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

Story.

There was a man̛ that had̛ a sone, and̛ sterid̛ his sone to gete hym̛ frendes, while his fadir was alyve. the sone saw thre

neghbores, that he thought to hym̛ shuld̛ be necessarie. he askid̛ of oon̛, how he myght by his frendship? He seide, "I am̛ rich Enoughe, but me nedes werkmen̛; if thou wilte bynde the to my werke, I wil be thy frende." he bownde hym, and̛ wrought longe tyme greuously for hym. Afterward̛ he asked̛ of anothere the same, and̛ he saide, he was but pore, but and̛ he wolde gyfe hym̛ mekiƚƚ, he wolde be his frende. and̛ so he did̛, for ofte sithe he fedde hym̛, and̛ gafe hym large giftes. Also he askid̛ of the thrid̛, how he myght by his frendship? He answerid̛, and̛ seide, he had̛ no nede of̘ moneye ne of werkmen̛, but he shaƚƚ faƚƚ downe to his fote, and̛ do hym homage, and̛ do to hym as to his lorde, as a seruaunte shuld̛ do, and̛ than he shuld̛ be his frende. and̛ he did̛ so. whan̛ this was done, the sone seide to his fadire, that he had̛ iij. frendes. The Fadir bade hym̛ saye to his frende, that he was outelawed̛ of the kyng̘ for treason̛; and̛ so he shuld̛ prove his frendes of helpe. The sonne come to the fyrste frende, and̛ asked̛ helpe of his disese; and̛

when̛ he had̛ herde that he had̛ done a cryme agaynes the kyng̘ the kyng̘ the kyng̘ [sic], he seide, "This I shaƚƚ do to the, I shaƚƚ caste oute of myn̛ house the traytoure of the kyng̘, and̛ I shaƚƚ take what I may of þi goodes." The seconde frende seide, "the kynges traytoure I shaƚƚ lede to prisoun̛, and̛ there shaƚƚ I sette hym faste by the fete, in a depe pitte." The thrid̛ seide, "I shaƚƚ lede the kynges traytoure to the galowes, and̛ there shaƚƚ I hange hym̛ vppe." The sone come home, and̛ tolde his fadire what his frendes had̛ seide. The fadir

seide, "sone, thou haste no frende; for the fyrste frende is a frende of name, The seconde is a frende atte mete, The thrid̛ is an̛ Enemy at nede." than̛ seide the fadir, "sone, go to my frende alone that I haue, þat is, the sone of god̛, Ihesu Criste, and̛ telle hym̛ thy cause." The sonne [leaf 58] did̛ so. Thanne his faders frende saide, "if̘ thou haue any thefte, bryng̘ it to me, and̛ if it be treason̛, putt it to me; and̛ I shaƚƚ dey for the." Than̛ this was demyd̛ a frende alone, amonge aƚƚ other.