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

[ XXXIII. ]Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 46, back]

Story.

Fulgencius reigned̛ in the Citee of Rome, the whiche in merveillous maner loved̛ his peple, in so mekeƚƚ þat he made to be cried̛ thurgℏ aƚƚ his Empire, that aƚƚ men shuld̛ come of every nacion̛ at a certayn̛ day to his paleys, and what so ever thei asked̛, aƚƚ thei shuld̛ have, aftir 'her astate. ¶ Dukes and other grete lordes, whan thei herd̛ this, thei were right glad̛, and come in a grete multitude; and eche by hem self̘ put forthe his peticion̛, and had̛ it. and so aƚƚ the Empire nere hand̛ was devided̛ amonge hem; and eche man ioyed̛, and went home to his owne, and toke seisyn̛ in his londes, and tenementes, and mevable goodes, that thei hadden̛ of the Emperour. ¶ After þis, poore men and symple wente to-gedre, and said̛, "a comon̛ crie is made, that aƚƚ shaƚƚ come to the Emperours paleys, no persone out take. Riche men and myghty men have come afore vs, and have [leaf 47] resceived̛ benefice, after her wille, and therfore go we now, and we shuƚƚ have goodes of the Emperour." that herd̛

thei, and said̛, "this is a good̛ counsaile, and a profitable." and aƚƚ anon thei wenten, and stode atte gate of the paleys, criyng that it shuld̛ be mynystred̛ to hem, as the crie was made. ¶ Whan the Emperour herd̛ the crie, he come downe of his see, and said̛ to hem, ¶ Frendes, I have herd̛ youre crie. it is sothe that the crie is by me made, and that aƚƚ indifferently shuld̛ come, and what thei asked̛ thei shuld̛ have. but riche men and mighty men shuld̛ come before you, and thei had̛ aƚƚ, out take my paleys; and yf thei had̛ asked̛ my paleys, thei shuld̛ have had̛ it; and therfore I have nought for to yeve you." ¶ Thei said̛, "a! lord̛, have mercy on vs, and lette vs not go voide away; for certaynly it was oure blame that we come not before, witℏ the riche men and myghty. but sithen it is thus, we aske your grace, that we may have somewhat, by the whiche we may live." ¶ The Emperour said̛, "here me. aƚƚ þougℏ I have yoven̛ to riche men and myghty, that come before you, londes and tenementes, neverthelesse I have holden̛ the lordshippes in myn̛ hand̛ of aƚƚ the landes, and half̘ that I yeve to you, so that thei be now servauntes to you, and obedient." ¶ The poore men, whan thei hard̛ this, they were right glad̛, and bowed̛ downe her hedes to

the Emperour, and lowly and mekely thanked̛ hym, and said̛, "we are come late, and are made lordes of other!" whan this was said̛, thei went home ayene. ¶ The riche men and the grete, whan thei herd̛ this, thei were gretely stered̛ witℏ in hem self̘, and said̛ to-gedre, ¶ Allas! how is this mynystred̛ to vs, that thei that were wonte to be our chorles and seruauntes in aƚƚ thyng, now are made oure lordes. Go we aƚƚ anon̛ to the Emperour, and be-thynke vs a remedye." thei saiden̛ aƚƚ, "it is a good̛ counsaile." ¶ Anon̛ thei wente to the Emperour, and saiden̛, "Sir, what is that our servauntes now are made our lordes? we pray you, that it be not so." ¶ The Emperour said̛, "frendes, I do you no wronge. was not the crie made comon̛, what some ever ye asked̛ of me, ye shuld̛ have? and ye asked̛ but londes, and rentes, and dignytees, and worshippes, and aƚƚ I graunte you at your wille, in so mekeƚƚ that to my self̘ I held̛ right nought; and eche of you, whan he went fro me, ye were right wele apaied̛. ¶ Aftir you come poore men and symple, and asked̛ of me some goodes, aftir the vertu of the [leaf 47, back] crie. and I had̛ no thynge to yeve hem. before I yave aƚƚ to you, out take the lordshippe that I held̛ in my hand̛; and whan the poore men cried̛ on me, I had̛ no thyng

forto yeve hem but lordshippe above you. and therfore ye ought not to blame me in no thyng, for that ye asked̛, ye had̛." ¶ Than seid̛ thei, "A! lord̛, we pray the effectually of youre counsaile in this parte, and help." ¶ The Emperour said̛, "yf ye wille assent to my counsaile, I shaƚƚ yeve you a prophitable counsaile." Thei said̛, "ye, lord̛, we are redy to fulfille what so ever ye say to vs for our profite." ¶ The Emperour said̛, "ye have by me many londes and tenementes, witℏ other goodes I-now habundauntly; Therfore partetℏ witℏ the poore." and so gladly they did̛, and devided̛ her goodes amonge poore men and symple; and so he graunted̛ hem lordshippe. and so bothe were paid̛; and the Emperour was praised̛ of aƚƚ his peple, that so wisely brought to accord̛ bothe the parties.

¶ Declaracio.

¶ This Emperour is our lord̛ Iesu crist, that by his prophetes, patriarkes, and appostels made to be proclamed̛, that aƚƚ men shuld̛ come and aske ever lastyng ioye, and witℏ outen doute thei shuld̛ have it. ¶ But grete men and mighty of this world̛ asken̛ no thyng els but transitorie thynges and failyng, as are worldly goodes; for the world̛ passetℏ, and his concupiscence. for he gaf̘ to hem so mekeƚƚ, that he kept no thyng to hym self̘; for he said̛, briddes of heven̛ have nestes, foxes have dennes, but the sone of a maide hatℏ not wherto he may lay his hede. ¶ Poore men are tho that are meke of hert; ¶ Of whiche poore men speketℏ our̛ saviour, and seitℏ, ¶ Blissed̛ be the poore of sprite, for enheriters of the kyngdom̛ of heven. and so it folowetℏ, that poore men shaƚƚ have

lordshippe aboue riche men and myghty of this world̛. What is than forto do riche men? forsothe that thei divide her temporaƚƚ goodes to poore men; as it is written̛, ¶ yeve almesse, and aƚƚ þyng shaƚƚ be clene to you. and so ye may gete half̘ the kyngdom̛ of heven̛; to the whiche brynge vs he that reignetℏ witℏ outen̛ ende! Amen̛.