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

[ LXIII. ]
(HOW A MAN WAS DELIVERED FROM PURGATORY FOR HIS PIETY.)Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 64 back (cont'd)]

There was a man̛, that had̛ a Custome, alse ofte as he wente to bedde and̛ rose oute of it, to pray, he that is kyng̘ of̘ Iewes and̛ of aƚƚ Cristen̛, wolde gyfe hym grace to passe oute of̘ this worlde with confession̛ of̘ his synnes. and̛ when he leide hym in his bedde, and̛ rose at morowe, with his thowmbe he made a crosse in his forhede, and̛ on his breste, sayeng̘ thus, "Ihesu of̘ nazarethe, kyng̘ of Iewes, haue mercy on me! In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti. Amen̛." afterward̛ it happenyd̛, that he deyed̛ sodeynly. The deuyls tokyn his soule, and̛ wolde haue ledde it to helle; But there come a fayre man shynyng̘, [leaf 65] And̛ drofe hem a-waye from hym. Anone this fayre man̛ was a-way from̛ hym̛, and̛ there he wase in grete derknesse; but oute of that place, that he made this worthy tokyn̛ of̘ the Crosse in, come oute a shynyng̘ as it had̛ ben a bryght sterre, that gafe hym lyght in the derknesse. Than

the deuyls comyn̛ aboute hym, and̛ wolde haue take hym; but the light that come from̛ hym ferid̛ hem, so that they durste not leye no hande on hym. then come that shynyng̘ man̛ a-gayne, and̛ saide to hym, that the hye domysman̛ seide, aƚƚ thofe he shuld̛ be dampnyd̛ for his synne, neuer the lese for the feithe and̛ deuocion̛ that he had̛ a-boute his passion̛, and̛ in Callyng̘ and̛ expressyng̘ of his name, he wolde spare hym; and̛ that he shuld̛ lyve a-gayne, and̛ shryve hym of̘ his synnes, if he wolde, and̛ amende his lyfe into better. and̛ so he did, and̛ leuyd̛ wele aƚƚ his lyfe into better; and̛ Endid̛ his lyfe in pease, and̛ wente to heuyn̛. Amen.