From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Man of Law's Tale, lines 911-924

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 897-910:
Meanwhile, Constance drifts at sea for five years before she reaches land

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Man of Law's Tale
lines 911-924: A thug attempts to rape Constance

	Doun fro the castel comth ther many a wight
	To gauren on this ship and on Custance,
	But shortly from the castel on a nyght
	The lordes styward - God yeve hym meschance!-
915	A theef that hadde reneyed oure creance,
	Cam into the ship allone, and seyde he sholde
	Hir lemman be, wherso she wolde or nolde.

	Down from the castle came full many a wight
	To stare upon the ship and on Constance.
	But briefly, from the castle, on a night,
	The warden's steward- God give him mischance!-
915	A thief who had renounced allegiance
	To Christ, came to the ship and said he should
	Possess her body, whether or not she would.

Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon!

Hir child cride, and she cride pitously,

920 But blisful Marie heelp hir right anon,

For with hir struglyng wel and myghtily,

The theef fil over bord al sodeynly,

And in the see he dreynte for vengeance,

And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept Custance.

Woe for this wretched woman then began,

Her child cried out and she cried, piteously;

920 But blessed Mary helped her soon; the man

With whom she struggled well and mightily,

This thief fell overboard all suddenly,

And in the sea was drowned by God's vengeance;

And thus has Christ unsullied kept Constance.

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 925-952:
Biblical examples about protection