Heathens and Saints: St. Erkenwald in Its Legendary Context.

Notes significant differences between the salvation of the righteous judge of St. Erkenwald and that of Trajan in PPl. Trajan is saved by his own righteousness, without the mediation of sacraments and without even having been resuscitated and converted (as would have been expected of a pagan born after Christ who had lived in knowledge of Christianity). St. Erkenwald’s treatment of the theme may seek to “correct” the anti-ecclesiastical bias of versions such as Langland’s and Wyclif s by stressing the role and prestige of the bishop and the visible sacramental church.