joy. The head
of St. Paul was cast in a valley, and for the multitude of other heads
of men that were slain and thrown there, it could not be known which it
was.

THE LIFE OF ST. CHRISTOPHER

Christopher tofore his baptism was named Reprobus, but afterward he was
named Christopher, which is as much to say as bearing Christ.
Christopher was of the lineage of the Canaanites, and he was of a right
great stature, and had a terrible and fearful cheer and countenance. And
he was twelve cubits of length, and as it is read in some histories
that, when he served and dwelled with the king of Canaan, it came in his
mind that he would seek the greatest prince that was in the world, and
him would he serve and obey. And so far he went that he came to a right
great king, of whom the renomee generally was that he was the greatest
of the world. And when the king saw him, he received him into his
service, and made him to dwell in his court. Upon a time a minstrel sang
tofore him a song in which he named oft the devil, and the king, which
was a Christian man, when he heard him name the devil, made anon the
sign of the cross in his visage. And when Christopher saw that, he had
great marvel what sign it was, and wherefore the king made it, and he
demanded of him. And because the king would not say, he said: If thou
tell me not, I shall no longer dwell with thee, and then the king told
to him, saying: Alway when I hear the devil named, I fear that he
should have power over me, and I garnish me with this sign that he
grieve not ne annoy me. Then Christopher said to him: Doubtest thou the
devil that he hurt thee not? Then is the devil more mighty and greater
than thou art. I am then deceived of my hope and purpose, for I had
supposed I had found the most mighty and the most greatest Lord of the
world, but I commend thee to God, for I will go seek him for to be my
Lord, and I his servant. And then departed from this king, and hasted
him for to seek the devil.

And as he went by a great desert, he saw a great company of knights, of
which a knight cruel and horrible came to him and demanded whither he
went, and Christopher answered to him and said: I go seek the devil for
to be my master. And he said: I am he that thou seekest. And then
Christopher was glad, and bound him to be his servant perpetual, and
took him for his master and Lord. And as they went together by a common
way, they found there a cross, erect and standing. And anon