University of Virginia Library

De sancto Cristoforo

Sein Cristofre was Zarasin in þe lond of Canaan
In no stude bi is daie ne uond me so strong man
Foure and twenti uet he was lang & þicke & brod inou
Such man bote he were strong me þincþ it were wou
Al a contreie ware he were for him wolde fle[o]
Þere uore him þoȝte þat noman aȝen him ssolde be[o]
Wiþ noman he sede he nolde be[o] bote wiþ on þat were
Hext louerd of alle men and vnder non oþer uere
He wende to seche a such man so þat me him tolde
Of þe hexte þat an eorþe was and mest poer do wolde
Sein Cristofre him soȝte uer attelaste he com him two
Þe king him esste wat he were and wat he soȝte also
Þis oþer sede wat he was and þat he serui wolde
Þe hexte man þat awer were & to non abowe nessolde
Ȝif he fonde eny such þis king aȝen sede
Þat he nehuld of noman nessolde noman bowe nedrede
For eiþer was of oþer glad Cristofere him seruede longe

341

Þe king louede melodie of fiþele & of songe
So þat þis iogelor a day touore him pleide faste
And anemnede inis rime þene deuel attelaste
Þo þe king hurde þat [] he blessede him anon
Sein Cristofre nom god ȝeme he nolde a uot gon
Ar he weste wi it were þe king was loþ [to] telle
Þe oþer sede bote þou segge noleng bileue ich nelle
Þo þe king isei non oþer leue Cristofre he sede
Hit was for he nemnede þe deuel for ich habbe of him gret drede
Ek he is quaþ Cristofre herre maister þan þou
Þat nemai ich noȝt quaþ þe king wel wiþsegge nou
Haue goday quaþ þis oþer inelle neuere eft wiþ þe be[o]
Ichelle seche þane deuel & serui him ȝif ich mai ise[o]
Þe king was sori and alle his þat he nolde abide
To seche þane deuel he wende forþ & naþeles noȝt wel wide
For þe ssrewe is euere to hom prest þat to him habbeþ inome
Þo Cristofere com wiþoute toun gret folk he sei come
Wiþ gret nobleie wel an horse swuþe ferce & proute
Cristofere hom mette baldeliche of noþing he nadde doute
Þe maister þat was fers inou com and mette him anon
Beau sire he sede wat ertou & woder þencstou gon
Icham he sede up mi seruise & noman serui ich nelle
Bote mi louerd þat ich seche þe heie deuel of helle
Beu frere quaþ þe oþer ich it am wolcome erte me
Þe beste seruise þat þou wolt cheose ichelle deliueri þe
Cristofere ysei is grete folk and þat he was of gret poer
Of a such louerd he was glad of a such mester
Þe maister het al is men awei bote hom sulue tweie
To teche is mester priueliche as hi wende biweie
As hi wende tellinde forþ of þis luþer seruise
A crois þer stod in þe wei þe deuel him gan agrise

342

Ver in breres and in þornes al aboute he drou
Ȝe ne come ȝe neuere in betere stude for þulke is god inou
And þere inne were al todrawe forte ich him wolde bymene
And þo þe crois ipassed was he turnde aȝen to þe clene
Cristofere him esste wi it were him was loþ to telle
Certes he sede bote þou me telle neuereft serui þe inelle
Cristofre quaþ þe deuel [] ichelle þe telle uain
Wiþ þat þou me serui afterward þe bet wiþ alle þi main
Wiþ a such crois as þou iseie þe hei God þat was here
Ouercom & in sorwe broȝte me and alle mine uere
Eke he is herre þane þou quaþ Cristofere and haþ poer more
I nemai it noȝt ofsake quaþ þis oþer þat me riweþ sore
Dai þat þanne quaþ Cristofere be leng in þi seruise
Ȝif ich oȝt of þulke heyman may oȝt wite in eni wise
Forþ he wende to seche oure Louerd wel wide he gan gon
Attelaste he fond an ermite to him he wende anon
He tolde him clanlich hou it was & hou he such man soȝte
Ihered be[o] he quaþ þe ermite þat in such wit þe broȝte
For he is þi Louerd leue sone to man he þe wroȝte
And wiþ is owe fleiss and blod in þe crois þe boȝte
Þou most somwat for him þolie and faste eche Friday
I ne faste neuere quaþ þis oþer ne ȝute i nemay
Þou most quaþ þis oþer to churche go & þi beden bidde also
Inot quaþ Cristofere wat it is ne i nemai it noȝt certes do
No quaþ þe ermite þou ert strong and here is a water biside
Þat noman nemay come þer ouer bote he þe herre ride
Þou most in leosnesse of þi sunne þer habbe þi wonyinge

343

And wanne enyman haþ to þe neode þou most him ouer bringe
In forȝiuenesse of his misdede he grantede þat anon
Þe ermite him ȝaf Cristendom and let him þuderward gon
Cristofere biside þulke water a lite hous made þere
Inis hond he bar a long perche is staf as it were
Wanne enymon wolde ouer þe water up is rugge he him caste
And nom is perche and bar him ouer & stap hardeliche & faste
For he was so strong & so long þer ne com so heui non
Þat he nolde wiþ [him] wel baldeliche ouer bere & deope gon
A niȝt in þe oþer half of þe water a uois þer com and gradde
Cristofere hale hale þat he him ouer ladde
Cristofere aros up anon is perche an honde he nom
Wod forþ and ne uond nomon þo he to londe com
He nas bote vnneþe atom þat it negradde also þer
He wod uorþ & nemiȝte finde namore þanne he dude er
Ȝute it gradde þe þridde time þo he com to londe
Wiþ is rodde he wod aȝen a lite child he uond stonde
Þat child him bad porcharite þat he him ouer bere
Ȝe com here uorþ quaþ Cristofere inuste ware þou were
Wel liȝtliche þis child he nom and inis armes caste
Euere as he bar þis child it gan to heuegi uaste
And þat water wex also Cristofere sore him gaste
To adrenche so heui was þat child þat vnne[þe] he stod attelaste
He nas neuere so nei ouercome at eche stape he grunte & blaste
And leste þat child were adreint he ne dorste him noȝt adoun caste

344

Þo he was to londe icome as him þoȝte wel longe er
Þat child he sette adoun to gronde and stod to kele him þer
Wat ertou he sede so lite and so heui bicome
So heui þat ich was upe þe pointe to adrenche ilome
Þei al þe worlde hadde ileie up me me þincþ so heui it nere
No wonder Cristofere quaþ þe child þei ich heuegore were
Þanne al þe world for ich [am] more þanne al þe worlde iwis
And al þe worlde ich made of noȝt & alle þing þat is
And þat þou þat soþe iseo piche þi staf in þe gronde
And leui he ssel & bere frut & blowe in a stonde
Þo nuste he war þis child bicom Cristofere is staf nom
And piȝte in þe gronde & amorwe also it bicom
Þo was he sikerore þanne he was & oure Louerd louede more
Forþ he wende to sywi him and prechi Godes lore
He hurde ware Cristen men in torment were ibroȝt
To conforti hom he wende þuder þat hi ne flecchede noȝt
Beoþ hardi he sede and studeuast and doþ as ich ȝou lere
Þe Iustice sturte up anon and smot him vnder þe ere
Ertou he sede on of þulke þou it sselt acorie sore
Site wel stille quaþ Cristofere ich rede nesmit namore
For ȝif ich nere Cristen man ich me wolde awreke anon
Ȝe biluueþ on þis maumes ymad of tre[o] and ston
Þat no miracle mowe do namore þanne so muche tre[o]
Of mi Louerdes miȝte som bi mi staf þou sselt ise[o]
His rodde he piȝte in þe gronde & he bigan anon
Leui and blowe & bere frut biuore hom euerichon
On such God he sede ȝe ssolde biluue þat such uertu may do
Hy nedorste for he was so muche a bold word speke him to
For þe vaire miracle of is staf & for is prechinge also

345

To God he turnde in þe place seue þousond men & mo
Touward a maner wildernesse sein Cristofere wende
In Godes seruise to lede is lif as oure Louerd him grace sende
Þe Iustice tolde þe king uore of a such man as he sei
Turne þat folk ne he ne dorste for is strengþe come him ney
Þe king het þo to hondred kniȝtes seche forte hi him fonde
And hi him nome & sone ladde to him faste ibonde
Forþ wende þis to hondred kniȝtes wel iarmed anon
Toward Cristofere hi come a lite hi biheolde him echon
Hi alle ne dorste come him nei ac hamward hi gone fle[o]
And tolde þo hi come hom þat hi nemiȝte him noȝt ise[o]
Wat ȝe couwars quaþ þe king nabbe ȝe him noȝt ifonde
Ichelle ȝif he is aliue habbe him faste ibonde
He sende oþer to hondred kniȝtes þat hi him wide soȝte
And þat hi ne come neuere aȝen ar hi [him] wiþ hom broȝte
Wel iarmed hi wende forþ and þo hi Cristofere iseie
Hy stode and ne dorste go no ner ne vnneþe loke wiþ eiȝe
For he was so gastliche & so muche þat vnne[þe] hi dorste him ise[o]
He miȝte wiþ a lite lupe wel sone [habbe] imad hom fle[o]
Þis godeman hadde game of hom and esste wat hi wolde
We nedorre noȝt do þis kniȝtes sede bi þe þat we ssolde
For þe king us het þe bringe him & þin honden faste binde
Ȝif þou wolt we wolleþ him segge þat we nemowe þe noȝt finde
Nai for Gode quaþ Cristofere ȝe ssolde be[o] iblamed so
Ichelle go wiþ ȝou to loke uawe wat he wolle habbe ido

346

He made hom alle aȝen hore wille as a þeof him faste binde
And lede him forþ and hard inou is honden binde bihinde
Bi þe wei of Godes lawe Cristofere hom gan so lere
Þat ar hi come hom to þe king echone icristned were
And naþeles hi ladde him forþ to þe king faste ibonde
Lo sire hi sede her Godes kniȝt nou we him habbeþ ifonde
Þis king sat anhei up is sege ac anon so he him isei
For fere he uel to gronde anon þat is necke tobarst ney
Þis kniȝtes anon to him come & þo is wit aȝen com
Cristofere he sede turn þi þoȝt and bilef þi Cristendom
Godeman þou miȝt quaþ þis oþer as wel þerof be[o] stille
Mi bodi þou hast faste ibonde do bi me þi wille
Certes sire queþe þis kniȝtes þat him hadde þuder ibroȝt
We habbeþ itake Cristendom we nolleþ bileue it noȝt
Þe king let þo in grete wraþþe Cristofere in prison do
And þis kniȝtes binde faste & smite of hore heued also
Þo þe kniȝtes biheueded were þe king him biþoȝte
And to uaire wymmen mid alle sein Cristofere he broȝte
Nite het þe on & Aquilline forto turne is mod
Þo þis wymmen iseie Cristofre as he in prison stod
Hom þoȝte is face briȝtore was þanne sonne oþer mone
Merci Cristofere loude hi gradde Cristendom ȝif us sone
Cristofere hom teiȝte hore bileue & cristened hom þere
Þe king hom het amorwe vecche to loke hou it were
And wende hi hadde þe godeman in lecherie ibroȝt
Þis wymmen him ȝeue liȝt answere as hi tolde of him noȝt
Wat hou geþ þis quaþ þe king habbe ȝe iturnd ȝoure þoȝt
Honure ȝoure godes ich ȝou rede þe wile ȝou is wel iþoȝt

347

Oure godes beoþ worþe queþe þis wimmen in uaire stude onured be[o]
Þereuore swopeþ þe stretes þat alle men mowe ise[o]
And we hom wolleþ honure iwis as riȝt is and lawe
Þe king let do al as hi sede sone & wel fawe
Þo þis maumes were ibroȝt in þe strete attelaste
Þis wymmen nome hore gurdles boþe & teide to hom wel faste
And todrowe hom into al þe stret & hewe hom to doste þere
Goþ hi sede & ueccheþ hom leches þat hi iheled were
Þe king was nei for wraþþe wod þat a womman he let honge
Heuie roches binde to hure vet þat hure deþ þrowes were stronge
Þo þis womman was up idrawe h[ure] limes borste wiþinne
Necke & synuen and oþer ek wel aȝte he[o] heuene wynne
In strong fur he let þe oþer do ac no fur necom hure nei
Suþþe he let smite of hure heued þo he þat isei
Þis holy wymmen boþe þus to þe ioye of heuene wende
Þoru grace þat oure swete Louerd þoru Cristofere hom sende
Þe king let vecche þo Cristofere & esste at him anon
Weþer he wolde is maumes serui oþer to deþe gon
Cristofere forsok hore maumes and hore seruise also
Þe king het þat me ssolde anon up a gredil him do
And rosti him wiþ fur & pich and þo he was ileid þeron
As wex þe gridire m[u]lte awey þat fur queinte anon
And he aros up wiþoute harme wroþ was þe king þo
To a piler he let him binde and kniȝtes aboute him go
Hi ssote him to stronge deþe wiþ ssarpe and kene flo

348

Þer ssote wiþ bowe & alblastre to hondred kniȝtes & mo
Ac non arwe nei him necom ac alle abide biside
In þe eir honge aboute him as it were forto abide
Anon so þe kyng þis isei for wraþþe þuder he wende
Ouer Cristofere an arwe heng þat to him sone kende
And boþe is eiȝene smot al out and fer up inis heued
Þe king stod þo for angwise as is wit him were bireued
Þou seli wrecche quaþ Cristofere wat is nou worþ þy miȝte
Aȝen him þat þou hast bigonne þou ert wel feble to fiȝte
Of þi wrechede ich habbe reuþe and ichelle cuþe þe
For mi Louerd to morwe wole þat þou martri me
Smure þanne þin eiȝene wiþ mi blod and þe tit siȝte god
Þis blinde king hadde herto hope and wel þis vnderstod
Amorwe he let smite of is heued and smurede him wiþ þe blod
And hadde is eiȝene god & clere he turnde sone is mod
Þis holiman he let burie uaire and biluuede in God anon
And aueng Cristendom and is men euerichon
And to þe ioie of heuene wende and so hom was wel bet
Þanne wende to helle pine and serui hore maumet
Þus sein Cristofore attelaste þe hexte God out soȝte
Nou God us bringe to þulke ioie þat he is soule broȝte