the sisters that was there with her at that tyme that when the holie maid came to her selfe againe she should desire her in his name and also charge her in the vertue of her obedience that she should extend her charitie towardes that miserable man that laie on passing and praie to God hartely for his recouerie When the holie maid vnderstood the lamentable state of the sicke man and withall the charge that was geauen her from her ghostlie father she taried not but foorthwith set her selfe to praier and besought our Lord with great instance and feruour of spirite that he would not suffer that soule to perish whome he had redeemed with the price of his most precious blood To that our Lord made answere and said that the iniquitie of that wicked man was so heinous in his sight that the crie thereof perced the heauens and called for iustice for he had not only in wordes most horribly blasphemed the holie name of God and of his Sainctes but also with great despite and malice throwen a table into the fyer in the which was painted the death and passion of our Sauiour Christ together with the images of our blessed Ladie and other Sainctes By the which facte he had deserued euerlasting damnation When the holie maid heard that she fell downe prostrate before our Lord and said O Lord if thou wilt looke narrowly to our iniquities who shal be able to stand Wherefore camest thou downe from heauen into the wordle Wherefore tookest thou flesh of the most pure and vnspotted virgin Marie Wherefore diddest thou suffer a most bitter and reprochfull death Hast thou done all these thinges ô Lord to this end that thou mightest call men to a streight and rigorous account for their synnes and not rather that thou mightest vtterly cancel their debtes and take them to mercie Why dost thou ô merciful Lord tell me of the synnes of one lost man seeing thou hast borne vpon thyne owne shoulders the synnes of the whole wordle that none should be lost Doe I lie here prostrate at thy feete to demaund iustice and not rather to craue mercie Doe I present my selfe here before thy diuine Maiestie to pleade the innocencie of this wretched creature and not rather to confesse that he is gyltie of euerlasting death and damnation and that the onlie refuge is to appeale to thyne endles mercie Remember ô deere Lord what thou saidest to me when thou diddest first will me to goe abrode and to procure the saluation of manie soules Thou knowest right well that I haue none other ioye or comfort in this life but only to see the conuersion of synners vnto thee And for this cause only I am content to lacke the ioyful fruition of thy blessed presence Wherefore if thou take this ioye from me what other thing shall I find in this vale of miserie wherein to take pleasure or comfort O most merciful Father God of all comfort reiecte not the hūble petition of thyne handmaid put me not awaie from thee at this tyme but graciously graunt me that this my brothers hard hart maie be mollified and made to yeald to the working of thy holie spirite Thus did the holie maid continue in praier and disputation with our Lord from the begynning of the night till the nexte morning All the which tyme she neither slept nor tooke anie maner of rest but wept and wailed continually for great compassion that she had to see that soule perish our Lord euermore alleaging his iustice and she crauing his mercie At the length our Lord being as it were ouercome with her importunitie and crying gaue her this comfortable answere Deere daughter I will stand no longer with thee in this matter Thy teares and lamentable crying haue preuailed and wrested the sword of my iustice out of myne hand This synful man shall for thy sake find such fauour and grace as thou requirest for him And with that our Lord withdrewe him selfe from the holie maid and appeered the same hower to the sicke man and spake to him after this maner Deere child why wilt thou not be repentant for the synnes that thou hast committed against me In anie case be sorie for thyne offences and confesse the same and I am readie to pardon thee That word so persed the hart of that obstinate man that he relented foorth with and cried with a lowd voice to them that were there present besought them for Gods loue that they would helpe him to a ghostlie father with all possible speed For said he my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ hath shewed him selfe mercifully to me and willed me to be confessed of all my synnes When they heard that they were verie much astoined but withall meruelously comforted to see that soddaine and blessed alteration in him And they made great hast to bring him a ghostlie father to whome he made a perfecte Confession of all his synnes with great contrition and so passed out of this wordle in the state of grace How the holie maid by praier procured the conuersion of a fierce yong gentleman in Siena called Iames Tolomes Cap. 12. THere was in the citie of Siena a gentleman of a worshipfull parentage called Francis Tolomes who tooke to wife on Rabes a gentlewoman likewise of a good howse and by her had manie sonnes and daughters His eldest sonne was called Iames a prowd and hawtie yong man and of nature verie fierce and cruel in so much that being yet but a child of age he killed two men with his owne handes which cawsed all men both to dread him and to shunne his companie And as he grewe in yeares so did he also increase in malice and wickednes and ranne without raine or bridle euen as his outragious mynd caried him into all kindes of mischiefe He had two sisters the one called Francis the other Ginoccia which were also dissolute and light of behauiour and specially Ginoccia which was wholly geuen to vaintie and superfluous decking of her selfe And yet had she euermore a care to keepe the virginitie of her bodie which she did rather for feare of shame in the wordle then for anie feare or loue of God Which thing was no small griefe to their mother Rabes who being a woman that feared God and tendred much the soules health of her daughters went on a daie to the holie maid and declaring the state of her daughters besought her for Gods loue that she would bee so good as to come with her and geue them some godlie exhortation The holie maid which had euermore a passing great desire to wynne soules to God went with the gentlewoman with a verie good will and did as she was required And her wordes so wrought in the hartes of those two yong maidens that they gaue ouer all the vanities of the wordle and tooke the habite of S. Dominicke Ginoccia foorth with and Francis soone after In the which rule and discipline they liued a verie streight and rigorous life
good men became a newe man and liued in the state of matrimonie a verie quiet and orderlie life to the great comfort of his frindes and example of vertue to as manie as chaunced to conuerse with him How the holie maid obteined by praier the conuersion of a gentleman called Nannes Chap. 13. THere was in the cittie of Siena a worshipful gentleman called Nannes de Vannis which bare a great swaie emong the people by reason that as he was a verie fierce and warlike man so he was also of a meruelous suttle and craftie wit to deale in wordlie affaires This Nannes with the rest of his familie allies and frindes mainteined a faction and perpetual quarrel against certaine other families in the cittie who dreading his power and policie sought by meanes and with great submission to make their peace with him He made them answere that it was all one to him whether they had peace or no peace and that for his owne part he was verie readie and willing to come to accord if they could wynne certaine other to it to whome it apperteined as well as to him selfe And thus he gaue them verie faire wordes and put them in hope of peace but in the meane tyme he dealt secretly with those other persones willing them to stand stiffely to it and in no wise to condescend to anie condicions of peace This matter came to the eares of the holie maid which seeing herein a goodlie occasion ministred vnto her of working a verie charitable worke sought by manie meanes to speake with him But euermore when he vnderstood that she was comyng towardes him he fled from her euen as the serpent is wont to flee from the enchantour that cometh to charme him At the length by the importunitie of a certaine holie Heremite of S. Augustines order called brother VVilliam an English man they wonne so much of him that he was content to heare the holie maid speake but yet with this protestation that whatsoeuer she said concernyng the accord he was fixed and would not be remoued And with this resolution he went to the holie maides house at a tyme when she was abrode by a verie vrgent occasion of procuring the health of soules But Doctour Raimundus by the prouidence of God was there at that tyme who vnderstanding that Nannes was comyng was verie glad of it for he knewe that the holie maid had a great desire to speake with him Wherefore he went out to meete with him and to geue him enterteinement vntill her returne When they were come into the house Doctour Raimundus lead him the waie into the holie maides chapple or oratorie where he caused him to sit downe and ministred such talke vnto him as he thought most conuenient to protracte the tyme. But after that they had sate there a litle while and sawe that she came not Nannes thought the tyme long and therefore began to breake with Doctour Raimundus after this maner Father said he I promised brother VVilliam that I would come hither and speake with the holie maid But now seeing she is abrode about some other busines and I haue at this present certaine affaires that must needes be dispatched out of hand I praie you excuse me vnto her and tell her that I would gladly haue spoken with her if she had ben at home Doctour Raimundus was verie sorie that the holie maid came not awaie Howbeit to wynne yet a litle more tyme he tooke occasion to enter in talke with him concernyng the peace and asked him how the matter stood betweene such and such persones Whereunto he made answere after this maner Father said he to you that are a priest and religious and to this blessed maid of whome I heare report of great vertue and holines I will make no lie but tell you plainely and syncerely how the case standeth betweene these men True it is that I am he that letteth this accord and agreement though in deed it seeme otherwise because the matter is openly contriued by others I alone do priuily mainteine and vphold one side and if I alone would geue my consent to the peace the matter were ended But to tell you my meanyng in fewe wordes my peace shal be made and firmed with the blood of myne aduersaries This is my resolution and from this I will not be remoued Wherefore I praie you set your hartes at rest and trouble me no more And with that he rose vp and tooke his leaue to depart But Doctour Raimundus was verie loth to let him goe and therefore though he sawe that he was vnwilling to tarrie there and for that cause loth also to heare anie moe wordes of that or anie other matter yet did he to gaine more tyme aske him diuerse and sundrie questions and by that meanes held him there so long that the holie maid was come home and entred into the house before he could get out of the oratorie When Nannes sawe the holie maid he was sorie that he had taried so long But she was right glad to see him there and bad him welcome after a verie charitable and louing maner and caused him to sit downe againe And when he was sette she asked him the cause of his comyng He made her answere and declared so much in effecte as he had declared before to Doctour Raimundus adding his protestation withal that concernyng that matter of the peace he would abide no talke for he was resolutely bent to the contrarie The holie maid hearing that began to exhort him to brotherlie loue and concord and shewed him withal what a dangerous and damnable state they were in that liued out of charitie But he gaue but a deaffe eare to her wordes Which thing she perceaued well inough and therefore she sate still and spake no more to him but casting vp her eyes and hart to God she besought him of grace and mercie for that hard harted man When Doctour Raimundus which had euermore a diligent eye to the holie maid had espied that he spake some wordes to Nannes to occupie him the while nothing doubting but that she should worke some better effecte in him by that silent praier then both he and she had done before with manie wordes And so it prooued in deed for within a litle tyme after he spake to them both after this maner It shall not be said of me that I am so hard and vntractable that I will haue myne owne mynd in all thinges and relent in nothing I will condescend to your mynd in some one thing and then I will take my leaue of you I haue fower quarels in the cittie of the which I am content to put one into your handes Doe in it what you shall thinke good make you my peace and I will abide your order With that he rose vp and would haue gone his waie But in the rising being inwardly touched he said these wordes to him selfe O Lord what comfort is this that I feele at this instant in
euidētly by her wordes must needes turne them to verie great cōmoditie and comfort wēt foorth with to the lordes and nobilitie of the citie perswaded with thē that in anie case they should seeke to be recōciled to the Popes holines And because certaine persones ther present had openly impugned this peace and specially one capitaine or principal man of the partie called Guelphi which were in nōber eight had spokē against it in plaine wordes they depriued thē of their offices Wherof there ensued a great turmoyle in the citie by reason that the persones so depriued for enuie malice to be reuēged of those that had caused it sought by the fauour of the people to cause manie other to be depriued also in the end caused so manie to be depriued that for lacke of discreete Magistrates there grewe much disorder in the common weale And though the holie maid did shewe openly at all tymes in all places that she had no liking of these broiles but rather great heauines sorrow to see that whereas her meaning was to set thē at vnitie concord abrode her charitable trauaile was through the malice of certaine euel disposed persones made an occasion of ciuile discord and tumult at home yet there lacked not a nomber of wicked and diuelish men which bare the common people in hand that the holie maid and such as she dealt withal were the cause of raising those troubles in the citie Whereupon first of all they bent them selues against those men that had ben doers in anie degree about the afore mentioned depriuation And of them some were driuen out of the cittie some were slaine and some were constreined to flee for feare Then they began to make outcries against the holie maid her selfe Some said Come let vs goe to that naughtie womans house Some others said Let vs kill the queanc and cut her in peeces With these and other the like wordes those good folkes that kept her were put in such feare least some great mischiefe might come either to them selues or to their houses for her sake that they entreated her to depart Whereat she shewed her selfe to be no more moued neither in wordes nor yet in countenance then if there had ben no such thing But smyling sweetely to her selfe as her maner was and speaking comfortably to the rest she went her waie into an orchyard not farre from thence Where when she had made an exhortation to those deuout persones that were about her she set her selfe to praier While the holie maid was thus praying in the orchyard after the example of our Sauiour Christ there came rushing in vpon her a fierce companie of cruell men with clubbes speares and swoordes readie drawen showting and crying horribly Where is that naughtie woman where is that cursed wretch where is she With the noyse of this outragious and beastlie crie the holie maid being as it were violently broken of the sweet sleepe of her meditation start vp sodainly and ranne to meete with them with as louelie and cheerefull a countenance as if she had ben a yong spouse and had gone to receiue her loue whom she had long looked for And seing emong them one man that came on faster then his companie hauing a verie cruell and murdering looke shaking his swoord after a dreadfull manner and crying lowder then the rest where is the naughtie woman which is she which is Caterine she offred her selfe to him and kneeling downe before him said I am Caterine Doe your will with me but let these alone At those wordes the cruell harted man that came with a full purpose to strike her was so striken himself that he had neither strength to hold vp his hand against her nor boldnes to looke her once in the face She kneeled boldly before him without anie weapō and he stood trembling before her with his swoord in his hand There lacked no will nor boldnes in her to receiue the stroke but there lacked both strength and courage in him to geue it As it maie appeere by a letter that she wrote afterwardes to doctur Raimundus in the which she maketh a verie pitifull lamentation that she could not at that tyme effectually offer vp her blood to the vspoted lambe of God that had offred vp his most precious blood so freely vpon the Crosse for her loue Now though this wicked attempt of these furious men was thus staied by the mightie hand of God Yet did there remaine such a feare striken into the hartes of all good folkes both of the citie and of her companie and retinue that no man hauing the boldnes to receiue her into his house they all gaue her counsell to depart But she vpon a great affiance that she had in the mercifull goodnes of God and also as a prophetesse well assured of the finall successe and effecte of the matter said in plaine wordes that she would neuer depart the citie vntill the peace were fully and perfectly concluded Which thing came to passe within a fewe daies after euen as she haid said when Pope Gregorie was dead and Pope Vrbanus chosen in his place At what tyme the first mouers and principall workers of this tumult in the citie of Florence were seuerely punished and specially those that did anie thing against the holie maid And a firme peace was made established betweene the Popes holines and their cittie to the honour of God and great comfort not only of both parties but of all Christendome besides How the holie maid shewed her selfe to be excellently well learned both by her writinges and workes set out to the wordle and also by her conferences and disputations had with certaine great learned men Chap. 18. YF anie man doubt whether the holie maid were learned let him reade her workes namely her booke of Epistles or the Dialogue that she wrote concernyng the prouidence of God and there is no doubt but that he shal be fully satisfied and perswaded that no creature could euer haue conceiued such pointes of high and heauenlie learnyng without a verie special grace light geuen from God And as she shewed her selfe to be diuinely learned by a nomber of bookes and treatises that she endited and set out to the wordle so did she also meruelously satisfie yea and passe the expectation of all learned men that came of purpose to appose her and to trie in deed whether the opinion of such excellent knowledge generally conceiued of her had his true grownd in her or rather in others as they suspected Concernyng this point a blessed and holie man called Steuen sometimes her gostlie child trained vnder her discipline afterwardes a monke of the Charterhouse writeth one verie notable example worthie to be remembred The which can not better be set out then with his owne wordes which are these When Pope Gregorie being in Auinion gaue much audience and reuerence to the holie maid there came three great prelates vnto him and said
her But she might not abide to heare anie wordes that tended to her owne commendation and therefore she went awaie As she was going out doctour Raimundus came towardes the howse and met with her in the gate looking verie heauily of the matter for he knewe nothing of all this that was done in the howse but came directly from the phisicion When he sawe her there being as it were ouercome with sorrowe he said to her O mother will you suffer this good man that is soe deere to vs so profitable and necessarie to mà nie others to die after this sorte To that shee made answere verie humblie shewing in deed that she had no liking in such wordes O Father said shee what maner of talke is this that you vse to mee Take yee me to be a God that you would haue me to deliuer a mortall man from death I pray you said he speake these wordes to some other that is a stranger to you and not to me that knowe your secretes I knowe right well that whatsoeuer you aske of God hartely he will grant it you With that she bowed downe her head a litle smyled and after a tyme looking vp to him againe cheerefully she said these wordes Father be of good cheere for he shall not die at this tyme. VVhen doctour Raimundus heard those wordes he was a glad man for he knewe well what grace and prerogatiue was geuen to her from aboue And so he went into the house to comfort his frind not knowing in deed that he had no need of it but supposing that the thing had ben yet to do that was alreadie done VVhen he came in he found him sitting vp in good health and liking declaring vnto them that were about him the maner of the miracle that was wrought vpon him selfe For the further confirmation wherof the table was laid and they eate together that mornyng not such meates as sicke men vse to eate but rawe oynions and such other grosse meates as can not be digested but only in whole stomakes And as they were eating they tooke great pleasure to recite the wonderful thinges that it pleased God to worke by the holie maid In the tyme while this contagious disease reyned in Siena it chaunced a certaine Hermite called Sanctus that liued in an Hermitage a litle without the citie to be infected with the same The which thing when the holie maid vnderstood she caused him to be taken out of his cell and brought to this afore mentioned hospital of our Ladie of mercie VVhere she came to him with certaine other of her sisters tended him prouiding for him all such thinges as she thought necessarie or requisite for a man in that case And to comfort him with wordes also she put her head to his and whispered him softely in the eare saying Be not afraid howsoeuer yee feele your selfe for yee shall not dye at this tyme. But to the rest that were there she said no such thing but rather when they entreated her that she would praie to God for his recouerie she gaue them but an vncomfortable answere which made them verie sad for they all knewe him to be a holie man and therfore both honoured and loued him verie tenderly The disease increased howerly more and more and he decayed so sensibly that they dispairing his life gaue ouer the charge of his body and looked only to the health of his soule At the length when he was in extreames they all stoode about him with greate heuines looking only when he woulde giue vp the ghost the holie maide came to him againe and said in his eare Be not afraid for yee shal not die at this time The sicke man both heard vnderstood that word though before it seemed that he was past all sense And he tooke comfort in it rather crediting the word of the holie maid that sounded in his eare then the throwes of death that griped him by the hart Howbeit he shewed no token of amendement and therefore they not vnderstanding what she had said prouided lightes and other thinges necessarie for his burial looking still when he would depart out of this life And in this howerly expectation of death they continued certaine daies longer in deed then men are wont to liue that are sicke of that disease At the length when it seemed that he was euen passing out of the wordle the holie maid came to him againe and spake these wordes in his eare I commaund thee in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ that thou passe not at this tyme. At that word he tooke comfort of spirite and strength of bodie and rose vp in his bed and called for meate and in the presence of them all eate his meate with good appetite and receiued perfecte health and liued after manie yeares and was one of them that were present with the holie maid in Rome when she departed out of this wordle And he declared afterwardes what wordes the holie maid spake in his eare how by the vertue of the same his soule that was vpon the verie point of departing out of his bodie was mightely reteined adding furthermore that he esteemed the miracle that was wrought vpon him selfe to be no lesse then if she had raised him vp againe from death to life and that without all doubt it was no natural cause that had restored him againe but only the almightie power of God working by the meanes of that holie maid During this tyme of pestilēce in the citie of Siena it pleased God to worke an other miraculous cure by the meanes of the holy maid vpon Doct Raimundus her owne ghostlie father after this maner The plague increased so sore and the inhabitantes fled so fast for feare of infection not only the citizēs but also the priestes and religious persones that manie soules remained without comfort or counsel But doct Raimundus taried still in the citie would not remoue but determined with him selfe that he would visite helpe as manie as he could possibly The which charitable purpose being once knouē he was so much called vpō to earnestly intreated to come now to one house and now to an other bicause there were fewe or none to helpe him that he had scantly leisure to eate his meate or to take his rest One night whē he had rested on his bed thought to haue risen vp after his accustomed maner to say his seruice he felt a verie great paine in his flāke And feeling with his hand he found that there was a great sweelling in the place which made him sore afraid For experience had taught him that the disease begā commonly after that maner Wherfore he laie still in his bed durst not rise but began to thinke of death euermore wishing that it had ben daie that he might haue gone and spoken with the holie maid before the disease had taken full place in him In the meane tyme the ague came vpon him and withal a
my sweet mother secret from me wherefore would yee not call me to be present with others at her passage out of the worlde They excused them selues alleaging certaine reasonable cawses which did in some degree satisfie her mynd VVell then said she I praie you tell me what tyme she departed Yester daie said they about eight of the clocke she gaue vp the ghost VVith that she rent her owne face with her nailes and cried out ruthfully I sawe her I sawe my sweet mother euen when she departed out of her bodie I sawe her caried vp into heauen by the ministerie of Angels crowned with three precious crownes clad solomnely with statelie robes of shynyng white Now I knowe that it was our Lord that sent his Angel to shewe me the departure of my good mother It was he that prouided for me that I should heare Masse so late And which is more I see now that it was our Lord him selfe that supplied my charge miraculously in the dressing of my childrens dyner O mother O deere mother O sweete mother whie wouldest thou not geue me to vnderstand that it was thou that diddest depart out of this life VVhen she had thus eased her hart somewhat with weeping and speaking she declared to those religious sisters and to the rest that stoode there about the beere what a goodlie vision our Lord had shewed her at that verie tyme whē the holie maid passed out of this world with all such other thinges as haue ben recited here to fore Wherof they all glorified God and tooke no small comfort How the holie maides bodie laie three daies three nightes aboue the ground vnburied and of a nomber of miracles which it pleased our Lord to work in that meane time C. 10. WHile the holie maides bodie laie thus within the chappel of S. Dominicke the people came in so fast frō all partes of the citie to kisse her handes and feete to touch some part of her garmentes to commend thē selues to her praiers that they were cōstreined for satisfying the peoples deuotion to keepe her aboue the ground vnburied for the space of three daies three nightes In the which tyme very manie came thither brought with them a nōber of weake impotent creatures hoping that they should obtein their recouerie and health at Gods hād through the holy praiers merites of the B. virgin And they wer not deceiued in their hope expectatiō There was dwelling in the citie of Rome at that tyme a sister of the third order of S. Francis called Dominica borne in Bergamo a citie of Lombardie which had one of her armes benommed and as it were withered and dried vp in such sort that for the space of six monethes before the departure of the holie maid she had no vse of it This Dominica came to the Church and to the chappel where the holie corps laie But bicause being a weake woman she could not come her selfe to touch anie part of her bodie or garmentes by reason of the great presse and crowd of the people she praied some one that stood there neere to the beere that he would be so good as to take a vele of hers and put it to some part of the bodie and so deliuer it vnto her aganie When she had receiued her vele againe she put it to her armes and foorthwith her arme was perfectly healed and in as good state as euer it was before The which when she perceiued she cried out for ioye and declared to all the people that were there present what a wonderfull worke our Lord had wrought vpon her Whervpon they brought in manie other weake and feeble creatures hoping thad if they might come to touch but only the hemme of her garmentes they should be made whole Emong others they brought in a child of fower yeares old whose sinowes in his necke were shronken that he held his head euermore vpon his shoulder and could not lifte it vp When this child was brought thither they held him downe to the beere that the holie maides hand might touch that part that was so shronken and they tooke the vele that was ouer the holie maides head and put it about the childes necke And foorthwith the child began to amend and in the presence of all that people within a verie litle tyme lifte vp his head and was fully and perfectly healed After this an honest citizen of Rome called Lucius Cauarulis which was so grieuously pained with an incurable disease in his hippe and legge that he could scantly endure to goe a verie litle waie with the helpe of a staffe or crooch hearing the fame of the great miracles that were wrought by almightie God in the honour of the holie maid came with passing great paine and trauaile to the Church of the Friers preachers And when he was come thither he found the meanes by the helpe of others to be caried to the place where her bodie laie And there with great deuotion he tooke her hand and laid it vpon the partes diseased to witt vpon his thigh and legge He had no sooner done so but that he felt immediatly a present ease and helpe And before he departed from thence was perfectly cured of his disease and maine to the great wonder and astonishment of all the people In like maner a yong maid called Ritozola vpon whome a verie lothsome and stincking leprie was so farre growen that her nose and vpper lippe were foulie disfigured with the same hearing in the citie the brute and talke of these strange miracles came to the Church and pressed to approch neere to the holie corps but was diuerse tymes repelled by them that stood there about the beere Al the which not withstanding she assaied againe and againe and at the length with much a doe gate in When she was entred she went foorthwith and put her nose and lippe that were so pitifully disfigured not only to the feete and handes of the holie maid as others did but also to her face VVhereby she was so fully cured of her foule disease that there remained not so much as anie litle signe or token of the leprie in her face A certaine Romaine called Typreus had a daughter which in her tender age fel into a verie grieuous infirmitie called the ptisicke of the which she could not be cured by anie medicine This Typreus and his wife whose name was Lella hearing the fame of these great miracles that were wrought by the holie maid commended their daughter with great deuotion vnto her and caused their daughter to touch a certaine kerchiefe and beades that had touched the holie maides bodie A wonderful thing The yong maid that was before despaired of phisicions and other foorthwith vpon the touching of these thinges without any longer time or helpe of medicine found her selfe to be in as good state of bodie as euer she was in her life before and so continued In this tyme likewise while the bodie of the holie
in awe of her euen as a child doth of his maister and was wholly directed by her in all thinges vntill his dying daie which was within one yeare after And so he liued a godlie life and died in the state of grace How the holie maid deliuered Doctour Thomas her Confessour and an other Fryer that iourneyed with him from being murthered in the waie Chap. 3. ON a tyme Doctour Thomas the holie maides Confessour and an other Fryer called brother George Naddi Doctour in Diuinitie likewise went on horse backe together towardes Mount Politan to visite Doctour Raimundus who was at that tyme there Father Cōfessour ouer a Monasterie of Nunnes These two religious persones being on the waie chaunced to be espied by a nomber of theeues that were drincking in a tauerne where they should passe Of the which there arose from the table to the nomber of ten or twelue which preuented these Friers in a place whether they knewe they must needes come and there setting vpon them verie fiercely made them to alight from their horses And when they had spoiled them almost of all their clothes and of whatsoeuer they had about them besides they lead them towardes a darcke thicket that was there by mynding there to haue murdered them and so to haue bestowed their bodies in that vnhaunted place that their facte should neuer be espied When Doctour Thomas perceiued partly by their suspicious maner and partly by some wordes that they cast out what their meaning was being in a great agonie he cast vp his hart to God and to the holie maid and said these wordes secretly to him selfe with great deuotion O deere Catherine Gods deuout seruant and spowse helpe vs now in this our great distresse He had scantly spoken those wordes in his hart but that one of the theeues that was before in mynd to haue killed them being quite altered from that cruel purpose spake after this maner to his felowes Sirs what meane we to she we such crueltie to these good men that neued did vs harme Surely it is a great synne Let them goe a Gods name We maie trust them well inough they will neuer discrie vs. At these wordes the rest being likewise touched as it were with a certaine remorse of conscience restored vnto them againe their horses clothes and all other thinges only a litle money excepted and sent them awaie without anie further hurt Now the thing that is most to be noted in this storie is this At that verie tyme when Doctour Thomas spake those wordes in his hart the holie maid being then in Siena said to one of the sisters these wordes Doctour Thomas calleth me And sure I am that he is in great distresse where soeuer he is And therefore let vs praie to God for him And with that she set her selfe to praier by vertue whereof she ouercame and altered the myndes of those wicked theeues that would haue murdered him as the effecte declared afterwardes How she prophecied long tyme before of the conuersion of a gentleman called Francis of Malauolt Chap. 4. THere was in the citie of Siena a gentleman called Francis of Malauolt worshipfully borne but youthfully geuen And though he had a wife yet could he not keepe at home but would be oftentymes abrode Which thing grieued all his frindes and especially one man that kept him cōpanie most commonly who being a vertuous man for verie entier loue that he bare vnto him and also for compassion that he had in his hart to see his frind to liue in such a damnable state exhorted him that he would goe one daie with him and heare the holie maid The young gentleman was well content to goe with him and to heare her speake And resorting vnto her at diuerse and sundrie tymes he was then presently much stirred to compunction by her godlie exhortations and determined with him selfe to leaue his synful life but within a fewe daies after he fell to it againe The which thing the holy maid perceiued well and had great pitie on his weakenes therefore praied to God earnestly for him on a daie when the young man came after his accustomed maner to heare her exhortation she spake these wordes to him with great feruour vehemēcy of spirit Sōne said she thou comest often to me but afterwardes thou farest like a wild byrd and fliest awaie from me to thy old hauntes But one thing I tell thee I shall once by Gods grace laie such a yoke on thy necke that thou shalt not flie from me anie more as thou dost now The yong gentleman tooke good heed to her wordes and so did manie moe that were present but yet he sawe them not verified so long as she liued And for a tyme also after that she was passed out of this wordle he gaue him selfe againe to his wonted licentiousnes and vicious maner of life And so much the more freely because he had none then to restreine him as he was wont to haue of her before But as the holie maid was an earnest intercessour for that yong man while she dwelt here on the earth so was she also a much more diligent sollicitour in his cause before God when she was in heauen as the end declared Not long after the decease of this holie maid it chaunced that the young mans wife and that deere frind that loued him so intierly and in whom he reposed a verie speciall trust died also The departure and lacke of which two he tooke so deepely because he seemed as a man abandoned and lefte alone in the wordle that he willingly forsooke all the vaine ioyes and pleasures of the wordle and put his head into the holie yoke of religion in the which discipline he liued and died not without a verie great opinion of vertue and holines And whensoeuer he happened in his life tyme to talke to others of his dissolute life in the worlde and of his conuersion and entring into religion he would confesse that whatsoeuer grace he had he had to thanke God from whom all goodnes proceedeth and the holie maid by whose effectual praier he acknowledged he was wonne from the wordle to God How the holie maid made an exhortation to the Carthusian Monckes in the which by the spirite of prophecie she touched the most secret defectes of diuerse and sundrie of them verie particularly Chap. 5. THere was besides the citie of Pisa in an Iland a couent of Carthusians the Priour whereof was called Don Bartilmewe of Rauenna This Priour being a good religious man and desirous to traine vp his couent in all perfection of spiritual life hearing of the vertue and holines of this holie maid and what a singular grace she had in mouing mens hartes with her godlie exhortations besought Doctour Raimundus that he would be a meane to her and intreat her to come one daie to his house to geue some spiritual lesson to his brethren The holie maid was content at the request of Doctour
of her paines with the Popes holines but tooke it vpon her with a verie good will When she came to Auinion she spake to the Pope so effectually and vsed such perswasible meanes to induce him to condescend to the peace that he without anie further deliberation or sticking at the matter made her this resolute answere Daughter said he that you maie see how much I tender peace and concord I put the whole matter in your hand Doe in it as you shall thincke good Only this haue a regard to the honour of the Church And with that he reuoked his processe and sentence of excommunication against the cittie of Florence by reason wherof they had some respite for a tyme from such vexations and troubles as they suffred before in all places where they had trafficke with other nations The which when certaine craftie persones that bare the swaie at that tyme emong the people perceiued they thought to vse the oportunitie of that release to the furtherance of their malicious intent which was to hinder the peace And though they spake openly of pacification yet did they worke couertly by all possible meanes to depraue and discredite whatsoeuer was spoken or done for the confirmation of the same In so much that when the holie maid sent the condicions of peace to them requiring them to set their handes to them and to make a publike instrument vpon the same as the maner is when anie composition of peace is made they denied vtterly to doe it The which thing Pope Gregorie foresawe verie well and in deed said these wordes to the holie maid before she sent vnto them Beleeue me Catherine said he these Florentines haue beguyled thee And either they will send thee none answere at all or if they doe they will not doe it to such effecte as thou requirest And in truth as he said so it was For afterwardes when the Embassadours came from Florence to the Pope and it was thought that they should haue conferred with the holie maid they refused it plainely and said that they had no such commission The holie maid seeing that was in deed verie sorie to see ther vnhonest and craftie dealing Howbeit she ceased not to asswage the displeasure of the Popes holines iustly conceaued against them and she vsed meruelous meanes to perswade him that he should rather shewe him selfe a pitiful father towardes them then a rigorous iudge While the matter stoode in these termes the Pope being resolued to returne againe to the cittie of Rome which was also wrought by the wonderful perswasion of the holie maid thought good to differre this treatie of peace with the Florentines vntill he came thither where it might be done with better oportunitie And so the Pope returnyng to Rome the holie maid with Doctour Raimundus and the rest of her companie went home to Siena where she busied her selfe after her accustomed maner about the wynning of soules to God How the holie maid was sent backe from Pope Gregorie to the Florentines with the condiditions of peace freely put in her owne hand Cap. 17. AT what tyme these thinges were in doing it chanced that Doctour Raimundus was verie familiarly acqueinted with a worshipful gentleman of Florence called Maister Nicolas Soderines who was well thought of emong all good men for vertue and godlines Doctour Raimundus reasonyng with him on a tyme and complainyng of the vniust dealyng of the Florentines in that treatie of peace the gentleman made answere that in truth it was the fault of some fewe which being in office and authoritie emong the people were able to lead the multitude where they listed And if those fewe could by anie meanes be displaced he doubted not but that anie iust demaund would be heard emong the people When Doctour Raimundus had heard that he conferred with the holie maid and by her aduise drewe out certaine treaties of peace which were thought both verie honorable and also verie profitable for both parties if they might be receiued and exhibited the same to the Popes holines as sent from her And declared withall what he had heard of the afore named gentleman concernyng the hinderance of the said peace Within a fewe daies after the Pope called for Doctour Raimundus againe and spake vnto him I haue said he receiued letters in the which it is signified vnto me that if the holie maid will goe to Florence the peace is like to be concluded To that Doctour Raimundus made answere that not only the holie maid but he also and all the rest of her spiritual sonnes and daughters would be found readie at all tymes to offer them selues to Martyrdome whensoeuer anie like occasion was ministred to shewe them selues dutiful and obedient children to our holie mother the Church No said the Pope I thinck it not good that you should goe at this tyme. It maie be dangerous for you But she being a woman and also holden in great reuerence emong them for her vertue and holines maie I thinke goe without anie danger And so it was concluded and the Pope wrote his letters to the cittie of Florence in the which he gaue her a meruelous testimonie of holines and with the same sent her as an oratrice from the Sea Apostolike When she came to Florence she was receiued of the godlier sort with all honour and reuerence and by the meanes of the afore mentioned Maister Nicolas Soderines came to conferre priuately with manie of those citizens that liued in the feare of God who were easilie induced by her to accepte the peace that was offred vnto them by the Popes holines After this she went and conferred likewise with that companie or partie of the cittie that were called Guelphi and to them set out with manie vehement wordes what a prowde insolent and vngrateful part it was to hinder that holie peace calling those fewe that were the doers therof enemies and vndoers of all common weale and therefore vnmeete to beare office emong the people She declared furthermore what a profit was like to insue to their cittie by that peace if it might be receiued not only in their temporal goods but also and much more for the furtherance edifying of soules Then she shewed the heynousnes of their faicte to be such in the sight both of God and man that if the rigour of lawes and iustice should be extēded vpon them they had deserued to be extremely punished in bodie and soule Last of all she gaue them to vnderstand what a fatherlie loue the Popes holines bare to them and how inclinable he was to shewe mercie if they would submit them selues seeke it at his hāds And these pointes she set out vnto them with such a comelie grace with wordes of such efficacie that all those Magistrates with manie other honest citizens being brought by her talke into an vtter misliking of their present troublesome state and also into a great loue and longyng after that blessed peace which they sawe
concluded all with one voice which were in nōber sixteene persones that it was her praier that had procured that increase from heauen for said they yee see that we are all satisfied and the bread that was set before vs is not lesse but rather more then it was at the begynnyng And when their table was taken vp there remained so much bread as sufficed the sisters aboundantly and after them the holie maid commaunded the rest to be geuen out to the poore which was also a plentiful almes The like happened the same yeare and in the same house in the lent tyme by the like default of an other of the sisters called Francis How the holie maid wrought the like miracle in the couent of the Friers preacheers in Siena after her departure out of this wordle Chap. 7. THe holie maid died in the citie of Rome as it is said before from whence her head was sent afterwardes to Siena and receiued but not with such honour as was thought meete and answereable to the holie life that she had lead in that place VVhereof Doctour Raimundus hauing some remorse of conscience and being moued also as it was thought by God was in hand with his bretheren that they should appoint some day when that pretious relique might be brought as from some other place by the whole couent and the rest of her spiritual sonnes and daughters with hymnes and psalmes and other solemnities such as were common to the Saints in heauen for as yet it was not lawful to singe any particular seruice in the honour of her bicause she was not canonized Which being agreed vpon he went and inuited al her spiritual children that were abroad to come at the day appointed and to honour their good mother euery one in the best maner that he could deuise And withal he entreated them to take a part of their pitance that daie with the couent When this solemnitie was ended and the tyme come that they should goe to dyner the brother that had the charge of the butterie came to the priour with a heauie countenance and told him that there was not bread inough in the howse to suffice the one halfe of the couent and much lesse to suffice the strangers also that were inuited which were to the nomber of twentie persones When the priour heard that he went first into the butterie to see the prouision And when he sawe that it was so in deed he sent that brother with Doctour Thomas the holie maides foremer ghostlie Father to certaine of their special frindes houses to make a sufficient prouision of bread for the whole companie But those men taried somewhat longer then it was thought they would haue done Wherefore the priour hauing consideration of his strangers caused them to sit downe and set before them so manie loaues of bread that there remained for the couent but only so much as they thought would haue ben a competent portion for fower or siue men At the length when the priour sawe that they came not awaie he willed the couent to sit downe also and to begynne with that litle vntill more came They did so and eate their meate And though those two brethren came not at all with anie new prouision yet was their bread so much increased vndoubtedly by the merites of the holie maid that the whole couent which were to the nomber of fiftie persones was abundantly satisfied both at the first and second dyner And after all was done they gathered vp a great quantitie of bread which was also reserued till an other tyme When the couent dyner was done the priour with certaine of his brethren went to the place where the strangers sate Doctour Raimundus with them Who was still sitting at the table with them and making a sermon or collation in the praise of the holie maid Which sermon the priour interrupted and told them what a wonderful worke it had pleased God to worke that daie in the couent When doctour Raimundus heard that he turned himselfe againe to the companie and said these wordes Surely surely our good mother sheweth that she liketh well of the seruice and honour that we haue done her this daie in that she feedeth vs with bread by miracle which was in deed a common thing with her while she liued And in this she sheweth also that she is the true daughter of our blessed father S. Dominicke of whome we reade in the storie of his life that twise in his life tyme he wrought the like miracle in multiplying of bread How almightie God caused wine to be found in an emptie vessel to the vse of the holie maid and how he caused the same to cease againe at her instance Chap 8. IN the yeare of our Lord. 1375. the holie maid went to the citie of Pisa and lodged in a worshipful citizens house called maister Gerard Bonconties Where by reason of a great abstraction that she had from her bodilie senses she was brought to such an extreme feeblenes that it seemed she was at the verie point of death Wherefore doctour Raimundus fearing her present departure out of his wordle began to cast with him selfe if it were possible to deuise anie thing that might somewhat refresh or comfort her bodie in that case Flesh egges and wine he knewe well she might not abide and much lesse electuaries or anie other the like confortatiues that were made of sweet thinges Wherefore he came to her and praied her that she would suffer them at the least to put a litle sugar into the cold water that she droncke To that she answered quickely and said Alas father that litle life that is lefte in my bodie yee goe about to quench vtterly for yee knowe that all sweet thinges are become verie hurtful and deadlie to me Then Doctour Raimundus and the said maister Gerard in whose house she laie began to deuise carefully what thing they might doe to relieue and comfort her if it were possible And it came to their myndes which they had seene oftentymes proued in the like cases that when a sicke persone was not able to receiue anie sustenance inwardly it was good to take red wine and with the same to wash the temples and pulses of his hand-wrestes VVherupon maister Gerard sent to one of his neighbours which was wont euermore to haue one vessel of that wine and praied him that he would be so good as to send him a botel of it The neighbour when he vnderstood maister Gerardes request and withal the extreme feeblenes of the holie maid made answere to the messenger and said Truly frend I could find in my hart to bestowe if it were that whole vessel vpon maister Gerard. But it is now three monthes sence it was all drawen out euen to the lees And at this present there is not in my howse one droppe of that kind of wine wherof I am verie sorie But that you maie be well assured that it is so in deed I praie you
suspected that the holie maid should be departed out of this life though she knewe well that she was verie sicke bicause she had seene by experience that the holie maid had often tymes recouered and escaped out of sickenesses that seemed verie grieuous and past all hope of recouerie VVherefore she rather thought that for so long tyme as she had ben occupied about this vision the holie maid had ben after her accustomed maner in some singular traunse or abstractioÌ„ in the which our Lord had shewed vnto her some great and notable reuelations But bicause the mornyng was so farre spent that she stood in doubt of finding anie Masse that daie she supposed that all this vision was none other thing but only some suttle illusion of the deuel to make her to transgresse the commaundement of our holie mother the Church in not hearing Masse on the sondaie Wherefore she hasted her selfe vp and set her pot ouer the fyer and ranne towardes the parish Church saying thus in her hart If I leese Masse this daie I will take all this to be the worke of the ghostlie enemie But if I come in good tyme to heare Masse then will I thinke that our Lord hath shewed these thinges vnto me for my good mother Catherines sake When she came to the Church she found that the gospel was done and the offertorie song Wherof she was verie sorie and said Out vpoÌ„ me wretch the wicked feend hath deceiued me With that she made hast homwardes againe to set her thinges in the kitchen a litle foreward that she migh goe to some other Church and find a whole Masse While she was at home thus occupied she heard a bell ring to Masse in a monasterie of Nunnes not farre from her house which made her a glad woman And so she set her selfe in order againe to goe to Church and for hast lefte her colewortes which stood by her readie piked and wasshed euen as they were and put them not into the pot as she had thought to doe VVhen she came to the Church she found them at the verie begynnyng of Masse wherof she was verie glad and said to her selfe Surely now I see that the deuel hath not deceiued me as I thought he had done But she had great care of the displeasure of her sonnes which were now of good yeares bicause she knewe their dyner was nor readie nor could not be made readie in anie conuenient tyme. Houbeit she committed all to God that she might heare Masse deuoutly beseeching him notwithstanding that if that vision were of him he would so prouide that there might no displeasure or cause of offence rise of the same betwene her her children And with that she set her selfe downe and heard out the whole Masse to the end wheÌ„ Masse was done as she was going homeward her sonnes met with her in the streete said Mother it is very late I praie you let vs goe to diner Tarrie a litle good children said she you shal dyne in good tyme. She went home a pace and found the doore fast locked and the keie within euen as she had lefte it So soone as she was within the house she weÌ„t streight to the kitchin thought to haue gone foreward with the dressing of dyner But when she came in she sawe that all was done to her hand her colewoortes and flesh thoroughly soddeÌ„ al other thinges in such readines that they might goe to the table when they would VVherat she was much astoined and said to her selfe Surely now I see our Lord hath heard my praier And she determined to goe after dyner to the holie maides house whome she thought to be yet aliue in the wordle and to tell her of all the thinges that had chaunced that daie Her sonnes that were not farre from the house she called home and set them to dyner And while they were eating her mynd ranne still vpon the strange vision that she had seene in the mornyng and vpon these wonders that had ensued vpon the same Her sonnes also that knewe nothing of the matter began to commend their meate and said that it was passing well seasoned and had a farre better tast then it was wont to haue Which wordes she put vp in her hart and said to her selfe as she declared afterwardes to Doctour Raimundus O my good mother Catherine it is thou that hast come this mornyng into my house to supplie my rome and office in the kitchen Now I knowe in deed that thou art a holie virgin the true haÌ„d maid of Christ And yet for all this she suspected nothing of the holie maides departure out of this life but so soone as her sonnes had dined she went forthwith to her house as she was wont to doe at other tymes and knocked at the doore but no bodie giue her answere The neighbours told her that of likelihood she was gone out as her maner was to visite some holie place and that there was no bodie at home Which she supposed to be true therfore went her waie Now the truth was that all those that vvere vvithin vvere in great heauines for the losse of their good mother vvhich vvas departed from them and had lefte them as motherles children in this wicked worlde And they did what they could to conceale her death from the people both for the auoiding of that great presse and tumulte which they knewe would be made if her death were once noised and also that they might with the more quietnes conferre with discreete persones concernyng the maner and order of her funerals But howsoeuer they laboured to keepe the matter secret the next daie when her bodie should be caried to the Church of the Fryers preachers commonly called Our ladie ouer Minerua it was knowen all ouer the citie And there was such a concourse of people runnyng and pressing towardes the place where she laie to touch some part either of her bodie or of her garmentes that those of her familie retinue that were there attending vpon the corps were in great feare and danger to haue had both their garmentes torne from their backes and their bodies sore hurt with the violent presse crowd of the vnrulie multitude In so much that they were constreined to remoue the beere from the place where it stood and to set it in S. Dominickes chappel which was well defended with a strong grate of yron While these thinges were in doing Semia came thither by chaunce and seeing such a great concourse of people asked what it meaned They made her answere and said that Catherine of Siena was dead and that her bodie was there caried to the Church to be buried VVhen she heard that she sâ—right pitifully and ranne towardes the place where her corps laie VVhen she came thither and sawe certaine women and sisters of the holie maides familie standing about her bodie she cried out and said O most cruel women whie haue you kept the departure of
more phisicke vnto him When all men had geuen him ouer as a dead man a certaine deuout woman that was about him called Cecola Cartaria made a vowe to the blessed virgin S. Caterine in his behalfe and foorthwith the yong man began to amend and within a verie litle tyme was fully recouered of his disease In like maner a certaine woman called Gilia Petruccies when the phisicions had geuen their diffinitiue sentence that by the course of nature she must needes die made the like vowe to S. Catherine of Siena and with that found present ease of her paine and within a fewe daies after was perfectly restored to her health There was also at this tyme in the citie a certaine noble and deuout woman called Ladie Ione Ilperines which was well acquenited with the holie maide in her life tyme. And therefore seeing the miracles that were wrought after her death she conceiued the greater opinion of holines in her In so much that wheresoeuer she went to visite anie that were sicke and diseased she would alwaies perswade with them that they should commend them selues deuoutly to the holie virgin S. Caterine of Siena By the which meanes she procured the recouerie of a great manie that were sicke of diuerse and sundrie diseases On a tyme it chaunced that one of this ladies owne children sporting and runnyng rechlesly as yong children are wont to doe in an vpper lofte of the house fell downe headlong to the ground in her presence She seeing the sodaine fall of her child whome as a good mother she could not but loue tenderly and considering of the thing as it was like to be in the discourse of man which was that her sonne should either die presently or els at the least be sore crusshed that he should prooue but a criple or wraile all the daies of his life after cried out mightely and said O blessed S. Caterine of Siena I commend my child to thee It is a wonderful matter to consider that though the height and other condicions of the place from whence the child fell were such that in reason they might hope of none other but only present death yet when they came to take vp the child they found that he had no maner of harme in anie part of his bodie but was fully in as good case and liking after that great fall as he was before When the mother sawe that she gaue most humble thankes to almightie God and to his deere spowse S. Caterine and ceased not wheresoeuer she came to set out her holines and vertues to the vttermost of her power There was also a poore woman in the citie called good Ione which being a common landresse gate a poore liuing by seruing of others specially by washing of clothes This Ione wasshing on a tyme by the riuers side called Tiber happened emong other clothes to wash a quilte of the which one part was in the riuer and the other vnder her hand in washing But that part the swame in the riuer being heauier then the other of a sodaine drewe that part that was in wasshing from vnder her and so the whole was caried away with the swaie of the streame Whē the poore womā sawe the quilt gone knewe that if it were lost she was neuer able to paie for it hauing a greater care to recouer the quilt then to saue her selfe she reached so farre after it that she fell into the water also and was caried likewise a good waie from the land Being there in great distresse and destitute of all mans helpe it came to her mynd what great miracles were wrought at that time in the citie by the holie maid Wherupon she cried out said O blessed virgin S. Catherine of Siena helpe me now in this great need She had no sooner spoken those wordes but that foorthwith she was holpen vp by the almightie hand of God and brought against the course of the streame and set with the quilt in her hand vpon the bancke without anie helpe of man When she sawe her selfe there and could not imagin how she came thither she thāked God with all her hart and ascribed the benefite of her escaping from that present danger as it was in deed to the merites of B. S. Caterine Not long after the death of the holy maid doct Raimund being made the general ouer his whole order came to Rome as his charge required And being there translated the holie bodie of S. Caterine vpon that verie daie that she had prophecied that it should be done manie yeares before By trauailing wherin in other affaires apperteining to his office his bodie was distēpered in such sort that he had need to haue the aduise of some learned phisicion Wherupon he sent for one that dwelt ther by not farre from the monasterie called maister Iames of our Ladie the round which coming one time to visite doct Raimundus talking of the holy maid told him of a very strāge thing that had chaūced in his oune knouledge to a certaine yong man called Colas of Ciuccio This Colas lay sick in his father in lawes house whose name was Cincius Tancancim of a verie grieuous disease in his throte called the Squinancie Which increased so mightely vpon him that the phisiciōs gaue him ouer said plainely that by the course of nature he must needes die that within a verie fewe houers when the yōg mā was euen at the point of death Alexia hearing of it who loued Cincius wel bicause he was a deuout man and bare a singular affection to the holie maid in her life tyme went to the house in great hast and tooke with her a tooth of the holie maid which she kept as a great relike and iewel And when she came sawe the yong mā as it were vpon passing out of this wordle by reason that the aposteme had streightened his throte so much that he was euen at the point of choking she put the said tooth to his throte And foorthwith the aposteme brake and he lifted vp his head and auoided a great quantitie of rotten matter out at his mouth And within a very litle tyme he recouered perfectly gaue most hūble thākes to almighty God to his glorious spouse S. Caterine by the vertue of whose tooth he confessed in al companies in all places wheresoeuer he came that he had ben deliuered euen from present death In so much that one tyme when doctour Raimundus had made a sermon in the cōmendation of the holy maid had emong other thinges touched this present miracle the yong man being there at that tyme by chance stood vp befor al the people said these wordes It is true that yee saie maister doctour for I am the man vpon whom this great miracle was wrought At what tyme queene Ione of Sicilia sent Rainald of Vrsine with a great companie of men of armes against Pope Vrbane the sixt with purpose either to expell him out of