so moche that he coude not be out of her syght. It hapned on a tyme yᵗ
they played togyder at the chesse, [et] yᵉ knyght by chau_n_ce helde
a knyfe in his hande [et] she playng fortuned to smyte her hand vpon
yᵉ knyf, yᵗ a lytel blode began to appere. Whan yᵉ knyght sawe that
his wyfe bled he sorowed moche and was sore aferde of his wyfe yᵗ he
fel to the grounde in a swoune. his wyfe cast colde water vpon his
vysage, yᵗ he a lytell came ayen too hymselfe [et] sayd lyghtely call
the curate wᵗ the holy sacramente for I muste deye for the blood yᵗ I
haue seen come out of your fy_n_ger hath smyten the deth to my herte.
The preest came and houseled hym. [et] anone after he dyed wᵗout ony
taryeng, for whoos deth there was made grete sorowe [et] bewayly_n_ges
and specyally of yᵉ wyfe. And after that the obsequyes [et] buryenge
was done accordynge she went and lay vpon the buryel or graue and there
she made the gretest sorowe of the worlde, and sayd that she wolde
neuer departe from thens, but as a turtyll douue she wolde for the
loue of her husbonde there abyde [et] dye. Tho went her fren[ds] vnto
her and sayd what auayleth this for his soule to lyue [et] dye here,
it is better yᵗ ye go to your house [et] gyue almes for yᵉ loue of god
[et] yᵗ shal more auayle his soule, than in this place to abyde. To
whom she answerd be styll ye are euyll co_u_nselours. Co_n_syder not
ye how I am fro hy_m_ seperate [et] departed by his deth for a lytell
blode yᵗ he sawe com out of my ho_n_d or fy_n_ger,[et] therfore I shall
neuer fro hens departe. Her frendes hery_n_ge yᵗ lete make a lytell
house or lodgynge nygh vnto yᵉ graue, [et] put therin all thynges yᵗ
to her was necessarye [et] went theyr wayes thy_n_kynge that within a
whyle she sholde be wery to be alone, [et] so desolate from all company
[et] yᵗ therby she sholde desyre ayen yᵉ company of people. In yᵗ cyte
was thenne a lawes (_sic_) yᵗ whan a trespassour or offendour ayenst
the lawe were hanged, yᵗ yᵉ shyryf all yᵗ nyght sholde watche [et] kepe
the body all armed, [et] yf it hapned yᵗ the body of hym hanged were
stolen away, yᵉ seryf sholde lese all his londe, [et] his lyfe at yᵉ
kynges pleasure. It hapned sone after yᵗ the knyghte was dede a man
to be hanged for trepasse that he had done, so that yᵉ sheryf after
yᵉ lawe of the londe all the nyght watched by yᵉ galowes yᵗ was not
fer fro yᵉ cyte, [et] yᵉ chyrcheyerde was not ferre from the walles of
yᵉ same. Tho became yᵉ sheryf so colde yᵗ he wyst not but to dye for
colde, wᵗout the rather yᵗ he myghte warme hym. it was so feruent a
colde [et] so stronge a froste, and he behelde fro thens about hym [et]
sawe yᵉ fyre in yᵉ chyrcheyerde, [et] hasted hym [et] came therto,
[et] whan he was come he called [et] knocked at the lytyll house. The
woman spake who is that yᵗ at this houre is knockynge at yᵉ house of
this sorowfull woman. I am yᵉ shyref that so moche colde suffreth yᵗ
wᵗout anone ye late me in I shall frese to deth. She sayd, I fere me yf
that I lete you come in ye sholde shewe me such wordes yᵗ sholde cause
me for to be more heuyer. [et] he sayd I promyse vnto you yᵗ I shall
saye no wordes to your dyspleasure. Then lete she hym in. and whan he
awhyle had sytten by yᵉ fyre [et] was well warmed he sayd to her, O
fayre woman wᵗ your lycence wolde I fayne speke but one worde vnto you.
She answered to hym, syr say what it pleaseth you. He sayd, O lady ye
be a fayr gentyl woman ryche [et] yonge. were it not better [et] more
conuenyent for you to dwell at home in your house [et] to gyue almesse
than to destroye [et] consume your lyfe here wᵗ wepynes [et] cryenges.
She sayde syr knyght had I knowen this afore ye had not come herin for
I say to you, as I haue sayd too other oftentymes, ye knowe well yᵗ
my husbonde loued me so well that for a lytyll bloode yᵗ he sawe me
blede on one of my fyngers he is dede, wherfore I shall here deye for
the loue of hym. As the knyght herde this he toke leue and wente to
the galowes [et] whan he was there come, he sawe yᵗ the theef that he
left there hangynge was stolen [et] caryed awaye, [et] began therfore
to wexe heuy [et] full of sorowe, [et] sayd, wo is me what shall I do
for I haue loste my lyfe and all my good. And he goynge thus full of
sorowe [et] heuynesse, [et] wyste not whyche waye to torne hym or to
go, at the laste bethought hym to go to yᵗ deuoute [et] desolate lady,
[et] shewe vnto hyr yᵉ heuynesse of his herte, to wyte yf yᵗ she coude
gyue hym ony gode counseyll. And whan he was theder come he called,
[et] she axed the cause of his knockynge. Tho sayd he, madame I am
the shyref that was here ryght now wᵗ you, [et] I wolde feyne shewe
you yᵉ secretes of myn herte. Therfore I praye you for yᵉ loue of god
open the dore. and he wente in [et] sayd to her O moost vertuous lady
I come to haue your counseyll and aduys, for ye knowe well yᵉ lawe of
yᵉ londes are that whan so euer ony man is hanged [et] stolen awaye
of the galowes, than the shyref his lyfe and godes be in yᵉ kynges
handes. Nowe it is happened in yᵉ tyme that I was here with you [et]
warmed me, yᵉ theef is stolen away frome yᵉ galowes, therfore I praye
you for the loue of god gyue me your aduys what is me beste to do. She
answered I haue compassyon vpon you, for by the lawe ye haue loste lyfe
[et] goodes to yᵉ kynge. Do nowe after my cou_n_seyll, [et] ye shall
neyther lese lyfe ne godes. He answered therfore I came to you hopynge
to haue gode comforth. She sayd wyll ye than promyse to take me to your
wyfe. the knyght answered, wolde god that ye wolde do yᵗ, but I fere me
leste yᵗ ye wolde dysdeyne so moche to humble you too me yᵗ am so pore
a knyght. She sayd I gyue you my wyl therto, [et] he yaue her ayen his
wyll [et] consented too be her knyght durynge his lyfe. Tho sayd she,
ye knowe well yᵗ suche a daye my lorde was buryed whiche for yᵉ loue
of me deyed, take hym oute of his sepulture, [et] go hange hym in stede
of yᵉ theef. The knyght answered lady your cou_n_seyll is good. Tho
went they togyder [et] opened the graue [et] drewe hym out. The knyght
sayd howe shall we nowe doo, by cause or the theef was taken, two of
his vpper tethe were smyten oute, [et] I fere me yf yᵗ were perceyued I
shold be dede. She sayd to hym, take a stone and stryke oute two of his
tethe. The knyght answered, madame yᵗ may not do for while he lyued he
was my wel beloued felowe [et] it sholde be to me a grete rebuke, yf I
cōmytted soo dysloyall a dede vnto his body beynge dede. She answered
for your loue I shall do it, [et] toke a stone [et] smote out two of
his tethe, [et] sayd to the shyref, take hy_m_ [et] hange him vpon yᵉ
galowes lyke to yᵉ theef. The knyght sayde I fere me to do it, for yᵉ
theef in takynge of hy_m_ was wou_n_ded in yᵉ hede, [et] he wanted both
his eres, [et] therfore yf it were serched [et] founde otherwyse, it
sholde be to my vtter vndoynge. Than sayd she, take out your swerde
[et] make hym a grete wounde in his hede, [et] cut of his eres. O
madame god forbede yᵗ I do yᵗ to the dede body yᵗ I loued so well in
hys lyfe. Than sayd she, gyue me your swerde [et] I shal for yᵉ loue
of you do it. [et] toke yᵉ swerde [et] smote a manly stroke vpon yᵉ
dede mānes forhede, [et] cut of bothe his eres. And whan she hadde thus
done, sayd, now take [et] hange hym wᵗout company. [et] than yᵉ knyght
answered, yet I fere me to ha_n_ge hy_m_, for yᵉ theef wanted both his
stones, [et] yf that were serched [et] fou_n_de wᵗout, all your labour
were in vayn. Then sayd she, I sawe neuer so feerfull a man seyng yᵉ
mater so clere [et] sure. Take a knyfe [et] cut of his stones. And he
answered, yᵗ may I not do in no wyse and therfore I pray you spare me,
[et] yᵉ knowe well what a man is wᵗout his stones. She sayd for yᵉ
loue of you I shall do it. And toke ye knyf in her hande [et] cutte
of husbondes stones, and [sayd] to hym, nowe take this churle thus
dysfygured and hange hym vp withoute drede. And went forth togyder and
henge vp the body vpo_n_ yᵉ galowes [et] so was the shyref delyuered
out of the ky_n_ges daunger. Tho sayd yᵉ lady, now be ye quyte of all
your daungeours [et] fere [et] all thy sorowes by my cou_n_seyll. And
therfore I wyll yᵗ ye wedde me in yᵉ face of yᵉ chyrche. The knyghte
sayde I haue made a vowe yᵗ I shal neuer wed other as longe as ye lyue,
which I wyl holde. but afterwarde he sayd, O yᵉ moost shameful [et]
worst woma_n_ of al wȳmen who wolde take ye to his wyfe. An honourable
[et] a louynge knyght was thy husbo_n_de, whiche for a lytel blode yᵗ
he sawe of thy fy_n_ger shed dyed. now haste yᵘ smyten out two of his
tethe, yᵘ haste cutte of his eeres, [et] his stones, [et] yᵘ haste made
hy_m_ a grete wounde in his hede, what deuyll wolde wed yᵉ, [et] by
cause yᵗ yᵘ shal neuer shame more good man, I shal rede yᵉ, [et] drewe
his swerde [et] wᵗ one stroke he smote of her hede. The mayster sayd,
My lorde haue ye vnderstande what I haue sayd. The emperour sayd, ryght
well. Amonges all wymmen was this yᵉ worste [et] the knyght rewarded
her accordynge so as she sholde no more men shame. And the_m_perour
sayd more ouer, O my good mayster myght I ones here my sone speke I
sholde gyue no charge of my lyfe. Tho sayd the mayster, To morowe ye
shall here hym speke afore you [et] afore al yᵉ lordes of thempyre,
[et] he shall shewe yᵉ very trouth of all yᵉ varyaunce betwyxte vs [et]
thempresse as I hope. [et] toke his leue of themperour [et] departed.
[Illustration]
How yᵗ Dyoclesyan themperours sone co_m_playned on thempres, [et] how
yᵗ he excused him of her co_m_playnt.
And after yᵗ all the maysters assembled togydʳ [et] toke theyr counseyll
how [et] in what maner they shold brynge out yᵉ chylde of pryson [et]
lede to the palays. [et] tho they went to yᵉ chylde there as he laye
in pryson afore the mydday his wyll [et] his cou_n_seyl to here. To
whome yᵉ chylde sayd, what yᵗ shall please you, shall please me, but in
no wyse besye you not howe yᵗ I shall answere, or what I shall saye,
for wᵗ joye I shal answere to all thy_n_ges yᵗ shal be demau_n_ded
of me. Wha_n_ yᵉ seuen maysters herde yᵗ they were ryght glad, [et]
clothed hym in purpure [et] in clothe of golde. [et] two maysters went
afore hym, [et] one on his ryght honde, an other on his lyfte honde,
[et] yᵉ other thre folowed hym after. [et] afore them al went xxiiii
men wᵗ dyuerse instruments of musyke [et] brought hym wᵗ grete melody
and honour to yᵉ palays. And whan themperour herde al this melody, he
demau_n_ded what it was. Then it was tolde hym, Syr emperour it is
your sone, yᵉ which cometh tofore you [et] afore all your lordes to
speke and excuse hy_m_selfe of all thynges yᵗ are layde to his charge /
Themperour sayd, yᵗ is good tydy_n_ges, myght I here my sone speke. And
whan ye chylde was come to ye palays he ran vnto his fader [et] sayd
vnto hy_m_, hayle fader [et] my moost honourable. And whan themperour
herde yᵉ voyce of his sone he was so glad yᵗ for joye he fyl downe to
yᵉ erthe. but yᵉ chylde toke hym lyghtly vp ayen. and whan he was come
ayen to hy_m_self, tho begā [the son to declare the whole matter to
his father, and there came so great a multitude to the palace to hear
the child speak, and the noise of them was so great that the child
could not be heard. The emperour considering that, caused money to be
thrown into the streets, that the people therwith should be busied out
of the palace, the better to hear the child speak; but they regarded
not the money. When the emperor perceived that he commanded silence on
pain of death. And when they were all still, the child began to speak
as followeth: O most dear father, before I speak anything, I entreat
you that the empress with all her chamber-maids may be present. So the
emperor commanded the empress with all her maids to come without delay.
The empress hearing that (in great fear) came with her maids; and the
child bade them to stand before the people in a row that he might see
them. Then said the child, Sir, behold the chamber-maid that standeth
there in green (whom ye know the empress loveth above all others),
command her to be uncloathed before us all, and see what she is. The
emperor said, Dear son, that would shame us all, to have a woman stand
naked before us. He said, If it be a woman it is my shame; if not, let
the shame abide in her. When she was uncloathed she appeared to be a
man, whereat they wondered.]
[Illustration]
[_The Complaint of the Emperor's Son on the Empress._]
Thenne sayd the sone vnto the fader, beholde this rybaude that many a
nyghte hathe with your wyfe lyen in your chamber in auoutrye, [et] haue
defouled your bedde. [et] therfore the empresse loued hym so well, the
whiche ye knewe not. whan the emperour sawe yᵗ he was impacyent [et]
wrothe, yᵗ he cōmau_n_ded yᵗ she with yᵉ rybaude sholde be brent. yᵉ
sone sayd, lorde fader make no haste of yᵗ iugement before that I haue
reproued her of the cryme yᵗ she layde vpon me falsely, [et] that she
vntruly [et] falsly hathe complayned [et] lyed vpon me. Tho sayd the
fader, My dere sone I cōmytte all the iugemente in to your hands. The
sone answered yf she be founde false [et] a lyer yᵉ lawe shall iuge
her. But my dere fader whan ye sent after me at yᵉ instaunce of hyr,
then I with my maysters behelde the sterres in yᵉ fyrmamente. [et]
there we sawe yᵗ yf I sholde speke ony worde within seuen dayes I
sholde haue deyed a shamefull dethe, and therefore that was the cause
that I spake not. And where as the empresse sayd [et] put vnto me, that
I wolde haue oppressed [et] rauysshed hyr, in yᵗ she lyeth falsly but
she dyd hyr best to haue caused me to do it. And wha_n_ she in no wyse
coude bryng me therto, she toke me paper penne [et] ynke, [et] badde
me wryte the cause why yᵗ I refused her. And whan yᵗ I had wryten yᵗ
I wolde not do or commytte so greate [et] abhomynable synne, and also
wolde not my faders orcharde defoule, tho began she to tere hyr clothes
[et] scratche her vysage yᵗ it ran on blode, [et] cryed wᵗ a loude
voyce, [et] cōmytted vnto me the cryme or blame. And whan yᵉ Emperoure
herde this he behelde her wᵗ a fell cou_n_tenau_n_ce, and sayd to her
in this maner, O thou wretched woman was it not suffycyent to fulfyll
thy foule [et] lecherous appetyte I [et] thy rybaude, but wolde also
haue hadde my sone. Than fell the Empresse to themperours fote [et]
she cryed hym mercy. Then yᵉ Emperoure sayd, O thou cursyd [et] most
vnhappy woman thou askest forgyuenesse [et] thou art worthy none to
haue, for yᵘ haste deserued to dye in thre maner wyse. The fyrst is yᵗ
yᵘ haste done auoutrye. The seconde is that thou haste prouoked and
styred my sone to syne [et] haste to hym commytted, [et] layde yᵉ cryme
falsely [et] vntruly. And yᵉ thyrde yᵗ thou haste euery daye entyced
[et] prouoked me wᵗ thy false tales for to put hym to dethe. [et]
therfore yᵉ lawe shall haue yᵉ course vpon ye, [et] iuge the to the
dethe. Then sayd the sone, Fader ye knowe well, that for yᵉ lesynge
that she lyed vpon me, I was dayly lad to hangynge. But god with the
helpe of my maysters hathe delyuered me. O my moost honourable fader,
it was sayd vnto you by yᵉ Empresse that I wolde also by yᵉ helpe of
my maysters depose you out of youre Empyre, [et] that I laboured to
dystroye you, [et] for to sette me in your place. Sholde not ye then
haue sorowed, Ye haue the Empyre to gouerne, [et] wherfore shold I
not holde you for my fader. God defende that, for of you I haue my
lyuyng. And I shall holde and repute you for my souerayne lorde and
fader durynge the terme of my lyfe. And I will not in ony manere
depryue you of youre honoure, but I shall laboure and besye my selfe
about the gouernau_n_ce of yᵉ same, and all your cōmau_n_dementes I
shall fulfyll in every thy_n_ge. But it is in lyke wyse as the fader
caste his sone in to the see for too drowne hym, bycause he sayd yᵗ
he in tyme comynge sholde be his lorde, [et] yet yᵉ sone by the helpe
of god was saued, and was made a gretter lorde than he was, [et] yet
was it no hynderau_n_ce to the fader but prouffyte. Also ye sholde
see [et] remembre yᵗ my lyfe [et] gouernau_n_ce shall neuer hynder
you but it shal be to your greate solace [et] joye. Than sayd yᵉ
Emperoure, blessed be almyghty god [et] the houre yᵗ I euer begate
you, [et] deserued to haue such a sone yᵗ I fynde soo wyse [et] good
in all thynges. Telle me nowe an example by yᵉ whiche I maye parfytly
thy wysdome vnderstande, & that myn herte maye the better joye in the.
Thenne sayd the sone fyrst cōmau_n_de sylence to your people yᵗ I be
not letted in my wordes tyll yᵗ I haue done. And whan yᵗ it is ended,
gyue sentence wᵗ yᵉ ryght wysnesse of the lawe vpon me and vpon the
Empresse. Tho cōmaunded the Emperour sylence. [et] the chyld began to
tell in maner as hereafter foloweth.
[Illustration]
_The Example of Dyoclesyan the Emperours sone._