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

[ LXX. ]
(HOW INJUSTICE TOWARDS A POOR MAN WAS PUNISHED.)Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 68 (cont'd)]

BEside yorke was dwellyng̘ a Iurrour, as bede telleth, that had̛ a pore man to his neghbore, that had̛ a close lyeng̘ by the Iurrour, that he wolde gladly haue. he wente to this pore man, for to byit. the pore man seide, he wolde not selle it, for he myght not for-go it. then seide the Iurrour, "syne I may not by it, lete it me to ferme." he seide, "sir, I wil neþer selle it, ne lete it to ferme, for the aiese that it dothe me." The Iurrour sawe that he myght not haue the close. he wente, and̛ toke his owne horse, and̛ prevely putt hym in the Close of̘ the pore man; and̛ wente and̛ prayde ij. of his neghbores for to go with hym, and̛ helpe hym for to seke his horse. when they had̛ walked̛ in the felde, they come homewarde by the close; and̛ the Iurrour loked̛, and̛ sawe his hors. and̛ seide, "yondere is my horse, I wene." they seide, "yee." Than they wente to the pore mannys house, and̛ seide, "thou haste stolne this mannys horse." he seide, "nay." "yis," saide the Iurrour, thou haste stolne hym, and̛ putt hym in thi close." he

saide, "naye," "yis," saide the Iurrour, "come and̛ se." they wentyn, and̛ foundyn̛ the horse there. than seide the Iurrour to his felawes, "take hym as a thefe." they did̛ as he bade; and̛ when the Iustice was comyn̛, he ordeyned̛ a false queste, and̛ made hym to be hangede on the galowes. and̛ for he wolde not be suspecte, he toke his horse, and̛ rode oute that day, and̛ a-Gayne Euyn̛ he come by the galowes, and̛ sawe hym hange there. "It had̛ ben̛ better for the," he saide, "for to haue had̛ þi lyfe, and̛ gone on thy fete." than̛ he rode to hym, to þe galowes, and seid̛, "lo! if̘ thou wolde haue lette me haue hadde thy close, thou shuld̛ haue hade thy life, and̛ gone on thy fete." then he rode to hym, and̛ drewe oute his swerde, and̛ smote in sondre the rope, and̛ he felle downe; and̛ be þat he had̛ putt vp his swerde, the dedman̛ sterte vp, and̛ toke the horse by the brydiƚƚ. and̛ the Iurrour was a-ferde, that he durste not skyppe downe; and̛ so the dedman̛ ledde hym to towne, and̛ into the chirch, where mych folk was, atte derige of a dedeman̛ that laye on the bere. and̛ when̛ [leaf 68, back] he with the rope a-boute his necke and̛ the Iurrour comyn̛ atte bere, the man that was hanged̛, seide to the dedman̛ þat laye on the bere, "rise vp, on goddis behalfe, and̛ gife a dome betwene this man and̛ me." The dedman̛ on the bere sette hym̛ vp, and̛ seide, "thou, Iurrour, for thou haste wickidly and̛ falsly done this man to be hanged̛, thou shalte go to helle, and̛ with the fende there to dwelle; And̛ thou that was hanged̛, be cause thou waried̛ and̛ Cursed̛ hym, and̛ desyrest̘ for to haue had̛ vengeaunce on̛ hym, and̛ so thou deyeste oute of Charite, thou shalte go to helle Also." And̛ when he had̛ seide this, he leide hym downe on the bere agayne. And̛ he that was hanged̛ felle downe dede also. And̛ the Iurrour also had̛ loste aƚƚ his wittes, and̛ sate stiƚƚ on his horse, as a beste. then they tokyn̛ hym downe, and̛ leyde hym on̛ a bedde; and̛ sone after he deyed̛, and̛ wente his waye. here men̛ may se by the Iurrour, what pereƚƚ it is to do a man̛ to dethe for his good̛, falsly. Also men may se by hym that was hanged̛, what pereƚƚ it is to Curse and̛ banne, and̛ deye out of charite, and̛ not gyfe the dome to god̛, that can̛ wisely deme, and̛ wisely rewarde, &c.