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1

CAPITULUM 20

2
3    On a day as þis creatur was heryng hir Messe, a ȝong
4man and a good prest heldyng up þe Sacrament in hys
5handys ouyr hys hed, þe Sacrament schok & flekeryd to
6& fro as a dowe flekeryth wyth hir wengys. &, whan
7he held up þe chalys wyth þe precyows Sacrament,
8þe chalys mevyd to & fro as it xuld a fallyn owt of
9hys handys. Whan þe Sacre was don, þis creatur had
10gret merueyle of þe steryng & mevyng of þe blyssed
11Sacrament, desyring to se mor Sacreys & lokyng yf it
12wold don so a-ȝen. Þan seyd owyr Lord Ihesu Crist to
13þe creatur, "Þow xalt no mor sen it in þis maner,
14þerfor thank God þat þow hast seyn. My dowtyr,
15Bryde, say me neuyr in þis wyse." Þan seyd þis creatur
16in hir thowt, "Lord, what betokenyth þis?" "It betokenyth
17veniawnce." "A, good Lord, what veniawnce?"
18Þan seyd owyr Lord a-ȝen to hir, "Þer xal be an erdene,
19tel it whom þow wylt in þe name of Ihesu. For I telle
20þe forsoþe rygth as I spak to Seynt Bryde ryte so I
21speke to þe, dowtyr, & I telle þe trewly it is trewe euery
22word þat is wretyn in Brides boke, & be þe it xal be
23knowyn for very trewth. And þow xalt faryn wel,

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24dowtyr, in spyte of alle thyn enmys; þe mor envye thei
25han to þe for my grace, þe bettyr xal I lofe þe. I wer
26not rygthful God but I louyd þe, for I knowe þe
27bettyr þan þow dost þi-self, what- þat-euyr men
28seyn of þe. Þow seyst I haue gret paciens in þe syn
29of þe pepyl, and þow seyst soth, but, yf þow sey
30þe synne of þe pepyl as I do, þow xuldyst haue mech
31more mervayle in my pacyens & mech mor sorwe in þe
32synne of þe pepyl þan þow hast." Þan þe creatur
33seyd, "Alas, derworthy Lord, what xal I do for þe
34pepyl?" Owyr Lord answeryd, "It is j-now to þe to
35don as þow dost." Þan sche preyed, "Mercyful Lord
36Crist Ihesu, in þe is al mercy & grace & goodnes. Haue
37mercy, pyte, & compassyon of hem. Schew þi mercy
38& thy goodnes vp-on hem, help hem, send hem very
39contricyon, & late hem neuyr deyn in her synne." Owyr
40mercyful Lord seyde, "I may no mor, dowtyr, of my
41rytfulnesse do for hem þan I do. I send hem prechyng
42& techyng, pestylens & bataylys, hungyr and famynyng,
43losse of her goodys wyth gret sekenesse, & many oþer
44tribulacyons, & þei wyl not leuyn my wordys ne þei
45wyl not knowe my vysitacyon. & þerfor I xal sey to
46hem þat I made my seruawntys to prey for ȝow, &
47ȝe despysed her werkys & her leuyng."
48
49

CAPITULUM 21

50
51    In þe tyme þat þis creatur had reuelacyons, owyr
52Lord seyd to hir, "Dowtyr, þow art wyth childe." Sche
53seyd a-ȝen, "A, Lord, how xal I þan do for kepyng of
54my chylde?" Owir Lord seyd, "Dowtyr, drede þe not,
55I xal ordeyn for an kepar." "Lord, I am not worthy to
56heryn þe spekyn & þus to comown wyth myn husbond.
57Ner-þe-lesse it is to me gret peyn & gret dysese." "Þerfor
58is it no synne to þe, dowtyr, for it is to þe raþar mede
59& meryte, & þow xalt haue neuyr þe lesse grace, for I
60wyl þat þow bryng me forth mor frwte." Þan seyd þe
61creatur, "Lord Ihesu, þis maner of leuyng longyth to

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62thy holy maydens." "Ȝa, dowtyr, trow þow rygth wel
63þat I lofe wyfes also, and specyal þo wyfys whech woldyn
64levyn chast, ȝyf þei mygtyn haue her wyl, & don her
65besynes to plesyn me as þow dost, for, þow þe state of
66maydenhode be mor parfyte & mor holy þan þe state
67of wedewhode, & þe state of wedewhode mor parfyte þan
68þe state of wedlake, ȝet dowtyr I lofe þe as wel as
69any mayden in þe world. Þer may no man let me to
70lofe whom I wele & as mech as I wyl, for lofe, dowtyr,
71qwenchith al synne. & þerfor aske of me þe ȝyftys
72of lofe. Þer is no ȝyft so holy as is þe ȝyft of lofe, ne no
73þing to be so mech desyred as lofe, for lofe may purchasyn
74what it can desyren. & þerfor, dowtyr, þow mayst no
75bettyr plesyn God þan contynuly to thinkyn on hys
76lofe." Than þis creatur askyd owyr Lord Ihesu how
77sche xuld best louyn hym. And owyr Lord seyd,
78"Haue mende of þi wykydnesse & thynk on my goodnes."
79Sche seyd a-geyn, "I am þe most vnworþi creatur þat
80euyr þow schewedyst grace vn-to in erth." "A, dowtyr,"
81seyd owyr Lord, "fere þe nowt, I take non hede what a
82man hath ben, but take hede what he wyl ben. Dowtyr,
83þow hast despysed þi-self, þerfor þow xalt neuyr
84be despysed of God. Haue mend, dowtyr, what Mary
85Mawdelen was, Mary Eypcyan, Seynt Powyl, & many
86oþer seyntys þat arn now in Hevyn, for of vnworthy I
87make worthy, & of synful I make rytful. & so haue I
88mad þe worthy to me, onys louyd & euyrmor lovyd
89wyth me. Þer is no seynt in Heuyn þat þow wylt speke
90wyth but he xal com to þe. Whom þat God louyth
91þei louyn. Whan þu plesyst God, þow plesyst hys
92Modyr & al þe seyntys in Heuyn. Dowtyr, I take
93wytnesse of my Modyr, of alle þe awngelys in Heuyn,
94& of alle þe seyntys in Hevyn þat I loue þe wyth all
95myn hert & I may not forberyn þi lofe." Owyr
96Lord seyd þan to hys blysful Modyr, "Blyssed Modyr,

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97telle ȝe my dowtyr of þe gretnesse of loue I haue vn-to
98hir." Than þis creatur lay stylle al in wepyng & sobbyng
99as hir hert xuld a brostyn for þe swetnesse of spech þat
100owyr Lord spak on-to hir sowle. A-swythe aftyr þe
101Qwen of Mercy, Goddys Modyr, dalyed to þe sowle of
102þis creatur, seying, "My derworthy dowtyr, I bryng þe
103sekyr tydyngys, wytnessyng my swet Sone Ihesu wyth
104alle awngelys & alle seyntys in Heuyn whech louyn þe
105ful hily. Dowtyr, I am thy modyr, þi lady, and thy
106maystres for to teche þe in al wyse how þu schalt
107plese God best." Sche tawt þis creatur & informyd hir
108so wondyrfully þat sche was abaschyd to speke it or
109telle it to any, þe maters wer so hy & so holy, saf only to
110þe ankyr whech was hir princypal confessowr, for he
111cowde most skyl in swech thyngys. & he chargyd
112þis creatur be vertu of obedyens to tellyn hym what-þat-euyr
113sche felt, & so sche dede.
114
115

CAPITULUM 22

116
117    As þis creatur lay in contemplacyon, sor wepyng in
118hir spiryt, sche seyde to owyr Lord Ihesu Cryst, "A,
119Lord, maydenys dawnsyn now meryly in Heuyn. Xal
120not I don so? For be-cawse I am no mayden, lak of
121maydenhed is to me now gret sorwe; me thynkyth I
122wolde I had ben slayn whan I was takyn fro þe funtston
123þat I xuld neuyr a dysplesyd þe, & þan xuldyst
124þu, blyssed Lorde, an had my maydenhed wyth-owtyn
125ende. A, der God, I haue not lovyd þe alle þe days
126of my lyue, & þat sor rewyth me; I haue ronnyn a-wey
127fro þe, & þou hast ronnyn aftyr me; I wold fallyn in
128dyspeyr, & þu woldyst not suffer me." "A, dowtyr,
129how oftyn-tymes haue I teld þe þat thy synnes arn
130forȝoue þe & þat we ben onyd to-gedyr wyth-owtyn
131ende? Þu art to me a synguler lofe, dowtyr, & þerfor
132I behote þe þu schalt haue a synguler grace in Hevyn,

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133dowtyr, & I be-hest þe þat I shal THE WORDS þat I shal WRITTEN IN THE OUTER MARGIN come to þin ende
134at þi deyng wyth my blyssed Modyr & myn holy awngelys
135& twelve apostelys, Seynt Kateryne, Seynt Margarete,
136Seynt Mary Mawdelyn, & many oþer seyntys þat ben
137in Hevyn, whech ȝevyn gret worshep to me for þe
138grace þat I ȝeue to þe, God, þi Lord Ihesu. Þow þart
139drede no grevows peynes in þi deyng, for þu xalt haue
140thy desyre, þat is to haue mor mynde of my Passyon
141þan on þin owyn peyne. Þu xalt not dredyn þe Devyl
142of Helle for he hath no powyr in þe. He dredyth þe
143mor þan thow dost hym. He is wroth wyth þe, for þu
144turmentyst hym for mor wyth þi wepyng þan doth al þe
145fyer in helle; þu wynnyst many sowlys fro hym wyth
146þi wepyng. & I haue be-hygth þe þat þu xuldyst noon
147oþer Purgatory han þan slawndyr & speche of þe world,
148for I haue chastysed þe my-self as I wolde be many gret
149dredys & turmentrijs þat þu hast had wyth euyl spyritys
150boþin slepyng & wakyng many ȝerys. & þerfor I
151schal preseruyn þe at þin ende thorw my mercy þat þei
152schal no powyr haue ouyr þe neyþyr in body ne in sowle;
153it is gret grace & myracle þat þu hast thy bodyly wyttys
154for þe vexacyon þat þu hast had wyth hem a-for-tyme.
155I haue also, dowtyr, chastised þe wyth þe drede of my
156Godhede, & many tymes haue I feryd þe wyth gret
157tempestys of wyndys þat þu wendyst veniawns xuld a
158fallyn on þe for synne. I haue preuyd þe be many
159tribulacyons, many gret heuynes, & many grevows
160sekenes in so mech þat þu hast ben a-noynted for
161deed, & al thorw my grace hast þu skapyd. Þerfor
162drede þe nowt, dowtyr, for wyth myn owyn handys,
163whech wer nayled to þe Crosse, I xal take þi sowle fro
164þi bodd wyth gret myrthe & melodye, wyth swet smellys
165& good odowrys, & offyr it to my Fadyr in Heuyn, þer

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166þu xalt se hym face to face, wonyng wyth hym wythowtyn
167ende. Dowtyr, þu xalt be ryte wolcome to
168my Fadyr & to my Modyr & to alle my seyntys in Hevyn,
169for þu hast ȝouyn hem drynkyn ful many tymes wyth
170teerys of thyn eyne. Alle myn holy seyntys xal enioyen
171of þi comyng hom. Þu xalt be fulfyllyd of al maner
172lofe þat þu coueytyst. Þan xalt þu blysse þe tyme þat
173þu wer wrowte & þe body þat þe hath bowte. He xal
174joyen in þe & þu in hym wyth-owtyn ende. Dowtyr,
175I be-hote þe þe same grace þat I be-hyte Seynt Kateryne,
176Seynt Margarete, Seynt Barbara, & Seynt Powle, in so
177mech þat what creatur in erth vn-to þe Day of Dom aske
178þe any bone & beleuyth þat God louyth þe he xal haue
179hys bone er ellys a bettyr thyng. Þerfor þei þat
180beleuyn þat God louyth þe þei xal ben blyssed wythowtyn
181ende. The sowlys in Purgatory xal joyn in þi
182comyng hom, for þei knowyn wel þat God louyth þe
183specyaly. & men in erth schal joyn in God for þe,
184for he xal werkyn meche grace for þe and makyn al þe
185world to knowyn þat God louyth þe. Þu hast be
186despysed for my lofe, & þerfor þu xalt be worshepyd for
187my lofe. Dowtyr, whan þu art in Heuyn, þu xalt
188mown askyn what þu wylt, & I xal grawnte þe al þi
189desyr. I haue telde þe be-for-tyme þat þu art a synguler
190louer, & þerfor þu xalt haue a synguler loue in Heuyn, a
191synguler reward, & a synguler worshep. &, for-as-mech
192as þu art a mayden in þi sowle, I xal take þe be þe on
193hand in Hevyn & my Modyr be þe oþer hand, & so xalt
194þu dawnsyn in Hevyn wyth oþer holy maydens &
195virgynes, for I may clepyn þe dere a-bowte & myn owyn
196derworthy derlyng. I xal sey to þe, myn owyn blyssed

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197spowse, 'Welcome to me wyth al maner of joye & gladnes,
198her to dwellyn wyth me & neuyr to departyn fro
199me wyth-owtyn ende, but euyr to dwellyn wyth me in
200joy & blysse, whech non eye may se, ne eer heryn, ne
201tunge telle, ne non hert thynkyn, þat I haue ordeynd for
202þe & for alle my seruawntys þe whech desyryn to lofe
203me & plesyn me as þu dost.' "
204
205

CAPITULUM 23

206
207    Ther cam onys a vykary to þis creatur, preyng hir to
208prey for hym & wetyn whedyr he xuld mor plese God
209to leuyn hys cure & hys benefyce or to kepe it stylle, for
210hym thowt he profyted not a-mong hys parysshonys.
211Þe creatur beyng in hir preyers hauyng mende of þis
212mater, Crist seyde vn-to hir spyrite, "Bydde þe
213vykary kepyn stylle hys cure & hys benefyce & don hys
214diligence in prechyng & techyng of hem hys owyn
215persone and sumtyme procuryn oþer to teche hem my
216lawys & my comawndmentys so þat þer be no defawte
217in hys parte, &, ȝyf þei do neuyr þe bettyr, hys mede
218xal neuyr be þe lesse." & so sche dede hir massage as
219sche was comawndyd, & þe vykary kept stylle hys cur.
220    As þis creatur was in a cherch of Seynt Margarete in
221þe qwer wher a cors was present, & he þat was husbond
222of þe same cors whyl sche leuyd was þer in good hele for
223to offeryn hir Messe-peny aftyr þe custom of þe place,
224owyr Lord seyd to þe forseyd creatur, "Lo, dowtyr,
225þe sowle of þis cors is in Purgatory, & he þat was hir
226husbond is now in good hele, & ȝet he xal ben ded in
227schort tyme." & so it be-fel as sche felt be reuelacyon.
228Also, as þis creatur lay in þe qwer in hir preyers, a prest
229cam to hir & preyde hir to prey for a woman whech lay
230in poynt of deth. As þis creatur gan to prey for hir,
231owyr Lord seyd to hir, "Dowtyr, it is gret nede to prey
232for hir, for sche hath ben a wykkyd woman & sche xal
233be ded." & sche seyd a-ȝen, "Lord, as þu louyst me,

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234saue hir sowle fro dampnacyon," & þan sche wept
235wyth plentyuows teerys for þat sowle. & owyr Lord
236grawntyd hir mercy for þe sowle, comawndyng hir to
237prey for hir. Thys creaturys gostly fadyr cam to hir,
238mevyng hir to prey for a woman whech lay in poynt
239of deth to mannys sygthe. & a-non owyr Lord seyd
240sche xuld levyn & faryn wel, & so sche dede. A good
241man whech was a gret frend to þis creatur & an helply
242to þe powyr pepyl was strongly seke many wekys to-gedyr.
243& mech mone was mad for hym, for men wend
244he xuld neuyr a leuyd, hys peyn was so wondyrful in
245alle hys joyntys & in al hys body. Owyr Lord Ihesu
246seyd to hir spirite, "Dowtyr, be not abaschyd for þis
247man, he schal levyn & faryn rygth wel." & so he leuyd
248many ȝerys aftyr in good helth & prosperite. An-oþer
249good man whech was a lyster lay seke also, &, whan
250þis creature preyd for hym, it was answeryd to hir mende
251þat he xulde languryn a whyle & sythen he xuld ben ded
252wyth þat same sekenesse. & so he was in schort tyme
253aftyr. Also a worshepful woman &, as men leuyd, an
254holy woman whech was a specyal frende to þis creatur was
255ryte seke, & mech pepyl wend sche xuld a be ded. Þan,
256þis creatur preyng for hyr, owyr Lord seyd, "Sche xal
257not deyn þis x ȝer, for ȝe schal aftyr þis makyn ful
258mery to-gedyr & han ful good comunycacyon as ȝe han
259had be-for." & so it was in trewth: þis holy woman
260leuyd many ȝerys aftyr. Many mo swech reuelacyons
261þis creatur had in felyng; hem alle for to wryten it xuld
262be lettyng perauentur of mor profyte. Þes be wretyn
263for to schewyn þe homlynes & þe goodlynes of owyr
264mercyful Lord Crist Ihesu & for no commendacyon of
265þe creatur. Þes felyngys & swech oþer many mo
266þan be wretyn, boþe of leuyng & of deyng, of summe to
267be sauyd, of summe to be dammyd, weryn to þis creatur
268gret peyn & ponyschyng. Sche had leuar a sufferyd any
269bodyly penawns þan þes felyngys & sche mygth a put
270hem a-wey for þe dred þat sche had of illusyons &
271deceytys of hir gostly enmys. Sche had sumtyme so

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272gret trubbyl wyth swech felyngys whan it fel not trewe
273to hir vndyrstandyng, þat hir confessowr feryd þat sche
274xuld a fallyn in dyspeyr þerwyth. And þan aftyr hir
275turbele & hir gret fere it xuld ben schewyd vn-to hir
276sowle how þe felyngys xuld ben vndyrstondyn.
277
278

CAPITULUM 24

279
280    The prest whech wrot þis boke for to preuyn þis
281creaturys felyngys many tymes & dyuers tymes he askyd
282hir qwestyons & demawndys of thyngys þat wer for
283to komyn, vn-sekyr & vncerteyn as þat tyme to any
284creatur what xuld be þe ende, preyng hir, þei sche
285wer loth & not wylly to do swech thyngys, for to
286prey to God þerfor & wetyn, whan owyr Lord wold
287visiten hir wyth deuocyon, what xuld be þe ende, and
288trewly wyth-owtyn any feynyng tellyn hym how sche
289felt, & ellys wold he not gladlych a wretyn þe boke. And
290so þis creatur, sumdel for drede þat he wold ellys not
291THE WORD not WRITTEN ABOVE ellys
292a folwyd hir entent for to wryten þis boke, compellyd,
293dede as he preyd hir & telde hym hir felyngys what xuld
294be-fallyn in swech materys as he askyd hir ȝyf hir felyngys
295wer trewth. & þus he preuyd hem for very trewth. &
296ȝet he wold not alwey ȝeuyn credens to hir wordys, & þat
297hyndryd hym in þis maner þat folwyth. It be-fel on a
298tyme þat þer cam a ȝong man to þis prest, whech ȝong
299man þe preste neuyr sey be-forn, compleynyng to þe
300preste of pouerte & disese whech he was fallyn in be
301infortunyte, expleyntyng þe cawse of infortunyte,
302seying also he had takyn holy orderys for to be a
303preste. For a lytil hastynes, hym-self defendyng as he
304myght not chesyn les þan he wold a be ded thorw pursute
305of hys enmys, he smet a man or ellys tweyn, wher-thorw,
306as he seyde, wer ded or ellys lyche for to be ded. & so he
307was fallyn in-to irregularite & mygth not executyn hys

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308orderys wyth-owtyn dispensacyon of þe Cowrt of Rome, &
309for þis cawse he fled fro hys frendys & durst not comyn in
310hys contre for drede to be takyn for her deth. Þe
311forseyd preste, ȝeuyng credens to þe ȝong mannys
312wordys, in-as-mech as he was an amyabyl persone,
313fayr feturyd, wel faueryd in cher & in cuntenawns, sad
314in hys langage and dalyawns, prestly in hys gestur &
315vestur, hauyng compassyon of hys disese, purposyng to
316getyn hym frendys in-to hys relevyng & comfort, went to
317a worshepful burgeys in Lenn, a meyrs pere & a mercyful
318man, whech lay in gret seknes & long tyme had don,
319compleynyng to hym & to hys wyfe, a ful good woman,
320of þe myschef of þis ȝong man, trustyng to haue fayr
321almes as he oftyn-tyme had for oþer þat he askyd for.
322It happyd þe creatur of whom þis boke is wretyn to
323ben þer present & herd how þe preste compleyned for þe
324ȝong man & how þe preste preysed hym. & sche was
325sor mevyd in hir spiryt a-geyns þat ȝong man, & seyd þei
326haddyn many powyr neybowrys whech þei knewyn wel
327a-now hadyn gret nede to ben holpyn & relevyd, & it was
328mor almes to helpyn hem þat þei knewyn wel for wel
329dysposyd folke & her owyn neybowrys þan oþer strawngerys
330whech þei knew not, for many spekyn & schewyn
331ful fayr owtward to þe sygth of þe pepyl, God knowyth
332what þei arn in her sowlys. The good man & hys wyfe
333thowtyn þat sche seyd rygth wel, & þerfor þei woldyn
334grawntyn hym non almes. At þat tyme þe preste was
335euyl plesyd wyth þis creatur, &, whan he mett wyth hir
336a-lone, he rehersyd how sche had lettyd hym þat he
337mygth non almes getyn for þe ȝong man whech was
338a wel dysposyd man as hym thowt & commendyd
339mech hys gouernawns. Þe creatur seyd, "Sere, God
340knowyth what hys gouernawns is, for, þat I wot of, I sey
341hym neuyr. & ȝet I haue vndyrstondyng what hys
342gouernawns xuld be, & þerfor, ser, yf ȝe wyl do be my
343cownsel & aftyr þat I fele, latyth hym chesyn & helpyn
344hym-selfe as wel as he can & medyl ȝe not wyth hym, for
345he xal dysceyue ȝow at þe last." Þe ȝong man resortyd
346alwey to þe preste, flateryng hym & seyng þat he hath

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347good frendys in oþer placys whech xuld helpyn hym ȝyf
348þei wysten wher he wer, & þat in schort tyme, & also
349þei woldyn thankyn þo personys þat had supportyd hym
350in hys dysese. The preste, trustyng it xuld be as þis
351ȝong man teld hym, lent hym syluer wyth good wyl to
352helpyn hym wyth. Þe ȝong man preyed þe preste to
353haue hym excused if he sey hym not of too days er thre,
354for he xuld gon a lytyl wey & comyn a-geyn in schort
355tyme & bryng hym a-ȝen hys syluer rygth wel & trewly.
356The preste, hauyng confidens in hys promysse, was wel
357content, grawntyng hym good lofe & leue vn-to þe day
358whech he had promysed to come a-geyn. Whan he was
359gon, þe forseyde creatur hauyng vndyrstondyng be
360felyng in hir sowle as owyr Lord wold schewyn þat he
361was an vntrewe man & no mor wold come a-geyn, sche
362for to preve wheþyr hir felyng was trewe or fals askyd
363þe preste wheþyr þe ȝong man was þat he had preysed
364so mech. The preste seyd he walkyd a lytil way &
365trustyd þat he wold come a-geyn. Sche seyd sche
366supposyd þat he wold no mor se hym, ne no mor he dede
367neuyr aftyr. & þan he repentyd hym þat he had not
368don aftyr hir cownsel. In schort tyme aftyr þis was
369passyd, comyth an-oþer fals schrewe, an elde man, to þe
370same preste & proferyd hym a portose, a good lytyl boke,
371for to selle. Þe preste went to þe forseyd creatur,
372preyng hir to preye for hym & wetyn whedyr God wolde
373he xulde by þe boke er not, &, whyl sche preyd, he
374cheryd þe man as wel as he cowde, & sythen he cam
375a-geyn to þis creatur & askyd how sche felt. "Syr,"
376sche seyth, "byith no boke of hym, for he is not to
377trustyn vp-on, & þat xal ȝe wel knowyn ȝyf ȝe medyl
378wyth hym ." Than þe preste preyde þe man þat he
379mygt se þis boke. Þe man seyde he hath it not vp-on
380hym. Þe preste askyd how he cam þerby. He seyd he
381was executor to a preste whech was of hys kynred, & he
382chargyd hym to sellyn it & dysposyn it for hym. "Fadyr,"
383seyde þe preste be-cawse of reuerens, "why profyr
384ȝe me þis boke raþar þan oþer men or oþer prestys

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385whan þer arn many mo thryftyare, richare prestys in
386þis cherch þan I am, & I wel wot ȝe had neuyr no knowlach
387of me be-fore þis tyme?" "For-soþe, syr," he
388seyde, "no mor I had, neuyr-þe-les I haue good wyl
389wyth ȝowr persone, & also it was hys wyl þat awt it be-for
390þat, ȝef I knew any ȝong preste þat me thowt sad & wel
391dysposyd, þat he xuld han þis boke be-fore any oþer
392man & for lesse prys þan any oþer man þat he myt prey
393for hym. & þese cawsys mevyn me to come to ȝow
394raþer þan to an-oþer man." Þe preste askyd wher was
395hys dwellyng. "Ser," he seyde, "but fyve myle fro
396þis place in Penteney Abbey." "Þer haue I ben,"
397seyd þe preste, "& I haue not sey ȝow." "No ser,"
398seyd he a-geyn, "I haue be þer but lytyl whyle & now
399haue I ther a lyuery, þankyd be God." Þe preste
400preyd hym þat he mygth haue a sygth of þe boke &
401lokyn yf þei mygth acordyn. He seyde, "Sere, I
402hope to be her a-geyn þe next woke & bryng it wyth
403me &, ser, I be-hote ȝow ȝe schal haue it before any
404oþer man ȝyf ȝow lyke it." Þe preste þankyd hym
405for hys good wyl, & so they partyd a-sundyr, but
406þe man wold neuyr comyn at þe preste aftyr, & þan
407þe preste knew wel þat þe forseyd creaturys felyng was
408trewe.
409
410

CAPITULUM 25

411
412    Ferthermore her folwyth a rygth notabyl matere
413of þe creaturys felyng, & it is wretyn her for conuenyens
414in-as-mech as it is in felyng leche to þe materys þat ben
415wretyn be-forn, notwythstondyng it befel long aftyr
416þe materys whech folwyn. It happyd in a worshepful
417town wher was o parysch cherch & tweyn chapelys
418annexid, þe chapellys hauyng & mynystryng alle sacramentys,
419except only cristenyng & purificacyons, thorw
420sufferawns of þe person, whech was a monke of Seynt
421Benetys Ordyr sent fro þe hows of Norwych, kepyng
422resydens wyth iij of hys bretheryn in þe worshepful town
423be-forn-wretyn. Thorw summe of þe parischenys desyryng
424to make þe chapelys lych to þe parysch cherch,

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425pursuyng a bulle fro þe Cowrt of Rome, fel gret ple &
426gret heuynes be-twen þe Priowr whech was her person
427& curat & þe forseyd paryschenys þat desyred to haue
428fvntys & purificacyons in þe chapelys lych as weryn
429in þe parysch cherch. & specyaly in þe on chapel
430whech was þe grettar & þe fayrare þei wold haue a funte.
431Þer was pursuyd a bulle, in þe whech was grawntyd a
432funte to þe chapel so it wer no derogacyon to þe parysch
433cherch. Þe bulle was put in ple, & diuers days wer
434kept be forme of lawe to preuyn wheþyr þe funte, ȝyf it
435wer had, xuld ben derogacyon to þe parysch chyrch or
436nowt. Þe paryschenys whech pursuyd weryn rygth
437strong & haddyn gret help of lordshyp, & also, þe most
438of alle, þei wer ryche men, worshepful marchawntys, &
439haddyn gold a-now, whech may spede in euery nede,
440& þat is rewth þat mede xuld spede er þan trewth.
441Neuyr-þe-lesse þe Priowr whech was her person, þei he wer
442powyr, manfully he wythstod hem thorw þe help of
443summe of hys paryschenys whech wer hys frendys &
444louedyn þe worshep of her parysch chyrch. So long
445þis mater was in ple þat it be-gan yrkyn hem on boþe
446sydes, & it was neuyr þe nerar an ende. Þan was þe
447mater put in my Lord of Norwych Alnewyk to say if he
448mygth be trety bryng it to an ende. He laboryd
449þis mater diligently, & for to settyn rest & pes he proferyd
450þe forseyd paryschenys mych of her desyre wyth certeyn
451condycyons, in so mech þat þei þat heldyn wyth þe
452person & wyth her parysch chyrche weryn ful sory,
453dredyng gretly þat þei þat suyd for to haue a funte xuld
454obteyn & getyn her intent & so makyn þe chapel eqwal
455to þe parysch cherch. Than þe preste whech aftyrward
456wrot þis boke went to þe creatur of whom þis tretys
457makyth mencyon, as he had don be-forn in þe tyme of
458ple, & askyd hir how sche felt in hir sowle in þis mater
459wheþyr þei xuld haue a funte in þe chapel or nowt.
460"Syr," seyd þe creatur, "drede ȝe not, for I vndyrstond
461in my sowle, þow þei woldyn ȝeve a buschel of nobelys,
462þei xuld not haue it." "A modyr," seyd þe preste,

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463"my Lord of Norwych hath proferyd it hem wyth
464certeyn condycyons, & þei haue a tyme of avysement
465for to sey nay or ȝa wheþyr þei wyl, and þerfor I am
466a-ferd þei wyl not deny it but be ryt glad to haue it."
467Thys creatur preyd to God þat hys wyl myt be fulfyllyd.
468&, for-as-mech as sche had be reuelacyon þat þei xuld
469not haue it, sche was þe mor bold to preyn owyr Lord to
470wythstonde her intent & to slakyn her bost. And, so as
471owyr Lord wolde, þei obeyd not ne lyked not þe menys
472whech wer proferyd hem, for þei trostyd fully to han her
473entent be lordshep & be proces of lawe; &, as God wolde,
474þei wer deceyuyd of her entent, and for þei wold han al
475þei lost al. And so, blyssed mot God ben, þe parysch
476cherch stod stylle in her worshep & hyr degre as sche had
477don ij hundryd ȝer befor & mor, and þe inspiracyon
478of owyr Lord was be experiens preuyd for very sothfast
479& sekyr in þe forseyd creatur.

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480

SECUNDUS LIBER

481

CAPITULUM PRIMUM

482
483    Afftyr þat owr Souereyn Sauyowr had take þe persone
484whech wrot first þe tretys aforn-seyd to hys many-fold
485mercy, and þe preiste of whom is be-forn-wretyn had
486copijd þe same tretys aftyr hys sympyl cunnyng, he held
487it expedient to honowr of þe blisful Trinite þat hys holy
488werkys xulde be notifyid & declaryd to þe pepil, whan
489it plesyd hym, to þe worschip of hys holy name. And
490þan he gan to writyn in þe ȝer of owr Lord m^lo.cccc.
491xxxviij in þe fest of Seynt Vital Martyr sweche grace
492as owr Lord wrowt in hys sympyl creatur ȝerys þat sche
493leuyd aftyr, not alle but summe of hem, aftyr hyr owyn
494tunge. And first her is a notabyl mater þe whech is
495not wretyn in þe forseyd tretys. It befel sone aftyr þat
496þe creatur be-forn-wretyn had forsakyn þe occupasyon
497of þe worlde & was joynyd in hir mende to God as meche
498as frelte wolde suffyr. The seyd creatur had a sone, a
499tal ȝong man, dwellyng wyth a worschepful burgeys in
500Lynne, vsyng marchawndyse & seylyng ouyr þe see,
501whom sche desyryd to a drawyn owt of þe perellys of
502þis wretchyd & vnstabyl worlde ȝyf hir power myth a
503teynyd þerto. Neuyr-þe-lesse sche dede as meche as
504in hir was, &, whan sche myth metyn wyth hym at leyser,
505many tymys sche cownselyd hym to leeuyn þe worlde
506& folwyn Crist in so meche þat he fled hyr cumpany &
507wolde not gladlych metyn wyth hir. So on a tyme it
508happyd þe modyr to metyn wyth hir sone þei it wer a-geyns
509hys wille & hys entent as þat tyme. And, as sche had
510don be-forn-tyme, so now sche spak to hym a-geyn þat he
511xulde fle þe perellys of þis world & not settyn hys stody
512ne hys besynes so mech þerup-on as he dede. He not
513consentyng but scharply answeryng a-geyn, sche,

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514sumdel meuyd wyth scharpnes of spiryt, seyde, "Now
515sithyn þu wil not leeuyn þe world at my cownsel, I
516charge þe at my blissyng kepe þi body klene at þe lest
517fro womanys feleschep tyl þu take a wyfe aftyr þe lawe
518of þe Chirche. And, ȝyf þu do not, I pray God chastise
519þe & ponysch þe þerfor." Þei partyd a-sundyr, & sone
520aftyr þe same ȝong man passyd ouyr þe see in wey of
521marchawndyse, & þan, what thorw euyl entisyng of
522oþer personys & foly of hys owyn gouernawnce, he fel
523in-to þe synne of letchery. Sone aftyr hys colowr
524chawngyd, hys face wex ful of whelys & bloberys as it
525had ben a lepyr. Þan he cam hom a-geyn in-to Lynne to
526hys maistyr wyth whech he had ben dwellyng be-for-tyme.
527Hys maistyr put hym owt of hys seruyse for no
528defawte he fond wyth hym, but perauentur supposyng
529he had ben a laȝer as it schewyd be hys visage. The
530ȝong man telde wher hym likyd how hys modyr had
531bannyd hym, wher-thorw, as he supposyd, God so
532greuowsly ponyschyd hym. Sum persone, hauyng
533knowlach of hys compleynt & compassyon of hys disese,
534cam to hys modyr, seying sche had don ryth euyl, for
535thorw hir prayer God had takyn veniawns on hir owyn
536childe. Sche, takyng lityl heed of her wordys, let it
537passyn forth as sche had mad no fors tyl he wolde comyn
538& preyin for grace hys-self. So at þe last, whan he sey
539non oþer bote, he cam to hys modyr, tellyng hir of hys
540mysgouernawns, promittyng he xulde ben obedient to
541God & to hir & to a-mende hys defawte thorw þe help of
542God enchewyng al mysgouernawnce fro þat tyme for-ward
543vp-on hys power. He preyid hys modyr of hir
544blissyng, & specialy he preyd hir to prey for hym þat
545owr Lord of hys hy mercy wolde forȝeuyn hym þat he
546had trespasyd & takyn a-wey þat gret sekenes for whech
547men fleddyn hys company & hys felaschep as for a lepyr.
548For he supposyd be hir preyerys owr Lord sent hym þat
549ponischyng, & þerfor he trustyd be hir preyerys to be
550deliueryd þer-of ȝyf sche wolde of hir charite preyin for

page I,223

551hym. Þan sche, hauyng trust of hys a-mendyng &
552compassyon of hys infirmyte, wyth scharp wordys of
553correpcyon promysyd to fulfillyn hys entent ȝyf God wolde
554grawntyn it. Whan sche cam to hir meditacyon, not
555forȝetyng þe frute of hir wombe, sche askyd forȝeuenes
556of hys synne & relesyng of þe sekenes þat owr Lord had
557ȝouyn hym ȝyf it wer hys plesawns & profite to hys
558sowle. So longe sche preyid þat he was clene delyueryd
559of þe sekenes and leuyd many ȝerys aftyr & had a wife
560& a childe, blissyd mote God ben, for he weddyd hys
561wife in Pruce in Dewchelonde. Whan tydyngys cam to
562hys modyr fro ouyr þe see þat hir sone had weddyd, sche
563was ryth glad & thankyd God wyth al hir hert, supposyng
564& trustyng he xulde leuyn clene & chast as þe lawe of
565matrimony askith. Sithyn, whan God wolde, hys wife
566had a childe, a fayr mayde-child. Þan he sent tydingys
567to hys modyr in-to Inglond how gracyowsly God had
568visityd hym & hys wife. Hys modyr being in a chapel
569of owr Lady thankyng God of þe grace & goodnes þat
570he schewyd to hir sone & hauyng desyr to sen hem ȝyf
571sche myth, a-non it was answeryd to hir mende þat
572sche xulde seen hem alle er þan sche deyid. Sche had
573wondyr of þis felynge how it xulde be so as sche felt, in-as-meche
574as þei weryn be-ȝowndyn þe see & sche on þis
575halfe þe see, neuyr purposyng to passyn þe see whil sche
576leuyd. Neuyr-þe-lesse sche wiste wel to God was nothyng
577impossibyl. Þerfor sche trustyd it schulde be so
578as sche had felyng whan God wolde.
579
580

CAPITULUM 2^M

581
582    In fewe ȝerys aftyr þat þis ȝong man had weddyd he
583cam hom in-to Inglond to hys fadyr & hys modyr al
584chongyd in hys aray & hys condicyonis. For a-for-tyme
585hys clothys wer al daggyd & hys langage al uanyte;
586now he weryd no daggys, & hys dalyawns was ful of
587vertu. Hys modyr, hauyng gret merueyl of þis sodeyn
588chongyng, seyd vn-to hym, "Benedicite, sone, how is it
589wyth þe þat þu art so chongyd?" "Modyr," he seyd,
590"I hope þat thorw ȝowr preyerys owr Lord hath drawyn
591me, and I purpose be þe grace of God to folwyn ȝowr
592cownsel mor þan I haue don be-forn." Than hys

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593modyr, seyng þis meruelyows drawte of owr Lord,
594thankyd God as sche cowde, takyng good heed of hys
595gouernawns for dred of symulacyon. Þe lengar þat sche
596beheld hys gouernawns, þe mor sadde sche thowt he was
597& þe mor reuerent to-owr-Lord-ward. Whan sche knew
598it was þe drawt of owr Lordys mercy, þan sche was ful
599joyful, thankyng God ful many timys for hys grace & hys
600goodnes. Sithyn, for he xulde be þe mor diligent & þe
601mor besy to folwyn owr Lordys drawyng, sche openyd
602hir hert to hym, schewyng hym & enformyng how owr
603Lord had drawyn hir thorw hys mercy & be what menys,
604also how meche grace he had schewyd for hir, þe whech
605he seyd he was vnworthy to heryn. Þan he went many
606pilgrimagys to Rome & to many oþer holy placys to
607purchasyn hym pardon, resortyng a-geyn to hys wife &
608hys childe as he was bowndyn to do. He enformyd
609hys wife of hys modyr in so meche þat sche wolde leeuyn
610hir fadyr & hir modyr & hir owyn cuntre for to comyn
611in-to Inglonde & seen hys modyr. He was ful glad
612þerof & sent word in-to Inglond to hys modyr to certifyin
613hir of hys wyfys desyr & to wetyn whedyr hys modyr
614wolde cownselyn hym to comyn be lond er be watyr, for
615he trustyd meche in hys moderys cownsel, leuyng it
616was of þe Holy Gost. Hys modyr, whan sche had
617lettyr fro hym & knew hys desyr, went to hir preyer to
618knowyn owr Lordys cownsel & owr Lordys wyl. And,
619as sche preyid for þe sayd mater, it was answeryd to hir
620sowle þat whedyr hir sone come be lond er be watyr he
621xulde comyn in saf-warde. Þan wrot sche letterys to
622hym, seying þat whedyr he come be londe er be watyr
623he schulde come in safte be þe grace of God. Whan he
624was certifijd of hys moderys cownsel, he speryd whan
625schippys xulde come in-to Inglond & hiryd a schip er
626ellys a part of a schip in whech he putt hys good, hys
627wife, hys childe, & hys owyn self, purposyng alle to
628comyn in-to Inglond to-gedyr. Whan þei weryn in þe
629schip, þer resyn swech tempestys þat þei durstyn not
630takyn þe see, & so þei comyn on lond a-geyn, bothyn he,

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631hys wife, & her childe. Þan þei left her childe in Pruce
632wyth her frendys, & he & hys wife comyn in-to Inglond
633be lond wey to hys fadyr & to hys modyr. Whan þei
634wer come þedir, hys modir ful meche enioijd in owr Lord
635þat hir felyng was trewe, for sche had felyng in hir sowle,
636as is wretyn be-forn, þat whedyr þei come be lond er
637be watyr þei schulde comyn be safte. & so it was in
638dede, blissyd mote God ben. Þei come hom on þe
639Satyrday in good heele, & on þe next day þat was þe
640Sonday, whil þei wer at mete at noon with oþer good
641frendys, he fel in gret sekenes þat he ros fro þe tabyl &
642leyd hym on a bed, whech sekenes & infirmite ocupijd
643hym a-bowte a monyth, & þan in good life & ryth beleue
644he passyd to þe mercy of owr Lord. So gostly & bodily
645it myth wel ben verifijd he xal comyn hom in safte, not
646only in-to þis dedly lond but also in-to þe lond of leuyng
647men, wher deth xal neuyr aperyn. In schort tyme aftyr, þe
648fadyr of þe sayd persone folwyd þe sone þe wey whech euery
649man must gon. Than leuyd stille þe modyr of þe sayd
650persone, of whom þis tretys specyaly makyth mencyon,
651and sche þat was hys wife, a Dewche woman, dwellyng
652wyth hys modyr a ȝer & an halfe vn-to þe tyme þat hir
653frendys whech wer in Duchelond, desyryng to haue hir
654hom, wretyn lettrys to hir & steryd hir to resortyn to hir
655owyn cuntre. And so sche, desiryng þe beneuolens of hir
656frendys, vtteryd hir conseyte to hir eldmodyr, declaryng
657to hir þe desyr of hir frendys, preying hir of good lofe
658& leue þat sche myth resortyn to hir owyn cuntre. And
659so thorw hir eldmodrys consentyng sche purueyid hir to
660gon as sone as any schippys wentyn in-to þat lond. So
661þei speryd a schip of þat same lond & hir owyn cuntremen
662xulde seylyn þedyr, and hem thowt it was goodly
663þat sche xulde raþar seylyn wyth hem in her schip þan
664wyth oþer men. Than sche went to hir confessowr for
665to be schreuyn, &, whil sche was in þe schryuyng, þe
666sayd creatur, hir eldmodir, went vp & down in þe qwer,
667thynkyng in hir mende, "Lord, ȝyf it wer þi wille I
668wolde takyn leue of my confessowr & gon wyth hir ouyr
669þe see." Owr Lord answeryd to hyr thowt, seying,
670"Dowtyr, I wote wel, yf I bode þe gon, þu woldist gon

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671al redy. Þerfor I wyl þat þu speke no word to hym of
672þis mater." Than was sche ryth glad & mery, trustyng
673sche xulde not gon ouyr þe see, for sche had ben in gret
674perell on þe see a-for-tyme & was in purpos neuyr to
675comyn þeron mor be hir owyn wille. Whan hir dowtyr-in-lawe
676was schreuyn, þe good man whech was confessowr
677to hem bothyn as þat tyme cam to hir & seyd,
678"Ho schal gon wyth ȝowr dowtyr to þe see-syde tyl
679sche come at hir schip? It is not goodly þat sche xulde
680gon so fer wyth a ȝong man a-lone in strawnge cuntre
681wher her neiþyr is knowyn," for a strawnge man was
682come for hir & her neiþyr was but lityl knowyn in þis
683cuntre, wher-for hir confessowr had þe mor compassyon
684of hir. Þan þe sayd creatur seyd a-geyn, "Syr, ȝyf
685ȝe wele biddyn me, I xal gon wyth hir my-self tyl sche
686come at Ȝepiswech, þer lyth þe schip & hir owyn cuntremen
687þat xal ledyn hir ouyr þe see." Hir confessowr
688seyd, "How xulde ȝe gon wyth hir?" Ȝe hirtyd but late
689ȝowr foote, & ȝe ar not ȝet al hool, & also ȝe arn an elde
690woman. Ȝe may not gon." "Sir," sche seyd, "God,
691as I trust, xal helpyn me ryth wel." Þan he askyd ho
692xulde gon wyth hir & brynge hir hom a-geyn. And sche
693seyd, "Ser, her is longyng to þis chirch an ermyte, a
694ȝong man. I hope he wil for owr Lordys lofe gon &
695comyn wyth me, ȝef ȝe wil ȝeuyn me leue." So sche had
696leue to brynge hir dowtyr to Ȝepiswich & þan comyn
697a-geyn to Lynne. Þus þei passyd forth in her jurne
698in tyme of Lenton, and, whan þei weryn v er vj myle
699fro Lynne, þei comyn forby a cherch, & so þei turnyd
700in for to heryn Messe. And, as þei wer in þe chirche, þe
701forseyd creatur, desiryng teerys of deuocyon, non myth
702purchasyn at þat tyme but euyr was comawndyd in hir
703hert for to gon ouyr þe see wyth hir dowtyr. Sche wolde
704a putt it owt of hir mende, & euyr it cam a-geyn so fast
705þat sche myth not rest ne qwiet han in hir mende but
706euyr was labowryd & comawndyd to gon ouyr þe see.
707Sche thowt it was heuy to hir to takyn sweche labowr
708vp-on hir & excusyd hir-self to owr Lord in hir mende,

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709seying, "Lord, þu wost wel I haue no leue of my gostly
710fadyr, & I am bowndyn to obediens. Þerfor I may not
711do thus wyth-owtyn hys wil & hys consentyng." It was
712answeryd a-geyn to hir thowt, "I bydde þe gon in my
713name, Ihesu, for I am a-bouyn thy gostly fadyr & I xal
714excusyn þe & ledyn þe & bryngyn þe a-geyn in safte."
715Sche wolde ȝet excusyn hir yf sche myth in any wey, &
716þerfor sche seyd, "I am not purueyd of gold ne of syluer
717sufficiently for to gon wyth as I awt to be, and, þow I wer
718& wolde gon, I wote wel my dowtyr had leuar I wer at
719hom, & perauentur þe schip-maistrys xulde not receyuyn
720me in-to her vessel for to gon wyth hem." Owr Lord
721seyd a-geyn, "Yf I be wyth þe, ho schal ben a-geyns
722þe? I xal purueyin for þe & getyn þe frendys to helpyn
723þe. Do as I bydde þe, & þer schal no man of þe schip
724sey nay vn-to þe." The creatur say þer was non oþer
725help but forth sche must at þe comawndyng of God.
726Sche thowt þat sche wolde fyrst gon to Walsyngham &
727offeryn in worschep of owr Lady, &, as sche was in þe wey
728þedir-ward, sche herd tellyn þat a frer schuld seyin a
729sermown in a lityl village a lityl owt of hir wey. Sche
730turnyd in-to þe cherch wher þe frer seyd þe sermown, a
731famows man, & a gret audiens had at hys sermown.
732And many tymys he seyd þes wordys, "Ȝyf God be wyth
733us, ho schal be a-geyns us?" thorw þe whech wordys
734sche was þe mor steryd to obeyn þe wil of God & parformyn
735hir entent. So sche went forth to Walsingham,
736& sithyn to Norwich wyth hir dowtyr-in-lawe, & þe
737ermyte wyth hem. Whan þei cam at Norwich, sche mett
738a Grey Frer, a worschepful clerk, a doctowr of diuinyte
739whech had herd of hir leuyng & hir felyngys be-for-tyme.
740Þe doctowr schewyd hir gret cher & dalyid wyth hir as he
741had don be-for-tyme. Sche, many tymys syhyng, was
742heuy in cher & in cuntenawnce. Þe doctowr askyd what
743hir eylyd, "Sir," sche seyd, "whan I cam owte of
744Lynne wyth þe leue of my confessowr, I purposyd to
745ledyn my dowtyr to Ȝepisweche, wher is a schip in þe
746whech sche be þe grace of God xal seylyn to Deuchelond,

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747& I than to turnyn hom a-geyn as sone as I myth goodly
748to Lynne wyth an ermyte whech cam wyth me for þe
749same entent to ledyn me hom a-geyn. & he wenyd
750fully þat I xulde don so. And, ser, whan I was a-bowtyn
751vj myle owt of Lynne in a chirch to makyn my preyerys,
752I was comawndyd in my sowle þat I schulde gon ouyr
753þe see wyth my dowtyr, & I wote wel sche wolde I wer
754at hom, & so wolde I yf I durst. Þus was I meuyd in my
755sowle & no rest myth han in my spiryt ne deuocyon tyl
756I was consentyd to do as I was meuyd in my spiryt, &
757þis is to me gret drede & heuynes." Þe worschipful
758clerk seyd vn-to hir, "Ȝe schal obey þe wil of God, for I
759leue it is þe Holy Gost þat spekyth in ȝow, & þerfor
760folwyth þe meuyng of ȝowr spiryt in þe name of Ihesu."
761Sche was meche comfortyd wyth hys wordys & toke hir
762leue, goyng forth to þe see-syde wyth hir felaschip.
763Whan þei were comyn þedir, þe schip was redy to seilyn.
764Þan sche preyid þe maistyr þat sche myth seilyn wyth
765hem in-to Duchelond, & he goodly receyuyd hir, & þei
766þat weryn in þe schip seyd not onys nay. Þer was non
767so meche a-geyn hir as was hir dowtyr, þat awt most to a
768ben wyth hir. Þan sche toke hir leue of þe ermyte þat
769was come þedyr wyth hir, rewardyng hym sum-deel for
770hys labowr & preying hym to excusyn hir to hir confessowr
771& to hir oþer frendys whan he come hom to
772Lynne, for it was not hir wetyng ne hir entent whan sche
773partyd fro hem to a passyd þe see neuyr whil sche had
774leuyd, "but," sche seyd, "I must a-beyn þe wil of God."
775The ermyte partyd fro hir wyth heuy cher & cam hom
776a-geyn to Lynne, excusyng hir to hir confessowr & to
777oþer frendys, tellyng hem of her sodeyn & wondirful
778partyng & how it was not hys knowyng þat þei xulde
779a partyd so sodeynly a-sundyr. Þe pepil þat herd
780þerof had gret wondyr & seydin as þei woldyn. Sum
781seyd it was a womanys witte & a gret foly for þe lofe of
782hir dowtyr-in-lawe to putte hir-self, a woman in gret age,
783to perellys of þe see & for to gon in-to a strawnge cuntre

page I,229

784wher sche had not ben be-forn ne not wist how sche xulde
785come a-geyn. Summe heldyn it was a dede of gret
786charite for-as-meche as hir dowtyr had be-forn-tyme
787left hir frendys & hir cuntre & cam wyth hir husbond to
788visityn hir in þis cuntre þat sche wolde now halpyn
789hir dowtyr hom a-geyn in-to þe cuntre þat sche cam
790fro. Oþer whech knewe mor of þe creaturys leuyng
791supposyd & trustyd þat it was þe wille & þe werkyng
792of al-mythy God to þe magnifying of hys owyn
793name.
794
795

CAPITULUM 3^M

796
797    The sayd creatur & hir felawschip entryd her schip
798on þe Thursday in Passyon Weke, & God sent hem fayr
799wynde & wedyr þat day & þe Fryday, but on þe Satirday
800owr Lord, turnyng hys hand as hym likyd, & þe Palme
801Sonday also, preuyng her feith & her pacyens, wyth
802þe ij nyghtys, sent hem swech stormys & tempestys þat
803þei wendyn alle to a ben perischyd. Þe tempestys
804weryn so greuows & hedows þat þei myth not rewlyn
805ne gouerne her schip. Þei cowde no bettyr chefsyawns
806þan comendyn hem-self & her schip to þe gouernawns
807of owr Lord; þei left her craft & her cunnyng &
808leet owr Lord dryuyn hem wher he wolde. Þe sayd
809creatur had sorwe & care j-now; hir thowt sche had
810neuyr so mech be-forn. Sche cryid to owr Lord for
811mercy & preseruyng of hir & alle hir felaschep. Sche
812thowt in hir mende, "A, Lord, for þi lofe cam I hedyr,
813& þu hast oftyn-tyme behite me þat I schulde neuyr
814perischyn neiþyr on londe ne in watyr ne wyth no tempest.
815Þe pepil hath many tyme bannyd me, cursyd me,
816& warijd me for þe grace þat þu hast wrowt in me,
817desiryng þat I schulde deyin in myschef & gret disese,
818& now, Lord, it is lyke þat her bannyng comyth to
819effect, & I, vnworthy wretche, am deceyuyd and defrawdyd
820of þe promys þat þu hast mad many tyme on-to
821me, whech haue euyr trostyd in þi mercy & þi goodnesse,
822lesse þan þu þe sonar wythdrawe þes tempestys & schewe
823us mercy. Now may myn enmyis enyoyin, & I may
824sorwyn yf þei haue her intent & I be deceyuyd. Now,

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825blisful Ihesu, haue mende of thy many-fold mercy &
826fulfille þi behestys þat þu hast behite me. Schewe þu
827art sothfast God & non euyl spiryt þat hast browte me
828hedyr in-to þe perellys of þe see, whoys cownsel I haue
829trustyd & folwyd many ȝerys & xal don thorw þi mercy
830yf þu delyuyr us owt of þis greuows perellys. Help
831us & socowr us, Lord, er þan we perischyn er dispeyryn,
832for we THE WORD we WRITTEN ON TOP OF me may not long enduryn þis sorw þat we ben
833in wyth-owtyn þi mercy & þi socowr." Owr mercyful
834Lord, spekyng in hir mende, blamyd hir of hyr feerdnes,
835seying, "Why dredist þe? Why art þu so aferd?
836I am as mythy her in þe see as on þe londe. Why wilt
837þu mistrostyn me? Al þat I haue hite þe I xal
838trewly fulfillyn, & I xal neuyr deceyuyn þe. Suffyr
839paciently a while & haue trost in my mercy. Wauyr
840nowt in thy feith, for wyth-owtyn feith þu maist nowt
841plesyn me. Ȝyf þu woldist verily trostyn in me &
842no-thyng dowtyn, þu maist han gret comfort in þi-self
843& mythist comfortyn al thy felaschep wher ȝe ben now
844alle in gret drede & heuynes." Wyth swech maner of
845dalyawns & meche mor hy & holy þan euyr I cowde
846writyn owr Lord comfortyd hys creatur, blissyd mote he
847ben. Holy seyntys whech sche preyid on-to dalijd
848vn-to hir sowle be þe sufferawns of owr Lord, ȝeuyng
849hir wordys of gret comfort. At þe last cam owr Lady
850& seyd, "Dowtyr, be of a good comfort. Þu hast
851euyr fowndyn my tydingys trewe, & þerfor be no lengar
852a-ferd, for I telle þe trewly þes wyndys & tempestys
853xal sone sesyn & ȝe xal han rith fayr wedyr." And so,
854blissyd mote God ben, it was in schort tyme aftyr her
855schip was dreuyn in-to Norwey coost, & þer þei londyd
856on Good Fryday & abedyn þer Estern Euyn, & Estern
857Day, & þe Monday aftyr Estern. And on þat Monday

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858þei weryn howselyd wyth-inne þe schip alle þat longyd
859to þe schip. On Estern Day þe maistyr of þe schip &
860þe sayd creatur & oþer for þe most partye of þe schipgynge
861went on lond & herdyn her seruyse at þe chirche.
862Aftyr þe vse of þe cuntre þe Cros was reisyd on Estern
863Day a-bowte noon-tyme, & sche had hir meditacyon
864& hir deuocyon wyth wepyng & sobbyng as wel as yf
865sche had ben at hom. God drow not hys grace fro hir
866neiþyr in cherch, ne in schip, ne in þe see, ne in no place
867þat sche cam to, for euyr sche had hym in hir sowle.
868Whan þei had receyuyd þe Sacrament on Estern Monday,
869as is wretyn be-forn, owr Lord sent hem a fayr wynde
870þat browte hem owt of þat cuntre & drofe hem hom in-to
871Duchelond as þei desiryd. The forseyd creatur fond
872swech grace in þe maistyr of þe schip þat he ordeynd for
873hir mete & drynke & al þat was necessary vn-to hir as
874long as sche was wyth-inne þe schip, and was as tendyr
875to hir as sche had ben hys modyr. He curyd hir in þe
876schip wyth hys owyn clothys, for ellys sche myth a
877deyd for colde, sche was not purueyd as oþer weryn.
878Sche went at þe biddyng of owr Lord, & þerfor hyr Maistyr
879whech bad hir gon purueyid for hir so þat sche ferd
880as wel as any of hir felawschep, worschep & preysyng
881be to owr Lord þerfor.
882
883

CAPITULUM 4^M

884
885    The seyd creatur a-bood in Danske in Duchelond
886a-bowt v er vj wekys & had ryth good cher of meche
887pepil for owr Lordys lofe. Þer was non so meche a-geyn
888hir as was hir dowtyr-in-lawe, þe whech was most bowndyn
889& beholdyn to a comfortyd hir yf sche had ben
890kende. Þan þe creatur enyoyid in owr Lord þat sche
891had so gret cher for hys lofe & purposyd to a-bydyn þer
892þe lengar tyme. Owr Lord, spekyng to hir thowt,
893monischyd hir to gon owt of þe cuntre. Sche was
894þan in gret heuynes & diswer how sche xulde do þe
895byddyng of God, whech sche wolde in no wey wythstondyn,
896& had neiþyr man ne woman to gon wyth hir
897in felawschep. Be þe watyr wolde sche not gon as
898ny as sche myth, for sche was so afrayd on þe see as

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899sche cam þedirward; and be lond wey sche myth not
900gon esyly, for þer was werr in þe cuntre þat sche xulde
901passyn by. So what thorw o cawse & oþer sche was in
902gret heuynesse, not wetyng how sche xuld be releuyd.
903Sche went in-to a chirche & mad hir preyerys þat owr
904Lord, liche as he comawndyd hir for to gon, he schulde
905sendyn hir help & felaschip wyth þe which sche myth gon.
906And sodeynly a man, comyng to hir, askyd yf sche wolde
907gon on pilgrimage a fer cuntre fro thens to a place clepyd
908Wilsnak, wher is worschepyd þe Precyows Blod of owr
909Lord Ihesu Crist whech be miracle cam of thre Oostys,
910þe Sacrament of þe Awter, þe whech iij Oostys & Precyows
911Blood ben þer on-to þis day had in gret worschip
912& reuerens & sowt fro many a cuntre. Sche wyth glad
913cher seyde þat sche wolde gon þedyr yf sche had good
914felaschep & yf sche wist of any honest man þat myth
915sithyn bryng hir in-to Inglond. & he behestyd hir
916þat he wolde gon on pilgrimage wyth hir to þe forseyd
917place on hys owyn cost, & sithyn, yf sche wolde al
918qwite hys coste in-to Inglond, he xulde comyn wyth
919hir tyl sche wer in þe costys of Inglond þat sche myth
920han good felaschep of hir nacyon. He purueyd an
921heeke, a lityl schip, in þe which þei xulde seylyn to-þe-holy-place-warde,
922and þan myth sche han no leue to
923gon owt of þat lond, for sche was an Englisch woman,
924& so had sche gret vexacyon & meche lettyng er sche
925myth getyn leue of on of þe heerys of Pruce for to gon
926þens. At þe last, thorw þe steryng of owr Lord, þer
927was a marchawnt of Lynne herd tellyn þer-of, & he cam
928to hir & comfortyd hir, behestyng hir þat he xulde helpyn
929hir fro þens, eyþyr preuyly er apertly. And þis good
930man thorw gret labowr gate hir leue to gon wher sche
931wolde. Þan sche, wyth þe man whech had prouydyd
932for hir, tokyn her vessel, & God sent hem calm wynde,
933þe whech wynde plesyd hir ryth wel for þer ros no wawe
934on þe watyr. Hir felaschep thowt þei sped no wey &
935weryn heuy & grutchyng. Sche preyid to owr Lord,
936& he sent hem wynde a-now þat þei seylyd a gret cowrse

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937& þe wawys resyn sor. Hyr felaschep was glad & mery,
938and sche was heuy & sory for dred of þe wawys. Whan
939sche lokyd up-on hem, sche was euyr feryd. Owr Lord,
940spekyng to hir spirit, bad hir leyn down hir heuyd þat
941sche xulde not seen þe wawys, & sche dede so. But
942euyr sche was a-feerd, & þerfor was sche oftyn-tymys
943blamyd. & so they seylyd forth to a place whech is
944clepyd Strawissownd. Yf þe namys of þe placys be
945not ryth wretyn, late no man merueylyn, for sche stodyid
946mor a-bowte contemplacyon þan þe namys of þe placys,
947& he þat wrot hem had neuyr seyn hem, & þerfor haue
948hym excusyd.