The Argument .

¶ Mans soule is deerely beloued vnto God hir Father . And yet for hir sondry good graces , she is tempted of the diuell by iij diuers meanes , at iij. seuerall ages in this mortall lyfe , if she resist and ouercome the same , she is therby adopted to the fruition of ma trimoniall ioy in heauen , with Christ the sonne of God .

The first Historie .

SOme time there dwelt in Rome a mightie Emperour , which had a faire creature to his daughter named Athalanta , whom diuers great Lords and many noble Knights desired to haue to wife . This Athalanta was wōnderous swift on soote , wherefore such a law was ordained that no man should haue hir to wife but such as could out runne hir and take hir by swiftnesse of foote .

And so it befell that many came and ranne with hir , but she was so swifte that no manne might ouertake hir by course of running . At the last there came a Knight named Pomeis , vnto hir Father , and said to him thus . My Lord , if it might please you to giue mée your daughter to wife , I will gladly runne with hir . Then said hir father , there is such a ●aw ordained and sett , that who so will ●aue hir to wife , must first runne with hir , & if he faile in his course , that he ouer take hir not , he shall loose his head , and if it fortune him to ouertake hir , than shall I wed hir vnto him .

And when the emperour had told him all the perill that might fall in the winning of hir , the Knight voluntarily graunted to abide that ieoperdie . Then the Knight lette ordaine him thrée balles of gold against the running . And when they had begun to runne a litle space , the young Ladie ouer ranne him , than the Knight threw foorth beefore hir the first ball of gold . And when the damosel saw the ball , she stooped and tooke it vp , and that while the Knight wanne before hir , but that auayled lyttle , for whan she perceiued that , she ranne so fast that in short space shée gat before him againe . And than he threw foorth the second ball of gold , and she stooped as she did before to take it vp , & in that while the knight wanne before hir againe , which this young damoysell séeing , constrained hir selfe and ranne so fast till at the last she had him at a vauntage againe , and was afore him , and by that tyme they were nigh the marke where they should abide , wherefore the knight threw forth the third ball beefore hir , and like as she had done before stooped downe to take vp the ball , and while she was in taking vp the third bal , the knight gat afore hir , and was first at the marke . And thus was she wonne .

The Argument .

As God allotteth diuers men diuers callings & estats of liuing in this world , so is euery man ●ryed by the rules of life & doctrine , whether his pract●e agree with his profession , in p●ofiring himselfe without preiudice of others , wherin if he so bold himselfe ●ontent , for such a sonne , the heauenly , father hath planted a tree of heauenly treasures , in the life euerlasting .

The second Historie .

THere dwelt sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour and a wise named Anselme , which bare in his armes a sheld of siluer with fiue red Roses . This Emperour had in ▪ sonnes , whom he loued much , he had also continuall warre with the King of Egypt , in the which warre he lost all his temporall goods , except a vertuous tree . It fortuned after on a daye , that hée gaue battaile to that said King of Egipt , wherein hée was grieuosly wounded . Neuerthelesse hée obtained the victory , not withstanding he had his deadly wound , wherfore while hée laie at poynt of death hée called vnto him his eldest sonne & saide , My most déere and welbéeloued sonne , all my temporall richesse I haue spent and almost nothing is left mée , except a vertuous trée the which standeth in the middest of mine Empyre , I giue to thée al that is vnder the earth and aboue the earth of the same trée . O my reuerent Father ( quod hée ) I thanke you much . Then saide th emperour , call to mée my second sonne . Anone his eldest sonne greatly ioying of his fathers gift , called in his brother , and when hée came , than saide th emperour . My déere sonne ( quod hée ) I may not make my testament for as much as I haue spent all my goods , except a Tree which standeth in myne Empyre , of the which Trée I béequeath to thée all that is great and small . Then answered hée and sayde . My reuerent father I thank you much . Then said the Emperour , call to mée my third sonne , and so it was done . And when hée was come , the Emperour said . My déere sonne , I must die of these wounds , & I haue but onely a vertuous Tree , of the which I haue béequethed thy bretherne their porcion , and to thée I bequeth thy porcion , for I will that thou haue of the said tree all that is wet and dry . Then saide his sonne . Father I thanke you . Soone after that the emperour had made his bequest he died . And the eldest sonne anone toke season of the trée When the second brother heard this , hée saide . My brother , by what law or tytell occupy yee this trée Déere ●brother ( quod hée ) I occupy it by this title , my father gaue mee all that is vnder the earth & aboue of the said tree , & therfore by reason this trée is mine . Unknowing to thee , quod the second brother , hée gaue mée all that is in bredth , length , & deepnes , of the said trée , & therefore I haue as great right in the trée as you . This hearing the third sonne came to them & saide . O yée my best belou'd bretherne , it beehoueth you not to striue for this trée , for as much right haue I in this trée as yée , for wel yée wot by the law , that the last wil & testament ought to stand , for of truth hée gaue mée of the said trée all that is wet and drye , and therefore by right the trée is mine , but for as much as your words are of great force , & mine also , my counsaile is that wée be iustified by reason , for it is not good nor commendable that any strife or dissencion ▪ should bée among vs . Héere beeside dwelleth a king of reason , therefore to auoid strife , goe wée there vnto him , and eche of vs la●e his right beefore him , and like as hee will iudge , lette vs stand to his iudgement . Then said his brethren , this counsaile is good , wherefore they went all thrée vnto the King of reason , and eche of them seuerally shewed foorth his right vnto him , like as it is said beefore .

When the King had heard their titles , hée rehearsed them all againe seuerally , first saying to the eldest sonne thus . Thou saist for thée , quod the King , that thy father gaue thee all that is vnder the earth and aboue the earth of the said Trée . And to the second brother hee bequethed all that is in bredth , length , and déepnes , of that trée . And to the third brother hée gaue all that is wette and dry . And with that hée layd the law for them , & saide that the last will ought to stand . Now my déere sonnes , briefely I shall satisfie all your reasons . And when hee had thus said , hée turned him vnto the eldest brother , saying thus . My déere sonne , if you list to abide the iudgment , of right it behoueth you to be letten bloud of the right arme . My Lord , quod hée , your will shall hée dene . Then called the king forth a discréet Phisition , commaunding him to let him bloud . When the eldest sonne was thus letten blood , the king said to them all three . My déere sonnes , quod hée , wher is your father buried . Then answered they and said : Forsooth my Lord in such a place . Anone the King commaunded to digge in the ground for the body , and to take a bonne out of his brest , and to bury the body againe , & so it was done . And when the bonne was taken out , the king commaunded that it should bee laied in the blood of the elder brother , and it should lie till it had receiued kindly the blood , and then to bée laied in the Sunne and dried , and after that it should bée washt with cléere water , his seruants fulfilled all that hée commaunded . And when they beegan to wash , the blood vanished cleane away , When the king saw this , hée said to the second sonne . It béehoueth that thou bee letten blood as thy brother is . Then said hée . My Lord thy will shall be fullfiled , and a non hée was done vnto like as his brother was in all thing , & when they began to wash the bone , the blood vanished away . Then said the king to the third son . My déer child it behoueth thée also to bée letten blood . Hée answered & saide . My Lord it pleaseth mée well so to bée . When the yongest brother was letten blood , & done vnto in all thing like as his two bretherne were before , when the kings seruaunts began to wash the bone , they might neither for washing ne for fretting doe away the blood of the bone but euer it appeared bloody . When the king saw this he saide : It appeareth openly that this blood without doubt is of the nature of this bone , thou art his true son , & these other two ben bastards I giue to thee the trée for euermore .

The Argument .

God so loued sinfull man , that he sent his onely begotten son to redeeme him out of the captiuitie of the wicked world , to rest with him in the ioyes of heauen .

The third Historie .

IN Rome there dwelled some time a noble Emperour named Dioclesian , which aboue all worldly goods loued the vertue of charitie , wherfore he desired greatly to knowe what fowle loued hir birds best , to the intent that he might thereby grow to more perfect charitie . It fortuned after vpon a day , that this Emperour walked to the forest to take his disport , wher as he found the neast of a great bird ( that is called in latin Struthio Camely , in English an Oistridge ) with hir bird , the which bird , the emperour toke with him , & closed him in a vessel of glasse . The dam of this litle bird followed after vnto the emperours place , and slew into the hall where hir birde was closed . But when she sawe hir bird , and might by no meanes come to hir , ne get her out , shee returned againe to the forest , & there she abode three daies , and at the last shee returned againe to the Pallys , bearing in hir mouth a worme that is called Thumare . Whan she came where hir birde was , shee let the worme fall vppon the glasse , thorough vertue of which worme , the glalsse brake , and the bird escaped , and slew foorth with his dam.

Whan the emperour saw this , he praised much the dam of the birde , which so diligently laboured for the deliueraunce of hir byrd .

The Argument .

¶ A cleane spirite and vndefiled soule , is the daughter of God so tender and deere vnto him , that he bestoweth hir not vpon the rich man wanting the wisdome of God , but vpon the poore manne that is wise and liueth in the feare of God , which if she at any time transgresle by frailtie of flesh , than for the recouery of hir health by the medicine of amendement of lyse , to such a one though poore , shall his soule be not onely in this lyfe espoused with much solace & ioye ech of other , but in the world to come shall liue with Christ in ioy and euerlasting blisse .

The fourth Historie .

SOmetime dwelled in Rome a worthy Emperour and a wyse , which had a fayre daughter and a gracious in the sight of euery man . This emperour bee thought him on a daye to whome he might giue his daughter in marriage , saying thus . If I giue my daughter to a rich man , and he be a foole , then is she lost , and if I giue hir to a poore man and a wittie , than may he get his liuing for him and hir by his wisedome .

There was that time dwelling in the citie of Rome a Philosopher named Socrates , poore and wise , which came to the Emperour & sayde . My Lord displease you not though I put foorth my peticion before your highnes . Th emperour sayd , whatsoeuer it pleaseth thee tell foorth . Then sayd Socrates : My Lord ye haue a daughter whome I desire aboue all thing . Th emperour answered and said . My friend , I shall giue thée my daughter to wife vpon this condicion , that if she dye in thy feloship after that she is wedded to thée , thou shalt without doubt léese thy head . Then said Socrates . Upon this condition I will gladly take hir to bée my wife . Th emperour hearing this , let call foorth all the Lords and states of his Empyre , and made a great feast at their wedding . And after the feast Socrates led home his wife to his owne house , where as they liued in peace and health long time . But at the last this Emperours daughter sickned to death , when Socrates perceiued this , hee saide to himselfe . Alas and wo to mée , what shall I doe , and whether shall I flée , if the Emperours daughter that is my wife should dye : and for sorrow this Socrates went to a forrest there béeside and wept bitterly . The while he thus wept and mourned , there came an aged man bearing a staffe in his hande , and asked the cause of Socrates why he mourned . Socrates answered and sayd . I wedded th emperours daughter vpon this condition , that if she died in my feloship , I should leese my lyfe , now shee is sickned vnto the death , & I c●n find no remedie nor help , and therefore I mourne more than any creature can thinke . Then saide the olde man , be of good comfort , for I shall help you if yee will doe after my counsell . In this forrest be three herbes , if ye make a drink of the first to your wife , & of the other two a playster , and if she vse this medicinall drincke and plaister in due time without doubt she shall recouer to perfect health . Socrates fulfilled all as the olde man had taught him . And whan his wife had vsed a while that medicinall drinke and plaister , within short tyme she was perfectly whole of all hir sickenesse And when the Emperour heard that Socrates wrought so wisely , and how diligently he laboured for to heale his wife , he promoted him to great dignitie and worship .

The Argument .

¶ Many folish Idiots of this world doe commonly flow & flote in abundance of worldly wealth & pomp , with thinking they shall liue heere alwaies , are labored vnto by the preachers of gods word to be admonished of their momentany felicities , and so to prepare themselues in bestowing well theyr short time heere , to emoye the blessings of euerlasting felicitie in the world to come .

The fift History .

SOmetime there raigned in Rome a mightie Emperour and a wyse , named Frederike , which had one onely sonne , whome he loued much . This Emperour when hee laye at the point of death , hée called vnto him his sonne , and sayde . Déere sonne , I haue a ball of Gold which I giue thée vpon my blesseing , that thou anone after my death shalt giue it to the most foole that thou maiest finde . Then saide his sonne . My Lord without doubt your will shall bee fulfilled . Anone this young Lord after the death of his father , went & sought in many Realmes & found many rechlesse fooles , bicause hée would satisfie his Fathers will , laboured farher til hee came into a realme where the law was such , that euerie yeere a new King was chosen there , and this King had onely the guiding of that Realme but a yeere , and at the yéeres ende hée was deposed and put in exile in an Ilande , where as hée should wretchedly finish his life .

When the Emperours sonne came to this Realme , the new King was chosen with great honour , and all maner of Musical instruments went before him and brought him with great reuerence and worship vnto his regall sea●● . And when the Emperours sonne sawe that hée came vnto him and saluted him reuerently and said . My Lord , loe , I giue thee this ball of gold , on my fathers behal●e . Then saide hee , I praye thee tell mee the cause why thou giuest mee this ball . Then answered this young Lord and said . My father charged mee in his death bedde vpon paine of forfaiting of his blesseing , that I should giue this ball to the most foole that I could find , wherfore I haue sought many Realmes , and haue found many fooles , neuerthelesse a more foole then thou art , found I neuer , & therefore this is the reason . It is not vnknown to thee that thou shalt raign but a yeere , and at the yeeres end thou shalt bee exiled into such a place where as thou shalt die a mischeuous death , wherfore I hold thée for the most foole that euer I found , that for the Lordship of a yéere , thou wouldest so wilfully leese thy selfe , and therefore before all other , I haue giuen thee this ball of gold .

Then saide the king , without doubt thou saiest truth , and therefore when I am in ful power of this realme , I shall send beefore mee great treasure and riches wherewith I may liue & saue my selfe from mischeuous death , when I shal bee exiled & put downe . And to this was done , wherfore at the yeeres ende , hee was exiled and iued there in peare , vpon such goods as hee had sent beefore , & hée died afterward a good death .

The Argument .

The euill disposed whcked wise men of this world are heere aduertised of their greedie groping after the sweet temptation of the diuel , wherein such doe reioyce , till death comming sodaynly vpon them , then fall they into the horrible pitte of desolate darckenesse , due to their deserts .

The sixt Historie .

¶ Dioclesian reigned in the citie of Rome in whose empire dwelt a noble Philosopher , the which sette vp by his craft an ymage in the middest of the Citie of Rome , the which ymage strethed out his arme and his formost finger , whervppon stoode this posie written in Latine , Percute hic . Strike heere . This ymage after the death of this Philosopher stoode still a long time , and many great clarkes came thether for to read the superscription that was on the finger , but none of them vnderstoode what it ment , wherfore ther was great wondring among the people . And at the last a long time after there came a strange clarke out of farre countries , and when hée saw this ymage , he read the scripture , strike héere .

And then vpon a day when he saw the shadow of the hand , hee tooke a mattocke & brake vp the ground vnder the hand where the shadow was , according to the vnderstanding of the superscription , and anone hée found an house all of Marble vnderneath the ground , wherin he entred and came into a hall , wherin hée found so much riches , so manie Jewells , and so great maruailes , that he neuer saw ne heard of such , nor so many beefore that time . At the last hée saw a table redy couered , and all maner of things necessary therto set there vpon . Hee beheld further and saw a carbuncle in the hall that lightened all the house . And Against this Carbuncle on that other side stoode a man holding in his hand a bow with an arow ready to shoote . The clark maruailed much when he saw all these things , and thought in himselfe , if that I tell this foorth , ther will no man beeleeue mee , and therefore I will haue somewat of these goodes in token of proofe . And with that hée law a knife of golde vpon the table , the which hoe tooke and would haue put it in his boosome . But anon the Archer smote the Carbuncle and brake it , where with the whole house was shadowed and made darke . And when the clarke perceiued it , he wept more bitterly then any man might thinke , for he know not by what way he might goe out , for as much as the house was made darke through the breaking of the carbuncle . And that darknes abode still for euermore after . And so finished the clarke his life there in that darknesse .

The Argument .

We are generally here put in mind that the diuell beseeging the world , our champion Christ Iesus is ready to take our quarell in hand , who defending & sauing vs from the inuasion & circumuention of sathan , is yet accused for vs as a transgressor , and is for our sakes moreouer , content to suffer death for our full iustification .

The seuenth History .

IN Rome dwelled sometime a mightie Emperour named Titus , a wise man & a diseréete , which ordained in his daies such a law , that what knight dyed in his empire , should be buried in his armour , and who so euer presumed to spoile any knights armour after he were dead , he should die without any withstanding or gaine saying .

It befell after within fewe yéeres that a citie of the Empire was beseged of th emperours enemies , wherfore that Citie was in perill of leesing , for none that was within that Citie might not defend themselues by no maner of craft , therefore great sorrow & lamentation was made through out all the Citie . But at the last within few dayes there came to the Citie a young Knight and a well fauored , valiaunt in feates of Armes , whome the worthy men of the Citie beholding , and vnderstanding his prowes●e , cryed with one voyce . O thou most noble Knight , wée beséech thée if it please thy worthinesse to help vs now at our most néede , lo ye may see this Citie is in perill of léesing . Then answered he and sayd . Seye not sirs , that I haue none armour , and if I had Armour I would gladly defend your Citie . This hearing a mightie man of the citie sayd to him in secrete wise .

Sir , héere was sometime a doughtie knight which now is dead & buried with in this citie according to the law , & if it please you to take his armour ye might defend this citie & deliuer vs from perill , and that shall bee honour vnto you and profit vnto all the Empyre .

When this young knight had heard this , he went to the graue and toke the armour and arayed himselfe therwith , & sought mightely againste his enimies , and at the last he obtained and had the victory , and deliuered the citie from perill and whan he had so done , hée layd the Art●our again● in the graue . There were some menne in the Citie that had great indignation and enuie at him , bycause he had obtained the victorie , and accused him to the Judge , saing thus Syr a law was made by th emperour that w●o●o●uer ●●spoiled a dead Knight of his Armour should dye , this young Knight ●ennd a●d ad Knight & tooke away his A●mour , therfore we beseech thee that thou pr●ceede in the lawe against him , as against him that hath offended the law . When the Justice heard this , hee made the Knight to bee taken and to be brought afore him . And when hee was examined of this trespasse against the law , hee said thus . Sye it is written in the law , that of two harms the least is to bée chosen , it is not vnknowen to you that this Citie was in perill to bee lost , & but I had taken this armour , I had neither saued you ne the Citie , therefore me thinketh yee ought rather to honour & worship me for this good deede that I haue done , than thus shamefully to reproue me , for I am led as he that is ready to be hanged , and also good sirs an other reason I may laye for mine excuse . He that stealeth or robbeth violently , purposeth not to restore that thing that he robeth , but it is not thus with mée , for though I tooke the armour of the dead knight for your defence and sauegard , when I had obtained the victory , I bare it againe to the same place , and so the dead knight hath that is his by the law . Then saide the Justice , a thefe that breaketh a house that he may steale and beare away such as he may find , and though he bringe againe that he hath taken , I aske of thée if that the breaking of the house be lawfull or not . The knight answered sometyme the breaking of an House may bée good , where as it is made in féeble place , which should cause the Lorde of the house to make his wall stronger , that the théeues after that breake not the walls ●o lightly in a●●o●ing of more harme .

Then saide the Justice , if the breaking of the house be good , neuerthelesse in that breaking , violence is done to the Lorde of the house . And so though thou d●dd●st good with the Armour of the dead Knight , neuerthelesse thou diddest wrong to the dead knight in taking away his armour . The knight sayde , I haue told you that of two harmes the least is to be chosen , and that harme wher through great goodnsse commeth , ought not to be called harme , but it should rather be called good . For if that any house within the citie were on fire and began to burne , it were more better to throw it to the ground and thrée or foure houses thereby , them they should be set on fire also , whereby all the citie might be brente . Right so if the Armour of the dead knight had not beene taken , the citie and ye all had bene lost . And when the Justice heard that he answered so well and so reasonably , hée might giue no iudgment against him . But he that which had accused this knight slew him , for whose death , there was great wéeping throughout all the citie , and his body was worshipfully buried in a new tombe .