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

[ LXXXVI. ]
(HOW A KNIGHT SAW ALL HIS ACTIONS ENTERED IN TWO BOOKS.)Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 78 (cont'd)]

SEynte bede tellethe in gestes of Englonde, that there was a kyng̘ in the northe contre, that had̛ with hym̛ a knyght, that was an hardy man̛ and̛ a myghty, that neuer wolde flee in no batayle, but for right a grete nede, for sauyng̘ of̘ his lyfe, and̛ therfore the kyng̘ loued̛ hyme wele; but he was a viciouse man̛ of his leuyng̘. It happenyd̛ afterwarde, that this knyght felle seke, and̛ laye in his bedde. the kyng̘ herde here of̘ and̛ wente to hym̛, for to loke howe he fared̛, and̛ for to comforte hym̛; and̛ seide to hym̛, "it is good̛ that thou shryve the, and̛ amende the of̘ thy leuyng̘." [leaf 78, back] "sir," he seide, "be to-morne my sekenesse shaƚƚ go awaye, and̛ þen shaƚƚ I amende me with better a-visemente." he lay stiƚƚ seke ij. dayes, and̛ amendid̛ hym not, and̛ was more seke then he was. Þe iij. day the kyng̘ come a-gayne to hym̛, and̛ askid̛ hym whethere he was shreuyn̛ or not? he saide, "nay." "why so?" saide the kyng̘. he saide, "for if̘ I shrove me nowe, my felawes shuld̛ say I did̛ it for fere, and̛ therfore I shaƚƚ a-mende me when̛ I am̛ hole, that they mow say I am̛ not a cowarde, and̛ do it for fere." the kyng̘ bade amende hym̛ while he had̛ tyme; for he saide, "thou haste ben a wicked̛ man̛ of leuyng̘." then the kyng̘ wente home

a-gayne, and̛ the knyght lay stiƚƚ tiƚƚ the tothere day, and̛ was more seke. the kyng̘ herde telle that he drewe faste to dethe, and̛ wente faste to hym, for he wolde that he had̛ ben̛ sauyd̛. But or he come at hym, there come to hym ij. fayre white men̛, and̛ broughtyn̛ a litiƚƚ boke, and̛ openyd̛ it be-fore hym̛, and̛ bade hym rede. he redde thereon̛, and̛ sone had̛ done, for there were there in but a fewe good̛ dedes. Then̛ comyn̛ in deuyls many, and̛ the mayster deuyƚƚ saide to the aungells, "gothe hens, for ye han̛ nought to do here; for this man̛ is oures." and̛ the aungells wentyn away. Then the knyght saw a deuyƚƚ bryng̘ a boke, that was so grete, that hym thought it was inpossible any man̛ for to bere it. This boke was leyde be-fore hym̛ opyn̛, and̛ the mayster deuyƚƚ bade hym̛ rede, and̛ he loked̛ there on̛; and̛ hym thought, thaghe he had̛ be-gone atte be-gynnyng̘ of̘ his lyfe, he shuld̛ not haue redde it vnto that tyme, for the multitude of synnes that were written̛ there in. then seide the deuyƚƚ, "thou arte oures; it may no nothere wise be." then̛ come in the kyng̘; and̛ when̛ the knyght sawe hym come, he saide to the kyng̘, he come to late. the kyng̘ saide, "nay, for alse longe as a man̛ is alyve, and̛ wil aske mercy hertely of god̛, he shaƚƚ haue mercy; for god̛ is aƚƚ mercyfuƚƚ." The knyght seide, "nay, not so, for or ye come in, come ij. fayre white men, and̛ brought a fayre litiƚƚ boke, and̛ leydyn̛ it befor me, and̛ bade me rede; and̛ I had̛ sone redde, for it was but litiƚƚ. In then come deuyls, and̛ bade the white men̛ go a-waye, and̛ saydyn̛ that I was heres; and̛ now stondes a deuyƚƚ at myn̛ hede, with a longe broche, and̛ puttes it in atte crowne of̘ myn̛ hede; and̛ anothere deuyƚƚ at my fete, with a nothere longe broche, and̛ puttes it in atte soules of̘ my fete; and̛ when̛ they mete to-gedre at myn herte, I shaƚƚ deye, and̛ go with hem̛ [leaf 79] to Helle." And̛ sone aftir he deyed̛, and̛ wente as a wreche to helle, with the fendes. when the kyng̘ had̛ herde this, he was sory, and̛ wente his way. here may men and̛ women̛ se, how perilouse it is to do many dedly synnes, and̛ for to lye longe in hem̛, and̛ not amende hem̛ while they lyven̛, and̛ bene in good̛ astate.