Gesta romanorum    

 
Sometime there dwelled in Rome a puissant Emperor which had a daughter a fair creature and was named Atlenta whom diverse and many knights and other great lords desired her to their wife. This Atlenta was won derswyfte of foot/ wherefore such a law was ordained that no man should have her to wife but such as might over run her and take her by strength of foot. And so it befell that many came & ran with her/ but she was so swift that no man might overtake her by course of running. At the last there came a knight named Pomeys' unto her father & said to him thus/ my lord if it might please you to give me your daughter to wife I will gladly run with her. Than said her father there is such a law ordained and set that who so will have her to wife must first renew which her/ and if he fail in his course that he overtake her not he shall lose his heed/ and if it fortune him to overtake her than shall I wed her unto him/ and when the king had told him all the peril that might fall in the winning of her/ the knight wilfully granted to abide that jeopardy. Than the knight let ordain him three balls of gold against the running. And when they had begun to run a little space the young lady over ran him/ than the knight threw forth before her the first ball of gold. And when the damosel saw the ball she stooped and took it up/ and that while the knight waune before her but that availed little/ for when she had that perceived she ran so fast that in short space she gate before him again. And than he threw forth the second ball of gold/ and she stooped as she died before to take it up/ & in that while the knight wan before her again/ which this young damosel saying constrained herself and ran so fast till at the last she had him at a vantage again and was afore him and by that time they were nigh the mark where they should abide/ wherefore the knight threw the third ball forth before her/ and like as she had done before stooped down to take up the ball/ and the while she was in taking up the third ball the knight gate afore her and was first at the standing/ & thus was she won. ¶ By this Emperor is understand the father of heaven/ and this maiden is understand the soul of man with whom many devils desiren to run/ and to deceive her thorough their temptations/ but she with standeth them mightily & overcometh him/ and when he hath done his power/ and may not speed than marketh the three balls of gold/ and casteth them before her in the three ages of man/ that is to say/ in youth/ in manhood/ and in old age In youth he casteth the ball of lechery before her. That is to say the desire of flesh/ nevertheless for all this ball often times man overcometh the devil by confession contrition penance and satisfaction. The second ball is the ball of pride the which the devil casteth to man in his manhood/ that is to say in his middle age/ but this ball man oftentimes overcometh as he died the first. But late him beware of the third ball which is the ball of covetise that the devil casteth unto man in his old age that is full dreadful. For but if a man may overcome this ball with this other two than he shall lose his honour that is to say that kingdom of heaven. For when man brenneth in covetise he thinketh not on ghostly richesse for ever his heart is set in worldly goods and recketh not of prayers ne of alms deeds/ and thus loseth he his heritage to the which god hath bought him with his precious blood unto that which Jesus' bring you and me and all mankind Amen.   

THere dwelled sometime in Rome a mighty Emperor and a wise named Ancelme which bore in his arms a shield of silver with five reed cosies. This Emperor had three sons whom he loved much/ he had also continual war with the king of Egypt/ in the which war he lost all his temporal goods except a virtuous tree. It fortuned after on a day that he gave battle unto the said king of Egypt wherein he was grievously wounded Nevertheless he obtained the victory notwithstanding he had his deadly wound/ wherefore while he lay in point of death he called unto him his eldest son & said/ my most deer & well-beloved son all my temporal richesse I have exspended & almost nothing is left me except a virtuous tree the which standeth in the mids of mine Empire I give to the all that is under the earth and above the earth of the same tree. O my reverent father quod he I thank you moche. Than said th'emperor call to me my second son. Anon his eldest son greatly gladded of his faders gift called in his brother/ and when he came than said th'emperor/ my dear son quoth he I may not make my testament for so moche that I have spent all my goods except a tree which standeth in my Empire of the which tree I give & byquethe to the all that is great and small. Than answered he and said. My reverent father I thank you moche. Than said th'emperor call to me my third son/ and so it was done. And when he was come the Emperor said. My deer son I must die of this sickness & I have but only a virtuous tree of the which I have byquethed thy brethren their portion and to the I byquethe thy procyon/ for I will that thou have of the said tree all that is were & dry Than said his son. father god thank you Soon after that the Emperor had made his bequest he died. And the eldest son anon took season of the tree when the second brother this herd he said brother mine by what law or title occupied thou this tree. Dear brother quoth he I occupied by this title/ my father gave me all the is unde earth and above of the said tree and therefore by reason this tree is mine. unknowing to the quoth the second brother he gave me all that is in breed length & deepness of that said tree/ and therefore I have as great right in the tree as thou This hearing the third son came unto them & said. O ye my best beloved brethren it behoveth you not to strive for this tree/ for as moche right have I in this tree as ye/ for well ye wot by the law that the last will & testament ought to stand/ for soothly he gave me of the said tree all that is wete and dry and therefore by right the tree is mine/ but for as much as your tales been great and mine also/ my council is that we be justified by reason/ for it is not good ne commendable that any strife or dissension should be among us. Here beside dwelleth a king of reason/ for it is not good to strive go we there unto him/ & everich of us lay his right before him/ and like as he will judge stand we unto his judgement Than said his brethren/ this council is good/ wherefore they went all three unto the king of Reason and everichone of them singularly showed forth his right unto him like as it is said before. When the king had heard their titles/ he rehearsed them all again singularly first saying unto the eldest son thus. Thousayest for the quoth the king thy father gave the all that is under the earth and above the earth of the said tree. And to the second brother he byquethed all that is in breed length & deepness of that tree. And to the third brother he gave all that is wete and dry. And with that he laid the law for them and and said/ that the last will aught for to stand. Now my dear sons briefly I shall satisfy all your reasons. And when he had thus said he turned him unto the eldest brother saying thus. My deer son if the list to abide the judgement of right the behoveth to be let blood of the ryghtarme. My lord quoth he your will shall be done. Than called the king forth a discrete physician commanding to let hymblode. When the eldest son was thus let blood the king said to them all three/ my dear sons quoth he where is your father buried. Than answered they and said. Forsooth my lord in such a place. Anon the king commanded to delve up the body and to draw out a bone of his breast and to bury his body again/ & so it was done. And when the bone was drawn out the king commanded the it should be laid in the blood of the elder brother & that it should lie till it had received kindly the blood and than to be laid in the son and dried/ & after that it should be washen with clear water/ his servants fulfilled all that he bad. And when they began to wash the blood vanished clean away when the king saw this he said to the second son/ it behoveth that thou he latin bold as thy brother is. Than said he. My lord thy will shall be fulfilled/ & anon he was served like as his brother was in all thing And when they began to wash the bone the blood vanished away. Than said the king to the third son. My dear child it behoveth the also to be latin blood. He answer and said. My lord it pleaseth me well so to be. When the youngest brother was latin blood and served in all thing like as his two brethren were served before when the kings servant began to wash the bone they might neither for washing ne for breaking do away the blood of the bone but ever it appeared bloody when that king saw this he said/ it appeared openly that this blood without doubt is of the nature of this bone/ thou art his true son and these other ii been bastards I give to the that tree for ever more. ¶ Dear friends this Emperor is our lord Thesu christ which bore a shield of silver with five reed rosys/ that is to say his body that was so fair so clear & more radiant than any silver according with the psalms saying thus. Speciosus formo p filús hounn. That is to say he was more specious & fairer of shape than all the chylderin of men By this .v. roses we understand his .v. wounds which he suffered for mankind. And by the king of Egypte we understand the devil against whom he fought all the time of of his life/ & at last was slain for mankind. Nevertheless before his death he made his testament to his three sons. By the first to whom he gave of the tree all that was under earth and above/ we shall understand the mighty men & states of this world to whom he hath given power in earth in water & in air so that be obedient at their will all thing under heaven. By the second son to whom he gave the tree in length breed & deepness we may understand the witty men of this world as justycis vocates & men of law these men have power in length & breed & deepness upon gentlymen of middle degree & upon poor men them to dame & to judge as they list. By the iii son to whom he gave all that was were & dry of the tree we shall understand good christian men which have & suffer both wete & drought/ that is to say now poverty now trouble now solace now care now cold now heat/ and all this they receive of god/ thank fully this noble tree that was thus byquethed to. This tree is the tree of paradise/ that is to say everlasting joy of heaven which is given to us all if we will take it thankfully nevertheless it is heaven in diverse wise & nor equally for some hath more & some hath less after their merits this notwtstondynge every man obtaineth not/ therefore it behoveth them to go unto the king of reason/ that is to say unto that father of heaven which knoweth all thing or they be made. The first son was let blood & in his blood the bone was wrapped. By this blood we shall understand our meritory deeds/ and be that white and heavy alms deed which iks full heavy to them that giveth alms/ nevertheless it maketh the soul white/ wherefore when these mighty men have alms or to do a meritory deed though it be made dry and stablished with the son & by the wind of divine predication nevertheless when the water of pride envy wrath and of such other all the meritory deed done before is brought to nought and the blood/ that is to say alms deed by the which they should come to everlasting life beginneth to vanish away. For why as the apostle saith/ he that offendeth in one sin is guilty in all This blood later which let them blood is a discrete confessor/ though the mighty men of this world do good and fulfil their penance/ nevertheless when the water of covetise that is to say when the purse is full of pence anon they give true judgement/ against whom it is written thus. The wisdom of this world is no thing else but folly afore god/ and against the mighty men of this world speaketh holy scripture and saith where been tho mighty men which were praised among the birds of heaven eat and drink and often dessended unto hell. The third son of this Emperor is a good christian man which all the time of his life died good deeds and lived without pride envy or lecherfy from the bone of such a man the blood may not be washen away/ that is say his meritory deed may not be put away from penance such a may is the true child of god of whom our lord speaketh thus/ the which have forken all thing for me etc. that is to say ye that have forsaken will of sin shall receive an hundred times more/ that is to say ye shall not only receive the tree of paradise but also the heritage of heaven/ these two other sons been bastards for why that they behote in their baptism they wrought all that contrary through their wicked living & therefore he that desired to obtain the joy of heaven him behoveth to abide steadfastly in working of good deeds & than by reason may he obtain the tree of paradise/ unto the which that lord bring us which liveth and reigneth eternal without end Amen   

IN Rome dwelled a noble Emperor named dioclesian which above all worldly goods loved the virtue of charity wherefore he desired greatly to know what foul loved her birds best to this intent that he might thereby grow to more perfit charity. It fortuned after upon a day that this Emperor walked to the forest to take his disport where as he found the nest of a great bird that is called in latin Strucio with her bird/ the which bird th'emperor took with him & closed him in a vessel of glass. The mother of this little bird followeth after to th'emperors place & entered in to the hall where her bird was closed. But when she saw her bird and might not by no means come to her ne get her out she turned again to the forest and there she abode three days/ & at the last she turned again to the palace bearing in her mouth a worm that is called Thumare. When she came where her bird was she let the worm fall upon the glass through virtue of whose blood the glass broke & the bird escaped & flew forth with his mother. When that Emperor saw this he praised much the mother of this bird which so diligently laboured for the deliverance of her bird. ¶ My friends this Emperor is the father of heaven which wonderly loved them that been perfit in love & charity This little bird closed in the glass & taken fro the forest was Adam our forefader which was exylled fro Paradyse & put in the glass/ that is to say in hell. This hearing the mother of the bird/ that is to were the son of god descended fro heaven & came to the forest of the world & lived here iii days & more bearing with him a worm/ that is to say manhood according with the psalm saying thus. Ego sum xmis et non homo. That is to say I am a worm & no man. This manhood is suffered to be slain among that Jews/ of whose blood the vessel eternal was broken & the bird went out that is to say Adam went forth with his mother the son of almighty god and flew unto heaven.   

Sometime dwelled in Rome a worthy Emperor & a wise which had a fair daughter & full gracious in the sight of every man. This Emperor bethought him upon a day to whom he might give his daughter in marriage saying thus if I give my daughter to a rich man & he be a fool than is she lost/ & if I give her to a poor man and a witty than may he get his living for him & her by his wisdom. There was that time dwelling in the city of Rome a philosopher named Socrates poor and wise which came unto th'emperor & said My lord displease you not though I put forth my petition before your highness. Themperor said what soever it pleaseth the tell forth. Than answered Socrates & said. My lord ye have a daughter whom I desire above all thing. The Emperor answered and said. My friend I shall give the my daughter to wife upon this condition that if she die in thy fellowship after that she be wedded unto the thou shalt withouten doubt lose thy life. Than said Socrates. Upon this condition I will gladly take her for to be my wife the Emperor hearing this let call for the all the lords and states of his Empire and made a great feast at their wedding. And then after the feast Socrates led home his wife to his own house where as they lived in pease and health long time/ but at last this emperors daughter sekened to death when Socrates this perceived he said to himself Alas & woe to me what shall I do & whether shall I flee if th'emperors daughter that is my wife should die & for sorrow this Socrates went to a forest there beside & wept bitterly. The while he wept thus & mourned there came an aged man bearing a staff in his hand & asked the cause of Socrates why he mourned. Socrates' answered and said I wedded themperours daughter upon this condition that if she died in my fellowship I should lose my life/ & now she is sekened unto the death & I can find no remedy of help & therefore I mourn more than any creature can think. Than said the old man be ye comforted for I shall be your helper if ye will do after my council. In this forest be three herbs if ye make a drink of the first to your wife & of that other ii a plaster and if she use this medicine drink and plaster in due time without doubt she shall recover to perfit height. Socrates fulfilled all as the old man had taught him. And when his wise had used a while that medycynall drink & plaster within short time she was perfitly hole of all her sickness. And when th'emperor heard that Socrates wrought so wisely/ & how diligently he laboured for to hele his wife he promoted him unto great dignity and worship.  
¶ Dear friends this Emperor is our lord Ihesu christ/ his daughter so fair and so gentile is the soul made at the similitude of god which is full gracious and glorious in the sight of him and of his angels while that she is not defouled & abideth in her own proper cleanness. This soul god would not give it unto a rich man but to a poor man that is to say a man that is made of the slime of the earth This Socrates is a poor man/ for why every man cometh poor and naked in to this world from his moders belly/ & every man taketh his soul in wedlock upon such condition that if she die in his fellowship by deadly sin/ without doubt he shall lose eternal life. Therefore o thou man if thy wife seken so through a deadly sin/ do than as Socrates did go unto the forest that is holy church and thou shalt find there an old man with a staff/ that is a discrete confessor which shall tell the of these three herbs/ for he hath power to bind and to unbind. The first herb is contrition of whom thou shouldest make thy drink of tears Ambrose saith that tears washeth sin where shame is to knowledge & these two other herbs been confession and satisfaction/ if these herbs be used in plaster the sin without doubt shall receive his health and his soul shall be delivered fro sin/ and by all right he shall have everlasting life. Unto the which bring us our lord Jesus'.   

Sometime there reigned in the city of Rome a mighty Emperor and a wise named Frederyk which had only but one son whom he loved moche. This Emperor when he lay in the point of death he called unto him his son and said dread son I have a ball of gold which I give the upon my blessing that thou anon after my death shall give it to the most fool that thou mayest find. Than said his son. My lord without doubt thy will shall be fulfilled. Anon this young lord after the death of his father went and sought in many realms and found many fools rycheles/ by cause he would satisfy his faders will laboured ferther till he came in to a realm where the law was such that every year a new king should be chose there/ & this king hath only the guiding of that realm but a year/ & at the years end he shall be deposed and put in exile in an ylende where as he should wretchedly finish his life/ when th'emperors son came unto this realm the new king was chosen with great honour/ & all manner of minstrelsy went afore him & brought him with great reverence and worship unto his regal seat. And when the Emperors son saw that he came unto him and salved him reverently and said. My lord lo I give to the this ball of gold on my faders behalf. Than said he I pray the tell me the cause why thou givest me this ball. Than answered this young lord and said thus. My father quod he charged me in his deed bed under pain of his blessind that I should give this ball to the most fool that I could find/ wherefore I have sought many realms and have found/ wherefore I have sought many realms and have found many fools nevertheless a more fool than thou art found I never & therefore this is the reason. It is not unknown to the that thou shalt reign but a year & at the years end thou shalt be exiled in to such a place where as thou shalt die a mischievous death/ wherefore I hold the for the most fool that ever I found that for that lordship of a year thou wouldest so wilfully lose thyself/ & therefore before all other I have given to the this ball of gold. Than said the king with out doubt thou sayeth me sooth/ and therefore when I am in full power of this Realm I shall send before me great treasure and richesse wherewith I may live and save myself from mischievous death when that I shall be exiled & put down and so is was done/ wherefore at the years end he was exiled and lived there in ●pease upon such goods as he had sent before/ and he died afterward a good death.  
¶ Dear friends this Emperor is the father of heaven the which byquethed the ball/ that is for to say worldly richesse to fools & ydeotes which savoureth no thing but that earthly is This Emperors son/ that is for to say a preacher and a discrete confessor searched about many realms and lands to show to misbelieving men and fools they peril. The realm wherein no king might regne but a year is this world. For who so had lived an hundred year when he cometh to the death him shall seem that he hath lived but the space of an hour therefore do as the king died while that ye be in power of life/ send before you your treasure that is to say alms deeds & other good merytory works/ & certainly when ye be put in exile out of this world ye shall live in pease & shall find that mercy of god plentiful whereby ye shall obtain everlasting life. Unto the which bring us he/ that for us died on her road tree.  
Amen.   

OYoclesyan reigned in the city of Rome/ in whose Empire dwelled a noble philosopher the which set up by his craft an image in the mids of the city of Rome the which image or figure straight out his arm and his formest finger where upon stood this poised written in laty. Percute hic. Smite here. This image after that death of this philosopher stood still a long tyme. And many great clerks came thither for to read the superscription that was on the finger/ but none of them understood what it mente/ wherefore there was great wonder among the people. And at the last a long time after there came a strange clerk out of far countries/ and when he saw this image he red the scripture. Smite here. ¶ And than upon a day when he saw the shadow of the hand he took a mattock and broke up the ground under the hand where the shadow was according too the understanding of the superscrypcyno. And anon he found an house all of marble underneath the ground where in he died descend/ and entered in to an hall were he found so moche richesse so many jewels & so great marvels that he never heard ne saw such neither so many before that tyme. At the last he saw a board covered and all manner of necessary things according thereto laid thereupon. He h●helde farther and saw a carbuncle in a wall that lightened all the house. And afore against this Carbuncle on that other side stood a man holding in his hand a bow with an arrow r●dy for to shoot. The clerk maruaylled moche when he saw all these things and thought in himself/ if that I tell this forth there will no man believe me/ and therefore I will have somewhat of these goods in tok●n of prove. And with that he saw knife of gold upon the board which he took and would have put it in his bosom. But anon the archer smote that Carbuncle and broke it wherewith all the hole house was shadowed and made dark. And when the clerk perceived it he wept more byttterly than any man might think/ for he wist not by what way that he might go out. For so moche that the house was made dark thorough the breaking of that carbuncle. And that same darkness abode still for ever/ more after/ and so finished the clerk his life there in that darkness. ¶ Dear friends this image so standing is that devil/ which saith evermore. Smite here. That is for to say. Take heed unto earthly richesse/ & not to heavenly treasure. This clerk which smote with the mattock betokeneth the wise men of this world as pleaders of law/ vocates/ & other worldly men which smiteth ever what by right what by unright that they may get the vanities of this world/ & in their smiting they find great wonders and maruayllesse/ that is to say they find therein the delices of the world wherein many men rejoiceth. The carbuncle that giveth light is the youth of man which giveth hardiness to take their pleasure in worldly richesse. The archer with his arrow is death which layeth watch against man to slay him. The clerk which took up the knife is a worldly man that weeneth ever to have all thing at his will. The death smyeteth the carbuncle/ that is to say the youth strength and power of man/ and than lieth he wrapped in darkness of sin in the which darkness oft-times he dieth. Therefore study we to i'll the world and his desires that and than be we sure to win everlasting life/ unto the which Ihesu bring you and me. Amen.   

Sometime dwelled in Rome a mighty Emperor named Titus a wise man & discrete which ordained in his days such a law that what knight died in his Empire should be buried in his armure/ & who somever presumed to spoil any knights armour after he were deed he should dies without any withstanding or saying. It befell after within few years that a city of that Empire was besieged of th'emperors enemies wherefore that city was in peril of losing/ for none that was within that city might not defend themself by no manner of craft/ therefore great sorrow and lamentation was universal through out the city. But at the last within few days there came to the city a young knight and a full fair and doughty to do deed of arms whom the worthy men of the city beholding and understanding his doughtynes cried with one voice. O thou most noble knight we beseech the if it please thy worthiness to help us now at our most need/ lo ye may see this rite is in peril of losing. Than answered he and said/ se ye not series that I have no armour/ and if I had armour I would gladly defend your city. This hearing a mighty man of the city he said to him in secret wise. Sir here was sometime a doughty knight which now is deed & buried within this city according unto the law/ and if it please you to take his armour ye might defend this city and deliver us fro peril and that shall be honour unto you and profit unto all the Empire. When this young knight had herd this he went unto that grave & took his armour and arrayed himself therewith & fought mygtely against his enemies/ and at the last he obtained and had the victory and delivered the city from peril. And when he had so done he put the armour again in to the grave. There were some men in the city that have great indignation & envy upon him because that he obtained the victory and accused him unto the judge saying thus. Sir a law was made by th'emperor that who so ever despoiled a deed knight of his armour should die. This young knight found a deed man and took away his armour therefore we beseech the that thou proceed in the law against him as against him that is breaker of the law. When the justice heard this he made the knight to be taken and to be brought afore him. And when he was examined of this trespass against the law he said thus. Sir it is written in the law that of two harms the least harm is to be chosen. It is not unknown to you that this city was in peril like to have be lost/ and but I had taken this armour I had neither saved you ne the city/ therefore as me thinketh ye ought rather to honour me for this good deed that I have done to you than thus shamefully to reprove me/ for I am lad as he that is ready to be hanged/ and also good sirs an other reason I may lay for mine excuse. He that stelethe or robbeth violently purposeth not to restore the thing that he rob/ but it is not thus with me/ for though I took the armour of the deed knight for your salvation/ when I had obtained the victory I bore it again to the same place and so the deed knight hath that is his by the law. Than said the justice a thief that breaketh an house that he may steel and bear away such as he may find and though he bring again that he hath taken. I ask of the if that the breaking of the house be lawful or not. The knight answered/ sometime the breaking of an house may be good where as it is made in feeble place which should cause the lord of the house to make his wall stronger that thieves after that break not the walls so lightly in voiding of more harm Than said the justice if the breaking of the house be good nevertheless in that breaking violence is done to the lord of the house. And so though thou didst good with the armure of the deed knight neverthesse's thou didst wrong to the deed knight in taking away his armour. The knight said I have told you now that of two harms the least is for to be chosen. And that harm where through great goodness cometh ought not for to be called harm/ but it should be rather called good. For if that ovy house within the city were on fire and began for too burn it were more better too throw it to the ground and three or four houses thereby than they should be set on fire also whereby all the city might be brent. Right so if the armure of the deed knight had not be taken of the city and all ye had been lost. And when the justice hard that he answered so well and so reasonably he might give no judgement against him. But they which that had accused this knight slew him for whose death there was great weeping through all the city/ & his body was worshipfully buried in a new tomb.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor is the father of heaven/ and this city is the world the which is besieged of the devil and deadly sin. And as many as were within this city were all in peril to be lost. This young knight that came to the city is out lord Ihesu christ which had not the armour of our manhood till he went unto the grave/ that is to say to the womb of the glorious virgin Mary by the annunciation of the angel saying. The holy ghost shall light in the. etc. Lo thou shalt conceive & bear a son. And thus in the womb of the virgin he took the armure of the deed knight/ that is to say he took the manhood of Adam our form father and saved the city that is that world with man kind from peril by his blessed passion which he suffered on the cross/ & than he put his armure again in to the grave when his blessed body was buried/ but the citizens envy him/ that is to say the jews & the paynims of Iewrye accused him to pilate and laid the law afore them against him saying/ if thou suffer him thus thou art not friend to Cesar th'emperor/ we have a law & after that law he ought to die/ & thus our lord Ihesu christ of his enemies was dampened to death hanging on the cross buried in his grave arose the third day fro death to life and after ascended up to heaven. Unto the which Ihesu bring us all.  
Amen.    

THere reigned sometime in the city of Rome a mighty Emperor & a wise named Betolve which ordained a law that what woman were taken in adultery her husband being a live that she should be cast in to perpetual prison. There was that time a knight which had a fair lady to his wife which died adultery under her husband & was with child therefore by the law she was put in prison/ where within short time after she was delivered of a fair son. This child grew up till he was seven year old/ his mother daily wept heartily. And when the child heard this he said to his mother thus. O mother why weep ye thus/ & for what cause is your body thus tormented. Than said his mother. O thou my sweet son I have great cause to morn & thou also/ for above our heads is the walking of people and the son shineth in his clearness/ & great solace hath all men that are above us/ & we be here continually in such darkness that I may not see the ne thou me/ alas/ alas/ that ever I conceived the. Than said the son/ such joy ne such light as thou speakest of saw I never ne yet perceived/ for I was borne here in this darkness therefore if I had meet and drink enough here would I live all the days of my life. Therefore mother weep ye not but show unto me solace. The while the lamentation was between the mother and the son/ th'emperors steward stood above their heads & heard all their mourning/ wherefore he had great conpassyon of them and went unto the Emperor and kneeling be sought him of his grace for the mother and the son/ that they might be delivered of prison. The Emperor as a merciful lord granted that they should be delivered. Neverthesse's if they tresspased so in time to come they should be punished with double pain/ & after that they were delivered this woman ended herlyfe in that city.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor is the father of heaven which made this law that what wedded woman/ that is to say what soul which is wedded to our lord do adultery / that is to say deadly sin should be cast in the prison of hell/ therefore a sinful soul hath great cause to weep for she is departed fro light/ that is to say from the joy of heaven Her son that desired meet & drink been the mighty men of this world which say to the prelate's of that church and to the preachers which preach unto them the joy of heaven/ that while we may live and have all the solace of the world we desire none other joy of heaven. The steward which heard their lamentation is our lord Ihesu the which knoweth all the brevities of our hearts and contrition of out sins besought the father of heaven for us that we might be delivered from the prison of sin/ and that we may come to everlasting life/ unto the which bring us our derelorde Jesus'.  
Amen.    

 
IN Rome dwelled sometime an emperor named Pomper which above all other things was merciful. This Emperor let cry thorough all his Empire a great feast and that poor & rich should come to this feast. And who so ever came to that feast should not only be well fed but also he should have great gifts. When the herald had warned all manner of men to come to this feast at the time there were two feeble men dying by the way and the one was lame and that other was blind. This blind man said unto the lame man. Alas and woe to me and the how shall we do/ for th'emperor hath let cry a feast and who so e●er cometh thereto shall not only be well fed but also he shall have right great gifts/ and I am blind and thou art lame how shall we do. What said the lame man to the blind man I shall tell the good counsel/ if thou will do after me thou shalt let for no thing. I am lame and feeble and may not go nevertheless I may see/ and thou art strong and blind and mayest not see/ take thou me upon thy back and bear me and I shall lead thee/ the right way and thus shall we both come to the Emperors feest. Than said the blind man after thy good council I do/ come on my back and I shall bear the and thou shalt lead me the right way/ and so they did that both of them came to that feast and received great reward and gifts among other men/ and thus endeth their lives in pease.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor is our lord Ihesu cryst the which let cry a general feast/ that is to say the joy of heaven/ unto the which joy he called all mankind and forsaketh no man that will come unto him. This lame man betokeneth the prelate's of the church preachers and confessors which that have no thing of their own but liven by teaching and alms of other men. And this blind man betokeneth lay men which knoweth not the right way unto heaven. It behoveth that the blind man/ that is to say the lay men to bear the lame man/ that is to say the prelate's of the church sustaining and feeding them with the tithing of alms and other oblations/ than the prelate's be beholden to teach and inform us the way toward heaven where as we shall not only have a feast but also great joy and reward/ to the which god bring us thereto.  
Amen.    

 
Sometime in Rome dwelled an Emperor named Folliculus the which was right wise merciful and rightful in all his works this Emperor builded in the east a noble city when rein he put all his treasure and precious stones/ and riches to be kept/ unto this city was the way stony and full of brymbles & sharp thorns/ & three knights were armed ready to fight with them that would come to that city. Therefore th'emperor ordained that who soever overcome these knights should enter the city and take at his will of th'emperors treasure. After that this Emperor let make in the northewest a city wherein he ordained all manner of pain tormenting sorrow and mischief to the which was a broad way full delectable growing full of roses and fail lelyes/ and in that way were three knights ever waiting if any man came toward the city of the north to serve him with all manner of delicates and things necessare/ and if it fortuned any man to enter within that city the custom was such of that city that the people should take and bind them hand and foot and cast him in prison there to abide to the coming of the justice. when this was cried throughout all the Empire/ there were two knights dwelling in a city there beside one height jonatas and was a wist man that other height Pyrryus and he was a fool/ nevertheless there was between them great love. This jonatas said unto Pyrryus/ dear friend there is a comune cry made through all lands that th'emperor hath made a city in the east wherein he hath put all his treasure/ & who so ever may enter that city shall take of the treasure what him list therefore my council is that we go to city/ than said Pyrryus thy comfort is good and I desire to fulfil it. The wise knight said/ if it be so that thou wilt follow my counsel I pray y● that faithful friendship may continue between us/ and in token of love thou shalt drink my blood/ and I shall drink thine that none of us depart ne fail other in this journey. The foolish knight said/ it pleaseth me right well all that ye say/ wherefore they were both leten blood & everich of them drank others blood when this was done they went together forth upon their journey/ and when they had gone three days journeys toward the city where the treasure was/ they came unto a place where were two ways/ one was sharp stony & full of thorns/ that other way was plain and fair and full of sweetness and delights. Than said the wise knight to his fellow/ dear friend here be ii ways one sharp & thorny/ nevertheless if we go this way we shall come to this city that is rich/ & there shall we have that we have desired. Than said this foolish knight to his fellow. I wonder greatly of you that ye speak such things/ for rather I will believe mine eyen than your words. I see here openly and so do ye that here is an hard way and full of thorns/ and as I have hard say there be three champions armed in this way ready to fight against all men that gone that way toward the city of the east/ and therefore I tell you that I will not go that way. But here is as ye may see an other way plain enough and easy to walk/ and in this way there be three knights ready to serve us and give us all manner things necessary to us/ and therefore by this way I will go and not by that other way. Than said the wise knight certainly if we go by that way we shall be led in to the city of the north where in there is no mercy but perpetual pain and sorrow/ and there shall we be taken and bounden & cast in to prison. Certainly said the foolish knight this way is the ready way/ and as I believe it is more profitable than that other way/ than went they both forth the fair way/ and anon three knights met with them which received them reverently as for a night and gave them all manner of thing that was necessary to them and on the morrow they took their journey forth toward the city. And when they were within the city anon the Emperor officers met with them and said. Dear friends why come ye hither in so much that ye know the law of this city so cruel of long time here before soothly ye shallbe served now after the law. Anon they took the wise knight and bound him and put him in prison/ and after that they took foolish knight and bound him fast and cast him in to a dycke. Soon after that it befell that the justyre came to the city to give judgement upon them that trespassed against the law and anon all the prisoners were brought forth before the justice among whom these two knights were brought forth/ one from prison/ and the other from the dyke. Than said the wise knight unto the justice/ reverent lord I complain of my fellow that he is guilty of my death/ for when we two came to the two ways whereof that one led to the city in the east/ and the other to this city I told him all the peril of this said city/ and the reward of that other city/ and he would not believe me/ and said unto me in this wise. I believe mine own eyen better than thy words/ and because he was my fellow I would not let him go alone in this/ way. And thus came I with him this way. Wherefore he is cause my death. Than said the foolish knight I complain that he is the cause of my death. For it is not unknown too you all that I am a fool and he a wise man and therefore he should not so lightly have followed my folly. For if he had forsaken this way I would have followed him/ and therefore he is the cause of my death. Than said the justice to the wise knight. Because that thou with all thy wisdom and great understanding so lightly consented and followed the will of the fool and all his foolish works/ and thou fool because that thou wouldest not do after the counsel/ ne fulfil the wholesome words of this discrete and wise man and believe him. I give judgement that ye both be hanged for your trespass/ and so it was done/ wherefore all men praised greatly the justice for his discrete judgement.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor is our lord god/ and in the east is the city of heaven wherein is treasure infinite. And unto this city is an hard way and full of thorns/ that is to say the way of penance by the which way full few walketh/ for it is so hard and so straight according to the holy scripture saying thus. Est art a via que ducit ad vitam. It is a full straight way that leadeth mankind unto everlasting life. In this way been three knights/ that is to say/ the devil/ the world/ and the flesh with whom it behoveth us too fight and to obtain the victory or we may come to heaven. The second city that is in the north is hell. And to this accordeth the scripture saying thus. Ab aquilone pandet onne maium. Out of the north cometh all evil. Certainly unto this city is the way plain and broad and walled about on every side with all manner delicates/ wherefore many men walketh by this way. The three knights that giveth every man going this way what thing them needeth been these. Pride of life/ covetise of eyes/ and concupisbence of flesh in the which three that wretched man greatly delighted and atte the last they lead him in to hell. This witty knight betokeneth the soul/ & the foolish knight betokeneth the flesh the which is alway foolish and at all times ready to do harm. These two been fellows and knit in one/ for everich of them orynketh others blood/ that is to say they shall drink of one cup either joy or pain they shall have after the day of doom. The soul chooseth all the way of penance/ and in as much as she may she stirreth the flesh to do the same/ but the flesh thinketh never what is to come after/ & therefore she gooth in the delight of this world and fleeth the way of penance/ and thus the soul after the death is cast in to hell/ and the flesh is cast in to the dycke/ that is to say in to the grave. But than the justice cometh/ that is our lord Ihesu christ at the day of doom to dame all mankind. Than the soul shall complain upon the flesh/ and the flesh upon the soul. But than the justice which will not be deceived neither by prayer ne by price shall condemn the soul because she followed the fragility of the flesh. And also he shall condemn the flesh because it would not believe the soul/ wherefore let us study to tame our flesh that we may obey god and than shall we have everlasting life. Unto the which bring us our dear lord Jesus' christ.  
Amen.    

 
THere dwelled sometime in Rome a mighty Emperor named Frederyk which had no chylderin save a daughter to whom this Emperor after his dyscesse byquethed all his Empire This understanding an earl that dwelled there be side came unto this young maiden and wooed her and stirred her unto sin all that he mught/ wherefore this young lady in short process inclined to the earl/ and this earl anon lay with her and defoiled her/ and after that he put her from her heritage and chased her out of her Empire wherefore she made great lamentation and fled unto the realm there beside where as she daily wept and mourned. It befelie after on a day that while she sat mourning by a side way there came by her a fair knight riding young and right honest upon a good horse which that came to ward her a swift pace and worshipfully saluted her and asked that cause why that she so sore mourned. Than answered she and said. My reverent lord. I am an emperors daughter comen of royal kin/ my father is deed which that left me all his Empire by cause he had none other heir/ and after his dyscesse an earl there beside deceived me and took from me my maidenhead/ and after that he put me violently out of mine heritage so the I now am fain to beg my breed from door to door/ and this is the cause of my sorrow. Than said the knight/ fair damosel I have great compassion on thy fairness and of thy gentleness/ therefore if thou wilt grant to me one thing I shall fight for the against the earl and I behote unto the the victory. Than said she. Alas alas I have no thing that I may give unto the but myself. And I ask no more of the said the knight but that thou wouldest by my wife and love no man so much as me. Than said she. reverent sir that will I do gladly & more if I might. Than said the knight I will in certainty that thou shalt do for me one thing/ that if it fortune me to die in battle for the & to obtain the victory that thou shalt take my bloody shirt and hang it upon a perch in thy chamber/ and this shalt thou do for two things. The first is that when somever thou behold este thee shirt thou shalt weep for me. The second is that what somever man come for to woo the to be his wife/ than thou shalt hastily run unto thy chamber and behold my bloody shirt and think heartily within thyself thus. The lord of this shirt died for my love in battle the which recovered mine heritage/ god forbid that I should take oony other man after his death. Than said she. reverent sir all this I shall fulfil by the grace of god. And when the knight heard this he gave battle against the earl and obtained the victory/ and the earl was overcome and fled/ and this young lady was brought and received again in to her heritage: Neverthesse's this knight was deadly wounded in that battle whereof he died/ but or he died he byquethed his bloody shirt unto this danjoysell desiring her to keep her promise. When this young lady heard of his death she wept sore and made great lamentation for his death. And in his shirt was written this verse. Think on him and have mind/ that to the was so kind. Anon when she had received the shirt she hanged it upon a perch in her chamber/ and as oftentimes as she beheld it she wept bitterly. It befall not long after that the states of her Empire came to her and desired and counseylleo her for to take an husband/ But than she went unto her chamber & beheld the bloody shirt/ than waxed she sorrowful and said oftentimes alas alas thou suffered death for my love and thou also recoverest again mine heritage/ god forbid that ever I should take any other man but thee/ and thus she answered every man that came to her and so they went away unspedde and she ended her life in pease and rest.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor is the father of heaven/ and this daughter is the soul of man made at the similitude of god/ to whom god gave and byquethed the Empire of paradise. But there came an earl/ that is to say the devil & stirred her to sin when sheet of the apple & said unto her thus. in what hour ye eat of that apple ye shall be like gods where for breaking god's commandment we were all exiled out of paradise and chased unto the realm of this world here to live in great wretchedness/ like as the psalm saith. In sudore vultus tui etc. In the sweet of thy visage thou shalt eat thy breed. But that came a fair young knight & a strong/ that is to say our lord Ihesu christ which had compassion on mankind and took our flesh and our blood and gave battle to the devil & overcame him/ and thus wan he again our heritage. Therefore late us do as this young lady died put we this bloody shirt/ that is to say the mind of the passion of christ in the perch of our heart & think we how our lord Ihesu christ shed his blood for sv. And if any man/ that is to say/ the devil or any other would stir us to sin/ anon think we on the passion of christ and say we thus. I shall take none other but the which hast shed thy blood for me And thus shall we win ever lasting life. Unto the which god bring us all Amen.    

Sometime dwelled in Rome a mighty Emperor named Apolloninus which ordained for law that every man upon pain of death should worship the day of his nativity. This Emperor called unto him a clerk that height Virgyll and said. My dear master there been many heed sinned done contrary to the law/ therefore I pray that that thou by thy cunning would make some craft whereby I might know who trespassed against the law privily or pertly. Than said Virgyll My revernt lord your will shall be done. Anon this Virgyll through his craft made an image in the mids of the city of Rome which descevered and told themperours messengers who trespassed against the law and who trespassed not. There was that time owelling in the city of Rome a smith that height Focus which for no thing would worship the nativity of the Emperor. It befall upon a night while the smith lay in his bed/ he thought upon the image which had accused so many men before/ and dread lest the image would accuse him/ wherefore he arose and went to the image and said. I make a vow to god if ever thou accuse me I shall break thine heed & when he had thus said he went home The Emperor on the morrow after following sent his messengers unto the image as he was wont before to know and to understand who had trespassed against the law And to them than said the image/ lift up your eyen and behold what is written in my forehead. And than they looked up & saw this poised written. Tempore mutant homines detminant. times been changed/ and men been worse & worse. For who will say the troth shall have his heed broken therefore go ye forth unto your lord and tell him all that ye have red and seen. The messengers went forth and told the Emperor all that they had herd & seen Than said the Emperor/ arm yourself and go ye to the image/ & if that ye find any man that hath boasted/ and look if any man have threatened the image/ bind him hand and foot and bring him unto me. Than went the messenger forth unto the image and said unto the image. Tell us the troth if any man hath threatened the and we shall avenge the anon. Than said the image. Take the smith Focus for he is that man that will not honour the nativity of the Emperor. Anon the messengers led forth that smith before th'emperor/ and anon examined him why he kept not the day of the emperors nativity in reverence and honour according unto the law. Than answered the smith and said. reverent lord I beseech you that ye would here mine excuse/ and if I answer not reasonably to all manner of points that ye will ask me I will put me only in your grate. Than said the Emperor. I shall here the and that/ that is rightful I shall do. Than said the smith. It behoveth me to have viii d. every day in the week/ and that I can not get without great labour/ & therefore I may in no manner wise keep that day holy day more than other days. Than said the Emperor/ why behoveth it the to have this viii d. Than said the smith/ I am behold to pay daily ii d. and. iid. I lean and ii d. I lose and ii d. I exspende. Than said the Emperor/ tell me more expressly of these viii d. Than said he I am bound every day too pay ii d. to my father/ for when I was young my father spent on me ii d. daily/ and therefore I am behold to help him and to pay him again his ii d. for his sustentation. Also ii d. I lose on my wife. Than said th'emperor/ why lesest thou that ii d. on thy wife. Than said he where see ye ever woman but she had one of these points other she is wilful or contrary to her husband or of hot complexion and therefore that I give her I lose. Also two. d. I lean to my son wherewith he is sustained that when I come to age & poverty that he may pay me again ii d. like as I do to my father Also I spend ii d. on myself in meet and drink & that is little enough. Than said th'emperor thou hast answered well and wisely. Not long after that it fell that th'emperor died and this smith Focus was chosen to be Emperor because he spended this viii d. so wisely and so proffytably/ and thus he ended his life in pease and in rest.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor is our blessed lord Ihesu christ which ordained by his holy law that every man should worship the sunday. This Vyrgyll which made this image is the holy ghost which is set up among us a preacher to teach virtues and to reprove vices and that he should not spare the poor ne the rich. But now if a preacher would say troth against any man anon he sHall be menaced and threatened of the enemies of christ/ that is to say by evil men which that loved neither god ne man/ wherefore the preacher may say now adays that people which was written in the forehead of the image. times been changed from good to ruyl/ and men be daily worse and worse. For who so would say the troth now a days shall have his heed broken. Therefore it is need they be armed/ that is to say that every preacher be armed with good deeds in ensample of other/ and than it needeth not to dread in so much that they have god and troth to stand by them/ according to the apostles saying thus. Si deus nobiscum quis contra nos. If god be with us who may be against us. By this smith Focus in understand every good christian man which daily should work meritory deeds/ and than he ought to be presented before the heavenly Emperor. This Focus paid ii d. to his father/ and so we shall pay to our father of heaven ii d. that is to say honour & love. For when we were the chylderin of wretchedness and but in bondage almighty god sent down to the earth his son to redeem us Accordyinge to saint johan that evangelist saying thus Deus dilexit mundum ut filium suum vn●genitum daret pro mundo. God loveth the world so well that he would give his only son for the salvation of the world. Also this Focus lente ii d. to his son/ that is too say every christian man ought to leanly/ to the son of god our blessed lord Ihesu christ good will and merytory deeds in our life that he may pay us again at the day of doom when soul and body shall be glorified/ and in that he is our brother and it may well be proved by the text of isaiah saying thus. Puer natus est nobis. &c. A child is borne to us. This Focus lost ii d. upon his wife. Thy wife betokeneth thy flesh upon whom thou hast lost ii d. that is to say unlawful love and consent of sins/ for why/ the flesh is contrary to the ghost and ever is ready to harm. This Focus also spended ii d. on himself/ that is to lay/ by the first penny thou shalt understand penance done in the which the soul greatly delighteth in heaven and there is glorified/ And by the second penny we ought to understand that stead fast abiding in doing of penance/ for he that abideth unto the end shall be saved. And who that spended well this ii d. shall obtain everlasting life. Unto the which bring us our lord Jesus' christ.  
Amen.    

Sometime dwelled in Rome a mighty Emperor which among all other virtues loved best mercy/ wherefore he ordained a law that every blind man should have an hundred. s. by year of his treasure. It befall upon a day that there came certain men to a tavern to drink wine/ and after that these men had sitten in the tavern three days the fourth day they were greatly in the taverners debt and had no money to pay for their wine wherefore the taverner came to them and charged them that they should not void till they had paid for their wine. Than said one of the drinkers to his fellows sirs quoth he th'emperor hath made such a law that every blind man shall have an hundred. s. of his treasure therefore cast we lot among us/ and to whom the lot falleth late his eyen be put out & so may he go to th'emperors palace & get the hundred. s. & thus this greatly rejoiced and said that the council was right good/ wherefore they cast lots among them and the lot fell on him that gave the council/ & than his follows forth with put out his eyen. And when he was blind he went forth to th'emperors palace and axed of the steward an hundred. s. according to the emperors law. Dear friends said the steward thou mightest see with both thine yesterday/ and thou also understandest the law amiss/ for the law is made for men that are blind through infirm y tees or by the will of god and yesterday thou hadst thy sight in the tavern/ but wilfully thou hast lost thine eyer therefore go thou to the tavern again to thy follows and make thy pease and quite thyself for here getest thou not a farthing. Than went this wretched man forth & told his fellows of the steward answer/ and with that came in the taverner and dyspoyled them of all their clothes and beat them and thus drove them with shame out of the city and so were they there never seen after.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor is our lord Ihesu which ordained for law that every blind man should have an hundred. s. of his treasure. This blind man betokeneth every sinner which sinned through infirmities of enticing of the devil the world & the flesh which shall receive an hundred. s. if he be inwardly repentant of his sins/ that is to say he shall have an hundred times more/ joy according to the scripture saying thus. Centuplum accipietis & vitam eternam possidebitis. Ye shall receive an hundred times more joy if ye be repentant and torn from sin/ & also ye shall have everlasting life. These men that came to the tavern and drynkyn the wine be sinners which oftentimes comen unto the tavern of our adversary the devil and drinken/ that is for to say/ they do consume and there waste a way all ghostly virtues which they received when they took christendom at the font stone/ wherefore the devil our enemy dyspoyleth them and maketh them to lose all their good deeds that ever they wrought before they casted lots/ that is to say they cast among them the custom of sin/ and this lot of sin falleth on them that is worshipful and without mercy and such a man wilfully becometh blind/ that is to say he becometh wilfully a foul sinner like judas that betrayed our lord without any subjection or enticing/ & therefore such men sin more grievously when they come before the steward/ that is to say before the prelate's of the church they may not lightly obtain the joy of heaven/ for why/ they be not in the right way to leave their sin. Therefore study we with all our diligence to please god the we may obtain everlasting reward. Unto the which bring us our lord Jesus' Amen.    

IN Rome dwelled sometime a mighty Emperor named Pylomius which had no child but a daughter a fair maiden and a gracious in the sight of every man and was named agla's. There was also in themperours palace a gentle knight that loved this lady above all thing in the world. It befall after upon a day that this knight taked with this lady & uttered in secret wise his desire to her Than said she courteously/ sith ye have uttered to me the privities of your heart I shall in like wise for your love utter to you the secrets of my heart/ and truly I say that above all other I love you best Than said the knight I purpose to visit the holy land/ & therefore give me your troth the this vii year ye shall take none other man but only for my love that ye shall so long abide me/ & if I come nor again to this day. seven. year take than what man that ye list best. And in like wise I shall promise you that within this vii year I shall take no wife. Than said she/ this covenant pleaseth me well when this was said everich of them bytrouthed other/ & than the knight took his leave of this lady & went forth to the holy land. Anon after that th'emperor treated with the king of Hungry of marriage for his daughter. Than came the king of Hungry to th'emperors palace to see that young domoysell/ and when he saw her marvelously he liked her of her fairness and goodness so that the Emperor & the king were accorded in all things touching the marriage upon the condition that the damosel would consent. Than called th'emperor the young lady to him and said. O my sweet daughter. I have provided for the that a king shall be thy husband if the list to thine assent/ therefore tell me what answer thou wilt give to this. Than said she to her father it pleaseth me well/ but of one thing dear father I you beseech if it might please you to grant me for the love of god. I have avowed my chastity only to god for this vii year/ therefore dear father I beseech you for all the love the is between your gracious faderhode and me that ye name no man to be mine husband till this seven year be ended/ and than I shall be ready in all things to fulfil your will Than said th'emperor. Sith it is so that y● wilt none husband have this. seven. year I will not break thy vow/ but when the. seven year been passed thou shalt have the king of Hungry unto thine hushonde. And than th'emperor sent forth his letters unto the king of Hungry praying him if it might please him to abide vii year for love of his daughter/ and than should he speed of his intent without fail. Hereof the king was pleased and granted to abide. And when this vii year were ended save a day the young lady stood in her chamber window and wept sore saying thus. Alas alas to morrow my love promised to be with me again fro the holy land/ and also the king of Hungry will be here to morrow for to wed me according to my faders promise/ and if my love come not at a certain hour than am I utterly deceived of the inward love of him. When the day came the king arrayed him toward the Emperor with a great company to wed his daughter and was rially basene and arrayed in purple And while the king was riding upon his way there came a knight suddenly riding by him/ to whom the said thus. Dear friend whence art thou and whence cometh thou The knight answered and said I am of th'empire of Rome and now am come late fro the holy land and am ready to do you service such as I can. And as they road talking on the way it began to rain so fast that all the kings array was almost lost. Than said the knight/ my lord quoth he ye have done folysshyly for as much that ye brought not with you your house. Than said the king/ how speaketh thou so mine house is large and broad and made of stones and mortar how should I than bear with me my house thou speakest to me like a fool. When this was said they road further till they came to a great water and a deep/ the king smote his horse with his spors and leapt in to the water too that he was almost drowned. When the knight saw this and was over on that other side of the water without peril/ he said to the king/ ye were in peril and therefore ye died foolishly because that ye brought not with you your bridge. Than said the king/ thou speakest marvelously my bridge is made of lime & stone & containeth in quantity te more than half a mile how should I than bear with me my bridge/ therefore thou sepkest foolishly. Well said the knight my foolishness may torn the to wisdom. When the king had riden a little ferther he axed of the knight what time of the day it was. Than said the knight/ if any man haluste to eat it is time of the day to eter and therefore my reverent lord I pray you to take a sop with me for that is no disworship to yond but great honour to me before the states of this Empire. Than said the king I will gladly eat with thee/ they sat both down in a vine garden and all that were with the king and with the knight dined. And when the dinner was ended and the king had washen the knight said to the king. My lord quoth he ye have done foolishly for that ye led not with you your father and your mother. Than said the king what sayest thou my father is deed and my mother is old and may not travail how should I than bring them with me/ therefore to the I save the troth a foolisher man than thou art saw I never Than said the knight every works is praised at the end When the king had riden a little ferther and was nyhan the themperours palace the knight axed leave to go from him for this cause he knew a nearer way to the palace to the young lady that he might come first and lead her with him Than said the king I pray the sir tell me by what place purposest thou to ride. Than said the knight I shall tell you troth/ this day vii year I left a net in a place/ and now I purpose to visit it and draw it to me/ and if it be broken I will leave it/ and if it be hole than will I take it to me and keep it as a precious jewel/ & when he had said what him list he took his leave of the king and road forth/ and the king kept the kings high way When th'emperor heard of the kings coming he went against him with a great company and worshipfully received him & let do of his wete clothes and arrayed him again with new clothes And when the Emperor and the king were set to meet the Emperor died him all the cheer and solace that he could. And when they had dined that Emperor axed tidings of the king. My lord said he I shall tell you what I heard this day by the way. There came a knight to me & reverently salved me/ and anon after that there came a great rain and confounded greatly my clothing/ and anon the knight said/ sir thou hast done foolishly for so much thou brought not with the thine house. Than said th'emperor what clothing had that knight on him a cloak quod the king. Than said th'emperor/ forsooth that was a wise man/ for the house whereof he spoke was a cloak and therefore he said to you that ye died foolishly by cause ye came without your cloak/ for if ye had brought with you a cloak than had your clothes been defoiled with the rain. Than said the king when we had riden a little ferther we came unto a deep water. I smote my horse with the spors and almost I was drowned/ and he road on the other side of the water and found no peril/ and than said he to me/ ye have done foolishly for so moche that ye led not with you your bridge. Forsooth said the Emperor he said troth/ for he called the bridge your squires which should have riden before and assayed the deepness of the water. Than said the king we road ferther more and at the last he prayed me to dine with him/ and when we had dined he said I died unwesely for I led not with me my father & my mother soothly said th'emperor he was a wise man & said troth/ for he called your father and your mother breed and wine and other victuals. Than said the king we road furthermore/ and anon after he asked me leave to go from / and I asked diligently whether he went. And he answered again and said under this form. This day vii year said he left I a precious net in a privy place/ and now I will ride and visit it/ & if it be broken or to torn than will I leave it/ and if it be hole as I left it than shall it be to me right precious & I shall bear it with me. When the Emperor heard this he cried with a loud voice and said. O ye my knights and my servants go ye lightly unto my daughters chamber for soothly that is the net where of the knight spoke. And anon his knights and his servants went unto his daughters chamber & found her not/ the foresaid knight had take her with him. And thus the king was deceived of the damosel & he went home again to his own country confounded.  

¶ Dear friends 'tis Emperor is our blessed lord Jesus' christ. And this fair daughter is everlasting life the which that the emperor had ordained for kings knights and for men. The knight that loved this young lady is every good christian soul which holdeth himself not worthy to come in the sight of god unto such joy. As the apostle saith. Non est condign passionis huius temporis ad futuram gloriam. The be not so worthy of suffering to come unto that glory that is to come. This knight went seven year on pilgrimage/ like as a good christian man all the days of his life should labour in fnlflling the seven works of mercy. By this king that cometh without cloak in the rain is to understand the mighty men of this world/ as justices Mayres & balyes which had noclokes to cover all their other clothes by this cloak is understand charity/ the which as the apostle saith. Caritas cooperit multitudinem peccatorum. charity coverth all our sins. But many men have not this cloak/ wherefore they be wete in the rain of pride avarice/ and lechery. This king was also almost drowned for by cause he lacked his bridge/ that is to say perfit faith. For we see daily that there may no man pass over a great water broad and horrible deep without a bridge or some other thing that is able for to bear him. Right to without faith it is impossible for to please god/ and thus may no man be saved without faith when they set their life in worldly joy or worldly help more than in the help of almighty god which is mighty for to do all things/ wherefore he saith himself thus. salvator si habueritis fidem sicut granum sinapis poteritis et cetera. If he have faith as the grain of mustard/ than may ye say unto the hills. Go thou forth and it shall go. But many of us now a days hath to over feeble a faith & therefore they shall sodanly fall in the clay of desperation/ and by deadly sin often times they offend god. Also this king had not brought with him his father and his mother. By the father which is cause of governation is understand humility without whom there is no virtue in no man. And thereto accordeth saint Gregory saying thus Si quis ceteris virtutes sine humilitate congregat et cete. He that gathereth all other virtues without humility is like a man that casteth dust in the wind. His mother betokeneth hope therefore he that will obtain everlasting life him behoveth to have the cloak of charity/ bridge of faith a father of meekness/ and a mother of hope/ as the apostle saith. Spe salut facti sumus. Also this knight went the straight path way/ and the king the broad way/ for he that will be saved behoveth to go a straight way/ that is to say/ the way of fasting/ alms deeds/ chastity/ and penance/ of the which way speaketh the apostle. ¶ Stricta est via que ducit ad vitam eternam. The way is straight that leadeth to everlasting life. But many men gone that other way which leadeth to hell/ that is to say by the way of fleshly lust and such men gone out of the way of everlasting life/ but such men be deceived through the way. Therefore study we to walk that way whereby we may obtain everlasting life.  
Amen.    

 
Sometime dwelled in Rome a mighty strong & a bataylous Emperor named Agias which had with him a knight whom men called Gerarde which was a doughty warrior neverthe less he was as meek as a lamb in the emperors hall/ but in the field he was like a lion. This Emperor had a fair daughter whom the strong and mighty exle of palaster ravished dysfloured neverthesse's it displeased more th'emperor the dyffoylnge of his daughter than the ravishing/ wherefore he called unto him his counsel and said dear friends it is not unknown to you the despite & violence done unto me in deflowering of my daughter and therefore jaurpose to give battle to the earl/ wherefore I pray you to be ready at a day set to proceed with me to battle. And they said lord we ready to live and die with you in battle. When the day of battle came they met on both sides & a cruel hard betayle was given on both sides/ & all that were of th'emperors party were slain. And as th'emperor should have been beheaded the knight Gerarde put himself among this enemies before th'emperor and fought manfully and so th'emperor escaped and the knight abode and slew the earl/ nevertheless this knight had diverse wounds. This not withstanding he abode & fought styll●tyll the blood ran to his heels. And when his enemies saw that the Earl was slain they fled/ and the knight with his people followed on the chase till he came to the place where th'emperors daughter was and led her with him and thus with triumph & victory he returned again to the emperor. For the which victory and getting again of th'emperors daughter he was greatly praised of all people. Not long after it befell that this knight had to do in th'emperors court wherefore the knight came unto th'emperor and prayed him meekly to be favourable in his cause/ and furthermore he prayed him to do that reason asked. When the emperor had heard him he called to him a justice and said go thou and do justice to this knight and that/ that the law will. And whah the knight heard this he cried with a loud voice. Alas alas who heard ever such a thing of an Emperor/ thou were said he in battle where thine heed should have be smitten of/ and I in mine own person and none other men put myself in jeopardy for the and saved thee/ & now thou hast assigned an other man to be judge in my cause/ alas that ever thou were borne. And with that word the knight died of all his clothes & showed the wounds that he had received in the battle unto all the men that where there present and said. Loo what I have suffered for the and I put none other man in my stead/ and now thou assygnest an other man in my cause. Forsooth I say to the that I never served such a lord before. When th'emperor heard this being almost confounded in himself said thus. O dear friend all that thou sayest is troth/ thou savedst me from death/ thou wonnest my daughter again and for my sake thou hast suffered many wounds. Forsooth it is right that I come down and make an end of thy cause such as may be honour and joy to the. And than th'emperor laboured busily in his matter and made thereof an end according to the knights intent/ wherefore all men greatly commended the Emperor.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor may be called every christian man or else all mankind which had a fair daughter/ that is to say the soul made at the similitude of god This earl betokeneth the devil which ravished and defouled by sin the soul of man through eating of the tree knowing good and evil/ wherefore all mankind was in servage till a strong and valiant knight came & put himself on the cross between the devil and mankind. For if that had not been we had all be dampened everlastingly/ and this knight brought again the soul of man unto the church/ wherefore he suffured many great wound in his body. And now this knight/ this is for to say our lord Ihesu christ hath a matter for to do among us/ that is to for say/ for to find in us perfit life/ wherefore he calleth on us daily the we should be ready at all times/ saying thus in the Apocalypse tercio. Eccsto ad hostium et pulso/ si quis miche aperuerit introibo et cenabo. That is to say●. Loo I stand and knock at the door/ if there any man will open to me I shall come in and soup with him. But many men doth as this Emperor died the which gave the knight an other. judge than himself. But now a days there been some men that will do no penance for the love of him which assigned no man but himself for to fight for us. And therefore against unkind men it shall be said thus. Loo he hangeth on the cross despoiled of all his clothing/ & showeth unto us all his wounds that he suffered for us. Be we therefore kind that we may suffer for his love some penance and that at the day of doom we may say thus. Have we not done penance in our life. For he that suffereth pain for the love of god shall receive an hundred times more reward and also he shall obtain everlasting life unto the which bring you and me and all mankind.  
Amen    

Sometime there dwelled in Rome a witty Emperor named Pompey which had a fair daughter whom men called agla's. This daughter had many virtues above all other women of that Empire. first she was fair and gracious in the sight of ever man. She was also swift in running that no man might overtake her by great space. When the Emperor understood these two virtues in his daughter he was right joyful/ wherefore he made proclaim thorough all his Empire that what man poor or rich would run with his daughter should have her to wife with great richesse if he might over run her and come rather to the mark than she/ and if she over run him and come rather to the mark than he his heed should be smitten of. When the states of the Empire both duke's earls barons & knights heard this crpe they offered themself one after an other to run with her/ but ever this young lady over raune them all/ wherefore they lost their heads according to the law. That time there was a poor man dwelling in Rome which thought within himself I am a poor man and come of poor kindred there is made a comen cry the what man so ever might over run the emperors daughter by any wise should be promoted unto great honour and richesse/ therefore if I might overcome her by any manner way I should not only be promoted to honour but all my kin. This poor man provided himself for three jewels whereby that he might win her. first he made a garland of reed rolls and of white. The second he made a fair girdle of silk craftily wrought. The third he made a purse of silk set full of precious stones/ and within the purse was a ball of three colours/ and upon this purse was written this poised/ who playeth with me shall never be weary of my play. Than put he these three things in his bosom & went forth to the palace gate crying/ and saying/ come forth fair lady come forth for I am ready to run with the and fulfil the law in all things. When the Emperor heard this and his voice he commanded his daughter to run with him. This young lady went in to her chamber window/ and when she saw him she despised him and said. I have overcomen said she many worthy knights and now must Irenne with a churl/ nevertheless I shall fufyll my faders commandment. Anon the damosel arrayed her for to run with him. And at the last they ran together/ and within short space the damosel went far afore him. When this jougeler saw this he threw forth the garland of flowers before her And when the myaden beheld and saw that she stooped down and took it up & set it upon her heed and that while the jougeler went afore her. And when this young damosel saw this she weptesore and for sorrow she threw the garland in a ditch and ran after him diligently and at the last overtook him and lift up her right hand and gave him a buffet saying to him thus abide thou wretch it beseemeth not thy faders son for to have me to thy wife/ and this young lady went before him a great space. And when he jougelour saw this he took out the gyrdeil of his bosom and threw it before her. And when that she saw the lightly she stooped down and took it up and anon girt her therewith/ & than the jougeloure went again before her. And than when she saw that she made great lamentation and took the girdle with her teeth and all to tore it in to three pieces and than threw it from her/ and than she ran fast after, him and atte the last she overtook him/ and than she took up her hand and gave him a great blow saying unto him these words. O wretch said she weenest thou for to overcome me/ and with that she ran before him a great space but than the jougelour went again afore her. And when she saw that she made great lamentation. The jougelour was sly and subtle and abode till that she was almost at the mark and than he threw for the before her a purse And when she saw this purse anon she stooped down & took it up/ and anon she opened it and found the ball and red the poised who so playeth with me of my play he shall not be fulfilled. And than began she to play/ and so long she continued in playing till that the jougeloure was afore her at the mark/ and thus he wan the emperors daughter.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor is our blessed lord Ihesu christ/ and his fair daughter is man's soul which was made clean with the water of the holy font and was also full light to run/ that is to say/ in virtue while that she is in cleanness so that no deadly sin might overcome her. This jogeler that is come of so wily blood is the devil the which studieth day and night to deceive Innocentes/ he provideth him of three things/ first of the garland which betokeneth pride by this reason. For why a garland of flowers it not set upon the arm nor upon the foot/ but upon the heed that it may be seen. Right so pride would be seen/ against proud men speaketh the holy man saint Austyn saying thus. Quecumque superbium videris filium diaboli dici non dubitetis. That is to say/ what proud man that thou mayst see doubt ye not to call him the son of the devil/ do y● therefore as the maiden died by weep thy sin and thrawe of the garland of pride and cast it in the ditch of contrition/ and so shalt thou give the devil a great buffet and overcome him But when this jougeloure/ that is to say our ghostly enemy the devil seeth and perceiveth in himself overcomen in one sin/ than he returneth and tempted a man in another sin and casteth before man the girdle of lechery. But alas there be full many girded with the girdle of lechery. Of the which girdle speaketh saint Gregory saying thus. Gird we our buttocks with the girdle of chastity. For who somever is girt with this girdle shall lose the course of life. Than casteth the jougeler forth/ that is for to say the devil/ the purse with the ball. The purse that is open above and closed under betokeneth the heart which that evermore should be closed under against earthly things/ and open above to heavenly joy/ and the two strings that openeth and shutteth the purse betokeneth the love of god & of our neighbours The ball which is round and movable to every part of his dyffrence betokeneth covetise which moveth ever both in young and in old/ and therefore the poised was good and true that was written on the purse/ who so playeth with me/ that is to say with covetise/ they shall never be fulfilled. Therefore saith Senecke. Cum omnia peccata senescunt sola cupiditas iwenescit. When that all sins waxed old than covetise all only waxeth young. Therefore late us take heed that we play not with this ball of covetise/ & than without doubt we shall obtain and win the game with the tennis ball in the bliss of heaven that never shall have end. Unto the which bliss bring us he that shed his blood for us upon the rob tree.  
Amen.    

Sometime in rome dwelled a mighty emperor and a wise named Theodose which above all thing loved best melody of harp and hunting. It befall after upon upon a day while this Emperor hunted in a forest he heard so sweet a melody of haps that through the sweetness thereof he was almost ravished from himself/ wherefore he sought about the forest to find that melody/ and at the last he espied in the end of the forest a poor man sitting beside a water playing on an harp so sweetly that th'emperor before that day heard never so sweet a melody. Than said the Emperor good friend cometh this melody of thine harp or none The poor man answered and said/ my reverent lord I shall tell you the troth. Beside this water my wife and my child and I have dwelled. thirty. year & god hath given me such grace that when so ever I touch mine harp I make so sweet melody that the fish of this water cometh out to my hand and so I take them wherewith my wife my child and I been fed daily in great plenty. But alas and wellaway on the other side of this water there cometh a whysteler and whysteleth so sweetly that in many days my fish forsaketh me and goeth to his whysteling/ and therefore my reverent lord I beseech you of help against his hissing and whistling. Than said th'emperor/ I shall give good help and counsel. I have here in my purse a golden hook which I shall give thee/ take thou it and bind it fast at the end of a rod and with that smite thy harp/ and when thou seest the fish stir draw them up to the land with that hook and than his whysteling ne hissing shall not avail. When the poor man heard this he rejoiced him greatly and died all thing like as the Emperor had taught him/ and when this poor man began to touch his harp the fish moved/ and than he took them up with his hook and lived thereby long time/ & at the last ended graciously his life.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth Ihesu christ which greatly delighteth for to hunt the soul of mankind in the forest the is holy church. He loveth also the melody of the harp/ the is to say/ he loveth moche to teach the holy word of theology. This poor man that sat by the water side betokeneth the prelate's of the church/ and the preachers of the word of god which ought to sit beside the world and not in the world/ that is to say he should not set his delight in worldly things. This preacher ought to have the harp of holy scripture wherewith he may praise & honour god/ & also therewith draw out of this world the sinners. Therefore saith the psalmist thus Praise ye god in tympans and crowds and sing ye to him on the harpe● & the psauter of. x. strenges. But now a days the preacher may say alas/ for when I preach & teach holy scripture/ the devil cometh & whysteleth so sweetly that the sinners draw to him and will not here the word of god but they turn themself only to the delight of sin. The devil deceiveth also mankind by diverse ways. first in time of preaching he maketh some to sleep/ and them that he can not make sleep he causeth & putteth in them to clater and to talk/ and them that he can not make to clater he maketh them so dull that they may not savour ne understand what the preacher saith/ & them that he can not beguile in these means he putteth in them business and causeth them to go out of the church Loo so many ways the devil hath to deceive mankind and to let the word of god. Therefore every prelate and every preacher behoveth the golden hook of god's grace against this whysteling by the which grace they may draw sinners out of this world up to heaven. Unto the which bring us our lord Jesus' christ.  
Amen.    

THere dwelled in Rome a mighty Emperor and a wise man the which was named Polemus which had no child save a daughter whom he loved so moche the daily and nyghtlye he ordained her for to be kept with armed knights. And above these knights he ordained a master well taught in every cunning for to teach them and for to inform them how they should do. He ordained also a steward for to guide his household. And when all this was done as he lay in his bed on a night he bethought him so that he would visit the holy land. And then when all thing was ready for his journey according unto his purpose/ he called unto him his steward/ and said. Dear friend I purpose to see the holy land & therefore I leave my daughter in thy keeping and also I charge the that she fail ne thing/ but the she have all manner of joy and gladness that pertaineth to a virgin. Secondly I leave in thy keeping five knights that been her keepers the they lack no thing that to them behoveth. Also I leave with the my grehounde that thou nourish and feed him as it pertaineth for him to be fed/ & if thou fulfil all this that I have said thou shalt at my coming again receive great reward. Than said the steward/ my lord quoth he all that I may I shall fulfil your will. When this was said the Emperor took forth his journey to ward the holy land/ and the steward a long time kept well and truly th'emperors ordinance/ but at the last it befell upon a day that this steward had espied this young lady walking alone in an orcheyarde with whose love he was suddenly taken/ wherefore anon maugre her will he deflowered her. And when he had sinned with her he said and hated her more after that than ever he loved her before and drove her out of the palace wherefore this damosel for great poverty and default went fro door to door & begged her breed. But when the knyghttes that were her keepers herd of this they reproved shamefully the steward of the sinful deed. Than the steward waxed wroth and for great hate that he had in his heart he despoiled the knights of all their goods and drove them from the palace/ and when they were thus rob & exiled some for default of gods be came thieves and some manquellers/ & that through this Inconuenyent they wrought great harm Soon after this there came ' tidings that	 th'emperor was arrived in far lands coming homeward. And when the steward heard this he was greatly troubled and moved in himself/ and thus thinking in himself he said thus. This may not be but needs I shall be accused for my trespass that I have done against th'emperors commandment. He is my lord & merciable/ therefore better it were the I go and meet meet with him with all honour/ and humility and accuse myself to him and ask him mercy than any other should go before to accuse me to my lord of my treason. Than this steward anon died of all his clothes save his breach and his shirt and took three ropes with him in his right hand and bare foot went and met the Emperor But when the Emperor had espied him coming a far in such a wise he wondered greatly. And when the steward was come so near that he might speak to th'emperor he fell down on his knees and saluted him reverently. Than said the Emperor/ what is to the befallen that thou meetest me in such array for as much as thou art my steward y● shouldest have meet me with a great company of knights A my lord quoth he there is befall me an heavy case for the which it behoveth me thus to meet your highness. Than said the Emperor what case is that/ that the is befall. My reverent lord quoth he it behoveth first your highness to ask of me why I bring with me these three ropes. Than said the Emperor why bearest thou these three ropes in thy hand in such a wise. Than answered this woeful steward & said. This first cord I bring with me to bind my hands and feet so hard till the blood breast out on every side for that I have well deserved. The second rope I bring with me to draw me by horse tail upon the pavement till that my bones be bare without flesh/ for that shall profit me for the great treason that I have done against you. The third rope that I have brought is to hang me with upon an high gallows so long that the birds light on my heed and on my body and feed them ●elfe of my flesh/ and these things been due to such trepassers and breakers of the law as jam/ and therefore my reverent lord have mercy on me/ for I dare not knowledge my trespass till I be certain of thy mercy and pity. Than said th'emperor I see in the great meekness and contrition therefore tell forth thy trespass and soothly thou shalt find mercy & grace. Alas alas than said he I have defouled thy daughter and put her out of thy palace/ and now for great default she beggeth her breed from door to door. I have also despoiled thy knights of all their goods/ and now some of them for default of gods been thieves & some manquellers And the master of the knights I have slain. But I have fed thy greyhound with the best as long as I might and tied him with a chain/ but at the last he broke his chain and went his way/ so that now he runneth about in the country. When the Emperor heard this he waxed sore astonied and said. Hast thou thus defouled my daughter whom I loved so well/ and also exiled my knights and slain their master/ and the greyhound which I loved best of whom I gave the charge is gone also/ soothly were it not that I had forgiven it the and that thou meekest thyself so greatly I should put the unto the most bylonest death that be could be thought. Therefore go thou anon and bring again my daughter than thou mayst wed her/ and if that any harm here after befall to her in thy default than shall I double thy pain. Also bring thou a gain my knights and restore unto them their goods and set them into their state and office the they were in before. And seek me also my greyhound diligently till thou find him/ and than bind him fast so that in you here after may be found no default. And when that the steward heard this he bowed down his heed and thanked the Emperor of his great mercy. And than he went forth and sought thorough out all the Empire so long till he had founden th'emperors daughter/ and the knights and also the greyhound and brought them again. And after that wedded the young lady with great honour and joy/ and also restored again the knights goods/ and at the last he ended his life in pease and in rest. Amen.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth our lord Ihesu christ. His daughter betokeneth the soul of man made at the similitude of our lord god. And the .v. knights betokeneth the .v. wits armed with the virtue of baptism to keep the soul. The master of the knights is reason which ought to govern the wyrtes. The greyhound is the flesh of man. The steward betokeneth every man to whom god hath given life and soul to keep under pain of losing of everlasting life. But a wretched man not remembering that is to come full often corrupted and defoiled his soul by sin and dryved her from the palace of heaven/ and than goothe she fro door to door/ that is to say from sin to sin. He despoiled these five knights of their goods/ that is to say the five wits of their virtues taking away the lawful sight fro the even and exortyngetheym unlawfully/ and also stirring his eeres to here slander and backbiting and so forth of all other wits and thus some be made thieves and some manquellers. The master of these five wits is slain when somever man is ruled by will and not by reason. The greyhound/ that is the flesh wherein a man delighteth was fed and bound with the chain of reason which he breaketh full often and runneth out and doth moche harm. The coming again of this Emperor from the holy land betokeneth the coming of our lord Ihesu christ at the day of doom to dame all mankind. Therefore do we as the steward died accuse first ourself of our sin lest the devil and the world accuse us and than it were to late to axe mercy/ therefore do we of our clothes by time/ that is to say our sinful life/ and take we three ropes in our hands. The first rope that should bind our hands and feet betokeneth the rope of contrition which not only aught to bind our hands and feet but also our other members both within and without so hard that the blood braced out on every side/ that is to say that the sin might void. Her to accordeth Ezechiel saying thus. Inquacū●● hora egerit penytenciam peccato● saluus erit. When somene● the sinful man doth penance he shall be saved. The second cord for to draw the trespasser is confession which should draw us from the beginning of our life unto this day by the penance of our mouth unto the time that the flesh be fall from the bones/ that is to say till the lust of the flesh be turned away by the stones of penance. For in like wise as the stone by nature and by kind is hard. And right so penance ought for to be hard. And the third rope which should hang the fellow's is the rope of satisfaction of which hanging speaketh the apostle and saith. Suspend elegit anima mea. My soul hath chosen to be hanged. For like as a man is lift up from the ground by hanging. Right so a sinner is life up fro sin toward heaven unto god by the hanging of satisfaction upon this gallows we should hang till the birds of heaven came down/ that is to say till the Apostles come down for to feed us with our good deeds. For there is more joy of one sinner doing his penance afore the angels of god in heaven. etc. Like as the steward brought again th'emperors daughter. So it behoveth us for to seche about by diverse works of mercy & find our soul which we lost and bring her again to the church and govern well our five wits/ & fe dde our greyhound as should & make our life so clean and pure the we fall not again in sin for dread if it fortune us worse and that we have no leisure for to ask mercy again at our need. And if we fulfil all this truly till our lives end without doubt we shall obtain everlasting life. Unto the which our lord bring us all Amen.    

IN Rome dwelled sometime a mighty Emperor and a wise named Edfenne/ the which ordained for law the who someever ravished a maid should be at her will/ whether she would put him to death or that she would have him to her husband. It befall after on a day that a man ravished upon a night two maidens/ the first damosel desired that she should die/ & the second desired wedding. The ravisher was taken and led before the Inge that should satisfy to the these damosels through his wisdom and rightfulness. The first maid ever desired the death according to the law. And than said the second and I desired him for to be my husband/ for like wise as thou haste the law for thee/ in like wise I have it for me. And nevertheless my petition is more and better than yours for it is more chary table/ therefore me thinketh in my reason that the justice should give sentence with me. Than the justice understanding the great mercy of the second maiden gave judgement that he should wed her and so it was done.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth our lord Ihesu christ. The ravisher beketoneth every sinner which ravished god's mercy as often as he dyffoyleth the commandments of god by sin/ for the devil may never overcome man but if it be suffered by will. For saint Austyn saith. Non est peccatum nisi sit voluntarium. It is no sin but if it be voluntary. The sinner ravisheth the mercy of god as oft as he hath very contrition. The ravisher also is called afore the justice when the soul is departed from the body/ & anon the first damosel the is the devil lard against the sinner that ought to die everlastingly by the law of rightwiseness. But that other maiden that is christ laid for her the mercy of god ought to help by contrition and confession which is the high way to everlasting life. Unto the which god bring both ye and me.  
Amen.    

Sometime dwelled in Rome a mighty Emperor and a rich named Lypodyus which took to his wife a fair virgin and a gentle and was the king of Assyryens' daughter. This young lady conceived and bore a child/ and in the birth of her son she died And anon after her dyscesse this Emperor wedded an other wife & begat her with child also. And anon after the these children were borne he sent them both in to strange land for to be nourished. Than said the mother of the second child. My reverent lord. x. year been passed sithen I bore my child & yet saw I him never but ones and that was the first day of his birth/ therefore I beseech the my lord to send for him that I may ones rejoice me of his sight. Than said the emperor. I have quod he an other child by my first wife and if I send for thy son then I must send for both/ & than anon he sent for them. And when they were comen they were passing fair/ and well nourished well taught and passing like/ in all manner things that unthes one might be known from that other but if it were only of the father. Than said the mother of the second child. A my lord tell me which of these is my son/ and he called him her son that he begat on his first wife. When th'empress heard this she gave all her cure to nourish and to teach him & despised that other. When the emperor saw this he said to his wife/ soothly I have deceived the for bym that thou lovest so moche and nourysshest is not thy son but the other is thy son. Than setre she all her cure upon the second and forsook the first. When th'emperor saw this he said/ truly I have deceived the yet without doubt this is not thy son/ but one of them. ●. is thy son. Than said the mother. A my lord for his love that died on the road tell me without cavillation which of them is my so●e. The Emperor answered and said certainly I will not tell you till they be come unto manhood for this reason. first I told you that this was thy son/ & him thou nourysshedest as thy son & forsookest that other/ and when I told you that this was thy son then thou despisedest the first and cherysshedest the second therefore I will that thou shalt cherish and nourish them both till they come to that thou mayst have. joy of them. When th'empress heard this she nourished them both in like wise. And when they were both come to age th'emperor made a great supper/ and before his gests he told his wife openly which of them was her child. Than rejoiced she greatly/ and with her son she ended her life in pease and rest.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth those that be chosen to ever lasting life/ and the ben not chosen. The mother of them is the church that nourisheth them both. Therefore our lord will not that the church should know which be chosen/ & which be not chosen. For if she knew that than would she love that one and hate that other/ and so should charity be overthrown among us and should live in discord and strife/ but troth at the day of doom shall tell us which of them shall be saved/ and which shall be dempned. Therefore pray we in this world that we may come to the everlasting feast in heaven. Unto the which god bring both you and me Amen.    

Sometime dwelled in Rome a mighty Emperor named Pelennus which had three sons whom he loved moche. It befall upon a day when this Emperor lay upon his bed/ he bethought him to which of his sons he might give his realm after he dyscesse. Than called he to him his three sons & said/ which of you three the is slowest shall have my realm after my dyscesse. The first son answered and said/ thy realm by reason shall be mine/ for I am so slow the if my foot were in the fire I had liefer that it should be brent than take it out. Than said the second I am quod he more apt to the king than thou/ for though there were a rope above my neck wherewith I should be hanged/ and if I had a sharp sword in mine hand for great sloth that I have I would not put forth mine hand to cut the rope in saving of my life. And when these two brethren had said the third said for him thus I ought to be king quod he before you both for I pass you in sloth and that will I prove thus I lie upright in my bed & there droppeth water upon both mine eyen/ and for the great sloth that I have I move not my heed neither unto the right side of the bed neither to the wrong side for saving of myself when the Emperor heard this than he byquethed the realm unto the youngest son as to the slowest of the brethren.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth the devil which is lord & father over the church of pride. By the first son is understand a man that cometh in evil fellowship by whom he falleth in misgovernance and had liefer to be brent in the fire of sin than depart from them. The second son betokeneth him that knoweth himself bound with the band of sin wherewith he is to be hanged on the gallows of hell and is so slothful that he will not cut them away with the lawful sword of confession. By the third son is understand a man that heareth the teaching of joys of paradise and of the pains of hell and will not move himself to the right side for love and desire of reward/ nor to the lift side to forsake his sins for dread of tormenting. Such a man without doubt for his sloth shall obtain the realm of hell. from the which realm keep us our lord Jesus' Amen.    

THere dwelled sometime in Rome a mighty Emperor named Alexander/ the which besieged a city of the kings of Egypt with a great host Nevertheless this Emperor lost many mighty knights without any hurt of stroke And thus from day to day his people died suddenly/ wherefore this Alexander wondered greatly and was full sorrowful thereof in his mind/ and anon let call afore him the wisest philosophers that might be found and prayed them for to tell him why his people died thus suddenly without wound. The philosophers answered and said. My lord it is not wonder/ for upon the walls of that castle within the ●●te there is a cockatrice through whose sight your men dieth/ for they been Infected with the venom that cometh of his eyen & anon they die. Than this Alexander asked if there were any remedy against the cockatrice. The ppylosophres answered and said. My lord there is a good remedy which is this/ late set up a large mirror of clear glass before against the cockatrice between your host & the wall of the city/ and when the cockatrice beholdeth himself in the mirror the deadly nativity of her venomous sight shall rebound again to herself and thus she shall die/ & your men shall be saved. The Emperor wrought by the council of the philosophers and let set up anon a large mirror of glass/ and thus was the cockatrice slain/ and the Emperor with his host made an assavunto the city and obtained the victory.  

¶ This Emperor may be called any christian man the which ought to gather an host of virtues/ for without virtue there may no man fight ghostly. The city against whom ye shall fight is the world wherein there is an high castle/ that is to say vanity of vanyte●s. Vanitas vanitatum. and all vanity in this vanity standeth the cockatrice/ that is to say pride of life/ desire of eyen/ and lusts of flesh/ wherefore this pride Infected so many that they die at the last everlastingly. Therefore the greatest remedy against this pride is the consideration of our uncleanness how we came naked in to this world/ and if it be asked why a man is proud certainly it may be answered thus/ for the default of clothing of virtues/ what shall we do when we die thus ghostly but set up & poor mirror of conscience and by that conscience we may consider our will and our brytylnes as in a glass where thou mayst see thine own default/ and if we do this without doubt the cockatrice that is pride of life/ desire of eyen and lust of flesh we shall utterly destroy and obtain the victory of this worldly cry and than be we sure to win everlasting life unto the which bring both you and me.  
Amen.    

A Mighty Emperor sometime dwell led in Romenamed Archelaus/ the which in his old age wedded a young and a gentle lady who me a young knight loved and had to do with her as oft times as him listed. It befell upon a night that this Emperor be thought him in his bed to visit the holy land/ wherefore without more delay he ordained all thing necessary to his journey and took his leave of th'empress and of the states of his Empire and went toward the holy land on his journey. When th'empress heard this she took the master of the ship & said if y● wilt consent to me & be true ask on me what thou wilt desire and thou shalt have it. The master of the ship was smitten anon with covetise and said. O my fair lady what so ever that thou wilt command me I shall without fail fulfil it so that ye will reward me for my labour. Than said th'empress or thou do aught for me I shall give the what thing the list to have so that thou wilt swear to be true to me and keep my council. The master of the ship anon made his oath to be to true to her. Than said the Empress/ my lord gooth with you in your ship therefore when he is in the mids of the see cast him out the he may be drowned and ye shall obtain your reward without any withsaing. Than the master of the ship swore a great oath and said/ by almighty god after he cometh once within my ship ye shall neverse him after. Than the lady paid him as much gold as he would have and forth he went to his ship. And within short time after the Emperor took his ship/ and when he was in the mids of the see the master of the ship took the Emperor and threw him over the board in to these/ than the master returned again & told the Empress the the Emperor was casten in to the see of whose tidings she was very glad. This Emperor the was thus cast in to the see had learned in youth to swim/ and swam forth till that he saw an island in the see/ but ever in his swimming when he was faint and like for the have been drowned he prayed god to be his help and wept sore till at the last he came into this little island wherein was no thing but lions and lyopardes and other diverse beasts which the swam from other lands thither. When this Emperor had taken land in that isle he espied a young lion fighting with an old lyoparde & the lion was almost overcomen. The Emperor had great compassion of the lion and drew out his sword and slew the lyoparde. The lion ever from that time for the followed the Emperor and would not leave him for no thing/ but every day the pray that this lion took he brought and laid it before the Emperor/ and anon the Emperor smote fire on the flint stone and boiled the body in the skin and thus was he fed long time/ till at the last as he walked to the see strand he saw a ship come sailing by/ and anon with an high voice he cried And when the shipmen heard this voice they wondered what it might be/ wherefore they sailed toward him/ and when they came to him he said/ good friends take me with you and I shall pay you a good fraught. And anon they took him in their ship/ and the lion followed hymswymming in the see after the ship. And when the lion was in point to be drowned the shipmen had great pity on him and took him within the shypborde. And when the Emperor came unto the land he paid his fraught. And when he had paid them he went forth till he came near his own palace where he heard taboures haps/ trumpets and clarions and all manner of mynstralsye/ and as he hearkened what it might be/ there came fro the palace a squire toward him that was of his knowledge/ but the squire knew not him to whom the Emperor said thus/ good friend I pray the tell me what melody is this that I here. The squire answered & said th'empress is wedded this day and there been all states of this Empire atte her feast and therefore they make such melody to make her gests merry. Than said th'emperor to the squire/ where is her husband that was Emperor before. The squire said that he was gone to the holy land and he was drowned by the way in the see. Than said the Emperor I pray the sir what thou wouldest do mine erande to th'empress and to that lord that would be her husband that I may come in to the palace and play afore them with my lion. The squire granted to do his erande and went in and told the lord and lady There was standing at the gate a goodly old man that desired to come in and play with his lion afore the lord And than said the new wedded lord bring him in & if he be worthy percas he might get his meet for his play when the Emperor with his lion was brought in the lion anon without any comfort or setting on ran upon the young knight that was but newly wedded and slew him and when he had so done he ran upon the the impress & devoured her to the hard dones before all the lords of the Empire. And when the states saw that they were greatly aghast and began to flee/ but the Emperor with his fair speech comforted them and said: Loo this is the vengeance of god/ for this is my wife that hath used adultery long time with this knight that lieth here deed/ and she I magyned my death with the master of ship/ and here up on the master threw me in to the see/ but god saved me from that death and because I helped once the lion at a need he forsook me never sins/ and now as ye see all when I came in to my palace without any comfort of me he hath slain both the adulterers. And therefore understand ye for truth that I am your lord the Emperor. Anon when they heard this they lift up their eyen/ and beheld him/ and at the last they knew him for their lord/ wherefore they were greatly gladded/ and praised god for that miracle which had saved their lord and Emperor And the lived in rest and pease.  

¶ By this Emperor ye may understand every christian man that purposed to visit the holy land/ that is to say togete everlasting life through works of mercy. But his wife/ that the wretched flesh murmured against the soul and loveth better her leman/ that is deadly sin than her husband. This Emperor went in to the ship taking his journey to ward the holy land/ that is for the say he went unto holy church which is the way to god. But the wife that is to say fleshly men accused him to the master of the ship/ that is to say to the prelate's of the church for great meed which oftentimes blindeth the sight of many justice where through many perfit men been cast out of the ship in to the see to be drowned/ that is to say out of the church into the see of this wretched world. But what shall he do than that is thus casten to be troubled in this world/ certainly thus ought he to do/ let him learn to swim/ that is to say let him put all his hope in god and than by the grace he shall come to an island/ that is to say the religion of clean heart/ and that he shall love ever the better to keep himself out of this world/ and therefore saith saint james thus. A clean religion and ●ndefoyled is a precious thing in the sight of god/ and he that is in this religion shall find a lion to whom him behoveth to give against ●● evyil. This lion is our lord Ihesu christ that came of the kindred of Jude which ● fighteth ever against the devil. And if a man hath helped this lion atte any time trust well than that he will not forsake him but be with him at all his need/ according to the psalmist saying thus. Cunipo sum in tribulacione. I am with him in trouble. By this lion thou mayst take thy wife/ that is to say thy flesh with penance and slay thy sin and than without doubt thou shalt optcyne the Empire of heaven. Unto the which bring us our lord Jesus', Amen.    

IN Rome dwelled sometime a mighty Emperor named Gorgony which had wedded a gentle damosel and a fair to his wife/ this young lady within due process conceived and bore him a son a fair child and an amiable. When this young child was. x. year old/ his mother the Emppresse died. And after the Emperor wedded an other wife. This second wife loved in no wise the Emperors son/ but died him all the shame and repreef that she might. When the Emperor had perceived this willing for to please his wife exiled his son out son out of his Empire. And when this child was exiled/ he went and learned physyke/ so that within a short time he was a subtle and a cunning physician. It befell soon after that the Emperor his father sykened and was almost deed wherefore when he heard that his son was such a physician he sent for him by letters praying him that he would come to him without delay. And than the son willing to obey and to fulfil his faders commandment in all thing and so in all haste came to him. And when he had seen his father and groped his pouces and his veins/ all manner of sickness that he had was soon healed with his medicines from all manner of dangers. Soon after that the Empress his stepmother began to wax sick. And many physycyens said the she would die and when th'emperor heard this he prayed his son for to help her of her sickness. Than said his son/ certainly father I will not lay hand on her. Than the Emperor at this began to wax wroth and said/ if thou wilt not obey my commandment thou shalt void my felaushyppe. His son answered and said/ if ye do so dear father ye do unrightfully for well ye know the ye exiled me out of your Empire through her suggestion/ & mine absence was cause of your sorrow & sickness. And in like my presence is cause her sickness/ and therefore I will not meddle with her/ and also I will use no more medicines. for oftentimes physicians been deceived/ and therefore I bore not lay hand on her lest men would say that if it fortuned her to die that I were cause thereof. Than said the Emperor she hath quoth he the same sickness that I had His son answered and said/ though she have the same sickness nevertheless ye be not of one complexion. For what so ever I died to you ye held you content. And when ye saw me come with in the palace ye rejoiced of my coming and greatly were eased for to see him that ye begat. But when my stepmother saw me she swelled for anger & waxed evil at ease/ and therefore if I should speak to her her sorrow would increase/ and if I touch her she would be from herself. And also a physycyen profiteth nought but where as the seek man delighteth in him: And when the child had said he escaped and went his way.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth every christian man which is wedded to his christendom at the font stone for when the soul is made the spouse of christ on whom man begeteth a son/ that is to say reason. But this wife/ that is to say christendom dieth when somever a man lieth in deed lie sin and after her a man wedded a stepdame/ that is to say wickedness as oft-times as he is governed by will and not by reason/ wherefore a man that liveth by fleshly lust of time eryleth reason/ and than anon the soul waxeth seek for the absence of reason is cause of the sickness of the soul. But when reason which is both ghostly and bodily the physician is bringing again by works of mercy than anon man is heeled of his sickness. But than the stepmother waxed seek/ that is to say when froward will waxed seek than is the flesh oppressed by penance. And therefore study we to oppress our flesh so by penance the we may come unto everlesting joy. Amen.    

 
IN Rome dwelled sometime a mighty Emperor named Folemus which had wedded the kings daughter of duchelonde a fair lady and gentle which within short time was conceived & bore a son. When this child was borne the states of the Empire came unto the Emperor & everich of them singularly besought the Emperor to nourish his son. The Emperor answered & said/ to morrow shall be a torneye & there shall ye all be/ & which of you doth best & obtaineth the victory shall have keeping of my son/ and if he nourish him well I shall promote him to great dignity and honours. And if he do the contrary he shall die the foulest death that can be thought. Thansayd they. Right reverent lord all this pleaseth us well. On the morrow when every man was come to the tourney. The states jousted and scarmusshed bookful manfully long time till at the last there came a doughty knight named josyas the so manfully bore himself among them all that he wan the victory. And anon when all was done/ this josyas took the child and led him forth with hy ●/ & because this Emperors son should be received in his country he sent before to his castle & commanded his officers the it should be dight both without and within/ & that the child's bed should be made in the mids of the castle/ and also the seven s●yences should be painted above the child's bed the when the child wakened out of his sleep he might lie in his bed & read his lesson. This knight had a fructefull & an wholesome well by the child's beds side wherein he used to bathe himself therein/ & the knights wife bore the key of this well● there was a window that the son might come in & shine. It fortuned upon a day the the lady the kept the key left the window open through negligence. And when the lady had done there came a bear & saw the window open & went unto the well and vathed him therein/ of whose bathing the well savoured after for great heat the was the time/ wherefore whose so ever drunk thereof waxed leper within short tyme. And so it fortuned within a little space after the the lord & the lady and also their household were lepers & notwithstanding it appeared not suddenly. And in the mean time there came a 〈◊〉 Egle in at the window there as the emperors sonclaye & bare the child away out of his cradle. And when the knight perceived this he wept bitterly & said. Alas alas & woe to me wretched creature the ever I was borne what shall I do for now I am the son of death/ for I am a foul leper & so is my wife & also all mine household. And the while he was thus mourning there came unto him a physician & said to him in this manner. Sir if ye well do after my council it shall not repent you. first it behoveth you & your wife & all your household also for to be latin blood/ & after that to be hathed & washen clean/ & than shall I lay to my medicine. And when y● art hole than shall you & your wife & also all your household walk unto the mountains and hills and seek the Emperors son for the Eagle hath letten him fall in to some place. The knight wrought all thing by the council of this physician/ and anon after he was letten blood and had received the medicine/ and than he was hole and his wife & also all his household wherefore he leapt on his horse & took with him three squires and rob forth and sought and child. And at the last he found him hole and sound dying in a baleye and than he was greatly rejoiced. And for the great joy and gladness that was in him for finding of his lord the Emperors son he made a great feast/ & after the feast so done he led the child home to the Emperor. And when the Emperor saw his son in good health he was right glade/ wherefore he promotd him to great worship which lived after that long time in great honour and worship and at the last he ended his life in pease and in rest.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth the father of heaven His son betokeneth our lord Ihesu christ whom many men desire to nourish at easter when they receive the sacrament. Nevertheless he the hest jousteth with the devil & overcometh him through penance The knight the took this child with him betokeneth a good christian man the fasted truly & blessedly all the lente before/ therefore do we as the knight died send we before messengers to dight & to make clean the castle of our heart from all spot of sin by works of mercy & so shall this child Ihesu rest and light in the mids of out heart. The well betokeneth mercy which ought to be next our lord For who sooner is without mercy and troth may not nourish the blessed child Ihesu. But it happened oft the the knights wife the is the flesh of man bere the key of mercy and oft left the well open/ & than cometh the bear the is the devil & cast the venom in to the well of mercy/ & who the hast thereof shall be Infected with the leper of sin. The window wherein the son shineth is the grace of the holy ghost by whom men lived and are comforted ghostly by this window the Eagle cometh in/ that is to say the power of almighty god & took away the Child Ihesu from the heart of man & than man had great cause to weep/ but what shall he do when the child is gone but send for a subtle physician, that is to say a dyserete confessor which shall give him counsel to let him blood & all his household that is to say to put out sin through very confession of tongue before his ghostly father. Than must be bathe himself with tears of contrition & compunction of tongue/ & after the take the medicine of satisfaction & than shall he be made clean from all manner of sin. And when he hath done thus he must leap on the palfrey of good life & tide forth with his three sovyres/ that is to say with fasting prayer & almsdeeds/ and than without doubt he shall find the child Ihesu in the valley of humility and not in a hill/ that is to say pride/ and if he do this doubtless he shall have might & power to nourish that blessed child Ihesu/ for whose nourysshy, goe the father of heaven shall promote him unto everlasting joy. Unto the which joy god bring us all.  
Amen.    

Sometime dwelled in Rome a mighty Emperor which was named Fulgenctus which governed his people nobly/ and loved them so much the he made to proclaim through out all nations the who somever would come to hyryche or poor at a certain day should have their petition what somever it were. When the mighty men heard this they were glad and came at a day assigned and put forth their partitions every man singularly to the Emperor/ & anon their partitions was grant & fulfilled. In so much that almost all the Empire was departed among them. And than every man was joyful & went home again & took seasyen in such lands and castles as that the Emperor had given them. Anon after the poor men and simple gathered them to guider & thus they said. A common ctye was made the all men both poor & rich no person except should come unto the emperors palace & there they sholhave what somever they asked. And the rich men have been there but late & obtained their petitions. Therefore go we now & wite if we may obtain any good of the Emperor That counsel was approbate and allowed amongs them all wherefore they went forth straight till they came unto the emperors palace/ & there they put for the their petitions according to the emperors proclamation. And when that the Emperor heard them come he answered them so and said Dear friends I have heard all your petitions/ & it is truth that my proclamation was this wise as that every man indifferently should come & they should have their petitions. But the rich men & the mighty men hauve been here before you to whom I have given all that I had save only the royalty of my lordship unto them and so have I nothing left for to give you. A good lord have mercy upon us and let us not go void agay/ for we know well that it is in our own default that we came not rather with these other rich & mighty men. But sithen that it is so we ask your grace that we may obtain somewhat by the which we may live. Than said the Emperor. Good friends here ye me for though I have given all my lands/ rents/ and tenements/ and all the castles to the rich men which came before you. Nevertheless I have kept still in to my own hands the lordship over them/ and that lordship I give unto you so they shall be your servants and be obedient unto you all. And when the poor men heard this they were greatly gladded & kneeled low down unto the Emperor & thanked him saying thus. Lo though we come late yet we be made lords over all these other. And with this they took their leave and wenunto their own dwelling. But when the rich and the mighty men heard that they were greatly moved/ and set a common parliament among themself. And thus it was spoken amongs them. Alas alas unto us how may we serve them that sometime were but churls and our subjects in all manner things and now they be made lords over us. Therefore go we all with one assent to th'emperor and pray we him of remedy. When this was said their counsel was commended and forth they weure to the Emperor and said to him. reverent lord what may this be though the which were our servants be made our lords we beseech you meekly that it may not be so. Than said the Emperor/ good friends I do you no wrong for my cry was commune that what soever ye asked of me ye should obtain your petition/ and ye asked nothing of me but lands rents and honours and all that have I granted you atte your own will/ in so much that I kept nothing for myself and each of you were well content at your away going/ and after that came simple men and poor and asked of me some goods according unto my proclamation/ and I had nothing to give them for I had given you all that I had before save only the lordship over you which I kept in my hands/ and when the poor men so cried on me I had nothing to give them save only the lordship over you and therefore ye should not blame me for that ye asked ye had. Than said they. A good lord we pray you effectually of your counsel in this case and of your help. The Emperor answered and said. Sirs if ye will work after me I shall give you very good council and profitable. Than said they. Lord we be ready for to fulfil what some ever ye say unto us for our profit. Than said the Emperor. My good friends ye have of me both lands and tenements and rents with other movable goods and that great plenty the which by my counsel ye shall depart with the poor men! that they may grant you the lordship and anon these great rich men gladly granted to this and departed all their goods among the poor men and that they gave them again the lordship over them like as they had of the rich men the lordship over them/ & thus were they both content & th'emperor was greatly commended of all people because he accorded to both the parties so wisely  
¶ By this Emperor is understand our lord Ihesu christ which made a proclamation by his prophets patriarchs apostles and preachers that every man both poor and rich should come and asked everlasting joy & without doubt they shall obtain their petition. But the rich & the mighty men asked none other thing but worldly honour and richesse transitory/ for this world shall pass and all this covetise/ wherefore he gave them so moche of worldly goods that he left no thing to himself according to the scripture/ the birds of heaven have nests & foxes in earth have caves/ but the son of god hath no thing in earth where he may put his heed. The poor men be such as ●e meek in heart of the which poor men speaketh our lord saying thus/ blessed be the poor men wherte/ for why thy kingdom of heaven is theirs/ and if it should seem that they have lorshyppes above mighty men of this world. Therefore these rich men ought to depart their richesse with poor men according to the scripture saying thus give ye alms and all thing shall be clean to you & thus may ye get a lorshyppe in heaven unto the which lorshyppe I beseech almighty god to bring us Amen.  
IN Rome sometime dwelled a mighty Emperor named Domicyan which had two daughters of whom one was passing fair and that other foul & oughly to behold wherefore he let cry through all his Empire that what man would have his faith daughter to wife should have no thing with her but her fairness. And who that wedded his foul daughter should have all his Empire after his death. And when the proclamation was made there came many lords and desired to wed his fair daughter. To whom the Emperor answered thus. Sir quod he ye wot never what ye desire right well ye know that if yewedde her ye shall have no thing with her but her fairness/ and furthermore if I give her to one of you and not to another than will ye strive for her. Therefore if ye will needs have her and forsake my foul daughter/ you be hoveth first to just for her & he that winneth her shall wed her. Than were the greatest states of the Empire greatly gladded/ and anon only for her love they would just and also fight/ wherefore they set a day of battle/ and many worthy men were slain on both sides. Nevertheless one obtained the victory & wedded that young and fair lady. The second daughter that was foul & oughly saw this that her sister was wedded with great solemnity mourned & wept daily/ wherefore the Emperor her father came to her & said/ dear daughter why mornest thou thus. Alas dear father quod she it is no wonder though I mourn saying my sister wedded with so great honour and gladness and every man is fain of her and no man loveth my fellowship/ and therefore dear father what may I do best soothly I know it not. Then said the Emperor. O my sweet daughter all that is mine is thine and that is not unknown to you that he which wedded thy sister had no thing with her but her fairness/ and therefore I shall proclaim in mine own person through all mine Empire that what man that weddeth you I shall make him sure by letter patent of all mine Empire after my death Than this young lady thought she was foul and oughly nevertheless she rejoiced in the promise of her father/ and anon after the proclamation was made/ than there came a young knight and a gentle and wedded that lady/ and after the death of the Emperor he seized all the Empire & was crowned Emperor and she Empress.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth our lord Ihesu christ which hath two daughters/ that one fair and that other foul. That one fair betokeneth this world which is full fair and delectable unto many men. That other foul betokeneth poverty and trouble whom few men desire to wed. Nevertheless a comen cry was made by holy scripture that who so would have his fair daughter that is the world should have nothing with her but her fairness/ that is to say the worldly vanities which faden and fall away like as the fairness of man. But who that will wed the foul daughter/ that is to say wilfully to receive poverty and trouble for gods love/ without doubt he shall obtain the Empire of heaven according to the scripture saying thus. ye that have forsaken all thing for my love to to follow me shall have everlasting life. Full many noble and worthy men have jousted for the fair daughter/ that is to say have fought both by see and by land for this world for covetise of worldly richesse/ and art last there be many slain/ for there is no thing here but pride of life or courtyse of eyen or of flesh where through all the world is put unto great mischief. But he that weddeth the fair daughter that is the world is he that setteth all his affect and desire in the wretchedness of this world & will not for no thing forsake this world/ like as a wreetche and covetous man. But he that wedded the foul daughter is a good christian man which that love of the kingdom of heaven forsaketh all this world/ and not only he doth thus but also despised himself bodily obeying to his sovereigns in all thing/ & such a man certainly shall obtain the Empire of heaven Unto the which Ihesu christ bring both you and me Amen.    

 
Sometime there dwelled in Rome a mighty Emperor named Andromyke which above all thing loved melody. This emperor had with in his castle a well of such virtue that so ever were drunken/ and drank of that water of this well should be continent fresh again and be delivered from all manner of drunkenness. There was also dwelling in this emperors court a knight named Yorony whom the Emperor loved much/ but oft times he was drunken the which vice the Emperor hated above all thing/ & when this knight understood himself that he was drunken. Than would he go to the well and drink of that water and refresh himself so well that what soever the Emperor put to him he would answer him so reasonably/ that no sin of drunkenness might he found in him/ and for his witty answer and his wisdom he was greatly beloved of the Emperor. Nevertheless his fellows of the court envy him moche and imagined among themself how they might depart the Emperor love fro him It fortuned upon a day that this Emperor went to the forest as he heard the nightingale which is a gentle bird sing merely/ wherefore this Emperor oft times after that would rise early in the morning and also some time from his meet and walk unto the wood for the sweetness of her song/ wherefore many of his men said among themself. Thus our lord delighteth so moche in the nightingale's song that he recketh little of our profit in so much that through two things his love is worawen from us. That is to say by ydronye the knight and by the sweet song of the nightingale. Than said an old knight the which was among them Sirs quoth he if ye do by my council I shall deliver you of the knight Ydronye/ and of the nightingale without hurt or death. They answered and said what thing that ye bid us do we shall fulfil anon with all our heart. When this knight heard this within a while after he espied this ydrony that he was drunk wherefore he locked the well fast & as this knight ydrony came to refresh himself and found the well locked. The Emperor had a great matter to treat/ wherefore he sent in haste for this knight by cause of his gre fore he sent in haste for this knight by cause of his great wisdom that was in him to have his council. And when he came before that Emperor he was so drunk that he might not once move his tongue neither he had wit/ reason nor understanding to answer the Emperor to his matter But when the Emperor saw this he was greatly grieved for so moche that he hated namely that vice/ wherefore he commanded anon that from that day/ forth he should not be seen within his land upon pain of death. This hearing his foemen greatly were gladded and said unto the old knight in this manner of wise. Now be we delivered of this knight ydrony. There is no more to do but that we might find that way and remedy that we were deiyvered of the nightingale in the which the Emperor delighteth so much the song. Then said this old knight your ears shall here & your eyen shall see that this nightingale shall be destroyed in short tyme. Not long after this old knight espied y● the nightingale used to sit upon a tree even above this same well where as her make that was y● make after the course of nature came and gendered with her. Nevertheless the absence of her make she took oft time another make & died adultery/ and when she had this done. Than would she descend to the well/ and bathe his self that when her make come he should feel no savour/ ne evil odour of that she had done/ when the knight had seen this on a time he locked the well/ and when the nightingale would have descended to bathe herself after her adultery she found the well closed wherefore she fled up to the tree again and mourned sore in her manner and left of her sweet song. Than came her make and saw that she had trespassed against her nature he went again/ and in short time he brought again a great multitude of nightingalings which slew his make and ●are her in small gobettes/ and thus was the wise knight put away and the nightingale slain/ and the Emperor put and delivered from his pleasure and great solace such as he was wont to have.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth our lord Ihesu christ the which loveth greatly the song of perfit devotion. For when we pray we speak with god and when we read god speaketh with us. The well that was in the palace betokeneth confession that is in the church. Therefore if any man be drunken with sin/ let him drink on the well of confession/ and with out doubt he shall be safe. This ydrony betokeneth every man that wilfully turneth again unto sin after his confession/ like as a dog which maketh a voment and casteth out the meet that he hath eaten before/ and after when he is hungry cometh & eateth it again Nevertheless if a man that hath sinned thus will drink of the well of confession he shall receive his ghostly strengths. The nightingale that sat on the tree betokeneth the soul that sitteth on a tree of holy doctrine. And her song betokeneth the soul that sitteth on the tree in the devout prayers to god. But this soul doth adultery as oft times as she consenteth to sin. Nevertheless if she run to confession and bathe her with the water of contrition god shall love her. But her totemen which betokeneth the sends of hell saying this that god so merciful/ they stop the well of confession/ that is to say the mouths of men that would shrive themself/ with shame and with dread of their penance that they dare not tell forth their sins to their confession. And thus been many exiled and put to death everlasting. And therefore study we to bathe our life in the well of confession with the water of contrition/ and than may we be sure to come to everlasting life. Unto the which I pray god bring both you and me Amen    

THere dwelled sometime in Rome a mighty Emperor named Darmes which had a mighty strong city and well & strong walled about and a bell hanging in the mids of the city and when so ever this Emperor went to battle without the city this bell should be rung/ but there should no man ring the bell but a virgin/ within short time after it befall that dragons and serpents and many other venomous beasts empoysened moche people so that the city was almost destroyed wherefore the states of that city went by one assent to the Emperor/ and said. Lord what shall we do lo our goods/ & our city are destroyed and ye and we both in peril to be perished through these fell beasts that consumeth us. Therefore take we good council or else we been all lost. Than said the Emperor what say you is best to be done in this matter/ and how may we best be defended. Than answered one of them that was wisest and said my lord here my council and do thereafter and ye shall not for think it/ ye have quod he in your place a Lion/ and set up a cross and hang this lion thereupon with nails & when other venomous beasts see him thus hanging on the cross they will dread and so shall they forsake this city/ and we shall be in rest and ease. Than said the Emperor it pleaseth me well that he be hanged in saving of you. Than took they the lion and hang him on the cross fast nailed. And other lions & venomous dragons come toward the city and saw that lion thus hanging they fled away for dread/ & durst come no near.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth the father of heaven the city well walled with the bell in the mids betokeneth the soul walled about with virtues. The bell betokeneth a clean conscience which warneth a man to battle when he should fight against the devil that he might arm himself before with virtues. The virgin that should ring this bell is reason the which as a virgin declineth all to right full cleanness The venomous dragon that beareth fire betokeneth the flesh of man which beareth the fire of gluttony and lechery the which brent Adam our formest father when he eat of the forboden appell. The venomous beasts that poisoneth thus the men betokeneth the fiends of hell which for the most part hath destroyed mankind. The states of the city betoken patriarchs and prophets which besought god of good council and remedy that mankind might be saved and anon it was counseled for the best remedy that a lion that is christ should be hanged upon a cross according to the scripture saying in this wise. ●xpedit unus mor●atur homo pro populo et non gens ●eat etc. That is for to say. It behoveth a man to die for the people less all folk be perished. Than took they cryst & hinge him on the cross/ for the which the devil dreadeth christian men and dare not neyghe them and thus by the grace of god christian men shall come to everlasting bliss unto the which bring us he/ that for us died on the road tree Amen.    

THere dwelled sometime in the city of Rome a mighty Emperor and a merciful which was Named Menelaus which ordained such a law that what misdoer were taken and brought in to prison if he might escape and come to the emperors palace he should be there safe for all manner felons/ treasons/ or trespasses that he had done in his life tyme. It was not long after but it befell that a knight trespassed wherefore he was taken and in prison strong and dark where as he had been long time and had no light but at a little window where as a scant light shone in that lightened him to eat the simple meet that was brought unto him by his keeper wherefore he mourned greatly and made great sorrow that he was thus shut up fast from that sight of men. Nevertheless when that keeper was gone there came daily a nightingale in at that window/ and sang right sweetly of whose song this woeful knyghyt oft time was fed for joy/ and when this bird seized of her song than would she fly in to the knights bosom and there this knight fed her many a day of the victual that god sent him It befell after upon a day that this knight was greatly desolated of comfort. Nevertheless the bird sat in his bosom eating nuts/ and thus he said unde the bird. O good bird I have sustained the many a day/ what shalt thou give me now in my desolation to comfort me. Remember the well that thou art that creature of god & I also. Therefore help me now in my great need/ when that bird heard this/ she flew forth from his bosom and tarried from him three days. But the third day she came again & brought in her mouth a precious stone and laid it in the knights bosom. And anon when she had so done she took her slight and flew from him again. The knight marveled of the stone and of the bird/ and there with he took the stone in hand and touched the gevys and anon fell of his fetters and all his chains where with he was bound suddenly broke. And anon he arose and touched the doors of the prison and anon they opened and so he espcaped and ran fast unto the emperors palace/ when the keeper of the prison perceived this he blewe an horn these and thus he raised up all the folk of the city and led them forth crying with an high voice. Loo the thief is gone follow we him all. And with that he ran before all his fellows toward the knight and when he came nigh him/ the knight bent his bow and shot an arrow wherewith he smote the keeper in the lounges and slew him/ and than he ran to the palace where as he found succour according to the law.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor betokeneth our lord Jesus' christ which ordained for law that what mysooer that is to say/ what sinner might escape and come unto the palace of holy chi●che through confession and contrition should find there perpetual succour and help. This knight betokeneth every sinner which is taken in deadly sin/ and judged unto the prison of hell by the law of god. And he is straightly bound with chains of sin wherefore he weepeth and mourneth daily for his trespass. The keeper of this prison betokeneth the devil the which keepeth such a man hard bound in sin/ and serveth him with richesse and delights of this world that he should not escape from him. The bird that singeth so sweetly betokeneth the voice of heaven the which sayeth unto the synnet thus. Revertere revertere sunamitis. Turn again now turn again thou prisoner/ that is to say/ turn again thou heavenly sinner and I shall receive the to grace. For when mankind was in Limbo Patrum which was a certain prison of hell before the comping of christ Th●s came a bird/ that is to say/ the godhead bearing with him a stone which betokeneth our lord Ihesu christ according unto holy scripture saying thus. Ego sum lapis etc. I am a stone. The soul of christ descended with the godhead and brought with him all mankind out of the prison of hell. Therefore if any of us be in the prison of deadly sin touch we our sins with this stone/ that is to say with the virtue of our lord Ihesu christ by confession and contrition/ and than withouten doubt the chains of our sins with his stone shall be drunken and fall from us/ and the doors of heavenly grace shall be opened/ and we shall obtain help and succour in the palace of the church And if the keeper of the prison/ that is to say the devil which is the blower of the horn of pride/ lechery/ or covetise/ stir upon any sinners. Than torn we again toward him manly and shoot at him the arrow of penance and withouten doubt he shall flee from us. And than by the grace of god we may obtain the palace of heaven. Unto the which bring us lord that shed his own precious blood upon the road tree for all mankind. Amen.    

IN Rome there dwelled sometime a mighty Emperor and a merciful named Ebolydes. It fortuned on a day that this Emperor walked unto the forest where as he met suddenly with a poor man. And anon when this Emperor saw him he was greatly moved with mercy and said. Good friend whence art thou. My sovereign lord quoth he I am yours and borne in your land/ and now I am in great poverty and need. And than said the Emperor if I know that thou were true in every thing I should promote unto the great richesse. Therefore tell me what is thy name. My lord qoud he I am called Lentyculus/ and I behote you my truth/ and true service/ and if I do otherwise I submit me unto you and to all manner of pain that ye can put me to/ when the Emperor heard this/ he promoted him anon unto great richesse. And anon after that/ he made him a knight and steward of his land. And when he was thus exalted to richesse & honour he waxed so proud that he despised him that were worthier than he and despyed such as were simple and poor. It was not long after that it befell that this Steward road by a forest where as he meet with the Fostere/ and charged him that he should make an hundreth pits in the ground and he'll them over with green grass and small bows that if wild beasts fortuned by the forest that way/ that/ they should fall in them and so should they be taken and brought to the Emperor. The fostere answered and said. Sir as ye have said it shall be done. Not long after it fortuned that this steward road to this forest again to see if these pits were made. And as he road he be thought him how great a man and how mighty he was made/ and how that all thing in that Empire obeyed unto him and all ready at his will. And as he road thinking thus he said to himself. There is no god save only I. And with that he smote his horse with his spurs/ and suddenly he fell in to one of the deep pits that he had ordained before himself for the wild beasts and for the great deepness/ thereof/ he might not rise again by no manner of craft/ wherefore he mourned greatly. And anon after him came an hungry lion and fell in to the same pit/ and after the lion an ape and after the ape a serpent/ and when the steward was thus walled with these three beasts he was greatly moved & dread sore. There was that time dwelling in the city a poor man named Gye the which had no manner good save an ass wherewith daily he carried stocks and faylling wood and such as he could get for the forest to the market and sold them and in this wise he sustained himself and his wife as well as he might. It fortuned that this poor Gye went to his forest as he was wont/ and as he came by the deep pit he heard a man crying & said. O dear friend what art thou for god's sake here me and I shall quite the so well that thou shalt ever after be the better/ when this poor Gye herd that it was the voice of a man he marveled and stood all on the pits brink and said lo good friend I come for thou hast called me. Than said the knight dear friend I am the Emperors steward of all his land thus by fortune I am fallen in to this pit and here be with me three beasts/ that is to say. Alyon/ an Ape/ and an horrible Serpent/ which I dread most of all/ and I wot not of which of them I shall be first be devoured. Therefore I pray the for god's sake get me a long cord wherewith thou mayst draw me out of this foul and horrible deep pit/ and I shall make the warentyse to make the rich in all thing for evermore hereafter for but I have the rather help I shall be devoured of these beasts. Than said this poor Gye I may full evil intend to help thee/ for I have no thing to live on but as I gather wood and carry to the market to sell wherewith I am sustained Nevertheless I shall leave my labour and fulfil thy will/ & if ye reward me not it shall be great hurt and hindrance to me and to my wife both to be letted for you. Than the steward made a great oath and said that he would promote him and all his the next morrow unto great richesse. Than said Gye if thou wilt fulfil thy promise I shall do that ye bid me. And with thatwente again to city and brought with him a long rope and came to the pit and said. Sir steward loo I let down a rope to thee/ bind thyself by the mids there with that I may pull the up. Than was the steward glad and said. Good friend let down the rope. And with that he cast the end of the rope down in to the pit. And when the lion saw that he caught the rope and held it fast/ and Gye drew the lion up weening to him that he had drawn up the knight. And when he had so done the lion thanked him in his manner and ran to the wood. The second time this Gye let down the rope/ the Ape leapt unto it and caught it fast and when he was drawn up/ he thanked Gye as could & ran to the wood. third time he let down the rope and drew up the Serpent which thanked him and went to the wood. The steward cried with an high voice. O dear friend now an I delivered of three venomous beasts Now let down the cord to me that I may come up. And this poor Gye let down the rope and the steward bound himself fast about the mids of his body/ and anon Gye drew him up. And when he was thus holp thus said he ●o Gye. Come to me quoth he atte three of the clock to the palace and than I shall make the rich for ever. This poor Gye rejoiced thereof and went home without any reward. Than his wife demanded him why he gathered no wood wherewith they might live that day. Than told he her all the process as it befell as it is written above how the steward fell in to the pit and the lion/ the ape/ and the serpent fell in to the pit that he had made in the said forest and how he helped him out with a cord and saved him from devouring of the three venomous beasts/ and how he should go to the steward and fetch his guerdon and reward on the morrow. When his wife this herd she rioysed greatly and said. If it so shall be/ good sir arise to morrow at due hour and go unto the palace and receive your reward that we may be comforted well thereby. The morrow came and Gye arose and went to the palace & knocked at the gate. Than came the Porter and asked the cause of his knocking. I pray the quoth this Gye go unto the steward and say to him that here abideth a poor man atte the gate that spoke with him yesterday in the forest. The porter went in and told the Steward like as the poor man had said. Then said the Steward. Go thou again and tell him that he lieth/ for yesterday spoke I with no man in the forest/ and charge him that he go his way and that I see him there never after. The porter went for the and told the poor Guy how the steward said/ and charged him to go his way. Then was this Guy sorrowful and went home/ and when he came home he told his wife how the Steward answered him. His wife comforted in all that she might and than said. Sir go ye again and prove him thrice. then on the morrow this Guy arose and went to the palace again praying the porterons to do his erande again to the steward. Than the porter answered and said/ gladly I will do thine erande: but I do dread me sore that it shall be thine hurt. And than went he in and told the steward of that coming of this poor man/ when the steward heard that he went out & all to bet this silly gye & left him in peril of death/ when his wife heard this she came with her ass & led him home as she might & all that she had she spent upon surgeons and phecycyens for to help him. And when he was perfitly heeled he went to the forest as he was wont for to gather sticks and small would for his living. And as he went about in that forest he saw a strong lion driving before him Asses that were charged with chaffer and merchandise. This lion drove forth the Asses before Gye which dread sore the lion lest that he would have devoured him. Nevertheless when he beheld the lion better. He knew well that he was the same lion which he drew out of the pit. This lion left not Gye till all the asses with the merchandise were entered in his house/ and than the lion died him obeisance and ran to the wood. This Gye obtained these farthels and found great richesse therein wherefore he made to do proclaim in diverse churches if any man had lost such goods but there was none that challenged them. And when Gye saw this he took the goods and bought therewith house and land and so he was made rich. Nevertheless he haunted the forest as he died before. And after that as he walked in the forest to gather wood he espied the ape in the top of a tree. The which broke bows busily with his teeth & with his claws/ and threw them down/ so that in short time that Gye had laded his ass/ and when the ape had so done she went away to the wood/ and Gye went home and on the morrow Gye went to the forest again/ and as he sat binding his faggots/ he saw the serpent that he drew out of the pit come toward him bearing in his mouth a precious stone of three colours the which stone the serpent let fall at Gyes foot. And when she had so done she kissed his feet/ and than went her way. This Gye took up this stone/ and marveled greatly of what virtue it might be/ wherefore he arose him up and went to a seller of precious stones named Peter/ and said dear brother I I pray the tell me the virtue of this stone/ and I shall reward the well for thy labour/ when this stone seller had well beholden & understood the nature of this stone he said good friend if thou list to sell thy stone I shall give thee/ therefore an. C. mark▪ Than said Gye thus I will not sell my stone till thou tell me truly that virtue thereof. The merchant answered and said. without doubt this stone hath three virtues/ the first virtue is this that who beareth this stone upon him shall have joy without sorrow/ the second virtue is that he shall have plenty without defaute/ the third virtue is he shall have light without darkness/ & also it another virtue that no man may sell it but for so moche as it is worth/ and if he doth the contrary the stone returneth again to the first owner when Gye heard this he was right joyful & said to himself in a good hour I dread the beasts out of the pit. Not long after it befell that his Gye by virtue of this stone was made passing rich and bought great possessions/ and livelihood/ wherefore within a while he was made knight. It was not long after the Emperor had knowledge how sir Gye had a stone of such virtue/ wherefore he sent for sir Gye commanding him to come in all haste to him and so it was done. And when sir Gye was come to the Emperor the Emperor said unto him thus. My friend said he I have herd or this that sometime thou were in great poverty and now made by the virtue of a little stone that thou art rich Therefore I pray the that thou sell me that stone Sir Gye answered and said that may not I do for so long as I have that stone I am sure of three things that is to say of joy without sorrow plenty without defaute/ and light with out darkness when the Emperor heard this he attempted much eagerly to by that stone than he died before. And said Sir Gye of two things thou must cheese one/ that is to say chose whither thou wilt forsake this Empire and all thy kindred or else fell me thy stone. Tha● said sir Gye. My lord it must needs be thus be it at your will. Nevertheless I shall ●eell you the peril of this stone For if ye pay not therefore as it is worth without doubt it will come to me again. Than said the Emperor soothly I shall give the sufficient for thou shalt receive of me a thousand pound therefore/ and so it was done/ sit Gye received the money and went home. On the morrow early opened his coffer and found the stone/ and than told he to the lady his wife how he had sold the stone to the Emperor and delivered it/ and how he found it again in his coffer. Than said the lady his wife good sir in all the haste that ye can go again unto the Emperor and take to him the stone for dread that he be not wroth/ and thorough malice put some fraud in us Then went sir Sir Gye for the again unto the Emperor and said unto him in this wise. My lord yesterday I sold you a stone/ which it might please you I would fain see. The emperor went for the stone to his treasure and found it not/ wherefore he was right sorrowful and came again and told Sir Gye how it was lost. Than said. Gye. My lord grieve you nought for I told you yesterday that I might not sell it but if I had the value thereof/ and yesterday I received a thousand pound of you therefore/ and this day I found it in my coffer again/ and therefore if I had not brought you the stone again/ peradventure ye would have showed me your heavy lordship/ and with that he showed forth the stone/ wherefore the Emperor marveled greatly and said. Sir Gye by the truth that thou owest to me tell me how thou camest by this stone. Than said Sir Gye By my faith that I own to you I shall tell you truly the very truth as touching this stone/ your steward which is promoted up to nought let make many deep pits in your forest/ and it fortuned not long after that he fell in one of them himself/ and might not rise again for deepness of the pit/ it fortuned also the same day that a lion an ape and a serpent fell in to him. That time was I poor man and as I walked in the forest with my ass for to gather wood he cried unto me that I should help him out of the pit and save him fro the death/ for there were in the pit with him three venomous beasts/ That is to say a Lion/ an ape/ and a foul serpent. And than he behight me by mouth to promote me & all my kin unto great richesse And when that I heard that I was glade and let down a cord supposing to have drawn up him/ and than I haled up a lion and after that I drew up an ape/ and than a serpent/ and at last your stewade. The lion gave me ten asses charged with merchandise/ the ape gave me wooed as much as mine ass might here/ and the serpent gave me this stone that I have sold you but your steward beat me and wounded me so sore for my good deed that I was borne home upon mine ass when the Emperor heard this his heart was moved greatly against the steward wherefore he called him and examined him of that false deed/ but he was dumb and would not speak/ for so moche that he could never his false heed deny. Than said the Emperor. O wretched creature/ unreasonable beasts as the lion that ape and the serpent rewarded him for his good heed/ and thou which art a reasonable man haste beaten him almost to death that saved the and drew the out of the pit. Therefore for thy falsehood & wickedness I judge the to be hanged this day on the gallows/ & all thy goods & lands I grant unto gye/ & also I ordain that sir gye shall occupy thy place & be steward & so it was done. When sir Gye was th● reward by the Emperor and made steward he was well beloved of every man long time/ and at the last ended his life with honour and good pease  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth the father of heaven The poor man betokeneth every man the which cometh in to this world feeble and naked from his moders belly/ and at the last is promoted to great richesse and worldly honour as the Salmist saith. De stercore erigens pauperent. God lifteth up the poor man out of filth/ and many such men know neither god ne himself but maketh himself to make deep pits/ that is to say unkindness and malice they ordain against simple men in the which pit the devil causeth them oft time to fall according to a text in y●. ●●cctiastico foveam qui alteri facit ipse incidit in eam/ that saith thus/ who maketh a pit to another man oft-time he falleth therein himself/ the which text was well proved by Mardochy/ and anon this Gye that went daily to the forest with his ass to gather wood betokeneth every rightful man dreading god in the forest of this world the wood that he gathereth betokeneth his meritory works that he carried on his ass which betokeneth the body of man wherewith his soul may joy and live in the tabernacle of heaven and as that steward/ the lion/ the ape/ and the serpent that fell in to the pit. Right so when a fynfull man falleth in the pit of fin True lion of the kindred of Jude that is god almighty descendeth with him as often time as the sinner hath wylle to come to grace. Therefore sayeth the Salmist thus. ●um ipso sum in tribulation. That is for to say I am with him in tribulation. This Gye draweth up the lion/ that is to say almighty god out of the pit by the rope of virtues. He drew up the ape also that is to say contrary will to reason that he might obey unto reason. For of all manner of beasts the ape is most like unto man. Right so among all the strengthnesse of soul will oweth namely to be likened to reason and to ●bey reason. He drew up also a serpent by the which is understood penance for two causes. For the serpent beareth in his mouth venom/ and his tail is a medicine. Right so penance beareth at the beginning bitterness unto the doer. Nevertheless it is full sweet and medicinable unto the soul at the end. And therefore every right wise man should draw unto him the serpent of penance. And atte the last he drew up the steward from the pit of sin according unto Crystes saying thus. I am not come only to call to me rightful/ but sinners unto penance.  
Also it is written that Seneca called Senck that taught an Emperor many lores and virtues of truth. And at the last like this steward he let slay his master Senek.  
Also christ gave power unto judas to work miracles like as he died unto other disciples. Nevertheless he bytrayed him at the last. Right so now a days be many children of Bellyall which delighteth more to do harm than good in especial to them that would teach them in perfit both for soul/ and for body. The Lion gave unto the rightful man ten asses charged with merchandises that is to say our lord Ihesu christ giveth unto every rightful man ten commandments charged with virtues by the which he groweth in to the richesse of heaven.   

¶ The ape also gathered him wooed as oft as the rightful man worketh wilfully the deeds of charity. For wooed is profitable for two things/ that is to say to make fire & to build an house. Right so perfit charity heateth the angel both according to the scripture saying thus. Q ma magis gaudium est angelis. etc. That is to say. More joy is to angels for one sinner doing penance. etc. charity also arrayeth the house of heaven against the coming of the soul. The serpent also gave him a stone of three diverse manner of colours the which betokeneth our lord Ihesu christ whom we seek by penance. Therefore saith saint Jerome in the second table thus. ●ost naufragium est premiam. That is to say. We should do penance: after our trespass. That christ is a stone may be proved by himself saying thus. E●go sum lapis vivus. That is to say I am a stone of life. christ hath three colours which by tokeneth the might of the father the wisdom of the son/ and the meekness of holy ghost. Therefore who that may get this stone shall have the Empire of heaven/ and joy without sore and plenty without any manner defaute/ and light without darkness. Unto the which light bring us our lord Jesus' christ that died for the and me and all mankind. Amen Amen Amen for saint charity.    

Sometime dwelled in Rome a mighty Emperor which was named Anselme which wedded the kings daughter of jerusalem a fair lady and a gracious in the sight of every man/ but she was long time with the Emperor or she was conceived with child/ wherefore the nobles of the Empire were right sorrowful because their lord had none heir of his own boody begotten. Till atte the last it befell that this Anselm walked after souper on a night in his garden/ and ●ythoughte himself how he had none heir and how the king of Ampluy warred on him continually for so moche that he had no son to make defence in his absence/ wherefore he was right sorrowful and went to his chamber and slept▪ and atte the last him thought he saw a vision in his sleep that the morning was more clear then it was wont for to be and that the moan was moche more paler on that one side then on that other side. And after he saw a bird of two colours and by that bird stood two beasts which fed that little bird with their heat/ and after that came many more beasts and bowed their heads toward the bird & went their way. And than there came diverse birds that song so sweetly and so shill that the Emperor awaked. In the morning e●ly this Anselme remembered his vision and wondered moche what it might signify/ wherefore he called unto him his Philosophers and also that states of his Empire and told them his dream charging them to tell him the signifying thereof upon the pain death. And if they told him the true interpretation thereof▪ he behoted them great reward. Than said they. Lord tell us your dream and we shall declare unto you what it betokeneth. then the Emperor told them from the beginning to the end like as it is written before. When the Philosophers heard this/ with glad cheer they answered and said. Lord the dream that ye saw betokeneth good. For thy Empire shall be more clear than it is. The moon that is the more pale on the side than on that other betokeneth the Empress which hath lost part of her colour through the c●cepcion of a son which she hath conceived. The little bird betokeneth that soon that she shall bear. The two beasts that fed this bird betokeneth all the wise men and rich men to this Empire shall obey thy son. These other beasts the bowed their heads to the bird betokeneth that many other nation shall do him homage. The bird that song so sweetly to this little bird betokeneth the Romans which shall rejoice and sing because of his birth. Loo this is the very interpretation of your dream when the Emperor heard this/ he was right joyful. soon after that the Empress travailed and was delivered of a fair son/ in whose birth was great joy made withouten end. When that the king of Ampluy herd this/ he thought within himself in manner following. Loo I have warred against the Emperor all the days of my life/ & now he hath a son the which will revenge all the wrongs that I have done and wrought against his father when that he cometh to full age. Therefore it is better that I send unto the Emperor and beseech him of truce and pease that his son may have no thing against me When that he cometh unto manhood/ when he had thus said unto himself he wrote unto the Emperor beseeching him of him pease/ when that the Emperor saw that the king of Ampluy wrote to him more for dread then for love/ he wrote again unto him that if he would find good surety for to keep the pease/ and bind himself all the days of his life to do him service and homage and to give him yearly a certain tribute/ he would receive him to the pease/ When the king had red the tenor of the emperors letters/ he called his council praying them to give him council how he might best do as touching to this matter. Than said they. It is good that ye obey the emperors will and commandment in all things For in the first he desireth of you surety for the pease. And as to this we answer thus said that ye have but a daughter/ and the Emperor hath but a son/ wherefore let a marriage be made between them/ and that may be perpetual sickerness of the pease. And also he asketh homage and rents which is good for to fulfil. And thenne the king sent his messengers unto the Emperor saying/ that he will fulfil his intent in all thing if it might please his highness that his son and the kings daughter might be wedded together. All this pleased well the Emperor Nevertheless he sent again that if his daughter were a clean vytygne from her birth unto that day/ he would consent unto that marriage. Then was the king right glade/ for his daughter was a true virgin/ therefore when the letters of covenants and sickerness were sealed. The king died make array a fair ship/ wherein he might send his daughter/ with many nobie knights/ ladies/ and great richesse unto the Emperor for to have his son in marriage. And when they were sailing in the see toward Rome/ the storm arose so fervently and so horribly that the ship all to burst upon a roche of stones/ and they were all drowned save only the young lady which set her hope and her heart so greatly on god/ that she was saved. And about three of the clock the tempest seized/ & the maiden drove forth over the waves in that broken ship which was cast up again/ but an huge whale followed after ready to devour both the ship and her/ wherefore this young lady when night came she smote fire with a stone wherewith all the ship was greatly lightened and than the whales durst not adventure toward the ship for dread of fire/ but at the cock crowing this young mayo was sore weary of the great tempest and trouble of the see that she slept/ and within all little while that fire was out and then came the whale and devoured her. And And when she wakened & understood herself in the whales ●ely she smote fire and within a little while she wounded the whale with a knife in many places/ and when the whale felt himself wounded and hurt according unto his nature he swam to land. There was that time dwelling in that country an Earl that was a noble man which was named Pirris which by cause or recreation walked by the see strand/ and as he was walking thus in his disport he saw where as the whale was coming toward the land/ wherefore he returned home again/ and gadrede many strong men and came thither again and fought with this whale/ and wounded him sore/ and as they smote the maiden that was within her ●ely cried with an high voice and said/ o gentylsyrs have mercy on me for I am a kings daughter and a true virgin from the hour of my birth unto this day. When the earl heard this he wondered/ and opened the side of the whale and found the young lady and took her out. And when she was thus delivered she told by order by & by whose daughter that she was/ and how she had lost all her goods in the see/ and how she should have been married unto the Emperors son. And when the earl heard this he was right glad/ wherefore he comforted her the more and kept her still with him till she was well refreshed. And in the mean time he sent messengers unto the Emperor letting him wite how that this kings daughter was saved. Then was the Emperor right glad of her salvation and of her coming/ and had great compassion on her saying thus. O good maid for the love of my son thou haste suffered moche thing. Nevertheless if thou be worthy for to be his wife soon shall I prove. And when he had thus said he let bring forth three vessels. The first was made of pure gold couched well with precious stones without and within full of deed men's bones/ and there upon was this poised written/ who so chieseth me shall find that he deserveth. The second vessel was made of fine silver filled with earth and worms and thus was the superscription/ who so chooseth me shall find that his nature desireth. The third vessel was made of lead full within of precious stones/ and thereupon was written this poised/ who so chooseth me shall find that god hath disposed for him. These three vessels the Emperor showed to the maiden and said. Loo here daughter these been noble vessels if thou cheese one these wherein is profit to the and to other than shalt thou have my son. And if thou cheese that wherein is no profit to the nor to none other/ s●thely thou shalt not wed him/ when the maiden saw this she left up her hands to almighty god & said. Thou lord which knowest all things/ grant me grace this hour so to ch●se that I may receive the Emperors son. And with that she beheld the first vessel of gold that was lorged and graved royally/ and red the scripture▪ Who chooseth me. etc. saying thus. Though this vessel be full precious and made of pure gold. Nevertheless I wo●te never what is within. Therefore my lord this vessel will not I cheese. And then beheld she the second vessel that was of clear silver and redd● the superscription who so chooseth me shall find that which his nature desireth. Thinking thus within herself/ if I cheese this vessel what is within know I not but well I wot there shall I find that nature desireth/ and my nature desireth the lust of the flesh/ and therefore this vessel will I not cheese/ when she had seen those two vessels and given an answer as touching to them/ she beheld the third vessel of lead and read the superscription/ who so chooseth ●e shall find that god hath disposed. Thinking within herself. This vessel is not passing rich ne precious without forth. Nevertheless the superscription saith who chooseth me shall find that god hath disposed and withouten doubt almighty god never disposed any harm. Therefore as as now I will cheese this vessel/ when the Emperor saw this he said. O good maiden open thy vessel for it is full of precious stones and see if thou haste well chosen or none/ when this young lady had opened it atte the emperors commandment/ she found it full of gold and precious stones like as the Emperor had told her before/ and than said the Emperor O my dear daughter because thou haste wisely chosen therefore thou shalt wed my son. And when he had so said/ he ordained a marriage and wedded them to guider worthily with moche joy & honour. And so they contynned to their lives end both in joy and solace.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor betokeneth the father of heaven the which was long time without a carnal son/ wherefore many men were perished and went unto hell The Empress conceived when the angel Gabryell said Loo thou shalt conceive and ●ere a child. And then that Firmament began to clear when this little child lightened the world with his birth. The moan began to wax pale when the face of the virgin Mary was over shadowed by the virtue and grace of the holy ghost/ and not only her face was thus shadowed/ but also her body for she thus shadowed but also her body for she was with child as an other woman wherefore joseph would have forsaken her privily and gone away. The little bird that come from the one side of the moon betokeneth our lord Jesus' christ which at midnight was borne of our lady wrapped in clothes and laid in the ox stall. The two beasts betoken the ass and the ox that joseph brought with him which honoured him in his birth. These other beasts that came from far country betoken the herds on the field to whom the angel said thus. ●cce nuncio vobis gaudium magnum. Lo I show to you great joy/ the birds that song too sweetly betoken the angels of heaven which song at his birth this merry song. ●loria in excelsis. joy to god above/ and pease to men in earth. The king of Ampule which held war against the Emperor betokeneth all mankind that was contrary to god as long as he was in the devils power. But anon when our lord Ihesu cyrste was borne he bowed himself to god and besought him of peace when he received his christendom. For atte our crystening we behote to draw only to god and forsook the devil and all his pomps. This king gave his daughter in marriage to the Emperors son. Right so each of us ought to give his soul in marriage to gods son for he is ever ready to receive our soul to his spouse according to the scripture saying thus. Dispensabo ipam michi. I shall spouse her me/ but or that soul may come to the palace of heaven her behoveth to sail by the see of this world in the ship of good life/ but often times there riseth a tempest in the see that is to say the trouble of this world the temptation of the flsshe and the suggestion of the devil ariseth suddenly and dreweth the virtues which the soul receiveth at the font stone. Nevertheless yet falleth she not out of the ship of charity but keepeth herself surely there by faith and hope. For as the apostle saith. Spe saltu facti sumus. By hope we be saved. For it is unpossible to be saved without hope or faith. The great whale that followed the maiden betokeneth the devil which by night and by day lieth in a wait to overcome the soul by sin therefore do we as died the maiden smite we fire of charity and love out of the stone that is christ according with his own words saying thus. ●go sum lapis. I am a stone. And certainly the devil shall have no power to grieve us. But many men begin well as died the maid/ but as the last they be weary of their good works/ and so sleep they in sin. And anon when the devil perceiveth this he devoureth the sinner in evil thoughts delights consent and work therefore yfon● of us feel ourself/ in such life under the power of the devil/ late him do as died the maiden. Smite the devil with the knife of bitter penance then kindle the fire of charity and without doubt he shall cast the unto the land of good life. The earl that came with his servants to slay the whale betokeneth a discrete confessor/ the which dwelleth beside the see that is to say beside the world and not in the world. That is to say not drawing to worldly delectations but ever is ready with good words of holy scripture to slay the devil/ and to destroy his power we must all cry with an high and loud voice as died the maiden knowledging our sins and than shall we be best delivered from the devil and nourished with good work. The Emperor showeth this maiden three vessels/ that is to say. God putteth before man life and death/ good and also evil. And which of these that he chooseth he shall obtain: Therefore Samson saith thus. Ante hominem mors et vita. death and life is set before man cheese which him list. And yet man is uncertain whether he be worthy to choose life before death. By the first vessel of gold full of deed men's bones we shall understand worldly men as mighty men and rich/ which outward shineth as gold in richesse & pomps of this world. Nevertheless within they be full of deed men's bones/ that is to say the works that they have wrought in this world been deed in the sight of god through deadly sin. Therefore if any man chose such life he shall have that he deserveth/ that is to say hell. And such men be like Tombs that been white and rially painted and arrayed without and covered with cloth of silk and of gold/ but within there is no thing but dry bones. By the second vessel of silver we ought to understand the justices and wise men of this world which shineth in fair speck/ but within they be full of worms and earth/ that is to say their fair speech shall avail them no more at the day of doom than worms or earth/ and peradventure less for than they shall suffer everlasting pain if they/ die in deadly sin. By the third vessel of lead full of gold and precious stones we ought to understand a simple life and a poor which the chosen men chooseth that they may be wedded to our blessed lord Ihesu christ by humility obeisance/ and such men bear with them precious stones/ that is to say meritory works/ pleasing to god by the which at the day of doom they be wedded to our lord Jesus' christ and obtain the heritage of heaven unto the which our blessed lorlde Jesus' christ that died on road tree for the and me and all mankind Amen.    

 
THere dwelled in Rome sometime a mighty Emperor named Calopodu which wedded a fair lady to his wife/ they were not long together but that this Empress conceived and bore him a son a goodly child and a fair/ and set him to school. And when he come to twenty year of age/ he desired his faders heritage saying thus. Dear father ye are an old man and may not govern your Empire. Therefore if it list you to give it me it shall be to your profit. Than answered the Emperor and said. dear son I dread me sore that when Empire is in thy power thou wilt not fulfil my will ne my desire. Than answered the Empress for so much she loved his son better that her husband/ and said my lord quoth she that may not be for thou hast but one son/ & therefore as I believe he will fulfil thine intent in all thing & this same Empire may help him right well. And therefore it is best to grant him the Empire. Than answered the Emperor and said. I will first have of him a letter ablygatorye that when somever he do oony thing against my will that I will not have done/ that than I shall deprive him of the Empire without any witstending. The son granted this and let make the obligation/ and sealed it. And when this was done/ this young Emperor waxed so proud that he dread neither god ne man and he died very moche harm. But ever his father suffered it patiently for he would not be corrected by no man. till atte the last there fell a great hungres and a dearth in that Empire so that many men died for default. This old Emperor was by himself and began for to have need wherefore he went unto soon for to have get on him some sustenance. That his son granted and suffered for a while. But within short time his father began for to wax seek wherefore he called his son and prayed him for to give him a draft of must. His son answered and said. That will not do for I must is not good for thy complexion. Then said the Emperor. I pray the son give me a draft of thy wine. His son answered and said that he would have none/ for my wine is not yet fined/ & if I touch it/ it will trouble and therefore I will not tame it till it be clear and fined. Then said his father than give me some of thy second ton. That will I not do quoth he/ for that wine is passing mighty and strong/ and such wine is not good for a seek man. Then prayed his father him heartily for a draft of the fourth ton. Than he answered and said/ thereof get ye none. For it is feeble and without any sustentation/ and such wine is not good for you for it is not comfortable. Then said the old Emperor now good son give me thenne the fifth ton. That will I not quoth he for that ton is full of leys and dregs and such is not for men unthes for hogs/ when his father saw that he might get no thing of him and after that he was hole as ever he was/ than he went unto the king of jerusalem and made his complaint of his son/ and showed him the letter oblygatory the his son had made/ whereby his father might put him out of the Empire without any withsaing/ when the king heard this he called the emperors son to answer to his father. And when he came he could not answer to his father well with no reason/ wherefore the king put him from his Empire and seasened his father therein again and so he continued all the days of his life.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor betokeneth our lord Ihesu christ according to the psalm/ saying thus, He is thy father that hath the in possession/ and made the of nought. The son betokeneth man to whom he gave all the Empire of this world according to this scripture. ●elum celi domino. &c. That is for to say. Heaven he hath given our lord/ and earth to man. Mankind made an obligation unto our lord Ihesu christ when he received his christendom atte the font stone/ where he behight him surely to serve him truly and to forsake the devil and all his pompis and vain glory. This Emperor began for to wax seek upon a day/ that is for to say in english our lord Ihesu christ is troubled as often time as a christian man sinneth and breaketh his commandments negligently/ wherefore he trusteth greatly the help of our soul and than asketh he a draft of the first ton. That is for to say he asketh of man the first age of his childhood to be spent in his service. But anon the wicked man answered and said. I may not do so/ for my childhood is must that is for to say in english. It is so tender and so young it may attempt so soon to serve god/ which is openly false. For the child of one day age is not without sin. For saint Gregory saith also in his dialog. That children of .v. year of age put out fiends from the bosoms of their faders. And when god seeth that he may not have of y● must of his childhood. Then desireth he the wine of the second childhood. Than answereth the wicked man and saith that his wine is not yet clear enough that is for to say/ he is not apt for to serve god & when god may not have of the second ton. Then asketh he of the third ton/ that is for to say of the third ton of his youth. Then answered the wicked man and said/ that wine is to strong and mighty. And therefore his youth ought for to be spended about needs of this world/ and not in penance which should make him feeble and weak when god seeth that he may not have of this ton. Then asketh our lord Ihesu christ of the fourth ton of age. And thenne answered the wicked man and saith that an aged man is feeble and may not fast ne do none hard penance/ & if he died he should be cause of his own death. And then asketh our lord of the sift ton. That is for to say/ of his old age when he doth creep and may not go without a staff/ But the wicked man excuseth himself/ and saith that this wine is to feeble for to give such a man that is feeble/ for if he should fast one day/ it were time on the morrow to make his grave. And when out lord Ihesu christ seeth that may not have of the fifth ton. Than asked he of the sixth ton. That is to say when man is blind and man not go to sin no more/ yet desireth he of such a manner drink that is for to say the help of his soul. But the wretched man dying in despair saith. Alas alas to me for because I served not almighty god my maker/ and my redeemer here in times passed while I was in my youth/ and in my prosperity. But now there is no thing left but only the dregs and the leys of all wretchedness. Therefore what availeth now for to turn me to godward/ but for such men me should mourn. Nevertheless god is so merciful that though he might have no service of man in all his time/ yet is he content to have the lay of his ton/ that is to say his good will though he may not serve him other wise/ & so shall his good will stand him in good stead of penance. For in what hour the sinner doth his penance he shall be saved. As Ezachiel witness. The apostle saith thus Alas alas and wellaway for there be full many that will not give wine ne none other thing unto him wherefore god shall complain unto the king of Iherusalem/ that is to say to his god heed atte the day of doom/ & than god and man shall give a sentence defensible against such men saying thus. ●suriui et non dedistis. I have him/ gred and ye have me no mete. And I have thirsted and ye gave me no drink. Loo thus sHall he rehearse unto thee/ the suen wrekes of mercy/ and when this is done then shall they be put unto everlasting pain/ and the rightful men into everlasting life where they shall joy without end unto the which bring us he that died for us on the road tree.  
Amen.    

Sometime there dwelled in Rome a mighty emperor Named Antony under whose reign the rowers of the see had taken prisoner a mighty man's son of another region/ and brought him to the emperors prison fast bound/ when this young man was this in prison he wrote to his own father for his ransom but his father would no ransom pay me none other thing send to the comfort of him. This hearing his son wept sore and might not be comforted for the unkindness of his father. This Emperor had a fair daughter which every day visit this prisoner and comforted him as much as she might. Too whom the prisoner answered thus and said. How shall I be merry/ or how may I joy thus for to lie fast bound in prison from the sight of man/ and notwithstanding this it grieveth me more that my father will not pay my ransom/ when this maiden heard this she was moved with pity and said. Dear friend I am sorry for the. Nevertheless if thou wilt grant me one thing I shall deliver the from this anguish & pain/ what thing is that. That thou wilt take me to thy wife. Than said the prisoner. I behote you surely to fulfil your intent. And for the more sickerness I give you my troth/ when he had so done it was not long after the maiden delivered him out of prison and fled away with him home to his faders house/ when the father saw his son and the maiden together/ he asked the cause why he brought her with him. Than said he. Sir this damosel delivered me from prison & therefore she shall be my wife. Than said his father. I will not consent that she shall by thy wife for ii reasonable causes which I shall show. The first is this It is not unknown to the that the Emperor her father might have had for thy deliverance great good/ and for so moche that she was untrue to her own father and true to thee/ it seemeth well that thou should not trust in her long/ for who is false to her own father by reason should be very false and untrue to another man. The second reason is this/ the cause why she delivered the fro enprysonment. It was not for pity ne for lou● but for fleshly lust that she had to the. For at thy deliverance she made covenant with the to be thy wife/ and had of thy thy troth/ and therefore son it is not reason that she should be thy wife. The maiden answered to this question and said. As for the first reason that thou layest against me that I should be untrue unto my father/ that is false/ for my father hath plenty of richesse and thy son is but poor and therefore I holp him for pity and for none other cause/ and Nevertheless thou which art his father would no● pay his ransom that he might be delivered from prison. Loo for this cause I have delivered him therefore I am kinder unto him than thou which art his own father/ and he is more byholden to me then to the. Unto the other reason where thou sayest that I delivered him die cause of fleshly lust I answered and said plainly that is is not truth. For all manner of fleshly love it caused for strength or elles for fairness. But thy son is not strong/ for his emprysonement hath done away his strength. He is not fair/ for by the pain that he had in prison he is made low and unlusty to the sight/ and therefore pity only moved me for to deliver him/ and not fleshly lust Than said the son/ to his father Dear father for so moche that I was in apparel of death/ and wrote unto the that thou wouldest pay my ransom that I might be delivered/ & thou wouldest not help me. But this maiden of her gentleness and for pity saved me from death and delivered me from prison. Therefore soothly she shall be my wife/ wherefore he wedded her forthwith great honour & with her ended he his life.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor betokeneth the father of heaven. The young man that was taken with the rowers of the see betokeneth all mankyned which was taken with the devil by the sin of our forefather Adam and was cast in to the prison of bell with great sorrow and pain. His father would not ransom him/ that is to say the world would do no thing for him. This fair daughter betokeneth the godhead which came down from heaven and took manhood of the virgin marry/ and so made a ghostly marriage between him and man. And upon this condition he delivered mankind out of the prison of hell when he came fro heaven & forsook the fellowship of angels for to dwell with us in this wretched valley of tears. But the father the which betokeneth the world grudged ever against him and would not suffer that the soul of man should become the spouse of Ihesu christ/ but that she should alway serve him and forsake our lord. Therefore if we follow the world & his vanities soothly we shall fall in the snare of the devil. from the which defend us our lord Jesus' Amen.    

Sometime there dwelled in Rome a mighty emperor of great livelihood Named Alexsander/ the which above all virtues loved largesse/ wherefore he ordained a law for great curiosity that no man under pain of death should torns a please in his dish at his meet/ but only eete white side & not the black/ & any man would attempt to do the contrary he should die without remedy/ but or he died he should ask three bones to the Emperor what so him list except his life which should be granted him It befell after on a day that there came an Earl and his son of a strange country to speak with the Emperor. And when this Earl was set to meet he was served with please/ and he which was hungry and had appetite to his meet/ and after he had eaten the white side he turned the black side & began to eat there of wherefore anon he was accused to th'emperor because he had offended against the law. Than said the Emperor late him die according to the law without any delay/ when the Earls son heard that his father should die anon he set him down on both his knees afore th'emperor/ and said. O my reverent lord for his love that hinge on cross late me die for my father. Then said the Empeour It pleaseth me well that one die for the offence of the law. Than said this earls son sith it is so that I shall die I ask the benefits of that law that is to say that I may have three petitions granted or I die. The Emperor answered and said/ ask what thou wilt there shall no man say nay. Than said this young knight. My lord ye have but one daughter the which I desire of your highness that she may lie with me a night or that I die. The Emperor granted though it were against his will in fulfilling of his law. Nevertheless this knight deffloured her not as that night. Therefore he pleased the Emperor greatly. The second petitions this I ask all thy treasure/ and anon the Emperor granted because he should not be called a breeker of own law. And when this earls son had received the emperors treasure he departed it both to poor men and rich/ wherefore he obtained there good will. My third petition is this. I ask my lord that all their eyen may by put out in continent which saw my father eating of the black plaice wherefore the Emperor let make an inquisition anon who it was that saw the earl turn the plaice/ and they that saw him turn that plaice/ bethought them and said within themself. If we knowledge that we saw him do this trespass than shall our eyen be put out. And therefore it is better that we hold us still/ and so there was none found that would accuse him/ when this Earls son saw this he said unto the Emperor. My lord quoth he ye see that there is no man accuseth my father/ therefore give ye rightful judgement. Than said the Emperor. For so moche that no man will knowledge that they saw him torn the plaice. Therefore I will not that thy father shall die Lo the son thus saved the life of the father. And after the disease of the Emperor he wedded his daughter.  

¶ Dear friends this Emperor betokeneth the father of heaven which ordained for law that no man should torn the black side of the plaice that is to say. There should no man labour for richesse or lordship by covetise and falsehood The Earl that came to that Emperor betokeneth Adam our forefather which came out of the land of Damasse to the court of paradise and turned up the black side of the plaice when he etc of the apple/ wherefore he should have been dampened unto everlasting death and eternal death. But his son which betokeneth our lord Ihesu christ. For he took flesh of Adam saying this proffered himself wilfully to die for him the father of heaven granted that he should go down to die for mankind. Nevertheless or he died he asked three petitions of his father of heaven. The first was this that he might have by him his daughter which betokeneth the soul of man/ and bring her with him in to the bosom of heaven according to the words of. Osye saying thus. Dispensabo eam mihi. That is to say I shall wed her to my wife. The second petition was this. All th'emperors treasure which betokeneth the treasure of heaven according to this scripture. Situt disposint micht pater. Like as my father hath disposed for me so I dispose for you. The third question was this/ that all their eyen should be put out/ that is to say/ that the devil which daily accuseth man that he might be put fro the light of heavenly grace. And thus sued he mankind and led him up with him unto the palace of heaven unto the which palace bring us our lord Jesus'.  
Amen.    

THere dwelled sometime in Rome a mighty Emperor named Lemicius which on a day road in disport to a forest where as he met suddenly with a poor man to whom he said thus/ friend whence comest thou and who art thou. My lord quoth he I came fro the next city and your man I am. Then said the Emperor thou seemest poor/ therefore if thou wilt be good and true I shall promote the to great richesse and honour. Then answered this poor man and said. My lord I promise you my faith fullly for to be true unto you as long as that I live. The Emperor anon made him knight and gave him great richesse. when he was thus promoted he waxed so proud that he thought himself more able for to be an Emperor than his lord/ wherefore he made suggestion unto divers lord of that empire that he might usurp and take upon him through strength of them to be Emperor. when the Emperor heard this anon he exiled him and all though that were consenting to him so that they were put in great wretchedness & sorrow and than the Emperor ordained other men in their stead and gave them all the possessions of the traitors and of there fellowship. And when the banished men heard that strangers had take possession in their land and goods. Anon they conspired against him & through treason prayed them unto a feast/ and they as Innocentes thinking no treason came at the day assigned/ and were served with five meases/ which were enpoisoned/ wherefore as many as tasted of that victual died in continent/ when the Emperor heard this/ he was greatly moved and called his council to wite what was best to be done of this treason and of their death. Than said the Emperors son. My lord I am your son/ and ye be my father/ and therefore I shall give you good ceunsell and profitable to all men. Not far hens is a little realm wherein dwelleth a fair maiden and gracious in the sight of every man which hath an orcherde wherein there is a well/ whereof the water is of such virtue/ that if it be cast upon a deed man/ anon he shall live again and recover his life, Therefore my lord I shall descend unto the realm and seek that water by the which they that were slain at the feast might rise again to life. And when the Emperor heard this/ he was greatly gladded and said son thy council is right good and anon the Emperors son went in to the said realm and fell in conceit of the maiden in so much that he entered in to the garden and said of the well. And when he had so done he made five deep trenches in the ground in the which the water ran till it came where the deed men lay buried/ and anon when the water touched them they arose from death to life/ and then the Emperors soon led them unto his father. And when The Emperor saw this he was right joys full/ wherefore he crowned his son with a lauryate crown in token of victory/ and so he ended his life in pease.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth that father of heaven. The poor man that was promoted betokeneth lucifer the which was made of nought and exalted in the Empire of heaven in so great joy and clearness that him seemed through his pride that he would be like almighty god/ and not only like himself but also more than almighty god/ wherefore the father of heaven exiled him and all them that consented unto him to hell/ and in their place man was exalted to great joy and honour. The devil saying this envy him that man should come to such glory and honour/ & bad Adam and Eue. unto a feast when they eat of the apple against god's commandment/ and counseled them thus saying. In what hour he eat of the apple ye shall be like gods. And in this cursed feast they were served with five meases the which were enpoisoned/ that is to say/ their five wits were accorded in eating of that apple whereof man was infect and died. This hearing the Emperors son moved with mercy came down from heaven in to this world and acquainted him so well with the blessed virgin Mary that he found in her the well of manhood and conjoined it to his godhead according to the scripture. I am the well of life who drinketh on it shall not thirst. After that he let make five trenches in the ground/ that is to lay five wounds in his body of the which ran both blood & water whereby all mankind were raised fro death to life/ and so he led them up in to the palace of heaven Unto the which our blessed lord Jesus' christ that shed his blood upon the road tree for the and me and all mankind Amen Amen Amen for saint charity    

 
Sometime there dwelled in Rome a mighty emperor the which was named Dunstane. In whose Empire dwelled a gentle knight the which had two sons. One of his said sons wedded himself astaynst his faders will to a common woman of the brothel. The knight hearing this exiled his son from him. And when he was thus exiled he begat on this woman a son/ and soon after that he waxed seek and needful wherefore he sent messengers to his father beseeching him of his mercy. This hearing his father had compassion and ruth of him wherefore he was reconciled. And when he was thus brought again to his faders grace/ he gave his son which he had begotten afore of this needful woman to his father. And he kindly received it as his son and nourished it when his other son heard this he said to is father. father quod he it seemeth that thou art out of thy right mind the which I prove by this reason. For he is out of his mind that receiveth a false heir/ & nourisheth him/ whose father hath done him anguish & disease afore. But my brother which begat this child hath done the great Injury when that he wedded the common woman against thy will and commandment. Therefore me seemeth that thou art out of thy right mind. Then answered the father and said. By cause that thy brother is reconciled thou art envious to me and also unkind to thine own brother/ willing for to put him from my fellowship for ever more & soothly none unkind man shall have mine heritage but if that he be reconciled. But yet thou were never reconciled of his unkindness for thou might have reconciled him but thou wouldest not/ therefore of mine heritage get est thou no part.  

¶ The father of the two brethren betokeneth the father of heaven. And this two sons betokeneth that nature of angels and nature of man. For man was wedded unto a common woman of the bordelle when he eat of the apple against the commandment of god wherefore he was exiled by that father of heaven and put fro the joys of paradise. The son of the common woman hetokeneth mankind. This knights son that is to say. Adam began to be needful/ for after his sin he was put from joy in to this wretched valley of tears and weeping according to this scripture. In sudore vultus. etc. In the sweet of thy visage thou shalt eat thy breed. But after by the passion of christ he was reconciled. But the other son which betokeneth the devil was ever unkind & grudgeth daily against our reconsyling saying that by sin we ought not to come unto the heritage of heaven. Unto the which bring us our lord Jesus'.  
Amen.    

THere dwelled sometime in Rome a mighty Emperor named donate which let make iii images. Of the which one held out his hand straight unto the people and had on his finger a ring of gold. The second image had a beard of gold. And the third had a manteli of purple/ commanding upon pain of death that no man should rob these images of the ring beard nor of the mantel. It befell after upon a time that one Dionyse a tyrant came in to the temple and took away the ring from the first image/ the beard from the second/ and the mantel from the third And anon when he had thus done he was accused unto the Emperor and brought before him and was examined of that trespass/ why that he despoiled that images against the Emperor commandment. Then said this dionyse. My lord it is lawful to answer for myself/ where none will answer for me/ when I entered in to the temple the first image held forth his hand straight to me/ as who saith. I give the this ring/ and therefore I took the ring at the gift of the image. And when I saw the second image having berde. I thought thus with in myself I knew sometime the father of this image which had no beard and now his son hath a beard which is against reason the son to have a beard and the father none & therefore I took fro him his beard that he should be like his father. After that when I saw the third image closed in a mantle of gold I thought that a mantel of gold was not byhovable to him in winter/ for gold is naturally cold that might because of his death/ & therefore I took it fro him because it was to cold in winter/ & to heavy in summer. When Dyonyse had excused hymby these reasons. The emperor answered and said. Thou hast answered wickedly for they self/ what should cause the rather than any other man to despoil these images/ for so moche that I commanded that no man should do them any harm/ and thine own mouth hath dempned thee/ and anon the Emperor called to him one of his squires and charged him to smite of his head and so it was done.  

¶ Thus Emperor betokeneth all mighty god the faderot heaven. The three images betokeneth the poor men the rich men/ and the mighty men of this world. The tyrant Doynyse betokeneth justices/ sheriffs bailies/ catchepolles/ and all other officers which take away fro poor men the ring of the rich and saith thus. I may take that is given me. But when the poor man hath aught to done he must needs put for the to give whither he will or none if he shall speed. They take also the beard from the rich men & saith thus/ this man is richer than his father/ Therefore take we his livelihood fro him and make him like forefathers faders. They take also the mantelle of gold from them when they see any man of honour and of good living willing to corecke such misdoers than say they this man is to cold/ for he inclineth no thing to our opinyones/ and also he is to hot of power in werkynges against us therefore go we & take from him the mantel of might and so they accuse him and putteth him out of office. But certainly all such men standeth tin peril of everlasting death. from the which save us he that died for us upon the road tree. Amen for saint charity.    

IN Rome there dwelled sometime a mighty Emperor named Euas/ which had a young lady to his wife on whom he had begotten a fair son/ when the states of the Empire heard this they came unto the Emperor and besought him to have the keeping of his son. Anon the Emperor sent a sergeant throughout the city saying that in whose house were first found fire and water/ the good man of that house should have his soon in keeping and to nourish/ and that the Emperor made proclamation that who so ever had his son to keep should nourish him cleanly and feed him with wholesome victual. And when the child came to age than should the keeper be promoted to great honour wherefore many men let make ready fire and water in hope to have the child. But on the night when every man was a sleep there came a tyrant named Sulapyus the which quenched the fire and threw out the water. Nevertheless among all the other/ there was a man named jonathas which laboured so diligently that he kept both day and night fire and water. In a morning early the sergeant at the Emperovers commandment went through the city and sought in every house for fire & water but he could none find till he came to jonathas house where as he found both fire and water ready/ wherefore he was brought before the Emperor and his son delivered unto him according to his proclamation/ when jonathas had themperours son he led him home to his house/ and soon after sent for masons and carpenters and let make a strong chamber of lime and stone. And when the chamber was made he sent for painters & let paint in the wall of the chamber within ten images with this poysy written above their heads/ who defoileth these images shall die a foul death. And that he drew on the door a gallows/ and a figure of him self hanging thereupon with this poysy written above his heed. So shall he be served that nourisheth themperours son amiss. Also he let make a chair of gold/ and himself sitting therein crowned with a crown of gold with this superscription/ above his heed/ who that nourisheth the Emperors son cleanly thus shall he honoured when this was done. oft-times in his sleep he was tempted to defile the images/ but anon he red the superscription above their heads/ and than all that temptations seized. And when the Emperors son was cuyll kept than went he to the gallows/ and read the poysy that was written above his own heed and for dread thereof he kept the child that better and was diligent to tend on him. And when he beheld the chair and himself sytteing therein crowned with gold he was right joyful/ thinking to have a good reward for keeping of the Emperors son/ when the Emperor heard of his diligent demenaunce about his son he sent for him & for his son both/ thanking him for his weil keeping and nourishing of him/ and after promoted him to great honour and worship.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth the of father heaven the Empress betokeneth the blessed virgin Mary the emperors son betokeneth our lord Ihesu christ The sergeant that was sent through the city betokeneth saint johan that baptist which was sent afore our lord/ to make ready for him according to the scripture. Ecce mitto angelum. Lo I send my angel afore me. etc. The states which desireth the Emperors son to nourish betoken the patriarchs and prophets which desire greatly to nourish our lord & so to see him but they might not see him/ ne nourish him for fire and water which should be causet of their sight were not with him persyghtly. The fire betokeneth the holy ghost that had not yet a pered in them/ for they were not washen the water of the font. Also ye may understand by the fire perfyght charity/ and by the water true contrition which two now a days faileth in many men/ and therefore they may not have the little thylde Ihesu in their hearts. jonathas that waked so well betokeneth a good christian man which studieth ever to wake in doing of good works/ yielding to god for sins the fire of charity/ & the water of contrition. But oft times the tyrant which betokeneth the devil putteth out the fire of charity fro men's hearts and casteth out the water of contrition so that they may not nourish this little child Ihesu. Therefore awake we as jonathas did that we enter not in temptation. And call we to us masons that is to say discrete confessors/ which can make in our hearts a chamber of stone/ that is to say a sure faith & hope. Than call we to us painters that is to say preachers of god's words which can paint in our hearts ten images/ that is to say ten commandments which if thou keep and preserve daily/ & devoutly without doubt thou shalt behonoured in heaven. And if thou keep well the Emperors son thou shalt sit in chair of gold crowned with a crown of gold/ & if thou nourish not well without doubt thou shalt be hanged on that gallows of hell/ from the which save us our dear lord Jesus'.  
Amen.    

IN Rome there dwelled sometime a mighty Emperor named Menaly the which had wedded the kings daughter of hungry a fair lady & gracious in all her works/ & specially she was merciful as the emperor lay in his bed he bethought him the he would visit the holy land/ & on the morn he called to him the Empress and his own only brother and thus he said dear lady I may not ne I will not hide fro thee/ the brevities of my heart. I purpose to visit the holy land/ wherefore I ordain the principally to be lady and governor over all mine Empire and over my people. And under the I ordain here my brother to be thy steward for to provide all things that may be profitable to me and to my people Than said the Empress. Sith it will none other wise be but needs ye will go to the holy land I shall be in your absence as true as any turtle that hath lost his fellow. For as I believe ye shall not escape thence with your life. The Emperor anon comforted her with fair words and kissed her and after that took his leave of her and of all other and so went forth toward the holy land. And anon after that the Emperor was gone his brother waxed so proud that he oppressed poor and rob rich men & yet he did worse for daily he stirred the Empress to sin with him. But ever she answered again as an holy and a devout woman and said. I will quod she never consent to you/ ne to none other as long as my lord lives. Nevertheless this knight would not leave by this answer but ever when he found her alone he made his complaint to her/ and stirred her by all the ways that he could to sin with him/ when this lady saw that he would not seas for none answer ne would not amend himself when she saw her time she called to her three or four of the worthiest of that Empire and said to them thus it is not unknown to you that my lord the Emperor ordained me prycipally governor of this Empire/ and also he ordained his brother to be steward under me and that he should do no thing without my council but he doth all the contrary/ for he oppresseth poor men greatly & robbeth rich men/ & yet he would do worse if he might have his intent wherefore I command you in my lords name that ye bind him fast/ and cast him in prison. Then said they soothly he hath done many harms sith out lord went/ therefore we be ready to obey your commaandement/ but in this matter ye must answer for us to our lord the Emperor. Than said she dread ye not for of my lord knew what he hath done as well as I he would put him to the foulest death that can bethought. Anon these men set hands on him and bound him fast with iron chains and put him fast in prison/ where as he lay long time after/ till at the last it fortuned there came tidings that the Emperor was coming home & had obtained great worship and victory/ when his brother heard of his coming he said/ would god my brother might find me in prison for then would he inquire the cause of mine emprysonement of the Empress/ and she will tell him all the troth/ and how I desired her to sin/ & so for her I shall have no grace of my brother but lose my life this know I well therefore it shall not be so. then scent he a messenger unto the Empress praying her for Christ's passion that she would vouchsafe to come unto the prison door that he might speak a word with her. The Empress came to him/ and inquired of him what he would. He answered and said thus O lady have mercy upon me For if the Emperor my brother find me in this prison then I die without remedy. Then said the Empress if I might know thou wouldest be a good man and leave of thy folly thou shouldest have grace. Than died he behote her sickerly to be true and to amend all this trespass/ when he had thus promised the Empress delivered him anon & made him to be bathed and shaven and arrayed him worshyppefully according to his estate/ and than she said unto him thus. Now good brother leap on thy stead and come with me that we may meet my lord. He answered & said lady I am ready to fulfil your will and your commandment in all things. And than the Empress took him with her and many other knights and road forth to meet with the Emperor/ and as they road together by the way they saw where a great heart ran afore them/ wherefore every man with such hounds as they had chased him on horse back/ so that there with the Empress was left no creature save only the emperors brother/ which saying that no man was there but they two/ this he said unto the Empress. Loo lady here beside is a privy forest and long it is agone that I spoke to the of love come now and consent unto me that I may lie with the. Than said the Empress a fool what may this be/ yesterday I delivered that from prison upon thy promise in hope of a mendment and now thou art returned to thy folly again/ wherefore I say now to the as I have said before there shall no man do such thing with me but only my lord the Emperor which oweth of very duty and right so for to do then said he/ if thou wilt not consent to me I shall hang the here upon a tree in this forest where no man shall find the & so shalt thou die an evil death. The Empress answered meekly and said though thou wilt smite of mine heed and put me to death with all manner turmenting thou shalt never have thy consent to such sin/ when he heard this he unclothed her all save her smock/ and hinge her up by the here upon a tree and tied her stead beside her/ and so road forth to his fellows/ and told them that a great host of men meet him and took the Empress away fro him. And when he had told them this/ they made great sorrow▪ It befell on the third day/ after that/ that there came an earl to hunt in that forest/ and as he road beating the brakes he start a fox whom his hounds followed fast till they came near the tree whereupon the Empress was hanged/ and when the dogs felt the savour of her they left the fox/ and ran toward the tree as fast as they could. The earl this saying wondered and smote the spurs into his horse side/ and followed them till he came where as the body was henged/ when the Earl saw her this hanging/ he marveled greatly/ for so much she was right fair and gracious for to behold/ wherefore he said unto her in this manner wise. O woman who art thou & of what country/ and wherefore hanged thou here in this manner wise/ the Empress that was not yet fully deed/ but in point ready for to die answered and said I am quod she a strange woman and am come out offer country/ but how I came hither god knoweth. Than answered the earl and said whose horse quoth he is this that standeth here by the bound to this tree. Than answered that lady and said that it was hers when the Earl heard this/ he kuewe well that she was a gentle woman/ and come of some noble kindred/ wherefore he was the rather moved with pity and said unto her. O fair lady thou seemest gentle. And therefore I purpose to deliver the from this pain if thou if thou wilt promise to go with me and nourish my young daughter/ and teach her at home in my castle/ for I have no child but only her/ and if thou keep her well/ thou shalt have a good reward/ for thy labour. Than said she as farforth as I can or may I shall fulfil thine intent. And when she had promised him thus/ he took her down of the oak & led her home to his castle & gave her the keeping of his daughter that he loved so much & she was cherished so well that she lay every night in the Earls Chamber and his daughter together And in his Chambre every night there brent a lamp the which hinge even between the Empress bed and the earls bed. This lady bore her so gently that she was beloved of every creature. There was that time in earls court a steward which loved much this Empress above all thing/ and oftentimes spoke to her of his love/ but she answered him ever again and said know ye dear friend for certain I have made a solemn vow that I shall never love man in such wise but only him whom I am greatly behold for to love him by god's commandment. Than answer the steward and said thou wilt not than consent to me. My lord quoth she what needeth the more for to ask me, The vow which I have made truly shall I keep and hold be the grace of god. Than when the steward heard this he went his way in great wrath and anger thinking within himself and/ if I may I shall be wroken on the. It befell within short time after upon a night that the earls chamber door was forgotten and left unshytte which the steward perceived anon. And when all the were a sleep he went and espied by the light of the lamp where the Empress and the young maid lay together and with that/ drew out his knife/ and cut the throat of the Earls daughter and put the bloody knife in the empress hand she being a sleep and not knowing nothing thereof to this intent that the Earl when he wakened should see the knife in her hand and that he should think that she had cut his daughters shrote wherefore she should be put unto death for his default. And when this damosel was thus slain and the bloody knife in the Empress hand. The Countess awaked of her sleep and saw by the light of the lamp the bloody knife in her hand wherefore she was almost out of her mind and said to the Earl thus. O my lord anon behold in yonder ladies hand a wonderful thing. The Earl awaked and byhelde on the empress bed and saw the bloody knife as the Countess said wherefore he was greatly moved and cried unto her and said. A wake woman of thy sleep what thing is this I see in thy hand. Anon the Empress through his cry awaked of her sleep/ & in her waking the knife fall out of her hand/ & with that she looked by her and found the Earls daughter deed by her side and all the bed full of blood/ wherefore with an huge cry and voice she cried. Alas alas and wellaway my lords daughter is slain she cried unto the Earl with a piteous voice and said a my lord let that devil be put to the most foul death that can bethought the which hath slain thus our only child. And when the countess had said thus to the Earl/ she said unto the Empress in this wise. The high god knoweth that thou mischievous woman haste slain my daughter with thine own hand/ for I saw the bloody knife in thine hand/ and therefore thou shalt die a fowl death. Then said the Earl in this manner of wise. O thou woman/ were it not that the dread of god is so great I should cleave thy boody with my sword in two parties/ For I delivered the from hanging and now thou haste slain my daughter. Nevertheless for me thou shalt have no harm/ therefore go thy way out of this cite without any delay/ for if I find that here this day thou shalt die an evil death. Then rose this woeful Empress and died on her clothes and leapt on her palfrey/ and road toward the east alone without any safeconduct. And as she road thus mourning by the way she espied on that left side of the way a pair of gallows and seven sergeants leading a man to the gallows for to be hanged/ wherefore she was moved with great pity and smote her horse with the spurs and road to them praying them that she might buy that misdoer if that he might be saved from death for any meed. Than said they. Lady it pleaseth us well that thou buy him. Anon the Empress accorded with them & paid his ransom and than he was delivered. Thus said she to him. Now dear friend be true till thou die sith I have delivered the from death. On my soul quoth he I you behore ever to be true. And when he had thus said he followed the lady still till they came nigh a city/ and than said that Empress to him good friend quoth she go forth thy way afore me to the city/ and take up for us an honest lodging/ for there I purpose to rest a while. This man went forth as she commanded and took up for her a good lodging and a profitable where as she abode long time after when the men of the city had perceived her fayrenesser they wondered greatly/ wherefore many of them spoke to her of unlawful love/ but it might not provayle them by no way. It fortuned after upon a day that there came a ship full of merchandise and arrived in the haven of the city/ when the lady heard this she said unto her servant Go quod she unto the ship and see if there be any cloth for mine use. Her servant went forth to the ship where as he found many precious clothes/ wherefore he prayed the master of the ship that he should come in the city and speak with his lady. The master granted him/ and so he went home unto his lady before and warned her of the master of the ships coming. Anon after the master of the ship came and saluted the lady worthily/ and the lady him received according to his degree praying him that she might have for her money such cloth as might be profitable for her wearing. Anon he granted that she should have. And soon they were accorded/ wherefore the servant went again with the master unto the ship. And when they were both within the ship board/ the master said thus unto the ladies servant. My dear friend unto the I would open my council/ if I might trust in thee/ and if the list to keep my council and help me thou shalt have of me a great reward. Then answered he and said I shall quoth he be sworn unto the on the holy golpell that I shall keep thy council and fulfil thine intent as farforth as I can. Than said the master of the ship I love quod he thy lady more than I can tell. For her fairness is so great that I would give for love of her all the good that I have and if I may obtain the love of her through thine help I will give the what soever thou wilt desire of me. Than said the ladies servant tell me quoth he by what mean I may best speed. Than said the master of the ship go home to thy lady again and tell her that I will not deliver to the my cloth but if she come herself but bring her not to the ship but if the wind be good and able for than I purpose to lead her away. Thy council is good quoth the ladies servant. Therefore give me some reward and I shall fulfil thine intent/ when he had thus received his meed/ he went again to his lady and told her that by no means the master of the ship would not deliver him the cloth but if she came herself. The lady believed her servant and she went to the ship. And when she was within the ship board her servant abode without/ when the master saw that she was within the ship and that the wind was go he drew up that sail and sail led forth/ when the lady had this perceived. Thus said she to that master. O master qd she what treason is this that thou haste done to me. The master answered and said Madam certainly it such the I must needs lie with the & after wed y●. Forsooth quoth she I have made avow that I shall never do such sin but with him to whom I am behold by right and by law. soothly quoth he if ye will not grant me with your good will I shall cast you out in the mids of the see/ and there shall ye die an evil death. If it be quoth she that I must needs consent or else die. Than pray I the array a privy place in the end of the ship where as I may fulfil thine intent or I die/ but first I pray the that I may say my orisons unto the father of heaven that he may have mercy on me. The master believed her wherefore he let ordain her a cabone in the ships end and in she gooth and set her down on both her knees and made her prayers saying in this wise. O thou my lord god which haste kept me from my youth in cleanness keep me now that I be not defouled/ so that I may serve the ever with clean heart and mind/ when her orison was thus ended there rose suddenly a great tempest in the see that the ship all to burst and all that were within perished save the lady that caught a capyll and saved herself. And the master another of the ship. Nevertheless she knew not of him ne he of her/ for they were driven to divers costs. This lady landed in her own Empire beside a nonery wherein she was worshyppely received/ and she lived so holy a life that god gave her grace to he'll seek folk of all manner of maladies/ wherefore there came great people to her both crooked blind and lame/ and every man through the grace of god and her holy prayer were heledc/ wherefore the name of her was all known through divers regions Nevertheless she was not known as Empress. In that same time the emperors brother which had hanged her before by the here was smitten with a foul leper. The knight that slew the earls daughter & put the bloody knife in her hand was blind deaf and had the palsy. The thief that betrayed her to the master of the ship was lame & full of the cramp. And the master of the ship was distraught out of his mind/ when the Emperor heard that so holy a woman was in such a nonry he said to his brother thus. Go we quoth he dear brother unto this holy woman that is dwelling in the nourye that she may hele the of thy leper would god quoth he that I were heeled. Anon the Emperor his own person went with his brother towards the Nonery. And when that the Nones heard of his coming they received him worshipfully and with procession. And than the Emperor inquired of the prioress of any such holy woman were among them that could hele seek folk of their maladies. The prioress answered and said/ that such one was there. Than was the Empress called forth afore the Emperor/ but she muffled her face as well as she could/ that the Emperourt her husband should not know her/ and when she had so done. She salved him with great reverence as pertained unto his estate/ & he again in like wise saying thus O good lady if the list of thy grace to hele my brother of his leper Axe of me what thou wilt & I shall grant it the for thy reward/ when the empress heard this she looked about her & saw there the emperors brother stood and was a foul leper. She saw also there the knight that slew the Erles daughter blind & deaf. The thief that she saved fro the gallows lame & also the master of the ship distraught out of his mind & all were come to her for to be heeled of their sickness but they knew her not/ for all the they knew her not though she knew them. Than said she unto th'emperor thus my reverent lord though ye would give me all your Empire I may not hele your brother nor none of these other but if they knowledge openly what they have done/ when that Emperor heard this he turned him toward his brother & said to him brother knowledge openly thy sin before all these men that thou mayst be heeled of sickness. Anon he began to tell how he had lived his life/ but he told not how he had hanged the Empress in the forest by the here/ when that he had knoweledged all that him list. The Empress said soothly my lord I would gladly lay unto him my medicine. But I wot right well it is in vain for he hath not made a full confession. The Emperor hearing this turned him toward his brother/ & said again in this wise what evil sorrow or unhappy wretchedness is in the feast thou not that thou art a foul laser. Therefore knowledge truly thine sin that thou mayst be hole/ or else avoid my fellowship for ever. A lord quod he I may not tell my life openly but if I be sure of thy grace/ what hast thou trespassed against me quoth the Emperor. His brother answered and said/ mine offence against the is grievous/ and therefore I ask mercy. The Emperor thought not of the Empress for as much as he supposed she had be deed many years before/ he bad his brother tell forth what he had offended him and he should be forgiven. And when the Emperor had thus forgiven his brother he began to tell openly how he had desired the Empress to sin with him/ & how he had hanged her by the here in the forest by cause she would not consent to him. when the Emperor heard this almost wretched creature the vengeance of god is fallen on that and were not that I have pardoned the thou shouldest die the foulest death that could be thought. Than said the knight that slew the earls daughter. I wot not quoth he of what lady ye meant/ but well I wot that my lord found such a lady hanging by the here in forest & brought her home to his castle & betook her his daughter in keeping/ & I stirred her to sin with me as much as I could but she would not consent/ wherefore I slew the earls daughter the lay with her And when that I had so done I put the bloody knife in the ladies hand that the earl should think she had slain his daughter with her own hand/ & than was she exiled thence but where she became wot I not. Than said thief I wot never of what lady ye mean but well I wot the seven sergeants were leading me to the gallows/ & such a lady came riding by & bought me of them/ and than went I with her and afterward I betrayed her unto a master of a ship Such a lady quod he received I. And when that we were the mids of the see I would have lain with her but she sat down to her prayers/ & anon there arose such a tempest that the ship all to burst and were all drowned save. I But what after that befell on her wot I not. ¶ Than ctyed the Empress with an high voice and said. soothly dear friends ye are now clean confessed/ wherefore now will I lay to my medicine/ and anon they received their health/ when the lady had thus done she opened her face unto the Emperor/ and he knew her anon and ran to her & braced her in his arms and kissed her oftentimes/ and for joy wept bitterly saying thus. blessed be god now have I found that I desired. And when he had thus said he led her home unto his palace with great joy and after when god would be pleased they ended their lives both in pease  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth our lord jesus christ The Empress betokeneth an holy soul. The emperors brother betokeneth that flesh to whom our lord Ihesi: christ hath given charge of his Empire/ but most prycipally to the soul. nevertheless the wretched flesh oft stirreth the soul to sin But the soul which loveth god above all thing withstandyth that temptation and calleth to her/ her ghostly power that is to say reason will understanding and conscience and maketh them to enpryson the flesh which is disobedient to the soul in the prison of penance unto the time he obey unto reason in all thing/ and thus in hope of mercy he sinneth again whom holy scripture saying thus Maledictus homo qui peccat in spe. Cursed be that man that sinneth in hope. And atte the last the soul inclineth to the flesh and letteth him of the prison of penance and washeth him from the filth of sin and arrayeth him with good virtues and maketh hymn leap o● the palfrey of charity and so rideth he forth to meet our lord on Easter-Day. But alas for full oft the sinner trespasseth against the holy scripture wherefore the heart that is to say/ the lust of the flesh and of sinners ariseth before him and after runneth great hounds that is to say evil thoughts/ and so long they chase till the body and the soul be left alone/ & than the flesh stirreth that noble soul the spouse of almighty god unto him. But the blessed soul which is so well-beloved with god will not forsake her lord and consent unto sin/ wherefore the wretched flesh full oft despoileth her of all clothyne. This is to say of all her virtues/ and hangeth her up by the here on an oak. That is to say on lusts and delights/ and there she hangeth unto the good e●le cometh. That is to say/ a discrete confessor come in the forest of this world to preach and teach the word of god and taketh her down & leadeth her forth to the church to nourish his daughter. That is to say/ to nouryce conscience with works of mercy. The Earl had in his chamber a lamp Right so every dyscryte confessor or preacher should have a fore him the lamp of holy scripture where by he may see both the grievance and profit of the soul in teaching of virtues and putting away of vices. The steward that stirreth her to sin/ is not else but pride of life which is steward of this world/ by whom many men be deceived. But when the soul that is so well-beloved with christ will not consent to the sin of pride/ than taketh this evil steward the knife of covetise where with he sleeth the earls daughter/ that is to say conscience according to the scripture saying thus. Gold and silver hath blinded the eyen of judges and hath overthrown wise men so that equity and righteousness might enter but stood a far and turned their backs. This lady also bought a man from hanging that is to say from everlasting death which had deserved by deadly sin. Therefore do we as died this lady/ smite we our horse that is to say our flesh with the spurs of penance and soryde we forth all haste to save our neighbour from the gaious of deadly sin helping them both bodily and ghostly. as Solomon saith woe to that man dying in deadly sin that hath no man to lift him out thereof. Therefore awake thy neighbour and help him. For a brother that is helpen of an other there is like a sure city/ and if he give no more but a cup of water unto him in way of help he shall not lose his reward. But many now a days been full unkind as was this thief which deceived falsely his lady after that she had saved him fro hanging. The master of the ship betokeneth the world by whom many men been beceyved. But nevertheless as oft as a man taketh on him wilfully the charge of poverty/ and obeyeth unto the commandment of god and forsaketh the world. Than breaketh the ship. For it is unpossible to please both god and man and the world at ones/ when this lady had escaped the tempest of the see she went to a Nonery that is to say/ to the soul after the troubles of this world & went to the holy life. And th● she healed all manner sick folk that is to say every man that is troubled in his soul that is to say Infect with diverse sicknesses which this lady healeth through holy life. But the soul might not be seen of christ her husband till she had knoweleged openly all their .v. wits how she had spent them. But when she had made a pure confession than the Emperor our lord god her husband knew her & took her in his arms & led her home to the palace of paradise. Unto the which almighty Ihesu bring us all Amen.    

IN Rome sometime there dwelled a mighty Emerour named Martin which for love kept with him his brothers son whom men called Fulgenctus with this Martin dwelled also a knight that was steward of his Empire & uncle unto the Emperor which envy this fulgencius/ & studied both day & night how he might bring the Emperor & this child at debate wherefore the steward on a day went unto that Emperor & said. My lord quoth he I which am your true servant own of duty to warn your highness if I here any thing that toucheth your honour wherefore I have heard such things that I must need utter in secret to your sordshyp between us ii Than said the Emperor. Good friend quoth he say what thou list. My lord qd the steward. Fulgencius your cousin & your nigh kinsman hath defamed you wonderly and shamefully through all your Empire saying that your breath stinketh the it is death to him to serve you of your cup. Than the Emperor waxed wroth and almost out of him self for very anger/ and said to him thus/ I pray the good friend tell me the very troth if that my breath so stinketh as he saith. My lord quoth the steward ye may believe me for I perceived a sweeter breath in my days. Thà said the Emperor I pray the good friend tell me how I may bring this thing to proof. The steward answered and said. My lord ye shall right well understand the truth. For to morrow next when he serveth you of your cup ye shall see that he shall torn away his face from you by cause of your breath/ and this is the most very proof that may be had of this thing. For soth● said the Emperor a truer proof can not be had of this thing/ wherefore anon when the steward heard this/ he went to Fuigencius and took him a side saying thus. Dear friend thou art my kinsman/ and nephew to my lord the Emperor/ therefore if thou wilt con me thank I will tell the of the vice whereof my lord complaineth oft and thinketh to put the fro him but if it be rather amended and that might be great reproof to the. Then said this Fulgencius. A good sir for his love that died on the cross tell me why my lord is so moved with me/ for I am ready to amend my default in all that I may/ and for to be ruled by your council Thy breath quod the steward stinketh sore that his drink doth him no good/ so grievous unto him is the stinking of thy breath. Than said Fulgencius truly that perceived I never till now/ but what thinketh you of my breath. I pray you tell me that truth. soothly quoth he it stinketh foul. Nevertheless he believed all that he said. This Fulgencius was right sorrowful & prayed him of his council and help in this case. Than said the steward if thou list for to do by my council I shall bring this matter to good conclusion. Therefore I council for the best and also I warn the that when thou servest thy lord of his cup than torn away thy face from him that he may not feel thy breath till that time that thou haste provided the for some remedy. Fulgencius then was glad and swore that he would do by his council. Not long after it befell that the child served his lord as he was wont to do. suddenly he turned his face from the lord by the teaching of the steward. And when the Emperor perceived the braided of his heed he smote the child in the breast with his foot saying thus. O thou rybaude now see I well it is true that I have herd of thee/ and therefore go thou anon out of my sight that I see the no longer in my place/ and with that the child wept sore & voided fro that place out of his sight/ and when he had so done the Emperor called unto him his steward/ and said how may I put this ribald fro the world that hath me thus me defamed. My lord quoth the steward right well ye shall have your intent. For here beside within three leges ye have break men which make the daily great fires to burn break. And also he make lime. Therefore my lord send to them this night and charge him upon pain of death/ that who so ever come to him first on the morrow saying to them thus my lord commandeth you to fulfil his will that ye take him and cast him in the furnace with the stones/ & this night command ye this Fulgence that he go early in the morning to your workmen & that he ask whether that they have fulfilled your will or none/ and than shall they according to your commandment cast him in the fire and thus he shall die an evil death. soothly quoth the Emperor thy council is good. Therefore call to me that Fulgencyus/ and when this child was come the Emperor said to him thus. I charge the upon death that thou rise early in the morning and go to the brenners of lime and bryke and that thou be with them before soon rise three leges from this house & charge them on my behalf that they fulfil my commandment or else they shall die a mischievous death 〈◊〉 said this Fulgencius My lord/ if god send me life I shall fulfil your will though I should go unto the worlds end/ when Fulgencius had this charge he could not sleep for thought but that he must arise early to fulfil the lords commandment. The Emperor about midnight sent a messenger to his break makers on horseback commanding them upon pain of death that who so ever came to them first in the morning saying to them the emperors commandment which is before written that they cast him in the fire and burn him in to that bare bones. The brekemen said it should be done. And than road the messenger home again and told the Emperor that his commandment should be done. early in the morning following. Fulgencius arose and arrayed him towards his way/ he heard a bell ring wherefore he went to that church for to here mass/ and after the levation he fell a sleep and there he slept a long while so that the priest ne none other man might awake him. The steward desyryngs inwardly to here of his death and how he died & about one of the clock he went unto the workmen and said thus. Sires quoth he have ye done my lords commandment or not/ than said they nay soothly we have not yet done his commandment but anon it shall be done & with that they set hands on him. Than cried the steward and said good sires save my life. For the Emperor commanded that Fulgencius should be put to death/ than said they that told the messenger not us/ for he bad who so ever come first to us in the morning saying as it is written before that we should cast him in the furnace/ and bren him to ashes and with that word they threw him in to the fire and when he was brent Fulgencius came & said good sires have ye done my lords commandment/ ye soothly said they/ and therefore tell ye so the Emperor. Than said fulgencius. For cryste● love tell me that commandment/ we had in commandment said they on pain of death that who so ever came to us first in the morning and said like as thou sayest that we should take and cast him in to the fire. But afore the came the steward and therefore have we fulfilled on him the emperors commandment▪ and now he is brent to the bare bones/ when Fulgencius heard this he thanked god that had saved him from death and took his leave of the workmen and went again unto the palace/ when the Emperor saw him he was almost out of himself/ & said/ hast thou been with the brekemakers and fulfilled my commandment. soothly my gracious lord I have be● there/ but or I came your commandment was fulfilled. How said the Emperor may that be true. Forsooth said Fulgencius the steward came unto them as fore me and said that I should have said. And when they heard that they took him and threw him in to the fire/ & if I had come any rather so would they have dove to me And therefore I thank god which hath saved me fro death Than said the Emperor/ tell me quod he the troth of such things as I shall ask the. As I believe quod Fulgencius yet found ye never in me no falsehood. And therefore I wondered why ye had ordained for me such a death. For well ye know that I am your brothers son. Than said the Emperor it is no wonder for that death through council of the steward I ordained to the because thou defamed me through out all mine empire saying that my breath stank so bitterly that it was death to thee/ and in token here of thou turn dost away thy face when thou serve dost me of my cup and that saw I with mine eyen/ and for this cause I ordained for the such a death/ and yet thou shalt die but if I here a better excuse. A my reverent lord quod Fulgencius if it might please you to hear me I shall tell you a subtle imagination. The steward that now is deed came to me and said that ye told him that my breath stank/ & thereupon he counseled me that when I served you of your cup that I should turn away my face I take god to witness I lie not. When that emperor heard this he believed him & said. O my son through the rightwise judgement of god the steward is brent & his own wickedness and envy is fallen on himself/ for he ordained this malice against thee/ & therefore thou art much bound to god that hath saved the from death.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth the prelate's of the church And Fulgencius his nephew betokeneth every good christian man which should duly and truly serve the curate of his tithings like as Fulgencius served the Emperor of his cup/ wherefore he shall begretly loved of god. This steward betokeneth every false christian man too god as kayme/ which often times turned the hearts of rightwise men from god/ saying that his breath stinketh. That is to say that the life of the prelate is not acceptable to god ne man against this scripture saying saying thus. Nolite judicare, etc. deem ye not & be not deemed. But oft times such malicious people accuseth rightwise men/ wherefore they shall be cast in everlasting fire of hell where is wailing weeping and mesyry without charity. And rightwise men shall ascend to everlasting life. Unto the which bring us our lord Ihesu christ Amen.    

THere dwelled in Rome amyghty Emperor named Delfynus which had no child save a daughter a fair creature & greatly beloved of her father. As this Emperor walked on a day on hunting in the forest suddenly he road forth of his way & lost his men/ wherefore he was greatly dysconforted for he wist not whither he road ne in what place he was/ till at the last when had riden thus all the day alone/ in the evyning he saw an house & thither he road a great pace and knocked at the gate. Anon the good man of the house heard him and asked the cause of his knocking & what he would. Dear friend quoth the Emperor/ lo it is night as ye may see therefore I pray you of lodging for the love of god/ when he had thus said the good man of the house unware that he was the Emperor answered thus/ & said. Good friend quoth he I am the emperors foster & have plence of venison & of other victuals for you/ when the Emperor heard this he was right glad. Nevertheless he told him not that he was Emperor/ and than the foster opened the gate & received him as worshipfully as he could and set him to his souper/ & served him honestly. And when he had supped the foster brought him to his chamber/ and when time was he went to bed. In that same time as it befall the fosters wife was traveling of child in another chamber by/ and was delivered that same night of a fair son/ & the Emperor lay in his bed sleeping he heard a voice saying to him as him seemed these words thrice/ take/ take/ take/ & with that he a work and marveled what it might be. saying thus to himself/ a voice biddeth me/ take/ take/ take/ what shall I take/ and he fell a sleep again/ and the second time he hard a voice saying to him these words/ yield/ yield/ yield/ and with that he wokened and wondered greatly/ saying unto himself what may this be. first and formest I heard a voice and that said. Take/ take/ take/ and no thing I received. And right now I died here another voice and that said/ yield/ yield/ yield/ what should I yield I wot never. And as he lay this thynkyngeto himself fell a sleep again and than he heard the third voice saying these words thrice. flee/ i'll/ i'll. For this night is a child borne which after thy disease shall be Emperor/ when the Emperor heard this he wakened and wondered greatly what it might be. In the morning early following yn Emperor arose & called to him the foster & said/ dear friend I pray the that thou wilt tell me if any child be borne this night to thy knowledge. My wife quoth the foster this night is delivered and hath borne a son. I pray the said the Emperor show me thy son/ when the Emperor had seen the child/ he saw a token in the child's visage whereby he might know him another time/ & said to the foster thus. dear friend knowest thou who am I. Nay soothly said the foster For I saw you never erst as I am remembered. Nevertheless it seemeth the ye should be gentle man. Than answered the Emperor & said I am quod he the Emperor your lord who me ye have lodged this night wherefore I thank you moche. This hearing the foster fell down upon his knees at his foot/ & besought him of mercy/ & if he had offended his highness in any thing prayed him of forgiveness. Than answered the Emperor & said dread the not for I thank the heartily of thy good cheer/ & thy son which was borne to night I will have for to nourish & to morrow I shall send for him A lord quod the foster/ it is not sufficient the such a lord should nourish the child of his servant. Nevertheless your will shall be done. For when your messengers come I shall deliver them my son/ when this was said the Emperor took his leave & road home toward his palace, And when he was come home he called unto him such servants as he trusted & said to them thus. Do ye quoth he unto my forsteres with whom I was lodged this night in the forest and receive of him his son which his wife bore this night. And upon a pain of death I command you the ye slay him by the away/ and cast his flesh to the dogs but bring to me his heart with you. And but ye fulfil my commandment ye shall die the moest foulest dathe the can bethought. Anon his servants went to the forest and received the fosters son and brought him with them. And when they were come near the palace/ one of them said. How shall we do that we may fulfil our lords commandment in slaying of this child. Some answered and said that the child should be slain/ and some would have saved his life And while they strofe thus among themself one of them the was most merciful said O good friends here my council and ye shall not for think it/ if we murder this child Innocent we shall greatly offend our lord god. Therefore here be young pigs slay we one of them & than we may here with us his heart/ and present the Emperor therewith saying that it is the heart of the child/ and thus shall we not shed the child's blood. Than said they thy council is good. But what shall we do with the thylde. Good friends quoth he. Late us wrap him in some clothes and lay him in some hollow tree/ for peradventure god would help him and save his life/ when he had thus said they died after his council in all things and slew the pig & went their way and bare home with them the pigs heart to the Emperor/ saying thus to him. Loo gracious lord we have slain the child/ and with that they showed him the pigs heart. The Emperor supposing the it had be the child's heart and took it & kest it in to the fire/ dyspyteously saying. Lo the is his heart which should have been Emperor after me. Lo what it is to believe in dreams & visions which be not else but fantasies and vain things. The second day after the the child was put in the hollow tree/ there came an Earl to hunt in the forest/ & as his hounds chased an heart/ they came to the hollow tree where the child lay/ & when they felt the savour of the child they would no farther go. The Earl saying this/ marveled greatly why his hounds abode there/ & smote horse with his spurs and road a great pace till he came to them. And when he came unto the tree where in the child was closed & looked in at a hole/ and found the child/ & and then was he right glad & took up the child in his arms full lovingly/ & bore him home unto his castle/ saying to the countess his wife. Lo my dear wife this day by fortune I have frunde a full fair child in an hollow tree as I hunted in the forest whereof I am right glad. And by cause that I gate never son ne daughter on thee/ ne thou never yet conceived child therefore I exhort the that thou wilt feign thyself travailing of chill and say the thou hast borne this child The councesse fulfilled with gladness/ & said my lord your will shall be done. Not long after tidings went thorough all that country that the Countess was delivered of a fair son/ wherefore they made great joy. The child began to wax/ and was right well beloved of every man/ and specially of the earl and of the Countess. It befell after when the child was. xv. year old the Emperor made a solemn feast to all his lords unto the which this Earl was called/ and at the day assigned came and brought the child which was that time a fair squire and carved at the board before the Earl The Emperor beheld him greatly & espied the token in forheede that he had seen before in the Fosteres house/ wherefore he was greatly moved within himself/ and said unto the Earl in this wise/ whose son is this quoth the Emperor. Sethely said the Earl he is my son. Than said the Emperor, by the faith and truth the thou o west to me tell me the truth. The Earl saying that he might not excuse him by no wise but that he must needs tell/ than told he him all together how he found him in the forest in an hollow tree. This hearing the Emperor almost waxed out of himself and called to him his servants which the he had sent before to slay that child. And when they came he made them to swear on a book that they should tell the troth what they had done with the child. Good lord said they we put us unto thy grace for without doubt pity so moved us that we might not slay him wherefore we put him in an hollow tree/ but after ward what befell on him sochly we know not and in his stead we slew a pig and brought you the heart thereof/ when the Emperor had herd the very truth of this matter/ he said unto the Earl. This young man quoth he shall abide here with me. The Earl that granted though it were greatly against his will. And when the feast was ended/ every men took his leave at the Emperor and went whither than them list And that time as it fortuned the Empress and her daughter solourned in a great country thence by the commandment of the Emperor. It befell not long after the Emperor called unto him that young squire and said. The behoveth quoth to ride unto the Empress my wife with my letters. All ready my lord said he I am far to fulfil your will. Anon the Emperor let write letters whereof the intent was this. That the Empress should take the bearer of these letters & let him be drawn at an horse's tail/ & after that she should let him be hanged till he were deed/ & that upon pain of death/ when the letters were all made & sealed than the Emperor took them unto the young squire commanding him to speed him her journey. And anon the child received them gladly & put them sure in a box/ and road forth upon his journey/ when he had riden three days or four on his journey in the eventide he came unto a castle where as a knight dwelled and prayed him meekly of a nights lodging. The knight saying and beholding the good favour of this young Squyr/ he granted him lodging and made him good cheer and well to far and afterward brought him unto his chamber. And when he was there he went to bed and anon was on sleep for he was right weary of his journey & forgot his box with the letters dying open in his chamber/ when the knight saw the box he opened it and found the letters sealed with the emperors sign manuel/ and was greatly tempted for to open them. And at the last he opened them subrylly and then he red how the Empress upon pain of death should put the bearer of them unto the death/ and than he was right sorrowful and said within himself. Alas quoth he it is great pyre for to slay such a fair young man/ and therefore if I may it shall not be so. And anon the knight scraped away that writing and wrote in the same paper a letter saying these words. Upon pain of death I command the that thou take the young squire bearer of these letters and let medde him without any delay unto my daughter and yours with all the honour and solemnity that ye can/ & when that they be wedded/ that ye take him in honour and worship him as your own son. And that he keep my place till I come to you myself/ when the knight had thus written he closed the letters subtilely and put them in the box again. early in the morning the child arose and took his leave of the knight and road forth in his journey/ and came the third day to the Empress and saluted her worshipfully in the emperors behalf/ and t●ke her the letters/ & when th'empress had read them/ anon she sent her messengers through the court commanding the gentlemen to come to her daughters wedding at a certain day assigned/ when the day was come thither came many great lords/ and anon this child wedded the emperors daughter with great honour & worship according to the tenor of the letters/ and was right well beloved & most honoured among the people. Not long after it befell that the Emperor came into that country/ when the Empress heard of her lords coming. She took with her her son in law with moche other people/ and went against the Emperor to welcome him when the Emperor saw this child leading the Empress his wife he was greatly moved with himself/ and said. O thou cursed woman for thou haste not fulfilled my commandment thou shalt die an evil death. A lord quod she all that ye commanded to do I have fulfilled. Nay cursed woman it is not so for I wrote to the that thou shouldest put him to death & now I see him alive. My lord quoth she safe your grace ye wrote to me ● I should give him your daughter to wife/ and that on pain of death. In witness whereof lo here is your seal & your letters with your own seal. When the Emperor heard this he wondered greatly & said is he wedded than to my daughter ye soothly said the empress long agone with great solemnity/ and as I believe your daughter is with child. Than said the Emperor. O thou lord Ihesu it is great folly to strive against thine ordinance/ therefore sith it is so thy will must ●e fulfilled/ & with that he took his son in law in his arms and kissed him which after his death was Emperor and ended his life in rest and pease.  

¶ This Emperor may betoken herod or else every sinner which walketh alone without truth/ till he come to the fosters house. That is to say the church which is the house of god. This Herod would have slain this child. Ihesu/ wherefore he sent messengers to seek him according to the scripture of saint Mathewe telling how he commanded the three kings to seche him & bring him tidings again where he was the he might come & worship him/ but this said he not for love but for deceit. The foster betokeneth joseph our ladies husband which kept him/ but when the messengers came. That is to say when the three kings came they slew him not but on their knees worshipped him & left him in the hollow tree of his god heed. The Earl that came and found this child. Betokeneth the holy ghost which warned joseph by the angel in his sleep that he should take our lday and her son and flee in to the land of Egypte. This morality may be understand in other. This Emperor may betoken a sinner that walketh in the forest of this world seeking vanities/ & not else unto the time he come unto the house of god & there he is received benignly of the prelate of the church if he will obey the commandments of god. But many of us now a days sleepeth in the church when they observe not the works of mercy. And therefore they ought to dread the voices which I have rehearsed by the first take that may be understand the great benefit that he gave the when he put in the a soul made at his own similitude. The second take is vn●stonde the son of the father of heaven/ which was borne of the blessed & holy virgin marry. By the third take is vn●stonde the same son of god which died upon the cross. By the first yield is to vn●stonde the we ought to yield our soul unto almighty god as clean/ & as fair as he gave it unto us after the washing of our baptism. By the second yield is for to understand that we ought daily to yield honour/ and worship and love unto god. The third yield is understand that we yield to him true confession/ contrition & satisfaction. The first Flee betokeneth sin which we should flee. The second betokeneth the world that we should flee for the great fallsehede and temptations that is therein. The third flee betokeneth everlasting pain which we ought to flee through ●erytory works by the which we may come the rather to everlasting joy. Unto the which bring us our lord Amen.    

THere dwelled sometime in Rome a mighty Emperor named Sauracinus which ordained for law that who so ever ravished a virgin should die/ & if she were rescued/ than he that rescued her should have her to wife if him list/ and he would not wed her than should she guided & be wedded by his council. It befall upon a day that a tyrant named Poncianus had ravished a virgin and led her with him to a forest and deflowered her of her maidenhead. And when he had so done he would have slain her/ and as he was despoiling her clothes there came riding by that forest a gentle knight which heard the crying of a damosel. Therefore he smote his horse with his spurs and road a great pace into the forest to wite what it might be. And then he saw a woman standing naked save her smock/ & than said the knight art thou now she quoth he that cried so. Than answered the maid and said ye soothly quoth she/ & this man that standeth here hath ravished me and defoiled my maidenhead and now he would slay me/ & therefore he hath despoiled me of my clothes that he might smite of mine heed/ for the love of god gentle knight help me now than said the tyrant. She lieth quoth he for she is my wife and I have found here in adultery with an other man and therefore I will slay her. Than said the knight I believe better the woman than thee/ for lo the tokens of troth appeareth openly in her visage that thou hast ravished her and therefore will I fight with the for her deliverance. And anon they start together and fought eagerly till they were both sore wounded. Nevertheless the knight obtained the victory and put the tyrant to the flight. Than said the knight unto the woman Loo I have suffered for thy love many sore wounds and have saved the from the death wilt thou thou therefore be my wife. That I desired quoth she with all my heart & thereupon I take you my truth when she was thus ensuered the knight than said/ here beside is my castle/ go ye thither and abide there till I have besyted my friends & my kinsmen to provide for all thing needful for our wedding. For I purpose to make a great feast for thine honour and worship. My lord quoth she I am ready to fulfil thy will. Theme went she forth to the castle where as she was worshipfully received. And the knight went unto his friends to make him ready against the day of marriage. In the mean wile came Poncianus the tyrant to the knights castle & prayed her that he might speak with her. Than came she down from the castle to him. This tyrant subtilely flattered her and said. gentle love if it list you to consent to me I shall give you both gold and silver and great richesse and I shall be your servant and ye my sovereign/ when the woman heard this/ deceived she was through his flattering and granted him to be his wife and took him in with her in to the castle. It was not long after but that this knight came home & found the castle gate shut & knocked thereat/ but long he was or he might have answer/ and at the last the woman came & demanded why he knocked so heard Than said he. O dear lady hast y● changed so soon my love/ let me come in. Nay soothly said she thou shalt not come here for I have here with me my love which I loved before. Remember that quod the knight that thou gave me thy truth to be my wife/ & how I saved the from death/ & if thou ponder not thy faith behold my wounds which I have suffered in my body for the love. And anon he unclothed himself naked save his breach the he might show his wounds openly/ but she would not see them ne speak more with him but shut fast the gate & went her way/ when the knight saw this he went to the justice & made his complaint praying him to give rightwise judgement on this tyrant & this woman. The judge called them before him/ & when they were come this said this knight. My lord quoth he I ask the benefits of the law which is this/ if a man rescue a woman from ravishing the rescuer shall wed her if him list. And this woman delivered I fro the hands of the tyrant. Therefore I ought to have her/ & furthermore she gave me her truth & faith to wed me. And thereupon she went to my castle/ & I have done great cost against our wedding/ & therefore as it seemeth me she is my wife as by the law. Than said the judge unto the tyrant. Thou knowest well the this knight delivered her from thy hands & for her love suffered many smart wounds & therefore well thou wottest the she is his wife by the law y● the him list. But after her deliverance with flaterynge speech thou hast deceived her/ therefore this day I judge the to he hanged. Than said the judge to the woman in like wise. O woman thou knowest how this knight saved y● from death & thereupon thou tookest him thy faith to be his wife/ therefore by two reasons thou art his wife/ first by the law/ & after by thy faith. This notwithstanding y● consented afterward to the tyrant and brought him in to the knights castle & shut the gate against the knight and would not see his wounds which he suffered for thy love/ and therefore I judge ye to be hanged and so it was done/ both the ravisher and she that was ravished were dampened to the death/ wherefore every man praised the judge for his rightwise judgement.  

¶ This Emperor betokeneth the father of heaven which ordained for law that if the jowl of man were ravished from god by sin/ the saver of the soul should wed him if him list. The woman that was ravished betokeneth the soul of man which was ravished by sin of our forefather Adam and led out of Paradyse and led in to the forest of this wretched world by the tyrant poncyanus which betokeneth the devil and he not only deflowered her but by losing of heritage of heaven/ but also he would slay her with everlasting pain. But the soul crieth with an high voice/ whose cry our lord Ihesu cyrste herd. This cry was made when Adam cried after oil of mercy. And patriarchs and prophets cried for remedy saying O thou highness of the east and so for the visit thou us. etc. The knight betokeneth our lord Ihesu christ which came from heaven and fought with the tyrant/ that is for to sayeth devil/ and both they were sore wounded. For our lord Ihesu christ was wounded in his flesh/ and the devil in his lordship/ wherefore the woman/ that is to say the soul gave her truth unto almighty god when that she became christened saying that I forsake the devil and all his pride/ and believe in god the father almighty. Than ordained our lord Ihesu a marriage between him and her with the seven secramentes of the church whereof may be made a strong castle against the devil. Also our lord commanded the soul to keep her still in the castle of virtue till he went unto his friends to provide the was needful/ that is to lay our lord Ihesu on the ascension day ascended to heaven to array for her a dwelling place of everlasting joy where as we should dwell after the day of doom with our lord god in honour and glory. But alas in the mean time came the devil & beguiled the wretched soul by a deadly sin & so he entered in to the castle of our heart which should be the castle of god. The knight Ihesu knocked at the gate of our heart according to this scripture. ●●cce sto ad hostium et pulso. Lo I stand at the door and knock/ if any man will open that I may enter in/ but where the devil is/ god may not enter but if the sinner will receive him by penance/ which saying the gentle Ihesu showed himself naked hanging on the cross that we may see his bloody wounds which he suffered for us that we sinners should be the rather mindful of his loan. For from the crown of his heed unto the sole of his feet/ was left none place hole place. Therefore saith the prophet isaiah. Attendite et videte si est dolor sicut dolor meus/ etc. behold and see if any sorrow be like my sorrow. Therefore is he a wretched man the will not be converted for all this unto his lord god but lieth still in deadly sin/ wherefore when he is called afore the high Inge he shall be dampened to everlasting death. Therefore study we to open the door of our hearts with merytory works unto almighty god/ and than without doubt we shall obtain everlasting life. Unto the which bring us our lord Ihesu which have mercy on us Amen.    

¶ Thus endeth the book of Gesta Romanorum. Emprynted at London in Flete street. By me Wynkyn de word.: