Diese Legende gehört zu der Gruppe der westnördlichen alliterirenden (grossen|theils ungereimten) Dichtungen der 2. Hälfte des 14. Jhdts, wie Troy Book, Morte Arthur, Gawayne, Alliter. Poems ed. Morris, Susanne u. a., denen von anderer Seite schottischer Ursprung (als Werke des schottischen Dichters Huchowne) vindicirt wird. Skeat in seinem Verzeichniss der alliterirenden Dichtungen führt diese Legende nicht auf und scheint sie also nicht gekannt zu haben; vgl. An Essay on Allit. Poetry, by W. Skeat. Der Stil hat den Character des Grossartigen und Erhabenen, in den Formen und im Geiste der angelsächsischen Poesie, deren künstliche Wiederbelebung die spätern alliterirenden Dichtungen erzeugt hat.
At Londone in Englonde, noȝt fulle longe sythene
Sythene Crist suffride one crosse & cristendome stablyde,
Ther was a byschop in þat burghe, blessyd & sacryd:
Saynt Erkenwolde, as I hope, þat holy mon hatte.
In his tyme in þat tone þe temple aldergrattyst [Ms. ton,]
Line 5
Was drawene done, þat one dole to dedifie new, [Ms. don mit Abbr. für e, = toun doun.] [dole = dale part. dedifie = edifie, zur Allitter., wie v. 23 u. daungerde = angerde 320.]
For hit hethene had bene in Hengyst dawes,
Þat þe Saxones vnsaȝt hadene sende hyder. [vnsaȝt dissatisfied.]
Þai bete oute þe Bretons & broȝt hom in-to Wales,
& peruertyd alle þe pepul þat in þat place dwellide.
Line 10
Þene wos this reame renaide mony ronke ȝeres,
Til saynt Austyne in-to Sandewiche was sende fro þe pope: [renaide = renegade, disbelieving, so M. Arth. 2913, 3572, 3892.]
Þen prechyd he here þe pure faythe & plantyd þe trouthe
& conuertyd alle þe communnates to cristendame newe.
He turnyd temples þat tyme þat temyd to þe deuelle,
Line 15
& clansyd hom in Cristes nome & kyrkes home callid,
He hurlyd owt hor ydols & hade hym in sayntes, [hym acc. pl. (sonst hom).]
& chaungit cheuely hor nomes & chargit home better:
Þat ere was of Appolyne, is now of saynt Petre,
Mahone to saynt Margrete oþer to Maudelayne,
Line 20
Þe Synagoge of þe sonne was sett to oure lady,
Jubiter & Jono to Jhesu oþer to James.
So he home dedifiet & dyght alle to dere halowes,
Þat ere wos sett of Sathanas in Saxones tyme.
Now þat Londone is neuenyd, hatte "þe new Troie" —
Line 25
Þe metropol & þe mayster-tone hit euermore has bene.
Þe mecul mynster þerinne a maghty deuel aght,
& þe title of þe temple bitan was his name,
For he was dryghtyne derrest of ydols praysid;
And þe solempnest of his sacrifices in Saxone londes,
Line 30
Þe thrid temple hit wos tolde of Triapolitanes —
By alle Bretaynes bonkes were bot othire twayne. —
Now of þis Augustynes art is Erkenwolde bischop
At loue Londone tone, & the laghe teches, [loue great, immense, vgl. lawe Troy B. 2441 (leue ib. 12555).]
