Where might this woman meat and drinkë have? Three year and more how lasted her vitaille? Who fed the Egyptian Mary in the cave Or in desért? no wight but Christ sans faille . Five thousand folk it was as great marvaille With loavës five and fishës two to feed: God sent his foison at her greatë need.
She drived forth into our oceán Throughout our wildë sea, till at the last Under an hold, that nempnen I not can, Far in Northumberland, the wave her cast, And in the sand her ship sticked so fast, That thennës would it not in all a tide: The will of Christ was that she should abide.
The Constable of the castle down did fare To see this wreck, and all the ship he sought, And found this weary woman full of care; He found also the treasure that she brought: In her languágë mercy she besought, The life out of her body for to twin, Her to deliver of woe that she was in.
A manner Latin corrupt was her speech, But algate thereby was she understond. The Constable, when him list no longer seech, This woeful woman brought he to the lond. She kneeled down, and thanked Goddë’s sond; But what she was she would to no man say For foul nor fair, although that she should dey.
She said, she was so mazed in the sea, That she forgot her mindë, by her truth. The Constable had of her so great pity And eke his wifë, that they wept for ruth: She was so diligent withoutë slouth To serve and please every one in that place, That all her lov’d, that looked in her face.
The Constable and Dame Hermegild his wife Were Pagans, and that country every where; But Hermegild lov’d Constance as her life; And Constance had so long sojourned there In orisons, with many a bitter tear, Till Jesus had converted through His grace Dame Hermegild, Constábless of that place.