1170 extract
“Upon this, as though he had but that moment commenced to live, he used all endeavors, by spiritual exercises, to redeem the moments of his past life; and knowing that this life is but a journey and a warfare, in order that he might be sanctified in body, and disembarrassed in spirit by vices, armed with virtues, he girded himself up for the race, and prepared himself for the struggle of the conflict. Therefore, in finishing his race, he ran not as uncertainly, and, in fighting well, he did not fight as one that beateth the air. Then almost all his thoughts and discourse were upon the end of this life and the troubles of its path. Sometimes, also, in his discourses delivered to his brethren, the monks of the church of Canterbury, and the clergy and people of that city, he would say: I have come to you to die among you. And sometimes he would say: In this church there are martyrs, and, before long, God will increase the number of them. This he said, signifying by what death he should glorify the Lord.”

Drawn from Roger of Hoveden’s Chronicle Internet Medieval Source Book

Note the key words here: “journey,” “warfare,” “Path.” Note the world view.