The original manuscript no longer survives but it was copied and rendered into English in the 15th century.
It is only the Latin life which can have been composed in the reign of Henry II. The English version, which contains a few amplifications, is proved by its language to be of later date, and since the existing Latin manuscript and the English were clearly written on parchment at the same period, the date of the English version fixes that of the manuscript as it stands. The language is Middle English, and the character that of about the year 1400.2
The Court in which Raherus moved, before he took the cowl, was that of Henry I, reputed to be a notably witty king. His Court loved a good party. The young jester (a title some give him, others “minstrel”) chose his strategy well, then.
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CAPITULUM II. WHAT LYEF HE LEDDE A FORN HIS CONVERSION.3 |
CHAPTER II. WHAT LIFE HE LED BEFORE HIS CONVERSION. |
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Thys mann sprongyng or boryn of lowe lynage, whan he attayned the floure of yougth, he began to haunte the housholdys of noble men and the palices of prynces, where undir every elbowe of them, he sprede her coshynys with japys and flatterynges, delectably anoyngtyng her eerys, by this maner to drawe to hym ther frendschippis. And ȝitte he |
This man springing or born of low lineage, when he attained the flower of youth, he began to haunt the households of noblemen and the palaces of princes, where under every elbow of them, he spread their cushions with japes4 and flatterings, delectably anointing their earss by this manner to draw to him their friendships. And yet he |
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was nat content with this, but ofte hawntid the kynges palice, and amonge the noysefull prese of that tumultuous courte inforsid hymself with jolite and carnale suavyte, bv the whiche he myght drawe to hym the hertvs of many oone, ther yn spectaclis, yn metys, yn playes, and othir courtly mokkys and trifyllys intendyng, he ledeforth the besynesse of alle the day. And nowe to kvnges attendens, now |
was not content with this, but oft haunted the king's palace, and among the noisefull press of the tumultuous court enforced himself with jollity and carnal suavity, by which he might draw to him the hearts of many one, there in spectacles, in meets, in plays, and other courtly mocks and trifles intending, he lead forth the business of all the day. And now to king's attendance, now |
followyng the entente of grete men presid yn proferynge servyce that mvght plece them, besily so occupied hys tyme that he myghte opteyne the rathir the peticions that he wolde desire of them. Thiswyse to kyng and grete men gentylls and courtyours y knowen, famylier and felowly he was nat content with this, but ofte hawntid the kynges palice, and amonge the noysefull prese of that tumultuous courte inforsid hymself with jolite and carnale suavyte, bv the whiche he myght drawe to hym the hertvs of many oone, ther yn spectaclis, yn metys, yn playes, and othir courtly mokkys and trifyllys intendyng, he ledeforth the besynesse of alle the day. And nowe to kvnges attendens, now followyng the entente of grete men presid yn proferynge servyce that mvght plece them, besily so occupied hys tyme that he myghte opteyne the rathir the peticions that he wolde desire of them. Thiswyse to kyng and grete men gentylls and courtyours y knowen, famylier and felowly he was. This manere of levynge he chose yn his begynnyng, and yn this exercisid his yougth; but the inwarde seer and mercyfull God of all, the whiche oute of Mary Magdalene cast oute vii feendys, the whiche to the fiysshere ȝave the keyes of hevyn mercyfully convertid this man fro |
following the intent of great men pressed in proffering service that might please them, busily so occupied his time that he might obtain the rather the petitions that he would desire of them. Thiswise to king and great men gentles and courtiers known, familiar and fellowly he was not content with this, but oft haunted the king's palace, and among the noisefull press of the tumultuous court enforced himself with jollity and carnal suavity, by which he might draw to him the hearts of many one, there in spectacles, in meets, in plays, and other courtly mocks and trifles intending, he lead forth the business of all the day. And now to king's attendance, now following the intent of great men pressed in proffering service that might please them, busily so occupied his time that he might obtain the rather the petitions that he would desire of them. Thiswise to king and great men gentles and courtiers known, familiar and fellowly he was. This manner of living he chose in his beginning, and in this exercised his yougth; but the inward seer and merciful God of all, the which out of Mary Magdalene cast out 7 fiends, the which to the fisher gave the keys of heaven mercifully converted this man from the |
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the erroure of hys way, and addid to hym so converted many ȝiftys of vertu, for why: they that are fonnysche and febill in the worldys reputacion, oure Lorde chesith, to confounde the myghte of the worlde. |
error of his way and added to him so converted many gifts of virtue, for why: they that are funnish5 and feeble in the world's reputation, our Lord chooseth, to confound the mighty of the world. |
At some point, Rahere decided that the first half of his life had been dedicated to sinful pursuits and hs wished to dedicate the second to godly pursuits. Toward this end he undertook a pilgrimage to Rome. On the way Rahere was overcome with a nightmare of the dread punishments of sin. While the weight of it made him cry out in terror
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apperid a certeyn man pretendynge in chere the majeste of a kvnge of grete bewte, and imperiall auctorite, and his yie on hym fastynd,... And than saide he, " I am Bartholomew the Apostle of Ihu Crist that come to socoure the,...6 |
appeared a certain man pretending in cheer the majesty of a king of great beauty, and imperial authority, and his eye on him fastened,... And then said he “I am Batholomew the Apostle of Jesus Christ that come to succor thee,... |
As the price of his rescue, Raherus was directed to build St. Bartholomew Church, in Smithfield, in London, upon his return. Surely, the vast number of friendships he'd made with king and nobleman during his time as party boy all but guaranteed that he would receive a royal grant to found the church and its auxiliaries. Also that he would be the first Prior for some 20 years.
Rahere got still more for his troubles. To this day biographers have expanded his life with highly amusing stories. Often of him as Prior, in his monk's robes, juggling and singing songs in order to raise necessary funds to expand his church. No one seems to be able to trace these stories to a source.
1 Alternately known as Raherus de Aire, Rahere, Royer, Rayer.
2Moore, Norman. The Book of the Foundation of St. Bartholomew's Church in London (1886). xli-xlii.
3Ibid., 45-6.
4japes] jokes
5funnish] foolish
6Moore, xlviii.
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