[et] aboue all thynges he loued golde. The cytezyens yᵗ tyme of Rome
dyde moche harme [et] many grete outrages to other nacyons. In soo
moche that dyuerse nacyons [et] regyons were meued [et] styred ayenst
yᵉ Romayns. In that tyme there was mayster Uirgilius, yᵉ whiche
excelled in magique [et] in other scyences all other maysters. The
cytezeyens prayed hym that he by his arte [et] connȳge wolde make
somwhat by the whiche they of theyr ennemyes myght haue warny_n_g
[et] knowlege byfore. Wherby that they myght puruey for themselfe yᵉ
better. He lete doo make by his arte and connȳge a toure, [et] aboue
vpon yᵉ toure dyde to be set as many ymages as in al the worlde were
regyons and prouy_n_ces. and in the myddes of the toure he let to be
made and set an ymage, whiche helde in his hande an appell or a grete
roūde balle of golde. And euery ymage of the toure helde in his hand
a lytell bell, and stode torned lokynge towardes his owne prouynce
to hym assygned. And as oftentymes as ony prouynce wolde styre or
rebel ayēste the romaynes, so often torned hym the ymage of yᵗ londe
[et] range the bell. That herȳge the cytezeyns of Rome armed themselfe
[et] to that prouynce yede with all theyr myght for that londe to
kepe vnder. And soo was there no londe so grete yᵗ coude wreke them
vpo_n_ the romaynes, and therfore were they bedradde and fered ouer all
the worlde. After that Mayster Uirgilius[3] made for the solace and
conforte of the poor people a lyght that alwaye brende, and by that
lyghte he made two bathes, the one of them hote, in the whiche the
poore people myghte bathe and wasshe theym / [et] that other colde in
the whiche they myghte theymselfe refresshe, and betwyx that lyghte and
the bathes he made an ymage standynge, in whos forhede was wryten: He
yᵗ smyteth me shall anone haue vengeaunce. This ymage stode there many
yeres. At the laste there came a clerke and behelde that ymage [et]
radde this wrytynge / and thoughte in hymselfe, what vengeaūce myght he
fynde therfore. I byleue better that yf ony man sholde smyte the that
thou fyllest there wᵗ to yᵉ erthe, he sholde fynde some tresoure vnder
thy sete. [et] therfore is thy wrytynge that no man sholde haue it.
[et] the clerke lyfte vp hys hande [et] gaue the ymage a grete stroke
yᵗ it fell to yᵉ grou_n_de. [et] anone yᵉ lyght was out. [et] the
bathes were vanysshed away, [et] he foūde no tresoure. The poore folke
yᵗ perceyuynge were all sorowfull sayenge, cursyd mote he be for euer
more yᵗ for his synguler coueytyse hathe destroyed this ymage. [et] vs
hathe robbed of so grete solace [et] cōforthe. Here after assembled
thre kynges the whiche of yᵉ Romayns had been oppressed [et] suffred
greate wronges. [et] went to coūysell wᵗ them of theyr coūysell, how
they myght best of yᵉ Romayns be auenged. [et] some of the_m_ sayd.
we labour in vayne, as longe as there standyth yᵉ tour wᵗ the ymages
we maye no thynge do ayenste theym. To yᵗ counseylle arose vp foure
knyghtes and sayd to the kynges, we haue thoughte a goode remedy how we
shal destroye the toure wᵗ the ymages and yᵗ to do and brynge aboute we
wyll our lyues sette to pledge. Yf that ye wyll do yᵉ coste. Tho sayd
yᵉ kynges what coste shall we do. They sayd, we must haue iiii tonnes
full of golde. Than sayd yᵉ kynges, take that golde [et] fulfyll youre
promyse. The knyghtes toke yᵉ golde [et] went towardes Rome. [et] whan
they were thyder come in the nyght wᵗout one of yᵉ yates in the dyche
wᵗ water they drowned one of yᵉ tonnes wᵗ the golde. [et] another tonne
they drowned by the secōde yate [et] the thyrde tonne by yᵉ thyrde
yate. [et] the fourth ton̄ by the fourth yate they drowned. And whan
they had thus done erly in the mornynge they entred in to yᵉ cyte at
an houre conuenyent whan yᵗ themperour went ouer the marte, they dyde
to hym reuerence as it behoued. Themperour seynge them demaunded frome
whens they were, or what scyences or what seruyce yᵗ they coude do.
Whiche answered, we are of ferre cou_n_trees [et] we be sothsayers so
perfyte yᵗ there was neuer thynge so preuely or secretly hydde but yᵗ
we shall fȳde it by our dremes. We haue herde that ye laboure [et] haue
pleasure in such thynges, and therfore came we to you for to wyte yf ye
had ony nede of our seruyce / Themperour sayd, I shall proue you [et]
yf it be so yᵗ I fynde you true, ye shall haue of me grete rewardes
[et] thanke. they sayde we aske no thynge but yᵉ haluen dele for our
rewarde of the golde that by vs shall be foūden. The emperour sayd,
I am therwith wel content. And thus had they with the emperour many
wordes. At euen whan themperour was goyng to bedde they sayde too hym.
My lorde yf it please you this nyghte shall the oldest of vs set his
connynge a werke [et] dreme, [et] the thyrde day we shall shewe you his
dreme [et] what it sygnefyeth. Themperour sayd goo in goddis name. And
they went forth wᵗ grete gladnesse. [et] all yᵗ nyght they passed ouer
with derysions [et] myrth vpon truste that they sholde come to a good
purpose. whan yᵉ thyrde daye was comen they went erly too themperour.
[et] the fyrste of them sayd my lorde pleaseth you to goo with vs
without one of yᵉ yates of thy cyte [et] I shall shewe you where as a
tonne full of golde is hyd. Themperour sayd, I shall go with you and
se yf it be true that ye saye. whan they were comen to the place they
drewe out yᵉ tonne that they there afore had put / The emperour whan
he that sawe was gladde, and gaue to them theyr parte. Tho sayde the
seconde dremer, my lorde this nyght I shal dreme. Themperour sayd, god
gyue you a good dreme. yᵉ next nyght came he [et] toke out yᵉ other
tonne, and gaue it to themperoure, [et] toke hym his dele. In lyke wyse
dyd the thyrde. [et] yᵉ fourth, vpon yᵉ whiche themperour was out of
all mesure ioyus [et] glad [et] sayd he had not sene afore soo true
[et] experte sothsayers or dremers as they were / Than sayd they al
togyder at once as it had ben out of one mouth, my lorde we haue one
after another dre_med_ yᵉ whiche as ye haue sene be all true proued.
But now yf it please you that we may dreme all togyder this nyghte,
we truste that too vs shall bee shewed where we shall fynde a greate
quantyte or substaūce of golde [et] of rychesse. the Emperoure sayde
god gyue to you a gode dreme yᵗ to me and to you may be proffytable.
Unto yᵉ next morowe they came ayen vnto yᵉ Emperoure [et] sayd to hym
wᵗ joyouse [et] gladde vysages or coūtenaūces. My lorde we brynge gode
[et] proffytable tydynges, for this nyght in our slepes such [et] so
grete a tresour is to vs shewed yᵉ whiche yf ye wyll suffre it for to
be soughte, ye shall be so moche enryched that in this worlde shall
be none to you lyke. Themperour sayd, where sholde yᵉ fynde ye hoorde
or tresoure. they sayd, vnder the fundament of the tour yᵗ the ymages
standen on. The Emperoure answered, God defend that I sholde for
loue of golde destroye that toure wᵗ ymages wherwith yᵗ we of oure
ennemyes be defended [et] warned. They sayde too hym ayen, My lorde,
Haue ye founde vs in our saynges otherwyse than true [et] ryghtful.
Themperour sayd nay. O Lorde sayd they, we with our owne hondes shall
gete oute yᵉ gold wᵗout hurtynge of the tour or of yᵉ ymages. And it
is expedyent yᵗ secretly in the nyght by vs it be done, for drede of
resorte and concours of yᵉ people leste that ye sholde ren in the noyse
[et] clamour of theym, and also that they sholde not take that good
and golde away from you and vs. The Emperour sayde, Goo in the name of
god and doo your beste, as ye well can̄e, and I shall to morowe erly
come too you. Tho went they with joye and gladnesse, and in the nyght
they were laten in too the toure, and with grete haste and dylygence
they vndermynded it. [et] on the next daye erly they mounted vpon theyr
horses [et] rode ayen towardes theyr owne countre with ioye [et] glory.
And or that they came wᵗout the syght of rome / the toure fell downe.
And on the morne ensuynge whan it was fallen / [et] the Senatours it
perceyued they sorowed gretely [et] there was a grete sorowe [et]
bewaylynge thrughout all yᵉ cyte [et] went to themperour [et] sayd,
lorde how maye it be yᵗ this tour is thus fallen, by the whiche we haue
alwayes had warnynge afore of our enemyes. He answered [et] sayd, To me
came foure fals deceyuers [et] fayned themself to be foure sothsayers
[et] yᵗ they coude fynde tresoure hyd in the groūde. And they sayd
that vndʳ the fundacyon of yᵉ toure was hydde an vnnumerable sōme of
golde yᵉ whiche they sholde well vndermyne wᵗout hurtȳge of the toure
or ymages / [et] I gaue fayth to them [et] they haue deceyued me.
they answered hy_m_ / ye haue coueyted so moche golde, [et] for your
insacyate couetyse we shall be all destroyed. but fyrste your couetyse
shall full (_sic_) vpon your selfe. [et] toke [et] ladde hym vnto
yᵉ capytoll, [et] layde hym on his bac [et] poured his mouth full of
molten golde, sayng to hy_m_ ye haue desyred golde, [et] therfore ye
shall dry_n_ke golde [et] after they buryed hym quycke. Not long after
that came thenmyes ayenst ye Romayns, [et] ouercame [et] destroyed them
al. Than sayd thempresse vnto themperour haue ye my lorde this example
well vnderstand [et] he sayd ryght well. Than sayd she, The tour wᵗ
the ymages is your body wᵗ your v. wyttes, as long as ye lyue there
none so hardy to trouble or make werre vpon you ne vpon your people.
That hath your sone ryght well vnderstonde wᵗ his vii. maysters [et]
wᵗ theyre false narracyons or fables fynde how they may destroye you,
for ye are ouermoche couetyse to here [et] enclyned to them. [et] in
so moche yᵗ they shal vndermyne you [et] caste you vnd_e_r fote, [et]
brȳge you to nought. The ymages are your fyue wyttes yᵗ be all lost.
for they se yᵗ ye be all chyldyshe or folyshe they shall destroy and
sle you. [et] your sone shall opteyne your empyre. Thēperour sayd, ye
haue recyte to me a good exāple. wherfore it shall not to me happen as
it dyde wᵗ yᵉ tour but my sone fyrste this daye shall be hanged. To
whome thempresse sayd, yf ye doo so ye shall fare well [et] lyue long.
Upon yᵉ nexte day he commaūded hy_m_ to be lad to hangȳge. [et] as he
was towardes yᵉ galowes lad, came rydynge ayenst hym vpon an hors his
fyfth mayster towardes yᵉ palays. [et] came before themperour [et]
saluted hym wᵗ all reuerence / [et] he despysed his salutacyon. [et]
put hym in fere of his lyfe. [et] yᵉ mayster sayd My lorde I haue not
deserued to dye. [et] ye my salutacyon despyse it is not your honoure.
for your sone hath not with vs be of such condycyo_n_s as ye repute
hy_m_ for as ye in short tyme shal fynde. [et] that he speketh not is
of his his (_sic_) grete wysdome. [et] knowe ye yᵗ he shal well speke
as yᵉ tyme comyth, though yᵗ he now speke not, as ye in shorte tyme
shall here. But ye saye yᵗ he your wyfe wolde haue shamed. yᵗ byleue
not. for so wise a man as he is neuer sholde atte_m_te so shamful a
dede. And ye put hym to dethe for your wyues wordes, ye sholde not
scape without shame and vengeaunce / In lyke wise as Ypocras scaped not
wᵗout vengeaūce for yᵉ deth of Galtenus his cosyne. The emperour sayd
that wolde I fayne here and vnderstonde. The mayster sayd, what sholde
auayle yᵉ narracyon to tel vnto you for your prouffyte yf in the meane
seasone your sone sholde be hanged. [et] therfore yf ye wyll call ayen
your sone, and therafter do as ye thynke beste it shall be at your
pleasure. Themperour lete call ayen his sone and set him in pryson. And
tho began yᵉ mayster too tell vnder this maner as foloweth:
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_The Example of the Fyfthe Mayster._
Somtyme there was a famous physycyan named Ypocras ryght connynge, yᵉ
which exceded all other in connynge [et] scye_n_ce he had wᵗ hym his
neuewe or kynnesman yᵗ was called Galienus, yᵉ whiche he loued moche.
This Galien_us_ was of an excellēt wytte [et] applyed all his wytte
[et] mynde to lerne of h[i]s vncle the scyence of physyke. Whan Ypocras
apperceyued that in as moche as he coude hyde from hym hys conynge
ferynge that he sholde excelle hym in yᵗ crafte, for yᵉ grete wytte
that he was of. As Galienus this sawe, he studyed [et] excersysed, in
soo moche yᵗ in shorte tyme he had perfyte connynge physyke. for the
whiche Ypocras enuyed hym moche. It hapned vpo_n_ a tyme therafter,
yᵗ the kȳge of Ungary sent his messengers vnto Ypocras that he sholde
come vnto hym his sone fer to cure or make hole. Ypocras excused
hȳself [et] wolde no goo. but sent his cosyne Galienus wᵗ his wrytynge
in the company of yᵉ messengers for to excuse hym. And whan Galienus
was comen afore yᵉ kynge he was ryghte worshypfully receyued. but
he merueyled why that Ypocras wolde not come. he excused hym saynge
that he had many grete thynges too do that he myght not come, but he
hath sent me in his stede. [et] wᵗ the helpe of god I shall make hole
that childe. That pleased well yᵉ kynge. Galienus went to the chylde.
[et] whan he had seene his vryne, and tasted his pounces. he sayd tho
(_sic_) the quene. O excellent prynces I pray you here [et] suffer
my wordes, [et] tel me who is yᵉ fadʳof this chylde. She sayd, who
sholde be his fader but my lorde the kyng. Galienus sayd, I am sure
yᵗ he is not the fader. She answered yf ye wyll say yᵗ for a trouth I
shall doo your hede to be smytn of. he answered I say yet ones agayn
yᵗ this ky_n_ge is not the fader and I am not therfore comen hyther
to lese my hede. for I haue no suche rewarde deserued. [et] he was
goynge his waye. The quene yᵗ seynge spake. O good mayster yf ye wyl
kepe it secrete, [et] not dyscouer me, I shal shewe [et] open vnto you
myn herte. The mayster sayd God defende that from me, that I to no
persone sholde shewe it. and therfore O noble quene shewe it boldely
to me for it shall neuer passe my mouthe after. and I shall your sone
ease and make hym hole. She sayde yf ye doo that, ye shall haue of me
a good rewarde. [et] therfore here what I shall saye. Of fortune came
hyther vnto my lorde, the kyng of Burgondyen, and he was so longe wᵗ
me conuersaunt that this chylde by hym I bare. Tho sayd yᵉ mayster,
fere ye not, I knewe well that it was so byfore. [et] anone he gaue
the chylde to ete beef or of an oxe to dry_n_ke. and the chylde was
eased of his infyrmyte. And whan as the kȳge herde that the chylde was
quite of his malady he gaue vnto yᵉ mayster a good rewarde. but of
the quene he secretly receyued and had a greter gyfte and a specyal
thanke and went his waye. And whan that he was comen home, Ypocras his
mayster demaunded of hym, haue ye yᵗ chyld heled. [et] he sayd ye. Than
asked he hy_m_ what he gaue to hym. [et] he sayd, I gaue hy_m_ fleshe
of ox beef to ete, [et] water to dry_n_ke. Tho sayd Ypocras. Than is
the moder of that chylde not true too her husbonde. yᵗ is trouth sayd
Galienus. Ypocras anone was meued wᵗ enuye, [et] thought in hymselfe yf
here be not found a remedy, my scyence shall no more be set by. [et]
he shal be named and praysed aboue me. And from that day forthwarde he
thought [et] deuysed how he myght slee hym. Uppon a day Ypocras called
and sayd come go we to seke and gadre herbes in the gardyne. To whome
he sayd mayster I am redy. And whan they were comen in to yᵉ gardyne,
Ypocras sayd, I fele that this herbe is ryght vertuous, stoupe downe
[et] gadre me of it. Galienus dyde so. and as they went aboute the
gardyne, sayd Ypocras now knowe I well by yᵉ odoure of this herbe that
it is better [et] precyoser than golde. and therfore stoupe downe to
the groūde [et] drawe hym oute wᵗ the rotes for he is ryght moche.
Galien_us_ bowed hymself down to plucke vp the herbe. Ypocras drewe out
his knyfe [et] kylled hym. After that Ypocras fyll seke to the dethe
that yᵉ strengthes of his body fayled hym and dyde as moche as he coude
to helpe hymself but it wold not be and as his scolers [et] dyscyples
herde of it they went hastely to hy_m_. [et] all that they myght or
coude do for the prouffyte of his helthe they dyde / but it auayled
hym nothynge. Whan Ypocras that perceyued, he sayd vntoo his scolers.
Goo and fetche me a grete tonne and fyll it full vnto the brynkes with
water. And whan they had soo done, he sayd too them make nowe therin
an hondred hooles, and whan that was doone, there wente none of the
water oute. Tho sayd Ypocras. Beholde my moste dere dyscyples, how
yᵗ yᵉ vengeaunce of god is fallen vpon me as ye openly may see, for
in this tonne are an hondred holes, [et] yet gooth there out not one
droppe, ryght so there cometh no vertue out of yᵉ herbes to helpe me.
and therfore what ye doo to me it helpeth not, for I must dye. But
my dere chyldren yf my neuewe Galienus were now on lyue, he sholde
hele me, whom I haue slayne / yᵗ me sore forthynketh. [et] therfore
yᵉ vengeaūce of god cometh ouer me. And this sayd he torned hy_m_ to
yᵉ wal [et] gaue vp the goost. Tho sayd yᵉ mayster to themperour,
My lorde vnderstande ye well what I haue sayd. He answered ye ryght
well, what hurte had it bē to hym [et] Galienus had lyued. The mayster
answerd it had ben ryght good, for Ypocras at that tyme had not dyed,
[et] therfore by yᵉ ryghtwyse Jugement of god his medycynes auayled
hy_m_ not. [et] therefore I shewe to you yᵗ it shall happen worse to
you, yf yᵗ ye put to deth your sone for yᵉ wordes of your wyfe, which
in tyme of necessyte shall assyste [et] socoure you. [et] consyder ye
not, yᵗ ye haue after your fyrst wyfe, ye haue wedded this wyfe yᵗ ye
now haue. [et] so ye may yᵉ thyrde [et] yᵉ fourthe, [et] neuer shall
ye haue of ony of them suche a sone yᵗ shal kepe [et] saue you from
peryll. Themperour sayde truly he shal not dye. Tho sayd yᵉ mayster
than do ye wysely, [et] I commende you to god, [et] thanke you, yᵗ ye
haue this daye for me spared your sone. Themperour sayd I marke this
wel yᵗ wy_m_me_n_ are crafty, [et] subtyl, herfore I wyl not for you
but for my self saue hy_m_.
[Illustration]
_The Syxte Complaynte of the Empresse._
Whan that thempresse had knowledge, she shewed her selfe as a wode
or an Impacyent body yᵗ all that sawe her or herde her wondred [et]
sayd to themperour your wyfe she pyneth her self as though she sholde
deye. Themperour that heryng went to her [et] sayd wherfore be ye so
heuy, [et] so impacyent. O lorde how shold I holde it in, whan I am
the only doughter of a kyng [et] your wyfe, [et] in your company I
haue had a grete despyte [et] shame, and contynually ye haue promysed
me to punysshe it, but ye perfourme it not. The emperour sayd, I wote
not what I shal do. ye laboure from day to day to haue my sone slayne,
and the maysters labour to saue his lyfe. And amonges al thyse I know
well that he is my sone, but whether the trouth is that knowe I not.
Than sayd she, that is it yᵗ I complayne that ye beleue the maysters
more than ye do me. Therfore it shall happen to you as dyde to a kyng
with his stewarde. Than sayd the Emperoure, tell that example, happely
it sholde meue me the soner to put my sone to deth. She sayde, gladly,
but I praye you gyue attendaunce what I shall saye, and began to tel as
hereafter ensueth.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_The Syxte Example of the Empresse._
There was a kyng ryght proude [et] merueylously dyfformed in his vysage
in suche wyse that wȳmen hym hated [et] abhorred. This kynge thought
Rome to destroye [et] the romaynes to slee, [et] yᵉ bodyes of Peter
[et] Poule to take [et] cary awaye, whiche while he was in this my_n_de
he called to hy_m_ his stewarde that was ryght secrete wᵗ hym of his
pryue counseyll and sayd to hym. Seke me a fayre woman yᵗ this nyghte
may slepe wᵗ me. The stewarde answered, My lorde ye knowe wel your
infyrmyte [et] dysese, [et] yᵗ no woma_n_ wyll doo it wᵗout a grete
somme of money. The ky_n_ge sayd, thynke ye yᵗ for money I wyll want
one, haue I not golde [et] syluer ynough though it were a thousande
florenys I sholde it gladle gyue. The stewarde herynge yᵗ was anone
smyten wᵗ couetyse, went too his owne wyfe whiche was ryght fayre,
chast, [et] of a gode kynrede, [et] sayde to her, O my good wyfe, my
lorde desyreth [et] coueyteth fore to slepe wᵗ a fayr [et] beauteuouse
woman, [et] wyll not forbere it, though yᵗ she wold aske of hym a
thousande florenys, and hath commaunded me too puruey hym of one. And
therfore I counseyll you that ye to vs gete that money. The wyfe sayde,
were it not so that the kynge so proude and foule of vysage were, yet
wolde I not to that euyl consente bycause of the synne ayenst god. The
stewarde answered, [et] I consente that ye shal do it, [et] therto I
cou_n_seyl and cōmaunde you, and promyse you wᵗoute that ye co_n_sente
to me herin, ye shall neuer haue good daye wᵗ me. She heryng that
trembled, in so moche that for drede she consented to hym. The stewarde
yᵗ herynge went to the kynge [et] sayd Syr I haue founde a fayre woman
[et] she is comen of a good house, whiche wil not lesse haue than a
thousande florenes [et] in the euin she shall come, [et] erly in the
morny_n_g she must away that she be not seen of the people. The kynge
answered [et] sayd, I am well content. whan the nyght was comen the
stewarde lad his wyfe to yᵉ kynges bed and made faste the dore [et]
yede his waye. Erly in the morny_n_ge the stewarde arose [et] went vnto
yᵉ kynge [et] sayd. My lord it shall be daye wᵗin a whyle, it is good
that ye performe your promise [et] let the woman go. The kyng sayd this
woman pleseth me so well yᵗ so sone she shall not departe from me. whan
the stewarde that herde he departed thens al sory. unneth he taryed
ony whyle but came to the kynge and sayd. My lorde the mornynge is
comen, therfore let the woman goo, leste yᵗ she be ashamed, as I have
promysed her. The kyng sayd yet shall she not go from me. [et] therfore
goo out and shet the dore ayen. The stewarde ryght sorowfull departed
and wente vp [et] downe with an heuy [et] an angry herte, tyll that
the fayre [et] the clere daye appered, and than entred ayen in to the
chamber and sayd. My lorde it is clere daye, suffre that woman to
departe that she be not therwith ashamed. The kynge answered/ I saye to
you for a trouth she shall not yet departe for her co_m_pany is to me
ryght pleasau_n_t [et] acceptable. The stewarde yᵗ hery_n_ge coude no
lenger forbere ne holde his owne cou_n_seyll, but sayd vnto yᵉ kyng. O
my good and gracyous lorde I beseche you suffre her to departe for it
is myn owne wyfe. The kynge herynge that sayd to hym. Open yᵉ wyndowe.
[et] whan it was open, the fayre [et] and the bryght day appered. he
behelde the woman ryght fayre and goodly. perceyued yᵗ it was yᵉ wyfe
of the stewarde [et] sayd to hym. O thou moste [et] worste rybaude or
knaue, why haste thou for so lytell money ashamed [et] vndone thy good
[et] fayre wyfe. [et] her vnto me vnwetyngly haste delyuered. Therfore
haste yᵉ [et] gete the out of my realme [et] neuer more herafter come
in my syghte, for frome hensforth yf euer I may se the thou shalt dye
yᵉ moost shamefull [et] horryblest dethe that euer canne be ymagyned.
Whan yᵉ stewarde herde yᵗ he fled his waye [et] durste not abyde [et]
was neuer so hardy ony more to come in to that realme. And yᵉ ky_n_ge
kepte yᵉ wyfe al hys lyuedayes in grete worshyp, and gaue to hyr plente
of all thynges that to her behoued [et] appertayned. After that the
kynge lete do gadre [et] assemble a grete [et] a myghty armye [et]
puyssau_n_ce of men of werre. [et] went to Rome with grete myght, [et]
besyeged the cyte on all sydes, so long tyll that the Romayns wolde
haue delyuered hym for to haue departed and withdrawen hymself from
thens the bodyes of the holy apostles Petyr [et] Poule. Than was there
in yᵉ cyte seuen wyse maysters as ye nowe haue, by the cou_n_seyll of
whome all the cyte was gyded [et] gouerned. And the cytezeyns came too
theym and sayd. what shall we do, it behoueth vs as that we delyuere
vnto oure dedely ennemyes the bodyes of the holy apostles or elles
ye cyte. Tho answered yᵉ fyrste mayster. I shall wᵗ my wysdome [et]
connynge this day yᵉ cyte [et] yᵉ body of the apostles saue. [et] so
one after another promysed to doo yᵉ same, eueryche of theym for one
daye. In lyke wyse as yᵉ maysters haue promysed your sone. wᵗ that yᵉ
kynge began to assaute the cyte on all partyes. Tho began yᵉ fyrste
mayster to saye, [et] to alledge so wysely for to haue pease, yᵗ yᵉ
kynge that day lefte his assaute makynge [et] withdrewe hym a lytyll
fro the cyte. [et] soo dyde all the maysters one after an other vnto
the laste. To whome came yᵉ burgeyses [et] sayd. O mayster ye shall
vnderstande that yᵉ kynge hath made his othe [et] sworne that to morowe
wᵗ al his puyssaunce [et] strength he wyll haue [et] wynne the cyte.
Or elles we muste all be in jeoperdye too lese our lyues. Therfore in
aquytynge of your promyse defende [et] kepe vs from daunger lyke as
all your felowes afore haue done. to that answered yᵉ mayster [et]
sayd be of good comforte [et] fere not, for too morowe I shall by
my connynge shewe suche a werke and operacyons / that the kyng with
all his puissaunce and myght shal fle [et] leue the syege. The nexte
daye the kynge made [et] gaue a grete assaute too the cyte. Tho went
the mayster and endued or clothed hymselfe with a meruayvesture or
clothynge hauynge therin the fethers or yᵉ tayles of pecockes and of
other foules of dyuers coloures. and toke two bryght swerdes in eche
hande one. and went there with all and stode vpon the hygheste toure
of all the cyte. and began to meue and torne or shewe hymselfe aboute
on all partes towarde the oste so that they myght all beholde [et] se
hym. and he helde in his mouthe the two bryght swerdes yᵗ merueylously
shyned. They wᵗout of yᵉ kynges hoost that seyeng sayd to hym. O lorde
beholde vpon hyghest of yonder toure a wonderfull thynge or fygure. Ye
I se it wel yᵗ it is merueylous / but what it is I knowe not. They sayd
to hym It is Jhesus the god of yᵉ crysten folke yᵗ is come out of heuen
vs al to sle [et] destroye wᵗ his two swerdes yf wee here ony lenger
abyde. The kynge herynge that trembled for fere and sayde what shall
we do, there is but one way and that is that we anone go and departe
fro hens leste that theyr god auenge hvmselfe vpon vs. Tho began yᵉ
kynge wᵗ all his oste to fle, notwithstondȳge there was no nede. but
yᵗ they of yᵉ mayster were begyled [et] deceyued. And whan yᵉ romaynes
yᵗ sawe they hastely moued after al armed in good ordynaunce. [et] the
kynge wᵗ many of his people they kylled and destroyed, [et] also in
that manere by grete subtylte of yᵉ mayster was yᵉ myghty kynge wᵗ his
folke ouercomen. Then sayd thempresse to themperour, Lorde haue ye
vnderstande what I haue sayde. He sayd ye, well in yᵉ beste wyse. She
sayd, haue ye no herde what I haue sayd to you at the begynnynge of
this narracyon, of the stewarde that the kynge trusted so moche, which
for lucre of good shamed his owne wyfe, [et] he for that was dryuen
[et] banysshed out of the londe. In lyke wyse your sone for the desyre
and appetyte that he hath to the empyre, entendeth to co_n_founde and
destroye you. But while ye be in your myght [et] power do with hym as
yᵉ kynge did wᵗ his stewarde yf ye wyll not put hym to deth, banysshe
him out of your empyre, yᵗ ye without fere may leue in surete of your
lyue. And haue ye not also herde how yᵉ kyng lay before ye cyte of
Rome, [et] howe he was by the wyse maysters dec[e]yued [et] scorned yᵗ
he with his folke were kylled [et] slayne. In the same wyse yᵉ seuen
maysters entende to do wᵗ you. [et] by theyr false wyles and subtyltees
to deceyue you, [et] in the ende to sle you yᵗ your sone may regne.
Therupon answered themperour [et] sayd that shall not so be, for my
sone too morowe shal deye. Than commau_n_ded his seruaūtes that they
sholde lede his sone to hangynge. And as the folke herde that there was
a grete noyse [et] a gaderynge of theym and bewayled the dethe of yᵉ
only sone of themperour. And as yᵉ syxte mayster herde that, he hasted
hym too the Emperour [et] salued hym moche honourably, [et] he toke it
vntha_n_kfully, [et] thretned hym or menaced him to dye wᵗ his sone
for that he was wᵗ them made dompe, and a rybaude, yᵉ whiche he had
shewed vpon his wyfe. The mayster sayd. I haue deserued no deth wᵗ
your sone, but grete [et] large gyftes, for he is not dompe as ye shall
here wᵗin thre dayes yf he may lyue soo longe. and yf ye put hym too
deth for wordes of your wyfe, than shall I merueyll of your wysdome.
[et] without doute it shall happen to you as it somtyme happened to a
knyght that so moche alowed the saynges of his wyfe that he was bounde
to an horse tayle [et] drawen thrugh out all the cyte to the galowes.
Themperour sayde for the loue of god shewe me that example that I may
the better beware of that peryl. That wyl I not doo sayd the mayster,
wᵗout ye do cal ayen your sone. Than themperour commau_n_ded to call
his sone. And the mayster began afore al the folke to tel in this maner
folowynge.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_The Example of the Syxte Mayster._