Thenne sayd the sone vnto the fader, beholde this rybaude that many a nyghte hathe with your wyfe lyen in your chamber in auoutrye, ⁊ haue defouled your bedde. ⁊ therfore the empresse loued hym so well, the whiche ye knewe not. whan the emperour sawe yt he was impacyent ⁊ wrothe, yt he cōmaunded yt she with ye rybaude sholde be brent. ye sone sayd, lorde fader make no haste of yt iugement before that I haue reproued her of the cryme yt she layde vpon me falsely, ⁊ that she vntruly ⁊ falsly hathe complayned ⁊ lyed vpon me. Tho sayd the fader, My dere sone I cōmytte all the iugemente in to your hands. The sone answered yf she be founde false ⁊ a lyer ye lawe shall iuge her. But my dere fader whan ye sent after me at ye instaunce of hyr, then I with my maysters behelde the sterres in ye fyrmamente. ⁊ there we sawe yt yf I sholde speke ony worde within seuen dayes I sholde haue deyed a shamefull dethe, and therefore that was the cause that I spake not. And where as the empresse sayd ⁊ put vnto me, that I wolde haue oppressed ⁊ rauysshed hyr, in yt she lyeth falsly but she dyd hyr best to haue caused me to do it. And whan she in no wyse coude bryng me therto, she toke me paper penne ⁊ ynke, ⁊ badde me wryte the cause why yt I refused her. And whan yt I had wryten yt I wolde not do or commytte so greate ⁊ abhomynable synne, and also wolde not my faders orcharde defoule, tho began she to tere hyr clothes ⁊ scratche her vysage yt it ran on blode, ⁊ cryed wt a loude voyce, ⁊ cōmytted vnto me the cryme or blame. And whan ye Emperoure herde this he behelde her wt a fell countenaunce, and sayd to her in this maner, O thou wretched woman was it not suffycyent to fulfyll thy foule ⁊ lecherous appetyte I ⁊ thy rybaude, but wolde also haue hadde my sone. Than fell the Empresse to themperours fote ⁊ she cryed hym mercy. Then ye Emperoure sayd, O thou cursyd ⁊ most vnhappy woman thou askest forgyuenesse ⁊ thou art worthy none to haue, for yu haste deserued to dye in thre maner wyse. The fyrst is yt yu haste done auoutrye. The seconde is that thou haste prouoked and styred my sone to syne ⁊ haste to hym commytted, ⁊ layde ye cryme falsely ⁊ vntruly. And ye thyrde yt thou haste euery daye entyced ⁊ prouoked me wt thy false tales for to put hym to dethe. ⁊ therfore ye lawe shall haue ye course vpon ye, ⁊ iuge the to the dethe. Then sayd the sone, Fader ye knowe well, that for ye lesynge that she lyed vpon me, I was dayly lad to hangynge. But god with the helpe of my maysters hathe delyuered me. O my moost honourable fader, it was sayd vnto you by ye Empresse that I wolde also by ye helpe of my maysters depose you out of youre Empyre, ⁊ that I laboured to dystroye you, ⁊ for to sette me in your place. Sholde not ye then haue sorowed, Ye haue the Empyre to gouerne, ⁊ wherfore shold I not holde you for my fader. God defende that, for of you I haue my lyuyng. And I shall holde and repute you for my souerayne lorde and fader durynge the terme of my lyfe. And I will not in ony manere depryue you of youre honoure, but I shall laboure and besye my selfe about the gouernaunce of ye same, and all your cōmaundementes I shall fulfyll in every thynge. But it is in lyke wyse as the fader caste his sone in to the see for too drowne hym, bycause he sayd yt he in tyme comynge sholde be his lorde, ⁊ yet ye sone by the helpe of god was saued, and was made a gretter lorde than he was, ⁊ yet was it no hynderaunce to the fader but prouffyte. Also ye sholde see ⁊ remembre yt my lyfe ⁊ gouernaunce shall neuer hynder you but it shal be to your greate solace ⁊ joye. Than sayd ye Emperoure, blessed be almyghty god ⁊ the houre yt I euer begate you, ⁊ deserued to haue such a sone yt I fynde soo wyse ⁊ good in all thynges. Telle me nowe an example by ye whiche I maye parfytly thy wysdome vnderstande, & that myn herte maye the better joye in the. Thenne sayd the sone fyrst cōmaunde sylence to your people yt I be not letted in my wordes tyll yt I haue done. And whan yt it is ended, gyue sentence wt ye ryght wysnesse of the lawe vpon me and vpon the Empresse. Tho cōmaunded the Emperour sylence. ⁊ the chyld began to tell in maner as hereafter foloweth.
The Example of Dyoclesyan the Emperours sone.
There was a knyght whiche hadde but one sone that he loued ryght moche in begynnynge as ye nowe all onely haue me, whome he delyuered to a mayster of ferre countrees to nourysshe ⁊ to lerne. ye chylde was of a grete wytte ⁊ prouffyted moche and grewe as well in lernynge as in body. And whan he had dwelled with his mayster seuen yere, his fader desyred to see hym, ⁊ sent letters to hym yt he sholde come ayen in to his countree ⁊ vysyte his frendes in lyke wyse as ye haue sente for me. The chylde was obedyent to his fader ⁊ came at his cōmaundement of whos comynge he joyed moche, for yt he was as well growen in his membres as in doctryne. To euery man he appered pleasaunt and gentylle. It happened vpon a daye yt the fader and the moder syttynge at ye table, ⁊ the chylde seruynge theym, a nyghtyngale came fleynge afore ye wyndowe where as they satte, ⁊ began for to synge so swetely yt they merueyled. And ye knyght sayd, O how swetely this byrde syngeth, well were hym yt coude vnderstande his songe, ⁊ coude shew the interpretacyon therof. Thenne the sone sayd, my worshypfull fader the song of the nyghtyngale I coude well declare, but I fere your dysplesure. The fader sayd, saye hardely my sone ye interpretacyon of ye byrde, ⁊ than ye shall proue whether I shall be angry or not, but I shall marke well ye reason of myn angre. ⁊ whan ye sone herde yt he sayd, ye nyghtyngale hath sayd in his songe, that I shall become a grete lorde, yt I shall be honoured ⁊ worshypped of all men, ⁊ namely of my fader, the whiche shall brynge the water for to wasshe in myn handes, and my moder shall holde the towell. The fader sayd thou shall neuer see yt day suche seruyce of vs to haue, nor none suche dygnyte shall folowe the, and in greate malyce ⁊ wodenesse he toke his sone vppon his sholders ⁊ ranne to the see ⁊ cast hym in it, and sayd, Lye there the interpretatour of ye byrdes songe. The chylde coude swymme, and swymmed to a londe where he was foure dayes without mete or drynke. The fyft daye there came a shyp saylynge, and as the chyld sawe that, he called loude to the shypmen ⁊ sayd for the loue of god delyuer me frome the peryll of dethe. The shypmen sawe that it was a fayre yonge man they had compassyon on hym and went with theyr bote and sette hym aborde and in to ferre countrees with them they ledde hym and solde hym there to a duke. The chylde grewe goodly and fayre, ⁊ the duke loued hym moche, ⁊ hadde him gretely in his fauoure. Uppon a tyme the kynge of yt realme lete calle and assemble all the greate lordes ⁊ noble men of his londe to a generall counsell. This duke prepared ⁊ ordeyned hym to go to ye counsell, ⁊ marked the wysdome ⁊ the wytte of the chylde ⁊ toke the chylde with hym. And whan they were all gadred ⁊ assembled before the kynge in his counseyll My welbeloued lordes ⁊ frendesō sayd ye kynge, wylle ye wete ye cause wherfore yt I haue called you to this counseylle. Then sayd they all we be all souerayne lorde at your commaundemente. Then ye kynge sayd, It is a secrete mater yt I shall shewe you, yf yt ony man can open it ⁊ declare what yt it sygnyfyeth, I swere ⁊ promytte vnto hym by my crowne yt I shall gyue too hym myn only doughter in maryage, ⁊ he shal be my felowe in my realme duryng my lyfe, ⁊ after my dethe he shall haue ⁊ possede all the hole kyngedome, ⁊ ye mystery of the counseyll is this. Thre rauons alwayes folowe me where so euer that I goo. they leue me not, but cry wt suche horryble voyces, yt it is grete payne for me to here them, ⁊ to beholde theyr lokynges. ⁊ therfore yf ther be ony man ye whiche that knoweth the cause of theyr folowynge, ⁊ can shewe what they mene by theyr cryenge ⁊ voyde theym fro me, wtout doubte I shall fulfyll this promyse yt I haue made. ⁊ as the kynge had thus sayd, there was none founde in all the counseyll yt wyst the cause or coude moue or put awaye the rauons. Then sayd ye chylde too the duke. My lorde thynke ye that the kynge wyl holde his promyse or worde yf I accomplysshe his wyll and desyre. Than ye duke sayde I thynke he wyll holde yt he hath promysed, but wyl ye yt I gyue the kynge knowledge of you what ye can do. Then ye chylde sayd, I wyl my lyfe set in pledge ⁊ I shall perfourme ⁊ make it good yt I haue sayd. Whan ye duke herde that he went to the kynge ⁊ sayd, My lorde the kyng, here is a yong man that is ryght connynge ⁊ wyse, the whiche promyseth for to satysfye ⁊ fulfyl in al thynges your desyre as touchynge the rauons yf ye wyll fulfyll that ye haue promysed. The kynge swore by the crowne of his kyngdome, what I haue promysed in al thynges shalbe fulfylled. Tho brought he ye chylde before the kynge, and whan the kynge sawe hym he spake to hym. O fayre chylde can ye gyue answere to my questyon. The chylde sayd, my lorde ye in the best wyse, your questyon is wherfore yt the rauons folowe you ⁊ horrybly crye vpon you. To whiche I answere. Upon a tyme it hapned that two rauons a male ⁊ a female had brought forthe bytwene them the thyrde rauon. vpon the sayd se was so grete famyne ⁊ scarsytee of all maner of thynges yt men bestes ⁊ foules dyed ⁊ perysshed for defaute. The thyrde rauon yt tyme beynge yonge in the nest the moder lefte it sekynge where she myght best gete her lyuynge, ⁊ came no more to ye neste. The male rauon seynge that with grete penurye and laboure fed the yong rauon tyll that he was able to flye and whan the dere tyde was passed and gone then the female rauon came ayen too the yonge rauon and wolde holde felysshyppe and company with hym. And as the male rauon sawe that, he wolde haue dryuen her away, saynge thus, that she in his grete myscheyf and necessyte lefte hym and his company, and therfore nowe she sholde wante his company and felysshyppe. She alledged and sayd that she had in his byrthe grete laboure and sorowe, and suffred penurye, and therfore of his company she sholde rather joye than the fader. For this my souerayne lorde they folowe you askynge the ryght jugement whiche of them both shal haue the yonge rauon in theyr company, and this is the cause of theyr horryble clamour and noyse that they make dayly vpon you. But my lorde hadde ye hereupon a ryght wysse sentence gyuen ye sholde neuer more see theym or be troubled wt theyr cryenge. Tho sayd the kynge, for the cause that the moder hath left ⁊ forsaken the yonge rauen in his mooste necessyte, it standeth with reason ⁊ iustyce yt she shall wante ⁊ be without his felyshyp. And where yt she sayth ⁊ alledgethe yt in the berynge ⁊ byrth of hym she hadde greate payne and traueyle, that helpeth her not, for yt payne was torned in to joye as sone as she sawe the yonge rauen in the worlde. But for yt the male is ye cause of produccyon ⁊ generacyon in euery beste, ⁊ also yt he the yong rauon in his necessyte sustayned ⁊ fedde in to the recoueryng ⁊ nourysshynge of his body, therfore I gyue for a iugement ⁊ for a sentence dyffinityue yt the yonge rauen shall abyde ⁊ holde company wt the fader and not with the moder. And whan the rauons herde this sentence, with a greate noyse ⁊ crye they flewe vp in the ayre ⁊ were no more seen ne founde in all that Regyon. Whanne that this was doone ye kynge demaunded of the yonge man what his name was. He answered I am called Alexander. Tho sayd the kynge, I wyll haue one thynge of you, yt ye frome hens forth shal name ⁊ take me ⁊ none other for your fader but me, for ye shall marye my doughter, and ye shall be possessour of all my realme. The yonge Alexander abode and dwelled stylle with the kynge, and euery man hadde too hym fauour and loue, for he began to haunt and occupy hymselfe in iustes ⁊ in tourneys, wherin at all tymes he had the pryse aboue all other yt were in all Egypte, soo yt his pere or lyke was not founde, ⁊ there was not so harde nor so obscure a questyon put vnto hym but yt he coude assoyle it. At that tyme was there an Emperoure named Tytus, that excelled in gentylnesse, curtesy ⁊ curposyte [curiosity] of all other Emperours kynges and prynces in ye worlde. In so moche yt suche a fame ⁊ noyse flewe ⁊ ranne ouer all the worlde of it, yt what so euer he was yt wolde prouffyte in connynge maners or behauynge, that he sholde go to the Emperours courte. And whan Alexander herd that he sayd to the kynge my most honourable fader ⁊ lorde ye wote well that al the worlde is full of the fame of themperoure so yt it is delectable to abide ⁊ dwel in hys courte wherfore yf it please yow my lorde ⁊ fader I wolde gladly go to hys court that I myght be wyser ⁊ prompter in maners ⁊ behauynge than I am. Thereupon answered ye kynge, It pleaseth me ryght well, but I wolde that ye take with you plente of golde ⁊ syluer ⁊ other necessaryes, so moche yt ye myn honoure ther wt may saue, ⁊ yt ye may haue also yt is to you requysyte ⁊ behouefull. And also me semeth it were expedyent yt ye afore your departyng sholde mary my doughter. Tho answerd Alexander wyll it please you my lorde too spare me at this tyme ⁊ at my comynge home ayen I shall wedde hir wt all honoure as to her apperteyneth. The kynge answered, sythen it is your wyll to go to themperours court I lycence you and therto I consente. Alexander toke leue of the kynge, ⁊ toke with hym tresoure ynoughe ⁊ went to themperours courte. And whan he was come with a fayre companye, he wente afore the Emperoure ⁊ felle on his knees, and salued hym ⁊ dyd hym reuerence. Themperoure rose frome his sete imperyall and kyssed hym, ⁊ asked of hym of whens ⁊ what he was, ⁊ wherfore he was comen. He answered and sayd I am sone ⁊ heyre to the kynge of Egypte, ⁊ am come to do seruyce to your moost hyghe maieste yf it please you to accepte me. Themperour sayd yt he was ryght welcome, ⁊ cōmytted hym to his stewarde and made hym his keruer. The stewarde ordeyned hym a fayre chamber ⁊ purueyed hym all thynges yt were necessary to the same. And Alexander behaued hym so well ⁊ wysely yt in shorte tyme of all people he was beloued. Not longe after that came ye kynges sone of Fraunce to do seruyse to themperoure ⁊ to lerne nurture, whome themperour receyued honourably and demaunded his name ⁊ of what kynred he was come. He answered I am sone to the kynge of Fraunce, ⁊ I haue to name Lodwyke your seruaunte. Tho sayd the Emperoure I haue made Alexander my karuer, ⁊ ye shall be my cuppe berer. yt alwayes ye shall do seruyse afore me at my table. ⁊ cōmaunded his stewarde to assygne hym a lodgynge, whome he assygned wt Alexander in his chamber. These were soo lyke in stature, in vysage, ⁊ in condycyons yt vnneth ye one myght be dyscerned fro ye other. but yt Alexander was more in cōnyng ⁊ lyghtlyer in his dedes than Lodwyke was, for Lodwyke was a femynyne man ⁊ shamfast. ⁊ these two yong men loued well togyder. This Emperoure had a doughter oonly, named Florentyne, ye which was ryght fayr ⁊ gracyous, ⁊ shold be his heyre whome he loued entyerly, which had a courte by her selfe ⁊ seruauntes to her assygned. To whome ye Emperour euery daye was accustomed to sende frome his table of his deyntes, in tokenyng of loue by ye hande of Alexander, wherupon ye doughter began to haue hym meruaylouslye in her fauoure bycause of his wysdome ⁊ his gracyous demenure. It hapned vpon a day Alexander at the mete tyme had suche a besynesse yt he serued not at ye table nor none other gaue attendaunce for hym in his rowme. Lodwyke perceyued yt ⁊ serued in his stede. And whan he had serued the Emperoure in his last seruyce vpon his knee, ye Emperoure cōmaunded hym to bere a dysshe vnto his doughter as he was wonte to do, thynkyng hym to be Alexander. Tho toke Lodwyke ye dysshe ⁊ yede to ye palays of the Emperours doughter ⁊ salued her wt grete reuerence ⁊ set ye mete afore her. but vnto yt tyme he had not seen her she perceyued anone yt it was not Alexander, ⁊ sayd to hym in this manere. What is your name, ⁊ whose sone are ye. ⁊ he answered to hyr ⁊ sayd, Madame I am ye kynges sone of Fraunce, ⁊ my name is Lodwyke. She sayd I thanke you of your laboure. ⁊ he toke his leue ⁊ departed. In ye mene tyme came Alexander to ye table, ⁊ they fulfylled ther seruyce. The dyner done anone Lodwyke went to his bedde sore seke. And Alexander apperceyuynge that went to his chamber ⁊ sayd to hym, O my best beloued frende ⁊ felowe Lodwyke how is it with you, ⁊ what is ye cause of your infyrmite. He answered hym and sayd, ye cause of it I knowe not but I fele me soo seke yt I fere me I can not escape ye dethe. Alexander sayd ye cause of your infyrmyte and dysease I knowe well. For to daye whan as ye bare the mete vnto the Emperours doughter, ye behelde hyr vysage ⁊ beaute so feruently, yt your herte is taken ⁊ rauysshed wt her loue. Therupon he answered, O Alexander all the physysyans in the worlde coude not more truly iuge my sekenesse, but I fere it shall be my dethe. Then sayd Alexander, Be of good comforth and I shall helpe you vnto my power, ⁊ yede vnto the market ⁊ bought wt his owne moneye a fayre clothe sette with precyous stones, vnknowynge to Lodwyke ⁊ presented it on his behalue vnto the mayden. ⁊ as she sawe yt she asked hym where he myght that costely ⁊ precyouse cloth fynde to bye. ⁊ he sayd, Madame it is the sone of ye moost crysten kynge yt sendeth it vnto you for youre loue, for he but for one syght yt he hathe had of you is so seke yt he lyeth vpon his bed vnto the dethe. ⁊ therfore yf ye suffre hym to perysshe ye shall neuer recouer ayen your honoure. Tho sayd she, O Alexander wolde ye this counseyll me yt I shold soo lese my vyrgynyte. God defende that. ⁊ be ye sure Alexander yt of suche messages ye shall neuer more haue ne wyn thanke. Therfore go ye out of my syght ⁊ speke no more therof to me. whanne Alexander herde that he dyd his obeysaunce and departed. ye nexte daye Alexander went ayen to the cyte ⁊ bought a chaplet that was two tymes more in value than ye cloth, and therwith he yede to ye maydens chamber ⁊ yaue it to hyr on the behalue of Lodwyke. And whan she sawe that costely gyfte she sayd vnto hym in this manere. I marueyle of you yt soo oftentymes as ye haue seen and spoken with me, that ye haue not done your owne erande or spoken for your selfe but for an other. Then he answered, O madame I haue not ben so disposed, by cause that my byrthe is not to be compared with yours. And also it happened me neuer suche a case that my herte was so wounded, ⁊ he yt hathe a gode felawe is bounde for to doo hym good ⁊ true felysshyp. And therfore moost eccellent pryncesse of youre moost habundaunte pyte haue compassyon vpon hym ⁊ make hym hole that ye haue se wounded vnto ye deth that it be not for euer layde vnto your crueltee ⁊ impyteouse herte. She answered hym, go your wayes for at this tyme I wyll gyue you none answere therof. And as he herde yt he toke his leue ⁊ departed. And the thyrde daye he wente vnto the market ⁊ boughte a gyrdell yt thre tymes was more in value ⁊ costelyer than the chaplet was, ⁊ presented it vnto her on the behalue of Lodwyke. And whan she sawe ⁊ behelde yt so precyouse, she sayd vnto Alexander, Saye to Lodwyke yt he come to my chamber aboute ye thyrde hour in ye nyght, and he shall fynde ye dore open. ⁊ Alexander herynge that, he was glad, ⁊ went to his felow and sayd, My beste beloued felowe be ye of gode comforth, for I haue conquered ye mayden vnto you, and in this nyght I shall brynge you vnto hyr chamber. And whan yt was sayd, he stert vp as thoughe that he hadde wakened out of his slepe, ⁊ was well reuyued ⁊ for grete ioye he was made all hole. And ye next nyght folowynge Alexander toke Lodwyke ⁊ brought hym vnto the chamber of ye lady wt whome he was in solace ⁊ joye all the nyght, ⁊ fro yt tyme forth all hyr herte was vpon hym so yt there was but one loue betwyxt them bothe. And after yt Lodwyke vsed her oftentymes to vysyte. So yt it came by processe of tyme to the eres of ye knyghtes of ye courte, how yt the Emperours doughter was knowen by Lodwyke: ⁊ conspyred amonges them selfe how yt they myght hym therwith all fynde, ⁊ hym to take or sle. As Alexander had knowlege therof, he armed hym to withstande them. And whan the knyghtes vnderstode yt they ferynge Alexander suffred his felowe to go in peas, ⁊ Alexander many tymes put hym selfe in ieopardye for hym, he not knowynge therof, but ye mayde knewe it welle. In shorte tyme after yt there came letters to Alexander of the dethe of the kynge of Egypt yt he sholde hastely come and receyue his kyngdome with honour ⁊ joye, and that shewed he anone too the mayden and to Lodwyke. and also of his departynge, wherof they were sorowfull ⁊ heuy. he sayd also vnto ye emperour, My mooste redoubted lorde please it you for to vnderstande that I haue receyued letters of the deth of my fader. Wherfore it behoueth me to go ⁊ receyue ye kyngdome, and that ye wyll lycence me to depart, and for all benefetes to [me] done I offre my selfe ⁊ all my godes, ⁊ rather then I sholde by my goynge awaye offende or dysplese you my lorde I shall forsake all my realme ⁊ all yt I haue in ye world, ⁊ abyde wt you styll. Then sayd ye Emperoure, knowe ye for certayne yt of your departynge I am ryght heuy for ye were vnto me the beste seruaunt that was in all my house. But it becometh not an Emperoure to lette his seruauntes frome ther promocyons, or auauncementes, but soner to promote theym vnto hygher ⁊ gretter honoure. Therfore go ye vnto oure tresourer, ⁊ he shall delyuer you as moche golde as ye wyll haue, ⁊ in ye name of god ⁊ with my blessynge go in to your countre. and thus Alexander had leue of ye Emperoure ⁊ bad farewell, ⁊ many of ye courte were sorowfull of his departynge, for of all he was beloued. Lodwyke wt the mayden brought hym on his waye well seuen myle. After that Alexander wolde not suffre theym for to go further. then fell they both to ye grounde for grete sorow ⁊ Alexander toke ⁊ lyfte them bothe vp ayen from ye erthe, ⁊ comforted theym with fayre ⁊ swete wordes and sayd, O Lodwyke my moost beloued felawe, I warne you yt the secretes beynge betwyxt you ⁊ my lady, ye hyde them ⁊ kepe them as preuely as ye may ⁊ take good hede to all thynges, for I wote an other shall come and be in my stede, that shall enuy you of the fauoure ⁊ grace, yt ye stande in wt the Emperoure and daye ⁊ nyght shall lye in a wayte to take you wt a faute, ⁊ to put you to a rebuke. Then answered Lodwyke ⁊ sayd, O Alexander I shall be ware as moche as to me is possyble, but how shall I nowe do whan I wante your company, therfore one thynge I shall desyre of you yt ye wyl take this rynge of me for a remembraunce. Then sayd he I shall for the loue of you gladly receyue ye rynge, ⁊ yet sholde I neuer wtoute ye rynge forgete you, ⁊ comytted them too god. Then they embraced eche other aboute ye necke ⁊ kyssed, and so departed frome other. Not longe after yt the kynges sone of Spayne named Guydo was receyued of the Emperoure in ye rowme ⁊ place of Alexander, to whome the stewarde assygned Alexander's place ⁊ chamber, whiche was sore ayenste ye wyll of Lodwyke, but he coude not amende it. Guydo perceyuynge yt Lodwyke ayenst his wyll had hym in his felysshyp, anone he toke ⁊ had enuye ayenst hym so that Lodwyke of a longe tyme for fere of ye sayd Guydo kepte hym out of ye company of ye sayd mayde. Neuerthelesse afterwarde ouercomen with the loue of ye mayden, somtyme haunted ⁊ wente ayen to hyr as he afore tyme had done. Guydo shortly perceyuynge awayted so longe therupon, yt he the trouthe knewe, and was therof in surete that the mayden was by Lodwyke knowen ⁊ hadde accompanyed with hym. Uppon a tyme it happened yt the Emperoure stode in hys halle ⁊ praysed gretely Alexander of his gentylnes and wysedome. That herynge Guydo sayde, My lorde he is not soo moche worthy to be cōmended as ye wene for he hath ben a longe whyle a traytour in youre house. Thenne themperoure sayd telle me how. Guydo sayd, ye haue but one doughter oonly, ye whiche shall be your heyre, and yt Lodwyke hathe defouled ⁊ lyen by hyr by the helpe of Alexander: ⁊ he gothe to hyr euery nyght whan it pleaseth hym. and whan ye Emperoure herde yt he was sore meuyd ⁊ wexed angry, ⁊ it happened Lodwyke vpon ye same tyme to come thrugh ye hall and whan the Emperour sawe hym he sayd, what hear I of ye thou euyll and vntrue body. Yf it be founde ⁊ proued true thou shalt deye ye moost shamefull dethe yt cann be deuysed. Lodwyke sayd, My lorde ye emperoure what is ye cause. Guydo answered, I saye ⁊ depose here afore my lorde ayenst the yt thou haste defouled his oonly doughter. ⁊ euery nyght thou goost to hyr ⁊ doost fornycacyon wt her, and yt in batayle I shall proue ⁊ make good vpon thy body wt my body. Thenne sayd Lodwyke I am innocente, ⁊ not defectyue in ye cryme, ⁊ falsely yu puttest yt and layest vpon me, ⁊ therupon I holde ye batayle, for I truste on god thy falshede shall come vpon thyn owne hede. Then ye Emperoure assygned theym the daye of batayle ⁊ fyghtynge. That done Lodwyke went vnto ye mayden ⁊ shewed to her ye cause ⁊ the daye of batayle by the Emperoure assygned and in what maner Guydo hadde hym accused, and sayd to hyr, Nowe it behoueth me to haue your counseyll, or els I muste deye for why as ye knowe it had not aueyled me to haue a-yensayd the batayle wtout I wolde haue yelded myselfe gylty. Guydo is stronge ⁊ hardy in armes that his lyke is none but Alexander, ⁊ I am weyke ⁊ feble ⁊ therfore yf I holde the batayle ayenst hym I am but a dede man, ⁊ so shall ye abyde shamed ⁊ rebuked. Then sayd she, Do my counseyle in that, yt ye mystrust youre selfe. Go hastely vnto my fader, ⁊ saye to hym that ye haue receyued letters, wherby that ye are acertayned that ye lorde your fader is sore seke ⁊ lyeth vppon his dede bed ⁊ desyreth to se you ⁊ speke wt youre persone, ⁊ to dyspose his kyngdome ⁊ his godes afore he departe out of this world, ⁊ desyre his lycence for the loue of your fader yt ye maye go ⁊ vysite hym. ⁊ yt he wyll proroge ⁊ lengthe the daye of bataylle whyles yt ye maye go ⁊ come. And whan ye haue obteyned his congye or lycence, as hastely as ye may go secretely to the kynge Alexander, ⁊ whan ye are come to hym take hym aparte ⁊ shewe hym ye cause of youre comynge ⁊ requyre hym in this youre vtter extremyte yt he wylle vs helpe ⁊ ayde. And whan yt Lodwyke had herd this counseyll, it pleased hym well ⁊ dyde hereafter. Hys leue goten ⁊ lenger daye or terme of batayle prefyxed and assygned departed ⁊ toke his iourneye towardes ye realme of Egypte, ⁊ neuer letted daye nor nyght tyll he came vnto kynge Alexander's castell. ⁊ whan ye kynge Alexander hadde vnderstondynge of his comynge he was moche glad ⁊ went to mete hym ⁊ receyued him honourably, ⁊ had wonder of his comyn̄ge. Tho sayd Lodwyke, O my dere lorde ⁊ my bestebyloued frende, my lyfe ⁊ my dethe is in youre handes, for as ye sayd to me afore yt I sholde haue an other felowe ye whiche sholde lye in a wayte to aspye me ⁊ too destroye me / wtout I save ye more wysely to my selfe: ⁊ as longe as I myght I absented me tyll yt I coude no lenger. But afterwarde ye kynges sone of Spayne makynge watch soo longe on me tyll that he perceyued ye trouthe, ⁊ hathe accused me vnto ye Emperoure, so that frome this daye vnto ye viii. daye hereafter prefyxed it behoueth me to come ⁊ fyght wt hym body ayenst body, and as ye knowe well he is a stronge ⁊ an hardy man, and I am weyke ⁊ feble, ⁊ therfore hath Florentyne counseyled me yt I sholde not hyde this my charge frome you for she knoweth you for a faythfull frende, ⁊ that ye wolde not leue vs in this necessyte. Then sayd Alexander, is there ony body yt knoweth of your comyng vnto me for this mater more than Florentyne. He answered hym ⁊ sayd no creature lyuynge, for I toke leue of ye Emperoure to go ⁊ vysite my fader lyenge greuously seke. Then axed Alexander hym what counseyll hathe Florentyne gyuen to you howe ⁊ in what wyse I myght helpe you. He sayd, O moost constaunt ⁊ faythfull frende, in this wyse she hath counseylled me, consyderynge yt we be lyke, yt ye sholde come ⁊ do ye batayle wyth hym, no man shall knowe you but she, and the batayll done I shall come ayen to ye court ⁊ ye vnto youre countree. Then he asked whan ye day sholde be of the batayle, and he sayd this daye, viii. dayes. Thenne sayd Alexander, yf I sholde this daye tary then can I not come to yt daye prefyxed. Therfore se what I shall do. I haue boden all my subgectes that tomorowe they sholde come ⁊ be at my weddynge ⁊ brydale. and yf I sholde go than is yt daye loste / and yf I go not ⁊ do the batayle than Florentyne ⁊ ye are bothe vndone. what thynke ye nowe beste for to doo. whan Lodwyke herde yt he fell to the erthe ⁊ began to syghe ⁊ sorowe oute of mesure, saynge, sorow and heuynesse come to me on all sydes. Then sayd Alexander vnto hym, be of good comforte for I shall not forsake you thus, thoughe that I sholde lese my wyf ⁊ kyngdome but herken what that I haue thought in so moche as we are bothe lyke: soo yt the one of vs can not be knowen frome ye other but we be bothe togyder ⁊ I am not yet gretly knowen here. but my barons ⁊ other folke shall take you for me. Therfore here shall ye abyde ⁊ tary ⁊ mary my wyfe in my stede, ⁊ holde ye feest ⁊ brydale, ⁊ do in all thynges as though I were there my selfe present, excepte whan as ye come to bedde wt my wyfe loke yt ye be there true ⁊ faythfull: ⁊ I shall wtoute taryenge go ⁊ take my horse ⁊ ryde theder as ye batayle shall be, ⁊ yf god gyue me the vyctorye yt I may ouercome ⁊ vaynquysshe your enemye, I shall come ayen secretlye, and ye shall go ageyne to youre partyes and dwellynge playce. Thys done, Alexander badde Lodwyke fare well, and toke his journeye towardes ye Emperours courte, for to fyght and to do the batayle with Guydo. ⁊ Lodwyke abode in Egypt in the stede of kynge Alexander, and vpon the next mornynge came Lodwyke as though it hadde be kynge Alexander. ⁊ solemply in ye face of the chirche maryed and spoused Alexander's wyfe, ⁊ helde ye feest and brydale wt grete royalte of delycate, ⁊ precyous metes, plente of all maner wynes, ⁊ dyuerse melodyes of instrumentes of musyke, and he made greate joye ⁊ chere to all the noble men, ⁊ to all other people yt there was assembled. And whan ye nyghte was come, he wente to bedde with ye quene, ⁊ layd betwyxt hym and her a naked swerde, wherof she had greate wonder, but no thynge she sayd, and also he laye wt hir euery nyght as longe as Alexander was out. ¶ The kynge Alexander at the daye yt was prefixed ⁊ sette, came vnto ye Emperoure ⁊ sayd, O most drad souerayne lorde it is so yt I haue left my fader ryght seke. Neuerthelesse I am come for to defende myn honoure ⁊ my forwarde to performe. The Emperoure sayd ye do ryght well ⁊ accordynge to a noble man, ⁊ fortune shall fauoure you in your iuste ⁊ ryght wysse quarell. And whan the Emperours doughter vnderstode yt Alexander was comen, anone she sent for him ⁊ whan as he was come to hyr she embraced hym, ⁊ with ioye ⁊ gladnesse she kyste hym, ⁊ blessed ye tyme that she myght see hym ayen ⁊ demaunded hym where he that hadde lefte hyr frende and louer Lodwyke. Then he shewed ⁊ declared vnto hyr all ye processe ⁊ how he had left hym kyng in his realme, ⁊ toke his leue at hyr, ⁊ wente in to Lodwyke's chamber, ⁊ there was no creature yt thought otherwyse but it was lodwyke, oonly excepte Florentyne. The next daye folowynge afore er Alexander went vnto ye batayle he sayd vnto ye Emperoure in ye presence of Guydo. My moost redoubted souerayne lord this Guydo hath falsely ⁊ vntruely accused me vnto your noble grace, yt I sholde be of suche aqueyntaunce wt youre doughter yt sholde be vnto ye dyshonoure of your moost noble persone ⁊ hyrs, ⁊ vnto yt I swere ⁊ afferme, by this holy euaungelyes yt she was neuer in ony maner by me in suche wyse knowen as he hathe to you alledged ⁊ enformed, ⁊ that this daye wt the ayde ⁊ ye helpe of god I shall proue ⁊ make good vppon his body. Then sayd Guydo, yet ones I say ayen ⁊ swere by ye holy euaungelyes ⁊ by all yt god hathe made yt thou hast hadde knowledge ⁊ hast defouled ye Emperours doughter, ⁊ yt I shall make good vpon thy hede. where vpon they lepte vpon theyr coursers, ⁊ fyersly ranne togyder wt theyr speres yt they bothe brake ⁊ shyuered in peces, ⁊ theye drewe theyr swerdes ⁊ faught longe togyder, tylle at ye laste Alexander wt grete myght and strengthe at one stroke smote of Guydoes hede, and sent it vnto ye Emperour's doughter wherof she was ryght gladde, ⁊ bare it vnto her fader ⁊ sayd, Fader beholde the hede of hym yt you ⁊ me hath falsely defamed. whan yt the Emperoure perceyued ye vyctory, anone he sent for Alexander whom yt he beleued hadde ben Lodwyke ⁊ sayd, O Lodwyke this daye youre honoure ⁊ my doughters ye haue saued. ye shall stande ⁊ be the more in my grace ⁊ fauour, ⁊ what soeuer he be that hereafter more defame you he shall for euer stande in my indygnacyon. Alexander answerd, god helpethe ⁊ saueth theym yt trusteth in hym, ⁊ alwayes wreketh ye blode vndeffectyue or innocent. But now my moost redoubted lorde of one thynge I requyre you, at my departynge fro my fader I lefte hym sore seke yt it wyll lyke you for to lycence me to go ⁊ se how it standethe wt hym, ⁊ yf yt it be ony thynge amended I shall incontynent come ayen. Then the Emperour sayd, that pleaseth me well, but ye maye in no manere wyse leue me for fro hensforth I can not be without your presence. Alexander toke leue of ye Emperoure and bad hym fare well, ⁊ rode ayen vnto his realme whome whan Lodwyke sawe he made greate chere ⁊ gladnesse, ⁊ ryghte frendlye receyued hym ⁊ sayd, O moste true frende of all frendes, tell me howe ye haue done ⁊ spedd in your iourney ⁊ nede, and what ende ye haue brought it to. Then sayd he, goo to ye Emperoure and serue hym as ye haue done tofore. I haue goten you more grace and fauoure of hym than euer ye haue hadde afore tyme ⁊ I haue also smyten of the hede of youre enmye and aduersarye. Then sayd Lodwyke, ye haue not only at this tyme saued my lyfe, but many a tymes here afore, ye whiche as yet I can not deserue, but god rewarde you, ⁊ so departed ⁊ wente ayen vnto the Emperoure, ⁊ there was no man that knewe of the absence of Alexander saue oonly Lodwyke. And whan as the nyght was come he wente to bedde with the quene, ⁊ anone he hadde with hyr swete ⁊ frendly wordes ⁊ her embraced ⁊ kyst. Tho sayd she, ye haue made this tyme all to longe, that ye haue not shewed ony thyng of frendshyp or loue, how may this be. Thenne sayd he, wherfore saye ye that. She sayd, euery nyght as I was in my bed ye haue layde betwyxe you ⁊ me a naked swerde and ye haue neuer tasted or torned you towardes me more than nowe. And whan the kynge herde yt he thought on ye trouthe of hys felowe ⁊ sayd vnto hyr, O my moost dere lady ⁊ quene, it was not do[ne] for none euyll wyll, but for a gode probacōn ⁊ for a perpetuall loue. But she thought in her selfe yt loue shall ye neuer more haue of me, but yt dyspyte she thought I shall auenge vpon the. Tho was there a knyght yt she afore had a lytell loue and fauour vnto, ⁊ she began for to loue hym more ⁊ more, so longe tyll at ye laste they thoughte ⁊ ymagyned how they myght destroye ⁊ sle ye kyng, ⁊ therfor they gate poyson ⁊ poysoned ye kynge, soo yt yf he had not ben ryght stronge of complexyon he had deyed thereof but it wrought in hym so sore yt it caused hym to be ye moost foule and horryble lepre or laser yt euer was sene vpon erthe. The lordes ⁊ noble men of his realme ⁊ the quene also seynge this despysed hym ⁊ sayd, yt it behoued not a lepre to regne vpon vs, for he sholde not procure nor engendre ony fayre or clene heyres. And so he was deposed of ye dygnyte royall, ⁊ dryuen out of his realme. ¶ In the meane tyme deyed the Emperour of Rome, ⁊ Lodwyke wedded ye doughter ⁊ after that Lodwyke's fader deyed, so that Lodwyke reygned bothe Emperoure ⁊ kynge of Fraunce at ones. Whan kynge Alexander herde that he thought in hymselfe, nowe my felowe reygneth togyder vpon thempyre ⁊ the realme of Fraunce, to whome maye I better goo than to hym for whome many tymes I haue aduentured my lyfe. and vpon a nyght he rose vp ⁊ made hym redy ⁊ toke wt hym hys staff ⁊ claper, ⁊ yede towarde themperours courte. And whan he was come nyghe to ye yate, he set hym amonges other lasers abydynge ye gyuynge of ye almesse. and on a season as ye Emperoure went out of his palays, all ye pore lasers began to rynge theyr clapers, ⁊ ye gode kynge Alexander dyd lyke ye other, but there was none almesse gyuen to them. He taryed so longe vnto ye tyme yt themperour was set ⁊ serued at ye table. Tho went kynge Alexander vnto ye yate ⁊ knocked therat, ⁊ the porter asked who was there. Alexander answerd hym I am a pore despysed man, but for ye loue of god I require you yt ye torne not your syght fro my vysage, and yt ye wyll for ye rewarde of god do my message vnto ye Emperour. he asked what is ye mater. Alexander sayd go ⁊ tell hym here is a laser that ryght horryble is to see. The whiche prayeth hym for the loue of god ⁊ kynge Alexander that he wyll graunte hym this daye to ete his almesse afore hym vpon the erthe in his hall. The porter sayd I wonder that ye dare desyre that of my lorde, for why all the hall is full of lordes ⁊ noble men, ⁊ yf they beholde you they sholde all abhorre ⁊ leue theyr mete. But for so moche as ye haue requyred me so profoundly for ye loue of god I shall go ⁊ do youre erande what so euer happen therof. ⁊ so he yede forthe afore themperour ⁊ 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, ⁊ ordeyne hym a place afore me, yt he may ete his mete afore me in my presence. The porter brought hym in anone, ⁊ ordeyned hym a place ⁊ set hym to mete afore ye Emperour, ⁊ whan he was well refresshed he sayd vnto one of the Emperours seruauntes, My dere frende do me thys erande to ye Emperoure. Saye vnto hym yt I praye hym for ye loue of god ⁊ kynge Alexander yt he wylle sende me his cuppe wt wyne. The seruaunt 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 ⁊ bere it vnto hym. The whiche wyne whan he hadde receyued it he put it into hys botelle, ⁊ toke his rynge yt Lodwyke had gyuen vnto hym ⁊ put it in to the cuppe, ⁊ 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, ⁊ thoughte in his herte yt Alexander is dede, or ellys this man is merueylously come vnto ye rynge, ⁊ cōmaunded 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 ⁊ ended, the Emperoure toke the seke man aparte and askyd howe he came by ye rynge. Alexander demaunded 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 grounde for sorowe ⁊ tare and rente his robys ⁊ clothes, ⁊ 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 ⁊ 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 ⁊ hyr, wherfore she became wrothe ⁊ hated me, that she ⁊ a knyght that afore tyme she ought hir loue vnto haue impoysened me as ye maye see. ⁊ aboue yt they haue dryuen me out of my realme. ⁊ whan the Emperoure herde that he for loue toke hym aboute ye necke ⁊ kyste hym ⁊ sayd, O my moost entyerlye beloued brother, I sorowe to see you in this grete syknesse ⁊ 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 ⁊ wyse maysters in physyke to haue theyr counseylle ⁊ aduyse. yf there be ony remedye or hope of recouerynge of your helthe, ⁊ yf it be possyble for to helpe you, we shall neyther spare Empyre lordshyps nor other good temporall to make you hole ⁊ sounde. In the meane whyle he was brought into a fayre chamber rychely appareylled ⁊ appoynted of all maner thynges yt were requysyte ⁊ necessarye for his ease ⁊ helthe. ⁊ in all haste he sente his messangers by all partyes of ye worlde, for ye experte ⁊ moost wyse physycyens yt myght be founde. Of whome within a moneth were come ⁊ assembled before ye Emperoure xxx. ye whiche were ryght experte ⁊ 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 ⁊ made sounde. ⁊ 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 ⁊ sayd all yt euer is possyble to be done by physyke yt ye shall sone vnderstande after yt we haue seen the persone. ⁊ forthwt as they had seen hym, ⁊ perceyued ye cause ⁊ 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, ⁊ remytted it vnto ye helpe of almyghty god callynge vnto hym relygyous men, ⁊ poore people, ⁊ other deuoute persones ⁊ desyred theym to praye to god, yt he wolde wouchesaufe to make hole his frende ye sooner for theyr gode dedes ⁊ prayers. and he hymselfe with manye other fasted ⁊ 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, ⁊ wasshe thy body wt the blode of them, thy body ⁊ thy flesshe shall be as fayre ⁊ 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 straunge man. The Emperour nyght ⁊ daye laye in his prayers wt greate deuocyon, ⁊ prayed to god for ye remedye of kynge Alexander. So yt at the laste there came a voyce vnto hym ⁊ sayd, how longe shall ye thus crye ⁊ calle vpon me whanne it is openly shewed ⁊ notefyed vnto Alexander how that he shall be made hole. The Emperoure herynge that wente vnto Alexander ⁊ sayd, Of all frendes ye beste ⁊ mooste true, blessed be the moost hyghe god the whyche neuer faylethe yt call ⁊ truste vpon hym, of whome I haue knowlege yt it is shewed vnto you howe ⁊ 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. ⁊ 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 ⁊ it is a thynge ayenste nature for to be done, therfore I wyll not shewe it to you, howe be it grete truste ⁊ 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 ⁊ 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 ⁊ wasshe me in theyre blode I sholde be hole, ⁊ 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, ⁊ therfore yf I hadde ten chyldern I sholde notte spare one alyue to haue youre helthe. after that ye Emperoure watched ⁊ spyed his tyme whan ye Empresse ⁊ all ladyes ⁊ chambereres were oute of ye waye ⁊ whan tyme was he entred into ye chamber where as the chyldern slepte, ⁊ drewe out his knyfe ⁊ cutte asonder bothe theyr throtes, ⁊ gadred ye blode in a vessell, ⁊ therin he bathed ⁊ wasshed Alexander. ⁊ whan he was so bathed his body ⁊ flesshe was as fayre ⁊ as clene as thought (sic) it had ben of a yonge chylde. Then ye emperour had knowlege of his vysage, ⁊ kyssed hym sayng, 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. ⁊ yet wyste no man of the deth of ye chyldern saue oonly ye emperoure ⁊ Alexander. ⁊ whan as the emperoure sawe yt Alexander was parfytly heled, he sayd vnto hym, I shall ordeyne to you an honeste companye ⁊ ye shall go frome hens ten myle the next daye sende vnto me a messager, ⁊ yt ye shew openly vnto me of youre comynge, and I shall then with all solempnyte come ⁊ mete you, ⁊ ye shall abyde with me vnto the tyme that we maye otherwyse prouyde for ye recouerynge of youre realme. This counseyll pleased Alexander ryght well, ⁊ 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 ⁊ whanne the empresse herde that she was ryghte gladde, ⁊ 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 seruauntes, I shall folowe you with my ladyes ⁊ gentylwymen. ⁊ 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 ⁊ ye empresse ⁊ all the chere yt she coude make she dyd to hym. and whan the Emperour perceyued that, he was ryghte well pleased ⁊ sayd, O myne owne Florentyne I joye aboue all thynges yt ye do ⁊ make to kynge Alexander soo gode chere. Then sayd she, wherfore sholde I not, is not his comynge to vs bothe joye ⁊ gladnesse but more to you my lorde, for this dygnyte yt ye are in by hym yeed, ⁊ 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 ⁊ 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 ⁊ 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 demaunde ye me yt question. I saye ⁊ lete you haue knowlege for trouthe that yf I hadde ten sones I sholde gladly slee them wt min owne handes to prepare ⁊ ordeyne for hym a bayne, ⁊ 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 contente ⁊ pleased in his mynde ⁊ 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, ⁊ by yt maner he is made hole wt the blode of our sones, ⁊ 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 ⁊ wepynge went to ye nourysshery or chamber of them, ⁊ grete sorowe ⁊ bewaylynge was made thrughe themperours courte for his sones. ⁊ whan the nourysshes came into ye chamber, they founde the chyldern playnge ⁊ syngynge of ye moost blessed vyrgyne Mary, aue maria gracia plena dn̄s tecum, ⁊ tho went they ayen in all haste vnto ye Emperour ⁊ shewed hym yt his sones were lyuynge ⁊ that about theyr throtes there as they were cutte they haue a cercle of threde of golde, ⁊ therof was grete joy ⁊ gladnesse in all ye courte, ⁊ gaue thankynges vnto al[m]yghty god ⁊ to ye blessed vyrgyne mary his moder of yt grete myracle. after yt themperoure wt a grete multytude and company of people gadred ⁊ assembled went wt Alexander into Egypte ⁊ set hym ayen into his royalte ⁊ possessyon of his Realme ⁊ the quene wt the knyghte whiche lyued togyder in auoutry he dyd them 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 ⁊ was sette in gode reste ⁊ peas ye Emperoure wente ayen vnto his Empire, ⁊ the kynge Alexander ryght wysely ⁊ manly gouerned hymselfe in all his feates ⁊ actes so yt he ouercame all his enmyes ⁊ rebelles. And whan he was in al his glorye, peas ⁊ myght, he hadde thought ⁊ mynde vpon his fader ⁊ moder, by whome he was caste into the see, which dwelled in ferre partyes from thens he sent to them a messager ⁊ dyd them to haue knowelege yt the kynge of Egypte vpon suche a daye wolde be wt them to ete ⁊ to drynke ⁊ to make good chere. and whan the messager was come too them, they receyued hym wt grete joye ⁊ with gyftes largely to hym gyuen 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 ⁊ to drynke ⁊ sporte hym. The messager went ayen vnto ye kynge ⁊ shewed how gladlye yt they wolde receyue hym, ⁊ what rewarde they had gyuen hym ⁊ how faythfully they were ⁊ redy to do hym seruyce at his cōmaundement, wherewt the kynge was well contente. And whan ye daye was comen yt was prefyxed, the kynge with a fayre company 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, ⁊ whan he come nyghe vnto ye kynge he descended frome his horse ⁊ reuerenced hym with his knee on the erthe, but the kynge toke hym vp shortly, ⁊ comaunded hym to ascende ayen vpon his horse, ⁊ rode so togyder cheke by cheke vnto ye castell. And whan they were come theder the moder came them to mete, ⁊ felle vpon hyr knees to ye erthe ⁊ welcomed hym gladly. The kynge toke hyr louynly vp ⁊ kyssed hyr ryght frendly. ⁊ 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, ⁊ the tyme of ye day was come to go to dyner. The fader came wt a basyn, ⁊ with an ewyr, ⁊ the moder wt a towell saynge, Syre all thynge is redye, please it you to wasshe. ⁊ whan ye kyng sawe that he smyled ⁊ sayd vnto hymselfe, Nowe is ye songe of the nyghtyngale true, for my fader ⁊ 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 / ⁊ 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, ⁊ his fader on his lefte syde ⁊ they as moche as they myght behelde his vysage ⁊ countenaunce. The dyner ended ye kynge entred in to a chamber, ⁊ made ye knyght wt his lady to come in to hym, ⁊ comaunded all other to auoyde ⁊ 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 founde 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, ⁊ therfore I wyll knowe of what dethe he deyed. ⁊ yf ye wyll not tell me I shall cause you to deye a shamefull dethe. whan they herde that they fell too grounde upon ther knees afore hym ⁊ asked hym mercye ⁊ forgyuenesse of theyr lyues. The kynge wolde not suffre them to knele, but scortly toke them vp ⁊ sayd, To that entente came I not in to your house to ete your brede ⁊ to betraye you. but saye me ye trouthe ⁊ ye shall be saued, for it is gyuen me to vndestande 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 ⁊ 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 ⁊ lettred ⁊ ryght well vnderstande. And vpon a tyme as he stode afore vs ⁊ serued at ye table, There came a nyghtyngale yt ryght swetly songe, whoos songe he began to interprete and tell vs what it mente ⁊ sayd: This byrde syngeth that I shall become so grete ⁊ myghty a lorde yt it shall be to youre honoure ⁊ aduaunsement in suche wyse yt ye my fader shall be gladde to holde ye basyn wt water to wasshe in my handes, ⁊ my moder ye towell yf yt I wolde suffre it. And whan I herde yt I was sore meued ⁊ toke ⁊ 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 ⁊ myghty, me thynketh it sholde haue been youre honoure ⁊ 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 ordynaunce ⁊ wylle of god. But nowe ye shall knowe for trouth yt I am youre sone yt ye caste in to ye see. ⁊ god of his grete mercye ⁊ goodnesse hathe saued me, ⁊ by his grace hathe brought me too this astate ⁊ dygnyte. and ye fader ⁊ moder herynge yt with fere ⁊ joye replenysshed fell flat to ye grounde, whom he louynly ⁊ frendly toke vp sayng fere not, but rather be glad ⁊ joyous for ye shall no thynge suffre, but my exaltacyon shall be your glorye ⁊ joye ⁊ proufyte ⁊ kyste bothe his fader ⁊ moder wt grete joye ⁊ 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 ⁊ toke them wt hym in to his realme where they dwelled togyder in honour ⁊ joye, ⁊ ended theyr dayes wt joye ⁊ myrthe.