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
hym for hys conforte or hys amendyment noo thyng hym helpyd but al turnyd contrarye Therfore he lay â–ª seke in hys bedde gretly destitute of bodely strenght so that he myght not moue hym selfe fro one place to anothyr butte by helpe of seruauntes Alsoo in thre the laste monethys of hys sekenesse he was more sorer diseasyd and feblyd thanne euer he was before Neuerthelesse than com myng on the feste of estur sodenly he beganne sum what to amende in hys bodely myghtys with his staffe walkyd aboute the fermorye Sothly on thes euyn of sherethursoaye in the whiche nyght the office and â—…ernyce of our lorde thesu criste ys tradycyon passyon was solenly songe wyth grete deuocyon 〈◊〉 wente with his staffe to the chirche with his brethereÌ„ the whiche by cause of seknesse rested hâ—…m also with hym in the fermorye where the couent nyghâ—…y seruyce and landes offerd vppe to owre lord And there by the respecte of heuynly grace so grete compunccion and swetenesse he resceyued that hys holy deno cyon excedyd mesure wherefore he myght not con teyne hym fro wepyng and laudyng god fro myd nyghte tyl sex of the belle in the mornyng what for remembryng wyth worshippe and ioye the merceis of owre lord the whiche he hath doon for mankin de And alsoo remembryng wyth sore wepyng his offencys and synnys doon by fore tyme. and the hurte and the state of hys present imperfeccyon And abowte sex of the belle in the mornyng he made to be called to hym ii of hys bretheren one aftyr anothyr whyche hadd power to here confessyons and gyue to penytentys absolucyon and to them bothe made purely and holly as mekyll as he cowde his ê¯fession of al his sennys and of the leest offeÌ„ce of his religyon or of the coÌ„mawndementis of god and wyth grete ê¯tricioÌ„ of herte and effusion of â—…eris desired his absolucion and had hiâ—… Than on of hem askid hym why he sorowde and wepte so iÌ„mode rately for al thei had wente that he shulde fele hym selfe sone to passe owte of thys worlde Than he seide he felte hym selfe no thing so Sothly thaÌ„ he toolde to his brother that diligently enquyryde this of hym and seide Sir Èe â–ª shal vndirstonde and know that thys laste night whenne we were togedyr in chaptur howse y resceyuyd so grete swrtenesse of herte and gladnesse of sowle that onnethis y myghte hoolde or bere my selfe He askyd also and hyt we re by the relygion that the prioâ—…rs shuld gene that nyght to the bretheren dyscyplynys in hooly vesture and aâ—…bys And whenne he herd hym enquyre this he hadde wente that he had seyd hyt of grete febulnesse of his hedde or by alyenacion of hys mynde the whiche perauenture he hadde falle in by his infirmyte and inmoderâ—…e weping or fastyng howe be hit that he with hym â—… ad meruailoê° wisdaÌ„ and discrecion al the tyme of hys sekenesse wherfore he coÌ„ mendyd hym to our lord no thing els en quyring of hym so went his weye The seke brother spendyd al that daye in landyng and presyng god And the next night folowing after he hadâ—…e slepte a lityll while rose vp of his bed And when the chaptur was roÌ„ge as the tyme requyred to calle the conent to mateâ—…s he went than to cherche as he did the daye before Sothely how he behauyd hym thenÌ„e in the chirche and whan he went thens hit shalle be schewyd in his wordys foloyng ¶ Howe he laye ê“strate al his body in the chaptur howâ—… as he had be dedde Ca ii oN the morow nexte foloyng that ys good fredaye whenne the coâ—…ent rose to cum to chirche to seye prime as they ede afore the chaptur hous they sawe the same seke brother lye pâ—…o strate bare foote before the abbot is sete hâ—…is face was flate to the ground as thaugh he shuld by the ordyr aske mercy of euery presydent Than the bre theren seyng this meruelyd raÌ„ne thedir willing to take hym vp they founde hym as a man lyfeles without any mocyon of any membre of his body Trewly his yes ware falle doun depe into his hâ—… ed tho yes nose of him ware blody or as a manne had oâ—…yr leyde hem with mekyl bloode wherfore they seyde alle that he was dede His feete ware ful coolde but in the remuande of his body was found a lytyl warmenes No mouing of his pypys might be knowen long tyme And aâ—… the last onnethis bit was perseyuyd in him a litill thynne breth amonyng of his herte Thenne they weshid his hâ—…edde breste handys and feete with colde watyr And than first they sawe al hys body a lityl to tremyl quake but aâ—…oon he sesyd and was insensybulle So long tyme they musyd and dowtyd what they might do to hym whyle they sawe hym not verily dedde nothyr any thing amendyng At the last by conselle they had him to his bedde there to be kepte with grete attendans of kepers ¶ Of the blody figure of the crosse ¶ Ca iii tHe mene whyle the brehetren merueled wondred on suche a soden happe beyng of the seke brother more they woÌ„ drid howe hyt 〈◊〉 and in what wise without any helpe he â—…yght come thedir to that place whâ—…the 〈◊〉 was Sothely othir thynges that nowe foloâ—… the whicâ—… 〈◊〉 telle of wyth oâ—…e any compâ—…rsone ben more to be dred feiyâ—… and worshipte than any thing aboue seyd They hâ—…e 〈◊〉 aftyr and that not wyth owte grete meâ—…elle that the feguâ—…e of owre lordys body 〈◊〉 on a crosse whiche fygure and crosse Èerely is wonce ful deuowtly to be kyssydâ—… and worsâ—…ipte of the coâ—…ent in remembraÌ„â—…e of oâ—…e lordys passyon was founde fresh â—…ledyng and newe abowte the place of the gâ—…ete wounde in the right syde and alsoo at the right foote Trewly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the seâ—…tensse of the châ—…che 〈◊〉 let doâ—…e the same croâ—…e to the grownd 〈◊〉 so â—…yl good fâ—… daye they â—…de lefte hyt 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—… d the â—…alle And for a morâ—… wondyâ—… the staffe and shewâ—… of thâ—… same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ware fondyn by the sa me plaâ—… Soâ—… 〈◊〉 aâ—… the bretheren came to ge dyr into the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gretly aâ—…onyd â—…pon these thynges that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 takyn alle that were tâ—…e with grete â—…cion of herte â—…ke discyply â—…ys of â—…oddys 〈◊〉 â—…ate in the chirâ—… seyden wepyngly the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 for to ge te owre lordys mereâ—…e Trewely this 〈◊〉 brother atte the daye whiche was gode friday with the night folowiÌ„g and the nexte day aftyr alle moste tyl the sonne sette 〈◊〉 in one state Alsoo the 〈◊〉 with â—…trength of handys opynde hys mowth and 〈◊〉 in hyt â—…stys of dyuers spyâ—…ys and 〈◊〉 or hys releuyng but anone after he wente owte ageyne what somme euer was putte in to hys mowthe as thaugh hys throte hadde ben stopped Emplasters alsoo to his breste and armys they â—…on de but
whan this was seyd to me bothe the slepe that y was in the ê‘son that spake to me went away Than sodenly y wakyd and stedfastly kepte in mynde this vysyon assone as y might y desired the same persons to pray for me not vttering to them the cause wherfore they shulde pray for me Than vi wekis passe iÌ„ the night that was nexte afore sherethursday as Èe can remeÌ„bre whan y had taken of yow and of youre felowe discyplynys in the chaptur how 's that ys to seye vi of yow vi of him for that day and v other for the sexte feriis of lente paste fro the whiche y was compellyd that tyme to absteyne by cause of sekenes so grete abundans of grace of terys swetenesse of herte y felte me repletyd there in the resceyuyng of tho discyplynys that y can not shewe it in telling by no wordys wherfore the nexte day af ter hit was to me ful swete often tymes to wepe And than the next nyght after grete sykynges beyng than the houre to ryse to matens y fylle in to a plesaunt slepe ¶ Howe he was waried in his slepe to worshipe the crosse of oure lord Ca x. sOthely than as y was a slepe y perceyued a voyce but y wist not fro whens hyr came seyng to me in this wyse Arise vppe goe iÌ„ to the chapell and to the awter that to dedifyed and halowd in the worschipe of seynte laurence of alle martyres And there behynd that awter yowe shalte fynde a crosse and an ymage of thy redemer affixed to the same crosse redemyng the world by hys deth And that same crosse meke ly and deuowtly go to and kys in remembraunce of thy sauyur and offir to hym with meke herte a sacrifice of prayers knowyng wele hit to be accept of god and to the an holsum deuocion in the whi che yow shalte ful abundantly delyte Than after this y wakyd and with the bretheren y came to the chirche to here matens And when the bretheren had beguÌ„ne matens y mette with a senyor that Èe knowe wele in the chirche porch was on of him that y to ke disciplinis in the night before Than whan y saw hym y made a signe to hym to discyplyne me in ly ke wyse ageyne as he dyd afore And so lightely we went bothe to gedyr into the chaptur howse and with one assent gladly we came ageyne And there also mette with vs another senyor in the same place where y mette the first to whome y made alsoo a signe for to haue a disciplyne And he beckid with his hand that y shulde tarye a lityl while Thanne lefte y my bretheren that y came with to chirche the whiche were sekelew sittyng a parte alone y wente forth to the awter that was notyd to me in my slepe And whenne y was nygh the awter y put of my showys and knelyd on my kneys apon the pament and ofte tymys inclyned my heed doon to the grownd And so went behynde the awter to seche the crosse that y herd of before Trewly y knew not afore in any wise by any mannys telling that any crosse was let doon there Neuertheles y found hit as hit was tolde me before And anon y was re soluyd al into terys of deuocyon lyyng ê“strate al my body ful denowtly y worshipte that holy crosse seyng many deuout prayers And than after y cam knelyng on my kneys to the same crosse and aftyr seyd lengur deuoute supplicacions thankynges to god kyssing oft tymes the fete of the crucyfyxe besily with the terys of my nyes watrid hem ¶ Howe he sawe the right side of the crucifixe bledyng don to him and the right fote also and of the. ii lightys that apperid there ¶ xi tHe mene while as y lift vppe my nyes that were sore of weping to the face of the cruci fyxe y felte some dropys fallyng don to me I putte ther to my fyngerys and y weâ—…e perceyued and knewe by the rednes that hit was blode Also y behylde the right syde of the ymage of oure lordis body and hit wellid oute of blode as a mannys flesh is wont to blede whenne hit is cuppid Trew ly the place that y sawe this in was derke for hyt was behynde the auter aboute mydnighte But I sawe there ii lyghtis shynyng at bothe the sydes of the crosse as hit had be ii tapers wele brenning I lokyd fro whens that light shulde cumme and y cowde see no place fro whens hit came Trewly than y toke in my hopynne hand y wote nere how mony dropis of that precious blode and there with diligently y anoyntid my nyes my neris and my nose thrillys And at the laste y put one drope of that blessyd blode in to my lippys and of the grete desyre and deuocyon of myne herte y sâ—… elowd hyt doone And whether y offendyd god in that poynt or no y wote nere The reÌ„ nand ther of y hild in my hand purposyng to haue kept hit Also y behilde sawe the right fote of the same crucifiye blode Sothely Èisterday whan y was restoryd to my selfe ageyne and founde no thing of that precious blode in my handys sore gretly y sorowde and eû shal for the losse of so grete and precious tresowre ¶ Howe he came in to the chaptur howse and toke discyplynys how he was there rauesht Ca xii fOrthermore to satisfye yow y shalle nowe telle of other thynges The. ii lyghtes that y sawe shynyng abowte the crucyfyxe a fore seyde sodenly paste thens to the sowthe parte of the awter Thanne y that was knelyng in the north side of the auter at the right side of the crucyfyxe seyng hit paste goÌ„ to the tother side folowde after hopyng that y shulde see there sum spiritualle thyng And whan y came thedir y herde the sowne of a voyce behynde me of the same old fadyr that y mette with last before in the chirch porch of whom y desyred to be discyplynede he bade me tary a litil while Than lefte y alle that y sawe there and y not howe nether in what wise anoon y came in to the chaptur howse And whan y had seyd my confiteor as the vse ys and he had prayde for me assoyled me with this beneson In nomine patris filii spiritus sancti amen he gaue me disciplynys vi tymes as he didde afore Often tymes y desired him that y might reherse my confessyon and to take dyscyplynys of hym for at euery stroke that he gaue me in the stydde of sorowe peyne they were turnid to me an inestymable incredibulle swetenes of ioyfull conforte But he wold geue me no more and so y rose vppe Sothely thanne he went in his albys and sate done in the abbotis sete that was there in the chaptur how 's And thanne y came lay prostate before hym
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
ful wele iÌ„ good purpose labore acceptable to god he had ple syd oure lorde Sothely when he was bisshope of can turbery also specyaly ful excelleÌ„t in coÌ„ning ful lityl hede he tâ—…ke to his cure to the gostely helthe of the peple For he onwysyly ê“moted ful onworthy ê‘soÌ„s to beneficys of the chirche also he dredde was aschamyd to execute the lawe for displeasing the kiÌ„g by hoys fauor hit semyd he caÌ„ to that dignite Also he studyd thought by a colur of symulacyon odyr wise then he schulde to troble hem the whiche he â—…knew were agenste his ê“moting of the byshoprye dignite that he had In these thingys seche other he had gretly offendyd Also in this he was more to be blamid more offendyd that he hyd kepte close ful on ê“fetably the auctorite of relygyon wysdoÌ„ that he had fro hem of home he was ful excelleÌ„tly named to home he might ful gretly haue ê“fet ho suÌ„ euÌ„ so do they be ordende to ful grete peynis for they be a sâ—…launder to the chirche of god while they plucke not vppe distrey the wekyd leuing rotyd wysys the whiche be sowyn in the hertys â—…uÌ„sacron of the peple of god that they haue cure charge of ne thir be aboute by her office to edifie plaÌ„te iÌ„ her so gettys the nobulnes â—…dicions of vertu honeste no more than other that lacke bothe holynes gode vnderstanding Neâ—…theles our lorde sechyth aswel of hem that had no coÌ„ning in seche thigis as they shuld haue had for to be hedys of the peple as of other the whiche had coÌ„nyng vnderstoÌ„ding how be it that they had hit but barenly turmth hit to the more tormeÌ„ tyâ—… peynys of hem bothe Also for the opyn foule onchaste leuing of pristys clarkys bishoppis nowe a dayis ful gretly perishe be cause they correcte not so grete a synne the whiche is a ful grete iâ—…urye wroÌ„g to the heuynly sacramâ—…tys of holy chirche For iÌ„ thoo blessed sacramentys al the lyfe helpe of crysiyn peple is â—… teynyd the whiche as mekyl as is in hem be not aschamyd to defoule when they be right foule pollutyd Sothly of the negligens of denys of arche dekons of other officers mony thingis y saw the whiche y leue out to tel how by her â—…senting simu lacyon for taking Èeftys meÌ„nys psoÌ„s al the state of crystyndome almoste ys oâ—…coÌ„me subûtyd For this ys opynly shewyd in the werkys â—…dicions of hem that now leuyn Also the dissolucyon â—…loufulnes of seche â—…soÌ„s that shulde haue a zele a loue to the peple of god reqryth askyth etnal daÌ„pnacioÌ„ aswel to the clergy as to the laye folke most to he selfe to her auctors Trewly for these thigis many other inumerable in this wise the forseyde arche bishoppe la borde in gret peynys vnder greuys â—…playning Sothly he was wel holpen there by the gloryê° martir arche bishoppe of englonde sent thomas of caÌ„turbery home he had goten to him there a special patron helper be cause when he went to the holy londe a pâ—…grymage in his lyfe tyme he hordende there an hospitalle for pil grimys intytylde hit in the name of sente thomas to the gret sokyr ê¯forte of crystyn pylgryms Tre wely this dede y knew first in purgatory wheÌ„ y saw the forseyd bisshop iÌ„ sore peynys but Èesterday y enâ—… red therof yf hit were trew a certen ê‘son a religiê° maÌ„ told me how yt was ordende beguÌ„ue Forthyr more gretly hit pfet him the labur that he had when he went on pilgremage to Ierusalem where he made that place Also many prystys that by the grace of god lefte her vycyê° leuing of onchastyte iÌ„ very ê¯tricioÌ„ of herte with ê¯fession of mouth when they leuyd be cau se they had not do penaÌ„s sufficiently y saw heÌ„ tormeÌ„t iÌ„ inumerable peynys Trewly then y thoughte to my selfe that ful few prystys were ther foÌ„de of the gret noÌ„ bre that is of heÌ„ iÌ„ al the world that had deâ—…uyd peynis after her dethe for breking her chastyte to thys hit was so answard Therfor ful few ben here tormeÌ„t of the noÌ„bre of seche ê‘soÌ„s for onethe it is seldynÌ„e sey that a ny maÌ„ of heÌ„ were very peniteÌ„t ê¯trite while they le uyd for her synÌ„ys wherfore hit ys no doute but that the grete multytude of hem byn vtwardly daÌ„pde Sothly in al this visyon y saw no maÌ„ that vtwardly hadd loste hope of saluacioÌ„ nethir that was iÌ„ certeÌ„te of etnal daÌ„pnacioÌ„ Neûtheles some that were in greuys peynys had no knoulege when they shulde be sauyd that was most peynful to hem And some that were in peynys knew a certente of her delyuerans that was to heÌ„ a grete solace as hit ys here seyde aboue ¶ A certen descripcion of diuers kynd of synfull peple of her peynys ¶ Ca xxxvij h yt were to longe and oute of mesure yeffe y schulde reherse by name al tho ê‘sons the whi che y sawe knew there of all â—…dicions of all degreys of all orders Also Èef y schulde sey or be aboute to schew declare synglerly the peynys tormentys of euery syngler cryme like as hit was sche wde to me at that tyme hit wulde be ouer teduse and weriful to the redder therof For ther ys no synÌ„e wre tyn in holy scripture but ther ys ordende in tho placys certen peynis to al that be doers of hem Trefore y leue oute pas by menfleers auowtres fornicators lyers forswerers glotyners trayturs couety se folke proude pepul enuyê° pepul sclaunderers hate ful peple a thousand mo of this wyse to â—…ome all ys ordende ther synglerly ful grete peynes greuys And ho may tel of al these thingys when they that were good relygyê° men sofred ful sore and greuys peynys only by cause they delyted and toke a plesure of the feyernes of her handys and longe fingers Also weyfaring men that were slayne of theuys in her iornay y saw heÌ„ ponyshte for her synÌ„ys in an Èesy wise Theuys also of home hit is not to be lefte oute in no wise that were for her synÌ„ys ingit to haÌ„ uing iÌ„ this world were only ê¯feste so a priste orels opynly that moste helpith of her wykydnes euyl dedys in very trew ê¯tricioÌ„ of herte so anon toke her dethe paciently forgeuing with herte al her enemyes al maner wrongys trespassys done to hem alsoo her dethe in remyssyon of al her synnys y saw al seche with a special certen worschipfulnes pâ—… to ful softe esy peynys Also other that were ponyshte hangyd lyke wyfe for the ste other mysdedys wulde not o pynly ê¯fesse her synnys iÌ„ tyme of her dethe but hopiÌ„g by fraude disceyte of her
a certen byshoppe for to be browght vppe and therfore the chylde leuyd longe tyme yn grete dyscomforte and heuynes Also y saw and knew sum of her systers that were noonys of her monastery ther yn that place of purgatory yn lyght peynys ¶ Of a knyghte that sinnyd yn simony ¶ Ca xlvi aCerten knyght that was patron of a chyrche solde on a tyme a personage to a certen clerke for xxvij marke Sothely aftyrwarde he repeÌ„te hym of that dede and for the satysfaccion of so grete a synne he toke the crosse to go the holy londe and to vyset owre lordys scepulcur Èef he myghte and for hys offensys there to aske god forgeuenes and mer cy Trewly that tyme. the hethyn folke had put thens crystin pepul so occupied the holy londe Then were cristen pepul gedyrde of al coostys of the worl de to fyghte agenste hem and to dryue hem away and so thys knyghte yoynde hym selfe to goo amonge hem And aftyrwarde he was smytte wyth sekenes and endyd hys lyfe yn that yourney Soth ly y fownde thys knyghte there Èet yn mene peynys And he tolde me that for the synne of symony that he dyd â–ª as hyt ys a fore seyde he had sofryd ful greuys peynys and gret And more ouer he seyde yf y had not be preuent by the mercy of god to repente me ful sore afore my dethe for that synne of symony yn no wyse schulde haue scape eternal dampnacyon And the labur of the pylgrymmage that y to he for god tawarde the holy londe gretly esyd me of thoo peynys that were due for the same synne Also hit was grawntyd me by the goodnes of god that y schulde sende to her that was my wyfe by a feythful clerke warnyd yn hys slepe of me that sche schulde orden to be seyde for me v. tricennarâ—…s of messys wyth the offycys of placebo and dirige as the chirche had ordende for hem that byn dede and of seche prystys that were of honeste and chaste lyuyng of the whyche some y tolde by name Than sche made these messis wyth othyr thyngys a fore sey de to be trewly done for hym and aftyrwarde sche rewardyd hem as they were worthy by the whyche he seyde hys peynys were ful gretly abatyd For a bowte the begynnyng after my dethe oftyn tymes y was compellyd dayly to deuoure tho pensys hoote and brennyng that y had takyn of the pryste and person afore seyd And nowe by the mercy of god y am delyueryd fro that grete tormente and that was moste for the suffragiis the whiche was done for me And Èette y am constrayned ful sore to sofyr the scarpnes of colde by cause whenne y leuyd y had not compassyon on powre and nedeful people that were clothles and coolde And oftyn tymes whenne y gaue hem mete drynke y wuld be ryght we le warre by the vyce of hardnes to spen de no money apon hem Thanne seyde y to hym what and there were done Èet ageyne messys for you schuld ye not trowe ye resceyue perfetly reste Thanne he seyde â—…ys and there were done for me vii tricennariis with the officys longyng to hem this ys placebo and dirige y hope that anone as they were done for me y schuld be delyueryd fro peynys to euerlastyng reste Here nowe hyt ys to be vndyrstonde that thys same knyght after his deth as y knowe hyt nowe withoute any doute apperyd in a vysyon to the same clarke afore seyd and assygned hym v. ful chaste prystys and chosyn by name that schuld seye these messys and other thin gys lyke as hyt ys seyde aboue Hoys persons and namys and the placys of her dwellynges the why che dylygentely he expressyd were to hym selfe whi le he leuyd in hys bodye and to y clarke that he apperyd to and also to hys wyfe that dydde for hym vtwardly onknowen ¶ Of a certen yonge monke that somme tyme in hys dayes was sexten of the chirche ¶ Ca xlvij aCerten yÌ„onge man a monke that soÌ„me tyme y had seyne the whiche in many thyngys be hauyd hym relygyously and he was also sexten of the chyrche where he dwellyd Sothely there were in thys same chyrche iii. or iiii ymagys of our blessyd lady seynt marye hauyng in her lappys the ymage of oure sauyur ihesu cryste yn fourme of a ly tyl babe and they were sette at euery auter on right wele peynted and feyre arayed wyth golde and di uers other colours the whycde schâ—… wyd to the people that behylde hym grete deuocyon And before euery ymage hynge a lampe the whyche after the custome of that same chyrche were wonte to be lyghted at euery pryncypale feste thorowe alle the yere bothe by nyghte and by daye enduryng fro the firste ensonge vnto the second ensonge afore the forseyde ymages of owre blessyd lady seynte Ma rye And alsoo thylke lampys lyghtnyd alle the chyrche abowte Trewely hyt happonde apon a tyme in the forseyde Sextenys dayes that grete scars nesse of oyle was in that countreye that same tyme also there was no man that there had any oyle thanne to selle and seldyn hyt was that any stran ger at that sesyn putte forthe any suche chafer for to selle where fore the forseyde sexten by cause he wyste not where he myght gete oyle for necessary vsys the mene whyle he withdrew the lyghte fro the forseyde lampys as hym thowghte he myghte lefully doo how be hyt that he had some yn store but he drede leste hyt wolde not suffyce tyl he hade more so that on ascensyon day and wythssonday he put no lyght to hym the whiche yn these festis specialy were won te to brenne But he went not onponyshte Sothely the thyrde day yn whytsson weke when he was sey en yn al thyngys ryght hole and sownde sodenly he was smyte wyth a ful scharpe axces and so a vexid ther of that he was madde and owte of hys mynde and on the wysday the nexte weke aftir he dyde And on saterday by fore hys dethe when he was almos te at hys laste ende he saw yn auysyon the quene of heuyn owre blessyd lady sent mary stondyng on a grice of a certen wyndyng steyer yn the chyrche that was by on of the same ymagys of owre blessyd lady aforeseyde And when he saw her he cryde to her remembryng hys sekenes and perelle and seyde O holy and blessyd mary haue mercy on me Than sche and sâ—…erde hym scharply bothe yn worde and yn chere seying thys wyse Thow haste take fro me the worshyppe of my lyghte yn erthe and y schal ageyn take fro the the lyghte of thys present lyfe Sothely whenne he herde and vnderstode this thretyng he was sore aferd and abasshid and no mer uelle and caste hym selfe done at her fete with gre te wepyng and sorowyng and askyng foreuenes of hys trespas and ê“mysed amendement Theâ—…e oure blessyd lady hoys thretyng ys
alle was vayne They prickyd with neldys and scrapyd the solys of hys fete but no thyng myght be perceyuyd in hym of a lyuys manne saue a lityll rednes of chekys and a litil warmenes of body The colowre of hys face oftyn tymes was chaunged to ashis and ageyne meruaylously the colowre of hys face was reâ—… ynyd and welle shewyd Alsoo they made a grete horne to beblowyn there but no thyng hit botyd ¶ Howe he came ageyn to hym self on Èestur euyn abowte complen tyme Ca iiii tHenne on the morowe that ys estur euyn and the same owre that the couent came to gedyr to the collacion and to complenne the briys of hys ye lyddys beganne firste a lytil to moue and so they semyd as they hadde ben sode in boylyng watyr And atte laste there came don fro hys yes on hys chekys a yelowe humour of watyr in manere of terys Thanne they that were wyth hym seyng thys called anone for the brethe ren supposyng that he shuld haue sone passed fro thys world They sawe also a lytyl afore thys ty me hys lyppys a lytyl to moue with his chekys com pressyd as he had resceyued or swelowde suÌ„ swete thing fallyn in to hys mowth And after that a flowyng owte of terys as hyt is seyd here before Alsoo he was seyn often and many diuers tymys sykyng alow in his breste as a manne slepyng had wepte And anone after as hit semyd he reuoluyd certeyn wordys benethe in hys throte butte he myght not speke them owte saue onely in a voyce onethys audybille and noo thyng intelligibille Sothely thanne hys spyrite beganne a lytyll and a lytill to comme ageyne and these wordys and voyce he first sownyd that might be vndyrstond O sancta Maria O sancta Maria And agayne O my lady sancta Maria O my lady sancta Ma ria I shalle seye tho wordys as I herde theym noo thyng addyng therto O he seyde my lady Sancta Maria. These wordes often tymys he rehersed For what synne he seyde lese y soo grete ioye And agayne he seyde my Lady Sancta Maria. when shalle I recouere so grete ioye that y lese nowe These thynges and many other often tymes he rehersed yet as a man ware a slepe and hys yes euer closyd the whiche I wote not of what grete ioye he sorowde and wepte hym selfe departyd fro Sothely aftyrward sodenly lyke as a man had awaked fro a grete slepe he lyfte vppe hys hed fulbitterly beganne to wepe with reÌ„ nyng terys sorofully sobbyd as wepyng doth and ioynyng his handys fyngers to gedur reysid him self and sate vp Then he put downe his hed in his handys on his kneys And as he beganne afore ful lamen tably to wayle and sorowe so sesyd not long tyme aftyr Thanne one of his bretheren that was with hym askyd what causyd hym so sore to wepe and howe he felte hym selfe Than he restid a litil while at the laste softely seyde to hym wele wele and verely wele y was hedir to but now euyl and verely euyl y am and fele my selfe And ageyne more grettur he wepte and sorowd than he dyd be fore And by cause that hit ys ouer longe and also as iÌ„possible to remembre al thyng that he seyde thaÌ„ and how mekil he wepte we leue noweand purpo se to drawe shortly to gedir thoes thiÌ„gys whiche we herde hym telle of in gret ê¯tricion of herte and of mynde aftyrward that he was fully comme to hym selfe ageyne ¶ Howe he sought after his showis and how reuerently he worshipt the crosse lOthlâ—… amonge his lamentacions and sykynges that the had he asayde with gret strenght onys or twies or thries to opene his yes that were closid and atte last they opened Thanne he beganne with bothe his handys al abou te to secht aftyr his staffe that he lefte in the chirce And whanne hyt kowd not be fownde he seyd Sechith here owre staffe and take owr sâ—…ys by the piller and goe we ageyne in to the fermorye A fermorye among religious men is called a place or an howse ordende to kepe seke bretheren Thanne â—…hanne hit was seyde of some of his bretheren behoolde brother nowe and see yow in the fermorye set in your bedde and loe yowre staffe and showys byn here redy Thanne he seyd O howe came we hedyr and whanne were not we ryght nowe in the chirche to gedyr at matens Thanne his bretheren told hym that he had be there now ii dayes and to morowe wil be estur daye And whanne he herd this more grettyr he beganne to wepe and seydr O shuld we not bretheren haue worshypte on good freday owre lordys crosse And yet we haue not in comonne worshipte hit Thenne whenne he herd of his bretheren that owre lordys crosse was worshipte the day before and he might not be cause of sekenes he seyde to hem Aftyr that I came into the chirche y felte no disese But y praye yow that y may go to worshipe the crosse Thanne ther was brought to hym a crosse of seluyr the whiche reuerently he clyppyd to hym and with cossis and terys watryd the fete of the crosse and vnto the tedusnes of some stondyng by he thankyd owr lord and redemer and the fadyr and the holy gooste for innumerabulle benefetis of the why che he rehersyd mony synglerly For hym selfe and vnyuersally for al holy chirche and also for al degreys and condycyons of alle crystyn pepulle and more attente for hys enmyes yef any there ware or for the enmyes of hys frendys he made meruail prayers and obsecracyons And as y suppose xxx tymes or more he inclynde hys hede doone to the fete of the crosse with terys and sobbyng that often tymes his voyce sesid of prayng Thoes wordys the whiche he made in his supplicacions ware so redy prompte and also repletyd with grete reson hyenesse of witte that hit semyd rathir he redde hem thanne seyde hem Ho is swete seyng steryd mony than that herd hym to weping and deuocyon and euer while we remembre them causyn vs to haue a grete inwarde cumpunctyon and also loue deuocyon to our lord to our bretheren and to alle men And of the grete humylyte and goodnes of oure redemer he put betwene certen grete thingis at euery synguler shorte prayer ¶ Howe he told to one of his bretheren that he louyd famylyarly suche thingys as he had seyn vi tHe mene while as the tyme requyryd hit range to the collacyon and the bretheren the whiche had brought to him the crosse went thense And thenne he seyde Nowe y knowe veryly that this is the holy tyme of estur And for what cause he seyde so hit shal be declaryd aftyrward Trewely than bode with hym a certeyn brother that louyd him famyliarly in holy purpose of relygyon and mouyd hym sum what by a wyse and a meke instans Èet beyng holde in a certeyn stupour and
askyng my beny and rehersyde ageyne my Confiteor c. and he seyde ouer me Misereatur tui omnipotens deus c. and so assoyled me ageyne wyth thys blessyng In nomine patris filii spiritus sancti And whenne he had answarde Amen Anoon ther came to me a certeyne worshipful fadyr a senyor that had a face and a chere as an angelle câ—… othid in white brightyr and whittir thanne the snowe The heere of his hed 〈◊〉 was whore and his stature of medy heyth He to ke me vppe and seyde allonly to me these wordys Folowe yow me Trewly than he hylde me by the right hand so sewerly as softly so clippid my haÌ„d in hys ¶ How he felte hym selfe here first rapte ¶ Ca xiii hEre y felte my selfe fyrst tapte in spyryte Than hys brother that was hys confessor to whome he tolde alle these thynges afore seyde askyd hym seyde And trowiste Èet brother that y or the tother senyor gaue discyplynis that night as thou seyste or went in to the chaptur howse in al bys Than he wondrede at his asking and seyde Knowe not Èe that this ys trowth that y haue to yow here seyde Than seyde hys confessor ageyne in no wise ther was no seche thynges done of vs nether myght be done For the ordyr wil not that we shuld haue gone that tyme of the night in to the chaptur howse to geue discyplynys Than he seyd to hym Dowtheles y had went hether to that tho discyply nys and other thynges had be done of yow to me Fulwele y knowe withowtyn dowte that y resceyued thoes dyscyplynys aboue rehersyd in the chaptur howse of men that shewed yo â— ê‘sons liknes wakyngly bodely and wyth hole mynde for y fel te herde the strokys of hem and also y we le vndyr stode dyscernyd the voyce of them that prayde for â—…e and assoyled me as y shulde haue knowe of you bothe Trewly the first night when y went owte of the chaptur how 's y thought to haue byddyn ther in the same place tyl the mornyng in the grete gladnes of herte deuocyon that y had resceyued there but y was sum what troubulde disesyd by the noy se of the couent when they weÌ„t oute of the chirche af ter matens And lest y shulde haue ben reê“uyd of psumpcion Èef y had taride there al night y wente with oure bretheren home to oure bedde And whenÌ„e y went out of the chaptur how 's y mette with brother marten And that night bode y waking in grete lightnesse of sowle tyl matens of the next nyghte Thanne the next night after when y was at matens aboute the begynnyng of the thirde â—…octurne y was callid fro the awter where as y was praying with a sowne made lyke as a man hadde smytte the stony pament wyth his fote and so went in to the chaptur â—…owse Alsoo hyt was the same owre in the whiche the laste nyghte at the laste tyme we weÌ„t thedyr for the same cause And alle other thynges lyke as y haue told yow befylle me Thys onely y canne not remembre in any wise howe y came at the laste tyme fro the chapel that y was inne to the chaptur how 's For withowte a staffe y myght not goe thedyr and abowte the sacrarye of the same au ter y knowe wele y left my selfe And howe y paste ouer the waye that lyth betwene the chaptur how 's â–ª the place that y was in and also the lettynges of gricis other obstaclis iiii or v y can not remembre For when y was cumme to my selfe ageyne 〈◊〉 thinges the whiche y had experiens of bodely about the awter and the crosse ware so fressh in my myn de that y wende y had be founde rather there than in the chaptur howse And this he tolde of tho thingis aboue rehersid ¶ Adigression ¶ Now as touching tho personsof whom he was brought in to the chaptur hous to whome he seyd isconfiteor the whiche prayde for him assoylyd him gaue him also disciplynys iÌ„ the liknes of his own bretheren and he knew no nothir wise that time but they had be his bretheren they were douteles holy angellys that so apperyd and dyd to him by the wille of god And as towching that worshipfull olde fadyr whois face was like an angel and hys clothing whittir than the snowe that toke hym by the hand when he lay ê“strate in the chaptur hous seyde to him folow thow me was the holy blessid bishoppe sente Nicholas whome specially he louid and worshipte dayly as hit shalle be aftirward more opynnor declarid And nowe after this adigression go we ageyne to the narracion ¶ Howe this monke was rapte foloude his ledeâ—… sent Nicholas ¶ Ca xiiij gladly than seide this monke wente y with that worshipfull olde fader the whiche by â—…maÌ„dement of moth leding of haÌ„de had take me vp to be a felow with him of his wey and al the while that y lay destitute of my bodily wittis we went bothe to geder haÌ„de in hande Sothly this was fro mydnight of sherethursday the whiche endith in the mornyng of good fredaye iÌ„ whiche time y was rauyshte in spirite as y laye in the chaptur how 's tyl the euetyde of saturday foloyng in the whiche eue tyde as Èe sawe y was put oute fro that secrete reste and spiritualle sightis that y had before to thys opyn worldly â—…uersacion ¶ How sent Nicholas brought this monke to the first place of peynes Ca xv tHenne went we Èestewarde by a pleyn weye in a right path til we came to a certen regy on that wâ—… ful wyde and brode and ouer horabulle gastfull in sight fowle and myry of thicke cley Trewly there we sawe an infenyte nom bre of men and wâ—…men that no man might nombre put forth to the gretnes of dyuers inenarrabulle peynes There was a company innumerabulle of men and women of euery condicion of euery ê“ fession and of euery ordyr There were the doers of al synnys ordente to dyuers kyndes of peynes after the diuersite of synnes qualite of persons I herde sawe bi the opyn brode space of that filde who is endys no ye might see the wrechid companyes of men wemen ouer wrechidful bounden to gedyr flockemel in ther equalyte of synnys and in likenesse of ê“fession equaly to soffyr and like wise to crye in here grete and greuys peynes And who sum euer y sawe there to be made redy in that peynefull place to heuyn warde opynly y knewe and vndyâ—…stode for what synnes they were ponysht and the kynde of the synne and the mesure and qualite of ther satisfaccion the whiche they deseruyd owther by contricion and cofession of her offensis â–ª or by the remediis and helpinges of othir benefetis done for hem Trewly al tho that y sawe put there sâ—…m what
postre sent powelle in hys pystylle of seche persons where he condempnyth the foule vyce and synne agaynest nature bothe of men and wemen And Èeffe y hadde sene and consyderyd the cause namely nowe in tyme of crystendame cowde not in any wyse haue be leuyd that suche a foule synne and vyse myght haue be pÌ„ sumed and done specyally of wemen the whyche naturelly schuld be more schamfull thenne other I neuyr herde before nether hadde any suspycyon hethir to that the kynde of wemen hadde be deprauyd and defoyled by suche a foule synne And alas for so rowe for ther was founde a company of suche so innumerabulle as they were myserable Many of tho personys that were there in that place y knewe not nethyr we le behylde hem by cause that the qualy te of her foule synne and the grete stenche and tor mentys that was there smytte me wyth full grete horrour and tedusnes Full greuys hyt was vnto me and more thanne a man may beleue to be there in that place a momeÌ„t whyle or to beholde suche thynges as wâ—…re there Neuerthelesse y felte â—…o sten che by experyence whylys y was there as y dyd no nothir hirte of peynys For my thoughte and yf I hadde felte hit y myghte noo lengur haue leuyd Notwithstondyng y consyderyd and perceyued sufficyently in mynde the intollerable gretnes of aâ—…e thyng Trewely thoo wrechys that were there sencybly hadde experyence and felte alle these peynys and other mo infynyte that no man maye tel of And amonge her sorowfulle lamentacyons of coÌ„playnyng whyle euerychon of hem cryed Alas alas why dyd y so synne alas why dyd not y penans for my synnys and amende my lyuyng they felte and remembrydr her greuys peynys Sothely their voycys of wepyng and sorowyng was exaltyd and lyfte vppe with so gret a cry that a man wolde haue wend hyt schulde haue be herd thorow all the world ¶ Of a doctour a lawe that was a sodemyte ¶ Ca xxvi trewly thawgh y refusyd as mekyll as y myghte to see and beholde tho thmÌ„ghes that were done yn that place y cowde not auoide the kno weleg of on clerk the wyche y sawe and knew sum tyme Thys clerk in hys days was a doct of lawe and also amonge other that were docturs of lawe he was had in that sciens ful excellent Full many lerners of that faculte he ordeÌ„de yn scolez wherby he gatte to hym gret famyliarite of worshippeful men This clerke was largely posseste with beneficys rentys of the chirche and Èet that not withstonding dayly he coueytyd to haue more and more wher fore by the wille of god the whiche wolde haue alle men to be turne to penaÌ„s he felle yn to grete sekenes by the whcihe he was sore vexid and desesid abowt a. ix monthys Sothely hyt was done of a meke dispeÌ„sacioÌ„ of oure sayur that he shulde by the schorge of sekeues and sorowe dispose to corect and amende hys synful leuyng the whyche whene he was yn gode helthe of body fowle and dedly trespast of tyn tymes to god Bur he contrary wyse was ouer carkefulle of hys bodely helpe the whyche he louydr oueÌ„ mekyl and so vaynely presumyd and thowght to haue hyt ageyne wherfore he neuyr wolde dyspose hym to be confest of hys synys and specialy of hys fowle and onclene leuyng for the helthe of his sowle the whyche ys the fyrst and chefe dede of almys that a man schuld doo nethyr had any compassion on powre pepul to geue hem any almys nethir any thyng dyd to the sentys of god as yn offeryng to hym mekely hys seruys for the redempcion of hys synys nethir studyd or karyd to do any almys of his erthely traÌ„sitory godys as loÌ„g as he leuyde Than the heuynly leche oure seyng sauyur that he was neuer in his dayes the bettyr for the sekenesse the whiche he hadde for his warnyng the whyche he schoyd and gaue vnto hym for a gostely medeson nethir wente owte of hys onclene leuing in the whiche vnclene leuing he was in by the affliccyon of hys grete sekenesse Therfore the euyll wekid faites and dedys that cowde not be clensyd and purged in hys yonge aage oure lord ihesu crist mercefully putte and ende of hem in hys dethe what more mercye myghte be done vnto hem the whyche after their hardnesse and inpenytente herte tresur to hem fro daye to daye the wrathe of owre sauyur ihesu cryste in the daye of hys wrathe and also of schewyng hys ryghtfull iuggement and alsoo to be resceyued in to the nyghte of dethe in the whiche nyghte of dethe no man may helpe hym selfe for thanne no man may labure any thyng for to deserue thanne that sone her lyfe of thys world be schor tyd and alsoo fro hem takyn aweye in the whyche her synnys and mysdedys encresyn and growyn to her perdycyon and destruccyon And what thing myght be more holsummur to them the whyche by her folusnesse and madenesse with a scharpe swerde koneyten and desyren to adde strokys to her owne propre wowndys thanne that they be bounde and also her wepynys takyn aweye the whiche they mysusyd to her owne propre hurte and dammage Thys forseyde clarke the whyche y knew suÌ„ tyme in my chyldhode and yong aage y vndyrstode nor y knewe not that he was dysceste and ded For that same tyme in the whyche y knewe hym he remouyd fro that prouynce or place ther as he was wonte to dwelle in before vnto a nothir puynce or place Neuertelesse yn alle suche peynys tormentys as hit ys aboue seyd y sawe fownde hym and y merueyled of hit For y had wente he had be yet a lyue and also an honest person Than y spake to hym and askyd whethyr he hopyd any tyme to haue the mercye of god And than he seyde Alas alas y knowe and knowe that athishalfe domys daye y schall haue algate no mercye And whe thir y schalle haue any thanne y am not certeyn So thely euermore sethe y was putte here to these peynys they encresyn more and more Then y seyde to hym And why were yow not confeste of thy synnys at thy laste ende dydyst no penaunce for hem Than he seyde by cause y hopyd to haue recouered and al so by the disceyte of the deuyl my gostely ennemy y was aschamed to confesse so fowle a synne leste y shulde haue be of les reputacyon and dyspysed a monge them the whiche y semyd gloryous fayre y confeste me of lytyl and smale synys to seche an honest person and a worschipfull pryste that yow knowyst wele And whanne he askyd me Èef y had any other thynges to be confeste of y bade him go his waye and tolde him that Èef any other thyng cumme afterward to my mynde y woulde sende for hym ageyne and tell him And whanne he was gonne and onethis came to his chirche y begunne to deye Thenne anone
the recompensacyon expyacyon of the grete and longe schrewdenes and cursydnes by the whiche they haue broughte me to this peynys that y am in nowe and with her wyckydnes they haue al moste enfecte cuÌ„ brid alle the howse Sothely onethys or litil any tyme tho foure ê‘sons y wulde displese but y was inclynyd bowyd to let hem do what they wolde Also fewe ther ben of al the couent that for me for myn helping Fully haue done seyde the messys psalmys wyth other soffragys and prayers the whiche of dewtâ—… they schulde seye do for me according to oure relygyon And many of hem for whome y am now in sore pey nys haue done none of these thingys Èet for me ther fore what for sorowe and drede that y haue of the se present tormentys y am peynde on euery syde Se che thinhys sawe y aboute this prior this wyse he spake to me as hit ys aboue rehersyd ¶ Of an ancres that he sawe and knewe in the same place ¶ Ca xxviii yKnewe also a certen ancresse the whiche was of a gode and honeste conuersacyon whome gretely y louyd and y sawe her ther as sche had coÌ„me late fro the world + Trewly sche was stable and stedfaste in contynauns and feyre of beholdyng home the laborus weye that sche had gon a lytyl had weryde with the peynys of fyre that other were inuoluyd here and there sche was ofte tymes tochyd and sum what brente But she ful lytyl counted hyt hastyd her spedly gretly ê“fetiÌ„g on the iorney that goyth to paradyse this whan y sawe y take god to record y had wende hyt had be sum fantesy as hit had be a dreme for y beleuyd in no wise that sche was ded Than seyd y vnto my selfe Y trowe that the merytorye leuyng of this an cres seruaunte of cryste so ys schewde to me by ymagynacyon for trewly sche that ys Èette alyne in her bodye may not be here Sothely the thirde daye after that y was cum to my selfe ageyne a cer ten neybur of herns was here that y spake with prayde hym to grete her wele on my worde and al so that sche wylle whytsafe to pray for me Than he seyde Praye ye also for her our good frende for ye scalle vndyrstande that sche ys disceste and pasâ—…e to god Ueryly y merueylyd gretly at hys seying And than first y beleuyd that hyt was trewe that y sawe of her in the first place of purgatorye Forthermore this generall condicyon of alle folk that deyon y knowe there opynly that alle pepule the whiche be ordende to perceue reste and blysse before the daye of dome hadde euermore fro the first how re of her dethe her peynys lesse lesse But yf hyt were so that any of hem had lefte to other that leuyd after by euyl exampulle occasyon of synÌ„e the whiche ryghtwysly they myght wyte hit hem that dyd so before and whyle they dede no satisfaccioÌ„ to god for hit before her deth wherby seche occasy on of synning lefte to other schulde haue be forgenyn heÌ„ also they that greuysly offendyd by the whiche they deâ—… uyd euÌ„lasting dampnacion beguÌ„ne to goo fro ful bittyr peynys to wars so by succediÌ„g of her peynys dayly her tormetys besyly encresyn that eâ—…y day foloing is more greuossor to hem then was the daye before ¶ Of a certen bisshop that was there also ¶ xxix acerten bisshop y knew there in peynys the whi che onys y sawe he was bore iÌ„ thys ground of inglonde and had hys byshopriche be yonde see Trewely he deyed thys same yere abowte the feste of seynt Myghel the aâ—…changel For than y knewe opynly the daye of his passyng but nowe hit is fal lyn out of my mynde the whiche that tyme was occu pyed aboute many thingys that y sawe Sothely innumerabulle thyngys there were the whiche y dyd not wele note nether cowde we le kepe in my mynde all thyngys that y had notyd Trewely the same man the whiche tolde me of the passyng of the ancres as hyt ys seyde in the next chaptur before told me also of the passing of this bysshoppe but he knew not what tyme. Trewely anothyr yong man the whiche was cosyn and alye to the same bysshoppe and also in seruyce with hym whenne he leuyd cam home ageyn'to his countrey of inglonde brought certen worde to the todyr man that tolde me that the forseyde bysshoppe was dede Trewly y sawe this bys shoppe al moste contynualy brennyng in flamys of fyre moste be caeÌ„ of his vycyus leuing that he lenyd iÌ„ his youthe also he was tormeÌ„t in other innume rable wysys be cause y sawe sum specyal thinge aboute him y thought to remeÌ„bre specially to speke of him Sothely as he brende besyly in fyre he had euÌ„ more a ful honest clothe apon him there the whiche not only was hurte by the fyre but also yt was yldyn made by the fyre more feyrer semlyor than hit was afore Thanâ—…e sent Nycholas declared to me the reason of thys meruaylous thyng and seyde Thys preuylege he gate to hym whenne he leuyd by a good dede the whiche he vsyd to doo And this hit was Euermore he hadde compassion on powre pepulle that were nakyd and ful lyberally he vsyd to releue hem of that nede wherfore hys clothyng schalle neuer lacke feyernes tyl that he haue fulfylled his penauns and take of god the stole of euerlastyng ioye and blysse ¶ Of a certen woman the whyche was a pore maÌ„nys wyfe ¶ Ca xxx awoman also that was a poure mannys wyf dyde this laste yere with her husbond the whi che was wele condicionde and in mony thyngys ful wele dysposyd Sche was sum tyme ryght famylyarly belouyd of me home ful gladle y behylde there in lyghte peynys in comparyson of other swif tely goyng forthe to the grete mede and worschippe of heuynly ioyes Trewely in thys that sche vsyd in pacyently to stolde and vpbrayde hem that dyd her wronge and enmyte and in her herte hylde raucour and sowernes agenste hem sche gretely offendyd and therfore sche hadde sofryd peynys Neuertheles thys vyse was to her inuyncyble by cause of her inê‘feccyon and euer sche hatyd hyt and often tymes wepte that sche coude not ouercome hyt wherfore sche hadde the soner forgeuenes of that synne So thely sche was in her prayers ful deuoute and wele disposyd to almys dedys and hospytalte more then sche might wele do of her owne godys And before her dethe by loÌ„g sekenes that sche had sche was ê“uid and clensyd as gold ys in a fornes by the whyche al moste sche hadde caste fro her the scurfe and the hardenes of her synnys Forthirmore fulfeldyn hyt is in this dayes in the whyche al moste the condicioÌ„s of alle men gone oute of kynde for the pure and clere symplycyte and innocentnes of the very chirce
gostely enmy the deuyl to scape harmles at that tyme for the denying excusiÌ„g her synnys how be hit that they purposyd iÌ„ her herte to be ê¯feste to a priste of hem afterward to do for hem ê¯digne penans also vtwardly to leue hem Èef they coude haue opteyne space therto as they hopid Èet coude not haue hit but schulde deye than in the laste ende of her lyfe mekely besought god his ho ly seyntys of mercy helpe al seche were ful greuysly torment in peynys for her synnys Not wtstondiÌ„g nethir these had loste hope of mercy forgeuenes NeuÌ„theles they were gynyd in fyry feturs haÌ„gyd vp in the myddys of fyre on gybbettis home the cru el tormentours fyndys alto bete brake with scorgys forkys vpbrayde hem of crymys sennys with grete scornys mockys ¶ Of posynners that he sawe there ¶ Ca xxxviij they that were posynners poynsyd folke also wemen that hadde caste awey forsake her babys the whiche they had bore or had slayne heÌ„ or ellys by her cursyd crafte had causyd hem to be bore afore her tyme. I sawe suche persons by full ofte betyngys and abâ—…asyng of naylys alto toryn TNO T197 And also they were â—…pellyd to drinke dyâ—…s metals as bras ledde multyn by fyre medylde with full stinkinge thingys the whiche brente her inward bowels so weÌ„t greuysly thorow heÌ„ wheÌ„ it was out hit was brought to hem to drinke ageyne Trewly â—…ten grete moÌ„sturs of creping bestis with horrabul gastful harmys cleppyd seche wemen stykyd her naylys ful depe in her neckys sydys hauyng at her brestys sokyd her pappys with her venuÌ„mys mouthe alto gnew hem with her cursyd tethe ¶ Of vsurers also ¶ Ca xxxix vSurers also y sawe howe they were dround in grete hepys lyke hyllys of breÌ„ning money complayning with grete sorowe wayling by cawse they quenchyd not in hem when they leuyd in thys worlde the euyl flame synÌ„e of couetyse ¶ Of fygytyuys oute of religion ¶ Ca xl râ—ligyous persons that were fugytyuys that is to sey that raÌ„ne oute of her order by the whiche they had bonde heÌ„ self to the â—…uice of god after turnid ageyne to the worlde gaue hem to wordely leuing as a dogge that turuith ageyn to his vomet so gretely they were there smyt with peynys that y can iÌ„ no wise tell nethir declare her tormeÌ„tic onethe ful bitt repeÌ„taÌ„s ê¯fession at her laste ende sauyd seche ê‘sons otherwhile fro eâ—…lasting daÌ„pnacioÌ„ Neâ—…theles her apostasye was ful long tyme greuysly ponyshte ¶ Of a certen kyng of Inglond ¶ Ca xli bUt what schal y sey of a certen prynce sum tyme king of engloÌ„ d that y sawe the whyche in his lyfe was ful myghty amoÌ„ge al the princys of thys world Sothely he was on euery syde pressyd and peynyd that a man myght sey of hem as seit iohan the euangelyste seythe yn hys apocalyps thys wyse Quantum se dilatauit et in delicâ—…s fuit tan tum datur ei tormentum et luctum That ys to sey how mekyl he dydde extende and magnifyde hem selfe and was iÌ„onlefulâ—… lustys and delytys so mekyl geue Èe to hym torment and henynes how ys that may concede yn mynde what gret peynys al hys body and lymmys were smytte wythe He sate apon an horse that blewe owte of her mowthe and no se a flame blacke as pycche medylde whyt a smoke and stenche of helle yn to the greuys torment of hym that sate aboue the whyche was armyd at al pecys as he schulde haue gone to batelle Trewly the armyr that he were was to hym intollerabul peyne for they were as bryght brennyng Èirne ys when hyt ys betyn whyt hamers and smytyth owte fyry sparclys bythe whyche he was wyth ynforthe al to brede whyt owte forthe the same armyr brende yn ful gret hete and ladyd hym that ware hym wyth ful sore â—…orhtyn Also as tochyng hys helme hys shylde hys haburgyn and hys legge harnes y leue owte for by the brennyng hete and pey se of hem al. howe mekyl he was peynyd no man cast telle Sothely he wulde haue geuyn alle the world yf hit might haue be so that he might haue be delyue ryd fro on spurre with the whiche he was compellid to stere his wrechid hors to reÌ„ne wherby oftyn times he fylle down hedlong Also the sadyle that he sate in was stekyd thorow on bothe the sydys with fyrye brochys naylis the which was a gasteful sight for any maÌ„ to beholde the maw iwarde bowels of him that sate in the sadelle were sore smyt thorow by the scharpnes of tho brochys naylys this cruelly was he ponyshte for the onrightful scheding of meÌ„nys blode for the foule synne of auowtrye that he vsyd In thys too thingys he dedly offendyd ofte tymys tho cru el tormeÌ„tours wykyd fyndis ful gretly with derisions scornys vpbraydyd him because he wuld be aueÌ„gid on meÌ„ that flew his venery as harte hynde â—…ocke do seche other the whiche by the law of kinde ought to be slayne to euÌ„y maÌ„ therfore suÌ„ of heÌ„ he putte to dethe or els cruelly wulde mayme him for al thys he dyd neuer but lytyl penance as long as he leuyd Also ful myserably he â—…playnde that nethir his sonnys nethir his freÌ„dys the whiche he lefte alyue to home he had gotyn mekyl teÌ„poral godys dyd or schewyd for him any thing after his deth for his helpe rele uyng No thing he seyde my soÌ„nys frendys haue done for me iÌ„ these peynys Alas lo y haue loste alle my labur beâ—…nes that y haue done ydylly to make myne hesers riche mighty Alas for the false dece nabul flatring of pepul now what haue they bro ught or done for me vnhappy to home y gate gedirde so mekyl tresur riches to whome y gaue so many reÌ„tys possessioÌ„s for home so gretly y offen dyd god while y leuyd now y am dedde non of heÌ„ doyth any thiÌ„g for me Trewly y saw him suÌ„what e syd releuyd of his peynys only by the prayers of religious men to home in his life for god he was full benyuolent oftyn tymes therby y vndirstode specyally that he hopyd to be sauyd Forthermore be syde al these thingys aboue seyde ful greuysly he sorowyd was peynde for by cause he oppÌ„ssyd diuÌ„s tymes the pepul with ondue taxys ¶ Of a bysshoppe that was there iÌ„ peynys Èet god shewid miraclys for him after his dethe ¶ Ca xlii â—…Owe as y remembre a iiii Èere agon a certen bissâ—…oppe was chose to be an arche bysshope but he was than hastely pÌ„â—…ente of dethe so disceste lefte bothe Trewly this byssâ—…oppe was inwardly in his leuing ful wele
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
wonte to be of mercye mekely behylde hym and made a signe with her hand schewyng hym the grice that sche stode apon and seyde Sytte done here Thanne he begunne as hym thoughte to sytte done ful sore aferd at her fete whenne sche sodenly vanyshte awey And whenne he was cumme to hym selfe ageyne callyd for hys bretheren and tolde hym thys vysyon that he had seyne and prayde hem and also bade hem with grete instaunce and wothys that the nexte nyghte with the dayr folowyng the lampys afore seyd schuld be lyghtynde and brenne as the custome was before Also he made a vowe that and he myght haue hys helthe ageyne he wold contynally ke pe forthe and encrese the forseyde lampys to worschyppe and lawde of the gloryous vyrgyn moder of god oure blessyd Lady seynt marye But he cowde not calle ageyne the worde and sentence that sche seyde to hym And so he dyde the tewsday after trynyte sonday and as for the restoryng of the for seyde lampys some satysfaccyon he dydde for his of fense and trespas Trewly Èette hethir to was he holdyn in peynys and tormentys by cause often tymes he had offendyd in kepyng of hys relygyon and in seying of dyuyne seruyce And also he was lyght of behauyng and ondyscrete as in etyng drynkyng lawghyng spekyng â—… apyng and in many other mo ¶ Of a certen clerke that leuyd holyly ¶ Ca xlviij fOrthermore a certen clerke that paste onte of thys world in hys yowthe y sawe there iÌ„ the same place the whyche by the inspyracyon of the holy goste bothe in connyng of dyuynyte as in otherâ—…ly be rals faculteeâ—… passyd al moste alle other that were hys felawys Sothely he was there peynde iÌ„ a light and amene wyse gladly goyng forthe by the testy mony and witnes of a goode consciens that he had toward the ioys and reste of paradyse Trewely he was ful wele disâ—… osyd of maners and condicions and studeyng in scolys pure of chastyte and beny uolente in charyte with other Èeftys of grace by the whyche he plesyd oure lord ful wele Also he had gotyn to hym specyaly the loue of the moste gloryê° vyrgyne the modyr of god oure blessyd lady sent marye home he seruyd ful deuoutely in hys lyfeÌ„ and ful oftyn tymes wachyd longe in prayers before her auter with a ful meke spyryte and a coÌ„tryte her te and for her loue gaue to pore pepul mekyl almys wherfore withoutyn doute thya remaynyd to hym of the same blessyd lady in heuyn euerlastyng ioye and grete mede And for the houre of hys passyng oute of thys world he had resceyued mekyl refresshyng and by her contynual solace and helpe was mercyfully also in hys peynys sokyrde and coÌ„forted Sothely whenne he was schewyd to me he was sum what dyssesyd peynyd only by the intemperaÌ„s of the eyre as in coolde and in hete Then y enquyred and he had sofrid any other peynys afore And hyt was tolde me that he had sofryd other whyles amonge the peynfull hete of thirste and that was be cause whenne he abowndyd in temporal goodys he was more harder to the pore peplu than he schulde haue be or ryghte wolde And trewely he had gret compassyon of hem and mekyl he dyd in hys lyfe to helpe and releue hem But neuertheles oftyn ty mes he was wery of hem and specyaly after that he was waxin rycher in so mekyl that before when he was powrer and had not so mekyl he was more lyberale to powre folke than he was after whenne hys goodys were encresyd And therfore full sore hyt ys to drede howe streytely they shulde Èeue acoÌ„tys of her disâ—…nsacyon that haue resceyued benefytys ryches of the chyrche owre lord yhesus seyng thys wyse yn the gospel Cui plus commititur ab â—…o plus exigetur that ys to sey To home more ys coÌ„ mytid or be takyn of hym more shal be asuyd Now soth ly by cause whe haue here trewly wretyn yn wordes mony thynghes that we fownde saw yn placys of peynys let vs here ende owre narracion of hem And aftirward as god wyl geue vs grace we wyl asaye to telle and declare some thynghys that we saw of the conforte and gladnes of the blessyd sowlys the whyche restyd hem yoyfully yn the ful me ry and yocunde place of paradyse ¶ Also of paradyse and of the multitude of pepul that he sawe founde there ¶ Ca xlix nOwe of the solace and conforte of the blessed sowlys that byn scapyd her peynys anâ—… be at reste and of her euerlastyng ioys sum what y wille tel yow as y can and may For no man may sufficiently And whenne we were paste and goÌ„â—…e these thre placys of peynys as hyt ys aboue seyde had beholde the grete peynys and dyuers tormentys of synnarys we wente forthe farthir And as we wente farther there begunne to appere a lytyl a lytyl more and more a full feire lyghte vnto vs and with al brake oute a ful plesaunte swete fauyr And anone after we cam to a fylde the which was full of alle maner of feyre and plesaunte 〈◊〉 that gaue to vs an oncredyble inestymable conforte of ioye and plesure Sothely in thys fylde we sawe and founde infynyte thousandys of sowlys ful iocâ—…de and merye in a ful swete reste after her penauns and after her purgacyon Anâ—… hem that we founde firste in the begynuyng of that filde had apon hem white clothyng but hyt was not very bryght nethyr wele schynyng Notwithstondyng they had no spotte of blacknes or of any other oâ—…clennes on hem as hyt semyd saue thys as y seyd before they were not very brygâ—…t schynyng whyte Trewely amonge these many y knewe the whyche sum tyme y sawe and knewe ful wele whenne they leuyd in thys worldâ—… Of the whyche schortely sum what y wylle telle yow and of other y purpose to cesse ¶ Of a certen abbas the whyche he sawe and kne we there also ¶ Ca. l. hEre in thys place was a certen abbas that was of worschipful conuersacyon the why the y knewe whenne y was a chylde and sche dyed a xiiii yere agone Sothely sche had grete fer uour and zele to chastyte and to alle other honeste Also sche was wyse and warre and denowte in ke pyng her sisters to whome sche was commytted Thys abbas y sawe amonge them that were in the begyunyng of that ioyful place For sche was but as newe cum thedur fro her peynys and sche had â—…pon her clene clothyng but not verey whyte schynyng And sche semyd by her chere and dysposycyon as sche had be longe tyme sicke or dissesyde had cumme late fro bathys I passe by here to tel of summe lyghte thyngys for the whyche sche had sofryd ryghte scarpe peynys Sothelysche had not ouercumme in her leuyng the vyce and mocyon of vayne glorye amonge the merytys of vertu and commendacyon of flatryng and of other
thyng is innumerabulle y passe by â–ª in the whyche the febull ignoraunce of good pepul often tymes offendythe Trewely sche told me that sche had sofryd peynys specyaly by cause sche louyd her kynnys folke ouermekyl carnaly and to hem gaue mekyl goodys of the place that sche had rule of whenne somme of her systers to home sche was a spyrytuall moder lackyd sum tymes suche thyngys as longed to her leuyng and clothyng And whenne y harde thys of her â–ª gretely y meruelyde For y knowe not one the any prelate in thys dayes that vsyd so grete scarsnes to her kynnys folke as sche me semyd dydde to her cosynis And as tochyng superfluyte as fer as y knew onethe sche gaue any tyme to hem that were of her kynne ther necessarâ—…s Also her neueâ—…s and necys and othyr that were of her kynne she cowpulde hem not to carnal matrymony but be toke hem to religyon for to serue god And so ster ne sche behauyd her yn wordys and yn chere to hem specialy that when sche was seyne to othyr straÌ„gers frendely and Èesely sche was only to her cosynis ryghte gastful and on mylde Also sche vsyd to en quyre ther fawtys ful warly and when peraueÌ„ture sche myghte fynde hem fawtye ful bytturly therfor sche wolbe hem ponyshe Also sche wolde haue the â—…ones te of maners and the clennes of chastyte obseruyd kepte of al seruantys ê‘sons that sche hade longyng to the monasterye but mooste of hem that were of her kynne And ther was no brothyr ne syster that sche vsyd to fauer â–ª as dydde othyr that were not of her kynne And when y had seyde thys to her and also that sche had browghte forthe ma ny that y knewe to kepe deuowtly her purpose and habet of relygyon that they had takyn apon hem thys wyse the same abbas seide to me ageyne Sothe hyt ys sche seyde aÌ„s tye sey But neuertheles for the carnal affeccyon and loue that y had ynwardely to my frendys when y was bownde to the due gostely leuyng of religion as we le by the reson of my pro fessyon as by the office that y bare y kowde fynde non excuse be fore the streyte iugement of god yn the whyche y was examynde to the vtturmaste poynte of my leuyng And moste by cause that occasyon of gruggyng and example of ouermekyl besynes grewe to my systers by my fawte and negligens for the carke and besynes that they had to her fren dys Trewly y schulde rather haue be warre and takyn hede of the hurte of her sowlys of home y had cure and charge than the superfluyteis and ê“uysyon of wordly goodys to my â—…frendys the whyche y lefte onâ—…s wyth the worlde for god And when thys worschippful abbas had tolde me thys and many othyr thyngys also we wente forthe farther yn to the same ioyful fylde ¶ Of a certen prior that leuyd denowtly and dyed holyly ¶ Ca li ySaw knew also yn thys ioyful place a certeÌ„ worshipful ê‘son that was a prior of a monaste rye the whyche dyed a. iii Èere agoÌ„ne Trewly y saw hym ful blessydly amoÌ„ge ye holy spiritys blessyd seyntys yn a ioyful reste exeÌ„pte delyueryd frome al peynys gladsuÌ„ mery of that place that he was yn but mekyl more gladder and that yncomparable for the certen bydyng that he boode to haue the sight of god And he bare euermore whyle he leuyd in thys world the habet of a monke bothe on hys body and in hys herte fro the tyme of hys chyldhode on to hys oolde aage and to hys laste ende Also he kepeth and hydde the floure of hys vyrgymâ—…e in the bosum of mekenes and he cowpuld to hem ful suerly the vertu of pacyens Trewely he vsyd gret ab stynence and longe wacchyng and bothe too he ouercome by holy deuocyon And whenne necessete compellyd hym to be aboute werkys of charyte as hys office requyred for the tyme. he wulde euer amonge be seying some salmys or other deuowte pray ers to god No man had more compassyon to heÌ„ that were in temptacyon than he â–ª ne no man was more deuowtur and besyur in seruyce to seke men than he Also he neuer denyed hem her petycyons asaynges that were dyssesyd al only of too thyngis that myghte be hadde And for to helpe hem that were in heuynes abecke of warnyng was suffycy ent And whenne he was of seche holy leuyng and conuer sacyon and also laborde contnualy mony Èerys before hys dethe in grete wekenes of bodye so that by hys febulnes dissese he had vtwardly loste the sight of on of his yes a too Èere before his obite when other lymmys of his body faylde him for dyuers other dyssesis not withstonding alle thys Èette wolde he neuer be fro the conent ne fro the quere ne fro the comyn table of the frayter where he was more fedde of the refeccyon of his brethyrne than of hys owne Sothely aftyr hys yonge age he vtwardly absteynide hym fro flesche metys neûthe les he wolde to his brethirne that wer sickelew febul besyly denowtly profer hem flessche metys for her recoueryng And at the laste he fyl yn to a sekenes yâ— ys caâ—…yd dissenteria And when he was al moste browghte to hys ende he toke hys gostely coÌ„forte socur the holy blessyd sakyrmeÌ„t of owre lordys preciâ—… body blode with hys laste anoyntyng and so bode al moste x. days wtowte any mete intendyng only the benefitys of god the exhortacion of hys brethyrne Trewly the nyghte before the day that he paste to god abowte the owre of diuyne â—…uyce he saw owre lord â—…hesu owre blessyd lady seynt ma ry cuÌ„myng to hym and with a ful meke sygne they made a tokyn to hym that he schulde folow hem anon aftyr callyd for hys brethirne and declaryd to hem the visyon that he had seyne tolde hem before that with a ful glade herte that he schulde passe hens on the morow nexte so he dydde Longe hyt were Èef y schulde telle remeÌ„bre al thyng that he seyde before hys ende how he coÌ„ mendyd hym selfe hys brethirne to god and exhortyd hem to coÌ„tynew yn good leuyng hoys wordys exhortacion was not of man but of the holy gooste that spake yn hym Sothly then on the morow aftyr abowt the howr of â—…yrse lying yn ashys yn herre when he had seyde the â—…ce of the day and of the holy trimite of owre blessyd lady the whyche he vsyd euermore of a childe and when he had herde deuowtly the passion of owre lorde after the. iiii euangelystys and other salmys with grete compunccyon of herte betwhene the swhe â—…e kyssyngys of oure lordys crosse and the salutaci ons of oure blessyd lady blessyng hys brethyrne deuontely expyryd Therfore thys worschyfful fa der wyth home fro my ryghte yonge aage y was ful
schalt haue and perceue the ioys that thow haste seyne and me kyl more Èeffe thow contynew and perseuer yn the drede of god And when he had seyde thys to me he browghte me forthe throwe the same gate that we came yn wherfor ful heuy and sory was y and more than a man may suppose for wele y knew that y muste turne ageyne fro that heuynly blysse to thys worldys wrechidnes And gretely he exhor tyd me how y schulde dyspose me to abyde the day of my callyng oute of my body yn clennes of herte and of body and mekenes of spirite wyth dylygent kepyng of my religyon Dylygently he seyde to me â–ª kepe the commaundementys of god and dyspose they leuyng aftyr the example of ryghtwes men And truely so hyt schal be that aftyr the ter me of they bodely leuyng thow schal be admyttyd blessydly to her feleschippe euerlastyngly ¶ Of the swete pele and melodye of bellys that he herde in paradyse and also how he came to hym self ageyne ¶ Ca. lvii aNd whyle the holy confessour sent nycholas thys wyse spake Èet with me sodenly y harde ther a solenne pele and a rynggyng of a merueluâ—… swetenes and as al the bellys yn the worlde or what sumeuer ys of sownyng had be rongyn to gedyr at onys Trewly yn thys pele rynging brake owte also a meruelus swetenes and a variant medelyng of melody sownyd wyth alle And y wote not whe ther the gretnes of melody or the swetnes of sownnyng of bellys was more to be wondirde And to so grete a noy e y toke good hede ful gretly my mynde was suspendyd to here hyt Sothly anone as that gret and meruelus sownnyng and ncyse was cessyd sodenly y saw my selfe departyd fro the swete se leschippe of my duke and leder sent Nicholas Than was y returnyd to my selfe ageyne and anone y hard the voycis of my brethyrne that stode abowte our bedde also my bodely streÌ„the cam ageyn to me aly tyl alitil myn yes opide to the vse of seyig as Èe sawe ryghte wele Also my sekenes and febulnes by the whiche y was longe tyme fulsore disseâ—…id was viwardly excludyd and gonne fro me and sate vipe before yow so stronge and myghty as y was afore by hyt soroful and heuy And y wende that y had be then yn the chirche afore the auter where y worschipte fyrste the crosse And as tochyng the ta ryng that y made yn thys vyseon y had wende hyt had be noone but al only the space of on matens while now as y vnderstonde y was teryde ij days more And now as coÌ„pendensly as y kowde y haue here tolde yow of al tho thingys the whiche y sawe and were sche wyd to me yn body or yn spirite at the instauns and commandement of youre holynes and deuoute charyte And nowe y beseche yon mekely and that with sore weping that ye will with saue to praye to god for me an vnhappy wrecche that y may scape the grete and greuys peynys of synners the whyche y sawe and cum to the ioys of the holy sowlys that y knewe alsoo to see euerlastyngly the gloryous face of oure blessyd lorde and sauyur thesu criste and oure blessyd lady sent marye ¶ A proffe that thys reuelacyon ys of god and moste nedys be trew for the grete myraclys that our lord shewyd on this same monke that same tyme. ¶ Ca lviij mOny instruccyons and opyn examplys byn here at the begynnyng of thys narracyon that euydentely prouyn thys vysyon not to be of maÌ„nys conceyte but vtwardely of the wylle of god the whi che wolde haue hyt schewed to crystyn pepul Neuer thelesse Èefe there be so grete infydelyte or infyrmyte of any persons that can not beleue to these thyngys aforeseyde lete hem consyder the grete sekenesse and febulnes of hym that sawe hyt so sodenly and so sone helyd in to a very wytnes and trowthe of this vysyon that he sawe Also let hem meruelle the grete noyse that was abowte hym and also howe that he was prycked in hys fete with nyldys by the why che he kowde not in any wyse be mouyd Forthermore let hem take hede to hys yes that were so ferre fallyn done in to hys hede and was not seyne onethe to brethe space of ii days and also aftyr a ful loâ—… ge space of howris onethe laste myghte be perseuyd yn hym a ful smalle meuyng as a thynne drede yn hys vytalle veynys Also let hem consyder hys contynualle wepyng and terys the whyche he had aftyrward many days And besyde al thes thyngys we knowe also a nothyr certen thynge that was a ful feyre myracle and a very tokyn of godys curacyon schewyd on hym the same tyme. and as mekyl to be merueld Sothely he had al moste the space of an hole Èere yn hys lyfte legge a grete sore and a ful byttur as hyt were a cauker large and brode wherby he was peynyd intollerably And he was wonte to sey that he had seche a sorow and peyne ther of as he had bore an hoote plate of yrne bown de faste to hys legge And ther was no emplastur no oyntmente nethyr any othyr medicyn how be hit that he had mekyl of lechis leyde to hyt that myghte Èese hym of hys peyne or drawe the wownde to ge dyr Trewly yn the space of hys raueshyng he was so fully helyd that he hym selfe meruelyd wyth vs to fele and see the peyne ache wyth the wownde so clene agonne that no tokyn of hyt ne signe of rednes or of whythnes remaynyd aboue the meruelus curacion of god Al only thys differens had hys legge that was sore fro todyr legge that where the forseyde sore was that place was bare and had none heere fUl delectable hyt was to hym as he seyde fro that tyme forthe as ofte as he harde any solenne pele of ryngyng of bellys by cause hyt wolde then cum to hys mynde ageyne the ful swete pele melody the whyche he herde when he was amonge the blessyd sowlys yn paradyse Sothely aftyr that he was cum to hym selfe and hys brethine had tolde hym that now ys the holy tyme of Èestyr than fyrste he beleuyd when he harde hem rynge solenly to complen for then he knew certenly that the pele and melodye that he herde yn paradyse wyth so grete ioy and gladnes betokynde the same solennyte of Èestir yn the whyche owre blessyd lorde and sauyur thesus criste roso vppe visibly and bode ly fro dethe on to lyfe to home wyth the fadyr and the holy gooste be now and euermore euerlastyng ioy and blysse Amen