A Fourteenth-Century Spanish Life of Saint Lawrence: Madrid, B.N. 10252

Abstract

[T]odos aquellos que son christianos deven oyr e entender las vidas e las pasiones de los santos martires, en tal que tomen ende alguna fazafia. Ca las fazafias d'aquellos que grandes martirios sufrieron por la ley de Dios tener e guardar nos puede en derecha carrera. E por esto, vos dezimos que deve omne de grado oyr e entender las vidas e las pasiones de los santos martires, ca por Nuestro Senor veo agora pocos martires prender muerte. B.N., MS 10252, f. 96ra With these words, the Castilian compiler of the Ystoria de santos explicitly states his reason for collecting and recounting the forty-eight holy lives contained in this volume: his audience should follow the examples contained therein, i.e., "que tomen ende alguna fazafia. " His exhortation is meant both to inspire and frighten believers into leading pious lives by imitating the laudable examples of the early Christian martyrs. Among the exemplary lives retold by the compiler is that of St. Lawrence.