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
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
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
callyd all hys meyne and axed of them whether they hadde putte ony â–ª wyne of vernage in that vessell All they sayde naye they knewe no wyne there in thre monthys a fore and more And it hadde be a grete meruayll that wythoute them ony lyquor had be putte ther Inne Thys was afâ—…rward notefyed to the neghboures aboute and all they sayde it was a myracle as it was The messenger came ageyne wyth a grete meruayll gladdenes bryngyng wyth hym a botell of vernage and tolde all the myracle as it was soo that all thoo that herde it thanked our lord that wrought suche a myracle in hys holy mayde Katheryne and many one aftward whan this holy mayde was hole came for to see hyr seyeng wyth grete meruaylle suche wordes how may this be that drynketh noo wyne by myracle By suche wordes of the people this holy mayde caught grete sorowe in hir herte as she knowleched afterward to mayster Reymond And wyth suche sorowe and waylyng she prayed to our lord in hyr sowle more thenne in hyr mouthe seyeng suche wordes A good lord why suffrest thou me to be so tormented in herte that I shall be to all folke shame and reproue All other seruauntes of thyne may lyue among the people saue I allone O good lord who axed of thy myldenes wyne I by Inspyracyon of thi grace haue kept me fro wine long tyme And now I am made to all people for wyne in sâ—orne and reproue I praye the lord for thy grete pyte make that wyne for to vanysshe awaye that this same whiche is deuulgyd amonges men now cesse Our lord of hys mercy herde hyr prayer and made the vessell of wyne to decrece so that sodeynly ther it semed full to all mennes drynkyng the whiche drank therof of deuocyon by cause of the myracle it was decrecyd to the lyes and so all tho that praysed it afore for myracle helde ther peâ—s afterward for shame â–ª And mayster Reymond and other moo of hyr ghoostly chyldren were ashamed of theyr grete praysyng afore But the holy mayde was Jocunde and gladde thankyng our lord hyr spouse that hadde delyuered hyr of suche open praysyng of men ¶ Now I praye you maydens taketh he de how oure lorde kepte this holy mayde from vayne glorye and sette hyr in a perfyte grounde of mekenesse by thyse two myracles By the fyrst he gaue hyr mater to worshyp him that wrought that myracle wythout hyr wetyng in that that he fylled the vessell of wyne By the secounde he gaue hyr mater to folowe hym in mekenes in puttyng awaye of vayne glorye the whiche was putte vpon hyr By the fyrst our lord shewed what vertue of myracle she was endowed wyth By the secounde he shewed what wysdome she was fulfylled wyth For there that mekenes is there is wysdom Neuertheles yet the secouÌ„de myracle in emptyng of the vessell was gretter thenne the fyrst in fyllyng of the vessell that semed well by a simylytude that Saynt Gregorye makyth in hys dyaloges betwyne the vertue of pacyence shewyng of myracles whether he seyth that the vertue of pacyence passeth shewyng of myraclee Why thenne may not the vertue of trewe mekenes the whiche is neuer wythout wysdom passe with out ony comparyson shewyng of myracles the whiche come as well by pryde as by mekenes A bestely man may in no wyse perceyue this and that is no meruaylle For Saynt Poule sayde that prudence of the flesshe is in no wyse subiecte to god Loo maydens now haue I tolde you what myracles our lord shewed by his spouse Katheryne in vnlyfly creatures and thus I make an ende of this chapytre The wytnesse of this chapytre also ben expressyd afore wyth Inne this chapytre there that the myracles ben declared ¶ Of the ofte receyuyng of the holy sacrament of the aulter and of the meruaylles whiche our lord dyd to hyr touchyng the holy sacrament and other relyques of sayntes Capitulum xij IT was knowen to all that knew this holy mayde whyle she lyued in erthe what excellent loue she hadde in reuerence and deuocyon aboute the worshypfull sacrament of the aultre Oure lorde hys flesshe and hys blood so that for the often receyuyng therof hit was a comyn seyeng among the people that Katheryne the holy mayde was houselyd euery day and lyued ther by allone wythout ony bodely mete And all be it that they sayd not alwaye trouthe yet I suppose they tolde it mekely gyuynge honour to god that euer apperyth meruaylous to hys chosen Neuertheles be cause she receyued it so ofte all be it that it were not euery daye yet ther were somme that grutched wyth all ageynst whome may be brought wytnes ynough of holy faders that they dyd the same But fyrst I shall tell you what the vse was of holy chyrche in olde tyme. Saynt Denys seyth in a book that he made de ecclesiastica Jerarchia that in the begynnyng of holy chyrche the feruoure of the holy ghoost was so haboundaunt in the hertes of feythfull creatures bothe men and woÌ„men that they receyued the sacramente of the aulter euery daye Furthermore the doctryne of holy chyrche techeth this that euery feythfull man is bounde in no dedely synne yf he haue actuell deuocyon it is not only lefull for hym but also merytorye for to receyue that excellent worshypfull sacramente Whoo thenne durst forbede suche a feythfull persone and suche an holy lyuer in ony maner wise for to wynne so ofte grete mede in receyuynâ—… of that worshypfull sacramente Trewely I doubte not therof but that suche a creature had grete wrong yf it be denyed whan it is mekely vxed But yf they wolde say vtterly that it is not lefull to no creature be he neuer so feythfull ne neuer soo perfyte ne deuote for to receyue that blyssed sacramente ofte To this I shall tell you what answere this holy mayde gaue to a bysshop in presence of mayster Reymond that sayd these wordes aforsayd to hyr Alledgyng for hym the wordes of Saynt Austyn where he seyth thus Euery day for to receyue the sacrament of the aulter nother I prayse ne blame it â–ª to this obyeccyon answerde this holy mayde in this wyse to the bysshoppe Fader yf Saynt Austyn blame it not Ye alled ge that holy doctour ageynst youre selfe Ouermore now shall I tell you what Saynt Thomas Aâ—uyne seyth of thys doubte whether it be spedefull to a crysten man ofte tymes or euery day for to receyue the sacrament of the aulter He answereth thus therto that ofte receyuyng of that blyssed sacrament encrecyth the deuocyon of hym that receyueth it but it lessyth other whyles hys reuerence that he sholde haue to that blyssed sacramente Therfore euery feythfull Crysten man sholde haue bothe reuerence and deuocyon to that blyssed sacramente And whan he feyleth that hys reuerence is lessened by ofte receyuyng of that blyssed sacramente he sholde absteyne a whyle that he myght go therto afterward wyth more reuerence And yf
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
the delyueraunce of them whiche were acombred and vexed wyth fendes C x ¶ Item of the yefte of prophecye And how by that yefte she delyuerd many meÌ„ and wymmen fro perylles bothe of body and of sowle C xj ¶ Item of myracles whiche oure lorde wrought by this holy mayde and vyrgyn in herbes breed and wyne And other thinges that hadde none lyf C xij Item of the ofte resceyuynge of the holy sacrament of the aulter And of myracles the whiche oure lorde dyde to hyr touching that holy sacrament and other holy relyques of saintes Ca xiij  HEre begynneth the thyrde parte wherin is rehersyd Capitulum j the deyeng of this holy mayde and vyrgyn myracles that were I shewed after her deth And fyrst of the wytnesses whiche were present at hyr passyng and enfourmed the auctur of this boke whiche and what they were Cap ij ¶ Item of the merueylous thynges whiche befyll a yere and half to fore the deth of this holy mayde and vyrgyn And of the martyrdome that she suffred bodely of the wycked fendes wherof at the laste she hadde her bodely dethe C iij ¶ Item how this holy mayde and vyrgyn desyred to be vnbounde from the body and be wyth cryst And that is preuyd by a deuoute prayer whiche she made And is put in the ende of another boke whiche she made and what is in that boke generally and shortely it is wryten in this boke wyth the same oryson c iiij ¶ Item of the time that she passed and whan she passed out of this worlde and of the sermoÌ„ whiche she made to her gostely dyscyples and susteren tofore her passyng And how she informed them in generall and in speciall how they shold gouerne theym whan she were goâ— And of a vysyon whiche was shewed to a matrone in the houre of her passyng Ca v ¶ Item of tokens and myracles whiche oure lorde wrought after hyr dethe of this holy mayde and vyrgyn bothe tofore her beryeng and after that is to saye of myracles whiche were knowe And for many that were not knowe Cap vj ¶ Item of the myghty and stronge paciens whiche this mayde and vyrgyn shewed openly from her fyrst age and yonge in to her deth by the whiche vertu clerly it preuyd that ryghtfull she is worthy to haue the name of holynesse in goddes chirche in erthe â–ª whan she is made so fayre and gloryous in goddes chirche in heuen and in this chapytre is a recapitulacion of all that is sayd to fore For worthynes and also for werynes of reders And also for yf eche man may not haue al thys legende they may haue the substaunce of this martyr tofore her compendyously rehersyd in the last chapytre ¶ The fyrst chapytre of this fyrst parte is of the progenye of this holy mayde vyrgyn gloryous saint katheryn of sene and of other maters whiche befyll touchyng her or she went out openly abrode And of her fader and moder and of the condycions of theym CapituluÌ„ primuÌ„ IN the cite of Geene in Italye and of the prouynce of Tuskane ther was a man his name was Janes or Jacob and his fader was callyd in the comyn speche of the contree Beuencasa This James was symple vertuous wythout fraude or deceyte to ony man dredynge god and fleyng alle euyll After the deth of his fader and moder he toke a wyf of the same Cyte her name was lapa She was a woman wythout suche malyce that is vsed amonge men that ben now in our tyme all be it that she was full besy aboute that longeth to houshold and about meynye and seruauntes as it was knowen openly to all that knewe her whyle she liued here in erthe whan they bothe were ioyned to gyder in matrymonye and lyuyd vertuously in symplycite suffycient habondaunce they hadde of temperall godes and they bothe of gentyll and commendable byrthe Our reuerende lorde blessyd lapa graciously fulfylled hyr plentuously wyth the birthe of chyldren as an habondaunt vyne in the hous of Jacob whiche was her husbond For eche yere almost she conceyued and bare a sone or a doughter and ofte fythes ij sones or two doughters After tyme this Jacob was passeth out of this worlde Lapa his wyf as for a synguler laude and commendacion rehersyd and saide to mayster Reymonde the confessour of this holy mayde and vyrgyn and glorious martyr katheryn that she was euer of soo lyke dysposycion and soo moderate in worde that what occacion euer came or trouble or trybulacion he exceded neuer in speche by hasty ne angrye worde but whan he saw ony of his meyny greued or herd hem speke angerly or bytter wordes anon he comforted eche of theym wyth a glad â—here and sayde in the maner of that contree A brother good day be to the be not troubled speke not suche wordes which falleth ne semeth not vs to speke ¶ And in speciall lapa his wyf wherseth that whan on a tyme one of his neybours dysesyd hym wrongfully asked hym a grete somÌ„e of monye whiche he owed not by none reason â–ª and soo moche he vexed hym that symple maÌ„ wyth the might of other frendes and supplanted hym wyth grete wronges that he brought hym to the losse of alle his godes And in alle this tyme this good man myght neuer suffre in his presence a man to curse hym wronge ne to speke of hym harme in noo wyse In soo moche that he blamed his wyf Lapa wyth softe wordes and sayd suffre dere wyf the good day be to the for our lord shall shewe hym therrour he shall be oure defendour whiche wordes were founde southe afterward for the veryte was shewed openly as lyke to a myracle And he for payne that he hadde in his conscyence delyuerd agayne how moche he hadde errid in his wrongfull persecucion to the good man Jacob Thyse wordes sayde Lapa to mayster Reymonde to whos wordes he yaue full truste for as it was knowe to all that knewe her she was of soo moche symplenesse at her age of xxiiij yere that though she wold haue lyed she â—â—wde not haue feyned suche a lesyng And soo was the commyn testymonye of alle tho that knewe her husbonde Jacob that was he a man ful symple by Innocencye and ryghtfull alwaye fleyng from euyll Also this good mannys softenes in speche was soo vertuous that alle his meyny namely wymmen dame sels taught in his soole myght not speke ne here noo worde that were not semely or dyshoneste In so moche that one of his doughter whiche was callyd Bonauentura was wedded to a yonge man whiche was callyd Nycolas of the same Cyte wyth whome were conuersaunt many other yong men of hys age by cause he hadde nother fader ne moder And thyse men and he wythout ony refreynynge of tongue spake eche to other â–ª and he wyth other And they wyth hym foule wordes of dyshoneste mater This Bonauentura att the laste toke therof soo grete an
heuynes that she fyll in to suche sykenes that fro day to daye more more she waxed lene and vanysshed almost awaye and ryght feble Her husbonde sawe this and asked hyr the cause of her heuynesse and sekenesse And she answerd and sayde I was norysshed in myn faders hours and there was I neuer wonte to here suche wordes as I here now euery daye And so was I neuer taught of my fader and moder wherfor knowe it for sothe but this dishoneste of speche bee avoyded fro this hous wythin a shorte tyme ye shall see me deed whan her husbond herde this bothe he avoyded that vngoodly langage â–ª and the felawshyppe and therwyth he was edefyed moche more than euer he was before â–ª as well of the vertues lyuinge of the fader and moder as of her doughter that was his wyf And anone he forbode his felawes neuer more to speke suche maner wordes in her presens and nomore they dede and soo the softenes the honeste of Jacob his hous amendyd in moderaunce And the dyshoneste of Nycolas hous whiche hadde weddyd Jacob his doughter ¶ Ferthermore ye shall vnderstonde the Jacob vsed the crafte of makyng of colours wherwyth wollen and wolle clothes ben dyed This crafte vsed bothe he and his sonys In that contree they ben called dyers wherfore full wonderfully god ordeyned that a dyers doughter shol be made the spouse of the Emperour of heuen As ye shall see by goddes grace after in this boke Somme of this that I haue shewed in this chapytre was knowe to the more parte of the cyte And somÌ„e her confessour had of the sayd mayde katheryn and of her moder and of many relygyous persons and of seculers whiche were neybours and of kynrede to the same Jacob and to his wyf ¶ Of her byrthe and of the merueylous werkinge whiche our lord wrought and shewed in the chylhode of this holy vyrgyn and mayde CapituluÌ„ ij Whan this forsayd Lapa whiche was lyke a fructuous vyne by fulfyllyng the wyne of Jacob her husbonde in bryngyng forth full ofte bothe sones and doughters It befyll aboute the laste tyme of the berynge of chyldren by the ordynaunce and dy sposycyon of our lordis mercy that she conceyued brought forth two doughters freell and febyll by nature But moche more freell by of bodely strengthe as semed outward â–ª but strengthe and stabylnesse they hadde in the syght of god ¶ Whan Lapa the moder besely behelde theym she thought well that she suffysed nought to nourysshe them bothe forthe wyth her owne mylke wherfore by a good auysement she commytted that one to smother noryse And that other she wythhelde and kepte stylle to be norysshed forth wyth her owne mylke And soo it befyll by the ordynaunce of our lorde that she chosed that doughter to her owne kepyng â–ª whiche our lord of euerlastynge tyme hadde chose vnto his spouse Bothe they resceyued the grace of baptysme And all be it that they were of the nombre of goddes chose chyldren Yet the forsayd mayde was called katheryn and that other was called Johan This later suster whan she hadde receiued this grace of baptysme in the same grace she went forth to heuen For in short tyme after she passed out of this worlde Katheryne abode stylle sukkyng on her moders brestes by goddes ordynaunce she shold drawe to heuen a longe cheynâ— of soulis And for as moche as Lapa the moder consyderyd that katheryn abode that other was deed She nourysshed her more dyligently hopyng that she was chose to abyde and be goddes chyld And ofte sythes this moder lapa wolde saye to maister Reymond her confessour to this holy mayde that she louyd katheryn passyngly aboue alle the sones and doughters that euer she hadde She sayde vnto hym also that she conceyued soo ofte that she myght neuer nourysshe ony chylde of her wyth her owne mylke ¶ Katheryn she nourysshed forth in to the ende of the tyme that she neded to be vnder the nourysshe And in alle that tyme she conceyued not as it semed that oure lorde for that doughter hadde graunted her a tyme of reste of traueylyng of the byrthe of chyldren and in a token that she myght come to the ende of conceyuyng and byrthe in that doughter whiche sholde after ateyne and gete the ende of alle perfection ¶ But yet this moder Lapa after the nouryssyng of katheryn â–ª ones she conceyued and bare a doughter whiche was called Johan And there she made an ende of beryng of chyldren after that she hadde boâ—en xxv chyldren Whan this mayde was thus broughte forth and halowed to god And whan she hadde lefte the mylke and toke to ete brede whyle she wente aboute alone She began to be soo acceptable and soo byloued to all tho that sawe her and soo wyse and wonderfull wordes she spake that vnnethes her moder myght holde her in her owne hous Eche man aboute of her neybours and of her kynrede lad her home wyth theym and glad they were who myght haue her to here her wyse speche And that they myght haue felawshyp and the gladenesse of that yonge mayde Soo that of a maner gladdenesse and of a passyng solace they called her not by her owne ryght name katheryn but Eufrosyna and what meued them to calle her soo they wyst not theym self but she afterward somme tyme wolde saye and suppose that it was a mystery by cause she purposed to folowe saynt Eufrosyne in lyuyng Her confessour that wrote this legende supposed that the yonge mayde in her chyldis speche vsed somme maner of sownynge that nyghed or acorded to that nâ—me Eufrosyne And soo in maner as they wolde reherce her wordes they called her soo by that name Neuertheles what euer it was that appieryd she burgenyd out in her chilhode as a tree by ony suche shewyng what fruyt was brought forth Afterward in her olde age the wysdome and the prudence of her speche connyng and the swetenesse of her holy conuersacion myght not be rehersed wyth tongue lygthly wryte wyth penne by theym that knewe only the veryte of thys whiche hadde very experyence She hadde also an Inward werkynge whyche shewed well â–ª not only by her speche but by her coÌ„uersacion wher thorugh many mennys sowlis were drawe to god And hadde thorugh her grace grete lykyng and sauour in god in somoche that all heuynesses were excluded of all mennys hertes whiche were conuersaunt wyth her â–ª and not only that but all thinges that noyed the sowle was put awaye Also the remembraunce of eche noye or angwysshe was take awaye And of this folowed eche man soo grete reste and stabylnesse of sowle whiche they hadde byfore that euery man woundred of theym self and made Joye wyth a newe maner of gladdenesse and eche man in his owne sowle cryed and sayde Here it is good for vs to be â–ª Make we thre tabernacles for our dwellyng place And of this none wouÌ„der for douiles â–ª he was there
and counseyll And whan that she came to seuen yere age she took grete auysemente as though she hadde be of sadnesse of xx yere of age and contynuelly she prayed our lady quene of aungels and virgynes that she wolde wouchesauf to helpe hyr and gete hyr of our lord a parfyte waye to the techynge of the holy ghoost where by she myght doo that were moost plesynge to god and moste spedefulle for helthe of hyr sowle And in eche prayer euer she shewed hyr desyre to our lady how sore she desyred to lyue an aungelslyf and in the lyf of virgynytee And in alle thys tyme the loue of the euerlastyng spouse was more feruent fro day to day in thys maydens herte whyche loue steryd alle hyr sowle wyth oute ony cessyng vnto an heuenly liuynge And whan thys wyse mayde sawe how feruent her spyryte was in that desyre by cause she wolde not quenche the spiryte whiche that freely and gracyously hadde graunted that she asked by a hote kyndelyng of desyre Vpon a day thanne she chose hyr a preuy place where noo body myght here hyr and where she myght speke alle a lowde wyth a hygh voys what euer she wolde saye there wyth all lownesse of body and sowle Thus spak she to our lady and sayde O moost blyssedfull Lady and moost holy vitgyne whyche fyrste amonge alle wymmen thou halowedest for euer thy virgynytee to our lord wyth makyng to hym a vowe of whome thou were made moder of hys onely sone Thy pyte whyche may not be spoke ne tolde of tongue lowely I beseche and praye that be none of my merytes notwythstondyng myn vnworthynesse wouches auf gracyous lady to do me so moche grace that thou me spouse to hym onely whome I desyred wyth all the strengthes of my sowle and that is thyn holy sone my lord Ihesu cryste and here I make to hym to the fulle promysse that I shall neuer take other spouse and I shall kepe to hym my virgynyte vndefowled after my myghte poure Loo maydens that rede thys Loo vere ye may se how ordynatly alle the yeftes and vertuous werkyng and dedys of thys holy mayde were dysposed and ordeyned by that euerlastyng wysdome whyche myghtely dysposeth alle thynges in softnes In the age of syy yere she sawe hir spouse wyth hyr bodely eye and took of hym hys blyssynge In the age of seuen yere she made a vowe of virgynyte Taketh hede also by what auysement and what ordre she kepte in makyng hyr auowe ¶ Fyrste she desyred and askyd to haue hym to hyr spouse whome hyr sowle louyd After that desyre and askyng she forsoke euery maner spouse behotyng to hym trouth and feyth for euer lastynge Thys petycyon myght not be denyed Taketh hede also whome she prayeth and for whom she prayed and how she prayeth Fyrste she prayeth that lady whyche hath properly inacte the lyberalytee and the fredome of alle graces and can not but euer graunte and yeue grace Be a man neuer so fowle for synne she holdeth hyr selfe dettour to alle bothe to wyse and to vnwyse She despyseth none she opened her hande to eche man that hath nede and stretched out hyr pawmes to eche poure man and sheweth out hyr self to all folke as a well that neuer faylled How sholde that gracyous lady not here that lytell mayde so Innocent and feruent whyche puttyth not awaye from hyr grace synfull men and women of elder age How sholde not our gloryous lady receyue the purpose of virgynyte of that holy mayde whyche gracyously fyrste amonge men founde out the holy clene lif of virgynytee How sholde our mercyfull and pyteuous lady denye thys lytell mayde hyr sone whyche drewe hym from heuen to the erthe for he sholde be gyue to alle that belyued on hym Now ye haue seen whom thys mayde prayed Sithe now I praye thou for whom she prayed She askyd that same whiche he him self taughte for to aske whyche is asked She sought that same whyche he byddeth alle men to seke that shall be sought And he hym self that shalle be sought may not put awaye ne put of And the petycyon of suche a thynge must nedys haue graūte after our lordes promyse where he sayde Askyth and ye shall haue Speketh and ye shall fynde He sayde also in another place Fyrste sekyth the kyngdome of god and hys ryghtwysnesse Therefore whanne thys mayde and so besely sought soo tymely in so tender chyldys age the sone of god whyche is hym selfe the kyngdome of god How or what manere myght it be but that she sholde fynde what she soughte or haue that she askyd Ferthermore now seeth in what manere she prayed or asked that she desyred and ye shalle clerely see that hyr prayer myghte not be doon awaye ne voydyd She dysposed hyr selfe to receyue that she askyd not onely for the tyme that now is but for alle the tyme that is to come She remeuyd alle hyr obstacles she clothed hyr wyth a plesable clothynge of pouerte to hym for euer of whome she askyd hyr desyre She bonde hyrself and oblysshed hyr wyth a solempne vowe as to fore god And soo straytely restrayned hyr selfe that neuer the world ne the fende sholde lette hyr dysposycyon In alle thys tyme ther faylled hyr no condycyons whyche a prayer sholde haue but that prayer muste nede be herde that she asked for hyr self she asked fulle mekely that was helthefull that was alle helthe feythfully she stood and stedfastely and to represente hyr perseueraūce She made a perpetuell vowe where by she remeuyd alle that shold be obstacle for hyr petycyon Here may ye sekerly conclude that nedys she moste be herde of our lord thynketh thenne sekerly that as she asked soo she resceyued of our lorde And took hyr lorde and hyr loue for hyr euerlastyng spouse of hys blysfulle moder as she desyred and bi helpe of that gloryous lady she was coupled for euer to hyr dere sone by a perpetuell vowe of virgynyte as it shall be proued wyth the helpe of our lord by a clere token in the last chapytre of this fyrst partye But now ferthyrmore ye shall knowe that after thys vowe thys mayde began euery day to wexe more holy and holy And in that tender age she began to take batayll wyth hyr flesshe whyche as yet began neuer to be rebell But for all that she purposed to take a waye from hyr flesshe all flesshly mete as moche as she myghte Wherfore whanne flesshe was leyde to hyr as it fylle ofte eyther she leyde it to Stephen hyr brothyr or preuely lytyll and lytyll she voyded it that no body sholde perceyue it She contynued alwaye hyr dysplyens of whyche I spake a fore and encresed hem more sharpely eyther allone by hyr self or wyth other yonge maydens Also a grete wele of othyr sowles helthe began to be kyndelyd in hyr and that was wonderfull in suche a chyldes herte and syngulerly she loued
all tho sayntes whiche laboured specyally a boute the helthe of mannes sowle She hadde also knowyng onely by the techynge of god that Saynt Domynyk ordeyned the ordre of frere prechours for loue of the feythe of holy chyrche and for the helthe of mannes sowle Wherfore she had that ordre in so moche reuerence that whan she sawe frerys of that ordre passyng forth in the waye by hir faders how se she marked wel where they wente and when they were passyd fulle mekely and deuoutely she kyssed the steppes of theyr fete From that tyme forward there wext a grete desyre in hyr sowle to go vnto that ordre that she myght profyte man nes sowle wyth other brethern of that ordre but by cause she sawe a grete obstacle in that she was a woman Therfore she thought to folowe Saynt Eufrosyen as mē clepyd hir in childhode wōderfully as for a pronostycacion that ryght as saynt Eufrosyen feyned hyr a man and went in to a monastery of monkes in the same manere thys mayde is purposed to seyne hyr a man and go in to ferre contree where she was not knowe and take the abyte of the ordre of frere prechours where she myght helpe sowles and saue them from perysshyng But yet not wytfstondyng that same thought and purpose abode longe in hyr mynde Our lord suffred not that thought to be perfourmed in dedene brought to execucyon for the loue was put from hyr mynde to another ende and our lord wolde also in another maner fulfyll hyr desyre In all thys tyme thys mayde wexte fast in body and encreced in age but moche more hyr sowle encreced in vertue Mekenes wext fast and deuocyon encreced feyth was more clere hope was gretely strengthed Charyte multyplyed hyr feruour And of all thys vertues was gendryd a vertuous and a worshypfull sadnes of maneres and of relygyous putte in the syght of al men whyche consydered hyr dedys The fader and the moder were astonyed her brethern and susteren wondred gretely Alle the meyne of hyr faders how 's meruaylled beholdyng and perceyuynge soo hygh wysdome in soo tendyr age And amonge many notable wyse wordes and dedys one I wylle shewe you here in cōmendacyon of that mayde ¶ Hyt befylle at that tyme after seuen yere and to fore ten yere age that for deuocyon that hyr moder hadde to saynt Anthonye She wolde haue a masse I sayde in the worshyppe of the same Saynt wherefor she clepyd Katheryne hir doughter and took hyr a certeyne of candelles and a certeyne of syluer and sayde Goo doughter to our parysshe chyrche and praye oure parysshe preest to syng or do synge a masse in the worshyp of saynte Anthonye And offer thyse candelles and thys money vp to the awtre ¶ Thys mayde was gladde to doo alle thynge that myght torne to the worshyp of god and anone she wente to the chyrche and performed hyr moders byddyng But for deuocyon that she hadde to here masse she abode stylle to the ende of the masse And whan alle was I do she wente home ageyn but hyr moder wende she wolde a comen anone ageyn anone as she had made oblacyon to the preest ¶ And for as moche as her doughter taryed so longe after hir semyng Whan she sawe that she was come she thought to blame hyr doughter and sayd Cursyd be the wycked tōgues that sayd thou sholdeste nomore come ageyne Thys was the manere of somme men to saye her langage to her name that taryed to longe out Thys mayde thenne of grete wysdome herde what hyr moder sayde and helde hyr stylle a whyle and spake noo worde ageyne But after a good space thys mayde drewe hir modre a fyde And wyth grete sadnes of hyr mekely spak to hir modre and seyde ¶ A lady modre when euer I trespas or do agast youre biddyng bete ye me wyth a rodde as you thynketh best that I be more ware Another time for it is worthy and ryght full that ye do so But no thyng I praye you for my defautes curseth neuer good man ne badde For it is not semyng for your degree And to me it is a full grete affliccion̄ in herte while hyr modre herde these wordys sche wondrid gretely And no merueill was to here her lytill doughter teche and so wysely enforme hir In somoche that she hadde no spirite more to blame hyr at that tyme for the wysdom that she sawe in so yonge alitill thynge Neuer the les she wolde not that hyr doughter hadde knowe that therfor sūwhat she thoughte to speke ageyne and turned to hir doughter and seyde Why were you there so longe the doughter seyde mekely ageyne modre I herde that masse that yebadde me goo to And whan it was I doone I turned home ageyn wythout ony tarieng for I abode nowhere till I come home ageyne Thoo was the modre by tho wordis more edyfyed than she was to fore and went to hyr husbonde seyd Thus and thus hath thi yonge doughter I spoke He than as a good man gafthankynges to god and bare it stylle priuely in hys herte And seyde noughte ageyne Loo ye mayden̄s that here or rede thys book of thys oo poynt all be yt that it be one of the leste Yet mowe ye we le perceyue how our lorde encreceth hys grace all weye in thys yonge mayde till she come to the yeres of abilitee to be weddyd of the whyche yeres ye shalle see in the next chapytre For of thys chapitre I make now an ende ¶ But yet ye shall vnderstonde that I had thyse that be conteyned in thys chapytre of the same mayde for the more partye and somme I hadde of the modre and of other dwellyng in hyr fadres how 's whyse she was of that age ¶ How hyr feruente deuocyon was drawe whyche our lord suffred for encrece of more grace folowyng And of hyr stronge pacyence wyth the whyche pacyens she suffred in hir fadres how 's many Iniuryes Capitulūq̄rtū AFter the wonderfull and vertuous cours of lyuyng in the fyrst yeres of thys maydens tender age our lordes wyll was in somme lyghte defaute to suffre hyr to fall as he suffred fulle ofte somme of hys holy sayntes to that entent that they sholde the more myghtely aryse vp ageyne and lyue more warly and strenght hem to atteyne to the ryght waye and the heythe of perfeccyon and gloryously haue the vyctorye of the fende whyche is euer enemye to mannes sowle ¶ These wordes I saye here for whanne she came to the age of the yeres of abylyte to be wedded that is to saye to the twelthe yere of hyr age or lytel more thenne after the manere of the contree she abode styll at home and came not out of hyr fadres how 's And the fader and the moder thenne and hyr other frendes kynne by cause they knewe not the may dens purpose they bethought hem and besyed hem to seke aboute where that thys mayden
dyd so to who me thys mayden gaf none clere answer by cause she wolde nethyr lye ne telle the trouthe Wyth that the moder wente to thys maydens hede and took of hyr kerchyfe wyth hyr owne hondys And so ê‘ceyued that hyr here was cut awaey ThaÌ„ne was the moder sorowfull in hyr herte bycause hyr fayre here was cutte awaye waylynge and cryenge in thys wyse Aa doughter what haste thou doo Anone the mayde keuered hyr hede efte sones and wente a syde To the crye of her moder came bothe the fader and the chyldren meruayllyng what it myght be Whanne they knewe the cauâ—â— of hyr cryeng they were hugely ameuyd ageynste this maide of the whiche trouble was begonne the secounde bataylle ageynst this mayde more sharper than theÌ„ne was the fyrst But yet to thys mayden our lord gaff the vyctorye that thoo thynges whyche semed lettyng to hyr holy purpose was to hyr grete helpe meruayllously for to knytte hyr to our lord more myghtely Therefore they pursued hyr openly rebukyng hyr and thretyng hyr in worde and dede sayeng thus Thou wretched creature trowest thou for to escape thus that thou shalt not fulfyll our wylle because that thou hast cutte awaye thyn here hyt shall growe ageyn wyll thou nyll thou and though thyn herte sholde to breste yet shalt thou haue an husbonde And thou shalt neuer haue reste vnto the tyme that thou haste consented to our wylle And wyth that they made an ordynaunce that Katheryne shold nomore haue no pryue chambre by hir self to dwelle Inne but that sholde openly be occupyed in the comyn seruyce of the how 's So that the place and tyme of prayeng and vnyeng and knyttyng to Jhesu hir spoufe sholde vtterly be wyth drawe from hir And also that she shold see hyr self so moche the more in despyte that she was made a comyn seruaunte After thys ordynaunce thys holy mayde was putte to alle manere fylthe besynesse and the fowle of the kechyn Suffryng euery day repreues and euery day also wronges and rebukyng and dyspytable wordes were multeplyed ageynst hyr that moste of alle ouercomen wymmenys hertys For as hyt was supposed hyr fader and hyr moder and brethern hadden fonde a yong man of whos kynrede they weren gretely well apayde And therefor they steryd and Inpugnyd hyr the more sharpely that she myght the sonner be bowed to theyr consent But where that oure ghostly enemye the fende by whos wyckednes tretcherous werkes all thyse thynges were wrought doune wende for to wyth drawe thys mayde from hyr clene purpose There by the helpe of god she was made moost strengest for she was in noo wyse meuyd ne stered of alle that was doone to hyr But she made hyr a pryue chaumbre by helpe of the holy ghoost in hyr owne sowle fro the whyche pryue chaumbre she made an ordynaunce in hyr self neuer for to go out for no manere of besynesse And so it was done in dede that she the whyche fyrste hadde an outward chaumbre assygned to hyr somtyme stood wyth out and somtyme wente oute But afterwarde whan she had made hyr selue in hyr sowle a pryue chaumbre that myght not be take from hyr of no creature in erthe she went neuer out Thes ben tho heuenly vyctoryes that may not be taken awaye fro crystis specyall in erthe ouercomynge wyth out ony doubte alle stylly enemyes As holy wrytte seyth Regnum dei infra nos est That is to saye the kyngdome of heuen is wythin vs. And also the prophete Dauyd seyth That all the ioye of our lordes doughter is wythin forthe Wythin vs wyth out ony doubte there is a clere vnderstondyng a frâ— wylle and a retentyf mynde Wythin vs also is the gracyous Infusyon of the holy ghoost the whiche maketh perfyte these ghoostly myghtys rehersed afore and ouercometh and throweth vnder foot alle outward aduersytres Wythin vs yf we ben trewe vylners of vertue dwelleth that ghest the whyche sayde and seyth Confidite ego vici mundum That is trusteth feythfully that ye shall ouercome your enemyes for I haue ouercome the worlde that grete enemye In this blessyd lord thys holy mayde Katheryn trustyd so hyghely that she made hir wyth Inne hyr self a chambre by hys helpe for whos loue she charged not for to lese the chambre made of mannes handes wythout forth ¶ But now one thynge shall I saye that mayster Reymond the confes sour of thys holy mayde beryth recorde of that whan that he sholde walke outward by cause other whyle of grete outward besynesse and occupacyon that nedys must be done Thys holy mayde oftymes warned hym and sayde that he shold make wythin hys sowle a pryuee celle of whyche pryue cell he sholde neuer goo out And alle be it that he vnderstonde hyr not but so ouerly so lyghtely Yet neuerthelesse afterwarde whan he consydered more wyttely hyr wordes The wordes that Saynt Johan sayde in the Gospell felle in hys mynde where it is rehersed of crystys dyscyples in thys wyse Hoe autem non cognouerunt discipuli eius primum Sed quando glorificatus est ihesus tune recordatisunt That is crystys dyscyples knewe not alle thynge of hym as touchyng hys passyon fyrst but onely But after tyme whan he was reysen fro deth to lyue and gloryfyed thanne they knewe more openly and clerely And soo in the same manere wyse bothe to mayster Reymond hyr confes sour to tho other that were conuersaunt wyth hyr it happyd meruayllously that they perceyued more openly and clerely bothe her dedys and hyr wordes afterwarde than whenne they were wyth hyr presently ¶ Yette shall I telle you of another holy conseyt and a blessyd ymagynacyon of thys holy mayde that the holy ghoost taught hyr by the whyche she ouercome alle wronges and despytes as she tolde pryuely to hyr confessour axyng of hym mekely how she myght be perfytly gladde amonge soo many despytes And thanne she brake out and sayde that she hadde suche an ymagynacyon in hyr self that hyr fader represented our lorde Ihesu Cryste oure sauyour and hyr moder oure blessyd lady Saynt Marye And hyr brethern and other many of the housholde betokeneth the holy appostles of oure lorde and other dyscyples of hys And for thys blessyd ymagynacyon she serued hem alle the more gladdely soo that they were alle a meruaylled therof And by thys blessyd ymagynacyon she wan another grete profyte and as oftr as she serued and made mynystracy on euer she hadde in mynde hyr hyr spouse Ihesu Cryste Whome hyr thought she serued And soo she beyng in bodely kechyn was alle waye wyth that holy place that is callyd Sancta sanctorum And as ofte as she serued atte mete soo ofte she fedde hyr sowle wyth the presence of oure sauyour A hyghe and rychesse of endeles counseyll by how many dyuers and meruayllous wayes delyuerest them that trusten in the from alle maner dyseses and bryngest them in to the hauen of
vp of hyr bedde not wythstondyng that she was seek hir self of the feuers and other dyuers passyons and sayd to hyr felawe Goo we and see we how srere Reymond dothe fare And hyr felawe answerd sayd that it was no nede though it were nede yet was she more seker than he Neuerthelesse yet she come to hym and axyd how he ferd Anone whan he sawe hyr he meruaylled gretety sayd to hyr as feâ—illy as he myght speke Aa lady why come ye hyther ye be agrete dele seker than I am Thanne she began to speke of the goodnesse of our lord as she was wonte to do and of oure vnkyndnesse ayenst hym Wyth that mayster Reymond hir confessour arose vp out of hys bedde gretely comforted by hyr wordes and sate in an other bedde besyde hauyng no mynde yet of the wordes that the holy mayde spake to hym at euen afore All this whyle she contynued in spekyng of the kyndenes of our lord and of oure grete vnkyndenes Sodeynly in tyme of hyr deuoute comunycacyon came to hys mynde a clere consyderacyon of hys synnes that hym thought he stode afore the ryghtwys Jugement to be condempned to the peyne for his wycked lyuyng ryght as a theef that stood before a temporall Juge Hym thought also that he sawe in hys soule the grete benygnyte the mekenes of our lorde that gracyously delyuered hym fro the peyne that he was worthy for to haue not onely that but also he clothed hym wyth hys owne clothes ther he was naked and had hym in hys holy how 's and fedde hym and nourysshed hym and accepted hym to hys seruyce and ther to by the synguler grace of hys ende Loo the goodnesse hys deth vnto lyf hys drede vnto hope hys sorow vnto ioye hys shame vnto worshyp By thyse consyderacioÌ„s clerely knowynges and syghte of hys soule the wyckettes of the wyndowes of his harde herte were broken vp opened and the wellys ryuers of wepyng terys aperyd plenteuouly by cause that the foundament the grounde of hys trespassys were shewed so clerely to hym in so moche that he wayled that he was aferde laste by suche grete plente of sorow hys herte his brest wold haue to barst Whan thys holy mayde saw that she was styll suffred hym a whyle to be fedde wyth hys owne terys for therefore she came Wythin a whyle after he cessyd lytell lytell and bethought him meruayllously of this newe grace thynkyng also of hys petycyon the whiche he axed of this holy mayde the day before wyth that he torned to hyr sayd is thys thy bull that I spak of to you yesterdaye She answerd sayd ye laynge hir hondes vpon hys sholdres seyeng thus haue in mynde fader of the gracyous yeftes of our lord And soo wente home to hyr chambre and he abode stylle wyth hys felawe gretely edyfyed comforted Another tyme the same mayster Reymond had another excellent token of thys holy mayde wyth out ony axyng afore Hit happed on a tyme that thys holy mayde was vysyted by dyuers sekenes laye seek in hyr bedde And sent after hyr confessour desyryng to comen wyth him pryuely of other newe reuelacyons the whyche our lord had shewed her grete sekenesse beganne to speke of the goodnes of our lord and of the reuelacion that he shewed hyr that day He heryng so grete reuelacyonâ— and wonderfull shewed to hyr and to none other that euer he herde of hauyng no mynde of the grace that our lord hadde gyue hym afore by prayers of this holy mayde He bethought hym of somthynges that she rehersed and sayd to himself thus whether it be all trewe that she seyth Whanne he had thought thus he loked sodeynly in hyr face and saw that hyr vysage was transformed in to mannes vysage berded the whyche vysage behelde hym stedfastly and made hym sore aferde Hit was to his syght a semely longe vysage of myddel age not hauynge to long a berde but of a resonable assise coloured after whete shewyng in his syghte a mageste after the mageste of oure lord Jhesu and myght in no wyse for that tyme see none other face but onely that face Of thys syght he had so grete a fere that he lyfte vp his armes and began to crye and sayd Oo who is he that loketh vpon me To whome this holy mayde answerd and sayd He that is seeth and beholdeth you wyth that worde that dredefull face vanysshed awaye and the maydens vysage appyred to him clerely Thys was no feynyng thyng but a trewe as he recordeth bereth wytnes in hys wrytynges He recordeth also for the more confyrmacyon of that myracle that after that sensybly vysyon he hadde soo clere a knowyng wythin hymself im his sowle by ghostly Illumynyng of the mater that the holy mayde spak to hym of the whiche he wyll not pupplyche it openly That hym thought he felt in experyence that thyng the whyche our lorde sayd to hys dyscyples whan he behote them the holy ghoost seyeng to theim thus Et que ventura sunt annunciabit vobis That is whan ye haue receyued the holy ghost he shall shewe thynges that ben to come Loo For the mystrust that he hadde to her wordes oure lorde of his gracyous goodnesse wouchesauf to teche hym clerely by him self he afterward for to bere wyttenes to other that hir reuelacions weren ben trewe pryntyng stedfastly in his mynde the grete graces that he shewed to Saynt Thomas of Inde for he that wolde not be taught enfourmed by open tokenes of gracyous gyfte the whyche he receyued by this holy mayde he was taught and enformed by example of suche a disciple that was mystrowyng as he was For after tyme he had receyued a gracyous token of conpunccyon of our lord a fore by merytes of holy prayers of this holy mayde yet he contynued in mystrust of hyr reuelacyons that they were not trewe Wherefor our lord himself shewed hym self openly to his outeward wyttys that he myght therby knowe by open experyence that he spak in hir so that it may be sayd that he shewed him thenne to mayster Reymond the whiche mystrowed as he dyd som tyme to saynt Thomas of Inde by bodely felyng And ryght as he cryed afterward sayd this worde Deus meus et dominus meus That is my god my lord So may thys mystrowynge renuwed saye after thise two vysyoÌ„s of this holy mayde that she is was the veray spouse and the veray discyple of our lord god All these ben rehersed to you maydens that ye sholde be in no doubte ne despyse the reuelacions and the vysyons the whiche ye shall here by the helpe of god afterward Alle be it that no wytnes may be founde of recorde saue she allone but that ye sholde here hem rede hem vnderstonde hem with reuerence And also that ye may lerne ther by holy examples doctrynes the whiche our lord hath shewed
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
to the same lorde And ye consydre the coudycyons of this rynge ye shallâ—welle see that the tokene acordeth that that is betokeneth to She axed stedfaste feythe what is strenger than a dyamaunt stone it wythston dyth all maner hardenesse and it persyth the hardest thynge that is but that stone it self is broke onely with the blode of a goote Ryght soo a stronge feythfull herte wythstondeth and ouercometh wyth his strenthe alle maner of aduersyte But the mynde of crystys precious blood the whiche is called in holy wryte a goote the whiche precious blode he shadde vpon the crosse for mankynde that stroge herte is re lentyd and al to broste the four precious Margarete stonys in the rynge betokenyth noo thynge ellis but foure purytres clenes that whiche was in that holy mayde that is clennes of hyr entente clennes of hyr thouÈt clennes of hyr speche and clennes of hir workynge Alle thyse shall be declared by the grace of god more largely here aftyrwarde I supposo that thys dyspousacionÌ„ was no thynge ellys but a confirmaciouÌ„ of godis grace And the token of thys gracyous confyrmacionÌ„ was the rynge the whiche only apperid to her and to none other for this cause that she shold not fere ne drede to delyuer other owte of the wretched worlde by her prayers and by the helpe of that special grace that god hadde endowed her wyth One of the princypall causes after holy doctours why the almyghty god vouchesauf of his synguler preuylege to shewe to somÌ„e that they ben plesaunt to hym and in estate of grace is in this wycked world for worshyppe for his entent is to sende them For to fyght wyth this wycked world for worshyppe of this holy name and helthe off soules as he dyde to his Appostlis on wytsondaye the whiche token specyal tokenes of grace Ryght soo this hooly mayde aboue the condycion of alle other wymmen after tyme she was thus confermed iâ— grace she was sente openli for the wourshyppe of god to procure helthe of sowles as it shall bee declared by the helpe of god here afterward more openly And therfore I trowe it was that she toke of our lorde the token of confyrmacioÌ„ of grace that she sholde boldely and myghtely doo execucion of that that our lorde commaunded her Thus shall I make an ende of this chapytre and of the fyrst parte of the legende of this hooly mayde saynt katheryn of Scene to the worship of the holy trynyte and to helthe of sowles Regnaute semper in oiÌ„ê° scis domino nostro Ihesu cristo quiÌ„ cum patre almoque spuÌ„iscoÌ„ viuit et regnat deus Per oiÌ„a secula seculorum Amen ¶ Here begynneth the second partye in the whiche is shewed the conuersacion of this holy mayde with men And how the gyftes whiche she hadde receyued off oure lorde pryuyly enclosed wythin herself were openly shewed to the worlde And fyrst how oure lorde bad her that she sholde be conuersaunt amonges men Capitulum Prymum â—After tyme that this holy Mayde was despoused as it is rehersed afore our lorde began to drawe her litill and lytyll to the conuersacion of men And that was full mennerly and mesurably not for to wythdrawe vtterly fro her his dyuyne presence but rather as moche as longeth to the mesure of perfection for to encrese it as it shall be declared openly afterward And therfore in a tyme whan he appyred to her and hadde taughte her of the kyngdom of heuen and shewed her many mysteryes And also to seye the psalmes and the houres of dyuyne seruiÌ„ce as it is rehersed afore forthwith he bad her that she sholde go doune to mete with other of her moders housholde and afterward that she sholde come agayn to him Whan this holy mayde herde this she sobbyd and wepte fyll doune to his feete for sorowe and fayde to hym thyse wordes O swete Ihesu lorde why puttest thou me awaye fro the and yf I haue offendyd and displesyd the mayster Loo lord there is myn body at thyn feet punysshe it I shal gladly helpe therto suffre me not good lord to be punysshed wyth soâ— sharpe and soo hard a payne to be departed in ony maner of wise fro thin blissed presence what haue I to doo wyth that mete I haue mete that they knewe not of whether receyueth anone more lyf by bodely metes or by ghostely metes Lorde as thou knowest well I haue fledde the conuersacion off men that I myght the sonner fynde and now sythe I haue founde the by the mercy and graciously thou haste shewed the to me though I am vnworthy sholde I nowe than forsake this precious tresour And put me to the conuersacion of men eftsones and soo ben founde reprobable in the faythe A nay lord suffer not that be soo for thyne infynyte goodnes whaÌ„ she had thus longe wepte and weyled wyth swete sobbyng wordes oure lorde sayde to her suffre now dere doughter for it is full semely to the that thou shodeste fulfylle all maner of vertu that not only it be fruytfull to thyn self but also to other by myn specyall grace it is not myn entent for to dysceuere or departe the from me in ony maner of wyse But rather I shall haue the to me more strenger by medytacions of neyghbours charyte Knewest thou not well that in thise two thynges scondeth the perfection of myn commaundementys that is in loue off god and loue of thyn neyghbour I wil therfore that thou wyll fulfylle the verof thyse two preceptis that thou may go to heuen not wyth one wynge but wyth tweyne Haue doughter how of thin yonge age thou hast had hyther to a yele a loue of helthe of sowles by me it hathe be encresyd in so moche that in thyn yonge age thou purposed the to feyne the aman by cause thou myghtest the sonner be receyued amonge the order of the fryer prechours in straunge contrees that thou sholdest not be knowen soo for to prouffyte to the helthe of mennys soules for that synguler loue that thou haddest to myn seruaunt Domynyk thou desyrest wyth a grete honour his habyte that thou now hast receyued the whiche domynyk pryncypally for helthe of soules I ordeyned that order why merueylest thou wey lest thou soo yf I brynge the to that that thou hast soo longe desyred Wyth thyse wordes of our lord this holi maide was gretely comforted sayde vnto hym lyke as our gloryous lady gloryous vyrgyn marie sayde to gabriel suche wordes QnÌ„o fit istud A good lord in what wyse what maner may this be done Our lord sayde agayn as myn goodnes shal dyspose ordeyne ThenÌ„e she as a good dyscyple a trewe folower of her mayster Cryste Ihesu sayde lord thyn wyl be done in all thynges and not in me for I am derkenes and thou art lyght I am she that is nought and thou art he that is ought I am she that is vnwis and
thou art he that is endeles wysdom of the fader But yet I praye the lord in what maner of wyse may this be that thou seyste now that I wretche than am soo freell shold be soo profytable to mannys soule Thou knowest well lord that men setten lytyll store by womens wordes speke the neuer so vertuously as it were not semely Ne lyuest thou that wymmen sholde be more conuersaunt amonges men To this our lorde answerd in maner as Gabryell answerd oure gloryous lady gloryous vyrgyn Mary and sayd there is none word that cometh fro goddes mouthe vnpossyble at hym for to be done Am not I he the whiche hathe made mankynde bothe man and woman and the shappe of euery eyther And where that I wyl enspyre myn grace al is one to me both man and woman the necke agayn in his kynde But by cryeng of one of this maydes susters to her that she sholde cese she lefte of And after tyme that her spyryte was restoryd agayne to the bodely wyttys she felte her necke soo sore as thought it had be smyten wyth many grete strokys There as the hooly mayde tolde it afterward to her confessour maister Reymoūde yf her moder hadde put neuer so lytyll more strengthe than she dyde to ryghting of her necke as she was aboute ▪ she shold haue broken her necke with suche maner passyng out of the body The sowle of this holy mayde was ofte tymes rauysshyng ▪ so that other whyle by vyolens of the spyryte the body was lefte vp fro the erthe as marie Magdalene was in tyme of her rauysshyng as it shall be declared afterward more openly ¶ But now I shall tell you of a myracle that befyll in the begynnynge of her rauysshyng It befyl in a tyme whan this hooly mayde tournyd a spete or a broche wyth flesshe by the fyre of hote brenning coles her sowle was enflam̄ed and brente in the mene whyle wyth the fyre of the holy ghoste And anone she was rauysshed fro her bodely wyttes seasyng for the tyme of her tournyng of her spytte Whā her brothers wyf the whiche was callyd Lysa perceyued this knowyng the condycions of this holy mayde ▪ she toke the spytte of her honde and lete her alone whan the mete was ynow ▪ and also folke had suppyd yet she bylefte in the sarauysshyng Thenne Lysa bethought her to abyde vpon her vnto the tyme that she hadde doo She brought her husbond a bedde and her chyldren and came agayn to aspye how she dyde and founde here falle doun in to the hote brennyng coles wyth that Lysa weyled and cryed and sayde Alas alas katheryn is alle brennyd and ran to her anone and pullyd here out of the fyre A and founde her clothes nothyng hurt ne brente ne hauynge noo maner of tastyng of the fyre ne yet more ouer there bylefte nomaner of asshes vpon her clothes Loo perceyue ye not maydens what vertu of gostely fyre was wythin this maydes sowle by whos myght the strengthe of that outward naturall fyre was vtterly wytdrawe See ye not how the myracle of the chyldren whiche were caste in to the ouen for to be brent was thenne renewed in this holy mayde And this myracle was not onys shewed in her but ofte tymes ¶ Onys it befyll her as she was in the chyrche of the fryers whan she was soo rauysshed she bowed her hede doune to a pyler in the mene whyle in the whiche pyller there were certeyne ymages of dyuerse sayntes at the reuerens of whiche sayntes there was a man styked vp a waxe candell brennyng the whiche candell fyll doune vppon thys holy maydes hede in tyme of her rauysshyng And soo it brennyd vppon her hede in to the tyme the candell was all wasted And soo she had no harme Was not this a merueylous thynge and a wounderfull that the candell brennyd vpon her hede till it was wasted and hurte nothynge her kerchies ¶ And whan the candell was all brente It quenchyd vpon her hede as though it hadde be quenchyd vpon a stone or vppon erthe ¶ Of this myracle bare wytnesse many of her susters that sawe it and tolde afterward to her confessour Mayster Reymound One of the susters whiche sawe it was called lysa another Alyxa and the thyrde Francisca Yet besyde as this it befyll lyke vnto the same of her in dyuerse places of the worlde there that she came Namely whan she was aboute to edefye men̄ys sowles to vertu than the fend by his malyce was gretely stered agaynst her by the sufferaūce of god and soo ferforth that in the presence of many of goddes seruauntes he kast her in to a fyre And whyles other were aboute to drawe her out wyth wepyng and weylyng she smyled vpon theym and come out of the fyre by her selfe and was nothynge hurte neyther in body ne in her clothes Thenne she sayde to theym that stode aboute beeth no thynge aferde For it is myn ghostely enemye the fende that hath doo this myracle this recordeth dyuerse that sawe it to mayster Reymound her confessour ¶ Another tyme also in her chambre bi her beddes syde there was an erthen panne wyth brennynge coles in the whiche brennyng coles the enuyous fend caste her wyth suche a strengthe that her hede was the fyrst that fyll in the fyre and so the panne to braste for vyolence of the stroke and yet her hed was in noo wyse hurte She arose vp and sayde wyth smilyng there to a deuoute woman whiche was callyd Gabryell Loo how this malycions enemye werketh Lyke to I ride in vitas patrum of a woman that was callyd Infracia and therfore it is none merueyle though our lord suffer the fende to werke suche thynges in his derlynges and chosen chyldren sythen it so was that he suffred hym to werke as harde thinges in his persone whā he suffred hym to sette hym vpon the pynacle of the temple And vppon the hye hylle ¶ Tus by suche merueylous thynges our lord wrought merueylously in hys mayden katheryn soo that she encresyd more and more by his grace euery daye in his perfection and as moche that loue was bothe rote and cause of all her werkys The charytable werkisof her neybours passed all other werkys And the charytable werkys was in double wyse that is bothe to body and soule ¶ The fyrst shall I telle you of the dedis of charyte and of mercy that she dyde to her neyghbours that were syke in body And afterward of the dedes of charyte and of mercy that she dyde to theym that were seke in sowle The nexte chapytre shal declare openly of dyuerse merueylys that our lorde shewed in her in helyng of poure folke And also of a merueylous charyte that she shewed a nemptis hem that were seke in body The wytnesse of this chapytre is rehersed wythin the same chapyter ¶ Of woundres whiche she dyde in helthe and in comforte to the necessyte of theym that were poure and nedy Capytulum
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
her stomak ony mete the whiche was mete wurthy as for that tyme yet she spet out fro her grete mater off flewme as other folke dyde the whiche myght not bee by nature But yf the stomake hadde receyued somme substaunce afore and thrfoere our lord wrought merueylously in her aboue nature Also as for drynkynking of colde water she receiued it gladly to refresshe her chykes and her throte This maner of lyf she lyued vnto her I aste ende for grutchers and for theym that were slaundred by her fastinge Her confessour Mayster Reymound perceyued how grete peyne she suffred by vndygestyon of her stomake and all for to stoppe grutchers he conforted her for coÌ„passyon that he hadde vppon her that she sholde leue and ete nomore rather than for to suffre suche a payne And lete theymgrutche ynow To whom she answerd smylyngly fader is better for meto suffrein this lyfefor my synÌ„es thanne for to suffre payne endelesly Her grutchyng is to me profytable by cause I shall be delyuerd of payne wythouten ende for the payne that I suffre in this lyf sholde I fle the ryghtwysnes of god Nay god forbede it oure lord doth to me grete grace by cause he giueth me myn payne in this lyf Soo her confessour coude nomore answere to her but helde his peas in this wyse ¶ Of alle her enemyes she had the maistry what soo in maner of the fende and of grutchers so she taughte other to do euery daye So that in a tyme whan she comynyd wyth her confessour of the gracious gyftes of our lord She sayd who soo coude vse the grace of oure lorde He sholde euer haue the vyctorye of all thynges that fallen to hym And thenÌ„e she tourned to her confessour and sayde to hym soo I wolde that ye dyde as ofte as ony newe thynge byfalleth to you be it prosperyte or aduersyte thynketh with in your self and sayth ofte this I wyll wanne somwhat and ye doo soo ye sholde soone be ryche in vertu ¶ Loo maydens haue mynde of thysnotable doctryne for thus I make an ende of this chapytre The wytnes of all thynges the whiche ben wryte therin Is this holy mayde eyther by her opyn dedes or ellis by her wordes And also her confessour the whiche was a fore maister Reymound ¶ Of the wounderfull rauysshyng and excesse of her mynde for her bodely wyttees And of grete reuelacions I shewed to her of oure lorde Capitulum vj rIght as oure lorde graunted to his spouse this holy mayde a synguler lyuyng as touchyng her body â–ª ryght soo he vysyted her soule wyth grete merueylous confortes of reuelacions Fyrst for the grete habouÌ„dant graces with her come that bodely strengthe that she had aboute kynde Wete ye right wel that fro the tyme that this holy mayde had I dronke of oure lordes syde the drynke of lyf as it is rehersid a foâ—â— many grete graces were habouÌ„dant iÌ„ her that ofte times ofte times as it had be in maner contynuabyl She was occupyed in actuell coÌ„templacion and her spyryte was lowyd to our lord that for the more parte she by lefte wythout felyng in her bodely wyttes Soo that as it is rehersed in the fyrst party her armes were founde ofte times soo styf in tyme of suche actuell contemplacion that rather they sholde breke theÌ„ne bowe Her eyen were all closed her ere 's herde none noyse were it neuer so grete and her bodely wyttes for that tyme were sequestred fro her owne werkynge ¶ This sholde be none merueyle to noman yf they wolde take hede to that syweth Oure lorde began to bee soo homely with her and brennyd her sowle wyth soo moche haboundante fyre of loue not oonly in pryuy places but also in open places as well stondyng as goyng that she the whiche hadde thyse grete graces by knewe it playnely to her confessour she coude fynde none wordes for to telle expressely the grace that she felte ¶ For in a tyme whan she prayed to oure lord feruentely wyth the Prophete Dauyd seyeng deuoutly thyse wordes ¶ Cor meum crea in me deus et spirituÌ„ rectum innoua in visceribus meis That is prayng our lorde specially that he wolde take awaye her herte her owne wyll and gyue her a newe herte after his wyll She hadde suche a comforte that her semed that our lord Jhesu come to her and opened her lyft side and toke out her herte and went his waye and belyfte her with out her owne herte ¶ Afterward it befyll that she commynyd wyth her confessour and amonges all thynges she sayde that she had none herte in her body the whiche wordes her coÌ„fessour sâ—â—rned her in a maner and blamed her for she sayde soo Thenne she rehersed eftsones and confermed her wordes trewely fader as moche as I maye fele yet after the felyng of myn body me semeth I lacke myn herte for oure lorde apperyd to me and opened myn leste syde and toke out myn herte and went his way Thenne the confessour sayde that it was vnpossyble that she shold lyue with out an herte she sayde naye there is nothynge vnpossyble to god And therfore she bad hym gyue credens that it is so For ofte tymes after ward she rehersed that she lyued without herte with in a fewe dayes afterward it befyll that she wente to a chapell of the fryers where susters of penaunce were wonte to knele And whan all were goo home it befil that she contynued in her prayers so that she was fro her self by rauysshyng and at the laste she awoke of her rauysshyng and went homward And as she wente by the waye sodenly a lyght of heuen bicliped her And in that lyght aperyd our lord holdyng in his honde a reed shining herte in lykenes of a mannys herte At the commyng of thys heuenly lyght she was aferde that she fyll doune vppon the grounde Thenne came our lorde to her openyd her lyftesyde eftsones and pute in her body that herte the whiche he hylde in his hondes seyng to her thus ¶ Loo dere doughter as I toke awaye thyn herte the laste daye ryght soo now I giue the myn herte wherby thou mayst lyue endelesly whan he hadde so doo he closed the wounde agayn that he made open in the flesshe Neuerthelesse there by left a merueylous marke in the lykenes of a wouÌ„de heled in the same place euer afterward where as her felawes tolde her confessour Mayster Reymound for ofte tymes they sawe it as she coude not forsake it to hym whan he askid it of her whether it were soo or not Out of that meruayllous gracyous herte that was so I gyuen hyr of our lord came out many meruayllous werkys And yet many moo meruayllous reuelacyons haboundeth wythin forth She came neuer afterward for to be hoseled but that ther was shewed to hyr many synguler gyftes of grace Oft tymes she sawe a lytell chylde in the prestys handys and other whyle a well growen
chylde other whyle an hote brennyng ouen of fyre And whan the preste receyued that blyssed sacrament it semed to hyr that the fyre entred in to hym But whan she shold be houseled ofte tymes she tastyd so grete an odour of that blyssed sacrament that almost hyr body defaylled Euermore also whether she sawe or receyued the blyssed sacrament She receyued with all a newe ioye in hir soule so that many tymes she sholde daunce in hir body for ioye makyng a noyse that hyr felawes myght here hyr the whiche tolde it afterward to hyr confessour and he enquyred the trouthe whether it were so and founde it trewe and soo wrote it for a perpetuell recorde That sowne and that noyse was not lyke other maner comyn sownes of men but as it hadde be a noyse aboue comyn cours of kynde what meruayll was that though she made a ioyfull noyse aboue kynde Syth it so was that she hadde receyued an herte aboue kynde For after tyme that she hadde receyued that newe herte as it is rehersed afore she semed that she was not the same that she was afore ofte tymes she sayd to hyr confessour See ye not fader that I am not the same that I was afore but rather chauÌ„ged in to another persone O wolde god fader ye knewe that I fele for I trewe veryly yf a creatour knewe that I fele in my sowle he sholde be resolued made ryght esye were he neuer so harde For my sowle is full of melodye and ioye And it is meruayll to me how it may abyde in the body There is also grete hote brennyng of dyuyne loue therin that thys outward materyall fyre semeth me in coÌ„paryson of that fyre rather colde than hote Also of that ghoostly hote is kynde led in my sowle as me semeth soo grete a loue of my neghbours that my thynketh I myght gladdely suffre for them bodely deth wyth grete ioye And ouermore out of that ghoostly hote is come to my soule a renewyng of purytee and mekenes in so moche that me semeth I am brought to the same purytee and mekenes that a chylde of foure or a fyue yere age is Inne All this she tolde to hir confessour preuely and to none other After tyme that thys holy mayde was thus fulfylled in hyr sowle of suche plente of newe gracys that were many notable vysyons shewed to hyr of whom somme I shall reherce by the grace of god ¶ Fyrste our lord Jhesu hys blessyd Moder and Marye magdalene appyred to gydres to hir and comforted hyr in hir holy purpose whome our lord axed and sayd Doughter what desyrest thou She wyth wepyng chere answerd sayd Lorde thou knowest what me nedeth better than I for I haue no wyll but thyne ne none herte but thyn hert Thenne came to hyr mynde how Marye magdalene commytted hyr self fully to our lorde whan she satte wepte at his fete Wyth that she felte the same swetenesse of loue that Marye magdalene felte that tyme whan she wepte Wherfore she behelde Marye magdalene Our lord ê‘ceyued that and for to fulfyll hyr desyre he sayd Loo dere doughter for thy more solace and coÌ„forte I gyue the Marye magdalene to be thy moder To whome thou mayst trustely go to and be comforted for to hir specyally I commytte thy gouernaunce For this grete gyfte this holy mayde thanked our lord wyth gpete mekenes reuerently deuoutly she comended hyr ghoostly gouernaunce to Marye magdalene prayng hyr that she wolde wouchesauf to take hyr vnder gouernaunce Syth our lord had specyally commytted hyr to her Fro that houre euer afterward the holy mayde called Marye magdalene hyr moder the whiche was not doo wythout grete mysterye as me semeth for as Marye magdalene lyued xxxiij yere in a â—oche wythout bodely mete and all that tyme was I occupyed in comtemplacyon Ryght so this holy mayde fro that tyme that she was endowed wyth these newe graces vnto the age of xxxiij yere afterward whiche yere she passyd out of thys worlde She was so occupyed in dyuyne contemplacyon that she hadde neuer nede all the tyme of bodely mete And yet as Marye magdalene was take vp in to the ayre by aungels seuen tymes in the day where she herde the pryuetees of god Ryght so this holy mayde for the more partye all hir yeres she was rauysshed fro hyr bodely wyttes by strengthe of the sowle that was occupyed in contemplacyon of heuenly thynges and so praysed our lord wyth aungels in so moche that often tymes hyr body was lyfte vp in to the ayre of the whiche many men wommen that sawe hyr for that tyme bare recorde Ouermore in that rauyssheng she sawe many meruayllous thynges spake preuely in tyme of hyr rauysshyng many hygh wordes of contemplacion of the whiche som I shall tell you afterward Hyr confessour saw hyr ones in a tyme rauysshed fro hyr bodely wyttes in the same wyse as it is rehersed afore and he herde hyr speke preuely thenne he came nere for to lysten clerely what she sayd and he herde that she sayd formably thyse wordes in latyn Vidi archana dei And that was sayd often tymes other wordes sayde she none but thoo Whanne she was restoryd ageyne to hyr bodely wyttes she cessyd not to reherse these same wordes coÌ„tynuelly and it is nomore for to say but I haue seen the pryuetres of god Thenne hyr confessour desyryng for to knowe why she rehersed tho wordes so ofte axyd hyr in thys maner of wyse Good moder why rehersed ye soo ofte the wordes wyll not tell me what ye mene as ye were wonte to do She answerde I may not say none other wyse Hyr confessour axed hyr why and what is the cause ye were wont to declare me many thinges that our lord hadde shewed to you why wyll ye not do so now theÌ„ne she sayde I sholde haue as grete conscyence therof yf I sholde declare to you that I haue seen wyth my langage that is soo vnperfyte as I sholde haue yf I blasfemed our lord or Inhonoured hym for there is a grete dyffrence bytwene the vnderstondyng or intellecte of the sowle Illumyned of god the expressyng of wordes they seme contrary eche to other therfore as for this tyme I can not tell you what I haue saye for they ben vnspekable For this skylle me thynke that she was well commytted by the dyuyne prouydence of our lord to Marye magdalene that a faster shold be knytte to a faster and a louer to a louer And she that had so hygh contemplacyon to hyr that was soo hyghe in contemplacyon Also hir confessour rehersed of hir that after tyme she saw that vysyon of our lord hys blessyd moâ— and Saynt mary magdalene that for that tymeit semed hyr that hyr herte went Inne by the syde of our lorde in to his herte and was made bothe one so that she felte hyr soule all for melte relented by the strengthe of
aske a remeuyng awaye of his deth but rader an hasti ende of his deth the whiche our sauyour declared full openly afterward whan he sayde to Judas Quod facis fac cicius That is frend that thou shalt doo doo it anone ¶ Neuertheles though it soo were that the forsayd paynes full drynke of his desyre were to hym ryght greuous for to drynke yet as ryght an obedyent chylde to the fader he sayde thus Veruntamen non sicut ego volo sed sicut tu Fader I desyre that myn wyll be not fulfilled but thy wyll offeryng hym self redy by thâ—se wordes for to suffre dayly of his payne full desyre as longe as it lyked to hys fader soo that the fyrst wordes where he sayd Transfer hunc calitem c. Fader a voyde this paynfull fro me he vnderstode not for to haue a voyded his passyon that was to come But the passyon of hys desyre afore by suffryng the deth for helthe of mannes sowle for to be endyd Thenne sayd mayster Reymond Moder comynly after exposicion of doctours our lord sayd tho wordes as a veray maÌ„ and hede of all hys chosen bothe fâ—eel and strong whos sensualyte naturelly drede the deth that he myght by example to all bothe to freel folk and to strong folk that they dyspeyre not all be it they felte they re sensualytâ—e kyndely dredyng the deth Here to this holy mayde answerd and sayd that the actes the dedys of our sauiour yf they ben wysely consydered euery creature after hys consyderacyon may fynde in them ghostly felyng as it is spedefull to hys helthe And therfore syth it is soo that feble freall creatures fynden in tho wordes comfort ageynst theyr feblenesse it were ryght necessary thenne that perfyt folk myghty shold fynde also ther Jnne coÌ„fyrmacyon of theyr strengthe the whiche myght not be but by thys exposycyon afore â–ª Therfore it is better that it be expowned in many maners so that al may be comforted ther by theÌ„ne in a maner of wyse for one maner of folk allone Whanne mayster Reymond herde this he helde hys peas meruayllyng of hyr grete wysdom grace that she had for he her de neuer that exposycyon afore ¶ Another exposycyon of the same wordes by the same holy mayde Mayster Reymond founde wryten in a book that hir fyrst confessour wrote they ben these In a tyme whan she was rauysshed she lerned of our lord that the prayer the whiche he made a fore hys passyon whan he â—watt bothe blood water seynge thus Transfer hunc calicem â— That is fader remoue this peynfull passion fro me He prayed thenne for them whome he sawe afore that wolde haue no parte of his passion the whiche was to him peynfull passyon And by cause he loued ryghtwysnesse he put a condycyon and sayd VeruÌ„tamen non mea voluntas That is neuthelesse fader be not my wyll fulfylled but thy wyll and yf he had not putto suche a condycyon it wolde haue folowed ther on she sayd that all folk shold haue be saued After tyme thenne that he had thus prayed he was herde as saynte Poule sayd for hys reuerence Exauditus est ê“pter suam reuerenciaÌ„ In exposycion of this wordes of saynt Poule comynly doctours vnderstonden the same It had be ellys meruaylle but that the same sone of god sholde haue be herde Also she sayd another tyme to mayster Reymond taught hym that the passyons whiche our our lord god Jhesu Cryst ve ray god and man suffred for the helthe of mankynde were so myghty that it were impossyble ony man in erthe for to suffre but that he sholde dye it were possyble many tyme yf that he suffred them For ryght as his loue that he had thenne hath yet to mankynde vnestymable vncomperable Ryght so hys passyon that he suffred by constreynyng of loue allone was vnestymable Who wolde beleue that the thornes of hys crowne sholde perysshe in to the brayne Or that the bones of a quyk man sholde be drawe out of they re ioyntes For the ê“phete sayd of our lordes passyon thus DinumeraueruÌ„t omnia â–ª ossa mea That is they tolde nombred all the bones of my body So thenne it may be proued that the pryncypall cause of hys passyon was loue the whiche he shemed for mankynde And it myght not be shewed more conuenyently than by hys passyon By this it semed that the naylles helde hym not vpon the crosse but hys loue onely Ne the strengthe of man ouercame hym â—ot but loue How were men so stronge for to holde hym that at a worde of hys mouthe they fyll doune to the grounde whan they came for to take hym Suche hyghe wordes conuenyent wordes of our lordes passyon this holy mayde coÌ„myne wyth mayster Reymond And yet she sayd more that she had experyence in hyr body of som maner of passyon that Cryst suffred on the crosse â–ª Of all she wold not say for that was Impossyble to ony erthely creature But specyally by cause of the grete loue that she had to our lord to his passyon the most peyne that she suffred was in hyr herte soo that it semed to hyr other whyle that hyr herte was to braste cutt a sondre fro that one ende to that other And for thys grete peyne of loue she was oftymes dede to all mennys syght Of thys bare wytnes many one the whiche were presente whanne she dyed for the loue of Crystys passyon allone Here of was mayster Reymond in grete doubte But for to put awaye that doubte he thought to comen wyth this holy mayde serche the sothe of hyr whether it were so or no. Whanne he axed hyr this She for grete wepyng coude gyue none answer long tyme to gydre but at the last she sayde Fader wolde ye not haue grete pyte compassyon of a sowle that were delyuered out of a derke pryson to lyght and after tyme it had see so mery a lyght eftesones to be reclused ageyn in the same derke prysone I am that same wretche that thus happed me by the ordynaunce of god for my synnes Then ne mayster Reymond axed hir where hir sowle was fully departed fro the body To whome she answerd sayd thus That the feruent fyre of dyuyne loue of ghoostly desyre was so moche in hyr herte for to lyue with our lord endelesly whom she loued That though hyr herte hadde be of stone or of yren it must nedys to breste Therfore fader vnderstondeth thys for trouthe that myn herte of myn body was thenne vndo opened fro the ouermost partye to the nether onely by the strengthe of pure loue so that me semeth yet I fele the markys of that syssure in myn herte By this ye may knowe that the sowle was fully for that tyme deê‘ted fro the body and sette in the presence of god where I sawe the preuytâ—es of god that is vnâ—efull for
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
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
wyll of god Neuerthelesse though in maner she bowed our lord to hyr prayers yet she myght not enclyne hir moder wyll by hyr exortacyons ¶ Thenne our lord spake to hys spouse Katheryne and sayde Telle thy moder that she hath now no nede to passe out of this worlde but tyme shall come that she shall desyre for to deye and then̄e she shal not haue it and that was sothe ¶ Hyt befyll that she lyued in to a grete age and sawe many aduersytres in hyr dayes as well of persones as of theyr goodys in so moche that she sayde ofte tymes in heryng of many folke suche wordes Whether our lord Ihesu hath put a soule in my body that it shall neuer be delyuered thens So many chyldren and doughters grete and smale yong and olde ben dede and I may not deye ¶ Now I shall cesse of this mater and procede forthe in the fyrst mater that I began Lapa this holy maydes moder was of so harde herte that she wolde in no wyse dye ne by confessyd ne thynke in noo wyse on hyr soule he le ¶ Thenne oure lorde for to appyre more meruayllously in hys spouse Katheryne denyed in maner as it semed hys fyrste graunte And suffred Lapa to drawe fast toward the deth wythout confessyon Whan this holy mayde perceyued that she lyfte vp hyr eyen to heuen wyth wypyng terys sayd to our lord thus A a lord god ben thise thy behestys that thou hast graunted me that none of my faders houshold shold perysshe is this thy mercyable byheste that saydest my moder sholde not passe hens ageynst hyr wyll I see well now that she shall dye wythout sacramentys of holy chyrche Therfore I beseche the by alle thy mercyes that thou suffre me not to be deceyued and that I goo not hens a lyue vnto the tyme thou haste yolde to me my moder reuyued in soule and body ¶ These wordes and these meruayllous cause herde thre wimmen of Sene that were present ¶ Whan hyr moder as it semed by syghte and felyng was dede soo that they were aboute for to go home ageyne to theyr howses leuyng Lapa there for dede yf it had not ben that the holy mayde prayed as she dyd and therfore they abode the lenger Of the maners of these wymmen I shall tell you afterward ¶ Thys holy mayde contynued long in prayers at the last our lord herde hyr prayers gracyously and quyckened the soule and the body ageyne of Lapa that she lyued afterward vnto the tyme she was foure score yere of age and nyne wyth grete torment of herte for many aduersytres that she suffred as it was prophecyed to hyr afore by hyr doughter this holy mayde ¶ Of this myracle were wytnesse one Katheryne and Angelyna sustres of penaunce and also Lysa this holy maydes cosyn they were present whan Lapa was leyde forthe for dede and herden how this holy mayde prayed to oure lorde thus Lorde ben these thy behestys that thou behote me as it is sayd afore Of the remeynaunt of hyr age whan she was restoryd ageyne to lyf bare wyttenes many one Lo ye maydens here may ye knowe of what meryte this holy mayde was wyth our lord Ihesu that delyuered hyr faders soule out of purgatory and reduced hyr moders soule in to hir body ageyne meruayllously ¶ Another meruayllous thyng shall I tell you It happened that ther was a comyn pestylence of bocchys reygnyng in the Cyte of Sene soo that it oppressyd bothe men and wymmen yong and olde to the deth that comynly they dyed wythin two dayes or thre at the ferthest the whiche sekenes feryd many a man ¶ Thenne mayster Reymond wente aboute to vysyte seek folke and comforted them in god no thyng chargyng of the Infeccyon of that pestylence touchyng hys bodely deth soo that he myght wynne soules Whanne he hadde so vysyted them for werynes that he had in goyng aboute he restyd hym in a chyrche of our lady where to he hadde a grete deuocyon and namely for the persone of the same chyrche was a blessyd lyuer and well knowen wyth thys holy mayde Katheryne the whiche persone was called Syr Mathewe ¶ It befyll fewe dayes after that mayster Reymond wente out by the morowe for to vysyte seek folke as he was wonte And as he came by the chyrche of our lady for deuocyon that he hadde to our lady in that place and also for affeccyon that he hadde to the persone syr Mathewe he wente for to loke how he ferde Sodeynly whan he was entred in to the chyrche he sawe syr Mathewe bere vp in to hys chambre semynge as he hadde be dede by vyolence of that pestylence For he hadde lost bothe colour of hys face and strengthe of hys body and also hys speche ¶ Thenne mayster Reymond axed of other aboute what hym eyled They answerde and sayd that the nyght afore aboute one after mydnyght he was vppe for to vysyte a seek body And wyth Inne lytell tyme afterward he was take wyth the pestylence Here of was mayster Rymond ryght sorye folowed hym vp to his chambre as other dyd and then ne satte doun by hym Wythin a whyle after whan he was layde in hys bedde he recouered his spyrytes ageyne and callyd mayster Reymond to hym prayeng hym of confessyon and so was shryuen clene of hys synnes as he was ofte wonte to do After tyme that he was assoylled mayster Reymound axed how it stode wyth hym and he answerd and sayd ageyne that it greued hym so sore in hys grynde or in the flanke that it semed to hym his thygh wolde falle awaye and not onely the thygh but also the hede fareth as though it were departed in foure partyes by payne and ache that he suffred ther Inne Thenne mayster Reymond touchyd tastyd hys poūse and founde well that he hadde a passyng feuer Wherfore he had hys menye that they sholde bere hys water to leches and so they dyd But mayster Reymound folowed soone after to knowe verayly what the leches wolde saye To whome the leche sayde thus Thys man is take wyth the pestylence and therfore I drede me that the how 's of our lady shall wante and lacke a good persone ¶ Thenne axed mayster Reymond whether he myght be holpe by ony maner remedye of medycynes he sayd that he sholde assaye But he hadde no grete trust in noo medycynes by cause the sykenes was ryght greuous Thus mayster Reymond departed from hym wyth grete sorowe euer prayeng by the waye to our lord in hys soule that he wolde wouchesauf to saue hys bodely lyf Yet a whyle for hys example to many ¶ In the mene whyle this holy mayde herde saye that syr Mathewe was seek whome she loued tenderly for hys vertuous lyuyng Anone she wente home to hym and as soone as she sawe hym she cryed to hym and sayd ¶ Aryse vp syr Mathewe aryse vp for shame is it now tyme to lye a bedde Sodeynly thenne atte hyr callyng
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
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
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
haste gyue gyftes and make satysfactyon for thyn gyftes and answer for theym gyuyng to me a lyght of grace that thou maye yelde thankynge to the wyth the same lyght of grace Clothe me an make me that I maye bee arayed wythe thyn endeles trouthe that I maye renne this dedely waye wyth very obediens and wythg the lyght of the moost holyest teytn Loo maydens as nere as I myght and coude I haue translated worde for worde the wordes of the booke And prayer that this holy mayde of the whiche gyfte ye besely take hede ye maye worsâ—ippe the excellence of thys blessyd mayde not only as for her maner of â—yuyng but also for the doctryne of trouthe the whyche is ryght meruelous I sayde and namely of a woman ¶ Furthermore ye maye perceyue by thy se wordes that she desyred gretely to bee vnbounde of the body and be with cryste for she knewe and vnderstoode well that it was moche beter to be wyth cryst than to lyue in this lyf And therfore her desire euer encrecyd vnto the tyme she had fulli her desire and her full weddyng oned off the swete gloryous holy ghost the whiche was promytted vnto her in her yonge age whan she receyued of our gloryous lorde almyghty god the rynge of spousaâ—le as it is rehersyd afore in the laste chapytre of the fyrst party for in the nexte chapytre shall be declared how this holy mayde and virgyn passyd out of this world ¶ Of the tyme whan this hâ—oly mayde passed out of this world and of a sermen that she made to her ghoostely dyâ—â—yples and susteren to â—ore â—er passyng ¶ â—nd how she enformed them in generall and. enspecyall how they sholde gouerne they whan she was goo ¶ And or a vyâ—yâ—n whiche was shewed to a matrone in the houre of passyng Capituâ—um v WHanne this holy mayde perceyued and vnderstode by the reuâ—lacyâ—n that the houre or her dethe drewe nygh She drewe to her aâ— her ghostely dyscyples to whom she spaâ—e generally a longe notable sermon of exortacion to the encrece of vertu In the whyche exortacyon she expressyd somme certayn notabylytes the whiche I purpos to wryte in this boke ¶ The â—yâ—â—te notable doctryne that she taughte was thys That whatso euer he bet at cometh to the seruyce of god Yf he wyll haue good tâ—eâ—ely it is nedeâ—ull for hym that he make his herte naked from all sensyble loue not out of certayn persones but of euery creature what that euer he be than he hold stretche vp his soule to our reuerend lord maker symply wyth alle his desyre oâ—â— his herte for an herte may not holy be yeuen to god but it be fre fro all other loue opyn symple wythout doubâ—lnesse soo she affermed of her selfe that it was alle herâ— principall labour besynes fro her yong age vnto the tyme euer for to come to that ê‘fection also she sayd she knewe well that to suche a state of ê‘fectioÌ„ in the whiche al the herte is gyue to our gloryous lord almyghty god a soule may not come ê‘fyghly whyles she answerd other whyles she smyled as though she hadde soorned the wordes that she herde of hyr enemyes other whyles she was enflammed in loue of the holy ghost but one worde they marked well that herde hyr whan she spak in this ghoostly batayll After tyme she had be styll a certâ—yn tyme hering as it semed the wordes that were put ageynst hyr of hyr enemyes wyth a gladde chere she answerd thus Mayne glorye neuer but ve ray trowe glorye honour of my forde Jhesu cryst it was These wordes by the dysposycyon of oure forde were not sayde wythout cause for ther were many ghoostly men wymmen wened that for the grete graces that our lord had gyuen hir she had sought praysyng of the peple or ellys that she had som maner dylectacyon there Inne therfore they sayd she desyred to be conuersaunt among men in so moche that som wold saye to mayster Reymond hir confessour thus why â—enneth this womman thus about yf she desyre to serue god Why abydeth she not at home in hyr celle herto it may be answeryd as she answeryth afore to hyr ghoostly enemyes in hir passyng thus vayne glory neuer but ve ray trewe glory of my lord Ihesu cryst it was as though she myght answere thus I ranne not aboute ne dyde none other maner ghostly werke for vayne glorye but for the honour glory of my lord Ihesu crystis name That it was so the mayster Reymond bereth recorde of treuthe that herde hyr confessyon bothe generall specyall wherfore he recordeth for a sothe that all that euer she dyd hit was done for the worthyp of god and not for praysyng of men in so moche that she thouâ—t on noo man as for the tyme but whan she prayed for them so ordeyned for theyr bodely nede So that it myght be veryfyed of hyr the wordes of the apostle where he seyth thus Nostra conuersatio in celis est That is oure conuersacyon is in heuen so she what that euer she dyd in erthe hyr conâ—sacion was in heuen After tyme thenne she had long contynued in that long ghostely batayll wyth hyr enemyes she resorted ageyne to hyr self made a generall confessyon openly the whiche is callyd the confytroâ— axyng forgyuenes eftsonys â—o lowyng of doctryne exsample of saynt Martyne Saynt Jerom Saynt Austyn that shewed bothe in hyr dedys in hyr wordes that be a man neuer so excellent in vertue in this lyf he shold not passe out of this world wythout waylyng hertely penaunce for hys synnes In token here of Saynt Austyn in hys last ende whan he shold passe out of this worlde he ordeyned for to wryte to hym the seuen psalmes of penaunce for to be sette vpon the wall that he myght see tho psalmys as he laye in hys bedde The whiche psalmes he radde ofte wepte plenteuously in seyeng of them Also Saynt Jerom whan he sholde be dede he made a generall an open confessyon of hys synnes and defautes Saynt Martyne also in his laste ende taught hys dyseyples that a crysten man shold not deye but in asshys in heyre in token of meke hertety penaunce whom this holy mayde folowed in all maner of tokenes by shewyng of hertely penaunce axyng mekely many tymes oft absolucyon bothe of hyr synnes and paynes Thenne soone after she beganne to wexe more febler and febler but yette she cessed neuer of holy exhortacyon to all hyr dysciples bothe to them that were presente and to them that were absent And specyally that same tyme she charged all hyr dysciples to axe counseyll of mayster Reymond what doubte that euer they hadde And furthermore she had them saye to him whan he came home that he faylle not ne be not aferde for noo thyng that shall falle but euer contynue vertuously for she sayd that she
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
goddis chirche in heuen And in this chapytre is a recapytulacion of all the holy fyll of this gloryous saint and virgyn afore sayde for werynesse of reders Also yf eche maÌ„ may not haue all the hole holy lyf of this gloryous saint and virgyne afore sayde Thenne maye he haue the substauÌ„ce of it here compendyously rehersyd Capitulum vltimum THe holy doctour saynt Gregorye seyth in hys dyalogus that the vertue of pacyence is more commendable thenne shewyng of myracles This is the cause why our moder holy chyrche whaÌ„ she wodel Canonyze ony saynte fyrste she enquyreth of the vertue of pacyence Thenne of the shewyng of myracles that is for two skylles One is for many euyll lyuers haue do wond thynges shall do that semeth myracles all though they be none as Symon magus dyd Antecryst shall do in hys tyme. Another is by cause som ther hath ben that haue done shewed myracle by â—tue of our lord Ihesu the whiche haue be dampned afterward as Judas all tho thou our lord speketh of in the gospell where he sayth that som shall stande on the lyfte syde on the day of the generall dome saye to hym in excusyng of them self Lord haue we not in thy name shewed do wonderfull myracles To whome our lord shall answere ageyne say Go ye from me werkers of wickydnes by thyse two skylles ye may vnderstonde the holy chyrche in erthe may not only be certyfyed by myracles whether the ê‘sone be holy or not by whom they be shewed all be it that they shewe presumpcyon of holynesse And namely tho myracles that ben shewed after the deth of a ê‘sone for they were no sayntes at whos graues myracles ben shewed Yet were possyble that our mercyable lord sholde haue them excused yelde them after theyr meke beleue the whiche beleuen that they be sayntes Not for them that ben there beryed but for the glorye the ioye of hys owne name lest they the whiche beleue in hym be defrawded from theyr desyre wherfore our mod holy chyrche in erthe that is gouerned by the holy ghost desyryng for to be certefyed of tho merites of holy sayntes as moche as it is possyble in this lyf enquyreth specyally of theyr vertuous lyuyng of tho thynges that they wrought whyles they lyued in erthe Soo our lord Ihesu hyr spouse taught hyr to do whan he sayd Ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos That is of hyr werkys ye shall knowe them for it folowed aftward in the same place where that clause is wryten afore that a good tree may not bryng forthe euyll fruyte What ben thyse fruytes Trewely no thyng ellys but werkys of loue charyte bothe of god and of our neyghbours But by cause of these werkys of charyte ryght as they be plesaunt to our lord ryght so they ben dysplesaunt to the fende So that he is about in all that he can may for to lette the dedes of charyte bothe by hym self also by the worlde that is by worldly lyuers Wherfore it is full necessarye to holy lyuers to haue pacyence ê‘ceuerauÌ„ce yf they wyll be rewarded for theyr mede in blysse by the whiche pacyence they may conserue them kepe them in good loue of god and of theyr good neyghbours notwythstoÌ„dyng all maner ê‘secucyons Therfore it was that Saynt Powle assygned the fyrst condycyon of charyte pacyence whan he sayd Caritas paciens est That is charyte is pacyence Loo maydens this is the cause why oure moder holy chyrche in erthe requyreth more after the pacyence of a saynte yf he sholde be Canonyzed thenne after the myracles for among all â—tuous werkys yet pacyens is the grettest wytnesse of holynesse And this is sayd maydens be cause that ye shold not be in doubte of this holy maydens holynes for she had that vertue of pacyence full blyssedly As I shall tell you by the helpe of god of your good prayers rehersyng all hir dedes of pacyence by recapytulacyon of this hole legende namely for wery reders that thynken an houre in deuoute redyng is lenger than a daye and yf they were occupyed in tales tryfles thenne them semeth the long day â—hort thenne an houre Vnderstonde well maydens that this holy mayde Katherin ê‘ceyued that the vertue of pacyence myÈt not haue his gracious werkyng in a soule but fyrst vnlefull thynges were remeuyd awaye from it namely suche vnlefull thyngys that ben eâ—â—ytable to the lustes of the flesshe wherfore or thenne she came to the age of exê‘yence of flesshly lustes She â—emeuyd awaye myghtly all suche as suche thynges that sholde styre hyr whâ—n she came to age And yet she dyd not this wythout Inspyracion notable vision of our lord by the whiche InspiracoÌ„n whan she was â—j yere of age she saw our lord arayde as a bisshop sytting in a ryâ—t fayre chambre ouer the chirche of the fâ—ere pâ—echours Wyth whome she sawe aâ—so saynt Johan Euangelyst whyles she behelde our lord he lokyd vpon hyr full benyngly mekely and blyssed hir After this holy vysyon hyr soule was fulfylled wyth ê‘â—yâ—e loue that she putte awaye all chyldren condycyons gaue hyr selfe anone to prayer to penaunce and therin she encrecyd ê‘fytly that in the nexte yere after whan she was of vij yere of age she made a vowe of madenhode afore an ymage of our lady not sodeâ—â—ly but wyth grete delyberacyon afore as it is openly declared in the seconde the thrydde chapytre of the fyrst ê‘tye Furthermore by cause that this holy mayde wyst well that abstynence was necessary for to kepe the purpose of maydenhode Therfore she gaue hir to grete abstynence in hyr yong age ê‘fourmed it meruayllously For as it is reherâ—â—d in the thrydde chapytre of the fyrst ê‘â—ye in the vj chapytre of the same partye more largely the began preuely to leue flesshe And thenne as she encrecyd in age lytel lytell she lefte all maner etynge of flesshe therto she dranke no wyne but whan it was medled wyth watâ—r so that it had all most lost hys â—ast hys colour of wyne And whan she was xv yere of age she lefte bothe wyne flesshe all maner of metes out take brede rawe herbes Also whan she was xx yere of age she lefte brede took hir onely to dyetyng of rawe herbys soo contynued in that maner of lyuyng vnto the tyme our lord gaue hir a newe maner of gracious lyuyng whan she lyued without ony maner of mete that was whan she was xxv or xxvj yere of age as it is openly declared in the vj chapytre of the fyrst partye where is rehersed the cause the maner why wherfore she came to suche estate And where also is answered suffycyentely to them that grutched to that maner of lyuyng Whan this holy mayde hadde thus fully oâ—come the styryng of synnes that she came to the ê‘fyte vertue of
the whiche was one of the sustres of penaunce I shall tell you this womman Palmarya was hyghly sette in a wycked hate ageynst this holy mayde soo ferforthe that she dyffamed hyr wretchedly wherfore our lord gaf hyr fyrst a sykenes in hyr body Afterward she began to perysshe body and soule so that she myght not eshaâ—e dampnacyon but yf this holy mayde Katheryne by perfyte pacyence that charyte formyd in hyr soule had prayed for hyr as it is rehersed in the same for the chapytre of the seconde partye Also there was another suster of penauÌ„ce that was called Andrea as it is wryten in the same chapytre the whiche had in hyr brest a foule stynkyng kancre that ther was neuer one that wold minystre to hir for stenche Of this herde this holy mayde she cam to the syke woÌ„man serued hir gladly without ony squeymousnes in washyng wypyng of hyr wouÌ„de whan she felte in hyr self ony maner squeymousnes she wold then put hyr nose to the wouÌ„de long tyme to gyds vnto the tyme hir body defaylled but the lothenes went awaye ther by Thenne the fende Sathan entred in to the syke suster made hir to grutche with this holy mayde for to haue hir in suspeccion so wood she was wyth hir that she sclauÌ„dred hir openly to hir susters sayd that she had synned flesshely and loste hyr maydenhode ¶ Al be it that this hooly mayden and vyrgyn was heuy of this shlaunder yet she lefte neuer her seruyce to her but ouer came by meke seruyse and myghty pacy ence her malyce and wente to prayer as for a souerayn remedye agaynst suche accusacions at the laste by grace of thys holy mayde and vyrgyns prayers and by the merytes of her stronge pacieÌ„ce this seke suster sawe this holy mayde vyrgyn in tyme of her prayers transformed a fore her in to a grete lyght that she had therby grete comforte and repented here of her fals accusacion ThaÌ„ she called this holy mayde and vyrgyr to her and asked her forgyuenes af her cursed accusacion all other to whom she had shlaundred her she sent after and tolde theym that she hadde falsely accused this hooly mayde and vyrgyn wherfore she asked theym forgyuenes and thenne she tolde theym what she sawe of this holy mayde and vyrgyn affermyng to theym all that she was not only a pure mayde and virgyn but also an holy mayde and vyrgin Loo dere frendes there the fend wente to the fame this hooly mayde and vyrgyn by his malycious excitacioÌ„ there he magnefyed her vertuous name alle agaynste his wyll yet all this oure reuerend lorde almyghty god by medytacion of the vertu of pacience that was in her Thenne from that tyme forward this holy vyrgyns name encrecyd soo hyghely amonges the peple that it come to the audyence of two popes whiche were in her tyme and many cardynals ¶ Ferthermore of another thinge I shal telle you the whiche is writen in the same chapyter of the same woman Andrea It befell in a tyme whan this holy may de and vyrgyn wasshyd and wyped her stynkyng wounde The fende made her so skeymous that her stomake was meruey lously steryd for to caste wyth that she aroos saide to her sefl thus Trewely wretche thou that art soo skaymous off thyne susters sykenes leue it welle thou shalt receyue the fylte of her wounde with in thyn owne body Thenne she wente wysshe that stynkyng wounde and receyued the fylthe that came ther fro in to a dysshe and went a syde and dranke it of The nexte nyght after our reuerend lord apperyd to her and sayde Doughter in this dede thou passyst in myn syngh And thou hast therby pleasyd me more than in ony werke that euer thou dedest And therfore by cause thou hast doo soo merueylously a dede for my loue I shal gyue the a merueylous drynke by the whiche thou shalt be hadde in grete merueyle amonge alle creatours wyth that as it semed to her he putt her mouthe to the reuerend wounde of his swete blody syde And sayde doughter drynke ynongh of the drynke of myn syde that is merueylous and delectable bi the whiche not oonly thyn soule but thyn boody shal bee fulfylled the whiche thou hast despised for myn loue Fro that tyme forword her sâ—omake had none appetyte to ony matery al mete ne it nyght not defye ony mete and that was none merueyle For wher that ony creature hath receyued drynke habundauntly of the well of lyf what merueyle is it though it nede none helpe of other bodely mete Oute of this grace came that merueylous faste the which is rehersyd in the fyrste Chapytre off the seconde party Wherfore was all this grace graunted trowe ye dere frendes trewely for the charytable pacyens that she hadde to syke folke to all other for the grete charyte that was soo habouÌ„daunt in her herte receyued and toke the word of lyf the whiche brought forthe fruit in pacience that is thrytty folde fruyte syxty folde fruyte and an hondred folde fruyte Thrytty fold fruyte she brought forth by paciens that she shewed to Cecca the leprous woman syxty fold fruyte she brought forth by pacience that she shewed to Palmarya an hondred folde fruyte she brought forth by the pacience that she shewed to Andrea this laste seke suster Now I shall I telle you of somme thynges that ben not rehersed in the boke before vnnethe was ther ony body that had conuersacioÌ„ with this holy mayde and vyrgyn but that they dede to her many iniutyes and wronges one way or other soo that there was one of the fryers that was so fulfylled wyth the fende that in the presens of alle her susters he put to her full reproues and defamacioÌ„s She was neuer the more meued out off paciens but she charged her susters that they sholde not trouble hym ne telle nothynge afterward to other thar shold soune to her repreff what that euer they herd hym speke the more pacient the holy maide and vyrgyn was the more wood was he agaynst her so that in a tyme he stale her monye that was gyuen to her for to doo almes wyth yet for all this she was notfynge steryd but kepte alwaye patiently her charyte and so at the laste ouer came hym by her pacience ¶ Ouermore yf I sholde tell you of the grete pacience that she had in suffring of dyuerse infyrmytes of the body my payne sholde not oonly fayle me but also myn vnderstondyng she suffred euer coÌ„tynuelly the payne of ylica passyo as it is rehersed in the vj Chapytre of the seconde party where is declared and tolde clerly the cause why she hadde that infirmyte And therwyth she hadde a payne in the hede contynuelly And aboue all this she hadde a synguler continuell payne in her breste fro that daye that oure reuerende lorde almyghty god made her taste paynes of his precyous passyon as it is
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
myght worshypfully and parfy tably be wedded and to what prosone Hyr moder supposed that for the grete wysdome that hyr doughter had she sholde haue be wedded to somme man of grete kyneede where for she besyed hir fast aboute the bodely apparayll and araye of hyr doughter and taught hyr to wasshe ofte hyr face and to kembe ofte hyr hede and to make hyr fayre here and to voyde alle thynge that sholde be dyshoneste or sholde make foule hyr face or hyr necke That whan ony man came to aske after hyr for maryage she sholde be the more semely and fayrer Thys holy mayde was alle of another purpose and had made another vowe Alle be it she shewed it not to hyr fader ne moder wherfor vtterly she thoughte noo thynge to do as hyr moder bad hyr touchyng suche curyosyte She besyed wyth alle hyr strengthes to plese god but no man in that wyse And whanne hyr moder hadde aspyed that she had no wylle to that maner of lyuynge she was dysplesed and clepyd to hyr Bonauenture hyr other doughter whyche was late I wedded before And bad hyr trete soo hir suster that she myght araye hyr in bodely apparayll as the manere was of wymen in that contre that sholde be maryed and doo as she hadde bad hyr doo to fore Hyr moder knewe welle that Katheryne loued Bonauenture fulle tenderly and supposed that she sholde be broughte in to that more lyghtely by hyr suggestyons thanne by ony other And soo she was as ye shalle see after For by suffraunce of oure lorde she was broughte so Inne thorough speche and example of hyr suster Bonauenture by many maner wayes that at the laste she assentyd to hyr besynesse in apparaylle of hyr body after the wylle of hyr moder not wythstondynge that stably she kepte hyr purpose neuer to haue husbonde But after the grauÌ„te to hyr sustre and folowed hyr wylle in suche araye she maad soo moche sorowe whanne that she was confessyd therof wyth terys and sobbyng that eche body shold suppose that she hadde do somme greuous synne She vsed ofte to be confessyd generally and alway whaÌ„ she came to the poynt she accused her selfe full harde wyth wepyng sore sobbyng But the confessour alle be it he knewe that a vertue it is of god and lowely sowles to see in them self defaute where none is And where it is but lytyll it semeth hym full grete Neuerthelesse for asmoche as she accused her self and demed her worthy euerlastynge payne for that synne sauyng the mercy of god There he asked her whether she purposed or wylled in all that tyme to do agaynst her vowe She sayde nay for it came neuer in her herte Also he asked agayne whether she dyde it to the plesaunce of ony man In speciall or to the plesaunce of all men She answerd and sayde ther was none somoche payne to her as to be holde men or to be seyne of men or to be there men shold fynde her wherfore when her faders men that lerned dyers crafte in her faders hous came to ony place or chambre where she was she fledde as faste awaye as adders hadde come to her soo that all men wondred She wold neuer goo to the wyndowe ne to the dore of the how 's to see how men wente by the waye ThenÌ„e he sayd why deserued ye that dede whiche was but for a bodely ornamente euerlastyng payne namely whan the apparelle was not to excessyuely She answerd and sayde that to excessyuely she loued her suster And as her thought more thaÌ„ god as at that tyme wherfore she wepte wythout remedye and dyd harde penauÌ„ce Her confessour wold haue replyed agayne and sayde Alle bee it ther was somme maner excesse of loue it was but lytyll And that dede as of him self was not I doo for noo wycked or euyl entencion but for vayne plesaunce of her for the tyme and that was not agaynste the precepte of god She herde how her confessour replyed she lyft vp her eyen to god And wyth a lowde voys cryed and sayde A my lorde god what ghostely fader haue I nowe whiche excuseth my synnes and wyth a sore grutchynge agaynst her self she tourned to her confessour and sayde Fader thynke ye that this wretchedfull and mooste vnworthy creature of god whiche hath receyued of my maker of nought soo many gracyous yeftes wythout my labour And wythouten ony meryte shold occupye ony tyme in arraye and vayne apparelle of this roten flesshe whiche myght or induce a dedely synne I wene she sayde helle suffyseth not to punysshe me hadde not the pyte of god doo gracyously and mercyfull wyth me After thyse wordes her confessour durst nomore speke of that mater But than after that he besyed him to knowe yf that blessyd sowle had euer in her lyf be kept wythouten ony spotâ—e of dedely synne Soo that she hadde kepte fully hole her vyrgynyte both of body and of sowle Not only from the synne of flesshely steryng but also of alle maner of synne ¶ And after that he knewe how vertuous and how clene a sowle she hadde This wytnesse and recorde he bare of her conuersacion and both sayd and wrote that he coude neuer perceyue ne fynde nother by her generall confessyon ne speciall confessyon as ofte as euer she was confessyd â–ª And that was ryght ofte that she hadde offendyd agaynst the precepte of our lorde But yf it were that is tolde afore the whiche he myght not suppose it were agaynste the byddynge of god Ne he trowed none dyscrete man wold suppose it And also he sayde that he founde her euer soo clene fro venyall synnes that vnnethe he coude perceyue bi her cotydyan confessyon ony maner offeÌ„ce It was openly knowen not only to her confessours that knewe her conscyence but to all that were conuersaunt â–ª with her that neuer or seldon she offended in worde For eyther she occupyed her tyme in prayer and contemplacion or ellis in good edyficacion of her neyghbours And as for her tyme of slepyng vnnethes she wolde grauute to her a quarter of an houre And whan she sholde ete her mete â–ª yet it may be called a mete euer she prayed and thought holy medytacyons thynkyng of the thynges that she hadde lerned of our lord in her sowle More her confessyon Mayster Reymound bereth a trewe recorde of her for the tyme that he knewe her and hadde cure of her conscience that it was more payne to her for to ete her mete than it was to an hungry man for to be wythdrawe from hys mete And a grete tourmente it was to her body after tyme she hadde ete than it was comÌ„ely to a fenerous man in rennyng offhis feuer And this was one of the causes why she wolde ete her mete as it shall be declared wythin forthe for to tourmente and put in payne her body In what maner of trespaas myght suche a sowle be occupyed that alwaye was occupyed soo wyth our lord god
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
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
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