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45 On Corpus Cristi Day aftyr, as the prestys born the Sacrament abowte the town wyth solempne processyon, wyth meche lyth and gret solempnyté, as was worthy to be do, the forseyd creatur folwyd ful of terys and devocyon, wyth holy thowtys and meditacyon, sor wepyng and boystows sobbyng. And than ther cam a good woman be this creatur and seyd, "Damsel, God gef us grace to folwyn the steppys of owr Lord Jhesu Crist." Than that worde wrowt so sor in hir herte and in hir mende that sche myth not beryn it that sche was fawyn to takyn an hows. And ther sche cryed, "I dey, I dey," and roryd also wondirfully that the pepil wonderyd upon hir, havyng gret merveyl what hir eyled. And yet owr Lord mad summe to lofe hir and cherschyn hir ryth meche and haddyn hir hom bothe to mete and to drynke and haddyn ful gret gladnes to heryn hir dalyin in owre Lord. And so ther was a man of Newe Castel, hys name was Thomas Marchale, whech oftetymes bad this creatur to mete for to heryn hir dalyawns. And he was so drawyn be the good wordys that God put in hir to sey of contricyon and compunccyon, of swetnes and of devocyon that he was al mevyd as he had ben a newe man wyth terys of contricyon and compunccyon, bothe days and nyghtys, as owr Lord wolde visiten hys hert wyth grace, that sumtyme whan he went in the feldys he wept so sor for hys synnes and hys trespas that he fel down and myth not beryn it and telde the forseyd creatur that he had ben a ful rekles man and mysgovernyd, and that sore rewyd hym, thankyd be God. And than he blyssed the tyme that he knew this creatur and purposyd hym fully to be a good man. Also he seyd to the seyd creatur, "Modyr, I have her ten marke. I pray yow that it be yowr as yowr owyn, for I wil helpyn yow to Seynt Jamys wyth Goddys grace. And what that ye byd me gevyn to any powr man er woman I wyl do yowr byddyng, alwey o peny for yow an other for myselfe." Than, as it plesyd owr Lord, he sent a schip owte of Breteyn into Bristowe, whech schip was mad redy and arayd for to seylen to Seynt Jamys. And than the seyd Thomas Marchale went and payd the maystyr for hymselfe and for the seyd creatur. Than was ther riche man of Bristowe whech wolde not late the seyd creatur seylen in that schip, for he held hir no good woman. And than sche seyd to that ryche man, "Syr, yf ye put me owt of the schip, my Lord Jhesu schal put yow owt of hevyn, for I telle yow, ser, owr Lord Jhesu hath no deynté of a ryche man les than he wil be a good man and a meke man." And so sche seyde many scharp wordys onto hym wythowtyn any glosyng er flateryng. And than owr Lord seyd to hir in hir sowle, "Thow schalt han thy wylle and gon to Seynt Jamys at thi desyr." And anon aftyr sche was putt up befor the bischop of Worcetyr that lay three myle beyondyn Bristowe and moneschid to aper befor hym ther he lay. Sche ros up erly on the next day and went to the place wher he lay hymselfe, yet beyng in bedde, and happyd to metyn on of hys worschepfulest men in the town, and so thei dalyid of God. And, whan he had herd hir dalyin a good while, he preyd hir to mete and sithyn he browt hir into the bischopys halle. And, whan sche cam into the halle, sche saw many of the bischopys men al to raggyd and al to daggyd in her clothys. Sche, lyftyng up hir hande, blissed hir. And than thei seyd to hir, "What devyl eyleth the?" Sche seyd agen, "Whos men be ye?" Thei answeryd agen, "the bischopys men." And than sche seyd, "Nay, forsothe, ye arn lykar the develys men." Than thei weryn wroth and chedyn hir and spokyn angrily unto hir, and sche suffryd hem wel and mekely. And sithyn sche spak so sadly ageyn syn and her mysgovernawns that thei wer in sylens and held hem wel plesyd wyth hyr dalyawns, thankyd be God, er than sche left. And than sche went into the chirch and abood the comyng of the bischop. And whan he cam sche knelyd down and askyd what was hys wille and why sche was somownde to come befor hym; it was to hir gret noye and hynderawns inasmeche as sche was a pilgryme purposyng be the grace of God to Seynt Jamyswarde. Than the bischop seyde, "Margery, I have not somownd the, for I knowe wel inow thu art John of Burnamys dowtyr of Lynne. I pray the be not wroth, but far fayr wyth me, and I schal far fayr wyth the, for thu schalt etyn wyth me this day." "Syr," sche seyd, "I prey yow have me excusyd, for I have behestyd a good man in town to etyn with hym today." And than he seyd, "thu schalt etyn wyth me and he bothyn." And so sche abood wyth hym tyl God sent wynde that sche mytn seylen and had gret cher of hym and of hys meny also. And sithyn sche was schrevyn to the bischop. And than he preyd hir to prey for hym that he myth deyn in charité, for it was warnyd hym be an holy man whech had be revelacyon that this bischop schulde be ded wythinne the terme of two yer. And it fel so in dede. And therfor he compleynyd to this creatur and preyde hir to prey for hym that he myth deyin in charité. At the last sche toke hir leve of hym, and he gaf hir golde and hys blyssyng and comawndyd hys mené to lede hir forth in hir wey. And also he preyd hir whan sche come fro Seynt Jamys ageyn that sche wolde come unto hym. And so sche went forth to hir schip. Befor that sche entryd the schip, sche mad hir preyerys that God schulde kepe hem and preserve hem fro venjawns, tempestys, and perellys in the se that thei myth go and come in safté, for it was telde hir yyf thei haddyn any tempest thei woldyn castyn hyr in the se, for thei seyd it was for hir, and thei seyde the schip was the wers for sche was therin. And therfor sche in hir preyer seyde on this maner, "Almythy God Crist Jhesu, I beseche the for thi mercy, yyf thu wilte chastisyn me, spar me tyl I come ageyn into Inglond. And, whan I come ageyn, chastyse me ryth as thu wilte." And than owr Lord grawntyd hir hir bone. And so sche toke hir schip in the name of Jhesu and seylyd forth wyth hir felaschip, whom God sent fayr wynde and wedyr so that thei comyn to Seynt Jamys on the sevenyth day. And than thei that weryn agen hir whan thei wer at Bristowe now thei made hir good cher. And so thei abedyn ther fourteen days in that lond, and ther had sche gret cher, bothyn bodily and gostly, hy devocyon, and many gret cryes in the mende of owr Lordys Passion, wyth plentyuows terys of compassyon. And sithyn thei come hom ageyn to Bristowe in five days. And sche abood not long ther but went forth to the Blod of Hayles, and ther was schrevyn and had lowde cryes and boystows wepyngys. And than the religiows men had hir in amongse hem and mad hir good cher, saf thei sworyn many gret othys and horryble. And sche undyrname hem therof aftyr the Gospel, and therof had thei gret wondyr. Nevyrthelesse summe wer ryth wel plesyd, thankyd be God of hys goodnesse. 46 Sythyn yed sche forth to Leycetyr, and a good man also, Thomas Marchale, of whom is wretyn beforn. And ther sche cam into a fayr cherch wher sche behelde a crucyfyx was petowsly poyntyd and lamentabyl to beheldyn, thorw whech beheldyng the Passyon of owr Lord entryd hir mende, wherthorw sche gan meltyn and al to relentyn be terys of pyté and compassyown. Than the fyer of lofe kyndelyd so yern in hir hert that sche myth not kepyn it prevy, for, whedyr sche wolde er not, it cawsyd hir to brekyn owte wyth a lowde voys and cryen merveylowslyche and wepyn and sobbyn ful hedowslyche that many a man and woman wondryd on hir therfor. Whan it was ovyrcomyn, sche goyng owt at the chirche dore, a man toke hir be the sleve and seyd, "Damsel, why wepist thu so sor?" "Ser," sche seyd, "it is not yow to telle." And so sche and the good man, Thomas Marchale, went forth and toke hir hostel and ther etyn her mete. Whan thei had etyn, sche preyd Thomas Marchale to writyn a lettyr and sendyn to hir husbond that he myth fettyn hir hom. And, wyl the lettyr was in wrytyng, the osteler cam up to hir chawmbyr in gret hast and toke awey hir scryppe and bad hyr comyn yerne and spekyn wyth the meyr. And so sche dede. Than the meyr askyd hir of what cuntré sche was and whos dowtyr sche was. "Syr," sche seyd, "I am of Lynne in Norfolke, a good mannys dowtyr of the same Lynne, whech hath ben meyr fyve tymes of that worshepful burwgh and aldyrman also many yerys, and I have a good man, also a burgeys of the seyd town, Lynne, to myn husbond." "A," seyd the meyr, "Seynt Kateryn telde what kynred sche cam of and yet ar ye not lyche, for thu art a fals strumpet, a fals loller, and a fals deceyver of the pepyl, and therfor I schal have the in preson." And sche seyd ageyn, "I am as redy, ser, to gon to preson for Goddys lofe as ye arn redy to gon to chirche." Whan the meyr had long chedyn hir and seyd many evyl and horybyl wordys onto hir and sche, be the grace of Jhesu, had resonabely answeryd hym to al that he cowde seyn, than he comawndyd the jaylerys man to ledyn hir to preson. The jaylerys man, havyng compassyon of hir wyth wepyng terys, seyd to the meyr, "Ser, I have non hows to put hir inne les than I putte hir among men." Than sche, mevyd wyth compassyon of the man whech had compassyon of hir preyng for grace and mercy to that man as to hir owyn sowle, seyd to the meyr, "I prey yow, ser, put me not among men, that I may kepyn my chastité and my bond of wedlak to myn husbond, as I am bowndyn to do." And than seyd the jayler hys owyn selfe to the meyr, "Ser, I will be bowndyn to kepe this woman in safwarde tyl ye wyl have hir ageyn." Than was ther a man of Boston, and seyd to the good wyfe ther sche was at ostel, "Forsothe," he seyth, "in Boston this woman is holdyn an holy woman and a blissed woman." Than the jayler toke hir into hys awarde and led hyr hom into hys owyn hows and put hir in a fayr chawmbyr, schetyng the dor wyth a key and comendyng hys wyfe the key to kepyn. Nevyrthelesse he lete hir gon to chirche whan sche wolde and dede hir etyn at hys owyn tabyl and mad hir ryght good cher for owr Lordys lofe, thankyd be almygthy God therof. 47 Than the styward of Leycetyr, a semly man, sent for the seyd creatur to the jaylerys wyfe, and sche, for hir husbond was not at hom, wolde not late hir gon to no man, styward ne other. Whan the jayler knew therof, he cam hys propyr persone and browt hir befor the stywarde. The styward anon, as he sey hir, spak Latyn unto hir, many prestys stondyng abowtyn to here what sche schulde say and other pepyl also. Sche seyd to the stywarde, "Spekyth Englysch, yf yow lyketh, for I undyrstonde not what ye sey." The styward seyd unto hir, "Thu lyest falsly in pleyn Englysch." Than seyd sche unto hym agen, "Syr, askyth what qwestyon ye wil in Englysch, and thorw the grace of my Lord Jhesu Cryst I schal answeyn yow resonabely therto." And than askyd he many qwestyonys, to the whech sche answeryd redily and resonabely that he cowde getyn no cawse ageyn hir. Than the stywarde toke hir be the hand and led hir into hys chawmbyr and spak many fowyl rebawdy wordys unto hir, purposyng and desyryng, as it semyd hir, to opressyn hir and forlyn hir. And than had sche meche drede and meche sorwe, crying hym mercy. Sche seyd, "Ser, for the reverens of almythy God, sparyth me, for I am a mannys wife." And than seyd the stywarde, "Thu schalt telle me whethyr thu hast this speche of God er of the devyl, er ellys thu schalt gon to preson." "Ser," sche seyd, "for to gon to preson I am not aferd for my Lordys lofe, the whech meche mor suffyrd for my lofe than I may for hys. I pray yow doth as yow thynkyth the beste." The stiwarde, seyng hir boldenes that sche dred no presonyng, he strobelyd wyth hir, schewyng unclene tokenys and ungoodly cuntenawns, wherthorw he frayd hir so mech that sche telde hym how sche had hyr speche and hir dalyawns of the Holy Gost and not of hir owyn cunyng. And than he, al astoyned of hir wordys, left hys besynes and hys lewydnes, seying to hir as many man had do beforn, "Eythyr thu art a ryth good woman er ellys a ryth wikked woman," and delyveryd hir ageyn to hir gayler. And he led hyr hom ageyn wyth hym. Sithyn thei tokyn two of hyr felaws that went wyth hyr on pylgrimage, the on was Thomas Marchale beforn seyd, the other, a man of Wisbeche, and put hem bothyn in preson for cawse of hyr. Than was sche hevy and sory for her distres and preyd to God for her delyverawns. And than owr mercyful Lord Crist Jhesu seyd to hys creatur, "Dowtyr, I schal for thy love so disposyn for hem that the pepyl schal be ryth fayn to letyn hem gon and not longe kepyn hem." And, on the next day folwyng, owr Lord sent sweche wederyng of levenys, thunderys, and reynes contynuyng that al the pepyl in the town wer so afrayd thei wist not what to do. Thei dreddyn hem it was for thei had put the pylgrimys in preson. And than the governorys of the town went in gret hast and toke owt tho tweyn pilgrimys whech had leyn in preson al the nyth beforn, ledyng hem to the gyldehalle ther to be examynyd befor the meyr and the worschepful men of the town, compellyng hem to sweryn yyf the forseyd creatur wer a woman of the ryth feyth and ryth beleve, continent and clene of hir body, er not. As fer as thei knewyn, thei sworyn, as wittyrly God schulde help hem at the day of dome, that sche was a good woman of the ryth feyth and ryth beleve, clene and chaste in al hir governawns as fer as thei cowde knowyn in cher, cuntenawns, in worde, and in werke. And than the meyr let hem gon whedyr thei wolde. And anon the tempest sesyd, and it was fayr wedir, worschepyd be owre Lord God. The pilgrimys thei wer glad that thei wer delyveryd and durst no lengar abydyn in Leycetyr but went ten myle thens and abood ther that thei myth have knowlach what schulde be do wyth the seyde creatur, for, whan thei bothyn wer put in preson, thei had telde hyr hemselfe that thei supposyd, yyf the meyr myth han hys wil, he wolde don hir be brent. 48 On a Wednysday the seyd creatur was browt into a chirch of Alle Halwyn in Leycetyr, in whech place befor the hy awter was sett the abbot of Leycetyr wyth summe of hys chanownys, the den of Leicetyr, a worthy clerke. Ther wer also many frerys and preystys, also the meyr of the same town wyth mech other of lay pepyl. Ther was so meche pepyl that thei stodyn upon stolys for to beheldyn hir and wonderyn upon hir. The sayd creatur lay on hir knes, makyng hir prayerys to almythy God that sche myth han grace, wytte, and wysdam so to answeryn that day as myth ben most plesawns and worschep to hym, most profyth to hir sowle, and best exampyl to the pepyl. Than ther cam a preste to hir and toke hir be the hand and browt hir beforn the abbot and hys assessowrys syttyng at the awter, the wheche dedyn hir sweryn on a boke that sche schulde answeryn trewly to the artyculys of the feyth lych as sche felt in hem. And fyrst thei rehersyd the blysful sacrament of the awter, chargyng hir to seyn ryth as sche belevyd therin. Than sche seyd, "Serys, I beleve in the sacrament of the awter on this wyse, that what man hath takyn the ordyr of presthode, be he nevyr so vicyows a man in hys levyng, yyf he sey dewly tho wordys ovyr the bred that owr Lord Jhesu Criste seyde whan he mad hys Mawndé among hys disciplys ther he sat at the soper, I beleve that it is hys very flesch and hys blood and no material bred ne nevyr may be unseyd be it onys seyd." And so sche answeryd forth to alle the artycles as many as thei wolde askyn hir that thei wer wel plesyd. The meyr, whech was hir dedly enmy, he seyd, "In fayth, sche menyth not wyth hir hert as sche seyth with hir mowthe." And the clerkys seyden to hym, "Sir, sche answeryth ryth wel to us." Than the meyr alto rebukyd hir and rehersyd many reprevows wordys and ungoodly, the whiche is mor expedient to be concelyd than expressyd. "Sir," sche seyde, "I take witnesse of my Lord Jhesu Crist, whos body is her present in the sacrament of the awter, that I nevyr had part of mannys body in this worlde in actual dede be wey of synne, but of myn husbondys body, whom I am bowndyn to be the lawe of matri mony, and be whom I have born fourteen childeryn. For I do yow to wetyn, ser, that ther is no man in this worlde that I lofe so meche as God, for I lofe hym abovyn al thynge, and, ser, I telle yow trewly I lofe al men in God and for God." Also ferthermor sche seyd pleynly to hys owyn persone, "Sir, ye arn not worthy to ben a meyr, and that schal I prevyn be Holy Writte, for owr Lord God seyde hymself er he wolde takyn venjawnce on the cyteys, 'I schal comyn down and seen.' And yet he knew al thyng. And that was not ellys, sir, but for to schewe men as ye ben that ye schulde don non execucyon in ponischyng but yyf ye had knowyng beforn that it wer worthy for to be don. And, syr, ye han do al the contrary to me this day, for, syr, ye han cawsyd me myche despite for thyng that I am not gilty in. I pray God forgeve yow it." Than the meyr seyde to hir, "I wil wetyn why thow gost in white clothys, for I trowe thow art comyn hedyr to han awey owr wyvys fro us and ledyn hem wyth the." "Syr," sche seyth, "ye schal not wetyn of my mowth why I go in white clothys; ye arn not worthy to wetyn it. But, ser, I wil tellyn it to thes worthy clerkys wyth good wil be the maner of confessyon. Avyse hem yyf thei wyl telle it yow." Than the clerkys preyd the meyr to gon down fro hem wyth the other pepyl. And, whan thei weryn gon, sche knelyd on hir knes befor the abbot, and the den of Leycetyr, and a Frer Prechowr, a worschipful clerke, and telde thes three clerkys how owr Lord be revelacyon warnyd hir and bad hir weryn white clothys er sche cam at Jerusalem. "And so have I tolde my gostly faderys. And therfor thei han chargyd me that I schulde gon thus, for thei dar not don ageyn my felyngys for dred of God, and, yyf thei durste, thei wolde ful gladlych. And therfor, serys, yyf the meyr wil wetyn why I go in whyte, ye may seye, yyf yow likyth, that my gostly faderys byddyn me gon so, and than schal ye make no lesynggys ne he schal not knowe the trewth." So the clerkys clepyd up agen the meyr and teldyn hym in cownsel that hir gostly faderys had chargyd hir to weryn white clothis and sche had bowndyn hir to her obediens. Than the meyr clepyd hir to hym, seying, "I wil not letyn the gon hens for thyng that thow canst seyn les than thu wil gon to my Lord of Lynkoln for a lettyr, inasmeche as thu art in hys jurisdiccyon, that I may be dischargyd of the." Sche seyd, "Ser, I dar speke to my Lord of Lyncolne ryth wel, for I have had of hym rith good cher afor this tyme." And than other men askyd hir yyf sche wer in charité with the meyr, and sche seyd, "Ya, and with alle creaturys." And than sche, obeyng hir to the meir, preyd hym to ben in charité wyth hyr wyth wepyng terys and forgevyn hir any thyng that sche had displesyd hym. And he gaf hir goodly wordys for a while that sche wend al had ben wel and he had ben hir good frende, but aftyrward sche wist wel it was not so. And thus she had leve of the meir for to gon to my Lord of Lyncolne and fettyn a lettyr be the whech the meyr schulde be excusyd. 49 So sche went fyrst to the Abbey of Leycetyr into the chirche, and, as sone as the Abbot had aspyed hir, he, of hys goodnes, wyth many of hys brethyr, cam for wolcomyn hir. Whan sche sey hem comyn, anon in hir sowle sche beheld owr Lord comyng wyth hys apostelys, and sche was so raveschyd into contemplacyon wyth swetnes and devocyon that sche myth not stondyn ageyns her comyng as curtesy wolde but lenyd hir to a peler in the chirche and held hir strongly therby for dred of fallyng, for sche wold a stondyn and sche myth not for plenté of devocyon whech was cawse that sche cryed and wept ful sor. Whan hir criyng was ovyrcomyn, the Abbot preyd hys brethyr to have hir in wyth hem and comfortyn hir, and so thei govyn hir ryth good wyn and madyn hir ryth good cher. Than sche gat hir a lettyr of the abbot to my Lord of Lyncolne into record what conversacyon sche had ben the tyme that sche was in Leicetyr. And the Deen of Leicetyr was redy to recordyn and witnessyn wyth hir also, for he had gret confidens that owre Lord lovyd hir, and therfor he cheryd hir ful hily in hys owyn place. And so sche toke leve of hir sayd sone, purposyng forth to Lyncolnward wyth a man whech hite Patryk, that had ben wyth hir at Seynt Jamys befortyme. And as this tyme he was sent be Thomas Marchale beforn seyd fro Melton Mowmbray to Leycetyr for to inqwir and se how it stod wyth the same creatur. For the forseyd Thomas Marchal feryd meche that sche schuld a be brent, and therfor he sent this man Patryk to prevyn the trewth. And so sche and Patryk wyth many good folke of Leicetyr comyn to cheryn hir, thankyng God that had preservyd hir and govyn hir the victory of hir enmyis, wentyn forth owt at the townys ende and madyn hir ryth good cher, behestyng hir yf evyr sche come ageyn sche schuld han bettyr cher among hem than evyr sche had beforn. Than had sche forgetyn and left in the towne a staf of a Moyses yerde whech sche had browt fro Jerusalem, and sche wold not a lost it for forty shillings. Than went Patryk agen into the towne for hir staffe and hir scryppe and happyd to metyn wyth the meyr, and the meir wolde a putte hym in preson. So at the last he scapyd of hard and left ther hir scrippe. Than the forseyd creatur abood this man in a blynd womanys hows in gret hevynes, dredyng what was fallyn of hym for he was so long. At the last this man cam rydyng forby ther that sche was. Whan sche sey hym sche cryed, "Patryk, sone, wher ha ye ben so long fro me?" "Ya, ya, modyr," seyd he, "I have ben in gret perel for yow. I was in poynt to a ben put in preson for yow, and the meyr hath gretly turmentyd me for yow, and he hath takyn awey yowr scrippe fro me." "A, good Patryk," seyd sche, "be not displesyd, for I schal prey for yow, and God schal rewardyn yowr labowr ryth wel; it is al for the best." Than Patryk set hir upon hys hors and browt hir hom into Melton Mowmbray into hys owyn hows wher was Thomas Marchale befor wretyn and toke hir down of the hors, hyly thankyng God that sche was not brent. So thei enjoyed in owr Lord al that nyth. And aftyrward sche went forth to the Byschop of Lyncolne ther he lay that tyme. Sche, not verily knowyng wher he was, met a worschepful man wyth a furryd hood, a worthy officer of the bischopys, whech seyd unto hir, "Damsel, knowyst thu not me?" "No, sir," sche seyd, "forsothe." "And yet thow wer beholdyn," he seyd, "for I have sumtyme mad the good cher." "Sir, I trust that ye dedyn ye dedyn for Goddys lofe, and therfor I hope he schal ryth wel rewardyn yow. And I prey yow heldyth me excusyd, for I take lytil heed of a mannys bewté er of hys face, and therfor I forgete hym meche the sonar." And than he teld hir goodly wher sche schulde have the bischop. And so sche gat hir a lettyr of the bischop to the meyr of Leycetyr, monyschyng hym that he schulde not vexyn hir ne lettyn hir to gon and comyn whan sche wolde. Than ther fellyn gret thunderys and levenys and many reynes that the pepil demyd it was for venjawns of the sayd creatur, gretly desyryng that she had ben owt of that cuntré. And sche wolde in no wise gon thens tyl that sche had hir scryppe ageyn. Whan the seyde meyr receyved the forseyd lettyr, he sent hir hir skryppe and leet hir gon in safté wher sche wolde. Three wokys sche was lettyd of hir jurney be the meyr of Leycetyr er he wold letyn hyr gon owt that cooste. Than sche hyryd the forseyd man Patryk to gon wyth hir in the cuntré and so went thei forth to Yorke. 50 Whan sche was com into Yorke, sche went to an ancres wheche had lovyd hir wel er sche went to Jerusalem to han knowlach of hyr gostly encres, also desiryng for mor gostly communicacyon to etyn wyth the ancres that day no thyng ellys but bred and watyr, for it was on owr Ladiis Evyn. And the ancres wolde not receyven hir, for sche had herd telde so mech evyl telde of hir. So sche went forth to other fremd folk, and thei made hir rith good cher for owr Lordys lofe. On a day, as sche sat in a chirche of Yorke, owr Lord Jhesu Crist seyd in hir sowle, "Dowtyr, ther is meche tribulacyon to thewarde." Sche was sumdel hevy and abaschyd therof and therfor sche, syttyng stille, answeryd not. Than seyd owr blissed Lord agen, "What, dowtyr, art thu evyl payd for to suffyr mor tribulacyon for my lofe? Yyf thu wilte no mor suffyr, I schal take it awey fro the." And than seyd sche agen "Nay, good Lord, late me be at thi wille and make me mythy and strong for to suffyr al that evyr thu wilt that I suffyr, and grawnt me mekenes and pacyens therwyth." And so, fro that tyme forwarde that sche knew it was owr Lordys wille that sche schulde suffyr mor tribulacyon, sche receyved it goodly whan owr Lorde wolde send it and thankyd hym hily therof, beyng ryth glad and mery that day that sche suffryd any disese. And be processe of tyme that day whech sche suffyrd no tribulacyon sche was not mery ne glad as that day whan sche suffyrd tribulacyon. Sithyn, as sche was in the Mynster at Yorke forseyd, a clerk cam to hir, seying, "Damsel, how long wil ye abydyn her?" "Ser," sche seyd, "I purpose to abyden thes fourteen days." And so sche dede. And in that tyme many good men and women preyd hir to mete and madyn hir ryth good cher and weryn ryth glad to heryn hyr dalyawns, havyng gret merveyle of hir speche for it was fruteful. And also sche had many enmyis whech slawndryd hir, scornyd hir, and despysed hir, of whech o prest cam to hir whil sche was in the seyd Mynstyr and, takyng hir be the coler of the gowne, seyd, "Thu wolf, what is this cloth that thu hast on?" Sche stod stylle and not wolde answeryn in hir owyn cawse. Childer of the monastery goyng besyde seyd to the preste, "Ser, it is wulle." The preste was anoyed for sche wolde not answer and gan to sweryn many gret othis. Than sche gan to spekyn for Goddys cawse; sche was not aferd. Sche seyd, "Ser, ye schulde kepe the comawndmentys of God and not sweryn so necgligently as ye do." The preste askyd hir hoo kept the comawndmentys. Sche seyd, "Ser, thei that kepyn hem." Than seyd he, "Kepyst thu hem?" Sche seyd ageyn, "Syr, it is my wille to kepyn hem, for I am bownde therto, and so ar ye and every man that wil be savyd at the last." Whan he had long jangelyd wyth hir, he went awey prevyly er sche was war, that sche wist not wher he becam. 51 An other tyme ther cam a gret clerke onto hir, askyng thes wordys how thei schuld ben undirstondyn, "Crescite et multiplicamini." Sche, answeryng, seyd, "Ser, thes wordys ben not undirstondyn only of begetyng of chyldren bodily, but also be purchasyng of vertu, whech is frute gostly, as be heryng of the wordys of God, be good exampyl gevyng, be mekenes and paciens, charité and chastité, and swech other, for pacyens is more worthy than myraclys werkyng." And sche thorw the grace of God answeryd so that clerke that he was wel plesyd. And owr Lord of hys mercy evyr he mad sum men to lovyn hir and supportyn hir. And so in this cité of Yorke ther was a doctowr of divinyté, Maistyr John Aclom, also a Chanown of the Mynstyr, Syr John Kendale, and another preste whech song be the bischopys grave; thes wer hir good frendys of the spiritualté. So sche dwellyd stille in that cité fourteen days, as sche had seyd beforn, and sumdel mor, and on the Sundays sche was howseld in the Mynster wyth gret wepyng, boistows sobbyng, and lowde crying that many man merveyled ful meche what hir eyled. So aftyrward ther cam a preste, a worschepful clerke he semyd, and seyd unto hir, "Damsel, thu seydest whan thu come first hedyr that thu woldyst abydyn her but fourteen days." "Ya, ser, wyth yowr leve, I seyd that I wolde abydyn her fourteen days, but I seyd not that I schulde neithyr abydyn mor her ne les. But as now, ser, I telle yow trewly I go not yet." Than he sett hir a day, comawndyng hir for to aperyn beforn hym in the chapelhows. And sche seyd that sche wolde obey hys monycyon wyth a good wil. Sche went than to Maistyr John Aclom, the forseyd doctowr, preyng hym to be ther on hir party. And so he was, and he toke gret favowr amongys hem alle. Also another maistyr of divinité had behestyd hir to a ben ther wyth hir, but he drow on bakke tyl he knew how the cawse schulde gon, whedyr wyth hir or agen hir. Ther was meche pepil that day in the chapetilhows of the Mynstyr to her and se what schulde ben seyd er do to the forseyd creatur. Whan the day cam, sche was al redy in the Mynstyr to come to hir answer. Than cam hir frendys to hir and bodyn hir ben of good cher. Sche, thankyng hem, seyd so sche schulde. And aswythe cam a preste ful goodly and toke hir be the arme for to helpyn hir thorw the prees of the pepil and browte hir beforn a worschepful doctowr, the whech had monyschyd hir beforn for to aperyn beforn hym in the chapetylhows as this day in Yorke Minstyr. And wyth this doctowr setyn many other clerkys ful reverende and worshepful, of the whech clerkys summe lovyd the sayd creatur ryth wel. Than seyd the worschepful doctowr to hir, "Woman, what dost thu her in this cuntré?" "Syr, I come on pilgrim age to offyr her at Seynt William." Than seyd he agen, "Hast thu an husbond?" Sche seyd, "Ya." "Hast thu any lettyr of recorde?" "Sir," sche seyd, "myn husbond gaf me leve wyth hys owyn mowthe. Why fare ye thus wyth me mor than ye don wyth other pilgrimys that ben her, wheche han no lettyr no mor than I have? Syr, hem ye latyn gon in peys and qwyet and in reste, and I may no rest have amongys yow. And, syr, yyf her be any clerke amongys yow alle that can prevyn that I have seyd any worde otherwise than I awt for to do, I am redy for to amende it wyth good wille. I wil neithyr meynteyn errowr ne heresy, for it is my ful wil to holdyn as Holy Chirche holdith and fully to plesyn God." Than the clerkys examynde hir in the Articles of the Feyth and in many other poyntys as hem likyde, to the whech sche answeryd wel and trewly that thei myth have non occasyon in hir wordys for to disesyn hir, thankyd be God. And than the doctowr whiche satt ther as a juge somownd hir to apere befor the Erchebischop of Yorke and telde hir what day at a towne hite Cowoode, comawndyng hir to be kept in preson tyl the day of hir aperyng come. Than the seculer pepil answeryd for hir and seyde sche schulde not comyn in preson, for thei woldyn hemself undirtakyn for hir and gon to the Erchebischop wyth hir. And so the clerkys seyd no mor to hir at that tyme, for thei resyn up and went wher thei wolde and letyn hir gon wher sche wolde, worschip to Jhesu. And sone aftyr ther cam a clerke unto hir, on of the same that had sotyn ageyn hir, and seyd, "Damsel, I prey the be not displesyd wyth me, thow I sat wyth the doctowr ageyns the; he cryed so upon me that I durst non otherwise don." And sche seyd, "Ser, I am not displesyd wyth yow therfor." Than seyd he, "I pray yow than preyth for me." "Sir," sche seyd, "I wil alredy." 52 Ther was a monke schulde prechyn in Yorke, the whech had herd meche slawndyr and meche evyl langage of the sayd creatur. And, whan he schulde prechyn, ther was meche multitude of pepil to heryn hym, and sche present wyth hem. And so, whan he was in hys sermown, he rehersyd many materys so openly that the pepil conceyved wel it was for cawse of hir, wherfor hir frendys that lovyd hir wel wer ful sory and hevy therof, and sche was meche the mor mery, for sche had mater to prevyn hyr paciens and hir charité wherthorw sche trostyd to plesyn owr Lord Crist Jhesu. Whan the sermown was don, a doctowr of dyvinyté whech lovyd hir wel wyth many other also come to hir and seyd, "Margery, how have ye don this day?" "Sir," sche seyd, "ryth wel, blyssed be God. I have cawse to be ryth mery and glad in my sowle that I may any thyng suffyr for hys lofe, for he suffryd mech mor for me." Anon aftyr cam a man whech lovyd hir rith wel of good wil wyth hys wife and other mo, and led hir seven myle thens to the Erchebischop of Yorke, and browt hir into a fayr chawmbyr, wher cam a good clerke, seying to the good man whech had browt hir thedyr, "Sir, why have ye and yowr wife browt this woman hedyr? Sche schal stelyn awey fro yow, and than schal ye han a velany of hir." The good man seyd, "I dar wel say sche wil abydyn and ben at hir answer wyth good wille." On the next day sche was browt into the Erchebischopys chapel, and ther comyn many of the Erchebischopys meny, despisyng hir, callyng hir "loller" and "heretyke," and sworyn many an horrybyl othe that sche schulde be brent. And sche, thorw the strength of Jhesu, seyd agen to hem, "Serys, I drede me ye schul be brent in helle wythowtyn ende les than ye amende yow of yowr othys sweryng, for ye kepe not the comawndementys of God. I wolde not sweryn as ye don for al the good of this worlde." Than thei gedyn awey as thei had ben aschamyd. Sche than, makyng hir prayer in hir mende, askyd grace so to be demenyd that day as was most plesawns to God and profyte to hir owyn sowle and good exampyl to hir evyn cristen. Owr Lord, answeryng hir, seyd it schulde be ryth wel. At the last the seyd Erchebischop cam into the chapel wyth hys clerkys, and scharply he seyde to hir, "Why gost thu in white? Art thu a mayden?" Sche, knelyng on hir knes befor hym, seyd, "Nay, ser, I am no mayden; I am a wife." He comawndyd hys mené to fettyn a peyr of feterys and seyd sche schulde ben feteryd, for sche was a fals heretyke. And than sche seyd, "I am non heretyke, ne ye schal non preve me." The Erchebisshop went awey and let hir stondyn alone. Than sche mad hir prayers to owr Lord God almythy for to helpyn hir and socowryn hir ageyn alle hir enmyis, gostly and bodily, a long while, and hir flesch tremelyd and whakyd wondirly that sche was fayn to puttyn hir handys undyr hir clothis that it schulde not ben aspyed. Sythyn the Erchebischop cam ageyn into the chapel wyth many worthy clerkys, amongys whech was the same doctowr whech had examynd hir beforn and the monke that had prechyd ageyn hir a lityl tyme beforn in Yorke. Sum of the pepil askyd whedyr sche wer a Cristen woman er a Jewe; sum seyd sche was a good woman, and sum seyd nay. Than the Erchebischop toke hys see, and hys clerkys also, iche of hem in hys degré, meche pepil beyng present. And in the tyme whil the pepil was gaderyng togedyr and the Erchebischop takyn hys see, the seyd creatur stod al behyndyn, makyng hir preyerys for help and socowr ageyn hir enmiis wyth hy devocyon so long that sche meltyd al into teerys. And at the last sche cryed lowde therwith, that the Erchebischop and his clerkys and meche pepil had gret wondyr of hir, for thei had not herd swech crying beforn. Whan hir crying was passyd, sche cam beforn the Erchebischop and fel down on hir kneys, the Erchebischop seying ful boystowsly unto hir, "Why wepist thu so, woman?" Sche, answeryng, seyde, "Syr, ye schal welyn sum day that ye had wept as sor as I." And than anon, aftyr the Erchebischop put to hir the Articles of owr Feyth, to the whech God gaf hir grace to answeryn wel and trewly and redily wythowtyn any gret stody so that he myth not blamyn hir, than he seyd to the clerkys, "Sche knowith hir feyth wel anow. What schal I don wyth hir?" The clerkys seyden, "We knowyn wel that sche can the Articles of the Feith, but we wil not suffyr hir to dwellyn among us, for the pepil hath gret feyth in hir dalyawnce, and peraventur sche myth pervertyn summe of hem." Than the Erchebischop seyd unto hir, "I am evyl enformyd of the; I her seyn thu art a ryth wikked woman." And sche seyd ageyn, "Ser, so I her seyn that ye arn a wikkyd man. And, yyf ye ben as wikkyd as men seyn, ye schal nevyr come in hevyn les than ye amende yow whil ye ben her." Than seyd he ful boistowsly, "Why, thow, what sey men of me." Sche answeryd, "Other men, syr, can telle yow wel anow." Than seyd a gret clerke wyth a furryd hood, "Pes, thu speke of thiself and late hym ben." Sithyn seyd the Erchebischop to hir, "Ley thin hand on the boke her beforn me and swer that thu schalt gon owt of my diocyse as sone as thu may." "Nay, syr," sche sayd, "I praye yow, geve me leve to gon ageyn into Yorke to take my leve of my frendys." Than he gaf hir leve for on day er too. Sche thowt it was to schort a tyme, wherfor sche seyd agen, "Sir, I may not gon owt of this diocyse so hastily, for I must teryin and spekyn wyth good men er I go, and I must, ser, wyth yowr leve, gon to Brydlyngton and spekyn wyth my confessor, a good man, the whech was the good priowrys confessor that is now canonysed." Than seyd the Erchebischop to hir, "thow schalt sweryn that thu schalt ne techyn ne chalengyn the pepil in my diocyse." "Nay, syr, I schal not sweryn," sche seyde, "for I schal spekyn of God and undirnemyn hem that sweryn gret othys whersoevyr I go unto the tyme that the pope and holy chirche hath ordeynde that no man schal be so hardy to spekyn of God, for God almythy forbedith not, ser, that we schal speke of hym. And also the gospel makyth mencyon that, whan the woman had herd owr Lord prechyd, sche cam beforn hym wyth a lowde voys and seyd, 'Blyssed be the wombe that the bar and the tetys that gaf the sowkyn.' Than owr Lord seyd agen to hir, 'Forsothe so ar thei blissed that heryn the word of God and kepyn it.' And therfor, sir, me thynkyth that the gospel gevyth me leve to spekyn of God." "A ser," seyd the clerkys, "her wot we wel that sche hath a devyl wythinne hir, for sche spekyth of the gospel." As swythe a gret clerke browt forth a boke and leyd Seynt Powyl for hys party ageyns hir that no woman schulde prechyn. Sche, answeryng therto, seyde, "I preche not, ser, I come in no pulpytt. I use but comownycacyon and good wordys, and that wil I do whil I leve." Than seyd a doctowr whech had examynd hir befortyme, "Syr, sche telde me the werst talys of prestys that evyr I herde." The bischop comawndyd hir to tellyn that tale. "Sir, wyth yowr reverens, I spak but of o preste be the maner of exampyl, the whech as I have lernyd went wil in a wode thorw the sufferawns of God for the profite of hys sowle tyl the nygth cam upon hym. He, destytute of hys herborwe, fond a fayr erber in the whech he restyd that nyght, havyng a fayr pertre in the myddys al floreschyd wyth flowerys and belschyd, and blomys ful delectabil to hys syght, wher cam a bere, gret and boistows, hogely to beheldyn, schakyng the pertre and fellyng down the flowerys. Gredily this grevows best ete and devowryd tho fayr flowerys. And, whan he had etyn hem, turnyng his tayl ende in the prestys presens, voydyd hem owt ageyn at the hymyr party. The preste, havyng gret abhominacyon of that lothly syght, conceyvyng gret hevynes for dowte what it myth mene, on the next day he wandrid forth in hys wey al hevy and pensife, whom it fortunyd to metyn wyth a semly agydd man lych to a palmyr er a pilgrime, the whiche enqwiryd of the preste the cawse of hys hevynes. The preste, rehersyng the mater beforn wretyn, seyd he conceyvyd gret drede and hevynes whan he beheld that lothly best defowlyn and devowryn so fayr flowerys and blomys and aftirward so horrybely to devoydyn hem befor hym at hys tayl ende, and he not undirstondyng what this myth mene. Than the palmyr, schewyng hymselfe the massanger of God, thus aresond hym, 'Preste, thu thiself art the pertre, sumdel florischyng and floweryng thorw thi servyse seyyng and the sacramentys ministryng, thow thu do undevowtly, for thu takyst ful lytyl heede how thu seyst thi mateynes and thi servyse, so it be blaberyd to an ende. Than gost thu to thi messe wythowtyn devocyon, and for thi synne hast thu ful lityl contricyon. Thu receyvyst ther the frute of evyrlestyng lyfe, the sacrament of the awter, in ful febyl disposicyon. Sithyn al the day aftyr thu myssespendist thi tyme, thu gevist the to bying and sellyng, choppyng and chongyng, as it wer a man of the werld. Thu sittyst at the ale, gevyng the to glotonye and excesse, to lust of thy body, thorw letchery and unclennesse. Thu brekyst the comawndmentys of God thorw sweryng, lying, detraccyon, and bakbytyng, and swech other synnes usyng. Thus be thy mysgovernawns, lych onto the lothly ber, thu devowryst and destroist the flowerys and blomys of vertuows levyng to thyn endles dampnacyon and many mannys hyndryng lesse than thu have grace of repentawns and amendyng."' Than the Erchebisshop likyd wel the tale and comendyd it, seying it was a good tale. And the clerk whech had examynd hir befortyme in the absens of the Erchebischop, seyd, "Ser, this tale smytyth me to the hert." The forseyd creatur seyd to the clerk, "A, worschipful doctowr, ser, in place wher my dwellyng is most, is a worthy clerk, a good prechar, whech boldly spekyth ageyn the mysgovernawns of the pepil and wil flatyr no man. He seyth many tymes in the pulpit, 'Yyf any man be evyl plesyd wyth my prechyng, note hym wel, for he is gylty.' And ryth so, ser," seyd sche to the clerk, "far ye be me, God forgeve it yow." The clerk wist not wel what he myth sey to hir. Aftyrward the same clerk cam to hir and preyid hir of forgefnes that he had so ben ageyn hir. Also he preyid hir specyaly to prey for hym. And than anon aftyr the Erchebischop seyd, "Wher schal I have a man that myth ledyn this woman fro me?" As swythe ther styrt up many yong men, and every man seyd of hem, "My Lord, I wyl gon wyth hir." The Erchebischop answeryd, "Ye ben to yong; I wil not have yow." Than a good sad man of the Erchebischopys meny askyd hys Lord what he wolde gevyn hym and he schulde ledyn hir. The Erchebischop proferyd hym five shillings and the man askyd a nobyl. The Erchebischop, answeryng, seyd, "I wil not waryn so mech on hir body." "Yys, good ser," seyd the sayd creatur, "our Lord schal rewardyn yow ryth wel agen." Than the Erchebischop seyd to the man, "Se, her is five shillings, and lede hir fast owt of this cuntré." Sche, knelyng down on hir kneys, askyd hys blissyng. He, preyng hir to preye for hym, blissed hir and let hir go. Than sche, goyng agen to Yorke, was receyved of mech pepil and of ful worthy clerkys, whech enjoyed in owr Lord that had govyn hir not lettryd witte and wisdom to answeryn so many lernyd men wythowtyn velani or blame, thankyng be to God. 53 Sithyn that good man whech was hir ledar browte hir owt of the town and than went thei forth to Brydelyngton to hir confessowr, whech hite Sleytham, and spak wyth hym and wyth many other good men whech had cheryd hir befortyme and don meche for hir. Than sche wolde not abydyn ther but toke hir leve for to walke forth in hir jurné. And than hir confessowr askyd hir yyf sche durst not abydyn for the Erchebischop of Yorke, and sche seyd, "No, forsothe." Than the good man gaf hir sylver, besechyng hir to prey for hym. And so sche yed forth unto Hulle. And ther on a tyme, as thei went in processyon, a gret woman alto despysed hir, and sche seyd no word therto. Many other folke seyd that sche schulde be sett in preson and madyn gret thretyng. And notwythstondyng al her malyce, yet a good man cam and preyd hir to mete and mad hir ryth good cher. Than the malicyows pepil, the whech had despisyd hir beforn, cam to this good man and bad hym that he schulde do hir no good, for thei helde that sche was no good woman. On the next day at morwyn hir hoste led hir owt at the townys ende, for he durst no lengar kepyn hir. And so sche went to Hesyl and wolde a gon ovyr the watyr at Humbyr. Than happyd sche to fyndyn ther too Frer Prechowrys and two yemen of the Duke of Bedforthys. The frerys telde the yemen that woman sche was, and the yemen arestyd hir as sche wolde a takyn hir boot, and restyd a man that went wyth hir also. "For owr Lord," thei seyd, "the Duke of Bedforth hath sent for the. And thu art holdyn the grettest loller in al this cuntré er abowte London eythyr. And we han sowt the in many a cuntré, and we schal han an hundryd pownde for to bryng the beforn owr Lord." Sche seyd to hem, "Wyth good wil, serys, I schal gon wyth yow wher ye wil ledyn me." Than thei browt hir agen into Hesyl, and ther men callyd hir loller, and women cam rennyng owt of her howsys wyth her rokkys, crying to the pepil, "Brennyth this fals heretyk." So, as sche went forth to Beverleward wyth the seyd yemen and the frerys beforn seyd, thei mettyn many tymes wyth men of the cuntré, whech seyd unto hir, "Damsel, forsake this lyfe that thu hast, and go spynne and carde as other women don, and suffyr not so meche schame and so meche wo. We wolde not suffir so meche for no good in erthe." Than sche seyd to hem, "I suffir not so mech sorwe as I wolde do for owr Lordys lofe, for I suffir but schrewyd wordys, and owr merciful Lord Crist Jhesu, worshepyd be hys name, suffyrd hard strokys, bittyr scorgyngys, and schamful deth at the last for me and for al mankynde, blyssed mot he be. And therfor it is ryth nowt that I suffir in regarde to that he suffyrd." And so, as sche went wyth the forseyd men, sche telde hem good talys tyl on of the dukys men whech had arestyd hir seyd unto hir, "Me ovyrthynkyth that I met wyth the, for me semyth that thu seyst ryth good wordys." Than seyd sche unto hym, "Ser, ovyrthynkyth ne repentith yow not that ye met wyth me. Doth yowr lordys wille, and I trust al schal be for the best, for I am ryth wel plesyd that ye met wyth me." He seyd agen, "Damsel, yf evyr thu be seynt in hevyn, prey for me." Sche answeryd, seying to hym agen, "Sir, I hope ye schal be a seynt yowrselfe and every man that schal come to hevyn." So thei yedyn forth til thei comyn into Beverlé, wher dwellyd on of the mennys wifys that had arestyd hir. And thedyr thei leddyn hir and tokyn awey fro hir hir purs and hir ryng. Thei ordeynd hir a fayr chambyr and an honest bed therin wyth the necessarys, lokkyng the dor wyth the key and beryng awey the key wyth hem. Sithyn thei tokyn the man whom thei arestyd wyth hir, wheche was the Erchebischopys man of Yorke, and put hym in preson. And sone aftyr that same day cam tydyngys that the Erchebischop was comyn into the town wher hys man was put in preson. It was telde the Erchebischop of hys mannys presonyng, and anon he dede hym be latyn owte. Than that man went to the sayd creatur wyth angry cher, seying, "Alas that evyr knew I the. I have ben presonyd for the." Sche, comfortyng hym, seyd agen, "Havyth mekenes and pacyens, and ye schal have gret mede in hevyn therfor." So yed he awey fro hir. Than stode sche lokyng owt at a wyndown, tellyng many good talys to hem that wolde heryn hir, in so meche that women wept sor and seyde wyth gret hevynes of her hertys, "Alas, woman, why schalt thu be brent?" Than sche preyid the good wyfe of the hows to gevyn hir drynke, for sche was evyl for thryste. And the good wife seyde hir husbond had born awey the key, wherfor sche myth not comyn to hir ne gevyn hir drynke. And than the women tokyn a leddyr and set up to the wyndown and govyn hir a pynte of wyn in a potte and toke hir a pece, besechyng hir to settyn awey the potte prevyly and the pece that whan the good man come he myth not aspye it. 54 The seyd creatur, lying in hir bed the next nyth folwyng, herd wyth hir bodily erys a lowde voys clepyng, "Margery." Wyth that voys sche woke, gretly aferyd, and, lying stille in sylens, sche mad hir preyerys as devowtly as sche cowde for the tyme. And sone owr merciful Lord ovyral present, comfortyng hys unworthy servawnt, seyd unto hir, "Dowtyr, it is mor plesyng unto me that thu suffyr despitys and scornys, schamys and reprevys, wrongys and disesys than yif thin hed wer smet of thre tymes on the day every day in sevyn yer. And therfor, dowtyr, fere the nowt what any man can seyn onto the, but in myn goodnes and in thy sorwys that thu hast suffryd therin hast thu gret cawse to joyn, for, whan thu comyst hom into hevyn, than schal every sorwe turnyn the to joye." On the next day sche was browte into the chapetylhows of Beverlé, and ther was the Erchebischop of Yorke and many gret clerkys wyth hym, prestys, chanowns, and seculer men. Than seyd the Erchebischop to the seid creatur, "What, woman, art thu come agen? I wolde fayn be delyveryd of the." And than a preste browt hir forth befor hym, and the Erchebischop seyd, alle that wer present heryng, "Serys, I had this woman befor me at Cowode, and ther I wyth my clerkys examynd hir in hir feyth and fond no defawte in hir. Forthermor, serys, I have sithyn that tyme spokyn wyth good men whech holdyn hir a parfyte woman and a good woman. Notwythstandyng al this I gaf on of my men five shillings to ledyn hir owt of this cuntré for qwietyng of the pepil. And, as thei wer goyng in her jurné, they wer takyn and arestyd, my man put in preson for hir, also hir gold and hir sylver was takyn awey fro hir wyth hir bedys and hir ryng, and sche is browt her agen befor me. Is her any man can sey any thyng agens hir?" Than other men seyd, "Her is a frer can meche thing agens hir." The frer cam forth and seyd that sche dispravyd alle men of holy chirche and mech ylle langage he uttryd that tyme of hir. Also he seyd that sche schulde a be brent at Lynne, had hys ordyr, that was Frer Prechowrys, ne be. "And, syr, sche seyth that sche may wepyn and han contricyon whan sche wil." Than cam tho too men whech had arestyd hir, seyng wyth the frer that sche was Combomis dowtyr and was sent to beryn lettrys abowtyn the cuntré. And thei seydyn sche had nowt ben at Jerusa lem ne in the Holy Lond ne on other pilgrimage, liche as sche had ben in trewth. Thei denyed al trewth and meynteyned the wrong, as many other had don beforn. Whan thei had seyd inow a gret while and a long tyme, thei wer in pes. Than seyd the Erchebischop to hir, "Woman, what seyst thu herto?" Sche seyd, "My Lorde, save yowr reverens, it arn lesyngys alle the wordys that thei sey." Than seyde the Erchebischop to the frer, "Frer, the wordys arn non heresye; thei arn slawnderows wordys and erroneows." "My Lord," seyde the frer, "sche can hir feyth wel inow. Nevyrthelesse, my Lord of Bedforthe is wroth wyth hir, and he wyl han hir." "Wel frer," seyde the Erchebischop, "and thu schalt ledyn hir to hym." "Nay, ser," seyde the frer, "it fallyth not for a frer to ledyn a woman abowtyn." "And I wille not," seyde the Erchebischop, "that the Duke of Bedforde be wroth wyth me for hir." Than seyde the Erchebischop to hys men, "Takyth hede to the frer tyl I wyl have hym agen," and comawndyd an other man to kepyn the seyde creatur also tyl he wolde have hir agen an other tyme whan he lykyde. The sayd creatur preyde hym of hys lordschip that sche schulde not be putte amongs men, for sche was a mannys wyfe. And the Erchebischop seyde, "Nay, thu schalt non harm han." Than he that was chargyd wyth hir toke hir be the hand and led hir hom to hys hows and dede hir sittyn wyth hym at mete and drynke, schewyng hir goodly cher. Thedyr comyn many prestys and other men eftsonys to se hir and spekyn wyth hir, and meche pepil had gret compassyon that sche was so evyl ferd wyth. In schort tyme aftyr, the Erchebischop sent for hir, and sche cam into hys halle. Hys meny was at mete, and sche was ledde into hys chawmbyr evyn to hys beddys syde. Than sche, obeyng, thankyd hym of hys gracyows lordschip that he had schewyd to hir befortyme. "Ya, ya," seyd the Erchebischop, "I am wers enformyd of the than evyr I was beforn." Sche seyd, "My Lord, yyf it lyke yow to examyn me, I schal ben aknowe the trewth, and, yf I be fowndyn gylty, I wyl abeyn yowr correccyon." Than cam forth a Frer Prechowr whech was suffragan wyth the Erchebischop, to whom the Erchebischop seyde, "Now, ser, as ye seyde to me whan sche was not present, sey now whil sche is present." "Schal I so?" seyde the suffragan. "Ya," seyde the Erchebischop. Than seyde the suffragan to the seyde creatur, "Dam sel, thu wer at my Lady Westmorlond." "Whan, sir?" seyde sche. "At Estern," seyd the suffragan. Sche, not replying, seyd, "Wel, ser?" Than seyd he, "My Lady hir owyn persone was wel plesyd wyth the and lykyd wel thy wordys, but thu cownseledyst my Lady Greystokke to forsakyn hir husbonde, that is a barownys wyfe and dowtyr to my Lady of Westmorlonde, and now hast seyd inow to be brent for." And so he multiplyed many schrewyd wordys befor the Erchebischop; it is not expedient to rehersyn hem. At the last sche seyde to the Erchebischop, "My Lord, yf it be yowr wille, I saw not my Lady Westmorlond this too yer and mor. Sir, sche sent for me er I went to Jerusa lem and, yyf it lyke yow, I wyl gon ageyn to hir for recorde that I mevyd no sweche mater." "Nay," seyde thei that stodyn abowtyn, "late hir be putte in preson, and we schal sendyn a lettyr to the worshepful lady, and, yyf it be trewth that sche seyth, late hir go qwite wythowtyn dawnger." And sche seyde sche was ryth wel apayd that it wer so. Than seyde a gret clerke whech stood a lytyl besyden the Erchebischop, "Putte hir forty days in preson and sche schal lovyn God the bettyr whyl sche levyth." The Erchebischop askyd hir what tale it was that sche telde the Lady of Westmorlonde whan sche spak wyth hir. Sche seyde, "I telde hir a good tale of a lady that was dampmyd for sche wolde not lovyn hir enmiis and of a baly that was savyd for he lovyd hys enmys and forgaf that thei had trespasyd agen hym, and yet he was heldyn an evyl man." The Erchebischop seyd it was a good tale. Than seyd hys styward and many mo wyth hym, crying wyth a lowde voys to the Erchebischop, "Lord, we prey yow late hir go hens at this tyme, and, yf evyr sche come ageyn, we schal bren hyre owrself." The Erchebischop seyde, "I leve ther was nevyr woman in Inglond so ferd wyththal as sche is and hath ben." Than he seyde to the sayde creatur, "I wote not what I schal don wyth the." Sche seyde, "My Lord, I pray yow late me have yowr lettyr and yowr seyl into recorde that I have excusyd me ageyn myn enmys and no thyng is attyd ageyns me, neithyr herrowr ne heresy that may ben prevyd upon me, thankyd be owr Lord, and John, yowr man, agen to bryngyn me ovyr the watyr." And the Erchebischop ful goodly grawntyd hir al hir desyr, owr Lord rewarde hym hys mede, and delveryd hyr purs wyth hir ryng and hir bedys whech the Dukys men of Bedforth had takyn fro hir beforn. The Erchebischop had gret merveyl wher sche had good to gon wyth abowtyn the cuntré, and sche seyde good men gaf it hir for sche schulde prey for hem. Than sche, knelyng down, receyved hys blissyng and toke hir leve wyth ryth glad cher, goyng owt of hys chambyr. And the Erchebischopys mene preyd hir to prey for hem, but the styward was wroth, for sche lowgh and made good cher, seying to hir, "Holy folke schulde not lawghe." Sche seyd, "Ser, I have gret cawse for to lawghe, for the mor schame I suffyr and despite, the meryar may I ben in owr Lord Jhesu Crist." Than sche cam down into the halle, and ther stood the Frere Prechowr that had cawsyd hir al that wo. And so sche passyd forth wyth a man of the Erchebischop, beryng the lettyr whech the Erchebischop had grawntyd hir for a recorde, and he browt hir to the watyr of Humbyr, and ther he toke hys leve of hir, returnyng to hys lord and beryng the sayd lettyr wyth hym agen, so was sche left alone wythowtyn knowlache of the pepyl. Al the forseyd disese fel hir on a Fryday, thankyd be God of alle. 55 Whan sche was passyd the watyr of Humbyr, anon sche was arestyd for a loller and ledde to presonwarde. Ther happyd to be a person whech had seyn hir beforn the Erchebischop of Yorke and gate hir leve to gon wher sche wolde and excusyd hir agen the baly and undirtoke for hir that sche was no loller. And so sche scapyd awey in the name of Jhesu. Than met sche wyth a man of London and hys wife wyth hym. And so went sche forth wyth hem tyl sche cam to Lyncolne, and ther sufferd sche many scornys and many noyful wordys, answeryng agen in Goddys cawse wythowtyn any lettyng, wysly and discretly that many men merveyled of hir cunnyng. Ther wer men of lawe seyd unto hir, "We han gon to scole many yerys, and yet arn we not sufficient to answeryn as thu dost. Of whom hast thu this cunnyng?" And sche seyd, "Of the Holy Gost." Than askyd thei, "Hast thu the Holy Gost?" "Ya, serys," seyd sche, "ther may no man sey a good worde wythowtyn the gyft of the Holy Gost, for owr Lord Jhesu Crist seyd to hys disciplys, 'Stody not what ye schal sey, for it schal not be yowr spiryt that schal spekyn in yow, but it schal be the spiryt of the Holy Gost."' And thus owr Lord gaf hir grace to answer hem, worschepyd mote he be. Another tyme ther cam gret lordys men unto hir, and thei sworyn many gret othys, seying, "It is don us to wetyn that thu canst tellyn us whethyr we schal be savyd er damnyd." Sche seyd, "Ya, forsothe can I, for, as long as ye sweryn swech horrybyl othis and brekyn the comawndment of God wetyngly as ye do and wil not levyn yowr synne, I dar wel say ye schal be damnyd. And, yyf ye wil be contrite and schrevyn of yowr synne, wilfully don penawnce and levyn it whil ye may, in wil no mor to turne agen therto, I dar wel say ye schal be savyd." "What, canst thu noon otherwise tellyn us but thus?" "Serys," sche seyd, "this is ryth good, me thynkyth." And than thei went awey fro hir. Aftyr this sche cam homward agen til sche cam at West Lynne. Whan sche was ther, sche sent aftyr hir husbonde into Lynne Bischop, aftyr Maystyr Robert, hir confessowr, and aftyr Maistyr Aleyn, a doctowr of dyvinité, and telde hem in parcel of hyr tribulacyon. And sithyn sche telde hem that sche myth not comyn at hom at Lynne Bischop unto the tyme that sche had ben at the Erchebischop of Cawntyrbery for hys lettyr and hys seel. "For, whan I was befor the Erchebischop of Yorke," sche seyd, "he wolde geve no credens to my wordys inasmeche as I had not my lordys lettyr and seel of Cawntyrbery. And so I behestyd hym that I schulde not comyn in Lynne Bischop tyl I had my lordys lettyr and the seel of Cawntyrbury." And than sche toke hir leve of the sayd clerkys, askyng her blissyng, and passyd forth wyth hir husbonde to London. Whan sche cam ther, sche was sped of hir lettyr anon of the Erchebischop of Cawntirbury. And so sche dwellyd in the cité of London a long tyme and had ryth good cher of many worthy men. Sithyn sche cam unto Elywarde for to a comyn hom into Lynne, and sche was three myle fro Ely, ther cam a man rydyng aftyr a gret spede and arestyd hir husbond and hir also, purposyng to ledyn hem bothyn into preson. He cruely rebukyd hem and alto revylyd hem, rehersyng many reprevows wordys. And at the last sche preyde hir husbonde to schewyn hym my Lordys lettyr of Cawntirbery. Whan the man had redde the lettyr, than he spak fayr and goodly unto hem, seying, "Why schewyd me not yowr lettyr beforn?" And so thei partyd awey fro hym and than comyn into Ely and fro thens hom into Lynne, wher sche suffryd meche despite, meche reprefe, many a scorne, many a slawndyr, many a bannyng, and many a cursyng. And on a tyme a rekles man, litil chargyng hys owyn schame, wyth wil and wyth purpose kest a bolful of watyr on hir hevyd comyng in the strete. Sche, no thyng mevyd therwyth, seyd, "God make yow a good man," heyly thankyng God therof, as sche dede of many mo other tymes. 56 Afftyrward God ponyschyd hir wyth many gret and divers sekenes. Sche had the flyx a long tyme tyl sche was anoyntyd, wenyng to a be deed. Sche was so febyl that sche myth not heldyn a spon in hir hand. Than owr Lord Jhesu Crist spak to hir in hir sowle and seyd that sche schulde not dey yet. Than sche recuryd agen a lytyl while. And anon aftyr sche had a gret sekenes in hir hevyd and sithyn in hir bakke that sche feryd to a lost hir witte therthorw. Aftyrwarde, whan sche was recuryd of alle thes sekenessys, in schort tyme folwyd an other sekenes whech was sett in hir ryth syde, duryng the terme of eight yer, saf eight wokys, be divers tymes. Sumtyme sche had it onys in a weke contunyng sumtyme thirty owrys, sumtyme twenty, sumtyme ten, sumtyme eight, sumtyme four, and sumtyme two, so hard and so scharp that sche must voydyn that was in hir stomak as bittyr as it had ben galle, neythyr etyng ne drynkyng whil the sekenes enduryd but evyr gronyng tyl it was gon. Than wolde sche sey to owr Lorde, blysful Lord, why woldist thu becomyn man and suffyr so meche peyne for my synnes and for alle mennys synnes that schal be savyd, and we arn so unkende, Lord, to the, and I, most unworthy, can not suffyr this lityl peyne? A, Lord, for thy gret peyn have mercy on my lityl peyne; for the gret peyne that thu suffredyst gef me not so meche as I am worthy, for I may not beryn so meche as I am worthy. And, yyf thu wilte, Lord, that I ber it, sende me pacyens, for ellys I may not suffyr it. A, blisful Lord, I had levyr suffyr alle the schrewyd wordys that men myth seyn of me and alle clerkys to prechyn agens me for thy lofe, so it were no hyndryng to no mannys sowle, than this peyne that I have. For schrewyd wordys to suffyr for thi lofe it hirte me ryth nowt, Lord, and the werlde may takyn no thyng fro me but worschep and worldly good, and be the worschip of the werlde I sett ryth nowt. And alle maner of goodys and worschepys and alle maner of lovys in erthe, I prey the, Lord, forbede me, namely alle tho lovys and goodys of any erdly thyng whech schulde discres my lofe agens the, er lesse my meryte in hevyn; and alle maner of lovys and goodys whech thu knowist in thy Godheed schulde encresyn my love to the, I prey the, grawnt me for thy mercy to thin evyrlestyng worschep." Sumtyme, notwythstondyng the sayd creatur had gret bodily sekenes, yet the Passyon of owr merciful Lord Crist Jhesu wrowt so in hir sowle that for the tyme sche felt not hir owyn sekenes but wept and sobbyd in the mend of owr Lordys Passyon as thow sche seyn hym wyth hir bodily eye sufferyng peyne and passyon beforn hir. Sithyn, whan eight yer wer passyd, hir sekenes scapyd that it cam not weke be weke as it dede beforn, but than encresyd hir cryes and hir wepyngys in so meche that prestys durst not howselyn hir opynly in the chirche but prevyly in the priowrys chapel at Lenne fro the peplys audiens. And in that chapel sche had so hy contemplacyon and so meche dalyawns of owr Lord, inasmeche as sche was putte owt of chirche for hys lofe, that sche cryed what tyme sche schulde ben howselyd as yyf hir sowle and hir body schulde a partyd asundyr, so that tweyn men heldyn hir in her armys tyl hir cryng was cesyd, for sche myth not beryn the habundawns of lofe that sche felt in the precyows sacrament, whech sche stedfastly belevyd was very God and man in the forme of breed. Than owr blisful Lord seyde unto hir mende, "Dowtyr, I wil not han my grace hyd that I geve the, for the mor besy that the pepil is to hyndryn it and lette it, the mor schal I spredyn it abrood and makyn it knowyn to alle the worlde." 57 Than it happyd ther cam an other monke to Lynne at the tyme of remownyng, as custom was amongys hem, whech lovyd not the sayd creatur ne wolde suffryn hir to comyn in her chapel as sche had do befor that he cam thedir. Than the priowr of Lynne, Dawn Thomas Hevyngham, metyng wyth the sayd creatur and Maistyr Robert Spryngolde, whech was hir confessowr that tyme, preyd hem to holdyn hym excusyd thei sche wer no mo howselyd in hys chapel, "For ther is comyn," he seyd, "a newe brothyr of myn whech wil not comyn in owr chapel as long as sche is therin. And therfor provydith yow an other place, I pray yow." Maistyr Robert answeryd, "Syr, we must than howselyn hir in the chirche; we may not chesyn, for sche hath my lordys lettyr of Cawntyrbery and hys seel, in the whech we arn comawndyd be vertu of obedyens to heryn hir confessyon and ministryn to hir the sacrament as oftyn as we ben reqwiryd." Than was sche howselyd aftyr this tyme at the hy awter in Seynt Margaretys Chirche, and owr Lord visited hir wyth so gret grace whan sche schulde ben howselyd that sche cryed so lowde that it myth ben herd al abowte the chirche and owte of the chirche as sche schulde a deyid therwyth that sche myth not receyvyn the sacrament of the prestys handys, the preyst turnyng hym ageyn to the awter wyth the preciows sacrament, til hir crying was cesyd. And than he, turnyng ageyn to hir, schulde minystyr hir as hym awte to do. And thus it happyd many a tyme whan sche schulde ben howselyd. And sumtyme sche schulde wepyn ful softly and stilly in receyvyng of the preciows sacrament wythowtyn any boystowsnes as owr Lord wolde visityn hir wyth hys grace. On a Good Fryday, as the sayd creatur behelde preystys knelyng on her kneys and other worschepful men wyth torchys brennyng in her handys befor the Sepulcre, devowtly representyng the lamentabyl deth and doolful berying of owr Lord Jhesu Crist aftyr the good custom of Holy Cherch, the mende of owr Ladiis sorwys whech sche suffryd whan sche behelde hys precyows body hangyng on the Crosse and sithyn beriid befor hir syght sodeynly ocupiid the hert of this creatur, drawyng hir mende al holy into the Passyon of owr Lord Crist Jhesu, whom sche behelde wyth hir gostly eye in the syght of hir sowle as verily as thei sche had seyn hys precyows body betyn, scorgyd, and crucifyed wyth hir bodily eye, whech syght and gostly beheldyng wrowt be grace so fervently in hir mende, wowndyng hir wyth pité and compassyon, that sche sobbyd, roryd, and cryed, and, spredyng hir armys abrood, seyd wyth lowde voys, "I dey, I dey," that many man on hir wonderyd and merveyled what hir eyled. And the mor sche besiid hir to kepyn hir fro criyng, the lowdar sche cryed, for it was not in hir powyr to take it ne levyn it but as God wolde send it. Than a preyst toke hir in hys armys and bar hir into the priowrys cloistyr for to latyn hir takyn the eyr, supposyng sche schulde not ellys han enduryd, hir labowr was so greet. Than wex sche al blew as it had ben leed and swet ful sor. And this maner of crying enduryd the terme of ten yer, as it is wretyn beforn. And every Good Friday in alle the forseyd yerys sche was wepyng and sobbyng five er six owrys togedyr and therwyth cryed ful lowde many tymes so that sche myth not restreyn hir therfro, whech madyn hir ful febyl and weyke in hir bodily mytys. Sumtyme sche wept on Good Fryday an owr for the synne of the pepil, havyng mor sorwe for ther synnys than for hir owyn, inasmeche as owr Lorde forgaf hir hir owyn synne er sche went to Jerusalem. Nevyrthelesse sche wept for hir owyn synnes ful plentyuowsly whan it plesyd owr Lord to visityn hir wyth hys grace. Sumtyme sche wept an other owr for the sowlys in Purgatory; an other owr for hem that weryn in myschefe, in poverté, er in any disese; an other owr for Jewys, Sarasinys, and alle fals heretikys that God for hys gret goodnes schulde puttyn awey her blyndnes that thei myth thorw hys grace be turnyd to the feyth of Holy Chirche and ben children of salvacyon. Many tymes, whan this creatur schulde makyn hir preyerys, owr Lord seyd unto hir, "Dowtyr, aske what thu wylt, and thu schalt have it." Sche seyd, "I aske ryth nowt, Lord, but that thu mayst wel gevyn me, and that is mercy whech I aske for the pepil synnys. Thu seyst oftyntymes in the yer to me that thu hast forgovyn me my synnes. Therfor I aske now mercy for the synne of the pepil, as I wolde don for myn owyn, for, Lord, thu art alle charité, and charité browt the into this wretchyd worlde and cawsyd the to suffyr ful harde peynys for owr synnys. Why schulde I not than han charité to the pepyl and desiryn forgevenes of her synnes? Blyssed Lorde, me thynkyth that thu hast schewyd ryth gret charité to me, unworthy wrech. Thu art as gracyows to me as thei I wer as clene a mayden as any is in this worlde and as thow I had nevyr synned. Therfor, Lorde, I wolde I had a welle of teerys to constreyn the wyth that thu schuldist not takyn uttyr venjawns of mannys sowle for to partyn hym fro the wythowtyn ende, for it is an hard thyng to thynkyn that any erdly man schulde evyr do any synne wherthorw he schulde be departyd fro thi gloryows face wythowtyn ende. Yyf I myth as wel, Lorde, gevyn the pepyl contricyon and wepyng as thu gevyst me for myn owyn synnes and other mennys synnys also and as wel as I myth gevyn a peny owt of my purse, sone schulde I fulfille mennys hertys wyth contricyon that thei myth sesyn of her synne. I have gret merveyl in myn hert, Lord, that I, whech have ben so synful a woman and the most unworthy creatur that evyr thu schewedist thi mercy onto in alle this werlde, that I have so gret charité to myn evyn cristen sowlys that me thynkyth, thu thei had ordeynd for me the most schamful deth that evyr myth any man suffyr in erde, yet wolde I forgevyn it hem for thi lofe, Lord, and han her sowlys savyd fro evyrlestyng dampnacyon. And therfor, Lord, I schal not sesyn, whan I may wepyn, for to wepyn for hem plentyuowsly, spede yyf I may. And, yyf thu wylt, Lord, that I sese of wepyng, I prey the take me owt of this world. What schulde I don therin but yyf I myth profityn? For, thow it wer possibyl that al this world myth be savyd thorw the teerys of myn eyne, I wer no thank worthy. Therfor alle preysyng, al honowr, al worshep mot ben to the Lord. Yyf it wer thy wille, Lord, I wolde for thi lofe and for magnyfying of thi name ben hewyn as smal as flesch to the potte." 58 On a tyme, as the forseyd creatur was in hir contemplacyon, sche hungryd ryth sor aftyr Goddys word and seyd, "Alas, Lord, as many clerkys as thu hast in this world, that thu ne woldyst sendyn me on of hem that myth fulfillyn my sowle wyth thi word and wyth redyng of Holy Scriptur, for alle the clerkys that prechyn may not fulfillyn, for me thynkyth that my sowle is evyr alych hungry. Yyf I had gold inow, I wolde gevyn every day a nobyl for to have every day a sermown, for thi word is mor worthy to me than alle the good in this werld. And therfor, blyssed Lord, rewe on me, for thu hast takyn awey the ankyr fro me whech was to me synguler solas and comforte and many tymes refreschyd me wyth thin holy worde." Than answeryd owr Lord Jhesu Cryst in hir sowle, seying, "Ther schal come on fro fer that schal fulfillyn thi desyr." So, many day aftyr this answer, ther cam a preste newly to Lynne whech had nevyr knowyn hir beforn, and, whan he sey hir gon in the stretys, he was gretly mevyd to speke wyth hir and speryd of other folke what maner woman sche was. Thei seydyn thei trustyd to God that sche was a ryth good woman. Aftyrward the preyst sent for hir, preyng hir to come and spekyn wyth hym and wyth hys modyr, for he had hiryd a chawmbyr for hys modyr and for hym, and so they dwellyd togedyr. Than the sayd creatur cam to wetyn hys wille and spak wyth hys modyr and wyth hym and had ryth good cher of hem bothyn. Than the preyste toke a boke and red therin how owr Lord, seyng the cité of Jerusalem, wept therupon, rehersyng the myschevys and sorwys that schulde comyn therto, for sche knew not the tyme of hyr visitacyon. Whan the sayd creatur herd redyn how owr Lord wept, than wept sche sor and cryed lowde, the preyste ne hys modyr knowyng no cawse of hyr wepyng. Whan hir crying and hir wepyng was cesyd, thei joyyd and wer ryth mery in owr Lord. Sithyn sche toke hir leve and partyd fro hem at that tyme. Whan sche was gon, the preste seyd to hys modyr, "Me merveylyth mech of this woman why sche wepith and cryith so. Nevyrtheles me thynkyth sche is a good woman, and I desyre gretly to spekyn mor wyth hir." Hys modyr was wel plesyd and cownselyd that he schulde don so. And aftyrwardys the same preyste lovyd hir and trustyd hir ful meche and blissed the tyme that evyr he knew hir, for he fond gret gostly confort in hir and cawsyd hym to lokyn meche good scriptur and many a good doctowr whech he wolde not a lokyd at that tyme had sche ne be. He red to hir many a good boke of hy contemplacyon and other bokys, as the Bybyl wyth doctowrys therupon, Seynt Brydys boke, Hyltons boke, Boneventur, Stimulus Amoris, Incendium Amoris, and swech other. And than wist sche that it was a spirit sent of God whech seyd to hir, as is wretyn a lityl beforn, whan sche compleynyd for defawte of redyng, thes wordys, "Ther schal come on fro fer that schal fulfillyn thi desyr." And thus sche knewe be experiens that it was a ryth trewe spiryt. The forseyd preste red hir bokys the most part of seven yer er eight yer to gret encres of hys cunnyng and of hys meryte, and he suffryd many an evyl worde for hyr lofe inasmeche as he red hir so many bokys and supportyd hir in hir wepyng and hir crying. Aftyrwardys he wex benefysyd and had gret cur of sowle, and than lykyd hym ful wel that he had redde so meche beforn. 59 Thus, thorw heryng of holy bokys and thorw heryng of holy sermownys, sche evyr encresyd in contemplacyon and holy meditacyon. It wer in maner unpossibyl to writyn al the holy thowtys, holy spechys, and the hy revelacyons whech owr Lord schewyd unto hir, bothyn of hirselfe and of other men and women, also of many sowlys, sum for to ben savyd and sum for to ben dampnyd, and was to hir a gret ponyschyng and a scharp chastisyng. For to knowyn of tho that schulde be savyd sche was ful glad and joyful, for sche desyred in as meche as sche durst alle men to be savyd. And, whan owr Lord schewyd to hir of any that schulde be dampnyd, sche had gret peyn. Sche wolde not heryn it ne belevyn that it was God that schewyd hir swech thyngys and put it owt of hir mende as mech as sche myth. Owr Lord blamyd hir therfor and badde hir belevyn that it was hys hy mercy and hys goodnesse to schewyn hir hys prevy cownselys, seying to hir mende, "Dowtyr, thu must as wel heryn of the dampnyd as of the savyd." Sche wolde gevyn no credens to the cownsel of God but rathyr levyd it was sum evyl spiryt for to deceyvyn hir. Than for hir frowardnes and hir unbeleve owr Lord drow fro hir alle good thowtys and alle good mendys of holy spechys and dalyawns and the hy contemplacyon whech sche had ben usyd to befortyme, and suffyrd hir to have as many evyl thowtys as sche had beforn of good thowtys. And this vexacyon enduryd twelve days togedyr. And, lyche as befortyme sche had four owrys of the fornoon in holy spechys and dalyawns wyth owr Lord, so had sche now as many owrys of fowle thowtys and fowle mendys of letchery and alle unclennes as thow sche schulde a be comown to al maner of pepyl. And so the devyl bar hyr on hande, dalying unto hir wyth cursyd thowtys liche as owr Lord dalyid to hir beforntyme with holy thowtys. And, as sche beforn had many gloryows visyonys and hy contemplacyon in the manhod of owr Lord, in owr Lady, and in many other holy seyntys, ryth evyn so had sche now horybyl syghtys and abhominabyl, for any thyng that sche cowde do, of beheldyng of mennys membrys and swech other abhominacyons. Sche sey as hir thowt veryly dyvers men of religyon, preystys, and many other, bothyn hethyn and Cristen comyn befor hir syght that sche myth not enchewyn hem ne puttyn hem owt of hir syght, schewyng her bar membrys unto hir. And therwyth the devyl bad hir in hir mende chesyn whom sche wolde han fyrst of hem alle and sche must be comown to hem alle. And he seyd sche lykyd bettyr summe on of hem than alle the other. Hir thowt that he seyd trewth; sche cowde not sey nay; and sche must nedys don hys byddyng, and yet wolde sche not a don it for alle this worlde. But yet hir thowt that it schulde be don, and hir thowt that thes horrybyl syghtys and cursyd mendys wer delectabyl to hir ageyn hir wille. Wher sche went er what so sche dede, thes cursyd mendys abedyn wyth hir. Whan sche schulde se the sacrament, makyn hir prayerys, er don any other good dede, evyr swech cursydnes was putte in hir mende. Sche was schrevyn and dede al that sche myth, but sche fonde no relesyng tyl sche was ner at dispeyr. It can not be wretyn that peyn that sche felt and the sorwe that sche was inne. Than sche seyd, "Alas, Lord, thu hast seyd befortyme that thu schuldyst nevyr forsake me. Wher is now the sothfastnes of thy word?" And anon aftyr cam hir good awngel unto hir, seying, "Dowtyr, God hath not forsakyn the ne nevyr schal forsake the, as he hath behyte the, but, for thu belevyst not that it is the spiryt of God that spekyth in thi sowle and schewyth the hys prevy cownselys of summe that schul ben savyd and summe that schal ben dampnyd, therfor God chastisyd the on this wise and maner, and this chastisyng schal enduryn twelve days tyl thu wyl belevyn that it is God whech spekyth to the and no devyl." Than sche seyd to hir awngel, "A, I prey the, prey for me to my Lord Jhesu Crist that he wyl vowchesafe to takyn fro me thes cursyd thowtys and spekyn to me as he dede befortyme, and I schal makyn a behest to God that I schal belevyn that it is God whech that hath spokyn to me afortyme, for I may no lengar duryn this gret peyne." Hyr awngel seyd ageyn to hir, "Dowtyr, my Lord Jhesu wyl not take it awey fro the tyl thu have suffyrd it twelve days, for he wyl that thu knowe therby whethyr it is bettyr that God speke to the er the devyl. And my Lord Crist Jhesu is nevyr the wrothar wyth the, thei he suffyr the to felyn this peyne." So sche suffryd that peyn tyl twelve days wer passyd, and than had sche as holy thowtys, as holy mendys, and as holy desyrys, as holy spechys and dalyawns of owr Lord Jhesu Crist as evyr sche had beforn, owr Lord seying to hir, "Dowtyr, beleve now wel that I am no devyl." Than was sche fylled wyth joye, for sche herd owr Lord spekyn to hir as he was wone to don. Therfor sche seyd, "I schal belevyn that every good thowt is the speche of God, blyssed mote thu Lord be that thu deynyst not to comfortyn me ageyn. I wold not, Lord, for al this world suffryn swech an other peyne as I have suffryd thes twelve days, for me thowt I was in helle, blyssed mote thu be that it is passyd. Therfor, Lord, now wyl I lyn stille and be buxom to thi wille; I pray the, Lord, speke in me what that is most plesawns to the." 60 The good preste, of whom it is wretyn beforn, the wheche was hir lystere, fel in gret sekenes, and sche was steryd in hir sowle for to kepyn hym in Goddys stede. And, whan sche faylde swech as was nedful for hym, sche went abowtyn to good men and good women and gate swech thyng as was necessary unto hym. He was so seke that men trustyd no thyng to hys lyfe, and hys sekenes was long contunyng. Than on a tyme, as sche was in the chirche heryng hir messe and preyid for the same preste, owr Lord seyd to hir that he schulde levyn and faryn ryth wel. Than was sche steryd to gon to Norwych to Seynt Stefenys Chirche wher is beriid the good vicary, whech deyd but lityl befor that tyme, for whom God schewyd hy mercy to hys pepil, and thankyn hym for recuryng of this preyste. Sche toke leve of hir confessowr, goyng forth to Nor wich. Whan sche cam in the chirch yerd of Seynt Stefyn, sche cryed, sche roryd, sche wept, sche fel down to the grownd, so fervently the fyer of lofe brent in hir hert. Sithyn sche ros up agen and went forth wepyng into the chirche to the hy awter, and ther sche fel down with boistows sobbyngys, wepyngys, and lowde cryes besyden the grave of the good vicary, al ravyschyd wyth gostly comfort in the goodnes of owr Lord that wrowt so gret grace for hys servawnt whech had ben hir confessowr and many tymes herd hir confessyon of al hir levyng, and ministryd to hir the precyows sacrament of the awter divers tymes. And in so meche was hir devocyon the mor incresyd that sche sey owr Lord werkyn so special grace for swech a creatur as sche had ben conversawnt wyth in hys lyfetyme. Sche had so holy thowtys and so holy mendys that sche myth not mesuryn hir wepyng ne hir crying. And therfor the pepil had gret merveyl of hir, supposyng that sche had wept for sum fleschly er erdly affeccyon, and seyd unto hir, "What eylith the woman? Why faryst thus wyth thiself? We knew hym as wel as thu." Than wer prestys in the same place whech knew hir maner of werkyng, and thei ful charitefully led hir to a taverne and dede hir drynkyn and made hir ful hy and goodly cher. Also ther was a lady desyred to have the sayd creatur to mete. And therfor, as honeste wolde, sche went to the cherch ther the lady herd hir servyse, wher this creatur sey a fayr ymage of owr Lady clepyd a pyté. And thorw the beholdyng of that peté hir mende was al holy ocupyed in the Passyon of owr Lord Jhesu Crist and in the compassyon of owr Lady, Seynt Mary, be whech sche was compellyd to cryyn ful lowde and wepyn ful sor, as thei sche schulde a deyd. Than cam to hir the ladys preste seying, "Damsel, Jhesu is ded long sithyn." Whan hir crying was cesyd, sche seyd to the preste, "Sir, hys deth is as fresch to me as he had deyd this same day, and so me thynkyth it awt to be to yow and to alle Cristen pepil. We awt evyr to han mende of hys kendnes and evyr thynkyn of the dolful deth that he deyd for us." Than the good lady, heryng her communicacyon, seyd, "Ser, it is a good exampyl to me, and to other men also, the grace that God werkyth in hir sowle." And so the good lady was hir avoket and answeryd for hir. Sithyn sche had hir hom wyth hir to mete and schewyd hir ful glad and goodly chere as long as sche wold abydyn ther. And sone aftyr sche cam hom ageyn to Lenne, and the forseyd preyste, for whom sche went most specialy to Norwich, whech had redde hir abowte seven yer, recuryd and went abowte wher hym lykyde, thankyd be almythy God for hys goodnes. 61 Than cam ther a frer to Lenne whech was holdyn an holy man and a good prechowr. Hys name and hys perfeccyon of prechyng spred and sprong wondyr wyde. Ther cam good men to the sayd creatur of good charité and seyd, "Margery, now schal ye han prechyng anow, for ther is comyn on of the most famows frerys in Inglond to this towne, for to be her in convent." Than was sche mery and glad and thankyd God wyth al hir hert that so good a man was comyn to dwellyn amongys hem. In schort tyme aftyr he seyd a sermown in a chapel of Seynt Jamys in Lenne, wher was meche pepyl gadyrd to heryn the sermown. And, er the frer went to the pulpit, the parisch preste of the same place wher he schulde prechyn went to hym and seyd, "Ser, I prey yow, beth not displesyd. Her schal comyn a woman to yowr sermown the whech oftyn tymes, whan sche herith of the Passyon of owr Lord er of any hy devocyon, sche wepith, sobbith, and cryeth, but it lestith not longe. And therfor, good ser, yyf sche make any noyse at yowr sermown, suffyr it paciently and beth not abaschyd therof." The good frer went forth to sey the sermown and seyd ful holily and ful devowtly and spak meche of owr Lordys Passyon that the seyd creatur myth no lengar beryn it. Sche kept hir fro crying as long as sche myth, and than at the last sche brast owte wyth a gret cry and cryid wondyr sor. The good frere suffyrd it paciently and seyd no word therto at that tyme. In schort tyme aftyr he prechyd ageyn in the same place. The seyd creatur beyng present, and, beheldyng how fast the pepyl cam rennyng to heryn the sermown, sche had gret joy in hir sowle, thynkyng in hir mende, "A, Lord Jhesu, I trowe, and thu wer here to prechyn thin owyn persone, the pepyl schulde han gret joy to heryn the. I prey the, Lorde, make thi holy word to sattelyn in her sowlys as I wolde that it schulde don in myn, and as many mict be turnyd be hys voys as schulde ben be thy voys yyf thu prechedist thyselfe." And wyth swech holy thowtys and holy mendys sche askyd grace for the pepyl that tyme, and sithyn, what thorw the holy sermown and what thorw hir meditacyon, grace of devocyon wrowt so sor in hir mende that sche fel in a boystows wepyng. Than seyd the good frer, "I wolde this woman wer owte of the chirche; sche noyith the pepil." Summe that weryn hir frendys answeryd agen, "Sir, have hir excusyd. Sche may not withstand it." Than meche pepil turnyd agen hir and wer ful glad that the good frer held agen hir. Than seyd summe men that sche had a devyl wythinne hir. And so had thei seyd many tymys beforn, but now thei wer mor bolde, for hem thowt that her opinyon was wel strenghthyd er ellys fortifyed be this good frer. Ne he wolde not suffyr hir to her hys sermown les than sche wolde levyn hir sobbyng and hir crying. Ther was than a good preyste whech had red to hir mech good scriptur and knew the cawse of hir crying. He spak to an other good preyste, the whech had knowyn hir many yerys, and telde hym hys conseyt, how he was purposyd to gon to the good frer and assayn yyf he myth mekyn hys hert. The other good preyste seyd he wolde wyth good wyl gon wyth hym to getyn grace yyf he myth. So thei went, bothe preystys togedyr, and preyid the good frer as enterly as thei cowde that he wolde suffyr the sayd creatur quyetly to comyn to hys sermown and suffyr hir paciently yyf sche happyd to sobbyn er cryen as other good men had suffyrd hir before. He seyd schortly agen, yyf sche come in any cherch wher he schulde prechyn and sche made any noyse as sche was wone to do, he schulde speke scharply ageyn hir, he wolde not suffyrn hir to crye in no wyse. Sithyn a worshepful doctowr of divinité, a White Frer, a solem clerk and elde doctowr, and a wel aprevyd, whech had knowyn the sayd creatur many yerys of hir lyfe and belevyd the grace that God wrowt in hir, toke wyth hym a worthy man, a bacheler of lawe, a wel growndyd man in scriptur and long exercisyd, whech was confessowr to the sayd creatur, and wentyn to the sayd frer as the good preystys dedyn beforn and sentyn for wyne to cheryn hym wyth, preyng hym of hys charité to favyr the werkys of owr Lord in the sayd creatur and grawntyn hir hys benevolens in supportyng of hir yyf it happyd hir to cryen er sobbyn whyl he wer in hys sermown. And thes worthy clerkys telde hym that it was a gyft of God and that sche cowde not have it but whan God wolde geve it, ne sche myth not wythstande it whan God wolde send it, and God schulde wythdrawe it whan he wilde, for that had sche be revelacyon, and that was unknowyn to the frer. Than he, neythyr gevyng credens to the doctowrys wordys ne the bachelerys, trustyng mech in the favowr of the pepil, seyd he wolde not favowr hir in hir crying for nowt that any man myth sey er do, for he wolde not levyn that it was a gyft of God. But he seyd, yyf sche myth not wythstond it whan it cam, he levyd it was a cardiakyl er sum other sekenesse, and, yyf sche wolde be so aknowyn, he seyd, he wold have compassyon of hir and steryn the pepil to prey for hir, and undyr this condicion he wolde han paciens in hir and suffyr hir to cryen anow, that sche schulde sey that it was a kendly seknes. And hirself knew wel be revelacyon and be experiens of werkyng it was no sekenes, and therfor sche wolde not for al this world sey otherwyse than sche felt. And therfor thei myth not acordyn. Than the worschepful doctowr and hir confessowr cownselyd hir that sche schulde not come at hys sermown, and that was to hir a gret peyne. Than went another man, a worschepful burgeys, the whech in fewe yerys aftyr was meyr of Lenne, and preyd hym as the worthy clerkys had don beforn, and he was answeryd as thei worn. Than was sche chargyd be hir confessowr that sche schulde not comyn ther he prechyd, but whan he prechyd in o chirche sche schulde gon into another. Sche had so mech sorwe that sche wist not what sche myth do, for sche was putte fro the sermown whech was to hir the hyest comfort in erth whan sche myth heryn it, and ryth so the contrary was to hir the grettest peyne in erthe whan sche myth not heryn it. Whan sche was alone be hirself in on cherch and he prechyng the pepil in an other, sche had as lowde and as mervelyows cryis as whan sche was amongys the pepil. It was yerys that sche myth not be suffyrd to come at hys sermown for that sche cryed so whan it plesyd owr Lord to gyfe hir mende and very beholdyng of hys bittyr Passyon. But sche was not excludyd fro non other clerkys prechyng, but only fro the good frerys, as is seyd beforn, notwythstondyng in the menetyme ther prechyd many worschepful doctorys and other worthy clerkys, bothyn religyows and seculerys, at whoys sermownys sche cryid ful lowde and sobbyd ful boystowsly many tymes and ofte. And yet thei suffyrd it ful paciently, and summe whech had spokyn wyth hir beforn and haddyn knowlach of hir maner of levyng excusyd hir to the pepil whan thei herdyn any rumowr er grutchyng agens hir. 62 Afftyr on Seynt Jamys Day the good frere prechyd in Seynt Jamys chapel yerd at Lenne - he was as that tyme neythyr bacheler ne doctowr of divinyté - wher was meche pepil and gret audiens, for he had an holy name and gret favowr of the pepyl, in so meche that summe men, yyf thei wiste that he schulde prechyn in the cuntré, thei wolde go wyth hym er ellys folwyn hym fro town to town, so gret delite thei had to heryn hym and so, blissed mote God ben, he prechyd ful holily and ful devowtly. Nevyrthelesse as this day he prechyd meche ageyn the seyd creatur, not expressyng hir name, but so he expleytyd hys conseytys that men undirstod wel that he ment hir. Than was ther mech remowr among the pepil, for many men and many women trustyd hir and lovyd hir ryth wel and wer ryth hevy and sorweful for he spak so meche ageyn hir as he dede, desiryng that thei had not an herd hym that day. Whan he herd the murmowr and grutchyng of the pepil, supposyng to be geynseyd an other day of hem that weryn hir frendys, he, smityng hys hand on the pulpit, seyd, "Yyf I here any mor thes materys rehersyd, I schal so smytyn the nayl on the hed," he seyd, "that it schal schamyn alle hyr mayntenowrys." And than many of hem that pretendyd hir frenschep turnyd abakke for a lytyl veyn drede that thei haddyn of hys wordys and durst not wel spekyn wyth hir, of the whech the same preyste was on that aftirward wrot this boke and was in purpose nevyr to a levyd hir felyngys aftyr. And yet owr Lord drow hym agen in schort tyme, blissed mote he ben, that he lovyd hir mor and trustyd mor to hir wepyng and hir crying than evyr he dede beforn, for aftyrward he red of a woman clepyd Maria de Oegines and of hir maner of levyng, of the wondirful swetnesse that sche had in the word of God heryng, of the wondirful compassyon that sche had in hys Passyon thynkyng, and of the plentyuows teerys that sche wept, the whech made hir so febyl and so weyke that sche myth not endur to beheldyn the crosse, ne heryn owr Lordys Passyon rehersyd, so sche was resolvyd into terys of pyté and compassyon. Of the plentyuows grace of hir teerys he tretyth specyaly in the boke beforn wretyn the eighteenth capitulo that begynnyth, "Bonus es, domine, sperantibus in te," and also in the nineteenth capitulo wher he tellyth how sche, at the request of a preyste that he schulde not be turbelyd ne distrawt in hys messe wyth hir wepyng and hir sobbyng, went owt at the chirche dor, wyth a lowde voys crying that sche myth not restreyn hir therfro. And owr Lord also visityd the preyste beyng at messe wyth swech grace and wyth sweche devocyon whan he schulde redyn the Holy Gospel that he wept wondirly so that he wett hys vestiment and ornamentys of the awter and myth not mesuryn hys wepyng ne hys sobbyng, it was so habundawnt, ne he myth not restreyn it ne wel stande therwyth at the awter. Than he levyd wel that the good woman, whech he had beforn lityl affeccyon to, myth not restreyn hir wepyng, hir sobbyng, ne hir cryyng, whech felt meche mor plente of grace than evyr dede he wythowtyn any comparison. Than knew he wel that God gaf hys grace to whom he wolde. Than the preste whech wrot thes tretys thorw steryng of a worshepful clerk, a bacheler of divinité, had seyn and red the mater beforn wretyn meche mor seryowslech and expressiowslech than it is wretyn in this tretys (for her is but a lityl of the effect therof, for he had not ryth cler mende of the sayd mater whan he wrot this tretys, and therfor he wrot the lesse therof) than he drow ageyn and inclined mor sadly to the sayd creatur, whom he had fled and enchewyd thorw the frerys prechyng, as is beforn wretyn. Also the same preyste red aftyrward in a tretys whech is clepyd "The Prykke of Lofe," the second chapitulo that Boneaventur wrot of hymselfe thes wordys folwyng, "A, Lord, what schal I mor noysen er cryen? Thu lettyst and thu comyst not, and I, wery and ovyrcome thorw desyr, begynne for to maddyn, for lofe governyth me and not reson. I renne wyth hasty cowrs wher that evyr thu wylte. I bowe, Lord, thei that se me irkyn and rewyn, not knowyng me drunkyn wyth thi lofe. Lord, thei seyn 'Lo, yen wood man cryeth in the stretys,' but how meche is the desyr of myn hert thei parceyve not." And capitulo Stimulo Amoris and capitulo ut supra. He red also of Richard Hampol, hermyte, in Incendio Amoris leche mater that mevyd hym to gevyn credens to the sayd creatur. Also, Elizabeth of Hungry cryed wyth lowde voys, as is wretyn in hir tretys. And many other whech had forsakyn hir thorw the frerys prechyng repentyd hem and turnyd agen unto hir be processe of tyme, notwithstandyng the frer kept hys opinyon. And alwey he wolde in hys sermown have a parte ageyn hir, whethyr sche wer ther er not, and cawsyd mech pepil to demyn wol evyl of hir many day and long. For summe seyd that sche had a devyl wythinne hir, and summe seyd to hir owyn mowth that the frer schulde a drevyn to develys owt of hir. Thus was sche slawnderyd, etyn, and knawyn of the pepil for the grace that God wrowt in hir of contricyon, of devocyon, and of compassyon, thorw the gyft of whech gracys sche wept, sobbyd, and cryid ful sor ageyn hir wyl, sche myth not chesyn, for sche had levar a wept softly and prevyly than opynly yyf it had ben in hyr power. 63 Than summe of hir frendys cam to hir and seyd it wer mor ese to hir to gon owt of the town than abydyn therin, so meche pepyl was ageyn hir. And sche seyd sche schulde abydyn ther as long as God wolde. "For her," sche seyd, "in this town have I synned. Therfor it is worthy that I suffyr sorwe in this town ther ageyn. And yet have I not so meche sorwe ne schame as I have deservyd, for I have trespasyd agens God. I thank almythy God what that evyr he sendith me, and I pray God that al maner of wikkydnes that any man schal seyn of me in this world may stonde into remissyon of my synnys, and any goodnesse that any man schal seyn of the grace that God werkyth in me may turnyn God to worschep and to preysyng and magnifying of hys holy name wythowtyn ende, for al maner of worschep longith to hym, and al despite, schame, and reprefe longyth to me, and that have I wel deservyd." An other tyme hyr confessowr cam to hir into a chapel of owr Lady, clepyd the Jesyne, seying, "Margery, what schal ye now do? Ther is no mor agen yow but the mone and seven sterrys. Anethe is ther any man that heldith wyth yow but I alone." Sche seyd to hir confessowr, "Ser, beth of a good comforte, for it schal ben ryth wel at the last. And I telle yow trewly my Lord Jhesu gevyth me gret comforte in my sowle, and ellys schulde I fallyn in dispeyr. My blisful Lord Crist Jhesu wil not latyn me dyspeyryn for noon holy name that the good frer hath, for my Lord tellyth me that he is wroth wyth hym, and he seyth to me it wer bettyr he wer nevyr born, for he despisith hys werkys in me." Also owr Lord seyd to hir, "Dowtyr, yyf he be a preyste that despisith the, knowyng wel wherfor thu wepist and cryist, he is acursyd." And on a tyme, as sche was in the priowrys cloystyr and durst not abydyn in the cherch for inqwietyng of the pepil wyth hir crying, owr Lord seyd unto hir beyng in gret hevynes, "Dowtyr, I bydde the gon ageyn into cherch, for I schal takyn awey fro the thy criyng that thu schalt no mor cryin so lowde ne on that maner wyse as thu hast don beforn thei thu woldist." Sche dede the comawndment of owr Lord and telde hir confessowr lich as sche felt, and it fel in trewth as sche felt. Sche cryed no mor aftyr so lowde ne on that maner as sche had don beforn, but sche sobbyd wondirly aftyr and wept as sor as evyr sche dede beforn, sumtyme lowde and sumtyme stille, as God wolde mesur it hys selfe. Than meche pepil levyd that sche durst no lengar cryen for the good frer prechyd so ageyn hir and wold not suffyr hir in no maner. Than thei heldyn hym an holy man and hir a fals feynyd ypocrite. And, as summe spoke evyl of hir aforn for sche cryed, so sum spoke now evyl of hir for sche cryid not. And so slawndir and bodily angwisch fel to hir on every syde, and al was encresyng of hir gostly comfort. Than owr mercyful Lord seyd unto hys unworthy servawnt, "Dowtyr, I must nedys comfortyn the, for now thu hast the ryth wey to hevyn. Be this wey cam I to hevyn and alle my disciplys, for now thu schalt knowe the bettyr what sorwe and schame I suffyrd for thy lofe, and thu schalt have the mor compassyon whan thu thynkyst on my Passyon. Dowtyr, I have telde the many tymys that the frer schulde seyn evyl of the. Therfor I warne the that thu telle hym not of the prevy cownsel whech I have schewyd to the, for I wille not that he here it of thy mowth. And, dowtyr, I telle the forsothe he schal be chastised scharply. As hys name is now, it schal ben throwyn down and thin schal ben reysed up. And I schal makyn as many men to lofe the for my lofe as han despisyd the for my lofe. Dowtyr, thu schalt be in cherch whan he schal be wythowtyn. In this chirche thu hast suffyrd meche schame and reprefe for the gyftys that I have govyn the and for the grace and goodnes that I have wrowt in the, and therfore in this cherche and in this place I schal ben worschepyd in the. Many a man and woman schal seyn it is wel sene that God lovyd hir wel. Dowtyr, I schal werkyn so mech grace for the that al the werld schal wondryn and merveylyn of my goodnes." Than the sayd creatur seyd unto our Lord wyth gret reverens, "I am not worthy that thu schuldist schewyn sweche grace for me. Lord, it is anow to me that thu safe my sowle fro endles dampnacyon be thi gret mercy." "It is my worschep, dowtyr, that I schal do, and therfore I wil that thu have no wyl but my wyl. The lesse prise that thu settyst be thyselfe, the mor prise set I be the, and the bettyr wil I lovyn the, dowtyr. Loke thu have no sorwe for erdly good. I have asayd the in poverté, and I have chas tised the as I wole myselfe, bothe wythinne forth in thi sowle and wythowte forth thorw slawndyr of the pepil. Lo, dowtyr, I have grawntyd the thin owyn desyr, for thu schuldist non other purgatory han but in this werld only. Dowtyr, thu seyst oftyn to me in thi mende that riche men han gret cawse to lovyn me wel, and thu seyst ryth soth, for thu seyst I have govyn hem meche good wherwyth thei may servyn me and lovyn me. But, good dowtyr, I prey the, love thu me wyth al thyn hert, and I schal gevyn the good anow to lovyn me wyth, for hevyn and erde schulde rathyr faylyn than I schulde faylyn the. And, yyf other men faylyn, thu schalt not faylyn. And, thow alle thy frendys forsake the, I schal nevyr forsakyn the. Thu madist me onys stiward of thin howsholde and executor of alle thy good werkys, and I schal be a trewe styward and a trewe executor unto the, fulfillyng of al thi wil and al thy desyr. And I schal ordeyn for the, dowtyr, as for myn owyn modyr and as for myn owyn wyfe." 64 The creatur seyd unto hir Lord Crist Jhesu, "A, blisful Lord, I wolde I knew wherin I myth best love the and plesyn the and that my love wer as swet to the as me thynkyth that thy love is unto me." Than owr swete Lord Jhesus, answeryng hys creatur, seyd, "Dowtyr, yyf thu knew how swet thy love is unto me, thu schuldist nevyr do other thyng but lovyn me wyth al thyn hert. And therfor beleve wel, dowtyr, that my lofe is not so swet to the as thy lofe is to me. Dowtyr, thu knowist not how meche I lofe the, for it may not be knowyn in this werld how meche it is, ne be felt as it is, for thu schuldist faylyn and brestyn and nevyr enduryn it for the joye that thu schuldist fele. And therfor I mesur it as I wil to thi most ese and comfort. But, dowtyr, thu schalt wel knowyn in an other worlde how meche I lovyd the in erde, for ther thu schalt han gret cawse to thankyn me. Ther thu schalt se wythowtyn ende every good day that evyr I gaf the in erth of contemplacyon, of devocyon, and of al the gret charité that I have govyn to the to the profyte of thyn evyn cristen. For this schal be thy mete whan thu comyst hom into hevyn. Ther is no clerk in al this world that can, dowtyr, leryn the bettyr than I can do, and, yyf thu wilt be buxom to my wyl, I schal be buxom to thy wil. Wher is a bettyr charité than to wepyn for thi Lordys lofe? Thu wost wel, dowtyr, that the devyl hath no charité, for he is ful wroth wyth the and he myth owt hurtyn the, but he schal not deryn the saf a lityl in this world for to makyn the afeerd sumtyme, that thu schuldist preyn the myghtilier to me for grace and steryn thy charité the mor to meward. Ther is no clerk can spekyn agens the lyfe whech I teche the, and, yyf he do, he is not Goddys clerk; he is the develys clerk. I telle the ryth forsothe that ther is no man in this world, yyf he wolde suffyr as meche despite for my lofe wilfully as thu hast don and clevyn as sor unto me, not willyng for anythyng that may be do er seyd agen hym forsakyn me, but I schal far ryth fayr wyth hym and be ryth gracyowse unto hym, bothyn in this worlde and in the other." Than seyd the creatur, "A, my derworthy Lord, this lyfe schuldist thu schewyn to religiows men and to preistys." Owr Lord seyd agen to hir, "Nay, nay, dowtyr, for that thyng that I lofe best thei lofe not, and that is schamys, despitys, scornys, and reprevys of the pepil, and therfor schal thei not have this grace. For, dowtyr, I telle the, he that dredith the schamys of the world may not parfytely lovyn God. And, dowtyr, undyr the abyte of holynes is curyd meche wykkydnes. Dowtyr, yyf thu sey the wikkydnes that is wrowt in the werld as I do, thu schuldist have gret wondyr that I take not uttyr venjawns on hem. But, dowtyr, I spar for thy lofe. Thu wepist so every day for mercy that I must nedys grawnt it the, and wil not the pepil belevyn the goodnes that I werke in the for hem. Nevyrthelesse, dowtyr, ther schal come a tyme whan thei schal be ryth fayn to belevyn the grace that I have govyn the for hem. And I schal sey to hem whan thei arn passyd owt of this world, 'Lo, I ordeynd hir to wepyn for hir synnes, and ye had hir in gret despite, but hir charité wolde nevyr sesen for yow.' And therfor, dowtyr, thei that arn good sowlys schal hyly thank me for the grace and goodnes that I have gove the, and thei that arn wikkyd schal grutchyn and han gret peyn to suffyr the grace that I schewe to the. And therfor I schal chastisyn hem as it wer for myself." Sche preyd, "Nay, derworthy Lord Jhesu, chastise no creatur for me. Thu wost wel, Lord, that I desyr no venjawns, but I aske mercy and grace for alle men yyf it be thy wille to grawnt it. Nevyrthelesse, Lord, rathyr than thei schulde ben departyd fro the wythowtyn ende, chastise hem as thu wilt thiselfe. It semyth, Lord, in my sowle that thu art ful of charité, for thu seyst thu wilt not the deth of a synful man. And thu seyst also thu wilt alle men ben savyd. Than, Lord, syn thu woldist alle men schulde ben savyd, I must wyl the same, and thu seyst thyself that I must lovyn myn evyn cristen as myn owyn self. And, Lord, thu knowist that I have wept and sorwyd many yerys for I wolde be savyd, and so must I do for myn evyn cristen." 65 Owr Lord Jhesu Crist seyde unto the sayd creatur, "Dowtyr, thu schal wel seen whan thu art in hevyn wyth me that ther is no man dampnyd but he that is wel worthy to be dampnyd, and thu schalt holdyn the wel plesyd wyth alle my werkys. And therfor, dowtyr, thank me hyly of this gret charité that I werke in thyn hert, for it is myself, almythy God, that make the to wepyn every day for thyn owyn synnes, for the gret compassyon that I geve the of my bittyr Passyon and for the sorwys that my modyr had her in erde, for the angwischys that sche suffryd and for the teerys that sche wept, also, dowtyr, for the holy martyres in hevyn (whan thu heryst of hem, thu gevist me thankyngys wyth crying and wepyng for the grace that I have schewyd to hem, and, whan thu seest any lazerys, thu hast gret compassyon of hem, yeldyng me thankyngys and preysyngys that I am mor favorabyl to the than I am to hem), and also, dowtyr, for the gret sorwe that thu hast for al this world that thu mythtyst helpyn hem as wel as thu woldist helpyn thiself bothe gostly and bodily, and forthermor for the sorwys that thu hast for the sowlys in purgatory that thu woldist so gladly that thei wer owt of her peyn that thei mythyn preysyn me wythowtyn ende. And al this is myn owyn goodnes that I geve to the, wherfor thu art meche bowndyn to thankyn me. And nevyrthelesse yet I thank the for the gret lofe thu hast to me and for thu hast so gret wyl and so gret desyr that alle men and women schulde lovyn me ryth wel, for, as thu thynkyst, holy and unholy alle thei wolde have good to levyn wyth as is leful unto hem, but alle wyl not besyn hem to love me as thei do to geten hem temperal goodys. Also, dowtyr, I thank the for thu thynkyst so long that thu art owt of my blyssed presens. Forthermor, I thank the, dowtyr, specyaly for thow mayst suffyr no man to breke my comawndementys ne to sweryn be me but yyf it be a gret peyne to the and for thu art alwey redy to undyrnemyn hem of her sweryng for my lofe. And therfor hast thu suffyrd many a schrewyd word and many a repref, and thu schalt therfor han many a joy in hevyn. Dowtyr, I sent onys Seynt Powyl unto the for to strengthyn the and comfortyn the that thu schuldist boldly spekyn in my name fro that day forward. And Seynt Powle seyd unto the that thu haddyst suffyrd mech tribulacyon for cawse of hys wrytyng, and he behyte the that thu schuldist han as meche grace ther agens for hys lofe as evyr thu haddist schame er reprefe for hys lofe. He telde the also of many joys of hevyn and of the gret lofe that I had to the. And, dowtyr, I have oftyntymes seyd to the that ther is no seynt in hevyn but yyf thu wilt speke wyth hym he is redy to the to comfortyn the and spekyn to the in my name. Myn awngelys arn redy to offyrn thyn holy thowtys and thi preyerys to me and the terys of thyn eyne also, for thi terys arn awngelys drynk, and it arn very pyment to hem. Therfor, my derworthy dowtyr, be not yrke of me in erde to syttyn alone be thiself and thynkyn of my lofe, for I am not yrke of the and my mercyful eye is evyr upon the. Dowtyr, thu mayst boldly seyn to me 'Jhesus est amor mes,' that is to seyn, 'Jhesu is my lofe.' Therfor, dowtyr, late me be al thy lofe and al the joy of thyn hert. Dowtyr, yyf thu wilt bethynk the wel, thu hast rith gret cawse to lofe me abovyn al thyng for the gret gyftys that I have govyn the befortyme. And yet thu hast an other gret cawse to lovyn me, for thu hast thi wil of chastité as thu wer a wedow, thyn husbond levyng in good hele. Dowtyr, I have drawe the lofe of thin hert fro alle mennys hertys into myn hert. Sumtyme, dowtyr, thu thowtyst it had ben in a maner unpossybyl for to ben so, and that tyme suffyrdyst thu ful gret peyne in thin hert wyth fleschly affeccyons. And than cowdyst thu wel cryen to me, seying, 'Lord, for alle thi wowndys smert, drawe al the lofe of myn hert into thyn hert.' Dowtyr, for alle thes cawsys and many other cawsys and benefetys whech I have schewyd for the on this half the see and on yon half the see, thu hast gret cawse to lovyn me. 66 "Now, dowtyr, I wyl that thu ete flesch agen as thu wer won to don, and that thu be buxom and bonowr to my wil and to my byddyng and leve thyn owyn wyl and bydde thy gostly fadyrs that thei latyn the don aftyr my wyl. And thu schalt have nevyrthelesse grace, but so meche the mor, for thu schalt han the same mede in hevyn as thow thu fastydyst stille aftyr thin owyn wyl. Dowtyr, I badde the fyrst that thu schuldist leevyn flesch mete and non etyn, and thu hast obeyd my wyl many yerys and absteynd the aftyr my cownsel. Therfor now I bydde the that thu resort ageyn to flesch mete." The sayd creatur with reverent drede, seyd, "A, blisful Lord, the pepil, that hath knowyn of myn abstinens so many yerys and seeth me now retornyn and etyn flesch mete, thei wil have gret merveyl and, as I suppose, despisyn me and scornyn me therfor." Owr Lord seyd to hir agen, "Thu schalt non heed takyn of her scornys but late every man sey what he wyl." Than went sche to hir gostly fadyrs and teld hem what owr Lord had seyd unto hir. Whan hir gostly faderys knew the wyl of God, thei chargyd hir be vertu of obediens to etyn flesch mete as sche had don many yerys beforn. Than had sche many a scorne and meche reprefe for sche eete flesch ageyn. Also sche had mad a vow to fastyn o day in the weke for worschep of owr Lady whyl sche had levyd, whech vow sche kept many yerys. Owr Lady, aperyng to hir sowle, bad hir gon to hir confessour and seyin that sche wolde han hir dischargyd of hir vow that sche schulde ben mythy to beryn hir gostly labowrys, for wythowtyn bodily strength it mytyn not ben enduryd. Than hir confessowr, seyng be the eye of discresyon it was expedient to be do, comawndyd hir be the vertu of obediens to etyn as other creaturys dedyn mesurabely wher God wolde sche had hir fode. And hir grace was not discresyd but rathar encresyd, for sche had levar a fastyd than an etyn yyf it had ben the wyl of God. Forthermor owr Lady seyd to hir, "Dowtyr, thu art weyke inow of wepyng and of crying, for tho makyn the febyl and weyke anow. And I kan the mor thank to etyn thi mete for my lofe than to fastyn, that thu mayst enduryn thy perfeccyon of wepyng." 67 On a tyme ther happyd to be a gret fyer in Lynne Bischop, whech fyer brent up the gylde halle of the Trinité and in the same town, an hydows fyer and grevows ful lekely to a brent the parysch cherch dedicate in the honowr of Seynt Margarete, a solempne place and rychely honowryd, and also al the town, ne had grace ne myracle ne ben. The seyd creatur beyng ther present and seyng the perel and myschef of al the towne, cryed ful lowde many tymes that day and wept ful habundawntly, preyng for grace and mercy to alle the pepil. And, notwythstondyng in other tymes thei myth not enduryn hir to cryen and wepyn for the plentyuows grace that owr Lord wrowt in hir, as this day for enchewyng of her bodily perel thei myth suffyr hir to cryen and wepyn as mech as evyr sche wolde, and no man wolde byddyn hir cesyn but rathyr preyn hir of contynuacyon, ful trustyng and belevyng that thorw hir crying and wepyng owr Lord wolde takyn hem to mercy. Than cam hir confessowr to hir and askyd yyf it wer best to beryn the sacrament to the fyer er not. Sche seyd, "Yys, ser, yys, for owr Lord Jhesu Crist telde me it schal be ryth wel." So hir confessowr, parisch preste of Seynt Margaretys Cherche, toke the precyows sacrament and went beforn the fyer as devowtly as he cowde and sithyn browt it in ageyn to the cherche, and the sparkys of the fyer fleyn abowte the cherch. The seyd creatur, desiryng to folwyn the precyows sacra ment to the fyre, went owt at the cherch dor, and, as sone as sche beheld the hedows flawme of the fyr, anon sche cryed wyth lowde voys and gret wepyng, "Good Lorde, make it wel." Thes wordys wrowt in hir mende inasmeche as owr Lord had seyd to hir beforn that he schulde makyn it wel, and therfor sche cryed, "Good Lord, make it wel and sende down sum reyn er sum wedyr that may thorw thi mercy qwenchyn this fyer and esyn myn hert." Sithyn sche went ageyne into the cherch, and than sche beheld how the sparkys comyn into the qwer thorw the lantern of the cherch. Than had sche a newe sorwe and cryed ful lowde ageyn for grace and mercy wyth gret plenté of terys. Sone aftyr, comyn into hir three worschepful men wyth whyte snow on her clothys, seying unto hir, "Lo, Margery, God hath wrowt gret grace for us and sent us a fayr snowe to qwenchyn wyth the fyr. Beth now of good cher and thankyth God therfor." And with a gret cry sche gaf preysyng and thankyng to God for hys gret mercy and hys goodnes, and specyaly for he had seyd to hir beforn that it schulde be ryth wel whan it was ful unlykely to ben wel, saf only thorw myrakyl and specyal grace. And now sche saw it was wel in dede, hir thowt that sche had gret cawse to thankyn owr Lord. Than cam hir gostly fadyr unto hir and seyd he belevyd that God grawntyd hem for hir preyerys to be delyveryd owt of her gret perellys, for it myth not be, wythowtyn devowt preyerys, that the eyr beyng brygth and cler schulde be so sone chongyd into clowdys and derkys and sendyn down gret flakys of snow, thorw the whech the fyr was lettyd of hys kendly werkyng, blyssed mote owr Lord ben. Notwythstondyng the grace that he schewyd for hir, yet, whan the perelys wer sesyd, sum men slawndyrd hir for sche cryed, and sum seyden to hir that owr Lady cried nevyr, "Why crye ye on this maner?" And sche seyd for sche myth non otherwise do. Than sche fled the pepil that sche schulde geve hem non occasyon into the priowrys cloistyr. Whan sche was ther, sche had so gret mende of the Passyon of owr Lord Jhesu Crist and of hys precyows wowndys and how dere he bowt hir that sche cryed and roryd wondirfully so that sche myth be herd a gret wey and myth not restreyne hyrself therfro. Than had sche gret wondyr how owr Lady myth suffyr er dur to see hys precyows body ben scorgyd and hangyd on the crosse. Also it cam to hir mende how men had seyd to hirself beforn that owr Lady, Cristys owyn modyr, cryed not as sche dede, and that cawsyd hir to seyn in hir crying, "Lord, I am not thi modir. Take awey this peyn fro me, for I may not beryn it. Thi passyon wil sle me." So ther cam a worschepful clerk forby hir, a doctowr of divinité, "I had levyr than twenty pownde that I myth han swech a sorwe for owr Lordys Passyon." Than the sayd doctowr sent for hir ther he was to come and speke with hym, and sche wyth good wyl went to hym wyth wepyng terys to hys chambyr. The worthy and worschepful clerk dede hir drynkyn and made hir ryth good cher. Sithyn he ledde hir to an awter and askyd what was the skylle that sche cryed and wept so sor. Than sche teld hym many gret cawsys of hir wepyng and yet sche teld hym of no revelacyon. And he seyd sche was mech bowndyn to lovyn owr Lord for the tokenys of lofe that he schewyd to hir in divers wysys. Aftyrward ther cam a persun that had takyn degré in scole wheche schuld prechyn bothe for non and aftyr non. And, as he prechyd ful holily and devowtly, the sayd creatur was mevyd be devocyon in hys sermown, and at the last sche brast owt wyth a crye. And the pepil began to grutchyn wyth hir crying, for it was in the tyme that the good frer prechyd ageyn hir, as is wretyn beforn, and also er than owr Lord toke hir crying fro hir. For, thow the mater be wretyn beforn this, nevyrthelesse it fel aftyr this. Than the persun cesyd a lityl of hys prechyng and seyd to the pepil, "Frendys, beth stille and grutchith not wyth this woman, for iche of yow may synne deedly in hir and sche is nowt the cawse but yowr owyn demyng, for, thow this maner of werkyng may seme bothe good and ylle, yet awt ye for to demyn the best in yowr hertys, and I dowt it not it is ryth wel. Also I dar wel say it is a ryth gracyows gyft of God, blissed mote he be." Than the pepil blissyd hym for hys goodly wordys and wer the mor steryd to belevyn hys holy werkys. Aftyrward, whan the sermown was endyd, a good frend of the seyd creatur met wyth the frer whech had prechyd so sor ageyn hir and askyd how hym thowt be hir. The frer, answeryng scharply ageyn, seyd, "Sche hath a devyl wythinne hir," no thyng mevyd fro hys opynyon but rathyr defendyng hys errowr. 68 Sone aftyr ther was at Lynne holdyn the chapetyl of the Frer Prechowrys, and thedir comyn many worschepful clerkys of that holy ordyr of whech it longyth on to seyn a sermown in the parisch cherch. And ther was come amongys other to the sayd chapetyl a worschepful doctowr whech hite Maistyr Custawns, and he had knowyn the forseyd creatur many yerys beforn. Whan the creatur herd seyn that he was comyn thedyr, sche went to hym and schewyd hym why sche cryed and wept so sor, to wetyn yyf he myth fyndyn any defawte in hir crying er in hir wepyng. The worschepful doctowr seyd to hir, "Margery, I have red of an holy woman whom God had govyn gret grace of wepyng and crying as he hath don onto yow. In the cherch ther sche dwellyd was a preyste whech had no conseyt in hir wepyng and cawsyd hir thorw hys steryng to gon owte of the cherche. Whan sche was in the cherch yerd, sche preyd God that the preyst myth have felyng of the grace that sche felt as wistly as it lay not in hir powyr to cryen ne wepyn but whan God wolde. And so sodeynly owr Lord sent hym devocyon at hys messe that he myth not mesuryn hymself, and than wolde he no more despisyn hir aftyr that but rathyr comfortyn hir." Thus the sayde doctowr, confermyng hir crying and hir wepyng, seyd it was a gracyows and a specyal gyft of God, and God was hyly to be magnifyed in hys gyft. And than the same doctowr went to an other doctowr of divinité whech was assygned to prechyn in the parisch cherche befor al the pepil, prayng hym that yyf the sayd creatur cryid er wept at hys sermown that he wolde suffyr it mekely and no thyng ben abaschyd therof ne not spekyn ther ageyns. So aftirward, whan the worschepful doctowr schulde prechyn and worthily was browt to the pulpit, as he began to prechyn ful holily and devowtly of owr Ladiis Assumpsyon, the sayd creatur, lyftyd up in hir mende be hy swetnesse and devocyon, brast owt wyth a lowde voys and cryid ful lowde and wept ful sor. The worschepful doctowr stod stille and suffyrd wol mekely tyl it was cesyd and sithyn seyd forth hys sermowne to an ende. At aftyrnoon he sent for the same creatur into place ther he was and mad hir rith glad cher. Than sche thankyd hym for hys mekenes and hys charité that he schewyd in supportacyon of hir crying and hir wepyng befor noon at hys sermown. The worschepful doctowr seyd ageyn to hir, "Margery, I wold not a spokyn ageyn yow thow ye had cryid tyl evyn. And ye wolde comyn to Norwich, ye schal be rith wolcom and han swech cher as I can make yow." Thus God sent hir good maystyrschep of this worthy doctowr to strengthyn hir ageyn hir detractorys, worschepid be hys name. Aftirward in Lenton prechyd a good clerk, a Frer Austyn, in hys owyn hows at Lynne, and had a gret audiens, wher that tyme was the sayd creatur present. And God of hys goodnes enspired the frer to prechyn mech of hys Passyon so compassyfly and so devowtly that sche myth not beryn it. Than fel sche down wepyng and crying so sor that meche of the pepil wondryd on hir and bannyd and cursyd hir ful sor, supposyng that sche myth a left hir crying yyf sche had wolde, inasmech as the good frer had so prechyd ther ageyn, as is beforn wretyn. And than this good man that prechyd as now at this tyme seyd to the pepil, "Frendys, beth stille, ye wote ful lityl what sche felyth." And so the pepil cesyd and was stille and herd up the sermown wyth qwyet and rest of body and sowle. 69 Also on a Good Fryday at Seynt Margaretys Chirch the priowr of the same place and the same town, Lynne, schuld prechyn. And he toke to hys teme, "Jhesu is ded." Than the sayd creatur, al wowndyd wyth pité and compassyon, cryid and wept as yyf sche had seyn owr Lord ded wyth hir bodily eye. The worschepful priowr and doctowr of divinité suffyrd hir ful mekely and no thyng mevyd ageyn hir. An other tyme Bischop Wakeryng, Bischop of Norwich, prechyd at Lynne in the seyd cherch of Seynt Margarete, and the forseyd creatur cryid and wept ful boystowsly in the tyme of hys sermown, and he suffyrd it ful mekely and paciently and so dede many a worthy clerk, bothyn reguler and seculer, for ther was nevyr clerk prechyd opynly ageyn hir crying but the Grey Frer, as is wretyn beforn. So owr Lord of hys mercy, liche as he had promysyd the seyd creatur that he schulde evyr provydyn for hir, steryng the spiritys of tweyn good clerkys the whech longe and many yerys had knowyn hir conversacyon and al hir perfeccyon, made hem mythy and bolde to spekyn for hys party in excusyng the seyd creatur, bothyn in the pulpit and besyden wher thei herd any thyng mevyd agen hir, strengthyng her skyllys be auctoriteys of Holy Scriptur sufficiently, of whech clerkys on was a White Frer, a doctowr of divinité. The other clerk was a bacheler of lawe canon, a wel labowrd man in scriptur. And than sum envyows personys compleynyd to the Provincyal of the White Frerys that the sayd doctowr was to conversawnt wyth the sayd creatur, forasmech as he supportyd hir in hir wepyng and in hir crying and also enformyd hir in qwestyons of Scriptur whan sche wolde any askyn hym. Than was he monischyd be vertu of obediens that he schulde no mor spekyn wyth hir ne enformyn hir in no textys of Scriptur, and that was to hym ful peynful, for, as he seyd to sum personys, he had levar a lost an hundryd pownd, yyf he had an had it, than hir communicacyon, it was so gostly and fruteful. Whan hir confessowr perceyvyd how the worthy doctowr was chargyd be obediens that he schulde not spekyn ne comownyn wyth hir, than he for to excludyn al occasyon warnyd hir also be vertu of obediens that sche schulde no mor gon to the frerys, ne spekyn wyth the sayd doctowr, ne askyn hym no qwestyons as sche had don beforn. And than thowt sche ful gret sweme and hevynes, for sche was put fro mech gostly comfort. Sche had levar a lost any erdly good than hys comunycacyon, for it was to hir gret encres of vertu. Than long aftyrward it happyd hir goyng in the strete to metyn wyth the seyd doctowr and non of hem spak o word to other. And than sche had a gret cry wyth many teerys. Aftyr, whan sche cam to hir meditacyon, sche seyd in hir mende to owr Lord Jhesu Crist, "Alas, Lord, why may I no comfort han of this worschepful clerk, the whech hath knowyn me so many yerys and oftyn tymes strengthyd me in thi lofe? Now hast thu, Lord, takyn fro me the ankyr, I trust to thi mercy, the most special and synguler comforte that evyr I had in erde, for he evyr lovyd me for thy lofe and wold nevyr forsakyn me for nowt that any man cowd do er seye whylys he levyd. And Maistyr Aleyn is putt fro me and I fro hym. Syr Thomas Andrew and Syr John Amy arn benefysed and owt of town. Maistyr Robert dar unethys spekyn wyth me. Now have I in a maner no comfort neithyr of man ne of childe." Owr merciful Lord Crist Jhesu, answeryng in hir mende, seyd, "Dowtyr, I am mor worthy to thy sowle than evyr was the ankyr and alle tho whech thu hast rehersyd er alle the werld may be, and I schal comfortyn the myself, for I wolde spekyn to the oftynar than thu wilt latyn me. And, dowtyr, I do the to wetyn that thu schalt spekyn to Maistyr Aleyn ageyn as thu hast don beforn." And than owr Lord sent be provysyon of the priowr of Lynne a preste to ben kepar of a chapel of owr Lady, clepyd the Jesyn, wythinne the Cherch of Seynt Margarete, whech preyst many tymes herd hir confessyon in the absens of hyr princi pal confessowr. And to this preyst sche schewyd al hir lyfe as ner as sche cowde fro hir yong age, bothe hir synnes, hyr labowrys, hir vexacyons, hir contemplacyons, and also hir revelacyons and swech grace as God wrowt in hir thorw hys mercy, and so that preyste trustyd ryth wel that God wrowt ryth gret grace in hir. 70 On a tyme God visited the forseyd doctowr, Maystyr Aleyn, wyth gret sekenes that no man hith hym no lyffe that saw hym. And so it was teld the sayd creatur of hys sekenes. Than sche was ful hevy for hym, and specialy for as meche as sche had be revelacyon that sche schulde spekyn wyth hym ageyn as sche had don beforn, and, yyf he had deyd of this sekenes, hir felyng had not ben trewe. Therfor sche ran into the qwer at Seynt Margaretys Chirche, knelyng down beforn the Sacrament and seying on this wise, "A, Lord, I prey the, for alle goodnes that thu hast schewyd to me and as wistly as thu lovyst me, late this worthy clerk nevyr deyin tyl I may spekyn wyth hym as thu hast behite me that I schulde do. And thu, gloriows Qwen of Mercy, have mende what he was wont to seyn of the in hys sermownys. He was wont to seyin, Lady, that he was wel blissyd that had yow to hys frend, for, whan ye preyid, alle the cumpany of hevyn preyd wyth yow. Now for the blisful lofe that ye had to yowr Sone, late hym levyn tyl the tyme that he hath leve to speke wyth me and I wyth hym, for now we arn put asundyr be obediens." Than sche had answer in hir sowle that he schulde not dey befor the tyme that sche had leve to speke wyth hym and he wyth hir as thei had don yerys beforn. And, as owr Lord wolde, in schort tyme aftyr the worthy clerk recuryd and went abowtyn heyl and hool and had leve of hys sovereyn to spekyn wyth the sayd creatur. And sche had leve of hir confessowr to spekyn wyth hym. So it happyd the forseyd doctowr schulde dinyn in towne wyth a worschipful woman whech had takyn the mentyl and the ryng, and he sent for the sayd creatur to comyn and spekyn wyth hym. Sche, havyng gret merveyl therof, toke leve and went to hym. Whan sche cam into the place wher he was, sche myth not spekyn for wepyng and for joy that sche had in owr Lord, inasmeche as sche fonde hir felyng trewe and not deceyvabyl that he had leve to spekyn to hir and sche to hym. Than the worschepful doctowr seyd to hir, "Margery, ye ar wolcome to me, for I have long be kept fro yow, and now hath owr Lord sent yow hedyr that I may spekyn wyth yow, blissed mote he be." Ther was a dyner of gret joy and gladnes, meche mor gostly than bodily, for it was sawcyd and sawryd wyth talys of Holy Scriptur. And than he gaf the sayd creatur a peyr of knyvys in tokyn that he wolde standyn wyth hir in Goddys cawse, as he had don beforn tyme. 71 On a day ther cam a preyst to the sayd creatur whech had gret trust in hir felyngys and in hir revelacyons, desyryng to prevyn hem in divers tymes, and preyid hir to prey to owr Lord that sche myth have undirstondyng yyf the priowr of Lynne, whech was good maistyr to the sayd preyst, schulde be remownyd er not and, as sche felt, makyn hym trewe relacyon. Sche preyd for the forseyd mater, and, whan sche had answer therof, sche telde the preyste that the priowr of Lynne hys maistyr schulde be clepyd hom to Norwich and an other of hys brethyr schulde be sent to Lynne in hys stede. And so it was in dede. But he that was sent to Lynne abood ther but a lityl while er than he was clepyd hom to Norwych ageyn, and he that had ben priowr of Lynne beforn was sent ageyn to Lynne and dwellyd ther wel abowtyn four yer tyl he deyd. And in mene tyme the seyd creatur had oftyn felyng that he the whech was last clepyd hom to Norwich and abood but lityl while at Lynne schulde yet ben priowr of Lynne agen. Sche wolde geve no credens therto inasmeche as he had ben ther and was in lityl tyme clepyd hom ageyn. Than, as sche went on a tyme in the White Frerys Cherch at Lynne up and down, sche felt a wondyr swet savowr and an hevynly that hir thowt sche myth a levyd therby wythowtyn mete or drynke yyf it wolde a contynuyd. And in that tyme owr Lord seyd unto hir, "Dowtyr, be this swet smel thu mayst wel knowyn that ther schal in schort tyme be a newe priowr in Lynne, and that schal ben he whech was last remownd thens." And sone aftyr the elde priowr deyid, and than owr Lord seyd to hir as sche lay in hir bed, "Dowtyr, as loth as thu art to levyn my steryngys, yet schal thu se hym of whom I schewyd the beforn priowr of Lynne er this day sevenyth." And so owr Lord rehersyd hir this mater ech day the sevenyth tyl sche sey it was so in dede, and than was sche ful glad and joyful that hir felyng was trew. Sithyn, whan this worshepful man was comyn to Lynne and had dwellyd ther but lytil while, whech was a wol worschepful clerk, a doctowr of divinité, he was poyntyd for to gon ovyr the see to the Kyng into Frawnce and other clerkys also of the worthyest in Ynglond. Than a preyste that had an offyce undyr the sayd priowr cam to the forseyd creatur and besechyd hir to have this mater in mende whan God wolde mynystyr hys holy dalyawnce to hir sowle and wetyn in this mater whethyr the priowr schulde gon ovyr the se er not. And so sche preyid to have undirstondyng of this mater, and sche had answer that he schulde not gon. Nevyrthelesse he wend hymself to a gon and was al purveyd therfor and wyth gret hevynes had takyn leve of hys frendys, supposyng nevyr to a comyn ageyn, for he was a ful weyk man and a febyl of complexion. And in the menetyme the kyng deyid, and the priowr bood at hom. And so hir felyng was trewe wythowtyn any deceyte. Also it was voysyd that the Bischop of Wynchestyr was ded, and notwythstandyng sche had felyng that he levyd. And so it was in trewth. And so had sche felyng of many mo than be wretyn whech owr Lord of hys mercy revelyd to hir undirstondyng, thow sche wer unworthy of hir meritys. 72 So be processe of tyme hir mende and hir thowt was so joynyd to God that sche nevyr forgate hym but contynualy had mende of hym and behelde hym in alle creaturys. And evyr the mor that sche encresyd in lofe and in devocyon, the mor sche encresyd in sorwe and in contrycyon, in lownes, in mekenes, and in the holy dreed of owr Lord, and in knowlach of hir owyn frelté, that, yyf sche sey a creatur be ponischyd er scharply chastisyd, sche schulde thynkyn that sche had ben mor worthy to ben chastisyd than that creatur was for hir unkyndnes ageyns God. Than schulde sche cryen, wepyn, and sobbyn for hir owyn synne and for the compassyon of the creatur that sche sey so ben ponyschyd and scharply chastisyd. Yyf sche sey a prince, a prelat, er a worthy man of state and degré whom men worschepyd and reverensyd wyth lownes and mekenes, anon hir mende was refreschyd into owr Lord, thynkyng what joy, what blysse, what worschep and reverens he had in hevyn amongys hys blyssyd seyntys, syn a deedly man had so gret worschep in erth. And most of alle whan sche sey the precyows sacrament born abowte the town wyth lyte and reverens, the pepil knelyng on her kneys, than had sche many holy thowtys and meditacyonys, and than oftyntymys schulde sche cryin and roryn as thow sche schulde a brostyn for the feyth and the trost that sche had in the precyows sacrament. Also the sayd creatur was desiryd of mech pepil to be wyth hem at her deying and to prey for hem, for, thow thei lovyd not hir wepyng ne hir crying in her lyfe tyme, thei desiryd that sche schulde bothyn wepyn and cryin whan thei schulde deyin, and so sche dede. Whan sche sey folke be anoyntyd, sche had many holy thowtys, many holy meditacyons, and, yyf sche saw hem deyin, hir thowt sche saw owr Lord deyin and sumtyme owr Lady, as owr God wolde illumyn hir gostly syth of undirstondyng. Than schulde sche cryin, wepyn, and sobbyn ful wondirfully as sche had beheldyn owr Lord in hys deying er owr Lady in hir deying. And sche thowt in hir mende that God toke many owt of this worlde whech wolde a levyd ful fawyn, "And I, Lord," thowt sche, "wolde ful fawyn comyn to the, and aftyr me thu hast no yernyng," and swech thowtys encresyd hir wepyng and hir sobbyng. On a tyme a worschepful lady sent for hir for cawse of comownyng, and, as thei weryn in her comunycacyon, the lady gaf to hir a maner of worschip and preysyng, and it was to hir gret peyne to have any preysyng. Nevyrthelesse anoon sche offryd it up to owr Lord, for sche desyrid no preysyng but hys only, wyth a gret cry and many devowt terys. So ther was neithyr worschep ne preysyng, lofe ne lakkyng, schame ne despite that myth drawyn hir lofe fro God, but, aftyr the sentens of Seynt Powle, "To hem that lovyn God al thyng turnyth into goodnes," so it ferd wyth hir. What that evyr sche sey er herd, alwey hir lofe and hir gostly affeccyon encresyd to owr Lordward, blissyd mot he ben, that wrowt swech grace in hir for many mannys profyte. An other tyme ther sent for hir an other worschepful lady that had meche meny abowtyn hir, and gret worschep and gret reverens was don unto hir. Whan the sayd creatur behelde alle hir mené abowtyn hir and the gret reverens and worschep that was don hir, sche fel on a gret wepyng and cryid therwyth rith sadly. Ther was a preyst herd how sche cryid and how sche wept, and he was a man not savowryng gostly thyngys, bannyd hir ful fast, seying unto hir, "What devyl eylith the? Why wepist so? God geve the sorwe." Sche sat stille and answeryd no word. Than the lady had hir into a gardeyn be hemself aloone and preyd hir to tellyn why sche cryid so sor. And than sche, supposyng it was expedient for to do, telde hir in parcel of the cawse. Than the lady was ille plesyd wyth hir preyste that had so spokyn ageyns hir and lovyd hir ryth wel, desiryng and preying hir to abydyn stille wyth hir. Than sche excusyd hir and seyd sche myth not acordyn wyth the aray and the governawns that sche say ther among hir mené. 73 On the Holy Thursday, as the sayd creatur went processyon wyth other pepil, sche saw in hir sowle owr Lady, Seynt Mary Mawdelyn, and the twelve apostelys. And than sche beheld wyth hir gostly eye how owr Lady toke hir leve of hir blysful Sone, Crist Jhesu, how he kyssed hir and alle hys apostelys and also hys trewe lover, Mary Mawdelyn. Than hir thowt it was a swemful partyng and also a joyful partyng. Whan sche beheld this sygth in hir sowle, sche fel down in the feld among the pepil. Sche cryid, sche roryd, sche wept as thow sche schulde a brostyn therwith. Sche myth not mesuryn hirself ne rewlyn hirselfe, but cryid and roryd that many man on hir wonderyd. But sche toke non heed what ony man seyd ne dede, for hir mende was ocupyid in owr Lord. Sche felt many an holy thowt in that tyme whech sche cowde nevyr aftyr. Sche had forgetyn alle erdly thyngys and only ententyd to gostly thyngys. Hir thowt that al hir joy was ago. Sche sey hyr Lord steyn up into hevyn, for sche cowde not forberyn hym in erde. Therfor sche desiryd to a gon wyth hym, for al hir joy and al hir blysse was in hym and sche knew wel that sche schulde nevyr han joy ne blys tyl sche come to hym. Swech holy thowtys and swech holy desirys cawsyd hir to wepyn, and the pepil wist not what hir eylyd. An other tyme the seyd creatur beheld how owr Lady was, hir thowt, in deying and alle the apostelys knelyng beforn hir and askyng grace. Than sche cryid and wept sor. The apostelys comawndyd hir to cesyn and be stille. The creatur answeryd to the apostelys, "Wolde ye I schulde see the Modyr of God deyin and I schulde not wepyn? It may not be, for I am so ful of sorwe that I may not wythstonde it. I must nedys cryin and wepyn." And than sche seyd in hir sowle to owr Lady, "A, blyssyd Lady, prey for me to yowr Sone that I may come to yow and no lengar be teriid fro yow, for, Lady, this is al to gret a sorwe for to be bothe at yowr sonys dethe and at yowr deth and not deyin wyth yow but levyn stille alone and no comfort han wyth me." Than owr gracyows Lady answeryd to hir sowle, behestyng hir to prey for hir to hir sone, and seyd, "Dowtyr, alle thes sorwys that thu hast had for me and for my blissyd sone schal turne the to gret joye and blys in hevyn wythowtyn ende. And dowt the not, dowtyr, that thu schalt comyn to us ryth wel and be ryth wolcome whan thu comyst. But thu mayst not comyn yet, for thu schalt comyn in ryth good tyme. And, dowtyr, wete thu wel thu schalt fyndyn me a very modyr to the to helpyn the and socowr the as a modyr owyth to don hir dowtyr and purchasyn to the grace and vertu. And the same pardon that was grawntyd the befor tyme, it was confermyd on Seynt Nicholas Day, that is to seyn plenowr remissyon, and it is not only grawntyd to the but also to alle tho that belevyn and to alle tho that schul belevyn into the worldys ende that God lovyth the and schal thankyn God for the. Yyf thei wyl forsakyn her synne and ben in ful wylle no more to turnyn ageyn therto but ben sory and hevy for that thei have do and wil don dew penawnce therfor, thei schal have the same pardon that is grawntyd to thiselfe, and that is alle the pardon that is in Jerusalem as was grawntyd the whan thu wer at Rafnys," as is beforn wretyn. 74 The sayd creatur on a day, heryng hir messe and revolvyng in hir mende the tyme of hir deth, sor syhyng and sorwyng for it was so long delayd, seyd on this maner, "Alasse, Lord, how long schal I thus wepyn and mornyn for thy lofe and for desyr of thy presens?" Owr Lord answeryd in hir sowle and seyd, "Al this fifteen yer." Than seyd sche, "A, Lord, I schal thynkyn many thowsend yerys." Owr Lord answeryd to hir, "Dowtyr, thu must bethynkyn the of my blissyd modyr that levyd aftyr me in erth fifteen yer, also Seynt John the Evangelyst, and Mary Mawdelyn, the whech lovyd me rith hyly." "A, blysful Lord," seyd sche, "I wolde I wer as worthy to ben sekyr of thy lofe as Mary Mawdelyn was." Than seyd owr Lord, "Trewly, dowtyr, I love the as wel, and the same pes that I gaf to hir the same pes I geve to the. For, dowtyr, ther is no seynt in hevyn displesyd thow I love a creatur in erde as mech as I do hem. Therfor thei wil non otherwyse than I wil." Thus owr mercyful Lord Crist Jhesu drow hys creatur unto hys lofe and to mynde of hys passyon that sche myth not duryn to beheldyn a lazer er an other seke man, specialy yyf he had any wowndys aperyng on hym. So sche cryid and so sche wept as yyf sche had sen owr Lord Jhesu Crist wyth hys wowndys bledyng. And so sche dede in the syght of hir sowle, for thorw the beheldyng of the seke man hir mende was al takyn into owr Lord Jhesu Crist. Than had sche gret mornyng and sorwyng for sche myth not kyssyn the lazerys whan sche sey hem er met wyth hem in the stretys for the lofe of Jhesu. Now gan sche to lovyn that sche had most hatyd befor tyme, for ther was no thyng mor lothful ne mor abhomynabyl to hir whil sche was in the yerys of werldly prosperité than to seen er beheldyn a lazer, whom now thorw owr Lordys mercy sche desyryd to halsyn and kyssyn for the lofe of Jhesu whan sche had tyme and place convenyent. Than sche teld hir confessowr how gret desyre sche had to kyssyn lazerys, and he warnyd hir that sche schulde kyssyn no men, but, yyf sche wolde algatys kyssyn, sche schuld kyssyn women. Than was sche glad, for sche had leve to kyssyn the seke women and went to a place wher seke women dwellyd whech wer ryth ful of the sekenes and fel down on hir kneys beforn hem, preyng hem that sche myth kyssyn her mowth for the lofe of Jhesu. And so sche kyssyd ther two seke women with many an holy thowt and many a devowt teer, and, whan sche had kyssyd hem and telde hem ful many good wordys and steryd hem to mekenes and pacyens that thei schulde not grutchyn wyth her sekenes but hyly thankyn God therfor and thei schulde han gret blysse in hevyn thorw the mercy of owr Lord Jhesu Crist, than the oo woman had so many temptacyons that sche wist not how sche myth best be governyd. Sche was so labowryd wyth hir gostly enmy that sche durst not blissyn hir ne do no worschep to God for dreed that the devyl schuld a slayn hir. And sche was labowryd wyth many fowle and horibyl thowtys, many mo than sche cowde tellyn. And, as sche seyd, sche was a mayde. Therfor the sayd creatur went to hir many tymys to comfortyn hir and preyd for hir, also ful specialy that God schulde strength hir ageyn hir enmye, and it is to belevyn that he dede so, blissyd mote he ben. 75 As the sayd creatur was in a chirch of Seynt Margaret to sey hir devocyons, ther cam a man knelyng at hir bak, wryngyng hys handys and schewyng tokenys of gret hevynes. Sche, parceyvyng hys hevynes, askyd what hym eylyd. He seyd it stod ryth hard wyth hym, for hys wyfe was newly delyveryd of a childe and sche was owt hir mende. "And, dame," he seyth, "sche knowyth not me ne non of hir neyborwys. Sche roryth and cryith so that sche makith folk evyl afeerd. Sche wyl bothe smytyn and bityn, and therfor is sche manykyld on hir wristys." Than askyd sche the man yyf he wolde that sche went wyth hym and sawe hir, and he seyd, "Ya, dame, for Goddys lofe." So sche went forth wyth hym to se the woman. And, whan sche cam into the hows, as sone as the seke woman that was alienyd of hir witte saw hir, sche spak to hir sadly and goodly and seyd sche was ryth wolcome to hir. And sche was ryth glad of hir comyng and gretly comfortyd be hir presens, "For ye arn," sche seyd, "a ryth good woman, and I behelde many fayr awngelys abowte yow, and therfor, I pray yow, goth not fro me, for I am gretly comfortyd be yow." And, whan other folke cam to hir, sche cryid and gapyd as sche wolde an etyn hem and seyd that sche saw many develys abowtyn hem. Sche wolde not suffyrn hem to towchyn hir be hyr good wyl. Sche roryd and cryid so bothe nyth and day for the most part that men wolde not suffyr hir to dwellyn amongys hem, sche was so tediows to hem. Than was sche had to the forthest ende of the town into a chambyr that the pepil schulde not heryn hir cryin. And ther was sche bowndyn handys and feet wyth chenys of yron that sche schulde smytyn nobody. And the sayd creatur went to hir iche day onys er twyis at the lest wey, and, whyl sche was wyth hir, sche was meke anow and herd hir spekyn and dalyin wyth good wil wythowtyn any roryng er crying. And the sayd creatur preyid for this woman every day that God schulde, yyf it were hys wille, restoryn hir to hir wittys ageyn. And owr Lord answeryd in hir sowle and seyd, "Sche schulde faryn ryth wel." Than was sche mor bolde to preyin for hir recuryng than sche was beforn, and iche day, wepyng and sorwyng, preyid for hir recur tyl God gaf hir hir witte and hir mende agen. And than was sche browt to chirche and purifiid as other women be, blyssed mote God ben. It was, as hem thowt that knewyn it, a ryth gret myrakyl, for he that wrot this boke had nevyr befor that tyme sey man ne woman, as hym thowt, so fer owt of hirself as this woman was ne so evyl to rewlyn ne to governyn, and sithyn he sey hir sad and sobyr anow, worschip and preysyng be to owr Lord wythowtyn ende for hys hy mercy and hys goodnes that evyr helpith at nede. 76 It happyd on a tyme that the husbonde of the sayd creatur, a man in gret age passyng thre scor yer, as he wolde a comyn down of hys chambyr bar foot and bar legge, he slederyd er ellys faylyd of hys fotyng and fel down to the grownd fro the gresys, and hys hevyd undyr hym grevowsly brokyn and bresyd, in so meche that he had in hys hevyd five teyntys many days whil hys hevyd was in holyng. And, as God wold, it was knowyn to summe of hys neybowrys how he was fallyn downe of the gresys, peraventur thorw the dene and the luschyng of hys fallyng. And so thei comyn to hym and fowndyn hym lying wyth hys hevyd undir hym, half on lyfe, al rowyd wyth blood, nevyr lyke to a spokyn wyth preyst ne with clerk but thorw hy grace and myracle. Than the sayd creatur, hys wife, was sent for, and so sche cam to hym. Than was he takyn up and hys hevyd was sowyd, and he was seke a long tyme aftyr, that men wend that he schulde a be deed. And than the pepil seyd, yyf he deyd, hys wyfe was worthy to ben hangyn for hys deth, forasmeche as sche myth a kept hym and dede not. They dwellyd not togedyr, ne thei lay not togedyr, for, as is wretyn beforn, thei bothyn wyth on assent and wyth fre wil of her eithyr haddyn mad avow to levyn chast. And therfor to enchewyn alle perellys thei dwellyd and sojowryd in divers placys wher no suspicyon schulde ben had of her incontinens, for first thei dwellyd togedir aftyr that thei had mad her vow, and than the pepil slawndryd hem and seyd thei usyd her lust and her likyng as thei dedyn beforn her vow makyng. And, whan thei wentyn owt on pilgrimage er to se and spekyn wyth other gostly creaturys, many evyl folke whos tongys wer her owyn, faylyng the dreed and lofe of owr Lord Jhesu Crist, demtyn and seydyn that thei went rathyr to woodys, grovys, er valeys to usyn the lust of her bodiis that the pepil schuld not aspyin it ne wetyn it. They, havyng knowlach how prone the pepil was to demyn evyl of hem, desiryng to avoydyn al occasyon, in as mech as thei myth goodly, be her good wil and her bothins consentyng, thei partyd asundyr as towchyng to her boord and to her chambrys, and wentyn to boord in divers placys. And this was the cawse that sche was not wyth hym and also that sche schulde not be lettyd fro hir contemplacyon. And therfor, whan he had fallyn and grevowsly was hurt, as is seyd beforn, the pepil seyd, yyf he deyid, it was worthy that sche schulde answeryn for hys deth. Than sche preyid to owr Lord that hir husbond myth levyn a yer and sche to be deliveryd owt slawndyr yyf it wer hys plesawns. Owr Lord seyd to hir mende, "Dowtyr, thu schalt have thi bone, for he schal levyn and I have wrowt a gret myrakyl for the that he was not ded. And I bydde the take hym hom and kepe hym for my lofe." Sche seyd, "Nay, good Lord, for I schal than not tendyn to the as I do now." "Yys, dowtyr," seyd owr Lord, "Thu schalt have as meche mede for to kepyn hym and helpyn hym in hys nede at hom as yyf thu wer in chirche to makyn thi preyerys. And thu hast seyd many tymys that thu woldist fawyn kepyn me. I prey the now kepe hym for the lofe of me, for he hath sumtyme fulfillyd thi wil and my wil bothe, and he hath mad thi body fre to me that thu schuldist servyn me and levyn chast and clene, and therfor I wil that thu be fre to helpyn hym at hys nede in my name." "A, Lord," seyd sche, "for thi mercy grawnt me grace to obeyn thi wil and fulfille thi wil and late nevyr my gostly enmys han no powyr to lett me fro fulfillyng of thi wil." Than sche toke hom hir husbond to hir and kept hym yerys aftyr as long as he levyd and had ful mech labowr wyth hym, for in hys last days he turnyd childisch agen and lakkyd reson that he cowd not don hys owyn esement to gon to a sege, er ellys he wolde not, but as a childe voydyd his natural digestyon in hys lynyn clothys ther he sat be the fyre er at the tabil, whethyr it wer, he wolde sparyn no place. And therfor was hir labowr meche the mor in waschyng and wryngyng and hir costage in fyryng and lettyd hir ful meche fro hir contemplacyon that many tymys sche schuld an yrkyd hir labowr saf sche bethowt hir how sche in hir yong age had ful many delectabyl thowtys, fleschly lustys, and inordinat lovys to hys persone. And therfor sche was glad to be ponischyd wyth the same persone and toke it mech the mor esily and servyd hym and helpyd hym, as hir thowt, as sche wolde a don Crist hymself. 77 Whan the seyd creatur had first hyr wondirful cryis and on a tyme was in gostly dalyawns wyth hir sovereyn Lord Crist Jhesu, sche seyd, "Lord, why wilt thu gyf me swech crying that the pepil wondryth on me therfor and thei seyn that I am in gret perel, for, as thei seyn, I am cawse that many men synne on me. And thu knowist, Lord, that I wolde gevyn no man cawse ne occasyon of synne yyf I myth, for I had levar, Lord, ben in a preson of ten fadom depe ther to cryin and wepyn for my synne and for alle mennys synnys and specialy for thy lofe al my lyf tyme than I schulde gevyn the pepil occasyon to synnyn on me wilfully. Lord, the worlde may not suffyr me to do thy wil ne to folwyn aftyr thi steryng, and therfor I prey the, yyf it be thy wil, take thes cryingys fro me in the tyme of sermownys that I cry not at thin holy prechyng and late me havyn hem be myself alone so that I be not putt fro heryng of thin holy prechyng and of thin holy wordys, for grettar peyn may I not suffyr in this worlde than be put fro thi holy worde heryng. And, yyf I wer in preson, my most peyn schulde be the forberyng of thin holy wordys and of thin holy sermownys. And, good Lord, yyf thu wilt algate that I crye, I prey the geve me it alone in my chambyr as meche as evyr thu wilt and spar me amongys the pepil, yyf it plese the." Owr merciful Lord Crist Jhesu answeryng to hir mende seyd, "Dowtyr, prey not therfor; thu schalt not han thy desyr in this thow my modyr and alle the seyntys in hevyn preye for the, for I schal make the buxom to my wil that thu schalt criyn whan I wil, and wher I wil, bothyn lowde and stille, for I teld the, dowtyr, thu art myn and I am thyn, and so schalt thu be wythowtyn ende. Dowtyr, thu seist how the planetys ar buxom to my wil, that sumtyme ther cum gret thundirkrakkys and makyn the pepil ful sor afeerd. And sumtyme, dowtyr, thu seest how I sende gret levenys that brennyn chirchys and howsys. Also sumtyme thu seest that I sende gret wyndys that blowyn down stepelys, howsys, and trees owt of the erde and doth mech harm in many placys, and yet may not the wynd be seyn but it may wel be felt. And ryth so, dowtyr, I fare wyth the myth of my Godheed; it may not be seyn wyth mannys eye, and yyt it may wel be felt in a sympil sowle wher likyth to werkyn grace, as I do in thi sowle. And, as sodeynly as the levyn comith fro hevyn, so sodeynly come I into thy sowle, and illumyn it wyth the lyght of grace and of undirstandyng, and sett it al on fyr wyth lofe, and make the fyr of lofe to brenne therin and purgyn it ful clene fro alle erdly filth. And sumtyme, dowtyr, I make erdedenys for to feryn the pepil that thei schulde dredyn me. And so, dowtyr, gostly have I don wyth the and wyth other chosyn sowlys that schal ben savyd, for I turne the erthe of her hertys upsodown and make hem sore afeerd that thei dredyn venjawnce schulde fallyn on hem for her synnys. And so dedist thu, dowtyr, whan thu turnedist fyrst to me, and it is nedful that yong begynnarys do so, but now, dowtyr, thu hast gret cawse to lovyn me wel, for the parfyte charité that I gyf the puttyth away al drede fro the. And, thow other men settyn lityl be the, I sett but the mor prys be the. As sekyr as thu art of the sunne whan thu seest it schynyn bryghtly, ryth so sekyr art thu of the lofe of God at al tyme. Also, dowtyr, thu wost wel that I send sumtyme many gret reynys and scharp schowerys, and sumtyme but smale and softe dropis. And ryth so I far wyth the, dowtyr, whan it likyth me to spekyn in thi sowle; I gyf the sumtyme smale wepyngys and soft teerys for a tokyn that I lofe the, and sumtyme I geve the gret cryis and roryngys for to makyn the pepil aferd wyth the grace that I putte in the into a tokyn that I wil that my modrys sorwe be knowyn by the that men and women myth have the mor compassyon of hir sorwe that sche suffyrd for me. And the thryd tokyn is this, dowtyr, that what creatur wil takyn as mech sorwe for my passyon as thu hast don many a tyme and wil sesyn of her synnys that thei schal have the blys of hevyn wythowtyn ende. The ferth tokyn is this: that any creatur in erthe, haf he be nevyr so horrybyl a synner, he thar nevyr fallyn in dispeyr yyf he wyl takyn exampil of thy levyng and werkyn sumwhat theraftyr as he may do. Also, dowtyr, the fifte tokyn is that I wil thu knowe in thiself be the gret peyne that thu felist in thyn hert whan thu cryist so sor for my lofe that it schal be cawse thu schalt no peyn felyn whan thu art comyn owt of this worlde and also that thu schalt have the lesse peyn in thy deying, for thu hast so gret compassyon of my flesche I must nede have compassyon of thi flesch. And therfor, dowtyr, suffyr the pepil to sey what thei wil of thi crying, for thu art nothyng cawse of her synne. Dowtyr, the pepil synnyd on me, and yet was I not cawse of her synne." Than sche seyd, "A, Lord, blissyd mote thu be, for me thynkyth thu dost thiself al that thu biddist me don. In Holy Writte, Lord, thu byddyst me lovyn myn enmys, and I wot wel that in al this werld was nevyr so gret an enmye to me as I have ben to the. Therfor, Lord, thei I wer slayn an hundryd sithys on a day, yyf it wer possibyl, for thy love, yet cowde I nevyr yeldyn the the goodnes that thu hast schewyd to me." Than answeryd owr Lord to hir and seyd, "I prey the, dowtyr, geve me not ellys but lofe. Thu maist nevyr plesyn me bettyr than havyn me evyr in thi lofe, ne thu schalt nevyr in no penawns that thu mayst do in erth plesyn me so meche as for to lovyn me. And, dowtyr, yyf thu wilt ben hey in hevyn wyth me, kepe me alwey in thi mende as meche as thu mayst and forgete me not at thi mete, but thynk alwey that I sitte in thin hert and knowe every thowt that is therin, bothe good and ylle, and that I parceyve the lest thynkyng and twynkelyng of thyn eye." Sche seyd agen to owr Lord, "Now trewly, Lord, I wolde I cowde lovyn the as mych as thu mythist makyn me to lovyn the. Yyf it wer possibyl, I wolde lovyn the as wel as alle the seyntys in hevyn lovyn the and as wel as alle the creaturys in erth myth lovyn the. And I wolde, Lord, for thi lofe be leyd nakyd on an hyrdil, alle men to wonderyn on me for thi love, so it wer no perel to her sowlys, and thei to castyn slory and slugge on me, and be drawyn fro town to town every day my lyfetyme, yyf thu wer plesyd therby and no mannys sowle hyndryd, thi wil mote be fulfillyd and not myn." 78 Many yerys on Palme Sonday, as this creatur was at the processyon wyth other good pepyl in the chirch yerd and beheld how the preystys dedyn her observawnce, how thei knelyd to the sacrament and the pepil also, it semyd to hir gostly sygth as thei sche had ben that tyme in Jerusalem and seen owr Lord in hys manhod receyvyd of the pepil as he was whil he went her in erth. Than had sche so meche swetnes and devocyon that sche myth not beryn it, but cryid, wept, and sobbyd ful boistowsly. Sche had many an holy thowt of owr Lordys passyon and beheld hym in hir gostly syght as verily as he had ben aforn hir in hir bodily syght. Therfor myth sche not wythstondyn wepyng and sobbyng, but sche must nedys wepyn, cryin, and sobbyn whan sche beheld hir Savyowr suffyr so gret peynys for hir lofe. Than schulde sche preyn for al the pepil that was levyng in erth that thei myth do owr Lord dew worschep and reverens that tymys and al tymys and that thei myth ben worthy to heryn and undirstondyn the holy wordys and lawys of God and mekely obeyn and trewly fulfillyn hem upon her powyr. And it was custom in the place ther sche was dwellyng to have a sermown on that day, and than, as a worschepful doctowr of divinité was in the pulpit and seyd the sermown, he rehersyd oftyntyme thes wordys, "Owr Lord Jhesu langurith for lofe." Tho wordys wrowt so in hir mende whan sche herd spekyn of the parfyte lof that owr Lord Jhesu Crist had to mankynde and how der he bowt us wyth hys bittyr Passyon, schedyng hys hert blood for owr redempcyon, and suffyrd so schamful a deth for owr salvacyon, than sche myth no lengar kepyn the fir of lofe clos wythinne hir brest, but, whethyr sche wolde er not, it wolde aperyn wythowteforth swech as was closyd wythinneforth. And so sche cryed ful lowde and wept and sobbyd ful sor as thow sche schulde a brostyn for pité and compassyon that sche had of owr Lordys passyon. And sumtyme sche was al on a watyr wyth the labowr of the crying, it was so lowde and so boistows, and mech pepil wondryd on hir and bannyd hir ful fast, supposyng that sche had feynyd hirself for to cryin. And sone aftyr owr Lord seyd onto hir, "Dowtyr, this plesith me rith wel, for the mor schame and mor despite that thu hast for my lofe, the mor joy schalt thu have wyth me in hevyn, and it is rithful that it be so." Sumtyme sche herd gret sowndys and gret melodiis wyth hir bodily erys, and than sche thowt it was ful mery in hevyn and had ful gret languryng and ful gret longyng thedyrward wyth many a stille mornyng. And than many tymys owr Lord Jhesu Crist wolde sey to hir, "Dowtyr, her is this day a fayr pepil, and many of hem schal ben ded er this day twelmonyth," and telde hir beforn whan pestilens schulde fallyn. And sche fonde it in dede as sche had felt beforn, and that strengthyd hir mech in the lofe of God. Owr Lord wolde seyn also, "Dowtyr, thei that wil not belevyn the goodnes and the grace that I schewe onto the in this lyfe, I schal make hem to knowe the trewth whan thei arn dede and owt of this world. Dowtyr, thu hast a good zele of charité in that thu woldist alle men wer savyd, and so wolde I. And thei seyn that so wolde thei, but thu maist wel se that thei wol not hemself be savyd, for alle thei wil sumtyme heryn the word of God, but thei wil not alwey don theraftyr, and thei wil not sorwyn hemself for her synnys, ne thei wil suffyr non other to suffir for hem. Nevyrthelesse, dowtyr, I have ordeynd the to be a merowr amongys hem for to han gret sorwe that thei schulde takyn exampil by the for to have sum litil sorwe in her hertys for her synnys that thei myth therthorw be savyd, but thei lovyn not to heryn of sorwe ne of contricyon. But, good dowtyr, do thu thi dever and prey for hem whil thu art in this world, and thu schalt have the same mede and reward in hevyn as yyf al the werlde wer savyd be thi good wil and thi preyer. Dowtyr, I have many tymys seyd to the that many thowsand sowlys schal be savyd thorw thi preyerys, and sum that lyn in poynt of deth schal han grace thorw thi meritys and thi preyerys, for thi terys and thi preyerys arn ful swet and acceptabil unto me." Than sche seyd in hir mende to owr Lord Jhesu Crist, "A, Jhesu, blissyd mote thu be wythowtyn ende, for I have many a gret cawse to thank the and lofe the wyth al myn hert, for it semith to me, Lord, that thu art alle charité to the profyte and helth of mannys sowle. A, Lord, I beleve that he schal be ryth wikke that schal be partyd fro the wythowtyn ende. He schal neithyr welyn good, ne do good, ne desiryn good. And therfor, Lord, I thanke the for al goodnes that thu hast schewyd onto me, ryth unworthy wrech." And than on the same Sonday, whan the preyste toke the crossestaf and smet on the chirche dor and the dor openyd ageyn hym, and than the preyst entryd wyth the sacrament and al the pepil folwyng into chirche, than thowt sche that owr Lord spak to the devyl and openyd helle gatys confowndyng hym and alle hys oste and what grace and goodnes he schewyd to tho sowlys, delyveryng hem fro evyrlestyng preson, mawgre the devyl and alle hys. Sche had many an holy thowt and many an holy desyr whech sche cowde nevyr tellyn ne rehersyn ne hir tunge myth nevyr expressyn the habundawnce of grace that sche felt, blissyd be owr Lord of alle hys gyftys. Whan thei wer comyn into the cherch and sche beheld the preystys knelyng beforn the crucifixe, and, as thei songyn, the preyste whech executyd the servyse that day drow up a cloth befor the crucyfixe thre tymys, every tyme heyar than other, that the pepil schulde se the crucifixe, than was hir mende al holy takyn owt of al erdly thyngys and set al in gostly thyngys, preying and desyryng that sche myth at the last han the ful syght of hym in hevyn whech is bothin God and man in oo persone. And than schulde sche al the messe tyme aftyr wepyn and sobbyn ful plentyuowsly, and sumtyme among cryin rith fervently, for hir thowt that sche saw owr Lord Crist Jhesu as verily in hir sowle wyth hir gostly eye as sche had seyn beforn the crucifixe wyth hir bodily eye. 79 Than sche beheld in the syght of hir sowle owr blisful Lord Crist Jhesu comyng to hys passyonward, and, er he went, he knelyd down and toke hys moderys blissyng. Than sche saw hys modyr fallyng down in swownyng befor hir sone, seyng unto hym, "Alas, my der Sone, how schal I suffyr this sorwe and have no joy in al this werlde but the alone." "A, der Sone, yyf thu wilt algatys dey, late me deye befor the and late me nevyr suffyr this day of sorwe, for I may nevyr beryn this sorwe that I schal han for thi deth. I wolde, Sone, that I myth suffir deth for the so that thu schuldist not deyin, yyf mannys sowle myth so be savyd. Now, der sone, yyf thu have no rewth of thiself, have rewth of thi modyr, for thu wost ful wel ther can no man in al this worlde comfortyn me but thu alone." Than owr Lord toke up hys modyr in hys armys and kissyd hir ful swetly and seyde to hyr, "A, blissyd modyr, beth of a good cher and of a good comforte, for I have teld yow ful oftyn that I must nedys suffyr deth and ellys schulde no man be savyd ne nevyr comyn in blisse. And modir, it is my fadyrs wil that it be so, and therfor I preye yow late it be yowr wil also, for my deth schal turne me to gret worschep and yow and al mankynde to gret joye and profyte whech that trustyn in my passyon and werkyn theraftyr. And therfor, blissyd modir, ye must abydyn her aftyr me, for in yow schal restyn al the feith of Holy Chirch, and be yowr feith Holy Chirch schal encresyn in hir feith. And therfor I prey yow, derworthy modyr, cesyth of yowr sorweng, for I schal not levyn yow comfortlees. I schal levyn her wyth yow John, my cosyn, to comfort yow in stede of me; I schal send myn holy awngelys to comfort yow in erth; and I schal comfortyn yow in yowr sowle myn owyn self, for, modir, ye wote wel I have behyte yow the blys of hevyn and that ye ar sekyr therof. A, derworthy modyr, what wolde ye bettyr than ther I am kyng ye for to be qwen, and alle awngelys and seyntys schal be buxom to yowr wil. And what grace ye aske me I schal not denye yowr desyr. I schal gevyn yow powyr ovyr the develys that thei schal be aferd of yow and ye not of hem. And also, my blissyd modyr, I have seyd to yow befor tyme that I schal comyn for yow myn owyn self whan ye schal passyn owt of this world wyth alle myn awngelys and alle myn seyntys that arn in hevyn and bryng yow befor my fadyr wyth al maner of musyk, melody, and joy. And ther schal I sett yow in gret pees and rest wythowtyn ende. And ther schal ye be corownyd as for Qwen of Hevyn, as for lady of al the worlde, and as for Empres of Helle. And therfor, my derworthy modyr, I pray yow blissyth me and late me go do my fadrys wille, for therfor I cam into this worlde and toke flesch and blood of yow." Whan the sayd creatur beheld this gloriows syght in hir sowle and saw how he blissyd hys modyr and hys modyr hym, and than hys blissyd modyr myth not spekyn o word mor to hym but fel down to the grownde, and so thei partyd asundyr, hys modyr lying stille as sche had ben ded, than the sayd creatur thowt sche toke owr Lord Jhesu Crist be the clothys and fel down at hys feet, preyng hym to blissyn hir, and therwyth sche cryid ful lowde and wept rith sor, seying in hir mende, "A, Lord, wher schal I become? I had wel levar that thu woldist sle me than latyn me abydyn in the worlde wythowtyn the, for wythowtyn the I may not abydyn her, Lord." Than answeryd owr Lord to hir, "Be stille, dowtyr, and rest wyth my modyr her and com fort the in hir, for sche that is myn owyn modyr must suffyr this sorwe. But I schal come ageyn, dowtyr, to my modyr and comfortyn hir and the bothyn and turnyn al yowr sorwe into joye." And than hir thowt owr Lord went forth hys wey, and sche went to owr Lady and seyd, "A, blissyd Lady, risith up and late us folwe yowr blissyd sone as long as we may se hym that I may lokyn inow upon hym er he deye. A, der Lady, how may yowr hert lestyn and se your blisful sone se al this wo? Lady, I may not dur it, and yyt am I not hys modyr." Than owr Lady answeryd and seyd, "Dowtyr, thu herist wel it wil non otherwise be, and therfor I must nedys suffyr it for my sonys lofe." And than hir thowt that thei folwyd forth aftyr owr Lord and sey how he mad hys preyeris to hys fadyr in the Mownt of Olyvete and herdyn the goodly answer that cam fro hys fadyr and the goodly answer that he gaf hys fadyr ageyn. Than sche sey how owr Lord went to hys discipulys and bad hem wakyn; hys enmys wer ner. And than com a gret multitude of pepil wyth meche lyght and many armyd men wyth stavys, swerdys, and polexis to sekyn owr Lord Jhesu Crist. Owr merciful Lord as a meke lombe seying onto hem, "Whom seke ye?" Thei answeryd wyth a scharp spiryt, "Jhesu of Nazareth." Owr Lord seyd agen, "Ego sum." And than sche sey the Jewys fallyn down on the grownde, thei mowt not stondyn for drede, but anon thei resun ageyn and sowtyn as thei had don beforn. And owr Lord askyd, "Whom seke ye?" And thei seyd ageyn, "Jhesu of Nazareth." Owr Lord answeryd, "I it am." And than anon sche sey Judas come and kyssyn owr Lord, and the Jewys leyd handys upon hym ful violentlyche. Than had owr Lady and sche meche sorwe and gret peyn to se the lombe of innocencye so contemptibly be haldyn and drawyn wyth hys owyn pepil that he was specialy sent unto. And aswithe the sayd creatur beheld wyth hir gostly eye the Jewys puttyng a cloth beforn owr Lordys eyne, betyng hym and bofetyng hym in the hevyd and bobyng hym beforn hys swete mowth, criyng ful cruelly unto hym, "Telle us now how smet the." Thei sparid not to spittyn in hys face in the most schamful wise that thei cowde. And than owr Lady and sche hyr unworthy handmaydyn for the tyme wept and syhyd ful sor for the Jewys ferd so fowle and so venymowslych wyth hir blisful Lord. And thei wolde not spare to luggen hys blisful erys and drawyn the her of hys berd. And anon aftyr sche saw hem drawyn of hys clothys and makyn hym al nakyd and sithyn drewyn hym forth aforn hem as it had ben the most malefactowr in al the worlde. And he went forth ful mekely aforn hem al modyr nakyd as he was born to a peler of ston and spak no worde ageyn hem but leet hem do and sey what thei wolde. And ther thei bowndyn hym to the peler as streyt as thei cowde and beetyn hym on hys fayr white body wyth baleys, wyth whippis, and wyth scorgys. And than hyr thowt owr Lady wept wondir sor. And therfor the sayd creatur must nedys wepyn and cryin whan sche sey swech gostly syghtys in hir sowle as freschly and as verily as yyf it had ben don in dede in hir bodily syght, and hir thowt that owr Lady and sche wer alwey togedyr to se owr Lordys peynys. Swech gostly syghtys had sche every Palme Sonday and every Good Fryday, and in many other wise bothe many yerys togedyr. And therfor cryid sche and wept ful sor and suffyrd ful myche despite and repref in many a cuntré. And than owr Lord seyd to hir sowle, "Dowtyr, thes sorwys and many mo suffyrd I for thi lofe, and divers peynys, mo than any man can tellyn in erth. Therfor, dowtyr, thu hast gret cawse to lovyn me ryght wel, for I have bowt thi lofe ful der." 80 An other tyme sche saw in hyr contemplacyon owr Lord Jhesu Crist bowndyn to a peler, and hys handys wer bowndyn abovyn hys hevyd. And than sche sey sextene men wyth sextene scorgys, and eche scorge had eight babelys of leed on the ende, and every babyl was ful of scharp prekelys as it had ben the rowelys of a spor. And tho men wyth the scorgys madyn comenawnt that ich of hem schulde gevyn owr Lord forty strokys. Whan sche saw this petows syght, sche wept and cryid ryth lowde as yyf sche schulde a brostyn for sorwe and peyne. And, whan owr Lord was alto betyn and scorgyd, the Jewys losyd hym fro the peler and tokyn hym hys crosse for to beryn on hys schuldyr. And than hir thowt that owr Lady and sche went be an other wey for to metyn wyth hym, and, whan thei mettyn wyth hym, thei sey hym beryn the hevy crosse wyth gret peyne, it was so hevy and so boystows that unethe he myth bere it. And than owr Lady seyd unto hym, "A, my swete sone, late me help to ber that hevy crosse." And sche was so weyke that sche myth not but fel down and swownyd and lay stille as it had ben a ded woman. Than the creatur say owr Lord fallyn down by hys modyr and comfortyn hir as he myth wyth many swete wordys. Whan sche herd the wordys and sey the compassyon that the modyr had of the sone and the sone of hys modyr, than sche wept, sobbyd, and criyd as thow sche schulde a deyid for pité and compassyon that sche had of that petows syght and the holy thowtys that sche had in the menetyme, the whech wer so sotyl and hevynly that sche cowde nevyr tellen hem aftyr so as sche had hem in felyng. Sithyn sche went forth in contemplacyon thorw the mercy of owr Lord Jhesu Crist to the place ther he was naylyd to the crosse. And than sche sey the Jewys wyth gret violens rendyn of owr Lordys precyows body a cloth of sylke, the which was clevyn and hardyd so sadly and streitly to owr Lordys body wyth hys precyows blood that it drow awey al the hyde and al the skyn of hys blissyd body and renewyd hys preciows wowndys and mad the blod to renne down al abowtyn on every syde. Than that precyows body aperyd to hir syght as rawe as a thyng that wer newe flayn owt of the skyn, ful petows and rewful to beholdyn. And so had sche a newe sorwe that sche wept and cryid ryth sor. And anon aftyr sche beheld how the cruel Jewys leydyn hys precyows body to the crosse and sithyn tokyn a long nayle, a row and a boistews, and sett to hys on hand and wyth gret violens and cruelnes thei drevyn it thorw hys hande. Hys blisful modyr beheldyng and this creatur how hys precyows body schrynkyd and drow togedyr wyth alle senwys and veynys in that precyows body for peyne that it suffyrd and felt, thei sorwyd and mornyd and syhyd ful sor. Than sey sche wyth hyr gostly eye how the Jewys festenyd ropis on the other hand, for the senwys and veynys wer so schrynkyn wyth peyne that it myth not come to the hole that thei had morkyn therfor, and drowyn theron to makyn it mete wyth the hole. And so her peyne and hir sorwe evyr encresyd. And sithyn thei drowyn hys blisful feet on the same maner. And than hir thowt in hir sowle sche herd owr Lady seyn to the Jewys, "Alas, ye cruel Jewys, why far ye so wyth my swete sone and dede he yow nevyr non harm? Ye fille myn hert ful of sorwe." And than hir thowt the Jewys spokyn ageyn boystowsly to owr Lady and put hir away fro hir sone. Than the forseyd creatur thowt that sche cryid owt of the Jewys and seyd, "Ye cursyd Jewys, why sle ye my Lord Jhesu Crist? Sle me rathyr, and late hym gon." And than sche wept and cryid passyngly sor that myche of the pepil in the chirche wondryd on hir body. And anon sche sey hem takyn up the crosse wyth owr Lordys body hangyng theron and madyn gret noyse and gret crye and lyftyd it up fro the erthe a certeyn distawnce and sithyn letyn the crosse fallyn down into the morteys. And than owr Lordys body schakyd and schoderyd, and alle the joyntys of that blisful body brostyn and wentyn asundyr, and hys precyows wowndys ronnyn down wyth reverys of blood on every syde. And so sche had evyr mor cawse of mor wepyng and sorwyng. And than sche herd owr Lord hangyng on the crosse seyn thes wordys to hys modyr, "Woman, se thy sone of Seynt John, the Evangelist." Than hir thowt owr Lady fel down and swownyd, and Seynt John toke hir up in hys armys and comfortyd hir wyth swete wordys as wel as he cowde er myth. The creatur seyd than to owr Lord, as hir semyd, "Alas, Lord, thu leevyst her a careful modyr. What schal we now don and how schal we beryn this gret sorwe that we schal han for thy lofe?" And than sche herd the too thevys spekyn to owr Lord, and owr Lord seyd to the on thefe, "This day thu schalt ben wyth me in paradys." Than was sche glad of that answer and preiyd owr Lord for hys mercy that he wolde ben as gracyows to hir sowle whan sche schulde passyn owt of this worlde as he was to the thef; for sche was wers, hir thowt, than any thef. And than hir thowt owr Lord comendyd hys spiryt into hys fadrys handys and therwyth he deyid. Than hir thowt sche sey owr Lady swownyn and fallyn down and lyn stille as sche had ben ded. Than the creatur thowt that sche ran al abowte the place as it had ben a mad woman, crying and roryng. And sithyn sche cam to owr Lady and fel down on hir kneys beforn hir, seying to hir, "I prey yow, Lady, cesyth of yowr sorwyng, for yowr sone is ded and owt of peyne, for me thynkyth ye han sorwyd anow. And, Lady, I wil sorwe for yow, for yowr sorwe is my sorwe." Than hir thowt sche sey Joseph ab Armathy takyn down owr Lordys body of the crosse and leyd it beforn owr Lady on a marbil ston. Owr Lady had than a maner of joye whan hir dere sone was takyn down of the crosse and leyd on the ston befor hir. And than owr blisful Lady bowyd down to hir sonys body and kyssyd hys mowth and wept so plentyuowsly ovyr hys blissyd face that sche wesch awey the blod of hys face wyth the terys of hir eyne. And than the creatur thowt sche herd Mary Mawdelyn seyn to owr Lady, "I pray yow, Lady, gyf me leve to handelyn and kissyn hys feet, for at thes get I grace." Anon owr Lady gaf leve to hir and alle tho that wer ther abowte to do what worschip and reverens thei wolde to that precyows body. And anon Mary Mawdelyn toke owr Lordys feet and owr Ladiis sisterys toke hys handys, the on syster on hand and the other sister an other hand; and wept ful sor in kissyng of tho handys and of tho precyows feet. And the sayd creatur thowt that sche ran evyr to and fro as it had be a woman wythowtyn reson, gretly desyryng to an had the precyows body be hirself alone that sche myth a wept anow in presens of that precyows body, for hir thowt that sche wolde a deyid wyth wepyng and mornyng in hys deth for love that sche had to hym. And as swythe sche saw Seynt John the Evangelist, Joseph of Aramathye, and other frendys of owr Lord comyn and woldyn beryn owr Lordys body and preyide owr Lady that sche wolde suffyr hem to beriin that precyows body. Owr dolful Lady seyd to hem, "Serys, wolde ye takyn awey fro me my Sonys body? I myth nevyr lokyn upon hym inow whil he levyd; I pray yow, late me han hym now he is ded, and partith not my sone and me asondyr. And, yyf ye welyn algatys beryin hym, I prey yow berith me wyth hym, for I may not levyn wythowtyn hym." And the creatur thowt that thei preyid owr Lady so fayr til at the last owr Lady leet hem beryin hir der sone wyth gret worschep and wyth gret reverens as longyth to hem to do. 81 Whan owr Lord was beriid, owr Lady fel down in swownyng as sche schulde a comyn fro the grave, and Seynt John toke hir up in hys armys and Mary Mawdelyn went on the other syde to supportyn and comfortyn owr Lady in as meche as thei cowde er myth. Than the sayd creatur, desiryng to abydyn stille be the grave of owr Lord, mornyd, wept, and sorwyd wyth lowde crying for tendyrnes and compassyon that sche had of owr Lordys deth and many a lamentabyl desyr that God put in hir mende for the tyme. Wherfor the pepil wondryd upon hir, havyng gret merveyl what hir eylyd, for thei knewe ful litil the cawse. Hir thowt sche wolde nevyr a partyd thens but desiryd to a deyd ther and ben beriid wyth owr Lord. Sithyn the creatur thowt sche sey owr Lady gon homward ageyn. And, as sche went, ther comyn many good women ageyn hir and seyd, "Lady, us is wo that yowr sone is ded and that owr pepil han don hym so meche despite." And than owr Lady, bowyng down hir hevyd, thankyd hem ful mekely wyth cher and wyth contenawnce, for sche myth not spekyn, hir hert was so ful of hevynes. Than the creatur thowt, whan owr Lady was comyn hom and was leyd down on a bed, than sche mad for owr Lady a good cawdel and browt it hir to comfortyn hir, and than owr Lady seyd onto hir, "Do it awey, dowtyr. Geve me no mete but myn owyn childe." The creatur seyd agen, "A, blissyd Lady, ye must nedys comfortyn yowrself and cesyn of yowr sorwyng." "A, dowtyr, wher schulde I gon er wher schulde I dwellyn wythowtyn sorwe? I telle the certeyn was ther nevyr woman in erth had so gret cawse to sorwyn as I have, for ther was nevyr woman in this world bar a bettyr childe ne a mekar to hys modyr than my sone was to me." And hir thowt sche herd owr Lady cryin anon wyth a lamentabyl voys and seyd, "John, wher is my sone Jhesu Crist?" And Seynt John answeryd agen and seyd, "Der Lady, ye wetyn wel that he is ded." "A, John," sche seyd, "that is to me a careful reed." The creatur herd as clerly this answer in the undirstondyng of hir sowle as sche schulde undirstondyn o man spekyn to an other. And anon the creatur herd Seynt Petyr knokkyng at the dor, and Seynt John askyd who was ther. Petyr answeryd, "I, synful Petyr, that hath forsakyn my Lord Jhesu Crist." Seynt John wolde a don hym comyn in, and Petyr wolde not tyl owr Lady bad hym comyn in. And than Petyr seyd, "Lady, I am not worthy to comyn in to yow," and was stille wythowtyn the dor. Than Seynt Jon went to owr Lady and telde hir that Petyr was so abaschyd that he durst not comyn in. Owr Lady bad Seynt John gon ageyn yerne to Seynt Petyr and bid hym comyn in to hir. And than the creatur in hyr gostly syght beheld Seynt Petir comyn beforn owr Lady and fallyn downe on hys kneys wyth gret wepyng and sobbyng, and seyd, "Lady, I cry yow mercy, for I have forsakyn yowr derworthy sone and my swete maistyr that hath lovyd me ful wel, and therfor, Lady, I am nevyr worthy to lokyn on hym ne yow neithyr but up yowr gret mercy." "A, Petyr," seyd owr Lady, "drede the not, for, thow thu have forsakyn my swete sone, he forsoke nevyr the, Petir, and he schal comyn ageyn and comfortyn us alle ryth wel, for he behite me, Petir, that he wolde comyn ageyn on the thryd day and comfortyn me. A, Petyr," seyd owr Lady, "ful long tyme schal I thynke tyl that day comyth that I may se hys blissyd face." Than owr Lady lay stille on hir bed and herd how that the frendys of Jhesu madyn her compleynt of the sorwe that thei haddyn. And evyr owr Lady lay stille, mornyng and wepyng wyth hevy cher, and at the last Mary Mawdelyn and owr Ladys sisterys tokyn her leve of owr Lady for to go byin onyment that thei myth anoyntyn therwyth our Lordys body. Than the creatur left stille wyth owr Lady and thowt a thowsand yer tyl the thryd day cam, and that day sche was wyth owr Lady in a chapel ther owr Lord Jhesu Crist aperyd unto hir and seyd, "Salve, sancta parens." And than the creatur thowt in hir sowle that owr Lady seyd, "Art thu my swete sone, Jhesu?" And he seyd, "Ya, my blissyd Modyr, I am yowr owyn sone, Jhesu." Than he toke up hys blissyd modyr and kissyd hir ful swetly. And than the creatur thowt that sche say owr Lady felyn and tastyn owr Lordys body al abowtyn and hys handys and hys feet yyf ther wer ony sorhed er any peyne. And sche herd owr Lord seyn to hys modyr, "Der Modyr, my peyne is al agoo, and now schal I levyn for evyr mo. And, modyr, so schal yowr peyne and yowr sorwe be turnyd into ful gret joye. Modyr, aske what ye wole I schal tellyn yow." And whan he had suffyrd hys modyr to aske what sche wolde and had answeryd to hir questyons, than he seyd, "Modir, be yowr leve I must go spekyn wyth Mary Mawdelyn." Owr Lady seyd, "It is wel don, for, sone, sche hath ful meche sorwe for yowr absens. And, I prey yow, beth not long fro me." Thes gostly syghtys and undirstondyngys cawsed the creatur to wepyn, to sobbyn, and to cryin ful lowde that sche myth not mesuryn hirself ne restreyn hir therfro on Estern Day and other days whan owr Lord wolde visityn hir wyth hys grace, blissyd and worschepyd mote he ben. And anon aftyr the creatur was in hir contemplacyon wyth Mary Mawdelyn, mornyng and sekyng owr Lord at the grave, and herd and sey how owr Lord Jhesu Crist aperyd to hir in lekenes of a gardener, seying, "Woman, why wepist thu?" Mary, not knowyng what he was, al inflawmyd wyth the fyre of lofe, seyd to hym ageyn, "Sir, yyf thu hast awey my Lord, telle me, and I schal takyn hym agen." Than owr merciful Lord, havyng pité and compassyon of hir, seyd, "Mary." And wyth that word sche, knowyng owr Lord, fel down at hys feet and wolde a kyssyd hys feet, seying, "Maistyr." Owr Lord seyd to hir, "Towche me not." Than the creatur thowt that Mary Mawdelyn seyd to owr Lord, "A, Lord, I se wel ye wil not that I be so homly wyth yow as I have ben aforn," and mad hevy cher. "Yys, Mary," seyd owr Lord, "I schal nevyr forsake the, but I schal evyr be wyth the wythowtyn ende." And than owr Lord seyde to Mary Mawdelyn, "Go telle my bretheryn and Petyr that I am up reson." And than the creatur thowt that Mary went forth wyth gret joye, and that was gret merveyl to hir that Mary enjoyid, for, yyf owr Lord had seyd to hir as he dede to Mary, hir thowt sche cowde nevyr a ben mery. That was whan sche wolde a kissyd hys feet, and he seyd, "Towche me not." The creatur had so gret swem and hevynes in that worde that evyr whan sche herd it in any sermown, as sche dede many tymys, sche wept, sorwyd, and cryid as sche schulde a deyd for lofe and desir that sche had to ben wyth owr Lord. 82 On the Purificacyon Day er ellys Candilmesse Day whan the sayd creatur beheld the pepil wyth her candelys in cherch, hir mende was raveschyd into beholdyng of owr Lady offeryng hyr blisful sone owr Savyowr to the preyst Simeon in the tempyl, as verily to hir gostly undirstondyng as yyf sche had be ther in hir bodily presens for to an offeryd wyth owr Ladys owyn persone. Than was sche so comfortyd be the contemplacyon in hir sowle that sche had in the beholdyng of owr Lord Jhesu Crist and of hys blissyd Modyr, of Simeon the preyste, of Joseph, and of other personys that ther weryn whan owr Lady was purifyid, and of the hevynly songys that hir thowt sche herd whan owr blisful Lord was offeryd up to Symeon that sche myth ful evyl beryn up hir owyn candel to the preyst, as other folke dedyn at the tyme of offeryng, but went waveryng on eche syde as it had ben a dronkyn woman, wepyng and sobbyng so sor that unethe sche myth stondyn on hir feet for the fervowr of lofe and devocyon that God putte in hir sowle thorw hy contemplacyon. And sumtyme sche myth not stondyn but fel downe amonge the pepil and cryid ful lowde, that many man on hir wonderyd and merveylyd what hir eyled, for the fervowr of the spiryt was so meche that the body fayld and myth not endur it. Sche had swech holy thowtys and meditacyons many tymes whan sche saw women ben purifyid of her childeryn. Sche thowt in hir sowle that sche saw owr Lady ben purifiid and had hy contemplacyon in the beheldyng of the women wheche comyn to offeryn wyth the women that weryn purifiid. Hir mende was al drawyn fro the erdly thowtys and erdly syghtys and sett al togedyr in gostly syghtys, whech wer so delectabyl and so devowt that sche myth not in the tyme of fervowr wythstondyn hir wepyng, hir sobbyng, ne hir crying, and therfor suffyrd sche ful mech wonderyng, many a jape and many a scorne. Also whan sche sey weddyngys, men and women ben joyned togedyr aftyr the lawe of the chirche, anon sche had in meditacyon how owr Lady was joynyd to Joseph and of the gostly joynyng of mannys sowle to Jhesu Crist, preying to owr Lord that hir lofe and hir affeccyon myth ben joynyd to hym only wythowtyn ende, and that sche myth han grace to obeyn hym, lovyn and dredyn hym, worschepyn and preysyn hym, and no thyng to lovyn but that he lovyth, ne no thyng to welyn but that he wolde, and evyr to be redy to fulfillyn hys wil bothyn nyght and day wythowtyn grutchyng er hevynes, wyth al gladnes of spiryt, and many mo holy thowtys an sche evyr cowde rehersyn, for sche had hem not of hir owyn stody ne of hir owyn witte, but of hys gyfte whos wisdom is in -comprehensibyl to alle creaturys saf only to hem that he chesith and illuminyth mor er lesse as he wil hys owyn selfe, for hys wil may not be constreyned, it is in hys owyn fre disposicyon. Sche had thes myndys and thes desyrys wyth profownde teerys, syhyngys, and sobbyngys, and sumtyme wyth gret boistows cryingys as God wolde sende it, and sumtyme soft teerys and prevy wythowtyn any boistowsnesse. Sche myth neythyr wepyn lowde ne stille but whan God wolde sende it hir, for sche was sumtyme so bareyn fro teerys a day er sumtyme half a day and had so gret peyne for desyr that sche had of hem that sche wold a govyn al this worlde, yyf it had ben hir, for a fewe teerys, er a suffyrd ryth gret bodily peyne for to a gotyn hem wyth. And than, whan sche was so bareyn, sche cowde fynde no joye ne no comforte in mete ne drynke ne dalyawns but evyr was hevy in cher and in cuntenawnce tyl God wolde send hem to hir ageyn, and than was sche mery anow. And, thei so wer that owr Lord wythdrow fro hir sumtyme the habundawnce of teerys; yet he wythdrowe not fro hir holy mendys ne desyrys of yerys togedyr, for evyr hir mynde and hir desyr was to owr Lord. But hir thowt it was no savowr ne swetnesse but whan sche myth wepyn, for than sche thowt that sche cowde preyin. 83 Tweyn preistys whech had gret trost in hir maner of crying and wepyng, nevyrthelesse thei wer sumtyme in gret dowte whedyr it wer deceyvabyl er not. Forasmeche as sche cryid and wept in the syght of the pepil, thei had a prevy conseyt, hir unwetyng, that thei wolde prevyn whedyr sche cryid for the pepil schulde heryn hir er not. And on a day the preistys cam to hir and askyd yyf sche wolde gon too myle fro then sche dwellyd on pilgrimage to a cherch stod in the feld, a good party distawnce fro any other hows, whech was dedicate in the honowr of God and Seynt Michael Archawngyl. And sche seyd sche wolde gon wyth hem wyth good wil. Thei toke wyth hem a childe er tweyn and went to the seyd place al in fere. Whan thei had a while mad her preyerys, the sayd creatur had so mech swetnes and devocyon that sche myth not kepyn it prevy but brast owt in boistows wepyng and sobbyng and cryid as lowde er ellys lowder as sche dede whan sche was amongys the pepil at hom, and sche cowde not restreyn hirselfe therfro, ne no personys beyng ther present than the tweyn preistys and a childe er tweyn wyth hem. And than, as thei cam homward ageyn, thei mett women wyth childeryn in her armys, and the forseyd creatur askyd yyf ther wer any man childe amongys hem, and the women seyd, "Nay." Than was the mende so raveschyd into the childhod of Crist for desir that sche had for to see hym that sche mith not beryn it but fel downe and wept and cryid so sor that it was merveyl to her it. Than the preistys haddyn the mor trust that it was ryth wel wyth hir whan thei herd hir cryin in prevy place as wel as in opyn place and in the feld as in the town. Also ther wer nunnys desiryd to have knowlach of the creatur and that thei schulde the mor be steryd to devocyon. Sche was in her chirch at myddenyght to heryn her mateyns, and owr Lord sent hir so hy devocyon and so hy meditacyon and swech gostly comfortys that sche was al inflawmyd wyth the fir of love, the whech encresyd so sor that it brast owt wyth lowde voys and gret crying, that owr Lordys name was the mor magnifiid amongys hys servawntys, tho that weryn good, meke, and sympil sowlys and wolde belevyn the goodnes of owr Lord Jhesu Crist, that gevith hys grace to whom he wole. And specialy to hem that dowtyn not ne mystrostyn not in her askyng hir crying gretly profityd to encres of merite and of vertu. To hem that litil trostyd and lityl belevyd peraventur was litil encres of vertu and of merite. But whethyr the pepil belevyd in hir crying er not, hir grace was nevyrthelesse but evyr encresyd. And as wel and as goodly owr Lord visityd hir on nyght as on day, whan he wolde, and how he wolde, and wher he wolde, for sche lakkyd no grace but whan sche dowtyd er mistrostyd the goodnes of God, supposyng er dredyng that it was the wyle of hir gostly enmy to enformyn hir er techyn hir otherwyse than wer to hir gostly hele. Whan sche supposyd thus er consentyd to any swech thowtys thorw steryng of any man er thorw any evyl spiryt in hir mende that wolde many a tyme a don hir left of hir good purpos, had the myghty hand of owr Lordys mercy not withstande hys gret malyce, than lakkyd sche grace and devocyon and alle good thowtys and alle good mendys, tyl sche was thorw the mercy of owr Lord Jhesu Crist compellyd to belevyn stedfastly wythowtyn any dowtyng that it was God spak in hir and wolde be magnyfiid in hir for hys owyn goodnes and hir profyte and for the profyte of many other. And, whan sche belevyd that it was God and no evyl spiryt that gaf hir so mech grace of devocyon, contricyon, and holy contemplacyon, than had sche so many holy thowtys, holy spechys, and dalyawns in hir sowle techyng hir how sche schulde lovyn God, how sche schulde worschepyn hym and servyn hym, that sche cowde nevyr rehersyn but fewe of hem; it wer so holy and so hy that sche was abaschyd to tellyn hem to any creatur, and also it weryn so hy abovyn hir bodily wittys that sche myth nevyr expressyn hem wyth hir bodily tunge liche as sche felt hem. Sche undirstod hem bettyr in hir sowle than sche cowde uttyr hem. Yyf on of hir confessowrys come to hir whan sche ros up newely fro hir contemplacyon er ellys fro hir meditacyon, sche cowde a telde hym meche thyng of the dalyawnce that owr Lord dalyid to hir sowle, and in a schort tyme aftyr sche had forgetyn the most party therof and ny everydeel. 84 The Abbas of Denney, an hows of nunnys, oftyn tymys sent for the sayd creatur that sche schulde come to speke wyth hir and wyth hir sisterys. The creatur thowt sche wolde not gon tyl an other yer, for sche myth evyl duryn the labowr. Than, as sche was in hir meditacyon and had gret swetnes and devocyon, owr Lord comawndyd hir to gon to Denney and confortyn the ladiis that desyryd to comownyn wyth hir, seying on this maner to hir sowle, "Dowtyr, go forth to the hows of Denney in the name of Jhesu, for I wole that thu comfort hem." Sche was loth to gon, for it was pestylens tyme, and hir thowt that sche wolde for no good a deyd ther. Owr Lord seyd to hir mende agen, "Dowtyr, thu schalt go saf and come saf agen." Sche went than to a worschepful burgeys wyfe, the whech lovyd hir and trostyd hir ryth mech, whos husbond lay in gret sekenes, and teld the worschepful wife that sche schulde go to Denney. The worthy woman wolde that sche schulde not a gon and seyd, "I wolde not," sche seyd, "that myn husbond deyid whil ye wer owt for forty shillings." And sche seyd agen, "Yyf ye wolde geve me an hundryd pownde, I wolde not abydyn at hom." For, whan sche was bodyn in hir sowle for to gon, sche wolde in no wey wythstond it, but for anythyng sche wolde forth what that evyr fel. And, whan sche was bodyn ben at hom, sche wolde for no thyng gon owte. And than owr Lord telde hir that the forseyd burgeys schulde not dey. Than yede she ageyn to the worthy wife and bad hir ben of good comforte, for hir husbond schulde levyn and faryn ryth wel and that he schulde not dey yet. The good wife was ryth glad and seyd agen to hir, "Now gospel mote it ben in yowr mowth." Sithyn the creatur wolde a sped hir forth as sche was comawndyd, and, whan sche cam to the watyrs syde, alle the botys weryn forth to Cambryggeward er than sche cam. Than had sche mech hevynes how sche schulde fulfillyn owr Lordys biddyng. And anon sche was bodyn in hir sowle that sche schulde not ben sory ne hevy, for sche schulde ben ordeynd for wel anow and sche schulde gon safe and come saf agen. And it fel so in dede. Than owr Lord mad a maner of thankyng to hir, for as meche as sche in contemplacyon and in meditacyon had ben hys modyrs maydyn and holpyn to kepyn hym in hys childhod and so forth into the tyme of hys deth and seyd unto hir, "Dowtyr, thow schalt han as gret mede and as gret reward wyth me in hevyn for thi good servyse and the good dedys that thu hast don in thi mynde and meditacyon as yyf thu haddyst don tho same dedys wyth thy bodily wittys wythowtyn forth. And also, dowtyr, whan thu dost any servyse to the and to thin husbond in mete or drynke er any other thyng that is nedful to yow, to thi gostly fadirs, er to any other that thu receyvyst in my name, thu schalt han the same mede in hevyn as thow thu dedist it to myn owyn persone er to my blissyd modyr, and I schal thankyn the therfor. Dowtyr, thu seyst that it is to me a good name to be callyd al good, and thu schalt fyndyn that name is al good to the. And also, dowtyr, thu seyst it is wel worthy that I be callyd al lofe, and thu schalt wel fyndyn that I am al lofe to the, for I knowe every thowt of thyn hert. And I knowe wel, dowtyr, that thu hast many tymys thowt, yyf thu haddist an had many chirchys ful of nobelys, thu woldist a govyn hem in my name. And also thu hast thowt that thu woldist, yyf thu haddist had good anow, a made many abbeys for my lofe for religiows men and women to dwellyn in and a govyn iche of hem hundryd powndys be yer for to ben my servawntys. And thu hast also in thi mende desyryd to han many preistys in the town of Lynne that myth syngyn and redyn nyght and day for to servyn me, worschepyn me, and preysyn and thankyn me for the goodnes that I have don to the in erthe. And therfor, dowtyr, I behote the thu schalt have the same mede and reward in hevyn for this good willys and thes good desyrys as yyf thu haddist don hem in dede. Dowtyr, I knowe alle the thowtys of thin hert that thu hast to alle maner men and women, to alle lazerys, and to alle presonerys, and as mech good as thu woldist gevyn hem be yer to serve me wyth I take it as yf it wer don in dede. And, dowtyr, I thanke the for the charité that thu hast to alle lecherows men and women, for thu preyst for hem and wepist many a teer for hem, desyryng that I schulde delyvyr hem owt of synne and ben as gracyows to hem as I was to Mary Mawdelyn and that thei myth han as gret lofe to me as Mary Mawdelyn had. And wyth this condicyon thu woldist that every of hem schulde have twenty pownde be yer to lovyn me and preysyn me. And, dowtyr, this gret charité that thu hast in thi preier to hem plesyth me ryth wel. And also, dowtyr, I thanke the for the charité that thu hast in thi preyer whan thu preyist for alle Jewys and Sarazenys and alle hethyn pepil that thei schulde comyn to Cristen feith that my name myth be magnyfiid in hem, and for the holy teerys and wepyngys that thu hast wept for hem, preying and desyryng that yyf any preyer myth bryngyn hem to grace or to Cristyndom that I schulde heryn thi preyer for hem yf it wer my wille. Forthermor, dowtyr, I thanke the for the general charité that thu hast to alle the pepil that is now in this worlde levyng and to alle tho that arn for to come into this worldys ende, that thu woldist ben hakkyd as smal as flesche to the potte for her lofe so that I wolde be thi deth savyn hem alle fro dampnacyon yyf it plesyd me, for thu seyst oftyn in thy thowt that ther arn inowe in helle and thu woldist that ther schulde nevyr mo men deservyn for to comyn therin. And therfor, dowtyr, for alle thes good willys and desyrys thu schalt han ful hy mede and rewarde in hevyn. Beleve it ryth wel, and dowt it nevyr a deel, for alle thes gracys ar my gracys, and I werke hem in the myself for thu schuldist han the mor mede in hevyn. And I telle the trewly, dowtyr, every good thowt and every good desyr that thu hast in thi sowle is the speche of God, al yf it be so that thu her me not spekyn to the sumtyme as I do sumtyme to thi cler undirstondyng. And therfor, dowtyr, I am as an hyd God in thi sowle, and I wythdrawe sumtyme thi teerys and thi devocyon that thu schuldist thynkyn in thyself that thu hast no goodnes of thiself but al goodnes comyth of me, and also thu schuldist verily wetyn what peyn it is for to forbere me, and how swet it is for to fele me, and that thu schuldist be the mor besy for to sekyn me agen, also, dowtyr, for thu schuldist knowyn what peyne other men han that wolde felyn me and may not. For ther is many a man in erth that, yyf he had but oo day in al hys lyve tyme of swech as thu hast many days, he wolde evyr lovyn me the bettyr and thankyn me for that oo day. And thu maist not, dowtyr, forberyn me oo day wythowtyn gret peyne. Therfor, dowtyr, thu hast gret cawse to lovyn me ryth wel, for it is for no wreth, dowtyr, that I wythdrawe sumtyme fro the the felyng of grace and the fervowr of devocyon but that thu schuldist knowyn ryth wel that thu maist be no ypocryte for no wepyng, for no criyng, for no swetnes, for no devocyon, for no mynd of myn passyon, ne for non other gostly grace that I geve er send to the. For thes arn not the develys gyftys, but thei arn my gracys and my gyftys, and thes arn myn owyn special gyftys that I geve to myn owyn chosyn sowlys the whech I knew wythowtyn begynnyng schulde come to grace and dwellyn wyth me withowtyn endyng. For in alle other thyngys thu maist ben an ypocrite yf thu wilt, that is to sey, in undirstandyng, in many bedys byddyng, in gret fastyng, in gret penawnce doyng wythowtyn forth that men may se it, er in gret almes dedys doyng wyth thin handys, er in good wordys spekyng wyth thi mowth. In alle thes, dowtyr, thu maist ben an ypocrite yf thu wilte, and thu maist also don hem wel and holily yf thu wilt thiselfe. Lo, dowtyr, I have gove the swech a lofe that thu schalt non ypocrite be therin. And, dowtyr, thu schalt nevyr lesyn tyme whil thu art ocupiid therin, for hoso thynkyth wel he may not synnyn for the tyme. And the devyl knowith not the holy thowtys that I geve the ne no man in erde knowyth how wel and holily thu art ocupiid wyth me, ne thiself can not tellyn the gret grace and goodnes that thu felist in me. And therfor, dowtyr, thu begilyst bothe the devyl and the worlde wyth thin holy thowtys, and it is ryth gret foly to the pepil of the worlde for to demyn thin hert that no man may knowyn but God alone. And therfor, dowtyr, I telle the trewly thu hast as gret cawse to enjoyin and ben mery in thi sowle as lady er maydyn in this world. My lofe is so mech to the that I may not drawyn it fro the, for, dowtyr, ther may non hert thynke ne tunge telle the gret love that I have to the, and that I take witnes of my blissyd modyr, of myn holy awngelys, and of alle the seyntys in hevyn, for thei alle worschep me for thi lofe in hevyn. And so schal I ben worschepyd in erth for thi love, dowtyr, for I wyl have the grace that I have schewyd to the in erth knowyn to the worlde that the pepil may wonderyn in my goodnes and merveylyn of my gret goodnes that I have schewyd to the that hast ben synful, and becawse that I have be so gracyows and mercyful to the, thei that ben in the worlde schal not dispeyrin, be thei nevyr so synful, for thei may han mercy and grace yyf thei wil hemself. 85 On a tyme, as the sayd creatur was knelyng beforn an awter of the cros and seying on an oryson, hir eyne wer evyr togedirward as thow sche schulde a slept. And at the last sche myth not chesyn; sche fel in a lityl slomeryng, and anon aperyd verily to hir syght an awngel al clothyd in white as mech as it had ben a lityl childe beryng an howge boke beforn hym. Than seyd the creatur to the childe, er ellys to the awngel, " sche seyd, "This is the boke of lyfe." And sche saw in the boke the Trinité and al in gold. Than seyd sche to the childe, "Wher is my name?" The childe answeryd and seyd, "Her is thi name at the Trinyté foot wretyn," and therwyth he was ago, sche wist not how. And anon aftyr owr Lord Jhesu Crist spak unto hir and seyde, "Dowtyr, loke that thu be now trewe and stedfast and have a good feith, for thi name is wretyn in hevyn in the boke of lyfe, and this was an awngel that gaf the comfort. And therfor, dowtyr, thu must be ryth mery, for I am ryth besy bothe for none and aftyr none to drawe thin hert into myn hert, for thu schuldist kepyn thi mende altogedyr on me, and schal most encresyn thi love to God. For, dowtyr, yyf thu wilt drawyn aftyr Goddys cownsel, thu maist not don amys, for Goddys cownsel is to be meke, pacient in charité and in chastité. An other tyme, as the creatur lay in hir contempplacyon in a chapel of owr Lady, hir mynde was ocupiid in the Passyon of owr Lord Jhesu Crist, and hyr thowt verily that she saw owr Lord aperyn to hir gostly syght in hys manhod with hys wowndys bledyng as fresch as thow he had ben scorgyd beforn hir. And than sche wept and cryid wyth alle the myghtys of hir body, for, yyf hir sorwe wer gret beforn this gostly syght, yet it was wel grettar aftyr than it was beforn, and hir love was mor encresyd to owr Lord ward. And than had sche gret wondyr that owr Lord wolde becomyn man and suffyr so grevows peynys for hir that was so unkynde a creatur to hym. An other tyme, as sche was in a chirch of Seynt Margarete in the qwer, beyng in gret swetnes and devocyon wyth gret plenté of teerys, sche askyd owr Lord Jhesu Crist how sche myght best plesyn hym. And he answeryd to hyr sowle, seying, "Dowtyr, have mynde of thi wykkydnes and thynk on my goodnes." Than sche preyd many tymys and oftyn thes wordys, "Lord, for thy gret goodnes have mercy on al my wykkydnes as wistly as I was nevyr so wykkyd as thu art good ne nevyr may be thow I wolde, for thu art so good that thu mayst no bettyr be. And therfor it is gret wondyr that evyr ony man schulde be departyd fro the wythowtyn ende." Than, as sche lay stille in the qwer, wepyng and mornyng for hir synnys, sodeynly sche was in a maner of slep. And anon sche saw wyth hir gostly eye owr Lordys body lying beforn hir, and hys hevyd, as hir thowt, fast be hir wyth hys blissyd face upward, the semeliest man that evyr myth be seen er thowt. And than cam on wyth a baselard knyfe to hir syght and kytt that precyows body al on long in the brest. And anon sche wept wondyr sor, havyng more mynde, pité, and compassyon of the passyon of owr Lord Jhesu Crist than sche had beforn. And so every day encresyd hir mynde and hir lofe to owr Lord, blissyd mote he ben, and the mor that hir love encresyd the mor was hir sorwe for synne of the pepil. An other tyme, the seyd creatur beyng in a chapel of owr Lady sor wepyng in the mynde of owr Lordys passyon and swech other gracys and goodnes as owr Lord ministryd to hir mynde, and sodeynly, sche wist not how sone, sche was in a maner of slep. And anon in the syght of hir sowle sche sey owr Lord standyng ryght up ovyr hir so ner that hir thowt sche toke hys toos in hir hand and felt hem, and to hir felyng it weryn as it had ben very flesch and bon. And than sche thankyd God of al, for thorw thes gostly sytys hir affeccyon was al drawyn into the manhod of Crist and into the mynde of hys passyon unto that tyme that it plesyd owr Lord to gevyn hir undirstondyng of hys inundirstondabyl Godhed. As is wretyn beforn, thes maner of visyons and felyngys sche had sone aftyr hir conversyon, whan sche was fully set and purposyd to servyn God wyth al hir hert into hir power, and had fully left the worlde, and kept the chirche bothe for none and aftyr none, and most specialy in Lent tyme whan sche wyth gret instawns and mech preyer had leve of hir husbond to levyn chast and clene and dede gret bodily penawns er sche went to Jerusalem. But aftyrwardys, whan hir husbond and sche wyth on assent had mad avow of chastité, as is beforn wretyn, and sche had ben at Rome and Jerusalem and suffyrd mech despite and repref for hir wepyng and hir criyng, owr Lord of hys hy mercy drow hir affeccyon into hys Godhed, and that was mor fervent in lofe and desyr and mor sotyl in undirstondyng than was the manhod. And nevyrthelesse the fyr of love encresyd in hir, and hir undirstandyng was mor illumynyd and hir devocyon mor fervent than it was befor whyl sche had hir meditacyon and hir contemplacyon only in hys manhod, yet had sche not that maner of werkyng in crying as sche had befor, but it was mor sotyl and mor softe and mor esy to hir spiryt to beryn and plentyuows in teerys as evyr it was beforn. An other tyme, as this creatur was in an hows of the Frer Prechowrys wythinne a chapel of owr Lady, stondyng in hir preyerys, hir ey ledys went a lityl togedyr wyth a maner of slep, and sodeynly sche sey, hir thowt, owr Lady in the fayrest syght that evyr sche say, holdyng a fayr white kerche in hir hand and seying to hir, "Dowtyr, wilt thu se my sone?" And anon forth wyth sche say owr Lady han hyr blissyd sone in hir hand and swathyd hym ful lytely in the white kerche that sche myth wel beholdyn how sche dede. The creatur had than a newe gostly joye and a newe gostly comfort, wheche was so mervelyows that sche cowde nevyr tellyn it as sche felt it. 86 On a tyme owre Lord spak to the sayd creatur whan it plesyd hym, seying to hyr gostly undirstondyng, "Dowtyr, for as many tymys as thu hast receyvyd the blissyd sacrament of the awter wyth many holy thowtys mo than thu canst rehersyn, for so many tymys schalt thu be rewardyd in hevyn wyth newe joyis and new comfortys. And, dowtyr, in hevyn schal it be knowyn to the how many days thu hast had of hy contemplacyon thorw my gyft in erth. And of alle that it so be that it arn my gyftys and my gracys whech I have govyn the, yet schal thu han the same grace and reward in hevyn as yyf it weryn of thyn owyn merytys, for frely I have govyn hem to the. But hyly I thanke the, dowtyr, that thu hast suffyrd me to werkyn my wil in the and that thu woldist latyn me be so homly wyth the. For in no thyng, dowtyr, that thu myghtyst do in erth thu myghtyst no bettyr plesyn me than suffyrn me speke to the in thi sowle, for that tyme thu undirstondyst my wyl and I undirstond thi wyl. And also, dowtyr, thu clepist my modyr for to comyn into thi sowle and takyn me in hir armys and leyn me to hir brestys and gevyn me sokyn. Also, dowtyr, I knowe the holy thowtys and the good desyrys that thu hast whan thu receyvyst me and the good charité that thu hast to me in the tyme that thu receyvyst my precyows body into thi sowle, and also how thu clepist Mary Mawdelyn into thi sowle to wolcomyn me, for, dowtyr, I wot wel anow what thu thynkyst. Thu thynkyst that sche is worthiest in thi sowle, and most thu trustyst in hir preyerys next my modyr, and so thu maist ryth wel, dowtyr, for sche is a ryth gret mene to me for the in the blysse of hevyn. And sumtyme, dowtyr, thu thynkyst thi sowle so large and so wyde that thu clepist al the cowrt of hevyn into thi sowle for to wolcomyn me. I wot ryth wel, dowtyr, what thu seist, 'Comyth alle twelve apostelys that wer so wel belovyd of God in erde and receyvyth yowr Lord in my sowle.' Also thu preyist Kateryn, Margarete, and alle holy virginys to wolcomyn me in thi sowle. And than thu preyist my blissyd modyr, Mary Mawdelyn, alle apostelys, martirys, confessowrys, Kateryne, Margaret, and alle holy virginys that thei schulde arayn the chawmbre of thi sowle wyth many fayr flowerys and wyth many swete spicys that I myth restyn therin. Ferthermor thu thynkist sumtyme, dowtyr, as thow thu haddist a cuschyn of gold, an other of red velvet, the thryd of white sylke in thy sowle. And thu thynkist that my Fadyr sittyth on the cuschyn of golde, for to hym is apropyrd myght and power. And thu thynkist that I the Secunde Persone, thi love and thi joy, sytte on the red cuschyn of velvet, for on me is al thi thowte becawse I bowt the so der, and thu thynkyst that thu kanst nevyr aqwityn me the lofe that I have schewyd the thei thu wer slayn a thowsend tymys on the day yyf it wer possibyl for my lof. Thus thu thynkist, dowtyr, in thi sowle that I am worthy to syttyn on a red cuschyn in rememorawns of the red blood that I schad for the. Morovyr thu thinkist that the Holy Gost sittyth on a white cuschyn, for thu thynkist that he is ful of lofe and clennesse, and therfor it semyth hym to sittyn on a white cuschyn, for he is gevar of alle holy thowtys and chastité. And yet I wot wel inow, dowtyr, that thu thynkyst thu maist not worschepyn the Fadyr but thu worschep the Sone, ne thu may not worschep the Sone but thu worschep the Holy Gost. And also thu thynkyst sumtyme, dowtyr, that the Fadyr is al myghty and al witty and al grace and goodnes, and thu thynkyst the same of the Sone that he is al myghty and al witty and al grace and goodnes. And thu thynkyst that the Holy Gost hath the same proparteys evyn wyth the Fadyr and the Sone, procedyng of hem bothyn. Also thu thynkyst that eche of the three personys in Trinité hath that other hath in her Godhed, and so thu belevyst verily, dowtyr, in thy sowle that ther be three dyvers personys and oo God in substawnce, and that eche knowyth that other knowyth, and ech may that other may, and eche wil that other wil. And, dowtyr, this a very feith and a ryght feyth, and this feith hast thu only of my gyfte. And therfor, dowtyr, yf thu wilt bethynk the wel, thu hast gret cawse to lovyn me ryth wel and to gevyn me al holy thin hert that I may fully restyn therin as I wil myself, for, yyf thu suffyr me, dowtyr, to restyn in thi sowle in erthe, beleve it ryght wel that thu schalt restyn wyth me in hevyn wythowtyn ende. And therfor, dowtyr, have thu no wondyr thow thu wepe sor whan thu art howselyd and receyvyst my blissyd body in forme of breed, for thu preyist to me aforn er thu be howselyd, seying to me in thy mende, 'As wistly, Lord, as thu lovyst me, make me clene fro al synne and geve me grace to receyve thi precyows body worthily wyth al maner of worschep and reverens.' And, dowtyr, wete thu wel I her thi preyer, for a bettyr word maist thu not sey to my lykyng than 'as wostly as I love the,' for than I fulfille my grace in the and geve the many an holy thowt, it is unpossibyl to tellyn hem alle. And for the gret homlynes that I schewe to the that tyme that thu art mekyl the boldar to askyn me grace for thiselfe, for thin husbond, and for thi childryn and thu makyst every Cristen man and woman thi childe in thi sowle for the tyme and woldist han as meche grace for hem as for thin owyn childeryn. Also thu askyst mercy for thyn husbonde, and thu thynkyst that thu art meche beholdyn to me that I have govyn the swech a man that wolde suffryn the levyn chast, he beyng on lyve and in good hele of body. Forsothe, dowtyr, thu thynkist ful trewe, and therfore hast thu gret cawse to lovyn me ryth wel. Dowtyr, yyf thu knew how many wifys ther arn in this worlde that wolde lovyn me and servyn me ryth wel and dewly, yyf thei myght be as frely fro her husbondys as thu art fro thyn, thu woldist seyn that thu wer ryght meche beheldyn onto me. And yet ar thei putt fro her wyl and suffyr ful gret peyne, and therfor schal thei have ryght gret reward in hevyn, for I receyve every good wyl as for dede. Sumtyme, dowtyr, I make the to have gret sorwe for thi gostly fadyrs synnys in special that he schulde have as ful forgevenes of hys synnys as thu woldist have of thyn. And, sumtyme whan thu receyvyst the precyows sacrament, I make the to prey for thy gostly fadyr on this wyse: that as many men and women myth be turnyd be hys prechyng as thu woldist that wer turnyd be the teerys of thyn eyne and that myn holy wordys myght sattelyn as sor in her hertys as thu woldist that thei schulde sattelyn in thyn hert. And also thu askyst the same grace for alle good men that prechyn my word in erth that thei myght profityn to alle resonabyl creaturys. And oftyntymys that day that thu receyvyst my precyows body thu askyst grace and mercy for alle thi frendys and for alle thin enmyis that evyr dede the schame er repref eythyr scornyd the er japyd the for the grace that I werke in the and for al this world bothe yong and elde, wyth many teerys sore wepyng and sobbyng. Thu hast suffyrd mech schame and meche repref, and therfor schalt thu han ful mech blys in hevyn. Dowtyr, be not aschamyd to receyvyn my grace whan I wil geven it the, for I schal not ben aschamyd of the that thu schalt ben receyvyd into the blys of hevyn, ther to be rewardyd for every good thowt, for every good word, and for every good dede, and for every day of contemplacyon, and for alle good desyrys that thu hast had her in this world wyth me evyrlestyngly as my derworthy derlyng, as my blissyd spowse, and as myn holy wife. And therfor drede the not, dowtyr, thow the pepyl wondyr why thu wepist so sor whan thu receyvyst me, for, yyf thei knew what grace I putte in the that tyme, thei schulde rathyr wondyr that thin hert brost not asundyr. And so it schulde yyf I mesuryd not that grace myself, but thu seest wel, dowtyr, thiself, that whan thu hast receyvid me into thy sowle thu art in pees and in qwyete and sobbist no lengar. And therof the pepil hath gret wondyr, but it thar no wondyr be to the, for thu wost wel that I far lyke an husbond that schulde weddyn a wyfe. What tyme that he had weddyd hir, hym thynkyth that he is sekyr anow of hir and that no man schal partyn hem asundyr, for than, dowtyr, may thei gon to bedde togedyr wythowtyn any schame er dred of the pepil and slepyn in rest and pees yyf thei wil. And thus, dowtyr, it farith betwix the and me, for thu hast every weke specialy on the Sunday gret feer and drede in thy sowle how thu maist best be sekyr of my lofe, and wyth gret reverens and holy drede how thu maist best receyvyn me to the salvacyon of thy sowle wyth al maner of mekenes, lownes, and charité, as any lady in this werld is besy to receyve hir husbond whan he comyth hom and hath be long fro hir. My derworthy dowtyr, I thank the hily for alle men that thu hast kept seke in my name and for al the goodnes and servyse that thu hast don to hem in any degré for thu schalt havyn the same mede wyth me in hevyn as thow thu haddist kept myn owyn self whil I was her in erde. Also, dowtyr, I thanke the for as many tymys as thu hast bathyd me in thi sowle at hom in thi chambre as thow I had be ther present in my manhod, for I knowe wel, dowtyr, alle the holy thowtys that thu hast schewyd to me in thi mende. And also, dowtyr, I thank the for alle the tymys that thu hast herberwyd me and my blissyd modyr in thi bed. For thes and for alle other good thowtys and good dedys that thu hast thowt in my name and wrowt for my lofe thu schalt have wyth me and wyth my modyr, wyth myn holy awngelys, wyth myn apostelys, wyth myn martirys, confessowris and virginys, and wyth alle myn holy seyntys al maner joye and blysse lestyng wythowtyn ende." 87 The sayd creatur lay ful stille in the chirch, heryng and undirstondyng this swet dalyawnce in hir sowle as clerly as on frende schulde spekyn to an other. And, whan sche herd the gret behestys that owr Lord Jhesu Crist behite hir, than sche thankyd hym wyth gret wepyngys and sobbyngys and wyth many holy and reverent thowtys, seying in hir mende, "Lord Jhesu, blissyd mote thu be, for this deservyd I nevyr of the, but I wolde I wer in that place ther I schulde nevyr displese the fro this tyme forward." Wyth swech maner of thowtys and many mo than I cowde evyr writyn sche worschepyd and magnifyed owr Lord Jhesu Crist for hys holy visitacyon and hys comfort. And in swech maner visitacyons and holy contemplacyonis as arn beforn wretyn, mech mor sotyl and mor hy wythowtyn comparison than be wretyn, the sayd creatur had continuyd hir lyfe thorw the preservyng of owr Savyowr Crist Jhesu mor than twenty-five yer whan this tretys was wretyn, weke be weke and day be day, les than sche wer ocupiid wyt seke folke er ellys wer lettyd wyth other nedful occupasyon as was necessary unto hir er to hir evyn crystyn. Than it was wythdrawyn sumtyme, for it wil be had but in gret qwyet of sowle thorw long excersyse. Of this maner speche and dalyawnce sche was mad mythy and strong in the lofe of owr Lord and gretly stabelyd in hir feith and encresyd in mekenes and charité wyth other good vertuys. And sche stabely and stedfastly belevyd that it was God that spak in hir sowle and non evyl spiryt, for in hys speche sche had most strength and most comfort and most encresyng of vertu, blissyd be God. Dyvers tymys, whan the creatur was so seke that sche wend to a ben ded and other folke wende the same, it was answeryd in hir sowle that sche schulde not deyin but sche schulde levyn and far wel, and so sche dede. Sumtyme owr Lady spak to hir and comfortyd hir in hir sekenes. Sumtyme Seynt Petyr, er Seynt Powle, sumtyme Seynt Mary Mawdelyn, Seynt Kateryne, Seynt Margaret, er what seynt in hevyn that sche cowde thynke on thorw the wil and sufferawns of God, thei spokyn to the undirstondyng of hir sowle, and enformyd hir how sche schulde lovyn God and how sche schulde best plesyn hym, and answeryd to what that sche wolde askyn of hem, and sche cowde undirstond be her maner of dalyawns whech of hem it was that spak unto hir and comfortyd hir. Owr Lord of hys hy mercy visityd hir so mech and so plenteuowsly wyth hys holy spechys and hys holy dalyawnce that sche wist not many tymys how the day went. Sche supposyd sumtyme of five owrys er six owrys it had not ben the space of an owr. It was so swet and so devowt that it ferd as sche had ben in an hevyn. Sche thowt nevyr long therof ne sche was nevyr irke therof; the tyme went awey sche wist not how. Sche had levar a servyd God, yyf sche myght a levyd so long, an hundryd yer in this maner of lyfe than oo day as sche began fyrst. And oftyn tymys sche seyd to owr Lord Jhesu, "A, Lord Jhesu, syn it is so swet to wepyn for thi lofe in erth, I wote wel it schal be ryght joyful to be wyth the in hevyn. Therfor, Lord, I prey the, late me nevyr han other joy in erthe but mornyng and wepyng for thy lofe. For me thynkith, Lord, thow I wer in helle, yyf I myth wepyn ther and mornyn for thi lofe as I do her, helle schuld not noyin me, but it schulde be a maner of hevyn, for thy lofe puttyth awey al maner of drede of owr gostly enmye, for I had levar ben ther as long as thu woldist and plesyn the than ben in this worlde and displesyn the. Therfor, Lord, as thu wilt so mote it be." 88 Whan this booke was first in wrytyng, the sayd creatur was mor at hom in hir chambre wyth hir writer and seyd fewer bedys for sped of wrytyng than sche had don yerys beforn. And, whan sche cam to chirche and schulde heryn messe, purposyng to seyn hir mateyns and swech other devocyons as sche had usyd afor tyme, hir hert was drawyn awey fro the seying and set mech on meditacyon. Sche beyng aferd of displesawns of owr Lord, he seyd to hir sowle, "Drede the not, dowtyr, for as many bedys as thu woldist seyin I accepte hem as thow thu seydist hem, and thi stody that thu stodiist for to do writyn the grace that I have schewyd to the plesith me ryght meche and he that writith bothe. For, thow ye wer in the chirche and wept bothyn togedyr as sore as evyr thu dedist, yet schulde ye not plesyn me mor than ye don wyth yowr writyng, for dowtyr, be this boke many a man schal be turnyd to me and belevyn therin. Dowtyr, wher is a bettyr preyer be thyn owyn reson than to preyin to me wyth thin hert er thyn thowt? Dowtyr, whan thu preyist be thowt, thu undirstondist thiselfe what thu askyst of me, and thu undirstondist also what I sey to the, and thu undirstondist what I behote the to the and to thin and to alle thi gostly fadyrs. And, as for Maistyr Robert, thi confessour, I have grawntyd the that thu hast desiryd, and he schulde han halfe thy teerys and half the good werkys that I have wrowt in the. Therfor he schal trewly be rewardyd for thy wepyng as thow he had wept hymselfe. And beleve wel, dowtyr, that ye schal be ful mery in hevyn togedyr at the last and schal blyssyn the tyme that evyr yowr on knew yowr other. And, dowtyr, thu schalt blissyn me wythowtyn ende that evyr I gaf the so trewe a gostly fadyr, for, thow he hath be scharp to the sumtyme, it hath ben gretly to thy profyte, for thu woldist ellys an had to gret affeccyon to hys persone. And, whan he was scharp to the, than thu ronne wyth al thy mynde to me, seying, 'Lord, ther is no trost but in the alone.' And than thu crydist to me wyth al thin hert, 'Lord, for thi wowndys smerte drawe alle my lofe into thyn hert.' And, dowtyr, so have I do. Thow thynkyst oftyn tymys that I have do ryght meche for the, and thu thynkyst that it is a gret myracle that I have drawyn al thyn affeccyon to me, for sumtyme thu wer so affectyd to sum synguler persone that thu wendist that tyme it had ben in a maner inpossibyl to a wythdrawyn thyn affeccyon fro hym. And sithyn thu hast desyryd, yyf it had plesyd me, that the same persone schulde a forsakyn the for my lofe, for, yyf he had not supportyd the, fewe men wolde a sett any prise by the, as the semyd. And thu thowtist, yf he had a forsakyn the, it had be the grettest repref that evyr cam to the as agens the pepil, and therfor thu woldist a suffyrd that repref wyth good wil for my lofe yf it had lykyd me. And thus wyth swech dolful thowtys thu encresyst thi lofe to meward, and therfor, dowtyr, I receyve thi desirys as yf thei wer don in dede. And I knowe ryth wel that thu hast ryth trewe love to that same persone, and I have oftyn seyd to the that he schulde be ryth fawyn to lovyn the and that he schulde belevyn it is God that spekith in the and no devyl. Also, dowtyr, that persone hath plesyd me ryth wel, for he hath oftyn in hys sermownys excusyd thy wepyng and thi crying, and so hath Maystyr Aleyn don bothyn, and therfor thei schal have ful gret mede in hevyn. Dowtyr, I have telde the many tymys that I schulde maynteyn thi wepyng and thy crying be sermownys and prechyng. Also, dowtyr, I telle the that Maistyr Robert, thi gostly fadyr, plesyth me ful meche whan he byddyth the belevyn that I love the. And I knowe wel that thu hast gret feyth in hys wordys, and so thu maist ryth wel, for he wil not flatyr the. And also, dowtyr, I am hyly plesyd wyth hym, for he bid -dith the that thu schuldist sittyn stille and gevyn thyn hert to meditacyon and thynkyn swech holy thowtys as God wyl puttyn in thi mende. And I have oftyn tymys bodyn the so myself, and yet thu wilt not don theraftyr but wyth meche grutchyng. And yet am I not displesyd wyth the, for, dowtyr, I have oftyn seyd onto the that whethyr thu preyist wyth thi mowth er thynkist wyth thyn hert, whethyr thu redist er herist redyng, I wil be plesyd wyth the. And yet, dowtyr, I telle the, yf thu woldist levyn me, that thynkyng is the best for the and most schal incresyn thy lofe to me; and the mor homly that thu suffyr me to be in thi sowle in erthe, it is worthy and rythful that I be the mor homly wyth thi sowle in hevyn. And therfor, dowtyr, yf thu wilt not don aftyr my cownsel, do aftyr the cownsel of thi gostly fadyr, for he biddith the do the same that I bidde the do. Dowtyr, whan thi gostly fadyr seith to the thu displesyst God, thu levyst hym ryth wel, and than takist thu meche sorwe and gret hevynes and wepist ful fast tyl thu hast gotyn grace ageyn. And than I come oftyn tymys to the myself and comfort the, for, dowtyr, I may not suffyr the to have peyne any while but that I must do remedy. And therfor, dowtyr, I come to the and make the sekyr of my lofe and telle the wyth myn owyn mowth that thu art as sekyr of my lofe as God is God and that no thyng is so sekyr to the in erthe that thu maist se wyth thi bodily eye. And therfor, blissyd dowtyr, love hym that lovyth the and forgete me not, dowtyr, for I forgete not the, for my mercyful eye is evyr upon the. And that wote my mercyful modyr ful wel, dowtyr, for sche hath oftyn tymys telde the so, and many other seyntys bothyn. And therfor, dowtyr, thu hast gret cawse to lovyn me ryth wel and to gevyn me al thyn hool hert wyth alle thyn affeccyonis, for that I desyr and nothyng ellys of the. And I schal gevyn the ther ageyn al myn hert. And, yyf thu wilt be buxom to my wil I schal be buxom to thi wil, dowtyr, beleve it ryth wel. 89 Also, whil the forseyd creatur was ocupiid abowte the writyng of this tretys, sche had many holy teerys and wepingys, and oftyntymys ther cam a flawme of fyer abowte hir brest ful hoot and delectabyl, and also he that was hir writer cowde not sumtyme kepyn hymself fro wepyng. And oftyn in the mene tyme, whan the creatur was in cherche, owr Lord Jhesu Crist wyth hys gloryows Modyr and many seyntys also comyn into hir sowle and thankyd hir, seying that thei wer wel plesyd wyth the writyng of this boke. And also sche herd many tymys a voys of a swet brydde syngyn in hir ere, and oftyn tymys sche herd swet sowndys and melodiis that passyd hir witte for to tellyn hem. And sche was many tyme seke whyl this tretys was in writyng, and, as sone as sche wolde gon abowte the writyng of this tretys, sche was heil and hoole sodeynly in a maner. And oftyn sche was comawndyd to makyn hir redy in al hast. And on a tyme, as sche lay in hir preyerys in the chirche the tyme of Advent befor Cristmes, sche thowt in hir hert sche wolde that God of hys goodnes wolde makyn Maistyr Aleyn to seyin a sermown as wel as he cowde. And, as swithe as sche had thowt thus, sche herd owr Sovereyn Lord Crist Jhesu seyin in hir sowle, "Dowtyr, I wot ryth wel what thu thynkist now of Maistyr Aleyn, and I telle the trewly that he schal seyin a rith holy sermowne. And loke that thu beleve stedfastly the wordys that he schal prechyn as thow I prechyd hem myselfe, for thei schal be wordys of gret solas and comfort to the, for I schal spekyn in hym." Whan sche had herd this answer, sche went and telde it hir confessowr and other tweyn preistys that sche trustyd mech on. And, whan sche had telde hem hir felyng, sche was ful sory for dreed whethyr he schulde sey so wel as sche had felt er not, for revelacyons be hard sumtyme to undirstondyn. And sumtyme tho that men wenyn wer revelacyonis it arn deceytys and illusyons, and therfor it is not expedient to gevyn redily credens to every steryng but sadly abydyn and prevyn yf thei be sent of God. Nevyrthelesse as to this felyng of this creatur, it was very trewth schewyd in experiens, and hir dred and hir hevynes turnyd into gret gostly comforte and gladnes. Sumtyme sche was in gret hevynes for hir felyngys, whan sche knew not how thei schulde ben undirstondyn many days togedyr, for drede that sche had of deceytys and illusyons, that hir thowt sche wolde that hir hed had be smet fro the body tyl God of hys goodnesse declaryd hem to hir mende. For sumtyme that sche undirstod bodily it was to ben undirstondyn gostly, and the drede that sche had of hir felyngys was the grettest scorge that sche had in erde and specialy whan sche had hir fyrst felyngys, and that drede made hir ful meke for sche had no joye in the felyng tyl sche knew be experiens whethyr it was trewe er not. But evyr blissyd mote God ben, for he mad hir alwey mor myty and mor strong in hys love and in hys drede and gaf hir encres of vertu wyth perseverawns. Her endith this tretys, for God toke hym to hys mercy that wrot the copy of this boke, and, thow that he wrot not clerly ne opynly to owr maner of spekyng, he in hys maner of wrytyng and spellyng mad trewe sentens the whech, thorw the help of God and of hirselfe that had al this tretys in felyng and werkyng, is trewly drawyn owt of the copy into this lityl boke. |