The first Historie.

SOme time there dwelt in Rome a mightie Em­perour, which had a faire creature to his daughter named Athalāta, whom diuers great Lords and many noble Knights desired to haue to wife. This Athalāta was wōnderous swift on soote, wherefore such a law was ordained that no man should haue hir to wife but such as could out runne hir and take hir by swiftnesse of foote.

And so it befell that many came and [Page] ranne with hir, but she was so swifte that no manne might ouertake hir by course of running. At the last there came a Knight named Pomeis, vnto hir Father, and said to him thus. My Lord, if it might please you to giue mée your daughter to wife, I will gladly runne with hir. Then said hir father, there is such a [...]aw ordained and sett, that who so will [...]aue hir to wife, must first runne with hir, & if he faile in his course, that he ouer take hir not, he shall loose his head, and if it fortune him to ouertake hir, than shall I wed hir vnto him.

And when the emperour had told him all the perill that might fall in the win­ning of hir, y^e Knight voluntarily graū ­ted to abide that ieoperdie. Then the Knight lette ordaine him thrée balles of gold against the running. And when they had begun to runne a litle space, the young Ladie ouer ranne him, than the Knight threw foorth béefore hir the first ball of gold. And when the damo­sel saw the ball, she stooped and tooke it vp, and that while the Knight wanne before hir, but that auayled lyttle, for [Page 2] whan she perceiued that, she ranne so fast that in short space shée gat before him againe. And than he threw foorth the second ball of gold, and she stooped as she did before to take it vp, & in that while the knight wanne before hir a­gaine, which this young damoysell sée­ing, constrained hir selfe and ranne so fast till at the last she had him at a vaū ­tage againe, and was afore him, and by that tyme they were nigh the marke where they should abide, wherefore y^e knight threw forth the third ball bée­fore hir, and like as she had done before stooped downe to take vp the ball, and while she was in taking vp y^e third bal, the knight gat afore hir, and was first at the marke. And thus was she wōne.

The second Historie.

THere dwelt sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour and a wise named Anselme, which bare in his armes a sheld of siluer with fiue red Roses. This Emperour had in▪ sonnes, whom he loued much, he had also conti­nuall warre with the King of Egypt, in the which warre he lost all his tem­porall goods, except a vertuous tree. It fortuned after on a daye, that hée gaue battaile to y^t said King of Egipt, where­in [Page] hée was grieuosly wounded. Neuer­thelesse hée obtained y^e victory, not with­standing he had his deadly woūd, wher­fore while hée laie at poynt of death hée called vnto him his eldest sonne & saide, My most déere and welbéeloued sonne, all my temporall richesse I haue spent and almost nothing is left mée, except a vertuous trée the which standeth in the middest of mine Empyre, I giue to thée al that is vnder y^e earth and aboue the earth of the same trée. O my reuerent Father (quod hée) I thanke you much. Then saide themperour, call to mée my second sonne. Anone his eldest sonne greatly ioying of his fathers gift, called in his brother, and when hée came, than saide themperour. My déere sonne (quod hée) I may not make my testament for as much as I haue spent all my goods, except a Tree which standeth in myne Empyre, of the which Trée I béequeath to thée all that is great and small. Then answered hée and sayde. My re­uerent father I thank you much. Then said the Emperour, call to mée my third sonne, and so it was done. And when hée [Page 4] was come, y^e Emperour said. My déere sonne, I must die of these wounds, & I haue but onely a vertuous Tree, of the which I haue béequethed thy bretherne their porcion, and to thée I bequeth thy porcion, for I will that thou haue of the said tree all that is wet and dry. Then saide his sonne. Father I thanke you. Soone after that y^e emperour had made his bequest he died. And y^e eldest sonne a­none toke season of the trée When the second brother heard this, hée saide. My brother, by what law or tytell occupy yee this trée Déere [...]brother (quod hée) I occupy it by this title, my father gaue mee all that is vnder the earth & aboue of the said tree, & therfore by reason this trée is mine. Unknowing to thee, quod the second brother, hée gaue mée all y^t is in bredth, lēgth, & deepnes, of y^e said trée, & therefore I haue as great right in the trée as you. This hearing y^e third sonne came to thē & saide. O yée my best belou'd bretherne, it beehoueth you not to striue for this trée, for as much right haue I in this trée as yée, for wel yée wot by y^e law, that y^e last wil & testamēt ought to stād, [Page] for of truth hée gaue mée of the said trée all that is wet and drye, and therefore by right y^e trée is mine, but for as much as your words are of great force, & mine also, my counsaile is that wée be iustified by reason, for it is not good nor commen­dable that any strife or dissenciō ▪ should bée among vs. Héere beeside dwelleth a king of reason, therefore to auoid strife, goe wée there vnto him, and eche of vs la [...]e his right beefore him, and like as hee will iudge, lette vs stand to his iudge­mēt. Then said his brethren, this coun­saile is good, wherefore they went all thrée vnto the King of reason, and eche of them seuerally shewed foorth his right vnto him, like as it is said beefore.

When the King had heard their ti­tles, hée rehearsed them all againe seue­rally, first saying to the eldest sonne thus. Thou saist for thée, quod the King, that thy father gaue thee all that is vnder the earth and aboue the earth of the said Trée. And to the second brother hee bequethed all y^t is in bredth, length, and déepnes, of that trée. And to the third brother hée gaue all y^t is wette [Page 5] and dry. And with that hée layd y^e law for them, & saide that the last will ought to stand. Now my déere sonnes, briefe­ly I shall satisfie all your reasons. And when hee had thus said, hée turned him vnto the eldest brother, saying thus. My déere sonne, if you list to abide the iudg­ment, of right it behoueth you to be let­ten bloud of the right arme. My Lord, quod hée, your will shall hée dene. Then called the king forth a discréet Phisiti­on, commaunding him to let him bloud. When the eldest sonne was thus letten blood, the king said to them all three. My déere sonnes, quod hée, wher is your fa­ther buried. Then answered they and said: Forsooth my Lord in such a place. Anone the King commaunded to digge in the ground for the body, and to take a bonne out of his brest, and to bury the body againe, & so it was done. And when the bonne was taken out, the king com­maunded that it should bee laied in the blood of the elder brother, and it should lie till it had receiued kindly the blood, and then to bée laied in the Sunne and dried, and after that it should bée washt [Page] with cléere water, his seruants fulfil­led all that hée commaunded. And when they beegan to wash, the blood vanished cleane away, When the king saw this, hée said to the second sonne. It béehoueth that thou bee letten blood as thy brother is. Then said hée. My Lord thy will shall be fullfiled, and a non hée was done vnto like as his brother was in all thing, & whē they began to wash y^e bone, the blood vanished away. Then said y^e king to the third son. My déer child it behoueth thée also to bée letten blood. Hée answered & saide. My Lord it pleaseth mée well so to bée. When the yongest brother was lettē blood, & done vnto in all thing like as his two bretherne were before, whē the kings seruaunts began to wash the bone, they might neither for washing ne for fretting doe away y^e blood of y^e bone but euer it appeared bloody. When the king saw this he saide: It appeareth o­penly that this blood without doubt is of the nature of this bone, thou art his true son, & these other two ben bastards I giue to thee the trée for euermore.

The third Historie.

IN Rome there dwelled some time a noble Emperour named Dioclesian, which aboue all worldly goods loued the vertue of charitie, wherfore he desired greatly to knowe what fowle loued hir birds best, to the intent that he might thereby grow to more perfect charitie. It fortuned after vpon a day, that this Emperour walked to the forest to take his disport, wher as he found the neast of a great bird (that is called in latin Struthio Camely, in English an Oi­stridge) with hir bird, y^e which bird, the emperour toke w^e him, & closed him in a vessel of glasse. The dam of this litle bird followed after vnto y^e emperours place, [Page] and slew into the hall where hir birde was closed. But when she sawe hir bird, and might by no meanes come to hir, ne get her out, shee returned againe to the forest, & there she abode three daies, and at the last shee returned againe to the Pallys, bearing in hir mouth a worme that is called Thumare. Whan she came where hir birde was, shee let the worme fall vppon the glasse, tho­rough vertue of which worme, y^e glalsse brake, and the bird escaped, and slew foorth with his dam.

Whan the emperour saw this, he prai­sed much the dam of the birde, which so diligently laboured for the deliue­raunce of hir byrd.

The fourth Historie.

SOmetime dwelled in Rome a wor­thy Emperour and a wyse, which had a fayre daughter and a gracious in the sight of euery man. This emperour bee thought him on a daye to whome he might giue his daughter in marriage, saying thus. If I giue my daughter to a rich man, and he be a foole, then is she lost, and if I giue hir to a poore man and a wittie, than may he get his liuing for him and hir by his wisedome.

There was that time dwelling in the citie of Rome a Philosopher named So­crates, poore and wise, which came to the Emperour & sayde. My Lord displease you not though I put foorth my peticion before your highnes. Themperour sayd, whatsoeuer it pleaseth thee tell foorth. Then sayd Socrates: My Lord ye haue [Page 10] a daughter whome I desire aboue all thing. Themperour answered and said. My friend, I shall giue thée my daughter to wife vpon this condicion, that if she dye in thy feloship after that she is wed­ded to thée, thou shalt without doubt léese thy head. Then said Socrates. Upon this condition I will gladly take hir to bée my wife. Themperour hearing this, let call foorth all the Lords and states of his Empyre, and made a great feast at their wedding. And after the feast So­crates led home his wife to his owne house, where as they liued in peace and health long time. But at the last this Emperours daughter sickned to death, when Socrates perceiued this, hee saide to himselfe. Alas and wo to mée, what shall I doe, and whether shall I flée, if the Emperours daughter that is my wife should dye: and for sorrow this Socrates went to a forrest there béeside and wept bitterly. The while he thus wept and mourned, there came an a­ged man bearing a staffe in his hande, and asked the cause of Socrates why he mourned. Socrates answered and sayd. [Page] I wedded themperours daughter vpon this condition, that if she died in my fe­loship, I should leese my lyfe, now shee is sickned vnto the death, & I c [...]n find no remedie nor help, and therefore I mourne more than any creature can thinke. Then saide the olde man, be of good comfort, for I shall help you if yee will doe after my counsell. In this for­rest be three herbes, if ye make a drink of the first to your wife, & of the other two a playster, and if she vse this medi­cinall drincke and plaister in due time without doubt she shall recouer to per­fect health. Socrates fulfilled all as the olde man had taught him. And whā his wife had vsed a while that medicinall drinke and plaister, within short tyme she was perfectly whole of all hir sicke­nesse And when the Emperour heard that Socrates wrought so wisely, and how diligently he laboured for to heale his wife, he promoted him to great dig­nitie and worship.

The fift History.

SOmetime there raigned in Rome a mightie Emperour and a wyse, named Frederike, which had one onely sonne, whome he loued much. [Page 12] This Emperour when hee laye at the point of death, hée called vnto him his sonne, and sayde. Déere sonne, I haue a ball of Gold which I giue thée vpon my blesseing, y^t thou anone after my death shalt giue it to the most foole that thou maiest finde. Then saide his sonne. My Lord without doubt your will shall bee fulfilled. Anone this young Lord after the death of his father, wēt & sought in many Realmes & found many rechlesse fooles, bicause hée would satisfie his Fa­thers will, laboured farher til hee came into a realme where the law was such, that euerie yeere a new King was cho­sen there, and this King had onely the guiding of that Realme but a yeere, and at the yéeres ende hée was deposed and put in exile in an Ilande, where as hée should wretchedly finish his life.

When the Emperours sonne came to this Realme, the new King was cho­sen with great honour, and all maner of Musical instrumēts went before him and brought him with great reuerence and worship vnto his regall sea [...]. And when the Emperours sonne sawe that hée [Page] came vnto him and saluted him re­uerently and said. My Lord, loe, I giue thee this ball of gold, on my fathers be­hal [...]e. Then saide hee, I praye thee tell mee the cause why thou giuest mee this ball. Then answered this young Lord and said. My father charged mee in his death bedde vpon paine of forfaiting of his blesseing, that I should giue this ball to the most foole that I could find, wher­fore I haue sought many Realmes, and haue found many fooles, neuerthelesse a more foole then thou art, found I ne­uer, & therefore this is the reason. It is not vnknown to thee y^t thou shalt raign but a yeere, and at the yeeres end thou shalt bee exiled into such a place where as thou shalt die a mischeuous death, wherfore I hold thée for the most foole that euer I found, that for the Lord­ship of a yéere, thou wouldest so wilfully leese thy selfe, and therefore before all other, I haue giuē thee this ball of gold.

Then saide the king, without doubt thou saiest truth, and therefore when I am in ful power of this realme, I shall send béefore mee great treasure and ri­ches [Page 13] wherewith I may liue & saue my selfe from mischeuous death, when I shal bee exiled & put downe. And to this was done, wherfore at the yeeres ende, hee was exiled and iued there in peare, vpon such goods as hee had sent beefore, & hée died afterward a good death.

The sixt Historie.

¶ Dioclesian reigned in y^e citie of Rome in whose empire dwelt a noble Philoso­pher, the which sette vp by his craft an ymage in the middest of the Citie of Rome, the which ymage strethed out his arme and his formost finger, wher­vppon stoode this posie written in La­tine, Percute hic. Strike heere. This [Page 14] ymage after the death of this Philoso­pher stoode still a long time, and many great clarkes came thether for to read the superscription that was on the fin­ger, but none of them vnderstoode what it ment, wherfore ther was great won­dring among the people. And at the last a long time after there came a strange clarke out of farre countries, and whē hée saw this ymage, he read y^e scripture, strike héere.

And then vpon a day whē he saw the shadow of y^e hand, hee tooke a mattocke & brake vp the ground vnder the hand where the shadow was, according to the vnderstanding of the superscripti­on, and anone hée found an house all of Marble vnderneath the ground, wher­in he entred and came into a hall, wher­in hée found so much riches, so manie Jewells, and so great maruailes, that he neuer saw ne heard of such, nor so many béefore that time. At the last hée saw a table redy couered, and all maner of things necessary therto set there vpon. Hee beheld further and saw a carbūcle in the hall y^t lightened all y^e house. And [Page] Against this Carbuncle on that other side stoode a man holding in his hand a bow with an arow ready to shoote. The clark maruailed much when he saw all these things, and thought in himselfe, if that I tell this foorth, ther will no man beeleeue mee, and therefore I will haue somewat of these goodes in token of proofe. And with that hée law a knife of golde vpon the table, the which hoe tooke and would haue put it in his boo­some. But anon the Archer smote the Carbuncle and brake it, where with the whole house was shadowed and made darke. And when the clarke perceiued it, he wept more bitterly then any man might thinke, for he know not by what way he might goe out, for as much as y^e house was made darke through y^e brea­king of the carbuncle. And that darknes abode still for euermore after. And so finished the clarke his life there in that darknesse.

The seuenth History.

IN Rome dwelled sometime a migh­tie Emperour named Titus, a wise man & a diseréete, which ordained in his daies such a law, that what knight dyed in his empire, should be buried in his armour, and who so euer presumed to spoile any knights armour after he were dead, he should die without any withstanding or gaine saying.

It befell after within fewe yéeres that a citie of the Empire was beseged [Page 16] of themperours enemies, wherfore that Citie was in perill of leesing, for none that was within that Citie might not defend themselues by no maner of craft, therefore great sorrow & lamentation was made through out all the Citie. But at the last within few dayes there came to the Citie a young Knight and a well fauored, valiaunt in feates of Armes, whome the worthy men of the Citie beholding, and vnderstanding his prowes [...]e, cryed with one voyce. O thou most noble Knight, wée beséech thée if it please thy worthinesse to help vs now at our most néede, lo ye may see this Citie is in perill of léesing. Then answered he and sayd. Seye not sirs, that I haue none armour, and if I had Armour I would gladly defend your Citie. This hearing a mightie man of the citie sayd to him in secrete wise.

Sir, héere was sometime a doughtie knight which now is dead & buried with in this citie according to the law, & if it please you to take his armour ye might defend this citie & deliuer vs frō perill, [Page] and that shall bee honour vnto you and profit vnto all the Empyre.

When this young knight had heard this, he went to the graue and toke the armour and arayed himselfe therwith, & sought mightely againste his enimies, and at the last he obtained and had the victory, and deliuered the citie from per­ill and whan he had so done, hée layd y^e Art [...]our again [...] in the graue. There were some menne in the Citie that had great indignation and enuie at him, by­cause he had obtained the victorie, and accused him to the Judge, saing thus Syr a law was made by themperour that w [...]o [...]o [...]uer [...]spoiled a dead Knight of his Armour should dye, this young Knight [...]ennd a [...]d ad Knight & tooke a­way his A [...]mour, therfore we beseech thee that thou pr [...]ceede in the lawe a­gainst him, as against him y^t hath of­fended the law. When the Justice heard this, hee made the Knight to bee takē and to be brought afore him. And whē hee was examined of this trespasse a­gainst the law, hee said thus. Sye it is written in the law, that of two harms [Page 17] the least is to bée chosen, it is not vn­knowen to you that this Citie was in perill to bee lost, & but I had taken this armour, I had neither saued you ne the Citie, therefore me thinketh yee ought rather to honour & worship me for this good deede that I haue done, than thus shamefully to reproue me, for I am led as he that is ready to be hanged, and al­so good sirs an other reason I may laye for mine excuse. He that stealeth or rob­beth violently, purposeth not to restore that thing that he robeth, but it is not thus with mée, for though I tooke the armour of the dead knight for your de­fence and sauegard, when I had obtai­ned the victory, I bare it againe to the same place, and so the dead knight hath that is his by the law. Then saide the Justice, a thefe that breaketh a house that he may steale and beare away such as he may find, and though he bringe againe that he hath taken, I aske of thée if that the breaking of the house be law­full or not. The knight answered some­tyme the breaking of an House may bée good, where as it is made in féeble [Page] place, which should cause the Lorde of the house to make his wall stronger, that the théeues after that breake not the walls [...]o lightly in a [...]o [...]ing of more harme.

Then saide the Justice, if the brea­king of the house be good, neuerthelesse in that breaking, violence is done to the Lorde of the house. And so though thou d [...]dd [...]st good with the Armour of the dead Knight, neuerthelesse thou did­dest wrong to the dead knight in taking away his armour. The knight sayde, I haue told you that of two harmes the least is to be chosen, and that harme wher through great goodnsse commeth, ought not to be called harme, but it should rather be called good. For if that any house within the citie were on fire and began to burne, it were more bet­ter to throw it to the ground and thrée or foure houses thereby, thē they should be set on fire also, whereby all the citie might be brente. Right so if the Ar­mour of the dead knight had not beene taken, the citie and ye all had bene lost. And when the Justice heard that he an­swered [Page 18] so well and so reasonably, hée might giue no iudgment against him. But he y^t which had accused this knight slew him, for whose death, there was great wéeping throughout all the citie, and his body was worshipfully buried in a new tombe.

The History.

[Page 19]THere raigned sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour & a wyse named Betolde, which ordained a law that what woman were taken in aduoutry hir husband beeing a liue, shée should bee cast into perpetuall prison. There was that time a knight that had a fayre lady to his wife, which commit­ted aduoutry hir husband being a liue, and was with childe, therefore by the law shee was put in prison, wher with­in short tyme after shee was deliuered of a fayre sonne. This childe grew vp till hée was seuen yeeres old, his mother dayly wept hartely. And when the child ha [...]d this hee said to his mother. O mo­ther why wéepe yée thus, and for what cause are you thus perplexed. Then saide his mother. O my swéete sonne, I haue great cause to mourne, and thou also, for aboue our heads is people wal­king, and the sunne shineth in cléerenes, and great solace haue all men that are aboue vs, and wee bée héere continually in such darknes y^t I may not sée thée, ne thou me, alas y^t euer I conceiued thee. [Page] Then sayd the sonne, such ioye, ne such light as yée spake of, sawe I neuer, for I was borne here in this darknes, ther­fore if I had meate and drink ynough, heere would I liue all the dayes of my life, therefore mother weepe yée not, but show mee solace. This lamentation that was betwéene the mother & the sonne, heard▪ the Emperours Stewarde that stoode aboue their heads, wherof he had great compassion, and wept vnto the Emperour, and kneeling, beesought him of his grace, that the mother & the sonne might bee deliuered out of prison. The Emperour as a mercifull Lord graun­ted that they should bee deliuered. Ne­uerthelesse if they trespassed so in time to come, they should bée punished with double paine, and after that they were deliuered, this woman ended hir life in that Citie.

The Morall.

SOmetime in Rome dwelt an Em­perour named Pompe [...], which a­boue all other things was merci­full. This Emrerour procliamed throughout all his Empire a great feast and that poore and rich should come to this feast. And whosoeuer came to that feast should not onely bee well fed, but also hee should haue great giftes. When the herawld had warned all maner of men to come to this feast, at that time there ware two poore men lying by the way, the one was lame, and the other was blinde, This blinde man sayde to the lame man. Alas and wo to vs both, how shall wée doe, for themperour hath proclaimed a feast, and who so e­uer commeth there shall not onely bée well fedde, but also hee shall haue great [Page 21] guifts, and I am blinde, and thou arts lame, how shall wee doe. Then sayde the lame man to y^e blinde man, I shall tell thée counsell, if thou wilt doe after mée, thou shalt let for nothing. I am lame and feeble & may not goe, ne­uerthelesse I may see, & thou art blinde and strong, and maist not see, take thou mée vpon thy beack and beare mee, and I shall leade thee the right way, & thus shall wée both come to the Emperours feast. Then sayde the blind, after thy counsell let vs doe, come on my back & I shall beare thee, and y^u shalt lead [...] mee the right way, and so they did that they came both to the feast, & recuied great rewards and giftes among other men. And thus ended their liues in peace.

The tenth History.

SOmetime in Rome dwelt an Em­perour named Folliculus, the which was right wise, mercifull & rightfull in [Page 22] all his works This Emperour builded in the East a noble Citie, wherein hée put all his treasure and precious stones and riches to bee kept.

Unto this Citie the waie was stonie and full of brambles and sharp thorns, and thrée knihgts were armed ready to fight with thē that would come to that Citie. Therefore themperour ordained y^t whosoeuer ouercame these knightes should enter the Citie, & take at his wil of the emperours treasure After that, this Emperour did make in the North west, a citie wherin he ordained all ma­ner of paine, formēting, sorrow & mis­chiefe, for malefactors, to the which was a broad way, verte delectable, growing full of Roses and sayre L [...]kes, and in that way were thrée knights, euer wai­ting if any man came towards y^e citie of the north, to serue him with all ma­ner of delicates and necessary prouision.

And if it fortuned any man to enter within that Citie, y^e custome was such that the people should take & binde him hand and foote, and cast him in prison, there to abide y^e comming of y^e Justice. [Page] When this was cryed through out all the Empyre, there were two Knights dwelling in a citie there beeside one na­med Ionatas, who was a wise man, the other hight Pirrius, which was a foole, ne­uerthelesse there had continued betwne them great loue. This Ionatas sayde to Pyrrius. Déere friend there is a common crye made throughout al lāds, that the Emeperour hath made a Citie in the East wherein hee hath put all his treasure, & who so euer may enter that citie, shall take of the treasure that hée list, therefore my counsell is that wee goe to that Citie. Then sayd Pyrryus thy counsell is good, and I desire to ful­fill it.

The wise Knight saide, if it bée so that thou wilt follow my counsell, I pray thée that faithfull friendship may continue beetwéene vs, and in token of loue, that thou wilt drinke my blood, and I shall drinke thine, that none of vs de­part ne faile other in this iourney.

The foolish knight saide it pleaseth mée right well all that yée saye, wherefore they were both letten blood, and eche of [Page 23] them dranke others blood.

When this was done, they went foorth together on theyr iourny, and when they had done thrée dayes iourneis too­wardes the Citie where the treasure was, they came to a place where was two wayes, one was sharpe, stonie, & full of thornes, the other was plain and fayre and full of swéetnesse and de­lites. Then sayde the wise Knight to his fellow. Deere friend héere are two wayes, one sharpe and thornie, neuer­thelesse if we go this way we shall come to this Citie that is so riche, and there shall we haue that we desire.

Then saide the folish Knight to his fe­low. I wonder greatly of you that you speake such thinges, for I will rather beeleue mine eyes than your wordes, I see heere openly, and so doe yée, that here is a hard way and full of thornes, and as I haue heard saye, there bée three Champions armed in this waye: redy to fight against all men that goe that way towardes the Citie of the East, and therfore I will not goe that way, but here is (as ye may see) another way [Page] playne and easie to walk in, and in this wa [...] there are three knights readie to serue vs and giue vs all maner things necessary to vs, & therefore by this way will I goe, and not by that other way. Then sayde the wise knight, certainely if we goe by that way, we shall be ledde into the Citie of the North, wherein there is no mercie, but perpetuall paine and sorrow, and there shall we be taken and bound and cast in prison.

Certainely sayde the foolish Knight, this way is the ready way, and as I beléeue it is more profitable then the o­ther way. Then went they both foorth y^e fayre way, and anone thrée knights met with them, which receiued them curte­ously for one night, and gaue them all maner of thing that was necessarie to them. And on the morow they tooke their tourney foorth towarde the Citie, And when they were within the Citie, anone y^e Emperours officers met with them and said: deere friends why come ye hether, in so much that ye know the law of this citie is so cruel of long time heere before, sooth [...]y ye shal be se [...]u [...]d now [Page 24] after the law Anone they tooke y^e wise knight and bound him and put him in prison, and after that they tooke the foo­lish knight and bound him fast and cast him into a dich. Sone after it befel that the Justice came to the Citie to giue iudgment on them that had tresspassed the law, and anone all the prisoners wer brought foorth before the iustice among whome these two knights wer brought foorth, one from prison, & the other from the dich. Then said the wise Knight to the Justice: Reuerend Lorde, I com­plaine of my fellow that is guiltie of my death, for when we two came to y^e two wayes whereof the one ledde to the Ci­tie in the East, and the other to this ci­tie, I told him all the perill of this Citie, and the reward of that other Ci­tie, and he would not beleeue mée, and said to mée in this wise, I beléeue mine owne eyen better than thy words, and because he was my fellow, I would not lette him goe alone in this way, and thus came I with him, wherefore hee is the cause of my death. Then said y^e foo­lish knight, I complaine that hée is the [Page] cause of my d [...]ath, for it is not vnknowen to you [...]ll that I am a foole, and h [...] wise man, and therfore he should not to [...]ghtly haue folowed my folly, for if h [...] had forsaken this way, I should haue followed him, and therfore he is cause of my death. Then saide the Justice to the wise knight, because that thou with all thy wisedome and great vnderstanding so lightly contented and followed the wil of the foole and his foolish works, & thou foole because that thou wouldest not do after the coun [...]aile ne fullfill the holesom words of this wise man & beléeue him, I giue iudgmēt that ye be both hanged for your trespasse. And so it was done, wherfore all men praised greatly the Justice for his discrete iudgment.

The 11. History.

THERE dwelled sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour na­med Fredericke, which had no childrē saue one only daughter, to whom this Emperour after his decease bée­quethed all his Empyre. This vnder­standing an Earle y^t dwelt there béeside came vnto this young Lady & wooed hir, [Page] and prouoked hir to sinne all that hée might, wherefore this young ladie in short processe of tyme enclyned to the Earle, and this Earle anone lay with hir and defiled hir, and after that shée departed from hir heritage, and exiled hir out of hir Empyre, wherefore shée made a great lamentation, and fled vn­to a realme there beside, where as she dayly wéept and mourned. It befell af­ter on a day y^t while she sat mourning by the hye way side, there came riding by hir a fayre young knight vpon a good horse, which came toward hir a great pace, and very courteously saluted hir & asked y^e cause why she mourned so sore. Then answered she and saide.

My reuerend lord I am an Emperours daughter descended of roiall blood, my fa­ther is dead which left me all his Em­pyre, bicause he had none other heyre, and after his decease an Earle there be­side deceiued me, deslowred my virgini­tie, and after that he put me violently out of mine heritage, so that now I am fayne to begge my bread from dore to dore, and this is the cause of my sorrow. [Page 27] Then sayde the knight, farre damosell I haue great compassion on thy beautie and on thy gentlenesse, therfore if thou wilt graunt me one thing, I shall fight for thée against the Earle, & I protest vnto thée the purchase of the victory. Then sayd shée, alas good sir, I haue no­thing that I may giue vnto you but my selfe. And I aske no more of thee said y^e knight but y^t thou wouldest be my wyfe and loue no man so much as mée. Then sayde she, Reuerend sir, that I will doe gladly, and more if I might.

Then said the knight I will that thou doe for mée one thing, that if it fortune mée to dye in fight for thée, and obtaine the victorie, thou shalt take my bloodie shert and hang it vpon a beame in thy chamber, and this shalt thou do for two things. The first is, that when so euer thou beholdest the shert, thou shalt wéep for mee. The second is, that what so euer man come to woo [...] thee to be his wyfe, then shalt thou hastely runne vnto thy chamber and béehould my bloodie shert, and thinke heartelye within thy selfe thus.

[Page]The Lord of this shert dyed for my loue in baftayle, the which recouered my heritage, God forbid that I should take any other man after his death. Then saide shée. Reuerend sir, all this shall I fulfill by the grace of God. And when the knight heard this, hee assayl­led to fight against y^e said earle and ob­tained the victory, and the Earle was ouercome and fledde: and this yong la­dy was brought and receiued agayne into hir heritage.

Neuerthelesse this knight was deadly wounded in that battayle, whereof hee died, but or hée died hée béequeathed his bloody shert vnto this damosell, desiring hir to keepe hir promise. Whē this yong Lady heard of his death, shée wept sore, & made great lamentation for his death. And in his shert was cūningly wrought this verse. Think on him and haue in minde: that to thee was so kinde. Anon when she had receiued y^e shert, shée hāg­ed it vpon a beame in hir chamber, and as oftentimes as she beheld it, she wept bitterly It béefell not long after y^t the states of hir Empire came to hir & desi­red [Page 28] hir to take a husband. But then she went to hir chamber & beeheld the bloo­dy shert, then wared shée sorofull & sayd oftentunes, woe & alas thou sufferedst death for my loue, & thou also recoue­redst againe myne heritage, God forbid that I should take any other man moe but thee. And thus shee answered euery man that came to hir, and so they went away disapointed of their purpose, and ended hir life in peace and rest.

The 12. Historie.

SOmetime dwet in Rome a migh­tie emperour named Apolloninus which ordained for a law that eu­ry man vpon paine of death shold celebrate the daie of his Natiuitie. This Emperour called to him a clarke that hight Virgill, and sayde. My déere master, there bee many hamous offen­ces done in my Empyre contrary to the law, therefore I pray thée that thou by thy cunning would make some crafte wherby I might know who trespasseth against the law priuely or appertly.

Then said Virgill. My reuerend Lord your will shall be done. Anone this Vir­gill [Page] through his craft made an Image, in the middest of the Citie of Rome, which denoūced & told the Emperours messengers who trespassed against the law, & who not. There was that tyme dwelling in the Citie of Rome a smith y^t hight Focus▪ which for nothing would celebrate the natiuitie of the emperour. It befell vpon a night as the smith lay in his bed, hee thought vpon the Image that had accused so many men beefore, and dread least the Image would accuse him, wherefore hee rose and went to the ymage and said. I make a vow to God, if thou accuse mée, I shall breake thy head. And when hée had thus sayde, hee went home. The Emperour on the mo­row after following sent his messenger to that Image (as before times he was accustomed) to know & vnderstand who had trespassed against the lawe. And to them then said the Image, lift vp your [...]yne & beehold what is ingrauen in my forhead. And then they looked vp and saw this posie written. Tempore mu­tan [...]ur homines determinatur. Times bee chaunged & men bée worse & worse. [Page 30] For who will say the truth, shall haue his head broken, therfore goe yée foorth to your Lord and tell him all that yee haue reade and séene. The messengers went foorth and told the Emperour all that they had heard and seene.

Then sayde the Emperour, arme your selfe and goe to the Image, and if that you finde any man that haue mencioned or threatned to hurt the Image, binde him hand and foote & bring him to mee. Then went y^e messengers foorth to the Image and said to it. Tel vs the truth if any man haue threatned thée, and we shall auenge thée anone. Then said the Image. Take the smith Focus, for hée is the man that will not honour the nati­uitie of the Emperour: straight way the messengers led foorth the smith bée­fore the Emperour and there vpon ex­amined him why he kept not y^e day of the Emperours natiuitie in reuerence & honour according to y^e law. Then an­swered y^e smith & said. Reuerend Lord I beseech you that yee will heere mine excuse and if I aunswere not reasona­bly to all maner of poyntes that yée [Page] will aske mée, I will yeld mée fully to your grace. Then sayd Themperour, I shall heare thée, and that is rightfull I shall doe. Then sayd the smith, It beho­ueth mée to haue v [...]ii. d. euery day in the wéeke, & y^t I cannot get without great labour, and therefore I may in no ma­ner wise keepe that day holy day more than other dayes: Then sayd the Em­perour. Why behoueth it thee to haue these viii. d. Then saide the Smith, I am bounde to paye dayely ii. d. and ii. d. I lend, and ii d. I léese, and ii. d. I spend. Then sayd the Emperour, tel mee more e [...]pressely of these viii. d. Then sayd the Smith. I am bound euery daye to pay ii. d. to my Father, for when I was young, my father spent on mée ii. d. day­ly, and therefore am I bound to help him, and pay him againe his ii. d. for his sustentation. Also ii. d. I léese on my wife. Then said y^e Emperour, why lesest thou that ii. d. on thy wife. Then sayd [...] hée, where saw ye euer woman but she had one of these points, eyther shee is wilfull, or contrary to hir husbande, or of hotte complection, and therefore [Page 31] that I giue hir I léese. Also ii d. I lend to my sonne, wherwith he is sustained, that whan I come to age and pouertie, he may paye me againe ii. d. like as I doe my Father. Also I spend ii. d. on my selfe in meate and drincke, and that is little ynough. Then said the Empe­rour, thou hast answered well & wise­ly. Not long after it befell that the Em­perour dyed, and this Smith Focus was chosen to be Emperour, bicause he spent his viii. d so wisely and so profitably and thus he ended his life in peace and rest.

The 13. Historie.

SOmetime in Rome dwelled a no­ble emperor which amō [...] other vertues loued best m [...]t [...], wherefore he ordamed a law, that euery bline: man should haue an hundred shillings by the yéere of his treasure. It besell [...] a day that there came cer [...] men to a La­uerne to drincke Wine, and after that these men had sitten in the Cauerne thrée dayes, the sourth day they were greatly in the tauerners debt, and had no mony to pay for theyr wine, where­fore the tauerner came to thē & charg­ed them that they should not voy [...]e till they had payed for their wine. Then said one of the drinckers to his felowes. Syrs quod he, themperour hath made such a law, that euery blinde man shall haue an hundred shillings of his trea­sure, therefore let vs cast lottes among vs, and to whom the lot falleth, let [...]d eyes be put out, and so may he goe to the Emperours pallayes an [...] get [...] an hun­dred shillings,

[Page]And this greatly reioysed them, I said that the [...] was right good, wher­fore they can lottes among them [...] otte [...]l on him that gaue the [...], and than his fellowes for [...]hwith put out his ey [...]l. And whan he was blinde, hée went to themperours pallayes,▪ asked of th [...] steward an hundred shilings, ac­cording to the Emperours law.

Deere friend sayde the steward, thou mightest see with both thine eyes yester­day, & thou also vnderstandest the law amis, for the law is made for men that are blinde through infirmities, or by the will of God, & yesterday thou badst thy sight in the Tauerne, but wilfully thou hast lost thine enne, therefore go to the tauerne againe to thy felowes & dis­charge there that tho [...]wes [...], for heere gettest thou not a [...]arthing. Then went this wretched man forth and told his selowes of the stewards answere, and with that came in the tauerner and dis­poyled them of all their clothes and b [...]t them, and thus droue them with shame out of the citie, and so were they neuer séene there after.

The 14. Historie.

IN Rome dwelled some [...] mightie emperour named [...] mius, which had onely a daug [...] a damosell, fayre and gra­cious in the sight of euery man, which had to name Aglaes. There was also in themperours pallayes a gentle knight that loued this lady aboue all thing in the world. It béefell after vpon a daye [Page] that this knight talked with this lady & vttred in secrete w [...]e his disire to hir. Then sayd shée courteously, sith [...]ée haue v [...]tred to mee the pri [...]ty of your heart, I shall in like wise for your loue vtter to you the secretes of mine heart, and truely I say that aboue all other I loue you best.

Then saide the knight. I purpose to visit the holy Land, and therefore giue mee your trouth, y^t this seauen yeere yee shall take no other man, but onely for my loue to [...]arry for mée so long, & if I come not againe by this day vn. [...]eere, [...]ke then what man yée lyke best. And [...]e wise I shall promise you y^t with­ [...] seuen yeere I shal take no wife. [...] said she, this couenāt pleaseth mée [...] When this was said, eche of them [...]othed other, and then this knight [...]ke his leaue of this Lady and went foorth to the holy land. Anone after that the Emperour treated with the king of Hungary for the mariage for his daughter. Then came the king of Hungary to the Emperours pallays to sée his daughter, and when hee had seene [Page 36] hir, he liked maruaclously wel hir beau­tie and hir goodnesse, so that the Empe­rour and the King were accorded in all things as touching the marriage, vpon the condicion that the damosell would consent. Then called y^e Emperour t [...] young Lady to hin and said. O my fay [...] daughter, I haue prouided for thée t [...] a King shall hee thy husband, if thée [...] so assent, therefore tell mée what [...] swere thou wilt giue to this.

Then sayde shee to hir father, it [...] seth mée well, but of one thing dee [...] ther I you beseech, i [...] it might plea [...] to graunt mée for the loue of [...] haue auowed my chastitie onely [...] for this vii. yeere, therefore déere [...] I beeseech you for all y^e loue that [...] tweene your gracious fatherhoo [...] mee, that yee name no man to bée m [...] band till these vii. yéere bée ended, & [...] I shall bee ready in all things to full [...] your will. Then sayde the Emperour, sith it is so that thou wilt no husbande haue this seuen yeere, I will not breake thy vow, but when these seuen yeeres beene passed, thou shalt haue the king of [Page] Hungary to thy husband:

And then themeperour sent foorth his letters to y^e king of Hūgary, praying him if it might please him to abide vii. yéere for the loue of his daughter, and then [...]hould hee spéede of his intent without [...]yle. Heereof the King was pleased, [...]d graunted to abide y^e promised day. [...] when these vii. yéeres were ended [...] a day, y^e yong Ladie stoode in hir [...]er mindow and wept sore, say­ [...]us. Woe and alas, as to morow [...]e promised to bee with me againe [...]e holy lande, and also the King of [...]ary to morow will be héere for to [...] mée, according to my fathers [...], and if my loue come not at a [...]e houre, then am I vtterly de­ [...] of the inward loue of him.

[...]en the day came the king arayed [...] towardes the Emperour with a [...]at company to marry his daughter, and was royally bee seene and arayed in purple. And while the king was ryding on his way, there came a knight so [...]ain­ly riding by him, to whome hee sayde thus.

[Page 37]Déere friend whence art thou, and whence commest thou. The knight an­swered and sayd, I am of thempyre of Rome, and now am come late from the holy land and am ready to doe your ser­uice such as I can. And as they rode talking by the way, it béegan to rayne so fast, that all the kings apparell was almost spoyled. Then saide the knight. My lord, quod hée, yée haue done foolishly, for as much as yée brought not with you your house. Then sayd the king why speakest thou so, my house is large and broad & made of stones & morter, how should I then beare with mée my house, thou speakest to mée like a foole. When this was laid they rod farther till they came to a great water and a déepe, the king smote his horse with his spurres and leapt into the water, so that hée was almost drowned. Then the knight saw this, & was ouer on that other side of the water without perill, hee sayd to the king. Yée were in perill, and there­fore yee did foolishly bicause yée brought not with you your bridge. Then saide the king, thou speakest meruaylously, [Page] my bridge is made of lime & stone, and containeth in quantity more then halfe a myle, how should I then beare with mee my bridge, therefore thou speakest foolishly. Well said the knight my foo­lishnesse may turne thée to wisdome.

When the king had ridden a little far­ther, he asked the knght what time of daye it was. Then sayde the knight if any man haue list to eate, it is tyme of the day to eat, and therfore my reuerēt Lord I pray you to take a modicome with mée, for that is no disworshippe to you but great honour to mee before the states of this Empyre. Then sayde the king, I will gladly eate with thee, They sate both downe in a vyne garden, and all that were with the King and with the knight dined. And when dinner was done, and that the king had washen, the knight saide to the King. My Lord quod hée, yee haue done foolishly, for y^t yee lead not with you your father and your mo­ther. Then saide the king, what saiest thou, my father is dead, and my mo­ther is olde, and may not trauaile, how should I then bringe them with mee, [Page 38] therefore to thee I say the truth, a foli­sher man then thou art saw I neuer. Then said the Knight, euery worke is praised at the ende. When the Knight had ridden a little farther and was [...]y hand to themperours pallaies, y^e Knight asked seaue to goe from him, for this cause, hee knew a neerer way to the pa­lays to the young Lady that he might come first and leade hir with him. Then said the king, I pray thée sir tell me by what place purposest thou to ride. Then said y^e Knight I shall tell you truth, this day seuen yeere I left a net in a place, and now I purpose to visit it and draw it to mee, & if it bée broken I will leaue it, and if it be whole then will I take it to me, and keepe it as a precious Jew­ell, and when he had sayd what him list, he toke his leaue of the king and redde foorth, and the King kept the broad high way.

When themperour heard of y^e Kings comming, he went towards him with a great company, & royally receiued him, causing him to shift his wet clothes and attyre him againe with new clothes. [Page] And when the Emperour and the king were set to meat, the Emperour wel­comm [...]d him with all the chéere & solace that hée could. And when they had dined themperour asked tidings of the King. My Lord said hée, I shall tell you what I heard this day by the way.

There came a knight to mée and re­uerently saluted mee, and anone after there came a great raigne, which great­ly spoiled my apparell, & anone y^e knight saide, sir thou hast done foolishly, for so much as thou broughtst not w^t thee thy house. Then said themperour, what clo­thing had y^e knight on him. A cloake qd the king. Thē said themperour, forsooth that was a wise man, for y^e house wher­of hée spake was a cloake, & therefore hée saide to you that yée did foolishly because yée came without your cloake, for if you had brought with you acloake, then had not your clothes ben spoiled with raine. Then saide the king, when wee had ri­den a little farther, we came to a déepe water, I smote my horse with my spur­res and almost I was drowned, and hée [...] on the other [...]de of the water and [Page 39] found no peril, and then said he to mée, ye haue done folishly, for so much that ye ledde not with you your bridge. For­soth, said themperour he sayd truth, for he called the bridge your [...]quires, that should haue ridden before you and as­sayde the déepenes of the water. Then said the king, we rode farther, & at the last he prayed me to dine with him, and when we had dined he saide, I did vn­wisely, for I ledde not with mée my fa­ther and my mother. Sothly saide the Emperour he was a wise man and said trouth, for he called your father & mo­ther bread and wine, and other vitailes. Then said the king we rode farther and anone after he asked mée leaue to goe from mée, and I asked diligently whe­ther he went. And he answered agayne and sayde. This day vii. yéere I left a Nette in a priuie place, and now I will ryde to visit it, and if it bee bro­ken or torne, than will I leaue it, and if it bée whole as I left it, then shall it bée to mée right precious, and I shall beare it with mée. Whan themperour heard this he cryed with a lowde voice [Page] and said. O ye my knights and my ser­uaunts come ye with mée spedily vnto my daughters chamber, for sothly that is the nette whereof the knight spake. And anone his knights and his seruāts went vnto his daughters chamber and found hir not, the soresayde knight had taken hir with him. And thus the knig was deceiued of the damosell. And hée went home againe to his owne country ashamed.

The 15. History.

SOmetime dwelled in Rome a no­ble Emperour named Agias, which had retaining vnto him a Knight called Gerard, which was a worthy warrior, neuerthelesse he was as méeke as a Lambe in the Emperours courte, but in the field he was like a Lion.

This Emperour had a faire daughter, whome the strong and mightie Earle of Palester carryed perforce away and [Page 42] defiled, neuerthelesse it displeased more themperour the defiling of his daughter than the carrying of hir away, where­fore he called vnto him his counsayle and sayde. Déere friends it is not vn­knowen to you the despite and violence done to mée in deflowring of my daugh­ter, and therefore I purpose to giue bat­taile to the Earle, wherefore I pray you to be ready at a day, that ye may pro­céede with me in battaile. And they sayde, Lord we be readie to liue and dye with you in battaile.

When the apointed day of battaile came, they met on both sides, and a cru­ell sharp conflict was prosecuted on both sides, and all that were of themperours part were slaine. And as themperour himselfe should haue bene sorceably as­sayled, the knight Gerard put himselfe among his enimies before themperour, and fought manfully, and so Thempe­rour escaped, and the knight aboad and slew the earle, neuerthelesse this knight had diuers wounds. This notwithstā ­ding he aboad still till y^e blood ran downe to his foote.

[Page]And when his enimies saw that the Earle was slaine, they fledde, and the Knight with his people [...]owed on the [...] till hée came to the place where themperours daughter was, and [...]dde h [...]r with him. And thus with triumph and victory he [...]urned again [...] to them­perour. For [...] which victory and re­obtaining of themperours daughter he was greatly pea [...]d of all people.

Not long after it befel that this knight had a su [...]e to moue themperours court, wherefore the knight came vnto them­perour & prayed him méekely to be fa­uorable in his cause, and furthermore he prayed him to doe the reason touching his honest demaund.

When Themperour had heard him, he called to him a Justice and sayd. [...]ir Justice our will is, that you performe all equitie vnto this knight, and that that the Law will. And whē the knight heard this, he cryed with a lowd voice. Alas, alas, who heard euer such a thing of an Emperour, thou wert, said hee in battaile, where thy head should haue béene smitten off, and I in myne owne [Page 43] person and none other man, put my selfe in ieopardy for thée, and saued thée, and now thou hast assigned an other man to bee Judge in my cause, alas that euer thou wert borne. And with that word the knight put of all his clothes & shew­eh his wounds that hée had receiued in the batt [...]e, vnto all the men y^t were there present, and sayde. Lo [...], what I haue suffered for thee, Oh Emperour, and I put none other man in my st [...]de, and now thou assignest an other man in my cause. For sooth I say to thée, that I neuer serued such a Lord béefore.

When the Emperour heard this, being almost confounded in himselfe, said thus. O Déere friend all that thou sayest is trouth, thou sauedst mée from death, thou diddest reobtaine my daughter a­gaine, and for my sake thou hast suffe­red many wounds. For sooth it is right that I in my owne person come downe and make an end of thy cause, such as may bee honour and ioye to thée.

And when themperour labored busily in this matter, and made thereof an ende according to the knights entente, [Page] wherefore all men greatly commended the Emperour,

The 16. History.

THere dwelt somtimes in Rome a witty emperour namid Pom­pey, which had a fayre daugh­ter called Aglas. This daugh­ter had many vertues aboue all other women of that Empyre.

First, shee was faire and gracious in the sight of euery man. She was also swift in running, that no man might ouertake hir by a great space. When Themperour vnderstood these two ver­tues [Page 45] in his daughter, hée was right ioy­full, wherefore hée made to proclaime throughout all his Empyre, that what man poore or riche would runne with his daughter should haue hir to wyfe with great riches, if hée might ouer­runne hir and come sooner to the marke then shée, and if shée ouer runne him and come sooner to the marke then hée, his heade should bée smitten off.

When the states of that Empyre, as Dukes, Earles, Barrons and knights heard this crye, they offered themselues one after an other to runne with hir, but euer this young Lady ouer-ranne them all, wherfore they lost their heads according to the law. That time there was a poore man dwelling in Rome, which thought within himselfe I am a poore man and come of poore kinred, there is made a common crie, that what man so euer might ouerrunne the Em­perours daughter by any wise, should be promoted to great honour and rich­esse, therefore if I might ouercome hir by any maner waie, I should not onley bée promoted to great honour but also [Page] all my kinred. This poore man proui­ded himselfe of thrée Jewells, whereby hee might winne hir. First he made a garland of red roses and of white.

Secondly, he made a faire girdle of silke runningly wrought. Thirdly hée made a pursse of silke imbroder [...]d with preci­ous stones, and within the pursse was a ball of thrée coulours, and vppon this pursse was wrought this posey. Who playeth with mee, shall neuer bee wery of my playe.

Then put hée these thrée things in his bosome, and went foorth to the pallayes gate crying and saying. Come foorth fayre Lady come foorth, for I am redy to runne with you and fulfill the lawe in all things.

When themperour heard this, hée com­maunded his daughter to runne with him. This yong lady went to hir cham­ber window, and when she saw him, shée despised him and sayd. I haue ouercome many worthy knights, and now must I runne with a chorle, neuerthelesse I shall fulfil my fathers cōmaundement.

Anone the damosell arayed hir for to [Page 46] runne with him. And at the last they ranne together, and within short space the damosell went farre afore him.

When this Jugler saw this, hée threw foorth y^e garland of flowers béefore hir. And when the damosell beheld and saw that, shée stouped downe and tooke it vp▪ and set it vpon hir head, and that while the Jugler went afore hir. And when this yong damosell saw this, shee wept sore, and for sorow shee threw the gar­land in a ditch and ranne after him di­ligently, & at the last shée ouertooke him, and lift vp hir right hand and gaue him a buffet, saying to him thus: Abide thou wretch, it beeséemeth not thy fathers sonne to haue mée to his wife. And this young Lady went béefore him a great space. And when the Jugler saw this, hée toke ont y^e girdle of his bosome and threw it beefore hir. And when shée saw that, lightly shée stouped downe & toke it vp, and anone gyrde hir therewith, and then the Jugler went againe bée­fore hir.

And when she saw that, she made great lamentation, and tooke the girdle with [Page] hir téeth & tare it in thrée péeces, and then threw it from hir, and then shee ranne fast after him & at the last ouer tooke him, and then shee toke vp hir hand & gaue him a great blow, saying these words. O wretch, thinkest thou to o­uercome mée, and with that shée ranne béefore him a great speace. The Jugler [...]as slye and sub [...]il, and aboad till that shée was almost at the marke, and then hee threw forth beefore hir the Pursse, and when shee saw this Pursse, anone shee stouped downe and tooke it vp, and opened it, and found the ball, and red the posey, Who playeth with mee, shall neuer bee weary of my play. And then began she to playe, and so long she con­tinued in playing till that the Jugler was before hir at the marke. And thus he wanne thmperours daughter.

The 17 Historie.

SOmtime in Rome dwelled a migh­tie Emperour and a wise, named Theodosius, which aboue all other thinge hée loued best two thinges, namely, the Musicke vpon the Harpe, and past [...]e of hunting. It befell after vpon a day as this Emperour hunted in a forest, he heard so swéete a noyse of harp sthat through the swéetnes ther­of he was almost rauished of his witts, wherefore he sought about the forest to sinde that melody, and at the last he es­pyed at the ende of the forrest a poore man sitting beside a water playing on a harpe so swéetly, that themperour be­fore that day heard neuer so swéete a melody. Then saide themperour, good friend, procéedeth this melody from thy harpe or no. The poore man answered & sayd. My reuerend Lord I shal tell you the trouth. Beside this water my wife and my childe and I haue dwelled. xxx. [Page 49] yéere, & God hath giuen me such grace, that when so euer I touch my harpe, I make so swéete melody, that the fishes of this water come out to my hand and so I take them, where with my wife, my childe, and I be sustained dayly in great plenty. But al [...]s & welaway, on the o­ther side of this water there commeth a whistler & whisteleth so sweetly that many times the fishes forsake mée and goe to his whistling, and therefore my reue­rend Lord I besech you of help against his hissing & whisteling. Then said them­perour, I shall giue thée good help & coū ­saile, I haue héere in my pursse a golden hooke which I will giue thée, take thou it & binde it fast at the ende of a rod, & with some worme for the bait vpon the hooke, then cast thy rod into the water forthwith, & ply thy play vpon thy harp, and when thou perceiuest the fish to byte on the baite, draw them vp to the lande with that hooke, & then his whisteling ne hissing shall not auaile. When the poore man heard this, he reioysed him greatly, and did all thing as hée had taught him. And whē this poore man began to touch [Page] his harpe the fishes came to the bayte & than he tooke them vp with his hooke, & liued there by in better estate long time, and at the last ended gratiousiy his life in peace and rest.

The 18. Historie.

THere dwelled sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour and a wise, named Polemus, which had no childe saue onely a daughter, whom he loued so much, that daye and night hée ordayned to haue hir garded with ar­med knights. And aboue these knightes he ordayned a comptroller well erpe­rienced in euery thing for to teach and instruct them how they should doe. Hée ordayned also a steward for to guide his [Page 51] household. And when all this was done, on a night as hée lay in his bed hée bée­thought him that hée would goe visit the holy land. And then when all thing was ready for his iourney according to his purpose, hée called vnto him his steward and sayd. My trusty seruant I purpose now to goe see the holy land, and ther­fore I leaue my daughter in thy kéep­ing, & also I charge thée y^t she lack no­thing, but that shee haue all maner of ioye and gladnesse that pertaineth to a virgin. Secondly, I leaue in thy kéeping fiue knights that beene hir kéepers, and charge thée y^t they lack nothing which to them beehoueth.

Also I leaue to thée my greyhound com­maunding that thou nourish and féede him as it appertaineth, and if thou ful­fill all this that I haue sayd, y^u shalt at my comming againe receiue a great re­ward. Thē said y^e steward, my dere Lord in all y^t I may I shall fulfill your will. When this was said y^e emperour, tooke his iourney toward y^e citie of Ierusalem and the steward a long time kept well and truely themeperours ordināce, and [Page] charge enioyned him. But at the last it befell vpon a day that this steward had espyed this yong Lady walking alone in an Orcheyard with whose loue hee was sodainly surprised, wherfore strait­way against hir will hée des [...]oured hir.

And when he had committed sinne with [...], hee gaue hir [...]ll language and hated hir▪ more after th [...]n euer hee loued hir [...], and dr [...] hir out of y^e pallais, wherfore this da [...] by this meanes being driuen to [...] and great po­ [...], went from dore to dore & beg­ged hir bread. But when the knightes that were hir kepers heard of this, they re [...]or [...]ed shamefully y^e steward of that sinfull deede. Then the steward waxed wroth, and for great hate that he had in his hart, he dispoiled y^e h [...]ights of their goods, & droue them fro y^e pallayes. And when they were thus robbed & exiled, some for lack of liuings became theeues, and some mankillers, which through this inconuenience they wrought great harme.

Soone after this, ther came tidings that themperour was arriued in far lands [Page 52] comming homeward. And when the ste­ward heard this, hée was greatly trou­bled and moued in himselfe, and thus thinking in himselfe, hée said thus. This may not bée but néedes I shall bée accu­sed for my treaspasse y^t I haue commit­ted against themperours cōmandemēt, hée is my God and mercifull Lord, ther­fore better it were that I goe & méete him with all honour and humilitie, and accuse my selfe to him, & aske him mer­cie, then any other should preuent mée & accuse mée to my Lord of my treason. Then the Steward streight put of all his clothes saue his hosen and his shert, and tooke three ropes with him in his right hand, and bare foote went and met the Emperour. But when themperour had espied him comming a far of in such maner, hee wondred greatly. And when the steward was come so néere that hee might speake to the Emperour, hée fell downe on his knees and saluted him re­uerently. Then said y^e Emperour, what is beefalne thee that thou m [...]etest mée after such a sort, for so much as thou art my steward, thou shouldest haue mette [Page] mée with a great company of knights. A my Lord, quod hée, there is beefallen mée an heauie case, for the which it bée­houeth mee thus to méete your highnes. Then said the Emperour, what case is that, that is béefallen thee. My reuerend Lord, quod hée, it be houeth first your [...]nesse to aske of mee why I bring with mee these three ropes. Then sayd them­perour, why bearest y^u these thrée ropes in thy hand. Then answered this wo­full steward and said. This first corde I bring with mée to binde my hands and féete so hard, till y^e blood brast out on euery side, for that I haue well de­serued▪ The second rope I bring with mée to draw mee by a horse tayle vppon the pauement, till that y^e bones bee bare without flesh, for y^u shall bée due to mée for the great treason I haue done a­gainst you. The third rope that I haue brought is to hang mee with, vppon an high galous, so long that the byrds light on my head, and on my body, and feede them selues of my flesh, and these things are due to such trespassers and breakers of the lawe as I am, and therefore my [Page 53] reuerend Lord haue mercy on mée, for I dare not knowledge my trespasse till I bee certaine of thy mercy and pittie. Thē said themperour, I sée in thée great méeknesse and contrition, therefore tell foorth thy treaspasse, soothly thou shalt finde mercy and grace. Alas, alas, then saide hee, I haue defiled thy daughter, and driuen hir out of thy pallais, and now in extreame necessitie shee beggeth hir bread from dore to dore. I haue also dis­poiled thy knights of all their goods, and now some of them by meanes they lack liuings beecome théeues and robbers, & some mankillers, and the comptrowler of the knights I haue slayne. But I haue fedde thy graihound with the best meate as long as I might, and tied him with a chayne, but at the last hée brake his chaine & went his way, so that now hee runneth about in the country.

When the Emperour heard this, hée was sore astonied and said. Hast thou de [...]loured my daughter whome I loued so well, and also exiled my knights, and slaine their comptrowler, and the grey­hound which I loued best, of whome I [Page] gaue thée charge is gone also, certes were it not that I had forgiuen it thée, and that thou humble thy selfe so great­ly, I should put thée to the most vilest death that could bee thought. Therfore depart hence foorthwith and bring a­gaine my daughter, then mayst thou marry with hir, & if any harme heere­after beefall to [...]r in thy default, then shall I double thy punishment. Also bring thou againe my knights, and re­store to them their goods, and let them in their state and office as they were before. And also seeke dilig [...]tly my grey­hound till thou sinde him & then make him t [...]st, so that in shee heereafter may bee sound no default. And when the ste­ward heard this, hee bowed with most humble submission downe his head and thanked the Emperour of his great [...].

And then hée went soorth and sought through all the Empyre so long till hée had sound y^e Emperours daughter and the knights, and also y^e greyhound, and brought them againe. And after that he had got to wise y^e yong lady with great [Page 54] honour & ioye, and also restored againe the knights goods. And at the last hee ended his life in peace and rest.

The 19. History.

IN Rome dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour and a wise named Edsenne, which ordained a law for y^t whosoeuer [Page 56] rauished a maide, should be at hir dis­cretion wherewith she would put him to death, or that she would take him to hir husband.

It befell after that a man rauished in a night two faire matdeus, the first damosell which he rauished desired that he should dye, and the second desired him to hir husband. The rauisher was ta­ken & ledde before the Judge, that should satisfie both these damosells through his wisdome and equitir of the cause. The first damosell desired the death, accor­ding to the law. Then said the second, I desired to haue him my husband, for like as thou hase the law for thée, so in like case I haue it for mée, and neuer­tholesse my petition is more better than yours, for it is more charitable, there­fore me thinketh in my reason that the Justice should giue sinsence in fauour and furtherance of my desire. Then the Justice vnderstanding the great mercy of the second damosell, gaue iudgement that he should take hir to his wife, and so it was done.

The 20 Historie.

SOmetime there dwelt in Rome a mightie Emperour and a rich na­med Lipodius, which tooke to wise a faire virgin & a gentill, y^e daugh­ter of the king of Assiria, this yong la­dy conceiued and beare a childe. And in the byrth of hir sonne she dyed. And a­none after hir decease this Emperour maried an other wife, and had by hir a­childe also. And immediately after that these children were borne, he sent them both into a strange land for to be nori­shed. Then said the mother of the second childe. My reuerend Lord tenne yéeres bée now fully expired since I bare my childe, and yet sawe I him neuer but once, and that was the first daye of his [Page] byrth, therefore I beséech you my Lord to send for him, that I may once reioyce mée of his sight. Then said the Empe­rour, I haue an other childe by my first wyfe, and if I send for thy sonne than must I send for both, and than anone he sent for them. And when they were come they were of passing faiture and well trayned, well instructed & passing like in all maner thinges: so as hardly the one might bee knowen from the o­ther, but by the father onely discerned. Than said the mother of the second childe. A my Lord, tell mée which of these is my sonne, and he called to him his sonne y^t he begate on his fiest w [...]e. Whan the Empresse hea [...]d this, shée gaue all hir care to nourish him, and despised the other child. When the Em­perour saw this, he saide to his wise. Certainely I haue deceiued thee, for him that thou louest so much is not thy son, but that other is thy sonne.

Than sette shée all hir care vpon the seconde, and forsooke the first.

When the Emperour saw this, hée saide. Truely I haue deceiued thée [Page 58] without doubt, this is not thy sonne, but one of them two is thy sonne. Then sayde the mother. A my Lorde for his loue that dyed for mankinde, tell mée without cauellacion, which of them is my sonne. The Emperour answered and sayd, certainely I will not tell you till they come both to mans state, for this reason. First I told you that this was your sonne, and him haue you che­rished as thy sonne, and forsaken that other, and when I tolde you that this was your sonne, than despised you the first and cherished the second, therefore I will that you bring vppe and cherish them both, till that you may haue ioye of them.

When themprisse heard this she nou­rished them both a like. And when they were both come to age, the Emperour made a great supper, and before all his gestes hée tolde his wyfe openly which of them was hir childe.

Than reioysed the Empresse greatly, and with hir sonne shée ended hir lyfe in peace and rest.

The 21. History.

SOmetime there dwelt in Rome a noble Emperour named Polenus, which had thrée sonnes whome hee loued much. It béefell vpon a daie when this Emperour lay vpon his bed, he bethought him to which of his sonnes he might giue his Empyre after his de­cease. Then called hée to him his thrée sonnes and saide. Which of you three that is slowest shall haue mine Empyre after my decease. The first sonne an­swered and sayde. Thyne Empyre by reason shall bée myne: For I am so slow that if my foote were in the fyre, I had rather it should be brent then I to take it out.

Then said the second, I am (quod hée) more apt to the Empyre then thou, for though ther were a rope about my neck [Page] wherwith I should bée hanged, and if I had a sharp sword in my hand for great slouth y^t I haue I would not put soorth my hande to cutte the rope for to saue my life: And when these two brethren had said, the third saide for him thus, I ought to be Emperour béefore you both, for I passe you in slouth, and that will I proue thus. I lye vpright in my bed, & there droppeth water vpon both mine eyen, & for great slouth that I haue I moue not my head neither to the right side of the bedde nor to the lefte side, for sauing of my selfe. When the Empe­rour heard this, hée béequethed the Em­pyre vnto the youngest sonne as to the slowest of the bretheren.

The 22. Historie.

ALexander the mightie Emperour sometime ruled, which beséeged a ci­tie of the kinge of Egipt with a great hoast, neuer the lesse this Emperour lost many mightie Knights without any hurt of stroke. And thus frō day to day his people dyed sodenly, whereat this Alexander wondred greatly & was full sorowfull therof in his minde, and anone let call afore him the wisest Philoso­phers that might bée found, and praied them to tell him why his people dyed [Page] thus sodainly without woūd. The Phi­losophers answered and said.

My Lord it is no wonder, for vpon the walls of that Castell within the Citie is a Cocatrice, through whose sight your men dye, for they are infected with the venime that commeth of his eyen, and there vpon they dye.

Than this Alexander asketh if there wer any remedy against that cocatrice. The Philosophers answered and said. My Lord, there is good remedy, which is this, pleaseth it you to set vp a large myrrour of cléere glasse ouer against this Cocatrice, between your hoast & the wall of the citie, & when the cocatrice beholdeth him selfe in the myrrour, the deadly nature of this venimous sight shall returne againe to himselfe, & thus he shall die, and your men shal be saued. The Emperour wrought by the coun­sell of the Philosophers, and let set vp straight a large myrrour of glasse, and thus was the Cocatrice slayne, and the Emperour with his hoast made an as­sault to the Citie, and obtained the vic­tory.

The 23. Historie.

A Mightie Emperour sometyme ruled the Romaynes maned Ar­chelaus, the which in his olde age [Page 62] espowsed a fayre young ladye, whome a young knight loued, & had to doe with hir as oft as him list.

It béefell on a night that this Em­perour beethought him in his bedde to visit the citie Ierusalem, wherfore with­out any more delay he ordain [...]d al thing necessary to his iourney, and tooke his leaue of the Emprisse and of the states of thempyre, & went towards the sayd Citie.

When the Emprisse heard this, shée tooke the master of y^e shippe and sayd: If thou wilt consent to mee & bée true, aske of me what thou wilt & thou shalt haue it. The master of the shippe was corrupt with couetousnesse and said. O my déere ladye, what so euer you will commaund mée I shall without fayle fulfill it, so that yée will reward mée for my labour. Then saide the Empresse, or thou doe ought for mée I shall giue thée what thée list to haue, so that thou wilt sweare to bée true to mée & kéepe my counsaile.

The maister of the shippe anone made his oath to bée true to hir.

[Page]Than saide the Empresse. My Lord goeth with you in your ship, therefore when he is in y^e middest of the sea, cast him out that hée may bee drowned, and yée shall obtaine your reward without any withsaying.

Then the master of the shippe sware a great oath and sayde. By the great God Jubiter after hee commeth once within my ship, yée shall neuer see him more. Then the lady paide him as much gold as he would haue, & foorth he went to his shippe.

And within short time after the em­perour tooke his ship, and when he was in the middes of the sea, the master of that shippe toke Themperour & threw him ouer borde into the sea.

Then the master returned againe and tolde the Empresse that the Emperour was cast into the sea, whereof shee was full glad.

This Emperour y^t was thus cast into y^e sea had learned in his youth to swim, and swam foorth till hée saw an Ilande in the sea, but euer in his swimming when hée was faint & like to haue béene [Page 63] drowned, hée prayed to God to bée his help, and wept sore, tyll at the last hée came into a little Iland wherein was nothing but Lyons and Lybberds and diuerse other beasts that swam thether from other lands.

When this Emperour had taken land in that yle, hée spyed a yong Lyon figh­ting with an olde Lybbard, and the Ly­on was almost ouercome. The Empe­rour had great compassion on the Lion and drew out his sworde and slew the Lybbard. The Lyon euen from y^e tyme foorth followed the Emperour, & would not leaue him for nothing, but [...]uery day the pray that this Lion toke he brought and layd it béefore y^e Emperours féete, and anone the Emperour smote fire on the slint stone, and boyled the body in the skinne, and thus was he fedde long tyme, tyll at the last hée walked to the Sea strand, where he saw a ship come sayling by, & anone with an high voice hée cryed. And when the shipmen heard the voyce, they wondred what it might bée, wherfore they sayled toward him, and when they were come to him hée [Page] sayde good friends take mée with you, and I shall pay you a good fraight. And anone they tooke him into theyr ship, and the Lyon followed him swim­ming in the Sea after the shippe: And whan the Lyon was in point to haue bene drowned, the shipmen had pittie on him, and tooke him into the shippe. And when the Emperour came to lande hée payd his fraight, and when he had payd them he went foorth tyll hée came neere his owne Pallais, wher he heard trum­pets and Claryons, with all maner of other minstrelsie, and as hee hearkened what it might bée, there came from the Pallayes a Squire towards him that was of his knowledge, but the Squire knew not him, to whome the Empe­rour sayde thus. Good friend I praye thée tell mée what melody is this that I heare. The Squire aunswered and sayde. The Empresse is married this daye, and there bée all the states of the Empyre at hir feast, and therefore they make such melodie to make hir gestes merry.

Then sayde the Emperour to the [Page 64] squire, where is hir husband that was the Emperour before. The squire said that he was gone to the holy lande, and was drowned by the way in the Sea. Then sayd the Emperour, I pray thée sir that thou wouldest doe my errande to thempresse & to the Lord that would be hir Husband, that I may come in­to the Pallayes and show theyr maie­sties some disport with my Lion.

The squire graunted to doe his er­rande, and went in and tolde the Lord and the Ladye, that at the gate was a goodly olde man that desyred to come in and play with his Lyon afore you. Then sayde the new wedded Lorde, bring him in, and if he be worthy per­case hée might gette his meate for his playe.

Whan the Emperour with his Lyon was brought in, the Lyon anone with­out any comfort or setting on, ranne vppon the young knight that was new­ly maried and slew him, and when hée had so done, he ran vpon the Empresse & deuoured hir to the hard bones before all the Lords of the Empyre. And when [Page] the states saw this, they were greatly agast and began to flee. But the Empe­rour w^t his fayre speach comforted them & said. Lo this is the vengeance of god, for this is my wyfe that hath vsed ad­uoutry long time with this knight that lyeth héere dead, and she practized my death with the master of the ship, and héere vpon the master threw mee into the Sea, but God saued mee from the death, and bicause I holp once the Ly­on at a néed, hée forsooke mée neuer sith, and now as ye see all when I come in­to my Pallays without any comfort of mée, hée hath slaine both the adoulter­e [...]s, and therefore vnderstande ye for trouth that I am your Lord the Em­perour.

Anone when they heard this, they lift vp theyr eyen and béehelde him, and at the last they knew him for theyr Lord, wherefore they were greatly reioysed and praysed God for y^e miracle, which had saued their Lord and Emperour. And they liued after in rest and peace.

The 24. History.

SOmetime in Rome bare sway a mightie Emperour named Gorgo­nie, which had married a courte­ous Lady and a fayre, to his wife. This yong Lady in due processe of time conceiued and bare a sonne, a fayre child & an amiable. When this child was ten yéere old, his mother the Empresse died. And anon after the Emperour maried an other wife. The second wife loued in no wise the Emperours sonne, but dyd him all the shame and reproch that she might. When the Emperour perceiur [...] this, willing to please his wife, exiled his sonne out of his Empier. And when this child was exiled, he went and studyed Phisicke, so that within short time h [...] [Page] [...] when he heard that h [...] [...] [...] such a Phisition, he sent for [...]Spand [...] let­ters, praying him that he would c [...] [...] him without any delay. And then the sonne willing to obey and sulsill h [...]s [...] ­thers commaundement, in all hast came vnto him. And when he had s [...]ene his fa­ther, and felt his ul [...]s and his veines, all the i [...]knesse he had was soone healed with his medicines from all manner of dangers.

Soone after that, the empresse his step­mother began to ware sicke, and many phisitions said that she would dye. And when the emperour heard this, he prai­ed his sonne to helpe hir of hir sicknesse. Then said his sonne, certainely father, I will lay no [...]and on hir. Than the Em­perour began to ware wroth & saide. If thou wilt not obay my commandement, thou shalt h [...]refoorth depart m [...] empyre. His sonne answered and saide: If [...]e d [...]e so (dee [...]e father) ye do vnrightfully, for well you kn [...]w, that you [...]x [...]l [...]d [...]ée, [Page 67] out of your Empyre through hir sug­gestion, and mine absence was cause of your sorrow and sicknesse, & in likewise my presence is cause of hir sicknesse, and therefore I will not meddle with hir, & also I w [...]ll [...]s [...] no mor [...] medicines, for of [...]entimes phisitions are deceiued, and therefore I dare not [...]ye hand on hir, lease m [...]n would say, (if it fortuned hir to dye) that I w [...]re the cause thereof. Then sayde the Emperour: She hath the same sicknesse that I had.

His sonne aunsshered & sayd, though shée hath y^e same sicknesse, neuerthelesse y [...] bee not both of on [...] complection. For whatsoeuer I did to you, yée helde you content, and when yée sawe mée come within the Pallace, yée reioyced of my comming, and greatly were ca [...]ed to sée him that yee b [...]gat.

But when my stepmother saw mée, shée sw [...]il [...]d for anger, and toke cor [...]ie at hir heart, and therfore if I should speake to hir, hir sorrow should increase, and if I should touch hir, shee would bée from hir selfe. And also a Phisition pro [...]iteth naught, but whereas the sicke patient [Page] delighteth in him.

And when the Emperours sonne had sayd his mind, hée escaped and went his way.

The 25. History.

SOmetim [...] dwelt in Rome a migh­tie Emperour named Folenus, who had taken to wife the Kings daughter of Germany, [...]re lady & a courteous, which w [...] short time conceiued and bare a sonne. [...] th [...]s childe was borne, y^e states of the Empyre come to the Emperour, and euery one of them beesought the Emperour to nourish his sonne. The Emperour answered and said. To morow shall be a to [...]y, and there shall ye all be, & which of you doth best, & obtaineth the victory, shall haue the keeping of my sonne.

And if [...]ee traine him vp well. I shall promote him to great dignitie & honour. And if he doe the contrary, he shall d [...]e the foulest death that can bée thought. Then sayd they. Deere Lord, all this pleaseth vs well.

On the morow when euery man was come to the tourney, the states lusted & held tourney with great valiance a long time, till at y^e last there same a worthie knight named [...]osias, that so couragiously [Page 69] bare himselfe among thē, y^t he obtained the victory. And immediatly after the tourney was all done, this [...]osias, toke the childe and led him forth with him.

And béecause this Emperours sonne should be receiued in his coūtry, he sent before to his Castle & commaunded his officers that it should bee royally proui­ded for, and prepared both without and within, & that y^e childs lodging should be in the middest of the Castle, and also that y^e seuen Sciences should bee pour­trayed about the childs bed, that when the Childe waked out of his sleepe, hée might lye in his bedde and beehold the same. This knight had a fruitfull and a wholesome well by the childes beddes side, wherein bée vsed to bath himselfe & the knights wife bare the keye of this well, and there was a window where at the Sunne might comfortably shine vpon him. It fortuned vpon a daye the Lady that kept the keye, left the win­dow open through negligence.

Which beeinge so done, there came a Beare and sawe the Window open, and went to the well, and bathed him [Page] therein, of whose bathing the well sa­u [...]u [...]ed after for the great h [...]a [...]e which was y^e [...] in the chafed beare, where­fore who so euer dranke thereof waxed leperous with in short time. And so it fortuned within a little space, that by meanes of vsing the same water, y^e Lord the Lady and all their household were lepers, and notwithstanding it appea­red not sodainly. And in y^e meane time there came a great Eagle in at the win­dow where the Emperours sonne lay, and [...]are y^e childe away out of his cra­dell. And when the knight perceiued this, hée wept bitterly and saide. Alas alas and woe to mée, wretched crea­ture, that euer I was borne, what shall I doe, for now I am the sonne of death, for I am become a lothsome lea [...]er, and so in my wife and all my household. And while he was thus mourning, ther came to him a Phisition & said to him. Sir, if ye will doe after my counsa [...]le, it shall not repent you. First it beeho­ueth you & your wife, & all your house­hold to bée letten bloud, and after that to bée bathed and washed cleane. And [Page 70] then shall I lay to my medicine.

And when yée are whole, then shall you and your household walke to y^e moun­taines, and séeke the Emperours sonne, for the Eagle hath let him fall in some, place. The knight wrought all thing by the counsaile of this Phisition, and in­continent after was letten bloud and receiued the medicine, and then hée was all whole and his wife & all his house­hold, wherfore hée toke his horse, accom­panyed with thrée Squires, and rode foorth to séeke the childe. And at the last hée found him whole and sound lying in a valey, wherat he greatly reioyced.

And for the great ioye & gladnesse that was in him for finding of y^e Emperours sonne, hée led the Childe home to his fa­ther. And when the Emperour saw his sonne in good health, hée was right glad, wherefore hée promoted him to great worship, and so after that long time li­ued he ther in heauenly state, and at the last he ended his life in peace and rest.

The 26. Historie.

SOmetime dwelt in Rome a migh­tie Emperour named Fulgentius, which gouerned his people nobly, & [...]oued them so much, that he made to proclayme throughout all Nations, whosoeuer should come to him rich or poore at a certain day, should haue their petitions whatsoeuer it were.

When the mightie men heard this, they were glad, and came at the day as­signed, & euery man put foorth their pe­titions, vnto the Emperour, and imme­diately their petitions were granted & fulfilled, insomuch that a great part of the reuenewes of the Empire was di­stributed among them. Thē euery man was ioyfull, and went home againe and tooke season of such lands and Castells as the Emperour had giuen them.

Straight way after, the poore men in the Emperours dominions, gathe­red them together and said. A common [Page] crye was made, that all men both [...]oo [...]e and rich, should come to the emperours pa [...]l [...]ce, & there they should haue what soeuer they asked. The rich men haue bene there lately, and obtained the [...] pe­titions. Therefore goe wée now and trye [...] we may obtaine any good of the Emperour. The counsell was appro­b [...]e & allowed among them all, wher­fore they went forth tyll they came to the emperours pallaice, and there they put forth their petitions according to the emperours proclamation.

When the emperour had heard them, he sayd to them. Deere friends, I haue heard all your petitions, & it is trouth that my proclamation was, that euery man indifferently should come and haue their petitions, but the rich and mightie men haue ben here before you, to whom I haue giuen all that I had, saue onely the royaltie of my Lordship, & so haue I nothing left to [...] you, whereat the poore men pitiously reply [...]d [...]h [...]ood and gratious [...]ouereigne, haue cōpassion on vs, & let vs not go hence empt [...] a way, for we know wel, y^t it is our owne defalt, y^t [Page 37] wée came not rather with these other rich and mightie men, but [...]th it is so, wée aske your grace that wée may ob­taine somewhat by the which wée may liue. Than sayde the Emperour. Good friends though I haue giuen most of my lands, rents, tenements, and cattells to the rich men that came before you.

Neuerthelesse I haue kept s [...]ill in mine owne hands the Soueraigntie and do­minion ouer them, and that I doe giue to you, and so shall they be your ser­uaunts, and be obedient to you all. And when the poore men heard this, greatly hereat reioysing, knéeled downe to the Emperour and thanked him saying. Lo though wée come late, yet wée be made Lords ouer all these other. And with this they tooke their leaue & went home againe. But when y^e rich & the mightie men heard that, they were greatly mo­ued and ordained a common parliamēt among themselues. And thus it was spoken among them. Alas, alas, how may we serue them that sometime were but pesants and our subiects in all ma­ner thinges, and now they bée made [Page] lords ouer vs. Therefore goe wée all with one assent to Themperour & pray him of remedy. When this was sayd, their counsayle was commended, and foorthwith they went to the Emperour and said to him. Reuerend Lord what may this bée, those that were our ser­uants be our lords, we beséech you méek­ly that it may not be so.

Than said the Emperour. Good friends I doe you no wrong, for my crye was common, that what so euer you asked of me you should obtaine your petition, and ye asked nothing of me but lands, rents and honours, and all that haue I graunted you at your owene will, in so much that I kept nothing for my selfe, and each of you were well content at your away going, & after that came simple and poore men, and asked of mée some goods according to my proclama­tion, and I had nothing to giue them, onely the Souer aigntie and Dominion ouer you, which I kept in my handes, and when the poore menne so cryed on mée, I had nothing to giue them, saue [Page 74] onely the authoritie ouer you, and ther­fore ye should not blame mée, for y^t ye asked ye had. Than sayd they. A good and gracious Lord, we pray you effec­tuously of your counsayle in this case, and of your help. The Emperour an­swered and sayd. Sirs, if ye will work after mée, I shall giue you good and pro­fitable counsayle. Than sayd they, wée be readie to fulfill whatsoeuer ye saye to vs for our profit. Then said Them­perour. My good friends, ye haue of mée both landes and tenements, with other moueable goods, and that great plenty, the which by my counsayle ye shall de­part with to the poore menne, that they may graunt you the souera [...]gntie and dominien which they haue. And anone these rich men gladly graunted to this, and departed all their goods among the poore men, and than they gaue them a­gaine the authoritie ouer them, like as they had of y^e rich men. And thus were they both content, and the Emperour was greatly commended of all the peo­ple, bicause he accorded both the partes so wisely.

The 27. Historie.

[Page]SOmetime in Rome dwelt a migh­tie Emperour named Domician, which had two daughters, the one of them was passing fayre, but the other foule and euill fauored, wherfore hée lette crye throughout all his Em­pyre, that what man would haue his faire daughter to wyfe, should haue no­thing with hir but hir beautifull and comely personage. And who so would marry his foule daughter should haue all his Empyre after his death. And when y^e proclamation was made, there came many Lords that desired to mar­ry his faire daughter. To whome the Emperour answered thus. Sirs, quod hée, yée wote not what yée desire, right well yée know that if yée marry hir, yee shal haue nothing with hir but hir beau­tifull & comely personage, and farther­more if I giue hir to one of you and not to an other, then will yée striue for hir, therefore if yée will néedes haue hir and forsake my soule daughter, it shall bée­houe you first to Just for hir, & hée that winneth hir, shall wed hir.

[Page 76]Than the nobles & stats of the Empire greatly reioysed, and anone onely for loue of y^e beautiful damosell they would iust and also fight, wherefore thy set a daie of battaile, and many worthy men were slaine on both sides, neuerthelesse one obtained the chiefe victory, and es­poused that faire Lady.

The second daughter which was foule and euill fauored, séeing hir sister so bée­stowed with great solempnitie mour­ned & wept dayly, therefore the Empe­rour hir father came to hir and saide.

Déere daughter why mournest thou thus. Alas déere father, quod shée, it is no wonder though I mourne, séeing my sister is married with great honour & gladnesse, and euery man is ioyfull of hir, & no man loueth my company, and therfore déere father, what I may best doe, sothly I wot not. Then saide the Emperour. O my déere daughter, all that is mine is thine, and it is not vn­knowen to you that hée which marrieth thy sister had nothing w^t hir but hir beu­tiful corps, & therfore I shal proclaim in mine own persō through all my empire, [Page] that what man marrieth thée, I shall make him assurance by letter patent of all mine Empyre after my death. Then this young Lady though shée was foule & euill fauored, neuerthelesse shée reioy­ced in the promisse of hir father, imme­diatly after y^e proclamation was made; ther came a yong knight & a gētil which espoused the lady, and after the death of the Emperour seased vpon all the Em­pyre into his iurisdiction and was crou­ned Emperour and shée Empresse.

The 28. History.

[Page 78]SOmetime in Rome dwelt a migh­tie Emperour named Andromick, which aboue all thing loued the har­mony of Musicke. This Emperor had within his Castel a wel of such ver­tue, y^t whosoeuer were dronk by drink­ing, the water therof should incontinēt make him fresh againe, & deliuered frō all kinde of dronkennesse. There was also dwelling in this Emperours court a Knight named Ydrony, whom y^e Em­perour loued much, but often times hée was dronken, which vice the Emperor heted aboue all thing. And when this knight perceiued himselfe dronken, then would hée goe to the well and drinck of that water and refresh himselfe, so that what so euer The Emperour sayde to him hée would aunswere him so reaso­nably, that no dronkenesse might bée séene in him, and for his witty answere hée was greatly béeloued of the Empe­rour. Neuerthelesse his fellowes of the court enuied him much, and imagined amonge them selues how they myght withdrawe the Emperours loue from him.

[Page]It fortuned on a daye that this Empe­rour went to the Forrest and heard a Nightingale sing so merrely, that often times after hée would rise earely in the morning, & sometimes from his meate, and walke to the wood for to heare the swéetnesse of hir songe, wherefore ma­ny of his men sard among themselues. Our Lord delighteth so much in the Nightingales songe, that hee rekoneth little of our profit, in so much that tho­rough two things his loue is withdraw­en from vs that is to saye, by Ydrony the knight, and by the swéete song of the Nightingale.

Then saide an olde knight that was among them. Syes quod hee, if yee will doe by my counsell, I shall deliuer you of the knight Ydrony, and of the Nigh­tingale without hurt or death.

They sware and saide, what so euer yee bidde vs doe, wée shall straight way fulfill with all our heart. When this knight heard this, within a while af­ter it chāced he espied this Ydrony dron­ken, wherfore, hee locked fast y^e well, and [Page 79] as this knight Ydrony came to refresh himselfe, he found the well fast locked.

The Emperour had a great matter to treate of, wherefore in hast he sent for this knight, bicause of his great wis­dome to haue his counsell. And when hée came beefore the Emperour he was so dronken that he might not once moue his tongue, neither had witte, reason, nor vnderstanding to answere y^e Em­perour to his matter.

But when the Emperour saw this, he was greatly gréeued, for so much as hée hated that vice, wherefore he com­maunded anon that from y^e daye foorth he should no more bée séene within his land, vpon paine of death.

This hearing his soes, were very glad and said vnto the olde knight. Now wée be deliuered of this knight Ydrony, ther is no more to doe but that wée might finde the way to be deliuered of y^e Nigh­tingale, in which the Emperour deligh­teth so much.

Than sayd this olde knight, your eares shall heare, and your eyes shall see, that this Nightingale shall be destroyed in [Page] short tyme. Not long after this olde knight espied that the Nightingale v­sed to sit vpon a tree euen aboue y^e fore­sayd wel, wheras hir make came & cou­pled with hir, neuerthelesse in y^e absence of hir make she tooke oftentymes an o­ther make and coupled with hir, when shée had thus done, than would she des­cend to the well to bath hir selfe, that when hir make came, he should féele no sauour ne euill odour of y^t she had done. When the knight had séene this, on a tyme hee locked the well, and when the Nightingale would haue descended to bath hir selfe after hir coupling with y^e other make, shee found the well closed, wherfore she flew vp into y^e trée againe and mourned sore in hir maner, and left hir sweet song. Then came hir make & saw that she had done against hir na­ture, he returned againe & in short time brought a great multitude of Nightin­gales which slew his make, & tare hir all to péeces.

And thus was the wise knight put a­way and the Nightingale slayne, and the Emperour put from his pleasure, [Page 80] and solace such as he was wont to haue.

The 29. Historie.

IN Rome there dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour named Darmes, which had a mightie strong Citie & excéeding strongly walled about, & a Bell hanging in the middest of the Ci­tie, and when so euer this Emperour went to battayle with out the Cittie, this Bell should be ro [...]ng, but there should no manne ring the Bell but a [Page] virgin. Within short time after it bée­fell, that Dragons, Serpents, and ma­ny other venimous beastes empoysoned much people, so that the Citie was al­most destroyed, wherefore the states of the Citie went with one assent to the Emperour and sayde. Lord what shall wée doe, lo, our goods and our Citie is almost destroyed, and you and wée be in perill to perish, through these fell beasts that consume vs, therfore take wée good counsaile, or else wée are but lost.

Then saide the Emperour, what say you is best to be done in this matter, and how may wée best be defended. Than answered one of the wisest and sayde. My Lord, heare my counsaile, and doe there after, and yée shall not fore­thinke it, ye haue (quod he) in your place a Lyon, and set vppe a péece of timber for the purpose, and therevpon let the Lyon be nailed & made fast, and when other venimous beastes sée him thus v­sed and dealt withall, they will dread, and so shall they forsake this Citie, and we shall be in rest and ease. Then sayd the Emperour, it pleaseth me well that [Page 82] he be hanged in sauing of you. Than tooke they the Lyon & vsed him in maner as aforesaid. And when the other Lyons & venimous dragons came toward the citie and saw y^e Lyon thus hanging, they sled away for dread, and durst come no nearer.

The 30. Historie.

IN Rome dwelled sometime a mighty emperour & a merciful, named Menalay, which ordained such a lawe, that what misdoer were taken & put in prison, if hée might escape & come to y^e Emperours pallais, he should be there safe for all maner fe­lony, treason, or any other trespasse that he had done in his life. It was not long after but it befell that a knight trespas­sed, wherefore hée was taken & put in a strong & darke prison, wher hée lay long time, & had no light but at a litle win­dow, whereas scant light shone in, that lightened him to eate his simple meate that was brought him by his keeper, wherfore hée mourned greatly & made sorrow that hée was thus fast shette vp from the sight of men. Neuerthelesse when the kéeper was gone there came dayly a Nightingale in at the window and sang full sweetly, of whose songe this woefull knight oft times was fed [Page] with ioye, and when this byrd ceased of hir song then would shee flye into the knights bosome, and there this knight fedde hir many a daye, of the vittayle that God sent him.

It beefell after on a day, that this knight was greatly desolate of comfort. Neuerthelesse the byrd that sat in his bosome feeding vpon kyrnells of Nuts, and thus hee said vnto the byrd. Sweet bird I haue sustained thée many a day, what wilt thou giue me now in my de­solation to comfort mée, remember thee well, that thou art y^e creature of God, & I also, therefore help mée now in my grert néede. Whē the byrd heard this, shee flew forth frō his bosom, & taryed from him three daies. But the third day she came againe, & brought in hir mouth a precious stone, & laid it in the knights bosome: And when the had so done she toke hir [...]light & flew from him againe.

The knight meruayled of the stone and of the Byrd, and ther with hée toke the stone in his hande and touched his giues and fetters therwith, and anone fell of all his fetters & chaines where­with [Page 84] hée was bound. And then hée a­rose and touched the dores of the prison and anone they opened, and so hée esca­ped and ran fast to the Emperours pal­lais. When the kéeper of the prison per­ceiued this, hée blew a horne thrise, and raised vp all the folke of the Citie, and lead them foorth crying with an high voice. Loe y^e théefe is gone, follow wée him all. And with that hée ran béefore all his felowes toward the knight, and when he came nigh him, the knight bent his bow and did shoote an arrow wher­with hée smote the kéeper in the lungs and slew him, and then he ranne to the Pallays, wheras hée found succour, ac­cording to the law.

The 31. History.

THere dwelt sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour named E­bolides. It fortuned on a day, that this Emperour walked into the Forrest, where he mette sodainly with a poore man, & so soone as this Empe­rour [Page 68] saw him, hée was greatly moued with mercie & sayd. Good friend whence art thou. My soueraine Lord quod he, I am your subiect, borne in your land, and now in great pouerty and néede. Then said y^e Emperour. If I knew that thou wert true in euery thing, I should pro­mote thée to great riches, therfore tell mée what is thy name.

My Lord quod he, I am called Lenticu­lous, and I plight you my troth & true seruice, & if I doe otherwise, I submit mée vnto you & to all maner of punish­ment that yée can put me to. When the Emperour heard this, he promoted him incontinent to great riches, & not long after that he made him a knight & ste­ward of his land. And whē hée was thus exalted to riches & honor, hée waxed so proude, that he despised both his superi­ors & his inferiours. Not long after it béefell y^t this steward rode by a forrest, where as hée met with the foster, and charged him that hée should make an hundreth pitts in the ground, and couer them ouer with gréene grasse and smal bowes, that if wild beastes fortuned to [Page] goe in the forrest that same way, that they should then fall in, and so should they bee taken and brought to the Em­perour. The Foster aunswered and sayde. Sir as yée haue sayde it shall bée done. Not long time after it fortuned that this Steward rode to this forrest againe to se if these pittes were made, and as hée rode hée bée thought him how welthy a man & how mightie in power hee was made, and how all thing in the Empyre obeyed to him, and was redie at his will.

As hée rode thus thinking, hée saide to himselfe. There is no GOD saue one­ly I, and with that hée smote his Horse with his spurres, and sodainly hee fell into one of the déepe pittes that he had ordained béefore himselfe, for the wilde beastes, & for the great déepenesse there­of hée might not arise againe by no ma­ner of craft, wherefore hée languyshed in great perplexitie. And straight way after him came a hungery Lyon and fell in the same pitte, and after the Ly­on an Ape, and after the Ape a Ser­pent. When the Stewarde was thus [Page 87] walled with these thrée beastes he was greatly moued, and feared much.

There was that time dwelling in the Citie a poore man named Guy, that had no good saue onely an Asse, wherwith dayely hée carryed sticks and wood that fell from trées and such as he could get in the Forrest, and those he brought to the market and sould them, and in this wise he sustained himselfe & his wife as well as he might.

It fortuned that this poore Guy, went to the [...]orrest as he was wont, and [...]s he came by the déepe pitte, he heard a man cry & say. O déere friend what art thou, for gods sake helpe mée, and I shall re­compence thee so well, that thou shalt euer after be the better.

When this poore Guy heard that it was the voyce of a man, he meruayled greatly, and stoode still on the Pittes brinck and sayde Loe good friend I am come for thou hast called mée. Than sayde the knight, déere friende I am Steward of all the Emperours lands, and thus by fortune I am fallen into the Pitte, and heere be with mee thrée [Page] beastes, that is to say, a Lyon, an Ape, and an horrible Serpent, which I feare most of all, and I wot not of which of them I shall be first deuoured, therefore I pray thee for gods sake get me a long cord wherwith thou maist draw me out of this deepe pit, and I shall warrant thée to make thée rich in all thing for e­uermore héere after, and but I haue help the rather, I shall be deuoured of these beastes. Thē said this poore Guy I may full ill entend to helpe thée, for I haue nothing to liue on, but that I gather wood and carry it to the market to sell, wherewith I am sustained, neuerthe­lesse I shall leaue my pretended labour and fulfill thy will, and if ye rewarde mée not it shall be great hinderance to mee and to my wife. Than the steward made a great oath and sayde, that hée would promote him & all his, to great riches. Then sayde Guy, if you will fulfill your promise, I shall doe that you byd mée. And with that went againe to the Citie and brought with him a long rope and came to the pit and sayd. Sir steward, lo, I let downe a rope to thée, [Page 88] binde thy selfe about the middle there­with, that I may pul thée vp. Than was the steward glad, and saide. Good friend let down the rope. And with that he cast the ende of the rope downe into the pit. And when the Lyon saw that, he caught the rope & hild it fast and Guy drew the Lyon vp, wening to him he had drawen vp the steward, and when he had so done the Lyon thanked him in his maner, and ranne to the wood. The second time that Guy let downe the rope, the Ape lept to it and caught it fast, & when he was drawen vp, he thanked Guy as he could, and ranne to the wood. The third tyme he let downe the rope and drew vp the Serpent, which thanked him, and went to the wood. The steward cryed with an high voice. O déere friend now I am de­liuered of thrée venimous beastes, now let downe the corde to mée, that I may come vp. And this poore Guy let downe the rope, and the steward bound himself fast about the middle, and anone Guy drew him vp. And when he was thus holpe out of this déepe pitte, hée saide to Guy as followeth.

[Page]Come to me at thrée of the clock to the pallaies, and than I shall make thée rich for euer. This poore Guy reioised therof and went home without any reward. Than his wife demaunded of him why hee [...] no wood wherewith they [...] that day. Then told hée hir all the [...] as it be [...]ell, how y^e stew­ard [...] into the prt, and also the Lyon, the [...] the serpent, that he had made in the said forrest, and how he had hol­pen him with a cord, and saued him from deuouring of y^e three ve [...]mous beastes, and how he should goe to the Steward and fetch his reward on the morrow.

When his wife heard this, she reioysed greatly and saide. If it shall be so good [...]r arise to morrow at a due houre, & goe to the pallayes and receiue your re­ward, that we may be comforted there­by.

So in the morning Guy arose & went to the Pallays and knocked at the gate, Than came the Porter and asked the cause of his knocking. I pray thée quod this Guy, goe to the steward and say to him that here abideth a poore man at the [Page 89] gate that spake with him yesterday in the forrest. The porter went and tolde the steward as the poore man had sayd; Than sayde the Stewarde, goe thou a­gaine & tell him y^t hée lyeth, for yester­day spake I with no man in the forrest, and charge him that he goe away, and that I sée him there neuer after. The porter went foorth and told poore Guy, how the steward had sayd, and charged him to goe away. Then was this poore Guy sorowfull & went home, and when he was come he told his wyfe how the steward had answered him.

His wyfe comforted him in all that she might, and sayd. Sir goe ye againe and proue him thrise. Then on the mo­row this Guy arose & went to the pa­lays againe, praying the porter to doe his errand once againe to the steward. The porter answered and sayd, gladly I wil doe thine errand, but I feare mée sore that it shall be thy hurt.

And then went he in and told the stew­ard of the comming of this poore man. When the steward heard that, he went out and all to beate this silly Guy, and [Page] left him in peril of death. Whē his wife heard this, shée came with hir Asse and led him home as she might, and all that she had she spent vpon surgions & Phisi­tions to help him. And when hée was perfectly whole, he went to y^e forrest as hee was wont, for to gather sticks and small wood for his liuing. And as hée went about in the Forrest, hee saw a strange Lyon driuing before him Asses that were loden with chaffer and mar­chandise. This Lyon droue forth y^e Asses before Guy, which dread sore the Lyon, least he would haue deuoured him, ne­uerthelesse whē he beheld the Lyon bet­ter, he knew well that he was the same Lyon that he drew out of the pit. This Lyon left not Guy till all y^e Asses with the marchandise were entred into hys house, and than the Lyon dyd him obey­saunce and ranne to the wood.

This Guy obtained these fardells, and found great riches therein, wherefore he made to proclaime in diuerse Chur­ches, if any man had lost such goods, but there was none that challenged them. And when Guy saw this, hée tooke the [Page 90] goods, bought therewith house and land, and so was made rich. Neuerthelesse he haunted the Forrest as he did béefore. And after that as he walked in the for­rest to gather wood, he espied the Ape in the tope of a trée, the which brake bowes busely with hir téeth & clawes, & threw them downe, so that in short time Guy had laden his Asse. And when the Ape had so done, she went hir way, and Guy went home. And on the morrow Guy went to the forrest again, and as he sate bynding his faggots, he saw the Ser­pent that he drew out of the pytte come toward him, bearing in his mouth a precious stone of thrée coulours the which stone the Serpent let fall at Guyes féete and when she had so done shée kissed his féete and went hir way. This Guy tooke vp the stone, and meruailed greatly of what vertue it might be, wherefore hée arose vppe and went to a Jeweller na­med Peter, and sayde. Déere brother I pray thée tell mée the vertue of this precious stone, and I shall reward thée well for thy labour.

[Page]Whan this Jeweller had well béeholden and vnderstood the nature of the stone, he sayd. Good friend if thee list to sell thy stone, I shall giue thée an hūdreth mark. Then sayd Guy, I will not sell my stone till thou tell mee truely the vertues thereof. Then sayd the marchant, with­out doubt this stone hath thrée vertues the first vertue is, that whosoeuer bea­reth this stone vpon him, shall haue ioy without sorrow: the second vertue is, that he shal haue plenty without want: the third vertue is, he shall haue light without darkenesse. And it hath also an other vertue, that no man may sell it but for as much as it is worth, and if he doe the contrary, the stone returneth againe to the first owner.

When Guy heard this, hée was right ioyfull, and sayd to himselfe, in a good houre I drew these beastes out of the pyt.

Not long after it béefell that this Guy by the vertue of this stone was made passing riche and bought greate possessions and liuelode, wherefore with in a while he was made knight.

[Page 91]It was not long after the Emperour had knowledge how sir Guy, had a stone of such vertue, wherefore hée sent for sir Guy, commaunding him to come to him in all hast, and so hee did. And when sir Guy was come to the Emperour, the Emperour sayde to him. My friend, I haue heard saye y^t sometime thou werte in great pouertie, and now thou arte made rich by y^e vertue of a little stone, therefore I pray thée that thou sell mée that stone. Syr Guy answered and sayd, that may I not doe, for so long as I haue that stone, I am sure of thrée things, that is to saye, of ioy without sorrow, plenty without want, and light without darkenesse. When the Empe­rour heard this hée had greater desire to buy that stone then hée had beefore, and said to him, Sir Guy, of two things thou must choose one, that is, choose whe­ther thou wilt forsake this Empyre and all thy kindered, or else sel me thy stone.

Then sayde Syr Guy.

My Lord, if it must néedes bée thus, bée it at your will, neuerthelesse I shall tell you the perill of this stone, if yée [Page] paye not therfore as it is worth, with­out doubt if will come to mée againe. Then said the Emperour, sothly I shall giue thée sufficient, for thou shalt receiue of mée therefore a thousand pound, and so it was donne. Syr Guy receiued the mony and went home. On the mor­row early hée opened his cofer & found the stone, and then hée told to the Lady his wife how hée had sould the stone to the Emperour and deliuered it, & how he found it againe in his cofer. Thē said his wife, good sir in all y^t hast yée can goe agayne to the Emperour and take him the stone, least that hee bée displeased, and through mallyce repute some de­ceipt in vs.

Then went foorth sir Guy againe to the Emperour and sayde to him. My Lord yesterday I solde you a stone the which if it please you I would faine sée. The Emperour went for the stone to his treasure and found it not, where­fore hée was right sorowfull, and came againe and told Syr Guy how it was lost. Then sayde Syr Guy, My Lord grieue you not, for I tolde you yester­day [Page 92] that I might not sell it, but if I had the valew thereof, and yesterday I receiued a thousand pound of you there­fore, and this day I found it in my Co­fer againe, and therefore if I had not brought you the stone againe peraduen­ture you would haue shewed mée your heauie countenance, and with that hée shewed foorth the stone, whereat the Emperour maruailed greatly & sayd. Syr Guy by thy troth that thou owest to mée, tel mée how thou camest by this Stone.

Then sayde sir Guy, By my faith that I owe to you, I shall tell you the very troth as touching this stone.

Your steward that is promoted vp of nought, let make many déepe pittes in your Forrest, and it fortuned not long after, y^t hée fell downe into one of them himselfe, and might not ryse againe for déepenesse of y^e pit, it fortuned also the same day, that a Lyon, an Ape, & a ser­pent fell into the Pitte with him, at which time I was a verie poore man, & tooke great pains for my liuing, & as I walked into the forrest w^t mine Asse for [Page] to gather wood, hée cryed to mée that I should help him out of the pitte, and saue him from death, for there were in y^e pit with him thrée venemous beasts, that is to say, a Lyon, an Ape, & a foule Serpent, and then hee promised mée by his worde to promote mée and all my kinne to great riches. And whē I heard that, I was glad, & lette downe a long corde vnto him, supposing to haue draw­en him vp, and then I haled vp a Lyon, and after that an Ape, and then a Ser­pent, and at the last your Steward. The Lyon gaue mée ten Asses charged with marchandise, the Ape gaue mée as much wood as mine Asse might beare, and the Serpēt gaue me this stone that I haue sold you, but your steward beat mée and wounded mée full sore for my good déede, that I was borne home vp­on myne Asse.

When the Emperour heard this, his heart was greatly moued againste the Steward, wherefore hée examined him of that false déed, but he was dome and would not speake, for so muche that hée could not deny his falsehood.

[Page 93]Then sayde the Emperour, O thou wretched creature, vnreasonable beasts as the Lyon, the Ape, and the Serpent, rewarded him for his good déede, & thou that arte a reasonable man hast almost beaten him to death that saued thée, and tooke thée out of the pitte, therfore for thy falsehood & wickednesse I iudge thée to bee hanged this daye on the gal­lowes, and all thy goods and landes I graunt to Sir Guy, and also I ordayn that Sir Guy shall occupy thy place, & bée Steward, and so it was done. When Sir Guy was thus rewarded by the Emperour, and made steward, hée was well beloued of euery man, as long as hée liued, and at the last ended his life with honor and good peace.

The 32. Historie.

[Page 96]IN Rome dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour named Anselme, which had wedded the kings daughter of Ieru­salem, a fayre Ladie and a gracious, in the sight of euery man, but she was long tyme with the Emperour or shée bare him any childe, wherefore the Nobles of the Empyre were right sorowful, be­cause their Lord had none heyre of his bodie begotten. Till at the last it befell that this Anselme walked after supper in an euening in his garden, and be­thought himself how he had none heyre, and how the king of Ampluy warred on him continually for so much as hée had no sonne to make defence in his ab­sence, wherefore he was right sorowful and went to his chamber and slept. And at the last him thought hée saw a vision in his sléepe, that the morning was more cléerer than it was wont to bée, & that the Moone was much more paller on the one syde, than on the o­ther.

And after he saw a bird of two colours, [Page] and by that byrd stood two beasts which fed that little byrd with their heate. And after that come many [...]o beasts, & bowed their breasts toward the byrd, and went theyr way.

And than came ther diuers byrds that soung so swéetly & pleasantly that the Emperour awaked. In the morning earely this Anselme remembred his vi­sion and wondred much what it might signifie, wherefore he called to him his Philosophers, and also the states of his Empyre, and tolde them his dreame, charging them to tell him the significa­tion therof vpon paine of death, & if they tolde him the true interpretation ther­of, he promised them great reward.

Then sayde they. Déere Lorde tell vs your dreame, and wée shall declare vn­to you what it betokeneth.

Than the Emperour tolde them from the beginning to y^e ending as it is afore sayd. When y^e Philosophers heard this, with glad cheere they answered & sayd. Lord, the dreame that ye saw, betoke­neth good, for the Empyre shall be more clearer than it is.

[Page 97]The Moone that is more pale on the one side than on the other, béetokeneth the Empresse, that hath lost part of hir cou­lour through the concepcion of a sonne that she hath conceiued. The little byrd betokeneth the sonne y^t shée shall beare.

The two beastes that fedde this bird betokeneth all the wyse men and riche menne of this Empyre shall obey thy sonne. These other beastes that bow­ed theyr brestes to the byrde, béetoke­neth that many other nations shall doe him homage. The Byrd that soung so swéetly to this little Byrd, betokeneth the Romaines, which shall reioyce and sing, bycause of his byrth.

Lo this is the verye interpretation of your dreame. When the Emperour heard this, he was right ioyfull. Soone after that the Empresse trauailed in childe byrth & was deliuered of a fayre sonne, in whose byrth was great ioye made without ende.

When the king of Ampluy heard this, he thought in himselfe thus. Loe, I haue warred against the Emperour [Page] all the dayes of my life, and now hée, hath a sonne the which will reuenge all thée wronges that I haue done and wrought against his Father when hée commeth to full age, therefore it is bet­ter that I send to the Emperour and beséech him of trewse & peace, that his sonne may haue nothinge againste mée when he commeth to manhoode. When he had thus said to himselfe, hée wrote vnto the Emperour, beséeching him to haue peace. When the Emperour saw that the king of Ampluy wrote to him more for feare then for loue, hée wrote againe to him, that if he would finde good and sufficient suertie to kéepe the peace, and bynde himselfe all the dayes of his lyfe to doe him seruice & homage, and to giue him yéerely a certaine try­bute, he would receiue him to the peace.

When the king had read the tenour of the Emperours letters, he called his Counsayle, praying them to giue him counsayle how he might best doe as tou­ching this matter. Then said they. It is good that ye obey the Emperours will and commaundement in all things.

[Page 97]For in the first he desireth of you suer­ty for the peace, and as to this wée an­swere thus. Yée haue but a daughter, and the Emperour but a sonne, wher­fore lette a marriage be made béetwéen them, and that may bée a perpetuall co­uenant of the peace. And also hée asketh homage and rents which is good to ful­fill. And than the king sent his messen­gers to the Emperour, saying that hée will fulfill his entent in all thing, if it might, please his highnesse y^t his sonne and the Kings daughter might bée wed­ded together. All this pleased well the Emperour, neuerthelesse héesent again, that if his daughter were a cleane Uir­gin from hir byrth vnto that daye, hée would consent to that marriage. Than was the king right glad, for his daugh­ter was a cleane virgin.

Therefore whan the letters of couenāt & compact were sealed, the king furnisht a faire ship, wherein he might send his Daughter with many noble knightes, Ladies, and great riches vnto the Em­perour for to haue his son in marriage. [Page] And whan they were sayling in the sea toward Rome, a storme arose so ex­tremely and so horribly that the shippe all to brast against a rock of stone, and they were all drowned saue onely that young lady, which fixt hir hope and hart so greatly on God, that she was saued. And about thrée of the clocke the tem­pest ceased, and the Lady droue foorth ouer the waues in that broken shippe which was cast vp agine, but an huge whale folowed after, ready to deuoure both the shippe and hir, wherefore this fayre young Lady whan night came shée smote fyre with a stone, wherewith the shippe was greatly lightened, and than the whale durst not aduenture toward the shippe for feare of the light. At the cocke crowing this young Lady was so weary of the great tempest and trouble of the sea, that she slept and within a little while after the fire surceased, and with that came the whale and deuoured this virgin.

And when shée wakened and found hir selfe swallowed vp in the whales belly, she smot fire, & within a little while shée [Page 99] wounded the Whale with a knife in many places, and when the Whale felt himselfe wounded, according to his na­ture béegan to swim to land.

There was that time dwelling in that coūtry an Earle that was a noble man named Pyrris, the which for his recrea­tion walked by the Sea shore, and as hée was walking thus, hée saw where as the Whale was comming toward that lande, wherefore hée turned home againe, gathered many strong men and women and came thether againe, and fought with this Whale, and wounded him sore, & as they smote, the Mayden that was in his belly cried with an high voice and sayd.

O gentle friends haue mercy and com­passiō on me, for I am a knights daugh­ter and a true virgine from y^e houre of my byrth vnto this daye. When the Earle heard this hée wondred greatly, and opened the side of the Whale and founde the young Lady, and tooke hir out. And when she was thus deliuered, shée told him foorthwith whose daughter shée was, and how shée had lost all his [Page] goods in y^e sea, and how shée should haue bene married vnto the Emperours son. And when y^e Earle heard this shée was right glad, wherefore hée comforted hir the more, and kept hir still with him till shée was well refreshed. And in the meane time hee sent messengers to the Emperour, letting him to wit how this knights daughter was saued. Then was the Emperour right glad of hir sauety and comming, & had great com­passion on hir, saying: A good Mayde for the loue of my sonne thou hast suffe­red much woe, neuerthelesse if thou be worthy to be his wife soone shal I proue. And when he had thus sayd, hée let bring foorth thrée vessells, the first was made of pure Gold well béesette with preci­ous stones without and within, full of dead mens bones, and therevpon was engrauen this posey. Who so chooseth mee shall finde that he deserueth.

The second vessell was made of fyne siluer, fylled with earth and wormes, and the superscription was thus.

Who so chooseth me shall sinde that his [Page 100] nature desireth. The third vessell was made of Lead, full within of precious stones, and therevpon was insculpt this posey. Who so chooseth mee, shall finde that God hath disposed for him.

These thrée vessells the Emperour shewed to the Mayden and layde. Loe here daughter, these bée noble vessells, if thou choose one of these wherin is profit to thée and to other thē shalt thou haue my son. And if thou choose that wherin is no profit to thée nor to none other, sothly thou shalt not wed him.

When the Mayden saw this, shèe lift vp hir hands to God and sayde. Thou Lord which knowest all things, graunt mée grace this houre so to choose, that I may receiue the Emperours sonne. And with y^t shée beeheld the first vessell of gold which was grauen royally, & reade this superscription. Who so chooseth mee. &c. saying thus. Though this vessel be full precious and made of pure gold, neuerthelesse know not I what is with in, therefore my déere Lord this vessell will I not choose.

[Page]And then behelde shée the second vessell that was of pure siluer, and reade the superscription, who so chooseth me, shall finde that his nature desireth. Thinke­ing thus within hir selfe, if I choose this vessell, what is within I know not, but well I wot there shall I finde that anture desireth, & my nature desireth the lust of the flesh, and therefore this vessell will I not choose.

When she had seene those two vessells, & giuen an answere as touching two of thē, shée béeheld the third vessell of lead, & read the superscription, who so choo­seth me, shall finde that God hath dispo­sed. Thinking within hir selfe this ves­sell is not passing riche, ne thorowly precious, neuerthelesse the superscripti­on saith, who so chooseth mée, shall finde that God hath disposed, & without doubt God neuer disposed any harme, there­fore as now I will choose this vessell, by the leaue of God.

When the Emperour saw this, he said, O good Mayden, open thy vessell, for it is full of precious Stones, and sée if [Page 101] thou hast well chosen or no. And when this yong Lady had opened it, she found it full of fine gold and precious stones, lyke as the Emperour had foretold hir béefore.

And than sayd the Emperour, O my déere daughter, because thou hast wise­ly chosen, therefore shalt thou wed my sonne. And when he had so said, he ordai­ned a marriage, and wedded them together with great solempnitie, & much honour, and so continued to theyr liues ende.

The 33. Historie.

SOmetime in Rome there dwelt a mightie Emperour named Calopo du, which tooke a fayre ladie to his wife, they were not long together but that this Empresse conceiued & bare him a sonne, a goodly childe and a fayre, when he was of age, he was set to schole. And when he came to twenty yéeres of age, he desired his Fathers heritage, saying. Déere father, ye are an olde man & may not gouerne your Empyre, therefore if it please you to giue it mée, it shall be to your profit. Then auns­wered the Emperour and sayde. Déere sonne, I dread mée sore that when the Empyre is in thy power thou wilt not fulfill my will ne my desire.

Then aunswered the Empresse (for so much as she loued hir sonne better than hir husband) and sayd. My Lord quod [Page 105] shée that may not bée, for thou hast but one sonne, therefore as I beléeue he wil fulfill thine entent in all thing, this Empyre may help him well, and therefore it is not best to graūt him the Empire. Then answered the Emperour & sayd. I will first haue of him a letter obliga­tory, that whē so euer he doth any thing against my will, that than I shall de­priue him of the Empyre without any withstanding.

The sonne graunted to this, and let make the obligation, and sealed it. And when this was done, this yong Empe­rour waxed so proud, that he feared nei­ther God nor man, and dyd very much harme. But euer his father suffered it paciently, for he would not be corrected by no man. Till at the last there fell a great dearth in y^e Empyre, so that many men dyed for want of foode. This olde Emperour was all alone himselfe and began to haue néede, wherfore hée went to his sonne for to haue some substance, which his sonne graunted and suffered for a tyme.

[Page]But within short time his father began to waxe sicke, wherefore hee called his sonne, and prayed to him to giue him [...] draught of must. His sonne answered and saide. That will I not doe, for my must is not good for your complection. Than sayd the Emperour, I pray thée sonne giue mée a draught of thy wine. His sonne answered and sayde, that hee should haue none, for my wyne is not yet fined, & if I touch it, it will trouble, & therfore I will not broch it till it bée cléere and fined. Then sayde his father. Giue mée some of the second tonne.

That will I not doe, quod he, for y^e wine is passing mightie & strong, & such wine is not good for a sick man. Than his fa­ther praied him hartely for a draught of the fourth tonne. Than answered hée and sayde, thereof get ye none, for it is féeble and without any sustentacion, & such wyne is not good for you, for it is not comfortable.

Than said his father, now good sonne giue mee thā of the fift tonne. That wil I not quod hée, for that tonne is full of [...]ées or dregges, and such is not for men [Page 106] nor vnnethes for hoggs. When his fa­ther saw he might get nothing of him, & after was as whole as euer he was, than went he to the king of Hierusalem and made his complaint of his sonne, & shewed him the letter obligatory which his sonne had made, wherefore his fa­ther might put him out of the Empyre without any withsaying. Whan the king heard this, he called y^e Emperours sonne to aunswere his father. And whē he came he could not aunswere to his father with no reason, wherefore the king put him from his Empyre, & seaso­ned his father therein againe, and so he contineued all the dayes of his life.

The 34. History.

IN Rome dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour named Antony, vnder whose raigne the Rouers on the Sea hadde taken prisoner a mightie mans sonne of an other Region, and brought him to the Emperours prison, beeing bound. When this young man was thus in prison, hee incontinent wrote to his father for his raunsome, but his fa­ther [Page 109] would no raunsome paye, ne none other thing send to comfort him.

This when his sonne heard hée wept sore and might not be comforted for the vnkindnesse of his father.

This Emperour had a fayre daughter which visited euery day this prisoner, & comforted him as much as shée might. To whome the prisoner answered and sayde. How shall I bée merry, or how may I ioye, thus for to lye fast bounde in prison from the sight of man, and not withstanding this, it gréeueth me more that my father will not pay my raun­some.

When this mayden heard this, shée was moued with pittie, and said. Deere friend, I am sory for thee, neuerthelesse, if thou wilt graunt mee one thing, I shall deliuer thée from this anguish, and paine. What thing is that quod hee.

That thou wilt take mée to thy wyfe.

Then saide the prisoner, I promise you surely to fulfill your intent and desire, and for the more assurance I plight you my troth.

[Page]When hée had so done, it was not long after the Damosell deliuered him out of prison, & fled away with him home to his fathers house. When the father saw his sonne and y^e Mayden together he asked the cause why hee brought the Mayden with him.

Then sayd his sonne. Sir, this Damo­sell deliuered mee out of prison, & ther­fore shée shall bee my wyfe. Then said his father, I will not consent that shée shall bée thy Wife, for two reasonable causes, which I shall foorthwith shew thée.

The first is this, it is not vnknowen to thée that the Emperour hir Father might haue hadde for thy deliueraunce great foyson of riches, and for as much as she was vntrue to hir owne Father and true to thée, it séemeth well y^t thou shouldst not trust long in hir, for who is false to hir owne Father, by reason should bée verye false and vntrue to an other manne. The second reason is this. The cause why shee deliuered thée out of prison, it was neithar for pittie nor for loue, but for carnall lust that [Page 100] shée had to thée. For at thy deliueraunce she made couenaunt with thée to be thy wife, and had of thée thy troth, & ther­fore sonne (saith hée) it is not rea [...]on y^t shée should bee thy wife. The Maiden answered to this question and saide.

As for the first reason that thou layest against mee that I should bée vntrue to my father, that is falfe, for my father hath plentye of riches, and thy sonne is but poore, and therfore I holpe him for pittie, and for none other cause, and ne­uerthelesse thou that art his father wold not pay his raūsome that hée myght bée deliuered out of prison.

Loe for this cause I haue deliuered him therefore I am kinder to him then thou that art his owne father, and he is more béeholding to mee then to thée.

Unto that other reason, whereas thou sayest that I deliuered him béecause of carnall lust. I answere and say playne­ly that it is no troth.

For all manor of carnall loue is cause of strength or else of fairnesse, but thy son is not strong, for his imprisonment haue done away his strength.

[Page]Hée is not fayre, for by the payne that hee hath had in prison he is brought low and vnlully to the sight, and therefore pittie onely moued mee to deliuer him and not carnall lust.

Then sayd the sonne vnto his father.

Déere Father for as much as I was in perill of death, and wrot vnto thee that thou woldest pay my raunsome that I might bée deliuered, and thou wouldest not help mee, but this Damosell of hir gentilnesse and for pittie hath saued me from death, and deliuered mee out of prison, and therefore sothly shée shall bee my Wyfe, therfore foorthwith hée marryed hir with great honour, & with hir ended his lyfe.

The 35. Historie.

SOmetime in Rome there dwelt a noble Emperour of great liuelood named Alexander, the which a­boue all vertues loued the vertue of bountie, wherefore hée ordained a law for great curiositie, that no name vnder p [...]yne of Death should turne a Playce in his dishe, at his meate, but onely eate the whyte sayde and not the [Page 112] black, and if any man would attempt to doe the contrary, he should dye with­out remedie, but or he died he shold aske thrée requests of the Emperour what him lyst, (except his lyfe) which should be graunted him.

It befell after on a day that ther came an Earle & his sonne of a strange coū ­trie to speake with the Emperour.

And when this Earle was set to meat, hée was serued with a Playce, and hée which was hungry and had an appetite to his meate, after he had eaten y^e white syde, hée turned the black side and bée­gan to eate thereof, wherfore straight way hée was accused to the Emperour, béecause hée hadde offended against the law.

Than sayd the Emperour. Let him dye according to the law, without any delay. When the Earles sonne heard that his father should dye, immediately he sate him down on both his knées bee­fore the Emperour and sayd. O my re­uerend Lord, for his loue that dyed vp­pon the crosse, let me dye for my father, Than sayd the Emperour.

[Page]It pleaseth mée well that one dye for the offence of the law.

Then sayd this Earles sonne, sith it is so that I shall dye, I aske the benefits of the law, that is to saye, that I may haue three petitions graunted, or I dye. The Emperour answered and sayde, aske what thou wilt, there shal no man say thée nay.

Than sayd this young knight. My Lord, ye haue but one daughter y^t which I desire of your highnesse that she may lye with mée a night or I dye. The Em­perour granted, though it were against his will in fulfilling of his law.

Heuerthelesse this knight deflowred hir not as that night. Therfore pleased hee greatly the Emperour. The second peticion is this, I aske all thy treasure. And immediately the Emperour graū ­ted bicause he shold not be called a brea­ker of his owne law▪

And when this Earles sonne had recei­ued the Emperours treasure, he impar­ted it both to poore and rich, by meanes whereof he obtained their good wills.

My third petition is this, I aske my [Page 113] Lord that all the eyes may be put out incontinent which sawe my father ea­ting of the blacke plaice. Wherefore the Emperour let make inquisition imme­diately who it was that saw the Earle turne the black Plaice. And they that saw him turne the playce bethought thē & said within themselues. If we know­ledge that we saw him do this trespasse than shall our eies be put out, and ther­fore it is better that wée hold vs still. And so ther was none found that would accuse him. Whan the Earles sonne saw this he said to the Emperour. My Lord quod he, yée see that there is no man ac­cuseth my father, therfore giue ye right full iudgement. Than saide the Empe­rour. For as much that no man will knowledge that they saw him turne the place, therefore I will not that thy fa­ther shall dye.

Loe thus the sonne saued his fathers lyfe, and after the decease of the Empe­rour married his daughter.

The 36. History.

IN Rome there dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour named Le m [...]us, which on a day rode to a forrest to disport him, where as he mette sodainly with a poore man to whome he sayd▪ thus▪ Friend whence commest thou, and who art thou.

My Lord quod he, I come from the next Cittie, and your manne I am. Than sayde the Emperour, thou séemest poore, therefore if thou wilt be good and true I shall promote thee to great riches and honour.

[Page 115]Then answered the poore man & sayd. My Lord I promise you faithfully to bée true to you as long as I liue.

The Emperour anon made him knight and gaue him great riches. When hée was thus promoted, hee waxed so proud that hee thought himselfe more able to bée an Emperour then his Lord, wher­fore he made suggestion to diuerrse lords of that Empyre that hee might vs [...]rpe and take vpon him through strength of them to bee Emperour. When the Em­perour heard this, anone hee exiled him and all those that were consenting to him, so that they liued abiects in great wretchednesse and srrow, and then the Emperour ordained other men in their stéedes, and gaue them all y^e possessions of the traytors.

And when the banished men heard that straungers had taken possession of their lands and goods, anone they conspyred against them, and through treason re­quested them to a banquet.

And they as [...] thinking vppon no such treason, came at the day assig­ned and were serued with [...]iu [...] [...]s [...]s, [Page] which were poysoned, wherfore as ma­ny as tasted of that vice dyed inconti­nent.

When the Emperour heard this, he was greatly moued, and assembled his counsell, to wit what was best to be don of this treason & of their death. Then said the Emperours sonne. My Lord I am your sonne, & yée bee my Father, & therfore I shall giue you good counsell and profitable to all men.

Not far hence is a little nation wherin dwelleth a fayre Mayden and a graci­ous in the sight of euery man, which hath an orchard wherein is a well, the water therof hath such vertue, that if it be cast vpon a dead man, straight way he shall liue againe and recouer his life. Therefore my [...]ord I shall descende vnto that nation and seeke that water whereby they that were slayne at the Banquet might bée restored againe to lyfe. And when the Emperour heard this, he was greatly reioyced and sayde. Sonne, thy counsell is good. And straight way the Emperours sonne went into the saide nation, and fell inconceit with [Page 116] the Mayden, in so much that hée entred in the garden and assayled to tast the water of the well. And when hee had so done, he made fiue déepe trenches in the ground, in the which the water ranne till it came where the dead men lay bu­ried, thervpon when the water touched them, they arose from death to life.

Then the Emperours sonne led them vnto his Father. And when the Empe­rour saw this, hée was right ioyefull, wherfore hee crowned his sonne with a Laurate crowne, in tooken of victorie, & so ended his life in rest and peace.

The 37. History.

SOmetime in Rome there raigned a mighty emperor named Dunstain in whose Empyre there dwelt a gentill Knight, that had two sonnes. One of [Page] his sonne matched himselfe against his fathers will with a common harlotte. The knight hearing this, exyled his son from him. And when he was thus exi­led, he begot on this woman a sonne. And soone after that he wared sicke and in penury, wherfore he sent messengers to his father, beseching him of his mer­cie. This hearing his father, had compas­sion and ruth on him wherfore he was reconciled

And when hée was thus brought a­gaine to his fathers grace, hee gaue his chtide which he hadde gotten tofore on this common woman to his father. And he full kindely receiued it as his sonne, and nourished it.

When his other sonne heard this, he said to his father, father quod hee, it sée­meth to mée that thou arte out of thy right minde, which I will proue by this reason. For hée is out of his righte minde, that receiueth a salse heare and nourisheth him, whose Father hath en­domage and disease tosore.

For my brother which begat this childe [Page 118] haue done thée great iniury when hée marryed the common woman against thy will and commaundement, there­fore me séemeth that thou art out of thy right minde.

Then answered the father and sayde. Bicause thy brother is reconciled thou art enuious to mée, and also vnkinde to thy nowne brother, willing to put him from my felowshippe for euermore, and sothly no vnkinde man shall haue mine heritage except he be reconciled.

But yet thou neuer reconciledst to him of his vnkindenesse, for thou migh­test haue reconciled him, but thou wold­est not, therefore of mine heritage get­test thou no part.

The 38. Historie.

SOmetime there dwelt in Rome a mighty Emperour named Donate, which dyd let make thrée Images of the which one held out his hand straight vnto the people and had on his finger a ring of Gold.

The second Image had a beard of gold. And the third had a mantell of Purple, commaunding vpon paine of death that no man should beare these Images of the ring, the beard, nor the mantell. It befell afterward vppon a time that one Dyonise tyrant, came into the tem­ple and toke away y^e ring from the first [Page] Image, the beard from the second, and the mantell from the third. And when he had thus done, he was foorthwith ac­cused vnto the Emperour and brought before him, and straightly examined of that trespasse, why hée dispoyled the Images against the Emperours com­maundement. Than aunswered Dio­nise and said as followeth.

My Lord it is lawfull to answere for mée, when I entred into the Tem­ple, the first Image held foorth his hand straight to mee, as who would saye, I giue thee this ring, and therefore I toke the ring at the guift of the Image, bée­ing loth to refuse his gentle offer.

And when I law the second Image hauing a beard, I thought thus with in my selfe.

I knew sometyme the father of this Image which had no bearde, and now his sonne hath a beard which is against reason, the sonne to haue a bearde and the father none, and therefore I tooke from him his bearde, that he should bée like his father.

After that whan I saw the third I­mage [Page 120] clothed in a mantell of Golde, I thought that a mantell of gold was not behoueable to him in winter, for gold is naturally colde, which might be cause of his death, and therefore I tooke it from him bicause it was to colde in winter, & to hotte in sommer. When Dionise had excused him by these reasons, the Empe­rour answered and said. Thou hast ans­wered wickedly for thy selfe, what shold cause thée rather than any other man to dispoyle these Images, for as much as I commaunded that no man should take any thing away from them, & thine owne mouth hath condempned thée. A­none the Emperour called to him one of his Squires, and charged him to smyte of his head, and so it was done.

The 39. Historie.

THere dwelt sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour named E­uas, which had a fayre yong Lady to his wife, vpon whome he had begot­ten a fayre sonne. Whan the states of the empyre heard this, they came vnto the Emperour & besought him to haue the keepeing of his sonne.

Immediately the Emperour sent a He­rould throughout the citie, proclaiming that in whose house were firste founde [Page] fyre and water, the good manne of that house should haue his sonne in kéeping, and to nourish. And than the emperour made a proclamacion, that who so euer had his sonne to kéepe, should nourish him cleanly, & féede him with wholesom meats and drinckes. And when the childe came to age, than should the kee­per be promoted to great honor, where­fore many men let make redy fire and water, in hope to haue the childe. But on the night when euery manne was a sléepe, there came a tyrant named Sula­pius, that quenched the fire and threw out the water.

Neuerthelesse among all other there was a man named Ionathas, that labou­red so diligently that hée kept both day and night fire and water. In a morning earely the Herauld at the Emperours commaundement went through the Ci­tie and sought in euery house for Fyre and Water, but hée could finde none tyll hee came to Ionathas house, where as hée founde both Fyre and Water readie, wherefore hee was brought bée­fore [Page 122] the Emperour, and deliuered him his sonne according to his proclamaci­on. When Ionathas had the Emperours sonne, he led him home vnto his house.

And soone after he sent for masons and carpēters, & let make a strong chamber of lyme and stone. And when the cham­ber was made, he sent for painters and let paint on the wall within the chamber x. Images, with this posey paynted a­boue their heads.

Who so defileth these Images, shall dye a cruell death.

And than he lette draw on the dore a­gallous, & figure of a man hanging ther­vpon, with this posey paynted aboue his head. So shal he be serued that noursheth the Emperours sonne amisse.

Also he lette make a chaire of golde, & himselfe sitting therein, crowned with a crowne of golde, with this superscrip­tion aboue his head.

Who so nourisheth the Emperours sonne cleanly, thus shal he be honoured.

Whan this was done, often tymes as hée was a sléepe hée was greatly temp­ted to defyle these ten excelent Images, [Page] but anone hée reade the superscription aboue their heads, & than all the temp­tations ceased. And when the Empe­rours sonne was euill kept, than went he to the gallows and read that posey which was writtē aboue his own head, and for dread thereof kept the child bet­ter, and was diligent to giue attendāce on him.

And when he beheld the chayre and himselfe sitting therein crowned with a crowne of golde, hée was right ioyfull, thinking to haue a good reward for kee­king of the Emperours sonne. Whan the Emperour heard of his diligent de­meanour aboute his sonne, hée sent for him and for his sonne, thanking him for his well keeping and nourishing of him, and after promoted him to great honor and worship.

The 40. History.

IN Rome dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour named Menaly, which had wedded the Kinges daughter of Hun­gary, a fayre Lady and a gracious in all hir woorkes, and specially shée was mercifull. On a tyme as the Empe­rour lay in his bed, hée bée thought him that hée would go [...] visit [...]e y^e holy lande. And on y^e morrow he called to him the [Page] Emprisse his wife and his owne onely brother, and thus he sayde. Deere Lady I may not ne I will not hide from you the priuities of my heart, I purpose to visit the holy land, wherefore I ordaine thee principally to be Lady & gouernour ouer all mine Empyre and all my peo­ple. And vnder thee I ordaine héere my brother to be thy steward for to prouide all things that may bée profitable to mine Empyre and to my people.

Then said the Emprisse. Sith it will none otherwise bee but y^e needs yée will goe to visit the Citie Ierusalem, I shall bee in your absence as true as any tur­tle that hath lost hir mate, for as I bee­léeue, yée shall not escape thence with your life.

The Emperour anone comforted hir with faire words and kissed hir, and after that tooke his leaue of hir and of all other, and so went foorth vnto the ci­tie of Ierusalem.

And anone after y^t the Emperour was gone, his brother became so proude, y^t he oppressed poore men & robbed rich men, [Page 125] and yet did he worse thē this, for dayly he stirred the Emprisse to commit sinne with him. But euer she answered again as an holy and deuout woman, & saide. I will quod shee, neuer consent to you ne to none other, as long as my Lord liueth. Neuerthelesse this knight would not leaue with this answere, but euer when he founde hir alone hee made his complaint to hir, and stirred hir by all the wayes that hee could to sinne with him. When this Ladie sawe that he would not cease for no answer ne wold not amend himselfe, when shée sawe hir tyme shée called to hir three or foure of the worthiest men of the Empyre and sayd to them thus. It is not vnknowen to you that my Lord the Emperour or­dained mee principal gouernour of this Empyre, & also he ordained his brother to bee steward vnder mee, and that hée should doe nothing without my counsel, but he doth all the contrary, for he op­presseth greatly poore men, and likewi [...]e robbeth the rich men, and yet he would doe worse then this, if hee might haue his entent, wherefore I commaund you [Page] in my Lords name that you binde him fast and cast him in prison.

Than said they, sothly he hath done ma­ny euill déedes sith our Lord themperor w [...]nt, therfore we be redy to obay your commaundement, but in this matter ye must aunswere for vs to our Lord the Emperour. Than said she, dread ye not, if my Lord knew what he hath done as well as I, he would put him to the fou­lest death that could be thought. Imme­diately these men sette hand on him and bound him fast with yron chaines, and put him fast in prison, where as he lay long tyme a [...]ter, till at the last if fortu­ned there came tydings that the Empe­rour was comming home, and had obtained great worship and victory. When his brother heard of his comming, hée said: Would to God my brother might find mée in prison, for than would he en­quire the cause of myne enprisonment of y^e Emprisse, & she will tell him all the trouth, and how I procured hir to com­mit sinne, & so for hir I shall haue no fa­uour of my Brother, but loose my lyfe, [Page 126] this know I well, therefore it shall not bée so. Then sent hée a messenger vnto the Emprissee, praying hir for chri­stes passion that shee would vouchsafe to come vnto the pryson dore, that he might speake a word or two with hir. The Emprisse came to him, and enqui­red of him what hee would haue. Hee answered and sayde.

O lady haue mercy vpon mée, for if the Emperour my brother finde mée in this prison, then shall I die without any re­medy. Then said y^e Emprisse, if I might konw that thou wouldest be a good man and leaue thy folly, thou shouldest haue grace. Then dyd hée promise hir assu­redlie to bee true and to amend all his trespasse. When hee had thus promi­sed, the Emprisse deliuered him anon, and made him to be bathed and shauen, and apparelled him worshipfully accor­ding to his estate, and then shée said vn­to him thus. Now good brother take thy stéede and come with mée, that wee may méete my Lord. Hée answered and sayd, Lady I am redy to fulfil your will & commaundement in all things. [Page] And than the Empresse toke him with hir and many other knights, and so rod foorth to mee [...] with the Emperour, and as they rode together by the way, they sawe where a great hart ranne afore them, wherefore euery man with such hounds as they had chased him on horse backe, so that with the Empresse was left no creature, saue onely the Empe­rours brother, which seeing that no man was there but they two, thus hee saide vnto the Empresse.

Loe Lady, heere beside is a priuie for­rest, and long it is agone that I spake to thée of Loue, come now and consent vnto mee that I may lye with thee.

Then sayde the Empresse a foole what may this bee, yesterday I deliuered thée out of prison vpon thy promise, in hope of amendement, and now thou art re­to [...]rned to thy folly againe, wherfore I saye now to thée as I haue sayde be­fore, there shall no man doe such thing with me saue onely my Lorde the Em­perour, which ought of very duty so for [...] doe. Then sayde [...]ee, if thou wilt [Page 127] not consent to mée, I shall hang thée héere vpon a trée in this Forrest, where no man shall finde thée & so shalt thou dye an euill death. The Empresse aun­swered méekely and sayde. Though thou smite of my head and put mée to death with all maner of torment, thou shalt neuer haue mee to consent to such sinne. When hee heard this, hée vncio­thed hir all saue hir smock, and hang­ed hir vp by the haire vpon a trée, & ty­ed hir stéede beside hir, and so rode foorth to his fellowes, and tolde them that a great hoast of men met him, and tooke the Empresse away from him. And whē he hadde tolde them this they made all great sorrow.

It befell on the third day after there came an Earle to hunt in that Forrest, and as he rode beating the barks, there started a Foxe, whome his hounds fol­lowed fast till they came néere the trée where the Empresse hanged.

And when the dogges felt the sauour of hir, they left the Fore and ranne to­warde the Trée as fast as they could. The Earle séeing this wondred greatly [Page] and spurred his horse and folowed them till he came wher as y^e Empresse hang­ed. Whan the Earle [...]aw hir thus hang­ing, he maruailed greatly, for as much as she was right fayre and gracious to behold, wherefore he sayde vnto hir in this manner wise. O woman who art thou, and of what countrie, and where­fore hangest thou héere in this manner wise.

The Emprisse that was not yet fully dead, but in point ready to dye aunswe­red and said, I am quod she a straunge woman, and I am come out from far countrie, but how I came hither God knoweth. Than aunswered the Earle and said. Whose horse is this that stād­eth by thée bound to this trée. Than answered the lady and said, that it was hirs. Whā y^e earle heard this, he knew well y^t she was a gentle woman, and came of noble linage, wherfore he was the rather moued with pitty, & said vn­to hir. O faire lady thou se [...]est of gen­tle blood, & therfore I purpose to deli­uer thée from this mischife, if thou wilt promise to goe with mée & nourish my [Page 128] faire yong daughter, & teach hir at home in my castell, for I haue no childe but onely hir, & if thou kéepe hir well thou shal [...] haue a good reward for thy labour. Than said she. As far soorth as I can or may, I shall fulfill thine entent. And when she had thus promised him he tooke hir downe of the trée, and led hir home to his castel, and gaue hir the kéeping of his daughter that he loued so much, and she was cherished so well that shée lay euery night in the earles chamber, and his daughter with hir, and in his cham­ber euery night there brent a lamp, the which hanged beetwéene the Empresse bed and the earles bed. This lady bée­haued hir so gently, that she was belo­ued of euery creature. There was that time in y^e earls court a steward, which much loued this Emprisse exceedingly a­boue all things, and oftentymes spake to hir of his loue. But shée answered him againe and sayd.

Know yée déere friend for certaine­tie, that I haue made a solempne vow to God, that I shall neuer loue any man in such maner wise but onely him whom [Page] I am greatly beholden to loue, by gods commaundement.

Than sayd the Steward, Thou wilt not than consent vnto mée. My Lorde quod sh [...], what needeth thee any more to aske such thing, the vow y^t I haue made, truely I shall keepe & hold by the grace of god.

And when the steward heard this, hée went his way in great wrath and an­ger, thincking within himselfe, if I may I shall be reuenged on thée. It befell vp­pon a night within short time after that the Earls chamber dore was forgotten and left vnshet, which the steward had anone perceiued. And when they were all a sleepe, hee went and espied by the light of the lamp where the Emprisse and the young Mayden laye to gether, and with that he drewe out his Knife and cut the throte of the Earles daugh­ter, & put the bloody knife into the Em­prisse hande shee beeing a sléepe and no­thing knowing thereof, to the intent that whan the Earle awaked he should see the knife in hir hande, and that hée should think that she had cut his daugh­ters [Page 129] throte, wherfore she should bée put to a shameful death, for this mischeuous déede. And when this damosell was thus slaine, and the bloody knife in the Em­prisse hand, the countesse awaked out of hir sléepe and sawe by the light of the Lampe the blouddie knife in the Em­prisse hande, wherefore she was almost out of hir wittes, and sayd to the Earle, O my Lorde, behold in yonder Ladies hand a wonderfull thing.

Anone the Earle awaked and beheld on the Emprisse bed and saw the bloody knife as the countisse had sayd, where­fore he was greatly moued, and cried to hir and sayd. Awake woman out of thy sléepe, what thing is this that I sée in thy hand. Anone the Emprisse through his crye awaked out of hir sleepe, and in hir waking y^e knife fell out of hir hand, and with that she looked by hir & found the Earles daughter dead by hir side & all the bed be sprent with blood, where­fore with an huge voyce shée cryed and sayd. Alas alas and welaway, my lords daghter is slayne

[Page]Than cryed the coūtisse vnto the Earle with á pitious voyce & said. A my lord, let y^e diuelish woman be put to the most foule death that can be thought, which thus hath slaine our onely childe.

And when the countisse had sayde thus to the Earle, she sayde to the Emprisse in this wise. The high God knoweth that thou mischeuous woman hast slain my daughter with thine owne hands, for I saw the bloodie knife in thy hand, & therefore thou shalt dye a foule death. Than sayde the Earle in this wise. O thou woman, were it not that I dread God greatly, I should cleaue thy bodie with my sword in two parts, for I de­liuered thée from hanging, & now thou hast slaine my daughter, neuerthelesse for mée thou shalt haue no harme, there­fore goe thy way out of this cittie with­out any delaye, for if I doe finde thée here this daye, thou shalt dye a most e­uill death.

Than arose this wofull Emprisse and dyd on hir clothes, & after leapt on hir palsry and rode toward the east alone without any safe conduct. And as shée [Page 130] rode thus mourning by the way she es­pyed on the left side of the way a payre of gallous and seuen officers leading a man to the gallous to be hanged, wher­fore she was moued with great pittie, and smote hir horse with the spurres & rode to them praying them y^t she might redéeme that misdoer, if he might be sa­ued from death for any meede. Than sayd they, Lady it pleaseth vs well that thou redéeme him. Anone the Emprisse accorded with them and payed his raun­some, and than he was deliuered. Thus sayde she to him. Now déere friend be true till thou dye, sith I haue deliuered thée from death.

On my soule quod he, I promise you e­uer to be true. And when hée had thus sayde, he followed the Lady still till they came nigh a citie, and than said the Em­prisse to him.

Good friend quod shée, goe foorth thy way afore mée out of the Cittie, and take vp for vs an honest lodging, for ther I purpose to rest a whil [...] ▪ This man went foorth as she commaun [...] [...] tooke vp for hir a good lodging and an honest, [Page] whereas she abode long tyme. Whan the men of the Citie perceined hir bew­tie, they wondred greatly, wherefore many of them craued of hir vnlawfull loue, but all was in vaine, they might not speede in any wise. It fortuned after on a day that there came a Shippe full of marchandise, and ariued in the ha­uen of that Citie. When the Ladys heard this, she said vnto hir seruaunt. Goe to the shippe and see if there be any c [...]oth for myne vse. Hir seruaunt went foorth to the shippe, whereas he found many precious clothes, wherefore hée prayed the master of the shippe that-hée would come into the Citie and speake with this Lady. The master graunted him and so he came home to his lady bee­fore and warned hir of the comming of the master o [...] y^e shippe. Anone after y^e ma­ster of the ship came and s [...]luted the La­dye worthyly. And the lady receiued him according to his degrée, praying him y^t she might haue for hir mony such cloth as might b [...] profitable for hir wearing. Anone hee graūted y^t shee should haue, and soone they were agreed, wherefore [Page 131] the seruaunt went emmediately again with the Maister of the Shippe. And when they were both within the Ship boorde, the Maister sayd to the Ladies seruant. My déere friend to thée I wold open my counsaile, if I might trust in thee, & help mee, thou shalt haue of mee a great reward. Then answered hée and sayd. I shall (quod hee) bee sworne vnto thée on the holy Euangelist, that I shall kéepe thy counsaile and fulfill thine intent, as far foorth as I can.

Then said the Maister of the shippe, I loue thy Lady more then I can tel thee, for hir fayrenesse is so great, that I would giue for the loue of hir all the gold that I haue, and if I may obtaine the loue of hir through thy help, I shall giue thée what so euer thou wilt desire of mée.

Then saide the Ladies seruaunt tell me by what meanes I may best speede. Then sayd the Maister of the Shippe. Goe home to thy Lady againe and tell hir that I will not deliuer to thee my cloth, except she come hir selfe, but bring [Page] hir to my Shippe except the winde bée good and able, for then I purpose to lead hir away. Thy counsell is alwayes good quod the Ladies seruant, therfore giue me some reward, & I shall fulfil thyne intent.

And when he had receiued his reward hee went againe to his Lady and tolde hir that by no meanes y^e Master of the shippe would not deliuer him the cloth but if shée came hir selfe. The Lady bée­léeued hir seruaunt & went to the ship. And when she was within the ship bord hir seruaunt abode without.

When y^e Maister saw y^t she was with­in the Shippe, and the winde was good, hee drew vp the sayle and sayled foorth. When the Lady perceiued this, thus shée sayde to y^e master. O Master (quod shee) what treason is this that thou hast done to mée. The Maister answered and sayde. Madame certainely it is so that I must needes lie with thée, and af­terwarde espouse thee. For sooth quod shée, I haue made a vowe that I shall neuer commit such sinne but with him vnto whom I am bound by right and [Page 132] by the law. Soothly quod he, if yée will not graunt mée with your good will, I shall cast you out into y^e middest of the sea, & there shall yée die an euill death. If it be so quod she, that I must néedes consent or else dye, than I pray thee to prepare a priuie place in the ende of the Shippe, whereas I may fulfill thine en­tent or I dye, but first I pray thée that I may say my prayers vnto the father of heauen, that hée may haue mercy on mée.

The Master béeléeued hir, wherfore hée let ordaine hir a Cabbin in the end of the Shippe wherevnto shée sette hir downe on both hir knees and made hir prayers, saying on this wise. O thou my Lord GOD y^t hast kept mée frō my youth in cleanenesse, keepe mée now that I be not des [...]oured▪ so y^t I may serue thée euer with a cleane heart and minde. When shée had thus ended hir oryson, ther arose sodenly a great tem­pest in the sea, so that the Shippe all to brast, and all that were within perished saue y^e lady y^t caught a Cable & saued hir selfe, & the Master of the Ship an other, [Page] neuerthelesse she knew not of him, ne he of hir, for they were driuen to diuerse coastes. This ladie landed in hir owne Empyre beeside a Citie where in shée was worshipfully receiued, and shee ly­ued so holy a life, that GOD gaue hir grace and power to heale sicke folke, of all manner of diseases, wherfore there came much people to hir, both crooked, blinde, and lame, and euery man through the grace of God and hir good demea­nure, were healed, wherfore hir name was knowne thorough diuerse regions. Neuerthelesse, she was not knowen as Emprisse. In the same tyme the Em­perours brother (that had hanged hir beefore by the heyre) was smitten with a foule Lepry. The knight that slew the earles Daughter, and put the bloo­dy knife in hir hand, was blynde, deafe, and had the palsey The thiefe that bée­trayed hir to the Maister of the shippe, was lame and full of the Crampe. And the Master of the shippe distraught out of his wittes.

When the Emperour heard that so holy a woman was in such a Citie, hée [Page 133] called his brother & saide to him thus.

Goe wee déere brother vnto this holy woman that is dwelling in the Citie, that she may heale t [...]ée of thy lepry. Would to God (quod hee) that I were healed. Anone the Emperour with his brother went toward the Citie. And when y^e Citizens heard of his comming they receiued him Worshipfullye with procession. And then the Emperour en­quired of the Citizens if any such holy woman were among them that could heale sicke folke of theyr diseas. The Citizens answered and sayde, that such a one was there.

Then was the Empresse called foorth before the Emperour, but shée muffled hir face as well as shée could, that the Emperour hir husband shold not know hir, & when shée had so done, shée saluted him with great reuerence, as it apper­tained to his estate.

And hée againe in lyke wise, saying thus. O good Ladie, if thou lyst of thy grace to heale my brother of his lepry, aske of mee what thou wilt, and I shall graunt it thee, for thy reward.

[Page]When the Emprisse heard this, shée loo­ked about hir and saw there the Empe­rours Brother, a foule Leprie, shée saw there also the knight y^t slew the earles daughter blynde and deafe. The thiefe that shée saued from y^e gallowes lame, and also y^e Master of y^e Ship distraught out of his wittes, and all were come to hir for to be healed of their sicknesse, but they knew not hir: for all y^t they knew not hir, shee knew them well. Then sayd shée vnto the Emperour thus.

My reuerend Lord, though yée would giue mee all your Empyre, I may not heale your Brother, nor none of these other, but if they knowledge openlye what they haue done.

When the Emperour heard this, hée tourned him towardes his Brother and sayde vnto him. Brother, accknowledge openly thy sinne before all these men, that thou maist bée healed of thy sick­nesse. Then anone he began to tell how hée had ledde his lyfe, but hée tolde not how he had hanged the Emprisse in the Forrest by the haire of hir Head, most dispightfully.

[Page 134]When he had knowledged all that him lyst, the Empresse replyed and saide.

Sothly my Lord, I would gladly laye vnto him my medicine but I wot right well it is in vaine, for he hath not made a full confession. The Emperour hea­ring this he tourned towarde his bro­ther & saide againe in this wise.

What euill sorrow or vnhappy wretch­ednesse is in thée, seest y^t not how that thou art a foule lepry, therefore know­ledge thy sinne truely that thou maist be whole, or else auoide my company for euermore.

A Lord quod hée, I may not tell my life openly, but if I be first sure of thy grace. What hast thou trespassed against mee quod the Emperour. Than answered his brother and saide. Myne offence a­gainst thée is gr [...]euous, and therefore I aske mercie. The Emperour thought not on the Emprisse for as much as he supposed she had beene dead many yéeres béefore, hee commaunded his brother to tell foorth what hee had offended him, & hée should bée forgiuen.

And whē y^e Emperour had thus forgiuen [Page] his brother, hée béegan to tell openly how he had desired y^e Emprisse to come­mitte adultry with him, and hée hadde hanged hir by the haire in the Forrest, bycause shée would not consent by any meanes to him.

And when the Emperour heard this, hée was almost béeside himselfe, and in his rage he sayd thus. O thou most wre­ched creature, y^e vengeaunce of God is fallen vpon thee, and were it not that I haue pardoned thee thou shouldest dye the most shamefull death that could bee thought. Then sayde the Knight that slew the earles Daughter. I wot not (quod hee) of what Lady ye meane, but I wote that my Lord found on a time such a Ladye hanginge by the hayre in the Forrist, and brought hir home to his Castell, and hée tooke hir his daugh­ter to keepe, & I prouoked hir as much as I could to sinne with mee, but shee would in no wise consent to mee, wher­fore I sl [...]w the earles Daughter that laye with hir, and when I had so done, I put the bloodie Knife in the Ladies hand that the earle should thinke shée [Page 135] had slaine his daughter with hir owne hands, and than was she exiled thence but where she became I wot not.

Than sayde the theife I wot not of what Lady ye meane, but well I wotte that seuen officers were leading mée to the gallowes and such a Lady came ri­ding by and bought mée of them, & than went I with hir, and afterward I bée­trayed hir vnto a master of a ship.

Such a Lady (quod the master of the shippe) receiued I, and when wée were in the middest of the sea, I would haue layne with hir, but shee sate downe to hir prayers, and anone there arose such a tempest that the shippe all to brast, and wée were all drowned saue shée and I, but what afterward befell of hir I wote not.

Than cryed the Emprisse with a loud voyce and sayde. Soothly déere friends yee doe now truely confesse and declare the trueth, wherefore I will now apply my medicine, and anone they receiued their health.

When this lady the Emprisse had thus done, she opened hir face to y^e Emperour [Page] and he foorthwith knew hir, and ranne to hir and imbraced hir in his armes, and kissed hir oftentimes, and for ioy he wept bitterly saying.

Blessed be God, now haue I found that I desired. And when he had thus sayde, he lead hir home to his Pallayes with great ioye, and alter when it pleased al­mightie GOD, they ended both their liues in peace.

The 41. History.

IN Rome dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour namid Martin, which for entier affection kept with him his bro­thers son, whom men called Fulgencius. With this Martin dwelt also a knight that was steward of his Empyre, and vncle vnto the Emperour which enuied this Fulgentius, studying day and night how he might bring the Emperour and this child at debate: wherfore y^e steward on a day went to the Emperour & sayd: [Page] My Lord quod hee, I that am your true seruaunt am bound in dutie to warne your highnesse, if I heare any thing that toucheth your honour, wherfore I haue heard such things that I must needs vt­ter it in secrete to your Lordship bée­twéene vs two. Then sayde the Em­perour: Good friend (quod hée) say on what thée list.

My most déere Lord (quod the stew­ard) Fulgeneious your cos [...]n, and your nigh kinsman hath desamed you won­derfully and shamefully, throughout all your Empyre, saying that your breath stinketh, and that it is death to him to serue you of your cuppe. Than the Em­perour was grieuously displeased, and almost belide himselfe for anger, & sayde to him thus: I pray thee my good friend tell mée y^e very trouth if that my breath so stincketh as he sayth. My Lord (quod the steward) ye may beeléeue mee, I ne­uer perceiued a swéeter breath in my dayes than yours is. Then sayd y^e Em­perour, I pray thee good friend tell mée how I may bring this thing to a good proofe.

[Page 139]The steward answered and sayd. My Lord (quod hée) yee shall right well vn­derstand the troth, for to morrow next when hée serueth you of your cuppe, yée shall see that hée will turne away his face from you, bicause of your breath, and this is the most certain proofe that may be had of this thing. Forelooth quod the Emperour, a truer proofe can not be had of this thing. Wherefore anone when the steward heard this, hée went straight to Fulgencious and toke him a side, saying thus. Déere friend, thou art my kinsman, and also nephew vnto my Lord the Emperour, therefore if thou wilt bée thankfull vnto mee, I will tell thée of the vice whereof my Lord the Emperour complayneth oft, and think­eth to put thée from him (except it be y^e rather amended) and that might bée a great reproofe to thee. Then sayd this Fulgencious. A good sir for his loue that dyed vpon the crosse, tell mée why my Lord is so sore moued with mée, for I am ready to amend my default in all that I can or may, and for to be ruled by your good & discréete counsaile. [Page] Thy breath quod the steward stincketh so sore, that his drinck doth him no good, so gréeuous is vnto him thy stincking breath of thy Mouth. Then sayd Ful­gentious vnto the Steward. Truely, that perceiued I neuer till now, but what thinke you of my breath. I praie you to tell mée the verie truth. Truely (quod the steward,) it stinketh greatly and foule. And this Fulgentious béelée­ued all that hée saide, and was right so­rowfull in his minde, And praied the Stewarde of his counsell and helpe in this woefull case. Than saide the stew­arde vnto him, if that thou wilt doe by my counsell, I shall bring this matter to a good conclusion, therefore doe as I shall tell thée.

I counsell thée for the best, and also warne thée, that when thou seruest my Lord the Emperour of his cuppe, that thou y^t turne thy face away from him, so that hée may not féele thy stincking breath, vnto y^e time that thou hast pro­uided thée of some remedie therfore.

Then was Fulgentious right glad, [Page 130] and swere to him that he would doe by his counsell.

Not long after, it béefell that this young man Fulgentious serued his Lord as hée was wont to doe, and therewith sodainely he tourned his face from his Lord the Emperour, as the Steward had taught him.

And when the Emperour perceiued the auoyding of his head, hée smote this young Fulgentious on the breast with his foote, and saide to him thus.

O thou leude varlet, now sée I well it is true that I haue heard of thée, and therfore goe thou anon out of my sight, that I may sée thée no more in this place. And with that this yong Fulgen­cious wept full sore, & auoided the place, and went out of his sight. And when this was so done, the Emperour called vnto him his Steward and sayd.

How may I ryd this varlet from the world, that thus hath defamed mée? My most déere Lord quod the steward, right well you shall haue your intent.

For héere béeside, within these thrée miles yée haue brickmakers, which daily [Page] make great fires for to burne brick, & also they make lyme, therfore my Lord send to them this night, & charge them vppon paine of death, that whosoeuer commeth to them first on the morrow, saying to thē thus: My Lord commaū ­deth you to fulfil his will, that they take him and cast him into the Forncis with the stones, and this night commaunde you this Fulgentious that he goe earely in the morning to your workmen, and that hee aske them whether they haue fulfilled your wil which they were commaunded, or not, and then shall they ac­cording to your commaundement, cast him in the Fyre, and thus shall hee dye an euill death.

Surely quod y^e Emperour, thy coun­sell is good, therfore call to me that var­let Fulgentious. And when this young man was come to the Emperours pre­sence, hée sayde to him thus: I charge thée vpon paine of death, that thou rise early in y^e morning & goe to y^e brenners of lyme & brick, and that thou bee with them earely before the sunne ryse thrée [Page 141] myles from this house, and charge them in my behalfe that they fullfil my com­maundement, or else they shall dye a most shamefull death.

Then spake this Fulgentious. My Lord, if God send mée my lyfe, I shall fulfill your will, were it that I should goe to the worlds ende.

When Fulgentious had this charge, he could not sléepe for thought, but that hée must arise earely for to fulfil his Lords commandement. The Emperour about midnight sent a messenger on horseback vnto his bricke makers, commaunding them vppon paine of death, that who so euer came to them first in the morning saying vnto them, the Emperours com­maundement, (which is before rehear­sed) that they should take and bynd him and cast him into the fire, & burne him to the bare bones.

The Bryck makers answered and sayde, it should bée done. And then the messenger returned home againe incon­tinent, and told the Emperour that his commandement should bée diligent­ly fulfilled.

[Page]Earely in the morning following, Ful­gentious arose & prepared him towards his way, & as hée went, hée heard a bell ring to seruice, wherefore hee went to that Church for to heare Seruice, and after the ende of seruice he fell a sléepe, and ther hée slept a long while, so that the priest ne none other might a wake him.

The steward desiring inwardly to heare of his death as he did hope, about one of the clock he went vnto y^e work­men, and saide vnto them thus, Syrs quod hée, haue yée done the Emperours commaundement or no.

The Brickmakers answered him againe and saide. Nay surely wée haue not yet done his commaundement, but anone it shall bée done, & with that they layde handes on him. Then cried the steward with an high voice, and saide. Good sirs saue my Lyfe, sor the Empe­rour cōmaunded y^t Fulgentious should bée put to death. Then saide they, the messenger told not vs so, but hée bad vs that whosoeuer came first to vs in the morning, saying as ye before rehearsed, [Page 142] that wée should take him and cast him into the Fornace & bourne him to ashes. And with that word they threw him in­to the fire.

And when he was bournt, Fulgentious came to them, and said. Good sirs haue you done my Lords commaundement, yea, soothly said they, and therefore go [...] yée againe to the Emperour and tel him so. Thē said Fulgentious. For Christes loue tell mée that commaundement.

Wée had in commaundement saide they vpon paine of death, that who so euer came to vs first in the morninge, and saide like as thou hast saide, that wée should take him and cast him into the Fornace. But béefore thée, came the Steward, and therefore haue wee ful­filled on him y^e Emperours commaun­doment, and now is hee bournt to the bare bones.

And when Fulgentious heard this, hée thanked God that hée had so preser­ued him from death, wherfore hée tooke his leaue of the workmen and went a­gaine to the Pallaice.

When the Emperour perceiued him, [Page] hée was almost distract of his wittes for anger, and thus hee sayde: Hast thou beene with the Bryckmaker and fulfil­led my commaundement? Soothly my gracious Lord I haue béene there, but or I came there, your commaundement was fulfilled. How may that bee true, quod the Emperour?

Forsooth said Fulgencious, the steward came to them afore mee, and sayd that I should haue sayde: and when they heard that, they tooke him and threw him into y^e forneis, and if I had comen any rather, so would they haue done to me, and therfore I thanck God that hath preserued me from death.

Then sayd y^e Emperour, tell mée the trueth of such questions as I shall de­maund of thee. Then saide Fulgentious vnto the Emperour. As I béeleue you neuer sound in mee any falsehoode, and therfore I wondred greatly why ye had ordained such a death for mee, for well ye know that I am your own brothers sonne. Then saide y^e Emperour to Ful­gentious: It is no wonder, for that death I ordained to thee through counsell of [Page 143] the steward, bicause thou didst defame mée throughout all my Empyre, saying, that my breath did stinck so grieuously, that it was death to thée, and in token hereof, thou turnedst away thy face whē thou seruedst mée of my cuppe, and that saw I with mine eyes, and for this cause I ordained for thée such a death, and yet thou shalt dye except I heare a better excuse.

Then answered Fulgentious and sayd, A my most deere Lord, if it might please your highnesse for to heare mée, I shall shew you a subtill and a deceit­full imagination. Say on quod the Em­perour. The steward (quod Fulgenci­ous) that now is dead, came to mée and sayde, that ye tolde him that my breath dyd stinck, and there vpon he counsailed mée that when I serued you of your cuppe I should than turne away my face, I take God to witnesse I lye not. When the Emperour heard this, he be­leued him & said. O my neuew, now I see through the right wise iudgement of God the steward is brent, and his owne wickednesse and enuie is fallen on him [Page] selse, for he ordained this malice against thee, and therfore thou arte much bound to almightie God that hath preserued thée from death.

The 42. Historie.

THere dwelt sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour named Del­phinus, which had no childrē saue onely one daughter, which was a fayre creature and welbeloued of hir father. As this Emperour walked on a day on [Page] hunting in the Forrest, sodainly he rode out of his way, and lost his men, wher­fore he was greatly discomforted, for he wist not whether he rode, ne in what place he was, till at the last when he had rydden thus all the day alone, in the euening he saw a house, and thether hée rode a great pace, & knocked at the gate.

Immediately the good manne of the house heard him and asked the cause of his knocking, and what he would haue. Deere friend quod the Emperour, lo it is night as ye may se, therfore I desire you of lodging for the loue of God. When he had thus sayd, the goodman of the house vnware that he was the Em­perour, aunswered thus and sayd Good friend quod he, I am the Emperours Foster, and haue plenty of venison and other vittailes for you.

When the Emperour hearde this, he was right glad in his mind, neuer­thelesse he told him not that he was the Emperour. And the Foster opened the gate, and receiued him as worshipfully as hée could, and set him to his supper, and serued him honestly.

[Page 145]And when he had supped, the Foster brought him to his chamber, and when time was he went to bed. In the same night it befell that the Fosters wife was trauailing of childe in another chamber fast by, and was deliuered y^t same night of a faire sonne.

And as the Emperour lay in his bed sléeping, him séemed he heard a voice saying to him thrise, these words. Take, take, take. And with that hée awoke, & meruailed greatly what it might bée, saying to himselfe thus: A voyce biddeth mée take, take, what shall I take? And immedately he fell a sléepe againe, and the second time, hée heard a voyce, saying vnto him these wordes. Yelde, yelde, yelde. And with that he wakened againe, and wondred greatly, saying vn­to himselfe. What may this signifie? First I heard a voyce that sayed, take take, and nothing I receiued.

And right now I heard another voice that sayde, yeld, yeld, yeld, what shoulde I yelde.

And as he laye thus thinking to him [Page] selfe he fell a sléepe againe. And when he heard the third voyce, saying these wordes thrice, flee, flee, flee, for this night is a childe borne that after thy decease, shal be Emperour. When the Emperor heard this, he wakened & wondred greatly what it might bee.

In the morning carely solowing, y^e em­perour arose, & called to him the foster and said. Deere friend, I pray thée that thou w [...]lt tell me if any childe be borne this night to thy knowledge. My wife quod the Foster, this night is deliuered of a fayre son. I pray thée sayd the Em­perour shew me thy sonne. When the Emperour had séene the childe, he saw a marke in the childes visage, whereby he might know him an other time, and than he sayd to the Foster thus,

Déere friend, knowest thou who I am, nay southly quod the Foster, for I saw you neuer before this time, as farre as I am remembred, neuerthelesse it séemeth that ye be a gentleman.

Than answered the Emperour and sayd, I am quod he the Emperour your [Page 146] Lord, whome yée haue lodged this night, wherefore right hartely I thanke you.

This hearing, the foster fell downe vp­on both his knées at his féete, & besought him of mercy, if that he had offended his hightnesse in any thing, praying him of forgiuenesse. Then aunswered the Emperour and said, be thou nothing a­frayed, for I thanke thee hartely of thy good chéere, and thy sonne that was borne to night I wil haue for to nou­rish and bring vp in my court, aud to morrow I shall send for him.

O my gratious Lord quod the foster it is not agréeable that such a noble Em­perour should nourish the childe of his subiect and seruaunt, neuerthelesse your will be fulfilled, for when your messen­gers come I shall deliuer them my son. Whan this was sayde, the Emperour tooke his leaue and rode home towarde his pallaice.

And whan he was come home, he called vnto him such seruaunts as hée trusted best, and sayd to them thus.

Goe yée, quod hée, vnto my Foster, [Page] with whom I was lodged this night in the forrest, and receiue of him his sonne, of which his wife was deliuered thys night, and vpon payne of death I com­maund you that yee destroy him by the way, and cast his flesh to the dogges, but bring with you the hart to mee. And ex­cept ye fulfill my commaundement, yée shall dye the most foulest death that can be thought. Anone his seruaunts went to the forrest, and receiued the Fosters sonne and brought him with them, and when they were come néere vnto the pallaice, one of them said. How shall wée doe, that we may fulfill our Lords com­maundement in distroying of this child. Some aunswered and saide, that the child should bée slaine, and some would haue saued his lyfe, & while they stroue thus among themselues, one of them that was most mercifull saide vnto the other. O my good friendes, heare my counsayle, and ye shall not forethinke it. If ye murther this innocent childe, wée shall greatly offend almightie god, and therefore héere bée young Pigges, [Page 147] kill wée one of thē, & then may wée take with vs his hart, and present it vn­to the Emperour saying, that it is the heart of the Childes blood. Then said they, thy counsaile is good, but what shal we doe with y^e Child. Good friends (quod hee) let vs wrap him in some clo­thes, and late him in some holow trée, for peraduenture God will help him & saue his lyfe.

And when hée had thus said, they did gladly after his counsaile in all things, and killed the Pigge, and went theyr way and carried home with them the Pigges hart to the Emperour, saying vnto him thus: Loe, gracious Lord, wée haue destroyed y^e Child as ye cōmaun­ded vs, and with that they shewed him the Pigges heart. The Emperour sup­posing that it had bene y^e Childes hart, tooke it and cast it into the fire, despite­fully saying.

Loe, that is y^e hart of him which should haue ben Emperour after me. Lo, what it is to beeléeue in dreames & visions, [Page] which be nought else but fantasies and vaine thinges. The second day after that y^e Childe was put into the hollow tree, there came an earle for to hunt in the forrest, and as his houndes chased an harte, they came to this hollow trée where the Childe laye, and whan they felt y^e sauour of the Childe, they would goe no farther.

The Earle séeing this, maruailed greatly why his houndes abode there, and smote his horse with his spures and rode a great pace till he came to them. And when he came vnto the trée wher­in the Childe was laide, he looked in at an hole & saw there the childe lying, and then was hée right glad, & tooke vp the Childe in his armes full louingly, and bare him home vnto his Castle, saying vnto the Countesse his wise. Loe, my deere wise, this day by fortune I haue found a very faire Childe in an holow trée as I hunted in the forrest, where­of I am right glad.

And beecause that I neuer begat sonne daughter on thee, ne thou neuer yet conceiued a childe, therfore I exhort thée [Page 148] that y^u wilt faine they selfe trauailing with childe, and say that thou hast borne this childe. The Countesse fulfilled right gladly the earles will and desire, and said. My most déere Lord, your will in this thing shall bee done.

Not long after this, newes went throughout all the country, y^t the coun­tesse was deliuered of a fayre Sonne, wherfore euery man reioysed much.

The Childe beegan to grow and was right well beloued of euery man, & most specially of the earle and of the Coun­tesse. It beefell after, when the Childe was xv. yéeres of age, the Emperour made a solempe feast vnto all y^e Lords of his Empyre, vnto y^e which feast this earle was called, and at the day assig­ned he came and brought his Childe with him which was at y^e time a fayre yong squire, and [...]aruer at y^e bord before the Earle. The Emperour greatly béeheld him, and espyed the token in his fore­head which hee had séene beefore in the Fosters house, wherfore hée was great­ly moued, and vexed within him selfe [Page] and saide vnto the Earle in this wise. Whose Sonne is this, certes said the Earle, hee is my sonne. Than saide the Emperour. By the saith and trouth that thou owest vnto mée, tell mee the trouth.

The earle séeing that hée might not excuse himselfe by no manner wise, but that néeeds hee must tell him y^e trouth, than told hée him altogether, how hée had found him in the forrest in an hol­low tree. This hearing, the Emperour was almost distracte of his wittes for anger, & called vnto him his seruants, which he had sent before to destroy the Childe.

And when they came béefore him, hée made them to sware vpon a booke that they should tell him the trouth what they had done with the Childe.

Gracious Lord saide they, wée yéelde vs vnto your grace & goodnes, for with­out doubt pitie so moued vs, that wée might not destroy him, and then wée put him in an hollow trée, but what after­ward befell of him, certainely we know [Page 146] not, and in his steade we kilde a Pyg and brought you the hart thereof.

When the Emperour had heard the very trueth of this matter, hee said vn­to the earle. This yong man quod hee, shall abide heere by mée, the earle im­mediatly graūted, though it was great­ly against his will.

And when the feast was ended, euery man tooke his leaue of the Emperour, & went whereas they list.

And at that time it fortuned that the Emprisse and hir daughter soiourned in a great countrie, far fro thence by the commaundement of the Emperour. It befell not long after y^e Emperour called vnto him that yong Squyre and saide, it béehoueth thée (quod hee) to ride vnto the Emprisse my wife with my letters. I am ready at your commaundement my Lord, sayde hee, to fulfill your de­sire.

Immediately the Emperour lette write letters, whereof his intent was this. That the Emprisse should take the bearer of these letters, and let him bée drawen at the horse taile, and after [Page] that shée should let him bée hanged till he were dead, and y^t vpon paine of death.

When the letters were all made & sealed, then the Emperour tooke them vnto y^e yong squire, commaunding him to spede him on his iorney. And straight way the yong Squier receiued thé glad­ly, and put them [...]ure in his bore, & rode foorth on his iourney. When hée had rydden thrée or foure daies on his iour­ney, in an euening hee came vnto a Ca­stle wher as dwelt a knight, and gently desired him of a nights lodging.

The knight seeing and beeholding the good fauour of this young squier, graū ­ted him lodginge, and made him good cheere and well to fare, and afterward brought him vnto his chamber, & when hée was there, hee went to bed: And im­mediatly fell on sléepe, for hée was full wery of his [...]ourney, and forgot his boxe with the Letters lying openly in his chamber.

When the knight saw the bore, hee opened it, and sound the letters sealed with y^e Emperours signe manuel, & was greatly tempted to open them, & at the [Page 150] last, hée opened them full subtylly, and than hee redde how the Empresse vpon paine of death shoulde put the bearer of them to death, and then he was right sorrowfull, and saide within himselfe, Alas (quod hee,) it is great pitie to de­stroy such a fayre young man, & there­fore if I may, it shall not bée so.

And immediatly after, the knight ra­ced out that writtinge, and wrote in the same paper a letter, saying these words. Upon paine of death I commaund thée that thou take the young Squire bea­rer of these letters, and let him be wed­ded without any delaie vnto my daugh­ter and yours, with all the honour and solempnitie that can bée thought, and whan they bée marryed that yée take him as your owne sonne, and that hée keepe my roome till I come vnto you myselfe.

Whan y^e knight had thus written, hée closed y^e letters subtylly and put them into the bore againe.

Early in the morning y^e young Squire arose and very hastely made him redie, [Page] and toke his leaue of the knight, & rode foorth on his iourney, and the third daie after, he came vnto the Emprisse, and saluted hir right worshipfully in y^e Em­perours beehalfe, and toke hir the let­ters. And when the Empresse had redde them, anone she sent foorth hir messen­gers through the countrie, commaun­ding the states and gentilmen to come vnto hir daughters wedding, at a cer­taine daie assigned.

When the daie was come, thether came manie great Lordes and Ladies, and anone, this young Squire espoused the Emperours Daughter, with great honour and worshippe, according to the tenour of the letters, & was right well beloued and most honoured among the people.

Not long after it befell, that the Em­perour came into that Countrie, and when the Empresse heard of hir Lords comming, shee toke with hir, hir sonne in law, with much other people, and went towardes the Emperour, for to welcome him.

[Page 151]When the Emperour saw this yong Squire leading the Emprisse his wyfe, he was greatly moued within himselfe and sayde. O thou curssed Woman, by­cause thou hast not fulfilled my com­maundement, thou shalt dye an euill death.

A my déere Lord (quod shée,) all that ye commaunded mee to doe I haue full­filled. Nay curssed woman sayde the Emperour, it is not so, for I wrote to thée that thou sholdest put him to death, and now I see him aliue.

My Lord quod the Emprisse, saueing your grace, you wrote to mee y^t I should giue him your dauhter to wyfe, and that on payn of death, in witnesse wher­of loe here your letters with your owne seale manuell.

When the Emperour heard, this, hée wondred greatly and sayd. Is he espow­sed then to my daughter. Yea soothly sayd the Empresse, long agoe with much solempnitie and great worshippe, and as I perceiue your Daughter is with childe.

[Page]Than sayde the Emperour. O thou lord Jesu Christ it is great folly to striue a­gainst thy ordinaunce, therefore sith it is so, thy will must needes be fulfilled. And with that he tooke his sonne in law it his armes and kissed him, which after his death was Emperour, and ended his life in rest and peace.