greate contrycion he passyd out of thys worlde to our lord Ihesu cryste ¶ O fader of endeles mercy how mercy able ben thy werkes and how profounde ben thyn prouydence whos gracyous werk is ben vnscrutable vnto man thou suffredest that man to be hardyd in hys synnes vnto the laste ende femyng that thou haddest none torce of hym But yet at the laste thou prouydest for his helthe thin seruaunt came to hym for to stere hym to grace And yet al her couÌ„seylles myght not auayle to the meke prayers of thy meke mayde thou condescendyst mekely and mercyabyly And who gaue her that boldenes of herte but thou who gaue her fyre of compassyon in herte for her brother but thou who gaue her the meke teres that bowed to thy mercy tre wely none but thou Thou aryssydyst vp to thy spouse that she sholde bowe the to her Lord thyse ben thy werkes that gloryfyest thyn saintes What is he that wyll not be coplued to the in loue seyng thy mercy soo plentuous â–ª Loo maydens what mercy our lorde shewed for meke teres yet shall I telle you a merueylous myracle ¶ It befyll also another tyme in the same Cyte of Seene that there were two famous thefes and ryght peryllous the whiche were take and brought byfore a temporall Juge for to bee dampned to the payne for the mysdedes and soo thei were put to a cruell tourmente that was called the tourmente of the hote yron and that was in this wyse They were put in a Carte and tourmentours were redy wyth hote yrous for to breune them now in one place now in another of her body And therto the thefes were soo obstynat that neyther in pryson ne out of pryson there myght none creature stere them to be shryue take penaunce for her trespaas And as they were ledde by the cyte for to make other aferd they blasphemed god all his saintis and specyally whan they felte brennynge they cursed the magnyfycence of our lorde soo as it semed by thei payne of that temperall fyre that the drewe faste to the endeles fyre Thenne oure lorde Ihesu of his endeles goodnes the whiche wold none body were dampned but all saued he thought he wolde lete tho wretched sowlis by medyacion of his spouse katheryn out of dampnacion soo that by the ordenaunce of hym that this hooly mayde for her more quyete was that same daye in her felawes hous whom she loued vertuously the whiche was Alixa whos hous stood by the same waye where that this dampned wretches shold passe by Sondenly on the morowe Alyxa herde a merueylous voyce comyng by her hous wyth that she loked out of the wyndowe and sawe all a fyre two men the whiche were dampned to the hote yrens thenne she wente in agayne tolde this holy mayde and sayde O yren Whan this holy mayde herde this she wente to the wyndowe and loked and tourned in agayn to her prayers she sawe as she sayde afterward to mayster Reymound her confes sour a grete multytude of wycked spirytes aboute theym that brennyd her sowles wythin moche more than the tourmentours dyde the body wythout And therfore she was stered with double compassyon for to praye for them to our lord for to helpe the wretched sowles out of payne seyeng thus Ha ha mekest lord Ihesu why settest thou soo lytyl by thy creatures whom thou madest to thyn lykenesse And boughtest wyth thy precious blood that aboue all her bodely torment thou suffrest theym to be cruelly tormentyd of spyrytes wythinforth in her sowles whan thou illumynyst soo graciously that theef that henge on the ryght syde al be it that he toke his tourment of the crosse wurthely as he hadde deserued that he knowleched the very god and maÌ„ in all his tourmente where in the appostles were in doubte wherfore he deserued for to here thyn blessyd voyce whan thou saydest thus Hodie mecum eris in paradiso That is â–ª to daye thou shalt be wyth me in paradyse why dedyst thou this lorde â–ª trewely for nothynge ellys but for thou woldest graunte forgyfnes to suche as were lyke to hym thou despysyd not mary magdalene that grete synner but thou drewest her to the graciously Thou puttest not fro the puplycane ne the woman of Cananye ne the prince of pupplycanis zacher But rather thou calledest theym to the therfore by all thy mercies I beseche the that thou helpe mercyabyly the soules of the synners that been now lad to tourment Thenne oure lorde bowed his mercy to the wretches grauÌ„t this holy maide suche graâ—e that she wente wyth theym in spyryte wepyng and weylyng for to stere theym the sonner to repentaunce whan the fendes sawe that they cryed alowde vppon her and sayde katheryne but yf thou wylt leue of thyn ghostely besynes in prayng for thyse meÌ„ we sholde soo werke agaynste the that thou shalt trauayle wyth a wycked spyryte To whom she answerd again what that that god wyll I wyll and therfore I shal not leue of that I haue bygonne whan thyse wretches were outward att the gates of the Cyte our lord Ihesu cryst appyred to theym wyth his blyssyd blody woundes steryng theym to be tournyd therto byhete theym forgyfnes and soo they been of dyuyne light entryd in to her hertes and they asked apreste wyth grete instaunce for to beshryue and after tyme they were shryuen They turnyd there blasphemynge in to praysyng of our lord euer accusyng theym selfe seyeng that they were wurthy tho paynes and more gretter paynes and soo wyth grete gladnes they went to her deth as they hadde gon to a grete feste This consyderyd all tho that stode about merueylyng gretely of that changynge perceyuyng euermore in grete deuocioÌ„ of the tourmeÌ„tours that they durst nomore brenne theÌ„ where they thanked our lord of his grete mercy For there was none that knewe how and in what wise and bi whos prayers this mercy was gyuen ¶ Neuertheles a deuout preste the whiche her confessour commaund afterward wyth this holy maydes confessour merueylynge of the grete mercy of god that so soone tourned theym to grace ThenÌ„e her confessour asked afterward Alixa this holy maydes felawe how thys holy mayde was occupyed whan the man were ledde to the deth Thenne Alixa tolde hym all the processe as it is sayd afore he founde well by record of her that the same hour katherin lefte her prayer tho meÌ„ dyed and passed out of thys world the whiche he knewe more perfyghtly afterward bi preuy reuelacion of the same holy mayde ¶ After yet certen dayes after they were passey some of her felawes herd her saye wyth a full voyce in time of her prayer thyse wordes lord Ihesu I thanke the that thou hast delyuerd theym out of the second prisoÌ„ it was asked her afterward what she ment therby She sayd that the sowles of the theefes ben restored to paradyse For albe it they went to purgatory after tyme they passed yet
the deuelys poure by your prayers helpe him also defende hym from his aduersaryes Thenne she sayde to mayster Reymond why be ye sory for him for whome ye sholde be gladde Now be ye seker that our lord spareth him wyll relesse hym from endeles payne by that temporall payne Fyrst whan he was in the worlde the worlde loued that was hys And now he is passyd out of the worlde the worlde begynneth to hate hym Fyrst our lord reserued for him endeles payne but now of hys mercy he hath chaunged hys endeles payne in to temporall payne And of hys desperacyon be thou noo thynge in doubte for he that hath delyuered hym of helle wyll delyuer hym gracyously out of thys peryll and as she sayde soo it was For wythin a whyle after he was delyuered out of pryson though he hadde grete losse of hys temporall goodys where of thys holy mayde was no thyng sory but was ioyefull and sayde that our lord of hys mercy hath do awaye fro hym the poyson that he was poysoned wyth And at the last he had so many trybulacyons and hys deuocyon encrecyd so moche that he gaf to this holy mayde a fayre paleys of his vnder his letter and seale that was two myle wythout the Cyte Of the whiche paleys she sholde make a monastery of sustres of penaunce Thenne this holy mayde by specyall lycence and auctoryte of hyr holy fader the pope Gregory the xj made there a monasterye in the worshyp of our lady to all hyr ghostly doughters and called the monasterye the monasterye of our lady And Nannes that man the whyche this holy mayde conuerted was gouerned ghoostly by mayster Reymond and lyued after a blyssed lyf Abouen all these maters yf I wolde reherce all the conuersyons of euell lyuers all the roburacyons and the strengthes of seek folke All the comfortes of desolate folke or them that were in trybulacyons all the exortacyons of them that were in ghoostly perellys the whiche our lorde hath meruayllously wrought by hys spouse this holy made I myght make many grete bokes Who coude telle how many wretched synfull lyuers she hath delyuered out of the fendes bondys How many obstynate folke she hath brought ageyne to theyr owne knowleche How many she had made forsake and despysed the worlde And how many tempted folk in fonle synnes she hath delyuerd out of the fendes daunger by hyr prayers and doctrynes Neuerthelesse ye shall saye as saynt Jerome sayd comendyng our lady I myght say that yf all the membrys and lym̄ys of my body were torned in to tongues they sholde not suffyce for to tell all the fruyte of soules that this holy mayde hath purposed to heuen by the helpe of almyghty god mayster Reymond bereth this trewe recorde that he sawe a thousand or moo bothe of men and wymmen comyng doun fro the mounteynes and other vyllages longyng to the shyre of the Cyte of Sene comyng for to see and here this holy mayde as though they hadde be called by an Inuysyble trompe the whiche not onely by hyr wordes but also by hyr lokyng were styred to compunccyon for to be confessyd of all theyr synnes wyth grete contricyon so theyr went two confessours of whome mayster Reymond was one as he seyth hym self and they confessyd hyr synnes wyth so grete contrycion that eche man myght well knowe that there was grace gyuen of god in her hertes that was not onys ne twyes but oftymes Wherfore the forsayd Pope Gregorye that was that tyme hadde soo grete ioye and delyte of the wynnyng of soo many soules that he graūted by bull to mayster Reymond and to hys felawes that all thoo the whiche wolde come and vysyte this holy mayde and after desyren for to be shreuen they sholde here them assoylle them as moche as the bysshop of the dyocyes myght do Therfore mayster Reymond bereth recorde and seyth that there came many synfull wretches to hym and to hys felawes the whiche were neuer shreuen a fore of the synnes the whiche they were shreuen to hym and to them And they stode ofte tymes fastyng fro the morow tyll euen by cause of grete concours of people and yet they myght not suffyce for to here all that wold be shryuen All that tyme this holy mayde prayed and thanked our lord ioyefully that the fende hadde loste hys prayer There is no penne that can expresse the ioye of hir herte that she had that tyme of wynnyng of soules Thus moche is rehersed in this chapytre of the ghostly meruayllous thynges that our lord wrought by hys spouse This holy mayde Katheryne aboute the helthe of mannes soules ¶ Now shall I tell you in the next chapytre what god wrought for hyr aboute the helthe of bodyes so shall I make an ende of the next chapytre The wyttenesse that nedeth to be rehersed in the ende of this chapytre ben rehersed a fore in the same chapytre and that suffyceth ynough ¶ Of somme myracles done in hyr lyfe by hyr aboute the lyf and helthe of mennys bodyes Capitulum viij I Shall tell you maydens a wonder meruayllous thyng And yette it is lyght and esye to them Inough wyth whome is founde none vnpossybylyte Lapa this holy maydes moder was a womman of grete symptenesse and Innocencye Yet she hadde for that tyme lytell affeccyon to Inuysyble thynges And therfore she was sore aferde to dye and passe out of this worlde She caught a bodely sykenes and it encreced day by day more and more Whan this holy mayde this vnderstode She prayed to our lord deuoutely for hyr that he wold wouchesauf to socour hyr moder wyth helthe that brought hyr forth and nouryshed hyr She hadde an answer anone from heuen that it was beste for hyr for to passe now out of this worlde or thenne she haue more aduersytees that ben to come As soone as she wyste this she went to hyr moder and sayde to hyr wyttely suche swete wordes Moder yf our lord swete Ihesu wyll calle you to hym out of this worlde dyspose you to be confourmyd to his blyssed wyll and beth noo thyng sory ¶ Thenne the moder desyryng not for to deye prayed hyr doughter to praye for hyr that oure lorde wolde wouchesauf to graunte hyr bodely he le and speke nomore to hyr of hyr deth Thys holy mayde prayed thenne our lord hertely and feruentely that he wold wouchesauf take hir nought out of this worlde in to the tyme she knewe that hyr wylle were more confourmed to hys wyll ¶ Our lorde graunted hyr hyr axynge and suffred hyr moder to be seek for a tyme and not for to drawe to the passage of deth And thenne this holy mayde was made mene betwene god and hyr moder for to praye that one and exhorte that other Our lord she prayed that he wolde not take hyr ageynst hyr wyll And hyr moder she exorted and admonysshed wyth swete wordes that she sholde confourme hyr and consent to the
coÌ„sydere and vnderstonde that the boke was not endyted by none naturall kyndely wytte But only by the infusyon of the swete gloryous holy ghoste ne I doubte not that all tho the whiche bee vnderstondyng men and dylygently serche the sentences shall rede that boke and of that boke they shullen say the same that I saye After tyme she had made that boke oure holy fader pope vrbane the vj that knewe this holy mayde in auyoun and had grete deuoucion in her wordes and in her vertuous lyuyng sent to Mayster Reymound her confessour that he sholde stere her to come to Rme for to vysyte the sainâ—â—s that ben there Mayster Reymounde dyde soo but she was soo full of dyscrecion that she answerd agayn in this wyse Fader many of this Cyte of Sene and also of our owne susters by cause of mingoyng aboute hider and thyder â—en sklandred therby and seyn that it is not semely to a Relyous mayde for to go so aboute all be it I hope to oure gloryous lorde almyghty god that I haue not offedyd in myn goyng aboute For by obedyence of our gloryous lord almyghty god by his vycar in erther and for the helthe of soule I wente thyder that I went And therfore leest I ben to theym mater of sklander by myn own wyll I purpos not to remeue out of the Cyte ¶ Neuertheles yf the gloryous louely Crystis vicar wyll algatis that I come his wyll be done and not myn And therto I praye you goo to hym and praye him that he vouchesaf to sende me worde by you of his wyll that they the whiche ben so sklandred by min goyng aboute Now ye maye clerly knowe that I toke not that iorney vpon me by min own wyll Mayster Reymound wente and tolde to the pope all this mater he sente agayn by hym that she sholde come by the vertu of obedyens Thenne assone as she herd this comÌ„auÌ„dement as a trewe douhter of obediens she spedde her faste and came to Rome with a grete company both men wymÌ„en many moo wolde haue come had she not forbede theÌ„ â–ª Whan oure holy fader the pope saw her he was glad ioyeful he desyred that she shold seye somÌ„e word of exortacioÌ„ to the cardinalis that weren there present namely for the scisme the whiche began the same tyme And so she dyde full vertuously made eche of them stedfastly stronge wyth many swete wordes and sentences and counseylled them that they sholde not drede for nothynge notwythstondynge the scisme the whiche began but to stand myghtely and drede noman and procede forth in thynges that longen to our gloryous lord for he is mighty ynow to mayntene theym whan she had made an ende of her wordes our holy fader the pope was gladde and rehersed her wordes tournyng to hys Cardynales and sayde Loo brederen the more vnfeytfull we be the more reprouable we ben in the syght of our gloryous lorde almyghty god this woman hath shamed vs all she sholde rather be aferd thaÌ„ we by cause she is a woman yet in that we be aferde she is not aferde but conforted vs wyth her good counseyls Certen we ought all to be ashamed wherfor sholde our gloryous lord god Ihesus Crystus vicar be aferd â–ª Trewele though all the worlde were agaynst hym our gloryous lord god Ihesus cryste is myghtyer theÌ„ne it And it is not possyble that he wil forsake his chyrche wyth suche wordes many moo lyke thyse our holy fader the pope comforted the Cardinalis and commaunded this holy mayde in our gloryous lord god graunted her for her selfe and for her frendes many special graces Within a fewe dayes afterward it came to our hooly faders mynde that he sholde sende this holy mayde katheryne wyth a nother maide that was called katheryne and was one of the ghostely doughters of saint Brygytte of swethe the whiche saint Brygytte was canonysed by pope Bonefas the ix â–ª to dame Johan the quene of cycely that openly rebelled agaynst hooly chyrche and gaue greate fauour to Scismatykes that both two maydens the whiche were well knowen wyth the quene of Cycely sholde wythdrawe her from her errour Thenne this holy maide katheryn of Seene herde this she wolde in none wyse wythdrawe her fro this holy obedyens but oblysshed her self for to goon ¶ The other katheryn of swethe in noo wyse wolde take that iournaye vpon her but refused it in presence of mayster Reymound Thenne mayster Reymound bythought hym that the fame of holy maydens is ryght tendre and a lytyll â—â—otte of synne thought they be not gylty therin Is sklaunderous to theym Also he thought that she to whom thyse maidens sholde be sente myght by counseyll of her and many aboute her to lye awayte in the waye that thyse maydens sholde not come to her presens and soo to be letted off her purpos And also they maydens myght not escape wythout a grete sklander al be it they myght be gyltles thyse thoughtes Mayster Reyymound tolde our holy fader To whom our holy fader answerd and sayde thus thou seyst well mayster ReymouÌ„de It is better they goo not than goo After this tyme mayster Reymound wente tolde this to this holy mayde Anone she tourned her to Mayster Reymound and sayde thus wyth a myghty voyce Fader yf saint Agnes and saint Margarete and other maydens sholde haue thought thus they shold neuer haue had the crowne of martyrdome whether we haue not a spouse that can delyuer vs out of the hondes of wycked men kepe our clennesse amonges the fylthy companye of lecherous meyny all suche thoughtes ben but veyn thoughtes And come out rather of the defaute of lytyll feythe thenne of very wysdome All be it that Mayster Reymound was thus made ashamed of his imperfection yet he hadde a grete gladnes of her perfeccion consyderyng and nothynge in his herte the stedfastenesse and stabylnes of her faythe Neuertheles by cause that our holy fader had ordyned that tho two maydens sholde not go on that Journay he durste noo more meue to hym of the mater ¶ Loo maydens this is rehersed here by cause ye shold know how stedfastly this holy maydes foot was set in the feyth of perfeccioÌ„ ¶ Furthermore whan our holy tader had ordeyned that these maydens sholde nott go he ordeyned that mayster Reymonde sholde goo to Fraunce Supposyng that he myght torne kyng Charles out of hys errour by enbassatour bytwene but yere myght he not For the kynges herte was so enduratin malyce wolde not torne for he beganne to be auctor and begyÌ„ner of that scysme After tyme mayster Reymond knewe the wyll entent or our tader he came to aske counseyll of this holy mayde what were best for hym to do thenne all be it that she was lothe to wante hys presence yet she gaue hyÌ„ counâ—eylitor to obeye to the byddyng of oure holy fader And among all other thynges she sayde
the delyueraunce of them whiche were acombred and vexed wyth fendes C x ¶ Item of the yefte of prophecye And how by that yefte she delyuerd many meÌ„ and wymmen fro perylles bothe of body and of sowle C xj ¶ Item of myracles whiche oure lorde wrought by this holy mayde and vyrgyn in herbes breed and wyne And other thinges that hadde none lyf C xij Item of the ofte resceyuynge of the holy sacrament of the aulter And of myracles the whiche oure lorde dyde to hyr touching that holy sacrament and other holy relyques of saintes Ca xiij  HEre begynneth the thyrde parte wherin is rehersyd Capitulum j the deyeng of this holy mayde and vyrgyn myracles that were I shewed after her deth And fyrst of the wytnesses whiche were present at hyr passyng and enfourmed the auctur of this boke whiche and what they were Cap ij ¶ Item of the merueylous thynges whiche befyll a yere and half to fore the deth of this holy mayde and vyrgyn And of the martyrdome that she suffred bodely of the wycked fendes wherof at the laste she hadde her bodely dethe C iij ¶ Item how this holy mayde and vyrgyn desyred to be vnbounde from the body and be wyth cryst And that is preuyd by a deuoute prayer whiche she made And is put in the ende of another boke whiche she made and what is in that boke generally and shortely it is wryten in this boke wyth the same oryson c iiij ¶ Item of the time that she passed and whan she passed out of this worlde and of the sermoÌ„ whiche she made to her gostely dyscyples and susteren tofore her passyng And how she informed them in generall and in speciall how they shold gouerne theym whan she were goâ— And of a vysyon whiche was shewed to a matrone in the houre of her passyng Ca v ¶ Item of tokens and myracles whiche oure lorde wrought after hyr dethe of this holy mayde and vyrgyn bothe tofore her beryeng and after that is to saye of myracles whiche were knowe And for many that were not knowe Cap vj ¶ Item of the myghty and stronge paciens whiche this mayde and vyrgyn shewed openly from her fyrst age and yonge in to her deth by the whiche vertu clerly it preuyd that ryghtfull she is worthy to haue the name of holynesse in goddes chirche in erthe â–ª whan she is made so fayre and gloryous in goddes chirche in heuen and in this chapytre is a recapitulacion of all that is sayd to fore For worthynes and also for werynes of reders And also for yf eche man may not haue al thys legende they may haue the substaunce of this martyr tofore her compendyously rehersyd in the last chapytre ¶ The fyrst chapytre of this fyrst parte is of the progenye of this holy mayde vyrgyn gloryous saint katheryn of sene and of other maters whiche befyll touchyng her or she went out openly abrode And of her fader and moder and of the condycions of theym CapituluÌ„ primuÌ„ IN the cite of Geene in Italye and of the prouynce of Tuskane ther was a man his name was Janes or Jacob and his fader was callyd in the comyn speche of the contree Beuencasa This James was symple vertuous wythout fraude or deceyte to ony man dredynge god and fleyng alle euyll After the deth of his fader and moder he toke a wyf of the same Cyte her name was lapa She was a woman wythout suche malyce that is vsed amonge men that ben now in our tyme all be it that she was full besy aboute that longeth to houshold and about meynye and seruauntes as it was knowen openly to all that knewe her whyle she liued here in erthe whan they bothe were ioyned to gyder in matrymonye and lyuyd vertuously in symplycite suffycient habondaunce they hadde of temperall godes and they bothe of gentyll and commendable byrthe Our reuerende lorde blessyd lapa graciously fulfylled hyr plentuously wyth the birthe of chyldren as an habondaunt vyne in the hous of Jacob whiche was her husbond For eche yere almost she conceyued and bare a sone or a doughter and ofte fythes ij sones or two doughters After tyme this Jacob was passeth out of this worlde Lapa his wyf as for a synguler laude and commendacion rehersyd and saide to mayster Reymonde the confessour of this holy mayde and vyrgyn and glorious martyr katheryn that she was euer of soo lyke dysposycion and soo moderate in worde that what occacion euer came or trouble or trybulacion he exceded neuer in speche by hasty ne angrye worde but whan he saw ony of his meyny greued or herd hem speke angerly or bytter wordes anon he comforted eche of theym wyth a glad â—here and sayde in the maner of that contree A brother good day be to the be not troubled speke not suche wordes which falleth ne semeth not vs to speke ¶ And in speciall lapa his wyf wherseth that whan on a tyme one of his neybours dysesyd hym wrongfully asked hym a grete somÌ„e of monye whiche he owed not by none reason â–ª and soo moche he vexed hym that symple maÌ„ wyth the might of other frendes and supplanted hym wyth grete wronges that he brought hym to the losse of alle his godes And in alle this tyme this good man myght neuer suffre in his presence a man to curse hym wronge ne to speke of hym harme in noo wyse In soo moche that he blamed his wyf Lapa wyth softe wordes and sayd suffre dere wyf the good day be to the for our lord shall shewe hym therrour he shall be oure defendour whiche wordes were founde southe afterward for the veryte was shewed openly as lyke to a myracle And he for payne that he hadde in his conscyence delyuerd agayne how moche he hadde errid in his wrongfull persecucion to the good man Jacob Thyse wordes sayde Lapa to mayster Reymonde to whos wordes he yaue full truste for as it was knowe to all that knewe her she was of soo moche symplenesse at her age of xxiiij yere that though she wold haue lyed she â—â—wde not haue feyned suche a lesyng And soo was the commyn testymonye of alle tho that knewe her husbonde Jacob that was he a man ful symple by Innocencye and ryghtfull alwaye fleyng from euyll Also this good mannys softenes in speche was soo vertuous that alle his meyny namely wymmen dame sels taught in his soole myght not speke ne here noo worde that were not semely or dyshoneste In so moche that one of his doughter whiche was callyd Bonauentura was wedded to a yonge man whiche was callyd Nycolas of the same Cyte wyth whome were conuersaunt many other yong men of hys age by cause he hadde nother fader ne moder And thyse men and he wythout ony refreynynge of tongue spake eche to other â–ª and he wyth other And they wyth hym foule wordes of dyshoneste mater This Bonauentura att the laste toke therof soo grete an
hydde inuysybly in the breste of his spouse whiche was transfygured in the hylle As saynt Peter sayde and other appostles ¶ Now ferthermore to our purpos this chosen mayde in her full tender age soone began to waxe and was coÌ„forted wyth the holy ghost in token that she sholde be soone fulfylled wyth the dyuyne wysdome Aboute her age of fyue yere whan she was taught to saye the salutacion of the aungell Aue maria She recordyd it besely and sayde it full ofte And whan she coude saye it as she was enspired froÌ„ heuen She began to grete oure lady goyng vpward on a stayere and comynge douÌ„ward on the same stayere at eche grees of the stayere to worshyppe our lady wyth an Aue maria This she tolde her confessour afterward in the secretâ—â—esse of confession By this ye maye sâ—e that she that fyrst in the begynnynge shewed forth fyrst plesyng and acceptable wordes to men after that yonge age she began to stye vp from thynges that were inuysyble ¶ After this holy begynnyng the encresed euery daye â–ª And than as it pleasyd our lord the was vyseâ—ed wyth a gracyous and a wounderfull vysyon to stere her and to shewe here hyr gyftes of grace of the holy ghoost And to shewe other how a lytyll plante shold be brought forthe and soo nourysshed in to an him tree of Cidre by the moyster of the holy gost ¶ Aboute her age of vj yere It befyll that this chosen mayde wyth her brother Steuen somme what elder than she wente to her suster Bonauentura Of whiche suster is made mencion byfore perauentur on someuer ende or to loke how she ferde as the maner of frendes of kynrede is soo to doo whan she hadde doo that they were bode to doo in her goyng homward agayn by the waye whiche is called in her tongue wallis piacta This holy may lyfte vp her eyen and agaynste her ouer the chirche of the freer prechours she sawe in the ayer a full fayre chambre ryally aparayed wyth all ryches and honeste where oure lorde Ihesu Cryste in a trone Imperyall clothed wyth pontyfycall vesture hauyng on his hede a myter papall And wyth hym were saynt Peter and saynt Poule and saynt Johan Euan gelyst And whan she behelde alle thys she was fyrst a stonyd But by a vysement stably she stode styll and wyth a louyngyng herte deuoutly she loked on her sauyour bothe wyth bodely and gostely eyen And anone our lorde drewe her loue to hym mercy fully sette his eâ—en of his mageste vpon her graiously louyngly wyth a manneuer smylyng chere And reched out his ryght arme toward her and ouer her â–ª and gaue her his blessyng wyth the token of the holy crosse And after the maner of other Bysshoppes and prelates ¶ The grace of this gyfte of god was spedfull and soo effectuously putte in her that anon she was transformed and rauysshed in spyryte vnto oure lord whome she sawe And behylde wyth soo greate gostely lykynge and not only her gooyng and her waye was out of her mynde but fully she hadde forgoten her selfe And ofte the wente in the waye besyde men and bestes By nature dredfull sholde be as a chylde but euer the eyen and the hede were vpward abydyng vppon that blysfull vysyon and none doughte soo she wolde haue abyde but she hadde be touched or take awaye by somme other body as longe as that vysyon had endured ¶ But at the lasâ—e whyles thys was shewed to the mayde â–ª Steuen her broder helde forthe his waye and was passed her a greate space wenyng that she had folowed hym But whan he tourned hym and sawe her not folowe he tourned agayn and sawe his suster ferâ—e be hynde stondyng styll in the waye and loke vp in the fyrmament ¶ And thenne he cryed after her wyth alowde voys and called her she answerde not and take none hede Thenne he wente nere cryeng afterher but his voys helped not ¶ He woundred and wente thenne drewe her by the honde and sayde what doost thou here why comest thou not forthr she anon cast doune a lytyll her eyen as she hadde awaked of an heuy slepe and sayde A yf thou sawe that I sawe thou woldest not haue lette me from this holy vysyon And anone as she had saidâ—â— â–ª o wordes She lyft vp her eyen agayne to be holde more vp that she hadde seen But the vysyon was alle wythdrawe and cesyd as his wyll was whiche aperyd to fore And that myght she not bere wythout a sharpe stroke of sorowe And anone she vengyd her on her self wyth sore wepynge for sorowe that she caste doune her eyen And from that tyme and houre This yonge mayde and vyrgyn saint Katheryn began to waxe olde in vertues and sadnesse of maners and to haue a wounderfull witte and a felyng body botâ—e by grace and by nature In soo moche that her dedes were â—other chyldysshe ne as a yonge woman But they semed rather to alle men that they came of the wysedom of a greate worshypfull age Soo that anone was shewed that the fyre of dyuyne loue was kyndeled in her herte by the whiche vertu her intellection was made clere Her wyll was feruent her memorye was comforted and alle her outward werkyng shewed in alle thynges the rewle of goddes lawe ¶ And as she sayd in confessyon to hyrconfessour full mekely and lowely that she lerned and knewe at that tyme wyth out techyng of ony body or ony redynge or heryng onely by the â—nfusyon of the holy ghoose the leuyng and the maners of the foly faders of Egypte and the lyuyng of many other Sayntes and specyally of the lyfe of Saynt Domynyk â–ª ¶ She hadde soo grete desyre to folowe the lyuyng of the holy fadres and Sayntes that she myghte noo thynge ellys thynke but howe that she myght come therto ¶ And by that cause many newe thynges beganne in that holy mayde that hyr holy lyuyng and dedes broughte all men in to a wonder For after that tyme she sought oute where that she myght haue a pryue place to abyde in preuely whanne she wolde vse bodely afflyccyons and whanne she wolde occupye hyr in prayer and holy medytacyons â–ª ¶ In that place at certeyne tymes she scourged hyr lytell tender body wyth a lytell scourge She lefte of all maner pleyeâ— and dysportes and besely gafe hyr to prayer and medytacyons full stylle she was and gaf alle to scylence euery day more and more ageynste the condy cyon of chyldren lasse bodely mete she toke thenne she was wonte to fore And that is not wonte to falle in chyldren that he wexynge Exemplum By the exsaumple of thys yonge mayde many damseâ—â—ys of dwellyng there nye and of hyr age were steryd to god by grace and gadred to here of hyr holy and gracyous wordys and after her power to folowe hyr holy werkys where thorugh it fyll that alle tho chyldren att certeyne tymes â—amen to gyder in to a preuy
And yet not wythstondyng suche good occupacions She accused her self soo sharpely in confession and soo wyttyngly put her selfe in trespaas and offenses that yf hee cōfessour hadde not knowe her conuersacyon He myght haue supposed that she hadde trespased where she trespased not but rather deseruyd mede Loo ye maydens that heren and reden this boke alle this processe is for no thynge ellys I sayde but by that ye perceyuen this lytyll defaute In the whyche this holy mayde yelde her self soo mekely gylty Ye maye vnderstonde therby what per feccyon sheweth therafter by the gracyous yefte of our lorde the whiche her confessour reherseth in this wyse Bonauentura ryght as she was besy afore for to araye this holy mayde as the worlde asketh Ryght soo eftsones she besyed her for to enduce her in suche araye by her counseyll to the same apparaylle She myght in noo wyse inclyne the may dens herte nother generall nother specy all that she sholde shewe her bodely presence wylfully to the syghte of man to that entent oonly that she sholde be desyred the soner to be wedded all though her feruour of prayer and of swetenesse off medytaciō was slaked and wythdrewē from her for a tyme Att the laste oure lorde wolde not lenger suffre that hys spouse the whiche had soo specyally chosen sholde be withdrawe and taryed from hys speciall seruyce he wythdrewe from her in this wyse In a tyme whan the same Bonauentura the suster of the holy mayde sholde brynge forthe a chylde she was yet yonge y nough of age for to bere chyldren Take hede maydens therfore and see by thys How oure lorde is displesed wyth theym that ben aboute for to lette and wythdrawe theym that wolde serue hym specially in maydenhode and chastyte of lyuynge Thys Bonauentura as it is rehersyd after was alwaye full honeste in her maner of lyuyng bothe in worde and dede But by cause that she besyed her to drawe her suster to wordly thynges the whiche desyred to serue our lorde specyally She was smyten of hym and punysshed wyth a full sharpe deth Neuerthelesse our lord yet wrought full mercyably wyth hyr for as it was shewed afterward by reuelacyon to thys holy mayde she was in purgatory and suffred many greuous paynes And by the prayers of hir she was delyuered of payne and restored to blysse as she shewed afterward preuely to hyr confessour ¶ Whanne hyr suster Bonauenture was passyd out of thys worlde thanne thys blessyd mayde Katheryn clerely perceyued the vanyte of thys worlde and be ganne more feruentely and more gredylye trewely for to be torned to the louely ghostly clyppyng of hyr endeles spouse Jhesu cryste claymyng and accusynge hyr self gylty wyth Marye magdalene fallyng doune full streyte to the fete of oure lorde plenteuously shedyng out terys axynge Inwardly hys mercy praynge and thynkyng vncessably for hyr synnes that she myght deserue to hyr wyth Marye magdalene the wordes of confort of our lorde as he sayde to Marye thus ¶ Remittūtur tibi peccata tua ¶ That is to saye doughter thy synnes by foryeue the. And so she beganne to haue a synguler affeccyon to Mary magdalene For thanne in that tyme she enforsed hyrself wyth alle hyr myghtys to conferme hyr to Marye magdalene to haue the more grace in forgyuenes of hyr synnes Therfore afterward by encrece of deuocyon thys folow therof that our lord god the spouse of holy sowles and hys blessyd moder our lady Saynt Marye gaue Mary magdalene to thys blyssyd mayde in to a maystresse and to a moder as it shall be declared more openly wyth Inne forth by the helpe of Jhesu ¶ After thys the fende enemye to alle mankynde sorowyng that thus his pray was wythdrawe and delyuerd alle hole from hys power the whyche be lytell and lytell enforced to drawe it to hym And also consyderynge that thys holy mayde encreced more and more to renne quyckely to the tabernacle of mercy of hyr spouse Jhesu He thought felly and wylely to lette hyr of hyr ghostly purpose by the meyne of hyr faders howsholde besyeng hym by aduercytees and persecucyons to drawe hyr holy to the worlde that she sholde not be occupyed in suche ghostly excercyse puttyng in to the the mynde of hir fader and moder and also hyr brethern that in alle wyse she sholde be wedded That they myght so by hyr mene purchace somme manere of kynrede aboute thys besynesse the fende enduced hem so hyely that in asmoche as one of hyr doughters was passyd out of thys world they sholde be aboute to recouer the harme of hyr that was dede by hyr that was a lyue So ferforth that they were aboute to seke an husbonde for thys holy mayde ¶ Whan thys mayde perceyued and consydered the wyles of hyr ghostly enemye by Inspyracyon of our lord Jhesu A none myghtely and besyly she contynued in prayer and medytacyon and excercyses of penaunce to haue grace to flee the conuersacyon of men and soo shewed by open tokenys to hyr frendes that in noo wyse she was in purpose to be wedded to no dedely ne corruptyble spouse Syth it so is and was that she had taken so gracyously to hyr spouse in hir yonge tender age the vndedely kyng of endeles blysse Whanne the fader and moder kynne perceyued veryly that thys holy may de shewed perseueraūtly bothe by tokens and by worde that she wylled neuer to be wedded to none erthely man they thought to bowe hyr herte by a nother mene for to consente to theyr purpose They callyd to them a frende of therys a frere prechour the whyche they loued specyally and prayed hym entyrly that he wolde goo and counseyll that holy mayde that she sholde consente to there wylle To whome the frere answerde and sayde he wolde do that he myght But whan he came to thys mayde by communycacyon he founde hyr so stedfast in the purpose of maydenhode that by conscience he was so enduced to gyue hyr holsum counseylle and sayde Syth it is so that thou arte dysposed to serue our lorde god in maydenhede ageynst whyche purpose thy frendes ben aboute to lette the. Shewe the stedfastnesse of thyn holy purpose and cutte a waye alle thyn here of thy hede peraduenture they wold cesse of there pursuyte As soone as thys blessyd mayde herdethys hys counseyll she wrought there after as though she hadde I herde it of god And took a peyre of sherys anone and cutte awaye hir herys in the whiche she supposed she had synned greuously and that that she hated so moche she cutte it awaye ryght gladly fast by the he de And whanne she had I do she couerd hyr hede wyth a Coyf and so wente forthe alle ageynst the comyn custome of other maydens of the worlde wyth a kerchyf on hyr hede after the doctryne of saynt Powle And whan hyr moder Lapa aspyed thys that hyr doughter Katheryn vsed thus to couer hyr hede customably She asked hyr why she
cause I made avowe also that I shold neuer take husbond but hym alone Therfore now syth I am come by the sufferaunce of oure lord to a more perfyght age and knowleche and vnderston dyng wytte wete ye ryght well this is the same purpoos whiche is soo myghty and stroonge in myn sowle that it were more possyble hard flynt stones rather to be made nesshed than myn herte shold be wythdrawe fro this holy pnrpos and therfore the more ye laboure aboute thys thynge the more tyme ye lese Wherfore I counseyll you that ye leue of alle maner suche tretyng of weddynge as touchyng myn persone For therin shall I neuer fulfylle your wyll by cause that I sholde rather be obedyent to god than to man therfore yf ye wylle haue me suche one in your hous that I now serue god in this purpoos and for to be a commyn seruaunt to serue you all I am redy in all that I can or may to doo you seruyce gladly And yf ye wylle receyue me but for this cause that ye wylle putt me out of your hous I doo you well to wete that in noo wyse myn herte may be wythdrawe fro this holy purpos ¶ I haue an husbond and a spouse cryste Jhesu soo rychely and soo myghtely that wyll not suffre me in noo wyse to lacke no thyng But he wyll mynystre to me all that me nedeth Whan she hadde sayde alle thyse wordes alle that herde her speke fyll in wepyng and by cause of her plentnously syghynge and sobbynge they myght for that time gyue none answer They consyderid to the holy purpos of thys holy mayde the whyche they myght not wyth saye ne wythstonde they behylde also how styll the mayden had I kepte her how clene how pure vnto that tyme how bodely she declared her consciens by wordes of grete prudence also ouer more they sawe openli that she was rather diposed for to forsake her faders hous than for to breke her holy purpoos and soo they hadde nomore truste of her weddyng wherfore it lyked theym better for to wepe than for to gyue her answer Wythin a lytyll whyle after whan they hadde cesyd all her wepynge the fader that loued her soo tenderly had dredde of god and dred god soo hyghely hadde mynde of the coluer that he sawe and of many good dedes of the whiche she vsed The whiche dedes he gretely merueylyng gaue her suche an answere and sayde Dere doughter god forbede it that we sholde ony thynge wylle or desyre agaynste the wyll of god For the whiche wyll and fro the whiche wyll we knowe well thys holy purpoos cometh fro Therefore it is soo that we ben taught by longe experyence And now openly we see that thou art not steryd herto by the lyghtenesse of chyldhode but by feruent charyte of god Make thy vowe therfore frely and doo as the lyketh and as the holy ghoost techeth the ¶ And fro this tyme forward we shall neuer lette the from thyn holy purpoosne thyne ghostely excercise but only praye for vs besely that we maye bee made worthy to the promys and the byheste of thyn ghoostely spouse whom thou haste chose by his specyall grace in thyn tender age ¶ Thenne he tourned hym to hys wyf and to his chyldren and sayde none of you from this tyme forward be to my ne dere donghter greuous None be soo hardy from this tyme forward to let her in ony wyse to suffer her to serue her spouse freely and she to praye for vs be sely We myght neuer haue founde a better husbond to her thenne he is the whiche vochesauf to be so nere of our kynde for to wedde our doughter and haue her to wyf Therfore we haue none cause to pfayne vs sythe it soo is that we haue receyued now for a dedely man ▪ vndedely god and man to be her spouse ¶ Whan the fader hadde sayde thyse wordes wyth wepynge and wyth weylyng bothe of theym selfe and also of other that herde theym and hym speke and namely of the moder that louyd this mayde in maner flesshely then̄e this holy maide Katheryn ioyefully thanked oure lorde that brought her to this vyctorye and also her fader and moder wyth alle maner of lowenes dysposyng her self to vse profytably the lycence that was graūted to her And this is the ende of this chapytre ¶ But now I wylle ye knowen that redyn or heren this booke that Mayster Reymound confessour to this holy mayde knewe neuer by reuelacion of the fader that sawe the coluer the whiche restyd on this blessyd maydens hede for the fader was deed or thā Mayster Reymoūd knewe this blessyd mayde But he knewe it by reuelaciō of Cosyns that dwellyd in the faders hous the whiche cosins recorded and bare wytnes that the fader sawe suche a culuer wyth her ofte tymes And therfore he hadde her in greate reuerence and he wold in noo wyse that she hadde be lettyd or troublyd ¶ Of the vysyon that she sawe of saynt Domynyk bothe mayster Reymound her confessour afore hym knewe it by tellyng of this holy mayde And whan mayster Reymound examyned her of the wordes that she sayde laste to her fader moder and brederen and how she byhad her in her pesecucions she tolde hym alle by ordre mekely as it was ¶ Of the hardenesse of her bodely penaūce of afflyction what persecucion she fuffred therfore of her moder Capitulū vj WHan this deuoute mayde hadde receyued so large a lycence that was graunted her of longe tyme desyred afore She beganne ryght quyckely for to dyspose merueylously alle her lyf to the seruyse of god ¶ Att the begynnyng she asked to haue a lytyll chambre to her self and so had de it wherin she purposed to tourmente her body wyth penaunce as in a wyldernesse that she myght haue the more fredome of sowle for to serue our lord How moche and how harde penaunce she vsed in tourmentyng of her body And how grete loue she hadde in seyng of hyr spouse in that lytyll chambre there maye noo tongue suffre to telle Neuertheles I haue rehersed som what in generall of her grete penaunce And now I purpose to telle you maydens in speciall vnder fewe wordes the hardnesse of her penaunce soo that ye of the grete vertuous herbes of her holy lyuyng maye taste somwhat of the fruyte that growen aboute the herber bothe of the fyrst and of the laste And for the condycions and the kyndis of the fruyt it shall be declared by the helpe of god afterward And the cause why that in this place is rehersyd som̄e what of her fruyte full vertuous lyuing is for nothynge ellys But for the maydens sholde be the more able and redyer to ghostely excercyse In this lytyll chābre that was graunted her ofte tymes she consydered swetely the ghostely werkis of our old faders of Egypte And in ghostely werkys was to her soo moche the more merueylous and that
that the moost traueylle that euer she hadde was for to ouercome slepe It was soo harde a bataylle for her or she myght haue the vyctorye of it Yet more ouer as her confessour recorded off her yf she myght haue founde ony body that cowde hadde vnderstonde her and commyned wyth hyr of vertue And of the goodnes of god it shold not greue her though she hadde been wythout mete or drynke and slepte an hondred dayes and an hondred nyghtes she sholde neuer haue be wery but rather the fressher and she gladder She tolde ofte tymes to her confessour that she was neuer soo well refrysshed in spyryt in thys lyf as whan she myght fynde wyth whome she myght commyne of the goodnes of god And that knewe well tho the whiche were conuersaunt wyth her ¶ This was openly perceyued in her whan she myght haue leyser to speke off god that tho thynges of vertu the whiche were hyd in her herte appieryd strongely by ghostely gladnesse in the body outwarde ¶ And whan she hadde noo leyser to talke of oure lorde thenne she was feble Herof bereth wytnesse her confessour Mayster Reymound to the worshyp of god and of his owne shame that oftymes Whan this holy mayde wolde speke of the goodnes of our lorde and of the greate myseryes that he shewed to her by cause of the longe tyme of her contynuaunce in spekyng And also by cause he was ferre from her louyng as he sayde hym selfe He fyll in a slombryng and alwaye she contynued forthe in spekynge For she was reysyd vp by loue in to the breste of oure lorde nothyng perceyuynge that he was a slepe tyll a longe tyme afterward And whan she perceyued that he was a slepe wyth a grete voys she awoke hym sayde why lese here ye the prouffyte of our sowle for a lytyll slepe speke I to a walle or to yow ¶ Ferthermore she desyred aboue alle this to folowe the stappes of the holy fader Saynt Domynyke And that was in this wyse she receyued euery day theyes dyscyplyne wyth an yron chayne The fyrst dyscyplyne was for her self The seconde for alle tho that were a lyue And the thirde for them that were deed ¶ Thus we rede in the legende of saynt Domynyk that he vsed contynually therfore she vsed the same longe tyme afterward ¶ But after tyme she was feblyd with sekenes that she myght no longer vse hyt ¶ And whanne hyr confessour axyd of hyr pryuely how in what wyse she vsed that manere of penaunce wyth a grete shamefastenesse she knowleched to hym ¶ That in euery dysciplyne she occnpyed an houre and an halfe so that for the moost partye the blode folowed foo the sholdres doune to the fete ¶ Loo maydens what perfeccyon was in thys holy maydens sowle that thryes in the daye lete hyr self blood for goddys loue shedyng hyr blood for hys blood Seeâ—ye not in what vertue she was of that wyth out ony exaumple or Informacyon of ony man in erthe that vsed suche grete penaunce wyth in hyr faders how 's Redeth Sayntes lyues and wrytyng of holy faders of Egypte leueth none vnsought but sercheth ouer all and espye whether ye fynde ony lyke to hyr Ye shall fynde Saynt Powse the fyrst heremyte lyued longe in deserte But a crowe brought hym euery daye half a lof to hys mete Ye may also fynde saynt Anthonye a full holy lyuer and dyd grete meruayllous penaunce yet he wente to dyuers ankrys aboute and of eche of them he gadred somme floures of vertue Ye may also fynde of Saynt Hyllaryon an holy lyuer Yet as Saynt Jerome seyth he was fyrst enformed to vertuous lyuyng of Saynt Anthonye and ro wente to deserte and there myghtly ouercam hys enemyes Ye may fynde also of Macharye and Arsenye and many other whyche is longe to telle of that had techers to vertuous lyuyng one or moo bothe in worde and also in exsaumple what in deserte or in Relygion And this holy mayde had nethyr hyr doctryne to vertues in Relygyon nother in deserte But in hyr faders how 's wythout ony Informacyon or exaumple of ony man in erthe and there to came to a grete perfeccyon of abstynence notwythstondyn ge the manyfolde lettyng the whyche she suffred in hyr faders how 's Shall I yet saye more of thys maydens commendacyon I praye you lystene a lytel whyle I shall telle how holy wrytte maketh mencyon that Moyses fasted twyes fourty dayes wyth out mete and drynke and Ely ones and our lord Ihesu cryst also as the Gospell sayth that thei fasted more by many yeres contynued Holy wrytte telleth not Saynt Johan baptyst though he were in deserte he lyued by hony soukeles and herbes But symply that he fasted I fynde nowhere I wryton Of Marye magdelyne allone hyr storye maketh mencyon of hyr lyf that she fastyd euery yere fourty dayes to gyder wyth out mete or drynke thre and thyrty yeres folowyng leuyng in a Roche of the see There for I trowe it was that our lord and hye blyssed moder commytted hyr to thys holy mayde for to be hyr may stresse and hyr moder as it is somwhat I touched afore And as it shall clerely be de declared afterward by the helpe of god By thys may ye knowe that thys holy mayde had a specyall yefte and a synguler grace of god Not that she is preferryd in holy lyuynge aboue alle the Sayntes the whyche ben rehersed afore For that were a full odyous comparyson So for to make suche lykenes bytwene Sayntes among whiche sayntes our sauyour Ihesu Cryst is I nempned to whome for to lyken ony saynt in comparyson of holy lyuyng that sholde be euen wyth hym it were blasfemye al tho other sayntes whyche ben named they be not rehersed for to make lykenesse in merites of lyuyng but that ye shal consydere and take hede fyrst of the grete magnyfycence of our lord Ihesu cryst that euery day by hys gracyous plentuous largenes multâ—plyed hys newe yeftes and grace where wyth he arayeth ghostly maketh perfyte hys chosen sowles Another also that ye shall consydere and take of the grete synguler worthynesse in hyr was noo Iniurye ne wronge to other sayntes For holy chyrche syngeth and seyth specyally syngulerly of euery saynt by hym self Thes wordes of Salamon Non est inueÌ„tus similis illi That is none I founde lyke to thys These wordes muste be vnderstonde of the grete myght and large fredom of our lord makyng holy and perfyte hys chosen sowles The whyche may wylle endowe arraye euery saynt syngulerly wyth a specyall yefte of grace wyth out ony wronge of other Of alle thys mater now I shall cesse and procede forth in the fyrst purpose By thyse condycyons of abstynence of thys holy mayde may be vnderstoÌ„de clerely that she was lene in body that wyth so many herdenes of penaunce and sharpe afflyccyonâ— was so often tymes tamed and all was for to make hyr body
of her susters not consyderyng the opyn tokens of grace that were shewed in her dyuerse tymes But rather they myghi be lykened to the pharysens that seyth the opyn myracles the whyche our lord wrought And yet they grutched by cause he helyd a man vpon the sabat daye seyng thus ¶ Non est hic homo a deo qui sabbatum non custodit That is this man is not of god hals that kepeth not his sabat daye This holy mayde whan she hadde receyued her habyte of penaunce â–ª she besyed her what she cowde to obeye to her souereyns and therto she durst not forsake the waye of vertuous lyuynge the whiche our lord taught her by hym self soo that bytwene thyse two she was sore angwisshed in tourment that ther maye none tongue telle it ne penne wryte it Was this not trought ye maydens a martyrdome for her I trowe yeis A a lorde god ofte was it sayde to her in repref that all her vysyons come nought of god but of the fende ¶ Notwythstondyng that they the whiche sawe in her many merueylous werkes and that therto they myght see that all her lyf was myracle as it shall declared more clerely here after Now was this a stronge martyrdome as me semeth ¶ And as touchyng to pouerte of lynyng she kepte soo perfyghtly that vertu pouerte that she beyng in her faders hous and housholde where greate plente was of temperall goodes for her self she toke no thynge but that she wolde gyue frely to poure folke And therto her fader gaue her a specyall leue ¶ She loued soo moche pouerte that as she sayde preuyly to her confessoure she hadde neuer ioye of her faders hous by cause temperall goodes were soo plenteuosly vsed therin And therfore she prayed oure lord hertely that he wolde vochesauf to tak awaye that rychesse And brynge hyr frendes to pouerte seyng in this wyse Lorde whether this good that aboundeth soo plentuously in myn faders hous by that good I sholde aske for myn frendes and nought oonly of good euerlastyng I knowe well lord that amonges thyse temperall goodes there is moche peryll medeled amonge And therfore I wolde nought myn frendes were encombred wyth theym ¶ Whan she hadde thus prayed our lorde of his goodnes herde her prayers and suffred hee frendes Fader and moder and other of her kynne to falle to ryght lowe pouerte by many merueylous chaunces wythout ony trespaas of theym As it was well knowe to all tho that knewe theym whyles they lyued By this may ye knowe that this mayden kepte full dewely the thre pryncipall vowes of relygyon That is obedyence chastyte and pouerte all be it that she made none avowe openly whan she receyued her habyte of penaunce Now shall I telle you of her perfection after tyme she hadde receyued her habyte whan she hadde receyued habyte as our holy fader Saynt domynyke promysed her she began anone swete vertuous lyuynge and sought occacions and causes for to constreyne her self more streyghtly than she dyde afore that she myght the more deuoutlye loue her spouse Ihesu seyng to her self in this wyse Lo thou hast now take vp on the a maner of relygyon thou mayst nomore lyue as thou hast doo thy seculer lyuynge is goo And a newe relygyon is come after the whiche reule thou must nedes be reuled Sâ—est thou not the colour of thyn clothes the nedeth now fro this time forward to kepe perfyghtly pouerte and clennesse of body and sowle whiche be tokeneth bi the whyte cote The nedeth also to be dede to the worlde the whiche betokenneth by the blake mantel therfore see to thy self how thou gouerneste the for thou muste now goo in the streyte waye that fewe walken ynne For the more sekernesse therfore of kepyng of her pouerte and cleÌ„nesse ¶ This holy mayde purposed her to kepe sylence full streyte and not for to speke but whan she shold be shryue And as her confessour both sayde and wrote that was afore Mayster Reymound â–ª thre yere contynuelly she kepte her sylence but whan she wolde beshryue She kepte her also contynuelly in her chambre But whan she wolde goo to the chyrche for her mete she hadde none nede to goo out It was lytyll and soone doo For she vsed to ete none maner of mete that was made by the fyre out taken breed alone as it is rehersed afore ¶ Also she made an ordynaunce in her owne herte neuer to come to mete but wyth wepyng soo that euer afore mete she wolde offre to our lord teres for to fede her soule fyrst And than afterwarde wolde she susteyne her body wyth mete ¶ Her faders how 's was to her as a wyldernesse and deserte notwythstondyng the confluence of peple that were therin ¶ Besyde all this what wakyng what prayers what medytacions and what teres she vsed I trowe there is none tongue cowde telle ¶ She made also an other ordynaunce in her self that whan her bretheren the freer prechours stepte she wolde wake And whan the friers hadde tonge the ij peel to matyns and anone erst wolde she seye than her spouse Ihesu Cryste in this wyse Loo lorde myn bretheren And thyn seruauntes haue I rested theÌ„ in to this tyme and I haue prayed for theym to the that thou sholdest kepe them fro deuelys and fro the ouercomyng off the fendes ¶ Now lorde they be aryse to praye to the therfore lorde I praye the kepe theym and gyue me leue to reste a whyle And soo she laye doune vpon hard bordes and a stoke vnder her hede in stede of a bolster ¶ Our lord Ihesu her gracious spouse seyng all this in this mayde the whiche gaue her all thyse graces wolde not suffer soo able and soo dylygent a dyscyple to be vntaught wythout a perfyght mayter Nother man ne angell But he hym self wolde be her informer of vertu Anone as she was shett vp in her chambre oure lorde Ihesu Cryste her well beloued spouse and sauyour of alle mankynde appieryd to her and taught her and enformed her fully of tho thynges that longeth to the helthe of sowle as she her self tolde priuely after ward to her confessour and sayde to hym thyse wordes Fader vnderstondeth this for a trouthe that I was neuer taught ne enformed ony thynge that longeth to helth of sowle of man ne of woman but oonly off myn lorde Ihesu the spouse of my sowle other by his inspyracion or ellys by hys open apperyng spekyng to me as I nowe speke to you ¶ She knowleched also to her confessour that in the begynnyng of that vysyon whan it apperyd openly to her bodely wyttes soo that she perceyued wyth her bodeli erys a voys she began to waxe a ferd lest it hadde be a deceyte of the fende that ofte tymes transfygureth hym in to an Angell of lyght the whiche feer in noo wyse dysplesyd our lorde but rather he commended that feer and sayde As longe as a man or a woman lyueth in this lyf
vp of hyr bedde not wythstondyng that she was seek hir self of the feuers and other dyuers passyons and sayd to hyr felawe Goo we and see we how srere Reymond dothe fare And hyr felawe answerd sayd that it was no nede though it were nede yet was she more seker than he Neuerthelesse yet she come to hym and axyd how he ferd Anone whan he sawe hyr he meruaylled gretety sayd to hyr as feâ—illy as he myght speke Aa lady why come ye hyther ye be agrete dele seker than I am Thanne she began to speke of the goodnesse of our lord as she was wonte to do and of oure vnkyndnesse ayenst hym Wyth that mayster Reymond hir confessour arose vp out of hys bedde gretely comforted by hyr wordes and sate in an other bedde besyde hauyng no mynde yet of the wordes that the holy mayde spake to hym at euen afore All this whyle she contynued in spekyng of the kyndenes of our lord and of oure grete vnkyndenes Sodeynly in tyme of hyr deuoute comunycacyon came to hys mynde a clere consyderacyon of hys synnes that hym thought he stode afore the ryghtwys Jugement to be condempned to the peyne for his wycked lyuyng ryght as a theef that stood before a temporall Juge Hym thought also that he sawe in hys soule the grete benygnyte the mekenes of our lorde that gracyously delyuered hym fro the peyne that he was worthy for to haue not onely that but also he clothed hym wyth hys owne clothes ther he was naked and had hym in hys holy how 's and fedde hym and nourysshed hym and accepted hym to hys seruyce and ther to by the synguler grace of hys ende Loo the goodnesse hys deth vnto lyf hys drede vnto hope hys sorow vnto ioye hys shame vnto worshyp By thyse consyderacioÌ„s clerely knowynges and syghte of hys soule the wyckettes of the wyndowes of his harde herte were broken vp opened and the wellys ryuers of wepyng terys aperyd plenteuouly by cause that the foundament the grounde of hys trespassys were shewed so clerely to hym in so moche that he wayled that he was aferde laste by suche grete plente of sorow hys herte his brest wold haue to barst Whan thys holy mayde saw that she was styll suffred hym a whyle to be fedde wyth hys owne terys for therefore she came Wythin a whyle after he cessyd lytell lytell and bethought him meruayllously of this newe grace thynkyng also of hys petycyon the whiche he axed of this holy mayde the day before wyth that he torned to hyr sayd is thys thy bull that I spak of to you yesterdaye She answerd sayd ye laynge hir hondes vpon hys sholdres seyeng thus haue in mynde fader of the gracyous yeftes of our lord And soo wente home to hyr chambre and he abode stylle wyth hys felawe gretely edyfyed comforted Another tyme the same mayster Reymond had another excellent token of thys holy mayde wyth out ony axyng afore Hit happed on a tyme that thys holy mayde was vysyted by dyuers sekenes laye seek in hyr bedde And sent after hyr confessour desyryng to comen wyth him pryuely of other newe reuelacyons the whyche our lord had shewed her grete sekenesse beganne to speke of the goodnes of our lord and of the reuelacion that he shewed hyr that day He heryng so grete reuelacyonâ— and wonderfull shewed to hyr and to none other that euer he herde of hauyng no mynde of the grace that our lord hadde gyue hym afore by prayers of this holy mayde He bethought hym of somthynges that she rehersed and sayd to himself thus whether it be all trewe that she seyth Whanne he had thought thus he loked sodeynly in hyr face and saw that hyr vysage was transformed in to mannes vysage berded the whyche vysage behelde hym stedfastly and made hym sore aferde Hit was to his syght a semely longe vysage of myddel age not hauynge to long a berde but of a resonable assise coloured after whete shewyng in his syghte a mageste after the mageste of oure lord Jhesu and myght in no wyse for that tyme see none other face but onely that face Of thys syght he had so grete a fere that he lyfte vp his armes and began to crye and sayd Oo who is he that loketh vpon me To whome this holy mayde answerd and sayd He that is seeth and beholdeth you wyth that worde that dredefull face vanysshed awaye and the maydens vysage appyred to him clerely Thys was no feynyng thyng but a trewe as he recordeth bereth wytnes in hys wrytynges He recordeth also for the more confyrmacyon of that myracle that after that sensybly vysyon he hadde soo clere a knowyng wythin hymself im his sowle by ghostly Illumynyng of the mater that the holy mayde spak to hym of the whiche he wyll not pupplyche it openly That hym thought he felt in experyence that thyng the whyche our lorde sayd to hys dyscyples whan he behote them the holy ghoost seyeng to theim thus Et que ventura sunt annunciabit vobis That is whan ye haue receyued the holy ghost he shall shewe thynges that ben to come Loo For the mystrust that he hadde to her wordes oure lorde of his gracyous goodnesse wouchesauf to teche hym clerely by him self he afterward for to bere wyttenes to other that hir reuelacions weren ben trewe pryntyng stedfastly in his mynde the grete graces that he shewed to Saynt Thomas of Inde for he that wolde not be taught enfourmed by open tokenes of gracyous gyfte the whyche he receyued by this holy mayde he was taught and enformed by example of suche a disciple that was mystrowyng as he was For after tyme he had receyued a gracyous token of conpunccyon of our lord a fore by merytes of holy prayers of this holy mayde yet he contynued in mystrust of hyr reuelacyons that they were not trewe Wherefor our lord himself shewed hym self openly to his outeward wyttys that he myght therby knowe by open experyence that he spak in hir so that it may be sayd that he shewed him thenne to mayster Reymond the whiche mystrowed as he dyd som tyme to saynt Thomas of Inde by bodely felyng And ryght as he cryed afterward sayd this worde Deus meus et dominus meus That is my god my lord So may thys mystrowynge renuwed saye after thise two vysyoÌ„s of this holy mayde that she is was the veray spouse and the veray discyple of our lord god All these ben rehersed to you maydens that ye sholde be in no doubte ne despyse the reuelacions and the vysyons the whiche ye shall here by the helpe of god afterward Alle be it that no wytnes may be founde of recorde saue she allone but that ye sholde here hem rede hem vnderstonde hem with reuerence And also that ye may lerne ther by holy examples doctrynes the whiche our lord hath shewed
in suche a vessell by kynde seke bryttell But by grace meruaylously made strong and precyous And thus I make an ende of this chapytre All thoo thynges the whiche mayster Reymond was taught enfourmed of this holy mayde he hath declared them openly in this chapytre Outake one thyng that he was charged by hyr to kepe it pryuely of a certeyn reuelacion as it is rehersed a fore ¶ Of a noble doctryne whyche our lord gaf to hyr in her begynnyng and of other doctrynes in the whyche he founded hyr maner of lyuyng Capitulum x SYth it so is that the grounde the foundament of trust and byleue touche the reuelacyons of this holy mayde by the helpe of god is declared in the chapytre that goth afore Therfore now I shall procede forth shewe you the spyrytuall edyfycacyon of this same mayde And by cause that trewe sowles feythfull ben fedde and edyfyed by the wordes of our lord Therefor I shall telle you shewe you a notable doctryne of the whiche this holy mayde was taught of our lord him self Thys holy mayde tolde to hyr confessours amonges whom mayster Reymond was one that in the begynnyng of hyr vysyons our lord appyred to hyr whan she prayed sayde to hyr in this wyse Knowest thou not doughter who thou arte and who I am yf thou knowe well these two wordes thou art and shalt be blessyd Thou art she that art not and I am he that am Yf thou haue the veray knoweleche of these two thynges in thy soule thy ghostly enemye shall neuer dysceyue the. But thou shalt escape gracyously all his snares ne thou shalte neuer consente to ony thyng that is ayenst my commaundementes and preceptes But alle grace alle treuthe alle charyte thou wylte wynne wythout ony hardenesse And now is this a bryef worde and a grete in maner Infynyte and endeles Oo this is a grete wysdome expressyd vnder fewe syllables Whether this be not that leng the that brede that heythe and that depthe the whiche saynt Poule desyred for to haue wyth all sayntes I trowe yes Oo dere maydens consydereth beholdeth meruayllously this Incomparable tresoure the whiche is founde in this holy maydes breste For our lord Jhesu that vndeceyuable trouth seyth to this holy mayde thus Yf thou knowe thyse two thynges in thy sowle the fende shall neuer deceyue the Me semeth it is full good for you to make here thre tabernacles or dwellyng places vnto the worshyp of god that excellent doctouâ— the whiche tâ—ched the vnderstondyng of thyse fruytfull wordes Another to the loue and deuocyon of this holy mayde Katheryne The whiche receyued the holsom doctryne of this fewe fruytfull wordes And the thyrde to the ghostly tresoure of valour of all tho the whiche fynden lyf in this fewe fruytfull wordes In the vnderstondyng of thoo fruytfull wordes now be founden had ghostly rychesse so plenteuously that it shall no nede be to alle tho that haue soo founde this ghostly rychesse for to begge of other A whether this bryef fruytfull sentence be not trewe where it is sayde Art not thou she that is not I troweyes Euery creature is made of our maker Jhesu cryst of nought So ferforth that yf our lord Jhesu cryst oure maker wolde cesse for a tyme be it neuer so lytell fro conseruacyon of hys creature that he hath made Anone that creature shold torne in to nought whan soo euer a creature doth synne the whyche synne in hym self is nought Ne of hym self he may noo thynge do or thynke that is ought As Saynt Poule seyth And that is meruaylle for he may not be ne haue beyng of him self ne yet be conserued of him self in his beyng And therfore the aposâ—le sayd Qui se existimat aliâ—uid esse cuÌ„ nichil fit ipse se seduciâ— That is he that wenyth he be ought he is nought he decey ueth hym selfe Seâ—st thou not mayde how noughty a creature is A creature made of nought euer of him self â—owyng to nought by synne maketh him self noughte as Saynt Austyn sayd for he may noo thyng do that is ought by hym self but rather that is nought as oure lorde sayd Sine me nichil poâ—â—stis sacere That is wythout me ye may do ryght nought the whyche nought is synne Therfore ye may wel clerely know by this that a creature of hym self is nought And that knewe well Sayntâ—s afore thys tyme the whiche by knoweleche of this veray wysdom excluded veraâ—ly out of theyr sowles alle manere of synne What manere of Inflacyon of synne may entree in to suche a sowle the whiche knoweth hir self nought How may she be ioyfull in vayne glorye of ony good werke that euer she dyd the whiche knoweth wel I nough that suche good dedys come neuer from hir but fro god How may suche a sowle enhaunce hir selfe by pryde aboue other that holdeth hyr self nought How may a sowle that thus settâ—th hir self at nought Inwardely despyse other other haue enuye to other How may ony creature haue vaynioye in outwarde rychesse that now hath dyspysed all his owne ioye of hym self I trowe suche a creature is taught by the wordes of our lord endeles wysdom where he sayd Siego quero gloriam meam gloria mea nichil est That is yf I seek myn owne ioye my ioye is nought Also how may suche a creature that knowed hym self in no wyse his owne but onely his that made hym see of alle outwarde thynges this is myne syth he hym self is not his How myght make suche a creature to haue delectacyon in flesshely synnes that euery day restreyneth hym self by suche manere consyderacion of nought Loo maydens by this bryef fruytfull wordes thou art nought ye may consydere that all maner of synne is and may be excludeth That other bryef fruytful worde that oure lorde sayde to this holy mayde is this I am he that am whether this bryef fruytful worde be a newe worde ye forsothe bothe newe olde This is that olde worde that our lorde sayde to Moyses in the sussh the whiche semyd brennyng whan he sayde Qui est misit me That is say to the chyldren of Israel He that is sente me to you Hit is also now a newe worde by cause it is newe reherfed to this holy mayden in lyke wordes that she the whiche by the fyrst bryef fruytfull sentence was I taught to knowe hir self nough sholde lerne by the nexte fruytfull sentenâ—e to aske our lorde ought the whiche is the endeles welle of all essencyall beyng By thyse bryef fruytfull sentencys may ye knowe that a creature is nought of hym self For all that he hath of vertue and of beynge cometh of god maker of all creatures Almyghty god maker of al creatures hath onely of hym self and of none other endeles perfeccyon of essencyall beynge For he myght neuer forme and make all thyng of nought but yf he had an Infynyte vertue of essencyall beyng in hym self
Wherfore alle that euer oure lorde Jhesu that souerayne mayster taught his spouse in tho two bryef sentences as it is rehersed afore is no thyng ellys but this that she sholde knowe hir self as she is and our lord verayly as for hir maker in the depnes of hir herte and thenne she sholde be blessyd In the same wyse I fynde I wryten that he sayd to saynt Kâ—theryne the virgyn and marter Whan he vysytre hir in prysone Doughter knowe me for thy maker Of suche manere of knoweleche cometh all maner of perfeccyon and all ordynate settyng of the sowle What is he that may not loue so large and so free a gyuer wyth all his herte and all his sowle what is he that is not styred euery day more and more to loue suche a lorde that fyrst er thanne he made his creatures he loued hem not for theyr deserue and meryte but onely by his Infynte goodnes ¶ What is he that ferth not and dredeth contynually to offende in ony maner of wyse soo grete and soo dredefull a maker soo myghty and soo large a gyuer soo gladsom and soo free a louer What is he that may not gladdely suffre all manere of dyseases for suche a lorde of who me he hath receyued and receyuyth day by day and hopeth to receyue wythoute ony deubte soo manyfolde goodnesse What is he that sholde be wery or tormented by sekenes to please so amyable a lorde What is he that endeyneth to kepe reuerently and louyngly in hys mynde the blessyd wordes that suche a lorde wouchesaue to hys creatures ¶ What is he that wyll not gladdely obeye to the commaundementes and pretho thynges that the sowle loueth the whiche desyre may not be hadde wiwout werke soo ferforth that in as moche it loueth soo moche it werketh And yet neuertheles it trusteth nought in her owne werke as in her owne self but only in our lorde that worched in her The cause of this louely desyre is noothynge ellys but the very knoleche off god that he is aulterd therfore amonge all other merueylaus thynges of this holy mayde she helde that doctryne the whiche our lord taught her syngulerly to bee worshy pâ—ed To the whiche wurshypfull doctryne yet shall I adde more to For but yf I be gretly dysceyued all they come out of the fyrst notable doctryne Ofte tymes this holy mayde was wouÌ„t to comyn and to speke to tor confessoure Mayster Reymound of the worthynes and condycions that our lord loued off a sowle And she sayde that suche a sowle perceyued not ne seeth not ne loued her self ne none other sowle ne hadde none mynde of none creature This was a full hard word to Mayster Reymound for to vnderstonde and therfore he prayed this hooly mayde for to declare it Thenne she sayde a sowle seeth her selfe that she is verely nought of her self and knoweth perfyghtly that all the goodnes wyth alle the myghtes of the sowle is her maker ¶ She forsaked viteâ—ly her self And alle creature and hedeth her self fully in her maker our lord Jhesu in soo moche that she sendeth fully and pryncypaly all her ghostely and bodely werkynges in hym In whom she perceyued that she maye fynde all goodnes and all perfection off blessydnes and therfore she shalle haue none wyll to goo out from suche inwarde knowleche of hym for nothynge And of this vinte and loue that is encresed euery daye in suche a sowle She is transfourmyd in a maner in to oure lord that she may neyther thynke ne vnder stonde ne loue ne haue no mynde but god or ellys in god she maye not see her self ne none other creatures but onely in god Ne she may not loue her self ne none other but only in god Ne she maye not hane mynde in her self ne of none other but only in god ne she maye haue no mynde but only in her maker Ryght as a man that is vnder a water and swymmeth vnder the water nether seeth ne touched nothyng but water and that is vnder the water And thynge that he is aboue the water he neyther toucheth ne seeth of that that is aboue the water it shy neth vnder the water for that he may perceyue and yet none other wyse but in the water And as they maye byshewed in water as longe as he is voder the water Ryght so fareth it of a sowle that is hyd in the loue of god ¶ All this she lerned of our lorde that dyuyne loue the whiche neuer teched errour to his meke dyscyples ne gyueth theym cause to coueyte ony thynge wyth out hym For euer her ghostely excersyse in is hym ¶ Another tyme this holy mayde reher syd in presence of her confessour Maister Reymound and to many other that wer called to clennes of lyuyng A full notable doctryne and a vertuous the whiche is good for pure maydens to knowe Who 's chast lyuyng is full speâ—yally to god And the more ye ben met ner to god by swete meke maydenhede the sonner ye maye vnderstonde that vertuous doctryne And it is this that a sowle the whiche is vertuously I mette to god as it is rehersed afore As moche as it hath of the loue of god Soo moche it hath of the hate of her owne sensualyte For of the loue of god naturally cometh hate of synne the whiche is do ne agaynst god the sowle theâ—fore consyderyng that the rote and the begynnynge of synne regneth in the sensualyte there pryncypally is roted She meued and storyd hyghely and holyly wyth alle her merytes agaynst her owne sensualyte not for to vtterly destroye the rote For that mayr not be longe the sowle dwelleth in the body lyuyng in this lyffe But euer it shall be lefte a rote namely of smale venyall synnes Wherto accordeth ryght well saynt Johan whan he sayth thus Si diximus quia peccatuÌ„ non habemus ipsi nos seducimus c. That is yf we saye that we haue noo maner of synne in our sensualytes namely of venyall synÌ„es â–ª we desceyue oure self And by cause she maye not vtterly destroye that rote of synne thus in her sensualyte as it is sayde afore She conceyued a grete displesaunce agaynst sen sualyte and of her sesuâ—lyte The whiche dyplesaunce spyngin vp an hooly hate and a dysplrsyng of her sensualyte by the whiche the sowle is euer wel kepte fro her ghostely ennemyes ¶ There is noo thynge that kepeth the sowle soo stronge and soo syker as doth suche an holy haâ—e and that felt well the Appostle whan he sayde Cum infirmot tunc forcior sum et potens ¶ That is whan I am feble and syke in myn sensualyte by hate of synne Thenne I am the stronger and myghty er in myn sowle Loo fader of suche hate cometh vertu and of swete febylnesse and sykenesse cometh â–ª strengthe And of suche displesaunce cometh plesaunce ¶ Suche holy hate fader haue euer with you For it shall make you meke and euer to fele meke
thynges of your self it shall make you pacient in aduersytâ— and temperate in prosperyte And sette you namely in all honeste of vertue And it shall also make you loued â—oiâ—â—e god and man ¶ A a now is that a paynfull sowle and full of woo that hath not this blysse For where that suche holy hate is not ther is moche vnordynate loue the whyche is the stynkyng thorroke and canell of all synne and the cause and the rote of all euill concupyscence Al suche and lyke wordes this hooly Mayde comyned daye by daye wyth suche drede in commendyng of holy hate of synne and in despysyng of vnordynate loue ¶ But whan euer she perceyued that ony defaute of synne or of synne iÌ„ many creature that comyned with her or in ony other Anon she wolde be styred to compassyon and sayde Loo brethern loo susteren the cause of this trâ—spaas and this synne is nothyng ellys but an vnordynate loue of your self The whiche vnordynate loue is norysshed of pride and of all vices ¶ Doth all your besynes for the loue of god to putâ—e awaye suche vnordynate loue of your owne self oute of your owne hertes And planteth therin holy hate of synne for certeyn that is the ryght waye of perfection and amendement off all synne ¶ Loo maydens how well thys hooly maydes doctryne accordeth to the wordes of Saynt Poule where he sayd thus Quod virtus iÌ„ infirmitate perficitur That is vertu is made parfyghtly iÌ„ sekenes and febylnes and that was whaÌ„ he prayed to our lord to remeue awaye his temptacions To whome oure lorde answerd and sayde thus ¶ Sufficit tibi paule gracia mea That is it is Inow to the paule myn grace that is for to hate synne and wythstonde it Thenne brake out saynt Paule and saide ¶ Libenter gloriabor in infirmitatibus meis vt inhabitet in me virtus cristi That is I shal gladly be Joyefull in minsekenes and febylnes by laborynge in hatyng and vnderstondyng of synne that the vertu and the grace therof maye be inhabyted in myn sowle See ye not now how thyse holsom doctrynes of this holi mayde ben grounded vpon a stedfast stone of trouthe the whiche stone is Cryst In as moche as they acorden wyth holy wrytynges of doctours Thus endeth this Chapytre â–ª but I praye you al that shall rede it or here it that they mekely consydere the meryte and the deserte of this holy mayde whan oure lorde vou chesaf to enforme her in vertu by his owne proper persone â–ª And also that wolde gyue credence wythouten ony othe to her wordes For he was a faythfull doctour that taught her And thus I make an ende of this chapytre ¶ Of the merueylous victorye of temptacions by another maner doctryne gyue vnto our lord and of a famylyaryte and holynes whiche she hadde wyth oure lorde whiche hath not be herde to fore Capitulum xi IFynde wryten that whan kynge Salamon hadde doon make and reysed vp a toure for to kepe the Cyte of Jherusalem fro enemyes The kynge of Babylone was wood wyth all and reysed vp an host for to destroye that toure yf he myght Assone as kinge Salamon perceyued that he wold come wyth an hoste for to destroye that toure He ordeyned to be made merueyllous stronge wallys rounde aboute the toure so myghtely and soo myghty walles that whan euer they came to assayle it wyth ony maner of shotte their dartes sholde merueylously turne agayn and wounde or slee the hoste ¶ Ryght soo the kynge of Babylone that is the kynge of pryde and enemye of peas the fende of ghostely enemye consyderyng that kynge Salamon auctor and conseruatour or keper of peas hadde reysed vp an hyghe vertuous toure the whiche was this holy mayde Katheryn to the defens of Jherusalem that is holy chyrche dredyng therby feste she sholde be cause of many creatures helthe as she was in dede both by good ensamples of lyuyng and also by her holy doctryne he waxed wood wyth her and tourned to her wyth all the spyryte of hys malyce for to destroye her wyth many thousande whyles But almyghty god that mercyable and peasyble lord suffred that to be done for to encrece the victoryous blessed endeles crowne of his spouse therto he strengthed her ouer all wyth myghty ghostely armour for to ouercome hym so that she wanÌ„ more of vertue in tyme off her batayle by ouercomynge of the temptacyons Thenne she dyde in tyme off peas whylys she was wythout temptacions and soo all the fende whyles tourned agayn shamefully to hym self Oure lord enspyred her to aske him bi prayers for to haue the vertu of ghostely strengthe wherfore she prayed many dayes and longe tyme At the laste after suche longe and deuoute prayer our lorde vocheuÌ„saufe to here her Gracyously and taught her in this wyse seyâ—ng thus Doughter yf thou wilt gete the vertu of ghostely strengthe thou muste folowe me all be it that I myght by myn goodly vertu ouercome all the power of the fendes by many maner wayes of ouercomyng ¶ Yet for to gyue you ensample by my manhede I wolde not ouercome hym but only by takyng of dethe vppon the crosse that ye myght be taught therby yf ye wolde ouercome your ghostely enemyes for to take the crosse as I dide the whiche crosse shall be to you a grete refresshyng in all your temptacyons yf ye haue mynde of the paynes that I suffred there vpon of temptacyons And certeyne the paynes of the crosse may well be called refresshyng of temptacion For the more payne ye suffre for myn loue the more lyke ye bee to me in passyon nedes ye muste be lyke to me in Joye ¶ Therfore for myn loue doughter suffre pacyeÌ„tly bytter thynges and none swete thynges And doughter in none wise for thou shalt be stronge enoughâ— for to suffre alle thynges pacyently â–ª ¶ Whan this holy mayde hadde herde this holy lesson she foryate it nought but bare it euer quykly in her mynd And euer afterward hadde Joye and delyte in trybulacions soo ferforthe that there was noo thynge in erthe soo grete refresshyng to her as was passioÌ„s and trybulacyons For by swete sufferaunces of trybulacions she wyste well that her crowne encresyd in the blesse of heuen ¶ After tyme that kynge Salamon oure lorde Jhesu Cryste kynge of heuen ande of erthe hadde armed hys blessyd toure this maydes sowle by swete myghty and holsom doctrynes he suffred enemyes to come and preue that toure yf they myght by ony waye or wyse destroye it ¶ The kynge of Babylone oure ghostely enmye the fende wyth alle hys cursyd companye come and byseged thys blessyd toure thorugh the sufferaunce of god rounde aboute wyth many wretchid temptacions ¶ But fyrst he began to assayle this mayde by flesshely temptacions whom not oonly he tempted by thoughtes withinforthe ne by yllusyons and fantasyes in her slepe but by opyn vysyons wakynge bothe in seyeng and herynge and seyng ¶ He tempted her
in many maner off wyse by takyng vppon hym a body off the eyre â–ª shame it is to here in how foule flesshely synne he tempted her And therfore I shall not reherse theym but to clene sowles it is delectable to here ¶ How this holy mayde ouercame suche foule delusyons and therfore that shall I reherce Whan this holy may de perceyned how besy the fende was to brynge her to synne She arose agaynste her self â–ª myghtely and punysshed her body by weryng of the cheyne in soo moche that the blode folowed And therto she walked more thenne sheâ— was wonte to doo in chirche that almoost by vse of the whiche the slepe was taken awaye from her And yet wolde not the fende sece fro his bataâ—â—â—e that he hadde begonne but he toke vppon hym a body of the eyre as I haue rehersed to fore wyth a greate nombre and an horryble companye wyth hym and came and stode byfore this holy mayde as thought he hadde compassyon of her and couÌ„seylled her and sayd O wretche why tourmentest thou thy body in soo ydell what shalt thou wynne by suche tourment off peyne wenest thou that thou mayst contynue therin to thyn laste ende thenne mayst thou neuer contynue therin I warne the well but yf thou wylt slee thy self and soo it were better for the for to sese off this grete folye thenne soo to slee thyn owne body Yet hast thou tyme that now for to haue ioye in the worlde thou arte yonge and therfore thou mayst the sonner recouere thyne strengthe of thy body agayn ¶ Notwythstondyng thyn grete penauÌ„ce that thou hast doo lyue as other wymmen doo take an husbond and brynge forthe chyldren to encrece of mankynde Yf thy desyre be to plese god trowest thou that holy wymmen haue not be weddyd Thynke on Sara and Rebecca Lya Rachell how they were weddyd brought forth chyldren and yet weren hooly wymmen Wherto hast thou tabe vppon the a synguler lyf that thou mayst in noo wyse contynue All the whyles that suche wordes and many other lyke the fende wyth his cursyd companye multeplyed agaynst her She prayed euer deuoutlye and comÌ„aunded her lyuyng to her spouse Jhesu and kepte her herte keyes all the whyles that the fendes stood afore her she answerde none worde to theym but thus I truste in myn lorde Jhesu Cryste and not in myn self other worde myght they neuer haue of her but alwaye she contynued stedfastly in her deuoute prayers And afterward she tolde to her confessour mayster Reymound thaughte many other that were conuersaunt with her this lesson for a generall rule that whan temptacions arysen in vs we sholde neuer dyspyse ne make questions for that is she sayd that the fende seketh off vs for to falle in questyons wyth hym He trusted soo hyely in the grete sotelte of his malyce that he sholde ouercome vs wyth his sofystycall resons Whiche we sholde not make questyons wyth hym ne answere to his questyons I shall tel you by ensample Ryght a chast womaÌ„ to hir husbonde sholde not answere to the sotelte maundes that wonteth to make to her but rather bowe awaye from hym yf she wolde escape synne Ryght so is a sowle the whiche is coniuncte to oure lorde by chaste loue sholde neuer make questyons ne answere the questyons to the fende that cursed auoutâ—â—er our enemye But rather tourne her to deuoute prayer and commaunde her to our lorde that she consente not to his sotell demauÌ„des for by vertu of deuoute prayer and stedfaste faythe we maye ouercome alle the sotell temptacions of the fend Thus in this wyse this holy mayde crystis spouse ouercome her enemye soo that he cesyd of the kynde of temptacions agaynst her and tourned hym to another abhomynable kynde of temptacions that was this He brought afore her the likenesse of meÌ„ and wymmen medlyng togyders in the fowlest wyses that myght be deuysed Spekyng to gyders foule dyshonest wordes in soo moche that this cursyd company ranne abonte her wyth Èellyng and cryeng for to stere her to suche abhomynable synnes ¶ O lorde god what traueyle hadde she than in her sowle that was soo constreyned to see and to here that thynge that she hadde moost in abhomynacion al be it she closed hir eyen and stopped hir eren And ther to yet she hadde another torment for hir spouse that our lorde Jhesu was wonte to vysyte hir comforte gracyously Semed as for a tyme ferre from hyr that nother vysybly ne vnuysybly he shewed to hyr his helpe as it semed of the whyche she hadde full grete sorowe in hyr sowle all be it that she cessyd not of hyr grete penaunce but euer contynued ther Inne and in deuoute prayer At the last she bethought by Inspyracyon of the holy ghoost of a certeyne fleyte the whyche she tolde afterward to hir confessour and to many other For to eshe we ther by the sotell temptacion of the fende and it was this It happed she sayde that other whyle deuoute feruour of a sowle leuyng oure lorde Jhesu other by somme certeyne synne or ellys by newe sotyll temptacyons of the fende wexyth dull and slowe and other whyle it is I brought to veray coldenesse In so moche that somme vnwytty folke consyderyng that they ben destytute so fro ghostly comfortes the whiche they were wonte to haue leue therfore theyr ghoostly excercyse that they were wonte to vse of prayer of medytacyons of redyng of holy comynycacyons and of penaunce doyng wheby they be made more redy to be ouercome of the fende For he desyred no thyng ellys of crystys knyght but that he sholde putte a waye hys armour by the whiche he was wonte to ouercome hys enemye A wyse knyght of our lord Jhesu cryste shold not do but thus the more he seeth hym self dull and slouth or colde in deuocyon the rather he sholde contynue in hys ghoostly exercyse and nought for to make them lesse but rather encrece them Another thynge also thys mayde ferned of our lorde Jhesu vsed for to saye it hyr self in edyfycacyon of other Thou vyle wretchyd creature art thou worthy ony maner of comfort in this lyffe why host thou not mynde of thy synnes what supposest thou of thy self wretchyd synÌ„er this is not I nough to the trowest thou that thou art escaped by the mercy of our lord fro euer lastyng dampnacyon Therfore thou sholdest be well apayed thou wretche though thou suffreddest the peynes derkenes of soule all the dayes of thy â—â—f why art thou thanne heuy and sorowfull to suffre suche peynes Sythe by goddes grace thou shalte escape endeles peynes wyth cryst Jhesu wythout ony doubte thon shalt be comforted endelesly yf thou suffre this peynes pacyentely whether thou hast chosen to serue our lorde onely for the comforte that thou mayst haue of hym in thys fyf nay but for the conforte that thou shalte haue of hym in the blysse of heuen Therfore aryse vp now and cesse
not of thy ghostly excercyse that thou hast vsed but rather encrece more ther to Wyth thyse dartes of mekenes this holy mayde wounded the provide kynge of babylonye hyr enemy the fende And strengthed hyr self gretely wyth suche wyse wordes and as she knoweleched to hir confessour mayster Reymond ther was suche a multytude of fendes in hyr chambre as hyr semed â—he sawe with hyr eyen aboute for to styre hyr to foule thoughtes of synne that she fledde hir chambre for a tyme and kepte hyr self more in the chyrche thanne she was wonte to do Alle be it that she was pursued thyder by theyr sotyll temptacyons yet neuerthelesse she thought that she wolde folowe the steppes of Saynt Jerome fleenge and hydyng hir self by dales and hylles in eshewyng of suche abhomynable temptacyons And euer whan she came home fro chyrche to hyr chambre she founde so many a multytude of fendes there Inne seyenge vnhonest wordes and doyng the abhomynable dedys of lecherye and as hir semed rennyng aboute hyder and thyder as it had ben a passyng swarme of flyes Thanne she took hir to prayer and so longe she prayed to our lorde vnto the tyme that heuysom compayne were I swaged somwhat fro they re abhomynable temptacyons Whan thyse wretched temptacyons had contynued many dayes to gydres In a tyme whan she was come fro chyrche to hyr chambre and fyll doune to prayer sone after ther appyred a gladsome beme of the holy ghoost and opened hyr sowle that she sholde haue in mynde how that not many a dayes a fore she hadde asked of our lord the vertue and the gyfte of strengthe And what doctryne our lord had gyue hyr for to gete the gyfte of vertue and of strengthe And anone she vnderstode the meuynge of the foule temptacyons of the fende and conceyued ther by a grete gladnesse that our lord had gyue hir suche strengthe to ouercome them and purposed euer afterwarde to suffre mekely and gladdely all suche heuysom temptacion and all maner dyseases for the loue of hyr spouse Than one of the fendes that was more bolder thanne ony of that other more wycked spake to the holy mayde in thys wyse What thynkest thou to do wretche thynkest thou euer to kepe this caytyf lyf knowe it well we shall neuer cesse to payne the and heuy the to thy deth vnto the tyme thou consente to vs To whom the holy mayde answerd hauyng in minde the doctryne the whiche oure lorde taught her seyeng thus I haue chose payne for my refresshyng And therfore it is not harde to me for to suffre theym but rather dylectable for the loue of my sauyour as longe as it pleseth his mageste that I shall suffre theym assone as she hadde sayde that worde anone sodenlye the abhomynable companye of fendes vanysshed awaye all confused And after that a grete vnspekable lyht of heuen appieryd and shynned alle her chambre and in that lyght apperyd our lord Jhesu cryste as he hynge vpon the crosse whan he shedde his precious blode and called the holy mayde to hym and sayde Myn owne doughter katheryn seest thou not what I suffred for the be not heuy therfore for to suffre for me After that he came more nerre to hyr in another maner of lyknesse for to comforte hyr thanke hyr for her gloryoê° victorye that she had wonne Thenne she after thyse wordes of saint anthonye seyde to hym thus O my lord Jhesu where were thou whan my sowle was soo vexyd wyth suche fowle fylthy temptacions Our lord sayde agayne I was in thy sowle and in thy herte Thenne sayde she agayn A lorde sauyng alway thy trouthe and the reuerence of thy mageste how maye it be that thou sholdest dwelle in so foule a herte that was replete wyth soo many fylthy thoughtis and vnclennes Oure lorde sayde eftsones whether caused tho temptacions tho thoughtes in thyn herte gladnesse or sorowe delectacion or weylynge She answerde naye lorde But grete soro we and weylynge Our lord sayde theÌ„ne who was cause of that sorowe and weylyng But I that dwellyd in thyn herte yf I hadde not be there thylke foule thoughte sholde hadde partyd thyne herte and so thou sholdest hadde dylectacion in theym But my presence was cause why theymyslyked the whan thou woldest hadde putte theym fro the wyth dyplesaunce and myghtest not as thou woldest thou weptyst and were sory all thys made I that was presente wythinforth wyth in thyn herte and defended the from thyn enemyes And suffre the wythout forthe to troubled as moche as was nedeful be and spedefull to thyn helthe And whan the tyme that the bataylle was fulfylled and ended by me I sente the wyth out forthe my bemys of lyght And anone the derkenes of the fendes fledde for they might not abyde there my lyght is who was he the whiche enfourmed the now last that tho peyne were to the full holsom for to wynne ghostely strengthe by And that thou sholdest suffre theym paciently as longe as it was lykynge to me but only that shyneth in the beme And by cause thou offredesâ— thy selfe hertely to suffre tho peynes paciently for my sowle Therfore they were frely wyth drawe fro the by shewyng of my preserce And therfore doughter that hast soo trewely ouercome by my vertue and not by thyne thou hast deserued there by more grace of me thenne thou wenest Wherfore fro this tyme fortherward I shall shewe me to the more famulyerly and more homely than I haue doo before After tyme this vysyon was ended she was belefte in so moche plente of swetenesse that noo penne may wryte it to the full There belefte in her herte syngulerly amerueylous swetenesse of that worde that our lord callyd her his doughter Whan he called her myn owne doughter katheryne â–ª Soo that she prayed her confessour Mayster ReymouÌ„d whaÌ„ that euer he wold calle her he wold vouche sauf to calle her on the same wyse that euyr her swetenesse myght therby be renewed in her sowle Fro that tyme fortherward oure lorde Jhesu her spouse was wyth her ryght homely for he apperyd to her ofte tymes other whyle hym self allone other whyle he brought oure ladye his blessyd moder wyth hym ¶ Other whyle saynt Domynyk ther whyle both to gyders ¶ Also somtyme he brought wyth hym Marie magdalene Saynt Johan the Euaungelyste Saynt Poule the Appostle and other moo suche as he lyked But for the more party he came hym self allone and spake wyth her as homely as a frende wolde speke wyth his moste homely frende In soo moche that bothe to gyders wolde walke vp doune in her chamber as two relygyous men or two clerkys seyng psalmes or howres to gydres And this she be knewe ofte tyme afterward to mayster Reymound her confessour full ferefully O now was this a merueylous thynge O what this was a merueylous shewyng and an homely that neuer hath be herde afore Neuertheles maydens ye nede to be in no doubte therof
to the same lorde And ye consydre the coudycyons of this rynge ye shallâ—welle see that the tokene acordeth that that is betokeneth to She axed stedfaste feythe what is strenger than a dyamaunt stone it wythston dyth all maner hardenesse and it persyth the hardest thynge that is but that stone it self is broke onely with the blode of a goote Ryght soo a stronge feythfull herte wythstondeth and ouercometh wyth his strenthe alle maner of aduersyte But the mynde of crystys precious blood the whiche is called in holy wryte a goote the whiche precious blode he shadde vpon the crosse for mankynde that stroge herte is re lentyd and al to broste the four precious Margarete stonys in the rynge betokenyth noo thynge ellis but foure purytres clenes that whiche was in that holy mayde that is clennes of hyr entente clennes of hyr thouÈt clennes of hyr speche and clennes of hir workynge Alle thyse shall be declared by the grace of god more largely here aftyrwarde I supposo that thys dyspousacionÌ„ was no thynge ellys but a confirmaciouÌ„ of godis grace And the token of thys gracyous confyrmacionÌ„ was the rynge the whiche only apperid to her and to none other for this cause that she shold not fere ne drede to delyuer other owte of the wretched worlde by her prayers and by the helpe of that special grace that god hadde endowed her wyth One of the princypall causes after holy doctours why the almyghty god vouchesauf of his synguler preuylege to shewe to somÌ„e that they ben plesaunt to hym and in estate of grace is in this wycked world for worshyppe for his entent is to sende them For to fyght wyth this wycked world for worshyppe of this holy name and helthe off soules as he dyde to his Appostlis on wytsondaye the whiche token specyal tokenes of grace Ryght soo this hooly mayde aboue the condycion of alle other wymmen after tyme she was thus confermed iâ— grace she was sente openli for the wourshyppe of god to procure helthe of sowles as it shall bee declared by the helpe of god here afterward more openly And therfore I trowe it was that she toke of our lorde the token of confyrmacioÌ„ of grace that she sholde boldely and myghtely doo execucion of that that our lorde commaunded her Thus shall I make an ende of this chapytre and of the fyrst parte of the legende of this hooly mayde saynt katheryn of Scene to the worship of the holy trynyte and to helthe of sowles Regnaute semper in oiÌ„ê° scis domino nostro Ihesu cristo quiÌ„ cum patre almoque spuÌ„iscoÌ„ viuit et regnat deus Per oiÌ„a secula seculorum Amen ¶ Here begynneth the second partye in the whiche is shewed the conuersacion of this holy mayde with men And how the gyftes whiche she hadde receyued off oure lorde pryuyly enclosed wythin herself were openly shewed to the worlde And fyrst how oure lorde bad her that she sholde be conuersaunt amonges men Capitulum Prymum â—After tyme that this holy Mayde was despoused as it is rehersed afore our lorde began to drawe her litill and lytyll to the conuersacion of men And that was full mennerly and mesurably not for to wythdrawe vtterly fro her his dyuyne presence but rather as moche as longeth to the mesure of perfection for to encrese it as it shall be declared openly afterward And therfore in a tyme whan he appyred to her and hadde taughte her of the kyngdom of heuen and shewed her many mysteryes And also to seye the psalmes and the houres of dyuyne seruiÌ„ce as it is rehersed afore forthwith he bad her that she sholde go doune to mete with other of her moders housholde and afterward that she sholde come agayn to him Whan this holy mayde herde this she sobbyd and wepte fyll doune to his feete for sorowe and fayde to hym thyse wordes O swete Ihesu lorde why puttest thou me awaye fro the and yf I haue offendyd and displesyd the mayster Loo lord there is myn body at thyn feet punysshe it I shal gladly helpe therto suffre me not good lord to be punysshed wyth soâ— sharpe and soo hard a payne to be departed in ony maner of wise fro thin blissed presence what haue I to doo wyth that mete I haue mete that they knewe not of whether receyueth anone more lyf by bodely metes or by ghostely metes Lorde as thou knowest well I haue fledde the conuersacion off men that I myght the sonner fynde and now sythe I haue founde the by the mercy and graciously thou haste shewed the to me though I am vnworthy sholde I nowe than forsake this precious tresour And put me to the conuersacion of men eftsones and soo ben founde reprobable in the faythe A nay lord suffer not that be soo for thyne infynyte goodnes whaÌ„ she had thus longe wepte and weyled wyth swete sobbyng wordes oure lorde sayde to her suffre now dere doughter for it is full semely to the that thou shodeste fulfylle all maner of vertu that not only it be fruytfull to thyn self but also to other by myn specyall grace it is not myn entent for to dysceuere or departe the from me in ony maner of wyse But rather I shall haue the to me more strenger by medytacions of neyghbours charyte Knewest thou not well that in thise two thynges scondeth the perfection of myn commaundementys that is in loue off god and loue of thyn neyghbour I wil therfore that thou wyll fulfylle the verof thyse two preceptis that thou may go to heuen not wyth one wynge but wyth tweyne Haue doughter how of thin yonge age thou hast had hyther to a yele a loue of helthe of sowles by me it hathe be encresyd in so moche that in thyn yonge age thou purposed the to feyne the aman by cause thou myghtest the sonner be receyued amonge the order of the fryer prechours in straunge contrees that thou sholdest not be knowen soo for to prouffyte to the helthe of mennys soules for that synguler loue that thou haddest to myn seruaunt Domynyk thou desyrest wyth a grete honour his habyte that thou now hast receyued the whiche domynyk pryncypally for helthe of soules I ordeyned that order why merueylest thou wey lest thou soo yf I brynge the to that that thou hast soo longe desyred Wyth thyse wordes of our lord this holi maide was gretely comforted sayde vnto hym lyke as our gloryous lady gloryous vyrgyn marie sayde to gabriel suche wordes QnÌ„o fit istud A good lord in what wyse what maner may this be done Our lord sayde agayn as myn goodnes shal dyspose ordeyne ThenÌ„e she as a good dyscyple a trewe folower of her mayster Cryste Ihesu sayde lord thyn wyl be done in all thynges and not in me for I am derkenes and thou art lyght I am she that is nought and thou art he that is ought I am she that is vnwis and
thou art he that is endeles wysdom of the fader But yet I praye the lord in what maner of wyse may this be that thou seyste now that I wretche than am soo freell shold be soo profytable to mannys soule Thou knowest well lord that men setten lytyll store by womens wordes speke the neuer so vertuously as it were not semely Ne lyuest thou that wymmen sholde be more conuersaunt amonges men To this our lorde answerd in maner as Gabryell answerd oure gloryous lady gloryous vyrgyn Mary and sayd there is none word that cometh fro goddes mouthe vnpossyble at hym for to be done Am not I he the whiche hathe made mankynde bothe man and woman and the shappe of euery eyther And where that I wyl enspyre myn grace al is one to me both man and woman the necke agayn in his kynde But by cryeng of one of this maydes susters to her that she sholde cese she lefte of And after tyme that her spyryte was restoryd agayne to the bodely wyttys she felte her necke soo sore as thought it had be smyten wyth many grete strokys There as the hooly mayde tolde it afterward to her confessour maister Reymoūde yf her moder hadde put neuer so lytyll more strengthe than she dyde to ryghting of her necke as she was aboute ▪ she shold haue broken her necke with suche maner passyng out of the body The sowle of this holy mayde was ofte tymes rauysshyng ▪ so that other whyle by vyolens of the spyryte the body was lefte vp fro the erthe as marie Magdalene was in tyme of her rauysshyng as it shall be declared afterward more openly ¶ But now I shall tell you of a myracle that befyll in the begynnynge of her rauysshyng It befyl in a tyme whan this hooly mayde tournyd a spete or a broche wyth flesshe by the fyre of hote brenning coles her sowle was enflam̄ed and brente in the mene whyle wyth the fyre of the holy ghoste And anone she was rauysshed fro her bodely wyttes seasyng for the tyme of her tournyng of her spytte Whā her brothers wyf the whiche was callyd Lysa perceyued this knowyng the condycions of this holy mayde ▪ she toke the spytte of her honde and lete her alone whan the mete was ynow ▪ and also folke had suppyd yet she bylefte in the sarauysshyng Thenne Lysa bethought her to abyde vpon her vnto the tyme that she hadde doo She brought her husbond a bedde and her chyldren and came agayn to aspye how she dyde and founde here falle doun in to the hote brennyng coles wyth that Lysa weyled and cryed and sayde Alas alas katheryn is alle brennyd and ran to her anone and pullyd here out of the fyre A and founde her clothes nothyng hurt ne brente ne hauynge noo maner of tastyng of the fyre ne yet more ouer there bylefte nomaner of asshes vpon her clothes Loo perceyue ye not maydens what vertu of gostely fyre was wythin this maydes sowle by whos myght the strengthe of that outward naturall fyre was vtterly wytdrawe See ye not how the myracle of the chyldren whiche were caste in to the ouen for to be brent was thenne renewed in this holy mayde And this myracle was not onys shewed in her but ofte tymes ¶ Onys it befyll her as she was in the chyrche of the fryers whan she was soo rauysshed she bowed her hede doune to a pyler in the mene whyle in the whiche pyller there were certeyne ymages of dyuerse sayntes at the reuerens of whiche sayntes there was a man styked vp a waxe candell brennyng the whiche candell fyll doune vppon thys holy maydes hede in tyme of her rauysshyng And soo it brennyd vppon her hede in to the tyme the candell was all wasted And soo she had no harme Was not this a merueylous thynge and a wounderfull that the candell brennyd vpon her hede till it was wasted and hurte nothynge her kerchies ¶ And whan the candell was all brente It quenchyd vpon her hede as though it hadde be quenchyd vpon a stone or vppon erthe ¶ Of this myracle bare wytnesse many of her susters that sawe it and tolde afterward to her confessour Mayster Reymound One of the susters whiche sawe it was called lysa another Alyxa and the thyrde Francisca Yet besyde as this it befyll lyke vnto the same of her in dyuerse places of the worlde there that she came Namely whan she was aboute to edefye men̄ys sowles to vertu than the fend by his malyce was gretely stered agaynst her by the sufferaūce of god and soo ferforth that in the presence of many of goddes seruauntes he kast her in to a fyre And whyles other were aboute to drawe her out wyth wepyng and weylyng she smyled vpon theym and come out of the fyre by her selfe and was nothynge hurte neyther in body ne in her clothes Thenne she sayde to theym that stode aboute beeth no thynge aferde For it is myn ghostely enemye the fende that hath doo this myracle this recordeth dyuerse that sawe it to mayster Reymound her confessour ¶ Another tyme also in her chambre bi her beddes syde there was an erthen panne wyth brennynge coles in the whiche brennyng coles the enuyous fend caste her wyth suche a strengthe that her hede was the fyrst that fyll in the fyre and so the panne to braste for vyolence of the stroke and yet her hed was in noo wyse hurte She arose vp and sayde wyth smilyng there to a deuoute woman whiche was callyd Gabryell Loo how this malycions enemye werketh Lyke to I ride in vitas patrum of a woman that was callyd Infracia and therfore it is none merueyle though our lord suffer the fende to werke suche thynges in his derlynges and chosen chyldren sythen it so was that he suffred hym to werke as harde thinges in his persone whā he suffred hym to sette hym vpon the pynacle of the temple And vppon the hye hylle ¶ Tus by suche merueylous thynges our lord wrought merueylously in hys mayden katheryn soo that she encresyd more and more by his grace euery daye in his perfection and as moche that loue was bothe rote and cause of all her werkys The charytable werkisof her neybours passed all other werkys And the charytable werkys was in double wyse that is bothe to body and soule ¶ The fyrst shall I telle you of the dedis of charyte and of mercy that she dyde to her neyghbours that were syke in body And afterward of the dedes of charyte and of mercy that she dyde to theym that were seke in sowle The nexte chapytre shal declare openly of dyuerse merueylys that our lorde shewed in her in helyng of poure folke And also of a merueylous charyte that she shewed a nemptis hem that were seke in body The wytnesse of this chapytre is rehersed wythin the same chapyter ¶ Of woundres whiche she dyde in helthe and in comforte to the necessyte of theym that were poure and nedy Capytulum
her to suffre pacyently and gladly the seke wommans rebukynge ¶ And yet ferthermore to this dede off charyte was knytte wythouten ony doughte sekernesse of clere faythe By the whiche faythe she behelde euer her spouse Jhesu in her sowle as ofte as she mynystred to that woman ¶ And yet neuertheles she failed none hope by the whiche she contynued to the laste ende in her holy mynystracyon After alle thyse hooly company of vertues folowed an open myracle in clensyng of that lepre by the dethe of this poure woman the whiche she toke by her mynystracyon This is a gracious myracle and a merueylous yet sholde ye see and here a more merueylous thinge that folowed yf ye lysten here it besely In the same Cyte of Gene there was a susters of penaunce of Saynt Domynyk seke that whiche was called after the maner of speche iÌ„ the couÌ„tre Palmaria the suster Palmaria was so gretely styred to hate by excytacion of the fende agaynst this holy mayde katheryn that as ofte as euer she sawe her or herd herd her speke or herd speke of her she was hyghely troubylyd in her sowle soo ferforth that she shewed alle the tokenes of malyce agaynste her bothe in baâ—bytyng of her pryuyly and openly also in cursyng Assone as the holy maide perceyued this she shewed to her alle maner of myldenes and mekenes for to pees her in that that she coude but alway her seke suster despysed all her mekenesse to the vtterest and sette none pryce bi her Thenne this holy mayde ranne by prayer wyth a feruent deuote herte to our lorde Ihesu her spouse prayeng to hym specyally for her seke suster that he wold vouchesauf to gyue her grace of forgyuenes the prayers were as a brennyng fyre ascendynge vp to our lorde askyng of him bothe mercy dome all bee it that the entent of this holy mayde was nothyng ellys but for to aske mercy for her and no ne dome yet it was lykyng to our lorde for that tyme not for to gyue hys mercy wythout dome there shewed oure lorde hys grete dome but yf byrrayers of this holy mayde He shewed a more gretter mercy he smote mercyably to that suster Palmarya in her body that her soule shol be made hole but what hardynes of obstinacion was in that seke suster And what swetenes of charyte there agaynst was in his spouse katheryne It was clerely shewed afterward by ryghtwysdom euermore he encresyng in this holy mayde katheryn the loue of sowles by shewyng of a wonderfull fayrnes of that susters soule the whiche was fyrst by the ryght wysdome of hym I demed to bee dampned for her obsâ—ynacie but merytes and prayers of this hooly mayde it was afterward saued Whan our lorde hadde smyte that suster palmarya in her body by bodely sekenes to that entent onely that her soule shold be more hole yet wolde she not sece of her malycyous hate that she shewed wythout cause to this holy mayde But rather was more greuoê° to her after her sekenes thenne she was in her he le The more froward she was to the holy mayde the more mekenes she she wed agayn to her and wold ofte tymes full charytably be wyth her and do her seruyce both wyth louyng wordes and dedes ¶ Yet was that seke suster harder thenne ony stone agaynste her that neyther by charytable wordes ne dedes ne seruyces she wolde not be pesed but euer was grutchyng vpon her soo ferforth that she bad her goo out of the hous that she was inne wyth a wood violent spyryt This consyderyd our lord that rightwis iuge he leyde his honde of ryghtwysnes vpon that enmye of charyte and touched her soo Soo sodenly that bothe wythout shryfte and housell she drewe faste to the deth of body and sowle Whan this holy may herd her of Anone she went to her chamber and bysoughte our lord by deuout prayer for that soule lest it sholde peryche by occasyon of her Suche wordes she seyde to oure lorde in her sowle in tyme of her prayer as afterward she was be knowe to her confessour Lord whyder I wretche am I bore to the ende by occasyon of me soules I made lyke to that shold be put to endeles peynel â— wylt thou suffer lord that by occasyon of endeles daÌ„pnacion to myn suster to whom I sholde be an instrument of euerlastynge helthe A myn good lord put awaye suche an orybyll dome sor the multytude of thyn grete mercy It had be better I had neuer be borne than soulis I bought by precyous blod shold for me be dampned O lorde be thyse thyne byhestes the whiche thou behotest me by thy large mercy I sholde be profytable to the sowle he le off myn neyghbours be thyse the fruytes of helthe that I sholde brynge forth for that myn suster sholde be dampned and none douwte mynsynne is cause therof and of her payne For other fruyte brynge I not forth but synne alone But yet shall I not cese to aske mercy vnto the tyme I haue somme comforte of myn susters sauacion in this wyse this hooly mayde prayed more in sowle thenne in worde outward and for that she shold haue the more compassyoÌ„ of her susters sowle our lord shewed her in the mischefs perile that her susters sowle was inne comered and wythinne that syght oure lorde answerd her and sayde that he myght not suffer it of his ryghtwysnes but that suche a malycious hate and an obstynate must nedes be punysshed Thenne the holy maide fell doune a fore oure lord in prayer and sayde Lord I shall go neuer out of this place in to the tyme thou hast shewed methy mercy for my suster punisshe me lorde for her synne for I that am cause of her trespaas shold bee punisshed and not she therfore merciable lord I beseche the for thy grete mercy and thyn endeles godenes that thou suffer not myn susters sowle goo out of her body in to the tyme that she haue receyued that grace thy merci ¶ Loo maydens that prayer was off grete strengthe that her suster soule myghte not passe out of the body vnto the tyme oure lorde shewed his plentuous mercy in her notwythstondynge the seke woman lay adrawyng on thre dayes and thre nyghtes soo that many folke that knewe her merueylled and sorowed for her that she suffred soo longe a peyne yet in all that tyme this holy mayde continued in her deuout prayer neuer cesing vnto the tyme she hadde ouercome in maner of our lord by meke teres Thenâ—e our lorde by her deuout prayers graciously sent his mercy vnto that sowle and gaue her clere knowyng to knowe her trespas and also gaue her suffycient contrycion to helthe of her sowle Assone as this holy mayde perceyued that by reuelacion that she hadde suche a grace she wente to the seke susters chamber for to comforte her And whan the seke suster sawe this hooly mayde she dyde her reuerence wyth grete ioye as
she myght whome she had first in grete repreue and soo she accused her self wyth spekynge and tokens makyng asked her mercy and forgyuenesse of her trespaas as she myght speke and soo she was shryue and hoselyd and passyd out of this worlde wyth grete contrycion Whan she was passed out of this world thenne our lorde shewed to this holy mayde her sowle in soo grete bryghtnesse and fayrnes that as she knowleched afterward to her confessour it myght not be tolde ne spoken wyth mannys tongue Yet was not that the fayrenesse that she sholde haue in blysse endelesly but oonly the fayrenes that she hadde in her first creacion and in receyuyng of her baptysme And thenne sayde our lord to this hooly mayde loo dere doughter by the I haue receyned this soule that was loste is thys not a fayre soule and a semely Loo is he or she that wyll not doo her besines for wynnyng of suche a fayre sowle yf that I am the most souerayn fayrnes of whom cometh alle maner of vertues fayrnesse was so oucome thrugh loue of fairnesse of manÌ„ys soule that I wold come doun froheueÌ„ to erthe shedde my blode for to rauÌ„som it moche ye thenne shold laboure so eyther for other the so fayr a creature be not lost for this cause I haue shewed the this soule that thou may the more her afterward be â—â—erid for to wynne soules to me and also that thou may stere other to the same grace This holy mayde thenne thanked our lord for his blessyd reuelacion prayng hym mekely wyth alle the affeccion of her sowle that he wolde vouchesaf to gyue her that grace euer afterward that she myght see the fayrnesse of euery soule of all tho the whiche been conuersaunt wyth her so the more be steryd for to winne her helthe the whiche grace oure lorde graunted her and sayde by cause thou haste despised for myn sake all maner of flesshely conuersacion and art knytte to me in the spyryte the whiche am the moost souerayn spyryte and also haste prayed soo besely and soo deuotily fore this sowle therfore now I gyue thy soule clere syght by the whiche thou mayste perceyue and beholde bothe the fayrenes and the fylthes of euery soule that is present afore the So that as thy bodely wittes afore this tyme haue perceyued the condycions of bodyes ryght so from this tyme forward thyn ghostely wyttes sholde perceyue and consydere the conditions of the spyrytes not only of tho the whilche ben I presented to the but also of all other for whos helpe thou shalt praye though they neuer be presented to thy bodely syght ¶ The grace of this gyfte was euer after ward soo spedefull in this holy mayde that fro that tyme forward she perceiued more clerly the qualytes and dedes â–ª of the sowles of theym the whiche aperyd afore her than of her bodyes so ferforth that in a tyme Mayster Reymound her confessour complayned to her of somÌ„e that grutched vppon her by cause that she suffred many dyuerse persones to knele afore her wolde not byd theym stonde vp To whom she ausâ—terd in this wyse God knoweth fader that I am occupyed aboute the consyderacion of her sowles that I perceyued nothyng in maner of outward dedes Thenne asked her confessour of her and sayde whederâ—ye see her sowles To whom she answerd thus Fader vnder confessyon I shewe to you that after tyme our sauyour hadde I gyue me suche a grace that I sawe the fayrnesse off myn sufters soule the whiche was ordeyned to be dampned for her trespaas by his right wysdom he delyuerd mercyable by mym prayers shewed me afterward He fayrenes ther apperyd afterwar vnnethe afore me but that I sawe the condycions of theyr sowles and therfore fader I am syker if ye hadde onys seen the fayrenesse of a resonable sowle ye wold suffre an hondred tymes bodely deth if it were possyble for the wynnyge off a soule there is nothyng in wis worlde that maye be lykened to her fayrnesse whaÌ„ here oÌ„fessour herd this he prayed her that she wolde vouchesaf to tell hym all the processe how she come to suche a reuclacion Thenne this holy mayde tolde him al the processe as it is reherced afore all bee it though she tolde it but shortly and me kely of the trespas of her seke suster done agaynst her But her confessour afterward enquyred the sothe of that odyous cryme of her susters the whiche knewe theÌ„ both well ynow Ferthermore to the more coÌ„fyrmacion of thyse thynges that benrehersed a fore maister Reymound her coÌ„fessour recordeth of her that he was ofte tymes a speker bytwene her the pope gregori xj For she was an ytaly coude vnd stonde none latyn the pope Gregorye coude vnderstonde none ytaly therfore Mayster Reymound her confessour that coude bothe was a speker bytwene them Amonges alle other communycacions that this holy mayde communyd wyth pope Gregory she complayned her of the court of Rome And sayde that the that paradyse sholde be of vertu ther she founde stynche of cursed vices thenne the pope asked her by her confessour how longe she hadde be in the courte To whom she answerd sodenly wyth a meke boldenes to the pope in this wyse to the worshyppe of almyghty god I dare well say that I perceyued moche more the stynche of synne the whiche is vsed in the court of Rome at home in myn owne cyte there as I was borne thenne they that hath sinned and synne euery daye Thenne the pope after this answere helde his peas And was merueylously astonyed but her confessour maister Reymound merueylously marked he wordes and wyth what auctoryte they were spoken to suche a wourthy prelate Also ofte tymes it befyll bothe to mayster Reymound her confessour and to other that folowed that holy mayde in to dyuerse countrees where neyther she ne they came afore that ther come to her and to hym many vnknowen persons semely arayed for to comin with theym of vertu semyng as though they hadde be vertuous folke But in trouthe they encombred wyth wretched synnes whos synnes she perceyued anone wherfore she wolde neyther speke to theym netourne her face to theym And whan she sawe that they abode loÌ„ge Thenne she brake out a lytyll her voyce more than she was wonte to doo and sayde to theym suche wordes Fyrst we shold amende our lyf fro synne and goo out of the deuyles seruyce and thenne to speke of our lord WhaÌ„ she had said suche wordes she wente fro theym assone as she myght goodly And afterward her confessour and her felawes founde it sothe that they were e ncombred wyth wretched synnes in the whiche synnes they coÌ„tynued wythouten repentaunce Another tyme also she spake wyth a woman the whiche woman semed an honest womaÌ„ but in soth she was the concubyne of a man of holi chirche and that was grete pyte As they spake togyders the wymmen myght not loke vpon the
maidens face by cause euer the hooly mayde tourned awaye her face fro her Of this thynge her confessour hadde grete merueyle And in a tyme asked her why she dyde soo ¶ To whome she answerd and sayde Fader I am syker and ye hadde felt that stynche of synne that I felte in her ye wolde haue caste oute alle that is in your body for sqweymusnes Loo maydens all thyse ensamples haue I sett here for ye sholde knowe what excellent gyftes of grace our lord gaue to this hooly mayde by cause of her meke lyuyng ¶ Ouermore our ghoostely enemye the fend perceyuyng that this hooly mayde wan grete vertues by the seruyce that she dede to seke folke He thought by somme maner of wylle to wythdrawe her fro that holy besynes and yet myght he not For the more that he was aboute to lette her the more she encresyd vertuously by that occupacion ¶ It befyl in a tyme that one of the susters of penaunce whyche was called after the maner of the countree Andred This andred was touched bi the suffrauÌ„ce of oure lorde wyth a greuous infyrmyte and that was in this thyse She hadde vppon her brest a sore the whiche was called a cancer And that fretid the flesshe rounde aboute and it was soo corrupte that there myght none come nyghe her for stynche But yf they hylde her nose And soo there was fewe or none that myghte suffre to come nyghe her ¶ whanne this hooly Mayde perceyued this she vnderstoode that oure lord had receyued that seke suster to her kepyng Thenne anone she came to her that wyth a glad there she comforted her and she serued her gladly to the laste ende of her sekenes that seke suster toke her seruyce the more freely in as moche as she consydered that all other forsoke her this holy mayde lefte no thynge vndo that was longyng to her seke suster encresyd neuer her abhomynable stynche neuer so moche She stode by her and opened her wounde wasshed it and wepte it and coueryd it â–ª and yet neuer she hyldeth she her nose for noo stynche ne shewed none token of lothsomnes ne neuer was heuy ne wroth of seruyce ne wery about her but gladli dyd her dilygeÌ„t seruyce soo that her seke suster had merueyle of the grete stedfastenes and of the grete sufferaunce and of the grete fulnes of loue and charyte that was in so yonge a mayde Of this grete loue and charyte that she shewed to that seke suster the fende had grete enuye and was aboute to lette that dede of mercy and of charyte after his power ¶ Fyrst vpon a daye as this holy mayde was aboute to vnoouere her wounde for to wasshe it and wype it to refreissh it agayn â–ª there came out suche an odoure of stynche that vnnethe her stomake myght suffer it But almost she was brought to a vomyte Assone as she perceyued that she arose agaynst her self wyth an hyghe wrathe and sayde to her skeymons flesshe in this wyse whether the wretched flesshe haste abhomynacion now of thyn suster the whiche oure lorde boughte wyth his precious blode thou mayste falle euery daye in the same sykenesse that she is in or in verse trewely thou shalt be punysshed therfore Anone she bowed done to the sore and hyld her nose and her mouthe open agaynst the wounde soo longe vnto the tyme she felt in her selfe that her skeymousnes was goo and soo she ouer came the flesshe that was contrary to the spyryte The seke suster behelde this and cryed to her merueylyng and sayde cecedere doughter corrupte not thy selfe wyth this foule stynkyng sore ¶ This holy mayde for alle her cryenge wolde not aryse vp vnto the tyme she felt her enemye was ouercome and so she arose vp and he auoyded awaye fro her for a tyme But he consyderyng that he myght not haue the maystry of her wrought wylyly agaynst her by her seke suster He put in her herte suche an heuenes agaynst this holy mayde that she lotheth her seruyce and by lytyll and lytyll that malyce soo encresyd that lothenes was tourned in to an hate For though she knewe well ynow that there was none that wolde serue her but she But yet she sâ—cyd not of that pryuy hate but brake out agaynst her in to a suspycious gâ—losye for that is the condycion of theym that lyuen in hate euer lyghtely for to leue a suspycious thought of them that they hate And at the laste she began to ymage ne and bere her an honde that whan she was not present wyth her she was aboute somme actuell synne flesshely in somme other preuy places â–ª ¶ Yet wold not this holy mayde neuer sâ—ce of her holy seruise aboute her notwithstondyng suspycious ymagynacions I put agaynst her For she wel that wylecome by the deuyll and the more besy she was aboute her the more wrathfull was her seke suster agaynst her by exortacion and excitacion of the fende that euer hated the dedes of charite In so moche that he steryd that seke suster to slander thys holi mayde openly of the filthe of vnclenÌ„e and that scland was so open that at the last whanne that it came to hir susters he ryng somme of the oldest and of the sted fastest cam to thys seke suster for to knowe the trouthe Thanne the seek suster as she sdauÌ„dred hyr a fore ryght soo she contynued in the same sclaund to hir susters accusyng hir full foule actuell vnclennesse Of the whiche foule accusacy on thyse sustres were gretely a meruaylled and styred ageynst thys holy mayde and so was called forthe a fore them and sharpely rebuked wyth many repreuable wordes axyng of hir how she wold suffre hyr self so be deceyued for to lese hyr maydenhode To whome thys holy mayde answerd full pacyently and softely seynge thus â–ª Trewely ladyes and sustres by the grace of our lord Jhesu cryste I am a mayde And neuer wold she say other worde in blamyng of hyr that so had accused hyr but onely thus Trewely I am a mayde trewely I am a mayde Yet for all thys she cessyd neuer of hyr seruyse all be it that it was full heuysom to hir for to here suche wordes sclaundre But yet fyrst she serued hyr seek suster and afterward went to hir chaÌ„bâ—e for to praye for that was hyr most comforte in all suche dyseases There she prayed in soule more thenne in wordes by mouthe and that was in thys wyse O almyghty god my dere beloued spouse thou knowest well that the name of maydes is tender and lyghtly for to catche sclaundre namely of suche maydens that haue chosen the to be their spouse and that was the cause why that thou woldest that thy gloryous moder our lady Saynt Mary was commytted to Joseph that was called spoused hyr husbond for to kepe hyr name of virgynyte wythout sclaunder Thou knowest lord that alle thys sclaundre the whiche is putte vpon me is come by the fende â—he
fader of â—esynges by cause I sholde cesse of the besynes the whiche I haue begonne for thy loue Therfore lord I praye the helpe me that knowest well I am gylteles and suffre not thys wycked enemye the whiche was ouertâ— rowe by thy passyon to haue the maystrye of me Whanne she hadde prayed thus longe to our lord wepyng plenteuously Oure lorde appyred to hyr as she knowelechyd afterward in confessyon to hyr confessour mayster Reymond Holdyng in his ryght honde a golden crowne arayed with precyous margaryte stonys And in hys lyfte honde a garlonde of sharpe thornes seyng to hyr in thys wyse Dere doughter it is nedefull that thou be crowned wyth owne of thyse two crownes therfore chese whether thou hast leuer haue of thys two Châ—se now whether thou haddest leuer be crowned wyth the shaâ—pe crowne of thorne in thys lyâ— and that other to be reserued to the in euer lastyng lyf Or ellys for to haue this precyous crowne for to haue the other after thys lyfe Thenne thys holy mayde sayde Lord thou knowest well that I haue forsake myn owne wylle and chosen for to do after thy blyssed wyll therfore I dare not chese no maner thyng wythout thy plesaunt wyll Neuerthelesse by cause thou wylte that I shall answer I say thus that I chese rather in thys lyf euer to be coÌ„fourmed to thy blessyd passyon and soo for to suffre peynes for thy loue After thyse wordes anone she toke of our lordes hondes the garland of thornes feruently and put it myghtely vpon hyr hede wyth a maner ef vyolence that the thornys percyd hir hede rounde about as hir thought in so moche that she had a peyne long afterward in hyr hede by prykynge of the thornys as she recorded hir self openly to mayster Reymond hyr confessour Than sayd our ford to hyr thus in my poure is al thyng and as I haue suffred this sclauÌ„der to be areysed ryght so it is in my power to cesse it Therfore thou shalt contynue in that holy seruyse as thou hast be gonne gyue no stede to the sende that wold let the I shall gyue the full vntorye of thyne enemye that what that euer he hath Imagyned ageynst the it shall torne to hys owne hede for thy more ioye and hys more peyne Thus was thys holy mayde comforted and soo bode stylle in that holy seruyse But whanne thys sclaundre cam to hyr moder Lapa all be it that she was seker ynough of hyr doughter she was gretely styred by thys sclaunder sayd to hyr wyth myghty spyryte in thys wyse Doughter haue I not oft sayd to the that thou sholdest nomore serue that stynkyng woman loo what reward she hath gyue the for thy besye seruyse She hath sclaundred the full foule to all thy sustres yf thou euer serue hyr more or come to hyr neuer shall I calle ne name the my doughter afterward ne thou me thy moder Now was this the soty lest wyll of all For ther the fende myght not haue the maystrye of hir by sclaunde ryng of hyr seek suster he beganne wyth a maner of pyte to lette hyr of hyr holy seruyse by hyr moders mouthe Thenne was thys holy mayde astonyed somwhat for hir moders wordes And at the last she wente to hyr and knelyd afore hyr seynge to hyr thus Swete moder whether our lorde wolde be pleased yf we leue vndone the dedys of mercy to our negyhbours for theyr vnkyndenes Whether our sauyour lefte to raunsom vs by suffryng deth on the crosse for the reprouyng wordes and obloquye of men God knoweth moder your charyte also yf I lefte thys seek suster wolde do hir no seruyse there wolde none do hir seruyse And so she shold deye for defauâ—â— Sholde we be cause and occasyon of hyr deth she is now a lytell deceyued of the fende perauenture here afterward our lorde wyll gyue hyr grace for to knowe hyr trespas By suche wordes lyke to thise at the laste she wan hyr moders blessyng and wente to the seek suster ageyn and serued hir so gladly as though she had neuer sayd euyll of hyr These ke suster was than astonyed and perceyued thenne that she had do amysse and beganne to haue sorowe contrycyon in hyr herte of hir sclaunder that she had put vpon hir Thenne our lord shewed mercy to hyr And for to make the good fame of hys mayde he shewed that seek suster in a tyme as she laye in hyr bedde a gracious vysyon that he wouchesauf to shewe to thys holy mayde vpon a daye whanne thys holy mayde wente to hyr chambre after hyr seruyse that she had do to that seek suster That same seek suster sawe as she laye in hyr bedde aboute the holy mayde a grete lyght comyng don from heuen of so grete mirthe swetenes that it made hyr for to forgete vtterly all hyr dyseases what thys myght mene clerely she wyst neuer but she loked aboute here and there And behelde the maydes face transformed or traÌ„sfygured that hyr semed that she was not thenne Katheryn Lapais doughter but rather lyke to an heuenly creature gloryfyed that lyghte beclypped hyr rounde aboute And the more she behelde hyr the more she yelde hir self gylty in hyr sowle to our lorde of the sclaunder that she puttâ— vpon that holy mayde Whanne thys vysyon hadde taryâ—â— a whyle the whiche appyred to the bodely eyen of that seek suster as it came so it passyd awaye after the whiche passyng the seek suster was long after comforted and also sorowfull for her trespas And anone she axed mercy of the holy mayde wyth sobbyng terys that she had so wyckedly trespassyd ageynst hyr and sclaundred hyr full falsely Loo maydens by that outward lyght our lorde gaf hyr an Inward lyght for to knowe how falsely she was deceyued by the fende Anone forthwyth whanne this holy mayde herde how mekely she axed forgyuenes She wente to hyr mekely and took hyr in her armes and kyssed hyr seyng to hyr thus full comfortably Dere moder I am not dysplesed wyth you in no wyse for I wote well it was the fendes malyce and not youres but I thanke yon wyth all my herte for ye loue me in that ye wolde I were kept clene And therfore I wyte you no thyng of all thys but the fende that hath wrought all this so malyciously ageynst me wyth suche wordes and lyke thyse Thys holy mayde comforted hyr seek suster and dyd hyr seruyse as she was wonte to do and whan she had do leste she shold haue spende hyr tyme in vayne she wente to hyr chambre and occupyed hyr in prayer In the mene tyme that the seek su ste knowleched hir gylty with wepyng and waylyng afore all thoo that came to hyr and sayd openly afore theym alle that by dysceyte of the fende she sclaundred the holy mayde wrongfully And she axed forgyuenes of hem alle For she sayde that she knewe well ynough that this mayde
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
can none tongue tell by cause she was soo obedyent and soo grouÌ„ded in mekenes that coude nother excuse her self ne wythstond the wyll of her confessonr what that euer â—â— badde her doo for one or other she wyst well that the wyll of god was contrarye agaynst all their domes And on the other syde she was aferd for the dred of god to forsake obedyence that she was bode by her confessour And therto she was lothe to notefye the trouthe to them carnell pepse by cause the coude not sauore suche a ghostely trouthe therfore what she sholde doo she wyst neuer Thus she suffred moche angwyshe in this conflycte But amonges alle thyse conflictis she ran to her praye and for a souerayn remedy she wepte plentuously afore oure forde teres of sorowe and of hope besechyng hym mekely wyth moche instaunce that he wolde vouchesaf to shewe hys wyll to all tho that were contrary again ste her maner of lyuyng And specyafly to her confessour whom she was moste lothe to offende She wolde not reherce the worde of the Appostles that they sayde to prynces of the lawe whan they sayde thus ¶ Oportet obedire deo magis quam homini bâ— That is we sholde rader obeye to god than to man But for to seye so she was lothe lest it sholde haue be answerd her that the fende transâ—igureth hym ofte tymes in an angell of lyght And therfore she sholde gyue none credens to euery spyrit Ne sholde not leue to moche to her owna wytte but to doo after counseyll ¶ In this deuout prayer oure lord herd her graciously as he dyde in many other and ofte tymes illumyned her confessour his sowle and chaunged his counseyll But now I shalt sece of this mater and procede in the processe of this holy maydens lyuyng The fyrst tyme that this speciall grace befyll her she was soo full of the holy ghoste that fro the begynnyng of lenton in to AscenciÌ„on off oure lorde she was wythout bodely mete or drynke euer glad and mery This was none merueyle for the fruyte of the spyryte is charyte ioye and peas as saynt pouse sayth And as our lord sayth hym self A man lyueth not alwaye wyth bodely sustynaunce but wyth the worde that cometh out of goddes mouth And for as holy wryt sayth Juseus exside viuit That is the ryghtwysman lyueth by the fayth On the asceÌ„cioÌ„ day our lorde graunted her that she sholde ete as she tolde afterward preuely to her confessour And soo she dyde for she ete bred potage of wortes other rawe herbes also other lenton metes for that meruey lous body about kynde myght not receyâ—ue none delycatâ— metes After that day she tournyd agayn to her symple faste that she hadde begunne a fore soo by lytyll and lytill she tournyd that symple faste in to a costome contynuelly that was neuer herd in to tho dayes Her confessour mayster Reymound berith record and sayth that ofte tymes he knewe that her body was not comforted by none bodely mete ne drynke but only with colde water vnto the tyme she was brought to suche a febylnesse that hym thought and other moo that she was almost dede But assone as she herd saye of ony nede that shold be done to manÌ„is soule she caught strengthe sodenly wythouten ony bodely comforte that she was able to goo as mightely as euer she was wythout ony greuauuce a boue the commune strengthe or of other the whiche folowed her and neuer wae wery Wherof came this grace trowe ye but only of the spryte that comforteth and quickeneth the body merueylously aboue kynde namely of suche a body that is subiecte to the spyryte in alle ghostely werkes By this may euery ghostely man vnderstonde that alle thys holy maydens lyf was aboue kinde and full of myracle ¶ In a tyme whan she hadde faste soo longe and lyued without mete and drinke Her confessour mayster Reymound asked her wheder she had ony tyme ony maner of appetyte to mete or drynke To whom she answerd thus I haue so grete swetnes that our lord gaue me by receyuing of that blessyd sacrament off the aulter his owne precioâ— flesh blod that in noo wyse I myght desyre none maner bodely sustynaunce of mete or drynke ThenÌ„e her confessour asked eftsones whether she had ony appetyte to mete the day that she was not hosylyd She said nay for whaÌ„ it happed that she was not hose lyd the presence and the syght of that blessyd sacrament not only the sight of the blessyd sacrmeÌ„t but also the presens of that presie the whiche she knewe welle hadde that day sayd masse I touched that blessyd sacrament comforted her in suche wyse that she hadde none mynde of bodely mete ¶ This holy mayde stode bothe full and fastyng wythoutforth fastynge and wythinforth full wythoutforth drye and wythinforth moyste with flodes of quyk water and in alle manes of chaunces she was euer glad and iocuÌ„de But the fende myght not suffre this that the she shold thus be endowed by suche gracious gyftes but by his venyms woodnes of malycious enuye he steryd bothe spyrytuall folke and temperall folke Relygious and seculer againste her for that syuguler gyfte of fastynge merueyle not though he styred ghostely folke and relygyous agaynst her for in suche but yf theyr owne loue of theym self were fully quenched by grace regnid more perylous enuye than in other and namely whan they see another doo the whiche them thynketh is vnpossybyle theym for to do Serche wisely now and aspye whether this was not soth amonges the holy faders dwellyng in thebayde there was a seculer man that came to the grete congregacioÌ„ where Phatomye was abbot for to receyue the habyte amonges theym And whan he was receyued to the habyte to the holy congregacion the couent sawe how merueylously he lyued And they myght not doo as he dyde They came alle wyth one voyce gretelysteryd agaynste Phatomye and bad hym eyther put out of the congregacion that newe monke or ellis thei wolde not abyde wyth hym Loo yf suche enuye regned thenne in tho dayes amonges suche that were holde ryht â—fyght folk What enuye tro we ye myht regne amoÌ„ges our ghostely folke that lyueÌ„ in thyse dayes it is none wonder therfore thou ghostely folke grutched with this holy maydes fastyng For somme there were that said there is none lyuyng gretter than our lord for oure lorde yet ete dranke whiles he lyued in erthe and his blessyd gloryous moder oure gloryous lady gloryous vyrgyn marye and alle his appostles and also whom our lorde bad that they shold ete and drynke that was set afore theym and soo they dyde How is that that now is lyuyng in erthe that myght passe theym or to be lyke to theym I trowe none Somme ther were also that sayde and afermed that saintes afore vs taught by worde and by dede that there shold none take vpon theym a synguler lyuyng
her stomak ony mete the whiche was mete wurthy as for that tyme yet she spet out fro her grete mater off flewme as other folke dyde the whiche myght not bee by nature But yf the stomake hadde receyued somme substaunce afore and thrfoere our lord wrought merueylously in her aboue nature Also as for drynkynking of colde water she receiued it gladly to refresshe her chykes and her throte This maner of lyf she lyued vnto her I aste ende for grutchers and for theym that were slaundred by her fastinge Her confessour Mayster Reymound perceyued how grete peyne she suffred by vndygestyon of her stomake and all for to stoppe grutchers he conforted her for coÌ„passyon that he hadde vppon her that she sholde leue and ete nomore rather than for to suffre suche a payne And lete theymgrutche ynow To whom she answerd smylyngly fader is better for meto suffrein this lyfefor my synÌ„es thanne for to suffre payne endelesly Her grutchyng is to me profytable by cause I shall be delyuerd of payne wythouten ende for the payne that I suffre in this lyf sholde I fle the ryghtwysnes of god Nay god forbede it oure lord doth to me grete grace by cause he giueth me myn payne in this lyf Soo her confessour coude nomore answere to her but helde his peas in this wyse ¶ Of alle her enemyes she had the maistry what soo in maner of the fende and of grutchers so she taughte other to do euery daye So that in a tyme whan she comynyd wyth her confessour of the gracious gyftes of our lord She sayd who soo coude vse the grace of oure lorde He sholde euer haue the vyctorye of all thynges that fallen to hym And thenÌ„e she tourned to her confessour and sayde to hym soo I wolde that ye dyde as ofte as ony newe thynge byfalleth to you be it prosperyte or aduersyte thynketh with in your self and sayth ofte this I wyll wanne somwhat and ye doo soo ye sholde soone be ryche in vertu ¶ Loo maydens haue mynde of thysnotable doctryne for thus I make an ende of this chapytre The wytnes of all thynges the whiche ben wryte therin Is this holy mayde eyther by her opyn dedes or ellis by her wordes And also her confessour the whiche was a fore maister Reymound ¶ Of the wounderfull rauysshyng and excesse of her mynde for her bodely wyttees And of grete reuelacions I shewed to her of oure lorde Capitulum vj rIght as oure lorde graunted to his spouse this holy mayde a synguler lyuyng as touchyng her body â–ª ryght soo he vysyted her soule wyth grete merueylous confortes of reuelacions Fyrst for the grete habouÌ„dant graces with her come that bodely strengthe that she had aboute kynde Wete ye right wel that fro the tyme that this holy mayde had I dronke of oure lordes syde the drynke of lyf as it is rehersid a foâ—â— many grete graces were habouÌ„dant iÌ„ her that ofte times ofte times as it had be in maner contynuabyl She was occupyed in actuell coÌ„templacion and her spyryte was lowyd to our lord that for the more parte she by lefte wythout felyng in her bodely wyttes Soo that as it is rehersed in the fyrst party her armes were founde ofte times soo styf in tyme of suche actuell contemplacion that rather they sholde breke theÌ„ne bowe Her eyen were all closed her ere 's herde none noyse were it neuer so grete and her bodely wyttes for that tyme were sequestred fro her owne werkynge ¶ This sholde be none merueyle to noman yf they wolde take hede to that syweth Oure lorde began to bee soo homely with her and brennyd her sowle wyth soo moche haboundante fyre of loue not oonly in pryuy places but also in open places as well stondyng as goyng that she the whiche hadde thyse grete graces by knewe it playnely to her confessour she coude fynde none wordes for to telle expressely the grace that she felte ¶ For in a tyme whan she prayed to oure lord feruentely wyth the Prophete Dauyd seyeng deuoutly thyse wordes ¶ Cor meum crea in me deus et spirituÌ„ rectum innoua in visceribus meis That is prayng our lorde specially that he wolde take awaye her herte her owne wyll and gyue her a newe herte after his wyll She hadde suche a comforte that her semed that our lord Jhesu come to her and opened her lyft side and toke out her herte and went his waye and belyfte her with out her owne herte ¶ Afterward it befyll that she commynyd wyth her confessour and amonges all thynges she sayde that she had none herte in her body the whiche wordes her coÌ„fessour sâ—â—rned her in a maner and blamed her for she sayde soo Thenne she rehersed eftsones and confermed her wordes trewely fader as moche as I maye fele yet after the felyng of myn body me semeth I lacke myn herte for oure lorde apperyd to me and opened myn leste syde and toke out myn herte and went his way Thenne the confessour sayde that it was vnpossyble that she shold lyue with out an herte she sayde naye there is nothynge vnpossyble to god And therfore she bad hym gyue credens that it is so For ofte tymes after ward she rehersed that she lyued without herte with in a fewe dayes afterward it befyll that she wente to a chapell of the fryers where susters of penaunce were wonte to knele And whan all were goo home it befil that she contynued in her prayers so that she was fro her self by rauysshyng and at the laste she awoke of her rauysshyng and went homward And as she wente by the waye sodenly a lyght of heuen bicliped her And in that lyght aperyd our lord holdyng in his honde a reed shining herte in lykenes of a mannys herte At the commyng of thys heuenly lyght she was aferde that she fyll doune vppon the grounde Thenne came our lorde to her openyd her lyftesyde eftsones and pute in her body that herte the whiche he hylde in his hondes seyng to her thus ¶ Loo dere doughter as I toke awaye thyn herte the laste daye ryght soo now I giue the myn herte wherby thou mayst lyue endelesly whan he hadde so doo he closed the wounde agayn that he made open in the flesshe Neuerthelesse there by left a merueylous marke in the lykenes of a wouÌ„de heled in the same place euer afterward where as her felawes tolde her confessour Mayster Reymound for ofte tymes they sawe it as she coude not forsake it to hym whan he askid it of her whether it were soo or not Out of that meruayllous gracyous herte that was so I gyuen hyr of our lord came out many meruayllous werkys And yet many moo meruayllous reuelacyons haboundeth wythin forth She came neuer afterward for to be hoseled but that ther was shewed to hyr many synguler gyftes of grace Oft tymes she sawe a lytell chylde in the prestys handys and other whyle a well growen
chylde other whyle an hote brennyng ouen of fyre And whan the preste receyued that blyssed sacrament it semed to hyr that the fyre entred in to hym But whan she shold be houseled ofte tymes she tastyd so grete an odour of that blyssed sacrament that almost hyr body defaylled Euermore also whether she sawe or receyued the blyssed sacrament She receyued with all a newe ioye in hir soule so that many tymes she sholde daunce in hir body for ioye makyng a noyse that hyr felawes myght here hyr the whiche tolde it afterward to hyr confessour and he enquyred the trouthe whether it were so and founde it trewe and soo wrote it for a perpetuell recorde That sowne and that noyse was not lyke other maner comyn sownes of men but as it hadde be a noyse aboue comyn cours of kynde what meruayll was that though she made a ioyfull noyse aboue kynde Syth it so was that she hadde receyued an herte aboue kynde For after tyme that she hadde receyued that newe herte as it is rehersed afore she semed that she was not the same that she was afore ofte tymes she sayd to hyr confessour See ye not fader that I am not the same that I was afore but rather chauÌ„ged in to another persone O wolde god fader ye knewe that I fele for I trewe veryly yf a creatour knewe that I fele in my sowle he sholde be resolued made ryght esye were he neuer so harde For my sowle is full of melodye and ioye And it is meruayll to me how it may abyde in the body There is also grete hote brennyng of dyuyne loue therin that thys outward materyall fyre semeth me in coÌ„paryson of that fyre rather colde than hote Also of that ghoostly hote is kynde led in my sowle as me semeth soo grete a loue of my neghbours that my thynketh I myght gladdely suffre for them bodely deth wyth grete ioye And ouermore out of that ghoostly hote is come to my soule a renewyng of purytee and mekenes in so moche that me semeth I am brought to the same purytee and mekenes that a chylde of foure or a fyue yere age is Inne All this she tolde to hir confessour preuely and to none other After tyme that thys holy mayde was thus fulfylled in hyr sowle of suche plente of newe gracys that were many notable vysyons shewed to hyr of whom somme I shall reherce by the grace of god ¶ Fyrste our lord Jhesu hys blessyd Moder and Marye magdalene appyred to gydres to hir and comforted hyr in hir holy purpose whome our lord axed and sayd Doughter what desyrest thou She wyth wepyng chere answerd sayd Lorde thou knowest what me nedeth better than I for I haue no wyll but thyne ne none herte but thyn hert Thenne came to hyr mynde how Marye magdalene commytted hyr self fully to our lorde whan she satte wepte at his fete Wyth that she felte the same swetenesse of loue that Marye magdalene felte that tyme whan she wepte Wherfore she behelde Marye magdalene Our lord ê‘ceyued that and for to fulfyll hyr desyre he sayd Loo dere doughter for thy more solace and coÌ„forte I gyue the Marye magdalene to be thy moder To whome thou mayst trustely go to and be comforted for to hir specyally I commytte thy gouernaunce For this grete gyfte this holy mayde thanked our lord wyth gpete mekenes reuerently deuoutly she comended hyr ghoostly gouernaunce to Marye magdalene prayng hyr that she wolde wouchesauf to take hyr vnder gouernaunce Syth our lord had specyally commytted hyr to her Fro that houre euer afterward the holy mayde called Marye magdalene hyr moder the whiche was not doo wythout grete mysterye as me semeth for as Marye magdalene lyued xxxiij yere in a â—oche wythout bodely mete and all that tyme was I occupyed in comtemplacyon Ryght so this holy mayde fro that tyme that she was endowed wyth these newe graces vnto the age of xxxiij yere afterward whiche yere she passyd out of thys worlde She was so occupyed in dyuyne contemplacyon that she hadde neuer nede all the tyme of bodely mete And yet as Marye magdalene was take vp in to the ayre by aungels seuen tymes in the day where she herde the pryuetees of god Ryght so this holy mayde for the more partye all hir yeres she was rauysshed fro hyr bodely wyttes by strengthe of the sowle that was occupyed in contemplacyon of heuenly thynges and so praysed our lord wyth aungels in so moche that often tymes hyr body was lyfte vp in to the ayre of the whiche many men wommen that sawe hyr for that tyme bare recorde Ouermore in that rauyssheng she sawe many meruayllous thynges spake preuely in tyme of hyr rauysshyng many hygh wordes of contemplacion of the whiche som I shall tell you afterward Hyr confessour saw hyr ones in a tyme rauysshed fro hyr bodely wyttes in the same wyse as it is rehersed afore and he herde hyr speke preuely thenne he came nere for to lysten clerely what she sayd and he herde that she sayd formably thyse wordes in latyn Vidi archana dei And that was sayd often tymes other wordes sayde she none but thoo Whanne she was restoryd ageyne to hyr bodely wyttes she cessyd not to reherse these same wordes coÌ„tynuelly and it is nomore for to say but I haue seen the pryuetres of god Thenne hyr confessour desyryng for to knowe why she rehersed tho wordes so ofte axyd hyr in thys maner of wyse Good moder why rehersed ye soo ofte the wordes wyll not tell me what ye mene as ye were wonte to do She answerde I may not say none other wyse Hyr confessour axed hyr why and what is the cause ye were wont to declare me many thinges that our lord hadde shewed to you why wyll ye not do so now theÌ„ne she sayde I sholde haue as grete conscyence therof yf I sholde declare to you that I haue seen wyth my langage that is soo vnperfyte as I sholde haue yf I blasfemed our lord or Inhonoured hym for there is a grete dyffrence bytwene the vnderstondyng or intellecte of the sowle Illumyned of god the expressyng of wordes they seme contrary eche to other therfore as for this tyme I can not tell you what I haue saye for they ben vnspekable For this skylle me thynke that she was well commytted by the dyuyne prouydence of our lord to Marye magdalene that a faster shold be knytte to a faster and a louer to a louer And she that had so hygh contemplacyon to hyr that was soo hyghe in contemplacyon Also hir confessour rehersed of hir that after tyme she saw that vysyon of our lord hys blessyd moâ— and Saynt mary magdalene that for that tymeit semed hyr that hyr herte went Inne by the syde of our lorde in to his herte and was made bothe one so that she felte hyr soule all for melte relented by the strengthe of
hys dyuyne loue that she â—â—yed in hyr soule sayd ¶ Lorde thou hast wounded myn herte lorde thou hast wouÌ„ded myn herte ¶ And this was on saynt margaretes day as she tolde to hyr confessour in preuytee ¶ Hyt befell also in another tyme the morowe after Saynt Laurence daye that this holy mayde cam to the chyrche for to here masse kneled nexte to the auter as she was wonte for to do for to see the blessyd sacrement because that she sholde not lette the preste at theautre by hyr grete sobbynghir confessour came to hyr warned her that she shold constreyne hir asmoche as she mighte fro suche grete sobbynges lest the prest were lette by hyr ¶ Thâ—nae anone she mekely as trewe obedyent mayden satte ferther fro the aulter prayed to oure lorde that he wold vouchesauf to Illumyne hir confessour that he myght see and knowe whether suche sterynges of the spyryte of god myght be mesured of man ¶ TheÌ„ne by vertu of that prayer hyr contessoure hadde so perfyte knoleche of feuoure of deuocyon by experience that he knewe fully by that that suche feruoures of the soule myght not be kepte wythin but nedes by strenthe of dyuyne loue yt muste breke out ¶ Ferthermore oftyme whan she was not houseled she desyred in hyr sowle for to receyue the blyssed sacramet of the aulture ¶ And oftymes she wold breke out and say deuoutly thus ¶ I wolde receyue my lorde Jhesu crystys body wyth that our lorde wolde appyre to hyr as he was wont to doo and to fulfylle hyr desyre he toke the maydens mouthe put it to hys blessyd wounde of hys syde and bad hyr receyue of â—s flesshe and of hys bloode as moche as she lyst ¶ Thenne she receyued plentuously of our lorde breste that she semed for pure loue she sholde hadde dyed by cause of the grete swetnes that she felte in her herte ¶ Hyt befyll also vpon Sanyt â—â—exis day that this holy mayde prayed to our lorde deuoutly that he wolde vouchesauf to grauÌ„te hyr breÌ„nyng desyre for to receyue hys flesshe and hys blood ¶ Wyth that she had dâ—a reuelacyon that she sholde be houseled on the morowe doubteles for it was forbeden hyr of the freres that she sholde not so ofte be houseled ¶ Thenne whane she hadde thys confortable reuelacyon She. prayed our lord that he wold wouchesauf to clenie hir herte agaynst the tyme she shold receyue hym that she myght the more worthely receyue hym ¶ In tyme that she prayed thus she felte a reyne comenge doun in to hyr soule in maner of a grete haboundant flood not of water or of suche other lyquore but onely of blood medelyd wyth fyre the whiche as hyr semed purgyd clensed so myghtely â—â— rsowie that by strengthe of that tyre it reâ—oâ—ded in to the body and clensed also hyr body ¶ After thys on the morowe she was â—oseek that by no waye it semed to hyr she myght not goo one foot ¶ Neuertheless she doubted no thyng of the ê“mysse oâ— our lord but trustyng to hym fully began to go to chyrche And whan she was come thyder she knelyd doun in a chapell besyde an aulter ¶ Thenne came to hyr mynde how she was enfourmed that she myght not be houseled of what prest she lyst but of suche that ben assygned to hyr â–ª ¶ wyth that she desyred hyr confessour sholde say a masse at that same aulter Anone oure lorde gaf hyr comforte that he sholde sing there Sodeynly our lord thenne touched the herte of hyr confessonr wyth deuocioÌ„ that he sholdesaye a masse that day for he was in no wyll for to syng that day ne he wyste not that the holy mayde was come to chyrche ¶ Thenne at the steryng of our lorde he dysposed him to masse wente to the same aulter there the holy mayde was and abode our lordes behest at whiche aulter also he was neuer wont to synge ¶ And whanne he came he founde there this holy mayde axyng for to be houseled for charyte ¶ Thenne he rceyued that it was the wyll of god he sholde syng that day ¶ He sayd masse and at the ende of the masse as the maner is he came for to housele hyr this holy mayde at the aulter ende where she was redy for to receyue that blessyd sacrament ¶ Hyr confessour behelde and sawe hyr vysage all shynyng rede al for wepre wyth terys the whiche was to him a grete meruayll and Wuth that deuocion she receyued that blissed sacrament ¶ And after tyme she was houseled she was so plenteuously replete of our lorde that all that day she myght speke no worde to noo creature ¶ On the morowe hyr confessour axed hyr what hir eyled and what nowe grace she receyued the other day a fore by cause she was so shynnyng rede whan she receyued that blyssed sacrament she answorde thus ¶ Fader of what colour I was that tyme I wote nere but thys I knowe well whaÌ„ I vnworthy wretche receyued that blyssed sacrament of your hondes it drewe me som to it that alle other thyng saue that allone wexed to me lothesom not onely temporall thynges dylectacyons of the worlde but also other comfortes pleysaunces were they neuer so ghostly wherfore I desyred prayed that all suche ghostly comfortes sholde be sequestryd frome so that I myght pleese god and ende lesly be I knytte to hym And also I prayed hym that he wolde take away my wyl gyue me hys wyll and so he dede right mercyably and sayd to me thus ¶ Loo dere doughter now I gyue the my wyll bi the whiche thou shalte be soo strong that what euer happe to the fro thys tyme for the warde thou shalt neuer be chaunged nestyred ryght so it was ¶ She was euer afterwarde dyspysed and sette lytell by of alle folke and was neuer the more styred ne troubled ageynsthem ¶ Ouermore yet this holy mayde sayd to her confessour Fader well wyll ye wete how our lorde serued me Trewely as a moder serued hyr lytell soukyng chylde whome she loueth tenderly ¶ A moder suffred other while hir childe stonde a ferre from hyr whyle she sheweth hym hirtete of hir breste and suffred hym to wepe longe tyme after hit but all that tyme the lawhed ¶ At the last whan she hath suffred it to wepe long tyme she gothe ther to wyth a lawhyng there and beclypped it in her armes and kyssed it and soo gyueth it hyr breste or she tete ¶ Ryght so ferde our lorde wyth me that day he shewed me hys blessyd wounde in his syde stondyng all a ferre from me ¶ And I for desyre that I hadde ther to putte my mouth to that blessyd wounde and wepte haboundantly ¶ Thenne our lorde sayd after tyme that he hadde so suffred me to wepe he came to me gladdely and tooke my sowle in hys armes and putte my mouthe to his wounde ¶ And thenne my sowle for that grete
desyre entred all hole in to hys blessyd wounde where I founde moche swetnesse and knowleche of hys godhede ¶ And yfye wystye wold meruayll that myn herte for gretnesse of that ioye and loue to barst not And ye wolde be astonyed how I myght lyue in this lyf wyth suche a grete passyng hete of loue Also another thynge befyll hyr the next yere se wyng vpon the same day as she was a boute to receyue the blyssed sacrament of the aulter whanne the prest helde the blessyd sacrament in hys handes afore hyr and taught hyr for to say thus Lorde I am not worthy that thou sholdest entre in me Thenne whan she had de receyued hym hyr semed that as a fysshe entred in to the water and the water in hym ryght so hyr sowfe entred in god and god in hir And soo she felte hyr self all I drawe in to our lord that vnnethe she myght come home to hyr chambre And whan she was come home she layde hyr doune vpon hir harde bedde leyng long tyme styll and moeuyd not At the last hyr body was take vp in to the ayre and stode the re a whyle to gyder as thre wytnessys bereth recorde the whiche names I shall tell you afterward Thenne afterward she came doun and lay vpon hyr bedde alle weyke and feble and spake softely many blessyd swete wordes And hye contemplatyf wordes that it steryd hyr felawes to wepe the whiche herde them And amonges thoo swetr wordes she prayed for many folke and for som̄e specyally by name namely for hyr confessour that was that same tyme in the same momente in the chyrche and thought for that tyme on no thynge that sholde styre hym to deuocyon But sodeynly by hyr prayer he felte a meruayllous deuocyon that neuer he assayed afore consyderyng and meruayllyng how that newe grace camto hym soo sodeynly that houre whyle he thought thus sodeynly came to hym one of this holy maydens felawes and sayd Trewely fader Katheryne hath moche prayed for you this day suche an houre Thenne anone he knowe that suche a newe denocyon came to hym at that houre by Katherynes prayer And he axed of hyr felawe what she prayed she tolde him that she prayed for him and for other that oure lorde wolde wouchesauf to graunte them euerlastyng lyf and that she putt forth hyr honde and prayed hym for to graunte that Thenne she took doune hyr honde ageyne semyng to hir al sore and wyth grete syghenge she sayde thus A lord worshypped mote thou be for that was euer a comyn terme in hyr mouthe for to saye whan she was seek sore trauaylled Whanne hyr confessour herde this he wente to her and prayed hir tille hym all hyr vysyon She as meke obedyent mayde tolde him all the hole bysyon as it is sayd afore and whanne she came to that mater where she prayed for specyall frendes she sayd to hym Fader whanne I prayed for you and for other that our lord wolde wouchesauf to graun te you euerlastyng lyf with that I hadde a comforte that it sholde so be and forthwyth I asked a token of our lord that I myght knowe it sholde be so not for none Incredulyte but rather for a notable memorye Thenne he prayed me that I sholde stoetche out myn honde I dyde so and he putte in my honde a nayle and closed the nayle soo faste wyth Inne myn honde Thenne I felte a grete peyne in myn honde as though an yren naylle hadde be smyten thorugh myghtely wyth an hamour soo that me semed to mynowne syght thought it be Jnuysyble to other I haue a marke of Crystys woundes in myn honde ¶ Also for contynuance of mater I shall tell you another meruayllos thyng lyke to thys that befylle in the Cytee of Pyse As mayster Reymond hyr last confessour bereth recorde In a tyme thys holy mayde came to the Cyte of Pyse and other many wyth hyr amonges whome mayster Reymond was one the whyche holy mayde was receyued in to a worthy mannes place of the same Cyte besyde a chappell of Saynt Crystyane In the whyche chappell mayster Reymond sayde masse at the holy maydes prayer and ther he houseled hyr after hyr desyre as she vsed to be contynuelly whanne she hadde receyued that blyssed sacramente she was anone rauysshed fro hyr bodely wyttes and all that tyme mayster Reymond and other moo abode tyll she hadde do for to here of hyr somme ghoostly comforte as they were wonte to do after suche rauyssheng Sodeynly as they behelde hyr the body that laye prostratr vpon the grounde was reysed vp and she kneled vpon hyr knees stretchyng vp hyr armes hyr hondes wyth a clere shynyng vysage Whanne she had so long kneled wyth closyng and styf armes at the laste she fyll doun sodeynly as though she hadde be dedly wounded and anone sone after she was restoryd ageyne to hyr bodely wyttes Thenne she sente after mayster Reymond hyr confessour and sayde to hym preuely thys wordes Fader I do you well to wete that by the mercy of god I here now in my body the markys of the blessyd woundes of oure lorde mayster Reymone thenne axed hyr how that myght be and how it stode with hir in tyme of hir rauyssheng she answer de and sayde I sawe our lord fastned vpon the crosse comyng a doune and beelyppyng me wyth a grete lyght By the whyche gracyous vysyon the sowle was so gretely steryd to me wyth my lorde that the body was constreyned by strengthe of the spyryte to aryse Thenne out of the holes of hys holy woundes I sawe fyue rede bemys come doune from hym fastned vpon my body and was cause why that my body was all forstoeyned Wyth that I cryed to our lord and sayde A a lorde god I beseche the that these woundes appyre not in me to the syght of men outward Thenne sodeynly whyle she sayde thyse wordes er thenne thoo rede bemys were fully come doune to the body changed hir colours out of rede in to a meruayllous bryghtnesse and in lykenes of a pure lyght they restyd in fyue placed of my body that is vpon the hondes the feet and the herte Thenne mayster Reymond axed hir whether ony of the bemys come to the ryghte syde She sayde nay but onely vpon the lyfte syde vpon my herte mayster Reymond axed hyr eftesones felyst thou ony maner of sensyble pryne in thoo places She answerd wyth a grete sygheng sayde I suffre soo grete a sensyble sorowe in all tho fyue places and specyaly in my herte that but god shewe a newe myracle it is Impossyble to me for to lyue longe tyme to gydres in this body This worde marked well mayster Reymond hyr confessour and espyed where he coude see in hir ony maner tokenes of peyne Whā she had told that she wold say they depted a sonder out of that chappell they went to gyders home to theyr Inne the holy mayde went to hir chambre
ther she lay doun femyng to all that euer were aboute hyr drawyng to the deth Thenne was mayster Reymond called other of hys feleshyp for to see the wound thyng whan they were come they wepte sore by cause they wend she shold had depted froÌ„ theÌ„ for they saw hir neâ— so feble nygh so to the deth ¶ Neuertheles within a whyle after she resorted agayn to more strengthe and receyued mete and thenne she spake eftsones to maister Reymound and sayde to hym as she sayd a fore that she may not longe lyue but yf god shewe a newe miracle Thenne Mayster Reymound called to gyders all her chyldren both men wymmen prayng theym wyth wepyng there that they wold all wyth one voyce praye to our lord that he wolde vochesaf to graunte vs this holy mayde katherin our ghostely vertuous Moder and oure maystres the whiche lythe in passing for to abyde wyth vs a whyle in thys lyf for to conferme vs in more vertue Alle they graunted with one voyce that they soo wold than they wente all wyth Mayster Reymound to this holy mayde â—yeng in transyte sayeng suche wordes weylyng and wepyng Moder we wete well that thou desyrest to bee wyth thyne spouse wyth our lorde Jhesu cryst but thy mede and thy rewarde is reserued fro the all auf haue rewthe on vs whome thou forsakest moder And leue vs not so freell wythout better enformacion of vertu in this wretchyd worlde We knowe well also thy well byloued spouse whom thou louest wyth soo grete a desyre wylle nothynge denye the that thou askest therfore we beseche the praye to hym that he vouhesauf graunte the to vs for a tyme lest thou passe fro vs. And we no thyn ge or lytyll edefyed by thy good lyuyng For though we praye as wel as we coude We drede vs lest he wyll not here vs for oure wretchyd lyuynge for certayne we ben ryght vnwurthy to be herd ThenÌ„e therfore that hast louyd oure helthe and that soo tenderly and feruently praye the for vs and wynne our lord that we mowe not leue that in this lyf tyll we ben more edefyed in ghostely vertu many suche wordes they sayde amonges theim wyth grete wepynge To whom this holy maide answerd ye knowe well that I haue forsake myn owne wyll ne I desyre neuer but that that were to goddes wyl all be it I haue desyred your helthe wyth all myn herte yet I knowe well that he that whiche is your helthe and myn can better ordeine for you than one creature can praye for you his wyll therfore bee done in all thynges Neuertheles yet I shall praye gladly that he vouchesaf for to do that hym semeth beste Whan she hadde sayd this word we wente a syde for a tyme beyng in grete sorowe vnto the tyme we knowe an answer The next day afterward she called mayster Reymounde to her sayd me semeth fader that our lord hath condescendyd to your prayers and I hope ye shold soone haue your wylle entent â–ª as she sayd so it was sone after For vpon the morowe the whiche was vpon a sonday she receyued crystis body in the sacrameÌ„t of the aulter of her coÌ„fessour his hondes ryght as in the sondaye bifore she was brought in greate febylnes by her rauysshyg after tyme she hadde receyued that blessyd sacrament Ryght so in this sonday she was gretly strengthed by her rauysshyng after that blessyd sacrament the whiche was grete merueyle to all that were aboute her To whom Mayster Reymound said I hope that oure lord hath accepted our teres coÌ„desceÌ„dyd to our prayers though thei ben vnwourthy ThenÌ„e wythin a litil time afterward she was so quikly reuiued that none of theÌ„ all was in doubte but that she shold lyue that god had grauÌ„ted fulli her desire O almyghti god fader of mercy what wylt thou do for thyn trewe seruauÌ„t welbeloued children thou coÌ„descendist so benigly to thyn synfull seruauntis mayster Reymound thenne asked her for the more sykernes wheder the passyoÌ„ of tho wouÌ„des contryned alway as they dede in her body She answerd in this wise Oure lord â—hu hath herd your prayers and thefore tho woundes tourment not now my body as they â—yde but rather they comforte me and strengthe me Loo maidens here now ye knowe what evcellent of grace this holy maide hadde and also ye mowe lerne that oure lord vochesaf to here synnes whan thry asked ony thyng that longeth to sowle helthe ¶ Yet shall I telle you another merneylous thyng that as me semeth it passeth all other that I haue rehersed yet And so shall I make an ende of this Chapytre by the helpe of god ¶ After tyme that our lord hadde receyued her soule in to his blyssyd wound off his syde and there shewed her the mystery est of the gloryous trynyte thenne came our glorious lady his gloryous moder gloryous vyrgin marye and fulfylled her wyth the gloryous mylke of her gloryous brestes and tetes After came mary magdalene and comynyd wyth her ful homely of her reuelacions that she hadde whan she was in desert and other while thyse thre come togydre and gaue her many blessyd comfortable wordes Yet wanted she not the comforte of other saytes and the apperyng and namely of saynt poule the Appostle and saynt Johan theuangelyst and saint domynyke and saint Thomas dalquino And oftetymes saint Agnes of whom she hadde onys a reuelacion that sholde be her felawe in the kyngdom of heuen as it shall be declared afterward by the helpe of god But now I shal telle you two notable poyntes that befyll to this hooly mayde whan she hadde any vysyons of saynt poule the apostle it befil iÌ„ the fest coÌ„â—sacioÌ„ of saiÌ„t poule that this holy mayde was so merueylously rauysshed out of her self That her thought that her spyryt was drawe vp to heuen soo ferforth that thre dayes and thre nyghtes she was vnmeuable wythout bodly felyng soo that it semed that she was fully dede But there were somme that vnderstode better her condycion and sayde that they supposed she was rauysshed wyth saint poule in to the thirde heuen At the laste by the thre dayes ende she was reforted to her bodly feling But the spyryte was so comforted with that reuelacions that she stoode longe â–ª tyme afterward as she hadde be half a slepe and yet she slepte not In the mene whyle Fryer Thomas her fyrst confessour and another felowe of his whiche was called fryer donat of Flerence hadde a desyre to goo for to vysyte an hooly here myte in deserte but fyrst or than they wente thei come to this holy mayde houâ—â— and founde her in on holy sompnolente and by cause they wolde excite her they asked her whether she wolde go wyth theÌ„ to deferte for to vysyte that holy man She answerd to theym in the same hooly slepe and sayde ye notwythstondyng that she wyst not what she sayd by cause that she
onys ony maner of precepte of myn for the virgynyte ofthis body and soule and the grace of hys baptyme he kepte euer to me vndefoylyd ¶ And also ryght as here myn eternall and naturall sone the endeles worlde of my mouthe tolde and spake opeÌ„ly to all the worlde that I badde hym say And therto bare wyttenes of trouthe Ryght soo Domynyke myn sone by adopcyon preche my trouthe openly to the worlde as Welle Amonges heretykes as amonges faythfus peple not onli bi hiÌ„self but also bi other of hiÌ„ not only â–ª whyles he lyued in erthe amonges you But also bi his successours bi whom yet they precheth and shalle preche for ryght as my naturall and eternall sone sente his dyscyples for to preche ryght soo Domynyk myn sone by a dopcion sente his fryers And also ryght as myn naturall sone and eternall is myn word ryght Domynyke myn sone by adopcion is the prechour aboute of myn word wherfore of myn synguler gyfte it is gyue to hym and to his fryers for to vuderstonde the trouthe of min wordes not for to passe therfro Also ryght as myn naturall sone and eternall ordeyned and dysposyd all his lyff and his dedes by doctrynes and ensample to helthe off mannys soule ryght Domynyke myn sone by adopcion put all his besynes to delyuer out soules of the sorowe of errour and of synne And that was his pryncipall entent Whan he began his ordre that is for to say for helthe of soules therfore he may well be lyked to min natural and eternall sone sone Ihesu Criste This was the reuelacioy the whiche she comynyd to fryer Bertylmewe â–ª whan that sodeyn caas of lokyng asyde byfyll to her as it is rehersyd afore Now I shall procede forth of the remenaunt of the lyf of this holy mayde in reuelacions and visyons â–ª but fyrst I wolde ye knewe maydens that for the grete haboundance of greces and open reuelacions and visyons and for the greâ—enes of loue therwyth The whiche this holy maydes soule was fulfylled She was ryght syke in her body and euer encresid in sekenes more and more for loue soo that she rooâ— nomore out of her bedde but laye styll euer newyng the loue of her spose seyng thus Aswete louely lord goddes sone and the sone of a mayden â–ª wyth suche many louyng â–ª wordes she praised oure lorde and her spouse She beleft wythout bodely mete and therto her spouse Jhesu Cryste the whiche gyuen her that fyre of loue by cause it sholde brenÌ„e more stoÌ„gely he apperyd to her ofte tymes Then ne sayd she to hym that was so febyll off the fyre of loue Good louely lord thou sufferest me so longe abyde in this wretched body and wylt not take me to thyn endeles presence I haue none Joye now off this wretchid lyf but only all myn ioye is for to seke the For I loue the Ihesu and none wythout the for what that euer I loue lord it is for the why am I ther for delayed soo longe â–ª fro thyn endeles presence ¶ Ha ha mekest and myldest lorde delyuer myn soule out of this pryson and out of this dedely lif To thise wordes that were sayd soo weylyngly oure lord answerd Dere doughter whan I liued in erthe amonge men I besyed me neuer for to fulfylle myn owne wyll but myn faders and albe it that I desyred to ete the laste paske wyth myn dysciples for to be wyth myn fader as they herd me ofte tymes saye yet I suffred paciently the tyme that was ordeined off myn fader soo must thou doo though thou desyre feruently to be onyd to me perfightely in the blesse of heuen yet thou muste abyde the tyme that I haue ordeyned Theenne she sayd to our lord louely lord sythe it soo is that it is not kynde to me as yet to passe out of this lyff thyn wyl be done Fiat voluntas tua But one thinge I beseche the whyles I lyue in this erthe that sythe I may not yet be onyd to that iÌ„ blysse â–ª grauÌ„te me as longe as I lyue in this lyf to be onyd to the with the bi parte taking of thy blessyd passioÌ„ the whiche was grauÌ„ted to her ¶ For as she asked soo she hadde fro that tyme forward she hadde so moche experiens euery day in her herte iÌ„her body of the passions of our lorde as she tolde afterward preuyly to maister ReymouÌ„d that she neuer felte suche a soor and that was in this wyse Ofte tymes she wolde sytte talke with mayster Reymound and teche hym of the passyon of criste affermyng myghtely that our lorde Jhesu cryste fro the tyme of his gloryous concepcion in to the tyme of the ende of his blyssyd passyon he bare euer the crosse of his deth in hys soule â–ª for the grete passyng desyre that he hadde for the helthe of mannys sowle For whan he was conceyued he was ful of grace and of wysdome and of charyte And it was none nede to hym for to encrece in hym afterward for he was perfyght ynow in theym at the begynnyng Therfore sythe it so was that he loued so perfyghtly god the fader and mankynde in herte seyng and consyderyng god the fader in trinite in maner depryued of his honour And also mankynde depryuyd fâ—o his blessyd ende he was soo tourmeÌ„ted wyth compassyon in hym self vnto the tyme that he myght restore by his passyon the dewe honour to god the fader in Tâ—inyte and endeles helthe to mankynde â–ª Also she sayde the affliction of his holy desyre was none lytyll payne But it was a grete payne And thefore it was that he sayde to hys dyscyples on schherthursday at the soper Desideâ—io desideraui manducare vobiscum hoc pascha ¶ That is I haue desyred wyth a grete desyre longe afore thys tyme to ete with you this paske and the cause was for he gaue theym in that soper an speciall ernest of helthe the whiche he wolde werke er thenne he purposed to ete wyth theym eftsones And therfore she alleggid for her the wordys of our sauyour where he sayth in another place Pater transfer calicem huÌ„c a me That is fader put awaye this passion fro me that I shall now drynke the whiche wordes she expownyd thus and sayde Perfyght folke sholde not vnderstonde thyse wordes as symple folke done that our sauyour asked of his fader to put awaye and remeue hye paynefull passioÌ„ But thus fro the begynnyng of his gloryous concepcton vnto that tyme of his deth he dranke euer of that paynfull passyon by the grete desyre that he had off mannys helthe And thenne the more he drawe nere to the deth â–ª the more gredyly he desyred that drynke â–ª he asked therfore that it shold soone be fulfylled the whiche he hadde soo longe tyme desyred for the helthe of mannys soule that the dryke the whiche he hadde drunke soo longe afore sholde thenne be ended â–ª And thus this was not for to
aske a remeuyng awaye of his deth but rader an hasti ende of his deth the whiche our sauyour declared full openly afterward whan he sayde to Judas Quod facis fac cicius That is frend that thou shalt doo doo it anone ¶ Neuertheles though it soo were that the forsayd paynes full drynke of his desyre were to hym ryght greuous for to drynke yet as ryght an obedyent chylde to the fader he sayde thus Veruntamen non sicut ego volo sed sicut tu Fader I desyre that myn wyll be not fulfilled but thy wyll offeryng hym self redy by thâ—se wordes for to suffre dayly of his payne full desyre as longe as it lyked to hys fader soo that the fyrst wordes where he sayd Transfer hunc calitem c. Fader a voyde this paynfull fro me he vnderstode not for to haue a voyded his passyon that was to come But the passyon of hys desyre afore by suffryng the deth for helthe of mannes sowle for to be endyd Thenne sayd mayster Reymond Moder comynly after exposicion of doctours our lord sayd tho wordes as a veray maÌ„ and hede of all hys chosen bothe fâ—eel and strong whos sensualyte naturelly drede the deth that he myght by example to all bothe to freel folk and to strong folk that they dyspeyre not all be it they felte they re sensualytâ—e kyndely dredyng the deth Here to this holy mayde answerd and sayd that the actes the dedys of our sauiour yf they ben wysely consydered euery creature after hys consyderacyon may fynde in them ghostly felyng as it is spedefull to hys helthe And therfore syth it is soo that feble freall creatures fynden in tho wordes comfort ageynst theyr feblenesse it were ryght necessary thenne that perfyt folk myghty shold fynde also ther Jnne coÌ„fyrmacyon of theyr strengthe the whiche myght not be but by thys exposycyon afore â–ª Therfore it is better that it be expowned in many maners so that al may be comforted ther by theÌ„ne in a maner of wyse for one maner of folk allone Whanne mayster Reymond herde this he helde hys peas meruayllyng of hyr grete wysdom grace that she had for he her de neuer that exposycyon afore ¶ Another exposycyon of the same wordes by the same holy mayde Mayster Reymond founde wryten in a book that hir fyrst confessour wrote they ben these In a tyme whan she was rauysshed she lerned of our lord that the prayer the whiche he made a fore hys passyon whan he â—watt bothe blood water seynge thus Transfer hunc calicem â— That is fader remoue this peynfull passion fro me He prayed thenne for them whome he sawe afore that wolde haue no parte of his passion the whiche was to him peynfull passyon And by cause he loued ryghtwysnesse he put a condycyon and sayd VeruÌ„tamen non mea voluntas That is neuthelesse fader be not my wyll fulfylled but thy wyll and yf he had not putto suche a condycyon it wolde haue folowed ther on she sayd that all folk shold haue be saued After tyme thenne that he had thus prayed he was herde as saynte Poule sayd for hys reuerence Exauditus est ê“pter suam reuerenciaÌ„ In exposycion of this wordes of saynt Poule comynly doctours vnderstonden the same It had be ellys meruaylle but that the same sone of god sholde haue be herde Also she sayd another tyme to mayster Reymond taught hym that the passyons whiche our our lord god Jhesu Cryst ve ray god and man suffred for the helthe of mankynde were so myghty that it were impossyble ony man in erthe for to suffre but that he sholde dye it were possyble many tyme yf that he suffred them For ryght as his loue that he had thenne hath yet to mankynde vnestymable vncomperable Ryght so hys passyon that he suffred by constreynyng of loue allone was vnestymable Who wolde beleue that the thornes of hys crowne sholde perysshe in to the brayne Or that the bones of a quyk man sholde be drawe out of they re ioyntes For the ê“phete sayd of our lordes passyon thus DinumeraueruÌ„t omnia â–ª ossa mea That is they tolde nombred all the bones of my body So thenne it may be proued that the pryncypall cause of hys passyon was loue the whiche he shemed for mankynde And it myght not be shewed more conuenyently than by hys passyon By this it semed that the naylles helde hym not vpon the crosse but hys loue onely Ne the strengthe of man ouercame hym â—ot but loue How were men so stronge for to holde hym that at a worde of hys mouthe they fyll doune to the grounde whan they came for to take hym Suche hyghe wordes conuenyent wordes of our lordes passyon this holy mayde coÌ„myne wyth mayster Reymond And yet she sayd more that she had experyence in hyr body of som maner of passyon that Cryst suffred on the crosse â–ª Of all she wold not say for that was Impossyble to ony erthely creature But specyally by cause of the grete loue that she had to our lord to his passyon the most peyne that she suffred was in hyr herte soo that it semed to hyr other whyle that hyr herte was to braste cutt a sondre fro that one ende to that other And for thys grete peyne of loue she was oftymes dede to all mennys syght Of thys bare wytnes many one the whiche were presente whanne she dyed for the loue of Crystys passyon allone Here of was mayster Reymond in grete doubte But for to put awaye that doubte he thought to comen wyth this holy mayde serche the sothe of hyr whether it were so or no. Whanne he axed hyr this She for grete wepyng coude gyue none answer long tyme to gydre but at the last she sayde Fader wolde ye not haue grete pyte compassyon of a sowle that were delyuered out of a derke pryson to lyght and after tyme it had see so mery a lyght eftesones to be reclused ageyn in the same derke prysone I am that same wretche that thus happed me by the ordynaunce of god for my synnes Then ne mayster Reymond axed hir where hir sowle was fully departed fro the body To whome she answerd sayd thus That the feruent fyre of dyuyne loue of ghoostly desyre was so moche in hyr herte for to lyue with our lord endelesly whom she loued That though hyr herte hadde be of stone or of yren it must nedys to breste Therfore fader vnderstondeth thys for trouthe that myn herte of myn body was thenne vndo opened fro the ouermost partye to the nether onely by the strengthe of pure loue so that me semeth yet I fele the markys of that syssure in myn herte By this ye may knowe that the sowle was fully for that tyme deê‘ted fro the body and sette in the presence of god where I sawe the preuytâ—es of god that is vnâ—efull for
to speke to ony man on erthe For ther is no speche in erthe that can expresse the preuytees in ony maÌ„nis tongue But this wote I well as ofte as I here of that mater I am tourmented so gretly in my sowle consyderyng where I was thenne where I am now that I can not tell my sorowe but wyth wepynge sobbyng Thenne mayster Reymond prayed hyr to tell him how that all this began in hyr She answerd sayde After tyme that I was fedde and comforted wyth many vysyons reuelacyons by our lordes mercy I fell seek for pure loue laye doun in myn bedde where I prayed our lorde Jhesu that he wolde delyuer me out of this wretchyd worlde and oned me perfytely to him The whiche for that tyme he wolde not graunte me But he grauÌ„ted therfore as long as I lyued in this lyf shold be partyner of his passyon in asmoche as it is possyble a dedly body for to suffre and soo she tolde hym all that that is rehersed afore And more ouer she sayd loo fader by suche experyence of hys passyon I am made so seke by the strengthe of loue that my sowle desyred no thyng ellys but for to be delyuered out of this world And the same fyre so encrecyd in my sowle that my herte often tymes defayled departed a sonder and my soule was vtterly delyuered out of the body Neuerthelesse it was but a lytell tyme that was my sorowe Then ne eftesones mayster Reymond axed hir how long tyme hyr sowle was out of the body She sayd as they that kepte hyr were aboute to haue beryed hyr foure houres or theÌ„ne she reuyued ageyn Yet he axed hyr what she sawe for that tyme why came the soule ageyne to the body she answerd thus Fader that tyme my sowle sawe vnderstode ioye of blessyd sowles and peynes of synners And as myn mynde wold suffre me wordes wolde suffyce to expresse them I shall tell you My sowle sawe the diuyne essen cyall beyng of god and that is the cause why I am soo lothe vnpacyent to lyue in this worlde and had not be the loue of hym the loue of crysten people for whiche my sowle was restoryd to the body ageyne I sholde had defaylled dyed for sorowe The hyghest comfort that I haue is whan I suffre ony dysease for that I haue the perfyte vysyon of god therfore trybulacyons ben not heuysom to me but comfortable as ye may knowe other that ben conuersaunt wyth me I sawe also the peynes of dampned sowles and peynes of sowles that ben in purgatory the whiche I can not expresse perfytely wyth no maner of wordes For yf wretched synners sawe the leste peyne that is there they had leuer chese bodely deth an hondred tymes yf it were possyble theÌ„ne for to suffre o daye the leste peyne that is there But specially I sawe hem ponys shed syngulerly that had synned in matrymony the whiche hadde not kepte hem to gyder honestly as they sholde do but folowed the dylectacions of theyr lustys Of this mayster Reymond hir confes sour axed hyr why that synne in specyall was more greuously punysshed thenne other synnes syth it so is that it is not the most greuous synne She sayd for this skylle For they had not soo grete conscyence of that synne ne so grete contrycy on as they had of other synnes but rather they offended in that synne thenne in ony other That synne the whiche a synner chargeth not for to remoue by penauÌ„ce is a grete synne be it neuer soo lytell Thenne this holy mayde proceded forthe in hyr mater sayd thus also Fader whaÌ„ne I had seen all thyse ioyes and thes peynes wenyng my self that I hadde fully be delyuered out of this body Oure lorde sayde to me seest thou not doughter what ioye they lacke and what peyne they haue that offenden me Torne ageyn therfore to thy body tell to the peple theyr errour and theyr peryll And wyth that worde I was astonyed for to torne ageyne to the body and sore aferde Thenne our lord sayd to me it is profyte to mennys soules that thou torne ageyne and thou shalte not lyue the lyfe that thou hast lyued a fore ne kepe the solytarie allone in chambre but thou shalte goo a brode to wynne sowles I shall euer be wyth the and goo wyth the bothe goyng and comyng Thou shalte bere the worshyp of my name and of ghoostly doctryne afore grete and smale laye people and clerkys and a fore Relygyous folk also I shall gyue the bothe mouth and wytte for to speke that none may wythstande the. I shall also bryng the afore bysshoppys and curates of sowles for to confounde there pryde Whyles our lorde spak thyse wordes sodeynly my soule was restored ageyne to my body And whanne I perceyued that I hadde grete sorowe that I wepte thre dayes and thre hyghtes to gyders wythout cessyng And yet I can in no wyse absteyne ne refreyne me ther fro whanne it cometh to my mynde how sodeynly I was come fro the grete ioye vnto this prysone of the body What wonder is it therfore fader though myn herte to brest euery day consyderyng the grete excellent ioye that tyme that I hadde the whiche now it is ferre fro me but all is done for the sowle he le Therfore ther shall no man meruayle though I loue them passyngly to whome our lord hath bede me warne them of theyr synfull lyuyng for I haue lefte for them a grete ioye for a certeyn tyme I wote not how long Therfore as saynt Poule seyth They ben now my glorye my crowne my ioye All thys I saye to you fader to all other for to putte out of youre hertes the passyon of grutchyng in tyme comyng whan I shall be homely amonges all men Whan mayster Reymond herde all this vnderstode them after the grace that was gyue hym he ê‘ceyued in hys herte that for the incredulytee and blyndnes of men all that she sayde sholde not be publysshed Wherfore he for bade bothe the freres the sustres that all the whyle this holy mayde lyued in erthe they sholde not pupplysshe that matree He perceyued also of somme that folowed fyrst hyr doctryne how they wente backward for they coude not ne myghte not take hyr wordes But leste he sholde offende god yf he hadde hydde it hymself wythout wrytyng he wrote it for a perpetuell recorde after hyr dyssece not whyle she lyued Now maydens for to knowe veraly that al this is sothe I shall tell you wytnes of recorde that were present wyth this holy mayde whan all thyse thynges befyll hyr In that same tyme whan this holy mayde drewe nye to the deth as it semed as it is rehersed afore There drewe aboute hyr wymmen and other ghoostly doughters of herys they sent after hyr fyrst confessour frere Thomas for do be present at hyr
passage by prayers other holy exercyses in commēdyng of hyr sowle to god He came thre freres wyth hym mo to be present att the passyng of this holy mayde But whan she was passyd as it semed One of the freres took so grete sorowe therfore that by vyolence of hys wepyng a veyne of hys brest was all for brosyd where wyth he caught a coghe spatte gebettes of blood Thenne was that another sorowe to them that stode aboute for bothe they wepte for the holy mayde that was so passyd And also for hir brother the whiche was not shappely to lyue long after in that payne Thenne sayde frere Thomas hir fyrst confessour to that seek frere wyth grete feyth and trust Brother I wote well this holy mayde is in grete reputacyon afore god for hyr good lyuyng Therfore take hyr honde and putte in the same place of thy sekenes And I doubte not but that thou shalte be hole And anone forth wyth he dyd so and so he hadde helthe the whiche he tolde afterward to al that wolde here if Ther was also a ghoostly doughter of herys that was present thenne the whiche was called Alyxa passyd out of this worlde sone afterward Moother were that came Inne for to see whether she was passed or not and ther was none that coude suppose otherwyse There were also two other specyall wyttenessys that were aboute for to ordeyne for the body that it sholde be beryed And bothe were susters of penaunce of Saynt Domynyk that one was called Katheryne as she was the whiche was hyr felawe longe tyme afore And that other was hyr cosyn Lysa and thus I make an ende of thys chapytre ¶ Of somme myracles wrought gracyously by thys holy mayde aboute the helthe of sowles Capitulum vij YF I sholde reherce alle the myracles that our lord shewed by this holy mayde I myght rather make a grete book of them than for to comprehende hem in oo chapytre But by cause I wolde put awaye dulnesse of them that sholde rede or here this legende of this holy mayde I am aboute asmoche as I may vnder fewe wordes for to comprehende them in one chapytre that they myghte knowe vnder fewe wordes how grete they ben the whiche I passe ouer lyghtely therfore in as moche as the sowle passeth the body in worthynesse I shall begynne of tho myracles the whiche were shewed of our lord by hyr aboute mennys sowles and after that of the bodyes As touchyng for the fyrst whan that Jamys or Jacob the fader of this holy mayde perceyued that hys doughter Katheryne was alle gyuen to serue and to please our lord as it is rehersed in the fyrste partye of thys legende euer he loued tretyd hyr reuerētly and louyngly for bedyng all folk of hys housholde that none be soo hardy for to lette Katheryne hys doughter in ony maner wyse what that euer she wyll haue done Thys is a grete cause why that the doughter loued the fader And therfore she commended specyally hyr faders helthe oft tymes to oure lord And he had suche a truste in hys doughters prayers that he supposed well she myght haue of god what she wold for hys helthe Sone after the fader sykened laye doune in hys bedde all seek Whan this holy mayde hys doughter perceyued that anone she prayed to oure lorde hyr spouse for the helthe of hyr fader And it was answerd to hyr of our lorde that the ende of hys dayes of this worlde were come and that it were not spedefull for hym for to abyde lenger in this lyf Then ne she wente to hyr fader vysyted hym and examyned hym how he was dysposed in hys sowle and founde redy wylfully to passe out of this worlde hauyng no luste for to abyde lenger wherefor she thanked our lord hyghly But thenne she prayed our lord eftesones that syth it so is that he hadde gyuen hyr fader so grete grace for to passe out of this worlde wythout synne that he wolde wouchesauf to graunte hym also for to flee to heuen wythout payne of purgatory Of this she hadde an answere in this wyse that ryghtwysnesse must nedys be kepte and therfore it were no ryght but Impossyble a sowle to haue the clerenesse of endeles ioye wythout perfyte purgacyon a fore For all be it thy fader hath ben in hys dayes of good lyuyng among alle other wedded folke also do many good thynges that I am well pleased wyth and specyally as touchyng the Yet neuerthelesse it may not be sauyng my ryghtwysnesse But that hys sowle must be purged by the fyre for to brenne out the duste of erthely conuersacyon the whiche is hardened endured in his soule Thenne sayde this holy mayde to our lord thus My dere welbeloued lord what may I suffre that my fads sowle by whom I haue be so tenderly nourysshed haue had so many cōfortes in hys lyf that it be not tormented in suche paynes I praye the lord for the goodnesse that euer thou shewdest to mā kynde suffre not hys sowle to goo out of hys body vnto the tyme it be perfytly purged oo waye or other that it nede not in no wyse the payne of purgatory After suche wordes our lorde shewed hys mercy meruayllously as though he had obeyed to the voyce of hys mayden All be it that the bodely strengthes of hir fader Jamys beganne for to defaylle more more to the deth warde Yet hys soule passed neuer out of his body vnto the tyme that holy dysputacion betwene our lord alledgyng for hym ryghtwysnesse And the holy made axyng grace mercy ▪ And at the laste after long dysputacion the holy mayde sayd to our lord My welbeloued lord yf thys grace may in no wyse be goten or graunted without som maner of ryghtwysnesse suffre that ryghtwysnesse fall on me for I am redy to suffre al maner of peyne what euer thy goodnesse wyll ordeyne for delyueraūce of my fads sowle Thenne our lord graunted hyr grace sayd Loo doughter for the loue that thou hast to me I shall graunte the thyne axyng I shall delyuer thy faders soule fully out of payne But thou shal be suffre a payne for hym as long as thou lyuest the whiche I shall assygne the. This holy mayde thanked our lord and sayde Good blessyd lorde be it to me as thou haste ordeyned After that she wente to hyr fader as he laye a deieng she comforted hym meruayllously of hys endeles helthe that he was ryght ioyefull she went not from hym vnto the tyme he was passyd out of this worlde And whan the sowle was passyd out of the body anone forth wyth this holy mayde was payned wyth a sekenes in the syde the whiche is called Ilica passyo that neuer went from hir in to the tyme she passyd out of this worlde And ther was neuer tyme afterward but she had the payne as she sayde other bare recorde
ofte tymes bycause of hys greate sotyll wytte he loued soo moche therto that he made party in the same Cyte and grete enstaunce bytwene neyghbore and nyghbore wherof came a grete enmyte preuy morderyng the whiche came by hym slyly and by his mayntynaunce At the last mene persons came bytwene for to make peas but he answerd euer soo wylyly that he rought neuer whether there were peas or none as it semed to theym that herd hym and alwaye he was glad to make vnpeas that he myght and to be avengyd after his desyre That herd this holy mayde katheryne she desyred to speke wyth him for to sece that euyll hatered but he fledde her assone as he knewe that she came to hym Ryght as the serpent wolde flee from hym that sholde charyne hym At the laste an holy man the whiche was called Fryer wyllyam of Englond a fryer austyn he spake soo to hym that he grauntâ— hym that he wolde gladly speke wyth that hooly mayde and here her But he sayd he wolde nothyng doo as she wolde counseylle hym Soo thenne he kepâ—… his promys and he went to the holy maydes hous the same tyme that mayster Reymound was there But that holy mayde was not therin by cause she was gone a lytyll byfore to procure the helthe of soules In the mene whyle that mayster Reymound was therin there came a messanger to hym sayd that Nannes was at the dore and wolde speke wyth katheryn wherof mayster Reymound was glad for he knewe well that the holy mayde had ofte tymes desyred that And wyth that he went and welcomed hym and tolde hym that she was out prayed hym that he wold not thynke loÌ„ge for she wolde come anone And thenne thei went to this holy maydes chapel whan they hadde sytte a whyle there he thought longe and sayd to mayster Reymond Thus I behete frere Wyllyam that I sholde come hyder here this holy lady Katheryne speke therfore syth she is out occupyed I may nought abyde here wherfore I pray you excuse me to hyr for I haue moche thyng to do mayster Reymond was heuy here wyth that she was so long for to occupye the tyme tyll she came he axed hym of the maner of pees the whiche he knewe To whome this Nannes answerd â–ª Syre I shall tell you the sothe for to thou that ben a prest a relygyous man and to this holy mayde of whome I here a grete name of holynesse I shall not lye but saye the sothe Therfore what that euer I saye to you I am not in wyll to do by your counseyll Sothe it is that I am he the whiche that letteth the pees by twene him him and that pees that pees And yet it semed by my dedys that it am not I that lette it by cause it is done by other but I maynteyn them pryuely ther to for yf I allone wold consente to haue pees al shold be well cessyd But I purpose in no wyse for to consente therto wherfore it nedeth not for to counseyll me preche me for I shall not consente in ony maner wyse Loo now I haue tolde you that I haue hydde from other tarye me no lenger and holde you apayed yet mayster Reymond prayed him to reherce it ageyne for to occupye the tyme and he wolde not at the last by the dysposycyon of god the holy mayde was come Inne Whan that Nannes sawe hyr he was ryght sory But mayster Reymond was gladde As soone as she sawe that erthely man she toke him wyth an heuenly charyte sat doun to gydres and axed him the cause of hys comyng Thenne he rehersed to hyr all that euer he sayd to mayster Reymond wyth the last negacyon This holy mayde beganne thenne to shewe him what peryll he stode Inne soo that she touched hym ouer all but as a deef serpent he stoppyd the erys of his herte that he wold not here hyr counseylles that consydered this holy mayde anone She sat styll torned Inward prayed our lord in hyr herte axed hys gracyous helpe Whan mayster Reymond aspyed how ghoostly she was occupyed for hym He occupyed hym wyth somme wordes hopyng in the mene whyle of som helpe of oure lorde by hir prayers wythin a whyle aft Nannes sayd to them bothe thus Loo I wyll not be so vnkynde but that I wyll do nye all that euer ye wyll byd me but somwhat I shall graunte and thenne wyll I goo fro you I haue made foure debatys whiche contynued yet Of that oo debate I wyll gyue you leue do wiâ—h all as ye will cesse it as ye wyll with that he roos vp wold haue go out and in the rysyng he sayd to him self thus O lord what comfort may this be that I fele now in my soule of that worde that I spak of pees and soone after he sayd more A a lord god what vertue strengthe may that be that holdeth me and drawed me now I may not go hens ne I may not denye no thynge O who is that that constreyneth me now O who is that that holdeth me now wyth this he wept sore sayd I am ouer come I may not wythstonde it Thenne he kneled doun on his knees to the holy mayde and sayd wyth wepyng chere Holy mayde I shall do what euer thou bydde me do Not onely of this mater but also of all other what that euer it be I knowe well now that the deuyll hath hadde me bounde in hys chayne hyder to but now I shall do what euer ye counseyl me to do counseyll my soule how it may be deliuerd out of the fendes poure I praye you Att these wordes the holy mayde torned to hym sayde I thanke god brother that thou hast perceyued what peryll thou stodest Inne of the mercy of our lord wherof I spake fyrst to the but thou â—ettysâ— lytell therby And thenne I spak to our lord he herde my prayers Therfore now good brother do penaunce for thy synnes by tymes leste a sodeyne trybulacyon fall vpon the Thenne anone wyth grete contrycion he was shryuen of mayster Rymond of all his synnes afterward by helpe of this holy mayde he made pees wyth all folk also wyth god by counseyll of mayster Reymond But wythin a fewe dayes after he was take by the Justyce of the Cyte put in a streyte pryson and it was a comyn saynge that he sholde be behedyd Thenne mayster Reymond herde that he came to this holy mayde wyth a sorowfull cheâ—e and sayd Loo moder all the whyle Nannes serued the fende he had no dysease but alwaye â—speryte And after tyme now he is torned to god all the world is ageynst hym where of I am a ferde by cause he is yette but a yong brauÌ„che lest he be all for broke by this tempest and so fall in despeyre I praye you therfore praye for hym to god that he whom ye haue delyuered from
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
callyd all hys meyne and axed of them whether they hadde putte ony â–ª wyne of vernage in that vessell All they sayde naye they knewe no wyne there in thre monthys a fore and more And it hadde be a grete meruayll that wythoute them ony lyquor had be putte ther Inne Thys was afâ—…rward notefyed to the neghboures aboute and all they sayde it was a myracle as it was The messenger came ageyne wyth a grete meruayll gladdenes bryngyng wyth hym a botell of vernage and tolde all the myracle as it was soo that all thoo that herde it thanked our lord that wrought suche a myracle in hys holy mayde Katheryne and many one aftward whan this holy mayde was hole came for to see hyr seyeng wyth grete meruaylle suche wordes how may this be that drynketh noo wyne by myracle By suche wordes of the people this holy mayde caught grete sorowe in hir herte as she knowleched afterward to mayster Reymond And wyth suche sorowe and waylyng she prayed to our lord in hyr sowle more thenne in hyr mouthe seyeng suche wordes A good lord why suffrest thou me to be so tormented in herte that I shall be to all folke shame and reproue All other seruauntes of thyne may lyue among the people saue I allone O good lord who axed of thy myldenes wyne I by Inspyracyon of thi grace haue kept me fro wine long tyme And now I am made to all people for wyne in sâ—orne and reproue I praye the lord for thy grete pyte make that wyne for to vanysshe awaye that this same whiche is deuulgyd amonges men now cesse Our lord of hys mercy herde hyr prayer and made the vessell of wyne to decrece so that sodeynly ther it semed full to all mennes drynkyng the whiche drank therof of deuocyon by cause of the myracle it was decrecyd to the lyes and so all tho that praysed it afore for myracle helde ther peâ—s afterward for shame â–ª And mayster Reymond and other moo of hyr ghoostly chyldren were ashamed of theyr grete praysyng afore But the holy mayde was Jocunde and gladde thankyng our lord hyr spouse that hadde delyuered hyr of suche open praysyng of men ¶ Now I praye you maydens taketh he de how oure lorde kepte this holy mayde from vayne glorye and sette hyr in a perfyte grounde of mekenesse by thyse two myracles By the fyrst he gaue hyr mater to worshyp him that wrought that myracle wythout hyr wetyng in that that he fylled the vessell of wyne By the secounde he gaue hyr mater to folowe hym in mekenes in puttyng awaye of vayne glorye the whiche was putte vpon hyr By the fyrst our lord shewed what vertue of myracle she was endowed wyth By the secounde he shewed what wysdome she was fulfylled wyth For there that mekenes is there is wysdom Neuertheles yet the secouÌ„de myracle in emptyng of the vessell was gretter thenne the fyrst in fyllyng of the vessell that semed well by a simylytude that Saynt Gregorye makyth in hys dyaloges betwyne the vertue of pacyence shewyng of myracles whether he seyth that the vertue of pacyence passeth shewyng of myraclee Why thenne may not the vertue of trewe mekenes the whiche is neuer wythout wysdom passe with out ony comparyson shewyng of myracles the whiche come as well by pryde as by mekenes A bestely man may in no wyse perceyue this and that is no meruaylle For Saynt Poule sayde that prudence of the flesshe is in no wyse subiecte to god Loo maydens now haue I tolde you what myracles our lord shewed by his spouse Katheryne in vnlyfly creatures and thus I make an ende of this chapytre The wytnesse of this chapytre also ben expressyd afore wyth Inne this chapytre there that the myracles ben declared ¶ Of the ofte receyuyng of the holy sacrament of the aulter and of the meruaylles whiche our lord dyd to hyr touchyng the holy sacrament and other relyques of sayntes Capitulum xij IT was knowen to all that knew this holy mayde whyle she lyued in erthe what excellent loue she hadde in reuerence and deuocyon aboute the worshypfull sacrament of the aultre Oure lorde hys flesshe and hys blood so that for the often receyuyng therof hit was a comyn seyeng among the people that Katheryne the holy mayde was houselyd euery day and lyued ther by allone wythout ony bodely mete And all be it that they sayd not alwaye trouthe yet I suppose they tolde it mekely gyuynge honour to god that euer apperyth meruaylous to hys chosen Neuertheles be cause she receyued it so ofte all be it that it were not euery daye yet ther were somme that grutched wyth all ageynst whome may be brought wytnes ynough of holy faders that they dyd the same But fyrst I shall tell you what the vse was of holy chyrche in olde tyme. Saynt Denys seyth in a book that he made de ecclesiastica Jerarchia that in the begynnyng of holy chyrche the feruoure of the holy ghoost was so haboundaunt in the hertes of feythfull creatures bothe men and woÌ„men that they receyued the sacramente of the aulter euery daye Furthermore the doctryne of holy chyrche techeth this that euery feythfull man is bounde in no dedely synne yf he haue actuell deuocyon it is not only lefull for hym but also merytorye for to receyue that excellent worshypfull sacramente Whoo thenne durst forbede suche a feythfull persone and suche an holy lyuer in ony maner wise for to wynne so ofte grete mede in receyuynâ—… of that worshypfull sacramente Trewely I doubte not therof but that suche a creature had grete wrong yf it be denyed whan it is mekely vxed But yf they wolde say vtterly that it is not lefull to no creature be he neuer so feythfull ne neuer soo perfyte ne deuote for to receyue that blyssed sacramente ofte To this I shall tell you what answere this holy mayde gaue to a bysshop in presence of mayster Reymond that sayd these wordes aforsayd to hyr Alledgyng for hym the wordes of Saynt Austyn where he seyth thus Euery day for to receyue the sacrament of the aulter nother I prayse ne blame it â–ª to this obyeccyon answerde this holy mayde in this wyse to the bysshoppe Fader yf Saynt Austyn blame it not Ye alled ge that holy doctour ageynst youre selfe Ouermore now shall I tell you what Saynt Thomas Aâ—uyne seyth of thys doubte whether it be spedefull to a crysten man ofte tymes or euery day for to receyue the sacrament of the aulter He answereth thus therto that ofte receyuyng of that blyssed sacrament encrecyth the deuocyon of hym that receyueth it but it lessyth other whyles hys reuerence that he sholde haue to that blyssed sacramente Therfore euery feythfull Crysten man sholde haue bothe reuerence and deuocyon to that blyssed sacramente And whan he feyleth that hys reuerence is lessened by ofte receyuyng of that blyssed sacramente he sholde absteyne a whyle that he myght go therto afterward wyth more reuerence And yf
he fele hys reuerence euer hole and neuer lessened but 〈…〉 encrecyd wyth deuocyon as oâ—… euer he receyueth it Thenne he may sekerly receyue it For truely wythout ony doubte suche a sowle well dyspesed wynneth moche mede in the receyuyng of that blyssed sacramente Thys holsom doctryne of this deuoute and holy doctoure Saynt Thomas kepte this holy mayde Katheryne For ofte tyme she receyued that blyssed sacramente And somme tyme she absteyned hyr ther fro All be it that she hadde euer desyre to be knytte to hyr spouse by medytacyon of the blyssed sacrament for the brennyng charyte where by she was drawe to hym in so moche other whyle she desyred to be houseled That but she hadde receyued that day whan she desyred that blyssed sacrament she shold haue a passion of syknes in hir body as though she hadde be vexyd long tyme afore wyth a contynuell sekenes of feuer and all that sykenes of the body came fro the passyon of the soule Many tymes she was thus vexed whanne she was letted from houselyng other whyle by the Pryoure of the freres and other whyle by the Pryoresse of theyr ordre of hir susters Neuertheles by cause she sholde not be lette our holy fader the pope Gregorye the xj for hyr more comforte graunted hyr by bull that what preest hâ—rde hyr confessyon myght housell hir in what place that he wolde say masse wythoute ony leue of ony souereyne ¶ Of one meruayllous thyng now shall I tell you that befyll to mayster Reymond this holy maydes confessour In a tyme whan mayster Reymond came from Auyon to the Cyte of Sene and thoughte to loke how this holy mayde ferde he entred in to hyr hous aboute none dayes and founde hyr in hir oratorye And this was on Saynt Markys day the Euangelyst as soone as she sawe hym she rose ageynst hym and sayd to hym these wordes O wolde god fadre ye wyst how hongry my soule is â–ª Thenne mayster Reymond answerd hyr for he wyst well ynough what she mente And sayde moder it is now all most paste tyme of syngyng and I am soo wery that vnnethe I may dyspose me to syng Wyth that she helde hyr pees a lytell whyle And soone after she brack out ageyne the same wordes and sayd she was sore an hongred Thenne mayster Reymond wente to masse in hyr owne chapell that she hadde by lycence of the pope and sayd masse of Saynt Marke And whan he hadde vsed he torned for to gyue this mayde generall absolucyon as the maner of holy chirche axeth He sawe hyr face lyke the face of an angell sendyng out bemys of bryghtnesse in soo moche that he meruaylled and sayd in hym self to ouâ—e lord thus Thys is not Katheryns face But certeyne lorde this is thy dere spouse wyth that he torned hym to the aulter and sayde thys wordes to oure lorde in hys soule Come lorde to thy spouse anone as he had sayd that in hys thought sodeynly wyth the same thought the oste rose vp hym self and came to hys hondes ¶ Another meruayllous thynge of this blyssed sacramente I shall tell you that befyll to the same mayster Reymond He was in a tyme in the Cyte of Sene for certeyne thynges that he hadde to done and as soone as he hadde done he wente for to speke wyth this holy mayde and founde hyr syke of a sykenes in hyr syde the whiche was callyd Ilica passio and of other gretâ— infyrmytees of hyr body de syryng that same day to be houseled yf hyr sykenes hadde be cessyd And after tyme mayster Reymond hadde commyned wyth hyr of the grete excellence of the blyssed sacramentâ— of the aulter he went home to hys Couent for to say masse And as he made hym redy to masseward this holy mayde sente to hym by a felawe of here 's and prayed him to abyde a whyle for she wolde be houseled that day whan hyr sykenesse were passyd awaye from hyr He dyd so and abode hyr leysyr tyll it was aboute none tyme this holy mayde was esyd and came to chirche for to be houselyd But hyr felawes consydered that the tyme was late for to be houseled thenne by cause she hadde it in custome for to abyde afterward thre houres or foure to gyders in rauysshynge or more So that the chirche dores most all that tyme stooden open of the whiche custome many of the freres grutcheden therfore they counseylled hyr not for to be houseled for grutchyng of somme of the freres To the whiche counseyll this holy mayde mekely and obedyently concâ—tyd But for hyr grete desyre that she had to that blyssed sacramente and myghte not receyue it she prayed oure lorde deuoutely in the ferrest place of the chirche vnknowyng to mayster Reymond that she was come and there she prayed in this wyse Lorde Thesu endeles mercy as thou hast gyue me gracyously this desyre Soo I beseche the perfouâ—me it by thyself syth I may not perfourme my desyre by noo preest Thenne almyghty god that neuer despyseth the desyre of his seruauntes herde hys spouse Katheryne not onely mercyably But also meruayllously as I shall tell you Whan she hadde comforte of oure forde she sente to mayster Reymond by one of hyr susters and prayed hym to goo to masse whan it lyked hym for she myght nott be houselyd that day Thenne he wente to masse supposyng that she hadde be at home at hyr how 's and not in the chyrche And whan he hadde sacred and wolde make the fraccyon a fore Agnus dei in thre partys as holy chyrche hath ordeyned Meruayllously as he wende to haue made iij partycles he founde foure partycles And that fourthe partycle skypped aboue the Chaleys and come doune be it self and layde it self vpon the corporas as it semed to mayster Reymond But he coude neuer fynde it afterward For many tymes he sought ther after bothe that same tyme and also whanne masse was doune wherfore he made grete sorowe in hys hertâ— Whanne he had de soo dylygentâ—ly sought it ouer alle aboute the aulter besyde the aulter and vpon the grounde At the last he bethought hym to aske counseyll of the pryour of the place herof the whiche pryour loued and dred our lorde god right moche couering in the mene tyme the aulter that none body shold come there vnto the tyme he sholde come agayn But sodenly as he was goyng to the pryour come to hym a speciall frende of his a pryour of the chaterhous preyng hym he myght speke wyth this holy mayde katheryne for certayne maters Thenne Mayster ReymouÌ„d prayed hym for to abyde a lityll tyme tyll he hadde spoke wyth the pryour of his couent And he wolde come anone agayn He sayde he myght not tary by cause it was a solempne daye amonges theym and nedes he must be at home at the mete and therto he hadde a myle home wherfore he prayed hym for goddes loue to tary hym not for his conscience constreyned hym to
thus to hym ¶ Fader vnderstondeth his for treuthe This pope Urbanis veray Crystys vycarye in erâ—he and for dâ—â—ence of this treuth preceth putteth you â—orth as ye wolde for the feyth of holy chyrche ¶ All be it that mayster Reymond vnderstode this well afore yet she made hym the strenger and more stedfast in his laboure for whan he was moost in dysâ—ase he had hyr wordes in mynde and so he tooke the holy obedyence vpon hym But a latell a fore that he went this holy mayde coÌ„myned wyth hym tolde hym foure houres or fyue to gâ—ds of the reuelacyons comfortes that oure lorde shewed to hyr but a lytell afore and whan she had do â–ª she sayde this wordes ¶ Fader now goth our lord spede you for I trowe we shal neuer in this lyf speke so moche to gyder as we haue do nowe And lyke as she sayd so it was For or thenne mayster Reymonde came ageyne she was passed out of this world furthermore by cause that she wolde fully take hyr leue of hym she went ê‘sonally to the same place there he shold take hys Galey ¶ And whan they began to rowe she kneiyd doune prayed and afterward blyssed the Galey wyth wepyng chere and sayd pryuely that other herde to mayster Reymond ¶ Thou lone shalt go saue for the crosse shall kepe the but thou shalt neuer see thy moder in this lyf ¶ And as she ê“phecyed soo it was for ther were many enemyes in the â—ee yet they went saue awaye from them and also in the mene tyme that he was oute this holy mayde passyd out of this worlde ¶ But fyrst or that I tell of hyr blyssed passyng out of this world I shall reherce to you the wytnes whiche were att hyr passyng and knewe of the myracles that our lord shewed here in hyr passyng ¶ The names of the wymmen that were most contynuell wyth hyr beÌ„thyâ—e ¶ Allexe of Sene syster of penauÌ„ce of Sâ—yÌ„t Domynyk the whiche was a ê‘fyte dyscyple of this holy maydes folowed hyr in all asâ—yte of penauÌ„ce as nygh as she coude so that this holy mayde or thennâ— he sholde passe tolde hyr alle hyr preuytees ordeyned hyr for to be a moder to other after hyr dyssece ¶ Thys same Allexe enfourmed mayster Reymonde whan he was come home and other of thys holy maydes passyng for she lyued not longe after ¶ The seconde wytnes was Francysca of Sene this Francysca had a deuoute soule to god to this holy mayde with an hertely loue wherfore whan hyr husbounde was dede she toke the abyte of penaunce was made syster of Saynte Domynyk ¶ Thys Francysca enfourmed mayster Raymonde whan he came home and many other folke of this maydes passyng and thenne she deyed soone after Allexe ¶ The thyrde wytnes was Lysa hyr cosyn the whiche I wyll notte commende all be it she was ryght trewe by cause she was this holy maydes brothers wyf where by shold beholde suspect in her wytnes amonge men ¶ further more there were many men in hir passyng the whiche beren trewe recorde othyr bussed ende ¶ But foure in specyall I thyÌ„ke to reherse here the whiche were ryght vertuous men ¶ The fyrst was called frere Sanctus the whiche was bothe holy indede in name This holy man forsoke all hys kynne and came to Cyte of ene Where he lyued vertuously xxx yere and more an ancheres lyfe ¶ And when he herde speke of this holy mayde he was styred to speke wyth hyr and so he dyd for to be enfourmed of hyr ¶ And at last he thout that it was better to walke oute of his cell for to wynne soules thenne for to be so enclosed And so he dyd by counseyll he went oute and folowed thys holy mayde and wan soules to Cryste but specyally he was presente wyth hyr at hyr passyng ¶ Thys holy man enfourmed mayster Raymonde also whan he came home of the passing of this holy mayd and soone after he dyed ¶ The seconde witnes of men was a yong man in age but he was olde in vertu the whiche was called Barductyne ¶ Thys yong man forsoke all hys kynne and folowed this holy mayde and was with hyr tyll that she passyd whome she loued yettenderly by cause he was a mayde that was no meruaylle for it is semely that oo mayde sholde loue another ¶ To whome this holy mayde sayd chargyd hym that he shold be gouerned by mayster Raymondis couÌ„seyll ¶ For this cause I trowe she did it in as moche as she knewe well of god that he sholde not long lyue after hyr soo that he dyde of tesyk but fyrste he contynued longe therynne and was amended by medycines but at the last he dyde theron And by cause that mayster Raymonde drede hym that the ayre of Rome sholâ—e enfecte hym he sente hym to Sene where he passyd out of this worlde and they bere wytnes that were at hys passynge that whan he sholde passe he loked vp into heuen and began to smyle soo wyth that smylyng he passyd So that after tyme he was passyd the tokens of gladnes appyred in hys face I trowe it was therfore by cause he sawe hyr whome he loued soo charytably come after hym ¶ This Barductyne also enfourmed mayster Raymonde whan he came home of thâ—s holy mayde passage ¶ The thryde wytnes of men was also a yong man the whiche was called Stephen that was one of this holy maydes wryters the why she wrote bothe hyr letters that she sente and also hyrbook that the holy ghost endyted by hyr The whiche yong man this holy mayde called to hyr whan she sholde passe and sayd thus Sone it is the wyll of god that thou be a monke of the Charterhous and therfore I charge the that thou so doo As she bad hym so he dyd and lyued euer afterward a ê‘fyt lyf for he had-no felawe of ê‘feccyon in that Relygyon and assone as he was professyd he was made Pryor of the same hous that he was shorne Inne ¶ And afterward he was made Pryour in another place of the same ordre at melayne visitour of the ordre This yong man Stephen wrote certeyn thynges that happed in the passyng of this holy mayde eÌ„tfourmed afterwarde mayster Raymonde of the same whan he came home The fourthe last wytnesse of men that were at the passyng of this holy mayde was one the whyche was called Raynerus the sone of a worthy man Landocte of Sene. Thys man after tyme that this holy mayde was paste was a deuoute recluse that euer afterward lyued a blyssed lyf he was also one of the wryters of hyr lettres of hyr book that the holy ghoost endyted by hyr He was the fyrst of men that forsoke hys kynne folowed this holy mayde by cause he knewe hyr vertuous lyuyng of longe tyme therfore mayster Reymond called hym to hym and made hym a specyall wytnes
in makyng of hyr Legende his felawe also Stephen pryour of the Charterhous These men these wymmen enfourmed mayster Reymond whan he came home of the thynges whyche was done in hys absence as well of tho thynges that she dyd or that she paste as of tho thynges that she shewed dyd in hyr passyng and thus endeth this chapytre ¶ Of meruayllous thynges whyche befyll a yere half to fore the deth of this holy mayden of the martyrdom that she suffred bodely of wycked fendes where of atlast she hadde hyr bodely deth Capitulum secundum AFter tyme the mayster Reymond wente fro this holy mayde as it is rehersed afore by the byddyng of our holy fader the Pope she belefte in the Cyte of Rome and what that our Lorde dede for hyr or that she deyed shewed to other how holy of lyuyng she was and also what ioye he gaue hyr or she passyd out of this worlde I shall tell you ¶ Leue it well maydens whan this holy mayde perceyued that so moche dysease encrecyd in holy chyrche by the scysme that was begonne and perceyuyng also that Crystys vycarye suffred grete dysease she wept day and nyght and prayed to our lord for the pees that he wold wouchesauf to set pees in holy chyrche Thenne our lord comforted hyr in som maner of wyse for the yere afore and an half or she dyed oure lorde gaue double vyctorye to holy chyrche and to Crystys vycarye the pope as well of the castell of Saynt Angell that was in the Cyte of Rome the whiche was in scysmatykes hondes in to that daye as of the people that helde the castell in the name of scysmatykes that were the same daye take and the castell yolde After that our holy fader the pope that myght not dwelle in Rome as he was wonte by cause of the enemyes that were in the Castell of Saynt Aungell knowe this he cam to this holy mayde axed hir counseyll what he sholde do Thenne she gaue hym counseyll that he shold go bar-foot all the people of Rome wyth hym to the mynster of Saynt Peter thankynge our lord god wyth good deuocyon of that grace and of that benefetys the whiche he had do for them Thus holy chyrche beganne to quyken and the holy mayde hadde therof grete comfort But soone after hir sorowe began to encrece eftsonis for that the fende myght not do by strayn gers he assayed for to do by them that were of the Cyte of Rome He made a dysoorde bytwene the people of the Cyte the pope That perceyued this holy mayde she prayed to our lord that he wolde wouchesauf put to hys mercyable honde and suffre not that cursyd synne be done And as she prayed she sawe the Cyte full of fendes styryng and excytyng the people to kylle theyr ghoostly fader and cryed horrybly to this holy mayde all the whyle she prayed seynge to hyr thus Thou cursed wretche thou arte aboute for to lette vs therfore we shall slee the wyth an horryble deth To whome she answerd no worde but prayed more besyly and more feruently axyng of our lord that he wold wouches auf for the worshyp of hys holy name and for remedye of all holy chyrche that thenne stood in grete meshyef kepe hyr hys vycarye wythout harme and not for to suffre the peple do suche a synne and so to put awaye the fendes fro theyr purpose the whiche steryng the people ther to She hadde an answere of our lord and it was this Doughter suffâ—e this peple that euery day blasteme myn holy name for to falle in to this synne that I myght soo dystruye them for theyr cursed wretchydnesse for my ryghtwysnes axyth that I shold no more suffâ—e theyr wyckydnes Thenne she prayed more feruently wyth suche wordes and sayde Mekest and myldest lord thou knowest well how thy spouse holy chyrche is dyseased tormented almost thorugh out all the world and that is routhe Thou knowest well also how sewe helpers and defenders she hath and therfore now yf they slee thy vy carye as they ben in purpose hit shall not onely be greuous to this people of Rome but to all Crysten people Thempre therfore good blyssed lorde thy ryghtwyse honde and dyspyse not thy people that thou haste bought soo deâ— wyth thy precyous blood but torne thy mercyable honde cesse this myshyef In this prayer she contynued many dayes to gyder as she wrote to mayster Reymond by a letter euer our lord alledgyng his ryghtwysnes and she axyng his mercy and in all that tyme the fendes cryed hoâ—â—ybly vpon hir as it is rehersed afore so that she was feble for afflyccyon that but yf our lord had kepte hyr strengthe hyr herâ—e shold to borste at last she sayd to our lord these wordes Lorde syth it â—â— so that this mercy may not be graunted wythout ryghtwysnes I beseche the despyse not my prayers but what maner of payne these people sholde haue put it on my body and I shall glad dely â—eceyue it for the worshyp of thy name and for the sauacyon of holy chyrche Thenne our lord alledged nomore hys ryghtwysnes but helde hys pees gaue hyr the vyctorye and fro that houre forthward the grutchyng cessyd of the peoplâ— by lyâ—â—ll and lytell but hyr passyons encreced so ferforth that serpentes of hell had power of god and tâ—rmented hyr body cruely that it were vncredyble a man for to byleue it but yf he hadde seen it as they sayden that sawe it and were ther pâ—esente whanne hyr body auâ—tyshed all be it that they sawe not the serpentes They fretted and deuoured so that maydens body that therin be lefte but bones without skynne as though it had ben consumed and wasted by long lyeng in the erthe and yet neuertheâ—â—â— she walked prayde as she was wonte the whiche was to many folke a wonder thyng for she semed rather a wonder thyng to loke vpon then ne a naturell thyng Hyr tormentes of payne encreced contynually by the whyche she was consumed and yet she cessyd not from prayer but she prayed â—ore feruently and more lenâ—er thenne she was wonte Hyr ghoostly chyldren whom she hadde nourysshed in vertue were that same tyme and they sawe openly the markes of the strokes that the â—endes of helle gaue hyr in hyr bodye and they myght do therto no remedy for two skylles One was for they wyste well hit was the wyll of god whome they myght not wythstonde Another cause was for they sawe hyr gladde and ioyfull in hyr paynes and the more that she prayed the more was hyr bodely payne But yet wolde she not cesse therfore and the tormentours of helle faylled not but that they cryed vpon hyr alle that tyme and sayde to hyr thus Cursed wrâ—tche thou hast euer be ageynst vs and therfore thy tyme is come we for to be auenged vpon the. Thou haste putte vs oftâ— tymes from our praye and therfore we
haste gyue gyftes and make satysfactyon for thyn gyftes and answer for theym gyuyng to me a lyght of grace that thou maye yelde thankynge to the wyth the same lyght of grace Clothe me an make me that I maye bee arayed wythe thyn endeles trouthe that I maye renne this dedely waye wyth very obediens and wythg the lyght of the moost holyest teytn Loo maydens as nere as I myght and coude I haue translated worde for worde the wordes of the booke And prayer that this holy mayde of the whiche gyfte ye besely take hede ye maye worsâ—ippe the excellence of thys blessyd mayde not only as for her maner of â—yuyng but also for the doctryne of trouthe the whyche is ryght meruelous I sayde and namely of a woman ¶ Furthermore ye maye perceyue by thy se wordes that she desyred gretely to bee vnbounde of the body and be with cryste for she knewe and vnderstoode well that it was moche beter to be wyth cryst than to lyue in this lyf And therfore her desire euer encrecyd vnto the tyme she had fulli her desire and her full weddyng oned off the swete gloryous holy ghost the whiche was promytted vnto her in her yonge age whan she receyued of our gloryous lorde almyghty god the rynge of spousaâ—le as it is rehersyd afore in the laste chapytre of the fyrst party for in the nexte chapytre shall be declared how this holy mayde and virgyn passyd out of this world ¶ Of the tyme whan this hâ—oly mayde passed out of this world and of a sermen that she made to her ghoostely dyâ—â—yples and susteren to â—ore â—er passyng ¶ â—nd how she enformed them in generall and. enspecyall how they sholde gouerne they whan she was goo ¶ And or a vyâ—yâ—n whiche was shewed to a matrone in the houre of passyng Capituâ—um v WHanne this holy mayde perceyued and vnderstode by the reuâ—lacyâ—n that the houre or her dethe drewe nygh She drewe to her aâ— her ghostely dyscyples to whom she spaâ—e generally a longe notable sermon of exortacion to the encrece of vertu In the whyche exortacyon she expressyd somme certayn notabylytes the whiche I purpos to wryte in this boke ¶ The â—yâ—â—te notable doctryne that she taughte was thys That whatso euer he bet at cometh to the seruyce of god Yf he wyll haue good tâ—eâ—ely it is nedeâ—ull for hym that he make his herte naked from all sensyble loue not out of certayn persones but of euery creature what that euer he be than he hold stretche vp his soule to our reuerend lord maker symply wyth alle his desyre oâ—â— his herte for an herte may not holy be yeuen to god but it be fre fro all other loue opyn symple wythout doubâ—lnesse soo she affermed of her selfe that it was alle herâ— principall labour besynes fro her yong age vnto the tyme euer for to come to that ê‘fection also she sayd she knewe well that to suche a state of ê‘fectioÌ„ in the whiche al the herte is gyue to our gloryous lord almyghty god a soule may not come ê‘fyghly whyles she answerd other whyles she smyled as though she hadde soorned the wordes that she herde of hyr enemyes other whyles she was enflammed in loue of the holy ghost but one worde they marked well that herde hyr whan she spak in this ghoostly batayll After tyme she had be styll a certâ—yn tyme hering as it semed the wordes that were put ageynst hyr of hyr enemyes wyth a gladde chere she answerd thus Mayne glorye neuer but ve ray trowe glorye honour of my forde Jhesu cryst it was These wordes by the dysposycyon of oure forde were not sayde wythout cause for ther were many ghoostly men wymmen wened that for the grete graces that our lord had gyuen hir she had sought praysyng of the peple or ellys that she had som maner dylectacyon there Inne therfore they sayd she desyred to be conuersaunt among men in so moche that som wold saye to mayster Reymond hir confessour thus why â—enneth this womman thus about yf she desyre to serue god Why abydeth she not at home in hyr celle herto it may be answeryd as she answeryth afore to hyr ghoostly enemyes in hir passyng thus vayne glory neuer but ve ray trewe glory of my lord Ihesu cryst it was as though she myght answere thus I ranne not aboute ne dyde none other maner ghostly werke for vayne glorye but for the honour glory of my lord Ihesu crystis name That it was so the mayster Reymond bereth recorde of treuthe that herde hyr confessyon bothe generall specyall wherfore he recordeth for a sothe that all that euer she dyd hit was done for the worthyp of god and not for praysyng of men in so moche that she thouâ—t on noo man as for the tyme but whan she prayed for them so ordeyned for theyr bodely nede So that it myght be veryfyed of hyr the wordes of the apostle where he seyth thus Nostra conuersatio in celis est That is oure conuersacyon is in heuen so she what that euer she dyd in erthe hyr conâ—sacion was in heuen After tyme thenne she had long contynued in that long ghostely batayll wyth hyr enemyes she resorted ageyne to hyr self made a generall confessyon openly the whiche is callyd the confytroâ— axyng forgyuenes eftsonys â—o lowyng of doctryne exsample of saynt Martyne Saynt Jerom Saynt Austyn that shewed bothe in hyr dedys in hyr wordes that be a man neuer so excellent in vertue in this lyf he shold not passe out of this world wythout waylyng hertely penaunce for hys synnes In token here of Saynt Austyn in hys last ende whan he shold passe out of this worlde he ordeyned for to wryte to hym the seuen psalmes of penaunce for to be sette vpon the wall that he myght see tho psalmys as he laye in hys bedde The whiche psalmes he radde ofte wepte plenteuously in seyeng of them Also Saynt Jerom whan he sholde be dede he made a generall an open confessyon of hys synnes and defautes Saynt Martyne also in his laste ende taught hys dyseyples that a crysten man shold not deye but in asshys in heyre in token of meke hertety penaunce whom this holy mayde folowed in all maner of tokenes by shewyng of hertely penaunce axyng mekely many tymes oft absolucyon bothe of hyr synnes and paynes Thenne soone after she beganne to wexe more febler and febler but yette she cessed neuer of holy exhortacyon to all hyr dysciples bothe to them that were presente and to them that were absent And specyally that same tyme she charged all hyr dysciples to axe counseyll of mayster Reymond what doubte that euer they hadde And furthermore she had them saye to him whan he came home that he faylle not ne be not aferde for noo thyng that shall falle but euer contynue vertuously for she sayd that she
goddis chirche in heuen And in this chapytre is a recapytulacion of all the holy fyll of this gloryous saint and virgyn afore sayde for werynesse of reders Also yf eche maÌ„ may not haue all the hole holy lyf of this gloryous saint and virgyne afore sayde Thenne maye he haue the substauÌ„ce of it here compendyously rehersyd Capitulum vltimum THe holy doctour saynt Gregorye seyth in hys dyalogus that the vertue of pacyence is more commendable thenne shewyng of myracles This is the cause why our moder holy chyrche whaÌ„ she wodel Canonyze ony saynte fyrste she enquyreth of the vertue of pacyence Thenne of the shewyng of myracles that is for two skylles One is for many euyll lyuers haue do wond thynges shall do that semeth myracles all though they be none as Symon magus dyd Antecryst shall do in hys tyme. Another is by cause som ther hath ben that haue done shewed myracle by â—tue of our lord Ihesu the whiche haue be dampned afterward as Judas all tho thou our lord speketh of in the gospell where he sayth that som shall stande on the lyfte syde on the day of the generall dome saye to hym in excusyng of them self Lord haue we not in thy name shewed do wonderfull myracles To whome our lord shall answere ageyne say Go ye from me werkers of wickydnes by thyse two skylles ye may vnderstonde the holy chyrche in erthe may not only be certyfyed by myracles whether the ê‘sone be holy or not by whom they be shewed all be it that they shewe presumpcyon of holynesse And namely tho myracles that ben shewed after the deth of a ê‘sone for they were no sayntes at whos graues myracles ben shewed Yet were possyble that our mercyable lord sholde haue them excused yelde them after theyr meke beleue the whiche beleuen that they be sayntes Not for them that ben there beryed but for the glorye the ioye of hys owne name lest they the whiche beleue in hym be defrawded from theyr desyre wherfore our mod holy chyrche in erthe that is gouerned by the holy ghost desyryng for to be certefyed of tho merites of holy sayntes as moche as it is possyble in this lyf enquyreth specyally of theyr vertuous lyuyng of tho thynges that they wrought whyles they lyued in erthe Soo our lord Ihesu hyr spouse taught hyr to do whan he sayd Ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos That is of hyr werkys ye shall knowe them for it folowed aftward in the same place where that clause is wryten afore that a good tree may not bryng forthe euyll fruyte What ben thyse fruytes Trewely no thyng ellys but werkys of loue charyte bothe of god and of our neyghbours But by cause of these werkys of charyte ryght as they be plesaunt to our lord ryght so they ben dysplesaunt to the fende So that he is about in all that he can may for to lette the dedes of charyte bothe by hym self also by the worlde that is by worldly lyuers Wherfore it is full necessarye to holy lyuers to haue pacyence ê‘ceuerauÌ„ce yf they wyll be rewarded for theyr mede in blysse by the whiche pacyence they may conserue them kepe them in good loue of god and of theyr good neyghbours notwythstoÌ„dyng all maner ê‘secucyons Therfore it was that Saynt Powle assygned the fyrst condycyon of charyte pacyence whan he sayd Caritas paciens est That is charyte is pacyence Loo maydens this is the cause why oure moder holy chyrche in erthe requyreth more after the pacyence of a saynte yf he sholde be Canonyzed thenne after the myracles for among all â—tuous werkys yet pacyens is the grettest wytnesse of holynesse And this is sayd maydens be cause that ye shold not be in doubte of this holy maydens holynes for she had that vertue of pacyence full blyssedly As I shall tell you by the helpe of god of your good prayers rehersyng all hir dedes of pacyence by recapytulacyon of this hole legende namely for wery reders that thynken an houre in deuoute redyng is lenger than a daye and yf they were occupyed in tales tryfles thenne them semeth the long day â—hort thenne an houre Vnderstonde well maydens that this holy mayde Katherin ê‘ceyued that the vertue of pacyence myÈt not haue his gracious werkyng in a soule but fyrst vnlefull thynges were remeuyd awaye from it namely suche vnlefull thyngys that ben eâ—â—ytable to the lustes of the flesshe wherfore or thenne she came to the age of exê‘yence of flesshly lustes She â—emeuyd awaye myghtly all suche as suche thynges that sholde styre hyr whâ—n she came to age And yet she dyd not this wythout Inspyracion notable vision of our lord by the whiche InspiracoÌ„n whan she was â—j yere of age she saw our lord arayde as a bisshop sytting in a ryâ—t fayre chambre ouer the chirche of the fâ—ere pâ—echours Wyth whome she sawe aâ—so saynt Johan Euangelyst whyles she behelde our lord he lokyd vpon hyr full benyngly mekely and blyssed hir After this holy vysyon hyr soule was fulfylled wyth ê‘â—yâ—e loue that she putte awaye all chyldren condycyons gaue hyr selfe anone to prayer to penaunce and therin she encrecyd ê‘fytly that in the nexte yere after whan she was of vij yere of age she made a vowe of madenhode afore an ymage of our lady not sodeâ—â—ly but wyth grete delyberacyon afore as it is openly declared in the seconde the thrydde chapytre of the fyrst ê‘tye Furthermore by cause that this holy mayde wyst well that abstynence was necessary for to kepe the purpose of maydenhode Therfore she gaue hir to grete abstynence in hyr yong age ê‘fourmed it meruayllously For as it is reherâ—â—d in the thrydde chapytre of the fyrst ê‘â—ye in the vj chapytre of the same partye more largely the began preuely to leue flesshe And thenne as she encrecyd in age lytel lytell she lefte all maner etynge of flesshe therto she dranke no wyne but whan it was medled wyth watâ—r so that it had all most lost hys â—ast hys colour of wyne And whan she was xv yere of age she lefte bothe wyne flesshe all maner of metes out take brede rawe herbes Also whan she was xx yere of age she lefte brede took hir onely to dyetyng of rawe herbys soo contynued in that maner of lyuyng vnto the tyme our lord gaue hir a newe maner of gracious lyuyng whan she lyued without ony maner of mete that was whan she was xxv or xxvj yere of age as it is openly declared in the vj chapytre of the fyrst partye where is rehersed the cause the maner why wherfore she came to suche estate And where also is answered suffycyentely to them that grutched to that maner of lyuyng Whan this holy mayde hadde thus fully oâ—come the styryng of synnes that she came to the ê‘fyte vertue of
all offenses of hym ye were it neuer so lytyll and. thenne she sayd haue thou for certayne doughter that noo moystour of pleasyng deuocyon or gyfte of grace or vertu desceÌ„dyth ê‘fytely from god in to mannes herte but by deuoute prayer of soule and sharpe bodely traueyll ¶ For after that a maÌ„ perfytely offereth to god two mytes the whiche he hath that is his soule and his body and ordeyneth hym to his seruyse and honoure oure lorde god of hys hyghe graces begynneth to gladde that mannes sowle in soo moche that he n ay not bere it but for swetnes and for wondryng it fareth as it were in hit self as a man that were dronke of swete wyne and myghty putte out of hym selfe that may not bere it for feblynes of hede And thenne that soule knowed that she hath noo thyng doun pleasyng to god for to haue soo grete comforte before And she holdeth more vnder vyle and more worthy dyspyte thenne euer she helde hyr before but afterwarde whanne suche a soule torneth ageyne to hyr self she yeldeth thankynges and louynges to god wyth deuocyon and affeccyon of wyll and woldeth hir vnworthy of grace And wyth moche drede storeth hyr selfe as vnkynde ageynste soo greate a benefactour And god seyeng hyr euer waxe more meke thorught the gyftes that she receyueth he took more hede to gyue hyr moogyftes of grace in soo moche that as it were that he fulfylled hyr desyre in this worlde Soo that hyr thynketh that hyr dwellyng is in heuen wyth god and not in erthe wyth men here and thynked also that she hath paradyse in hyr self Soo I knowleche that it befyll wyth me whyle I lyued in erthe and whanne I was alle brennyng in goddes loue and felyd soo moche swetenes in hym that for hym alle the worlde was vyle to me Ones whan I was a lone wyth deuocyon in my preuy chambre Loo sodeynly the Aungell Gabryell stood by me and as the Gospell seyth sheylled me and sayde Aue gracia plena c. Off the whiche salutacyon whanne I herde it fyrst I was ferâ—e but afterwarde that I was comforâ—ed wyth hys holy and swete speche and made seker not doubtyng thyse thynges to be sothe that he shewed I fyll to the erthe and knelynge wyth my hondes ioynde I honoured and sayde Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi secundum verbum tuum That is to saye Loo here the seruaunt of god be it done to me after thy worde The whiche worde sayd anone I was rauysshed and in soo grete fulnesse of goddes grace enbasshed me that I neuer felte soo moche swetenesse and comforte in my soule And in that rauysshyng goddes sonne took flesshe of my puryst blood wyth oute ony wem of me or 〈◊〉 delyte The cause why god dede this grace to me was feyth and mekenes wyth whiche I troweth in fulfeyth the Aungellys wordes and meked me and dressed me all to goddes wyll And therfore he wouchesaue to gyue me soo moche grace And soo thou my doughter in alle thynges that god heteth or dothe to the haue thou not in mistrowyng ne yenstoÌ„d hym not seyeng lord why doest thou this to me But by exsample of me saye Ecce ancilla domini c. And ony tyme be not fulfylled as it is hyght to the or ellys it is taken fro the that was gyuen to the of god Blame thy owne self and thynke that thou hast done somme trespas before the syghte of goddes mageste for the whiche goddes sentence is chaunged for he hath wyll to purchace the lyf wythouten ende he nedeth to be buxom of herte to the commaundementes and loue hym self to god by veray mekenesse and obedyence for the contrayous of tho synnes pryde and Inobedyence of our fore faders Adam and Eue for the whiche they lost the grace and the dygnyte that they were made in ¶ Ouer that thenne in another tyme on the vygyle of the natyuyte of oure lorde whan Elysabeth Crystys seruannt was duryng in longe prayer and asked mekely of god wyth moche deâ—ocyon and fallyng of terys that he wolde gyue hyr grace by the whiche â—he myght loue hym wyth all hyr herte The blyssed mayden was besyde and sayd to hyr who is he that loueth god wyth all hys herte wheâ—e it be the Elysabeth And whan she dâ—ede to afâ—erme and sayd that she loued god wyth all hyr herte And therfore she was styll and answerd noo thyng thenne the blessyd mayde sayd to hyr wolde thou that I say who loueth god perfytly For certeyn Bartholomew thapostle loued hym well Laurence the maâ—tyr Johan the Euan gelyst and other apostles and martyrs And therto she sayd woldest thou for the loue of hym ben slayn rostyd or drynk venym And whan she durst not afferme ne denye that she wolde suffâ—e this thynges for the name of cryst Thenne the blyssed mayden sayd In stedfastnesse I say the doughter yf thou wold for loue of god be spoyled of all worldly thynges and garmentes of thy now mynde or wyll soo that thou wyll noo thyng haue ne â—oueyte in this world I wyll procure to the of my sonne the mede that Bartholomew hath for his fleyeng and yf thou beâ—â— paciently wronges and reproues and all maner of wronges born of the thou shalte haue the mede that Laurence had for the rostyng of his body And whan thou art reproued soorned and seâ—â—â— at nought of other yf thou beâ—e it gladly and mekely thou shalt haue the mede that Johan the Euangelyst had for the drynkyng of venyme And yf thou wolde be tâ—ewe to me and be buxom to me I wolde be nyghe to the to fulfyll all that is sayd before I wold be wyth the euer helpyng the whan it is spedfull to the. Ouer that another tyme as saynt Elysabeth prayed and in hir prayeng she thought wyth deuocyon of sowle and in what wyse the blyssed mayde prayed as she had shewed hyr as it is sayde before The blyssed mayde answerd hyr In prayeng doughter I dyde as he that wyll newe make a fayre well fyrst he gothe to the roote of the hyll vnder whiche the water spryngeth and herkenâ—th besyly vnâ— what syde the veynes of water gothe whan he sought hym by herkynge thenne he begynneth to delue in that syde of the hyll tyll he fynde an able begynnyng of a welstede fro the spryngyng veynes and afterward he dressyth water in to the well stede the whiche he maketh large and fayre and clene After that he maketh a wall all about the well and in the myddes of the well a stone pylar fastned in it pypes all aboute thorugh the whiche the water may passe out of eche half more propâ—â—tably to the vse of men This dyd I ghostely for thenne wente I to the hyll where I besyly herkened and lerned the lawe of moyses and all the x commandementes Thenne fonde I the veyne of water whan I lerned in redyng thynkyng and prayeng that the wellhede begynnynge