_How Melchisedech a iewe, by telling a pretie tale of three kinges,
saued his life._
Saladine, whose valiaunce was so great, that not onely the same from
base estate aduaunced him to be Souldan of Babilon, but also thereby hee
wanne diuers victories ouer the Saracene kinges and christians: who
throughe his manifolde warres and magnificent triumphes, hauing expended
al his treasure, and for th’execution of one exploite, lackinge a great
summe of money, knewe not where to haue the same so redily as he had
occasion to imploy it. At length he called to remembraunce a rich iewe
named Melchisedech, that lent out money for interest in Alexandria,
whose greedie and couetous nature was such, that with his good will he
would not do it, and to force him the Souldan was very loth. Howbeit,
compelled by necessity, he cast his wits about him to finde a meanes how
the iew might serue his tourne, and thereuppon founde out a sleight and
waye by a colourable force. Who causing the iew to be called before him,
intertayned him familiarly, making him to sit downe besides him, and
said to him these words. “Sir, I do learne by report of diuers, that you
are verye wise and well learned in thinges touching God, for which cause
I would gladly know of you which of the three lawes you iudge to be most
sincere and true: the Iewishe law, the Saracene law, or the Christian
lawe?” The Iewe which in deede was very wise, perceiued wel that
Saladine went about to intrappe him in wordes, thereby to raise some
quarell against him, and thought that it was not good for him to praise
one of those lawes more then another, leste Saladine mighte take
aduauntage of him. Wherefore, to make a wise and discrete aunswere that
he might not be ouer shotte, he sharpened his wittes, and sodainly came
into His remembraunce this aunswere. “My Lorde, the question which you
haue proponed is excellent, and to declare vnto you that which I knowe,
I muste tell you a tale, the better to open my meaninge, which if it
shall please you to heare, is this. I doe remember (if I be not
deceiued) that many times I haue heard tell, how vppon a time there was
a Noble man which was very rich, and had amonges his other treasures,
a verye beautifull ringe of great price and estimation: which for the
valour and beautie, hee was very desirous perpetually, to leaue vnto his
successors: willing and ordeining that the same sonne which should haue
that ring by the gift of his father, after his decease, should be taken
and reputed for his heire, and should be honoured and magnified of the
reste as the chiefest. He to whom the same ring was left, obserued
semblable order in his posteritie, and did the like that his predecessor
had done before him. In short time, this Ryng succeded from hand to hand
to many successors. And last of al it came to the hand of one that had
three goodly sonnes, vertuous and very obedient to their father, who
loued them all indifferently and in equall maner, which knowing the
order for the disposition of that Ring, curious to be best esteemed and
beloued, euery of them prayed his father so well as seuerally they
could, (which then was aged) that when hee died he would giue him the
Ring. The good man which loued one no better then another, knew not
which of them to chose, to whom he might dispose it, and thought best to
promise the same to euery of them to satisfie all three. Secretely he
procured an excellente Goldsmith to make two other Rings, which
accordinglye were made so like vnto the first, as the owner himselfe
vnnethes knew one from the other. And when he was vpon his death bedde,
he secretly gaue to euery of his sonnes a Ring. Who after the death of
their father desirous to enter the inheritaunce and honour, one goinge
about to displace another, euery of them to declare what title he had to
enioy the same, brought forth his Ringe: and the ringes were founde so
like, that the true Ring could not be knowen. Therefore the processe for
the title remained in doubt and yet continueth till this daye. And so I
say vnto you my Lord of the thre lawes giuen by God the father to those
three people, whereof you haue made the question: euery of those Nations
thinketh to enioy the inheritaunce of God, and to obserue the true lawe
and his commaundementes: but which of them hath the truest law, that
remaineth in doubt like the question of the Rings.” Saladine perceyuing
that Melchisedech knew right well how to auoide the snare which hee had
laied for him: determined therefore to open and disclose vnto him his
necessitie, to proue if he would do him that pleasure: which hee did,
telling him his intent and meaninge, if he had not framed him that wyse
aunsweare. The Iewe liberally lent him the summe of moneye that he
demaunded, which Saladine wholie repaied vnto him againe, besides other
very great rewardes that he gaue him, vsing him still for his frende,
and afterwards maintayned him next his person, in great and honourable
state.