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

MORALITE.

Deere Frendis, þis Emperour is our Lord iesu crist, þe whicℏ hatℏ maade a lawe, þat ecℏ man þat is blind, scil. euery erþely man that synnytℏ, by instigacion̛ of þe deviƚƚ, of þe wordle, or of þe flesℏ, that if he be sory for his synnys, as blind men ben for hire dorkenesse, he shalle haue an Cs, þat is to sey, an hundride sithis ioy of victorie; as he seyithe, Centuplum accipietis, et vitam eternam possidebitis, vt supra. And so is a synner callid blind. The felowis that comytℏ to þe tauerne, er synners, þat gon ofte tyme to the tauerne of þe deviƚƚ, And drinkitℏ, scil. wastitℏ & consumytℏ aƚƚ þe vertuys þat þei Receivid in Baptisme; And so the deviƚƚ spoilitℏ hem of aƚƚ [leaf 156, col. 2] the goodis that they haue y-don̛. They drowe cut, scil. dilectacion̛, and custome of synne; And þe sort of synne fallitℏ vp on him that is with oute riȝtwisnesse or mercy. Suche a man̛ is wilfully blynde, as was Judas, that betrayd crist, his lord, withoute ony suggestion̛; And þerfore his synne was þe moor̛. And þerfore

when sucℏ on comitℏ to þe stiwarde, scil. prelatis of holy chircℏ, he may not liȝtly haue grace.—Why? For þey ben not in þe wey to leve hire synne. And þerfore late vs not synne wilfully; but if we synne by sikenesse, or frailte, anoon late vs with shrifte, and contricion̛, and fulfilling of penaunce, do it away, to haue remission̛ of our synnes, And ioy perdurable, þat graunte vs þe lord, Qui cum patre, &c.