An Attempt To Date
the Crucifixion
July, 2014
G.D.O'Bradovich III
citations
The Oxford English Dictionary has been consulted for this research. Secondary sources are in red.
1225?c (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 16
Falleð acneon to þe crucifix.
1320c tr. J. Bonaventura Medit. 608
Beholde þe peynes of þy sauyour, And crucyfye þyn herte with grete dolour.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 241
Þet word þet..sainte paul zayde..‘Þe wordle..is y-crucefyed to me and ich to þe wordle’.
1340c R. Rolle Prose Treat. (1866) 10
Haly crosses..are in syngne of Cryste crucyfiede.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 2 Sam. xxi. 6
Be there ȝouun to us seuen men of the sonys of hem, that we crucifien hem to the Lord in Gabaa of Saul.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gal. v. 24
Thei that ben of Crist, han crucified her fleisch with vices and concupiscencis.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) John xviii. 15
Thei cryeden, seyinge, do awey, do awey, crucifie hym.
1387▸ J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 399
Wiþ a crucifix i-peynt in a table.
14.. Prose Legends in Anglia VIII. 155
Þe deþe of þe crucifix [L. mortem crucifixi].
1400a (1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18273
Þis ilk iesu to crucifi [Trin. Cambr. crucifie; c1460 Laud Crucefie].
1430c Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1554) viii. xiii. 185 a,
Where that euer he hath perceiued Crosse or crucifix, he brake them vengeably.
1450c Mirour Saluacioun 1708
Crist praying for his Crucifixours.
1471 G. Ripley Compound of Alchymy x, in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chem. Britannicum (1652) 178
Whych must be Crusyfyed and examynat.
1483 Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. 168v/2,
To fore the ymage of the crucyfyxe.
1484 Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) ciiii. 141
He bare the Crosse for to be theron crucifixed.
1513a R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. ccxxxiii. f. clv,
About this tyme..ye Iues vpon Ester euyn, crucifyed a chyld named wyllyam in ye Cytie of Norwych.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. CCiiiv,
Suche may..with mekenesse approche to the crucifixe and stande by him.
1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) 1 Cor. i. 23
But we preache Christ crucified.
1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) Rom. vi. 6
Oure olde man is crucified with him also, that the body of synne myght vtterly be destroyed.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Acts 37 b,
A professoure of the crucified.
1553 Act 1 Mary Sess. 2. c. 3 §4
If anye person..shall..deface..or..breake any aulter..or any crucifixe or Crosse.
1596 Spenser Hymne Heavenly Love 244
Twixt robbers crucifyde.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. i. 379
Messias..mockt, beat..cruci-fixt.
1609 Bp. J. Hall Passion-serm. 90
The Crosse was a slowe death..whence, a second violence must dispatch the crucified.
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy Democritus to Rdr. 14
As much trouble as to perfect the Motion of Mars and Mercurie, which so much crucifies our Astrologers.
1633 J. Shirley Bird in Cage ii. i,
I do not despair..You see I do not wear my hat in my eyes, crucify my arms.
1634a W. Austin Devotionis Augustinianae Flamma (1635) 114
To take up our Crosse, and become, like him, a Crucifix.
1635 J. Swan Speculum Mundi i. §3. 17
Crucifixt For our foul sinnes.
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. N4,
Do you prove What Crucifixions are in Love?
1648 W. Carter Light in Darknesse 7
Which is a crucifying thing to sinfull flesh.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar ii. ix. 118
He that sweares by the Crosse, sweares by the Holy Crucifix, that is, Jesus crucified thereon.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar iii. §15. 132
The accidents happening from the apprehension till the crucifixion of Jesus.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar iii. xv,
Malefactors and persons to be crucified.
1652a J. Smith Select Disc. (1660) i. ii. 14
The faint struglings of an Higher life within them, which they crucifie again by their wicked Sensuality.
1660 Bp. J. Taylor Ductor Dubitantium I. ii. iii. Rule 9 §31
The brazen serpent..was but a type and a shadow of the holy crucifix.
1666 S. Pepys Diary 20 July (1972) VII. 211
To Lovetts, there to see how my picture goes on to be varnished (a fine crucifix).
1674 S. Butler Epist. to Sidrophel in Hudibras (new ed.) ii. 393
William Pryn's [ears], before they were Retrench'd, and Crucify'd.
1682 T. Ken Serm. at Funeral Lady Mainard 131
With a crucifying..Remembrance of her crucifi'd Saviour.
1694 W. Westmacott Θεολοβοτονολογια 17
This crucifying Malady.
1702 J. Young in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 23 1280
After she had been thus crucified four days her Urine also stopt.
1705 W. Penn in Mem. Hist. Soc. Pennsylvania (1872) X. 71,
I am a crucified man between Injustice and Ingratitude there, and Extortion and Oppression here.
1711a T. Ken Hymnarium in Wks. (1721) II. 111
They'll be my constant Crucifixions here.
1728 Pope Dunciad i. 154
Old puns restore, lost blunders nicely seek, And crucify poor Shakespear once a week.
1729a R. Moss Serm. (1738) VIII. 364
The Jews, who had no such legal Punishment as Crucifixion.
1792 R. Cumberland Calvary (1803) II. 50
Their crucifying clamor.
1225?c (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 16
Falleð acneon to þe crucifix.
1320c tr. J. Bonaventura Medit. 608
Beholde þe peynes of þy sauyour, And crucyfye þyn herte with grete dolour.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 241
Þet word þet..sainte paul zayde..‘Þe wordle..is y-crucefyed to me and ich to þe wordle’.
1340c R. Rolle Prose Treat. (1866) 10
Haly crosses..are in syngne of Cryste crucyfiede.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 2 Sam. xxi. 6
Be there ȝouun to us seuen men of the sonys of hem, that we crucifien hem to the Lord in Gabaa of Saul.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gal. v. 24
Thei that ben of Crist, han crucified her fleisch with vices and concupiscencis.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) John xviii. 15
Thei cryeden, seyinge, do awey, do awey, crucifie hym.
1387▸ J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 399
Wiþ a crucifix i-peynt in a table.
14.. Prose Legends in Anglia VIII. 155
Þe deþe of þe crucifix [L. mortem crucifixi].
1400a (1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18273
Þis ilk iesu to crucifi [Trin. Cambr. crucifie; c1460 Laud Crucefie].
1430c Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1554) viii. xiii. 185 a,
Where that euer he hath perceiued Crosse or crucifix, he brake them vengeably.
1450c Mirour Saluacioun 1708
Crist praying for his Crucifixours.
1471 G. Ripley Compound of Alchymy x, in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chem. Britannicum (1652) 178
Whych must be Crusyfyed and examynat.
1483 Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. 168v/2,
To fore the ymage of the crucyfyxe.
1484 Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) ciiii. 141
He bare the Crosse for to be theron crucifixed.
1513a R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. ccxxxiii. f. clv,
About this tyme..ye Iues vpon Ester euyn, crucifyed a chyld named wyllyam in ye Cytie of Norwych.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. CCiiiv,
Suche may..with mekenesse approche to the crucifixe and stande by him.
1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) 1 Cor. i. 23
But we preache Christ crucified.
1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) Rom. vi. 6
Oure olde man is crucified with him also, that the body of synne myght vtterly be destroyed.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Acts 37 b,
A professoure of the crucified.
1553 Act 1 Mary Sess. 2. c. 3 §4
If anye person..shall..deface..or..breake any aulter..or any crucifixe or Crosse.
1596 Spenser Hymne Heavenly Love 244
Twixt robbers crucifyde.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. i. 379
Messias..mockt, beat..cruci-fixt.
1609 Bp. J. Hall Passion-serm. 90
The Crosse was a slowe death..whence, a second violence must dispatch the crucified.
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy Democritus to Rdr. 14
As much trouble as to perfect the Motion of Mars and Mercurie, which so much crucifies our Astrologers.
1633 J. Shirley Bird in Cage ii. i,
I do not despair..You see I do not wear my hat in my eyes, crucify my arms.
1634a W. Austin Devotionis Augustinianae Flamma (1635) 114
To take up our Crosse, and become, like him, a Crucifix.
1635 J. Swan Speculum Mundi i. §3. 17
Crucifixt For our foul sinnes.
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. N4,
Do you prove What Crucifixions are in Love?
1648 W. Carter Light in Darknesse 7
Which is a crucifying thing to sinfull flesh.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar ii. ix. 118
He that sweares by the Crosse, sweares by the Holy Crucifix, that is, Jesus crucified thereon.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar iii. §15. 132
The accidents happening from the apprehension till the crucifixion of Jesus.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar iii. xv,
Malefactors and persons to be crucified.
1652a J. Smith Select Disc. (1660) i. ii. 14
The faint struglings of an Higher life within them, which they crucifie again by their wicked Sensuality.
1660 Bp. J. Taylor Ductor Dubitantium I. ii. iii. Rule 9 §31
The brazen serpent..was but a type and a shadow of the holy crucifix.
1666 S. Pepys Diary 20 July (1972) VII. 211
To Lovetts, there to see how my picture goes on to be varnished (a fine crucifix).
1674 S. Butler Epist. to Sidrophel in Hudibras (new ed.) ii. 393
William Pryn's [ears], before they were Retrench'd, and Crucify'd.
1682 T. Ken Serm. at Funeral Lady Mainard 131
With a crucifying..Remembrance of her crucifi'd Saviour.
1694 W. Westmacott Θεολοβοτονολογια 17
This crucifying Malady.
1702 J. Young in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 23 1280
After she had been thus crucified four days her Urine also stopt.
1705 W. Penn in Mem. Hist. Soc. Pennsylvania (1872) X. 71,
I am a crucified man between Injustice and Ingratitude there, and Extortion and Oppression here.
1711a T. Ken Hymnarium in Wks. (1721) II. 111
They'll be my constant Crucifixions here.
1728 Pope Dunciad i. 154
Old puns restore, lost blunders nicely seek, And crucify poor Shakespear once a week.
1729a R. Moss Serm. (1738) VIII. 364
The Jews, who had no such legal Punishment as Crucifixion.
1792 R. Cumberland Calvary (1803) II. 50
Their crucifying clamor.
citations in chronological order
The following is the above list without secondary sources.
1320c Beholde þe peynes of þy sauyour, And crucyfye þyn herte with grete dolour.
14.. Þe deþe of þe crucifix [L. mortem crucifixi].
1450c Crist praying for his Crucifixours.
1483 To fore the ymage of the crucyfyxe.
1526 Suche may...o the crucifixe and stande by him.
1534 But we preache Christ crucified.
1534 Oure olde man is crucified with him ...
1548 , A professoure of the crucified.
1553 If anye person..shall..deface..or..breake any aulter..or any crucifixe or Crosse.
1596 Twixt robbers crucifyde.
1605 Messias..mockt, beat..cruci-fixt.
1609 The Crosse was a slowe death... dispatch the crucified.
1621 ... which so much crucifies our Astrologers.
1633 I do not despair..You see I do not wear my hat in my eyes, crucify my arms.
1635 Crucifixt For our foul sinnes.
1648 ... Do you prove What Crucifixions are in Love?
1648 Which is a crucifying thing to sinfull flesh.
1649 ... the Holy Crucifix, that is, Jesus crucified thereon.
1649 ... the apprehension till the crucifixion of Jesus.
1649 Malefactors and persons to be crucified.
1660 ... a type and a shadow of the holy crucifix.
1674 ... were Retrench'd, and Crucify'd.
1682 With a crucifying..Remembrance of her crucifi'd Saviour.
1694 This crucifying Malady.
1702 After she had been thus crucified...
1728 And crucify poor Shakespear once a week.
1320c Beholde þe peynes of þy sauyour, And crucyfye þyn herte with grete dolour.
14.. Þe deþe of þe crucifix [L. mortem crucifixi].
1450c Crist praying for his Crucifixours.
1483 To fore the ymage of the crucyfyxe.
1526 Suche may...o the crucifixe and stande by him.
1534 But we preache Christ crucified.
1534 Oure olde man is crucified with him ...
1548 , A professoure of the crucified.
1553 If anye person..shall..deface..or..breake any aulter..or any crucifixe or Crosse.
1596 Twixt robbers crucifyde.
1605 Messias..mockt, beat..cruci-fixt.
1609 The Crosse was a slowe death... dispatch the crucified.
1621 ... which so much crucifies our Astrologers.
1633 I do not despair..You see I do not wear my hat in my eyes, crucify my arms.
1635 Crucifixt For our foul sinnes.
1648 ... Do you prove What Crucifixions are in Love?
1648 Which is a crucifying thing to sinfull flesh.
1649 ... the Holy Crucifix, that is, Jesus crucified thereon.
1649 ... the apprehension till the crucifixion of Jesus.
1649 Malefactors and persons to be crucified.
1660 ... a type and a shadow of the holy crucifix.
1674 ... were Retrench'd, and Crucify'd.
1682 With a crucifying..Remembrance of her crucifi'd Saviour.
1694 This crucifying Malady.
1702 After she had been thus crucified...
1728 And crucify poor Shakespear once a week.
conclusion
There are three primary references to the Crucifixion in the 15th century. This is the same number of references to Communion in the same time frame (An Attempt To Date the Eucharist and Communion).
Due to the late introduction of "Crucifixion" and "communion", we are confident that the English speaking people were not familiar with Christianity until the 14th or 15th century. We agree with Edwin Johnson's conclusion that Christianity was almost unknown in England until the early 16th century.
How did the early English understand the Crucifixion? A Rood, a Rod, a Pole or a Cross
Due to the late introduction of "Crucifixion" and "communion", we are confident that the English speaking people were not familiar with Christianity until the 14th or 15th century. We agree with Edwin Johnson's conclusion that Christianity was almost unknown in England until the early 16th century.
How did the early English understand the Crucifixion? A Rood, a Rod, a Pole or a Cross