The Syxte Complaynte of the Empresse.

Whan that thempresse had knowledge, she shewed her selfe as a wode or an Impacyent body y^t all that sawe her or herde her wondred ⁊ sayd to themperour your wyfe she pyneth her self as though she sholde deye. Themperour that heryng went to her ⁊ sayd wherfore be ye so heuy, ⁊ so impacyent. O lorde how shold I holde it in, whan I am the only doughter of a kyng ⁊ your wyfe, ⁊ in your company I haue had a grete despyte ⁊ shame, and contynually ye haue promysed me to punysshe it, but ye perfourme it not. The emperour sayd, I wote not what I shal do. ye laboure from day to day to haue my sone slayne, and the maysters labour to saue his lyfe. And amonges al thyse I know well that he is my sone, but whether the trouth is that knowe I not. Than sayd she, that is it y^t I complayne that ye beleue the maysters more than ye do me. Therfore it shall happen to you as dyde to a kyng with his stewarde. Than sayd the Emperoure, tell that example, happely it sholde meue me the soner to put my sone to deth. She sayde, gladly, but I praye you gyue attendaunce what I shall saye, and began to tel as hereafter ensueth.