In the tenth century, Hrosvitha, the illustrious nun of Gandersheim in Saxony, composed a Latin poem on the story of Theophilus. In the eleventh century the legend was versified by Marbodus, Bishop of Rennes. There is a poem on the subject by Gaultier de Coincy. Other rhymed versions have been published by M. Achille Jubinal, and M. Paulin Paris. One of the best of the ancient poems is that of Rutebeuf, a trouvère of the thirteenth century. There are several older miracle plays on mysteries of Theophilus: one in French, published by M. Francisque Michel[1]; another in low German, published by M. Dasent[2]. The latter gentleman has collected a great number of pieces on Theophilus in various European languages, and quotes references to the legend in early French, Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Norman, and German writers.
Archbishop Ælfric (d. 1006) alludes to the story in his “Homilies;” S. Bernard also, in his “Deprecatio ad gloriosam Virginem Mariam;” Vincent of Beauvais, in his wonderful “Speculum Historiale;” S. Bonaventura, as a passionate devotee to the Virgin, could not omit it from his “Speculum
