endeles reste delyueryng them bothe from the pytte and the swolowe Whan alle thys was done thys holy mayde consyderynge euyr more in hyr sowle the mede the rewarde I ordeyned for hyr of the holy ghoost suffred gladly and nought paynfully alle the wronges that was putte to hyr And also she encreced contynually the cours of hyr labour the more that she myght haue a full ioye in hyr sowle And by cause that it was not suffred to hyr to haue a chambre by hyr self but for to haue hyr chambre openly as other hadde ¶ Therefore by an holy aâ—uysement she chose the chambre of Stephen hyr brother that hadde nether wyf ne chyldren Where by dayes tyme whanne he was absente she myght be allone And nyghtes tyme whan he slepte she prayed after hyr desyre soo that nyght and daye she soughte to see the face of hyr spouse Ihesu Cryste knockyng at the dore of hys ghoosâ—ly tabernacle wyth out cessyng She prayed our lord vncessably that he wolde wouche sauf to be the keper of hyr virgynytee sayeng and syngyng in in sowle wyth Saynt Cecylye thys holy verse of Dauyd the prophete Fiat cor meum domine et corpus meum immaculatum That is lorde Ihesu I praye that myn herte and my body be kepte clene vnderfowled to the and soo in scylence and in hope she was made stronge in our lord ryght meruayllously For the more torment and persecucyon she hadde wyth out forth the more she was fulfylled wyth ghoostly ioyes wythin forth soo ferforth that hyr brethern perceyueng hir stedfastnesse sayden betwyne them seluen thus we be ouer come Hyr fader that was most Innocente of alle consyderyng pryuely hyr dedes perceyued that she was ladde euery daye more and more by the holy ghoost and nought by the lyghtnes of yonthe Alle thyse that ben rehersed in thys chapytre hyr confessour mayster Reymond had it by reuelacyon of Lapa thys maydens moder and of lyxa her brother wyf and of other also that were in hyr faders how 's But as for other thynges that other folke myght not knowe he knewe by tellyng of thys holy mayde in confessyon ¶ Of the vyctorye whyche she hadde of them that desesed hyr And that was by a culuer whiche hyr fader sawe and by a vysyon of Sâ—ynt Domynyk Ca v IN the mene whyle that thys holy mayde was putte in suche reproue and shame it happyd vp on a daye that she entred in to the chambre of hyr yonge brother Stephen And prayed deuoutly leuyng the dore vnshett for it was forboden to hyr by hyr fader moder that she sholde not shette the dore Casuelly thenne it happened that the fader entred in to the chambre sekynge a certeyne thynge of hys sones that he had nede to And as he loked aboute he sawe hys doughter more goddes doughter thanne hys prayng in a corner and knelyng and a lytell whyte culuer restynge vp on hyr hede the whyche culuer fledde out of the chambre wyndowe whan the fader was entred in to the chaÌ„bre as him thought Anone the fader axed the doughter what culuer that myght be that fledde so out of the chambre to whom the doughter answerd and sayde that neuer she sawe culuer ne other byrde in the chambre Thenne hadde the fader grete meruaylle and kepte all thyse wordes pryuely in hys herte Fro that tyme forwarde there beganne gracyously to encrece in that holy maydens sowle an holy desyre whyche neuerthelesse was begonne as it is reherced a fore in hyr chyldehode and now afterward it was renewyd for tuycyon and dysease of kepyng of hyr maydenhode or virgynytee and that desyre was no thynge ellys but for to receyue the habyte of the ordre of frere prechours the whyche ordre Saynt Domynyk was bothe foundour and fader There she prayed bothe daye and nyght to our lord that he wouchesauf to fulfyll hyr desyre And therto she had a grete deuocyon to Saynt Domynyk as it is rehersed a fore to a worthy and a fruytfull louer of sowles Almyghty god therefor sawe how wysely and how myghtely hys doughter as a yong knyght faught in batayll and wyth what feruour of deuocyon she besyed hyr to plese hym wyth alle hyr desyre he wolde in no wyse dysceyue hyr ne defraude hyr of hyr holy purpose But for the more sekernesse he comforted hyr wyth suche a vysyon ¶ This holy mayde on a tyme had a vysyon in hir slepe that she sawe many holy faders many dyuers fouÌ„dours of the ordre of the frere prechours amonges whom she saw saynt Dominyk that she knewe wel I now holdyng in hys honde a fayre whyte lylye the whyche lylye semyng to hir was all a fyre as the busshe that Moyses saw yet was not brennyd Whan this holy faders al in general eche in a speciall gaf hir couÌ„seyll for hir more mede that she shold chese oo Relygion of their ordynauÌ„ce in the whiche relygion she myght yelde due seruyce to god She torned hir self hole to saynt dominik so saw in spyryt how that the holy fader saynt dominyk came to hir brought in his honde an habyte of sustris the whyche susters ben called sustres of penaunce of saynt Domynyk Of the whiche susters ther was ne yet is no lytell noÌ„bre in the cyte of Senee And whan thys holy fader saynt domynyk cam to this mayde he coÌ„forted hir with suche wordes sayde Dought be of good coÌ„fort drede no manere of peryll for ryght as thou hast desyred this habyte she thought she receyued it and thankyd almyghty god and his worthy confessour Saynt Domynyke not wyth a lytyll gladnesse but wyth ioyefull teres that soo perfyghtely hadde coÌ„forted her And soo wyth wepyng she awoke was restoryd to her bodely wyttes ¶ And whan she was awaked she caught comforte and bodely strength of this vysyon and toke soo grete a boldenes of the truste that she hadde in our lorde that the same daye she called her fader and moder and bretheren togyders and sayde to theym boldely in this wyse Somtyme ye sayde vnto me and tretyd me longe tyme therof that I sholde bee wedded to a corruptyble and to a dedely man though I hadde abhomynacion of suche weddyng in myn herte as ye myght clerly perceyue by many dyuerse tokenes if ye hadde I wolde yet for the reuerence that I sholde shewe to my fader and moder by the bydyng of god vnto this tyme I excused me neuer clerly to you but now by cause I may noo lenger be styl I shall declare to you openly myn herte and purpoos The whiche purpoos it is not conceyued of newe but of chyldhode vnto this tyme â–ª therfore I wyl ye knowe it that in myn chyldhode I made avowe of virgynyte and serue oure lorde sauyour of alle the worlde and his blessyd moder gloryous vyrgyn marie our gloryous lady not chyldely but wyth a saâ— and a longe avysement And for a grete
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
buxom and subgettâ— to the seruyce of the sowle On a tyme hyr moder Lapa tolde to mayster Reymond hyr confessour â–ª Thought that hyr doughter tormented so holy hyr body in penaunce she was of soo grete myght strenghte in body that she wolde wyth out ony greuaunce lyf vp on hyr sholdres a borthen that was I now for an hors for to bere bere it vp in to an hyghe garet aboue two longe steyers For she was that tyme as she sayde twyes soo grete in body thanne she was afterward at the age of xxxviij whan she had contynued in soo grete penaunces Hyt was no meruayll and so it is for but yf it had nought I be that our lord hadde kepte hyr by myracle hyt hadde be no meruayll though she hadde be all wastyd awaye For at that tyme whan that hyr confessour mayster Reymond knewe hyr she was a full slender creature and that was no meruayll For the spiryte encreced in vertue the weyker wexxd the body as though it werâ— ouercome of the sowle not wythstondyng alle thys she wolde euer laboure gladdely and namely for the helthe of sowles All be it she suffred grete sekenesse in hyr body for the spyryte whyche was so strong wythin susteyned and comforted the feble body wyth out Now shall I cesse here of and torne ageyn to the fyrst mater of thys chapytre Whan thys holy mayde hadde full graunte and lycence of hyr frendes for to serue our lord in hyr lytell chambre assygned to hir and there began full feruently for to styghe vp ghoostly to hyr heuenly spouse The serpent our ol de enemye the fende though she had ouercome hym dyuers tymes afore Yet he cessed not for to assaylle hyr estesonys He steryd Eue hys doughter Lapa thys maydens moder by a carnall loue that she hadde more to the body of hyr doughter than to hyr self for to lette hyr of hyr penaunce For on a tyme whan the moder came to hyr doughter and aspyed howe she bete hyr self wyth an yren chayne she cryed waylyng wyth a lowde voys and seyde A doughter what doste thou thou arte but dede for thou sleest thy self allas who hath couÌ„seylled my doughter herto who hath steryd hyr to do thys And soo wyth cryeng and waylyng thys olde womman tormeÌ„ted hyr self as she had be a wood body wyth tâ—ryng of hyr clothes of hyr here for she thought hyr doughter was but dede By the noyse of thys cryeng all the neghbours were styred aboute for to come Inne and see what thys olde woman eyled Whan they cam they sawe how thys holy mayde had made hyr a bedde all of bare boordys where on she rested when she wolde slepe And wyth vyolence hyr moder took hyr out of the chambre and broughte hyr to her owne chaÌ„bre there she laye for she thought that she wolde make her slepe in her owne bedde wyth hyr And whan thys holy mayden sawe thys by wysdome of spyryte she shewed grete gladnes in chere and kneled doun a fore hyr moder prayng her mekely wyth esy wordes that she wolde wouchesauf to put awaye alle hyr steryng and vnpacyence and be esy for she was redy to obeye to hyr as she wolde haue hyr redy for to lye wyth hyr as she wolde bydde hyr Whan she thus wysely pâ—syd her moder for to kepe hyr in quyete she layde hyr doune by her in that one syde of the bedde and had there swete medytacyons that she was wontâ— to haue After tyme hir moder was a slepe she rose vp pryuely and wente agayne to hyr holy ghostly excercyse The fende eftsones hadde enuye herto that she sholde so encrece in vertue styred hyr moder the seconde tyme ageyn hyr But there ageyn thys holy mayde vsed thys prudence by cause she wolde nomore make â–ª hyr moder sory wyth hyr she took pryuely a post and leyde it in hyr bedde vnder a shete and clothes abouen that the moder whan she wold comen and vysyte hyr sholde suppose that it had be she the whyche had laye there vnder the clothes And yet neuer thelesse she kepte hir comyn â—â—stome of harde lyeng as she dyd a fore hyt was not longe tyme after but that the moder aspyed thys well when she had aspyed it she sayd to hyr doughter in thys wyse Doughter I see well alle my laboure is in vayne I may not chaunge the from thy purpose ese it is to me for to lete it ouer passe lyghtly And therefor go and slepe there on thou arte I wontâ— And soo she was ouercomen wyth the stedfastnes of thys holy mayde and suffred hyr euer afterwarde to lyue as the holy ghoost styred hyr Thus endeth thys chapytre Somme thynges ther ben rehersed there Inne that hyr confessour mayster Reymond knewe and hadde reuelacyon of by the holy mayde Katheryne â–ª As is of hyr grete abstynence and other sharpenesse of penauÌ„ce and of hyr maner of worchyng in them and somme thynkes he knewe by reuelacyon of hyr moder Lapa and som of other dyuers matrons that were conuersauÌ„t with her But som thynges he knewe by hym self namely of hyr synguler gracyous yefte of abstynence ¶ Of the laste vyctorye that she had in a bathe And how she took the abyte of Saynt Domynyk Whyche she had long tyme desyred to fore Ca vij WHan thys holy mayde was restoryd ageyn to hyr deuoute excercyse the more that she perceyued that the enemye of all mankynde was besy for to lette hyr the more feruent she was in hyr ghostly excercyse Euery day she wayled euery day she wepte axynge and prayng our lorde deuoutly that he wold wouchesauf to gyue hir grace to resceyue the abyte of saynt Domynyk that she had long desyred The whiche thorugh hys grete â—ytâ—â— was be hote hyr by ourâ— holy fader Saynt Domynyk in a vysyon For she was neuer seker in hir self to kepe the purpose of maydenhode vnto the tyme she resceyued that holy abyte she wyst well that after tyme she were arayed wyth that abyte alle maner speche of hyr weddyng shold cesse and she sholde be suffred for to serue hyr ghoostely the more frely Wherfore she prayed hyr fader moder that they wold gyue hyr leue to be one of the susters of penauÌ„ce of sayn tâ— Domynyk that ben called in comyn speche of the Cyte of Senee susters of the mantâ—ll And ouermore she prayed to the same sustres that they receyue hyr to the same abyte amonge theyrâ— holy nombre To thys axyng the mod was not well apayed alle be it she sayde not ones nay but euer she was aboute as moche as she myght for to withdrawe hyr from hyr grete penaunce that she vsed And for thys cause she purposed on a tyme for to go to an hoot bath or for to be bathed hyr doughter wyth hyr That assone as thys holy mayde had felte ony maner comforte solace to the body by that bathyng by lytell lytell she shold
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
iij WHan this holy mayde Katherin perceyued that the more mylder she was to her neyghbours the more gracyous she was to the syghte of her spouse Ihesu she applyed her euer afterward to socour and helpe theym in her nede wyth all her herte largely ¶ And by cause she wolde nothynge haue of her owne as her owne in her owne possession â–ª Ryght as a very relygyous woman that hadde ordeyned in her owne herte to kepe the iij pryncipall vowes of relygyon as it is rehersed afore in the fyrst party lest she sholde be founde gylty of withdrawynge other mennys good against the will of the hauer she wente to her fader and besoughte hym mekely and lowely that he wolde gyue her leue to gyue almesse after her conscyence to â—ore folke of the goodis of god I gyue hym in his housholde To the whiche her fader graunted her the more frely in as moche as he knowe well that she folowynge perfyghtly the steppes off of our And graunted not oonly to her thus in pryuyte bytwene theym bothe But also afterward to all that were in in his housholde he gaue in commaundemente that noo body sholde lette his dere doughter for to gyue almesse of suche goodes that our lord hadde gyue hym in his housholde though she wolde gyue to poure folke all that euer he hadde in hys housholde Assone as she hadde this lycence â–ª she began to departe the goodes of her fader to poure folke Neuerthelesse in as moche as she lyued wyth a gyfte off dyscrecion she departed not that good to alle that wolde aske But to theym that she knewe were nede folke alle though they asked not amonge all other nedy folke there came two he knowleched that there were many poure nedy housholders a lytyll besyde the Cyte of gene that had grete nede and were sore ashamed for to aske after tyme she knewe that she forgate it not but that she arose vp erly in the morowe as saynt Nycholas dyde and bare on her sholders home to their houses bothe wyne and oyle and other thynges that was nedefull And as god wolde whan she came she founde her dorys opeÌ„ And she put wythin the dores that she brought and drewe the dore to and fledpreuyly her waye ¶ It befyll in a tyme that she was seke in body soo that fro the sole of her fote to the toppe of the hede the body was swollen that she myght not aryse vp of her bedde ne stonde on her fete â–ª And she herde saye than that there was a poure wydowe a lytyll besyde the whiche grete hunger and greate nede wyth her sones and doughters For compassyon that she hadde of this poure woman and of her chyldren The nexte nyght after she prayed oure lorde that he wolde vochesauf to gyue her soo moche strengthe for a tyme that she myght goo and so oour that poure woman Anone she aroos vp erly vpon the morowe fylled her sacke of her faders where and her grete vessell or a flacat of wyne and another vessell wyth oyle what that she myght euer fynde besyde forth the whiche myght bee necessarye to mannys lyuelood and all thyse she kept in her chaÌ„bre all be it that eueryche of thyse was for her berdem ynow for to here alone yet she bare all at onys to the wedowes hous somme therof she trussed vpon her sholders somme vp her ryght arme and somme vp her lift arme and somme therof bonnden onder her gyrdell and by myracle that was heuy ynouht to bere eueryche by hym self she bare it alle at onys esely without ony peyne or greuauÌ„ec She knowleche after ward bothe to her confessour Mayster ReymouÌ„d and to other of the fryers that the berdom wayde nomore to her than thought she hadde lifte vp a lytyll wase of strawe and yet in trouthe yf it hadde be trewely wayed It sholde haue wayed an hondred pound of weyte or there aboute Er than the comyn bell of the Cyte was roungen erly in the morowe it was not lefull neuer one to walke in the cyte aft tyme it was ronge this holy mayde waited well her tyme and toke her Journeye wyth her burthen All be it that she were yonge and all forbolnyd bysekenes yet she ranne to the poure wydowed hous so faste as though she hadde felt nothynge of paynes ne of the burthen And whaÌ„ she came nyghe to the poure wydowes hous her byrthen waxit heuy and greuoâ— to bere soo that her semed she myght not bere it a paas further whan she perceyued this she vnderstoode anone that it was oure lordes wyll and prayed him deuoutly wyth truste that he wolde vouchesaufe to ese her Anone she was esyd of her byrthen came to the poure wydowes hous and founde her dore half open As preuyly as she coude she drewe her byrthen wythin the dore and yet it made suche a noyse that it woke the wydowe And she fledde as she myght for sekenes but that was not full ferre but for her sekenes encresyd more and more by the ordeynaunce of god that vnnethes she myghte remeue her out of the waye wherfore she spak to our lord wyth wei lyng chere and in maner in smylyng chere and sayde good lord why hast thou so dysceyued me it is good to the to shame me here it is thy wyll that myn foly bee pupplysshed to all folke here aboute hast thou now forgete thy mercy that thou haste shewed to me thyn vnwourthy â–ª I praye the lord yelde me myn strengthe that I maye come home to myn chambre in tyme she spake thus thyse wordes and lyke to thyse She enforced and strengthed her self that she myght go forthe seyeng to her owne body thus thou moost nedes forthe though thou sholdeste deye by the waye and therfore goo forth what wyth goynge but more wyth crepyng forth she weÌ„t lytyll not soo fer but that the poure wedowe arose vp and aspyed by the habyte who it was that dyd her that benefet ¶ Oure lord thenne consydered that she was gretely tourmentyd in her goyng restoryd her agayne to the strengthe that she hadde afore but not soo perfyghtely So that wyth grete hardynes she came home er thenne it was lyght daye And laye doune in her bedde ryght feble as she dyde before thus oure lorde touched and touched her by sekenesse as hym lyked Loo maydens here ye maye see the myracles of saint nycholas been renewed in this holy mayde and not only by myracle But by many myracles now shall I procede forth and shewe you the vertuous lyuyng of saynt martyn How our lord shewed hym in her ¶ It befyll on a tyme whan this holy mayde was in the chyrche of the freyers There came to her a poure man asked somme helpe of her for the loue of god This holy mayde perceyued wel that she hadde nothynge that she myght gyue hiÌ„ For she was not wonte to here neyther golde ne syluer she prayed hym that he wolde
so frely so charytable that it voyded awaye fro me the peyne of colde Therfore I shall now gyue the a cote the whiche shall be Inuysyble to men but to the it shall be sensyble Out of myn holy body I shall take it and hyue it the by the whiche bothe thy body and thy sowle may be keuered and kepte from noyous colde vnto the tyme that they shall be arayed in ioye wythout an ende a fore my sayntes and angels Anone forth wyth he toke out a clothe of a sangueyne colour wyth hys holy hondes out of the wounde of his syde shynyng alle aboute to the quantyte mesure of the maydens bodye Where wyth he arayed hyr wyth hys owne holy hondes and sayd Thys clothe I gyue the all the whyle thou dwellest in erthe in token of thy clothe of ioye that thou shalt be arayed wythin heuen Thus this vysyon cessyd After that the holy mayde hadde soo grete grace in receyuyng of that ghostly gyfte not onely in hir sowle but also in hir body that fro that houre in to hyr endyng daye she neded neuer to were moo clothes in wynter thanne in somer For were the wedder neuer so colde she vsed no mo clothes than a cote and a kertell For euer afterward as she semed she felte that ghostly cote vpon hyr the whiche our lord gaf hir and that was the cause that she felte no colde See ye not maydens of what worthynes this holy mayde was that folowed Saynt Nycholas in gyuyng of atmespryuely and folowed saynt martyn in gyuyng of hyr owne clothes the whiche our lord allowed by hys holy apperyng to thys blessyd mayde And there to gaf hyr a sensyble and an euerlastyng token for to fele in erthe how plesauÌ„t almes dedes ben to hym Me semeth that whan our lorde sayd to thys holy mayde that he wolde she we hyr that lytell crosse at the daye of dome the whiche she gaue in almes And also that he wolde araye hyr wyth a clothe of ioye in heuen is no thyng ellys but a sikernes of endeles helthe And therto an excellent ioye in blysse for hir mede Therfore maydens sett not lytell by suche reuelacyons and suche tokenes for sykernesse of endeles helthe onely causeth so grete ioye and so grete comforte in a sowle that it were impossyble a tongue to tell it or a penne to wryte it What foloweth after suche a sykernesse of ioye trowe ye to a sowle Trewely encrece of all vertue of pacyence of strengthe of temperaunce of besynesse and delygence in kepyng of hyr self in holy werkes of feyth of hope of charytr and of suche other vertues And all that were harde to suche a soule a fore ben made by suche comfort ryght esye Loo what grace suche predestynacyon notefyed to a clene sowle wercheth Another tyme also it befyll that thys holy mayde fulfylled wyth compassyon perceyued that ther was a man the whiche made him pore wylfully for goddes loue and lacked mete wherfore she toke preuely a lynnen bagge and fylled it wyth egges and bare it wyth hyr preuely vnder hyr â—oote to refresshe wyth that poure man whan she mette wyth him She came to the place there that the poure maâ— dwellyd and entred fyrst in to the chyrche there besyde for to praye And whan she was entred she bethought on our lord so Inwardly and anoue her spiryte was rauysshed soo that she was fully for that tyme wythdrawe from hyr outwarde wyttys as it is rehersed afore Whanne she was thus rauysshed it happed sodeynly that the body bowed to a pyler casuelly on that syde that the egges were on so that she lened fully vpon the bagge wyth egges thanne was ther in the same bagge for goten a fore a thymbyll as tayllours sowen wyth the whiche thymbyll was broken in thre partyes by burthon of hir body but the eyren that charyte hyd there were hole in noo partye broken Now was thys a meruayllous thyng that the eyren were hole and the thymbyll of coper was to broke so our lorde shewed there hys myracle in the charytable eyren For our lord shewed his helpe not only by this holy mayde to nedy folke but also he shewed hys myracle in hyr by werkes of his godhede And for to declare the more openly I shall tell you a meruaylles thyng of whiche meruayll were wytnes bothe men and woÌ„man aboute the nombre of xx of this maydens faders housholde Her moder Lapa tolde mayster Reymond hir doughters confessour that after tyme hir doughter thys holy mayde had leue of hyr fad to gyue almes It befylle that the meyne of the housholde had dronke amonges them a certeyn vessell of wyne so that the remenauÌ„t the whiche was lefte was not fresshe for to gyue to poure men in asmoche she had in custome to gyue them of the beste for goddes loue She went hyr than to the next vessell of wyne there besyde in hyr faders seller and tamed that for poure folke And gaf them largely ther of euery day as they neded many dayes to gyder and it was not aspyed of the meyne At the last whan the fyrst vessell was done the boteler mynystred drynke to the meyne of the vessell the whyche the holy mayde had tamed Yet the holy mayde left not therfore but alwaye she gaue ther of to the poure folke and the more the meyne dronke the more largely she gaue to poure folke and it was not aspyed ne the wyne was neuer the vnfressher ne neuer the lasse in the vessell but allewaye kepte his estate bothe in fulnesse in fresshenesse Alle the meyne of the housholde gretely meruaylled ther of that the vessell contynued so long and the wyne was so good and so fresshe for it was well knowe a fore that suche a vessell of wyne myght not laste ouer xv dayes or xx dayes at the ferthest Neuerthelesse it contynued not onely xx dayes but a full moneth complete And yet it semyd that the vessell was noo wyse lessened All the meyne had meruayll ther of that the wyne was so good so fresshe lastyd so long For better wyne them semed they tastyd neuer It was vnknowe to them all how that myght be but the holy mayde knewe well I nogh that it was by myracle of our lord by cause of the almes that she gaue ther of the more largely to the poure folke And therfore she gaue ther of the more largely to pour folke openly that all the meyne myght see it and yet it semed neuer the lesse in the vessell O moneth was passyd an other began to entre yet the wyne contynued euer lyke fresshe lyke full as it dyd fyrste in to the tyme the grapes were rype for to make newe wyne Whenne the gâ—apes were rype vessellys were ordeyned for to be fylled wyth newe wyne the mayster of the wyne bad commauÌ„ded that the vessell whiche coÌ„tynued so long wyth olde wyne sholde be emptyed and fyllyd with newe wyne
One of the seruauÌ„tes made ordynauÌ„ce for to empte that vessell by fyllyng of botellys yet it semed neuer the lesse Atte the laste the vessell was vndone for to be gawgid to knowe ther by what was lefte in the vessell it was founde all drye as though ther had no wyne be ther Inne many monthes afore Thenne all the housholde were more amexuaylled of the myracle thenne they were of the habundaunce of wyne afore Loo maydens what myracle our lord shewed by gyuyng of almes dede of this holy mayde Katheryne the whiche myracle was openly afterward knowen in the Cyte of Sene Thus endeth this chapytre The wyttenesse of thys mater conteyned in thys chapytre ben rehersed in thys chapytre ¶ Of meruayllous dedys whiche she dyd in lowely besy seruyse to them that were syke Capitulum iiij THys holy mayde had a meruayllous compassyon in hyr soule of poure folke and nedy But yet she hadde a more excellent a more meruayllous pyte of seke folk for the whiche pyte that she hadde of them she wroughte many wonder thynges whom I shall rerce by the grace of god for the more edyfycacyon of theym the whiche shall rede or here thys holy legende And though it seme to somme incredyble yet shall I not leue therfore In the cyte of Sene ther was a full poure womman and a syke that for nede and wantyng of temporall gooddes she was constreyned to lygge in an hospytak in the same Cyte where she supposed to haue and fynde remedye of hyr syknes that she myght not haue by hyr self it happed thanne that she was receyued in to a poure hospytall of the same cyte in the whiche hospytall vnnethe she myght haue that she nedyd Hyr sykenesse encrecyd so hyghely that she was a lepre thoâ—ugh out all hyr body thenne all that euer were wyth Inne the hospytall eshewed hir te more and dysposed for that she sholde be sente to the spytellhous wythout the toune the whyche was ordeyned for lazaros and not for to abyde amonges them Whanne thys holy mayde perceyued thys she wente full of charyte to the same hospytall and vysyted the poure leprous womman and mynystred to hyr not onely the substaunce of temporall gooddes but also the helpe of hyr owne mynystracyon For euery day on the morowe and euery nyght at euen she vysyted the same seek womman by hyr owne persone consyderyng in that same leprous womman hir spoust Jhesu with hyr ghoostly eye And therfore she serued her to more besely the more dylygentely and the more mekely thys holy mayde serued hyr the more prude and vnkynde the seek womman was ageynst hyr For so ofte tymes it happeth in them that ben not meke that the more mekenes ther is shewed to them the more proude they be And there that they sholde thanke our lord for the kyndnes whiche is shewed to them the shewe rather Iniuryes and wronges ryght so dyd thys seke womman to this holy mayde whan she saw that she was serued soo customably euery day of thys holy mayde she began to chyde hir whanne she was not serued to hyr plesaunce It befyll other whyle that thys holy mayde was longe at the chyrche and contynued somtyme longer thenne somtyme and that was the cause ofte tyme why she was taryed fro that seek woÌ„man And after whan she came late to the seek woÌ„man she wolde chyde hyr shappely and sayde to hyr soornfully many suche heuy wordes O lady quene welcome where haue ye ben so longe lady quene a now ye be a grete lady that so long haue ben at the frerys haue ye talkyd I nough wyth the freres lady wyth suche lyke wordes and many lyke these she dyd what she coude to styre thys holy mayde to wrath yet was she not styred by hyr wordes but rather serued hyr as she wolde hyr owne moder comforted hyr as lowely and as mekely as she wolde hyr owne moder seynge to hyr ryght thus O good moder for goddes loue be not dyspleased wyth me for though I haue be longe I shall mende all thyng anone Than she hyd hyr fast made a fyre and ordeyned besyly for hyr mete and for all other necessaryes as she wolde for hyr owne moder soo that the seke womman in all hyr vnpacyence meruaylled of hir pacyence Thys rebukynge contynued longe tyme and yet was that holy mayde neuer wery of hyr seruyse but rather contynued many folk had meruayll therof But hyr owne mod Lapa was gretely troubled wyth al and cryed vpon hyr that she sholde leue that minystracion lest she were a lepre as the seke womaÌ„ was oftymes she sayd to hir Doughter I wote well thou shalt be a leper yf thou contynue in seruyce of this seke woman and that may I not suffer And therfore leue of I charge the To whom this holy mayde excused her honestely and sayde that she hadde it of oure lord that she sholde not leue the minystracion of that poure woman And soo she eâ—ed her moder and she contynued forthe in her hooly mynystracion Thenne the fende perceyued that she myght not bee ouercome by swete reuelyng he tourned hym to another whyle by the suffraunce of oure lorde and made her hondes leper the whiche touched the lepers body of the seke woman in soo ferforth that euery body that sawe her sayd that she was a leper yet wold she not sece thefor but rather desireth to be a leper than for to seâ—e of holy ministracioÌ„ she despysed her owne body rought neuer what befyll to her so that she mightserue our lord That lepers sekenes contynued vppon her many dayes But her semed full fewe daye in comparyson of grete loue that she hadde to our lord That blessyd lord the whiche tournyd all thynge to god in his louers after tyme he consyderyd the ghostely strengthe of his spouse this holy mayde he wolde not suffer that the lepers sykenes sholde longe endure in her Wythin a lytyll tyme afterward it happed by the dysposycyon of our lord that lepers woman sholde passe out of this worlde Soo that in a tyme of her passynge this holy mayde was wyth her and comforted her besely and blessydly ¶ Whan she was passed she wasshed deuotly that lepres body and arayed it to the berynge And whan her dyryge and her masse was done she beryed her wyth her owne hondes And assone as she was buryed the leper passed awaye fro her hondes as though she hadde neuer no ne sykenesse therof But rather her hondes was more fayrer afterward thenne ony place of her body as though she hadde neuer be touched wyth ony spyce of lepre See not ye maydens what encrece of vertue this hooly mayde wan by this dede of mercy charyte the moder of vertu stererd her to doo that charytable dede of mercy and mekenesse conpeled with charyte the whiche made her to bee subiecte and seruaunt to the seke And also pacyence was conpeled wyth that charyte the whiche made
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
For thou shalt not eshewe shun the company of men and wommen as thou were wonte to do but rather for theyr soule helthe thou shalt put the to all maner of laboure to thy power and myght Of thys maner of lyuyng many one shold be sclaundred and so of many thou shalt be ageyn sayd that the thoughtes ef theyr hertys may be knowen by theyr wordes but loke thou be in no wyse aferde ne troubled for I shall euer be wyth the delyuer thy sowle from treucherons tonges and lyers Therfore werke myghtely that the holy ghoost shall teche the for by that I shall delyuere maÌ„nes sowle out of the fendes power and by mediacion of my specyall grace I shallede them to heuen Whanne our lorde had sayd thyse wordes and often tymes had rehersed to hyr the same comfortably as touchyng that poynte Where our lord sayd to hyr that she sholde not be a ferdene troubled She answerd as she beknewe afterward in contessyon Thou aâ—t my lord my god and I thy wretched seruaunt euer more thy wyll be done but haue mynde of me good lorde god after thy grete mercy helpe me and thus vanysshed cessyd this vysyon Thys holy mayde bethought hyr kepte well in hyr herte wha this gracyous chauÌ„gyng sholde be in tyme comyng Fro that tyme afterward fro day to day the grace of oure lord Jhesu encreced in hyr herte the holy ghost habounded in hyr so moche that she hyr self was astoned therof wext feble in body sayd as the propheet sayd thyse wordes Deficit caro mea et corpus me um deus cordis mei et ê‘s mea deus ineteâ—nuÌ„ That is my body my flesshe sebled deâ—ailleth but good lord by the gouernour of myn herte my parte wythoutenende And eftesones she sayd as the same ê“pheet sayd in another place Memor fui dei et drlectata sum exercitata sum et deficit spiritus meus That is I haue mynde of my lord god haue therin grete delyte I hauÌ„ce me in the ghostly delyte therfore my spyrytes strengthes of my body wexen feble and defayllen This mayde wext seek in body for the loue of our lord and hir sekenes had no remedy but by weping waylyng therfore she wept wayled euery day yet by suche wepyng and waylyng she myght not so cour hyr sekenes Than our lord put in hyr herte that it sholde be good for hyr as for a souereyn cemedye to hir sekenes oft tymes to be housled that so she myght receyue that lord that she loued by sacrement of the autre Of whom she myght not yet be fulfylled fully in thys lyf as she shold be in heuen blysse And netheles that was cause of more loue encrece of gretter sekenes But yet for a tyme it made satys faccyon by the vertue of the feyth to the ser â—yse of hyr charyte that brenned contynuelly in hyr herte by in sufflacyon of the holy ghoost After tyme she had in custome to be comuned houseled as it were euery day all be it though she were oft tymes lette by sekenes of body and soo for besynes that she had of mennes soules She had suche a desyre ofte for to be house led that but yf she were hyr body sholde suâ—â—â—â— grete peyne in maner it sholde feble defayll right as the body had parâ—â— of the haboundaunce of the spyryte by affluence that habouÌ„ded fro wythin forth Ryght so it myght not be but yf it had be perâ—eyner of the anguysshe dysease that the spyryt suffred Thys mater shall be de daâ—d more largely by the helpe of god afterward For now I shall tell you of the meruayllous lyuyng that she leued as touchyng hyr body mayster Reymond recordeth thus of this holy mayde as he knewe well by hyr confessyon also by wrytyng of hyr confessour afore hym that after tyme she was vysyted by the forsayd vysyon she had so moche plente of graces ghoostly comfortes and namely whan she had receyued our lord Jhesu in the blessyd sacrement of the autre that it reboundyd in to hyr body by a copyous affluence that the kyndly consumpcyon of dygestyon in hyr body had no place but it chauÌ„gyd so the kynde of hir stomake that the receyuyng of mete was not now ned full to hyr for she myght not receyue mete wythout grete torment of the body yf she shold algates â—te hir body suffred ryght gret peyne for it myght haue no kyndely dygestion but nedys it must by vyolence come out ageyne that she etc ther that it went June It is not lefull to wryte wyth a penne how ofte how many peynes this holy mayde suffred for receyuynge of bodely metes This maner kynde or condycyon of lyuyng in the begynnyng was to many folke bothe to them of the houshold to other that were conuersaunt wyth hyr so Incredyble that they named this synguler gyfte of god eyther a temp tacyon or ellys a sottyll dysceyte of the deuyll In to this errour fyll mayster Reymond hyr confessour as other dyd that wende she had be disceyued of hyr enemy the whiche oftymes transfygured hym self to an aungell of lyght for to deceyue soules â–ª And therfore he bad hyr etc hir mete euery day gyue no credens to suche desceyuable vysyons that wold lett hyr fro hyr mete Thenne sayd this holy may de to hyr confessour that she founde well by experyence that she was more hole in body whan she receyued no bodely mete thaÌ„ whanne she receyued it Yet for all suche excusacyons he wold not cesse of his precepte but badde commaunded hir that she shold ete Thenne she as a trewe doughter of obedyeÌ„ce obeyed to his byddyng ete hir mete vnto the tyme bi sekenes she was almost dede Thenne she called hyr confessour mayster Reymond and sayd to him thus Fader yf I be to moche fastyng were I cause of myn one deth were I a sleer of myn one body he answered sayd yes Thenne she askyd eftesones whether it be grete synne to be dede bi etyng or by abstinence he sayd by etyng Thenne she sayd sythen it is so that ye see me wexe feble and nere to the dethe by etyng as ye knowe well by experyence why wyll ye not fobede me etinge as ye wolde forbede me fastyng in suche a caas To this resoÌ„ he coude not answere but by cause he perceyued that she was nyghe to deth by euydent tokens he sayde to her doughter doo as our lord taught the For they ben merueylous thynges to me that I see our lord werke in the Many grutchynges ther was in the housholde agaynste her for this merueylous lyuyng by cause they knewe not the gracious werkynge of god in her And therto also they stered her confessour mayster Reymound to repreue her albe it it was ofâ—â— tymes agaynst his wyll and what grete dysese she suffred of other there
her stomak ony mete the whiche was mete wurthy as for that tyme yet she spet out fro her grete mater off flewme as other folke dyde the whiche myght not bee by nature But yf the stomake hadde receyued somme substaunce afore and thrfoere our lord wrought merueylously in her aboue nature Also as for drynkynking of colde water she receiued it gladly to refresshe her chykes and her throte This maner of lyf she lyued vnto her I aste ende for grutchers and for theym that were slaundred by her fastinge Her confessour Mayster Reymound perceyued how grete peyne she suffred by vndygestyon of her stomake and all for to stoppe grutchers he conforted her for coÌ„passyon that he hadde vppon her that she sholde leue and ete nomore rather than for to suffre suche a payne And lete theymgrutche ynow To whom she answerd smylyngly fader is better for meto suffrein this lyfefor my synÌ„es thanne for to suffre payne endelesly Her grutchyng is to me profytable by cause I shall be delyuerd of payne wythouten ende for the payne that I suffre in this lyf sholde I fle the ryghtwysnes of god Nay god forbede it oure lord doth to me grete grace by cause he giueth me myn payne in this lyf Soo her confessour coude nomore answere to her but helde his peas in this wyse ¶ Of alle her enemyes she had the maistry what soo in maner of the fende and of grutchers so she taughte other to do euery daye So that in a tyme whan she comynyd wyth her confessour of the gracious gyftes of our lord She sayd who soo coude vse the grace of oure lorde He sholde euer haue the vyctorye of all thynges that fallen to hym And thenÌ„e she tourned to her confessour and sayde to hym soo I wolde that ye dyde as ofte as ony newe thynge byfalleth to you be it prosperyte or aduersyte thynketh with in your self and sayth ofte this I wyll wanne somwhat and ye doo soo ye sholde soone be ryche in vertu ¶ Loo maydens haue mynde of thysnotable doctryne for thus I make an ende of this chapytre The wytnes of all thynges the whiche ben wryte therin Is this holy mayde eyther by her opyn dedes or ellis by her wordes And also her confessour the whiche was a fore maister Reymound ¶ Of the wounderfull rauysshyng and excesse of her mynde for her bodely wyttees And of grete reuelacions I shewed to her of oure lorde Capitulum vj rIght as oure lorde graunted to his spouse this holy mayde a synguler lyuyng as touchyng her body â–ª ryght soo he vysyted her soule wyth grete merueylous confortes of reuelacions Fyrst for the grete habouÌ„dant graces with her come that bodely strengthe that she had aboute kynde Wete ye right wel that fro the tyme that this holy mayde had I dronke of oure lordes syde the drynke of lyf as it is rehersid a foâ—â— many grete graces were habouÌ„dant iÌ„ her that ofte times ofte times as it had be in maner contynuabyl She was occupyed in actuell coÌ„templacion and her spyryte was lowyd to our lord that for the more parte she by lefte wythout felyng in her bodely wyttes Soo that as it is rehersed in the fyrst party her armes were founde ofte times soo styf in tyme of suche actuell contemplacion that rather they sholde breke theÌ„ne bowe Her eyen were all closed her ere 's herde none noyse were it neuer so grete and her bodely wyttes for that tyme were sequestred fro her owne werkynge ¶ This sholde be none merueyle to noman yf they wolde take hede to that syweth Oure lorde began to bee soo homely with her and brennyd her sowle wyth soo moche haboundante fyre of loue not oonly in pryuy places but also in open places as well stondyng as goyng that she the whiche hadde thyse grete graces by knewe it playnely to her confessour she coude fynde none wordes for to telle expressely the grace that she felte ¶ For in a tyme whan she prayed to oure lord feruentely wyth the Prophete Dauyd seyeng deuoutly thyse wordes ¶ Cor meum crea in me deus et spirituÌ„ rectum innoua in visceribus meis That is prayng our lorde specially that he wolde take awaye her herte her owne wyll and gyue her a newe herte after his wyll She hadde suche a comforte that her semed that our lord Jhesu come to her and opened her lyft side and toke out her herte and went his waye and belyfte her with out her owne herte ¶ Afterward it befyll that she commynyd wyth her confessour and amonges all thynges she sayde that she had none herte in her body the whiche wordes her coÌ„fessour sâ—â—rned her in a maner and blamed her for she sayde soo Thenne she rehersed eftsones and confermed her wordes trewely fader as moche as I maye fele yet after the felyng of myn body me semeth I lacke myn herte for oure lorde apperyd to me and opened myn leste syde and toke out myn herte and went his way Thenne the confessour sayde that it was vnpossyble that she shold lyue with out an herte she sayde naye there is nothynge vnpossyble to god And therfore she bad hym gyue credens that it is so For ofte tymes after ward she rehersed that she lyued without herte with in a fewe dayes afterward it befyll that she wente to a chapell of the fryers where susters of penaunce were wonte to knele And whan all were goo home it befil that she contynued in her prayers so that she was fro her self by rauysshyng and at the laste she awoke of her rauysshyng and went homward And as she wente by the waye sodenly a lyght of heuen bicliped her And in that lyght aperyd our lord holdyng in his honde a reed shining herte in lykenes of a mannys herte At the commyng of thys heuenly lyght she was aferde that she fyll doune vppon the grounde Thenne came our lorde to her openyd her lyftesyde eftsones and pute in her body that herte the whiche he hylde in his hondes seyng to her thus ¶ Loo dere doughter as I toke awaye thyn herte the laste daye ryght soo now I giue the myn herte wherby thou mayst lyue endelesly whan he hadde so doo he closed the wounde agayn that he made open in the flesshe Neuerthelesse there by left a merueylous marke in the lykenes of a wouÌ„de heled in the same place euer afterward where as her felawes tolde her confessour Mayster Reymound for ofte tymes they sawe it as she coude not forsake it to hym whan he askid it of her whether it were soo or not Out of that meruayllous gracyous herte that was so I gyuen hyr of our lord came out many meruayllous werkys And yet many moo meruayllous reuelacyons haboundeth wythin forth She came neuer afterward for to be hoseled but that ther was shewed to hyr many synguler gyftes of grace Oft tymes she sawe a lytell chylde in the prestys handys and other whyle a well growen
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
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
she secid neuer by prayer vnto the tyme they were fully delyuerd out of payne ParaueÌ„t now somme therâ—en that set lityl by this myracle by cause if was inuisybyll but yf they take hede inwardly of the wordes of saynt augustyn and saynt Gregory they shold fynde well that this was more myracle than yf the bodyes hadde ben reysed from deth to lyue For saint gregory sayd thus that in the bodely resurrexcioÌ„ the flesshe is reysed the whiche shal deye eftsones and whan the soule is reysed it shall lyue wythouten ende yet shall I telle you another synguler gyfte of conuersacion of thys hooly mayde wan of god There was one the whiche was called â—abes amonges whom there was one chylde of his that was called James or Jacob he was a synfull lyuer full of pryde and of creuelte soo that yet beyng yonge in age he kyllyd two men ful cruelly that euery man that knewe hym was aferd of hym ne loued hym not But euery day he lyued werse and werse and had a suster that was called Shy nochya the whiche was fully gyuen to vanyte of the world in passyng outrages aray of her body albe it she was a mayde of her bodi Her moder â—abes had therof grete forowe lest they shold be dampned for ther mysbelyuyng she wente to this foly mayde and prayed her that she wolde vochesaf to speke somwhat of soule he le wyth her to her doughter Fracisca and Shynochya but specyally wyth shynochya this holy mayde as she hadde euer to sowles grete compassyon graunted her that she wolde gladly and soo she dyde For what prayer and monycions of our lord Ihesu Cryste was soo grounded in the soule that Shynochya that sodenly she put awaye fro her all the vanyte of the world that she vsed in pompous araye And kyt awaye her heer of her hede wherof she was woute be proude of And tooke vppon her the habyte of Saynt Domynyk and so was made a suster of penaunce And euer afterward she lyued in prayers medytacyons in grete sharpe penaunce Sone after came hir suster Francysca and took vpon hyr the same abyte lyued to gyder ryght deuoutely Of this herde James or Jacob her brother that was not the same tyme in Sene whanne his sustren were torned he came to the Cyte ward wyth a yong brother of hys cursyng thretnyng wyth a grete pryde all tho that excyted hys susters to that abyte Seynge cryeng wyth a bolde spyryte that he wolde tere awaye that abyte fro their back breng theim to hys how 's there he dwelled To whome hys yonger brother the whiche came with hym sayd trewely James yf thou come to Sene thou shalt be torned also and be shryuen of thy synnes with that he cursed hys brother bytterly sayde that he had leuer flee bothe freres prestys thenne he wolde be shryuen to ony of hem all The chylde oftymes rehersed hys ê“phecyes as ofte he cursed So that at the last he entred in to the Cyte as a wood man forthe he wente to hys faders how 's thretnyng that he wold do grete horryble thynges but yf his sustren specyally Ethynoccyam wolde do awaye hyr abyte come home to hym All this was not vnknowen to this holy mayde but she knowe it neuer by creature on erthe but by god In the mene whyle his moder Rabes stylled and peased hym prayng hym that he wolde abyde tyll the morow On the morow she sente to this holy maydes confessour frere Thomas that he wolde wouchesauf come speke with hir sone James And counseyll hym for hys sowle helthe He came wyth hym a felawe frere Bartholomew spake to hym But all their speche as them semed myght not profyte in him All that same tyme this holy mayde Katheryne prayed to our lorde for hys conuersyon whiles frere Bartholomew spak to hym And thenne sodeynly oure lorde touched Jamys herte to contrycyon and he sayde to frere Bartholomew that he was well apayed of hys suster that she sholde serue god But also he prayed hym of confessyon wyth grete contrycyon that he myght be shriueÌ„ of hys synnes and serue god also He was thenne so perfytely shreuen That somme synnes whiche he wold neuer be knowe ne confessyd to noo man he was confessyd to hym Soo that wyth Inne a lytell tyme after of a wolfe he was made a lambe and of a lyon a whelpe That all folk that knewe hym were amerueylled of hys sodeyne tornyng His moder Rabes was a meruaylled and alle hyr meyne and thanked oure lorde for that specyall grace Frere Thomas and frere Bartholomew also ioyed in oure lorde and wente for to tell alle this to this holy mayde the whiche was doune whanne they were come to here how 's they fouÌ„de hyr yet in rauyssheng and hyr felawe was that tyme in hyr chambre wyth hyr As sone as she was cessyd of hyr rauyssheng and restoryd to hyr bodely wyttes hyr felawe came doune out of the chambre from hyr and welcomed hyr confessour Thenne sayde hyr confessour to hyr felawe We ben come for to tell Katheryne that she sholde thanke our lord god For James that is torned trewely to god and is shreuen of alle hys synnes thys morowe tyde to frere Bartholomew To whome sayde hyr felawe ryght nowe Katheryne tolde me the same that ye say And whan they were were come vp to katheryne she sayde to theym wyth grete sadnes in this wyse Faders we been moche bounde to thanke our sauyour that neuer dyspsed the prayer of his seruauntis For the same desyre the whiche he enspyred theym wyth he fulfylled in theym The fende wende he shold haue hadde awaye fro vs our lytill shepe But our fader of mercy hath byreiued away from hym his pray he wende to had away from Cryst Shynochia But he hath lost James that he helde soo stronge in his bondes For so it happeth euer to hym whan he reyseth vp his hede of pryde agaynst Crystis chosen Afterward that mayde Shynochya euer contynued in prayers and holy medytacions to her last daye And wyth a grete ghostely ioye by dyuerse sekenes the whiche our lord gaue her She passeth to our lord out of this worlde Thenne her suster francisca that lyued but lytyl while after folowed her in good lyuing and wyth a mery smylyng there she passed also to god out of this world ¶ Ferdermore the sayd James her broder wythin a lytyll tyme after forsoke perfyghtly the worlde and was made a fryer prechours and lyued deuoutly euer after All thyse thynges were wrought by the holy ghost and by his spouse Katheryne graunted his grace to alle tho that she prayed for ¶ Ouermore I shalle telle you another merueylous thynge that Mayster Reymound bereth recorde of hym self In the same Cyte of Seene there was a greate man the whiche was called Nannes he a wounder wordely wyse man more enclynyng to euyll than to good that man
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
wyll of god Neuerthelesse though in maner she bowed our lord to hyr prayers yet she myght not enclyne hir moder wyll by hyr exortacyons ¶ Thenne our lord spake to hys spouse Katheryne and sayde Telle thy moder that she hath now no nede to passe out of this worlde but tyme shall come that she shall desyre for to deye and then̄e she shal not haue it and that was sothe ¶ Hyt befyll that she lyued in to a grete age and sawe many aduersytres in hyr dayes as well of persones as of theyr goodys in so moche that she sayde ofte tymes in heryng of many folke suche wordes Whether our lord Ihesu hath put a soule in my body that it shall neuer be delyuered thens So many chyldren and doughters grete and smale yong and olde ben dede and I may not deye ¶ Now I shall cesse of this mater and procede forthe in the fyrst mater that I began Lapa this holy maydes moder was of so harde herte that she wolde in no wyse dye ne by confessyd ne thynke in noo wyse on hyr soule he le ¶ Thenne oure lorde for to appyre more meruayllously in hys spouse Katheryne denyed in maner as it semed hys fyrste graunte And suffred Lapa to drawe fast toward the deth wythout confessyon Whan this holy mayde perceyued that she lyfte vp hyr eyen to heuen wyth wypyng terys sayd to our lord thus A a lord god ben thise thy behestys that thou hast graunted me that none of my faders houshold shold perysshe is this thy mercyable byheste that saydest my moder sholde not passe hens ageynst hyr wyll I see well now that she shall dye wythout sacramentys of holy chyrche Therfore I beseche the by alle thy mercyes that thou suffre me not to be deceyued and that I goo not hens a lyue vnto the tyme thou haste yolde to me my moder reuyued in soule and body ¶ These wordes and these meruayllous cause herde thre wimmen of Sene that were present ¶ Whan hyr moder as it semed by syghte and felyng was dede soo that they were aboute for to go home ageyne to theyr howses leuyng Lapa there for dede yf it had not ben that the holy mayde prayed as she dyd and therfore they abode the lenger Of the maners of these wymmen I shall tell you afterward ¶ Thys holy mayde contynued long in prayers at the last our lord herde hyr prayers gracyously and quyckened the soule and the body ageyne of Lapa that she lyued afterward vnto the tyme she was foure score yere of age and nyne wyth grete torment of herte for many aduersytres that she suffred as it was prophecyed to hyr afore by hyr doughter this holy mayde ¶ Of this myracle were wytnesse one Katheryne and Angelyna sustres of penaunce and also Lysa this holy maydes cosyn they were present whan Lapa was leyde forthe for dede and herden how this holy mayde prayed to oure lorde thus Lorde ben these thy behestys that thou behote me as it is sayd afore Of the remeynaunt of hyr age whan she was restoryd ageyne to lyf bare wyttenes many one Lo ye maydens here may ye knowe of what meryte this holy mayde was wyth our lord Ihesu that delyuered hyr faders soule out of purgatory and reduced hyr moders soule in to hir body ageyne meruayllously ¶ Another meruayllous thyng shall I tell you It happened that ther was a comyn pestylence of bocchys reygnyng in the Cyte of Sene soo that it oppressyd bothe men and wymmen yong and olde to the deth that comynly they dyed wythin two dayes or thre at the ferthest the whiche sekenes feryd many a man ¶ Thenne mayster Reymond wente aboute to vysyte seek folke and comforted them in god no thyng chargyng of the Infeccyon of that pestylence touchyng hys bodely deth soo that he myght wynne soules Whanne he hadde so vysyted them for werynes that he had in goyng aboute he restyd hym in a chyrche of our lady where to he hadde a grete deuocyon and namely for the persone of the same chyrche was a blessyd lyuer and well knowen wyth thys holy mayde Katheryne the whiche persone was called Syr Mathewe ¶ It befyll fewe dayes after that mayster Reymond wente out by the morowe for to vysyte seek folke as he was wonte And as he came by the chyrche of our lady for deuocyon that he hadde to our lady in that place and also for affeccyon that he hadde to the persone syr Mathewe he wente for to loke how he ferde Sodeynly whan he was entred in to the chyrche he sawe syr Mathewe bere vp in to hys chambre semynge as he hadde be dede by vyolence of that pestylence For he hadde lost bothe colour of hys face and strengthe of hys body and also hys speche ¶ Thenne mayster Reymond axed of other aboute what hym eyled They answerde and sayd that the nyght afore aboute one after mydnyght he was vppe for to vysyte a seek body And wyth Inne lytell tyme afterward he was take wyth the pestylence Here of was mayster Rymond ryght sorye folowed hym vp to his chambre as other dyd and then ne satte doun by hym Wythin a whyle after whan he was layde in hys bedde he recouered his spyrytes ageyne and callyd mayster Reymond to hym prayeng hym of confessyon and so was shryuen clene of hys synnes as he was ofte wonte to do After tyme that he was assoylled mayster Reymound axed how it stode wyth hym and he answerd and sayd ageyne that it greued hym so sore in hys grynde or in the flanke that it semed to hym his thygh wolde falle awaye and not onely the thygh but also the hede fareth as though it were departed in foure partyes by payne and ache that he suffred ther Inne Thenne mayster Reymond touchyd tastyd hys poūse and founde well that he hadde a passyng feuer Wherfore he had hys menye that they sholde bere hys water to leches and so they dyd But mayster Reymound folowed soone after to knowe verayly what the leches wolde saye To whome the leche sayde thus Thys man is take wyth the pestylence and therfore I drede me that the how 's of our lady shall wante and lacke a good persone ¶ Thenne axed mayster Reymond whether he myght be holpe by ony maner remedye of medycynes he sayd that he sholde assaye But he hadde no grete trust in noo medycynes by cause the sykenes was ryght greuous Thus mayster Reymond departed from hym wyth grete sorowe euer prayeng by the waye to our lord in hys soule that he wolde wouchesauf to saue hys bodely lyf Yet a whyle for hys example to many ¶ In the mene whyle this holy mayde herde saye that syr Mathewe was seek whome she loued tenderly for hys vertuous lyuyng Anone she wente home to hym and as soone as she sawe hym she cryed to hym and sayd ¶ Aryse vp syr Mathewe aryse vp for shame is it now tyme to lye a bedde Sodeynly thenne atte hyr callyng
the feuer and the bocche wente away fro hym as though he hadde neuer hadde hem and thenne he roos vp wythout ony taryeng goodly soo that in hys rysyng he sayde smylyngly and ioyefully that the vertue of god restyd in that holy mayde ¶ Thenne the holy mayde wente awaye and fledde the preysyng of men But as she went out of the how 's the mette wyth mayster Reymond To whome mayster Reymond sayd full sorowfully ¶ Moder whether thou wylte suffre this man to dye that is so dere and profytable to vs. Alle be it that she wyst well ynough what she hadde to done yette she sayde to hym of mekenes suche wordes Fader what wordes be these whether ye wene I am god that may delyuer men fro deth ¶ Thenne sayde mayster Reymond to hyr ageyne wyth a grete spyryte for sorowe that he hadde of hys deth Saye this to whome that thou lust but to me tell no suche thynges that knoweth how our lorde dothe wyth the. I knowe well that what that euer thou axyste of god thou shalte haue ¶ Thenne this holy mayde bowed hyr hede to hym and smyled And at laste she loked vp wyth a gladde chere vpon hym and sayd Be of good chere fader for he shall not dye at thys tyme. ¶ Wyth that was Mayster Reymound gladde he knewe well that god hadde gyue hyr grete grace soo he departed from hyr and wente to syr Mathewe for to loke how he ferde Whome he founde syttyng in hys bedde and wyth gretr ioye rehersyng the myracle of the holy mayde ¶ To whome Mayster Reymound sayde in confortynge of hym that the holy mayde tolde hym Syr Mathew sayd thenne to mayster Reymond What trowe ye she hath do he sayd he wyst ne◠for she tolde him no worde therof Syr Mathew wyth that aroos vp out of his bedde sat doune by mayster Reymound and tolde hym all the hole gladly how the holy mayde was there and sayde to hym as it is rehersed afore Soone after syr Mathew ete and dranke none seke mannis mete but hole mānys mete and that was a grete merueyle he was mercy and gladde that vnne the he myght speke a worde that same daye in the morowe Of this myracle were wytnesse one Fryer Nychol that came wyth Mayster Reymound and other prestes and clerkes of the hous of our glorious Lady gloryous vyrgyn Mary xx or there aboute But now I praye you maydens taketh hede that infydelyte off curyous hertes dysceyue you not in this myracle Somme wyll saye to you perauenture that it is none greate merueyle though a man be helyd of suche a comyn sekenes as is the feueres and pestylence for all day suche a thynge happeth To whom it may be asked agayn what merueyle that was whan our lord heled petre his wyffes moder of the feuers al day it happeth that men ben delyuered of the feuers be it neuer soo greuous why is it than of petris wyffes moder rehersed for a myracles in the gospell But now taketh hede ye curyous vntrowyng hertes take hede whether it be not he the whiche heled this man Mathewe that heled petris wyffes moder In helyng of petre wyffes moder he commaūded that her feuers sholde goo fro her and soo it dyde anone wythout ony taryeng ▪ And she thenne arose vp and mynistred our lord at mete ¶ Ryght soo in this miracle it was the same lorde that spak in the holy maydes breste the whiche heled petrys wyffes moder and soo syr mathewe was bothe off the fruers and also of the pestylence What was the cause trowe you trewely for the mynystracion that he sholde shewe to our lorde in tyme comynge for wynnyng of soules soo thenne the entent folowyng is cause of the miracle that goth byfore therto he was made so perfyghtly hole that he ete forwyth hole mete and mennys mete as thought he hadde not be seke afore now I sythe I haue tolde you of the myracle done to the helthe off bodyes I shall telle you a nother by the helpe of god ¶ A lytyl beside the Cyte of Sene there was a deuoute woman that was one of the susters of penaunce of saint Domynyke the whiche herd and sawe moche off the vertuous lyuyng of this holy mayde she drewe moche to her afterward and was vnder the coūseyll of this holy mayde dyde her reuerence as to her moder After it befyll on a day that this deuout suster was on hye on a solier of her hous for certayn thynges that she hadde to do And sodenly the solyer fyll doune the woman vndernethe ▪ alle the raftre treys brosed so her that she was drawe out halfe ded or soone after to be deed At the laste by the helpe of god she was broughte to bedde and began to reuyue and felte that payne of her herte brosour complayned her sore wyth wepyng and weylyng Leches than were sought to do the besynes for to hele her ▪ but yet for all her lechecraf she myght not tourne her in her bede without helpe of other Whan the holy mayde katheryn herde therof she had compassion in herte of the suster and came to her and comforted her in penaunce and in her dysese But whan she perteyued that her dysese was soo passyng payne to her She touched the places of her body that were paynefull as though she wolde anoynted theym wyth her hondes Of the whiche touchyng the suster was well apayed supposyng faythfully by the mercy of god that it sholde bee to her grete ese She hadde not so soone touched her syde but that she was all hole as though she hadde felt afore none payne Thenne the seke suster prayed her that ▪ she wolde touche the oder syde as she dyde the syde by cause the holy mayde thenne supposed that it was ese to her She dyde soo as she badde her in the same wyse her dysese went a waye in that place after her touchyng as it was in the other syde soo thenne at the laste the holy mayde touchyd ouer all her body there she felte dysese and all dysese was clene a voyded At the laste whan she was alle hole she tourned her aboute by her self wythouten ony helpe that all myght see verely by her tokens that she was fully hole Neuertheles yet she helde her peas tyll tfe hooly mayde was a goo leste she sholde haue troubled her mekenes yf she hadde tolde it her ī presence but afterward she told it bothe to leches to neyghbours and sayde thus katheryne the doughter of Lapa hath heled me by her touchyng All they hadde me rueyle therof and thanked god that hadde gyue suche gracious vertues to the holy mayde katheryne For they wyste ryght well that the holynes might not come but of god therfore they thanked hym This myracle Mayster Reymound knewe by tellyng of other But now I shall tell you of anther that mayster Reymound him self knewe and sawe it ¶ In that tyme whan the
And by cause it was in all wyse lyke ellys therfore I passe ouer and reherce it not But I wolde ye vnderstood may dens that this holoy mayde shewed not oonly the dyuyne myracle of curacion in tyme of pestylence but also in other tymes and yet not only in the Cyte of Sene but also in other places But therfore one I shall declare at this tyme wherby ye may vnderstonde all other yf ye take hede wytely therto ¶ It befyll soone after that the general pestâ—lence the whiche is rehersed afore the many folke both men and wymmen as well relygyous and seculer But specyally certayn mynchis of the Cyâ—â— of â—yse herde of the famous name of this holy mayde katheryn desyreden to see her and here her speke And by cause it was notlefull for theym to goo oute and seke her therfore they prayed her as well by lettres as by messengers that she wolde vouches â—f to come to â—yse seyeng to her that there she myght wynne many a son le the whiche sholde be to oure lord greate worshyppe Albe it that this holy mayde eschewed alwaye for to go fer about the contre yet she was soo ofte prayed wyth soo many messengers or messages that she was almoste constrâ—yned therto by prayer of lettres messages Thenne she had a recource to prayer as she was wont to done and asked our lorde mekely declaracion of that doubte that she stode in and what she sholde doo somme off theym that were counseyllers to her saide that it was best for her to goo and somÌ„e sayde nay wythin a fewe dayes afterward she had an answere of our lord as she beknewe afterward to mayster â—eymound that she shold not tarye but algatys she sholde goo to speke wyth hys seruauntys and his spouse dwellyng in the same Cyte of Pyse Thenne as a tâ—ewe obedyencer by leue of Mayster Reymound her confessour she wente to Pyse whome folowed afterward Mayster Reymound wyth a certeyn of hys bredren for to here confessyons For many ther were that came to her whaÌ„ they herde her speke soo â—eruent wordes of loue were steryd therby to contrycion And leâ—t they sholde be lette fro trewe conuersacyoÌ„ falle agayn in to the fendes snares after suche coÌ„puccion she wold beidde theim go to confession be shryue without ony taryeng And by cause her confessyon was ofte tymes delayed for defaute of confessours therfore ofte tymes she desyred that she myght haue confessours by her to whom she myght sende suche repentaunce And therfore Maister Reymound and his two felawes hadde power of the pope by bull for to here and assoyle all tho that were enduâ—ed to confessyon by this holy mayde WhaÌ„ she came to Pyse she was receyued in a burgeys hous that was called Gerardus the whiche Gerad vpon a daye brought wyth hiÌ„ a yonge man of xx yere of age alle seke of the feuers to this holy mayde besechinge her that she wolde praye for his helthe for he tolde her that he was vexid xviij monethes to gyders wyth the feuers soo that it was none daye but that he hadde it And therto it was so myghty to him that it hadde brought hym soo lowe and that is well sene by hys chekes and by hys body Andâ—â— myght neuer by none medecyn be made hoole Thenne the holy mayde hadde grete compassyon in herte of that yonge man she asked hym how longe it was a goo that he was shryue of hys synnes and toke penaunce he sayd not many a yere therfore it is sayde she that our lord hath yeue the this â—oorge for thou hast not purged thy soule by holy confessyon soo longe tyme. Therfore sone goo forthe anone to confession and cast out that venim the whiche enfecteth alle thy body whan he was confessyd and â—ame to her agayne she put her holy honde vpon his sholders and sayd to hym thus Goo sone in peeâ— of our lord â—hesu cryst for it is his wyll that thou be nomore vexed wyth tho feuers as she sayd it was fro that time forward he was not vexed therwyth Within fewe dayes after he came again to the holy mayde and thanked her of her curacion and sayde openly afore aâ— folke that he hadde neuer the feuers sythe she a voyded it by the vertu of our lord â—ff this bereth wytnes Mayster Reymound for he sawe that myracle And other wytnesse there were ynow by Gerad the childes moder and many other afterward the yonge man puplychid that miracle by all â—â—e contree suche another byfyll in the Cyte of Seene but moche more â–ª merueylous by cause the sikenes was more perylous ¶ There was a suster of penaunce of saynt Domynyke in the same â—yte off Seene that was called Gemina the whiche loued well this holy mayde she had a sekenes of hir throte the whiche was called the sâ—ynce by contynaunce of tyme the sekenes encresyd soo that it made her throte soo streyght that vnethe she might drawe her brethe â–ª but almoost ofte tymes was strangelyd Thenne she wente to this holy mayde prayed her as she myght speke seyenge thus moder I shaldeye but ye helpe me this holy maide hadde soo grete compassyon of her that she toke her holy honde and crossed her throte â–ª ¶ And anone wythout ony taryenge tâ—e sekenes avoyded and soo she that come wyth grete sorowe went home wyth grete gladnesse And tolde it soone after to her confessour But by cause somme what I haue tolde you of curacions done to the body by this holy mayde to diuerse persones therfore I shall telle you now of a grete notable myracle that our lorde wrought â—i this blessyd holy mayde ¶ It befyll that this holy mayde wente in a tyme fro Pyse to Auyoun wyth whome wente two good deuoute yonge men that wrote the lettres that this holy Mayde wolde sende The one was called Neryus that afterward â—as a deuoute recluse And the other was caâ—led Stephene that was afterward a monke of the charterhous And a good vyrtuous lyuer therto to the same â—yte of auyoun wente alsâ— mayster ReymouÌ„d ¶ It happed whan they were entred in to the Cyte of auyoun the forsayd Neryus was seke wyth a merueylouâ— sykenes in his bowellis that he myght haue none reste neyther nyght ne daye But cryed and wayled ofte tymes and he might not lye in his bedde but creped about on hondes and on feet and sought reste and yet myght none fynde This was tolde to the holy maide and she badde mayster Reymound sende afleches to helpe hym For other comforte wolde she none gyue mayster ReymouÌ„d dyde soo and there was none leche that myght ese him but rather he was the more payned I trowe for that ende allone by cause our lord wolde worke that myrarle in his spouse katheryn At the last leche said to maister ReymouÌ„d that they myght not prouffyte in hym And therfore they hadde none truste in his lyffe ¶ Whan Mayster Reymound hadde tolde this to his
companye as they sateÌ„ at the mete Stephene the felowe of Neryus roos vp wyth a grete spyryte went to the holy maydes chambre sytyng doune on his knees and prayed her mekely that she wyll not suffre his felowe Neryus to deye in suche a straunge contree To whom this holy mayde answerde thus sone why art thou heui thou sholdest not be sory for thy felawe For our lorde wyll rewarde hym in blysse for his pacyence in sufferyng of that sekenes ThenÌ„e he sayd agayn dere moder yett here myn prayer at this tyme and helpe hym for I wote well ye may and ye wyll Thenne she sayd well sone I see well that thou art not in will to conforme the to the wil of god as I haue tolde the Therfore sythe I see that thou art soo tourmentyd for hym come to me to morowe whan I go to here masse and be houselyd and reduce this mater to myn mynde And I shall sende vp thyn prayer to god And thou shalt praye for me that I maye be herde Thenne stephen was well apayed wyth this vyhesteâ—erly on the morowe he mette wyth this holy mayde goyng for to here masse Assone as he aspyed her he fyldoune on his knees and prayed her that she wolde not forgete hym of that he spake to her the day afore After tyme whan she was hoâ—elyd she was rauysshed from her bodely wyttes and prayed our lord for that seke man Soone after she was restoryd ayen to her bodely wyttes and came to the same Stephene smylyng the whiche abode her there of an answere and sayde vnto hym thus Sone thou hast the grace that thou hast asked Thenne he asked her whether Neryus shold be deliuerd of his sekenes She sayd ye wyth that he wente gladly to his felawe and badde hym be of good there for he shall be hole and soo he was full tendaunt aboute for to recouer hym In tyme of his mynystracion aboute hiÌ„ it happed the same Stephene to be seke lay doune in his bedde of a passyng feuer Whan the holy mayde knewe that she hadde grete sowwe and went to hym and asked hym what sekenes he hadde And she perceyued by touchynge of hys ponse that he was vexed wyth a strong feuer Anone wyth a greate feruour oâ—â— spyryte she sayde thus I charge the feuer by the vertu of obedyence that thoâ— goo out of this man thenne went the feuer a waye and he wos vp all hole with out ony taryeng and thanked oure lorde of his grete grace that he shewed to hys spouse Katheryne Another notable myracle I shall telle you of a suster of penaunce the whiche was called Johan dwellyng in the Cyte of Sene In a tyme that our holy fader pope Gregory that lyued that tyme was in the cyte of Sene at the byddyng of our holy fader Gregorye this holy mayde was sent to Florence to make pees betwene hym his rebell children of floreÌ„ce the whiche mat is to longe to tell here But this mater shall hauâ— a chapytre by hit self afterward by the helpe of god And whan she was come to Florence wyth hyr a felawe of here 's the whiche was called Johan for to trete for the pees betwene our oure holy fader and that rebell people The people sette lytell by hyr wordes but sâ—laundred hyr meruayllously set hyr at nought Then ne she was counseylled for to withdrawe hyr a whyle vnto the tyme that they were cessyd of theyr malyce She dyd so but yet she sayd that she wold neuer passe out of that cyte in to the tyme they were accorded and pees were cryed thorugh out all the cyte of Florence as she sayde so it was Thenne she wente a syde was lodgyd a lytell besyde the cyte where sodeynly hir suster Johan was seek in hyr foot so that hyr foot was all forswoâ—land ther wyth for payne of hyr foot she had a grete â—eruent axes and so she was in double wyse tormented that she myght not goo wyth hyr Thyâ— holy mayde was heuy therof wolde in no wyâ—e leue hyr behynde leâ—t sâ—launder sholde spryng She prayed to our lord for helpe that he wold woucheâ—auf mercyably to helpe hyr felâ—we all the whyle that she prayed hyr suster was a slepe And whan she awoke she was all hole as though she had I had no sykenes Anone she arose vp went wyth this holy mayde as quykly as euer she dyd afore ¶ Of this myracle many one thanked our lord that sawe it the whiche had wrought soo gracyously by hys spouse Katheryne Yette shall I tell you another meruayllous thynge that our lord wrought by hyr in the cyte of Tholetane Whan this holy mayde was entred in to the Cyte of Tholetane she took hir Inne and anone she wente in to hir chambre as she was wonte to do In to the whiche mayster Reymond was come on the popes message Sodeynly thenne he herde in the stretys of the Cyte of wymmen that an holy wommaÌ„ was come entred in to the Cyte Then ne soone after cam men and after wymmen to hyr Inne axed where thys holy mayde was They of the Inne myght not hyde hyr but they suffred wymmen onely to goo in to hyr speke wyth hyr Thenne ther was one of the wommen that hadde a lytell chylde whos whombe was meruayllously swolle And they prayed this holy mayde that she wold take that childe in hyr armes at the begynnyng she refused it by cause of vayn glorye but at the â—ast she was ouercome by pyte and dyd as they had hyr as soone as she took that chylde in hir hondes anone the childe deliuered from him moche wynde so that at last hys bely aswagyd and was as small as euer it was soo the chylde was hole All be it that mayster Reymond sawe not this myracle yet ther was so open speche therof in the Cyte of Tholetane that it came to the bysshopys ere and sent after mayster Reymond prayed hym that he myght speke wyth the holy mayde for the childe was neuewe to a vycary of hys And than this holy mayde came spake wyth the bysshop of many vertuous maters Many moomeruayls our lord wrought by this holy mayde that ben not wryten in this book But these fewe I haue wryten to you maydens by cause that ye shall the sonner gyue credence that our lord Jhesu Cryste dwellyd in this holy maydens soule the whiche principally wrought all thyse meruayllous werkys wytnes of tho maters the whiche ben reherced in this chapytre ben reherced afore in tho places where these my racles were shewed and thus endeth this chapytre ¶ Of myracles wrought by thys holy mayde a boute the delyueraunce of them whiche were encombred and vexyd wyth fendes Capitulum lx Owre lorde all myghty Ihesu cessyd not to shewe outward the Fertue that he gaue Inwarde to hys spouse Katheryne by many meruayllous werkes The vertue therfore of our lorde Ihesu cryst
angmented so myghtly in the brest of this holy mayde that not onely it was shewed to seek bodyes as it is reherced afore but also it was shewed in voydyng of wycked spyrytes as it shall be declared in this chapytre by the helpe of god Ther was in the Cyte of Sene a man the whiche was called mychael that vsed the craft of wrytyng whan he was passed in yeres of age by consent of hys wyf he was in purpose to leue the worlde serue our lord more specyally thenne he was wonte And also for to make two doughters of hys mynchyns in a monasterye in the same Cyte of Sene endowed in worshyp of saynt Johan the Enange lyst so hys lyst was fulfylled And at the last by a pryue dome of god one of his doughts the whiche was made a myn then that was called Laurencyana of vill yere of age or there aboute was vexed with a fende so that all the monasterye was vnquyeted by hyr vexacyon And at the last by comyn assent they sent after hyr fader delyuered ageyne hys doughter for they wold nomore haue hyr in the monasterye as long as she was so vexed Whan she was take out of the monasterye the fende spak wythin hir by the childys mouth many wondre thynges all in latyn wordes so many herde questyōs ther to pupplysshed many pryue synnes in sclaunder of many folke by the whiche it myght well be vnderstond that he was no good spyryte Of this vexacyon hyr fader moder and other of hir frendes were ryght sory wente aboute to dyuerse relyques of sentes for to seke helpe grace that her doughter myght be delyuerd of that spiryte And specyally they trusted gretely in the relyques of saynt Ambrose the whiche was a frere prechour to whome our lord graunted a synguler gyfte to put awaye wycked spyrytes soo that hys cope yf it had be layde vpon ony creature that had be vexed wyth a wicked spiryte it sholde be auoyded where fore the same chylde was brought to the frere prechours leyde vpon a tombe of saint ambrose hys clothes were leyde to the childe and the fader the mod prayed in the mene whyl the helpe ef god of the sente that the chylde myght be socourre But yet for that tyme were they not herde Not for no synne that euer they dyd But I trowe be cause that the syguler remedyes was reserued to this holy mayde Thenne was it counseylled to the fad mod for to presente hyr doughter to Pratheryne the holy mayde they sent to the holy mayde prayenge hyr that she wolde helpe they re doughter And she sent ageyn answer sayd that often tymes defayled departed a sonder and my soule was vtterly delyuered out of the body Neuerthelesse it was but a lytell tyme that was my sorowe Then ne eftesones mayster Reymond axed hir how long tyme hyr sowle was out of the body She sayd as they that kepte hyr were aboute to haue beryed hyr foure houres or thēne she reuyued ageyn Yet he axed hyr what she sawe for that tyme why came the soule ageyne to the body she answerd thus Fader that tyme my sowle sawe vnderstode ioye of blessyd sowles and peynes of synners And as myn mynde wold suffre me wordes wolde suffyce to expresse them I shall tell you My sowle sawe the diuyne essen cyall beyng of god and that is the cause why I am soo lothe vnpacyent to lyue in this worlde and had not be the loue of hym the loue of crysten people for whiche my sowle was restoryd to the body ageyne I sholde had defaylled dyed for sorowe The hyghest comfort that I haue is whan I suffre ony dysease for that I haue the perfyte vysyon of god therfore trybulacyons ben not heuysom to me but comfortable as ye may knowe other that ben conuersaunt wyth me I sawe also the peynes of dampned sowles and peynes of sowles that ben in purgatory the whiche I can not expresse perfytely wyth no maner of wordes For yf wretched synners sawe the leste peyne that is there they had leuer chese bodely deth an hondred tymes yf it were possyble thēne for to suffre o daye the leste peyne that is there But specially I sawe hem ponysshed syngulerly that had synned in matrymony the whiche hadde not kepte hem to gyder honestly as they sholde do but folowed the dylectacions of theyr lustys Of this mayster Reymond hir confessour axed hyr why that synne in specyall was more greuously punysshed thenne o ther synnes syth it so is that it is not the most greuous synne She sayd for this skylle For they had not soo grete conscyence of that synne ne so grete contrycyon as they had of other synnes but rather they offended in that synne thenne in ony other That synne the whiche a synner chargeth not for to remoue by penaūce is a grete synne be it neuer soo lytell Thenne this holy mayde proceded forthe in hyr mater sayd thus also Fader whāne I had seen all thyse ioyes and thes peynes wenyng my self that I hadde fully be delyuered out of this body Oure lorde sayde to me seest thou not doughter what ioye they lacke and what peyne they haue that offenden me Torne ageyn therfore to thy body tell to the peple theyr errour and theyr peryll And wyth that worde I was astonyed for to torne ageyne to the body and sore aferde Thenne our ford sayd to me it is profyte to mennys soules that thou torne ageyne and thou shalte not lyue the lyfe that thou hast lyued a fore ne kepe the so lytarie allone in chambre but thou shalte goo a brode to wynne sowles I shall euer be wyth the and goo wyth the bothe goyng and comyng Thou shalte bere the worshyp of my name and of ghoostly doctryne afore grete and smale laye people and clerkys and a fore Relygyous folk also I shall gyue the bothe mouth and wytte for to speke that none may wythstande the. I shall also bryng the afore bysshoppys and curates of sowles for to confounde there pryde Whyles our lorde spak thyse wordes sodeynly my soule was restored ageyne to my body And whanne I perceyued that I hadde grete sowwe that I wepte thre dayes ende of this chapite It nedeth not for to reherce the wytnesses of euery acte that was done in this chapytre for it is made mencion of forthwyth at euery acte ī the same chapytre ¶ Of myracles whiche our lord wrought by this holy mayde in breed wyne herbes ▪ and other thinges that had none lyff Capitulum xj BY cause at the begynnyng whā Adam was made our lord ordeyned a rewle to all tho that obeye◠to hym perfyghtly that all thynges sholde obeye to them Therfor maydens in this nexte chapytre I shall telle you how to this holy mayde obeyden alle creatures by cause she obeyed perfyghtly to god In the tyme
vnnethe seâ—ue foure to theyr mete and ther were in nombre of persones xvj Thenne Johan wente to this holy mayde knowleched hyr neglygence all sory shamefast seyeng that ther was no brede but a lytell that vnnethes wolde suffyse to foure eche of them to resteyne a lytell To whome this holy mayde sayd A suster god for gyue it you why haue ye so neglygently brought vs to this last nede myght ye not haue warned me as I bad you well we ll byd goddes seruauÌ„tes go sytte doun Thenne sayde the mynyster that ther was but a lytell brede yet byd them sytte doun sayd this holy mayde to hir and serue them wyth that lytell and bydde them begynne wyth that lytell tyll that god ordeyne more After thyse wordes the holy mayde prayed whyle they etâ— Johan fulfylled hir byddyng deuyded to euery man a lytell and they as hongry folke gredy by long fastyng ete fast wenyng that they sholde nomore mete haue And also the suposed that that lytell brede sholde soone be do But alwaye they hadde ete ynough and yet the brede myght not defaylled And thenne they axed what the holy mayde dyd it was tolde that she prayed Thenne they sayd all by vertue of hyr prayer our lorde fedde them as he fedde fyue thousand men wyth fyue louys and so they thanked god Whan they hadde all ete yet ther was suche plente lefte that poure folke had ynough ¶ Now yette shall I tell you of another myracle that mayster Reymond bereth recorde of the whyche was done after tyme that this holy mayde was passed out of this worlde in to the blysse of heuen In a tyme hit happed mayster Reymond by counseyll of the Pryour of the freres and the couent wolde doo somme solempne reuerence to the hede of Saynt Katheryne this blyssed virgyne after tyme that it was translated out of the Cyte of Rome to the freres that dwelled at Sene. He sette a daye and bad to mete all hyr ghostely chyldren that she had nourysshed in vertue In the whyche day the freres were fully auysed to gyue hyr a solempne reuerence and also to fede that day all hyr ghoostly chyldren Whan the day was comen and the solenpne was done The frere that kepte the botrye of the couent loked what brede he hadde for the Couent and for the gestys and he founde scarsely ynough for half the Couent And thenne were there in Couent fyfty or there aboute and of gestys twenty whan the Pryour herde here of he was sory Neuerthelesse yet he serued the gestyn fyrst wyth that lytell and thenne the Couent wyth a lytell quantyte among them all and yet belefte ynough Soo thenne eueryche of the Couent and of the gestys hadde plenteuously ynough of that vnnethe as them semed that lytell nombre of louys myght hadde suffysed fyfe a fore Whan they had all eten the Pryour and the Couent came thyder ther mayster Reymond satte wyth the ghoostly chyldren of that holy mayde Saynt Katheryne and rehersed a fore them all that myracle Thenne sayde mayster Reymond these wordes Loo frendes this holy mayde Saynt Katheryne in the day of hyr solempnyte wyll not leue vs wythout somme myracle wyth whome she was so famylyer whyles she lyued in erthe Ofte tymes whan she was wyth vs lyuyng in this lyf she shewed this myracle among vs And therfore for to shewe vs that she now accepteth oure obseruaunce this daye done to goddes worshyp and to herys she hadde shewed the same myracle eftesonys after hyr passyng wherfore yelde we thankyng te almyghty god Yet furthermore our lord shewed meruayllous thynges by his spouse Katheryn in vnlyfely thynges as in floures where in she hadde ofte tymes grete delyte by cause she florysshed in vertue hyr self And in other vesselles of houshold that were lost destruyed and of thoo meruayllous thynges I shall tell you ¶ Thys holy mayde was somme tyme in the Cyte of pyse herborowed in a worthy mannes how 's of the same Cyte the whiche man loued well this holy mayde After tyme she was ther a whyle she was gretely feblyd in body by ofte excesse of spyryt in rauyshyng so that as it semed mayster Reymond and other moo that sawe hyr She was brought nye to the deth wherfore mayster Reymond was fore aferde lest she sholde haue dyed he bethought hym what remedye he myght ordeyne for to restore hyr to lenger lyf and he wyst neuer what he myght ordeyne for hyr as for egges and wyne and also other letuaryes he knewe welle that she myght not ete Thenne he came to hyr and prayed hyr that she wolde receyue a lytell suker in hyr water that she drynketh to whome she answerd thus Fader I see well that ye wyll take awaye fro me that lytell lyf the whiche is left in me by suche swete drynkes for I doo you well to wete that all swete thingiâ— to me dedly Thenne mayster Reymond and the souerenys of the how 's bethought hem to gydres what remedye they myght ordeyne ageynst hir feblynes At the last it came to mayster Reymond mynde that he hadde see that ofte tymes feble folke hadde be wesshen somme tyme wyth vernage aboute the temples in the pouses of the body and so were restored of strengthe and gretly comforted Thenne mayster Reymond sayde to the souereyne of the hous thus Syr sethe it is soo that we may not putte noo comfortable remedye wythin hyr body lete vs â–ª vse somme remedye wythout on hyr body Thenne sayde the souerayne of the how 's that he had a lytell besyde hys how 's a neyghboure that hadde a vessell of vernage to whome he sayde he wolde sende to for to haue a botell full therof for he knewe well that he sholde haue it full gladly A messenger was sent to hym and tolde him how this holy mayde was feble wherfore he praied in his maystrys behalf that he wold wouchesauf to sende hyr a botell of vernage To whome the neyghboure answerd thus that he wolde sende hym all redy but certeyn he sayde hys vessell was emptyd and therfore he prayed hym to holde hym excused for I wote well in all my how 's is no drope of wyne and that I am ryght sory fore Neuerthelesse to be seker come and see and thenne bere wytnesse of the trouth to my frende as thou seest Thenne forthwyth he took the messenger wyth him all ageynst the messengers wyll and brought hym to hys wyne seler and shewed hym that same vessell of vernage the whiche vessell semed by outwarde tokenys that it was voyde many day afore yet neuerthelesse the good man dyd more for to see the trouthe that it was voyde he drewe out the spygot that was in the vessell and drewe it out in hys presence that he sholde see that there was noo wyne Inne As soone as he hadde done soo the vernage came out and ranne vpon the grounde plentuously he was sore astonyed and stopped the vessell ageyne and
speke wyth this hooly mayde katheryne Thenne of charyte he lefte his owne nede and wyth his speciall frende to thys holy mayde katheryns hous wenyng that he sholde haue fouÌ„de her there but her felawes answerd hym that longe a go she went to chirche and come not home yet ¶ Whan mayster Reymond herde thys he was admerueylyd and came agayn to chyrche wyth his frende and fouÌ„de her there in a corner of the chirche knelyng rauysshed as she was wount to be and somme of her felawes wyth her Off whom he asked how longe that holi mayde katheryne hadde be there they saide alle this masse tyme and more that he prayed theym for to excite her assone as they myght for hys frendes is come for to speke wyth her And he myght not tarye Whan she was cesyd of her rauysshyng mayster Reymound toke her asyde and tolde her of his dysese vnder fewe wordes by cause the other man his frende sholde not be lette Anone she smylyd vppon mayster Reymound and askyng hym thus gladly Fader sought ye not all aboute he sayde yes Thenne she sayde why haue ye soo grete sow we therfore And wyth that she smiled â—ft â—â—is went soo forth for to speke wyth the pryour off the charterhous In the mene tyme mayster Reymound abode somwhat I comforted but not fully vnto the tyme he wyst how it myght be soo awaye Whan she hadde full doo wyth the Pryour of the Charterhous and delyuerd hi of an answer that he came for She tourned her to mayster ReymouÌ„de agayne Thenne Mayster Reymound sayd to her thus Moder I too we it be ye that hath awaye that partycule of the holy hoste she wyth smyling saide nay but it was another that toke it awaye from you therfore be ye nomore sory therfore ne for it ne seke nomore for it for I telle you ye shall neuer fynde it Thenne Mayster Reymond prayed her that she wolde tell hym al hole how it myght be To whom she sayde thus Fader take nomore sorowe for that partycle for yf I shall sholde saye the soth to you as to myn confessour myn ghostely fader that partycule was brought to me I receyued it by the reuerend hondes of our reuerend lord almyhty god swete gloryous Jhesu cryst And I shal tell you the cause why This daye I was in purpos wyth a grete desyre for to be houseled but myn felawes gaue me counseyll for to cese that I shold not be hoseled in as moche as somÌ„e grutched wyth all After whos counseyll I wrought was purpos for to cese but myn desyre was so grete therto that I prayed our lord almighty god of helpe he in his own reuereÌ„d ê‘sone aperit to me gaue me that partycle wyth his â–ª owne reuerend hondes And therfore fader bee not sory there is none necligence in you as for that pertycule After this reuelacion Mayster Reymound was ryght ioyefull by cause the thaghte of his concience was put awaye from hym Suche myrâ—câ—e our reuerend lord almyghty god shewed in the reuerend holy sacrament of the auâ—ter by the merytes of his honde mayde holy katheryne of Sene Also there were many other feythfull folke and trewe that sayde â–ª thei â—awe ofte tymes whaÌ„ Mayster Reymoâ—de houselyd this hooly mayde katheryâ—e of Sene the swete holi ghooste flede out of his hondes in to her mouth the whiche Mayster Reymound perceyued neuer saue this he perceyued that The swete reuerende hoste made anoyse in her mouth whan she had receyued it aâ— though a stone hadde bee caste in her mouth from a ferre contree ¶ Now thus shall I make an ende off the grete merneylousnes of that reuerende swete holy sacramente of the aulter telle you of dyuerse myracles that befylle to this holy mayde saynt katheryne of sene aboute certayn relykes of sayntes ¶ This holy mayde katheryne of Sene hadde onys a reuelacion as she tolde pryuely to Mayster Reymound her confessour that she sholde be sette in the same degre of ioye in the blysse of heuen And be felawe wyth saint Agnes the whiche was a suster of the mount of Pollycita Wherfore this holy mayde katteryn of sene desyred ofte tymes wyth alle her herte for to bysyte the relykes of saint Agnes ¶ But now ye maydens by cause ye shall knowe how bertuous a lyuer that saint Agnes was whan she was here in erthe I shall tell you shortely vnder fewe wordes This holy mayde Saynt Agnes suster of the mount of pollyâ—yta the same tyme that she sholde be borne off her moder there was in the chambre there her moder chylded a greate merneylous lyght that all th o the whiche were in the same chambre myght clerly see it And whan she was born it cesyd By this ye may knowe of what merite she shold be in the syght of our reuerende lord almighty god afterward that soo soone in the begynnyng receyued the merueylous light of our reuerend lord almyghty god After tyme she was born she encresyd vertuously more and more in al tyme of the yeres and at the laste she made two monasteryes of maydens and lyeth beryeâ—… in the toun in the whiche is shewed by our reuerend lorde almyghty god in her coÌ„tinuelly many wouÌ„derful miracles And amonge all other myracles whaÌ„ she was passid out of this worlde her body was not buryed but lefte vpon erthe all hooll wythout ony corrupâ—ion Wherfore other deuout folke that knewe her by her lyâ—â—e consyderyng how many merneylous thynges oure reuerend lorde almyghty god shewed in her wold haue bawmed her swete body that it myght so be kâ—pte vpon the erthe wyth miracles whan thei cam to bawme it they sawe how there came out of the toes of the feet and of the fyngers of the hondes droppes of bawme the whiche bawme is kepte yet in to this daye for a relyke amonges the susters of the same place This myracle was shewed for this cause that alle folke sholde knowe that she hadde none nede for to be bawmed outward whan oure reuerend lorde almyghty god hadde bawmed her wythin forth Ferthermore the same hour that she passed out of this worlde in the tyme of the nyghte infantes both mayde chyldren and other as they laye in her moders beddes cryeden and sayeden that now suster agnes is passeth out of this world and is a saint inâ—heuen On the morowe thyse in fantes drewe theym togyder in a companye and wolde suffer none corrupte child come amonges theym and wente eche of theym as in proâ—â—ssyon wyth candeles in her handes to this monastery wher suâ—ter Agnes passed out of this world ofofferyng to that mayde maydenes oblacion Many moo myracles our reuerend lord almyghty god shewed by that holy Mayde saint Agnes in the syght of alle peple wherfore she is had euery yere in grete reuerence wyth deuoute oblacion of many brennyng tapres for to see that holy maydes body this holy mayde katheryne
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
that she wayled and wept and wente Inne there the body â—aye seyeng to the ghoostely chyldren of thys holy mayde Katheryne ¶ O vnpytuous woman why haue ye hydde this fro me why called ye me not to her passyng They excusyd theym that they myght not for certayn causes than she prayed theym for to telle her whaÌ„ she departed from the body they sayde yester daye aboute vnderne of the daye wyth the Semya wepte and sayde thus that same tyme it was that I sawe myn gloryous moder lad vp to heuen with angâ—lis wyth thre precious crownes on her hede Now I wote well she sayd that our reuerend lorde almyghty sent his angelys shewed me the passyng of myn glorious moder gloryous saint katheryn of Sene And more ouer she mynystred for me merueylously in myn kytchyn O moder O gloryous moder why vnderstoode I not whan I hadde that gloryous visyon that thou that tyme passid out of this worlde Thenne she respyred and tolde to her susters and to other ghostely children of heres what vysyon she had suche a tyme â–ª al as it is rehersed thus endeth this chapitr◠¶ Of tokens and myracles whiche our reuerend lord almyghty god wrought after the deâ—h of this hooly mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt Katheryn of Sene bothe tofore her beryeng and after That is to saye of tho myracles were knowe for many ther were that were not knowe Capitulum â— WHan the blessyd soule of this holy mayde and virgygyn gloryoê° saynt katheryn of Sene was de liuerd out of her swete body and the swe holy body put in a chaunsell of saint Do mynyk I closed by cause the people sholde cerce a whyle of her confluence as it is â—eherâ—ed afore in the iiij chapytre In the mene tyme that it sâ—ode there came a suse of saint fraunceis order that was callyd Domynyca the whiche had a sekenes in her armr that half a yeâ—e afore this holy mayde vyrgyne dyed she myght not by welde her arme for it was in maner benomme her aud drped vp This suster Domynyca in hope to haue helpe herde seye that this hooly mayde vyrgyn was dede â–ª came to the chyrche there she laye sayde that she myght not come to this holy body for the peple by cause also the chaunsel dore was shette she threwe in a keuerchef and prayed the susters of saint Domynyk that they wolde touche the swete holy body of that holy mayde and vyrgin wyth that keuerchefe thenÌ„e to gyue â—t to her a gayn They dyd so assone as she hadde the keuerchefe agayn she put it to her arme and was hole anon wyth that she cryed to all the people and sayde that her arme was hole by myracle of this holy mayde vyrgyn gloryous katheryne Thenne the peple made moche noyse in thankyng oure reuerend lorde almyghty god brought chyldren of heres other seke bodyes that they myght haue helpe by myracle namely by touchyng somme hemme of that holy mayde and virgins clothes â–ª Amonge all other there was brought a â—â—â—â—de of iiij yere olde whos he de lay vpon his one sholdes by cause off a certayn infyrmyte that he hadde by the whiche infyrmyte the synowes of his necke were shronke to gyders so that he myght neuer lifte vp his hede fro the sholder Assone as this childeÌ„ was brought to the holy body and was touched in the necke wyth the holy mayde and vyrgyn about whos neck also was put a keuerchefe of this holy mayde and vyrgyn â–ª â—ythin a lytyll whyle and tyme afterward the chylde began to amende and soo was att the laste hole This was the cause why the fryers durste not burye the holy body by thre dayes to gyder in as moche as our reuerende lord almighty god sholde shewe myracle by her For there was soo grete a confluence of people thoo thre dayes that a mayster of â—yuynyte was steryd for to make a sermon to the worshyppe of oure reuerend lorde almyghty god and of this holy mayde and virgyn But whan he stode vp in the pulpyt he myght not be herd for noyse of the people and the grete concurs to the swete holi body Soo that at the laste he lefte of his sermon and sayde to all the peple in this wyse Syres I see well this holy maide and vyrgyn nedeth nought our prechinge for she by her self prâ—â—heth suffyciauntly ynow and thenne he wente doune out of the pulpyt ¶ The myraclys of this holy mayde vyâ—gyn encresyd faste For there was a Roman the whiche was called Lucius that had suche a sekenesse the whiche myght not behelyd of none leche a ioynt off his knee was to broste so that he myght not walke vnnethe but by sustentacion of a staf This lucius herde saye that suche an holy mayde and virgyn dyde myraclys â–ª wyth grete traueyle and helpe of other he came there her sweâ—â— hooly body lap there wyth grete reuerence and deuoucion he toke the holy mayde and vyrgyn hond and put it to his thye to his legge â—ythin a lytyll whyle and tyme after he felte more strengthe in his leggys than he dyde a fore so that or than he wente fully thens he was all hole praysyng our reuerend lord almyghty god in his merueiles that he shewed in his saintes ¶ Also there was a yonge maydede childe that was called â—eâ—â—zola the whiche had an horybyll infyrmyte of a lepyr in her face that her noyse and the ouerlyppe of her mouth was coueryd wyth that horryble lepre This mayde herd speke also of the myracles shewed by this holy may de vyrgyn gloryous saynt Katheryne of Sene come to the same chriche where that her holy body lay and in to come to that holy body but alwaye she was put a backe by prees of the people At the laâ—t she came in to that swete holy body put not only her face to the holy mayde vyrgyns hondis and feet But also to her louely swete face and vysage Soone after she felt releuyng of her sekenes soo that wythin a short tyme she was so perfyghtly hole and neuer afterward apperyd in her face ony naner of â—eper spottene marke of ony maner leper ¶ Also there was a Roman calliâ— Cypryus that had a doughter the whiche doughter of yonge age toke a sekenes that is called the tysyk of that sekenes she myght neuer be deliueryd by none maner of me decyne when the fader the moder herde saye of the myraclis shewed by our reuerend lord almyghty god by by this holy mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt katheryn they came to the same place her doughter wyth them where the swete holi body laye recommendyd deuoutly her doughter to that holy mayde and vyrgin Assone as the chylde was hole Also in the mene tyme the swete holy body lay vnberyed there was a cytysyn of Rome that was callyd Anthoni the whiche was the same tyme in saynt Petâ—is chirche
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
place of hir how 's where she dwellyd as she hadde chosen to fore hyr self and alle they scour gyd hem selfe as she dyde And eche of them sayde a certeyne Pater noster and of Aue maria as Katheryne bad hâ—m saye ¶ Alle these werkyngee were but tokenys of gretter meruaylles that sholde folowe after that ¶ For as hyr moder tolde full ofte to Mayster Reymond ¶ And she whan he asked hyr myghte not denye hyt that full ofte goyng vpward and dounward the grees of hyr faders how 's vysybly to alle their syghte that sawe hyr Swyfâ—â—ly she wente in the ayre and touched noo grees wyth her fete and thys fylle namely whanne she wolde flee a waye oute of companye and specyally from the syghte of companye of men And for as moche as she had a gretely kynge in the begynnyng to say hyr Aue maria And to grete our lady ther wyth in goynge vp and doune on hyr faders grees Therfore it is to suppose that thys myracle was shewed there rather thanne in another place ¶ Forthermore for as moche as she had knowynge of the lyfe of holy faders of Egypte by reuelacyon therfore wyth alle her strengthes she was steryd gretely to folow hem ¶ In so moche that in the yong tender age full feruentely she desyred to be in the wyldernesse as the holy faders were in olde tyme but she myghte not be thynke hyr by what maner waye she myght perfourme hyr desyre by cause it was not ordeyned of god that she sholde dwell in soo solytary place Oure lorde suffred hyr to stonde to the wytte of hir proper nature as in that And she myght nomore knowe what she sholde doo as touchyng that purpose than hyr owne chyldes wytte wolde shewe hyr And ryght so it befyll that she wyth hyr feruent wyll to her purpose she ouercame the tendrenesse and the frealte of hyr age but yet hadde she not the parfyte vyctorye For erly on a morowty de she thought to go to the deserte or ellys wyldernesse and abyde in a solytary place wherefor by chyldys prouydence she purueyed her of a lofe of brede and of no more Forthe she wente toward hyr susters how 's that was wedded whyche how 's was faste by the gate is clepyd the gate of saynt Ansanye She passyd hyr sustrer how 's and forthe she wente out at that gate and so dyd she neuer afore and soo passyd forthe tyll she came to a waye out of the Cyte where she saw noo how 's stonde nyghe there as she dyde in the cyte And thenne she thought wel she was nyghe the deserte yet wente she somwhat forther and at the laste she founde a lytel caue vnder a banke whyche plesyd hyr well â–ª And forth she wente in with a glad herte wenyng to hyr that she hadde fonde the wyldernesse whyche that she hadde desyred And all be it that she it had not yet our lorde almyghty god whome she behelde long to fore and receyned hys holy blyssyng whyche gladly acceptyth all holy desyres alle be it that our lord hadde not dysposed hys spouse to haue that manere of lyuyng yet wolde not he suffre that dede that she dyde of good desyre to passe awaye wyth out a token to sheweher that she dyd was acceptable and plesyng to hym And anone as she began to praye there feruently she was I lyfte vp lytell and lytell from the erthe and the body wente vp as hyghe as the height of the caue wolde suffre and so she stode in prayer fro the morow in to none Thys mayde perceyued welle that she was areryd from the erthe and as for that tyme she wende it had ben the worâ—hyng of hyr enemye whyche wold wyth hys fraudes and dysceytes lette hyr prayer and desyre that she had to the deserte And for that cause she besyed hir and enforced hyr the more stablye and feruently to praye At the laste aboute the houre of the day whan our lord after his passy on of the crosse was take doun fro the crosse she descendyd lytell and lytell as she ascendyd And by Inspyracion of our lord she hadde vnderstondyng and knowyng that the tyme was not yet I come where in she sholde not putte hyr body in suche afflyccyon for our lorde Ne that she sholde leue her faders how 's in suche maner wherefor she torned as she came But whan she wente out and sawe she was allone and behelde the gate of the Cytee longe and full feâ—re to her age and feblynesse dredynge also that hyr fader and moder shold wene that she had be loste She coude no more but beganne to praye and commytted hyr fully to god And anone in a shorte whyle by the ordynaunce and myght of our lorde she was borne vp in the eyre and sette in the gate of the Cytee wyth out ony harme And anone she wente home in alle the hast that she myght or coude Thys she tolde to a Cosyne of here 's whyche was callyd Laxa But to hyr fader and moder alle thys was hydde and vnknowen tyll she came to elder age for they wende she hadde come fro hyr susters how 's that was wedded Of thys that is shewed in thys chapytre in somme partye Lapa hir moder tolde to mayster Reymond Whyche was hyr last confessoure and in somme partye her self and of somme Laxa hyr cosyne not wythstondyng that he hadde grete swetenesse of alle that is I wrytton and sayd a fore Saue at the laste bothe of hyr fyrst confessour whyche was I nourysshed in hyr faders how 's and of many worshypfull and trewe matroâ—s of neyghbours nyghe and of other besyde nygh to hyr fader and moder and to hyr ¶ Of hyr vowe made of virgynyte and of other vertuous liuynge and meruaylles whyche be fyll tyll she came to the age of abylytee to be wedded to man but wedded was she not ne neuer wolde CapituluÌ„ iij SO moche vertue and grace was in that vysyon whyche is rehersyd in the nexte â—hapytle to fore that all worldly loue and affeccyon was wyth drawen out from the herte of thys holy yonge mayde and onely the holy loue of goddys sone and of the gloryous mayde and moder of our lord Ihesu cryste stylly and stedfastly was prented in hyr herte â–ª Wherfore she sette alle thynge at noughte soo that she myght ouely wynne our lord hyr sauyour And anone she had clere vnderstondyng only by the techyng of the holy ghoost that is full semyng and accordyng to our lorde and our maker of nought to be serued wyth alle purytee and â—lenues bothe in body and in sowle Wherfore she desyred fully to haue and kepe the clennesse of virgynytee and for that she thought well and knowynge hyr by the techynge of god that our blessyd lady goddys moder was the fyrste that founde the lyf of virgynytee wherefor thys mayde conceyued in hyr herte that vp that mater she wolde haue recourse to our lady for helpe
dyd so to who me thys mayden gaf none clere answer by cause she wolde nethyr lye ne telle the trouthe Wyth that the moder wente to thys maydens hede and took of hyr kerchyfe wyth hyr owne hondys And so ê‘ceyued that hyr here was cut awaey ThaÌ„ne was the moder sorowfull in hyr herte bycause hyr fayre here was cutte awaye waylynge and cryenge in thys wyse Aa doughter what haste thou doo Anone the mayde keuered hyr hede efte sones and wente a syde To the crye of her moder came bothe the fader and the chyldren meruayllyng what it myght be Whanne they knewe the cauâ—â— of hyr cryeng they were hugely ameuyd ageynste this maide of the whiche trouble was begonne the secounde bataylle ageynst this mayde more sharper than theÌ„ne was the fyrst But yet to thys mayden our lord gaff the vyctorye that thoo thynges whyche semed lettyng to hyr holy purpose was to hyr grete helpe meruayllously for to knytte hyr to our lord more myghtely Therefore they pursued hyr openly rebukyng hyr and thretyng hyr in worde and dede sayeng thus Thou wretched creature trowest thou for to escape thus that thou shalt not fulfyll our wylle because that thou hast cutte awaye thyn here hyt shall growe ageyn wyll thou nyll thou and though thyn herte sholde to breste yet shalt thou haue an husbonde And thou shalt neuer haue reste vnto the tyme that thou haste consented to our wylle And wyth that they made an ordynaunce that Katheryne shold nomore haue no pryue chambre by hir self to dwelle Inne but that sholde openly be occupyed in the comyn seruyce of the how 's So that the place and tyme of prayeng and vnyeng and knyttyng to Jhesu hir spoufe sholde vtterly be wyth drawe from hir And also that she shold see hyr self so moche the more in despyte that she was made a comyn seruaunte After thys ordynaunce thys holy mayde was putte to alle manere fylthe besynesse and the fowle of the kechyn Suffryng euery day repreues and euery day also wronges and rebukyng and dyspytable wordes were multeplyed ageynst hyr that moste of alle ouercomen wymmenys hertys For as hyt was supposed hyr fader and hyr moder and brethern hadden fonde a yong man of whos kynrede they weren gretely well apayde And therefor they steryd and Inpugnyd hyr the more sharpely that she myght the sonner be bowed to theyr consent But where that oure ghostly enemye the fende by whos wyckednes tretcherous werkes all thyse thynges were wrought doune wende for to wyth drawe thys mayde from hyr clene purpose There by the helpe of god she was made moost strengest for she was in noo wyse meuyd ne stered of alle that was doone to hyr But she made hyr a pryue chaumbre by helpe of the holy ghoost in hyr owne sowle fro the whyche pryue chaumbre she made an ordynaunce in hyr self neuer for to go out for no manere of besynesse And so it was done in dede that she the whyche fyrste hadde an outward chaumbre assygned to hyr somtyme stood wyth out and somtyme wente oute But afterwarde whan she had made hyr selue in hyr sowle a pryue chaumbre that myght not be take from hyr of no creature in erthe she went neuer out Thes ben tho heuenly vyctoryes that may not be taken awaye fro crystis specyall in erthe ouercomynge wyth out ony doubte alle stylly enemyes As holy wrytte seyth Regnum dei infra nos est That is to saye the kyngdome of heuen is wythin vs. And also the prophete Dauyd seyth That all the ioye of our lordes doughter is wythin forthe Wythin vs wyth out ony doubte there is a clere vnderstondyng a frâ— wylle and a retentyf mynde Wythin vs also is the gracyous Infusyon of the holy ghoost the whiche maketh perfyte these ghoostly myghtys rehersed afore and ouercometh and throweth vnder foot alle outward aduersytres Wythin vs yf we ben trewe vylners of vertue dwelleth that ghest the whyche sayde and seyth Confidite ego vici mundum That is trusteth feythfully that ye shall ouercome your enemyes for I haue ouercome the worlde that grete enemye In this blessyd lord thys holy mayde Katheryn trustyd so hyghely that she made hir wyth Inne hyr self a chambre by hys helpe for whos loue she charged not for to lese the chambre made of mannes handes wythout forth ¶ But now one thynge shall I saye that mayster Reymond the confes sour of thys holy mayde beryth recorde of that whan that he sholde walke outward by cause other whyle of grete outward besynesse and occupacyon that nedys must be done Thys holy mayde oftymes warned hym and sayde that he shold make wythin hys sowle a pryuee celle of whyche pryue cell he sholde neuer goo out And alle be it that he vnderstonde hyr not but so ouerly so lyghtely Yet neuerthelesse afterwarde whan he consydered more wyttely hyr wordes The wordes that Saynt Johan sayde in the Gospell felle in hys mynde where it is rehersed of crystys dyscyples in thys wyse Hoe autem non cognouerunt discipuli eius primum Sed quando glorificatus est ihesus tune recordatisunt That is crystys dyscyples knewe not alle thynge of hym as touchyng hys passyon fyrst but onely But after tyme whan he was reysen fro deth to lyue and gloryfyed thanne they knewe more openly and clerely And soo in the same manere wyse bothe to mayster Reymond hyr confes sour to tho other that were conuersaunt wyth hyr it happyd meruayllously that they perceyued more openly and clerely bothe her dedys and hyr wordes afterwarde than whenne they were wyth hyr presently ¶ Yette shall I telle you of another holy conseyt and a blessyd ymagynacyon of thys holy mayde that the holy ghoost taught hyr by the whyche she ouercome alle wronges and despytes as she tolde pryuely to hyr confessour axyng of hym mekely how she myght be perfytly gladde amonge soo many despytes And thanne she brake out and sayde that she hadde suche an ymagynacyon in hyr self that hyr fader represented our lorde Ihesu Cryste oure sauyour and hyr moder oure blessyd lady Saynt Marye And hyr brethern and other many of the housholde betokeneth the holy appostles of oure lorde and other dyscyples of hys And for thys blessyd ymagynacyon she serued hem alle the more gladdely soo that they were alle a meruaylled therof And by thys blessyd ymagynacyon she wan another grete profyte and as oftr as she serued and made mynystracy on euer she hadde in mynde hyr hyr spouse Ihesu Cryste Whome hyr thought she serued And soo she beyng in bodely kechyn was alle waye wyth that holy place that is callyd Sancta sanctorum And as ofte as she serued atte mete soo ofte she fedde hyr sowle wyth the presence of oure sauyour A hyghe and rychesse of endeles counseyll by how many dyuers and meruayllous wayes delyuerest them that trusten in the from alle maner dyseses and bryngest them in to the hauen of
to the seruyce of god were gretly astoyned there by And also gladde seeng so yong a mayden passe in vertuous â—yuyng many olde matrons wherefor they took her leue ioyefully gretely edyfyed by hyr wordes tolde theyr felawys with a grete ioye what they harde sawe Whan thise susters herde thys by counseyll of the frerys they receyued hyr with oo wyl one assentâ— amoÌ„ges them sendyng worde to the moder that also sone as the mayden were hole she shold brynge hir to the frere prechours that she myght râ—ceyue the abyte of Saynt Domynyk the whyche she had so long desyred in presence of the brethern the sustâ—en of the same abyte as the custome is Whan the moder tolde these wordys to hyr dought she was gladde that she wepte for ioye thanked our lord saynt domynyk that hadde fulfylled hys promys and byhâ—st Thanne she began to preye to god that she myght be hole of hyr bodely Infyrmyâ—â— for to fulfylle hir holy purpose in receyuyng of the abyte lest she shold be lette delayed of hyr desyre for that bodely sekeâ—â—sse And there she was fyrst gladde of hir bodely sekenesse with meke suffrauÌ„ce Afterward she was as heuy therof besekyng our lord with besy prayers that he wold wouchelauf to delyuer hyr wyth out ony taryeng of that sekenesse the whiche letted the purpose of hyr desyre as she prayed our lord grauÌ„ted hir for wyth in fewe dayes afterward she was hole Our lord wold not alway of his goodnesse denye the axyng of suche that conferme them euer wyth all theyr besynesse to fulfylle hys wyll For what euer she axyd or desyred she referred it to him who me she loued wyth all the myghtes of hir sowle and to whoâ— seruyce she offred hyr self all hole body and sowle whome she was restoryd of bodely hele Alle be it the mod was aboute to tarye hyr of hyr purpose lenger tyme. She made suche InstauÌ„ce to hyr moder that the day and houre was assygned whan she sholde receyue hyr abyte the whyche abyte she receyued wyth a grete ghostly gladnesse whanne the moder and the doughter were come to gyder to the chyrche The frere that had the charge of the susters arayed that holy mayde wyth that maner of abyte in presence of them all of the colours of whyte and blak in token of Innocence and me kenesse the whyche abyte holy faders of Saynt Domynykes ordre ordeyned for to be hadde Soo that by the whytnes is vnderstonde Innocencye and by the blaknesse mekenes For as mayster Reymond hyr confessour recordeth and wryteth â–ª Ther was none abyte soo well accordyng to hyr conuersacyon of lyuyng bothe Inward and outward Thenne thys mayden wyth alle hyr myght â—â—o that tyme forthward mortyfyed hyr body in sleyng of the olde lust of synne wyth alle hys braunches of pryde in the wynnyng of the veray mekenesse the whyche mekenesse betokeneth the mantell of blacke that she hadde receyued Alsoo she besyed hyr wyth alle hyr myghtes for to kepe the Innocencye of virgynytee and maydenhode not onely of body but also of sowle to her endeles spouse Ihesu cryst the whyche is veray lyght for to receyue by hym fayrenesse of vertuous lyuyng the whyche fayrenesse is betokenyd by the whyte cote vnder the mantell Yf hyr abyte had be all black or alle whyte tho two thynges mekenesse and Innocencye myght not properly be vnderstonde therby And yf hyr abyte hadde ben graye russeth it myght represente mortyfycacyon But not properly puryte and clennesse of sowle Thys was the cause why the susters at the begynnyng denyed hyr thys abyte lest she hadde not be able to bere it in mekenesse and clennesse of herte dredyng of hyr yonge age Whanne that holy mayde hadde receyued that abyte hyt become hyr better than it dyd the matrons Therfor it had not be well do that it hadde be denyed hyr whyche abyte was ordeyned a fore of holy faders in token of Innocencye Syth it soo was that she passyd in clennes alle the chastyte of wedowhode Of one thynge hyr confessour Mayster Reymond recordeth and wryteth that that abyte hadde neuer hys full perfeccyon in the Cytee of Senee vnto the tyme that holy mayde hadde I take vpon hyr for to were hyt She was the fyrst mayde in that Cytee that took it vp on hyr the whyche many maydens afterward receyued also Soo it myght be songe of hyr that verse that Dauyd the prophete speketh of Adducentur regi virgines posteam That is to our lorde god endeles kyng many maydens shall be brought Inne after thys holy mayde Katheryne ¶ How thys mayden encreced it shall be declared afterward by the helpe of god But now I shall make an ende of thys chapytre and procede forthe how thys holy abyte beganne of thys holy Relygyous estate lest for defaute of knowyng there of the opynyon and the fame of thys holy maydens vertuous lyuynge myght be lessenyd therby in somme mennys hertys as for the matere the whyche is reherced in thys chapytre mayster Reymond recordeth and seyth that he hadde it by relacyon of hyr moder and of hyr self And as the abyte it nedeth no profe for it is knowen openly ynough ¶ Of the begynnyng and the foundamente of the Relygyous state of the susters of penaunce of Saynt Domynyk and where of came the manere of lyuyng of tho sustren Capitulum viij ALle tho that wyll rede thys presente chapytre folowynge they shall fynde wryten as it is recorded of many feythfull creatures in dyuerse partyes of ytalye many worthy actys and dedys of our holy fader Saynte Domynyk That gloryous worthy confessour of Cryste Tutor and defendour of the feyth of holy chyrche Saynte Domynyk also techer and enfourmer of the good state of perfyte lyuers ouercame myghtely bothe in Tholose and also in Lombardye What by hym selfe and by hys brethern many heretykes So that in the tyme of his canonizacion at Rome was prouyd openly a for ourâ— holy fader the pope that an hondred thousand heretykes and more were tourned by hys prechyng and shewyng of myracles in lumbardye alone ¶ Neuertheles that venemous doctryne of the heretykes hadde soo enfected the peple sowles that almoost all the possessyons of holy chyrche were in laymennes hondes kepyng it as here owne herytage And that caused Bysshoppeâ— to goo aboute and begge For they hadde none power neuer to wythstonde her hereâ—ye for the defaulte of temperall substaunce ne for to releue clerkys and poure folke after the dewe of her offyce This consydered our holy fader Saynt domynyke myght in none wyse suffre this myscheff in holy chyrche for the grete and entyrly loue that he hadde therto he chaas a worthy lyf of pouerte both for hym selfe and also for theim that shold be his folowers And thenne beganne to pursue forthe for the ryght of holy chyrche assosyengâ— to hym certâ—yn laye people that dâ—ed god and that he knew well and so coÌ„myned wyth
they sholde euer be aferd for soo thou mayst fynde wryten ¶ Beatus vir qui semper est pauidus That is to saye blessyd be that man that euer is feerfull ¶ Ferthermore oure lorde Ihesu Cryste sayde to her Doughter wylt thou that I shall teche the how thou mayste knowe myn vysyon from the vysyon of the fende To whom this holy mayde answerde full mekely and prayed hym that he wolde vouchesauf to teche her Thenne sayde oure lorde thyn soule may esely be taught by Inspyracyon and by worde for to dyscerne bytwene the one and the other But by cause that I wolde it myght prouffyghte as well to the other as to the Therfore I shall teche the by worde ¶ Doctours of holy chyrche whome I haue taught the trouthe seyn and soothe it is that myn vysyon begynneth wyth a drede but euer in the passyng it setteth a sowle in greate reste and sekernes It begynÌ„eth wyth a maner of bytternes But euermore more and more it wexith swete And the contrarye herte dothe the vysyon of the fende It gyueth in the begynnyng as it semeth a maner of gladdenes or sykenes or ellys swetenesse But whan it passeth awaye euer it encreseth in the sowle dred and bytternesse This is the trewest knowleche for to knowe myn wayes from the fendes wayes ¶ The waye of penauÌ„ce and the kepynge of myn preceptys and commaundementes in the begynnyng it semeth harde and sharpe But the more a sowle prouffyteth in kepyng of theym the more esely it waxith ¶ The waye of synne in the begynnyng semeth full delectable but euer in encres therof a sowle is made more and more dampnable ¶ But yet shall I gyue the another token for to knowe myn vysyon from the vysyon of the fende Vnderstonde this for a sothe that sythe it soo is that I am trouthe euer of myn vysyons the sowle of man receyueth a greate knowleche of trouthe and by cause that the knowleche of trouthe is full necessarye to the soule as well to her self as to me that she may knowe me her self of the whiche knowleche she passeth out fro her self in settinge lytyll by her selfe and honoureth and worshyppeth me The whiche condycion properly is called the condycions of mekenes Therfore it were full nedefull that a sowle sholde thus knowe her self And soo be made meke by vysyon The contrarye is of the vysyon of the feÌ„de sythe it so is that the fende is fader of lesynge and kynge of all the chyldren of pryde And he may not gyue but that that he hathe as his lesyng and pryde Therfore as of his visyoÌ„ a soule semeth moche by her self and is made glad and 〈…〉 Joye The whiche is properly the condycion of pryde and so she is by lefte swellyng and bolnyng in pryde ThenÌ„e therfore yf thou examyne and dyscusse dylygently in thy self mayste knowe whether vysyon come to the of trouthe or ellys of falsenesse yf it come of trouthe it maketh thyn sowle meke yf it come of falsenes by desceyte it maketh thyn sowle proude ¶ Thenne this hooly mayde whan she hadde herde thys she kepte this holsome doctryne full dylygently in her sowle and tolde it afterward to her confessour and also to other for her edyfycacion as it shall be rehersyd wythinforthe by the helpe of god And thenne began our lorde to shewed this holy mayde visyons reuelacyons plentuously soo ferforth that vnnethe myght be founde two men so homely in conuersacion to gyders as oure lorde Jhesu and she were to gyders For whether she prayed or redde or had medytacions or walked or slepte o wyse or other she was comforted many times whan she spake wyth other she hadde reuelacions or vysyons and spake in her sowle to our lord whyles her tongue spake outward to other But that myghte not longe contynue for her sowle was so wonderly I drawe vp to her spouse Jhesu that wythin a lytyll whyle afterward She was rauysshed out of her bodely felyng Out of this rauysshyng came many merueylous thynges that foloweth afterward â–ª as well of her grete abstynence as of her merueylous doctryne And also vpon myracles the whiche oure lorde shewed in her by her lyffe now than lest there be somme that wolde be in doubte whether this holy mayde hadde suche reuelacions or not I shalle telle you how her confessour Mayster Reymound preued it whether her reoelacions and vysyons were trewe or not At the begynnyng whan Mayster Reymound herde of her hye coÌ„uersacioÌ„ of liuyng he begaÌ„ to waxe homely wyth her in comunycacion wyth her for he coude not fele it verely that suche reuelacyons in her myght be trewe the whiche mystruste was for his better And therfore he enquyred by diuers menes and wayes to knowe whether they came of god or of the fende Or whether they were fals or trewe For thenne came to his mynde of ypocritis the whiche regnyd in his dayes and that he founde many dyscetys namely amoÌ„ges wymmen whom the deuyll dysceyued wyth the vyce aboue all other creaturs Hyt came also in to his mynde how the fyrst womman Eue was deceyued and many suche other therefor he doubted the more of this holy mayde Whyle he stode long thus in suche a doubte it came to his mynde that yf he myght by hir prayers gete of our lord one grete contrycyon for hys synnes aboue the customable contrycyon that he was wonte to haue by that myght he knowe that all hyr vysyons reuelacyons dedys come of the holy ghost For ther may none gete suche a contrycyon but by yefte of the holy ghost And all be it that ther is none lyuyng that can saye whether he be worthy of god hate or loue Yet hertely contrycyon for synnes is a grete token of grace Mayster Reymond had not so sone thought thys that he went to thys holy mayde prayed hir hertely that she wold praye for hym to oure lord that he wouchesauf to for gyue hym the synnes the whyche he had done To whom thys holy mayde answerd sayd that she wold full gladly Than sayde mayster Reymond that he myght not be easyd in his desyre by hyr prayers onely but yf he had there of a bull that hys synnes were for gyuen Of whom thys holy mayde axed wyth a smylynge chere what bull he desyred to haue He answerd that in token of a bull he axed one grete contrycyon for hys synnes the whiche contrycyon thys holy mayde sayde he shold haue all redy Thenne that tyme hyt semed to mayster Reymond that she vnderstode clerely all hys thoughtes so he went from hyr On the morne it happed mayster Reymond for to be seek and laye don in his bedde whom kepte one of hys brethern a deuoute man the whyche was called Nycholas of Pyse The place ther he lay in seek was an how 's of sustres in as moche as he caught hys sekenes sodeynle Jorneyng by the waye Whan this holy mayde perceyued that he was seke She aâ—os
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
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
yf ye mekely and Inwardely consydere the depthe of the goodnes of our lorde For to eueryche of his chosen soules he gyueth somme synguier gyfte and grace wherof they maye haue an excellent Joye aboue other â–ª that not only the heythe of his souereygne magnyfycence apperyd in all his sayntes at onys but in eueryche by hym selfe somme synguler grace For ryght at it is sene all daye that one man is not lyke another but hathe somme maner of dyfference Ryght soo eueri saynte in heuen hath somme dyffereÌ„ce of somÌ„e synguler grace gyuen of god fro other Therfore it is not to merueylle gretely though somme speciall grace bee seyde of one that is not founde therof And by cause I haue rehersyd of seynge of ther psalmes I shall tell you maydens how this holy maide lerned for to rede for by techyng of man or of woman lerned she neuer She tolde ones to hir coÌ„fessoure mayster Reymond that she hadde a desired to kunne hyr mattyns therefore on a tyme she prayed one of hyr susters to gete her an A b c to teche her for to knowe her lettres And she hadde I traueylled sore many wekes to gydres dyde spende her tyme there aboutes for to knowe her lettres And myght not come therto She bethought her to complayne to oure lorde that heueÌ„ly mayster for myspendyng of her tyme prayeng hym that he wolde vouchesauf to teche her yf it were lykynge to hym spendefull for her soo for to kunne to rede And ellys lorde thy wylle be done For it is Inow to me yf it be lykyng to the the I be symple of lyuyng and for to spende my tyme in holy medytacions Now is this a merueylous thynge She hadde not soo soone endeth her prayer but that she coude rede lyuelye her psalmes as redely as she hadde ben ony kunnyng clerke whan her confessour perceyued that he was gretely astonyed For as moche as she coude not spelle ne knowe vnnethe noo lettre the whiche was ordeyned of god as he supposed for a merueyllous token in her After this this mayde gate her bokes of goddes seruyse for to saye ther matyns and her howrys theriâ— And amonge all other verses that she sayde she marked the verse that euery houre begynneth wyth that is Deus in adiutorium meum intende â—nÌ„e adadiuuandum me festina And kept that verse specially in her mynde to her lyues ende And ofte tymes she wolde reherce that Soone after that she encresyd in her soule merueylously in perfeccion of contemplacion And thenne cessyd lytyll her vocall prayer bycause that she was soo ofte tymes rauysshed in to the heythe off contemplacion soo ferforth that by cause of suche ofte rauysshyng she myght not ofte tymes perfourme ne make an ende of her Pater noster For her sowle was rauysshed fro her outward wyttes as I shall declare to you here afterward by the helpe of god For thus shall I make an ende of this chapytre All this that is conteyned therin her confessur had somÌ„e other by knowleche of her pryuely And somme by relacion that she tolde to other As it hadde be tolde of another and not of her self to the more edyfycacioÌ„ of them ¶ Of her merueylous disponsacyon wyth the whiche she was weddyd in faythe to our lorde wyth a rynge Capitulum duodecium AS this holy mayde encrecyd and profyted more more day by daye in grace and in vertu there came an holy desyre to her sowle to praye our lord to gyue her the perfyte degre off feyth By the whiche fayth she myght be more able to hym â—oythouten ony chaungynge thenne she was a fore Anone forthe she prayed to our lord that he wolde vouchesauf to encrece her fayth make it so perfyte in her that it shold neuer be hurteâ—ne throwe doune by violence of ony maner aduersarye To whom ouce lorde answerd in this wyse I shall dyspouse the to me in faythe yet she prayed the same often tymes aftyrward and euer hadde the same answere of our lorde agayn At the laste it happened a lytyll a fore the begynnyng of lente in the dayes when the peple made an ende of eting offlesshe and in manere made veyne and ydil festys in seruyng of the wombe â–ª Thys holy mayde closid hyr vp in hyr chambre Sekyng by fastyng prayen ge the gloryus and gracious face of hyr spouse â—hu axyng specyaly by feruent prayer vncessablythe same that she axid afore of the vertu of fayth that he wolde vouchesauf to encrece it and make it perfyggt in her To whom our lord apperid and sayde By cause that thou hast putt awaye and flelde all maner nf vanytes of etyng of slesshe thyse dayes for my loue â–ª And sette the dylectacion of thyn herte fully in me this tyme where all other aboute the and namely in the same hous that thou dwellest in maken festys and ioyen therin I shall therfore make a solempne feste of dispousacion betwene the sowle and me And so as I behyte I shal dispouse the to me in faith Our lord had not soo soone sayde this wordes That our lady his gloryous moder And hys blessyd Euangelyste saynt Johan and the gloryous appostle saynt poule and saynt Domynyke the fader of her relygion apperyd and wyth theym Dauyd the prophete brengyng in his honde a sauter of musyke ¶ Fyrst our blessyd lady goddes moder came to this holy mayde and toke her honde In her holi honde stret chyng out her fyngers to her sone prayleng hym that he wolde vonchesuf to wedde this mayde to hym in feythe The whiche deuoute axynge oure lorde graunted her and brought forth a Rynge arayed rounde aboute wyth foure precious margarete stones And in the ouer parte off the rynge was enclosyd a ryght fayre dyamant stone That rynge he put with his holy honde vppon the fyngre of this maydens ryght honde seyeng to her thus Loo I dyspouse the to me that am thy maker and thy sauyour in faith the whiche disposycion shall be confermed kept in the vndefouled vnto the tyme thou shalt halowe euerlastynge weddyng wyth me in the blesse of heuen Therefore douhter now fro this tyme fortherwarde worke myghtely and put awaye all maner of doubte for now thou arte armed with the strengthe of the feith for to ouercome therby all thyn aduersaryes And thus this gracioê° visioÌ„ cessyd But euer afterward â–ª this rynge bylefte vp on this holi maydes fynger not to other folkes syht but to her owne syght for she be knewe many tymes and ofte to her confessour maister Reymound wyth grete drede fere that she sawe euer that rynge vppon her fyngre And there was neuer tyme but that she sawe it Loo maydens ryht as saynt katheryn the martyr virgyn quene After her baptym was dyspoused to our lorde as the legende maketh meÌ„cion Ryght ye maye consydre now how this holy mayde katheryn After so many victoryes of temptacions of her flesshe was solemply dyspoused
abyde a whyle tyll she came from home For gladly she wolde and plenteuously gyue almes of suche thynges that she hadde at home in houshold Thenne the poure man sade yf thou haue ony thyng for to gyue me here I praye the to gyue me for I may not abyde so long it was to suppose by this that it was another that apperyd in the poure man his lykenes not he that it semed This holy mayde was both that she sholde goo fro her with out somwhat she bethought her what she myght gyue hym to fulfylle his nede Anone it came to her mynde of a lytyll syluer crose that hynghe by her bodyes that whiche for that tyme she had in her honde she pulled away that lytyll crosse gaue it gladly to the poure man whan the poure man had that crosse he wente awaye fro her gladly and asked nomore almes the day of none other mā as though he had come for the crosse alone The nexte nyght folowyng whan this holy mayde prayed as she was wounte to do Almyghty god oure sauyour apperyd to her hauyng that same lytyll crosse in in his blessyd honde arayed wyth mani precious stones and sayde doughter knowest not thou this crosse this mayde answerde to hym sayde she knewe it well but she sayde that it was not soo fayre araied whā she had it To whom our lord sayde again yesterday thou gauest it me this gladly wyth grete charyte and loue the whiche loue and charyte betokeneth by thyse precious stones therfore I behote that at the daye of dome afore alle the companye of angels and men I shall shewe the this to encrece of thy ioye For I shall not hede ne suffre to be hyd the dedes of mercy that ben doo by the wyth this our lorde cesyd of that aperycion she thanked ourlord euer after was I steryd to doo more suche almesse as it was well proued afterward another daye also it befyll whan deuyn seruice was doo at the fryers after tyme that the peple was goo out of the chyrche and she bylefte behynde alone wyth one of her susters for to praye ▪ as she came dounward fro the chapell the whiche was ordeyned for the susters of penaunce oure lord apperyd to her in lykenesse of a poure pylgrym at the age as her semed of ij or iij and thyrty yere half naked and asked her that she wolde gyue hym clothes for the loue of god Theen̄e she was that tyme steryd to doo dedes of mercy more than euer she was she prayed the poure man that he wolde abyde a whyle vnto the tyme she came doune agayn fro the chapell and thenne she wolde helpe hym of somme clothes She wente vp agayn to the chapell and dyde of herk ertyll vnder the whiche kertell she wered nexte her her body here cote that was wythout sleues and gaue it wyth a greate gladnes to the poure man After tyme the poure had receyued it he asked more of her and sayde A a. good lady I praye you sythe ye haue gyue me a wollen clothe gyue me lynen clothes for to were nexte myn body Thenne she sayde to hym come after me and thou shalt houe gladly and she went a fore and hir spouse Thesu vnknowyng to her in a pylgryme lykenes folowed her Whan she came home she went thyder where the lynen clothes of her fader and of her brothers layen brought out bothe a sherte and other lynen clothes and toke gladly to the poure pylgrym Yet whan the poure man hadde receyued that he asked more and prayed her that she wolde gyue hym sleues to his kertyll for to couer his armes ¶ Wyth that she wente her in nothynge heuy of his crawyng but gladly sought aboute for his sleues At the laste she founde a newe cote of a mayden seruaūt of the hous hauyng and hangyng vpon a perche the whiche was neuer werid ther of she toke awaye the sleues and toke it gladly to the poure man yet he asked more and sayde Lady thou hast now clothed me he thanke the for whos loue thou hast doo it but yet I haue a felawe lyeng in an hospytall her besyde the whiche nedeth gretely clothes If ye wyll sende hym ony clothes I shall bere it to hym in your byhalue full gladly yet this hooly mayde for his multyplyeng of askynge was neuer the weryer But rather the more feruent for to do almes largely She be thought hyr where she mygth haue a clothe to clothe wyth this nedy man that lyeth in the hoospytall Thenne fyll to hyr mynde that all the meyne of the hou solde were ryght lothe to geuen almes out take hyr fadre allone and therfor the shytte vp alle her clothes vnder lok and keye lest she sholde fynde them and gyue them in almes Ouermore she consydered dyscretely that she had take I nogh awaye of the mayden seruaūt of the housholde and therfore she wolde take awaye nomore of hyres by cause she was nedy hyr selfe Thanne she dysputed wyth hyr self whrther she sholde gyue hym hyr owne cote or not by cause she hadde noo moo but one charyte sayde yes but hone ste sayd nay Atte last charyte oueroo me honeste that is for to say charyte that longeth to the sowle ouercome honeste the whiche hadde compassyon vpon the body She thought yf the pour man shold go awaye wythout somme clothe it shold be slaunderous to other and yf she had gyuen hyr owne coote and goo naked than sholde she hadde slandred sowles whos soules she ought for to loue more than the body And therfore hir semed that sowles shold not be slaundred in no wyse for no temporall almes And thanne she answered to the poure man thus Trewely dere frende yf it were honest and lefull to me for to gyue my cote that I were thou sholdest haue it gladdely But by cause I haue no moo it were not semely that I sholde gyue awaye thys And therfore I praye the holde me excused for gladdely wolde I gyue it the yf I hadde ony moo Thenne the poure man smyled vpon hyr and sayd well lady I see well yf thou haddest moo thou woldest gladdely gyue me therfore I thanke the fare well Whanne he was borned fro hir this holy mayde perceyued by certeyn sygnes that it sholde be he the whiche was wonte to appere to hir and was often tymes conuersaunt wyth hyr she was in manere of doubte but hyr herte brenned in loue Neuerthelesse in as moche as she helde hir self to comyne occupacyon of housholde as she was wonte to do The next nyght suyng our lord Jhesu cryste appered to hyr as she prayed in lykenes of that poure man holdyng in hys honde that cote that the holy mayde gaf hym arayed wyth clere shynyng precyous stones and sayd to hyr thus Dere doughter knowest thou not this dote she answered and sayd yes but she gaf it not so arrayed To whome our lord sayd ageyne Thou gauest me yester daye this cote
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
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
passyng other but all shold lyue a common perfyght lyuyng Somme there were also that were preuy bachyters and saide that the ende of that fastynge sholde be vicious And therfore they gaue counseyll to other for to take none ensample of her for she is deceyued There were also other carnal people and open bacbyters that sayde her fastynge was but a fayned thynge for to wynne therby veyn glory and therfore it semed to other that she fasted but preuyly she ete All this was no thynge but enuye agaynst whos fals doers and fals opynyons I purpos to reple by the helpe of god As for the fyrste there we somme a legged for theym oure lord and our blessyd lady gracious virgyn mary and all the appostles that they lyued a common lyuyng wythout ony grete fastynge theÌ„ ne sholde it sywe that saint Johan baptyste was more holy than our lord Jhesu Cryste for our lord sayde hym self of saynt Johan that he was come and neuer ete ne dranke but fasted But the sone of man is come that bothe ete and dranke The same also shold sywe that saynt Anthony macharye Illarion Scrapion and many other holy faders the whiche vses many merueylous fastynges aboue the common lyf of the appostles shold be gretter thenne the appostlis Ouermore yf thyse forsayde grutchers wyll reple agaynst me and sayde that saynt JohaÌ„ in wyldernes thyse hooly faders of Egypte fasted not symply without mete drynke but somtyme they ete what wolde they saye than of mary Magdalene the whiche lyued in a roche of the see xxx yere togyder wythout mete bodely or drinke as her story maketh mencyon of the same place there she lyued in it sheweth iÌ„to this daye that neuer myght come thy der man ne woman to brynge her mete ner drynke whether she was gretter than our blyssed gloryous vyrgyn lady gloryous virgyn Mary that neuer fasted so ne lyued in suche a roche What wyll they also saye of many other holy faders that lyued here many yeres wythout mete or drynke passyd out of this worlde and enspeciall of one we rede that whan he had receyued the blessyd sacrament of the aulter wythout ony other bodely sustynaunce of mete and drinke he lyued many yeres Therfore yf suche grutchers neuer lerned lete theym lerne now that the gretenesse lytylnesse of holynes is not mesured ne demed only by fastynge but by charite thus lete theÌ„ lerne neuer to make them Juges of thynges that they knowe not In a lyke maner somme sayde off saynt Johan whan he came and fasted that he had a deuyll wythin hym And whan oure lorde was come that fasted not they sayde to hym that he was a deuourer of mete and drynke and a grete wyne drynker this laste sentence is suffyciant ynow to stoppe the mouthes off suche grutchers The seconde grutchers the whiche hateâ— syngularyte of lyuyng it may lyghtely and esâ—y be answerd and thus it is though a man sholde not take vppon hymself ony newe synguleryte that neuer was held afore yf that god werke in hym hemaye not refuse but nedes muste werke it and vse it wyth thankynges ellys tâ—e synguler yeftes of oure lorde sholde vtterly be despysed ¶ Holy wryte sayth that a ryght wyse man sholde not serche ne seke curyousey hyghe thynges aboue hym and anone afterward it folowed this that many thynges benshewed to a ryght wyse man aboue his wytte What is all this to mene â–ª nothynge ellys but a man shold not seke by hym selfe but yf our lorde aboue hym and shewed to him many grete merueylous thynges that he sholde resceyue and vse wyth thankynges therfore as this holy mayde dede who may sey that she dyde it of synguleryte of her selfe to whom oure lorde vouchesaf to gyue her the gyfte by his synguler ordynaunce In suche maner of wyse this holi mayde answerd whan she was I asked why she ete not as other dyde all be it that she answerd in other termes I coueryd with mekenes whan she was asked why she ete not as other dyde She sayde that oure lorde hadde smyte her for her synnes by a synguler passyon of infirmytes wherefor she was let to ete her mete as other dyde Gladly she sayd that she sholde ete but she myght not therfore she sayde I praye you pray for me that he vouchesaf to forgyue me myn sinnes wherfor I suffer all thyse sykenesses As though she hadde sayd thus god doth this in me not I in myn self And also less ony maner of spyce of pryde sholde appyre in her euer she sayde she suffred that infirmyte for her synnes And yet she sayde not agaynst conscience for she supposed stedfastely that oure lorst hadde suffred her to falle in to the grutchynge of men for to punysshe her synnes For what maner of euyll be fyll to her She wyted it her synnes and what good that euer was wrought in her she put it to oure lord ¶ This same sentence is a good answere to the thrydde preuy bacbyters that sayden and euer conseylde to other for to be ware of the ende of suche synguler fastyng For the ende muste nedes be vycious the whiche is not of god How may the ende of this holy maydes fastyng bee vycious the whiche come of god and not of her self as it is clerly declared afore Also there that they sayde that she was dysceyued of the fende how may that be that soo ofte ouercome the dysceytes of the fende But now I sette caas that she myght so be dysceyued of the fende what was he than that helde and kepte her body in suche kyndely strengthe perauenture they wolde saye the fend ThenÌ„e wolde I wett yf he kepte her soule in suche ghostely gladnes and peas sythe it soo was depreuyd fro all maner symple delyte or delectacion This fruyte of the holy ghost may not be in none deuyll ys power to gyue for the appostle sayth that the fruyt off the holy gost is charyte ioye peas I wolde not suppose that all this shold be directed to the fende Therfore all suche sclauÌ„ders bacbyters of vertu shold be answerd rather by silence than by word Euery virtuons man shold eschewe them suppose that they ben vnwurthy to haue an answere This holy mayde dyd what she coude euery daye to stoppe her mouthes lest they sholde be sclauÌ„dred in her In that that she came to mete euery day to the meyne of the houshold therbi for to know whether she myght or not as other dyde And yet otherwhyle she wolde assaye for to ete it was soo grete payne to her that alle that sawe her hadde compassyon of her For her stomake myght not defye her mete the kyndly consumpcion of naturall dygestyon had none vse in her But alle that entryd in her in to the stomake come out agayn by the same waye there it wente in This caused in her many dyuerse passyons For all be it that this holy mayde receyued not in
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
greate pestylence contynued in the Cyte of Sene as it is rehersed afore there was an holy recluse in the Cyte of Sene and was called ScuÌ„s that louyd the whiche was touched wyth that same pestylence whan this holy mayde perceyued that she ordeyned that he sholde be brought to the hous of our gloryous lady gloryous vyrgyn mary the whiche was called also the hous of mercy where she her self wyth her felawes vysyted hym and ordeyned for althynge that was nedefull for hym in his sekenes and at the laste she came to him her self and tolde hym preuyly in hys ere and sayde thus Fader drede you not for thou shalt not deye for this sekenesse att this tyme but she wolde telle not thyng of this to Mayster Reymound and to her felawes the whiche prayed her to praye for hym that he sholde lyue For it semed to them that she was in doubte off his lyf as well as they were and therfore she ordeyned for hym medycins for to be heled by wherfore Mayster ReymauÌ„d and alle her felawes were sory by cause all they louyd that holy man for his gode lyuyng Thenne at the laste his sekenes encresed more and more and drewe faste to the deth as it semed wherby al that sawe hym supposed he shold deye and prayed for the good passage of his soule And also the holy man wende he sholde haue deyed right anone In that same poynt of deth this holy mayde came and rouned in his ere saide to him the second tyme fader drede you not for thou shalt not deye at this tyme for this sekenes he vnderstod her wel all be it that his wyttes were in party dystrauÈt alienyd fro hym for the greuousnes of the payne he gaue more credence to her wordes thenne he dyde to his actuall payne of deth so it fyll afterward that the holy maydes wordes oâ—came the dedes of kynde nature Neuertheles he contynued in suche transite passyng the comyn tyme of other mani dayes to gyder but at the last as the spirite was in passyng as it semed The holy mayde came and sayde nowe the thyrde tyme in the seke mannys ere thus I charge the spyryte in the name of oure lorde Thesu Cryst that thou passe not Anon the spyryte resorted quycly agayn to the body And thenne the holy man toke strengthe to hym and ros vp and asked mete soo wythin a lytyll time he was all hole and lyued Afterward that the holy mayde was passyd out off this world many yeres that holy man that was called ScuÌ„s bothe in name and in dede After tyme he was hole he tolde to Maister Reymound and to other more what the holy mayde sayd to hym in tyme of his sekenes preuyly in his ere And he felte the myght of her vertuous wordes wherby the spyryte was called a gayn that was in the poynt of passyng And he afermed it to all folke that it was none naturall cause that restoryd hym agayn to his lyf but only the myght of god I shewed by his spouse katheryn To whom folke gaue credence by cause he lyued in grete vertu of holynesse and was knowen a famous man in the Cyte of Seene by xxxvj yere to gyder wythout ony repreue in hys lyuyng ¶ Ferthermore maydens I shalle telle you of another myracle that this hooly mayde wrought in mayster Reymound After tyme that the grete pestyleÌ„ce was soo breme in the Cyte of Seene as it is rehersed a fore that alle folke fledde by cause that it was soo infectyf Soo that men and wymmen deyed wythout comforte and counseyll and kepyng mayster ReymouÌ„de bythought hym that he was bounde to loue mennis soule castyng none peryll for his one bodely dethe by enfection of that pestylence purposed hym to goo aboute the Cyte and vyseted seke folke and comforted theym and dyde it in dede Neuertheles by cause he was alone in party in so grete a Cyte for to visyte and comforte the seke that vnethes he myght haue tyme or space for to ete to reste He was soo sente after fro one hous to another ¶ Soone after in a nyght it befyll he toke his reste and was wakyng at a certayn hour for to serue god He felte a greuauÌ„ce of a pestilence both in hys grynde or flancke and for fere he durst not aryse but lay styll and by thought hym off the passage out of this worlde he desyred gretely that it hadde be daye that he myght goo and speke wyth this holy mayde katheryne or thenne he were more seke In the mene whyle he hadde a feuer and the hede ache as the maner was off that pestylence sekenes soo that he was gretely payned and tourmentyd But yet he sayde his matyns as he myghte whan it was daye he called to hym hys felawe and wente to gyder as he myght to the holy maydes hous and founde her not at home for she was out to vysyte a seke body ¶ In the mene whyle hym thought she was soo longe and he so seke that he myght no thynge doo but lay doune there in a lytyll bedde prayeng all tho that we ren in the hous that they sholde sende for her assone as they myght She was sent after and came anone and perceyued that he was sore seke she knyled doune afore his bedde and crossed hym on the forhede wyth her honde And thenne she began to praye as she was wont to done in her soule Mayster Reymound behelde how she was rauysshed a fore hym hopynge of somÌ„e synguler grate for the prouffyte of his soule or of his body abode her long as him semed within a half an houre afterward or there aboute he felte all his body sterid to avomite wening that he sholde haue caste But yet was it not soo but hym thought that out of euery â–ª parte of his body was pulled out wyth a maner of vyolence somme maner of corrupcion And so began to wexe better at ese than he was yet or than the holy mayde was fully restoryd agayn to her bodely wyttes he was all hole saue a lytyl fevylnes bylefte in hym After tyme thys holy mayde hadde purchased of our lord that grace of the helthe she seâ—yd of that rauyshyng and badde her felawes shold ordeyne somme mete for hym whan he had receyued mete of her holy hondes she badde hym lye doun and â—este a whyle he dyde soo as she badde hym And whaÌ„ he awoke he was as stronge as though he hadde not be seke ThenÌ„e the holy mayde sayde vnto hym fader gooth and laboureth now for the helthe of sowles thanketh almyghty god that hathe delyuered you fro this parylle he went forthe to his custumably besynes and thanked god that hadde gyue suche vertu to hys blyssyd mayde Suche a lyke myracle our lorde wrought by this holy mayde to Fryer Bertylmewe in time of the same pestylence But yet that myracle was the more bi cause her long time was oppssid in that sekenes than Mayster ReymouÌ„d
that this holy mayde lyued in the Cyte of Seene it befyll that there was a wedowe a yonge woman called alixe the whiche wyth a greate fauoure drewe to this holy mayde soo that she thought she hadde soo grete affectyon â—o her â–ª that as her semed she myght not liue without her And therfore she toke the habite of the susters of penaunce and for soke her owne hous And hyred her an how 's by syde the hooly maydes how 's that she myght the more ofte bee conuersaunt wyth her Whan she hadde do thus the hooly mayde was ofte tymes in her hous wyth her and fledde for a tyme her faders hous It happed afterward in the same yere that in the Cyte of Sene there was a grete sharsyte of breed corn soo the stynkyng whete was drawen out of the erthe and out of dyches the whiche was bought of Cytezynes of the same Cyte as that tyme for good where by cause there myght none other begoten for none pryce Of the whiche stynkyng whete Alyxe the sorsayde wedowe must nedes be ye or ellys she shold be wythout brâ—d Neuâ—rtheles in as moche as it was nyghe the tyme of herwest her olde whete was fayled and brought to the marcat Alixe wyst therof that newe whete was comen she purpose to cast awaye the olde sâ—ynkyng whete and beye newe but bycause the hole Mayde was in her hous she wolde nothyng doo wythout counseyll of her wherfore she opened her purpos to her semyng thus moder sythe our lord heth do mercy wyth vs in syndyng of newe whete I am in wyll to throwe myn olde sâ—inkyng whete â–ª To whom this holy mayde answerd thus yf ye wyll not ete of that olde corn gyue it ellys to poure folke that hauen none â–ª Alixe sayd than that she sholde haue greate conscitence for to gyue the poure folke soo stynkyng whete she hadde leuer for to gyue theim of the beste whete Thenne this holy mayde badde her ordeyne water and bryng to her that stinkyng whete that she purposed to caste awaye for she sayde that she wolde make brede therof for poure folke as she sayde soo it was Fyrst she made her dowe after she molded loues of that lytyll quaÌ„tyte of whete And it encresyd soo plentuously in the moldyng that both Alyxe and her seruaunt weren gretely astonyed that sagen suche multyplycacioÌ„ of loues For as theym thought soo many loues myght not be made of suche foure lytyll quantyte of whete as thys hooly mayde made and sette forthe for to be bake and also there was none stynche of tho loues as it was of the other that were made of the same whete afore whan thei were bake they were sette fourth on the table for to be eten in the etyng there was fouÌ„de none bitternes no stynche but as thei saide that eten therof they eten neuer betyr brede This Alexe sent foâ— her confessonr he came wyth certain of his bretheren for to see â–ª that myracle and lyke as it was sayd to hym in quantyte encresyng and in qualyte ryght well amendyd To thyse two myâ—acles the thyrde was addyd to and that was this the breed was largely gyuen to poure folke and to other that wolde ete therof and yet was it neuer the lasse in nombre but alwaye was it fouÌ„de ynow in the breed hutche were not this trewely thre fayr myracles for fyrste she put awaye the stynche of that corn and afterward encresyd the loues in the muldyng and at the laste she multyplyed the loues in etyng of the breed in soo moche that they myght vnnethe be distribued bi many wekes togyders neended soo that xx yere after or moo there were somme that kepte of that breed for a relyke ¶ Thenne mayster Reymound her confessour asked her how the myracle was done She answerd and sayde that she hadde soo grete zele or loue to pour folke lest they shold spylle for defaulte and soo tender loue to our lord lest his gyfte sholde be dyspysed that she went wyth a grete feruour for to make breed of that stynkyng whete ¶ And thenne our blessyd gloryous lady gloryous virgyn Mary wyth a multytude of angelis stood by her and helpe her to molde by vertu of her holy gloryous hondes she trowed that the loues encresed for tho loues that oure gloryous Lady gloryous vyrgyn Mary molded she delyuerd to this holy mayde And she to Alixe and to her seruaunt for to be put in to the ouen what meruayle is it maidens though tho loues were swete sythe the hooly gloryous hondes of oure blessyd gloryous lady gloryons virgin Mary molded theym consydereth therforre good maydens and taketh good heede of what meryte this holy mayde was to whom vouchesaf our blessyd glorious lady gloryous vyrgyn mary stonde by her and helpe her in that myracle for to make vs vnderstonde that ryght as bodely lyuelode encresed in that hooly maydens hondes Ryght soo ghostely liuelode sholde encrese by her blessyd exortacion ¶ Now sythe I haue begonne of breed multyplyed by myracle therfore I shall contynue forth in suche in suche in suche a lyke myracle was done in the laste ende of her lyff whan she lyued here in erthe Of the whiche myracle were wytnesses lysa her cosyn and a suster of penaunce the whiche was called Johan for bothe they were wyth her whan she was sente after by our holy fader pope vrbane the vj to the courte of Rome And whan she was come to the Cyte she râ—sted there wyth a certayn nombre of her ghoostely chyldren that she hadde noryssched in vertu the whiche folowed her fro the partyes of Tuskan in maner agaynst this hooly maydes wyll somÌ„e for prechyng of ghostely grace of our holy fader and somme for pylgrymage and visitacions of saintes the whiche desyred to go specyally in this holy Maydes companye by cause they myght be fedde wyth the swetnesse of her blessyd conuersacion ¶ Thenne this holy mayde hadde made an ordynaunce amonges them that they sholde not haue aboute them neyther golde ne syluer But oonly they sholde lyue of poure almesse And that they sholde be herbourd in an hospytall ¶ And also the wymmen eueryche off theym a weke sholde mynysâ—re lyflod suche as they hadde receyued of almesse to allâ— her felawes that other myghten bee occupyed in the mene whyle in prayers and in holy contemplacyons and aboute theyr pylgrymages wherfore they were come to the Cyte Whan this ordynaunce was made soone after it happed that this Johan the whiche is reherced afore mynystred to other as for hyr weke In whos weke it befyll casuelly that she lacked brede whan hyr felawes sholde go to mete and thenne badde this holy mayde here afore that whan she lackyd brede she shold warne hir ouer euen that she myght goo make somme ordynaunce But Johan had forgete that whan hyr felawes were come to mete Johan wolde haue sette brede afore them and she founde nomore but a cantell that wolde
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
shall neuer cesse vnto the tyme thou arte oute of thys â—yf Thys she sente by letter to mayster Reymond and soo she contynued in that payne from the sondaye of septuagesme vnto the last daye of Apryll saue one day the whiche day she passed out of this world In the whiche tyme a meruaylloê° thyng happed hyr as she sayd wrote to mayster Reymond Cuery daye it befyll hyr of custome that she hadde the passyon on the syde that is callyd â—lyca passio and other moo vnto none tyme wherfore ofte tymes she desyred heryng of hyr masse and therfore euery daye by the morowe or thenne that the payne came vpon hyr she wente to Saynt Peters chyrche thorugh oute alle the lenten And soo herde hyr masse and abode there tyll euensong and thenne came home ageyne and laye hyr doune in hyr bedde In the whiche bedde whos hadde seen hyr he wolde haue sworne that she myghte neuer remeue hyr thens Yet on the nextâ— moâ—we she wse vp and wente eftsonys fâ—â— a place that is called via pape in to Saynt Peters chirche soo fast that hyr Journey sholde haue made an hole man wery Thys she contynued all the lenten and wythin a fewe dayes after she laye styll in hyr beddâ— and myght not remeue hyr thens for feblenes And at last oure lorde called hyr and she passyd out of thys worlde ¶ In the same daye that is rehersed afore aboute none dayes that is the nyne and twenty daye of Apryll the whiche was vpon a sondaye The yere of our lord a thousand thre hondred and foure sâ—ore In the whyche daye the feste of Saynt Peter the martyr of the ordre of the frece prechours was and is solempnysed in holy chyrche ¶ Many notable thynges were wroughte thenne in hyr passyng the whyche I lefte of in this chapytre for they shall be declared openly ynough by the helpe of god in the next chapytre thus endeth this chapytre ¶ How this mayde desyred for to be vnbounde fro the body and be wyth Cryste and that is prouyd by a deuote prayer that she made and is putte in the ende of another book whiche she mayde and what is in that book generally and shortâ—ly is wryten in this book wyth the same oryson Capitulum â—ij WHanne the ende of the bodely lyf of this blyssed mayde Katheryn drewe faste vpon hyr oure lorde shewed a ioye to hyr in hyr passyng by dyuers tokens by the whiche ioyâ— and glorye he purposed to rewarde hys spouse after hyr labour and sykenes in heueâ— answeryng to the gyftes of grace that she receyued in erthe Among all other tokens by the whiche he shewed the perfeccyon of hyr â—owlâ— to all thoo that wolde consydere it was this That he quyâ— kened hyr desyrâ— euery daye more and more for to desyre to beâ—â— vnbounde from the body and be wyth Cryst And for this skylle it was that she myght clerely and openly beholde in blysse â–ª That tâ—â—uthe the whiche she sawe in this lyfe by a myrour of feyth The whiche desyre soo moche the more it encrecyth in hyâ— herte in as moche as the lyght aboue kynde shyned in hyr herde from heuen And therfore aboute a yere and a halfe afore or thenne she passyd out of this worlde Oure lorde shewed to hyr suche a cleâ—e knowyng of tâ—â—uthe that she was constreyned to shewe it openly oute by wrytyng That was the cause why she prayed wryters as it is rehersed afore that whan they sawe hyr in rauysshyng they sholde be â—â—dy to wryte that the whiche she sholde speke by the mouthe for that tyme and soo in a lytell tyme she compyled a book that conteyneth a maner of a dyaloge bytwene a soule axynge of oure lorde foure petycyons And oure lorde Ihesu Cryst answeryng to the same soule and enformyng it of many profytable trouthys In the last ende of whiche book two thynges ben sette that me semeth is nedefull for to reherse here as well for the grete profyte that rederys sholde fynde therin as for to declare this blyssed maydens desyre that she hadde soo perfytâ—ly in hyr soule ¶ Neuerthelesse by cause noo body sholde mysdeme me wenyng that I wolde translate it other wyse thenne she sayd in hyr owne language therfore I purpose to translate it none other wyse thenne she sayde it worde by worde Tho two thynges by these Fyrst the recapytulacyon of the same book I sette in the ende the whiche rehersed shortly all tho thynges that ben dyffusely sette in the book afore The seconde is a prayer the whiche this holy mayde made whanne she hadde endyd hyr book by the whyche prayer is openly shewed what desyre she haddâ— to be vnbounde and loosyd oute of hyr body and be wyth Cryst Afore the recapytulacyon thys holy mayde reherseth in the ende of the same â—oke that almyghty god the fader of oure lorde Ihesu Cryst spekyth to a soule atte â—â—e ende of the dyaloges after tyme he hadde long tyme spoke afore of obedyence of perfyte folke in this wyse ¶ Now my welbeloued and dere doughter I haue made a sythe to thy desyre â—ro the begynnyng to the laste ende the whiche I haue made spekyng of obedyence For yf thou haue good mynde in the begynnyng thou axest me wyth a grete desyre of herte as I made the to axe that I sholde encrece the fyre of my charyte in thy soule Thou axest also foure petycyons of the whyche one was for thy selfe To the whiche petycyon I made a sethe to the by Illumynyng the whiche the lyght of my trouthe and shewyng to the alle the maner by the whiche maner by medytacyon of the lyght of feyth wyth knowele chyng of thy self and of me thou comesâ—e to the knoweleche of the trouthe The secounde petycyon that thou axest that I sholde to mercy wyth the worlde The thrydde petycion was for my mystery all body that is of my spouse holy chirche prayng me that I sholde wythdrawe all derkenesse of perfeccyon from hyr that she suffreth And thou axest that I sholde punysshe the wyckydnes of them vpon the. Therfore it was that I declared to the that no paynes fynyte or gyuen in tyme fynyte of it selfe allone maye make satysfaccyon for trespas doone ageynste me the whiche am god infynyte but it maketh a seeth well yf it be oned wyth contrycion of herte and desyre of â—oule The maner how it maketh dewe satysfaccioÌ„ I declared to the yet euermore I answere to the that I wyll do mercy to the worlde shewyng to the that mercy is appropryd to me wherfore for the grete mercy and the vnestimable loue that I hadde to mankynde I sente myn only begoten sone for to declare more openly to the I lykenyd to a brydge that stretchyâ—â— atteyneth from heuen to erthe and that is from the hede the whiche is made in hym by dyuyne nature and mankinde Also for to make the more clere by the lyght of my trouthe I shewed the how
whan he herde of the myraclis that was wrought by this hooly mayde and vyrgyn This Anthony was enfected soo that he myght not be cured wyth none natural medeâ—in he bethought hiÌ„ of this hooly maide virgin deuoutly he made a vowe to her he had not so sone made his a vowe that he ne felte his body and his lymÌ„es as stronge as euer they were Thenne he came to this holy mayde aud vyrgyn thanked our reuerend lord almighty god and her of his recoueryng ¶ Also ther was a deuoute matrone that was welknowe wyth this hooly mayde and virgyn whan she lyued in erthe for ofte tymes whan she came to her place she and many of her dysciples were herberowed wyth her the whiche matrone she called Paula In the same tyme whaÌ„ this holy mayde vyrgyne passyd out of this world This pauâ—a was seke and hadde lay seke iiij monethes afore vpon a sekenes that is called podagra and vppon another sekenes on her syde that is called Ilycapassio And by cause the remedyes of thoo two sykenesses ben contrary eche to other for the tone sekenesse requyred openenyng and the other closinge therfore this matrone was moche more vexed â–ª soo that other whyles she was nere deed â—han tâ—is matrone herde saie that this holy made virgyn was â—passyd She asked for charyte that she might hauâ— somÌ„e maner of clothe that her swete holi body was coueryd with or touched as she desyred soo she hadde that same nyght at euen she leyde that clothe vpon her as she laye in her bedde all nyghte On the morowe she roos vp all hole and walked on her fete as though she hadde neuer that sekenesse Suche myracâ—es many moo oure reuerend lord almyghty god wrought in that blessyd mayde and holy vyrgyn or than it was buryed Yet oure reuerend â—lorde almyghtyâ— god cecyd not for to worke helthe to seke folke For in werkyng it rather encresyd than dymynused ¶ There was a womaÌ„ that was callyd â—one whiche had a lytyll chylde that myght not stonde ryght vp on his fetene goo This â—one herde how our reuerende lorde almyghty god wrought many fayr my raâ—â—ys by this holy mayde and vyrgyne gloryous saint katheryne she made auowe to our reuerend lord almyghty god to here for the â—elthe of her chylde After tyme she hadde made her a vowe she toke hyr chylde with her and came to the graue where the hooly mayde vyrgyn was buryed And she layde hyr chylde vpon the graue And anone the chylde began to stonde ryght vp and go as though he hadde had neuer sekenesse in his legges ¶ Also there was a man of Tose that was also callyd Johan the whiche had an horryble sekenes in hys eyen so the wormes bredde in his eye this â—ohn made a vowe deuoutly to oure reueâ—â—nde lord almyghty god to this holy mayde vyrgyn gloryous saint Katheryne off Sene anone he was delyuerd of hys sekenes whâ—n he was so delyueryd he came to the sepulcre of that blessid mayde virgin setâ—â— vp a tokeÌ„ of waxe as the maner is in sygne tokeÌ„ of delyuâ—raâ—ce than he tolde to all folke that wolde hâ—re it the merueyle of our reuerend lord almyghty god shewed by this hooly mayde virgyn Also there was a woman pylgryme of duchelond whos name was not wryton bicause it was foryete of neglygence the whiche pylgryme had desuche a sekenesse in both her eyen that she had almost lost her syghte Thâ— pylgrym made a vowe deuoutly to oure reuerende lord almyghty god to this holy mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt Katheryn of sene And wythin a lytyll tyme after she had clere â— yght hyr sekenesse was gon whan she was to hyr sepulcre for to thanke our reuerende lord almyghty god and hyr She sawe as clerly as eueâ— she dyde ¶ Also there was a lady of Rome that was called Maryâ— the whiche the whiche hadde in her hede a greuous sekenes that notwithstondyng many sondry medecyns the whiche she vsed she myght neuer be holpe therby but lost her eyen Wherfore for sorowe and shame that she hadde therof she wold neuer passe her hous after ne appere in the syght of men This lady herde speke of the gteate myraclis that our reuerend lord almighty god wrought by that holy mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt katherin she made auowe to our reuerend lord almyghty god and to her deuoutly After tyme her vowe was made the next nyght sueing this holy mayde and vyrgyn apperyd to the seruaunt of this lady in her slepe and bad her sey to her lady that she sholde doo nomore medecyns to her sight but euery daye in the morowe she shold goo to chirche here the seruyce of our reuerend lorde almyghty god and theÌ„ne she shall be hole Whan this seruaunt had tolde her lady thus she dede soo and at the laste by lytil lytyll she began to see wyth that blynde eye and was fully restoryd to helthe Loo dere susters by this myracle ye may consydere that this holy mayde and vyrgyn folowed the dedes of our lord almyghty god swete Ihesu Cryst For whan oure reuerend lorde almyghty god swete Jhesu Cryste was sought whiles he was in erthe here for the helthe of body Hym thought it was not ynow for hym to he le only the body but yf he helyd the soule Whan he sayde to one that came to hym for to be helyd in body thus Fili remittuntur tibi peccata That is to saye thyn synnes be forgyuen Ryght soo this holy mayde virgyn there she was asked of helthe She gaue also helthe of soule in that she badde her here her dyuyne seruyce The whiche is helthe and comforte to thesoule ¶ Also there was a yonge man the whiche was called James the sone of a Romane that was called Peers the whiche was in a tyme so seke in body that none leche myght hele hym But alegates he drewe faste to deth Thenne was there a deuote woman that was called Ceccola The whiche woman sawe this yong maÌ„ in poynt of deth and made avowe for hi to this holy mayde and vyrgyn gloryoê° saynt katheryn She hadde not soo soone made her vowe but that the yonge man began to recouere and was fully delyuered from his sekenes ¶ Also there was a woman callyd gallya that was sore seke and myght not be helped by none lechecrafte So that lechee sayde by cours of naturall kynde that she sholde be dede wythin a short tyme thenne this woman Gallya thought vppon saynt gloryous katheryne of Seene and recommended her lyff to her She had not so soone do soo but that she felte comforte and amendement And so lytyll and lytyll she was restoryd to helthe ¶ Also there was a deuoute lady that was called dame Jone the whiche knewe well this holy mayde virgyn gloryous saint katheryn whyles she lyued And she counseyled seke folke whan she spake wyth them to
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
pacyence as I shall tell you by the helpe of god The fyrst proue of pacyence that she had was by hyr moder Lapa that wold that she had be wedded whan she came to the age of xij yere And whan that she sawe that she myght not brynge hyr doughter well therto thenne she putte hyâ— â–ª out of hir chambre that was assygned to hyr afore of honeste and putte hyr to all maner defoule of the kechen that nother she myght haue lesyr for to praye ne for to haue medytacyon ne contemplacyon as she was wonte what pacyence she hadde in this ê‘secucyons and how gladde she was ther Inne it is clerely declared in the fourthe chapytre of the fyrst partye Meruayllously and vertuously alwaye she stode in the purpose of maydenhode and yet serued the housholde wyth a gladde chere And neuer for suche occupacyons and pryuacyons of hyr pure chambre she cessyd fro prayer and other ghoostly excercyses vn to the tyme she hadde ouercome bothe hyr persecucyons and hyr pursuers as it is rehersed in the same fourthe chapytre but yet ouermore whan the fende styred hyr moder Lapa for to sette this holy mayde from holy dyscyplynes and wakynges also herde lyggyngâ—s Thys holy mayde thenne wyth a myghty pacyence and a meruayllous tempred ryght dyscretely hyr moders heuynes ageynst hyr And yet neuerthelesse kepte forthe hyr hardenes of lyuyng as it is declared in the vj chapytre of the fyrst partye fully ynough And moreouer what Impediment she suffred in hyr sowle by the fende in tyme of prayer and of other ghoostly excercyses in tormentyng of hyr flesshe and other almes dedes that she dyd as it is openly shewed in many dyuers chapytres of thys legende afore as I shall declare to you The fende besyed hym that he myght fyrst to remeue thys holy mayde awaye from hyr spouse Jhesu afterward to wythdrawe hir fully from hym Or ellys at the laste for to lette hyr namely for a tyme but she wyth a myghty feruour fyrst ouerthrewe hyr enemye the fende Afterward by wytte and counseyll of the holy ghoost ouercome hym At the last wyth stedefast vertue shamed hym that was aboute to lette hyr As for the fyrst the fende began to remeue hyr fro hyr holy purpose Fyrst by hyr suster Bonauenture the whiche was wedded curyosyte of her here and clothys as it is declared openly in the fourthe chapytre of the fyrst partye The seconde tyme by hyr brethern and hyr moder that were in full purpose for to marye hir as hit is shewed in the same chapytre And the thrydde tyme by hym selfe puttyng to hyr dyuers heuynes of temptacyons and dyuers Illusyons or thenne she receyued the habyte of penaunce as it is rehersed in the vij chapytre of the fyrst partye Also mayster Reymond of hyr besyde all this as he was enfourmed of other that were trewe folke that in a tyme whaÌ„ she prayed afore a crucifyxe of our lordes passyon the fende stood afore hir hauyng in hys honde a clothe of sylke and was aboute to araye hyr wyth the same clothe The whiche Illusyon of curyosyte she dyspysed and blyssed hyr and torned hyr to the crucyfyxe After that the fende vanysshed awaye but yet he lefte in hyr mynde temptacyon of curyosytre of clothyng Thenne anone she hadde myne of hir purpose of maydenhode and spak to our lord in this wyse Dere lord and swete spouse thou knowest well that I desyred neuer husbonde but the Therfore I praye the helpe me that I may ouercome these temptacyons of curyosyte by vertue of thyne holy name I axe not lord that thou sholdest take them awaye fro me but that thou wouchesauf to gyue me the vyctorye of thy mercy As soone as she hadde sayde these wordes Our blyssed Lady quene of maydens apperyd to hyr syght semyng to hyr syght that she took oute a ryght fayre clothe out of hyr sones syde wyth the whiche clothe she arrayed hyr And afterward she sayde to thys holy mayde thus â–ª I do the well to wete doughter that the clothes whiche comen oute of my sones syde passen all other clothes in fayrnes and in beaute Thenne alle hyr temptacyon wente awaye and she was gretely comforted As for the seconde there the fende was about to wythdrawe hir fully from our lord by wytty counseyll of the holy ghoost she ouercome hym and lette hym of hys wycked purpose in that that she pesyd hir moder Lapa wyth grete wytte cessyd hir of hir hastynes whan she was aboute for to lette hyr of hyr penaunce doyng and contynued afterwarde neuerthelesse in hyr penaunce as she began â–ª also whan she bare hir self so wysely to hir confessour to other counseyllours the whiche counseylled hyr to leue hyr grete abstynence and to lyue after a comyndyete as it is declared in the fyfthe chapytre of the seconde partye And also wysely and meruayllously she pesyd hir soueraynes that forbode hir to go to places thyder that our lorde sente hyr But yet she fulfylled goddes byddynges and esely pesyd hyr soueraynes what pacyence she hadde in this werke ther can noo tongue tell ne penne wryte Furthermore the fende saw that he myght by noo whyle remeue ne wythdrawe thys holy mayde from hir deuoute purpose he besyed him namely for a certeyne tyme for to lette hyr not onely by hym self but by dyuers persones the whiche shall be tolde you specyally wythinne forthe what they were Fyrst by hyr owne moder Lapa that brought hyr to a bath for to be bathed that she myght by that esy bath be wythdrawe for a tyme fro hyr sharpe dysciplynes and from other hardenesse of penaunce But yet she coude fynde ther more sharpe penaunce thenne in hir owne chambre whan she suffred the hote brennyng water vpon hyr naked body aâ— it is rehersed in the seuenthe chapytre of the fyrst partye Also another tyme he wolde hadde lette hir by the byddyng of vndyscrete soueraynes that were euer aboute to lette hyr from confessyon from prayer from all other ghoostly exercyses as it is declared openly ynough in the fyrste chapytre of the secounde partye Neuerthelesse somme shall I reherse here in specyall that ben not spoken of in the same chapytre And all be it that somme thynges may not be rehersed here wythout shame of som Relygyous personys the whiche were coÌ„trarye to hyr holy purpose Yet better it were that I rehersed them thenne the gyftes of the holy ghoost be hydde where by ye maydens may haue loue and drede bothe for to here suche trespasses of suche Relygyous folke and loue in seyeng of the vertue of pacyence in this holy mayde This holy mayde Katheryne after tyme that she hadde sauoure and swetenes of deuocyon she myght neuer do dede of vertue openly wythout sclaundre bacbytyng of suche namely that she sholde rather had fauoured hyr and comforted hyr therin as ghoostly lyuers bothe of Relygyous and seculerys meruaylleth noothyng here of for as I sayde afore
in the fyfthe chapytre of the secounde partye But yf ghoostly lyuers quenche perfytely hyr propre wyll of them self they fall more cruelly in the dyche of enuye thenne other flesshely lyuers As I putte an exsample therof Of the monkes of an holy Abbotte Pachamye that for the grete abstynence of a newe monke that was come amonges them they sayd theywold goo out of the momasterye but yf that newe monke were auoyded Ryght so it befyll wyth this holy mayde Alle the susters of penaunce sawe that Katheryne passyd them alle in hardenes of lyuyng in sadnes of vertue in deuocion of prayer and contemplacyon Anone the serpente of enuye entred in them and styred them for to bacbyte this holy mayde bothe pryuely and also openly to the prelates and the ordre wyth grete boldenes yet they that were holde moste sadde helde wyth them and sayd that it myght not be ellys but tâ—at she wrought all that euer she dyd in Belsabub the prynce of all deuelys Thys womman by suche false suggestyon drewe vnto theyr errour many sad folke bothe Relygyous and seculers soo that by theyr counseyll thys holy mayde was ofte tymes lette from hyr confessyon and hyr confessour and also from receyuyng of the blyssed sacrament and all this she suffred pacyently wythout ony grutchyng or playnyng Rather supposyng of them that so lette hyr that they dyd it for an holy entente and for the helthe of hyr soule where fore hyr semed that she was the more bounde to praye for them not as for hyr enemyes but as for hyr specyall frendes Yet aboue all this whan she was other whyle suffred to be houselyd in receyuyng of the blyssed sacrament of the aulter they wolde not suffre hyr afterward to abyde long in prayer as she was wonte to do the whiche was to hyr vnpossyble by cause she receyued it wyth suche a passyng feruour of deuocyon soo that euer soone after hyr spyryte was rauysshed fro hyr bodely wyttes and so she abode many houres to gydre as it is declared afore in the seconde and in the laste chapytre of the seconde partye As soone as she was aspyed in that wyse som that were dysceyued by the forsayde susters wolde come Inne and drawe hir out of the chyrche where ofte tymes she sholde lye in the sonne whan it was most hotest aboute mydde daye long tyme to gyders or thenne she cessyd of hyr rauysshynge and restored to hyr bodely wyttes And ther wyth wepyng and waylyng somme â–ª of hir susters that were vertuously styred to grace kepte hyr tyll she was restoryd Also there came another man that came in a tyme and founde hyr lye there as a dede womman in rauysshyng wyth a grete angre he wente to hir and sporlyd hyr wyth hys feet And whanne she was restoryd to hyr bodely wyttes ageyne it was tolde hyr how she was ferde wyth yet she wolde neuer blame hem therfore but rather excuse hem whan other spake euyll of hem Neuertheles they were punysshed of our lorde full harde and that was a grete sorowe to hyr saue she durst not long stryue ageynst hys ryghtwysnesse For in a tyme there was a lady that hadde grete Indygnacyon of this holy mayde whan she sawe hyr in suche rauysshyng wherfore she came to hir and sporlyd hyr wyth hyr feet But as soone as she was come home to hyr owne place she dyed wythout receyuyng of ony sacrament There was also another wretche that sporled hir in the same wyse whaÌ„ she was soo rauysshed And also was one of tho that one tyme bare hir out of the chyrche whan she was soo rauysshed full vyolently but he was punysshed afterward that I am a ferde to tell it Thys wretchyd man was soo enuyous and soo odyous to thys blyssed mayde that not wythstondyng alle the formest cursed dedys that he shewed to hyr yet he was aboute in a tyme for to kylle hyr and ther was no thynge that letted hym but onely he hadde hyr not there he wold haue hir Thys holy mayde knewe noo thyng herof but our lord Jhesu punysshed him therfore full sore and that was in this wyse wythin a lytell tyme after this wretchyd man as he wente to a certeyn place he was take wyth the frensye that he cryed nyght and day suche wordes helpe me helpe me for the hange man cometâ— for to smyte of my hede Other that were nyghe hym and herde hym they sawe that he was so from hym self comforted him that he sholde not be aferde and for fere that he sholde slee him self as he shewed by certeyne tokenes that he wolde they kepte hym the more dylygently Soone after it semed that he was amended so that he was not kepte so dylygently as he was But pryuely anyghtes tyme he wente oute of the Cyte and henge and strangelyd hym self meruayllouâ—ly He took a corde and tyed it vpon the foote of a tree euen by the grounde and that other ende of the corde he putte aboute hys necke and soo wyth pure vyolence he slyded vpon the grounde and kylled hym self as it was demed of them that founde the dede bodye was not beryed in holy place but in the dongehyll as it was ryght semely that it sholde By this maydens ye may knowe what vertue of pacyence this holy mayde hadde and how pleasaunt hyr dedys were to our lord that so auengyd hir wronges vnknowyng to hyr ¶ Also yet shall I reherse to you by maner of recapytulacyon thre meruayllous thynges that be wryten in the fourthe chapytre that of secounde partye by the whiche thynges ye may consydre that this holy mayde hadde passyngly the vertue of pacyence As for the fyrst it is wryten in the same chapytre of a leprose womman that was called Secta lyeng in an hospytall the whiche womman not onely lacked necessaryes but also a keper for ther was none that wolde kepe hyr by cause of hyr lepre Thys holy mayde herde here oft she wente to hir and was to hyr a seruaunt and ordeyned gladly for all that she neded Of this mynystracyon the syke leprous womman was proude and styred what she coude this holy mayde wyth many Iniuryes reproues sclaundres puttyng ageynst hyr â–ª But yet this holy mayde was so armed wyth myghty pacyence that she was noo thynge meued by hyr wordes thenne the fende sawe that he myght in noo wyse meue hyr from hyr merytorye seruyce he enfected and desouled hyr hondes wyth the same lepre that the same leprous womman hadde yet for that wolde she not leue but rather desyred to be a lepre thenne for to leue hyr vnseruyd And so she contynued in hyr seruyce vnto the tyme she hadde beryed that syke womman And aftertyme she was beryed our lord by myracle clensyd hyr from hyr lepre in hyr hondes Charyte that is pacyence and benyngne taught hyr for to ouercome alle this As for the seconde there is also wryten in the same chapytre of another womman that is called Palmarya
the whiche was one of the sustres of penaunce I shall tell you this womman Palmarya was hyghly sette in a wycked hate ageynst this holy mayde soo ferforthe that she dyffamed hyr wretchedly wherfore our lord gaf hyr fyrst a sykenes in hyr body Afterward she began to perysshe body and soule so that she myght not eshaâ—e dampnacyon but yf this holy mayde Katheryne by perfyte pacyence that charyte formyd in hyr soule had prayed for hyr as it is rehersed in the same for the chapytre of the seconde partye Also there was another suster of penauÌ„ce that was called Andrea as it is wryten in the same chapytre the whiche had in hyr brest a foule stynkyng kancre that ther was neuer one that wold minystre to hir for stenche Of this herde this holy mayde she cam to the syke woÌ„man serued hir gladly without ony squeymousnes in washyng wypyng of hyr wouÌ„de whan she felte in hyr self ony maner squeymousnes she wold then put hyr nose to the wouÌ„de long tyme to gyds vnto the tyme hir body defaylled but the lothenes went awaye ther by Thenne the fende Sathan entred in to the syke suster made hir to grutche with this holy mayde for to haue hir in suspeccion so wood she was wyth hir that she sclauÌ„dred hir openly to hir susters sayd that she had synned flesshely and loste hyr maydenhode ¶ Al be it that this hooly mayden and vyrgyn was heuy of this shlaunder yet she lefte neuer her seruyce to her but ouer came by meke seruyse and myghty pacy ence her malyce and wente to prayer as for a souerayn remedye agaynst suche accusacions at the laste by grace of thys holy mayde and vyrgyns prayers and by the merytes of her stronge pacieÌ„ce this seke suster sawe this holy mayde vyrgyn in tyme of her prayers transformed a fore her in to a grete lyght that she had therby grete comforte and repented here of her fals accusacion ThaÌ„ she called this holy mayde and vyrgyr to her and asked her forgyuenes af her cursed accusacion all other to whom she had shlaundred her she sent after and tolde theym that she hadde falsely accused this hooly mayde and vyrgyn wherfore she asked theym forgyuenes and thenne she tolde theym what she sawe of this holy mayde and vyrgyn affermyng to theym all that she was not only a pure mayde and virgyn but also an holy mayde and vyrgin Loo dere frendes there the fend wente to the fame this hooly mayde and vyrgyn by his malycious excitacioÌ„ there he magnefyed her vertuous name alle agaynste his wyll yet all this oure reuerend lorde almyghty god by medytacion of the vertu of pacience that was in her Thenne from that tyme forward this holy vyrgyns name encrecyd soo hyghely amonges the peple that it come to the audyence of two popes whiche were in her tyme and many cardynals ¶ Ferthermore of another thinge I shal telle you the whiche is writen in the same chapyter of the same woman Andrea It befell in a tyme whan this holy may de and vyrgyn wasshyd and wyped her stynkyng wounde The fende made her so skeymous that her stomake was meruey lously steryd for to caste wyth that she aroos saide to her sefl thus Trewely wretche thou that art soo skaymous off thyne susters sykenes leue it welle thou shalt receyue the fylte of her wounde with in thyn owne body Thenne she wente wysshe that stynkyng wounde and receyued the fylthe that came ther fro in to a dysshe and went a syde and dranke it of The nexte nyght after our reuerend lord apperyd to her and sayde Doughter in this dede thou passyst in myn syngh And thou hast therby pleasyd me more than in ony werke that euer thou dedest And therfore by cause thou hast doo soo merueylously a dede for my loue I shal gyue the a merueylous drynke by the whiche thou shalt be hadde in grete merueyle amonge alle creatours wyth that as it semed to her he putt her mouthe to the reuerend wounde of his swete blody syde And sayde doughter drynke ynongh of the drynke of myn syde that is merueylous and delectable bi the whiche not oonly thyn soule but thyn boody shal bee fulfylled the whiche thou hast despised for myn loue Fro that tyme forword her sâ—omake had none appetyte to ony matery al mete ne it nyght not defye ony mete and that was none merueyle For wher that ony creature hath receyued drynke habundauntly of the well of lyf what merueyle is it though it nede none helpe of other bodely mete Oute of this grace came that merueylous faste the which is rehersyd in the fyrste Chapytre off the seconde party Wherfore was all this grace graunted trowe ye dere frendes trewely for the charytable pacyens that she hadde to syke folke to all other for the grete charyte that was soo habouÌ„daunt in her herte receyued and toke the word of lyf the whiche brought forthe fruit in pacience that is thrytty folde fruyte syxty folde fruyte and an hondred folde fruyte Thrytty fold fruyte she brought forth by paciens that she shewed to Cecca the leprous woman syxty fold fruyte she brought forth by pacience that she shewed to Palmarya an hondred folde fruyte she brought forth by the pacience that she shewed to Andrea this laste seke suster Now I shall I telle you of somme thynges that ben not rehersed in the boke before vnnethe was ther ony body that had conuersacioÌ„ with this holy mayde and vyrgyn but that they dede to her many iniutyes and wronges one way or other soo that there was one of the fryers that was so fulfylled wyth the fende that in the presens of alle her susters he put to her full reproues and defamacioÌ„s She was neuer the more meued out off paciens but she charged her susters that they sholde not trouble hym ne telle nothynge afterward to other thar shold soune to her repreff what that euer they herd hym speke the more pacient the holy maide and vyrgyn was the more wood was he agaynst her so that in a tyme he stale her monye that was gyuen to her for to doo almes wyth yet for all this she was notfynge steryd but kepte alwaye patiently her charyte and so at the laste ouer came hym by her pacience ¶ Ouermore yf I sholde tell you of the grete pacience that she had in suffring of dyuerse infyrmytes of the body my payne sholde not oonly fayle me but also myn vnderstondyng she suffred euer coÌ„tynuelly the payne of ylica passyo as it is rehersed in the vj Chapytre of the seconde party where is declared and tolde clerly the cause why she hadde that infirmyte And therwyth she hadde a payne in the hede contynuelly And aboue all this she hadde a synguler continuell payne in her breste fro that daye that oure reuerende lorde almyghty god made her taste paynes of his precyous passyon as it is
¶ Here begynneth the lyf of saint katherin of senis the blessid virgin ¶ Audi filia et vide HEre doughter see fructuous example of vertuous liuinge to edyfycacioÌ„ of thy sowle and to coÌ„forte and encrese of thy gostly labour in all werkis of pyte For as I truste by the gracious yeftes of oure lorde Jhesu thy wyll is sette to plese hym and to do hym secuyce in all holy excercise by the vertue of obedyence vnder counseyll and techinge of thy gostely gouernours And for as moche as I fele by longe experyens the inward affeccions inclynyng wyth pyte to comforte of all that haue nede bothe lyuyng and dede therfore to strengthe coÌ„forte of thy wil of al other of thi gostely sustereÌ„ whiche our lord â–ª hath graciously chose to serue hym nyght day in prayer meditacioÌ„ and to laboure bodely in tyme of nede to socour and helpe of the seke and the poure Here I purpos by our lordis mercy only in his worshyppe wyth truste of his grace and leue by helpe of your prayers to translate in englysshe tongue the legende and the blessid lyf of an holy mayde and virgyn whiche was and is callyd Katheryn of sene This legende compyled a worshypfull clerke fryer Reymond of the ordre of saynt domynik doctor of deuynyte and coÌ„fessour of this holy virgyn But in this translacion I leue of the two prologues whiche in the begynnyng the same clerke made in latyn The whiche passeth your vnderstondyng And to touche alle maters only that longeth only to your lernyng by cause that moche maner of her vertuous lyuyng shall be rehersyd in especial in chapytres of this boke whiche in generall wordes he toucheth shortely in his prologue I leue of also poyntes of diuynyte whiche passeth your vnderston dyng touche only maters that longeth to your lernyng Now thaÌ„ as I sayde in the begynning Here doughter and see what thou herest or redest of this holy mayde vyrgyn And that thou yeue full credence to that I shal wryte The veryte may be preuyd wythout ony feynyng biscryptures of her confessours and verefyeng of creatures whiche late lyued in erthe Also the vytnes I purpose to put in at the ende of eche chapytre as that worshypfull clerke dide Whiche compyled this boke in latyn Therfore that all our werke begynne and perfourmed in the name of the holy trynyte This boke shall be deuyded in thre partyes and eche parte of the boke shal be departed in to diuerse chapyters whiche chapyters been compyled to gyder in the begynnyng in manere of a kalendre that ye mowe redely fynde What matere in the boke ye desyre to here or rede ¶ The fyrst parte of the boke shal be the byrth and the holy werkis of that mayde from her chyldhode and tendre age In to the time that she was spoused merueylously and gracyously to our lord â–ª ¶ The seconde parte conteyneth the maner of her conuersacion from the tyme of her despousacion to our lord And what our lord wrought in her in to the tyme that she passyd out of this world ¶ The thyrde parte shall shewe the passyng out of this world of the same mayde with myracles whiche our lord wrought for her in her lyf and after thus bi the mercy and graunt of our lord almyghty this werke shall be termynyd to the lawde of that holy Trynyte to whom be honour and glorye euer wythout ende Amen Capitulum j THe fyrste chapytre of the fyrste parte of this forsayde blessyd mayde and virgyn katheryn treteth of her progenyte and of other maters whiche byfyll touchyng her or she weÌ„te out openly abrode And of her fader moder and of the condycions of her C ij ¶ Of her byrthe of merueylous werkynge whiche our lord wrought And shewed in the chylhode of this holy mayde and vyrgyn C iij Item of the vowe made of her vyrgynyte and of other vertuous lyuynge and myracles whiche befyll tyl she came to the age of abylyte to be wedded to man but wedded was she not and neuer wolde C iiij ¶ Item how her feruour of deuocyon was wythdrawe whiche our lord suffred for encrece of more grace folowyng and of her stronge pacience wyth whiche pacience she suffred in her faders hous many Iniuryes C v ¶ Item of the victorie whiche she hadde of theym that desesed her and that was by a culuer the whiche her fader sawe by a vysyon of saint domynyk C vj ¶ Item of the hardenesse of her bodely penaunce and of afflyccionâ— And what persecucion she suffred therfore of her moder Ca. vij ¶ Item of the laste vyctorye that she hadde in a bathe And how she toke the habyte of saint dominyk whiche she had longe desyred tofore Ca viij ¶ Item of the begynnyge and fondament of the relygyous state of the susteren of the penaunce of saynt domynyke And wherfore come the maner of liuynge of the susteren C ix ¶ Item of her wonderfull encrece and how she profyted in vertu and holy lyuyng And that she shold be leuyd in all thynges whiche she rehersed to her consessour of graces doo to her lord C x ¶ Item of a noble doctryue and notable whiche our lord gaue to her in the begynnyng and of other doctrynes in the whiche he founded her maner of lyuynge Capitulum xj Item of merueyllê° victorye of temptacions by another maner of doctryne yeue to her of our lorde And of a famylyaryte or homlyhed whiche she hadde with our lord whiche hath not beherde to fore c xij ¶ Item of her merueylous despousacioÌ„ wyth the whiche she was wedded in faythe of our lorde and to oure lorde wyth arynge C xiij  HEre begynneth the second parte in the whiche is shewed Capitulum j the conuersacion of this holy mayde vyrgyn wyth men And how the yeftes the whiche she had receyued of our lorde pryuely enclosed wythin her self Were openly shewed to the worlde And firste how our lord bad her that that she sholde be conuersaunt amonge men C ij Item of merueylous dedes whiche she hadde in excercise and of myracles whiche befyll in the begynnyng of her conuersacion amonge men C iij ¶ Item of wonders whiche she dyde in helpe and in comfort to the necessyte of them that were poure and nedy C iiij Item merueylous dedes whiche she dyde in lowly and besy seruyce to theym that were seke C v ¶ Item of the synguler maner of lyuinge And how they were desceyued that grutched wyth her merueylous fastynge Capitulum vj ¶ Item of the wonderfull rauysshynge and excesses of her mynde from hyr bodely wyttes and grete reuelacions shewed to hyr of our lord C vij ¶ Item of somme myracles graciously wrought by this holy mayde and virgin aboute the helthe of sowles C viij ¶ Item of somme myracles doo in hyr lyf by hyr aboute the lyf helpe of mennys bodyes C ix ¶ Item of myracles vrought by thys holy mayde and vyrgyn aboute
heuynes that she fyll in to suche sykenes that fro day to daye more more she waxed lene and vanysshed almost awaye and ryght feble Her husbonde sawe this and asked hyr the cause of her heuynesse and sekenesse And she answerd and sayde I was norysshed in myn faders hours and there was I neuer wonte to here suche wordes as I here now euery daye And so was I neuer taught of my fader and moder wherfor knowe it for sothe but this dishoneste of speche bee avoyded fro this hous wythin a shorte tyme ye shall see me deed whan her husbond herde this bothe he avoyded that vngoodly langage â–ª and the felawshyppe and therwyth he was edefyed moche more than euer he was before â–ª as well of the vertues lyuinge of the fader and moder as of her doughter that was his wyf And anone he forbode his felawes neuer more to speke suche maner wordes in her presens and nomore they dede and soo the softenes the honeste of Jacob his hous amendyd in moderaunce And the dyshoneste of Nycolas hous whiche hadde weddyd Jacob his doughter ¶ Ferthermore ye shall vnderstonde the Jacob vsed the crafte of makyng of colours wherwyth wollen and wolle clothes ben dyed This crafte vsed bothe he and his sonys In that contree they ben called dyers wherfore full wonderfully god ordeyned that a dyers doughter shol be made the spouse of the Emperour of heuen As ye shall see by goddes grace after in this boke Somme of this that I haue shewed in this chapytre was knowe to the more parte of the cyte And somÌ„e her confessour had of the sayd mayde katheryn and of her moder and of many relygyous persons and of seculers whiche were neybours and of kynrede to the same Jacob and to his wyf ¶ Of her byrthe and of the merueylous werkinge whiche our lord wrought and shewed in the chylhode of this holy vyrgyn and mayde CapituluÌ„ ij Whan this forsayd Lapa whiche was lyke a fructuous vyne by fulfyllyng the wyne of Jacob her husbonde in bryngyng forth full ofte bothe sones and doughters It befyll aboute the laste tyme of the berynge of chyldren by the ordynaunce and dy sposycyon of our lordis mercy that she conceyued brought forth two doughters freell and febyll by nature But moche more freell by of bodely strengthe as semed outward â–ª but strengthe and stabylnesse they hadde in the syght of god ¶ Whan Lapa the moder besely behelde theym she thought well that she suffysed nought to nourysshe them bothe forthe wyth her owne mylke wherfore by a good auysement she commytted that one to smother noryse And that other she wythhelde and kepte stylle to be norysshed forth wyth her owne mylke And soo it befyll by the ordynaunce of our lorde that she chosed that doughter to her owne kepyng â–ª whiche our lord of euerlastynge tyme hadde chose vnto his spouse Bothe they resceyued the grace of baptysme And all be it that they were of the nombre of goddes chose chyldren Yet the forsayd mayde was called katheryn and that other was called Johan This later suster whan she hadde receiued this grace of baptysme in the same grace she went forth to heuen For in short tyme after she passed out of this worlde Katheryne abode stylle sukkyng on her moders brestes by goddes ordynaunce she shold drawe to heuen a longe cheynâ— of soulis And for as moche as Lapa the moder consyderyd that katheryn abode that other was deed She nourysshed her more dyligently hopyng that she was chose to abyde and be goddes chyld And ofte sythes this moder lapa wolde saye to maister Reymond her confessour to this holy mayde that she louyd katheryn passyngly aboue alle the sones and doughters that euer she hadde She sayde vnto hym also that she conceyued soo ofte that she myght neuer nourysshe ony chylde of her wyth her owne mylke ¶ Katheryn she nourysshed forth in to the ende of the tyme that she neded to be vnder the nourysshe And in alle that tyme she conceyued not as it semed that oure lorde for that doughter hadde graunted her a tyme of reste of traueylyng of the byrthe of chyldren and in a token that she myght come to the ende of conceyuyng and byrthe in that doughter whiche sholde after ateyne and gete the ende of alle perfection ¶ But yet this moder Lapa after the nouryssyng of katheryn â–ª ones she conceyued and bare a doughter whiche was called Johan And there she made an ende of beryng of chyldren after that she hadde boâ—en xxv chyldren Whan this mayde was thus broughte forth and halowed to god And whan she hadde lefte the mylke and toke to ete brede whyle she wente aboute alone She began to be soo acceptable and soo byloued to all tho that sawe her and soo wyse and wonderfull wordes she spake that vnnethes her moder myght holde her in her owne hous Eche man aboute of her neybours and of her kynrede lad her home wyth theym and glad they were who myght haue her to here her wyse speche And that they myght haue felawshyp and the gladenesse of that yonge mayde Soo that of a maner gladdenesse and of a passyng solace they called her not by her owne ryght name katheryn but Eufrosyna and what meued them to calle her soo they wyst not theym self but she afterward somme tyme wolde saye and suppose that it was a mystery by cause she purposed to folowe saynt Eufrosyne in lyuyng Her confessour that wrote this legende supposed that the yonge mayde in her chyldis speche vsed somme maner of sownynge that nyghed or acorded to that nâ—me Eufrosyne And soo in maner as they wolde reherce her wordes they called her soo by that name Neuertheles what euer it was that appieryd she burgenyd out in her chilhode as a tree by ony suche shewyng what fruyt was brought forth Afterward in her olde age the wysdome and the prudence of her speche connyng and the swetenesse of her holy conuersacion myght not be rehersed wyth tongue lygthly wryte wyth penne by theym that knewe only the veryte of thys whiche hadde very experyence She hadde also an Inward werkynge whyche shewed well â–ª not only by her speche but by her coÌ„uersacion wher thorugh many mennys sowlis were drawe to god And hadde thorugh her grace grete lykyng and sauour in god in somoche that all heuynesses were excluded of all mennys hertes whiche were conuersaunt wyth her â–ª and not only that but all thinges that noyed the sowle was put awaye Also the remembraunce of eche noye or angwysshe was take awaye And of this folowed eche man soo grete reste and stabylnesse of sowle whiche they hadde byfore that euery man woundred of theym self and made Joye wyth a newe maner of gladdenesse and eche man in his owne sowle cryed and sayde Here it is good for vs to be â–ª Make we thre tabernacles for our dwellyng place And of this none wouÌ„der for douiles â–ª he was there
and counseyll And whan that she came to seuen yere age she took grete auysemente as though she hadde be of sadnesse of xx yere of age and contynuelly she prayed our lady quene of aungels and virgynes that she wolde wouchesauf to helpe hyr and gete hyr of our lord a parfyte waye to the techynge of the holy ghoost where by she myght doo that were moost plesynge to god and moste spedefulle for helthe of hyr sowle And in eche prayer euer she shewed hyr desyre to our lady how sore she desyred to lyue an aungelslyf and in the lyf of virgynytee And in alle thys tyme the loue of the euerlastyng spouse was more feruent fro day to day in thys maydens herte whyche loue steryd alle hyr sowle wyth oute ony cessyng vnto an heuenly liuynge And whan thys wyse mayde sawe how feruent her spyryte was in that desyre by cause she wolde not quenche the spiryte whiche that freely and gracyously hadde graunted that she asked by a hote kyndelyng of desyre Vpon a day thanne she chose hyr a preuy place where noo body myght here hyr and where she myght speke alle a lowde wyth a hygh voys what euer she wolde saye there wyth all lownesse of body and sowle Thus spak she to our lady and sayde O moost blyssedfull Lady and moost holy vitgyne whyche fyrste amonge alle wymmen thou halowedest for euer thy virgynytee to our lord wyth makyng to hym a vowe of whome thou were made moder of hys onely sone Thy pyte whyche may not be spoke ne tolde of tongue lowely I beseche and praye that be none of my merytes notwythstondyng myn vnworthynesse wouches auf gracyous lady to do me so moche grace that thou me spouse to hym onely whome I desyred wyth all the strengthes of my sowle and that is thyn holy sone my lord Ihesu cryste and here I make to hym to the fulle promysse that I shall neuer take other spouse and I shall kepe to hym my virgynyte vndefowled after my myghte poure Loo maydens that rede thys Loo vere ye may se how ordynatly alle the yeftes and vertuous werkyng and dedys of thys holy mayde were dysposed and ordeyned by that euerlastyng wysdome whyche myghtely dysposeth alle thynges in softnes In the age of syy yere she sawe hir spouse wyth hyr bodely eye and took of hym hys blyssynge In the age of seuen yere she made a vowe of virgynyte Taketh hede also by what auysement and what ordre she kepte in makyng hyr auowe ¶ Fyrste she desyred and askyd to haue hym to hyr spouse whome hyr sowle louyd After that desyre and askyng she forsoke euery maner spouse behotyng to hym trouth and feyth for euer lastynge Thys petycyon myght not be denyed Taketh hede also whome she prayeth and for whom she prayed and how she prayeth Fyrste she prayeth that lady whyche hath properly inacte the lyberalytee and the fredome of alle graces and can not but euer graunte and yeue grace Be a man neuer so fowle for synne she holdeth hyr selfe dettour to alle bothe to wyse and to vnwyse She despyseth none she opened her hande to eche man that hath nede and stretched out hyr pawmes to eche poure man and sheweth out hyr self to all folke as a well that neuer faylled How sholde that gracyous lady not here that lytell mayde so Innocent and feruent whyche puttyth not awaye from hyr grace synfull men and women of elder age How sholde not our gloryous lady receyue the purpose of virgynyte of that holy mayde whyche gracyously fyrste amonge men founde out the holy clene lif of virgynytee How sholde our mercyfull and pyteuous lady denye thys lytell mayde hyr sone whyche drewe hym from heuen to the erthe for he sholde be gyue to alle that belyued on hym Now ye haue seen whom thys mayde prayed Sithe now I praye thou for whom she prayed She askyd that same whiche he him self taughte for to aske whyche is asked She sought that same whyche he byddeth alle men to seke that shall be sought And he hym self that shalle be sought may not put awaye ne put of And the petycyon of suche a thynge must nedys haue graūte after our lordes promyse where he sayde Askyth and ye shall haue Speketh and ye shall fynde He sayde also in another place Fyrste sekyth the kyngdome of god and hys ryghtwysnesse Therefore whanne thys mayde and so besely sought soo tymely in so tender chyldys age the sone of god whyche is hym selfe the kyngdome of god How or what manere myght it be but that she sholde fynde what she soughte or haue that she askyd Ferthermore now seeth in what manere she prayed or asked that she desyred and ye shalle clerely see that hyr prayer myghte not be doon awaye ne voydyd She dysposed hyr selfe to receyue that she askyd not onely for the tyme that now is but for alle the tyme that is to come She remeuyd alle hyr obstacles she clothed hyr wyth a plesable clothynge of pouerte to hym for euer of whome she askyd hyr desyre She bonde hyrself and oblysshed hyr wyth a solempne vowe as to fore god And soo straytely restrayned hyr selfe that neuer the world ne the fende sholde lette hyr dysposycyon In alle thys tyme ther faylled hyr no condycyons whyche a prayer sholde haue but that prayer muste nede be herde that she asked for hyr self she asked fulle mekely that was helthefull that was alle helthe feythfully she stood and stedfastely and to represente hyr perseueraūce She made a perpetuell vowe where by she remeuyd alle that shold be obstacle for hyr petycyon Here may ye sekerly conclude that nedys she moste be herde of our lord thynketh thenne sekerly that as she asked soo she resceyued of our lorde And took hyr lorde and hyr loue for hyr euerlastyng spouse of hys blysfulle moder as she desyred and bi helpe of that gloryous lady she was coupled for euer to hyr dere sone by a perpetuell vowe of virgynyte as it shall be proued wyth the helpe of our lord by a clere token in the last chapytre of this fyrst partye But now ferthyrmore ye shall knowe that after thys vowe thys mayde began euery day to wexe more holy and holy And in that tender age she began to take batayll wyth hyr flesshe whyche as yet began neuer to be rebell But for all that she purposed to take a waye from hyr flesshe all flesshly mete as moche as she myghte Wherfore whanne flesshe was leyde to hyr as it fylle ofte eyther she leyde it to Stephen hyr brothyr or preuely lytyll and lytyll she voyded it that no body sholde perceyue it She contynued alwaye hyr dysplyens of whyche I spake a fore and encresed hem more sharpely eyther allone by hyr self or wyth other yonge maydens Also a grete wele of othyr sowles helthe began to be kyndelyd in hyr and that was wonderfull in suche a chyldes herte and syngulerly she loued
all tho sayntes whiche laboured specyally a boute the helthe of mannes sowle She hadde also knowyng onely by the techynge of god that Saynt Domynyk ordeyned the ordre of frere prechours for loue of the feythe of holy chyrche and for the helthe of mannes sowle Wherfore she had that ordre in so moche reuerence that whan she sawe frerys of that ordre passyng forth in the waye by hir faders how se she marked wel where they wente and when they were passyd fulle mekely and deuoutely she kyssed the steppes of theyr fete From that tyme forward there wext a grete desyre in hyr sowle to go vnto that ordre that she myght profyte man nes sowle wyth other brethern of that ordre but by cause she sawe a grete obstacle in that she was a woman Therfore she thought to folowe Saynt Eufrosyen as mē clepyd hir in childhode wōderfully as for a pronostycacion that ryght as saynt Eufrosyen feyned hyr a man and went in to a monastery of monkes in the same manere thys mayde is purposed to seyne hyr a man and go in to ferre contree where she was not knowe and take the abyte of the ordre of frere prechours where she myght helpe sowles and saue them from perysshyng But yet not wytfstondyng that same thought and purpose abode longe in hyr mynde Our lord suffred not that thought to be perfourmed in dedene brought to execucyon for the loue was put from hyr mynde to another ende and our lord wolde also in another maner fulfyll hyr desyre In all thys tyme thys mayde wexte fast in body and encreced in age but moche more hyr sowle encreced in vertue Mekenes wext fast and deuocyon encreced feyth was more clere hope was gretely strengthed Charyte multyplyed hyr feruour And of all thys vertues was gendryd a vertuous and a worshypfull sadnes of maneres and of relygyous putte in the syght of al men whyche consydered hyr dedys The fader and the moder were astonyed her brethern and susteren wondred gretely Alle the meyne of hyr faders how 's meruaylled beholdyng and perceyuynge soo hygh wysdome in soo tendyr age And amonge many notable wyse wordes and dedys one I wylle shewe you here in cōmendacyon of that mayde ¶ Hyt befylle at that tyme after seuen yere and to fore ten yere age that for deuocyon that hyr moder hadde to saynt Anthonye She wolde haue a masse I sayde in the worshyppe of the same Saynt wherefor she clepyd Katheryne hir doughter and took hyr a certeyne of candelles and a certeyne of syluer and sayde Goo doughter to our parysshe chyrche and praye oure parysshe preest to syng or do synge a masse in the worshyp of saynte Anthonye And offer thyse candelles and thys money vp to the awtre ¶ Thys mayde was gladde to doo alle thynge that myght torne to the worshyp of god and anone she wente to the chyrche and performed hyr moders byddyng But for deuocyon that she hadde to here masse she abode stylle to the ende of the masse And whan alle was I do she wente home ageyn but hyr moder wende she wolde a comen anone ageyn anone as she had made oblacyon to the preest ¶ And for as moche as her doughter taryed so longe after hir semyng Whan she sawe that she was come she thought to blame hyr doughter and sayd Cursyd be the wycked tōgues that sayd thou sholdeste nomore come ageyne Thys was the manere of somme men to saye her langage to her name that taryed to longe out Thys mayde thenne of grete wysdome herde what hyr moder sayde and helde hyr stylle a whyle and spake noo worde ageyne But after a good space thys mayde drewe hir modre a fyde And wyth grete sadnes of hyr mekely spak to hir modre and seyde ¶ A lady modre when euer I trespas or do agast youre biddyng bete ye me wyth a rodde as you thynketh best that I be more ware Another time for it is worthy and ryght full that ye do so But no thyng I praye you for my defautes curseth neuer good man ne badde For it is not semyng for your degree And to me it is a full grete affliccion̄ in herte while hyr modre herde these wordys sche wondrid gretely And no merueill was to here her lytill doughter teche and so wysely enforme hir In somoche that she hadde no spirite more to blame hyr at that tyme for the wysdom that she sawe in so yonge alitill thynge Neuer the les she wolde not that hyr doughter hadde knowe that therfor sūwhat she thoughte to speke ageyne and turned to hir doughter and seyde Why were you there so longe the doughter seyde mekely ageyne modre I herde that masse that yebadde me goo to And whan it was I doone I turned home ageyn wythout ony tarieng for I abode nowhere till I come home ageyne Thoo was the modre by tho wordis more edyfyed than she was to fore and went to hyr husbonde seyd Thus and thus hath thi yonge doughter I spoke He than as a good man gafthankynges to god and bare it stylle priuely in hys herte And seyde noughte ageyne Loo ye mayden̄s that here or rede thys book of thys oo poynt all be yt that it be one of the leste Yet mowe ye we le perceyue how our lorde encreceth hys grace all weye in thys yonge mayde till she come to the yeres of abilitee to be weddyd of the whyche yeres ye shalle see in the next chapytre For of thys chapitre I make now an ende ¶ But yet ye shall vnderstonde that I had thyse that be conteyned in thys chapytre of the same mayde for the more partye and somme I hadde of the modre and of other dwellyng in hyr fadres how 's whyse she was of that age ¶ How hyr feruente deuocyon was drawe whyche our lord suffred for encrece of more grace folowyng And of hyr stronge pacyence wyth the whyche pacyens she suffred in hir fadres how 's many Iniuryes Capitulūq̄rtū AFter the wonderfull and vertuous cours of lyuyng in the fyrst yeres of thys maydens tender age our lordes wyll was in somme lyghte defaute to suffre hyr to fall as he suffred fulle ofte somme of hys holy sayntes to that entent that they sholde the more myghtely aryse vp ageyne and lyue more warly and strenght hem to atteyne to the ryght waye and the heythe of perfeccyon and gloryously haue the vyctorye of the fende whyche is euer enemye to mannes sowle ¶ These wordes I saye here for whanne she came to the age of the yeres of abylyte to be wedded that is to saye to the twelthe yere of hyr age or lytel more thenne after the manere of the contree she abode styll at home and came not out of hyr fadres how 's And the fader and the moder thenne and hyr other frendes kynne by cause they knewe not the may dens purpose they bethought hem and besyed hem to seke aboute where that thys mayden
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
she hadde the trewe knowleche therof in her faders hous wythout ensample or doctryne off other Fyrst I shall telle you of her abstinence of mete and drynke fro her chyldehood in to the tyme that she came to that age She ete full seldom flesshe as it is rehersed afore but whan she was come to this age and this speciall fredom she forsoke vtterly etyng of flesshe soo fer forthe that belonge of custome and vse that she hadde in forsakyng of it It was so lyght some to her that it was a payne to her for to smelle it as she told her confessour preuely in confessyon and by cause ye shold haue none gretter merueylle herof I shall telle you of another grete abstynence Whan her confessonr perceyued in a tyme that she was gretly wasted and feblyd in body for she receyued none suche mete and drynke that febyll folke sholde be comforted wyth He gaue her counseyll that she sholde putte in her colde water that she dranke suger or a lytyl suger roset Wherby her spyrytys myght the more be quyckenyd Wyth that she touenyd to her confessour and sayde A lytyll lyf there is left wytt in me the whiche me semeth ye wolde it vtterly were quenchyd And whan her confessour hadde askyd her why and knewe her excusacion He vnderstode by her wordes that she hadde soo vsed her to bytter metes and vnsauory drinkys that all maner swete thyng was noyous to her body by cause her dysposycion was tourned in to a custome And soo it was to her of etyng fâ—esshe as it is rehersed afore And whan she sholde drynke wyne as the contree foryeuyd after the tyme she hadde lycence to kepe her chambre she medlyd that wyne soo wyth water that it loste both his taste and his sauour and also a grete parte of his colour But afterward whan she was xv yere of age she lefte alle maner of drynkyng of wyne and vsed to drynke colde water And all maner soden mete out taken brede alone She wythdrewe fro her by lytyll and lytyll euery daye somwhat and wythin a lytyl tyme after she helde her to brede and rawe herbes ¶ Att the lasie whan she was twenty yere of age or there aboute she lefte etyng of brede and helde her only to rawe herbes Thenne afterward she came to suche an hyghe state of lyuyng nonght by vse and kynde as it shall be declared openly ynogh wythinforth by the helpe of god But oonly by myracle that alle be it her body was oppressyd gretely wyth many dyuerse sekenesse and grete traueylles The kyndly of dygestyon in the body hadde noo place in her and the stomake also vsed not the myght and the vse of his offyce of defyeng And yet the strengthes of the body notwythstondyng her strengthe lyuyng both in mete and drynke were neuer the febly er soo that than her confessour recordeth of her alle her lyf was myracle She myght neuer doo that she dede by strengthe of kynde as physyens sayd and tolde afterward to her confessour but oonly by myracle All thyse thynges shall clerely and play nely by the helpe of god openly be declared wythin this boke afterward But as for the conclusyon of her abstynence fro the tyme that her confessour Mayster Reymound knewe her as he recordeth of her is this that she lyued not wyth no mete ne drynke that was nourysshynge to her ne she hadde none comforte of none kyndely strengthe And yet neuertheles she suffred gladly all maner dyseses and laboures How came she to this state of lyuynge trowe ye trewely not by bodely excercyse and vse But rather by fulnes of the spirite I shall tel you in what wise the fulnes off the spirite somÌ„e tyme rebonudeth in to the body there it is made subiecte acordyng to the werkys of the spyryte for there the spiryte of a gostely creature is fedde wyth the gyftes of gostely graces the body suffreth the more pacientli aboue naturall strengthe of his own nedes who wold be in dobute herof I trowe none resonable creature whether martyrs in her holy martyrdome suffred not gladly aboue naturall strengthe tormente and myserye of theyr bodyes in her passyons I trowe yeis And fro whens cometh this trowe ye but of fulnesse of the spyryte This is ofte tymes knowen by experyens in oure dayes that yf a man or a womman be occupyed in goddes seruyce deuoutly He reketh neuer how longe he fasteth and neuer to speke wyth creature but whan he ceseth of the speciall deuocion And is occupyed in outward bodely besynes it is harde for hym for to faste doo as he dyde before Whens cometh this grace but oonly of the fulnes of the spyryte that conforteth the body the whiche accordeth to the werkis of it alle be it that this is a gyfte aboue nature yet naturally the spyryte otherwhyle communeth wyth the body And the body wyth the spyryte bothe in good and euyl In thyse wordes I denye not but that ther ben somme the whiche maye faste more esely than somme But symply for to faste and absteyne longe tyme togyder in this lyf me semeth it is inpossyble bi nature thus moche is rehersed of her grete abstynence for this tyme Takyth hede also of another thynge that this holy mayde tourmentyd her body wyth besyde all her abstinence She made to her a bedde al of bordes wythout ony other stuff otherwhyles she wolde sytte or stonde in holy medytacions other whyle knele praye alwaye whan she wolde slepe she laye coun wythout ony doyng awaye off her weryng clothes For she weryd alwaye wollen bothe nexte her body and wythout some tyme she vsed the hayre or the cilyce and that she lefte afterward by cause as her confessour supposed That she that was clene wythin eschewed vnclenÌ„es wythout that is engendred of the cilyce or of the hayre But for the hayre she vsed an yron chayne next her body euyr syttyng faste to her sydes wythoute ony remeuynct or ease vnto the tyme it endented the skynne And made a marke ther vpon as it hadde be forbrennyd As her ghostely doughters and her felawes tolde after ward to Mayster Reymond her confessour the whiche ghostely doughters and felawes ofte tymes for dyuerse sekenesses that she suffred constreyned her for to chaunge her clothes and for to wasshe awaye the swete And therfore her confessour afterward by cause of her grete sekenesse that she suffred a lytyl before that she sholde be deed constreyned her by obedyens that she sholde leue her cheyne All be it she wolde not doo it by hyr good wyll Euermore she contynued in wakyng tyl the daye dawed on the morowe as it shall be declared more opynly here afterward After that by lytyll and lytyll our lorde gaue her grace to ouercome slepe that vnnethe she wold slepe half an houre in two dayes And vnnethys she wolde receyue that half houre but as sekenes coustreyned her therto And she wolde saye otherwhyle to her confessour
theym of the ordeynaunce of an holy lyuyng that sholde recouere againe the rychesses of holy chirche and defended it myghtely euer afterward faithfully agaynst heretikes by comyn assent suche a lyf was soo graunted and ordeyned ¶ For there that our holy fader Saynt Domynyke founde ony well wyllynge folke to suche a lyuyng Fyrst he enduced theym for to swere that they sholde kepe and obserue all the thynges that shold be reherced to theym to the vterest for to putte her goodes and her lyf therfore in Jeoperdye and leâ—te this holy lyuynge sholde bee lette by suche that weâ—â— wedded He made also wyues to swere that they sholde also not lette her husbondes to maynten in suche a poure lyuyng the ryght of holy chyrche but rather sholde helpe theym to her power in all that they might And to eyther partye this holy fader saynt domynyke he byhote theym sykerly yf they kepte this purpoos endeles lyf for her mede ¶ Tho men that toke this holy lyf vppon them were called fryers of Crysico knyghthode Neuertheles by cause tâ—ey sholde beknowen fro other by somme token and that they sholde haue somme maner of besynes aboue the vsage of other laye peple He gaue them the colour of his owne habyte that bothe men and wymmen of the same knyghthode of Ihesu cryst shold were whyte and blake Soo that eyther colour sholde apere outward in token of innocencye and mekenes Euermore he assigned theym to saye a certeyn nombre of Pater nosters Aue maria That they sholde be occupyed at euery houre of diuyne seruyce dayâ— by day â–ª whan this was do after tyme saynt domynyk passed out of this worlde to blysse of heuen by encresyng of myracles was canonyzed in the court of Rome The fâ—â—res susterâ— that fyrst were called of the knyghthode of Ihu cyrâ—â— to amoâ—â— synguler â–ª worshyp of the fouÌ„der of saynt domynyk chauÌ„ged her name by a coÌ„miÌ„ assâ—t were called fâ—â—ers susters of the penauÌ„ce of saynt domynyk the cause why them thought that her fyrst name sholde be chauÌ„ged was this they saw that bi the merytes myracles of saynt domynyk by the prechyng of the fryers their cursed heresye was cause wherfore theym thought that it was not moche nedefull to be occupyed in suche outward batayle of prechyng but rather wythinward batayle agaynst her gostely enmyes they chose therfore to be called fryers susters of penauÌ„ce At the last the noÌ„bre of fryer prechours encresyd so hugely amonge whom was one as a clere shynnyng sterre Saynt peter bothe martyr and mayde the whiche was martred of heretykes for the ryght of holy chyrche And destroyed more heretykes after his deth And soo thys company of wulues that were aboute to destroye goddes vnite of holy chyrche were vtterly avoyded and peas was yelden to all holy chyrche wherfore the cause of that name of knyghthede sesyd and channged in to a name of penaunce Neuerthelesse this maner of state of louyng descendeth and remayneth only to men a whyle And ther wyues ben left soole lyuyng by theym self a relygyous lyf neuer afterward desyryng for to bee wedded by cause of the relygyous that they kepte wyth her husbondes a fore But the state the whiche they began they kepte to her lyues ende ¶ This consyderyd and behelde other wydowes that purposed to kepe theym in wedowhode desiring to folowe susters of penaunce of Saynt domynyke For remedye of her synnes they prayed the fryer prechours that were in Italye to enforme them of the maner of lyuyng The whiche was ordeyned of Saynt Domynyke By cause the maner of lyuyng was not hard A blessyd fader of the same ordre the whiche was called Munyo wrote that maner of lyuyng and toke it to thyse wydowes the whiche manere of lyuyng in to this daye is callyd amonges theym a rule All be it thay it may not properly be callyd soo In as moche as encludeth not wythin it the thre pryncypall vowes that other relygyous folke haue And after tyme that this nombre of susters thus encresed in dyuerse partyes of Italye Our holy fader the pope in tho dayes the whiche was called honoryus perceyued that good lyuynge of thyse susters graunted theym by bulle that in tyme of Interdyction that they myght here her dyuyne seruyce amonges the fryer prechours And soo our holy fader the pope Johan the whiche came after hym he hadde made the constytucions of Clementynis agaynste the vyrgyns and by gardys He declared the bulle of the same decretall or constytucion that it sholde not be vnderstonde of the same susters of penaunce of Saynt domynyke For by that Decretall the astate is not repreued in ony wyse ¶ Loo maydens by this ye may vnder stonde why that state of liuing was fouÌ„de in wymmen only And why the susters answerd soo att the begynnynge to the moder of this holy mayde that were not wounte to receyue maydens to that state of lyuyng but oonly to wydowes approuyd in sadnes thyse thynges that ben wrytten in this chapytre for the more parte Mayster Reymound founde them wryten im dyuerse places of Italye But some maters he herde and vnderstode theym wyth inquysycion of many holy faythfull and olde fryers and susters of Saynt Domynyke And thus endeth this chapytre ¶ Of the wonderfull encrece and how she prouffyted in vertu and holy lyuyng And that she sholde bee byloued in all thynges whiche she rehersed to her confessour of grace done to here of our lorde Capl ix How this holy mayde in receyuinge of her habyte made none byhest to the thre pryncipalle avowes of relygyon by cause that the estat asked it nought As it is rehersed afore Yet neuerthelesse she purposed to kepefull stedfastly tho thre pryncypal avowes iÌ„ her self As for the vowe of chastyte there was none doughte of For she hadde made avowe of maydenhode afore in her tender age as touchyng for her obedyence She purposed oonly for to bee obedyent to that fryer that was mayster of the susters and to the pryoresse of the same susters But also to her confessour the whiche obedyence she kepte to her lyues ende ¶ For as she sayde by her lyue whan she sholde passe out of this worlde She hadde neuer mynde that she brake onis her obedyence Neuerthels by cause there were somme the whiche hadde enuye off her holynesse both bacbyters and lyers that sayde the contrarye ¶ I doo you to vnderstonde maydens that thowe this holy mayde hadde none other tourment whyle she was lyuynge in erthe but oonly vndyscrete byddyng and mysseyng of her souereyns she myght haue ben in maner a martyr by the grete pacience the whiche she suffred Her confessours vnderstood nonght ne gaue none credence many tymes to the excellent gyfte of grace that she receyued of god Ne gaue none reuerence to the werkys of our lorde that wrought in her merueylously And therforre they wold haue made her lyuyng after the commyn lyuyng
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
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
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
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
was not onely pure and clene from flesshely synnes but also she was holy and fulfylled wyth the holy ghoost and that she knewe well Thenne somme of the saddest of hyr susters axyd hyr pryuely and wysely how she knewe that the mayde was holy and what tokens she hadde therof She answerd stedfastly wyth a feruent spyryt that she knewe neuer afore what was swetnesse of the soule and ghoostly comfort vnto the tyme she sawe thys holy mayde afore hyr transfygured or transformed ouercouered with an vnspekable lyght Eftesones thenne hyr susters axyd hyr whether she saw that syght wyth hyr bodely eyen But she coude not telle it wyth noo thyng the fayrenes of that lyght and the swetnesse that she felte in hyr sowle for that tyme. Thenne the holy maydens name began to encreace vertuously ouer all for there the fende was aboute to dysceyue and to hynder hyr name there the holy ghoost enhauncyd hyr name vertuously But in all thys ryght as she was neuer the sonner throwe doun by an euyll fame ryght so she was neuer the more enhauncyd in hir self by elacyon for suche a good name She contynued euer forthe in hyr holy seruyse and dyd hyr besynesse euer for to knowe hyr self that she was nought but yet hyr ghoostly enemy the fende cessyd neuer for to lette hyr eftesones he tempted hir in hir holy minystracion by squey mousnes of the stomake In a tyme whanne thys holy mayde wesshyd hyr seek susters horryble wounde there cam suche a sauour out therof that she was in poynte to caste out all that was in hyr body Thenne she rose ageynst hyr self so moche the more vyolently that she had the vyctorye of another temptacyon by the grace of the holy ghoost and sayde to hir self thus Trewly wretche thou that hast so moche abhomynacyon thou shalte receyue it wythin the. Anone she toke all the wesshyng of that wounde with the matter fylthe and went asyde and draÌ„ke it of preuely whanne she hadde so do all hir teÌ„ptacyon of abhominacion cessyd This was tolde afterward to mayster Reymond hyr confessour in hir presence to whome she addyd sayd pryuely that srthâ—n she was borne in thys worlde she etc neuer ne dranke so swete ne so good a sauour of noo maner mete ne drynke After thys gloryous vyctorye that same nyght suyng our lord Jhesu cryst appyred to that holy mayde shewyng to hir hys fyue blessyd woundes the whiche he suffred for our helthe and sayd thus De re doughter many bateylles thou hast ouerpassyd for me by my helpe thou hast oue coome them yet hyther to for the whiche vyctoryes thou art to me ryght welcome but specyally yester day thou plesyst me gretely in that that thou dyspysedest thyne owne nature kinde for my loue thou receyuest a drynke the whiche was abhomynable and dedely Therfore ryght as in that thou passâ—st thy kynde and thy nature Ryght so shall I gyue thou a drynke that passyth the custome and the kynde of man Wyth that he helde hys arme of her necke brought hyr mouth to hys blessyd wounde in hys syde and sayd to hiâ— thus Drynke doughter out of my â—y â— the drynke of helthe by the whiche thy soule shall be fulfylled wyth so moche swetenesse that it shall â—â—bouÌ„de in to thy body the whiche thou hast so meruayllously despysed for my loue Thenne thys holy mayde sowked out of the pype of lyf comyng out of hys blessyd wounde wyth hyr mouth of hyr bodye but moche more wyth the mouth of hyr sowle longe tyme to gyder full plentuouâ—ly an vnspekable drynke of euer lastyng helthe At the lost by the ordynaunce of our lord she cessyd and yet thursty not withstondyng she had ynough Now maydens I praye you consydereth mekely thys vertues acte of thys blessyd mayde Beholdeth I beseche you the rote of hir charyte where with she was moeued to take vpon hit folowely a seruyse for to serue seek folke â–ª Also beholdeth how long she contynued in that seruyse not wythseondyng the grete lettyng that she had by abhomynacyon of nature Behelde also the grete stedfastenes that she hadde in abydyng not wythstondyng the foule sclandres the whiche were put vpon hyr and at the last she beholde a notable coÌ„clusyon how after tyme she hadde receyued that holsom drynke out of our lordes syde She was fulfylled wyth so moche habundaunce of grace that she etc neuer ne myght etc afterward in suche a wyse as she dyd afore as it shall be declared more clerely wythin forthe For as touchyng this chapytre I shall make an ende There is no thyn ge wryten ne reherced in thys chapytre but suche as mayster Reymond thys holy maydes confessour knewe it out hyr by confessyon of hyr or as he founde by wrytyng of hyr confessour that was afore him or of certeyn of hir sustres the whiche were trewe sadde of leuyng ¶ Of hyr synguler maner of lyuyng how they were dysceyued that grutched wyth hyr meruayllous fastyng Ca V AFter tyme our lord Jhesu the endeles spouse of thys holy mayde had proued hir in the ouen of manyfolde trybulacyons also had taught hyr to ouercome hyr ghostly enemy the fende by dyuers bateyll it were ryght semely that he shold reward hyr in thys lyf wyth somme specyall gyfte of grace But by cause that soules as longe as they ben in the body may not fully receyue the fruyte of vertue as it is had in blysse endelesly Therfore it is full nedefull as for the fulfyllyng of the dyuyne prouydence of our lord that euery chosen spouse of hys in erthe shold yet dwelle in erthe neuerthelesse yet shall be endowed with som specyal reward of mede for this cause it was that our sauyour wouchesauf to begynne in his spouse in his handemayde Katheryne this wretched lyf a maner of an heuenly lyuyng And wyth that maner of lyuyng he wolde assocye hyr to erthely folke Therfore whiche suche a maner of reuelacyon he enfourmed hyr It be fyll in a tyme that this holy mayde prayed in hyr chambre where our lord apperyd to hyr sayd in this wyse wete ryght well dere beloued doughter that thyne abydynge in erthe shal be fulfylled with so many meruayllous gyftes of my grace that it shall be cause of studieng Incredulyte to many mannes hertes specyally to flesshely meÌ„nys hertes that knowen not the maner of my gracyous gyftes And also many that louen the they shall be in thought and suppose that my passyng loue the whiche werche in that shold be dysceyte For I shall gyue so grete habundauÌ„ce of grace in thyn sowle that it shall meruayllously rebounde in to thy body by the whiche thy body shall receyue and haue a meruayllous maner of lyuyng the whiche hath selde be herde afore Ferthermore thyn herte shall be soo gretely kyndelyd to helthe of soules that thou shalt forgete in maner thyn owne kynde chaunge althy fyrst conuersacyon
was not fully evcyted But anone as she perceyued that worde she hadde suche a reuerse of conscience off that lesynge that for sorowe the whiche she toke therof She was restoryd fully to her bodely wyttes And as many dayes and nyghtes as she stood afore in rauysshyg so longe after she wayled and wepte vncessabyly that syâ—e sayd to her self O wycked woman hast thou soo well bee feed wyth the infinite goodnes of god that thou muste now make a lesyng bee thyse trentheâ—â— that thou haste lerned in heuen is this the doctryne that thou art taught of the holy ghoste for to make lesynges ¶ Thenne wyst thou ryght well that thou woldeste not goo wyth tho fryers And yete thou saydest thou woldest and soo madest a lesyng to thyn confessour to thyn ghostely faders O meost wycked synne ce ye not maydens the meruaylous wayes and maners of our lordis prouydence Loo leste her reuelacyons sholde haue by cause of pryde to her Our lorde suffred her for to falle in to suche a lesyng yf it may be callyd a lesyng for there was none â—ntencion of deceyte and soo by that mekenes and lownes oure lorde couered her vertu that the fend shold not entre for to destroye theym But tho thinges that the sawe for that tyme in her reuelacyons she tolde not to her confessour as she was wonte to doo of other reuelacyons for as she sayd her selfe she coude fynde none laÌ„guege that myght expresse tho reuelacyons by wordene it is not lefull to noo man for to speke of hem wyth tongue as the same appostle sayth hym selt Nonlicet hoÌ„iloqui ¶ Eut the feruoure of her herte the besynes of her prayer â–ª and her holy exortacyons shewed openly ynowe that she sawe the preuytes of god ¶ The whiche may not be coÌ„mynyd but theyÌ„ that sawe theym Ouermore another tyme saiÌ„t poule the appostle arpperid to her and warned her that she shold giue her besely to prayer the whiche she tolde afterward to her confessour And therfore that she vsed moche Thenne it befyll afterwarde whyles she prayed in the chyrche on the vygylle of Saynt Domynyke many reuelacyons were shewed to her of saynt Domynyke and of other sayntes ¶ She was soo oft occupyed wyth reuelacyons the same tyme whan she wold speke to her confessour she hadde reuelacions Thenne iÌ„ the nexte day afterward of saynt Domynyke a lytyl afore euen songe tyme whyles she was occupyed wyth reuelacions sodenly entred in to the chirche a fryer whiche was Bartylmeus her confessours felawe in whom she trusted as moche as in her confessour for â–ª he was her confessour absens of her goostely tader ¶ Whan â—he perceyued that that he was come she arâ—os and wente agayst hym and sayd to hym that she wolde speke wyth hym of certeyn reuela câ—ons Theune they satte doun bothetegyders in the chyrche and she began to reherce how many reuelacyons our lorde had deshewed her of saynt Domynyke at the laste she sayd loo fader I see now myn â–ª holy fader Saynt Domynyke as I see â–ª you nowe And yet he is more nerer me than ye be ¶ And thenne she procedyd forth of many merueylous reuelacyons wythin a whyle after it befyll that her yong brother that was called also Bartylmeus went by her And sodenly she caste her eye a lytyll a syde and behylde her brother and left of the syght of saynt Domynyke for that lytyll tyme and thenne contynued forth in her tyste mater But for that dede she made moche sorowe whan she ê‘ ceyued what she had I doo that longe after she helde her peas spake nomore but alwaye wepte for that trespaas Whan she had longe contynued in wepyng at the laste Fryer Bartylmewe prayed her to procede forth as she began but she migte not for sobbyng vnnethe speke one worde ¶ Yet as she myght speke she sayde ¶ O what wretche am I And he shall doo me vengeaunce for my synnes ¶ Fryer Bertylmewe What synne myght that be theÌ„ne she sayde Sawe ye not how I bowed awaye mynhede myn eyen for to beholde my broder that went ryght now by the whiles our lorde she wed me many merueylous thynges Fryer Bertyimewe say nay he coude not perceiue that she bowed in ony wyse her hede and her eyen a syde ¶ Thenne she sayde fader yt ye wyste how our blessyd gloryous lady gloryous virgyn mary repreuyd me ryght now for that synne Ye woide wepe also fore as I and soo she spake nomore of that maâ—ieâ— of reuelacyons but euer coÌ„tynued in wepyng vnto the tyme she had made her conâ—eâ—ion and thene she wente home to the chamber where saynt poule appleryd to her as she to de afterwarde to her confessour and repreuyd her sharpely off the lokyng of that tyme whan she tourned her hede soo a syde in so ferforthe she sayd that it hadde be more leuer for her to be shamed of all the worlde than onys â—stsones to suffre that shame the whyche she had of saynt poule whan he repreuyd heâ— Thene she sayd to her confessour fader bethynke you what repreuynge of cryste shall be at the day of dome to all synners yt the cepreuynge of one of hys appostles is now soo sharpe and make me soo moche aferd She sayd also but yf she had hadde comforthe of a fayr lambe that stode besyde her whiles the. Appostle repreuyd her She sholde haue deyed for sorowe as her semed wherefore euer after warde she was she more meker â— her reuelacyons Loo maydens how our lorde suffred her to falle for her more mekenes But now shall I telle you what the â–ª reuelacyons was the whyche she had ofsaynt Domynyke Whan this holy mayde comyned spake wyth Freyer bertylmewe of hyr reuelacyons she sayd that she sawe in dede by a vysyon of imaginacion allmyghty god the fader brenging forth as her semed out of his mouthe our lorde thuÌ„cryste his endeles sone the whiche apperid openly to hyr in lykenes of mankynde On the lodersyde the blessed Patryarch Saynt Domynyke comyng out of the brest of almyghcy god the fader shyn nyng all in â—yâ—ht ¶ And the herde of the mouthe of aâ—â—myghty god the fader thyse wordes dere doughter I haue brought forthe thyle chyldren the one kyndely naturall beyng the second persone in intrynyte The oder louyngly and swetely by adopcion Thenne this holy made hadde grete meruayle of suche comparyson by twene the sone of god and saynte Domynyke ¶ But almyghty god the fader to put awaye that grete meruayle expownyd thyse wordes and sayde Dere doughter ryght as here mynowne sone whom I brought forth of me naturally and eternaly was euer pertyghtly obedyent to me vnto the dethe by takyng vpon hym maÌ„kynde Ryght soo the dedes of Domynyk myn sone by adopcyon what that euer wrought fro hys chyldehode in to the enof hys bodely lyf were reuled ¶ After the obedyence of myÌ„ commauÌ„de t ys and neuer brake
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
ofte tymes to mayster Reymond But the vertue of hyr pacyence wythout ony comâ—yson passyd hyr sekenes as I shall declare by the helpe of god afterward in the last chapytre of the thrydde ê‘tye Whan hyr faders soule was delyuered out of the body this holy mayde smyled full manerly sayd now wold god I were as ye ben And all that tyme other wepte she shewed gladnesse of chere for she myght none other wyse do For she sawe hys blessyd sowle whan it passed out of the body how it was receyued in to endelesse blysse wythout ony taryeng of the whiche she was ryght gladde a lytell afore she had exê‘yence of the same ioye as it is rehersed in the chapytre afore this See ye not maydens how wysely the prouydence of our lord was wrought in this maydens fader Our lord myght yf he had wold haue purged his soule in many maner of wyses made hym able Inough to ioyes as he dyd to the thefe that hynge on hys ryght syde but he wold not wythout som payne that this mayde sholde suffre as she axed for hir encrece of hir more ioye the whiche payne was euer afterward swete to hyr as hyr semed not wythout cause for she wyst well that hir swetenesse shold euer encrece aftward hyr by grace in blysse by ioye and therfore she myght in no wyse calle the payne of Ilica passio but a swete peyne This holy mayde tolde puely to mayster Reymond that by long tyme aft hir fads deth his soule appyred oftymes to hir thaÌ„kyng hir for hir grace that he receyued by hir also tolde hir many puy thinges gaue hir warnyng of the assaillyng of hir enemy therto kepte hir from al ghostly euelys Ryght as I haue tolde you maydens of a myracle shewed to a ryghtwysmannys soule So shall I tell you now a myracle shewed to a synfull mannes sowle ¶ There was a man dwellyng in the cyte of Sene the whiche was called Andrewe a full ryche man of oute wordely thynges of the world but full poure off inwardly heuenly thynges he was a vitioê° maÌ„ for he neyther dred ne loued god But an hasarder and a cursed blasphemer or a swerer of god and of his sayntes wythin a while afterward that maÌ„ was take wyth a sykenes and lay done in his bedde soo seke that euery man and leche sayde he was deed That perceyued hys curat and come to hym for to comforte hym that he sholde beshryue and take penaunce and make his testameÌ„t as the maner was in the countre whan he hadde herdde how the preeste counseylled hym he despysed bothe hym and his couÌ„seyll his wyf consydered that hauynge zele and loue to his soule she wente after all maner relygyous folke both men and wymmen for to stere hym to god But yet for all her counseyll they myght not bowe hym to confession and contrycion of his synnes neyther wyth thretinge of endeles paynes ne wyth rewardes of endeles ioyes Thenne eftsones his curate came to hym dredyng lest he sholde haue deyed for defaulte of counseyll and sayde to hym as he sayd fyrste addynge therto many more holsom wordes Yet alwaye that wretched man dispised hym afterward as he dyde afore bothe hym his wordes ¶ At the last he fyll in despeyre and in to the synne of the hooly ghost â–ª and so he drewe faste to the deth This was afterward tolde to Frier thomas this holy maydes fyrst â–ª confessour And he wente to this holy mayde hous pursuyng for to constrayne her by al the vertu of obedyens and of charyte for to praye to our lorde that he wolde vochesaf to socour the wretched soule that it bee not dampned wythouten ende ¶ But whan he came to this holy maides hous he founde her rauysshyd fro her bodly wyttes and as longe as she was so occupyed he durste not occupye her ne durst not long abyde out of his hous by cause that myght drewe fast vpon hym wherfore he charged a felowe of here 's that was that tyme wyth her the whiche was called katheryn as she was for to charge that holy mayde in goddes behalue and his whan she were restorid agayn to her bodely wyttes that she wolde praye for suche a mannys sowle that lyeth in passyng she sayd she wolde so whan the holy mayde herde that she had soo greate compassyon of his soule that she prayed our lord â–ª anone deuoutly besechyng hym entyerly that the soule shold not perysshe whiche he boughte wyth his precious blode To whom our lord answerd sayde thus his wyckednes hathe asserued payne as an horrybly blasphemie For he hath not only blasphemid me and myn sayntes wyth his mouth But also he hath throwen a table in to the fyre for despyte of me in the whiche was paynted the ymage of myn passyon And the ymage of myn blessyd gloryous moder and of other sayntes And therfore it is worthy by ryghtwysnes that he brenne in endeles fyre ¶ Thenne she fyll downe prostrate with wepyng to the feet of our lorde and sayde lord yf thou wylt consydere narowe to the synnes of men who may escape endeles dampnacion wherfore comest thou downe to be born of a gloryous mayde for to suffer tourment of cruell deth only for to wayte after mennys synnes and to punysshe theym horrybly to endeles payne why tellest thou me this and the synnes of a lost man that barest vppon thyn sholders all maner of synnes whether I am come to the now for mercy or for ryghtwysnes haue myn lord blesfulle what thou saydest to me whan thou puttest me forthe for the helthe of many mennys sowles I haue none other refresshinge in this lyf But for to see myn neybours tourned to the And for the alone I suffer paciently thyn absence yf thou gyue me not this ioye what shall I than doo Good meke lord put me not awaye fro the yelde me myn brother graciously that is now obstynat in herte ¶ Thus she prayed contynuelly fro the begynnyng of the nyght vnto the graye mornynge all that tyme wepyng wythout ony slepe dysputyng wyth our lorde alwaye for the helpe of that sowle Oure lord aledgyng ryghtwysnes to gyue to hym vengeaunce for his synnes And the hooly mayde asking mercy at the last our lord of his endeles mercy gaue her an answere and sayde dere doughter I shall shewe hym myn grace for whom thou hast prayed to Andrewe and sayde Dere chylde whi wylt thou not beshreue of the tres pas that thou hast done to me loke thou beshryue for I am redy for to forgyue the thyn synnes Thenne was his harde herte souple by grace that he cryed wyth a grete voyce to his meyny aboute hym sayde sende for the preste for I wyll byshryue For my lord Jhesu crist hath warned me that I shold beshryuen ¶ Whan his meynye perceyued that anone they went for the preste the preste came and he was perfyghtly confessyd to hym and made his testament wyth
of Sene toke leue of her confessour as as chylde of obedyens and wente to that monastery there she laye whom folowed her susters and Mayster ReymouÌ„d for to see what myracle our lord and almyghty god wolde shewe in metyng to gyder of peas two gloryous vyrgyns maydens and his chosen spouses Whan she was come to the monastery she wente to the same place there she laye knelyd doune and began to bowe her hede for to kysse that holy vyrgyns feet wyth that bowyng doun the holy vyrgyns body off gloryous Agnes lyfte vp by myracle her owne foote as hye that the holy mayde katheryn of Sene shold kysse it wythout ony bowyng of her body or hede This myracle sawe all the susters of the same monasteryeland also the susters off penaunce wyth this holy mayde katheryne of Sene. Whan the holy mayde katheryne of Sene perceyued this she was the more meke and bowed the lower And than this holy mayde and vyrgyn saint Agnes drewe doune her legge agayn her fete and layde it as it was fyrste Another tyme this holy mayde katherin of Sene came agayn to vysyte the swete holy body of this holy mayde saynt Agnes and brought wyth her two cosyns of here 's yonge mayde chyldren for to make theÌ„â—usters in that monastery there for to serue oure lord almyghty god And whan she was come â–ª to the monasterye She went there the swete holy body lay of gloryous saint Agnes and knelyd not at the feet as she dyde the fyrst tyme but at the holy hede eschewyng mekely as it semed the eleuacion of her holy feet as it was doo fyrst And as she knelyd at her hede she layde her cheke to the swete cheke of this holy mayde gloryous Agnes loÌ„ge tymes to gyders But whaÌ„ she had so longe taryed she tourned her to her cosyn Lysa the whiche came wyth her and other moo of her susters and saide in this wyse Lysa why perceyue ye not the gyfte off our reuerende lord almyghty god hath gyue to vs out of heuene why bee ye soo vnkynd wyth that Lysa and other susters of heres loked vp and sawe manna reyne doun out of heuen couerynge both gloryous saynt Agnes and the holy mayde katheryn of Sene And also other that stode aboute Soo that Lysa fylled her hondes wyth that same whyte seed of manna ¶ This myracle appieryd not wythoutâ—n cause For gloryous saynt Agnes whan she lyued in erthe was wounte to haue that token out of heuen whan she prayed to our reuerend lorde almyghty god Soo that somme of her susters sawe â—er mantell alle whyte whan she wos vp fro her prayer and vnknowyng what it myght be and wold haue shake it awaye from her mantyll and she forbode it theym full esely And also it was doo for another mystery â–ª Glorious saynt Agnes knewe well that this holy mayde katheryne of Sene sholde be felawe wyth her in heuen And therfore she began to felyshyppe wyth her in erthe and worshyppe her also wyth that token that was wonte to appe re to her whan she lyued in her body By that manna is vnderstonde puryte and mekenes for by wytnes of that manna is vnderstonde puryte and clennes of maydenhede by the lytelnesse of greyne of that manÌ„a is vnderstonde of the mekenes of maydens that they sholde haue That puryte and that mekenesse was ryght haboundaunt in thyse two maydens saynt Agnes and this holy mayde Katheryne off Sene As for that wytnesse of the myracles I shewed in this chapytre was Lysa aud other susters of hers and also susters of the same monasterye where thyse myracles weren shewed Ouermore as for wytnesse touchyng the myracles off the hooly sacrament of the aulter was mayster Reymond her confessour and another mayster of dyuynyte the whiche was called Berthylmewe and other mo many moo myracles our glorious lord almyghty god shewed by his holy mayde katheryne and by this holy mayde saynt Agnes whyles they lyued here in erthe the whiche ben not writen in this boke but that is wryten herinne is wryten to the worshyppe of our gloryous lord god and helthe of soulys And thus I make an ende of this chapytre of this hooly legende of this holy mayde glorious saint Katheryne of Seene to the honour worshyppe and glorye of all the gloryous trinyte Cui referantur laudes honor et gloria in secula seculorum Amen ¶ Explicit secunda pars gloriosissime vite gloriosissime virginis Katerine de Seene ¶ Here begynneth thr thyrde boke and party wherin is rehersed the deyenge off this holy mayde gloryous saynt katheryne of Sene and of her myracles that were shewed after her dethe And fyrst of all of the wytnesse whiche were preseÌ„t at her passyng and enformed the auctor of this boke whiche and what they were Capitulum Primum WHan this hooly mayde katherine of Sene was sente to the Cyte of Florens by our holy Fader Gregory xj the whiche was that tyme pope off Rome as it is rehersed afore in the seconde party for to make peas betwyne oure hooly fader the pope and his children of Florence she founde theym vnobedyent rebell where amonges whom she suffred moche persecucion in soo moche that one of them drewe his swerde wolde haue smyten of her hede so woode he was wyth her all be it thought he were letted by the vertu of our glorious lord almighti god And yet notwythstondyng suche persecucion she wolde neuer goo thens vnto the tyme that peas was cryed thorugh out all the Cyte of Florence And that was not by pope gregorys dayes for he dyed in the mene tyme â–ª but it was by pope vrbans tyme dayes the whiche was pope after hym in whos tyme the peas was made And after tyme the pope was made she went home agayne to the Cyte off Seene And bylefte in her owne hous ful dylygently aboute the making of a certayn boke the whiche the swte gloryous holy ghoste endyted by her mouth in her owne langage She prayed her wryters the whiche wrote the boke that thei sholde consydere besely that she telleth theÌ„ in tyme of her rauysshyng soo she bad theym wryte Thenne she wente and prayed and sone after she was rauysshed from her bodely wyttes and in that rauisshyng she spake many swehe wordes the whiche wordes the wryters wrote as she spake and soo compyled a boke full off profytable sentence as our swete gloryous for almyghty god tolde her In the whiche endytyng one special thynge and a merueylous was shewed And alle that was comprehended and wryten in the boke was endyted by her by dyuerse times in tyme of her rauysshyng and neuer ellys soo that in that same tyme that she was soo rauysshed she sawe none bodely syght wyth her eyen ne herde wyth her eeres ne swellyd wyth her nose ne none of her bodely wyttes neyther hadde her bodely workynge for that tyme that she was in that rauysshyng By this ye may
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
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
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
wolde be wyth hym and delyuer hym from all peryll And whan he doth ony thyng that he sholde not do I shall gyue hym warnyng she sayde for to amende Thyse wordes she sayd often tymes to tha last ende of hir passyng but the last worde that she sayd was this Domine in manus tuas comnendo spiritum meum And so that blyssed soule paste out of the body and was is complyd knytte to hir spouse Ihesu whom she loued so hyghly wyth an Indyuysyble and perpetuell on hede or vnyon The yere of our lord a thousand threhondred foure soore the nyne and twenty daye of Apryll the whiche was in the cyte of Rome and fyll vpon a sonday about the houre of tyerce that same and the same houre the sowle of this holy mayde appyred to mayster Reymond that was that tyme in ferre contreys and not by open bodely apparycyon but by mentall apparycyon seyng to hym in his soule suche wordes of comfort Drede the not for I am here for the I am in heuen where I may helpe the and defende be seker therfore drede not for I am here for the Wyth the whiche coÌ„fortable wordes mayster Reymond was in maner astonyed ameruaylled what it myght be wenyng that this comforte hadde come from oure blyssed lady moder of mercy by cause he stood a fore an ymage of heres and sayd an Aue maria But yet neuertheles he was aferde to thinke so by cause him thought he was vnworthy to haue suche a comfort of hyr And so what it myght mene or what it myght be or whennys it myght come he nyst neuer But afterward in heryng of another reuelacyon of this holy mayde shewed to a deuoute matrone he vnderstood the better what it myght mene soo whens it myght come Of the whiche matrone I shall tell you The same tyme whan this holy mayde passyd out of this worlde there was in Rome a deuoute matrone that was called Semya the whiche hadde two men to hyr sones to whome she was euery daye bothe moder and seruant in makyng of theyr mete Thys deuoute matrone after tyme hyr husbonde was dede she purposed euer after to serue god and visyte by pylgrymage holy sayntes of Rome and she continued many yeres She hadde also in custome for to ryse at mydnyght and praye and afterward for to take a lytell rest syttyng or lenyng wyth hyr hede that she myght be the more quycker on the morowe erly for to go hyr stacyons of Rome It befyll soone after that whan this holy mayde Katheryn was come to Rome this deuoute matrone took knowleche of hyr and was often tymes edyfyed by hyr good exhortacyons and soo hadde a good ghoostly affeccyon to hyr and was ofte tymes homely wyth hyr in hyr how 's almost euery daye Neuertheles a â—ytell afore this holy mayde deyed she came not to hyr bycause of certeyn besynes that she hadde to done what for hyr pylgrymages and the purueyaunce of mete for hyr sones And therfore she wyst not that this holy mayde passyd Thys deuoute matrone Semya arose vp atte mydnyght as she was wonte for to doo and praye a longe tyme to gydre she purposed for to reste a lytell by cause she wolde vp by tymes on the morowe for to here nasse and thenne for to be besye aboute hyr chyldren mete She dyde soo but euer she was trayueylled in hyr slepe that she sholde O wretche the fende hath deceyued the she â—se vp thenne and wente about for to seke in paryshe chyrches where somme hole masses were aseyeng as she wente she herde a beâ—le rynge to a masse in an how 's of Nonnys she was gladde thenne thyder she wente and lefte hyr wortys vnpy kyd vnwashe for hast and shytte hir do â—e bare the keye wyth hyr whan she came the masse was in the begynnyng wyth that she sayd to hyr self thus Now I wote well the fende hath not deceyued me as I wende Neuertheles as moche as she wyste well that the mete of hyr sones myght not be redy or they came home to mete she was sory but for the comforte that she hadde in hyr masâ—e she commytted all to god prayeng hym that he wold wouche sauf to kepe hir that day fro heuy wordes of hyr chyldren the whyche were growen men for she was sore aferde to dysplease them soo she herde forthe all the hye masse whan the hye masse was done as she wentâ— home she mette wyth hyr sones comynge homward to mete seyeng to hyr thus Moder hye you faste for it is tyme to go to mete She answerd ageynefull esely and sayd Good sones abydeth a whyle ye shall go to mete anone Whanne she was entred in to hir hous she founde hyr mete all redy ynough and the wortys all redy in the potte well soden at the full she was than astonyed than ked our lord that she had herde hyr masse and so badde hir sones sytte done to mete in the name of Jhesu thynkyng in hyr self that after none she wolde go vysyte the holy mayde Katheryne all the mete tyme she thought moche in that vysyon how it was coÌ„fermed wyth so grete myracles In the mene whyles hyr sones commended theyr mete sayd that it was beter sesoned that tyme than ony mete that they hadde eten afore many a daye but the deuoute matrones â—erte was alwaye vpon the vysyon seyeng wythin hyr selfe thus O moder Katheryne and crystis spouse Yet for all thys she wende not that she hadde be dede And whan hyr sones were a gone hadde etâ— she wente to Katherynes hous and knockyd at the dore herde none answere it was sayd hyr of the neyghboures there about that she was walkyd out for to vysyte holy places yet in treuthe hir susters were wythin waylyng And wolde not suffre none to entre in to the tyme they hadde axyd counseyll how they shold beâ—y the body At the last it was determyned amonges them that on the morowe the body shold be ladde to the frere prechours there for to do the seruyse as god wold ordeyne by counseyll so it was done But as soone as the body was come to the chyrche the people folowed for to touche hir fetâ— or hir clothys so that bothe the freres also hir sustres and other of hir dysciples were aferde lest they sholde haue borste toren hyr clothys therfore they sette the body wythin the chauntell of a chapell that was endued in the worshyp of Saynt Domynyk What that fyll afterwarde I thynke to declare you in the nexte chapytre by the helpe of god Casuelly whyles thys was adoyng Semya the Matrone came Inne the mene tyme and axyd what that noyse and concourse of people myghte mene Hyt was tolde hyr that Katheryne of Sene was passyd oute of thys worlde hyr body was in the chyrche wherfore the people gadred soo faste for to see it Anone whanne she herde
recommende her sekenes to the merytes of the holy mayde vyrgyn in as moche as she herde speke of the grete myracles that our reuerend lord almighty god wrought in her trusting fully that they sholde be holpe by her merytes Soo that by her steryng exortacioÌ„ many were holpe Thenne it fyll in a tyme that off the chyldren of that worthy Lady dame Jone sodenli as he went vpon an hye steire fyll doune hedelyng a fore thys Lady his moder Soo that she wende as it was lykely to be that the childe eyther was ded or ellys sholde haue caughte a mayme therby all the dayes of his lyf after Wyth that this lady the moder of the chyld cryed to this holy mayde and virgyn gloryous saint katheryn off Sene thus gloryous saynt katheryn off Sene to the recommauÌ„de myn chylde she had not soo soone sayd soo â–ª but that the chylde stood vp wythouten ony harme lesse or more for he was as hole thenne as euer he was a fore Thenne the moder thanked our reuerend lord almighty god and this holy mayde and virgyn gloryous saint katheryne of the blessed myracle ¶ Also there was another woman the whiche was a generall launder and lyued by that maner of besynes that was cally d bone Johan i. bona Johanna In a tyme as this woman shold goo to the Ryuer ther besyde and wasshed clothes It behapped her that she sholde wasshe a quylte and in the mene tyme she helde the ton ende vnder her armes whyle that the other ende was a wasshyng It behapped that the heuyer ende in the water drewe doune the lyghter ende vnder her armes and soo fletted feer wythin the Ryuer â–ª Whan she perceyued that she wyste well yf it were lost she myght not paye therfore by cause she was ryght poure She thaÌ„ a rechyd after the quylte for to haue it agayn and sodenly she her self fell in to the water soo that the water bare her ferre wythin wyth that she bethought her of gloryous saint katheryn and sayde thus O thou gloryous saint Katheryne helpe me now in this nede This worde was not soo sone I sayde but that she was holpe in soo moche that she was lyfte vp aboue the water and toke the clothe and came to lond wythout helpe of man whan she was recouereude she was sore astonyed merneylyng how that myght be that she was so soone holpe thenne she conceyued wel that it thus by the helpe of our reuerend lord almyghty god and this holy mayde and virgyn gloryous saint katheryn of Sene ¶ Of another myracle now I shall tell you of the whiche Mayster Reymound bereth witnes as it was told him It befel on a tyme whan Mayster Reymound was come to the Cyte of Rome vppon a daye whan this holy maydens virgyn body shold be traÌ„slated as she prophecied longe afore whyles she lyued as it shall be declared afterward that her fylle seke thenne came to hym a physycion that was called Mayster James of saynt Mary the rounde vpon a daye whan this physycien came to visyte Mayster Reymond And for to gyue hym medycyne he tolde Mayster Reymound of a yonge man that was called Nycholas a worthy mannys sone of Rome that was passyng seke off a sekenes that is called the quynauncie soo that euery leche sayd by nature he myght notlyue For to all mennys syght he drewe faste to the deth This perceyued Alixa a suster of penauÌ„ce of saynt Domynyke in as moche as she knewe well that the fader and the moder loued this holy mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt Katheryne Whan she lyued came to this yonge man and brought wyth her a tooth of this hooly mayde and vyrgyn gloryous saynt katheryne that she kepte alwaye for a relyke The whiche tooth she put in that yonge mans mouth She hadde not so soone doo soo But that the posteme that was wythin brake and the mater fyll out off the childes mouth wythin a whyle after he was hoole thanked oure reuerede lord almyghty god this holy mayde vyrgyn gloryous saint katheryn Also afterwar he tolde that myracle openly to all that world here it Soo that in a time whan mayster Reymond prechyd he tolde that myracle to the peple as he herde off other Whan that yonge man herde hym speke therof the whiche was at the sermoÌ„ for that tyme he stode vp openly and saide to Mayster Reymound thus Syrye saye sothe for I am the same that this myracle was shewed to Many mo myracles were shewed by our reuerend lorde almyghty god of this hooly mayde and virgyn whiche ben not wryton in this boke But they myght be knowen wythouten ony wrytyng openly ynoto by the ymages of waxe that were offred vp to her sepulcre soone after she was buryed Neuertheles of one myracle I shall telle you that Mayster ReymouÌ„d bereth recorde of It befyll soone after that this holy mayde and vyrgyne was buryed that quene Johan of Cecyly sent in a tyme Reynold of vrsyne wyth a grete host off armyd folke to the Cyte of Rome for to make Pope vrbane the vj eyther for to put hym out of the Cyte or ellys for to slee hym â–ª All be it the Romans hylde wyth the pope as trewe chyldren wyth the Fader Of the whiche Romans somme of the comyn peple were take of thoo scismatykes and crruelly punisshed somme were bounde to a tree soo to deye myscheuously somme were ledde to a felde and I payned wyth certayn infirmytes and instrumentis of yron soo for to take her bodely deth But as many as asked helpe of this holy mayde and virgyn gloryous saint katheryn of sene preuily in her herte or openly in worde wyth deuoucion Thei merueylously and sodenly were vndo of her hondes wythout ony helpe of ony man ¶ Of suche myraclis that were many the whiche ben not wryten in this boke Loo dere frendes thê° endeth this chapitre where ye maye see many fayr myracles by the whiche ye may vnderstonde that this hooly mayde and virgyn was and is a dere spose of our lord reuerend lord almighty god I will thê° make an ende of this boke saue by cause holy chirche commendyth more the vertu of pacience thenne shewyng of myraclis as saint Gregrye sayth therfore I thynke to wryte to you a chapytre of the vertu of pacience that this holy mayde and virgyn hadde wherin ye maye gader flonres and fruyte to encrece of your vertuous lyuyng by the helpe and socour of our reuerend lord almyghty god swete Ihesu Cryste Qui cum patre et spiritu sancto viuit et regnat deus per omnia secula seculorum Amen ¶ Of the myght and stronge paciens whiche this holy mayde and virgyn gloryous saint katheryn of Sene shewed openly from her fyrste yonge age vnto her deth bi the whiche virtu clerly is prouyd that ryghtfully she is worthy to haue the name in godes chirche of erthe whan she is made soo fayr and so glorious in
rehersyd in the vj Chapytre of the seconde party That same payne in her breste lefte wyth her the whiche passed all her other bodely paines And yet more ouer wyth all thyse paynes she had de ryght ofte the feueres For alle thyse paynes she shewed neuer sory there but euer gladde there to alle folke and neuer pleyned her ¶ But alle those that came to her to bee comforted she comforted them wyth worde yf it nede were notwythstondynge her greate infyrmytes she wolde laboure for theym soo that her sekenesse sholde not let to her But that she wolde aryse out of her bedde and traueyle bothe for her bodely hele and ghostely he le as it is rehersyd in the vij Chapytre of the seconde party ¶ Ferthermore what payne she suffred of fendes it maye not lyghtely bee tolde you by cause it was so ofte It is touched afore in the seconde Chapytre of the seconde party how ofte she was caste off fendes in to the fyre albe it she was in no wyse I hurte But specially of one thinge Mayster Reymound bereth recorde that in a tyme that he and certayne of his bretheren were out for the helthe of sowles And this holy mayde and virgyn with them and as they came homward again a lytyll a thyshalf the Cyte of Sene this holy mayde and virgyn for werynesse was sette vppon an hors she hadde not ryden but a lytyll tyme that the fend drew here doune in to a pytâ—e so that the â—yâ—st that came to the grounde was her hede whan mayster ReymouÌ„de perceyued that he cryed helpe of oure gloryous lady gloryous virgyn Mary and came and founde this holy mayde and virgyn all smelyng as she lay and despysynge the fend and she hadde none harme but she sayde to Mayster Reymound loo the fend hath doo this Thenne she was take vp and sette vppon the hors agayn eftsones And she rode not as ferve as a man myght shete an arowâ— but that the sende had eftsones throwe her doun in to a foule fenne or lake and the hors laye vppon her syde Thenne she smelyd and sayde this hors warmeth well my syde there I suffer â—he payne of ylica passio so she sâ—â—rned the fende and hadde none harme Mayster Reymound and his fe lawe thenne toke her vp and wolde nomore suffer her ryde but ladde her betwyne theym both By cause also they were nyghe the â—yte Yet the cursed fende wolde not ase but alwaye he tourmentyd her and drewe her now on that one syde now on that other syde And but â—he hadde be holde she sholde haue falle to the grounde Neuertheles alwaye in suffryng of suche tourmentis she shewed eâ—uer glad pacient chere and dyspysed the fende After suche Iâ—â—usyons folowed greate profyght of soules as it is made mencion of the vij chapytre of the second partye And that knewe welle the fende wherfore he tourmentyd her in that â— wyse that he dyde And ryght as thyse tourmentis beren wytnesse of her grete pacyence Ryght so they maye well bere wytnesse that she was and is an holy maide vyrgyn in suffryng of theym as it is openly declared in the second chapytre off the thyrde party where it is rehersed that she ended her bodely lyf in suche martyrdome Ensample herof I may telle you dere frendes of Saint Antony whan he was in deserte he knewe wel that martir dome was a souerayne thynge in the syght of our reuerend lâ—rde almyghty god therfore he desyred martyrdome whome our reuerâ—nd lord almyghty god suffred to be tormentyd of â—endes for a martyrdome but yet he lefte not hys bodely lyff for suche tourment This holy mayde vyrgyn was so vyolently tormented by suche paynes that she ended her bodly lyff wyth theym euer thankyng our reue rend lord almyghty god This was a geete token of holynes for to suffer martyrdome of fendes Loo dere frendes now haue ye herde the vertu of paciens whiche this holy maide and virgyn vsed wherfore she is oned spoused to oure reuerend lorde almyghty god swete â—hesu Cryste in the blâ—sse off heuen And thus I make an ende of this recapytulacion of this holy booke to the honour and worshyppe of our gloryous reuerend lord almyghty god all the â—euerend Trynyte Cui referantur laudes honor eâ— gloria in sclaÌ„ scloÌ„â—â— Amen ¶ Here endeth the lyff of that gloryous vyrgyn and Martyr saynt Katheryn off Sene ¶ Here begynnen the reuelacioÌ„s of Saynt Elysabeth the kynges doughter of hungarye ON a day whan saynt Elisabeth was in preuy prayer and sought her spouse Ihesu Cryste wyth deuoute herte and drery spyryte and founde hym not as she was wounte She began to thynke her and egerly to syghe in her sowle what were the cause that her spouse vysy ted her not by insendynge of swete comfortes as he was wonte to doo other tymes And whan she stylye dysposed her to goo to somme spyrytualle brother for to haue counseylle therof The blessyd mayden marye apperyd to her and sayde Elysaâ—eth yff thou wolde â—ee my dyscyple I wolde be thy maystres and yf thou wolde be my seruaunt I wolde be thy lady To whom Elysabeth sayde Lady who bee ye that wolde haue me dyscyple and sâ—â—uaunt To whom mayde Marye answerd I am moder to the sone of god a lyue whom thou hast chosen to bee thy lord and spouse Thenne she sayde ther is noo brother in the worlde that may better enforme the of thy spouse than I maye Thenne Saint Elysabeth faylyng vppon the erthe honouryd her and kneling she layde her hondes ionyd to gyder bytwyxte the hondes of the blessyd virgyn And eftsonys our lady sayde If thou wylt be my doughter dyscyple and seruaunt I wolde be thy moder ladye and maystresse And when thou art of me suffycyently enforned and taught I wolde lede the to the louyd spouse my sone whiche wol receyue the in to hys hondes As I now haue receyued the Thenne afterward she began to warne her and sayde Flee chydynges and streues baâ—bytynges and â—uâ—murracions and murmurs that be made of the gyue noo heryng to theym ne let not thy hert be tormentyd thersore but thynke ther maye not so moche yll be spoken of the but ther is more In theym than is spoken of the The next feste of our lady than folowynge after whan Elysabeth goddes seruauÌ„te in prayeng wepte full bitterly dredynge that she hadde not fully kepte the forsayd warynge of the gloryous virgyne Sodenly she apperid to her not in slepe but wakyng swetely calling her by her propre name and sayde O Elysabeth my swete doughter tourment the not soo moche though thou haue not fully bowed to my warnynges byddynges For why thou beginnest now for to profyte in the way of god But thou atreyned not yet the hyghenes of perfectioÌ„ But fyght stedfasâ—ly against vices and saye onâ— the angelis Salutacion that Gabryell goddes messanger hayled me wyth and all thy trespace
on longe that one of Elysabeth felowes passed forthe where she prayde whome saint Elysabeth gretely blamynge sayde full sharpely to her Wherto gooste thou now hyther and thider this tyme before my face And began as it were to menace her wyth wordes and sygnes Thenne whan she was passed our lady the blessyd mayde sayde to Elysabeth Crystyâ— seruaunt ¶ O doughter loo who that thou art pet a foole and vndescrete that â—plyest thyâ—â— herte to ony worldely thynges whyle thou haâ—t me presente with ye. ¶ Therfore vse nowe my presence this nyghtfor oâ— specy all grace I am sentefro my sonne to the that thou aske sekerly what the lyketh And I wolde answere instedfastenesse to the all thyng that thou askest ¶ Neueryelesse for thou applyed thyne herte to the de de of thy â—olowed reproued here vndiscely I wold gyue to the penaunce that â–ª in no wyse thou go agayn to thy bed this nyght ne I thynke not to shewe the somme thyng now the whiche I wolde haue sayd yf thou hadde not offended my presence whan that nyght was passed and. daye was come Elysabeth began to make moche sorowe and gretely to be tormeÌ„ted for the offence she hadde done in the nyght afore to the mageste of the glory ouse virgyne as it is sayd aboue ¶ And she drede gretely lest she myght neuer after recouer suche a grace and so grete a comforte To whos preuy thougt the blessyd mayde answeryd aperyng to hyr efâ—sones and sayd Drede the not doughter ne tormente the not wyth foly doubtyng for wantyng of me for thy trespas that is passyd for why thy trespas is nowe for gyueng to the by thy penaunce and I am now come to the that thou aske what the lyketh for I am redy to gyue the answere of althynges as I bydde the ¶ To whome Saynt Elysabeth sayd I praye you lady that ye say me what steryd you forto aske of our lord that he wold lette you of hys specyall grace seen that mayde borne of the whiche hys â—one sholde be borne ¶ And she answerd on a day whan I hadde comforte of god so wonderfull that vnto that tyme â–ª I was not experte of none suche and came agayne to myself I beganne to thynke and desyre wyth wyll full brennyng herte yf I myght doo onythyng or haue in me for the whiche god wolde lette me neuer parte from hym And whan I thought thus I rose vp and went to a book and beganne to rede in it And the fyrst oâ—enyng of the booke came before my syght the worde of Esaye the prophete Ecce virgo concipâ—et et pariet â—â—â—â—um ct ¶ That is Loo a mayden shall conceyue and bere a sonne câ— And as I bethought me thynkyng that maydenhode pleased moche to god Sythe he wolde hys sonne sholde be borin of a mayde thenne I purposed in my herte for the reuerence of hym to kepe maydenhode yf it befyll me to see hyâ— for to serue hyâ— in maydenhede all my lyf tyme. And yf it nedyd for to goo wyth her through aâ— the worlde After this the nexte nyght folowyng whyles I prayed wyth deuocyon of soules besought god that he wold let me see the mayde before or I deyede sodeyÌ„ly whan I was in derkenes soo moche bryghtenesse appered to me before my syght that in comparyson of it the sonne was as nought and fro that shynnge I herde a voyce clereli seyeng to me mayden of Dauyd kyured thou shalt bere my â—onne ¶ And he added therto wote thou certaynly that the same worshyp and reuereÌ„ce that thou desyred for to do to another mayden shall be done to the afore other I wyll for sothe that thou be that mayden the whiche shall here my sonne And the whiche not onely thou shalâ— haue hym by thy selfe ne in thy self but by lawe of matrymonye thou shalt may gyue hym to whome the lyketh and he shal not haue my grace ne my loue ne he shall â–ª not entre the kyngdome of my sonne that wyll not loue the and trowe the the moder of my sonns that shall take flesshe of â–ª the for helthe of mankynde And thou all one shalte may graunte to other of hys grace the whiche thou shalt receyue of me ¶ And whanne I herde thys wordes I was rauysshed of my selfe for moche drede and wonderyng and I fylle doun prostrate on my face as dede for I myghte not holde vp my selfe but sodeynly the Aungels of god stood by me reysyng me fro the erthe and comforted me and sayd◠¶ Drede the not for why thou arte blyssed aboue alle wommen and in the restyth goddes grace by the whyche all maye lyghtly be fullfylled that be sayde to the of oure lorde ¶ For that tyme forwarde I cessyd not to gyue louynges to my creature daye and nyght wyth herte mouthe and werke wyth stable and certayne trouthe abydynge the daye and the houre whan tho thynges sholde be fullfylled that were shewed to me of our lorde I sayd also oft sythtes wythin my selfe ¶ O mooste benygne lorde sythen yt lyketh the for to gyue soo grete grace to thyne vnworthy haÌ„dmayden ¶ I beseche the that thou gyue me the spyryte of wysdom that I mai worthely conceyue thy sonne maker of heuen and erthe and serue hym to pay ¶ The spyryte of vnderstondyng by the whiche I may wyth lyghtned soule fulfyll hys mekenes in as moche as is possyble in this worlde ¶ The spyryte of counseyll by the whyche I may kepe and gouerne hym as it besemeth whyle he is in hys chyldehode and wepyng of mannes Infyrmyte and not yet formyng wordes in spekyng ¶ The spyryte of strenthe by the whyche che I may wyth manly herte bere mynde the name of hys worthynesse and stedfastely cleue vnto hym ¶ The spyryte of conyng by the whyche I may enfourme all thoos that shalle haue to do wyth hym and that wyll folowe hym ¶ The spyryte of pyte by the whiche I may haue compassyon of hys swete man hede and of hys tender compleccion as it semeth for to haue ¶ And the spyryte of drede of god by whiche I may serue him wyth a meke soule and dewe reuerence ¶ All this thinges my dere doughter the whiche I asked were graunted to me as thou mayst vnderstonde by the Angellys salutacyon whiche I was haylled of Gabryell the Angell ¶ Another tyme as Elisabeth Cristys seruaunte stode in prayer and thought how moche grace god hadd done to the glorious vyrgyn mary ¶ She apperyd to hir and sayd my doughter thou thynkest that I hadde so moche grace wythout traueylle of my creatour but it is not soo out take the grace of halowynge in my mods wombe ¶ All other grace I hadde wyth moche trauell of soule and body contynually prayeng daye and nyght wyth fulle brennyng desyre and wepyng wyth full bytter mornyng and euer thynkyng spekyng and workyng that I trowed were moste plesyng to my creatour Eschewing wyth souerayne kepyng me fro
of all good is for to loue god wyth all the herte and wyth all the strengthes that I can waâ— to the well shewe whan I coÌ„ceyued a styff desyre to loue all thinges that god loueth hate all that he hateth than forsothe I kept shynyng water clere whan I studyed to kepe the desyre of myn herte the affeccion of the sensualyte vnhurted from all fylth of synne than I reysed a wall aboue the well whaÌ„ I besyed me to kepe in me al â—tues vnhurted namely mekenes pacyens myldnes wyth hope charyte to mi liues eÌ„de thaÌ„ I reised the peler fastned in it pypes whaÌ„ I gaue my self in exsample to all maÌ„kynde so that none from now forth may be excused â–ª For why whoÌ„ someuer wyll folowe me and be bâ—usome to my wronges â–ª he shall fynde grace and heeale thorugh my procuryng â–ª And certaynly wyte thou doughter that he that loueth me not may finde noo grace of my sone and as it foloweth therby nother of the fader ne of holi ghost Thyse thynges my dere doughter I saye to the that thou lerne to aske grace of god in prayer wyth fayth and mekenesse as thou knewest that I dyde by thynges afore sayd For wythouten prayer It is vnpossyble to gete the grace of god ¶ Neuerthelater vertues and grace bennot gyuen of god to all I lyke For whi they can not aske theym alyke off god al in prayer â–ª In mekenes and fayth ne kepe theym whan they haue theym And therfore shold men excyte on an other in prayer that echosen come to other that god hath gyue to hym and take off other that he hath not hym self Wherfore doughter I wolde that thou praye besely not only for thyn owne heale but also of other For ther by shall grace bee encresyd to the and to other And thy prayers shall be fruytfull It happened that Elysabeth was mornyng in a spyrytuall dysese duryng thre yere And that was for thought that she myght not haue her confessour as ofte as she wolde bee confessyd wherfore god hauyng compassyon of her desolacyon he assygned saynt Johan the Euangelist to be her confessour commaundynge that soo ofte as she wolde be shryuen he sholde besely here hir and assoyle her by his auctoryte And it shop soo by goddis grace that whan she shroue her to saynt Johan she hadde full mynde of all her synnes whan she shroue her to ony other confessour She hadde vnnethes mynde what she sholde saye She was not glad and iocunde after her assoyling â–ª as whaÌ„ she shroue her to Saynt Johan ¶ It befyll on a daye that Elysabeth goddes seruaunt suffred a grete notable wronge of another wycked woman wherfore as to mennys syght She was gretely dysplesyd At the last whan she came agayn to her self and thought that she hadde suffâ—ed wronge Thenne sodenly she lyghtned wyth a â—eruent spyryte off charyte gaue her to prayer And wyth passyng mornynge and flowynge of teres deuoutly prayenge she besought god that forsayde woman and for all other of whiche she had taken ony wronge brast out in thyse wordes O swete ayde hastynge god that gyldest goode for yll I beseche the that thou yeâ—de to her that bereth on me this wronge a notable gladnesse of holsom comforte soo that she haue Joye therof as I sholde Joye yf I were thy good doughter this sayde a voice sodenly soned to her erys and sayde Elysabeth though neuer made prayer that pleased mâ— soo moche as this dooth And therfore I make it knowen to the that all thy synnes be forgyuen the And whan she began to telle hym by one and by one all the trespaces that she hadde in fresshe mynde sayenge suche and suche haue I done the voyce answeryd thyse al other ar forgyâ—e the Thenne she sayde who art thou quod she thou spekest to me and for â—euest me alle my synnes the voyce sayd to her â–ª I am he to whos feet marye magdalene came went awaye clensyd of all synnes On s also whyles elysabeth bythought her in her prayer what thynge that she myght do to the most plesauÌ„ce of god she herde a voyce sayng to her ¶ Spera in domino â—â— fac bonitatem et cetera That is hope in god and doo goodnesse and dwelle in eâ— the and thou shalt be fede in the ryches of it Delyt the in our lord and he shall gyue the thyn askyges of thyn herte Hope in hym and he shall werke and he shall lede out as lyght Thy ryght wysnes thy dome as myddaye Be thou suggette to our lord and praye hym On a daye whyles Elysabeth was lastyng in prayer and full bytterly wepte her synnes our lorde Jhesu Cryste that is confortatour of theym that ben soroufull sayde to her apperyng O my dere doughter trouble the not ne be not sory for mynde off thy synnes For why all thy synnes ben forgyuen the And whan she answeryd the contrary and sayde that she was certayn â–ª that yf he wolde doo wyth her rightfully and not mercyfully she was worthy to be dampned to the paynes of helle Thenne our lorde Jhesu Cryste answered and sayde Doughter ryghtuosnesse is now done to god my fader For they synnes and satysfaction is fully made to hym for theym all after that ryghtuousnesse asketh For yf thou haue offen dyd god wyth all the membrys of thy body I was â—â—ormentyd in all the membris of my body for thyn and for all man kindes synnes For yf thou trespased wyth honde and wyth fete My handys and my feet were nayled to the crosse wyth harde nayles â–ª Yf thou haue trespased wyth thy eyen â–ª Myn eyes were blynfyld wyth a clothe yf thou haue trespased wyth thyn â—erys myn â—rys herde blasphemes and grete wronges yf thou haue trespased wyth thyn herte my herte was persed wyth a spere and yf thou haue offendyd wyth all thy body My body was shorged soo that from the sole of the fote vnto the tope of my hede apperyd in me noo stede hole ¶ Therfore doughter thynke not but that dew satysfaccion for thy synnes â–ª is doo full ryght wysly to god my fader Sothely I â—uffred the paynes of all synfull and the wronges of theym I bare in my herte that dyde not synne ne gyle was founden in my mouth ¶ On another tyme whan Elysabeth goddes seruaunt was prayeng Sodenly she sawe wyth her ghostely eyen a full fayre honde that hadde longe fyngers and the palme large and brode And in the myddes of the palme was a wounde all redde of blode And as soone as she vnderstode that it was the honde of Cryste She wondrede that it was soo small and soo longe And also ne it was answerde to her â–ª that it was so small For whiche cryst lyued in flesshe On nyghtes when he prayed he helde his hondes streyth forth And on dayes â–ª he tâ—aueyled wyth hondes and his fete and all his body by tounes and castellys prechynge the kyngdome of god And after this she herde a voyce sayeng to her Elysabeth loo This thyrde tyme I saye to the thy synnes ben fogyuen And thou hast my grace To the whiche voyce she answerde Lord yf I bee halowed as thou sayste wheroâ— is it that I maye not wythholde me but that I offende thy mayeste eche daye in somme thynge And the voyce sayde to her For yf thou noo tyme offended thou sholde not be so mocho mekyd And by that I folowed that thou woldest not loue me soo moche And thus thou sholdest waxe worse thenne fendes that both trusteth dredeth ¶ Therfore I haue not soo haloweth the but that thou maye synne â–ª But it suffyseth to the that I haue gyue the soo moche grace that wolde suffre thy self be slayne rather thenne thou sholdest offeÌ„de dedely And whan thys was sayd Cryst apperyd to her openly And her thought that thyke lopred blode largely flowed oute of hys syde wherfore she beganne to wonder To whom Cryst sayde doughter wonder the not For why whan I hangyd on the crosse all my membrys were dysioynyd out of ioynte for vndone trespasse And myn entrayles were broken and my veynes opened ¶ And therfore soo haboundaunt and thyke lopered bâ—ode folowed out of my syde All thyse thinges before sayd Saynâ— Elysabeth a boute the endyng of her lyff the whiche was in the yere of Our lorde a M CClxi affermyng that she hadde seyn and herde as it is aboue wryton ¶ And she sayd that she hadde so grete certayne off them all that she wolde rather suffre dethe theÌ„ ne to doubte ony lytyll parte of them that they were not trewe ¶ Here endeth the reuelacyons of saynt Elysabeth the kynges doughter of huÌ„garye Enprynted at westemynster by Wynkyn de worde W C