¶ The fyrst example of the Empresse.

this was. The gardyner heryng his mayster obeyed hym. & hewe downe the tree. And as this was done y^e yonge plante all holy perysshed and came to nought wherof came grete harme. for whan y^e poore & the seke people perceyued y^t the tree was so destroyed they cursed all them that were of counseyll & helpers ther­to / by the whiche they all afore tyme were heled & cu­red of theyr infyrmytees & maladyes. Then sayd the Empresse vnderstande ye what. I haue sayd. yes ry­ghte well. than sayd she. I shall declare to you what I haue sayde.

The example of the fyrste mayster

THere was a valyaunt knyght whiche had oonly one soone as ye haue. The whiche he loued so moche that he ordeyned for his kepynge thre nourysshes. the fyrste sholde gyue hym souke & fede hym y^e seconde sholde wasshe hym & kepe hym clene. y^e thirde sholde brynge hym to slepe & to reste. This knyghte had also a greyhounde & a fawcon y^t he also loued ryghte well. The greyhounde was so good y^t he neuer ran too noo game but he toke it. & helde it tyl his mayster came. And yf his mayster dysposed hym to go to batayle. yf he sholde not spede in y^e batayll / anone as he sholde mounte vpon his horse. y^e greyhounde wold take the horse tayll in his mouth & drawe bakwarde / & wolde also cry & howle meruaylously loude. By thise sygnes the knyght vnderstode yf that he sholde spede in his iourneye or not. The faucon was so gentyll and so hardy that he was neuer caste of to his praye but he toke it. This same knyght had grete plesure in iustynge & turneynge. so y^t vpon a tyme vnder his ca­stell he lete proclame a tornement to the whiche came many good lordes and knyghtes. The knyght entred in to y^e tourney. & his lady went with her maydens to se it. And as they went out after went the nourysshes & lefte the the chylde lyenge alone in the cradell in the halle where the greyhounde laye nygh the wall. and y^e hauke or faucon standynge vpon a perke. In this halle there was a serpente lurkynge or hydde in a hole. to all them of the castell vnknowen. The whiche whā he felte that they were all absent he put out his hede [Page]of his hole. & as he no man sawe but the chylde lyenge in in y^e cradell. he went out of his cauerne towardes y^e cradell for the chylde to haue slayne. The noble fau­con seynge that. behelde y^e grehounde that was slepȳ ge / she made suche a noyse & rustelynge with her winges or feders y^t the greyhounde a woke and rose vp. and whan he sawe the serpente nyghe the chylde. anone ayenst hym he lepte / & they bothe faught so longe togyder. tyll y^t the serpente hadde greuously hurted and wounded the greyhounde. that he bled sore. soo y^e the erthe about the cradell was al be bled with the blode of the greyhounde. The greyhounde whan that he felte hymselfe so greuously hurted and wounded. sterte fyersly vpon the serpente. and faught sore togyder and so egerly. so that betwyne theym the cradell was ouer caste w^t the chylde the botome vp warde. And by bycause y^e the cradell had foure pomelles or fete they saued the chyldes vysage & his lyfe frome ony hurtȳ ge fallynge to wardes the erthe. & what shal I say more. Incontynent therafter with grete payne the grey­hounde ouercame & slewe the serpente / & went & layd hym downe ayen in his place & lycked his woundes / And anone after as y^e iustes & torneye was done. the nourysshes were the fyrste that came in to y^e castell / & as they sawe the cradell reuersed with bloode vppon the erthe enuyronned. and that the greyhounde was also blody. they thought and sayde amonges themselfe that the greyhounde hadde slayne the chylde. and they were not soo wyse as too tourne vppe ayen the [Page]cradell with the chylde for too haue seene what was therof befallen. But they sayd / lete vs fle or ren away leest that oure mayster put or lay the blame vpon vs and slee vs. And as they were thus away rennynge / they met w^t the knyghtes wyfe. and she sayd to them wherfore make ye this sorowe / & whether wyl ye ren & they sayde. O lady woo and sorowe be to vs and to you why what is there happened. shewe me. The grehounde they sayd that our lorde & mayster loueth soo moche hath deuoured and slayne youre sone / & lyeth by the wall all full of the bloode. As y^e lady this herde she fell to the erthe and began to wepe and crye pyte­ously: & sayd alas. O my dere sone be ye thus slayne & dede. what shall I nowe make that I haue my onely sone thus loste. her withall came in the knyght frome the torneye. & beholdyng his lady thus cryenge & makyng sorowe. he demaūded her wherfore that she made so grete sorowe and lamentacyou. She answered hym. O my lorde youre greyhounde that ye loue soo moche hath slayne your onely sone. & lyeth by the wal sacyate with bloode of the chylde. The knyght huge­ly angred went in to the hall. & the greyhounde went to hym to mete and to fawne as he was wonte to doo And the knyght drewe out his swerde & with one stroke smote of the houndes heede. and went to y^e cradell and founde his sone al hole. and by the cradell the serpente slayne. And by dyuers sygnes perceyued that the hounde hadde foughten ayenst the serpent for the saluacyon of y^e chylde. Then with grete sorowe & wepyng [Page]he tare his here and sayd woo be to me that for the wordes of my wyfe I haue slayne my good grey­hounde y^e whiche hath saued my chyldes lyfe & hath slayne the serpente. Herfore I wyll put my selfe to penaunce & brake his swerde in thre peces. and went to wardes y^e holy londe. & abode there all the dayes of hꝭ lyfe. Then sayd y^e mayster to themperour. Lorde vn­derstande ye what. I haue sayd. And he answerd and sayde ryght well. The mayster sayd: Yf y^t ye do youre sone to dethe for y^e wordes of your wyfe. it shall come to you wors than it dyde too the knyght for his greyhounde. The Emperour sayde ye haue shewed me a fayre example. & w^tout doute this daye shall not my sone dye. Tho sayd the mayster yf ye do so ye do wys­ly. but I thanke you that ye haue hym spared this daye for my sake:

THere was somtyme an Emperour the whiche had a grete foreste / wherin was a bore y^t was so cruell & so fell that all men goynge through the fo­rest he kylled and deuoured. The emperour was therof ryght heuy. and lete to proclame thrugh all his empyre. that who soeuer he was that coude sle the bore sholde haue his oonly doughter too wyfe. & therto his Empyre after his deth. & as this in all places procla­med was there was not one man founde y^t durst medle or intromytte. Than was there a shepeherde whyche in hymself thought. myght I this bore sle & wyn̄e I sholde not not only auaunce my self. but also al my generatyon & kynred he toke his shepeherdes staf in his honde. and went in to the forest. And as the boore had of hym a syght. he drew hym to wardes the herd man. and he for fere clymmed vpon a tree. Than the bore began to byte and gnawe the tree / so that the herde thought shortely that he sholde haue ouer throwe it. This tre was laden w^t grete plente of fruyte The herde gadred and plucked therof and cast them to y^e boore. In so moche that whan he had fylled hym ther with he put and layde hym downe to slepe. The whi­che perceyuynge the herde by lytell & lytell he descen­ded & with the one hande he clawed the bore. & with y^e other he helde hym selfe on the tre / & seynge y^t the boore slepte soundly & faste. drewe out his knyfe and smote y^t bore to y^e herte & kylled hȳ. & wedded thēperours dought (er) to his wyf: & aft y^e deth of her fad (er) he was made emperour. tho sayd she my lorde wote ye not what [Page]I haue sayd. He sayd ryght well. Then sayd she. this myghty bore betokeneth your mooste noble persone / ayenst whome maye no man with stande. neyther by wysdom ne with strength. This shepeherde with hys staffe is the persone of your vngracyous sone. which w^t his staff of connȳge begynneth to play w^t you as y^e herdman clawed the bore and made him to slepe & after kylled hym. In y^t same maner y^e maysters of your sone by theyr fals fables and narracyons clawe & glose vnto the tyme that your sone slee you. that he may regne. Tho sayd themperour god forbede y^t they sholde doo too me as they dyde to y^e bore. & sayd vnto her this day my sone shall be hanged. And she answered yf ye do so ye do wysely. Than themperour y^e seconde tyme syttȳge in iugement. cōmaunded to lede hym to y^e galowes & hange hym. And whyles he was goȳge. the seconde mayster came before themperour doynge hym reuerence as it is before shewed in y^e comȳge of the fyrste mayster. To whom y^e seconde mayster sayd O my lorde themperour yf ye sholde do sle your sone for the wordes of your wyfe it myghte worse come to you than it dyde to a knyght which for the wordes of his wyfe was vniustly put in a pyller. Themperoure sayd. O good mayster tell me how it hapned. And he sayde my lorde I shall not saye it but yf y^t ye wyll doo call ayen your sone from y^e deth vnto the tyme y^t thexample be tolde. the whiche yf it tourne you not frome your purpose. your wyll be fulfylled. The emperour cōmaūded y^t y^e chylde sholde be called ayen. And vnd (er)

sorowfull. neuerthelesse she knocked to haue come in. Tho spake the knyght out of the wyndowe. O y^u mo­ste euyll & vnclene wyfe. now I knowe & am experte that many a tyme ye haue forsaken my bedde & gone and done auoutrye. now shall ye stande tyll the bel be rongen and y^t the wakers may take you and doo with you accordyng to the lawe. The wyfe answered. My lorde wherfore lay ye that to me. In trouth I shall saye you I was called by my moders mayden & fetched in the nyght. & whan I sawe that ye slepte so swetely I durste not a wake you bycause that ye are olde. and therfore I toke y^e keyes & went to my moder the why­che is sore seke. that I fere too morowe she muste bee anoynted or aneeled notwithstandyng for that I sholde not you offende or dysplease I haue hasted me ayē to you & haue lefte her lyenge in grete payne & infyr­myte. Therfore I pray you for the loue of god lete me in afore the bel be rongen. The knyght answered So shall ye not come in. ye muste there abyde vnto the ty­me that the bell be rongen. & tyll that y^e wakers come and take you. Then she sayde that sholde be to you & to me: to all our frendes & kynred a grete shame and rebuke. Therfore atte the reuerence of almyghty god lete me come in. Than sayd he. Haue in thy mȳde euil and false wyfe how oftentymes ye haue forsaken my bedde and doone auoutrye. It is moche better that ye suffer shame and bee wayle for youre synnes here in this worlde. thanne for too suffer payne in helle.

She sayd ayen to hȳ I praye you for the loue of hȳ y^t was crucyfyed & dyed vpon the crosse haue mercy vp on me. The knyght answered. ye laboure all in vayn̄ for ye shall not come in. but ye shall tary the comynge the wakers. As she herde that. she sayde my lorde ye knowe well that by this dore standyth a well. yf ye le­te me not come in I shall therin drowne my selfe. ra­ther thanne all my frendes sholde be shamed for me. Then̄e sayd he. wolde god y^t ye had be drowned long afore or ye in my bedde came. And as they thus spake togyder. y^e mone went down & was al derke. Tho sayde she. yf it wyll none otherwyse be I shal drowne miselfe. but yet afore as a trewe crysten woman I wylle make my testament. Fyrst I bequethe to god & to oure lady my soule. my body too be buryed in y^e chyrche of saynt Peter & of all other thȳges & goodes y^t god hath sent me. I gyue vnto you to dyspose for my soule after your wysdome & dyscrecyon. & whan she had thus sayd. she went to the well. & a grete stone ther beynge w^t bothe her armes she lyfte vp & sayd. Nowe I drowne my selfe. & caste y^e stone downe in to the well & wente ayen pryuely and stode by the dore. The knyghte herynge that noyse cryed w^t a lowde voyce saynge / alas alas my wyfe is drowned. and hastely came downe and ran̄e to the well. And whan she sawe that the dore was open. anone she entred and locked and made faste y^e yate / & went vp to y^e chamber & laye & loked out of y^e wyndowe. The knyghte stode by y^e welle & cryed and wepte bytterly and sayd. woo be to me I [Page]haue now loste my moost beloued wyfe. cursed be the tyme that. I made faste the dore ayenst her. The lady herde that & sayd. O ye cursed olde grysarde. why stā de ye there this tyme on y^e nyght. was not my body to you suffycyent. wherfore goo ye thus euery nyghte out to your harlottes & hores and leue my bed. As he herde the voyce of his wyfe he was ryght gladde and sayd Blessed be god that yet she is not drowned. But my good lady wherfore laye ye suche thynges ayenst me. I thoughte to haue chastysed you. and therfore I locked the dore. ¶ But in no wyse I entended your peryl / ye knowe well whatte sorowe I made for you whan I herde you to haue fallen in the well. & therfo­re I came lyghtly to haue holpen you. Therupon she sayde. falsly ye lye. I neuer dyde suche thinges as ye laye to me. But it appereth by a comyn prouerbe. he y^t is defectyfe or culpable hymself in a synne. he iugeth euery man to be in the same. or elles y^e fader soughte neuer his sone in y^e ouen: but yf he had ben therin hȳ ­selfe. And therfore ye put that to me y^t ye your selfe haue oftentymes done & vsed. but one thynge I promyt you. ye shall abyde there tyll y^e wakers come. & that y^e bell be rongen that they may lede you before y^e iuges to abyde & suffer the law. Tho sayd the knyght. wherfore laye ye suche thynges too me / I am olde & all my lyfe dayes I haue ben conuersaunt in this Cyte. & in this was I neuer dyffamed. & therfore lete me in that to me ne to your self ye do no shame. She sayd. ye speke in vayne. It is better that ye forthynke your sȳnes [Page]in this worlde than in hell. Haue in mynde what the wyse man sayth. A poore man proude. A ryche man a lyer. An olde man a fole god hatyth. So ye be a lyer and ryche. what nede was it too you for too lye vpon me. And ye are a fole. for ye had y^e floure of my youth at your pleasure. and yet ye muste renne to hoores & harlottes. And therfore it is a grete grace of god that ye haue tyme and space too forthynke it. leste that ye sholde perysshe and be dampned for eurmore. & for y^t suffre your penaunce pacyently. The knyght sayd. O my best and well beloued lady all though it be so. yet is god mercyfull. and he asketh noo thynge of a synner. but he amende his lyfe and forthynke and doo penaunce for his synnes. Nowe lete me come in and I wyll make amendes. She sayde. Whiche deuyll hath made you so good a prechour So come ye not in And as they thus spake the bell was rongen / y^e knyght he­rynge that sayd. O my mooste dere lady the bell ryn­geth now. suffer me to come in that I be not a shamed for euer. whiche answered. y^e ryngȳge of the bell pre­tendeth the helthe of youre soule take it pacyently in your penaūce. And as this was sayd come y^e wakers y^t aboute the cyte went & founde the knyght standyn ge in y^e strete & sayd to hȳ. O good man it is not gode y^t ye in this houre of y^e nyght stande here. And as she herde the voyce of y^e wakers / she sayd. Good felowes venge me on y^e olde cursed horehunter & rybaude. for ye knowe whose doughter & what. I am. This cursed olde man is wont euery nyght to leue my bed. & go the [Page]to his hoores & harlottes. I haue longe forborne hym and wolde not shewe it ne complayne vpon hym too my frendes. for I trusted that he wolde haue amēded his mysrule. & it helpeth not. And therfore take hym & punysshe hym after the lawe. y^e all suche olde dotar­des may take example by hym. Then y^e wakers toke hym & all nyght chastysed hym in pryson. & on y^e morne they put hym on y^e pyllery. Tho sayd to the Emperoure. Lorde haue ye ynderstonde what I haue sayd & he sayd ryght well. Tho sayd y^e mayster. yf ye put to dethe your sone by y^e excytacyon of your wyfe. it shall to you worse come than it dyd to y^e knyght. The Em­perour sayd she was the worste woman y^t euer I herde of that so falsly her husbande brought to shame & rebuke. I say to you mayster y^t for y^e reason of this example my sone shall this daye not dye. The mayster sayd to hym. yf ye do so than do ye wysely. And y^t herafter ye shall ioye. & I commende you to god / & thanke you of your pacyent herynge / and of the sparynge of your sone and so he departed.

¶ The thyrde example of the Empresse

THere was in the cyte of rome a knyghte y^t had two doughters & one sone. this knyght hadde so grete delyte in hauntinge iustynge and turneynge that all thynge that he myght wynne & gete he layde it and spente it therupon. In that tyme was an emperour named Octauyan. whiche in rychesse of golde & syluer exceded al other kynges and prynces In so moche that he had a toure full of golde. and ordeyned a knyght to haue y^e kepynge & charge therof. This knyghte that so haunted iustynge & other ydell games came to so grete pouerte that he was dysposed to sel his herytage. & called to hym his sone and sayd. My sone it behoueth me of your counseyll. for necessyte and pouerte compelleth me to sell myn herytage. or elles for to fynde all other way by the whiche I maye lyue. for yf I sholde sell myn heritage. ye & your systers sholde perysshe. The sone sayde. Fader yf ye can fynde ony other meane without sellynge of the herytage. I sholde be redy to helpe you. To whome y^e fader sayd I am bethought vpon a good counseyll. Themperour hath a toure full of golde / by nyght tyme lete vs go thyder with instrumentes and dygge and hewe through the toure. and lete vs take of the golde as moche as shal suffyse vs. Therto answered the sone & sayd. that coū seyl can not be amended. for it is better of themperoures golde to take to helpe vs than our herytage to sell They rose vp bothe in a nyght and went to the toure and with instrumentes they made there thrugh an hole and toke as moche golde as they bothe coude cary [Page]awaye at that tyme. The knyght payed his dettes & haunted ayen iustes as he dyde before tyll all was spē te and consumed. In the meane whyle the keper of. y^e tresoure went in to the toure & whan he sawe the tre­soure stolen. & a grete hole made through the wall. he began to waxe sore a ferde & went to themperour and shewed how it was befallen. To whome themperour sayd all angrely. What nedest y^u to shewe that haue I not delyuered to the my tresoure / & therfore of the I wyll aske it. Tho anone as the keper herde that went to the toure ayen. & set afore the hole a grete vessel ful of pytche medled with other gummes so subtely. that noo man myght come in at that hole. but that he must nedes fall in to that vessell. & yf he therin fyll he coude no more come out of it. Not longe after the knyghte had all the golde consumed and spent & went ayen with his sone to the toure to stele more golde. and as the fader went in fyrste. anone he was fallen in y^e ves with pytche to the necke. & whan he sawe that he was taken & coude not gete out he sayd to his sone. folow me not. for yf thou doost thou may not escape to be taken. Than y^e sone sayd. god defende it y^t I sholde not helpe you: for yf ye are founden we are all but dede. & yf that ye may not be holpen by me. I shall seke counseyll how that ye maye be delyuered & holpen. The fader sayd / there is none other counseyll. but with thy swerde smyte of myn heed / and as my body is foun­de without hede noo man shall knowe me. & so y^u and my dought (er)s may escape & auoyde thꝭ wordly shame & [Page]dethe. The sone sayde. fader ye haue gyuen y^e best counseyll. For yf it were so that ony man myght perceyue ony knolege of you. none of vs sholde escape y^t deth & therfore it is expedient that your hede be smyten of. Anone he drewe out his swerde & smote of his faders hede & caste it in to a pytte. & afterwarde hyd it therin and yede and shewed to his systers all the mater. whiche many dayes after pryuely bewayled the dethe of theyr fader. After this y^e keper of y^e tresour came in to the toure & founde a body w^tout ony hede. wherof he wondred sore. and shewed it to y^e emperour To who­me he sayde. bynde that body at the tayle of an horse. & so drawe it by al the stretes of the cyte. & dyligently take good hede yf ye here ony crye or wepynge. where soo euer ye here that he is lorde of the house. take all them & w^t the body drawe them to the galowes & hange them. The whiche themperours seruauntes fulfylled accordynge to his cōmaūdemēt. And as they ca­me ayenst the house of the dede knyght. & as the dou­ghters sawe body of theyre dede fader. they made a merueylous grete shryche & wept pyteously & as ther broder that herd. anone he wounded hymself. greuously in the mouthe with a knyfe. so that grete plente of bloode came oute of the wounde. The offycers whan the herde that noyse & crye entred in to the house. & demaunded the cause of theyr noyse & clamour. Tho anwered the sone that I am thus wounded. for whan my systers sawe my bloode so habundauntly go oute as ye see. they began to wepe and crye. And whan the [Page]offycer sawe the wounde they byleued his wordes. & so dysceyued went theyr wayes. and hynge the body of the knyght vpon the galowes where it hynge long tyme & his sone wolde neyther take his body downe frome the galowes. ne yet bury his hede y^e Empresse sayd vnderstande ye what I haue sayd. Themperour sayd ye ryght well.

THere was in a cyte a ryche burgeys that had a pye the which he loued so moche y^t euery day be taught her to speke latyn & hebrewe. And whan y^t she had lerned perfetly. to speke those two langages / all y^t she sawe & herde. she shewed & tolde to her may­ster. This good man had a fayre yonge wyfe as ye haue / the whiche he loued moche. but she contrary loued not hym / bycause he myght not furnysshe her of such pleasures & lustes as she desyred to haue. And therfore had she an other fayre yonge man that she loued a­boue her husbōde. And alwayes as her husbonde was out of the towne about his marchaundyse & other besynesses to do. and she sent for her best beloued y^t they myght togyder make good chere. The pye as she that sawe tolde it to her mayster. at his home comyng. in suche wyse that y^e noyse ranne all ouer the cyte of her aduoutry. wherof her husbōde many tyme brauled & chydde her. She answered hȳ. ye beleue your cursed pye. whiche as longe as she lyueth shall alwayes make betwix vs varyaunce & dyscorde. And he sayd the pye can not lye. for that she seeth & hereth that she telleth me. and therfore I beleue her more than you. It fortuned that thꝭ good man went in to ferre coūtrees to do his marchaūdyse. & as sone as was gone his wyfe sent for her frende & loue to solace & make good chere w^t hȳ. but he durst not come by day lyght. but abo­de to y^e euenynge leste that he sholde be seen & marked of y^e peple. And as y^e nyght was comen / he knocked at y^e gate: & she was redy & opened it & sayd. Go in frely [Page]for n̄o man shall. see you. & he sayd I fere me y^e the cursed pye shall accuse vs. for by her is comen grete scla­undre vpon vs through out all the cyte. Entre in she sayd boldely and fere not. And as he sholde passe th­rough y^e halle where the pye was in her cage. she herd hym say thyse wordes. O my moste beloued I fere me gretely of y^e pye that she shal bewraye vs. And as the wyfe herde that she sayd. Be styll foole. it is derke she may not se you. Then̄e y^e py that herynge sayde If I se the not I here thy voyce. & thou doost wrong to my mayster. for y^u slepest with my maystresse. and whan̄e my mayster cometh I shall tell hym. The yonge man herynge that sayd. Tolde I not you y^t the pye sholde dyscouer vs. And y^e wyfe sayd fere no. for this nyght we shall be auenged vpon the pye. And entred in to y^e chamber & slepte to gyder that nyght. About mydny­ghte the wyfe arose. & called to her a mayden and sayde / fetche me a ladder & set vp too y^e rofe of y^e house y^t I maye wreke me on the pye. The mayde dyde so and they bothe went vp & made an hole through the coue­ryng of y^e house ryght ouer the pye / and there thrugh caste sande clay stones & water vpon the pye. so moch that the poore pye was nere dede & on the morne the yonge man went erly out at a backe dore. And whan the good man was comen home as his custume was he went & vysyted his pye and sayd to her. O pye my welbeloued byrde / say me howe y^u haste fared the whiles that I haue ben out. She sayd. mayster I shall tel you tydynges that I haue herde. your wyfe as sone as [Page]ye were gone by the nyght tyme she lete a man come ī and as I that herde I tolde hym y^t I wolde shewe it to you at your comynge home / that not withstondynge she lad hym in to your chamber & slepte with hȳ al nyght. ye demaunded me also howe y^e I haue doue in your absence. And I saye you of a trouth that I was neuer so nygh my deth as I was that same nyght w^t snowe hayle & rayne y^e fyll vpon my body. so longe durȳge that I was almoste left for dede. The wyfe whā she herde that sayd too her husbonde. Syr ye byleue your pye now may ye here what she sayth / she cōplaynyth y^t in y^e same nyght there fyll so moche snowe hayle & rayne vpon her y^t she was almost dede. & yet ther was none of thē al that same nyght. for ther̄ was not in a yere a fayrer ne a clerer nyght than it was & therfore from hensforth byleue her not. Tho went y^e good man to his neyghbours & demaūded of them yf y^t ny­ght were ony tempest or rayne. They auswered y^t so­me of them had waked all y^e nyght. & in all y^t yere they had not sene a fayrer nyght. Tho wēt he to his house & sayd to his wyfe. I haue foūden you in y^e trouth for y^e nyght was fayr & clere as I vnderstōde of your neyghbours. ye may now knowe of a trouth sayd she y^e py is a lyer. w^t her lesȳges she hath sowen & made discorde betwix vs. & ouer that I am diffamed thrugh y^e cite by her fals lesȳgꝭ. than y^e burgeys wēt to y^e pye & sayd wherfore haste y^u made lyes & fals tales be twix me & my wyfe. Is this y^e thāke that I haue for y^t mete that I was wont to gyue y^u w^t myn owne hōdes euery day [Page]& haste also therby my wyfe brought in to grete dyffamacyou thrugh al the towne. The pye answered. god knoweth y^t I can not lye for that I sawe & herde y^t ha­ue I shewed to you. Than sayd he. y^u lyest. Haste thou not sayde vnto me that in y^e same nyghte was hayle & snowe & rayne. that y^u haddest nerehonde loste thy ly­fe whiche is false. And therfore from hens forth y^u shalt make no mo lesynges ne dyscorde betwix me and my wyfe / & toke y^e pye and brake her necke. As the wyfe sawe that she was ryght glad & sayd now haue ye done well now maye we all our lyue dayes lyue in reste & peas. And whan he had slayne y^e pye. he loked vp & sawe in the top of y^e house a laddre & a vessel w^t water sande & stones. and as he that behelde. he perceyued the falshede of his wyfe. and cryed with a loude voy­ce. Woo be too me that for my wyues wordes I haue my pye slayne and all my solace and ioye loste. y^t why the in all thynges sayd to me trouthe. And as he had thus doone anone for sorowe lefte his marchaundyse and all his house and went to wardes the holy londe. and neuer retorned ayen towardes his wyfe. Than̄e the mayster sayd to themperour. Syr haue ye vnder stande what I haue sayd. he answered ryght well. the mayster sayd. was not y^t a false & cursed wyfe y^t so by her lesynges caused y^e pye for to be slayne. The emperour sayd. In trouthe she was full of falsenesse. I forthynke gretly the pye. the whiche for her true saynge lost her lyfe Verely I say to you y^e ye haue tolde, me a fayr exāple therfore thꝭ day my sone shal not dy. Tho [Page]sayd the master. Syr yf ye do so ye do wysely. & I thā ke you that ye haue spared your sone. this day for my wyll. and to god I commende you.

SOmtyme was in the cyte of rome seuen wyse maysters by whome all y^e empyre was gouer­ned & ruled. And themperour that than was dyde no no thynge or attempte w^tout the counseyll of them. as they vnderstode that themperour was to them soo inclyned. y^t without theym he sholde ordeyne or doo noo thynge in y^e meane tyme they made by theyr arte and connȳg y^t themperour sholde clerely se as longe as he was in his palays. but anone as he was out of his palays. he was made blynde / & that dyde they to the en­tēt y^t they myght the more frely intromytte themself of all thynges that apperteyned to themperour. by y^e whiche they gate & wanne too theym grete profyte & lucre of goodes. & after that they had made. & wrou­ghte that experymeut. they coude neuer chaunge it ne fordo it. afterwarde. but themperour abode styl blȳd many yeres. Then the vii maysters made & ordeyned through out thempyre. that yf ony man had dremed a dreme he sholde come vnto them w^t a florene of golde or of syluer. & they sholde expowne & declare vnto them the Interpretacyon of theyr dremes wherby & by other vniuste meanes they obteyned moche more substaunce & money of y^e people than themperour dy­de. Soo vpon a tyme whan he sate at the table w^t the empresse he began to syghe & sorowe in hymselfe. and whan she perceyued that she enquyred dylygently of hym y^e cause of his heuynesse & doloure Themperour sayde / sholde not that to me be heuy & sorowfull y^t I so longe haue ben blynde & out of my palays / & of y^t can [Page]haue or fynde no remedy. To whome spake thempresse & sayd. my lorde here my counseyll & it shall neuer repent you yf ye do therafter In your courte ye haue vii. wyse maysters by whome ye & all y^e empyre is gouerned. yf ye nowe beholde & marke this in your mȳ ­de / ye shall fynde that they are y^e cause of your blyndnesse & dysease. & yf it be so they are worthy too dye a shamefull deth. therfore take hede to my coūseyl and aduyse. Sende ye for them & shewe vnto them youre dysease & infyrmyte. & threte them on payne of theyr lyues. y^t they sholde fynde a remedy to make you hole of your fyknesse & blyndnes. This coūseyl pleased the emperour well. & anone sent for y^e maysters And whā they were come. themperour anone shewed vnto thē his infyrmyte & blyndenes. & charge them vpon puyne deth / y^t they sholde seke a rememedy & make hym hole therof. Tho answered they. Ye desyre of vs a thī ge that is dyffusyfe & harde. for vs to do thus shortly but gyue vs respyte & dayes & in y^e tenth day we shall gyue you answere. Themperour was therwith well content & pleased. Then y^e seuen wyse maysters went to counseyll. how they myght y^e best chaunge & alter / & that in noo maner coude they fynde y^e meane howe they myght put awaye y^e blyndnes from the Empe­rour. wherfore they were all ryght sorowfull. & sayde amonge them self. w^toute we fynde a remedye we are all but dede men. Soo went they from thens thrugh out al thēpyre & sought yf they coude fynde ony remedy or coūseyll therfore. It hapned them vpon a tyme [Page]goynge thrugh a cyte. & in y^e myddes therof they founde chyldren playnge. & ater them came a man w^t a talente or florene of golde & sayd to them. Good may­sters this nyght I haue dremed a dreme. thenterpre­tacōn therof I wolde fayne knowe. Wherfore I pray you shewe me what it sygnyfyeth & take this golde to you. That herde one of y^e chyldren y^t played among y^e other & sayd too hȳ. gyue me y^e golde & not them. & I shall expowne thy dreme. The man sayde. I dremed this nyghte y^t in the myddes of myn orchyerde was a grete sprynge of water. wherof came many smal sprȳ ges y^t all myn orchyerde was full & ouerflowen w^t water. The chylde sayd. take a spade & dygge. in y^e same place there as ye thought that y^e water out sprange. & there shall ye fynde an horde of golde so grete that ye & all your chylderne & lynage shall be for euer ryche The man dyde as y^e chylde had shewed hym. & found y^e tresoure accordynge to his wordes. Tho went y^e mā to y^e chylde & offred hym a pounde weyght of y^e golde y^e he had founde for y^e interpretacyon of his dreme. & he wold none receyue but cōmytted hym to y^e prayers of y^e man. The .vii. maysters whan they herde y^e chyl­de soo wysely expowne y^e dreme. they sayd to hym. gode chylde what is youre name he answered & sayde I called Merlyne. Then sayd y^e maysters. we se clerely grete wysedome in you. we shal shewe vnto you a grete mater. & of y^t we wolde gladly y^t ye coude fynde a remedy. The chylde sayd. Shewe me your mater. And they sayd themperour of rome as longe as he is in his [Page]palays he hath his syght clere w^tout ony impedymēt And as sone as he is gone out of his palays he is soo blȳde y^t he may not se. Yf ye can now det (er)myne y^e cause herof & fȳde a remedy y^t he may be eased & haue hꝭ syght ayen ye shall haue grete rewardes & honoures of thēperour. The chylde sayd. I know y^e cause as wel of his blȳdhede as of y^e remedy. They sayd to hȳ. Co­me w^t vs to themperour. & ye shal be rewarded so largely y^t ye shall be pleased. To whom y^e chylde sayd. I am redy to go w^t you. And whan they came w^t y^e chylde before themperour. they sayd to hȳ. Lorde loo here this childe y^t we haue brought afore you y^t which shal fulfyll your desyre as touchȳge the cause of your blȳ denes as y^e recouerȳge of your syghte. Themperour sayd. Good maysters woll ye take it vpon you & aby­de therby that y^e chylde shall do w^t me. They all sayd ye. for we be experte in his wysedome. Themperour torned hymself towardes y^e chylde and sayde. wyll ye vndertake to tell me the cause of my blyndnesse & the remedye. The chylde answered & sayd. My lorde the emperour lede me in to your bedchamber. & there I shal shewe you what is to be done And as he was ther in broughte he sayd to y^e seruaūtis. take of y^e clothes of the bedde. & all thapparayle. & ye shall se wonders And as y^t was done they sawe a well smokyng y^t had vii sprȳges or floodes. the whiche whan thēperour sawe meruayled gretly. y^e chyld sayd ye se this wel & w^t out it be quēched ye shal neuer haue your syȝt. thēpe­rour sayd. how may y^t be. y^e chyld sayd. but by one way [Page]Themperour sayde. Shewe vs than the meane. & yf it be possyble to me it shall be done. y^t I maye recouer ayen my syght as well w^tout as w^tin. To whome the chylde sayd. my lorde y^e .vii. sprynges of this well are thyse .vii. wyse maysters. y^e whiche you & your Empyre hythertoo haue trayterously gouerned & haue you made blȳde as ye be w^toute your palays y^t they youre subgettes by extorcyon myght plucke & pyll. ye not seynge. but nowe they knowe not y^e remedy. Here ye nowe my counseyll. & this well shal be quenched & extȳcte do stryke of y^e fyrste maysters hede. & anone ye shall y^e fyrste sprynge quenched. & so by ordre one after an other. tyll y^t they are all beheded. & anone all the sprynges w^t the well shall be vanysshed and gone awaye / & ye shall haue ayen your syght as ye had afore. And as this was done & fulfylled / the well with the .vii. sprynges were vanysshed. And as themperour had his sy­ghte ayen he made the chylde a grete lorde & gaue hȳ grete habundaūce of goodes. After that spake them presse. my lorde haue ye this example well perceyued that. I haue tolde you. & he sayd ye in the best wyse. ye haue recyted a good and a ryall example. Than sayd she. In the same wyse your .vii. wyse maysters inten­de too doo with you. by theyre false narracyons. that your sone may reygne vpon you / that god forbede.

¶ The example of the fourthe mayster.

THere was an olde knyght & a ryght wyse mā that longe lyued without wyfe & chylde. His frendes came to hym many tymes & counseyled and exhorted him that he sholde take a wyfe. The knyght thus counseyled & styred by his frendes soo oftymes that at the laste he agreed too theym. And they gaue hym to wyfe the doughter of the prouost of rome that ryche was & ryght fayre. whome whan he had seene anone he was made blynde & taken in her loue. & be­gan to loue her meruaylously wel and whan they had ben a certayne space togyder & had no fruyte ne chylde. Vpon a tyme in a mornynge it happened that she went to the chyrche where she met w^t her moder. & saluted her as it behoued. My dere doughter sayd the moder how pleaseth you your maryage & your husbō de: She sayd ryght euyll. for ye haue gyuen to me an olde lame man / me in al thȳges dyspleasynge. I wolde ye had that same tyme buryed me. for I had leuer lye & ete with a swyne than with hym. and therfore I may no longer thus eudure. but I must loue an other Tho sayd y^e moder. god forbede that My dere doughter howe longe tyme I haue be with your fader & yet hytherto I neuer medled me with suche folysshenes. The doughter sayde. moder it is noo meruayle for ye bothe in your youth met togyder. & the one toke solace of the other. & I may receyue of hym noo maner of solace corporall for he is colde / & vpon y^e bed he lyeth as styll as a stone. or as a thyng immouable: The moder answered. yf ye wyll ioue an other say me what he [Page]is. The doughter sayd a preest I wyl loue. to whome y^e moder sayd it were better to you & lesse syn to loue a knyght or a squyer than a preest. & the doughter sayde. If I shold loue a knyght or a gentel squyer in shorte tyme he wolde be wery of me. & after y^t he wolde do me shame & tell it ouer all. & so it is not of the preest. for he wyll holde and kepe his owne honoure & coun­seyll as well as myn̄. And also spyrytuell men be more true to theyr loues than the seculer men. The mod (er) sayd. Here my counseyll & it shall be good for you. Olde folkes are wylly & fell tempte your husbonde fyrst & yf ye scape hym w^tout doynge ony harme or smytȳ ge. than loue the preest. The dought sayd I maye not so longe abyde. The moder sayd vpon my blessynge abyde tyll ye haue proued hym. The doughter sayde vpon your blessynge I wyll abyde so longe. tyll I ha­ue attempted hȳ but fyrst say me how that I shal proue hym. The moder sayde. He hath in his orchyerde a tree whiche he loueth moche. do y^t to besmyten downe whyles he is oute at hontynge. & ayenst his comynge make hym there a fyre. & yf he forgyue it you thā maye surely loue the preest. As she had herde the coūseyl of her moder she went to her house. To whom her husbonde sayd. Where haue ye ben so longe. She answered I haue ben in the chyrche where as I met w^t my moder & w^t her a lytell I haue talked & comyned. & so began proprely for to dyssymyle. After mydday y^e knighte rode out for to hūte. Then she thynkȳge vpon y^e counseyll of her moder went to the gardyner & sayde [Page]to hȳ. Cut downe this yonge tree newly planted that I may make a fyre therof to warme my lorde withal at his comynge from huntȳge. For it is a grete wynd & a ryght sharpe colde. The gardyner sayde. Mada­me y^t wyll I not do. for my lorde loueth better that tre than he dothe all y^e other trees neuertheles I shal wel helpe you to gadre wood ynough for to make withall a good fyre but in ony wyse this I wyl not hewe downe. She herde that. & boldly she toke y^e axe from y^e gardyner & hewed downe the tree her selfe & made y^e gardyner w^t other to bere it home. At euyn whan y^e lorde came from huntynge he was sore a colde. The lady lete make a grete fyre. & went & met w^t hym. & set hym ou a stole afore the fyre to warme. And as he a lytell whyle had sytten he perceyued y^e odoure of the fyre. & called to hym y^e gardyner & sayd. I fele by this odour y^t my newe plante brenneth in the fyre. The gardiner sayde. Lorde it is trewe. my lady your wyfe hath fel­led it down. The knyght sayd to her god forbede that my plante sholde be cut downe by you. She answerd anone & sayd. Lorde I haue done it knowyng the weder colde & you also colde. & therfore I haue ordeyned this fyre for your cōforte. As the knyght y^t herde he loked angrely vpon her & sayd. O cursed woman how werest y^u so hardy to hewe down so gentyl a yonge tre y^e whiche y^u knowest wel y^t I loued aboue al other trees As she that herde she began to wepe & excuse her selfe & sayd My lorde I haue done it for your good & prouffyte. & ye take it so greuously. & began to cry wo wo [Page]be to me. Anone as y^e knyght sawe y^e wepȳge & teeres of his wyfe & herde her cause we was meued w^t mer­cy saynge to her. Cesse of your wepȳg. & be ware how y^e ye ony more angre or trouble me in ony thȳge / that I loue. The next daye erly in the mornȳge / she went ayen to the chyrchewarde. & met w^t her moder comȳ ge ayenst her. & they salued eche other. Than y^e doughter sayd to her moder. O dere moder I wyll loue the preest. for I haue attempted my lorde as ye coūseyled me / but all for nought. for he anone forgaue it whan he sawe me a lytell wepe. Tho sayd y^e moder. though olde men one tyme forgyue / they double the payn vpon an other tyme. & therfore I counseyll you y^t ye an other tyme attempte hym. Tho sayde the doughter I maye no lenger abyde. for I suffer so moche payn for the loue of y^e preest. that w^t my tonge I canne not tell therfore ye shall perdone me I wyll noo more folowe or do after your counseyll. than sayde the moder. for the loue that the chylde sholde haue vnto the moder attempte hym yet ones. & for your faders blessyuge / and thenne yf ye goo quyte w^tout ony harme or betinge. loue the preest in the name of god. tho answered y^e doughter. it is to me a grete payn so long tyme to abyde. neuertheles for y^e blessyng of my fader I shal ons atēpte hym. but say me how I shall begyn. the moder sayd I vnderstande y^t he hath a lytell hoūde y^t he lo­ueth wel & y^t kepith his bed. cast y^e hoūd w^t so grete might afore his face that it dy & yf ye scape w^tout a strype or that he forgyue it lyghtely. in the name of god [Page]than loue the preest. Than sayd the doughter. I shall in all thynge doo after your coūseyll. for there is noo doughter lyuynge to day y^t wolde more gladly haue y^t blessynge of the fader & the moder than I. And so she bad her moder fare well / & went to her house ayen / & that day w^t grete importunyte & trouble of herte she she brought too the nyght. & whan the nyghte was comen. she cōmaunded the bed to be couered w^t pupure & w^t clothe of golde the whyles the knyght sate by the fyre. And whan the bed was thus made redy. the ly­tell hounde as he was accustomed lepte on the bedde & she toke hym by the hynder legges. & w^t a wood & a malycyous herte she cast it ayenst the wall y^t it lay styll dede. Whan the good olde knyght that sawe / he was merueylously angry. & sayd w^t a loude voyce too his wyfe. O worste & most cruell of all wycked wymmen now coudest y^u fynde in thyn herte that lytell gentyll hounde to sle. y^t I somoche loued. Lorde sayd she haue ye not sene how the hounde w^t his foule fete hath our / bed that is soo precyously couered with ryche clothes made foule comynge out of the myre: And the knyghte sayde w^t moche anger. Knewe ye not y^t I loued moche better that lytell hounde than the bed. whan she herde that. anone she began petyously to wepe & sayd woo be to me that. I was borne For all thynge that I doo for the best it is all tourned in to the worste. The knyght wolde not suffre the wepynge and weymen­tynge: of his wyfe. but for that y^t he loued her soo moche he sayd to her leue or cesse your wepȳge for I for­gyue [Page]you it all togyder. And I counseyll you that ye beware how that ye dysplease me from hens forth / & they went toogyder to bed. Vpon y^e morowe she rose vp erly & went to the chyrche where as she found her moder / to whome whan she hadde done reuerence as it behoued. She sayd. Moder now wyll I loue y^e pre­ste. For I haue nowe attempted the seconde tyme my husbonde & all thynges he suffred. The moder sayde. O my dere doughter there is noo cruelte or falshede aboue the cruelte of olde folkes. & therfore I coūseyll you y^e ye yet ones proue hym. To whom the doughter answered. Moder ye laboure in vayne. for yf ye wyst what & how moche payne y^e I suffer for y^e prestes loue ye sholde rather helpe me yf ye loued me. The moder sayd. Here me doughter this one tyme. & I shal neuer let you more. Thȳke howe y^t ye haue souked mylke of my brestes: & the grete payne that I suffred for you at your byrth By thyse paynes my dere doughter I de syre of & I charge you y^t ye denye me not this good petycyon. & I promyse to god I shall no more let nor hȳ der you of your entente: but rather helpe you therto / Tho answered y^e doughter. it is to me a grete payne to absteyne me & forbere my selfe so longe from the loue of the preest. neuerthelesse for y^e grete charges that ye haue layde too me. & also for y^t ye haue made a vo­we no more for to lette me. but to further me. tell me how I shall attempte hȳ. & I shal ones yet put it in aduenture. The moder sayd. I know well that on sondaye next comyng he entendeth to haue vs all to dyner [Page]& there shall be your fader & I and all your frendes & al y^e best of the cyte. And whan ye are set in your place & all the metes are brought & serued vpon the table / faste one of the keyes preuely y^t hangeth at your gyr­dell in the table clothe & than fayne to haue forgoten your knyfe and say thyse wordes openly. Se what a shorte wytte that I am of. I haue forgoten my knyf in my chambre / & ryse vp hastely & go & y^t cloth w^t al the metes ye shall caste down & ouerthrowe vpon the grounde. And yf ye scape w^tout payn I make a vowe to god y^t I shall neuer let you after. The doughter say de y^t shall I gladly doo & so toke her leue & departyd. The feste daye came y^t all as the moder sayd were bo­deu. The seruaūtes made redy & couered y^e table. All were set at y^t table. & the doughter sate ouer ayenste her lorde. And whan the table was well serued. w^t metes & other thynges as therto belonged / y^e lady of the house sayd with an hygh voyce. Se how forgeteful I am of mynde I haue lefte my knyfe in my chamber y^e whiche I muste fetche / & rose hastely vp and drewe y^e clothe with all the mete that was vpon it with her. ād all the golde vessels & saltes lay vpon y^e groūde. The knyght vexed sore angrye in his herte. but for shame he dyssymyled afore his gestes. & cōmaūded on other clene clothe & other metes to be brought & w^t Ioy and myrth he solyted & meued his gestes to ete and make good chere. so that by hȳ they were all gladed. The feste or dyner done they gaue all thankȳges to y^e knygh & toke theyr leue & departed euery man to wardes his [Page]owne house. Vpon y^e nexte day in the mornȳge y^e kny ghte arose erly & went to the chyrche & herde a masse the whiche ended. went to a barbour & sayd too hym. Mayster are ye experte in blode letynge in what vayne y^t I wyll desyre you. He sayde. syr I am experte in what vayne y^t ye can name in mannes body. The knyghte sayd. I am well contente come on w^t me. & whan he was comen to his house. he entred in to his cham­ber where his wyfe laye in bed & sayd to her. Ryse vp shortely. Than sayd she. what shall I do vp thus erly it is not yet nyne the clocke. The knyght sayd. ye muste ryse vp. for ye muste be letten blode on both your armes. She sayd. I was neuer laten blode / & shall I nowe blede. Tho sayd y^e knyght. that is trouth. & ther for ye are a fole. For thȳke ye not y^t ye hewe fyrst downe my tree. & an other tyme ye kylled my lytell hoūde & yesterday ye shamed me afore all our frendes & pa­rentes. & the fourth is yf I sholde suffer you thus too go forthe ye sholde me for euer confoūde & shame. the cause herof I consyder y^t ye haue euyll & wylde blode w^t in your body. & therfore I wyll that y^t corrupte blo­de shall be drawen out that ye from hensforth shal no more put me to shame & angre. and lete to be made a grete fyre. and she stode and cryed and helde vp her hondes to wardes the heuen and sayde. My lorde forgyue me this tespace / and haue pyte vpon me at this tyme. and I shal neuer more offende you. The knyghte sayd pray for no mercy. for by the mercy that god hath wroughte without that thou holdest oute thyn [Page]arme strayte I shall sone haue thyn herte blood. And he sayd also to the barbour. smyte harde & make a depe hole in her arme. or elles I shall gyue you a grete strype. Than smote y^e barbour so sore that the bloode came habundaūtly out. and the knyght wolde not suffer hym to staunche it vnto the tyme that she chaun­ged coloure in her vysage. And as this was done the knyght bad to be stopped or staūche y^t vayn̄e. & bad y^t barbour smyte the vayne vpon. y^e other arme. Then̄e cryed she w^t a loude voyce. My swete husbonde haue compassyon vpon me for now I deye. The knyght answered. my wyfe ye sholde haue afore thought on thꝭ or that ye haue done to me thyse thre euyll tournes or despytes. Then̄e she helde out her lefte arme. & y^e barbour smote therin an hole y^t the blood came out ryght hudgely. & suffred her to blede vnto the tyme that the coloure in her vysage chaunged & that she swouned / Than sayd the knyght. now bynde that arme & staū che it. & sayd to her now goo to bed. & studye and thynke hensforth how ye maye amende your self or elles I shall drawe y^e bloode of your herte. And as this was done he gaue the barbour his rewarde and he wente ayen vnto his owne house. and the wyfe vnder y^e handes of hir maydens nyghe deed was ladde to hyr bedde & bad one of hir handmaydens go to hyr moder in all haste & say that she come speke with me afore I de ye. The moder whan she harde y^e she was gladde of y^e correctyon of hir doughter & hastely came to hyr / the doughter whā she herd hyr moder sayd to hir O my [Page]moste swete moder I am almoste dede. for I haue so moche blode bled. y^t I byleue y^t I shal not scape y^e deth Tho answered y^e moder / sayd I not too you that olde men are ryght cruell. & fell. wyll ye nowe loue the pre­ste. Whiche sayd. The deuyll may the preest confoun­de & shame. I wyl neuer loue other but my husbonde Than sayde the mayster to themperour. Lorde haue ye vnderstande me. And he answered ryght well. For amonges all other y^t euer I haue herde this was the best example. Thre euyll dedes she dyde vnto her husbonde. & I doute not but yf she had done y^e fourth she sholde haue shamed hym for euer. Than sayd y^e mayster therfore I counseyll you y^t ye beware of your wyfe leste that it happen worse to you. for why yf ye doo to deth your onely sone for her wordes. ye shall be deceyued in y^e ende. & for euer ye shall forthynke it. The Emperour sayd truly mayster this day my sone shal not dye. The mayster sayd My lorde I thanke you y^t ye for min example and my sake this day haue spared your sone.

The fyfth example of the Empresse.

OCtauianus themperour reygned in Rome ry­ghte ryche & coueytous. & aboue all thynges he loued golde. The cytezyens y^t tyme of Rome dyde moche harme & many grete out rages to other nacyons In soo moche that dyuerse nacyons & regyons were meued & styred ayenst y^e Romayns. In that tyme the re was mayster Virgilius. y^e whiche excelled in magique & in other scyences all other maysters. The cyte­zeynes prayed hym that he by his arte & connȳge wolde make somwhat by the whiche they of theyr enne­myes myght haue warnȳg & knowledge byfore. Wher by that they myght puruey for themselfe y^e better. He lete doo make by his arte and connȳge a toure. & aboue vppon y^e toure dyde to be set as many ymages as in al the worlde were regyons or prouȳces. and in the myddes of the toure he let to be made and set an ymage. whiche helde in his hande an appell or a grete roū de balle of golde. And euery ymage of the toure helde in his hande a lytell bell. and stode torned lokynge to wardes his owne prouynce to hym assygned. And as oftentymes as ony prouynce wolde styre or rebel ayē ste the romaynes. so often torned hym the ymage of y^t lende & range the bell. That herȳge the cytezeyns of Rome armed themselfe & to that prouynce yede with all theyr myght for that londe to kepe vnder. and soo was there no londe so grete y^t coude wreke them vpō the romaynes, and therfore were they bedradde and fered ouer all the worlde. After that mayster Vlrgili­us made for the solace and conforte of the poore peo­ple [Page]a lyght that alwaye brende. and by that lyghte he made two bathes the one of them hote. in the whiche the poore people myghte bathe and wasshe theym / & that other colde in the whiche they myghte theymselfe refresshe. and betwyx that lyghte and the bathes he made an ymage standynge. in whos forhede was wryten. He y^t smyteth me shall anone haue vengeaunce. This ymage stode there many yeres. At the laste there came a clerke and behelde that ymage & radde this wrytynge / and thoughte in hymselfe. what ven­geaūce myght he fynde therfore. I byleue better that yf ony man sholde smyte the that thou fyllest there w^t to y^e erthe. he sholde fynde some tresoure vnder thy fete. & therfore is thy wrytynge that no man sholde haue it. & the clerke lyfte vp hys hande & gaue the yma­ge a grete stroke y^t it fell to y^e groūde. & anone y^e lyght was out. & the bathes vere vanysshed away. & he foū de no tresoure. The poore folke y^t perceyuynge were all sorowfull sayenge. cursyd mote he be for euer more y^t for his synguler couetyse hathe destroyed this ymage. & vs hathe robbed of so grete solace & cōforthe Here after assembled thre kynges the whiche of y^e Ro­mayns had ben oppressed & suffred greate wronges. & went to coūseyll w^t them of theyr coūseyll. how they myght best of y^e Romayns be auenged. & some of thē sayd. we labour in vayne. as longe as there standyth y^e tour w^t the ymages we maye no thynge do ayenste theym. To y^t counseylle arose vp foure knyghtes and sayd to the kynges. we haue thoughte a goode reme­dy [Page]how we shal destroye the toure w^t the ymages and y^t to do and brynge aboute we wyll our lyues sette to pledge. yf that ye wyll do y^t coste. Tho sayd y^e kynges what coste shall we do. They sayd. we muste haue. iiii tonnes full of golde. Than sayd y^e kynges. take that golde & fulfyll youre promyse. The knyghtes toke y^e golde & went towardes Rome. & whan they were thyder come. in the nyght w^tout one of y^t yates in the dy­che w^t water they drowned one of y^e tonnes w^t the golde. & an other tonne they drowned by the secōde yate & the thyrde tonne by y^e thyrde yate. & the fourth ton̄ by the fourth yate they drowned. And whan they had thus done erly in the mornynge they entred in to y^e cyte at an houre conuenyent whan y^t themperour went ouer the marte. they dyde to hym reuerence as it be­houed. Themperour seynge them demaunded frome whens they were. or what scyences or what seruyce y^t they coude do. Whiche answered. we are of ferre coū ­trees & we be sothsayers so perfyte y^e there was neuer thynge so preuely or secretly hydde. but y^t we shall fȳ de it by our dremes. we haue herde. that ye laboure & haue pleasure in suche thynges. and therfore came we to you for to wyte yf ye had ony nede of our seruyce / Themperour sayd. I shall proue you & yf it be so y^t I fynde you true. ye shall haue of me grete rewardes & thanke. they sayde we aske no thynge but y^e haluen dele for our rewarde of the golde that by vs shall be foū den. The emperour sayd. I am therwith wel content And thus had they with the emperour many wordes [Page]At euen whan themperour was goyng to bedde they sayde too hym. My lorde yf it please you this nyghte shall the oldest of vs set his connynge a werke & dre­me. & the thyrde day we shall shewe you his dreme & what it sygnefyeth. Themperour sayd goo in goddis name. And they weut forth w^t grete gladnesse. & all y^t nyght they passed ouer with derysions & myrth vpon truste that they sholde come to a good purpose. whan y^e thyrde daye was comen they went erly too themperour. & the fyrste of them sayd My lorde pleaseth you to goo with vs without one of y^e yates of thy cyte & I shall shewe you where as a tonne full of golde is hyd Themperour sayd. I shall go with you and se yf it be true that ye saye. Whan they were comen to the place they drewe out y^e tonne that they there afore had put / The emperour whan he that sawe was gladde. and gaue to them theyr parte. Tho sayde the seconde dre­mer. my lorde this nyght I shal dreme. Themperour sayd. god gyue you a good dreme. y^e next nyght came he & toke out y^e other tonne. and gaue it to themperoure. & toke hym his dele. In lyke wyse dyd the thyrde. & y^e fourth. vpon y^e whiche themperour was out of all mesure ioyus & glad & sayd he had not sene afore soo true & experte sothsayers or dremers as they were / Than sayd they al togyder at ones as it had ben out of one mouth. my lorde we haue one after another dre y^e whiche as ye haue sene be all true proued. But now yf it please you that we may dreme all togyder this nyghte. we truste that too vs shall bee shewed where [Page]we shall fynde a greate quantyte or substaūce of gol­de & of rychesse. the Emperoure sayd god gyue to you a gode dreme y^t to me and to you may be proffytable Unto y^e next morowe they came ayen vnto y^e Empe­roure & sayd to hym w^t Ioyouse & gladde vysages or coūtenaūces. My lorde we brynge gode & proffytable tydynges. for this nyght in our slepes such & so grete a tresour is to vs shewed y^e. whiche yf ye wyll suffre it for to be soughte. ye shall be so moche enryched that in this worlde shall be none to you lyke. Themperour sayd. where sholde ye fynde y^e hoorde or tresoure. they sayd. vnder the fundament of the tour y^t the ymages standen on. The Emperoure answered. God defend that I sholde for loue of golde destroye that toure w^t ymages wherwith y^t we of oure ennemyes be defen­ded & warned. They sayde too hym ayen. My lorde. Haue ye founde vs in oure saynges otherwyse than true & ryghtful. Themperour sayd nay. O lorde sayd they. we with our owne hondes shall gete oute y^e gold w^tout hurtynge of the tour or of y^e ymages. And it is expedyent y^t secretly in the nyght by vs it be done. for drede of resorte and concours of y^e people leste that ye sholde ren in the noyse & clamour of theym. and also that they sholde not take that good and golde away from you and vs. The Emperour sayde. Goo in the name of god and doo your beste. as ye well can̄e. and I shall to morowe erly come too you. Tho went they with Ioye and gladnesse. and in the nyght they were laten in too the toure. and with grete haste and dylygence [Page]they vndermynded it. & on the next daye erly they mounted vpon theyr horses & rode ayen towar­des theyr owne countre with ioye & glory. And or that they came w^tout the fyght of rome / the toure fell downe. And on the morne ensuynge whan it was fallen / & the Senatours it perceyued they sorowed gretely & there was a grete sorowe & bewaylynge thrughout all y^e cyte & went to themperour & sayd. lorde how maye it be y^t this tour is thus fallen. by the whiche we haue alwayes had warnynge afore of our enemyes. He answered & sayd. To me came foure fals deceyuers & & fayned themself to be foure sothsayers & y^t they coude fynde tresoure hyd in the groūde. And they sayd that vnd (er) the fundacyon of y^e toure was hydde an vn­numerable sōme of golde. y^e whiche they sholde well vndermyne w^tout hurtȳge of the toure or ymages / & I gaue fayth to them & they haue dysceyued me. they answered hȳ / ye haue coueyted so moche golde. & for your insacyate couetyse we shall be all destroyed. but fyrste your couetyse shall full vpon your selfe. & toke & ladde hym vnto y^e capytoll. & layde hym on his bac & poured his mouth full of molten golde. sayng to hȳ ye haue desyred golde. & therfore ye shall drȳke golde & after they buryed hym quycke. Not long after that came thenmyes ayenst y^e Romayns. & ouercame & destroyed them al. Than sayd thempresse vnto themperour haue ye my lorde this example well vnderstand & he sayd ryght well. Than sayd she. The tour w^t the ymages is your body w^t your .v. wyttes. as long as ye [Page]lyue there none so hardy to trouble or make werre vpon you ne vpon your people. That hath your sone ry­ghte well vnderstonde w^t his .vii. maysters & w^t theyre false narracyons or fables fynde how they may destroye you. for ye are ouermoche couetyse to here & enclyned to them. & in so moche y^e they shal vndermyne you & caste you vnd (er) fote. & brȳge you to nought. The ymages are your fyue wyttes y^e be all lost. For theyse y^t ye be all chyldyshe or folyshe they shall destroy and sle you. & your sone shall opteyne your empyre. Thē perour sayd. ye haue recyte to me a good exāple. wherfore it shall not to me happen as it dyde w^t y^e tour but my sone fyrste this daye shall be hanged. To whome thempresse sayd. yf ye doo so ye shall fare well & lyue long. Vpon y^e nexte day he commaūded hȳ to be lad to hangȳge.. & as he was to wardes y^e galowes lad. came rydynge ayenst hym vpon an hors his fyfth mayster to wardes y^e palays. & came before themperour & saluted hym w^t all reuerence / & he despysed his salutacyon. & put hym in fere of his lyfe. & y^e mayster sayd My lorde I haue not deserued to dye. & ye my salutacyon despyse it is not your honoure. for your sone hath not with vs be of suche condycyōs as ye repute hȳ for. as ye in shorte tyme shal fynde. & that he speketh not is of his his grete wysdome. & knowe ye y^t he shal well speke as y^e tyme comyth. though y^e he now speke not. as ye in shorte tyme shall here. But ye saye y^t he your wyfe wolde haue shamed. y^t byleue not. for so wise a man as he is neuer sholde attēte so shamful a dede. [Page]And ye put hym to dethe for your wyues wordes. ye sholde not scape without shame and vengeaunce / In lyke wyse as ypocras scaped not w^tout vengeaū ­ce for y^e deth of Galienus his cosyne. The emperour sayd that wolde I fayne here and vnderstonde. The mayster sayd. what sholde auayle y^e narracyon to tel vnto you for your prouffyte yf in the meane seasone your sone sholde be hanged. & thersore yf ye wyll call ayen your sone. and therafter do as ye thynke beste it shall be at your pleasure. Themperour lete call ayen his sone and set him in pryson. And tho began y^e mayster too tell vnder this maner as foloweth.

¶ The example of the fyfthe mayster.

SOmtyme there was a famous physycyan na­med Ypocras ryght connynge. y^e whiche exce­ded all other in connynge & scyēce he had w^t hym his neuewe or kynnesman y^t was called Galienus. y^e whiche he loued moche. This Galienꝰ was of an excellēt wytte & applyed all his wytte & mynde to lerne of hꝭ vncle the scyence of physyke. Whan ypocras apper­ceyued that in as moche as he coude hyde from hym hys conynge ferynge that he sholde excelle hym in y^t crafte. for y^e grete wytte that he was of. As Galienus this sawe. he studyed & excersysed. in soo moche y^t in shorte tyme he had perfyte connynge physyke. for the whiche ypocras enuyed hym moche. It hapned vpō a tyme therafter. y^t the kȳge of Ungary sent his mes­sengers vnto ypocras that he sholde come vnto hym his sone for to cure or make hole. Ypocras excused hȳ self & wolde no goo. but sent his cosyne Galienus w^t his wrytynge in the company of y^e messengers for to excuse hym. And whan Galienus was comen afore y^e kynge he was ryghte worshypfully receyued. but he merueyled why that ypocras wolde not come, he excused hym saynge that he had many grete thynges too do that he myght not come. but he hath sent me in his stede. & w^t the helpe of god I shall make hole that childe. That pleased well y^e kynge. Galienus went to the chylde. & whan he had seene his vryne. and tasted his pounces. he sayd tho the quene. O excellent prynces I pray you here & suffer my wordes. & tel me who is y^e fad (er) of this chylde. She sayd. who sholde be his fader [Page]but my lorde the kyng. Galienus sayd. I am sure y^t he is not the fader. She answered yf ye wyll say y^t for a trouth I shall doo your hede to be smytn of. he answered I say yet ones agayn y^t this kȳge is not the fader and I am not therfore comen hyther to lese my hede. for I haue no suche rewarde deserued. & he was goynge his waye. The quene y^t seynge fpake. O good mayster yf ye wyl kepe it secrete. & not dyscouer me. I shal shewe & open vnto you myn herte. The mayster sayd God defende that from me. that I to no persone sholde shewe it. and therfore o noble quene shewe it boldely to me for it shall neuer passe my mouthe after. and I shall your sone ease and make hym hole. She sayde yf ye doo that. ye shall haue of me a good rewarde. & therfore here what I shall saye. Of fortune came hy­ther vnto my lorde. the kyng of Burgondyen. and he was so longe w^t me conuersaunt that this chylde by hym I bare. Tho sayd y^e mayster. Fere ye not. I kne­we well that it was so byfore. & anone he gaue the ch [...] de to ete beef or of an oxe to drȳke. and the childe was eased of his infyrmyte. And whan as the kȳge herde that the chylde was quite of his malady he gaue vnto y^e mayster a good rewarde. but of the quene he secret­ly receyued and had a greter gyfte and a specyal thanke and went his waye And whan that he was comen home. ypocras his mayster demaunded of hym. haue ye y^e chyld heled. & he sayd ye. Than asked he hȳ what he gaue to hym. & he sayd. I gaue hȳ flesshe of or beef to ete. & water to drȳke. Tho sayd ypocras. Than is [Page]the moder of that chylde not true too her husbonde. y^t is trouth sayd Galienus. Ipocras anone was meued w^t enuye. & thought in hymselfe yf here be not found a remedy. my scyence shall no more be set by. & he shal be named and praysed aboue me. And from that day forthwarde he thought & deuysed how he myght slee hym. Vppon a day Ipocras called and sayd come go we to seke and gadre herbes in the gardyne. To whome he sayd mayster I am redy. And whan they were comen in to y^e gardyne. Ipocras sayd. I fele that this herbe is ryght vertuous. stoupe downe & gadre me of it. Galienus dyde so. and as they went aboute the gardyne. sayd ypocras now knowe I well by y^e odoure of this herbe that it is better & precyoser than golde. and therfore stoupe downe to the groūde & drawe hym oute w^t the rotes for he is ryght moche. Galienꝰ bowed hymself down to plucke vp the herbe. ypocras drewe oute his knyfe & kylled hym. After that ypocras fyll seke to the dethe that y^e strengthes of his body fayled hym and dyde as moche as he coude to helpe hymself but it wold not be and as his scolers & dyscyples herde of it they went hastely to hȳ. & all that they myght or coude do for the prouffyte of his helthe they dyde / but it auayled hym nothynge.. ¶ Whan ypocras that perceyued. he sayd vntoo his scolers. Goo and fetche me a grete tonne an fyll it full vnto the brynkes with water. And whan they had soo done. he sayd too them make nowe therin an hondred hooles. and whan that was doone. there wente none of the water oute. Tho [Page]sayd ypocras. Beholde my moste dere dyscyples. how y^t y^e vengeaunce of god is fallen vpon me. as ye openly may see. For in this tonne are an hondred holes. & yet gooth there out not one droppe. ryght so there co­meth no vertue out of y^e herbes to helpe me. and therfore what ye doo to me it helpeth not. For I must dye But my dere chyldren yf my neuewe Galienus were now on lyue. he sholde hele me. whom I haue slayne / y^t me sore forthynketh. & therfore y^e vengeaūce of god cometh ouer me. And this sayd he torned hȳ to y^e wal & gaue vp the goost. ¶ Tho sayd y^e mayster to them­perour. My lorde vnderstande ye well what I haue sayd. He answered ye ryght well. what hurte had it bē to hym & Galienus had lyued. The mayster answerd it had ben ryght good. for Ipocras at that tyme had not dyed. & therfore by y^e ryghtwyse Iugement of god his medycynes auayled hȳ not. & therfore I shewe to you y^t it shall happen worse to you. yf y^t ye put to deth your sone for y^e wordes of your wyfe. whiche in tyme of necessyte shall assyste & socoure you. A consyder ye not. y^t ye haue after your fyrst wyfe. ye haue wedded this wyfe y^t ye now haue. & so ye may y^t thyrde & y^t fourthe. & neuer shall ye haue of ony of them suche a sone y^e shal kepe & saue you from peryll. Themperour sayde truly he shal not dye. Tho sayd y^e mayster than do ye wysely. & I commende you to god. & thanke you. y^t ye haue this daye for me spared your sone. Thempe­rour sayd I marke this wel y^t wȳmē are crafty. & sub­tyl. herfore I wyl not for you but for my self saue hȳ.

The syxte example of the Empresse.

THere was a kyng ryght proude & merueylously dysformed in his vysage in suche wyse that wȳmen hym hated & abhorred. This kynge thought Rome to destroye & the romaynes to slee. & y^e bodyes of Peter & Poule to take & cary a waye. whiche while he was in this mȳde he called to hȳ his stewarde that was ryght secrete w^t hym of his pryue counseyll and sayd to hym. Seke me a fayre woman y^t this nyghte may slepe w^t me. The stewarde answered. My lorde ye knowe wel your infyrmyte & dysese. & y^t no womā wyll doo it w^tout a grete somme of money. The kȳge sayd. thynke ye y^t for money I wyll want one haue I not golde & syluer ynough though it were a thousan­de florenys I sholde it gladle gyue. The stewarde he­rynge y^t was anone smyten w^t couetyse. went too his owne wyfe whiche was ryght fayre chast. & of a gode kynrede. & sayd to her. O my good wyfe. my lorde desyreth & coueyteth sore to slepe w^t a fayr & beauteuouse woman. & wyll not forbere it. though y^t she wold aske of hym a thousande florenys. and hath commaunded me too puruey hym of one. And therfore I counseyll you that ye to vs gete that money. The wyfe sayde. were it not so that the kynge so proude and foule of vysage were. yet wolde I not to that euyl consente bycause of the synne ayenst god. The stewarde answered. & I consente that ye shal do it. & therto I coūseyl and cōmaunde you. and promyse you w^toute that ye cōsente to me herin. ye shall neuer haue good daye w^t me. She heryng that trembled. in so moche that for [Page]drede she consented to hym. The stewarde y^t herynge went to the kynge & sayd Syr I haue founde a fayre woman & she is comen of a good house. whiche wil not lesse haue than a thousande florenes & in the euin she shall come. & erly in y^e mornȳg she must away that she be not seen of the people. The kynge answered & sayd. I am well content. whan the nyght was comen the stewarde lad his wyfe to y^e kynges bed & made faste the dore & yede his waye. Erly in the mornȳge the stewarde arose & went vnto y^e kynge & sayd. My lord it shall be daye w^tin a whyle. it is good that ye performe your promise & let the woman go. The kyng sayd this woman pleseth me so well y^t so sone she shall not departe from me. whan the stewerde that herde he departed thens al sory. vnneth he taryed ony whyle but came to the kynge and sayd. My lorde the mornynge is comen. therfore let the woman goo. leste y^t she be a­shamed. as I haue promysed her. The kyng sayd yet shall she not. go from me. & therfore goo out and shet the dore ayen. The stewarde ryght sorowfull depar­ted and wente vp & downe with an heuy & an angry herre. tyll that the fayre & the clere daye appered. and than entred ayen in to the chamber and sayd. My lorde it is clere daye. suffre that woman to departe that she be not therwith ashamed. The kynge answered / I saye to you for a trouth she shall not yet departe for her cōpany is to me ryght pleasaūt & acceptable. The stewarde y^t herȳge coude no lenger forbere ne holde his owne coūseyll. but sayd vnto y^e kyng. O my good [Page]and gracyous lorde I beseche you suffre her to departe. for it is myn owne wyfe. The kynge herynge that sayd to hym. Open y^e wyndowe. & whan it was open. the fayre & the bryght day appered. he behelde the woman ryght fayre & goodly. perceyued y^t it was y^e wy­fe of the stewarde & sayd to hym. O thou moste & worste rybaude or knaue. why haste thou for so lytell mo­ney ashamed & vndone thy good & fayre wyfe. & her vnto me vnwetyngly haste delyuered. Therfore ha­ste y^e & gete the out of my realme & neuer more heraf­ter come in my syghte. for frome hens forth yf euer I may se the thou shalt dye y^e moost shamefull & horry blest dethe that euer canne be ymagyned. Whan y^e stewarde herde y^t he fled his waye & durste not abyde & was neuer so hardy ony more to come in to that real me. And y^e kȳge kepte y^e wyfe al his lyue dayes in grete worshyp. and gaue to hyr plente of all thynges that to hyr behoued & appertayned. After that the kynge lete do gadre & assemble a grete & a myghty armye & puyssaūce of men of werre. & went to Rome with grete myght. & besyeged the cyte on all sydes. so long tyll that the Romayns wolde haue delyuered hym for to haue departed and withdrawen hymself from thens the bodyes of the holy apostles Petyr & Poule. Than was there in y^t cyte seuen wyse maysters as ye nowe haue. by the coūseyll of whome all the cyte was gyded & gouerned. And the cytezeyns came too theym and sayd. What shall we do. it behoueth vs as that we delyuere vnto oure dedely ennemyes the bodyes of the [Page]holy apostles or elles y^e cyte Tho answered the fyrste mayster. I shal w^t my wysdome & connynge this day y^e cyte & y^e body of the apostles saue. & so one after an other promysed to doo y^e same eueryche of theym for one daye. In lyke wyse as y^e maysters haue promysed your sone. w^t that y^e kynge began to assaute the Cyte on all partyes. Tho began y^e fyrste mayster to saye. & to alledge so wysely for to haue pease. y^t y^e kynge that day lefte his assaute. makynge & withdrewe hym a lytyll. fro the cyte. & soo dyde all the maysters one after an other vnto the laste. To whome came y^e burgeyses & sayd. O mayster ye shall vnderstande that. y^e kynge hath made his othe & sworne that to morowe w^t al his puyssaunce & strength he wyll haue & wynne the cyte Or elles we muste all be in Ieoperdye too lese our lyues. Therfore in aquytynge of your promyse defende & kepe vs from daunger lyke as all your felowes afore haue done to that answered y^e mayster & sayd be of good comforte & fere not. For too morowe I shall by my connynge shewe suche a werke and operacyons / that the kyng with all his puissaunce and myght shal fle & leue the syege. The nexte daye the kynge made & gaue a grete assaute too the cyte. Tho went the may­ster and endued or clothed hymselfe with a meruay­vesture or clothynge hauynge therin the fethers or y^e tayles of pecockes and of other foules of dyuers coloures. and toke two bryght swerdes in eche hande one. and went there with all and stode vpon the hygheste toure of all the cyte. and began too meue and torne or [Page]shewe hymselfe aboute on all partes towarde the oste so that they myght all beholde & se hym. and he helde in his mouthe the two bryght swerdes y^t merueylously shyned. They w^tout of y^e kynges hoost that seyeng sayd to hym. O lorde beholde vpon hyghest of yonder toure a wonderfull thynge or fygure. Ye I se it wel y^t it is merueylous / but what it is I knowe not. They sayd to hym It is Ihesus the god of y^e crysten folke y^t is come out of heuen vs al to sle & destroye w^t his two swerdes yf wee here ony lenger abyde. The kynge herynge that trembled for fere and sayde what shall we do there is but one way and that is that we anone go and departe fro hens leste that theyr god auenge hymselfe vpon vs. Tho began y^e kynge w^t all his oste to fle. notwithstondȳge there was no nede. but y^t they of y^t mayster were begyled & deceyued. And whan y^e romaynes y^t sawe they hastely moued after al armed in good ordynaunce. & the kynge w^t many of his peo­ple they kylled & destroyed. & also in that manere by grete subtylte of y^e mayster was y^e myghty kynge w^t his folke ouercomen. Then sayd thempresse to them­perour. Lorde haue ye vnderstande what I haue sayde. He sayd ye. Well in y^e best wyse. She sayd. haue ye no herde what. I haue sayd to you at the begynnynge of this narracyon. of the stewarde that the kynge trusted so moche. which for lucre of good shamed his owne wyfe. & he for that was dryuen & banysshed out of the londe. In lyke wyse your sone for the desyre and appetyte that he hath to the empyre. entendeth to cō founde [Page]and destroye you. But while ye be in your myght & power do with hym as y^e kynge dyd w^t his stewarde yf ye wyll not put hym to deth. banyssne him out of your empyre. y^t ye without fere may leue in furete of your lyue. And haue ye not also herde how y^e kyng lay before y^e cyte of Rome. & howe he was by the wyse maysters dectyued & scorned y^t he with his folke were kylled & slayne. In the same wyse y^e seuen maysters entende to do w^t you. & by theyr false wyles and sub­tyltees to desceyue you. & in the ende to sle you y^e your sone may regne. Therupon answered themperour & sayd that shall not so be. for my sone too morowe shal deye. Than commaūded his seruaūtes that they sholde lede his sone to hangynge. And as the folke herde that there was a grete noyse & a gaderynge of theym and bewayled the dethe of y^e only sone of themperour And as y^e syxte mayster herde that. he hasted hym too the Emperour & salued hym moche honourably. & he toke it vnthākfully. & thretned hym or menaced him to dye w^t his sone for that he was w^t them made dompe. and a rybaude. y^e whiche he had shewed vpon his wyfe. The mayster sayd. I haue deserued no deth. w^t your sone. but grete & large gyftes. for he is not dom­pe as ye shall here w^t in thre dayes yf he may lyue soo longe. and yf ye put hym too deth for wordes of your wyfe. than shall I merueyll of your wysdome. & with out doute it shall happen to you as it somtyme happened to a knyght that so moche alowed the saynges of his wyfe that he was bounde to an horse tayle & dra­wen [Page]thrugh out all the cyte to the galowes. Themperour sayde for the loue of god shewe me that example that I may the better beware of that peryl. That wyl I not doo sayd the mayster. w^tout ye do cal ayen your sone. Than themperour commaūded to call his sone And the mayster began afore al the folke to tel in this maner folowynge.

¶ The example of the syxte mayster.

THere was an Emperour of Rome the whiche had thre knyghtes whom he loued aboue al other. And in that same Cyte was an aūcyent knyght y^t had wedded a fayre yonge wyfe as ye do thempres whiche aboue al other thȳges he loued. This lady coude synge ryght wel. & melodyously & w^t suche swetnes y^e many drewe to her house & desyred her company / It befell vpō a season as she sate in her house. y^e vysage torned in to the strete y^t she myght se them that wēt by. & began swetely tu synge. y^t all folke delyted for to here her. By chaunce came that wayes a knyght of y^e Emperours courte & herde that voyce. lyft vp his eyē & behelde her Intentyfly, & anone he was taken in her loue. and entred in to her house & fyll in communycacyon w^t her of loue. & amonges al other he demaūded what he sholde gyue her too slepe by hym one nyght She answered an hondred floreyns. The knyght sayde. tell me whan I shall come. & I shall gyue you an hondred floreyns. She sayd whan I may haue a conuenyent tyme I shal sende for you. The nexte day she sange ayen in the same place. and it fortuned the secō de knyght of themperour to come by that same way. the whiche in lykewyse was smyten in her loue. & also ꝓmysed her an hondred floreyns. To whom also she promysed to shewe hym a tyme prouyded. The thyrd day was the thyrd knyght in lyke wyse caught in her loue. the whiche also promysed an hōdred floreyns. & she too gyue hym knowelege of the tyme. Thyse thre knyghtes haue so secretly spoken with that lady y^t none [Page]of them had knowledge of other. The lady y^e was of malyce & cautelous replenysshed. came to her husbonde & sayd. syr I haue secrete maters too shewe you. & folowe therin my counseyll yf ye do it: our necessite or pouerte ye may largely releue. The knyght sayd tel it me I shal holde it secrete & fulfyl it to my power. She sayde thre knyghtes of thēperours court haue ben w^t me one after an other. in suche wyse y^e none knoweth of an other counseyll. & euery of them haue offred me an hondred floreyns myght we y^e thre .C. florayns gete & no knowledge therof be had. sholde it not be to vs a grete helpe & our pouerte well releued. The knyght sayd. forsoth yes. & therfore what someuer ye coūseyl me to do I shall folowe it. Tho sayd she. I shall gyue you this counseyll. whan they come with the floreyns ye shall stande behynde y^e yate w^t your swerde drawen in your hande. & bycause y^t euery of them comethe alone. ye shall sle one after another. & so we shal haue the thre. c floreyns of them without knowlege of ony other. The knyght answered. O my best beloued wif I fere me that this euyll can notte be hydde. and we sholde therfore shamefully suffre dethe yf that it we­re knowen. She sayd I shall this werke begynne. & I shall make therof a good ende. and fere it not. whā the knyght sawe that she was so hardy. it caused hym to be the more bolde. and she sent for the fyrst knyght and he came to hyr anone with oute ony taryenge to the yate & knocked. & she askyd yf he brought y^e c. floreyns. and he sayd ye. I haue theym here all redy. [Page]Tho lete she hȳ in. & anone at y^e entrynge in. her hus­bonde kylled hym & so he dyde y^e seconde & the thyrde & in to one secrete chamber they drewe the bodyes of them. whan it was thus done y^e knyght sayd. to his lady. O dere wyfe yf thyse bodyes be founde w^t vs. we shall dye y^e moost shamefull deth y^t can be ymagyned for it is not possyble but y^t thyse knyghtes shall be myssed in themperours courte. & grete, serche & Inquysy on shall be for them made thrugh all this cyte. where they are become. She sayde. Syr I haue this werke begonne. & shal make therof a good ende. fere not. as I afore sayd. This lady had a brother the whiche had the gouernaūce of the watche of y^e cyte that on y^e nyghtis vpon stretes watched w^t his felowes She stode at her gate & called her brother & sayde. O my best brod (er) I haue a secrete mater the whiche in cōfessyon I shal shewe you. & therfore come a lytyll withī. & whan y^t he was come in. the knyght receyued hym frendly & gaue hym wyne to drynke. & sayd. my well beloued bro­der. this is y^e cause y^t I haue called you. for of your coū seyll I haue moche nede. The broder answered say it boldely to me. & what someuer y^t I may do. to my po­wer. y^t shall be at your desyre w^tout lettȳge. Tho sayd she. yesterdaye came in a knyght in good frendshyp / but afterwarde he fyll in suche wordes & varyaunce w^t my husbonde. y^t he slewe hym. & lyeth in my chain­ber. & myn owne dere broder we haue noo man that we may truste but you. & yf y^e body were foūde by vs we sholde dye. & she made mencyon but of one. y^e bro­ther [Page]sayd delyuer it me in a sacke & I shall bere hȳ to y^e see. she herynge y^t was full glad therof. & delyuered to hȳ the body of y^e fyrste knyght he toke it & went w^t ­all a good pase & cast it therin. & as this was done. he came ayen to his syster & sayde. gyue me nowe of the beste wyne for ye are of hym quyte. & she thanked hȳ & went in to her chamber as though she had gone for wyne and began to crye w^t an hygh voyce. y^e knyghte that was caste in to the see is come ayen. As her bro­ther y^t herde he wondred sore. & sayde gyue me hym. I shall se yf he shall aryse ayen. & toke the body of the seconde knyght & wende it had ben of the fyrst knyght & went in to the see. & w^t a grete stone he drowned hym therin. y^t done. went ayen vnto his systers house & say de. nowe fyll me a cuppe with good wyne. for I haue drowned hym so depe y^e he shall neuer come ayen she sayd thanked be god & went ayen too her chamber & sayned her to fetche wyne. & cryed with a grete voyce Alas wo be to me he is rysen ayen and come out of y^e see. & as her brother herde that with grete meruaylle sayd. what deuyll is this knyght that I haue thus caste in to y^e water & notwithstandynge is comen ayen. Delyuer hȳ me y^e thyrde tyme. & I shall se yf he shall come ayen. Tho gaue she hym y^e thyrde knxght. whi­che he byleued had ben y^e fyrste knyght. & yede w^toute y^e cyte to a grete foreste & made a grete fyre & caste the knyght therin. & whan he was almost brente. y^e brod (er) went thens a lytel dystaūce to do his nede. Tho came there a knyght. y^t wolde tyde to y^e cyte where on y^e mornȳge [Page]they sholde haue a tourneye & a Iustȳg. & it was colde weder & derke. & was not fer fro y^e cyte. as y^t he had a syght of that fyre drewe therto & alyghted from his horse & warmed hȳ. The waker came & sayd to hȳ what arte y^u. The knyght sayd. I am a gentyl knyghte. Tho spake y^e waker & sayd. y^u arte no knyght but a deuyll for fyrste I caste y^e in to the water. the .ij. tyme w^t a grete stone I drowned the. & the .iii. tyme I haue put y^e in this fyre supposynge y^t y^u haddest be brente. & yet y^u standest here. & tho he toke y^e knyght w^t his hors & cast them both in to the fyre. & after y^t he went ayē to his syster & tolde what had hapned hȳ. Nowe brȳ ge me of y^e best wyne. for after y^e I had breute hym I foūde hym ayen by y^t fyre w^t his horse. & I haue caste them both in the fyre. & his syster perceyued well y^t he had brent a knyght of the tourney whiche anone broughte hȳ of y^e best wyne habūdaūtly. & after he had wel dronken. he went thens. Not longe tyme after that there fyll a grete debate & cōtencōn betwyx the kny­ghte & his wyfe. in suche wyse y^t he smote her. which had indygnacyon therof & waxed. angry & sayd that many myght here it. O wretche wyll ye kylle me as ye haue done the thre knyghtꝭ of themperours. men y^t herynge layde handes on them. & brought them be fore y^e emperour & y^e woman anone knowledged y^t hyr husbonde hadde slayne the thre knyghtes of themperours. & how he toke fro them thre hondred floreyns & as it was thus in trouth foūde. bothe were drawen atte an horse tayll and hanged vppon the galowes. [Page]Than sayd y^e mayster to themperour. haue ye vnder­stande what I haue sayd. He answered ryghte well. I saye for certayne that wyfe was y^e worste woman that myght be of all wymmē. for she moued & styred hȳ to murdre. & afterwarde dyscouered hym. The mayster sayd. It is w^tout doubte y^t it shall to you happen worse yf ye put to deth your sone by y^e aduyse of your wyfe. Themperour sayd. my sone shall not dye. this day The mayster y^t herynge yaue thankynges to themperour. and toke leue & went his waye.

The seuenth example of the Empresse:

THere was somtyme a kyng. the whiche loued his wyfe aboue all thynge. in so moche that he closed her in a stronge castell. & bare y^e keyes of the castel hymselfe. The lady was therfore ryght heuy & desolate. Now in ferre partyes there was a valyaunte knyght. y^e whiche in a nyght had a dreme after this effecte For he thought that he sawe one of the fayreste quenes y^t myght be. y^e whiche aboue all thynges desy­red to haue her loue. y^t yf he myghte se her walkynge he sholde clerely haue knowlege of by whome to hym grete frendshyp & worshyp sholde come. To y^t quene in y^e same nyght by vysyon of the sayd knyght. it was to her also shewed. & yet they hadde of eche other neyther knowlege of name neyther of fame. whan y^e knyght had thus dremed & seen in his slepe. he thought & determyned in his mynde that his fote sholde not reste vnto y^e tyme tyll he had founde that lady. y^t to hym was shewed in his vysyon. and lepte vpon his horse / and toke with hym all that to hym was necessarye for his journey. and rode and laboured thrughe dyuerse regyons and londes soo longe tyll at the last he came vnto the same londe. where that the quene was by her husbonde closed or kepte in a stronge castel. And whā this sayd knyght was come in to y^e same cyte. and by a certayne season had theri soiourned. it happened on a day as this knyght walked by the castell. and kne­we not y^t y^e quene was therin she sate in a wȳdowe to beholde & see y^e people goynge by. & amonge all other she sawe the sayd knyght. and knewe that he was the [Page]same man. that she had dremed of. And y^e knyght by chaunce lyfte vp his eyen & perceyued y^e lady syttyng in the wyndowe. & anone his mynde shewed hym y^t it was she y^t he the dremes of had. & he began to synge a songe of loue. And as she herde y^t. she was anone taken w^t his loue. The knyghte from thensforth dayly went & walked aboute y^t castell beholdynge it ouer all y^t yf in ony maner wyse he myght gete to her too shewe his mynde. The lady perceyuȳge that she wrote a letter & cast it downe to hym. And whan he had sene ouer y^e letter. & vnderstode y^e wyll of that lady. he be­gan to haunte Ioustes & tournamentes & dyde so many gret & merueylous actes or dedes. that y^e name of hym came to the kynge. And as the kynge herde that he sent after hym & sayd to hym. Syr knyght I haue herde moche honour of you. yf it wyll please you for to abyde & to dwell w^t vs. we shall gyue you large gyftes & rewardes. The knyght answerd. O ryght myȝ­ty prynce I am your seruaunte. wolde god y^t I coude do ony seruyse to please your magnyfycence. w^tout takynge of rewarde saue one thyng afore all other I desyre. The kynge sayd. shewe it boldely what thynge y^t it is. The knyght sayd. my lorde sythen y^t it hath pleased you for to take me as your seruaūt & one of youre counseyll. me semeth that it were expedyent for bothe our solaces. that I hadde a place nyghe too the wall of the castell: that I myght at all tymes be the more re­dy at your callynge whan that ye haue nede. Then̄e the kynge sayd I consente it to you make it as ye thȳ ke [Page]it beste. Tho wente the knyght & hyred werkemē & made a fayre logynge by y^e walles of y^e toure. & whā it was all redy. He made a couenaūt w^t a werkeman for to make out of his house a secrete way in to y^e tour & whan it was made redy after his entente. he kylled y^e werkeman by cause he sholbe not dyscouer. & went in to y^e quene & dyde to her reuerence accordȳg & they talked of many thynges. y^t at thende he desyred for to slepe by her. which she oftentymes denyed. but neuer y^eles she cōsented to hȳ. After y^t y^e quene thought what shall I do. yf I sholde gyue knowlege herof vnto my husbōd. therof sholde come two euyls y^t one is my shame. & y^e by auenture he shode vtterly forsake me & dryue me out of his londe for euer. & y^e knyght he sholde sle. for fro y^t dethe he coude not escape. & therfore it is better y^t I be styll & tell not. The knyght after y^t as of tentymes as it pleased hym he went in to the quene. & & dyde his wyll with her. And she gaue hym a rynge the whiche y^e kyng had gyuen vnto her at theyr weddynge. This knyght in euery batayll and tournamēt hadde the vyctory. wherfore he wus and stode in grete fauour with the kynge in somoche that he made hȳ his stewarde. & gouernoure of al his Regyon. & lond. ¶ At happened vppon a daye that the kynge dyspo­sed hym selfe for too goo too chase or huntynge. and he commaunded his stewarde for too make hym redy vppon the morowe for too goo with hym. whertoo he offred hym selfe all redy. ¶ And on the morowe after [Page]they entred in to y^e forest. & all that daye they chased. & folowed y^e wylde bestes that they were so wery that y^e kynge by a fontayne sate hȳ downe to reste. & y^e knyghte by y^e kynge. & fyll on slepe by hym. hauynge y^e rȳ ge vpon his fynger. y^e whiche the kyng marked & knewe. After y^t the knyght perceyued y^t the kynge had se­ne the rynge. fayned hymself seke & sayd. My lorde I fele my selfe sore seke y^t yf I fynde not hastely remedy therfore by the meanes physyke I am but a dede mā & therfore I pray you lycence me to go home. To whome he sayd. go my dere frend in goddes name. he anone gate on his horse & hasted hȳ to his house. & wente to the quene & gaue her ayen y^e rynge. & tolde her how y^e kynge hud marked it & sene it on his fynger & pra­yed her yf he made ony questyons of y^e rynge y^t he sholde shewe it to hȳ. This done he went downe ayen to his lodgȳge. And anone ofter y^t the kynge came to the quene & she receyued hym ryght. louȳgly. & after y^t a lytyl tyme was passed. the kyng sayd. My lady shew me where y^e ryng is that I gaue to you. I desyre to se it. O my lorde to what entente at this tyme desyre ye to se it. Than sayd he. yf ye shewe if not to me Incōtynēt it shall repente you. She rose anone vp & went to cheste & brought the rȳge to y^e kynge. And as he sawe y^e rynge. he was halfe ashamed & sayd vnto her. O howe lyke is the knyghtes rynge vnto this rynge. why­che I sawe vpon his fynger. and I bileued that it had ben my rynge. and therfore it was that I asked it of you so hastely after the rynge. And of this euyll suspecyon [Page]I yelde my self gylty ayenst you my dere lady. in this behalfe. for y^e strength of the toure deceyued me. For I thȳke y^e noo man myght come therin. but I my self alone. She sayde. My dere lorde. wond (er) not. for one rynge is lyke an other. for werke men make seldo­me ony werke. but y^e other make the same. but god forgyue it you that ye haue had me suspect. whan ye knowe the strength of y^e toure. & the keyes ye haue alway by you. & byleue no man ther w^t. After y^t the knyght lete ordeyn̄ a grete dyner & sayd to the kȳge. My lorde it is so that my lady in loue is come out of my countre & I haue done to be made a feste or a dyner. & gladly I wolde pray you that at this tyme ye wyll doo me honour. & take suche mete as is in my house. The kynge sayd I shal gladly do you y^t worshyp & more. The knight was therof glad. & by his secrete way went to the quene & sayd to her. My lady this day ye shal come to my house by my preuy way. & clothe you in ryche clo­thynge after the way of my coūtre. & ye shal syt at the table w^t the kynge as my souerayne lady. & make hȳ good there She sayd as ye wyll I shall in all thȳges fulfyll. & whan the houre of mete was come. & the kȳ ge from the castell was comyng to wardes the knyghtes house. In the meane tyme the quene entred by the secrete way in to the knyghtes lodgynge & apparay­led her after the maner of the knyghtes countre. and whan the kynge was entred in to the house. she salu­ed hym reuerently and receyued hym. and whan the kynge hadde beholden her he demaunded of the knyghte. [Page]what woman is this that is so fayr. Then y^e knyghte sayd my lorde it is my souerayne lady that now is come out of my coūtre after me. I haue taryed lon­ge in her seruyce. Then the knyght set the kynge att y^e t able as it behoued. & made the quene to syt by hym / & the kynge thoughte that it was his quene. and sayd w^tin hymself. O how lyke is this woman vnto my wyfe. So y^e strength of the toure deceyued hym. that he gaue more fayth and credence to y^e knyghtes wordes than he dyde vnto his owne eyen. The quene began̄e for to speke & talke vnto the kynge and to styre hym for to ete and drynke & to make good chere. And whā as the kynge herde her voyce and speche than he sayd to hymselfe. O blessed lady. lyke is this woman vnto my quene. in her behauyng / in speche / in vysage / & in all other thȳges & condycyons. and alwayes y^e streng the of the toure fayled hym. In the ende of y^e mete. y^e knyght prayed his loue to synge a songe afore y^e kyng the whiche began for to synge a songe of loue. whan as he herde that & knewe her voyce. he thought is not this my wyfe. How may it be she. haue not I y^e keyes of the toure my selfe in kepynge. and soo all the mete tyme he sate and strofe within hymselfe. Tho att the laste he sayde vnto the knyght that he sholde take vp the table for he hadde som what for too done for why that he sate in suche a grete thought. and aduysemēt The knyght answered and sayde. My lorde ye make noo good chere. ye are full of thoughtes. ¶ And yf it [Page]please you we shall make to you more sporte & solace. And the woman sayd please it you syr kynge here by vs tary. we shall make you all the sporte & solace that we can. lyke as y^e quene is in her solace & conforte. He sayd take away the table. for I may no lenger abyde Then the knyght at the commaundement of y^e kynge toke vp the table. & thanked theym all. And y^e kynge wente hastely vnto the castell in serchynge whether y^t the quene were w^tin or not. And in the meane whyle the quene went vp by her preuy way. & put of her vppermost vestures & the kynge founde her in the same clothynge that he lefte her afore. Whan as the kynge was entred & so founde her. he embraced & kyssed her & sayd vnto her. This day I haue eten w^t my knyghte and w^t his loue that is come out of his coūtree. and sythen I was borne vnto this day myn eyen hath not sene two so lyke creatures in al thyng as she is to you and this mete tyme I haue be soo moche styred with dyuerse thȳges y^t I coude no lenger abyde there. but y^t I muste come & serche whether ye were here or the­re. Tho sayd y^e quene. Syr how myght ye thynke y^t. for ye knowe well y^t this toure is fast. & stronge ynou­ghe & that no body can come in nor out w^tout you. for ye alone haue alwayes the keye. How were it then possyble for me to be there. Ye fynde somtyme one man lyke on other and therfore ye sholde take none argumētes of mysdemyng or of suspycion as ye late dyde of the rynge. The kynge sayd. that is true and therfore I knowlege my selfe gylty that. I haue mysdemed [Page]you. After that came to hym y^e knyght & sayd. My lorde I haue of longe tyme serued your good grace. and now it is tyme that I retourne ayen in to my countre & therfore for all the seruyce y^t I haue done vnto you I desyre of you but one thynge to do for me. y^t my lo­ue y^e whiche I entende to wedde in the face of the chyrche. whiche hath folowed me out of ferre countrees. & her I shall brynge thyder ayen as my lawefull wyfe Therfore I beseche and praye your noble grace that ye wyll do me this honour. that by your owne honde ye wyll gyue her afore the preest vnto me. the whiche shallbe vnto me greete honour and worshyp whan I come in to my countree. The kynge answered. y^t petycyon and more yf ye desyre it. that shall I gladly doo and fulfyll it. The knyght prefyxed the daye of maryage. To the whiche daye this good kynge came to the chyrche worshypfully. The preest was redy & stode indued w^t his vestymentes for to solemnyse the matrymonye. The knyght had the quene all redy apparay­led in his owne house after his maner & had ordeyned two knyghtes for to lede her to the chyrche. they byleuynge that it had ben his paramour: And whan they were before in the face of y^e chyrche y^e preest sayd. who shall gyue this woman vnto this knyght. then the kȳ ge sayd. I shall gyue her to myn owne knyght. and toke her by the hande & sayd vnto her. O good woman ye are moche lyke vnto my quene. and therfore I lo­ue you the better. and also for that ye be my knyghtes wyfe and shall be of my house and putte the quenes [Page]hande in to y^e knyghtes hande. an y^e preest after y^e maner of the chyrche hath bounde & wedded them togy­der. and whan all this was fynysshed & done the knyghte sayd vnto y^e kyng Syr my shyp y^t I entende to go in towardes my countre is all redy to make sayle wherfore I humbly beseche hyghly your moost noble grace that it wyl please you for to accompany my wy therunto & that ye wyll aduertyse & enfourme her y^t ye wyll aduertyse an enfourme her that she loue me & haue me in fauoure aboue all other creatures lyuynge and the rather for your gode excytacyon & doctryne. Thenne the kynge with a grete multytude of people went with theym & accompanyed theym vnto the shyppe. of whoos departynge many of them were do launte to the shyppe. the kynge began to say vnto the quene. my moost dere frende. herken now well vnto my counseyll and folowe it. for it shall be for your honour & proufyte. My knyght hath now here wedded & done to you al y^e worshyp y^t in hym is. wherfore loke y^t ye loue & honour hym aboue all erthly creatures & y^t hath god commaunded & that ye be too hym true & obedyent. & as this was sayd he delyuered her vnto y^e knyght. saynge my blessyng go w^t you both. & our lorde kepe & conduyte you in sauete to your coūtre. Thē the knyght and the quene bowed and enclyned down̄ her hedes vnto y^t kynge. & thanked hym of all thyngꝭ and they commytted hym to god. and entred in to the shyppe and the maryners haled vp the sayles and say led forth afore the wynde soo that w^tin a short tyme [Page]the kyng had loste y^e syght of the shyp. And from thēs he went hastely to y^e castall & myssed the quene. & whā he founde her not / he was meued in all the partes of his body. & sought all about y^e toure and serched. tyll at laste he founde y^e hole or y^e secrete way y^e the knyght had made. & as he saw that than cryed he and weped and sayd. Alas alas this knyght in whom I hadde so grete confydence & truste hath taken away my wyfe was I not a fole y^t I gaue more fayth in to his wordꝭ then I dyde to myne owne eyen. ¶ Than sayd them­presse. My lorde haue ye vnderstand what I haue sayde. Themperour sayd. ryght wel. in y^e best wyse. Then sayd thempresse. remember how y^t he trusted the knyghte & yet he deceyued hȳ. In the same manere wyse ye haue confydence in the. seuen wyse maysters / and they laboure for to destroye me that am your wyfe. & ye gyue more fayth vnto theyr wordes than ye do vnto your owne eyen. for ye haue well sene how y^t youre sone rente and scratched me. Wherof yet I bere and haue the tokens & the markes as ye may see. And also ye knowe well how that your cursed sone hath me ashamed & ye marke not howe they defende hym in his foly and falshede. Therfore it is to be dradde y^t it shall happen to you as it dyde to the kynge that too you I haue spoken of. Themperour sayde. I byleue myn eyen better than theyr wordes. & therfore I say you y^t to morowe I shall do Iustyce of hym. On y^e morowe the Emperour commaunded that his sone sholde be hanged. Tho began ayen a grete noyse in and

THere was a knyght y^t had a fayre yonge wyfe whome he entyrely loued in so moche that he coude not be out of her syght. It hapned on a tyme y^t they played togyder at the chesse. & y^e knyght by chaū ce helde a knyfe in his hande & she playng fortuned to smyte her hand vpon y^e knyf. y^t a lytel blode began to appere. Whan y^e knyght sawe that his wyfe bled. he sorowed moche and was sore aferde of his wyfe y^t he fel to the grounde in a swoune. his wyfe cast colde water vpon his vysage. y^t he a lytell came ayen too hym selfe & sayd lyghtely call the curate w^t the holy sacra­mente for I muste deye for the blood y^t I haue seen come out of your fȳger hath smyten the deth to my herte. The preest came and houseled hym. & anone after he dyed w^tout ony taryeng for whoos deth there was made grete sorowe & bewaylȳges and specyally of y^e wyfe. And after that the obsequyes & buryenge was done accordynge. She went and lay vpon the buryel or graue and there she made the gretest sorowe of the worlde. and sayd that she wolde neuer departe from thens but as a turtyll douue she wolde for the loue of her husbonde there abyde & dye. Tho went her fren­vnto her and sayd what auayleth this for his soule to lyue & dy here it is better y^t ye go to your house & gyue almes for y^e loue of god & y^t shal more auayle his soule. than in this place to abyde. To whom she answerd be styll ye are euyll coūselours. Cōsyder not ye how I am fro hȳ seperate & departed by his deth for a lytell blode y^t he sawe com out of my hōd or fȳger. & therfore [Page]I shall neuer fro hens departe. Her frendes herȳge y^t lete make a lytell house or lodgynge nygh vnto y^e graue. & put therin all thynges y^t to her was necessarye & went theyr wayes thȳkynge that within a whyle she sholde be wery to be alone. & so desolate from all company & y^t therby she sholde desyre ayen y^e company of people. In y^t cyte was thenne a lawes y^t whan a trespassour or offendour ayenst the lawe were hanged. y^t y^e shyryf all y^t nyght sholde watche & kepe the body all armed. & yf it hapned y^t the body of hym hanged were stolen away. y^e seryf sholde lese all his londe. & his lyfe at y^e kynges pleasure. At hapned sone after y^t the knyghte was dede a man too be hanged for trepasse that be had done. so that y^e sheryf after y^e lawe of the londe all the nyght watched by y^e galowes y^t was not fer fro y^e cyte. & y^t chyrche yerde was not ferre from the wal­les of y^e same. Tho became y^e sheryf so colde y^t he wyst not but to dye for colde. w^tout the rather y^t he myghte warme hym. it was so feruent a colde & so stronge a a froste. and he behelde fro thens about hym & sawe y^t fyre in y^t chyrcheyerde. & hasted hym & came therto. & whan he was come he called & knocked at the lytyll house. The woman spake who is that y^t at this houre is knockynge at y^e house of this sorowfull woman. I am y^e shyref that so moche colde suffreth y^t w^tout anone ye late me in I shall frese to deth. She sayd. I fere me yf that I lete you come in ye sholde shewe me such wordes y^t sholde cause me for to be more heuyer & he fayd I promyse vnto you y^t I shall saye no wordes to [Page]your dyspleasure. Then lete she hym in. and whan he a whyle had sytten by y^e fyre & was well warmed he sayd to her. O fayre woman w^t your lycence wolde I fayne speke but one worde vnto you. She answered to hym. syr say what it pleaseth you. He sayd. O lady ye be a fayr gentyl woman ryche & yonge. were it not better & more conuenyent for you to dwell at home in your house & to gyue almesse than to destroye & consu me your lyfe here w^t wepynges & cryenges. She sayde syr knyght had I knowen this afore ye had not come herin for I say to you. as I haue sayd too other oftentymes. Ye knowe well y^t my husbonde loued me so well that for a lytyll bloode y^t he sawe me blede on one of my fyngers he is dede. wherfore I shall here deye for the loue of hym. As the knyght herde this he toke leue and wents to the galowes. & whan he was there come. he sawe y^t the theef that he left there hangynge was stolen & caryed a waye. & began therfore to wexe heuy & full of sorowe. & sayd. wo is me what shall I do for I haue loste my lyfe and all my good. And he go­ynge thus full of sorowe & heuynesse. & wyste not whyche waye to torne hym or to go. at the laste bethought hym to go to y^t deuoute & desolate lady. & she we vnto hyr y^e heuynesse of his herte. to wyte of y^t she coude gyue hym ony gode counseyll. And whan he was then̄es come he called. & she axed the cause of his knockynge Tho sayd he. madame I am the shyref that was he­re ryght no we w^t you. & I wolde feyne shewe you y^e secretes of myn herte. Therfore I praye you for y^e loue [Page]of god open the dore. and he wente in & sayd to her. O moost vertuous lady I come to haue your counseyll and aduys. for ye knowe well y^e lawe of y^e londes are that whan so euer ony man is hanged & stolen a waye of the galowes. than the shyref his lyfe and godes be in y^e kynges handes. Nowe it is happened in y^e tyme that I was here with you & warmed me. y^e theefis stolen a way frome y^e galowes. therfore I praye you for the loue of god gyue me your aduys what is me beste to do. She answered I haue compassyon vpon you. for by the lawe ye haue loste lyfe & goodes to y^e kynge Do nowe after my coūseyll. & ye shall neyther lese ly­fe ne godes. He answered therfore I came to you ho­pynge to haue gode comforth. She sayd wyll ye than promyse to take me to your wyfe. the knyght answe­red. wolde god that ye wolde do y^t. but I fere me leste y^t ye wolde dysdeyne so moche to humble you too me y^t am so pore a knyght. She sayd I gyue you my wyl therto. & he yaue her ayen his wyll & consented too be her knyght durynge his lyfe. Tho sayd she. ye knowe well y^t suche a day my lorde was buryed whiche for y^e loue of me deyed. take hym oute of his sepulture. & go hange hym in stede of y^e theef. The knyght answered lady your coūseyll is good. Tho went they togyder & opened the graue & drewe hym out. The knyght sayd howe shall we nowe doo. by cause or the theef was taken. two of his vpper tethe were smyten oute. & I fe­re me yf y^t were perceyued I shold be dede. She sayd to hym. take a stone and stryke oute two of his tethe [Page]The knyght answerd. madame y^t may not do for while he lyued he was my wel beloued felowe & it sholde be to me a grete rebuke. yf I cōmytted soo dysloyall a dede vnto his body beynge dede. She answered for your loue I shall do it. & toke a stone & smote out two of his tethe. & sayd to the shyref. take hȳ & hange him vpon y^e galowes lyke to y^e theef. The knyght sayde I fere me to do it. for y^e theef in takynge of hȳ was woū ded in y^e hede. & he wanted both his eres. & therfore yf it were serched & founde otherwyse. it sholde be to my vtter vndoynge. Than sayd she. take out your swer­de & make hym a grete wounde on his hede. & cut of his eres. O madame god forbede y^e I do y^t to the dede body y^t I loued so well in his lyfe. Than sayd she. gyue me your swerde & I shal for y^e loue of you do it. & toke y^e swerde & smote a manly stroke vpon y^e dede mānes forhede. & cut of bothe his eres. And whan she hadde thus done. sayd. Now take & hange hym w^tout com­pany. & than y^e knyght answered. yet I fere me to hā ­ge hȳ. for y^e theef wanted both his stones. & yf that were serched & foūde w^tout. all our labour were in vayn Then sayd she. I sawe neuer so feerfull a man seyng y^t mater so clere & sure. Take a knyfe & cut of his slones. And be answered. y^t may I not do in no wyse and therfore I pray you spare me. & ye knowe well what a man is w^tout his stones. She sayd for y^e loue of you I shall do it. And toke y^e knyf in her hande & cutte of husbondes stones and to hym. nowe take this churle thus dysfygured and hange hym vp withoute drede [Page]And went forth togyder and henge vp the body vpō y^e galowes & so was the shyref delyuered out of the kȳ ges daunger. Tho sayd y^e lady. now be ye quyte of all your daungeours & fere & all thy sorowes by my coū ­seyll. And therfore I wyll y^t ye wedde me in y^e face of y^e chyrche. The knyght sayde I haue made a vowe y^t I shal neuer wed other as longe as ye lyue. which I wyl holde. but afterwarde he sayd. O y^u moost shameful & worst womā of al wȳmen who wolde take y^e to his wyfe. An honourable & a louynge knyght was thy husbō de. whiche for a lytel blode y^t he sawe of thy fȳger shed dyed now haste y^u smyten out two of his tethe. y^u haste cutte of his eres. & his stones. & y^u haste made hȳ a grete wounde in his hede. what deuyll wolde wed y^e. & by cause y^t y^u shal neuer shame more good man. I shal rede y^e. & drewe his swerde & w^t one stroke he smote of her hede. The mayster. sayd. My lorde haue ye vnderstande what I haue sayd. The emperour sayd. ryght well. Amonges all wymmen was this y^e worste & the knyght rewarded her accordynge. so as she sholde no more men shame. And thēperour sayd more ouer. O my good mayster myght I ones here my sone speke I sholde gyue no charge of my lyfe. Tho sayd the mayster. To morowe ye shall here hym speke afore you & afore al y^e lordes of thempyre. & he shall shewe y^e very trouth of all y^e varyaunce betwyxte vs & thempresse as I hope. & toke his leue of themperour & departed.

¶ The example of Dyoclesyan the Emperours sone

THere was a knyght whiche hadde but one so­ne that he loued ryght moche in begynnynge as ye nowe all onely haue me. whome he delyuered to a mayster of ferre coūtrees to nourysshe & to lerne. y^e chylde was of a grete wytte & prouffyted moche and grewe as well in lernynge as in body. And whan he had dwelled with his mayster seuen yere. his fader desyred to see hym. & sent letters to hym y^t he sholde come ayen in to his coūtree & vysyte his frendes in lyke wyse as ye haue sente for me. The chylde was obedyent to his fader & came at his cōmaūdement of whos comynge he Ioyed moche. for y^t he was as well growen in his membres as in doctryne. To euery man he appered pleasaūt and gentylle. It happened vpon a daye y^t the fader and the moder syttynge at y^e table. & the chylde seruynge theym. A nyghtyngale came fle­ynge afore y^e wyndowe where as they satte. & began for to synge so swetely y^t they merueyled. And y^e kny­ght sayd. O how swetely this byrde syngeth. well were hym y^t coude vnderstande his songe. & coude shew the interpretacyon therof. Thenne the sone sayd. my worshypfull fader the song of the nyghtyngale I coude well declare. but I fere your dysplesure. The fader sayd. saye hardely my sone y^e interpretacyon of y^e byrde. & than ye shall proue whether I shall be angry or not. but I shall marke well y^e reason of myn angre. & whan y^e sone herde y^t he sayd. y^e nyghtyngale hath sayd in his songe. that I shall become a grete lorde. y^t I shall be honoured & worshypped of all men. & namely [Page]of my fader. the whiche shall brynge the water for to wasshe in myn handes. and my moder shall holde the towell. The fader sayd thou shall neuer see y^t day suche seruyce of vs to haue. nor none suche dygnyte shall folowe the. and in greate malyce & wodenesse he toke his sone vppon his sholders & ranne to the see & cast hym in it and sayd. Lye there the interpretatour of y^e byrdes songe. The chylde coude swymme. and swymmed to a londe where he was foure dayes with out mete or drynke. The fyft daye there came a shyp saylynge. and as the chyld sawe that. he called loude to the shypmen̄ & sayd for the loue of god delyuer me frome the peryll of dethe. The shypmen sawe that it was a fayre yonge man they had compassyon on hȳ and went with theyr bote and fette hym aborde. and in to ferre countrees with them shey ledde hym. and solde hym there to a duke. The chylde grewe goodly and fayre. & the duke loued hym moche. & hadde him gretely in his fauoure. Vppon a tyme the kynge of y^t realme lete calle and assemble all the greate lordes & noble men of his londe to a generall coūsell. This duke prepared & ordeyned hym to go to y^e coūsell. & marked the wysdome & the wytte of the chylde & toke the thylde with hym. And whan they were all gadred & assembled before the kynge in his coūseyll My welbeloued lordes & frendes sayd y^e kynge. wylle ye wete y^e cause wherfore y^t I haue called you to this counseylle Then sayd they all we be all souerayne lorde at your commaūdemente. Then y^e kynge sayd.

It is a secrete mater y^t I shall shewe you. yf y^t ony mā can open it & declare what y^t it sygnyfyeth. I swere & promytte vnto hym by my crowne y^t I shall gyue too hym myn only doughter in maryage. & he shal be my felowe in my realme duryng my lyfe. & after my de­the he shall haue & possede all the hole kyngedome. & y^e mystery of the counseyll is this. Thre rauons alwa­yes folowe me where so euer that I goo. they leue me not. but cry w^t suche horryble voyces. y^t it is grete payne for me to here them: & to beholde theyr lokynges. & therfore yf ther be ony man y^e whiche that knoweth the cause of theyr folowynge. & can shewe what they mene by theyr cryenge & voyde theym fro me. w^tout doubte I shall fulfyll this promyse y^t I haue made. & as the kynge had thus sayd. there was none foūde in all the coūseyll y^t wyst the cause or coude moue or put awaye the rauons. Then sayd y^e chylde too the duke. Mylorde thynke ye that the kynge wyl holde his promyse or worde yf I accomplysshe his wyll and desyre Than y^e duke sayde I thynke he wyll holde y^t he hath promysed. but wyl ye y^t I gyue the kynge knowlege of you what ye can do. Then y^e chylde sayd. I wyl my lyfe set in pledge & I shall perfourme & make it good y^t I haue sayde. whan y^e duke herde that he went to the kynge & sayd. My lorde the kyng. here is a yonge mā that is ryght connynge & wyse. the whiche promyseth for to satysfye & fulfyl in al thȳges your desyre as touchȳge the rauons yf ye wyll fulfyll that ye haue pro­mysed. The kynge swore by the crowne of his kynge­dome [Page]what I haue promysed in al thynges shalbe ful fylled Tho brought he y^e chylde before the kynge. and whan the kynge sawe hym he spake to hym. O fayre chylde can ye gyue answere to my questyon. The chylde sayd My lorde ye in the best wyse. your questyon if wherfore y^t the rauons folowe you & horrybly crye vpon you To whiche I answere. Vpon a tyme it hapned that two rauons a male & a female had brought for­the bytwene them the thyrde rauon. vpon the sayd se was so grete famyne & scarsytee of all maner of thȳ ges y^t men bestes & foules dyed & perysshed for defaute. The thyrde rauon y^t tyme beynge yonge in the nest the moder lefte it sekynge where she myght best gete her lyuynge. & came nomore to y^e neste. The male ra­uon seynge that with grete penurye and laboure fed the yong rauon tyll that he was able to flye and. whā the dere tyde was passed and gone then the female rauon came ayen too the yonge rauon and wolde holde felysshyppe and company with hym. And as the ma­le rauon sawe that he wolde haue dryuen her away. saynge thus. that she in his grete myscheyf and necessyte lefte hym and his company. and therfore nowe she sholde wante his company and felysshyppe. She alledged and sayd that she had in his byrthe grete laboure and sorowe. and suffred penurye. And therfo­re of his company she sholde rather Ioye than the fader. For this my souerayne lorde they folowe you as kynge the ryght Iugement whiche of them both shal haue the yonge rauon in theyr company. and this is [Page]the cause of theyr horryble clamour and noyse that they make dayly vpon you. But my lorde hadde ye hereupon a ryghtwysse sentence gyuen ye sholde neuer more see theym or be troubled w^t theyr cryenge. Tho sayd the kynge. for the cause that the moder hath lett & forsaken the yonge rauen in his mooste necessyte. it standeth with reason & iustyce y^t she shall wante & be without his felyshyp. And where y^t she sayth & alled­gethe y^t in the berynge & byrth of hym she hadde greate payne and traueyle. that helpeth her not. for y^t pay­ne was torned in to Ioye as sone as she sawe the yonge rauen in the worlde. But for y^t the male is y^e cause of produccyon & generacyon in euery beste. & also y^t he the yonge rauon in his necessyte sustayned & fedde in to the recoueryng & nourysshynge of his body. therfore I gyue for a iugement & for a sentence dyffinityue y^t the yonge rauen shall abyde & holde company w^t the fader and not with the moder. And whan the ra­uons herde this sentence. with a greate noyse & crye they fl [...]we vp in the ayre & were no more seen nefoū de in all that Regyon. whanne that this was doone y^e kynge demaunded of the yonge man wha this name was. He answered I am called Alexander. Tho sayd the kynge. I wyll haue one thynge of you. y^t ye frome hens forth shal name & take me & none other for your fader but me. for ye shall marye my doughter. and ye shall be possessour of all my realme. The yonge Alexander abode and dwelled stylle with the kynge. and euery man hadde too hym fauour and loue. for he began [Page]to haunt and occupy hymselfe in iustes & in tourneys. wherin at all tymes he had the pryse aboue all other y^t were in all Egypte. soo y^t his pere or lyke was not founde. & there was not so harde nor so obscure a questyon put vnto hym. but y^t he coude assoyle it. At that tyme was there an Emperoure named Tytus. that excelled in gentylnesse curtesy & curposyte of all other Emperours kynges and prynces in y^e worlde. In so moche y^t suche a fame & noyse flewe & ranne ouer all the worlde of it y^t what so euer he was y^t wolde prouffyte in connynge maners or behauynge. that he sholde go to the Emperours courte And whan Alexander herd that he sayd to the kynge My most honourable fader & lorde ye wote well that al the worlde is full of the fame of themperoure so y^t it is delectable to abide & dwel in hys courte wherfore yf it please yow my lorde & fader I wolde gladly go to hys court that I myght be wyser & prompter in maners & behauȳ ­ge than I am. Thereupon answered y^e kynge. It pleaseth me ryght well. but I wolde that ye take with you plente of golde & syluer & other necessaryes. so moche y^t ye myn honoure ther w^t may saue. & y^t ye may haue also y^t is to you requysyte & behouefull. And also me semeth it were expedyent y^t ye afore your departyng sholde mary my doughter. Tho answerd Alexander wyll it please you my lorde too spare me at this tyme & at my comynge home ayen I shall wedde hir w^t all honoure as to her apperteyneth. The kynge answe­red. sythen it is your wyll to go to themperours court [Page]I lycence you and therto I consente. Alexander toke leue of the kynge. & toke with hym tresoure ynoughe & went to themperours courte. And whan he was come with a fayre companye. he wente afore the Emperoure & felle on his knees. and salued hym & dyd hym reuerence. Themperoure rose frome his sete imperyall and kyssed hym. & asked of hym of whens & what he was. & wherfore he was comen. He answered and sayd I am sone & heyre to the kynge of Egypte. & am come to do seruyce to your moost hyghe maieste yf it please you to accepte me. Themperour sayd y^t he was ryght welcome. & cōmytted hym to his stewarde. and made hym his keruer. The stewarde ordeyned hym a fayre chamber & purueyed hym all thynges y^t were necessary to the same. And Alexander behaued hym so well & wysely y^t in shorte tyme of all people he was beloued. Not longe after that came y^e kynges sone of Fraunce to do seruyse to themperoure & to lerne nurture. whome themperour receyued honourably and demaūded his name & of what kynred he was come. He answered I am sone to the kynge of Fraūce. & I haue to name Lodwyke your seruaūte. Tho sayd the Emperoure I haue made Alexander my karuer. & ye shall be my cuppe berer. y^t al wayes ye shall do seruyse afore me at my table. & cōmaūded his stewarde to assygne hym a lodgynge whome he assygned w^t Alex­ander in his chamber. These were soo lyke in stature in vysage. & in condycyons y^t vnneth y^e one myght be dyscerned fro y^e other. but y^t Alexander was more in [Page]cōnyng & lyghtlyer in his dedes than Lodwyke was for Lodwyk was a femynyne man & shamfast. & the­se two yong men loued well togyder. This Emperoure had a doughter oonly named Florentyne. y^e which was ryght fayr & gracyous. & shold be his heyre whome he loued entyerly. whiche had a courte by her selfe & seruaūtes to her assygned To whome y^e Emperour euery daye was accustomed to sende frome his table of his deyntes. in tokenyng of loue by y^e hande of alexander. wherupon y^e doughter began to haue hym meruaylouslye in her fauoure bycause of his wysdome & his gracyous demenure. It hapned vpon a day alex­ander at the mete tyme had suche a besynesse y^t he serued not at y^e table nor none other gaue attendaūce for hym in his rowme. Lodwyk perceyued y^t & serued in his stede. And whan he had serued the Emperoure in his laste seruyce vpon his knee. y^e Emperoure cōmaū ded hȳ to bere a dysshe vnto his doughter as he was wonte to do. thynkyng hym to be Alexander. Tho toke Lodwyke y^e dysshe & yede to y^e palays of the Emperours doughter & salued her w^t grete reuerence & set y^e mete afore her. but vnto y^t tyme he had not seen her she perceyued anone y^t it was not alexander. & sayd to hym in this manere. what is your name. & whos sone are ye. & he answered to hyr & sayd. Madame I am y^e kynges sone of fraūce. & my name is Lodwyk. She sayd I thanke you of your laboure. & he toke his leue & departed. In y^e mene tyme came Alexander to y^e ta­ble. & they fulfylled ther seruyce. The dyner done anone [Page]Lodwyk went to his bedde sore seke. And Alexander apperceyuynge that went to his chamber & sayd to hym. O my best beloued frende & felowe Lodwyk how is it with you. & what is y^e cause of your infyrmite. He answered hym & sayd. y^e cause of it I knowe not but I fele me soo seke y^t I fere me I can not escape y^e dethe. Alexander sayd y^e cause of your infyrmyte and dysease I knowe well. For to daye whan as ye bare the mete vnto the Emperours doughter. ye behelde hyr vysage & beaute so feruently. y^t your herte is ta­ken & rauysshed w^t her loue. Therupon he answered O Alexander all the physysyans in the worlde coude not more truly Iuge my sekenesse. but I fere it shall be my dethe. Then sayd Alexander. Be of good comforth & I shall helpe you vnto my power. & yede vnto the market & bought w^t his owne moneye a fayre clothe sette with precyous stones. vnknowynge to Lod­wyke & presented it on his behalue vnto the mayden. & as she sawe y^t she asked hym where he myght that costely & precyouse cloth fynde to bye. & he sayd. Ma­dame it is the sone of y^e moost crysten kynge y^t sendeth it vnto you for youre loue. for he but for one syght y^t he hathe had of you is so seke y^t he lyeth vpon his bed vnto the dethe. & therfore yf ye suffre hym to perysshe ye shall neuer recouer ayen your honoure. Tho sayd she. O Alexander wolde ye this coūseyll me y^e I shold soo lese my vyrgynyte. god defende that. & be ye sure Alexander y^t of suche messages ye shall neuer more haue ne wyn thanke. therfore go ye out of my syght & [Page]speke no more therof to me. whanne Alexander herde that he dyd his obeysaunce & departed. y^e nexte daye Alexander wente ayen to the cyte & bought a chaplet that was two tymes more in value than y^e cloth. and therwith he yede to y^e maydens chamber & yaue it to hyr on the behalue of Lodwyke. And whan she sawe that costely gyfte she sayd vnto hym in this manere. I marueyle of you y^t soo oftentymes as ye haue seen and spoken with me. that ye haue not done your ow­ne erande or spoken for your selfe. but for an other. Then he answered. O madame I haue not ben so disposed. by cause that my byrthe is not to be compared with yours. And also it happened me neuer suche a case that my herte was so wounded. & he y^t hathe a gode felawe is boūde for to doo hym good & true felys­shyp. and therfore moost eccellent pryncesse of youre moost habundaūte pyte haue compassyon vpon hym & make hym hole that ye haue se woūded vnto y^e deth that it be not for euer layde vnto your crueltee & im­pyteouse herte. she answered hym. go your wayes for at this tyme I wyll gyue you none answere therof. And as he herde y^e. he toke his leue & departed. And the thyrde daye he wente vnto the market & boughte a gyrdell y^t thre tymes was more in value & costelyer than the chaplet was. & presented it vnto her on the behalue of Lodwyk. And whan she sawe & behelde y^e so precyouse. she sayd vnto Alexander. Saye to Lodwyk y^t he come to my chamber aboute y^e thyrde hour in y^e nyght. and he shall fynde y^e dore open. & Alexan­der [Page]herynge that he was gladde. & went to his felow and sayd. My beste beloued felowe be ye of gode comforth. for I haue conquered y^e mayden vnto you. and in this nyght I shall brynge you vnto hyr chamber: And whan y^t was sayd. he stert vp as thoughe that he hadde wakened out of his slepe. & was well reuyued & for grete ioye he was made all hole. And y^e next ny­ght folowynge Alexander toke Lodwyke & brought hym vnto the chamber of y^e lady w^t whome he was in solace & Ioye all the nyght. & fro y^e tyme forth all hyr herte was vpon hym so y^t there was but one loue betwyxt them bothe. And after y^t Lodwyke vsyd her oftentymes to vysyte. so y^t it came by processe of tyme to the eres of y^e knyghtes of y^e courte. how y^t the Empe­rours doughter was knowen by Lodwyke: & conspyred amonges them selfe how y^t they myght hym ther with all fynde. & hym to take or sle. as Alexander had knowlege therof. he armed hym to withstande them And whan the knyghtes vnderstode y^t they ferynge. Alexander suffred his felowe to go in peas. & Alexander many tymes put hym selfe in ieoperdye for hym. he not knowynge therof. but y^e mayde knewe it welle. In shorte tyme after y^t there came letters to Alexan­der of the dethe of the kynge of Egypt y^e he sholde has tely come and receyue his kyngdome with honour & Ioye. and that shewed he anone too the mayden and to Lodwyk. and also of his departynge. wherof they were sorowfull & heuy. he sayd also vnto y^e emperour [Page]My mooste redoubted lorde please it you for to vn­derstande that I haue receyued letters of the deth of my fader. wherfore it behoueth me to go & receyue y^e kyngdome. & that ye wylll lycence me to depart. and for all benefetes to done I offre my selfe & all my godes. & rather then I sholde by my goynge awaye offende or dysplese you my lorde I shall forsake all my realme & all y^t I haue in y^e world. & abyde w^t you styll Then sayd y^e Emperoure. knowe ye for certayne y^t of your departynge I am ryght heuy for ye were vnto me the beste seruaut that was in all my house. But it becometh not an Emperoure to lette his seruauntes frome ther promocyons. or auaūcementes. but soner to promote theym vnto hygher & gretter honoure. Therfore go ye vnto. oure tresourer. & he shall dely­uer you as moche golde as ye wyll haue. & in y^e name of god & with my blessynge go in to your coūtre. and thus Alexander had leue of y^e Emperoure & bad fare well. & many of y^e courte were sorowfull of his departynge. for of all he was beloued. Lodwyk w^t the mayden brought hym on his waye well seuen myle. After that Alexander wolde not suffre theym for to go further. then fell they bothe to y^e groūde for grete sorow & Alexander toke & lyfte them bothe vp ayen from y^e erthe. & comforted theym with fayre & swete wordes and sayd. O Lodwyke my moost beloued felawe. I warne you y^t the secretes beynge betwyxt you & my lady. ye hyde them & kepe them as preuely as ye may & take good hede to all thynges. For I wote an other [Page]shall come and be in my stede. that shall enuy you of the fauoure & grace y^t ye stande in w^t the Emperoure and daye & nyght shall lye in a wayte to take you w^t a faute. & to put you to a rebuke. Then answered lodwyk & sayd. O Alexander I shall be ware as moche as to me is possyble. but how shall I nowe do whan I wante your company. therfore one thynge I shall desyre of you y^t ye wyl take this rynge of me for a remē braūce. Then sayd he I shall for the loue of you gladly receyue y^e rynge. & yet sholde I neuer w^toute y^e rynge forgete you. & cōmytted them too god. Then they embraced eche other aboute y^e necke & kyssed. and so departed frome other. Not longe after y^e the kynges sone of Spayne named Guydo was receyued of the Emperoure in y^e rowme & place of Alexander. to whome the stewarde assygned Alexanders place & chamber. whiche was sore ayenste y^e wyll of Lodwyke. but he coude not amende it. Guydo perceyuynge y^t Lod­wyke ayenst his wyll had hym in his felysshyp. anone he toke & had enuye ayenst hym. so that Lodwyke of a longe tyme for fere of y^e sayd Guydo kepte hym out of y^e company of y^e sayd mayde. Neuerthelesse after­warde ouercomen with the loue of y^e mayden. somtyme haūted & wente ayen to hyr as he afore tyme had done. Guydo shortly perceyuynge awayted so longe therupon. y^t he the trouthe knewe. and was therof in surete that the mayden was by Lodwyke knowen & hadde accompanyed with hym. Vppon a tyme it happened y^e the Emperoure stode in hys halle & praysed [Page]gretely Alexander of his gentylnes and wysedome. That herynge Guydo sayde. My lorde he is not soo moche worthy to be cōmended as ye wene for he hath ben a longe whyle a traytour in youre house. thenne themperoure sayd telle me how. Guydo sayd. ye ha­ue but one doughter oonly. y^e whiche shall be your heyre. and y^e Lodwyke hathe defouled & lyen by hyr by the helpe of alexander & he gothe to hyr euery nyght whan it pleaseth hym. and whan y^e emperoure herde y^t he was sore meuyd & wexed angry. & it happened Lodwyke vpon y^e same tyme to come thrugh y^e hall and whan the Emperour sawe hym he sayd. what here I of y^e thou euyll and vntrue body. yf it be founde & proued true thou shalt deye y^e moost shamefull de­the y^t can be deuysed Lodwyke sayd My lorde y^e emperoure what is y^e cause. Guydo answered. I saye & depose here afore my lorde ayenst the y^t thou haste defouled his oonly doughter. & euery nyght thou goost to hyr & doost fornycacyou w^t her. and y^t in batayle I shall proue & make good vpon thy body w^t my body Thenne sayd Lodwyke I am innocente. & not defec­tyue in y^t cryme. & falsely y^u puttest y^t and layest vpon me. & therupon I holde y^e batayle. for I truste on god thy falshede shall come vpon thyn owne hede. Then y^e Emperoure assygned theym the daye of batayle & fyghtynge. That done Lodwyke went vnto y^e may­den & shewed to her y^e cause & the daye of batayle by the Emperoure assygned. and in what maner Guy­do hadde hym accused. and sayd to hyr. Nowe it be­houeth [Page]me to haue your coūseyll. or els I muste deye for why as ye knowe it had not aueyled me to haue ayensayd the batayle w^tout I wolde haue yelded my­selfe gylty. Guydo is stronge & hardy in armes that his lyke is none but alexander. & I am weyke & feble & therfore yf I holde the batayle ayenst hym I am but a dede man. & so shall ye abyde shamed & rebuked. Then sayd she. Do my coūseyle in that. y^t ye mystrust youre selfe. go hastely vnto my fader. & saye to hym that ye haue receyued letters. wherby that ye are acertayned that y^e lorde your fader is sore seke & lyeth vp­pon his dede bed & desyreth to se you & speke w^t youre persone. & to dyspose his kyngdome & his godes afo­re he departe out of this world & desyre his lycence for the loue of your fader y^t ye maye go & vysite hym. & y^t he wyll proroge & lengthe the daye of bataylle whyles y^e ye maye go & come. And whan ye haue obteyned his congye or lycence. as hastely as ye may go secretely to the kynge alexander. & whan ye are come to hym take hym aparte & shewe hym y^e cause of youre comynge & requyre hym in this youre vtter extremyte y^t he wylle vs helpe & ayde. and whan y^t Lodwyke had herd this coūseyll. it pleased hym well & dyde hereafter Hys leue goten & lenger daye or terme of batayle prefyxed and assygned departed & toke his iourneye to wardes y^e realme of Egypte. & neuer letted daye nor nyght tyll he came vnto kynge alexanders castell. & whan y^e kynge alexander hadde vnderstondynge of his comynge. he was moche glad & went to mete hym. & receyued him [Page]honourably. & had wonder of his comyn̄ge Tho sayd Lodwyk. O my dere lorde & my beste byloued frende. my lyfe & my dethe is in youre handes. for as ye sayd to me afore y^t I sholde haue an other felowe y^e whiche sholde lye in awayte to aspye me & too destroye me / w^t out I save y^e more wysely to my selfe: & as longe as I myght I absented me tyll y^t I coude no lenger. but afterwarde y^e kynges sone of Spayne makynge watch soo longe on me tyll that he perceyued y^e trouthe. & ha­the accused me vnto y^e Emperoure. so that frome this daye vnto y^e .viii. daye hereafter prefyxed it behoueth me to come & fyght w^t hym body ayenst body. and as ye knowe well he is a stronge & an hardy man. and I am weyke & feble. & therfore hathe Florentyne coūseyled me y^t I sholde not hyde this my charge frome you For she knoweth you for a faythfull frende. & that ye wolde not leue vs in this necessyte. Then sayd alexander. is there ony body y^t knoweth of your comyng vnto me for this mater more than Florentyne. He answered hym & sayd no creature lyuynge. for I toke leue of y^e Emperoure to go & vysite my fader lyenge greuously seke. Then axed alexander hym what coū seyll hathe Florentyne gyuen to you howe & in what wyse I myght helpe you. He sayd. O moost constaūt & faythfull frende. in this wyse she hathe coūseylled me. cōsyderynge y^t we be lyke. y^t ye sholde come & do y^e batayle wyth hym. no man shall knowe you but she and the batayll done I shall come ayen to y^e court. & ye vnto youre coūtree. Then he asked whan y^e day sholde [Page]be of the batayle. and he sayd this daye .viii. dayes Thenne sayd alexander. yf I sholde this daye tary then can I not come to y^t daye prefyxed. Therfore se what I shall do. I haue boden all my subgectes that to morowe they sholde come & be at my weddynge & brydale. and yf I sholde go than is y^t daye loste / and yf I go not & do the batayle than Florentyne & ye are bothe vndone. what thynke ye nowe beste for to doo whan Lodwyke herde y^t he fell to the erthe & began to syghe & sorowe oute of mesure saynge. sorow and heuynesse come to me on all sydes. Then sayd alex­ander vnto hym. be of good comforte for I shall not forsake you thus thoughe that I sholde lese my wyf & kyngdome but herken what that I haue thought in so moche as we are bothe lyke: soo y^t the one of vs can not be knowen frome y^e other but we be bothe togyder & I am not yet gretly knowen here. but my barons & other folke shall take you for me. therfore here shall ye abyde & tary & mary my wyfe in my stede. & holde y^e feest & brydale. & do in all thynges as though I were there my selfe present. excepte whan as ye come to bedde w^t my wyfe loke y^t ye be there true & fa­ythfull: & I shall w^toute taryenge go & take my horse & ryde theder as y^e batayle shall be. & yf god gyue me the vyctorye y^t I maye ouercome & vaynquysshe your enemye. I shall come ayen secretlye. and ye shall go ageyne to youre partyes and dwellynge place. Thys done. alexander badde Lodwyke fare well. and toke his Iourneye towardes y^e Emperours courte. for to [Page]fyght and to do the batayle with Guydo. & Lodwyk abode in Egypt in the stede of kynge Alexander. and vpon the next mornynge came Lodwyke as though it hadde be kynge Alexander. & solemply in y^e face of the chirche maryed and spoused Alexanders wyfe. & helde y^e feest & brydale w^t grete royalte of delycate. & precyous metes. plente of all maner wynes. & dyuer­se melodyes of instrumentes of musyke. and he made greate Ioye & chere to all the noble men. & to all other people y^e there was assembled. And whan y^e nyghte. was come. he wente to bedde with y^e quene. & layd betwyxt hym and her a naked swerde. wherof she had greate wonder. but no thynge she sayd. and also he laye w^t hir euery nyght as longe as Alexander was out ¶ The kynge Alexander at the daye y^t was prefixed & sette. came vnto y^e Emperoure & sayd. O most drad souerayne lorde it is so y^t I haue left my fader ryght seke. Neuerthelesse I am come for to defende myn honoure & my forwarde to performe. The Emperoure sayd ye do ryght well & accordynge to a noble man. & fortune shall fauoure you in your iuste & ryght wysse quarell. And whan the Emperours doughter vnderstode y^t Alexander was comen. anone she sent for him & whan as he was come to hyr she embraced hym. & with ioye & gladnesse she kyste hym. & blessed y^e tyme that she myght see hym ayen & demaūded hym where he that hadde lefte hyr frende and louer Lodwyke Then he shewed & declared vnto hyr all y^e processe & how he had left hym kyng in his realme. & toke his leue [Page]at hyr. & wente in to Lodwykes chamber. & there was no creature y^t thought otherwyse but it was lodwyk. oonly excepte Florentyne. The next daye folowynge afore er Alexander went vnto y^e batayle he sayd vnto y^e Emperoure in y^e presence of Guydo. My mo­ost redoubted souerayne lorde this Guydo hath falsely & vntruely accused me vnto your noble grace. y^t I sholde be of suche aqueyntaūce w^t youre doughter y^t sholde be vnto y^e dyshonoure of your moost noble persone & hyrs. & vnto y^t I swere & afferme. by this holy euaūgelyes y^t she was neuer in ony maner by me in suche wyse knowen as he hathe to you alledged & enformed. & that this daye w^t the ayde & y^e helpe of god I shall proue & make good vppon his body. Then sayd Guydo. yet ones I saye ayen & swere by y^e holy euaungelyes & by all y^t god hathe made y^t thou haste hadde knowlege & haste defouled y^e Emperours doughter. and y^t I shall make good vpon thy hede. where vpon they lepte vpon theyr coursers. & fyersly ranne togyder w^t theyr speres y^t they bothe brake & shyuered in peces. & they drewe theyr swerdes & faught longe togyder. tylle at y^e laste Alexander w^t grete myght and strengthe at one stroke smote of Guydoes hede. and sent it vnto y^e Emperours doughter wherof she was ryght gladde. & bare it vnto her fader & sayd. Fader beholde the hede of hym y^t you & me hath falsely defamed. whan y^t the Emperoure perceyued y^e vyctory. anone. he sent for Alexander whome y^t he beleued hadde ben Lodwyk & sayd. O Lodwyke this daye youre [Page]honoure & my doughters ye haue saued. ye shall stande & be the more in my grace & fauour. & what soeuer he be that hereafter more defame you he shall for euer stande in my indygnacyon. Alexander answerd. god helpethe & saueth theym y^t trusteth in hym. & alwayes wreketh y^e blode vndeffectyue or innocent. But now my mooste redoubted lorde of one thynge I requyre you. at my departynge fro my fader I lefte hym sore seke y^t it wyll lyke you for to lycence me to go & se how it standethe w^t hym. & yf y^t it be ony thynge amended I shall incontynent come ayen. Then the Emperour sayd that pleaseth me well. but ye maye in no manere wyse leue me for fro hensforth I can not be without your presence. Alexander toke leue of y^e Emperoure and bad hym fare well. & rode ayen vnto his realme whome whan Lodwyk sawe he made greate chere. & gladnesse. & ryghte frendlye receyued hym & sayd. O moste true frende of all frendes. tell me howe ye haue done & spedd in your iourney & nede. and what ende ye haue brought it to. Then sayd he. Goo to y^e Emperoure and serue hym as ye haue done tofore. I haue goten you more grace and fauoure of hym than euer ye haue hadde afore tyme & I haue also smyten of the hede of youre enmye and aduersarye. Then sayd lodwyk. ye haue not only at this tyme saued my lyfe but many a tymes here afore. y^e whiche as yet I can not deserue. but god rewarde you. & so departed & wente ayen vnto the Emperoure. & there was no man that [Page]knewe of the absence of Alexander saue oonly Lod­wyke. And whan as the nyght was come he wente to bedde with the quene. & anone he hadde with hyr swete & frendly wordes & her embraced & kyst. Tho sayd she. ye haue made this tyme all to longe. that ye haue not shewed ony thyng of frendshyp or loue. how may this be. Thenne sayd he wherfore saye ye that. She sayd. euery nyght as I was in my bed. ye haue layde betwyxe you & me a naked swerde and ye haue neuer tasted or torned you towardes me more than nowe. And whan the kynge herd y^t. he thought on y^e trouthe of hys felowe & sayd vnto hyr. O my moost dere lady & quene. it was not do for none euyll wyll. but for a gode probacōn & for a perpetuall loue. But she thought in her selfe y^t loue shall ye neuer more haue of me. but y^t dyspyte she thought I shall auenge vpon the. Tho was there a Knyght y^t she afore had a lytell loue and fauour vnto. & she began for to loue hym more & mo­re. so longe tyll at y^e laste they thoughte & ymagyned how they myght destroye & sle y^e kyng. & therfor they gate poyson & poysoned y^e kynge. soo y^t yf he had not ben ryght stronge of complexyon he had deyed therof but it wrought in hym so sore y^t it caused hym to be y^e moost foule and horryble lepre or laser y^t euer was sene vpon erthe. The lordes & noble men of his realme & the quene also seynge this despysed hym & sayd. y^t it behoued not a lepre to regne vpon vs. for he sholde not procure nor engendre ony fayre or clene heyres. And so he was deposed of y^e dygnyte royall. & dryuen [Page]out of his realme. ¶ In the meane tyme deyed the Emperour of Rome. & Lodwyk wedded y^e doughter & after that Lodwykes fader deyed. so that Lodwy­ke reygned bothe Emperoure & kynge of Fraunce at ones. whan kynge alexander herde that he thought in hymselfe. Nowe my felowe reygneth togyder vpō thempyre & the realme of Fraūce. to whome maye I better goo than to hym for whome many tymes I haue aduentured my lyfe. and vpon a nyght he rose vp & made hym redy & toke w^t hym hys staff & claper. & yede towarde themperours courte. and whan he was come nyghe to y^e yate. he set hym amonges other la­sers abydynge y^e gyuynge of y^e almesse. and on a sea­son as y^e Emperoure went out of his palays. all y^e po­re lasers began to rynge theyr clapers. & y^e gode kynge alexander dyd lyke y^e other but there was none almesse gyuen to them. He taryed so longe vnto y^e tyme y^t themperour was set & serued at y^e table. Tho went kynge alexander vnto y^e yate & knocked therat. & the porter asked who was there. alexander answerd hȳ I am a pore despysed man. but for y^e loue of god I require you y^t ye torne not your syght fro my vysage. and y^t ye wyll for y^e rewarde of god do my message vnto y^e Emperour. he asked what is y^e mater. alexander sayd go & tell hym here is a laser that ryght horryble is to see. the whiche prayeth hym for the loue of god & kynge alexander. that he wyll graūte hȳ this daye to ete his almesse afore hym vpon the erthe in his hall. The porter sayd I wonder that ye dare desyre that of my [Page]lorde. for why all the hall is full of lordes. & noble mē & yf they beholde you they sholde all abhorre & leue theyr mete. But for so moche as ye haue requyred me so profoūdly for y^e loue of god I shall go & do youre erande what so euer happen therof. & so he yede forthe afore themperour & dyd his message. whan y^e Emperour herde y^e porter name alexander y^e kynge of egypte. he sayd to y^e porter. go bryng hym in afore me how horryble y^t so euer his vysage be. & ordeyne hym a place afore me. y^t he may ete his mete afore me in my presence. The porter brought hym in anone. & ordeyned hym a place & set hym to mete afore y^e Emperour. & whan he was well refresshed he sayd vnto one of the Emperours seruaūtes. My dere frende do me thys erande to y^e Emperoure. Saye vnto hym y^t I praye hym for y^e loue of god & kynge Alexander y^t he wylle sende me his cuppe w^t wyne. The seruaūt sayd for y^e loue of god I shall doo it. but I beleue it wyll not be. for yf ye ones drynke of my lordes cuppe. he wyll no more drynke of y^e same. neuerthelesse he dyd y^e erande Anone as the Emperoure herde hym name kynge Alexander. he cōmaunded his cuppe to be fylled of the beste wyne & bere it vnto hym. The whiche wyne whā he hadde receyued it. he put it into hys botelle. & toke his rynge y^t Lodwyke had gyuen vnto hym. & put it in to the cuppe. & sent it ayen vnto y^e Emperour. and whan y^e Emperoure sawe the rynge. anone he knew it y^t it was the same y^t he had gyuen vnto Alexander in frendeshyp. whan y^t he departed fro hym. & thoughte [Page]in his herte y^t Alexander is dede. or ellys this man is merueylously come vnto y^e rynge. & cōmaūded anone that the laser sholde not departe vnto y^e tyme he had spoken w^t hym. for in no wyse he coude haue knowlege of hym nor yet reputed hym for Alexander. after that the dyner was done & ended. the Emperoure toke the seke man aparte and askyd howe he came by y^e rynge. Alexander demaūded yf he knewe well y^e rynge. The Emperour sayd. I knowe it ryght well. Alexander sayd. wote ye also to whome ye haue gyuen it Themperour sayd I wote ryght well. Howe is it than sayd Alexander y^t ye knowe not me. for I am Alexander to whome ye haue gyuen y^e same rynge. whan the Emperoure herde y^t. he felle downe to the groūde for sorowe & tare and rente his robys & clothes. & w^t grete syghynges and bewaylynges sayd. O Alexander ye be the one halfe of my soule. whehe is your goodlye and delycate body y^t was so fayre. y^t nowe so vnclene & wretchedly is enfecte he answered. this is me hapned for the grete fydelyte that ye haue done to me in my bedde. with my wyfe. whan ye layd a naked swerde betwyxt you & hyr. wherfore she became wrothe & hated me. that she & a knyght that afore tyme she ought hir loue vnto haue impoysened me as ye maye see. & aboue y^t they haue dryuen me out of my realme. & whan the Emperoure herde that he for loue toke hym aboute y^e necke & kyste hym & sayd. O my moost entyerlye beloued brother. I sorowe to see you in this grete syknesse & mysery. wolde god I myght deye for you but [Page]my mooste dere frende. suffre pacyently a lytell tyme tyll y^t we haue sente for all y^e physycyens & wyse maysters in physyke to haue theyr counseylle & aduyse. yf there be ony remedye or hope of recouerynge of your helthe. & yf it be possyble for to helpe you. we shall neyther spare Empyre lordshyps nor other good temporall to make you hole & soūde. In the meane whyle he was brought into a fayre chamber rychely appareyl led & appoynted of all maner thynges y^t were requy­syte & necessarye for his ease & helthe. & in all haste he sente his messangers by all partyes of y^e worlde. for y^e experte & moost wyse physycyens y^t myght be foūde Of whome within a moneth were come & assembled before y^e Emperoure .xxx. y^e whiche were ryght experte & subtyll in y^t scyence. To whome themperour sayd My welbeloued maysters I haue a frende y^t greuousely is infecte w^t a lepry. whome I wolde ryght fayne were heled & made soūde. & no thynge theron to spare neyther golde ne syluer ne all y^e other goodes y^t I ha­ue in this worlde. but I wolde gyue it to recouer hys helthe. The maysters answered & sayd all y^t euer is possyble to be done by physyke y^t ye shall sone vnder­stande after y^t we haue seen the persone. & forth w^t as they had seen hym. & perceyued y^e cause & mater of y^t infyrmyte they iuged it a dysease vncurable for all y^e maysters lyuynge. and whan the Emperoure herde y^t he was ryght sory in hys herte. & remytted it vnto y^t helpe of almyghty god callynge vnto hym relygy­ous men. & poore people. & other deuoute persones & [Page]desyred theym to praye to god. y^t he wolde wouche­saufe to make hole his frende y^e sooner for theyr gode dedes & prayers. and he hymselfe with manye other fasted & prayed humbly to almyghty god for y^e helth of his frende. Vppon a daye as kynge alexander was in his prayers. there came vnto hym a voyce saynge Yf the Emperoure wyll w^t his owne handes slee hys two sones. whiche his wyfe hathe born by hym at one burden. & wasshe thy body w^t the blode of them. thy body & thy flesshe shall be as fayre, & as clene as y^e flessh of the lytell chyldern, whan kynge alexander had herde this he thought in hymselfe. this vysyon is not ex­pedyente. to beshewed for it is sore ayenste nature y^t ony man sholde slee his owne sones for y^e recoueryng of the helthe of a straūge man. The Emperour nyght & daye laye in his prayers w^t greate deuocyon. & prayed to god for y^e remedye of kynge alexander. So y^t at the laste there came a voyce vnto hym & sayd. how longe shall ye thus crye & calle vpon me whanne it is openly shewed & notefyed vnto alexander how that he shall be made hole. The Emperoure herynge that wente vnto alexander & sayd. Of all frendes y^e beste & mooste true. blessed be the moost hyghe god the whyche neuer faylethe y^e call & truste vpon hym of who­me I haue knowlege y^t it is shewed vnto you howe & in what wyse that ye maye be made hole wherfore I praye you that ye wyll it openly shewe vnto me that we maye Ioye togyder. & yf ye neve ony thynge ther to that I maye do I shall fulfyll it vnto my powere, [Page]and for your helthe gyue all y^t I haue. alexander said Syr I dare not shewe to you how y^t I maye be cured or heled of my maladye. for it excedethe & it is a thynge ayenste nature for to be done. therfore I wyll not shewe it to you. howe be it grete truste & confydence is in you. The Emperoure sayde alexander truste in me. for what so euer is possyble sor to be done for the recouerynge of youre helthe I shall do it & therfore hyde no thynge frome me. Then sayd alexander I haue of god knowlege y^t yf ye wyll slee youre two sones with youre owne handes & wasshe me in theyre blode I sholde be hole. & therfore I haue not shewed it vn­to you. sor me thynketh it is ayenst nature y^t the fader sholde slewe his owne chyldern for y^e helthe of a straunge man. The Emperoure sayd saye not y^t ye be a straūge man. for I loue you as I do my selfe. & therfore yf I hadde ten chyldern I sholde notte spare one alyue to haue youre helthe. after that y^t Emperoure watched & spyed his tyme whan y^e Empresse & all la­dyes & chambereres were oute of y^e waye & whan tyme was he entred into y^e chamber where as the chyl­dern slepte. & drewe out his knyfe & cutte asonder bothe theyr throtes. & gadred y^e blode in a vessell. & therin he bathed & wasshed alexander & whan he was so bathed. his body & flesshe was as fayre & as clene as thought it had ben of a yonge chylde. Then y^e empe­rour had knowlege of his vyfage. & kyssed hym saȳg O good alexander nowe I see you in y^t same forme whiche I haue often tymes dylected in. blessed be god [Page]that euer I hadde thyse chyldern. by y^e whome ye be holpen and made hole. & yet wyste no man of the deth of y^e chyldern saue oonly y^e emperoure & alexander. & whan as the emperoure sawe y^t alexander was parfytly heled. he sayd vnto hym. I shall ordeyne to you an honeste companye & ye shall go frome hens ten myle the next. daye sende vnto me a messager. & y^t ye shew openly vnto me of youre comynge. and I shall then with all solempnyte come & mete you. & ye shall aby­de with me vnto the tyme that we maye otherwyse. prouyde for y^e recouerynge of youre realme. This coū seyll pleased alexander ryght well. & accordynge to y^e same it was done. For on y^e nexte daye came y^e messa­ger vnto the emperoure shewynge hym y^t comynge of kynge alexander & whanne the empresse herde that she was ryghte gladde. & sayd vnto the emperoure. O my lorde haue ye not nowe a cause of greate ioye. that kyng alexander whome we of a longe tyme ha­ue not seen. and yf it please you to go and mete hym with youre lordes and seruaūtes. I shall folowe you with my ladyes & gentylwymen. & yet wyste she not the dethe of hyr chyldern. Then rode they forth with a grete companye and met with the kynge alexander and whan they mette togyder. with greate reuerence and honoure they receyued hym. and with grete gladnesse and Ioye they broughte hym in to the palays. and whanne the tyme of dyner was come alexander was set at y^e table betwyxt y^e emperour & y^e empresse & all the chere y^t she coude make she dyd to hym. and [Page]whan the Emperour perceyued that. he was ryghte well pleased & sayd. O myne owne Florentyne I Ioye aboue all thynges y^t ye do & make to kynge alexander soo gode chere. Then sayd she. wherfore sholde I not. is not his comynge to vs bothe Ioye & gladnesse but more to you my lorde. for this dygnyte y^t ye are in by hym ye are promoted. & many tymes he hathe sa­ued you fro y^e dethe. Themperour sayd than I praye you myn owne Florentyne y^t ye wyll take hede to my wordes y^t I shall saye to you. Sawe ye not y^e foule laser. whiche the laste daye sate before oure table. and prayed me for the loue of god & kynge alexander y^t I shold gyue hym drynke. she sayd. My lorde I saw hym well. a more horryble man I neuer behelde. then sayd Themperoure. I demaunde nowe this of you. I put case y^t he were kynge alexander & that he in ony wyse coude not be made hole but w^t the blood of your sones. the whiche ye in one daye krought in to this worlde. wolde ye not y^t theyr bloode. were shed that he myght bathe hym therin to y^e entente y^t by the same he myght haue parfyte helthe as ye nowe se hym in She sayd my lorde wherfore demaūde ye me y^t question. I saye & lete you haue knowlege for trouthe that yf I hadde ten sones I sholde gladly slee them w^t min owne handes to prepare & ordeyne for hym a bayne. & sholde wasshe hym therin myne owne selfe. rather than I sholde leue hym in suche peryll. for god myght well sende vs mo chyldern. but suche a true frende were as a thynge impossyble for vs to recouer or fynde. [Page]whan themperour herde this of hyr. he was well cō ­tente & pleased in his mynde & sayd. O wyfe had ye leuer haue your chyldern dede than alexander shold be in y^t sekenesse of lepery. therfore shall I open and shewe to you nowe y^e trouthe of y^e mater. That foule laser the whiche ye sawe was alexander that syttethe here. & by y^t maner he is made hole w^t the blode of our sones. & they are dede: as y^e Empresse herde y^t. she began to sorowe as nature wolde. all thoughe she had sayd afore y^t she had leuer see hyr chyldern dede than she wolde suffre alexander in suche payne. The nou­rysshes of y^e chyldern vnderstandynge this. w^t grete cryenge & wepynge went to y^e nourysshery or cham­ber of them. & grete sorowe & bewaylynge was made thrughe themperours courte for his sones. & whan the nourysshes came into y^e chamber. they foūde the chyldern playnge & syngynge of y^e moost blessed vyrgyne Mary. aue maria gracia plena dn̄s tecum. & tho went they ayen in all haste vnto y^e Emperour & shewed hym y^t his sones were lyuynge & that about theyr throtes there as they were cutte they haue a cercle of threde of golde. & therof was grete Ioye & gladnesse in all y^e conrte. & gaue thankynges vnto alyghty god & to y^e blessed vyrgyne mary his moder of y^e grete myracle. after y^t themperoure w^t a grete multytude and company of people gadred & assembled went w^t alexander in to Egypte & set hym ayen into his royalte & possessyon of his Realme & the quene w^t the knyghte whiche lyued togyder in auoutry he dyd thē both to be [Page]brent in too poudre. And whan this was all dōne. the Emperoure hadde a syster oonly whom he gaue alexander vnto his wyfe. And whanne kynge Alexander had all his Realme obteyned ayen & was sette in gode reste & peas y^e Emperoure wente ayen vnto his Empire. & the kynge Alexander ryght wysely & maniy go­uerned hymselfe in all his feates & actes so y^t he ouercame all his enmyes & rebelles. And whan he was in al his glorye. peas & myght. he hadde thought & mynde. vpon his fader & moder. by whome he was caste into the see. whiche dwelled in ferre partyes frome thens he sent to them a messager & dyd them to haue knowelege y^t the kynge of Egypte vpon suche a daye wolde be w^t them to ete & to drynke & make good chere. and whan the messager was come too them. they receyued hym w^t grete Ioye & with gyftes largely to hym gyuē sent hym ayen. saynge y^t theyr seruyces sholde be re­dy at all tymes to do y^e kynge plesure. but y^t coude they neuer by powerfully deserue y^t he wolde wouchesauf to shewe them y^e h [...]noure. wherto they were not wor­thy. he for to come to them to ete & to drynke & sporte hym. The messager wente ayen vnto y^e kynge. & shewed how gladlye y^t they wolde receyue hym. & what re­warde they had gyuen hym. & how faythfully they were & redy to do hym seruyce at his cōmaūdement. where w^t the kynge was well cōtente. And whan y^e daye was comen y^t was prefyxed. the kynge with a fayre cō pany rode towarde his faders house. y^e whiche as well to y^e knyght his fader as to his moder was vnknowen [Page]that he was theyr sone. whanne the kynge was come nygh vnto his faders castell. the knyght rode to receyue and mete hym. & whan he come nyghe vnto y^e kynge he descended frome his horse & reuerenced hym: with his knee on the erthe. but the kynge toke hym vp shortly. & commaūded hym to ascende ayen vpon his horse. & rode so togyder cheke by cheke vnto y^e castell. And whan they were come theder the moder came them to mete. & felle vpon hyr knees to y^e erthe & wel­comed hym gladly. The kynge toke hyr louynly vp & kyssed hyr ryght frendly. & she sayd. My moost honorable lorde ye do vnto vs vnworthy grete honour w^t the presence of your persone moost-honourable. The whiche we neuer more can deserue. After y^t all the mete was all redy. & the tyme of y^e day was come to go to dyner. The fader came w^t a basyn. & with an ewyr. & the moder w^t a towell saynge. Syre all thynge is re­dye. please it you to wasshe. & whan y^e kyng sawe that he smyled & sayd vnto hymselfe. Nowe is y^e songe of the nyghtyngale true. for my fader & my moder sholde gladly fulfyll as I sayd. yf y^t I my selfe wolde therto consente and suffre them to do it. But he wold not suffre theym for to doo too hym suche seruyce. saynge youre aege is for to be honoured and worshypped / & therfore I wyll not of it. and called vnto hym one of his seruauntes the whiche serued hym therof. Thenne sayd the knyght. ye wyll not suffre vs too do it for our honour. for we are not worthy therto. The kynge sayd. haue not I sayd that for your aege I forbere you [Page]it. whan y^e kynge was set at y^e table. he set his moder on y^e ryght hande of hym & his fader on his lefte syde & they as moche as they myght behelde his vysage & coūtenaūce. The dyner ended y^e kynge entred in to a chamber. & made y^e knyght w^t his lady to come in to hym. & cōmaūded all other to auoyde & goo out. and whan they were thus alone. y^e kynge sayd vnto them haue ye no chyldern. They answerd we haue neyther sone ne doughter. and y^e kynge sayd had ye neuer none. The knyght answered. we haue hadde one sone. but he is longe agone dede. The kynge asked of what dethe deyed he. The knyghte sayd. a naturall dethe: Tho sayd y^e kynge. yf I maye otherwyse knowe y^t he deyed than are ye foūde w^t a defawte. Tho asked the knyghte: My lorde wherfore enquyre ye thus after oure sone. The kynge answered. that do I not w^tout cause. & therfore I wyll knowe of what dethe he de­yed. & yf ye wyll not tell me I shall cause you to deye a shamefull dethe. whan they herde that they fell too groūde vpon ther knees afore hym & asked hym mercye & forgyuenesse of theyr lyues. The kynge wolde not suffre them to knele. but scortly toke them vp & sayd. To that entente came I not in to your house to ete youre brede & to betraye you. but saye me y^e trouthe & ye shall be saued. for it is gyuen me to vnderstā de that ye haue put hym to dethe. & yf that come in iugemente ye muste deye a shamefull dethe. Than sayd the knyght. lorde pardone me my lyfe & I shall shew you y^e very trouthe. The kynge sayd fere not. for I [Page]shall do you no harme. Tho sayd he. Souerayne lorde we had a sone oonly y^t was wyse & lettred & ryght well vnderstande. And vpon a tyme as he stode afore vs & serued at y^e table. There came a nyghtyngale y^t ryght swetly songe. whoos songe he began to interprete and tell vs what it mente & sayd: This byrde syngeth that I shall become so grete & myghty a lorde y^t it shall be to youre honoure & aduaūsemēt in suche wyse y^t ye my fader shall be gladde to holde y^e basyn w^t water to wasshe in my handes. & my moder y^e towell yf y^t I wolde suffre it. And whan I herde y^t I was sore meued & to­ke & caste hym in to y^e see for too drowne. Tho sayd the kynge what euyll myght haue come to you yf he hadd ben made so grete & myghty. me thynketh it sholde haue been youre honoure & proufyte. The knyghte sayd lorde it was no reason but a woodnesse. The kynge answered: y^t was a grete folysshnes of you y^t ye wolde do ayenst y^e ordynaūce & wylle of god. But nowe ye shall knowe for trouthe y^t I am youre sone y^t ye caste in to y^e see. & god of his grete mercye & goodnesse hathe saued me. & by his grace hathe brought me too this astate & dygnyte. And y^e fader & moder herynge y^t with fere & Ioye replenysshed fell flat to y^e groūde. whom he louȳ ly & frendly toke vp sayng fere not. but rather be glad & Ioyous for ye shall no thynge suffre but my exaltacyon shall be your glorye & ioye & proufyte. & kyste bo­the his fader & moder w^t grete Ioye & gladnesse. Tho began y^e meder to wepe. Than sayd y^e kynge wepe not but be of gode chere for in my realme ye shall be hononred [Page]aboue me durynge my lyf. & toke them w^t hym in to his realme where they dwelled togyder in honour & Ioye. & ended theyr dayes w^t Ioye & myrthe.