behauyng of hem that he dwellyd amonge Sothely he complaynde that the hauke the whiche he bare on hys fyste paynful ly â—…are his hande with her â—…ylle scharpe cleys This â—…edeusnes of peyne he sofryd as he seyde by cawse that in hankyng the whiche he vsyd alle the tyme of hys lyfe gretely delytyd to see the hankys whenne they flowe howe they toke other byrddys The whi che haukyng he lefte not in hys aage + nethyr there of had any compunccyon For he knewe not that seche a thing were any synne Many other thingis also y sawe and behylde in this firste place of purga torye e. as we le aboâ—…te hem that y knewe as aboute other bothe of men women of alle degreys ê“fessyons of the whiche eueryche on of hem were po nyshte in peynys innumerable ful scharpe and byt terly as y haue schortely aboue seyde vnder a certen generalyte wherfore these fewe thingys seyde now of many thingys be suffycyaunt here at this tyme ¶ Of tho persons that he sawe in the secund place of purgatorye ¶ Ca xxxiiij nOwe of tho thingys the whiche y sawe and notyd in the second place of purgatorye suÌ„ what y wylle schewe declare to yow Sothely iÌ„ this secund place y sawe and knewe many mo that we re sum tyme of myne aquentanse than y dyd in a ny other place sore wepyng and sorowyng iÌ„ her pey nys her synnys by the whiche they had brokyn owre lordys â—…maundmentys wherfore they were alyenate made ferre fro his famylyare knowlege ¶ Of. iii. bysshoâ—…pys that y fonde there ¶ Ca xxxv tHre bysshoâ—…pys that y knewe wele sum tyme I sawe thâ—…re straytely bownde wyth fyrye thaynyâ—… oftyn tymes turnyng and walowyng ful myserabully now yn gret fyre and now yn scharpe stormys of hayle and snow and whyrle wyndys and aftyrward yn a fowle stynkyng ponde of blacke watyr Trewly they were ponysht dyuersly not fer from othyr And on of hem was more byttly torment than tothyr were and that was by cause he vsyd yn hys lyfe to sytte amonge secler ingys yn place and tyme of pledyng and ther yn he toke a grete plesure and delyte and of tyn tymes he was to many that pledyd her causis of god coÌ„sciens a vyolent oppressuâ—… agenst ryghte wesenes and therfore he compleynyd whyt an o pyn mowthe that hys tonge contynually brende yn flamys of fyre And as he was now breÌ„nyng yn fyre and now wete And styftely froryn yn snow and froste now yn a stynkyng ponde and now fowle ouerkeuryde yn fenne and plutte hys tonge euermore conteynuyd yn brennyng fyre The tothyr of hem othyr whyles neglygently brake hys chastyte the whyche deâ—…e specialy yn a byshoppe was ouerfowle and abhomynable and therfore was he drownde oftyn tymes yn the fowle and stynking ponde that lythe betwene the gret hete and colde as hyt ys seyde be fore Sothly a fore hys dethe he lefte the honowre and dignyte of hys byshoprye and toke apon hym the meke habette of a monke the whyche gretly helpyd hym amonge othyr dedys of satysfaccion And al that so done grete good ê“fette ther of cuÌ„myth to hem For al they specialy be holpyn by the meritys prayers of the holy seyn t ys the whiche vsid afore the same habette also ben knowyn markid to rise vppe ageyne in the ordyr of hem the whiche when they leuyd here vtward ly lefte this worlde or els at her laste ende in ful deuocyon forsoke this world The thirde of these bysho pys gretly delyted iÌ„ worldly worschippe vayne glo rye For the whiche synne he was ofte tymys bore vp an hye in fuâ—…hye spyrytys of flamys of fyre by cause he fille fro the loue of god by seche synne vnto the coolde of worldly slowfulnes he was lette done brenning to the grenys coolde that was on the todyr syde of the fyre be cause of the comyn euyl peynys that thes thre ware in was for the neglygens of soulys the whiche they had cure of for the gret carke that they had of her riches despexion of pore pepul for flatering of princys imoderate carke of her kynÌ„efolke as y may shortly â—…clude many thi gys in fewe wordys euÌ„ych on of hem sought safter tho thingys that was to him selfe not tho thiÌ„gys that longyth to our lorde thesu criste And the genÌ„al euyll of these many other pÌ„latys that y sawe was the negligeÌ„s of hâ—…r office delectacion of worldly wor schippe dyssymulacyon of her charge iÌ„ alle these thingys ful heuely they sorowyd by cause they mysu syd her powre that they had vndyr god to the grete hurte of hem selfe to the ê‘dicion of her sogettys therfore the peynys of al seche prelatys were dayly encresyd more more as y haue tolde before of a cer ten prior that what suÌ„ euÌ„ her frendys that leuyd in the worlde dyd for heÌ„ as in messys almysdede seche other thingis by the whiche her peynys shold be lessyd dayly her greuys peynys were encresyd for the synful leuyng of hem the whiche they dedly fauerd and brought vp iÌ„ her vicys orels be cause they dyd not correcte hem in dewe forme as yt longeth to her offy ce wherfore al they that for seche causys sofrid peynys gretly douted of her saluacioÌ„ were almoste iÌ„ despacion Sothly ther is no thing so greuys to he that be in peynys as the oncertente of her pelyuerans also ther ys no thiÌ„g that so mekyl swagyth the peynys sorowys of other as dothe a very hope feythefull truste the wyiche they knewâ— haue by oure lordys mercye to be delyueryd they that were certeyn to haue an ende of her peynys were not bonde to the certente of dampnacioÌ„ that same certente was to hem a ful grete solace ê¯forte For as touching the euyl hurte of desê‘acion as mekyl as y can consider re membre me after tho thingys that y sawe there hyt greuyth disesyth tormentyth tho soulys that haue hit more than al other peynys done ¶ Of an archebysshoppe of canturbery ¶ Ca xxxvi y sawe also besyde these aboue seyde a certen ê‘soÌ„ that sumtyme was of grete name fame the whiche after the meke conuÌ„sacion of moÌ„kys relygy on that he leuyd in before in the whiche he had leuid ful deuoutely as in bodely penauns in holy medytaci on s many other vertues right excellently at the last he was ê“motyd made archebishope of canturbery primate of inglonde But alas for sorow for trewly the more therby he grewe in the sight of the pe pul so mekyl he had fal decresyd iÌ„ the sight of god the whiche behilde him inwardly the sander had en did his life Èef he had not be holpe by the mercy of god the merytys of his good leuyng afore by the whiche when he was in relygyon a monke
brought to nought whyle the multytude of carnal and worldly men encresyn aboue noumbre home the fewnes of spyrytuall men sofryn chesyng rather to dyssymylle and not to knowe her euyll and so to reste hem selfe thaÌ„ by her blamyng and resysting stere and moue agenste hem the wrathe and trowbullus hastynes of suche euyl dysâ—… syd persons And thaught they soo do Èette they can not be fewer fro the spyes and frau dys of hem And as sum tym ysmael that was bore carnaly pursewyd ysâ—…at that was bore spyrytua ly that ya to seye by a spyrytual promyse of almigh ty god lyke wyse hyt is now For carnal folke ben ful greuys to spyrytuall pepul be cause they can not peruerte hem to her frawardnes Also many ther byn that gretely hyt ys to sorowe the whyche in her leuyng begunne spyrytualy but by ê“cesse of tyme owther they be ouercumme by onstabulnes or els ben dysceyuyd by sempylnes and also they falle done fro her purpose and begynnyng vnto the myserabul and wrechyd corrupcyon and slow fulnes of this world entysyd and drawyn by the examplys councelys of euyll desposyd persons Trewly these grete hirtys of relygyous leuyng the whyche before in the tyme of faders ful nobly flowryd schone as an heuynly lyght ful gretely beholdyth the â—…re latys of holy chyrche in thys dayes that knowen thys and despysen hyt m so mekyl that they vndyr stonde not hem selfe that hyt ys so wyth hem They knewe veryly what thynge they be cum to but they what thinge they schulde haue cum to be cause that they be cum to the luste and plesure of thys world but they schulde haue cum to the folowing of crystys pouerte and to the karke and dilygente kepyng of her cure that ys the pepul of god coÌ„ mytted to hem And therfore that they seche and that they care For that they be cum to and that they ha ue The pepul of god they fede not but distroye hem perauenture that they haue turnyd fro ryhhtwysnes they fleyn spirytually and lesyn for her coÌ„ formyng to hem not shewyng hem selfe faders pa stors but woluys and theuys Trewely the ê“mo tyng of suche persons kyngys and bysshoppys and other grete men procuron and gete and her soget t ys ful mekyll loke ther aftur not beyng rectors and faders but peruersours and destroyers of her sow lys the whiche thynkyn that alle thynge that ys vnder hem that lykyth ys leuefulle why by the right wes iugemente of god byn remys trowbuld and chyrchys confowndyd and the state of erthely for he vtwardly subuertyd And for seche demenyng they be acursyd of god the whyche schulde be deuowt and meke intercessours to god bothe for hym that byn a lyue and for hym that byn dede by hoys me ritys and prayers specialy the welfare of al crystyn dome myght be preseruyd and encresyd and al euyl fer put awey fro the pepul of god And whyle sent Nycholas conplaynyd of seche thynghes and of many othyr yu thys wyse and remembryd also so me thyngys that were of grete coÌ„mendacyon and laude of certen persons the whyche yn her tyme sto de ful manly yn seche perels and strenthyd othyr so to doo y saw ful many on euery syde me the whyche y knew be fore sore holdyn yn ful greuys peynys and tormentys Trewly y lokyd most apon hem that y knew a lytyl be fore and louyd ryght spe cialy ¶ Of an abasse also ¶ Ca xliiij oF the whiche a certen worschipful abbas was ther that blessedly paste thys same Èere owte fro thys world tawarde the euerlastyng lyfe and ioys of heuyn Sothely sche tolde me many thyngys bothe of her state that sche was paste and of her state that sche was yn also sche seyde many thigys to me the whyche y schulde telle to her owne naturale sisters that were vnder de tytyl of vâ—…gynyte amonge othyr holy virgenis yn the same monasterye that sche was abbas of by some certen tokyns of the whyche some y wolde telle that schulde be to the herers of hem ful graciê° good but that sche bade me telle hyt to no nothyr â—…aue to hem that sche commawndyd me Sche seyde also that sche hathe resceuyd mekyl releuyng and helpe of her peynys by the deuowte prayers and psalmys of her systers the seruantis of god tho home be fore sche was a spiritual modere And sche coÌ„mawndyd me to thanke hem for mony good dedys the whyche they haue done for her and for the sofragys of messys and othyr holy prayers that they haue gotyn for her as they myghte of certen re ligious persons And more ouer they haue made ordende to be offerd to oure lord dayly withoute any cesyng for me messys and other deuoute prayers And therfore lete him knowe withouten doute that they schalle haue therfore ful grete mede and y also haue scapyd ful scarpe peynys And yf they perseuere as they haue begunne sone y hope to scape the renande of my peynys Sche tolde my also that gre tely hyt helped her that before she was made abbas sche schewyd and behauyd her selfe with grete coÌ„ passyon ful mekely to some of her systers that were sore vexed wyth grete sekenesse or temptacyon and ful ofte dyd alle maner of seruyce deuowtely that were right foule and absecte in the monasterye ¶ Of. ii yonge nonnys that were lepurs ¶ xlv tHere were sche seyde on a tyme in owre place it yonge vyrgyns the whiche were ful sore infecte with the grete plage of lepur And for asmoche that in many placys of her bodyes the fle sche was falle downe to the bonys and the skynne aboue oftyn tymes horrably blyster owte of bleynys And alle my systers of owre monasterye lothyd alle moste to see or vysyte hem or to teche heÌ„ but to me me thoughte and semyd full swete to haue and opteyne hem yn my lappe or holde hem in my harmys and forthermore alsoo to weâ—…e hem in bathys and also to wype her sores wyth my ste nys they ful wele gladly sofryd that plage of lepur and tankyde god of that chastemeÌ„t and dys sese And so dely tyd hem yn hyt as they had rescey uyd of hym graciê° Èyftys of diuers ornamentys And where alytyl whyle agon they were peyryd yn the worlde by a longe martyrdome now ful bles sydly they folowyn the heuenly lambe her spowse ihesu cryste wyhtowtyn any spotte wher sum euer he goo And for the pety and charyte that y had and sche wyd to hem yn her nede y haue euermore had yn al my peynys a swyfte refreschyng and releuyng of helpe Also many othyr thynges the same abbas tol de me amonge the whyche sche complaynyd that for on thyng that she dyd she had sofryd sore peynys and that was by cause neglygently sche lefte a cer ten chylde a yonge scoler that was destitute of al hys frendys and was comyttyd to her of
he was cald for ageyne and whenne he was cumme he fownde me ded goÌ„ne Trewly ther ys no thyng of a thowsand peynys that y sofyr dayly so greuys to me as ys the vnhap py presentacion of my fowle and vnclene leuyng that y â—… yd in the world and now beyng here am compellyd to doo actually the same foule passyon And besyde the horrabulle gretnesse of peynys that y am in y am more confounded of schame whyle dat y am by the same synne made cursyd and abhomynable in the syght of al men Alas alas who euer wolde haue wende that the worschyppe and fauour the whiche y hadde amonge men sculde be turned to seche confusyon and despeâ—…ion as it is nowe wherfore ful gretely y am confowndyd and assha med for nowe to euery creature y appere foule and abhomynable the whiche before apperyd to euery man gloryous and honorabulle And thys he seyd with full sore and grete cryyng and wepyng And whyle y meruelde the wrechidnes and peynys of so grete a man sum tyme. y sawe howe he was ponysshte in innumerabulle wysys and by two tormentys he was brought as to nought and dyssoluyd by strenthe and here of fyre and so ma de lyquyd as ledys whenne hyt ys multe Sothely thanne y askyd sent Nycholas my leder yf this maÌ„ nys peynys myght be remedyde or helpe by any mene And thanne he seyde whanne the daye of dome ys cumme thenne 〈◊〉 crystys wille be fulfylle d He onely knowyth the hertys of alle men And then he wole doo to euery man ryghtfully Therfore I coude knowe no thyng for certen of this maÌ„nys de lyberacyon Therfore thoo thyngys the whiche we haue spokyn of here before may wele be consyderyd as the scripture seyth in thys wyse Non est ei bene qui assiduus est in malis elemosmam non danti that ys to saye hyt ys not wele with hym that ys be sye in euyll Nethir with hym that dothe non almys See nowe and consydre howe gretely they be holpe in placys of peynys by the doyng of almys dedys as oure lorde spekyth in the gospelle the whiche dyd hem in her lyfe Thys clerke in hys lyfe was wise and wyttye in hys owne conceyte and trusting to him selfe set ful lytyl to seche helpe of other by almis dede and good werkys for his synnys that hathe wrought nowe to hym damnacyon Loo so sone and sodenly he ys founde onwyse and madde Con ceyne nowe what ys here nowe seyde of thys clarke and a lytyl before what was seyde of a goldsmyth and opynly hyt confermethe the sentence of the scryp ture seyng in thys wyse Potenter potentes tormenta sustinebunt exiguo conceditur misericordia that ys to seye Myghty men myghtyly schalle sofyr tormentys and to a meke man ys graunted mer cye That goldsmyth and though he were a syner Èet was in hys owne syghte meke and lytyl the whi che nethir by hys connyng nerhyr of any othir ver tue presumyd but countyd hym selfe euermore on wyse and onstable by cause of hys synnys Therfo re by the mene of almys dedys and serues as he myght doo gate to hym the helpe and soffragys of hys grete and myghty aduocatour and patroÌ„ seynt Nycholas and so in tyme of nede he had â—…elpe and mercy as he desyred And also euyn contrarye wyse thys clarke of the excellente connyng ryches and worschippe that he hadde â—… cedyd forthe hys wekednesse And by cause he thoughte hym selfe excepte in this worlde fro the comon labur of men Lo in so cruell and byttur example he is not nowe ponysshte with othyr men Also y sawe there hys tonge hauyng forthe oute of his hede and be syly brennyng as hyt were abronde of fyre and that veryly he sofryd by cause that often tymes he perûted ryghtwesnes as a man myghty in wordys takyng Èeftys and mennys persons For he vsyd not only to iangyl idyle wordys but also froward ly in wordys contrarye to wrothe ouer mekyl he had excedyd Therfore no meruelle though he were po nyshte this wyse for suche excessys and fawtys whenne oure lorde spekyth in the gospelle of the ryche man the whiche for hys light speking and iangelyng at mete was sore ponyshte in hys tonge in a flame of fyre Sorthely after this came to me that worschyppefull pryste to home this clerke was confeste of hys smale synnys as hit ys rehersed before And amonge other thyngys the whyche this worschipful pryste herde of me y tolde howe this clarke afore seyde whenne he was confeste bade hym goo hys waye as for that tyme. and so anone dyde as hyt ys seyde before And when y had told him this he wepte ful bytturly and toke god to recorde that hit was very trouthe as y seyde and knewe wele that the forseyde clerke seyde so to hym Therfore on ly of that multytude of wrechys y knewe this clerke that this seyde to me sOthely thanne sone after that we were paste thys third place we came to a regyon where the soulys the whiche hadd done her purgacyon in purgatorye ioyfully restyd in the whyche place many y knewe wele and founde hem there in grete felycyte and conforte Trewely as touchyng the ioys of that place and the â—…ocundnes and gladnes of them that were there as oure lorde wylle Èeue vs grace we schall afterward schewe and declare but fyrst lete vs turne ageyne thys narracyon to thoes thynges the whyche we haue lefte oute of the peynys and merytys of some personys in especyalle the whyche y sawe and founde in tho placys of purga torye as hyt ys seyde before ¶ Of. ii personys that this monke sawe spake with in the first place of purgatorye and first with a prior ¶ Ca xxvii tHerfore a prior that was father of a relygy ous place the whiche y knewe full wele sum tyme dysceâ—…e and deyde this same yere And of hys maners and condycyons y knewe many thyngys the whiche y leue oute at this tyme by cause of schortenes Thys man and prior y sawe and knew amonge the firste that were in peynys of the fyrste place of purgatorye that we came to Trewly he was in ful grete and sore tormentys and sofryd ful greuys peynys sum tyme in fyre and sum tyme in stinkyng bathys of brimston pyche medild to gedyr hoys face and there was ouer wrechyd dedful And assone as he sawe me he began mekely to calle me and grete me whome with compassyon of herte y grete also and spake to hym many thyngys And y enquyryd of hym whethir he so freyd so grete peynys for the fawtys the whiche he dyd in youthe by cause perauenture he neglygently kepte hys ordre that he toke to hym in hys chyldho de And he seyde naye But neuertheles ful sore and byttyr peynys y sofre here not onely for myne owne synnys and excessys the whiche y dyd in myne own person howe be yt that y offendyth