So we read in Gregory’s Chronicle. In the Grey Friars’ Chronicle we find this:—
“A man of Oxenford faynyd hym to be Cryst, and was crucified at Addurbury.”
This explains the meaning of “cursyde” in the other chronicle.
The Chronicle of London (1827) says:—
“A man of Alderbery feynd hym Cryst, whiche was brought to Oxon’ and there he was crucifyed” (p. 11).
Capgrave, who wrote much later, but no doubt had before him some old writer, tells of a similar case of religious mania:—
“1221. There was accused eke a carl that procured men to nayle him on a crosse: for in handis and feet were seyn the woundes of the nayles, and in his side a wound eke: and in his fonnednesse he wold sey that he was so arayed for savacion of the world. He was put in prison for evyr, and nevyr to have othir repast but bread and watir.”
It will be seen that these cases occurred about the same time.[38] Was there an epidemic of religious mania, or is it possible that the different records are all versions of the same story?