Early English versions of the Gesta Romanorum / edited by Sidney J.H. Herrtage

[ LIX. ]
(HOW A CLERK AVOIDED HIS CONTRACT WITH THE DEVIL.)Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 63 (cont'd)]

¶ In the Cite of rome was a senatoure, that had a doughter, the which he wolde make a nonne, for to pray for his soule; the which a clerke louyd̛ brennyngly, but he durste not shewe his grete loue to hire, for they were not Euyn̛ of byrthe. The clerke wente to a conIeroure of deuyls, and̛ praide hym to helpe hym, and̛ infourme in this nede. he saide, "I shaƚƚ," and̛ made hym a letter, and̛ bade hym̛ go vnto an vnhoneste place, where paynems dwelled̛, and̛ there he shuld̛ rede his letter. Come the fende, and̛ seide, "What wilte thou, þat I do to the?" he saide, "that I may haue such a maydyn̛." the deuyƚƚ seide, "deny the sone of god̛, and̛ his modire, and̛ the feithe of holye kyrke." The clerke saide, "gladly I shaƚƚ do that." The deuyƚƚ seide, "I leue þe not, but if̘ thou make me a chartoure, written with thyn̛ owne hande." The Clerke did̛ so. when this was done, the deuyƚƚ so stirred̛ the maydyn̛, that she louyd̛ hym̛ more than he did̛ here. Than she seide to here fadire, "I wil on aƚƚ wise haue that yonge man̛ to myn̛ housbonde." The Fadir was sory, and̛ seide, "doughter, I wende thou woldiste haue bene a nonne, as thou beheghtist̘ me, and̛ haue praide for me, when I had̛ ben̛ dede; and̛ now thou seyste thou wilte haue an

housbonde!" she saide, "alas! Fadir, I moste haue hym, or Elles I shaƚƚ deye." The atte laste they were weddid̛. The yonge man wolde not come into the chirche, as a Cristen man̛, but dispised̛ the chirche, as a man dispayred̛ of the mercy of god̛. when his wife wiste, she askid̛ hym, why he come not þe kyrk? and̛ he tolde hire aƚƚ how he had̛ done? She praide hym to go with here to an holy bishope, and̛ tolde hym what he had̛ done. The bishope seide, "sone, hope in god̛, and̛ beleue in the sacrementes of holy chirche, and̛ be confessid̛ of synnes." and̛ so he was confessid̛ with grete sorowe. The byshope trustyng̘ on the mercy of god̛, made hym to be shitte be-hynde the autere, for to do penaunce [leaf 63, back] iij, dayes. The fyrste day the deuyls were there, And̛ betyn̛ hym, sayeng̘, "wenys thou, wreche, for to disseyue vs? se here thy Chartoure, that come to vs, and̛ we come not to the." And̛ after the seconde day come the bishope, and̛ vesite hym, and̛ seide, "dere sone, drede the not, for yette thou moste be stille, tiƚƚ the thrid̛ day." and̛ so he was. The deuyls comyn̛, but he sawe hem̛ not as he did̛ be-fore, but he herde hem̛; but they did̛ hym no harme, but thratte hym. when the thrid̛ day was gone, the bishop asked̛ hym, how he fared̛? he saide "wele, blessyd̛ be god̛! hooly thy prayers haue ouercomyn the deuyls, so þat they han̛ not noyed̛ me." Then̛ the bishope, on̛ the haliday next, ladde the yonge man̛ with hym̛ to the chirche, and̛ come be-fore the peple in the procession̛. Then come the deuyls, be-fore aƚƚ the peple, and̛ wolde haue drawen̛ [hym] oute of the bishopes handes; so that the bishope felte the drawyng̘ of the fende. Then the bishope seide with an highe voice, be-fore aƚƚ the peple, "wrechid̛ deuyls, it shaƚƚ not be so." and̛ praide to aƚƚ the peple, to lyfte vp here handes to god̛, and̛ that they shuld̛ not leue, tiƚƚ the yonge man̛ were delyuered̛. and̛ so it was done. and̛ so the deuyls lafte the yonge man̛, that was aferde, and̛ sorie; and̛ also lete the Chartoure falle oute of̘ the Eyre into the byshopes handes. than they aƚƚ thanked̛ god̛, for the delyueryng̘ of the yonge synfuƚƚ man̛. Amen̛, &c.