The old English versions of the Gesta Romanorum: edited for the first time from manuscripts in the British Museum and University Library, Cambridge, with an introduction and notes / By Sir Frederic Madden. Printed for the Roxburghe Club.

Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The old English versions of the Gesta Romanorum: edited for the first time from manuscripts in the British Museum and University Library, Cambridge, with an introduction and notes / By Sir Frederic Madden. Printed for the Roxburghe Club. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in balliuis et iudicibus, qui deberent eque iudicare. Non est veritas in iudiciis exequendis, nec misericordia in miseris subueniendis, nec scientia in periculis cauendis. Hit is seid here, that the mercy [c. 2.] ne the connyng of God is not vsid in erth, as he sendith hit; for ne there is no sothfastnes among the pouere people, for eche day thei wolle forswere hem; thei had lever be forswore then lese her money; there is no mercy ne pite with the riche, for thei takithe amercyment3 and pleynt3 wrongfully vpone her neighbours; there is no connyng with iugis ne bailyfs, that shulde deme iustly; there is no right vside in domys to be executede, ne mercy in wrecchis to be holpyne, ne connyng in perilis to be eschewide. And therfore hit is seide, Jac. v. Conner sum est iudicium retrorsum, et iusticia a longe stetit, this is to sey. Dome is turnede bakwarde, and rightwisnes stoode afer. Suche men berith a scochone with a pecok, for the pecok goth like a thefe, and so do thei; thei bringith fore moche ayens pore people, but thei yelde to hem right litelle ; and as the pecok hath many y3ene in his taille, and alle beth blynde, so hath suche men many wordis, and alle beth fals and deceyuable. And therfore when the arow of penaunce comythe to hem, anon thei fallith, for thei turnethe bakwarde rightwisnes. The iijde. knyght, that slow the maister of the theves, is euery good Cristene man that trustith not in strength of man, ne in transitory wisdom, but alle in the grace of God; and suche men withoute doute shulle Wynne the castelle of Hevene. Ad quod &c. [ XVII. ] CACLIDES. Caclides was a wys Emperoure regnyng in the cite of Rome; in the empire of whom there were two knyghtis, oon was olde, and