her to suffre pacyently and gladly the seke wommans rebukynge ¶ And yet ferthermore to this dede off charyte was knytte wythouten ony doughte sekernesse of clere faythe By the whiche faythe she behelde euer her spouse Jhesu in her sowle as ofte as she mynystred to that woman ¶ And yet neuertheles she failed none hope by the whiche she contynued to the laste ende in her holy mynystracyon After alle thyse hooly company of vertues folowed an open myracle in clensyng of that lepre by the dethe of this poure woman the whiche she toke by her mynystracyon This is a gracious myracle and a merueylous yet sholde ye see and here a more merueylous thinge that folowed yf ye lysten here it besely In the same Cyte of Gene there was a susters of penaunce of Saynt Domynyk seke that whiche was called after the maner of speche iÌ„ the couÌ„tre Palmaria the suster Palmaria was so gretely styred to hate by excytacion of the fende agaynst this holy mayde katheryn that as ofte as euer she sawe her or herd herd her speke or herd speke of her she was hyghely troubylyd in her sowle soo ferforth that she shewed alle the tokenes of malyce agaynste her bothe in baâ—bytyng of her pryuyly and openly also in cursyng Assone as the holy maide perceyued this she shewed to her alle maner of myldenes and mekenes for to pees her in that that she coude but alway her seke suster despysed all her mekenesse to the vtterest and sette none pryce bi her Thenne this holy mayde ranne by prayer wyth a feruent deuote herte to our lorde Ihesu her spouse prayeng to hym specyally for her seke suster that he wold vouchesauf to gyue her grace of forgyuenes the prayers were as a brennyng fyre ascendynge vp to our lorde askyng of him bothe mercy dome all bee it that the entent of this holy mayde was nothyng ellys but for to aske mercy for her and no ne dome yet it was lykyng to our lorde for that tyme not for to gyue hys mercy wythout dome there shewed oure lorde hys grete dome but yf byrrayers of this holy mayde He shewed a more gretter mercy he smote mercyably to that suster Palmarya in her body that her soule shol be made hole but what hardynes of obstinacion was in that seke suster And what swetenes of charyte there agaynst was in his spouse katheryne It was clerely shewed afterward by ryghtwysdom euermore he encresyng in this holy mayde katheryn the loue of sowles by shewyng of a wonderfull fayrnes of that susters soule the whiche was fyrst by the ryght wysdome of hym I demed to bee dampned for her obsâ—ynacie but merytes and prayers of this hooly mayde it was afterward saued Whan our lorde hadde smyte that suster palmarya in her body by bodely sekenes to that entent onely that her soule shold be more hole yet wolde she not sece of her malycyous hate that she shewed wythout cause to this holy mayde But rather was more greuoê° to her after her sekenes thenne she was in her he le The more froward she was to the holy mayde the more mekenes she she wed agayn to her and wold ofte tymes full charytably be wyth her and do her seruyce both wyth louyng wordes and dedes ¶ Yet was that seke suster harder thenne ony stone agaynste her that neyther by charytable wordes ne dedes ne seruyces she wolde not be pesed but euer was grutchyng vpon her soo ferforth that she bad her goo out of the hous that she was inne wyth a wood violent spyryt This consyderyd our lord that rightwis iuge he leyde his honde of ryghtwysnes vpon that enmye of charyte and touched her soo Soo sodenly that bothe wythout shryfte and housell she drewe faste to the deth of body and sowle Whan this holy may herd her of Anone she went to her chamber and bysoughte our lord by deuout prayer for that soule lest it sholde peryche by occasyon of her Suche wordes she seyde to oure lorde in her sowle in tyme of her prayer as afterward she was be knowe to her confessour Lord whyder I wretche am I bore to the ende by occasyon of me soules I made lyke to that shold be put to endeles peynel â— wylt thou suffer lord that by occasyon of endeles daÌ„pnacion to myn suster to whom I sholde be an instrument of euerlastynge helthe A myn good lord put awaye suche an orybyll dome sor the multytude of thyn grete mercy It had be better I had neuer be borne than soulis I bought by precyous blod shold for me be dampned O lorde be thyse thyne byhestes the whiche thou behotest me by thy large mercy I sholde be profytable to the sowle he le off myn neyghbours be thyse the fruytes of helthe that I sholde brynge forth for that myn suster sholde be dampned and none douwte mynsynne is cause therof and of her payne For other fruyte brynge I not forth but synne alone But yet shall I not cese to aske mercy vnto the tyme I haue somme comforte of myn susters sauacion in this wyse this hooly mayde prayed more in sowle thenne in worde outward and for that she shold haue the more compassyoÌ„ of her susters sowle our lord shewed her in the mischefs perile that her susters sowle was inne comered and wythinne that syght oure lorde answerd her and sayde that he myght not suffer it of his ryghtwysnes but that suche a malycious hate and an obstynate must nedes be punysshed Thenne the holy maide fell doune a fore oure lord in prayer and sayde Lord I shall go neuer out of this place in to the tyme thou hast shewed methy mercy for my suster punisshe me lorde for her synne for I that am cause of her trespaas shold bee punisshed and not she therfore merciable lord I beseche the for thy grete mercy and thyn endeles godenes that thou suffer not myn susters sowle goo out of her body in to the tyme that she haue receyued that grace thy merci ¶ Loo maydens that prayer was off grete strengthe that her suster soule myghte not passe out of the body vnto the tyme oure lorde shewed his plentuous mercy in her notwythstondynge the seke woman lay adrawyng on thre dayes and thre nyghtes soo that many folke that knewe her merueylled and sorowed for her that she suffred soo longe a peyne yet in all that tyme this holy mayde continued in her deuout prayer neuer cesing vnto the tyme she hadde ouercome in maner of our lord by meke teres Thenâ—e our lorde by her deuout prayers graciously sent his mercy vnto that sowle and gaue her clere knowyng to knowe her trespas and also gaue her suffycient contrycion to helthe of her sowle Assone as this holy mayde perceyued that by reuelacion that she hadde suche a grace she wente to the seke susters chamber for to comforte her And whan the seke suster sawe this hooly mayde she dyde her reuerence wyth grete ioye as
maidens face by cause euer the hooly mayde tourned awaye her face fro her Of this thynge her confessour hadde grete merueyle And in a tyme asked her why she dyde soo ¶ To whome she answerd and sayde Fader I am syker and ye hadde felt that stynche of synne that I felte in her ye wolde haue caste oute alle that is in your body for sqweymusnes Loo maydens all thyse ensamples haue I sett here for ye sholde knowe what excellent gyftes of grace our lord gaue to this hooly mayde by cause of her meke lyuyng ¶ Ouermore our ghoostely enemye the fend perceyuyng that this hooly mayde wan grete vertues by the seruyce that she dede to seke folke He thought by somme maner of wylle to wythdrawe her fro that holy besynes and yet myght he not For the more that he was aboute to lette her the more she encresyd vertuously by that occupacion ¶ It befyl in a tyme that one of the susters of penaunce whyche was called after the maner of the countree Andred This andred was touched bi the suffrauÌ„ce of oure lorde wyth a greuous infyrmyte and that was in this thyse She hadde vppon her brest a sore the whiche was called a cancer And that fretid the flesshe rounde aboute and it was soo corrupte that there myght none come nyghe her for stynche But yf they hylde her nose And soo there was fewe or none that myghte suffre to come nyghe her ¶ whanne this hooly Mayde perceyued this she vnderstoode that oure lord had receyued that seke suster to her kepyng Thenne anone she came to her that wyth a glad there she comforted her and she serued her gladly to the laste ende of her sekenes that seke suster toke her seruyce the more freely in as moche as she consydered that all other forsoke her this holy mayde lefte no thynge vndo that was longyng to her seke suster encresyd neuer her abhomynable stynche neuer so moche She stode by her and opened her wounde wasshed it and wepte it and coueryd it â–ª and yet neuer she hyldeth she her nose for noo stynche ne shewed none token of lothsomnes ne neuer was heuy ne wroth of seruyce ne wery about her but gladli dyd her dilygeÌ„t seruyce soo that her seke suster had merueyle of the grete stedfastenes and of the grete sufferaunce and of the grete fulnes of loue and charyte that was in so yonge a mayde Of this grete loue and charyte that she shewed to that seke suster the fende had grete enuye and was aboute to lette that dede of mercy and of charyte after his power ¶ Fyrst vpon a daye as this holy mayde was aboute to vnoouere her wounde for to wasshe it and wype it to refreissh it agayn â–ª there came out suche an odoure of stynche that vnnethe her stomake myght suffer it But almost she was brought to a vomyte Assone as she perceyued that she arose agaynst her self wyth an hyghe wrathe and sayde to her skeymons flesshe in this wyse whether the wretched flesshe haste abhomynacion now of thyn suster the whiche oure lorde boughte wyth his precious blode thou mayste falle euery daye in the same sykenesse that she is in or in verse trewely thou shalt be punysshed therfore Anone she bowed done to the sore and hyld her nose and her mouthe open agaynst the wounde soo longe vnto the tyme she felt in her selfe that her skeymousnes was goo and soo she ouer came the flesshe that was contrary to the spyryte The seke suster behelde this and cryed to her merueylyng and sayde cecedere doughter corrupte not thy selfe wyth this foule stynkyng sore ¶ This holy mayde for alle her cryenge wolde not aryse vp vnto the tyme she felt her enemye was ouercome and so she arose vp and he auoyded awaye fro her for a tyme But he consyderyng that he myght not haue the maystry of her wrought wylyly agaynst her by her seke suster He put in her herte suche an heuenes agaynst this holy mayde that she lotheth her seruyce and by lytyll and lytyll that malyce soo encresyd that lothenes was tourned in to an hate For though she knewe well ynow that there was none that wolde serue her but she But yet she sâ—cyd not of that pryuy hate but brake out agaynst her in to a suspycious gâ—losye for that is the condycion of theym that lyuen in hate euer lyghtely for to leue a suspycious thought of them that they hate And at the laste she began to ymage ne and bere her an honde that whan she was not present wyth her she was aboute somme actuell synne flesshely in somme other preuy places â–ª ¶ Yet wold not this holy mayde neuer sâ—ce of her holy seruise aboute her notwithstondyng suspycious ymagynacions I put agaynst her For she wel that wylecome by the deuyll and the more besy she was aboute her the more wrathfull was her seke suster agaynst her by exortacion and excitacion of the fende that euer hated the dedes of charite In so moche that he steryd that seke suster to slander thys holi mayde openly of the filthe of vnclenÌ„e and that scland was so open that at the last whanne that it came to hir susters he ryng somme of the oldest and of the sted fastest cam to thys seke suster for to knowe the trouthe Thanne the seek suster as she sdauÌ„dred hyr a fore ryght soo she contynued in the same sclaund to hir susters accusyng hir full foule actuell vnclennesse Of the whiche foule accusacy on thyse sustres were gretely a meruaylled and styred ageynst thys holy mayde and so was called forthe a fore them and sharpely rebuked wyth many repreuable wordes axyng of hir how she wold suffre hyr self so be deceyued for to lese hyr maydenhode To whome thys holy mayde answerd full pacyently and softely seynge thus â–ª Trewely ladyes and sustres by the grace of our lord Jhesu cryste I am a mayde And neuer wold she say other worde in blamyng of hyr that so had accused hyr but onely thus Trewely I am a mayde trewely I am a mayde Yet for all thys she cessyd neuer of hyr seruyse all be it that it was full heuysom to hir for to here suche wordes sclaundre But yet fyrst she serued hyr seek suster and afterward went to hir chaÌ„bâ—e for to praye for that was hyr most comforte in all suche dyseases There she prayed in soule more thenne in wordes by mouthe and that was in thys wyse O almyghty god my dere beloued spouse thou knowest well that the name of maydes is tender and lyghtly for to catche sclaundre namely of suche maydens that haue chosen the to be their spouse and that was the cause why that thou woldest that thy gloryous moder our lady Saynt Mary was commytted to Joseph that was called spoused hyr husbond for to kepe hyr name of virgynyte wythout sclaunder Thou knowest lord that alle thys sclaundre the whiche is putte vpon me is come by the fende â—he
that the moost traueylle that euer she hadde was for to ouercome slepe It was soo harde a bataylle for her or she myght haue the vyctorye of it Yet more ouer as her confessour recorded off her yf she myght haue founde ony body that cowde hadde vnderstonde her and commyned wyth hyr of vertue And of the goodnes of god it shold not greue her though she hadde been wythout mete or drynke and slepte an hondred dayes and an hondred nyghtes she sholde neuer haue be wery but rather the fressher and she gladder She tolde ofte tymes to her confessour that she was neuer soo well refrysshed in spyryt in thys lyf as whan she myght fynde wyth whome she myght commyne of the goodnes of god And that knewe well tho the whiche were conuersaunt wyth her ¶ This was openly perceyued in her whan she myght haue leyser to speke off god that tho thynges of vertu the whiche were hyd in her herte appieryd strongely by ghostely gladnesse in the body outwarde ¶ And whan she hadde noo leyser to talke of oure lorde thenne she was feble Herof bereth wytnesse her confessour Mayster Reymound to the worshyp of god and of his owne shame that oftymes Whan this holy mayde wolde speke of the goodnes of our lorde and of the greate myseryes that he shewed to her by cause of the longe tyme of her contynuaunce in spekyng And also by cause he was ferre from her louyng as he sayde hym selfe He fyll in a slombryng and alwaye she contynued forthe in spekynge For she was reysyd vp by loue in to the breste of oure lorde nothyng perceyuynge that he was a slepe tyll a longe tyme afterward And whan she perceyued that he was a slepe wyth a grete voys she awoke hym sayde why lese here ye the prouffyte of our sowle for a lytyll slepe speke I to a walle or to yow ¶ Ferthermore she desyred aboue alle this to folowe the stappes of the holy fader Saynt Domynyke And that was in this wyse she receyued euery day theyes dyscyplyne wyth an yron chayne The fyrst dyscyplyne was for her self The seconde for alle tho that were a lyue And the thirde for them that were deed ¶ Thus we rede in the legende of saynt Domynyk that he vsed contynually therfore she vsed the same longe tyme afterward ¶ But after tyme she was feblyd with sekenes that she myght no longer vse hyt ¶ And whanne hyr confessour axyd of hyr pryuely how in what wyse she vsed that manere of penaunce wyth a grete shamefastenesse she knowleched to hym ¶ That in euery dysciplyne she occnpyed an houre and an halfe so that for the moost partye the blode folowed foo the sholdres doune to the fete ¶ Loo maydens what perfeccyon was in thys holy maydens sowle that thryes in the daye lete hyr self blood for goddys loue shedyng hyr blood for hys blood Seeâ—ye not in what vertue she was of that wyth out ony exaumple or Informacyon of ony man in erthe that vsed suche grete penaunce wyth in hyr faders how 's Redeth Sayntes lyues and wrytyng of holy faders of Egypte leueth none vnsought but sercheth ouer all and espye whether ye fynde ony lyke to hyr Ye shall fynde Saynt Powse the fyrst heremyte lyued longe in deserte But a crowe brought hym euery daye half a lof to hys mete Ye may also fynde saynt Anthonye a full holy lyuer and dyd grete meruayllous penaunce yet he wente to dyuers ankrys aboute and of eche of them he gadred somme floures of vertue Ye may also fynde of Saynt Hyllaryon an holy lyuer Yet as Saynt Jerome seyth he was fyrst enformed to vertuous lyuyng of Saynt Anthonye and ro wente to deserte and there myghtly ouercam hys enemyes Ye may fynde also of Macharye and Arsenye and many other whyche is longe to telle of that had techers to vertuous lyuyng one or moo bothe in worde and also in exsaumple what in deserte or in Relygion And this holy mayde had nethyr hyr doctryne to vertues in Relygyon nother in deserte But in hyr faders how 's wythout ony Informacyon or exaumple of ony man in erthe and there to came to a grete perfeccyon of abstynence notwythstondyn ge the manyfolde lettyng the whyche she suffred in hyr faders how 's Shall I yet saye more of thys maydens commendacyon I praye you lystene a lytel whyle I shall telle how holy wrytte maketh mencyon that Moyses fasted twyes fourty dayes wyth out mete and drynke and Ely ones and our lord Ihesu cryst also as the Gospell sayth that thei fasted more by many yeres contynued Holy wrytte telleth not Saynt Johan baptyst though he were in deserte he lyued by hony soukeles and herbes But symply that he fasted I fynde nowhere I wryton Of Marye magdelyne allone hyr storye maketh mencyon of hyr lyf that she fastyd euery yere fourty dayes to gyder wyth out mete or drynke thre and thyrty yeres folowyng leuyng in a Roche of the see There for I trowe it was that our lord and hye blyssed moder commytted hyr to thys holy mayde for to be hyr may stresse and hyr moder as it is somwhat I touched afore And as it shall clerely be de declared afterward by the helpe of god By thys may ye knowe that thys holy mayde had a specyall yefte and a synguler grace of god Not that she is preferryd in holy lyuynge aboue alle the Sayntes the whyche ben rehersed afore For that were a full odyous comparyson So for to make suche lykenes bytwene Sayntes among whiche sayntes our sauyour Ihesu Cryst is I nempned to whome for to lyken ony saynt in comparyson of holy lyuyng that sholde be euen wyth hym it were blasfemye al tho other sayntes whyche ben named they be not rehersed for to make lykenesse in merites of lyuyng but that ye shal consydere and take hede fyrst of the grete magnyfycence of our lord Ihesu cryst that euery day by hys gracyous plentuous largenes multâ—plyed hys newe yeftes and grace where wyth he arayeth ghostly maketh perfyte hys chosen sowles Another also that ye shall consydere and take of the grete synguler worthynesse in hyr was noo Iniurye ne wronge to other sayntes For holy chyrche syngeth and seyth specyally syngulerly of euery saynt by hym self Thes wordes of Salamon Non est inueÌ„tus similis illi That is none I founde lyke to thys These wordes muste be vnderstonde of the grete myght and large fredom of our lord makyng holy and perfyte hys chosen sowles The whyche may wylle endowe arraye euery saynt syngulerly wyth a specyall yefte of grace wyth out ony wronge of other Of alle thys mater now I shall cesse and procede forth in the fyrst purpose By thyse condycyons of abstynence of thys holy mayde may be vnderstoÌ„de clerely that she was lene in body that wyth so many herdenes of penaunce and sharpe afflyccyonâ— was so often tymes tamed and all was for to make hyr body
not of thy ghostly excercyse that thou hast vsed but rather encrece more ther to Wyth thyse dartes of mekenes this holy mayde wounded the provide kynge of babylonye hyr enemy the fende And strengthed hyr self gretely wyth suche wyse wordes and as she knoweleched to hir confessour mayster Reymond ther was suche a multytude of fendes in hyr chambre as hyr semed â—he sawe with hyr eyen aboute for to styre hyr to foule thoughtes of synne that she fledde hir chambre for a tyme and kepte hyr self more in the chyrche thanne she was wonte to do Alle be it that she was pursued thyder by theyr sotyll temptacyons yet neuerthelesse she thought that she wolde folowe the steppes of Saynt Jerome fleenge and hydyng hir self by dales and hylles in eshewyng of suche abhomynable temptacyons And euer whan she came home fro chyrche to hyr chambre she founde so many a multytude of fendes there Inne seyenge vnhonest wordes and doyng the abhomynable dedys of lecherye and as hir semed rennyng aboute hyder and thyder as it had ben a passyng swarme of flyes Thanne she took hir to prayer and so longe she prayed to our lorde vnto the tyme that heuysom compayne were I swaged somwhat fro they re abhomynable temptacyons Whan thyse wretched temptacyons had contynued many dayes to gydres In a tyme whan she was come fro chyrche to hyr chambre and fyll doune to prayer sone after ther appyred a gladsome beme of the holy ghoost and opened hyr sowle that she sholde haue in mynde how that not many a dayes a fore she hadde asked of our lord the vertue and the gyfte of strengthe And what doctryne our lord had gyue hyr for to gete the gyfte of vertue and of strengthe And anone she vnderstode the meuynge of the foule temptacyons of the fende and conceyued ther by a grete gladnesse that our lord had gyue hir suche strengthe to ouercome them and purposed euer afterwarde to suffre mekely and gladdely all suche heuysom temptacion and all maner dyseases for the loue of hyr spouse Than one of the fendes that was more bolder thanne ony of that other more wycked spake to the holy mayde in thys wyse What thynkest thou to do wretche thynkest thou euer to kepe this caytyf lyf knowe it well we shall neuer cesse to payne the and heuy the to thy deth vnto the tyme thou consente to vs To whom the holy mayde answerd hauyng in minde the doctryne the whiche oure lorde taught her seyeng thus I haue chose payne for my refresshyng And therfore it is not harde to me for to suffre theym but rather dylectable for the loue of my sauyour as longe as it pleseth his mageste that I shall suffre theym assone as she hadde sayde that worde anone sodenlye the abhomynable companye of fendes vanysshed awaye all confused And after that a grete vnspekable lyht of heuen appieryd and shynned alle her chambre and in that lyght apperyd our lord Jhesu cryste as he hynge vpon the crosse whan he shedde his precious blode and called the holy mayde to hym and sayde Myn owne doughter katheryn seest thou not what I suffred for the be not heuy therfore for to suffre for me After that he came more nerre to hyr in another maner of lyknesse for to comforte hyr thanke hyr for her gloryoê° victorye that she had wonne Thenne she after thyse wordes of saint anthonye seyde to hym thus O my lord Jhesu where were thou whan my sowle was soo vexyd wyth suche fowle fylthy temptacions Our lord sayde agayne I was in thy sowle and in thy herte Thenne sayde she agayn A lorde sauyng alway thy trouthe and the reuerence of thy mageste how maye it be that thou sholdest dwelle in so foule a herte that was replete wyth soo many fylthy thoughtis and vnclennes Oure lorde sayde eftsones whether caused tho temptacions tho thoughtes in thyn herte gladnesse or sorowe delectacion or weylynge She answerde naye lorde But grete soro we and weylynge Our lord sayde theÌ„ne who was cause of that sorowe and weylyng But I that dwellyd in thyn herte yf I hadde not be there thylke foule thoughte sholde hadde partyd thyne herte and so thou sholdest hadde dylectacion in theym But my presence was cause why theymyslyked the whan thou woldest hadde putte theym fro the wyth dyplesaunce and myghtest not as thou woldest thou weptyst and were sory all thys made I that was presente wythinforth wyth in thyn herte and defended the from thyn enemyes And suffre the wythout forthe to troubled as moche as was nedeful be and spedefull to thyn helthe And whan the tyme that the bataylle was fulfylled and ended by me I sente the wyth out forthe my bemys of lyght And anone the derkenes of the fendes fledde for they might not abyde there my lyght is who was he the whiche enfourmed the now last that tho peyne were to the full holsom for to wynne ghostely strengthe by And that thou sholdest suffre theym paciently as longe as it was lykynge to me but only that shyneth in the beme And by cause thou offredesâ— thy selfe hertely to suffre tho peynes paciently for my sowle Therfore they were frely wyth drawe fro the by shewyng of my preserce And therfore doughter that hast soo trewely ouercome by my vertue and not by thyne thou hast deserued there by more grace of me thenne thou wenest Wherfore fro this tyme fortherward I shall shewe me to the more famulyerly and more homely than I haue doo before After tyme this vysyon was ended she was belefte in so moche plente of swetenesse that noo penne may wryte it to the full There belefte in her herte syngulerly amerueylous swetenesse of that worde that our lord callyd her his doughter Whan he called her myn owne doughter katheryne â–ª Soo that she prayed her confessour Mayster ReymouÌ„d whaÌ„ that euer he wold calle her he wold vouche sauf to calle her on the same wyse that euyr her swetenesse myght therby be renewed in her sowle Fro that tyme fortherward oure lorde Jhesu her spouse was wyth her ryght homely for he apperyd to her ofte tymes other whyle hym self allone other whyle he brought oure ladye his blessyd moder wyth hym ¶ Other whyle saynt Domynyk ther whyle both to gyders ¶ Also somtyme he brought wyth hym Marie magdalene Saynt Johan the Euaungelyste Saynt Poule the Appostle and other moo suche as he lyked But for the more party he came hym self allone and spake wyth her as homely as a frende wolde speke wyth his moste homely frende In soo moche that bothe to gyders wolde walke vp doune in her chamber as two relygyous men or two clerkys seyng psalmes or howres to gydres And this she be knewe ofte tyme afterward to mayster Reymound her confessour full ferefully O now was this a merueylous thynge O what this was a merueylous shewyng and an homely that neuer hath be herde afore Neuertheles maydens ye nede to be in no doubte therof
For thou shalt not eshewe shun the company of men and wommen as thou were wonte to do but rather for theyr soule helthe thou shalt put the to all maner of laboure to thy power and myght Of thys maner of lyuyng many one shold be sclaundred and so of many thou shalt be ageyn sayd that the thoughtes ef theyr hertys may be knowen by theyr wordes but loke thou be in no wyse aferde ne troubled for I shall euer be wyth the delyuer thy sowle from treucherons tonges and lyers Therfore werke myghtely that the holy ghoost shall teche the for by that I shall delyuere maÌ„nes sowle out of the fendes power and by mediacion of my specyall grace I shallede them to heuen Whanne our lorde had sayd thyse wordes and often tymes had rehersed to hyr the same comfortably as touchyng that poynte Where our lord sayd to hyr that she sholde not be a ferdene troubled She answerd as she beknewe afterward in contessyon Thou aâ—t my lord my god and I thy wretched seruaunt euer more thy wyll be done but haue mynde of me good lorde god after thy grete mercy helpe me and thus vanysshed cessyd this vysyon Thys holy mayde bethought hyr kepte well in hyr herte wha this gracyous chauÌ„gyng sholde be in tyme comyng Fro that tyme afterward fro day to day the grace of oure lord Jhesu encreced in hyr herte the holy ghost habounded in hyr so moche that she hyr self was astoned therof wext feble in body sayd as the propheet sayd thyse wordes Deficit caro mea et corpus me um deus cordis mei et ê‘s mea deus ineteâ—nuÌ„ That is my body my flesshe sebled deâ—ailleth but good lord by the gouernour of myn herte my parte wythoutenende And eftesones she sayd as the same ê“pheet sayd in another place Memor fui dei et drlectata sum exercitata sum et deficit spiritus meus That is I haue mynde of my lord god haue therin grete delyte I hauÌ„ce me in the ghostly delyte therfore my spyrytes strengthes of my body wexen feble and defayllen This mayde wext seek in body for the loue of our lord and hir sekenes had no remedy but by weping waylyng therfore she wept wayled euery day yet by suche wepyng and waylyng she myght not so cour hyr sekenes Than our lord put in hyr herte that it sholde be good for hyr as for a souereyn cemedye to hir sekenes oft tymes to be housled that so she myght receyue that lord that she loued by sacrement of the autre Of whom she myght not yet be fulfylled fully in thys lyf as she shold be in heuen blysse And netheles that was cause of more loue encrece of gretter sekenes But yet for a tyme it made satys faccyon by the vertue of the feyth to the ser â—yse of hyr charyte that brenned contynuelly in hyr herte by in sufflacyon of the holy ghoost After tyme she had in custome to be comuned houseled as it were euery day all be it though she were oft tymes lette by sekenes of body and soo for besynes that she had of mennes soules She had suche a desyre ofte for to be house led that but yf she were hyr body sholde suâ—â—â—â— grete peyne in maner it sholde feble defayll right as the body had parâ—â— of the haboundaunce of the spyryte by affluence that habouÌ„ded fro wythin forth Ryght so it myght not be but yf it had be perâ—eyner of the anguysshe dysease that the spyryt suffred Thys mater shall be de daâ—d more largely by the helpe of god afterward For now I shall tell you of the meruayllous lyuyng that she leued as touchyng hyr body mayster Reymond recordeth thus of this holy mayde as he knewe well by hyr confessyon also by wrytyng of hyr confessour afore hym that after tyme she was vysyted by the forsayd vysyon she had so moche plente of graces ghoostly comfortes and namely whan she had receyued our lord Jhesu in the blessyd sacrement of the autre that it reboundyd in to hyr body by a copyous affluence that the kyndly consumpcyon of dygestyon in hyr body had no place but it chauÌ„gyd so the kynde of hir stomake that the receyuyng of mete was not now ned full to hyr for she myght not receyue mete wythout grete torment of the body yf she shold algates â—te hir body suffred ryght gret peyne for it myght haue no kyndely dygestion but nedys it must by vyolence come out ageyne that she etc ther that it went June It is not lefull to wryte wyth a penne how ofte how many peynes this holy mayde suffred for receyuynge of bodely metes This maner kynde or condycyon of lyuyng in the begynnyng was to many folke bothe to them of the houshold to other that were conuersaunt wyth hyr so Incredyble that they named this synguler gyfte of god eyther a temp tacyon or ellys a sottyll dysceyte of the deuyll In to this errour fyll mayster Reymond hyr confessour as other dyd that wende she had be disceyued of hyr enemy the whiche oftymes transfygured hym self to an aungell of lyght for to deceyue soules â–ª And therfore he bad hyr etc hir mete euery day gyue no credens to suche desceyuable vysyons that wold lett hyr fro hyr mete Thenne sayd this holy may de to hyr confessour that she founde well by experyence that she was more hole in body whan she receyued no bodely mete thaÌ„ whanne she receyued it Yet for all suche excusacyons he wold not cesse of his precepte but badde commaunded hir that she shold ete Thenne she as a trewe doughter of obedyeÌ„ce obeyed to his byddyng ete hir mete vnto the tyme bi sekenes she was almost dede Thenne she called hyr confessour mayster Reymond and sayd to him thus Fader yf I be to moche fastyng were I cause of myn one deth were I a sleer of myn one body he answered sayd yes Thenne she askyd eftesones whether it be grete synne to be dede bi etyng or by abstinence he sayd by etyng Thenne she sayd sythen it is so that ye see me wexe feble and nere to the dethe by etyng as ye knowe well by experyence why wyll ye not fobede me etinge as ye wolde forbede me fastyng in suche a caas To this resoÌ„ he coude not answere but by cause he perceyued that she was nyghe to deth by euydent tokens he sayde to her doughter doo as our lord taught the For they ben merueylous thynges to me that I see our lord werke in the Many grutchynges ther was in the housholde agaynste her for this merueylous lyuyng by cause they knewe not the gracious werkynge of god in her And therto also they stered her confessour mayster Reymound to repreue her albe it it was ofâ—â— tymes agaynst his wyll and what grete dysese she suffred of other there
her stomak ony mete the whiche was mete wurthy as for that tyme yet she spet out fro her grete mater off flewme as other folke dyde the whiche myght not bee by nature But yf the stomake hadde receyued somme substaunce afore and thrfoere our lord wrought merueylously in her aboue nature Also as for drynkynking of colde water she receiued it gladly to refresshe her chykes and her throte This maner of lyf she lyued vnto her I aste ende for grutchers and for theym that were slaundred by her fastinge Her confessour Mayster Reymound perceyued how grete peyne she suffred by vndygestyon of her stomake and all for to stoppe grutchers he conforted her for coÌ„passyon that he hadde vppon her that she sholde leue and ete nomore rather than for to suffre suche a payne And lete theymgrutche ynow To whom she answerd smylyngly fader is better for meto suffrein this lyfefor my synÌ„es thanne for to suffre payne endelesly Her grutchyng is to me profytable by cause I shall be delyuerd of payne wythouten ende for the payne that I suffre in this lyf sholde I fle the ryghtwysnes of god Nay god forbede it oure lord doth to me grete grace by cause he giueth me myn payne in this lyf Soo her confessour coude nomore answere to her but helde his peas in this wyse ¶ Of alle her enemyes she had the maistry what soo in maner of the fende and of grutchers so she taughte other to do euery daye So that in a tyme whan she comynyd wyth her confessour of the gracious gyftes of our lord She sayd who soo coude vse the grace of oure lorde He sholde euer haue the vyctorye of all thynges that fallen to hym And thenÌ„e she tourned to her confessour and sayde to hym soo I wolde that ye dyde as ofte as ony newe thynge byfalleth to you be it prosperyte or aduersyte thynketh with in your self and sayth ofte this I wyll wanne somwhat and ye doo soo ye sholde soone be ryche in vertu ¶ Loo maydens haue mynde of thysnotable doctryne for thus I make an ende of this chapytre The wytnes of all thynges the whiche ben wryte therin Is this holy mayde eyther by her opyn dedes or ellis by her wordes And also her confessour the whiche was a fore maister Reymound ¶ Of the wounderfull rauysshyng and excesse of her mynde for her bodely wyttees And of grete reuelacions I shewed to her of oure lorde Capitulum vj rIght as oure lorde graunted to his spouse this holy mayde a synguler lyuyng as touchyng her body â–ª ryght soo he vysyted her soule wyth grete merueylous confortes of reuelacions Fyrst for the grete habouÌ„dant graces with her come that bodely strengthe that she had aboute kynde Wete ye right wel that fro the tyme that this holy mayde had I dronke of oure lordes syde the drynke of lyf as it is rehersid a foâ—â— many grete graces were habouÌ„dant iÌ„ her that ofte times ofte times as it had be in maner contynuabyl She was occupyed in actuell coÌ„templacion and her spyryte was lowyd to our lord that for the more parte she by lefte wythout felyng in her bodely wyttes Soo that as it is rehersed in the fyrst party her armes were founde ofte times soo styf in tyme of suche actuell contemplacion that rather they sholde breke theÌ„ne bowe Her eyen were all closed her ere 's herde none noyse were it neuer so grete and her bodely wyttes for that tyme were sequestred fro her owne werkynge ¶ This sholde be none merueyle to noman yf they wolde take hede to that syweth Oure lorde began to bee soo homely with her and brennyd her sowle wyth soo moche haboundante fyre of loue not oonly in pryuy places but also in open places as well stondyng as goyng that she the whiche hadde thyse grete graces by knewe it playnely to her confessour she coude fynde none wordes for to telle expressely the grace that she felte ¶ For in a tyme whan she prayed to oure lord feruentely wyth the Prophete Dauyd seyeng deuoutly thyse wordes ¶ Cor meum crea in me deus et spirituÌ„ rectum innoua in visceribus meis That is prayng our lorde specially that he wolde take awaye her herte her owne wyll and gyue her a newe herte after his wyll She hadde suche a comforte that her semed that our lord Jhesu come to her and opened her lyft side and toke out her herte and went his waye and belyfte her with out her owne herte ¶ Afterward it befyll that she commynyd wyth her confessour and amonges all thynges she sayde that she had none herte in her body the whiche wordes her coÌ„fessour sâ—â—rned her in a maner and blamed her for she sayde soo Thenne she rehersed eftsones and confermed her wordes trewely fader as moche as I maye fele yet after the felyng of myn body me semeth I lacke myn herte for oure lorde apperyd to me and opened myn leste syde and toke out myn herte and went his way Thenne the confessour sayde that it was vnpossyble that she shold lyue with out an herte she sayde naye there is nothynge vnpossyble to god And therfore she bad hym gyue credens that it is so For ofte tymes after ward she rehersed that she lyued without herte with in a fewe dayes afterward it befyll that she wente to a chapell of the fryers where susters of penaunce were wonte to knele And whan all were goo home it befil that she contynued in her prayers so that she was fro her self by rauysshyng and at the laste she awoke of her rauysshyng and went homward And as she wente by the waye sodenly a lyght of heuen bicliped her And in that lyght aperyd our lord holdyng in his honde a reed shining herte in lykenes of a mannys herte At the commyng of thys heuenly lyght she was aferde that she fyll doune vppon the grounde Thenne came our lorde to her openyd her lyftesyde eftsones and pute in her body that herte the whiche he hylde in his hondes seyng to her thus ¶ Loo dere doughter as I toke awaye thyn herte the laste daye ryght soo now I giue the myn herte wherby thou mayst lyue endelesly whan he hadde so doo he closed the wounde agayn that he made open in the flesshe Neuerthelesse there by left a merueylous marke in the lykenes of a wouÌ„de heled in the same place euer afterward where as her felawes tolde her confessour Mayster Reymound for ofte tymes they sawe it as she coude not forsake it to hym whan he askid it of her whether it were soo or not Out of that meruayllous gracyous herte that was so I gyuen hyr of our lord came out many meruayllous werkys And yet many moo meruayllous reuelacyons haboundeth wythin forth She came neuer afterward for to be hoseled but that ther was shewed to hyr many synguler gyftes of grace Oft tymes she sawe a lytell chylde in the prestys handys and other whyle a well growen
desyre entred all hole in to hys blessyd wounde where I founde moche swetnesse and knowleche of hys godhede ¶ And yfye wystye wold meruayll that myn herte for gretnesse of that ioye and loue to barst not And ye wolde be astonyed how I myght lyue in this lyf wyth suche a grete passyng hete of loue Also another thynge befyll hyr the next yere se wyng vpon the same day as she was a boute to receyue the blyssed sacrament of the aulter whanne the prest helde the blessyd sacrament in hys handes afore hyr and taught hyr for to say thus Lorde I am not worthy that thou sholdest entre in me Thenne whan she had de receyued hym hyr semed that as a fysshe entred in to the water and the water in hym ryght so hyr sowfe entred in god and god in hir And soo she felte hyr self all I drawe in to our lord that vnnethe she myght come home to hyr chambre And whan she was come home she layde hyr doune vpon hir harde bedde leyng long tyme styll and moeuyd not At the last hyr body was take vp in to the ayre and stode the re a whyle to gyder as thre wytnessys bereth recorde the whiche names I shall tell you afterward Thenne afterward she came doun and lay vpon hyr bedde alle weyke and feble and spake softely many blessyd swete wordes And hye contemplatyf wordes that it steryd hyr felawes to wepe the whiche herde them And amonges thoo swetr wordes she prayed for many folke and for som̄e specyally by name namely for hyr confessour that was that same tyme in the same momente in the chyrche and thought for that tyme on no thynge that sholde styre hym to deuocyon But sodeynly by hyr prayer he felte a meruayllous deuocyon that neuer he assayed afore consyderyng and meruayllyng how that newe grace camto hym soo sodeynly that houre whyle he thought thus sodeynly came to hym one of this holy maydens felawes and sayd Trewely fader Katheryne hath moche prayed for you this day suche an houre Thenne anone he knowe that suche a newe denocyon came to hym at that houre by Katherynes prayer And he axed of hyr felawe what she prayed she tolde him that she prayed for him and for other that oure lorde wolde wouchesauf to graunte them euerlastyng lyf and that she putt forth hyr honde and prayed hym for to graunte that Thenne she took doune hyr honde ageyne semyng to hir al sore and wyth grete syghenge she sayde thus A lord worshypped mote thou be for that was euer a comyn terme in hyr mouthe for to saye whan she was seek sore trauaylled Whanne hyr confessour herde this he wente to her and prayed hir tille hym all hyr vysyon She as meke obedyent mayde tolde him all the hole bysyon as it is sayd afore and whanne she came to that mater where she prayed for specyall frendes she sayd to hym Fader whanne I prayed for you and for other that our lord wolde wouchesauf to graun te you euerlastyng lyf with that I hadde a comforte that it sholde so be and forthwyth I asked a token of our lord that I myght knowe it sholde be so not for none Incredulyte but rather for a notable memorye Thenne he prayed me that I sholde stoetche out myn honde I dyde so and he putte in my honde a nayle and closed the nayle soo faste wyth Inne myn honde Thenne I felte a grete peyne in myn honde as though an yren naylle hadde be smyten thorugh myghtely wyth an hamour soo that me semed to mynowne syght thought it be Jnuysyble to other I haue a marke of Crystys woundes in myn honde ¶ Also for contynuance of mater I shall tell you another meruayllos thyng lyke to thys that befylle in the Cytee of Pyse As mayster Reymond hyr last confessour bereth recorde In a tyme thys holy mayde came to the Cyte of Pyse and other many wyth hyr amonges whome mayster Reymond was one the whyche holy mayde was receyued in to a worthy mannes place of the same Cyte besyde a chappell of Saynt Crystyane In the whyche chappell mayster Reymond sayde masse at the holy maydes prayer and ther he houseled hyr after hyr desyre as she vsed to be contynuelly whanne she hadde receyued that blyssed sacramente she was anone rauysshed fro hyr bodely wyttes and all that tyme mayster Reymond and other moo abode tyll she hadde do for to here of hyr somme ghoostly comforte as they were wonte to do after suche rauyssheng Sodeynly as they behelde hyr the body that laye prostratr vpon the grounde was reysed vp and she kneled vpon hyr knees stretchyng vp hyr armes hyr hondes wyth a clere shynyng vysage Whanne she had so long kneled wyth closyng and styf armes at the laste she fyll doun sodeynly as though she hadde be dedly wounded and anone sone after she was restoryd ageyne to hyr bodely wyttes Thenne she sente after mayster Reymond hyr confessour and sayde to hym preuely thys wordes Fader I do you well to wete that by the mercy of god I here now in my body the markys of the blessyd woundes of oure lorde mayster Reymone thenne axed hyr how that myght be and how it stode with hir in tyme of hir rauyssheng she answer de and sayde I sawe our lord fastned vpon the crosse comyng a doune and beelyppyng me wyth a grete lyght By the whyche gracyous vysyon the sowle was so gretely steryd to me wyth my lorde that the body was constreyned by strengthe of the spyryte to aryse Thenne out of the holes of hys holy woundes I sawe fyue rede bemys come doune from hym fastned vpon my body and was cause why that my body was all forstoeyned Wyth that I cryed to our lord and sayde A a lorde god I beseche the that these woundes appyre not in me to the syght of men outward Thenne sodeynly whyle she sayde thyse wordes er thenne thoo rede bemys were fully come doune to the body changed hir colours out of rede in to a meruayllous bryghtnesse and in lykenes of a pure lyght they restyd in fyue placed of my body that is vpon the hondes the feet and the herte Thenne mayster Reymond axed hir whether ony of the bemys come to the ryghte syde She sayde nay but onely vpon the lyfte syde vpon my herte mayster Reymond axed hyr eftesones felyst thou ony maner of sensyble pryne in thoo places She answerd wyth a grete sygheng sayde I suffre soo grete a sensyble sorowe in all tho fyue places and specyaly in my herte that but god shewe a newe myracle it is Impossyble to me for to lyue longe tyme to gydres in this body This worde marked well mayster Reymond hyr confessour and espyed where he coude see in hir ony maner tokenes of peyne Whā she had told that she wold say they depted a sonder out of that chappell they went to gyders home to theyr Inne the holy mayde went to hir chambre
passage by prayers other holy exercyses in commēdyng of hyr sowle to god He came thre freres wyth hym mo to be present att the passyng of this holy mayde But whan she was passyd as it semed One of the freres took so grete sorowe therfore that by vyolence of hys wepyng a veyne of hys brest was all for brosyd where wyth he caught a coghe spatte gebettes of blood Thenne was that another sorowe to them that stode aboute for bothe they wepte for the holy mayde that was so passyd And also for hir brother the whiche was not shappely to lyue long after in that payne Thenne sayde frere Thomas hir fyrst confessour to that seek frere wyth grete feyth and trust Brother I wote well this holy mayde is in grete reputacyon afore god for hyr good lyuyng Therfore take hyr honde and putte in the same place of thy sekenes And I doubte not but that thou shalte be hole And anone forth wyth he dyd so and so he hadde helthe the whiche he tolde afterward to al that wolde here if Ther was also a ghoostly doughter of herys that was present thenne the whiche was called Alyxa passyd out of this worlde sone afterward Moother were that came Inne for to see whether she was passed or not and ther was none that coude suppose otherwyse There were also two other specyall wyttenessys that were aboute for to ordeyne for the body that it sholde be beryed And bothe were susters of penaunce of Saynt Domynyk that one was called Katheryne as she was the whiche was hyr felawe longe tyme afore And that other was hyr cosyn Lysa and thus I make an ende of thys chapytre ¶ Of somme myracles wrought gracyously by thys holy mayde aboute the helthe of sowles Capitulum vij YF I sholde reherce alle the myracles that our lord shewed by this holy mayde I myght rather make a grete book of them than for to comprehende hem in oo chapytre But by cause I wolde put awaye dulnesse of them that sholde rede or here this legende of this holy mayde I am aboute asmoche as I may vnder fewe wordes for to comprehende them in one chapytre that they myghte knowe vnder fewe wordes how grete they ben the whiche I passe ouer lyghtely therfore in as moche as the sowle passeth the body in worthynesse I shall begynne of tho myracles the whiche were shewed of our lord by hyr aboute mennys sowles and after that of the bodyes As touchyng for the fyrst whan that Jamys or Jacob the fader of this holy mayde perceyued that hys doughter Katheryne was alle gyuen to serue and to please our lord as it is rehersed in the fyrste partye of thys legende euer he loued tretyd hyr reuerētly and louyngly for bedyng all folk of hys housholde that none be soo hardy for to lette Katheryne hys doughter in ony maner wyse what that euer she wyll haue done Thys is a grete cause why that the doughter loued the fader And therfore she commended specyally hyr faders helthe oft tymes to oure lord And he had suche a truste in hys doughters prayers that he supposed well she myght haue of god what she wold for hys helthe Sone after the fader sykened laye doune in hys bedde all seek Whan this holy mayde hys doughter perceyued that anone she prayed to oure lorde hyr spouse for the helthe of hyr fader And it was answerd to hyr of our lorde that the ende of hys dayes of this worlde were come and that it were not spedefull for hym for to abyde lenger in this lyf Then ne she wente to hyr fader vysyted hym and examyned hym how he was dysposed in hys sowle and founde redy wylfully to passe out of this worlde hauyng no luste for to abyde lenger wherefor she thanked our lord hyghly But thenne she prayed our lord eftesones that syth it so is that he hadde gyuen hyr fader so grete grace for to passe out of this worlde wythout synne that he wolde wouchesauf to graunte hym also for to flee to heuen wythout payne of purgatory Of this she hadde an answere in this wyse that ryghtwysnesse must nedys be kepte and therfore it were no ryght but Impossyble a sowle to haue the clerenesse of endeles ioye wythout perfyte purgacyon a fore For all be it thy fader hath ben in hys dayes of good lyuyng among alle other wedded folke also do many good thynges that I am well pleased wyth and specyally as touchyng the Yet neuerthelesse it may not be sauyng my ryghtwysnesse But that hys sowle must be purged by the fyre for to brenne out the duste of erthely conuersacyon the whiche is hardened endured in his soule Thenne sayde this holy mayde to our lord thus My dere welbeloued lord what may I suffre that my fads sowle by whom I haue be so tenderly nourysshed haue had so many cōfortes in hys lyf that it be not tormented in suche paynes I praye the lord for the goodnesse that euer thou shewdest to mā kynde suffre not hys sowle to goo out of hys body vnto the tyme it be perfytly purged oo waye or other that it nede not in no wyse the payne of purgatory After suche wordes our lorde shewed hys mercy meruayllously as though he had obeyed to the voyce of hys mayden All be it that the bodely strengthes of hir fader Jamys beganne for to defaylle more more to the deth warde Yet hys soule passed neuer out of his body vnto the tyme that holy dysputacion betwene our lord alledgyng for hym ryghtwysnesse And the holy made axyng grace mercy ▪ And at the laste after long dysputacion the holy mayde sayd to our lord My welbeloued lord yf thys grace may in no wyse be goten or graunted without som maner of ryghtwysnesse suffre that ryghtwysnesse fall on me for I am redy to suffre al maner of peyne what euer thy goodnesse wyll ordeyne for delyueraūce of my fads sowle Thenne our lord graunted hyr grace sayd Loo doughter for the loue that thou hast to me I shall graunte the thyne axyng I shall delyuer thy faders soule fully out of payne But thou shal be suffre a payne for hym as long as thou lyuest the whiche I shall assygne the. This holy mayde thanked our lord and sayde Good blessyd lorde be it to me as thou haste ordeyned After that she wente to hyr fader as he laye a deieng she comforted hym meruayllously of hys endeles helthe that he was ryght ioyefull she went not from hym vnto the tyme he was passyd out of this worlde And whan the sowle was passyd out of the body anone forth wyth this holy mayde was payned wyth a sekenes in the syde the whiche is called Ilica passyo that neuer went from hir in to the tyme she passyd out of this worlde And ther was neuer tyme afterward but she had the payne as she sayde other bare recorde
angmented so myghtly in the brest of this holy mayde that not onely it was shewed to seek bodyes as it is reherced afore but also it was shewed in voydyng of wycked spyrytes as it shall be declared in this chapytre by the helpe of god Ther was in the Cyte of Sene a man the whiche was called mychael that vsed the craft of wrytyng whan he was passed in yeres of age by consent of hys wyf he was in purpose to leue the worlde serue our lord more specyally thenne he was wonte And also for to make two doughters of hys mynchyns in a monasterye in the same Cyte of Sene endowed in worshyp of saynt Johan the Enange lyst so hys lyst was fulfylled And at the last by a pryue dome of god one of his doughts the whiche was made a myn then that was called Laurencyana of vill yere of age or there aboute was vexed with a fende so that all the monasterye was vnquyeted by hyr vexacyon And at the last by comyn assent they sent after hyr fader delyuered ageyne hys doughter for they wold nomore haue hyr in the monasterye as long as she was so vexed Whan she was take out of the monasterye the fende spak wythin hir by the childys mouth many wondre thynges all in latyn wordes so many herde questyōs ther to pupplysshed many pryue synnes in sclaunder of many folke by the whiche it myght well be vnderstond that he was no good spyryte Of this vexacyon hyr fader moder and other of hir frendes were ryght sory wente aboute to dyuerse relyques of sentes for to seke helpe grace that her doughter myght be delyuerd of that spiryte And specyally they trusted gretely in the relyques of saynt Ambrose the whiche was a frere prechour to whome our lord graunted a synguler gyfte to put awaye wycked spyrytes soo that hys cope yf it had be layde vpon ony creature that had be vexed wyth a wicked spiryte it sholde be auoyded where fore the same chylde was brought to the frere prechours leyde vpon a tombe of saint ambrose hys clothes were leyde to the childe and the fader the mod prayed in the mene whyl the helpe ef god of the sente that the chylde myght be socourre But yet for that tyme were they not herde Not for no synne that euer they dyd But I trowe be cause that the syguler remedyes was reserued to this holy mayde Thenne was it counseylled to the fad mod for to presente hyr doughter to Pratheryne the holy mayde they sent to the holy mayde prayenge hyr that she wolde helpe they re doughter And she sent ageyn answer sayd that often tymes defayled departed a sonder and my soule was vtterly delyuered out of the body Neuerthelesse it was but a lytell tyme that was my sorowe Then ne eftesones mayster Reymond axed hir how long tyme hyr sowle was out of the body She sayd as they that kepte hyr were aboute to haue beryed hyr foure houres or thēne she reuyued ageyn Yet he axed hyr what she sawe for that tyme why came the soule ageyne to the body she answerd thus Fader that tyme my sowle sawe vnderstode ioye of blessyd sowles and peynes of synners And as myn mynde wold suffre me wordes wolde suffyce to expresse them I shall tell you My sowle sawe the diuyne essen cyall beyng of god and that is the cause why I am soo lothe vnpacyent to lyue in this worlde and had not be the loue of hym the loue of crysten people for whiche my sowle was restoryd to the body ageyne I sholde had defaylled dyed for sorowe The hyghest comfort that I haue is whan I suffre ony dysease for that I haue the perfyte vysyon of god therfore trybulacyons ben not heuysom to me but comfortable as ye may knowe other that ben conuersaunt wyth me I sawe also the peynes of dampned sowles and peynes of sowles that ben in purgatory the whiche I can not expresse perfytely wyth no maner of wordes For yf wretched synners sawe the leste peyne that is there they had leuer chese bodely deth an hondred tymes yf it were possyble thēne for to suffre o daye the leste peyne that is there But specially I sawe hem ponysshed syngulerly that had synned in matrymony the whiche hadde not kepte hem to gyder honestly as they sholde do but folowed the dylectacions of theyr lustys Of this mayster Reymond hir confessour axed hyr why that synne in specyall was more greuously punysshed thenne o ther synnes syth it so is that it is not the most greuous synne She sayd for this skylle For they had not soo grete conscyence of that synne ne so grete contrycyon as they had of other synnes but rather they offended in that synne thenne in ony other That synne the whiche a synner chargeth not for to remoue by penaūce is a grete synne be it neuer soo lytell Thenne this holy mayde proceded forthe in hyr mater sayd thus also Fader whāne I had seen all thyse ioyes and thes peynes wenyng my self that I hadde fully be delyuered out of this body Oure lorde sayde to me seest thou not doughter what ioye they lacke and what peyne they haue that offenden me Torne ageyn therfore to thy body tell to the peple theyr errour and theyr peryll And wyth that worde I was astonyed for to torne ageyne to the body and sore aferde Thenne our ford sayd to me it is profyte to mennys soules that thou torne ageyne and thou shalte not lyue the lyfe that thou hast lyued a fore ne kepe the so lytarie allone in chambre but thou shalte goo a brode to wynne sowles I shall euer be wyth the and goo wyth the bothe goyng and comyng Thou shalte bere the worshyp of my name and of ghoostly doctryne afore grete and smale laye people and clerkys and a fore Relygyous folk also I shall gyue the bothe mouth and wytte for to speke that none may wythstande the. I shall also bryng the afore bysshoppys and curates of sowles for to confounde there pryde Whyles our lorde spak thyse wordes sodeynly my soule was restored ageyne to my body And whanne I perceyued that I hadde grete sowwe that I wepte thre dayes ende of this chapite It nedeth not for to reherce the wytnesses of euery acte that was done in this chapytre for it is made mencion of forthwyth at euery acte ī the same chapytre ¶ Of myracles whiche our lord wrought by this holy mayde in breed wyne herbes ▪ and other thinges that had none lyff Capitulum xj BY cause at the begynnyng whā Adam was made our lord ordeyned a rewle to all tho that obeye◠to hym perfyghtly that all thynges sholde obeye to them Therfor maydens in this nexte chapytre I shall telle you how to this holy mayde obeyden alle creatures by cause she obeyed perfyghtly to god In the tyme
vnnethe seâ—ue foure to theyr mete and ther were in nombre of persones xvj Thenne Johan wente to this holy mayde knowleched hyr neglygence all sory shamefast seyeng that ther was no brede but a lytell that vnnethes wolde suffyse to foure eche of them to resteyne a lytell To whome this holy mayde sayd A suster god for gyue it you why haue ye so neglygently brought vs to this last nede myght ye not haue warned me as I bad you well we ll byd goddes seruauÌ„tes go sytte doun Thenne sayde the mynyster that ther was but a lytell brede yet byd them sytte doun sayd this holy mayde to hir and serue them wyth that lytell and bydde them begynne wyth that lytell tyll that god ordeyne more After thyse wordes the holy mayde prayed whyle they etâ— Johan fulfylled hir byddyng deuyded to euery man a lytell and they as hongry folke gredy by long fastyng ete fast wenyng that they sholde nomore mete haue And also the suposed that that lytell brede sholde soone be do But alwaye they hadde ete ynough and yet the brede myght not defaylled And thenne they axed what the holy mayde dyd it was tolde that she prayed Thenne they sayd all by vertue of hyr prayer our lorde fedde them as he fedde fyue thousand men wyth fyue louys and so they thanked god Whan they hadde all ete yet ther was suche plente lefte that poure folke had ynough ¶ Now yette shall I tell you of another myracle that mayster Reymond bereth recorde of the whyche was done after tyme that this holy mayde was passed out of this worlde in to the blysse of heuen In a tyme hit happed mayster Reymond by counseyll of the Pryour of the freres and the couent wolde doo somme solempne reuerence to the hede of Saynt Katheryne this blyssed virgyne after tyme that it was translated out of the Cyte of Rome to the freres that dwelled at Sene. He sette a daye and bad to mete all hyr ghostely chyldren that she had nourysshed in vertue In the whyche day the freres were fully auysed to gyue hyr a solempne reuerence and also to fede that day all hyr ghoostly chyldren Whan the day was comen and the solenpne was done The frere that kepte the botrye of the couent loked what brede he hadde for the Couent and for the gestys and he founde scarsely ynough for half the Couent And thenne were there in Couent fyfty or there aboute and of gestys twenty whan the Pryour herde here of he was sory Neuerthelesse yet he serued the gestyn fyrst wyth that lytell and thenne the Couent wyth a lytell quantyte among them all and yet belefte ynough Soo thenne eueryche of the Couent and of the gestys hadde plenteuously ynough of that vnnethe as them semed that lytell nombre of louys myght hadde suffysed fyfe a fore Whan they had all eten the Pryour and the Couent came thyder ther mayster Reymond satte wyth the ghoostly chyldren of that holy mayde Saynt Katheryne and rehersed a fore them all that myracle Thenne sayde mayster Reymond these wordes Loo frendes this holy mayde Saynt Katheryne in the day of hyr solempnyte wyll not leue vs wythout somme myracle wyth whome she was so famylyer whyles she lyued in erthe Ofte tymes whan she was wyth vs lyuyng in this lyf she shewed this myracle among vs And therfore for to shewe vs that she now accepteth oure obseruaunce this daye done to goddes worshyp and to herys she hadde shewed the same myracle eftesonys after hyr passyng wherfore yelde we thankyng te almyghty god Yet furthermore our lord shewed meruayllous thynges by his spouse Katheryn in vnlyfely thynges as in floures where in she hadde ofte tymes grete delyte by cause she florysshed in vertue hyr self And in other vesselles of houshold that were lost destruyed and of thoo meruayllous thynges I shall tell you ¶ Thys holy mayde was somme tyme in the Cyte of pyse herborowed in a worthy mannes how 's of the same Cyte the whiche man loued well this holy mayde After tyme she was ther a whyle she was gretely feblyd in body by ofte excesse of spyryt in rauyshyng so that as it semed mayster Reymond and other moo that sawe hyr She was brought nye to the deth wherfore mayster Reymond was fore aferde lest she sholde haue dyed he bethought hym what remedye he myght ordeyne for to restore hyr to lenger lyf and he wyst neuer what he myght ordeyne for hyr as for egges and wyne and also other letuaryes he knewe welle that she myght not ete Thenne he came to hyr and prayed hyr that she wolde receyue a lytell suker in hyr water that she drynketh to whome she answerd thus Fader I see well that ye wyll take awaye fro me that lytell lyf the whiche is left in me by suche swete drynkes for I doo you well to wete that all swete thingiâ— to me dedly Thenne mayster Reymond and the souerenys of the how 's bethought hem to gydres what remedye they myght ordeyne ageynst hir feblynes At the last it came to mayster Reymond mynde that he hadde see that ofte tymes feble folke hadde be wesshen somme tyme wyth vernage aboute the temples in the pouses of the body and so were restored of strengthe and gretly comforted Thenne mayster Reymond sayde to the souereyne of the hous thus Syr sethe it is soo that we may not putte noo comfortable remedye wythin hyr body lete vs â–ª vse somme remedye wythout on hyr body Thenne sayde the souerayne of the how 's that he had a lytell besyde hys how 's a neyghboure that hadde a vessell of vernage to whome he sayde he wolde sende to for to haue a botell full therof for he knewe well that he sholde haue it full gladly A messenger was sent to hym and tolde him how this holy mayde was feble wherfore he praied in his maystrys behalf that he wold wouchesauf to sende hyr a botell of vernage To whome the neyghboure answerd thus that he wolde sende hym all redy but certeyn he sayde hys vessell was emptyd and therfore he prayed hym to holde hym excused for I wote well in all my how 's is no drope of wyne and that I am ryght sory fore Neuerthelesse to be seker come and see and thenne bere wytnesse of the trouth to my frende as thou seest Thenne forthwyth he took the messenger wyth him all ageynst the messengers wyll and brought hym to hys wyne seler and shewed hym that same vessell of vernage the whiche vessell semed by outwarde tokenys that it was voyde many day afore yet neuerthelesse the good man dyd more for to see the trouthe that it was voyde he drewe out the spygot that was in the vessell and drewe it out in hys presence that he sholde see that there was noo wyne Inne As soone as he hadde done soo the vernage came out and ranne vpon the grounde plentuously he was sore astonyed and stopped the vessell ageyne and
callyd all hys meyne and axed of them whether they hadde putte ony â–ª wyne of vernage in that vessell All they sayde naye they knewe no wyne there in thre monthys a fore and more And it hadde be a grete meruayll that wythoute them ony lyquor had be putte ther Inne Thys was afâ—…rward notefyed to the neghboures aboute and all they sayde it was a myracle as it was The messenger came ageyne wyth a grete meruayll gladdenes bryngyng wyth hym a botell of vernage and tolde all the myracle as it was soo that all thoo that herde it thanked our lord that wrought suche a myracle in hys holy mayde Katheryne and many one aftward whan this holy mayde was hole came for to see hyr seyeng wyth grete meruaylle suche wordes how may this be that drynketh noo wyne by myracle By suche wordes of the people this holy mayde caught grete sorowe in hir herte as she knowleched afterward to mayster Reymond And wyth suche sorowe and waylyng she prayed to our lord in hyr sowle more thenne in hyr mouthe seyeng suche wordes A good lord why suffrest thou me to be so tormented in herte that I shall be to all folke shame and reproue All other seruauntes of thyne may lyue among the people saue I allone O good lord who axed of thy myldenes wyne I by Inspyracyon of thi grace haue kept me fro wine long tyme And now I am made to all people for wyne in sâ—orne and reproue I praye the lord for thy grete pyte make that wyne for to vanysshe awaye that this same whiche is deuulgyd amonges men now cesse Our lord of hys mercy herde hyr prayer and made the vessell of wyne to decrece so that sodeynly ther it semed full to all mennes drynkyng the whiche drank therof of deuocyon by cause of the myracle it was decrecyd to the lyes and so all tho that praysed it afore for myracle helde ther peâ—s afterward for shame â–ª And mayster Reymond and other moo of hyr ghoostly chyldren were ashamed of theyr grete praysyng afore But the holy mayde was Jocunde and gladde thankyng our lord hyr spouse that hadde delyuered hyr of suche open praysyng of men ¶ Now I praye you maydens taketh he de how oure lorde kepte this holy mayde from vayne glorye and sette hyr in a perfyte grounde of mekenesse by thyse two myracles By the fyrst he gaue hyr mater to worshyp him that wrought that myracle wythout hyr wetyng in that that he fylled the vessell of wyne By the secounde he gaue hyr mater to folowe hym in mekenes in puttyng awaye of vayne glorye the whiche was putte vpon hyr By the fyrst our lord shewed what vertue of myracle she was endowed wyth By the secounde he shewed what wysdome she was fulfylled wyth For there that mekenes is there is wysdom Neuertheles yet the secouÌ„de myracle in emptyng of the vessell was gretter thenne the fyrst in fyllyng of the vessell that semed well by a simylytude that Saynt Gregorye makyth in hys dyaloges betwyne the vertue of pacyence shewyng of myracles whether he seyth that the vertue of pacyence passeth shewyng of myraclee Why thenne may not the vertue of trewe mekenes the whiche is neuer wythout wysdom passe with out ony comparyson shewyng of myracles the whiche come as well by pryde as by mekenes A bestely man may in no wyse perceyue this and that is no meruaylle For Saynt Poule sayde that prudence of the flesshe is in no wyse subiecte to god Loo maydens now haue I tolde you what myracles our lord shewed by his spouse Katheryne in vnlyfly creatures and thus I make an ende of this chapytre The wytnesse of this chapytre also ben expressyd afore wyth Inne this chapytre there that the myracles ben declared ¶ Of the ofte receyuyng of the holy sacrament of the aulter and of the meruaylles whiche our lord dyd to hyr touchyng the holy sacrament and other relyques of sayntes Capitulum xij IT was knowen to all that knew this holy mayde whyle she lyued in erthe what excellent loue she hadde in reuerence and deuocyon aboute the worshypfull sacrament of the aultre Oure lorde hys flesshe and hys blood so that for the often receyuyng therof hit was a comyn seyeng among the people that Katheryne the holy mayde was houselyd euery day and lyued ther by allone wythout ony bodely mete And all be it that they sayd not alwaye trouthe yet I suppose they tolde it mekely gyuynge honour to god that euer apperyth meruaylous to hys chosen Neuertheles be cause she receyued it so ofte all be it that it were not euery daye yet ther were somme that grutched wyth all ageynst whome may be brought wytnes ynough of holy faders that they dyd the same But fyrst I shall tell you what the vse was of holy chyrche in olde tyme. Saynt Denys seyth in a book that he made de ecclesiastica Jerarchia that in the begynnyng of holy chyrche the feruoure of the holy ghoost was so haboundaunt in the hertes of feythfull creatures bothe men and woÌ„men that they receyued the sacramente of the aulter euery daye Furthermore the doctryne of holy chyrche techeth this that euery feythfull man is bounde in no dedely synne yf he haue actuell deuocyon it is not only lefull for hym but also merytorye for to receyue that excellent worshypfull sacramente Whoo thenne durst forbede suche a feythfull persone and suche an holy lyuer in ony maner wise for to wynne so ofte grete mede in receyuynâ—… of that worshypfull sacramente Trewely I doubte not therof but that suche a creature had grete wrong yf it be denyed whan it is mekely vxed But yf they wolde say vtterly that it is not lefull to no creature be he neuer so feythfull ne neuer soo perfyte ne deuote for to receyue that blyssed sacramente ofte To this I shall tell you what answere this holy mayde gaue to a bysshop in presence of mayster Reymond that sayd these wordes aforsayd to hyr Alledgyng for hym the wordes of Saynt Austyn where he seyth thus Euery day for to receyue the sacrament of the aulter nother I prayse ne blame it â–ª to this obyeccyon answerde this holy mayde in this wyse to the bysshoppe Fader yf Saynt Austyn blame it not Ye alled ge that holy doctour ageynst youre selfe Ouermore now shall I tell you what Saynt Thomas Aâ—uyne seyth of thys doubte whether it be spedefull to a crysten man ofte tymes or euery day for to receyue the sacrament of the aulter He answereth thus therto that ofte receyuyng of that blyssed sacrament encrecyth the deuocyon of hym that receyueth it but it lessyth other whyles hys reuerence that he sholde haue to that blyssed sacramente Therfore euery feythfull Crysten man sholde haue bothe reuerence and deuocyon to that blyssed sacramente And whan he feyleth that hys reuerence is lessened by ofte receyuyng of that blyssed sacramente he sholde absteyne a whyle that he myght go therto afterward wyth more reuerence And yf
speke wyth this hooly mayde katheryne Thenne of charyte he lefte his owne nede and wyth his speciall frende to thys holy mayde katheryns hous wenyng that he sholde haue fouÌ„de her there but her felawes answerd hym that longe a go she went to chirche and come not home yet ¶ Whan mayster Reymond herde thys he was admerueylyd and came agayn to chyrche wyth his frende and fouÌ„de her there in a corner of the chirche knelyng rauysshed as she was wount to be and somme of her felawes wyth her Off whom he asked how longe that holi mayde katheryne hadde be there they saide alle this masse tyme and more that he prayed theym for to excite her assone as they myght for hys frendes is come for to speke wyth her And he myght not tarye Whan she was cesyd of her rauysshyng mayster Reymound toke her asyde and tolde her of his dysese vnder fewe wordes by cause the other man his frende sholde not be lette Anone she smylyd vppon mayster Reymound and askyng hym thus gladly Fader sought ye not all aboute he sayde yes Thenne she sayde why haue ye soo grete sow we therfore And wyth that she smiled â—ft â—â—is went soo forth for to speke wyth the pryour off the charterhous In the mene tyme mayster Reymound abode somwhat I comforted but not fully vnto the tyme he wyst how it myght be soo awaye Whan she hadde full doo wyth the Pryour of the Charterhous and delyuerd hi of an answer that he came for She tourned her to mayster ReymouÌ„de agayne Thenne Mayster Reymound sayd to her thus Moder I too we it be ye that hath awaye that partycule of the holy hoste she wyth smyling saide nay but it was another that toke it awaye from you therfore be ye nomore sory therfore ne for it ne seke nomore for it for I telle you ye shall neuer fynde it Thenne Mayster Reymond prayed her that she wolde tell hym al hole how it myght be To whom she sayde thus Fader take nomore sorowe for that partycle for yf I shall sholde saye the soth to you as to myn confessour myn ghostely fader that partycule was brought to me I receyued it by the reuerend hondes of our reuerend lord almyhty god swete gloryous Jhesu cryst And I shal tell you the cause why This daye I was in purpos wyth a grete desyre for to be houseled but myn felawes gaue me counseyll for to cese that I shold not be hoseled in as moche as somÌ„e grutched wyth all After whos counseyll I wrought was purpos for to cese but myn desyre was so grete therto that I prayed our lord almighty god of helpe he in his own reuereÌ„d ê‘sone aperit to me gaue me that partycle wyth his â–ª owne reuerend hondes And therfore fader bee not sory there is none necligence in you as for that pertycule After this reuelacion Mayster Reymound was ryght ioyefull by cause the thaghte of his concience was put awaye from hym Suche myrâ—câ—e our reuerend lord almyghty god shewed in the reuerend holy sacrament of the auâ—ter by the merytes of his honde mayde holy katheryne of Sene Also there were many other feythfull folke and trewe that sayde â–ª thei â—awe ofte tymes whaÌ„ Mayster Reymoâ—de houselyd this hooly mayde katheryâ—e of Sene the swete holi ghooste flede out of his hondes in to her mouth the whiche Mayster Reymound perceyued neuer saue this he perceyued that The swete reuerende hoste made anoyse in her mouth whan she had receyued it aâ— though a stone hadde bee caste in her mouth from a ferre contree ¶ Now thus shall I make an ende off the grete merneylousnes of that reuerende swete holy sacramente of the aulter telle you of dyuerse myracles that befylle to this holy mayde saynt katheryne of sene aboute certayn relykes of sayntes ¶ This holy mayde katheryne of Sene hadde onys a reuelacion as she tolde pryuely to Mayster Reymound her confessour that she sholde be sette in the same degre of ioye in the blysse of heuen And be felawe wyth saint Agnes the whiche was a suster of the mount of Pollycita Wherfore this holy mayde katteryn of sene desyred ofte tymes wyth alle her herte for to bysyte the relykes of saint Agnes ¶ But now ye maydens by cause ye shall knowe how bertuous a lyuer that saint Agnes was whan she was here in erthe I shall tell you shortely vnder fewe wordes This holy mayde Saynt Agnes suster of the mount of pollyâ—yta the same tyme that she sholde be borne off her moder there was in the chambre there her moder chylded a greate merneylous lyght that all th o the whiche were in the same chambre myght clerly see it And whan she was born it cesyd By this ye may knowe of what merite she shold be in the syght of our reuerende lord almighty god afterward that soo soone in the begynnyng receyued the merueylous light of our reuerend lord almyghty god After tyme she was born she encresyd vertuously more and more in al tyme of the yeres and at the laste she made two monasteryes of maydens and lyeth beryeâ—… in the toun in the whiche is shewed by our reuerend lorde almyghty god in her coÌ„tinuelly many wouÌ„derful miracles And amonge all other myracles whaÌ„ she was passid out of this worlde her body was not buryed but lefte vpon erthe all hooll wythout ony corrupâ—ion Wherfore other deuout folke that knewe her by her lyâ—â—e consyderyng how many merneylous thynges oure reuerend lorde almyghty god shewed in her wold haue bawmed her swete body that it myght so be kâ—pte vpon the erthe wyth miracles whan thei cam to bawme it they sawe how there came out of the toes of the feet and of the fyngers of the hondes droppes of bawme the whiche bawme is kepte yet in to this daye for a relyke amonges the susters of the same place This myracle was shewed for this cause that alle folke sholde knowe that she hadde none nede for to be bawmed outward whan oure reuerend lorde almyghty god hadde bawmed her wythin forth Ferthermore the same hour that she passed out of this worlde in the tyme of the nyghte infantes both mayde chyldren and other as they laye in her moders beddes cryeden and sayeden that now suster agnes is passeth out of this world and is a saint inâ—heuen On the morowe thyse in fantes drewe theym togyder in a companye and wolde suffer none corrupte child come amonges theym and wente eche of theym as in proâ—â—ssyon wyth candeles in her handes to this monastery wher suâ—ter Agnes passed out of this world ofofferyng to that mayde maydenes oblacion Many moo myracles our reuerend lord almyghty god shewed by that holy Mayde saint Agnes in the syght of alle peple wherfore she is had euery yere in grete reuerence wyth deuoute oblacion of many brennyng tapres for to see that holy maydes body this holy mayde katheryne
goddis chirche in heuen And in this chapytre is a recapytulacion of all the holy fyll of this gloryous saint and virgyn afore sayde for werynesse of reders Also yf eche maÌ„ may not haue all the hole holy lyf of this gloryous saint and virgyne afore sayde Thenne maye he haue the substauÌ„ce of it here compendyously rehersyd Capitulum vltimum THe holy doctour saynt Gregorye seyth in hys dyalogus that the vertue of pacyence is more commendable thenne shewyng of myracles This is the cause why our moder holy chyrche whaÌ„ she wodel Canonyze ony saynte fyrste she enquyreth of the vertue of pacyence Thenne of the shewyng of myracles that is for two skylles One is for many euyll lyuers haue do wond thynges shall do that semeth myracles all though they be none as Symon magus dyd Antecryst shall do in hys tyme. Another is by cause som ther hath ben that haue done shewed myracle by â—tue of our lord Ihesu the whiche haue be dampned afterward as Judas all tho thou our lord speketh of in the gospell where he sayth that som shall stande on the lyfte syde on the day of the generall dome saye to hym in excusyng of them self Lord haue we not in thy name shewed do wonderfull myracles To whome our lord shall answere ageyne say Go ye from me werkers of wickydnes by thyse two skylles ye may vnderstonde the holy chyrche in erthe may not only be certyfyed by myracles whether the ê‘sone be holy or not by whom they be shewed all be it that they shewe presumpcyon of holynesse And namely tho myracles that ben shewed after the deth of a ê‘sone for they were no sayntes at whos graues myracles ben shewed Yet were possyble that our mercyable lord sholde haue them excused yelde them after theyr meke beleue the whiche beleuen that they be sayntes Not for them that ben there beryed but for the glorye the ioye of hys owne name lest they the whiche beleue in hym be defrawded from theyr desyre wherfore our mod holy chyrche in erthe that is gouerned by the holy ghost desyryng for to be certefyed of tho merites of holy sayntes as moche as it is possyble in this lyf enquyreth specyally of theyr vertuous lyuyng of tho thynges that they wrought whyles they lyued in erthe Soo our lord Ihesu hyr spouse taught hyr to do whan he sayd Ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos That is of hyr werkys ye shall knowe them for it folowed aftward in the same place where that clause is wryten afore that a good tree may not bryng forthe euyll fruyte What ben thyse fruytes Trewely no thyng ellys but werkys of loue charyte bothe of god and of our neyghbours But by cause of these werkys of charyte ryght as they be plesaunt to our lord ryght so they ben dysplesaunt to the fende So that he is about in all that he can may for to lette the dedes of charyte bothe by hym self also by the worlde that is by worldly lyuers Wherfore it is full necessarye to holy lyuers to haue pacyence ê‘ceuerauÌ„ce yf they wyll be rewarded for theyr mede in blysse by the whiche pacyence they may conserue them kepe them in good loue of god and of theyr good neyghbours notwythstoÌ„dyng all maner ê‘secucyons Therfore it was that Saynt Powle assygned the fyrst condycyon of charyte pacyence whan he sayd Caritas paciens est That is charyte is pacyence Loo maydens this is the cause why oure moder holy chyrche in erthe requyreth more after the pacyence of a saynte yf he sholde be Canonyzed thenne after the myracles for among all â—tuous werkys yet pacyens is the grettest wytnesse of holynesse And this is sayd maydens be cause that ye shold not be in doubte of this holy maydens holynes for she had that vertue of pacyence full blyssedly As I shall tell you by the helpe of god of your good prayers rehersyng all hir dedes of pacyence by recapytulacyon of this hole legende namely for wery reders that thynken an houre in deuoute redyng is lenger than a daye and yf they were occupyed in tales tryfles thenne them semeth the long day â—hort thenne an houre Vnderstonde well maydens that this holy mayde Katherin ê‘ceyued that the vertue of pacyence myÈt not haue his gracious werkyng in a soule but fyrst vnlefull thynges were remeuyd awaye from it namely suche vnlefull thyngys that ben eâ—â—ytable to the lustes of the flesshe wherfore or thenne she came to the age of exê‘yence of flesshly lustes She â—emeuyd awaye myghtly all suche as suche thynges that sholde styre hyr whâ—n she came to age And yet she dyd not this wythout Inspyracion notable vision of our lord by the whiche InspiracoÌ„n whan she was â—j yere of age she saw our lord arayde as a bisshop sytting in a ryâ—t fayre chambre ouer the chirche of the fâ—ere pâ—echours Wyth whome she sawe aâ—so saynt Johan Euangelyst whyles she behelde our lord he lokyd vpon hyr full benyngly mekely and blyssed hir After this holy vysyon hyr soule was fulfylled wyth ê‘â—yâ—e loue that she putte awaye all chyldren condycyons gaue hyr selfe anone to prayer to penaunce and therin she encrecyd ê‘fytly that in the nexte yere after whan she was of vij yere of age she made a vowe of madenhode afore an ymage of our lady not sodeâ—â—ly but wyth grete delyberacyon afore as it is openly declared in the seconde the thrydde chapytre of the fyrst ê‘tye Furthermore by cause that this holy mayde wyst well that abstynence was necessary for to kepe the purpose of maydenhode Therfore she gaue hir to grete abstynence in hyr yong age ê‘fourmed it meruayllously For as it is reherâ—â—d in the thrydde chapytre of the fyrst ê‘â—ye in the vj chapytre of the same partye more largely the began preuely to leue flesshe And thenne as she encrecyd in age lytel lytell she lefte all maner etynge of flesshe therto she dranke no wyne but whan it was medled wyth watâ—r so that it had all most lost hys â—ast hys colour of wyne And whan she was xv yere of age she lefte bothe wyne flesshe all maner of metes out take brede rawe herbes Also whan she was xx yere of age she lefte brede took hir onely to dyetyng of rawe herbys soo contynued in that maner of lyuyng vnto the tyme our lord gaue hir a newe maner of gracious lyuyng whan she lyued without ony maner of mete that was whan she was xxv or xxvj yere of age as it is openly declared in the vj chapytre of the fyrst partye where is rehersed the cause the maner why wherfore she came to suche estate And where also is answered suffycyentely to them that grutched to that maner of lyuyng Whan this holy mayde hadde thus fully oâ—come the styryng of synnes that she came to the ê‘fyte vertue of
hydde inuysybly in the breste of his spouse whiche was transfygured in the hylle As saynt Peter sayde and other appostles ¶ Now ferthermore to our purpos this chosen mayde in her full tender age soone began to waxe and was coÌ„forted wyth the holy ghost in token that she sholde be soone fulfylled wyth the dyuyne wysdome Aboute her age of fyue yere whan she was taught to saye the salutacion of the aungell Aue maria She recordyd it besely and sayde it full ofte And whan she coude saye it as she was enspired froÌ„ heuen She began to grete oure lady goyng vpward on a stayere and comynge douÌ„ward on the same stayere at eche grees of the stayere to worshyppe our lady wyth an Aue maria This she tolde her confessour afterward in the secretâ—â—esse of confession By this ye maye sâ—e that she that fyrst in the begynnynge shewed forth fyrst plesyng and acceptable wordes to men after that yonge age she began to stye vp from thynges that were inuysyble ¶ After this holy begynnyng the encresed euery daye â–ª And than as it pleasyd our lord the was vyseâ—ed wyth a gracyous and a wounderfull vysyon to stere her and to shewe here hyr gyftes of grace of the holy ghoost And to shewe other how a lytyll plante shold be brought forthe and soo nourysshed in to an him tree of Cidre by the moyster of the holy gost ¶ Aboute her age of vj yere It befyll that this chosen mayde wyth her brother Steuen somme what elder than she wente to her suster Bonauentura Of whiche suster is made mencion byfore perauentur on someuer ende or to loke how she ferde as the maner of frendes of kynrede is soo to doo whan she hadde doo that they were bode to doo in her goyng homward agayn by the waye whiche is called in her tongue wallis piacta This holy may lyfte vp her eyen and agaynste her ouer the chirche of the freer prechours she sawe in the ayer a full fayre chambre ryally aparayed wyth all ryches and honeste where oure lorde Ihesu Cryste in a trone Imperyall clothed wyth pontyfycall vesture hauyng on his hede a myter papall And wyth hym were saynt Peter and saynt Poule and saynt Johan Euan gelyst And whan she behelde alle thys she was fyrst a stonyd But by a vysement stably she stode styll and wyth a louyngyng herte deuoutly she loked on her sauyour bothe wyth bodely and gostely eyen And anone our lorde drewe her loue to hym mercy fully sette his eâ—en of his mageste vpon her graiously louyngly wyth a manneuer smylyng chere And reched out his ryght arme toward her and ouer her â–ª and gaue her his blessyng wyth the token of the holy crosse And after the maner of other Bysshoppes and prelates ¶ The grace of this gyfte of god was spedfull and soo effectuously putte in her that anon she was transformed and rauysshed in spyryte vnto oure lord whome she sawe And behylde wyth soo greate gostely lykynge and not only her gooyng and her waye was out of her mynde but fully she hadde forgoten her selfe And ofte the wente in the waye besyde men and bestes By nature dredfull sholde be as a chylde but euer the eyen and the hede were vpward abydyng vppon that blysfull vysyon and none doughte soo she wolde haue abyde but she hadde be touched or take awaye by somme other body as longe as that vysyon had endured ¶ But at the lasâ—e whyles thys was shewed to the mayde â–ª Steuen her broder helde forthe his waye and was passed her a greate space wenyng that she had folowed hym But whan he tourned hym and sawe her not folowe he tourned agayn and sawe his suster ferâ—e be hynde stondyng styll in the waye and loke vp in the fyrmament ¶ And thenne he cryed after her wyth alowde voys and called her she answerde not and take none hede Thenne he wente nere cryeng afterher but his voys helped not ¶ He woundred and wente thenne drewe her by the honde and sayde what doost thou here why comest thou not forthr she anon cast doune a lytyll her eyen as she hadde awaked of an heuy slepe and sayde A yf thou sawe that I sawe thou woldest not haue lette me from this holy vysyon And anone as she had saidâ—â— â–ª o wordes She lyft vp her eyen agayne to be holde more vp that she hadde seen But the vysyon was alle wythdrawe and cesyd as his wyll was whiche aperyd to fore And that myght she not bere wythout a sharpe stroke of sorowe And anone she vengyd her on her self wyth sore wepynge for sorowe that she caste doune her eyen And from that tyme and houre This yonge mayde and vyrgyn saint Katheryn began to waxe olde in vertues and sadnesse of maners and to haue a wounderfull witte and a felyng body botâ—e by grace and by nature In soo moche that her dedes were â—other chyldysshe ne as a yonge woman But they semed rather to alle men that they came of the wysedom of a greate worshypfull age Soo that anone was shewed that the fyre of dyuyne loue was kyndeled in her herte by the whiche vertu her intellection was made clere Her wyll was feruent her memorye was comforted and alle her outward werkyng shewed in alle thynges the rewle of goddes lawe ¶ And as she sayd in confessyon to hyrconfessour full mekely and lowely that she lerned and knewe at that tyme wyth out techyng of ony body or ony redynge or heryng onely by the â—nfusyon of the holy ghoose the leuyng and the maners of the foly faders of Egypte and the lyuyng of many other Sayntes and specyally of the lyfe of Saynt Domynyk â–ª ¶ She hadde soo grete desyre to folowe the lyuyng of the holy fadres and Sayntes that she myghte noo thynge ellys thynke but howe that she myght come therto ¶ And by that cause many newe thynges beganne in that holy mayde that hyr holy lyuyng and dedes broughte all men in to a wonder For after that tyme she sought oute where that she myght haue a pryue place to abyde in preuely whanne she wolde vse bodely afflyccyons and whanne she wolde occupye hyr in prayer and holy medytacyons â–ª ¶ In that place at certeyne tymes she scourged hyr lytell tender body wyth a lytell scourge She lefte of all maner pleyeâ— and dysportes and besely gafe hyr to prayer and medytacyons full stylle she was and gaf alle to scylence euery day more and more ageynste the condy cyon of chyldren lasse bodely mete she toke thenne she was wonte to fore And that is not wonte to falle in chyldren that he wexynge Exemplum By the exsaumple of thys yonge mayde many damseâ—â—ys of dwellyng there nye and of hyr age were steryd to god by grace and gadred to here of hyr holy and gracyous wordys and after her power to folowe hyr holy werkys where thorugh it fyll that alle tho chyldren att certeyne tymes â—amen to gyder in to a preuy
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
myght worshypfully and parfy tably be wedded and to what prosone Hyr moder supposed that for the grete wysdome that hyr doughter had she sholde haue be wedded to somme man of grete kyneede where for she besyed hir fast aboute the bodely apparayll and araye of hyr doughter and taught hyr to wasshe ofte hyr face and to kembe ofte hyr hede and to make hyr fayre here and to voyde alle thynge that sholde be dyshoneste or sholde make foule hyr face or hyr necke That whan ony man came to aske after hyr for maryage she sholde be the more semely and fayrer Thys holy mayde was alle of another purpose and had made another vowe Alle be it she shewed it not to hyr fader ne moder wherfor vtterly she thoughte noo thynge to do as hyr moder bad hyr touchyng suche curyosyte She besyed wyth alle hyr strengthes to plese god but no man in that wyse And whanne hyr moder hadde aspyed that she had no wylle to that maner of lyuynge she was dysplesed and clepyd to hyr Bonauenture hyr other doughter whyche was late I wedded before And bad hyr trete soo hir suster that she myght araye hyr in bodely apparayll as the manere was of wymen in that contre that sholde be maryed and doo as she hadde bad hyr doo to fore Hyr moder knewe welle that Katheryne loued Bonauenture fulle tenderly and supposed that she sholde be broughte in to that more lyghtely by hyr suggestyons thanne by ony other And soo she was as ye shalle see after For by suffraunce of oure lorde she was broughte so Inne thorough speche and example of hyr suster Bonauenture by many maner wayes that at the laste she assentyd to hyr besynesse in apparaylle of hyr body after the wylle of hyr moder not wythstondynge that stably she kepte hyr purpose neuer to haue husbonde But after the grauÌ„te to hyr sustre and folowed hyr wylle in suche araye she maad soo moche sorowe whanne that she was confessyd therof wyth terys and sobbyng that eche body shold suppose that she hadde do somme greuous synne She vsed ofte to be confessyd generally and alway whaÌ„ she came to the poynt she accused her selfe full harde wyth wepyng sore sobbyng But the confessour alle be it he knewe that a vertue it is of god and lowely sowles to see in them self defaute where none is And where it is but lytyll it semeth hym full grete Neuerthelesse for asmoche as she accused her self and demed her worthy euerlastynge payne for that synne sauyng the mercy of god There he asked her whether she purposed or wylled in all that tyme to do agaynst her vowe She sayde nay for it came neuer in her herte Also he asked agayne whether she dyde it to the plesaunce of ony man In speciall or to the plesaunce of all men She answerd and sayde ther was none somoche payne to her as to be holde men or to be seyne of men or to be there men shold fynde her wherfore when her faders men that lerned dyers crafte in her faders hous came to ony place or chambre where she was she fledde as faste awaye as adders hadde come to her soo that all men wondred She wold neuer goo to the wyndowe ne to the dore of the how 's to see how men wente by the waye ThenÌ„e he sayd why deserued ye that dede whiche was but for a bodely ornamente euerlastyng payne namely whan the apparelle was not to excessyuely She answerd and sayde that to excessyuely she loued her suster And as her thought more thaÌ„ god as at that tyme wherfore she wepte wythout remedye and dyd harde penauÌ„ce Her confessour wold haue replyed agayne and sayde Alle bee it ther was somme maner excesse of loue it was but lytyll And that dede as of him self was not I doo for noo wycked or euyl entencion but for vayne plesaunce of her for the tyme and that was not agaynste the precepte of god She herde how her confessour replyed she lyft vp her eyen to god And wyth a lowde voys cryed and sayde A my lorde god what ghostely fader haue I nowe whiche excuseth my synnes and wyth a sore grutchynge agaynst her self she tourned to her confessour and sayde Fader thynke ye that this wretchedfull and mooste vnworthy creature of god whiche hath receyued of my maker of nought soo many gracyous yeftes wythout my labour And wythouten ony meryte shold occupye ony tyme in arraye and vayne apparelle of this roten flesshe whiche myght or induce a dedely synne I wene she sayde helle suffyseth not to punysshe me hadde not the pyte of god doo gracyously and mercyfull wyth me After thyse wordes her confessour durst nomore speke of that mater But than after that he besyed him to knowe yf that blessyd sowle had euer in her lyf be kept wythouten ony spotâ—e of dedely synne Soo that she hadde kepte fully hole her vyrgynyte both of body and of sowle Not only from the synne of flesshely steryng but also of alle maner of synne ¶ And after that he knewe how vertuous and how clene a sowle she hadde This wytnesse and recorde he bare of her conuersacion and both sayd and wrote that he coude neuer perceyue ne fynde nother by her generall confessyon ne speciall confessyon as ofte as euer she was confessyd â–ª And that was ryght ofte that she hadde offendyd agaynst the precepte of our lorde But yf it were that is tolde afore the whiche he myght not suppose it were agaynste the byddynge of god Ne he trowed none dyscrete man wold suppose it And also he sayde that he founde her euer soo clene fro venyall synnes that vnnethe he coude perceyue bi her cotydyan confessyon ony maner offeÌ„ce It was openly knowen not only to her confessours that knewe her conscyence but to all that were conuersaunt â–ª with her that neuer or seldon she offended in worde For eyther she occupyed her tyme in prayer and contemplacion or ellis in good edyficacion of her neyghbours And as for her tyme of slepyng vnnethes she wolde grauute to her a quarter of an houre And whan she sholde ete her mete â–ª yet it may be called a mete euer she prayed and thought holy medytacyons thynkyng of the thynges that she hadde lerned of our lord in her sowle More her confessyon Mayster Reymound bereth a trewe recorde of her for the tyme that he knewe her and hadde cure of her conscience that it was more payne to her for to ete her mete than it was to an hungry man for to be wythdrawe from hys mete And a grete tourmente it was to her body after tyme she hadde ete than it was comÌ„ely to a fenerous man in rennyng offhis feuer And this was one of the causes why she wolde ete her mete as it shall be declared wythin forthe for to tourmente and put in payne her body In what maner of trespaas myght suche a sowle be occupyed that alwaye was occupyed soo wyth our lord god
endeles reste delyueryng them bothe from the pytte and the swolowe Whan alle thys was done thys holy mayde consyderynge euyr more in hyr sowle the mede the rewarde I ordeyned for hyr of the holy ghoost suffred gladly and nought paynfully alle the wronges that was putte to hyr And also she encreced contynually the cours of hyr labour the more that she myght haue a full ioye in hyr sowle And by cause that it was not suffred to hyr to haue a chambre by hyr self but for to haue hyr chambre openly as other hadde ¶ Therefore by an holy aâ—uysement she chose the chambre of Stephen hyr brother that hadde nether wyf ne chyldren Where by dayes tyme whanne he was absente she myght be allone And nyghtes tyme whan he slepte she prayed after hyr desyre soo that nyght and daye she soughte to see the face of hyr spouse Ihesu Cryste knockyng at the dore of hys ghoosâ—ly tabernacle wyth out cessyng She prayed our lord vncessably that he wolde wouche sauf to be the keper of hyr virgynytee sayeng and syngyng in in sowle wyth Saynt Cecylye thys holy verse of Dauyd the prophete Fiat cor meum domine et corpus meum immaculatum That is lorde Ihesu I praye that myn herte and my body be kepte clene vnderfowled to the and soo in scylence and in hope she was made stronge in our lord ryght meruayllously For the more torment and persecucyon she hadde wyth out forth the more she was fulfylled wyth ghoostly ioyes wythin forth soo ferforth that hyr brethern perceyueng hir stedfastnesse sayden betwyne them seluen thus we be ouer come Hyr fader that was most Innocente of alle consyderyng pryuely hyr dedes perceyued that she was ladde euery daye more and more by the holy ghoost and nought by the lyghtnes of yonthe Alle thyse that ben rehersed in thys chapytre hyr confessour mayster Reymond had it by reuelacyon of Lapa thys maydens moder and of lyxa her brother wyf and of other also that were in hyr faders how 's But as for other thynges that other folke myght not knowe he knewe by tellyng of thys holy mayde in confessyon ¶ Of the vyctorye whyche she hadde of them that desesed hyr And that was by a culuer whiche hyr fader sawe and by a vysyon of Sâ—ynt Domynyk Ca v IN the mene whyle that thys holy mayde was putte in suche reproue and shame it happyd vp on a daye that she entred in to the chambre of hyr yonge brother Stephen And prayed deuoutly leuyng the dore vnshett for it was forboden to hyr by hyr fader moder that she sholde not shette the dore Casuelly thenne it happened that the fader entred in to the chambre sekynge a certeyne thynge of hys sones that he had nede to And as he loked aboute he sawe hys doughter more goddes doughter thanne hys prayng in a corner and knelyng and a lytell whyte culuer restynge vp on hyr hede the whyche culuer fledde out of the chambre wyndowe whan the fader was entred in to the chaÌ„bre as him thought Anone the fader axed the doughter what culuer that myght be that fledde so out of the chambre to whom the doughter answerd and sayde that neuer she sawe culuer ne other byrde in the chambre Thenne hadde the fader grete meruaylle and kepte all thyse wordes pryuely in hys herte Fro that tyme forwarde there beganne gracyously to encrece in that holy maydens sowle an holy desyre whyche neuerthelesse was begonne as it is reherced a fore in hyr chyldehode and now afterward it was renewyd for tuycyon and dysease of kepyng of hyr maydenhode or virgynytee and that desyre was no thynge ellys but for to receyue the habyte of the ordre of frere prechours the whyche ordre Saynt Domynyk was bothe foundour and fader There she prayed bothe daye and nyght to our lord that he wouchesauf to fulfyll hyr desyre And therto she had a grete deuocyon to Saynt Domynyk as it is rehersed a fore to a worthy and a fruytfull louer of sowles Almyghty god therefor sawe how wysely and how myghtely hys doughter as a yong knyght faught in batayll and wyth what feruour of deuocyon she besyed hyr to plese hym wyth alle hyr desyre he wolde in no wyse dysceyue hyr ne defraude hyr of hyr holy purpose But for the more sekernesse he comforted hyr wyth suche a vysyon ¶ This holy mayde on a tyme had a vysyon in hir slepe that she sawe many holy faders many dyuers fouÌ„dours of the ordre of the frere prechours amonges whom she saw saynt Dominyk that she knewe wel I now holdyng in hys honde a fayre whyte lylye the whyche lylye semyng to hir was all a fyre as the busshe that Moyses saw yet was not brennyd Whan this holy faders al in general eche in a speciall gaf hir couÌ„seyll for hir more mede that she shold chese oo Relygion of their ordynauÌ„ce in the whiche relygion she myght yelde due seruyce to god She torned hir self hole to saynt dominik so saw in spyryt how that the holy fader saynt dominyk came to hir brought in his honde an habyte of sustris the whyche susters ben called sustres of penaunce of saynt Domynyk Of the whiche susters ther was ne yet is no lytell noÌ„bre in the cyte of Senee And whan thys holy fader saynt domynyk cam to this mayde he coÌ„forted hir with suche wordes sayde Dought be of good coÌ„fort drede no manere of peryll for ryght as thou hast desyred this habyte she thought she receyued it and thankyd almyghty god and his worthy confessour Saynt Domynyke not wyth a lytyll gladnesse but wyth ioyefull teres that soo perfyghtely hadde coÌ„forted her And soo wyth wepyng she awoke was restoryd to her bodely wyttes ¶ And whan she was awaked she caught comforte and bodely strength of this vysyon and toke soo grete a boldenes of the truste that she hadde in our lorde that the same daye she called her fader and moder and bretheren togyders and sayde to theym boldely in this wyse Somtyme ye sayde vnto me and tretyd me longe tyme therof that I sholde bee wedded to a corruptyble and to a dedely man though I hadde abhomynacion of suche weddyng in myn herte as ye myght clerly perceyue by many dyuerse tokenes if ye hadde I wolde yet for the reuerence that I sholde shewe to my fader and moder by the bydyng of god vnto this tyme I excused me neuer clerly to you but now by cause I may noo lenger be styl I shall declare to you openly myn herte and purpoos The whiche purpoos it is not conceyued of newe but of chyldhode vnto this tyme â–ª therfore I wyl ye knowe it that in myn chyldhode I made avowe of virgynyte and serue oure lorde sauyour of alle the worlde and his blessyd moder gloryous vyrgyn marie our gloryous lady not chyldely but wyth a saâ— and a longe avysement And for a grete
cause I made avowe also that I shold neuer take husbond but hym alone Therfore now syth I am come by the sufferaunce of oure lord to a more perfyght age and knowleche and vnderston dyng wytte wete ye ryght well this is the same purpoos whiche is soo myghty and stroonge in myn sowle that it were more possyble hard flynt stones rather to be made nesshed than myn herte shold be wythdrawe fro this holy pnrpos and therfore the more ye laboure aboute thys thynge the more tyme ye lese Wherfore I counseyll you that ye leue of alle maner suche tretyng of weddynge as touchyng myn persone For therin shall I neuer fulfylle your wyll by cause that I sholde rather be obedyent to god than to man therfore yf ye wylle haue me suche one in your hous that I now serue god in this purpoos and for to be a commyn seruaunt to serue you all I am redy in all that I can or may to doo you seruyce gladly And yf ye wylle receyue me but for this cause that ye wylle putt me out of your hous I doo you well to wete that in noo wyse myn herte may be wythdrawe fro this holy purpos ¶ I haue an husbond and a spouse cryste Jhesu soo rychely and soo myghtely that wyll not suffre me in noo wyse to lacke no thyng But he wyll mynystre to me all that me nedeth Whan she hadde sayde alle thyse wordes alle that herde her speke fyll in wepyng and by cause of her plentnously syghynge and sobbynge they myght for that time gyue none answer They consyderid to the holy purpos of thys holy mayde the whyche they myght not wyth saye ne wythstonde they behylde also how styll the mayden had I kepte her how clene how pure vnto that tyme how bodely she declared her consciens by wordes of grete prudence also ouer more they sawe openli that she was rather diposed for to forsake her faders hous than for to breke her holy purpoos and soo they hadde nomore truste of her weddyng wherfore it lyked theym better for to wepe than for to gyue her answer Wythin a lytyll whyle after whan they hadde cesyd all her wepynge the fader that loued her soo tenderly had dredde of god and dred god soo hyghely hadde mynde of the coluer that he sawe and of many good dedes of the whiche she vsed The whiche dedes he gretely merueylyng gaue her suche an answere and sayde Dere doughter god forbede it that we sholde ony thynge wylle or desyre agaynste the wyll of god For the whiche wyll and fro the whiche wyll we knowe well thys holy purpoos cometh fro Therefore it is soo that we ben taught by longe experyence And now openly we see that thou art not steryd herto by the lyghtenesse of chyldhode but by feruent charyte of god Make thy vowe therfore frely and doo as the lyketh and as the holy ghoost techeth the ¶ And fro this tyme forward we shall neuer lette the from thyn holy purpoosne thyne ghostely excercise but only praye for vs besely that we maye bee made worthy to the promys and the byheste of thyn ghoostely spouse whom thou haste chose by his specyall grace in thyn tender age ¶ Thenne he tourned hym to hys wyf and to his chyldren and sayde none of you from this tyme forward be to my ne dere donghter greuous None be soo hardy from this tyme forward to let her in ony wyse to suffer her to serue her spouse freely and she to praye for vs be sely We myght neuer haue founde a better husbond to her thenne he is the whiche vochesauf to be so nere of our kynde for to wedde our doughter and haue her to wyf Therfore we haue none cause to pfayne vs sythe it soo is that we haue receyued now for a dedely man ▪ vndedely god and man to be her spouse ¶ Whan the fader hadde sayde thyse wordes wyth wepynge and wyth weylyng bothe of theym selfe and also of other that herde theym and hym speke and namely of the moder that louyd this mayde in maner flesshely then̄e this holy maide Katheryn ioyefully thanked oure lorde that brought her to this vyctorye and also her fader and moder wyth alle maner of lowenes dysposyng her self to vse profytably the lycence that was graūted to her And this is the ende of this chapytre ¶ But now I wylle ye knowen that redyn or heren this booke that Mayster Reymound confessour to this holy mayde knewe neuer by reuelacion of the fader that sawe the coluer the whiche restyd on this blessyd maydens hede for the fader was deed or thā Mayster Reymoūd knewe this blessyd mayde But he knewe it by reuelaciō of Cosyns that dwellyd in the faders hous the whiche cosins recorded and bare wytnes that the fader sawe suche a culuer wyth her ofte tymes And therfore he hadde her in greate reuerence and he wold in noo wyse that she hadde be lettyd or troublyd ¶ Of the vysyon that she sawe of saynt Domynyk bothe mayster Reymound her confessour afore hym knewe it by tellyng of this holy mayde And whan mayster Reymound examyned her of the wordes that she sayde laste to her fader moder and brederen and how she byhad her in her pesecucions she tolde hym alle by ordre mekely as it was ¶ Of the hardenesse of her bodely penaūce of afflyction what persecucion she fuffred therfore of her moder Capitulū vj WHan this deuoute mayde hadde receyued so large a lycence that was graunted her of longe tyme desyred afore She beganne ryght quyckely for to dyspose merueylously alle her lyf to the seruyse of god ¶ Att the begynnyng she asked to haue a lytyll chambre to her self and so had de it wherin she purposed to tourmente her body wyth penaunce as in a wyldernesse that she myght haue the more fredome of sowle for to serue our lord How moche and how harde penaunce she vsed in tourmentyng of her body And how grete loue she hadde in seyng of hyr spouse in that lytyll chambre there maye noo tongue suffre to telle Neuertheles I haue rehersed som what in generall of her grete penaunce And now I purpose to telle you maydens in speciall vnder fewe wordes the hardnesse of her penaunce soo that ye of the grete vertuous herbes of her holy lyuyng maye taste somwhat of the fruyte that growen aboute the herber bothe of the fyrst and of the laste And for the condycions and the kyndis of the fruyt it shall be declared by the helpe of god afterward And the cause why that in this place is rehersyd som̄e what of her fruyte full vertuous lyuing is for nothynge ellys But for the maydens sholde be the more able and redyer to ghostely excercyse In this lytyll chābre that was graunted her ofte tymes she consydered swetely the ghostely werkis of our old faders of Egypte And in ghostely werkys was to her soo moche the more merueylous and that
buxom and subgettâ— to the seruyce of the sowle On a tyme hyr moder Lapa tolde to mayster Reymond hyr confessour â–ª Thought that hyr doughter tormented so holy hyr body in penaunce she was of soo grete myght strenghte in body that she wolde wyth out ony greuaunce lyf vp on hyr sholdres a borthen that was I now for an hors for to bere bere it vp in to an hyghe garet aboue two longe steyers For she was that tyme as she sayde twyes soo grete in body thanne she was afterward at the age of xxxviij whan she had contynued in soo grete penaunces Hyt was no meruayll and so it is for but yf it had nought I be that our lord hadde kepte hyr by myracle hyt hadde be no meruayll though she hadde be all wastyd awaye For at that tyme whan that hyr confessour mayster Reymond knewe hyr she was a full slender creature and that was no meruayll For the spiryte encreced in vertue the weyker wexxd the body as though it werâ— ouercome of the sowle not wythstondyng alle thys she wolde euer laboure gladdely and namely for the helthe of sowles All be it she suffred grete sekenesse in hyr body for the spyryte whyche was so strong wythin susteyned and comforted the feble body wyth out Now shall I cesse here of and torne ageyn to the fyrst mater of thys chapytre Whan thys holy mayde hadde full graunte and lycence of hyr frendes for to serue our lord in hyr lytell chambre assygned to hir and there began full feruently for to styghe vp ghoostly to hyr heuenly spouse The serpent our ol de enemye the fende though she had ouercome hym dyuers tymes afore Yet he cessed not for to assaylle hyr estesonys He steryd Eue hys doughter Lapa thys maydens moder by a carnall loue that she hadde more to the body of hyr doughter than to hyr self for to lette hyr of hyr penaunce For on a tyme whan the moder came to hyr doughter and aspyed howe she bete hyr self wyth an yren chayne she cryed waylyng wyth a lowde voys and seyde A doughter what doste thou thou arte but dede for thou sleest thy self allas who hath couÌ„seylled my doughter herto who hath steryd hyr to do thys And soo wyth cryeng and waylyng thys olde womman tormeÌ„ted hyr self as she had be a wood body wyth tâ—ryng of hyr clothes of hyr here for she thought hyr doughter was but dede By the noyse of thys cryeng all the neghbours were styred aboute for to come Inne and see what thys olde woman eyled Whan they cam they sawe how thys holy mayde had made hyr a bedde all of bare boordys where on she rested when she wolde slepe And wyth vyolence hyr moder took hyr out of the chambre and broughte hyr to her owne chaÌ„bre there she laye for she thought that she wolde make her slepe in her owne bedde wyth hyr And whan thys holy mayden sawe thys by wysdome of spyryte she shewed grete gladnes in chere and kneled doun a fore hyr moder prayng her mekely wyth esy wordes that she wolde wouchesauf to put awaye alle hyr steryng and vnpacyence and be esy for she was redy to obeye to hyr as she wolde haue hyr redy for to lye wyth hyr as she wolde bydde hyr Whan she thus wysely pâ—syd her moder for to kepe hyr in quyete she layde hyr doune by her in that one syde of the bedde and had there swete medytacyons that she was wontâ— to haue After tyme hir moder was a slepe she rose vp pryuely and wente agayne to hyr holy ghostly excercyse The fende eftsones hadde enuye herto that she sholde so encrece in vertue styred hyr moder the seconde tyme ageyn hyr But there ageyn thys holy mayde vsed thys prudence by cause she wolde nomore make â–ª hyr moder sory wyth hyr she took pryuely a post and leyde it in hyr bedde vnder a shete and clothes abouen that the moder whan she wold comen and vysyte hyr sholde suppose that it had be she the whyche had laye there vnder the clothes And yet neuer thelesse she kepte hir comyn â—â—stome of harde lyeng as she dyd a fore hyt was not longe tyme after but that the moder aspyed thys well when she had aspyed it she sayd to hyr doughter in thys wyse Doughter I see well alle my laboure is in vayne I may not chaunge the from thy purpose ese it is to me for to lete it ouer passe lyghtly And therefor go and slepe there on thou arte I wontâ— And soo she was ouercomen wyth the stedfastnes of thys holy mayde and suffred hyr euer afterwarde to lyue as the holy ghoost styred hyr Thus endeth thys chapytre Somme thynges ther ben rehersed there Inne that hyr confessour mayster Reymond knewe and hadde reuelacyon of by the holy mayde Katheryne â–ª As is of hyr grete abstynence and other sharpenesse of penauÌ„ce and of hyr maner of worchyng in them and somme thynkes he knewe by reuelacyon of hyr moder Lapa and som of other dyuers matrons that were conuersauÌ„t with her But som thynges he knewe by hym self namely of hyr synguler gracyous yefte of abstynence ¶ Of the laste vyctorye that she had in a bathe And how she took the abyte of Saynt Domynyk Whyche she had long tyme desyred to fore Ca vij WHan thys holy mayde was restoryd ageyn to hyr deuoute excercyse the more that she perceyued that the enemye of all mankynde was besy for to lette hyr the more feruent she was in hyr ghostly excercyse Euery day she wayled euery day she wepte axynge and prayng our lorde deuoutly that he wold wouchesauf to gyue hir grace to resceyue the abyte of saynt Domynyk that she had long desyred The whiche thorugh hys grete â—ytâ—â— was be hote hyr by ourâ— holy fader Saynt Domynyk in a vysyon For she was neuer seker in hir self to kepe the purpose of maydenhode vnto the tyme she resceyued that holy abyte she wyst well that after tyme she were arayed wyth that abyte alle maner speche of hyr weddyng shold cesse and she sholde be suffred for to serue hyr ghoostely the more frely Wherfore she prayed hyr fader moder that they wold gyue hyr leue to be one of the susters of penauÌ„ce of sayn tâ— Domynyk that ben called in comyn speche of the Cyte of Senee susters of the mantâ—ll And ouermore she prayed to the same sustres that they receyue hyr to the same abyte amonge theyrâ— holy nombre To thys axyng the mod was not well apayed alle be it she sayde not ones nay but euer she was aboute as moche as she myght for to withdrawe hyr from hyr grete penaunce that she vsed And for thys cause she purposed on a tyme for to go to an hoot bath or for to be bathed hyr doughter wyth hyr That assone as thys holy mayde had felte ony maner comforte solace to the body by that bathyng by lytell lytell she shold
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
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
they sholde euer be aferd for soo thou mayst fynde wryten ¶ Beatus vir qui semper est pauidus That is to saye blessyd be that man that euer is feerfull ¶ Ferthermore oure lorde Ihesu Cryste sayde to her Doughter wylt thou that I shall teche the how thou mayste knowe myn vysyon from the vysyon of the fende To whom this holy mayde answerde full mekely and prayed hym that he wolde vouchesauf to teche her Thenne sayde oure lorde thyn soule may esely be taught by Inspyracyon and by worde for to dyscerne bytwene the one and the other But by cause that I wolde it myght prouffyghte as well to the other as to the Therfore I shall teche the by worde ¶ Doctours of holy chyrche whome I haue taught the trouthe seyn and soothe it is that myn vysyon begynneth wyth a drede but euer in the passyng it setteth a sowle in greate reste and sekernes It begynÌ„eth wyth a maner of bytternes But euermore more and more it wexith swete And the contrarye herte dothe the vysyon of the fende It gyueth in the begynnyng as it semeth a maner of gladdenes or sykenes or ellys swetenesse But whan it passeth awaye euer it encreseth in the sowle dred and bytternesse This is the trewest knowleche for to knowe myn wayes from the fendes wayes ¶ The waye of penauÌ„ce and the kepynge of myn preceptys and commaundementes in the begynnyng it semeth harde and sharpe But the more a sowle prouffyteth in kepyng of theym the more esely it waxith ¶ The waye of synne in the begynnyng semeth full delectable but euer in encres therof a sowle is made more and more dampnable ¶ But yet shall I gyue the another token for to knowe myn vysyon from the vysyon of the fende Vnderstonde this for a sothe that sythe it soo is that I am trouthe euer of myn vysyons the sowle of man receyueth a greate knowleche of trouthe and by cause that the knowleche of trouthe is full necessarye to the soule as well to her self as to me that she may knowe me her self of the whiche knowleche she passeth out fro her self in settinge lytyll by her selfe and honoureth and worshyppeth me The whiche condycion properly is called the condycions of mekenes Therfore it were full nedefull that a sowle sholde thus knowe her self And soo be made meke by vysyon The contrarye is of the vysyon of the feÌ„de sythe it so is that the fende is fader of lesynge and kynge of all the chyldren of pryde And he may not gyue but that that he hathe as his lesyng and pryde Therfore as of his visyoÌ„ a soule semeth moche by her self and is made glad and 〈…〉 Joye The whiche is properly the condycion of pryde and so she is by lefte swellyng and bolnyng in pryde ThenÌ„e therfore yf thou examyne and dyscusse dylygently in thy self mayste knowe whether vysyon come to the of trouthe or ellys of falsenesse yf it come of trouthe it maketh thyn sowle meke yf it come of falsenes by desceyte it maketh thyn sowle proude ¶ Thenne this hooly mayde whan she hadde herde thys she kepte this holsome doctryne full dylygently in her sowle and tolde it afterward to her confessour and also to other for her edyfycacion as it shall be rehersyd wythinforthe by the helpe of god And thenne began our lorde to shewed this holy mayde visyons reuelacyons plentuously soo ferforth that vnnethe myght be founde two men so homely in conuersacion to gyders as oure lorde Jhesu and she were to gyders For whether she prayed or redde or had medytacions or walked or slepte o wyse or other she was comforted many times whan she spake wyth other she hadde reuelacions or vysyons and spake in her sowle to our lord whyles her tongue spake outward to other But that myghte not longe contynue for her sowle was so wonderly I drawe vp to her spouse Jhesu that wythin a lytyll whyle afterward She was rauysshed out of her bodely felyng Out of this rauysshyng came many merueylous thynges that foloweth afterward â–ª as well of her grete abstynence as of her merueylous doctryne And also vpon myracles the whiche oure lorde shewed in her by her lyffe now than lest there be somme that wolde be in doubte whether this holy mayde hadde suche reuelacions or not I shalle telle you how her confessour Mayster Reymound preued it whether her reoelacions and vysyons were trewe or not At the begynnyng whan Mayster Reymound herde of her hye coÌ„uersacioÌ„ of liuyng he begaÌ„ to waxe homely wyth her in comunycacion wyth her for he coude not fele it verely that suche reuelacyons in her myght be trewe the whiche mystruste was for his better And therfore he enquyred by diuers menes and wayes to knowe whether they came of god or of the fende Or whether they were fals or trewe For thenne came to his mynde of ypocritis the whiche regnyd in his dayes and that he founde many dyscetys namely amoÌ„ges wymmen whom the deuyll dysceyued wyth the vyce aboue all other creaturs Hyt came also in to his mynde how the fyrst womman Eue was deceyued and many suche other therefor he doubted the more of this holy mayde Whyle he stode long thus in suche a doubte it came to his mynde that yf he myght by hir prayers gete of our lord one grete contrycyon for hys synnes aboue the customable contrycyon that he was wonte to haue by that myght he knowe that all hyr vysyons reuelacyons dedys come of the holy ghost For ther may none gete suche a contrycyon but by yefte of the holy ghost And all be it that ther is none lyuyng that can saye whether he be worthy of god hate or loue Yet hertely contrycyon for synnes is a grete token of grace Mayster Reymond had not so sone thought thys that he went to thys holy mayde prayed hir hertely that she wold praye for hym to oure lord that he wouchesauf to for gyue hym the synnes the whyche he had done To whom thys holy mayde answerd sayd that she wold full gladly Than sayde mayster Reymond that he myght not be easyd in his desyre by hyr prayers onely but yf he had there of a bull that hys synnes were for gyuen Of whom thys holy mayde axed wyth a smylynge chere what bull he desyred to haue He answerd that in token of a bull he axed one grete contrycyon for hys synnes the whiche contrycyon thys holy mayde sayde he shold haue all redy Thenne that tyme hyt semed to mayster Reymond that she vnderstode clerely all hys thoughtes so he went from hyr On the morne it happed mayster Reymond for to be seek and laye don in his bedde whom kepte one of hys brethern a deuoute man the whyche was called Nycholas of Pyse The place ther he lay in seek was an how 's of sustres in as moche as he caught hys sekenes sodeynle Jorneyng by the waye Whan this holy mayde perceyued that he was seke She aâ—os
Wherfore alle that euer oure lorde Jhesu that souerayne mayster taught his spouse in tho two bryef sentences as it is rehersed afore is no thyng ellys but this that she sholde knowe hir self as she is and our lord verayly as for hir maker in the depnes of hir herte and thenne she sholde be blessyd In the same wyse I fynde I wryten that he sayd to saynt Kâ—theryne the virgyn and marter Whan he vysytre hir in prysone Doughter knowe me for thy maker Of suche manere of knoweleche cometh all maner of perfeccyon and all ordynate settyng of the sowle What is he that may not loue so large and so free a gyuer wyth all his herte and all his sowle what is he that is not styred euery day more and more to loue suche a lorde that fyrst er thanne he made his creatures he loued hem not for theyr deserue and meryte but onely by his Infynte goodnes ¶ What is he that ferth not and dredeth contynually to offende in ony maner of wyse soo grete and soo dredefull a maker soo myghty and soo large a gyuer soo gladsom and soo free a louer What is he that may not gladdely suffre all manere of dyseases for suche a lorde of who me he hath receyued and receyuyth day by day and hopeth to receyue wythoute ony deubte soo manyfolde goodnesse What is he that sholde be wery or tormented by sekenes to please so amyable a lorde What is he that endeyneth to kepe reuerently and louyngly in hys mynde the blessyd wordes that suche a lorde wouchesaue to hys creatures ¶ What is he that wyll not gladdely obeye to the commaundementes and pretho thynges that the sowle loueth the whiche desyre may not be hadde wiwout werke soo ferforth that in as moche it loueth soo moche it werketh And yet neuertheles it trusteth nought in her owne werke as in her owne self but only in our lorde that worched in her The cause of this louely desyre is noothynge ellys but the very knoleche off god that he is aulterd therfore amonge all other merueylaus thynges of this holy mayde she helde that doctryne the whiche our lord taught her syngulerly to bee worshy pâ—ed To the whiche wurshypfull doctryne yet shall I adde more to For but yf I be gretly dysceyued all they come out of the fyrst notable doctryne Ofte tymes this holy mayde was wouÌ„t to comyn and to speke to tor confessoure Mayster Reymound of the worthynes and condycions that our lord loued off a sowle And she sayde that suche a sowle perceyued not ne seeth not ne loued her self ne none other sowle ne hadde none mynde of none creature This was a full hard word to Mayster Reymound for to vnderstonde and therfore he prayed this hooly mayde for to declare it Thenne she sayde a sowle seeth her selfe that she is verely nought of her self and knoweth perfyghtly that all the goodnes wyth alle the myghtes of the sowle is her maker ¶ She forsaked viteâ—ly her self And alle creature and hedeth her self fully in her maker our lord Jhesu in soo moche that she sendeth fully and pryncypaly all her ghostely and bodely werkynges in hym In whom she perceyued that she maye fynde all goodnes and all perfection off blessydnes and therfore she shalle haue none wyll to goo out from suche inwarde knowleche of hym for nothynge And of this vinte and loue that is encresed euery daye in suche a sowle She is transfourmyd in a maner in to oure lord that she may neyther thynke ne vnder stonde ne loue ne haue no mynde but god or ellys in god she maye not see her self ne none other creatures but onely in god Ne she may not loue her self ne none other but only in god Ne she maye not hane mynde in her self ne of none other but only in god ne she maye haue no mynde but only in her maker Ryght as a man that is vnder a water and swymmeth vnder the water nether seeth ne touched nothyng but water and that is vnder the water And thynge that he is aboue the water he neyther toucheth ne seeth of that that is aboue the water it shy neth vnder the water for that he may perceyue and yet none other wyse but in the water And as they maye byshewed in water as longe as he is voder the water Ryght so fareth it of a sowle that is hyd in the loue of god ¶ All this she lerned of our lorde that dyuyne loue the whiche neuer teched errour to his meke dyscyples ne gyueth theym cause to coueyte ony thynge wyth out hym For euer her ghostely excersyse in is hym ¶ Another tyme this holy mayde reher syd in presence of her confessour Maister Reymound and to many other that wer called to clennes of lyuyng A full notable doctryne and a vertuous the whiche is good for pure maydens to knowe Who 's chast lyuyng is full speâ—yally to god And the more ye ben met ner to god by swete meke maydenhede the sonner ye maye vnderstonde that vertuous doctryne And it is this that a sowle the whiche is vertuously I mette to god as it is rehersed afore As moche as it hath of the loue of god Soo moche it hath of the hate of her owne sensualyte For of the loue of god naturally cometh hate of synne the whiche is do ne agaynst god the sowle theâ—fore consyderyng that the rote and the begynnynge of synne regneth in the sensualyte there pryncypally is roted She meued and storyd hyghely and holyly wyth alle her merytes agaynst her owne sensualyte not for to vtterly destroye the rote For that mayr not be longe the sowle dwelleth in the body lyuyng in this lyffe But euer it shall be lefte a rote namely of smale venyall synnes Wherto accordeth ryght well saynt Johan whan he sayth thus Si diximus quia peccatuÌ„ non habemus ipsi nos seducimus c. That is yf we saye that we haue noo maner of synne in our sensualytes namely of venyall synÌ„es â–ª we desceyue oure self And by cause she maye not vtterly destroye that rote of synne thus in her sensualyte as it is sayde afore She conceyued a grete displesaunce agaynst sen sualyte and of her sesuâ—lyte The whiche dyplesaunce spyngin vp an hooly hate and a dysplrsyng of her sensualyte by the whiche the sowle is euer wel kepte fro her ghostely ennemyes ¶ There is noo thynge that kepeth the sowle soo stronge and soo syker as doth suche an holy haâ—e and that felt well the Appostle whan he sayde Cum infirmot tunc forcior sum et potens ¶ That is whan I am feble and syke in myn sensualyte by hate of synne Thenne I am the stronger and myghty er in myn sowle Loo fader of suche hate cometh vertu and of swete febylnesse and sykenesse cometh â–ª strengthe And of suche displesaunce cometh plesaunce ¶ Suche holy hate fader haue euer with you For it shall make you meke and euer to fele meke
thynges of your self it shall make you pacient in aduersytâ— and temperate in prosperyte And sette you namely in all honeste of vertue And it shall also make you loued â—oiâ—â—e god and man ¶ A a now is that a paynfull sowle and full of woo that hath not this blysse For where that suche holy hate is not ther is moche vnordynate loue the whyche is the stynkyng thorroke and canell of all synne and the cause and the rote of all euill concupyscence Al suche and lyke wordes this hooly Mayde comyned daye by daye wyth suche drede in commendyng of holy hate of synne and in despysyng of vnordynate loue ¶ But whan euer she perceyued that ony defaute of synne or of synne iÌ„ many creature that comyned with her or in ony other Anon she wolde be styred to compassyon and sayde Loo brethern loo susteren the cause of this trâ—spaas and this synne is nothyng ellys but an vnordynate loue of your self The whiche vnordynate loue is norysshed of pride and of all vices ¶ Doth all your besynes for the loue of god to putâ—e awaye suche vnordynate loue of your owne self oute of your owne hertes And planteth therin holy hate of synne for certeyn that is the ryght waye of perfection and amendement off all synne ¶ Loo maydens how well thys hooly maydes doctryne accordeth to the wordes of Saynt Poule where he sayd thus Quod virtus iÌ„ infirmitate perficitur That is vertu is made parfyghtly iÌ„ sekenes and febylnes and that was whaÌ„ he prayed to our lord to remeue awaye his temptacions To whome oure lorde answerd and sayde thus ¶ Sufficit tibi paule gracia mea That is it is Inow to the paule myn grace that is for to hate synne and wythstonde it Thenne brake out saynt Paule and saide ¶ Libenter gloriabor in infirmitatibus meis vt inhabitet in me virtus cristi That is I shal gladly be Joyefull in minsekenes and febylnes by laborynge in hatyng and vnderstondyng of synne that the vertu and the grace therof maye be inhabyted in myn sowle See ye not now how thyse holsom doctrynes of this holi mayde ben grounded vpon a stedfast stone of trouthe the whiche stone is Cryst In as moche as they acorden wyth holy wrytynges of doctours Thus endeth this Chapytre â–ª but I praye you al that shall rede it or here it that they mekely consydere the meryte and the deserte of this holy mayde whan oure lorde vou chesaf to enforme her in vertu by his owne proper persone â–ª And also that wolde gyue credence wythouten ony othe to her wordes For he was a faythfull doctour that taught her And thus I make an ende of this chapytre ¶ Of the merueylous victorye of temptacions by another maner doctryne gyue vnto our lord and of a famylyaryte and holynes whiche she hadde wyth oure lorde whiche hath not be herde to fore Capitulum xi IFynde wryten that whan kynge Salamon hadde doon make and reysed vp a toure for to kepe the Cyte of Jherusalem fro enemyes The kynge of Babylone was wood wyth all and reysed vp an host for to destroye that toure yf he myght Assone as kinge Salamon perceyued that he wold come wyth an hoste for to destroye that toure He ordeyned to be made merueyllous stronge wallys rounde aboute the toure so myghtely and soo myghty walles that whan euer they came to assayle it wyth ony maner of shotte their dartes sholde merueylously turne agayn and wounde or slee the hoste ¶ Ryght soo the kynge of Babylone that is the kynge of pryde and enemye of peas the fende of ghostely enemye consyderyng that kynge Salamon auctor and conseruatour or keper of peas hadde reysed vp an hyghe vertuous toure the whiche was this holy mayde Katheryn to the defens of Jherusalem that is holy chyrche dredyng therby feste she sholde be cause of many creatures helthe as she was in dede both by good ensamples of lyuyng and also by her holy doctryne he waxed wood wyth her and tourned to her wyth all the spyryte of hys malyce for to destroye her wyth many thousande whyles But almyghty god that mercyable and peasyble lord suffred that to be done for to encrece the victoryous blessed endeles crowne of his spouse therto he strengthed her ouer all wyth myghty ghostely armour for to ouercome hym so that she wanÌ„ more of vertue in tyme off her batayle by ouercomynge of the temptacyons Thenne she dyde in tyme off peas whylys she was wythout temptacions and soo all the fende whyles tourned agayn shamefully to hym self Oure lord enspyred her to aske him bi prayers for to haue the vertu of ghostely strengthe wherfore she prayed many dayes and longe tyme At the laste after suche longe and deuoute prayer our lorde vocheuÌ„saufe to here her Gracyously and taught her in this wyse seyâ—ng thus Doughter yf thou wilt gete the vertu of ghostely strengthe thou muste folowe me all be it that I myght by myn goodly vertu ouercome all the power of the fendes by many maner wayes of ouercomyng ¶ Yet for to gyue you ensample by my manhede I wolde not ouercome hym but only by takyng of dethe vppon the crosse that ye myght be taught therby yf ye wolde ouercome your ghostely enemyes for to take the crosse as I dide the whiche crosse shall be to you a grete refresshyng in all your temptacyons yf ye haue mynde of the paynes that I suffred there vpon of temptacyons And certeyne the paynes of the crosse may well be called refresshyng of temptacion For the more payne ye suffre for myn loue the more lyke ye bee to me in passyon nedes ye muste be lyke to me in Joye ¶ Therfore for myn loue doughter suffre pacyeÌ„tly bytter thynges and none swete thynges And doughter in none wise for thou shalt be stronge enoughâ— for to suffre alle thynges pacyently â–ª ¶ Whan this holy mayde hadde herde this holy lesson she foryate it nought but bare it euer quykly in her mynd And euer afterward hadde Joye and delyte in trybulacions soo ferforthe that there was noo thynge in erthe soo grete refresshyng to her as was passioÌ„s and trybulacyons For by swete sufferaunces of trybulacions she wyste well that her crowne encresyd in the blesse of heuen ¶ After tyme that kynge Salamon oure lorde Jhesu Cryste kynge of heuen ande of erthe hadde armed hys blessyd toure this maydes sowle by swete myghty and holsom doctrynes he suffred enemyes to come and preue that toure yf they myght by ony waye or wyse destroye it ¶ The kynge of Babylone oure ghostely enmye the fende wyth alle hys cursyd companye come and byseged thys blessyd toure thorugh the sufferaunce of god rounde aboute wyth many wretchid temptacions ¶ But fyrst he began to assayle this mayde by flesshely temptacions whom not oonly he tempted by thoughtes withinforthe ne by yllusyons and fantasyes in her slepe but by opyn vysyons wakynge bothe in seyeng and herynge and seyng ¶ He tempted her
onys ony maner of precepte of myn for the virgynyte ofthis body and soule and the grace of hys baptyme he kepte euer to me vndefoylyd ¶ And also ryght as here myn eternall and naturall sone the endeles worlde of my mouthe tolde and spake opeÌ„ly to all the worlde that I badde hym say And therto bare wyttenes of trouthe Ryght soo Domynyke myn sone by adopcyon preche my trouthe openly to the worlde as Welle Amonges heretykes as amonges faythfus peple not onli bi hiÌ„self but also bi other of hiÌ„ not only â–ª whyles he lyued in erthe amonges you But also bi his successours bi whom yet they precheth and shalle preche for ryght as my naturall and eternall sone sente his dyscyples for to preche ryght soo Domynyk myn sone by a dopcion sente his fryers And also ryght as myn naturall sone and eternall is myn word ryght Domynyke myn sone by adopcion is the prechour aboute of myn word wherfore of myn synguler gyfte it is gyue to hym and to his fryers for to vuderstonde the trouthe of min wordes not for to passe therfro Also ryght as myn naturall sone and eternall ordeyned and dysposyd all his lyff and his dedes by doctrynes and ensample to helthe off mannys soule ryght Domynyke myn sone by adopcion put all his besynes to delyuer out soules of the sorowe of errour and of synne And that was his pryncipall entent Whan he began his ordre that is for to say for helthe of soules therfore he may well be lyked to min natural and eternall sone sone Ihesu Criste This was the reuelacioy the whiche she comynyd to fryer Bertylmewe â–ª whan that sodeyn caas of lokyng asyde byfyll to her as it is rehersyd afore Now I shall procede forth of the remenaunt of the lyf of this holy mayde in reuelacions and visyons â–ª but fyrst I wolde ye knewe maydens that for the grete haboundance of greces and open reuelacions and visyons and for the greâ—enes of loue therwyth The whiche this holy maydes soule was fulfylled She was ryght syke in her body and euer encresid in sekenes more and more for loue soo that she rooâ— nomore out of her bedde but laye styll euer newyng the loue of her spose seyng thus Aswete louely lord goddes sone and the sone of a mayden â–ª wyth suche many louyng â–ª wordes she praised oure lorde and her spouse She beleft wythout bodely mete and therto her spouse Jhesu Cryste the whiche gyuen her that fyre of loue by cause it sholde brenÌ„e more stoÌ„gely he apperyd to her ofte tymes Then ne sayd she to hym that was so febyll off the fyre of loue Good louely lord thou sufferest me so longe abyde in this wretched body and wylt not take me to thyn endeles presence I haue none Joye now off this wretchid lyf but only all myn ioye is for to seke the For I loue the Ihesu and none wythout the for what that euer I loue lord it is for the why am I ther for delayed soo longe â–ª fro thyn endeles presence ¶ Ha ha mekest and myldest lorde delyuer myn soule out of this pryson and out of this dedely lif To thise wordes that were sayd soo weylyngly oure lord answerd Dere doughter whan I liued in erthe amonge men I besyed me neuer for to fulfylle myn owne wyll but myn faders and albe it that I desyred to ete the laste paske wyth myn dysciples for to be wyth myn fader as they herd me ofte tymes saye yet I suffred paciently the tyme that was ordeined off myn fader soo must thou doo though thou desyre feruently to be onyd to me perfightely in the blesse of heuen yet thou muste abyde the tyme that I haue ordeyned Theenne she sayd to our lord louely lord sythe it soo is that it is not kynde to me as yet to passe out of this lyff thyn wyl be done Fiat voluntas tua But one thinge I beseche the whyles I lyue in this erthe that sythe I may not yet be onyd to that iÌ„ blysse â–ª grauÌ„te me as longe as I lyue in this lyf to be onyd to the with the bi parte taking of thy blessyd passioÌ„ the whiche was grauÌ„ted to her ¶ For as she asked soo she hadde fro that tyme forward she hadde so moche experiens euery day in her herte iÌ„her body of the passions of our lorde as she tolde afterward preuyly to maister ReymouÌ„d that she neuer felte suche a soor and that was in this wyse Ofte tymes she wolde sytte talke with mayster Reymound and teche hym of the passyon of criste affermyng myghtely that our lorde Jhesu cryste fro the tyme of his gloryous concepcion in to the tyme of the ende of his blyssyd passyon he bare euer the crosse of his deth in hys soule â–ª for the grete passyng desyre that he hadde for the helthe of mannys sowle For whan he was conceyued he was ful of grace and of wysdome and of charyte And it was none nede to hym for to encrece in hym afterward for he was perfyght ynow in theym at the begynnyng Therfore sythe it so was that he loued so perfyghtly god the fader and mankynde in herte seyng and consyderyng god the fader in trinite in maner depryued of his honour And also mankynde depryuyd fâ—o his blessyd ende he was soo tourmeÌ„ted wyth compassyon in hym self vnto the tyme that he myght restore by his passyon the dewe honour to god the fader in Tâ—inyte and endeles helthe to mankynde â–ª Also she sayde the affliction of his holy desyre was none lytyll payne But it was a grete payne And thefore it was that he sayde to hys dyscyples on schherthursday at the soper Desideâ—io desideraui manducare vobiscum hoc pascha ¶ That is I haue desyred wyth a grete desyre longe afore thys tyme to ete with you this paske and the cause was for he gaue theym in that soper an speciall ernest of helthe the whiche he wolde werke er thenne he purposed to ete wyth theym eftsones And therfore she alleggid for her the wordys of our sauyour where he sayth in another place Pater transfer calicem huÌ„c a me That is fader put awaye this passion fro me that I shall now drynke the whiche wordes she expownyd thus and sayde Perfyght folke sholde not vnderstonde thyse wordes as symple folke done that our sauyour asked of his fader to put awaye and remeue hye paynefull passioÌ„ But thus fro the begynnyng of his gloryous concepcton vnto that tyme of his deth he dranke euer of that paynfull passyon by the grete desyre that he had off mannys helthe And thenne the more he drawe nere to the deth â–ª the more gredyly he desyred that drynke â–ª he asked therfore that it shold soone be fulfylled the whiche he hadde soo longe tyme desyred for the helthe of mannys soule that the dryke the whiche he hadde drunke soo longe afore sholde thenne be ended â–ª And thus this was not for to
wyll of god Neuerthelesse though in maner she bowed our lord to hyr prayers yet she myght not enclyne hir moder wyll by hyr exortacyons ¶ Thenne our lord spake to hys spouse Katheryne and sayde Telle thy moder that she hath now no nede to passe out of this worlde but tyme shall come that she shall desyre for to deye and then̄e she shal not haue it and that was sothe ¶ Hyt befyll that she lyued in to a grete age and sawe many aduersytres in hyr dayes as well of persones as of theyr goodys in so moche that she sayde ofte tymes in heryng of many folke suche wordes Whether our lord Ihesu hath put a soule in my body that it shall neuer be delyuered thens So many chyldren and doughters grete and smale yong and olde ben dede and I may not deye ¶ Now I shall cesse of this mater and procede forthe in the fyrst mater that I began Lapa this holy maydes moder was of so harde herte that she wolde in no wyse dye ne by confessyd ne thynke in noo wyse on hyr soule he le ¶ Thenne oure lorde for to appyre more meruayllously in hys spouse Katheryne denyed in maner as it semed hys fyrste graunte And suffred Lapa to drawe fast toward the deth wythout confessyon Whan this holy mayde perceyued that she lyfte vp hyr eyen to heuen wyth wypyng terys sayd to our lord thus A a lord god ben thise thy behestys that thou hast graunted me that none of my faders houshold shold perysshe is this thy mercyable byheste that saydest my moder sholde not passe hens ageynst hyr wyll I see well now that she shall dye wythout sacramentys of holy chyrche Therfore I beseche the by alle thy mercyes that thou suffre me not to be deceyued and that I goo not hens a lyue vnto the tyme thou haste yolde to me my moder reuyued in soule and body ¶ These wordes and these meruayllous cause herde thre wimmen of Sene that were present ¶ Whan hyr moder as it semed by syghte and felyng was dede soo that they were aboute for to go home ageyne to theyr howses leuyng Lapa there for dede yf it had not ben that the holy mayde prayed as she dyd and therfore they abode the lenger Of the maners of these wymmen I shall tell you afterward ¶ Thys holy mayde contynued long in prayers at the last our lord herde hyr prayers gracyously and quyckened the soule and the body ageyne of Lapa that she lyued afterward vnto the tyme she was foure score yere of age and nyne wyth grete torment of herte for many aduersytres that she suffred as it was prophecyed to hyr afore by hyr doughter this holy mayde ¶ Of this myracle were wytnesse one Katheryne and Angelyna sustres of penaunce and also Lysa this holy maydes cosyn they were present whan Lapa was leyde forthe for dede and herden how this holy mayde prayed to oure lorde thus Lorde ben these thy behestys that thou behote me as it is sayd afore Of the remeynaunt of hyr age whan she was restoryd ageyne to lyf bare wyttenes many one Lo ye maydens here may ye knowe of what meryte this holy mayde was wyth our lord Ihesu that delyuered hyr faders soule out of purgatory and reduced hyr moders soule in to hir body ageyne meruayllously ¶ Another meruayllous thyng shall I tell you It happened that ther was a comyn pestylence of bocchys reygnyng in the Cyte of Sene soo that it oppressyd bothe men and wymmen yong and olde to the deth that comynly they dyed wythin two dayes or thre at the ferthest the whiche sekenes feryd many a man ¶ Thenne mayster Reymond wente aboute to vysyte seek folke and comforted them in god no thyng chargyng of the Infeccyon of that pestylence touchyng hys bodely deth soo that he myght wynne soules Whanne he hadde so vysyted them for werynes that he had in goyng aboute he restyd hym in a chyrche of our lady where to he hadde a grete deuocyon and namely for the persone of the same chyrche was a blessyd lyuer and well knowen wyth thys holy mayde Katheryne the whiche persone was called Syr Mathewe ¶ It befyll fewe dayes after that mayster Reymond wente out by the morowe for to vysyte seek folke as he was wonte And as he came by the chyrche of our lady for deuocyon that he hadde to our lady in that place and also for affeccyon that he hadde to the persone syr Mathewe he wente for to loke how he ferde Sodeynly whan he was entred in to the chyrche he sawe syr Mathewe bere vp in to hys chambre semynge as he hadde be dede by vyolence of that pestylence For he hadde lost bothe colour of hys face and strengthe of hys body and also hys speche ¶ Thenne mayster Reymond axed of other aboute what hym eyled They answerde and sayd that the nyght afore aboute one after mydnyght he was vppe for to vysyte a seek body And wyth Inne lytell tyme afterward he was take wyth the pestylence Here of was mayster Rymond ryght sorye folowed hym vp to his chambre as other dyd and then ne satte doun by hym Wythin a whyle after whan he was layde in hys bedde he recouered his spyrytes ageyne and callyd mayster Reymond to hym prayeng hym of confessyon and so was shryuen clene of hys synnes as he was ofte wonte to do After tyme that he was assoylled mayster Reymound axed how it stode wyth hym and he answerd and sayd ageyne that it greued hym so sore in hys grynde or in the flanke that it semed to hym his thygh wolde falle awaye and not onely the thygh but also the hede fareth as though it were departed in foure partyes by payne and ache that he suffred ther Inne Thenne mayster Reymond touchyd tastyd hys poūse and founde well that he hadde a passyng feuer Wherfore he had hys menye that they sholde bere hys water to leches and so they dyd But mayster Reymound folowed soone after to knowe verayly what the leches wolde saye To whome the leche sayde thus Thys man is take wyth the pestylence and therfore I drede me that the how 's of our lady shall wante and lacke a good persone ¶ Thenne axed mayster Reymond whether he myght be holpe by ony maner remedye of medycynes he sayd that he sholde assaye But he hadde no grete trust in noo medycynes by cause the sykenes was ryght greuous Thus mayster Reymond departed from hym wyth grete sorowe euer prayeng by the waye to our lord in hys soule that he wolde wouchesauf to saue hys bodely lyf Yet a whyle for hys example to many ¶ In the mene whyle this holy mayde herde saye that syr Mathewe was seek whome she loued tenderly for hys vertuous lyuyng Anone she wente home to hym and as soone as she sawe hym she cryed to hym and sayd ¶ Aryse vp syr Mathewe aryse vp for shame is it now tyme to lye a bedde Sodeynly thenne atte hyr callyng
the feuer and the bocche wente away fro hym as though he hadde neuer hadde hem and thenne he roos vp wythout ony taryeng goodly soo that in hys rysyng he sayde smylyngly and ioyefully that the vertue of god restyd in that holy mayde ¶ Thenne the holy mayde wente awaye and fledde the preysyng of men But as she went out of the how 's the mette wyth mayster Reymond To whome mayster Reymond sayd full sorowfully ¶ Moder whether thou wylte suffre this man to dye that is so dere and profytable to vs. Alle be it that she wyst well ynough what she hadde to done yette she sayde to hym of mekenes suche wordes Fader what wordes be these whether ye wene I am god that may delyuer men fro deth ¶ Thenne sayde mayster Reymond to hyr ageyne wyth a grete spyryte for sorowe that he hadde of hys deth Saye this to whome that thou lust but to me tell no suche thynges that knoweth how our lorde dothe wyth the. I knowe well that what that euer thou axyste of god thou shalte haue ¶ Thenne this holy mayde bowed hyr hede to hym and smyled And at laste she loked vp wyth a gladde chere vpon hym and sayd Be of good chere fader for he shall not dye at thys tyme. ¶ Wyth that was Mayster Reymound gladde he knewe well that god hadde gyue hyr grete grace soo he departed from hyr and wente to syr Mathewe for to loke how he ferde Whome he founde syttyng in hys bedde and wyth gretr ioye rehersyng the myracle of the holy mayde ¶ To whome Mayster Reymound sayde in confortynge of hym that the holy mayde tolde hym Syr Mathew sayd thenne to mayster Reymond What trowe ye she hath do he sayd he wyst ne◠for she tolde him no worde therof Syr Mathew wyth that aroos vp out of his bedde sat doune by mayster Reymound and tolde hym all the hole gladly how the holy mayde was there and sayde to hym as it is rehersed afore Soone after syr Mathew ete and dranke none seke mannis mete but hole mānys mete and that was a grete merueyle he was mercy and gladde that vnne the he myght speke a worde that same daye in the morowe Of this myracle were wytnesse one Fryer Nychol that came wyth Mayster Reymound and other prestes and clerkes of the hous of our glorious Lady gloryous vyrgyn Mary xx or there aboute But now I praye you maydens taketh hede that infydelyte off curyous hertes dysceyue you not in this myracle Somme wyll saye to you perauenture that it is none greate merueyle though a man be helyd of suche a comyn sekenes as is the feueres and pestylence for all day suche a thynge happeth To whom it may be asked agayn what merueyle that was whan our lord heled petre his wyffes moder of the feuers al day it happeth that men ben delyuered of the feuers be it neuer soo greuous why is it than of petris wyffes moder rehersed for a myracles in the gospell But now taketh hede ye curyous vntrowyng hertes take hede whether it be not he the whiche heled this man Mathewe that heled petris wyffes moder In helyng of petre wyffes moder he commaūded that her feuers sholde goo fro her and soo it dyde anone wythout ony taryeng ▪ And she thenne arose vp and mynistred our lord at mete ¶ Ryght soo in this miracle it was the same lorde that spak in the holy maydes breste the whiche heled petrys wyffes moder and soo syr mathewe was bothe off the fruers and also of the pestylence What was the cause trowe you trewely for the mynystracion that he sholde shewe to our lorde in tyme comynge for wynnyng of soules soo thenne the entent folowyng is cause of the miracle that goth byfore therto he was made so perfyghtly hole that he ete forwyth hole mete and mennys mete as thought he hadde not be seke afore now I sythe I haue tolde you of the myracle done to the helthe off bodyes I shall telle you a nother by the helpe of god ¶ A lytyl beside the Cyte of Sene there was a deuoute woman that was one of the susters of penaunce of saint Domynyke the whiche herd and sawe moche off the vertuous lyuyng of this holy mayde she drewe moche to her afterward and was vnder the coūseyll of this holy mayde dyde her reuerence as to her moder After it befyll on a day that this deuout suster was on hye on a solier of her hous for certayn thynges that she hadde to do And sodenly the solyer fyll doune the woman vndernethe ▪ alle the raftre treys brosed so her that she was drawe out halfe ded or soone after to be deed At the laste by the helpe of god she was broughte to bedde and began to reuyue and felte that payne of her herte brosour complayned her sore wyth wepyng and weylyng Leches than were sought to do the besynes for to hele her ▪ but yet for all her lechecraf she myght not tourne her in her bede without helpe of other Whan the holy mayde katheryn herde therof she had compassion in herte of the suster and came to her and comforted her in penaunce and in her dysese But whan she perteyued that her dysese was soo passyng payne to her She touched the places of her body that were paynefull as though she wolde anoynted theym wyth her hondes Of the whiche touchyng the suster was well apayed supposyng faythfully by the mercy of god that it sholde bee to her grete ese She hadde not so soone touched her syde but that she was all hole as though she hadde felt afore none payne Thenne the seke suster prayed her that ▪ she wolde touche the oder syde as she dyde the syde by cause the holy mayde thenne supposed that it was ese to her She dyde soo as she badde her in the same wyse her dysese went a waye in that place after her touchyng as it was in the other syde soo thenne at the laste the holy mayde touchyd ouer all her body there she felte dysese and all dysese was clene a voyded At the laste whan she was alle hole she tourned her aboute by her self wythouten ony helpe that all myght see verely by her tokens that she was fully hole Neuertheles yet she helde her peas tyll tfe hooly mayde was a goo leste she sholde haue troubled her mekenes yf she hadde tolde it her ī presence but afterward she told it bothe to leches to neyghbours and sayde thus katheryne the doughter of Lapa hath heled me by her touchyng All they hadde me rueyle therof and thanked god that hadde gyue suche gracious vertues to the holy mayde katheryne For they wyste ryght well that the holynes might not come but of god therfore they thanked hym This myracle Mayster Reymound knewe by tellyng of other But now I shall tell you of anther that mayster Reymound him self knewe and sawe it ¶ In that tyme whan the
greate pestylence contynued in the Cyte of Sene as it is rehersed afore there was an holy recluse in the Cyte of Sene and was called ScuÌ„s that louyd the whiche was touched wyth that same pestylence whan this holy mayde perceyued that she ordeyned that he sholde be brought to the hous of our gloryous lady gloryous vyrgyn mary the whiche was called also the hous of mercy where she her self wyth her felawes vysyted hym and ordeyned for althynge that was nedefull for hym in his sekenes and at the laste she came to him her self and tolde hym preuyly in hys ere and sayde thus Fader drede you not for thou shalt not deye for this sekenesse att this tyme but she wolde telle not thyng of this to Mayster Reymound and to her felawes the whiche prayed her to praye for hym that he sholde lyue For it semed to them that she was in doubte off his lyf as well as they were and therfore she ordeyned for hym medycins for to be heled by wherfore Mayster ReymauÌ„d and alle her felawes were sory by cause all they louyd that holy man for his gode lyuyng Thenne at the laste his sekenes encresed more and more and drewe faste to the deth as it semed wherby al that sawe hym supposed he shold deye and prayed for the good passage of his soule And also the holy man wende he sholde haue deyed right anone In that same poynt of deth this holy mayde came and rouned in his ere saide to him the second tyme fader drede you not for thou shalt not deye at this tyme for this sekenes he vnderstod her wel all be it that his wyttes were in party dystrauÈt alienyd fro hym for the greuousnes of the payne he gaue more credence to her wordes thenne he dyde to his actuall payne of deth so it fyll afterward that the holy maydes wordes oâ—came the dedes of kynde nature Neuertheles he contynued in suche transite passyng the comyn tyme of other mani dayes to gyder but at the last as the spirite was in passyng as it semed The holy mayde came and sayde nowe the thyrde tyme in the seke mannys ere thus I charge the spyryte in the name of oure lorde Thesu Cryst that thou passe not Anon the spyryte resorted quycly agayn to the body And thenne the holy man toke strengthe to hym and ros vp and asked mete soo wythin a lytyll time he was all hole and lyued Afterward that the holy mayde was passyd out off this world many yeres that holy man that was called ScuÌ„s bothe in name and in dede After tyme he was hole he tolde to Maister Reymound and to other more what the holy mayde sayd to hym in tyme of his sekenes preuyly in his ere And he felte the myght of her vertuous wordes wherby the spyryte was called a gayn that was in the poynt of passyng And he afermed it to all folke that it was none naturall cause that restoryd hym agayn to his lyf but only the myght of god I shewed by his spouse katheryn To whom folke gaue credence by cause he lyued in grete vertu of holynesse and was knowen a famous man in the Cyte of Seene by xxxvj yere to gyder wythout ony repreue in hys lyuyng ¶ Ferthermore maydens I shalle telle you of another myracle that this hooly mayde wrought in mayster Reymound After tyme that the grete pestyleÌ„ce was soo breme in the Cyte of Seene as it is rehersed a fore that alle folke fledde by cause that it was soo infectyf Soo that men and wymmen deyed wythout comforte and counseyll and kepyng mayster ReymouÌ„de bythought hym that he was bounde to loue mennis soule castyng none peryll for his one bodely dethe by enfection of that pestylence purposed hym to goo aboute the Cyte and vyseted seke folke and comforted theym and dyde it in dede Neuertheles by cause he was alone in party in so grete a Cyte for to visyte and comforte the seke that vnethes he myght haue tyme or space for to ete to reste He was soo sente after fro one hous to another ¶ Soone after in a nyght it befyll he toke his reste and was wakyng at a certayn hour for to serue god He felte a greuauÌ„ce of a pestilence both in hys grynde or flancke and for fere he durst not aryse but lay styll and by thought hym off the passage out of this worlde he desyred gretely that it hadde be daye that he myght goo and speke wyth this holy mayde katheryne or thenne he were more seke In the mene whyle he hadde a feuer and the hede ache as the maner was off that pestylence sekenes soo that he was gretely payned and tourmentyd But yet he sayde his matyns as he myghte whan it was daye he called to hym hys felawe and wente to gyder as he myght to the holy maydes hous and founde her not at home for she was out to vysyte a seke body ¶ In the mene whyle hym thought she was soo longe and he so seke that he myght no thynge doo but lay doune there in a lytyll bedde prayeng all tho that we ren in the hous that they sholde sende for her assone as they myght She was sent after and came anone and perceyued that he was sore seke she knyled doune afore his bedde and crossed hym on the forhede wyth her honde And thenne she began to praye as she was wont to done in her soule Mayster Reymound behelde how she was rauysshed a fore hym hopynge of somÌ„e synguler grate for the prouffyte of his soule or of his body abode her long as him semed within a half an houre afterward or there aboute he felte all his body sterid to avomite wening that he sholde haue caste But yet was it not soo but hym thought that out of euery â–ª parte of his body was pulled out wyth a maner of vyolence somme maner of corrupcion And so began to wexe better at ese than he was yet or than the holy mayde was fully restoryd agayn to her bodely wyttes he was all hole saue a lytyl fevylnes bylefte in hym After tyme thys holy mayde hadde purchased of our lord that grace of the helthe she seâ—yd of that rauyshyng and badde her felawes shold ordeyne somme mete for hym whan he had receyued mete of her holy hondes she badde hym lye doun and â—este a whyle he dyde soo as she badde hym And whaÌ„ he awoke he was as stronge as though he hadde not be seke ThenÌ„e the holy mayde sayde vnto hym fader gooth and laboureth now for the helthe of sowles thanketh almyghty god that hathe delyuered you fro this parylle he went forthe to his custumably besynes and thanked god that hadde gyue suche vertu to hys blyssyd mayde Suche a lyke myracle our lorde wrought by this holy mayde to Fryer Bertylmewe in time of the same pestylence But yet that myracle was the more bi cause her long time was oppssid in that sekenes than Mayster ReymouÌ„d
And by cause it was in all wyse lyke ellys therfore I passe ouer and reherce it not But I wolde ye vnderstood may dens that this holoy mayde shewed not oonly the dyuyne myracle of curacion in tyme of pestylence but also in other tymes and yet not only in the Cyte of Sene but also in other places But therfore one I shall declare at this tyme wherby ye may vnderstonde all other yf ye take hede wytely therto ¶ It befyll soone after that the general pestâ—lence the whiche is rehersed afore the many folke both men and wymmen as well relygyous and seculer But specyally certayn mynchis of the Cyâ—â— of â—yse herde of the famous name of this holy mayde katheryn desyreden to see her and here her speke And by cause it was notlefull for theym to goo oute and seke her therfore they prayed her as well by lettres as by messengers that she wolde vouches â—f to come to â—yse seyeng to her that there she myght wynne many a son le the whiche sholde be to oure lord greate worshyppe Albe it that this holy mayde eschewed alwaye for to go fer about the contre yet she was soo ofte prayed wyth soo many messengers or messages that she was almoste constrâ—yned therto by prayer of lettres messages Thenne she had a recource to prayer as she was wont to done and asked our lorde mekely declaracion of that doubte that she stode in and what she sholde doo somme off theym that were counseyllers to her saide that it was best for her to goo and somÌ„e sayde nay wythin a fewe dayes afterward she had an answere of our lord as she beknewe afterward to mayster â—eymound that she shold not tarye but algatys she sholde goo to speke wyth hys seruauntys and his spouse dwellyng in the same Cyte of Pyse Thenne as a tâ—ewe obedyencer by leue of Mayster Reymound her confessour she wente to Pyse whome folowed afterward Mayster Reymound wyth a certeyn of hys bredren for to here confessyons For many ther were that came to her whaÌ„ they herde her speke soo â—eruent wordes of loue were steryd therby to contrycion And leâ—t they sholde be lette fro trewe conuersacyoÌ„ falle agayn in to the fendes snares after suche coÌ„puccion she wold beidde theim go to confession be shryue without ony taryeng And by cause her confessyon was ofte tymes delayed for defaute of confessours therfore ofte tymes she desyred that she myght haue confessours by her to whom she myght sende suche repentaunce And therfore Maister Reymound and his two felawes hadde power of the pope by bull for to here and assoyle all tho that were enduâ—ed to confessyon by this holy mayde WhaÌ„ she came to Pyse she was receyued in a burgeys hous that was called Gerardus the whiche Gerad vpon a daye brought wyth hiÌ„ a yonge man of xx yere of age alle seke of the feuers to this holy mayde besechinge her that she wolde praye for his helthe for he tolde her that he was vexid xviij monethes to gyders wyth the feuers soo that it was none daye but that he hadde it And therto it was so myghty to him that it hadde brought hym soo lowe and that is well sene by hys chekes and by hys body Andâ—â— myght neuer by none medecyn be made hoole Thenne the holy mayde hadde grete compassyon in herte of that yonge man she asked hym how longe it was a goo that he was shryue of hys synnes and toke penaunce he sayd not many a yere therfore it is sayde she that our lord hath yeue the this â—oorge for thou hast not purged thy soule by holy confessyon soo longe tyme. Therfore sone goo forthe anone to confession and cast out that venim the whiche enfecteth alle thy body whan he was confessyd and â—ame to her agayne she put her holy honde vpon his sholders and sayd to hym thus Goo sone in peeâ— of our lord â—hesu cryst for it is his wyll that thou be nomore vexed wyth tho feuers as she sayd it was fro that time forward he was not vexed therwyth Within fewe dayes after he came again to the holy mayde and thanked her of her curacion and sayde openly afore aâ— folke that he hadde neuer the feuers sythe she a voyded it by the vertu of our lord â—ff this bereth wytnes Mayster Reymound for he sawe that myracle And other wytnesse there were ynow by Gerad the childes moder and many other afterward the yonge man puplychid that miracle by all â—â—e contree suche another byfyll in the Cyte of Seene but moche more â–ª merueylous by cause the sikenes was more perylous ¶ There was a suster of penaunce of saynt Domynyke in the same â—yte off Seene that was called Gemina the whiche loued well this holy mayde she had a sekenes of hir throte the whiche was called the sâ—ynce by contynaunce of tyme the sekenes encresyd soo that it made her throte soo streyght that vnethe she might drawe her brethe â–ª but almoost ofte tymes was strangelyd Thenne she wente to this holy mayde prayed her as she myght speke seyenge thus moder I shaldeye but ye helpe me this holy maide hadde soo grete compassyon of her that she toke her holy honde and crossed her throte â–ª ¶ And anone wythout ony taryenge tâ—e sekenes avoyded and soo she that come wyth grete sorowe went home wyth grete gladnesse And tolde it soone after to her confessour But by cause somme what I haue tolde you of curacions done to the body by this holy mayde to diuerse persones therfore I shall telle you now of a grete notable myracle that our lorde wrought â—i this blessyd holy mayde ¶ It befyll that this holy mayde wente in a tyme fro Pyse to Auyoun wyth whome wente two good deuoute yonge men that wrote the lettres that this holy Mayde wolde sende The one was called Neryus that afterward â—as a deuoute recluse And the other was caâ—led Stephene that was afterward a monke of the charterhous And a good vyrtuous lyuer therto to the same â—yte of auyoun wente alsâ— mayster ReymouÌ„d ¶ It happed whan they were entred in to the Cyte of auyoun the forsayd Neryus was seke wyth a merueylouâ— sykenes in his bowellis that he myght haue none reste neyther nyght ne daye But cryed and wayled ofte tymes and he might not lye in his bedde but creped about on hondes and on feet and sought reste and yet myght none fynde This was tolde to the holy maide and she badde mayster Reymound sende afleches to helpe hym For other comforte wolde she none gyue mayster ReymouÌ„d dyde soo and there was none leche that myght ese him but rather he was the more payned I trowe for that ende allone by cause our lord wolde worke that myrarle in his spouse katheryn At the last leche said to maister ReymouÌ„d that they myght not prouffyte in hym And therfore they hadde none truste in his lyffe ¶ Whan Mayster Reymound hadde tolde this to his
that this holy mayde lyued in the Cyte of Seene it befyll that there was a wedowe a yonge woman called alixe the whiche wyth a greate fauoure drewe to this holy mayde soo that she thought she hadde soo grete affectyon â—o her â–ª that as her semed she myght not liue without her And therfore she toke the habite of the susters of penaunce and for soke her owne hous And hyred her an how 's by syde the hooly maydes how 's that she myght the more ofte bee conuersaunt wyth her Whan she hadde do thus the hooly mayde was ofte tymes in her hous wyth her and fledde for a tyme her faders hous It happed afterward in the same yere that in the Cyte of Sene there was a grete sharsyte of breed corn soo the stynkyng whete was drawen out of the erthe and out of dyches the whiche was bought of Cytezynes of the same Cyte as that tyme for good where by cause there myght none other begoten for none pryce Of the whiche stynkyng whete Alyxe the sorsayde wedowe must nedes be ye or ellys she shold be wythout brâ—d Neuâ—rtheles in as moche as it was nyghe the tyme of herwest her olde whete was fayled and brought to the marcat Alixe wyst therof that newe whete was comen she purpose to cast awaye the olde sâ—ynkyng whete and beye newe but bycause the hole Mayde was in her hous she wolde nothyng doo wythout counseyll of her wherfore she opened her purpos to her semyng thus moder sythe our lord heth do mercy wyth vs in syndyng of newe whete I am in wyll to throwe myn olde sâ—inkyng whete â–ª To whom this holy mayde answerd thus yf ye wyll not ete of that olde corn gyue it ellys to poure folke that hauen none â–ª Alixe sayd than that she sholde haue greate conscitence for to gyue the poure folke soo stynkyng whete she hadde leuer for to gyue theim of the beste whete Thenne this holy mayde badde her ordeyne water and bryng to her that stinkyng whete that she purposed to caste awaye for she sayde that she wolde make brede therof for poure folke as she sayde soo it was Fyrst she made her dowe after she molded loues of that lytyll quaÌ„tyte of whete And it encresyd soo plentuously in the moldyng that both Alyxe and her seruaunt weren gretely astonyed that sagen suche multyplycacioÌ„ of loues For as theym thought soo many loues myght not be made of suche foure lytyll quantyte of whete as thys hooly mayde made and sette forthe for to be bake and also there was none stynche of tho loues as it was of the other that were made of the same whete afore whan thei were bake they were sette fourth on the table for to be eten in the etyng there was fouÌ„de none bitternes no stynche but as thei saide that eten therof they eten neuer betyr brede This Alexe sent foâ— her confessonr he came wyth certain of his bretheren for to see â–ª that myracle and lyke as it was sayd to hym in quantyte encresyng and in qualyte ryght well amendyd To thyse two myâ—acles the thyrde was addyd to and that was this the breed was largely gyuen to poure folke and to other that wolde ete therof and yet was it neuer the lasse in nombre but alwaye was it fouÌ„de ynow in the breed hutche were not this trewely thre fayr myracles for fyrste she put awaye the stynche of that corn and afterward encresyd the loues in the muldyng and at the laste she multyplyed the loues in etyng of the breed in soo moche that they myght vnnethe be distribued bi many wekes togyders neended soo that xx yere after or moo there were somme that kepte of that breed for a relyke ¶ Thenne mayster Reymound her confessour asked her how the myracle was done She answerd and sayde that she hadde soo grete zele or loue to pour folke lest they shold spylle for defaulte and soo tender loue to our lord lest his gyfte sholde be dyspysed that she went wyth a grete feruour for to make breed of that stynkyng whete ¶ And thenne our blessyd gloryous lady gloryous virgyn Mary wyth a multytude of angelis stood by her and helpe her to molde by vertu of her holy gloryous hondes she trowed that the loues encresed for tho loues that oure gloryous Lady gloryous vyrgyn Mary molded she delyuerd to this holy mayde And she to Alixe and to her seruaunt for to be put in to the ouen what meruayle is it maidens though tho loues were swete sythe the hooly gloryous hondes of oure blessyd gloryous lady gloryons virgin Mary molded theym consydereth therforre good maydens and taketh good heede of what meryte this holy mayde was to whom vouchesaf our blessyd glorious lady gloryous vyrgyn mary stonde by her and helpe her in that myracle for to make vs vnderstonde that ryght as bodely lyuelode encresed in that hooly maydens hondes Ryght soo ghostely liuelode sholde encrese by her blessyd exortacion ¶ Now sythe I haue begonne of breed multyplyed by myracle therfore I shall contynue forth in suche in suche in suche a lyke myracle was done in the laste ende of her lyff whan she lyued here in erthe Of the whiche myracle were wytnesses lysa her cosyn and a suster of penaunce the whiche was called Johan for bothe they were wyth her whan she was sente after by our holy fader pope vrbane the vj to the courte of Rome And whan she was come to the Cyte she râ—sted there wyth a certayn nombre of her ghoostely chyldren that she hadde noryssched in vertu the whiche folowed her fro the partyes of Tuskan in maner agaynst this hooly maydes wyll somÌ„e for prechyng of ghostely grace of our holy fader and somme for pylgrymage and visitacions of saintes the whiche desyred to go specyally in this holy Maydes companye by cause they myght be fedde wyth the swetnesse of her blessyd conuersacion ¶ Thenne this holy mayde hadde made an ordynaunce amonges them that they sholde not haue aboute them neyther golde ne syluer But oonly they sholde lyue of poure almesse And that they sholde be herbourd in an hospytall ¶ And also the wymmen eueryche off theym a weke sholde mynysâ—re lyflod suche as they hadde receyued of almesse to allâ— her felawes that other myghten bee occupyed in the mene whyle in prayers and in holy contemplacyons and aboute theyr pylgrymages wherfore they were come to the Cyte Whan this ordynaunce was made soone after it happed that this Johan the whiche is reherced afore mynystred to other as for hyr weke In whos weke it befyll casuelly that she lacked brede whan hyr felawes sholde go to mete and thenne badde this holy mayde here afore that whan she lackyd brede she shold warne hir ouer euen that she myght goo make somme ordynaunce But Johan had forgete that whan hyr felawes were come to mete Johan wolde haue sette brede afore them and she founde nomore but a cantell that wolde
coÌ„sydere and vnderstonde that the boke was not endyted by none naturall kyndely wytte But only by the infusyon of the swete gloryous holy ghoste ne I doubte not that all tho the whiche bee vnderstondyng men and dylygently serche the sentences shall rede that boke and of that boke they shullen say the same that I saye After tyme she had made that boke oure holy fader pope vrbane the vj that knewe this holy mayde in auyoun and had grete deuoucion in her wordes and in her vertuous lyuyng sent to Mayster Reymound her confessour that he sholde stere her to come to Rme for to vysyte the sainâ—â—s that ben there Mayster Reymounde dyde soo but she was soo full of dyscrecion that she answerd agayn in this wyse Fader many of this Cyte of Sene and also of our owne susters by cause of mingoyng aboute hider and thyder â—en sklandred therby and seyn that it is not semely to a Relyous mayde for to go so aboute all be it I hope to oure gloryous lorde almyghty god that I haue not offedyd in myn goyng aboute For by obedyence of our gloryous lord almyghty god by his vycar in erther and for the helthe of soule I wente thyder that I went And therfore leest I ben to theym mater of sklander by myn own wyll I purpos not to remeue out of the Cyte ¶ Neuertheles yf the gloryous louely Crystis vicar wyll algatis that I come his wyll be done and not myn And therto I praye you goo to hym and praye him that he vouchesaf to sende me worde by you of his wyll that they the whiche ben so sklandred by min goyng aboute Now ye maye clerly knowe that I toke not that iorney vpon me by min own wyll Mayster Reymound wente and tolde to the pope all this mater he sente agayn by hym that she sholde come by the vertu of obedyens Thenne assone as she herd this comÌ„auÌ„dement as a trewe douhter of obediens she spedde her faste and came to Rome with a grete company both men wymÌ„en many moo wolde haue come had she not forbede theÌ„ â–ª Whan oure holy fader the pope saw her he was glad ioyeful he desyred that she shold seye somÌ„e word of exortacioÌ„ to the cardinalis that weren there present namely for the scisme the whiche began the same tyme And so she dyde full vertuously made eche of them stedfastly stronge wyth many swete wordes and sentences and counseylled them that they sholde not drede for nothynge notwythstondynge the scisme the whiche began but to stand myghtely and drede noman and procede forth in thynges that longen to our gloryous lord for he is mighty ynow to mayntene theym whan she had made an ende of her wordes our holy fader the pope was gladde and rehersed her wordes tournyng to hys Cardynales and sayde Loo brederen the more vnfeytfull we be the more reprouable we ben in the syght of our gloryous lorde almyghty god this woman hath shamed vs all she sholde rather be aferd thaÌ„ we by cause she is a woman yet in that we be aferde she is not aferde but conforted vs wyth her good counseyls Certen we ought all to be ashamed wherfor sholde our gloryous lord god Ihesus Crystus vicar be aferd â–ª Trewele though all the worlde were agaynst hym our gloryous lord god Ihesus cryste is myghtyer theÌ„ne it And it is not possyble that he wil forsake his chyrche wyth suche wordes many moo lyke thyse our holy fader the pope comforted the Cardinalis and commaunded this holy mayde in our gloryous lord god graunted her for her selfe and for her frendes many special graces Within a fewe dayes afterward it came to our hooly faders mynde that he sholde sende this holy mayde katheryne wyth a nother maide that was called katheryne and was one of the ghostely doughters of saint Brygytte of swethe the whiche saint Brygytte was canonysed by pope Bonefas the ix â–ª to dame Johan the quene of cycely that openly rebelled agaynst hooly chyrche and gaue greate fauour to Scismatykes that both two maydens the whiche were well knowen wyth the quene of Cycely sholde wythdrawe her from her errour Thenne this holy maide katheryn of Seene herde this she wolde in none wyse wythdrawe her fro this holy obedyens but oblysshed her self for to goon ¶ The other katheryn of swethe in noo wyse wolde take that iournaye vpon her but refused it in presence of mayster Reymound Thenne mayster Reymound bythought hym that the fame of holy maydens is ryght tendre and a lytyll â—â—otte of synne thought they be not gylty therin Is sklaunderous to theym Also he thought that she to whom thyse maidens sholde be sente myght by counseyll of her and many aboute her to lye awayte in the waye that thyse maydens sholde not come to her presens and soo to be letted off her purpos And also they maydens myght not escape wythout a grete sklander al be it they myght be gyltles thyse thoughtes Mayster Reyymound tolde our holy fader To whom our holy fader answerd and sayde thus thou seyst well mayster ReymouÌ„de It is better they goo not than goo After this tyme mayster Reymound wente tolde this to this holy mayde Anone she tourned her to Mayster Reymound and sayde thus wyth a myghty voyce Fader yf saint Agnes and saint Margarete and other maydens sholde haue thought thus they shold neuer haue had the crowne of martyrdome whether we haue not a spouse that can delyuer vs out of the hondes of wycked men kepe our clennesse amonges the fylthy companye of lecherous meyny all suche thoughtes ben but veyn thoughtes And come out rather of the defaute of lytyll feythe thenne of very wysdome All be it that Mayster Reymound was thus made ashamed of his imperfection yet he hadde a grete gladnes of her perfeccion consyderyng and nothynge in his herte the stedfastenesse and stabylnes of her faythe Neuertheles by cause that our holy fader had ordyned that tho two maydens sholde not go on that Journay he durste noo more meue to hym of the mater ¶ Loo maydens this is rehersed here by cause ye shold know how stedfastly this holy maydes foot was set in the feyth of perfeccioÌ„ ¶ Furthermore whan our holy tader had ordeyned that these maydens sholde nott go he ordeyned that mayster Reymonde sholde goo to Fraunce Supposyng that he myght torne kyng Charles out of hys errour by enbassatour bytwene but yere myght he not For the kynges herte was so enduratin malyce wolde not torne for he beganne to be auctor and begyÌ„ner of that scysme After tyme mayster Reymond knewe the wyll entent or our tader he came to aske counseyll of this holy mayde what were best for hym to do thenne all be it that she was lothe to wante hys presence yet she gaue hyÌ„ counâ—eylitor to obeye to the byddyng of oure holy fader And among all other thynges she sayde
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
all offenses of hym ye were it neuer so lytyll and. thenne she sayd haue thou for certayne doughter that noo moystour of pleasyng deuocyon or gyfte of grace or vertu desceÌ„dyth ê‘fytely from god in to mannes herte but by deuoute prayer of soule and sharpe bodely traueyll ¶ For after that a maÌ„ perfytely offereth to god two mytes the whiche he hath that is his soule and his body and ordeyneth hym to his seruyse and honoure oure lorde god of hys hyghe graces begynneth to gladde that mannes sowle in soo moche that he n ay not bere it but for swetnes and for wondryng it fareth as it were in hit self as a man that were dronke of swete wyne and myghty putte out of hym selfe that may not bere it for feblynes of hede And thenne that soule knowed that she hath noo thyng doun pleasyng to god for to haue soo grete comforte before And she holdeth more vnder vyle and more worthy dyspyte thenne euer she helde hyr before but afterwarde whanne suche a soule torneth ageyne to hyr self she yeldeth thankynges and louynges to god wyth deuocyon and affeccyon of wyll and woldeth hir vnworthy of grace And wyth moche drede storeth hyr selfe as vnkynde ageynste soo greate a benefactour And god seyeng hyr euer waxe more meke thorught the gyftes that she receyueth he took more hede to gyue hyr moogyftes of grace in soo moche that as it were that he fulfylled hyr desyre in this worlde Soo that hyr thynketh that hyr dwellyng is in heuen wyth god and not in erthe wyth men here and thynked also that she hath paradyse in hyr self Soo I knowleche that it befyll wyth me whyle I lyued in erthe and whanne I was alle brennyng in goddes loue and felyd soo moche swetenes in hym that for hym alle the worlde was vyle to me Ones whan I was a lone wyth deuocyon in my preuy chambre Loo sodeynly the Aungell Gabryell stood by me and as the Gospell seyth sheylled me and sayde Aue gracia plena c. Off the whiche salutacyon whanne I herde it fyrst I was ferâ—e but afterwarde that I was comforâ—ed wyth hys holy and swete speche and made seker not doubtyng thyse thynges to be sothe that he shewed I fyll to the erthe and knelynge wyth my hondes ioynde I honoured and sayde Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi secundum verbum tuum That is to saye Loo here the seruaunt of god be it done to me after thy worde The whiche worde sayd anone I was rauysshed and in soo grete fulnesse of goddes grace enbasshed me that I neuer felte soo moche swetenesse and comforte in my soule And in that rauysshyng goddes sonne took flesshe of my puryst blood wyth oute ony wem of me or 〈◊〉 delyte The cause why god dede this grace to me was feyth and mekenes wyth whiche I troweth in fulfeyth the Aungellys wordes and meked me and dressed me all to goddes wyll And therfore he wouchesaue to gyue me soo moche grace And soo thou my doughter in alle thynges that god heteth or dothe to the haue thou not in mistrowyng ne yenstoÌ„d hym not seyeng lord why doest thou this to me But by exsample of me saye Ecce ancilla domini c. And ony tyme be not fulfylled as it is hyght to the or ellys it is taken fro the that was gyuen to the of god Blame thy owne self and thynke that thou hast done somme trespas before the syghte of goddes mageste for the whiche goddes sentence is chaunged for he hath wyll to purchace the lyf wythouten ende he nedeth to be buxom of herte to the commaundementes and loue hym self to god by veray mekenesse and obedyence for the contrayous of tho synnes pryde and Inobedyence of our fore faders Adam and Eue for the whiche they lost the grace and the dygnyte that they were made in ¶ Ouer that thenne in another tyme on the vygyle of the natyuyte of oure lorde whan Elysabeth Crystys seruannt was duryng in longe prayer and asked mekely of god wyth moche deâ—ocyon and fallyng of terys that he wolde gyue hyr grace by the whiche â—he myght loue hym wyth all hyr herte The blyssed mayden was besyde and sayd to hyr who is he that loueth god wyth all hys herte wheâ—e it be the Elysabeth And whan she dâ—ede to afâ—erme and sayd that she loued god wyth all hyr herte And therfore she was styll and answerd noo thyng thenne the blessyd mayde sayd to hyr wolde thou that I say who loueth god perfytly For certeyn Bartholomew thapostle loued hym well Laurence the maâ—tyr Johan the Euan gelyst and other apostles and martyrs And therto she sayd woldest thou for the loue of hym ben slayn rostyd or drynk venym And whan she durst not afferme ne denye that she wolde suffâ—e this thynges for the name of cryst Thenne the blyssed mayden sayd In stedfastnesse I say the doughter yf thou wold for loue of god be spoyled of all worldly thynges and garmentes of thy now mynde or wyll soo that thou wyll noo thyng haue ne â—oueyte in this world I wyll procure to the of my sonne the mede that Bartholomew hath for his fleyeng and yf thou beâ—â— paciently wronges and reproues and all maner of wronges born of the thou shalte haue the mede that Laurence had for the rostyng of his body And whan thou art reproued soorned and seâ—â—â— at nought of other yf thou beâ—e it gladly and mekely thou shalt haue the mede that Johan the Euangelyst had for the drynkyng of venyme And yf thou wolde be tâ—ewe to me and be buxom to me I wolde be nyghe to the to fulfyll all that is sayd before I wold be wyth the euer helpyng the whan it is spedfull to the. Ouer that another tyme as saynt Elysabeth prayed and in hir prayeng she thought wyth deuocyon of sowle and in what wyse the blyssed mayde prayed as she had shewed hyr as it is sayde before The blyssed mayde answerd hyr In prayeng doughter I dyde as he that wyll newe make a fayre well fyrst he gothe to the roote of the hyll vnder whiche the water spryngeth and herkenâ—th besyly vnâ— what syde the veynes of water gothe whan he sought hym by herkynge thenne he begynneth to delue in that syde of the hyll tyll he fynde an able begynnyng of a welstede fro the spryngyng veynes and afterward he dressyth water in to the well stede the whiche he maketh large and fayre and clene After that he maketh a wall all about the well and in the myddes of the well a stone pylar fastned in it pypes all aboute thorugh the whiche the water may passe out of eche half more propâ—â—tably to the vse of men This dyd I ghostely for thenne wente I to the hyll where I besyly herkened and lerned the lawe of moyses and all the x commandementes Thenne fonde I the veyne of water whan I lerned in redyng thynkyng and prayeng that the wellhede begynnynge
the delyueraunce of them whiche were acombred and vexed wyth fendes C x ¶ Item of the yefte of prophecye And how by that yefte she delyuerd many meÌ„ and wymmen fro perylles bothe of body and of sowle C xj ¶ Item of myracles whiche oure lorde wrought by this holy mayde and vyrgyn in herbes breed and wyne And other thinges that hadde none lyf C xij Item of the ofte resceyuynge of the holy sacrament of the aulter And of myracles the whiche oure lorde dyde to hyr touching that holy sacrament and other holy relyques of saintes Ca xiij  HEre begynneth the thyrde parte wherin is rehersyd Capitulum j the deyeng of this holy mayde and vyrgyn myracles that were I shewed after her deth And fyrst of the wytnesses whiche were present at hyr passyng and enfourmed the auctur of this boke whiche and what they were Cap ij ¶ Item of the merueylous thynges whiche befyll a yere and half to fore the deth of this holy mayde and vyrgyn And of the martyrdome that she suffred bodely of the wycked fendes wherof at the laste she hadde her bodely dethe C iij ¶ Item how this holy mayde and vyrgyn desyred to be vnbounde from the body and be wyth cryst And that is preuyd by a deuoute prayer whiche she made And is put in the ende of another boke whiche she made and what is in that boke generally and shortely it is wryten in this boke wyth the same oryson c iiij ¶ Item of the time that she passed and whan she passed out of this worlde and of the sermoÌ„ whiche she made to her gostely dyscyples and susteren tofore her passyng And how she informed them in generall and in speciall how they shold gouerne theym whan she were goâ— And of a vysyon whiche was shewed to a matrone in the houre of her passyng Ca v ¶ Item of tokens and myracles whiche oure lorde wrought after hyr dethe of this holy mayde and vyrgyn bothe tofore her beryeng and after that is to saye of myracles whiche were knowe And for many that were not knowe Cap vj ¶ Item of the myghty and stronge paciens whiche this mayde and vyrgyn shewed openly from her fyrst age and yonge in to her deth by the whiche vertu clerly it preuyd that ryghtfull she is worthy to haue the name of holynesse in goddes chirche in erthe â–ª whan she is made so fayre and gloryous in goddes chirche in heuen and in this chapytre is a recapitulacion of all that is sayd to fore For worthynes and also for werynes of reders And also for yf eche man may not haue al thys legende they may haue the substaunce of this martyr tofore her compendyously rehersyd in the last chapytre ¶ The fyrst chapytre of this fyrst parte is of the progenye of this holy mayde vyrgyn gloryous saint katheryn of sene and of other maters whiche befyll touchyng her or she went out openly abrode And of her fader and moder and of the condycions of theym CapituluÌ„ primuÌ„ IN the cite of Geene in Italye and of the prouynce of Tuskane ther was a man his name was Janes or Jacob and his fader was callyd in the comyn speche of the contree Beuencasa This James was symple vertuous wythout fraude or deceyte to ony man dredynge god and fleyng alle euyll After the deth of his fader and moder he toke a wyf of the same Cyte her name was lapa She was a woman wythout suche malyce that is vsed amonge men that ben now in our tyme all be it that she was full besy aboute that longeth to houshold and about meynye and seruauntes as it was knowen openly to all that knewe her whyle she liued here in erthe whan they bothe were ioyned to gyder in matrymonye and lyuyd vertuously in symplycite suffycient habondaunce they hadde of temperall godes and they bothe of gentyll and commendable byrthe Our reuerende lorde blessyd lapa graciously fulfylled hyr plentuously wyth the birthe of chyldren as an habondaunt vyne in the hous of Jacob whiche was her husbond For eche yere almost she conceyued and bare a sone or a doughter and ofte fythes ij sones or two doughters After tyme this Jacob was passeth out of this worlde Lapa his wyf as for a synguler laude and commendacion rehersyd and saide to mayster Reymonde the confessour of this holy mayde and vyrgyn and glorious martyr katheryn that she was euer of soo lyke dysposycion and soo moderate in worde that what occacion euer came or trouble or trybulacion he exceded neuer in speche by hasty ne angrye worde but whan he saw ony of his meyny greued or herd hem speke angerly or bytter wordes anon he comforted eche of theym wyth a glad â—here and sayde in the maner of that contree A brother good day be to the be not troubled speke not suche wordes which falleth ne semeth not vs to speke ¶ And in speciall lapa his wyf wherseth that whan on a tyme one of his neybours dysesyd hym wrongfully asked hym a grete somÌ„e of monye whiche he owed not by none reason â–ª and soo moche he vexed hym that symple maÌ„ wyth the might of other frendes and supplanted hym wyth grete wronges that he brought hym to the losse of alle his godes And in alle this tyme this good man myght neuer suffre in his presence a man to curse hym wronge ne to speke of hym harme in noo wyse In soo moche that he blamed his wyf Lapa wyth softe wordes and sayd suffre dere wyf the good day be to the for our lord shall shewe hym therrour he shall be oure defendour whiche wordes were founde southe afterward for the veryte was shewed openly as lyke to a myracle And he for payne that he hadde in his conscyence delyuerd agayne how moche he hadde errid in his wrongfull persecucion to the good man Jacob Thyse wordes sayde Lapa to mayster Reymonde to whos wordes he yaue full truste for as it was knowe to all that knewe her she was of soo moche symplenesse at her age of xxiiij yere that though she wold haue lyed she â—â—wde not haue feyned suche a lesyng And soo was the commyn testymonye of alle tho that knewe her husbonde Jacob that was he a man ful symple by Innocencye and ryghtfull alwaye fleyng from euyll Also this good mannys softenes in speche was soo vertuous that alle his meyny namely wymmen dame sels taught in his soole myght not speke ne here noo worde that were not semely or dyshoneste In so moche that one of his doughter whiche was callyd Bonauentura was wedded to a yonge man whiche was callyd Nycolas of the same Cyte wyth whome were conuersaunt many other yong men of hys age by cause he hadde nother fader ne moder And thyse men and he wythout ony refreynynge of tongue spake eche to other â–ª and he wyth other And they wyth hym foule wordes of dyshoneste mater This Bonauentura att the laste toke therof soo grete an
heuynes that she fyll in to suche sykenes that fro day to daye more more she waxed lene and vanysshed almost awaye and ryght feble Her husbonde sawe this and asked hyr the cause of her heuynesse and sekenesse And she answerd and sayde I was norysshed in myn faders hours and there was I neuer wonte to here suche wordes as I here now euery daye And so was I neuer taught of my fader and moder wherfor knowe it for sothe but this dishoneste of speche bee avoyded fro this hous wythin a shorte tyme ye shall see me deed whan her husbond herde this bothe he avoyded that vngoodly langage â–ª and the felawshyppe and therwyth he was edefyed moche more than euer he was before â–ª as well of the vertues lyuinge of the fader and moder as of her doughter that was his wyf And anone he forbode his felawes neuer more to speke suche maner wordes in her presens and nomore they dede and soo the softenes the honeste of Jacob his hous amendyd in moderaunce And the dyshoneste of Nycolas hous whiche hadde weddyd Jacob his doughter ¶ Ferthermore ye shall vnderstonde the Jacob vsed the crafte of makyng of colours wherwyth wollen and wolle clothes ben dyed This crafte vsed bothe he and his sonys In that contree they ben called dyers wherfore full wonderfully god ordeyned that a dyers doughter shol be made the spouse of the Emperour of heuen As ye shall see by goddes grace after in this boke Somme of this that I haue shewed in this chapytre was knowe to the more parte of the cyte And somÌ„e her confessour had of the sayd mayde katheryn and of her moder and of many relygyous persons and of seculers whiche were neybours and of kynrede to the same Jacob and to his wyf ¶ Of her byrthe and of the merueylous werkinge whiche our lord wrought and shewed in the chylhode of this holy vyrgyn and mayde CapituluÌ„ ij Whan this forsayd Lapa whiche was lyke a fructuous vyne by fulfyllyng the wyne of Jacob her husbonde in bryngyng forth full ofte bothe sones and doughters It befyll aboute the laste tyme of the berynge of chyldren by the ordynaunce and dy sposycyon of our lordis mercy that she conceyued brought forth two doughters freell and febyll by nature But moche more freell by of bodely strengthe as semed outward â–ª but strengthe and stabylnesse they hadde in the syght of god ¶ Whan Lapa the moder besely behelde theym she thought well that she suffysed nought to nourysshe them bothe forthe wyth her owne mylke wherfore by a good auysement she commytted that one to smother noryse And that other she wythhelde and kepte stylle to be norysshed forth wyth her owne mylke And soo it befyll by the ordynaunce of our lorde that she chosed that doughter to her owne kepyng â–ª whiche our lord of euerlastynge tyme hadde chose vnto his spouse Bothe they resceyued the grace of baptysme And all be it that they were of the nombre of goddes chose chyldren Yet the forsayd mayde was called katheryn and that other was called Johan This later suster whan she hadde receiued this grace of baptysme in the same grace she went forth to heuen For in short tyme after she passed out of this worlde Katheryne abode stylle sukkyng on her moders brestes by goddes ordynaunce she shold drawe to heuen a longe cheynâ— of soulis And for as moche as Lapa the moder consyderyd that katheryn abode that other was deed She nourysshed her more dyligently hopyng that she was chose to abyde and be goddes chyld And ofte sythes this moder lapa wolde saye to maister Reymond her confessour to this holy mayde that she louyd katheryn passyngly aboue alle the sones and doughters that euer she hadde She sayde vnto hym also that she conceyued soo ofte that she myght neuer nourysshe ony chylde of her wyth her owne mylke ¶ Katheryn she nourysshed forth in to the ende of the tyme that she neded to be vnder the nourysshe And in alle that tyme she conceyued not as it semed that oure lorde for that doughter hadde graunted her a tyme of reste of traueylyng of the byrthe of chyldren and in a token that she myght come to the ende of conceyuyng and byrthe in that doughter whiche sholde after ateyne and gete the ende of alle perfection ¶ But yet this moder Lapa after the nouryssyng of katheryn â–ª ones she conceyued and bare a doughter whiche was called Johan And there she made an ende of beryng of chyldren after that she hadde boâ—en xxv chyldren Whan this mayde was thus broughte forth and halowed to god And whan she hadde lefte the mylke and toke to ete brede whyle she wente aboute alone She began to be soo acceptable and soo byloued to all tho that sawe her and soo wyse and wonderfull wordes she spake that vnnethes her moder myght holde her in her owne hous Eche man aboute of her neybours and of her kynrede lad her home wyth theym and glad they were who myght haue her to here her wyse speche And that they myght haue felawshyp and the gladenesse of that yonge mayde Soo that of a maner gladdenesse and of a passyng solace they called her not by her owne ryght name katheryn but Eufrosyna and what meued them to calle her soo they wyst not theym self but she afterward somme tyme wolde saye and suppose that it was a mystery by cause she purposed to folowe saynt Eufrosyne in lyuyng Her confessour that wrote this legende supposed that the yonge mayde in her chyldis speche vsed somme maner of sownynge that nyghed or acorded to that nâ—me Eufrosyne And soo in maner as they wolde reherce her wordes they called her soo by that name Neuertheles what euer it was that appieryd she burgenyd out in her chilhode as a tree by ony suche shewyng what fruyt was brought forth Afterward in her olde age the wysdome and the prudence of her speche connyng and the swetenesse of her holy conuersacion myght not be rehersed wyth tongue lygthly wryte wyth penne by theym that knewe only the veryte of thys whiche hadde very experyence She hadde also an Inward werkynge whyche shewed well â–ª not only by her speche but by her coÌ„uersacion wher thorugh many mennys sowlis were drawe to god And hadde thorugh her grace grete lykyng and sauour in god in somoche that all heuynesses were excluded of all mennys hertes whiche were conuersaunt wyth her â–ª and not only that but all thinges that noyed the sowle was put awaye Also the remembraunce of eche noye or angwysshe was take awaye And of this folowed eche man soo grete reste and stabylnesse of sowle whiche they hadde byfore that euery man woundred of theym self and made Joye wyth a newe maner of gladdenesse and eche man in his owne sowle cryed and sayde Here it is good for vs to be â–ª Make we thre tabernacles for our dwellyng place And of this none wouÌ„der for douiles â–ª he was there
she myght whome she had first in grete repreue and soo she accused her self wyth spekynge and tokens makyng asked her mercy and forgyuenesse of her trespaas as she myght speke and soo she was shryue and hoselyd and passyd out of this worlde wyth grete contrycion Whan she was passed out of this world thenne our lorde shewed to this holy mayde her sowle in soo grete bryghtnesse and fayrnes that as she knowleched afterward to her confessour it myght not be tolde ne spoken wyth mannys tongue Yet was not that the fayrenesse that she sholde haue in blysse endelesly but oonly the fayrenes that she hadde in her first creacion and in receyuyng of her baptysme And thenne sayde our lord to this hooly mayde loo dere doughter by the I haue receyned this soule that was loste is thys not a fayre soule and a semely Loo is he or she that wyll not doo her besines for wynnyng of suche a fayre sowle yf that I am the most souerayn fayrnes of whom cometh alle maner of vertues fayrnesse was so oucome thrugh loue of fairnesse of manÌ„ys soule that I wold come doun froheueÌ„ to erthe shedde my blode for to rauÌ„som it moche ye thenne shold laboure so eyther for other the so fayr a creature be not lost for this cause I haue shewed the this soule that thou may the more her afterward be â—â—erid for to wynne soules to me and also that thou may stere other to the same grace This holy mayde thenne thanked our lord for his blessyd reuelacion prayng hym mekely wyth alle the affeccion of her sowle that he wolde vouchesaf to gyue her that grace euer afterward that she myght see the fayrnesse of euery soule of all tho the whiche been conuersaunt wyth her so the more be steryd for to winne her helthe the whiche grace oure lorde graunted her and sayde by cause thou haste despised for myn sake all maner of flesshely conuersacion and art knytte to me in the spyryte the whiche am the moost souerayn spyryte and also haste prayed soo besely and soo deuotily fore this sowle therfore now I gyue thy soule clere syght by the whiche thou mayste perceyue and beholde bothe the fayrenes and the fylthes of euery soule that is present afore the So that as thy bodely wittes afore this tyme haue perceyued the condycions of bodyes ryght so from this tyme forward thyn ghostely wyttes sholde perceyue and consydere the conditions of the spyrytes not only of tho the whilche ben I presented to the but also of all other for whos helpe thou shalt praye though they neuer be presented to thy bodely syght ¶ The grace of this gyfte was euer after ward soo spedefull in this holy mayde that fro that tyme forward she perceiued more clerly the qualytes and dedes â–ª of the sowles of theym the whiche aperyd afore her than of her bodyes so ferforth that in a tyme Mayster Reymound her confessour complayned to her of somÌ„e that grutched vppon her by cause that she suffred many dyuerse persones to knele afore her wolde not byd theym stonde vp To whom she ausâ—terd in this wyse God knoweth fader that I am occupyed aboute the consyderacion of her sowles that I perceyued nothyng in maner of outward dedes Thenne asked her confessour of her and sayde whederâ—ye see her sowles To whom she answerd thus Fader vnder confessyon I shewe to you that after tyme our sauyour hadde I gyue me suche a grace that I sawe the fayrnesse off myn sufters soule the whiche was ordeyned to be dampned for her trespaas by his right wysdom he delyuerd mercyable by mym prayers shewed me afterward He fayrenes ther apperyd afterwar vnnethe afore me but that I sawe the condycions of theyr sowles and therfore fader I am syker if ye hadde onys seen the fayrenesse of a resonable sowle ye wold suffre an hondred tymes bodely deth if it were possyble for the wynnyge off a soule there is nothyng in wis worlde that maye be lykened to her fayrnesse whaÌ„ here oÌ„fessour herd this he prayed her that she wolde vouchesaf to tell hym all the processe how she come to suche a reuclacion Thenne this holy mayde tolde him al the processe as it is reherced afore all bee it though she tolde it but shortly and me kely of the trespas of her seke suster done agaynst her But her confessour afterward enquyred the sothe of that odyous cryme of her susters the whiche knewe theÌ„ both well ynow Ferthermore to the more coÌ„fyrmacion of thyse thynges that benrehersed a fore maister Reymound her coÌ„fessour recordeth of her that he was ofte tymes a speker bytwene her the pope gregori xj For she was an ytaly coude vnd stonde none latyn the pope Gregorye coude vnderstonde none ytaly therfore Mayster Reymound her confessour that coude bothe was a speker bytwene them Amonges alle other communycacions that this holy mayde communyd wyth pope Gregory she complayned her of the court of Rome And sayde that the that paradyse sholde be of vertu ther she founde stynche of cursed vices thenne the pope asked her by her confessour how longe she hadde be in the courte To whom she answerd sodenly wyth a meke boldenes to the pope in this wyse to the worshyppe of almyghty god I dare well say that I perceyued moche more the stynche of synne the whiche is vsed in the court of Rome at home in myn owne cyte there as I was borne thenne they that hath sinned and synne euery daye Thenne the pope after this answere helde his peas And was merueylously astonyed but her confessour maister Reymound merueylously marked he wordes and wyth what auctoryte they were spoken to suche a wourthy prelate Also ofte tymes it befyll bothe to mayster Reymound her confessour and to other that folowed that holy mayde in to dyuerse countrees where neyther she ne they came afore that ther come to her and to hym many vnknowen persons semely arayed for to comin with theym of vertu semyng as though they hadde be vertuous folke But in trouthe they encombred wyth wretched synnes whos synnes she perceyued anone wherfore she wolde neyther speke to theym netourne her face to theym And whan she sawe that they abode loÌ„ge Thenne she brake out a lytyll her voyce more than she was wonte to doo and sayde to theym suche wordes Fyrst we shold amende our lyf fro synne and goo out of the deuyles seruyce and thenne to speke of our lord WhaÌ„ she had said suche wordes she wente fro theym assone as she myght goodly And afterward her confessour and her felawes founde it sothe that they were e ncombred wyth wretched synnes in the whiche synnes they coÌ„tynued wythouten repentaunce Another tyme also she spake wyth a woman the whiche woman semed an honest womaÌ„ but in soth she was the concubyne of a man of holi chirche and that was grete pyte As they spake togyders the wymmen myght not loke vpon the
can none tongue tell by cause she was soo obedyent and soo grouÌ„ded in mekenes that coude nother excuse her self ne wythstond the wyll of her confessonr what that euer â—â— badde her doo for one or other she wyst well that the wyll of god was contrarye agaynst all their domes And on the other syde she was aferd for the dred of god to forsake obedyence that she was bode by her confessour And therto she was lothe to notefye the trouthe to them carnell pepse by cause the coude not sauore suche a ghostely trouthe therfore what she sholde doo she wyst neuer Thus she suffred moche angwyshe in this conflycte But amonges alle thyse conflictis she ran to her praye and for a souerayn remedy she wepte plentuously afore oure forde teres of sorowe and of hope besechyng hym mekely wyth moche instaunce that he wolde vouchesaf to shewe hys wyll to all tho that were contrary again ste her maner of lyuyng And specyafly to her confessour whom she was moste lothe to offende She wolde not reherce the worde of the Appostles that they sayde to prynces of the lawe whan they sayde thus ¶ Oportet obedire deo magis quam homini bâ— That is we sholde rader obeye to god than to man But for to seye so she was lothe lest it sholde haue be answerd her that the fende transâ—igureth hym ofte tymes in an angell of lyght And therfore she sholde gyue none credens to euery spyrit Ne sholde not leue to moche to her owna wytte but to doo after counseyll ¶ In this deuout prayer oure lord herd her graciously as he dyde in many other and ofte tymes illumyned her confessour his sowle and chaunged his counseyll But now I shalt sece of this mater and procede in the processe of this holy maydens lyuyng The fyrst tyme that this speciall grace befyll her she was soo full of the holy ghoste that fro the begynnyng of lenton in to AscenciÌ„on off oure lorde she was wythout bodely mete or drynke euer glad and mery This was none merueyle for the fruyte of the spyryte is charyte ioye and peas as saynt pouse sayth And as our lord sayth hym self A man lyueth not alwaye wyth bodely sustynaunce but wyth the worde that cometh out of goddes mouth And for as holy wryt sayth Juseus exside viuit That is the ryghtwysman lyueth by the fayth On the asceÌ„cioÌ„ day our lorde graunted her that she sholde ete as she tolde afterward preuely to her confessour And soo she dyde for she ete bred potage of wortes other rawe herbes also other lenton metes for that meruey lous body about kynde myght not receyâ—ue none delycatâ— metes After that day she tournyd agayn to her symple faste that she hadde begunne a fore soo by lytyll and lytill she tournyd that symple faste in to a costome contynuelly that was neuer herd in to tho dayes Her confessour mayster Reymound berith record and sayth that ofte tymes he knewe that her body was not comforted by none bodely mete ne drynke but only with colde water vnto the tyme she was brought to suche a febylnesse that hym thought and other moo that she was almost dede But assone as she herd saye of ony nede that shold be done to manÌ„is soule she caught strengthe sodenly wythouten ony bodely comforte that she was able to goo as mightely as euer she was wythout ony greuauuce a boue the commune strengthe or of other the whiche folowed her and neuer wae wery Wherof came this grace trowe ye but only of the spryte that comforteth and quickeneth the body merueylously aboue kynde namely of suche a body that is subiecte to the spyryte in alle ghostely werkes By this may euery ghostely man vnderstonde that alle thys holy maydens lyf was aboue kinde and full of myracle ¶ In a tyme whan she hadde faste soo longe and lyued without mete and drinke Her confessour mayster Reymound asked her wheder she had ony tyme ony maner of appetyte to mete or drynke To whom she answerd thus I haue so grete swetnes that our lord gaue me by receyuing of that blessyd sacrament off the aulter his owne precioâ— flesh blod that in noo wyse I myght desyre none maner bodely sustynaunce of mete or drynke ThenÌ„e her confessour asked eftsones whether she had ony appetyte to mete the day that she was not hosylyd She said nay for whaÌ„ it happed that she was not hose lyd the presence and the syght of that blessyd sacrament not only the sight of the blessyd sacrmeÌ„t but also the presens of that presie the whiche she knewe welle hadde that day sayd masse I touched that blessyd sacrament comforted her in suche wyse that she hadde none mynde of bodely mete ¶ This holy mayde stode bothe full and fastyng wythoutforth fastynge and wythinforth full wythoutforth drye and wythinforth moyste with flodes of quyk water and in alle manes of chaunces she was euer glad and iocuÌ„de But the fende myght not suffre this that the she shold thus be endowed by suche gracious gyftes but by his venyms woodnes of malycious enuye he steryd bothe spyrytuall folke and temperall folke Relygious and seculer againste her for that syuguler gyfte of fastynge merueyle not though he styred ghostely folke and relygyous agaynst her for in suche but yf theyr owne loue of theym self were fully quenched by grace regnid more perylous enuye than in other and namely whan they see another doo the whiche them thynketh is vnpossybyle theym for to do Serche wisely now and aspye whether this was not soth amonges the holy faders dwellyng in thebayde there was a seculer man that came to the grete congregacioÌ„ where Phatomye was abbot for to receyue the habyte amonges theym And whan he was receyued to the habyte to the holy congregacion the couent sawe how merueylously he lyued And they myght not doo as he dyde They came alle wyth one voyce gretelysteryd agaynste Phatomye and bad hym eyther put out of the congregacion that newe monke or ellis thei wolde not abyde wyth hym Loo yf suche enuye regned thenne in tho dayes amonges suche that were holde ryht â—fyght folk What enuye tro we ye myht regne amoÌ„ges our ghostely folke that lyueÌ„ in thyse dayes it is none wonder therfore thou ghostely folke grutched with this holy maydes fastyng For somme there were that said there is none lyuyng gretter than our lord for oure lorde yet ete dranke whiles he lyued in erthe and his blessyd gloryous moder oure gloryous lady gloryous vyrgyn marye and alle his appostles and also whom our lorde bad that they shold ete and drynke that was set afore theym and soo they dyde How is that that now is lyuyng in erthe that myght passe theym or to be lyke to theym I trowe none Somme ther were also that sayde and afermed that saintes afore vs taught by worde and by dede that there shold none take vpon theym a synguler lyuyng