CCXXXVI.
Decepcio. Decepiuntur aliqui sub simulacione
boni.
We rede in þe 'Cronicles of Rome,' how þer was som tyme in þe cowrte at Rome a famos clerk̘ þat hight Machomett, and he desyrid̛ to hafe bene made pope [Latin MSS. in Romana curia honorem quem cupiebat assequi non potuisset.] , & myght not com̛ þerto. And herefor̛ he wex wrotℏ, & went fer þens our̛ þe se; and þer, with a symulacion̛, he gadurd̛ samen a grete multitude of yong folk̘ vnto hym̛, & told̛ þaim þat þaim burd̛ hafe emangis þaim a man̛ to govern̛ þaim. And in þe mene-while he vsid̛ to putt whete-cornys in his ere, & he lernyd̛ a white dowffe to stand opon̛ his shulder & take þaim oute. So on̛ a day he callid̛ his pepuƚƚ to-geder, & sayd̛ þaim þat it was Goddis wiƚƚ þat he suld̛ be made rewler of þaim, whame þat God shewid̛ for be þe Holie Gaste. And privalie þis dowfe was lattyn̛ go; & onone sho light on̛ Machomett shulder þer he was emang þe prese of peple; & putt hur byƚƚ in his ere, & tuke oute þe cornys. And aƚƚ þe peple at was aboute went at it had bene þe Holie Gaste þat had commen̛ fro heven̛ and descended̛ on̛ hym̛, & told̛ hym̛ þe wurd̛ of God̛ in his ere, & what at God wolde hafe done; & þus he was made rewler of aƚƚ þe Sarracens, & desayvid̛ þaim; & he made þaim a law att þai kepe yit, whilk þat is callid̛ Machomett law.
- ...Decipit demon bonos sub specie boni. Infra de demone.
- ...Decipitur iudex frequenter si iudicet secundum apparenciam exteriorem. Infra de Iudicio humano.
- ...Decipit vicinus vicinum. Supra de Adulterio.
- ...Decipiuntur tam boni quam mali per demones multipliciter. Infra de demone MSS. de decem. , et alijs locis.