Book Two - Chapter 9

Of a certain youth by name Robert.

A CERTAIN youth of comely person, Robert by name, brought up from boyhood among courtiers, was on his way from Northampton to London, when he happened to make passage through a very thick wood, in which he lay on the ground, being tired with his journey, so that, after being a little refreshed with light sleep he might, when he resumed his way, more briskly accomplish it. But, lo, while he sought rest he found toil, and while he meant to sooth his weary limbs with a little rest he was immeshed in the toils of his crafty foe. For sleep crept over him as he lay and took the sense from his mind and deprived his limbs of ordered movement. Verily, as he slept an ancient foe appeared to him, transformed into the appearance of a most beautiful woman, who seemed to sit at his side caressing his head. And when she had charmed him for some time with her baleful caresses, she put a little bird upon his mouth and thus disappeared. On being awaked, he was terrified at the unwonted vision, and the same hour he lost his wits and was deprived of the power of reason, and, knowing not what ought to be done and what left undone, under the influence of madness he ran wandering about, now this way and now that, and, not knowing what he was doing, rushed. headlong whither the impulse of his cruel fury drove him. At last he was captured near London and brought to the church of the blessed apostle Bartholomew, and there, shortly recovering his wits, sojourned some time, blessing God who deigned to bestow on His apostles the power of healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, and casting out devils.

 

The Book of the Foundation of St. Bartholomew's, Smithfield Rendered into Modern English from the original Latin version preserved in the British Museum, numbered Vespasian B. IX, by Mr. Humphrey H. King and Mr. William Barnard for use in the Records of St. Bartholomew's Priory by E.A. Webb.

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