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THE LYFE
OF
VI R, G I L I U.S.
FROM THE EDITION BY DOESBORCKE.
LONDON :
WILLIAM PICKERING, CHANCERY LANE.
MDCCCXXVII.
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VIRGILIUS.
THE Lyfe of Virgilius is perhaps the most curious
production of an age which having dubbed the heroes
of antiquity with the characters of knight-errants,
with equal judgment and consistency transformed
the ancient poets and philosophers into necromancers
and magicians. They who could not recognize valour
in any other form than in the institutions of chivalry,
might well be supposed to consider genius and learning
as identical with a knowledge of the magical sciences.
Accordingly, while the romantic histories of Hercules
and of Jason, of Alexander and of Caesar, delighted
the world by their details of the valorous exploits of
those redoubted champions, we find the poet Virgil”
* There can be little doubt but the poet of the Augustan
Age, and the necromancer of the dark ages is one and the same
person. Similar honors have been conferred upon Horace,
in the neighbourhood of Palestrina, where he is still revered
by the people as a powerful and benevolent wizard.---Warton’s
Hist, of Eng. Poetry, vol. 3. p. 62, note by the Editor.
iv
no less an object of renown and admiration, for his
consummate skill in the craft of necromancy, and
for the wonders which he was thereby enabled to
perform.
Two causes have been supposed to have exerted
their influence in procuring for the Mantuan bard
the character of a magician; the first is that which
is with great plausibility advanced by Ruaeus in his
Life of the Poet.
“Maium illum, avum Virgilii exemplaria vitae
omnia Magum vocant at cum ejus filia, Virgilii
mater, juxta omnes Maia dicta sit : omnino Maiae
pater fuit Maius, non Magus: indeque ortum ex-
istimo, ut Virgilius magicis artibus imbutus fuisse
creditus sit ab Elinando monacho, aliisque sequioris
seculi scriptoribus : quod et Eclogā septimã quadam
sacra descripsisset et peritus esset multarum artium,
et precipue avum habuisse Magum diceretur:” the
second, that knowledge of the mathematical sciences
which has always been attributed to him, the learned
discussion on magical subjects contained in his eighth
eclogue; and says Mr. Dunlop in his History of
Fiction, “This belief in the magical powers of Virgil,
may have received confirmation from the sixth book
of the AEneid in which the secrets of the world
unknown are so mysteriously revealed:–
V
w “Dii, quibus imperium est animarum, umbraeque silentes;
Et Chaos, et Phlegethon, loca nocte silentia late,
Sit mihifas audita loqui; sit numine vestro
Pandere res altà terrà et caligine mersas.
But to whichever of these causes the Poet may
have been indebted for his necromantic fame, he
appears to have been in the full enjoyment of it
previous to the beginning of the thirteenth century,
at which time the legends concerning him were
inserted in the Otia Imperialia of Gervase of Tilbury,
who having visited Naples was a witness of many of
those wonders which were then to be seen, and was
informed by his host the Archdeacon Pinatellus con-
cerning the remainder.” In this extravagant compi-
lation we are told that Virgil set up a brazen fly on
one of the gates of Naples which remained there
eight years, during which time it did not permit any
other fly to enter the city. That in the same place
he caused a shambles to be erected, wherein meat
never smelt or was the least tainted. That on an-
other gate of the same city he placed two immense
images of stone, one of which was handsome and
merry, the other sad and deformed, and which were
indued with such magical power that if any one
came in by the side of the former all his affairs pros-
* For a specimen of this extraordinary production, vide
Appendix.
vi
pered, while if he approached by the latter he was
disappointed and unfortunate: that he set up on a
high mountain near Naples a brazen statue, having
in its mouth a trumpet which sounded so loud when
the north wind blew, that the fire and smoke issuing
out of those forges of Vulcan which are at this day
seen near the city of Puossola, were forced back
towards the sea, without doing any hurt or injury to
the inhabitants. That it was he made the baths
capable of removing every disorder, with fair
inscriptions in letters of gold, defaced since by
the physicians of Salerna who were troubled that
men should thereby know what diseases every bath
could cure. That the same Virgil took a course that
no man could be liurt in that miraculous vault cut
through the mountain of Pausilippo, to go to Naples;
and lastly that he made a public fire, whereat every
one might freely warm himself; near which he had
placed a brazen archer with his arrow drawn out,
and this inscription, “If any one strike me, I will
shoot off my arrow.” Which at length happened,
when a certain fool, striking the said archer, he imme-
diately shot him with his arrow and sent him into
the fire, which was presently extinguished.*
These fables were transcribed by Gervase's contem-
* Wide Davies translation of Naudoeus, p. 289. et seq.
l
vii
porary, Helinandus the monk, into his Universal
Chronicle and were also introduced by Alexander
Neckham, a Benedictine monk who studied at Paris
in the thirteenth century, into his book De naturá
rerum, (book 6) with many important additions.
In particular we are told that Naples being
troubled with an infinite number of infectious leeches,
it was delivered as soon as Virgil had caused a golden
one to be cast into a well: that he surrounded his
dwelling and garden (where it never rained) with an
immoveable stream of air, which served the purposes
of a wall; and that he constructed a brazen bridge
which took him wheresoever he pleased. That he
also made a steeple with such miraculous artifice,
that the tower wherein it was, though of stone, moved
in the same manner as a certain bell, that was in it
did, and that both had the same shaking and motion:
and also that he formed those statues called the
preservers of Rome, which were watched night and
day by priests, for that as soon as any nation enter-
tained any thought of revolting against the Roman em-
pire, immediately the statue representing that nation,
and adored by it, moved; a bell it had about the neck
rung, and with its finger it pointed at that rebellious
nation, in so much that the name of it might be
perceived in writing, which the Priest carrying to the
viii
emperor he immediately raised an army to reduce
and quiet it.
Similar fables concerning Virgil have been men-
tioned by Gower in his Confessio Amantis, by Sympho-
rianus Champier, and Albertus de Elib, by Tostatus
Bishop of Avila, who ranks Virgil among those that
practised Necromancy, and by Vincent of Beauvais,
who speaks among other wonderful things done by
him, of his fabricating those brazen statues at Rome
called Salvacio Romae. This fiction is mentioned
by the old anonymous author of the Mirabilia Romae
written in the thirteenth century and printed by
Montfaucon. It also occurs in Lydgate's Bochas.
He is speaking of the Pantheon,
Whyche was a temple of old foundacion,
Ful of ydols, up set on hye stages;
There throughe the worlde of every nacion
Were of theyr goddes set up great ymages,
To euery kingdom direct were their visages
As poetes and Fulgens by hys live
In bokes olde plainly doth dyscrive.
Every ymage had in his hande a bell,
As apperteyneth to every nacion,
Which, by craft some token should tell
Whan any kingdom fil in rebellion, &c.
It would appear too that the story of the Egg on
ix
which the fate of the town of Naples depended was
an article of current belief during the middle ages;
for by the statutes of the order Du Saint Esprit, au
droit desir, instituted in 1352, a Chapter of the knights
is appointed to be helde annually at the Castle of the
Enchanted Egg near the grotto of Virgil, Montfau-
con, vol. 2, p. 329. “But since the authors,” says
Naudeus, “who have made mention of the magic of
Virgil are so many that they cannot be examined
one after the other, without loss of much time and
abundance of repetitions, we must imitate the Civi-
lians who take authorities per saturam, and so digest-
ing all that remains into one article, show that De
Loyer de Spectris, l. l. c. 6. makes mention of his
Echo ; Paracelsus, Tractatus de imag. c. 11, of his
magical images and figures; Helmoldus, Hist. Slavor.
lib. 4. c. 19, of his representation of the city of Naples
shut up in a glass bottle; Sibyllus, Peregr. quaest.
de cad. 3. c. 2. questione, and the Author of the
Image of the World, of the head he made to know
things to come by ; Petrarch in Itinerario, and Théo-
dric a Niem, Lib. 3. de schismat. c. 19. of the vault he
made at Naples at the request of Augustus: Vigenere,
of Cyphers, cap. 19, p. 330, of his alphabets: Trithe-
mius Antipal. 1. 4. c. 3. of his book of Tables and
Calculations whereby to find out the genius of all
X
persons; and lastly of those who have seen the cabi-
met of the Duke of Florence, of an extraordinary great
looking-glass, which they affirm to be that in which
this poet exercised Catoptromancy.”
Such legendary tales as these, therefore, not only
excited the public mind in favour of a Romance which
should adopt the principal actor in them for its hero,
but supplied ample materials for its production. Two
editions are extant of the old French Romance: “Les
faits merveilleux de Virgile fils d’ung Cheualier des
Ardennes:” one in 4to, printed at Paris, by Jean Trep-
perel: the other in 8vo, likewise printed at Paris, by
Guill. Myuerd, neither of them dated. In the title of the
French work, Virgil being styled “fils d’ung Cheualier
des Ardennes,” it would appear that if the Lyfe of
Virgilius be translated from the former, yet it differs
essentially from its original. The English Virgilius
also appears to be but an abridgment of the French
Romance, since it omits several instances of the powers
of the necromancer which probably swelled the pages
of the parent work. Two editions of the English ver-
sion are known, one is in the Garrick collection of
the British Museum, which is too imperfect (save
from the evidence of its type and wood cuts, which
appear to be Copland's) to designate by whom it was
printed : the other, printed at Amsterdam by John
xi
Doesborcke, of which the only copy known is in the
possession of Mr. Douce, from which Mr. Utterson
was enabled to reprint an impression of fifty copies on
paper, and one on vellum, for private distribution; and
from such reprint the present publication has been
kindly permitted by Mr. Douce and Mr. Utterson:
the Editor must also acknowledge himself to have
received considerable assistance from the valuable
notice prefixed by the latter gentleman. The pre-
sent romance may be considered with considerable
probability as having had its origin among the fictions
of the East. The incident of Virgil releasing the
fiend from the hole in which he was confined must
have been derived from the tale of the Fisherman and
the Genie in the 11th of the Arabian Nights' Enter-
tainments, which is said to be still a prevalent super-
stition in the East. The intrigue also of Virgil with
the Sultan's daughter much resembles the adventures
to be found in the Eastern romances. In one of the
French Fabliaux, entitled Lai d’ Hippocrate (Le
Grand, vol. 1. p. 232.) there is an absurd story of
that physician being pulled half way up a tower in a
basket by a lady of whom he was enamoured, and
then left suspended, that he might be exposed to the
ridicule of the multitude. A similar story is related
of Virgilius, and is one of the most popular concern-
xii
ing him : Stephen Hawes in his Pastime of Pleasure
gives this adventure with ludicrous minuteness, and
Gratian du Pont thought it worthy insertion into his
Controversies of the two Sexes, male and female,
printed at Thoulouse, 1534, as a demonstration of
the malice and wickedness of women. It is curious
that at this day there is a chapel at Rome called
Santa Maria, built in the first ages of the church, and
which is likewise denominated “Bocca della verita.”
on account of a large round mask, with an enormous
mouth, fixed up in the vestibule. Tradition says,
that in former times the Romans, in order to give a
more solemn confirmation to oaths, were wont to put
their hands into this mouth, and that if a person took
a false oath, his hand would have been bitten off: —
it is scarcely necessary to point out the resemblance
between this legend and that of the metal serpent
constructed by Virgil.
VIRGILIUS.
THIS BOKE TREATETH OF THE LYFE of virgiDIUS, AND OF HIS DETH,
AND MANY MARWAYLES THAT HE DYD IN HYS LYFE TYME
BY WHYCHCR, AFTE AND NYGRAMANCYE THOROWGH
THE HELPE OF THE DEVYLS OF HELL,
THE PROLOGE.
This is resonable to wryght the mervelus dedes done by
Virgilius within the cytie of Rome and in other places.
Rome hath be at all tymes of grete name and fame, and they
that there dwell getteth great worshyp in theyr tyme. But
Romulus the emperour of Rome slewe his own broder thorowgh
hate and enuy, notwithstandynge Remus had gyuen ouer to
Romulo the cytie of Rome and all the lande therto belongynge :
but Remus caryed with hym all the tresur into Champanien,
and there he apon a ryuer called Wellen, he founde there a
costely and ryche strong towne with hye fayre walles, that was
well repayred within and withoute and with fayer ymages carued
out of stone, and all the fylthe of the towne convayed vnder the
erth into the riuer of Wellen that ranne therby; and this towne
was in that tyme one of the fayreste, and he called it Remus
after his owne proper name.
VIRGILIUS.
How Romulus cam within the fayer towne of Reynes
that he destroyed, and how he slewe his broder
Remus that was lorde of Raynes.
As Romulus harde say of his broder Remus, and of
the towne of Raynes, than he was uery heuy; for the
walles of Raynes was so hygh that a man that stode in
the deche myght mat schote ouer well with a hande
bowe ; and the walles of Rome was so lowe that a man
myght wel lepe ouer, and with no deches.
It fortuned that Remus went to see his broder
Romulus at Rome, and toke with hym manye folke
after his estate and byrthe, and left his wyfe in aby-
dynge, in the towne of Raynes in Champanion with a
lytyll chylde or yonge son named Remus after his owne
name; and whan he was com before Rome, and sawe
the walles, he sayd three tymes that the walles were to
lowe; moreouer he sayde with a ronne he wolde lepe
4 VIRGILIUS,
ouer them; and bye and bye he take a ronne and lept
klene ouer. And whan his broder Romulus had harde
this, howe his broder had lepte ouer, he sayd that he
had done yll, and therefore he shuld lese his hed. And
as Romulus dyd enter into his broders palayce, than he
toke Remus, and he with his owne handes smote of his
broders hed, and slew hym ; and it was nat longe tyme
after that he raysed a great armey of people thorowghe
all his contreye, and prepared hym towarde the towne of
Raynes in Champanien, and began to set his ordinaunce
towarde the walles of the towne, and dyd destroye the
palayce, towers, and other places to the erthe, in so
muche that he lefte but a few standynge or none : but
he coulde nat fynde the wyfe of Remus, his suster, for
she was fled away out of the towne, under the erthe at
a false porte to hyr frendes and kynſfolke, for she was
one of the greatest borne women that was than there
aboute. And as Romulus had destroyed the lande and
towne of Raynes, he departed and went home toward
the cytie of Rome with all his hooste, where he was
receyued rychelye.
Howe the son of Remus, that also was named Remus
after his fader, dyd slewe his unkell Romulus and
afterwarde was made emperoure, and so reyned
emperoure.
THAN was the wyfe of Remus very sadde and morned
very sore when she knew of the dethe of hyr husbond,
and also of the destructyon of the towne of Raynes
VIRGILITUS, 5
destroyed by the handes of hys brother: and she caused
workemen shulde make the walles ageyne after hyr
broders departyng fro it, insomuche that she made the
towne of Raynes more stronger and fayrer than it was
euer afore, and renewed it rychely after hyr myght and
power: for she was not of so great myght as she was
when her husbonde was alyue. And also this noble
ladye norysshed her chylde well, and within a lytyll
space he began to were bygge and stronge, and myghty
anoughe to bere armure. Than sayde his moder to
hym: “My dere son, when wyll you wreke your
ſaders dethe that your unkell slewe ?” and he answered
to his moder: “Within this iij moneythes.” And forthe-
with he caused his kynsffolke to reyse theyr people;
and when they were gathered they departed. He cam
with a great power towarde Rome, and when he cam to
Rome he entered in there at no maner of bodye ayenste
sayinge. And when he was within, he made a crye
that no man should do no comons harme. Than went
he to the emperours palayce; and when the Emperour
knewe that he was come, he asked counsayl ; and the
senyatours answered, that there was no remedy but
deth; bycause ye slewe his fader, so shall he ageyne
slee you; and with that cam in Remus into the palayce
of his unkle Romulus, no body ayenst sayinge; and
there he saw his unkell afore him stand in his emperly
stole; than was he inflamed with yre and drewe out his
swerde, and toke his uncle by the here, and smote of
his hed; and whan it was done, he asked the lordes
6 VIRGILJ U8.
and senyatours of Rome, or they wolde thereforre
warre? and they answered all, “may :” and gaue to
hym the hole empyre and crowned hym as ryght heyer;
and whan he was emperour he sent for his moder and
she cam to hym.
And than was Rome made with stronge walles and
deches, and than gatte Rome name, and there haunted
many dyuerse nacyons, and they dyd buylde and edefye
many fayre dwellynge places in Rome. This Remus
was a stronge man of bodye, ryche of good, wyse in
counsayil, and had under hym many landes and
lordshyppes.
This Remus had a knyght of his moders behalfe,
that was ryght hardy and bolde in batayle, and he toke
or maryed a wyfe in the cytie of Rome, that was one of
the greatest Senyatours dawghters of Rome and hyghest
of lynage. And Remus reyned not long after, but
dyed, and his sone was made emperoure and reygned
after hym. And this knyght of Champanien, that had
maryed the senyatours dawghter, he made great warre
with hym, and dyd hym very muche harme. This
knyght had one son by his wyfe, that with great
travalynge of laboure was bourne, and there was he
named Virgilius of Vigilo, for by cause that he was
a great space of tyme watched so with men.
Howe Virgilius was sette to schole.
As Virgilius was borne than the towne of Rome
quaked and trembled: and in his youthe he was Wyse
VIIRGILIUS. 7
and subtyll, and was put to schole. And shortly after
dyed his fader, and than Virgilius moder wolde no more
marye ayen, for she loued her lord so well. And after
the decese of hyr husbond hyr kynsfolke wold haue put
her fro hyr enherytaunce that she had lyinge with in
and with out Rome, and one of the fayreste castels and
strongest in all the towne or there abowt that could be
emagined or made by any man. And she complayned
often to the emperoure, that was nere of kynne unto hyr
husbonde: but the emperoure was a angery man and
wolde nat here hyr complayntes, also he was natbeloued
of the lordes nor of the comon people; within short
tyme after he decesyd, and his sone and heyer Persydes
was emperoure after his faders dethe, and ruled after
his own mynde all the lande. And he had all the
Romans under hym insomuche that he ruled them so
strayghtly that they were sore a drad of hym.
And Virgilius was at scole at Tolenten, where he
stodyed dyligently, for he was of great understandynge.
Upon a tyme the scholers hadde lycence to goo to play
and sporte them in the fyldes after the vsaunce of the
holde tyme; and there was also Virgilius therby also
walkynge amonge the hylles all about : it fortuned he
spyed a great hole in the syde of a great hyll wherin he
went so depe that he culde not see no more lyght, and
then he went a lytell ferther therin, and than he sawe
som lyght agayne, and than wente he fourth streyghte:
and with in a lytyll wyle after, he harde a voice that
called, “Virgilius, Virgilius;” and he loked aboute
8 VIRGILIUS,
and he colde nat see no bodye; than Virgilius spake
and asked, “Who calleth me !” than harde he the voyce
agayne, but he sawe no body; than sayd he, “Virgilius,
see ye not that lytyll bourde lyinge bysyde you there
marked with that worde?” than answered Virgilius, “I
see that borde well enough.” The voyce sayd, “Doo a
waye that bourd, and lette me oute ther atte.” Than
answered Virgilius to the voyce that was under the
lytell borde, and sayd, “Who art thow that talkest me
solº Than answered the deuyll : “I am a deuyll
coniured out of the body of a certeyne man, and
banysshed here tyll the day of iugement, without that
I be delyuered by the handes of men. Thus, Virgilius,
I, pray the delyuer me out of this payn, and I shall
shewe unto the many bokes of nygromancy, and howe
thow shalt cum by it lyghtly and knowe the practyse
therein, that no man in the scyence of negromancye shall
pass the ; and moreouer I shall showe and enforme you
so that thou shalt haue all thy desyre, wherby my
thymke it is a great gyfte for so lytyll a doynge, for ye
may also thus all your power frendys helpen, and make
rythe your ennemyes unmyghty. Thorowgh that great
promyse was Virgilius tempted; he badde the fynd
showe the bokes to hym that he myght haue and occupy
them at his wyll. And so the fynde shewed hym, and
than Virgilius pulled open a bourde, and there was
a lytell hole, and therat wrange the deuyll out lyke a
yeel, and cam and stode by fore Virgilius lyke a bygge
man; therof Virgilius was a stoned and merueyled
VIRGILIUS. 9
greatly therof that so great a man myght come out at
so lytell a hole; than sayd Virgilius, “shulde ye well
passe into the hole that ye cam out of * “Ye, I shall
well,” sayd the deuyll.—“I holde the beste plegge
that I have, ye shall not do it.” “Well,” sayde the
deuyll, “thereto I consente.” And than the deuyll
wrange hym selfe into the lytell hole ayen, and as he
was there in Virgilius kyuered the hole ageyn with the
bourd close, and so was the deuyll begyled, and myght
not there come out ayen, but there abydeth shytte styll
therin.” Than called the deuyll dredefully to Virgilius,
and sayd “What haue ye done?” Virgilius answered,
“Abyde there styll to your day apoynted.” And fro
thensforth abydeth he there. And so Virgilius becam
very connynge in the practyse of the blacke scyence.
It was so that the moder of Virgilius wered olde in
so muche that she loste her herynge; than called she
one of hyr seruauntes, and sayd to hym, “Ye must to
Tolleten, and tell Virgilius my sone that he come and
redresse his enherytaunce within and without Rome,
and gyue up the schole, for he shulde be by ryght one
of the greateste of all Rome.” The messenger departed
and wente toward Tolleten where Virgilius was, and
whan he cam there, he founde Virgilius techyng and
lernynge the greattest lordes of the lande, and other
landes also : for I ensure ye, he was a fayr and a wyse
yonge man, and conynge in the scyence of negromancy
aboue all men than luyuynge. He salued Virgilius,
and shewed unto hym all the mater that he cam for;
10 VERGILIUS.
and whan Virgilius harde all the matter howe it was,
he was very heuy, not for the good, but for his moder;
for Virgilius had good anough; he rewarded the mes-
senger, and also sende his moder iiij somers laden with
money, and with other costely iewels, and sende hyr
also one whyte horse; and so the messengre toke his
leue of Virgilius, and so departed. And Virgilius
abydyng styll in Tolenten emagened in his mynde
howe he myght beste conuey the rest of his good to
Rome and that he myght followe. And whan he
ordeyned and set in order all the rest, he toke his leue
and departed fro Tolenten towarde Rome, with many
of his scholers with him. Whan he cam to Rome to
his moder, he salewed hys moder, and she hym; for
she was glad of his commynge, for she saw hym not
afore by the space of xij years a fore.
Howe Virgilius dyde make his complaynt to the
emperour as he was com to Rome.
As Virgilius was com to Rome he was receyued ryght
worshypfullye of his power kynsfolke, and not of the
ryche, for they withhelde his landes oute of his hande;
for that cause was he mat welcome to them, but were
angery of his comyng, for they wolde nat ete with
hym nor drynke with hym. Than was Virgilius angery,
and than gaue he to all his power kyndsfolke that
with helde nothynge fro his moder, landes, harneyse,
horses, syluer and golde and other thynges. And he
gaue to his naybours great thankes for the kyndnes
WIRGILIUS, I 1
that they showed to his moder in his absenee; after
this dyd Virgilius abyde longe tyme with hys moder,
tyll the tyme that the emperour reysed a newe custom
or taxe ; than went all the lordes to the emperour that
helde any lande of hym, and also Virgilius with all his
company and many kynsfolke and frendes; and whan
he cam before hym, he salewed hym, and shewed unto
hym howe he was enheryted of his landes and tene-
mentes, and of those that with helde it, and desyred
that he myght haue it ageyne. Than answered the
Emperour, that he shulde take thereof counsayll; and
forthwith he went to counsayll with them that loued
not Virgilius: and they answered to the Emperour;
“Me thymketh that the land is well deuyded to them
that hath it, for they may helpe you in your nede;
what nedeth you for to care for the dysherytynge
of one schole mayster? and byd hym take hede and
loke of his schole, for he hath no ryght to any lande
here aboute the citie of Rome;” and thus (they) sayd
that he must take pacyence by the space of iiij. or v.
yere that they myght examyne with in our selfe
whether ye be ryght eyer or no. And with that
answere was Virgilius very angry, and sayd that he
shulde be auenged. And whan he cam home he sende
for all his poor kynsfolke and fryndes and put them in
his houses and dwellynge places that he hadde within
Rome, and purueyed them of mete and drynke, and
byd them make mery tyll Julio that the corne and frute
is rype, And whan it was rype, Virgilius by his
12 VIRGILIUS,
negromancy dyde caste the ayer ouer all the frute and
corne of his landes that his enemyes hylde fro hym, and
caused it to be gathered and brought in to his howses,
that none of his enemyes had none thereof. In this
maner of wyse dyd Virgilius deseyue his enemyes of all
the frute, and corne, insomuch that they had not on
pennys worth of that goods that they witheld fro hym.
And whan Virgilius enemyes sawe the frute so gathered,
they assembled a great power, and cam towarde
Virgilius to take hym and smyte of his hed; and when
they were assembled, they were so stronge, that the
emperour for fere fled out of Rome, for they were xij.
seniatours that had all the worlde under thern ; and
Virgilius had had ryght he had ben one of the xij, but
they had dysheryted hym and his moder; and when
Virgilius knewe of theyr coinmynge, he closed all his
landes with the ayer rounde about all his lande, that
none lyuynge creature myght there come in to dwelle
ayenst his wyll or pleasure.
Howe the emperoure of Rome beseged Virgilius beynge
in his castell.
As Virgilius enemyes cam to destroye and take hym,
and when they cam before his castell, he closed theym
with the aeyer that they had no myght to gowe nor for
warde nor back ward, but abyde styll, where of they
merueyled; and than Virgilius answered, “Ye cum to
dysheryt me, but ye shall nat; and knowe ye well that
you shall haue no profyte of the frutes as longe as I
VIRGILIUS. 13
lyue; and ye maye tell to the emperour that I shall
tary iiij, or v. yeres tyll he take counsayll. I desyne
not to plete in the lawe, but I shall take my good
where I fynde it; and also tell the emperour I care
nat for all his warre nor all that he can do to me.”
Than returned Virgilius and made ryche all his
poure kynsfolke. And whan Virgilius was returned,
than wente they home and knewe nat what they
shoulde do ; than cam they to the emperour and com-
playned of Virgilius, and sayde, that Virgilius sayde,
that he set nat by the emperoure and all that he coude
make; and when the emperoure harde this, he was
greatly amoued and sore anangered, and Sayd, that I
shall brynne and set on fyer all his howses, and also I
shall Smyte of his hedde; and there with all not longe
taryinge, he caused his lordes and knyghtes that helde
lande of hym, that they shulde reyse all theyr men of
armes that they had under them, to be redy at a day at
his commaundement; and at the day apoynted the
emperour and all his hooste were assembled; they
tooke theyr way towarde the place of Virgilius, that
was rounde aboute well walled and closed with aeyr;
that whan the emperour cam before the walles with all
his hoste, they myght not gowe nor forwarde nor back-
warde. And than went fro his castell fourthe Virgilius,
and with his negromancy, he made also a lyght in suche
maner that they coulde nat goo forwarde nor returne,
but stande styll; and he made also by his cunnyn, that
the emperour thought that he was closed rounde aboute
14 VIRGILIUS.
with a great water, in so muche that they myght nat
come to the castell, nor for to come fro the castell, but
stode styll; and thus dyd Virgilius serue the emperoure
and all hys hooste : and moreouer cam Virgilius to the
emperoure, and sayde, “Lorde emperoure, ye have no
power with all your strength to do me harme nor my
landes also ; for be ryght ye shulde make of me as one
of your greatest lordes and nearest of your kynred, for
I at your nede maye helpe you more than al your
other folke.” Than answered the Emperour to Virgi-
lius: “You begyler, maye I ons get you under my
handes, I wyll geue the that thow hast deserued.”
Than answered Virgilius, and sayd, “Lorde emperour,
I fere you nat, but thynke you well, that I shall tame
you well a nowghe, that ye shall be glad to know me
for one of your kynsfolke and of your blode; but ye
wolde dysheryte me, but ye shall not.” Than caused
Virgilius muche mete to be dressed by twene hys howse
and the hoste, that the emperour and his folke myght
se it, and howe they dressed it; but they myght haue
none thereof but the smoke or reke, for they of the hoste
was shyt in with the aeyr as thowghe it hadde ben a
great water. And so dyd Virgilius serue the emperour
and his folke, nor was there no body in his hoste that
coulde fynde any remedy to helpe them there agayn.
Upon a tyme as they were in that thraldome afore
the castell, there cam a man that colde skyll in the
scyence of negromancy, and cam a fore the emperoure,
and sayd, that he wolde by hys practyce make slepe all
1
VIRGILIUS. 15
Virgilius folke; and so he dyd, in so muche that Virgi-
lius his selfe myght scant with drawe hym fro slepynge;
than was he sorye and wyste nat what to do, for the
emperours folke was delyuered, and began to come
upon Virgilius walles; And whan Virgilius saw that, he
loked in his boke of negromancye where in he was very
parfeyte, and there he founde in what maner he myght
delyuer his folke fro slepe; and than he cungered that
he made the emperoure stand styll agene, that he myght
nat remeue out of his place, nor all his folke, nor the
mayster of negromancy myght mat remeue nor styrre,
as thowgh they were deed: and they that were upon the
ladders, one fote uppe, another downe, and so stode
styll, and also some stode with one foot on the lader,
and a nother upon the wall, and so for to stand styll till
it pleased Virgilius. Whereof the emperour was sore
auexed and angery, and asked his mayster if they shulde
stande styll in that maner and he gaue hym no an-
swere, but he spake to Virgilius and sayd that he wulde
showe upon hym his cunnynge. And than Virgilius
answered, and bad hym do his beste, for I set nat a
strawe by you nor all that you can do to me. And thus
helde Virgilius the emperour and all his folke closed in
this maner with the ayer, by space of a day. And in
the nyght came Virgilius to the emperour, and sayd ;
“It is a shame for so noble a prynce thus to stop the
way, and take upon hym that he can nat do.”
Than sayd the emperour to Virgilius : “Helpe me
oute of this daunger, and I shall restore ageyne to you
16 * VIRGILIUS.
all your landes and tenementes, and haue all thynges
at your owne wyll.” Than answered Virgilius to the
emperour, “I will delyuer you out of this daunger so
that ye wyll gyue me grace.” “Ye, by my crowne,
and I knowe you for on of my kynred and I dessyre
to haue you with me in my felawshyp.” And than
Virgilius put a waye the closynge, and reseyued the
emperour and all his folke into his castell, where
golde and ryches were plenty, and serued them with
mete and drynke ryght plentyously, after theyr de-
gre, of the deyntyest and strangest that myght be
gotte, that they sawe neuer afore. And the emperour
was there more rychely serued than euer he was before
or after. And Virgilius rewarded euery persone after
his degree, and with manye costely and meruelouse
gyftes.
Howe the Emperour restored ageyne unto Virgilius all
his enherytaunce and gooddes, and gaue to hym
many other thynges.
THAN toke they leue of Virgilius and retourned home
ageyne ; and whan they were returned home the empe-
rour gaue to Virgilius his land ageyn and all that he
asked, and (he) was the greattest lord of the emperours
counsayll. After that it hapenyd that Virgilius was
enamoured of a fayre ladye, the fayrest in all Rome.
Virgilius made a craft in egromancy that tolde hir all
his mynde : when the ladye knewe his mynde, she
thowght in hyr selfe to deseyue hym, and sayde, if he
VIRGILIUS. 17
wyll come at mydnyght to the castell walle; she shulde
lette downe a basket with stronge cordes, and there to
drawe hym vppe at hyr wyndowe, and so to lye by hyr,
and haue his pleasur; and with this answere was Virgi–
lius very glad with that answer, and sayd, he shulde doo
it with a good wyll.
Howe the gentyl woman pulled vppe Virgilius, and howe
she let hym hange in the basket when he was halfe
way vp to hyr wyndowe, and howe the people won-
dered and mocked hym.
A DAY was set that Virgilius sholde come to a tower
that stode in the market place of Rome, and in all the
towne was none so hygh; and at the day apoynted
Virgilius cam to the tower, and the gentyl woman was
therat waytynge, and as she sawe hym there stande, she
let downe the basket at the wyndowe; and when it was
done Virgilius went in, and whan he was therein, she
pulled hym up tyll that he cam halfe waye, and there
she let him hange, and made the corde faste. Than
the gentylwoman spake; “Ye be deceyued, and I shall
let you hange tyll to morowe, for it is market day, that
all the folke may wonder of you and of your dishoneste
that you wolde haue do, and lye by me; and there-
withall she shytt her wyndowe, and let hym hange tyll
the mornynge that it was daye, tyll all the men in Rome
wyst it, and also the enperour that was ashamed, and
sent for the gentylwoman, and bad hyr let hym downe,
C
18 VIRGILIUS.
and so she dyd ; and whan he was downe, he was
ashamed, and sayd, that shortly after he wolde be
auenged on hyr; and so went home to his gardayne that
was the fayrest that stode within Rome. Than toke he
his bokes, and by his connynge put out all the fyer that
was in Rome, and none of them without myght bryng
in fyer into the cytie ; and this dured by the space of a
daye and a nyght; but Virgilius had anowghe, and no
body els had, nor myght not make no fyer within Rome.
How Virgilius put out all the fyer of Rome.
THE emperoure and all his barons and the comons of
Rome merveyled that there was no fyer in al the cytie,
and than they thowght in theyr myndes that Virgilius
had put it out. Than the emperour sent for Virgilius,
and prayd hym of his counsayll that men myght haue
fyer ageyne. Than ye must cause a scaffolde to be
made in the mydle of the market-place, and than ye
muste set the gentylwoman in hyr smocke that hynge
me in the basket yesterday; and than lett make a crye
thorowgh all the cytie of Rome, who so wyll haue ony
fyer must come to the scaffolde in the market-place, and
there betwene the legges of the gentylwomen there,
they shuld haue fyer, or otherwyse none: and knowe
that one the other can gyue none, nor sell none; and
thus ye must do if ye wyll haue ony fyer. When they
harde this, they cam with great multytude to the
Scaffolde.
VIRGILIUS. 19
Howe the gentylwoman was put upon the scaffolde, and
howe the folke of the towne went and fetched fyer at
hyr tayle, and also lyght candels betwene hyr legges.
THE emperoure and all his lordes sawe that there was
no other remedye but they muste nedes do after
Virgilius counsayll: he dyd cause a scaffolde to be
made in the marked place, and caused the gentyll
woman to be set there on in hyr smocke; and there
men fetche fyer betwene hyr legges; the pore men
with candels and strawe, and the ryche men lyghted
they theyr torches. Thre dayes must the gentylwoman
stande in that manere or els they shulde haue no fyer.
And after the thyrde day went the gentylwomen home
sore ashamed, for she knewe well that Virgilius had
done that violence to hyr.
Within a whyle after maryed Virgilius a wyfe: and
when that was done, Virgilius made a merueylous
paleyee with iiij corners: and as it was made, he layed
the emperoure therin in one of the corners, and herde
all that the men dyd say in that quarter. And in
lykewise dyd he bryng hym in the other iij quarters,
and so he harde what they sayde in the other quarters
of Rome, and thus gowyng by the iiij quarters harde he
what they sayde thorowe all Rome; the myght nat
speke so secretly but he harde it.
Howe Virgilius made saluatio Rome.
The emperour asked of Virgilius howe that he myght
20 VIRGILIUS,
make Rome prospere and haue many landes under them,
and knowe when any lande wolde ryse agen theym;
and Virgilius sayd to the emperoure, “I woll within
short space that do.” And he made vpon the Capitolium,
that was the towne house, made with caruede ymages,
and of stone, and that he let call Saluacio Rome, that is
to say, this is the Saluacyon of the cytie of Rome; and
he made in the compace all the goddes that we call
mamettes and ydolles, that were under the subjection
of Rome; and euery of the goddes that there were
had in his hande a bell; and in the mydle of the godes
made he one god of Rome. And when so euer that
there was any lande wolde make ony warre ageynst
Rome, than wolde the godes tourne theyr backes
towarde the god of Rome; and than the god of the
lande that wolde stande up ageyne Rome clynked his
bell so longe that he hathe in his hand, tyll the senatours
of Rome hereth it, and forthwith they go there and see
what lande it is that wyll warre a gaynst them ; and so
they prepare them, and goeth a geyne them and
subdueth theym. This forsayde token knewe the men
of Carthago, that was sore a greued for the great harme
that the Romans had done them. And they toke a
pryuay counseyll in what manner they myght destroy
that worke. Than thought they in there mynde to
sende iij men out and gaue them great multytude of
golde and syluer; and these iij men toke theyr leue of
the lordes and went towarde the cytie of Rome, and
when they were come to Rome they reported themselfe
VIRGI LIU.S. 21
Sothesayers and trewe dremers. Vpon a tyme wente
these iij men to a hyll that was within the cytie, and
there they buryed a great potte of money very depe in
the erthe, and when that was done and kyuered ageyne,
they went to the brygge of Tyber and let fall in a
certayne place a great barell with golden pens; and
when this was done these thre men went to the
seniatours of Rome, and sayd; “Worshypfull lordes,
we haue this nyght edremed, that with in the fote of a
hyll here with in Rome is a great pot with money; wyll
ye lordes graunt to us, and we shall do the coste to
seke there after º’’ and the lordes consented and than
they toke laberours and delued the money out of the
erthe. And when it was done, they went a nother tyme
to the lordes, and sayde; “Worshypful lordes we haue
also dremed that in a certeyne place of Tyber lyeth a
barell full of golden pens; if that you wyll graunte to
us that we shall go seke it;” and the lordes of Rome
thynkynge no dyscepte, graunted to those sothesayers,
and badde them do that that they shulde do there best.
And than the sothe sayers was glad. And than the hyred
shyppes and men, and went toward the place where it
was: and when they were come they sowght in everye
place there about, and at the laste founde the barelfull
of golden pens, whereof they were glade; and than they
gaue to the lordes costely gyftes. And than to come to
theyr purpose, they cam to the lordes a geyne, and
sayde to them: “Worshypfull lordes, we haue dremed
a geyne that under the foundacyon of Capitolium, there
22 VIRGILIUS,
where Saluatio Rome standeth, be xij barelles full of
golde; and pleasyeth you lordes that you wolde graunt
us lycence, it shall be to your great auantage;” and the
lordes styrred with couytayse graunted them, bycause
ij tymes a fore they told trewe; whereof they were glad,
and gatte laberours, and began to dygge under the
fundacyon of Saluatio Rome; and when they thought
that they had dygged a noughe they departed fro Rome,
and the next daye folowynge fell that house downe,
and all the worke that Virgilius had made; and so the
lordes knewe that the were deseyued, and were sorow-
full, and after that hade mat no fortune as they had
a fore tymes. * -
Howe the emperour asked counsayll of Virgilius howe
the nyght ronners and yll doers myght be ryd out
of the stretes, &
THE emperour had manye complayntes of the nyght
ronners and theues, and also of great murderynge of
people in the nyght, in so muche that the emperour
asked counsayll of Virgilius, and sayd: “That he hath
great complayntes of the theues that ronnyth by nyght
for they kyll many men ; what counsayll Virgilius is
best to be done?” Than answered Virgilius to the
emperour, “Ye shall let make a horse of coper, and a
coper man apon his backe, hauynge in his handes a
flayll of yron, and that horse, ye shall do brynge a fore
the towne howse, and then ye shall lett crye that a man
fro henseforth at x. of the clock shulde ryng a bell,
VIRGILIU.S. 23
and he that after the bell was ronge in the strete
shulde be slayne, no worke thereof be done.” And whan
this crye was made the roffyans set nat a poynt, but
kept the stretes as they dyd a fore, and wolde nat let
therfore; and as Sone as the bell was ronge at x. of the
clocke, than lept the horse of coper with the coper man
thorowgh the stretes of Rome, insomuche that he lefte
nat one strete in Rome unsowght; and as sone as he
found any man or woman in the strete he slewe them
starke deed, insomuche that he slewe a boue CC. per-
sones or more. And this seying, the theues and myght
ronners howe they myght fynde a remedy therefore
thought in theyr myndes to make a dragge with a ladder
theron; and as they wolde gowe out be nyght they
toke theyr ladders with them, and when they harde the
horse come, than caste they the dragge upon the howses,
and so went up a pon theyr ladders to the top of the
howses, so that the coper man myght nat toche them;
and so a byd they styll in theyr wycked doyng. Than
came they a gene to the emperoure and complayned,
and than the emperoure asked counsayll of Virgilius;
and Virgilius answered and sayd, “ that he muste get
to coper houndes and set them of eyther syde of the
coper horse, and let crye a gene that no body after the
bell is ronge shulde departe oute of theyr howse that
wolde lyue.” But the nyght walkers carede not a poynt
for that crye; but when they harde the horse comynge,
with theyr ladders clymed upon the howse, but the
dogges lept after, and tered them all to peces; and thus
24 VIRGILIUS.
the noyse went thorowgh Rome, in so muche that no
body durst in the nyght go in the strete, and thus all
the nyght walkers were destroyed.
Howe Virgilius made a lampe that at all tymes brenned.
For profeyte of the comon people, Virgilius on a great
myghty marbell pyller, dyd make a brygge that cam
vp to the paleyce, and so went Virgilius well vp the
pyller oute of the paleyce; that paleyce and the pyller
stode in the mydde of Rome; and vpon this pyller
made he a lampe of glasse that allwaye byrned without
gowyng out, and no body myght put it out; and this
lampe lyghtened ouer all the cytie of Rome fro the one
corner to the other, and there was nat so lytell a strete
but it gaue suche lyght that it semed ij torches there
had stande ; and vpon the walles of the palayce made he
a metall man that helde in his hande a metall bowe that
poynted euer upon the lampe for to shote it out; but
alway burned the lampe and gaue lyght ouer all Rome.
And vpon a tyme went the burgeyses daughters to play
in the paleyse and beheld the metall man; and one of
them asked in sporte, why he shat nat? and than she
cam to the man and with hyr hande toched the bowe,
and than the bolte flew oute, and brake the lampe that
Virgilius made ; and it was wonder that the mayden
went nat out of hyr mynde for the great fere she had,
and also the other burgeyses daughters that were in hyr
companye, of the great stroke that it gaue when it hyt
the lampe, and when they sawe the metall man so
VIRGILIUS, 25
swyftly ronne his waye : and neuer after was he no
more sene; and this forsayd lampe was abydynge
byrnynge after the deth of Virgilius by the space of
C.C.C. yeres or more.
How Virgilius made a orcharde by the fountayne, the
fayrest and goodlyest that euer culde be founde in all
the worlde.
GREAT wonder dyd Virgilius in his tyme; for after
that palayce he made an horcharde wherin he set all
maner of trees berynge frute, and also many herbes
growynge in that yarde. And as the tyme was, sawe
men dayly, rype frute, fayre blossoms, full plentyous.
In the myddell of the orcharde was a fayer clere
fountayne, the fayrest that euer was sene; and in this
orchard was many dyuers of byrdes syngyng, for they
myght well cum in, but the culde no more flye out
ageyne, for it was closed in suche with the ayer; and
men harde also theyr byrdes syng that was within, and
culde not goo forth. Also he had in his orcharde all
maner of tame bestes that were profitable for men :
also he made of the water that ran out of the fountayn
a standynge water about the trees, the clerest that
myght be, and there in was of all maner of fysshe that
culde be thought. Also in this orcharde all maner of
joyfulnes, both of trees, herbes, fowles, and bestes
thereof that men myght thynke, or be immagined by
mannes reasons. Also he dyd make greater thynges
than all this; for he made a vaute or seller in the
26 VIRGILIUS.
orcharde, the fayreste that myght be made or thought
by mannes reason, whiche seller he made for to put in
his money and ryches that he had; for he was so ryche,
and so great multitude that he knewe no ende; and he .
set ij metall men before the dore to kepe it, and in eche
hande a great hamer, and therwith they smyte vpon a
anuilde, one after the other, insomuche that the byrdes
that flye ouer hereth it, and by and bye falleth there
down deed; and otherwyse had Virgilius not his good
kepte.
Howe Virgilius made his wyfe a ymage.
A IMAGE made Virgilius a hye in the ayer that myght
nat fall; and the people of Rome myght mat open
noder wyndowe nor doer but they must medes see it.
And this image had this properte, that no woman after
she had seen the image had no luste to do bodely lust;
and therefore the women had great enuy, and they
compleyned theym to Virgilius’ wyfe that they theyr
sporte and dalyinge had loste and prayed hyr that she
wolde destroye that image and make it fall. And than
wayted Virgilius’ wyfe hir tyme, and went vp the
brygge of the ayer and cast downe the image; and than
dyd the women theyr wyl. And when Virgilius cam
and founde his image downe, he was very angery, and
sayd to his selfe, that it shulde nat auayll them, for he
wolde set it up ageyne; and swore that he shulde know
who had cast it downe; and he set it ageyne, and asked
his ladye, and she had caste downe it and she
VIRGILIUS, 27
sayd, “Naye.” And than cam the women ageyne to
Virgilius’ wyfe, and sayd, “That it was worse than it
was before, and prayed hyr, that she shulde caste it
downe ageyne;” and than Virgilius went pryuyley into
a corner, and wayted his wyfe, for he had sene before
howe the women had complayned them to hyr. And
than went Virgilius’ wyfe and caste downe the image;
and Virgilius that had hyd hym, and sawe howe his
wyfe had caste it downe, and with a anger wold haue
cast her after with the ymage; and he sayd, “The
deuyll satysfye you, for I dyd it for the beste ; but I
shall neuer more medyll, but I shall let the women do
theyr wyll;” and fro thenseforthe began Virgilius to
hate his wyfe. º • * * *
Howe Virgilius had his pleasure with the Sodans
daughter.
OFTEN tymes herde Virgilius tell of the fayrnes of the
Sodans dawghter, insomuche that he was enamoured of
hyr, thoughe he neuer sawe hyr; than by his connynge
made he a brygge in the ayer, and went ouer to hyr,
and when he had spoke with hyr, and showed hyr his
mynde, than she consented to hym, notwithstandyng
she neuer sawe hym afore. And she sayde on a
nyghte that she wolde departe with hym into his
countre, and knowe what maner a man he were, and
what dwellyng he had. Than answered Virgilius, and
sayde to hyr; “What wyll I doo: but ye shall passe
ouer many landes, and you shall not trede in them.”
28 VIRGILIUS.
Than caryed he hyr ouer into his owne lande, ouer the
brygge that he had made in the ayer, and so browght
hyr to Rome; and when he was at home, he asked hyr
“If she sawe no body ?” and she said, “No, but hym
alone.” And thanne showed Virgilius to hyr hys palayce
and orchard, and the metall men that stode styll a pece
smytynge : and he shewed to hyr also all his treasur,
and he presented it to hyr; and she wolde nat reseyue
it, sayinge, “That she had to muche of hyr faders to
kepe.” And Virgilius helde her in his orcherde as
longe as it please hym. And as the Soudan founde nat
is dawghter he was sorofull, for because he woste nat
where she was become; and they sowght all about, but
in no place culde they fynde hyr.
Howe Virgilius brought agene the Sodans daughter into
hyr faders lande, and howe he founde hyr slepynge
vpon hyr bedde.
WHEN the Sodans dawghter had byd longe with
Virgilius in his orcharde, than desyred she to goo home
to hyr faders lande. And than toke Virgilius the
Sodans dawghter in his hannes, and caste hyr vpon the
brygge in the ayer, and he his selfe brought hyr to hyr
faders palayce, and put hyr in hyr chamber vpon hyr
bed; and than he betoke hyr to the goddes, and so
returned he home to his place towarde Rome. And in
the begynnynge of the day arose the Sodan that was
sore vexed for the lesynge of his dawghter; and than
cam one of hyr chamberlaynes to the emperoure, and
VIRGILIUS. 29
tolde hym howe his dawghter was come ageyne, and
lay vpon hyr bed and slepte. Than cam he to hyr
hastely and asked hyr where she had bene, and howe
she was come there ageyne : “Fader,” sayd she, “there
was a fayre man of a straunge land, and he brought me
thorowgh the ayer to his paleyce and orcharde; but I
haue nat spoke to man nor woman but to hym alone,
and I knowe nat what lande it is.” The Sodan answered
and sayde to hyr, “That she shulde brynge some of the
frute of that cuntrey with hyr: and she sayde she wolde.
And within a wyle cam Virgilius to Babylone, and toke
the Sodans daughter with hym ageyne, and so departed
ageyne to his cuntrey with hyr, and kepte hir longe as
pleased hym; and when she departed ageyne she toke
with hir walnottes and other frute. And when she
was come home she shewed hyr father the walnuttes
and other frutes of the lande. “Ha, ha,” Sayde he,
“it is on the syde of France that so often (he) hath
borne you away.”
Howe Virgilius was taken there.
THE Sodan cam upon a tyme to his dawter and sayde;
“My daughter, when he commethe agene to you that
was wonte to careye you awaye, gyue to hym this drynke
that I shall gyue to you or he slepe with you, but
drynke ye none thereof, I warne you: for when he
hath drunkyn thereof he shall slepe, and when he is
a slepe let me know therof: than shall we take hym,
and know fro whens he is.” And the lady dyd as she
30 VIRGILIUS.
was commaunded. And whan Virgilius was com, she
gaue hym to drynke of the drynke that hir fader gaue
hyr , and when he had drunke, he slepte, and so was
taken. Than was Virgilius brought to the Sodan, and
the lordes, and also the dawter of the Sodan. And than
the Sodan showed his knyghtes that that was the man
that had stolen his dawghter away; and than he sayd to
Virgilius: “ye be welcome, for your pleasure that ye
haue had, ye shall suffer dethe.” Than answered
Virgilius to the Sodan: “I wolde that I had neuer sene
hir, and if that ye wyll let me gowe I shall neuer come
ageyne:” than answered the Sodan and the lordes :
“ that shall we nat do ; but for youre myssedede ye
shall suffer a shamefull dethe.” Than answered the
Sodans dawghter, “Yf ye put hym to deth I shall
suffer deth with hym.” Than answered the Sodan :
“ therto I consente, for ye shall be burned with hym.”
Than answered Virgilius, “that shall you nat do with
all the strength and myght that ye can do, thoughe ye
be of so great power.
Howe Virgilius cam out and led with hym the fayer
lady the Sodans daughter, and how he founded the
towne of Naples.
WHAN Virgilius harde of this, he made with his
cunnynge than the Sodan and all his lordes (thynk)
that the great ryuer of Babylon was in the myddell
among them ranne, and that they swemed, and laye,
and spronge lyke duckes, and thus toke Virgilius with
4.
VIRGILIUS, 31
hym the fayre lady upon the brygge in the ayer. And
when they were bothe upon the brygge, he delyuered
the Sodan fro the ryuere and all the lordes, and than
they sawe Virgilius caray awaye his dawghter ouer the
see upon a brygge in the ayer, wher of he merueyled
and was very sorye, and wyste nat what to do, for he
culde nat remedy it. And in this maner dyd he conuey
the Sodans dawghter ouer the see to Rome. And
Virgilius was sore enamored of that lady. Than he
thought in hys mynde, howe he myght mareye hyr, and
thoughte in his mynde to founde in the myddes of the
see a fayer towne with great landes belongyng to it:
and so he dyd by his cunnynge, and called it Napells,
and the fundacyon of it was of egges; and in that
towne of Napells he made a tower with iiij corners,
and in the toppe he set a napyll upon a yron yarde,
and no man culde pull away that apell without he brake
it : and thorowghe that yron set he a botel, and on that
botel set he a egge ; and he henge the apell by the
stauke upon a cheyne, and so hangyth it styll. And
whenne the egge styrreth so shulde the towne of Napels
quake, and whan the egge brake than shulde the towne
synke. When he had made an ende he lette call it
Napels. And in this towne he layde a part of his treasur
that he had, therin: and also set therin his louer, the
fayer lady the Sodans dawghter: and he gaue to her
the towne of Napels and all the landes therto belongynge,
to hir use and hyrchyldren. And within short whyle after,
he maryed her to a sertayne lorde or knyght of Spayn.
32 VIRGILIUS.
Within shorte wyle after, it fortuned that the empe-
rour had a great fantasy to the towne of Napells, for it
bare the name in the tyme for one of the fayrest in the
world: and it lay also in the fayrest market place
aboute Rome. Than secretly sende the emperour letters
to all his lordes that were under hym, that they shoulde,
as shortely as they myght, rayse theyr folke, and to
come to Rome for to besege the towne of Napels; and
so they dyd, insomuche that they assembled a great
companye, and wente towarde the towne of Napels and
destroyed all afore hym. And when he was come
to Napels he beseiged it. And the knyght that maryed
the lady that was within Napels defended the towne
nobely ageynste the emperoure and all his hoste. And
in the meane wyle sente this knyght a messengere to
Virgilius, whiche tolde hym all howe the emperour
beseged the towne of Napels: wherwith Virgilius was
angery, and sent worde that the knyght shulde nat set
be hym mat all his hoste, for I shall prouyde well
a nough for you ; and so departed the messenger to
Napels. *
Howe the emperour beseged the towne of Napels.
AND when Virgilius knewe that the emperour beseged
Napels, than made he all the fresshe water to be lyke
rayne, in suche maner that the emperours folke had
neuer a drop of water and they of Napels had a noughe;
and in the meane season reysed Virgilius his hoste, and
cam towarde the emperoure to Napels. But the empe-
VIRGILT US, 33
our myght no lenger taray, for the horse and men
dyed for faute of water, and so he loste a great parte of
theym. Than the emperoure seynge this, departed
home ageyn to the cytie of Rome, all eschamed and
dyscumfyt; and as he returned homewarde, in the waye,
he met with Virgilius comynge with all his companye
towarde Napels. And when Virgilius sawe the empe-
roure, he cam to hym, and salued hym in this manere:
“O noble emperoure, howe fortuned this to you, that
be so nooble a prynce as you be, to gyue up the Seage
of Napels, and to returne home agene to the cytie of
Rome, all dyscumfit, without doynge any harme at all
so schortly than wyste the emperoure well that
Virgilius mocked hym, and he was therwith very
angery. And than went Virgilius to Napels, and he
caused the lordes of the towne to make a othe that they
shulde beyre no Romans within the forsayde towne.
Howe Virgilius dyd strengthe the towne of Napels
with scholers and merchauntes.
As Virgilius had reseyued the othes of the lordes of
Napels than returned he ageyne to Rome, and feched
his bokes and other mouable goodes, and browght it
to Napels, and let his good a lone that he had shet in
the seller. And his dwellynge he gaue to his frendes to
kepe, and his dwellynge places, and so departed to
Napels; there he made a schole and gaue therto much
landes, that euery scholer a bydynge and gowyng to
schole had lande to lyue on of the towne; and they that
D
34 VIRGILIU.S.'
gaue vp the schole, they loste the lande : and there
cam many fro Tuleten to schole. And when he had
ordeyned the towne well with scholers, and than made
he a warme bath that euery man myght bathe hym in
that wolde; and that bathe is there to this tyme, and it
was the fyrste bathe that euer was. And after this
made he a brygge the fayrest that euer man sawe, and
there myght men se all maner of fayer shyppes that
belonged to merchaunsedyse, and all other thynges of
the see. And the towne in those days was the fayrest
and noblest in all the worlde. And in this schole
aforesayde dyde Virgilius rede the great conynge and
scyaunce of egromancy, for he was the conyngest that
euer was a fore, or after, in that scyence. And within
schorte space his wyfe dyed, and she had neuer no
chyldren by hym. And moreouer aboue all men he
loued scholers, and gaue muche moneye to bye bokes
with all, and thus he ruled them ryght nobely, for he
myght do it ryght well, for he was one of the greatest
borne men of all the world, and had been the greateste
lorde of all Rome.
Howe Virgilius made in Rome a metall serpente.
THAN made Virgilius at Rome a metall serpente with
his cunnynge, that who so euer put his hande in the
throte of the serpente, was to swere his cause ryght and
trewe; and if hys cause were false he shulde nat
plucke his hande out a geyne: and if it were trewe they
shulde plucke it out a geyne without any harme doynge.
VIRGILIUS. 35
So it fortuned that there was a knyght of Lumbardye
that mystrusted his wyfe with one of his men that was
moost set by in the conseyte of his wyfe : but she
excused hyr selfe ryght noblye and wysely. And she
consented to goo with hym to Rome to that serpent,
and there to take hyr othe that she was not gylty
of that, that he put apon hyr. And therto consented
the knyght: and as they were bothe in the carte, and
also hyr man with hyr, she sayd to the man; that when
he cam to Rome, that he shulde clothe hym with
a foles-cote, and dysgyse hym in such maner that they
shulde nat knowe hym, and so dyd he ; and when the
day was come that he shulde come to the serpent, he
was there present. And Virgilius knowinge the falsenes
of the woman by his cunnynge of egromancy, and than
sayd Virgilius to the woman: “With drawe your othe
and swere nat;” but she wolde nat do after hym, but
put hyr hande into the serpentes mouthe: and when
hyr hande was in, she sware before hyr husbande that
she had no more to do with hym than with that fole,
that stode hyr by ; and by cause that she sayd trowthe
she pulled out hyr hande a geyne out of the throte of
the serpent nat hurt; and than departed the knyght
home and trusted hyr well euer after. And Virgilius
hauyng therat great spyte and anger that the woman
hade so escaped, destroyed the serpent : for thus
scaped the lady a waye fro that great daunger. And
than spake Virgilius, and sayde: that the women be
36 VIRGILIUS.
ryght wyse to enmagen ungracy.ousenes, but in good-
ness they be but innocentes.
Howe Virgilius dyed.
THUS as Virgilius in his life had done many maruylous
and sotyll thynges, and also had promysed to the
emperour many other dyuerse thynges and meruylouse:
for he promysed to make the trees and spyces to bere
frute thre tymes in a yere: and euery tree shulde haue
rype frute and also blossomes at one tyme thereon
growynge ; also he shulde maken the shyppes for to
sayle a geynste the streme as with the streme at all
tymes; and he wolde haue made the peny to be as
lyghtely gat as spente : and the women shulde be de-
lyuered of theyr chylderne with out in any maner felynge
anye payne at all. And these thynges afore sayde pro-
mysed Virgilius to the emperour for to do, and many
other dyuerse thynges that were to longe for to reherse
here, if that it fortuned hym nat to dye in the mene
wyle,
And after this made Virgilius a goodly castell that
hadde but one goynge in therto, and no man myght nat
enter in therto, but at the one gate, or els nat. And
also aboute the same castell flowed there a water and it
was unpossyble for any man there to haue anye enter-
ynge. And this castell stode without the cytie of Rome
and this enteringe of this gate was made with xxiiij
yron flayles, and on euery syde was there xij men
on eche syde, styll a pece Smytynge with the flayles
VIRGIL I U.S. 37
neuer seasynge, the oon after the other; and no man
myght cum in without the flayles stode styll but he
was slayne. And these flayles was made with such
a gyn that Virgilius stopped them when he lyst to enter
in therat, but no man els culde fynde the way. And in
this castel put Virgilius parte of his treasure ther in
pryuyly; and when this was done he imagyned in his
mynde by what meane he myght make his selfe yonge
ageyn, bycause he thought to lyve longer many yeres, to
do manye wonders and merueylouse thynges. And vpon
a tyme went Virgilius to the emperoure, and asked hym,
of lycence by the space of iij wekes. But the emperoure
in no wyse wolde graunte unto hym, for he wolde haue
Virgilius at all tymes by hym. Than harde he that Virgi-
lius went to his house and toke with hym one of his men
that he aboue all men trusted, and knewe well that he
wolde best kepe his counsayll; and they departed to his
castell that was without the towne, and when they were
afore the castell there sawe the man men stande with
yron flayles in theyr handes sore Smytynge. Than sayd
Virgilius to his man: “Enter you fyrste into the castell;”
than answered the man and sayd “If I shulde enter the
flayles wolde slee me.” Than shewed Virgilius to the
man of eche syde the enterynge in and all the vyces
that therto belonged; and when he had shewed hym all
the wayes, he made sease the flayles and went into the
castell ; and when they were bothe in, Virgilius turned
the vyces ageyne, and so went the yron flayles as they
dyd a fore. Then sayde Virgilius, “My dere beloued
38 VIRGi LIUS,
frende, and he that I above all men truste, and knowe
moost of my secret :" and than led he the man into the
Seller where he had made a fayer lampe at all seasons
burnynge. And than sayd Virgilius to the man : “Se
you the barell that standeth here?” and he sayde, “ye
there muste put me; fyrste ye muste slee me, and hewe
smalle to peces, and cut my head in iiij peces, and salte
the heed under in the bottum, and then the peces there
after, and my herte in the myddel, and then set the
barell under the lampe, that nyght and daye therin may
droppe and leke : and ye shall ix dayes longe, ones in
the daye fyll the lampe, and fayle nat. And when this
is all done, than shall I be renued and made yonge
ageyn and lyue longe tyme and maney wynters mo, if
that it fortune me nat to be taken of a boue and dye.”
And when the man harde his master Virgilius speke thus,
he was sore abasshed, and sayd : “That wyll I neuer
whyle I lyue, for in no maner wyll I slee you.” And
than sayd Virgilius: “Ye at this tyme must do it, for it
shall,be no grefe unto you.” And at the last Virgilius
treated his man so muche, that he consented to hym :
and then toke the seruant Virgilius, and slewe hym,
and when he was thus slayn, he hewe hym in peces and
salted hym in the barell, and cut his heed in iiij. peces
as his master bad hym; and than put the herte in the
myddell and salted them wele ; and when all this was
done, he hynge the lampe ryght ouer the barell, that it
myght at all times droppe in therto. And when he had
done all this, he went out of the castell and turned the
VIRGILI U.S. 39
vyces, and then wente the coper men Smyghtynge with
theyr flayles so strongly upon the yron anueldes as they
dyd afore, that there durste no man enter; and he came
euery daye to the castell and fylled the lampe, as Virgi-
lius had bad hym. -
And as the emperour myssed Virgilius by the space
of seuen dayes, he merueyled greatly where he shulde
be by come; but Virgilius was kylled and layed in the
seller by his seruaunte that he loued so well. And than
the emperour thought in his mynde to aske Virgilius
seruaunt, where Virgilius his master was ; and so he
dyd, for he knewe well that Virgilius loued hym above
all men in the worlde. Than answered the seruaunte
to the emperoure, and sayde, “Worschypfull lorde, and
it please your grace I wot nat where he is, for it is seuen
dayes past that I sawe hym laste; and than wente he
forthe I cannot tell whyther, for he wulde nat let me
goo with hym.” Than was the emperoure angery with
that answere, and sayd : “ thou lyest falce thefe that
thou art ; but without thou showe me shortly where he
is, I shall put the to dethe.” With those wordes was
the manabashed, and sayde : “Worshypfull lorde, seuen
dayes a goo I went with hym without the towne to the
castell, and there he went in, and there I lefte hym, for
he wold nat let me in with hym.” Than sayd the empe-
rour, “goo with me to the same castell,” and so he
dyd; and whan they cam a fore the castell and wolde
haue entered, they myght nat, bycause flayles smyt so
faste. Than sayde the emperoure: “Make pease this
40 VIRGIL J U S.
\
flayles, that we may cum in.” Than answered the man :
“I knowe nat the way;” than sayd the emperour, “Than
shalt thou dye;” and than thorowgh the fere of dethe
he turned the vyce and made the flayles stande styl,
and then the emperoure entered into the castell with all
his folke, and soughte al a boute in euery corner after
Virgilius; and at the laste they sowght so longe that
they cam into the seller where they sawe the lampe
hang ouer the barell, where Virgilius lay in deed. Than
asked the emperoure the man : “Who had made hym so
herdey to put his mayster Virgilius so to dethe 2 and
the man answered no worde to the emperoure. And
than the emperour, with great anger, drewe out his
swerde, and slewe he there Virgilius man. And when
all this was done, than sawe the emperoure and all his
folke a naked chylde, iij. tymes rennynge a boute the
barell, saynge the wordes: “cursed be the tyme that
ye cam euer here :” and with those wordes vanyshed the
chylde away, and was neuer sene a geyne: and thus
abyd Virgilius in the barell, deed. Then was the empe-
rour very heuy for the dethe of Virgilius, and also all Vir-
gilius kynred, and also all the scholers that dwelled aboute
the towne of Napels, and in especyall the towne of Napels,
for by cause that Virgilius was the founder therof, and
made it of great worshypp. Than thought the empe-
roure to haue the good and ryches of Virgilius, but
there were none so harday that durste cum in to fetche
it, for fere of the coper men, that smote so faste with
theyr yron flayles ; and so abyd Virgilius treasure in
VIRGILIU.S. 41
the seller. And Virgilius dyd many other merueylouse
thynges that in this boke is not wryten. And thus
(God) gyue us grace that we may be in the boke of
euer lastynge blysse. Amen.
Thus endethe the lyfe of Virgilius
with many dyers consaytes that
he dyd. Emprynted in the cy-
tie of Anwarpe By me
Johnn Doesborcke
dwellynge at
the camer
porte.
APPENDIX.
IdE CARNE IMPUTREscIBILI MACELLI.
JAM nunc ad civitatem Campaniæ Neapolim redeamus, in qua
macellum est, in cujus pariete insertum perhibetur à Virgilio
frustrum carnis tantæ efficaciæ, quod dum illic erit inclusum in
ipsius macelli continentia, nulla caro quanto tempore vetusta
nares olefacientis aut intuentis adspectum aut comedentis sapen-
tem offendet. Est in eadem civitate porta Dominica Nolam,
Campaniæ civitatem olim inclytam, respiciens, in cujus ingressu
est via lapidibus artificiosè constructa, sub hujus viæ sigillo
Virgilius omne genus reptilis nocui : unde provenit, quod cum
civitas illa in ambitu plurimùm spatiosa tota columnis subter-
renio innitatur, musca in cavernis aut rimis interioribus, aut
hortis infra urbis mœnia conclusis vermis nocivus (non) reperi-
tur. Tertium est quod illic expertus sum, tunc quidem ipsius
ignarus, sed fortuito casu reapse mihi dante scientiam et proba-
tionem, coactus sum esse sciens ejus, quod si non preventus
essem periculo, vix aliena relatione fieri possem assertos. Nem-
pe anno, quo fuit Acon obsessa circa imminens S. Johannis
Paptista festum cum essem Salerni, de subito supervenit mihi
hospes jucundus, cujus sincera dilectio cum dignatione cum
diutina in scholis et curia domini mei Regis vetustioris Anglicæ,
avi vestri, serenissime Princeps, commansione firmata, non jam
alterum à me, sed in ipso me alterum mihi obvenisse faciebat.
Exultavit cor meum propter singularitatem affectionis, et prop-
APPENDIX. 43
ter rumores, quos recensiare mihi tām fidelis nuncius poterat,
de nostrorum prosperitate propinquorum, quorum omnium hic
non täm sanguine quám amore fuit propinquissimo. Properan-
tem ad transitum et transferationem diureluctantem vici precum
instantia. Philippus hic erat, filius patricii olim illustris Co-
mitia Sarisberiensis, cujus neptis ex fratre comitatum Saris-
beriensem jure matrimonii transfundit in istum avunculum ves-
trum, Domine Imperator. Inter volentem et invitum meliore
consilio trahitur amicus ad civitatem Nolanam, ubi tunc ex
mandato Domini mei illustris regis Siculi Gulielmi mansio mihi
erat ob declinandos Panormitanos tumultus ac fervores aestivos.
Quid plura 3 Post aliquod dies deliberavimus ad Neapolitanum
accedere, si quë fortassis eventu paratior ac minus sumtuosa
nobis illic occurreret transfretatio. Civitatem advenimus, in
hospitio venerabilis auditoris mei in jure canonico apud Bono-
niam, Johannis Pinatelli, Neapolitani Archidiaconi, scientiã,
moribus et sanguine illustris, nos recipientes, a quo jucundé
suscepti, causam adventus nostri pandimus, ipseque, compertà
voti nostri instantia, dum parantur epulac, mare nobiscum ac-
cedit. Facto vix unius horae spatio, succincta brevitate verbo-
rum navis conducitur pretio optato, et ad instantiam viatorum
dies data ad navigandum accelerat. Ad hospitium redeun-
tibus sermio est, quð successu quibusve auspiciis omnia nobis
desiderata tâm celeri manu occurrerint 1 ignorantibus et stu-
pentibus nobis de tanta felicitate successum ; Heus inquit
Archidiaconus, per quam civitatis portam intrastis 3 cumque,
quae fuerit porta, explicarem ; ille perspicax intellector adje-
cit: meritó tam brevi manu vobis fortuna, subvenit. Sed oro,
mihiveredica relatione dicatis, qua parte aditäs ingressi estis,
dextravel sinistra 3 respondemus. Căm ad ipsam veniremus
portam, et paration-nobis ad sinistram pateret ingressus, occur-
44 APPENDIX.
rit ex improviso asinus lignorum strue omoratus, et ex occursu
compulsi sumus ad dextram declinare. Tunc Archidiaconus :
Ut sciatis, quanta miranda Virgilius in hac urbe fuerit operatus,
accedamus ad locum, et ostemdam, quod in illa porta memo-
riale reliquerit Virgilius super terram. Accedentibus nobis
ostendit in dextrà parte caput parieti portali insertum de mar-
more pario, cujus rictus ad risum et eximiæ jucunditatis hilari-
atem trahebantur. In sinistrà vero parte parietis erat aliud,
caput de consimili marmore infixum, sed alteri valde dissimile
occulis siquidem torvis fientis vultum ac irati ; casusque infeli-
cis jacturam deploratis prætendebat. Ex his tàm adversis
vultuum imaginationibus duo sibi contraria fortunæ fata propo-
nit Archidiaconis omnibus ingredientibus immimere, dummodò
nulla fiat declinatio ad dextram sive ad sinistram, et ex indus-
tria procurata, sed sicut fatalia sunt, fato eventusque commit-
tantur. Quisquis, inquit, ad dextram civitatem istam ingredi-
tur, semper dextro cornu ad omnem propositi sui effectum pros-
peratur, semper crescit et augetur : quicunque ad sinistram
flectitur, semper decidit, et ab omni desiderio suo fraudatur.
Quia ergò ex asini objectione ad dextram deflexistis, conside-
rate, quàm celeriter et quanta prosperitate iter vestrum perfe-
cistis, Non tamen hæc scripsimus, quasi Sadducæorum fectam
comprobemus, qui omnia dicebant in Deo et marmore consistere
hoc est in fato et casu fortunæ, cum omnia in sola Dei volun-
tate sint posita, secundum illud : In voluntate tua, Domine,
cuncta sunt posita et non est, qui possit resistere voluntati tuæ,
&c. Sed admirationem Artis Mathematicæ Virgilii memora-
bimus.
Gervasii Tilberensis Otia Imperialia
Tertia Decisio. C. 12.
Apud Leibnitz Script, Rer. Brunsv. vol. 1. p, 963, 4.
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