The Seuenth Example of the Empresse.
There was somtyme a kyng, the whiche loued his wyfe aboue all thynge. in so moche that he closed her in a stronge castell, ⁊ bare ye keyes of the castel hymselfe. The lady was therfore ryght heuy ⁊ desolate. Now in ferre partyes there was a valyaunte knyght ye whiche in a nyght had a dreme after this effecte. For he thought that he sawe one of the fayreste quenes yt myght be. ye which aboue all thynges desyred to haue her loue. yt yf he myghte se her walkynge he sholde clerely haue knowlege of, by whome to hym grete frendshyp ⁊ worship sholde come. To ye quene in ye same nyght by vysyon of the sayd knyght, it was to her also shewed. ⁊ yet they hadde of eche other neyther knowlege of name neyther of fame. Whan ye knyght had thus dremed ⁊ seen in his slepe, he thought ⁊ determyned in his mynde that his fote sholde not reste vnto ye tyme tyll he had founde that lady, yt to hym was shewed in his vysyon. and lepte vpon his horse / and toke with hym all that to hym was necessarye for his journey. and rode and laboured thrughe dyuerse regyons and londes soo longe tyll at the last he came vnto the same londe, where that the quene was by her husbonde closed or kepte in a stronge castel. And whan this sayd knyght was come in to ye same cyte, and by a certayne season had there soiourned, it happened on a day as this knyght walked by the castell, and knewe not yt ye quene was therin she sate in a wyndowe to beholde ⁊ see ye people goynge by. ⁊ amonge all other she sawe the sayd knyght, and knewe that he was the same man that she had dremed of. And yt knyght by chaunce lyfte vp his eyen ⁊ perceyued ye lady syttyng in the wyndowe. ⁊ anone his minde shewed hym yt it was she yt he the dremes of had. ⁊ he began to synge a songe of loue. And as she herde yt she was anone taken wt his loue. The knyghte from thensforth dayly went ⁊ walked aboute ye castell beholdynge it ouer all yt yf in ony maner wyse he myght gete to her too shewe his mynde. The lady perceyuynge that she wrote a letter ⁊ cast it downe to hym. And whan he had sene ouer ye letter, ⁊ understode ye wyll of that lady, he began to haunte Joustes ⁊ tournamentes ⁊ dyde so many gret ⁊ merueylous actes or dedes, that ye name of hym came to the kynge. And as the kynge herde that he sent after hym ⁊ sayd to hym, Syr knyght I haue herde moche honour of you. yf it wyll please you for to abyde ⁊ to dwell wt vs, we shall gyue you large gyftes ⁊ rewardes. The knyght answerd, O ryght myg[h]ty prynce I am your seruaunte, wolde god yt I coude do ony seruyse to please your magnyfycence, wtout takynge of rewarde saue one thyng afore all other I desyre. The kynge sayd, shewe it boldely what thynge yt it is. The knyght sayd, My lorde sythen yt it hath pleased you for to take me as your seruaunt ⁊ one of youre counseyll, me semeth that it were expedyent for bothe our solaces, that I hadde a place nyghe too the wall of the castell: that I myght at all tymes be the more redy at your callynge whan that ye haue nede. Then̄e the kynge sayd I consente it to you make it as ye thynke it beste. Tho wente the knyght ⁊ hyred werkemen ⁊ made a fayre logynge by ye walles of ye toure. ⁊ whan it was all redy, He made a couenaunt wt a werkeman for to make out of his house a secret way in to ye tour ⁊ whan it was made redy after his entente, he kylled ye werkeman by cause he sholde not dyscouer. ⁊ went in to ye quene ⁊ dyde to her reuerence accordyng ⁊ they talked of many thynges, yt at thende he desyred for to slepe by her, which she oftentymes denyed, but neueryeles she consented to hym. After yt ye quene thought what shall I do, yf I sholde gyue knowlege herof vnto my husbond, therof sholde come two euyls ye one is my shame, ⁊ yt by auenture he sho[l]de vtterly forsake me ⁊ dryue me out of his londe for euer, ⁊ ye knyght he sholde sle, for fro ye dethe he coude not escape, ⁊ therfore it is better yt I be styll ⁊ tell not. The knyght after yt as oftentymes as it pleased hym he went in to the quene, ⁊ dyde his wyll with her. And she gaue hym a rynge the whiche ye kyng had gyuen vnto her at theyr weddynge. This knyght in euery batayll and tournamēadde the vyctory wherfore he was and stode in grete fauour with the kynge insomoche that he made hym his stewarde ⁊ gouernoure of al his Regyon ⁊ lond. ¶ It happened vppon a daye that the kynge dysposed hym selfe for too goo too chase or huntynge, and he commaunded his stewarde for too make hym redy vppon the morowe for too goo with hym, whertoo he offred hym selfe all redy. ¶ And on the morowe after they entred in to ye forest, ⁊ all that daye they chased, ⁊ folowed ye wylde bestes that they were so wery that ye kynge by a fontayne sate hym downe to reste. ⁊ ye knyghte by ye kynge, ⁊ fyll on slepe by hym, hauynge ye rynge vpon his fynger, ye whiche the kynge marked ⁊ knewe. After yt the knyght perceyued yt the kynge had sene the rynge, fayned hymself seke ⁊ sayd, My lorde I fele my selfe sore seke ⁊ yf I fynde not hastely remedy therfore by the meanes [of] physyke I am but a dede man ⁊ therfore I pray you lycence me to go home. To whome he sayd, go my dere frend in goddes name. he anone gate on his horse ⁊ hasted hym to his house, ⁊ wente to the quene ⁊ gave her ayen ye rynge, ⁊ tolde her how ye kynge had marked it ⁊ sene it on his fynger, ⁊ prayed her yf he made ony questyons of ye rynge yt he sholde shewe it to hym. This done, he went downe ayen to his lodgynge. And anone after yt the kynge came to the quene ⁊ she receyued hym ryght louyngly, ⁊ after yt a lytyl tyme was passed, the kyng sayd, My lady shew me where ye ryng is that I gaue to you, I desyre to se it. O my lorde to what entente at this tyme desyre ye to se it. Than sayd he, yf ye shewe it not to me Incontynent it shall repente you. She rose anone vp ⁊ went to [her] cheste ⁊ brought the rynge to ye kynge. And as he sawe ye rynge he was half ashamed, ⁊ sayd vnto her, O howe lyke is the knyghtes rynge vnto this rynge, whyche I sawe vpon his fynger, and I bileued that it had ben my rynge, and therfore it was that I asked it of you so hastely after the rynge. And of this euyll suspecyon I yelde my selfe gylty ayenst you my dere lady, in this behalfe, for ye strength of the toure deceyued me, for I thynke yt noo man myght come therin, but I myself alone. She sayde, My dere lorde, wondr not for one rynge is lyke an other, for werke men make seldome ony werke, but ye other make the same, but god forgyue it you that ye haue had me suspect whan ye knowe the strength of ye toure, ⁊ the keyes ye haue alway by you, ⁊ byleue no man therwt. After yt the knyght lete ordeyn̄ a grete dyner ⁊ sayd to the kynge, my lorde it is so that my lady in loue is come out of my countre ⁊ I haue done to be made a feste or a dyner. ⁊ gladly I wolde pray you that at this tyme ye wyll doo me honour, ⁊ take suche mete as is in my house. he kynge sayd I shal gladly do you yt worshypp ⁊ more. The knight was therof glad, ⁊ by his secrete way went to the quene ⁊ sayd to her, My lady this day ye shal come to my house by my preuy way, ⁊ clothe you in ryche clothynge after the way of my countre, ⁊ ye shal syt at the table wt the kynge as my souerayne lady, ⁊ make hym good there. She sayd as ye wyll I shall it all thȳges fulfyll, ⁊ whan the houre of mete was come, ⁊ the kynge from the castell was comyng towardes the knyghtes house, In the meane tyme the quene entred by the secrete way in to the knyghtes lodgynge ⁊ apparayled her after the maner of the knyghtes countre. and whan the kynge was entred in to the house, she salued hym reuerently and receyued hym. and whan the kynge hadde beholden her he demaunded of the knyghte, what woman is this that is so fayr. Then ye knyght sayd my lorde it is my souerayne lady that now is come out of my countre after me. I haue taryed longe in her seruyce. Then the knyght set the kynge att ye table as it behoued. ⁊ made the quene to syt by hym / ⁊ the kynge thoughte that it was his quene, and sayd wtin hymself, O how lyke is this woman vnto my wyfe. So ye strength of the toure deceyued hym, that he gaue more fayth and credence to ye knyghtes wordes than he dyde vnto his owne eyen. The quene began̄e for to speke ⁊ talke vnto the kynge and to styre hym for to ete and drynke ⁊ to make good chere. And whan as the kynge herde her voyce and speche than he sayd to hymselfe, O blessed lady, lyke is this woman vnto my quene, in her behauyng / in speche / in vysage / ⁊ in all other thynges ⁊ condycyons. and alwayes ye strengthe of the toure fayled hym. In the ende of ye mete, ye knyghte prayed his loue to synge a songe afore ye kyng the whiche began for to synge a songe of loue. whan as he herde that ⁊ knewe her voyce, he thought is not this my wyfe. How may it be she. haue not I the keyes of ye toure my selfe in kepynge. and soo all the mete tyme he sate and strofe within hymselfe. Tho att the laste he sayde vnto the knyght that he sholde take vp the table for he hadde somwhat for too done for why that he sate in suche a grete thought, and aduysemēt. The knyght answered and sayde, My lorde ye make noo good chere, ye are full of thoughtes. And yf it please you we shall make to you more sporte ⁊ solace. And the woman sayd please it you syr kynge here by vs tarye. we shall make you all the sporte ⁊ solace that we can, lyke as ye quene is in her solace ⁊ conforte. He sayd take away the table, for I may no lenger abyde. Then the knyght at the commaundement of ye kynge toke vp the table, ⁊ thanked theym all. And ye kynge wente hastely vnto the castell in serchynge whether yt the quene were wtin or not. And in the meane whyle the quene went vp by her preuy way, ⁊ put of her vppermost vestures ⁊ the kynge founde her in the same clothynge that he lefte her afore. Whan as the kynge was entred ⁊ so founde her, he embraced ⁊ kyssed her ⁊ sayd vnto her. This day I haue eten wt my knyghte and wt his loue that is come out of his countree, and sythen I was borne vnto this day myn eyen hath not sene two so lyke creatures in al thyng as she is to you and this mete tyme I haue be soo moche styred with dyuerse thynges yt I coude no lenger abyde there, but yt I muste come ⁊ serche whether ye were here or theyre. Tho sayd ye quene, Syr how myght ye thynke yt, for ye knowe well yt this toure is fast, ⁊ stronge ynoughe ⁊ that no body can come in nor out wtout you, for ye alone haue alwayes the keye. How were it then possyble for me to be there. Ye fynde somtyme one man lyke on other and therfore ye sholde take none argumētes of mysdemyng or of suspycion, as ye late dyde of the rynge. The kynge sayd, that is true and therfore I knowlege my selfe gylty that I haue mysdemed you. After that came to hym ye knyght ⁊ sayd, My lorde I haue of long tyme serued your good grace, and now it is tyme that I retourne ayen in to my countre ⁊ therfore for all the seruyce yt I haue done vnto you I desyre of you but one thynge to do for me. yt my lorde ye whiche I entende to wedde in the face of the chyrche, which hath folowed me out of ferre countrees, ⁊ her I shall brynge thyder ayen as my laweful wyfe. Therfore I beseche and praye your noble grace that ye wyll do me this honour, that by your owne honde ye wyll gyue her afore the preest vnto me, the whiche shallbe vnto me greete honour and worshyp whan I come into my countree. The kynge answered, yt petycyon and more yf ye desyre it that shall I gladly doo and fulfyll it. The knyght prefyxed the daye of maryage. To the whiche daye this good kynge came to the chyrche worshypfully. The preest was redy ⁊ stode indued wt his vestymentes for to solemnyse the matrymonye. The knyght had the quene all redy apparayled in his owne house after his maner ⁊ had ordeyned two knyghtes for to lede her to the chyrche, they byleuynge that it had ben his paramour. And whan they were before in the face of ye chyrche ye preest sayd, who shall gyue this woman vnto this knyght. Then the kynge sayd, I shall gyue her to myn owne knyght. and toke her by the hande ⁊ sayd vnto her, O good woman ye are moche lyke vnto my quene, and therfore I loue you the better, and also for that ye be my knyghtes wyfe and shall be of my house. and putte the quenes hande in to ye knyghtes hand. and ye preest after ye maner of the chyrche hath bounde ⁊ wedded them togyder. and whan all this was fynysshed ⁊ done the knyghte sayd vnto ye kyng, Syr my shyp yt I entende to go in towardes my countre is all redy to make sayle wherfore I humbly beseche hyghly your moost noble grace that it wyl please you for to accompany my wy[fe] therunto ⁊ that ye wyll aduertyse ⁊ enfourme her[4] that she loue me ⁊ haue me in fauoure aboue all other creatures lyuynge, and the rather for your gode excytacyon ⁊ doctryne. Thenne the kynge with a grete multytude of people went with theym ⁊ accompanyed theym vnto the shyppe of whoos departynge many of them were dolaunte to the shyppe. the kynge began to say vnto the quene, my moost dere frende, herken now well vnto my counseyll and folowe it, for it shall be for your honour ⁊ proufyte. My knyght hath now here wedded ⁊ done to you al ye worshypp yt in hym is. wherfore loke yt ye loue ⁊ honour hym aboue all erthly creatures ⁊ yt hath god commaunded ⁊ that ye be too hym true ⁊ obedyent. ⁊ as this was sayd he delyuered her vnto ye knyght saynge my blessyng go wt you both, ⁊ our lorde kepe ⁊ conduyte you in sauete to your countre. Then the knyght and the quene bowed and enclyned down̄ her hedes vnto ye kynge. ⁊ thanked hym of all thyngs and they commytted hym to god and entred in to the shyppe and the maryners haled up the sayles and sayled forth afore the wynde soo that wtin a short tyme the kyng had lost ye syght of the shyp. And from thens he went hastely to ye castell ⁊ myssed the quene. ⁊ whan he founde her not / he was meued in all the partes of his body. ⁊ sought all about ye toure and serched, tyll at laste he founde ye hole or ye secrete way yt the knyght had made. ⁊ as he saw that, than cryed he and weped and sayd, Alas alas this knyght in whom I hadde so grete confydence ⁊ truste hath taken away my wyfe, was I not a fole yt I gaue more fayth in to his words then I dyde to myne owne eyen. Than sayd thempresse, My lorde haue ye vnderstand what I haue sayde. Themperour sayd ryght wel in ye best wyse. Then sayd thempresse, remember how yt he trusted the knyghte ⁊ yet he deceyued hym. In the same manere wyse ye haue confydence in the seuen wyse maysters / and they laboure for to destroye me that am your wyfe. ⁊ ye gyue more fayth vnto theyr wordes than ye do vnto your owne eyen. for ye haue well sene how yt youre sone rente and scratched me. Wherof yet I bere and haue the tokens ⁊ the markes as ye may see. And also ye knowe well how that your cursed sone hath me ashamed ⁊ ye marke not howe they defende hym in his foly and falshede. Therfore it is to be dradde yt it shall happen to you as it dyde to the kynge that too you I haue spoken of. Themperour sayd, I byleue myn eyen better than theyr wordes. ⁊ therfore I say you yt to morowe I shall do justyce of hym. On ye morowe the Emperour commaunded that his sone sholde be hanged. Tho began ayen a grete noyse in and [bewailing amongst the common people for the death of the Emperor's only son. At last when the seventh master heard it, he ran immediately unto the officers, which were leading him to the gallows, and said: My friends, I pray you not to make overmuch haste but stay your hands a while, for I think this day (with the help of the Almighty God) to save him from all perils; and from thence the master hasteth himself to the Emperor's Palace, and did him reverence according to his accustomed duty. But the Emperor with great indignation made him this answer: Never more have you any joy in this world, for that you have sent my son home untaught and dumb, whom I delivered unto you well speaking, for which cause you shall all be put to death with him. The master answered: O most noble Emperor, the time is not long betwixt this and tomorrow noon; then (by the grace of God) you shall hear him speak discreetly, and shall declare the truth of all things, and this I promise you he will perform to the full, upon pain of my life, if you will spare him so long a time; if you find it not so, then take my life and the lives of us all. Then said the Emperor: If I might but hear my son speak, it would give me sufficient content, and I would not desire longer to live. Then answered the master: All this and more you shall hear and see, and confess it to be true, if you will but abide this little time: and then the strife that hath been betwixt us and the Empress will clearly be decided. And if you suffer him to be put to death through the words of your most ungodly wife, I tell you of a truth it shall happen worse to you than it did to a knight that died for a little blood that he saw his wife to bleed, to whom afterwards she was most unnatural. Then said the Emperor: That example I would fain hear. Then said the master: Let your son be called again, and I shall tell you so notable an example that during your life you may beware of the unsteadfastness of woman. Then the Emperor said: I shall go call my son again upon condition that tomorrow I shall hear him speak as you have promised. The master said: Do that, my lord, for it shall so be. And began to tell as followeth.]
