loued aboue al other. And in that same cyte was an au_n_cyent knyght yᵗ
had wedded a fayre yonge wyfe as ye do thempres whiche aboue al other
thy_n_ges he loued. This lady coude synge ryht wel, [et] melodyously
[et] wᵗ suche swetnes yᵗ many drewe to her house [et] desyred her
company / It befell vpo_n_ a season as she sate in her house, yᵉ vysage
torned in to the strete yᵗ she myght se them that we_n_t by. [et] began
swetely tu synge, yᵗ all folke delyted for to here her. By chaunce
came that wayes a knyght of yᵉ Emperours courte [et] herde that voyce,
lyft vp his eyē [et] behelde her Intentyfly [et] anone he was taken
in her loue, and entred in to her house [et] fyll in communycacyon
wᵗ her of loue. [et] amonges al other he demau_n_ded what he sholde
gyue her too slepe by hym one nyght. She answered an hondred floreyns.
The knyght sayde, tell me whan I shall come, [et] I shall gyue you an
hondred floreyns. She sayd whan I may haue a conuenyent tyme I shal
sende for you. The nexte day she sange ayen in the same place, and it
fortuned the seco_n_de knyght of themperour to come by that same way,
the whiche in lykewyse was smyten in her loue, [et] also pr_o_mysed
her an hondred floreyns. To whom also she promysed to shewe hym a tyme
prouyded. The thyrd day was the thyrd knyght in lyke wyse caught in
her loue, the whiche also promysed an ho_n_dred floreyns, [et] she too
gyue hym knowelege of the tyme. Thyse thre knyghtes haue so secretly
spoken with that lady yᵗ none of them had knowlege of other. The lady
yᵗ was of malyce [et] cautelous replenysshed, came to her husbonde [et]
sayd, syr I haue secrete maters too shewe you, [et] folowe therein my
counseyll yf ye do it, our necessite or pouerte ye may largely releue.
The knyght sayd tel it me I shal holde it secrete [et] fulfyl it to my
power. She sayde thre knyghtes of thēperours court haue ben wᵗ me one
after an other in suche wyse yᵗ none knoweth of an other counseyll.
[et] euery of them haue offred me an hondred floreyns, myght we yᵉ
thre c florayns gete [et] no knowlege therof be had sholde it not be
to vs a grete helpe [et] our pouerte well releued. The knyght sayd,
forsoth yes, [et] therfore what someuer ye cou_n_seyl me to do I shall
folowe it. Tho sayd she, I shall gyue you this counseyll. whan they
come with the floreyns ye shall stande behynde yᵉ yate wᵗ your swerde
drawen in your hande. [et] bycause yᵗ euery of them comethe alone, ye
shall sle one after another, [et] so we shal haue the three c floreyns
of them without knowlege of ony other. The knyght answered. O my best
beloued wif I fere me that this euyll can notte be hydde, and we sholde
therfore shamefully suffre dethe yf that it were knowen. She sayd I
shall this werke begynne. [et] I shall make therof a good ende, and
fere it not. wha_n_ the knyght sawe that she was so hardy it caused hym
to be the more bolde. and she sent for the fyrst knyght and he came to
hyr anone with oute ony taryenge to the yate [et] knocked, [et] she
askyd yf he brought yᵉ c floreyns. and he sayd ye, I haue theym here
all redy. Tho lete she hy_m_ in. [et] anone at yᵉ entrynge in, her
husbonde kylled hym [et] so he dyde yᵉ seconde [et] the thyrde [et] in
to one secrete chamber they drewe the bodyes of them. Whan it was thus
done yᵉ knyght sayd to his lady. O dere wyfe yf thyse bodyes be founde
wᵗ vs, we shall dye yᵉ moost shamefull deth yᵗ can be ymagyned for it
is not possyble but yᵗ thyse knyghtes shall be myssed in themperours
courte. [et] grete serche [et] Inquysyon shall be for them made thrugh
all this cyte, where they are become. She sayde, Syr I haue this werke
begonne, [et] shal make therof a good ende, fere not, as I afore sayd.
This lady had a brother the whiche had the gouernau_n_ce of the watche
of yᵉ cyte that on yᵉ nyghtis vpon stretes watched wᵗ his felowes. She
stode at her gate [et] called her brother [et] sayde. O my best brodʳ
I haue a secrete mater the whiche in co_n_fessyon I shal shewe you.
[et] therfore come a lytyll withi_n_, [et] whan yᵗ he was come in, the
knyght receyued hym frendly [et] gaue hym wyne to drynke. [et] sayd,
my well beloued broder, this is yᵉ cause yᵗ I haue called you, for of
your cou_n_seyll I haue moche nede. The broder answered say it boldely
to me, [et] what someuer yᵗ I may do, to my power, yᵗ shall be at your
desyre wᵗout letty_n_ge. Tho sayd she, yesterdaye came in a knyght in
good frendshyp / but afterwarde he fyll in suche wordes [et] varyaunce
wᵗ my husbonde, yᵗ he slewe hym, [et] lyeth in my chamber. [et] myn
owne dere broder we haue noo man that we may truste but you. [et] yf
yᵉ body were fou_n_de by vs we sholde dye. [et] she made mencyon but
of one. yᵉ brother sayd delyuer it me in a sacke [et] I shall bere
hy_m_ to yᵉ see. she herynge yᵗ was full glad thereof, [et] delyuered
to hy_m_ the body of yᵉ fyrste knyght. he toke it [et] went wᵗall a
good pase [et] cast it therin. [et] as this was done, he came ayen to
his syster [et] sayde, gyue me nowe of the beste wyne for ye are of
hym quyte. [et] she thanked hy_m_ [et] went in to as though she had
gone for wyne and began to crye wᵗ an hygh voyce, yᵉ knyghte that was
caste in to the see is come ayen. As her brother yᵗ herde he wondred
sore, [et] sayde gyue me hym. I shall se yf he shall aryse ayen. [et]
toke the body of the seconde knyght [et] wende it had ben of the fyrst
knyght [et] went to the see, [et] wᵗ a grete stone drowned hym therin.
yᵗ done, went ayen vnto his systers house [et] sayde, nowe fyll me a
cuppe with good wyne, for I haue drowned hym so depe yᵗ he shall neuer
come ayen. she sayd thanked be god [et] went ayen too her chamber [et]
fayned her to fetche wyne. [et] cryed with a grete voyce. Alas wo be to
me he is rysen ayen and come out of yᵉ see. [et] as her brother herde
that with grete meruaylle sayd. what deuyll is this knyght that I haue
thus caste in to yᵉ water [et] notwithstandynge is comen ayen. Delyuer
hy_m_ me yᵉ thyrde tyme, [et] I shall se yf he shall come ayen. Tho
gaue she hym yᵉ thyrde knxght (_sic_), whiche he byleued had ben yᵉ
fyrste knyght, [et] yede wᵗoute ye cyte to a grete foreste [et] made
a grete fyre [et] caste the knyght therin. [et] whan he was almost
brente, yᵉ brodʳ went thens a lytel dystau_n_ce to do his nede. Tho
came there a knyght yᵗ wolde ryde to yᵉ cyte where on yᵉ morny_n_ge
they sholde haue a tourneye [et] a Justy_n_g. [et] it was colde weder
[et] derke, [et] was not fer fro yᵉ cyte. As yᵗ he had a syght of that
fyre drewe therto [et] alyghted from his horse [et] warmed hy_m_.
The waker came [et] sayd to hy_m_ what arte yᵘ. The knyght sayd I am
a gentyl knyghte. Tho spake yᵉ waker [et] sayd, yᵘ arte no knyght
but a deuyll for fyrste I caste ye in to the water, the ii tyme wᵗ a
grete stone I drowned the, [et] the iii tyme I haue put yᵉ in this
fyre supposynge yᵗ yᵘ haddest be brente. [et] yet yᵘ standest here,
[et] tho he toke yᵉ knyght wᵗ his hors [et] cast them both in to the
fyre. [et] after yᵗ he went aye_n_ to his syster [et] tolde what had
hapned hy_m_. Nowe bry_n_ge me of yᵉ beste wyne, for after yᵗ I had
brente hym I fou_n_de hym ayen by yᵉ fyre wᵗ his horse, [et] I haue
caste them both in the fyre. [et] his syster perceyued well yᵗ he had
brent a knyght of the tourney whiche anone broughte hy_m_ of yᵉ best
wyne habu_n_dau_n_tly. [et] after he had wel dronken he went thens.
Not longe tyme after that there fyll a grete debate [et] co_n_tencōn
betwyx the knyghte [et] his wyfe, in such wyse yᵗ he smote her. which
had indygnacyon therof [et] waxed angry [et] sayd that many myght
here it, O wretche wyll ye kylle me as ye haue done the thre knyghts
of themperours. men yᵗ herynge layde handes on them, [et] brought
them before yᵉ emperour [et] yᵉ woman anone knowleged yᵗ hyr husbonde
had slayne the thre knyghtes of themperours [et] how he toke fro them
thre hondred floreyns [et] as it was thus in trouth fou_n_de, bothe
were drawen atte an horse tayll and hanged vppon the galowes. Than
sayd yᵉ mayster to themperour, haue ye vnderstande what I haue sayd.
He answered ryghte well. I saye for certayne that wyfe was yᵉ worste
woman that myght be of all wymme_n_, for she moued [et] styred hy_m_ to
murdre, [et] afterwarde dyscouered hym. The mayster sayd, It is wᵗoute
doubte yᵗ it shall to you happen worse yf ye put to deth your sone by
yᵉ aduyse of your wyfe. Themperour sayd, my sone shall not dye this
day. The mayster yᵗ herynge yaue thankynges to themperour, and toke
leue [et] went his waye.
[Illustration]
_The Seuenth Complaynte of the Empresse._
Whan the empresse herde yᵗ the sone of themperour was yet lyuynge, as
a mad woman she ranne to themperour wepynge [et] cryenge. O vnhappy
wyfe what shall I doo. alas alas for I muste nedes sle myselfe yᵗ so
am ashamed [et] no punysshement there vpon done. Themperour answered,
God defende you suche thy_n_ges to haue in mynde, but suffer a whyle,
[et] ye shall haue a good ende in your cause. She answered, Syr yʳ ende
shall be euyll, for of yᵗ shal folowe to you grete co_n_fusyon [et]
to me. Themperour sayd, be styl of such thy_n_ges. She sayd, Lorde it
shall come to you [et] your sone as it happened to a kynge [et] to his
stewarde. Themperour sayd I praye you tell me that example. She sayde
I wyll gladly tell it, but I fere me that ye wyl here me no more, for
yᵉ next day yᵉ seue_n_th mayster shal speke [et] saue your sone from
yᵉ deth as his felowes haue done. The seconde day after this then your
sone shal speke, of whoos wordes ye shal haue [et] take svche joy [et]
delectacyon yᵗ the loue betwyxte vs shall bee holy forgeten [et]
wasshed away. Themperour sayd that is Impossyble to me, for I shal
neuer your loue forgete. Tho sayd she, O my best beloued lorde, please
it you I shal tel you one example, by yᵉ whiche ye shall beware before
of many perylles in tyme comynge, [et] specyally of your cursed sone,
whiche entendeth to destroy me by his maysters. The emperour sayd, tell
on your example. and the Empresse began to tell in this wyse ensuynge.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_The Seuenth Example of the Empresse._
There was somtyme a kyng, the whiche loued his wyfe aboue all thynge.
in so moche that he closed her in a stronge castell, [et] bare yᵉ keyes
of the castel hymselfe. The lady was therfore ryght heuy [et] desolate.
Now in ferre partyes there was a valyaunte knyght yᵉ whiche in a nyght
had a dreme after this effecte. For he thought that he sawe one of the
fayreste quenes yᵗ myght be. yᵉ which aboue all thynges desyred to
haue her loue. yᵗ yf he myghte se her walkynge he sholde clerely haue
knowlege of, by whome to hym grete frendshyp [et] worship sholde come.
To yᵉ quene in yᵉ same nyght by vysyon of the sayd knyght, it was to
her also shewed. [et] yet they hadde of eche other neyther knowlege of
name neyther of fame. Whan yᵉ knyght had thus dremed [et] seen in his
slepe, he thought [et] determyned in his mynde that his fote sholde not
reste vnto yᵉ tyme tyll he had founde that lady, yᵗ to hym was shewed
in his vysyon. and lepte vpon his horse / and toke with hym all that
to hym was necessarye for his journey. and rode and laboured thrughe
dyuerse regyons and londes soo longe tyll at the last he came vnto the
same londe, where that the quene was by her husbonde closed or kepte in
a stronge castel. And wha_n_ this sayd knyght was come in to yᵉ same
cyte, and by a certayne season had there soiourned, it happened on a
day as this knyght walked by the castell, and knewe not yᵗ yᵉ quene was
therin she sate in a wy_n_dowe to beholde [et] see yᵉ people goynge
by. [et] amonge all other she sawe the sayd knyght, and knewe that
he was the same man that she had dremed of. And yᵗ knyght by chaunce
lyfte vp his eyen [et] perceyued yᵉ lady syttyng in the wyndowe. [et]
anone his minde shewed hym yᵗ it was she yᵗ he the dremes of had. [et]
he began to synge a songe of loue. And as she herde yᵗ she was anone
taken wᵗ his loue. The knyghte from thensforth dayly went [et] walked
aboute yᵉ castell beholdynge it ouer all yᵗ yf in ony maner wyse he
myght gete to her too shewe his mynde. The lady perceyuy_n_ge that she
wrote a letter [et] cast it downe to hym. And whan he had sene ouer
yᵉ letter, [et] understode yᵉ wyll of that lady, he began to haunte
Joustes [et] tournamentes [et] dyde so many gret [et] merueylous actes
or dedes, that yᵉ name of hym came to the kynge. And as the kynge herde
that he sent after hym [et] sayd to hym, Syr knyght I haue herde moche
honour of you. yf it wyll please you for to abyde [et] to dwell wᵗ vs,
we shall gyue you large gyftes [et] rewardes. The knyght answerd, O
ryght myg[h]ty prynce I am your seruaunte, wolde god yᵗ I coude do ony
seruyse to please your magnyfycence, wᵗout takynge of rewarde saue one
thyng afore all other I desyre. The kynge sayd, shewe it boldely what
thynge yᵗ it is. The knyght sayd, My lorde sythen yᵗ it hath pleased
you for to take me as your seruau_n_t [et] one of youre counseyll, me
semeth that it were expedyent for bothe our solaces, that I hadde a
place nyghe too the wall of the castell: that I myght at all tymes be
the more redy at your callynge whan that ye haue nede. Then̄e the
kynge sayd I consente it to you make it as ye thy_n_ke it beste. Tho
wente the knyght [et] hyred werkeme_n_ [et] made a fayre logynge by yᵉ
walles of yᵉ toure. [et] wha_n_ it was all redy, He made a couenau_n_t
wᵗ a werkeman for to make out of his house a secret way in to yᵉ tour
[et] whan it was made redy after his entente, he kylled yᵉ werkeman
by cause he sholde not dyscouer. [et] went in to yᵉ quene [et] dyde
to her reuerence accordy_n_g [et] they talked of many thynges, yᵗ at
thende he desyred for to slepe by her, which she oftentymes denyed,
but neueryᵉles she co_n_sented to hy_m_. After yᵗ yᵉ quene thought
what shall I do, yf I sholde gyue knowlege herof vnto my husbo_n_d,
therof sholde come two euyls yᵉ one is my shame, [et] yᵗ by auenture
he sho[l]de vtterly forsake me [et] dryue me out of his londe for
euer, [et] yᵉ knyght he sholde sle, for fro yᵉ dethe he coude not
escape, [et] therfore it is better yᵗ I be styll [et] tell not. The
knyght after yᵗ as oftentymes as it pleased hym he went in to the
quene, [et] dyde his wyll with her. And she gaue hym a rynge the whiche
yᵉ kyng had gyuen vnto her at theyr weddynge. This knyght in euery
batayll and tournamēadde the vyctory wherfore he was and stode in
grete fauour with the kynge insomoche that he made hy_m_ his stewarde
[et] gouernoure of al his Regyon [et] lond. ¶ It happened vppon a daye
that the kynge dysposed hym selfe for too goo too chase or huntynge,
and he commaunded his stewarde for too make hym redy vppon the morowe
for too goo with hym, whertoo he offred hym selfe all redy. ¶ And on
the morowe after they entred in to yᵉ forest, [et] all that daye they
chased, [et] folowed yᵉ wylde bestes that they were so wery that yᵉ
kynge by a fontayne sate hy_m_ downe to reste. [et] yᵉ knyghte by yᵉ
kynge, [et] fyll on slepe by hym, hauynge yᵉ ry_n_ge vpon his fynger,
yᵉ whiche the kynge marked [et] knewe. After yᵗ the knyght perceyued yᵗ
the kynge had sene the rynge, fayned hymself seke [et] sayd, My lorde
I fele my selfe sore seke [et] yf I fynde not hastely remedy therfore
by the meanes [of] physyke I am but a dede ma_n_ [et] therfore I pray
you lycence me to go home. To whome he sayd, go my dere frend in goddes
name. he anone gate on his horse [et] hasted hy_m_ to his house, [et]
wente to the quene [et] gave her ayen yᵉ rynge, [et] tolde her how yᵉ
kynge had marked it [et] sene it on his fynger, [et] prayed her yf he
made ony questyons of yᵉ rynge yᵗ [s]he sholde shewe it to hy_m_. This
done, he went downe ayen to his lodgy_n_ge. And anone after yᵗ the
kynge came to the quene [et] she receyued hym ryght louy_n_gly, [et]
after yᵗ a lytyl tyme was passed, the kyng sayd, My lady shew me where
yᵉ ryng is that I gaue to you, I desyre to se it. O my lorde to what
entente at this tyme desyre ye to se it. Than sayd he, yf ye shewe it
not to me Inco_n_tyne_n_t it shall repente you. She rose anone vp [et]
went to [her] cheste [et] brought the ry_n_ge to yᵉ kynge. And as he
sawe yᵉ rynge he was half ashamed, [et] sayd vnto her, O howe lyke is
the knyghtes rynge vnto this rynge, whyche I sawe vpon his fynger, and
I bileued that it had ben my rynge, and therfore it was that I asked
it of you so hastely after the rynge. And of this euyll suspecyon I
yelde my selfe gylty ayenst you my dere lady, in this behalfe, for yᵉ
strength of the toure deceyued me, for I thy_n_ke yᵗ noo man myght come
therin, but I myself alone. She sayde, My dere lorde, wondʳ not for one
rynge is lyke an other, for werke men make seldome ony werke, but yᵉ
other make the same, but god forgyue it you that ye haue had me suspect
whan ye knowe the strength of yᵉ toure, [et] the keyes ye haue alway
by you, [et] byleue no man therwᵗ. After yᵗ the knyght lete ordeyn̄
a grete dyner [et] sayd to the ky_n_ge, my lorde it is so that my lady
in loue is come out of my countre [et] I haue done to be made a feste
or a dyner. [et] gladly I wolde pray you that at this tyme ye wyll doo
me honour, [et] take suche mete as is in my house. he kynge sayd I shal
gladly do you yᵗ worshypp [et] more. The knight was therof glad, [et]
by his secrete way went to the quene [et] sayd to her, My lady this
day ye shal come to my house by my preuy way, [et] clothe you in ryche
clothynge after the way of my cou_n_tre, [et] ye shal syt at the table
wᵗ the kynge as my souerayne lady, [et] make hy_m_ good there. She
sayd as ye wyll I shall it all thȳges fulfyll, [et] whan the houre of
mete was come, [et] the ky_n_ge from the castell was comyng towardes
the knyghtes house, In the meane tyme the quene entred by the secrete
way in to the knyghtes lodgynge [et] apparayled her after the maner of
the knyghtes countre. and whan the kynge was entred in to the house,
she salued hym reuerently and receyued hym. and whan the kynge hadde
beholden her he demaunded of the knyghte, what woman is this that is
so fayr. Then yᵉ knyght sayd my lorde it is my souerayne lady that
now is come out of my cou_n_tre after me. I haue taryed longe in her
seruyce. Then the knyght set the kynge att yᵉ table as it behoued. [et]
made the quene to syt by hym / [et] the kynge thoughte that it was his
quene, and sayd wᵗin hymself, O how lyke is this woman vnto my wyfe.
So yᵉ strength of the toure deceyued hym, that he gaue more fayth and
credence to yᵉ knyghtes wordes than he dyde vnto his owne eyen. The
quene began̄e for to speke [et] talke vnto the kynge and to styre
hym for to ete and drynke [et] to make good chere. And wha_n_ as the
kynge herde her voyce and speche than he sayd to hymselfe, O blessed
lady, lyke is this woman vnto my quene, in her behauyng / in speche /
in vysage / [et] in all other thy_n_ges [et] condycyons. and alwayes yᵉ
strengthe of the toure fayled hym. In the ende of yᵉ mete, yᵉ knyghte
prayed his loue to synge a songe afore yᵉ kyng the whiche began for to
synge a songe of loue. whan as he herde that [et] knewe her voyce, he
thought is not this my wyfe. How may it be she. haue not I the keyes
of yᵉ toure my selfe in kepynge. and soo all the mete tyme he sate
and strofe within hymselfe. Tho att the laste he sayde vnto the knyght
that he sholde take vp the table for he hadde somwhat for too done for
why that he sate in suche a grete thought, and aduysemēt. The knyght
answered and sayde, My lorde ye make noo good chere, ye are full of
thoughtes. And yf it please you we shall make to you more sporte [et]
solace. And the woman sayd please it you syr kynge here by vs tarye.
we shall make you all the sporte [et] solace that we can, lyke as yᵉ
quene is in her solace [et] conforte. He sayd take away the table, for
I may no lenger abyde. Then the knyght at the commaundement of yᵉ kynge
toke vp the table, [et] thanked theym all. And yᵉ kynge wente hastely
vnto the castell in serchynge whether yᵗ the quene were wᵗin or not.
And in the meane whyle the quene went vp by her preuy way, [et] put of
her vppermost vestures [et] the kynge founde her in the same clothynge
that he lefte her afore. Whan as the kynge was entred [et] so founde
her, he embraced [et] kyssed her [et] sayd vnto her. This day I haue
eten wᵗ my knyghte and wᵗ his loue that is come out of his cou_n_tree,
and sythen I was borne vnto this day myn eyen hath not sene two so
lyke creatures in al thyng as she is to you and this mete tyme I haue
be soo moche styred with dyuerse thy_n_ges yᵗ I coude no lenger abyde
there, but yᵗ I muste come [et] serche whether ye were here or theyre.
Tho sayd yᵉ quene, Syr how myght ye thynke yᵗ, for ye knowe well yᵗ
this toure is fast, [et] stronge ynoughe [et] that no body can come
in nor out wᵗout you, for ye alone haue alwayes the keye. How were
it then possyble for me to be there. Ye fynde somtyme one man lyke on
other and therfore ye sholde take none argumētes of mysdemyng or of
suspycion, as ye late dyde of the rynge. The kynge sayd, that is true
and therfore I knowlege my selfe gylty that I haue mysdemed you. After
that came to hym yᵉ knyght [et] sayd, My lorde I haue of long tyme
serued your good grace, and now it is tyme that I retourne ayen in to
my countre [et] therfore for all the seruyce yᵗ I haue done vnto you
I desyre of you but one thynge to do for me. yᵗ my lorde ye whiche I
entende to wedde in the face of the chyrche, which hath folowed me out
of ferre countrees, [et] her I shall brynge thyder ayen as my laweful
wyfe. Therfore I beseche and praye your noble grace that ye wyll do me
this honour, that by your owne honde ye wyll gyue her afore the preest
vnto me, the whiche shallbe vnto me greete honour and worshyp whan I
come into my countree. The kynge answered, yᵗ petycyon and more yf ye
desyre it that shall I gladly doo and fulfyll it. The knyght prefyxed
the daye of maryage. To the whiche daye this good kynge came to the
chyrche worshypfully. The preest was redy [et] stode indued wᵗ his
vestymentes for to solemnyse the matrymonye. The knyght had the quene
all redy apparayled in his owne house after his maner [et] had ordeyned
two knyghtes for to lede her to the chyrche, they byleuynge that it had
ben his paramour. And whan they were before in the face of yᵉ chyrche
yᵉ preest sayd, who shall gyue this woman vnto this knyght. Then the
ky_n_ge sayd, I shall gyue her to myn owne knyght. and toke her by the
hande [et] sayd vnto her, O good woman ye are moche lyke vnto my quene,
and therfore I loue you the better, and also for that ye be my knyghtes
wyfe and shall be of my house. and putte the quenes hande in to yᵉ
knyghtes hand. and yᵉ preest after yᵉ maner of the chyrche hath bounde
[et] wedded them togyder. and whan all this was fynysshed [et] done the
knyghte sayd vnto yᵉ kyng, Syr my shyp yᵗ I entende to go in towardes
my countre is all redy to make sayle wherfore I humbly beseche hyghly
your moost noble grace that it wyl please you for to accompany my
wy[fe] therunto [et] that ye wyll aduertyse [et] enfourme her[4] that
she loue me [et] haue me in fauoure aboue all other creatures lyuynge,
and the rather for your gode excytacyon [et] doctryne. Thenne the kynge
with a grete multytude of people went with theym [et] accompanyed theym
vnto the shyppe of whoos departynge many of them were dolaunte to the
shyppe. the kynge began to say vnto the quene, my moost dere frende,
herken now well vnto my counseyll and folowe it, for it shall be for
your honour [et] proufyte. My knyght hath now here wedded [et] done to
you al yᵉ worshypp yᵗ in hym is. wherfore loke yᵗ ye loue [et] honour
hym aboue all erthly creatures [et] yᵗ hath god commaunded [et] that ye
be too hym true [et] obedyent. [et] as this was sayd he delyuered her
vnto yᵉ knyght saynge my blessyng go wᵗ you both, [et] our lorde kepe
[et] conduyte you in sauete to your cou_n_tre. Then the knyght and the
quene bowed and enclyned down̄ her hedes vnto yᵉ kynge. [et] thanked
hym of all thyngs and they commytted hym to god and entred in to the
shyppe and the maryners haled up the sayles and sayled forth afore the
wynde soo that wᵗin a short tyme the kyng had lost yᵉ syght of the
shyp. And from the_n_s he went hastely to yᵉ castell [et] myssed the
quene. [et] wha_n_ he founde her not / he was meued in all the partes
of his body. [et] sought all about yᵉ toure and serched, tyll at laste
he founde yᵉ hole or yᵉ secrete way yᵗ the knyght had made. [et] as he
saw that, than cryed he and weped and sayd, Alas alas this knyght in
whom I hadde so grete confydence [et] truste hath taken away my wyfe,
was I not a fole yᵗ I gaue more fayth in to his words then I dyde to
myne owne eyen. Than sayd thempresse, My lorde haue ye vnderstand what
I haue sayde. Themperour sayd ryght wel in yᵉ best wyse. Then sayd
thempresse, remember how yᵗ he trusted the knyghte [et] yet he deceyued
hy_m_. In the same manere wyse ye haue confydence in the seuen wyse
maysters / and they laboure for to destroye me that am your wyfe. [et]
ye gyue more fayth vnto theyr wordes than ye do vnto your owne eyen.
for ye haue well sene how yᵗ youre sone rente and scratched me. Wherof
yet I bere and haue the tokens [et] the markes as ye may see. And also
ye knowe well how that your cursed sone hath me ashamed [et] ye marke
not howe they defende hym in his foly and falshede. Therfore it is to
be dradde yᵗ it shall happen to you as it dyde to the kynge that too
you I haue spoken of. Themperour sayd, I byleue myn eyen better than
theyr wordes. [et] therfore I say you yᵗ to morowe I shall do justyce
of hym. On yᵉ morowe the Emperour commaunded that his sone sholde be
hanged. Tho began ayen a grete noyse in and [bewailing amongst the
common people for the death of the Emperor's only son. At last when the
seventh master heard it, he ran immediately unto the officers, which
were leading him to the gallows, and said: My friends, I pray you not
to make overmuch haste but stay your hands a while, for I think this
day (with the help of the Almighty God) to save him from all perils;
and from thence the master hasteth himself to the Emperor's Palace, and
did him reverence according to his accustomed duty. But the Emperor
with great indignation made him this answer: Never more have you any
joy in this world, for that you have sent my son home untaught and
dumb, whom I delivered unto you well speaking, for which cause you
shall all be put to death with him. The master answered: O most noble
Emperor, the time is not long betwixt this and tomorrow noon; then
(by the grace of God) you shall hear him speak discreetly, and shall
declare the truth of all things, and this I promise you he will perform
to the full, upon pain of my life, if you will spare him so long a
time; if you find it not so, then take my life and the lives of us all.
Then said the Emperor: If I might but hear my son speak, it would give
me sufficient content, and I would not desire longer to live. Then
answered the master: All this and more you shall hear and see, and
confess it to be true, if you will but abide this little time: and then
the strife that hath been betwixt us and the Empress will clearly be
decided. And if you suffer him to be put to death through the words of
your most ungodly wife, I tell you of a truth it shall happen worse to
you than it did to a knight that died for a little blood that he saw
his wife to bleed, to whom afterwards she was most unnatural. Then said
the Emperor: That example I would fain hear. Then said the master: Let
your son be called again, and I shall tell you so notable an example
that during your life you may beware of the unsteadfastness of woman.
Then the Emperor said: I shall go call my son again upon condition that
tomorrow I shall hear him speak as you have promised. The master said:
Do that, my lord, for it shall so be. And began to tell as followeth.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_The Example of the Seuenth Mayster._