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.

This Emperour betokeneth the father of Heauen, his sonne beetokeneth our Lord Jesus Christ, whome many men desired to nourish, at such t••••••s as they receiued the sacrament of his death and passion. Hee nourisheth him that delt ••usteth with the diuell, & ouercommeth him through godly life. The knight that tooke this childe with him, beetookeneth a good christian man that euermore ab∣steineth truely from doing euill, and la∣boreth cōtinually to doe good to all men. Therfore doe wée as y^e knight did, send wée béefore messengers to prepare and make cleane the Castle of our hearts, from all spo••s of sin by fruitfull faith, and so shall this childe Jesus rest and light in the middest of our hart.

The well beetokeneth mercy, which ought to bée next our Lord. For who so euer is without mercy & truth may not nourish that blessed childe Jesu. But it happeneth ofte that the Knights wi••e (that is the flesh of m••n) beareth y^e key of mercie, & ofte leaueth that well open,

and then commeth the beare) that is, the diuell, & leaueth the loathsome filth in the well of mercy, & who that tasteth thereof shall be infected with leprosie of sin. The window wherein the Sun shi∣neth, is the grace of the Holy ghost, by whome ••en liue & are comforted ghost∣ly. By this window the Eagle com∣meth in, that is to say, the people of all∣mightie G••d, and toke away the childe Jesus from the heart of man, and then manne hath great ca••s•• to wéepe, but what shall we doe when the Childe is gone, but send for a subtill phisition, that is to say, a diseréet minister of the word of God which shall giue him counsayle & let him blood & all his househould, that is to say, to put out sin through acknow¦ledging thereof, & reconciling himselfe with earnest repentaunce vnto his hea∣uenly Father.

Then must hée bath himselfe with teares of contrition, and Compunction of heart, and after that, take the medi∣cine of amendement of life, and so liue pure and cleane from all manner o•• sin, and when he hath done thus, he must

leape on the Palfray of good perseue∣raunce from euill, and ryde foorth with his thrée squires, that is to say, fasting from euill, prayer vnto God, and well deserued towards man, & then without doubt, he shall finde the childe Jesus in the ••••ley of humilitie, and not on a hill, that is to say, pride. And if he doe thus doubtlesse he shall haue might & power to nourish that blessed childe Jesus, for whose nourishing, the father of heauen shall promote him vnto euerlasting ioy. Unto the which ioy, God bring vs all.

Amen.