vp of hyr bedde not wythstondyng that she was seek hir self of the feuers and other dyuers passyons and sayd to hyr felawe Goo we and see we how srere Reymond dothe fare And hyr felawe answerd sayd that it was no nede though it were nede yet was she more seker than he Neuerthelesse yet she come to hym and axyd how he ferd Anone whan he sawe hyr he meruaylled gretety sayd to hyr as feâ—illy as he myght speke Aa lady why come ye hyther ye be agrete dele seker than I am Thanne she began to speke of the goodnesse of our lord as she was wonte to do and of oure vnkyndnesse ayenst hym Wyth that mayster Reymond hir confessour arose vp out of hys bedde gretely comforted by hyr wordes and sate in an other bedde besyde hauyng no mynde yet of the wordes that the holy mayde spake to hym at euen afore All this whyle she contynued in spekyng of the kyndenes of our lord and of oure grete vnkyndenes Sodeynly in tyme of hyr deuoute comunycacyon came to hys mynde a clere consyderacyon of hys synnes that hym thought he stode afore the ryghtwys Jugement to be condempned to the peyne for his wycked lyuyng ryght as a theef that stood before a temporall Juge Hym thought also that he sawe in hys soule the grete benygnyte the mekenes of our lorde that gracyously delyuered hym fro the peyne that he was worthy for to haue not onely that but also he clothed hym wyth hys owne clothes ther he was naked and had hym in hys holy how 's and fedde hym and nourysshed hym and accepted hym to hys seruyce and ther to by the synguler grace of hys ende Loo the goodnesse hys deth vnto lyf hys drede vnto hope hys sorow vnto ioye hys shame vnto worshyp By thyse consyderacioÌ„s clerely knowynges and syghte of hys soule the wyckettes of the wyndowes of his harde herte were broken vp opened and the wellys ryuers of wepyng terys aperyd plenteuouly by cause that the foundament the grounde of hys trespassys were shewed so clerely to hym in so moche that he wayled that he was aferde laste by suche grete plente of sorow hys herte his brest wold haue to barst Whan thys holy mayde saw that she was styll suffred hym a whyle to be fedde wyth hys owne terys for therefore she came Wythin a whyle after he cessyd lytell lytell and bethought him meruayllously of this newe grace thynkyng also of hys petycyon the whiche he axed of this holy mayde the day before wyth that he torned to hyr sayd is thys thy bull that I spak of to you yesterdaye She answerd sayd ye laynge hir hondes vpon hys sholdres seyeng thus haue in mynde fader of the gracyous yeftes of our lord And soo wente home to hyr chambre and he abode stylle wyth hys felawe gretely edyfyed comforted Another tyme the same mayster Reymond had another excellent token of thys holy mayde wyth out ony axyng afore Hit happed on a tyme that thys holy mayde was vysyted by dyuers sekenes laye seek in hyr bedde And sent after hyr confessour desyryng to comen wyth him pryuely of other newe reuelacyons the whyche our lord had shewed her grete sekenesse beganne to speke of the goodnes of our lord and of the reuelacion that he shewed hyr that day He heryng so grete reuelacyonâ— and wonderfull shewed to hyr and to none other that euer he herde of hauyng no mynde of the grace that our lord hadde gyue hym afore by prayers of this holy mayde He bethought hym of somthynges that she rehersed and sayd to himself thus whether it be all trewe that she seyth Whanne he had thought thus he loked sodeynly in hyr face and saw that hyr vysage was transformed in to mannes vysage berded the whyche vysage behelde hym stedfastly and made hym sore aferde Hit was to his syght a semely longe vysage of myddel age not hauynge to long a berde but of a resonable assise coloured after whete shewyng in his syghte a mageste after the mageste of oure lord Jhesu and myght in no wyse for that tyme see none other face but onely that face Of thys syght he had so grete a fere that he lyfte vp his armes and began to crye and sayd Oo who is he that loketh vpon me To whome this holy mayde answerd and sayd He that is seeth and beholdeth you wyth that worde that dredefull face vanysshed awaye and the maydens vysage appyred to him clerely Thys was no feynyng thyng but a trewe as he recordeth bereth wytnes in hys wrytynges He recordeth also for the more confyrmacyon of that myracle that after that sensybly vysyon he hadde soo clere a knowyng wythin hymself im his sowle by ghostly Illumynyng of the mater that the holy mayde spak to hym of the whiche he wyll not pupplyche it openly That hym thought he felt in experyence that thyng the whyche our lorde sayd to hys dyscyples whan he behote them the holy ghoost seyeng to theim thus Et que ventura sunt annunciabit vobis That is whan ye haue receyued the holy ghost he shall shewe thynges that ben to come Loo For the mystrust that he hadde to her wordes oure lorde of his gracyous goodnesse wouchesauf to teche hym clerely by him self he afterward for to bere wyttenes to other that hir reuelacions weren ben trewe pryntyng stedfastly in his mynde the grete graces that he shewed to Saynt Thomas of Inde for he that wolde not be taught enfourmed by open tokenes of gracyous gyfte the whyche he receyued by this holy mayde he was taught and enformed by example of suche a disciple that was mystrowyng as he was For after tyme he had receyued a gracyous token of conpunccyon of our lord a fore by merytes of holy prayers of this holy mayde yet he contynued in mystrust of hyr reuelacyons that they were not trewe Wherefor our lord himself shewed hym self openly to his outeward wyttys that he myght therby knowe by open experyence that he spak in hir so that it may be sayd that he shewed him thenne to mayster Reymond the whiche mystrowed as he dyd som tyme to saynt Thomas of Inde by bodely felyng And ryght as he cryed afterward sayd this worde Deus meus et dominus meus That is my god my lord So may thys mystrowynge renuwed saye after thise two vysyoÌ„s of this holy mayde that she is was the veray spouse and the veray discyple of our lord god All these ben rehersed to you maydens that ye sholde be in no doubte ne despyse the reuelacions and the vysyons the whiche ye shall here by the helpe of god afterward Alle be it that no wytnes may be founde of recorde saue she allone but that ye sholde here hem rede hem vnderstonde hem with reuerence And also that ye may lerne ther by holy examples doctrynes the whiche our lord hath shewed
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
all tho sayntes whiche laboured specyally a boute the helthe of mannes sowle She hadde also knowyng onely by the techynge of god that Saynt Domynyk ordeyned the ordre of frere prechours for loue of the feythe of holy chyrche and for the helthe of mannes sowle Wherfore she had that ordre in so moche reuerence that whan she sawe frerys of that ordre passyng forth in the waye by hir faders how se she marked wel where they wente and when they were passyd fulle mekely and deuoutely she kyssed the steppes of theyr fete From that tyme forward there wext a grete desyre in hyr sowle to go vnto that ordre that she myght profyte man nes sowle wyth other brethern of that ordre but by cause she sawe a grete obstacle in that she was a woman Therfore she thought to folowe Saynt Eufrosyen as mē clepyd hir in childhode wōderfully as for a pronostycacion that ryght as saynt Eufrosyen feyned hyr a man and went in to a monastery of monkes in the same manere thys mayde is purposed to seyne hyr a man and go in to ferre contree where she was not knowe and take the abyte of the ordre of frere prechours where she myght helpe sowles and saue them from perysshyng But yet not wytfstondyng that same thought and purpose abode longe in hyr mynde Our lord suffred not that thought to be perfourmed in dedene brought to execucyon for the loue was put from hyr mynde to another ende and our lord wolde also in another maner fulfyll hyr desyre In all thys tyme thys mayde wexte fast in body and encreced in age but moche more hyr sowle encreced in vertue Mekenes wext fast and deuocyon encreced feyth was more clere hope was gretely strengthed Charyte multyplyed hyr feruour And of all thys vertues was gendryd a vertuous and a worshypfull sadnes of maneres and of relygyous putte in the syght of al men whyche consydered hyr dedys The fader and the moder were astonyed her brethern and susteren wondred gretely Alle the meyne of hyr faders how 's meruaylled beholdyng and perceyuynge soo hygh wysdome in soo tendyr age And amonge many notable wyse wordes and dedys one I wylle shewe you here in cōmendacyon of that mayde ¶ Hyt befylle at that tyme after seuen yere and to fore ten yere age that for deuocyon that hyr moder hadde to saynt Anthonye She wolde haue a masse I sayde in the worshyppe of the same Saynt wherefor she clepyd Katheryne hir doughter and took hyr a certeyne of candelles and a certeyne of syluer and sayde Goo doughter to our parysshe chyrche and praye oure parysshe preest to syng or do synge a masse in the worshyp of saynte Anthonye And offer thyse candelles and thys money vp to the awtre ¶ Thys mayde was gladde to doo alle thynge that myght torne to the worshyp of god and anone she wente to the chyrche and performed hyr moders byddyng But for deuocyon that she hadde to here masse she abode stylle to the ende of the masse And whan alle was I do she wente home ageyn but hyr moder wende she wolde a comen anone ageyn anone as she had made oblacyon to the preest ¶ And for as moche as her doughter taryed so longe after hir semyng Whan she sawe that she was come she thought to blame hyr doughter and sayd Cursyd be the wycked tōgues that sayd thou sholdeste nomore come ageyne Thys was the manere of somme men to saye her langage to her name that taryed to longe out Thys mayde thenne of grete wysdome herde what hyr moder sayde and helde hyr stylle a whyle and spake noo worde ageyne But after a good space thys mayde drewe hir modre a fyde And wyth grete sadnes of hyr mekely spak to hir modre and seyde ¶ A lady modre when euer I trespas or do agast youre biddyng bete ye me wyth a rodde as you thynketh best that I be more ware Another time for it is worthy and ryght full that ye do so But no thyng I praye you for my defautes curseth neuer good man ne badde For it is not semyng for your degree And to me it is a full grete affliccion̄ in herte while hyr modre herde these wordys sche wondrid gretely And no merueill was to here her lytill doughter teche and so wysely enforme hir In somoche that she hadde no spirite more to blame hyr at that tyme for the wysdom that she sawe in so yonge alitill thynge Neuer the les she wolde not that hyr doughter hadde knowe that therfor sūwhat she thoughte to speke ageyne and turned to hir doughter and seyde Why were you there so longe the doughter seyde mekely ageyne modre I herde that masse that yebadde me goo to And whan it was I doone I turned home ageyn wythout ony tarieng for I abode nowhere till I come home ageyne Thoo was the modre by tho wordis more edyfyed than she was to fore and went to hyr husbonde seyd Thus and thus hath thi yonge doughter I spoke He than as a good man gafthankynges to god and bare it stylle priuely in hys herte And seyde noughte ageyne Loo ye mayden̄s that here or rede thys book of thys oo poynt all be yt that it be one of the leste Yet mowe ye we le perceyue how our lorde encreceth hys grace all weye in thys yonge mayde till she come to the yeres of abilitee to be weddyd of the whyche yeres ye shalle see in the next chapytre For of thys chapitre I make now an ende ¶ But yet ye shall vnderstonde that I had thyse that be conteyned in thys chapytre of the same mayde for the more partye and somme I hadde of the modre and of other dwellyng in hyr fadres how 's whyse she was of that age ¶ How hyr feruente deuocyon was drawe whyche our lord suffred for encrece of more grace folowyng And of hyr stronge pacyence wyth the whyche pacyens she suffred in hir fadres how 's many Iniuryes Capitulūq̄rtū AFter the wonderfull and vertuous cours of lyuyng in the fyrst yeres of thys maydens tender age our lordes wyll was in somme lyghte defaute to suffre hyr to fall as he suffred fulle ofte somme of hys holy sayntes to that entent that they sholde the more myghtely aryse vp ageyne and lyue more warly and strenght hem to atteyne to the ryght waye and the heythe of perfeccyon and gloryously haue the vyctorye of the fende whyche is euer enemye to mannes sowle ¶ These wordes I saye here for whanne she came to the age of the yeres of abylyte to be wedded that is to saye to the twelthe yere of hyr age or lytel more thenne after the manere of the contree she abode styll at home and came not out of hyr fadres how 's And the fader and the moder thenne and hyr other frendes kynne by cause they knewe not the may dens purpose they bethought hem and besyed hem to seke aboute where that thys mayden
theym of the ordeynaunce of an holy lyuyng that sholde recouere againe the rychesses of holy chirche and defended it myghtely euer afterward faithfully agaynst heretikes by comyn assent suche a lyf was soo graunted and ordeyned ¶ For there that our holy fader Saynt Domynyke founde ony well wyllynge folke to suche a lyuyng Fyrst he enduced theym for to swere that they sholde kepe and obserue all the thynges that shold be reherced to theym to the vterest for to putte her goodes and her lyf therfore in Jeoperdye and leâ—te this holy lyuynge sholde bee lette by suche that weâ—â— wedded He made also wyues to swere that they sholde also not lette her husbondes to maynten in suche a poure lyuyng the ryght of holy chyrche but rather sholde helpe theym to her power in all that they might And to eyther partye this holy fader saynt domynyke he byhote theym sykerly yf they kepte this purpoos endeles lyf for her mede ¶ Tho men that toke this holy lyf vppon them were called fryers of Crysico knyghthode Neuertheles by cause tâ—ey sholde beknowen fro other by somme token and that they sholde haue somme maner of besynes aboue the vsage of other laye peple He gaue them the colour of his owne habyte that bothe men and wymmen of the same knyghthode of Ihesu cryst shold were whyte and blake Soo that eyther colour sholde apere outward in token of innocencye and mekenes Euermore he assigned theym to saye a certeyn nombre of Pater nosters Aue maria That they sholde be occupyed at euery houre of diuyne seruyce dayâ— by day â–ª whan this was do after tyme saynt domynyk passed out of this worlde to blysse of heuen by encresyng of myracles was canonyzed in the court of Rome The fâ—â—res susterâ— that fyrst were called of the knyghthode of Ihu cyrâ—â— to amoâ—â— synguler â–ª worshyp of the fouÌ„der of saynt domynyk chauÌ„ged her name by a coÌ„miÌ„ assâ—t were called fâ—â—ers susters of the penauÌ„ce of saynt domynyk the cause why them thought that her fyrst name sholde be chauÌ„ged was this they saw that bi the merytes myracles of saynt domynyk by the prechyng of the fryers their cursed heresye was cause wherfore theym thought that it was not moche nedefull to be occupyed in suche outward batayle of prechyng but rather wythinward batayle agaynst her gostely enmyes they chose therfore to be called fryers susters of penauÌ„ce At the last the noÌ„bre of fryer prechours encresyd so hugely amonge whom was one as a clere shynnyng sterre Saynt peter bothe martyr and mayde the whiche was martred of heretykes for the ryght of holy chyrche And destroyed more heretykes after his deth And soo thys company of wulues that were aboute to destroye goddes vnite of holy chyrche were vtterly avoyded and peas was yelden to all holy chyrche wherfore the cause of that name of knyghthede sesyd and channged in to a name of penaunce Neuerthelesse this maner of state of louyng descendeth and remayneth only to men a whyle And ther wyues ben left soole lyuyng by theym self a relygyous lyf neuer afterward desyryng for to bee wedded by cause of the relygyous that they kepte wyth her husbondes a fore But the state the whiche they began they kepte to her lyues ende ¶ This consyderyd and behelde other wydowes that purposed to kepe theym in wedowhode desiring to folowe susters of penaunce of Saynt domynyke For remedye of her synnes they prayed the fryer prechours that were in Italye to enforme them of the maner of lyuyng The whiche was ordeyned of Saynt Domynyke By cause the maner of lyuyng was not hard A blessyd fader of the same ordre the whiche was called Munyo wrote that maner of lyuyng and toke it to thyse wydowes the whiche manere of lyuyng in to this daye is callyd amonges theym a rule All be it thay it may not properly be callyd soo In as moche as encludeth not wythin it the thre pryncypall vowes that other relygyous folke haue And after tyme that this nombre of susters thus encresed in dyuerse partyes of Italye Our holy fader the pope in tho dayes the whiche was called honoryus perceyued that good lyuynge of thyse susters graunted theym by bulle that in tyme of Interdyction that they myght here her dyuyne seruyce amonges the fryer prechours And soo our holy fader the pope Johan the whiche came after hym he hadde made the constytucions of Clementynis agaynste the vyrgyns and by gardys He declared the bulle of the same decretall or constytucion that it sholde not be vnderstonde of the same susters of penaunce of Saynt domynyke For by that Decretall the astate is not repreued in ony wyse ¶ Loo maydens by this ye may vnder stonde why that state of liuing was fouÌ„de in wymmen only And why the susters answerd soo att the begynnynge to the moder of this holy mayde that were not wounte to receyue maydens to that state of lyuyng but oonly to wydowes approuyd in sadnes thyse thynges that ben wrytten in this chapytre for the more parte Mayster Reymound founde them wryten im dyuerse places of Italye But some maters he herde and vnderstode theym wyth inquysycion of many holy faythfull and olde fryers and susters of Saynt Domynyke And thus endeth this chapytre ¶ Of the wonderfull encrece and how she prouffyted in vertu and holy lyuyng And that she sholde bee byloued in all thynges whiche she rehersed to her confessour of grace done to here of our lorde Capl ix How this holy mayde in receyuinge of her habyte made none byhest to the thre pryncipalle avowes of relygyon by cause that the estat asked it nought As it is rehersed afore Yet neuerthelesse she purposed to kepefull stedfastly tho thre pryncypal avowes iÌ„ her self As for the vowe of chastyte there was none doughte of For she hadde made avowe of maydenhode afore in her tender age as touchyng for her obedyence She purposed oonly for to bee obedyent to that fryer that was mayster of the susters and to the pryoresse of the same susters But also to her confessour the whiche obedyence she kepte to her lyues ende ¶ For as she sayde by her lyue whan she sholde passe out of this worlde She hadde neuer mynde that she brake onis her obedyence Neuerthels by cause there were somme the whiche hadde enuye off her holynesse both bacbyters and lyers that sayde the contrarye ¶ I doo you to vnderstonde maydens that thowe this holy mayde hadde none other tourment whyle she was lyuynge in erthe but oonly vndyscrete byddyng and mysseyng of her souereyns she myght haue ben in maner a martyr by the grete pacience the whiche she suffred Her confessours vnderstood nonght ne gaue none credence many tymes to the excellent gyfte of grace that she receyued of god Ne gaue none reuerence to the werkys of our lorde that wrought in her merueylously And therforre they wold haue made her lyuyng after the commyn lyuyng
ther she lay doun femyng to all that euer were aboute hyr drawyng to the deth Thenne was mayster Reymond called other of hys feleshyp for to see the wound thyng whan they were come they wepte sore by cause they wend she shold had depted froÌ„ theÌ„ for they saw hir neâ— so feble nygh so to the deth ¶ Neuertheles within a whyle after she resorted agayn to more strengthe and receyued mete and thenne she spake eftsones to maister Reymound and sayde to hym as she sayd a fore that she may not longe lyue but yf god shewe a newe miracle Thenne Mayster Reymound called to gyders all her chyldren both men wymmen prayng theym wyth wepyng there that they wold all wyth one voyce praye to our lord that he wolde vochesaf to graunte vs this holy mayde katherin our ghostely vertuous Moder and oure maystres the whiche lythe in passing for to abyde wyth vs a whyle in thys lyf for to conferme vs in more vertue Alle they graunted with one voyce that they soo wold than they wente all wyth Mayster Reymound to this holy mayde â—yeng in transyte sayeng suche wordes weylyng and wepyng Moder we wete well that thou desyrest to bee wyth thyne spouse wyth our lorde Jhesu cryst but thy mede and thy rewarde is reserued fro the all auf haue rewthe on vs whome thou forsakest moder And leue vs not so freell wythout better enformacion of vertu in this wretchyd worlde We knowe well also thy well byloued spouse whom thou louest wyth soo grete a desyre wylle nothynge denye the that thou askest therfore we beseche the praye to hym that he vouhesauf graunte the to vs for a tyme lest thou passe fro vs. And we no thyn ge or lytyll edefyed by thy good lyuyng For though we praye as wel as we coude We drede vs lest he wyll not here vs for oure wretchyd lyuynge for certayne we ben ryght vnwurthy to be herd ThenÌ„e therfore that hast louyd oure helthe and that soo tenderly and feruently praye the for vs and wynne our lord that we mowe not leue that in this lyf tyll we ben more edefyed in ghostely vertu many suche wordes they sayde amonges theim wyth grete wepynge To whom this holy maide answerd ye knowe well that I haue forsake myn owne wyll ne I desyre neuer but that that were to goddes wyl all be it I haue desyred your helthe wyth all myn herte yet I knowe well that he that whiche is your helthe and myn can better ordeine for you than one creature can praye for you his wyll therfore bee done in all thynges Neuertheles yet I shall praye gladly that he vouchesaf for to do that hym semeth beste Whan she hadde sayd this word we wente a syde for a tyme beyng in grete sorowe vnto the tyme we knowe an answer The next day afterward she called mayster Reymounde to her sayd me semeth fader that our lord hath condescendyd to your prayers and I hope ye shold soone haue your wylle entent â–ª as she sayd so it was sone after For vpon the morowe the whiche was vpon a sonday she receyued crystis body in the sacrameÌ„t of the aulter of her coÌ„fessour his hondes ryght as in the sondaye bifore she was brought in greate febylnes by her rauysshyg after tyme she hadde receyued that blessyd sacrament Ryght so in this sonday she was gretly strengthed by her rauysshyng after that blessyd sacrament the whiche was grete merueyle to all that were aboute her To whom Mayster Reymound said I hope that oure lord hath accepted our teres coÌ„desceÌ„dyd to our prayers though thei ben vnwourthy ThenÌ„e wythin a litil time afterward she was so quikly reuiued that none of theÌ„ all was in doubte but that she shold lyue that god had grauÌ„ted fulli her desire O almyghti god fader of mercy what wylt thou do for thyn trewe seruauÌ„t welbeloued children thou coÌ„descendist so benigly to thyn synfull seruauntis mayster Reymound thenne asked her for the more sykernes wheder the passyoÌ„ of tho wouÌ„des contryned alway as they dede in her body She answerd in this wise Oure lord â—hu hath herd your prayers and thefore tho woundes tourment not now my body as they â—yde but rather they comforte me and strengthe me Loo maidens here now ye knowe what evcellent of grace this holy maide hadde and also ye mowe lerne that oure lord vochesaf to here synnes whan thry asked ony thyng that longeth to sowle helthe ¶ Yet shall I telle you another merneylous thyng that as me semeth it passeth all other that I haue rehersed yet And so shall I make an ende of this Chapytre by the helpe of god ¶ After tyme that our lord hadde receyued her soule in to his blyssyd wound off his syde and there shewed her the mystery est of the gloryous trynyte thenne came our glorious lady his gloryous moder gloryous vyrgin marye and fulfylled her wyth the gloryous mylke of her gloryous brestes and tetes After came mary magdalene and comynyd wyth her ful homely of her reuelacions that she hadde whan she was in desert and other while thyse thre come togydre and gaue her many blessyd comfortable wordes Yet wanted she not the comforte of other saytes and the apperyng and namely of saynt poule the Appostle and saynt Johan theuangelyst and saint domynyke and saint Thomas dalquino And oftetymes saint Agnes of whom she hadde onys a reuelacion that sholde be her felawe in the kyngdom of heuen as it shall be declared afterward by the helpe of god But now I shal telle you two notable poyntes that befyll to this hooly mayde whan she hadde any vysyons of saynt poule the apostle it befil iÌ„ the fest coÌ„â—sacioÌ„ of saiÌ„t poule that this holy mayde was so merueylously rauysshed out of her self That her thought that her spyryt was drawe vp to heuen soo ferforth that thre dayes and thre nyghtes she was vnmeuable wythout bodly felyng soo that it semed that she was fully dede But there were somme that vnderstode better her condycion and sayde that they supposed she was rauysshed wyth saint poule in to the thirde heuen At the laste by the thre dayes ende she was reforted to her bodly feling But the spyryte was so comforted with that reuelacions that she stoode longe â–ª tyme afterward as she hadde be half a slepe and yet she slepte not In the mene whyle Fryer Thomas her fyrst confessour and another felowe of his whiche was called fryer donat of Flerence hadde a desyre to goo for to vysyte an hooly here myte in deserte but fyrst or than they wente thei come to this holy mayde houâ—â— and founde her in on holy sompnolente and by cause they wolde excite her they asked her whether she wolde go wyth theÌ„ to deferte for to vysyte that holy man She answerd to theym in the same hooly slepe and sayde ye notwythstondyng that she wyst not what she sayd by cause that she
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
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
abyde a whyle tyll she came from home For gladly she wolde and plenteuously gyue almes of suche thynges that she hadde at home in houshold Thenne the poure man sade yf thou haue ony thyng for to gyue me here I praye the to gyue me for I may not abyde so long it was to suppose by this that it was another that apperyd in the poure man his lykenes not he that it semed This holy mayde was both that she sholde goo fro her with out somwhat she bethought her what she myght gyue hym to fulfylle his nede Anone it came to her mynde of a lytyll syluer crose that hynghe by her bodyes that whiche for that tyme she had in her honde she pulled away that lytyll crosse gaue it gladly to the poure man whan the poure man had that crosse he wente awaye fro her gladly and asked nomore almes the day of none other mā as though he had come for the crosse alone The nexte nyght folowyng whan this holy mayde prayed as she was wounte to do Almyghty god oure sauyour apperyd to her hauyng that same lytyll crosse in in his blessyd honde arayed wyth mani precious stones and sayde doughter knowest not thou this crosse this mayde answerde to hym sayde she knewe it well but she sayde that it was not soo fayre araied whā she had it To whom our lord sayde again yesterday thou gauest it me this gladly wyth grete charyte and loue the whiche loue and charyte betokeneth by thyse precious stones therfore I behote that at the daye of dome afore alle the companye of angels and men I shall shewe the this to encrece of thy ioye For I shall not hede ne suffre to be hyd the dedes of mercy that ben doo by the wyth this our lorde cesyd of that aperycion she thanked ourlord euer after was I steryd to doo more suche almesse as it was well proued afterward another daye also it befyll whan deuyn seruice was doo at the fryers after tyme that the peple was goo out of the chyrche and she bylefte behynde alone wyth one of her susters for to praye ▪ as she came dounward fro the chapell the whiche was ordeyned for the susters of penaunce oure lord apperyd to her in lykenesse of a poure pylgrym at the age as her semed of ij or iij and thyrty yere half naked and asked her that she wolde gyue hym clothes for the loue of god Theen̄e she was that tyme steryd to doo dedes of mercy more than euer she was she prayed the poure man that he wolde abyde a whyle vnto the tyme she came doune agayn fro the chapell and thenne she wolde helpe hym of somme clothes She wente vp agayn to the chapell and dyde of herk ertyll vnder the whiche kertell she wered nexte her her body here cote that was wythout sleues and gaue it wyth a greate gladnes to the poure man After tyme the poure had receyued it he asked more of her and sayde A a. good lady I praye you sythe ye haue gyue me a wollen clothe gyue me lynen clothes for to were nexte myn body Thenne she sayde to hym come after me and thou shalt houe gladly and she went a fore and hir spouse Thesu vnknowyng to her in a pylgryme lykenes folowed her Whan she came home she went thyder where the lynen clothes of her fader and of her brothers layen brought out bothe a sherte and other lynen clothes and toke gladly to the poure pylgrym Yet whan the poure man hadde receyued that he asked more and prayed her that she wolde gyue hym sleues to his kertyll for to couer his armes ¶ Wyth that she wente her in nothynge heuy of his crawyng but gladly sought aboute for his sleues At the laste she founde a newe cote of a mayden seruaūt of the hous hauyng and hangyng vpon a perche the whiche was neuer werid ther of she toke awaye the sleues and toke it gladly to the poure man yet he asked more and sayde Lady thou hast now clothed me he thanke the for whos loue thou hast doo it but yet I haue a felawe lyeng in an hospytall her besyde the whiche nedeth gretely clothes If ye wyll sende hym ony clothes I shall bere it to hym in your byhalue full gladly yet this hooly mayde for his multyplyeng of askynge was neuer the weryer But rather the more feruent for to do almes largely She be thought hyr where she mygth haue a clothe to clothe wyth this nedy man that lyeth in the hoospytall Thenne fyll to hyr mynde that all the meyne of the hou solde were ryght lothe to geuen almes out take hyr fadre allone and therfor the shytte vp alle her clothes vnder lok and keye lest she sholde fynde them and gyue them in almes Ouermore she consydered dyscretely that she had take I nogh awaye of the mayden seruaūt of the housholde and therfore she wolde take awaye nomore of hyres by cause she was nedy hyr selfe Thanne she dysputed wyth hyr self whrther she sholde gyue hym hyr owne cote or not by cause she hadde noo moo but one charyte sayde yes but hone ste sayd nay Atte last charyte oueroo me honeste that is for to say charyte that longeth to the sowle ouercome honeste the whiche hadde compassyon vpon the body She thought yf the pour man shold go awaye wythout somme clothe it shold be slaunderous to other and yf she had gyuen hyr owne coote and goo naked than sholde she hadde slandred sowles whos soules she ought for to loue more than the body And therfore hir semed that sowles shold not be slaundred in no wyse for no temporall almes And thanne she answered to the poure man thus Trewely dere frende yf it were honest and lefull to me for to gyue my cote that I were thou sholdest haue it gladdely But by cause I haue no moo it were not semely that I sholde gyue awaye thys And therfore I praye the holde me excused for gladdely wolde I gyue it the yf I hadde ony moo Thenne the poure man smyled vpon hyr and sayd well lady I see well yf thou haddest moo thou woldest gladdely gyue me therfore I thanke the fare well Whanne he was borned fro hir this holy mayde perceyued by certeyn sygnes that it sholde be he the whiche was wonte to appere to hir and was often tymes conuersaunt wyth hyr she was in manere of doubte but hyr herte brenned in loue Neuerthelesse in as moche as she helde hir self to comyne occupacyon of housholde as she was wonte to do The next nyght suyng our lord Jhesu cryste appered to hyr as she prayed in lykenes of that poure man holdyng in hys honde that cote that the holy mayde gaf hym arayed wyth clere shynyng precyous stones and sayd to hyr thus Dere doughter knowest thou not this dote she answered and sayd yes but she gaf it not so arrayed To whome our lord sayd ageyne Thou gauest me yester daye this cote
so frely so charytable that it voyded awaye fro me the peyne of colde Therfore I shall now gyue the a cote the whiche shall be Inuysyble to men but to the it shall be sensyble Out of myn holy body I shall take it and hyue it the by the whiche bothe thy body and thy sowle may be keuered and kepte from noyous colde vnto the tyme that they shall be arayed in ioye wythout an ende a fore my sayntes and angels Anone forth wyth he toke out a clothe of a sangueyne colour wyth hys holy hondes out of the wounde of his syde shynyng alle aboute to the quantyte mesure of the maydens bodye Where wyth he arayed hyr wyth hys owne holy hondes and sayd Thys clothe I gyue the all the whyle thou dwellest in erthe in token of thy clothe of ioye that thou shalt be arayed wythin heuen Thus this vysyon cessyd After that the holy mayde hadde soo grete grace in receyuyng of that ghostly gyfte not onely in hir sowle but also in hir body that fro that houre in to hyr endyng daye she neded neuer to were moo clothes in wynter thanne in somer For were the wedder neuer so colde she vsed no mo clothes than a cote and a kertell For euer afterward as she semed she felte that ghostly cote vpon hyr the whiche our lord gaf hir and that was the cause that she felte no colde See ye not maydens of what worthynes this holy mayde was that folowed Saynt Nycholas in gyuyng of atmespryuely and folowed saynt martyn in gyuyng of hyr owne clothes the whiche our lord allowed by hys holy apperyng to thys blessyd mayde And there to gaf hyr a sensyble and an euerlastyng token for to fele in erthe how plesauÌ„t almes dedes ben to hym Me semeth that whan our lorde sayd to thys holy mayde that he wolde she we hyr that lytell crosse at the daye of dome the whiche she gaue in almes And also that he wolde araye hyr wyth a clothe of ioye in heuen is no thyng ellys but a sikernes of endeles helthe And therto an excellent ioye in blysse for hir mede Therfore maydens sett not lytell by suche reuelacyons and suche tokenes for sykernesse of endeles helthe onely causeth so grete ioye and so grete comforte in a sowle that it were impossyble a tongue to tell it or a penne to wryte it What foloweth after suche a sykernesse of ioye trowe ye to a sowle Trewely encrece of all vertue of pacyence of strengthe of temperaunce of besynesse and delygence in kepyng of hyr self in holy werkes of feyth of hope of charytr and of suche other vertues And all that were harde to suche a soule a fore ben made by suche comfort ryght esye Loo what grace suche predestynacyon notefyed to a clene sowle wercheth Another tyme also it befyll that thys holy mayde fulfylled wyth compassyon perceyued that ther was a man the whiche made him pore wylfully for goddes loue and lacked mete wherfore she toke preuely a lynnen bagge and fylled it wyth egges and bare it wyth hyr preuely vnder hyr â—oote to refresshe wyth that poure man whan she mette wyth him She came to the place there that the poure maâ— dwellyd and entred fyrst in to the chyrche there besyde for to praye And whan she was entred she bethought on our lord so Inwardly and anoue her spiryte was rauysshed soo that she was fully for that tyme wythdrawe from hyr outwarde wyttys as it is rehersed afore Whanne she was thus rauysshed it happed sodeynly that the body bowed to a pyler casuelly on that syde that the egges were on so that she lened fully vpon the bagge wyth egges thanne was ther in the same bagge for goten a fore a thymbyll as tayllours sowen wyth the whiche thymbyll was broken in thre partyes by burthon of hir body but the eyren that charyte hyd there were hole in noo partye broken Now was thys a meruayllous thyng that the eyren were hole and the thymbyll of coper was to broke so our lorde shewed there hys myracle in the charytable eyren For our lord shewed his helpe not only by this holy mayde to nedy folke but also he shewed hys myracle in hyr by werkes of his godhede And for to declare the more openly I shall tell you a meruaylles thyng of whiche meruayll were wytnes bothe men and woÌ„man aboute the nombre of xx of this maydens faders housholde Her moder Lapa tolde mayster Reymond hir doughters confessour that after tyme hir doughter thys holy mayde had leue of hyr fad to gyue almes It befylle that the meyne of the housholde had dronke amonges them a certeyn vessell of wyne so that the remenauÌ„t the whiche was lefte was not fresshe for to gyue to poure men in asmoche she had in custome to gyue them of the beste for goddes loue She went hyr than to the next vessell of wyne there besyde in hyr faders seller and tamed that for poure folke And gaf them largely ther of euery day as they neded many dayes to gyder and it was not aspyed of the meyne At the last whan the fyrst vessell was done the boteler mynystred drynke to the meyne of the vessell the whyche the holy mayde had tamed Yet the holy mayde left not therfore but alwaye she gaue ther of to the poure folke and the more the meyne dronke the more largely she gaue to poure folke and it was not aspyed ne the wyne was neuer the vnfressher ne neuer the lasse in the vessell but allewaye kepte his estate bothe in fulnesse in fresshenesse Alle the meyne of the housholde gretely meruaylled ther of that the vessell contynued so long and the wyne was so good and so fresshe for it was well knowe a fore that suche a vessell of wyne myght not laste ouer xv dayes or xx dayes at the ferthest Neuerthelesse it contynued not onely xx dayes but a full moneth complete And yet it semyd that the vessell was noo wyse lessened All the meyne had meruayll ther of that the wyne was so good so fresshe lastyd so long For better wyne them semed they tastyd neuer It was vnknowe to them all how that myght be but the holy mayde knewe well I nogh that it was by myracle of our lord by cause of the almes that she gaue ther of the more largely to the poure folke And therfore she gaue ther of the more largely to pour folke openly that all the meyne myght see it and yet it semed neuer the lesse in the vessell O moneth was passyd an other began to entre yet the wyne contynued euer lyke fresshe lyke full as it dyd fyrste in to the tyme the grapes were rype for to make newe wyne Whenne the gâ—apes were rype vessellys were ordeyned for to be fylled wyth newe wyne the mayster of the wyne bad commauÌ„ded that the vessell whiche coÌ„tynued so long wyth olde wyne sholde be emptyed and fyllyd with newe wyne
fader of â—esynges by cause I sholde cesse of the besynes the whiche I haue begonne for thy loue Therfore lord I praye the helpe me that knowest well I am gylteles and suffre not thys wycked enemye the whiche was ouertâ— rowe by thy passyon to haue the maystrye of me Whanne she hadde prayed thus longe to our lord wepyng plenteuously Oure lorde appyred to hyr as she knowelechyd afterward in confessyon to hyr confessour mayster Reymond Holdyng in his ryght honde a golden crowne arayed with precyous margaryte stonys And in hys lyfte honde a garlonde of sharpe thornes seyng to hyr in thys wyse Dere doughter it is nedefull that thou be crowned wyth owne of thyse two crownes therfore chese whether thou hast leuer haue of thys two Châ—se now whether thou haddest leuer be crowned wyth the shaâ—pe crowne of thorne in thys lyâ— and that other to be reserued to the in euer lastyng lyf Or ellys for to haue this precyous crowne for to haue the other after thys lyfe Thenne thys holy mayde sayde Lord thou knowest well that I haue forsake myn owne wylle and chosen for to do after thy blyssed wyll therfore I dare not chese no maner thyng wythout thy plesaunt wyll Neuerthelesse by cause thou wylte that I shall answer I say thus that I chese rather in thys lyf euer to be coÌ„fourmed to thy blessyd passyon and soo for to suffre peynes for thy loue After thyse wordes anone she toke of our lordes hondes the garland of thornes feruently and put it myghtely vpon hyr hede wyth a maner ef vyolence that the thornys percyd hir hede rounde about as hir thought in so moche that she had a peyne long afterward in hyr hede by prykynge of the thornys as she recorded hir self openly to mayster Reymond hyr confessour Than sayd our ford to hyr thus in my poure is al thyng and as I haue suffred this sclauÌ„der to be areysed ryght so it is in my power to cesse it Therfore thou shalt contynue in that holy seruyse as thou hast be gonne gyue no stede to the sende that wold let the I shall gyue the full vntorye of thyne enemye that what that euer he hath Imagyned ageynst the it shall torne to hys owne hede for thy more ioye and hys more peyne Thus was thys holy mayde comforted and soo bode stylle in that holy seruyse But whanne thys sclaundre cam to hyr moder Lapa all be it that she was seker ynough of hyr doughter she was gretely styred by thys sclaunder sayd to hyr wyth myghty spyryte in thys wyse Doughter haue I not oft sayd to the that thou sholdest nomore serue that stynkyng woman loo what reward she hath gyue the for thy besye seruyse She hath sclaundred the full foule to all thy sustres yf thou euer serue hyr more or come to hyr neuer shall I calle ne name the my doughter afterward ne thou me thy moder Now was this the soty lest wyll of all For ther the fende myght not haue the maystrye of hir by sclaunde ryng of hyr seek suster he beganne wyth a maner of pyte to lette hyr of hyr holy seruyse by hyr moders mouthe Thenne was thys holy mayde astonyed somwhat for hir moders wordes And at the last she wente to hyr and knelyd afore hyr seynge to hyr thus Swete moder whether our lorde wolde be pleased yf we leue vndone the dedys of mercy to our negyhbours for theyr vnkyndenes Whether our sauyour lefte to raunsom vs by suffryng deth on the crosse for the reprouyng wordes and obloquye of men God knoweth moder your charyte also yf I lefte thys seek suster wolde do hir no seruyse there wolde none do hir seruyse And so she shold deye for defauâ—â— Sholde we be cause and occasyon of hyr deth she is now a lytell deceyued of the fende perauenture here afterward our lorde wyll gyue hyr grace for to knowe hyr trespas By suche wordes lyke to thise at the laste she wan hyr moders blessyng and wente to the seek suster ageyn and serued hir so gladly as though she had neuer sayd euyll of hyr These ke suster was than astonyed and perceyued thenne that she had do amysse and beganne to haue sorowe contrycyon in hyr herte of hir sclaunder that she had put vpon hir Thenne our lord shewed mercy to hyr And for to make the good fame of hys mayde he shewed that seek suster in a tyme as she laye in hyr bedde a gracious vysyon that he wouchesauf to shewe to thys holy mayde vpon a daye whanne thys holy mayde wente to hyr chambre after hyr seruyse that she had do to that seek suster That same seek suster sawe as she laye in hyr bedde aboute the holy mayde a grete lyght comyng don from heuen of so grete mirthe swetenes that it made hyr for to forgete vtterly all hyr dyseases what thys myght mene clerely she wyst neuer but she loked aboute here and there And behelde the maydes face transformed or traÌ„sfygured that hyr semed that she was not thenne Katheryn Lapais doughter but rather lyke to an heuenly creature gloryfyed that lyghte beclypped hyr rounde aboute And the more she behelde hyr the more she yelde hir self gylty in hyr sowle to our lorde of the sclaunder that she puttâ— vpon that holy mayde Whanne thys vysyon hadde taryâ—â— a whyle the whiche appyred to the bodely eyen of that seek suster as it came so it passyd awaye after the whiche passyng the seek suster was long after comforted and also sorowfull for her trespas And anone she axed mercy of the holy mayde wyth sobbyng terys that she had so wyckedly trespassyd ageynst hyr and sclaundred hyr full falsely Loo maydens by that outward lyght our lorde gaf hyr an Inward lyght for to knowe how falsely she was deceyued by the fende Anone forthwyth whanne this holy mayde herde how mekely she axed forgyuenes She wente to hyr mekely and took hyr in her armes and kyssed hyr seyng to hyr thus full comfortably Dere moder I am not dysplesed wyth you in no wyse for I wote well it was the fendes malyce and not youres but I thanke yon wyth all my herte for ye loue me in that ye wolde I were kept clene And therfore I wyte you no thyng of all thys but the fende that hath wrought all this so malyciously ageynst me wyth suche wordes and lyke thyse Thys holy mayde comforted hyr seek suster and dyd hyr seruyse as she was wonte to do and whan she had do leste she shold haue spende hyr tyme in vayne she wente to hyr chambre and occupyed hyr in prayer In the mene tyme that the seek su ste knowleched hir gylty with wepyng and waylyng afore all thoo that came to hyr and sayd openly afore theym alle that by dysceyte of the fende she sclaundred the holy mayde wrongfully And she axed forgyuenes of hem alle For she sayde that she knewe well ynough that this mayde
And by cause it was in all wyse lyke ellys therfore I passe ouer and reherce it not But I wolde ye vnderstood may dens that this holoy mayde shewed not oonly the dyuyne myracle of curacion in tyme of pestylence but also in other tymes and yet not only in the Cyte of Sene but also in other places But therfore one I shall declare at this tyme wherby ye may vnderstonde all other yf ye take hede wytely therto ¶ It befyll soone after that the general pestâ—lence the whiche is rehersed afore the many folke both men and wymmen as well relygyous and seculer But specyally certayn mynchis of the Cyâ—â— of â—yse herde of the famous name of this holy mayde katheryn desyreden to see her and here her speke And by cause it was notlefull for theym to goo oute and seke her therfore they prayed her as well by lettres as by messengers that she wolde vouches â—f to come to â—yse seyeng to her that there she myght wynne many a son le the whiche sholde be to oure lord greate worshyppe Albe it that this holy mayde eschewed alwaye for to go fer about the contre yet she was soo ofte prayed wyth soo many messengers or messages that she was almoste constrâ—yned therto by prayer of lettres messages Thenne she had a recource to prayer as she was wont to done and asked our lorde mekely declaracion of that doubte that she stode in and what she sholde doo somme off theym that were counseyllers to her saide that it was best for her to goo and somÌ„e sayde nay wythin a fewe dayes afterward she had an answere of our lord as she beknewe afterward to mayster â—eymound that she shold not tarye but algatys she sholde goo to speke wyth hys seruauntys and his spouse dwellyng in the same Cyte of Pyse Thenne as a tâ—ewe obedyencer by leue of Mayster Reymound her confessour she wente to Pyse whome folowed afterward Mayster Reymound wyth a certeyn of hys bredren for to here confessyons For many ther were that came to her whaÌ„ they herde her speke soo â—eruent wordes of loue were steryd therby to contrycion And leâ—t they sholde be lette fro trewe conuersacyoÌ„ falle agayn in to the fendes snares after suche coÌ„puccion she wold beidde theim go to confession be shryue without ony taryeng And by cause her confessyon was ofte tymes delayed for defaute of confessours therfore ofte tymes she desyred that she myght haue confessours by her to whom she myght sende suche repentaunce And therfore Maister Reymound and his two felawes hadde power of the pope by bull for to here and assoyle all tho that were enduâ—ed to confessyon by this holy mayde WhaÌ„ she came to Pyse she was receyued in a burgeys hous that was called Gerardus the whiche Gerad vpon a daye brought wyth hiÌ„ a yonge man of xx yere of age alle seke of the feuers to this holy mayde besechinge her that she wolde praye for his helthe for he tolde her that he was vexid xviij monethes to gyders wyth the feuers soo that it was none daye but that he hadde it And therto it was so myghty to him that it hadde brought hym soo lowe and that is well sene by hys chekes and by hys body Andâ—â— myght neuer by none medecyn be made hoole Thenne the holy mayde hadde grete compassyon in herte of that yonge man she asked hym how longe it was a goo that he was shryue of hys synnes and toke penaunce he sayd not many a yere therfore it is sayde she that our lord hath yeue the this â—oorge for thou hast not purged thy soule by holy confessyon soo longe tyme. Therfore sone goo forthe anone to confession and cast out that venim the whiche enfecteth alle thy body whan he was confessyd and â—ame to her agayne she put her holy honde vpon his sholders and sayd to hym thus Goo sone in peeâ— of our lord â—hesu cryst for it is his wyll that thou be nomore vexed wyth tho feuers as she sayd it was fro that time forward he was not vexed therwyth Within fewe dayes after he came again to the holy mayde and thanked her of her curacion and sayde openly afore aâ— folke that he hadde neuer the feuers sythe she a voyded it by the vertu of our lord â—ff this bereth wytnes Mayster Reymound for he sawe that myracle And other wytnesse there were ynow by Gerad the childes moder and many other afterward the yonge man puplychid that miracle by all â—â—e contree suche another byfyll in the Cyte of Seene but moche more â–ª merueylous by cause the sikenes was more perylous ¶ There was a suster of penaunce of saynt Domynyke in the same â—yte off Seene that was called Gemina the whiche loued well this holy mayde she had a sekenes of hir throte the whiche was called the sâ—ynce by contynaunce of tyme the sekenes encresyd soo that it made her throte soo streyght that vnethe she might drawe her brethe â–ª but almoost ofte tymes was strangelyd Thenne she wente to this holy mayde prayed her as she myght speke seyenge thus moder I shaldeye but ye helpe me this holy maide hadde soo grete compassyon of her that she toke her holy honde and crossed her throte â–ª ¶ And anone wythout ony taryenge tâ—e sekenes avoyded and soo she that come wyth grete sorowe went home wyth grete gladnesse And tolde it soone after to her confessour But by cause somme what I haue tolde you of curacions done to the body by this holy mayde to diuerse persones therfore I shall telle you now of a grete notable myracle that our lorde wrought â—i this blessyd holy mayde ¶ It befyll that this holy mayde wente in a tyme fro Pyse to Auyoun wyth whome wente two good deuoute yonge men that wrote the lettres that this holy Mayde wolde sende The one was called Neryus that afterward â—as a deuoute recluse And the other was caâ—led Stephene that was afterward a monke of the charterhous And a good vyrtuous lyuer therto to the same â—yte of auyoun wente alsâ— mayster ReymouÌ„d ¶ It happed whan they were entred in to the Cyte of auyoun the forsayd Neryus was seke wyth a merueylouâ— sykenes in his bowellis that he myght haue none reste neyther nyght ne daye But cryed and wayled ofte tymes and he might not lye in his bedde but creped about on hondes and on feet and sought reste and yet myght none fynde This was tolde to the holy maide and she badde mayster Reymound sende afleches to helpe hym For other comforte wolde she none gyue mayster ReymouÌ„d dyde soo and there was none leche that myght ese him but rather he was the more payned I trowe for that ende allone by cause our lord wolde worke that myrarle in his spouse katheryn At the last leche said to maister ReymouÌ„d that they myght not prouffyte in hym And therfore they hadde none truste in his lyffe ¶ Whan Mayster Reymound hadde tolde this to his
that this holy mayde lyued in the Cyte of Seene it befyll that there was a wedowe a yonge woman called alixe the whiche wyth a greate fauoure drewe to this holy mayde soo that she thought she hadde soo grete affectyon â—o her â–ª that as her semed she myght not liue without her And therfore she toke the habite of the susters of penaunce and for soke her owne hous And hyred her an how 's by syde the hooly maydes how 's that she myght the more ofte bee conuersaunt wyth her Whan she hadde do thus the hooly mayde was ofte tymes in her hous wyth her and fledde for a tyme her faders hous It happed afterward in the same yere that in the Cyte of Sene there was a grete sharsyte of breed corn soo the stynkyng whete was drawen out of the erthe and out of dyches the whiche was bought of Cytezynes of the same Cyte as that tyme for good where by cause there myght none other begoten for none pryce Of the whiche stynkyng whete Alyxe the sorsayde wedowe must nedes be ye or ellys she shold be wythout brâ—d Neuâ—rtheles in as moche as it was nyghe the tyme of herwest her olde whete was fayled and brought to the marcat Alixe wyst therof that newe whete was comen she purpose to cast awaye the olde sâ—ynkyng whete and beye newe but bycause the hole Mayde was in her hous she wolde nothyng doo wythout counseyll of her wherfore she opened her purpos to her semyng thus moder sythe our lord heth do mercy wyth vs in syndyng of newe whete I am in wyll to throwe myn olde sâ—inkyng whete â–ª To whom this holy mayde answerd thus yf ye wyll not ete of that olde corn gyue it ellys to poure folke that hauen none â–ª Alixe sayd than that she sholde haue greate conscitence for to gyue the poure folke soo stynkyng whete she hadde leuer for to gyue theim of the beste whete Thenne this holy mayde badde her ordeyne water and bryng to her that stinkyng whete that she purposed to caste awaye for she sayde that she wolde make brede therof for poure folke as she sayde soo it was Fyrst she made her dowe after she molded loues of that lytyll quaÌ„tyte of whete And it encresyd soo plentuously in the moldyng that both Alyxe and her seruaunt weren gretely astonyed that sagen suche multyplycacioÌ„ of loues For as theym thought soo many loues myght not be made of suche foure lytyll quantyte of whete as thys hooly mayde made and sette forthe for to be bake and also there was none stynche of tho loues as it was of the other that were made of the same whete afore whan thei were bake they were sette fourth on the table for to be eten in the etyng there was fouÌ„de none bitternes no stynche but as thei saide that eten therof they eten neuer betyr brede This Alexe sent foâ— her confessonr he came wyth certain of his bretheren for to see â–ª that myracle and lyke as it was sayd to hym in quantyte encresyng and in qualyte ryght well amendyd To thyse two myâ—acles the thyrde was addyd to and that was this the breed was largely gyuen to poure folke and to other that wolde ete therof and yet was it neuer the lasse in nombre but alwaye was it fouÌ„de ynow in the breed hutche were not this trewely thre fayr myracles for fyrste she put awaye the stynche of that corn and afterward encresyd the loues in the muldyng and at the laste she multyplyed the loues in etyng of the breed in soo moche that they myght vnnethe be distribued bi many wekes togyders neended soo that xx yere after or moo there were somme that kepte of that breed for a relyke ¶ Thenne mayster Reymound her confessour asked her how the myracle was done She answerd and sayde that she hadde soo grete zele or loue to pour folke lest they shold spylle for defaulte and soo tender loue to our lord lest his gyfte sholde be dyspysed that she went wyth a grete feruour for to make breed of that stynkyng whete ¶ And thenne our blessyd gloryous lady gloryous virgyn Mary wyth a multytude of angelis stood by her and helpe her to molde by vertu of her holy gloryous hondes she trowed that the loues encresed for tho loues that oure gloryous Lady gloryous vyrgyn Mary molded she delyuerd to this holy mayde And she to Alixe and to her seruaunt for to be put in to the ouen what meruayle is it maidens though tho loues were swete sythe the hooly gloryous hondes of oure blessyd gloryous lady gloryons virgin Mary molded theym consydereth therforre good maydens and taketh good heede of what meryte this holy mayde was to whom vouchesaf our blessyd glorious lady gloryous vyrgyn mary stonde by her and helpe her in that myracle for to make vs vnderstonde that ryght as bodely lyuelode encresed in that hooly maydens hondes Ryght soo ghostely liuelode sholde encrese by her blessyd exortacion ¶ Now sythe I haue begonne of breed multyplyed by myracle therfore I shall contynue forth in suche in suche in suche a lyke myracle was done in the laste ende of her lyff whan she lyued here in erthe Of the whiche myracle were wytnesses lysa her cosyn and a suster of penaunce the whiche was called Johan for bothe they were wyth her whan she was sente after by our holy fader pope vrbane the vj to the courte of Rome And whan she was come to the Cyte she râ—sted there wyth a certayn nombre of her ghoostely chyldren that she hadde noryssched in vertu the whiche folowed her fro the partyes of Tuskan in maner agaynst this hooly maydes wyll somÌ„e for prechyng of ghostely grace of our holy fader and somme for pylgrymage and visitacions of saintes the whiche desyred to go specyally in this holy Maydes companye by cause they myght be fedde wyth the swetnesse of her blessyd conuersacion ¶ Thenne this holy mayde hadde made an ordynaunce amonges them that they sholde not haue aboute them neyther golde ne syluer But oonly they sholde lyue of poure almesse And that they sholde be herbourd in an hospytall ¶ And also the wymmen eueryche off theym a weke sholde mynysâ—re lyflod suche as they hadde receyued of almesse to allâ— her felawes that other myghten bee occupyed in the mene whyle in prayers and in holy contemplacyons and aboute theyr pylgrymages wherfore they were come to the Cyte Whan this ordynaunce was made soone after it happed that this Johan the whiche is reherced afore mynystred to other as for hyr weke In whos weke it befyll casuelly that she lacked brede whan hyr felawes sholde go to mete and thenne badde this holy mayde here afore that whan she lackyd brede she shold warne hir ouer euen that she myght goo make somme ordynaunce But Johan had forgete that whan hyr felawes were come to mete Johan wolde haue sette brede afore them and she founde nomore but a cantell that wolde
of Sene toke leue of her confessour as as chylde of obedyens and wente to that monastery there she laye whom folowed her susters and Mayster ReymouÌ„d for to see what myracle our lord and almyghty god wolde shewe in metyng to gyder of peas two gloryous vyrgyns maydens and his chosen spouses Whan she was come to the monastery she wente to the same place there she laye knelyd doune and began to bowe her hede for to kysse that holy vyrgyns feet wyth that bowyng doun the holy vyrgyns body off gloryous Agnes lyfte vp by myracle her owne foote as hye that the holy mayde katheryn of Sene shold kysse it wythout ony bowyng of her body or hede This myracle sawe all the susters of the same monasteryeland also the susters off penaunce wyth this holy mayde katheryne of Sene. Whan the holy mayde katheryne of Sene perceyued this she was the more meke and bowed the lower And than this holy mayde and vyrgyn saint Agnes drewe doune her legge agayn her fete and layde it as it was fyrste Another tyme this holy mayde katherin of Sene came agayn to vysyte the swete holy body of this holy mayde saynt Agnes and brought wyth her two cosyns of here 's yonge mayde chyldren for to make theÌ„â—usters in that monastery there for to serue oure lord almyghty god And whan she was come â–ª to the monasterye She went there the swete holy body lay of gloryous saint Agnes and knelyd not at the feet as she dyde the fyrst tyme but at the holy hede eschewyng mekely as it semed the eleuacion of her holy feet as it was doo fyrst And as she knelyd at her hede she layde her cheke to the swete cheke of this holy mayde gloryous Agnes loÌ„ge tymes to gyders But whaÌ„ she had so longe taryed she tourned her to her cosyn Lysa the whiche came wyth her and other moo of her susters and saide in this wyse Lysa why perceyue ye not the gyfte off our reuerende lord almyghty god hath gyue to vs out of heuene why bee ye soo vnkynd wyth that Lysa and other susters of heres loked vp and sawe manna reyne doun out of heuen couerynge both gloryous saynt Agnes and the holy mayde katheryn of Sene And also other that stode aboute Soo that Lysa fylled her hondes wyth that same whyte seed of manna ¶ This myracle appieryd not wythoutâ—n cause For gloryous saynt Agnes whan she lyued in erthe was wounte to haue that token out of heuen whan she prayed to our reuerend lorde almyghty god Soo that somme of her susters sawe â—er mantell alle whyte whan she wos vp fro her prayer and vnknowyng what it myght be and wold haue shake it awaye from her mantyll and she forbode it theym full esely And also it was doo for another mystery â–ª Glorious saynt Agnes knewe well that this holy mayde katheryne of Sene sholde be felawe wyth her in heuen And therfore she began to felyshyppe wyth her in erthe and worshyppe her also wyth that token that was wonte to appe re to her whan she lyued in her body By that manna is vnderstonde puryte and mekenes for by wytnes of that manna is vnderstonde puryte and clennes of maydenhede by the lytelnesse of greyne of that manÌ„a is vnderstonde of the mekenes of maydens that they sholde haue That puryte and that mekenesse was ryght haboundaunt in thyse two maydens saynt Agnes and this holy mayde Katheryne off Sene As for that wytnesse of the myracles I shewed in this chapytre was Lysa aud other susters of hers and also susters of the same monasterye where thyse myracles weren shewed Ouermore as for wytnesse touchyng the myracles off the hooly sacrament of the aulter was mayster Reymond her confessour and another mayster of dyuynyte the whiche was called Berthylmewe and other mo many moo myracles our glorious lord almyghty god shewed by his holy mayde katheryne and by this holy mayde saynt Agnes whyles they lyued here in erthe the whiche ben not writen in this boke but that is wryten herinne is wryten to the worshyppe of our gloryous lord god and helthe of soulys And thus I make an ende of this chapytre of this hooly legende of this holy mayde glorious saint Katheryne of Seene to the honour worshyppe and glorye of all the gloryous trinyte Cui referantur laudes honor et gloria in secula seculorum Amen ¶ Explicit secunda pars gloriosissime vite gloriosissime virginis Katerine de Seene ¶ Here begynneth thr thyrde boke and party wherin is rehersed the deyenge off this holy mayde gloryous saynt katheryne of Sene and of her myracles that were shewed after her dethe And fyrst of all of the wytnesse whiche were preseÌ„t at her passyng and enformed the auctor of this boke whiche and what they were Capitulum Primum WHan this hooly mayde katherine of Sene was sente to the Cyte of Florens by our holy Fader Gregory xj the whiche was that tyme pope off Rome as it is rehersed afore in the seconde party for to make peas betwyne oure hooly fader the pope and his children of Florence she founde theym vnobedyent rebell where amonges whom she suffred moche persecucion in soo moche that one of them drewe his swerde wolde haue smyten of her hede so woode he was wyth her all be it thought he were letted by the vertu of our glorious lord almighti god And yet notwythstondyng suche persecucion she wolde neuer goo thens vnto the tyme that peas was cryed thorugh out all the Cyte of Florence And that was not by pope gregorys dayes for he dyed in the mene tyme â–ª but it was by pope vrbans tyme dayes the whiche was pope after hym in whos tyme the peas was made And after tyme the pope was made she went home agayne to the Cyte off Seene And bylefte in her owne hous ful dylygently aboute the making of a certayn boke the whiche the swte gloryous holy ghoste endyted by her mouth in her owne langage She prayed her wryters the whiche wrote the boke that thei sholde consydere besely that she telleth theÌ„ in tyme of her rauysshyng soo she bad theym wryte Thenne she wente and prayed and sone after she was rauysshed from her bodely wyttes and in that rauisshyng she spake many swehe wordes the whiche wordes the wryters wrote as she spake and soo compyled a boke full off profytable sentence as our swete gloryous for almyghty god tolde her In the whiche endytyng one special thynge and a merueylous was shewed And alle that was comprehended and wryten in the boke was endyted by her by dyuerse times in tyme of her rauysshyng and neuer ellys soo that in that same tyme that she was soo rauysshed she sawe none bodely syght wyth her eyen ne herde wyth her eeres ne swellyd wyth her nose ne none of her bodely wyttes neyther hadde her bodely workynge for that tyme that she was in that rauysshyng By this ye may
thus to hym ¶ Fader vnderstondeth his for treuthe This pope Urbanis veray Crystys vycarye in erâ—he and for dâ—â—ence of this treuth preceth putteth you â—orth as ye wolde for the feyth of holy chyrche ¶ All be it that mayster Reymond vnderstode this well afore yet she made hym the strenger and more stedfast in his laboure for whan he was moost in dysâ—ase he had hyr wordes in mynde and so he tooke the holy obedyence vpon hym But a latell a fore that he went this holy mayde coÌ„myned wyth hym tolde hym foure houres or fyue to gâ—ds of the reuelacyons comfortes that oure lorde shewed to hyr but a lytell afore and whan she had do â–ª she sayde this wordes ¶ Fader now goth our lord spede you for I trowe we shal neuer in this lyf speke so moche to gyder as we haue do nowe And lyke as she sayd so it was For or thenne mayster Reymonde came ageyne she was passed out of this world furthermore by cause that she wolde fully take hyr leue of hym she went ê‘sonally to the same place there he shold take hys Galey ¶ And whan they began to rowe she kneiyd doune prayed and afterward blyssed the Galey wyth wepyng chere and sayd pryuely that other herde to mayster Reymond ¶ Thou lone shalt go saue for the crosse shall kepe the but thou shalt neuer see thy moder in this lyf ¶ And as she ê“phecyed soo it was for ther were many enemyes in the â—ee yet they went saue awaye from them and also in the mene tyme that he was oute this holy mayde passyd out of this worlde ¶ But fyrst or that I tell of hyr blyssed passyng out of this world I shall reherce to you the wytnes whiche were att hyr passyng and knewe of the myracles that our lord shewed here in hyr passyng ¶ The names of the wymmen that were most contynuell wyth hyr beÌ„thyâ—e ¶ Allexe of Sene syster of penauÌ„ce of Sâ—yÌ„t Domynyk the whiche was a ê‘fyte dyscyple of this holy maydes folowed hyr in all asâ—yte of penauÌ„ce as nygh as she coude so that this holy mayde or thennâ— he sholde passe tolde hyr alle hyr preuytees ordeyned hyr for to be a moder to other after hyr dyssece ¶ Thys same Allexe enfourmed mayster Reymonde whan he was come home and other of thys holy maydes passyng for she lyued not longe after ¶ The seconde wytnes was Francysca of Sene this Francysca had a deuoute soule to god to this holy mayde with an hertely loue wherfore whan hyr husbounde was dede she toke the abyte of penaunce was made syster of Saynte Domynyk ¶ Thys Francysca enfourmed mayster Raymonde whan he came home and many other folke of this maydes passyng and thenne she deyed soone after Allexe ¶ The thyrde wytnes was Lysa hyr cosyn the whiche I wyll notte commende all be it she was ryght trewe by cause she was this holy maydes brothers wyf where by shold beholde suspect in her wytnes amonge men ¶ further more there were many men in hir passyng the whiche beren trewe recorde othyr bussed ende ¶ But foure in specyall I thyÌ„ke to reherse here the whiche were ryght vertuous men ¶ The fyrst was called frere Sanctus the whiche was bothe holy indede in name This holy man forsoke all hys kynne and came to Cyte of ene Where he lyued vertuously xxx yere and more an ancheres lyfe ¶ And when he herde speke of this holy mayde he was styred to speke wyth hyr and so he dyd for to be enfourmed of hyr ¶ And at last he thout that it was better to walke oute of his cell for to wynne soules thenne for to be so enclosed And so he dyd by counseyll he went oute and folowed thys holy mayde and wan soules to Cryste but specyally he was presente wyth hyr at hyr passyng ¶ Thys holy man enfourmed mayster Raymonde also whan he came home of the passing of this holy mayd and soone after he dyed ¶ The seconde witnes of men was a yong man in age but he was olde in vertu the whiche was called Barductyne ¶ Thys yong man forsoke all hys kynne and folowed this holy mayde and was with hyr tyll that she passyd whome she loued yettenderly by cause he was a mayde that was no meruaylle for it is semely that oo mayde sholde loue another ¶ To whome this holy mayde sayd chargyd hym that he shold be gouerned by mayster Raymondis couÌ„seyll ¶ For this cause I trowe she did it in as moche as she knewe well of god that he sholde not long lyue after hyr soo that he dyde of tesyk but fyrste he contynued longe therynne and was amended by medycines but at the last he dyde theron And by cause that mayster Raymonde drede hym that the ayre of Rome sholâ—e enfecte hym he sente hym to Sene where he passyd out of this worlde and they bere wytnes that were at hys passynge that whan he sholde passe he loked vp into heuen and began to smyle soo wyth that smylyng he passyd So that after tyme he was passyd the tokens of gladnes appyred in hys face I trowe it was therfore by cause he sawe hyr whome he loued soo charytably come after hym ¶ This Barductyne also enfourmed mayster Raymonde whan he came home of thâ—s holy mayde passage ¶ The thryde wytnes of men was also a yong man the whiche was called Stephen that was one of this holy maydes wryters the why she wrote bothe hyr letters that she sente and also hyrbook that the holy ghost endyted by hyr The whiche yong man this holy mayde called to hyr whan she sholde passe and sayd thus Sone it is the wyll of god that thou be a monke of the Charterhous and therfore I charge the that thou so doo As she bad hym so he dyd and lyued euer afterward a ê‘fyt lyf for he had-no felawe of ê‘feccyon in that Relygyon and assone as he was professyd he was made Pryor of the same hous that he was shorne Inne ¶ And afterward he was made Pryour in another place of the same ordre at melayne visitour of the ordre This yong man Stephen wrote certeyn thynges that happed in the passyng of this holy mayde eÌ„tfourmed afterwarde mayster Raymonde of the same whan he came home The fourthe last wytnesse of men that were at the passyng of this holy mayde was one the whyche was called Raynerus the sone of a worthy man Landocte of Sene. Thys man after tyme that this holy mayde was paste was a deuoute recluse that euer afterward lyued a blyssed lyf he was also one of the wryters of hyr lettres of hyr book that the holy ghoost endyted by hyr He was the fyrst of men that forsoke hys kynne folowed this holy mayde by cause he knewe hyr vertuous lyuyng of longe tyme therfore mayster Reymond called hym to hym and made hym a specyall wytnes
in makyng of hyr Legende his felawe also Stephen pryour of the Charterhous These men these wymmen enfourmed mayster Reymond whan he came home of the thynges whyche was done in hys absence as well of tho thynges that she dyd or that she paste as of tho thynges that she shewed dyd in hyr passyng and thus endeth this chapytre ¶ Of meruayllous thynges whyche befyll a yere half to fore the deth of this holy mayden of the martyrdom that she suffred bodely of wycked fendes where of atlast she hadde hyr bodely deth Capitulum secundum AFter tyme the mayster Reymond wente fro this holy mayde as it is rehersed afore by the byddyng of our holy fader the Pope she belefte in the Cyte of Rome and what that our Lorde dede for hyr or that she deyed shewed to other how holy of lyuyng she was and also what ioye he gaue hyr or she passyd out of this worlde I shall tell you ¶ Leue it well maydens whan this holy mayde perceyued that so moche dysease encrecyd in holy chyrche by the scysme that was begonne and perceyuyng also that Crystys vycarye suffred grete dysease she wept day and nyght and prayed to our lord for the pees that he wold wouchesauf to set pees in holy chyrche Thenne our lord comforted hyr in som maner of wyse for the yere afore and an half or she dyed oure lorde gaue double vyctorye to holy chyrche and to Crystys vycarye the pope as well of the castell of Saynt Angell that was in the Cyte of Rome the whiche was in scysmatykes hondes in to that daye as of the people that helde the castell in the name of scysmatykes that were the same daye take and the castell yolde After that our holy fader the pope that myght not dwelle in Rome as he was wonte by cause of the enemyes that were in the Castell of Saynt Aungell knowe this he cam to this holy mayde axed hir counseyll what he sholde do Thenne she gaue hym counseyll that he shold go bar-foot all the people of Rome wyth hym to the mynster of Saynt Peter thankynge our lord god wyth good deuocyon of that grace and of that benefetys the whiche he had do for them Thus holy chyrche beganne to quyken and the holy mayde hadde therof grete comfort But soone after hir sorowe began to encrece eftsonis for that the fende myght not do by strayn gers he assayed for to do by them that were of the Cyte of Rome He made a dysoorde bytwene the people of the Cyte the pope That perceyued this holy mayde she prayed to our lord that he wolde wouchesauf put to hys mercyable honde and suffre not that cursyd synne be done And as she prayed she sawe the Cyte full of fendes styryng and excytyng the people to kylle theyr ghoostly fader and cryed horrybly to this holy mayde all the whyle she prayed seynge to hyr thus Thou cursed wretche thou arte aboute for to lette vs therfore we shall slee the wyth an horryble deth To whome she answerd no worde but prayed more besyly and more feruently axyng of our lord that he wold wouches auf for the worshyp of hys holy name and for remedye of all holy chyrche that thenne stood in grete meshyef kepe hyr hys vycarye wythout harme and not for to suffre the peple do suche a synne and so to put awaye the fendes fro theyr purpose the whiche steryng the people ther to She hadde an answere of our lord and it was this Doughter suffâ—e this peple that euery day blasteme myn holy name for to falle in to this synne that I myght soo dystruye them for theyr cursed wretchydnesse for my ryghtwysnes axyth that I shold no more suffâ—e theyr wyckydnes Thenne she prayed more feruently wyth suche wordes and sayde Mekest and myldest lord thou knowest well how thy spouse holy chyrche is dyseased tormented almost thorugh out all the world and that is routhe Thou knowest well also how sewe helpers and defenders she hath and therfore now yf they slee thy vy carye as they ben in purpose hit shall not onely be greuous to this people of Rome but to all Crysten people Thempre therfore good blyssed lorde thy ryghtwyse honde and dyspyse not thy people that thou haste bought soo deâ— wyth thy precyous blood but torne thy mercyable honde cesse this myshyef In this prayer she contynued many dayes to gyder as she wrote to mayster Reymond by a letter euer our lord alledgyng his ryghtwysnes and she axyng his mercy and in all that tyme the fendes cryed hoâ—â—ybly vpon hir as it is rehersed afore so that she was feble for afflyccyon that but yf our lord had kepte hyr strengthe hyr herâ—e shold to borste at last she sayd to our lord these wordes Lorde syth it â—â— so that this mercy may not be graunted wythout ryghtwysnes I beseche the despyse not my prayers but what maner of payne these people sholde haue put it on my body and I shall glad dely â—eceyue it for the worshyp of thy name and for the sauacyon of holy chyrche Thenne our lord alledged nomore hys ryghtwysnes but helde hys pees gaue hyr the vyctorye and fro that houre forthward the grutchyng cessyd of the peoplâ— by lyâ—â—ll and lytell but hyr passyons encreced so ferforth that serpentes of hell had power of god and tâ—rmented hyr body cruely that it were vncredyble a man for to byleue it but yf he hadde seen it as they sayden that sawe it and were ther pâ—esente whanne hyr body auâ—tyshed all be it that they sawe not the serpentes They fretted and deuoured so that maydens body that therin be lefte but bones without skynne as though it had ben consumed and wasted by long lyeng in the erthe and yet neuertheâ—â—â— she walked prayde as she was wonte the whiche was to many folke a wonder thyng for she semed rather a wonder thyng to loke vpon then ne a naturell thyng Hyr tormentes of payne encreced contynually by the whyche she was consumed and yet she cessyd not from prayer but she prayed â—ore feruently and more lenâ—er thenne she was wonte Hyr ghoostly chyldren whom she hadde nourysshed in vertue were that same tyme and they sawe openly the markes of the strokes that the â—endes of helle gaue hyr in hyr bodye and they myght do therto no remedy for two skylles One was for they wyste well hit was the wyll of god whome they myght not wythstonde Another cause was for they sawe hyr gladde and ioyfull in hyr paynes and the more that she prayed the more was hyr bodely payne But yet wolde she not cesse therfore and the tormentours of helle faylled not but that they cryed vpon hyr alle that tyme and sayde to hyr thus Cursed wrâ—tche thou hast euer be ageynst vs and therfore thy tyme is come we for to be auenged vpon the. Thou haste putte vs oftâ— tymes from our praye and therfore we
shall neuer cesse vnto the tyme thou arte oute of thys â—yf Thys she sente by letter to mayster Reymond and soo she contynued in that payne from the sondaye of septuagesme vnto the last daye of Apryll saue one day the whiche day she passed out of this world In the whiche tyme a meruaylloê° thyng happed hyr as she sayd wrote to mayster Reymond Cuery daye it befyll hyr of custome that she hadde the passyon on the syde that is callyd â—lyca passio and other moo vnto none tyme wherfore ofte tymes she desyred heryng of hyr masse and therfore euery daye by the morowe or thenne that the payne came vpon hyr she wente to Saynt Peters chyrche thorugh oute alle the lenten And soo herde hyr masse and abode there tyll euensong and thenne came home ageyne and laye hyr doune in hyr bedde In the whiche bedde whos hadde seen hyr he wolde haue sworne that she myghte neuer remeue hyr thens Yet on the nextâ— moâ—we she wse vp and wente eftsonys fâ—â— a place that is called via pape in to Saynt Peters chirche soo fast that hyr Journey sholde haue made an hole man wery Thys she contynued all the lenten and wythin a fewe dayes after she laye styll in hyr beddâ— and myght not remeue hyr thens for feblenes And at last oure lorde called hyr and she passyd out of thys worlde ¶ In the same daye that is rehersed afore aboute none dayes that is the nyne and twenty daye of Apryll the whiche was vpon a sondaye The yere of our lord a thousand thre hondred and foure sâ—ore In the whyche daye the feste of Saynt Peter the martyr of the ordre of the frece prechours was and is solempnysed in holy chyrche ¶ Many notable thynges were wroughte thenne in hyr passyng the whyche I lefte of in this chapytre for they shall be declared openly ynough by the helpe of god in the next chapytre thus endeth this chapytre ¶ How this mayde desyred for to be vnbounde fro the body and be wyth Cryste and that is prouyd by a deuote prayer that she made and is putte in the ende of another book whiche she mayde and what is in that book generally and shortâ—ly is wryten in this book wyth the same oryson Capitulum â—ij WHanne the ende of the bodely lyf of this blyssed mayde Katheryn drewe faste vpon hyr oure lorde shewed a ioye to hyr in hyr passyng by dyuers tokens by the whiche ioyâ— and glorye he purposed to rewarde hys spouse after hyr labour and sykenes in heueâ— answeryng to the gyftes of grace that she receyued in erthe Among all other tokens by the whiche he shewed the perfeccyon of hyr â—owlâ— to all thoo that wolde consydere it was this That he quyâ— kened hyr desyrâ— euery daye more and more for to desyre to beâ—â— vnbounde from the body and be wyth Cryst And for this skylle it was that she myght clerely and openly beholde in blysse â–ª That tâ—â—uthe the whiche she sawe in this lyfe by a myrour of feyth The whiche desyre soo moche the more it encrecyth in hyâ— herte in as moche as the lyght aboue kynde shyned in hyr herde from heuen And therfore aboute a yere and a halfe afore or thenne she passyd out of this worlde Oure lorde shewed to hyr suche a cleâ—e knowyng of tâ—â—uthe that she was constreyned to shewe it openly oute by wrytyng That was the cause why she prayed wryters as it is rehersed afore that whan they sawe hyr in rauysshyng they sholde be â—â—dy to wryte that the whiche she sholde speke by the mouthe for that tyme and soo in a lytell tyme she compyled a book that conteyneth a maner of a dyaloge bytwene a soule axynge of oure lorde foure petycyons And oure lorde Ihesu Cryst answeryng to the same soule and enformyng it of many profytable trouthys In the last ende of whiche book two thynges ben sette that me semeth is nedefull for to reherse here as well for the grete profyte that rederys sholde fynde therin as for to declare this blyssed maydens desyre that she hadde soo perfytâ—ly in hyr soule ¶ Neuerthelesse by cause noo body sholde mysdeme me wenyng that I wolde translate it other wyse thenne she sayd in hyr owne language therfore I purpose to translate it none other wyse thenne she sayde it worde by worde Tho two thynges by these Fyrst the recapytulacyon of the same book I sette in the ende the whiche rehersed shortly all tho thynges that ben dyffusely sette in the book afore The seconde is a prayer the whiche this holy mayde made whanne she hadde endyd hyr book by the whyche prayer is openly shewed what desyre she haddâ— to be vnbounde and loosyd oute of hyr body and be wyth Cryst Afore the recapytulacyon thys holy mayde reherseth in the ende of the same â—oke that almyghty god the fader of oure lorde Ihesu Cryst spekyth to a soule atte â—â—e ende of the dyaloges after tyme he hadde long tyme spoke afore of obedyence of perfyte folke in this wyse ¶ Now my welbeloued and dere doughter I haue made a sythe to thy desyre â—ro the begynnyng to the laste ende the whiche I haue made spekyng of obedyence For yf thou haue good mynde in the begynnyng thou axest me wyth a grete desyre of herte as I made the to axe that I sholde encrece the fyre of my charyte in thy soule Thou axest also foure petycyons of the whyche one was for thy selfe To the whiche petycyon I made a sethe to the by Illumynyng the whiche the lyght of my trouthe and shewyng to the alle the maner by the whiche maner by medytacyon of the lyght of feyth wyth knowele chyng of thy self and of me thou comesâ—e to the knoweleche of the trouthe The secounde petycyon that thou axest that I sholde to mercy wyth the worlde The thrydde petycion was for my mystery all body that is of my spouse holy chirche prayng me that I sholde wythdrawe all derkenesse of perfeccyon from hyr that she suffreth And thou axest that I sholde punysshe the wyckydnes of them vpon the. Therfore it was that I declared to the that no paynes fynyte or gyuen in tyme fynyte of it selfe allone maye make satysfaccyon for trespas doone ageynste me the whiche am god infynyte but it maketh a seeth well yf it be oned wyth contrycion of herte and desyre of â—oule The maner how it maketh dewe satysfaccioÌ„ I declared to the yet euermore I answere to the that I wyll do mercy to the worlde shewyng to the that mercy is appropryd to me wherfore for the grete mercy and the vnestimable loue that I hadde to mankynde I sente myn only begoten sone for to declare more openly to the I lykenyd to a brydge that stretchyâ—â— atteyneth from heuen to erthe and that is from the hede the whiche is made in hym by dyuyne nature and mankinde Also for to make the more clere by the lyght of my trouthe I shewed the how
that she wayled and wept and wente Inne there the body â—aye seyeng to the ghoostely chyldren of thys holy mayde Katheryne ¶ O vnpytuous woman why haue ye hydde this fro me why called ye me not to her passyng They excusyd theym that they myght not for certayn causes than she prayed theym for to telle her whaÌ„ she departed from the body they sayde yester daye aboute vnderne of the daye wyth the Semya wepte and sayde thus that same tyme it was that I sawe myn gloryous moder lad vp to heuen with angâ—lis wyth thre precious crownes on her hede Now I wote well she sayd that our reuerend lorde almyghty sent his angelys shewed me the passyng of myn glorious moder gloryous saint katheryn of Sene And more ouer she mynystred for me merueylously in myn kytchyn O moder O gloryous moder why vnderstoode I not whan I hadde that gloryous visyon that thou that tyme passid out of this worlde Thenne she respyred and tolde to her susters and to other ghostely children of heres what vysyon she had suche a tyme â–ª al as it is rehersed thus endeth this chapitr◠¶ Of tokens and myracles whiche our reuerend lord almyghty god wrought after the deâ—h of this hooly mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt Katheryn of Sene bothe tofore her beryeng and after That is to saye of tho myracles were knowe for many ther were that were not knowe Capitulum â— WHan the blessyd soule of this holy mayde and virgygyn gloryoê° saynt katheryn of Sene was de liuerd out of her swete body and the swe holy body put in a chaunsell of saint Do mynyk I closed by cause the people sholde cerce a whyle of her confluence as it is â—eherâ—ed afore in the iiij chapytre In the mene tyme that it sâ—ode there came a suse of saint fraunceis order that was callyd Domynyca the whiche had a sekenes in her armr that half a yeâ—e afore this holy mayde vyrgyne dyed she myght not by welde her arme for it was in maner benomme her aud drped vp This suster Domynyca in hope to haue helpe herde seye that this hooly mayde vyrgyn was dede â–ª came to the chyrche there she laye sayde that she myght not come to this holy body for the peple by cause also the chaunsel dore was shette she threwe in a keuerchef and prayed the susters of saint Domynyk that they wolde touche the swete holy body of that holy mayde and vyrgin wyth that keuerchefe thenÌ„e to gyue â—t to her a gayn They dyd so assone as she hadde the keuerchefe agayn she put it to her arme and was hole anon wyth that she cryed to all the people and sayde that her arme was hole by myracle of this holy mayde vyrgyn gloryous katheryne Thenne the peple made moche noyse in thankyng oure reuerend lorde almyghty god brought chyldren of heres other seke bodyes that they myght haue helpe by myracle namely by touchyng somme hemme of that holy mayde and virgins clothes â–ª Amonge all other there was brought a â—â—â—â—de of iiij yere olde whos he de lay vpon his one sholdes by cause off a certayn infyrmyte that he hadde by the whiche infyrmyte the synowes of his necke were shronke to gyders so that he myght neuer lifte vp his hede fro the sholder Assone as this childeÌ„ was brought to the holy body and was touched in the necke wyth the holy mayde and vyrgyn about whos neck also was put a keuerchefe of this holy mayde and vyrgyn â–ª â—ythin a lytyll whyle and tyme afterward the chylde began to amende and soo was att the laste hole This was the cause why the fryers durste not burye the holy body by thre dayes to gyder in as moche as our reuerende lord almighty god sholde shewe myracle by her For there was soo grete a confluence of people thoo thre dayes that a mayster of â—yuynyte was steryd for to make a sermon to the worshyppe of oure reuerend lorde almyghty god and of this holy mayde and virgyn But whan he stode vp in the pulpyt he myght not be herd for noyse of the people and the grete concurs to the swete holi body Soo that at the laste he lefte of his sermon and sayde to all the peple in this wyse Syres I see well this holy maide and vyrgyn nedeth nought our prechinge for she by her self prâ—â—heth suffyciauntly ynow and thenne he wente doune out of the pulpyt ¶ The myraclys of this holy mayde vyâ—gyn encresyd faste For there was a Roman the whiche was called Lucius that had suche a sekenesse the whiche myght not behelyd of none leche a ioynt off his knee was to broste so that he myght not walke vnnethe but by sustentacion of a staf This lucius herde saye that suche an holy mayde and virgyn dyde myraclys â–ª wyth grete traueyle and helpe of other he came there her sweâ—â— hooly body lap there wyth grete reuerence and deuoucion he toke the holy mayde and vyrgyn hond and put it to his thye to his legge â—ythin a lytyll whyle and tyme after he felte more strengthe in his leggys than he dyde a fore so that or than he wente fully thens he was all hole praysyng our reuerend lord almyghty god in his merueiles that he shewed in his saintes ¶ Also there was a yonge maydede childe that was called â—eâ—â—zola the whiche had an horybyll infyrmyte of a lepyr in her face that her noyse and the ouerlyppe of her mouth was coueryd wyth that horryble lepre This mayde herd speke also of the myracles shewed by this holy may de vyrgyn gloryous saynt Katheryne of Sene come to the same chriche where that her holy body lay and in to come to that holy body but alwaye she was put a backe by prees of the people At the laâ—t she came in to that swete holy body put not only her face to the holy mayde vyrgyns hondis and feet But also to her louely swete face and vysage Soone after she felt releuyng of her sekenes soo that wythin a short tyme she was so perfyghtly hole and neuer afterward apperyd in her face ony naner of â—eper spottene marke of ony maner leper ¶ Also there was a Roman calliâ— Cypryus that had a doughter the whiche doughter of yonge age toke a sekenes that is called the tysyk of that sekenes she myght neuer be deliueryd by none maner of me decyne when the fader the moder herde saye of the myraclis shewed by our reuerend lord almyghty god by by this holy mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt katheryn they came to the same place her doughter wyth them where the swete holi body laye recommendyd deuoutly her doughter to that holy mayde and vyrgin Assone as the chylde was hole Also in the mene tyme the swete holy body lay vnberyed there was a cytysyn of Rome that was callyd Anthoni the whiche was the same tyme in saynt Petâ—is chirche
angmented so myghtly in the brest of this holy mayde that not onely it was shewed to seek bodyes as it is reherced afore but also it was shewed in voydyng of wycked spyrytes as it shall be declared in this chapytre by the helpe of god Ther was in the Cyte of Sene a man the whiche was called mychael that vsed the craft of wrytyng whan he was passed in yeres of age by consent of hys wyf he was in purpose to leue the worlde serue our lord more specyally thenne he was wonte And also for to make two doughters of hys mynchyns in a monasterye in the same Cyte of Sene endowed in worshyp of saynt Johan the Enange lyst so hys lyst was fulfylled And at the last by a pryue dome of god one of his doughts the whiche was made a myn then that was called Laurencyana of vill yere of age or there aboute was vexed with a fende so that all the monasterye was vnquyeted by hyr vexacyon And at the last by comyn assent they sent after hyr fader delyuered ageyne hys doughter for they wold nomore haue hyr in the monasterye as long as she was so vexed Whan she was take out of the monasterye the fende spak wythin hir by the childys mouth many wondre thynges all in latyn wordes so many herde questyōs ther to pupplysshed many pryue synnes in sclaunder of many folke by the whiche it myght well be vnderstond that he was no good spyryte Of this vexacyon hyr fader moder and other of hir frendes were ryght sory wente aboute to dyuerse relyques of sentes for to seke helpe grace that her doughter myght be delyuerd of that spiryte And specyally they trusted gretely in the relyques of saynt Ambrose the whiche was a frere prechour to whome our lord graunted a synguler gyfte to put awaye wycked spyrytes soo that hys cope yf it had be layde vpon ony creature that had be vexed wyth a wicked spiryte it sholde be auoyded where fore the same chylde was brought to the frere prechours leyde vpon a tombe of saint ambrose hys clothes were leyde to the childe and the fader the mod prayed in the mene whyl the helpe ef god of the sente that the chylde myght be socourre But yet for that tyme were they not herde Not for no synne that euer they dyd But I trowe be cause that the syguler remedyes was reserued to this holy mayde Thenne was it counseylled to the fad mod for to presente hyr doughter to Pratheryne the holy mayde they sent to the holy mayde prayenge hyr that she wolde helpe they re doughter And she sent ageyn answer sayd that often tymes defayled departed a sonder and my soule was vtterly delyuered out of the body Neuerthelesse it was but a lytell tyme that was my sorowe Then ne eftesones mayster Reymond axed hir how long tyme hyr sowle was out of the body She sayd as they that kepte hyr were aboute to haue beryed hyr foure houres or thēne she reuyued ageyn Yet he axed hyr what she sawe for that tyme why came the soule ageyne to the body she answerd thus Fader that tyme my sowle sawe vnderstode ioye of blessyd sowles and peynes of synners And as myn mynde wold suffre me wordes wolde suffyce to expresse them I shall tell you My sowle sawe the diuyne essen cyall beyng of god and that is the cause why I am soo lothe vnpacyent to lyue in this worlde and had not be the loue of hym the loue of crysten people for whiche my sowle was restoryd to the body ageyne I sholde had defaylled dyed for sorowe The hyghest comfort that I haue is whan I suffre ony dysease for that I haue the perfyte vysyon of god therfore trybulacyons ben not heuysom to me but comfortable as ye may knowe other that ben conuersaunt wyth me I sawe also the peynes of dampned sowles and peynes of sowles that ben in purgatory the whiche I can not expresse perfytely wyth no maner of wordes For yf wretched synners sawe the leste peyne that is there they had leuer chese bodely deth an hondred tymes yf it were possyble thēne for to suffre o daye the leste peyne that is there But specially I sawe hem ponysshed syngulerly that had synned in matrymony the whiche hadde not kepte hem to gyder honestly as they sholde do but folowed the dylectacions of theyr lustys Of this mayster Reymond hir confessour axed hyr why that synne in specyall was more greuously punysshed thenne o ther synnes syth it so is that it is not the most greuous synne She sayd for this skylle For they had not soo grete conscyence of that synne ne so grete contrycyon as they had of other synnes but rather they offended in that synne thenne in ony other That synne the whiche a synner chargeth not for to remoue by penaūce is a grete synne be it neuer soo lytell Thenne this holy mayde proceded forthe in hyr mater sayd thus also Fader whāne I had seen all thyse ioyes and thes peynes wenyng my self that I hadde fully be delyuered out of this body Oure lorde sayde to me seest thou not doughter what ioye they lacke and what peyne they haue that offenden me Torne ageyn therfore to thy body tell to the peple theyr errour and theyr peryll And wyth that worde I was astonyed for to torne ageyne to the body and sore aferde Thenne our ford sayd to me it is profyte to mennys soules that thou torne ageyne and thou shalte not lyue the lyfe that thou hast lyued a fore ne kepe the so lytarie allone in chambre but thou shalte goo a brode to wynne sowles I shall euer be wyth the and goo wyth the bothe goyng and comyng Thou shalte bere the worshyp of my name and of ghoostly doctryne afore grete and smale laye people and clerkys and a fore Relygyous folk also I shall gyue the bothe mouth and wytte for to speke that none may wythstande the. I shall also bryng the afore bysshoppys and curates of sowles for to confounde there pryde Whyles our lorde spak thyse wordes sodeynly my soule was restored ageyne to my body And whanne I perceyued that I hadde grete sowwe that I wepte thre dayes ende of this chapite It nedeth not for to reherce the wytnesses of euery acte that was done in this chapytre for it is made mencion of forthwyth at euery acte ī the same chapytre ¶ Of myracles whiche our lord wrought by this holy mayde in breed wyne herbes ▪ and other thinges that had none lyff Capitulum xj BY cause at the begynnyng whā Adam was made our lord ordeyned a rewle to all tho that obeye◠to hym perfyghtly that all thynges sholde obeye to them Therfor maydens in this nexte chapytre I shall telle you how to this holy mayde obeyden alle creatures by cause she obeyed perfyghtly to god In the tyme