CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 ENGLISH COLLECTION 
 
 THE GIFT OK 
 
 JAMES MORGAN YUsSil 
 
 PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 92401 31 1 3349 
 
THE CHILD OF BRISTOWE 
 
 a iLegtenD 
 
 FOURTEENTH CENTURY 
 

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C!)rCstma£t : \8S6 
 
THE CHILD OF BRISTOWE 
 
 % iLegenli 
 
 FOURTEENTH CENTURY 
 
 CAMBRIDGE 
 JOHN WILSON AND SON 
 
 1886 
 
f\^ ^^5-^yO 
 
Affectionately offered to 
 
 EPES SARGENT DIXWELL 
 and 
 MARY INGERSOLL BOWDITCH DIXWELL. 
 
K'^5Zii<^ 
 
Tffls sweet old tale has been modernized enough to 
 make it easy reading, without sacrifice, I hope, of its 
 pristine flavor. 
 
 F. J. CHILD. 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 
 
 oX«o 
 
 I FOUND it written in olde hand 
 That sometime dwelled in Engeland 
 
 A squire mickle of might; 
 He had castles, towns, and towers, 
 Forests fair, and fields with flowers, 
 
 Wild beasts for his delight. 
 Law he followed a great while; 
 Poor men he learned to beguile, 
 
 All against the right; 
 Mickle goods he gathered had. 
 All with treason and deedes bad : 
 
 He feared not God Almight. 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 
 
 The goods that he had gathered then 
 Were got from many poore men, 
 
 The moste part with wrong; 
 He had a sone, sholde be his heir; 
 Of shape he seemly was and fair, 
 
 Of limbes large and strong. 
 So much his mind was on that child, 
 He reckte not whom he beguiled, 
 
 Worldly good to get. 
 And all to make his sone so rich 
 That no other might be his match: 
 
 On this his thought was set. 
 
 When the child was twelve year old 
 His father sent him to be schooled. 
 
 To learn to be a clerk; 
 So long to clergy he applies. 
 Till he. becomes both learned and wise. 
 
 And dreads all deedes dark. 
 The father said to his sone dear, 
 " Law thou now shalt learn a year, 
 
 And it cost me twenty mark; 
 For ever the better shalt thou be; 
 Then shall no man beguilen thee 
 
 Neither in word nor work." 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 
 
 The child answered when this he saw, 
 " They fare full well that learn no law, 
 
 And so I hope to do; 
 That life will I never lead, 
 To put my soul in so great drede, 
 
 To make God my foe. 
 To slay my soule, it were ruth; 
 Any science that is truth, 
 
 I shall assent thereto; 
 But to forego my soule's health 
 For any winning of worldly wealth. 
 
 That will I never do. 
 
 " It hath ever been my choice 
 To lead my life in merchandise, 
 
 To learn to buy and sell; 
 The money got in way of trade, 
 It seems to me, is truly made: 
 
 Therewith wolde I deal. 
 Here at Bristowe dwelleth one 
 Who is holden a just, true man, 
 
 As I have heard tell; 
 His prentis seven year will I be. 
 For to learn his mystery, 
 
 And with him will I dwell." 
 
lo The Child of Bristowe. 
 
 The squire unto Bristowe rade, 
 
 And with the merchant covenant made 
 
 Seven year to keep his sone; 
 Gold he gave him, great plenty, 
 The child sholde his apprentis be. 
 
 His science for to con. 
 The child took full well to lore; 
 In God his love was evermore. 
 
 As he had begun; 
 He grew up courteous of tongue, 
 All merchants loved him, old arid young, 
 
 In that countrj', every one. 
 
 Leave we the prentis at Bristowe, 
 And of his father speak we now. 
 
 That was so stiff and bold ; 
 So high advanced now was he. 
 There was no man in that country 
 
 Durst do but as he wolde. 
 Ever he practised usury. 
 Nor lent but on security 
 
 Of increase double-fold; 
 Tithes he never liste to pay. 
 And if the parsons ought wolde say. 
 
 He gave them comfort cold. 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 1 1 
 
 All things come to an end at last; 
 God on him such sickness cast, 
 
 He might no longer abide; 
 On his death-bed then he lay, 
 And drew toward his dying day. 
 
 For all his power and pride. 
 Then he sent for knights and squires. 
 Which were his neighbors and compeers 
 
 In that country-side; 
 He said among them every one, 
 " Sirs, my life is almost gone, 
 
 It may not be denied." 
 
 There was no man in that country 
 That his executor wolde be. 
 
 For good nor ill: for why? 
 They said his goods were gotten so, 
 They wolde not have therewith to do, 
 
 For dread of God on high.- 
 He prayed them; but they answered nay. 
 "Alas," said he, " and welaway ! " 
 
 With a rueful cry; 
 After his only sone he sent. 
 Unto Bristowe, verament, 
 
 But seven miles thence, hard by. 
 
1 2 The Child of Bristowe. 
 
 The child to the chamber took his way 
 Where his father on his death-bed lay, 
 
 And asked him of his cheer; 
 " Sone," he said, " welcome to me ; 
 I lie here, as thou mayst see; 
 
 My last day nigheth near. 
 But, sone, thou must be mine heir, 
 Of all my landes good and fair. 
 
 Of lordships, gold, and gear; 
 Therefore, sone, now pray I thee 
 Mine attorney that thou be. 
 
 When I am brought to bier." 
 
 The sone answered with wordes mild, 
 " Father, ye see I am but a child ; 
 
 Discretion have I not 
 To take such a charge on me; 
 By my faith, that shall not be: 
 
 I have not wit for that. 
 Here be knightes and esquires, 
 Which were your neighbors and compeers. 
 
 And many a worthy wight; 
 To take on me, if I sholde choose, 
 What all these worthy men refuse, 
 
 I were a fool outright." 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 1 3 
 
 "Sone," he said, "thou scapest not so, 
 That thou shalt learn before thou go ; " 
 
 He said, " I charge thee. 
 As before God thou wilt answere. 
 And as thou wilt my blessing bear, 
 
 My attorney that thou be." 
 "Ah, father! ye bind me with a charge. 
 And I shall bind you with one as large 
 
 As ye now bind me : 
 The same day fortnight that ye pass, 
 Appear, I charge you, in this place, 
 
 Your spirit let me see. 
 
 "For ye have bounden me so sare. 
 Your command, how so I fare. 
 
 Do I needes must; 
 Therefore I charge you to appear. 
 That I may see your soule here. 
 
 Whether it be saved or lost: 
 And that thou do no harm to me, 
 Nor no one that shall come with thee." 
 
 "Sone," he said, "I assent; 
 But alas that Iwas born, 
 That mannes soule sholde be lorn 
 
 For any gold or rent ! " 
 
14 The Child of Bristowe. 
 
 The parish priest anon was sought: 
 The sacrament with him he brought. 
 
 That died for mannes wo; 
 The father shrived him with herte sore, 
 .And cried God mercy evermore, 
 
 As it was time to do. 
 When God's time was, he went his way; 
 His sones song was welaway ! 
 
 For him his heart did wring; 
 He sought about from town to town 
 For priests and men of religfoun, 
 
 The dirges for to sing. 
 
 When they had brought him to his grave. 
 His sone, that thought his soul to save, 
 
 If God wolde give him leave, 
 All the substance his father had, 
 He sold it off, and money made. 
 
 And labored morn and eve. 
 He inquired in that country then 
 Where almes might be done to men, 
 
 And largely wolde he give; 
 Roads and bridges wolde he make, 
 And poor men, for Goddes sake, 
 
 He gave them great relief. 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 1 5 
 
 Who asked aught, content was made; 
 Thirty trentals of masses said 
 
 For his father's sake; 
 He stopt not till he had spent 
 AH his father's treasure and rent, 
 
 Amends to God to make. 
 By the time the fortnight's end was come 
 His gold was gone, all and some. 
 
 Many men of him spake; 
 And all the movables that there were, 
 He gave away, and wolde not spare. 
 
 To poor men that wolde take. 
 
 When that fortnight had come to end, 
 The child gan to the chamber wend 
 
 Where his father died; 
 Many good prayers did he say, 
 Adown he kneeled half a day, 
 
 His father to abide. 
 Between midday and none there came 
 A blast of thunder and lightning flame 
 
 Through the walles wide. 
 As all the place on fire sholde be: 
 The child said, " Benedicite ! " 
 
 And fast on God he cried. 
 
1 6 The Child of Brisiowe. 
 
 And as he ^as in his prayere, 
 Anon before him did appear, 
 
 Foul sights and sounds between, 
 His father, burning as a coal. 
 Whom a devil by the neck did haul 
 
 In a burning chain. 
 The child said : " I conjure thee, 
 Whateer thou be, to speak to me." 
 
 The other said again: 
 " I am thy father, that thee begat ; 
 Thou mayst behold now mine estate, 
 
 Lo now I dwell in pain 1 " 
 
 The child said : " Ah, woe is me, 
 In this plight that I you see ! 
 
 Mine heart it woundeth sore; " 
 " Sone, thus am I now bested 
 For the falseness," so he said, 
 
 " That I used evermore. 
 My goods were gotten wrongfully; 
 And unless restored they be. 
 
 With amends therefor. 
 An hundred years it shall be so; 
 Give me my troth, and let me go; 
 
 Till then my soul is lore." 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 1 7 
 
 "Nay, father, thus it shall not be; 
 In better estate I will you see, 
 
 If God will give me grace; 
 But ye your troth to me shall plight 
 This same day a fortenight 
 
 To apperen in this place. 
 And I shall labor, if I may. 
 To bring your soul in better way. 
 
 If I have life and space." 
 He promised him, all in great haste; 
 With that there came a thunder-blast. 
 
 And both their way did pass. 
 
 The child had never so great sorrow; 
 He rose up upon the morrow, 
 
 To Bristowe gan he wend; 
 To his master he gan say, 
 " I have served you many a day. 
 
 For God's love be my friend. 
 My father out of this world is past; 
 I am come to you in haste, 
 
 I have ever found you kind; 
 I need a little sum of gold ; 
 My heritage it shall be sold. 
 
 Top and root and rind." 
 
1 8 Th^ Child of Bristowe. 
 
 His master said: "What need for thee 
 To sell thine estate so hastily? 
 
 It were not for thy behoof; 
 If any bargain thou have bought, 
 For gold and silver care thou nought, 
 
 I shall lend thee right enough. 
 Have a hundred mark, if that thou lack. 
 Seven years — I will not ask it back — 
 
 Wherefore advise thee now; 
 For if thou sell thine heritage. 
 That sholde help thee, in thy young age, 
 
 An unwise man art thou." 
 
 " Gramercy," he said, " my master kind. 
 This was the proffer of a friend. 
 
 But truly it shall be sold; 
 A better bargain ye shall have 
 Than any man, so God me save. 
 
 For needs I must have gold." 
 He said, "What is it worth a year?" 
 " An hundred mark of money clear. 
 
 The steward this me told ; " 
 " Then shall I give thee three hundred pound, 
 Every penny whole and sound: " 
 
 The' young man said, " I hold." 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 1 9 
 
 " Dere master, I you pray, 
 
 Take the deeds, fetch me my pay, 
 
 For I must home again ; 
 I have affairs in an other place. 
 I pray you for a fortnight's space; 
 
 I shall repay, certain." 
 His maister loved the child so well. 
 The gold he fetcht, and did him tell. 
 
 Then was the child right fain ; 
 He took the money, and went his way: 
 Heavy on his heart his father lay, 
 
 That was in so much pain. 
 
 In church and market, all about. 
 
 Where his father lived, the child sent out 
 
 His proclamaffon : 
 What man or woman did there belong, 
 To whom his father had done wrong, 
 
 They sholde come to the sone, 
 And he wolde make amends therefor. 
 And their goods again restore. 
 
 To every man his own. 
 Even as they came he wolde repay, 
 And bade them for his father pray, 
 
 To bliss that he might gon. 
 
20 The Child of Bristowe. 
 
 When the fortnight's end was come, 
 His gold, was gone, all and some. 
 
 And he had no more; 
 Into the chamber he went that tide, 
 The same in which his father died, 
 
 And kneeled on the floor. 
 And as he was praying there, 
 The spirit gan to him appear. 
 
 Right as he did before. 
 Save there was no chain red hot: 
 Black he was, but he burnt not, 
 
 Though in anguish sore. 
 
 "Welcome," father," said the child; 
 And besought him with wordes mild, 
 
 " Tell me of your estate." 
 "Sone," he said, "the better for thee. 
 Blessed may the time be 
 
 That ever I thee begat! 
 Thou hast relieved me of much wo : 
 Fallen away the chain is now. 
 
 And the fiery heat; 
 But yet still I dwell in pain. 
 And ever so I must remain, 
 Till I fulfil my date." 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 2 1 
 
 "Father," he said, "I charge you tell 
 What is most against you still, 
 
 And gives you most distress." 
 "Tithes and offerings, sone," he said, 
 " For them I never truly paid ; 
 
 Wherefore pain may not cease. 
 Unless it be restored again. 
 To every church its due, certain. 
 
 And also with increase, 
 For me all that thou dost pray 
 Helps me not to the uttermost day 
 
 The value of two peas. 
 
 "Therefore I pray thee, hastily. 
 Give me the troth I left with thee. 
 
 And let me wend my way." 
 "Nay, father," he said, "ye get it nought; 
 Other help there shall be sought: 
 
 Yet again will I essay. 
 But your troth ye shall me plight 
 This same time a fortenight 
 
 To come to keep your day; 
 Ye shall appear here in this place. 
 And I shall try, with Goddes grace, 
 
 To better you, if I may." 
 
22 The Child of Bristowe. 
 
 The spirit wente forth in sorrow; 
 The child rose upon the morrow, 
 
 He tarried for no let. 
 He went to Bristowe for to find, 
 As before, his master kind; 
 
 And said, when him he met: 
 "When I have need, I come to you. 
 Master, but ye help me now, 
 
 Sorrow my heart will eat; 
 A litel sum of gold I lack, 
 Another bargain I wolde make : " 
 
 With that began to greet. 
 
 His master said : " Thou art a fool ! 
 Thou hast been at some bad school; 
 
 By my faith, I hold thee mad ! 
 For thou hast been playing at the dice. 
 Or else by some other vice 
 
 Hast lost what thou hast had. 
 Thou hast nought that thou mayst sell; 
 All is gone, as I hear tell: 
 
 Thy management is bad." 
 He said unto his master free, 
 "My body I will sell to thee. 
 
 For ever to be thy lad. 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 23 
 
 "Bondsman, to thee I will me bind, 
 Me and mine to the worldes end, 
 
 To help me in this need." 
 He said, "How much then woldst thou have?" 
 "Forty marks, and ye wolde vouchsafe, — 
 
 That sholde suffice indeed; 
 I hope that shall my cares dispell." 
 The burgess loved the child right well, 
 
 Let him no longer plead; 
 Forty pound he gan him bring: 
 "Sone, here is more than thy asking, 
 
 Almighty God thee speed ! " 
 
 "Gramercy, sir," the child did say, 
 " God requite you, who best may ; 
 
 True ye shall me find; 
 I have a thing or two to do; 
 A fortnight give me leave to go: 
 
 Still have I found you kind." 
 He gave him leave, he went his way; 
 Thinking on his father aye. 
 
 He was not out of his mind ; 
 To all the churches in that country 
 Where his father had dwelt the child went he, 
 
 He left not one behind. 
 
24 The Child of Bristowe. 
 
 He made atonement to every one; 
 By that time his money was gone, 
 
 They could ask of him no more; 
 But as he went along the street, 
 With a poor man he did meet. 
 
 Almost naked and frore; 
 Down on knees the poor man goes: 
 " For a quarter of corn your father owes, 
 
 Which I feared to ask him for. 
 For your father's soules sake, 
 Some amends I pray you make. 
 
 For him that Mary bore ! " 
 
 "Welaway!" said the younge man, 
 " For my gold and silver is gone ; 
 
 I have not wherewith to pay; " 
 Off his clothes he gan take. 
 And put them on the poor man's back ; 
 
 For his father bade him pray. 
 Hose and shoon he gave him too; 
 In shirt and breech himself did go, 
 
 He had no clothes gay; 
 Into the chamber that same tide 
 He wente, where his father died, 
 
 And kneeled half a day. 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 25 
 
 When he had kneeled and prayed long, 
 He thought he heard the joyfullest song 
 
 That earthly man might hear; 
 After the song he saw a light, 
 As 'twere a thousand torches bright, 
 
 It shone so fair and clear. 
 In that radiance there did stand 
 A naked child, in angel's hand, 
 
 And these words said he : 
 " Sone," he saide, " be thou blest. 
 That ever thou begotten wast. 
 
 And all that shall come from thee." 
 
 "Father," the sone said, "well is me 
 In such plight that I you see; 
 
 I hope God shall you save ! " 
 " Sone," he said, " I go to bliss ; 
 God Almighty requite thee this. 
 
 And grant thee thy goods to have. 
 Thou hast stript thyself full bare, 
 Me to free from sorrow and care; 
 
 My troth, good sone, I crave ; " 
 "Freely have thy troth," said he; 
 "And for thy blessing I pray thee. 
 
 If so thou wilt vouchsafe." 
 
26 The Child of Bristowe. 
 
 " All such blessing mayst thou have 
 As her sone Oiir Lady gave; 
 
 And mine on thee I lay ; " 
 Now that soul is gone to bliss. 
 With such joy as the angels' is, 
 
 More than I can say. 
 This child thanked God Almight, 
 And his mother, Mary bright. 
 
 That he had seen that day; 
 ■ Then to Bristowe is he gone, 
 In his shirt and breech alone. 
 
 He had no clothes gay. 
 
 When the burgess the child did see, 
 He said : " Benedicite ! 
 
 What array is this, my sone?" 
 "Truly, master," said the child, 
 " I am come myself to yield 
 
 To be your bondesman: 
 Whatsoever ye put me to, 
 I with all my might shall do. 
 
 While my life shall last." 
 The burgess marvelled at the sight: 
 "How camest thou in such a plight? 
 
 Tell me what hath past. 
 
The Child of Bristowe. 27 
 
 " For the old love twixt thee and me, 
 Tell me, sone, how it stands with thee, 
 
 Why thou goest in such array?" 
 " Sir, all my goods I have sold, iwiss. 
 To get my father to heavenly bliss. 
 
 For sooth as I you say; 
 For there was no man but me 
 His attorney that wolde be 
 
 At his dying day." 
 Then he told his master dear 
 How oft his father did appear, 
 
 And also in what way. 
 
 "And now his soul I have seen to bliss 
 Convoyed by the angeles. 
 
 May God thy guerdon send ! 
 For through thy treasure he is safe, 
 Arid I his dere blessing have; 
 
 My cares are at an end." 
 " Sone," be said, " may God .thee bless, 
 That woldst thyself make penniless 
 
 Thy father to redeem: 
 Speak thine honor may all mankind; 
 Such trusty friends are hard to find. 
 
 So true as thou to him." 
 
28 The Child of Bristowe. 
 
 His master said : " I shall thee tell : 
 Thou knowest how to buy and sell; 
 
 Here now I make thee 
 Mine, own partner in everywise, 
 Of worldly goods and merchandise, 
 
 For thy fidelity. 
 Also I have none in mine age 
 To receive mine heritage, 
 
 Of my body born to me; 
 Here 1 make' thee now mine heir. 
 Of all my landes good and fair; 
 
 Be thou viine attorney." 
 
 His master had him wedded soon 
 To a man's daughter of that town 
 
 Who was of worthy race, 
 And when his master dear was dead. 
 Into all his goods he entered, 
 
 Chattels, lands, and place. 
 Thus hath this young man outlived* his care. 
 First was rich, and after bare. 
 
 Then richer than ever he was: 
 Now he that made both hell and heaven, 
 And all the world, in dayes seven, 
 
 Grant us all his grace !