Although teaching the gospel was their life's work, they made shoes for the poor. Arrested and led before the Roman authorities, they were urged to recant. Whereupon millstones were hung about thier necks and they were thrown into the Aisne river. But both had the makings of sainthood in them even then and they refused to drown. At this point they were thrown into a cauldron of boiling lead followed by a cauldron of pitch, fat and oil but again, they emerge unscathed.
Legend even suggests that they frolicked and sang until delivered by an angel.
Arriving in Faversham in the middle of the night they knock on a door from which merry song is emanating. This turns out to be the house of Robards, a master shoemaker. Impressed by their manners, Robards takes them in. Straight away they enter into a seven year apprenticeship. Sent to Canterbury with shoes for Ursula, the Emperors daughter, Crispin is struck by her beauty and falls in love with her.