His spirit chaunged hous and wente ther,
As I cam nevere, I kan nat tellen wher.
Therfore I stynte; I nam no divinistre;
Of soules fynde I nat in this registre,
Ne me ne list thilke opinions to telle
Of hem, though that they writen wher they dwelle.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale. The speechless Knight halts his tale after the death of Arcite. His soul has departed the body, he says, but where it has gone he has no knowledge, for he is no theologian. He knows nothing of what happens the spirit after death.