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Lampadius reigned̛ in the Citee of Rome, that was right mercifuƚƚ; wherfore of̘ grete mercy he ordeyned̛ a lawe, that who that were a man-sleer, a Ravenour, an eveƚƚ doer, or a theef̘, and were take, and brought before the domesman, yf he myght sey iij. trouthes, so truly that no man myght agayn̛-sey hem, he shuld̛ have his lyf̘,
witℏ aƚƚ his heritage. ¶ There fille a chaunce aftir, that a knyght whos name was Plebeus, wente to the wode, and aƚƚ that come by the wode, he slougℏ, or spoiled̛ hem of aƚƚ that thei hadden̛. ¶ Whan the Iustice herd̛ this, he sente spies for to take hym; and whan he was take, he was brought before the Iustice. than the Iustice said̛ to hym, "Frende, thou knowest the law; sey iij. trouthes, or els without doute thou shalt be hanged̛ or I ete." ¶ The knyght said̛, "scilence, and I shaƚƚ fulfille the law." whan scilence was made, the knyght said̛, "Frendes, the first trouthe is this, that I shaƚƚ shew to you alle, that aƚƚ the tyme of my lyf̘ I have ben a theef̘, a manqueller, and a Ravenour." Whan the domesman had̛ herde this, he said̛ to hem that stoden aboute, "is it sothe that he saitℏ?" thei said̛, "yee, but yf he had̛ ben̛ an eveƚƚ doer, he shuld̛ haue not ben brought hedir, and therfore it is sothe that he said̛." ¶ Than the domesman asked̛, "Whicℏ is the second̛ trouthe?" he said̛, heryng aƚƚ, "it displeasetℏ me mekeƚƚ, that ever I come hedir." the domesman said̛, "forsothe we beleve the wele; telle vs now the third̛ troutℏ, and thou hast fulfilled̛ the law." ¶ he said̛, "the trouthe is
[leaf 55] this I shaƚƚ shewe to you; And̛ I myght ones scape, I shuld̛ neuer come to this place agayne with my good̛ wille." The domysman̛, when̛ he herde this, seide, "thou haste wisely fulfilled̛ the lawe, and̛ haste sauyd̛ thy lyfe. Go now therefore, and̛ from hensforwarde be a good man, and̛ wil no more offende agaynes god̛ ne the Emperour." then þe knyght wente, and Endid̛ his life in pease.
Frendes, this Emperour is oure lorde Ihesu Criste, that ordeyned̛ this lawe, that Euery brekere of goddis grace, that is, a synner that dothe dedly synne, shuld̛ be brought before the domysman̛, that is to say, a discrete confessour, and̛ telle to hym the trouthe, so trewe, that the sayeng̘ atte day of dome mow not be agayne-seide; and̛ than, with oute doute he shaƚƚ haue Euerlastyng̘ lyfe, with aƚƚ the heritage of the kyngdome of hevyn̛. The firste trouthe is, I am̛ a thefe, that is, I am̛ suche a synner, and̛ wrappid̛ and̛ knytte in suche synnes; tellyng̘ hem oute to his gostly fadir. The seconde trouthe is, it displeasith me the waye of contricion̛, that I haue so mekille offendid̛ god̛, for the which I owe to come hiddere. The thrid̛ is, that if I myght ones scape, be the waye of satisfaccion̛, I
shaƚƚ neuer torne agayne to synne. And̛ if he do þis, with outyn̛ doute he shaƚƚ haue Euerlastyng̘ life. to the which bryng̘ vs that mercyfuƚƚ lorde Ihesu Criste! Amen &c.