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

[ LXVI. ]
(HOW A MONK WAS REWARDED FOR HIS PRAYERS ON BEHALF OF TWO BROTHERS.)Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 66 (cont'd)]

SOme tyme there were iij. monkes, dwellyng̘ to-gedre in a Couente, that loued̛ hem̛ wele to-gedere. ij. of hem be-gone to be seke, and̛ deyden̛ of the seknesse; and̛ the thrid̛ lafte on̛ lyve, that nyght and̛ day deuoutely prayde for his brethere, that here payne of purgatorie myght be released̛ the sonyre for his prayere; and̛ so they were. It̘ felle on a nyght, that a monke aftir matyns wase in the chaptoure house, and̛ loked̛ oute at a wyndowe, and̛ sawe ij. monkes sitte on̛ a graue, and̛ cladde in monkes wede, and̛ Eythere of hem̛ had̛ a tabernacle tapre brennyng̘ in his hande; and̛ he mervayled̛ gretly what this myght be. he thought he wolde go to the abbote, and̛ telle hym̛ what he had̛ sene; and̛ did̛ sc. then the abbote and̛ the monke comyn̛ for to se hem̛; and̛ when the abbote sawe hem̛, he conIored̛ hem, and̛ asked̛ what they were? the[y] seydyn, they were monkes some tyme of̘ that couente, And̛ how they were scaped̛ the peyne of̘ purgatorie, throw the prayere and̛ the besekyng̘ of Robert, here felawe.— "and̛ when we were

delyuered̛, we prayde for Robert, oure felawe, that he shuld̛ neuer fele the peyne of purgatorie, and̛ it is graunted̛ vs; And̛ we abide, tiƚƚ Robert may go with vs to the blisse of heuyn̛." The abbote seide, "Robert, that ye speke of̘, is not seke." but sekyrly then wente the abbote and̛ the monke, to wete how Roberte [leaf 66, back] fared̛, and̛ to wete whethere Robert was seke, and̛ whether it was trew or false that they seyden. and̛ as they wentyn come a monke rennyng̘, and̛ tolde the abbote that Robert was dede. then the Abbote turnyd̛ a-gayne, for to se if the monkes stodyn stiƚƚ there, and̛ they fownde hem not. and̛ so they wentyn̛ aƚƚ to heuyn; for it is written, "he þat prayeth for anothere, laboreth for hym self̘, for to come to the blisse of heuyn̛." to the which bryng̘ vs Ihesu Criste! amen.