Prosalegenden die legende des ms. Douce 114 (dialekt von Nottinghamshire?) / [ed. C. Horstmann].

PROSALEGENDEN.

Die legenden des ms. Douce 114.

(Dialekt von Nottinghamshire?)

Einleitung.

Ms. Douce 114, perg., 8, 150 foll. zählend, vollständig er∣halten, von einer sauberen deutlichen hand des 15. jahrhun∣derts geschrieben, enthält:

1. Þe lyfe of s. Eliȝabeth of Spalbeck in þe shyre of Losse (al. Leody = Lüttich) bisyde an abbey of nunnys þat is called Herkenrode († 1266) fol. 1-12.

2. Þe lyfe of s. Cristyne þe meruelous (Mirabilis) of þe town of S. Trudous in Hasban († 1224) in achtunddreissig kapiteln, fol. 12-26^b.

3. Þe lyf of s. Marye of Oegines (Oignies), þe whiche lyfe maister James, confessour and famylier of þe same Marye, after byshop of Accon and after þat Cardynalle of þe courte of Rome, endyted in latyn in þe ȝeere of grace 1215; in zwei büchern zu je dreizehn kapiteln; fol. 26^b-76. Diese heilige starb achtunddreissig jahre alt, im jahre 1213.

Diese drei heilige sind belgische heilige aus der lütticher diöżese.

4. Þe copy of a letter touchynge þe lyfe of s. Kateryn of Senis († 1380), þe whiche lettir endyted in latyn Dan Stephen of Senis, sumtyme Pryour of þe hede Charteus in tyme of Scisme, after Pryour of Papy, vnto Frere Thomas Antonij of Senis, of þe ordyr of prechours, fol. 76-89^b. Dieser brief des Stephan war nach den schlussworten am 26. Okt. 1411 (ms. 1311) geschrieben.

Diese vier legenden sind von einer hand geschrieben und gehören demselben übersetzer an. Darauf folgt noch

5. A tretys of þe seuene poyntes of trewe loue and euer∣lastynge wisdame, drawen oute of þe boke þat is writen in latyne and callyd Orologium Sapiencie; in sieben kapiteln, fol. 89^b-148.

Dieses stück ist von verschiedenen händen geschrieben, deren letzte, von der mitte von fol. 109 bis zum schlusse, der der vier ersten stücke schr ähnlich und vielleicht mit dieser identisch ist, während fol. 90-109 eine mehr eckige und schnörkelige handschrift zeigen.

Im anfange des ms. findet sich ein inhaltsverzeichniss von der hand des Douce, der zugleich bei Christina Mirabilis auf Fabricii Bibl. med. aev. IV, 60 und bei Maria Oigniacensis auf Fabricius VI, 595 hinweist, aber den fehler begeht, die latei∣nische vita der Christina Mir. dem Jacobus Acconensis zuzu∣schreiben.

Alle diese stücke sind übersetzungen aus dem Lateinischen.

Als verfasser der latein. vita der h. Elisabeth von Spael∣beek nennt sich im anfange der engl. übersetzung Dan Philip of Clarevall, der bei gelegenheit der visitation der klöster seines ordens (er war wol Cistercienser) die heilige persönlich aufsuchte und diese vita in ihrem zwanzigsten jahre schrieb. Diese latein. vita ist bisher nicht bekannt, so dass die hier zum ersten male abgedruckte engl. übersetzung an stelle der∣selben sehr willkommen sein muss. [Spezialwerke über belgische heilige sind: J. Molanus Indiculus sanctorum Belgii Löwen 1573. id.: Natales sanctorum Belgii et eorundem chronica recapitulatio. Recogniti . . opera quorundam in universitate Duac. Professorum, Duaci 1616. Antonii Sanderi Hagiologium Flandriae sive de sanctis ejus Provinciae Antwerpen 1625. Legia Catholica, Leodiensibus Catholicis offert Joh. Roberti, Leodii 1633. Acta SS. Belgii selecta, illu∣stravit Jos. Ghesquierus, Tom. 1-3, Brüssel 1783-1785, Tom. 4-5 illustra∣cerunt J. Ghesquierus et Corn. Smetius ib. 1787, Tom. 6 ill. J. Ghesquierus et Isidor Thysius, Tongerloae 1794.] Ueber diese Elisabeth—eine heilige nach art der Katharina von Emmerich—war bisher nur weniges und unsicheres bekannt; ihr gedächtniss wurde am 19. Okt., in ihrer heimat am 19. Nov. gefeiert (vgl. Stadler, Heiligenlexikon; Potthast). Die herausgeber der Act. SS. Bolland, Oct. VIII, s. 384 bemerken über sie nur:

'Beta Elisabeth Spalbecana, Sanctimonialis Herkenrodensis coenobii, primo lapide ab Hasseleto, Leodiensis provinciae' (nunc dioeceseos tan∣tum, provinciae vero Limburgicae in Belgio): Ita Hugo Menardus in Appendice altera. In Gynecaeo Arturi memoratur ad hunc diem XIX.

Octobris; item in Fiseno nostro et Kalendariis Cisterciensibus. 'Medi∣tationi, inquit Arturus, Passionis Christi sic addicta erat, ut et illius stigmata (ut fertur) in suo corpore tulerit impressa'. Abstinentiae haud vulgaris fuit. Obiit post medium saeculum decimum tertium (die engl. übersetzung gibt am schlusse 1266 als todesjahr an). Nullae illius noscuntur reliquiae, nec icones videntur in sacris aedibus, nec alia cultus liturgici seu ecclesiastici deprehenduntur vestigia. In populo viget ejus memoria die praecipue XIX. Nov., quo etiam occurrit in Auctario ad Natales Sanctorum Belgii Molani. Forte—vix ulla tamen affulget spes—praefato die licebit ejus vitam dare.

Die zweite legende (worin der verfasser der vita sich nicht nennt) ist eine wörtliche übertragung der vita S. Christinae mirabilis Trudonopoli in Hasbania auctore Thoma Cantim∣pratensi ord. praedicatorum († 1263), in den Act. SS. Boll. 24. Juli, bd. V, s. 650-660 (anfang: Memorabilis Christi virginis Christinae vitam scribere disponentes, illud in exordio sermonis primitus inseramus quod venerabilis Jacobus Achonensis epi∣scopus, postea Romanae curiae Cardinalis, in vita b. Mariae de Oignies de ipsa Christina per haec verba commemorat. Vidi, inquit, aliam (Christinam intellige), circa quam tam mirabile operatus est dominus quod, cum diu mortua jacuisset, ante∣quam in terra corpus ejus sepeliretur, anima ad corpus rever∣tente revixit).

Ueber diese heilige vgl. auch Fabricius l. c. und Pinius Commentarius praevius in Act. SS. Dieselbe heilige behandelt das gedicht: Leven van s. Christine de Wonderbare in oud∣dietsche Rymen, naer een pergam. Hs. uit de 14 of 15 Eeuw, ed. H. Bormanns Lüttich 1858. [Kaum erwähnung verdient die kleine schrift Daumer's 'Christina mirabilis, das wundergeschöpf des zwölften jahrhunderts', Paderborn 1864, die vom standpunkt des gläubigen katholiken ohne alle kritik die unglaub∣lichen wunder dieser in der that wunderbaren heiligen erzählt als ein bei∣spiel rein geistiger menschen.]

Das leben der h. Marie von Oignies ist eine übertragung der vita b. Mariae Oigniacensis (in Namurcensi dioecesi) auctore Jacobo de Vitriaco (tunc (1215) Canon. regulari, post Acco∣nensi episcopo ac denique Cardinali Tusculano) libri II, ed. in den Act. SS. Boll. 23. Juni, bd. IV, s. 636-666. Ebenda sind anch die sonstigen latein. quellen über diese heilige aufgeführt, so Supplementum auctore coaevo fr. Nicolao canon. reg. coenobii Cantimpratani ib. s. 666-677, vita alia auctore Thoma Cantim∣pratensi († 1263) ib. s. 634 (und bei Surius 23. Juni), Historia

Translationis in novam arcam factae a. 1608 ib. 678-689. Ueber diese heilige vgl. noch Fabricius Bibl. (ed. Mansi) VI, s. 248 und Papebroch Commentarius praevius in Act. SS. Boll. s. 630-636. Eine neuere franz. übersetzung erschien unter dem titel: Vie de la bienheureuse Marie d'Oignies par le Car∣dinal de Vitry, avec un supplément de Thomas de Cantimpré, Nivelles 1822.—Der engl. übersetzer theilt in einem prolog mit, dass er das prooemium, welches Jacobus von Vitry zu dieser vita an den bischof von Toulouse geschrieben und worin er von den wundern h. frauen der diözese von Lüttich aus∣führlich handele, wegen der schwierigkeit der übertragung des figurenreichen stiles auslasse.

Das latein. original des briefes des Stephan von Senis (vom jahre 1411) über die h. Katharina von Senis findet sich, unter anderen vitae dieser heiligen, in den Act. SS. Boll. 30. April, bd. III, s. 961-967.

Dem ersten stücke schickt der engl. 'compilour' ein kurzes vorwort (apologe) voraus, worin er angibt, dass er, der nur 'symple-letterd' sei, weder im stande sei noch beabsichtige wört∣lich genau zu übertragen, sondern dem sinne folgen wolle, ohne jedoch wesentliches auszulassen, ausgenommen citate aus der h. schrift, die ohne nähere erklärung in englischer über∣tragung dunkel sein würden.—Am schlusse der legenden, nach dem briefe über S. Katharina von Senis, folgt 'a shorte Apologetik of þis englisshe compyloure', worin er bescheiden die leser bittet, nicht allzu kritisch zu sein in hinsicht seines stiles oder weil er bald nördliches bald südliches Eng∣lisch vermische; man wolle seine fehler nicht der überhebung, sondern seiner unwissenheit und seinem gehorsam beimessen: er habe diese arbeit auf die bitte seines oberen (souereyn) unternommen, die für ihn befehl sei, da ja 'Est orare patrum species violenta jubendi'—was er überträgt: 'a priours preyynge til obeyand monke is a bidynge'. Daraus ergibt sich dass der übersetzer ein klostermönch gewesen und diese übertragung auf bitten seines priors angefertigt. Er setzt in einer note noch hinzu, dass er ancilla Christi mit Christes mayden und super∣lative wie optumus durch ful gode widergegeben, et sic in similibus.

Die abhandlung: Of þe seuene poyntes of trewe loue and euerlastynge wisdame nennt sich im eingang einen auszug aus

einem lat. Orologium Sapientiae (so genannt 'bye-cause þat þe matere þere-of was schewede to him þat wrote hit, as in a visione vndere þe fygure and liknesse of a wondere fayre Orloge'), dessen verfasser, ein dominikanermönch, unbekannt sei. Sie behandelt, in form eines dialogs zwischen heavenly Wisdom (d. i. Christus) und dem verfasser (als 'discyple' dieser weisheit) sieben punkte der liebe zur göttlichen weisheit und die pflichten des dieser weisheit nachstrebenden jüngers. In der einleitung, die an eine hochstehende edle dame gerichtet ist, nennt der engl. übersetzer sich einen kaplan dieser dame und ihren geistlichen vater und sagt dass er ihr zu liebe, die gleichfalls dieser weisheit nachstrebe, und auf ihren wunsch diese übersetzung angefertigt, wobei er, die persönlichen be∣merkungen des latein. verfassers übergehend, nur das erbauliche berücksichtigt, die ordnung seiner quelle seinem zwecke gemäss zu ändern sich erlaubt und nicht wort für wort, sondern, wie es für das gemeine verständniss passend, dem sinne nach über∣tragen habe; er sei lange bedenklich gewesen diese übersetzung des ihm theuren buches zu unternehmen wegen der masse von büchern und übersetzungen, die jetzt umliefen, aber vielleicht könne sein buch, da viele veränderung lieben, doch manchen gefallen und nützen. Es ist kaum anzunehmen, dass dieser kaplan mit dem übersetzer der legenden, einem klosterbruder, identisch sei, obwol die handschrift an demselben orte und vielleicht theilweise von demselben schreiber geschrieben scheint und die sprachlichen formen in beiden werken sehr ähnlich sind.

Das ms. ist jedoch nicht original, sondern nur abschrift, und daher auch nicht ohne mancherlei fehler.

Auf der letzten seite des ms. steht die notiz: Iste liber est domus belle Vallis ordinis Cartus. in comitatu Notyngham, von einer nicht viel späteren hand als das ms.; darüber steht a. r. Beauvall.

Hiernach liegt die vermuthung nahe, dass das ms. selbst an diesem orte, dem es in nicht viel späterer zeit angehörte, oder doch in dessen nachbarschaft geschrieben ist und somit den dialekt dieser gegend widergibt; womit trefflich über∣einstimmt, dass der übersetzer der legenden am schlusse um nachsicht bittet, wenn er nördliches und südliches Englisch vermenge.

1. (S. Elizabeth of Spalbeck.)

Þe Apologe of the compilour.

As seint Jerom þe holy doctour seiþ in a bibil þat he made: hit is harde to turne a language into a noþer worde for worde, but often∣tymes hit byhoueþ to leue & take diuerse wordes þat are propur to on tunge and not to a noþer: wherfore þis englysche þat folowþ heere, is turnyd oute of latyn, to þe worschep of god & edificacyone of [ 5] deuoute soulles þat are not leeryd in latyn tunge, and þerfore þe wryter, þat is but symple-letterd, neiþer can ne purposis to folowe þe wordes, but vnneþis and wiþ harde þe sens, neiþer puttynge to nor doynge awaye any clauses þat schulde chaunge þe substaunce of þe story, but oþere-while leuyng legeauns and auctorites of holy writte, [ 10] þat wolde be ful dymme to vndirstonde, if þey were turnyd in to englisshe with-oute more declarynge of glose.

Here bigynneþ þe lyfe of seint Eliȝabeth of Spalbeck in þe shyre of Losse, bisyde an Abbey of Nunnys þat is callid Herkenrode.

In þe prouince of Leody bisyde a famous abbey of Nunnys of Cistens [ 15] ordir þat is callyd Herkenrode, sex myle or seuene fro þe cite of Leody, þere was a mayden þat hyght Eliȝabeth, in whom oure mercyful lorde haþ schewed merueilous miracles of his blissed passyone, þat maye stir alle cristen pepil to deuocyone. Þe whilke merueilous werkes of oure lorde whan I, Dan Philippe of Clareualle, herde, what-tyme [ 20] þat I visityd howses of myn ordre in þat cuntrey, I gaf no credens to hem þat tolde me, til-tyme þat I come my-selfe and sawe and proued þat I hadde not herde þe halfe. ¶ Þerfore I schalle discryue a fewe merveyles of many, and after my sympul conseyte þo þat are more notabil and moor merueylous, as my conscyens gyueþ me, bigyn∣nynge [ 25] atte þoos thinges þat I perceyued vndoutably with myn eyen, and afterwarde puttynge to þat I haue herde of many oþere trewe men. ¶ Wherefore it is to witte þat þe forseyde mayden beerith ful openly tokens of the woundys of oure lorde Jhesu Cryste; þat is to saye: in her handys, feet and syde with-outen any dowte, similacyone [ 30] or fraude fresshe woundys are ful euydently shewed, often and namely bledynge on fridayes. ¶ Þe woundys of handes and feet are rounde, þe wounde in the syde is auelonge, as hit were of a speer, and þat oþere foure woundes of nayles. Also, excepte þese signes of fyue woundes byfore-seyde, oure lorde Jhesu Cryste, þat is spouse of vir∣gins [ 35] and specyous byfore alle men, schewiþ in a merueylous manere þe representacyone of his blyssed passyone in þe persone of the same virgyne, as moost cleen and chosen, by a synguler prerogatyfe of loue: þat is to seye, euery day seuen ourys, as matyns, pryme, tiers, sext, noone, euesonge, & complyne. [ 40]

¶ What she doþ for þe oure of matynes.

At mydnyȝhte, soþely, sche ryseþ, to knowleche wonderfully þe be∣gynnynge of oure lordes passyone, þat is to saye, how hee was taken and drawen hyder and þyder ful cruelly wiþ wicked mennes handys. ¶ Neuerþeles it is to witte þat booþ þis oure and oþere oures she is [ 45]

rauesched, or sche ryse for hir bedde, and sche abydeþ in the same staat þat sche is rauisched in a good while, alle starke as an ymage of tree or stoon, wiþ-outen felynge or mouynge and brethe, þat no þinge maye be touchyd or stiryd of hir, not as mykel as hir litil fynger, but if alle the body be moued with-alle. After the whiche raueschynge [ 5] as turnyd agayne to hir-selfe, sche ryseþ vp and goth oute swiftly of hir bedde, and walkith in here chaumbyr with a merueylous and a manerly goynge, as hit is trowed, with aungels ledynge. ¶ Soþely, sche was holden with so mikel febilnesse of body and lymmes, whanne sche was but fyue ȝeer olde or þere-a-boute, þat, þof the hous þat [ 10] sche was in, hadde brente ouer hir, sche myghte not haue goon oute with-outen helpe, as alle þe cuntrey doutles knoweth; and þat con∣tynual chastisynge of goddes ȝeerd, and so mortifiynge of here owne flesche fro þe innocens of fyue ȝeer age vnto þe age þat sche is nowe of, þat is twenty ȝeer, is ful stronge and vnfaylabil preef of hool and [ 15] clene virginite. But this þat I haue seyde, I knewe moor be heerynge þanne be sighte. Neuerþeles besyde my purpos I put heere þis inci∣dent, þat booþ þe reeders and heerers may knowe þat þe stirynges and berynges of this forseyde virgyn, þe whiche, as men maye, schulbe discryued after, come not of hir strengthe, but of a priue vertue of [ 20] god. ¶ And so as it is seyde: atte mydnyghte after hir raueschynge sche ryseth merueylously stronge to suffre labour and peyne, þat was byfore in body weyke & vnmyghty. And whanne sche is vp, cladde as sche is alle-wey wiþ a wollen coot next her flesch and with a whyte lynnen garnemente sumwhatly trailynge on þe erthe, þan sche [ 25] walkeþ ful honestly in hir chaumbyr, and with-oute blynnynge, as sche goth and commith ageyn, sche swappeþ hir-selfe vpon þe chekys wiþ booþ handys, ¶ and of hir strokes maye be herde acordaunte sowne and cleer. And so in þe steed of psalmes as in tymbyrs and wele sownynge cymbals she solempnyȝes þe watches of the firste [ 30] nocturne. After þat, sooþly, as for lessuns, sche makith a bigynnynge of oure lordys passyone, how Le [Ms. sche.] was taken and with a feerful cruelte drawen. Þan it is to se how sche takith her owne cloþes byfore her breste with her right hande and drawith hir-selfe to the righte syde, and þanne with her lefte hande to þe lefte syde; and oþere-while [ 35] sche berith ouer hir- selfe euen forwarde dyuers tymes, as sche were drawen with vyolens, ¶ as men do with þefes & mensleers þat are pul∣lyd and luggyd ful vyolently wiþ oþere mennes handes; represen∣tynge oure lorde Jhesu wordes þat hee seyde to hym(!): 'ȝee come to take me as a þefe with swerdys and battys'. ¶ And anoon after sche [ 40] strechys oute her riȝhte arme and makiþ a fiste of her hand, and lo∣kiþ grymly, braunysshynge hir fiste, and makes feerful tokens and bekenynges with eyen & handys, as a body þat were wrooþ and angry. And after þat anoon sche smitith her-selfe vpon the cheke, so strongly, þat alle hir body bowith to þat party ageyns þe ground for heuynesse [ 45] of the stroke; þan sche smytes hir-selfe in þe nodel of the hede by∣hynde,

now bitwix þe schuldirs, now in the necke; ¶ and þanne sche noseles downe forwarde and wonderly crokes her body and dasches her heed to the erthe. ¶ Also oþere-while sche takith vyolently hir heer, þat is aboute her forhede but short, and smitith þe grounde with hir heed wiþ a meruaylous draughte, & hir feet vn-meuyd. ¶ And also [ 5] sche takiþ hir-selfe by þe heer, booþ on þe riȝhte syde and þe lefte, her and þere, sterynge & bowynge hir-selfe wiþ draght of hir handys, ¶ wiþ a maner þat may neiþer be herde ne tolde. ¶ Also sche takiþ her owne cheekys, þe whiche byfore sche hadde smyten wiþ many strokes, now with þe platte hande now with þe fiste, and oþere-while [ 10] wiþ her fingers, drawen to-gedir, as sche wolde pulle oute her chaules. Also oþere-while sche bowiþ her arme and strekith oute hir fynger nexte þe thoumbe, drawynge the toþere fyngers to-gedir into hir hande, & puttith to hir eyen ofte-sythes, now to þat oon now to þat oþer, as sche wolde graue hem oute or bore hem in. ¶ And, sooþly, alle þis [ 15] sche rehercys often and aboundauntly. Þerfore it semith þat in a newe and vnherde manere sche schewith in her-selfe booþ þe persone of Criste suffrynge and þe persone of þe enmye turmentynge: she re∣presentiþ þe persone of oure lorde while sche suffres, and the enmyes persone while sche puttis [l. pullis.] , drawes, smytes, or þretys. ¶ Soþely, [ 20] whanne these and oþere lyke are doon often and vntellably as for þe firste nocturne of matyns, she wrappeþ hir-selfe downe to þe grounde vpon her backe ful honestly & fulle manerly, as forto reste hir fro grete charge of trauelle; so þat þen sche hath no powere of bodily strengþis, but syghes after heuenly and goostly solas, ¶ and goþ in [ 25] spirite vnto god. ¶ And after þat communly longe space of reste and swoghe sche ryseþ vp as wele & fully counforted, stronge and delyuere to serue þe secounde nocturne of matyns in þe forme before∣seyde. ¶ And in steed of salmes, þis newe tymbrer settiþ her flesche for an harpe, and hir chekys for a tymber, and ioy(!) for a sawtry, and [ 30] hir handys and fyngers for a wrast—þat is an instrument of organ∣songe—and so with a newe maner of syngynge sche folowith forþ wakynges of þe secounde nocturne, doynge efte-sones þe figure, ma∣ners and tokens of þe biginnynge of oure lordes passyone, as hit is seyde byfore. ¶ After þat, whan þe ende of turmente comeþ, in as [ 35] mykel as in hir is sche restith hir froo þat vnsuffrabil trauelle, euen as she were alle ouercomen and anentiȝed. And a litil while after, now and now, sche makith sobbyngs and sighes, as a body schulde dye. ¶ Þen, for-sooþ, as sche schulde ȝeeld þe gost, sche is raue∣sched and restith alle her body froo tourmente and laboure. ¶ And [ 40] tille þat while she is comunly longe rauyshed, and noon oþer þinge is seen in hir but starkenes of membrys, palnes of visage with-oute blood, and alle-maner lackynge of felynge, mouynge and breth, as hit were a deed body. ¶ Atte þe laste oure lorde, þat slees and qwykenes, makynge cleer wedyr after tempeste, restorith hir aȝeyn to lyfe. [ 45] ¶ And wiþ a merueilous onest and schameful gladnesse of cheer, cau∣sed

of goostly ioye, she þinkeþ of no sorowe ne grucchiþ not ageyns goddes rodde: ¶ for þere is seen no tokens of turbil or tribulacyone in her visage, but raþere þe gracyous cleerte of hir utwarde sembe∣lande affermith and prouith þe inwarde mirþe of hir mynde. ¶ And þen anon is taken to hir a tabil, ful wele depeynte with an ymage of oure [ 5] lorde crucifyed; and holdyng þat open and vncouerd wiþ booþ han∣dys, ful deuoutly she lokiþ on oure lorde, ¶ and often and þikke sche seiþ þese woordys: ¶ 'ȝouche here, ȝouche heere', ¶ þat is to sey in Englysche: swete loord, swete lord, and wiþ hire clene virgyn-lip∣pys she kysseþ often sweetly þe feet of oure lordis ymage. ¶ Among [ 10] þees she makiþ fro hire priue herte rotys large, depe, iocunde & luf∣sum sighes wiþ a clere stirynge of breste and þroot and with a swete sounynge whysperynge of her lippes. ¶ After þat sche lokith euene in þe same ymage with alle þe intente of hir mynde. ¶ And a litil after, whanne she has [Ms. was tas tasted.] tasted, as it is trowed, þe vnspekabil swetnesse [ 15] of his passyone: forþ-with, as sche is wonte, sche is rauesched and waxes alle starke, holdynge þe tabil as sche didde byfore; ¶ and oþere-while her lippes are ioyned to the feet of the crucifix, and hir necke and hir heed a litil reryd fro the grounde, as accordith to a kyssynge—¶ and soo she lastith vnstirred and starke, and alle þat oþer dele [ 20] of the body cleuynge to þe pamente. And oþere-while þe same tabil is lenyd vpon hir breste, and some-tyme abouen her face, after dyuerse holdynges of þe tabil in þe bikumynge of euery rauishynge. ¶ And in þe spaces of þos rauischynge(s) þe same tabil is holden so strongly with her fyngers, þat, when þe tabil is shaken, moued or drawen of [ 25] any body, as with enfors to haue it aweye, ¶ hit departith neuer, but alle hir body is stiryd after þe sterynge of þe tabel. ¶ Þen þe spirite, turnynge ageyne fro þe contrey of goostly ioyes, quykenes þe [Ms. of þe.] body, gladith the mynde, lightsomnes þe semblaunte and bishines hit with a gracyous cleerte. And soo she durith a good space, wiþ incres of [ 30] swetnesse, as semes to hem þat se right as she didde, in biholdynge of þe ymage, wiþ oþere hyȝ tokens of deuocyone, as hit is seyde by∣fore. Amonge these ioyes, sooþly, þe same virgyne chaunges no chere, but her countenaunce is stedfastly sette in consideracyone of þe ymage; so þat she byholdith no body nor noon oþere thinge but [ 35] the tabil allonly, nor sche spekith to no body ne gyues noon answere to hem þat speke to hir, but hir þouȝt holly vpon oure lorde. ¶ Whan alle this is doon, mykel moor solempnely and moor merueylously þan I can or maye write: sche keueriþ and closeþ þe same tabil & takith hit to som body bisyde hir, and strikeþ forthe hire armes to her moder [ 40] and to her sostres, ȝonger thanne sche, þat serue hir; and þey take and liftes hir vp fro þe erthe and berith and leyeþ hir in her bedde. And she schewith to hem cleernesse of cheere, charite of herte, glad∣nesse of mynde, and swetnesse of goostly woordes. ¶ Neþeles she is but of fewe woordys, the whiche woordes are ful spoken oute, but [ 45] sche makith hem swete with an esy and mylde gladsumnes and may∣denly

schamefastnes. And so þe nocturns, matyns and laudys wonder∣ly endyd, alle þat oþer tyme vnto prime she spendiþ in ioye and mirþe, in þankeynges and lovynges of oure lorde, ¶ not forgetynge þe contrey þat sche hauntiþ, in þe whiche, as Ysaye saiþ, are foun∣den ioye and gladnesse, þankynges & voys of preisynge. [ 5]

What sche doþ for þe oure of prime.

Fro now forthe it is to procede shorter to discryue oþere houres: for many þinges þat are expounyd byfore, acorden to oþer oures, and þerfore it is no need to reherce hem so pleynly & fully at ilk an oure, but, whan myster is, to haue recours to þat at is (sayde) byfore. ¶ At [ 10] prime, sooþly, after þat sche is rauysched, she ryseth with a meruei∣lous swiftnes, and anoon standith vpriȝhte, and kastiþ booþ her handes byhynde hir backe and so ioyneþ hir armes to-gedyr, soo þat sche puttith þe fyngers of þe lefte hande to þe righte elbowe and the fyngers of the right hande to þe lefte elbowe, ¶ and she walkith by [ 15] hir chaumbir with her armys ioyned to-gedir by-hynde hir bak, as a þeef were openly taken and his handes bounden ladde to the barre or to þe galous; representynge alle the space of þat oure how oure lorde Jhesu was ladde fro Anne to Cayphas, to Pylate, fro Pylate to Herode, to Pilate aȝen efte, wiþ his handys bounden byhynde hym [ 20] for dispite and schame. But, sooþly, how many tokens of vyolens and schewynges of iniuries ¶ as þe virgyn, so bounden, figures in hir-selfe, my mynde maye not holde nor my witte endyte. ¶ After þat sche has [Ms. was.] walked soo a good while in hir chaumbir with a wonder∣ful bowynge of alle her body and algates her handes ioyned & cleuynge [ 25] to her bak, she leyþ hir-selfe downe to the grounde with a manerly & esy stirynge, haldynge her armes ioyned vndir hir bak, and so she restith a good space, alle starke, in a rauischynge. ¶ And þenne sche pulliþ oute hir handys fro byhynde her backe and knokkith hir owne breste with so harde strokes & þicke of hir plat handys, þat [ 30] alle þat se haue mykel meruayle and deme hit aboue mannes myghte, how o persone maye booþ smyte and soffre so many, soo swifte and heuy strokes, þogh hee hadde prosperite of nature, age, heele & com∣plexion. Whiche of þese I schalle calle moor merueilos, ¶ I woot not, in suche a febil and freel creature: wheþer þat atte smytes, or þat at [ 35] suffres. ¶ Neþeles I trowe þat hit is to be committid alle to god, to whome no thinge is hard nor impossibil; ¶ namely sithen the same virgyne, as hit is seyde byfore, whanne sche commith to hir-selfe or is lafte to hir-selfe, wantys bodily strengthes. Sooþly, after siche∣kyns merueilous & myserabil disciplyne she is vpstreyghte ¶ anoon [ 40] with a wondirly whitnesse with-outen helpe of her owne handys or of any oþere, ¶ and so sche goþ in her chaumbyr, as sche didde byfore, with her armes & handes ioynid byhynde hir bakke; ¶ also sche stondith ful vpriȝte alle starke as an ymage. ¶ And so sche solempniȝes þe oure of prime, ouþere goynge or standynge or liggynge [ 45] or ellis hir-selfe smitynge, puttynge to orysouns; after the whiche

folowith angwisshes, akynges and sorowes; and thanne is sche rauesh∣ed; and after þe rauishynge she taketh the tabel & byholdiþ hit; ¶ after þat commith comforte, ioye and mirthe; & efte raueschynges; and soo boren to her bedde. & soo she endith the houre of prime, as hit is seyde byfore in the oure of matyns. [ 5]

What sche doth for þe oure of teers.

Forsooþ, atte the oure of tiers and other oures folowande sche bigyn∣neþ, pursueþ & fulfilliþ as sche didde byfore, oute-taken þat in þe grounde sittynge and standynge sche signifyeþ and schewith how oure lorde was bounden to a pyller; ioynyng hir armys byfore hir [ 10] breste and puttynge her fynger endys vndir her elbowes; and soo puttith her armys, þat are to-gedir, fro her breste, as oþere [l. as if þere.] were lafte a voyde place for a piller bytwix hir armes and her breste: and soo sche schewith hir after her power how the piler was beclipped with the armes of oure ful swete lorde Jhesu faste bounden. And alle [ 15] oþere doynges that pertene to þe forme of this oure, are endyd as hit (is) seide byfore.

What sche doth for þe oures of sexte, noon, & euensonge.

Soþely, atte the houre of sexte, none, and euensonge she kepith alle∣weye the same forme in disposicyone of hir body, excepte þe spaces [ 20] of tyme þat sche smitith hir-selfe liggynge in þe maner aboue-writen; but, atte this maye be vndurstandyn more fully, hit schalbe expouned more pleynly. ¶ Þerfore in ilke of these three oures, anoon after the rauesshynge þat goþ alweye of custome byfore þe oures, sche goþ swiftly oute of here bedde and puttith þe to foot vndir þe toþere and [ 25] the to wounde vndir þe toþer, and soo standith vpriȝhte, & strecchynge oute her armes and her handys in the forme of a cros, with open eyen, soo abidynge a good space stille as stoon, neiþer seeþ ne feelith. ¶ And if oþer-while the litil fynger of þe riȝhte hande bee touchyd, þe fyngers of the toþere hande are moued with alle þe bulke of the [ 30] body, in þe same manere of mouynge. ¶ After þat sche hath standen so swetly longe in the same disposicione of fete and body, wiþ-outen any puttynge to of the handes or leenynge, not fallynge downe but bowynge her body bakkewarde she liggeþ downe to the grounde, and soo sche lyeth in a swogh and in manere of a crosse. ¶ A litil after, [ 35] as it is seyde byfore, longe, myghtely and swiftely sche smyteþ her breste; and as it myghte be perceyued of hem þat ȝeed neer, what by noumbrynge and supposynge, sche knocked her breste a hundreth tymes, oþere-while wiþ doubil and contynualle strokes of booþ handes. After this, for sche maye not goo while þe to foot lyeth ouer þe toþer, [ 40] but for þe gate of her feet, as sche liggeþ, she chaungith hire steed, turnynge [Ms. turnynge turnynge.] hir-selfe vpon the breste, bakke and sydes in a maner þat I may not telle; ¶ and thanne sche ryseth vp delyuerly and standith vpriȝhte on the too foot, þat alon cleuiþ to þe grounde, with-outen any helpe of the toþere foot or hande—and how merveylous þis [ 45] doynge is, ho so rediþ þis noot it wele. ¶ Þen efte sche strecchiþ

her-selfe in þe figure of a crosse. And oþere-while, as hit is seyde, she lenith to þe erthe with the to foot alloon and bowith alle her body towarde þe grounde, a party on the too syde; ¶ and soo þe mayden standith longe hengynge strongely, bowynge to the to syde, and a-boue mannes myghte sche susteyneth her body hengynge with [ 5] þe too woundyd foot. And thus sche dothe, as me menith, aboute þe ende of the oures in þe whiche sche representith þe schappe of the cros; ¶ and þen betokenynge, as hit semith, þe takynge downe of oure lorde fro the crosse. ¶ Ferþermore, after many maneres of re∣presentacyouns of oure lordes crosse and many passyouns of the vir∣gyn [ 10] turmentyd, þere folowe vnspekabil maners of ful deuoute prayers, þe whiche, not as I wolde but as I myȝht, I haue discriued byfore; but I woot wel þat my power nor my cunnynge myghte not fulfille my wille. After þat sche hath bytokenyd in her laste standynge in þe liknesse of a crosse þe ende of oure lorde Jhesu, þan she is alle [ 15] pale and bloodles, and bowith hir heed now byfore hir, now to the righte syde, now to þe lefte, as if sche expounyd þat at is writen in the gospel: ¶ Filius hominis non habet vbi caput suum reclinet: ¶ Þat is to mene, Cryste hath not wher to lene his heed vppon. ¶ And a litil after with sobbynges & weymentynges vntelabil as sche schulde [ 20] ȝelde the goost, sche leyeþ downe her heed vpon hir righte schuldir; ¶ þen a litil space after, as hir custum is, she leyeþ hir downe to þe erþe. But soþely, þat at I sey heer & haue byfore seide, þat sche leyþ hir downe, stirith and bowith, & oþer doynge lyke to thees: ¶ I refere it to outwarde siȝhte; þof it be leued þat sche doþ it not [ 25] with strenghthe of hir-selfe but with oþere vertue, þat god woot. After þis commiþ sorowes, angwysches, counfortes & gladnesse, and oþere thinges þat are expressed atte matyns.—¶ Sooþely, þese wor∣schypful signes of the crosse are schewyd in the body & lymmes of þe Innocente virgyn þoos þree oures in þe whiche, as byleue is, oure [ 30] lorde Jhesu henge on þe rood: þat is to seye sext, noon, an euensonge.

What she doþ at þe oure of complyn.

Forsoþ, in þe oure of complyn in hauynge and berynge of hir body, what sittynge & standynge, sche figurith þe biriynge of oure lorde, with-outen þe oures(!) in þe whiche sche smitiþ hir-selfe vpon þe forþere [ 35] parte of hir body, holdynge hir armes a crosse wise. ¶ And so she contynues & endes alle þat oure in smitynge of handes, rauisshynges, and orysouns, and oþere, as it is expounyd byfore.—

Neþeles, to more declaracione of þat þat is seyde bifore, it is to witte þat þe forseyde mayden is stirid to ryse merueilously atte þe [ 40] oure of matyns & oþere oures bi an vnfaillabil clock þat I knowe not.—¶ And o while sche representiþ wiþ signes and berynges of hir lymmes oure lordes passyone, ¶ and oþere while she schewith in wey∣mentacyouns & turmentȝ hir owne compassyone boþ of herte and of body, ¶ and after this schewynge of semblaunte and of lokynge as [ 45] gladnes of þe resurrexione and fruyte of the passyone; and þof it be but ful selden, neþeles ȝit sche telliþ ȝit wiþ ful sadde and ful gladsom woordys þe ioyes of hir herte.—¶ Also y and my felawes,

booþ abbotes and monkes, atte mydnyghte, and sum oþere oures also, sawe blode comynge oute at hir eyen, and dropped doune & dyed þe linnyn garment þat sche was cladde wiþ ouerest. ¶ Also wee sawe blood sprynge oute often atte þe woundes of hir handys and of hir feet and oute of hir syde on a fridaye atte noon. Wee sawe blode not [ 5] allynges rede, but as it were mengyd wiþ water, rennynge oute þo∣rowe an hool of hir coot, made aboute þe pappe; ¶ and þe wollen cloth þat satte next hir flesche, was defuyled wiþ þe same blode, ¶ and also a party of hir syde aboute þe wounde. And wee sawe not alloonly þe vttir cloþe þat toucheþ þe maydens flesche, þat is to [ 10] saye handes, feet and syde, sprenkelyd & dyed with blood, but also hir pappys were alle defuyled wiþ blode rennynge fro hir eyȝen. And also oþere-while blode ranne oute at hir fynger endys, bytwix þe nay∣les and the flesche: ¶ and þan [l. þat?] happely felle in þe persone of oure lorde Jhesu for angwyshe & peynful bindynge of his armes and han∣des. [ 15] —¶ Ferþermore þe same frydaye sche figured vnto vs how oure blessyd lady, Crystes moder, stood be-syde þe crosse: puttynge hir left hande vndir hir lefte cheek & bowynge hire heed and hir nekke to þe same syde, and holdynge hir riȝhte hande vndir hir riȝhte pappe. ¶ And anoon she shewiþ in an oþere liknesse blessyd John̄ Euan∣gelist: [ 20] loutynge doun wiþ hir heed & latynge doune on þe lifte syde booþ hir handys ioyned to-gedir and þe fyngers ilke in oþere folden with-outen þe handes.

Also þis is to witte þat in mouynges and berynges of body of þe for∣seyde virgyn þere fallith no þinge vnsemely nor no þinge þat may [ 25] displese mannes syghte. For, goynge in her chaumbyre, þof sche se noȝhte & hir cloþes trayled vpon þe grounde, ȝit stumbliþ sche neuere ne stamperþe ne waggiþ; ¶ and in doynge doune hir-selfe to þe erþe or liggynge or risynge, alle hir body hider or þider she is alwey co∣uerde & bycladde with hir own cloþes, nor no þinge apperith vnsemely [ 30] nor vnhonest.—¶ Þis sufficiþ atte þis tyme for discriuinge of þe oures, many þinges lafte of þos þat fil be-syde, what for defaute of mynde, and difficulte of mater þat refusith a febil penne.—Neþeles, or wee go any ferþer to oþere: leste þe herers of þis happely wil not leue siche merueils for þe whiche wee abbotis and monkes ȝede to see þe same [ 35] virgyn and taryed wiþ hire so many oures: ¶ hit is to knowe þat þe [Ms. be.] kepynge & charge of þe same virgyne was commendid longe sithen by þe byschope of þat dyocys to a worschepful man & religyous, of holy and honest conuersayone, of cleer & hool opinyone and of grete aucto∣rite: ¶ þe abbot of seinte Trudous [l. Trudons? lat. villa Trudonis; St. Truyen.] , of þe ordyr of seinte Benyt. Þe [ 40] whiche mayden was his fleschly cosyn and dwellyd nere hym; and he, as anoþere Johne Euangeliste, vndirtoke cure of the virgyne; ¶ and made be bigged þere an honest chaumbyr, and a competent & denoute chapylle, & ordeyned sufficyently and semely alle þat longiþ to do with goddis seruyse; ¶ soo þat þe chapel is departyd fro þe [ 45] chaumbyr wiþ a smalle latys-closynge, ¶ and in þe myddes of þat clo∣synge

þere is a dore þat opens in to þe chapelle; ¶ and fro þe may∣dens bedde men maye see vp to þe auter. ¶ In alle þis þat is seyde byfore, þis worschypful fader & oure ful deer frende in Cryste was alweye with us and was oure enfourmer & trewe expownner of þe virgyns woordys.—Here is an ende of the hours. [ 5]

What sche doþ atte the Masse tyme.

Now goo wee to þe messe, þat þis forseyde virgyn heeriþ ful gladly, whan sche maye haue a preste; to whom sche gyueþ entente wiþ study of wonder deuocyone, sighynge & coueitynge wiþ hyȝ desyres þe sighte of oure lordes body. ¶ Sooþly, anone as she seeþ þe eleua∣cyon [ 10] of the sacramente, in þe selfe momente of the sighte þere-of, sche berith ouer wiþ a merueilous mouynge alle hir body ouerthwarte þe bedde, strecchynge forþe hir armes on booþ sydes hir, & makith a crosse of hir-selfe, and so sche abidith alle-starke as a stok in a swogh and rauishynge; soo þat þe armes, heed and nekke, with a [ 15] party of þe shuldres er wiþ-outen hire bedde ¶ and so as vnto þat parte of þe body she hengiþ in þe eyre withouten sterynge, as longe as the masse is in doynge, and þe visage of þe virgyne is algat sum∣whatly streight vp towarde the auter, as if sche byhelde allewey þe sacramente þurgh þe myddes of the dore; ¶ and þe toþer dele of [ 20] the body, fro þe lendes to þe soles of þe feet, is stille as hit was by∣fore & strecchid forþe after þe beddes lengþe. ¶ Þen whan þe masse is doon (&) þe preste haþ put of his chesibil: þe forseide virgyn turniþ ageyne to hir-selfe and is put to þe state þat sche was wonte to be in, so þat she liggeþ in hir bedde righte as she laye, or she were [ 25] rauesched. ¶ Forsooþ, if sche schal þan receyue þe sacrament, she turnith hir anoon ageyns þe auter, and hir sistres and hir moder lifte vp and vndir-sette hir wiþ cloþes or wiþ two piloues, and so sche abidith neiþer liggynge ne sittynge, but as bytwix booþ, haldynge hire handys to-gedir, wiþ fulle deuoute sighynges and goostly greyd∣lynes [ 30] and oþer-while wiþ teerys abidynge mekely þe comynge of hire sauyoure & spouse. ¶ And whanne þe preste, cladde wiþ an albe, offirs to hir þe sacramente, she metiþ oure lorde with alle her spirite, & in þe selfe momente þat sche openiþ her mouþe and takiþ þe oste, she is rauyshed euen forþwiþ: ¶ soo þat anone she closith her mouþe [ 35] and stekith her lippes to-gider and standith stoon-stille; nor it maye not be perceyued þat she holdith þe sacramente in hir mouþe or sche∣wiþ hir moistes or swolowes or decloseþ hit in her mouþe, nor she moueþ teeþ ne lippes ne chekys. ¶ And so she abidiþ starke & ra∣uishid a good space. And whan þe pilous are taken awaye or oþere [ 40] cloþes þat hilde hir vp byfore, neuer-þe-latter she abidith vnmouid in þe same manere of body and membrys as she was whan sche receyued þe sacramente. ¶ Afterwarde sche commith agayne to hir-selfe and lenys hir heed to þat place as hit is wonte to ligge. ¶ And hir chere semiþ þen ful specyous and cleer & gracyous, abouen þat I maye write [ 45] or seye: & þen is she delityd wiþ heuenly and goostly swetnesse of oure lorde; and, as hit semiþ, she looþes bodily byholdynges and takiþ neuere hede to mennes spekynges, ¶ and, as mykel as she maye for

shame, she refusith to be seen & to see. ¶ And so in silens & stabil ioye of mynde she contynueþ þat tyme, vnto she ryse vp atte þe oure þat foloweþ. ¶ Also hit is to witte þat she is neuere housilde, or she haue schreuene hir byfore masse: þe whiche schrifte semiþ raþere of louvynge þan of blamynge, as þe forseyde abbot, hir confessour, [ 5] tolde me. ¶ Sooþly, she blamith hir-selfe mykel for she is not so par∣fitely in louvynge & þankynge of oure lorde as she aghte to be, ¶ and also þat she oþere-while dredith & is sory more thanne she aghte, for vnkyndenes and dampnacyone of man-kynde, for by-cause þat men knowe not þe beenfetys of oure lordys passyone & of here [ 10] saluacyon.—Certeynly, for þat wee haue made mencyon of confessyon, wee wole þei witte þat likeþ to heer, þat oure seruauntes, foot-men þat kepe oure hors, stood onys be-syde hir, to aske helpe of hir pray∣ers. Þanne oon of hem, þat was a Braban & knewe hir langage, kne∣lyd doune and bysoghte hir þat sche wolde praye for hym and for [ 15] his felawes. ¶ Þanne she answerid and seyde: 'ȝif ȝee wil do after my counseyle, I wille bisely praye (for) ȝow'. And þey bihighte þat þey wolde. Þan forwiþ sche sayde: ¶ 'Goo shryue ȝow of ȝoure syn∣nes & doþ penauns, & I schal praye (for) ȝow wiþ good wille; or elles I wolde not entermete me þere-of, for I schulde trauel in veyne'. [ 20] ¶ And when sche hadde byholden hem bisely, sche callid specially to hir oon of hem þat was ȝongest, a feyre ȝonge man, sympel and wel witted, & made oon þat knewe booþ her langage seye vnto hym þat, as sone as hee myghte, he shulde make hym a lewde frere of Clare∣ualle or of an oþere hous of oure ordir, where hee myghte fynde a [ 25] place of his conuersyone; and þat she counseyled hym on alle wise. And þe same ȝonge man byhighte gladly to do after hir counseyle; and so it was done. ¶ For not mykel after, at þe prayers of þe same virgyne, wee sende þe same ȝonge man to oure hous of Clareualle and made hym a conuers, þat is to seye a lewde frere. ¶ And whan þe [ 30] forseide abbot, keper of þe same virgyne, asked of hir, while I was presente, why sche chas þat ȝonge man amonge oþere and badde hym be a man of religyone: ¶ she answeryd goodly & smyland: þat she knewe hym in state of hem þat shalbe saued; and ȝif hee hadde þen dyed, hee schulde soon haue comen to heuene; ¶ and þerfore [ 35] sche desyred þat þe staat of þat ȝonge man were strengthed wiþ re∣medy of religyone and felawschyp of religyous men. ¶ Afterwarde it was knowen of þe same ȝonge man, þat often and bysely hee wolde be schreuen and as many tymes as hee myghte, hee wolde be atte masse ful deuoute, ¶ and in sympilnesse of obedyens and innocens, [ 40] as men myȝhte see, he passed his felawes. ¶ þre dayes after þat atte þis was doon, þe forsayde Braban þat prayed þe virgyn to praye for hym and for his felawes, visityd hir efte-sones. ¶ And many folke beynge þere presente, ¶ anoon as she bygan to loke on hym, she brest oute in to siche woordys: 'ȝit arte þou not schreuene. Þou has [ 45] don folily, for þou abidiþ to schryue thee. Why taryes þou? why feynes þou? ¶ Þe deuyl is ful slye, & þou knowith not þe poynte of þy deth'. ¶ And hee was alle aschamed and wente aweye; and on

þe morne hee was schreuen in þe cite of Leody to a frere þat hadde Popes powere, as it was seyde; and hee assoyled hym, as þe same ȝonge man sayde afterwarde.—¶ Þis was doon openly, & in couerte no-þinge, ¶ and wee bere witnesse to þat at wee haue seen. ¶ þerfore it is to do shortly of þat þat wee haue herde by tellynge of oþere—for [ 5] now þis litil boke encreces to a gretter.

The forsayde abbot tolde me & my felawes þat vpon a good-fry∣daye in þe ȝeere of oure lorde a thowsande two hundrede sexty and sex þe same virgyne heed bygan to ake in a tyme bytwix two ouris, whan she hadde reste fro peynes as she was wonte to haue, [ 10] and sche myghte not holde hir heed vpon a pilow no while in o ma∣nere, but now and now trollid it hyderwarde and þyderwarde. And whanne hir moder and hir sustirs perceyued þat, þey liȝhted candellis and loked nere & bisily byhelde þe maydens heed: and þey sawe, and schewed to oþere bisyde, prickynges as of þornes, alle reed with [ 15] blody dropes, rounde about þe hede of the virgyne in þe maner of a gerlonde, figurynge the corowne of þornes of oure lorde.—¶ Also the same ȝeere on seinte Barnabe daye þe same abbot tolde vs in þe hous of þe virgyne þat in þe vigil of þe same feste atte euesonge∣tyme hee coom to þe virgyns hous and whanne sche hadde endyd her [ 20] euensonge, she asked þe abbot what feste was on þe morne. ¶ Þen þe abbot, þat hadde seyde euensonge of the fery ridynge (&) þoghte on no feste by negligens of his chapeleyne, answerid and seyde: þere was no feste on þe morne. ¶ 'ȝis certeynly, quod sche, þere is maad a grete feste in paradys of a grete lorde'. Þe abbot herde þat and [ 25] loked a kalender; & seyde euensonge of þe feste.—¶ Also vpon a daye þe abbot asked hir howe and by what strengthe she myghte suffre so many and so greuouse peynes. And sche answeryd: 'I suffre but litil to regarde of a mayden þat is callyd Mary, the whiche dwellith in a towne of Flaundirs þat is callid Insula. ¶ Sooþly, sche is tur∣mentyd [ 30] fer sharper and longer þan I'. ¶ And thanne sche bygan to discryue þe passyouns of þat same Marye, as þof sche hadde seen hir many tymes in angwysche of peynes. Neuerþeles, sche neuere sawe hir, ¶ and, as hit is leuyd, sche herde neuere worde of hir of any erthely creature; ¶ nor the same abbot knewe no thinge of þat same [ 35] Marye, nor neuer come tithinge of hir in to þat cuntrey: for þe for∣seyde virgyns dwellyn fer a-twynne. ¶ Ferþermore sche seyde þat þe same Marie and sche sawe ilke oþere often whanne þey were rauyshed, and þat sche knewe hir ful wele; and seyde þat she was a ful wyse mayden & þat sche hadde þe spirite of wisdome and cown∣seyle; [ 40] ¶ and she tolde myche of hir pacyens & wysdome, þat wee knowe wele is soþe: ¶ for often we haue þat same Marye seen, as wee wente by þat forseyde towne Insula, by-cause of oure visitacyons. ¶ Sooþly, the [Ms. qd (= quod) the.] kynge of Fraunce visityd hir oþere-while and gerte make hir a ful honest chapelle—but Inogh of this atte this tyme.—More-ouere [ 45] be hit knowen to hem þat wole witte: þat þe vtward

clennes of þe same virgyn Eliȝabeth beeriþ witnesse and open euydens of hir inwarde clennes. ¶ For aftir commun witnessynge of hem þat dwelle with hire, she forbedith her tunge fro yuel, & hir lippys þat they speke no gyle; ¶ soo þat fro hir mouþe comeþ neiþer spotel ne spittynge nor no maner of moisture or mater of vnclennes fro hir [ 5] nese-þirles.—¶ Sooþly, of hir meet & drynke I write þat at I am syker of. ¶ Onees atte a dewe oure, and, as me meniþ, bytwix sexte & noon, hir moder broghte hir a litil mylke in a litil dyshe, & þen oure felawe, þe abbot of Clareualle, putte a spoonful þere-of to hir mouþe, & þat she suppyd atte three suppyngis as hir semyd with difficulte: [ 10] & þan sche bygan to fille with-alle, as she hadde loþed meet þat was gyuen hir. And anoon was taken hir drynke: wyne medelid wiþ watir; & whanne sche hadde tastyd þere-of, she wolde not drynke. ¶ And I dare saye wiþ good consciens þat a doufe wolde haue dronken moor atte oonys of the welle-watir þan the mayden didde of þe cuppe. [ 15] ¶ And þis is verrely leeuyd þat she etiþ & drynkeþ raþere after oþere mennes wille þan for any luste or nede of hir-selfe. Also oþere-while, if þere be putte to hir mouth fruytes of trees or flesche or fysche, þen she soukys sumwhat of þe sotil substauns, no-þinge receyuynge of þe gros mater.—¶ Ferþermore hit is to be notyd þat neiþere she [ 20] ne hir fader ne moder nor noon of hir meenye maye not be garte on no-maner wyse to receyue any gifte or anykyns presaunte; ¶ Þey sey þat þey haue Inowgh, and holdeþ hem payed of þat atte god hath gyuen hem. ¶ Sooþly, þey are wonder symple and innocente, as wee were enfourmed by oure owne consideracyone and oþere trewe men∣nes [ 25] tellynge.—¶ Wherfore this virgyne, whos lyfe is alle mirakil, ȝe moor-ouer alle hir-selfe is but myrakil, as hit schewiþ by the abouen writynge, figures and expounes not allonly Cryste, but Cryste cruci∣fyed, in hir body, ¶ and also þe figuratif body of Cryste, þat is holy chirche. Loo, in þe distinxione of oures she representys þe custome [ 30] of holy chirche, ordeynid by god, as Dauyd seith: ¶ 'Seuen tymes on the daye, lorde, I seyde louvynge to þe'. ¶ In woundes and peynes she affermiþ þe feith of þe passyone, in ioye and myrþe after peyne gladnes of þe resurrexyone, ¶ in rauishynge þe ascencyone, ¶ in ro∣dynes of hir reuelacyouns & spiritual lyfe she figurith þe sendynge of [ 35] þe holy goost, and of þe sacramente of þe auter and of confessyon, & þen of desyres of alle mennes saluacyone, & of sorowe of vnkyn∣denes & dampnacyone of mankynde. Þat atte is writen aboue, declariþ openly Inowȝ þat þou, man, arte vnexcusabil, if so quik argumentȝ & open reproues stir þe not to strengthe of feith, to desyre of charyte [ 40] and deuocyone. Þere is ȝit mykel to be writen of this mater; but nede of occupacyouns and werknesse [l. weiknesse.] of body makeþ me to putte vp my penne.

Here endiþ þe lyfe of seinte Eliȝabeth of Spalbek, þe whiche passed to Cryste in þe ȝeere of oure lorde a þowsande two hundrede sexty [ 45] and sext.

2. (S. Christina mirabilis.)

Here biginneth þe prologe in þe lyfe of seinte Cristin þe merue∣lous of þe towne of seinte Trudous in Hasban.

We, purposynge to write þe lyfe of þe memorabil Crystes virgyne Crystyne, þat put wee firste in þe bigynnynge of oure sermone, at worshepful James byshope of Accone [Ms. Atton̄e.] , after cardinalle of þe courte of [ 5] Rome, seiþ of þis Cristyne in þe lyfe of seinte Marie of Oegines, in þese wordes: ¶ 'I sawe an oþere womman', seiþ hee, þat is to sey þis Cristyn meruelous—'aboute wham [Ms. whan.] oure lorde wrouȝte so mer∣ueilously þat, whan sche hadde liggen longe deed, she lyued ageyne, or she were beryed; and sche hadde graunte of god þat sche liuynge in [ 10] body, shulde suffre purgatorye in þis worlde. After þat longe tyme she was wondirful turmentid of oure lorde, þat oþer-while she walowed in fire, sumtyme in wynter she abode longe in frosen water & yee; ¶ also oþer-while she lete as she wolde goo into deed mens graues. ¶ Atte þe last, after hir penauns, she lyued in so mykel pees and [ 15] deserued so mykel grace of god, þat sche was rauished in spirite and ledde soulles of þe deed vnto purgatorye & þurgh purgatory to heuene, with-outen any sore of hir-selfe'. ¶ Þese are wordes of þe worshypful byshope byfore-seyde. ¶ I, sooþly, vnworþy frere of þe ordir of prechours, for edifiynge of þe reders and specially to þe lovynge of [ 20] god haue writen wiþ symple worde, and I am certayne and syker of þat at was me told. ¶ Nor I sey not 'certeyne & syker' with-oute cause, sen I haue so many witnessys in mykel þat I haue writen, as were þan in þe towne of seint Trudous, þat hadde witte and resone. Nor þese thinges were not done in corners & hyrnes, but openly amonge [ 25] the pepil; nor it is not so longe goon þat þey are forgoten: for hit is no moor but eight ȝere syþen sche dyed, whan I wrote hir lyfe. Certeynly, oþere þinges þat no man myghte knowe but sche, ¶ I herde allonly of hem þe whiche affermyd þat hire-selfe tolde to hem with hir owne mouþe. And wite hee wel þat redith this, þat I leued to siche [ 30] witnesse þat wolde not goo fro þe soþe, þof þey schulde lose her heedes. ¶ Wee knowleche with-outen doute, & sooþ hit is, þat oure tellynge passith alle mannes vndurstondynge and witte, as siche thinges þat maye not be done by commun cours of nature or kynde—neiþeles they be possibil to hym þat alle maad of noghte; ¶ nor I wolde no [ 35] weyes haue taken vpon me to write, but if worschepful James byshope hadde boren witnesse byfore of þis same virgynes lyfe. ¶ Þerfore go we to þe writynge, and firste how sche was norysched, after broght forþe, and þen pursue wee so forþ hir oþere dedes, as wee haue leeryd be ful certeyne and vndoutabil tellynge.—Here endith þe prologe. [ 40]

Here bigynnith þe lyfe of seint Cristyn þe meruelous.

¶ ow sche was noryshed. Cap. I.

Cristyn, þe worschepful virgyne of Criste, was goten and borne of honest fadir and moder in þe toune of seinte Trudous in Hasban.

And whan hir fader and moder were deed, sche was lefte wiþ hir two sustris. (þan þe sustris) coueitynge to dispose hir state after religyous manere of lyfe, ordeyned amonge hem þat þe eldist sister schulde gyf hir to prayers, þe myddel sister schulde take hede to houshold, & þe ȝongest, Cristyn, to kepe hir bestes on þe felde þat wente to pasture. [ 5] And forþe-with Cristes comforte was not fro [Ms. for.] Cristyn, þat was putte to þe lower and fouller offys; but oure lorde gaf hir grace of inwarde swetnes and visityd hir ful often with priuetis of heuene. ¶ She was vnknowen to alle men; but to god allone, the pryueer sche was, þe more was sche knowen. [ 10]

¶ How Cristyn was deed. Cap. II.

And after this of inwarde exercise of contemplacyone she wex seek in bodily myghte, and dyed. ¶ þen þe deed body was leyde forþe and þe lyche doon of hir sistres and frendes [Lat.: Tune positum in medio corpus exanime ab amicis & sororibus maxime lamentabatur.] , and on þe morne was borne to kirke. And while þe masse was in doynge for hir soule, [ 15] sodeynly þe body sterid and roos vp in þe bere, and anoon lifte vp as a bridde, steiȝh in to þe beemes of þe kyrke. Þen alle þat (þere) were, fledde, & hir eldist sister alone [Ms. aboue.] bode stille with drede. And she abode in þe kyrke-roufe vnmoued, tille þe messe was doon: þen sche was conioured of the preste of þe chirche & constreyned [ 20] to come doun. ¶ Sooþly, as sum suppos, þe soteltee of hir spirite loþed þe taste and sauoure of mennes bodyes. ¶ Þenne she wente anoon hoom ageyne wiþ her sustres, & eet hir meet. ¶ And þan hir specyal freendys ȝede to hir & spired hir what she hadde seen or what she hadde suffred. [ 25]

¶ How she was ledde oute of body, and how sche was broghte to þe body ageyne. Cap. III.

'Anoon, quod she, as I was deed, mynistris of light, goddes aungels, toke my soule & ladde me into a looþly place ful of mennes soulles, and þe peynes þat I sawe in þat place, were so grete and so [ 30] cruel, þat no tunge maye telle. ¶ And, sooþly, þere sawe I many deed þe whiche I knewe byfore alyue. I, forsooþ, hauynge compassyone and grete pite of þoos wrecched soulles, asked what-maner place þat was—y þoghte þat hit was helle. And my leders answeryd to me, at þat place was purgatorye, in þe whiche þey þat hadde ben synners [ 35] in her lyfe suffred worþy peynes for her mysdedis. Fro þennes þey ladde me to þe peynes of helle, & also þere I knewe summe þat I knewe liuynge. ¶ After þat I was broȝhte to þe trone of goddes mageste. ¶ And whan I sawe oure lorde gladsum and wele apayed to me-warde, þen was I odly mery, þinkynge þat I schulde abyde [ 40] þere fro þat tyme forþe euermore. ¶ Þanne oure lorde anoon ans∣werid to my desyre: 'For certeyne, my swetynge, quod he, þou haste [l. schalt; lat. hic mecum eris.] be wiþ me heer; but now I putte to þe choys of two þinges: ¶ þat is to seye, wheþer þou has leuer dwelle stille with me now, or turne ageyne to þy body, þere to suffre peynes of an vndeedly soule by a deedly [ 45]

body wiþ-outen harme of hit-selfe, ¶ and to delyuere wiþ þy peynes alle þos soulles of þe whiche þou haddest pite in þe place of purga∣torye, ¶ and also with ensaumple of þy peyne and lyfe stir men to repentauns & penauns and to forsake her synnes & be trewly turnyd to me; and after alle this is doon, þen þou schalte come ageyne to [ 5] me wiþ many medys'. ¶ And I answeryd with-outen doutynge þat I wolde turne ageyne to (þe) body vndir þat condicyone þat was put vnto me. ¶ Forþ-with oure lorde was wele payed with myne answere and commaundid my soule to be restoryd to my body. ¶ And see ȝee how swifte aungels were atte oure lordes biddynge: For þe same [ 10] oure þat þe messe was sungen for me, whan þe firste Agnus dei was seyde, my soule stood byfore þe trone of goddis mageste, ¶ an whan Agnus dei was seide þe þridde tyme, (I) was broght to my body wiþ þos swifte aungellis. Þus was þe maner of my oute-goynge and ageyne∣commynge, and for mennes amendemente I am turnyd fro deth to [ 15] lyfe. ¶ Þerfore be not ȝe troubled with þos thinges þat god schal ordeyne with me; for, sooþly, þere were neuere siche seen in þis worlde'. Hir frendes, herynge this, mykel merueilid & abode þat at schulde be, with grete wonder and drede.

¶ How she was taken of hir frendys and delyuerid of oure lorde, [ 20] and fedde with hir owne maydenly pappe. Cap. IV.

Therfore after þis whan Cristyn dedde þe presens of folke wiþ a wonder loþinge into wildernesse & in to trees, into þe coppys of tourys or chirches or of oþere hye thinges: ¶ hir [Ms. And hir.] frendys, suppo∣synge hir wode & ful of fendes, atte laste with grete laboure toke [ 25] hir and bonde hir with chaynes of yren. ¶ And whan sche so bounden hadde soffred many pennuryes and peynes, but moost in sauour of men: vpon a nyghte sche was holpen of oure lorde, and hir bondys and fettirs vndone she skaped aweye & fledde ferre into deserte to wodes, and þere she lyued as bryddes doon, in trees. [ 30] ¶ And whanne sche nedid mete & was pyned wiþ a ful grete hungyr—for hir body, þof it were ful sotil & ful lighte, myghte not bee with∣outen food—neþeles she wolde on no maner go home ageyne, but allone abyde in wildernesse priuely with oure lorde. (But she prayed) mekely þat he wolde mercyfully see to hir angwyshe. And euene forþe∣wiþ [ 35] she loked on þe drye pappys of hir virgyne brest & sawe hit drope swete milke, agaynes alle righte of kynde and nature. ¶ Þis is a mer∣ueylous þinge & neuere herde, after þe imcomparabil & singler virgyne Cristes moder! ¶ And so þe virgyne Cristyn was norysched nyne wokes wiþ þe mylke of hir owne pappe. Þe mene-tyme she was [ 40] soghte, founden and taken of hir freendys, & tyed wiþ yren chaynes, as she was byfore; but in vayne.

¶ How she wente in to watirs. ¶ Cap. V.

For she was þen delyuerid by oure lorde & come to þe cite of Leody. And [Hier fehlt etwas; lat.: Quae s. agni immaculati carnes paschales esuriens, supplicavit &c.] preyed the preste of seint Cristofirs þat hee wolde howsel hir, [ 45]

harde bystad in many þinges. And whan þe preste by-highte þat hee wolde, but excused hym þat hee myghte not for occupacyone atte þat tyme: þen she wolde no lengir abyde, but wente to an oþere chirche and asked of þe preste þe body of oure lorde Jhesu Criste. ¶ And hee anoon comunyd hir after his askynge. ¶ And forþwiþ she [ 5] stired with a feersnes & bier and fledde oute of þe cite. Þen the preste wondred þat she ranne so faste a-weye, & hee with þat oþere preste of seint Cristofirs folowed hir booþ vnto þe flode alle-most [So ms. st. of Mose, lat.: usque ad fluenta Mosae.] , & were gladde, trowynge þat þey myghte haue stoppyd hir (v. a. h.) agaynes [lat.: Quam ad obvias aquas se comprehendere posse gavisi.] þe watir. ¶ But þen þey alle-astonyed sawe the womman byfore hem [ 10] in verrey body, as hit were a fantum, goo in to þe depe streemes of þe watir and come vp harmles oute by þat oþere banke.

How she was turmentyd in fyere. Cap. VI.

Crystyn þen bygan to do þat for þe whiche oure lorde sende hir ageyne. And she wente into hoot-brennynge ouenes, redy to bake [ 15] brede in: & she was turmentyd wiþ brennynges & heet as oon of vs, so þat sche cryed hidously for angwysche; neþeles, whan she come oute, þere was no soor nor hurt seen outwarde in hir body. ¶ And whan shee hadde no fourneys nor ouenes, thanne she keste hir-selfe in to houge fyres & grete in mennes houses, or allonly putte in hir feet and [ 20] handys, and helde hem þere so longe, vnto, but if hit hadde be myra∣kelle of god, þey myghte be brente to askes. ¶ Also oþer-while she wente into cauderons, fulle of hoot-boylynge watir, to þe breste or ellis to þe lendys, aftir þe heighte of þe cauderouns, ¶ and she poured scalde-hoot watir on þos membrys þat were harmles with-outen, and [ 25] cryed as a womman þat trauelles wiþ childe; ȝit neþeles whan sche come oute, sche hadde no harme.

¶ How sche was turmentid in water. Cap. VII.

She abood often-tyme and longe vndir þe water of þe flode of Moyse in firste [= frost.] tyme, in so mykel þat she dwelled stille in þe watir [ 30] sex dayes or more. ¶ But þe preste þat hadde cure of hir, come and stood vpon þe watir-banke & adiurid hir by þe name of Cryste: ¶ and þen sche was constreyned to come home. ¶ Also in wynter-tyme she wente streight vprighte on þe watir-mylne-whele: forto stande so, she shulde haue slyden downe hedlynge and alle hir body after. [Anders lat.: In hieme etiam sub rota molendini ibat erecta stare, ita quod aqua dilaberetur per medium caput et membra ejus.] [ 35] ¶ And oþere-while she cam swymmynge with þe watir & felle with the water aboue þe whele; ¶ neþles þere was no hurtynge seen in hir body.

¶ How sche was turmentyd in whelys. Cap. VIII.

Also in maner of hem þat were turmentyd she bowed hir leggys & [ 40] armes in whelis in þe whiche þeues were wonte to haue her iewesse; ¶ and ȝit, whan she come downe, þere semyd no brekynge in hir lymmes. ¶ Also she wente to þe galous and hengyd hir-selfe vp wiþ

a gnare amonge honged þeues, ¶ and þere she henge a daye or to. And ful often she entryd in to deed mens graues & (þere) maad sorowe for synnes of men.

¶ How she was turmentyd in þornes and breerys, and she was chaced of dogges. Cap. IX. [ 5]

And oþere-while aboute mydnyghte she ros and prouoked & callid forþe alle þe dogges of þe cite of seinte Trudous to barke, and ranne faste byfore hem as a beste, and þey folowd after hir and droof and chacyd hir thurgh buskes & brerys and þikke þornes, soo þat þere lafte no party of hir body vnwoundyd; ¶ ȝit neþles, whanne she hadde [ 10] washen awey þe blood, ¶ þere apperyd no token of hurte no soor. ¶ In þis same manere didde she alle hir-selfe with þornes and brerys, soo þat alle hir body on ilke a syde semyd be dowen in blood. ¶ Wherfore many folke þat sawe þat, often merueilid þat þere was so mykel blood in o body. ¶ Ȝit, sooþly, with-outen alle thees bledynges [ 15] she lete her blode ful often of mykel veyne blode.

¶ Of þe sotiltee of hir body, & how she was whan she prayed. Cap. X.

Hir body was (so) sotil & lighte, þat she wente in hyȝe thynges & as a bredde hengyd in ful smale twigges of trees. And whanne she [ 20] wolde preye, she was constreyned to flee into tree-coppys or touris or in to oþere summe hygh thinges, þat she so beynge allone fro alle folke, myghte fynde riste of hir spirite. ¶ And efte-sone whan she prayed and goddes grace of contemplacyone come to hir, euen as she were made hote & chaufed, alle hir membrys were closed to-gedir on [ 25] a lumpe, nor þere myghte no thinge be perceyued of hir but allonly a rownde gobet. ¶ And after þat spirituel felynge whan þe actuel felynges come to hir kynde ageyne, in þe maner of an vrchyn þe lumped body [Ms. body.] ȝode to þe owne shappe, and strekyd oute the membrys þat were firste stoken vndir an vnlikly mater and forme. ¶ And often [ 30] she stood boolt vprighte on stakes of hegges, and þere she seyde hir sawter: for it was ful heuy and greuous to hir to touche þe erþe, while she prayed.

¶ How hir legge was broken & (she) taken & delyered of oure lorde. Cap. XI. [ 35]

For suche-maner doynge hir sistres & frendes were greetly ashamyd þat men trowyd hir ful of fendes: and þey made couenaunte with a ful wicked & ful strange man, and gaf hym mede, þat hee shulde pursue and take hir and bynde hir wiþ iren cheynes. And whanne þat shrewed man hadde pursued hir in wildernes & myȝhte not take hir [ 40] wiþ his handes: onys atte laste hee leyde hande vpon hir, and brak hir legge wiþ a reerwarde. Þen was she broghte home, and hir sisters hyred a leche, þat shulde heel hir broken legge. ¶ Þenne was she ladde in a chayer to Leody. And þe leche knewe the spirite of hir strengthe and bonde hir faste to a piler in a celer wallid alle aboute [ 45] and lokked faste the dore. ¶ Þanne hee bonde vppe hir legge wiþ

medecynnabil cloþes. ¶ But when the leche was gon, she drowe hem of ageyne and þoghte vnworthy to haue an noþere leche to hir woundes but oure sauyour Jhesu Cryste. And alle-myghty god deceyued hir not: For on an nyghte, whan þe holy goost felle in hir, þe bondes þat she was tyed with were loused, and she alle-hoole and harmeles walked in [ 5] þe celar-flore daunsynge and blessynge oure lorde, to whom allone sche hadde chosen to lyue & to dye. ¶ Þen hir spirite felynge þat she was closed and stoken in þe celar, she toke a stoon of þe celare-flore & in an houge spirite she made the walle þurgh, and as an arowe, þat þat euere þe faster it is streyned in þe bow þe strenger it fleeþ, euen [ 10] so [Ms. fro.] hir spirit artyd abouen right, wiþ þe selfe body of verrey fleshe, as hit is seide, flowe forþ as a bridde in þe eyre.

¶ How oyle spronge fro hir pappes, & so was laten go of hir frendys. Cap. XII.

Neþeles hir sustirs and frendes wolde (not) [not fehlt.] so cees to pursue hir: for [ 15] whan she come ageyne where as þey myȝhte take hire, þey bonde hir faste in the shuldres wiþ a bonde of tre, and fedde hir as a dogge with a litil breed & watir alone. ¶ But, atte Cryste wolde shewe in hir passynge myracul of his vertue, þerefore hee suffred hir to be ouer∣comen & haue tribulacyone for þe tyme. ¶ Wherfore hir buttokes were [ 20] alto-froten wiþ þe hardnes of the tree, & hir shuldris festird; ¶ and she was wiþ þis waxen febil and feynte & myghte not ete hir brede, ¶ and noon was þere þat hadde compassyone of hir disese. But oure lorde hadde mercy on hir merueilosly and wroghte in hir þat nobil miracul atte was neuer harde heer-byfore. ¶ For hir maydenly pappes [ 25] bigan to sprynge licoure of ful swete oyle: and þat toke she and sauerd hir brede with-alle & hadde hit for potage and oynemente, and sche enoynted þere-with þe woundes of hir festirde membrys. ¶ þen hir sustres and frendes, seynge þat, bigan to wepe & fro þen forþ þey sturglid [= struggled.] nor enforced no-thinge ageyne goddes wille in Cristyns [ 30] miracles, but lowsed hir of bondys & knelyd doun, preiynge forgifnes of the wronge þat þey hadde done to hir, & so leet hir go.

How þere was made a generalle prayere of Religious folke for Cristyne. Cap. XIII.

She was þanne free and didde what hir liste, & suffred paynes for [ 35] mannes synnes, as hit is seyde byfore. ¶ And whan þere gadred mykel pepil alle daye fro ferre & nere & froo ful straunge contrees, forto see miracles and meruales of god in Cristyne: þen Religious men & wymmen þat were in þe forsayde towne, dredynge leste þat houge wonderynge of mer(u)eylles shulde passe mannys witte & turne beestly [ 40] myndes of men in to wikkyd wirkynge & arrecte goddes dedys to vnmyghtynes [lat.: converterentque bestiales hominum mentes in malignam operationem facta divina, maxime in eis quod &c.] , in þesc þat she fledde presens of men & clombe vpon hyȝhe thinges as a brydde and dwellid longe in watirs as a fyshe: ¶ þey be-soghte oure lorde wiþ bisy prayers þat hee wolde tempir

his myracles in Cristyn after þe comun state of men. ¶ And oure lorde dispysed not þe prayers of hem mekely wepynge.

How hir lyfe was temperid to men. Cap. XIV.

And so it fel vpon a daye þat she, stirid of spirite ful hougely, ranne to a chirche in a towne þat is callid Wellen, & fyndynge þe fontestoon [ 5] open, she plonged hir-selfe alle þere-in. And wiþ þat, as it is seyde, she gate þere þat fro þen forþe þe manere of hir lyfe was more tempyrde to men, & hadde hir-selfe afterwarde more esely, & better myghte suffre þe taste of men & dwelle amonge hem.

How she was constreyned of spirite to lyue wiþ almes and as a [ 10] man. [Tilge and as a man.] Cap. XV.

She toke in holy deuocyon þe sacramente of þe auter often, & moost vpon sondayes, and in þat she receyued strengþe of body, as she sayde, & most gladnesse of spirite. ¶ þerfore she þat hadde forsaken for Crystes loue hir owne godis, myghte no-þinge vse in mete or [ 15] drynke of þoos þinges þat felle to hir bi righte eritage, but she vsyd comun meetis of men and beggid daye be daye fro dore to dore, þat she myȝhte beer þe synnes of hem wiþ whos almes (she was fedde. And she sayde þat) she was compellid of goddes sprite to begge almes of wicked men, þat þere-by þey shulde be callyd to looþnes [ 20] of sinnes & to penauns of hir lyfe. ¶ For sooþly she seyde þat no thinge more makiþ god mercyful anenste synners þanne while synners haue pite of hir euencristen. For mercy and pite myghte neuer but make a good ende atte laste day. And at þis be shewed wiþ ensaumpil, wee enforme hit þat wee haue seyde, wiþ a dede of Cristyne. [ 25]

Of hym þat she tooke drynke of. Cap. XVI.

Hit byfelle vpon a daye þat she was stired of god vnto an vnsufferabil þriste, and ranne to þe borde of a ful wikked man, þat ȝeet wiþ ryche araye, and askyd hym drynke. ¶ Þenne he ageynes his custome was stirid wiþ pite and gaf hir a litil wyne to drynke. ¶ Wherfore Cristyn [ 30] seide, ageyne þe opinyone of alle þat knewe þat man, þat hee hadde forgifnesse of penauns & contricyone atte his deed.

How it was to hir whan she eet almes of yuel doers; & what was hir mete. Cap. XVII.

And þis was þe cause, as wee haue seide, þat she was constreyned [ 35] to ete wicked mennes almes. But ȝit, whan she ȝeet any þinge gifen hir for almes þat was wrangesly goten, hit semyd to hir þat she ȝeet þe bowellis of paddokes or of todes or þe guttis of neddirs. ¶ For in etynge of siche almes she cryed as a womman trauelynge of childe and seyde: ¶ 'O Cryste, what dost þou wiþ me? why turmentis þou [ 40] me þus?' & knokkynge hir body & breste, seyde: 'O þou wrecchyd soule, what desyres þou? what coueites þou þese foule þinges? why etis þou þese filthe?' ¶ For þat was a peyne to hir whan she eet any raveyne.—¶ And also she was greuyd with as mykel peyne, whanne any shrewed man deneyed hir þat she asked. ¶ Vpon [ 45] a tyme it happed þat she toke awey wiþ strengthe a thinge þat a

wicked man denyed hir, & seyde: ¶ 'ȝif þou wilte not now, hereafter þou shalte not repente, and thanne shal it profit þee þat profetis now no-thinge'.—¶ And whanne she wantid a sleue in hir cote or an hode in hir scapulary: if she mette any body of whome she knewe by spyrite þat (she) shulde take hit of, she preyed hym; and if he wolde [ 5] gif hit, sche þanked hym; and if he denyed, she toke hit ageyne his wille and sewyd it to hir owne cloþes. ¶ Nor she shamed not þogh þe sleues in o coot were party and of dyuerse colours. ¶ Hir cloþes was a white coote and a white scaplury alle hir body to þe feet and often sewyd to-gedir wiþ noon oþere þrede but wiþ þe barke of a [ 10] tree þat is callid tilia [Ms. Cilia.] , or with wykers of salow or with prickes or wode. Hoses or shoes hadde she noon, goynge barefot alwey. ¶ Þe meet þat she vsyd was foule and abiecte, and washynges of dyshes þat schulde be caste aweye she boyled with watir, & þat ȝeet she wiþ brede of bran ful harde, neþeles firste softned in watir. ¶ And þis [ 15] was hir mete, after she hadde fasten two dayes or three to-gedyr.

Of hir sorowe and weymentacyone þat she hadde for þe dampnyd, & ioye for þe saued. Cap. XVIII.

She fledde worshepes and preisynges wiþ ful mykel bisynesse, and seyde þat for suche þingis þey were moste turmentyd in helle or [ 20] purgatorye to whome Cryste hadde gyuen knowynge of his treuþe in hir [l. her.] lyfe. ¶ She wente alwey as sorowynge & weymentynge, to whom sooþly god schewyd ilke a daye þe deseruynges of hem þat dyed ouþere to hele or to custome of lyfe(!). [lat.: vel ad salutem vel ad interitum.] ¶ And whanne any was deed in þe cite wham she knewe in spirite dampned for synne, she wepte [ 25] and turmentid hir-selfe and croked hir armes & fyngers as if þey were wryþabil for softenesse & with-outen bones. ¶ For sooþ, þat sorowe of hir was so vnsufferabil to alle þat sawe, þat no duresse of men myghte sustene hit with-outen ful mykel contricyone of hem-selfe. ¶ And sooþly, for hem þat steygheþ vp and shulde be saued, she [ 30] hoppyd and dauncyd, at hit was a wonder maruaile to see hir in so grete myrþe. ¶ Wherfore þey þat knew the vertue of hir spirite, lightly myghte perceyue in hir ioye or sorow what shulde falle to hem þat dyed in þe cite.—Ful gladdely and ful goodly she wolde be aboute hem þat dyed, sterynge hem to schrifte of synnes & to fruyte [ 35] of penauns, to hope of euerlastynge ioye & to feer of perilous bren∣nynge. And not oonly she didde þus to cristen folke þat dyed, but bisely also wiþ a merueilous compassyone to Jewys, of þe whiche was a ful grete congregacyone in þe cite. ¶ She seyde: certeynly, þat Criste was ful mercyful to hem þat wolde be turned to hym, & neuer∣þeles [ 40] þat he wolde take ful harde vengeauns of mennes synnes, ¶ and þat hee was sory as often as he was constreyned þere-to by right∣wisnesse, as þe synne of man asked; ¶ also þat hee soghte bisely occasyons by þe whiche hee myghte gyue hele to synners and wrecches. ¶ And whan she tolde þis of oure lorde Cryste, she hadde a wonder [ 45] grace of cheer & speche.—¶ Also she seyde þat þere is a place nere

helle, ordeyned of god vnto purgacyone of hem þat were defuyled wiþ grete synnes & were repentaunte atte hir laste ende; ¶ þis place, she seyde, was so feerdful for peynes, þat þere was no differens bi∣twix hem and þe peynes of helle, outaken þat þei þat were turmentid in þos peynes, hadden ese in triste of mercy; ¶ and ouere þese [ 5] soulles, she seyde, were fendys in punischynge and þey were taken to fendes to be turmentyd, ¶ and so mikel sharper and sorrer peynes þey suffred of þe fendys, as þey knewe þat þey hadde shorter tyme to turmente hem.

How she hadde þe spirite of prophecy Cap. XIX. [ 10]

She hadde the spirite of prophecy in many þingys, and warned many men to saluacyone, & she reprehendid hem [l. many.] priuely of pryue & hydde synnes and broghte hem to penauns.

How she proferyd a manslaghter. Cap. XX.

Whan þat miserabil and wrecchyd company was gaderid bitwix þe [ 15] duke of Braban and his aduersaryes, where in a place þat is callid Sceps [l. Steps; Steppa, Stipsbergen.] so many hundreth of men were slayne [i. j. 1213 (nach einem zusatze im lat. texte).] : þis blessyd woman þat same daye cryed as a womman trauelynge of childe, & seyde: 'allas, allas, I see þe eyre ful of swordes and blode. Renne, sistres, rinne, praye oure lorde; heelde oute teres, leste hee holde his mercyes in wraþ.' [ 20] ¶ And she seyde to a Nunne in þe same abbey of seynte Kateryn: 'Renne, doghter, renne swiftly to prayer and praye oure lorde for þy fader, for hee is now be-stadde in fulle grete perille'.

How she profecyed apostasy of a Nunne. Cap. XXI.

Soþely, whanne a Nunne of þe same abbey þoghte to go aweye, [ 25] Cristyn seyde of hir: 'O þou empty vessel, ful mykel sclaunder shalte þou be to this abbey'. And hit was not longe after þat she lefte hir ordyr, as Cristyn seyde, ¶ and by hir incontinens she didde ful grete sclaunder to the abbeye. And whanne the Couente of þe abbey was aboue mesure harde to receyue þe same Nunne to penauns, whan [ 30] she come agayne: Cristyn blamed the Couente, seiynge: 'þof ȝee rekke but litil of hir losse, neuer-þe-les hir soule cost not Criste so litil, þat wolde dye and shedde his blode for hir'. ¶ And Cristyn stintid not seiynge often þese wordes, tille þe repentaunte nunne were receyued. [ 35]

How she halpe a nobil man biȝonde þe see. Cap. XXII.

A nobil knyghte was gon a pilgrimage by-ȝonde the se to þe sepulere of oure lorde. þen Cristyn was preyed & adiurid of the wife of the forseide knyghte þat she wolde brynge hym saufe agayne þurgh hir prayer. Whos iuracyone Cristyn took at grefe; ¶ neuerþeles she [ 40] offred to oure lorde many prayers, laboures and vowes for þe knyȝhte, and broghte hym saufe ageyne, and as wiþ endeyne seyde to his wyfe: 'loo, quod she, I haue broghte þy husbande safe ageyne by importunite of thy preyers; but wit þou wele þat þou shalte not haue ioye longe of his presence'. Whos worde was shewid sooþ soon after: for with-in [ 45]

a fewe dayes þat nobil man dyed and lafte his wyfe and childer in desolacyone & sorowe.

How she profecyed þat Jerusalem shulde be taken with paynemes. Cap. XXIII.

Also mykel byfore þe tyme she profecyed þat þe holy londe of [ 5] Jerusalem shulde be taken or ȝolden to wicked saracyns. And whanne þe daye come þat Jerusalem was taken, wiþ þe sepulere of oure lorde & Crystes crosse, of Saladyne, kynge of Perses: she was in þe castelle of Loen & knewe in spirite what was done. In þe whiche dede she ioyed hougely. ¶ And þey þat were presente, prayed hir to telle [ 10] hem þe cause of so grete gladnesse. 'Rightwisly, quod she, I make ioye, for oure lorde Criste þis daye ioiynge wiþ his gladde aungels hath gyuen occasyone by þe whiche multitude of mankynde shalbe saued'. ¶ And when þei enquyred what þat occasyon schulde be: 'wyt ȝee, quod she, þat the holy londe is taken this daye into wicked [ 15] mennys handys and by þis gyuene is grete occasyone of saluacyone. ¶ Sooþly Cryste voucheþ-saufe his scorne in þis atte þat lande be taken in to despyte and schame, alle-þof hyt be halowed wiþ þe peyne of his passyone—neuerþeles hit schalle perisshe wiþ þe worlde in þe worldes ende; siþen by recouerynge of þe same londe soulles, [ 20] þat shalle euere abyde, and boghte with his blode, shalbe turnyd fro þe waye of wickednesse to þe weye of rightwisnesse; and men shalle shed her blode for þe holy londe & in grete deuocyone deye for Cristys sake'. Þen alle þat þere were, meruelyd of, somme of hem notyd þe tyme; and soo it was after knowen þat Cristyn seyde byfore. [ 25]

How sche profecyed a grete hungyr to come. Þe foure and twenty Chapiter.

Also she profecyed longe tyme byfore a ful grete hungyr, þat was aboute þe ȝeere of oure lorde a þowsande two (l. an) hundreth and seuenty. ¶ And many oþere thinges Cristyne prophecyed, þoos þat are now [ 30] fulfilled, & þos þat we leue shalbe fulfilled her-after.—¶ Ferþermor siþen she was famylier and homely with þe nunnys of seint Kateryns wiþ-outen þe toun of seinte Trudous and oþere-while sittynge with hem spake of Cryste: sodeynly and vnsupposid alle hir body was taken of spirite & turnyd in to a whirlynge about as a scoprelle or a [ 35] toppe þat childer pleye with, soo þat for houge swiftnesse of whirlynge þere myghte be perceyued no forme ne schape of membrys in hir body. ¶ And whan she hadde be so longe turnyd aboute, as ȝif she shulde defayle for hougenes, she restyd with alle hir membris. And þen þere sownyd bitwix þe þrote and the breste of hir a merueilous [ 40] melody, þe whiche no man þat lyues myghte vndirstande or do lyke þere-to wiþ any craft. Þat songe hadde a-lone notes vp and down & tones of musyke; þe wordes sooþly of þat melody, if þey maye be callyd woordes, sounyd to-gadir incomprehensibly. ¶ And þat whele come oute of hir mouthe or nose neiþer noos ne brethynge, [ 45] but allonly bytwix þe breste and þe þrote souned a melody of aungel songe. ¶ Þe whiles alle hir lymmes restyd and hir ye-liddes were stoken as she slepte. Þen sumwhat after þat sche turnith to hir-selfe

bi litil and litil as dronken, and verrely dronken goostly roos vp & cryed loude: 'Brynge þe couente to me, þat wee maye to-gedir louve Jhesu of hye goodnes in his meruelis'. ¶ Anoon þe couente come rennynge about on ilke a syde, and was ioyeful of Cristyns solas. Þen sche bigan Te deum laudamus, and alle þe couente folowynge [ 5] after, she made an ende þere-of. And after þat, whan sche was comen fully to hir-selfe & knewe by rehersynge of oþere what she hadde doon, she fladde for shame and demyd hir-selfe a fole.

How she ensautid þe worlde, for hit knewe not his creature. Cap. XXV. [ 10]

Oþer-while, sooþly, sche seyde wiþ grete bitternesse of herte, whenne she was turnyd to hir-selfe fro þe state now seyde: ¶ 'O þou miserabil and wrecchyd worlde, not knowynge þy maker: why serues þou hym not? why takes þou no nede to his longe abidynge & pacyens? If þou sawe his goodnesse, þof anoþer worlde seyde naye, þou myghtest [ 15] not be turnyd fro hym, but atte þou shuldest loue hym. ¶ But þou, wrecchede worlde, arte turnyd aweywarde; þou hast closed þyne eiȝen & wilte not vndirstonde'. ¶ And she, seiynge þese wordes, cryed as a womman trauelynge, and wryþed to-gadir hir membrys & walowed in þe erþe, wiþ ful grete weymentacyone and criynge often seiynge [ 20] why þe worlde knewe not his creature.

How she vndurstode by goddes techyng alle holy writ. Cap. XXVI.

After þis she lefte hir owne hous and kynred & wente vnto a castelle in þe marches of Almayne, þat is called Loen; where she dwellid nyne ȝeere with a womman reclused, of ful religyous lyfe, Iuet by name; [ 25] & þere oure lorde by Cristyn wroghte meruelles. Of þe whiche recluse I hadde many thinges þat I haue writen: ¶ for, sooþly, I ȝede vnto hir for þe same cause oute of fer contrees of Fraunce. ¶ And in þat same place Cristyn was atte matyns euery nyghte, & whanne alle oþere were goon oute of þe chirche and þe dores lokked, she dwellynge [ 30] in þe chirche paument made a songe of so grete swetnesse, þat hit semyd raþere aungels songe þan mannes. ¶ Þat songe was so mer∣ueilous to hir þat passed alle þe uoyses and Instrumentis of musikers or mynstralles, but lesse and ferre vnlike to þe swetnesse of þat melodye þat sownyd by-twix hir þrote and hir brest. ¶ But þat songe [ 35] was latyne and feyre sette to-gadir wiþ many clauses of acordauns. ¶ She vndirstood sooþly alle latyn and knewe plenirly alle the menynge in scripture, þof sche neuer knewe lettir syþen she was borne; ¶ and whan she was asked moost dyuyne questyons of holy wrytte, she wolde declare hem moost openly to summe of hir spiritual freendes. But [ 40] ful gretely ageyns hir wille & ful selden she wolde so do, seyynge þat hit byfelle to clerkys to expoune holy writte, & þat siche mater felle not to hir. ¶ She worschepyd the clergye and namely prestis wiþ a wonder manere, for þe houge loue of Cryste, þagh, neuerþeles, she on contrary wyse suffred many wronges of hem. ¶ She mony∣shed [ 45] esely & priuely with a wonder reuerens prestys and clerkys þat synned, as hir owne faders, leste by hir (l. her) excesses þey schulde scorn þe good name of Cryste amonge þe pepil.

How mykel she was worshepyd of the Erille Lowys. Cap. XXVII.

The ful nobil man Lowys, Erille of Loen, knowynge by ryfe fame þe holynesse of Cristyn, bygan to loue hir hertely and vsed hir cown∣seylles and communynges. Where-so-euer hee sawe hir, hee roos vp ageyn hir and mette hir, callynge hir moder. ¶ Soþely, if the same [ 5] Erle hadde done any thinge agayne righte or holy chirche or ministres of holy chirche, she made sorowe for hym as a moder for þe sone, and goynge to hym in his palys reprehendid hym wiþ a moderly triste; ¶ and sche gate of hym for satisfaccione what-so-euere righte wolde aske. [ 10]

Oþer stirynge wordes she hadde. Cap. XXVIII.

Also, whan þe same Erile Lowys layed hym down vpon a daye in þe chirche-ȝeerd, and many a knyghte aboute hym, she come priuely by nere to þe Erlis heed and holdynge vp hir eyen and handys, bygan to seye with wonder grace of mouþe: ¶ 'O lorde, þou arte ful feyre'. [ 15] Þe knyghtys, heerynge þat, seyde to þe Eril: 'Sir Eril, heeriþ þou not how þis holy womman preysith þe?' 'ȝee, quod þe Eril, I woot whome she preyseþ. Hit am not I; she louveþ hir heuenly lorde, þat is fey∣rest of alle & maker of feirnesse.' ¶ 'Þou seiþ ful sooþ, quod she; þerfore why ne loues þou hym not?' [ 20]

How she prophecyed greuauns to þe same Erle. Cap. XXIX.

The same Erle on a tyme laye in his p(a)lys at Loen, þat now is dist∣royed, wiþ þe duke of Lymborgens, and an noþere Eril in þe none-tyde in somer vpon a mater as spekynge to-gedir. Þen Cristyn ranne to her speche boldely and cryed to þe Eril Lowes: ¶ 'O þou wrecche, quod [ 25] she, wiþ whome spekeþ þou nowe? ¶ Loo, hee doþ wiþ þe as a frende, þat is thyne enemy & now puttiþ to þe hande of a traytoure'. ¶ Anoon þat traytour dredde þe voys and helde his pees for þe tyme; ȝit hee feyned hit in woordes, but þe ende proued þe soþe.

What she didde in þe deþe of þe same Erile. Cap. XXX. [ 30]

This same Eril Lowys, whanne he laye in his deed-bed, garte calle Cristyne to hym and preyed hir mekely þat she wolde abyde wiþ hym; and she grauntid. Þen hee goodly commaunded alle þat were wiþ hym to go oute of þe chaumbyr, & wiþ-helde Cristyn in þe chaumbyr. Þen forþwiþ þe Erille dressed hym vp wiþ þe strengthe, (&) knelynge byfore [ 35] Cristyns feet reheryd to hir wiþ ful many teryys alle his synnes þat hee hadde doon fro þe eleuenþe ȝeere of his age vnto þat daye—and þat not for indulgens þe whiche sche hadde no powere to gyf, but atte she shulde be the more stired þere-by to praye for hym. ¶ After þat þe Eril garte calle alle his men in to þe chaumbyr and dis∣posid [ 40] his godes after Cristyns counseyle, and deyed. And she sawe his soule bitaken to purgatory, forto be turmentyd wiþ ful bitter peynes.

How she toke parte of purgatory peynes. Cap. XXXI.

Off whome þis pitevous womman hadde grete pite, and gate graunte of oure lorde þat she shulde take parte with þe soule of peynes þat [ 45] hit felle to suffir in purgatory. ¶ Soþely, whanne hee apperyd to hir after his deth for helpe, Cristyn seyde to hym: 'haue done now and goo hennes, and þole peynes for þy synnes after goddes dome. ¶ I,

soþely, take vpon me halfe parte of þy purgatory and do penauns to my body'. Whan this was done, men myght see Cristyn longe tyme after in þe nyghte-tyme be turmentyd wiþ brennynge smokes, & oþere-while wiþ byuerynges of coldys, and certeyne, after þat atte þe soule of the Erle was peyned with o turmente & oþere. ¶ Also she [ 5] wepte wonderfully in places in þe whiche þe same erle was wonte to synne, and where hee hadde be mery in vayne, she made sorowe.

How she hadde hir in þe laste ȝeere of hir lyfe. Cap. XXXII.

In þe laste ȝeere of hire lyfe she dwellid often in deserte and soli∣tude; and sche cam ageyne neuer-þe-les, þogh hit were ful selden, to [ 10] þe hele of men, or if she were constreynyd of spirite to take mete. No erþely man myghte þat tyme wiþholde hir whanne she desyred to go to deserte. ¶ And whanne she come ageyne, no man hir salutid ne noman durste aske hir any thinge. Atte euene on a tyme sooþly she come home & passed by þe hous-myddes as a spirite on þe erþe, [ 15] & vnneþes hit myghte be disereuid if a spirite passed or a body, whanne hit semyd þat vnneþes she touched the grounde. In so mykel, sooþly, in þe laste ȝeere of hir lyfe þe spirite hadde goten þe beestly body welnye in alle partyes, þat mennes myndes or eyen vnneþes myghte [Ms. hit myghte.] be-holde þe shadowe of hir body wiþ-outen feere and drede [ 20] of spirite. ¶ Forsooþ, þat tyme, whanne sche come hoom, often she dwellid in þe towne of seint Trudous in þe abbey of seint Kateryne.

A tale of dan Thomas, abbot of seinte Trudous. Cap. XXXIII.

A worshypful man of myne name, Thomas, now abbot of seinte Tru∣dous, þen preste of þe cite, tolde me a thinge of Cristyn, ful worþy [ 25] to be rehercyd. ¶ He vpon a mornynge wente home with his felowe fro matyns: & Cristyn passed by with grete bire & ȝede into þe chirche. After whome þey folowed priuely & aspyed byhynde a piler of the chirche what she wolde do. And anon Cristyne cast doune hir-selfe byfore þe auter as a sekke ful of drye boonys; ¶ þen she made [ 30] weymentacyone grenously and by-gan often to knokke hir breste & hir body with hir fistes; ¶ 'O, quod sche, þou wrecchyd and miserabil body, how longe shalte þou tourmente me careful catyfe? ¶ How longe schalte þou tarye me fro the sighte of Criste? Whan shalt þou for∣sake me, þat þe soule maye turne ageyne frely to hir creature? [ 35] ¶ Woo to þe, mykel wrecche, and woo to me, þat am ioyned to þe!' ¶ And þus seiynge, she knokkyd hir breste. Eft-sones þen takynge persone of the body, seyde as vnto þe spirite: ¶ 'O þou wrecchyd soule, why peynes þou me þus? What holdeþ þee in me, or what de∣lites þee of me? Why lettys þou me not go ageyne to þe erthe þat [ 40] I am of taken, and reste, tille I be restoryd to þe in þe laste daye of grete dome? ¶ Why goþ þou not to þy reste, where þou mayste haue better abouen?' And seiynge þis, ¶ she sighed and blewe and wepte. ¶ Þen forþwiþ restynge ful litil wiþ holy meditacyone in god, she breste into a ful swete laghter, and takynge her feet wiþ hir handes, [ 45] kyssed hir soles with grete desyre, and seyde þus: ¶ 'O fulswete and

fulblessyd body, why haue I beten þe? why haue I do wronge to þe? ¶ Haste þou not obeyed to me in ilke good dede þat I þurgh god∣des helpe haue done? Þou hast suffred ful goodly and ful pacyently peyne and trauelles þat þe spirite putte vnto þe'. ¶ And efte with kyssynge she seyde: ¶ 'Now suffre [Ms. I suffre.] pacyently, my beste and moost [ 5] swete body. Now is an ende of thy laboure, now schalte þou reste in poudir; a litil schalt þou sleep, schalte þou nappe, ¶ and þou atte laste, whan þe trumpe blawes, þou shalte ryse ageyne cleen fro alle corrupcyone and be assocyed to þe soule in euerlastynge ioye þat thou haste hadde felowe in þis worldes sorowe'. ¶ And wiþ siche woordes [ 10] & cosses dauntynge hir body, sone after she made þat merueilous ioi∣ynge þat wee seyde byfore, & was fulfilled wiþ so mykel myrþe wiþ∣inforþe, as hit shulde seem þat hir body shulde breste wiþ-oute-forþe. ¶ Sooþly, god is meruelous in alle his seintes, but in Cristyn, if I hit (may) seye, meruelous passynge alle merueilles! [ 15]

The manere of hir lyfe, or she deyed. Cap. XXXIV.

In þe laste tyme of hir lyfe she ȝeet ful selden and litel. She wolde not sitte as she vsed byfore, to speke with sisters and religyous, but etynge a litil & refreshed wiþ slepe, a while byfore mydde-nyghte she wente to deserte. In þoos dayes neuere man sawe laughynge of hir [ 20] mouþe, but she was like to hym þat for ouer-mykel sorowe is made myndeles. ¶ She ȝeed praynge, weymentynge and mournynge; ¶ and þerfore it is leuyd of summe þat oure lorde shewed hir moor þan by∣fore þe staat and wickednesse of þe worlde. ¶ On þinge was þere for þe whiche she often made sorowe wiþ a wondir weymentacyone: [ 25] þat wel neer alle man-kynde was corrupte in abhomynabil spyces of leccherye, and þerfore goddes wraþe was nere to take sone vengeauns wel nye on alle cristiante.

Of hir sieknes byfore hir dethe. Cap. XXXV.

Forsooþ, whan tyme come þat she shulde be holden with langour of [ 30] dethe, she hadde siche abidynge grace of contemplacyone, þat hit was ful greuous to hir to haue hir þoghte oghwhere ellis. ¶ Þen [Ms. þen þen.] at laste restynge fro alle, she prayed benignely on Beatrys, Nunne of seint Kateryns, þat she wolde ordeyne hir a bedde priuely in a chaum∣byr, for by-cause hit semyd to hir at she shulde be seke. ¶ And she [ 35] redely didde hir askynge. ¶ Þen Cristyn laye doune and þe euyl en∣cresynge, ¶ she laboured in sieknes. And whan she (had) be holden with langour by wokys, she asked to be comunyd and aneled. Whan þat was done, þe sam Beatris knelyd down byfore Cristyn & prayed þat she shulde clarifye hir in sum thinges, or she passed of lyfe. ¶ And [ 40] while she was stille: supposynge hir bisy oþer-warde, differred þe questyone and wente oute of þe chaumbyr to do what ellis, & þe while lafte Cristyn allone.

Of hir secounde deþ & how she lyued agayne, and þe þridde tyme deyed. Cap. XXXVI. [ 45]

Wherefore hit is seyde of summe þat Cristyn preyed often oure lorde

þat hee shulde not worshyp hir in hir deth with any myracles, but latte hir dye the commun deth of men: and in þis, sooþly, she was hard of oure lorde: for, or þe same Beatrys come ageyne, atte Crystes callynge Cristyn ȝolde þe gost. ¶ And anoon þe forsayde Beatris come wiþ an oþere sustir: and fonde þe deed body on þe grounde, forþe streight [ 5] in manere of deed bodyes, and I leue verrely wiþ seruys of aungellis. ¶ Þanne Beatrys doynge impacyently, felle on þe deed body criynge and hougely weymentynge. ¶ And whan amonge criynge she hadde asked the deed why she wolde passe wiþ-outen gladnesse & leeue takynge of sisters, atte laste she conceyued triste vnto oure lorde of [ 10] an houge spirite, & wiþ hir visage fix in þe mouþe of þe deed body, seyde: ¶ 'O Cristyn, þou has ben in þy lyfe euere obedyente to me: I adiure þe now and byhote þe by oure lorde Jhesu Criste, whom þou louedist in thy lyfe wiþ brennynge desyre, þat þou obey to me also now, for þou arte myghty & mayste doo what þou wolte, þurgh hym [ 15] to whome þou arte now ioyned. ¶ Þerefore turne now ageyne to lyfe and telle me þat I haue asked wiþ grete desyre to be openyd of þe in þy lyfe'. ¶ A meruelous þinge! Anoon as Beatrys hadde cryed þees wordes in þe deed erys, Cristyn turnyd to lyfe & maad an heuy sighynge and with a sory chere, betynge Beatrys þat reuoked hir [ 20] ageyne, seyde: ¶ 'O Beatrys, why hast þou dissesid me? why haste þou callid me ageyn? Now was I ledde to the sighte of Cryste! ¶ But now, sustir myne, what þou wolte, faste aske, & I beseeke þe late me go ageyne to þat at I haue coueytid so longe'. Þen Beatrys askynge þat she purposed, hadde witerynge of Cristyn. ¶ In þe meen∣while [ 25] Nunnys of þe abbey were gaderyd on ilke a syde, & Cristyn wiþ token of crosse & woord blessed hem, ¶ and þe þridde tyme was experte of dethe and þe thridde tyme dyed. ¶ And so she passed to immortal worldes of worldes. She lyued, sooþly, after she firste roos froo deþ to lyue, two and fourty ȝeere; and she dyed aboute þe ȝeere [ 30] of incarnacyone of oure lorde a þousand two hundred and foure & twenty.

Of hir sepulture, & translacyone of hire body. Cap. XXXVII.

She was biryed, sooþly, wiþ-outen þe towne of seinte Trudous in þe abbey of seynte Kateryne, & þere she restyd seuen ȝeere, vnto tyme þat þe bigynnynge [l. biggynge, aedificium.] of the abbeye was transferred to a better place [ 35] & nerre. ¶ Þanne, alle þe pepil gaderyd to-gadir, þe clergye and the couente of nunnys wente to þe toumbe of worshypful Cristyn. Whan þey hadde openyd hir [l. hit.] & leyde þe couertour be-syde, so mykel grace of swetnesse was felte of alle þat þere was, þat alle wiþ oo þoghte, wiþ o mouþe cryed alle to-gadir ¶ how Cristyn was in alle hir lyfe [ 40] meruelous and also after hir deth gloryous. ¶ Sooþly, no man doutyþ þe myracles þere haue be doon to hem þat visityd hir toumbe wiþ verrey feith; but wee maye not pursue siche maters atte this tyme.

The conclusyon of þe booke. Cap. XXXVIII.

Take heed þerfore, þou reder, how mykel wee be bounden, þat see [ 45] Cristyn haue suffryd so many turmentys not for hir-selfe but for hir

neiȝhbores, and wee dreed to do penauns for oure-selfe and for oure synnes. Certeynly, þat daye schalle come, and shal not tarye, þat wee wolde fulfayne assaye to doo moor þanne þees, if spase of penauns were gifen to hem þat aske, and if þey myghte turne agayne to do þe tymes þat þey sette not by before. ¶ And woo to hem þat wil [ 5] not by oyle of mercy, while tyme of sellynge passes: & þerfore wiþ voyde laumpe þey shalle knokke on þe ȝate, but noon entry shalle they get, for hit shalbe seyde to hem: ¶ 'sooþly I seye to ȝow, I knowe ȝow not'. ¶ Þerfore wakiþ, for ȝee knowe neiþer þe daye ne oure. Wherfore þe sleper is concludid wiþ a necessarye argumente, [ 10] while he forgetynge daye & oure, wolde not wake wiþ a ful laumpe of oyle of good werkys and worthy fruytes of penauns. ¶ Wakiþ þerfore, for ȝee knowiþ neiþere þe oure ne þe daye whan ȝoure lorde shalle come. And what ellis cryed Cristyn in alle hir lyfe but do penauns, & men to be redy ilkan oure? Þat taughte she wiþ many [ 15] woordes, wiþ weymentynges, wiþ weepynges, and moor wiþ ensaumpil of lyfe þanne wee haue witen bi writynge or tellynge of any oþere heere-byfore or comynge after, vnto þe worshyp and louvynge of Cryste, þat wiþ þe fadir & þe holy goost lyueþ and reigniþ god with∣outen ende. AMEN. [ 20]

Here endiþ þe lyfe of sein Cristyn þe meruelous.

3. (S. Mary of Oegines [Oignies].)

A litil prologe of þe englyshe compyloure.

Worshypful James, byshope of Accone, wrote vnto þe byschope of Tholose a longe proheme [Dieser Prologus ad Fulconem episc. Tolosanum findet sich in den A. SS. Boll. Juni IV, 636.] in to þe lyfe þat heere folowiþ: in þe whiche proheme hee writiþ compendiously dyuerse commendacyouns [ 25] and merueilles of many deuoute & holy wymmen in þe dyocis of Leody and in þat cuntreye. ¶ And amonge his writynge, as clerge & retho∣rik askeþ, hee puttiþ legeauns and figuratif spekynges þat are not lighte to be turnyd in to englische langage wiþ-outen moor expounynge; and if a man wolde take summe of þe same proheme, þe sentense [ 30] wolde not weele accorde: ¶ and þerfore I leeue alle þat proheme, excepte þis shorte ouerly touchynge.

¶ Heere bigynneþ þe chapiters of þe firste boke of þe lyfe of seinte Marye of Oegines: þe whiche lyfe Maister James, confessour & famylier of þe same Marye, after byshop of Accone, & after þat Car∣dynalle [ 35] dynalle of þe courte of Rome, endyted in latyn, in þe ȝeere of grace a thowsand two hundrede and fiftene.

• Of hir childe-hode . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cap. I.
• Of hir matrymone . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cap. II.
• Of þe conuersacyone [l. conversyone.] of hir spouse, & þat þey for∣soke [ 40] þe worlde . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cap. III.
• Of þe dispisynge & persecucyon of hir cosyns . . Cap. IV.
• ...

• Of hir compunceyone and terys . . . . . . . . Cap. V.
• Of hir confessyon and schrifte . . . . . . . . Cap. VI.
• Of hir penauns and satisfaccyone . . . . . . . Cap. VII.
• Of hir fastynge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cap. VIII.
• Of hir praiynge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cap. IX. [ 5]
• Of hir wakynge & slepynge . . . . . . . . . Cap. X.
• Of hir cloþinge & arraye . . . . . . . . . . . Cap. XI.
• Of þe laboure of hir handes . . . . . . . . . Cap. XII.
• Of hir berynge and composicyone of chere and oþer membrys of hir body . . . . . . . . . . . Cap. XIII. [ 10]

Here bigynneþ þe lyfe of seint Mary of Oegines.

Of hir childe-hode Cap. p^m.

In þe bisshoperiche of Leody, in a toun þat is callid Niuelle [Ms. Viuelle.] , þere was a ȝonge mayden, in lyfe & name gloryous, þe whiche highte Mary, comen of fadir and moder þat were of comun. And þof þey aboundid in [ 15] ricches and many worldly goodes, neuerþeles worldly godes neuer enty∣ced hir mynde to hem, fro she was a childe, so þat welnye fro hir moder wombe she was casten in to oure lorde. ¶ And neuere, or elles ful selden, she played hir as oþere do, nor she was felawe with suche damysellis þat fare alle with fantum, but kepynge hir soule fro alle couetyse & vanyte, [ 20] shewynge þurgh goddes ordynauns in hire childe-hode what she shulde be in eldir age. Wherfore often in her ȝouþe she knelyd byfore hir bedde and offred to oure lorde orysouns þat she hadde leryd, as firste fruytes of hir lyfe. ¶ In so mykel, sooþly, froo a childe litil grewe wiþ hir mercy and pite, & as wiþ a naturel pite loued religyone: Þat [Ms. þan st. þat.] [ 25] whan þere come breþere of Cisteus ordyr oþere-while by hir fader hous, she lokynge vp folowed after priuely & hadde wondir of hir abyte; ¶ and whan she hadde no more þat she myghte do, for desire she sette hir fete in þe steppes of þe conuerses or monkes. ¶ Also whan hir fader and modir, as maner is of seculers, wolde haue rayed [ 30] hir wiþ delycate garmentis & gaye, she was sory and forsoke hem, as if she hadde redde impressed naturally in hir mynde þat seinte Petir seiþ of wymmen þus: ¶ 'Whas araye of cloþinge be not wiþ-oute-forþe tressynge & tiftynge of here or tire of golde or gownes'; ¶ and also seinte Poule seiþ; 'Not in crumpled lokkys or golde or perilles or [ 35] precyous clothe'. Wherfore hir fader and modir, lawghynge and scornynge þe mayden, seyde: 'what-maner womman schalle oure doghter be?'

Of hir matrymoyn. Cap. II.

And þerfore þey hauynge envye at hir gracyous dedys, whanne she [ 40] was fourtene ȝeere olde, maryed hir to a ȝonge man. So þanne she, remeued fro fadir and modir, was kyndelyd into soo passynge feruour and wiþ so grete fightynge chastysed hir body and broghte hit vndir∣neth, ¶ þat often, whan she hadde trauailed with hir owne handes mykel parte of þe nyghte, after labour she was ful longe in hir prayers; and [ 45] þat oþere dele of þe nyghte, as often as hit was leeueful to hir, she

slepte but litil, & þat vpon a fewe lattys, þe whiche she hadde priuely hidde atte hir beddes feet. And for she hadde not openly power of hir owne body, she bare priuely vndir hir smok a fulle shharpe corde, with þe whiche she was girdid ful harde.—¶ I seye not þis, prci∣synge þe exces, but tellynge þe feruoure. In þis and many oþer þat [ 5] she wroghte by priuelege of grace, lat þe discrete reder take hede þat priuilege of a fewe makiþ not a commun lawe. Folowe wee hir vertues; (þe werkes of hir vertues) wiþ-outen specyal priuilege folowe maye wee not. ¶ Sooþly, þof þe body be to be constreyned to serue þe spirite; þof we ow to bere in oure body þe woundys of oure lorde [ 10] Jhesu Cryste, neuerþeles wee woot þat þe kynges worshyp loueþ lawe and riȝhte, ne sacrifice of raueyne plesiþ not oure lorde. Certeynly, necessaryes are not to be wiþdrawen fro þe pore fleshe, but vices are to be refreyned. ¶ And þerfore þat atte wee rede sum seyntes haue done by famylyer & homly counseyle of the holy gost, wee [ 15] shalle raþere meruaile þanne folowe.

Of þe conuersacyone of hir spouse, and þat þey forsoke þe worlde and lyued chast. Cap. III.

And whan she so a good while had lyued wiþ John̄, hir spouse, in matrymoyne, oure lorde byhelde the meeknes of his mayden and gra∣cyously [ 20] herde hir prayers: for John̄ was enspyred to haue Mary as taken to kepe, whom he hadde firste as wife. Hee made þe chast man tutour of his mayden, þat she shulde haue solas of hir keper, and lafte to hir a trewe puruyour, þat she myȝhte more frely serue oure lorde. And also byfore of a naturel goodnes þe same John̄ [ 25] ageyne-seyde not þe holy purpos of his wife, as a custum is of oþere men, but ful goodly suffred and compassyone hadde of hir laboures: and visityd was of oure lorde, þat hee deserued not allonly . . . [Lat.: coelibem et vere angelicam vitam; im Engl. fehlt ein wort.] & verre aungels lyfe by contynens and chastite, but also to gyue alle þat hee hadde for Crystes loue to þore men and to folowe his felowe in holy [ 30] purpos & holy religyone. For euere þe ferre hee was departyd fro hir by carnelle affeccyone, þe nerre was hee knytte to hir by loue of sprituel spousehode. ¶ Wherfore oure lorde apperyd after in visyone to his mayden and bihighte þat as reparelde matrymoyne he wolde gyue ageyne to hir in heuene hir felowe, þe whiche for loue of chastyte [ 35] wiþdrow hym fro fleshely luste in erþe. ¶ Þerfore wrecchyd lecchours, fulynge hem owne selfe oute of wedloke with vnleueful commixtions, maye be schamed and ferde, syþen booþ þese blissed ȝongelynges, absteinynge fro leeueful halsynges for goddes loue, ouere-come the harde heet of brennynge ȝouþe þurgh feruour of religyone. For þey [ 40] deserued corons for þe pryse: to whome oure lorde gaf in his hous and in his wallis place & name better þan sones and doghters, (syþen) of a blessed kynde of martirdome in fyre not brennynge, where luste aboundid her owne luste sleynge, nere þe flude þristynge & amonge (metis) hungerynge, þey stikked her fleshes with nayles of goddes [ 45] drede; ȝee, noghte settynge by hem-selfe for oure lordes loue, þey

serued sumwhile to summe mesellis bisyde Neuelle [Ms. Venelle.] in a place þat is named Villambroce.

Of the dispisynge and persecueyoun of hire cosyns. Cap. IV.

Deueles sawe and envyed, seculers and cosyns sawe and with teeþ ageyns hem (gnastyd; whome) firste they worshepyd ryche, after þey [ 5] disspysed and scornyd for Crystes loue made pore: vile & abiecte þey were accountyd for god, vpbreydynges hadde they many for oure lorde sake. ¶ Drede þou not, Crystes mayden, to goo wilfully wiþ þy Criste vnto contumilious scornes of þe crosse and sette be-syde þe ioye and þis worldes worshyp. Hyt better is to þe bee abiecte and noȝhte sette [ 10] by in þe hous of oure lorde, þanne dwelle in haulles and chaumbirs of synners. Þou has loste grace of cosyns, but þou haste founden Cristes grace. Haste þou loste þy cosyns loue? Naye, for, certeynly, þei loued þee neuere, but þy catelle. Flyes folowe [Ms. felowe.] hony, wolues þe ca∣ryone, and þeues hir praye, not þe man. [ 15]

Of hir compunxione and teerys. Cap. V.

Lorde, þou arte ful good to hem þat tristen in þe, þou arte trewe to hem þat abyden thee. þy mayden haþ despysed þe reume of þe worlde and alle þe worshyp þere-of for þy loue: sooþly, þou hast gyuene hir ageyn þe hundirdfold in this worlde & euer-lastynge lyfe in þat atte is to [ 20] come. ¶ Þan loke wee wiþ how grete stoonys of vertues, as a sadde and hool vesselle of golde onoured wiþ euery precyous stoon, þou hast arayed and tyred þy ful dere frende, wiþ how grete miracles þou haste worschepyd hir, þat abiecte and scornyd of seculers. Þe bigynnynge of hir conuersacyone [l. conuersyone.] to the, firste fruytes of hir lyfe [l. loue; pri∣mitiae dilectionis.] , was þy crosse [ 25] and þy passyone; þy herynge she herde and dredde, she byhelde þy [Ms. þe.] werkys and was aferde. ¶ For why vpon a day whan she, preuent & inspirid of þe, considerid þe beenfetȝ þat þou mercyfulle schewdist in flesche to mankynde, she fonde so mykel grace of compunxyone, so grete plente of terys, þristyd oute in þy passyone with þe pressure [ 30] of thy crosse, þat hir teerys copiously dou(n)e rennynge on þe kirke∣paumente shewed where she ȝeed. ¶ Wherfore longe tyme after this visitacyone of hir she myghte not byholde an ymage of the crosse, ne speke ne heere oþere folke spekynge of the passyone, but if sche felle in to a swounynge for hyȝ desyre of herte. ¶ And þerfore [ 35] oþere-while, to tempir hir sorowe and to wiþholde aboundauns of teerys, she lafte þe manhede of Criste and helde vp hir mynde to þe godhede & mageste, þat she myȝhte fynde comforte in his vnsufferabilite. ¶ But where as she enforced hir to restreyne hir wepynge, þere encresed meruelously teerys moor and moor. ¶ For whan she toke [ 40] hede how grete he was þat suffred for vs so mykel dispite, hir sorowe was efte renewyd, and hir soule wiþ newe teerys was refresshed by a swete compunxione.—¶ Hit was vpon a daye byfore good-fridaye nere Cristes passyone, whanne she hadde offred hir-selfe to oure lorde wiþ mykelle watir of teerys, sobbynges and sighynges, a preste of [ 45]

the kirke as wiþ plesauns blamynge hir, badde þat she shulde praye softely and latte be hir wepynge. She, sooþly, as she euer was sham∣faste & in alle thinges sympil as a doufe, didde hir bisynesse to obey. ¶ Þenne she, knowynge hir vnmyghte, wente priuely oute of þe chirche and hidde hir in a priue place fer fro alle folke: and gate [ 5] graunte of oure lorde with terys þat he wolde shewe to þe same preste þat hit is not in mannes powere to wiþholde þe stronge streme of teerys, whanne a grete blaste blowþ and þe watir flowiþ. Wherfore þat preste, þe while hee sange masse þat same daye, was so ouer∣comen wiþ abundauns of terys, þat his spirite was wel nyghe stran∣gelyd; [ 10] ¶ and þe more þat hee bisyed hym to reffreyne his terys, þe moor not oonly hee but also þe buke and þe auter-clothes were wette wiþ water of wepynge: ¶ soo þat hee vnavisyman, he þat blamer of Crystes mayden, leeryd with schame by experiens what hee schulde do þat hee wolde not firste knowe by meeknesse and compassyone. [ 15] ¶ For after many sobbynges, pronounsynge many wordes vnordynatly now and now, atte laste vnneþes hee skaped fro perille; ¶ and hee bare witnesse, þat booþ sawe and knewe, and wee wot þat his witnesse is trewe. ¶ Sooþly, þen longe tyme after the messe was endid, Cristes mayden, turnynge ageyne & wondirly as if she hadde be [ 20] presente vmbreidynge tolde what felle vnto þe preste. 'Now, quod sche, ȝee haue leeryd by experyens þat hit is not in a man to wiþ∣holde þe fersenes of þe wynde whanne þe sowth bloweþ'.—¶ And while booþ daye and nyghte contynuelly water wente aweye by hir eyen, and not oonly hir terys in hir chekys but also leste they shulde [ 25] be perceyued in þe paumente, she kepte hem in kerchefs wiþ þe whiche she couerd hir heed; and siche lynnen cloþes she vsed fulmany, þe whiche sche nedid often to chaunge, þat, as on wette, anoþere myghte drye. ¶ And þen, certeynly, whan men of compassyone with desyre after so longe fastynge, after so many wakynges & after so [ 30] many wepynges asked hir wheþere she felte any soor or akynge, as hit is wonte to be of a tome hede: ¶ 'þes teeris, quod she, are my refresshynge, þes are my sustynauns nyghte & daye; þat dissese not the heed, but feden þe mynde; þey angwyshe wiþ noon akynge, but þey lightsum þe soule with a shynnynge; þey avoyde not þe brayne, [ 35] but þey fille þe wille of þe soule wiþ a fulnes, & softnesse hit wiþ an esy enoyntynge, ¶ whan they are not oute-wrongen with laboure and vyolens, but helde oute gracyously and gyfen of oure lorde'.

Of hir shryfte. Cap. VI.

After hir compunccyone now see wee shortly of hir shrifte. I take [ 40] god to witnesse: neuere in alle hir lyfe or conuersacyone I myghte perceyue oon deedly synne. ¶ And if happely hit semyd to hir þat she hadde trespassed any litil venial synne, she shewyd hir to a preste wiþ so grete sorow of herte, wiþ so mykel schame and wiþ so longe contricyone, þat oþere-while for grete angwyshe of herte she [ 45] was const(r)eyned to crye loude in maner of a womman trauelynge of childe; ȝe, þof she so eshewed fro smal and veniels, þat oþere-while she myghte not fynde in hir herte in fiftene dayes vnordynate þoghte.

¶ And for gode myndes knowe gilte þere where no gilte is, often she knelyd atte prestys feet and accusynge hir-selfe confessyd hir with terys of sum thinge in þe whiche vnneþis wee myghte absteyne fro laghter, as sum childely woordes þat she sorowed fore, the whiche, as she mynned, she spake in veyne in hir ȝouþe. ¶ But sooþly, after þat [ 5] she was passed childes age, she besyed hir to kepe hir soule with so grete drede, hir wittes with siche diligens, and hir herte wiþ so grete clennesse, hauynge euere byfore hir eyen Salomons worde: 'hee þat rekkiþ not smale thinges falliþ doune by litlum', þat wee myghte neuer or selden perceyue in hir ydel worde or vnordynat lokynge or [ 10] vnhonest hauynge of body or vnmesurabil laghter or vnsem and vn∣manerly berynge of body—þof oþere-while for abundaunt ioye, whanne she myghte vnneþes holde hir-selfe, (she) were constreyned to shewe þe ioynge of hir herte by oute-warde berynge of body with a litil excesse & gladnesse of chere; ouþer brestynge oute by cleernesse of herte in [ 15] to an esy laghynge, ouþer of her goodnesse receivynge any of hir frendys wiþ a litil & shamfaste clippynge, ouþer of entir deuocyone sum prestis handes or feet kissynge. ¶ And whanne she comen to hir∣selfe ageyne as after a moystnesse of mynde, rekenyd & countid streitly atte euene alle hir deedys: if she myghte perceyue þat she hadde ex∣cedid [ 20] neuer so litil, she shroue hir wiþ [Ms. and st. wiþ.] a wondirful contricyone of herte (&) she [she st. so?] punyshynge hir-selfe, often dredyd þere where was nouþer drede ne doute. And in þis allone wee, sekynge solas to oure slouth, oþere-while reprehendid hir þat she shrof hir of siche smale thinges oftener þanne wee wolde. [ 25]

Of hir penauns and satisfaceyone. Cap. VII.

Now after hir confessyone seye wee ferþer wiþ how mykel and mer∣ueilous penauns she punyshed hir body, wiþ how grete loue and delyte in clippynge Cristes crosse she pyned hir fleshe. Let vs see þat firste scole lessun of oure lorde Jhesu Cryste and þat firste techynge of the [ 30] gospellys lore: ¶ 'who so wole come aftir me, forsake hee hym owne selfe & take his crosse and folowe me'. ¶ She turnyd þis often in hir herte and bisyed hir to folowe Cryste in þese thre paces and steppys. For, certeyne, she forsoke not oonly oþere mennes goodes, no thinge of oþer men coueityng; not oonly hir owne, alle thinges [ 35] leuynge; not oonly hir-selfe, þe body punyshynge, but hir owne selfe, hir owne wille fully forsakynge. ¶ She forsoke hir owne selfe, sub∣mittynge hir to an oþere mannes wille by obedyens; she toke þe crosse, chastisynge hir body by abstynens; and she folowyd Criste, settynge noghte by hir-selfe þurgh meeknesse. ¶ In so mykelle, sooþly, she [ 40] hadde taste of spirite, þat alle fleshely delyte was to hir vnsauery. So þat on a tyme she broghte ones to mynde at after a grete sicknesse þat she hadde, (she) was constreyned, as of nede, to vse a litil while fleshe & wyne: and of abomynacyone of þat delectacyone byfore she punyshed hir-selfe and hadde no reste in spirite, vnto she hadde made [ 45] a-seth, wonderly turmentynge hir fleshe for þos delytes byfore, siche

as was [= qualescumque.] . ¶ For with feruour of spirite she, loþinge hir fleshe, cutte awey grete gobettis and for shame hidde hem in þe erþe; and for she was enflaumed wiþ houge heet of loue, she sawe on of Seraphyn, þat is a brennynge aungel, standynge by hir in þis excesse of mynde. ¶ And whan hir body shulde be washen after she was deed, wymmen [ 5] fonde þe places of woundes, & hadde mykel maruaile; but þey þat knew hir confessyone, wiste what it was. ¶ þey þat worship and meruaile wormys wellynge oute of seint Symeouns woundes & seinte Antones fyre how he brent his fete: why wonder þey not in a freel kynde so grete strengthe of a womman, þat, woundyd with charite [ 10] and quyckenyd wiþ Cristes woundys, sette not by þe woundes of hir owne body?

Of fastynge. Cap. VIII.

Crystes mayden passed & was excellent by so grete grace of fastynge, þat þos dayes in þe whiche hir byhoued to haue recreacyone of body, [ 15] (she) wente to mete as to medecyn. She ȝete onys and a litil in þe daye, in somer atte euene, in wynter at þe firste oure of þe nyghte. Wyne dranke she noon; she vsed no fleshe, & fishe ȝeet she neuere, but selden smale fyshes; and she was sustenyd with frutes of trees, crbys and potage. And longe tyme she ȝeet ful blak brede & ful sharpe, [ 20] þat dogges vnneþis miȝt ete of; ¶ soo þat for ouer-mykel sharpnesse and hardnesse hir chaules were flayne wiþinne-forþ and blode come oute of þe woundes. But þinkeynge of Crystes blode made hit swete to hir, and wiþ woundes of Criste her woundes were lokned, and þe sharpnesse of fulharde brede was swetned with softenes of heuenly [ 25] brede. ¶ Vpon a daye, while she ete, she sawe þe olde enmye [Ms. ennye, so öfter.] alle by-payned with enuye; and whan he [Ms. she.] hadde no more þat hee myȝhte do, he scornyd hir & seide: 'Loo þou gloten, þou fillith þe ouere∣mykelle'. ¶ Sooþly, she hadde dissese often-tyme in etynge, for mykel fastynge & longe; moor-ouer hir stomak aked and wroghte, as [ 30] loþinge mete for coldenesse & bolnynge. ¶ But she knewe þe sleightes & wiles of þe enmy, þat gladly wolde strabil hir whome hee wiste dreed∣ful, at she shulde defayle wiþ ouer-mykel abstynens. ¶ Þerfore euer þe more þat þe venemous spirite was [Ms. wiþ.] turmentid wiþ hir etynge, in so mykel she enforced hir to ete þe more & scornyd hym. ¶ For wheþer [ 35] she eet or fasted, she didde alle to þe worshyp of god.—¶ Sooþly, she fasted þree ȝeer to-gedir in brede and watir, fro holy-rode-daye vnto pask; ȝit neuer-þe-les she soffred no harme of body nor of hir handes werkys. And whanne she refreshed hir body with a litil brede & watir in hir celle wiþ-in þe chirche at euene or in þe nyȝhte, fro [Ms. for.] [ 40] þe begynnynge of graces vnto the graces after [a principio benedictionis usque ad gratiarum actionem.] sum of holy aungellis stode byfore hir at þat sobir soper, & þey come vp and doune as þurgh a brighte wyndowe: of whos presens she hadde so grete com∣forte & so grete ioye of spirite, þat þe goostly swetnesse passed alle delite of sauoure. ¶ Also seinte Johne Euangelist, whom she loued [ 45]

wiþ entier affeccyone, come oþere-while to hir borde, while she eet; and in his presens hir sensibil appetite was so voyded for deuoute desire, þat she myghte vnneþes take any mete. And certaynly, oure lorde rewardid hir bodily delites [Ms. desetes, lat. delicias.] in soule, þat she hadde forsaken for þe loue of Criste, as hit is writen: 'Man lyueþ not in brede allon'. [ 5] Oþere-while þurgh comforte of this mete she fastid, neiþer etynge ne drynkynge eyghte dayes, sumtyme ellenene, þat is fro [Ms. for.] þe Ascen∣cyone of oure lorde vnto Witsondaye: and wondirly, hir hede akyd no tyme, ne she lafte not for þat laboure of hir handes, as stronge þe laste daye of hir fastynge as þe firste. ¶ And if she wolde haue eten [ 10] þoos dayes, she myghte not, vnto þe sensualite þat was as slokenyd with þe spirite, come agayne to hir-selfe; for as longe as þe soule, abundaunt so copiously, was so ful of sprituel fedynge, (hit) wolde not suffir hir receyue any refeceyone of bodily mete. ¶ Also oþere-while she restynge esely with oure lorde fyue and thretty dayes in a swete [ 15] & blyssed silens, vsid no bodily mete, and sumdayes she myȝht brynge forthe no worde but this allone: 'I wole the body of oure lorde Jhesu Cryste'; ¶ and whanne she hadde receyued þe sacramente, she dwellid wiþ oure lorde euery daye in silens. ¶ Sooþly, (s)he felid in þos dayes hir spirite as departid fro þe body, so beyng in þe body as if hit were [ 20] hidde in a vessel of cley, and hir body as a cloth of cleye be-lappynge and couerynge hir spirite—in this manere she was abstracte froo sensibil thinges and raveshyd abouen hir-selfe in an excesse. ¶ And after fyue wekys she turnynge ageyne to hir-selfe, openyd hir mouþe & spake and receyued bodily food; and þey þat stood aboute, maruelyd. [ 25] Longe tyme after hit happenyd to hir þat sche myghte on no manere soffir þe sauours of fleshe or of any friynge or of wyne, but whanne she toke wyne in þe rynshynge after þe sacrament; and þen she myȝhte suffre þe smel with-outen any greuauns. ¶ Also whanne she went by dyuers townes to a byschope forto haue þe sacramente of [ 30] confirmacyone, þe sauours þat she myȝt not suffir byfore, dredde hir not a deel.

Of hir prayer. Cap. IX.

Euer þe more þat she made hir body lene wiþ fastynges, þe more freer was hir spirite and replete wiþ praiynges; þe body wiþ abstynens [ 35] was febled, & þe soule more in oure lorde was strengþed. ¶ She gat of oure lorde so grete grace and so specyalle of praiynge, þat nyȝhtes & dayes neuere or selden hir spirite was ouercomen ne releced fro prayer. ¶ She prayed wiþ-outen blinnynge, ouþer criynge to god wiþ stille herte, or ellis wiþ hir mouþ expressynge þe hertys desyre. [ 40] ¶ Soo þat, while she wroȝt with hir handes & spanne, she hadde a sauter [Ms. smaule st. sauter; psalterium.] set byfore hir and swetly seyde salmes [Ms. salues.] þere to oure lorde, with þe whiche as wiþ nayles she couplyd hir hert to god, leste hit wandird in veyne. And whanne she prayed specially for any body, as with a wondirful experiens oure lorde shewyd to hir & answerid [ 45]

hire spirite. ¶ Sooþly, she perceyued oþere-while by eleuacyone of hir spirite or depressyone wheþer she were herde or noon.—¶ Vpon a tyme she prayed for a deed man soule: and hit was seyde to hir: 'prey not for hym, for hee is reproued of god'. In certeyne, þe same man hadde his deþes wounde and wrecchedly was deed in turnament, [ 5] and dampned was for euir. ¶ Also on þe [þe st. a.] daye, while she was in hir celle be-syde þe chirche of Oegines, she sawe a multitude of handes byfore hir as praynge. ¶ Þen she, meruelynge & not knowynge what þat shulde be, was sumwhat adredde, and fledde to þe chirche. An oþere daye, while she was in hir celle, she sawe eftesones þe same [ 10] handes, and was afferde. And whan she wolde efte flee to þe chirche, she was holden wiþ þe handes and taryed. ¶ Þen she ȝede to þe chirche and preyed oure lorde þat he wolde certefy hir what þoos handes be∣mened. ¶ And she was answeryd of god þat soulles þe whiche be peyned in purgatory asked helpe of hir prayers or of an oþere, wiþ [ 15] þe which her sorowes were softenyd as with a precyous oynemente. ¶ Sooþly, she lafte oþere-while custumabil orysouns for swetnes of con∣templacyone; ¶ also sumtyme she myghte not open hir mouþe nor she myghte thinke on noon oþere thinge but of god.—¶ She vsed, by-cause of pilgrimage or prayer, to vyset seint Mary chirche of Oegines [Lat. de Heignes.] , where [ 20] sche hadde grete comforte of oure lady; and þat chirche was fro hir place two grete myles. ¶ And whan hit was wonder houge wynter, she ȝede barefote to þat chirche þurgh first, wiþ-outene any harme or hurt of hir-selfe. ¶ And whil she hadde but o mayden with hir and knewe not þe wey þat is ful vnredy & ful of wode, a lighte but [Tilge but?] [ 25] wente byfore hir, shewynge þe weye, þat she ȝede neuere wronge. ¶ Also syþen þat daye she hadde no thinge eten and alle nyght waked in þe chirche, on þe morne whanne she shulde go home & not ete til euene, neuerþeles with-outen any difficulte she wente home ageyne, holy aungels ledynge hir on booþ sydes. ¶ Sooþly, sumtyme [ 30] in þe same weye, whan þere semyd an houge rayne in þe cloudys & she hadde no cloþes to chare hir fro þe rayne, she lokynge vp sawe sum sterris obeysaunte to hir wiþ-holdynge þe rayne, and so in þe rayne∣tyme come home ageyne vntouched.—Also oþere-while, whan hir soule was replete and purifyed as sumtyme more þan oþere, she myghte [ 35] (not) cese fro prayere: wherfore she salutid oure-lady in þe nyghte and in þe daye knelynge a þowsande syþes & an hundirde, contynuynge þis meruelos and vnharde offys of salutacyone fourty dayes to-gedir. þe firste tyme in an houge spirife she knelyd wiþ-oute stynte sex hundreth syþes; ¶ þe secunde tyme standynge on hir feet she redde [ 40] alle þe sauter & atte ilke salme knelynge seyde þe salutacyone of oure lady aue maria &c.; ¶ but þe þridde tyme þ(r)e hundreþ syþes at euery knelynge wiþ a scharpe ȝeerd smytynge hire, sacrifyed & offerde hir-selfe with a longe martirdome to god and to þe blessed mayden Mary. ¶ Sooþly, wiþ þe (þre) laste strokes, to sauer wiþ þe toþere, she [ 45] broghte aboundauntly blode oute of hir body; and þan she but knelyd

fyfty syþes and endys soo þat seruyse. ¶ Þis didde she not with bodily strengthe, but wiþ aūngels helpe, þat sustenyd hir and socoured. ¶ How mykel the vertue of hir prayer was, not oonly men were often expert to socour, but also fendys to turmente: þe whiche in so mykel she constreyned þat she drowe hem as wiþ ropes, & þey were compellid [ 5] to come to hir by brennynge of hire prayers, ¶ oþer-while gnastynge with hir teeþ ageyns hir, ¶ sumtyme makynge quarels & pleinynge of hir, ¶ and also vmwhile as bisechynge hir lowly. ¶ Sooþly, whan any of hir frendes were trauelid with any temptacyone, she was stired wiþ þe spirite of compassyone and cesed not of hir prayere tille þe [ 10] enmy were ouercomen and þe man delyuered.—And so þere was on of hir specyalle frendys þat oþere-while þe more sotily þe more perliously was temptyd of þe deuelry þat walkes in derknesse. Þat sly enmy, transfigurynge hym into an aungel of lighte, as vndir a spyce of pite apperyd homely in slepe to hir frende byfore-seyde, bla∣mynge [ 15] hym of summe vyces, and warned hym also gylously of sum good dedys þat hee shulde do, and ȝaf hym firste tryacul, þat hee myghte þe more priuely brynge in after venym. Þen whan hee was trowed as hee hadde be trewe, ¶ þen in maner of a sofister amonge sum trewe þat traytour enforced hym to medil false with-alle, hydynge [ 20] deceyuaundly wikke wiþ medelynge of good. ¶ Atte þe laste his engyne come to þat poynte, at þat broþer hadde be concluded with a myserabil conclusyone [l. confusyone.] , but if [Ms. but of.] Crystes mayden hadde by reuelacyone of þe holy goost perceyued þe symulacyone & sotilte of þat sly sofister. ¶ And whan she seyde at þat reuelacyone was not of god but deceyte [ 25] of a wicked spirite, hee answeryd þe contrarye & seyde: 'syþen þat spirite haþ done me so many godes and hath tolde me byfore so many trewe thinges to come, he wole on no manere deceyue me'. ¶ Þenne she gaf hir to prayers and wepynges, & restyd not til þat spirite wiþ grete weymentynge and shame stode byfore hir vpon a [ 30] nyghte in hir celle, while she prayed. ¶ Þen she, byholdynge hym wiþ a fals shynynge: 'what arte þou, quod she, or what is thy name?' ¶ And hee, as he was of a proude loke, byhelde hir alle ascoyle; ¶ 'I am he, quod hee, whome þou, corsed womman, haþ garte come to þe þurgh thy prayers and has by-rafte me my frende. ¶ Slepe is [ 35] my name, for I appere as Lucifere in slepe to many and most to religyous, and þey obey to me and falle in to pryde þurgh my com∣fortes, lattynge [reputantes.] hem-selfe worþy to be visytid of god and of aungellis'. ¶ And after þe ende proued openly atte þat man was deceyued of þe feend.—¶ Also þere was a ȝonge virgyn in an abbey of þe Cisteus [ 40] ordir, amonge nonnes vndir abyte of religyone seruynge oure lorde: to whome þe olde serpente hadde þe more envye, in as mykelle as hee sawe hir take þe purpose of so harde ly(u)ynge in freel kynde and ȝonge age. ¶ And syþen hee knewe þat virgyne dreedful and meke, hee assayled hir wiþ blasfemys and vnclene þoghtes, at hee myghte [ 45] caste hir downe in to dispayre by ferdefulnesse and vnordynate drede.

Þen, as she was dreedful and not vsed to siche þoghtes, in þe firste entre of þe thoghte (she) leued þat she hadde loste feiþ, ¶ and wiþ-stood longe tyme wiþ mykel sorowe. Atte laste, sooþly, not suffrynge nor openynge to any oþere þe wounde of hir herte, þat she myghte re∣ceyue medecyn for feerdfulnesse, (she) felle as into despayre. ¶ For so [ 5] mykel þe enmye hadde depressed hir mynde, þat she myghte seye neiþer pater noster ne credo; and hir synnes wold she not schryue. ¶ And if oþere-while she were coacte, eiþer with feyre wordes or þretys to confesse sum thinges, she myghte be broghte on no maner to aske forgifnesse. She myghte not be atte þe sacramentis of holy [ 10] chirche, ¶ þe sacramente of the auter wolde she not receyue; she asayed often for perturbacyone to sle hir-selfe, she dispysed goddes worde & prechynge for hir hele, she hatyd alle good, þe deuel putte oute by hir mouþe many wordes of blasfemye and scorne. ¶ And whan hir meke sistirs hadde mykel prayed for hir to oure mercyful lorde, [ 15] þey myghte not byreue his doune fro þe deueles chaules, nor þis maner of deuilry myghte not anoon be casten [Ms. custen.] oute in fastynge and prayer—not for þe mercyfulle spouse dispysed þe prayers of so many holy virgyns, but for he reserued þat most cruel kynde of deuelry to be ouer-comen by his mayden, þat she shulde þirle þurgh þe chekys [ 20] of þe fende wiþ þe spedfulnesse of hir prayers & myghtely drawe þe praye fro his mouþe. ¶ Þerfore, whan þat ȝonge virgyne was broghte to Cristes mayden: as she was ful of compassyone and of goostly swetnesse, receyued hir ful godely, not oonly in hir celle by liberalle and free hospitalite, but also in herte by spirite of charite. ¶ And [ 25] whanne she hadde prayed mykel for hir to oure lorde, ȝit hee þat wende haue holden hir faste, wolde not leue hir. Þen she sacrifyed hir-selfe more to oure lorde & fasted fourty dayes wiþ wepynge and prayers, so þat she ȝeet but twyes or thryes in þe woke. ¶ Sooþly, in þe ende of fastynge hee þat most hidous spirite lafte þe virgyne [ 30] & was constrayned to come to Crystes mayden wiþ senshyp, sorowe & shame, wonderly bounden and peyned of Cristes aungelle, soo þat hit semyd as hee hadde easten oute alle his bowellis, berynge wrecchidly on his nekke alle þat was wiþ-in hym—¶ for þat at oure lorde wirkiþ invisibily in spirite, oþere-while hee shewiþ hit visibily by vt∣warde [ 35] signes. Þen by weymentynge & bisekynge, þat she wolde haue mercy on hym, and prayed hir, þat was Crystes frende, to enioyne hym penauns; for, hee seyde, he was coact & moste do what-so-euere she enioyned hym. ¶ And þan she, þat neuere presumed of hir-selfe nor any thynge wolde do wiþ-outen counseille, called a famylier frende [ 40] and maister, on whome she trastid. ¶ Þan whan he counceylid hir þat she shulde sende hym into a deserte place, where he myȝhte noye no man vnto þe daye of dome: anoþer man, ful homely and priuey to hem booþ, come to, & whan hee knewe þe cownseile, as more feruente þurgh fersnesse of an houge spirite, 'nay quod hee, þat tray∣tour [ 45] shal not scape so. Bydde hym þat hee go doune anoon in to

þe depe of helle'. And she badde so. Þan he fille downe wiþ ȝellynge, and she herde in spirite a grete crye of fendys, whan þey sawe so grete and so myghty prynce come to hem: Þen Cristes mayden meruailed þat mykel & þanked god of his grete grace and goodnesse. And þat forsaide virgyne was delyuered þat same oure, & shroue hire [ 5] and receyued þe sacramente, & þankynge god went home ageyne saufe and sounde.—¶ Also oþere-while, (while) she rested in hir bedde after many wakynges, þe fende apperyd to hir in dyuerse liknesses, gnastynge agayns hir & cursynge: 'Iuel riste haue þou wiþ vs, quod he, in helle be þy riste. I am no lesse payned wiþ þy reste þan I [ 10] am turmentid wiþ þy labour and þy prayers'. And she smylynge blessyd hir & garte þat grysely goost go his gate.

Of hir wakynge & slepe. Cap. X.

This stronge wise womman þoughte greuous and vnsuffurabil harme of ydel tyme—for dayes ouer-passe, but þey come not ageyne; wher∣fore [ 15] þe harm of losse of tyme maye not be recuuerid, nor dayes lost maye not be restoryd, as maye oþere bodyly þinges þat are loste. ¶ And þerfore she eschewyd wiþ most bisynesse, in as mykelle as was leueful to hir, þat noon oure of þe daye or nyghte shulde ouer-passe, hir vnoccupyed or ydel. ¶ For she slepte selden anyghtes, knowynge [ 20] þat slepe is to vs mercyabil lafte of oure lorde not to meryte & mede, but to recreacyone of mannes freel febilnesse. Soþ hit is þat wee deserue no mede slepynge, for wee haue noon vse of fre choys & dome. ¶ Wherfore, as mykel as she myghte, absteinynge for slepe she serued oure lorde in þe nyghtes-watchys, and so mykel more deuoutely þat [ 25] she was not letted with oute-warde noyse of any hustlynge or bust∣lynge. Þe vertue of abstynens driynge & lenynge hir body, & þe fire of goddes loue wiþ-in brennynge, esely putte fro hir alle slomerynge of slepe, and swete aungel songes, wiþ whome she woke often alle nyghte, didde awey fro hir eyen alle slepe wiþ-outen any bodily [ 30] disese. And so, solitary fro company of men, in þe nyghtes tyme she hadde felawshyp of ostes of blessed spirites, whos meruelous noyse, as of a multitude of pepil, delyted hir eres wiþ a doucet and mery molody. Hit shoke awey slouþe, hit refreshyd þe hede, hit comfortyd þe mynde wiþ a wondir swetnesse, hit sterid deuocyone, hit enflaumed [ 35] desyre, & to þe louvynge and thankynge hit bad hir by ensaumpil of hit-selfe, rehereynge ofte sanctus sanctus sanctus dominus &c., ¶ þat is: holy, holy, holy lorde. Latte wrecched & fonned wymmen loke this & take hede and sorowe for her synnes, þat wiþ hir vntoune & lacches songes kyndeliþ þe fyre of lecchery and makiþ coles to brenne wiþ [ 40] her mouþes breþ; ¶ and þerfore þey, alyenid fro þe songe of aungels, perisshe in hir vanyte & pryde, whos laghter shalbe turnyd in to wepynge, ioye into sorowe, and songe into a careful ȝellynge; to whome oure lorde byhetiþ for hir gaye girdille a rope, for swete sauour stynke, and for crisped coloryd here a balled hede. ¶ Soþely, oure Mary, [ 45] for þe loue of Cryste dispisynge caroules & alle þe deuils bostys, deserued to be amonge mery melody of holy aungels, ful blessyd and ful swetly.—And for she kepte anyghtes precyous relikes of seintes

wiþ þe whiche þe chirche of Oegines is warsshed & worshepyd, þos same relikes ledynge an holy nyghte wiþ hir, and as beynge fayne wiþ here wardeyne, gladid her spirite wiþ a meruelous mirthe; and in hir laste sicknesse, hauynge compassyone, counfortyd hir & byhette hir helpe and mede anent god for hir labour and kepynge. ¶ She [ 5] hadde a bedde in hir celle neuerþeles wiþ litille stre, in þe whiche she rested selden; for ful often she, sittynge in þe chirche and lenynge hir hede to þe walle, was refresshed wiþ a litil slepe and hadde recours to þe swete laboures of wakynges. Neuerþeles she spendid not þe tyme of hir slepe alle wiþ-outen fruyte: for while she slepte, hir herte [ 10] waked, ¶ and she, sadly holdynge in herte Cryste þat cleuyd to hir wakynge, dremyd no thinge but hir Crist. For as a man þat hungyrs dremiþ in his slepe & metis of many-maner meces of metis, so she hadde euer byfore hir eyen in sweuenes hym þat she desyred—for 'where loue is, þere is þe eye'; & sooþly, where hir tresoure was, [ 15] þere was hir herte, as Cryste seiþ of hym-selfe: 'where I am, þere my seruaunte shalbe'. ¶ Also often oure lorde shewed to hir many þinges, while she slepte, and visitid his mayden wiþ many reuelacyouns, lesse slepe schulde passe in ydel—as Joseph & oþere seintes were warned [Ms. warmed.] in hir slepe; as god byhetiþ by þe prophete Johel: ¶ 'ȝoure [ 20] olde men shal dreme sweuens and ȝoure ȝongelynges shalle see vi∣syouns'. ¶ Oþere-while she myȝht haue rest in hir celle; but sum∣tymes, and moste whan grete sollempnites were nere, she myghte fynde no reste but wiþ-in þe chirche wiþ-in þe presens of Criste; ¶ and thanne she muste abyde in þe chirche nyghte and daye. ¶ For [ 25] firste in alle thinges hir byhoued to obeye to hir famylier aungel þat hadde hir in kepynge, as to an abbot: þe whiche aungel, whan she was oþere-while afflicte wiþ ouer-mykel fastynge, warned hir to take reste; and whan she hadde rested a litil, he reysed hir and ladde hir ageyne to þe chirche. ¶ And so, by houge incitacyone of hym and [ 30] mynistracyone of vertue & strengthe, vpon a tyme fro þe feste of seint Martyn vnto lenten she cleued so to þe paument of þe chirche, þat, wheþere she satte or laye, she myȝhte not suffir bytwix hir and þe bare erthe as mykel as o litil stre. And while she slepte, she hadde þe bare erþe or a stoke of tre ouerthwarte byfore þe grees of þe [ 35] auter in stede of a pilowe. ¶ Sooþly, in þat same wynter þere was so grete colde and so grete froste, þat, as me meniþ, in þe holy chalys, while þe preste songe, wyne fros sensibly & sodeynly in to yce. Neuerþeles she felte no colde, nor hir hede akyd but litil, þe holy aungel mercyabely haldynge vndir his hande. ¶ Woo to ȝow þat are [ 40] lacches, slepynge in softe shetys and yuery beddys, þat vsiþ softe thinges & sliken: ȝee are booþ deed and biryed in ȝoure fleshes lustes and likynges; ȝee þat lede ȝoure dayes in þis worldys welth, but in a poynte ȝee shal doune falle in to þe deppeste of helle, where vndir ȝow shalbe strewed vermyne and ȝoure couerynge shalbe wormes. [ 45] ¶ Loo, the erthe serueþ to Crystes mayden, þat she be not hurte

with hardenesse, for she serued deuoutly oure lorde; þe wynter sparith hir, þat sche be not schente wiþ colde; ¶ holy aungels mynistir to hir, þat she in no þinge suffer sore. ¶ Ageyne ȝow, fonned foles, þe world shalle fighte for god: for þat at he made shalbe armed to vengeauns of his enmyes, and þe creature þat seruiþ to þe maker [ 5] shalbe wroþ ageyne ȝow worþe(!).

Of hir cloþes. Cap. XI.

She þat was cladde wiþ the holy lambys flees, she þat was wiþ-inne onoured wiþ þe brydalle garmente, she þat wiþinforþe hadde cloþed hir wiþ Cryste, chargyd not of outewarde araye. ¶ Neuerþeles hir [ 10] cloþes were in a mene, for desyred filthes & studiously soghte clennesse plesyd hir neuere. ¶ Sooþly, she eschewyd fayre araye & foule booþ ilike: for þat one sounes delytes and lustes, & þat oþer ypocricy and preisynge of þe pepil. ¶ Neuerþeles she knewe þat seinte John̄ Bap∣tiste was praysed of oure lorde for sharpnes of cloþes, & þat Cryste seiþ [ 15] hym-selfe: 'þey þat are clad wiþ softe thinges, are in kynges houses': Þerfore she vsed not next hir flesche a lynnen smok, but an harde sakke, þat is callid in open tunge stamyne. [qui lingua publica nuncupatur Estamine.] ¶ Also she hadde a white wollen cote, & a mauntil of the same coloure, wiþ-outen any skynnes or furrur, not vnknowynge þat oure lorde couerde þe naked of oure [ 20] firste fader and moder after hir falle not wiþ precyous cloþes or crafty∣ously coloured, but with letheren cotes. She, þat brennyd wiþ-inne-forþe, helde hir payed wiþ þe sympelnesse of þese cloþes and dredde no colde, nor she nedid no materyal fyre to chare awey chele in wynter; ¶ but in a meruelous manere, whan þere was sharpe wynter and harde [ 25] frost, as she was feruente in spirite, so wiþoute-forþe she was hote, while she prayed, & namely in body; ¶ in so mykel þat oþere-while hir cloþes smellid wiþ-inne of hir swete sauoured swote. ¶ Also sum∣tyme þe sauour of hir cloþes was as odour of encens, whil she offerde hir orysouns to oure lorde wiþ censour of clene herte. ¶ What seye [ 30] ȝee to þis, ȝee superflue wymmen, ful of pompe and pryde, þat chargiþ ȝoure caryouns wiþ many-folde of clothes and shewith ȝoure-selfe like bestiss oute of kynde wiþ ȝoure longe tayles, shyndynge ȝoure sem∣blaunte wiþ hornys and hokes [shyndynge—hokes zusatz des übersetzers.] , tifted as a temple? ȝoure cloþes ar gnawen with moughtis and stinken, þe cloþes of this holy womman [ 35] are kepte for relikes and sauoure ful swete. Þees are precyous cloþes ouercomen wiþ no colde, were þey neuere soo þinne, & þerfore halowed bycause of colde, ¶ and soþely, for þe halowynge þey are kepte ful bisily and worshepyd wiþ affeccyone of pite of deuoute pupil after hir obyte.

Of þe labour of hir handys. Cap. XII. [ 40]

This wise womman wiste wele þat oure lorde hadde putte penauns to þe firste fadir and moder after synne, and þurgh hem to her childer, þat is: 'In swote of þy semelande þou shalte ete þy mete'. ¶ Wher∣fore, as longe as she myghte, she laboured wiþ hir owne handys, at she shulde pyne hir body wiþ penauns, at she shulde mynistir neces∣sa(r)yes [ 45]

to þe nedy, and also at she myghte gete lyuelode & cloþinge to hir-selfe, as she þat hadde for-saken alle þinges for Crystes sake. ¶ Sooþly, oure lorde lente hir so grete grace & vertue of wirkynge, þat she fer passed hir felawes, so þat she myghte nerehande fynde hir∣selfe and an oþere wiþ hir handes fruyte and laboure bisily, enten∣tynge [ 5] þat þe apostel seiþ: 'whoo so wirkith not, ete he not'. For∣soþe, ilke an exercise of labour she counted [Ms. comytid.] ful swete, while she toke entente þat þe onbygoten sone of þe hye kynge of heuene, þat openiþ his hande and fillith euery beste wiþ his blessynge, was noryshed wiþ handes laboure of Joseph and of a litil pore trauelynge virgyne. Þer∣fore [ 10] in reste and silens, after þe apostil, she wirkynge wiþ hir handes ete hir brede—for hir strengthe was in silens & hope. In so mykel, sooþly, she fledde noyse and company of men and loued stilnesse and reste, þat on a tyme fro holy-rode-daye to paske she kepte silens, vnneþes spekynge any worde. And siche-maner silens oure lorde ac∣ceptyd [ 15] so mykel, þat by reuelacyone of þe holy goste she gat graunt of god þere-fore, aboue alle oþere thinges, at she shulde passe to paradys wiþ-outen purgatory peyne. Here-by shewiþ how grete is þe vice of eloquacite ¶ and iangelynge, syþen þat silens & stilnesse is so plesaunde to oure lorde. And þenne atte laste she multipliynge euery [ 20] daye wiþ a besy labour þe besaunte þat was taken to hir, & ilke a daye steiȝhynge vppe by þe laddyr of Jacob fro vertue to vertue: siþen she was sette in þe hyest & as putte in þe ouerest stage and lafte alle sensibile þinges: so mykelle wiþ abundaunt spirite hir sen∣sualite was absorpt, þat she þan myghte not wirke but mete þat perissh [ 25] not, as þe gospel seiþ, for she was alle-occupyed and fulfilled wiþ Cryste. ¶ Wherfore as an ermyte(!) [Lat. quasi emerita.] & free fro alle wirchynge of handes, fro þen forþe she restyd allonly in oure lorde: wiþ þe whiche fredome Cryste endowyd his mayden.

Of hir biriynge [l. berynge.] & composicyone of chere and of oþere membrys. [ 30] Cap. XIII.

Composicyon of berynge of hir outewarde and ferþermore partyes shewyd þe inwarde makynge of hir mynde, and þe semlynes of hir semelande wolde not late þe ioye of hir hert by hydde. ¶ Forsoþ, in a meruelous mesure she tempyrde þe sadnes of hir herte wiþ glad∣nesse [ 35] of chere, and somwhatly couerde þe mirþe of hir mynde wiþ symplenesse of shame of visage. [vere∣cundae faciei.] And for þe apostil seiþ: 'wymmen shul prey wiþ hilid hede', þe white veyle þat hidde hir hede, hynge byfore hir yȝen. ¶ She wente mekely wiþ a slowe and esy paas, hire hede loutynge and hir face lokynge to þe erþe. In so mykel, sooþly, [ 40] þe grace of hir soule [Lat. Spiritus sancti gratia.] shyned in hire visage of plente of hir herte, þat many of þe selfe lokynge of hir were goostly refreshed and stired to deuocyone & wepynge; and redynge in hir chere þe vnccione of þe holy goste as in a boke, knewe þat fro hir come vertue. ¶ And so hit felle on a daye þat a goodly man, famylyer and frende of relygious [ 45]

persones, Guy, sumtyme chauntour of þe chirche Cameracense, turnyd oute of his wey to viset hir. Þen on of his felawes, þe whiche happely vnto þen knew not by experiens how mikel visitacyone & homblynes [l. homlynes.] of gode folke maye do to meke myndes, as in scornynge þe goodly labour of þe forsayde denoute man, seyde: 'For goddes loue, sir chaun∣tour, [ 5] what seke ȝee? why leue ȝee ȝoure weye? ¶ Wheþere wil (ȝe) folowe and take flyes and flyand botirflyes wiþ childer?' Hee, sooþly, þat was meke, mylde & suffrynge, lefte not his weye, þat hee purposed, for siche wordes, but deuoutly wente to Cristes mayden, of whos presens anoþere tyme hee hadde not a litil comforte. ¶ And [ 10] while hee spake to hir, his felow, as seculer manere is, sette litil by siche wordes & on an oþer syde was occupyed with dyuerse and ydel wordes. Þan whan hee was ful and irke of abidynge, ¶ hee come to þe chauntour to bidde hym þat hee shulde hye in haste. And happely as he loked rudely [Ms. radely?] in þe visage of Cristes [ 15] mayden, sodeynly and meruelously he felle into so grete wepynge of teerys, þat vnneþes hee myghte be broghte a longe tyme after fro þat place and presens of hir. ¶ Þan þe chauntour, þogh he wolde for shame haue holden counseile, takynge hede and knowynge þe chauns, was gladde and scornyd his felowe ageyne and seyde: 'Goo wee [ 20] hennes, what stande wee? In happe ȝee wole d(r)yue [Ms. dyne.] and chace boter∣flyes'. And hee, after many sighynges and terys, vnneþes atte laste hee myghte be pullyd þennes, seiynge: 'Forgif me, fadir, for I wiste not what I seyde byfore; ¶ now, sooþly, I haue perceyued by ex∣peryens goddes vertue in þis womman'.—¶ Also vpon a tyme, whan [ 25] hir body myghte nomore bere þe feruoure of spirite, she felle in to a grete siknesse;—¶ so mykel, forsoþe, þe meke fadir disciplyned his doghter, þat hee loued, atte þe lymes & membres of hir body wondirly wroghte; for oþere-while hir armes were wryþen as a serkil for sorowe, & she was constreyned to bete hir breste wiþ hir handes. ¶ And whenne [ 30] þe strengthe of þe sicknes a litille while slaked and restyd, þan she þanked oure lorde wiþ so mykel ioye, þat chastisiþ ilke a childe þat hee receyueþ, at þe apostils worde is openly fulfillid in hir, seiynge þus: 'Whan I am sieke, þanne am I stronge and myghty'. Þenne after þat oure lorde hadde proued his chosen childe wiþ þis infirmyte as [ 35] golde in a furneys, she, puryd and polisshed atte þe ful, fro þan forþe gate so grete strengthe of god in wakynges, fastynges and oþere la∣boures, þat vnneþes stronge men myghte suffir þe þridde parte of hir labour. ¶ Neuerþeles oþere-while, whan any of hire frendys were greued wiþ any dissese or casten doune wiþ any temptacyone, þan she [ 40] was seke wiþ þe seke and was brente with þe sclaundird wiþ an houge sorowe: and þan sumtyme she felte sumwhat the same sieknes in [Ms. and st. in.] summe of hir membrys. ¶ Þen anoone, in a newe manere of myracul, she callyd sum preste, þat shulde make a crosse wiþ his fynger on þe sore place of seeknesse: and þe yuel fledde to an noþer place, as [ 45] dredynge þe vertue of the holy crosse. ¶ And so efte and efte he

made a crosse: & þe wauerynge yuel and fleynge durst no lenger abyde þe birþen of þe crosse, butte atte laste wente alle awey fro þe body of Cristys mayden, wiþ a mervelous and vnherde manere of wor∣shepynge of þe crucifixe. ¶ Sooþly, she, lokynge wiþ þe eyȝe of feith into þe brasen serpente, & delyuered fro bitynges of þe neddirs [ 5] yuel, þanked god many-folde and þe holy crosse.—¶ And not oonly in hir chere þurgh byholdynge many men gate grace of deuocyone, but also of spekynge togader she gaf plentivous swetnesse to summe, and not allone goostly in herte, but also þey hadde sensible in þe mouþe, as sauour of hony. Men þat are slowe to leue, shalle here þis and [ 10] grucche; ¶ but þey þat are experte and knowe siche goodes comfortes, wole leue ful lightely when they here: ¶ 'þou spouse of Cryste, þy lippes are an hony-combe distillynge hony, & mylke is vndir þy tunge'. Wher∣fore whan a grete man, þof hee were litil in his owne eyen, spake to hir vpon a daye, þe whiche man of grete mekenesse and entere charyte [ 15] come to hir fro ful ferre contre, (he) hadde so grete comforte of the sighte of hir, and of hir woordes so grete swetnesse, atte alle þat daye no sauoure of material mete myghte putte a-weye fro his mouþe þat hony∣swete sauoure þat he hadde. Whos holy mannes name I reherce not, of purpos, for hee is wondirly dissesed wiþ his preisynges, and he is [ 20] proued in þe mouþe of preysers, as golde in a furneys; an exiled byshop hit was. [Es ist Fulco, bischof von Toulouse, wie aus dem, im Engl. aus∣gelassenen, schlusse des buches zu schliessen.] ¶ But now putte wee an ende to þis firste libelle, in þe whiche we haue seyde of þoos thinges þat pertene to þe oute∣warde man, þat is to seye þe body, and sensibly are vsed wiþ-oute∣forþe; and as halfe oure daye-iourneye done, or wee passe ferþere to [ 25] more inwarde & more sotil þinges, late vs reste a litil.

Here endiþ þe firste boke.

Here bigynneþ þe Chapiters of þe secounde boke:

• Of þe dyuerste of vertues of þe kynges doghter, and seuene gyftys of the holy goste . . . . . . . Cap. I. [ 30]
• Of (þe) spirite of goddes drede . . . . . . . . Cap. II.
• Of þe spirite of pite . . . . . . . . . . . . Cap. III.
• Of þe spirite (of) connynge . . . . . . . . . Cap. IV.
• Of þe spiryte of strengþe . . . . . . . . . . Cap. V.
• Of þe spirite of counselle . . . . . . . . . . Cap. VI. [ 35]
• Of þe spirite of vndirstandynge . . . . . . . . Cap. VII.
• Of þe spirite of wisdome . . . . . . . . . . Cap. VIII.
• Of hir comynge to Oegines . . . . . . . . . . Cap. IX.
• Of hir dwellynge at Oegines and of þoos þinges þat felle to hir in þe same place . . . . . . . . Cap. X. [ 40]
• Of hir songe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cap. XI.
• Of hir sieknes byfore hir deþ . . . . . . . . . Cap. XII.
• Of hir deth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cap. XIII.

Of þe dyuerste of vertues of þe kynges doghter, and seuen giftes of þe holy gost. Cap. I. [ 45]

Now ferþermore seye we how grete was þe kynges doghters ioye fro wiþinwarde, and wiþ how mykel dyuerste of vertues she was arayed & tyred wiþ-inforþe of þe fadir. Soþly, many doghters in oure dayes han gaderid rycchesses; she þis, as we leue, haþ ouer-passed ilkon: ¶ to whome þe fadir made a cote sere-colerd comynge to þe helys, [ 5] depeynted wiþ alle maner of vertues and floryshed wiþ alle the floures of goddes gardyns. But for we maye not ne suffys to noumbir by on and oþer alle þe sterres of this shynynge firmamente, alle þe floures of þis feyre medowe and alle dyuerstees of hir vertues: go we to þe seuene giftes of the holy goste, þat are origynal causes fro þe whiche [ 10] as fro wellys alle hir good dedys folowed. ¶ Soþly, oure lorde fillid hir wiþ þe spirite of wisdome and vndirstandynge, wiþ þe spirite of counseile & strengþe, wiþ þe spirite of connynge & pite, & wiþ þe spi∣rite of goddes drede. ¶ Þe spirite of wisdam made the kynges doghter in delytes haboundynge & in charite brennynge, þe spirite of vndir∣stondynge [ 15] made hir contemplatif of gostlynesse, þe spirite of coun∣seyle made hir ware and avisy, þe spirite of strengþe made hir pacyent and esy-berynge, þe spirite of connynge made hir discrete, þe spirite of pite made hir mercyful, and þe spirite of goddes drede made hir eshewe [Lat. cautam.] and meke. [ 20]

Of þe spirite of goddes drede. Cap. II.

Of þe whiche spirite of drede se we first: not allonly þe drede of oure lorde is begynnynge of wisdome, but also keper of alle godes. And þof parfite charyte putte oute fro þe kynges doghter alle drede, þat is to seye, pyne and heuynesse of drede, neuerþeles she was so [ 25] dreedful, þurgh plente of loue, and toke so mykel kepe and cautel in alle thinges, not oonly in werkys, but also in wordes & þoghtes, þat she was rekkeles in no þinge or litil. For she toke often entente to þat at is writen: 'Hee þat rekkeþ not smale thinges, bi litil and litil fallith doune'. ¶ In sooþ, she was aferde and dredde alle hir [ 30] werkes, purveynge [providendo.] oure lorde alle-wey in hir sighte and þenkynge on hym in alle hir wayes, leste she shulde displese hym in any tyme. ¶ Also wele she wiste þat, þof a man eschewe grete þinges, ȝit maye hee be casten downe wiþ grauelle—Absolon hanged wiþ multitude of heerys was slayne; many venyal synnes, of contempte, while þey [ 35] like and (are) not rekkyd, bryngen to euer-lastynge deth. ¶ Þerfore she hadde holy drede in herte as a brestbande þat streynid to-gadir hir þoghtes; in [Ms. and in.] mouþe as a brydel þat refreyned hir tunge; ¶ in werke as a prikke, lest she shulde be slowe þurgh sluggednesse; in alle thinges drede was rule, leste she shulde excede mesure. Þis drede [ 40] as a besome swepyd and clensed hir herte fro doubilnesse, hir mouþ fro falsenes, and hir werkes fro alle vanite. She, soþely, as a gardyn closed and a welle couerid, receyued no þinge lightely but Criste & þoos þinges þat pertenyd to Cryste. Criste was to hir þoghte in herte, worde in mouþe, ensaumpil in werke. I haue no mynde þat euere I [ 45] herde wordly worde of hir mouþe, and vnneþes in spekynge she seyde

o clause, but if she put Criste ofte amonge.—For so mykel þe holy drede of god occupyed hir mynde, þat, while she was atte Willam∣broke bisyde Niuelle [Ms. Vinelle.] , often-tyme she garte gadir herbes alone þat are not sowen, & oþere þat growen by hem-selfe wiþ-outen settynge, atte she myghte make hir potage of hem, leste she ȝete almes þat rauey∣nours [ 5] and vsurers vse to gif to houses of mesels, þat are callid spitellis. ¶ She absteynid not oonly fro vnleueful, but also she restreyned hir∣selfe fro many leful þinges, leste she ouer-louse by liberte myȝht declyne any-maner to þat atte is vnleful.—¶ So mykel loue, sooþly, she conceyued of pouerte þurgh þe spirite of drede, þat vnneþes she [ 10] wolde haue hir necessaryes. Wherfore vpon a daye she purposid to flee, þat vnknowen & dispised amonge straungers (she) myghte begge fro dore to dore, þat she naked myght folowe Cryste, leuynge þe mantelle of alle worldly goodes as Joseph, þe pycher as þe Samarytan, þe sendel as seint John̄ euangelist. She toke hede often and þoghte [ 15] on Cristes pouerte, þat, whan he [Ms. she.] was borne, hadde not a place in þe comun marketstede, þat had not where he myghte leue [Ms. leue.] his hede, þat also hadde no mony wherof to pay his tribute, and þat wolde be fedde of almes and be receyued in oþere mennes herburgh: ¶ and so vpon a tyme she hadde so grete desyre of pouerte, þat she toke [ 20] wiþ hir a sachel to put almes in, and a litil coppe where-of to drynke watir or ellis to putte in potage, if þey were gifen hir, while she eet [l. begged; dum mendi∣caret.] ; and so, cladde wiþ olde cloþes, vnneþes atte last she myghte by [= be.] holden wiþ mykelle wepynge of hir frendes. For whanne she hadde taken hir leue at hir frendes & pore Crystes mayden wolde haue taken [ 25] þe weye in siche araye wiþ hir sachelle & cuppe, þere was so grete sorowe and so grete wepynge of hir frendis þat loued hir in Cryste, þat she, as she was ful of charite, myghte not suffre. ¶ Þerfore she was constreynyd of two thinges, hauynge desyre to fle & begge wiþ Cryste; neuerþeles she chas to abyde for hir breþir and sistris, to whome [ 30] hir absens semyd vnsufferabil. She didde þerfore þat she myghte: ¶ After þat she lyued in so grete loue of pouerte, þat oþere-while she cuttyd hir kerchifes or hir borde-cloþe þat she eet vpon, holdynge sum to hir-selfe; & dalte parte to þe pore. ¶ Woo to ȝow þat ioyniþ hous to hous and coupil felde to felde vnto þe stedes ende, ȝe þat maye [ 35] not be filled wiþ mony, and fruyte maye ȝe noon take þere-of; þat makeþ tresours to ȝow in erþe, where ruste and moghtes distroye, where þeues delueþ and steliþ; euer are gaderynge and euer nedy and wantynge! What lacked þere to þis pore Cristes mayden, þat euere fledde rycchesses and hadde alwey wherof to gif oþere? [ 40] ¶ S(h)e loued euere pouerte, and so mykel þe more oure lorde lant hir þat she nedid. ¶ Also not only þurgh the spirite of drede she displesed [l. dispysed.] rycchesses, but wiþ hir pouerte she was so litil in hir own yȝen and wiþ so mykel mekenes she caste downe hir-selfe, þat she countyd hir-selfe as noghte, and whan she hadde done alle wele, not [ 45]

only with hir mouþe seyde þat she was vnprofitabil, but felte so in herte; supposynge hir-selfe lowere þan alle oþere, she neuere pre∣sumed of hir-selfe, holdynge alle folke holyer [l. hyer.] þanne she; and whan oure lorde didde hir any gode, she rect [= rett.] it to oþere mennes merite. She soghte neuere hir preisynge, but referred alle to hym of whome [ 5] comiþ alle good; she demyd hir-selfe vnworþy þe godis þat she hadde, she dispysed noon but hir-selfe allone, were hit neuere so vnsadde man or synner, ¶ and sooþly, whan she was noghte sette by of oþere, she sette þere-by no thinge. ¶ She was vmby-lapped wiþ þe shelde of trewþe by alle fame on þe righte syde and þe lifte—for as hir mer∣kenesse, [ 10] so was hir lighte; nor she was de-pressed wiþ reproues ne prouded wiþ hir preisynges. For þurgh large lownesse she coueytid euere to be priuey as myche as she myghte. ¶ Wherfore, when for ioy of herte and plente of grace she myghte not by hidde wiþ hir∣selfe, sumtyme she fledde to feldes nerhand & buskys, þat sche, esche∣wynge [ 15] mennes eyen, myȝht kepe hir pryuey councelle to hir-selfe and to god in a coffer of clene conseyens. Neuerþeles sum-tyme she was compelled wiþ preyers of frendes, or sende specially fro oure lorde to sum man, or ellis wiþ wille of compassyone stired to comforte febil folke in þe feith: and þen of many thinges þat she [ 20] knewe she tolde a fewe, wiþ meknesse and shame. ¶ O how often she seyde to hir frendes: 'What aske ȝee me? I am not worthy to fele siche þinges as ȝee aske'. How often she answerid oure lorde as wiþ grucchynge: 'Lorde, what is þat to me? Sende whome þou arte to sende, I am not worþy to go and bere þy counseilles to oþere'. [ 25] ¶ And ȝit she myghte not wiþstande stirynge of þe holy gost, but tellynge summe thinges deserued to profit of oþere. ¶ How many of hir famylier frendys she warned byfore in perils! ¶ How often she discoueryd to frendes þe priuey gnares of wicked gostes! ¶ How ofte she strengþed febil folke and wauerynge in þe feiþ wiþ miracles [ 30] of goddis reuelacyouns! ¶ How often she warned men þat þey shulde not performe þos thinges þat þey þoght allonly in mynde! ¶ How often she releuid by goddys comfortis folke fallynge in synne & welny in dispeyre! ¶ What schames þe þerfore, þou feerdful womman? Why drawest þou so many goodis fro þe nedy, þou chynche? Why [ 35] holdest þou þe fro thy neyhbores dwellynge for ouer-mykel mekenesse? Wheþere for þee, þat as vnseuerably was ioyned to god, not nedynge siche reuelacyons, god shewed to þe so many and so grete giftes, and not raþir for hir [st. her.] vauntage þat leued þe and nedid þy helpe? ¶ Allas, how many and how grete giftes of god she [she st. þou.] concelyd, wiþ [ 40] þe whiche þe febil myghte haue be strengthed, þe slow stirid and lightenyd, and oure lorde in his halowes more meruosly bekenned! ¶ Þerfore why hydes þou þy besaunt? why shewist þou not þy Criste to þe worlde, þat is neuer the les, þof oþere haue parte? Whedir þou cryedist not sumtyme for moystnes, whanne þe kynge [ 45] ladde þe in to þe wyne-celer: ¶ 'O lorde, why hydest þou þe? why

shewist þou not þe what þou arte? For, if þe worlde knewe the, þenne wolde it cese of synne and anoon sue after þe swete sauoure of þyne oynementis'. ¶ But blessyd by god, þat þurgh his liberalite and largenesse lettid þy scarsnesse and, woldest þou or noon, shewe(d) þy pryue dennes! For, whan þou was filled wiþ must of a feruente [ 5] spirite, but if thou had hadde euentynge [Lat. respiraculum.] , þou shuldest haue brusten, syþen þou myȝhte not bere fire brennynge with-outen sum rakynge. ¶ Þen atte last treuþe was tryed oute of a childe & dronken man [Lat. a (corde) puro et ebrio.] , þen wonder thinges & vnherde þou puttist forþe of plente, &, sodeynly turnyde fro disciple into a maistres, þou raddest to vs in þe boke of [ 10] lyfe many meruelous lessouns, þe whiche we myghte not vndirstande. ¶ And whan þou was reysed after slepe, as a stronge man ouercomen wiþ wyne, and restoryd to thy-selfe, þen ouþer þou was stille & haddest forgoten what þou saydest, or ellis, happely if þou broghtist to mynde any thinges of the mater þat þou of tolde byfore, þen was [ 15] þou shente for shame and demedist thy-selfe a iangelynge fole, and mykel þou meruelid what þe hadde happed, & askedist god forgif∣nesse.—¶ Sumtyme, whan we asked of hir wheþer she felte any titil∣lacione of veynglorye of mennys preisynges or of goddes reuelacyons: 'To regarde, quod she, of the verrey ioye þat & desyre, alle mannes [ 20] ioye & preisynge is noghte nor of no reputacyone'. ¶ Sooþly, she was groundid in so grete treuþe, saddid in oure lorde in so grete grauite [Ms. graunte.] , she was so ful of verrey godes, in so mykel she was fattid & farsed wiþ goostly fodes, þat, as any man, after he were filled, amonge many-manere deynte metes wolde forsake an vnsauory & [ 25] werysshe mete, if I putte hit to hym, righte so not oonly she receyued no worldes ioye, no vanyte of mannys praysynges for þe swetnes of endles goodes, but forsoke hem [Ms. hym.] wiþ a loþsumnes of herte. Sikirly, as Criste maye not be swete to hym to whome þis worlde is ȝit swete, so þe swetnesse of Cryste so mykel occupyed alle hir mynde, þat no þinge hir saueryd but Cryste.

Of þe spirite of pyte.

Not oonly þurgh þe spirite of drede sche eschewyd fro alle yuelle, but þurgh þe spirite of pite she was redy to alle good. Exercitacyone of body she sette litil by to regarde of pyte, þe whiche, as þe apostil [ 35] sciþ, avayles to alle thinges, hauynge byheste of þe lyfe þat now is and schalbe; and she kyndelyd in þe laumpe of hir herte contynuelly þe fire of charite with oyle of mercy, leste in happe she were founden wiþ þe fonned maydenes wiþ-outen oyle and putte aweye fro þe weddynge of myrþe wiþ-outen ende. Þerfore she bisyed hir atte hir [ 40] myghte to fulfille wiþoute-forþ alle þe werkes of mercy wiþ aboun∣daunt pyte of herte. But abouen alle werkys of mercy she hadde in custum to be besyde sieke folke and be at mennes diynge or biriynge, where sche perceyued ful often by reuelacyone of oure lorde many thinges of heuenly priuetes. Soo hit felle vpon a daye þat a sister [ 45]

of þe breþer of Oegines laye on diynge; while she was in hir celle, sche perceyued a multitude of fendes rorynge aȝeyns þe bedde of the siek sister. Þen she, as forgoten hir custummabil sadnesse & naturel shamfastnesse, turnyd hir to the bedde and putte hir-selfe ageyns þe wicked spirites, (&) not oonly faght wiþ hir prayers, but also wiþ hir [ 5] mantil drofe hem aweye as flyes. ¶ And whanne þos wicked wightes wiþstode feerfully and wolde haue chalenged þe soule of þe sister as hers, þen she, no lenger suffrynge, cryed hir Cryste (&) þe blode of Cryste þat hee schadde for soulles, & callid faste þe deþe of þe crucifix. [Lat. mortem Crucifixi.] ¶ Þen, soþely, while þey rorynge and redy to mete [ad escam praeparati.] , assayled þat soule [ 10] wiþ many false accusynges, atte laste she conceyued trist of þe holy gost—for where þe spirite of god is, þere is a fredome—& answeryd: 'Lorde, I vndirtake borowshyp for þis soule. Sooþly, þof she haue synnyd, she is shreven of hir synnes; ¶ and if any þinge happely by lafte in hir by neglygens or ignorauns, þof she maye not speke, neuer∣þeles [ 15] þou haste lente hir space'. Þe breþer allonly perceyued þe voys of hir & fightynges ageyns þe fendys, and þey preyed deuoutely for þe soule of hir sustir. Atte laste þe fendes were confused and ouer∣comen, ¶ and holy aungels come; & she, thankeynge god, come to hir-silfe & restid, and takynge hir mantil ageyne þat she hadde furþe [ 20] casten in þe fighte, fledde for shame fro hir celle and closed þe dore and hidde hir. Not mykelle after þat in þe feste of Petir & Poule, while she prayed deuoutly for þe same soule and was bisy aboute þe state of hir for whom she was borowe, seinte Petir schewed to hir þat soule hougely disesyd wiþ peynes of purgatory. ¶ Sooþly, [ 25] seinte Petir shewed to hir þe peynes and þe causes of þe peynes: For she was turmentyd hogely wiþ hete, for by-cause she hadde loued ouere-mykel þe worlde and lustis of þe worlde; oþere-while she was pyned wiþ ful mykel colde, for she hadde ben slowe to gode, & moost for she ouere-neglygently correctyd hir childer & hir owne [ 30] meenye; ¶ more-ouer she was wrecchedly angwishyd wiþ þriste, for she gaf hir ouere-mykel in hire life to drynkynge; also, for she hadde be superf(l)ue in cloþes, she suffred ful grete sorowe for nakyd. ¶ Þan þe pitevous mayden of Criste, as she was alle ful of pite, namely aȝenst hem þat were pyned in purgatory, not oonly content wiþ [ 35] hir owne preyers, but sche gat to þat soule many suffragys and helpes of messes and prayers of oþere.—¶ Anoþere tyme, whan a religyous widowe, þat longe in holy wydowshyp hadde serued god and kepte hir doghters in holy maydenhode to þe heuenly husbande, laye on hir deþ-bedde atte Villambroc bysyde Niuelle: she sawe oure [ 40] lady standynge by þe holy wydowe and, as wiþ a wisker waftynge wynde vpon hir, temperd mercyfully þe hete þat dissesed hir. ¶ And whanne hir soule wolde haue goon oute of þe body, a company of deuyls aspiynge [insidiantium] þere wolde not departe fro þennes wiþ no instauns of prayers, vnto an aungel drof hem oute confused wiþ a baner of [ 45] þe crucifix. And whan þat wydow was dede, Crystes mayden sawe

oure lady wiþ a multitude of heuenly damesels singynge and louvynge god, as queres departyd, about þe body. And after þe preste hadde done dirige for þe dede, as the maner is, þan Cryste wiþ multitude of halowes, as to hir semyd, endyd þe offys. And whan þe body was done to byriels, Cristes mayden sawe þe soule of hir, þat was [ 5] neuer in þis worlde playnly purged, be putte to purgatorye, to fulfille þat wanted of hir peyne. ¶ For hir [Ms. his.] husbonde was a merchaunte and hadde goten summe goodes be gyle, as is merchauntȝ maner; ¶ also she hadde receyued in hir ostry summe men of þe dukys meynye of Louayne þat hadde mykel spendid in hir hous of wrange-goten goodes; [ 10] and for þey hadde not ȝit made ful restorynge of siche trespasses, she seyde þat hir-selfe was wiiþholden ȝit in purgatory. ¶ Whan þis was tolde hir doghter, deuoute virgyne Margarete of Villambroc, and hir sistirs, þey gat hir many prayers and after her power made restitucyone. ¶ Wherfore not mykel after þe soule of þat wydowe, [ 15] clenner þan glas, whitter þan snowe, briȝhter þanne þe sunne, apperyd to Crystes mayden, whanne she steygh vp to euerlastynge blysse; & as hit semyd, she holdynge þe boke of lyfe in hir handes, ¶ radde þere-vpon.—¶ Also whanne a holy blessyd olde man, þat in his childe∣hode hadde lyued in innocens and maydenhode, was nere deed, whos [ 20] name was John̄ of Dynant Ortolanus, þat hadde forsaken alle worldly goodes and wiþ his ensaumpil and holy prechynges hadde gotene many soulles to god: she, whan she was presente by hym in his sieknes, sawe a multitude of aungels beynge aboute þe olde man & ioiynge; ¶ she felte also a wonder sauour of swetnesse, þat she myghte [ 25] not for gretnesse of ioye contene here-selfe—¶ soþly, she loued hym ful mykelle and hadde hym as for fadir. And then it was shewed to hir in spirite at þat olde man, þat hadde done so grete penauns in fleshe, ¶ whil he lyued, and hadde suffred pacyently for Cryste so many persecucyouns and reproues, and so iustly and dreedly hadde [ 30] lyued, and also hadde goten so many soulles to god, wente frely to heuene wiþ-outen any greuauns of purgatory. ¶ Wherfore as often as she passed byfore his graue, þat is atte Oegines, she alwey louted lowly. ¶ And afterwarde, whanne she laboured in hir laste sieknesse, þe soule of þe holy olde man, wiþ an oþere dede frende of hirs, frere [ 35] Richard of Menese-chapel, was sende fro oure lorde to hir specialy by-cause of visitacyone & comforte.—¶ Cristes mayden hir-selfe was ful compacyente and grete pite hadde on þe seke, aboute þe while [Ms. while.] somtyme she slepte not anyghtes. And whan þe modir of þe breþere of Oegines was trauelyd wiþ a ful greuous and longe sieknes and she [ 40] sumtyme was by to counseile hir, þe seke womman, and welnye an hundred ȝeere olde and nere the deth, hadde a ful greuous breþe. ¶ And whan þe holy womman on a nyghte vnneþes myghte bere hir breeþ wiþ-outen grete sorowe of herte, neuerþeles she beynge nere hir, as by vyolens garte hir-selfe abyde. Þan, whan she myghte no [ 45] more beer and welny defayled, oure lorde sawe þe mekenesse of his

mayden and sende in to hir mouþe a sauoure as of precyous spyced wyne, & she felte moste swete smelle as of encens brente, wiþ þat sauoure, nere-hande þre dayes, soo þat sauour of no-manere mete myȝht putte aweye þat forseyde spyced sauoure.—¶ Also oure lorde not oonly gaf to many seke comforte and pacyens of hir presens, but [ 5] also often bodily hele þurgh hir meritis. ¶ For summe burstyne childer were broght to hir: and after she hadde handelyd hem, þey were alle hool. ¶ Þere was a childe bisyde Oegines þat hadde a per∣lyous sieknes, for contynuelly atte his eere blode ranne fro his heed: ¶ and whanne hee myghte not be cured by no leche-crafte, be mede∣cyne [ 10] of hir prayers and handelynge hee hadde parfitely hele; þen þe childes moder bare hym to þe chirche & þanked god & his mayden for hir sone. ¶ Also a womman was heled atte hir touchynge of a ful perlyous yuel, þat is aposteme of þe þroot, þat is callid þe squyn∣nacy. ¶ Also a clerke þat was sieke at Oegines, Lamberte by name, [ 15] was cured of þe same sore atte þe touchynge of hir. ¶ On Guerryk, preste of Niuelle, tolde me, þat, whan hee hadde a fulle grevous sieknes and alle lechys hadde lafte hym for dispayre, & noon was þat by-highte hym hele, hee come to Crystes mayden and gate wiþ many prayers at she wolde put hir hande on hym. Sooþly, þe same nyghte hym [ 20] semyd in his slepe þat oure lady come to hym: and after she was passed fro hym, hee was alhole. ¶ Also an oþere preste, meke man and deuoute and hir goostly fadir, maister Guy of Niuelle, after þat Crystes mayden hadde touched a ful perlyous yuel þatte hee hadde in his þrote, was parfitely cured. ¶ Also an oþer man, of whos yuel [ 25] alle men dispayred and hym-self also, after he had assayed many lechys and was neuer þe better & abode but deeþ, was heeled atte þe touchynge of hir heerys.—¶ But why abyde we aboute smale þinges, seþen þere be ȝitte byhynde so many grete meruayles? ¶ For, þof hit be pite to socour bodily sieknesses, neuerþelesse it is ferre in∣comparabil [ 30] more to gif hede and charge aboute þe hele of soulles—for, in sooþ, no sacrifys plesiþ more god þan ȝele and luf of soulles. Wherfore she was alweye gladde, mery and ioyful in herte, but whan for sorewe perel of soules troubled hir mynde. ¶ In þis oonly, atte I speke wiþ hir pees, she hadde no mesure, ¶ she sorowful weyled, [ 35] she desolate made dule, she ete no mete, she drofe awey slepe fro hir aȝen, & oþere-while cryed as a trauelynge womman. ¶ Wiþ how grete sorowe troweþ þou she was woundede, whan fendes rorynge and gnastynge wiþ teeþ felle flokke by flokke vpon þe congregacyon of holy maydenes in a towne where they serued deuoutly to oure [ 40] lorde; and atte laste how þe envyous & wicked deuyls as hauynge her wille daunsed for ioye for eieccione of the holy wymmen: ¶ þenne she criynge and ȝellynge vnneþes myghte susteyne hir-selfe for sorow. ¶ Anoþere daye she sawe moste noumbir of wicked spiritys þe whiche as alle blody after batayle with proude and pompos blasterynge come [ 45] fro þe wastynge of þe cite of Leody, and ȝitte they þrette wiþ a scorn∣ynge countenauns to do more yuel. ¶ And not mykel aftir þere come messangers to Oegines, þat tolde at þe cite of Leody was destroyed

and chirches spoyled, wymmen oppressed wiþ fors, cytisens slayne, and alle þe godes of þe cite robbed wiþ enmyes. ¶ Þat tyme, as happenyd, þere was atte Oegines an holy man, of honest conuersacyone and of good opinyone, ȝe anens ille men, lanter(n), doctour & goostly fader of alle þe byschoperiche, maister Johne of Niuelle [Ms. Vinelle.] ; þe whiche good man [ 5] whan he perceyued siche warste tiþinges, was easten downe and slokenyd nere for sorowe, and moste, for hee douted wiþ a fadirly bisynesse leste þe holy virgyns þat he hadde be prechynge and good ensaumpil goten to oure lorde, shulde be oppressed with vyolens, as summe gabbers sayde. ¶ Hee made not mykel doel for þe losse of temporel goodes, [ 10] þat countid [Ms. coūmtid.] worldly thinges as mukke, but þe holy man, wiþ precyous stone of alle vertues specially and passyngly onoured, made dule vn∣comfortabely for defoylynge of chirches and destroiynge of soulles, and as a fadir sorowed for his sones, as a patrone for his chirche, & as a frende of þe spouse for þe virgyns whome hee hadde weddyd [ 15] chaste to þe chaste spouse. ¶ Sooþly, Crystes mayden was not myche turblyd wiþ þos tiþinges; and þey merveylid þat knewe wiþ how grete affeccyone she loued clene virgyns þat in þe cite of Leody serued de∣uoutly Cryste. ¶ But þe mercyful fader of heuene wiste wele þat his doghter shulde haue be shente and confounded, but if she hadde be [ 20] warned byfore in þis caas: ¶ and whan breþer of Oegines, as clerkis maner is, were ful ferde for þat at hit was seyde how enmyes wolde come to hem, she in alle þees was vnturbilde & dreedles, for holy aungels confortyd hir and seyde: 'pees in londe to men þat are wele willy'. She felte grete pees and reste anenst oure house [Ms. lorde.] of Oegines [ 25] as [Ms. and.] certyfyed in spirite booþ of pees of [Ms. & st. of.] hirs & of vndefoylynge of þe forseyde holy virgyns. ¶ Neuerþeles hit semyd to hir þat þe erþe quaked and in maner playned, þat sofferyd men so contraryous to her creatour in so outrage shrewdnesse.—¶ Hit byfelle vpon a tyme þat a nobil knyghte of hir cuntre, stronge man in armes and gyfen to þe [ 30] worldes vanyte: whos name was Iuan of Rome [Lat. Ywanus de Zoania.] , inspyred of god and holpen þurghe monyshynges & prayers of þe holy womman, lafte þe worlde and was conuerted to oure lorde. Þanne þe wikked fende, wode and wonderly confused, aperyd to Cristes mayden pleynynge and wiþ þret∣ynge contenauns as an houge grete dogge batynge hir seyde: ¶ 'O þou [ 35] shrewe & oure enmye, o þou oure aduersarye, I hadde late an houge harme þurghe þe, for þou haste rafte fro me oon of my specyalle ser∣uauntȝ'. ¶ And afterwarde, whan þe same knyghte hadde perseuerid in good purpos a while, hit happenyd vpon a daye þat hee eet in þe hous of an ost of his, to whome hee was dettoure [Ms. doctoure.] while hee was in [ 40] þe worlde, a ryche burgeys of Nyuelle, in whos hous hee lyued secu∣lerly & made superflu spens, as maner of knyghtes is; for hee myghte not lightly be departid fro his company for dette þat he aughte hym. ¶ And so whan hee þat burgeys serued þe knyghte wiþ many deynty meces and delycate, while þey were atte mete, ¶ þe wicked enmy [Ms. enny.] sawe [ 45]

þan abil tyme of temptynge & gaderyd a cumpany [Lat. comportavit aggerem.] to get þe kepte cite, þat is to seye þe knyghte, and reduced to mynde worshyp þat hee hadde in þe worlde, luste and likynge, and alle-maner fantum þat fallith to þe fleshe. And þe fende temptyd and tyced hym soo, þat he was neer ouercomen. ¶ Þen þe mercyful louer of men þat latiþ no [ 5] man be temptyd abouen his powere, shewyd to his mayden in spiryte how þat knyght, for [Ms. how st. for.] hee eschewed not felawshyp of seculers, floteryd wiþ a seke soule. And ȝitte while hee satte atte þe borde, avisynge mykel wiþ hym-selfe wiþ a wanderynge thoghte, þere come a messanger of Crystes mayden, lokynge priuely atte dore, and as sone as hee [ 10] myghte, spake wiþ hym & seyde þat hee shulde come anoon to his lady. And whan hee come to þe place where she dwelled wiþ-oute Nyuelle, hee fonde hir for sorowe & dissese of herte as seke and waterynge wiþ plente of wepynge þe fete of þe crucifixe þat she hadde halsed. ¶ Þanne he meruelynge & abashed for shame, whan hee asked [ 15] þe cause why she sorowed: 'grete cause haue I, quod she, to make doel for ȝow, & for ȝoure wrecchednesse my herte is troublid, þat, syþen ȝee haue bygunen wiþ þe spirite, ȝee purpose wrecchedly to ende and to be consumed wiþ þe fleshe; þat, after ȝee haue putte ȝoure hande to þe ploghe, ȝe loke byhynd ȝow wiþ þe wyfe of Loth [ 20] and are vnkynde & forgetyl of þe beenfetȝ and ouerabundaunte mercy of hym þat haþ delyueryd ȝow fro þe brennynge of this worlde, while oþere perisshed'. Þan he turnyd agayne to hym-selfe and holsumly compunct wiþ myrakil of so grete reuelacyone: 'forgif me, quod hee, meke moder, and preyeþ for me wrecche; and I be-hete to god [ 25] and to ȝow þat I shalle abyde saddely fro now forþe in his seruys þat þurgh ȝow haþ callid me ageyne'. ¶ Sooþly, while þe worlde wiþholde hym in sum partye and was tangelde wiþ many seculer nedes, þat compellyd hym to go often to grete Lordes courtis: þanne þey þat were sumtyme his felawes, cosyns and famylyers, sorowynge [ 30] for hym as for a fole ¶ and shewynge hym to oþer wiþ her fynger as a wondir, and oþere enforced to angyr hym and breke hym wiþ wranges and scornys. ¶ Also summe seruauntes of þe fende drowe hyder and þyder þe nobil man, þat was not vsed to siche wronges, by þe cappe or by þe hode. ¶ Hee, sooþly, agayne alle þees put [ 35] wondirful pacyens as a shelde, & oþere-while, as mannes custume is, was sumwhatly aschamed. And whan he come home agayne as a schepe pullyd fro wolues mouþes, wente to comforte of his goostly moder after so grete perelle. ¶ And she meruelosly inspired of god tolde wiþ spirite of prophecy scornys and vmbraydynges seyde to Crystes [ 40] knyghte, & þe oure in þe whiche he was sumwhat trubeld. 'Ȝisterday þis tyme, quod sche, ȝee nedid helpe, and þan I prayed to oure mer∣cyful lorde for ȝow atte hee wolde graunte ȝow þurgh folowynge of hym to dispise welthe of þe worlde and to drede noon aduersite þere-of'. Wiþ þe whiche myrakel and comforte of Crystes mayden [ 45] hee was so mykel comfortid, þat neiþer wynde ne rayne myghte

þrowe doune his hous þat was sadly sette vpon a stronge stone. ¶ For in soþ he was often putte [impellebatur.] atte hee shulde falle; but oure lorde vndirsette his hande, þat hee slode not, þurgh merites of his mayden.—¶ Sum-tyme, whanne she was atte Willambroc and sawe fendes or∣deyne pryue gnarys wiþ sly engynes to take sum of hir frendys, whos [ 5] falle hadde be a ful grete sclaunder to þe sympil pupil: þanne she, seynge þat þe enmye hadde bente his bowe to shete rightwismen in dirknesse, was not contente wiþ terys or preyers & bygan a fastynge, knowynge þat siche-maner of deuilry is noghte lightly casten out but in fastynge and prayere. ¶ And whan she hadde mekyd hir soule [ 10] with fourty dayes fastynge, þen at laste oure lorde, hauynge com∣passyone of his mayden, suffryd no lenger hir affliccyone and shewed þat hee hadde delyuerid hir frende, & openy(d) to hir into how grete sloghe of synne hir famylier frende hadde fallen, but if þe enmye hadde be oppressed wiþ hir fastynges and prayers. Woo is vs þat haue loste [ 15] in þis wrecchidnesse so grete solas and so grete socoure in tribulacyouns and temptacyouns, (but if she rewarde) to vs in heuene þat wee haue loste in þis exile. Ferþermore, þof þe instauns of hir prayers were spede∣ful medecyne ageyns dyuers and manyfolde sieknesses of soulles, she passed wiþ a syngulere grace ageyne þe spirite of blasfemye and [ 20] despayre. ¶ For, syþen þat spirite is moste wicked amonge alle oþere (to) tempte, she was moste myghty to socoure.—¶ Hit happenyd þat a monke of Cisteus ordyr hadde so grete ȝele and loue of Innocens and clennesse, þof not after sciens, þat hee enforced and bisyed hym wiþ feruour of spirite to come as to þe euenlik state of the firste [ 25] fadir Adam. ¶ And whan longe wiþ ful myche laboure, but veyne, turmentynge hym-selfe in fastynge, wakynges and prayers hee myghte not recuuir þe firste state of Innocens, he felle firste into an heuynesse and slouþe. For hee wolde etc his mete, but he wolde not fele no sensibil delite, while he eet; hee studyed not oonly to refreyne, but [ 30] to qwenche fully þe firste stirynges of sensualite & bodily felynge; he studyed also to kepe his lyfe in parfite clannes wiþ-outen any venyalle synne. ¶ And so by entisynge of þe myddaye fende [daemonio meridiano instigante.] , while he desyred impossibil, nor, how so mykelle he hadde labored, he myghte on no manere haue hadde þat hee wolde: atte laste for sorowe [ 35] hee slode in to þe dyche of dispaire, in so myche þat hee hopyd to gete saluacyone no-wyse in þe state of corrupcyone þat hee was in, as he þat countid deedly synnes þoos þat are venyalle—þe whiche wee maye not wante in þis lyfe. Wherefore hee wolde not receyue Crystes body any-maner, not þoos dayes þat were ordayned þere-to [ 40] in þe ordyr. Lo, to how grete vnhappe and to how mikel and how myserabil fal [Ms. ful.] vndir þe coloure of gode þat olde enmye drowe a sym∣ple soule, þat was sieke and fledde salue, & þat onys hadde forsaken his owne wille, putte aweye fro hym þe ȝok of obedyens. ¶ And, atte I telle a fabil not fabulos and sey fals not falsly, ¶ þis monke [ 45] þat assayed to come to þe euenlike state of þe firste fadir, to whome

is hee like but vnto a paddoke [Ms. paddokis.] þat seynge an ox of grete strengthe and fayre quantite, wolde haue comen to þe gretnnesse of hym and haue be like to þe same ox; þen she bygan wiþ grete enfors to streke hir and blowe hir-selfe abrode; but in veyne: for þof she hadde brosten, she myghte not haue taken þe quantite of þe ox. ¶ And so [ 5] þat broþer, while hee wolde haue enhaunced hym-selfe aboue hym∣selfe, felle wrecchidly be dispeyre vndir hym-selfe. And whan his abbot, þat was pitevous man & frende of alle gode, knewe þe siek∣nesse of his soule; þof hee and many oþere hadde prayed to god for þe monke, neuerþeles the enmy ouercome & wiþ-outen blynne [ 10] turmentid hym, whome he streyned wiþ a stronge snare. ¶ Þanne þe abbot, frende of þe holy womman, as he þat knewe hir vertue (þat) sum∣tyme he felte by experiens in hym-selfe, made þe monke be ladde to Crystes mayden. ¶ And whanne she bysoghte oure lorde for þe monke wiþ terful sighes in a meruelos maner: while þe monke seyde [ 15] Confiteor byfore þe offys of þe masse, and she prayed enterly for hym: as litil blake stonys were seen falle oute of þe monkes mouþe atte ilke a worde of Confiteor. Þan she, perceiuynge in þat sighte þat obstynacyone of despayre and blaknesse of sorowe & woo hadde lafte þe monke, þanked oure lorde, 'þat wole not þe deþe of a synner but raþir [ 20] þat hee be conuertid and lyue'. ¶ Þe monke, sooþly, after masse as fro a ferre contre tornyd to hym-selfe ageyne, receyuynge [l. receyuid?] Cristes body; ¶ and after he hadde taken heelful medecyne, parfitily recuueryd.

Of þe spirite of connynge. Cap. IV.

For in eshewyng yuel þurgh þe spiryte of drede and in doynge good [ 25] þurgh þe spirite of pite, is cautelle and wisdome of discrecyone, þe fadir of lightes, whos vnccyone techiþ vs of alle goodes, lightenyd his doghter wiþ þe spirite of connynge, atte she shulde witte whate is to be done or eschewyd, and on what maner þat she shulde sauer alle hir sacrifys wiþ salte, þat is to sey wiþ discrecyone. ¶ For yuel is [ 30] nye to þe gode, and oþere-while, (while) [while fehlt.] we esshewe o vyce, wee slyde in to þe contrary: as, whan a man fleeþ superfluyte, sumtyme fallith into chynchery, or, whanne hee eschewiþ abyte of seculere cloþynge, haþ ioye in foule arraye. ¶ For oþere-while vyces semen a spyce of vertue, wherfore þe warre þey deceyue her sewers, for þey hadde [Ms. hadde st. hyde, tegunt se.] hem vndir [ 35] a vayle of vertue. For vndur coloure of rightewisnesse cruelte is done, and an heuy slouþe is trowed buxumnesse; ¶ also sumtyme to do a thinge wiþ reklesnesse or forgettilnesse, is callid ese and reste. ¶ Sooþly, she declyned neiþer on righte syde nor lifte, but wente a blessed meen-weye in a meruelous maner. For she gaf to god þat [ 40] his was, and in as myche as was in hir, she kepte in alle thynges neyghbors pees. Not oonly to pesibil men, but also wiþ hem þat hated pees, she was pesibil, lyuynge wisely amonge men of schreude nacyone, and she was made accordynge to alle men, atte she myghte wynne alle [Ms. also.] to oure lorde. ¶ Wherfore hir two fleshly breþere, and [ 45]

somme oþere, þof þey wer firste gyuene to þe worlde, enspyred of god and holpen þorow hir wyse admonycyone, lafte alle and wente to þe Cisteus ordir.—¶ Also oþere-while, whan she swetly and esely was ioyned to oure lorde wiþ glewe of loue, as o spirite made wiþ hym, wee tolde hir þat somme men were comen fro fer contrees to [ 5] see hir and hasted faste homwarde ageyne. And þof oure lorde hadde adiured vs bee does and hertys of þe feldes atte we shulde not ryse ne wake þe byloued but if hir-selfe wolde, neuerþeles, for she wolde neuere, but alle-wey desyred to ligge with oure lorde in myddaye, oþere-while of a triste vnneþes wee reysed hir. ¶ She, soþly, herynge [ 10] þat straungers were comen, leste in happe she schulde sclaunder any man, compellid hir spirite wiþ so grete sorowe fro hir ioye of con∣templacyone & clippynge of hir spouse, þat sumtyme sche euomyte pure blode in grete quantite, as hir bowelles hadde brusten; hauynge leuer to be tourmentyd wiþ þat martirdome þan to turbil or disese hir euene∣cristen, [ 15] and principally pees of pilgrimes. Neuerþeles oþere-while, whan by reuelacyone of þe holy gooste she knewe byfore þe comynge of sum þat were ferre fro hir, she fledde to feldes or to woddes nere and hidde hir, þat vnneþes wee myȝte fynde hir of alle a daye. Ȝit vmwhile, for profit of summe þat nedyd helpe, she was compellid to [ 20] brest oute, by no mannes stirrynge but þurgh þe holy goste. ¶ 'Goo [Lat. Vade, spiritus aiebat.] , þou spirite, quod she, for not curiusly, but for-cause of necessite summe body abyde(th) the'. ¶ And þof she kepte pees wiþ a wondir discrecyone anent hir neighbors, not oonly þat were good and esy, but also aȝenst hem þat were vnreuly: neuerþeles to hir-selfe she was [ 25] ful vndiscrete, settynge ouere-litil by hir-selfe and turmentynge a-boue mesure, as hit semyd to vs sumtyme. ¶ In so myche she was more discrete anenste hir-selfe, in as myche as she presumed to do nothinge of hir-selfe but famylierly taghte of þe holy goste. ¶ Sooþly, she dorste not passe o daye wiþ-oute refeccyone of mete, but if sche knewe [ 30] ful certeynly hir-selfe rauishid abouen hir-selfe and hir sensualite slo∣kenyd. Neuerþeles oþere-while, atte she shulde kepe pees of hem þat were bisyde hir, she assayed to take sumwhat in siche state; & she myghte no thinge take, but nere defayled for sorowe.—¶ Wherfore afterwarde she gat so grete prerogatif of fredome, þat no man durste [ 35] saye: 'why dost thou so?', and for hir lyfe passed mannes resone, wiþ a specyalle priuilegge she, lafte to god and to hir-selfe, demed alle, but of no man was demyd. Sooþly, þe holy goste shewed to hir ofte resoune in þinges to be done or to be lafte þe whiche we maye not come to by no mannes witte. ¶ Wherfore a while of þe ȝeer, whanne [ 40] she toke mete þryes in þe woke, she eet on þe fridaye, and on son∣daye no thinge; also on þursdaye she fasted fully fro metes; whanne hit semyd to vs resonabil þat she shulde raþer not haue eten on fry∣daye, þat is a daye of penauns, and haue taken mete on þursdaye and sondaye. Þen she answerid: ¶ 'Sum-while, quod she, I condescende [ 45] to my-selfe to sensibil þinges, not wiþ-outen labour, while I breke

ioye of contemplacyone and take bodily mete. Soþly, vpon þursdaye, þat is a daye of þe holy goost, & sondaye, for ioye of resurrexione, I am contente wiþ goostly refresshynge & fillyd wiþ euerlastynge metis, and aldaye I make a feste, seþen me nedys not to descende lower for any vse of sensibil refeccyone of fleshe'. And I, herynge þis, helde [ 5] my pees and ferþermore openyd not my mouþe ageyne hir, and count∣ynge my resoune noon, was sympled in myne owne sighte.—¶ For∣sooþ, þof she by endeyn forsoke not synners, but raþer by compas∣syone wiþ wise warnynge she wiþdrowe often many men fro þe wey of wickednesse: neuerþeles hir spirite loþed synnes ful mykel, þat, [ 10] neuer tristynge presumptuosly of hir-selfe, eschewed dwellynge and homlynesse of yuel men. For yuel to-gedir-spekynges harmeþ good maners; ¶ and oure lorde badde his disciples: whan þey entred in to a cyte, þat þe shuld aske if any þere-in were worþy in whos ostage þey myghte dwelle honestly and sikirly. Wherfore hit felle on a tyme [ 15] þat, by-cause to viset sum of hir homly frendes, while she dwellid at Oegines, she wente to Willambroc, and in hir commynge-agayne as she ȝede þurgh Niuelle, fille to hir mynde synnes & abhomynacyouns þat seculers done often in þat towne. And she conceyued and toke in herte so grete endeyn & loþinge, þat sche bygan to crye for sorowe, [ 20] and askynge a knyfe of hir mayden, whan she was wiþ-oute þe toune, wolde haue kitte þe skynne fro hir feet, for þat she hadde passed by places in þe whiche wrecchyd men prouoken her creature wiþ so many wronges & wraþþen hym wiþ so many mysdedys and synnes. And syþen she sorowed not oonly in soule, but also, þat more meruelous [ 25] is, felte sore in hir feet wiþ þe whiche she trode, neuerþeles atte laste vnneþes myghte she haue reste, after she hadde often-tymes smyten hir fete to-gadir.—¶ Sooþly, þe wise and discrete womman was suffy∣ciently byshyned wiþ holy writte; for often she herde goddes wordes and kepte and bare in hir herte wordes of holy writte, ¶ and haunt∣ynge [ 30] holy chirche, she hidde holy hestes wysely in hir herte. And for vndirstandynge is to alle þat do hit: þat atte she herde de∣uoutly, she bisyed hir to fulfille hit more deuoutly in dede. ¶ Wher∣fore, whan she was in hir laste sieknesse nere in poynte of dethe and any prechour sayde a sermone in þe chirche to þe pepil, þan hir spi∣rite [ 35] quyckenyd ageyne to goddis wordes, she made redy hir herte and helde vp hir eres, wolde deþ or nolde, ¶ and also tolde sum wordes of þe sermone to hem þat stood aboute. ¶ And in so myche she loued prechours and trewe kepers of soulle, þat wiþ a wonder affeccyone she holdynge her fete after þe trauel of prechynge, and [Tilge and.] [ 40] wheþere þey wolde or noon, ouþer she muste longe-tyme kysse hem or ellis she cryed for sorowe, whanne sche wiþdrowe hir. [Lat. cum se subtraherent.] ¶ And cer∣teyne, wiþ many teerful sighes, wiþ many prayers and fastynges she askynge wiþ ful grete instauns, gat graunte of oure lorde, at he wolde recompens to hir in some oþere persone þe merit and offys of [ 45] prechynge þat she myghte not get and do hir-selfe in deed, and þat

oure lorde wolde gif hir o prechoure for a grete gifte. And god gaf hir hir askynge. And þof oure lorde pronounced wordes of prechynge by hym as by an [Ms. in.] Instrumente: þe holy womans lyfe wroght with-alle and wiþ prayers of hir gaf hym in trauelle strengthe of body, ministryd worde, gouernyd his gates, and þurgh merite of his mayden gaf grace [ 5] and fruyte in þe herers; for why, leste he shulde haue ceced in labour of prechynge, she bysoghte for hym to oure lorde and to oure lady and seyde ilke a daye a hundred tymes aue maria—as Martyne prayed, while Hillary preched. ¶ And sooþly she commendid ful deuoutly to oure lorde hir prechour, whome she lafte alyue atte hir deþe. For [ 10] whan [Ms. wham.] she hadde loued [Ms. lyued.] hirs, she loued hem to þe laste ende.—¶ Vpon a daye, whil she was in an arber of a man of Williambroc, þe deuyl apperyd to hir in þe liknesse of an hirdeman: for þat tyme hee þat wicked wighte hadde gaderyd many knyghtes, þat on þe morne shulde be at a turnamente besyde a towne þat is callid T(r)asignes [Ms. Casignes, lat. Tra∣segnies.] , & þat nyghte [ 15] hadden hir ostages atte Niuelle. And whanne þat wicked and proude fende bosted hym to be an hirde-man: 'nay, quod she, þou arte not a hirde-man; but our maistirs, þat preche goddes wordes and feden trewly oure soulles, þey are verrey herde-men'. 'I, quod he þat shrewde & proude enmye, haue mo [Ms. no.] flokkes & more obeiynge to me, þan þoos [ 20] maisters. For I knowe hem & þey me, & þey here my voys and folo∣wen me atte my wille'. ¶ Þan she myghte no lenger forbere þat hee wrangusly toke to hym þe name of an hirde-man þat lediþ his gote by pastures of vanyte to pastures of dampnacyone where deþ shalle wrecchedly deuoure hem; but she hauynge compassyone of wrecchys, [ 25] lafte þe fende and fledde to chirche. And longe tyme after, whan she reduced to mynde hym þat warste herd-man, she myghte not absteyne fro terys.—¶ And þof she were taughte wiþ-inforþe þurgh vnxione of þe holy goste and goddes reu(e)lacyons, neuerþeles sche gladly herde wiþ-oute-forþe wordes of holy writte, þe whiche accordid fully to þe [ 30] holy goost. ¶ For oure lorde, þof hee myghte haue taughte his disci∣plis þurgh inwarde lighte wiþ-outen voys, neþer-þe-les outewarde techynge wiþ worde expouned to hem scriptures, to whome hee seyde: 'Now are ȝee clene for þe worde þat I haue spoken to ȝow'. ¶ Þer∣fore sche fro daye to daye was more wasshen in clennesse wiþ þe [ 35] wordes of godde(s) writynge, was edifyed to exhortacyone [Lat. exornationem.] of vertues, was enlumynid to þe feiþ, neþerles if feiþ may propirly be seyde in hir þe whiche by reuelacyoune of oure lorde perceyued inuisibil þinges as visibil wiþ an open feiþ. ¶ In a tyme, whanne she was in a village þat is callid Itre, bisyde Niuelle, &, while she was presente, a chile [ 40] shulde be cateciȝed, þat is to seye enformed in þe feith atte chirche∣dore: she sawe a wicked spirite wiþ grete confusyone in senshype de∣parte fro þe childe. And whan she hir-selfe heef þe childe of þe holy founte, her eyen were openyd and sawe þe holy goste comynge doune into þe childes soule, and a multitude of holy aungels aboute þe [ 45]

cristenyd childe.—Also often, whan þe preste lifte vp þe sacramente, she sawe bytwix þe prestys handes þe lyknes of a feyre childe and an oost of heuenly spirites doune commynge wiþ mykel lighte. ¶ And whanne þe preste receyued þe sacramente, after þe fraccyon, she sawe in spirite oure lorde abidynge in þe prestys soule & be-shynynge þe [ 5] soule wiþ a meruelous cleerte; and if hee toke hit vnworþily, she sawe þat oure lorde wente aweye wiþ grete indignacyone, and þe soule of þe wrecchid preste was laft tome and voyde and ful of derknesse. ¶ And þof she were not in þe chirche, but in hir celle, and hir eyȝen couerde, as she vsid, wiþ a white vayle, and preyed wiþ [wiþ. st. whan.] Cryste in seiynge of þe [ 10] woordes of sacrament Cryste [Tilge Cryste.] come doun in þe autere, neuerþeles she wondirly chaungyd felte Crystes commynge. ¶ Also, whil siek men toke þe sacramente of anoyntynge in hir presens, she felte Cryste presente wiþ a multitude of seyntes, þat mercyfully strengþed þe seke, put awey fendes, purged þe soule, and as in a lighte transfused hym-selfe þurgh [ 15] alle þe body of þe seke, while dyuerse membres of hym were anoynted.

Of þe spirit of strengþe. Cap. V.

And for it profetiþ litil to eschew yuel þurgh þe spirite of drede, to do good by þe spirite of pite, to haue discrecyone in alle þinges by þe spirite of connynge, but if we wiþstande yuel by strengþe, kepe [ 20] oure good dedys by pacyens, endure to the ende by sadnesse & abyde þe mede [Ms. mode.] of euerlastynge lyfe by perseuerauns and suffrauns: þerfore þe fadir vncuuered his tresours and onoured his doghter wiþ a grete precyous stone, þat is þe spirite of strengþe, & warisshed hire agayne alle contraryes, atte she schulde not be broken wiþ assaylynge of ad∣uersite [ 25] nor made proude wiþ glauerynge of prosperite, atte she shulde suffre scornes wiþ pees & tranquillyte, atte she shulde doo to no man yuel for yuel. ¶ She answeryd not to vntrewe accusers, she prayed for hir pursuers; abidynge in hir purpos by sadnesse of mynde, be∣rynge alle thinges esely by sikernesse of resone, takynge on hande [ 30] wilfully harde þinges by strengþe of herte, not dredynge harmes euen atte hande by sykernesse, hauynge certeyne hope by triste to brynge hir gode purpos to a good ende, and by mykelnesse of myghte gyuynge a ful fynyshynge of hir holy & pure purpos.—¶ Forsoþe, not oonly in persecucyouns and disseses she hadde pacyens, but also in tribula∣cyouns [ 35] she toke wiþ grete desyre disciplyne of oure lorde. ¶ Wher∣fore in hir laste siekenesse, whanne she hadde be vexed greuously nerehande fourty dayes to-gadir, ¶ and we asked of hir whedir she were heuy in any manere for soor of sieknesse: 'I wolde raþer, quod she, if it plesed god, þat þese fourty dayes bygan ageyne newe'. [ 40] ¶ And, þat more meruel is, she seyde ferþer þat she neuer sawe seke man, but she desyred his sieknesse, what-sum-euere hit were. ¶ Woo to ȝow þat beriþ oure lordes crosse vnwillynge [Ms. vnwillyngis.] , þat castiþ awey disci∣plyne of oure lorde, þat as a wodde hounde bytiþ þe ȝerde of oure lorde, while ȝee grucche ageyne his scourge. Soþly, þis precyous [ 45] Crystes perle wiþ gladnesse of a taghte and curteys herte was seke

as not felynge and sweetly suffred hir sores, for þe inwarde esines softenyd outewarde sorowe & sumtyme lokkenyd and cecyd þe burþen of sieknesse. ¶ Vpon a tyme, whan she was compellid to knokke hir breste and crye for akynge of þe palsye, a famyliar man of hirs, hauynge compassyone of hir, hidde hym in a place and bysoghte god [ 5] for hir. Þanne she felte hir sieknes sumwhat aswaged þurgh þe meke preyers of þe deuoute man. 'Go, quod she to hir mayden, and seye to þat man at hee cece to preye for me, for, while I fare better þurgh medecyn of his prayers, I take harme of my disciplyne'. ¶ Also on a tyme, whan she was vexyd wiþ a greuauns, on of hir frendes made [ 10] dule for hir dissese priuely allone in herte. Þan sche, by reuelacyone of oure lorde knowynge þe priuetes of his herte, sende hir mayden to hym, seiynge: 'sey þou to hym atte hee make no more dule for me'. Sooþly, she was more greued wiþ oþere mennes sorowe þanne she was vexid wiþ hir owne infirmytes.—And not oonly she hadde [ 15] powere to wiþstond aduersitis þurgh þe spirite of strengþe, but also to absteyne hir fro alle fleshly freeltes. For in so mykel she chastised hir body and broghte it vndir to þraldome, at þe body euer obeyed at hir biddynge and grucchyd not ageyne. She, excusynge hir-selfe wiþ no feinynge, motered not ageyne god, but folowynge þe strengþe [ 20] of hir lorde, slugged neuer wiþ slouþe; ¶ she defayled in trauayle neuere or selden. For in so mykel she þat ȝonge tymberer hadde strecchyd hir body and dryed hit as by-twix two trees of þe crosse, þat many ȝeeris to-gadir she neuere felte ryse ageyne hir þe firste sterynges of lecchery. Wherof sche hadde so grete triste amonge [ 25] men, þat of aboundauns of innocens and pure sympilnesse she sup∣posed alle oþere like hir-selfe. ¶ Wherfore, whan a famylier frende of hirs of ful grete excesse of gostly affeccyone helde faste hir hande on a tyme, þof wiþ a chaste wille he þoghte noon ille; ȝit he felte as man of þat ouer-nere neyghynge þe firste felynges of freel fleshe. [ 30] And syþen she wyste no þinge þer-of, she herde a voys fro aboue, þat was Noli me tangere, ¶ þat is to seye: wille þou not touche me—neuerþeles she vnderstode not what hit bytokenyd. ¶ Sooþly, good god and compacyent to oure infirmite wolde not haue hym shamed byfore þe holy womman; ȝit he wolde as a gelous louer kepe the [ 35] chastite of his spouse and warne hym fro perils þat myghte falle. Wherfore, whan she seyde to hym: 'I harde now a voys, but what hit betokeniþ, in sooþ I wote nere: þat is Noli me tangere', ¶ hee, vndirstandynge what þis was, fro þenne forþe was þe bettir ware, ¶ and þankeynge god þat wolde not discuuer his febilnesse, toke his [ 40] leue and wente his weye.

Of þe spirite of counseil. Cap. VI.

Forsoþe, þurgh þe spirite of counselle she, doynge no-þinge on-hede, no-þinge vnordynatly, purveynge and doynge alle þinges diligently, wiþ deliberacyone and avyce, in alle þat she shulde do or leue she [ 45] abode hym þat shulde make hir saufe fro ferdenesse and hastynesse of spirite, no-þinge leuynge thurgh febilnesse or feer and no-þinge hastely, no-þinge vnavisely, no-þinge doynge wiþ a fers mynde. In

alle hir wayes hire eyȝ-liddes ȝede byfore hir fete, wirkynge alle by councelle, leste she shulde neuer so litel afterwarde repente. ¶ For what myghte she do wiþ-outen sadnesse, wiþ-outen maturite of coun∣celle, whos mynde hee fulfilled and in whos wille of soulle hee dwellyd þat saiþ of hym-selfe: ¶ 'I wisdam dwelle in councels & am [ 5] amonge wyse þoghtes'. ¶ And þof she vsed inwarde homly councelle of þe holy gost, þof sche were enformed sufficyently wiþ holy writte: ȝit for houge plente of mekenesse, leste she shulde seme wyse in hir owne sighte, forsakynge hir owne wille she endeyned not to lowe hir∣selfe gladly and deuoutly to oþere mennes councelle. ¶ Neuerþeles [ 10] many of hir famylier frendes, þat were often expert of hir goodly wis∣dome, durste do no grete þinge wiþ-outene hir councelle: for þat atte she myghte not knowe by mannes resone, she wiste þurghe preyer by inspiracyone of god. ¶ Wherfore, whane a frende of hirs, content wiþ goodes þat god gaf hym, þe more sikirly þat hee was oute of [ 15] mennes eyen and fro seculer boste, serued oure lorde in lownesse, (&) was required of a nobil man to be his mayster, þat purveyed hym plentivously hors and cloþes and many oþere goodes: hee asked coun∣celle of þe holy womman what hym was to do. ¶ She, sooþly, þat neuer presumed of hir-selfe, after she hadde preyed and was comen [ 20] fro pryue chaumbrys of goddes councels, answeryd: 'I sawe, quod she, in þis deed a blakke hors be ordeyned to ȝow þat neyde towarde helle, and an oste of fendes þere-of were fayne. Þerfore after my councelle dwelliþ in þis callynge in þe whiche ȝee are called of oure lorde, leste ȝee gif occasyone to þe fende by couetyse of worshyp [ 25] and pompe of þe worlde'.—¶ Also anoþere amonge hir frendes, þe meker þat hee was þe homlyer to hir, whan hee hadde a prouendour menely sufficient to hym, was ouercomen wiþ many prayers and receyued anoþer prouendere þat was gretter of dignite and rentys. Whan he, as he was righte deuoute and dreedful, asked councelle of [ 30] Cristys mayden wheþer he hadde offendid god in þat dede, she, as hir maner was, asked a litil respyte of answere; and atte laste she, enspyred and by reuelacyone of god certifyed wiþ-outen any scrupul of doute: ¶ 'I sawe, quod she, a man cloþed in white cloþes and redy I-now to renne, be cladde aboue wiþ a blacke mantel & charged [ 35] wiþ an vnprofitabil fardelle'. Whanne she hadde (seyd) þese wordes & oþere like, he helde to hym þe first provendir, þat was sufficyent, & leste he schulde ambiciously occupye þe stede of anoþer man, the wyse man, dredynge god and assentynge to heelful councelle, wiþ-outen tariynge resigned þat oþere prouendere. Forgyueþ me, breþere, ȝee [ 40] þat coupil dignite to dignyte and ioyne provendyr to provender: hyt is not myne þat I haue tolde, but Crystes owne schewynge. ¶ Spariþ Cristes mayden and wille ȝee not bakbyte þe Innocent. In what haþ she hurte ȝow, if she holsumly counceylid hir frende, if sche tolde þe trewþ þat she herde of oure lorde. But happely, ¶ whil ȝe often [ 45] turne þe corne [Lat. dum Gratianum revolvitis; der übersetzer las granum.] and loke neuere on þis libelle, ouþer ȝe wil count þe

visyouns of Crystes mayden fantoms, or ellis, as ȝoure maner is, scorne hem as dremes. ¶ For þe pharysees, whanne oure lorde des∣putid of couetyse and seyde þat riche men myȝht not entre þe kynge∣dome of heuene, not oonly scornyd hym, but also demed hym as a man oute of mynde.—¶ And, sooþly, atte I telle þe grete dedes of [ 5] þe holy womman wiþ-oute accepcyone of persones, I shalle not spare my-selfe, but I shalle sey a story of myne owne infelicite. ¶ Whan I, þof vnworþy, bygan to preche goddes worde to lewde symple folke and hadde neiþer exercise nor custom to make a sermone to þe puple, ¶ euere dredynge of my-selfe, leste in happe I shulde haue wantid [ 10] wordes and not endid my sermon: I gaderid to-gedir here and þere many auctorites, ¶ and so, whanne I heped mykel mater to-gedir, what-so-euer I hadde in mynde þat wolde I sey forþe. ¶ For a fool telliþ forþe alle his spirite, but a wise man kepiþ sum to afterwarde. ¶ And whan I shent my-selfe wiþ so grete delauynesse, turnynge to [ 15] my-selfe after þe sermon, I felle into an heuynesse of herte, for bycause me semyd þat I hadde seyde mykelle vnordynatly and vn∣manerly. And on a tyme whanne Cristes mayden sawe me drery wiþ siche-manere sorowe, I wolde not for shame shewe to hir þe cause, ¶ and, atte more wrecchedful was, whan any man þat herkenyd me [Ms. ne.] [ 20] bleþely preysed me after þe sermone, as custome is, as if I hadde seyde sotily: I receyued in þat sum-manere comforte. I am schamed to shewe my foulnesse, ¶ but I dare not councelle þe preisynge of þe holy woman. Þe whiche vpon a tyme, whan she, biholdynge me as confused and couerde with a clowde of þe forsayde sorowe, callid [ 25] me to hir & openyd to me þe þre-folde wounde of temptacyons wiþ þe whiche I was wrecchidly woundyd wiþ-in: 'I sawe, quod she, þe liknesse of a man ful of clowdes, couerde wiþ superfluyte of heeres, and a strumpet, arrayed as wiþ summe brighte bemes, byholdynge hym wente · rownde aboute hym wiþ a shinynge laumpe; and whanne [ 30] she hadde often compassed aboute, she caste oon of hir brighte bee∣mes towarde hym and drofe awey a party of þe derknesse'. ¶ Þere∣fore at this ensaumple of hir I perceyued ful certeynly anoon þat I was sieke of þ(r)e soores: for þe superfluyte of heres genderid to me sorowe, þe strumpet arayed, þat is pryde, gaf me comforte wrecchedly [ 35] wiþ brighte beemes of glauerynge. I woot not wiþ what lowuynges, þou holy womman, I shalle preyse the, þat knewe þe priuetis of god; to whome oure lorde openyd þoghtes of men not wiþ-outen cause, and gaf vertue to þy werkes to make medecyne for many mannes malady.—¶ Also, whan she was homely wiþ a good holy ȝonge woman, [ 40] Heluyde [Lat. Heldewidis nomine.] by name, þat was enclosed at Willambroc: whom she mykel loued and norysched in oure lorde, as þe moder a doghter, nerehande twelue ȝeere to-gadir; whan þat ȝonge womman was tempted wiþ any greuauns, she openyd þe þoghtes and temptacyons to þe same ȝonge womman, þat meruelyd how she shulde knowe hir þoghte; and also [ 45] she warned hir byfore ageyne temptacyons þat were to come, longe

or þey felle. ¶ And siþen þat same recluse hadde grete counforte of þe presens of maister Guy, þat þen was preste in þe chirche of Willambroc; and for þat atte falliþ sodeynly bringeþ more turbelle: she tolde hir halfe a ȝeere byfore or maister Guy wente fro Willam∣broc wiþ Johne his broþere, & warnyd [Ms. warmyd.] hir wiþ many exortacyouns [ 5] atte she shulde suffir pesibily hir [st. her.] absence, whos presens she loued so mikel. ¶ Also of a religyous womman þat hight Beselne, þe whiche trewly serued longe tyme Cristes mayden, of whos presens þe forsaide recluse hadde grete comforte, she seyde longe byfore þat she shulde go fro hir seruys, and at she shulde suffir wiþ-outen turbille þat oure [ 10] lorde (hadde purveyed).—And also on a tyme a maister, while hee was in Fraunce, purposed to come to þe place of Oegines. ¶ And whan oon of þe breþere of þe same hous purposed to go vnto Parys forto be þe maisters lodesman: 'abyde, quod she, & hye not so faste, for þe messanger þat þe maister sendiþ to ȝow, is nowe in þe weye com∣mynge'; [ 15] and so þurgh hir councelle þat broþere abode stille, to þe messangere come to Oegines, þat was to come, as she byfore tolde þurgh þe spiryte of prophecye. And whan þe forsayde maister was gone on pilgrimage to Rome forto visite þe apostils, vntrewe tiþinges were tolde þat he shulde be deed. And his frendes leuyd so, and [ 20] grete dule made for his deeþ. ¶ And whanne som wolde haue songen masse for hym: 'hee is not deed, quod she, but hee lyueþ, & siche a daye hee wente fro Rome saufe and sounde to come home aȝein'. Þen alle men merueled & lafte of to synge for hym; and as she seyde, so þe ende proued. [ 25]

Of þe spirite of vndirstondynge. Cap. VII.

Therfore þe doghter of Jerusalem, onowryd wiþ þese broches, be∣shyned wiþ þees forseide giftys of þe holy goste as wiþ lanternes of lightes; hir lyfe was in heuenly þinges wiþ purifyed herte þurgh þe spirit of vndirstondynge. For in so mykelle hir soule chace suspencyone [ 30] fro alle worldlynesse, þat oþere-while, (while) alle a daye she flowe fulle hye, & sumtyme many dayes to-gadir, with clere brightnesse of herte, not smyten ageyne, she byhelde þe sune of rightwisnesse as an Egil; wiþ þe whiche sunne-bemes she, dryed vp fro alle moisture of sensibil þinges, purged fro euery cloude of bodily ymages, wiþ-outen [ 35] any fantasye or ymagynacyone she sawe in soule sympil fourmes and dyuyne as in a clene myrrour. ¶ For, sensibil formes putte oute of hir, vnchaungeabil and fourmed [Lat. uniformes.] spyces of abouen-heuenly þinges resultid, þe more pure in hir mynde þe more þat she tented to þe most souerayn sympyl and vn-varyabil mageste. And whanne [ 40] hir spirite sotil and smal, brente wiþ þe hete of meke loue, perced abouen heuenly þinges as a smale ȝerde of smeke of swete sauerynge gummes, and as by summe grecys in þe contreye of quyke folke walkynge by stretys and lanes she soghte whome she loued, now delyted with lylyes of holy virgyns, now refresshed wiþ swete smell∣ynge [ 45] roses of holy martirs, vmwhile receyued worshypfully of þe

senate of holy apostils, oþere-while socyed to setes of aungels: whanne she hadde gon vp by alle greces, whan she hadde walked with gladde wille by alle þe places of paradys, a litil after shee was passed alle, she fonde þat at hir soule feruently desyred; þere atte laste she hadde ful reste, þere she abode fix & vnmoued, alle þinges forgoten [ 5] þat were byfore. Þen myghte she not prey for hir frendes, were þey neuere so dere, nor þenke on holy aungels: alle seintes as leuynge byhynde hir, (she) cleued to þat at she brennyngly coueytid. ¶ And whan she loked nere in þe boke of lyue, sche perceyued þere-in many þinges þurgh þe spirite of vndirstandynge; þe whiche atte laste after [ 10] she was turnyd to hir-selfe, she seyde, or þey felle, wiþ a spirite of prophecy. ¶ Wherfore þree ȝere or men were signed agayn Prouyn∣cyalle heretykes, she seyde þat she sawe crosses copyously comynge doune fro heuene vpon multitude of men—neuer-þe-les no mencyone was made þat tyme in oure contreye of þoos heretykes. Ȝit oure lorde [ 15] seide often to hir in spirite as pla(i)nynge þat hee hadde welny loste alle þat londe & at (he) as banyshed was casten oute of þat cuntrey. And whanne þe holy martirs of Criste þat for loue of þe crucifix come fro ferre contrees to a place þat is called Mons gaudij, þat is hille of ioye, to venge þe villany of Cryste, were slayne þere of Crystes [ 20] enmyes: þof she were fer cuntrey þennes, she sawe holy aungels ioiynge and berynge soulles of men slayne to hye ioyes of heuene wiþ-outen oþere purgatorye. ¶ Wherof she toke so grete desyre of þat pilgrymage, atte she myghte not by holden, if she myghte haue gone any-maner wiþ-outen sclaunder of neyghbores. And whan we [ 25] as laghynge asked hir what she wolde do þere, if sche hadde comen þider: 'atte leste, quod she, I wolde worshyp my lorde, knowlechynge his name þere w(h)ere wicked men haue disspysed him [Ms. hir.] and denyed'. ¶ And whan a famylier frend of oure hous at Oegines, signyd wiþ þe crosse, shulde dye, she sawe a multitude of fendes [Ms. frendes.] as rorynge [Ms. rornynge.] and [ 30] redy to mete. And whan she blamed þe fendes and bade þat þey schulde departe fro Cristes seruaunt þat was signed and kepte wiþ þe baner of þe crosse, þey putte to hym maliciously many synnes and keste agayne hym þat at procedyd not in treuþe. And whanne she bysoghte (oure) lorde for þe siek man, she sawe a brighte [ 35] crosse descendynge vpon hym, and defendid hym on euery syde. ¶ And þof þat man taken wiþ deþe didde not his pilgrimage, ȝit mykel parte of purgatory, for þat atte hee hadde wille and ful∣fillid hit not, was forgyuen to þe same man, signed wiþ þe crosse, as oure lorde shewyd to þe holy womman.—¶ A frende of oures, [ 40] nobil of kynde but more nobil of feiþ, deuoutly seruynge god & as myche as in hym leuynge alle worldly þinges for Crystes loue, hadde a wyfe ful worldly and ageyn-seiynge his purpos. ¶ And whanne hee mykel dredde leste his wicked wyfe shulde dryue hym oute of his hous—for, as Salamon seiþ: 'þere are þree þinges þat dryue a man [ 45] fro home: smeke, droppynge rofe, & a wicked wyfe'—¶ þe holy

woman, hauyng compassyone of þe ȝonge man, preyed mykel for his wyfe to oure lorde; and esely comfortynge þat nobil man, seyde þat his wife shulde sone after be conuerted to oure lorde. And þat we knewe done and þanked god þere-of: for she, parfitely disspisynge vanyte of þe worlde, as she was byfore contraryous to þe gode purpos [ 5] of hir husbande, so she stirred forþe afterwarde and as goynge-byfore drowe hym þat she fyrste hynderyd and letted.—¶ Also vpon a daye, whanne a chanone of þe chirche of seinte Geretrude in Niuelle was in poynte of deth, breeþer of Oegines wolde for a righte-wys cause witte þe daye of his diynge. ¶ And whan hit was tolde to a lewde man [ 10] of Niuelle, þat was þenne atte Oegines, þat (he) shulde go þennes and sende hem witerynge whan þe chanone shulde dye: 'if þou wolte, quod þe holy womman, sende tiþinges be-tyme of þat atte is bidden þee, þee byhoueþ to go þennes in þe mornynge and take þy weye'. And on þe morne whanne he [Ms. she.] ȝede to Niuelle, þe belles were rungen for þe [ 15] dede chanone.—¶ Vpon a fastyngange(!)-tysedaye atte nyghte, whanne seculere men vse to gif hem to etynge & drinkeynge, she sawe some fendes sory and confused comynge fro a religyous womman; þat hadde dissesyd hir greuously wiþ temptacyouns, but þurgh socoure of oure lorde þey hadde not þe victory. And after þat, whan she asked of [ 20] þe womman how hit was wiþ hir: 'I, quod she, was greued gretly, but þat oure was I delyueryd þurgh þe grace of god'. And she knewe þat atte þat tyme she sawe þe fendes go a-weye fro þe same womman.—¶ Also a preste on a tyme songe masse, while she was presente; & for she oftene preyed for þat preste: siþen he hadde no thinge more [ 25] þat hee myghte rewarde hir wiþ: leste hee shulde seme [Ms. serue.] vnkynde, hee purposed to synge þat masse for hir. And whanne the preste hadde endyd masse, she seyde to hym: 'þis masse was myne: ¶ sooþly, þis daye ȝee haue offerd for me þe sone to þe fadir'. Whanne hee meruelde and asked how she knewe þat—for god allone knoweþ [ 30] mennes þoghtes: 'I, quod she, sawe a fulfayre douve comynge downe aboue ȝoure hede in þe auter, þat as flikerynge stryked hir wenges to me, and I knewe in spiryte þat þe holy gost transferid þat masse to me'.—¶ And what-tyme prestes sange masses worþily and deuoutly, she sawe holy aungellys ioynge and helpynge þe prestes wiþ grete [ 35] gladnesse, and byhelde þos same prestes wiþ goodly chere and wor∣shepyd hem ful deuoutly. ¶ Woo to ȝow, wrecchyd prestes, felawes of Judas þe traytour, þat crucifye Cryste efte-sones as myche as in hem and defuyle þe blode of þe testamente; þat wiþ handes polluted, wiþ lecche∣rous eyen, wiþ venemous mouþe, wiþ vnclene herte, while they go [ 40] vnreuerently to þe worshipful sacramente, offenden holy aungellis þere presente! for of an heelful medecyn þey wrecchedly geten deþ. ¶ Vpon a tyme whanne a ful dere frende of hirs was ordeyned preste atte Parys, she sawe how hit was with hym whan he was enoynted into preste, and þe place where hee toke ordir, and his cloþinge and [ 45] his wille; and tolde þe preste as she sawe; and hee þerof hadde

wonder. ¶ And whan she sende summe lettirs to hym to Parys, she wrote amonge other sum wordes þat þe preste myghte not vndirstande vnto þey were fullfilled: þat are þese wordes or lyke: ¶ 'a newe tree now haþ floured, of þe whiche oure lorde haþ ordeyned to me þe first fruytes'. ¶ For seþen þe preste purposed to synge his firste [ 5] masse in Fraunce, hit happened, as plesed to oure lorde, þat he songe firste at Oegines in presens of þe holy woman.

Of þe spirite of wisdam. Cap. VIII.

Forsoþe, atte þe wise werke-man shulde brynge his werke to a par∣fite ende, þe hyest preste his chirche, þe worþyest kynge his doghter, [ 10] hee honestly arayed & passyngly onowred hir wiþ þe seuenþ gifte of þe seuenfolde gost as to sauer wiþ oþer, þat is to seye wiþ þe spirite of wisdome, þat is þe firste in dignyte, but þe laste in perfeccyone of ende. She tasted sauer of þis wisdom and sawe þat oure lorde is swete, while hir soule was fulfilled as wiþ grees and fatnesse; while [ 15] she was moisted atte mydday wiþ Joseph atte þe borde of oure lorde, ful of delytes and lenyng on [Ms. of.] hir loue, while she souked mylke and hony of hir spouse lippys & ȝete priue aungels mete in þe gardeyne of louely luste and likynge: hir herte was inwardly affecte wiþ þe delycyous gifte of þis wisdam, hir wordes were swetned, and alle hir [ 20] werkes were fattened wiþ esynes of goostly enointynge. ¶ She was meke in herte, swete in mouþe, softe and esy in dede, dronken in charyte, and so dronken and abstracte fro sensibil þinges, þat vmwhile, whenne we ronge to noon or to euensonge, she as wakenynge askyd wheþer hit were ȝit prime. ¶ Also vpon a tyme whanne she hadde [ 25] liggen three dayes in hir bedde and restyd esely wiþ hir spouse, for swetnesse of houge myrþe so mykel dayes wente priuely aweye, þat her semed atte she hadde liggen vnneþes a momente. For oþere-while she hungyrde god wiþ wondir chaungynge of affeccyouns, and vmwhile she toke [Lat. sitiebat.] hym. And for it is writen: 'þey þat ete me shalle ȝit hunger, [ 30] and þey þat drynke me shalle ȝitte thriste', euer þe more she felte oure lorde, þe more hir desyre encreced: she was greuyd & cryed, and bysoghte þat hee wolde abyde; and leste he shulde go, she helde hym as halsynge by-twix hir armes and preyed with wepynge atte he wolde shewe hym more to hir. ¶ Sumtyme thre dayes to-gadir or more, as [ 35] hir semyd, she clypped oure lorde as a litil babbe dwellynge bitwix hir pappys, & hidde him-selfe [l. hir-selfe.] , þat oþere shulde not se hym; sumtyme she kyssynge played wiþ hym as with a childe. ¶ Sumtyme he she∣wed hym-selfe as a meke lambe be-syde hir skyrte; ¶ oþere-while the meke maydens sone shewed hym-selfe as a doufe to solas of his [ 40] doghtir; vmwhile as a wether hauynge a bright sterre in his forhede ȝede aboute the chirche and, as hit semyd to hir, visityd his trewe pupil. For, righte as oure lorde shewed hym to his disciples doutynge vndir þe liknesse of a pilgryme, and as hee toke þe forme of a mer∣chante whan he sende seinte Thomas into Inde, so his wille is to [ 45] shewe hym-selfe to his frendes for comforte vndir amyabil likkenesse—

as witnessiþ seint Jerome þat seinte Poule [Paula.] , whanne she come to Bede∣lem, she sawe (him) liggynge in a cracche as a litel babe. ¶ And in dyuerse solempnites of oure lorde he schewed hym to hir as likned to his feste: as in Criste-masse lyke a childe soukynge þe pappes of þe moder-mayden and weymentynge in cradel-cloþes—& þanne she [ 5] hadde hir to hym as to a childe, hauynge dyuerse affeccyouns and desyre after dyuerse shewynges; and so solempnites were renewed euery ȝeere. ¶ In þe feste of purificacyone she sawe oure lady offrynge hir sone in þe tempil, and Symeon receyuynge hym in his armes: and in þis visyone she ioyed as myche for myrþe as if she hadde be [ 10] presente, whan hit felle in þe tempil done in dede. ¶ And sumtyme in þis feste, whan hir serge hadde be longe vnlighted in þe processyone, sodeynly hit receyued a ful clere lighte, no man kyndelynge hit but god. ¶ And in þe passyone vmwhile oure lorde apperyd in þe crosse, but selden, for vnneþes myght she suffir þat. ¶ Also whanne þere [ 15] was any grete solempnyte neer, she felte ioye oþere-while eyght dayes byfore. And so after þe cours of alle þe ȝere she was chaunged in dyuers maners and hadde hir meruelosly. And whan any seyntes holyday was nere, þat seinte shewid to hir his feste, comynge to hir vpon his daye and visityd hir wiþ a multitude of heuenly felawes; [ 20] so þat hir spirite rested with ioye alle þat daye wiþ þe same seinte. ¶ For of homely and often to-gedir spekynge of seintes, as any man can knowe one of his neyghbors fro an noþere, ¶ righte so she knewe on aungel or o seynte fro anoþere. ¶ Also oþerwhile sum seynte fully vnknowen in þis cuntreye tolde hir his fest þat was done in ferre [ 25] contrees, atte she shulde make ioy in his feste. ¶ And also wiþ-outen any tellynge she discriued wiþ herte holy-dayes fro werke-dayes, by∣cause þat solempne dayes sauered hir swetter þan sympil dayes. ¶ Sooþly, she halowed festful dayes writen in hir mynde and inpressed in hir herte as in a martiloge. ¶ Wherfore, whan she was on a tyme [ 30] in a chirche of seynte Geretrude in a village þat is cleped Latilos [Lat. Lenlos.] , and a feste of seint Geretrude virgyn shulde be on þe morne, and þe preste of þe same towne perceyued not þat feste: she, felynge in soule so∣lempnite nere-hand, myghte no lenger contene hir-selfe. And whan þe preste was not redy, & noon oþere body range þe belles, as custum [ 35] is to þe firste euensonge of a feste: she rose vp fro hire stede and as she myghte, bygan to rynge þe belles. Þe preste herde þat and meruelynge ranne to hir. 'Why, quod hee, rynge ȝee, as þof hit were holy-daye, siþen we vse not but if it be a feste to rynge þis tyme of þe daye?' þan sche schamfaste and ferde: 'forgif me, sire, quod [ 40] she, for a grete feste is þis nyghte, but of whome, I wote not; soþly, now I fele þis chirche filled wiþ ioye'. Þan þe preste opened his kalender & fonde þat on þe morne shold be þe feste of seynte Gere∣trude. ¶ Soþly, she hadde so many and so grete comfortes, þat, þof she entendid to noon outewarde þinges, as mede [l. nede oder me do; sicut fit.] sumtyme to recreacyone, [ 45] she myghte sitte euer in o stede wiþ-outen any felawshyp wiþ-outen

slouþe or heuynesse. ¶ Sumwhile, forsoþe, (while) she was in hir celle, she herde a moste swete voys of oure lorde, seiynge: 'þis is my doghter beloued, in whome I ful mykel delyte'. ¶ And whanne she was rauished bysyde hir-selfe, hit semed to hir þat she helde hir hede vpon þe knees of Criste glorifyed. Sumtyme on of aungels messagynge, [ 5] she was salutid of sum heuenly cytesyns. ¶ Also vpon a tyme, while she preyed byfore an auter of seint Nicholas, her semyd þat mylke flowed fro his reliques. ¶ She also vmwhile (sawe) sum brighte bemes goynge oute fro þe ymage of þe crucifix and comynge to hir & as persynge euene to hir herte—in alle whiche sightes she myche delyted [ 10] and hir spirite was wondirly comfortyd in siche þinges. ¶ Vpon a tyme blessed Benet, fadir and lanterne of Cisteus ordir, apperyd to hir as wynged, and spradde his wynges aboute hir. And whan hee hadde sitten longe wiþ hir in þe chauncelle of þe chirche, and she askyd what-maner wynges þoos were, hee answeryd: þat hee as an [ 15] egyle þurgh hye fliynge come to hy and sotil þinges of holy writte & þat oure lorde hadde openyd to hym many þinges of heuenly priuetis. ¶ And siþen she hadde in grete worshyp and with a specyal loue loued seint John̄ ewangeliste, hit happenyd on a tyme þat she con∣fessed to a preste a litil venyalle synne, wiþ myche weymentynge and [ 20] wepynge. And whan þe preste asked why she wepte so faste: 'I maye not, quod she, refreyne wepynge'. For-why she sawe an egil vpon hir breste, þat as in a welle plonged the bile in hir breste and filled þe ayere wiþ grete noyse; ¶ and she vndirstode in spirite þat blessed Johne bare aweye hir weylynge & wepynge. She sawe on a [ 25] tyme a preste syngynge messe deuoutely wiþ terys: and her semyd þat a douve come doune on þe prestys shuldir & þat a ful clere welle spronge oute of his shulder. ¶ Oþere-while she sawe þe maydens sone as a childe wiþ fulle grete brightnesse aboute þe box in þe whiche þe sacramente of þe auter was put; and whan we asked what-maner bright∣nesse [ 30] þat was, she answeryd þat as mykel as þe lighte (of þe sun þe lighte) of a candil so mykel or more þat brightnesse passed þe bright∣nesse of þe sun. ¶ Also whan any relikes were broghte to oure chirche, she felte byfore in spirite comynge of þe reliqes, and alle nyghte ioyed wiþ þe holy reliqes, and she sawe Criste ioiynge, and oþere relikes [ 35] as wiþ ioye and worshyp receyuynge þe newe reliqes. And wheþer þey were verrey relykes, hir spirite perceyued wonderly. For of þe litil crosse þat is in þe chirche of Oegines, in þe which is summe of þe tre of þe holy crosse, she sawe go oute a beem ful of brightnesse and a heuenly clernesse. ¶ Also a famylier frende of oure hous [ 40] amonge oþere relyqes þat hee hadde, fonde a bone of a seynte wiþ∣oute writynge, and wiste not whos relikes þey were. And whanne he broghte to hir þese relikes to wite þe soþe, she perceyued in spirite þe vertue & þe verrynesse of hem. And whan hee prayed þat god shulde shewe to hir of whome þey were, a grete gloryous seinte [ 45] apperyd to hir. Þen þe holy woman asked: 'who arte þou?' But hee named not hym-selfe, but discreued foure lettirs byfore hir mynde. And whan she helde þe lettirs in hir þoghte, but wist not what þey mente,

she cleped a clerke & tolde hym þe lettirs, þat were a.i.o.l., and asked what þey betokenyd. Þan hee, spellynge hem to-gedir, answeryd þat þey signifyed aiol. And þenne she knewe openly þat þis relikes were of seint Aiol, þe whiche atte Prime in Chaumpayn [apud Pruvinum in Campania.] is hadde in grete reuerens.—¶ Forsoþ, siþen she angwysshed in þis exile for desyre of [ 5] euerlastynge lyfe, for loue of þe sighte of god and for ȝernynge of þe coueytid blissednesse, neuerþeles on-lepy & hy remedy and singler solas was to hir aungels mete, heuenly brede, vnto she come to þe londe of byheste. In this þe sorowe of herte was tempirde, in þis hir woo was lokkened & hir spirite strengþed; in þis hye and passyngly [ 10] worthy sacramente she suffred pacyently alle periles of þis pilgrimage, she ouercome alle þe labours of this wildernesse, & she, quickenyd wiþ þis fode, sette litil by alle defautes of this wrecchednesse. ¶ For holy fleshe fatned hir and blode quikenyd, wossh and clensed hir. Þis only solas she myghte not longe wante, for it was euen lyfe to [ 15] hir to receyve Crystes body, and þat was deth to hir to abstene and be desseuered fro þis sacramente. ¶ For in soþe, she hadde leryd by experiens in þis worlde þat atte oure lorde seiþ in þe gospelle: 'but if ȝee ete þe fleshe of þe sone of a woman and drynke his blode, ȝee shalle not haue lyfe in ȝow. Who-so etiþ my fleshe & drynkeþ [ 20] my blode, haþ euerlastynge lyfe'. Þis worde was not harde to hir as to þe Jewes, but softe; for not only inwarde in soule, but also in hir hony-swete mouþe she felte alle delyte and alle swetnes of sauour in receyvynge of this sacramente; and oþere-while vndir þe liknesse of a childe vndir sauour of hony with smelle of swete sauerynge [ 25] spyces she receyued hir lorde blessedly in a clene and arayed chaumbir of herte. And whan she, thristynge þe blissed blode, myghte no more do, vmwhile after þe masse she asked þat she myghte atte lest byholde longe þe bare chalys on the auter.

Of hir comynge to Oegines. Cap. IX. [ 30]

But for we haue shewyd þe precyous broches of þis kynges doghter & þe sote-sauourynge cloþes of þis spouse of Cryste, þof not sufficiently neuerþeles after oure powere: now go we to þe hemmes of hir cloþes, þat is to seye to hir blyssed passynge, þat we offre wiþ þe hede þe tayle of oure ost. ¶ Whan she hadde longe tyme sacrifyed hir-selfe [ 35] to oure lorde atte þe forseyde place þat is cleped Willambroc [Ms. Wallambroc.] , she þat couetyd to gif hir-selfe to god allone, myght no lenger suffir mykel recours of men, þat come to hir often of deuocyone, for by-cause she was so nere þe next towne þat is clepyd Niuelle. ¶ And whan she hadde bysoghte oure lorde often-tymes wiþ many prayers þat he wolde [ 40] purvey to his mayden a couenabil place to hir purpos and persones þat mekely wolde agre hem to hir desyre, þe place of Oegines was shewyd to hir, þat she sawe neuer byfore, siþen also þat for newnesse and pouerte of þe hous vnneþes was þan any mencyon þere-of amonge men. ¶ And longe avisynge hir-selfe, she wiste not what-maner place [ 45] thi shulde be. ¶ Forsoþe, she, tristynge of oure lordes byheste, longe

or she come to þe place, as doghter of obedyens toke leue of Johne hir husbonde & of his broþere, maister Guy, hir gostly fader, to visit þat place and to dwelle þere, if hir liste. ¶ Soþly, (þey), lest þey shulde make hir sory whome þey loued in charyte, graunte(d) hir lightly leue, for why god enspyred hem to gyue hir leue; and þey trowed on no [ 5] manere þat she shulde dwelle in siche a place þat she neuer knewe ne hadde any homlynesse of hem þat þere dwelled. ¶ Þan she þurgh goddes ledynge takynge (þe) wey towarde þe place ordeyned to hir, or she come þyder by a good space, seint Nicholas, patrone of þe same place, mette hir wiþ mikel myrþe and ladde hir to his chirche. [ 10] ¶ Sooþly, alle þat daye while she was in þe wey, she mykel meruelid, for why she felte in hir herte a grete sollempnyte of seint Nicholas to be atte þat tyme. ¶ For hit was not vnknowen to hir þat þe feste of seint Nicholas is wonte to be halowed byfore Cristemasse, & not in Maye þat was þen; ¶ neuerþeles þe same daye þat she come, breþer [ 15] of Oegines made a grete feste of his translacyone. ¶ And whan she come to þat place, she knewe in a wondir maner disposicyone of þe place, and breþer of þe same hous, as god shewed to hir byfore; & perceyued þat hit was seint Nicholas daye, and prophecyed þat she shulde make hir ende in þe same place. ¶ Also she shewed to me [ 20] afterwarde a place in þe chirche where hir biryels shulde be whan she dyed, as þe ende after proued. For in þe same place of Oegines she dyed, þof many after þat enforced to lede hir ageyne; and in þat party of þe chirche whiche she seyde to me byfore, was she biryed, þof oþere men wolde haue done oþere-wyse, after hir obyt. [ 25]

Of hir dwellynge at Oegines and of þoo þynges þat felle to hir in þe same place. Cap. X.

After þat þurgh oure lordes biddynge she was goon fro hir owne cuntrey & kynred, after þat she hadde sitten, þe more priuely, þe more esely vndir þe vmbre of hym þat she desyred: I suffis not to conceyue [ 30] wiþ þoghte ne telle wiþ worde, how grete þinges oure lorde wroghte for hir in þat place, ¶ how often, more plentivous þan byfore, hee visityd hir wiþ comforte of aungellis, how often she had homly spekynges togedir in þe chirche wiþ oure lordes moder, ¶ how often oure lorde hym-selfe presencyally apperid to hir. For euer þe more þe terme [ 35] þat she desyred, and þe laste ȝeere of hir temporal lyfe neyghed, oure lorde shewed to hir þe more aboundaunt tresours of his largenesse. ¶ And whan þe laste ȝeer þat oure lorde byhighte was nere—þe whiche hir-selfe myghte not hyde for ioye: for six ȝere byfore she named hit to maister Guy; also she prophecyed to vs often booþ þe [ 40] ȝeere (&) þe tyme of hir passynge, but she expressed not þe daye—neuerþeles, whan she myghte no lenger contene hir-selfe, she panted, sighed & for desyre cryed, as no lenger suffrynge to she shulde clyppe oure lorde: ¶ 'Lorde, I wole not þou go wiþ-outen me. I coueyte no more here to abyde: I wole go home'. And in a meruelous manere, [ 45] while she so oute-rauisshed was angwysshed wiþ houge desyre, for plente of herte she semed wel nye alto brusten in body; ¶ and whanne she was turnyd to hir-selfe, she myghte not stande on hir fete longe tyme

after. ¶ Also for feruour of spirite, while she criynge was drawen oute of hir-selfe, she semed as firy in visage; and, atte more meruele is, while she was in þat excesse of mynde, she myghte byholde þe compas of þe material sunne wiþ þe sighte of hir eyen vnsmyten ageyn. Þan she, moysted wiþ mirþe, myghte not be stille, but cryed: 'hit is seyde [ 5] to me of oure lorde þat I go ¶ in sancta sanctorum'—þat is to sey into holy thinges—¶ 'O so swete a worde! Telle me, Clennes, what is sancta sanctorum'—for Clennes hight hir mayden, of whom for goostly drunkenesse she asked significacyone of þe worde, þat þey neiþer wiste; ¶ neuerþeles þat worde she rehercyd often, for hit sauered [ 10] swetely to hir herte. Þan whanne she turnynge to hir-selfe meruelde þat she was rauyshed abouen hir-selfe more hougely þanne byfore, hit was seyde to hir: 'meruel þou not, þis is þe laste ȝeere: now haþ þou no more tyme'. And she herde a voys of oure lorde, clepynge hir and seiynge: 'come þou my frende, my douve, & þou shalte be [ 15] coroned'. ¶ Vpon a tyme, whan she was stired wiþ an houge spirite and hadde forgoten hir-selfe more þan wone was, for plente of herte she sayde amonge many oþere: ¶ 'þe cloþes of þe kynges doghter smellen like spyce, and þe membrys of hir body are halowed of oure lorde as precyous relykes'.—¶ Sooþly, in þe ȝeere þat she passed [ 20] to god, whan I made me redy ageyne heretikes, of offys enioyned to me by þe legat of oure lorde þe pope, to preche and signe whom god enspyred, she asked me whanne I purposed to come ageyne. And whan I answeryd þat I shulde tarye longe tyme, þanne, syþen she hadde no-maner sieknesse byfore lentone: 'I, quod she, leue to [ 25] ȝow of testament þat I wole ȝee haue after my deþe'—¶ for, as hit is seyde, she hadde seen hir obyt longe byfore þat tyme; and she seyde to me þat dissolucyone of hir body neyghed nere. And for she knewe not when I schulde come ageyne, she hyed to make hir testa∣mente, leuynge to me a þonge, þat she was girde with, and a lynnyn [ 30] moctour, wiþ þe whiche she wipte hir teres, and summe oþere smale thinges, derrer to me wiþ-outen comparysone þan golde or siluere. ¶ And whan tyme of hir desyred sieknesse, tyme of hir laste infirmyte come nere, she seyde to hir mayden, deuoute womman of virgyns, þat serued hir: 'I drede lest I mone be charge to þe and oþere, for wiþ [ 35] longe & grevous sieknesse I moste passe fro þis worlde to oure lorde. Who schalle mowe abyde so longe by me?' Sooþly, she dredde alwey leste by occasyone of hir any-body shulde be greuyd, neuer-þe-les whan nere-hande alle were sory þat þey myghte not be by hir often and serue hir. For she tolde byfore þat she shulde ligge dede abouene [ 40] the erþe on a monendaye: wherfore alle þat ȝeere welny she fasted þe same fery, so þat she þat daye ȝete no-maner mete. ¶ And euere þe nere þat hir tyme come, þe more she bisyed hir to serue and plese oure lorde wiþ-outen any stynte, nyghte and daye. Wherfore fro þe annuncyacyone of oure lady vnto myssomer-daye no but elleuene [ 45] tymes and in a litil quantite she toke bodily mete, euer ioiynge, abi∣dynge þe brydalle-daye with myrþe. Forsoþe, she hadde ful famylier, and most loued amonge oþere seintes seint Andrewe apostil, þat clepyd

to hym oure lordes crosse wiþ so grete loue þat hee wolde not come doune þere-fro. ¶ Sooþly, þat blessed apostil of Cryste seyde to Crystes mayden byfore hir laste infirmyte: ¶ 'Syker be þou, doghter, for I schalle not leue þe. For as I knowlechyd þe feiþ of Cryste and denyed not, righte so in þe daye of þy passynge (I) schalle stande by [ 5] þe and knowleche þe byfore my god and also bere þe witnesse'.

Of hir songe. [Ms. deþ st. songe.] Cap. XI.

Than þe tyme byhighte was nere þe whiche she hadde desyred byfore wiþ many teres and asked wiþ many sobbynges and sighes. And loo, sodeynly was made a sowne fro heuene and a turtirs voys herde in [ 10] oure chirche, voys of ioiynge & confessyon, as noys of on etynge and gladdynge, as noys of hye god in heuene. ¶ For oure lorde shoke a-weye alle wepynge fro þe yen of his mayden and fillid hir herte wiþ myrþe and hir lippys wiþ modulacyone. ¶ Soþly, she bygan to synge wiþ an hye voys and clere, & cecyd not þe space of þree dayes [ 15] and þree nyghtes to louve god, to do þankeynges and to sette to-gedir a ful swete cantelene and melody wiþ doucet not and ryme of god, of seintes, of oure lady, of oþere holy thinges, of hir frendes and of holy writte; ¶ and she avised hir not to fynde sentens, ne abode to sette hem to-gedir þat were founden; but as þey hadde be writen [ 20] byfore hir, ¶ oure lorde gaf hir in to þat oure what sche shulde seye; ioiynge wiþ contynuel crye, nor she in þenkynge labored, ne sturbled hir mynde in disposynge and settynge of hir wordes. For, as hir semyd, oon of Seraphyn, þat is a brennynge aungel, spradde his weyngys abouene hir breste; by whos mynistrynge & swetly bistandynge þat [ 25] rymed dyte was enspyred to hir wiþ-outen alle difficulte or hardnesse. And whanne she hadde al daye cryed vnto nyghte, here chekes [Lat. raucae factae sunt fauces ejus; l. chaules?] were made hose, soo þat in þe begynnynge of þe nyghte vnneþes she myght put forþe any voys. Þan þe pryour of oure hous was fayne, for by-cause on þe morne, þat was sondaye, seculere men of þe cuntreye are wonte [ 30] to come to oure chirche: þe whiche in happe, if þey herde hir synge wiþ-outen cecce wiþ so sharpe and smal voys, myghte be sclaunderid þere-by & counte hir as a fole. ¶ For-why men of þe worlde, men of sorow merueile not if any body crye for angwysshe and ache, as it falliþ in a trauelynge womman, but þey haue wondir and meruel if [ 35] any man criynge for ioye of plente of herte maye not holde his pees. But men of ioye, whan þey here siche þinges, moter not nor grucche, leste þey be sclaunderyd, and wiþ alle mekenesse worshyp þe grete giftes of god in his seyntes.—And atte morne oure tymbrere bygan to harpe hyer and clerer þan byfore: for oure lordes aungel þat nyghte [ 40] didde aweye alle hosenesse fro hir þrote, puttynge into hir breste enoyntement of wondir soupilnesse; and so hir artery-veynes repareld and voys renewed, welny aldaye she ceced not, and men herde louvynge of god, voys of gladnesse and mery notes of melody. ¶ Soþly, þe dores were stoken and alle shytte oute, and oure Pryour and þe holy [ 45] wommans mayden abode in þe chirche; but þey myghte not vndir∣stonde

many þinges þat she seyde of heuenly priuatys, & summe þey vndirstode, but, woo þe while, þey helde not [not st. but.] a fewe! Atte þe firste she bygan hir antem fro þe hyest tone, þat is fro þe holy trinite, louvynge ful longe tyme þe trinite in vnite, (vnite) in trinite, settynge amonge to hir swete songe meruelous þinges and vnspekabil of þe holy trinite; [ 5] ¶ also summe þinges of holy writte (newly) and wondirly expownynge [Lat. novo et mirabili modo exponens.] , of þe gospelle, wiþ [wiþ st. of.] salmes of the olde testamente and þe newe shew∣ynge sotily mykelle þat she neuer herde. ¶ Fro þe trinite, sooþly, she come doune to þe manhede of Cryste, fro þens to oure lady, fro þennes pronouncynge many þinges of holy aungels, of þe apostils and oþere [ 10] seyntes folowynge. Þenne, as in þe laste poynte & lowest, she seyde mykil of hir frendes þat ȝit are in þe worlde, and commendynge hem to oure lorde ilke after oþere by rowe, preyed to god for hem wiþ many orysouns. ¶ And alle þis she seyde in ryme & romayne tunge.—¶ Forsoþ, she seyde amonge many oþere þat of þe lighte of þe holy [ 15] trinite holy aungellys haue vndirstondynge, and (of) þe lighte of Crystes body glorifyed in holy soulles, þey haue fruyte and ioye. ¶ Also she affermyd sadly þat oure lady seynte Mary, goddes moder, is now glorifyed in body, and at þe bodyes of seintes þat roos in Crystes passyone, neuere after turned ageyne in to pouder. ¶ Also she seyde, [ 20] and þere-of she was fulgladde, þat þe holy goost in haste shulde viset his chirche and more plentivous þan byfore shulde send holy labourers to fruyte of soulles þurgh alle-holy chirche and shulde be-shyne þe worlde for þe most part. ¶ She seyde also, whan she songe of seint Stephen, whom she clepyd Rosyer of paradys, þat, while he prayed [ 25] in his passyone, oure lorde gaf hym seint Poule in gyft, and whan seint Poule, consecrate þurgh martirdome, ȝelde þe gost att his diynge, seynte Stephen was þere-by and offird þe spirite of seint Poule to oure lorde, seiynge: 'lorde, þou gaf me þis grete and singulere gifte, & I wiþ many-folde fruyte gif hit ageyne to þe'. ¶ And þen she [ 30] myche be-soghte oure lorde for a prechor þat hee hadde gifen hir, ¶ and wiþ many orysons preyed þat god schulde ende [Lat. ut prius eum dominus conservaret.] hym firste, atte she myght offyr his soule to oure lorde whanne hee dyed, at she myghte bere ageyne to god wiþ vsure in þe ende þat he gaf to hir by∣fore; ¶ and in a meruelous maner she rekenyd vp alle þe temptacyouns [ 35] of hir prechour, and welny alle his synnes þat hee hadde done sumtyme; preiynge oure lorde þat hee wolde vouchesaufe to kepe hym fro suche synnes. ¶ Oure pryour herde, þat knewe þat mannes conscyens and (had) herd his confessyone; & goynge to hym seyde: 'wheþere ȝee haue seyde ȝoure synnes to Dame Marye? For while she songe, she tolde so [ 40] ȝoure synnes as if she hadde sene hem writen byfore hir in a boke'. ¶ Þe louely songe of oure lady, þat is Magnificat, she rehercyd ful often, and expounynge hit in Romayne tunge, fonde þere-in mykel mirþe and swetnesse. ¶ Whan (in) þe ende of þe songe she come to þe songe of Symeon, þen she commendid ful deuoutly to oure lorde hir frendes [ 45]

and religyous wymmen þat dwellen in þe cite of Leody, and preiynge for hir [St. her.] pees, she rehersyd þe firste verce of þe songe atte euery clause, þat is Nunc dimittis seruum tuum domine secundum verbum tuum in pace, ¶ þat is to saye: Lorde, now þou leuys þy seruaunte in pees after þy worde.—¶ Þen þe þree dayes of ioiynge paste, she garte [ 5] make hir bedde in þe chirche byfore an auter; & comen ageyne to hir-selfe, she callid men to hir and seyde: ¶ 'Lamentacyons are passed byfore, while I sorowed for synnes; songe is gon byfore, while I was iocounde and ioyful for euerlastynge godes; ¶ loo, now foloweþ wee [Lat. Vae.] of syeknesse and deeþ. I schalle neuere ete after now, I schal [ 10] neuere her-after rede in þis boke': and takyng to breþer a litil boke þat sche hadde, in þe whiche she vsed to seye orysouns and somme dytees & rymes of oure lady, she putte hir-selfe pacyently vndur disciplyne of oure lorde, and abode wiþ ioye a blessyd ende in silens & in hope. [ 15]

Of hir sieknes byfore hir deþ. Cap. XII.

Soþly, in þis sieknesse she was trauelyd greuously wiþoute-forþe, but she restyd ful esely wiþ-in. For seintes, þat hadde stonden by hir often in state of heel, visityd hir oftener in sieknesse, ¶ and Cryste, apperynge often to hir, as wiþ chere of compassyone byhelde [ 20] hir; also his blessed modir Mary was welny alwey bisyde hir; and amonge alle oþere seint Andrewe þe apostille, comynge often to hir, gaf hir ful grete comforte & made þe sore of hir sieknesse as insen∣sibil to hir; and also holy aungels were by hir and serued hir deuoutely. Wherfore, whan she þristed on a nyghte and for mykel febilnes myghte [ 25] not ryse ne sitte [Lat. incedere.] by hir-selfe: two holy aungellis holdynge hir vp & ledynge hir to a place where water was putte, she dranke, and þey ledynge ageyne, she ȝede to hir bedde wiþ-outen any trauel. And þurgh warnynge of oure lady whan she sholde be anoynted, alle þe apostils were presente; seynt Petir, sooþly, shewed þe keyes and byhyghte [ 30] þat he shulde open heuene-ȝate; and Cryste styked to hir fete þe merke of þe holy crosse, baner of his victory. ¶ And whanne sche was turnyd [Lat. ungeretur.] in dyuerse sydes in takynge of þe sacramente, she felte wirkynge of þe holy goste wiþ fulle grete lightnesse of þat party of þe body. ¶ Also summe of hir frendes (&) knowleche þat were dede by∣fore, [ 35] were sende to hir for comforte: John̄ of Dynant, þat regnyd wiþ Cryste, & frere Richard of Messeere prest [de Menehen-capella.] , holy man and good in his lyfe, þe whiche neþerles was ȝit in purgatory. ¶ Also a man þat (wolde) aske [petiturus.] helpe of Crystes mayden, apperyd to hir in hir sieknesse, þat wiþ moste peyne was turmentyd in purgatorye: for hee sumtyme hadde [ 40] name of religyone and shewed hym-selfe in state of perfeccyone, but after þat with sclaunder of many men & shame of religyone turnynge ageyne to þe worlde, made a contracte with a womman, þat also longe tyme shewyd parfite lyfe and brake hir firste feiþ; ¶ and abouen alle þinges hee seyde þat hee was peyned & punysched, for hee hadde [ 45]

wiþ sclaundir hurt goddes holy chirche. ¶ Also, whanne þe holy byschope of Tholose come to visit hir, she receyued for þe tyme ful mykelle comforte and bodily strengthe of þe byshopes presens; and, as it semyd to hir, oure lady liftyd hir as in þe ayere ageyns þe byshope. ¶ Also whan þe same byshope hadde halowed þe auter of [ 5] oure lady in þe same chirche & songe masse, she sawe in percepcyone of þe sacramente as a white douve þat put þe sacramente in þe holy byshopes mouþ, and a [Ms. alle.] ful grete brightnesse beshynynge hym wiþ-in, and by reuelacyone of oure lorde she knew his soule be-lemned. [Lat.: maximamque claritatem eum interius transfun∣dentem et ejus animam illustrantem, domino ostendente cognovit.] —And also in hir sieknesse whan sche myghte ete no-maner mete nor myghte [ 10] sofour þe sauoure of a litel brede, lightly she toke often Cristes body, þat anoon as meltynge wente in to hir soule and not oonly comforted hir spirit but also esyd wiþ-outen tariynge hir bodily siek∣nesse. ¶ Soþly, hit felle in hir infirmyte, while she receyued Cristes body, þat hir semblaunde shyned as wiþ sunne-brighte bemes of lighte. [ 15] ¶ And whanne wee assayed vmwhil wheþer she myghte take an obley vnconsecrate, anoon she loþed þe sauoure of brede. For, whanne a litil party touched hir teeþ, she bygan to crye, to spitte and to pante, as hir brest shulde haue bristene; and whanne she hadde longe cryed for ache & often-tymes hadde washen her mouþe wiþ watir, after mykel [ 20] parte of þe nyghte was passed vnneþes myghte she ryste. ¶ For sooþ, were she neuer so febil in body & hir heed neuer so weyke and tome, as she þat þre and fifty dayes or she dyed ete no-maner mete, neuerþeles alwey she suffred þe lighte of þe sunne and neuer closed hir eyȝen ageyns briȝhtnes of þe lighte. And, þat more meruelle [ 25] is, whil we songe with hye voys bysyde hir and as atte hir eerys in þe chirche, and while wee ronge þe bellis longe and faste, and also while wee reryd an auter to be halowed of þe byshop of Tolose wiþ many masons smytynge with malles bisyde hir, she myghte neuere be greued [Ms. grettered.] wiþ any bustelynge þat she wist pertene to god and to [ 30] his chirche; ¶ for, as she hir-self seyde, whan wee were sory for hir, þat noys hirt not hir hede ne smote not hir brayne, but anoon she toke hit in hir soule wiþ grete reste.—¶ Also hir frendes and of hir knowleche come faste to hir fro dyuers cuntreys to visite hir: & whan wee spake of summe þat were absente & hadde not comene to hir, of [ 35] summe she seyde 'ȝit schalle I see hem', & of summe she seyde 'I shal neuer see hem in þis worlde'—and þat haue (we) witen falle. ¶ Also a nobil woman, sumtyme wyfe of þe duke of Louany [ducis Lovanii.] , þat lafte þe worlde & made hir a nunne of Cisteus ordyr, hadde seen Cristes mayden longe or she dyed, while she dwelled atte Willambroc. [ 40] ¶ And whan she departed fro hir and seide 'Dame, I wote not wheþer I schalle euere see ȝou more': 'ȝit, quod þe holy woman, shalle ȝee see me'. Þan whan she, þat dwelled aboute Coleyne fer fro oure contrey, herde þat þe holy woman laye on diynge: 'I triste in god, quod sche,

þat ȝit I schalle see hir, as she byhight'—and so was hit. For whan sche come to vs, þe belles were rungen for þe liche: and þen she was present while þe body was wasshen and buryed. ¶ Sooþly, summe thinges she seyde to a pryue man of vs þat shulde falle after hir deeþ, as she knewe by reuelacyone and byheste of þe holy goste; þe [ 5] whiche þinges, for sclaundir of febil folke, wee write after, þat when þey falle may lightely be perceyued by scripture; ¶ but þe mene [Ms. more.] tyme wee haue seled þe wordes & clapsed þe boke: for haply many men shalle passe ouer & cunnynge shalle multiplye. Certeynly, summe men, but if þey see anoon falle þat at god reserues to profite of hem [ 10] þat come after, bygynne to grucche and moter, seiynge wiþ the Jewys: ¶ Manda remanda, exspecta re-exspecta, þat is a scorneful worde writen in þe prophet Ysaye and be-meneþ þus: [Zusatz des übersetzers (vgl. Isa. 28, 10).] ¶ Bidde and efte bydde, abyde and efte abyde—as whoo seiþ: þou prophecyes often, but hit is not trewe, for wee maye abyde & longe loke aftir. [Zusatz des übersetzers (vgl. Isa. 28, 10).] ¶ Neuer∣þeles [ 15] summe haue wee now seen falle, as of þe place þat sche is in buryed, and of þe cloþes halowed and honoured for colde, and of þe Monday in þe whiche she biryed [Lat.: super terram.] laye deed: þe whiche thinges, sooþly, as she seyde byfore, felle afterwarde. And þerfore we abyde to þe toþer dele to come ful certeynly, as of þe newe songe [Lat.: de cantu novae solennitatis, propter voces ange∣lorum auditas sibi a domino promisso.] þat oure lorde [ 20] byhighte hir, of þe sollempnite for aungellis voys herde; of myracles for brightnesse þat she sawe, as hit is seyde byfore þat god apperyd to hir often in grete brightnesse; of þe doubil fastynge ¶ of þe two sollempnites for two dayes þe thridde day she toke mete [de duplici jejunio in duabus solennitatibus propter biduana jejunia (nam frequenter post duos dies tertio cibum capiebat).] ; of þe firste and to be worsshepyd ymage, for often she knelynge worsshepid þe [ 25] ymage of oure lady seint Mary.

Of hir deþ. Cap. XIII.

For soþ, whan hir tyme neyȝhed nere, oure lorde shewed to his doghter porcyone of hir erytage amonge hir breþere, and she sawe a place in heuenly þinges ordeyned to hir of oure lorde; she sawe and ioyeful [ 30] was. Þe heyght of þe whiche place, þe gretnesse of þe whiche ioye we myghte summe-maner suppose, if wee myghte holde in þe herte þe precyous stones & vertues of perles & gemmes þat she wondirly dis∣cryued, and þe names of stones þat she named þurgh shewynge of oure lorde; but, for hit is writen: 'iȝe haþ not seen, god, except þe, [ 35] þat þou haþ ordeyned to hem þat louene the', we maye not compre∣hende; but allonly we maye knowe how grete ioye she is worþy þat serued god so deuoutly, þat loued Cryste so feruently, and wham [Ms. whan.] oure lorde honoured in erþe wiþ so many priuileggys synggulerly. Þe þursdaye byfore þe daye of hir passynge, while we were presente [ 40] & stode by hir in þe euenynge, she wolde not speke to vs nor turned hir eyen towarde vs, but she laye vnmeuabely with hir yȝen euene

lokynge in to heuene—¶ for she laye wiþ-outen hir celle vndir þe eyre—and her chere bygan to wex clere as wiþ a brightnesse. ¶ Þen she for ioye ful longe as smylynge bygan to synge with a lowe voys, I woot not what: ¶ for þen myghte she not synge hyȝe. And whan I neghed more nere & herkenyd bisily, I myghte not vndir∣stonde [ 5] but a litil of hir songe, and þat was þis: Quam pulcher rex noster domine, ¶ þat is to sey in englysche: Ful feyre kynge, oure lorde. Whanne she hadde longe abyden in so grete ioye, singynge, laghynge and oþere-while hir handes clappynge, þan she turnyd to hir-selfe as of a newe comynge-ageyne to felynge of infirmyte, þat [ 10] she not felte byfore, and bygan a litil to be greued. And whanne we asked of hir what she hadde seene: syþen she wolde ne myghte not speke to vs but litil, 'neuerþeles [l. merveiles, lat. mirabilia.] , quod she, I wolde sey to ȝow, ȝif I durste'. ¶ Sooþly, þe same satirdaye at euene whan þe daye of ioye and myrþe was nere [Ms. neuer.] , daye þat oure lorde made, daye þat oure [ 15] lorde purveyed and bihighte to his mayden, oure lordes daye, daye of resurrexyone, daye of þe vigil of seint Johne baptiste, in þe whiche also, as men seiþ, seint Johne Euangelist passed fro þis worlde, þof his feste be holden a noþer tyme: ¶ Þan Crystes mayden, þat hadde eten no-maner mete two and fifty dayes, bygan wiþ a swete voys to [ 20] synge alleluya, & welny alle þat nyghte as boden to a feste she was in ioye & mirþe.—¶ Sooþly, þe fende apperyd on þe sondaye and vexed hir gretly: for she bygan sumwhat to drede and also to aske helpe of hem þat stode aboute. But þen she, takynge ageyne triste of oure lorde and strongly brekynge þe dragons hede & sheldynge hir∣selfe [ 25] wiþ þe signe of þe crosse: 'go abacke, quod she, þou filþ and foulnesse'—for she called hym not foule, but foulnesse. ¶ Þan þe fende fleyng aweye, she bygan to synge, & þonked god of his grete grace. ¶ And þan, certeinly, whan þe euene come nere, byfore þe fest of seint Johne baptist, aboute þat oure þat oure lorde ȝolde the [ 30] gost in þe crosse, þat is þe oure of noon, she sooþly passed to god, neuer chaungynge for any sorowe of deþ gladnesse of semelande or visage of ioiynge; nor I haue mynde þat in hele she hadde more glad∣nesse of chere and more liknesse of lyfe; nor, as custum is after deþ, she semed broune or blo in face, but wiþ an aungels contenauns and [ 35] douvely sympilnesse, white and clere in visage, in hir diynge and after hir deþ she stired many to deuocyone. ¶ Also many were moysted swetly in hir obyt with plentevous flode of teerys, and þey perceyued hem-selfe visityd of god þurgh hir prayers, as a holy woman sawe byfore of þe holy goste and seyde by-fore þat þey þat come [ 40] to-gadirs at hir passynge, shuld receyue mykel comforte of oure lorde. ¶ For soþ, whan hir holy body shulde be washen in hir obyt, she was founden so smalle and lene þurgh infirmite & fastynges, þat þe rigge-bone of hir bak was clungen to hir wombe, and as vndir a þynne lynnen cloþe þe bones of hir bak semyd vndir þe litil skynne of hir [ 45] bely.—¶ She forsoke hem not after hir deeþ whome she loued in hir

lyfe, but to summe she come ageyne, ¶ also she spake [Ms. spaken.] often to holy wymmen and of proued lyfe, and she taghte hir frendes what þey shulde do, and warned hem in perils, puttynge awey alle doute fro hir hertes be certeyne priue tokens. Also she gat of oure lorde with preyers to summe of hir frendes booþ grace of wisdome & feruour [ 5] of charyte. ¶ Wherby to sey: a monke of Cisteus ordyr sawe in slepynges after þe passynge of Crystes mayden þat a golden chalys went oute of hir mouþe, wiþ þe whiche he gaf drynk to summe of his frendes. ¶ Anoþer tolde me þat he sawe in slepynges hir body borne [Lat. permutatum.] as in to a ful brighte precyous stone. ¶ Soþly, in þe ȝeer of [ 10] Incarnacyone of Cryste a þowsande two hundreth and threttene, þe nynþe kalendis of Jule, in þe euen of seint John̄ baptist, þe sonday aboute noon, þe precyous perle of Cryste, Mary of Oegines, aboute sex and þritty ȝeere of hir age, was borne in to þe palys of euer∣lastynge kynge, where is lyfe wiþ-outen deþe, daye wiþ-oute nyghte, [ 15] treuþ wiþ-outen falsnesse, ioye wiþ-oute sorowe, sikernesse wiþ-outen drede, rest wiþ-oute trauelle, euerlastyngnesse wiþ-oute ende; where þe herte is not angwyshed wiþ besynesse, where þe body is not dissesed wiþ sorowe; where þe ryuer of luste filliþ alle þinges and stoppis wiþ spirite of ful fredome, where we shul knowe as wee are [ 20] knowen, whan god shalbe alle in alle and shalle gif reyme [Ms. regnum.] to god þe fader, oure lorde Jhesus Criste, þat wiþ þe fadir & þe holy gost lyueþ & reyneþ, wiþ-outen ende. Amen.

Here endiþ þe boke, writen in þe ȝeer of grace a þousande two hundreth and fiftene, þat is to wite of þe life of seint Mary of Oegines, [ 25] endytid in latyn of Maister James, bishop of Accon.

4. Ueber S. Katerina of Senis.

(Brief des Stephan von Senis.)

Here bigynneþ þe copy of a letter touchynge þe lyfe of seint Kateryn of Senys, þe whiche lettir endyted in latyn Dan Stephen of Senys, sumtyme Pryour of þe hede-Charteus in tyme of scisme, after Pryour of Papy, vnto frere Thomas Anthonij of Senys, of þe [ 30] ordyr of prechours, as hit is playnly contenyd in þe lettir.

Broþer Stephen of Senys, pryour, þof vnworþy, of þe hous of the Charteus ordyr nere Papy, gretiþ wel in hym þat is verrey hele of alle, a worshypful man & religyous & ful amyabil to hym with chere [Lat. corde sincero; l. clere?] herte, frere Thomas Anthonij of Senys, of þe ordyr of prechours, [ 35] dwellynge in þe Couent of Seint Johne & Paule att Venys.—I haue received affectuosly ȝoure lettirs, and haue redde hem bisily, by þe whiche ȝee gretly require and pray me þat I shulde sende to ȝoure charite in open forme trewe informacyone of þe dedys, maners, vertues and doctrines of famos holynesse of þe virgyn blyssed Kateryn of [ 40] Senys, whos conuersacyone sumtyme I deserued while she lyued, as

ȝee sey, and namely for occasyone of a quarelle made at Venese in þe byshopes palys anens þe halowynge of þe feste or commemoracyone of þe same virgyn; for many wole not leue atte þe vertues be trewe þat are trewly seyde of hir. Atte I sey openly þe soþ: þe visage of þe same virgyn, wiþ alle hir kynne, was þurghly vnknowen to me and [ 5] alle myne, þof we were borne in þe same cite of Senys, vnto þe ȝeere of oure lorde a þousand three hundreþ seuenty and sex or þere-aboute. Nor also þat tyme I, as drowned in þe floteryngis of þis lyfe, desyred to haue knowleche of hir; but þe goodnes of god, þat wole no man peryshe, disposed to delyuer my soule fro þe pitte of helle, þurgh þis [ 10] virgyne. ¶ Wherfore þat tyme þere felle wiþ-outene oure blame a werre bitwix vs and oþere men, mykel more stranger þan we; in þe whiche werre whan many grete citesyns oþere-while hadde ben occupyed & irked, þei myghte haue no-weyes hope of any good wille of pees of þoos aduersarijs. ¶ Soþly, þan þe forsaide virgyn was of grete [ 15] name as þurgh alle Tuskayne and wiþ many grete preisynges of ver∣tues she was enhaunced and tolde ful wondir werkes; wherfore hit was seyde to me, þat, if I wolde preye hir of siche a nede, wiþouten doute I shulde haue pees, for she hadde done many siche þinges. For-why I hadde councelle wiþ a neyghborgh, a nobil man, þat longe [ 20] tyme hadde borne hatred and afterwarde hadde made pees, and hadde knowleche of þe holy virgyn. Þe whiche man, as he herde my mouynge, anoon answeryd: 'haue þou no doute, for þou shalte fynde no persone in þis cite þat is more abil þanne she for siche a pees', and seyde: 'abyde no lenger & I schalle go wiþ þe'. Þerfore wee visityd hir; [ 25] Þe whiche receyued me, not as a shame-fast mayden, as I supposyd, but wiþ ful effectuous [l. affectuous.] charite, as if she hadde gracyously receyued hir broþere comen home fro fer contrey. Where-(of) I merueld and takynge hede to þe spedfulnesse of hir holy wordes þat enduced me not oonly but also compelled me to knowlechynge and vertuos liuynge, I seyde: [ 30] 'þis is þe holy gost'. [lat. digitus dei est hic.] Þan she, herynge þe cause of my comynge, answeryd boldely: 'Go, ful dere sone, tristynge in oure lorde, for I shal labour ful gladly tille þou haue fulle good pees; and alweys lat me haue siche-maner charge on þis hede'. And so the ende proued: for afterwarde ful miraculosly þurghe hir medyacyone wee hadde pees, [ 35] ȝee ageyne þe willis of oure aduersarijs—bot þis leue I, be-cause of shortnesse. ¶ Þe mene-tyme I desyrynge to stir pees, visityd hir oftene, & euery daye for hir most spedful wordes & most parfyte en∣saumples I felte my soule be refourmed in to better þurgh compellynge of conscyens. ¶ She preyed me þe while more þat I wolde write summe [ 40] epistils, þe whiche she endyted in a meruelous maner wiþ hir maydenly mouþe. And þat, sooþly, I toke ful blyþely, ilke a daye (felynge) in me by notabil feruour my herte kyndelyd to heuenly þinges, disspisynge þe worlde & alle his, wiþ so grete displesauns of liuynge byfore, þat I myght vnneþes suffir my-selfe; and siche and so mykelle chaungynge [ 45] I felte in my-selfe, þat hit myghte not be tempirde wiþ-oute-forþe; so

þat nere-hande alle þe cite hadde meruel. ¶ And euere þe more I toke hede to þe lyfe, ensaumples, maners & wordes of þe forseyde virgyn, so mykelle more I perceyued in me encres of goddes loue and dispisynge of þe worlde. ¶ For sooþ, a litil while after þe for∣seyde holy virgyn seyde to me in priuite: 'wite þou ful wele, beloued [ 5] sone, þat þe most desyre þat þou has, shalbe sone fulfilled'. ¶ I per∣ceyued þat and was sumwhat astonyed, for I coude not fynde what I wolde haue in þe worlde, but raþer I forsoke alle worldly godes. Þerfore I seyde: 'O ful dere modir, I prey ȝow what is þe moste desyre þat I haue?' ¶ 'Seke þou, quod she, in þy herte'. And I [ 10] answeryd to hir: 'Sooþly, most byloued moder, I can fynde no gretter desyre in me þan to be contynuelly nere ȝow'. And sodenly she answeryd: 'And þat shalbe'. ¶ Forsoþe, I coude not vndirstonde þe maner how it myghte so be honestly or vantagely, for vnlikly con∣dycyone of eiþer state. Hee, sooþly, to whome no þinge is impossibil, [ 15] þurgh a meruelous maner ordeyned hir to go to a certeyne place [Lat. ad Avenionem.] to oure lorde Gregore pope elleuenþ: and so, þof vnworþy, I [Ms. þof I vnworþy.] was accepte felowe of so holy a company, litille settynge by and leuynge my fader and my moder, breþer, sister and alle my cosyns, countynge my-selfe blessyd for þe virgyns presens. After þat þe Pope hym-selfe come [ 20] to þe Cite of Rome þurgh comfort allonly of þe holy virgyn, neuer∣þeles of goddes biddyng, as hit is ful openly knowen to me [Ms. to me &c.] : and for nedys of holy chirche, hee sende hir to Florens, þe whiche þat tyme was rebelle to holy chirche; where god wroght by hir many meruels, as hit is shewyd sumwhat in hir legende. ¶ And I deserued [ 25] to be þere with hir. Atte laste ȝit was I wiþ hir atte Rome; where after many &, if I sey hit, vnsuffurabil labours, vnfeyntly borne to þe worschyp of god and ful gladly suffird, wiþ a fulle-blessed cours sche closed þe laste daye in my presens; wham [Ms. whan.] I bare wiþ myne owne handes to sepulture, þat is to þe chirche of Frere prechours, to be [ 30] beryed, ȝe raþer to be kepte in a cofer of cypresse & worshypfulle toumbe. ¶ Sooþly, while she labored in hir laste ende, she ordeyned wiþ summe men what þey shulde do after hir passynge; afterward, turnynge hir visage to me, she seyde, & strecchyng forþ hir fyngyr: 'forsoþe, I bydde the on goddes byhalue and in vertue of obedyens, [ 35] þat on alle-maner wyse þou go to þe Charteus ordyr; he haþ called & chosen þe'. Þan she, seynge vs bisyde hir wepynge, seyde: 'ful dere childir, ȝee schulde not wepe no-wise, but raþer ioye in oure lorde and make a mery daye: for I am delyuered oute of þis prysone, goyng þis daye to þe most specyalle spouse of my soule. And I by∣heet [ 40] ȝow doutles þat (I) shalle helpe ȝow here-aftir more wiþ-outen comparyson þan euere y hadde powere to helpe ȝow while I haue ben þus enprisoned'. And, as she byhighte wiþ mouþe þat [þat st. and.] worde, so she filled fully in dede, and ilka daye doþ. And atte þat be shewyd by summe ensaumpil, one shalle I seye to þe worshyp of god & of þe [ 45]

same virgyn, þof hit be to my shame. For, whanne she badde me of obedyens of god þat I schulde go to þe Charteus ordyr, I desyred not to entir þat ordyr, or any oþer; but, siþen she was gon to god, siche desyre was kyndelyd in my herte to do þat biddynge, þat, if alle þe worlde wolde haue agayne-seyde me, I myghte no-wise haue graunted, [ 5] as experiens techyd. In þe whiche ordyr how mykel & what she hath wroghte & ȝit wirkeþ with hir sone, þof vnprofitabil & vnworþy, hit is not þis tyme to telle. Neuer-þeles þis dare I seye, þat after god & þe blessid virgyn Mary I trow me more bounden to þe holy virgyne Kateryn þan to eny creature of þe worlde; and if oght of gode were [ 10] in me, I recte alle to hir aftir god.—Hit maye be perceyued by (þis) scripture þat I haue hadde summe ȝeeres more þanne many oþer men ful homely conuersacyone of hir, in writynge lettirs & hir pri∣uetis, and parte of hir boke, þe which I wrote after hir owne maydenly mouþe. For abouen my deseruynge she loued me ful affectuosly with [ 15] moderly charyte; so þat many of hir sones bare hit heuy and hadde a maner of envye. ¶ Neuer-þeles I consideryd bisily with grete dili∣gens wordes, maners, dedys of hir in alle thinges, lesse and more. And for my wille is to conclude mykel in a litil, on my consciens byfore god and alle-holy chirche I bere hir trewly þis witnesse: þat, [ 20] þof I wote my-selfe a synner, neuer-þe-les I haue hadde sexty ȝeere gon & more knowleche of many and ful famose seruantȝ of god and (n)euere sawe or herde of mykelle herebyfore any goddes seruaunte þat haþ ben in ilke a vertue in so ful parfyte & hye degre. Wherfore, as worthy was, she was countyd of alle men an ymage of alle vertues [ 25] & moste brighte myrrour of goddes god men. ¶ I haue not herde, as longe while as I was wiþ hir, any tyme of hir maydenly mouþe any ydel worde; and oure wordes were neuere so lewdly seyde, but anone she reduced hem to summe sprituel profite. ¶ Alwey and wiþ vn∣feyntyd herte she spake of god or of maters inducynge to hym. I [ 30] trowe, she hadde neuer slepte or etyn, if sche had hadde herers con∣tynuelly, as wee fonde in hir euery daye. ¶ Soþly, if she were com∣pellyd sumtyme to her doynges of þe worlde or vnprofitabil woordes to soule-hele, she was sodeynly rauyshed in swogh & hir body abode þere with-outen any felynge, as beynge in prayer. In þat maner ilke [ 35] a daye she was raueshed, as wee sawe oure-selfe, I seye not a hundreþ or a þousande syþes, but mykel more oftener. Hir membres abode stille alle starke and vnmouabil, so þat þe bones firste myghte a brusten þan hir membris myghte be bowed. And forto shewe fulle openly þe treuþe of þis, lest in happe somme men wolde suppose þat she feyned [ 40] hir so, o thinge wole I telle, done in oure presens. ¶ Whan we were atte Auynone, þe pope Gregor beforseyde made be assyned to vs a feyre hous with a ful honest chapelle. Þe sister of the same Pope, as ful deuoute lady, after she hadde spoken vmwhile with þe forseyde virgyne, toke grete affeccyon and deuocyone to hir; ¶ and amonge [ 45] oþere she seyde in pryuete to mayster Raymonde, hir confessour, þat she gretly desyred to be presente whan þe holy virgyn shulde be houseled; and he bihighte hir þat hee wolde certefye hir the nexte

sondaye after. Þe whiche daye atte þe oure of tiers þe holy virgyn come in to þe chapil wiþ-oute shoes, allonly wiþ sokkes; and as hir custum was, she was rauysshed in to a swogh, desirynge and abidynge to be comuned. ¶ Þen maister Raymund cleped me and seyde: 'Go to siche a palys, where þe worshypful sister of þe pope dwelliþ, & [ 5] telle hir þat Kateryn shalbe comuned þis mornynge'. Þe whiche lady herde messe; but as I entred a ful grete courte, she sawe me & wiste þat I was of Kateryns meyne. Sodeynly hirselfe come to me and seyde: 'sone, what wilte þou?' And I answeryd hir as I was bidden. Þanne she in alle haste come to oure hous, wiþ a worshepful cumpany [ 10] of men and wymen; and amonge oþer she broghte with hir þe wyfe of þe popys nevow, þat was clepyd Raymounde of Turen. ¶ In soþe, þe ȝonge damyselle was ful of vanyte, no-þinge hauynge of god. Þe Popes sustir hadde hir ful deuoutly. ¶ Soþly, sche þat wrecche, as I trowe, þoghte þat þe virgyn feyned. ¶ Þerfore after masse sche shewed [ 15] of deuocyone to putte hir face vndir þe fete and pricked hir fulle sharply with a nedil in þe fete many tymes. But she stode stille vn∣moued—for so hadde she stonden, þof she hadde cut of þe fete. And after alle were gone & þe virgyne come ageyne to hir bodily wittes, hir fote bygan to ake sore, so þat she myghte vuneþes walke. [ 20] Þanne wymen þat were with hir in cumpany, loked where þe ake was: and þey sawe deed blode of pirckynge, and vndirstode openly þe malyce & vnbileue of hir þat wrecche. Of many ensaumples to þe purpos I suppos þis on maye suffys to a trewe man.—Anens þe whiche raueshid astate of hir o grete meruel is not to be lafte, [ 25] but to be þoghte on with a dewe worshyp: for, namely, whan hir soule trauelyd hit-selfe feruently in prayer with summe hye thinges and harde and bisyed hit to ascende with grete strengthe, hit reryd vppe þe heuynesse of þe body fro þe erþe. ¶ Wherfore she was often∣tymes seen of many men in preyer houene and lifted vppe fro þe [ 30] erþe—of þe whiche men I am oon; and þere-of I hougely mer∣uelid. Forsoþe, how hit maye so be done, hit is openly writen in a boke þat þe holy mayden made; þe whiche I wrote in party, while she endyted hit wiþ hir maydenly mouþe in a ful meruelos manere. Vpon þe whiche mater hit is to be noted ful mykel þat goddes maieste [ 35] gaf to hir, þis ful trewe spouse, so grete autoryte in homlynesse with hym, þat often in hir prayer she seyde wiþ houge triste: 'I wole so'; and whan sche in siche maner spake to hir spouse, hit semed nede þat she shulde haue anoon hir wille, as wee myghte in mykelle bere ful trewe witnesse. But I maye not hele þis on þat I perceyved in my∣selfe. [ 40] ¶ Whan we come fro Auynone, we were a moneþ and more in þe cite of Jeyne [in civitate Januae.] in a nobil & worshepful laydes hous, þat was cleped Dame Oryett Scot, where alle oure company welny was seke; but þat lady hadde mikel bisynesse aboute hem alle, and broghte two leches, worþy men. Wiþ þe whiche I hadde ful grete laboure, for I [ 45] wolde plese ilkon, to alle men of þe housholde seyde to me þat I

shulde be seke also. And with-in a fewe dayes I felle seke in to my bedde, shaken wiþ a ful grete feuer ague and wiþ passyng hede-ache and laborous vomet. And whan the holy virgyn perceyued, she come hir-selfe to me with confessours and hir felowes, þat were wymmen. Þanne she asked me where-in I was so greuyd. And I was lightned [ 5] of hir gladsum presens and answeryd miryly ageyne: 'somme men seye me þat I suffir I wote not what'. Þan she, stired with modirly charite, felte my forhede wiþ hir maydenly hande and sumwhat waggynge hir hede, seyde: 'herkeniþ þis sone þat sciþ summe men telle me þat I suffir I wote not whatte, while hee suffriþ a ful grete feuere ague!' [ 10] And anoon she seyde: 'I wole not late þe do as oþere sieke men do, but in þe vertue of holy obedyens I bidde þe þat þou suffir no lenger þis sieknesse, for I wole þat þou be hool on alle wise and atte þou helpe oþere, as þou diddest byfore'. And after þat, as hir custum was, she bygan to speke of god. HIt is wondir to sey, but mykel [ 15] more meruelle in dede: I was fully hole. Þan a [Tilge þan a.] while she spak, and I, lettynge hir wordes, seyde þat I was alle hool, alle men meruelynge þat þere were; and so was I many ȝeerys after. In maner like, þat is to wite by a myghtful biddynge, þe same virgyne heled a worshep∣ful man, Dan Johne, monke professed and dwellynge in þe celles of [ 20] Vmbresvale; the whiche man, as he affermyd to me feithfully, siche a tyme laye on diynge in þe abbey Passignani [Ms. Passignam.] besyde Senys. ¶ Sooþly, I harde a comaundemente of þe holy virgyn þat was done in þe absens of Dan Johne, þat is to witte in (presens of) two of his disciples þe whiche he hadde sende to þe same virgyne; and she badde hym hye [Ms. bye.] hym þat [ 25] hee shulde no lenger bee seke, but come to hir in haste. And so didde hee forþe-with. Of whiche meruelos myrakille he [Ms. she.] wrote aftir∣warde a worþy epistil for mynde of siche a myrakyl; þe whiche epi∣stelle I kepte in oure celle ful deuoutly. Neuerþeles ȝit more pleynly he tolde by mouþe þat at is writen aboue, preisynge þe virgyn openly [ 30] and stirynge alle þat herde to deuocyone of hir the whiche hadde de∣lyuered hym fro deþ raþer comaundyng þan preiynge, and mykelle meruelynge louved oure lorde þat hadde graunted siche auctoryte & so grete to þis virgyne, his spouse.—And þof alle þe lyfe of þe for∣seyde virgyne boþe after body and soule be, at I so seye, vnherde [ 35] and fulle [Ms. felle.] myraculose, neuerþelesse sum seruauntes of god passynge oþere toke hyer hede to o thinge fulle wondirfulle and vnused in an erþely man. For, what-so-euer shee didde, seyde or herde, hir holy mynde was alwey in god and actuelly onyd to hym; and for þe mouþ spekys of abundauns of herte, she spake neuer but of god or of maters [ 40] þat enduced to god, and fonde hym and hadde hym þurgh actuelle vnite of loue. I haue mynde þat, whan she sawe floures in the my∣dewe, in þe whiche she hadde grete likynge, wiþ holy gladnesse she stired vs and seyde: 'se ȝee not þat alle thinges worshypes & know∣leches to god? Þoos rede floures shewe to vs openly þe rody woundes [ 45]

of Jhesu Cryste'. Whan she sawe a multitude of amptes, she seyde: 'so þes come oute of the holy þoghte of god as I, in whos four∣mynge hee laboureþ as mykelle as in makynge þe floures of þes trees'. And in effecte we alle were alweye in alle thynges comfortid in hir presens, and so mykelle edifyed, þat, if I hit seye, wiþ-outen bodily [ 5] mete wee hadde stande contynuelly to heere hir, how mykelle so euere wee hadde ben dissesed on oþere syde or greued wiþ siek∣nesse. ¶ Also men þat sholde be henged or hir hedes smyten of, þe whiche, whan she was sende after, she visytid in prysone, hit semyd þat þey hadde alle forgoten for þat tyme hir peynes and afflic∣cyouns, [ 10] fro when so euere þey come, in þe sighte of hir. ¶ Þe fendes temptacyouns also semyd (to cese) atte alle wyse in a meruelous maner, as, whan þe sunne shynes brighte, dirknesse is not sene. I haue mynde þat I haue dyuerse tymes gon to hir, purposynge forto telle hir many thinges of my state, and afterwarde I tolde hir þat I hadde forgoten. [ 15] Wherfore I was wonte to aske hir how hit was wiþ me; and she wiþ∣outen dout expounyd and halpe in nede, better þan I my-selfe coude seye or aske. And þat no man meruelle of siche-maner spekynge, ¶ wite alle folke wele þat þis ful holy virgyn in maner knewe dispo∣sicyone of soulles as wee knowe disposicyone of visages; as experiens [ 20] often-tyme proued ful openly. Wherfore wee myghte not any-wyse be hadde [l. hidde.] fro hir, but she tolde vs oure peynes. ¶ Wherfore on a tyme I seyde to hir: 'sooþly, modir, it is more peril to be nere ȝowe þan to go by the se, for by-cause þat ȝee so se alle oure pryuetes'. And þan she seyde to me in priuete: 'wit þou wele, ful dere [Ms. derere.] sone, þat [ 25] no spotte or blemyshynge [Ms. blenyshynge.] of eny defaute falliþ so sone in hir soulles namely on whome I more take entente, but sodeynly I see hit by reuelacyone of god'. And to more clernesse of þis trewþe hit is ful open knowen to me þat for hir most spedful exhortacyons she made be confessed in my presens what men and wymmen many þousandes, [ 30] for noon myghte wiþ-stande hir any-wyse. ¶ Wherfore for so grete fruyte of soulles þat she didde in siche maters, Pope Gregore elle∣uenþ gracyously graunted to hir to haue contynuelly wiþ hir three confessours wiþ ful grete auctorite. Neuerþeles sumtyme come hir summe synners so harde bounden of þe fende, þat þey wiþ-stode hir [ 35] on alle wyse & seyde: 'sooþly, lady, if ȝee seyde to me þat I shulde go to Rome or to seynte James, I wolde fulfille hit wiþ-outen fayle; ¶ but of þis poynte of confessyone I praye ȝow spare me, for I maye not'. Atte last whan she myghte not ouercome hym noon oþer maner, she seyde to hym in priuite: 'If I telle þe þe cause wherfore þou wilte [ 40] not be confessed, wilte þou be confessyd after?' Þan hee as astonyed and ouercomen byhighte to do so. ¶ And sche seyde þanne: 'ful dere broþer, we maye oþere-while bi hidde fro mennes yen, but neuere fro þe sighte of god. ¶ Þerfore siche a synne þat þou didist in siche tyme and siche place, is þat wherþurgh þe fende so confoundys þy [ 45] þoghte siche a manere þat hee latis þe not be confessyd'. And he,

seyng hym-selfe so taken, felle downe ful lowely at hir feet, wiþ mykel wepynge askynge forgifnes, and forþ-wiþ was confessed. ¶ I wote ful wele þat þis was done dyuerse tymes & wiþ many men; of þe whiche on ful famose man and of grete state þurgh alle Ytalye seyde to me: 'God allone and [Ms. þat st. and.] I knew þat at þis virgyne has tolde [ 5] me. Wherfore wiþ-outen doute I see þat she is more in goddes sighte þanne men trowe'. ¶ Þerfore by þis maner þe ful wyse virgyne dy∣lyuered soulles of synners fro þe fendes pouste. Þis þat is seyde, may suffys atte þis tyme of hir myraculis [l. myraculos.] lyfe after þe soule, þof þis mater be ful mykel; but ȝit þe lyfe of hir was myraculos after þe [ 10] body. ¶ For, as hit is writen in hir legende, longe tyme oþer-while hir body was sustenid wiþ-outen any materyalle mete, & abstenynge fro a drope of watir—& þat myghte I deme impossibil, but if I hadde sene hit wiþ myne eyȝen. In Rome sumtyme she toke þe sacrament of þe auter allonly. Neuerþeles þe maner of buriynge [l. berynge? modus vivendi.] þat [ 15] she kepte longe tyme, as I sawe many ȝeerys, is þis: ¶ Flesche, wyne, confecciones and egges she loþed gretly; but wymmen þat were wiþ hir, dighte vnto hir communly grene erbes, whan þey myghte any gette, or ellis oþere-while a mece of wortys wiþ oyle. Of an ele she eet allonly þe hede and þe tayle; but chese ete she noon, but if hit [ 20] (was) wel olde and corrupte; & on same maner grapes and siche oþere. Neuerþeles she ete not þese, but chewyd hem wiþ hir teeþ, oþer-while wiþ brede, oþere-while withoute brede, soukynge þe iuse, and spittyd oute euery morsel of þe gros mater; soupynge ful often clere watir by hit-selfe. And she abode so longe tyme to do so, as longe as hir [ 25] felowes, þat were wymmen, stode etynge atte borde; ¶ afterwarde she roos & seyde: 'Go we to þe rightwisnesse of þis wrecchyd synner' and wiþ a stalke of fynel or an oþer þinge þat she put in to hir stomake, she broghte oute violently by þe same weye þat iuse & þe watir þat sche hadde taken. And some-tyme she soffred so [ 30] grete vyolens in þat dede, þat quykke blode come oute of hir mouþ. ¶ Þerfore herby is confounded þe opinyone of summe men mysby∣leeuynge, þe whiche ful falsely detractyd hir & seyde: 'þof she ete not openly, neuerþeles she etys after-warde pryuely'. ¶ But þis treuþe is fully tryed þat wee many haue seen longe tyme: þat, [ 35] while þere was in hir stomake any substauns of any iuse or watir or of any oþere thinge, ȝe as mykel as a walnot, hir body was alle siek and febil. For oþere-while come to hir summe grete men þe tyme þat she most do þat rightwisnes, þat I vse hir worde, þat is Justicia, ¶ and so to plese hem þat tyme hir byhoued to araye siche doynge [ 40] after; ¶ but she swouned sodeynly and was euene as dede, vnto she hadde made þat avoydans of hir stomake—for þis haue wee sene as I so seye, oftener þan maye be tolde. And I þerto takynge gode hede, on a tyme ful tristely seyde to hir: ¶ 'Fulle louely moder, I see þat þe refresshynge of þat atte ȝe take ȝee holde it so litil [ 45] while in ȝoure stomake, þat nature þere-of may haue no helpe or litil,

namely for anoon ȝee brynge hit oute ageyne with so grete difficulte, bitternesse and peyne. Wherfore hit semiþ þat ȝee were better to abstene fro siche takynge'. Þanne she, as most discrete, answerid to me: 'Ful dere sone, I haue many consideracyons in þis takynge: oon is, for I haue preyed god þat hee shulde punyshe me for þe synne [ 5] of gloteny in þis lyfe: and þerfore I take with gode chere þis dis∣cipline þat god haþ graunted to me; and for I do my bisynesse to plese many oþere men þat seme sclaundirde in me, whan I ete not, and þey seyde þat þe deuel deceyued me, and also þat [Tilge þat.] I ete as hit is grauntid to me. And also þere may be anoþere good considera∣cyone: [ 10] for by þis bodily peyne þe soule is sumwhat turnyd ageyne to bodily strengþes; anoþer [Lat. alias.] , for, þof hit were so skenyd [absorpta.] , in happe þe body shulde abyde stille insensibil.' I herde þis and helde my pees, & hadde noght to seye ageyns hir.—Soþely, wiþ-outen þees þis ful holy virgyne hadde so mykel wysdome of hir soule infused of [ 15] god, þat alle þat herde hir, were astonyed. She delyuerid and ex∣pounyd alle-holy writte so cleerly and so openly, þat alle men, were þey neuer so leryd, or maistirs, as astonyed hadde wonder; and also þat semyd meruelous: mannes connynge defayled so in hir sighte [Ms. fighte.] as snowe or yce mekenesse whan þe sunne shynes most hoot. Many [ 20] tymes she made ful quykke and spedful sermons wiþ a wondirful stille [= style.] & enditynge, firste in the presens of oure lorde Pope Gregor elleuenþe, after in þe presens of oure lorde Pope Vrban sexte, & of Cardynals, alle wiþ grete meruel seiynge þat neuere man spake so; ¶ and: wiþ-outen doute, þis is no woman þat spekes, but þe holy [ 25] goste, as hit proueþ ful openly. And for þe mater falliþ now to pur∣pos, o þinge I wil shortly reherce þat was done while I was present. ¶ At Auynone, while Pope Gregor elleuenþe gaf grete audiens to þis holy virgyn & hadde hir [Ms. hit.] in reuerens, þre grete prelates, auyse hem with what spirite, spake of hir to þe Pope, seiynge: 'holy fadir, wheþer [ 30] þis Kateryn of Senys be so holy as men seiþ?' And he answerid: 'soþly, wee leue þat she be an holy virgyne'. Þen þey seyde: 'wee wole visite hir, if hit plesyng to ȝoure holynesse'. 'Wee leue, quod þe Pope, þat ȝee shul be edefyed'. Þen þey come to oure hous anoon after none in þe somer and knokked. And [ 35] I ranne to hem. ¶ 'Sey to Kateryn, quod þey, þat wee wil speke wiþ hir'. Þe holy virgyne herde þat & come downe to hem, wiþ maister John̄, hir confessour, & summe oþere relygyous persones; and þey made hir sitte in þe myddes in a couenabil place. For soþ, her firste spekynge bygan of grete pryde, prouokyng hir wiþ bit∣ynge [ 40] wordes and sharpe; seiynge amonge oþere: 'We er comen of þe byhalfe of oure lorde (þe) Pope & wee coueit to heere, if men of Florens sende þe hider, as þe tale is; and if þat be soþe, wheþer þey haue not summe worþy man whom þey maye sende for siche a nede vnto siche a lorde. And if þey haue not sende þe, we haue mykel meruel, seþen [ 45]

þou arte a vile litil womman, þat þou takiþ vpon þe to speke of so grete a mater wiþ oure lorde þe Pope'. But she, as a sadde piler, stode stiffe, shewyng meke and ful effectuous and redy answeris, so þat þey meruelid ful myche. And whan she hadde fully answerid hem to þat matier, þey put to hir ful grete questyons and many, [ 5] namely of hir abstraceyons and raueshynge and maner of most singu∣lerly liuynge; and, syþen þe apostil seiþ þat þe aungel of þe fende transfiguris hym into an aungel of lighte, how she wote or noon wheþer she be deceyued of þe deuel; and many oþer þey seyde & purposed [Ms. purposed to h.; lat. proposuerunt.] , and in effecte þe disputacyone lasted to þe nyghte. [ 10] Oþere-while maister Johne wolde haue answeryd for hir; & þof he were maister in dyuynite, neuerþeles þey were so myghty, þat in a fewe wordes þey confoundid hym, & seyde: 'ȝee aghte to be ashamed to sey siche wordes in oure presens. Late hir answere, for she answers vs mikel better þan ȝee'. Amonge þoos thre was an arche-byshope [ 15] of þe ordyr of Menors, the whiche, procedynge with endeynous contenauns, as hit semed, wolde not accepte vm-while wordes of þe holy virgyn. ¶ Þan þe toþer two ageyne seyde hym: 'what [Ms. what what.] aske ȝee more of this mayden? with-outen doute, she shalle expoune these maters more openly and more pleynly þan euere wee haue founden [ 20] of any doctour, and she expressed clerely many moo fulle trewe tokens'. And so þere was scisme & discorde amonge hem. Atte laste þey wente alle hir weye, booþ edifyed and comfortyd, tellynge oure lorde the Pope þat þey neuere fonde soule so meke nor so enlumyned. Neuerþeles þe Pope, whan he wist þat þey hadde prouoked so þe [ 25] virgyne, was displesed, and excused hym fully anenste hir, affermynge þat hit was ageyns his wille þat þey hadde done so; and seyde to hir: 'if þey come any more to þe, make the dore be stoken to hem in her brestys'. ¶ Soþly, on þe morowe oure maister Fraunceys of Senys, þat þen was þe Popes leche, seyde to (me): 'knowes þou þos [ 30] prelates þat come ȝisterdaye to ȝour hous?' And I answeryd naye. Þen he seyde: 'wyte þou þat, if þe connynge [Ms. comynge.] of hem þree were layde in o balauns & þe connynge [Ms. comynge.] of alle þat are in þe courte of Rome were layde in an oþer, the connynge [Ms. comynge.] of þo þree wolde weye mykel heuyer'. (Hier fehlen zwei zeilen im manuscript und am rande steht [ 35] caret. [Lat.: et scio tibi dicere quod, si non invenissent istam virgi∣nem habere solidum firmamentum, ipsa nunquam fecisset ita pessimum iter.] ) ¶ And þen he preysed hir wiþ ful effectuos [l. affectuos.] wordes, þe whiche I leue, by-cause of shortnes.—Atte laste, who maye telle þe inwarde vertues of þis hye virgyn with actuel experyment and knowynge of hem, as hir profunde mekenesse, most myghty pacyens, in so my∣kelle þat she was neuer sene ones chaunged in chere or þat euere [ 40] she seyde o worde with vnpacyens or angrynes—and þat soþely is an euydens of ful grete perfeccyone. Who myghte telle hir most brennynge charite, þurgh þe whiche she gaf to þe worshyp of god

and profet for hir neyghbores not oonly temporel godes, while she was in hir fadir hous, but also hir owne selfe. Wherfore god shewyd many myracles, oþere-while multipliynge brede in þe chiste, encresynge wyne in þe barel. Sumtyme she gafe to a pore man hir owne cote: afterwarde oure lorde shewyd hit to hir arayed in þe bakke with ful [ 5] shinynge precyous stones, as þis dede is figured atte Rome bisyde hir tumbe. ¶ Anoþer tyme she wente wiþ confessours & hir felowes, þat were wymen, to a place & she mette a pore man, as hit semyd, ful importune schame-ful askeer, þe whiche asked almes of hir. And she answeryd: 'soþly, ful dere broþer, I haue no money'. Þen he seyde: [ 10] 'ȝe maye gif me þe mantylle þat ȝe [Ms. he.] haue'. 'Þat is soþe', quod she, and anoon she gaf hit hym. Þanne þe confessours folowynge hir myghte vnneþes wiþ grete prys by ageyne þe mantil of þat pore man. And whan þey reprehendid hir why she wolde go wiþ-outen abyte of hir ordyr, she answeryd: 'I wil raþer be founden with-outen abyte þan [ 15] with-outen charyte'. Þey cowde not answere hir, but meruelyd hir perfeccyon.—¶ Soþely, my bodily disposicyone compellynge me with dyuerse occupacyons comynge vpon me; for of þis large mater myȝt be made many bokes, I wole make an ende of myn vnmanerly wordes. ¶ And þerfore I monyshe in oure lorde denoute men, þat haue liste to [ 20] here þe verrey vertues, to be folowed, ful heelful & ensaumplers of þis holy virgyne &, at I so [Ms. as I to.] seye, þe vnherde homlynesse þe whiche, while sche was in deedly body, she hadde contynuelly wiþ oure lorde Jhesu Criste & also with þe blessid virgyn Mary and with oþere seintys, not slepynge or dremynge but bodily wakynge: rede he þe lyfe and [ 25] legende of þe same virgyne, made & ordeyned of þe worshipful fadir maister Raymounde of Capua, maister of diuinite, þat longe tyme was hir confessour, ¶ and aftir hir blissed obyt was made generalle maister of his ordyr, þat is of frere prechours; where he shalle fynde many profitabil thinges and also fulle feyre. And þof summe slawe reder [ 30] and fulsum and fer fro alle fruyte of deuocyone sey þat he haþ writen ful longe, wyte alle men þis openly þat in comparysone of thinges done hee haþ ouer-mykelle abreggyd hir lyfe, in whatkyns maner hit be þere writen; and þos þinges þat hee wrote, I suppose wiþ-outen doute þat he wrote hem þurgh enditynge of the holy gost. Þis worde [ 35] I putte here tristily, for vndeserued I was longe tyme in his company and knewe his conuersacyone; and I know his commendabil lyfe & gracyous giftes þat he hadde, þat is maydenhode, nobilte of body, grete conynge, & oþere vertues with þe whiche hee was endowed & onourid of oure lorde god. ¶ Þis on in þe ende I maye not coun∣ceille, [ 40] for, as I wote ful wel, he was ful deuout to þe blissed virgyn Mary, as hit shewiþ to alle þat with entente rede þat fayre and deuoute tretys þat hee made vpon Magnificat. ¶ And for I leue þat he is now passed to lyfe þat euere lastes, o priuyte here-byfore now shal I seye, as y am certeyn of my-selfe: for many ȝeerys, [ 45] or he knewe þe holy virgyne byfore-seyde or she hym, þe blessyd

mayden Marye, apperynge bodily to þe same holy virgyn Kateryn, bihighte to gif hir a fultrew deuoute seruaunt of hirs to be hir fadir & confessour, þat shulde gif hir mykel more comforte þanne she hadde byfore of hir oþere confessours; as þe dede proued after. ¶ Þerfore þese fewe þinges come now to witnesse to þe lyfe [ 5] of þe virgyne seynt Kateryn of Senys, to be sende ouer to ȝow as ȝee asked of me wiþ instauns; þe whiche I haue writen wiþ symple stile & haue endyted with symplere herte, þof I be greuyd with bodily sieknes & gretly occupyed. ¶ And forbycause I toke hede to o worde in ȝoure lettir, þat is to wite þat I shulde sende ȝow trew and verrey [ 10] informacyone, I wole not passe þat vntouchyd. God forbed þat any man shulde suppose, namely a wise man, also god forbede fro þe clennes of my consciens, þat I wolde wityngely and ageyne conscyens medil [Ms. modil.] any oþere thinge amonge any-maner wordes of myne þan þe sympil sooþ, for I woot þat þe mouþe þat lyeþ slees þe soule; ne [ 15] gode nedes to haue oure lesynges; ne sum yuel dedis are not to be done þat þerof shulde come gode. ¶ Þerfore ful certeyn be ȝee þat I haue seyde the selfe soþe, tellyng þat atte is writyn aboue & afferm∣ynge þe treuþe; for þe whiche not oonly I profir oþe after ȝour askynge & offer me redy to swere vndir any fourme þat is expedyent; but, [ 20] þat more is, as [l. at.] I so seye, for siche a soþe to be confermed, & to þe worshyp and edificacyon, comforte & hele of myne euen-cristen, I am redy to putte my handes in þe fyre: as he wel wote to whome no∣þinge is hydde, to þe whiche is louvynge, worshep and ioye wiþ∣outen ende, amen. Writen in þe hous byfore-seyde þe XXVI daye of [ 25] October in þe ȝeere of oure lorde MCCCCXI [Ms. MCCCXI.] , vndir þe open hande of two notaryes, in presens of many witnesses, and with appensyone of oure grete couente-seel to þe testymone of trewþe, and atte I shulde fulfille ȝoure askynge.

Explicit.

A shorte Apologetik of þis englisshe compyloure.

Seynt James þe apostil seiþ þat, who-so synneþ not in tunge, hee is [ 30] a parfite man. Wherfore þe turner of þis englysshe, þat is not but symply vndirstandynge, as here þe soþ preueþ, lowely and mekely (be∣secheþ) alle men and wymmen þat in happe rediþ or heriþ þis englyshe, þat þey be not ouer-capcyous ne curyous in ful many clauses & variauns of stile & alle-so vnsuynge of englyshe, as vmwhile soþeren, oþere∣while [ 35] norþen—but þe cause why, nediþ not to be tolde; and specially he besecheþ lettird men & clerkes, if þey endeyne to see þes bokes, þat þey wol be fauorabil and benigne reders or herers of þis eng∣lysche and forgif hym alle defautes þat he haþ made in compilynge þere-of, raþer arettynge his lewdnesse to symple ignorauns and obe∣dyens [ 40] þanne to pryde or presumpcyone. For wite alle men þat he þe whiche drewe þis englysche, so as (it) is, oute of latyne, knowynge his owne sympilnesse and vnkonynge, durst not haue presumed to

take siche a labour on hand, but if his souereyn hadde bidden hym, whome he myghte not ageyne-seye. Neuerþeles a souereyns prayer may be clepyd a comaundemente, as on seiþ þus: ¶ Est orare patrum species violenta iubendi, Et quasi nudato supplicat ense potens—¶ þat is to mene: a priours preyynge til obeyand monke is a bidynge. [ 5] ¶ Lingue, non ferri, Prior vtitur ense potenti. Non contradixi, sum quia verna sui.—Nota: pro 'ancilla xpi' verti 'Cristes mayden', & pro superlatiuo gradu vt 'optimus' verti: 'ful gode', & sic in similibus. ¶ Whoso rediþ þis, preye [Ms. preyers.] for þe writer, þat god gif hym a good ende &, if hit profit, hele of body. A . . . M . . . E . . . N. [ 10]

BERLIN.

C. HORSTMANN.