Story.
IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour and a wyse, named Edfenne / the whiche ordeyned for lawe, yt who someuer rauysshed a mayde, sholde be at her wyll / whether she wolde put hym to deth, or that she wolde haue hym to her husbande. It befelle after on a daye, that a man rauyshed vpon a nyght two maydens / the first damoysell desyred that he sholde dye, & the seconde desyred weddynge. The rauyssher was taken, and ledde before the Iuge, that sholde satysfye bothe these damoysels thrughe his wysdome and ryghtfulnesse. The fyrst mayde euer desyred the dethe, accordynge to the law. And than sayd the seconde, "And I desyre hym for to be my husbande / for lyke wyse as thou haste the lawe for the / in lyke wyse I haue it for me. And neuerthelesse my [signature E vij.] petycion is more and better than yours, for it is more charytable / therfore me thynketh in my reason, that the Iustyce sholde gyue sentence with me." Than ye Iustyce vnderstandynge the grete mercy of the seconde mayden, aue Iugement, that he sholde wedde her; and soo it was done.