&o&erte ti)c SDeuplL 
 
 A 
 
 METRICAL ROMANCE, 
 
 IROM AN 
 
 Ancient Illuminated Manufcript. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR I. HERBERT, 
 
 1798. 
 
 D. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 T HIS MS. of Robert the Devil ap- 
 pears to have been tranfcribed, word for word, 
 from an edition in quarto printed either by 
 Wynken de Worde or Pynfon , of which I have 
 feen a fragment confifting of fix leaves thefc 
 have been collated with the MS. 
 
 No mention is made of this edition in Mr. 
 Herbet’s Typographical Antiquities.* Nor 
 have I ever feen a complete copy or heard of 
 one : it it probable that the impreffion was 
 deftroyed in the fire of London. There are 
 no cuts in the fragment. The Drawings in 
 the MS. feem to be of the time of Eliza- 
 beth or James I. 
 
 The MS. was formerly in the pofieflion of 
 Mr. Radcilffe. 
 
 I. H. 
 
 * Though in p. tzy and aaS is given a tranfeript of the 
 heads of the chapters, from an edition in the Public Library 
 Cambridge, apparently in profe> coinciding exa^Uy in matter 
 with this, 
 
THE 
 
 > 
 
 LYFE 
 
 O F 
 
 &oberte ttjc DeupU. 
 
 YSTEN lordinges that of marueyles 
 lyke to heare 
 
 Of a<5fes that were done fometyme in dede 
 By oure elders that before vs were 
 How fome in myfeheiffe their lyfe dyd leade 
 And in this boke may ye fe yf that ye will rede 
 Of one Robert the deuyll, borne in Normandye 
 That was as uengeable a man as myght treade 
 On goddes grounde for he delyted all in tyranye. 
 
 A A Duke 
 
a £&e Life of 
 
 A Duke fometyme in Normandye there was 
 Full uertuous and deuoute in all hys lyuynge 
 And in almofe dedes, he yede in the waye of grace 
 Of knyghtlye maners, and manfull in iuftynge 
 A Lordlye parfone, alfo courtes in euery thynge 
 Hys dwellynge was at Nauerne vpon fayne 
 At Chryftmas to honoure that holy tymc 
 Open houfholde he kepte, and to pleafe God was 
 
 [fayne. 
 
 A feafte he helde vpon a certayne daye 
 Lordes come thyther of greate renowne 
 And as they fate at dyner a knyght gan faye 
 Vnto the Duke, and on hys knees kneled downe 
 My lorde he fayd ye be owner of many a towne 
 Yet haue ye no lady, nor none heyre 
 After your dayes to reioyce youre grounde 
 Therfore gett youe a princes that ys yonge and fayrc. 
 
 Wyueles longe faid the duke haue I taryed 
 And lyued foie withoute any mate 
 I fe well yt ys youre wyll that I fhoulde be maryed 
 But yet woulde I haue one to myne eftate 
 Accordvnge, for and I (houlde take 
 A Lady of nobler bloude than I am 
 Or elfe of lower degre, foone fhoulde I forfake 
 Myne owne worfhip, ,and lyue lyke no man. 
 
 YL 
 
Bofcette t&e SDeupiL 3 
 
 Yf I ffioulde nowe wedde, and after repent 
 And lyue in forowe and greate langoure 
 Than myght I faye that fortune had me fent 
 A chaunce mysfortunate, diftaynynge the floure 
 Of noble fame that flioulde encreafe myne honoure 
 Wherfore lordes all, accordinge to prudence — 
 
 A forefight fayeth Salomon ys worthe treafoure 
 Yet be ye ruled by fortune a Lady of excellence. 
 
 Than fayde to the Duke a Baron right bolde 
 My lorde I befeke youre grace of audyence 
 The Duke bade hym than faye what he woulde 
 In Burgonye fayd the Baron ys a ladye of reuerence 
 Daughter to the Earle, yf yt pleafe youre magnyfi- 
 Her for to take, there wyll no man faye naye [cence 
 Than to hys wordes the Duke gave credence 
 And fayde I knowe well the Earles doughter that lady 
 
 [gaye 
 
 In procefle that lady to the Duke was maryed 
 A feafte was made of greate folempnytye 
 And twelue yeares together they taryed 
 In wealth and greate profperytye 
 Goddes lawe they kepte and lyued vertuouflye 
 Yet chylde together had they none 
 They prayed to god with heart deuoutlye 
 Yf yt pleafed hym for to fende them one. 
 
4 CSe life of 
 
 Euer they prayed, but yt woulde not be 
 In twelue yeare, chylde had they none 
 ijood dedes they dyd, and gaue almofe plentye 
 Alacke laid thys Ladye (hall I lyve alone 
 Ofte fhe fyghed and made greate mone 
 i hat no chylde on her body woulde fprynge 
 The good Duke alfo ever dyd grone 
 And fayed good J-efu yet heare my cryenge 
 
 Lorde fende me a chylde the worlde to multyplye 
 The Duke fayde, yf it be thy wyli 
 My wyfe foroweth in her partye 
 I feare that fhe wyll her felfe fpyll 
 Nothinge to the lorde that ys vnpoflyble 
 N owe heare my prayer for loue of thy mother 
 Sende me a chylde my petycion to fullfyll 
 For to be myrry I defyre none other. 
 
 And on a tyme the Duke and Duches walked 
 In a garden by them felfe alone 
 Eche of them complayned and to other talked 
 Howe they could haue no chylde, and made much 
 Full greate, and faide joy have we none [mone ; 
 I curfe them faide the Duke that made the maryage 
 For I had leuer to have lyued ftyll alone 
 Ghylde have I none, to reioyce myne herytage. 
 
 And 
 
Kobertc tfie JDeugtl. 5 
 
 And faid yf I had be maryed to another ladye 
 I knowe that I fliould have had chyldren ynowe 
 The Duches aunfwered as for her partye 
 Yf I had chaunged, verylye I trowe [youe 
 
 That chyldern I (houlde haue had; none haue I by 
 Let vs thanke god of that he doth vs fende 
 For I beieue and do verelye trowe 
 That all oure forowe he may yt amende. 
 
 So on a morowe the Duke went on huntynge 
 Hys hearte was fullfylled all with thought 
 In hys mynde chydde, and agayne god grudgynge 
 He fighed fore inwardlye and ofte 
 If he myght haue dyed, nothynge he rought 
 And fayde god loueth not me, all in dyfpayre 
 Many women haue chyldren : but myne nought 
 Alas I trowe I (hall have none to be myne heyre 
 
 The fende tempted foore the Duke tho- 
 That he wyft not what to do nor faye 
 He left huntynge and homewarde he dyd go 
 And in to hys chaumber he toke the waye 
 So there the Duches at the fame tyme laye 
 In as g reate trouble as her hufbande was 
 And to her lorde (aide no chylde I beare maye 
 I am vnhappye, and therewith fayde alas. 
 
 He 
 
6 Cbe Life of 
 
 ] He toke her in hys arraes and her kyfte 
 And of that Lady he had all his pleafure 
 And fo begate a chyld j and yt not wyfte 
 The Duke to oure Lorde made hys prayer 
 For to fende hym a chylde for to gladde hys chere 
 The ladye faide the Deuyll now fende vs one 
 For god wyll not oure petycion heare 
 Therefore I trowe power hath he none 
 
 She fayde yf I be conceyued this houre nowe 
 I geve yt to the deuyll both foule and bodye 
 Lo thys lady was nere folyfshe I trowe 
 And fullfylled with great obftynacye 
 Her owne foule there fhe dyd put in ieopardye 
 For that houre (he dyd conceyve with a man chylde 
 That whan he was borne lyued myfcheuouflye 
 In thefte and murder lyke a tyraunte wylde 
 
 The tyme drewe fo that nyne monethes was paft 
 Than her tyme drewe on verye nye 
 ^At the houre of byrth (he laboured faft 
 More than a moneth the boke doth fpecyfye 
 She had many throwes, with many a pytteous crye 
 Ladyes prayed for her, and gaue almefe dede 
 They trowed verelye that fhe (houlde dye 
 With that our lad.ye wolde her helpe and fpede. 
 
 And 
 
iRoberte t&e IDeugU. 7 
 
 And afsone as Robert the deuyll was borne 
 The fkyes waxed blacke that it was wonder 
 And fodenlye there began a full greate ftorme 
 Rayne lyghtenynge with horrible thonder 
 They feared that the houfe would ryue a fonder 
 Then blewe the wynde with greate power 
 That they wende the dome had he comen there 
 For downe wente wyndowes and euery doore. 
 
 Halfe the houfe the deuyll pulled downe 
 Yet at the last the wether waxed cleare 
 So for dreade thys lady laye in a fowne 
 That greate wetherynge (he, dyd fore feare ; 
 
 Her gentlewomen bade her be of good chere 
 They told her that the wather was gone and paft 
 Then to the churche the chylde they dyd beare. 
 
 And chryftened yt Robert at the laft. 
 
 He was as bygge the fame daye 
 As fome chylde of twelue monethes olde 
 When they came from Churche he cryed all the 
 That yt made many hym to beholde [waye 
 
 Men fade .the chylde loked very bolde 
 Hys teeth grewe faft when that he fhoulde foucke 
 The noryfhe nypples fo harde byte he woulde 
 That yt went then to her verye hearte roote. 
 
 There 
 
$ C6e Life of 
 
 There durft no woman geue hym fuck in faye 
 For hys teeth grewe fo peryllouflye 
 That the noryfshe nypples be bote a waye 
 But than they woulde no more byde the ieopardyc 
 So with an home he was fedde trewlye 
 At the years ende he could bothe go and fpeake 
 The elder he waxed, the more vnhappye 
 Shrewdnes he woulde do bothe in houfe and ftreate 
 
 Hurte would he do to woman and man 
 Vngracious was he daye and nyght 
 Yf he amonge any chyldren came 
 He woulde them hurte both fcratche and byte 
 Cafte ftones at theyr heades and fyght 
 Breake their fhynnes and put Come eyes oute 
 Lordes and ladyes of hym had greate delyght 
 And wende yt had ben but wantonnes withoute 
 
 [doate, 
 
 Mennes chyldren there he dyd muche harme 
 Of them he hurte fhrewdelye many a one 
 Breake bothe legge headde and arme 
 Therefore he was beloued of none 
 Hys companye chyldren forfoke everychone 
 They dyd flee fro him as the deuyll fro holy water 
 We wyll not haue hym amonge vs to come 
 They fayd and he never do j we be gladder. 
 
 For 
 
9 
 
 ftoberte t|je IDeupU. 
 
 For and the chyldern had feen hym come 
 In to the ftreate there for to playe 
 They woulde take theyr legges, and away runne 
 To theyr fathers as fafte as they maye 
 Roberte the Deuyll dothe come they would faye 
 For yonge chyldren gave him that name 
 The chyldren hydde them in corners euery daye 
 And to runne from hym they woulde leaue theyr game. 
 
 And whan that he was aboute feuen yeare of aege 
 Hys father fette hym to fcole in dede 
 With a dyfcrete man and a fage 
 And prayed hys fonne that he would fpede 
 For to learne both to wryte and reade 
 And to Roberte the deuyll hys father fayde 
 Sonne, yf thy lyfe in vertue thoue leade 
 Than wyll I with the be right well a payed. 
 
 Robert the Deuyll wente to fcole a lytell fpace 
 And euer he thought yt to longe ywys 
 He learned fo that he was paft all grace 
 Yt happened at the laft he dyd amyfle 
 Hys matter fayde Syr youe mufte amende thys 
 Or elles forfothe ye flialbe beate 
 He fayde yf thou fmyte me I wyll make the wyfshe 
 That thou thyne owne flelhe rather had eate. 
 
 B Naye 
 
io Cfce JLife of 
 
 Naye fayde hys mafter ye be to bolde 
 And toke a rodde for to chafte hym foone, 
 
 So to beate hym he fayde that he woulde 
 Roberte fawe what he purpofed to done 
 And fayde ye were better lette me a lone 
 For with a dagger he thruft hym in to the bellye 
 That the bloude ran downe in to hys (hone 
 So llewe hys mafter, and let hym deade lye. 
 
 Whan Robert the Deuyll fawe hys mafter fall 
 He fayde he woulde go to fcole no more 
 Hys boke he threwe agaynft the wall 
 The deuyll have the whyt that he was forye therfore 
 Alacke he made hys fathers hearte foore 
 When that hys mafter had flayne 
 The Duches curfed the houre that he was bore 
 She fayde of hys companye no man ys fayne. 
 
 After that there woulde no pryft hym teache 
 He folowed uice, he woule be ruled by none 
 And mocke pryftes whan they lhoulde preache 
 For and he into the church had gone 
 He woulde fkorne the clearkes euerychone 
 And when they fonge, come them behynde 
 So threwe duft in theyr mowthes by one and one 
 And fome in theyr eyes to make them blynde. 
 
 Yf 
 
Elo&erte toe SDeugll, 
 
 I I 
 
 Yf he fawe any men or women deuoutlye knelc 
 For to ferue God with theyr prayer, or ftande 
 Pryuelye behynde them woulde he fteale 
 And geue them a fowce with hys hande 
 To caufe fome to yell out theyr tongues longe 
 Or els he woulde make theyr heades go to grounde 
 Theyr neckes he hurte fore he was fo ftronge 
 And many olde folkes he caufed to founde. 
 
 Yt was vnpoflible for a clarke to write 
 The dedes he dyd that weare full vengeable 
 Then gentlemen that weare fadde and dyfcrete 
 Complayned to hys father withoute fable 
 The Duke fayde, to chafte hym I am not able 
 Than Robert was brought before hym 
 He fayde : Sonne, thy dedes ben reproueable 
 Thou fhameft me and all thy hole kynne. 
 
 Thow doeft all thynge that dyfpleafeth god 
 Thy fcolemafter thou fleweft with a knyfe 
 Becaufe that he woulde haue beate the with a rodde 
 To the pryftes in churche thou doeft muche greyfe 
 Full ofte I wyfhe me oute of my lyfe 
 For thou of thy dedes arte fo houge and perylloufc 
 That chyldren younge bothe mayde and wyfe 
 Whyche dothe the knowe geueth the theyr curfe 
 
 B 2 All 
 
j 2 C&e life of 
 
 All one with hym, in at the one eare and out at 
 He was neuer the better daye nor nyght [the other 
 Hys olde laye kept, he woulde do none other 
 He was neuer glad but when he dyd fyght 
 To fwere and lye, theryn he had great delyght 
 At laft hys mother to her lorde fpake 
 And fayd yt were beft to make hym a knyght 
 Thys noble ordre let Robert the deuyll take. 
 
 For I truft then he wyll amende 
 Whan he that greate othe doth heare 
 Y t wyll make hym forye for that he dyd offende 
 And the workes of god hereafter for to leare 
 The Duke confented euen right there 
 And afked Robert yf he would lyue vnder awe 
 Of god, and the order of knight-hode beare 
 He aunfwered I fett not thereby a ftrawe. 
 
 At the laft Robert was made a knyght 
 Hys father bade him take hede of hys othe 
 To deftroye wronge and to maynteyne right 
 And do trewe juftyce for leefe or for lothe 
 For a knyght that in cheualrye goethe 
 Euer agaynft vice he muft fyght 
 And fupporte trewe maydens, and he fo dothe 
 He ys an inherytoure of heaven, goddes own knyght. 
 
 Robert 
 
Eoberte tie ©eupll. 13 
 
 Robert aunfwered, father at youre commandement 
 I wyll thys greate order vpon me take 
 But for to chaunge all myne entent 
 As for my manners I wyll not forfake 
 All men (hall not ones me make 
 For to leaue my cuftomes olde 
 I will contynewe and neuer wyll flake 
 Thoughe I therfore my lyfe lofe fhoulde. 
 
 The Duke caufed a greate iuftynge to be 
 Lordes came fro many a farre lande 
 And Ladyes alfo that runnynge to fee 
 He that fhoulde be mofte doughtye of hande 
 There was many a knight full ftronge 
 That thought theyr clothes of full greate pryce 
 Yet a gayne Roberte there myght none ftande 
 As for worfhip by hym woulde none ryfe. 
 
 A fyelde was ordeyned bothe brode and wyde 
 With lyftes fayre where they fliould runne 
 Tentes were pyght on euery fyde 
 Greate was the people that thether come 
 The daye was fayre, hote fhone the fonne [crye 
 Greate trumpets blewe, the herauldes made theyr 
 That euery knyght hys deuoure (houlde done 
 For to proue who was mofte myghtye. 
 
 Kpightes 
 
H C be Life of 
 
 Knyghtes then dreffed them to the fyelde 
 In fyluer armoure fayre and bright 
 Barons doughtye with fpeare and fhylde [lyght 
 With helmes and haubreks that all the fyelde dyd 
 Steedes in trappoure the was a goodlye fyght 
 Speare heades that a ftrong cote woulde faylle 
 Clothe of golde in harnes curyonflye pyght 
 Worne of haburgin many a ftronge mayle. 
 
 Roberte the deuyll came in as meke as a Lyon 
 In his fyfte he had a greate fpeare 
 Of fure wodde both toughe and longe 
 Hys loke fo grymme many men dyd feare 
 Alfo that houghe ftaffe that he dyd beare 
 Was almoft as bygge as fome twayne. 
 
 Vnoccupyed faide Robert why ftand we here 
 For to leaue all worke he woulde full fayne. 
 
 The Duke bade them all to begynne 
 A fayre knyght then feutred hys fpeare 
 In fayth fayde Robert I wyll run to hym 
 And lyghtly turned hys greate ftede theare 
 Eche agayne other fpeares did beare 
 Thofe couriers dyd runne, they fmote in the fyelde 
 Hartye were bothe, nought did they feare 
 That knyght fmote Robert fore in the fhyelde. 
 
 That 
 
l 5 
 
 JRoberre tfje IDeurll. 
 
 That the ftroke made Robert right wrothe 
 To him he thought to ryde agayne 
 He feutred h s fpeare, and forthe he gothe 
 With hys Ihyelde Robert mette playne 
 And ftroke fo foore that he fmote it euen in twayne 
 And throughe the knightes (hulder the fpeare dyd 
 I trowe therof Robert was fayne [runne 
 
 And afked yf any more woulde come. 
 
 Another knyght thought Robert to aflaylle 
 So yode they together with greate raundone 
 Loth were they bothe for to fayle 
 And haftelye theyr ftedes ftrongelye dyd runne 
 So fvyyfte with ftrenght Robert dyd come 
 That hys fpeare ran thorowe the knyghtes bodye 
 And to the earthe dead fell he downe 
 All men wondred of Robert trewlye. 
 
 The thyrde knyght to the grounde be fmote 
 And brake hys horfe backe a fonder 
 There was none that myght ftande a ftroke 
 Of bym that daye, nowe the people dyd wonder 
 To fe that all knyghtes to hym were vnder 
 For fo foore Robert dyd them afiayle (thonder 
 A man had ben as good to haue be fmytten with 
 As to haue a ftroke of hys hand without faylle. 
 
 Thre- 
 
i6 
 
 Cbe Life of 
 
 Thre noble Barons he flewe there that dayc 
 He fared as he had ben a fy ende of hell 
 As was in earnefte, and not in playe 
 Fro theyr horfes many knyghtes he fell 
 And breke theyr armes as the bokes do tell 
 For he trewe fo grefelye and foore 
 That they knewe nother wo nor well 
 On ftedes myght they ryde never more. 
 
 All that he mette, he them down threwe 
 Yonge nor olde he fpared none 
 For pittye had he no more than a Jue 
 That daye he hurte there many a one 
 And lyke a boore at the mouth he dyd fome 
 He fought and ftroke all while that he was able 
 In peace he woulde not haue them to ftande alone 
 He loued murderers that were euer vengeable. 
 
 To kyll and flea was all hys delyght 
 Tenne noble ftedes backes he dyd bruft 
 When that he at theyr mafters dyd fmyte 
 Or with hys fpeare at them dyd thruft 
 To fight euer more and more he had luft 
 For all hys pleafure was in deathe fett 
 And euer he cryed who wyll more iufie 
 The deuyll was in hym no man myght hym lette. 
 
 And 
 
17 
 
 Eotierte tfje IDeugll, 
 
 And whan hys father fa we ho we in vengeaunce 
 He was fett, and woulde no fad wayes take 
 In hys thought he toke greate greuance 
 And bade that all the knyghtes fhoulde departe 
 Eche theyr waye, and no more juftes to make 
 Than Robert woulde not obey the commaundement 
 Of hys father, but fayd forowe fhoulde awake 
 For then in myfcheif he fett all hys ententte. 
 
 He woulde not go fro the battaylle 
 But hue and flewe on euery fyde 
 The ftronge knightes there he dyd afiaylle 
 All the people fledde, they durft not abyde 
 The knyghtes all awaye dyde tyde 
 With lordes and Ladyes euerychone 
 Robert loughe whan he that fpyed 
 Than thought he I will no more go home. 
 
 Than Robert rode into the countrey 
 And robbed and kylled many a one 
 Maydens and wyues he rauyfhed pytteouflye 
 He pulled downe abbeys and houfes of Rone 
 For all the Churches that he dyd by come 
 Thorowe that countrey of Normandye 
 By hys wyll there fhoulde ftande none 
 For all hys pleafure was in murder and robberye, 
 
 C He 
 
i8 Cite life of 
 
 He brente houfes and flewe yonge chyldren 
 Death vpan death was all hys lyfe 
 The countrey complayned to hys father 
 Howe theyr feruantes were flayne with Robertes 
 Some fayde he hathe rauylhed my wyfe [knyfc 
 And by oure doughters he hathe layne 
 They prayed the Duke to ftynte that ftryfe 
 Or to flee that lande they would full fayne. 
 
 The Duke wepte and fayde alas 
 That euer I hym begate on woman 
 My prayer vnto Jefu euer was 
 F or to fende me a chylde for I had none 
 And nowe gode hath fente me one 
 That maketh me full heauy and fad 
 The Duches wayled and made great mono 
 That from her mynde (he was nye madde. 
 
 The Duke made hys feruantes to ryde 
 To feke Robert in Cyttie and in towne 
 Good watche was layde on euery fyde 
 On holte and heath in fyelde and towne 
 And in euery place that they dyd come 
 The countrey Robert dyd curfe and blame 
 And prayed that he myght haue an yll death foone 
 For he the ordre of knyghthode dothe fhame. 
 
 With 
 
Eobttte t&e Dcusll. 
 
 With Robert at the laft thefe men mette 
 They fayde that he (houlde with them them goo, 
 All aboute Robert fhortlye they fette 
 One alked hym what he woulde doo 
 Wylt thou go with vs, he fayde noo 
 And drewe hys fworde and with them dyd fyght 
 Full greate woundes he gaue one or twoo 
 And all the refydue he put to flyght. 
 
 And all that he toke he put theyr eyes oute 
 So bade them go feeke theyr way home 
 And ferued them all fo withoute doute 
 Thefe poore men they made greate mone 
 So Robert departed and lefte them alone 
 And fayde tell my father that yt ys for hys fake- 
 Then thefe men in tyme to the courte came home^ 
 And (hewed what maftryes Robert dyd make. 
 
 Thys good Duke in hearte was right wo 
 When he fawe hys mennes eyes oute 
 Fore angre he wyft not what to do 
 But commaunded all the courte aboute 
 Counftables and bayllifes with all theyr route 
 All men to take hym who fo maye 
 And in pryfon to put hym without doute 
 He charged all men good watche to laye. 
 
 C 2 
 
 So 
 
20 cite lire of 
 
 So when Robert knewe of thys warke 
 He gathered a great companye theues yll 
 He gate hym into a forreft full darke 
 Where yt was farre from boroughe or hyl! 
 
 There he lyued and all dyd he kyll 
 That he myght fe in the heath Co playne 
 Corne and fruites all dyd he fpyll 
 In doynge myfcheif allwaye was he fayne* 
 
 Yt was hys pleafure to eate fiefhe on the frydaye 
 A dogge dyd fade as well as he 
 Poore pylgrymes he kylled goynge by the waye 
 And holy hermytes that lyued deuoutlye 
 So on a daye he rofe vppe earlye 
 And in the forreft feuen hermytes he founde 
 Before acroffe knelynge on theyr knee 
 Of theyr prayers to heauen wente the fownde. 
 
 What holy whorefones he fayde be youe 
 That gapeth vpwardes after the moone 
 If ye be a thruft ye fliall drynke nowe 
 And oute he drewe hys fwearde full foone 
 The hermytes wyft no what to done 
 But differed death for Jefus fake [runne 
 
 So throughe one of theyr bodyes hys fworde dyd 
 For feare all the other dyd tremble and quake. 
 
 Than 
 
iRobettc tfje DeugU. 21 
 
 Than he ftrake of theyr heades all 
 And reioyfed at that perylloufe dede 
 In fcorne he fayde, fyrs do youe fall 
 Patter and praye ye in youre crede 
 Full fafte thefe holy men dyd blede 
 That Robertes clothes were readde as vermulort 
 With hys fworde he thought further to fpede 
 In vengeaunce he rought not where he become* 
 
 Lo thys caytifFe was blynde and myght not fee 
 The cloudes had in clypped the Sunne of grace 
 Lyke to an apple that the core doft putryfie 
 The darke myftes of uice fmote hym in the face 
 He was none of the Ihepe of Ifrael but the kyd of 
 He exyled pittye as dyd cruel Kynge Pharao [golyas 
 Heaped full of fynne, as euer he was 
 That flewe hys own mother, men called hym Nero.- 
 
 Then he Iefte thefe f$uen hermytes deadde 
 And rode.oute of the wodde lyke a wylde dragon 
 So lyke a bore he threwe vp hys headde 
 The bloude of the hermytes couered all hys gowno 
 A (hepherde he fawe and rode to hym foone 
 But whan the herdes man dyd hym efpye 
 Y t was no hede to bydde hym begone 
 He ranne hys waye then for feare dyd he crye» 
 
 At 
 
22, Cf )t life of 
 
 At the lafte he the fhepherde ouertolce in faye 
 And afked what tydynges that he woulde tell 
 The fhepherd agayne to hym dyd faye [hell 
 
 I was of youe afrayde I wende ye had come oute of 
 And as for tydynges, here ys darkenes caftell 
 There lyeth the D aches of Normandye 
 With many a lorde of her counfell 
 Of all thys greate lande the royalltye. 
 
 So Robert came to the towne there the caftell 
 The people faweone ryde as he had ben madde [ftode 
 With a fworde in hande, and all arayed in bloude 
 To runne in to houfe euery man was gladde 
 At the laft Robert began to waxe fadde 
 And fayde alas that euer he was borne 
 In murder and myfchief my lyfe haue I ladde 
 Hys heere of hys heade he thought to haue torne. 
 
 Than he was a bafhed foore in hys mode 
 Whan that the people woulde hym not abyde 
 What yt mente than he vnderftode 
 Euery body them felfe from hym dyd hyde 
 Than to the Caftle gate Robert dyd ryde 
 Ayd fayne with fome body he woulde fpeake 
 But whan any man hym efpyede 
 They ranne awaye as they dyd in the ftreate. 
 
 Than 
 
Bobexte tjje 2DcuplI. 
 
 *3 
 
 Than with a heauy hearte downe dyd he Iyght 
 And went flreyght into the Caftell hall 
 But when the people of hym had a fight 
 None durft hym byde there at all 
 Many for helpe dyd crye and calle •* 
 
 Hys mother (awe hym as file fate at meate 
 For feare (he beganne to fall 
 And hafted her awaye for to gette. 
 
 And when he fawe hys mother goynge 
 He fayde alas Lady mother fpeake with me 
 Hys hearte for forowe braft in weepynge 
 Whan he fawe her from hym fo flee 
 And fayde to hys mother full pitteouflye 
 Lady tell me howe that I was borne 
 That I haue ledde my lyfe fo mifcheuoufly* 
 
 In the tempefts of uice with many a greate ftorme*. 
 
 Hys mother all unto hym tolde 
 Howe (he gave hym to the fende both fouleand bodye 
 And he alked her howe fhe durfte be fo bolde 
 To gyue hym from god allmightye 
 I knowe he fayd that I haue lyued fynfullye 
 As euer dyd the emperoure greate Nero 
 Amende I wyll and for mercye crye 
 My dedes will I bewaylle wherfoeuer I go*. 
 
24 C&e lUfc of 
 
 Hys mother prayed hym to fmyte of her headde 
 For the trefpace (he fayde, that I dyd to thee 
 I am worthye therefore for to be deadde 
 To god I offended alfo in obftynacye 
 S lea ‘me fhe fayde, and I forgiue yt thee. 
 
 He fayde, Mother I wyll not do fo 
 I had leuer be beaten full bytterlye 
 And on my feate to the worldes ende to go. 
 
 Than for woo Robert fell to the grounde 
 And a greate whyle there he fo laye 
 There fodenlye he rofe in that ftoundc 
 And faide Mother nowe I go my waye 
 To Rome wyll I hye as faft as I maye 
 And prayed her to comtnende hym to hys father dere 
 So he defyred them all for hym to praye 
 And went forth with a full pytteous chere. 
 
 So (hortly Robert toke hys horfe and rode 
 Streyght vnto the forreft to hys companye 
 Than the Duches that in the Caftle abode 
 Shryked full fore with a full pytteous crye 
 And faide alas lorde to fynfull am I 
 All women beware, curfe neuer your chylde 
 And yf that ye do, then be youe in jeopardye 
 Alfo in myfcheyff they fhalbe defyelde. 
 
 Wyth 
 
Eloberte tje iDeugll. 35 
 
 Wyth that the Duke came into the chaumber 
 And afked her why fhe dyd wepe and wayle 
 She fayde Robert youre fonne hath ben here [faylo 
 And fliewed how that he wolde to Rome without 
 Ah, fayde the Duke, I feare yt wyll lyttell auayle 
 He is not able to make reftytucyon 
 Alacke fayd the Duke yet am I gladde fauns fayle 
 That he ys wyllynge to make hys eonfeffion. 
 
 Nowe ys Robert come to the forreft agaync 
 And founde hys men all at dyner fyttynge 
 To conuerte them to goodnes he would full fayne 
 And fayde my felowes, with pytteous lamentynge 
 Let vs remember dure (ynfull lyuynge 
 And afke god mercy with greate repentaunce 
 Yf we leade thys lyfe ftyll, yt will vs brynge 
 To hell Withoute elide, with horrible vengeaunce. 
 
 Let vs remember he faide our fynfull lyfe 
 We haue murdered people full cruellye 
 Rauyfhed maydens and many a wyfe 
 Slayne pryftes and hermytes full pytteduflye 
 And abbeys haue ben dyftroyed through our robbery 
 With Nunnes, Ankers, take yt in remembraunce 
 Howe we put them in ieopardie 
 Whcrfore I dreade hell, with horrible vengeaunce. 
 
 D Houfes 
 
a6 ®&e ILife of 
 
 Houfes we haue brentte many a one 
 And fpylte of chyldren much precyous bloude 
 Compaffion there, nor pyttye had we none 
 In myfcheyff we delyted, and neuer in good 
 And nowe let vs remember hym that dyed on the rode 
 That from vs yet hath kept hys fworde by fuflerauncc 
 For and we nowe in deathes dannrp ftode 
 To hell fhoulde we go, with horrible vengeaunce* 
 
 One fayde Robert, what be youe there 
 And ftode up and began hym to Ikorne 
 Will youe fee fellowes : the fox wylbe an anker 
 What mafter, ye be as wyfe as a fhepe newe (home 
 I trowe youre buttocke be prycked with a thorne 
 For your wytt ys oute of temperaunce 
 I woulde not haue thys tearme aboute borne 
 That we (houlde to hell go with horrible venge- 
 
 [aunce* 
 
 Another thefe (aide mafter Roberte, harke 
 To preache to vs yt ys all in vayne 
 And what I faye, I praye you yt marke 
 Thys lyfe wyll we leade in wordes playne 
 Euer yet in thefe workes we haue be fayne 
 For our fyraie we entende not to do pennaunce 
 We wyll not forlake thoughe ye ftryue vs agayne 
 T q hell woulde werather go with horrible vengeaunce. 
 
 Than 
 
 0 
 
Bo&erte tfoe IDeugll. 27 
 
 Than Roberte fawe that they woulde not amende 
 But in myfcheyf there to lyue ftyll 
 And to the poore men they wyll ofte offende 
 Thus then he confpyred in hys wyll 
 One after another for to kyll 
 To make (hort he kylled them euerychone 
 He fayde ye haue be readye euer to do euyll 
 Therfore alyue wyll I not leaue one. 
 
 He tolde them a good feruaunte muft haue good 
 Nowe do I paye youe after your deferuynge [wage6 
 There dead in the floore all theyr bodyes fprayles 
 Robert fhutt the doore and they laye within 
 And fayde of myfcheyf this ys the endynge 
 So he thought to fett the houfe on fyre 
 But he dyd not, he yede a waye fighynge 
 And fayd alas I haue payde my men theyr hyre. 
 
 Than Robert toke hys horfe and bleffed hym 
 So throughe the forreft he toke the waye 
 Ouer hylles and downes faft rydynge 
 Thus rode he ftyll all a longe daye 
 And ofte for fynne he cryed well awaye 
 Than of an abbaye he had a fight 
 Whiche ofte he had robbed in good faye 
 Alas faide Robert there will I lodge to nyght. 
 
 D * For 
 
s 
 
 s8 ®fee life of 
 
 For faulte of roeate then he hongred fore 
 And fayde to eate fayne I wolde haue fotne 
 Alacke nowe that euer I was bore 
 And when the raonkes dyd fe hym come 
 Eche man hys waye faft dyd ronne 
 And faide here cometh the furyous ferpent 
 Roberte, which ys J trowe a deuylls fonne 
 That in murmer and myfcheif hath a greate talent. 
 
 Than forthe he rode to the churche dore 
 And difcended from his horfe right there 
 So he kneled downe in the floore 
 And to oure lorde god he made hys prayer 
 Sayinge, fwete Jefu that bought me dere 
 Haue mercy on me for that precyous bloude. 
 
 That ran from your hearte wkh iongis fpeare 
 Which ftonge youe in the fide hangynge ontheroode* 
 
 Then vp he rofe and went to the Abbot 
 And fayde to hym with pitteoufe lamentynge 
 I haue bene fo fymple father, that ye well wot 
 That nowe Ifeare thefworde that ys lyghtly comynge 
 Of our lordes vengcaunce for my falfe lyuynge 
 And of all that I haue offended vnto youe 
 Forgeue me for hys loue that was hangynge [bo we. 
 Seuen houres on the crofTe and there hys head dyd 
 
 Aad 
 
HoDette t(je Deugil. *9 
 
 And when they hearde hym pitteouflye complayne 
 And in hys harde hearte toke repentaunce 
 The monckes all thereof were fayne 
 So there he tolde them all in fubftaunce 
 Howe he was in wyllynge to fuffer pennaunce - 
 And to Rome to take hys Journeye, 
 
 So there he called to hys remembraunce 
 Of hys lodge and therof toke the abbot the keye. 
 
 Thys keye to the Abbot there he toke 
 And tolde hym that he Ihoulde haue all the treafure 
 In the theues lodge yf that he woulde loke 
 That he had robbed fynce the fyrft houre 
 And faide my meynye lyen dead in the floore 
 The Abbot he prayed to geue hys father the Jceye 
 For I wyll not flepe one night where I do another 
 Tyll I in Rome with the pope fpeke maye. 
 
 And praye my father to make reftytucyon 
 For me to all them that I dyd offende 
 I crye hym mercy alfo I am hys fonne 
 Hym for to myfcheif alfo I dyd entende 
 But what thoughe, nowe I truft to amende 
 There Robert toke hys leaue of all the hole conenfc 
 Hys horfe and hys fworde he to hys father fende 
 And fo departed and on hys feete fortfre wentte. 
 
 Than 
 
Cf >e Hifc of 
 
 ; Than rode the Abbot to the Duke of Normandye 
 And {hewed of Robert all that was befall 
 There he delyuered vp the keye 
 And of hys entente he flieowid the Duke all 
 Then he hys men before hym dyd call 
 And fayde I wyll ryde and reftore the goodes agayne 
 And euery man hys owne haue {hall 
 Then were the Dukes feruauntes all fayne. 
 
 Nowe Robert walked ouer dale and hyll 
 By holte and heath, many a wery waye 
 He laboured night and daye euer flyll 
 At the laft he came to Rome on Sherethurfdaye 
 All nyght poorely in the ftreate he laye 
 And on the good frydaye to churche he went tywifc 
 Towardes the quyere and nothynge dyd faye 
 For that daye the Pope fayed all the feruyce; 
 
 The Popes feruauntes bade hym go backei 
 They fmote Robert and thruft hym afyde 
 Tho to hym felf he fayde, oute alacke 
 Yet he thought boldlyer for to abyde 
 Where people were thynneft there he efpyed 
 So preft amonge them tyll he came to the pope 
 And fell downe to hys fete and loude there he cryed 
 As rayne the teares fell fro hys eyes god wotte. 
 
 The 
 
iRobette tbe DeugU. 31 
 
 The popes feruauntes would haue pulled hym afyde 
 Oure holy father, yet aunfwered naye 
 Medle not with hym, lett hym abdyde 
 That I maye here what he dothe faye ; 
 
 Robert aunfwered I am here thys daye 
 The fynfulleft lyuer that euer was founde 
 Synce Adam was made in Canaan of claye 
 I am the greateft fynner that lyued on grounde. 
 
 The pope fayde what art thou good frende 
 And whye makeft thoue thys lamentacon 
 Oh good father faide Robert to god I haue offended 
 I defyre youe to heare my confeflion 
 Of my greate fy nnes the abhomynacon 
 On them to mufe yt ys vnnumerable] 
 
 Vice and I refted all waye in one habytacion 
 With murder and euery vnthryftye culpable. 
 
 ’ Art thou Robert the deuyll fayde the pope than 
 That ys the worft creatu re of all the worlde yll 
 Yee yee fyr fayde Robert I am the fame man 
 Greate myfcheyf haue I do, and muche yll 
 As to robbe and flea, both burne and kyll 
 The pope fayd, he^p in goddes name I thee warne 
 By uertue of hys pailion ftande here ftyll 
 Do to me nor my men no maner of harme. 
 
3* Cfee iLife of 
 
 Naye naye fayde Robert, neuer chryften man 
 Wyll I hurte by night nor daye 
 The pope toke hym by the hande than 
 And bade hym hys confeflion to hym faye 
 Thereto Robert woulde not faye naye 
 But all hys fyrines confefled and tolde 
 The pope Whan he hym hearde dyd quake for fraye 
 For to heare hys fynnes hys hearts waxed nye colde. 
 
 And tolde howe hys mother gaue hym to the feende 
 In the houre of hys fyrft contemplacyon [of hell 
 The pope fayd Robert I thee tell 
 Thou mud go to an hermyte three miles withoute the 
 Robert fayde with good will thys {halbe done [towne 
 Then wente he to the popes godftlye father 
 The pope comtiiautided hym fo to done 
 That the hermyte might hys eonfeflion heare. 
 
 In the mornynge Robert walked cuer hyll and dale 
 He was foil werye of his labourynge 
 At the lafte he came in to a greate vale 
 And founde fame hermyte ftandinge 
 He (pake with the hermyte, and (hewed of hys lyuyrtge 
 And tolde that he was fente fro the pope of Rome 
 But when that holy man hearde hys confeffion 
 He fayed brother ye be right Wellcome. 
 
 And 
 
IRobette tbe Deugtt. 33 
 
 And for youre fynnes euer youe mufte be forye 
 For as yet I will not affoylle youe 
 In a lyttell chappell all nyght fhall youe lye 
 Do ye as I do youe councell nowe 
 Afke god mercye, and let youre hearte bowe 
 For all thys nyght I wyll wake and praye 
 V nto" oure lorde, that I maye knowe 
 Yf in faluacion ye do ftande in the waye. » 
 
 So they departed, the hermyte fell on flepc 
 An aungell fodenlyc to hym dyd appeare 
 And faide to Goddes commaundcment take good kepe 
 And of Robertes pennaunce thou (halt heare, 
 
 He mufte counterfeyt a foie in all manere 
 The meate that he fhall eate, he mufte pull yt from 
 And neuer to fpeake, but as he dombe weare [a dogge 
 Thys pennaunce done, he fhaibe forgeuen of god. 
 
 The hermyte with that fhortlye dyd awake 
 And called Robert, and fpaeke to hym [take 
 And faide heare nowe the pennaunce that ye fhall 
 God commaundeth the to counteract a foole in all 
 thinge 
 
 Meate none to eate, withoute a dogge do yt bryngc 
 To the in hys mouth, then mufte thou yt eate 
 No worde to fpeake, hut as bdondbe euer be.ynge 
 With.dogges euery nyght alfo thou muft fleepe. 
 
 E The 
 
34 CBe lift of 
 
 The hermyte faid, tyll thy fynnes be forgtue 
 Thou mull do as I haue here fayde 
 With thys fliarpe pennaunce thoU mud Iytte 
 Tyll god of hys debtes by the be payde 
 Forget not thys, irt thy hearte let it be laydfe 
 At the laft god wyll feride the wbrde agayne 
 Robert wepte as thoughe hefhoulde hade dyed 
 And fayde thys pennaunce will I do full fayftfe. 
 
 The hermyte bade hym femember althynge 
 And whan thy fynnds be cleane forgeubn the 
 By an Aungfell godWyllfende the Warnynge 
 Nowe maye thou no longer byde with rite 
 Robert blefTed the hermyte 'then frewlye 
 So eche foke theyr leaue of other 
 Nowe god for euer be wyth the 
 He fayd to Robert* nowe farewell brother. 
 
 There poore Robert departed fro the herrtiytS 
 And blefled hym and agayne went to Rome 
 For to do hys pennaunce in the ftrete 
 And whan that he thether was come 
 Lyke as he had ben a foole he dyd ronne 
 And lepte and daunced from one fyde to another 
 Many folke laughed at hym foone 
 And wende he had ben a foole, they knew none other* 
 
 Boyes 
 
iRoberte tie Dcugll. $$ 
 
 Boy es folowed hym throughe the ftrete 
 Caftynge ftyckes and ftones at hym 
 And fame with roddes hys bodye dyd beate 
 The chyldren made greate ihoutes and cryenge 
 Burges of the cyttie at Robert laye laughynge 
 Oute of theyr wyndowes to fe hym playe 
 The boyes threwe dyrte and myre at hym 
 Thus contvnewed Robert manye 3 daye. 
 
 Thus he played the foole on a feafon 
 He came on a tyme to the Emperours Courte 
 And fawe that the gate ft ode all open 
 Robert ranne into the hall and beganne to worke 
 So daunced and le-pt and aboute fo ftarte 
 At the Jafte the Emperoure had pyttie onbym 
 Howe he taere hys clothes and gnew hys ihyrte 
 And bade a feruaunte meate hym for to brynge: 
 
 Thys feruaunte brought Robert plentye of meate 
 Soproferde hyt hym and faide go dyne 
 Robert fateftyllhe woulde not eate 
 Yet god wotte hys belly greate pyne 
 At laft thempe.roure fayde yonder ys a hounde of myne 
 And bade hys feruaunte throwe hym a hone 
 So he dyd, and whan Robert yt had fpync 
 Alack thought Robert, he fhall not eate yt alpne. 
 
 E 2 He 
 
3$ Cfce life of * 
 
 He lept from the table and with the dogge faught 
 And all for to haue the bone awaye 
 The hounde at the laft by the fyngers hym caught 
 So ftyll in hys mowthe he kepte hys praye, 
 Whan.Robert fawe that, downe he laye 
 The dogge gnewe the one ende and Robert the othef 
 The Emperoure laughed whan he that fawe 
 And fayde the dogge and he fought harde together* . 
 
 The Emperoure fawe that he was hongrye : 
 
 And bade to thro we the dogge a hole Ioffe 
 Whan Robert fawe that he was glad greatelye ; 
 
 Fot to lofe hys parte he was right lothe, 
 
 And agayne to the dogge he goeth 
 So brake the Ioffe a fonder and to the hounde 
 He gaue the one halfe to faye the fothe 
 And.eate the other as the dogge dyd on the grounds 
 
 t The Emperoure faide, fyth that I was borne 
 Sawe I neuer a more foole naturall 
 Nor fuche an ydeot fawe I neuer beforne 
 That had leuer eate that that to the dogge dyd fall r. 
 Rather then that that was proffered hym in the hall 
 Than Robert toke hys ftaffe and fmote at forme and 
 ftile 
 
 What forowe was in hys hearte they knewe not all.. 
 There men were gladde to fee hym playe the foole. 
 
 At. 
 
3T 
 
 ftobette tfce SDeugll. 
 
 At*the laft Robert went into a garden 
 And there he founde a fayre fountayne 
 He was a thurft and whan he had dronken 
 He wente in to hys dogge agayne 
 To folowe hym euer he was fayne 
 Thus vnder a ftayre at nyght laye the hounde 
 Ancfieuer hys pennaunce Robert dyd not dyfdayne 
 All way e hvs bed was with the dogge on the*grounde* 
 
 Whan the Emperoure efpyed hym lye there 
 Fett hym a bed to a man dyd he faye 
 And lett yt be layed for hym under the ftayre 
 So they dyd and Robert poynted as naye 
 And woulde have them to beare the bed awaye 
 Then they fett hym an arme full of ftrawe 
 And therupon by hys dogge he laye 
 All men marueyled that yt fawe. 
 
 Muche myrth and fporte he made euer amonge 
 And as the Emperoure was at dyner on a daye 
 A Jue fate at the borde, that greate rowme longe 
 In that houfe beare, and was receyued all waye 
 Than Roberte hys dogge toke in hys armes in faye 
 And touched the Jue and he ouer hys {holder loked 
 backe , 
 
 Robert fet the dogges ars to hys mowth without naye 
 F%j 11 foorc the Emperoure loughe whan he fawe that. 
 
 Robert - 
 
38 . Cfte life of 
 
 Robert fawe a bryde that fhoulde be maryeti 
 And foone he toke her by the hande 
 So into a/oule donge myxen he her caryed 
 And in the myre he let her ftande 
 The Emperoure ftode and behelde hym ionge 
 At the laft Robert toke a quycke Catte 
 And ranne into the kechyn amonge the thronge 
 And threwe her quycke into the beefe pottc. 
 
 Lordes and barons loughe that they coulde not 
 To fee hym make myrth withoute harme {ftande 
 They (aide he was the meryeft in all thatlande 
 With that a meflenger the Emperoure dyd warne 
 That aboute rome was many a Sarafyne 
 And faide the Senefchall hathe gathered a great armyc 
 Bccaufe ye wyll not let your daughter haue hym 
 He purpofeth all Rome for to dyftroye* 
 
 Thys Emperoure had a doughter that coulde not 
 The whiche the Senefchall loued as hys lyfe [fpeake 
 And ofte with the Emperoure he dyd treate 
 For to haue her vnto hys wyfe 
 And for that caufe the Senefchall made thys ftryfe 
 Becaufe the Emperoure in nowife woulde 
 Geue hym hys doughter, he fwere ofte fythe 
 Maugrc hys head wynne her he Ihoulde, 
 
 The 
 
ffiofcem ttjc SDeugH* 39 
 
 The Emperoure heard of die Sarafyns that were 
 For to dydroye theyr chryftyan Countrey [come 
 He made a crye in greate Rome 
 That younge and olde Ihoulde make readye 
 As manye as were betwene fyftene and fyxtye 
 Lordes barons and knyghtes drewe out of ouery cod. 
 With an houge companye and a myghtye 
 They thought for to Fell the Sarafyns greate hofte* 
 
 So forth with all bothe thefe hoftes mette 
 Wyth weapons blight and fledes dronge 
 So with foore llrokes together they fette 
 Theyr fpeares bralle in peces longe 
 Many a doughtye was flayne in that thronge 
 Greate horfes damped in yron wedes 
 ®ure chryden men were put to the wrongs 
 With woundes depen that full fore bledes. 
 
 Oure lorde on hys feruauntes had' companion 
 And fent an Aungell with horfe and armure 
 Vnto Robert as he dranke in the garden 
 There the Aungell bade hym arme hym fure [dure 
 And faide bedryde thys good dede that longe will en« 
 And in all hade go ryde and helpe the Emperoure 
 Alacke thought Robert nede hath no cure 
 Than rode he forth the fpace of an houre. 
 
 Ho 
 
4 ® 
 
 Cbe life of 
 
 He rode into the thyckeft of the fyelde 
 And hue and flewe of the Sarafyns a greate numbre 
 No fteele nor harburgyn that with hym helde 
 Hys dentes rouges as yt had ben thonder 
 He fmote mennes bodyes cleane a fonder 
 Hys fworde made many a head to bledc 
 That the Emperoure had greate wonder 
 \Yhat knyght yt was that he fewe fo doughtye in 
 
 [dede. 
 
 With the helpe of god and Robert that knyght 
 That daye the Sarafyns iofte the fyelde 
 And whan that ended was that fyght 
 Euery man houered and behelde 
 Where that whyte knyght was that wepon dyd welde 
 But Robert wente into the garden 
 And layde downe bothe harnes and (hylde 
 Yt vanyfhed a waye, he wyft not where yt became. 
 
 And all thys fawe the Emperours doughter 
 That the Aungell brought Robert the whyte ftede 
 And howe at the welles fyde he dyd of all hys armure 
 Therof fhe had greate maruayle in dede 
 At the laft the Emperours men dyd of theyr wede 
 And came to dyner into theyr lordes hall 
 The Emperoure faid this daye Jefu dyd vs fpede 
 And the white knyght fayre muft hym befall. 
 
 Than 
 
©o&ertc tit DeupU. 4» 
 
 Than Robert came in lyke a foole playinge 
 Into the hall, and leapte from place to place 
 The Emperoure was glad to fe Robert daunfynge 
 Than he fpyed a great race of bloude in Robertes face 
 But that he gate when he in the battayle was 
 The Emperoure wende that hys feruauntes had hurt 
 And faide, there ys fome rybaude in this place [hym fo 
 That hath hurte my Robert, that no harm can do. 
 
 The Emperoure afked whether that whyte knyght 
 Hys lordes aunfwered, we can not faye [was gone 
 At the laft hys doughter that was bothe deafe and 
 Euer fhe poynted to Robert allwaye [dombe 
 
 Her father wondred at her in good faye 
 And afked her myflres, what hys doughter ment 
 , She faid, fhe meaneth that Robert thys daye [dente. 
 Holpe youe to Wynne the fyelde with hys doughty 
 
 Her myflres faid that Robertes greate bloudye race 
 Youre doughter meaneth he had it in the fyelde 
 At her wordes the Emperoure afshamed was- 
 And waxed angrye and that hys doughter behelde 
 He faide thys folyfh mayde thynketh he fought in the 
 He bade her meftres teache her more better [fielde 
 Far and fhe will not wyfer be in her elde 
 A foole fhall fhe dye, there maye no man let her. 
 
 F Thtffi 
 
At Cfce life of 
 
 Than the feconde tyme the Sarafins came to Rom< 
 And with the Emperoure fought afore fyelde 
 The Aungell agayne to Robert dyd come 
 And then he rode forth hys weapon to welde 
 He perisfhed breftplates and many athylde 
 He ftrooke of bothe legge and arme 
 The Emperoure that knyght agayne behelde 
 To watche for hym hys men he dyd warns. 
 
 But he was gone they wyft not whether 
 So on the morowe an other fyelde was pyght 
 The Emperoure charged euery man to do his endeudf 
 For to haue knowen that whyte knyght 
 So on the morowe that they Choulde fyght 
 Syxe knyghtes laye in a woode preuelye and ftyli 
 They fayde we wyll of that noble man haue a fight 
 And to our lorde brynge hym we wyll. 
 
 On the morowe the funne flione bright 
 Bothe partyes there was aflembled 
 All the fyelde gauc a greate lyght 
 Of the gleyues that glyftred, the ftedes trembled 
 A wonder to heare the brydles that gyngled 
 With arbelaters they {hot many a quarell 
 All the grounde of the noyfe rombled [wdK 
 
 Throughe the helpeof Robert the Chrylien men fped 
 
 That 
 
Hofierte tfjc Deugll, 43 
 
 That daye Robert proued hym doughtye of band© 
 Manye fro theyr horfes downe he dyd fhlynge 
 None was able hys dente for to with ftande 
 There men myght heare greate rappes rynge 
 The noyfe of gunnes made fuch a bellowynge 
 All the fyelde fowned as yt had ben thonder 
 Of bloude greate gutters they myght fe runnyng© 
 And many a knyghtes head clefte a fonder. 
 
 All Sarafyns fled, the chryften won the fyelde? 
 Robert rode awaye than full pryuelye 
 The knyghtes in the wodde hym behelde 
 And lowde vnto hym beganne to crye 
 Syr knyght fpeake with vs for thy courtefye 
 Robert thought not agayne to turne 
 The other knyghtes rode after haftelye [runne; 
 And fmote theyr horfes with fpores and after dyd 
 
 Roberte ranne ouer dale and hyll 
 Hys ftede was good that he had there 
 A bolde knyght folowed after hym ftyll 
 And into the refte he threwe hys fpeare 
 So ftrongelye to Robert he hyt beare 
 To haue flayne hys horfe, and fmote hym in the thy© 
 The fpeare head braft, and in hys legge bode there 
 Than was thys gentle knyght full foorye. 
 
 Fa 
 
 Back© 
 
44 C&e life of 
 
 Backe agayne rode than thys knyght fo bolde 
 And (hewed the Eniperoure that he was gone agayne 
 There of hys fpeare heade he hym tolde 
 To fee hym quod the Emperoure I woulde full fayne 
 Than throughe all hys lande he dyd proclayme 
 That he that woulde fhewe the greate wounde with 
 the fpeare head 
 
 Shoulde haue hys doughter, and not her layne 
 Vnto hys wyfe her for to wedde. 
 
 When the Senefchall hearde the proclamacion 
 He made hymfelf a greate wounde throughe thethye 
 So gate a fpeare and whyte armoure foone 
 And fo rode to the Emperoure with all hys meynye 
 And faid Syr Emperoure that valyaunt knyght am I 
 That faued youe thre tymes fro grame 
 The Emperoure faid to hym, thou art not lykelye 
 And bade hym holde hys peace for (hame 
 
 At laft the Senefchall (hewed hym hys wounde 
 And faid, beholde thys and the head of the fpeare 
 The Emperoure was abafhed in that ftounde 
 So there he gaue the Senefchall hys doughter 
 And on the morowe he (houlde be maryed vnto her 
 So was the Emperoure by hym beguyled 
 He wende verelye that he had ben there 
 
 fought in the fielde as a knyght doughted. 
 
 On 
 
ffiobette tfoe IDeugU. 45 
 
 Oa the mor6we thys greate weddynge fliouldc be 
 That the Senefchall (houlde haue hys doughter 
 And fo brought her to churche, the feruyce began 
 There by myrakle thys lady fpake to her father [ready 
 And faide thys traytoure he hath beguyled youe here 
 For Robert was he that helpe you in the fyelde 
 I fawe an Aungell brynge hymbothe thyldeandfpeare 
 With thefe two wordes downe on her knees fhekneled. 
 
 And the Emperoure whan he fawe hys daughter 
 For ioye he was nere oute of hys mynde [fpeake 
 And thanked god for that myracle greate 
 Than the Senefchall with fhame fhranke behynde 
 So to the Pope the Emperoure dyd wynde 
 The mayde tolde the Pope what Robert had done 
 And brought them to the welle thefpeare head to fynde 
 And betwene two ftones the efpyed yt fone. 
 
 [greate 
 
 Than went to feke Robert bothe lordes and ladyes 
 At the lafte they found e hym lye vnder the ftayre 
 Amonge the dogges and with them dydde eate 
 They defyred hym to fpeake with wordes fayre 
 But he made fignes as he coulde not heare 
 With that came an hermyte & toke hym by the lleue 
 Sent thether by god he was hys gooftlye father 
 And bade hym fpeake, fayinge hys fynnes were forgaue. 
 
 Yet 
 
Yet was he afearde to fpeake, and durft hot 
 The Emperoure prayed hym to fe hys thye 
 Robert woulde not heare, bat whan he fawe the Pope 
 He ranne and played hys tauntes about lyghtlye 
 The pope bade hym fpeake for the loue of Marye 
 Robert hym fcorned and gaue hym hys bleflynge 
 He woulde not breake hyspennaunce, he had leuer dye 
 Then the hermyte bade hym fpeake, forgeuen is thy 
 
 [fynne* 
 
 With that Robert fell downe on hys knee 
 And thanked Jefu that forgaue hym hys myflyuynge 
 The pope and the Emperoure were glad trewlye 
 But moft of all that ladye made reioyfynge 
 That was the Emperours doughter that yongelynge 
 Defyringe her father that (he myght Robert wedde 
 For thy afkynge faid he, I gyue the my bleflynge 
 In all the hafte daughter y.t fhalbe fpedde. 
 
 Than Robert maryed the Emperours doughter 
 A feaft was holde of great folempnytie 
 Eche of them were full gladde of other 
 And at the laft when ended was thys ryaltye 
 He toke leaue of the Emperoure and to hys owrie 
 He yede for the imp hys father was dead [countrey 
 Alfo a falfe knyght put hys mother in greate ieopardye 
 Wbych Robert at the lafte hynge by the headde. 
 
 With 
 
Eobette tbe IDeagll. 47 
 
 With hys mother he mette in the cyttyeof Romo 
 The Duches was then glad and blythe 
 That Robert her fonne fo vertuous was come homer 
 Whiche in hys youthe lyued fo myfcheuous a lyfe 
 Than all men loued hym, both mayde and wyfe 
 Tyll it befell vpon a certayne daye 
 A meflenger came from the Emperotire fuU fwythfi 
 And prayed hym to come to R.ome in all the haft he 
 
 maye 
 
 He tolde that the Senefchall had greate warre 
 With hys lorde the Emperoure in dede 
 Robert fent after men nye and farre 
 In all the hafte thether he gan ipede 
 But ere he came was done a myfcheuous dedci 
 The Senefchall the Emperoure had llayne 
 F or forowe Robertes hearte dyd blede 
 In fyelde he woulde haue fought full faync. 
 
 The Senefchall hearde that Robert was come 
 And purpofed for to mete hym in the fyelde 
 He reared up many a black Sarafon 
 With wepon ftronge bothe fpeare and fhyelde 
 So ether partyes other behelde 
 And fought together a greate batteyll 
 There Robert with hys handes the Senefchall kyldif 
 So to hys countrey returned without fayle. 
 
 Anl 
 
\ 
 
 48 Cf )Z life of 
 
 And whan he came agayne to Normandye 
 He dreade euer god and kepte hys lawe 
 So lyued he full deuoutelye 
 For all thynge woulde he do vnder awe 
 And punyfhe Rebelles both hange and drawe 
 Than was he called the feruaunte of god 
 No thefe woulde he faue that he myght knowe 
 For dreade of goddes righteoufnes the ftiarpe rodde. 
 
 One chylde by the Emperours doughter he had 
 That was a knyght with Kinge charles of Frauncc 
 In manfull dedes he hys lyfe ladde 
 Doughty he was bothe with fpeare and launce 
 Lo, thy Robert ended hys lyfe in pennaunce 
 And whan he dyed hys foule went to heauen hye 
 Nowe all men beare thefe in remembraunce 
 He that lyueth well here, no euyll death (hall dye.. 
 
 Yonge and olde that delyteth to reade in ftorye 
 Yt (hall youe ftyrre to uertuous lyuynge 
 And caufe fome to haue theyr memorye 
 Of the paynes of hell, that ys euer durynge 
 By readynge bookes men knowe all thynge 
 That euer was done, and hereafter ftiallbe 
 Idlenes to myfcheif many a one doth brynge 
 And fpecyally as we daylye may fee. 
 
 Takes 
 
mobett the iDeupli. 49 
 
 Take youe enfample of thys ftory olde 
 Howe that he in youth dyd greate vengeauncc 
 In doynge myfcheife he was euer bolde 
 Tyll god fent to hym good remembraunce 
 And after that he toke fuche repentaunce 
 That he was called the feruaunte of god by name 
 And fo contynewed without varyaunce 
 God geue vs grace that we may do the feme. 
 
 Here cndeth the lyfe of 
 Robert the Deuyll. 
 

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