Chapter II: Part 2

This tree mylorde betokeneth your moste noble persone / that with your counseyll and helpe many pore [et] seke folke are gretly holpen [et] conforted. And the yonge ympe that vnder the grete tre is vp growen is your cursed sone that now by his cunnynge begȳnith to growe and studyeth how he fyrste may the armes and bowes of your myght cutte of / and to wynne too hym the londe [et] praysynge of the people, and ouer yᵗ he ymagyneth to destroy your person that he may hȳselfe reygne. But what shall fall than therof come, all poore and feble people shall curse all them the whiche myght haue destroyed your sone [et] haue not done it / I counseyll you whyles ye are in your power [et] helth yᵗ ye destroye hym leste yᵗ the curse of the people fall vpon you. Tho sayde the Emperour, ye haue gyuen me good counseyll. Tomorowe I shall condempne hym to the moost vylest deth that can be thought. Whan yᵉ daye was come / yᵉ Emperour went [et] sate in Jugemēte, [et] commaunded his seruauntes yᵗ they sholde lede his sone to be hanged wᵗ trompettes blowynge in to kenynge of deth. And as themperours sone was lad throughe the Cyte, the comen people began too wepe [et] crye alas yᵉ onely sone of themperour is lad towardes his deth / [et] therwithal came Pancyllas rydyng vpon a hors yᵉ fyrste mayster. Whan the chylde sawe hym / he bowed his hede to hym, as though he had sayde, Haue mynde vpon me whan ye come afore my fader, se how I am lad towardes the galowes. Than yᵉ mayster sayd to the seruauntes / make no haste, for I hope by the grace of god this day to delyuer hym frō the deth. Then sayde all the people, O good mayster haste you to yᵉ palays and saue your dyscyple. he smote his hors with yᵉ spores tyll he came to the palays [et] kneled before the Emperour [et] dyde hym reuerence / To whome themperour sayd, It shall neuer be to the good, which answerd I haue deserued a better rewarde. The Emperour sayd there lyest yᵘ, for I delyuered to the [et] thy felowes my sone well spekynge / [et] in alle thyng well manered, [et] now he is dompe / [et] that wors is, he wolde haue oppressed my wyf, therfore this day he shall dye, [et] ye all shall dye a shameful dethe. The mayster sayd, O lord as for your sone yᵗ ye saye that he speketh not, yᵗ knoweth god, [et] without a cause it is not as ye shall vnderstande. And that ye saye more yᵗ he your Empresse wolde haue befowled. I shall saye you of a trouth, he hath ben in our company by yᵉ space of xvi yeres [et] we neuer coude perceyue suche thinges by hym. And therfore my dere lorde I shall shew you one thynge that yf ye put your sone to deth for yᵉ wordes of your wyfe, it sholde happen too you wors than to a knyght the whiche that kylled his best grey hounde thrugh the wordes of his wyfe whiche saued his sone from yᵉ deth. Tho sayd themperour to yᵉ mayster tell me yᵗ example. The Mayster sayd, Lorde that shall I not do / for afore or I coude make an ende therof your sone myght be dede [et] thenne in vayne [et] without fruyte I sholde reherce it, but yf it please you this notable example to here / call ayen her sone tyll to morowe [et] as ye thynke by reason then do with hym youre pleasure. As themperour that herde anone he lete the chylde too be called ayen [et] in the meane tyme he sette hym in pryson whyles the mayster sholde fynisshe his tale. And then he beganne to saye in suche maner as folowith.

_The Example of the Fyrste Mayster._

There was a valyaunt knyght whiche had oonly one soone as ye haue. The whiche he loued so moche that he ordeyned for his kepynge thre nourysshes, the fyrste sholde gyue hym souke [et] fede hym, yᵉ seconde sholde wasshe hym [et] kepe hym clene, yᵉ thirde sholde brynge hym to slepe [et] to reste. This knyghte had also a greyhounde [et] a fawcon yᵗ he also loued ryghte well. The greyhounde was so good yᵗ he neuer ran too noo game but he toke it [et] helde it tyl his mayster came. And yf his mayster dysposed hym to go to batayle, yf he sholde not spede in yᵉ batayll / anone as he sholde mounte vpon his horse yᵉ greyhounde wold take the horse tayll in his mouth [et] drawe backwarde / [et] wolde also cry [et] howle meruaylously loude. By thise sygnes the knyght vnderstode yf that he sholde spede in his iourneye or not. The faucon was so gentyll and so hardy that he was neuer caste of to his praye but he toke it. This same knyght had grete plesure in iustynge [et] turneynge, so yᵗ vpon a tyme vnder his castell he lete proclame a tornement to the whiche came many good lordes and knyghtes. The knyght entred in to yᵉ tourney, [et] his lady went with her maydens to se it. And as they went out after went the nourysshes [et] lefte the chylde lyenge alone in the cradell in the halle where the greyhounde laye nygh the wall, and yᵉ hauke or faucon standynge vpon a perke. In this halle there was a serpente lurkynge or hydde in a hole. to all them of the castell vnknowen. The whiche whā felte that they were all absent he put out his hede of his hole. [et] as he noman sawe but the chylde lyenge in yᵉ cradell, he went out of his cauerne towardes yᵉ cradell for the chylde to haue slayne. The noble faucon seynge that, behelde yᵉ grehounde that was slepȳge/ she made suche a noyse [et] rustelynge with her winges or feders yᵗ the greyhounde awoke and rose vp. and whan he sawe the serpente nyghe the chylde anone ayenst hym he lepte / [et] they bothe faught so long togyder tyll yᵗ the serpente hadde greuously hurted and wounded the greyhounde that he bled sore. soo yᵗ the erthe about the cradell was al be bled with the blode of the greyhounde. The greyhounde whan that he felte hymselfe so greuously hurted and wounded, sterte fyersly vpon the serpente, and faught sore togyder and so egerly, so that betwyne theym the cradell was ouer caste wᵗ the chylde the botome vpwarde. And by (_sic_) bycause yᵗ the cradell had foure pomelles or fete they saued the chyldes vysage [et] his lyfe frome ony hurtȳge fallynge towardes the erthe. [et] what shall I say more. Incontynent therafter with grete payne the greyhounde ouercame [et] slewe the serpente / [et] went [et] layd hym downe ayen in his place [et] lycked his woundes / and anone after as yᵉ iustes [et] torneye was done, the nourysshes were the fyrste that came in to yᵉ castell / [et] as they sawe the cradell reuersed with bloode vppon the erthe enuyronned, and that the greyhounde was also blody, they thought and sayde amonges themselfe that the greyhounde hadde slayne the chylde, and they were not soo wyse as too tourne vppe ayen the cradell with the chylde for too haue seene what was therof befallen. But they sayd / lete vs fle or ren away leest that oure mayster put or laye the blame vpon vs and slee vs. And as they were thus away rennynge / they met wᵗ the knyghtes wyfe, and she sayd to them Wherfore make ye this sorowe [et] whether wyl ye ren, [et] they sayde, O lady woo and sorowe be to vs and to you; why what is there happened, shewe me. The grehounde they sayd that our lorde [et] mayster loueth soo moche hath deuoured and slayne your sone / [et] lyeth by the wall all full of the bloode. As yᵉ lady this herde she fell to the erthe and began to wepe and crye pyteously: [et] sayd alas, O my dere sone be ye thus slayne [et] dede, what shall I nowe make that I haue my onely sone thus loste. Herwithall came in the knyght frome the torneye, [et] beholdyng his lady thus cryenge [et] makyng sorowe. he demaūded her wherfore that she made so grete sorowe and lamentacyon. She answered hym, O my lorde youre greyhounde that ye loue soo moche hath slayne your onely sone, [et] lyeth by the wal sacyate with bloode of the chylde. The knyght hugely angred went in to the hall, [et] the greyhounde went to hym to mete and to fawne as he was wonte to doo. And the knyght drewe out his swerde [et] with one stroke smote of the houndes heede, and went to ye cradell and founde his sone al hole, and by the cradell the serpente slayne. And by dyuers sygnes perceyued that the hounde hadde foughten ayenst the serpent for the saluacyon of yᵉ chylde. Then with grete sorowe [et] wepyng he tare his here and sayd woo be to me that for the wordes of my wyfe I haue slayne my good greyhounde yᵉ whiche hath saued my chyldes lyfe [et] hath slayne the serpente. Herfore I wyll put my selfe to penaunce [et] brake his swerde in thre peces, and went towardes yᵉ holy londe, [et] abode there all the dayes of h_i_s lyfe. Then sayd yᵉ mayster to themperour, Lorde vnderstande ye what I haue sayd. And he answerd and sayde ryght well. The mayster sayd: Yf yᵗ ye do youre sone to dethe for yᵉ wordes of your wyfe, it shall come to you wors than it dyde too the knyght for his greyhounde. The Emperour sayde ye haue shewed me a fayre example, [et] wᵗout doute this daye shall not my sone dye. Tho sayd the mayster yf ye do so ye do wysly, but I thanke you that ye haue hym spared this daye for my sake:

_The Seconde Complaynte of the Empresse._

Whan yᵗ thempresse herde yᵗ the chylde was not yet deede, she began to wepe bytterly [et] sate her downe vpon the erthe in ye asshes [et] wolde not holde vppe her heed. As themperour that herde he entred in to yᵉ chāber [et] sayd to her, O good wyfe wherfore make ye all this sorowe [et] trouble your selfe so moche. She sayd demaunde ye me that knowe ye not well what grete despyte [et] shame yᵗ I haue suffred of your vnhappy sone, [et] haue p_ro_mysed me yᵗ ye shold se iustyse ouer hȳ done [et] yet he lyueth, of trouth it shall hapne too you as it happened vpon a shepeherde and a boore. The emperour sayd, I praye you shewe me that exāple for my lernynge. and she sayd yesterday I shewed one: and I sawe none effecte that therof came, too what entente sholde I now shewe. Neuertheles I shal this notable example telle [et] declare vnto you / in this maner hereafter folowynge.

_The Seconde Example of the Empresse._

There was somtyme an Emperour the whiche had a grete foreste / wherin was a bore yᵗ was so cruell [et] so fell that all men goynge through the forest he kylled and deuoured. The emperour was therof ryght heuy, and lete to proclame thrugh all his empyre, that who soeuer he was that coude sle the bore sholde haue his oonly doughter too wyfe, [et] therto his Empyre after his deth. [et] as this in all places proclamed was there was not one man founde yᵗ durste medle or intromytte. Than was there a shepeherde whyche in hymself thought, myght I this bore sle [et] wyn̄ sholde not only auaunce my self, but also al my generatyon [et] kynred. he toke his shepeherdes staf in his honde, and went in to the forest. And as the boore had of hym a syght, he drew hym towardes the herdman, and he for fere clymmed vpon a tree. Than the bore began to byte and gnawe the tree / so that the herde thought shortely that he sholde haue ouer throwe it. This tre was laden wᵗ grete plente of fruyte. The herde gadred and plucked therof and cast them to yᵉ boore. In so moche that whan he had fylled hym therwith he put and layde hym downe to slepe. The whiche perceyuynge the herde by lytell [et] lytell he descended [et] with the one hande he clawed the bore, [et] with yᵉ other he helde hymselfe on the tre / [et] seynge yᵗ the boore slepte soundly [et] faste, drewe out his knyfe and smote yᵉ bore to yᵉ herte [et] kylled hȳ. [et] wedded thēperours doughtʳ to hys wyf: [et] aftʳ yᵉ deth of her fadʳhe was made emperour. tho sayd she my lorde wote ye not what I haue sayd. He sayd ryght well. Then sayd she, this myghty bore betokeneth your mooste noble persone / ayenst whome maye no man withstande neyther by wysdom ne with strength. This shepherde with hys staffe is the persone of your vngracyous sone, which wᵗ his staff of connȳge begynneth to play wᵗ you as yᵉ herdman clawed the bore and made him to slepe [et] after kylled hym. In yᵉ same maner yᵉ maysters of your sone by theyr fals fables and narracyons clawe [et] glose vnto the tyme that your sone slee you, that he may regne. Tho sayd themperour god forbede yᵗ they sholde doo too me as they dyde to yᵉ bore. [et] sayd vnto her this day my sone shall be hanged. And she answered yf ye do so ye do wysely. Than themperour yᵉ seconde tyme syttȳge in iugement, cōmaunded to lede hys [son] to yᵉ galowes [et] hange hym. And whyles he was goȳge, the seconde mayster came before themperour doynge hym reuerence as it is before shewed in yᵉ comȳge of the fyrste mayster. To whom yᵉ seconde mayster sayd O my lorde themperour yf ye sholde do sle your sone for the wordes of your wyfe, it myghte worst come to you than it dyde to a knyght which for the wordes of his wyfe was vniustly put in a pyller. Themperoure sayd, O good mayster tell me how it hapned. And he sayde my lorde I shall not saye it but yf yᵗ ye will doo call ayen your sone from yᵉ deth vnto the tyme yᵗ thexample be tolde, the whiche yf it tourne you not frome your purpose, your wyll be fulfylled. The emperour cōmaūded yᵗ yᵉ chylde sholde be called ayen. And [after this manner following, the second master began to tell.

[_The Example of the Second Master._

[In a City was an ancient Knight, which wedded a young wife and fair, as ye hath done, whom he loved above all earthly things; the knight was a very circumspect and careful husband insomuch that every night he locked the door with his own hands and laid the keys under his Beds-head. In that City was a law or custom, that at a certain hour in the night, a bell was used to be rung, that after the ringing of the said bell, if any man or woman were by the watch-men found about the streets, all that night they should be kept in prison, and on the morrow set upon the Pillory, that all people might behold them.

[The said Knight had little lust of fleshly deeds, for he was very old, and might not satiate or perform the desires and appetites of his young wife; wherefore every night she having a Paramour, her Husband sleeping, took the keys from under his Beds-head, and went to her love; and when she came again, laid the keys under her husband's head; and thus they played many a time.

[It happened upon a night that the knight awaked from his sleep, and missed his wife, and the keys and his Beds-head, whereupon he rose up and went unto the doors, and found them open, the which he bolted fast within, and went up again into his chamber, and looked out of the window towards the street: and when it was near the third cocks crow, his wife came from her best beloved, and found the door shut and bolted within: then was she] sorowfull. neuerthelesse she knocked to haue come in. Tho spake the knyght out of the wyndowe. O yᵘ moste euyll [et] vnclene wyfe, now I knowe [et] am experte that many a tyme ye haue forsaken my bedde [et] gone and done auoutrye. now shall ye stande tyll the bel be rongen and yᵗ the wakers may take you and doo with you according to the lawe. The wyfe answered, My lorde wherfore lay ye that to me. In trouth I shall saye you I was called by my moders mayden [et] fetched in the nyght, [et] whan I sawe that ye slepte so swetely I durste not awake you bycause that ye are olde, and therfore I toke yᵉ keyes [et] went to my moder the whyche is sore seke, that I fere too morowe she must bee anoynted or aneeled notwithstandyng for that I sholde not you offende or dysplease I haue hasted me aye_n_ to you [et] haue lefte her lyenge in grete payne [et] infyrmyte. Therfore I pray you for the loue of god lete me in afore the bel be rongen. The knyght answered So shall ye not come in, ye muste there abyde vnto the tyme that the bell be rongen, [et] tyll that yᵉ wakers come and take you. The she sayde that sholde be to you [et] to me: to all our frendes [et] kynred a grete shame and rebuke. Therfore atte the reuerence of almyghty god lete me come in. Than sayd he, Haue in thy mȳde euil and false wyfe how oftentymes ye haue forsaken my bedde and doone auoutrye. It is moche better that ye suffer shame and beewayle for youre synnes here in this worlde, thanne for too suffer payne in helle. She sayd ayen to hȳ I praye you for the loue of hȳ yᵗ was crucyfyed [et] dyed vpon the crosse haue mercy vpon me. The knyght answered, ye laboure all in vayn̄ for ye shall not come in, but ye shall tary the comynge the wakers. As she herde that, she sayde my lorde ye knowe well that by this dore standyth a well, yf ye lete me not come in I shall therin drowne my selfe, rather thanne all my frendes sholde be shamed for me. Then̄e sayd he, wolde god yᵗ ye had be drowned long afore or ye in my bedde came. And as they thus spake togyder, yᵉ mone went down [et] was al derke. Tho sayde she, yf it wyll none otherwyse be I shal drowne miselfe, but yet afore as a trewe crysten woman I wylle make my testament. Fyrst I bequethe to god [et] to oure lady my soule, my body too be buryed in yᵉ chyrche of saynt Peter [et] of all other thȳges [et] goodes yᵗ god hath sent me, I gyue vnto you to dyspose for my soule after your wysdome [et] dyscrecyon, [et] whan she had thus sayd, she went to the well, [et] a grete stone ther beynge wᵗ bothe her armes she lyfte vp [et] sayd, Nowe I drowne myselfe, [et] caste yᵉ stone downe in to the well [et] went ayen pryuely and stode by the dore. The knyghte herynge that noyse cryed wᵗ a lowde voyce saynge / alas alas my wyfe is drowned, and hastely came downe and rāne to the well. And whan she sawe that the dore was open, anone she entred and locked and made faste yᵉ yate / [et] went vp to yᵉ chamber [et] laye [et] loked out of yᵉ wyndowe. The knyghte stode by yᵉ welle [et] cryed and wepte bytterly and sayd, woo be to me I haue now loste my moost beloued wyfe, cursed be the tyme that I made faste the dore ayenst her. The lady herde that [et] sayd, O ye cursed olde grysarde, why stade ye there this tyme on yᵉ nyght, was not my body to you suffycyent, wherfore goo ye thus euery nyghte, out to your harlottes [et] hores and leue my bed. As he herde the voyce of his wyfe he was ryght gladde and sayd Blessed be god that yet she is not drowned. But my good lady wherfore laye ye suche thynges ayenst me. I thoughte to haue chastysed you, and therfore I locked the dore. But in no wyse I entended your peryl / ye knowe well whatte sorowe I made for you whan I herde you to haue fallen in the well, [et] therfore I came lyghtly to haue holpen you. Therupon she sayde, falsly ye lye. I neuer dyde suche thinges as ye laye to me. But it appereth by a comyn prouerbe, he yᵗ is defectyfe or culpable hymself in a synne, he iugeth euery man to be in the same, or elles yᵗ fader soughte neuer his sone in yᵉ ouen: but yf he had ben therin hȳselfe. And therfore ye put that to me yᵗ ye yourselfe haue oftentymes done [et] vsed but one thynge I promys you. ye shall abyde there tyll yᵉ wakers come, [et] that yᵉ bell be rongen that they may lede you before yᵉ iuges to abyde [et] suffer the law. Tho sayd the knyght, wherfore laye ye suche thynges too me / I am olde [et] all my lyfe dayes I haue ben conuersaunt in this cyte, [et] in this was I neuer dyffamed, [et] therfore lete me in that to me ne to your self ye do no shame. She sayd, ye speke in vayne, It is better that ye forthynke your sȳnes in this worlde than in hell. Haue in mynde what the wyse man sayth. A poore man proude, A ryche man a lyer, An olde man a fole god hatyth. So ye be a lyer and ryche. what nede was it too you for too lye vpon me. And ye are a fole, for ye had yᵉ floure of my youth at your pleasure, and yet ye muste renne to hoores [et] harlottes. And therfore it is a grete grace of god that ye haue tyme and space too forthynke it, leste that ye sholde perysshe and be dampned for eurmore. [et] for yᵗ suffre your penaunce pacyently. Tho knyght sayd, O my best and well beloued lady all though it be so, yet is god mercyfull, and he asketh noo thynge of a synner, but he amende his lyfe and forthynke and doo penaunce for his synnes. Nowe lete me come in and I wyll make amendes, She sayde, Whiche deuyll hath made you so good a prechour, So come ye not in. And as they thus spake the bell was rongen / yᵉ knyght herynge that sayd, O my mooste dere lady the bell ryngeth now, suffer me to come in that I be not ashamed for euer. whiche answered, yᵉ ryngȳge of the bell pretendeth the helthe of youre soule take it pacyently in your penaūce. And as this was sayd come yᵉ wakers yᵗ aboute the cyte went [et] founde the knyght standynge in yᵉ strete [et] sayd to hy_m_, O good man it is not gode yᵗ ye in this houre of yᵉ nyght stande here. And as she herde the voyce of yᵉ wakers / she sayd, Good felowes venge me on yᵗ olde cursed horehunter [et] rybaude, for ye knowe whose doughter and what I am. This cursed olde man is wont euery nyght to leue my bed, [et] gothe to his hoores [et] harlottes. I haue longe forborne hym and wolde not shewe it ne complayne vpon hym too my frendes, for I trusted that he wolde haue amēded his mysrule, [et] it helpeth not. And therfore take hym [et] punysshe hym after the lawe, yᵗ all suche olde dotardes may take example by hym. Then yᵉ wakers toke hym and all nyght chastysed hym in pryson. [et] on yᵉ morne they put hym on yᵉ pyllery. Tho sayd to the Emperoure, Lorde haue ye ynderstonde what I haue sayd [et] he sayd ryght well. Tho sayd yᵉ mayster, yf ye put to dethe your sone by yᵉ excytacyon of your wyfe, it shall to you worse come than it dyd to yᵉ knyght. The Emperour sayd she was the worste woman yᵗ euer I herde of that so falsely her husbande brought to shame [et] rebuke. I say to you mayster yᵗ for yᵉ reason of this example, my sone shall this daye not dye. The mayster sayd to hym, yf ye do so than do ye wysely. And yᵗ herafter ye shall ioye, [et] I commende you to god / [et] thanke you of your pacyent herynge / and of the sparynge of your sone and so he departed.

_The Thyrd Complaynte of the Empresse._

Whan thempresse herde yᵗ the chylde was not dede she wepte bytterly [et] entred in to her preuy chamber / [et] tare her skyn wᵗ her nayles, [et] wᵗ loude voyce cryed and sayd alas yᵗ euer I was borne, [et] yᵗ I soo grete a kynges doughter sholde thus be intreated [et] shamed and therof can haue no remedy. Her gētilwȳmen th_i_s herȳg wēt [et] shewed it to thēperour. [et] he went vnto her [et] co_m_forted her say_in_g O lady wepe not so ne cry not, for it becometh you no thynge / whiche sayd / the loue that I haue [et] owe to you maketh me more to sorowe than the contempte of the dede. for why the inwarde loue of your herte hath hytherto prohybite [et] letted me yᵗ I haue not retorned ayen in to my countree to my fader but I fere yf I sholde so do to you it myght do harme for he is myghty to honoure me wᵗ rychesses, and too venge my quarell [et] despyte in such wyse yᵗ ye [et] youres myght forthynke it. Therto sayd themperour lete that goo out of your mynde, shewe it not / for as long as I lyue I shall neuer fayle you. And she sayd / lorde I praye god that ye maye longe lyue. But I fere me yᵗ it shall hapen vpon you as it dyde of a knyght and of his sone that wolde not burye his faders hede in the chyrcheyerde, a_n_d yet his fader was for hym slayne / . Than sayd themperour Shewe me yᵗ example, how that was that he wolde not burye his faders heede / she sayd I shall do it to your proufyte.

_The Thyrde Example of the Empresse._

There was in the cyte of rome a knyghte yᵗ had two doughters [et] one sone. this knyghte hadde so grete delyte in hauntinge iustynge and turneynge that all thynge that he myght wynne [et] gete he layde it and spente it therupon. In that tyme was an emperour named Octauyan, whiche in rychesse of golde [et] syluer exceded al other kynges and prynces in so moche that he had a toure full of golde, and ordeyned a knyght to haue yᵉ kepynge [et] charge therof. This knyghte that so haunted iustynge [et] other ydell games came to so grete pouerte that he was dysposed to sel his herytage, [et] called to hym his sone and sayd. My sone it behoueth me of your counseyll, for necessyte and pouerte compelleth me to sell myn herytage, or elles for to fynde an other way by the whiche I maye lyue, for yf I sholde sell myn heritage ye [et] your systers sholde perysshe. The sone sayde, fader yf ye can fynde ony other meane without sellynge of the herytage, I sholde be redy to helpe you. To whome yᵉ fader sayd I am bethought vpon a good counseyll. Themperour hath a toure full of golde / by nyght tyme lete vs go thyder with instrumentes and dygge and hewe through the toure, and lete vs take of the golde as moche as shal suffyse us. Therto answered the sone [et] sayd, that coūseyl can not be amended, for it is better of themperoures golde to take to helpe vs than our herytage to sell. They rose vp bothe in a nyght and went to the toure and with instrumentes they made there thrugh an hole, and toke as moche golde as they bothe coude cary away at that tyme. The knyght payed his dettes [et] haunted ayen iustes as he dyde before tyll all was spēte and consumed. In the meane whyle the keper of yᵉ tresoure went in to the toure [et] whan he saw the tresoure stolen, [et] a grete hole made through the wall, he began to waxe sore aferde [et] went to themperour and shewed how it was befallen. To whome themperour sayd all angrely, what nedest yᵘ to shewe that haue I not delyuered to the my tresoure / [et] therfore of the I wyll aske it. Tho anone as the keper herde that went to the toure ayen, [et] set afore the hole a grete vessel ful of pytche medled with other gummes so subtely, that noo man myght come in at that hole but that he must nedes fall into that vessell, [et] yf he therin fyll he coude no more come out of it. Not longe after the knyghte had all the golde consumed and spent [et] went ayen with his sone to the toure to stele more golde. And as the fader went in fyrste, anone he was fallen in yᵉ ves_sel_ with pytche to the necke. [et] whan he saw that he was taken and coude not gete out he sayd to his sone, folow me not, for yf thou doost thou may not escape to be taken. Than yᵉ sone sayd, god defende it yᵗ I sholde not helpe you: for yf ye are founden we are all but dede, [et] yf that ye may not be holpen by me, I shall seke counseyll how that ye may be delyuered [et] holpen. The fader sayd / there is none other counseyll, but with thy swerde smyte of myne heed / and as my body is founde without hede, noo man shall knowe me. [et] so yᵘ and my dought_er_s may escape [et] auoyde th_i_s wordly shame [et] dethe. The sone sayde, Fader ye haue gyuen yᵉ best counseyll, For yf it were so that ony man myght perceyue ony knolege of you, none of vs sholde escape yᵉ deth [et] therfore it is expedient that your hede be smyten of. Anone he drewe out his swerde [et] smote of his faders hede [et] caste it into a pytte. [et] afterwarde hyd it therin and yede and shewed to his systers all the mater, whiche many dayes after pryuely bewayled the dethe of theyr fader. After this yᵉ keper of yᵉ tresour came in to the toure [et] founde a body wᵗout ony hede. whereof he wondred sore, and shewed it to yᵉ emperour. To whome he sayde, byn̄de that body at the tayle of an horse [et] so drawe it by al the stretes of the cyte, [et] dyligently take good hede yf ye here ony crye or wepynge. wheresoo euer ye here that he is lorde of the house, take all them [et] wᵗ the body drawe them to the galowes [et] hange them. The whiche themperours seruauntes fulfylled accordinge to his cōmaūdemēt. And as they came ayenst the house of the dede knyght, [et] as the doughters sawe yᵉ body of theyre dede fader, they made a merueylous grete shryche [et] wept pyteously [et] as ther broder that herd, anone he wounded hymself greuously in the mouthe with a knyfe, so that grete plente of bloode came oute of the wounde. The offycers whan the herde that noyse [et] crye entred in to the house, and demaunded the cause of theyr noyse [et] clamour. Tho answered the sone that I am thus wounded, for whan my systers sawe my bloode so habundauntly go oute as ye see, they began to wepe and crye. And whan the offycers sawe the wounde they byleued his wordes, [et] so dysceyued went theyr wayes, and hynge (_sic_) the body of the knyght vpon the galowes where it hynge long tyme [et] his sone wolde neyther take his body downe frome the galowes, ne yet bury his hede. yᵉ Empresse sayd vnderstande ye what I haue sayd. Themperour sayd ye ryght well.

_The Declaratyon of the Example._

Tho spake thempresse, thus my lorde I fere me it shalbe of you [et] of your sone. This knyght for loue of his sone was made poore. [et] fyrste he commytted thefte [et] brake the toure, secondary dyde hymself too be heded, that his chyldren sholde haue no shame. After yᵉ sone cast his hede in a dyke, [et] buryed it nether in chyrche nor in chyrcheyerde, his body he suffred to hange styll vpon the galowes, yf that he coude not haue taken it downe in the daye he myght wel haue done in yᵉ nyght. In the same maner ye laboure nyght and day that ye maye promote your sone to honoure [et] ryches. But without doubte he dayly laboureth for your confusyon [et] destructyon that he may regne after you in your empyre. Therfore I aduyse you yᵗ ye do hȳ to be hanged before or he you destroye. Themperour sayd ye haue shewed me a good example. The knyghtes sone whan he had smyten of his faders hede wolde not bury it. Without doute my [son] fader (_sic_) shall not do so by me, but he communded (_sic_) anone his offycers that they sholde lede hym to the galowes. [et] they obeyed his cōmaūdement hastely. [et] as they lad hym thrugh the stretes yᵉ people made grete noyse [et] lamentacyon. alas alas the onely sone of the emperour is lad ayen towardes yᵉ galowes / [et] as they thus ladde hym the thyrde mayster named Craton came rydȳg vpon an hors / [et] as yᵉ chylde sawe hym he bowed downe his hede to hym as though he had sayd, haue mynde vpon me. The pepole cryed say_i_ng, O good mayster hast you [et] saue youre dyscyple. He smote his horse wᵗ spores [et] haysted him to yᵉ palays. And whan he came before themperoure he honourably salued hym, whiche sayd, thy comyng hyther shall neuer auayll the / nor it that yᵘ comest for. The mayster sayd, I hoped in my comynge to haue be welcome [et] haue had a better rewarde [et] not too haue be rebuked. The emperour sayd / as ye haue deserued so shal it be to you. To whom he sayd, my lord what haue I deserued. Themperour sayde, ye haue ryghte well deserued deth, for why I delyuered to you my sone well spekynge [et] wel manered for to enfourme and teche, [et] ye haue delyuered hym ayen too me dompe [et] a rybaude. To whom the mayster sayd / in that ye say he is dompe yᵗ I commytte to god / for he maketh the dompe to speke [et] the defe to here. But in that ye saye yᵗ he wolde haue your wyfe enforced that wolde I gladly knowe yf ony creature haue yᵗ seen, for there is no malyce aboue yᵉ malyce of a woman / and that shall I proue by a good example that wȳmen are full of lesȳges [et] decepcōns, [et] yf ye put to deth your sone for the wordes of your wyfe / it shall happen to you as it dyd to a noble man of his wyfe [et] of his pye, the whiche he loued merueylously. To whome themperour sayd, you tell me how that wymmen are full of malyce [et] lesynges / whiche sayd I wyll not do it / but yf ye fyrst calle ayen your sone frome the dethe, [et] then at youre pleasure I shall shewe thexample. Than themperour anone made the chylde too be called ayen and put in pryson. Than the mayster began to say this example in this fourme folowynge.

_The Example of the Thyrde Mayster._

There was in a cyte a ryche burgeys that had a pye the which he loued so moche yᵗ euery day he taught her to speke latyn [et] hebrewe. And whan yᵗ she had lerned perfetly to speke those two langages / all yᵗ she sawe [et] herde, she shewed [et] tolde to her mayster. This good man had a fayre yonge wyfe as ye haue / the whiche he loued moche. but she contrary loued not hym / bycause he myght not furnysshe her of such pleasures [et] lustes as she desyred to haue. And therfore had she an other fayre yonge man that she loued aboue her husbōde. And alwayes as her husbonde was out of the towne about his marchaundyse [et] other besynesses to do, and she sent for her best beloued yᵗ they myght togyder make good chere. The pye as she that sawe tolde it to her mayster, at his home comyng, in such wyse that yᵉ noyse ranne all ouer the cyte of her aduoutry, wherof her husbōde many tyme brauled [et] chydde her. She answered hȳ, ye beleue your cursed pye, whiche as longe as she lyueth shall alwayes make betwix us varyaunce [et] dyscorde. And he sayd the pye can not lye, for that she seeth [et] hereth that she telleth me, and therfore I beleue her more than you. It fortuned that the good man went in to ferre coūtrees to do his marchaūdyse, [et] as sone as was gone his wyfe sent for her frende [et] loue to solace [et] make good chere wᵗ hȳ. but he durst not come by day lyght. but abode to yᵉ euenynge leste that he sholde be seen [et] marked of yᵉ peple. And as yᵉ nyght was comen / he knocked at yᵉ gate: [et] she was redy [et] opened it [et] sayd, Go in frely for n̄o man shall see you. [et] he sayd I fere me yᵗ the cursed pye shall accuse vs, for by her is comen grete sclaundre vpon vs through out all the cyte. Entre in she sayd boldely and fere not. And as he sholde passe through yᵉ halle where the pye was in her cage, she herd hym say thyse wordes. O my moste beloued I fere me gretely of yᵉ pye that she shal bewraye vs. And as the wyfe herde that she sayde, Be styll foole. it is derke she may not se you. Then̄e yᵉ py that herynge sayde, If I se the not I here thy voyce, [et] thou doost wrong to my mayster, for yᵘ slepest with my maystresse, and whan̄e my mayster cometh I shall tell hym. The yonge man herynge that sayd, Tolde I not you yᵗ the pye sholde dyscouer vs. And yᵉ wyfe sayd fere not for this nyght we shall be auenged vpon the pye. And entred in to yᵉ chamber [et] slepte togyder that nyght. About mydnyghte the wyfe arose, [et] called to her a mayden and sayde / fetche me a ladder [et] set vp too yᵉ rofe of yᵉ house yᵗ I may wreke me on the pye. The mayde dyde so and they bothe went vp [et] made an hole through the coueryng of yᵉ house ryght ouer the pye / and there thrugh caste sande clay stones [et] water vpon the pye, somoch that the poore pye was nere dede [et] on the morne the yonge man went erly out at a backe dore. And whan the good man was comen home as his custume was he went [et] vysyted his pye and sayd to her, O pye my welbeloued byrde / say me howe yᵘ haste fared the whiles that I haue been out. She sayd, mayster I shall tel you tydynges that I haue herde. your wyfe as sone as ye were gone by the nyght tyme she lete a man come i_n_ and as I that herde I tolde hym yᵗ I wolde shewe it to you at your comynge home / that not withstondynge she lad hym in to your chamber, [et] slepte with hȳ al nyght. ye demaunded me also howe yᵗ I haue done in your absence. And I saye you of a trouth that I was neuer so nygh my deth as I was that same nyght wᵗ snowe hayle [et] rayne yᵗ fyll vpon my body, so longe durȳge that I was almoste left for dede. The wyfe whā she herde that sayd too her husbonde, Syr ye byleue your pye now may ye here what she sayth / she cōplaynyth yᵗ in yᵉ same nyght there fyll so moche snowe hayle [et] rayne vpon her yᵗ she was almost dede, [et] yet ther was none of thē al that same nyght, for ther was not in a yere a fayrer ne a clerer nyght than it was [et] therfore from hensforth byleue her not. Tho went yᵉ good man to his neyghbours [et] demaūded of them yf yᵗ nyght were ony tempest or rayne. They answered yᵗ some of them had waked all yᵉ nyght, [et] in all yᵗ yere they had not sene a fayrer nyght. Tho we_n_t he to his house [et] sayd to his wyfe, I haue foūden you in yᵉ trouth for yᵉ nyght was fayr [et] clere as I vndersto_n_de of your neyghbours. ye may now knowe of a trouth sayd she yᵗ py is a lyer. wᵗ her lesȳges she hath sowen [et] made discorde betwix vs, [et] ouer that I am diffamed thrugh yᵉ cite by her fals lesy_n_gs. than yᵉ burgeys we_n_t to yᵉ pye [et] sayd wherfore haste yᵘ made lyes [et] fals tales betwix me [et] my wyfe. Is this yᵉ thāke that I haue for yᵉ mete that I was wont to gyue yᵉ wᵗ myn owne hōdes euery day [et] haste also therby my wyfe brought in to grete dyffamacyon thrugh al the towne. The pye answered, god knoweth yᵗ I can not lye for that I sawe [et] herde yᵗ haue I shewed to you. Than sayd he, yᵘ lyest. Haste thou not sayd vnto me that in yᵉ same nyghte was hayle [et] snowe [et] rayne that yᵘ haddest nerehōnde loste thy lyfe whiche is false. And therfore from hensforth yᵘ shalt make no mo lesynges ne dyscorde betwix me and my wyfe / [et] toke yᵉ pye and brake her necke. As the wyfe sawe that she was ryght glad [et] sayd now haue ye done well, now maye we all our lyue dayes lyue in reste [et] peas. And whan he had slayne yᵉ pye, he loked vp [et] sawe in the top of yᵉ house a laddre [et] a vessel wᵗ water, sand [et] stones. and as he that behelde, he perceyued the falshede of his wyfe, and cryed with a loude voyce, Woo be too me that for my wyues wordes I haue my pye slayne and all my solace and ioye loste. yᵉ why (_sic_) the in all thynges sayd to me trouthe. And as he had thus doone anone for sorowe lefte his marchaundyse and all his house and went to wardes the holy londe, and neuer retorned ayen towardes his wyfe. Than̄e the mayster sayd to themperour, Syr haue ye vnderstande what I haue sayd. he answered ryght well. the mayster sayd, was not yᵗ a false [et] cursed wyfe yᵗ so by her lesynges caused yᵉ pye for to be slayne. The emperour sayd, In trouthe she was full of falsenesse. I forthynke gretly the pye, the whiche for her true saynge lost her lyfe. Verely I say to you yᵗ ye haue tolde me a fayr exa_m_ple therfore th[i]s day my sone shal not dy. Tho sayd the master, Syr yf ye do so ye do wysely, [et] I thāke you that ye haue spared your sone, this day for my wyll, and to god I commende you.

_The Fourth Complaynte of the Empresse._

Whan thempresse herde that yᵉ chylde was not yet dede, she made grete noyse [et] cryenges in such wyse that she was herde thrugh the palays [et] sayd, Woo be to me that euer I was made Empresse, wolde god I had dyed whan I was broughte in too thyse partyes. whan the emperour herde yᵉ noyse [et] crye that she made, he entred in to the chamber, [et] conforted her as moche as he myght [et] demaunded the cause of her lamentacyon / whiche sayd, O myn owne lorde haue no wonder though that I be in this grete sorowe and agony for I am your wyfe, [et] in your company by your sone I am shamed as ye sawe me lately all be bled [et] scratched. [et] ye haue promysed me that he sholde therfor be hanged / [et] yet he lyueth. Wherfore sholde I not sorow. Themperour answered be content [et] pleased / and I shall do iustyse vpon my sone to morowe. But in that I forbare hym yesterday was at the meuyng of one of the maysters by an example. Than sayd she, Haue ye forboren to do iustyce for one worde, were it soo for all the worlde ye sholde not let to do iustyce / [et] ye saye for the example of one mayster ye haue lefte it. I fere me it shall happen with you [et] wᵗ youre maysters as vpon a tyme it fortuned too an Emperoure with his seuen wyse maysters. The empeperoure (_sic_) sayde I praye you tell me that example. She sayd.

To what entent sholde I laboure in vayne / for yesterdaye I shewed you a good example and it auayled not. for whatsomeuer I shewe for youre honoure and proufyte that the maysters of your sone torne vp and downe to your destructyon, as in this present example I shall clerely shewe you. To whome themperour sayd O my best beloued lady tell me that example, that by the same I maye the better beware / for though that I respyted my sones lyfe for one daye / I shal not therfore gyue hym his lyfe / for that is dyfferred / it is not therfore auferred. And she saide, gladly I shall shewe it for your proufyte. and began to tell it as here after foloweth.

_The Fourthe Example of the Empresse._