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
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
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
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
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
wolde be wyth hym and delyuer hym from all peryll And whan he doth ony thyng that he sholde not do I shall gyue hym warnyng she sayde for to amende Thyse wordes she sayd often tymes to tha last ende of hir passyng but the last worde that she sayd was this Domine in manus tuas comnendo spiritum meum And so that blyssed soule paste out of the body and was is complyd knytte to hir spouse Ihesu whom she loued so hyghly wyth an Indyuysyble and perpetuell on hede or vnyon The yere of our lord a thousand threhondred foure soore the nyne and twenty daye of Apryll the whiche was in the cyte of Rome and fyll vpon a sonday about the houre of tyerce that same and the same houre the sowle of this holy mayde appyred to mayster Reymond that was that tyme in ferre contreys and not by open bodely apparycyon but by mentall apparycyon seyng to hym in his soule suche wordes of comfort Drede the not for I am here for the I am in heuen where I may helpe the and defende be seker therfore drede not for I am here for the Wyth the whiche coÌ„fortable wordes mayster Reymond was in maner astonyed ameruaylled what it myght be wenyng that this comforte hadde come from oure blyssed lady moder of mercy by cause he stood a fore an ymage of heres and sayd an Aue maria But yet neuertheles he was aferde to thinke so by cause him thought he was vnworthy to haue suche a comfort of hyr And so what it myght mene or what it myght be or whennys it myght come he nyst neuer But afterward in heryng of another reuelacyon of this holy mayde shewed to a deuoute matrone he vnderstood the better what it myght mene soo whens it myght come Of the whiche matrone I shall tell you The same tyme whan this holy mayde passyd out of this worlde there was in Rome a deuoute matrone that was called Semya the whiche hadde two men to hyr sones to whome she was euery daye bothe moder and seruant in makyng of theyr mete Thys deuoute matrone after tyme hyr husbonde was dede she purposed euer after to serue god and visyte by pylgrymage holy sayntes of Rome and she continued many yeres She hadde also in custome for to ryse at mydnyght and praye and afterward for to take a lytell rest syttyng or lenyng wyth hyr hede that she myght be the more quycker on the morowe erly for to go hyr stacyons of Rome It befyll soone after that whan this holy mayde Katheryn was come to Rome this deuoute matrone took knowleche of hyr and was often tymes edyfyed by hyr good exhortacyons and soo hadde a good ghoostly affeccyon to hyr and was ofte tymes homely wyth hyr in hyr how 's almost euery daye Neuertheles a â—ytell afore this holy mayde deyed she came not to hyr bycause of certeyn besynes that she hadde to done what for hyr pylgrymages and the purueyaunce of mete for hyr sones And therfore she wyst not that this holy mayde passyd Thys deuoute matrone Semya arose vp atte mydnyght as she was wonte for to doo and praye a longe tyme to gydre she purposed for to reste a lytell by cause she wolde vp by tymes on the morowe for to here nasse and thenne for to be besye aboute hyr chyldren mete She dyde soo but euer she was trayueylled in hyr slepe that she sholde O wretche the fende hath deceyued the she â—se vp thenne and wente about for to seke in paryshe chyrches where somme hole masses were aseyeng as she wente she herde a beâ—le rynge to a masse in an how 's of Nonnys she was gladde thenne thyder she wente and lefte hyr wortys vnpy kyd vnwashe for hast and shytte hir do â—e bare the keye wyth hyr whan she came the masse was in the begynnyng wyth that she sayd to hyr self thus Now I wote well the fende hath not deceyued me as I wende Neuertheles as moche as she wyste well that the mete of hyr sones myght not be redy or they came home to mete she was sory but for the comforte that she hadde in hyr masâ—e she commytted all to god prayeng hym that he wold wouche sauf to kepe hir that day fro heuy wordes of hyr chyldren the whyche were growen men for she was sore aferde to dysplease them soo she herde forthe all the hye masse whan the hye masse was done as she wentâ— home she mette wyth hyr sones comynge homward to mete seyeng to hyr thus Moder hye you faste for it is tyme to go to mete She answerd ageynefull esely and sayd Good sones abydeth a whyle ye shall go to mete anone Whanne she was entred in to hir hous she founde hyr mete all redy ynough and the wortys all redy in the potte well soden at the full she was than astonyed than ked our lord that she had herde hyr masse and so badde hir sones sytte done to mete in the name of Jhesu thynkyng in hyr self that after none she wolde go vysyte the holy mayde Katheryne all the mete tyme she thought moche in that vysyon how it was coÌ„fermed wyth so grete myracles In the mene whyles hyr sones commended theyr mete sayd that it was beter sesoned that tyme than ony mete that they hadde eten afore many a daye but the deuoute matrones â—erte was alwaye vpon the vysyon seyeng wythin hyr selfe thus O moder Katheryne and crystis spouse Yet for all thys she wende not that she hadde be dede And whan hyr sones were a gone hadde etâ— she wente to Katherynes hous and knockyd at the dore herde none answere it was sayd hyr of the neyghboures there about that she was walkyd out for to vysyte holy places yet in treuthe hir susters were wythin waylyng And wolde not suffre none to entre in to the tyme they hadde axyd counseyll how they shold beâ—y the body At the last it was determyned amonges them that on the morowe the body shold be ladde to the frere prechours there for to do the seruyse as god wold ordeyne by counseyll so it was done But as soone as the body was come to the chyrche the people folowed for to touche hir fetâ— or hir clothys so that bothe the freres also hir sustres and other of hir dysciples were aferde lest they sholde haue borste toren hyr clothys therfore they sette the body wythin the chauntell of a chapell that was endued in the worshyp of Saynt Domynyk What that fyll afterwarde I thynke to declare you in the nexte chapytre by the helpe of god Casuelly whyles thys was adoyng Semya the Matrone came Inne the mene tyme and axyd what that noyse and concourse of people myghte mene Hyt was tolde hyr that Katheryne of Sene was passyd oute of thys worlde hyr body was in the chyrche wherfore the people gadred soo faste for to see it Anone whanne she herde
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
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
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
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
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
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
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