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 Argument.

The euill disposed whcked wise men of this world are heere aduertised of their greedie groping after the sweet temp∣tation of the diuel, wherein such doe reioyce, till death comming sodaynly vpon them, then fall they into the hor∣rible pitte of desolate darckenesse, due to their deserts.

The sixt Historie.

¶ Dioclesian reigned in y^e citie of Rome in whose empire dwelt a noble Philoso∣pher, the which sette vp by his craft an ymage in the middest of the Citie of Rome, the which ymage strethed out his arme and his formost finger, wher∣vppon stoode this posie written in La∣tine, Percute hic. Strike heere. This

ymage after the death of this Philoso∣pher stoode still a long time, and many great clarkes came thether for to read the superscription that was on the fin∣ger, but none of them vnderstoode what it ment, wherfore ther was great won∣dring among the people. And at the last a long time after there came a strange clarke out of farre countries, and whē hée saw this ymage, he read y^e scripture, strike héere.

And then vpon a day whē he saw the shadow of y^e hand, hee tooke a mattocke & brake vp the ground vnder the hand where the shadow was, according to the vnderstanding of the superscripti∣on, and anone hée found an house all of Marble vnderneath the ground, wher∣in he entred and came into a hall, wher∣in hée found so much riches, so manie Jewells, and so great maruailes, that he neuer saw ne heard of such, nor so ma¦ny béefore that time. At the last hée saw a table redy couered, and all maner of things necessary therto set there vpon. Hee beheld further and saw a carbūcle in the hall y^t lightened all y^e house. And

Against this Carbuncle on that other side stoode a man holding in his hand a bow with an arow ready to shoote. The clark maruailed much when he saw all these things, and thought in himselfe, if that I tell this foorth, ther will no man beeleeue mee, and therefore I will haue somewat of these goodes in token of proofe. And with that hée law a knife of golde vpon the table, the which hoe tooke and would haue put it in his boo∣some. But anon the Archer smote the Carbuncle and brake it, where with the whole house was shadowed and made darke. And when the clarke perceiued it, he wept more bitterly then any man might thinke, for he know not by what way he might goe out, for as much as y^e house was made darke through y^e brea∣king of the carbuncle. And that darknes abode still for euermore after. And so finished the clarke his life there in that darknesse.

The Morall.

Déere friends this ymage so standing is y^e diuel which saith euermore Strike

héere. That is to say, séeke after earthly riches, and not for heauenly treasure. This clarke that diggeth with y^e mat∣tocke, betokneth the wicked wise men of this world, as some euill disposed pleaders in the law, crafty atturneyes and other wicked worldlings that euer be smiting, what by right and what by wrong, so that they may get the vani∣ties of this world, and in their smiting they finde great wonders & maruails, that is to say, they finde therein the de∣lgihts of the world, wherin many men reioyseth. The carbuncle that giueth light is the youth of man, which giueth hardines to take their plesure in world∣ly riches. The archer with his arrow is death, which la••eth watch against man to slay him. The clarke that tooke vp the knife is euery worldly man that coueteth euer to haue all thing at his will. Death smiteth the carbuncle, that is to say, youth, strength and power of man, & than lyeth he wrapped in darke∣nes of sinne, in which darknesse often∣tymes he dyeth. Therefore studie wee to flee the world and his desires, and

then shall wée bée sure to winne euer∣lasting life, vnto the which Jesu bring vs all.

Amen.