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

[ LXXXVII. ]
(OF A HAUNTED CHAMBER IN ST. MARY'S ABBEY, YORK.)Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 79 (cont'd)]

In Englonde was a kyng̘ some tyme, that helde his parlemente at yorke, and̛ thiddere come aƚƚ the Rialles of̘ the reawme, and̛ many othere. Atte laste come a grete Iustice, but he myght not gete non̛ hostille, for aƚƚ were take vp or he come. then he wente to seynt marie Abbey, an house of monkes; and̛ there also aƚƚ the chambres were take vp, safe oon̛, in the which was a sperite walkyng̘; that no man̛ durste lye therein, for he had̛ disesed̛ many a man̛. The Iustice seide, "there wiƚƚ I be." and̛ bade his men̛ faste go, and̛ make a fyre in the chemeney. his men̛ were aferde, and̛ wente, and̛ shrove hem̛ as Clene as they couthe; and̛ wente, and̛ ordeyned̛ for here mayster. Afterwarde the Iustice come to here Chambre, and̛ dranke, and̛ made hym redie for to go to bedde; and̛ sette his ij. hande swerde at his beddes hede, and̛ sate in his bedde in his dowblette. He sette hym̛ downe; and̛ when̛ he had̛ sitten̛ a while, come an̛ ape oute of̘ the privey, and̛ sette hym by the fyre; and̛ now clawed̛ the tone lege, and̛ now the tothere, and̛ skipped̛ ouer the fourme, and̛ made many Iapes; and̛ then he wente to his mennes beddes fete, and̛ toke vp the clothes, and̛ fanned̛ hem̛ wynde. they were a-ferde, and̛ helde the clothes faste in here handes. after this the ape wente to the fyre, and̛ warmyd̛ hym̛; then he wente to the Iustice bedde. the Iustice sawe hym̛ Come, and̛ putt his hande toward̛ his swerde, but the ape was atte swerde or he. then he wente to the Ape, and̛ toke hym̛ in his armes, and̛ caste hym in the fyre; and̛ he arose oute of the fyre, and̛ toke the Iustice in his armes, and̛ caste hym in the fyre; and̛ he rose oute of þe fyre lightly, and̛ wente to the ape, and̛ wrastelid̛ with hym̛ longe; but non̛ of̘ his men̛ durste not helpe hym̛, for fere. and̛ when̛ they had̛ longe wrastelid̛, the ape toke hym̛ and̛ caste hym on his back, and̛ bare hym̛ in atte privey dore. his hede hitte agayne the privey dore, so that he had̛ a foule stroke; and̛ than̛ he Cried̛, "lady, helpe!" and̛ anone he sawe a fayre lady stonde be-fore hym̛, and̛ the sperite fledde a-way. then the Iustice seide, "what ladie are

ye?" "I am̛," she seide, "marie, the modre [leaf 79, back] of god̛; and̛ for thou calleste aftir myn helpe, I am̛ Comen̛ to helpe the; and̛ if̘ thou haddiste Eere Called̛, I shuld̛ Eere haue comyn to the, and̛ but if̘ I had̛ comyn̛, he shuld̛ haue slayne the." "a! swete ladie, gramercy, and̛ kepe me from̛ hym̛, for I am̛ a-ferde that he wil come a-gayne, and̛ sle me." "be not a-ferde, sone," she saide, "for I shaƚƚ haspe the dore, and̛ pynne it with a pynne; and̛ therfore go, and̛ take thy reste, and̛ to-morne when thou rises, go, and̛ shryve the of̘ thy synnes; and̛ take the pynne that the dore is pynned̛ with, and̛ putte it in thy purse; and̛ alse longe as thou kepes the oute of̘ dedly synne, so longe shaƚƚ the pynn̛ abyde with the; and̛ whan̛ thou fallys in dedly synne, the pynne shaƚƚ go from the." This man̛ rose atte morne, and̛ toke the pynne, and̛ wrapte it in a fayre clothe, as she bade, and̛ wente, and̛ amendid̛ hym̛ of̘ his synne, and̛ leuyed̛ wele many a day. But the Enemy of̘ mankynde, the false fende, brought hym̛ into dedly synne; and̛ than̛ was the pynn̛ gone. and̛ when he wiste it was gone he made mych sorowe, and̛ wente, and̛ shrove hym̛ of his synne, and̛ did̛ his penaunce, and̛ had̛ the pyn̛ agayne. and̛ than was he glad̛, and̛ lyved̛ wele aƚƚ his lyfe afterwarde; and̛ wente to heuyn̛ when he deyed̛ oute of̘ þis worlde. and̛ so motte we aƚƚ, I pray to god̛! Amen.