A record of auncient histories, entituled in Latin: Gesta Romanorum Discoursing vpon sundry examples for the aduancement of vertue, and the abandoning of vice. No lesse pleasant in reading, then profitable in practise.

The Morall

Déere friends this Emperour may bée called euery Christian man, or else all mankinde, which had a faire daughter, that is to say, the soule made to the si∣militude of God. This Earle beetoke∣neth the diuell, which carryeth away & deflowreth by sinne the soule of man through eating of the fruite of the tree knowing good and euill, wherefore all mankind was in thraldom, til a strong and valiant knight came and put him∣selfe on the Crosse to suffer death, as a redéemer of mankinde from the diuell. For if that had not béene, wée had all beene partakers of thraldome euerla∣istngly, and this Knight reduced and reobtayned the Soule of man vnto the Church, wherefore hée suffered many great wounds in his body. And now this knight, that is to saye, our Lord Jesu Christ hath a matter to doe among vs, that is to saye, to fynde in vs perfecte life, wherefore hee calleth on vs dayly

that wée shold bée redy at all times, say∣ing thus in y^e Apocalipse. iii. Eccesto ab hostium & pulso: si quis mihi aparuerit introibo & c••nibo. That is to say. Loe I stand and knocke at the dore, if any man will open to mee I shall come in & suppe with him. But many men doe as the Emperour dyd, the which appoin∣ted the knight an other Judge then him selfe. But now a dayes there bée some men that will doe no repentaunce for the loue of him, which assigned no man but himselfe to fight for vs. And there∣fore against vnthankfull persons it shal bee sayde thus. Loe hée suffered for vs on the Crosse, despoyled of all his clo∣thing, and showeth to vs all his woūds that hee suffered for vs.

Bée wée therefore thankfull vnto God for his graces that wée may suffer for his loue some sorowfull repentaunce. For hée that suffereth paine for the loue of God in this life, shall receiue an hun∣drid tymes more reward in the lyfe e∣uerlasting, and also hée shall obtaine e∣uerlasting life: vnto y^e which our Lord Jesus bring all mankinde.

Amen.