the earth, and when he arose on the morn, he found his staff like a palmier bearing flowers, leaves and dates.
And then Christopher went into the city of Lycia, and understood not their language. Then he prayed our Lord that he might understand them; and so he did. And as he was in this prayer, the judges supposed that he had been a fool, and left him there. And then when Christopher understood the language, he covered his visage and went to the place where they martyred christian men, and comforted them in our Lord. And then the judges smote him in the face, and Christopher said to them: 'If I were not christian I should avenge mine injury.' And then Christopher pitched his rod in the earth, and prayed to our Lord that for to convert the people it might bear flowers and fruit, and anon it did so. And then he converted eight thousand men. And then the king sent two knights for to fetch him to the king, and they found him praying, and durst not tell to him so, And anon after, the king sent as many more, and they anon set them down for to pray with him. And when Christopher arose, he said to them: 'What seek ye?' And when they saw him in the visage they said to him: The king hath sent us, that we should lead thee bound unto him.' And Christopher said to them: 'If I would, ye should not ⟨bind⟩ me to him, bound ne unbound.' And they said ⟨to him⟩: 'If thou wilt go thy way, go quit, where (illegible text) wilt. And we shall say to the king that we (illegible text) not found thee.' 'It shall not be so,' said he, (illegible text) shall go with you.' And then he converted
