[Sidenote: 1322-56.]
From Hebron we proceed to Bethlehem in half a day, for it is but
five miles; and it is a very fair way, by pleasant plains and woods.
Bethlehem is a little city, long and narrow and well-walled, and on
each side enclosed with good ditches. It was formerly called Ephrata,
as Holy Writ says, “Lo, we heard of it at Ephrata.” And towards the
east end of the city is a very fair and handsome church, with many
towers, pinnacles, and corners, strongly and curiously made, and
within are forty-four great and fair pillars of marble; and between
the city and the church is the Field _Floridus_,--that is to say,
the _field flourish-ed_. For a fair maiden was blamed with wrong,
and slandered, for which cause she was condemned to be burned in
that place; and as the fire began to burn about her, she made her
prayers to our Lord that, as truly as she was not guilty, he would
by his merciful grace help her, and make it known to all men. And
when she had thus said she entered into the fire, and immediately
the fire was extinguished, and the fagots that were burning became
red rose-bushes, and those that were not kindled became white
rose-bushes, full of roses; and these were the first rose-trees and
roses, both white and red, that ever any man saw. And thus was this
maiden saved by the grace of God; and therefore is that field called
the field that God flourished, for it was full of roses.