theyr lorde wherfore they were greatly reioyced praysed god for that myracle whyche had saued theyr lord and Emperour And they lyued after in rest and peace ¶ By thys Emperour ye may vnderstande euery chrysten man that purposeth to vysyte y e holy lande that is to saye to gete euerlastynge lyfe thrugh the workes of mercy But hys wyfe that is the wretched flesshe murmureth agaynst the soule loueth better her lemman that is deedly synne than her husbande Thys Emperour went in to the shyppe takyng hys iourney toward the holy lande that is to â—aye he wente to holy chyrche whyche is y e waye to god But the wyfe that is to saye flesshly men accused hym to y e mayster of y e shyppe that is to saye to the prelates of the chyrche for great mede whyche oftentymes blyndeth y e syght of many iustyces where thrugh many ê‘fyte men ben cast out of y e shyppe in to the see to be drowned y t is to saye out of y e chyrche in to the see of thys worlde But what shall he do than that is thus casten to be troubled in thys worlde certaynly thus ought he to do let hym lerne to swymme that is to say let hym put al hys hope in god than by hys grace he shall coÌ„me to an ylande that is to say the religyon of clene herte that he shall loue euer y e better to kepe hymselfe out of thys worlde and therfore sayth saynt Iames thus A clene relygyon vndefyâ—ed is a precyous thynge in y e syght of god he y t is in this religyon shall fynde a lyon whome hym behoueth to gyue agaynst the deuyl This lyon is our lorde Iesu Chryst that came of y e kynrede of Iude whyche fyghteth euer agaynst the deuyll yf a man hath holpen this lyon at ony tyme trust well than that he wyll not forsake hym but be w t hym at all his nede accordyng to the psalmist saying thus CuÌ„ ipso suÌ„ in tribulatione I am w t hym in trouble By thys lyon â–ª thou mayst take thy wyfe y t is to say thy flesshe wyth penauÌ„ce â—lee thy synne than wythout doubte y u shalt optayne the Empyre of heuen Unto the whych brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled a myghty emperour named Gorgony whych had maryed a curteys lady a fayre to hys wyfe This yonge lady in due processe coÌ„ceyued bare hym a sone a fayre chylde and an amyable Whan thys chylde was .x. yere olde hys mother the Empresse dyed And anone after y e Emperour wedded an other wyfe Thys seconde wyfe loued in no wyse themperours sone but dyd hym al the shame and reprefe that she myght Whan the Emperour ê‘ceyued thys wyllyng to please hys wyfe exiled his sone out of hys empyre And whaÌ„ thys chylde was exyled he went and lerned physyke so that wythin shorte tyme he was a subtyll a coâ—â—ynge phisycyan It befell soone after that the Emperour his father syckened was almoost deed wherfore whan he herd
Emperours loue fro hym It fortuned on a daye that this Emperour went to the forest and herde a nyghtyngale synge so merely that oftentymes after he wolde ryse erly in y e mornynge somtyme froÌ„ hys meate walke to the wode for to heare the swetnes of her songe wherfore many of his men sayd amonge theÌ„selfe Our lorde delyteth so moche in the nyghtyngales songe that he recketh lytell of our profyte in so moche y t thrugh two thynges his loue is withdrawen froÌ„ vs that is to say by Ydrony the knyght by the swete songe of the nyghtyngale Than sayd an olde knyght that was amonge them Syrs quod he yf ye wyll do by my counseyle I shall delyuer you of the knyght Ydrony of the nyghtyngale wtout hurte or deth They sware sayd what so euer ye bydde vs do we shal anone fulfyll w t all our herte Whan thys knyght herde thys wythin a whyle after he espyed this Ydrony droken wherfore he locked fast y e well as thys knyght Ydrony came to refresshe hymselfe he founde y e well fast locked The Emperour had a great mater to treate wherfore in haste he sente for this knyght bycause of hys great wysdom to haue hys counseyle And whan he came before y e Emperour he was so dronken that he myght not ones moue hys tonge neyther had wytte reason nor vnderstandynge to answere the Emperour to hys mater But whan the Emperour sawe thys he was greatly greued for so moche as he hated that vyce wherfore he coÌ„maunded anone that froÌ„ that day forth he sholde no more be seen wythin hys lande vpon payne of deth Thys hearynge hys fomen greatly were gladded sayd vnto the olde knyght Now be we delyuered of thys knyght Ydrony there is no more to do but y t we myght fynde the waye to be delyuered of the nyghtyngale in whyche the Emperour delyteth so moche Than sayd thys olde knyght your eares shall heare and your eyen shall se that thys nyghtyngale shal be destroyed in shorte tyme. Not long after thys olde knyght espyed that y e nyghtyngale vsed to syt vpon a tree euen aboue the foresayd well where as her make came grendred with her neuerthelesse in the absence of her make she toke oftentymes an other make dyd auoutry whan she had thus done than wolde she descende to the well and bathe her selfe that whan her make came he sholde fele no sauour ne euyll odour of y t she had done Whan y e knyght had seen thys on a tyme he locked the well whan the nyghtyngale wolde haue descended to bathe her selfe after her auouâ—ry she founde the well closed wherfore she flewe vp to the tree agayne mourned sore in her maner lefte of her swete songe Than came her make sawe that she had trespaced agaynst her nature he returned agayne and in shorte tyme brought a great multitude of nyghtyngales whych slewe hys make tare her al to peces And thus was the wyse knyght put away the nyghtyngale slayne the Emperour put from his pleasure and solace suche as he was wonte to haue ¶ Thys Emperour betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst which loueth greatly the songe of perfyte deuocyon for whan we praye we speke w t god whan we rede god speketh wyth vs. The well that was in y e palays betokeneth confessyon that is in the chyrche therfore yf ony man be dronken wyth synne let hym drynke of y e well of confessyon wythout doubte he shall be safe Thys ydrony betokeneth euery man that wylfully returneth agayne to synne after his confessyon lyke as a dogge y t maketh a vomyte casteth out the meate that he hath eaten afore after whaÌ„ he is hungry coÌ„meth eateth it agayne Neuerthelesse yf a man y t hath synned thus wyll drynke of y e well of confessyon he shall receyue his goostly strengthes The nyghtyngale y t sate on the tree betokeneth the soule y e sytteth on y e tree of holy doctryne And her songe betokeneth the soule that sytteth on the tree in deuoute prayers to god But thys soule dothe auoutry as oftentymes as she consenteth to synne Neuerthelesse yf she renne to confessyon bathe her w t the water of contricyon god shall loue her But her fomen that be the fendes of hell seyng thys that god is so mercyfull they stoppe the well of confessyon that is to say the mouthes of them that wolde shryue theÌ„selfe wyth shame drede of penaunce that they dare not tell forth theyr synnes And thus ben many exiled put to deth euerlastyng And therfore study we to bathe our lyfe in the well of confessyon wyth y e water of contrycyon and than may we be sure to coÌ„me to euerlastyng lyfe Unto the whyche god brynge bothe you and me Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperoure named Darmes whyche had a myghty stronge cyte and strongly walled aboute a bell hangynge in the myddes of y e cyte whan so euer thys Emperour went to batayle wythout y e cyte this bel sholde be ronge but there sholde no man rynge y e bell but a virgyn Wythin shorte tyme after it befell that dragons serpeÌ„tes and many other venymous beestes empoysoned moche people so that y e cyte was almoost destroyed wherfore the states of the cyte went w t one assent to the Emperour sayd Lorde what shall we do lo our goddes our cyte is almoost destroyed ye we be in peryll to perysshe throgh these fell beestes that coÌ„sume vs therfore take we good counseyle or else we are but lost Than sayde the Emperour what saye you is best to be done in thys mater and how may we best be defended ThaÌ„ answered one of y e wysest sayd My lorde heare my couÌ„seyle do therafter ye shall not forthynke it ye haue quod he in your place a lyon and set vp a crosse hange thys lyon ther vpon wyth nayles whan other venymous beestes se hym thus hangynge on the crosse they wyll drede so shall they forsake this cite and we shall be in rest ease Than sayd y e Emperour it pleaseth me well that he be hanged in sauynge of you Than toke they y e lyon henge hym on the crosse fast nayled And other lyons venymous dragons came towarde the cyte sawe the lyon thus hangynge they fledde awaye for drede and durst coÌ„me no nere ¶ Thys emperour betokeneth the father of heuen the cyte well walled w t y e bell in y e myddes betokeneth the soule walled aboute w t vertues The bell betokeneth a clene conscyence that warneth a man to batayle whan he sholde fyght agaynst the deuyll that he myght arme hymselfe before w t vertues The virgyn y t sholde rynge thys bell is reason the whyche as a virgyn declyneth all to ryghtfull clennes The venymous dragon y t beareth fyre betokenâ—th the flesshe
great rychesse And whan I herde that I was glad and let downe a corde supposyng to haue drawen vp hym than I haled vâ— a lyon after that an ape than a serpent and at the last your stewarde The lyon gaue me ten asses charged w t marchaundyse the ape gaue me as moche wode as myne asse myght beare the serpent gaue me this stone y t I haue solde you but your stewarde bette me wouÌ„ded me so sore for my good dede that I was borne home vpon myne asse Whan y e Emperour herde thys hys herte was greatly moued agaynst y e steward wherfore he examyned hym of that false dede but he was dombe wolde not speke for so moche y t he coulde not deny his falshede Than sayd y e Emperour O thou wretched creature vnreasonable beestes as the lyon the ape the serpent rewarded hym for hys good dede and thou that art a reasonable man hast almost beaten hym to deth that saued the and toke the out of the pyt therfore for thy falshede wyckednes I iudge the to be hanged this daye on the galowes and all thy goodes landes I graunte to syr Guy also I ordeyne that syr Guy shall occupye thy place and be stewarde and so it was done Whan syr Guy was thus rewarded by the Emperoure and made stewarde he was well beloued of euery man as longe as he lyued and at y e last ended hys lyfe wyth honour and good peace ¶ Thys emperour betokeneth the father of heuen the poore man betokeneth euery maÌ„ that coÌ„meth in to this worlde feble naked from his mothers bely at y e last is promoted to great rychesse worldly honour as the psalmyst sayth Destercore erigens paupereÌ„ God lyfteth vp the poore man out of fylthe many suche men knowe neyther god ne theÌ„selfe but cause to make depe pyttes that is to saye vnkyndnes and malyce they ordeyne agaynst symple men in the whyche pyt y e deuyll causeth them ofte to fall accordyng to a texte in Ecclesiastico HoueaÌ„ qui alteri facit ipse incidit in eaÌ„ That is to saye who maketh a pyt to an other man oft tyme he falleth therin hymselfe whyche texte was well proued by Mardocheus Thys Guy that went dayly to y e forest w t his asse to gader wode betokeneth euery ryght full man dredyng god in y e forest of this worlde y t wode that he gadereth betokeneth his meryâ—oryous werkes that he caryeth on hys asse whyche betokeneth y e body of man wherwith his soule may ioye lyue in y e tabernacle of heuen And as the steward the lyon the ape the serpent that fell in to the pyt ryght so whan a synfull man falleth in y e pyt of synne The lyoÌ„ of y e kynrede of Iude that is Iesu Chryst descendeth with hym as oftentymes as the synner hath wyll to coÌ„me to grace Therfore sayth the psalmyst Cum ipso sum in tribulatione That is ta saye I am with hym in tribulacioÌ„ Thys Guy draweth vp y e lyon y t is to say Iesu Chryst out of the pyt by the rope of vertues He drewe vp y e ape also that is to say contrary wyll to reason y t he myght obey to reason For of all maner beestes the ape is most lyke to man ryght so amonge all the strengthes of the soule wyll ought to be lykened vnto reason and to obey reason He drewe vp also a serpeÌ„t by the whych is vnderstande penauÌ„ce for two causes For the serpent beareth in hys mouth venym and his tayle is a medicyne Ryght so penaunce beareth at the begynnynge bytternes to the doer neuerthelesse it is full swete medicynable vnto the soule at y e ende therfore euery ryghtwyse man sholde drawe to hym the serpent of penauÌ„ce And at the last he drewe vp the steward from the pyt of synne accordynge to Chrystes saying I am not coÌ„me onely to call ryghtwyse men but synners to penaunce Also it is wryten that Seneca whyche taught an Emperour many lores vertues of trewth and at the last lyke thys stewarde caused to slee his mayster Seneca Also Chryst gaue power to Iudas to werke myracles lyke as he dyd to other dyscyples neuerthelesse he betrayed hym at the last Ryght so now a dayes be many chyldren of Belial whych delyte more to do harme thaÌ„ good in especyall to them y t wolde â—eche them perfytly bothe for the soule for the body The lyon gaue to the ryghtwyse man .x. asses charged with marchaundyse that is to saye our lorde Iesu Chryst gyueth to euery ryghtwyse man .x. coÌ„mauÌ„dementes charged wyth vertues by the whyche he groweth to y e rychesse of heuen The ape also gadereth hym wode as ofte as the ryghtfull maÌ„ werketh wylfully y e dedes of charite For wode is profytable for two thynges that is to saye to make fyre to buylde houses Ryght so â—fyâ—â— charite heateth the aungell accordyng to scrypture saying Quia magis gaudiuÌ„ est angelis c. That is to say More ioye is to aungels for one synner doynge penauÌ„ce c. Charite also reyseth the hous of heuen agaynst the coÌ„mynge of the soule The serpent also gaue hym a stone of thre dyuerse colours the whyche he betokeneth our lorde Iesu Chryst whome we seke by penaunce Therfore sayth saynt Ierome in the seconde table thus â—ost naufragiâ—â— est premiaÌ„ That is to saye We sholde do penaunce after our trespace That Chryst is a stone may be proued by hymselfe saying thus Ego sum lapis viuus That is to saye I am a lyuyng stone Chryst hath thre colours whyche betokeneth y t myght of the father the wysdome of the sone the mekenes of the holy goost Therfore who that may gete thys stone shall haue the empyre of heuen ioye without sorowe plente wtout ony defaute lyght wythout darknes Unto whyche lyght brynge vs our lorde Iesu Chryst that dyed for you and me and all mankynde Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour named Anselme whych had wedded y e kynges doughter of Iherusalem a fayre lady and a gracyous in the syght of euery man but she was longe tyme wyth the Emperour or she waâ— coÌ„ceyued wyth chylde wherfore the nobles of y e Empyre were ryght sorowfull bycause theyr lorde had none heyre of hys body begoten Tyll at the last it befel that this Anselme walked after supper in an euenynge in hys gardeyn and bethought hymselfe how he had none heyre and how the kynge of Ampluy warred on hym coÌ„tynually for so moche as he had no sone to make defence in hys absence wherfore he was ryght sorowfull wente to hys chambre and slepte And at the last hym thought he sawe a vysyon in hys slepe that y e mornynge was more clerer thaÌ„ it was wont to be that the mone was moche more paler on that one syde than on that other And after he sawe
syluer hath blynded the eyen of iudges hath ouerthrowen wyse men so that equite and ryghtwysâ—es myght not entre but stode aferre and turned theyr backes Thys lady also bought a man froÌ„ hangynge that is to saye from euerlastyng deth whyche he had deserued by deedly synne Therfore do we as dyd thys lady smyte we our horse that is to say our flesshe wyth the spurres of penaunce so ryde we â—orth in all haste to saue our neyghbour from the galous of deedly synne helpynge hym bothe bodyly and goostly as Salomon sayth Wo be to that man lyenge in deedly synne that hath no man to lyfte hym out therof Therfore awake thy neyghbour and helpe hym For a brother that is holpen of an other is lyke a sure cyte yf he gyue no more but a cuppe of colde water to hym in the waye of helpe he shall not lose hys rewarde But many now a days be full vnkynde as was thys thefe whyche falsly deceyued hys lady after y t she had saued hym froÌ„ hangyng The mayster of y e shyppe betokeneth y e worlde by whome many men be deceyued But neuerthelesse as ofte as a man taketh on hym wylfully the charge of pouerte obeyeth vnto the coÌ„maundementes of god and forsaketh the worlde than breketh the shyppe For it is impossyble to please god man and the worlde at ones Whan thys lady had escaped the tempest of the see she wente to a nonry that is to saye the soule after y e troubles of thys worlde wente to the holy lyfe than she healed all maner sycke folke that is to saye euery man that is troubled in hys soule that is to say infecte wyth dyuerse sycknesses that this lady healeth thrugh holy lyfe But the soule myght not be seen of Chryst her husbande tyll she had knowleged openly all her .v. wyttes how she had spent them But whan she had made a pure coÌ„fessyoÌ„ than y e Emperour our lord god her husbande knewe her toke her in his armes ledde her home to the palays of heuen Unto the whyche almyghty god brynge vs all Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour named Martyn whyche for loue kepte wyth hym hys brothers sone whome men called FulgeÌ„tyus Wyth thys Martyn dwelled also a knyght that was steward of hys Empyre and vncle vnto the Emperour whyche enuyed thys FulgeÌ„tius studyed day nyght how he myght brynge the Emperour thys chylde at debate wherfore the stewarde on a daye wente vnto the Emperour sayd My lorde quod he I that am your true seruauÌ„t owe of duty to warne your hyghnes yf I heare any thynge y t toucheth your honour wherfore I haue harde suche thynges that I must nedes vtter it in secrete vnto your lordshyp bytwene vs two Than sayde the Emperour Good frende quod he saye on what the lyst My moost dere lorde quod the stewarde Fulgentius your cosyn and your nye kynsman hath defamed you wonderfully and shamefully thrugh out all your Empyre sayinge that your breth stynketh and that it is deth to hym to serue you of your cup. Than the Emperour waxed wrothe and was almoost besyde hym selfe for anger and sayde to hym thus I praye the my good frende tell me the very trouth yf that my breth so stynketh as he sayth My lorde quod the stewarde ye may byleue me I neuer perceyued a swâ—ter breth in my dayes than yours is Than sayde the Emperoure I praye the good frende tell me how I may brynge thys thynge to a good profe The stewarde answered and sayd My lorde quod he ye shall ryght well vnderstande the trouth for to morowe nexte whan he serueth you of your cuppe ye shall se that he shall turne awaye hys face from you bycause of your brethe and thys is the moost veray profe that may be had of thys thynge Forsothe quod the Emperoure a truer profe can not be had of thys thynge Wherfore anone whan the stewarde herde thys he wente streyght to Fulgentius and toke hym asyde sayinge thus Dere frende thou art my kynsman and also nenewe vnto my lorde the Emperoure therfore yf thou wylte con me thanke I wyll tell the of the vyce wherof my lorde the Emperoure complayneth ofte and thynketh to put the from hym but yf it be the rather amended and that myght be a greate reprofe to the. Than sayd thys Fulgentius A good syr for hys loue that dyed vpon the crosse tell me why my lorde is so sore moued wyth me for I am redy to amedde my defaute in all that I can or may and for to be ruled by your good and dyscrete couÌ„seyle Thy breth quod the stewarde stynketh so sore that hys drynke dothe hym no good so greuous is vnto hym the stynkynge breth of thy mouth Than sayde Fulgentyus vnto the stewarde Truly that perceyued I neuer tyll now but what thynketh you of my brethe I praye you to tell me the very trouth Sothly quod the stewarde it stynketh greatly and foule And this Fulgentius byleued all that he sayde and was ryght sorowfull in hys mynde and prayed the stewarde of hys counseyle and helpe in thys wofull case Than sayd the stewarde vnto hym Yf that thou wylt do by my counseyle I shall brynge thys mate to a good conclusyon therfore do as I shal tell the. I counseyle the for y e best and also warne the that whan thou seruest my lorde the Emperoure of hys cuppe that than thou turne thy face away from hym so that he may not fele thy stynkynge brethe vnto the tyme that thou hast prouyded the of some remedy therfore Than was Fulgentyus ryght glad and sware to hym that he wolde do by hys couÌ„seyle Not longe after it befell that thys yonge man Fulgentyus â—erued hys lorde as he was wonte to do and therwyth sodeynly he turned his face froÌ„ hys lorde as the stewarde had taught hym And whan the Emperoure perceyued the auoydyng of hys heed he smote thys yonge Fulgentius on the brest wyth hys fote and sayd to hym thus O thou noughty rybawde now se I well it is true that I haue herde of the and therfore go thou anone out of my syght that I se the no more in thys place And wyth that thys yonge Fulgentyus wepte full sore and auoyded the place and wente out of hys syght And whan thys was so done the Emperour called vnto hym hys steward and sayd How may I put thys rybawde from the worlde that thus hath defamed me My moost dere lorde quod the stewarde ryght well ye shall haue your entent For here besyde wythyn these thre myle ye haue bryckmakers whyche dayly make greate fyres for to brenne brycke and also they make lyme therfore my lorde sende to them thys nyght and charge them vpon payne of deth that who so euer coÌ„meth to them fyrst on the morowe sayinge to them thus My lorde commaundeth you to fulfyll hys wyll that they take hym and cast hym