wyth me that may sâ—ye vp to the brydge that is by iij degrees the whiche â—en in thre myghtes of the â—owle Also of this worde brydge I made another lykenes by fygure of myn owne body The thyrde for sayde degrees as thou knowest well The fyrst in â—â—e feet wounded the seconde in the syde wounded And the thyrde in the blessyd mouth in the whiche I putte thre states of the soule that is vnperfgiht state the ê‘fight state the most vnperfyght state in the whiche most perfigâ—â— state a soule atteyneth and comyth perfyghtly to the excellent of the vnyte of loue shewynge to the Also in euery forsayd a state what thynge it is that wythdraweth putteth away inperfeccion and by what waye men maye goo therto And also I tolde the of â—â—e preuy deceytes of fendes and of properte of ghosâ—â—ly loue spekynge also to the reprehencions in thyse thre states the whiche my mekenes doth and maketh And the first reprehencion I put that is done to meÌ„ in â—er lyue or the soule go out of the body The second in the deth as for â—â—eym â—â—at deyen in dedely synne wyâ—â—out hope of whom I saide to the that they wente vnder the brydge by a wayâ— of the fende tellyng to the mysery wretchednes of suche dampned soules The reprehencion shall bedone in the generall dome And there I tolde the somwhat off the paynes of dampned soules and off the ioye whiche blyssed soules haue whaÌ„ they shall receyue theâ— owne bodyes Also I promytted to the eftsones I promytte to the that wyth moche sufferaunce I shall reforme myn spouse byddyng you and theym to suffre for her playnyng wyth the of the wickednes of mineuyll seruauntes And sâ—â—wyug to the in what excellens and wourthines I haue sette theym and the reuerence that I requyre wyl that seculers done to them Shewyng also to the how for defaute off theym the reuerence that ought to be done to them shold not be lesned â–ª how suche lesnyng of reuerence is â—ysplesauÌ„t and contrarye to myn wyll And also I spake to the of the vertu of theym that lyueÌ„ vertuously in erâ—â—e as angellis touchinge the also wyth that of the excellens off the reuerend sacrament of the aulter Also by cause I spake of the fosayd iij states of the soule thou woldest wete and knowe also of the estate of teres from whens the 〈◊〉 come I tolde the for to accorde the statis of â—â—ris wyth the states of the soule and sayde that al 〈◊〉 comeÌ„ out of the well of the herte and ordeynatly I assygned to the cause of suche teres the iiij states of â—eres of the firste state of â—â—râ—s that causeth deth also I tolde I answerd also to thyn fourthe petycion in the whiche petycion thou praydest me that I wolde prouyde for euery partyculer cas that might happe and I prouyded and purueyde therfore as thou knowest well Aboue all this I declared to the and told the off myâ— prouydence as well in generall as in speciall begynnynge from the begynnyng of the creacion of mankynde vnto the ende of the worlde how I made alle thynges and make yet wyth hym dyuyne proâ—ydence gyuyng and promytting that what that euer is gyuen to you bee it â—â—ybulacions or ellis temperall comforâ—â—s oâ— spyrytuall comfortes all thynges is done for your good that ye maye bee made holy in me And myn trouthe may be performyd in you My trouthe was is this that I haue made you of nought that ye maye receyue euerlastyng â—yâ—â— The whiche touthe I made open to you by the blode of myn only begoten sone Also at the laste I made a seeth to thyn desyre and the promyssyon that I made to the tellynge to the of the perfection off obedyence And whens it cometh and what it may be that wythdrawe you awaye from your obedyens And I put obedyens for a generall key and so it is And I tolde the also of partyculer obedyens bothe of perfyght folke and of vnperfyght folke as well as wythin â—â—lygion as wythout relygyon spekyng of eche of theym dystynctly And of the â—ees that obedyens yeueth and of the werâ—â— that inobedyens maketh And how moche an inobedyent man disceyuâ—th hym selfe addyng and puttyng to that for the inobedyenâ— of Adam â—â—eth entred in to alle the world Now I souerayne and the gloryous euerlastynge fader of endeles trouthe and veryte conclude the that by obedyens of myn only goâ—â—n sone Ye shall haue euerlastynge lyff And ryght as ye all token deâ—â— of the fyrst olde man of synne soo alle ye that wyllen beâ—â— the keye of obedyens haue take lyf of the newe man the whiche is swete Ihesus â—â—â—st of whom I haue made you a bridge afâ— tyme the waye of heuen was booke that ye mowe goo by this swete ryght waye the whiche is one ryght veryte shynyng wyth the keye of obedyens that ye maye passe the derkenesse of this worlde with outen offence And at the laste wyth the keye of myn obedyent sone ye maye opâ—ne heuen Now I stere the and alle myn seruauntes to wepe for wyth wepyng meke contynuell prayer and prayâ—ng I wyll do mercy to the worlde renued to the worlde by this waye of trouthe And that thou shalt not afterward bee repreuyd wyth lyght steryng for now I shall aske morâ— of the than I haue doo afore sythen it is soo that I haue shewed the myn selfe in myn trouthe And take hede that thou goo not out of the celle of the knowlecâ—â— of thyn self But therin spende and conserue the tresour that I haue gyue to the The whiche tresour is one doctryne of trouthe gronuded vppon a stedfaste and quycke the stone the whiche is Ihesu crysâ—e That doctryne also is clothed wyth â—yght by the whiche derkenesse ben destroyed therfore welbeloued doughter bee arayed wyth this lyght of trouthe Thenne the soule of this holy mayde katheryn after tyme it sawe all this wyth the eye of vnderstondyng and by medyacion of this lyght of faythe it knowe ryght â—oâ—yly the trouthe and the excellens of obedyens and it herd it wyth ryght felynge and tastyng it wyth affection and wyth an vnspecabyll desyre beholdyng it in the dyuyne reuerend mageste And it thanked hym sayeng thus ¶ I thanke the gloryous 〈◊〉 fader almyghty god For thou â—aste not despysed me thyne hondwerke ne thou haste not tourned awaye thyn face â—oo me ne despysed myn desires thou endeleâ— lyghâ— considerest not myn deth ne thou leche despisest not mi grâ—â—oê° sekenes the endeles puryte despysest not me full of fylthe moche wretchednesse thou infynmyte consyderest me that am fynite â–ª Thou wysdom wysdom beholdest me that am foly For thyse and other moo infynyte wretchydnesses and innumerable defautes that ben in me thou hast not despysed me ne thyn wysdom thyn goodnes thy mekenes thyn endeles goodnes hathe not dyspysed me but rather thou hast gyue me lyght in
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
ofte tymes to mayster Reymond But the vertue of hyr pacyence wythout ony comâ—yson passyd hyr sekenes as I shall declare by the helpe of god afterward in the last chapytre of the thrydde ê‘tye Whan hyr faders soule was delyuered out of the body this holy mayde smyled full manerly sayd now wold god I were as ye ben And all that tyme other wepte she shewed gladnesse of chere for she myght none other wyse do For she sawe hys blessyd sowle whan it passed out of the body how it was receyued in to endelesse blysse wythout ony taryeng of the whiche she was ryght gladde a lytell afore she had exê‘yence of the same ioye as it is rehersed in the chapytre afore this See ye not maydens how wysely the prouydence of our lord was wrought in this maydens fader Our lord myght yf he had wold haue purged his soule in many maner of wyses made hym able Inough to ioyes as he dyd to the thefe that hynge on hys ryght syde but he wold not wythout som payne that this mayde sholde suffre as she axed for hir encrece of hir more ioye the whiche payne was euer afterward swete to hyr as hyr semed not wythout cause for she wyst well that hir swetenesse shold euer encrece aftward hyr by grace in blysse by ioye and therfore she myght in no wyse calle the payne of Ilica passio but a swete peyne This holy mayde tolde puely to mayster Reymond that by long tyme aft hir fads deth his soule appyred oftymes to hir thaÌ„kyng hir for hir grace that he receyued by hir also tolde hir many puy thinges gaue hir warnyng of the assaillyng of hir enemy therto kepte hir from al ghostly euelys Ryght as I haue tolde you maydens of a myracle shewed to a ryghtwysmannys soule So shall I tell you now a myracle shewed to a synfull mannes sowle ¶ There was a man dwellyng in the cyte of Sene the whiche was called Andrewe a full ryche man of oute wordely thynges of the world but full poure off inwardly heuenly thynges he was a vitioê° maÌ„ for he neyther dred ne loued god But an hasarder and a cursed blasphemer or a swerer of god and of his sayntes wythin a while afterward that maÌ„ was take wyth a sykenes and lay done in his bedde soo seke that euery man and leche sayde he was deed That perceyued hys curat and come to hym for to comforte hym that he sholde beshryue and take penaunce and make his testameÌ„t as the maner was in the countre whan he hadde herdde how the preeste counseylled hym he despysed bothe hym and his couÌ„seyll his wyf consydered that hauynge zele and loue to his soule she wente after all maner relygyous folke both men and wymmen for to stere hym to god But yet for all her counseyll they myght not bowe hym to confession and contrycion of his synnes neyther wyth thretinge of endeles paynes ne wyth rewardes of endeles ioyes Thenne eftsones his curate came to hym dredyng lest he sholde haue deyed for defaulte of counseyll and sayde to hym as he sayd fyrste addynge therto many more holsom wordes Yet alwaye that wretched man dispised hym afterward as he dyde afore bothe hym his wordes ¶ At the last he fyll in despeyre and in to the synne of the hooly ghost â–ª and so he drewe faste to the deth This was afterward tolde to Frier thomas this holy maydes fyrst â–ª confessour And he wente to this holy mayde hous pursuyng for to constrayne her by al the vertu of obedyens and of charyte for to praye to our lorde that he wolde vochesaf to socour the wretched soule that it bee not dampned wythouten ende ¶ But whan he came to this holy maides hous he founde her rauysshyd fro her bodly wyttes and as longe as she was so occupyed he durste not occupye her ne durst not long abyde out of his hous by cause that myght drewe fast vpon hym wherfore he charged a felowe of here 's that was that tyme wyth her the whiche was called katheryn as she was for to charge that holy mayde in goddes behalue and his whan she were restorid agayn to her bodely wyttes that she wolde praye for suche a mannys sowle that lyeth in passyng she sayd she wolde so whan the holy mayde herde that she had soo greate compassyon of his soule that she prayed our lord â–ª anone deuoutly besechyng hym entyerly that the soule shold not perysshe whiche he boughte wyth his precious blode To whom our lord answerd sayde thus his wyckednes hathe asserued payne as an horrybly blasphemie For he hath not only blasphemid me and myn sayntes wyth his mouth But also he hath throwen a table in to the fyre for despyte of me in the whiche was paynted the ymage of myn passyon And the ymage of myn blessyd gloryous moder and of other sayntes And therfore it is worthy by ryghtwysnes that he brenne in endeles fyre ¶ Thenne she fyll downe prostrate with wepyng to the feet of our lorde and sayde lord yf thou wylt consydere narowe to the synnes of men who may escape endeles dampnacion wherfore comest thou downe to be born of a gloryous mayde for to suffer tourment of cruell deth only for to wayte after mennys synnes and to punysshe theym horrybly to endeles payne why tellest thou me this and the synnes of a lost man that barest vppon thyn sholders all maner of synnes whether I am come to the now for mercy or for ryghtwysnes haue myn lord blesfulle what thou saydest to me whan thou puttest me forthe for the helthe of many mennys sowles I haue none other refresshinge in this lyf But for to see myn neybours tourned to the And for the alone I suffer paciently thyn absence yf thou gyue me not this ioye what shall I than doo Good meke lord put me not awaye fro the yelde me myn brother graciously that is now obstynat in herte ¶ Thus she prayed contynuelly fro the begynnyng of the nyght vnto the graye mornynge all that tyme wepyng wythout ony slepe dysputyng wyth our lorde alwaye for the helpe of that sowle Oure lord aledgyng ryghtwysnes to gyue to hym vengeaunce for his synnes And the hooly mayde asking mercy at the last our lord of his endeles mercy gaue her an answere and sayde dere doughter I shall shewe hym myn grace for whom thou hast prayed to Andrewe and sayde Dere chylde whi wylt thou not beshreue of the tres pas that thou hast done to me loke thou beshryue for I am redy for to forgyue the thyn synnes Thenne was his harde herte souple by grace that he cryed wyth a grete voyce to his meyny aboute hym sayde sende for the preste for I wyll byshryue For my lord Jhesu crist hath warned me that I shold beshryuen ¶ Whan his meynye perceyued that anone they went for the preste the preste came and he was perfyghtly confessyd to hym and made his testament wyth
she secid neuer by prayer vnto the tyme they were fully delyuerd out of payne ParaueÌ„t now somme therâ—en that set lityl by this myracle by cause if was inuisybyll but yf they take hede inwardly of the wordes of saynt augustyn and saynt Gregory they shold fynde well that this was more myracle than yf the bodyes hadde ben reysed from deth to lyue For saint gregory sayd thus that in the bodely resurrexcioÌ„ the flesshe is reysed the whiche shal deye eftsones and whan the soule is reysed it shall lyue wythouten ende yet shall I telle you another synguler gyfte of conuersacion of thys hooly mayde wan of god There was one the whiche was called â—abes amonges whom there was one chylde of his that was called James or Jacob he was a synfull lyuer full of pryde and of creuelte soo that yet beyng yonge in age he kyllyd two men ful cruelly that euery man that knewe hym was aferd of hym ne loued hym not But euery day he lyued werse and werse and had a suster that was called Shy nochya the whiche was fully gyuen to vanyte of the world in passyng outrages aray of her body albe it she was a mayde of her bodi Her moder â—abes had therof grete forowe lest they shold be dampned for ther mysbelyuyng she wente to this foly mayde and prayed her that she wolde vochesaf to speke somwhat of soule he le wyth her to her doughter Fracisca and Shynochya but specyally wyth shynochya this holy mayde as she hadde euer to sowles grete compassyon graunted her that she wolde gladly and soo she dyde For what prayer and monycions of our lord Ihesu Cryste was soo grounded in the soule that Shynochya that sodenly she put awaye fro her all the vanyte of the world that she vsed in pompous araye And kyt awaye her heer of her hede wherof she was woute be proude of And tooke vppon her the habyte of Saynt Domynyk and so was made a suster of penaunce And euer afterward she lyued in prayers medytacyons in grete sharpe penaunce Sone after came hir suster Francysca and took vpon hyr the same abyte lyued to gyder ryght deuoutely Of this herde James or Jacob her brother that was not the same tyme in Sene whanne his sustren were torned he came to the Cyte ward wyth a yong brother of hys cursyng thretnyng wyth a grete pryde all tho that excyted hys susters to that abyte Seynge cryeng wyth a bolde spyryte that he wolde tere awaye that abyte fro their back breng theim to hys how 's there he dwelled To whome hys yonger brother the whiche came with hym sayd trewely James yf thou come to Sene thou shalt be torned also and be shryuen of thy synnes with that he cursed hys brother bytterly sayde that he had leuer flee bothe freres prestys thenne he wolde be shryuen to ony of hem all The chylde oftymes rehersed hys ê“phecyes as ofte he cursed So that at the last he entred in to the Cyte as a wood man forthe he wente to hys faders how 's thretnyng that he wold do grete horryble thynges but yf his sustren specyally Ethynoccyam wolde do awaye hyr abyte come home to hym All this was not vnknowen to this holy mayde but she knowe it neuer by creature on erthe but by god In the mene whyle his moder Rabes stylled and peased hym prayng hym that he wolde abyde tyll the morow On the morow she sente to this holy maydes confessour frere Thomas that he wolde wouchesauf come speke with hir sone James And counseyll hym for hys sowle helthe He came wyth hym a felawe frere Bartholomew spake to hym But all their speche as them semed myght not profyte in him All that same tyme this holy mayde Katheryne prayed to our lorde for hys conuersyon whiles frere Bartholomew spak to hym And thenne sodeynly oure lorde touched Jamys herte to contrycyon and he sayde to frere Bartholomew that he was well apayed of hys suster that she sholde serue god But also he prayed hym of confessyon wyth grete contrycyon that he myght be shriueÌ„ of hys synnes and serue god also He was thenne so perfytely shreuen That somme synnes whiche he wold neuer be knowe ne confessyd to noo man he was confessyd to hym Soo that wyth Inne a lytell tyme after of a wolfe he was made a lambe and of a lyon a whelpe That all folk that knewe hym were amerueylled of hys sodeyne tornyng His moder Rabes was a meruaylled and alle hyr meyne and thanked oure lorde for that specyall grace Frere Thomas and frere Bartholomew also ioyed in oure lorde and wente for to tell alle this to this holy mayde the whiche was doune whanne they were come to here how 's they fouÌ„de hyr yet in rauyssheng and hyr felawe was that tyme in hyr chambre wyth hyr As sone as she was cessyd of hyr rauyssheng and restoryd to hyr bodely wyttes hyr felawe came doune out of the chambre from hyr and welcomed hyr confessour Thenne sayde hyr confessour to hyr felawe We ben come for to tell Katheryne that she sholde thanke our lord god For James that is torned trewely to god and is shreuen of alle hys synnes thys morowe tyde to frere Bartholomew To whome sayde hyr felawe ryght nowe Katheryne tolde me the same that ye say And whan they were were come vp to katheryne she sayde to theym wyth grete sadnes in this wyse Faders we been moche bounde to thanke our sauyour that neuer dyspsed the prayer of his seruauntis For the same desyre the whiche he enspyred theym wyth he fulfylled in theym The fende wende he shold haue hadde awaye fro vs our lytill shepe But our fader of mercy hath byreiued away from hym his pray he wende to had away from Cryst Shynochia But he hath lost James that he helde soo stronge in his bondes For so it happeth euer to hym whan he reyseth vp his hede of pryde agaynst Crystis chosen Afterward that mayde Shynochya euer contynued in prayers and holy medytacions to her last daye And wyth a grete ghostely ioye by dyuerse sekenes the whiche our lord gaue her She passeth to our lord out of this worlde Thenne her suster francisca that lyued but lytyl while after folowed her in good lyuing and wyth a mery smylyng there she passed also to god out of this world ¶ Ferdermore the sayd James her broder wythin a lytyll tyme after forsoke perfyghtly the worlde and was made a fryer prechours and lyued deuoutly euer after All thyse thynges were wrought by the holy ghost and by his spouse Katheryne graunted his grace to alle tho that she prayed for ¶ Ouermore I shalle telle you another merueylous thynge that Mayster Reymound bereth recorde of hym self In the same Cyte of Seene there was a greate man the whiche was called Nannes he a wounder wordely wyse man more enclynyng to euyll than to good that man
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
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
whan he herde of the myraclis that was wrought by this hooly mayde and vyrgyn This Anthony was enfected soo that he myght not be cured wyth none natural medeâ—in he bethought hiÌ„ of this hooly maide virgin deuoutly he made a vowe to her he had not so sone made his a vowe that he ne felte his body and his lymÌ„es as stronge as euer they were Thenne he came to this holy mayde aud vyrgyn thanked our reuerend lord almighty god and her of his recoueryng ¶ Also ther was a deuoute matrone that was welknowe wyth this hooly mayde and virgyn whan she lyued in erthe for ofte tymes whan she came to her place she and many of her dysciples were herberowed wyth her the whiche matrone she called Paula In the same tyme whaÌ„ this holy mayde vyrgyne passyd out of this world This pauâ—a was seke and hadde lay seke iiij monethes afore vpon a sekenes that is called podagra and vppon another sekenes on her syde that is called Ilycapassio And by cause the remedyes of thoo two sykenesses ben contrary eche to other for the tone sekenesse requyred openenyng and the other closinge therfore this matrone was moche more vexed â–ª soo that other whyles she was nere deed â—han tâ—is matrone herde saie that this holy made virgyn was â—passyd She asked for charyte that she might hauâ— somÌ„e maner of clothe that her swete holi body was coueryd with or touched as she desyred soo she hadde that same nyght at euen she leyde that clothe vpon her as she laye in her bedde all nyghte On the morowe she roos vp all hole and walked on her fete as though she hadde neuer that sekenesse Suche myracâ—es many moo oure reuerend lord almyghty god wrought in that blessyd mayde and holy vyrgyn or than it was buryed Yet oure reuerend â—lorde almyghtyâ— god cecyd not for to worke helthe to seke folke For in werkyng it rather encresyd than dymynused ¶ There was a womaÌ„ that was callyd â—one whiche had a lytyll chylde that myght not stonde ryght vp on his fetene goo This â—one herde how our reuerende lorde almyghty god wrought many fayr my raâ—â—ys by this holy mayde and vyrgyne gloryous saint katheryne she made auowe to our reuerend lord almyghty god to here for the â—elthe of her chylde After tyme she hadde made her a vowe she toke hyr chylde with her and came to the graue where the hooly mayde vyrgyn was buryed And she layde hyr chylde vpon the graue And anone the chylde began to stonde ryght vp and go as though he hadde had neuer sekenesse in his legges ¶ Also there was a man of Tose that was also callyd Johan the whiche had an horryble sekenes in hys eyen so the wormes bredde in his eye this â—ohn made a vowe deuoutly to oure reueâ—â—nde lord almyghty god to this holy mayde vyrgyn gloryous saint Katheryne off Sene anone he was delyuerd of hys sekenes whâ—n he was so delyueryd he came to the sepulcre of that blessid mayde virgin setâ—â— vp a tokeÌ„ of waxe as the maner is in sygne tokeÌ„ of delyuâ—raâ—ce than he tolde to all folke that wolde hâ—re it the merueyle of our reuerend lord almyghty god shewed by this hooly mayde virgyn Also there was a woman pylgryme of duchelond whos name was not wryton bicause it was foryete of neglygence the whiche pylgryme had desuche a sekenesse in both her eyen that she had almost lost her syghte Thâ— pylgrym made a vowe deuoutly to oure reuerende lord almyghty god to this holy mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt Katheryn of sene And wythin a lytyll tyme after she had clere â— yght hyr sekenesse was gon whan she was to hyr sepulcre for to thanke our reuerende lord almyghty god and hyr She sawe as clerly as eueâ— she dyde ¶ Also there was a lady of Rome that was called Maryâ— the whiche the whiche hadde in her hede a greuous sekenes that notwithstondyng many sondry medecyns the whiche she vsed she myght neuer be holpe therby but lost her eyen Wherfore for sorowe and shame that she hadde therof she wold neuer passe her hous after ne appere in the syght of men This lady herde speke of the gteate myraclis that our reuerend lord almighty god wrought by that holy mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt katherin she made auowe to our reuerend lord almyghty god and to her deuoutly After tyme her vowe was made the next nyght sueing this holy mayde and vyrgyn apperyd to the seruaunt of this lady in her slepe and bad her sey to her lady that she sholde doo nomore medecyns to her sight but euery daye in the morowe she shold goo to chirche here the seruyce of our reuerend lorde almyghty god and theÌ„ne she shall be hole Whan this seruaunt had tolde her lady thus she dede soo and at the laste by lytil lytyll she began to see wyth that blynde eye and was fully restoryd to helthe Loo dere susters by this myracle ye may consydere that this holy mayde and vyrgyn folowed the dedes of our lord almyghty god swete Ihesu Cryst For whan oure reuerend lorde almyghty god swete Jhesu Cryste was sought whiles he was in erthe here for the helthe of body Hym thought it was not ynow for hym to he le only the body but yf he helyd the soule Whan he sayde to one that came to hym for to be helyd in body thus Fili remittuntur tibi peccata That is to saye thyn synnes be forgyuen Ryght soo this holy mayde virgyn there she was asked of helthe She gaue also helthe of soule in that she badde her here her dyuyne seruyce The whiche is helthe and comforte to thesoule ¶ Also there was a yonge man the whiche was called James the sone of a Romane that was called Peers the whiche was in a tyme so seke in body that none leche myght hele hym But alegates he drewe faste to deth Thenne was there a deuote woman that was called Ceccola The whiche woman sawe this yong maÌ„ in poynt of deth and made avowe for hi to this holy mayde and vyrgyn gloryoê° saynt katheryn She hadde not soo soone made her vowe but that the yonge man began to recouere and was fully delyuered from his sekenes ¶ Also there was a woman callyd gallya that was sore seke and myght not be helped by none lechecrafte So that lechee sayde by cours of naturall kynde that she sholde be dede wythin a short tyme thenne this woman Gallya thought vppon saynt gloryous katheryne of Seene and recommended her lyff to her She had not so soone do soo but that she felte comforte and amendement And so lytyll and lytyll she was restoryd to helthe ¶ Also there was a deuoute lady that was called dame Jone the whiche knewe well this holy mayde virgyn gloryous saint katheryn whyles she lyued And she counseyled seke folke whan she spake wyth them to