/ we ne abyde more than the sentence to be brought forth agayne vs. For all the presentes â—â—ye vnto the Iudge that we bendygne of tormentes And almooste no good dede appered wherin we had esperauÌ„ce to haue the mercy of god And whaÌ„ he ne resysted more as to brynge forth the sentence the whiche is iustely gyuen agayne the sinners that blyssed saynt Iherome was present Also were present saynt Iohan baptyste / saynt Peter / and great multitude of Aungels the whiche requyred of the Iudge that our seÌ„tence were yet dyfferâ—ed a lytell of tyme for the reuereÌ„ce and deuocyon that we had made vnto the sayde saynt Iherome And for to dystroy the erroure the which reygned in the worlde And he was accorded vnto the said saynt Iherome that that he requyred The whiche ledde vs with hym And shewed vs the glory of the blyssed soules and the paynes of hell and of purgatorye / to th ende that we myght wytnes certayne that thing that we haue sene The whiche thynges be not here writen for bycause of shortnes And wolde that we were put within the paynes of purgatorye to th ende that we shulde proue the experyence of the paynes the whiche there ben in the whiche we were put For to abrydge the sayde saynt Iherome vs coÌ„mauÌ„ded that we shulde come agayne in to our bodyes And that we shulde wytnes that / that we had sene / vs promysed that on the .xx. day yf we dyd dygne penauÌ„ce of the sinÌ„es that we had coÌ„mytted that we shuld dye agayne with saynte Eusebe the whiche shulde dye on the sayde day and we shuld haue glory And so our soules were incontynent within theyr bodyes c. ¶ Another Example howe a deuyll sayde that the soule of the Erle Guyllaume was in horryhle payne IT is wryten in Dialogo Cesarii this the whiche foloweth howe the discyple recyteth in his Boke and sayeth that as a knyght was at the death in his bedde al alene the deuyll appered vnto hym vysyâ—ly in forme and sâ—mblaunce of a sheepe the which had the hornes of a gote And when he se hym there in suche wyse he had fere and hym demaunded what art thou and what sekest tâ—ou He answered I am a deuyll the whiche am come for to fetche the soule Vnto whom the sayde Knyght sayde / depart thou frome cursed thefe / I haue coÌ„maunded it vnto Ihesu Chryst that I haue receyued in the sacrament And the deuyll sayde Varled yf thou wylte do me homage I shall yelde vnto the helth and I shal enryche the aboue all thy parentes And the knyght hym demaunded where ben thy tresours He answered treasours infynyte ben hyd nere vnto the court And the said knight asked hym / tell me where is the soule of the Erle Guyllaume that whiche is lately deed He answered It is in hel in so great fyre that yf the moste great mountayne were there it shulde be consumed in lesse of tyme than to close the eye And that payne there is but a bayne of mylâ—e in the regarde of the daye of Iudgement where he shal receyue the payne And he asked hym of another man And he answered he hath be .xxxi. yeres iÌ„ paines but a Monke and Myncheâ— hath delyuered hym by good dedes And agayne he demaunded the deuyl From whens camest thou whaÌ„ thou came to me He answered I and my felowes were at the death of an abbesse awaytynge her soule And the knyght him demauÌ„ded Howe many ben ye He answered that the moste great forest of the worlde hath not so many of leues as we were And the knight demauÌ„ded him What haue ye done He answered / Alas nothyng she was a good religyous saint Michel came thither that which bete vs departed iÌ„ lykewyse as departeth the poudre before the wynde / and he was axed yf he were at the death of suche an abbot He answered that there is not so moch of grauell in the see as there was yf deuyls / but we ne dyd nothynge / for the vyllaynes Monkes the whiche there were groned as hoggê ne wold let vs to approche And the sayde knyght saide Howe dare ye go vnto the deth of so holy a man And the deuyll sayde I was at the deth of the sone of god / and set me on the arme of the Crosse / wherfore dare I not than go vnto the death of suche a man c. ¶ Another Example howe a relygyous wolde more sooner enter into a fyre than to beholde the Deuyll THe disciple recyteth in his proÌ„ptuarye and sayth that one tyme a relygyous came vnto the deth the whiche cryed horrybly cursed be the houre that euer I was relygyous / and after helde his peas And within a lytell whyle afterwarde he began to laughe with a Ioyous face sayde Naye But blessed be the tyme that I entred into the ordre And blyssed be the gloryous Mother of Iesu Chryst that I loue and agayne helde his peas The freres that whiche were by him and herde these wordes wept and prayed for him Two houres after he sayde vnto a frere the which was by him / call my brethren For god hath exalted theyr praiers And he sayde vnto them whan tâ—ey were entred My bretâ—ren ye were troubleâ— of the fyrste worâ—e I sâ—â—de vnto you / but the cause of the worde was for that that the deuyls horryble appered vnto me / the whiche wolde rauysshe my soule And for the drede I was rauysshed out of my selfe and cursed the houre that I entred in to relygyon I tell you that yf a great fyre were here melled with brymstone / and that I had to chose to put me within it or els to beholde agayne the deuylles in the forme that I haue sene them / I shal be chose more sooner to put me in the fâ—re than to beholde them / afterwardâ— the Quene of heuen and of mercye came the whiche chased away the deuylles And whan I se her I conceyued esperaunce / and for the greate Ioye that I hadde I haue laughed and blyssed the houre that I entred in to relygyon and the vyrgyn Mary whan he had spoken these wordes he dyed debonayrely c. ¶ Another Example howe the vysyon of the Deuyll is horryble IT is wryten in some Bokâ—s this the whiche foloweth that the dyscyple recyteth in his promptâ—ary and saieth that the abbot of saynt agathe came vnto coleyne with one of his Monkes and a conuerse with a woman demonyacle And whan the abbot asked the deuyll of some thynges he ne wolâ—e answere The abbot sayde afterwarde I coniure the by hym that I haue trayted in the Masse that thou answere me And incontynent the Deuyll answered vnto those thynges that men demaunded hym After the abbot coniured him that he shuld go forth of the woman The deuyll answered And whether shall I go The abbot sayde / I haue opened my mouth to th ende that thou there entre The deuyll sayde I
/ and dyd of great oppressyons vnto his subiectes THe dyscyple recyteth in his promptuarye and sayeth that a relygyous of the ordre of cysternenâ—is laboured vnto the deth / he sawe S. Benet the whiche came vnto the seperacyon of his soule / the which shewed vnto hym many houses of the saued and of the tormentes of the dampned And amonges the other he sawe a great prynce borne brynnynge and resydent in a chayre of fyre And before hym there was of fayre women the whiche put theyr faces of fyre in his mouth / and he brynned tyll vnto the nombryll / and he was bette horrybly This sayde man had be a puyssaunt prynces lecherous After the sayd lecherous he sawe another that the deuylles dyd fle / And afterwarde they cast and spryncled of salte vpon hym And vpoÌ„ a gyrdyron of fyre brent him and rosted This sayd man had be a lorde cruell the which made of great oppressyons vnto his subiectes / and made of demaundes iniuste vnto the poores Afterwarde the sayde relygyous sawe another the whiche rode a horse of fyre and had a token of fyre the which otherwyse men call a bokelet / and bare a gote of fyre And after the taile of the gote he bare an habyte of amoÌ„ste This sayd man was a rauyssher the whiche toke the gote of a woman wydowe And whan he was sycke he receyued the habyte of a monke / not by charyte ne by wyll to abyde in the ordre yf he myght be hole But by the admonycyon of his frendes / for that he drewe the habyte of a monke after hym Afterwarde the sayde relygyous sawe many other people the which susteyned many other paynes after the symylytude of the maners that they had synned in this worlde It is that wherof the sage speke SapieÌ„ xi PerqÌ„ peccat homo ê‘ hec torquentur By the thynge that a man synneth by that shall he be tormented to th ende that he haue euermore remours in his conscyence that yll that he endureth is gyuen vnto hym for his proper synnes Vnde Ysaye vltimo it Marci ix Vermis eorum s morsus coÌ„scienti non moritur ignis noÌ„ extinguitur ¶ Another Example howe a Myller was borne to se the tormentes of hell and after was brought agayne in to his bodye MEn fynde by wrytynge this the whiche foloweth howe the discyple recyteth in his promptuary and sayeth that as a man preached of the crosse a carle vseret bought agayne a vowe for money that he had made vnto the sepulcre of IherusaleÌ„ And yode vnto the dyspensatour fraudelently / and gaue vnto hym for his sayde vowe an hondred shyllynges as he myght well gyue xlviii li. without dysherytynge his chyldren And as this sayde carle sat at the tauerneâ— he sayde vnto the other the whiche had made of vowes Ye fooles shal passe the see in peryll of your lyues and shall dyspende your substaunce / I haue boughte my vowe for fyue pounde / saued my lyfe and dwell sure in my house And also I shall haue semblable rewarde as you And in a nyght as he was in his bedde with his wyfe he herde in his mylle mouynge tempeste In lykewyse as the wheles gryndynge And he sayde vnto his sone go se who is in the mylle He yode and retourned anone with great feare Of whoÌ„ the mayster demaunded what hast thou sene He answered I had so great feare at thee doore of the mylle / that I muste nedely come agayne And he sayde yf the deuyll were there yet shulde I go to se what it is ThaÌ„ he cast his vestymeÌ„t vpon his sholders and yode vnto the mylle / he was all naked but of the sayde vestyment He opened the dore loked within / and sawe two horses ryghte blacke / and a blacke man by them and saide vnto the carle host the lepe vpon this horse the whiche is broughte vnto the. That carle had fere ond the blackeman sayde vnto hym / what taryest thou / caste awaye the vestyment and come / there was on the vestyment a crosse He was dyspeyred al the voyce and callynge of the deuyll kest alwaye his vestyment and lepte vpon the horse And the blacke man lepte vpon the other horse / and they were led incontynente in dyuerâ— places of paynes In the which the accursed sawe his father and his mother And many other that he had knoweÌ„ And he sawe a knyght named Helye of the castell Horst the whiche was mounted vpon a cowes backe towardes the hornes The whiche Cowe ranne on the one syde and on the other and tormented horrybly the sayde knyght in strykynge hym with her hornes on the backe And the catle hym demaunded wherfore he susteyned suche payne / and he answered I haue rauysshed this Cowe and taken away from a woman wydowe without mercy And therfore she me tormenteth without mercy Afterwarde there was shewed vnto the sayde carle a sege of fyre and it was sayde vnto hym Thou shalte returne euen nowe in to thy house And after thre dayes thou shalt come agayne in to this place here / and thou shalte take thy rewarde in this syege After these wordes here the deuyll broughte hym agayne in to his myllt And he founde his wife and his housholde as halfe deed / vnto whom he tolde that / that he had sene And howe it hapened The Preest was called for to chere hym and to counsayll hym to confesse hym / and to haue contrycyon And he answered whaâ— profyte me these wordes here I ne maye repente me For I se that in vayne I shulde confesse me And I knowe that of necessyte it is to accomplysshe in me that the whiche is dysposed and the accursed dyed so without receyuynge the sacramentes of the churche c. ¶ Another Example that a knyght dyed / and after wos brought agayne into his body / the whiche recompted of a brydge ryght strayte vpon a water by the whiche hym behoueth to passe IT is wryten in the Dyalogue of saynt Gregory that a knight dyed within a lytel after came agayne into his body the which tolde that he had sene a brydge vnder the whiche brydge ranne a water stynkynge and darke And on the other syde of the brydge there was medowes smellynge swete and adourned with all floures And in those medowes were assembled of people clothed in whyte the whiche were fulfylled of swetenes and odours of the sayde floures And at the sayde brydge there was such probacyon that whan any of the vniuste there passed he fel in to the blacke water stynkynge / and the iuste passed tyll vnto the place delectable And the sayde knyght sawe there without the brydge a man named peter bouÌ„de with great weight of yron And he demaunded wherfore he suffred suche payne Answere was gyuen that whan men gaue hym anye for to do vengeaunce he desyred it more to do by cruelte than by obedyence Also the sayde knyght sayde that he sawe a pylgrym the which passed
vpoÌ„ the brydge all ouer of also great auctoryte as he had lyued in the worlde clenely And he sawe another named steuen the whiche as he passed the sayde brydge his fote stode in such wyse that he than fell of the sayde brydge in lyke as halfe And thaÌ„ some meÌ„ ryght blacke lyfte them vp from the sayde water the which drewe hym downewarde by the thyes And some men ryght fayre clothed in whyte toke hym by the armes and they drewe hym vpwarde / as this stryfe was the sayde knyght was put agayne in to his bodye And he ne knewe which of them shulde vanquysshe / but saynte Gregorye sayeth that it is to vnderstande that the ylles that he had done stroue agayne the almesdedes And by the other the whiche drewe hym downewarde appered that he had not parfytely resysted vnto the synÌ„es of the flesshe This Example ought to drawe all persones to lyue clenely / purely / holyly to th ende that they may passe the saide brydge vnto the place delectable without fallynge in to the torment beforesaide And the synners shuld also correct theÌ„ of yll to do penauÌ„ce / or they shall fall of the sayde brydge in to the sayde water / wherin they shall be punysshed ¶ Another ExaÌ„ple of the vysyon of Tongdalus the whiche suffred many paynes in purgatory and sawe of the tormentes of helle and after was brought agayne in to his body IN the yeres of our Lord a thousand xlix There was a maÌ„ named ToÌ„gdalus in a Cytie of the lande of Irlande This sayde Tongdalus was noble of lynage / a fayre man yong of age / curleys of all goodnes and of great honour He was great and ryght appert of the arte of chyualrye Also he was well spekynge / and good in dysportyng / of as moch more as he trusted in his beautye and his force of as moche the lesse was it vnto hym of the helth of his soule And yf any man sayde any thynge to hym for the helth of his soule he was greued with hym / he despyted the holy church / he ne daygned to beholde the poores in theyr indygence / Moreouer he gaue that that was in his palayes for to haue the prayse of the worlde and many he had of frendes and of companyons And it came one daye that he satte at table with one of his companyons for to eat And incontynent that he had taken of the meat he dyed of death sodayne and the body fell vnto the earthe / In lyke wyse as it neuer had had soule The seruauntes ranne vnto hym / the meate was taken awaye / wepynges / and lameÌ„tacyons were made / men range the belles The people was moche ameruayled of the deth the whiche had taken this noble man so sodaynely He dyed the wednesdaye about the houre of noone And from that houre tyll vnto the saterdaye at noone he abode so the body withoute buryenge for that that in the lefts partye he had a lytell of hete And on the saterdaye at noone the soule came agayne vnto the body And so by the space of an houre he behelde those the which were by him / vnto whom he made a token that he shuld haue the body of god And after that he had receyued it he began to prayse god to yelde vnto hym graces and sayd Syr all puyssauÌ„t more great is thy mercy than all my synnes And afterwarde sayde this worde the whiche is wryten in the Psalter That is to saye How many trybulacyons and ylles hast thou shewed vnto me / and I beynge conuerted thou hast quyckened me And hast brought me agayne from the depnesse of the earth And incontynent that he had spoken those wordes he departed / and gaue vnto the poores the that he had / and promysed aboue all thynges to loue the lyfe that he had before ledde / and all that he had sene and suffred he recompted it vnto vs and sayde whan my soule yssued out of my body she knewe and sawe the synnes that she had done And so began she to doubte But she knewe not what it was that she shulde do And she wolde rentre within my body / but she myght not But she ne durst go out / for she dredde her synnes of al partes / and she ne had truste in no thynge but vnto the great mercy of god And so began to wepe and to tremble / and she knewe not what she shulde do / and anone after / she sawe come vnto her so great nombre and multytude of deuylles that all the house stretes and place of the Cytie were full the whiche enuyroÌ„ned her on all partes / the whiche deuylles sayde Synge we vnto this soule the songe of deth / that we vnto her shulde synge / for she is the doughter of the deth pardurable and the vyande of the fyre extynguyble enemy of the lyght and frende of darkenesses And afterwarde and agayne her they grynÌ„ed wheted theyr teeth sayd vnto her Vnhappy soule here is the people that thou haste chosen with whoÌ„ thou shalt entre in to hell in parburaâ—ylyte Thou haste ben a nouryce of sclaundre / a louer oâ— dyscorde that we loue wherfore art thou not proude / wherfore ne knowest thou not thy lecherye / where is thy vanyte and vayne gladnes / where ben thy laughynges ryghte vnteÌ„pred / where is thy face wherin thou trustedest so moche wherfore ne shyttest thou not the eye / wherfore ne tryppest thou with thy fote wherfore ne thynkest thou the great malyce that thou were wonte to do in vanytyes and synÌ„es And as these foresayde deuylles sayde these wordes I loked towarde the heauen and sawe a ferre of a lyght dyscended in lyke wyse as it had ben a sterre ryght clere and shynynge In the whiche I had esperaunce that there was some ayde that god sente vnto me And as it approched vnto me I apperceyued well that it was the Aungell of god the whiche had kepte me in this worlde And whan he approched vnto me he also greted me swetely and sayde God the salue Tongdalus ¶ And whan I sawe so fayre a yonge man the which greted me so swetely by my proper name by great Ioye I answered Alas my Lorde the doloures of hel hath beset me about And the panges of death hath occupyed me / as it is wryten Dolores inferni ciâ—cumdederunt me preoccupauerunt me la quci mortis And the AuÌ„gel aunswered Thou callest me nowe lorde I haue be euermore with toe / but iudge thou not that I were dygne of such great honoure The soule answered Syr I neuer se the before And the Aungell sayde From the houre that thou were borne I haue euermore be with the in all places where thou were And thou ne woldest neuer beleue my couÌ„sayll Than the Aungell lyfte vp his handes amonges the deuyls shewed vnto hym one the which dyd vnto hym worse than the other and sayde vnto hym that is he
had made al these thinges to be done to the sayde cursed soule he sayde agayne vnto the saide deuylles The custom of this maÌ„ was that after his tornementes that he vsed baynes / after his baines that he was layde in his bed and by hym a tendre mayden the whiche he enbraced and with her medled / appropre hym semblable thynges And without taryenge the sayde soule was moche tormented bayned in a bayne of fyre / and afterwarde layde in a bed of fyre brynnynge and fast by hym a tode of the greatnes of the bed the whiche was so horryble had so terryble eyen that of the enbracynge and of the touchynge of the â—yssynge that the sayde tode made and of the horryble lokes he was more brente and tourmented than he ne had be before of the sayde armoures / of the bayne / and of the bed Alas what paynes haue those the whiche in suche wyse ben tormented That blyssed won an that sawe by the dyspensacyon of God the thynges beforesayde vnto the Soule of her sayde Husbande was so moche tourmented that meruayle it was all thee dayes of her fyfe of the recordacyon of the vysyon before rehersed of her Husbande ¶ Another Example howe a sâ—â—uaunt sawe his mayster the whiche was ledde in to paynes MEn fynde by wrytyng this the whiche foloweth howe the dyscyple recyteth in his promptuary and saith that there was a noble man oppressour and persecutoure of poore people and loued thee worlde The which as he rested hym iÌ„ his bed his seruauÌ„t the which lay before his chambre was rauysshed by vycion before thee throne of god And there sawe his sayde mayster that was accused of all the thynges that hee had done / and for them sentence of dampnacyon was gyuen and was ledde of deuylleâ— before Lucyfer with great daunsynge Vnto whom Lucyfer sayd Approche vnto me myne owne faythfull seruauÌ„te that I may kysse hym And whan he was before hym Lucyfer sayde peas be not with the in eternyte Agayne Lucyfer sayde He hadde of custome to bathe hym / lâ—be hym to the vayne Than was he bayned of a bayne infernall and moche tormented with the nailes of the deuyls / and some leest fyre vpon hym After he was layde in a bedde infernall And Lucyfer coÌ„mauÌ„ded that after the vaine men shulde giue hym to drynke iÌ„ the chalyce of the yre of god And he was constrayned to drynke of fyre sulphre molton to gyders And as he cryed it suffysed Lucyfer sayde He had of custom to here symphonyes So there arose vp ii symphonyatours the whiche were two deuylles with InstrumeÌ„tes full of fyre the which blew agaynste hym in suche maner that from his eyen and his mouth fro his nose the flambes of fyre yode oute After Lucyfer made hym to be brought and sayde to hym Thou hast songe of songes singe me one he saide What shall I synge / but that cursed bee the day that I was borne And Lucyfer sayde vnto hym Syng a better songe And he answered What shal I synge / but cursed be the father that begate me And Lucyfer sayd vnto hym / synge yet a better And the accursed sayde / but that cursed be that god the whiche hath suffred that I was borne vpoÌ„ the earth vnto this purpose sayeth the psalmyst Non mortui landabuÌ„t te dnÌ„e neque oeÌ„s qui descendunt in infernum And Lucyfer sayde / here in the songe that I wolde haue / lede hym vnto the place that he hathe deserued And he was caste in to a pytte of fyre Than the deuylles made so great dauÌ„synge that it semed that all shulde fall And at the sayde dauÌ„synge the seruaunt of the sayd man awoke The whiche ranne vnto the chambre of his sayde mayster and founde hym deed Than he tolde the sayde vysyon c. ¶ Another Example of a scoler of Parys the whiche appered vnto his mayster after his death in great tormentes IT is wryten in the legende of the deed that one of the maysters of Parys named Scilo prayed ryght greatly his scoter that yf he dyed that he wolde appere vnto hym after his death for to denounce vnto hym of his estate yf it pleased vnto God And one tyme after he appered / the whiche was clothed with a cloke of parchemente all wryten without forth of sophyms / and within enflombed with fyre / and the sayde mayster demaunded hym what he was He answered I am he the whiche hath promysed to come agayne vnto the he was axed of his estate he saide This cloke weyeth more on me than a great towre / the whiche is gyuen me to bere for the vaynglorye that I toke in the argumentes / of sophystrye / that is to saye fullacyons And the slambe of fyre the whiche brynneth me is gyuen for the furtes delycyousses that I wore And as the saide mayster sayde that suche payne was lyghte to bere The deade bodye sayde vnto hym that he shulde stretche oute his hande and that he shulde fâ—le the lightnes of his payne And whan he hadde stretched oute his hande the sayde deade bodye lette fall a droppe of his swete the whiche perced the sayde hande more sooner than shulde do an arowe / and sayde vnto hym I 〈◊〉 all suche And the sayde mayster felte so horryble tourmente that he was so ferde that hee fâ—fte the worlde and entred in to relygyon In lyke wyse aâ—telleth the chaunter of parye c. ¶ Another Example of the Soule dampned that wept the tyme that he had loste IT is wryten in the booke of drede that as a holy man was in oraison he herd by the wyl of god a voyce horryble wepyng He demaunded who it was that in suche wyse wepte Answere was made the whiche sayde I am a soule dampned And he demaunded wherfore wepest thou so bytterly He answered and sayde that one of the thynges wherfore he and all the dampned sorowe moost for is that that they haue lofte and coÌ„sumed the tyme of grace vnprofytablye in synnynge / wherein an houre by repentauÌ„ce they myght haue gotten grace escaped the tormentes wherin they be and shall be eternally By this example these synners shulde vnderstande that it is the most great good dede that may be in them as to be in the estate of grace well confessed / repentaunce of theyr synnes Also by that that this soule wept in hell is vnto the purpose of that that the EuaÌ„gylles saye that the dampned wepe in Hell Vnde Mathei viii Et luce xiiii Ibi erit fletus et stridor dentium Vnto this purpose tongdalus the whiche sawe the tormentes of hell afterwarde was brought agayne tolde that he sawe in hell a torment of an yzye ponde where the soules the whiche therin were tormented cryed so horryble that they were herde vnto heuen And after where the sayd tongdalus spake of the pytte of hell he herde great cryes howlynges of soules and thondre so horryble that
the which couÌ„sayled the which thou beleued dyd his wyl / but be thou sure that thou shalt haue the mercy of god / and thou shalt suffre a lytell or tormentes that thou haste deserued Come thou after me that the I shal shewe that so kepe thou it put thou it in thy memory / for thou shalt returne agayne within thy body Whan the soule had herde this she was moche ferefull she approched vnto the Aungell whan the deuylles herde this worde they were madde For they sawe that they ne had of puyssauÌ„ e to do yll vnto the soule and blasphemed god in sayenge that he was not ryghtfull / for he yelded not vnto euery man after his deâ—â—â—â— And of the great woodnes wherof they were full they beteche other And they departed from thene sory and heuy as inraged Than the AuÌ„gell sayde vnto the sayd soule Come after me A syr thou goest before / these deuylles shall take me behynde and shall lede me in to hell The Aungell answered Haue thou no fere for we haue more great ayde thaÌ„ they ne haue Sideus pro nobis quis contra nos Yf god be for vs there is none that may noye vs. It is wryten by the prohete Dauid Cadent a latere tuo mille et decem millia a dexteris tuis ad te autem non appropinquabit VeruÌ„tamen oculis tuis considerabis et retributioneÌ„ peccatoruÌ„ videbis That is to saye a thousande shall fall on the lefte syde / and ten thousande on thy ryght syde Certaynely they shal not approche vnto the. Albeit thou shalt consydre by thyne eyes and thou shalle se the retrybucyon of thy synnes And whan he had sayde these wordes they yode forth ¶ Of the valey WHan they were gone longely togythers by so geeat darkenesse that they had no lyghte / but that the whiche praceded of the Aungell / they came in to a valey moche horryble / the whiche was ryght depe and full of brynÌ„ynge coles And about that 〈◊〉 there was a couerynge of yron breÌ„nynge of thyckenes syxt fadome the whiche was more hote than that whiche brent vnderneth From thens yssued so great stenche the whiche greued more the soule than all that that he had before suffced Aboue the sayde couerynge dyscended many chetyues soules the whiche there were fryed as a man fryeth bacon in the panne And afterwarde they were strayned thorowe the couerynge as waxe fell dyscended in to the welle of the sayd valey / vpon the brynnynge coles where they were tormented of a newe torment / thus sayd the AuÌ„gell This payne suffreth those the which haue kylled fathers or mothers / or other people by delyberacyon or dede And after this torment they shal beled into more great / but thou ne shalt suffre this sayde torment albeit that thou haste well deserued it ¶ Of the beest horryble AFter they entred in to a way moch horryble croked harde And whan they had longe gone in darkenes / the soule sawe a ferre a beest moche horryble and ferefull of the greatnes incredyble / more great than all the mountaynes that he had before sene She had the eyen as great fyres breÌ„nynge / and had the mouthe so greate that it semed vnto hym that there myght well entre x. M. men of armes / there yssued out of his mouth fyre inextynguyble / stynke incomparable Great multytude of soules entred by the mouthe in to the wombe of the sayde beest the whiche soules cryed horrybly of tormentes that they were in â–ª And before the sayde beest there was great multytude of deuylles the which bette tormented the sayde soules and after put theÌ„ within the sayde beest And whan the soule had longe beholden the sayde beest she was moche ferefull and sayde to the AuÌ„gel Syr wherfore approche we vnto this torment The Aungell answered we maye not go by other waye / for none escapeth this tormeÌ„t but those the god hath choseÌ„ to be in his company This beest that thou seest is called Acherons the whiche tourmenteth all the auarycyous Of this beest it is wryten Absorbebit fluuium et noÌ„ mirabitur / et habet fidutiam ê™ influat Iordanis in os eius That is to say He shall swalowe a streme or water and it shall be no meruayle / and also haue affyâ—unce that the wâ—ter of Iordan ronneth yet throughe her month And whan they had spoken this they came before the sayde beest and the Aungell departed and lefte the soule amonge the deuylles And incontynente the deuylles besette her about and there tormented her with great tourmentes as woode dogges And afterwarde they fedde her with theÌ„ in to the wombe of thesayde beest Therin she suffred many bytynges of dogges / of beres / of lyons / of serpentes / of other beestes that she had neuer sene ne knowen before / there had of great tormentes of deuylles / brennynge of fyre / sharpenes of sulphre / darkenes / woundes to plundge / to crye / and great haboundaunce of dysease and of trybulacyon There was the sayde soule accused of her synnes that she had coÌ„mytted And for the great heauynes wherof she was full she strake her seffe on the chekes tare them with the nayles of her owne handes / wende there to be daÌ„pned pardurably / anone she founde her selfe out of the sayde beest / but she wyst not howe she came out and she was layde ferre of moche feble Afterwarde within a whyle of time she opened her eyen and sawe her Aungell by her Than had she great Ioye albeit that she was moche tormented began to gyue praysynges vnto our lorde of his mercy And the Aungell touched her and comforted her c. ¶ Of the ouen with the flambes ¶ Afterwarde they yode another waye / and whan they were gone longely by darkenes / they sawe an house moche hyghe the whiche was rounde as an ouen In the sayde house there was wel a thousande wyndowes / from the whiche yssued fyre / stronge / sharpe / moche hote whan the soule sawe the sayd house she had great fere and sayde vnto the Aungell A syr we approche to the gates of deth Alas caytyfe who shall delyuer me fro this torment The Aungell answered From the fyre the whiche yssueth out by these wyndowes thou shalte be delyuered / but in to the house it behoueth to entre whan they were approched they sawe within the sayde house in the middes of the fyre great multitude of deuyls the which helde axes / knyues / hachettes / and othee Instrumentes of yron sharpe for to tormente the soules that were there of the whiche soules there was great multytude Than sayde the soule vnto the Aungell Syr I pray the yf it please the that thou delyuer me fro this torment / and in all the other where thou shalt sede me I graunte me to be there tormented And the Aungell sayde This torment is greater than all those that thou hast
the whiche were there tyll that they came â—â—to nothynge And whan they wâ—re so brente and tourmented they toke tâ—e sayde soules with theyr Instrumentes of yron .xx. an hondred or two hondred and layde them on a hâ—pe vpoÌ„ an anuelde of yron and the deuylles the whiche were in other forges sayde Cast vnto vs these caytyues soulâ—s we shall yet torment them agayne Than the dâ—uâ—ls kest them vnto them agayne the whiche were in the other forges And after that they had ben there strongly payned and tourmented they kest them vyolently vnto those of the fyrste forges And before that they came to the grouÌ„de they were taken agayne and so they kest them froÌ„ one vnto an other and tormented tyll vnto that / that the skynnes / the flesshe / and the bones came as vnto nothynge Of this matter is wryten ProuerbioruÌ„ ix Parata sunt derisoribus supplicia / et mallei percutientes stultorum corporibus After that the caytyues soules were so tormeÌ„ted aâ— it is sayde they desyred the deth but they might not dye Vnto this purpose it is wryten Apocalipsis ix In diebus illis querent homines mortem et non inuenient eam / et desiderabuÌ„t mori et more fugiet ab eis And whan the sayde soule had suffred longely these tormentes the Aungell came vnto her and toke her and had her out of the fyre where she was / sayde vnto her Howe felest thou thy selfe nowe Remembre the that for as moch as thou hast done thy wyl the delyte of thy body thou hast suffred so great tormeÌ„tes But the soule had not so moche force that she myght answere one worde for the great torment that she had suffred Than the Aungel sayde vnto the soule Illud psalmi Dominus mortificat et viuificat deducit ad inferos et reducit Comfortethe / for our lorde quyckeneth mortyfyeth / ledeth in to helles bryngeth agayne And albeit that the tormentes that thou hast sene ben moche great yet shalt thou se moche more greater from the whiche thou shalte be delyuered by the mercy of god And know thou that all those soules that thou hast sene here abydeth the Iudgement of God But those the whiche thou shalte se from hensforth ben all redy Iudged Gowe nowe forwarde for thou art not yet comen vnto the paynes of hell And the Aungell touched her and heled as he had ben accustomed for to do c. ¶ Of the pytte of Hell ¶ After that they entred in to a waye / and whan they were a lytell gone forwarde in spekynge one vnto the other there came to the soule sodayne horrour and colde intollerable and stynke and darkenes more thycker than those before / trybulacyon and anguysshe so great that it semed vnto the soule that all the foundementes of the earth trembled vnder her fete sayde vnto the Aungell Syr wherfore is it that I ne may holde me on my fete as I haue accustomed to do And whan she had sayde this she ne myght remene from the place for the great feare that she had / and incontynent the Aungell departed in suche maner that she myght no more se hym / and forthwith she began to dyspayre For she fouÌ„de that the whiche is wryten Ecclesiastes ix Nec opus / nec ratio / nec sapientia / nec scientia erunt apud inferos que tu ê‘peras That is to say that in hell there ne is operacion / ne reason / ne wysdom / ne coÌ„nynge wherby man may ayde hym The caytyne soule was in lykewyse / for she myght not helpe herselfe / the whiche herde terryble cryes and howlynges of soules / and thondre so horryble that no man may thynke it ne tonge declare the horryble crye end the noyse that there was Vnto this purpose God speaketh in the Gospell Illud Mathe. xxii .xxiii. Ibi erit fletus fâ—râ—dordentium Than the soule loked about her for to knowe yf she myght se the way wherby they were comen / and she sawe a great square dytche in lykewyse as a cysterne And from that dytche yssued out a pyller of flambe and of smoke togythers moche horryble stynkynge And the pyller of fyrs was so hyghe that it stretched vnto the heauens And in the fâ—aÌ„be there was great multytude of soules and of deuylles togythers the whiche mounted with the sayde flambe in hyghe in lyke wyse as lytell flambes And of tormentes the whiche they suffred they came as vnto nothynge after that they fell agayne in to the dyâ—che tyl vnto the botom Vnto the purpose of this saieth the Psalmyste Tu vero reduces me in puteum interitus And whan the soule had beholden this she wolde haue drawen her a backe / but she ne myght lyfte her fete froÌ„ the grouÌ„de And whan she had assayed many tymes to remoue her and that she myght not she was moche ferefull / and of the great woodnes that she had she tare and rent her chekes with her owne handes and nayses cryed Alas caytyue wherfore may not I dye And the deuylles the which mounted with the sayde flambe herde the sayd soule in such wyse crye so they beset her about with theyr Instrumentes of yron wherwith they tormeÌ„ted the soules and sayde in this wyse Caytyue soule worthy of payne and torment from whens art thou comen hyther / thou ne hast yet nothynge felte ne suffred / thou shalt endure nowe that that thou art worthy by the sinnes that thou hast coÌ„mytted From the whiche torment thou ne mayest neuer departe ne within it dye / but euermore thou shalt lyue and brenne in tormeÌ„t without lyght / comfort ne helpe And from nowe forth thou ne mayst haue mercy For thou art comen vnto the gates of death / and thou shalt be borne streyght in to the tormentes of hell He that hath brought the hyther hath deceyued the / nowe let hym delyuer the from our handes yf he can / for thou shalt se hym no more And they sayde the one vnto the other wherfore tary we so longe that we ne gyue this soule vnto Lucyfer for to deuoure it / and so they thretened it of death perdurable And these deuylles abouesayde were blacke as coles with horrible lobes theyr eyen were as the laÌ„pes breÌ„nynge And theyr teeth as whyte as the snowe / and they had tayles lyke as scorpyons / and theyr clawes of yron and great large wynges And whan they had sayd these wordes the holy Aungell appered vnto the sayd soule and sayd to her Enioy ye doughter of lyght for thou shalt haue mercy and not Iudgement Thou shalt se of great tormentes and paynes / but thou shalt suffre none Come thaÌ„ after me I shal shewe vnto the / the ryght cursed enyemye of humayne lygnage Those the whiche ben there haue no lyght / they shall not se the / but thou shalt se them well and theyr tormentes ¶ Of the Prynces of darkenes and of theyr cursed