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

[ XCV. ]
(OF THE SEVEN DEVILS IN A MAN.)Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 86 (cont'd)]

A Grete man̛, that was leuyng̘ some tyme as vn-to the worlde, that was not confessid̛ of̘ a longe tyme, and̛ greuously was seke, an holy woman̛ herde of his sekenesse, and̛ prayde to god̛ for hym̛, for compassion̛ that she had̛ of hym̄. and̛ Criste aperid̛ to here, and̛ spake to here, and̛ saide, "[Speke] to thy confessoure, that he vissite this seke [leaf 86, back] man, and̛ here his confession̛." when the confessoure come to hym̛, the seke man̛ seide, he had̛ no nede of confession̛, for he had̛ ofte tyme be confessid̛. The seconde day, the confessoure was bidden̛ of Criste to go a-gayne. and̛ he wente a-gayne to the seke man̛, be reuelacion̛ of the holy woman̛ made to hire of Criste, and̛ seide to hire and̛ to him̛, "the sone of god̛ Iesu Criste, the lorde of the deuyƚƚ, sayeth to the, that thou haste in the vij. deuyls. oon̛ sittes in thyn herte, byndyng̘ it, that thou haste not compuncion̛ for thy synnes; The seconde is that sitteth in thyn̛ Eyen̛, that thou seiste not the prophete of̘ thy soule; The thrid̛ deuyƚƚ is that, þat sitteth in thy mouthe, þat thou shuldiste not speke tho thing̘[es] that are to the worship of̘ god̛; The fourte sitteth in thy membres, therfore thou haste louyd̛ aƚƚ vnclennesse; The vt sitteth in thyn handes, and̛ in thy fete, and̛ therfore thou haddiste no shame to Robbe men̛, and̛ to slee; The vjt is in thy Inwarde stomak, and̛ therfore thou arte geuyn̛ to gloteny, and̛ to dronkennesse; The vij. is in thy soule, where god̛ shuld̛ sitte, and̛ now sitteth there the deuyƚƚ, thyn̛ Enemy. Therfore be repentaunt and̛ sorie the sonere, for yette god̛ shaƚƚ haue mercy on the." than the seke man̛ [seide] with teres, "how may thou be-hete me mercy, or graunte, that ame bownde in so many synnes?" The confessoure answerid̛, "I swere to the, and am̛ Experte; and̛ if̘ thou haddiste done many moo and̛ gretter, by contricion̛ thou shalt̘ be sauyd̛."

Then the seke man̛ seide a-gayne Efte sonys with teres, "I dispeyred̛ of the helthe of my soule, for I haue made homage to the deuyƚƚ, that ofte sithe hathe spoken̛ to me; and̛ now am sixte yere olde and̛ moo, and̛ neuer made confession̛, ne neuer ressayued̛ Cristes body, but feyned̛ me to go ferre, when̛ oþer were houselid̛; and̛ now am̛ I a-know to the, fadre, that sich teres as I now haue I had̛ neuer be-fore, that I haue in mynde of̘. therfore that day he was confessid̛ iiij. tymes. and̛ the seconde day after his confession̛ he was houselid̛, and̛ the contricion̛ that he had̛ in his Ende was the signe and̛ token̛ of his liberacion̛. after this, the vjt. day he deyed̛; of whom̛ Criste spake to this holy woman̛ that praide for hym̛, sayeng̘ thus, "[This] man̛ serued̛ to that thefe, to whome the pereƚƚ I shewed̛ to the be-fore; and̛ now the deuyƚƚ is fled̛ from̛ hym̛, to whom he had̛ done homage, and̛ that was for the contricion̛ that he had̛; and̛ now he comyth to purgacion̛. But thou mayste aske, why this man̛ disserued̛ contricion̛, that wes vmbelapped̛ with so many synnes; I answere to the, for þat made me [leaf 87] loue, for I had̛ mannys contricion̛ to the laste poynte, and̛ the merite and̛ prayere of̘ my modre. for why? this man̛ louyd̛ here, and̛ had̛ in Costome to haue compassion̛ of here sorowe, als ofte as he be-helde here, or herde here named̛; therfore he hathe founde the profite and̛ the vtilite of his helthe, and̛ shaƚƚ be sauyd̛." Amen̛ &c.