THE UNCLE
Keep you in that way,
I promise you God’s kingdom to your cure.
We read alday in the blessed Scripture
That him who on God’s mercy would him cast
Nought so avails as repentance at the last.
After this Sir Gysbrecht is gone with his niece to all the most learned priests in the town of Nimmegen, but none of them, howsoever learned or expert or holy or devout, when they heard her story, durst undertake to absolve her or to prescribe to her penance for her sins, the which were fearful and against kind, whereat both they were sore downcast.
¶ How Sir Gysbrecht journeyed to Cologne with his niece.
The next day at early morn Sir Gysbrecht made preparations as if he would celebrate mass taking the precious holy sacrament in his hand and set out with Emma his niece on the way to Cologne. And Moonen the devil followed them from afar but he dare not approach nigh nor draw near to Emma in any wise on account o£ the power of the holy sacrament. Nevertheless he threw sometimes the half of an oak tree or another from above at them, minded to break both their necks, but our Lord would not allow it for she used daily to read a prayer in honor of our Blessed Lady. Thus they traveled so long and much that they came to Cologne where she confessed to the Bishop. But there no man knew what counsel to give her for her sin was so against kind and great that the Bishop had not power to absolve her.
¶ How Emma and her Uncle journeyed to Rome and how Emma confessed her to the Pope.