of god I shall go [et] do youre erande what so euer happen therof.
[et] so he yede forthe afore themperour [et] dyd his message. Whan yᵉ
Emperour herde yᵉ porter name Alexander yᵉ kynge of Egypte, he sayd to
yᵉ porter, go bryng hym in afore me how horryble yᵗ so euer his vysage
be, [et] ordeyne hym a place afore me, yᵗ he may ete his mete afore
me in my presence. The porter brought hym in anone, [et] ordeyned hym
a place [et] set hym to mete afore yᵉ Emperour, [et] whan he was well
refresshed he sayd vnto one of the Emperours seruau_n_tes, My dere
frende do me thys erande to yᵉ Emperoure. Saye vnto hym yᵗ I praye hym
for yᵉ loue of god [et] kynge Alexander yᵗ he wylle sende me his cuppe
wᵗ wyne. The seruau_n_t sayd for yᵉ loue of god I shall doo it, but I
beleue it wyll not be, for yf ye ones drynke of my lordes cuppe, he
wyll no more drynke of yᵉ same. neuerthelesse he dyd yᵉ erande. Anone
as the Emperoure herde hym name kynge Alexander, he cōmaunded his cuppe
to be fylled of the beste wyne [et] bere it vnto hym. The whiche wyne
wha_n_ he hadde receyued it he put it into hys botelle, [et] toke his
rynge yᵗ Lodwyke had gyuen vnto hym [et] put it in to the cuppe, [et]
sent it ayen vnto yᵉ Emperour, and whan yᵉ Emperoure sawe the rynge
anone he knew it yᵗ it was the same yᵗ he had gyuen vnto Alexander in
frendeshyp whan yᵗ he departed fro hym, [et] thoughte in his herte
yᵗ Alexander is dede, or ellys this man is merueylously come vnto yᵉ
rynge, [et] cōmau_n_ded anone that the laser sholde not departe vnto
yᵉ tyme he had spoken wᵗ hym, for in no wyse he coude haue knowlege of
hym nor yet reputed hym for Alexander, after that the dyner was done
[et] ended, the Emperoure toke the seke man aparte and askyd howe he
came by yᵉ rynge. Alexander demau_n_ded yf he knewe well yᵉ rynge. The
Emperour sayd, I knowe it ryght well. Alexander sayd, wote ye also to
whome ye haue gyuen it. Themperour sayd I wote ryght well. Howe is it
than sayd Alexander yᵗ ye knowe not me, for I am Alexander to whome ye
haue gyuen yᵉ same rynge. whan the Emperoure herde yᵗ he felle downe to
the grou_n_de for sorowe [et] tare and rente his robys [et] clothes,
[et] wᵗ grete syghynges and bewaylynges sayd, O Alexander ye be the
one halfe of my soule, whehe (_sic_) is your goodlye and delycate body
yᵗ was so fayre yᵗ nowe so vnclene [et] wretchedly is enfecte. he
answered, This is me hapned for the grete fydelyte that ye haue done
to me in my bedde with my wyfe, whan ye layd a naked swerde betwyxt
you [et] hyr, wherfore she became wrothe [et] hated me, that she [et]
a knyght that afore tyme she ought hir loue vnto haue impoysened me as
ye maye see. [et] aboue yᵗ they haue dryuen me out of my realme. [et]
whan the Emperoure herde that he for loue toke hym aboute yᵉ necke [et]
kyste hym [et] sayd, O my moost entyerlye beloued brother, I sorowe to
see you in this grete syknesse [et] mysery, wolde god I myght deye for
you, but my moost dere frende, suffre pacyently a lytell tyme tyll yᵗ
we haue sente for all yᵉ physycyens [et] wyse maysters in physyke to
haue theyr counseylle [et] aduyse. yf there be ony remedye or hope of
recouerynge of your helthe, [et] yf it be possyble for to helpe you, we
shall neyther spare Empyre lordshyps nor other good temporall to make
you hole [et] sou_n_de. In the meane whyle he was brought into a fayre
chamber rychely appareylled [et] appoynted of all maner thynges yᵗ were
requysyte [et] necessarye for his ease [et] helthe. [et] in all haste
he sente his messangers by all partyes of yᵉ worlde, for yᵉ experte
[et] moost wyse physycyens yᵗ myght be fou_n_de. Of whome within a
moneth were come [et] assembled before yᵉ Emperoure xxx. yᵉ whiche
were ryght experte [et] subtyll in yᵉ scyence. To whome themperour
sayd, My welbeloued maysters I haue a frende yᵗ greuousely is infecte
wᵗ a lepry, whome I wolde ryght fayne were heled [et] made sou_n_de.
[et] no thynge theron to spare neyther golde ne syluer ne all yᵉ other
goodes yᵗ I haue in this worlde, but I wolde gyue it to recouer hys
helthe. The maysters answered [et] sayd all yᵗ euer is possyble to be
done by physyke yᵗ ye shall sone vnderstande after yᵗ we haue seen the
persone. [et] forthwᵗ as they had seen hym, [et] perceyued yᵉ cause
[et] mater of yᵉ infyrmyte, they iuged it a dysease vncurable for all
yᵉ maysters lyuynge. and whan the Emperoure herde yᵗ he was ryght sory
in hys herte, [et] remytted it vnto yᵉ helpe of almyghty god callynge
vnto hym relygyous men, [et] poore people, [et] other deuoute persones
[et] desyred theym to praye to god, yᵗ he wolde wouchesaufe to make
hole his frende yᵉ sooner for theyr gode dedes [et] prayers. and he
hymselfe with manye other fasted [et] prayed humbly to almyghty god
for yᵉ helth of his frende. Uppon a daye as kynge Alexander was in
his prayers, there came vnto hym a voyce saynge Yf the Emperoure wyll
wᵗ his owne handes slee hys two sones, whiche his wyfe hathe born by
hym at one burden, [et] wasshe thy body wᵗ the blode of them, thy body
[et] thy flesshe shall be as fayre [et] as clene as yᵉ flessh of the
lytell chyldern. whan kynge Alexander had herde this he thought in
hymselfe, this vysyon is not expedyente to be shewed for it is sore
ayenste nature yᵗ ony man sholde slee his owne sones for yᵉ recoueryng
of the helthe of a strau_n_ge man. The Emperour nyght [et] daye laye
in his prayers wᵗ greate deuocyon, [et] prayed to god for yᵉ remedye
of kynge Alexander. So yᵗ at the laste there came a voyce vnto hym
[et] sayd, how longe shall ye thus crye [et] calle vpon me whanne it
is openly shewed [et] notefyed vnto Alexander how that he shall be
made hole. The Emperoure herynge that wente vnto Alexander [et] sayd,
Of all frendes yᵉ beste [et] mooste true, blessed be the moost hyghe
god the whyche neuer faylethe yᵗ call [et] truste vpon hym, of whome I
haue knowlege yᵗ it is shewed vnto you howe [et] in what wyse that ye
maye be made hole, wherfore I praye you that ye wyll it openly shewe
vnto me that we maye joye togyder. [et] yf ye nede ony thynge therto
that I maye do I shall fulfyll it vnto my powere and for your helthe
gyue all yᵗ I haue. Alexander said Syr I dare not shewe to you how yᵗ
I maye be cured or heled of my maladye, for it excedethe [et] it is a
thynge ayenste nature for to be done, therfore I wyll not shewe it to
you, howe be it grete truste [et] confydence is in you. The Emperoure
sayde Alexander truste in me, for what so euer is possyble for to be
done for the recouerynge of youre helthe I shall do it [et] therfore
hyde no thynge frome me. Then sayd Alexander I haue of god knowlege yᵗ
yf ye wyll slee youre two sones with youre owne handes [et] wasshe me
in theyre blode I sholde be hole, [et] therfore I haue not shewed it
vnto you, for me thynketh it is ayenst nature yᵗ the fader sholde slewe
his owne chyldern for yᵉ helthe of a straunge man. The Emperoure sayd
saye not yᵗ ye be a straunge man, for I loue you as I do my selfe, [et]
therfore yf I hadde ten chyldern I sholde notte spare one alyue to haue
youre helthe. after that yᵉ Emperoure watched [et] spyed his tyme whan
yᵉ Empresse [et] all ladyes [et] chambereres were oute of yᵉ waye [et]
whan tyme was he entred into yᵉ chamber where as the chyldern slepte,
[et] drewe out his knyfe [et] cutte asonder bothe theyr throtes, [et]
gadred yᵉ blode in a vessell, [et] therin he bathed [et] wasshed
Alexander. [et] whan he was so bathed his body [et] flesshe was as
fayre [et] as clene as thought (_sic_) it had ben of a yonge chylde.
Then yᵉ emperour had knowlege of his vysage, [et] kyssed hym say_n_g,
O good Alexander nowe I see you in yᵉ same forme whiche I haue often
tymes dylected in, blessed be god that euer I hadde thyse chyldern, by
ye whome ye be holpen and made hole. [et] yet wyste no man of the deth
of yᵉ chyldern saue oonly yᵉ emperoure [et] Alexander. [et] whan as
the emperoure sawe yᵗ Alexander was parfytly heled, he sayd vnto hym,
I shall ordeyne to you an honeste companye [et] ye shall go frome hens
ten myle the next daye sende vnto me a messager, [et] yᵗ ye shew openly
vnto me of youre comynge, and I shall then with all solempnyte come
[et] mete you, [et] ye shall abyde with me vnto the tyme that we maye
otherwyse prouyde for yᵉ recouerynge of youre realme. This cou_n_seyll
pleased Alexander ryght well, [et] accordynge to yᵉ same it was done,
for on yᵉ nexte daye came yᵉ messager vnto the emperoure shewynge hym
yᵉ comynge of kynge Alexander [et] whanne the empresse herde that she
was ryghte gladde, [et] sayd vnto the emperoure, O my lorde haue ye
not nowe a cause of greate ioye, that kyng Alexander whome we of a
longe tyme haue not seen. and yf it please you to go and mete hym with
your lordes and seruau_n_tes, I shall folowe you with my ladyes [et]
gentylwymen. [et] yet wyste she not the dethe of hyr chyldern. Then
rode they forth with a grete companye and met with the kynge Alexander
and whan they mette togyder, with greate reuerence and honoure they
receyued hym, and with grete gladnesse and joye they broughte hym in
to the palays. and whanne the tyme of dyner was come Alexander was set
at yᵉ table betwyxt yᵉ emperour [et] yᵉ empresse [et] all the chere yᵗ
she coude make she dyd to hym. and whan the Emperour perceyued that,
he was ryghte well pleased [et] sayd, O myne owne Florentyne I joye
aboue all thynges yᵗ ye do [et] make to kynge Alexander soo gode chere.
Then sayd she, wherfore sholde I not, is not his comynge to vs bothe
joye [et] gladnesse but more to you my lorde, for this dygnyte yᵗ ye
are in by hym ye are promoted, [et] many tymes he hathe saued you fro
yᵉ dethe. Themperour sayd than I praye you myn owne Florentyne yᵗ ye
wyll take hede to my wordes yᵗ I shall saye to you. Sawe ye not yᵉ
foule laser, whiche the laste daye sate before oure table, and prayed
me for the loue of god [et] kynge Alexander yᵗ I shold gyue hym drynke.
she sayd, My lorde I saw hym well a more horryble man I neuer behelde.
then sayd Themperoure, I demaunde nowe this of you. I put case yᵗ he
were kynge Alexander [et] that he in ony wyse coude not be made hole
but wᵗ the blood of your sones, the whiche ye in one daye brought in
to this worlde, wolde ye not yᵗ theyr bloode were shed that he myght
bathe hym therin to yᵉ entente yᵗ by the same he myght haue parfyte
helthe as ye nowe se hym in. She sayd my lorde wherfore demau_n_de ye
me yᵗ question. I saye [et] lete you haue knowlege for trouthe that
yf I hadde ten sones I sholde gladly slee them wᵗ min owne handes to
prepare [et] ordeyne for hym a bayne, [et] sholde wasshe hym therin
myne owne selfe, rather than I sholde leue hym in suche peryll. for
god myght well sende vs mo chyldern. but suche a true frende were as
a thynge impossyble for vs to recouer or fynde. Whan themperour herde
this of hyr, he was well co_n_tente [et] pleased in his mynde [et]
sayd, O wyfe had ye leuer haue your chyldern dede than Alexander shold
be in yᵗ sekenesse of lepery. therfore shall I open and shewe to you
nowe yᵉ trouthe of yᵉ mater. That foule laser the whiche ye sawe was
Alexander that syttethe here, [et] by yᵗ maner he is made hole wᵗ the
blode of our sones, [et] they are dede: as yᵉ Empresse herde yᵗ she
began to sorowe as nature wolde, all thoughe she had sayd afore yᵗ
she had leuer see hyr chyldern dede than she wolde suffre Alexander
in suche payne. The nourysshes of yᵉ chyldern vnderstandynge this,
wᵗ grete cryenge [et] wepynge went to yᵉ nourysshery or chamber of
them, [et] grete sorowe [et] bewaylynge was made thrughe themperours
courte for his sones. [et] whan the nourysshes came into yᵉ chamber,
they fou_n_de the chyldern playnge [et] syngynge of yᵉ moost blessed
vyrgyne Mary, aue maria gracia plena dn̄s tecum, [et] tho went they
ayen in all haste vnto yᵉ Emperour [et] shewed hym yᵗ his sones were
lyuynge [et] that about theyr throtes there as they were cutte they
haue a cercle of threde of golde, [et] therof was grete joy [et]
gladnesse in all yᵉ courte, [et] gaue thankynges vnto al[m]yghty god
[et] to yᵉ blessed vyrgyne mary his moder of yᵗ grete myracle. after
yᵗ themperoure wᵗ a grete multytude and company of people gadred [et]
assembled went wᵗ Alexander into Egypte [et] set hym ayen into his
royalte [et] possessyon of his Realme [et] the quene wᵗ the knyghte
whiche lyued togyder in auoutry he dyd the_m_ both to be brent in too
poudre. And whan this was all done, the Emperoure hadde a syster oonly
whom he gaue Alexander vnto his wyfe. And whanne kynge Alexander had
all his realme obteyned ayen [et] was sette in gode reste [et] peas yᵉ
Emperoure wente ayen vnto his Empire, [et] the kynge Alexander ryght
wysely [et] manly gouerned hymselfe in all his feates [et] actes so yᵗ
he ouercame all his enmyes [et] rebelles. And whan he was in al his
glorye, peas [et] myght, he hadde thought [et] mynde vpon his fader
[et] moder, by whome he was caste into the see, which dwelled in ferre
partyes from thens he sent to them a messager [et] dyd them to haue
knowelege yᵗ the kynge of Egypte vpon suche a daye wolde be wᵗ them to
ete [et] to drynke [et] to make good chere. and whan the messager was
come too them, they receyued hym wᵗ grete joye [et] with gyftes largely
to hym gyue_n_ sent hym ayen, saynge yᵗ theyr seruyces sholde be redy
at all tymes to do yᵉ kynge plesure but yᵗ coude they neuer by power
fully deserue yᵗ he wolde wouchesauf to shewe them yᵗ honoure, wherto
they were not worthy, he for to come to them to ete [et] to drynke
[et] sporte hym. The messager went ayen vnto yᵉ kynge [et] shewed how
gladlye yᵗ they wolde receyue hym, [et] what rewarde they had gyuen
hym [et] how faythfully they were [et] redy to do hym seruyce at his
cōmau_n_dement, wherewᵗ the kynge was well co_n_tente. And whan yᵉ
daye was comen yᵗ was prefyxed, the kynge with a fayre co_m_pany rode
towarde his faders house, yᵉ whiche as well to yᵉ knyght his fader as
to his moder was vnknowen that he was theyr sone. Whanne the kynge was
come nygh vnto his faders castell, the knyght rode to receyue and mete
hym, [et] whan he come nyghe vnto yᵉ kynge he descended frome his horse
[et] reuerenced hym with his knee on the erthe, but the kynge toke hym
vp shortly, [et] comau_n_ded hym to ascende ayen vpon his horse, [et]
rode so togyder cheke by cheke vnto yᵉ castell. And whan they were
come theder the moder came them to mete, [et] felle vpon hyr knees to
yᵉ erthe [et] welcomed hym gladly. The kynge toke hyr louynly vp [et]
kyssed hyr ryght frendly. [et] she sayd, My moost honorable lorde ye
do vnto vs vnworthy grete honour wᵗ the presence of your persone moost
honourable, the whiche we neuer more can deserue. After yᵗ all the mete
was all redy, [et] the tyme of yᵉ day was come to go to dyner. The
fader came wᵗ a basyn, [et] with an ewyr, [et] the moder wᵗ a towell
saynge, Syre all thynge is redye, please it you to wasshe. [et] whan yᵉ
kyng sawe that he smyled [et] sayd vnto hymselfe, Nowe is yᵉ songe of
the nyghtyngale true, for my fader [et] my moder sholde gladly fulfyll
as I sayd, yf yᵗ I my selfe wolde therto consente and suffre them to
do it. But he wold not suffre theym for to doo too hym suche seruyce,
saynge youre aege is for to be honoured and worshypped / [et] therfore
I wyll not of it, and called vnto hym one of his seruauntes the whiche
serued hym therof. Thenne sayd the knyght, ye wyll not suffre vs too do
it for our honour, for we are not worthy therto. The kynge sayd, haue
not I sayd that for your aege I forbere you it. whan yᵉ kynge was set
at yᵉ table, he set his moder on yᵉ ryght hande of hym, [et] his fader
on his lefte syde [et] they as moche as they myght behelde his vysage
[et] cou_n_tenau_n_ce. The dyner ended yᵉ kynge entred in to a chamber,
[et] made yᵉ knyght wᵗ his lady to come in to hym, [et] comau_n_ded all
other to auoyde [et] goo out. and whan they were thus alone, yᵉ kynge
sayd vnto them haue ye no chyldern. They answerd we haue neyther sone
ne doughter. and yᵉ kynge sayd had ye neuer none. The knyght answered,
we haue hadde one sone, but he is longe agone dede. The kynge asked
of what dethe deyed he. The knyghte sayd, a naturall dethe: Tho sayd
yᵉ kynge, yf I maye otherwyse knowe yᵗ he deyed than are yᵉ fou_n_de
wᵗ a defawte. Tho asked the knyghte, My lorde wherfore enquyre ye thus
after oure sone. The kynge answered, that do I not wᵗout cause, [et]
therfore I wyll knowe of what dethe he deyed. [et] yf ye wyll not tell
me I shall cause you to deye a shamefull dethe. whan they herde that
they fell too grou_n_de upon ther knees afore hym [et] asked hym mercye
[et] forgyuenesse of theyr lyues. The kynge wolde not suffre them to
knele, but scortly toke them vp [et] sayd, To that entente came I not
in to your house to ete your brede [et] to betraye you. but saye me
yᵉ trouthe [et] ye shall be saued, for it is gyuen me to vndesta_n_de
that ye haue put hym to dethe, and yf that come in iugemente ye muste
deye a shamefull dethe. Than sayd the knyght, lorde pardone me my lyfe
[et] I shall shew you yᵉ very trouthe. The kynge sayd fere not, for I
shall do you no harme. Tho sayd he, Souerayne lorde we had a sone oonly
yᵗ was wyse [et] lettred [et] ryght well vnderstande. And vpon a tyme
as he stode afore vs [et] serued at yᵉ table, There came a nyghtyngale
yᵗ ryght swetly songe, whoos songe he began to interprete and tell
vs what it mente [et] sayd: This byrde syngeth that I shall become
so grete [et] myghty a lorde yᵗ it shall be to youre honoure [et]
aduau_n_seme_n_t in suche wyse yᵗ ye my fader shall be gladde to holde
yᵉ basyn wᵗ water to wasshe in my handes, [et] my moder yᵉ towell yf yᵗ
I wolde suffre it. And whan I herde yᵗ I was sore meued [et] toke [et]
caste hym in to yᵉ see for too drowne. Tho sayd the kynge what euyll
myght haue come to you yf he hadd ben made so grete [et] myghty, me
thynketh it sholde haue been youre honoure [et] proufyte. The knyghte
sayd lorde it was no reason but a woodnesse. The kynge answered: yᵗ was
a grete folysshnes of you yᵗ yᵉ wolde do ayenst yᵉ ordynau_n_ce [et]
wylle of god. But nowe ye shall knowe for trouth yᵗ I am youre sone
yᵗ ye caste in to yᵉ see. [et] god of his grete mercye [et] goodnesse
hathe saued me, [et] by his grace hathe brought me too this astate
[et] dygnyte. and yᵉ fader [et] moder herynge yᵗ with fere [et] joye
replenysshed fell flat to yᵉ grou_n_de, whom he louy_n_ly [et] frendly
toke vp sayng fere not, but rather be glad [et] joyous for ye shall
no thynge suffre, but my exaltacyon shall be your glorye [et] joye
[et] proufyte [et] kyste bothe his fader [et] moder wᵗ grete joye [et]
gladnesse. Tho began yᵉ meder (_sic_) to wepe. Than sayd yᵉ kynge wepe
not but be of gode chere for in my realme yᵉ shall be honoured aboue
me durynge my lyf [et] toke them wᵗ hym in to his realme where they
dwelled togyder in honour [et] joye, [et] ended theyr dayes wᵗ joye
[et] myrthe.
[Illustration]
_Here foloweth yᵉ applycacōn of yᵉ example to purpose._
T[h]enne sayd the Emperours sone, lorde haue ye vnderstande what I
haue sayd. Themperoure sayd ryght well. Tho sayd the sone, My mooste
honourable [et] redoubted fader, all thoughe yᵗ god hathe gyuen [et]
indued me wᵗ wysdome [et] vnderstandyng aboue many other, yᵗ sholde
not be in appayrynge of youre honoure [et] myght, but more for the
preseruacyon of the same. So in lyke wyse yᵉ kynges maieste which was
no thynge to yᵉ hynderaunce of his fader, but rather for his worshyp
[et] proufyte, for as long as they lyued they were honoured in his
realme. Than sayd themperoure, My dere sone I wyll all hole resygne to
you thempyre too gouerne, for I perceyue well by youre narracōn yᵗ ye
haue to me declared, yᵗ it is beste to me [et] moost for myn ease yᵗ
I leue this besynesse [et] labour [et] take me to more reste, for I
am olde [et] feeble. The sone answered his fader, My lorde fader, so
shall it not be, but as longe as ye lyue ye shall haue the auctoryte
and myght of thempyre to do and commaunde as it apperteyneth vnto an
Emperour, but in all besynesses yᵗ are labourouse I wyll alwayes be
redy to mynystre [et] to serue you accordynge to my dute.
[How Judgement was given upon the Empress and how that she and her
Lover were both put to death.
[Then the Emperor commanded the judges and justices to sit in judgement
and to bring again the Empress before them; with the Ladies and also
the Ribauld, her best beloved, cloathed in the vesture and habit of
a woman, whom he did cause to stand next unto the Empress; then the
Emperor's son asked sentence and just judgement upon them, saying,
[My most honourable Lord and father, even as you are Emperour of the
World; and that your majesty and power requireth to do true justice
unto all your subjects that desire it: so now I demand that you this
day do give right sentence and true judgement upon the untruth,
falshood and shame which were put and alledged unto me by the Empress;
for the which accusations I have been seven times led unto the gallows
and have stood in great jeopardy and peril of my life; and also that
she hath been to you untrue of her body as you have seen by good proof
made before you; and on the which I ask judgement; and therefore
command your Justices and Judges to give sentence thereupon, according
to Right, Equity and Law.
[As soon as the Empress heard this, she fell flat to the earth before
the Emperor and asked mercy and forgiveness for her just offence and
misdoing; but it helped nor profited nothing, for the son would have
right and desired Judgement. Then spake the Judges and Justices, her
own misdeeds condemn her, and the report of her Lemmon by her kept and
found; therefore we give sentence against the Empress, that she shall
be bound to a horses tail and drawn through all the streets of the city
to the place] of execucyon [et] there to be brent. [et] we iuge also
[et] gyue sentence ayenste the rybaude yᵗ he shall be quartred [et]
smyten in peces [et] his flesshe caste vnto yᵉ houndes, and byrdes of
yᵉ ayre for to deuoure hym, [et] this se_n_tence was approbate [et]
alowed of all people. ¶ Hereafter in shorte tyme deyed yᵉ Emperoure,
[et] Dyoclesyan his sone gouerned [et] ruled thempyre wᵗ grete wysdome,
[et] helde [et] kept his maysters wᵗ hym in grete honoure [et] glorye.
By whoos cou_n_seyll [et] wysdom he gouerned the Empyre, yᵗ he excelled
all his predecessours in rychesse [et] in doynge iustice [et] ryght.
And his maysters loued hym aboue all other thynges in the worlde. So
that many tymes they put themselfe in grete perylle [et] ieoperdye of
ther lyues for hym. And so they ended theyr dayes in grete joye [et]
honoure, and cōmended theym to almyghty god.
¶ Thus endeth the treatyse of the seuen sages or wyse maysters of Rome.
Enprented in Flete Strete in yᵉ sygne of the sone, by me Wynkyn de
worde.
FOOTNOTES.
[Footnote 1: See _Antiquary_, vol. v. p. 157.]
[Footnote 2: An 'r' has been interpolated with the pen.]
[Footnote 3: Misspelt _Ulrgilius_ in the text.]
[Footnote 4: The last seven words are repeated in the original.]
* * * * *
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
1. Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
2. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical
errors.
3. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.
4. Since the character that looks like a figure seven (7) with a
horizontal line through it is not available in some fonts, the
abbreviation ([et]) has been used to represent it. It is often
used in place of the word "and" in the 1520 text.
5. The forward stroke character (/) is often used to represent a comma.
6. The Pilcrow ( ¶ ) character normally represents the start of a new
paragraph. The original 1520 text in this eBook is not divided into
modern paragraphs. Pilcrows would have been inserted where, on
reading the text, a new paragraph would be expected. They have been
left as printed in the original book.