One of the seruauÌ„tes made ordynauÌ„ce for to empte that vessell by fyllyng of botellys yet it semed neuer the lesse Atte the laste the vessell was vndone for to be gawgid to knowe ther by what was lefte in the vessell it was founde all drye as though ther had no wyne be ther Inne many monthes afore Thenne all the housholde were more amexuaylled of the myracle thenne they were of the habundaunce of wyne afore Loo maydens what myracle our lord shewed by gyuyng of almes dede of this holy mayde Katheryne the whiche myracle was openly afterward knowen in the Cyte of Sene Thus endeth this chapytre The wyttenesse of thys mater conteyned in thys chapytre ben rehersed in thys chapytre ¶ Of meruayllous dedys whiche she dyd in lowely besy seruyse to them that were syke Capitulum iiij THys holy mayde had a meruayllous compassyon in hyr soule of poure folke and nedy But yet she hadde a more excellent a more meruayllous pyte of seke folk for the whiche pyte that she hadde of them she wroughte many wonder thynges whom I shall rerce by the grace of god for the more edyfycacyon of theym the whiche shall rede or here thys holy legende And though it seme to somme incredyble yet shall I not leue therfore In the cyte of Sene ther was a full poure womman and a syke that for nede and wantyng of temporall gooddes she was constreyned to lygge in an hospytak in the same Cyte where she supposed to haue and fynde remedye of hyr syknes that she myght not haue by hyr self it happed thanne that she was receyued in to a poure hospytall of the same cyte in the whiche hospytall vnnethe she myght haue that she nedyd Hyr sykenesse encrecyd so hyghely that she was a lepre thoâ—ugh out all hyr body thenne all that euer were wyth Inne the hospytall eshewed hir te more and dysposed for that she sholde be sente to the spytellhous wythout the toune the whyche was ordeyned for lazaros and not for to abyde amonges them Whanne thys holy mayde perceyued thys she wente full of charyte to the same hospytall and vysyted the poure leprous womman and mynystred to hyr not onely the substaunce of temporall gooddes but also the helpe of hyr owne mynystracyon For euery day on the morowe and euery nyght at euen she vysyted the same seek womman by hyr owne persone consyderyng in that same leprous womman hir spoust Jhesu with hyr ghoostly eye And therfore she serued her to more besely the more dylygentely and the more mekely thys holy mayde serued hyr the more prude and vnkynde the seek womman was ageynst hyr For so ofte tymes it happeth in them that ben not meke that the more mekenes ther is shewed to them the more proude they be And there that they sholde thanke our lord for the kyndnes whiche is shewed to them the shewe rather Iniuryes and wronges ryght so dyd thys seke womman to this holy mayde whan she saw that she was serued soo customably euery day of thys holy mayde she began to chyde hir whanne she was not serued to hyr plesaunce It befyll other whyle that thys holy mayde was longe at the chyrche and contynued somtyme longer thenne somtyme and that was the cause ofte tyme why she was taryed fro that seek woÌ„man And after whan she came late to the seek woÌ„man she wolde chyde hyr shappely and sayde to hyr soornfully many suche heuy wordes O lady quene welcome where haue ye ben so longe lady quene a now ye be a grete lady that so long haue ben at the frerys haue ye talkyd I nough wyth the freres lady wyth suche lyke wordes and many lyke these she dyd what she coude to styre thys holy mayde to wrath yet was she not styred by hyr wordes but rather serued hyr as she wolde hyr owne moder comforted hyr as lowely and as mekely as she wolde hyr owne moder seynge to hyr ryght thus O good moder for goddes loue be not dyspleased wyth me for though I haue be longe I shall mende all thyng anone Than she hyd hyr fast made a fyre and ordeyned besyly for hyr mete and for all other necessaryes as she wolde for hyr owne moder soo that the seke womman in all hyr vnpacyence meruaylled of hir pacyence Thys rebukynge contynued longe tyme and yet was that holy mayde neuer wery of hyr seruyse but rather contynued many folk had meruayll therof But hyr owne mod Lapa was gretely troubled wyth al and cryed vpon hyr that she sholde leue that minystracion lest she were a lepre as the seke womaÌ„ was oftymes she sayd to hir Doughter I wote well thou shalt be a leper yf thou contynue in seruyce of this seke woman and that may I not suffer And therfore leue of I charge the To whom this holy mayde excused her honestely and sayde that she hadde it of oure lord that she sholde not leue the minystracion of that poure woman And soo she eâ—ed her moder and she contynued forthe in her hooly mynystracion Thenne the fende perceyued that she myght not bee ouercome by swete reuelyng he tourned hym to another whyle by the suffraunce of oure lorde and made her hondes leper the whiche touched the lepers body of the seke woman in soo ferforth that euery body that sawe her sayd that she was a leper yet wold she not sece thefor but rather desireth to be a leper than for to seâ—e of holy ministracioÌ„ she despysed her owne body rought neuer what befyll to her so that she mightserue our lord That lepers sekenes contynued vppon her many dayes But her semed full fewe daye in comparyson of grete loue that she hadde to our lord That blessyd lord the whiche tournyd all thynge to god in his louers after tyme he consyderyd the ghostely strengthe of his spouse this holy mayde he wolde not suffer that the lepers sykenes sholde longe endure in her Wythin a lytyll tyme afterward it happed by the dysposycyon of our lord that lepers woman sholde passe out of this worlde Soo that in a tyme of her passynge this holy mayde was wyth her and comforted her besely and blessydly ¶ Whan she was passed she wasshed deuotly that lepres body and arayed it to the berynge And whan her dyryge and her masse was done she beryed her wyth her owne hondes And assone as she was buryed the leper passed awaye fro her hondes as though she hadde neuer no ne sykenesse therof But rather her hondes was more fayrer afterward thenne ony place of her body as though she hadde neuer be touched wyth ony spyce of lepre See not ye maydens what encrece of vertue this hooly mayde wan by this dede of mercy charyte the moder of vertu stererd her to doo that charytable dede of mercy and mekenesse conpeled with charyte the whiche made her to bee subiecte and seruaunt to the seke And also pacyence was conpeled wyth that charyte the whiche made
she hadde the trewe knowleche therof in her faders hous wythout ensample or doctryne off other Fyrst I shall telle you of her abstinence of mete and drynke fro her chyldehood in to the tyme that she came to that age She ete full seldom flesshe as it is rehersed afore but whan she was come to this age and this speciall fredom she forsoke vtterly etyng of flesshe soo fer forthe that belonge of custome and vse that she hadde in forsakyng of it It was so lyght some to her that it was a payne to her for to smelle it as she told her confessour preuely in confessyon and by cause ye shold haue none gretter merueylle herof I shall telle you of another grete abstynence Whan her confessonr perceyued in a tyme that she was gretly wasted and feblyd in body for she receyued none suche mete and drynke that febyll folke sholde be comforted wyth He gaue her counseyll that she sholde putte in her colde water that she dranke suger or a lytyl suger roset Wherby her spyrytys myght the more be quyckenyd Wyth that she touenyd to her confessour and sayde A lytyll lyf there is left wytt in me the whiche me semeth ye wolde it vtterly were quenchyd And whan her confessour hadde askyd her why and knewe her excusacion He vnderstode by her wordes that she hadde soo vsed her to bytter metes and vnsauory drinkys that all maner swete thyng was noyous to her body by cause her dysposycion was tourned in to a custome And soo it was to her of etyng fâ—esshe as it is rehersed afore And whan she sholde drynke wyne as the contree foryeuyd after the tyme she hadde lycence to kepe her chambre she medlyd that wyne soo wyth water that it loste both his taste and his sauour and also a grete parte of his colour But afterward whan she was xv yere of age she lefte alle maner of drynkyng of wyne and vsed to drynke colde water And all maner soden mete out taken brede alone She wythdrewe fro her by lytyll and lytyll euery daye somwhat and wythin a lytyl tyme after she helde her to brede and rawe herbes ¶ Att the lasie whan she was twenty yere of age or there aboute she lefte etyng of brede and helde her only to rawe herbes Thenne afterward she came to suche an hyghe state of lyuyng nonght by vse and kynde as it shall be declared openly ynogh wythinforth by the helpe of god But oonly by myracle that alle be it her body was oppressyd gretely wyth many dyuerse sekenesse and grete traueylles The kyndly of dygestyon in the body hadde noo place in her and the stomake also vsed not the myght and the vse of his offyce of defyeng And yet the strengthes of the body notwythstondyng her strengthe lyuyng both in mete and drynke were neuer the febly er soo that than her confessour recordeth of her alle her lyf was myracle She myght neuer doo that she dede by strengthe of kynde as physyens sayd and tolde afterward to her confessour but oonly by myracle All thyse thynges shall clerely and play nely by the helpe of god openly be declared wythin this boke afterward But as for the conclusyon of her abstynence fro the tyme that her confessour Mayster Reymound knewe her as he recordeth of her is this that she lyued not wyth no mete ne drynke that was nourysshynge to her ne she hadde none comforte of none kyndely strengthe And yet neuertheles she suffred gladly all maner dyseses and laboures How came she to this state of lyuynge trowe ye trewely not by bodely excercyse and vse But rather by fulnes of the spirite I shall tel you in what wise the fulnes off the spirite somÌ„e tyme rebonudeth in to the body there it is made subiecte acordyng to the werkys of the spyryte for there the spiryte of a gostely creature is fedde wyth the gyftes of gostely graces the body suffreth the more pacientli aboue naturall strengthe of his own nedes who wold be in dobute herof I trowe none resonable creature whether martyrs in her holy martyrdome suffred not gladly aboue naturall strengthe tormente and myserye of theyr bodyes in her passyons I trowe yeis And fro whens cometh this trowe ye but of fulnesse of the spyryte This is ofte tymes knowen by experyens in oure dayes that yf a man or a womman be occupyed in goddes seruyce deuoutly He reketh neuer how longe he fasteth and neuer to speke wyth creature but whan he ceseth of the speciall deuocion And is occupyed in outward bodely besynes it is harde for hym for to faste doo as he dyde before Whens cometh this grace but oonly of the fulnes of the spyryte that conforteth the body the whiche accordeth to the werkis of it alle be it that this is a gyfte aboue nature yet naturally the spyryte otherwhyle communeth wyth the body And the body wyth the spyryte bothe in good and euyl In thyse wordes I denye not but that ther ben somme the whiche maye faste more esely than somme But symply for to faste and absteyne longe tyme togyder in this lyf me semeth it is inpossyble bi nature thus moche is rehersed of her grete abstynence for this tyme Takyth hede also of another thynge that this holy mayde tourmentyd her body wyth besyde all her abstinence She made to her a bedde al of bordes wythout ony other stuff otherwhyles she wolde sytte or stonde in holy medytacions other whyle knele praye alwaye whan she wolde slepe she laye coun wythout ony doyng awaye off her weryng clothes For she weryd alwaye wollen bothe nexte her body and wythout some tyme she vsed the hayre or the cilyce and that she lefte afterward by cause as her confessour supposed That she that was clene wythin eschewed vnclenÌ„es wythout that is engendred of the cilyce or of the hayre But for the hayre she vsed an yron chayne next her body euyr syttyng faste to her sydes wythoute ony remeuynct or ease vnto the tyme it endented the skynne And made a marke ther vpon as it hadde be forbrennyd As her ghostely doughters and her felawes tolde after ward to Mayster Reymond her confessour the whiche ghostely doughters and felawes ofte tymes for dyuerse sekenesses that she suffred constreyned her for to chaunge her clothes and for to wasshe awaye the swete And therfore her confessour afterward by cause of her grete sekenesse that she suffred a lytyl before that she sholde be deed constreyned her by obedyens that she sholde leue her cheyne All be it she wolde not doo it by hyr good wyll Euermore she contynued in wakyng tyl the daye dawed on the morowe as it shall be declared more opynly here afterward After that by lytyll and lytyll our lorde gaue her grace to ouercome slepe that vnnethe she wold slepe half an houre in two dayes And vnnethys she wolde receyue that half houre but as sekenes coustreyned her therto And she wolde saye otherwhyle to her confessour
haue left hyr grete penaunce â–ª Thys was not done wythout wyll of the fende the whyche besyed hym in that he myght to wyth drawe suche a feruent sowle from the ghostly callynge of hyr heuenly spouse He taught thys synfull woÌ„man Lapa this maydens moder full pryuely his malycyous wylles Neuerthelesse bi cause ther may no counseyll preuayll ne haue the maystrye ageynst the couÌ„seyll of god Thys holy mayde that was armed wyth the armere of vyctorye bothe in hyr ryght syde and eke in hyr lefte syde torned alle the fende is trecherous wylles to grete profytâ— of hyr sowle Whan she came to the bathe she founde a newe maner bathyng in hyr sowle how that she shold tormente hyr body amonge the delycyous bathes She went to the condytâ— there the hote water cam Inne to the bathe there she satte all naked and suffred pacyently the hote water brenne hyr tender naked flesshe the whyche was more payne to hyr thenne whan she bete hyr wyth a cheyne Now shall I telle you how hyr confessour knewe it In a tyme hyr moder Lapa tâ—lde mayster Reymond afore hyr doughter how they went for to be bathed thenne thys mayde pryuely tolde hym how she was bathed and how wysely she asked leue of hir moder whan she was there that she myght be bathed by hyr self whan all folke were gone For she wyst well yf hyr moder had seen hyr she myght not do as she dyd And thenne hyr confessour axyd hyr how she myght suffre so grete he te wyth out peryll of deth Thys mayde answerd to hym sayd full symply that whan she satte in that bathe she thought besyly vpon the paynes of purgatorye of hell prayng to our lord whome she had so hyely offendyd that he wolde wouchesauf to torne mercyably tho peynes that she had deserued in to that temperall payne that she suffred gladly Of hys mercy she had so grete gladdenesse in hyr herte that all the peyne was ryght swete to hir therfore hyr body was no thynge hurte there by though she felt peyne Whan she had tolde thys tale hyr confessour wente home she ageyne to hir penauÌ„ce that she was wont to vse And whan hir mod that ê‘ceyued she had no more hope tho of hir chaungyng But yet she cessyd neuer wyth out grutchyng of the penaunce that she vsed Of the whyche grutchyng thys mayde hyr doughter lyghttâ—ly suffred hit ouer passe wyth a defeere hauyng myude rather of hir holy purpos excyted steryd hyr moder euery day that â—he â—hold go to the sustres of penauÌ„ce of saynt Domynyk for to praye thom that hyr doughter myght receyue them abyte of penaunce that she had so long tyme desyred The moder seyng that she myght haue no reste for hyr doughter she wente to the susters of penaunce prayed that hyr doughter myght receyue the abyte amonges them To whom they answerd sayd That it was not hyr custome to receyue maydens ne yonge wymmen to that abyte but onely wedowes of sadde age and of good name fame that wold fully gyue hem to goddes seruyse For syth it is so that susters of that abyte be not enclosed vp but eueryche of them lyued at home in hyr owne how 's hyt were full necessary that eche of them were of suche sadde age that they myght coude gouerne them self saddely The cause why these susters of penaunce answerd thus it shall be declared by the helpe of god openly I nough in the next chapytre that sueth Whan the moder had this answere she went home tolde hyr doughter the whiche answere was to the doughter full gladsome to the moder not full heuysom Neuerthelesse yet thys holy mayde mystrusted not for she wysâ— welle hyr purpose sholde be fulfylled that was behot hir of so gloryous a fader as Saynt Domynyk And therefore efâ—sones she prayed hyr mod that she sholde not cesse but go to thyse susters ageyn praye them wyth asmoche instaunce as she coude that she myght receyue that abyte The moder dyd so brought ageyn the same answer as she dyd fyrst Then ne sone after it happed that thys mayde fyll seek in body the whyche sekenesse comynly yong folk ben vexyd wyth or thaÌ„ne they come to a sadde age And yet pâ—raduenture that passynge heâ—â— that shâ— suffâ—ed in the hote bathe myght be cause there of al be it that it was the wyl of god that it shold be so All the skynne of hyr body was full of bladders byles that vnnethe she myght be knowe And there to also she had a strong feuer The moder seyng that hyr doughter was soo seek all though she loued hir sones doughter tenderly Yet thys doughter whom that she nourysshed wyth hyr owne mylke she loued more tenderly therefor she was the more sory of hyr dysease And she knewe no cause where of thys sekenesse cam For suche a sekenesse myght not come of abstynence but rather of supfluyte And also that same tyme it was comyn sekenesse to yong chyldren yong maydens And therefor she coude not deme where of the sekenesse came what ese remedye she myght do there to she dyd bothe in wordes of comfort also in dede syttyng alle waye by the beddes syde by hyr But the seker the doughter was in body the strenger she was in hyr holy desyre wayteng after leysyr to constreng hyr mod in manere for to pursewe to fulfyll hyr desyre wysely swetly she sayde to hyr moder Good dere moder yf ye wold I were hole ferdâ— well I praye you beth aboute that my desyre may be fulfylled for to receyue that abyte of penauÌ„ce Ellys I wote well that our lord saynt domynyk the whyche haue called me to there seruyce woll so ordeyne for me that ye sholde no longer haue me in thys lyf Whan the moder herde thys oftâ— many tymes rehersed to hyr she beynge a ferde lest she sholde haue deyde went to the same susters ageyn prayed them so entyerly of the abyte that they were ouercome wyth hyr prayers so grauÌ„ted hyr in thys wyse Yf youre doughter be noght ouer semely in body ouer fâ—yâ—â— in beaute we shall graunâ—â— your axyng receyue hyr And yf she be to fayre we drede vs of the peryll of slandre and of malycyouâ— lyuyng of men in thyse dayes And for thys cause we dare not consente to receyue hyr in noo wyse To whom the moder answerd sayde Cometh and see hyr eue ye the dome whee she be fayre or not There were sente two dyscrete matrons chosen amonge them wyth Lapa for to see thys mayde bothe of dysposycyon of hyr body also for to serche hyr desyre of soule When they come they founde thys mayde lyeng seek in a bedde therefor they myght not clerely knowe the dysposycyon of hyr body for sekenesse Neuerthelesse as by hyr wordes they knewe hyr feruent desyre of sowle
her to suffre pacyently and gladly the seke wommans rebukynge ¶ And yet ferthermore to this dede off charyte was knytte wythouten ony doughte sekernesse of clere faythe By the whiche faythe she behelde euer her spouse Jhesu in her sowle as ofte as she mynystred to that woman ¶ And yet neuertheles she failed none hope by the whiche she contynued to the laste ende in her holy mynystracyon After alle thyse hooly company of vertues folowed an open myracle in clensyng of that lepre by the dethe of this poure woman the whiche she toke by her mynystracyon This is a gracious myracle and a merueylous yet sholde ye see and here a more merueylous thinge that folowed yf ye lysten here it besely In the same Cyte of Gene there was a susters of penaunce of Saynt Domynyk seke that whiche was called after the maner of speche iÌ„ the couÌ„tre Palmaria the suster Palmaria was so gretely styred to hate by excytacion of the fende agaynst this holy mayde katheryn that as ofte as euer she sawe her or herd herd her speke or herd speke of her she was hyghely troubylyd in her sowle soo ferforth that she shewed alle the tokenes of malyce agaynste her bothe in baâ—bytyng of her pryuyly and openly also in cursyng Assone as the holy maide perceyued this she shewed to her alle maner of myldenes and mekenes for to pees her in that that she coude but alway her seke suster despysed all her mekenesse to the vtterest and sette none pryce bi her Thenne this holy mayde ranne by prayer wyth a feruent deuote herte to our lorde Ihesu her spouse prayeng to hym specyally for her seke suster that he wold vouchesauf to gyue her grace of forgyuenes the prayers were as a brennyng fyre ascendynge vp to our lorde askyng of him bothe mercy dome all bee it that the entent of this holy mayde was nothyng ellys but for to aske mercy for her and no ne dome yet it was lykyng to our lorde for that tyme not for to gyue hys mercy wythout dome there shewed oure lorde hys grete dome but yf byrrayers of this holy mayde He shewed a more gretter mercy he smote mercyably to that suster Palmarya in her body that her soule shol be made hole but what hardynes of obstinacion was in that seke suster And what swetenes of charyte there agaynst was in his spouse katheryne It was clerely shewed afterward by ryghtwysdom euermore he encresyng in this holy mayde katheryn the loue of sowles by shewyng of a wonderfull fayrnes of that susters soule the whiche was fyrst by the ryght wysdome of hym I demed to bee dampned for her obsâ—ynacie but merytes and prayers of this hooly mayde it was afterward saued Whan our lorde hadde smyte that suster palmarya in her body by bodely sekenes to that entent onely that her soule shold be more hole yet wolde she not sece of her malycyous hate that she shewed wythout cause to this holy mayde But rather was more greuoê° to her after her sekenes thenne she was in her he le The more froward she was to the holy mayde the more mekenes she she wed agayn to her and wold ofte tymes full charytably be wyth her and do her seruyce both wyth louyng wordes and dedes ¶ Yet was that seke suster harder thenne ony stone agaynste her that neyther by charytable wordes ne dedes ne seruyces she wolde not be pesed but euer was grutchyng vpon her soo ferforth that she bad her goo out of the hous that she was inne wyth a wood violent spyryt This consyderyd our lord that rightwis iuge he leyde his honde of ryghtwysnes vpon that enmye of charyte and touched her soo Soo sodenly that bothe wythout shryfte and housell she drewe faste to the deth of body and sowle Whan this holy may herd her of Anone she went to her chamber and bysoughte our lord by deuout prayer for that soule lest it sholde peryche by occasyon of her Suche wordes she seyde to oure lorde in her sowle in tyme of her prayer as afterward she was be knowe to her confessour Lord whyder I wretche am I bore to the ende by occasyon of me soules I made lyke to that shold be put to endeles peynel â— wylt thou suffer lord that by occasyon of endeles daÌ„pnacion to myn suster to whom I sholde be an instrument of euerlastynge helthe A myn good lord put awaye suche an orybyll dome sor the multytude of thyn grete mercy It had be better I had neuer be borne than soulis I bought by precyous blod shold for me be dampned O lorde be thyse thyne byhestes the whiche thou behotest me by thy large mercy I sholde be profytable to the sowle he le off myn neyghbours be thyse the fruytes of helthe that I sholde brynge forth for that myn suster sholde be dampned and none douwte mynsynne is cause therof and of her payne For other fruyte brynge I not forth but synne alone But yet shall I not cese to aske mercy vnto the tyme I haue somme comforte of myn susters sauacion in this wyse this hooly mayde prayed more in sowle thenne in worde outward and for that she shold haue the more compassyoÌ„ of her susters sowle our lord shewed her in the mischefs perile that her susters sowle was inne comered and wythinne that syght oure lorde answerd her and sayde that he myght not suffer it of his ryghtwysnes but that suche a malycious hate and an obstynate must nedes be punysshed Thenne the holy maide fell doune a fore oure lord in prayer and sayde Lord I shall go neuer out of this place in to the tyme thou hast shewed methy mercy for my suster punisshe me lorde for her synne for I that am cause of her trespaas shold bee punisshed and not she therfore merciable lord I beseche the for thy grete mercy and thyn endeles godenes that thou suffer not myn susters sowle goo out of her body in to the tyme that she haue receyued that grace thy merci ¶ Loo maydens that prayer was off grete strengthe that her suster soule myghte not passe out of the body vnto the tyme oure lorde shewed his plentuous mercy in her notwythstondynge the seke woman lay adrawyng on thre dayes and thre nyghtes soo that many folke that knewe her merueylled and sorowed for her that she suffred soo longe a peyne yet in all that tyme this holy mayde continued in her deuout prayer neuer cesing vnto the tyme she hadde ouercome in maner of our lord by meke teres Thenâ—e our lorde by her deuout prayers graciously sent his mercy vnto that sowle and gaue her clere knowyng to knowe her trespas and also gaue her suffycient contrycion to helthe of her sowle Assone as this holy mayde perceyued that by reuelacion that she hadde suche a grace she wente to the seke susters chamber for to comforte her And whan the seke suster sawe this hooly mayde she dyde her reuerence wyth grete ioye as
maidens face by cause euer the hooly mayde tourned awaye her face fro her Of this thynge her confessour hadde grete merueyle And in a tyme asked her why she dyde soo ¶ To whome she answerd and sayde Fader I am syker and ye hadde felt that stynche of synne that I felte in her ye wolde haue caste oute alle that is in your body for sqweymusnes Loo maydens all thyse ensamples haue I sett here for ye sholde knowe what excellent gyftes of grace our lord gaue to this hooly mayde by cause of her meke lyuyng ¶ Ouermore our ghoostely enemye the fend perceyuyng that this hooly mayde wan grete vertues by the seruyce that she dede to seke folke He thought by somme maner of wylle to wythdrawe her fro that holy besynes and yet myght he not For the more that he was aboute to lette her the more she encresyd vertuously by that occupacion ¶ It befyl in a tyme that one of the susters of penaunce whyche was called after the maner of the countree Andred This andred was touched bi the suffrauÌ„ce of oure lorde wyth a greuous infyrmyte and that was in this thyse She hadde vppon her brest a sore the whiche was called a cancer And that fretid the flesshe rounde aboute and it was soo corrupte that there myght none come nyghe her for stynche But yf they hylde her nose And soo there was fewe or none that myghte suffre to come nyghe her ¶ whanne this hooly Mayde perceyued this she vnderstoode that oure lord had receyued that seke suster to her kepyng Thenne anone she came to her that wyth a glad there she comforted her and she serued her gladly to the laste ende of her sekenes that seke suster toke her seruyce the more freely in as moche as she consydered that all other forsoke her this holy mayde lefte no thynge vndo that was longyng to her seke suster encresyd neuer her abhomynable stynche neuer so moche She stode by her and opened her wounde wasshed it and wepte it and coueryd it â–ª and yet neuer she hyldeth she her nose for noo stynche ne shewed none token of lothsomnes ne neuer was heuy ne wroth of seruyce ne wery about her but gladli dyd her dilygeÌ„t seruyce soo that her seke suster had merueyle of the grete stedfastenes and of the grete sufferaunce and of the grete fulnes of loue and charyte that was in so yonge a mayde Of this grete loue and charyte that she shewed to that seke suster the fende had grete enuye and was aboute to lette that dede of mercy and of charyte after his power ¶ Fyrst vpon a daye as this holy mayde was aboute to vnoouere her wounde for to wasshe it and wype it to refreissh it agayn â–ª there came out suche an odoure of stynche that vnnethe her stomake myght suffer it But almost she was brought to a vomyte Assone as she perceyued that she arose agaynst her self wyth an hyghe wrathe and sayde to her skeymons flesshe in this wyse whether the wretched flesshe haste abhomynacion now of thyn suster the whiche oure lorde boughte wyth his precious blode thou mayste falle euery daye in the same sykenesse that she is in or in verse trewely thou shalt be punysshed therfore Anone she bowed done to the sore and hyld her nose and her mouthe open agaynst the wounde soo longe vnto the tyme she felt in her selfe that her skeymousnes was goo and soo she ouer came the flesshe that was contrary to the spyryte The seke suster behelde this and cryed to her merueylyng and sayde cecedere doughter corrupte not thy selfe wyth this foule stynkyng sore ¶ This holy mayde for alle her cryenge wolde not aryse vp vnto the tyme she felt her enemye was ouercome and so she arose vp and he auoyded awaye fro her for a tyme But he consyderyng that he myght not haue the maystry of her wrought wylyly agaynst her by her seke suster He put in her herte suche an heuenes agaynst this holy mayde that she lotheth her seruyce and by lytyll and lytyll that malyce soo encresyd that lothenes was tourned in to an hate For though she knewe well ynow that there was none that wolde serue her but she But yet she sâ—cyd not of that pryuy hate but brake out agaynst her in to a suspycious gâ—losye for that is the condycion of theym that lyuen in hate euer lyghtely for to leue a suspycious thought of them that they hate And at the laste she began to ymage ne and bere her an honde that whan she was not present wyth her she was aboute somme actuell synne flesshely in somme other preuy places â–ª ¶ Yet wold not this holy mayde neuer sâ—ce of her holy seruise aboute her notwithstondyng suspycious ymagynacions I put agaynst her For she wel that wylecome by the deuyll and the more besy she was aboute her the more wrathfull was her seke suster agaynst her by exortacion and excitacion of the fende that euer hated the dedes of charite In so moche that he steryd that seke suster to slander thys holi mayde openly of the filthe of vnclenÌ„e and that scland was so open that at the last whanne that it came to hir susters he ryng somme of the oldest and of the sted fastest cam to thys seke suster for to knowe the trouthe Thanne the seek suster as she sdauÌ„dred hyr a fore ryght soo she contynued in the same sclaund to hir susters accusyng hir full foule actuell vnclennesse Of the whiche foule accusacy on thyse sustres were gretely a meruaylled and styred ageynst thys holy mayde and so was called forthe a fore them and sharpely rebuked wyth many repreuable wordes axyng of hir how she wold suffre hyr self so be deceyued for to lese hyr maydenhode To whome thys holy mayde answerd full pacyently and softely seynge thus â–ª Trewely ladyes and sustres by the grace of our lord Jhesu cryste I am a mayde And neuer wold she say other worde in blamyng of hyr that so had accused hyr but onely thus Trewely I am a mayde trewely I am a mayde Yet for all thys she cessyd neuer of hyr seruyse all be it that it was full heuysom to hir for to here suche wordes sclaundre But yet fyrst she serued hyr seek suster and afterward went to hir chaÌ„bâ—e for to praye for that was hyr most comforte in all suche dyseases There she prayed in soule more thenne in wordes by mouthe and that was in thys wyse O almyghty god my dere beloued spouse thou knowest well that the name of maydes is tender and lyghtly for to catche sclaundre namely of suche maydens that haue chosen the to be their spouse and that was the cause why that thou woldest that thy gloryous moder our lady Saynt Mary was commytted to Joseph that was called spoused hyr husbond for to kepe hyr name of virgynyte wythout sclaunder Thou knowest lord that alle thys sclaundre the whiche is putte vpon me is come by the fende â—he
For thou shalt not eshewe shun the company of men and wommen as thou were wonte to do but rather for theyr soule helthe thou shalt put the to all maner of laboure to thy power and myght Of thys maner of lyuyng many one shold be sclaundred and so of many thou shalt be ageyn sayd that the thoughtes ef theyr hertys may be knowen by theyr wordes but loke thou be in no wyse aferde ne troubled for I shall euer be wyth the delyuer thy sowle from treucherons tonges and lyers Therfore werke myghtely that the holy ghoost shall teche the for by that I shall delyuere maÌ„nes sowle out of the fendes power and by mediacion of my specyall grace I shallede them to heuen Whanne our lorde had sayd thyse wordes and often tymes had rehersed to hyr the same comfortably as touchyng that poynte Where our lord sayd to hyr that she sholde not be a ferdene troubled She answerd as she beknewe afterward in contessyon Thou aâ—t my lord my god and I thy wretched seruaunt euer more thy wyll be done but haue mynde of me good lorde god after thy grete mercy helpe me and thus vanysshed cessyd this vysyon Thys holy mayde bethought hyr kepte well in hyr herte wha this gracyous chauÌ„gyng sholde be in tyme comyng Fro that tyme afterward fro day to day the grace of oure lord Jhesu encreced in hyr herte the holy ghost habounded in hyr so moche that she hyr self was astoned therof wext feble in body sayd as the propheet sayd thyse wordes Deficit caro mea et corpus me um deus cordis mei et ê‘s mea deus ineteâ—nuÌ„ That is my body my flesshe sebled deâ—ailleth but good lord by the gouernour of myn herte my parte wythoutenende And eftesones she sayd as the same ê“pheet sayd in another place Memor fui dei et drlectata sum exercitata sum et deficit spiritus meus That is I haue mynde of my lord god haue therin grete delyte I hauÌ„ce me in the ghostly delyte therfore my spyrytes strengthes of my body wexen feble and defayllen This mayde wext seek in body for the loue of our lord and hir sekenes had no remedy but by weping waylyng therfore she wept wayled euery day yet by suche wepyng and waylyng she myght not so cour hyr sekenes Than our lord put in hyr herte that it sholde be good for hyr as for a souereyn cemedye to hir sekenes oft tymes to be housled that so she myght receyue that lord that she loued by sacrement of the autre Of whom she myght not yet be fulfylled fully in thys lyf as she shold be in heuen blysse And netheles that was cause of more loue encrece of gretter sekenes But yet for a tyme it made satys faccyon by the vertue of the feyth to the ser â—yse of hyr charyte that brenned contynuelly in hyr herte by in sufflacyon of the holy ghoost After tyme she had in custome to be comuned houseled as it were euery day all be it though she were oft tymes lette by sekenes of body and soo for besynes that she had of mennes soules She had suche a desyre ofte for to be house led that but yf she were hyr body sholde suâ—â—â—â— grete peyne in maner it sholde feble defayll right as the body had parâ—â— of the haboundaunce of the spyryte by affluence that habouÌ„ded fro wythin forth Ryght so it myght not be but yf it had be perâ—eyner of the anguysshe dysease that the spyryt suffred Thys mater shall be de daâ—d more largely by the helpe of god afterward For now I shall tell you of the meruayllous lyuyng that she leued as touchyng hyr body mayster Reymond recordeth thus of this holy mayde as he knewe well by hyr confessyon also by wrytyng of hyr confessour afore hym that after tyme she was vysyted by the forsayd vysyon she had so moche plente of graces ghoostly comfortes and namely whan she had receyued our lord Jhesu in the blessyd sacrement of the autre that it reboundyd in to hyr body by a copyous affluence that the kyndly consumpcyon of dygestyon in hyr body had no place but it chauÌ„gyd so the kynde of hir stomake that the receyuyng of mete was not now ned full to hyr for she myght not receyue mete wythout grete torment of the body yf she shold algates â—te hir body suffred ryght gret peyne for it myght haue no kyndely dygestion but nedys it must by vyolence come out ageyne that she etc ther that it went June It is not lefull to wryte wyth a penne how ofte how many peynes this holy mayde suffred for receyuynge of bodely metes This maner kynde or condycyon of lyuyng in the begynnyng was to many folke bothe to them of the houshold to other that were conuersaunt wyth hyr so Incredyble that they named this synguler gyfte of god eyther a temp tacyon or ellys a sottyll dysceyte of the deuyll In to this errour fyll mayster Reymond hyr confessour as other dyd that wende she had be disceyued of hyr enemy the whiche oftymes transfygured hym self to an aungell of lyght for to deceyue soules â–ª And therfore he bad hyr etc hir mete euery day gyue no credens to suche desceyuable vysyons that wold lett hyr fro hyr mete Thenne sayd this holy may de to hyr confessour that she founde well by experyence that she was more hole in body whan she receyued no bodely mete thaÌ„ whanne she receyued it Yet for all suche excusacyons he wold not cesse of his precepte but badde commaunded hir that she shold ete Thenne she as a trewe doughter of obedyeÌ„ce obeyed to his byddyng ete hir mete vnto the tyme bi sekenes she was almost dede Thenne she called hyr confessour mayster Reymond and sayd to him thus Fader yf I be to moche fastyng were I cause of myn one deth were I a sleer of myn one body he answered sayd yes Thenne she askyd eftesones whether it be grete synne to be dede bi etyng or by abstinence he sayd by etyng Thenne she sayd sythen it is so that ye see me wexe feble and nere to the dethe by etyng as ye knowe well by experyence why wyll ye not fobede me etinge as ye wolde forbede me fastyng in suche a caas To this resoÌ„ he coude not answere but by cause he perceyued that she was nyghe to deth by euydent tokens he sayde to her doughter doo as our lord taught the For they ben merueylous thynges to me that I see our lord werke in the Many grutchynges ther was in the housholde agaynste her for this merueylous lyuyng by cause they knewe not the gracious werkynge of god in her And therto also they stered her confessour mayster Reymound to repreue her albe it it was ofâ—â— tymes agaynst his wyll and what grete dysese she suffred of other there
the deuelys poure by your prayers helpe him also defende hym from his aduersaryes Thenne she sayde to mayster Reymond why be ye sory for him for whome ye sholde be gladde Now be ye seker that our lord spareth him wyll relesse hym from endeles payne by that temporall payne Fyrst whan he was in the worlde the worlde loued that was hys And now he is passyd out of the worlde the worlde begynneth to hate hym Fyrst our lord reserued for him endeles payne but now of hys mercy he hath chaunged hys endeles payne in to temporall payne And of hys desperacyon be thou noo thynge in doubte for he that hath delyuered hym of helle wyll delyuer hym gracyously out of thys peryll and as she sayde soo it was For wythin a whyle after he was delyuered out of pryson though he hadde grete losse of hys temporall goodys where of thys holy mayde was no thyng sory but was ioyefull and sayde that our lord of hys mercy hath do awaye fro hym the poyson that he was poysoned wyth And at the last he had so many trybulacyons and hys deuocyon encrecyd so moche that he gaf to this holy mayde a fayre paleys of his vnder his letter and seale that was two myle wythout the Cyte Of the whiche paleys she sholde make a monastery of sustres of penaunce Thenne this holy mayde by specyall lycence and auctoryte of hyr holy fader the pope Gregory the xj made there a monasterye in the worshyp of our lady to all hyr ghostly doughters and called the monasterye the monasterye of our lady And Nannes that man the whyche this holy mayde conuerted was gouerned ghoostly by mayster Reymond and lyued after a blyssed lyf Abouen all these maters yf I wolde reherce all the conuersyons of euell lyuers all the roburacyons and the strengthes of seek folke All the comfortes of desolate folke or them that were in trybulacyons all the exortacyons of them that were in ghoostly perellys the whiche our lorde hath meruayllously wrought by hys spouse this holy made I myght make many grete bokes Who coude telle how many wretched synfull lyuers she hath delyuered out of the fendes bondys How many obstynate folke she hath brought ageyne to theyr owne knowleche How many she had made forsake and despysed the worlde And how many tempted folk in fonle synnes she hath delyuerd out of the fendes daunger by hyr prayers and doctrynes Neuerthelesse ye shall saye as saynt Jerome sayd comendyng our lady I myght say that yf all the membrys and lym̄ys of my body were torned in to tongues they sholde not suffyce for to tell all the fruyte of soules that this holy mayde hath purposed to heuen by the helpe of almyghty god mayster Reymond bereth this trewe recorde that he sawe a thousand or moo bothe of men and wymmen comyng doun fro the mounteynes and other vyllages longyng to the shyre of the Cyte of Sene comyng for to see and here this holy mayde as though they hadde be called by an Inuysyble trompe the whiche not onely by hyr wordes but also by hyr lokyng were styred to compunccyon for to be confessyd of all theyr synnes wyth grete contricyon so theyr went two confessours of whome mayster Reymond was one as he seyth hym self and they confessyd hyr synnes wyth so grete contrycion that eche man myght well knowe that there was grace gyuen of god in her hertes that was not onys ne twyes but oftymes Wherfore the forsayd Pope Gregorye that was that tyme hadde soo grete ioye and delyte of the wynnyng of soo many soules that he graūted by bull to mayster Reymond and to hys felawes that all thoo the whiche wolde come and vysyte this holy mayde and after desyren for to be shreuen they sholde here them assoylle them as moche as the bysshop of the dyocyes myght do Therfore mayster Reymond bereth recorde and seyth that there came many synfull wretches to hym and to hys felawes the whiche were neuer shreuen a fore of the synnes the whiche they were shreuen to hym and to them And they stode ofte tymes fastyng fro the morow tyll euen by cause of grete concours of people and yet they myght not suffyce for to here all that wold be shryuen All that tyme this holy mayde prayed and thanked our lord ioyefully that the fende hadde loste hys prayer There is no penne that can expresse the ioye of hir herte that she had that tyme of wynnyng of soules Thus moche is rehersed in this chapytre of the ghostly meruayllous thynges that our lord wrought by hys spouse This holy mayde Katheryne aboute the helthe of mannes soules ¶ Now shall I tell you in the next chapytre what god wrought for hyr aboute the helthe of bodyes so shall I make an ende of the next chapytre The wyttenesse that nedeth to be rehersed in the ende of this chapytre ben rehersed a fore in the same chapytre and that suffyceth ynough ¶ Of somme myracles done in hyr lyfe by hyr aboute the lyf and helthe of mennys bodyes Capitulum viij I Shall tell you maydens a wonder meruayllous thyng And yette it is lyght and esye to them Inough wyth whome is founde none vnpossybylyte Lapa this holy maydes moder was a womman of grete symptenesse and Innocencye Yet she hadde for that tyme lytell affeccyon to Inuysyble thynges And therfore she was sore aferde to dye and passe out of this worlde She caught a bodely sykenes and it encreced day by day more and more Whan this holy mayde this vnderstode She prayed to our lord deuoutely for hyr that he wold wouchesauf to socour hyr moder wyth helthe that brought hyr forth and nouryshed hyr She hadde an answer anone from heuen that it was beste for hyr for to passe now out of this worlde or thenne she haue more aduersytees that ben to come As soone as she wyste this she went to hyr moder and sayde to hyr wyttely suche swete wordes Moder yf our lord swete Ihesu wyll calle you to hym out of this worlde dyspose you to be confourmyd to his blyssed wyll and beth noo thyng sory ¶ Thenne the moder desyryng not for to deye prayed hyr doughter to praye for hyr that oure lorde wolde wouchesauf to graunte hyr bodely he le and speke nomore to hyr of hyr deth Thys holy mayde prayed thenne our lord hertely and feruentely that he wold wouchesauf take hir nought out of this worlde in to the tyme she knewe that hyr wylle were more confourmed to hys wyll ¶ Our lorde graunted hyr hyr axynge and suffred hyr moder to be seek for a tyme and not for to drawe to the passage of deth And thenne this holy mayde was made mene betwene god and hyr moder for to praye that one and exhorte that other Our lord she prayed that he wolde not take hyr ageynst hyr wyll And hyr moder she exorted and admonysshed wyth swete wordes that she sholde confourme hyr and consent to the
greate pestylence contynued in the Cyte of Sene as it is rehersed afore there was an holy recluse in the Cyte of Sene and was called ScuÌ„s that louyd the whiche was touched wyth that same pestylence whan this holy mayde perceyued that she ordeyned that he sholde be brought to the hous of our gloryous lady gloryous vyrgyn mary the whiche was called also the hous of mercy where she her self wyth her felawes vysyted hym and ordeyned for althynge that was nedefull for hym in his sekenes and at the laste she came to him her self and tolde hym preuyly in hys ere and sayde thus Fader drede you not for thou shalt not deye for this sekenesse att this tyme but she wolde telle not thyng of this to Mayster Reymound and to her felawes the whiche prayed her to praye for hym that he sholde lyue For it semed to them that she was in doubte off his lyf as well as they were and therfore she ordeyned for hym medycins for to be heled by wherfore Mayster ReymauÌ„d and alle her felawes were sory by cause all they louyd that holy man for his gode lyuyng Thenne at the laste his sekenes encresed more and more and drewe faste to the deth as it semed wherby al that sawe hym supposed he shold deye and prayed for the good passage of his soule And also the holy man wende he sholde haue deyed right anone In that same poynt of deth this holy mayde came and rouned in his ere saide to him the second tyme fader drede you not for thou shalt not deye at this tyme for this sekenes he vnderstod her wel all be it that his wyttes were in party dystrauÈt alienyd fro hym for the greuousnes of the payne he gaue more credence to her wordes thenne he dyde to his actuall payne of deth so it fyll afterward that the holy maydes wordes oâ—came the dedes of kynde nature Neuertheles he contynued in suche transite passyng the comyn tyme of other mani dayes to gyder but at the last as the spirite was in passyng as it semed The holy mayde came and sayde nowe the thyrde tyme in the seke mannys ere thus I charge the spyryte in the name of oure lorde Thesu Cryst that thou passe not Anon the spyryte resorted quycly agayn to the body And thenne the holy man toke strengthe to hym and ros vp and asked mete soo wythin a lytyll time he was all hole and lyued Afterward that the holy mayde was passyd out off this world many yeres that holy man that was called ScuÌ„s bothe in name and in dede After tyme he was hole he tolde to Maister Reymound and to other more what the holy mayde sayd to hym in tyme of his sekenes preuyly in his ere And he felte the myght of her vertuous wordes wherby the spyryte was called a gayn that was in the poynt of passyng And he afermed it to all folke that it was none naturall cause that restoryd hym agayn to his lyf but only the myght of god I shewed by his spouse katheryn To whom folke gaue credence by cause he lyued in grete vertu of holynesse and was knowen a famous man in the Cyte of Seene by xxxvj yere to gyder wythout ony repreue in hys lyuyng ¶ Ferthermore maydens I shalle telle you of another myracle that this hooly mayde wrought in mayster Reymound After tyme that the grete pestyleÌ„ce was soo breme in the Cyte of Seene as it is rehersed a fore that alle folke fledde by cause that it was soo infectyf Soo that men and wymmen deyed wythout comforte and counseyll and kepyng mayster ReymouÌ„de bythought hym that he was bounde to loue mennis soule castyng none peryll for his one bodely dethe by enfection of that pestylence purposed hym to goo aboute the Cyte and vyseted seke folke and comforted theym and dyde it in dede Neuertheles by cause he was alone in party in so grete a Cyte for to visyte and comforte the seke that vnethes he myght haue tyme or space for to ete to reste He was soo sente after fro one hous to another ¶ Soone after in a nyght it befyll he toke his reste and was wakyng at a certayn hour for to serue god He felte a greuauÌ„ce of a pestilence both in hys grynde or flancke and for fere he durst not aryse but lay styll and by thought hym off the passage out of this worlde he desyred gretely that it hadde be daye that he myght goo and speke wyth this holy mayde katheryne or thenne he were more seke In the mene whyle he hadde a feuer and the hede ache as the maner was off that pestylence sekenes soo that he was gretely payned and tourmentyd But yet he sayde his matyns as he myghte whan it was daye he called to hym hys felawe and wente to gyder as he myght to the holy maydes hous and founde her not at home for she was out to vysyte a seke body ¶ In the mene whyle hym thought she was soo longe and he so seke that he myght no thynge doo but lay doune there in a lytyll bedde prayeng all tho that we ren in the hous that they sholde sende for her assone as they myght She was sent after and came anone and perceyued that he was sore seke she knyled doune afore his bedde and crossed hym on the forhede wyth her honde And thenne she began to praye as she was wont to done in her soule Mayster Reymound behelde how she was rauysshed a fore hym hopynge of somÌ„e synguler grate for the prouffyte of his soule or of his body abode her long as him semed within a half an houre afterward or there aboute he felte all his body sterid to avomite wening that he sholde haue caste But yet was it not soo but hym thought that out of euery â–ª parte of his body was pulled out wyth a maner of vyolence somme maner of corrupcion And so began to wexe better at ese than he was yet or than the holy mayde was fully restoryd agayn to her bodely wyttes he was all hole saue a lytyl fevylnes bylefte in hym After tyme thys holy mayde hadde purchased of our lord that grace of the helthe she seâ—yd of that rauyshyng and badde her felawes shold ordeyne somme mete for hym whan he had receyued mete of her holy hondes she badde hym lye doun and â—este a whyle he dyde soo as she badde hym And whaÌ„ he awoke he was as stronge as though he hadde not be seke ThenÌ„e the holy mayde sayde vnto hym fader gooth and laboureth now for the helthe of sowles thanketh almyghty god that hathe delyuered you fro this parylle he went forthe to his custumably besynes and thanked god that hadde gyue suche vertu to hys blyssyd mayde Suche a lyke myracle our lorde wrought by this holy mayde to Fryer Bertylmewe in time of the same pestylence But yet that myracle was the more bi cause her long time was oppssid in that sekenes than Mayster ReymouÌ„d
And by cause it was in all wyse lyke ellys therfore I passe ouer and reherce it not But I wolde ye vnderstood may dens that this holoy mayde shewed not oonly the dyuyne myracle of curacion in tyme of pestylence but also in other tymes and yet not only in the Cyte of Sene but also in other places But therfore one I shall declare at this tyme wherby ye may vnderstonde all other yf ye take hede wytely therto ¶ It befyll soone after that the general pestâ—lence the whiche is rehersed afore the many folke both men and wymmen as well relygyous and seculer But specyally certayn mynchis of the Cyâ—â— of â—yse herde of the famous name of this holy mayde katheryn desyreden to see her and here her speke And by cause it was notlefull for theym to goo oute and seke her therfore they prayed her as well by lettres as by messengers that she wolde vouches â—f to come to â—yse seyeng to her that there she myght wynne many a son le the whiche sholde be to oure lord greate worshyppe Albe it that this holy mayde eschewed alwaye for to go fer about the contre yet she was soo ofte prayed wyth soo many messengers or messages that she was almoste constrâ—yned therto by prayer of lettres messages Thenne she had a recource to prayer as she was wont to done and asked our lorde mekely declaracion of that doubte that she stode in and what she sholde doo somme off theym that were counseyllers to her saide that it was best for her to goo and somÌ„e sayde nay wythin a fewe dayes afterward she had an answere of our lord as she beknewe afterward to mayster â—eymound that she shold not tarye but algatys she sholde goo to speke wyth hys seruauntys and his spouse dwellyng in the same Cyte of Pyse Thenne as a tâ—ewe obedyencer by leue of Mayster Reymound her confessour she wente to Pyse whome folowed afterward Mayster Reymound wyth a certeyn of hys bredren for to here confessyons For many ther were that came to her whaÌ„ they herde her speke soo â—eruent wordes of loue were steryd therby to contrycion And leâ—t they sholde be lette fro trewe conuersacyoÌ„ falle agayn in to the fendes snares after suche coÌ„puccion she wold beidde theim go to confession be shryue without ony taryeng And by cause her confessyon was ofte tymes delayed for defaute of confessours therfore ofte tymes she desyred that she myght haue confessours by her to whom she myght sende suche repentaunce And therfore Maister Reymound and his two felawes hadde power of the pope by bull for to here and assoyle all tho that were enduâ—ed to confessyon by this holy mayde WhaÌ„ she came to Pyse she was receyued in a burgeys hous that was called Gerardus the whiche Gerad vpon a daye brought wyth hiÌ„ a yonge man of xx yere of age alle seke of the feuers to this holy mayde besechinge her that she wolde praye for his helthe for he tolde her that he was vexid xviij monethes to gyders wyth the feuers soo that it was none daye but that he hadde it And therto it was so myghty to him that it hadde brought hym soo lowe and that is well sene by hys chekes and by hys body Andâ—â— myght neuer by none medecyn be made hoole Thenne the holy mayde hadde grete compassyon in herte of that yonge man she asked hym how longe it was a goo that he was shryue of hys synnes and toke penaunce he sayd not many a yere therfore it is sayde she that our lord hath yeue the this â—oorge for thou hast not purged thy soule by holy confessyon soo longe tyme. Therfore sone goo forthe anone to confession and cast out that venim the whiche enfecteth alle thy body whan he was confessyd and â—ame to her agayne she put her holy honde vpon his sholders and sayd to hym thus Goo sone in peeâ— of our lord â—hesu cryst for it is his wyll that thou be nomore vexed wyth tho feuers as she sayd it was fro that time forward he was not vexed therwyth Within fewe dayes after he came again to the holy mayde and thanked her of her curacion and sayde openly afore aâ— folke that he hadde neuer the feuers sythe she a voyded it by the vertu of our lord â—ff this bereth wytnes Mayster Reymound for he sawe that myracle And other wytnesse there were ynow by Gerad the childes moder and many other afterward the yonge man puplychid that miracle by all â—â—e contree suche another byfyll in the Cyte of Seene but moche more â–ª merueylous by cause the sikenes was more perylous ¶ There was a suster of penaunce of saynt Domynyke in the same â—yte off Seene that was called Gemina the whiche loued well this holy mayde she had a sekenes of hir throte the whiche was called the sâ—ynce by contynaunce of tyme the sekenes encresyd soo that it made her throte soo streyght that vnethe she might drawe her brethe â–ª but almoost ofte tymes was strangelyd Thenne she wente to this holy mayde prayed her as she myght speke seyenge thus moder I shaldeye but ye helpe me this holy maide hadde soo grete compassyon of her that she toke her holy honde and crossed her throte â–ª ¶ And anone wythout ony taryenge tâ—e sekenes avoyded and soo she that come wyth grete sorowe went home wyth grete gladnesse And tolde it soone after to her confessour But by cause somme what I haue tolde you of curacions done to the body by this holy mayde to diuerse persones therfore I shall telle you now of a grete notable myracle that our lorde wrought â—i this blessyd holy mayde ¶ It befyll that this holy mayde wente in a tyme fro Pyse to Auyoun wyth whome wente two good deuoute yonge men that wrote the lettres that this holy Mayde wolde sende The one was called Neryus that afterward â—as a deuoute recluse And the other was caâ—led Stephene that was afterward a monke of the charterhous And a good vyrtuous lyuer therto to the same â—yte of auyoun wente alsâ— mayster ReymouÌ„d ¶ It happed whan they were entred in to the Cyte of auyoun the forsayd Neryus was seke wyth a merueylouâ— sykenes in his bowellis that he myght haue none reste neyther nyght ne daye But cryed and wayled ofte tymes and he might not lye in his bedde but creped about on hondes and on feet and sought reste and yet myght none fynde This was tolde to the holy maide and she badde mayster Reymound sende afleches to helpe hym For other comforte wolde she none gyue mayster ReymouÌ„d dyde soo and there was none leche that myght ese him but rather he was the more payned I trowe for that ende allone by cause our lord wolde worke that myrarle in his spouse katheryn At the last leche said to maister ReymouÌ„d that they myght not prouffyte in hym And therfore they hadde none truste in his lyffe ¶ Whan Mayster Reymound hadde tolde this to his
that this holy mayde lyued in the Cyte of Seene it befyll that there was a wedowe a yonge woman called alixe the whiche wyth a greate fauoure drewe to this holy mayde soo that she thought she hadde soo grete affectyon â—o her â–ª that as her semed she myght not liue without her And therfore she toke the habite of the susters of penaunce and for soke her owne hous And hyred her an how 's by syde the hooly maydes how 's that she myght the more ofte bee conuersaunt wyth her Whan she hadde do thus the hooly mayde was ofte tymes in her hous wyth her and fledde for a tyme her faders hous It happed afterward in the same yere that in the Cyte of Sene there was a grete sharsyte of breed corn soo the stynkyng whete was drawen out of the erthe and out of dyches the whiche was bought of Cytezynes of the same Cyte as that tyme for good where by cause there myght none other begoten for none pryce Of the whiche stynkyng whete Alyxe the sorsayde wedowe must nedes be ye or ellys she shold be wythout brâ—d Neuâ—rtheles in as moche as it was nyghe the tyme of herwest her olde whete was fayled and brought to the marcat Alixe wyst therof that newe whete was comen she purpose to cast awaye the olde sâ—ynkyng whete and beye newe but bycause the hole Mayde was in her hous she wolde nothyng doo wythout counseyll of her wherfore she opened her purpos to her semyng thus moder sythe our lord heth do mercy wyth vs in syndyng of newe whete I am in wyll to throwe myn olde sâ—inkyng whete â–ª To whom this holy mayde answerd thus yf ye wyll not ete of that olde corn gyue it ellys to poure folke that hauen none â–ª Alixe sayd than that she sholde haue greate conscitence for to gyue the poure folke soo stynkyng whete she hadde leuer for to gyue theim of the beste whete Thenne this holy mayde badde her ordeyne water and bryng to her that stinkyng whete that she purposed to caste awaye for she sayde that she wolde make brede therof for poure folke as she sayde soo it was Fyrst she made her dowe after she molded loues of that lytyll quaÌ„tyte of whete And it encresyd soo plentuously in the moldyng that both Alyxe and her seruaunt weren gretely astonyed that sagen suche multyplycacioÌ„ of loues For as theym thought soo many loues myght not be made of suche foure lytyll quantyte of whete as thys hooly mayde made and sette forthe for to be bake and also there was none stynche of tho loues as it was of the other that were made of the same whete afore whan thei were bake they were sette fourth on the table for to be eten in the etyng there was fouÌ„de none bitternes no stynche but as thei saide that eten therof they eten neuer betyr brede This Alexe sent foâ— her confessonr he came wyth certain of his bretheren for to see â–ª that myracle and lyke as it was sayd to hym in quantyte encresyng and in qualyte ryght well amendyd To thyse two myâ—acles the thyrde was addyd to and that was this the breed was largely gyuen to poure folke and to other that wolde ete therof and yet was it neuer the lasse in nombre but alwaye was it fouÌ„de ynow in the breed hutche were not this trewely thre fayr myracles for fyrste she put awaye the stynche of that corn and afterward encresyd the loues in the muldyng and at the laste she multyplyed the loues in etyng of the breed in soo moche that they myght vnnethe be distribued bi many wekes togyders neended soo that xx yere after or moo there were somme that kepte of that breed for a relyke ¶ Thenne mayster Reymound her confessour asked her how the myracle was done She answerd and sayde that she hadde soo grete zele or loue to pour folke lest they shold spylle for defaulte and soo tender loue to our lord lest his gyfte sholde be dyspysed that she went wyth a grete feruour for to make breed of that stynkyng whete ¶ And thenne our blessyd gloryous lady gloryous virgyn Mary wyth a multytude of angelis stood by her and helpe her to molde by vertu of her holy gloryous hondes she trowed that the loues encresed for tho loues that oure gloryous Lady gloryous vyrgyn Mary molded she delyuerd to this holy mayde And she to Alixe and to her seruaunt for to be put in to the ouen what meruayle is it maidens though tho loues were swete sythe the hooly gloryous hondes of oure blessyd gloryous lady gloryons virgin Mary molded theym consydereth therforre good maydens and taketh good heede of what meryte this holy mayde was to whom vouchesaf our blessyd glorious lady gloryous vyrgyn mary stonde by her and helpe her in that myracle for to make vs vnderstonde that ryght as bodely lyuelode encresed in that hooly maydens hondes Ryght soo ghostely liuelode sholde encrese by her blessyd exortacion ¶ Now sythe I haue begonne of breed multyplyed by myracle therfore I shall contynue forth in suche in suche in suche a lyke myracle was done in the laste ende of her lyff whan she lyued here in erthe Of the whiche myracle were wytnesses lysa her cosyn and a suster of penaunce the whiche was called Johan for bothe they were wyth her whan she was sente after by our holy fader pope vrbane the vj to the courte of Rome And whan she was come to the Cyte she râ—sted there wyth a certayn nombre of her ghoostely chyldren that she hadde noryssched in vertu the whiche folowed her fro the partyes of Tuskan in maner agaynst this hooly maydes wyll somÌ„e for prechyng of ghostely grace of our holy fader and somme for pylgrymage and visitacions of saintes the whiche desyred to go specyally in this holy Maydes companye by cause they myght be fedde wyth the swetnesse of her blessyd conuersacion ¶ Thenne this holy mayde hadde made an ordynaunce amonges them that they sholde not haue aboute them neyther golde ne syluer But oonly they sholde lyue of poure almesse And that they sholde be herbourd in an hospytall ¶ And also the wymmen eueryche off theym a weke sholde mynysâ—re lyflod suche as they hadde receyued of almesse to allâ— her felawes that other myghten bee occupyed in the mene whyle in prayers and in holy contemplacyons and aboute theyr pylgrymages wherfore they were come to the Cyte Whan this ordynaunce was made soone after it happed that this Johan the whiche is reherced afore mynystred to other as for hyr weke In whos weke it befyll casuelly that she lacked brede whan hyr felawes sholde go to mete and thenne badde this holy mayde here afore that whan she lackyd brede she shold warne hir ouer euen that she myght goo make somme ordynaunce But Johan had forgete that whan hyr felawes were come to mete Johan wolde haue sette brede afore them and she founde nomore but a cantell that wolde
thus to hym ¶ Fader vnderstondeth his for treuthe This pope Urbanis veray Crystys vycarye in erâ—he and for dâ—â—ence of this treuth preceth putteth you â—orth as ye wolde for the feyth of holy chyrche ¶ All be it that mayster Reymond vnderstode this well afore yet she made hym the strenger and more stedfast in his laboure for whan he was moost in dysâ—ase he had hyr wordes in mynde and so he tooke the holy obedyence vpon hym But a latell a fore that he went this holy mayde coÌ„myned wyth hym tolde hym foure houres or fyue to gâ—ds of the reuelacyons comfortes that oure lorde shewed to hyr but a lytell afore and whan she had do â–ª she sayde this wordes ¶ Fader now goth our lord spede you for I trowe we shal neuer in this lyf speke so moche to gyder as we haue do nowe And lyke as she sayd so it was For or thenne mayster Reymonde came ageyne she was passed out of this world furthermore by cause that she wolde fully take hyr leue of hym she went ê‘sonally to the same place there he shold take hys Galey ¶ And whan they began to rowe she kneiyd doune prayed and afterward blyssed the Galey wyth wepyng chere and sayd pryuely that other herde to mayster Reymond ¶ Thou lone shalt go saue for the crosse shall kepe the but thou shalt neuer see thy moder in this lyf ¶ And as she ê“phecyed soo it was for ther were many enemyes in the â—ee yet they went saue awaye from them and also in the mene tyme that he was oute this holy mayde passyd out of this worlde ¶ But fyrst or that I tell of hyr blyssed passyng out of this world I shall reherce to you the wytnes whiche were att hyr passyng and knewe of the myracles that our lord shewed here in hyr passyng ¶ The names of the wymmen that were most contynuell wyth hyr beÌ„thyâ—e ¶ Allexe of Sene syster of penauÌ„ce of Sâ—yÌ„t Domynyk the whiche was a ê‘fyte dyscyple of this holy maydes folowed hyr in all asâ—yte of penauÌ„ce as nygh as she coude so that this holy mayde or thennâ— he sholde passe tolde hyr alle hyr preuytees ordeyned hyr for to be a moder to other after hyr dyssece ¶ Thys same Allexe enfourmed mayster Reymonde whan he was come home and other of thys holy maydes passyng for she lyued not longe after ¶ The seconde wytnes was Francysca of Sene this Francysca had a deuoute soule to god to this holy mayde with an hertely loue wherfore whan hyr husbounde was dede she toke the abyte of penaunce was made syster of Saynte Domynyk ¶ Thys Francysca enfourmed mayster Raymonde whan he came home and many other folke of this maydes passyng and thenne she deyed soone after Allexe ¶ The thyrde wytnes was Lysa hyr cosyn the whiche I wyll notte commende all be it she was ryght trewe by cause she was this holy maydes brothers wyf where by shold beholde suspect in her wytnes amonge men ¶ further more there were many men in hir passyng the whiche beren trewe recorde othyr bussed ende ¶ But foure in specyall I thyÌ„ke to reherse here the whiche were ryght vertuous men ¶ The fyrst was called frere Sanctus the whiche was bothe holy indede in name This holy man forsoke all hys kynne and came to Cyte of ene Where he lyued vertuously xxx yere and more an ancheres lyfe ¶ And when he herde speke of this holy mayde he was styred to speke wyth hyr and so he dyd for to be enfourmed of hyr ¶ And at last he thout that it was better to walke oute of his cell for to wynne soules thenne for to be so enclosed And so he dyd by counseyll he went oute and folowed thys holy mayde and wan soules to Cryste but specyally he was presente wyth hyr at hyr passyng ¶ Thys holy man enfourmed mayster Raymonde also whan he came home of the passing of this holy mayd and soone after he dyed ¶ The seconde witnes of men was a yong man in age but he was olde in vertu the whiche was called Barductyne ¶ Thys yong man forsoke all hys kynne and folowed this holy mayde and was with hyr tyll that she passyd whome she loued yettenderly by cause he was a mayde that was no meruaylle for it is semely that oo mayde sholde loue another ¶ To whome this holy mayde sayd chargyd hym that he shold be gouerned by mayster Raymondis couÌ„seyll ¶ For this cause I trowe she did it in as moche as she knewe well of god that he sholde not long lyue after hyr soo that he dyde of tesyk but fyrste he contynued longe therynne and was amended by medycines but at the last he dyde theron And by cause that mayster Raymonde drede hym that the ayre of Rome sholâ—e enfecte hym he sente hym to Sene where he passyd out of this worlde and they bere wytnes that were at hys passynge that whan he sholde passe he loked vp into heuen and began to smyle soo wyth that smylyng he passyd So that after tyme he was passyd the tokens of gladnes appyred in hys face I trowe it was therfore by cause he sawe hyr whome he loued soo charytably come after hym ¶ This Barductyne also enfourmed mayster Raymonde whan he came home of thâ—s holy mayde passage ¶ The thryde wytnes of men was also a yong man the whiche was called Stephen that was one of this holy maydes wryters the why she wrote bothe hyr letters that she sente and also hyrbook that the holy ghost endyted by hyr The whiche yong man this holy mayde called to hyr whan she sholde passe and sayd thus Sone it is the wyll of god that thou be a monke of the Charterhous and therfore I charge the that thou so doo As she bad hym so he dyd and lyued euer afterward a ê‘fyt lyf for he had-no felawe of ê‘feccyon in that Relygyon and assone as he was professyd he was made Pryor of the same hous that he was shorne Inne ¶ And afterward he was made Pryour in another place of the same ordre at melayne visitour of the ordre This yong man Stephen wrote certeyn thynges that happed in the passyng of this holy mayde eÌ„tfourmed afterwarde mayster Raymonde of the same whan he came home The fourthe last wytnesse of men that were at the passyng of this holy mayde was one the whyche was called Raynerus the sone of a worthy man Landocte of Sene. Thys man after tyme that this holy mayde was paste was a deuoute recluse that euer afterward lyued a blyssed lyf he was also one of the wryters of hyr lettres of hyr book that the holy ghoost endyted by hyr He was the fyrst of men that forsoke hys kynne folowed this holy mayde by cause he knewe hyr vertuous lyuyng of longe tyme therfore mayster Reymond called hym to hym and made hym a specyall wytnes
that she wayled and wept and wente Inne there the body â—aye seyeng to the ghoostely chyldren of thys holy mayde Katheryne ¶ O vnpytuous woman why haue ye hydde this fro me why called ye me not to her passyng They excusyd theym that they myght not for certayn causes than she prayed theym for to telle her whaÌ„ she departed from the body they sayde yester daye aboute vnderne of the daye wyth the Semya wepte and sayde thus that same tyme it was that I sawe myn gloryous moder lad vp to heuen with angâ—lis wyth thre precious crownes on her hede Now I wote well she sayd that our reuerend lorde almyghty sent his angelys shewed me the passyng of myn glorious moder gloryous saint katheryn of Sene And more ouer she mynystred for me merueylously in myn kytchyn O moder O gloryous moder why vnderstoode I not whan I hadde that gloryous visyon that thou that tyme passid out of this worlde Thenne she respyred and tolde to her susters and to other ghostely children of heres what vysyon she had suche a tyme â–ª al as it is rehersed thus endeth this chapitr◠¶ Of tokens and myracles whiche our reuerend lord almyghty god wrought after the deâ—h of this hooly mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt Katheryn of Sene bothe tofore her beryeng and after That is to saye of tho myracles were knowe for many ther were that were not knowe Capitulum â— WHan the blessyd soule of this holy mayde and virgygyn gloryoê° saynt katheryn of Sene was de liuerd out of her swete body and the swe holy body put in a chaunsell of saint Do mynyk I closed by cause the people sholde cerce a whyle of her confluence as it is â—eherâ—ed afore in the iiij chapytre In the mene tyme that it sâ—ode there came a suse of saint fraunceis order that was callyd Domynyca the whiche had a sekenes in her armr that half a yeâ—e afore this holy mayde vyrgyne dyed she myght not by welde her arme for it was in maner benomme her aud drped vp This suster Domynyca in hope to haue helpe herde seye that this hooly mayde vyrgyn was dede â–ª came to the chyrche there she laye sayde that she myght not come to this holy body for the peple by cause also the chaunsel dore was shette she threwe in a keuerchef and prayed the susters of saint Domynyk that they wolde touche the swete holy body of that holy mayde and vyrgin wyth that keuerchefe thenÌ„e to gyue â—t to her a gayn They dyd so assone as she hadde the keuerchefe agayn she put it to her arme and was hole anon wyth that she cryed to all the people and sayde that her arme was hole by myracle of this holy mayde vyrgyn gloryous katheryne Thenne the peple made moche noyse in thankyng oure reuerend lorde almyghty god brought chyldren of heres other seke bodyes that they myght haue helpe by myracle namely by touchyng somme hemme of that holy mayde and virgins clothes â–ª Amonge all other there was brought a â—â—â—â—de of iiij yere olde whos he de lay vpon his one sholdes by cause off a certayn infyrmyte that he hadde by the whiche infyrmyte the synowes of his necke were shronke to gyders so that he myght neuer lifte vp his hede fro the sholder Assone as this childeÌ„ was brought to the holy body and was touched in the necke wyth the holy mayde and vyrgyn about whos neck also was put a keuerchefe of this holy mayde and vyrgyn â–ª â—ythin a lytyll whyle and tyme afterward the chylde began to amende and soo was att the laste hole This was the cause why the fryers durste not burye the holy body by thre dayes to gyder in as moche as our reuerende lord almighty god sholde shewe myracle by her For there was soo grete a confluence of people thoo thre dayes that a mayster of â—yuynyte was steryd for to make a sermon to the worshyppe of oure reuerend lorde almyghty god and of this holy mayde and virgyn But whan he stode vp in the pulpyt he myght not be herd for noyse of the people and the grete concurs to the swete holi body Soo that at the laste he lefte of his sermon and sayde to all the peple in this wyse Syres I see well this holy maide and vyrgyn nedeth nought our prechinge for she by her self prâ—â—heth suffyciauntly ynow and thenne he wente doune out of the pulpyt ¶ The myraclys of this holy mayde vyâ—gyn encresyd faste For there was a Roman the whiche was called Lucius that had suche a sekenesse the whiche myght not behelyd of none leche a ioynt off his knee was to broste so that he myght not walke vnnethe but by sustentacion of a staf This lucius herde saye that suche an holy mayde and virgyn dyde myraclys â–ª wyth grete traueyle and helpe of other he came there her sweâ—â— hooly body lap there wyth grete reuerence and deuoucion he toke the holy mayde and vyrgyn hond and put it to his thye to his legge â—ythin a lytyll whyle and tyme after he felte more strengthe in his leggys than he dyde a fore so that or than he wente fully thens he was all hole praysyng our reuerend lord almyghty god in his merueiles that he shewed in his saintes ¶ Also there was a yonge maydede childe that was called â—eâ—â—zola the whiche had an horybyll infyrmyte of a lepyr in her face that her noyse and the ouerlyppe of her mouth was coueryd wyth that horryble lepre This mayde herd speke also of the myracles shewed by this holy may de vyrgyn gloryous saynt Katheryne of Sene come to the same chriche where that her holy body lay and in to come to that holy body but alwaye she was put a backe by prees of the people At the laâ—t she came in to that swete holy body put not only her face to the holy mayde vyrgyns hondis and feet But also to her louely swete face and vysage Soone after she felt releuyng of her sekenes soo that wythin a short tyme she was so perfyghtly hole and neuer afterward apperyd in her face ony naner of â—eper spottene marke of ony maner leper ¶ Also there was a Roman calliâ— Cypryus that had a doughter the whiche doughter of yonge age toke a sekenes that is called the tysyk of that sekenes she myght neuer be deliueryd by none maner of me decyne when the fader the moder herde saye of the myraclis shewed by our reuerend lord almyghty god by by this holy mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt katheryn they came to the same place her doughter wyth them where the swete holi body laye recommendyd deuoutly her doughter to that holy mayde and vyrgin Assone as the chylde was hole Also in the mene tyme the swete holy body lay vnberyed there was a cytysyn of Rome that was callyd Anthoni the whiche was the same tyme in saynt Petâ—is chirche
rehersyd in the vj Chapytre of the seconde party That same payne in her breste lefte wyth her the whiche passed all her other bodely paines And yet more ouer wyth all thyse paynes she had de ryght ofte the feueres For alle thyse paynes she shewed neuer sory there but euer gladde there to alle folke and neuer pleyned her ¶ But alle those that came to her to bee comforted she comforted them wyth worde yf it nede were notwythstondynge her greate infyrmytes she wolde laboure for theym soo that her sekenesse sholde not let to her But that she wolde aryse out of her bedde and traueyle bothe for her bodely hele and ghostely he le as it is rehersyd in the vij Chapytre of the seconde party ¶ Ferthermore what payne she suffred of fendes it maye not lyghtely bee tolde you by cause it was so ofte It is touched afore in the seconde Chapytre of the seconde party how ofte she was caste off fendes in to the fyre albe it she was in no wyse I hurte But specially of one thinge Mayster Reymound bereth recorde that in a tyme that he and certayne of his bretheren were out for the helthe of sowles And this holy mayde and virgyn with them and as they came homward again a lytyll a thyshalf the Cyte of Sene this holy mayde and virgyn for werynesse was sette vppon an hors she hadde not ryden but a lytyll tyme that the fend drew here doune in to a pytâ—e so that the â—yâ—st that came to the grounde was her hede whan mayster ReymouÌ„de perceyued that he cryed helpe of oure gloryous lady gloryous virgyn Mary and came and founde this holy mayde and virgyn all smelyng as she lay and despysynge the fend and she hadde none harme but she sayde to Mayster Reymound loo the fend hath doo this Thenne she was take vp and sette vppon the hors agayn eftsones And she rode not as ferve as a man myght shete an arowâ— but that the sende had eftsones throwe her doun in to a foule fenne or lake and the hors laye vppon her syde Thenne she smelyd and sayde this hors warmeth well my syde there I suffer â—he payne of ylica passio so she sâ—â—rned the fende and hadde none harme Mayster Reymound and his fe lawe thenne toke her vp and wolde nomore suffer her ryde but ladde her betwyne theym both By cause also they were nyghe the â—yte Yet the cursed fende wolde not ase but alwaye he tourmentyd her and drewe her now on that one syde now on that other syde And but â—he hadde be holde she sholde haue falle to the grounde Neuertheles alwaye in suffryng of suche tourmentis she shewed eâ—uer glad pacient chere and dyspysed the fende After suche Iâ—â—usyons folowed greate profyght of soules as it is made mencion of the vij chapytre of the second partye And that knewe welle the fende wherfore he tourmentyd her in that â— wyse that he dyde And ryght as thyse tourmentis beren wytnesse of her grete pacyence Ryght so they maye well bere wytnesse that she was and is an holy maide vyrgyn in suffryng of theym as it is openly declared in the second chapytre off the thyrde party where it is rehersed that she ended her bodely lyf in suche martyrdome Ensample herof I may telle you dere frendes of Saint Antony whan he was in deserte he knewe wel that martir dome was a souerayne thynge in the syght of our reuerend lâ—rde almyghty god therfore he desyred martyrdome whome our reuerâ—nd lord almyghty god suffred to be tormentyd of â—endes for a martyrdome but yet he lefte not hys bodely lyff for suche tourment This holy mayde vyrgyn was so vyolently tormented by suche paynes that she ended her bodly lyff wyth theym euer thankyng our reue rend lord almyghty god This was a geete token of holynes for to suffer martyrdome of fendes Loo dere frendes now haue ye herde the vertu of paciens whiche this holy maide and virgyn vsed wherfore she is oned spoused to oure reuerend lorde almyghty god swete â—hesu Cryste in the blâ—sse off heuen And thus I make an ende of this recapytulacion of this holy booke to the honour and worshyppe of our gloryous reuerend lord almyghty god all the â—euerend Trynyte Cui referantur laudes honor eâ— gloria in sclaÌ„ scloÌ„â—â— Amen ¶ Here endeth the lyff of that gloryous vyrgyn and Martyr saynt Katheryn off Sene ¶ Here begynnen the reuelacioÌ„s of Saynt Elysabeth the kynges doughter of hungarye ON a day whan saynt Elisabeth was in preuy prayer and sought her spouse Ihesu Cryste wyth deuoute herte and drery spyryte and founde hym not as she was wounte She began to thynke her and egerly to syghe in her sowle what were the cause that her spouse vysy ted her not by insendynge of swete comfortes as he was wonte to doo other tymes And whan she stylye dysposed her to goo to somme spyrytualle brother for to haue counseylle therof The blessyd mayden marye apperyd to her and sayde Elysaâ—eth yff thou wolde â—ee my dyscyple I wolde be thy maystres and yf thou wolde be my seruaunt I wolde be thy lady To whom Elysabeth sayde Lady who bee ye that wolde haue me dyscyple and sâ—â—uaunt To whom mayde Marye answerd I am moder to the sone of god a lyue whom thou hast chosen to bee thy lord and spouse Thenne she sayde ther is noo brother in the worlde that may better enforme the of thy spouse than I maye Thenne Saint Elysabeth faylyng vppon the erthe honouryd her and kneling she layde her hondes ionyd to gyder bytwyxte the hondes of the blessyd virgyn And eftsonys our lady sayde If thou wylt be my doughter dyscyple and seruaunt I wolde be thy moder ladye and maystresse And when thou art of me suffycyently enforned and taught I wolde lede the to the louyd spouse my sone whiche wol receyue the in to hys hondes As I now haue receyued the Thenne afterward she began to warne her and sayde Flee chydynges and streues baâ—bytynges and â—uâ—murracions and murmurs that be made of the gyue noo heryng to theym ne let not thy hert be tormentyd thersore but thynke ther maye not so moche yll be spoken of the but ther is more In theym than is spoken of the The next feste of our lady than folowynge after whan Elysabeth goddes seruauÌ„te in prayeng wepte full bitterly dredynge that she hadde not fully kepte the forsayd warynge of the gloryous virgyne Sodenly she apperid to her not in slepe but wakyng swetely calling her by her propre name and sayde O Elysabeth my swete doughter tourment the not soo moche though thou haue not fully bowed to my warnynges byddynges For why thou beginnest now for to profyte in the way of god But thou atreyned not yet the hyghenes of perfectioÌ„ But fyght stedfasâ—ly against vices and saye onâ— the angelis Salutacion that Gabryell goddes messanger hayled me wyth and all thy trespace
hydde inuysybly in the breste of his spouse whiche was transfygured in the hylle As saynt Peter sayde and other appostles ¶ Now ferthermore to our purpos this chosen mayde in her full tender age soone began to waxe and was coÌ„forted wyth the holy ghost in token that she sholde be soone fulfylled wyth the dyuyne wysdome Aboute her age of fyue yere whan she was taught to saye the salutacion of the aungell Aue maria She recordyd it besely and sayde it full ofte And whan she coude saye it as she was enspired froÌ„ heuen She began to grete oure lady goyng vpward on a stayere and comynge douÌ„ward on the same stayere at eche grees of the stayere to worshyppe our lady wyth an Aue maria This she tolde her confessour afterward in the secretâ—â—esse of confession By this ye maye sâ—e that she that fyrst in the begynnynge shewed forth fyrst plesyng and acceptable wordes to men after that yonge age she began to stye vp from thynges that were inuysyble ¶ After this holy begynnyng the encresed euery daye â–ª And than as it pleasyd our lord the was vyseâ—ed wyth a gracyous and a wounderfull vysyon to stere her and to shewe here hyr gyftes of grace of the holy ghoost And to shewe other how a lytyll plante shold be brought forthe and soo nourysshed in to an him tree of Cidre by the moyster of the holy gost ¶ Aboute her age of vj yere It befyll that this chosen mayde wyth her brother Steuen somme what elder than she wente to her suster Bonauentura Of whiche suster is made mencion byfore perauentur on someuer ende or to loke how she ferde as the maner of frendes of kynrede is soo to doo whan she hadde doo that they were bode to doo in her goyng homward agayn by the waye whiche is called in her tongue wallis piacta This holy may lyfte vp her eyen and agaynste her ouer the chirche of the freer prechours she sawe in the ayer a full fayre chambre ryally aparayed wyth all ryches and honeste where oure lorde Ihesu Cryste in a trone Imperyall clothed wyth pontyfycall vesture hauyng on his hede a myter papall And wyth hym were saynt Peter and saynt Poule and saynt Johan Euan gelyst And whan she behelde alle thys she was fyrst a stonyd But by a vysement stably she stode styll and wyth a louyngyng herte deuoutly she loked on her sauyour bothe wyth bodely and gostely eyen And anone our lorde drewe her loue to hym mercy fully sette his eâ—en of his mageste vpon her graiously louyngly wyth a manneuer smylyng chere And reched out his ryght arme toward her and ouer her â–ª and gaue her his blessyng wyth the token of the holy crosse And after the maner of other Bysshoppes and prelates ¶ The grace of this gyfte of god was spedfull and soo effectuously putte in her that anon she was transformed and rauysshed in spyryte vnto oure lord whome she sawe And behylde wyth soo greate gostely lykynge and not only her gooyng and her waye was out of her mynde but fully she hadde forgoten her selfe And ofte the wente in the waye besyde men and bestes By nature dredfull sholde be as a chylde but euer the eyen and the hede were vpward abydyng vppon that blysfull vysyon and none doughte soo she wolde haue abyde but she hadde be touched or take awaye by somme other body as longe as that vysyon had endured ¶ But at the lasâ—e whyles thys was shewed to the mayde â–ª Steuen her broder helde forthe his waye and was passed her a greate space wenyng that she had folowed hym But whan he tourned hym and sawe her not folowe he tourned agayn and sawe his suster ferâ—e be hynde stondyng styll in the waye and loke vp in the fyrmament ¶ And thenne he cryed after her wyth alowde voys and called her she answerde not and take none hede Thenne he wente nere cryeng afterher but his voys helped not ¶ He woundred and wente thenne drewe her by the honde and sayde what doost thou here why comest thou not forthr she anon cast doune a lytyll her eyen as she hadde awaked of an heuy slepe and sayde A yf thou sawe that I sawe thou woldest not haue lette me from this holy vysyon And anone as she had saidâ—â— â–ª o wordes She lyft vp her eyen agayne to be holde more vp that she hadde seen But the vysyon was alle wythdrawe and cesyd as his wyll was whiche aperyd to fore And that myght she not bere wythout a sharpe stroke of sorowe And anone she vengyd her on her self wyth sore wepynge for sorowe that she caste doune her eyen And from that tyme and houre This yonge mayde and vyrgyn saint Katheryn began to waxe olde in vertues and sadnesse of maners and to haue a wounderfull witte and a felyng body botâ—e by grace and by nature In soo moche that her dedes were â—other chyldysshe ne as a yonge woman But they semed rather to alle men that they came of the wysedom of a greate worshypfull age Soo that anone was shewed that the fyre of dyuyne loue was kyndeled in her herte by the whiche vertu her intellection was made clere Her wyll was feruent her memorye was comforted and alle her outward werkyng shewed in alle thynges the rewle of goddes lawe ¶ And as she sayd in confessyon to hyrconfessour full mekely and lowely that she lerned and knewe at that tyme wyth out techyng of ony body or ony redynge or heryng onely by the â—nfusyon of the holy ghoose the leuyng and the maners of the foly faders of Egypte and the lyuyng of many other Sayntes and specyally of the lyfe of Saynt Domynyk â–ª ¶ She hadde soo grete desyre to folowe the lyuyng of the holy fadres and Sayntes that she myghte noo thynge ellys thynke but howe that she myght come therto ¶ And by that cause many newe thynges beganne in that holy mayde that hyr holy lyuyng and dedes broughte all men in to a wonder For after that tyme she sought oute where that she myght haue a pryue place to abyde in preuely whanne she wolde vse bodely afflyccyons and whanne she wolde occupye hyr in prayer and holy medytacyons â–ª ¶ In that place at certeyne tymes she scourged hyr lytell tender body wyth a lytell scourge She lefte of all maner pleyeâ— and dysportes and besely gafe hyr to prayer and medytacyons full stylle she was and gaf alle to scylence euery day more and more ageynste the condy cyon of chyldren lasse bodely mete she toke thenne she was wonte to fore And that is not wonte to falle in chyldren that he wexynge Exemplum By the exsaumple of thys yonge mayde many damseâ—â—ys of dwellyng there nye and of hyr age were steryd to god by grace and gadred to here of hyr holy and gracyous wordys and after her power to folowe hyr holy werkys where thorugh it fyll that alle tho chyldren att certeyne tymes â—amen to gyder in to a preuy
endeles reste delyueryng them bothe from the pytte and the swolowe Whan alle thys was done thys holy mayde consyderynge euyr more in hyr sowle the mede the rewarde I ordeyned for hyr of the holy ghoost suffred gladly and nought paynfully alle the wronges that was putte to hyr And also she encreced contynually the cours of hyr labour the more that she myght haue a full ioye in hyr sowle And by cause that it was not suffred to hyr to haue a chambre by hyr self but for to haue hyr chambre openly as other hadde ¶ Therefore by an holy aâ—uysement she chose the chambre of Stephen hyr brother that hadde nether wyf ne chyldren Where by dayes tyme whanne he was absente she myght be allone And nyghtes tyme whan he slepte she prayed after hyr desyre soo that nyght and daye she soughte to see the face of hyr spouse Ihesu Cryste knockyng at the dore of hys ghoosâ—ly tabernacle wyth out cessyng She prayed our lord vncessably that he wolde wouche sauf to be the keper of hyr virgynytee sayeng and syngyng in in sowle wyth Saynt Cecylye thys holy verse of Dauyd the prophete Fiat cor meum domine et corpus meum immaculatum That is lorde Ihesu I praye that myn herte and my body be kepte clene vnderfowled to the and soo in scylence and in hope she was made stronge in our lord ryght meruayllously For the more torment and persecucyon she hadde wyth out forth the more she was fulfylled wyth ghoostly ioyes wythin forth soo ferforth that hyr brethern perceyueng hir stedfastnesse sayden betwyne them seluen thus we be ouer come Hyr fader that was most Innocente of alle consyderyng pryuely hyr dedes perceyued that she was ladde euery daye more and more by the holy ghoost and nought by the lyghtnes of yonthe Alle thyse that ben rehersed in thys chapytre hyr confessour mayster Reymond had it by reuelacyon of Lapa thys maydens moder and of lyxa her brother wyf and of other also that were in hyr faders how 's But as for other thynges that other folke myght not knowe he knewe by tellyng of thys holy mayde in confessyon ¶ Of the vyctorye whyche she hadde of them that desesed hyr And that was by a culuer whiche hyr fader sawe and by a vysyon of Sâ—ynt Domynyk Ca v IN the mene whyle that thys holy mayde was putte in suche reproue and shame it happyd vp on a daye that she entred in to the chambre of hyr yonge brother Stephen And prayed deuoutly leuyng the dore vnshett for it was forboden to hyr by hyr fader moder that she sholde not shette the dore Casuelly thenne it happened that the fader entred in to the chambre sekynge a certeyne thynge of hys sones that he had nede to And as he loked aboute he sawe hys doughter more goddes doughter thanne hys prayng in a corner and knelyng and a lytell whyte culuer restynge vp on hyr hede the whyche culuer fledde out of the chambre wyndowe whan the fader was entred in to the chaÌ„bre as him thought Anone the fader axed the doughter what culuer that myght be that fledde so out of the chambre to whom the doughter answerd and sayde that neuer she sawe culuer ne other byrde in the chambre Thenne hadde the fader grete meruaylle and kepte all thyse wordes pryuely in hys herte Fro that tyme forwarde there beganne gracyously to encrece in that holy maydens sowle an holy desyre whyche neuerthelesse was begonne as it is reherced a fore in hyr chyldehode and now afterward it was renewyd for tuycyon and dysease of kepyng of hyr maydenhode or virgynytee and that desyre was no thynge ellys but for to receyue the habyte of the ordre of frere prechours the whyche ordre Saynt Domynyk was bothe foundour and fader There she prayed bothe daye and nyght to our lord that he wouchesauf to fulfyll hyr desyre And therto she had a grete deuocyon to Saynt Domynyk as it is rehersed a fore to a worthy and a fruytfull louer of sowles Almyghty god therefor sawe how wysely and how myghtely hys doughter as a yong knyght faught in batayll and wyth what feruour of deuocyon she besyed hyr to plese hym wyth alle hyr desyre he wolde in no wyse dysceyue hyr ne defraude hyr of hyr holy purpose But for the more sekernesse he comforted hyr wyth suche a vysyon ¶ This holy mayde on a tyme had a vysyon in hir slepe that she sawe many holy faders many dyuers fouÌ„dours of the ordre of the frere prechours amonges whom she saw saynt Dominyk that she knewe wel I now holdyng in hys honde a fayre whyte lylye the whyche lylye semyng to hir was all a fyre as the busshe that Moyses saw yet was not brennyd Whan this holy faders al in general eche in a speciall gaf hir couÌ„seyll for hir more mede that she shold chese oo Relygion of their ordynauÌ„ce in the whiche relygion she myght yelde due seruyce to god She torned hir self hole to saynt dominik so saw in spyryt how that the holy fader saynt dominyk came to hir brought in his honde an habyte of sustris the whyche susters ben called sustres of penaunce of saynt Domynyk Of the whiche susters ther was ne yet is no lytell noÌ„bre in the cyte of Senee And whan thys holy fader saynt domynyk cam to this mayde he coÌ„forted hir with suche wordes sayde Dought be of good coÌ„fort drede no manere of peryll for ryght as thou hast desyred this habyte she thought she receyued it and thankyd almyghty god and his worthy confessour Saynt Domynyke not wyth a lytyll gladnesse but wyth ioyefull teres that soo perfyghtely hadde coÌ„forted her And soo wyth wepyng she awoke was restoryd to her bodely wyttes ¶ And whan she was awaked she caught comforte and bodely strength of this vysyon and toke soo grete a boldenes of the truste that she hadde in our lorde that the same daye she called her fader and moder and bretheren togyders and sayde to theym boldely in this wyse Somtyme ye sayde vnto me and tretyd me longe tyme therof that I sholde bee wedded to a corruptyble and to a dedely man though I hadde abhomynacion of suche weddyng in myn herte as ye myght clerly perceyue by many dyuerse tokenes if ye hadde I wolde yet for the reuerence that I sholde shewe to my fader and moder by the bydyng of god vnto this tyme I excused me neuer clerly to you but now by cause I may noo lenger be styl I shall declare to you openly myn herte and purpoos The whiche purpoos it is not conceyued of newe but of chyldhode vnto this tyme â–ª therfore I wyl ye knowe it that in myn chyldhode I made avowe of virgynyte and serue oure lorde sauyour of alle the worlde and his blessyd moder gloryous vyrgyn marie our gloryous lady not chyldely but wyth a saâ— and a longe avysement And for a grete
cause I made avowe also that I shold neuer take husbond but hym alone Therfore now syth I am come by the sufferaunce of oure lord to a more perfyght age and knowleche and vnderston dyng wytte wete ye ryght well this is the same purpoos whiche is soo myghty and stroonge in myn sowle that it were more possyble hard flynt stones rather to be made nesshed than myn herte shold be wythdrawe fro this holy pnrpos and therfore the more ye laboure aboute thys thynge the more tyme ye lese Wherfore I counseyll you that ye leue of alle maner suche tretyng of weddynge as touchyng myn persone For therin shall I neuer fulfylle your wyll by cause that I sholde rather be obedyent to god than to man therfore yf ye wylle haue me suche one in your hous that I now serue god in this purpoos and for to be a commyn seruaunt to serue you all I am redy in all that I can or may to doo you seruyce gladly And yf ye wylle receyue me but for this cause that ye wylle putt me out of your hous I doo you well to wete that in noo wyse myn herte may be wythdrawe fro this holy purpos ¶ I haue an husbond and a spouse cryste Jhesu soo rychely and soo myghtely that wyll not suffre me in noo wyse to lacke no thyng But he wyll mynystre to me all that me nedeth Whan she hadde sayde alle thyse wordes alle that herde her speke fyll in wepyng and by cause of her plentnously syghynge and sobbynge they myght for that time gyue none answer They consyderid to the holy purpos of thys holy mayde the whyche they myght not wyth saye ne wythstonde they behylde also how styll the mayden had I kepte her how clene how pure vnto that tyme how bodely she declared her consciens by wordes of grete prudence also ouer more they sawe openli that she was rather diposed for to forsake her faders hous than for to breke her holy purpoos and soo they hadde nomore truste of her weddyng wherfore it lyked theym better for to wepe than for to gyue her answer Wythin a lytyll whyle after whan they hadde cesyd all her wepynge the fader that loued her soo tenderly had dredde of god and dred god soo hyghely hadde mynde of the coluer that he sawe and of many good dedes of the whiche she vsed The whiche dedes he gretely merueylyng gaue her suche an answere and sayde Dere doughter god forbede it that we sholde ony thynge wylle or desyre agaynste the wyll of god For the whiche wyll and fro the whiche wyll we knowe well thys holy purpoos cometh fro Therefore it is soo that we ben taught by longe experyence And now openly we see that thou art not steryd herto by the lyghtenesse of chyldhode but by feruent charyte of god Make thy vowe therfore frely and doo as the lyketh and as the holy ghoost techeth the ¶ And fro this tyme forward we shall neuer lette the from thyn holy purpoosne thyne ghostely excercise but only praye for vs besely that we maye bee made worthy to the promys and the byheste of thyn ghoostely spouse whom thou haste chose by his specyall grace in thyn tender age ¶ Thenne he tourned hym to hys wyf and to his chyldren and sayde none of you from this tyme forward be to my ne dere donghter greuous None be soo hardy from this tyme forward to let her in ony wyse to suffer her to serue her spouse freely and she to praye for vs be sely We myght neuer haue founde a better husbond to her thenne he is the whiche vochesauf to be so nere of our kynde for to wedde our doughter and haue her to wyf Therfore we haue none cause to pfayne vs sythe it soo is that we haue receyued now for a dedely man ▪ vndedely god and man to be her spouse ¶ Whan the fader hadde sayde thyse wordes wyth wepynge and wyth weylyng bothe of theym selfe and also of other that herde theym and hym speke and namely of the moder that louyd this mayde in maner flesshely then̄e this holy maide Katheryn ioyefully thanked oure lorde that brought her to this vyctorye and also her fader and moder wyth alle maner of lowenes dysposyng her self to vse profytably the lycence that was graūted to her And this is the ende of this chapytre ¶ But now I wylle ye knowen that redyn or heren this booke that Mayster Reymound confessour to this holy mayde knewe neuer by reuelacion of the fader that sawe the coluer the whiche restyd on this blessyd maydens hede for the fader was deed or thā Mayster Reymoūd knewe this blessyd mayde But he knewe it by reuelaciō of Cosyns that dwellyd in the faders hous the whiche cosins recorded and bare wytnes that the fader sawe suche a culuer wyth her ofte tymes And therfore he hadde her in greate reuerence and he wold in noo wyse that she hadde be lettyd or troublyd ¶ Of the vysyon that she sawe of saynt Domynyk bothe mayster Reymound her confessour afore hym knewe it by tellyng of this holy mayde And whan mayster Reymound examyned her of the wordes that she sayde laste to her fader moder and brederen and how she byhad her in her pesecucions she tolde hym alle by ordre mekely as it was ¶ Of the hardenesse of her bodely penaūce of afflyction what persecucion she fuffred therfore of her moder Capitulū vj WHan this deuoute mayde hadde receyued so large a lycence that was graunted her of longe tyme desyred afore She beganne ryght quyckely for to dyspose merueylously alle her lyf to the seruyse of god ¶ Att the begynnyng she asked to haue a lytyll chambre to her self and so had de it wherin she purposed to tourmente her body wyth penaunce as in a wyldernesse that she myght haue the more fredome of sowle for to serue our lord How moche and how harde penaunce she vsed in tourmentyng of her body And how grete loue she hadde in seyng of hyr spouse in that lytyll chambre there maye noo tongue suffre to telle Neuertheles I haue rehersed som what in generall of her grete penaunce And now I purpose to telle you maydens in speciall vnder fewe wordes the hardnesse of her penaunce soo that ye of the grete vertuous herbes of her holy lyuyng maye taste somwhat of the fruyte that growen aboute the herber bothe of the fyrst and of the laste And for the condycions and the kyndis of the fruyt it shall be declared by the helpe of god afterward And the cause why that in this place is rehersyd som̄e what of her fruyte full vertuous lyuing is for nothynge ellys But for the maydens sholde be the more able and redyer to ghostely excercyse In this lytyll chābre that was graunted her ofte tymes she consydered swetely the ghostely werkis of our old faders of Egypte And in ghostely werkys was to her soo moche the more merueylous and that
that the moost traueylle that euer she hadde was for to ouercome slepe It was soo harde a bataylle for her or she myght haue the vyctorye of it Yet more ouer as her confessour recorded off her yf she myght haue founde ony body that cowde hadde vnderstonde her and commyned wyth hyr of vertue And of the goodnes of god it shold not greue her though she hadde been wythout mete or drynke and slepte an hondred dayes and an hondred nyghtes she sholde neuer haue be wery but rather the fressher and she gladder She tolde ofte tymes to her confessour that she was neuer soo well refrysshed in spyryt in thys lyf as whan she myght fynde wyth whome she myght commyne of the goodnes of god And that knewe well tho the whiche were conuersaunt wyth her ¶ This was openly perceyued in her whan she myght haue leyser to speke off god that tho thynges of vertu the whiche were hyd in her herte appieryd strongely by ghostely gladnesse in the body outwarde ¶ And whan she hadde noo leyser to talke of oure lorde thenne she was feble Herof bereth wytnesse her confessour Mayster Reymound to the worshyp of god and of his owne shame that oftymes Whan this holy mayde wolde speke of the goodnes of our lorde and of the greate myseryes that he shewed to her by cause of the longe tyme of her contynuaunce in spekyng And also by cause he was ferre from her louyng as he sayde hym selfe He fyll in a slombryng and alwaye she contynued forthe in spekynge For she was reysyd vp by loue in to the breste of oure lorde nothyng perceyuynge that he was a slepe tyll a longe tyme afterward And whan she perceyued that he was a slepe wyth a grete voys she awoke hym sayde why lese here ye the prouffyte of our sowle for a lytyll slepe speke I to a walle or to yow ¶ Ferthermore she desyred aboue alle this to folowe the stappes of the holy fader Saynt Domynyke And that was in this wyse she receyued euery day theyes dyscyplyne wyth an yron chayne The fyrst dyscyplyne was for her self The seconde for alle tho that were a lyue And the thirde for them that were deed ¶ Thus we rede in the legende of saynt Domynyk that he vsed contynually therfore she vsed the same longe tyme afterward ¶ But after tyme she was feblyd with sekenes that she myght no longer vse hyt ¶ And whanne hyr confessour axyd of hyr pryuely how in what wyse she vsed that manere of penaunce wyth a grete shamefastenesse she knowleched to hym ¶ That in euery dysciplyne she occnpyed an houre and an halfe so that for the moost partye the blode folowed foo the sholdres doune to the fete ¶ Loo maydens what perfeccyon was in thys holy maydens sowle that thryes in the daye lete hyr self blood for goddys loue shedyng hyr blood for hys blood Seeâ—ye not in what vertue she was of that wyth out ony exaumple or Informacyon of ony man in erthe that vsed suche grete penaunce wyth in hyr faders how 's Redeth Sayntes lyues and wrytyng of holy faders of Egypte leueth none vnsought but sercheth ouer all and espye whether ye fynde ony lyke to hyr Ye shall fynde Saynt Powse the fyrst heremyte lyued longe in deserte But a crowe brought hym euery daye half a lof to hys mete Ye may also fynde saynt Anthonye a full holy lyuer and dyd grete meruayllous penaunce yet he wente to dyuers ankrys aboute and of eche of them he gadred somme floures of vertue Ye may also fynde of Saynt Hyllaryon an holy lyuer Yet as Saynt Jerome seyth he was fyrst enformed to vertuous lyuyng of Saynt Anthonye and ro wente to deserte and there myghtly ouercam hys enemyes Ye may fynde also of Macharye and Arsenye and many other whyche is longe to telle of that had techers to vertuous lyuyng one or moo bothe in worde and also in exsaumple what in deserte or in Relygion And this holy mayde had nethyr hyr doctryne to vertues in Relygyon nother in deserte But in hyr faders how 's wythout ony Informacyon or exaumple of ony man in erthe and there to came to a grete perfeccyon of abstynence notwythstondyn ge the manyfolde lettyng the whyche she suffred in hyr faders how 's Shall I yet saye more of thys maydens commendacyon I praye you lystene a lytel whyle I shall telle how holy wrytte maketh mencyon that Moyses fasted twyes fourty dayes wyth out mete and drynke and Ely ones and our lord Ihesu cryst also as the Gospell sayth that thei fasted more by many yeres contynued Holy wrytte telleth not Saynt Johan baptyst though he were in deserte he lyued by hony soukeles and herbes But symply that he fasted I fynde nowhere I wryton Of Marye magdelyne allone hyr storye maketh mencyon of hyr lyf that she fastyd euery yere fourty dayes to gyder wyth out mete or drynke thre and thyrty yeres folowyng leuyng in a Roche of the see There for I trowe it was that our lord and hye blyssed moder commytted hyr to thys holy mayde for to be hyr may stresse and hyr moder as it is somwhat I touched afore And as it shall clerely be de declared afterward by the helpe of god By thys may ye knowe that thys holy mayde had a specyall yefte and a synguler grace of god Not that she is preferryd in holy lyuynge aboue alle the Sayntes the whyche ben rehersed afore For that were a full odyous comparyson So for to make suche lykenes bytwene Sayntes among whiche sayntes our sauyour Ihesu Cryst is I nempned to whome for to lyken ony saynt in comparyson of holy lyuyng that sholde be euen wyth hym it were blasfemye al tho other sayntes whyche ben named they be not rehersed for to make lykenesse in merites of lyuyng but that ye shal consydere and take hede fyrst of the grete magnyfycence of our lord Ihesu cryst that euery day by hys gracyous plentuous largenes multâ—plyed hys newe yeftes and grace where wyth he arayeth ghostly maketh perfyte hys chosen sowles Another also that ye shall consydere and take of the grete synguler worthynesse in hyr was noo Iniurye ne wronge to other sayntes For holy chyrche syngeth and seyth specyally syngulerly of euery saynt by hym self Thes wordes of Salamon Non est inueÌ„tus similis illi That is none I founde lyke to thys These wordes muste be vnderstonde of the grete myght and large fredom of our lord makyng holy and perfyte hys chosen sowles The whyche may wylle endowe arraye euery saynt syngulerly wyth a specyall yefte of grace wyth out ony wronge of other Of alle thys mater now I shall cesse and procede forth in the fyrst purpose By thyse condycyons of abstynence of thys holy mayde may be vnderstoÌ„de clerely that she was lene in body that wyth so many herdenes of penaunce and sharpe afflyccyonâ— was so often tymes tamed and all was for to make hyr body
buxom and subgettâ— to the seruyce of the sowle On a tyme hyr moder Lapa tolde to mayster Reymond hyr confessour â–ª Thought that hyr doughter tormented so holy hyr body in penaunce she was of soo grete myght strenghte in body that she wolde wyth out ony greuaunce lyf vp on hyr sholdres a borthen that was I now for an hors for to bere bere it vp in to an hyghe garet aboue two longe steyers For she was that tyme as she sayde twyes soo grete in body thanne she was afterward at the age of xxxviij whan she had contynued in soo grete penaunces Hyt was no meruayll and so it is for but yf it had nought I be that our lord hadde kepte hyr by myracle hyt hadde be no meruayll though she hadde be all wastyd awaye For at that tyme whan that hyr confessour mayster Reymond knewe hyr she was a full slender creature and that was no meruayll For the spiryte encreced in vertue the weyker wexxd the body as though it werâ— ouercome of the sowle not wythstondyng alle thys she wolde euer laboure gladdely and namely for the helthe of sowles All be it she suffred grete sekenesse in hyr body for the spyryte whyche was so strong wythin susteyned and comforted the feble body wyth out Now shall I cesse here of and torne ageyn to the fyrst mater of thys chapytre Whan thys holy mayde hadde full graunte and lycence of hyr frendes for to serue our lord in hyr lytell chambre assygned to hir and there began full feruently for to styghe vp ghoostly to hyr heuenly spouse The serpent our ol de enemye the fende though she had ouercome hym dyuers tymes afore Yet he cessed not for to assaylle hyr estesonys He steryd Eue hys doughter Lapa thys maydens moder by a carnall loue that she hadde more to the body of hyr doughter than to hyr self for to lette hyr of hyr penaunce For on a tyme whan the moder came to hyr doughter and aspyed howe she bete hyr self wyth an yren chayne she cryed waylyng wyth a lowde voys and seyde A doughter what doste thou thou arte but dede for thou sleest thy self allas who hath couÌ„seylled my doughter herto who hath steryd hyr to do thys And soo wyth cryeng and waylyng thys olde womman tormeÌ„ted hyr self as she had be a wood body wyth tâ—ryng of hyr clothes of hyr here for she thought hyr doughter was but dede By the noyse of thys cryeng all the neghbours were styred aboute for to come Inne and see what thys olde woman eyled Whan they cam they sawe how thys holy mayde had made hyr a bedde all of bare boordys where on she rested when she wolde slepe And wyth vyolence hyr moder took hyr out of the chambre and broughte hyr to her owne chaÌ„bre there she laye for she thought that she wolde make her slepe in her owne bedde wyth hyr And whan thys holy mayden sawe thys by wysdome of spyryte she shewed grete gladnes in chere and kneled doun a fore hyr moder prayng her mekely wyth esy wordes that she wolde wouchesauf to put awaye alle hyr steryng and vnpacyence and be esy for she was redy to obeye to hyr as she wolde haue hyr redy for to lye wyth hyr as she wolde bydde hyr Whan she thus wysely pâ—syd her moder for to kepe hyr in quyete she layde hyr doune by her in that one syde of the bedde and had there swete medytacyons that she was wontâ— to haue After tyme hir moder was a slepe she rose vp pryuely and wente agayne to hyr holy ghostly excercyse The fende eftsones hadde enuye herto that she sholde so encrece in vertue styred hyr moder the seconde tyme ageyn hyr But there ageyn thys holy mayde vsed thys prudence by cause she wolde nomore make â–ª hyr moder sory wyth hyr she took pryuely a post and leyde it in hyr bedde vnder a shete and clothes abouen that the moder whan she wold comen and vysyte hyr sholde suppose that it had be she the whyche had laye there vnder the clothes And yet neuer thelesse she kepte hir comyn â—â—stome of harde lyeng as she dyd a fore hyt was not longe tyme after but that the moder aspyed thys well when she had aspyed it she sayd to hyr doughter in thys wyse Doughter I see well alle my laboure is in vayne I may not chaunge the from thy purpose ese it is to me for to lete it ouer passe lyghtly And therefor go and slepe there on thou arte I wontâ— And soo she was ouercomen wyth the stedfastnes of thys holy mayde and suffred hyr euer afterwarde to lyue as the holy ghoost styred hyr Thus endeth thys chapytre Somme thynges ther ben rehersed there Inne that hyr confessour mayster Reymond knewe and hadde reuelacyon of by the holy mayde Katheryne â–ª As is of hyr grete abstynence and other sharpenesse of penauÌ„ce and of hyr maner of worchyng in them and somme thynkes he knewe by reuelacyon of hyr moder Lapa and som of other dyuers matrons that were conuersauÌ„t with her But som thynges he knewe by hym self namely of hyr synguler gracyous yefte of abstynence ¶ Of the laste vyctorye that she had in a bathe And how she took the abyte of Saynt Domynyk Whyche she had long tyme desyred to fore Ca vij WHan thys holy mayde was restoryd ageyn to hyr deuoute excercyse the more that she perceyued that the enemye of all mankynde was besy for to lette hyr the more feruent she was in hyr ghostly excercyse Euery day she wayled euery day she wepte axynge and prayng our lorde deuoutly that he wold wouchesauf to gyue hir grace to resceyue the abyte of saynt Domynyk that she had long desyred The whiche thorugh hys grete â—ytâ—â— was be hote hyr by ourâ— holy fader Saynt Domynyk in a vysyon For she was neuer seker in hir self to kepe the purpose of maydenhode vnto the tyme she resceyued that holy abyte she wyst well that after tyme she were arayed wyth that abyte alle maner speche of hyr weddyng shold cesse and she sholde be suffred for to serue hyr ghoostely the more frely Wherfore she prayed hyr fader moder that they wold gyue hyr leue to be one of the susters of penauÌ„ce of sayn tâ— Domynyk that ben called in comyn speche of the Cyte of Senee susters of the mantâ—ll And ouermore she prayed to the same sustres that they receyue hyr to the same abyte amonge theyrâ— holy nombre To thys axyng the mod was not well apayed alle be it she sayde not ones nay but euer she was aboute as moche as she myght for to withdrawe hyr from hyr grete penaunce that she vsed And for thys cause she purposed on a tyme for to go to an hoot bath or for to be bathed hyr doughter wyth hyr That assone as thys holy mayde had felte ony maner comforte solace to the body by that bathyng by lytell lytell she shold
of her susters not consyderyng the opyn tokens of grace that were shewed in her dyuerse tymes But rather they myghi be lykened to the pharysens that seyth the opyn myracles the whyche our lord wrought And yet they grutched by cause he helyd a man vpon the sabat daye seyng thus ¶ Non est hic homo a deo qui sabbatum non custodit That is this man is not of god hals that kepeth not his sabat daye This holy mayde whan she hadde receyued her habyte of penaunce â–ª she besyed her what she cowde to obeye to her souereyns and therto she durst not forsake the waye of vertuous lyuynge the whiche our lord taught her by hym self soo that bytwene thyse two she was sore angwisshed in tourment that ther maye none tongue telle it ne penne wryte it Was this not trought ye maydens a martyrdome for her I trowe yeis A a lorde god ofte was it sayde to her in repref that all her vysyons come nought of god but of the fende ¶ Notwythstondyng that they the whiche sawe in her many merueylous werkes and that therto they myght see that all her lyf was myracle as it shall declared more clerely here after Now was this a stronge martyrdome as me semeth ¶ And as touchyng to pouerte of lynyng she kepte soo perfyghtly that vertu pouerte that she beyng in her faders hous and housholde where greate plente was of temperall goodes for her self she toke no thynge but that she wolde gyue frely to poure folke And therto her fader gaue her a specyall leue ¶ She loued soo moche pouerte that as she sayde preuyly to her confessoure she hadde neuer ioye of her faders hous by cause temperall goodes were soo plenteuosly vsed therin And therfore she prayed oure lord hertely that he wolde vochesauf to tak awaye that rychesse And brynge hyr frendes to pouerte seyng in this wyse Lorde whether this good that aboundeth soo plentuously in myn faders hous by that good I sholde aske for myn frendes and nought oonly of good euerlastyng I knowe well lord that amonges thyse temperall goodes there is moche peryll medeled amonge And therfore I wolde nought myn frendes were encombred wyth theym ¶ Whan she hadde thus prayed our lorde of his goodnes herde her prayers and suffred hee frendes Fader and moder and other of her kynne to falle to ryght lowe pouerte by many merueylous chaunces wythout ony trespaas of theym As it was well knowe to all tho that knewe theym whyles they lyued By this may ye knowe that this mayden kepte full dewely the thre pryncipall vowes of relygyon That is obedyence chastyte and pouerte all be it that she made none avowe openly whan she receyued her habyte of penaunce Now shall I telle you of her perfection after tyme she hadde receyued her habyte whan she hadde receyued habyte as our holy fader Saynt domynyke promysed her she began anone swete vertuous lyuynge and sought occacions and causes for to constreyne her self more streyghtly than she dyde afore that she myght the more deuoutlye loue her spouse Ihesu seyng to her self in this wyse Lo thou hast now take vp on the a maner of relygyon thou mayst nomore lyue as thou hast doo thy seculer lyuynge is goo And a newe relygyon is come after the whiche reule thou must nedes be reuled Sâ—est thou not the colour of thyn clothes the nedeth now fro this time forward to kepe perfyghtly pouerte and clennesse of body and sowle whiche be tokeneth bi the whyte cote The nedeth also to be dede to the worlde the whiche betokenneth by the blake mantel therfore see to thy self how thou gouerneste the for thou muste now goo in the streyte waye that fewe walken ynne For the more sekernesse therfore of kepyng of her pouerte and cleÌ„nesse ¶ This holy mayde purposed her to kepe sylence full streyte and not for to speke but whan she shold be shryue And as her confessour both sayde and wrote that was afore Mayster Reymound â–ª thre yere contynuelly she kepte her sylence but whan she wolde beshryue She kepte her also contynuelly in her chambre But whan she wolde goo to the chyrche for her mete she hadde none nede to goo out It was lytyll and soone doo For she vsed to ete none maner of mete that was made by the fyre out taken breed alone as it is rehersed afore ¶ Also she made an ordynaunce in her owne herte neuer to come to mete but wyth wepyng soo that euer afore mete she wolde offre to our lord teres for to fede her soule fyrst And than afterwarde wolde she susteyne her body wyth mete ¶ Her faders how 's was to her as a wyldernesse and deserte notwythstondyng the confluence of peple that were therin ¶ Besyde all this what wakyng what prayers what medytacions and what teres she vsed I trowe there is none tongue cowde telle ¶ She made also an other ordynaunce in her self that whan her bretheren the freer prechours stepte she wolde wake And whan the friers hadde tonge the ij peel to matyns and anone erst wolde she seye than her spouse Ihesu Cryste in this wyse Loo lorde myn bretheren And thyn seruauntes haue I rested theÌ„ in to this tyme and I haue prayed for theym to the that thou sholdest kepe them fro deuelys and fro the ouercomyng off the fendes ¶ Now lorde they be aryse to praye to the therfore lorde I praye the kepe theym and gyue me leue to reste a whyle And soo she laye doune vpon hard bordes and a stoke vnder her hede in stede of a bolster ¶ Our lord Ihesu her gracious spouse seyng all this in this mayde the whiche gaue her all thyse graces wolde not suffer soo able and soo dylygent a dyscyple to be vntaught wythout a perfyght mayter Nother man ne angell But he hym self wolde be her informer of vertu Anone as she was shett vp in her chambre oure lorde Ihesu Cryste her well beloued spouse and sauyour of alle mankynde appieryd to her and taught her and enformed her fully of tho thynges that longeth to the helthe of sowle as she her self tolde priuely after ward to her confessour and sayde to hym thyse wordes Fader vnderstondeth this for a trouthe that I was neuer taught ne enformed ony thynge that longeth to helth of sowle of man ne of woman but oonly off myn lorde Ihesu the spouse of my sowle other by his inspyracion or ellys by hys open apperyng spekyng to me as I nowe speke to you ¶ She knowleched also to her confessour that in the begynnyng of that vysyon whan it apperyd openly to her bodely wyttes soo that she perceyued wyth her bodeli erys a voys she began to waxe a ferd lest it hadde be a deceyte of the fende that ofte tymes transfygureth hym in to an Angell of lyght the whiche feer in noo wyse dysplesyd our lorde but rather he commended that feer and sayde As longe as a man or a woman lyueth in this lyf
Wherfore alle that euer oure lorde Jhesu that souerayne mayster taught his spouse in tho two bryef sentences as it is rehersed afore is no thyng ellys but this that she sholde knowe hir self as she is and our lord verayly as for hir maker in the depnes of hir herte and thenne she sholde be blessyd In the same wyse I fynde I wryten that he sayd to saynt Kâ—theryne the virgyn and marter Whan he vysytre hir in prysone Doughter knowe me for thy maker Of suche manere of knoweleche cometh all maner of perfeccyon and all ordynate settyng of the sowle What is he that may not loue so large and so free a gyuer wyth all his herte and all his sowle what is he that is not styred euery day more and more to loue suche a lorde that fyrst er thanne he made his creatures he loued hem not for theyr deserue and meryte but onely by his Infynte goodnes ¶ What is he that ferth not and dredeth contynually to offende in ony maner of wyse soo grete and soo dredefull a maker soo myghty and soo large a gyuer soo gladsom and soo free a louer What is he that may not gladdely suffre all manere of dyseases for suche a lorde of who me he hath receyued and receyuyth day by day and hopeth to receyue wythoute ony deubte soo manyfolde goodnesse What is he that sholde be wery or tormented by sekenes to please so amyable a lorde What is he that endeyneth to kepe reuerently and louyngly in hys mynde the blessyd wordes that suche a lorde wouchesaue to hys creatures ¶ What is he that wyll not gladdely obeye to the commaundementes and pretho thynges that the sowle loueth the whiche desyre may not be hadde wiwout werke soo ferforth that in as moche it loueth soo moche it werketh And yet neuertheles it trusteth nought in her owne werke as in her owne self but only in our lorde that worched in her The cause of this louely desyre is noothynge ellys but the very knoleche off god that he is aulterd therfore amonge all other merueylaus thynges of this holy mayde she helde that doctryne the whiche our lord taught her syngulerly to bee worshy pâ—ed To the whiche wurshypfull doctryne yet shall I adde more to For but yf I be gretly dysceyued all they come out of the fyrst notable doctryne Ofte tymes this holy mayde was wouÌ„t to comyn and to speke to tor confessoure Mayster Reymound of the worthynes and condycions that our lord loued off a sowle And she sayde that suche a sowle perceyued not ne seeth not ne loued her self ne none other sowle ne hadde none mynde of none creature This was a full hard word to Mayster Reymound for to vnderstonde and therfore he prayed this hooly mayde for to declare it Thenne she sayde a sowle seeth her selfe that she is verely nought of her self and knoweth perfyghtly that all the goodnes wyth alle the myghtes of the sowle is her maker ¶ She forsaked viteâ—ly her self And alle creature and hedeth her self fully in her maker our lord Jhesu in soo moche that she sendeth fully and pryncypaly all her ghostely and bodely werkynges in hym In whom she perceyued that she maye fynde all goodnes and all perfection off blessydnes and therfore she shalle haue none wyll to goo out from suche inwarde knowleche of hym for nothynge And of this vinte and loue that is encresed euery daye in suche a sowle She is transfourmyd in a maner in to oure lord that she may neyther thynke ne vnder stonde ne loue ne haue no mynde but god or ellys in god she maye not see her self ne none other creatures but onely in god Ne she may not loue her self ne none other but only in god Ne she maye not hane mynde in her self ne of none other but only in god ne she maye haue no mynde but only in her maker Ryght as a man that is vnder a water and swymmeth vnder the water nether seeth ne touched nothyng but water and that is vnder the water And thynge that he is aboue the water he neyther toucheth ne seeth of that that is aboue the water it shy neth vnder the water for that he may perceyue and yet none other wyse but in the water And as they maye byshewed in water as longe as he is voder the water Ryght so fareth it of a sowle that is hyd in the loue of god ¶ All this she lerned of our lorde that dyuyne loue the whiche neuer teched errour to his meke dyscyples ne gyueth theym cause to coueyte ony thynge wyth out hym For euer her ghostely excersyse in is hym ¶ Another tyme this holy mayde reher syd in presence of her confessour Maister Reymound and to many other that wer called to clennes of lyuyng A full notable doctryne and a vertuous the whiche is good for pure maydens to knowe Who 's chast lyuyng is full speâ—yally to god And the more ye ben met ner to god by swete meke maydenhede the sonner ye maye vnderstonde that vertuous doctryne And it is this that a sowle the whiche is vertuously I mette to god as it is rehersed afore As moche as it hath of the loue of god Soo moche it hath of the hate of her owne sensualyte For of the loue of god naturally cometh hate of synne the whiche is do ne agaynst god the sowle theâ—fore consyderyng that the rote and the begynnynge of synne regneth in the sensualyte there pryncypally is roted She meued and storyd hyghely and holyly wyth alle her merytes agaynst her owne sensualyte not for to vtterly destroye the rote For that mayr not be longe the sowle dwelleth in the body lyuyng in this lyffe But euer it shall be lefte a rote namely of smale venyall synnes Wherto accordeth ryght well saynt Johan whan he sayth thus Si diximus quia peccatuÌ„ non habemus ipsi nos seducimus c. That is yf we saye that we haue noo maner of synne in our sensualytes namely of venyall synÌ„es â–ª we desceyue oure self And by cause she maye not vtterly destroye that rote of synne thus in her sensualyte as it is sayde afore She conceyued a grete displesaunce agaynst sen sualyte and of her sesuâ—lyte The whiche dyplesaunce spyngin vp an hooly hate and a dysplrsyng of her sensualyte by the whiche the sowle is euer wel kepte fro her ghostely ennemyes ¶ There is noo thynge that kepeth the sowle soo stronge and soo syker as doth suche an holy haâ—e and that felt well the Appostle whan he sayde Cum infirmot tunc forcior sum et potens ¶ That is whan I am feble and syke in myn sensualyte by hate of synne Thenne I am the stronger and myghty er in myn sowle Loo fader of suche hate cometh vertu and of swete febylnesse and sykenesse cometh â–ª strengthe And of suche displesaunce cometh plesaunce ¶ Suche holy hate fader haue euer with you For it shall make you meke and euer to fele meke
yf ye mekely and Inwardely consydere the depthe of the goodnes of our lorde For to eueryche of his chosen soules he gyueth somme synguier gyfte and grace wherof they maye haue an excellent Joye aboue other â–ª that not only the heythe of his souereygne magnyfycence apperyd in all his sayntes at onys but in eueryche by hym selfe somme synguler grace For ryght at it is sene all daye that one man is not lyke another but hathe somme maner of dyfference Ryght soo eueri saynte in heuen hath somme dyffereÌ„ce of somÌ„e synguler grace gyuen of god fro other Therfore it is not to merueylle gretely though somme speciall grace bee seyde of one that is not founde therof And by cause I haue rehersyd of seynge of ther psalmes I shall tell you maydens how this holy maide lerned for to rede for by techyng of man or of woman lerned she neuer She tolde ones to hir coÌ„fessoure mayster Reymond that she hadde a desired to kunne hyr mattyns therefore on a tyme she prayed one of hyr susters to gete her an A b c to teche her for to knowe her lettres And she hadde I traueylled sore many wekes to gydres dyde spende her tyme there aboutes for to knowe her lettres And myght not come therto She bethought her to complayne to oure lorde that heueÌ„ly mayster for myspendyng of her tyme prayeng hym that he wolde vouchesauf to teche her yf it were lykynge to hym spendefull for her soo for to kunne to rede And ellys lorde thy wylle be done For it is Inow to me yf it be lykyng to the the I be symple of lyuyng and for to spende my tyme in holy medytacions Now is this a merueylous thynge She hadde not soo soone endeth her prayer but that she coude rede lyuelye her psalmes as redely as she hadde ben ony kunnyng clerke whan her confessour perceyued that he was gretely astonyed For as moche as she coude not spelle ne knowe vnnethe noo lettre the whiche was ordeyned of god as he supposed for a merueyllous token in her After this this mayde gate her bokes of goddes seruyse for to saye ther matyns and her howrys theriâ— And amonge all other verses that she sayde she marked the verse that euery houre begynneth wyth that is Deus in adiutorium meum intende â—nÌ„e adadiuuandum me festina And kept that verse specially in her mynde to her lyues ende And ofte tymes she wolde reherce that Soone after that she encresyd in her soule merueylously in perfeccion of contemplacion And thenne cessyd lytyll her vocall prayer bycause that she was soo ofte tymes rauysshed in to the heythe off contemplacion soo ferforth that by cause of suche ofte rauysshyng she myght not ofte tymes perfourme ne make an ende of her Pater noster For her sowle was rauysshed fro her outward wyttes as I shall declare to you here afterward by the helpe of god For thus shall I make an ende of this chapytre All this that is conteyned therin her confessur had somÌ„e other by knowleche of her pryuely And somme by relacion that she tolde to other As it hadde be tolde of another and not of her self to the more edyfycacioÌ„ of them ¶ Of her merueylous disponsacyon wyth the whiche she was weddyd in faythe to our lorde wyth a rynge Capitulum duodecium AS this holy mayde encrecyd and profyted more more day by daye in grace and in vertu there came an holy desyre to her sowle to praye our lord to gyue her the perfyte degre off feyth By the whiche fayth she myght be more able to hym â—oythouten ony chaungynge thenne she was a fore Anone forthe she prayed to our lord that he wolde vouchesauf to encrece her fayth make it so perfyte in her that it shold neuer be hurteâ—ne throwe doune by violence of ony maner aduersarye To whom ouce lorde answerd in this wyse I shall dyspouse the to me in faythe yet she prayed the same often tymes aftyrward and euer hadde the same answere of our lorde agayn At the laste it happened a lytyll a fore the begynnyng of lente in the dayes when the peple made an ende of eting offlesshe and in manere made veyne and ydil festys in seruyng of the wombe â–ª Thys holy mayde closid hyr vp in hyr chambre Sekyng by fastyng prayen ge the gloryus and gracious face of hyr spouse â—hu axyng specyaly by feruent prayer vncessablythe same that she axid afore of the vertu of fayth that he wolde vouchesauf to encrece it and make it perfyggt in her To whom our lord apperid and sayde By cause that thou hast putt awaye and flelde all maner nf vanytes of etyng of slesshe thyse dayes for my loue â–ª And sette the dylectacion of thyn herte fully in me this tyme where all other aboute the and namely in the same hous that thou dwellest in maken festys and ioyen therin I shall therfore make a solempne feste of dispousacion betwene the sowle and me And so as I behyte I shal dispouse the to me in faith Our lord had not soo soone sayde this wordes That our lady his gloryous moder And hys blessyd Euangelyste saynt Johan and the gloryous appostle saynt poule and saynt Domynyke the fader of her relygion apperyd and wyth theym Dauyd the prophete brengyng in his honde a sauter of musyke ¶ Fyrst our blessyd lady goddes moder came to this holy mayde and toke her honde In her holi honde stret chyng out her fyngers to her sone prayleng hym that he wolde vonchesuf to wedde this mayde to hym in feythe The whiche deuoute axynge oure lorde graunted her and brought forth a Rynge arayed rounde aboute wyth foure precious margarete stones And in the ouer parte off the rynge was enclosyd a ryght fayre dyamant stone That rynge he put with his holy honde vppon the fyngre of this maydens ryght honde seyeng to her thus Loo I dyspouse the to me that am thy maker and thy sauyour in faith the whiche disposycion shall be confermed kept in the vndefouled vnto the tyme thou shalt halowe euerlastynge weddyng wyth me in the blesse of heuen Therefore douhter now fro this tyme fortherwarde worke myghtely and put awaye all maner of doubte for now thou arte armed with the strengthe of the feith for to ouercome therby all thyn aduersaryes And thus this gracioê° visioÌ„ cessyd But euer afterward â–ª this rynge bylefte vp on this holi maydes fynger not to other folkes syht but to her owne syght for she be knewe many tymes and ofte to her confessour maister Reymound wyth grete drede fere that she sawe euer that rynge vppon her fyngre And there was neuer tyme but that she sawe it Loo maydens ryht as saynt katheryn the martyr virgyn quene After her baptym was dyspoused to our lorde as the legende maketh meÌ„cion Ryght ye maye consydre now how this holy mayde katheryn After so many victoryes of temptacions of her flesshe was solemply dyspoused
hys dyuyne loue that she â—â—yed in hyr soule sayd ¶ Lorde thou hast wounded myn herte lorde thou hast wouÌ„ded myn herte ¶ And this was on saynt margaretes day as she tolde to hyr confessour in preuytee ¶ Hyt befell also in another tyme the morowe after Saynt Laurence daye that this holy mayde cam to the chyrche for to here masse kneled nexte to the auter as she was wonte for to do for to see the blessyd sacrement because that she sholde not lette the preste at theautre by hyr grete sobbynghir confessour came to hyr warned her that she shold constreyne hir asmoche as she mighte fro suche grete sobbynges lest the prest were lette by hyr ¶ Thâ—nae anone she mekely as trewe obedyent mayden satte ferther fro the aulter prayed to oure lorde that he wold vouchesauf to Illumyne hir confessour that he myght see and knowe whether suche sterynges of the spyryte of god myght be mesured of man ¶ TheÌ„ne by vertu of that prayer hyr contessoure hadde so perfyte knoleche of feuoure of deuocyon by experience that he knewe fully by that that suche feruoures of the soule myght not be kepte wythin but nedes by strenthe of dyuyne loue yt muste breke out ¶ Ferthermore oftyme whan she was not houseled she desyred in hyr sowle for to receyue the blyssed sacramet of the aulture ¶ And oftymes she wold breke out and say deuoutly thus ¶ I wolde receyue my lorde Jhesu crystys body wyth that our lorde wolde appyre to hyr as he was wont to doo and to fulfylle hyr desyre he toke the maydens mouthe put it to hys blessyd wounde of hys syde and bad hyr receyue of â—s flesshe and of hys bloode as moche as she lyst ¶ Thenne she receyued plentuously of our lorde breste that she semed for pure loue she sholde hadde dyed by cause of the grete swetnes that she felte in her herte ¶ Hyt befyll also vpon Sanyt â—â—exis day that this holy mayde prayed to our lorde deuoutly that he wolde vouchesauf to grauÌ„te hyr breÌ„nyng desyre for to receyue hys flesshe and hys blood ¶ Wyth that she had dâ—a reuelacyon that she sholde be houseled on the morowe doubteles for it was forbeden hyr of the freres that she sholde not so ofte be houseled ¶ Thenne whane she hadde thys confortable reuelacyon She. prayed our lord that he wold wouchesauf to clenie hir herte agaynst the tyme she shold receyue hym that she myght the more worthely receyue hym ¶ In tyme that she prayed thus she felte a reyne comenge doun in to hyr soule in maner of a grete haboundant flood not of water or of suche other lyquore but onely of blood medelyd wyth fyre the whiche as hyr semed purgyd clensed so myghtely â—â— rsowie that by strengthe of that tyre it reâ—oâ—ded in to the body and clensed also hyr body ¶ After thys on the morowe she was â—oseek that by no waye it semed to hyr she myght not goo one foot ¶ Neuertheless she doubted no thyng of the ê“mysse oâ— our lord but trustyng to hym fully began to go to chyrche And whan she was come thyder she knelyd doun in a chapell besyde an aulter ¶ Thenne came to hyr mynde how she was enfourmed that she myght not be houseled of what prest she lyst but of suche that ben assygned to hyr â–ª ¶ wyth that she desyred hyr confessour sholde say a masse at that same aulter Anone oure lorde gaf hyr comforte that he sholde sing there Sodeynly our lord thenne touched the herte of hyr confessonr wyth deuocioÌ„ that he sholdesaye a masse that day for he was in no wyll for to syng that day ne he wyste not that the holy mayde was come to chyrche ¶ Thenne at the steryng of our lorde he dysposed him to masse wente to the same aulter there the holy mayde was and abode our lordes behest at whiche aulter also he was neuer wont to synge ¶ And whanne he came he founde there this holy mayde axyng for to be houseled for charyte ¶ Thenne he rceyued that it was the wyll of god he sholde syng that day ¶ He sayd masse and at the ende of the masse as the maner is he came for to housele hyr this holy mayde at the aulter ende where she was redy for to receyue that blessyd sacrament ¶ Hyr confessour behelde and sawe hyr vysage all shynyng rede al for wepre wyth terys the whiche was to him a grete meruayll and Wuth that deuocion she receyued that blissed sacrament ¶ And after tyme she was houseled she was so plenteuously replete of our lorde that all that day she myght speke no worde to noo creature ¶ On the morowe hyr confessour axed hyr what hir eyled and what nowe grace she receyued the other day a fore by cause she was so shynnyng rede whan she receyued that blyssed sacrament she answorde thus ¶ Fader of what colour I was that tyme I wote nere but thys I knowe well whaÌ„ I vnworthy wretche receyued that blyssed sacrament of your hondes it drewe me som to it that alle other thyng saue that allone wexed to me lothesom not onely temporall thynges dylectacyons of the worlde but also other comfortes pleysaunces were they neuer so ghostly wherfore I desyred prayed that all suche ghostly comfortes sholde be sequestryd frome so that I myght pleese god and ende lesly be I knytte to hym And also I prayed hym that he wolde take away my wyl gyue me hys wyll and so he dede right mercyably and sayd to me thus ¶ Loo dere doughter now I gyue the my wyll bi the whiche thou shalte be soo strong that what euer happe to the fro thys tyme for the warde thou shalt neuer be chaunged nestyred ryght so it was ¶ She was euer afterwarde dyspysed and sette lytell by of alle folke and was neuer the more styred ne troubled ageynsthem ¶ Ouermore yet this holy mayde sayd to her confessour Fader well wyll ye wete how our lorde serued me Trewely as a moder serued hyr lytell soukyng chylde whome she loueth tenderly ¶ A moder suffred other while hir childe stonde a ferre from hyr whyle she sheweth hym hirtete of hir breste and suffred hym to wepe longe tyme after hit but all that tyme the lawhed ¶ At the last whan she hath suffred it to wepe long tyme she gothe ther to wyth a lawhyng there and beclypped it in her armes and kyssed it and soo gyueth it hyr breste or she tete ¶ Ryght so ferde our lorde wyth me that day he shewed me hys blessyd wounde in his syde stondyng all a ferre from me ¶ And I for desyre that I hadde ther to putte my mouth to that blessyd wounde and wepte haboundantly ¶ Thenne our lorde sayd after tyme that he hadde so suffred me to wepe he came to me gladdely and tooke my sowle in hys armes and putte my mouthe to his wounde ¶ And thenne my sowle for that grete
onys ony maner of precepte of myn for the virgynyte ofthis body and soule and the grace of hys baptyme he kepte euer to me vndefoylyd ¶ And also ryght as here myn eternall and naturall sone the endeles worlde of my mouthe tolde and spake opeÌ„ly to all the worlde that I badde hym say And therto bare wyttenes of trouthe Ryght soo Domynyke myn sone by adopcyon preche my trouthe openly to the worlde as Welle Amonges heretykes as amonges faythfus peple not onli bi hiÌ„self but also bi other of hiÌ„ not only â–ª whyles he lyued in erthe amonges you But also bi his successours bi whom yet they precheth and shalle preche for ryght as my naturall and eternall sone sente his dyscyples for to preche ryght soo Domynyk myn sone by a dopcion sente his fryers And also ryght as myn naturall sone and eternall is myn word ryght Domynyke myn sone by adopcion is the prechour aboute of myn word wherfore of myn synguler gyfte it is gyue to hym and to his fryers for to vuderstonde the trouthe of min wordes not for to passe therfro Also ryght as myn naturall sone and eternall ordeyned and dysposyd all his lyff and his dedes by doctrynes and ensample to helthe off mannys soule ryght Domynyke myn sone by adopcion put all his besynes to delyuer out soules of the sorowe of errour and of synne And that was his pryncipall entent Whan he began his ordre that is for to say for helthe of soules therfore he may well be lyked to min natural and eternall sone sone Ihesu Criste This was the reuelacioy the whiche she comynyd to fryer Bertylmewe â–ª whan that sodeyn caas of lokyng asyde byfyll to her as it is rehersyd afore Now I shall procede forth of the remenaunt of the lyf of this holy mayde in reuelacions and visyons â–ª but fyrst I wolde ye knewe maydens that for the grete haboundance of greces and open reuelacions and visyons and for the greâ—enes of loue therwyth The whiche this holy maydes soule was fulfylled She was ryght syke in her body and euer encresid in sekenes more and more for loue soo that she rooâ— nomore out of her bedde but laye styll euer newyng the loue of her spose seyng thus Aswete louely lord goddes sone and the sone of a mayden â–ª wyth suche many louyng â–ª wordes she praised oure lorde and her spouse She beleft wythout bodely mete and therto her spouse Jhesu Cryste the whiche gyuen her that fyre of loue by cause it sholde brenÌ„e more stoÌ„gely he apperyd to her ofte tymes Then ne sayd she to hym that was so febyll off the fyre of loue Good louely lord thou sufferest me so longe abyde in this wretched body and wylt not take me to thyn endeles presence I haue none Joye now off this wretchid lyf but only all myn ioye is for to seke the For I loue the Ihesu and none wythout the for what that euer I loue lord it is for the why am I ther for delayed soo longe â–ª fro thyn endeles presence ¶ Ha ha mekest and myldest lorde delyuer myn soule out of this pryson and out of this dedely lif To thise wordes that were sayd soo weylyngly oure lord answerd Dere doughter whan I liued in erthe amonge men I besyed me neuer for to fulfylle myn owne wyll but myn faders and albe it that I desyred to ete the laste paske wyth myn dysciples for to be wyth myn fader as they herd me ofte tymes saye yet I suffred paciently the tyme that was ordeined off myn fader soo must thou doo though thou desyre feruently to be onyd to me perfightely in the blesse of heuen yet thou muste abyde the tyme that I haue ordeyned Theenne she sayd to our lord louely lord sythe it soo is that it is not kynde to me as yet to passe out of this lyff thyn wyl be done Fiat voluntas tua But one thinge I beseche the whyles I lyue in this erthe that sythe I may not yet be onyd to that iÌ„ blysse â–ª grauÌ„te me as longe as I lyue in this lyf to be onyd to the with the bi parte taking of thy blessyd passioÌ„ the whiche was grauÌ„ted to her ¶ For as she asked soo she hadde fro that tyme forward she hadde so moche experiens euery day in her herte iÌ„her body of the passions of our lorde as she tolde afterward preuyly to maister ReymouÌ„d that she neuer felte suche a soor and that was in this wyse Ofte tymes she wolde sytte talke with mayster Reymound and teche hym of the passyon of criste affermyng myghtely that our lorde Jhesu cryste fro the tyme of his gloryous concepcion in to the tyme of the ende of his blyssyd passyon he bare euer the crosse of his deth in hys soule â–ª for the grete passyng desyre that he hadde for the helthe of mannys sowle For whan he was conceyued he was ful of grace and of wysdome and of charyte And it was none nede to hym for to encrece in hym afterward for he was perfyght ynow in theym at the begynnyng Therfore sythe it so was that he loued so perfyghtly god the fader and mankynde in herte seyng and consyderyng god the fader in trinite in maner depryued of his honour And also mankynde depryuyd fâ—o his blessyd ende he was soo tourmeÌ„ted wyth compassyon in hym self vnto the tyme that he myght restore by his passyon the dewe honour to god the fader in Tâ—inyte and endeles helthe to mankynde â–ª Also she sayde the affliction of his holy desyre was none lytyll payne But it was a grete payne And thefore it was that he sayde to hys dyscyples on schherthursday at the soper Desideâ—io desideraui manducare vobiscum hoc pascha ¶ That is I haue desyred wyth a grete desyre longe afore thys tyme to ete with you this paske and the cause was for he gaue theym in that soper an speciall ernest of helthe the whiche he wolde werke er thenne he purposed to ete wyth theym eftsones And therfore she alleggid for her the wordys of our sauyour where he sayth in another place Pater transfer calicem huÌ„c a me That is fader put awaye this passion fro me that I shall now drynke the whiche wordes she expownyd thus and sayde Perfyght folke sholde not vnderstonde thyse wordes as symple folke done that our sauyour asked of his fader to put awaye and remeue hye paynefull passioÌ„ But thus fro the begynnyng of his gloryous concepcton vnto that tyme of his deth he dranke euer of that paynfull passyon by the grete desyre that he had off mannys helthe And thenne the more he drawe nere to the deth â–ª the more gredyly he desyred that drynke â–ª he asked therfore that it shold soone be fulfylled the whiche he hadde soo longe tyme desyred for the helthe of mannys soule that the dryke the whiche he hadde drunke soo longe afore sholde thenne be ended â–ª And thus this was not for to
passage by prayers other holy exercyses in commēdyng of hyr sowle to god He came thre freres wyth hym mo to be present att the passyng of this holy mayde But whan she was passyd as it semed One of the freres took so grete sorowe therfore that by vyolence of hys wepyng a veyne of hys brest was all for brosyd where wyth he caught a coghe spatte gebettes of blood Thenne was that another sorowe to them that stode aboute for bothe they wepte for the holy mayde that was so passyd And also for hir brother the whiche was not shappely to lyue long after in that payne Thenne sayde frere Thomas hir fyrst confessour to that seek frere wyth grete feyth and trust Brother I wote well this holy mayde is in grete reputacyon afore god for hyr good lyuyng Therfore take hyr honde and putte in the same place of thy sekenes And I doubte not but that thou shalte be hole And anone forth wyth he dyd so and so he hadde helthe the whiche he tolde afterward to al that wolde here if Ther was also a ghoostly doughter of herys that was present thenne the whiche was called Alyxa passyd out of this worlde sone afterward Moother were that came Inne for to see whether she was passed or not and ther was none that coude suppose otherwyse There were also two other specyall wyttenessys that were aboute for to ordeyne for the body that it sholde be beryed And bothe were susters of penaunce of Saynt Domynyk that one was called Katheryne as she was the whiche was hyr felawe longe tyme afore And that other was hyr cosyn Lysa and thus I make an ende of thys chapytre ¶ Of somme myracles wrought gracyously by thys holy mayde aboute the helthe of sowles Capitulum vij YF I sholde reherce alle the myracles that our lord shewed by this holy mayde I myght rather make a grete book of them than for to comprehende hem in oo chapytre But by cause I wolde put awaye dulnesse of them that sholde rede or here this legende of this holy mayde I am aboute asmoche as I may vnder fewe wordes for to comprehende them in one chapytre that they myghte knowe vnder fewe wordes how grete they ben the whiche I passe ouer lyghtely therfore in as moche as the sowle passeth the body in worthynesse I shall begynne of tho myracles the whiche were shewed of our lord by hyr aboute mennys sowles and after that of the bodyes As touchyng for the fyrst whan that Jamys or Jacob the fader of this holy mayde perceyued that hys doughter Katheryne was alle gyuen to serue and to please our lord as it is rehersed in the fyrste partye of thys legende euer he loued tretyd hyr reuerētly and louyngly for bedyng all folk of hys housholde that none be soo hardy for to lette Katheryne hys doughter in ony maner wyse what that euer she wyll haue done Thys is a grete cause why that the doughter loued the fader And therfore she commended specyally hyr faders helthe oft tymes to oure lord And he had suche a truste in hys doughters prayers that he supposed well she myght haue of god what she wold for hys helthe Sone after the fader sykened laye doune in hys bedde all seek Whan this holy mayde hys doughter perceyued that anone she prayed to oure lorde hyr spouse for the helthe of hyr fader And it was answerd to hyr of our lorde that the ende of hys dayes of this worlde were come and that it were not spedefull for hym for to abyde lenger in this lyf Then ne she wente to hyr fader vysyted hym and examyned hym how he was dysposed in hys sowle and founde redy wylfully to passe out of this worlde hauyng no luste for to abyde lenger wherefor she thanked our lord hyghly But thenne she prayed our lord eftesones that syth it so is that he hadde gyuen hyr fader so grete grace for to passe out of this worlde wythout synne that he wolde wouchesauf to graunte hym also for to flee to heuen wythout payne of purgatory Of this she hadde an answere in this wyse that ryghtwysnesse must nedys be kepte and therfore it were no ryght but Impossyble a sowle to haue the clerenesse of endeles ioye wythout perfyte purgacyon a fore For all be it thy fader hath ben in hys dayes of good lyuyng among alle other wedded folke also do many good thynges that I am well pleased wyth and specyally as touchyng the Yet neuerthelesse it may not be sauyng my ryghtwysnesse But that hys sowle must be purged by the fyre for to brenne out the duste of erthely conuersacyon the whiche is hardened endured in his soule Thenne sayde this holy mayde to our lord thus My dere welbeloued lord what may I suffre that my fads sowle by whom I haue be so tenderly nourysshed haue had so many cōfortes in hys lyf that it be not tormented in suche paynes I praye the lord for the goodnesse that euer thou shewdest to mā kynde suffre not hys sowle to goo out of hys body vnto the tyme it be perfytly purged oo waye or other that it nede not in no wyse the payne of purgatory After suche wordes our lorde shewed hys mercy meruayllously as though he had obeyed to the voyce of hys mayden All be it that the bodely strengthes of hir fader Jamys beganne for to defaylle more more to the deth warde Yet hys soule passed neuer out of his body vnto the tyme that holy dysputacion betwene our lord alledgyng for hym ryghtwysnesse And the holy made axyng grace mercy ▪ And at the laste after long dysputacion the holy mayde sayd to our lord My welbeloued lord yf thys grace may in no wyse be goten or graunted without som maner of ryghtwysnesse suffre that ryghtwysnesse fall on me for I am redy to suffre al maner of peyne what euer thy goodnesse wyll ordeyne for delyueraūce of my fads sowle Thenne our lord graunted hyr grace sayd Loo doughter for the loue that thou hast to me I shall graunte the thyne axyng I shall delyuer thy faders soule fully out of payne But thou shal be suffre a payne for hym as long as thou lyuest the whiche I shall assygne the. This holy mayde thanked our lord and sayde Good blessyd lorde be it to me as thou haste ordeyned After that she wente to hyr fader as he laye a deieng she comforted hym meruayllously of hys endeles helthe that he was ryght ioyefull she went not from hym vnto the tyme he was passyd out of this worlde And whan the sowle was passyd out of the body anone forth wyth this holy mayde was payned wyth a sekenes in the syde the whiche is called Ilica passyo that neuer went from hir in to the tyme she passyd out of this worlde And ther was neuer tyme afterward but she had the payne as she sayde other bare recorde
ofte tymes to mayster Reymond But the vertue of hyr pacyence wythout ony comâ—yson passyd hyr sekenes as I shall declare by the helpe of god afterward in the last chapytre of the thrydde ê‘tye Whan hyr faders soule was delyuered out of the body this holy mayde smyled full manerly sayd now wold god I were as ye ben And all that tyme other wepte she shewed gladnesse of chere for she myght none other wyse do For she sawe hys blessyd sowle whan it passed out of the body how it was receyued in to endelesse blysse wythout ony taryeng of the whiche she was ryght gladde a lytell afore she had exê‘yence of the same ioye as it is rehersed in the chapytre afore this See ye not maydens how wysely the prouydence of our lord was wrought in this maydens fader Our lord myght yf he had wold haue purged his soule in many maner of wyses made hym able Inough to ioyes as he dyd to the thefe that hynge on hys ryght syde but he wold not wythout som payne that this mayde sholde suffre as she axed for hir encrece of hir more ioye the whiche payne was euer afterward swete to hyr as hyr semed not wythout cause for she wyst well that hir swetenesse shold euer encrece aftward hyr by grace in blysse by ioye and therfore she myght in no wyse calle the payne of Ilica passio but a swete peyne This holy mayde tolde puely to mayster Reymond that by long tyme aft hir fads deth his soule appyred oftymes to hir thaÌ„kyng hir for hir grace that he receyued by hir also tolde hir many puy thinges gaue hir warnyng of the assaillyng of hir enemy therto kepte hir from al ghostly euelys Ryght as I haue tolde you maydens of a myracle shewed to a ryghtwysmannys soule So shall I tell you now a myracle shewed to a synfull mannes sowle ¶ There was a man dwellyng in the cyte of Sene the whiche was called Andrewe a full ryche man of oute wordely thynges of the world but full poure off inwardly heuenly thynges he was a vitioê° maÌ„ for he neyther dred ne loued god But an hasarder and a cursed blasphemer or a swerer of god and of his sayntes wythin a while afterward that maÌ„ was take wyth a sykenes and lay done in his bedde soo seke that euery man and leche sayde he was deed That perceyued hys curat and come to hym for to comforte hym that he sholde beshryue and take penaunce and make his testameÌ„t as the maner was in the countre whan he hadde herdde how the preeste counseylled hym he despysed bothe hym and his couÌ„seyll his wyf consydered that hauynge zele and loue to his soule she wente after all maner relygyous folke both men and wymmen for to stere hym to god But yet for all her counseyll they myght not bowe hym to confession and contrycion of his synnes neyther wyth thretinge of endeles paynes ne wyth rewardes of endeles ioyes Thenne eftsones his curate came to hym dredyng lest he sholde haue deyed for defaulte of counseyll and sayde to hym as he sayd fyrste addynge therto many more holsom wordes Yet alwaye that wretched man dispised hym afterward as he dyde afore bothe hym his wordes ¶ At the last he fyll in despeyre and in to the synne of the hooly ghost â–ª and so he drewe faste to the deth This was afterward tolde to Frier thomas this holy maydes fyrst â–ª confessour And he wente to this holy mayde hous pursuyng for to constrayne her by al the vertu of obedyens and of charyte for to praye to our lorde that he wolde vochesaf to socour the wretched soule that it bee not dampned wythouten ende ¶ But whan he came to this holy maides hous he founde her rauysshyd fro her bodly wyttes and as longe as she was so occupyed he durste not occupye her ne durst not long abyde out of his hous by cause that myght drewe fast vpon hym wherfore he charged a felowe of here 's that was that tyme wyth her the whiche was called katheryn as she was for to charge that holy mayde in goddes behalue and his whan she were restorid agayn to her bodely wyttes that she wolde praye for suche a mannys sowle that lyeth in passyng she sayd she wolde so whan the holy mayde herde that she had soo greate compassyon of his soule that she prayed our lord â–ª anone deuoutly besechyng hym entyerly that the soule shold not perysshe whiche he boughte wyth his precious blode To whom our lord answerd sayde thus his wyckednes hathe asserued payne as an horrybly blasphemie For he hath not only blasphemid me and myn sayntes wyth his mouth But also he hath throwen a table in to the fyre for despyte of me in the whiche was paynted the ymage of myn passyon And the ymage of myn blessyd gloryous moder and of other sayntes And therfore it is worthy by ryghtwysnes that he brenne in endeles fyre ¶ Thenne she fyll downe prostrate with wepyng to the feet of our lorde and sayde lord yf thou wylt consydere narowe to the synnes of men who may escape endeles dampnacion wherfore comest thou downe to be born of a gloryous mayde for to suffer tourment of cruell deth only for to wayte after mennys synnes and to punysshe theym horrybly to endeles payne why tellest thou me this and the synnes of a lost man that barest vppon thyn sholders all maner of synnes whether I am come to the now for mercy or for ryghtwysnes haue myn lord blesfulle what thou saydest to me whan thou puttest me forthe for the helthe of many mennys sowles I haue none other refresshinge in this lyf But for to see myn neybours tourned to the And for the alone I suffer paciently thyn absence yf thou gyue me not this ioye what shall I than doo Good meke lord put me not awaye fro the yelde me myn brother graciously that is now obstynat in herte ¶ Thus she prayed contynuelly fro the begynnyng of the nyght vnto the graye mornynge all that tyme wepyng wythout ony slepe dysputyng wyth our lorde alwaye for the helpe of that sowle Oure lord aledgyng ryghtwysnes to gyue to hym vengeaunce for his synnes And the hooly mayde asking mercy at the last our lord of his endeles mercy gaue her an answere and sayde dere doughter I shall shewe hym myn grace for whom thou hast prayed to Andrewe and sayde Dere chylde whi wylt thou not beshreue of the tres pas that thou hast done to me loke thou beshryue for I am redy for to forgyue the thyn synnes Thenne was his harde herte souple by grace that he cryed wyth a grete voyce to his meyny aboute hym sayde sende for the preste for I wyll byshryue For my lord Jhesu crist hath warned me that I shold beshryuen ¶ Whan his meynye perceyued that anone they went for the preste the preste came and he was perfyghtly confessyd to hym and made his testament wyth
the feuer and the bocche wente away fro hym as though he hadde neuer hadde hem and thenne he roos vp wythout ony taryeng goodly soo that in hys rysyng he sayde smylyngly and ioyefully that the vertue of god restyd in that holy mayde ¶ Thenne the holy mayde wente awaye and fledde the preysyng of men But as she went out of the how 's the mette wyth mayster Reymond To whome mayster Reymond sayd full sorowfully ¶ Moder whether thou wylte suffre this man to dye that is so dere and profytable to vs. Alle be it that she wyst well ynough what she hadde to done yette she sayde to hym of mekenes suche wordes Fader what wordes be these whether ye wene I am god that may delyuer men fro deth ¶ Thenne sayde mayster Reymond to hyr ageyne wyth a grete spyryte for sorowe that he hadde of hys deth Saye this to whome that thou lust but to me tell no suche thynges that knoweth how our lorde dothe wyth the. I knowe well that what that euer thou axyste of god thou shalte haue ¶ Thenne this holy mayde bowed hyr hede to hym and smyled And at laste she loked vp wyth a gladde chere vpon hym and sayd Be of good chere fader for he shall not dye at thys tyme. ¶ Wyth that was Mayster Reymound gladde he knewe well that god hadde gyue hyr grete grace soo he departed from hyr and wente to syr Mathewe for to loke how he ferde Whome he founde syttyng in hys bedde and wyth gretr ioye rehersyng the myracle of the holy mayde ¶ To whome Mayster Reymound sayde in confortynge of hym that the holy mayde tolde hym Syr Mathew sayd thenne to mayster Reymond What trowe ye she hath do he sayd he wyst ne◠for she tolde him no worde therof Syr Mathew wyth that aroos vp out of his bedde sat doune by mayster Reymound and tolde hym all the hole gladly how the holy mayde was there and sayde to hym as it is rehersed afore Soone after syr Mathew ete and dranke none seke mannis mete but hole mānys mete and that was a grete merueyle he was mercy and gladde that vnne the he myght speke a worde that same daye in the morowe Of this myracle were wytnesse one Fryer Nychol that came wyth Mayster Reymound and other prestes and clerkes of the hous of our glorious Lady gloryous vyrgyn Mary xx or there aboute But now I praye you maydens taketh hede that infydelyte off curyous hertes dysceyue you not in this myracle Somme wyll saye to you perauenture that it is none greate merueyle though a man be helyd of suche a comyn sekenes as is the feueres and pestylence for all day suche a thynge happeth To whom it may be asked agayn what merueyle that was whan our lord heled petre his wyffes moder of the feuers al day it happeth that men ben delyuered of the feuers be it neuer soo greuous why is it than of petris wyffes moder rehersed for a myracles in the gospell But now taketh hede ye curyous vntrowyng hertes take hede whether it be not he the whiche heled this man Mathewe that heled petris wyffes moder In helyng of petre wyffes moder he commaūded that her feuers sholde goo fro her and soo it dyde anone wythout ony taryeng ▪ And she thenne arose vp and mynistred our lord at mete ¶ Ryght soo in this miracle it was the same lorde that spak in the holy maydes breste the whiche heled petrys wyffes moder and soo syr mathewe was bothe off the fruers and also of the pestylence What was the cause trowe you trewely for the mynystracion that he sholde shewe to our lorde in tyme comynge for wynnyng of soules soo thenne the entent folowyng is cause of the miracle that goth byfore therto he was made so perfyghtly hole that he ete forwyth hole mete and mennys mete as thought he hadde not be seke afore now I sythe I haue tolde you of the myracle done to the helthe off bodyes I shall telle you a nother by the helpe of god ¶ A lytyl beside the Cyte of Sene there was a deuoute woman that was one of the susters of penaunce of saint Domynyke the whiche herd and sawe moche off the vertuous lyuyng of this holy mayde she drewe moche to her afterward and was vnder the coūseyll of this holy mayde dyde her reuerence as to her moder After it befyll on a day that this deuout suster was on hye on a solier of her hous for certayn thynges that she hadde to do And sodenly the solyer fyll doune the woman vndernethe ▪ alle the raftre treys brosed so her that she was drawe out halfe ded or soone after to be deed At the laste by the helpe of god she was broughte to bedde and began to reuyue and felte that payne of her herte brosour complayned her sore wyth wepyng and weylyng Leches than were sought to do the besynes for to hele her ▪ but yet for all her lechecraf she myght not tourne her in her bede without helpe of other Whan the holy mayde katheryn herde therof she had compassion in herte of the suster and came to her and comforted her in penaunce and in her dysese But whan she perteyued that her dysese was soo passyng payne to her She touched the places of her body that were paynefull as though she wolde anoynted theym wyth her hondes Of the whiche touchyng the suster was well apayed supposyng faythfully by the mercy of god that it sholde bee to her grete ese She hadde not so soone touched her syde but that she was all hole as though she hadde felt afore none payne Thenne the seke suster prayed her that ▪ she wolde touche the oder syde as she dyde the syde by cause the holy mayde thenne supposed that it was ese to her She dyde soo as she badde her in the same wyse her dysese went a waye in that place after her touchyng as it was in the other syde soo thenne at the laste the holy mayde touchyd ouer all her body there she felte dysese and all dysese was clene a voyded At the laste whan she was alle hole she tourned her aboute by her self wythouten ony helpe that all myght see verely by her tokens that she was fully hole Neuertheles yet she helde her peas tyll tfe hooly mayde was a goo leste she sholde haue troubled her mekenes yf she hadde tolde it her ī presence but afterward she told it bothe to leches to neyghbours and sayde thus katheryne the doughter of Lapa hath heled me by her touchyng All they hadde me rueyle therof and thanked god that hadde gyue suche gracious vertues to the holy mayde katheryne For they wyste ryght well that the holynes might not come but of god therfore they thanked hym This myracle Mayster Reymound knewe by tellyng of other But now I shall tell you of anther that mayster Reymound him self knewe and sawe it ¶ In that tyme whan the
angmented so myghtly in the brest of this holy mayde that not onely it was shewed to seek bodyes as it is reherced afore but also it was shewed in voydyng of wycked spyrytes as it shall be declared in this chapytre by the helpe of god Ther was in the Cyte of Sene a man the whiche was called mychael that vsed the craft of wrytyng whan he was passed in yeres of age by consent of hys wyf he was in purpose to leue the worlde serue our lord more specyally thenne he was wonte And also for to make two doughters of hys mynchyns in a monasterye in the same Cyte of Sene endowed in worshyp of saynt Johan the Enange lyst so hys lyst was fulfylled And at the last by a pryue dome of god one of his doughts the whiche was made a myn then that was called Laurencyana of vill yere of age or there aboute was vexed with a fende so that all the monasterye was vnquyeted by hyr vexacyon And at the last by comyn assent they sent after hyr fader delyuered ageyne hys doughter for they wold nomore haue hyr in the monasterye as long as she was so vexed Whan she was take out of the monasterye the fende spak wythin hir by the childys mouth many wondre thynges all in latyn wordes so many herde questyōs ther to pupplysshed many pryue synnes in sclaunder of many folke by the whiche it myght well be vnderstond that he was no good spyryte Of this vexacyon hyr fader moder and other of hir frendes were ryght sory wente aboute to dyuerse relyques of sentes for to seke helpe grace that her doughter myght be delyuerd of that spiryte And specyally they trusted gretely in the relyques of saynt Ambrose the whiche was a frere prechour to whome our lord graunted a synguler gyfte to put awaye wycked spyrytes soo that hys cope yf it had be layde vpon ony creature that had be vexed wyth a wicked spiryte it sholde be auoyded where fore the same chylde was brought to the frere prechours leyde vpon a tombe of saint ambrose hys clothes were leyde to the childe and the fader the mod prayed in the mene whyl the helpe ef god of the sente that the chylde myght be socourre But yet for that tyme were they not herde Not for no synne that euer they dyd But I trowe be cause that the syguler remedyes was reserued to this holy mayde Thenne was it counseylled to the fad mod for to presente hyr doughter to Pratheryne the holy mayde they sent to the holy mayde prayenge hyr that she wolde helpe they re doughter And she sent ageyn answer sayd that often tymes defayled departed a sonder and my soule was vtterly delyuered out of the body Neuerthelesse it was but a lytell tyme that was my sorowe Then ne eftesones mayster Reymond axed hir how long tyme hyr sowle was out of the body She sayd as they that kepte hyr were aboute to haue beryed hyr foure houres or thēne she reuyued ageyn Yet he axed hyr what she sawe for that tyme why came the soule ageyne to the body she answerd thus Fader that tyme my sowle sawe vnderstode ioye of blessyd sowles and peynes of synners And as myn mynde wold suffre me wordes wolde suffyce to expresse them I shall tell you My sowle sawe the diuyne essen cyall beyng of god and that is the cause why I am soo lothe vnpacyent to lyue in this worlde and had not be the loue of hym the loue of crysten people for whiche my sowle was restoryd to the body ageyne I sholde had defaylled dyed for sorowe The hyghest comfort that I haue is whan I suffre ony dysease for that I haue the perfyte vysyon of god therfore trybulacyons ben not heuysom to me but comfortable as ye may knowe other that ben conuersaunt wyth me I sawe also the peynes of dampned sowles and peynes of sowles that ben in purgatory the whiche I can not expresse perfytely wyth no maner of wordes For yf wretched synners sawe the leste peyne that is there they had leuer chese bodely deth an hondred tymes yf it were possyble thēne for to suffre o daye the leste peyne that is there But specially I sawe hem ponysshed syngulerly that had synned in matrymony the whiche hadde not kepte hem to gyder honestly as they sholde do but folowed the dylectacions of theyr lustys Of this mayster Reymond hir confessour axed hyr why that synne in specyall was more greuously punysshed thenne o ther synnes syth it so is that it is not the most greuous synne She sayd for this skylle For they had not soo grete conscyence of that synne ne so grete contrycyon as they had of other synnes but rather they offended in that synne thenne in ony other That synne the whiche a synner chargeth not for to remoue by penaūce is a grete synne be it neuer soo lytell Thenne this holy mayde proceded forthe in hyr mater sayd thus also Fader whāne I had seen all thyse ioyes and thes peynes wenyng my self that I hadde fully be delyuered out of this body Oure lorde sayde to me seest thou not doughter what ioye they lacke and what peyne they haue that offenden me Torne ageyn therfore to thy body tell to the peple theyr errour and theyr peryll And wyth that worde I was astonyed for to torne ageyne to the body and sore aferde Thenne our ford sayd to me it is profyte to mennys soules that thou torne ageyne and thou shalte not lyue the lyfe that thou hast lyued a fore ne kepe the so lytarie allone in chambre but thou shalte goo a brode to wynne sowles I shall euer be wyth the and goo wyth the bothe goyng and comyng Thou shalte bere the worshyp of my name and of ghoostly doctryne afore grete and smale laye people and clerkys and a fore Relygyous folk also I shall gyue the bothe mouth and wytte for to speke that none may wythstande the. I shall also bryng the afore bysshoppys and curates of sowles for to confounde there pryde Whyles our lorde spak thyse wordes sodeynly my soule was restored ageyne to my body And whanne I perceyued that I hadde grete sowwe that I wepte thre dayes ende of this chapite It nedeth not for to reherce the wytnesses of euery acte that was done in this chapytre for it is made mencion of forthwyth at euery acte ī the same chapytre ¶ Of myracles whiche our lord wrought by this holy mayde in breed wyne herbes ▪ and other thinges that had none lyff Capitulum xj BY cause at the begynnyng whā Adam was made our lord ordeyned a rewle to all tho that obeye◠to hym perfyghtly that all thynges sholde obeye to them Therfor maydens in this nexte chapytre I shall telle you how to this holy mayde obeyden alle creatures by cause she obeyed perfyghtly to god In the tyme
vnnethe seâ—ue foure to theyr mete and ther were in nombre of persones xvj Thenne Johan wente to this holy mayde knowleched hyr neglygence all sory shamefast seyeng that ther was no brede but a lytell that vnnethes wolde suffyse to foure eche of them to resteyne a lytell To whome this holy mayde sayd A suster god for gyue it you why haue ye so neglygently brought vs to this last nede myght ye not haue warned me as I bad you well we ll byd goddes seruauÌ„tes go sytte doun Thenne sayde the mynyster that ther was but a lytell brede yet byd them sytte doun sayd this holy mayde to hir and serue them wyth that lytell and bydde them begynne wyth that lytell tyll that god ordeyne more After thyse wordes the holy mayde prayed whyle they etâ— Johan fulfylled hir byddyng deuyded to euery man a lytell and they as hongry folke gredy by long fastyng ete fast wenyng that they sholde nomore mete haue And also the suposed that that lytell brede sholde soone be do But alwaye they hadde ete ynough and yet the brede myght not defaylled And thenne they axed what the holy mayde dyd it was tolde that she prayed Thenne they sayd all by vertue of hyr prayer our lorde fedde them as he fedde fyue thousand men wyth fyue louys and so they thanked god Whan they hadde all ete yet ther was suche plente lefte that poure folke had ynough ¶ Now yette shall I tell you of another myracle that mayster Reymond bereth recorde of the whyche was done after tyme that this holy mayde was passed out of this worlde in to the blysse of heuen In a tyme hit happed mayster Reymond by counseyll of the Pryour of the freres and the couent wolde doo somme solempne reuerence to the hede of Saynt Katheryne this blyssed virgyne after tyme that it was translated out of the Cyte of Rome to the freres that dwelled at Sene. He sette a daye and bad to mete all hyr ghostely chyldren that she had nourysshed in vertue In the whyche day the freres were fully auysed to gyue hyr a solempne reuerence and also to fede that day all hyr ghoostly chyldren Whan the day was comen and the solenpne was done The frere that kepte the botrye of the couent loked what brede he hadde for the Couent and for the gestys and he founde scarsely ynough for half the Couent And thenne were there in Couent fyfty or there aboute and of gestys twenty whan the Pryour herde here of he was sory Neuerthelesse yet he serued the gestyn fyrst wyth that lytell and thenne the Couent wyth a lytell quantyte among them all and yet belefte ynough Soo thenne eueryche of the Couent and of the gestys hadde plenteuously ynough of that vnnethe as them semed that lytell nombre of louys myght hadde suffysed fyfe a fore Whan they had all eten the Pryour and the Couent came thyder ther mayster Reymond satte wyth the ghoostly chyldren of that holy mayde Saynt Katheryne and rehersed a fore them all that myracle Thenne sayde mayster Reymond these wordes Loo frendes this holy mayde Saynt Katheryne in the day of hyr solempnyte wyll not leue vs wythout somme myracle wyth whome she was so famylyer whyles she lyued in erthe Ofte tymes whan she was wyth vs lyuyng in this lyf she shewed this myracle among vs And therfore for to shewe vs that she now accepteth oure obseruaunce this daye done to goddes worshyp and to herys she hadde shewed the same myracle eftesonys after hyr passyng wherfore yelde we thankyng te almyghty god Yet furthermore our lord shewed meruayllous thynges by his spouse Katheryn in vnlyfely thynges as in floures where in she hadde ofte tymes grete delyte by cause she florysshed in vertue hyr self And in other vesselles of houshold that were lost destruyed and of thoo meruayllous thynges I shall tell you ¶ Thys holy mayde was somme tyme in the Cyte of pyse herborowed in a worthy mannes how 's of the same Cyte the whiche man loued well this holy mayde After tyme she was ther a whyle she was gretely feblyd in body by ofte excesse of spyryt in rauyshyng so that as it semed mayster Reymond and other moo that sawe hyr She was brought nye to the deth wherfore mayster Reymond was fore aferde lest she sholde haue dyed he bethought hym what remedye he myght ordeyne for to restore hyr to lenger lyf and he wyst neuer what he myght ordeyne for hyr as for egges and wyne and also other letuaryes he knewe welle that she myght not ete Thenne he came to hyr and prayed hyr that she wolde receyue a lytell suker in hyr water that she drynketh to whome she answerd thus Fader I see well that ye wyll take awaye fro me that lytell lyf the whiche is left in me by suche swete drynkes for I doo you well to wete that all swete thingiâ— to me dedly Thenne mayster Reymond and the souerenys of the how 's bethought hem to gydres what remedye they myght ordeyne ageynst hir feblynes At the last it came to mayster Reymond mynde that he hadde see that ofte tymes feble folke hadde be wesshen somme tyme wyth vernage aboute the temples in the pouses of the body and so were restored of strengthe and gretly comforted Thenne mayster Reymond sayde to the souereyne of the hous thus Syr sethe it is soo that we may not putte noo comfortable remedye wythin hyr body lete vs â–ª vse somme remedye wythout on hyr body Thenne sayde the souerayne of the how 's that he had a lytell besyde hys how 's a neyghboure that hadde a vessell of vernage to whome he sayde he wolde sende to for to haue a botell full therof for he knewe well that he sholde haue it full gladly A messenger was sent to hym and tolde him how this holy mayde was feble wherfore he praied in his maystrys behalf that he wold wouchesauf to sende hyr a botell of vernage To whome the neyghboure answerd thus that he wolde sende hym all redy but certeyn he sayde hys vessell was emptyd and therfore he prayed hym to holde hym excused for I wote well in all my how 's is no drope of wyne and that I am ryght sory fore Neuerthelesse to be seker come and see and thenne bere wytnesse of the trouth to my frende as thou seest Thenne forthwyth he took the messenger wyth him all ageynst the messengers wyll and brought hym to hys wyne seler and shewed hym that same vessell of vernage the whiche vessell semed by outwarde tokenys that it was voyde many day afore yet neuerthelesse the good man dyd more for to see the trouthe that it was voyde he drewe out the spygot that was in the vessell and drewe it out in hys presence that he sholde see that there was noo wyne Inne As soone as he hadde done soo the vernage came out and ranne vpon the grounde plentuously he was sore astonyed and stopped the vessell ageyne and
he fele hys reuerence euer hole and neuer lessened but 〈…〉 encrecyd wyth deuocyon as oâ—… euer he receyueth it Thenne he may sekerly receyue it For truely wythout ony doubte suche a sowle well dyspesed wynneth moche mede in the receyuyng of that blyssed sacramente Thys holsom doctryne of this deuoute and holy doctoure Saynt Thomas kepte this holy mayde Katheryne For ofte tyme she receyued that blyssed sacramente And somme tyme she absteyned hyr ther fro All be it that she hadde euer desyre to be knytte to hyr spouse by medytacyon of the blyssed sacrament for the brennyng charyte where by she was drawe to hym in so moche other whyle she desyred to be houseled That but she hadde receyued that day whan she desyred that blyssed sacrament she shold haue a passion of syknes in hir body as though she hadde be vexyd long tyme afore wyth a contynuell sekenes of feuer and all that sykenes of the body came fro the passyon of the soule Many tymes she was thus vexed whanne she was letted from houselyng other whyle by the Pryoure of the freres and other whyle by the Pryoresse of theyr ordre of hir susters Neuertheles by cause she sholde not be lette our holy fader the pope Gregorye the xj for hyr more comforte graunted hyr by bull that what preest hâ—rde hyr confessyon myght housell hir in what place that he wolde say masse wythoute ony leue of ony souereyne ¶ Of one meruayllous thyng now shall I tell you that befyll to mayster Reymond this holy maydes confessour In a tyme whan mayster Reymond came from Auyon to the Cyte of Sene and thoughte to loke how this holy mayde ferde he entred in to hyr hous aboute none dayes and founde hyr in hir oratorye And this was on Saynt Markys day the Euangelyst as soone as she sawe hym she rose ageynst hym and sayd to hym these wordes O wolde god fadre ye wyst how hongry my soule is â–ª Thenne mayster Reymond answerd hyr for he wyst well ynough what she mente And sayde moder it is now all most paste tyme of syngyng and I am soo wery that vnnethe I may dyspose me to syng Wyth that she helde hyr pees a lytell whyle And soone after she brack out ageyne the same wordes and sayd she was sore an hongred Thenne mayster Reymond wente to masse in hyr owne chapell that she hadde by lycence of the pope and sayd masse of Saynt Marke And whan he hadde vsed he torned for to gyue this mayde generall absolucyon as the maner of holy chirche axeth He sawe hyr face lyke the face of an angell sendyng out bemys of bryghtnesse in soo moche that he meruaylled and sayd in hym self to ouâ—e lord thus Thys is not Katheryns face But certeyne lorde this is thy dere spouse wyth that he torned hym to the aulter and sayde thys wordes to oure lorde in hys soule Come lorde to thy spouse anone as he had sayd that in hys thought sodeynly wyth the same thought the oste rose vp hym self and came to hys hondes ¶ Another meruayllous thynge of this blyssed sacramente I shall tell you that befyll to the same mayster Reymond He was in a tyme in the Cyte of Sene for certeyne thynges that he hadde to done and as soone as he hadde done he wente for to speke wyth this holy mayde and founde hyr syke of a sykenes in hyr syde the whiche was callyd Ilica passio and of other gretâ— infyrmytees of hyr body de syryng that same day to be houseled yf hyr sykenes hadde be cessyd And after tyme mayster Reymond hadde commyned wyth hyr of the grete excellence of the blyssed sacramentâ— of the aulter he went home to hys Couent for to say masse And as he made hym redy to masseward this holy mayde sente to hym by a felawe of here 's and prayed him to abyde a whyle for she wolde be houseled that day whan hyr sykenesse were passyd awaye from hyr He dyd so and abode hyr leysyr tyll it was aboute none tyme this holy mayde was esyd and came to chirche for to be houselyd But hyr felawes consydered that the tyme was late for to be houseled thenne by cause she hadde it in custome for to abyde afterward thre houres or foure to gyders in rauysshynge or more So that the chirche dores most all that tyme stooden open of the whiche custome many of the freres grutcheden therfore they counseylled hyr not for to be houseled for grutchyng of somme of the freres To the whiche counseyll this holy mayde mekely and obedyently concâ—tyd But for hyr grete desyre that she had to that blyssed sacramente and myghte not receyue it she prayed oure lorde deuoutely in the ferrest place of the chirche vnknowyng to mayster Reymond that she was come and there she prayed in this wyse Lorde Thesu endeles mercy as thou hast gyue me gracyously this desyre Soo I beseche the perfouâ—me it by thyself syth I may not perfourme my desyre by noo preest Thenne almyghty god that neuer despyseth the desyre of his seruauntes herde hys spouse Katheryne not onely mercyably But also meruayllously as I shall tell you Whan she hadde comforte of oure forde she sente to mayster Reymond by one of hyr susters and prayed hym to goo to masse whan it lyked hym for she myght nott be houselyd that day Thenne he wente to masse supposyng that she hadde be at home at hyr how 's and not in the chyrche And whan he hadde sacred and wolde make the fraccyon a fore Agnus dei in thre partys as holy chyrche hath ordeyned Meruayllously as he wende to haue made iij partycles he founde foure partycles And that fourthe partycle skypped aboue the Chaleys and come doune be it self and layde it self vpon the corporas as it semed to mayster Reymond But he coude neuer fynde it afterward For many tymes he sought ther after bothe that same tyme and also whanne masse was doune wherfore he made grete sorowe in hys hertâ— Whanne he had de soo dylygentâ—ly sought it ouer alle aboute the aulter besyde the aulter and vpon the grounde At the last he bethought hym to aske counseyll of the pryour of the place herof the whiche pryour loued and dred our lorde god right moche couering in the mene tyme the aulter that none body shold come there vnto the tyme he sholde come agayn But sodenly as he was goyng to the pryour come to hym a speciall frende of his a pryour of the chaterhous preyng hym he myght speke wyth this holy mayde katheryne for certayne maters Thenne Mayster ReymouÌ„d prayed hym for to abyde a lityll tyme tyll he hadde spoke wyth the pryour of his couent And he wolde come anone agayn He sayde he myght not tary by cause it was a solempne daye amonges theym and nedes he must be at home at the mete and therto he hadde a myle home wherfore he prayed hym for goddes loue to tary hym not for his conscience constreyned hym to
speke wyth this hooly mayde katheryne Thenne of charyte he lefte his owne nede and wyth his speciall frende to thys holy mayde katheryns hous wenyng that he sholde haue fouÌ„de her there but her felawes answerd hym that longe a go she went to chirche and come not home yet ¶ Whan mayster Reymond herde thys he was admerueylyd and came agayn to chyrche wyth his frende and fouÌ„de her there in a corner of the chirche knelyng rauysshed as she was wount to be and somme of her felawes wyth her Off whom he asked how longe that holi mayde katheryne hadde be there they saide alle this masse tyme and more that he prayed theym for to excite her assone as they myght for hys frendes is come for to speke wyth her And he myght not tarye Whan she was cesyd of her rauysshyng mayster Reymound toke her asyde and tolde her of his dysese vnder fewe wordes by cause the other man his frende sholde not be lette Anone she smylyd vppon mayster Reymound and askyng hym thus gladly Fader sought ye not all aboute he sayde yes Thenne she sayde why haue ye soo grete sow we therfore And wyth that she smiled â—ft â—â—is went soo forth for to speke wyth the pryour off the charterhous In the mene tyme mayster Reymound abode somwhat I comforted but not fully vnto the tyme he wyst how it myght be soo awaye Whan she hadde full doo wyth the Pryour of the Charterhous and delyuerd hi of an answer that he came for She tourned her to mayster ReymouÌ„de agayne Thenne Mayster Reymound sayd to her thus Moder I too we it be ye that hath awaye that partycule of the holy hoste she wyth smyling saide nay but it was another that toke it awaye from you therfore be ye nomore sory therfore ne for it ne seke nomore for it for I telle you ye shall neuer fynde it Thenne Mayster Reymond prayed her that she wolde tell hym al hole how it myght be To whom she sayde thus Fader take nomore sorowe for that partycle for yf I shall sholde saye the soth to you as to myn confessour myn ghostely fader that partycule was brought to me I receyued it by the reuerend hondes of our reuerend lord almyhty god swete gloryous Jhesu cryst And I shal tell you the cause why This daye I was in purpos wyth a grete desyre for to be houseled but myn felawes gaue me counseyll for to cese that I shold not be hoseled in as moche as somÌ„e grutched wyth all After whos counseyll I wrought was purpos for to cese but myn desyre was so grete therto that I prayed our lord almighty god of helpe he in his own reuereÌ„d ê‘sone aperit to me gaue me that partycle wyth his â–ª owne reuerend hondes And therfore fader bee not sory there is none necligence in you as for that pertycule After this reuelacion Mayster Reymound was ryght ioyefull by cause the thaghte of his concience was put awaye from hym Suche myrâ—câ—e our reuerend lord almyghty god shewed in the reuerend holy sacrament of the auâ—ter by the merytes of his honde mayde holy katheryne of Sene Also there were many other feythfull folke and trewe that sayde â–ª thei â—awe ofte tymes whaÌ„ Mayster Reymoâ—de houselyd this hooly mayde katheryâ—e of Sene the swete holi ghooste flede out of his hondes in to her mouth the whiche Mayster Reymound perceyued neuer saue this he perceyued that The swete reuerende hoste made anoyse in her mouth whan she had receyued it aâ— though a stone hadde bee caste in her mouth from a ferre contree ¶ Now thus shall I make an ende off the grete merneylousnes of that reuerende swete holy sacramente of the aulter telle you of dyuerse myracles that befylle to this holy mayde saynt katheryne of sene aboute certayn relykes of sayntes ¶ This holy mayde katheryne of Sene hadde onys a reuelacion as she tolde pryuely to Mayster Reymound her confessour that she sholde be sette in the same degre of ioye in the blysse of heuen And be felawe wyth saint Agnes the whiche was a suster of the mount of Pollycita Wherfore this holy mayde katteryn of sene desyred ofte tymes wyth alle her herte for to bysyte the relykes of saint Agnes ¶ But now ye maydens by cause ye shall knowe how bertuous a lyuer that saint Agnes was whan she was here in erthe I shall tell you shortely vnder fewe wordes This holy mayde Saynt Agnes suster of the mount of pollyâ—yta the same tyme that she sholde be borne off her moder there was in the chambre there her moder chylded a greate merneylous lyght that all th o the whiche were in the same chambre myght clerly see it And whan she was born it cesyd By this ye may knowe of what merite she shold be in the syght of our reuerende lord almighty god afterward that soo soone in the begynnyng receyued the merueylous light of our reuerend lord almyghty god After tyme she was born she encresyd vertuously more and more in al tyme of the yeres and at the laste she made two monasteryes of maydens and lyeth beryeâ—… in the toun in the whiche is shewed by our reuerend lorde almyghty god in her coÌ„tinuelly many wouÌ„derful miracles And amonge all other myracles whaÌ„ she was passid out of this worlde her body was not buryed but lefte vpon erthe all hooll wythout ony corrupâ—ion Wherfore other deuout folke that knewe her by her lyâ—â—e consyderyng how many merneylous thynges oure reuerend lorde almyghty god shewed in her wold haue bawmed her swete body that it myght so be kâ—pte vpon the erthe wyth miracles whan thei cam to bawme it they sawe how there came out of the toes of the feet and of the fyngers of the hondes droppes of bawme the whiche bawme is kepte yet in to this daye for a relyke amonges the susters of the same place This myracle was shewed for this cause that alle folke sholde knowe that she hadde none nede for to be bawmed outward whan oure reuerend lorde almyghty god hadde bawmed her wythin forth Ferthermore the same hour that she passed out of this worlde in the tyme of the nyghte infantes both mayde chyldren and other as they laye in her moders beddes cryeden and sayeden that now suster agnes is passeth out of this world and is a saint inâ—heuen On the morowe thyse in fantes drewe theym togyder in a companye and wolde suffer none corrupte child come amonges theym and wente eche of theym as in proâ—â—ssyon wyth candeles in her handes to this monastery wher suâ—ter Agnes passed out of this world ofofferyng to that mayde maydenes oblacion Many moo myracles our reuerend lord almyghty god shewed by that holy Mayde saint Agnes in the syght of alle peple wherfore she is had euery yere in grete reuerence wyth deuoute oblacion of many brennyng tapres for to see that holy maydes body this holy mayde katheryne
in makyng of hyr Legende his felawe also Stephen pryour of the Charterhous These men these wymmen enfourmed mayster Reymond whan he came home of the thynges whyche was done in hys absence as well of tho thynges that she dyd or that she paste as of tho thynges that she shewed dyd in hyr passyng and thus endeth this chapytre ¶ Of meruayllous thynges whyche befyll a yere half to fore the deth of this holy mayden of the martyrdom that she suffred bodely of wycked fendes where of atlast she hadde hyr bodely deth Capitulum secundum AFter tyme the mayster Reymond wente fro this holy mayde as it is rehersed afore by the byddyng of our holy fader the Pope she belefte in the Cyte of Rome and what that our Lorde dede for hyr or that she deyed shewed to other how holy of lyuyng she was and also what ioye he gaue hyr or she passyd out of this worlde I shall tell you ¶ Leue it well maydens whan this holy mayde perceyued that so moche dysease encrecyd in holy chyrche by the scysme that was begonne and perceyuyng also that Crystys vycarye suffred grete dysease she wept day and nyght and prayed to our lord for the pees that he wold wouchesauf to set pees in holy chyrche Thenne our lord comforted hyr in som maner of wyse for the yere afore and an half or she dyed oure lorde gaue double vyctorye to holy chyrche and to Crystys vycarye the pope as well of the castell of Saynt Angell that was in the Cyte of Rome the whiche was in scysmatykes hondes in to that daye as of the people that helde the castell in the name of scysmatykes that were the same daye take and the castell yolde After that our holy fader the pope that myght not dwelle in Rome as he was wonte by cause of the enemyes that were in the Castell of Saynt Aungell knowe this he cam to this holy mayde axed hir counseyll what he sholde do Thenne she gaue hym counseyll that he shold go bar-foot all the people of Rome wyth hym to the mynster of Saynt Peter thankynge our lord god wyth good deuocyon of that grace and of that benefetys the whiche he had do for them Thus holy chyrche beganne to quyken and the holy mayde hadde therof grete comfort But soone after hir sorowe began to encrece eftsonis for that the fende myght not do by strayn gers he assayed for to do by them that were of the Cyte of Rome He made a dysoorde bytwene the people of the Cyte the pope That perceyued this holy mayde she prayed to our lord that he wolde wouchesauf put to hys mercyable honde and suffre not that cursyd synne be done And as she prayed she sawe the Cyte full of fendes styryng and excytyng the people to kylle theyr ghoostly fader and cryed horrybly to this holy mayde all the whyle she prayed seynge to hyr thus Thou cursed wretche thou arte aboute for to lette vs therfore we shall slee the wyth an horryble deth To whome she answerd no worde but prayed more besyly and more feruently axyng of our lord that he wold wouches auf for the worshyp of hys holy name and for remedye of all holy chyrche that thenne stood in grete meshyef kepe hyr hys vycarye wythout harme and not for to suffre the peple do suche a synne and so to put awaye the fendes fro theyr purpose the whiche steryng the people ther to She hadde an answere of our lord and it was this Doughter suffâ—e this peple that euery day blasteme myn holy name for to falle in to this synne that I myght soo dystruye them for theyr cursed wretchydnesse for my ryghtwysnes axyth that I shold no more suffâ—e theyr wyckydnes Thenne she prayed more feruently wyth suche wordes and sayde Mekest and myldest lord thou knowest well how thy spouse holy chyrche is dyseased tormented almost thorugh out all the world and that is routhe Thou knowest well also how sewe helpers and defenders she hath and therfore now yf they slee thy vy carye as they ben in purpose hit shall not onely be greuous to this people of Rome but to all Crysten people Thempre therfore good blyssed lorde thy ryghtwyse honde and dyspyse not thy people that thou haste bought soo deâ— wyth thy precyous blood but torne thy mercyable honde cesse this myshyef In this prayer she contynued many dayes to gyder as she wrote to mayster Reymond by a letter euer our lord alledgyng his ryghtwysnes and she axyng his mercy and in all that tyme the fendes cryed hoâ—â—ybly vpon hir as it is rehersed afore so that she was feble for afflyccyon that but yf our lord had kepte hyr strengthe hyr herâ—e shold to borste at last she sayd to our lord these wordes Lorde syth it â—â— so that this mercy may not be graunted wythout ryghtwysnes I beseche the despyse not my prayers but what maner of payne these people sholde haue put it on my body and I shall glad dely â—eceyue it for the worshyp of thy name and for the sauacyon of holy chyrche Thenne our lord alledged nomore hys ryghtwysnes but helde hys pees gaue hyr the vyctorye and fro that houre forthward the grutchyng cessyd of the peoplâ— by lyâ—â—ll and lytell but hyr passyons encreced so ferforth that serpentes of hell had power of god and tâ—rmented hyr body cruely that it were vncredyble a man for to byleue it but yf he hadde seen it as they sayden that sawe it and were ther pâ—esente whanne hyr body auâ—tyshed all be it that they sawe not the serpentes They fretted and deuoured so that maydens body that therin be lefte but bones without skynne as though it had ben consumed and wasted by long lyeng in the erthe and yet neuertheâ—â—â— she walked prayde as she was wonte the whiche was to many folke a wonder thyng for she semed rather a wonder thyng to loke vpon then ne a naturell thyng Hyr tormentes of payne encreced contynually by the whyche she was consumed and yet she cessyd not from prayer but she prayed â—ore feruently and more lenâ—er thenne she was wonte Hyr ghoostly chyldren whom she hadde nourysshed in vertue were that same tyme and they sawe openly the markes of the strokes that the â—endes of helle gaue hyr in hyr bodye and they myght do therto no remedy for two skylles One was for they wyste well hit was the wyll of god whome they myght not wythstonde Another cause was for they sawe hyr gladde and ioyfull in hyr paynes and the more that she prayed the more was hyr bodely payne But yet wolde she not cesse therfore and the tormentours of helle faylled not but that they cryed vpon hyr alle that tyme and sayde to hyr thus Cursed wrâ—tche thou hast euer be ageynst vs and therfore thy tyme is come we for to be auenged vpon the. Thou haste putte vs oftâ— tymes from our praye and therfore we
shall neuer cesse vnto the tyme thou arte oute of thys â—yf Thys she sente by letter to mayster Reymond and soo she contynued in that payne from the sondaye of septuagesme vnto the last daye of Apryll saue one day the whiche day she passed out of this world In the whiche tyme a meruaylloê° thyng happed hyr as she sayd wrote to mayster Reymond Cuery daye it befyll hyr of custome that she hadde the passyon on the syde that is callyd â—lyca passio and other moo vnto none tyme wherfore ofte tymes she desyred heryng of hyr masse and therfore euery daye by the morowe or thenne that the payne came vpon hyr she wente to Saynt Peters chyrche thorugh oute alle the lenten And soo herde hyr masse and abode there tyll euensong and thenne came home ageyne and laye hyr doune in hyr bedde In the whiche bedde whos hadde seen hyr he wolde haue sworne that she myghte neuer remeue hyr thens Yet on the nextâ— moâ—we she wse vp and wente eftsonys fâ—â— a place that is called via pape in to Saynt Peters chirche soo fast that hyr Journey sholde haue made an hole man wery Thys she contynued all the lenten and wythin a fewe dayes after she laye styll in hyr beddâ— and myght not remeue hyr thens for feblenes And at last oure lorde called hyr and she passyd out of thys worlde ¶ In the same daye that is rehersed afore aboute none dayes that is the nyne and twenty daye of Apryll the whiche was vpon a sondaye The yere of our lord a thousand thre hondred and foure sâ—ore In the whyche daye the feste of Saynt Peter the martyr of the ordre of the frece prechours was and is solempnysed in holy chyrche ¶ Many notable thynges were wroughte thenne in hyr passyng the whyche I lefte of in this chapytre for they shall be declared openly ynough by the helpe of god in the next chapytre thus endeth this chapytre ¶ How this mayde desyred for to be vnbounde fro the body and be wyth Cryste and that is prouyd by a deuote prayer that she made and is putte in the ende of another book whiche she mayde and what is in that book generally and shortâ—ly is wryten in this book wyth the same oryson Capitulum â—ij WHanne the ende of the bodely lyf of this blyssed mayde Katheryn drewe faste vpon hyr oure lorde shewed a ioye to hyr in hyr passyng by dyuers tokens by the whiche ioyâ— and glorye he purposed to rewarde hys spouse after hyr labour and sykenes in heueâ— answeryng to the gyftes of grace that she receyued in erthe Among all other tokens by the whiche he shewed the perfeccyon of hyr â—owlâ— to all thoo that wolde consydere it was this That he quyâ— kened hyr desyrâ— euery daye more and more for to desyre to beâ—â— vnbounde from the body and be wyth Cryst And for this skylle it was that she myght clerely and openly beholde in blysse â–ª That tâ—â—uthe the whiche she sawe in this lyfe by a myrour of feyth The whiche desyre soo moche the more it encrecyth in hyâ— herte in as moche as the lyght aboue kynde shyned in hyr herde from heuen And therfore aboute a yere and a halfe afore or thenne she passyd out of this worlde Oure lorde shewed to hyr suche a cleâ—e knowyng of tâ—â—uthe that she was constreyned to shewe it openly oute by wrytyng That was the cause why she prayed wryters as it is rehersed afore that whan they sawe hyr in rauysshyng they sholde be â—â—dy to wryte that the whiche she sholde speke by the mouthe for that tyme and soo in a lytell tyme she compyled a book that conteyneth a maner of a dyaloge bytwene a soule axynge of oure lorde foure petycyons And oure lorde Ihesu Cryst answeryng to the same soule and enformyng it of many profytable trouthys In the last ende of whiche book two thynges ben sette that me semeth is nedefull for to reherse here as well for the grete profyte that rederys sholde fynde therin as for to declare this blyssed maydens desyre that she hadde soo perfytâ—ly in hyr soule ¶ Neuerthelesse by cause noo body sholde mysdeme me wenyng that I wolde translate it other wyse thenne she sayd in hyr owne language therfore I purpose to translate it none other wyse thenne she sayde it worde by worde Tho two thynges by these Fyrst the recapytulacyon of the same book I sette in the ende the whiche rehersed shortly all tho thynges that ben dyffusely sette in the book afore The seconde is a prayer the whiche this holy mayde made whanne she hadde endyd hyr book by the whyche prayer is openly shewed what desyre she haddâ— to be vnbounde and loosyd oute of hyr body and be wyth Cryst Afore the recapytulacyon thys holy mayde reherseth in the ende of the same â—oke that almyghty god the fader of oure lorde Ihesu Cryst spekyth to a soule atte â—â—e ende of the dyaloges after tyme he hadde long tyme spoke afore of obedyence of perfyte folke in this wyse ¶ Now my welbeloued and dere doughter I haue made a sythe to thy desyre â—ro the begynnyng to the laste ende the whiche I haue made spekyng of obedyence For yf thou haue good mynde in the begynnyng thou axest me wyth a grete desyre of herte as I made the to axe that I sholde encrece the fyre of my charyte in thy soule Thou axest also foure petycyons of the whyche one was for thy selfe To the whiche petycyon I made a sethe to the by Illumynyng the whiche the lyght of my trouthe and shewyng to the alle the maner by the whiche maner by medytacyon of the lyght of feyth wyth knowele chyng of thy self and of me thou comesâ—e to the knoweleche of the trouthe The secounde petycyon that thou axest that I sholde to mercy wyth the worlde The thrydde petycion was for my mystery all body that is of my spouse holy chirche prayng me that I sholde wythdrawe all derkenesse of perfeccyon from hyr that she suffreth And thou axest that I sholde punysshe the wyckydnes of them vpon the. Therfore it was that I declared to the that no paynes fynyte or gyuen in tyme fynyte of it selfe allone maye make satysfaccyon for trespas doone ageynste me the whiche am god infynyte but it maketh a seeth well yf it be oned wyth contrycion of herte and desyre of â—oule The maner how it maketh dewe satysfaccioÌ„ I declared to the yet euermore I answere to the that I wyll do mercy to the worlde shewyng to the that mercy is appropryd to me wherfore for the grete mercy and the vnestimable loue that I hadde to mankynde I sente myn only begoten sone for to declare more openly to the I lykenyd to a brydge that stretchyâ—â— atteyneth from heuen to erthe and that is from the hede the whiche is made in hym by dyuyne nature and mankinde Also for to make the more clere by the lyght of my trouthe I shewed the how
wolde be wyth hym and delyuer hym from all peryll And whan he doth ony thyng that he sholde not do I shall gyue hym warnyng she sayde for to amende Thyse wordes she sayd often tymes to tha last ende of hir passyng but the last worde that she sayd was this Domine in manus tuas comnendo spiritum meum And so that blyssed soule paste out of the body and was is complyd knytte to hir spouse Ihesu whom she loued so hyghly wyth an Indyuysyble and perpetuell on hede or vnyon The yere of our lord a thousand threhondred foure soore the nyne and twenty daye of Apryll the whiche was in the cyte of Rome and fyll vpon a sonday about the houre of tyerce that same and the same houre the sowle of this holy mayde appyred to mayster Reymond that was that tyme in ferre contreys and not by open bodely apparycyon but by mentall apparycyon seyng to hym in his soule suche wordes of comfort Drede the not for I am here for the I am in heuen where I may helpe the and defende be seker therfore drede not for I am here for the Wyth the whiche coÌ„fortable wordes mayster Reymond was in maner astonyed ameruaylled what it myght be wenyng that this comforte hadde come from oure blyssed lady moder of mercy by cause he stood a fore an ymage of heres and sayd an Aue maria But yet neuertheles he was aferde to thinke so by cause him thought he was vnworthy to haue suche a comfort of hyr And so what it myght mene or what it myght be or whennys it myght come he nyst neuer But afterward in heryng of another reuelacyon of this holy mayde shewed to a deuoute matrone he vnderstood the better what it myght mene soo whens it myght come Of the whiche matrone I shall tell you The same tyme whan this holy mayde passyd out of this worlde there was in Rome a deuoute matrone that was called Semya the whiche hadde two men to hyr sones to whome she was euery daye bothe moder and seruant in makyng of theyr mete Thys deuoute matrone after tyme hyr husbonde was dede she purposed euer after to serue god and visyte by pylgrymage holy sayntes of Rome and she continued many yeres She hadde also in custome for to ryse at mydnyght and praye and afterward for to take a lytell rest syttyng or lenyng wyth hyr hede that she myght be the more quycker on the morowe erly for to go hyr stacyons of Rome It befyll soone after that whan this holy mayde Katheryn was come to Rome this deuoute matrone took knowleche of hyr and was often tymes edyfyed by hyr good exhortacyons and soo hadde a good ghoostly affeccyon to hyr and was ofte tymes homely wyth hyr in hyr how 's almost euery daye Neuertheles a â—ytell afore this holy mayde deyed she came not to hyr bycause of certeyn besynes that she hadde to done what for hyr pylgrymages and the purueyaunce of mete for hyr sones And therfore she wyst not that this holy mayde passyd Thys deuoute matrone Semya arose vp atte mydnyght as she was wonte for to doo and praye a longe tyme to gydre she purposed for to reste a lytell by cause she wolde vp by tymes on the morowe for to here nasse and thenne for to be besye aboute hyr chyldren mete She dyde soo but euer she was trayueylled in hyr slepe that she sholde O wretche the fende hath deceyued the she â—se vp thenne and wente about for to seke in paryshe chyrches where somme hole masses were aseyeng as she wente she herde a beâ—le rynge to a masse in an how 's of Nonnys she was gladde thenne thyder she wente and lefte hyr wortys vnpy kyd vnwashe for hast and shytte hir do â—e bare the keye wyth hyr whan she came the masse was in the begynnyng wyth that she sayd to hyr self thus Now I wote well the fende hath not deceyued me as I wende Neuertheles as moche as she wyste well that the mete of hyr sones myght not be redy or they came home to mete she was sory but for the comforte that she hadde in hyr masâ—e she commytted all to god prayeng hym that he wold wouche sauf to kepe hir that day fro heuy wordes of hyr chyldren the whyche were growen men for she was sore aferde to dysplease them soo she herde forthe all the hye masse whan the hye masse was done as she wentâ— home she mette wyth hyr sones comynge homward to mete seyeng to hyr thus Moder hye you faste for it is tyme to go to mete She answerd ageynefull esely and sayd Good sones abydeth a whyle ye shall go to mete anone Whanne she was entred in to hir hous she founde hyr mete all redy ynough and the wortys all redy in the potte well soden at the full she was than astonyed than ked our lord that she had herde hyr masse and so badde hir sones sytte done to mete in the name of Jhesu thynkyng in hyr self that after none she wolde go vysyte the holy mayde Katheryne all the mete tyme she thought moche in that vysyon how it was coÌ„fermed wyth so grete myracles In the mene whyles hyr sones commended theyr mete sayd that it was beter sesoned that tyme than ony mete that they hadde eten afore many a daye but the deuoute matrones â—erte was alwaye vpon the vysyon seyeng wythin hyr selfe thus O moder Katheryne and crystis spouse Yet for all thys she wende not that she hadde be dede And whan hyr sones were a gone hadde etâ— she wente to Katherynes hous and knockyd at the dore herde none answere it was sayd hyr of the neyghboures there about that she was walkyd out for to vysyte holy places yet in treuthe hir susters were wythin waylyng And wolde not suffre none to entre in to the tyme they hadde axyd counseyll how they shold beâ—y the body At the last it was determyned amonges them that on the morowe the body shold be ladde to the frere prechours there for to do the seruyse as god wold ordeyne by counseyll so it was done But as soone as the body was come to the chyrche the people folowed for to touche hir fetâ— or hir clothys so that bothe the freres also hir sustres and other of hir dysciples were aferde lest they sholde haue borste toren hyr clothys therfore they sette the body wythin the chauntell of a chapell that was endued in the worshyp of Saynt Domynyk What that fyll afterwarde I thynke to declare you in the nexte chapytre by the helpe of god Casuelly whyles thys was adoyng Semya the Matrone came Inne the mene tyme and axyd what that noyse and concourse of people myghte mene Hyt was tolde hyr that Katheryne of Sene was passyd oute of thys worlde hyr body was in the chyrche wherfore the people gadred soo faste for to see it Anone whanne she herde