The Seuenth Complaynte of the Empresse.

Whan the empresse herde y^t the sone of themperour was yet lyuynge, as a mad woman she ranne to themperour wepynge ⁊ cryenge. O vnhappy wyfe what shall I doo. alas alas for I muste nedes sle myselfe y^t so am ashamed ⁊ no punysshement there vpon done. Themperour answered, God defende you suche thynges to haue in mynde, but suffer a whyle, ⁊ ye shall haue a good ende in your cause. She answered, Syr y^r ende shall be euyll, for of y^t shal folowe to you grete confusyon ⁊ to me. Themperour sayd, be styl of such thynges. She sayd, Lorde it shall come to you ⁊ your sone as it happened to a kynge ⁊ to his stewarde. Themperour sayd I praye you tell me that example. She sayde I wyll gladly tell it, but I fere me that ye wyl here me no more, for y^e next day y^e seuenth mayster shal speke ⁊ saue your sone from y^e deth as his felowes haue done. The seconde day after this then your sone shal speke, of whoos wordes ye shal haue ⁊ take svche joy ⁊ delectacyon y^t the loue betwyxte vs shall bee holy forgeten ⁊ wasshed away. Themperour sayd that is Impossyble to me, for I shal neuer your loue forgete. Tho sayd she, O my best beloued lorde, please it you I shal tel you one example, by y^e whiche ye shall beware before of many perylles in tyme comynge, ⁊ specyally of your cursed sone, whiche entendeth to destroy me by his maysters. The emperour sayd, tell on your example. and the Empresse began to tell in this wyse ensuynge.