A Record of Auncient Histories

"The stories contained in the Gesta Romanorum were first used by both religious & secular writers from the time of its first appearance in Latin in the late 13th century, to its publication as a chapbook in the early 18th century. For the clergy, the importance of the Gesta was to provide exempla for their sermons. For secular writers, on the other hand, the Gesta provided story material easily recognizable to their audiences. Such writers as Shakespeare & Thomas Hoccleve may be said to have borrowed story material from this diverse collection. For the modern reader, the Gesta Romanorum is valuable primarily as an example of medieval writing in which allegory is not only used but taught. Robinson's revision of Wynkyn de Worde's first printing of the work in English is here presented in its entirety, with additions made to the 1595 printing from later editions."-Reprint Bulletin.