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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    made a cry, and men shal arme hem, and ayenstond vs; anone the yatis shulbe shit; and therfore I wolde we had better counseille in this cas, how that we myght recouere this cite, withoute crying or makyng of noise.” Then spake oon, and seid, “ My lord, ye shul haue good counseille; let vs pesibly entre the cite, and abide [c. 2.] there as by space of iij. daies; and let vs cry a feste, and we shul make a drynke of suche a vertue, that euery man that drynketh therof shal slepe anon aftir; and when thei beth on slepe, we shulle haue oure desire, withoute shedyng of blode.” “ This is good coun- seille,” quod he. And therfore this knyght with his meyne entrid the citee ; and thei bedde alle men to feste, and made suche a drynke ; and anone as men dronke on this drynke, thei slept anone. And while thei slept, thei entrede the cite, and spoilede hit; and aftir that thei set hit on fire, the which brend alle vp; but alle maner of men were in suche plight, that there was [none] to crye; “ Fire is in the cite; go ryng your bellis, and steke the 3atis!” Moralite. Swete frendis, this Emperoure is oure Lorde Jhesu Crist; the which ordeinede a lawe, that as oft tyme as the fire of synne is in thi soule, that thou renne swiftly to the belle of confessione. So that there be at leste, for resone of the Trynyte, thre bellis, sell, that is to sey, contricione, confessione, and satisfaccione. And aftir shit the yatis, that is to sey, thi v. wittes, that deth entre not by the yatis. The knyght, that comyth with his meyne, is the Deville, the whiche goth aboute for to seche whom he may devoure; and therfore be ye strong in the feithe, and defend you. His folowers bethe the vij. dedly synnes; and he makith a feste as ofte tyme as he puttithe forthe the vanytes of the worlde to a man. And the erthly man hath so grete appetit in the worldly vanytes, that he slepithe, scil. hath so grete dilectacione in hem, that he perceyvethe not the perille