The Revelation 
 
 TO 
 
 THE MONK OF EVESHAM 
 
 1196 
 
 CAREFULLY EDITED FROM THE UNIQUE COPY, NOW IN 
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM, OF THE EDITION PRINTED 
 
 BY WILLIAM DE MACHLINIA ABOUT 1482 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 EDWARD ARBER 
 
 F.S.A ETC. LATE EXAMINER IN ENGLISH 
 
 LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE 
 
 TO THE UNIVERSITY OP 
 
 LONDON 
 
 WESTMINSTER 
 A. CONSTABLE AND CO. 
 
 1895
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 INTRODUCTION ...... 3 
 
 THE REVELATION TO THE MONK OF EVESHAM. 
 
 (1) The Prologue of the Revelation, . . .15 
 
 (2) [The Table of Chapters], . . . .16 
 
 THE REVELATION, . .19 
 
 In Fifty-eight Chapters and an Epilogue. 
 The Trance and Recovery of the Young Monk of Eves- 
 ham Abbey, ...... 19-35 
 
 THE JOURNEYTHROUGH PURGATORY & PARADISE TO HEAVEN. 
 I. PURGATORY. 
 
 The firft place of Pains, . . . 36-39, 73 
 
 Characters A Prior, that died this same year, . . 65 
 
 An Anchoress, that had come late from the world, 69 
 A Bishop 'born in this ground of England' and had 
 his Bishopry beyond the Sea, deceased this same 
 year about the Feast of Michael the Archangel, 70 
 A poor man's wife, ..... 71 
 
 A Knight that brake the Vow of Pilgrimage, 74 
 
 A Knight with the sparrowhawke on his fist, that 
 had passed to God ten years ago, . . 75 
 
 The fecond place of Pains, . . . 40, 41, 76, 82 
 
 Characters A sinful Woman saved by Saint Margaret, . 42 
 
 A drunken Goldsmith saved by Saint Nicholas, 46-56 
 
 The three Bishops, 77 
 
 An Archbishop of Canterbury, ... 79 
 
 Poisoners, 83 
 
 Usurers, Fugitives out of Religion, . . 84 
 
 A certain King of England 84 
 
 A Bishop,an Archbi=hop-elect, that died 4 years ago, 86 
 An Abbot, that died 10 years ago, . . 87 
 
 An Abbess, that passed this same year out from 
 
 this world 90 
 
 A Knight guilty of Simony 92 
 
 A young Monk, that was Sexton of the Church, 95 
 A certain Clerk that lived holily, ... 96 
 
 The third place of Pains, .... 56-59 
 Character A Doctor of Law, that died about 9 months ago, 60 
 
 II. PARADISE, ...... 98 
 
 The Vifion of the Crofs in Paradife, . . 105 
 
 Characters An Abbess, that died 13 years ago, . . 99 
 
 A devout and aged Prior, that died three years ago, 101 
 
 A young Monk, that died early, . . . 103 
 
 A worshipful Priest, who was an holy preacher, 104 
 
 III. HEAVEN. 
 
 The Cryftal Wall, . . . . .107 
 
 The Gate and the Entring in thereo', . . 107 
 
 The Stairs in the Wall and the Throne, . . 108 
 
 The fweet Peal and Melody of Bells, . . no
 
 THE REVELATION 
 
 TO 
 
 THE MONK OF EVESHAM. 
 
 INTR OD UCTION. 
 
 IN the chronology of Englifh printing, between 
 William Caxton and Wynkyn de Worde, occur 
 the lefs familiar names of JOHN LETTOU and 
 William of Malines, or as he varioufly printed his 
 
 name, WlLHELMUM DE MACHLINIA, WlLHEL- 
 
 MUM DE MECHLINIA, and even WILLIAM 
 MACLYN. 
 
 Not much is known of thefe two minor printers : nothing in- 
 deed beyond the teflimony of their own productions. Some 
 account, however, though it may be a limited and imperfect one, 
 of their works will be advantageous, previous to an acquaintance 
 with 77/i? Revelation to the Monk of EveJJiam. 
 
 2. Befides printing on their own account, Lettou and Machlinia 
 joined in partnerfhip for at leaft the production of one book, in 
 the colophon of which Lettou's name comes firft. Poffibly there- 
 fore he may have been the older printer. Their works are or 
 great rarity : fome of them extraordinarily fo. The following 
 lift of many of them contains their defignations or titles in Eng- 
 lifh, (hows the languages in which they are printed, and gives 
 the prefs marks of copies now in Britifh Mufeum. Thofe dil- 
 tinguifhed by A have the name of the printer upon them : thofe 
 by B have neither the name of the printer nor of the place or date 
 of printing. 
 
 Sofjn ILcttou. 
 A The Minorite ANTONIUS ANBREAS, Questions in Aristotle's Meta- 
 
 physics; edited by the Augustine THOMAS PENKETH. 1480. [Latin.] 
 
 Gren. Coll. 8984. 
 A JOHN PEREZ DE VALENTIA, Expositions on tlie Psalms. 1481. [Latin.] 
 
 C. u. b. 9. 
 
 ILettou and fHacftlmia. 
 A Sir THOMAS LITTLETON, Tenures. [Norman-French]. 508, f. i. Gren. 
 
 Coll. 2190. 
 B An abridgement of the Statutes, with title or printer's name, &c. [Nor- 
 
 man-French.] (i) C. 12. i. 10. (2) 505. g. i. Gren. Coll. 2190. 
 
 KHilliam fcc 
 
 . 
 
 A II. Sir THOMAS LITTLETON, Tenures. [Norman French.] 508. f. i. 
 A III. Year Book, 34 Hen. vi. 14. [Norman- French.] C. n. b. 10. Gren. 
 
 Coll. 6001. 
 A I. ALBERTUS MAGNUS, On the secrets of Nature. [Latin], (i) C. 
 
 31. e. 25. (2) 546. h. 6. 
 B I. ALBERTUS MAGNUS, On the secrets of women and men. [Latin.] 
 
 C. 31. e. 24. 
 A III. JOHN WATTON, ' Speculum Xristiani,' The Mirror of a Christian. 
 
 [Latin and English]. C. n. a. 28. 
 
 1. Year Book, 33 Hen. VI. [Norman-French.] 505. g. i. 
 I. Year Book, 35 Hen. VI. [Norman-French.] 505. g. i.
 
 4 Introduction. 
 
 1. Year Book, 36 Hen. VI. [Norman-French.] 505. g. I. 
 II. A book, without title, known as ' Nova Statuta,' The New Statutes. 
 [Norman- French.] C. n. c. 13. 
 
 B II. Tlu Re-.'clation to the Monk of Eveshant. [English.] C. 21. 
 
 B III. A passing gode lityll bake necessarye and behouefull agenst the 
 Pestilence [C. 31. e. 13], translated from the Latin of Regimen con- 
 tra ffiidimiam sine pestant, written by Canutus, Bishop of Aarhuus 
 in Jutland, and probably printed abroad. [C. 31. e. 10.) 
 
 B HI. A Chronicle of England. [English.] Gren. Coll. 5991. 
 
 B HI- Three leaves in English, [formerly in Old Royal .MS. 17. D. xv. : 
 but now C. 3. m.] lettered on the back Treaty between Lewis A'l. 
 and Edward I V. These'leaves contain The j>romisse ofntfttriinonie 
 between Prince Charles of France, and Elizabeth, daughter of the 
 English king : with other matters. 
 
 B III. Statuta nfnid-westmonasteriiun edita Anno primo Regis Ricardi 
 tertij. [Norman-French.] C. 10. b. 20: also in Petyt's AfSS. in 
 the Inner Temple Library. 
 
 B HI. Harl. MS. 5919. Art. 182 is a leaf of another work, Vulgaria 
 Therentii, which has not come down to us entire. 
 
 3. The firft book ever printed in London, was printed by John 
 Lettou. It was the above Penketh's edition of Andreas' 
 Que/liom in Ariftottis Metaphyftcs : a work firft printed at Naples 
 in 1475. 
 
 The" Rev. Dr. Cotton tells us : 
 
 If we consider Westminster as a distinct city from London, the latter car 
 only claim the third, or perhaps fourth place in order of time among the 
 English towns into which the art of printing was introduced : a press being 
 certainly at work in Oxford in the year 1478, and one at St. Alban's in 1480. 
 No book executed at London is found bearing an earlier date than this last- 
 mentioned year; the first known specimen being, AntoniiAndrecequestiones 
 super xii. libros metaphysices, printed by John Lettou, in 1480. Lettou was 
 probably a foreigner, and he is only known to have printed two books (in 1480 
 and 1481) before he joined with Wm. Machlinia, who is also supposed to have 
 been a foreigner from Germany or the Low Countries. Machlinia probably 
 continued his occupation for some years, yet comparatively few of his books 
 have come down to our times ; and of these not one single volume bears a 
 date. Typographical Gazetteer, p. 148, Kd. 1831. 
 
 But two copies of Andreas' Qtie/iiones are known. The above 
 one in the Grenville Collection, and another at Magdalen College, 
 Oxford. The two volumes printed by Lettou were both pub- 
 lifhed at the expenfe of Thomas Wilcock. They are printed in 
 double columns, and have blank fpaces left for the initial letters 
 to be filled by hand, as is the cafe of mod of the above works. 
 The colophons expanded of Lettou's two works, run thus : 
 
 A. Andreas' Qtte/tiones. 
 
 C Excellentissimi sacrae theologiae professoris Anthonii Andrse ordinis 
 fratrum minorum super duodecemo libros Methaphiscae questionibus per 
 uenerabilem uirum magistrum Thoinan Penketh ordinis fratrum Augustinen- 
 sium emendatis finis impositus est per me lohannem lettou ad expensas 
 Wilhelmi Wilcock impressis. Anno xristi M.CCCC.lxxx. 
 
 J. Perez de Valentia's bulky work, ufually known as Expo- 
 fitiones ftiper Pfalterinm. 
 
 <[ Expliciunt Reuerendissimi doctoris Valencii sup^r psalteriuw hucusque 
 expownes Impresse in ciuitate Londpniensi ad expensas Wilhelmi Wilcok 
 per me lohannem lettou. Anno xristi M.CCCC.lxxxi. 
 
 Ariftotle and David, Intellect and Piety : a fit beginning for 
 the prodigious literature that has been, that is, that yet will 
 fpring into exiftence in London.
 
 Introduction. 5 
 
 4. Sir Thomas Littleton died on 23rd Auguft 1481. It was 
 probably after his death that Lettou and Machlinia, our firft Law 
 printers, joined together to print what is probably the firft edition 
 of his Tenures. The colophon of this book runs thus : 
 
 Expliciut Tenores nouelli Impresse^er nos lohem lettou et Willem de 
 machlinia in C//tate LondoniarKwz iuxta excfesinm omnium sandornm. 
 (There were eight churches in London, dedicated to the honour of All 
 Saints, commonly written Alhallows. Near which Alliallows cannot there- 
 foie be now known.] 
 
 There is another work, known as the Vieux Abridgement des 
 Statutes which is alfo attributed to their joint-effort, but it bears 
 no date nor name of printer, place, &c. 
 
 5. The works, known and fuppofitious, of William de Machlinia 
 are more numerous. He appears to have lived either in Holborn 
 or near the Fleet Bridge. 
 
 Another of the earlieft editions of Littleton's Tenures has this 
 
 Expliciunt Tenores nouelli Impress! 
 per me Wilhelmu; de machlinia in opulen 
 tissiama Ciuitate Londoniarum iuxta pontewz 
 qui vulgariter dicitur Flete brigge 
 
 The Year Book 34 Hen. VI., has this fhort colophon. 
 
 Emp?*fte par moy William Maclyn en Holborn. 
 
 The edition of Albertus Magnus Liber aggregationis feu liber 
 fccretomm, &c., has this colophon. 
 
 Albertus Magnus de Secretis naturae Explicit 
 Necnon per me Wilhelmum de mechlinia Impressus In 
 opulentissima Ciuitate Londoniarum Iuxta pontem qui 
 vulgariter dicitur Flete brigge. 
 
 But the mod interefting of all the acknowledged productions 
 of Machlinia, and the one which has the clofeft affinity to the 
 prefent work, is a book which begins Incipit liber qui vocatur 
 Speculum Xriftiani. It is a devotional work, and confifls of 
 three parts. 
 
 (i.) The Speculum Xriftiani is compofed of fhort quotations 
 chiefly in Latin, from the Scriptures and the Fathers, interfperfed 
 with original, though rude Englifli verfe in illuftration of the 
 teaching. It is divided into eight 'tables' or 'chapters': 
 whereof the firfl treats of the Catholic faith and the articles of 
 belief: the fecond of the ten precepts of the Decalogue and the 
 two of the Gofpel : the third of the feven works of mercy, the 
 feven works of the fpirit, the feven principal vertues : the fourth 
 of the feven cardinal fins, and the like. The following to be 
 found in the feventh table -is a good fpecimen of the verfe, which 
 otherwife is interefting from its very early pofition in Englifh 
 printed Poetry. 
 
 Ensample we may see and here 
 
 Of Iherusalem that was so riche a citee 
 
 Of it openly spekys leremye 
 
 And also dauid in hys prophecye 
 
 How it was destroyed withouten wene 
 
 And the walles be ten duun all be dene
 
 6 IntroduClion. 
 
 Wallid it was with wallys thie 
 A semely sig.'it on to see 
 The temple brent ful dulfully 
 And beten doun hit was holly 
 
 So riche a temple hit was one 
 1 n this worlde was founden none 
 With walles ?nd pylers here onjyght 
 Hyled with golde that schone ful bright 
 
 So many lampes ther in brent ay 
 Hit made the night bright as the daye 
 Their oyle was medled with swete oynemcnt 
 Out of whiche swete sauour sprent 
 
 Thair sence was wonderly wrought 
 With riche spices that they dere bought 
 Ther of come swete smellyng 
 Sweter felt neuer man here lyuyng 
 Ther is now nether Emp^rour ne kyng 
 That night mayntene suche sensyng 
 
 Ther were thre hondred there in syngand 
 
 Suche songe herde neuer man in this londe 
 
 With harpe and pipe and sawtrie 
 
 And all other maner of mynstralcye 
 
 And this was all their synging 
 
 The psalmes that made Dauid the kyng 
 
 And why this Cite destroied was 
 
 Fals and coueitous men grete cheson was 
 
 1 hat euer brent in coueitise more and more 
 
 Yf we doo so aught to drede full sore 
 
 Last vs befalle as thaim befelle 
 
 Al wise clerkys thys tale can telle 
 
 And yet this fyre brennes so bate 
 That no man may it slewke and bate 
 And ther of comes so grete a smoke 
 That men may not vp to heuen loke 
 
 For wher may we now many fynde 
 
 That they not other bleereyed or all blynde 
 
 Or ellys a perse in their eye 
 
 Thof they in state or ordre be right heye 
 
 Who so might conuert blynde and bleryeye 
 
 And make them to goddys bydding obedient be 
 
 God wolde forgyf him al his synne 
 
 And graunt hym blisse that neuer schal blinne 
 
 But I am nought so grete a clerke 
 For to do so strong a werke 
 Therfore me and all mankynde 
 Into the mercy of god I recommende 
 
 (2.) The fecond part of the Speculum Xrijliani mainly confifis 
 of an Expofition of the Lord's Prayer. It has the following title. 
 Sequitur exposicio oracionis dominicse cum quodam 
 bono notabili et septem capitalia.vicia cum 
 aliquibus ramis eorum. 
 
 (3. ) The third part confifis of the Admonitions of the bleffed 
 Ifidore : and has this title. 
 
 Sequuntur monita de verbis beati ysidori extracta 
 ad instniendum hominem qualiter vicia valeat 
 euitare et in bonis se debeat mformare.
 
 Introduction. 7 
 
 At the clofe of the whole, comes the following colophon. 
 
 Iste Libellus impr^ssus est in opulentissima Ciuitate Londoniarum -per me 
 \Vil!elmuz de Machlinia ad instanciam necnon expensas Henrici Vranken- 
 burgh mercatoris. 
 
 As Thomas Wilcock paid the expenfes of Lettou's two books : 
 the piety of the merchant Henry Urankenberg furnifhed Mach- 
 linia with the means for the production of the Speculum Xrijliani. 
 
 6. A typographical matter now meets us : and it is important, 
 becaufe it is the bridge between the known and the fuppofed 
 works of Machlinia. Mr. Dibdin gives us this opinion of Mach- 
 linia as a printer. 
 
 Machlinia unquestionably printed with at least three different casts of 
 letters; of which the more elegant specimens are those of the Speculum. 
 Xriani, and A Ibertus Ma.gn.us ' De Secretis Mulierum' Machlinia is always 
 superior to Lettou, and some attempt at proportion and beauty may be seen 
 in his register, or press work ; but he is not only far beneath Wynkyn de 
 Worde in every point of good printing, but is frequently below Caxton ; 
 whose broad and bold types seem not to have suited his meagre taste. His 
 paper is not generally so good as that of his contemporaries ; but in the 
 subsequently mentioned work of ' Albertus Magnus,' and in the ' Nova 
 Statuta' he has shewn himself not indifferent to the niceties and beauty of 
 his art. The paper is excellent, the margin broad, and the register exact. 
 Typ. Ant. ii. 9. Ed. 1812. 
 
 In the above lift, an attempt has been made to claffify Mach- 
 linia's books, according to the founts of type ufed in them. The 
 law-books group under I. The Albertus Magnus, the Nova 
 Statitta, and The Monk of EveJJiam, form group II. : while the 
 third group is compofed of the Speculum Xrijliani, Chronicle of 
 England, and Lityll boke agenjl the Plague, &=c. The three groups 
 are (harp and diftin<ft from each other, and confident within. 
 Mr. Dibdin obferves with reference to th^ prefent work : 
 
 This extraordinary performance, which is bound jp with a copy of Caxton's 
 Order of Chivalry, in the British Museum, is printed with types of the 
 same character as those of the Nova Siatuta ; but more rudely executed. 
 The book has no indication whatever of place, or printer's -name ; nor has it 
 numerals, catchwords, or signatures. It contains 65 leaves ; and in chapters 
 xvi, xvii, some leaves have been pasted over others, containing different 
 matter from the cancelled leaves. This appears, on slightly separating the 
 one from the other. 1 believe the Museum copy, which was formerly in the 
 library of Henry VII., to be unique. Idem, p. 27. 
 
 To this may be added a peculiarity in the letter in which this 
 book is printed. It has one letter graffed upon another, as de 
 and ho: together forming one letter. The foundry of this type is 
 unknown. It probably came from beyond the feas. Altogether 
 the opinion of typographical experts is conclufive and final, that 
 William de Machlinia printed The Monk of EveJJiam. Probably 
 therefore the approximate date of its appearance in print may be 
 fixed at about 1482. 
 
 7. The Narrative itfelf is verymuch older : though we cannot tell 
 by how many years. It was probably not written earlier than 
 its oftenfible date ; 1196 A.D. By whom is unknown. Neither 
 am I aware of its prefent exiftence in MS. An abridgement 
 of it however is found in Roger de Wendover's Flowers ofHiJlory^ 
 under the year 1 196. 
 
 1 ii. 148-164. Ed. 1849.
 
 8 Introduction. 
 
 Roger de Wendover, in Buckinghamfhire, was a Monk of St. 
 Albans, who died on 6 May 1237. His Flowers of Hijlory is 
 a compilation down to the year 1235, and is, for the period of the 
 Author's lifetime, a piece of contemporary and original hiftory. 
 There feems therefore no efcape from the belief that the oftenfible 
 date of the Revelation is the true date of its compofition : and 
 with this opinion there is no internal inconfiftency in the work 
 itfelf. Therefore 'the king of Inglond' with his forgetful fons, 
 with his ' auowtrie,' and undue taxation would be Henry II. 
 
 But however precife and particular the information may be as 
 to the Invifible condition of things ; there is generally a ftudied 
 abfence of all indications of place or individuals in this world. It 
 would be hard perhaps to feparate the Author's felf-delufion from 
 his illuding of others, or to fix the exact proportion of fact to 
 fiction in the whole Narrative. But there is no doubt that, de- 
 fpite the difclaimer 'this vifion, not to be of man's conceit,' that 
 it is a Middle Age work of Religious Fiction. And this too, 
 more as an individual fpeculation than as an authoritative dogma : 
 for the doctrine of Purgatory was not finally fanctioned until the 
 Council of Florence, in I438. 1 
 
 This impreffion is further confirmed by inconfiftcncies as to the 
 Narrator. Sometimes he is one of the Priors of the Monaftery. 3 
 at other times, it is the Ecftatic himfelf ; 3 who writes the Revela- 
 tion, adding thereunto circumftances that occurred after his re- 
 covery from his trance. 4 This confufion in conftruction while it 
 tells in the narration of the immediate ftory in hand, tends to 
 prove the fictional character of the Work. The Revelation itfelf 
 is the product of a ftrong mind, and is the age, knowledge, 
 and circumftances taken into account a piece of remarkable 
 Invention as regards the ordering of the unfeen World : and 
 of righteous Judgment and fearlefs Denunciation of the fins and 
 wrongdoings of the prefent State. 
 
 The Author was probably an Englimman, and wrote ' in thys 
 gronde of inglonde, 5 ufing the Englifh of his time. The ortho- 
 graphy and punctuation may have fomewhat fuffered at the 
 hands of fubfequent fcribes or the foreign printer, until they 
 certainly now form a villainous text : but the inditement is worthy 
 of even fo great a fubject. It is rapid, clear, unhefitating, un- 
 halting : except where all expreffion fails, when ftretched out 
 towards the expreffion of the immeafurable. Yet even then, 
 immenfity, whether of fpace or number, of woe or happinefs, is 
 not inadequately forefhadowed. There is great craft and fub- 
 tlety in producing vraifemblance defpite inconfiftent narration 
 by innumerable graphic touches, circumftantial details, and natural 
 dialogues : all tending to give a fenfe of ftrong reality to things to 
 us impalpable and invifible. In this clear conception helping a 
 
 1 S. Edear, The Variations of Po- 3 pp. 39) 46, 76, 82, 98, 99, in. 
 fery, ii. 453. Ed. 1838. * pp. 54, 70, 71. 
 
 1 PP- I 5. '9i 20, 26, 28, in. / 70.
 
 Introduction. 9 
 
 direct and apt expreffion we trace one part of the Author's men- 
 tal power. 
 
 8. We have in this Book, a Story as diftinct from a Revelation. 
 The Story is laid in the monaftic circle at Evefham Abbey. The 
 Revelation tells us of a Journey. It is the pilgrimage of the Soul 
 from Death through Purgatory and Paradife to Heaven. 
 
 9. Purgatory has no exiftence. It is an elaborated lie. Scripture 
 teaches unmiftakably the inftantaneous tranflation of the Soul of 
 Man from the Body into the prefence of the Saviour in Heaven, 
 ' Abfent from the body, prefent with the Lord.' 
 
 It is in the craving to lift up the veil which God in His merci- 
 ful Providence has put between ns and our future life in the 
 invifible world, in this feeking to become wife, ' above that which 
 is written,' 'in which,' to ufe the language of this Revelation, 
 ' the feeble ignorance of good people oftentimes offendeth,' 
 that thefe good men of old elaborated out of their own 
 humanity, from their own confcioufnefs of bodily fenfation, that 
 fame Theory of bodily Agony, in a ftate into which our mortal 
 bodies caw w^ enter, which is a diftinctive characteriftic of nearly 
 all idolatry and falfe religions ; and the utter abfence of which in 
 the Old and New Teftaments is an inverfe proof of their Truth and 
 Divine Authorfhip. 
 
 For inftance, what difference is there in detail between the 
 reprefentation of a Buddhifthell, as for example that depicted in the 
 Jofs-houfe of Tinghai, in the ifland of Chufan ; and that of Purga- 
 tory in this old Englifh Monk's conceptions of what might be 
 beyond the grave. 
 
 The kings of hell sit in judgment like Chinese mandarins. The execution- 
 ers are braying the victims in mortars, boiling them in furnaces, skinning 
 them with knifes, throwing them to tigers, squeezing them between boards, 
 cutting them up and hanging the bits on hooks, beating them with mallets, 
 tormenting them with hot irons, all represented in coloured plaster groups 
 with a horrible fidelity of detail, and with an ingenuity of conception as to 
 the instruments employed, which would argue that the Buddhist priests are no 
 contemptible mechanics, and that it is well for the barbarians they are not 
 employed in the invention of warlike tonnentaria. G. W. Cooke, ' The 
 Times' Special Correspondent in China in 1857-58. p. 138. Hd. 1858. 
 
 10. We muft however try and occupy the ftandpoint of the 
 Author. With a patient, an elaftic faith ; we muft accept, for the 
 nonce, as currently believed truths ; the exiftence of Purgatory, 
 the advocacy and confequent worfhip of faints, the continuance 
 of miracles, the occurrence of vifions, and the like. Further, 
 we muft look out on fociety as the Author did. What a picture 
 of national declenfion in fpiritual life has he put into the mouth 
 of St. Nicholas. 
 
 Knowest this monk that thou seest ; he served and pleased God full well 
 in his life with great cleanness of heart and chastity of body ; and much 
 evil the which should have been done in the place where he was, he letted and 
 was against it. For he was fervent in zeal of righteousness, and hating evil of 
 heart, wherefore many reproofs oftentimes patiently he suffered for the
 
 to IntroduElion. 
 
 defence and honesty of his religion, and specially of them which wear 
 the habit of religion upon them, for that intent that they might destroy the 
 virtuous living and conversation of religion, full busily serving not their spirit 
 but the wretchedness of their flesh and the world, in the monasteries of 
 spiritual and ghostly living. And alas ! for sorrow, for now by such persons 
 the special worship and honour that Holy Church was of before, is almost 
 brought to nought, while the multitude of carnal and worldly men increase 
 above number, whom the fewness of spiritual men suffering, choosing rather 
 to dissemble and not to know their evil, and so to rest themselves, than by 
 their blaming and resisting, [to] stir and move against them the wrath and 
 troublous hastiness of such evil-disposed persons. And though they so do, 
 yet they cannot be sure from the spies and frauds of them. And as some- 
 time Ishmael, that was born carnally, pursued Isaac, that was born spirit- 
 ually, that is to say, by a spiritual promise of Almighty God, likewise 
 it is now. For carnal folk be full grievous to spiritual people, because 
 they cannot pervert them to their forwardness ; also many there be that 
 greatly it is to sorrow the which in their living began spiritually, but by 
 process of time either they be overcome by unstableness or else be de- 
 ceived by simpleness, and also they fall down from their purpose and be- 
 ginning into the miserable and wretched corruption and slothfulness of this 
 world, enticed and drawn by the examples and counsels of evil-disposed 
 persons. Truly, these great hurts of religious living, the which before in 
 the time of fathers, full nobly flowered and shone as a heavenly light, full 
 greatly beholdeth the prelates of Holy Church in these days, that knowing 
 this and despising it, insomuch that they understood not themselves, that it 
 is so with them. They knew verily what thing they be come to, but they [know 
 not] what thing they should have come to, because that they be come to the 
 lust and pleasure of this world, but they should have come to the following 
 of Christ's poverty, and to the cark and diligent keeping of their cure, that 
 is, the people of God committed to them. And therefore that they seek and 
 that they care. For that they be come to and that they have. The people 
 of God they feed not but destroy, and them, peradventure, that they have 
 turned from righteousness they slay spiritually and lose, for their con- 
 forming to them not shewing themselves fathers and pastors, but wolves and 
 thieves. Truely the promoting of such persons, kings, and bishops, and 
 other great men, procure and gete, and their subjects full much look there- 
 after, not being rectors and fathers, but pervertors and destroyers of their 
 souls, the which thinking that all thing that is under them that liketh is 
 lawful, [ir] why by the righteous judgment of God be realms troubled and 
 churches confounded, and the state of earthly folk utterly subverted. And for 
 such demeaning they be accursed of God, the which should be devout and meek 
 intercessors to God, both for them that be alive, and for them that be dead, 
 by whose merits and prayers, specially the welfare of all Christendom might 
 be preserved and increased, and all evil far put away from the people of God. l 
 
 So that to the Author, brooding over this it may also have been 
 in like continual pain to his 'young man . .*. a Monk' animated 
 with a fervent piety and deep fpiritual afpirations; that to him, "a 
 thought fell into my mind that I mould pray our Lord God that he 
 would vouchfafe to reveale and (how to me in fome manner of 
 wife, the ftate of the world that is to come and the condition of 
 the fouls that be paft their bodies after this life ; and then this 
 openly known, I might the better vnderftand, what within fhort 
 fpace as 1 fuppofed were to be dread and what I might hope 
 after when I mould pafs from this world to that world : and fo 
 by this to eftablifh myfelf in the dread and love of God as long 
 as I mould live in this doubtful life." 2 
 
 Thus the Revelation with probably fome of the felf-illufion 
 common to enthufiafts is written in good faith on the Author's 
 
 P. 89. 2 /. 29.
 
 Introduction. 1 1 
 
 part, in order that by the terrors of the Purgatorial Journey, men 
 might be awed into well-doing. 
 
 11. From the explanation of fuch words, as 'fermorye,' 1 'col- 
 loke,' 2 and 'fygytyuys,' 3 it would appear that the work was fpecially 
 intended, not fo much for the religious perfons, as the laity at large. 
 
 12. It is fuch a book as John Bunyan might have written, had he 
 lived five centuries earlier, and been, as probably he would have 
 become, a Monk. Only, that the Author intended no fuch 
 pleafant allegory, fetting forth the progrefs of Chriftian life ; but 
 the making manifeft of thofe unfailing realities, of that inevitable 
 doom that was coming upon all, except the irretrievably loft. 
 
 13. There is a three-fold thread in this Gefla Purgatoris. The 
 natural (lory of the Ecftatic ; the omnifcient hiftory of the 
 Characters, much after the manner of the Gefta Romanonim ; and 
 the fupernatural Conftruction of the invifible world on this fide 
 of Heaven, the peculiar product of the Author. 
 
 The unweaving of thefe three ftrands is not poffible within our 
 prefent limits. 
 
 ( i . ) The Trance of the fick Novice is told with great vividness 
 and circumftantiality. 
 
 (2. ) The even-handed juftice among the Characters is moft 
 notable. It fcathes all, but not alike, from the king of England 
 feated on" horfeback in burning armour ' as it were as bright 
 iron is when it is beaten with hammers and fmiteth out fiery 
 fparkles ' 4 'for the unrightful (bedding of mens blood and for adul- 
 tery,' and is further upbraided by devils ' becaufe he would be 
 avenged on men that flew his venery, as hart and hind, buck and 
 doe, and fuch other, wfiich by the law of kind ouglit to bejlain to 
 euery man, and therefore fome of them he put to death or elfe 
 cruelly would maim them :' down to the poor man's wife whom 
 'gladly I beheld there in light pains.' 5 
 
 Again, what courage has the Author, when remarking upon the 
 few priefts he faw in Purgatory, he adds " Truly then I thought to 
 myfelf that full few priefts were there found, of the great number 
 that is of them in all the world that had deferved pains after 
 their death, for breaking their chastity. And to this it was so 
 answered . . . . ' Wherefore it is no doubt that the great multi- 
 tude of them be utterly damned.'" 6 In like manner : through all 
 degrees of the Hierarchy. Thofe who flourifhed in profperitie 
 in the Spirituality 'being grieued in a more fpecial bitternefs of 
 pains above other.' 7 
 
 (3.) What then is the plan of this minor Englifh Dante? 
 
 The conftruction of this Purgatory is circular and on a plain. 
 Heaven is conceived as the Centre, furrounded like rings, by 
 ' fields' of pleafure or pain. The vaft Circumference is the 
 Death point in Human Life. So the Soul is reprefented as going 
 
 1 A 25. 2 f. 28. 8 /. 8 4 . * p. 85. 5 j. 72 . 
 
 /. 82. ' p. 38.
 
 1 2 Introduction. 
 
 inward and yet more inward, as it were along a radius, acrofs 
 the three ' fields' of Pains, then the ' field' of Paradife to the gate 
 of Heaven. The Narration fometimes looks backward : but 
 the Characters defcribed as met with, will be feen under each 
 Place of Pains, on /. 2. 
 
 The principle of Purgatory is thus given : 
 
 Full seldom it is in these days in which almost all conditions of all men fare] 
 gone out of kind, for the pure simplicity and innocentness of the very Church 
 of God, that any man living in this life keepeth or recovereth fully the equity 
 and- purity of the holy Gospell, the which till a man fulfill he may not 
 dwell in heavenly places, neither shall rest in the Mount and Hill of Para- 
 dise of joy and bliss. Wherefore whatsoever thing of sin and uncleaness, con- 
 trary to equity and righteousness, cleaveth and resteth on the Souls that pass 
 hence out of this world it shall be purged in another world and so by their 
 penance the way and path of a joyful resting shall be showed to them that be 
 purged and cleansed and so then in places of rest, the entring of heaven and 
 everlasting bliss full largely shall be opened to those souls for the perfect de- 
 sire that they shall haue there to see God. 
 
 Soothly this only must be taken of those sins which by their light quality or 
 else by confession and satisfaction done for them be granted of God to be 
 changed and counted among venial sins. For as touching those sins that 
 be deadly and were not in this world by the remedy of confession and pen- 
 ance made light and venial, it is without doubt that a man shall be so pre- 
 sented in his judgement in the world that is to come as he is found in his 
 living when he passeth out of this world. 1 
 
 The Progreffion of Purgatory is reprefented on this wife. 
 
 Furthermore this general condition of all folk that die I knew there openly. 
 That all people the which be ordained to perceive rest and bliss before the 
 day of doom had evermore from the first hour of their death their pains less 
 and less : but if it were so, that any of them had left to other that had lived 
 after, by evil example, occasion of sin the which righteously they might know it, 
 them that did so before, and while they did no satisfaction to God for it before 
 their death, whereby such occasion of sinning left to other should have been 
 forgiven them : also they that grievously offended by the which they deserved 
 everlasting damnation ; began to go from full bitter pains to worse ; and so 
 by succeeding of their pains dayly, their torments busily increasing, that 
 every day following is more grievous to them than was the day before. 2 
 
 This however is varied in individual cafes, by the prefence or 
 abfence of hope. 
 
 Soothly there is no thing so grievous to them that be in pains as the un- 
 certainty of their deliverance and also there is no thing that so much asswag- 
 eth the pains and sorrows of others, as doth a very hope and faithful trubt, 
 the which they knew, and have by our Loid's mercy to be delivered. 3 
 
 From the Darknefs, the Horror, and the Agony we gladly 
 turn towards Paradife. It is our Author's counterpart to Bunyan's 
 ' Land of Beulah.' In his rapturous welcome of it, no lefs than 
 the abfence of any fympathy on his part with the Suffering he had 
 wilneffccl, we trace the true piety of the Author. A man to 
 whom ' the melody of Singing Lauds to God' amid the ' Manfions 
 of the Blcffed' was ineftimably joyous, was himfelf 'not far from 
 the Kingdom of Heaven.' Whatever criticifm we may beflow upon 
 the conception and execution of the Radiation : we cannot but 
 believe the Author to have been a fpiritual-minded Man, doing 
 what, in that dark Age, he thought to be a Chriftian work. 
 
 The tranfition is gradual. 
 
 And as we went farther, there began to appear a little and a little, more 
 
 1 t /*. s p. 7. * /. 78.
 
 Introduction. 13 
 
 and more, a full faire light unto us, and withal break out a full pleasant sweet 
 savour. And anon after we came to a field the which was full of all manner 
 of fair and pleasant flowers that gave to us an incredible and inestimable 
 comfort of joy and pleasure. Soothly in this field we saw and found infinite 
 thousands of Souls fall jocund and merry in a full sweet rest after their pen- 
 ance and after their purgation And them that we found first in the beginning 
 of that field. . . . were not very bright neither well shining. Notwithstand- 
 ing they had no spot of blackness or any uncleanness on them as it seemed, 
 save this, as I said before, they were not very bright shining white. 1 
 
 And as we went more inward and farther into that joyful place of paradise 
 we had evermore a clear light and felt a sweeter savour and those that we 
 found and saw there were whiter and more glad than were other that we saw 
 before. And whereto should I tary here now to number those persons and 
 their merits whom I saw there ; that I knew sometime before in the world, 
 and those also that I knew not before. For all that were there in that place, 
 were ordained to be the citizens of the high and everlasting Jerusalem ; and 
 all had past the strife and battle of this world, and were victors of devils; and 
 so lightly they went through all pains, as they were less cumbered and held 
 by wretched living and worldly vices. 2 
 
 Then comes the moft flriking Vifion of our Lord's Paffion. 
 After which the Journey continues. 
 
 Truly I followed evermore my duke and leadsman Saint Nicholas, that 
 went forth farther and farther, repleated now with great joy among the full 
 bright and light mansions of blessed souls. And the whiteness of them that 
 were here in this place and the sweatness of savour and also the melody of 
 sieging lauds to God were inestimable and scarcely to man's understanding 
 credible. s 
 
 At laft, the Gate of Heaven comes in fight. 
 
 At the last we saw afar a full glorious wall of Crystal whose height no 
 man might see and length no man might consider. And when we came thither 
 I saw withinforth a full fair bright shining gate and [it] stood open, save [that] 
 it was signed and laid over with a Cross. Truly thither came flockmell the 
 multitude of those blessed souls that were next to it, and would come in at 
 that fair gate. The Cross was set in the midst of that gate and now it was 
 lift up on high and so gave to them that came thither an open and a free 
 entring and so shut other out that would have come in. ... But what bright- 
 ness and clearness of light was there withinforth all about let no man ask nor 
 seek of me for I cannot only not tell it by word but also I cannot remember it 
 in mind. . . . And withinforth nothing I might see but light and the wall of 
 Crystal through which we came. And also from the ground up to the top of 
 that wall were steps ordered and disposed fair and marvellously, by which the 
 joyful company that was come in at the foresaid gate gladly ascended up. 
 At the last as I looked up higher I saw in a Throne of Joy sitting our Lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ in likeness of a man. And about him as it seemed 
 to me were a five hundred souls which late had stied up to that glorious 
 Throne, and so they came to our Lord and worshipped him and thanked him, 
 for his great mercy and grace showed and done to them. 
 
 And some were seen on the upper parts of the wall as they had walked 
 hither and thither.* 
 
 That was all he faw. lie knows it was not the ' high heavens 
 of heavens.' It was but the Gate of Heaven. It filled him with 
 ineffable joy. But the time of his return had come. St. 
 Nicholas turns him back, faying " ' Now thou muft go again to 
 thyfelf and to thine, and to the world's fighting. Truly thou malt 
 have and perceive the joys that thou haft feen and much more ; 
 if thou continue and prefevere in the dread of God.' And when 
 he had faid this to me he brought me forth through the fame 
 gate that we came in, wherefore full heavy and forry was I and 
 more than a man may fuppofe, for well I knew that I muft 
 
 1 /. 98. 2 /. 104. /. 106. * //. 107, 108.
 
 1 4 Introduction. 
 
 turn again, from that heavenly blifs to this world's wretched- 
 nefs." 1 
 
 14. We have now a touch, which rivals even Bunyan's famous 
 look through the gates of the Celeftial City. 
 
 The Monk, fad to the heart, is without the Gate, with his back 
 upon it and the Cryftall Wall. "And while the Holy Confeffor 
 Saint Nicholas on this wife fpake yet with me : fuddenly I heard 
 there a folemn Peal and a ringing of a marvelous fweetnefs, and 
 as all the bells in the world or whatfoever is of founding had 
 been rung together at once. Truly in this peal and ringing 
 break out alfo a marvellous fweetnefs ; a variant meddling of 
 melody founded withall. And I wot not whether the greatnefs of 
 melody, or the fweetnefs of the founding of bells were more to be 
 wondered [at]. And to fo great a noife I took good heed and 
 full greatly my mind was fufpended to hear it. Soothly anon as 
 that great and marvelous founding and noife was ceafed ; fuddenly 
 I faw myfelf departed from the fweat fellowfhip of my duke and 
 leader Saint Nicholas. Then was I returned to myfelf again." 2 
 
 That Solemn Peal and marvelloufly Sweet ringing of the Bells 
 ringing in the Eafter morn of Heaven, fo graphically defcribed 
 that we feem to hear them, is a crowning invention in the Vifion. 
 
 15. Thus imperfectly we have introduced the Reader to the 
 unique printed book and to its contents. A full analyfis of the text 
 we mufi leave to others : merely fuggefting inter alia, we were go- 
 ing to fay, its comparative Mythology : at all events its comparison 
 with other works in the cycle of Pugatorial literature. As but to 
 mention but a few. The vifit to Purgatory of DRITHELM in 696 as 
 recorded by Bede, 3 or according to Roger de Wendoyer, DRICHT- 
 HELM in 699 : 4 of the Emperor CHARLES* in 885: of the Knight 
 OWEN who vifited the purgatory of St. Patrick in II53: 6 of 
 TURCHILL the labourer 'of Tunfted in the bifhopric of London' in 
 1206. 7 With thefe to compare The Vifions of Tundalef and 
 Robert de Brune's Handlyng Synne : 9 and the like. 
 
 We, for our part, have had good hap ; if we have mown, that 
 beneath an uncouth text there is a direct diction and power 
 both of Mind and Soul : that there is much that is true but 
 fimply diftorted ; with much that is ludicrous and purely falfe : 
 and that in all, undeniably, the beft of motives and afpirations. 
 With the infinitely greater advantages of the prefent day : how 
 many of us would be inferior, man for man, to that unknown 
 Monk, who, feven centuries ago, dreamt or imagined that he 
 faw ' A marvellous Revelation (hewed by Almighty God ' ; and 
 wrote it down for the inftrudtion, warning, aud comfort of his 
 fellow-Engliflimen. 
 
 1 p. 109. /. no. * Idem. it. 221-235. 
 
 Eccles. Hist. Bk. v. c. 12. //. * Ed. by W. B. D. D. Turnbull. 
 
 253-8. Ed. 1847. Edinburgh 1843. 
 
 flowers of History, i. 120-124. 9 Ed. by F. J. Furnival, M.A. 
 
 Ed. 1849. 5 Idem. i. 217. London 1862. 
 
 * Idem. ii. 510-521.
 
 i)e ptoloae of tfifc teudactom 
 
 He reuelaclon that foloweth here 
 in this boke tretyth how a certeyn 
 deuowt perfon the wiche was a 
 monke in the abbey of Euifhamme 
 was rapte in fpirite by the wille of 
 god and ladde by the hand of feint 
 Nycholas the fpace of. ii. days and. 
 ii. nyghtes to fee and knowe the 
 peynys of purgatorye and the iowys of paradyfe and 
 in what ftate the fowlis ware that ware in purgatorye 
 and alfo in paradyfe. So f hly in b-rr>.2 this placis he 
 fawe and knewe many perfons bothe men and women 
 the whiche he knewe welle before when they lyuyd in 
 thys world and fpake with hem there mowthe to mowith 
 in bothe the placys as he founde hem as hit folowth 
 wele aftir in this boke. This reuelacion was not 
 (hewed to hym only for hym butte alfo for the confort 
 and profetyng of all criflyn pepulle that none man fhuld 
 dowte or myftrufte of anothir life and world the whiche 
 cuery man and woman mofle go to and lyke as they 
 deferue here in this world by here lyuyng fo there to 
 be rewardyd. And as for the trowthe of this reuela- 
 cyon no man nother woman ought to dowte in any 
 wife, for and a man wele rede and vndirflonde the 
 begynnyng with the ending he fhalle fo largely fee hit 
 approuyd in grete myraclis by almyghty god fhewyd 
 vnto the fame perfon that fame tyme that alle refons 
 and mocionsof infydelite the which erifith often tymes of 
 manns fenfualite fhalle vtwardly be excludyd and quen- 
 chid and gretely fhalle caufe alle cryften pepulle that 
 henth hit to drede god and loue hym and alfo to preyfe
 
 i6 
 
 hym in hys werkys. for feche anothir reuelacion and 
 fo opyn y trowe was neuer mewid in this lond ne in no 
 nothir that we rede of. 
 
 prologge. 
 C tycre &r gjmne tije djajpttrrs of tfjfs reuelarixm. 
 
 C Howe this monke fyl in to a fore and greuys 
 fekenes and gaue hym to confeffion and prayur 
 and compunccion of teeris - Chapitur I [/. 19] 
 C Howe he laye alfo proftrate in the chaptur 
 howfe as thaugh he had ben dedde - ij [/. 21] 
 C Howe the fegure of cure lordys croffe that he 
 worfhipte was fonde blody ---- iii [/. 22] 
 C How he was comme ageyne to him felfe iiii [/. 23] 
 C Howe he fought aftyr hys flaffe and his fhewys 
 and how deuoutly he worfhipte the croffe - v [/. 24] 
 C Howe he told to a brother that he louyd wele 
 a part of feche thynges as he had feyne - vi [p. 26] 
 d Howe he was defired of his bretheren to etc 
 fumwhat aftyr fo longe a fafte -- vii [/. 27] 
 C! Howe he told to ii of his confeflburs a part of 
 thoes thinges that he had feyne - viii [/. 28] 
 f[ what was his peticion fpecially and howe a 
 certeyn perfon apperyth to hym -- ix [/>. 28] 
 C Howe he was warnyd in his flepe to worfhippe 
 the croffe of owre lorde -- x [/. 30] 
 C How the fame croffe bledd don to hym at the 
 ryght fyde and at the right foote and of the. 
 ij. lyghtys --- xi [p. 31] 
 C Howe he came yn to chaptur howfe and toke 
 dyfciplynys and how he was rapte - xii \p. 32] 
 C how he felte hym felfe here rapte fyrft xiij [/. 33] 
 C how he folowd hys leder fent Nycholas when 
 he was rapte -- . -- xiiij [/. 35] 
 C how fent Nycholas broughte hym to the fyrfle 
 place of purgatorie --- xv \p. 36] 
 C Of the grete diuerfyte of peynys yat he faw-xvi [/. 39]
 
 17 
 
 C Of the fecunde place of peynys in purga- 
 tory xvij [/. 40] 
 
 C How fent Margaret delyuerd a fowle of a fyn- 
 
 fulle woman fro the deuyllys xviij \_p. 42] 
 
 C[ Of a goldefmyth that was fauyd by fent Ny- 
 
 <:holas xix [/. 46] 
 
 4[ How thys monke know there fyrft that fent 
 
 nvcholas was hys leder xx [/. 48] 
 
 f[ How the fame goldefmith tolde the monke in 
 purgatoryehowhedydefodenlyandwasfauydxxi [/. 48] 
 C How the goldefmyth tolde the monke a re- 
 
 medye agenft foden deth xxij [p. 5 1] 
 
 <[ How the fone of this goldefmyth tolde the 
 monke aftyr he was comme to hym felfe age.yne 
 that hys fadyr had apperyd. iii. to hys moder aftyr 
 
 hys deth xxiij [/. 54] 
 
 C Of the thirde . place of peynys in purgat- 
 orie. xxii 
 
 C Of the fowle vyce and fynne of fodemytis-xxv 
 fl[ Of adoctouralawethatwas afodemyte xxv[j] 
 
 58 
 
 p. 60 
 
 f[ Of thoes perfons that this monke fa we and 
 fpake within the firft place of peynys and firfl 
 with a prior xxvii [/. 65] 
 
 C[ Of an ancres that he fawe and knewe in the 
 
 fame place xxviii 
 
 f[ Of a certen biffhoppe there alfo xxix 
 
 C Of a certen woman a pore mannys wyf-xxx 
 
 p. 69 
 
 /. 70 
 
 Of relygyous men what peynys they fofryd for 
 
 p. 71 
 
 dyuers certen fawtys 
 
 C Of a certen knight that brake a vowe xxxii 
 
 C Of a nothir knight- 
 
 Of thoes perfons that he fawe in the ii placys 
 
 A 73 
 
 p. 74 
 
 [P- 75J 
 
 of peynys xxxiiij 
 
 C! Of thre byffhoppis that were there xxxv 
 
 A 76 
 
 /. 77 
 
 C Of an archbiffhoppe of canturbery xxxvi /. 79] 
 
 fl[ A. certen defcripcion that the monke made 
 of dyuers kyndys of fynful peple and of her 
 
 peynys xxxvii [/. 82] 
 
 C Of poyfynners that he fave xxxviii [/. 83] 
 
 B
 
 IS 
 
 C Of vferers alfo xxxix 
 
 [ Of fugytyuys of relygyon xl 
 
 C Of a certen kyng of Englonde xli 
 
 Of a b[i]ffhoppe that was in peynys of purga- 
 torye and yette god (hewed for hym myracles in 
 
 /. 84 
 /. 84 
 /. 84 
 
 thys world xlii 
 
 C Of a certen abbot xliii 
 
 C Of an abbafle alfo xliiii 
 
 C Of two nonnys that were lepurs xlv 
 
 C Of a knight that offendyd in fymonye xlvi 
 
 C Of a monke a fextenne xlvii 
 
 C Of a clerke that leuyd holylye xlviii 
 
 p. 86" 
 /. 87 
 /. 91 
 /. 92 
 A 93 
 /95 
 /97 
 
 C Of paradyfe and of the multitude of pepulle 
 that he fownde there ---- xlix \p. 98 
 C! Howe he fawe a certen abboth there - 1 [/. 99 
 ^[ Of a certen Priour that lyuyd deuoutely and 
 dyde holylye --- -- li [/. 101 
 C Of a certen yong monke of hys -- lii \p. \ 03 
 C Of a certen worfhipful prifle --- liii [/. 104" 
 ^1 Howe o\vre lordys paflion was reprefentyd a- 
 monge the holy fowlys that ware in paradyfe liiii [/. 105] 
 <[ Of the entryng at the gate of paradyfe and of 
 the ioye that apperyd wythinforthe - Iv [/. 107] 
 f[ Howe this monke came agayne throwe the 
 gate of paradyfe --- Ivi [/. 109] 
 C Of the fwete melodye of bellys that he herd 
 in paradyfe and how he came to him felfe a- 
 geyne --- Ivii [/. no] 
 C Approfe how this reuelacyon is of god and 
 mofle nedys be trewe for the grete myraclys that 
 god fhewyd on hym that fame tyme - Iviii [/. in] 
 
 rapttula.
 
 C $n* fceggttttttt!) a tttmtrifotts rettelacfon fl&at 
 tons scf;rU)i>5 of almiiojbti) goD tig sent ilnrfjolas 
 to a monfee of ISugs ijamme n tfje Dags of ftgnge 
 2=Uei)arB tfje fgrst &nD tye sm of otore lorlC ffi 
 C. Hxttttfrt C CTa jmmum. 
 
 N a Monafterye callyd Euyffham 
 there was a certen yong man 
 turnyd wyth feythfull deuocyon fro 
 thys worldys vanyte to the lyfe of 
 a Monke the whiche abowte the 
 begynnyng of hys conuerfion fylle 
 yn to a grete and a greuys fekenes 
 and by the fpace of. xv. monthys 
 was fore labouryd with gret febulnes and wekenes of 
 body. Alfo hys ftomake abhortyd fo gretly mete and 
 drynke that fum tyme by the fpace of. ix. days or more 
 he myght refceyue noo thyng but a lytyl warme watyr. 
 And what fum euer thyng of leche crafte or fefyke any 
 manne dedde to hym for hys conforte or hys amende- 
 ment noo thyng hym helpyd but al turnyd contrarye 
 Therfore he lay feke yn his bedde gretly deftitute of 
 bodely ftrenght. fo that he myght not moue hym. felfe 
 fro one place to anothyr butte by helpe of feruaurites. 
 Alfoo yn thre the lafte monethys of hys fekeneffe he 
 was more forer dyfeafyd and feblyd than euer he was 
 before. Neuertheleffe than commyng on the fefle of 
 eftur. fodenly he beganne fum what to amende yn hys 
 bodely myghtys and with hys ftaffe walkyd aboute the 
 fermorye. Sothly on thes euyn of fcherethurfdaye in 
 the whiche nyght the office and feruice of owr lord 
 ihefu cryfle ys tradicion and paffion was folenly fonge 
 wyth grete deuocion. he wente wyth hys ftaffe to the 
 chyrche wyth his bretheren the whiche by caufe of 
 fekeneffe refted hem alfo with hym in the fermorie 
 were the couent nyghtly feruice and laudes offerd vppe
 
 20 
 
 to owr lord And there by the refpecte of heuynly grace 
 fo grete conpunccion and fwetenes he refcyued that 
 hys holy deuocion excedyd mefure. Wherfore he 
 myght not conteyne hym fro wepyng and laudyng god 
 fro mydnyght tyl fex of the belle yn the mornyng. 
 what for remembryng wyth worfhippe and ioye the 
 merceis of owre lord, the whiche had doon for man- 
 kynde. And alfo remembryng wyth fore wepyng hys 
 ofifencys and fynnys doon by fore tyme. And the 
 hurte and the ftate of hys prefent imperfeccion. And 
 abowte fex the belle yn the mornyng he made to be 
 called to hym. ii. of his bretheren one after a nothyr. 
 whiche hadd powr to here confeffyons and gyue to 
 penitentes abfolucion and to them bothe made purely 
 and holy as mekylle as he cowde hys confeffion of al 
 hys fynnys and of the left offence of hys religion or of the 
 commawndementys of god and wyth grete contricion 
 of herte and effufion of terys defired hys abfolucion 
 and had hyt Than on of them afkyd hym why he 
 forowde and wepte fo imoderately for al they had 
 went yat he fchulde fele hym felfe fone to paffe owte 
 of this worlde. Than he feyde he felte hym felfe no 
 thyng fo Sothly than he tolde to his brother yat dili- 
 gently enquiryde this of hym and feyde Sir ye fchal 
 vndyrflonde and know that thys lafle night whenne we 
 were to gedyr in chaptur howfe. y refceyuyd fo grete 
 fweteneffe of herte and gladneffe of fowle. that onne- 
 this y myghte hoolde or bere my felfe. He afkyd alfo 
 and hyt were by the relygion that the priowrs fhuld 
 geue that nyght to the bretheren dyfcyplynys in hooly 
 vefture and aubys. And whenne he herd hym en- 
 quyre this he hadde wente that he had feyd hyt of 
 grete febulneffe of his hedde. or by alyenacion of hys 
 mynde. the whiche perauenture he hadde falle in by 
 his infirmyte and immoderate weping or faftyng howe 
 be hit that he with hym had meruailous wifdam and 
 difcrecion al the tyme of hys fekeneffe. wherfore he 
 commendyd hym to our lord no thing els enquyring of 
 hym and fo went his weye The feke brother fpendyd
 
 21 
 
 al that daye in laudyng and prefyng god And the next 
 night folowing after he hadde flepte a lityll while rofe vp 
 of his bed And when the chaptur was ronge as the tyme 
 requyred to calle the couent to matens. he went than 
 to chirche as he did the daye before Sothely how he 
 behauyd hym thenne in the chirche. and whan he 
 went thens hit lhalle be fchewyd in his wordys foloyng 
 
 C ?!>otoe fie lage prostrate al fjt's fcotJg in tfjc 
 djaptur fjotos 00 ty ijati fo DrtJDe. C Ca it 
 
 |JN the morow nexte foloyng that ys good 
 fredaye whenne the couent rofe to cum to 
 chirche to feye prime, as they ede afore 
 the chaptur hous they fawe the fame feke 
 brother lye proftrate and bare foote 
 before the abbottis fete hois face was flate to the 
 ground as thaugh he fhuld by the ordyr afke mercy of 
 euery prefydent. Than the bretheren feyng this mer- 
 uelyd and rane thedir and willing to take hym vp. 
 they founde hym as a man lyfeles without any mocyon 
 of any membre of his body. Trewly his yes ware falle 
 doun depe into his heed and tho yes and nofe of him 
 ware blody or as a manne had ouyr leyde hem with 
 mekyl bloode. wherfore they feyde alle that he was 
 dede. His feete ware ful coolde but in the remuande 
 of his body was found a lytyl warmenes No mouing 
 of his pypys might be knowen long tyme And at the 
 laft onnethis bit was perieyuyd in him a litill thynne 
 breth and amouyng of his herte. Thenne they wefhid 
 his heedde brefte handys and feete with colde watyr 
 And than firft they fawe al hys body a lityl to tremyl 
 and quake, but anoon he fefyd and was infenfybulle 
 So long tyme they mufyd and dowtyd what they might 
 do to hym. whyle they fawe hym not verily dedde. 
 nothyr any thing amendyng. At the laft by confelle 
 they had him to his bedde and there to be kepte wiih 
 grete attendans of kepers.
 
 22 
 
 i)loB figure of fyt trojsse. C <a ut 
 
 jJHe mene whyle the bretheren merueled and 
 wondred on fuche a foden happe and 
 beyng of the feke brother and more they 
 wondrid. howe hyt happyd. and yn what 
 wyfe wythowte any helpe he myght comme 
 thedyr to that place, where the couent was Sothely 
 othyr thyngys that now foloyn the whyche y fchal telle 
 of. wythowte any comparfone ben more to be dred 
 feryd and worfhipte than any thyng aboue feyd. They 
 herde anone aftyr and that not wythowte grete mer- 
 uelle. that the fygure of owre lordys body affyxed on a 
 croffe whyche fygure and croffe. yerly ys wonte ml 
 deuowtely to be kyffyd and worfhipte of the couent yn 
 remembrance of owre lordys paffion was founde frefch 
 bledyng and newe abowte the place of the grete wounde 
 yn the ryght fyde and alfo at the ryght foote. Trewly 
 afore lente the fextenfe of the chyrche. had let done 
 the fame croffe to the grownd and fo tyl good fredaye 
 they hadd lefte hyt betwyxe the auter and the walle. 
 And for a more wondyr the ftaffe and fchewys of the 
 fame feke brothyr ware fondyn by the fame place 
 Sothely than all the brethirne came to gedyr in to the 
 chaptur hows gretly aflonyd apon thefe thyngys that 
 befylle. and auyfement takyn alle that were there wyth 
 grete contricion of herte toke difcyplynys of roddys 
 and lyyng proftrate yn the chirche feyden wepyngly 
 the .vii. falmys of penanfe. for to gete owre lordys 
 mercye. Trewly thys feke brother all yat daye whiche 
 was gode freday with the nyght fologyng and the 
 nexte day aftyr all moofte tyl the fonne fette. con- 
 tynewde yn one (late. Alfo the bretheren wyth ftreng[t]h 
 of handys opynde hys mowth and cafte yn hyt iuftys 
 of dyuers fpycys and herbis for hys releuyng. but 
 anone after he wente owte ageyne. what fomme euer 
 was putte in to hys mowthe as thaugh hys throte hadde 
 bi'n flopped. Emplaflers alfoo to his brefle and armys
 
 23 
 
 they bonde but alle was vayne. They prickyd with 
 neldys and fcrapyd the folys of hys fete, but ne thyng 
 myght be perceyuyd in hym of a lyuys manne. faue a 
 lityll rednes of chekys and a litil warmenes of body. 
 The colowre of hys face oftyn tymes was chaunged to 
 afhis and ageyne meruayloufly the colowre of hys face 
 was reuyuyd and welle fhewyd. Alfoo they made a 
 grete home to be blowyn there but no thyng hit botyd. 
 
 C $otoe J)e rame agemt to $gm elf on 
 fut?n afcotote complen tome. Ca tttt 
 
 jiHenne on the morowe that ys eftur euyn 
 and the fame owre that the couent came 
 to gedyr to the collacion and to com- 
 plenne the briys of hys ye lyddys beganne 
 firfte a lytil to moue and fo they femyd 
 as they hadde ben fode in boylyng watyr. And atte 
 laft there came don fro hys yes on hys chekys a 
 yelowe humour of watyr in manere of terys. Thanne 
 they that were wyth hym feyng thys. called anone for 
 the bretheren. fuppofyng that he fhuld haue fone paffed 
 fro thys world. They fawe alfo a lytyl afore thys tyme 
 hys lyppys a lytyl to moue with his chekys compreffyd 
 as he had refceyued or fwelowde fum fwete thing fallyn 
 in to hys mowth. And after that a flowyng owte of 
 terys as hyt is feyd here before. Alfoo he was feyn 
 often and many diuers tymys fykyng alow in his brefle 
 as a manne flepyng had wepte. And anone after as 
 hit femyd he reuoluyd certeyn wordys benethe in hys 
 throte butte he myght not fpeke them owte faue onely 
 in a voyce onethys audybilleandnoo thyng intelligibille. 
 Sothely thanne hys fpyrite beganne a lytyll and a lytill 
 to come ageyne and thefe wordys and voyce he firfl 
 fownyd that might be vndyrftond. O fancta Maria 
 O fancta Maria: And agayne O my lady fancta Maria 
 O my lady fancta Maria I fhalle feye tho wordys as I 
 horde theym noo thyng addyng therto O he feyde my
 
 24 
 
 lady Sancta Maria. Thefe wordes often tymys he re- 
 herfed. For what fynne he feyde lefe y foo grete ioye. 
 And agayne he feyde my Lady Sancta Maria, when 
 fhalle I recouere fo grete ioye that y lefe nowe. Thefe 
 thynges and many other often tymes he reherfed / yet 
 as a man ware a flepe and hys thyes euer clofyd / the 
 whiche I wote not of what grete ioye he forowde and 
 wepte hym felfe departyd fro Sothely aftyrward fodenly 
 lyke as a man had awaked fro a grete flepe. he lyfte 
 vppe hys hed and fulbitterly beganne to wepe and 
 with rennyng terys forofully fobbyd as wepyng doth 
 and ioynyng his handys and fyngers to gedur reyfid 
 him felf and fate vp Then he put downe his hed in 
 his handys on his kneys And as he beganne afore 
 ful lamentably to wayle and forowe fo fefyd not long 
 tyme aftyr Thanne one of his bretheren that was with 
 hym afkyd what caufyd hym fo fore to wepe and howe 
 he felte hym felfe. Than he reflid a litil while and at 
 the lafte foftely feyde to hym wele wele and verely 
 wele y was hedir to/ but now euyl and verely euyl y 
 am and fele my felfe And ageyne more grettur he 
 wepte and forowd than he dyd bifore And by caufe 
 that hit ys ouer longe and alfo as impoffible to re- 
 membre al thyng that he feyde than and how mekil 
 he wepte we leue nowe and purpofe to drawe fhortly to 
 gedir tho thingys whiches we herde hym telle of in gret 
 contricion of herte and of mynde aftyrward that he was 
 fully comme to hym felfe ageyne. 
 
 C $otoc $e sought after fjfft sfjotots anB ijoto re- 
 uerentlfl f)e toorslnpt tlje cross*. 
 
 [Othly amonge his lamentacions and fyk- 
 ynges that the had he afayde with gret 
 ftrenght onys or twies or thries to opene 
 his yes that were clofid and atte laft they 
 opened. Thanne he beganne with bothe 
 his handys al aboute to feche aftyr his ftaffe that he
 
 2 5 
 
 lefte in the chirce And whanne hyt kowd not be 
 fownde he feyd. Sechith here owre flaffe and take 
 owr fhowys by the piller and goe we ageyne in to the 
 fermorye. A fermorye among religious men is called 
 a place or an howfe ordende to kepe feke brethren. 
 Thanne whanne hit was feyde of fome of his bretheren. 
 behoolde brother nowe and fee yow in the fermorye and 
 fet in your bedde and loe yowre ftaffe and fhowys byn 
 here redy. Thanne he feyd O howe came we hedyr 
 and whanne. were not we ryght nowe in the chirche 
 to gedyr at matens. Thanne his bretheren told hym 
 that he had be there now ii dayes and to morowe wilbe 
 eftur daye And whanne he herd this, more grettyr he 
 beganne to wepe and feyd. O fhuld we not bretheren 
 haue worfhypte on good freday owre lordys croffe 
 And yet we haue not in comonne worfhipte hit 
 Thenne whenne he herd of his bretheren. that owre 
 lordys croffe was worfhipte the day before, and he 
 might not be caufe of fekenes. he feyde to hem. 
 Aftyr that I came into the chirche y felte no difefe 
 But y praye yow that y may go to worfhipe the 
 croffe. Thanne ther was brought to hym a croffe of 
 feluyr the whiche reuerently he clyppyd to hym. and 
 with coffis and terys watryd the fete of the croffe. 
 and vnto the tedufnes of fome flondyng by/ he 
 thankyd owr lord and redemer and the fadyr and the 
 holy goofte for innumerabulle benefetis. of the whyche 
 he reherfyd mony fynglerly. for hym felfe and vnyuer- 
 fally for al holy chirche. and alfo for al degreys and con- 
 dycyons of alle cryflyn pepulle and more attente for 
 hys enmyes. yef any there ware or for the enmyes of hys 
 frendys he made meruailous prayers and obfecracyons. 
 And as y fuppofe xxx tymes or more he inclynde hys 
 hede doone to the fete of the croffe with teiys and 
 fobbyng that often tymes his voyce fefid of prayn^ 
 Thoes wordys the whiche he made in his fupplicacions 
 ware fo redy and prompte and alfo repletyd with grete 
 refon andhyeneffe of witte thathitfemydrathirhe redde 
 hem tharme feyde hem. Ho is fweete feyng fteryd
 
 26 
 
 mony than that herd hym to weping and deuocyon and 
 euer while we remembre them caufyn vs to haue a grete 
 imvarde cumprnctyon. and alfo loue and deuocyon to 
 our lord to our bretheren and to alle men And of the 
 grete humylyte and goodnes of oure redemer. he put be- 
 twenecerien grete thingis ateueryfynguler fhorte prayer. 
 
 C $?otoe ije tolfl to one of fjfg fcretfjercn tfjat 
 ijc lougB famrlgarlg sudje tljtngws as fje JjaO 
 
 tof 
 
 Pie mene while as the tyme reqtiyryd. hit 
 range to the collacyon and the bretheren 
 the whiche had brought to him the croffe 
 went thenfe And thenne he feyde. Nowe 
 y knowe veryly that this is the holy tyme 
 of eftur. And for what caufe he feyde fo. hit fhalbe 
 declaryd aftynvard. Trewely than bode with hym a 
 certeyn brother that louyd hym famyliarly in holy 
 purpofe of relygyon and mouyd hym ium what by a 
 wyfe and a meke inflans yet beyng holde in a certeyn 
 ftupour and wondyr of mynde of fuche thinges that he 
 had feyne. bothe of tho thinges the whiche befyll 
 him afore yat he was rapte/ and of tho thinges that he 
 had feyn fpiritually in anothir world in al placis And 
 as y haue feyde or may fey. fynglerly and particularly he 
 tolde and remembrid mony thynges the whiche the 
 forfeid brother that herde him bare hem al in his herte. 
 telling him alfo of tho thinges that he knewe opynly 
 betyd him And fo aftirward bi leyfer and gret dylygens 
 lernyd and knewe an ordir of euery thing fynglerly. 
 more opynnef and fullyor than he knewe afore. Neuer- 
 theles as for al thing that he fawe in foo longe fpace 
 that is to feye ii dayes and ii nightys he wolde not 
 telle to no man. And amonge in hys tellyng he made 
 mencyon of fome vifyons but anon as he had begonne. 
 fefid the proces of them And nothir yet for any prayur 
 might be inducyd to telle any more ther of But nethir 
 we at this tyme be fufficient to telle al thinges the
 
 2 7 
 
 whiche fothely we knewe by his owne feyng that he 
 had tolde before to a few perfons of wytneffe on whois 
 deuocyons he had taken a fpecyalle trufte. Nethir in 
 any wife we may or can reuele and fhewe fo opynly 
 the purprite of his vifions nether by writing nether by 
 telling as he coude and didde Alfo amonge other 
 thinges he was afkid and he hoped to fcape his feknes 
 or fhulde leueanylengerin this bodely lyfe And then 
 he feide I fhal leue long ynow and of my feknes y am 
 fully recoueryd. 
 
 C ??oto i>e toas BrstrrtJ of fits fcretfjewt to tafte 
 sum mete after so long? a fastc. C Ca bit 
 
 Han after this at euyn he was gretly defired 
 to take fome mete after fo longe a fade 
 And than he feyde Settith before vs the 
 bred and a litil hony that was lefte the 
 tothir tyme And whanne hit was fo done 
 with a ful litil refeccion ther of he brake his fafte 
 Ande fo he bode waking in prayor and terys til the 
 howre of night that they range to matens Sothely whan 
 the bretheren rofe to matens he went with hem and as 
 he had rofe with our lorde the whiche fum tyme that 
 fame howre rofe fro deth and lyfe And fo came to 
 chirche. not withowte ioyful merueling of them that 
 fawe him and without fuflentacion or helpe of any 
 thing entrid into the quire and fo he did not a xi 
 monthis before. And there in gret deuocyon and 
 terys bode and contynewid til matens was doon and tyl 
 the refurreccion of our lorde the whiche yerely in the 
 fame chirche is wont to be fhewid vyfybly and howe 
 the angel apperid and fpake to the wemen at the 
 fepulture of the victoriofe refurreccion of ther king 
 and alfo that they fhulde tel to his difciplys his glo- 
 rious refurreccion and at the lafle til our lord apperyd 
 to his welbelouyd mary mawdelen and named her maria 
 in the figure of a gardner and til the meffys ware doone 
 and had refceyuid the holy comyning of criften men.
 
 28 
 
 C $oto fje tolfce to ii of f)is confessorgs a parte 
 of suelje tijfnges as !je ijalf serne. C CTa bin 
 
 |Fter this nowe that he had refceyued cure 
 lordys precyous body ioyful and light he 
 was and brought of his bretheren into the 
 colloke the which ys a place where they 
 may fpeke to geder and there copynily 
 they came abowte hym defiring him to tel hem of feche 
 thinges as befylle hym and as he had feyn for ther 
 gooftly edifiyng and comfort For al they vndyrflode 
 that herde his wordys the day before when he was 
 fully cumme to him felfe and fawe his contynuall 
 weping that by mony thinges grete thingis and mer- 
 uelus had be fhewde him. And whan they with 
 grete inflans afkid him. he diffymylyd alle thing a lytyl 
 while At the lafte vnto his ii confeflbrys to whom he 
 was confeft on fhrethurfday as hit is feyd afore to hem 
 bothe feparatly. he told thees thynges the whiche here 
 after be digeftyd and wreten with grete weping and 
 fyking the whiche fum tyme fefid him of his telling 
 And fum thinges he told to hem bothe and fum 
 thinges onely vnto the thoon / and fum othir : only to 
 the tothir and that not without a confyderacion of a 
 certen meke and a good auifement And this he gon 
 to telle as hit now folowethe. 
 
 C toijat toas ijis pett'eion speetaHg ana ijoto a 
 certen person appergU to ijt'm in fjts slepe. 
 
 C <ate 
 
 TOthely he feyde whan y was laborid as ye 
 fawe me with greuys and longe wekenes 
 of body and euermore with herte and 
 fo\vle y bleffyd our lorde and thankid him 
 that he wolde white fafe to chafte me on- 
 . worthy in a fadyrly chaftment And than al hope put
 
 2 9 
 
 afide as for any recoueryng of bodely helth y began 
 thaugh hit were flowly neuertheles y difpofed me as y 
 cowde and mighte to make me redy. how y might the 
 fandy and lyghter fcape the peynys and forows of 
 the world that is to cumme and how y might fynde the 
 rede of euerlatlyng life when y fhuld be callid oute of 
 my body. And when as y remembrid thefe thinges 
 after my power befely. than after a litil while pall 
 a thoughte fyl to my mynde that y Ihulde praye our 
 lord god that he wolde white fafe to reuele and fhewe 
 to me in fome maner of wife, the flate of the worlde 
 that is to come and the condicion of the foulys that.byn 
 pad her bodyes after this lyfe and thanne this opynly 
 knowen y might the bettyr vndirftonde. what within 
 fhorte fpace as y fuppofyd were to be dred. and what 
 y might hope after whanne y fhuld paffe fro thys 
 worlde to that worlde and fo by this to ftabylle my 
 felfe in the drede and loue of god as long as I fhuld 
 leue in this dowtefulle lyfe. And fo on a certeyn night 
 in the begynnyng of lente that ys lafte paft. apperyd 
 to me in my flepe a certen worfhipful perfon ftondyng 
 by me and feyng to me. O fone he feyde gret ys thy 
 deuocyon in praying and mekyl is thy perfeuerans 
 wherfore thy contynual prayer and meke demening 
 may not be onfpedeful before the prefens and goodnes 
 of god Neuertheles fro hens forth be of goode conforte 
 and contynew deuoutly in prayur and for more flrenght 
 feche the helpe of prayers of fome religious perfons. 
 and yef yow fo do doutles you fhalte knowe yat fone 
 you malte opteyne and gete thy peticion Sothely than 
 he named to me fome perfons and the nafkys of ther 
 offices feyng this / Knowe wele that mekil yt wille the 
 profete. yef yow maye haue the prayers of fuche perfons. 
 the whiche the goodnes of god ys wonte right gladly 
 to here. Sencle alfo to the monaflery of nonnys here 
 by. that yow knowyfl wele and namyd hit / befechyng 
 hem to pray for the. Mekyl god is pleafid in her holy 
 purpofe and laudable conuerfacion. wherfore his good- 
 nes gretly fauerth their willes and defires And whan
 
 3 
 
 this was feyd to me. bothe the flepe that y was in and 
 the perfon that fpake to me went away. Then fodenly 
 y wakydand ftedfaftlykepte inmynde thisvyfyon. and af- 
 fone as y might y defired the fame perfons to pray for me/ 
 not vttering to them the caufe wherfore they fliulde pray 
 for me Than vi wekis pafte. in the night that was nexte 
 afore fherethurfday as ye can remembre. whan y had 
 taken of yow and of youre felowe difcyplynys in the 
 chaptur hows, that ys to feye vi of yow and vi of him 
 for that day. and v other for the fexte feriis of lente 
 pafte. fro the whiche y was compellyd that tyme to 
 abfleyne by caufe of fekenes fo grete abundans of 
 grace of terys and fweteneffe of herte / y felte me re- 
 pi etyd there in the refceyuyng of tho difcyplynys that 
 y can not fhewe it in telling by no wordys. wherfore 
 the nexte day after hit was to me ful fwete often tymes 
 to wepe. And than the next nyght after grete fykynges 
 beyng than the houre to ryie to matens y fylle in to a 
 pleafaunt flepe. 
 
 C i&otoe ty foas toarncB in Ijfe tileyt to toor* 
 tlje crosse of oure lorU. C Ca x 
 
 [Othely than as y was a flepe y perceyued a 
 voyce. but y wifl not fro whens hyt came, 
 feyng to me in this wyfe. Arife vppe and 
 goe in to the chapell. and to the awter 
 that is dedifyed and halowd in the wor- 
 fchipe of feynte laurence and of alle martyres. And 
 there behyad that awter yowe fhalte fynde a croffe and 
 an ymage of thy redemer affixed to the fame croffe. 
 redemyng the world by hys deth. And that fame 
 crofle. mekely and deuowtly go to and kys in remem- 
 braunce of thy fauyur and offir to hym with meke herte. 
 a facrifice of prayers knowyng wele. hit to be accept of 
 god. and to the an holfum deuocion. in the whiche 
 yow fhalte ful abundantly delyte. Than after this y 
 \\ akyd and with the bretheren y came to the chirche to
 
 here matens And when the bretheren had begunne 
 matens y mette with a fenyor that ye knowe wele in 
 the chirche porch and was on of hem that y toke 
 difciplinis in the night before Than whan y faw 
 hym y made a figne to hym. to difcyplyne me in lyke 
 wyfe ageyne as he dyd afore. And fo lightely we 
 went bothe to gedyr into the chaptur howfe and with 
 one affent gladly we came ageyne And there alfo 
 mette with vs another fenyor in the fame place where 
 y mette the firft. to whome y made alfoo a figne for to 
 haue a difciplyne. And he beckid with his hand that 
 y fliulde tarye a lityl while. Thanne lefte y my bre- 
 theren / that y came with to chirche / the whiche were 
 fekelew fittyng a parte. and alone y wente forth to 
 the awter that was notyd .to me in my flepe And 
 whenne y was nygh the awter y put of my fhowys 
 and knelyd on my kneys apon the pament and ofte 
 tymys inclyned my heed doon to the grownd And fo 
 went behynde the awter to feche the croffe that y herd 
 of before Trewly y knew not afore in any wife by 
 any mannys telling that any croffe was let doon there 
 Neuertheles y founde hit as hit was tolde me before 
 And anon y was refoluyd al into terys of deuocyon 
 and lyyng proftrate al my body ful deuowtly y worfhipte 
 that holy croffe feyng many deuout prayers And than 
 after y cam knelyng on my kneys to the fame croffe 
 and aftyr feyd lengur deuoute fupplicacions and thank- 
 ynges to god / kyffing oft tymes the fete of the crucy- 
 fyxe / and befily with the terys of my nyes watrid hem. 
 
 C $otoe ty satoe flje rig^t stifle of tfje crucCftre 
 die J3ijng Don to tint anB tijr rigljt fote also antr 
 of tfce .it. ltcjijti)S tijat appertB tijm. C xi 
 
 [He mene while as y lift vppe my nyes that 
 were fore of weping to the face of the 
 crucifyxe y felte fome dropys fallyng don 
 to me I putte ther to my fyngerys and y 
 wele perceyued and knewe by the rednes
 
 3 2 
 
 that hit was blode Alfo y behylde the right fyde of 
 the ymage of oure lordis body and hit wellid oute of 
 blode as a mannys flefh is wont to blede. whenne hit 
 is cuppid. Trewly the place that y fawe this in was 
 derke. for hyt was behynde the auter aboute myd- 
 nighte. But I fawe there ii lyghtis fhynyng at bothe 
 the fydes of the croffe. as hit had be ii tapers wele 
 brenning I lookyd fro whens that light fhulde cumme 
 and y covvde fee no place fro whens hit came. Trewly 
 than y toke in my hopynne hand : y wote nere how 
 mony dropis of that precious blode and there with 
 diligently y anoyntid my nyes. my neris and my nofe 
 thrillys And at the lafte y put one drope of yat bleffyd 
 blode in to my lippys and of the grete defyre and 
 deuocyon of myne herte. y fwelowd hyt doone And 
 whether y offendyd god in that poynt or no y wote 
 nere The remnand ther of y hild in my hand purpofyng 
 to haue kept hit. Alfo y behilde and fawe the right 
 fote of the fame crucifiye blode Sothely yifterday whan 
 y was reftoryd to my felfe ageyne and founde no thing 
 of that precious blode in my handys. fore and gretly 
 y forowde and euer fhal for the loffe of fo grete and 
 precious trefowre. 
 
 C 39otoe f>e came in to t^e cfmptur ijotose anD 
 tofee &tsn>jrtj>ttft an& ijoto ty toas tytu rautgtyt 
 
 <a xii 
 
 IjOrthermore to fatiffye yow y flialle nowe 
 telle of other th'ynges. The. ii. lyghtes 
 that y fawe fhynyng abowte the crucyfyxe 
 a fore feyde. fodenly pafte thens. to the 
 fovvthe parte of the awter. Thanne y 
 that was knelyng in the north fide of the auter : at the 
 right fide of the crucyfyxe feyng hit pafte and gon to 
 the tother fide folowd after hopyng that y fhulde fee 
 there fum fpiritualle thyng. And whan y came thedir 
 y herde the fowne of a voyce behynde me of the fame
 
 33 
 
 old fadyr that y mette with lafl before in the chirch 
 porch of whom y defyred to be difcyplyned and he 
 bade me tary a litil while Than lefte y alle that y fawe 
 there andy [know] not howe. nether in what wife anoon y 
 came in to the chaptur howfe And whan y had feyd 
 my confiteor as the vfe ys. and he had prayde for me 
 and affoyled me with this benefon. In nomine patris 
 et filii et fpiritus fancti amen, he gaue me difcip- 
 lynys vi. tymes as he didde afore Often tymes y de- 
 fired him that y might reherfe my confeffyon and to take 
 dyfcyplynys of hym. for at euery flroke that he gaue 
 me in the ftydde of forowe and peyne. they were 
 turnid to me. an ineftymable and incredibulle fwete- 
 nes of ioyfull conforte. But he wold geue me no more 
 and fo y rofe vppe. Sothely thanne he went in his 
 albys and fate done in the abbotis fete, that was there 
 in the chaptur hows : And thanne y came and lay 
 proftrate before hym. afkyng my veny and reherfyd 
 ageyne my Confiteor etc. and he feyde ouer me Mife- 
 rcatur tui omnipotens deus etc. and fo affoyled me 
 ageyne wyth thys bleffyng In nomine patris et filii et 
 fpiritus fancti And whenne he had anfwarde Amen 
 Anoon ther came to me a certeyne worfhipful fadyr a 
 fenyor that had a face and a chere as an angelle. 
 clothid in white brightyr and whittir thanne the fnowe : 
 The heere of his hedd was whore and his flature of 
 medy heyth. He toke me vppe and feyde allonly 
 to me thefe wordys. Folowe yow me. Trewly than 
 he hylde me by the right hand fo fewerly as foftly 
 and fo clippid my hand in hys. 
 
 C $oto ije felte f)m srtfe fjere first raptr. 
 
 C (a xiii 
 
 re y felte my felfe fyrfl rapte in fpyryte. 
 Than hys brother that was hys confeffor 
 to whome he tolde alle thefe thynges 
 afore feyde afkyd hym and feyde And 
 trowifte yet brother that y or the tother
 
 34 
 
 fenyor gaue difcyplynis yat night as thou feyfle. or 
 went in to the chaptur howfe in albys Than he won- 
 drede at his afking and feyde. Knowe not ye that 
 this ys trowth that y haue to yow here feyde Than 
 feyde hys confeffor ageyne. in no wyfe ther was no 
 feche thynges done of vs nether myght be done, for 
 the ordyr wil not that we fhuld haue gone that tyme 
 of the night in to the chaptur howfe to geue difcyp- 
 lynys Than he feyd to hym : Dowtheles y had went 
 hether to. that tho difcyplynys and other thynges had 
 be done of yow to me Ful \vele y knowe withowtyn 
 dowte. that y refceyued thoes difcyplynys aboue re- 
 herfyd in the chaptur howfe : of men that (hewed yowr 
 perfons and liknes wakyngly and bodely and wyth hole 
 mynde for y felte and herde the ftrokys of hem and 
 alfo y wele vndyrftode and dyfcernyd the voyce of 
 them that prayde for me and affoyled me : as y fhulde 
 haue knowe of you bothe Trewly the firft night when 
 y went owte of the chaptur hows y thought to haue 
 byddyn ther in the fame place tyl the mornyng in the 
 grete gladnes of herte and deuocyon that y had ref- 
 ceyued there but y was fum what troubulde and dif- 
 efyd by the noyfe of the couent when they went 
 oute of the chirche after matens And left y fhulde 
 haue ben reprouyd of prefumpcion / yef y had taride 
 there al night y wente with oure bretheren home to 
 oure bedde And whenne y went out of the chaptur 
 hows y mette with brother marten And that night 
 bode y waking in grete lightneffe of fowle / tyl matens 
 of the next nyghte Thanne the next night after when 
 y was at matens aboute the begynnyng of the thirde 
 nocturne y was callid fro the awter where as y was 
 praying with a fowne made lyke as a man hadde 
 fmytte the ftony pament wyth his fote and fo went in 
 to the chaptur howfe. Alfoo hyt was the fame owre / 
 in the whiche the lade nyghte. at the lafte tyme we 
 went thedyr for the fame caufe. And alle other thynges 
 lyke as y haue told yow befylle me. Thys onely y 
 canne not remembre in any wife howe y came at the
 
 35 
 
 lafle tyme fro the chapel that y was inne to the chap- 
 tur hows. For withowte a ftaffe y myght not goe 
 thedyr : and abowte the facrarye of the fame auter y 
 knowe wele y left my felfe And howe y pafle ouer the 
 waye that lyth betwene the chaptur hows, and the 
 place that y was in. and alfo the lettynges of gricis 
 and other obflaclis iiii or v y can not remembre For 
 when y was cumme to my felfe ageyne. thoes thinges 
 the whiche y had experiens of bod el y about the awter 
 and the croffe. ware fo freffh in my mynde that I wende 
 y had be founde rather there than in the chaptur howfe 
 And this he tolde of tho thingis aboue reherfid. 
 
 C gUngrrssion. 
 
 {[ How as touching tho perfons of whom he was 
 brought in to the chaptur hous and to whome he 
 feyd [h]isr<?;?^w the whiche prayde for him affoylyd 
 him and gaue him alfo difciplyhys in the liknes of his 
 own bretheren and he knew no nothir wife that time 
 but they had be his bretheren. they were douteles 
 holy angellys that fo apperyd and dyd to him by the 
 wille of god And as towching that worfhipfull olde 
 fadyr whois face was like an angel and hys clothing 
 whittir than the fnowe. that toke hym by the hand 
 when he lay proftrate in the chaptur hous and feyde 
 to him folow thow me : was the holy and bleffid 
 bifhoppe fente Nicholas whome fpecially he louid and 
 wormipte dayly as hit fhalle be aftirward more opyn- 
 nor declarid And nowe after this adigreffion go we 
 ageyne to the narracion. 
 
 $>oh)c tfjfjs monUc tons raptc anB folotttte ins 
 sent Ntcijolas. Ca tfuf 
 
 |Ladly than feide this monke wente y with 
 that worfhipfull olde fader the whiche by 
 commandement of moth and leding ot 
 hande had take me vp to be a felow with 
 him of his wey. and al the while that v
 
 36 
 
 lay deflitute of my bodily wiitis. we went bothe to 
 geder hande in hande Sothly this was fro mydnight of 
 fherethurfday the whiche endith in the mornyng of 
 good fredaye in whiche time y was rauyfhte in fpirite 
 as y laye in the chaptur hows tyl the euetyde of fatur- 
 day foloyng. in the whiche euetyde as ye fawe y was 
 put oute fro that fecrete rede and fpiritualle fightis 
 that y had 'before to thys opyn- and worldly conuer- 
 facion. 
 
 C $>oto sent flifljolaa fcroutjljt tin's monftr to 
 tijc first place of ynmrs. C Ca *U 
 
 [Henne went we yeflewarde by a pleyn weye 
 in a right path til we came to a certen 
 regyon. that was ful wyde and brode and 
 ouer horabulle and gaflfull in fight, fowle 
 and myry of thicke cley Trewly there we 
 fawe an infenyte nombre of men and wemen that no 
 man might nombre putforth to the gretnes of dyuers 
 and inenarrabulle peynes There was a company in- 
 numerabulle of men and women of euery condicion of 
 euery profefllon and of euery ordyr There were the 
 doers of al fynnys ordente to dyuers kyndes of peynes 
 after the diuerfite of fynnes and qualite of perfons I 
 herde and fawe bi the opyn and brode fpace of that 
 filde whois endys no ye might fee. the wrechid 
 companyes of men and women ouer wrechidful 
 bounden to gedyr flockemel. in ther equalyte of fynnys 
 and in likeneffe of profeffion equaly to forfyr and like 
 wife to crye in here grete and greuys peynes And who 
 fum euer y fawe there to be made redy in that peyne- 
 full place to heuyn warde opynly y knewe and vndyr- 
 flode. for what fynnes they were ponyfht and the 
 kynde of the fynne and the mefure and qualite of 
 ther fatiffaccion. the whiche they deferuyd owther by 
 contricion and co[n]feffion of her orfenfis. or by the 
 rcmediis and helpinges of othir benefetis done for hem
 
 37 
 
 Trewly^l tho that y fawe put there fum what yknewe 
 hem confortyd for the hope of euerlafting bliffe the 
 which they hopid fum tyme to cum to And fome y 
 fawe paciently fofyrre right grete peynes and for the 
 gode werkys the which e they had done of ther con- 
 fciens. that was referuyd and putte vppe in mede for 
 them and alfo for the grete trull that they had to haue 
 euerlafting bliffe euermore countid lygh[t]ly in her fowle 
 the horrabulle peynes that they bare Treuly they 
 wepte and forowde and cryed oute / for grefe of peinys 
 and amonge this as they went forth farthir euermore 
 her peynys were leffid and to hem more efyur Alfo y 
 behilde mony of them that fodenly fcapyd out of the 
 place that they were torment in and fander haftid hem 
 felfe thanne other, to go the weye that was before hem. 
 But anone fro benethe lyke as the grownde hadde be 
 broken, ther brake vppe a flame of fier that inuoluyd 
 hem and the deuyls yat mette with hem. fore bete 
 hem with fcorgis and forkis and other dyuers kyndes 
 of tormentyng. and foo ageyne retourned apon hem 
 alle her wodeneffe. Neuertheles they beyng fo betyn 
 and brokyn and inwardly brent yet they fcapyd ageyne 
 and in lyke condicion as hit is feyd afore, the ferther 
 they went / the leffur wes ther peynys and the yefyur 
 Sothely in this paffage fome did gretely profet. fome 
 but lytyl and fome al mofte neuer a dele. To fome 
 ther goyng was no profetyng but a myferabulle fay ling / 
 for they went fro ful cruel peynes to wers And eche of 
 them aftyr ther olde merytys and deferuynges. owthir 
 were holpe in her weye or lettyd or els releuyd and 
 that was by the prefent benefetys done and fhewyd 
 for hem of their frendys in this world. Sothely thoes 
 thynges the whiche y confeyued in mynde. or was en- 
 fourmed and taught by comyning and fpekyng with 
 fome of them there, anone aftyr y wille opynly fhewe 
 hem as hit is benethe in this prefent wryting declared.
 
 C f tfje grc te Ufuemtec 8 of pejntc s. C a *bt 
 
 jjNfynyte kyndes and diuerfytees of peynys 
 where there that y fawe Some of hem 
 were roflyd at the fyre Some were fryed 
 in a panne / Some were alfo rafyd with 
 lyry naylys vnto the bonys and to the 
 lowfing of her ioyntys Some were foden in bathis of 
 pyche and brymflonne with an horabul flenche and 
 other thingis melted by heete as ledde braffe and other 
 dyuers metellys And fome were gnawyn with the 
 venummys teth of wondyrfull wormys. Some alfo were 
 cafle done thicke on arowe and fmyt throw with fharpe 
 flakys and palys who ys endys were alle fyrye And 
 whyle fome were hangyn on galows. odyr were alto 
 dravvyn wyth hokys and fome were betyn fore wyth 
 fcurgys. and fo in hard example they were al to toryn. 
 Trewly of tho perfons mony were biffhoppis and ab- 
 botys and other were of other dignitees. Sothely fome 
 flowryd in profperite in the fpyrytualte. Some in the 
 temporalte and fome in relygyon : the whiche were 
 feyn poniflit in dowbulle forowe aboue other perfons. 
 For y fawe them that were clerkys / Monkys / Noonys / 
 laymen and lay wemen fo mekyl leffe ordende and 
 put to peynys howe mekyl the leffe they had before of 
 worldely dygnyte and profperyte. In trowthe y fawe 
 hem greuyd in a more fpecyal bittirneffe of peynys 
 aboue other, the whyche y knewe in my tyme were 
 lugys and Prelatys of other. And by caufe hyt ys 
 ouer longe to telle fmglerly of euery perfone : what 
 they foffryd and wherfore they foffryd. fome thynges y 
 wylle gedur to gedur. of fome certeyn perfons what 
 they fofryd afore ther dethe and after ther dethe. For 
 that was opyn to me of euery perfon Neuertheleffe 
 there ys no mannys tonge that may fuffycyently telle 
 the lyghtyfl peynys of that place nethyr by eflymacyon 
 conceue hym in mynde. Alfo the dyuerfyte and mul- 
 typlycyte of peynys. to the whiche they be cafle vndyr /
 
 39 
 
 euer amonge fro one to a nother veryly y knowlege no 
 man may noumbre. I take god to wytneffe. that and 
 there were any man. the whiche had done to me : or 
 to my frendys alle the hurtys and iniuriis. that may be 
 done of any man in thys lyfe or ellys he had flayne 
 vs y fey and y had fo grete an enmy put into peynys 
 that y fawe there to be torment long tyme a thoufand 
 tymes and hit were poffybylle y wolde fofyr temporal 
 dethe for hys delyuerans. For alle thing ther ben fo 
 peynfull of forowe and anguyffhe byttyrnes and 
 wrechydnes that they excede mefure and mode, let vs 
 nowe that be it in this worlde alyue fee and confidere 
 by this how gretely we ought to geue vs in chayftyng 
 oure wekyd condycyons and to amende oure leuyng 
 and alfo how mekyl we fchulde labur to exercyfe vs to 
 kepe the commawndementys of god and to do good 
 werkys by the whyche and the mercy of god we may 
 deferue to be delyuerd afore of fo grete euyllys. And 
 alfo that owre dere frendys as fadyr and moder fyftyr 
 and broder and othyr that were fum tyme owre loners 
 ther fore ponyfht for her offencys myght be delyuerd 
 the foner fro thens by good dedys and werkys of mercy 
 and pety deuowtly done of vs for ther redempcion and 
 helpyng And afore yere y make any fpecial mencion 
 by wrytyng of the fore peynys and tormentys of fum 
 perfons that y fownde and knew ther and they alfo 
 knew me y wyl fchortly wryte yn here the placys of 
 peynys that y behelde as y went abowte wyth heuy 
 compaffion aftyr we were pafte the fyrfl peynful place 
 and region Sothly to owre femyng the lengthe of thys 
 fyrfte place afore feyde was on goyngable. but we that 
 ys to feye my leder and y went on to the fyde ageynfte 
 hyt as we dyd othyr peynful cooftys of tormentys but 
 amonge them we came not how be hyt as hyt femyd 
 to me we myghte haue done wythowt any fere or hune 
 or harme.
 
 40 
 
 C f tfje 0mmto place of purgatovg. C Ca 
 
 Herfore after that we were pafle the firfle 
 place of purgatorye we came to the feconde 
 place of purgatorye and tormentys in the 
 whyche was an hye hylle vppe al moofle 
 to the clowdys and was deuyded fro the 
 forfeyde fyrfle place of purgatorye. And thenne 
 lyghtely and fwyftely we wente on thys fame hye hylle. 
 And there was vndyr the farthyr fyde of thys hylle a 
 full depe valeye and a derke. fet with bocis and 
 brackys on euery fyde hangyng owte who ys lenthe 
 no man myght fee. And in the lower parte of the 
 feyde valeye was a full brode ponde of horrabull blake 
 watyr. And owte of that fame fowle ponde byfyly brake 
 a myfle of an indycybylle ftenche. Trewely the toon 
 fyde of that fame hye hylle whyche hangyd toward 
 the ponde cade oute fro hym an horrabulle brennyng 
 fyre vppe on to the heuyn. And alfoo on tothyr fyde 
 of the forfeyde hye hylle was fo grete and ineftymable 
 coolde that ys to feye of fnowe and Hayle wyth many 
 other cruell ftormys that me thowghte and femyd that 
 y fawe no thyng fo peynefull and cruel as yat colde 
 was The lenthe of that valey afore feyde and bothe the 
 fydys of the hylle the whiche had in hem that hora- 
 bulle fyre and coold was fo full of fowlys. as hyues 
 fwarmyn ful of bees To the whyche fowlys thys was a 
 comynne and a generalle tormente that nowe they 
 were drownd in the forfeyde ponde and fro thens 
 takyn vppe and cade in to fiere. and fo at the lafte 
 they ware bore vppe an hy by the grete vyolente 
 flamys of fier as fparclys byn of a brennyng fornece. 
 and fo lette down on the tother fyde of the hylle to 
 the horrabulle coolde of fnowe hayle and fharpeneffe 
 of flormys and afterward cafte downe hedlonge in to 
 the greuys ftenche of the ponde aboue feyde and 
 ageyne takyn vp and cafte in to the brennyng fier. 
 And fome of hem were lengur ponyfht in fier thenne 
 other and fome in coolde And fome ware taryde
 
 lengur in the greuys flenche of the ponde. than other. 
 And fome y fawe ware bounde and compreffid in the 
 myddys of flamys of fier that meruelous hit is to 
 fpeke. and as grapys be compreffyd in a preffurc. 
 Trewely the condicion of al that ware there torment 
 and peynde in that fecunde place was this. Alle the 
 fpace of the ponde aboue feyde. they were compeliyd 
 to goe throwe. fro the begynning to the endyng. for 
 to fulfylle her purgacion. Neuertheleffe ful grete and 
 monyfold was the diflinccyon and dyuerfyte of her 
 peynys and tormentys. For fome had lighter ponyfh- 
 ment than fome. and fome was grauntyd a more fwyfter 
 paffage thens. then to fome other and that was for the 
 qualite of her merytys and deferuingys afore done and 
 alfo for the quantitie of fuffragys and helpys done of 
 her frendys for hem after her dethe. And they that 
 were of grettur offenfys and fynnis and feldyn or 
 flowly holpyn longe tyme and fore were holdyn in 
 peynys. And fothely the more nere they al came to 
 the ende of the place the more yefyor and foftyr 
 waxed their peynys. The mofte cruell peynys were in 
 the begynnyng howe be hit as y feyde afore not al 
 equaly Sothely the peynys and tormentys of thys feconde 
 place were mekyl more harder and fcharper than the 
 peynys and tormentys that we fawe in the fyrfte place, 
 wherfore hyt was fo that mony that ware yn the fecunde 
 place ware forer ponyfht than they that ware yn the 
 fyrfl place. Here trewly fownde y and knew mony 
 mo fome tyme of myne acquentans than y dyd yn the 
 firft place. Not wythftondyng yn bothe the placys y 
 fpake with fome. The mefure of ther flatur apperyd 
 not fumciently as y knew hem before yn thys worlde. 
 For the ftature and forme of fome of them was as 
 hyt had be leffyd or thynnyde by tormentys. And 
 fome had lefte no thyng of their quantite. Neuertheles 
 thys dyuerfiteys of her fhappys yn no thyng lettyd my 
 knowlege. For ther knowlege was to me fo prompte 
 fo redy and fo opyn as hyt was that tyme when they 
 leuyd wyth vs yn thys worlde.
 
 C fioto Btnt tnargaret ttrlimcrrtt a sofoTe of a 
 
 Biwful Uiomau fro tljc Unwls. C Ca arbiif 
 
 ,Ere nowe hit lykyth me to telle a certen 
 fayre dede and wcrke of grete pete and 
 j j mercye the whiche that tyme was to me 
 a beholdyng of heuynes and alfo of con- 
 folacion the whyche may be to alle the 
 worlde a nobylle document and techyng why the peple 
 fchulde haue god and hys holy feyntys bothe of men 
 and wemen in worfchuppe and in reuerence. Truly 
 whyle y behylde meruelyng thoo thyngys aboue feyde 
 and mony other And hylde long talkyng there wyth 
 hem that y knewe before y harde a ferre a grete noyfe 
 and a crye as hit had be theuys that had takyn a pray 
 or elfe as they had oner cum their ennemy with fowle 
 mockys and fcornys. and loe after that noyfe and creye 
 folowde a curfyd companye of wyckyd fpyrytys and a 
 myghty ledyng with hem anone as they hopyde to 
 helle a foule of a woman late departyd fro her body. 
 O good god what peynys and tormentys tho cruell 
 enmyes leyde apon her. And the more they knewe her 
 withoute helpe the more wodder were they on her. 
 what man heryng euer wolde beleue to any creature 
 tellyng how tho wekyd fpyrytys and tyrandys of the 
 deuylle caftyd that foule amonge hem. as a tenyfe 
 balle wyth fyrye inflrumentys now fro on to another. 
 But hoo may in any wyfe telle or fchewe to any man 
 beleuyng howe her mawe and inwarde bowellys were 
 fmytte thorowe wyth the fyrye dartys of tho cruell 
 tormentours. And as god ys my wytnes y behylde 
 and fawe her fofyrre fo grete and horrabulle peynys 
 and tormentys verely as they leyde hem on her cruelly 
 Nowther thefe thyngys ware vnto my fyghte as natur- 
 aly a man feyth with bodely yes that ys to faye the 
 vtwarde peynys that a man fofryth yn bodye. but alfo 
 what they felte ymvardly good or euylle and with what 
 heuyneffe or wyth what gladnes they were fmytte
 
 43 
 
 wythinforthe in her fowllys alle was to me that tyme 
 playne and opyn So therfore thys vnhappy fowle what 
 for the prefente forowe or dolour that fche fofryd and 
 hadde and the fere of euerlaflyng dampnacyon. was in 
 grete anguys and forowe of peynys and tormentys. 
 For there was no hope that confortyd her to icape 
 defolate and deflytute of alle helpe and focoure O 
 byttyrneffe of alle bytterneffe moofte byttyrfle whome 
 no trufle or helpe releuyth or helpyth and defperacyon 
 of the ende encrefythe. The daye before Hie lefte her 
 mortalle body in the whyche fche leuyd flrompetly 
 and vycyufly and nowe fche ys keuerd wyth the vefture 
 of fchame and vellonye. And wyth yn fche ys byttyn 
 wyth the confcyens of fchameful dedys done wyckyd- 
 lye and wythoutforth fche ys mouyd wyth mockyng 
 and fcornyng of deuelys heuely. Sothely fche felte 
 thanne in her fulfylled the wordys of the holy man lob 
 feying thys wyfe of fuche perfons. Ducunt in bonis 
 dies fuos et in pun do ad infer na defcendunt. That 
 ys to feye they lede her days in goodys after their 
 plefure and in the twynkeling of an ye they falle done 
 to helle Therfore while thys onhappy fowle by the 
 vyctoryfe pompys of her enmyes was goyng to be 
 broughte into helle for the fynne and onleful luflys 
 of her body. Loe fondenly anon came done an hye 
 fro heuyn a grel lyght by the whyche bryghtnes and 
 bemys. the forfeyde wykyd fpiritys and minyflrys of 
 the deuyl. ware dullyd and made onmyghty and fyl 
 done to the gronde wyth the fowle that they had 
 Sothly than yn the fame lyght came done a multitude 
 of virgenys fchynyng yn clothys. whyte as the mow 
 and fette abowte wyth golde and precius flonys. the 
 grace and ioy that was yn the beholdyng of her facys 
 and chere y make no menfion of for hyt was fo gret 
 and yneflymable that y can not remembre my felfe 
 that faw hyt. how y myght wordly fpeke of hyt. 
 Amonge the whyche on that was moofle feyryfle wele 
 y knewe and feche was the bleflyd virgynne and martir 
 fent margaret. And anon as the forfeid fowle faw her
 
 44 
 
 the whiche was more thrall for her fynnys than of the 
 deuyllys be^anne myferably to crye and feyde. O 
 bleifyd and precius fpowfe of cryfle haue mercy on me 
 and helpe me that for myn nowne propyr fynnys am 
 yn defperacyon and ryghtfully put to peynys and tor- 
 mente. I knowlege and verely knowlege that yn al 
 rriy.lyfe y dyfpyfyd the commawndementys of god and 
 gaue my body to al onclene leuyng. And nothyr 
 god. ne any of hys fentys of men or wemen that y 
 louyd affectualy or dyd any worfhippe to hem yn 
 dede. The only of the nowmbre of the holy fentis 
 yn heuin euer more hertely y haue louyd and euery 
 f.iturday of myn own goodys afore thine auter y offerde 
 vppe candelys And the cuftome of my fowle leuyng 
 now late, beyng hoolle of my mynde and body for thy 
 loue and worfhippe vtwardly y lefte I beleuyd a.lfo 
 that by the remedy of confeffion al my fynnys hade be 
 wefhte awey. But alas for forowe my confeffion was 
 not fufficient to wefhte and do awey fo gret and fo 
 mony fowle fynnys and olde by caufe y lackyd before 
 the feruor of contricion and dyd not for my fynnys 
 euynworthy penans. Therfor my fynnys cleuyn fafl 
 to me not yet forgeuyn the whiche y flowthyd too 
 wype awey by goo[dj werkys. Loe ther fore my lady 
 and my fwetnes and conforte fchalle my yyflys of de- 
 uocyons peryfhe the whyche y haue done feytfully to 
 the and fchalle y thys peryfhe nowe alfo not only to 
 my felfe but alfo to the to whome only y haue fludyd 
 befely and thowght not for to peryfhe and now y 
 peryfhe to my felfe and to al thyngys Thefe thyngys 
 and many othyr yn thys wyfe fche feyde wyth fore and 
 byttur wepyng and crying more than a man may be- 
 leue. For y take god to recorde and to my wytnes 
 that y faw the terys breke owte of her yes as they hade 
 be hayle ftonys. And thys whyle fche forowde the 
 glorius virgyn and martyr fent margaret turnyd her to 
 to her felows virgyns that were there wyth her and 
 feyde O fche feyde ye mofle iwete fyfters ye fee now 
 the perelle of thys woman fum tyme my feruant and
 
 45 
 
 ye knew a[l]fo the ynportune malice of the deuyls 
 the whyche pretendyn by mony weys of refon to haue 
 her to hem. And therfore let vs now do that thyng 
 the whiche only ys lefte of remedy and helpe for her. 
 Pray we now to the euerlaftyng iuge and meke re- 
 demer that he the whyche al thing may doo wille wyth 
 faue as he knowyth befte. of hys goodnes. and at owre 
 defyre fum what to helpe thys wrechyd fowle. fum 
 tyme redemyd by hys precius blode fro the cruelle 
 power and venummys tethe. of thefe wekyd fpiritys. 
 And whan thys bleffyd virgyn and martyr fent mar- 
 garet had feide thefe wordys anone whytowtyn and 
 taryng. al thoo virgyns bowde downe to the grownd on 
 her kneys and lyftyd vppe her handys prayng for that 
 fynful woman to her ynmortalle fpowfe. owre bleffyd 
 lorde and fauyur ihefu cryft. And anon as they had 
 of god ther peticion grantyd they rofe vppe togedyr 
 fro preyer Than anone thys bleffyd virgyn feynt mar- 
 garet wyth ftabylle contynawnfe of face and fowle gaft- 
 fulle and thretyng the wekyd fpiritys came nere and 
 made of her fleue a maner of a fchorge and lyfte hyt vppe 
 as fche wolde haue fmitte hem Then they anon as hyt 
 had be flyes yn a whyrle wynde fleyd away hethur and 
 thedur leuyng alone her bownde fowle. and fodenly 
 yat yn the farthir fyde apperyd a dyke ful of boylyng 
 watyr vppe to the brymmys Therlbre yn thys dyke y 
 fawe her put yn And then feyde to her that bleffyd and 
 mercyfulle helper fent margaret Here now thow mufte 
 fulfylle they penanfe the whiche thow fchuldyfl haue 
 done before yn they lyfe. and by my prayur thow fchalt 
 haue mekylle helpe and releuyng of thy peynys. and 
 aftyrwarde when thy fynnys be fully purgyd and 
 clenfyd by me thow fchalt be admytted to referue 
 euerlaftyng ioye and bliffe Treuly hit can not be feyde 
 howe ioifully this fynful woman toke tho wordys feyde 
 to her in the whiche fche knewe an ende of her due 
 penanfe and afterward myght fele the goodnes and 
 mercy of god So than thys vyctoryofe dede done yat 
 glorious fight of vyrgynys afcendyt vppe to heuyn.
 
 4 6 
 
 a goUfsmti) toaa sauctf to sent 
 
 C Ca art* 
 
 ,Ere now folowyth alfo Another like myracle 
 of ful grete mercy and pety of the excel- 
 lent might and poure of the bleffyd by- 
 fhope fent nycholas Therfore now y wille 
 telle a nobyl dede and werke late done 
 in a certen feruant of his the whiche not longe a go 
 welle y knewe and famylyarly louyd for fome gode 
 thingys yat was feyne of him the whiche therfore the 
 more gladlyur y wiltelle. for this man that y nowe 
 fpeke of the whiche by his occupacion was a goldfmith 
 told and declaryd to me firfl the merite and the name 
 of my leder with whome y went hande in hande. and 
 thaugh y befeyn here now fum what to breke out for 
 the order of the narracion be caufe y feyde before that 
 ere y made any mencyon of the tormentis and peynys 
 of any perfons fpecially Firfl y wulde fliortly telle of 
 the peynful placys that were fchewyd to me But let 
 that be takyn of tho perfons the whiche afterward y 
 wille opinly declare to the profet of hem yat lyfle to 
 here or rede this reuelacion. Therfor as y fuppofe ye 
 remembre how a certen perfon a goldfmith and a 
 cytfon of this place was haflly preuent of dethe and 
 fodenly dyed. Of whom alfo hyt was opynly noyfyd 
 that hyt fo befylle hym for ouer mekylle drynkyng 
 vvyne. And therfore how myght a man fey to whome 
 thys man fchulde be fortyd but amonge them that fent 
 iohan the apoftylle fpecially fpekyth yn hys pyflylle. 
 RJl pcccatum ad mortem, non pro illo dico vt oret 
 quis. That ys to fey. Ther ys fynne contynewde vn 
 to dethe y fey no man pray for hym that contynewyth 
 hys fynne to hys dethe who fo abfolute may be feyde 
 that contynewyth hys fynne to hys dethe. as he that 
 contynewyth yn dedly fynne and fo lefyth lyfe and 
 takyth dethe. Sothly thys man bode not only yn 
 the fynne of dronkynnes to hys dethe but alfo he fylle
 
 47 
 
 yn to dethe doyng that fame fynne the whiche ys the 
 feede and caufe of al euyile. And as a certen wyfe 
 man feith dronkinnes excufith no vife Therfore thys 
 man whoys fine and pelle we fpeke of now yat hyt 
 fchulde be feryd and dredde yn hys wolde days was 
 ouer prone and redy to dronkenes for the laft thre days 
 yat euer he faw in thys worlde he continewyde dayly 
 almofte yn the fame fynne And yf y had know for 
 certen a day before yat he had dyed of feche a caufe 
 as hit ys aforefeyde what fchulde y thynke or fele of hym 
 more worthier than not for to pray for him. lefte [lefte?] 
 my prayur before the ryghtwes iuge fchulde be voide 
 and no thing helpyng hym Neuertheles y vfyd to 
 pray for hym thawghe yt ware flowly. not verely cer- 
 tifide of fo foroful a fame and happe Sothely hyt was 
 fo. by the prouifion of god that thys goldefmyth was 
 in the fecunde place of peynys. and alfo y fawe and 
 behylde hym by me. whome anone y knewe and 
 gretely memelde. feyng hym afore mony other that 
 y behylde. in goode hope and lyghtly fofryng hys 
 peynys. Trewly thanne my leder lokyd on me howe 
 ftidfaftly y behylde hym and afkyd me and y knew 
 hym And y feyde ful wele. Than he feyde. and yow 
 knowe hym. fpeke to hym Sothly then this gold- 
 fmyth lokid on vs bothe : and knowing vs wyth an 
 enarrabulle geflur and behauing of gladnes ioyde to 
 my leder and with bothe his handys fpred opyn ofte 
 bowde done al hys body worfhippyng and greting hym 
 with innumerable thankys for hys benefetys and good- 
 nes fhewyd to hym And the mene whyle y falute hym. 
 and he ioyfully falute me ageyne. Than y enqueryd 
 of hym how hit was. that fo fone he was pafle the 
 horable peynys. the whiche y knewe by his fighte he 
 had fofryd Then he anfwarde this
 
 C ??fre tf)i?s ntemfte fcnctoe first tfjat sente Xf* 
 ctjolas toas i)i?s IcBcr. C a ** 
 
 dere frynde he feyde. al ye to gedur in 
 the worlde haue me as lofle and dampde. 
 not knowyng the goodnes and mercy here 
 of my prefent lorde fente Nicholas, the 
 whiche had not fofrid me an onhappy and 
 an onprofetable feruaunt of his to be dampde and lofle 
 euerlaftyngly. Than feyde y to hym. Trewly as thou 
 fevfte. alle we that ware thy frendys forowde that thou 
 didoft fo fodenly and gretly abafhyd ynwardly fuppofyng 
 verely that thowhadyfle be dampde. and by caufe alfo 
 thow hadyfte no helpe ne remedy by fore they dethe 
 of the holy facramentys of the chyrche. Sothly by 
 caufe y fynde the othyr wyfe than we wende y am 
 glade and fayne y wolde here how and yn what wyfe 
 thow deydyft fo and fcapydyfte eternal damnapcion 
 Thanne he feyde. Gladly what fum euer thow defyre 
 y wylle the telle. 
 
 C $?oto tfje same gottrsmptfj toIBe tfje ntonftc gn 
 purgaton> Ijoto i)e Bi>fB soBntlg anD get toas 
 C Capttulumr .xxi 
 
 JE knew wele how y dyfpofyd me yn my 
 leuynge whan y was yn the worlde as thoo 
 thingys that were opyn to mannys fyghte. 
 Alfo y contynwyde yn the fowle fynne of 
 dronkynnes. vn to my laft ende. of an 
 euyl cuflome. Neuertheles hyt was not my wylle. 
 For gretly hyt dyfplefyd me and mekyl y forowyde 
 that y kowde not leue that vyfe. Sothly oftyn tymes 
 y rofe ageynft my felfe fewurly purpofyng. to leue and 
 cafte awey the fowle vyfe of dronkynnes that y was 
 wholde yn. But anon what for the lufte of drynkyng 
 and the importunyte of feiefhyppe that y dranke with
 
 49 
 
 y was conflraynde to drynke aftyr the mefure of myne 
 olde cuflome, wherby y was ouer cumme. and drawyn 
 ageyne bonde yn to lufle and cuflome of the fame fmne. 
 that was yn mine owne onmeferabulle taking and appe- 
 tite Treuly amonge this by the mercy of god the whiche 
 wylle that no man perym yn my mofte bleffyd lorde 
 fent Nycholas whome now ye folowe graciufly and pre- 
 fently. and whoys parefhon alfo y was. feche deuocion 
 y had to hym. that for any occafion y neuer lefte but 
 what mm euer y myght do to his worfchippe y dyd 
 hyt ful deuowtly And how mekyl euer y gaue me 
 towarde euyn to dronkynnes y vfyd euer more to be 
 at matens. for anon as they range y wulde be ther. 
 and oftyn tymes afore the paryfh pryfte. Alfo y 
 fownde contynwaly a lampe of myne owne code, yn 
 fent Nycholas chapelle And thoo thyngys that were 
 neceffarye to the ornamentys of alle the chyrche. as yn 
 lyghtys or any othyr thyngys. y wolde dylygently orden 
 therfore. as y had be hys famylyar feruante and 
 mawncypylle And wher y had not fufficyent of myn 
 owne goodys to do hyt y wolde moue othyr of the 
 paryfh to helpe as hyt femyd nedefulle Sothly the yyftys 
 [gyftys?] that men or wemen gaue. y tokehem. and to 
 be hon[our]ablevfus. ful treuly y fpendehem. Alfo twyes 
 yn the yere that ys at crifLynmas and at eftyr wolde 
 clene confeffe me of al my fynnys as wele as y bowde 
 to owre paryfh pryfte. takyng penanfe for hem and yn 
 parte y dyd fulfille hem diligently Treuly y dyd not 
 obferue and kepe tho thingys that y was commaundyd 
 of my goftely fathyr. for oftyn tymes y lefte fum thyngys 
 that y fchulde haue doo and thoo thingys that y 
 fchulde haue beware of. And of the commawndement 
 of my goflely fadyr y faftyd the dayes of aduent as 
 y dyd the lent fefyne.. To the whyche dayes of ad- 
 uent. y addyd of myne owne fre wylle. as mony dayes 
 afore aduente as wold make vppe the noumbre of the 
 dayes of lente And fo on cryftenmas daye y wold 
 be hofylde and refceyue the holy facrament of owre 
 lordys precious body and blode. But alaffe for forowe
 
 5 
 
 when that y fhuld haue be / that holy dayes of owre 
 lordys byrthe. more holyur and deuowtur in my lyuyng 
 then other tymes. y turnyd me contrary vnto other 
 werkys and befyneffes of a worldly cuftome. wherfore 
 hyt happyd vnto me alfo in myne lafte ende that the 
 wekyd angelle of that deuyl Sathanas. the whyche ys 
 caufer and kendler of alle euyl fcornyd me. And alfo 
 he hadde browghte plefaunte worde and tytyngys of my 
 dampnacyon to hys father the deuyl. yeffe the mercye 
 and goodnes of my lorde fente Nycholas had not wyth- 
 ftonde hym therfore euermore to hym be thankyngys 
 of al his trew feruawntys. for my delyueraunce. for he 
 had lowfyd and delyueryd me. And as ryghtwefly as 
 y was to be dampde and cruelly to be ponyfhte as 
 mekely and as mercyfully he hath noryfhte and kept 
 me : Sothely on cryftynmas daye after that y had re- 
 fceyuyd the good lorde that y can not remembre 
 withowte grete horror and heuynes. y was drawyn of 
 an euyl cuftome as y feyd afore by ouermoche drynkyng 
 the fame daye in to dronkynneffe ageyne to the grete 
 iniuryeand rongeof feche alorde whomeyhad refceyuyd 
 a lytyll before in to my fowle And on the morow y 
 wente to chyrche as y vfid to do fore waylyng the 
 fowle vice the whiche y dyde the daye before purpofyng 
 to be ware of hyt and to do no more / but hit was as 
 voyde and vayne For by the occafion that y had of 
 drinkyng and the deuylys fteryng me therto / y was 
 deftitute and lofte the flabulnes of vertu and the 
 mighty purpos of foburnes that y had conceuyd : and 
 fo y fulfilde not my purpofe in dede. but fowle as y dyd 
 yyfterdaye fo y dyd to daye and by delectacion of 
 ouer mekyl drynkyng fyl downe agayne to dronkinnes. 
 Sothely the next daye after folowyng the whiche ys the 
 thirde daye after cryftynmas daye I lefte not myne olde 
 cuftome of drinkyng. wherby y had lofte the vertu of 
 foburnes and all my wyttys alfo. Thenne whenne hit 
 was derke nyghte y went oute of the place where y 
 dranke / and came home and wente to bed as y was 
 clothyd and fchod and a lytyl y flepte And anone y
 
 woke and wold haue refyn and feyd as y had wente 
 that then yt had ronge to matens But my wyfe told 
 me nay and fo y layde my downe ageyne. Trewly 
 thanne fyrfl y toke a flepe and anone after y toke my 
 dethe And howe y felte deth fodenly cumme apone 
 me y wille telle yow. A certen deuyl that tempted 
 and fteryd me to the vyce of dronkynnes thowghte to 
 hym felfe that and y deyed in feche a perylle whytowte 
 any contradiccion he wolde me drawe to hell prefumyng 
 alfo to haue thenne power on me to doo what fomme 
 euer he wolde. for myne obedyens and confentyng in 
 that vyce to hym But ageyne full mekyl he drede. 
 lefte by the merytys of my patron fent Nicholas, y 
 fchulde any tyme preuayle agenft him by amendement 
 of my lyuyng : yf y lyued any lengur and fo by hys 
 prefumptuous power cruelly me flrangulde. Trewly 
 y felte him like an owle goo in to my mowthe 
 the whiche oftyn tymes ful euylle y opynd to drynke 
 and fo thorowe my throte flyly came downe to my harte. 
 And anone y knewe that hit was the deuil. Notwith- 
 ftondyng y was yet myndfull of the mercijs of god and 
 alfo of myne owne wrechydnes and with ftabulle purpofe 
 vowyd in my mynde to god that y wold purely and 
 holy confeffe me of alle my fynnys. and vtwardly for 
 euer forfake the wyfe of dronkennes And to this y 
 called as inwardly as y kowde. on fent Nicholas to be 
 my borowe. Sothely to this auyfement onnethe was 
 graunted me the fpace of a moment. Trewely thanne 
 the wekyd fpiryte fate downe anone apon my herte. 
 and clypte hyt wyth hys curfyd arrays on euery fyde. 
 Alfo he drew out of his mowthe an horrable voment of 
 venyne and cafte hit al abrode and fo in the fpace of 
 a twynbelyng of an ye he expellyd and cafte me 
 oute of my bodye And anone after that y was 
 hade forthe thorowe darke placys by the cruelle and 
 incredible wodnes of wykyd fpirytys the whiche al to 
 bete me difcerpte me ftekyd me drewe me and al to 
 brend me and caryed me with them y wot not wheder / 
 but as they wolde to euerlafting tormentys. Than
 
 52 
 
 anone my mofle meke and dere aduocatour feynt 
 Nicholas to whome y called with all myne herte at my 
 lade ende. and whome euer in my lyfe y haue worfchipte 
 thawghe y were a fynner. came thanne and mightily 
 toke and deliueryd me oute of her handys. and here 
 hath fette me in this place of purgatory e for my pur- 
 gacion. And howe be yt that y fofre here fore and 
 harde peynys y cownte hit lightly whyle y haue no 
 drede of the wekyd fpyrytys and alfo that her tyranny 
 and importable cruelnes ys fefyd and gone fro me / 
 And fothely after this for certeyn y am and trufte to 
 haue refte and euerlaftyng ioye be my lorde fent 
 Nicholas And nowe alfo and euermore / fen the tyme 
 that y was put here to this peynys by the whiche 
 whenne y ame ouer fore greuyd and difefyd yet by hys 
 meke and mofte meke and bleffyd vifitacyon. y am wel 
 confortid and releuydageyne In mygrafle [crafte?] alfo 
 by the whiche ygate to me and to myn owre leuyng in 
 the world often tymes in my beginnyng y begylde and 
 dyfceyued the pepulle for the fere of pouerte And 
 now for that y am ful bitturly ponyfhte. and the todyr 
 daye before mekyl more harder therffore y fofryd 
 peynes Trewly often tyme y haue ben cafte downe 
 hed longe into a grete hepe of brennyning money 
 amonge the whiche y brente ful intolerably. And tho 
 fyrye penfys y was compellyd to deuoure with an opyn 
 mowthe that y felte alle my bowellys to brenne in me 
 And hethir to often times y am compellyd to telle hem 
 and of the towchyng of hem myne handys and fyngers 
 ben fore peynde. Alfo by ouer grete brennyng and 
 hete of thirfl my inward bowels with herte throwte and 
 chekys waxen wan and befyly begynne to fayle Thefe 
 and many other thinges y herde of hym as opynly as 
 \iit might be told of any man leuyng yn hys bodye.
 
 53 
 
 T $otoe tfje gol&8mif) also tolUe to tfje monfte 
 a reiw&ge agenst soUen Bert). C CTa 
 
 f|Vm thynge ther is the which e he tolde me 
 amonge other that y wyl not hyde fro the 
 reder here of. I fawe there innumerable 
 pepulle that dyde fodenly in this world 
 the whiche were ponyfcht al mofte owt of 
 mefure And of many thys y knew that they the whiche 
 were putte in delyberacyon and auyfement for to fynne 
 And whenne they came to the dede doyng of what 
 fomme euer fynne hyt was and eche one of theym 
 feyde in hys mynde lo now y wylle doo and fulfille 
 that the wyche y haue gretly defyred. he was takyn 
 by the wille of god to the vtmeft peynys and poniffe- 
 ment of dethe as thawgh he hadde herde of this texte 
 in the gofpelle. Stulte en anima tua refetitur a te / ad 
 quid cogitafti aduerfus deum immo contra ipfum te 
 nequifflma. That ys to faye. Fole lo they fowle ys 
 takyn fro the. wherto hafte thow thowghte agenft god 
 and alfoo agayneft thy felfe full wekyd thynges. Ne- 
 uertheleffe as we haue knowyn by hym felfe the whiche 
 told thys. that whenne they were putte yn that byttyr 
 fcharpeneffe of dethe coueytyng and purpofyng to cor- 
 recte and amende her fautes yef they hadde any fpace 
 of penaunce graunted vnto hem. and in her fwyfte and 
 hafty departyng fekyd after the mercye of god and 
 alfoo after the helpe of his holy feyntys. Therfore of 
 the grete mercy of god her byttyr dethe was to hem a 
 grete clenfyng of her fynnys. the whiche they fchuld 
 haue fofrycl afterward fully in placys of peynys and 
 tormentys. Forthermore y enquyred and afkyd of 
 thys goldfmyth of whome y haue nowe told and feyde 
 many thingys yeffe hyt were poffyble by any thyng 
 that the folke myght fchonne and efchewe foden dethe. 
 Thenne he anfwarde and feyde in thys wyfe vnto me. 
 O he feyde Sothely and yf y haclde knowyn whenne 
 that y was in the world leuyng fuche thyngys as y
 
 54 
 
 knowe nowe y wulde haue taughte and defende all 
 the world fro that grete hurte and dammage. howe the 
 pepulle and folke myght be fewre and fafe fro the 
 fallyng of foden dethe. Trewly and verily and the 
 cryflyn pepulle wolde wryte dayly on her forhedys and 
 aboute the placys of her herte wyth her fyngur of [or?] in 
 any other wyfe. thefe. ii. wordys that conteynyth the 
 myfterye of the helthe and faluacyon of mankynde 
 that ys to wytte and to faye C Ihefus nazarenus 
 wythowtyn dowte the trewe pepulle of oure fauyur ihcfu 
 cryfte fchuld be harmeles and preferued fro fuche a 
 grete peryll and hurte And alfoo they fchalle haue 
 after her dethe the fame letters and wordys wretyn 
 full opynly and clerely at her hertys and alfo in her 
 forhedys in tokyn and in figne of grete worfchyppe. 
 I knowe alfo that my meyny kepte me. ii. dayes on- 
 beryde after my dethe. hopyng that y fchulde haue 
 reuyuyd for the redneffe and hete the whyche was in 
 my face and in my bodye the whyche douteles was of 
 the feruent replecyon of wyne dronkyn before. For 
 my departyng of this world was fo haftye and zwifte : 
 that myne foule was gonne and pafle out of my bodye. 
 yere my wyfe vnderflode or knewe hit or fende to 
 calle for the pryfte. Thefe thyngys y knewe ful trewly 
 there of this goldfmyth. 
 
 C 3i>otoe tfjc gone of tfyr game goIBsmmlj tolBe 
 tonto tfje inonUr aftm: tfjatfje toag cum to jjym gelfe 
 agr^ne rtjat ijs faopr ijati aptrgD tftricg* to i)?s 
 mother aftgr ijgg Detfje. C Ca xx'iii 
 
 [Othely aftyr .xv. dayes feth y faw and herde 
 thys the fone of the forfeyd goldefmyth a 
 certen yonge man came to me with grete 
 wepyng and tolde me that hys father had 
 apperyd. iij. nyghtis to gedyr to hys 
 moeder wakyngly as fche was yn her prayers at home 
 yn her chambyr and bade her that fche fchulde fende
 
 55 
 
 to me to knowe how hyt was fully with hym and of hys 
 flate that thys knowyn. fche myght be the more con- 
 fortyd and feythfullir and deuowter to helpe hym And 
 alfo that fhe by the fame tellyng may the bettyr be 
 ware gyde to her felfe and her meyny to god ward : 
 And the fame yonge man wytnefyd wyth grete fweryng 
 that the thyrde nyghte of hys fatherrs apperyng he 
 herde hys mother talkyng and fpekyng longe tyme 
 with hym. and fomme tyme enquyryng and alfo fomme 
 tyme anfweryng hym. and thenne afterward fche told 
 vnto my hys wordys the whyche he hadde tolde and 
 feyde vnto her. Trewely he feyde that he herde / no 
 maner wordys of hym talkyng or fpekyng vnto her but 
 pacyently taryde tyl they hadde done. Sothely hys 
 mother told hym that fche hadde harde of her hufbond 
 twyes before. And as fche knowleged and feyde fche 
 feyde that he was full of Ire and wrathe and moche 
 blamed her becaufe that he was forgoten and putte 
 owte of mynde fro her whyche was warnyd by hym 
 felfe after hys dethe to doo a lytyll thyng for hym and 
 that fche wulde not do fo moche for hym. but excufed 
 her that for the on certente of vyfyons fche dyfferde 
 hyt lefle that hyt fculd haue bene fuppofyd that fche 
 hadde be dyfceyued and begylde. And thenne he 
 anfwerde and feyde Sende wythoutyn taryyng thedyr 
 as y commaunde and telle and faye to hym howe often 
 tymes for the fame thyng y haue apperyd to the and 
 alfoo feye apone thefe tokynys. that the lafl tyme the 
 whiche he fawe me y was in grete peyne And amonge 
 othyr thyngys that he herde of me y told hym how 
 mekyl the holy confeffour feynt Nycholas hadde holpe 
 me. Trewly he prayde me with grete inflaunce that 
 I fchulde flere and alfo moue bothe hys wyfe and hys 
 fone. and on hys behalfe commande hem that the 
 feruyce and worfchyppe the whyche he was wonte to 
 do in hys lyfe and they alfo by example to fent 
 Nycholas. for no caufe nethyr for any occafyon fchulde 
 be lefte but dayly more and more wyth amendement 
 r her lyuyng dylygently fchewe and do her deuocyons
 
 56 
 
 and feruys to hys patron and aduocatour fent Nycholas. 
 Alfo this forefeyde man and goldfmyth of whome y 
 haue novve told and fpokyn as hyt ys feyde afore dyde 
 aboute a xv monthys agone the whyche trewely by 
 the merytys of the holy confeffour fent Nycholas hys 
 patrone yn a fhorte tyme was fpede oute of mekyl 
 forowe that onethe y myght fee any. that profette fo 
 mekyl there as he dede in fo .lytyl tyme. wherfore 
 ful expedyente hyt ys to alle men whyle they leuyn in 
 thys world deuoutely to ferue the holy feyntys of god 
 by the whyche they may haue in her grete nede the 
 grace and mercye of almyghty god as hyt ys fchewyd 
 and prouyd often tymes. 
 
 C <&f fltf tf)j?r& place of tfje pei?n anB torments 
 rtjat ben in tlje jwrgatorge. C <Ea xxiiif 
 
 [Vt nowe let vs fchewe as we maye thoes 
 thynges that remaynyn of the thyrde place 
 the whyche we fawe and behylde. For 
 aboue alle thyng that may be conceyued 
 of any mannys mynde. hyt excedeth of 
 cruelnes and dedly tormenting For veryly y knouleche 
 as for the quantyte of euyl yat ys there no man may 
 fuffyfe to expreffe or telle the left peynys of that place. 
 The grete horrabulnes of yat place fo mekylle. the 
 feurer y myght fee and beholde that y knewe hym. to 
 bewyth me. and was alfo my gyde and leder at that fame 
 tyme the holy byffchop and confeffour fente Nycholas 
 whome y haue euer fpecyally worfchipped and loued. 
 Trewely the more famylyare. that y hadde hym in wor- 
 fhyp the more furer was y made of hys felyffchippe 
 and companye. to fee and beholde the horrabulle 
 peynys and tormentys. the whiche nowe beyng abfent 
 can not remembur withoute grete horrour and gaftful- 
 neffe of mynde but y was made of euery fyde ful 
 ftabulle and fure. for the felyffhyppe and knowleche 
 the whyche y hadde of my gyde and leder the holy
 
 57 
 
 confefTour fent Nycholas. Therfore leuyng the forfeide 
 fecunde place, that we were at. as hit ys aboue reherfyd 
 we came to a ful grete fylde. and as hyt iemyd hyt 
 was fette yn a lowe grownde fequeflrate and departyd 
 from al othir that no maner perfone myght dedyr come, 
 excepte tho that were there ponyfchte or fchuld be 
 ponyfchte Trewly the ouer part of that fylde was 
 keueryde wyth a ful horrable clowde. yn the whyche 
 was myxte and medylde to gedir a fume of brymftone 
 wyth a rnyfte a gret flenche and a flame black as 
 pycche was medylde wyth hem the whyche brake 
 owte on euery fyde lyke hyllys and fo fpredyd 
 all abrode. And the playnnes of that place was fo 
 repletyd and fulfylde withe wormys as flowrys be 
 wonte to be ftrawyn with ruffhys. And they were 
 aboue alle eflymacyon horrabulle wundyrfull and vn- 
 fhappely the whyche wyth a gaftfull opyn mouth 
 brethyd oute curfyd fyre at her nofys. And with an 
 onfpekable deuowryng al to tore the wrechyd com- 
 panyfe of folke that ther were, the whyche ryght nowe 
 fo waftyd and confumydde. deuylys ranne ouer all 
 lyke as madde men and were alfo full cruell and wodde 
 apone tho wrechys. Trewely thanne the deuylys 
 ponyfhte hem wyth fyry inflrumentys fynglerly by 
 euery membre of her bodye : and thanne afterward 
 they rafyd and al to teryd their flefhe vtwardly vnto 
 the bonys. and thenne after thys whenne they hadde 
 fo done they cafte them into the fyre and there they 
 were made lyquyd as hyt were metalle. and alfo toke 
 hem oute ageyne as brennyng fyre. Lytyl yt ys y take 
 god to recorde. and as no thyng what fomme euer y 
 be aboute to telle of the peynys and tormentys of that 
 place. For in a ful fchorte fpace of tyme by alle maner 
 dyuerfytees of an hondyrdfolde peynys and tormentys 
 or more y behylde and fawe howe they were confumed 
 and wafted to nought and thenne anone refloryd 
 ageyne And ageyne almofle they were with peynys 
 broughte to nought and anone made hole ageyne the 
 whiche in that fame place the lofle lyfe of hem was
 
 58 
 
 compellyd to fofre. And of thefe alteracyons of tymes 
 in the whyche by grete peynys and tormentys they 
 were brought to nought anone refloryd ageyne ther 
 was non ende no marke ne terme. Alfo the hete and 
 brennyng of that fyre was fo feruent and deuouring 
 that what fum euer hyt brent hyt wulde be lyke as a 
 thyng that ware al mofte confumyd or waftyd. And 
 thenne the wormys that were there warded aid brokyn 
 and made fmalle vnto pecys and then they were 
 gedyrd on grete hepys to gedyr and leyde vnther the 
 vnhappy fynful wrechys that were there, wherfore they 
 fo fulfylled alle thyng with fo grete ftenche that hyt 
 excedyd alle the tormentys and peynis before feyd. 
 And yet remayneth one thyng the wyche they 
 that were in that place were compellyd to fofre the 
 whiche ys more hatfull peynful and fchameful than 
 any thyng aboue feyde. 
 
 C f tfje bncTw* anO foule bgce antJ agmte of 
 j30tJemti>s. C CTa 
 
 [Othely alle thoo that were there ponyffht 
 and peynde were in thys worlde whyle 
 they leuyd doers of that foule fynne the 
 whiche oughte not [to] be namyd not only of 
 a cryftyn man but alfo of none hethyn 
 man. Certen grete monfturs that ys to feye grete 
 beftys onnaturally fchapyne fchewyd hem felfe in a 
 fyrye lykeneffe horrabulle and gaftfulle to fight and 
 oftyn tymes vyolently came apone hem and alfo in a 
 fowle damnable abufion compellyd hem to medylle 
 with hem. howe be hyt that they refufyd and wulde 
 hyt not. I abhorre and ame aflchamed to fpeke of the 
 fowlnefle and vnclenes of that fame fynne. Thanne 
 betwene her peynfull and curfyd clepynges they roryd 
 and yellyd and cryed owte and afterward they fylle 
 done to gedyr lyke as yf they hadde ben gonne and 
 ded and anon takyn vppe ageyne and fo forth putte
 
 59 
 
 vnto newe peynys. Trewely y remembryd not wele al 
 that fame tyme the feyyng of the holy poflle fent 
 powelle in hys pyflylle of feche perfons. where he con- 
 dempnyth the foule vyce and fynne agayneft nature 
 bothe of men and wemen. And yeffe y hadde fene 
 and confyderyd the caufe namely nowe in tyme of 
 cryftendame. cowde not in any wyfe haue beleuyd that 
 fuche a foule fynne and vyfe myght haue be prefumed 
 and done fpecyally of wemen. the whyche naturelly 
 fchuld be more fchamfull thenne other. I neuyr herde 
 before nether hadde any fufpycyon hethirto that the 
 kynde of wemen hadde be deprauyd and defoyled by 
 fuche a foule fynne. And alas for forowe. for ther 
 was founde a company of fuche fo innumerabulle as 
 they were myferable. Many of tho perfonys that were 
 there in that place y knewe not nethyr wele behylde 
 hem by caufe that the qualyte of her foule fynne. and the 
 grete flenche and tormentys that was there fmytte me 
 wyth full grete horrour and tedufnes. Full greuys hyt 
 was vnto me and more thanne a man may beleue to 
 be there in that place a moment whyle. or to beholde 
 fuche thynges as ware there. Neuertheleffe y felte no 
 ftenche by experyence whylys y was there as y dyd no 
 nothir hirte of peynys. for my thoughte and yf I hadde 
 felte hit y rnyghte noo lengur haue leuyd. Notwith- 
 ftondyng y confyderyd aud perceyued fufficyently in 
 mynde the intolerable gretnes of alle thyng. Trewely 
 thoo wrechys that were there fencybly hadde experyence 
 and felte alle thefe peynys and other mo infynyte. that 
 no man maye tel of And amonge her forrowfulle 
 lamentacyons of complaynyng whyle euerychon of 
 hem cryed Alas alas why dyd y fo fynne. alas why dyd 
 not y penans for my fynnys and amende my lyuyng. 
 they felte and remembryd her greuys peynys. Sothely 
 their voycys of wepyng and forowyng was exaltyd and 
 lyfte vppe with fo gret a cry that a man wolde haue 
 wend hyt fchulde haue be herd thorow all the world
 
 6o 
 
 C f a Ooctouv a latoe tfjat bag a soOr mwte 
 
 C Ca 
 
 [Rewly thawgh y refufyd as mekyll as y 
 myghte to fee and beholde tho thinghes 
 that were done yn that place y cowde not 
 auoide the knovveleg of on clerk the 
 wyche y fawe and knew fum tyme Thys 
 clerk in hys days was a doctur of lawe and alfo 
 amonge other that were docturs of lawe he was had in 
 that fciens ful excellent. Full many lerners of that 
 faculte he ordende yn fcoles wherby he gatte to hym 
 gret famyliarite of worfhippeful men This clerk e was 
 largely poffefte with beneficys and rentys of the chirche 
 and yet that not withftonding dayly he coueytyd to 
 haue more and more wherfore by the wille of god the 
 whiche wolde haue alle men to be turne to penans. he 
 felle yn to grete fekenes by the whiche he was fore 
 vexid and defefid abowt a .ix. monthys. Sothely hyt 
 was done of a meke difpenfacion of oure fayur that he 
 fhnlde by the fchorge of fekenes and forowe. difpofe to 
 corect and amende hys fynful leuyng. the whyche 
 whene he was yn gode helthe of body fowle and dedly 
 trefpaft oftyn tymes to god. But he contrary wyfe was 
 ouer carkefulle of hysbodelyhelpe [helthe?]. thewhyche 
 he louyd ouer mekyl. and fo vaynely prefumyd and 
 thowght to haue hyt ageyne. wherfore he neuyr wolde 
 dyfpofe hym to be confeft of hys fynys and fpecialy of 
 hys fowle and onclene leuyng for the helthe of his 
 fowle the whyche ys the fyrft and chefe dede of almys 
 that a man fchuld doo nethyr had any compaffion on 
 powre pepul to geue hem any almys nethir any thyng 
 dyd to the fentys of god. as yn offeryng to hym mekely 
 hys feruys. for the redempcion of hys fynys nethir 
 fludyd or karyd to do any almys of his erthely and tran- 
 fitory godys as long as he leuyd Than the heuynly lecht 
 our fauyur feyng that he was neuer in his dayes the 
 bettyr for the fekenefle the whiche he hadde for his
 
 6i 
 
 warnyng the whyche he fchoyd and gaue vnto hym 
 for a goflely medefon. nethir wente owte of hys onclene 
 leuing in the whiche vnclene leuing he was in by the 
 affliccyon of hys grete fekeneffe. Therfore the euyll 
 and wekid faites and dedys. that cowde not be clenfyd 
 and purged in hys yonge aage oure lord ihefu crift 
 mercefully putte and ende of hem in hys dethe.what 
 more mercye myghte be done vnto hem the whyche 
 after their hardneffe and impenytente herte. trefur to 
 hem fro daye to daye the wrathe of owre fauyur ihefu 
 cryfte. in the daye of hys wrathe and alfo of fchewyng 
 hys ryghtfull iuggement. and alfoo to be refceyued in 
 to the nyghte of dethe in the whiche nyghte of dethe 
 no man may helpe hym felfe. for thanne no man may 
 labure any thyng for to deferue. thanne that fone her lyfe 
 of thys world be fchortyd and alfoo fro hem takyn aweye. 
 in the whyche her fynnys and myfdedys encrefyn and 
 growyn to her perdycyon and deftruccyon : And what 
 thing myght be more holfummur to them the whyche 
 by her folufneffe and madeneffe with a fcharpe fwerde 
 koueyten and defyren to adde ftrokys to her owne pro- 
 pre wowndys thanne that they be bounde and alfo her 
 wepynys takyn aweye / the whiche they myfufyd to her 
 owne propre hurte and dammage. Thys forfeyde 
 clarke the whyche y knew fum tyme in my chyldhode 
 and yong aage. y vndyrftode nor y knewe not that he 
 was dyfcefle and ded. For that fame tyme in the 
 whyche y knewe hym he remouyd fro that prouynce or 
 place ther as he was wonte to dwelle in before vnto a 
 nothir prouynce or place. Neuert[h]eleffe yn alle fuche 
 peynys and tormentys as hit ys aboue feyd y fawe and 
 fownde hym and y merueyled of hit For y had wente he 
 had be yet a lyue and alfo an honeft perfon. Than y 
 fpake to hym and afkyd whethyr he hopyd any tyme to 
 haue the mercye of god And than he feyde Alas alas 
 y knowe andknowe that athifhalfe[at this halfe?] domys 
 daye yfchall haue algate no mercye And whethiry fchalle 
 haue any -thanne y am not certeyn Sothely euermore 
 fethe y was putte here to thefe peynys they encrefyn more 
 and more Then y feyde to hym And why were yow
 
 62 
 
 not confefle of thy fynnys at thy lafte ende and dydyfl 
 no penaunce for hem Than he feyde by caufe y 
 hopyd to haue recouered and alfo by the difceyte of 
 the deuyl my goflely ennemy y was afchamed to con- 
 fefle fo fowle a fynne. lefte y Ihulde haue be of les 
 reputacyon and dyfpyfed amonge them the whiche y 
 femyd gloryous and fayre y confefle me of lytyl and 
 fmale fynys to feche an honeft perfon and a worfchip- 
 full pryfle that yow knovvyfl wele And whanne he 
 afkyd me yef y had any other thynges to be confefle 
 of. y bade him go his waye and tolde him that yef any 
 other thyng cumme afterward to my mynde y wulde 
 fende for hym ageyne and tell him. And whanne he 
 was gonne and onethis came to his chirche y begunne 
 to deye Thenne anone he was cald for ageyne and 
 whenne he cumme / he fownde me ded and gonne 
 Trewly ther ys no thyng of a thowfand peynys that y 
 fofyr dayly fo greuys to me as ys the vn happy prefen- 
 tacion of my fowle and vnclene leuyng that y vfyd in 
 the world, and now beyng here am compellyd to doo 
 actually the fame foule paffyon. And befyde the hor- 
 rabulle gretneffe of peynys that y am in. y am more 
 confounded of fchame whyle dat y am by the fame 
 fynne made curfyd and abhomynable in the fyght of 
 al men. Alas alas who euer wolde haue wende that 
 the worfchyppe and fauour the whiche y hadde amonge 
 men fculde be turned to feche confufyon and defpexion 
 as it is nowe wherfore ful gretely y am confowndyd and 
 affhamed. for nowe to euery creature y appere foule 
 and abhomynable. the whiche before apperyd to euery 
 man gloryous and honorabulle. And thys he feyd 
 with full fore and grete cryyng and wepyng And 
 whyle y meruelde the wrechidnes and peynys of fo 
 grete a man fum tyme. y fawe howe he was ponyffhte 
 in innumerabulle w[a]yfys. and by thoo tormentyshe was 
 brought as to nought and dyffoluyd by flrenthe and 
 hete of fyre and fo made lyquyd as led ys whenne hyt 
 ys multe. Sothely thanne y afkyd fent Nycholas my 
 leder yf this mannys peynys myght be remedyde or 
 helpe by any mene. And thanne he feyde whanne
 
 63 
 
 the daye of dome ys cumme thenne fchall cryflys wille 
 be fulfyllede ' He onely knowyth the hertys of alle 
 men And then he wole doo to euery man ryghtfully. 
 Therfore I coude knowe no thyng for certen of this 
 mannys delyberacyon. Therfore thoo thyngys the 
 which e we haue fpokyn of here before may wele be 
 confyderyd as the fcripture feyth in thys wyfe. Non 
 eft ei bene qui affiduus eft in mails et elemofinam non 
 danti. that ys to faye hyt ys not wele with hym that 
 ys befye in euyll Nethir with hym that dothe non 
 almys See nowe and confydre howe gretely they be 
 holpe in placys of peynys by the doyng of almys 
 dedys. as oure lorde fpekyth in the gofpelle the whiche 
 dyd hem in her lyfe. Thys clerke in hys lyfe was wife 
 and wyttye in hys owne conceyte and trufting to him 
 felfe fet ful lytyl to feche helpe of other by almis dede 
 and good werkys for his fynnys. that hathe wrought 
 nowe to hym damnacyon. Loo fo fone and fodenly he 
 ys found e on wyfe and madde. Conceyue nowe what 
 ys here nowe feyde of thys clarke and a lytyl before 
 what was feyde of a goldfmyth and opynly hyt con- 
 fermethe the fentence of the fcrypture feyng in thys 
 wyfe Potenter potcntes tormenta fuftinebunt et exigiio 
 conceditur mifericordia. yat ys to feye. Myghty men 
 myghtyly fchalle fofyr tormentys. and to a meke man 
 ys graunted mercye. That goldfmyth and though he 
 were a fyner yet was in hys owne fyghte meke and 
 lytyl the whiche nethir by his connyng nethyr of any 
 othirvertue prefumyd but countyd hym felfe euermore 
 onwyfe and onftable by caufe of hys fynnys Therfore 
 by the mene of almys dedys. and femes as he myght 
 doo. gate to hym the helpe and foffragys of hys grete 
 and myghty aduocatour and patron feynt Nycholas and 
 fo in tyme of nede he had helpe and mercy as he 
 defyred And alfo euyn contrarye wyfe thys clarke of 
 the excellente connyng ryches and worlchippe that he 
 hadde procedyd forthe hys wekedneffe. And by caufe 
 he thoughte hym felfe excepte in this worlde. fro the 
 comon labur of men. Lo in fo cruell and byttur
 
 64 
 
 example he is not nowe ponyffhte with othyr men. 
 Alfo y fawe there hys tonge hauyng forthe oute of 
 his hede and befyly brennyng as hyt were a bronde of 
 fyre and yat veryly he fofryd by caufe that often tymes 
 he peruerted ryghtwefnes as a man myghty in wordys 
 takyng geftys and mennys perfons. For he vfyd not 
 only to iangyl idyle wordys. but alfo frowardly in 
 wordys contrarye to wrothe ouer mekyl he had ex- 
 cedyd. Therfore no meruelle though he were ponyfhte 
 this wyfe for fuche exceffys and fawtys. whenne oure 
 lorde fpekyth in the gofpelle of the ryche man the 
 whiche for hys light fpeking and iangelyng at mete 
 was fore ponyfhte in hys tonge in a flame of fyre. 
 Sorthely after this came to me that worfchyppefull 
 pryfte to home this clerke was confefte of hys fmale 
 fynnys as hit ys reherfed before And amonge other 
 thyngys the whyche this worfchipful pryfte herde of me 
 y tolde hovve this clarke afore feyde whenne he was 
 confefte bade hym goo hys waye as for that tyme. and 
 fo anone dyde as hyt ys feyde before And when y 
 had told him this he wepte ful bytturly and toke god 
 to recorde that hit was very trouthe as y feyde and 
 knewe wele. that the forfeyde clerke feyde fo to hym 
 Therfore only of that multytude of wrechys y knewe 
 this clerke that this feyde to me. 
 
 jOthely thanne fone after that we were pafte 
 thys third place we came to a regyon 
 where the foulys the whiche hadd done 
 her purgacyon in purgatorye ioyfully 
 reftyd. in the whyche place many y knewe 
 wele and founde hem there in grete felycyte and con- 
 forte. Trewely as touchyng the ioys of that place and 
 the iocundnes and gladnes of them that were there as 
 oure lorde wyll geue vs grace we fchall afterward 
 fcliewe and declare, but fyrft let vs turne ageyne thys
 
 65 
 
 narracyon to thoes thynges the whyche we haue lefte 
 oute of the peynys and merytys of fome perfonys in 
 efpecyalle. the whyche y fawe and founde in tho 
 placys of purgatorye as hyt ys feyde before. 
 
 C <9f. it. prrsoni>8 tfjat tljt's mouftc 
 
 spafce tottfj m tfje" first place of purgatorye an& 
 
 first tottij a prior. C <a xxbii 
 
 [Herfore a prior that was father of a relygyous 
 place the whiche y knewe full wele fum 
 tyme dyfcefte and deyde this fame yere. 
 And of hys maners and condycyons y 
 knewe many thyngys the whiche y leue 
 oute at this tyme by caufe of fchortenes. Thys man and 
 prior y fawe and knew amonge the firfle that were in 
 peynys of the'fyrfte place of purgatorye that we came 
 to. Trewly he was in ful grete and fore tormentys 
 and fofyrd ful greuys peynys. fum tyme in fyre and 
 fum tyme in ftinkyng bathys of brimfton and pyche 
 medild to gedyr hoys face and chere was ouer wrechyd 
 and dedful And affone as he fawe me he began mekely 
 to call me and grete me whome with compaflyon of herte 
 y grete alfo and fpake to hym many thyngys. And y 
 enquyryd of hym whethir he fo fofreyd fo grete peynys 
 for the fawtys the whiche he dyd in youthe by caufe 
 perauenture he neglygently kepte hys ordre that 
 he toke to hym in hym in hys chyldhode And he 
 feyde naye But neuertheles ful fore and byttyr peynys 
 y fofre here not onely for rnyne owne fynnys and ex- 
 ceffys the whiche y dyd in myne own perfon howe be 
 yt that y offendyth in many thingys but alfo for the 
 wekydnes and myfgouernaunce of tho perfonys the 
 whiche a lytyl before y had charge and cure of. For 
 as touchyng myne own fynnys y wulde fofyr as y myght 
 here / thoes peynys the whyche be dewe for hem. For 
 y vfyd to redeme and fchafl myne owne fynnys by 
 ofte confeflyon and takyng difcyplynys and befy 
 prayers And al fo by dyuers other weyes. Soihely
 
 66 
 
 of thefe thingis ful fore greuyth me nowe the carnal 
 affeccyon and loue that y hadde to my frendys. as 
 fadyr and mother and other of my kynne of the whyche 
 to fum of them y gate benefycys of chyrchys. whenne 
 they were ful onworthy to haue hem and to othir y 
 gaue right ondyfcretely man geftys of the godys of the 
 monafterye that y was prior of and they nowe ful lytyl 
 remembre me or doo any thynge for me in my nede. 
 Trewlye the fauyr of pepulle and the loue of worfchippe 
 that y had me prinfpaly noythe And alas alas for 
 forowe. for and god take not mercy on me as y am 
 nowe in peynys oute of mefure. fo fchalle y be with- 
 oute ende. The couetyfe ambycyon that y hadde to 
 kepe my worfchippe. and the fere that y hadde to leue 
 hit. fo blyndyd the fyghte of my foule that y lowfyd 
 the brydyl of correccyon to the willys of my fogettys 
 and fofryd hem to doo and folowe her defyrys and 
 luflys as my yes had be clofyd. lefle haply yef y had 
 correcte hem and refraynde hem from her lyghtnes 
 they wulle haue be to me as enemyes to labure and to 
 haue me out of my worfchippe and prelacyon that y 
 was in. Forthermore they that were gode relygyous 
 men and had zele and loue to kepe the ordyr. y no 
 thing helpyd or faueryd in conferuacyon of the re- 
 lygyon. but full inordenatly and contrary to vertue y 
 wolde wyth other that loued hem not fpeke euyl of 
 hem and detracte hem and cheryffhe other that were 
 ful euyl difpofyd and brekerys of her holy profeffyon 
 and order And alle this y dyd a part of myne owne 
 lightnes and a parte be caufe y wolde defende my pre- 
 lacyon And for hem to pleye lewde gamys and to fpeke 
 and clathyr tryfullys iapys and other lewdneffe and alfo 
 to goo and wandyr amonge feeler folkys and ydelnes. 
 hyt was leful to hem. as hyt was to me Therfore 
 fome of hem by thys cruel lyghtnes of me and that 
 they fawe in me prefumyd and fayde to do many 
 full curfyd thyngys. wherfore here y am ponyflhte 
 withoute hope, howe be yt that y approuyd not her 
 wykyd dedys Notwithftonding y knewe hem. and of 
 a vayne drede. made lyke as yf y had not knowe hyt.
 
 6 7 
 
 wherfore many of hem bode flylle in her fowle 
 abufyons. going fro euyll to wars. And fome of hem 
 contynued in euyll vnto her dethe whyle y leuyd in 
 the worlde. and now they be euerlafling dampde. 
 Alfo fome other of hem yet hethir to leuyn contynualy 
 wars and wars in grete fynnys and dedly dedys. wher- 
 fore to hem and to me as y am agafte fuccedyth inex- 
 tynguyble fyre. Alfo fro the howre that y pafte fro 
 my body, y ame putte to onfpekehabule tormentys the 
 whiche were as me femyth nowe ml lyght in compary- 
 fon of the peynys that y nowe fofyr. Sothely the firfte 
 daye after my dethe was to me more efuer thanne alle 
 the dayes that y hadde fetthe And of alle the fynnys 
 and fautes that nowe they done after my dethe of an 
 euyl cuftome that they hadde before the whiche they 
 be feyne to haue take by my neglygens. my peynys 
 therfore ben euermore encrefyd And by caufe that y 
 knewe mm of hem that be ded and fum other the 
 whiche yette leuyn. that haue flyd and falle befyde 
 other fynnys. to that fowle and abhomynable fynne 
 that ought not to be named and therfore putte to hem 
 no correccyon. no thyng y drede fo mekyll. as the 
 encrefyng of my peynys fo largely tyl y be compellyd 
 to fofyr the foule and abhomynable ftenche the whiche 
 they fofre and haue nowe the whiche dyd the fame 
 fowle and abhomynable fynne for y know wele that 
 the greuys peyne of that fame ftenche ys more intol- 
 lerable and peynfull than any other peynys that 
 fynners fofryn. And as ofte as they the whyche y lefte 
 alyue dampnably offendyd. anone the deuyls ranne to 
 me with grete fcornes and vpbraydys and euermore 
 and more with newe peynys encrefyng my tormentys. 
 Alfo he tolde me what daye what place and what tyme 
 after that he was pafte oute of thys world and what 
 perfon of hym hyt was and what fynne he hadde done. 
 And he told my many thyngys that they dyde and 
 and ieyde anone as they done any euyl the whiche y 
 had fum tyme cure of. the mynyflrys and wykyd 
 angellys of the deuylle vpbraydyn me with the fame
 
 68 
 
 and anon they encrefyn my peynys Sothely ther was 
 fum of the bretheren of that place the whiche this man 
 aforefeyde was prior and father to that were accendyd 
 by zele of rightwyfnes and feruor of relygyon and dyd 
 alfo grete labur and dylygens that alle inordinate 
 fauors putte a fyde the puryte and honefte of her ordre 
 myght be kepte And this y knewe was trouthe wher- 
 fore y feyde to hym. Howe than was hit noyfyd fer 
 and brode that many thyngys were wel reformyd and 
 amen dyd before your ende in the place where ye were 
 prior yf hit be nowe fchewyd yow fo mekyl euyl of 
 hem that dwelle there yette. And thanne he feyde Trew 
 hit ys as ye faye that mekyll thyng was correcte and 
 amende more than yt was wonte to be before Neuer- 
 theles of her amendement haue y no frute ne rnede but 
 alfo my peynys encrefyng becaufe y was ouer mekyl 
 agenfl her correccions and lefle y fchulde be correcte 
 or tho thingys amendyd that be amendyd ful mekyl y 
 lettyd Sothely y was affchamed of her opyn correccyon. 
 but leffe y bafhyd to here hem ouer all fchamfully 
 dyffamyd. Trewly her condycyons were fo froward 
 and obftynate that vtwardly y hadde wende they had 
 be incorrygyble and what fum euer ys beleuyd to be 
 done ther fore amendment, but yf the meruaylous 
 power and myght of god helpe. hyt wyl be broughte 
 done ageyne to noughte Alas alas why dyd y beleue 
 euer to feche confels. Alas that euer y fauyrde and 
 magnyfyde feche perfons by the whiche y dyd fo offende 
 the magefte of god fo to let hem haue her wylle to doo 
 what they wolde. Sothely foure perfons there byn 
 and tolde me her namys that y fchulde feye to hem. 
 but yf they fone do to god. euynworthy penaunce for 
 her curfyd dedys and confels. by the whiche they 
 haue lofie hem felfe and other alfo the whiche haue 
 done after hem they fchalle haue the indycyble and 
 euerlaflyng tormentys of helle And trewly yf they 
 dyd penauns and fatiffaccion tyl domys daye they 
 fchulde thynke hit but lytyl in to the recompenfacyon 
 and expyacyon of the grete and longe fchrewdenes
 
 6 9 
 
 and curfydnes by the whiche they haue broughte me 
 to this peynys that y am in nowe and with her wyckyd- 
 nes they haue al mofle enfecte and cumbrid alle the 
 howfe. Sothely onethys or litil any tyme tho foure 
 perfons y wulde difplefe but y was inclynyd and bowyd 
 to let hem do what they wolde Alfo fewe ther ben of 
 al the couent that for me and for myn helping. Fully 
 haue done and feyde the meffys and pfalmys wyth 
 other foffragys and prayers, the whiche of dewty they 
 fchulde feye and do for me according to oure relygyon 
 And many of hem for whome y am now in fore peynys 
 haue done none of thefe thingys yet for me. therfore 
 what for forowe and drede that y haue of thefe prefent 
 tormentys. y am peynde on euery fyde Seche thinhys 
 fawe y aboute this prior and this wyfe he fpake to me 
 as hit ys aboue reherfyd. 
 
 C f an attcres tijat $e satoe anU fcncfoe in tfje 
 same place. 1 <a ortrftf 
 
 Knewe alfo a certen ancrefle the whiche was 
 of a gode and honefte cohuerfacyon whome 
 gretely y louyd and y fawe her ther : as 
 fche had comme late fro the world. Trewly 
 fche was flable and ftedfafte in contyn- 
 auns and feyre of beholdyng. home the laborus weye 
 that fche had gon a lytyl had weryde. and with the 
 peynys of fyre that other were inuoluyd here and there 
 fche was ofte tymes tochyd and fum what brente. But 
 me ful lytyl counted hyt and haftyd her fpedly gretly 
 profeting on the iorney that goyth to paradyfe. and 
 this whan y fawe y take god to record y had wende 
 hyt had be fum fantefy and as hit had be a dreme for 
 y beleuyd in no wife that fche was ded Than feyd y 
 vnto my felfe. Y trowe that the merytorye leuyng of 
 this ancres and feruaunte of cryfle fo ys fchewde to me 
 by ymagynacyon. for trewly fche that ys yette alyue in 
 her bodye may not be here. Sothely the thirde daye
 
 after that y was cum to my felfe ageyne a certen ney- 
 bur of herns was here that y fpake with and prayde 
 hym to gre-te her wele on my worde. and al fo that 
 fche wylle whytfafe to pray for me. Than he feyde 
 Praye ye alfo for her our good frende for ye fcalle vn- 
 dyrftande that fche ys difcefte and pafte to god. 
 Veryly y merueylyd gretly at hys fey ing And than 
 firft y beleuyd that hyt was trewe that y fawe of her in 
 the firft place of purgatorye Forthermore this generall 
 condicyon of alle folk that deyon. y knowe there 
 opynly. that alle pepule the whiche be ordende to 
 perceue refte and blyffe before the daye of dome, 
 hadde euermore fro the firft howre of her dethe her 
 peynys leffe and leffe. But yf hyt were fo. that any 
 of hem had lefte to other that leuyd after by euyl 
 exampulle occafyon of fyrine the whiche ryghtwyfly 
 they myght wyte hit hem that dyd fo before, and 
 whyle they dede no fatiffaccion to god for hit before 
 her deth, wherby feche occafyon of fynning lefte to 
 other fchulde haue be forgeuyn hem alfo they yat 
 greuyfly ofifendyd by the whiche they deferuyd euer- 
 lafting dampnacion begunne to goo fro ful bittyr 
 peynys to wars and fo by fucceding of her peynys 
 dayly her tormentys befyly encrefyn yat euery day folo- 
 ing is more greuoffor to hem then was the daye before. 
 
 C Of a rcvtru Ju'ssijop tljat tons tljcrr also. 
 
 C xxix 
 
 certen biffhop y knew there in peynys the 
 whiche onys y fawe and he was bore in 
 thys ground of inglonde and had hys by- 
 fhopriche be yonde fee. Trewely he 
 deyed thys fame yere abowte the fefte of 
 feynt Myghel the archangel. For than y knewe opynly 
 the daye of his paffyng but nowe hit is fallyn out of 
 my mynde the whiche that tyme was occupyed aboute 
 many thingys that y fawe. Sothely innumerabulle 
 thyngys there were the whiche y dyd not wele note
 
 nether cowde wele kepe in my mynde all thyngys that 
 y had notyd. Trewely the fame man the whiche tolde 
 me of the paffyng of the ancres as hyt ys feyde in the 
 next chaptur before told me alfo of the paffmg of this 
 byffhoppe but he knew not what tyme. Trewely an- 
 othyr yong man. the whiche was cofyn and alye to the 
 fame byffhoppe. and alfo in feruyce with hym whenne 
 he leuyd cam home ageyn to his countrey of inglonde 
 and brought certen worde to the todyr man that tolde 
 me that the forfeyde byffhoppe was dede Trewly y 
 fawe this byffhoppe al mofte contynualy brennyng in 
 flamys of fyre and mofte be caufe of his vycyus leuing 
 that he leuyd in his youthe alfo he was torment in 
 other innumerable wyfys and be caufe y fawe fum 
 fpecyal thinge aboute him y thought to remembre and 
 fpecially to fpeke of him Sothely as he brende befyly 
 in fyre he had euer more a ful honeft clothe apon 
 him there the whiche not only was hurte by the fyre 
 but alfo yt was yldyn and made by the fyre more 
 feyrer and femlyor than hit was afore Thanne fent 
 Nycholas declared to me the reafon of thys meruaylous 
 thyng and feyde Thys preuylege he gate to hym 
 whenne he leuyd. by a good dede the whiche he vfyd 
 to doo And this hit was. Euermore he hadde com- 
 paffion on powre pepulle that were nakyd and ful 
 lyberally he vfyd to releue hem of that nede wherfore 
 his clothyng fchalle neuer lacke feyernes. tyl that he 
 haue fulfylled his penauns and take of god the ftole of 
 euerlaftyng ioye and blyfle. 
 
 C f a ttvttn tooman tfje tofjgcije toa& a pore 
 mamtga tofe. C &a xxx 
 
 woman alfo that was a poure mannyswyf dyde 
 this lafte yere with her hufbond the whiche 
 was wele condiclonde and in mony thyngys 
 ful wele dyfpofyd. Sche was fum tyme 
 ryght famylyarly belouyd of me. home
 
 72 
 
 ful gladly y behylde there in lyghte peynys. in com- 
 paryfon of other fwiftely goyng forthe to the grete mede 
 and worfchippe of heuynly ioyes. Trewely in thys 
 that fche vfyd inpacyently to flolde and vpbrayde hem 
 that dyd her wronge and enmyte and in her herte 
 hylde rancour and fowernes agenfle hem. fche gretely 
 offendyd and therfore fche hadde fofryd peynys. Ne- 
 uertheles thys vyfe was to her inuyncyble by caufe of 
 her imperfeccyon and euer fche hatyd hyt and often 
 tymes wepte that fche coude not ouercome hyt. wher- 
 fore fche hadde the foner forgeuenes of that fynne. 
 Sothely fche was in her prayers ful deuoute and wele 
 difpofyd to almys dedys and hofpytalte more than fche 
 might wele do of her owne godys And before her 
 dethe by long fekenes that fche had fche was prouid 
 and clenfyd as gold ys in a fornes by the whyche 
 al niofte fche hadde cafte fro her the fcurfe and the 
 hardenes of her fynnys. Forthirmore fulfeldyn hyt is 
 in this dayes in the whyche. al mofte the condicions 
 of alle men gone oute of kynde. for the pure and clere 
 fymplycyte and innocentnes of -the very chirce of god. 
 that any man leuyng in thys lyfe kepyth or rekeuerythe 
 fully the equyte and puryte of the holy gofpelle. the 
 whyche tyle a man fulfylle he may not dwelle in 
 heuynly placys nethyr fchalle refle in the mownte and 
 hille of paradyfe of ioye and blyffe. wherfore what fum 
 euer thynge of fynne and vncleneffe contrarye to 
 equite and ryghtwyfnes cleuyth and reftyth on the 
 fowlys that paffyn hens out of this world hit fhalbe 
 purged in a nothir world and fo by her penauns the 
 weye and pathe of a ioyful reflyng fhalbe fchewyd to 
 hem that be purged and clenfyd. and fo thenne in 
 placys of refle the entring of heuyn and euerlafling 
 bliffe ful largely fhalbe oppynd to tho foulys for the 
 perfette defyre that they fhal haue ther to fe god 
 Sothly this only mufl be takyn of tho fynnys whiche 
 by her light qualite or els by confefiyon and fatiffaccion 
 don for hem be granted of god to be changyd and 
 contyd among venyal fynnys. For as touching tho
 
 73 
 
 fynnys yat be dedly and were not in this worlde by 
 the remedy of confeffion and penans made light and 
 venial hyt ys withoutyn doute yat he fhal fo be pre- 
 fentyd to his iugement in the world yat is to cumme 
 as he is fonde in hys leuyng when he paffyth oute of 
 this worlde. 
 
 C tofcat p*mtS rritjous men aofrgfc for tttttn 
 fatotfs. C G&xxxi 
 
 [Othely y fawe alle relygyous folke bothe of 
 men and wemen how they fofryd certeyne 
 peynys as wele for lytyl offenfes as for 
 grete fynnys and as hit were propyr 
 peynes for fynguler fynnys And full fore 
 as hit femyd to me were the lefte peynys that they 
 fofryd for ryght lytyl offenfes as for immoderate 
 lawghyng and ydyl wordys fpekyng and that they 
 fofryd her mynde neglygently ouyr mekyl to wandyr 
 aboute in vayne thoughtys or els for lyght brekyng 
 the rulys and fourme of her relygyon as in lyghte and 
 nyce behauing of geftur and in multyplyyng fygnys to 
 mekyl and fo for goyng and wandryng out of her 
 cloyfter and cellys onprofetabully and alfo for many 
 other thyngys in lyke wyfe. For fome y fawe ful 
 myferabully wepyng and rowlling hoote brennyng 
 colys in theire mouthys for eting frutys and herbys 
 out of dewe placys and tyme not for any medfyn or 
 nede. but for lufle and appetyte And for immoderate 
 lawghing they had betingys For ydyl fpeche ftrokys 
 in her face, and for vayne thoughtys they fofryd greuys 
 and varyante trowbulnes of the eyre. And they that 
 offendyth in dilTolucyon of geftur and behauyng were 
 bonde with fcharpe bondys and many with fyry 
 boundys and for fuperfluyte of fignys by the whiche 
 they hadde to gedyr lewde pleys and ydyl gamys. fum 
 of hem had her fyngers f[ljayne and fome had hem by 
 knockyng fore broyfyd. They alfo that were onftabule
 
 74 
 
 wandryng here and there were greuyfly cafle and 
 throwe fro one place to anothir by the whiche her 
 lymmys were fore hurte amonge hem felfe Alfo they 
 that fpake wordis of reboudye the whiche founned 
 oncleneire or other wife agenft the honefte of relygyon 
 were ponyffhte there almofle as fore as for dedly 
 fynnys. Alfoo who fum euer brake any vowys made 
 to god or to hys feyntys fpecyally in tyme of drede 
 and perylle for her helpe and delyuerans And after- 
 ward fuerte takyn of the fame vovve fofryd ineftymable 
 tormentys. 
 
 <>f a ctrtcn ftnggftt tfjat fcrafce a botoe C xxxii 
 
 jjMonge hem that brake her vowys y fawe a 
 yong knyght brennyng in the myddys of 
 fyre whome y knewe fumtyme ful wele 
 And as y enquyred of him why he was 
 putte in fo grete peynes. thys he tolde 
 me. My lyfe he feyde that y leuyd was but baren 
 and vayne and alfo vycyous For y was infolent and 
 nyfe in pryde and elacyon and foule and vnclene by 
 the vyce of lecherye. not withftonding for thys y am 
 nowe fpecyally ponyfht by caufe y cafle aweye fro me 
 the fygne of the holy crofle the whyche y hadde takyn 
 apone me in a vowe that y made to goo to the holy 
 lond howe be yt that y toke the croffe not for deuo- 
 cyon but for vayne glorye the whiche y loued to haue 
 hadde of the lorde yat y feruyd. Trewely euery nyght 
 y labur in going as mekyl as y maye to make an ende 
 of that pilgremage. But what for febulnes of ftrenthe 
 and contraryufnes of the wedyr and alfo fcharpnes of 
 the waye y am lettyd gretly that onethe y may goo at 
 on tyme a full lytyl dayes iourney Sothely whenne 
 the mornyng begynnyth. fleyn to me wykyd fpirytys 
 beyng wodde yn al cruelnes. and drawyn me ageyne. 
 to the place of my peynys. where euer more al the 
 days tyme y am gretly peynde yn fyre. Neuertheles
 
 75 
 
 wyth a certen amendement of leffur dyffefe thawght hyt 
 be lytyl. And ageyne when nyghte comythe. y. am 
 reftoryd to the place where y lefte lafle my iourney. 
 and fo y go forthe on my pylgrimage. and when the 
 mornyng ys cumme y am drawyn ageyne and cafte to 
 peynys. And al that haue vowyd to go to the holy 
 londe. and aftyr dyd cafle fro hem her croffe. and 
 \vhent not dedyr. yn lyke wyfe as y go. they be com- 
 pellyd to do her pylgrymage. fo yf they may haue the 
 grace of god yn her lafte ende to repente hem. as y 
 had to repente me for brekyng of my vowe. and than 
 by the holfum remedy of confeffion thys fynne yat was 
 dedly fynne may be changed to a venyal fynne Othyr 
 wyfe al that breke that fame vowe. be put to eternalle 
 datnpnacion. 
 
 of anotfjer feni?gf)t. C <a xxxiii 
 
 INother knyght alfo the whiche welle dyde 
 and pafte to god a x yere a gon y fawe 
 and knew there. This knyght that tyme 
 the whyche y fawe hym had ouercome 
 alle his grete peynys that he had fofryd 
 before And therfore y fey he dyd wele For by that 
 fpace of penans he wente wele toward the ioys of para- 
 dyfe. Sothely he bare there on hys fyfle a lytyll 
 byrdde lyke a fparhauke. Alfo in hys lyfe aboue alle 
 men that were of that countreye the whiche he dwellyd 
 in gaue gladly and lyberally to all pore pepul that 
 came to hym hofpytalyte. Trewely his wyfe dide 
 afore him almofte a xxx wyntyr after hoys dethe he 
 leuyd continent and chafte. in a wydwardys lyfe 
 redy and benyuolente to alle men whilys he leuyd 
 And gretely merueylde why he yat was fo honefle of 
 leuyng and wele condycyonde in hys demening had 
 not yette perceiuyd fully refte and ioye. Than he 
 feyde to me that hit was not too be merueylyde. For 
 why whenne he leuyd he mighte ofte offende in many
 
 7 6 
 
 wyfys. fpecialy by caufe that in hys youthe and child- 
 hode. he was norifhte and broughte vppe delycately. 
 and what for felifhyppe and hys yowthe. was drawyn 
 to many noyfful thyngys of the whiche he kowde not 
 fully be purgyd and made clene in worldly conuerfa- 
 cyon. where he mufte conforme hym to the maners 
 and behauyng of hem yat he dwellyd amonge. Sothely 
 he complaynde that the hauke the whiche he bare on 
 hys fyfle. paynfully tare his hande with her bylle and 
 fcharpe cleys This tedeufnes of peyne. he fofryd as 
 he feyde by cawfe that in haukyng the whiche he vfyd 
 alle the tyme of hys lyfe. gretely delytyd to fee the 
 haukys whenne they flowe howe they toke other 
 byrddys. The whiche haukyng he lefte not in hys 
 aage. nethyr there of had any compunccyon. For he 
 knewe not that feche a thing were any fynne. Many 
 other thingis alfo y fawe and behylde in this firfte 
 place of purgatorye. e. as wele aboute hern that y 
 knewe, as aboute other bothe of men and women of 
 alle degreys and profeffyons of the whiche eueryche 
 on of hem were ponyfhte in peynys innumerable, ful 
 fcharpe and bytterly. as y haue fchortelyaboue feyde. vn- 
 der a certen generalyte. wherforethefefewe thingys feyde 
 now of many thingys. be fuffycyaunt here at this tyme. 
 
 C <f tf)o persons tfjat Jje satoe in tfje secunB 
 place of purgatorge. C &a jmrtttf 
 
 [Owe of tho thingys the whiche y fawe and 
 notyd in the fecond place of purgatorye 
 fum what y wylle fchewe and declare to 
 yow Sothely in this fecund place y fawe 
 and knewe many mo that were fum tyme 
 of myne acquentanfe. than y dyd in any other place 
 fore wepyng and forowyng in her peynys her fynnys 
 by the whiche they had brokyn owre lordys com- 
 maundmentys wherfore they were alyenate and made 
 ferre fro his famylyare knowledge.
 
 77 
 
 CDf. HI fegssljoppgs gat 5 fonKe tljere. 
 
 C era 
 
 IjHre byffhoppys that y knewe wele fum tyme 
 I fawe there flraytely bownde wyth fyrye 
 chaynys oftyn tymes. turnyng and walowyng 
 ful myferabully. now yn gret fyre. and now 
 yn fcharpe flormys of hayle and fnow and 
 whyrle wyndys. and aftyrward yn a fowle ftynkyng 
 ponde of blacke watyr. Trewly they were ponyfht 
 dyuerfly. not fer from othyr. And on of hem was 
 more bytterly torment than tothyr were and that was 
 by caufe he vfyd yn hys lyfe to fytte amonge feeler 
 iugys. yn place and tyme of pledyng and ther yn. he 
 toke a grete plefure and delyte and oftyn tymes he 
 was. to many that pledyd her caufis of god confciens 
 a vyolent oppreffur agenft ryghtewefenes. and therfore 
 he compleynyd whyt an opyn mowthe that hys tonge 
 contynually brende yn flamys of fyre. And as he was 
 nowbrennyng ynfyreandnow wete. Andftyftelyfroryn 
 [ftiffly frofen?] yn fnow and frofte. and nowyn a ftynk- 
 yng ponde. and now fowle ouerkeuryde yn fenne and 
 plutte. hys tonge euermore conteynuyd yn brennyng 
 fyre. The tothyr of hem othyr whyles neglygently 
 brake hys chaftyte. the whyche dede fpecialy yn a 
 bylhoppe. was ouerfowle and abhomynable. and ther- 
 fore was he drownde oftyn tymes yn the fowle and 
 ftynking ponde. that lythe betwene the gret hete and 
 colde as hyt ys feyde before Sothly a fore hys dethe 
 he lefte the honowre and dignyte of hys byfhoprye. 
 and toke apon hym the meke habette of a monke. the 
 whyche gretly helpyd hym. amonge othyr dedys of 
 fatyffaccion. And al that fo done, grete good and 
 profette ther of cummyth to hem For al they fpecialy 
 be holpyn by the meritys and prayers of the holy 
 feyntys. the which e vfid afore the fame habette and 
 alfo ben knowyn and markid to rife vppe ageyne in the 
 ordyr of hem the whiche when they leuyd here vt-
 
 78 
 
 wardly lefte this worlde or els at her lafle ende in ful 
 deuocyon forfoke this world. The thirde of thefe 
 byfhopys gretly delyted in worldly worfchippe and 
 vayne glorye. For the whiche fynne he was ofte 
 tymys bore vp an hye in ful hye fpyrytys of flamys of 
 fyre. and by caufe he fille fro the loue of god by feche 
 fynne vnto the coolde of worldly flowfulnes. he was 
 lette done brenning to the greuys coolde that was on 
 the todyr fyde of the fyre. and be caufe of the comyn 
 euyl and peynys that thes thre ware in. was for the 
 neglygens of foulys the whiche they had cure of and 
 for the gret carke that they had of her riches and de- 
 fpexion of pore pepul for flatering of princys and 
 imoderate carke of her kynnefolke. and as y may 
 fhortly conclude many thyngys in fewe wordys euerych 
 on of hem fought after tho thingys that was to him 
 felfe and not tho thingys that longyth to our lorde 
 ihefu crifle And the general euyll of thefe and many 
 other prelatys that y fawe was the negligens of her 
 office delectacion of worldly worfchippe and dyffymu- 
 lacyon of her charge, and in alle thefe thingys ful 
 heuely they forowyd by caufe they myfufyd her powre 
 that they had vndyr god to the grete hurte of hem 
 felfe and to the perdicion of her fogettys and therfore 
 the peynys of al feche prelatys were dayly encrefyd 
 more and more as y haue tolde before of a certen 
 prior that what fum euer her frendys that leuyd in the 
 worlde dyd for hem as in meffys almyfdede and feche 
 other thingis by the whiche her peynys (hold be leffyd 
 dayly her greuys peynys were encrefyd for the fynful 
 leuyng of hem the whiche they dedly fauerd and 
 brought vp in her vicys orels be caufe they dyd not 
 correcte hem in dewe forme as yt longeth to her offyce 
 wherfore al they yat for feche caufys fofrid peynys 
 gretly douted of her faluacion and were almofle in 
 defpacion So thly ther is no thing fo greuys to hem 
 that be in peynys as the oncertente of her delyuerans 
 and alfo ther ys no thing that fo mekyl fwagyth the 
 peynys and forowys of other as dothe a very hope and
 
 79 
 
 feythefull trufle the wyiche they knewe and haue by 
 cure lordys mercye to be delyueryd. and they that 
 were certeyn to haue an ende of her peynys and were 
 not bonde to the certente of dampnacion. yat fame 
 certente was to hem a ful grete folace and conforte 
 For as touching the euyl and hurte of defpacion as 
 mekyl as y can confider and remembre me after tho 
 thingys that y fawe there hyt greuyth difefyth and 
 tormentyth tho foulys that haue hit more than al other 
 peynys done. 
 
 C <f an ardjcfcgsBfjoppe of tanturbcrg 
 
 C Czxxxbi 
 
 fawe alfo befyde thefe aboue feyde a cer- 
 ten perfon that fumtyme was of grete 
 name and fame the whiche after the meke 
 conuerfacion of monkys relygyon that he 
 leuyd in before in the whiche he had leuid 
 ful deuoutely as in bodely penauns in holy medytacions 
 and many other vertues right excellently and at the lafl 
 he was promotyd and made archebifhope of canturbery 
 and primate of inglonde But alas for forow for trewly 
 the more therby he grewe in the fight of the pepul fo 
 mekyl he had fal and decrefyd in the fight of god the 
 whiche behilde him inwardly and the fander had endid 
 his life yef he had not be holpe by the mercy of god 
 and the merytys of his good leuyng afore by the whiche 
 when he was in relygyon a monke ful wele in good 
 purpofe and labore acceptable to god he had plefyd 
 oure lorde Sothely when he was biffhope of cantur- 
 bery and alfo fpecyaly ful excellent in conning ful lityl 
 hede he toke to his cure, and to the goftely helthe of 
 the peple For he onwyfyly promoted ful onworthy 
 perfons to beneficys of the chirche. and alfo he dredde 
 and was afchamyd to execute the lawe for difpleafing 
 the king by hoys fauor hit femyd he cam to that dig- 
 nite Alfo he ftudyd and thought by a coltir of fymu- 
 lacyon odyr wife then he fchulde to treble hem the
 
 8o 
 
 whiche he knew were agenfle his promoting of the 
 byfhoprye and dignite that he had In thefe thingys 
 and feche other, he had gretly offendyd. Alfo in this 
 he was more to be blamid and more offendyd yat he 
 hyd and kepte clofe ful onprofetably the auctorite of 
 relygyon and wyfdom that he had fro hem of home he 
 was ful excellently named and to home he might ful 
 gretly haue profet and ho fum euer fo do they be 
 ordende to ful grete peynis. for they be a fclaunder 
 to the chirche of god while they plucke not vppe and 
 diflrey the wekyd leuing and rotyd wyfys the whiche 
 be fowyn in the hertys and conuerfacion of the peple 
 of god yat they haue cure and charge of nethir be 
 aboute by her office to edifie and plante in her fogettys 
 the nobulnes and condicions of vertu and honefte no 
 more than other that lacke bothe holynes and gode 
 vnderftanding Neuertheles our lorde fechyth afwel of 
 hem that had no conning in feche thingis as they fhuld 
 haue had for to be hedys of the peple as of other the 
 whiche had connyng and vnderftonding how be it yat 
 they had hit but barenly and turnith hit to the more 
 tormentys and peynys of hem bothe Alfo for the opyn 
 and foule onchafte leuing of priflys and clarkys 
 bifhoppis nowe a dayis ful gretly perifne be caufe they 
 correcte not fo grete a fynne the whiche is a ful grete 
 iniurye and wrong to the heuynly facramentys of holy 
 chirche. for in thoo bleffyd facramentys al the lyfe and 
 helpe of cryftyn peple is conteynyd the whiche as 
 mekyl as is in hem. be not afchamyd to defoule when 
 they be right foule and pollutyd Sothly of the negli- 
 gens of denys of archedekons and of other officers 
 mony thingis y faw the whiche y leue out to tel and 
 how by her confenting and fimulacyon and for taking 
 geftys and mennys perfons al the ftate of cryftyndome 
 almofte ys ouercome and fubuertyd For this ys 
 opynly fhewyd in the werkys and condicions of hem 
 that now leuyn Alfo the diffolucyon and floufulnes of 
 feche perfons yat fhulde haue a zele and a loue to the 
 peple of god requeryth and afkyth eternal dampnacion
 
 8i 
 
 afvvel to the clergy as to the laye folke and mod to 
 hem felfe and to her auctors Trewly for thefe thingis 
 and many other inumerable in this wife the forfeyde 
 archebifhoppe laborde in gret peynys vnder greuys 
 complayning Sothly he was wel holpen there by the 
 gloryus martir and archebifhoppe of englonde fent 
 thomas of canturbery home he had gotyn to him there 
 a fpecial patron and helper becaufe when he went to 
 the holy londe a pilgrymage in his lyfe tyme he hord- 
 ende there an hofpitalle for pilgrimmys and intytylde hit 
 in the name of fente thomas to the gret fokyr and con- 
 forte of cryftyn pylgryms. Trewely this dede y knew firft 
 in purgatory when y faw the forfeyd biffhop in fore 
 peynys but yefterday y enquered therof yf hit were 
 trew. and a certen perfon a religius man told me how 
 yt was ordende and begunne Forthyr more gretly hit 
 profet him the labur yat he had when he went on pil- 
 gremage to ierufalem where he made yat place. Alfo 
 many pryftys that by the grace of god lefte her vycyus 
 leuing of onchaftyte in very contricion of herte with 
 confeffion of mouth when they leuyd and be caufe they 
 had not do penans fufficiently y faw hem torment in 
 innumerable peynys Trewly then y thoughte to my 
 felfe yat ful few pryftys were ther fonde of the gret 
 nombre yat is of hem in al the world, that had deferuyd 
 peynis after her dethe for breking her chaftyte. and to 
 thys hit was fo anfward Therfor ful few ben here tor- 
 ment of the nombre of feche perfons for onethe it 
 is feldynne fey yat any man of hem were very penitent 
 and contrite while they leuyd for her fynnys. wherfore 
 hit ys no doute but yat the grete multytude of hem 
 byn vtwardly dampde Sothly in al this vifyon y faw 
 no man that vtwardly hadd lofte hope of faluacion 
 nethir yat was in certente of eternal dampnacion. 
 Neuertheles fome yat were in greuys peynys had no 
 knoulege when they fhulde be fauyd and yat was moft 
 peynful to hem. And fome that were in peynys knew 
 a certente of her delyuerans and that was to hem a 
 grete folace as hit ys here feyde aboue. 
 F
 
 82 
 
 C & ttrttn Ufsmpctott of Bitters fejmB of simfull 
 pcple anB of Ijer prgngg. C a rcrrtrij 
 
 [Yt were to longe and oute of mefure yeffe y 
 fchulde reherfe by name al tho perfons 
 the whiche y fawe and knew there of all 
 condicions of all degreys and of all orders 
 Alfo yef y fchulde fey or be aboute to 
 fchew and declare fynglerly the peynys and tormentys 
 of euery fyngler cryme like as hit was fchewde to me 
 at that tyme hit wulde be ouer tedufe and weriful to 
 the redder therof. For ther ys no fynne wretyn in 
 holy fcripture but ther ys ordende in tho placys certen 
 peynis to al that be doers of hem T[he]refore y leue 
 oute and pas by menfleers auowtres fornicators. lyers 
 and forfwerers glotyners trayturs couetyfe folke. proude 
 pepul enuyus pepul. fclaunderers hateful peple and a 
 thoufand mo of this wyfe to home all ys ordende ther 
 fynglerly ful grete peynes and greuys And ho may tel 
 of al thefe thingys when they yat were good religyus 
 men fofred ful fore and greuys peynys only by caufe 
 they delyted and toke a plefure of the feyernes of her 
 handys and longe fingers Alfo weyfaring men yat were 
 flayne of theuys in her iornay y faw hem ponyfhte for 
 her fynnys in an yefy wife Theuys alfo of home hit is 
 not to be lefte oute in no wife that were for her fynnys 
 iugit to han[g]ing in this world and were only confefte 
 to aprifte orels opynly yat mode helpith of her wykydnes 
 and euyl dedys in very trew contricion of herte and fo 
 anon toke her dethe paciently forgeuing with herte al 
 her enemyes and al maner wrongys and trefpaffys done 
 to hem and alfoo her dethe in remyffyon of al her 
 fynnys y faw al feche with a fpecial certen worfchipful- 
 nes put to ful fofte and efy peynys Alfo other that 
 were ponyfhte and hangyd lyke wyfe for thefte and other 
 myfdedys and wulde not opynly confeffe her fynnys in 
 tyme of her dethe but hoping by fraude and difceyte 
 of her goftely enmy the deuyl to fcape harmles at that
 
 83 
 
 tyme for the denying and excufing her fynnys how be 
 hit that they purpofyd in her herte to be confefle to a 
 prifle of hem afterward and to do for hem condigne 
 penans and alfo vtwardly to leue hem yef they coude 
 haue and opteyne fpace therto as they hopid and yet 
 coude not haue hit but fchulde deye and than in the 
 lafle ende of her lyfe mekely befought god and his holy 
 feyntys of mercy and helpe. al feche were ful greuyfly 
 torment in peynys for her fynnys Not withftonding 
 nethir thefe had lofte hope of mercy and forgeuenes. 
 Neuertheles they were gyuyd in fyry feturs and hangyd 
 vp in the myddys of fyre on gybbettis home the cruel 
 tormentours and fyndys alto bete and brake with fcorgys 
 and forkys and vpbrayde hem of crymys and fynnys 
 with grete fcornys and mockys. 
 
 C 
 
 ley that were pofynners and pofynyd folke 
 and alfo wemen that hadde cafte awey 
 and forfake her babys the whiche they 
 had bore or had flayne hem or ellys by 
 her curfyd crafte had caufyd hem to be 
 bore afore her tyme. I fawe fuche perfons by full ofte 
 betyngys and abrafyng of naylys alto toryn And alfo 
 they were compellyd to drinke dyuers metals as bras 
 and ledde multyn by fyre and medylde with full ftink- 
 inge thingys the whiche brente her inward bowels and 
 fo went greuyfly thorow hem. and when it was out hit 
 was brought to hem to drinke ageyne. Trewly certen 
 grete monfturs of creping beftis with horrabul and gaft- 
 ful harmys cleppyd feche wemen : and ftykyd her naylys 
 ful depe in her neckys and fydys and hauyng at her 
 breftys fokyd her pappys with her venummys mouthe 
 and alto gnew hem with her curfyd tethe
 
 84 
 
 <Sf bsurtrs also. C #a xxxix 
 
 5urers alfo y fawe howe they were dround 
 in gret hepys lyke hyllys of brenning 
 money complayning with grete forowe and 
 wayling by cavvfe they quenchyd not in 
 hem when they leuyd in thys worlde the 
 euyl flame and fynne of couetyfe. 
 
 C <0f fgi?tjntgs ottte of religion. C a xl 
 
 iligyous perfons that were fugytyuys that is 
 to fey that ranne oute of her order by the 
 whiche they had bonde hem felf to the 
 feruice of god and after turnid ageyne to 
 the worlde and gaue hem to wordely leu- 
 ing, as a dogge yat turnith ageyn to his vomet fo 
 gretely they were there fmyt with peynys yat y can in 
 no wife tell nethir declare her tormentis. and onethe 
 ful bitter repentans and confeflion at her lafte ende 
 fauyd feche perfons otherwhile fro euerlafling damp- 
 nacion Neuertheles her apoftafye was ful long tyme 
 and greuyfly ponyfhte. 
 
 wrtm teg of IntjIontJ C a xli 
 
 [Vt what fchal y fey of a certen prynce and 
 fum tyme king of englond yat y fawe the 
 whyche in his lyfe was ful myghty amonge 
 al the princys of thys world. Sothely he 
 was on euery fyde preffyd and peynyd. 
 that a man myght fey of hem as feint iohan the euange- 
 lyfte feythe yn hys apocalyps thys wyfe Quantum fe 
 dilatauit. et in delicijs fuit. tantum datur ei tormentum 
 et luctum. That ys to fey how mekyl he dydde extende 
 and magnifyde hem felfe and was in onleful luftys and
 
 85 
 
 delytys. fo mekyl geue ye to hym torment and heuynes. 
 how ys that may concede yn mynde what gret peynys 
 al hys body and lymmys were fmytte wythe He fate 
 apon an horfe. that blewe owte of her mowthe and nofe 
 a flame blacke as pycche. medylde whyt a fmoke and 
 ftenche of helle. yn to the greuys torment of hym that 
 fate aboue. the whyche was armyd at al pecys as he 
 fchulde haue gone to batelle Trewly the armyr that 
 he were, was to hym intollerabul peyne for they were 
 as bryght brennyng yirne ys' when hyt ys betyn whyt ' 
 hamers and fmytyth owte fyry fparclys by the whyche 
 he was wyth ynforthe al to brende and whyt owte 
 forthe the fame armyr brende yn ful gret hete. and 
 ladyd hym that ware hym wyth ful fore borhtyn. Alfo 
 as tochyng hys helme hys fhylde. and hys haburgyn. 
 and hys legge harnes y leue owte. for by the brennyng 
 hete and peyfe of hem al. howe mekyl he was peynyd 
 no man can telle Sothely he wulde haue geuyn alle 
 the world yf hit might haue be fo that he might haue 
 be delyueryd fro on fpurre with the whiche he was 
 compellid to ftere his wrechid hors to renne wherby 
 oftyn times he fylle down hedlong Alfo the fadyle yat 
 he fate in was ftekyd thorow on bothe the fydys with 
 fyrye brochys and naylis the which was a gafteful fight 
 for any man to beholde. and the maw and inwarde 
 bowels of him yat fate in the fadelle were fore fmyt 
 thorow by the fcharpnes of tho brochys and naylys. 
 and this cruelly was he ponyfhte for the onrightful 
 fcheding of mennys blode and for the foule fynne of 
 auowtrye yat he vfyd In thys too thingys he dedly 
 offendyd ofte tymys and tho cruel tormentours wykyd 
 fyndis ful gretly with derifions and fcornys vpbraydyd 
 him becaufe he wuld be auengid on men yat flew his ven- 
 eryas harte andhyndeboockeand doandfeche other the 
 whiche by the law of kinde ought to be flayne to euery 
 man and therfore fum of hem he putte to dethe or els 
 , cruelly wulde mayme him. and for al thys he dyd neuer 
 but lytyl penance as long as he leuyd Alfo ful myfer- 
 ably he complaynde yat nethir his fonnys nethir his 
 frendys the whiche he lefte alyue and to home he had
 
 86 
 
 gotyn mekyl temporal godys dyd or fchevvyd for him 
 any thing after his deth for his helpe and releuyng 
 No thing he feyde my fonnys and frendys haue done 
 for me in thefe peynys Alas lo y haue lofle alle my 
 labur and befynes that y haue done ydylly to make 
 myne heiers riche and mighty Alas for the falfe and 
 deceuabul flatring of pepul and now what haue they 
 brought or done for me vnhappy to home y gate and 
 gedirde fo mekyl trefur and riches and to whome y 
 gaue fo many rentys and poffeffions and for home fo 
 gretly y offendyd god while y leuyd and now y am 
 dedde non of hem doyth any thing for me Trewly y 
 faw him fumwhat efyd and releuyd of his peynys only 
 by the prayers of religious men. to home in his life for 
 god he was full benyuolent oftyn tymes. and therby y 
 vndirftode fpecyally that he hopyd to be fauyd. For- 
 thermore befyde al thefe thingys aboue feyde ful 
 gretiyfly he forowyd and was peynde. for by caufe he 
 oppreffyd diuers tymes the pepul with ondue taxys. 
 
 C <f a iijissfjoppe gat toas rtjcre in pegngg anB 
 get QOU sijctoiU mtvarlijs for ijtm after Jus 
 
 C 
 
 [Owe as y remembre a iiii yere agon a certen 
 biffhoppe was chofe to be an archebyf- 
 fhope but he was than haftely preuente 
 of dethe and fo difcefte and lefte bothe 
 Trewly this byflhoppe was inwardly in his 
 leuing ful wele difpofyd and religyufly. for he was pure 
 and deuoute in herte and clene of body that by the 
 vfe and weryng of a fcharpe herre and other dyuers 
 penauns : tamyd wele his owne flefche. He conformyd 
 hys face and chere as hit femyd mekyl after the behau- 
 ing of feeler pepul. and to efchue and refufe the fauer 
 of vayne glorye the whiche is euer prouyd an enmy to 
 vertu he fhewid alwey in wordys and countenans glad- 
 nes and iocundnes when he was withinforth contrite 
 in herte and in his affeccions Alfo his bifihop vyfd 
 as it is feyd before to ponyffh as wel his dayly fautys by
 
 the which e in grete curys and harde thingys he had 
 offendyd as he dyd other fynnys the whyche he had 
 done in hys yong age by dyuers chaflmentys and ofte 
 wepyngs. Alfo in hys office of byffhoppery. he had 
 offendyd greuyfly in mony thingys by hys neglygens as 
 other byffhoppys dyd of home y haue made mencyon 
 aboue. Of this Byffhoppe y harde nowe opynly by the 
 feyng of many folke. that by hym myraclys were fchewed 
 and done after hys dethe on feke pepull and febull. And 
 I fuppofe hyt ys trouthe that oure lord dyd worfchype 
 hys feruaunte with feche benefettys to geue other ex- 
 ample and vndyrflondyng. that he herde and clene 
 leuyng the whyche he leuyd ynwardly. plefyd owre lord 
 ful wele. the whyche beholdyth only mennys hertys. 
 Sothely yet fownde y hem yn peynys remanyng to hym 
 wythowtyn dowte. ful grete mede and rewardys yn the 
 euerlafling blyffe of heuene And he that beleuythe not 
 them the whyche byn yn the peynys of purgatory, fum 
 tyme to doo myraclys yn thys world, let hem rede the iiii 
 boke of the dyaloge of feynt gregory. and ther he fchal 
 fee fullyur an example of thys thyng. fchewyd and done at 
 Rome of an holy man yat was callyd pafcafms a decon. 
 
 C f a ttvttn afcfcotte. C Ca slfff 
 
 Certen abbot that was wele and religyous 
 dyfpofyd and a man of gret fobirnes deyde 
 a x yere a goo. the whyche bequethyd at 
 hys lafte ende to one of hys bretheren 
 mekyl mony for to dele to the powre 
 folke for the helpe of his fowle. Thenne this monke 
 wyfyly and deuoutely fulfylled the abbottys wille and 
 gaue alle that money to the pore pepul and nedy And 
 where he knewe any yat were colde and hungery or 
 fmytte with fekenes and were bore of honefte folke 
 and wele condicyonde and were fallyn to pouerte 
 wherby they had not to bye her leuyng. and to begge 
 they were afchamyd to feche he wulde opyn hys hand 
 after his powre and releue hem with mete and drynke 
 fchoys and clothys Alfo to ancrys and to wedowys to
 
 88 
 
 wolde folke and to powre fcolers he gaue mekyl com- 
 maunding hem al to praye deuoutely for the foule of 
 him for whome that money was geuyn And alfo they 
 dyd ful fpedly And whenne this trewe and feythfull 
 monke had geuyn to pore peple alle that was be takyn 
 hym he fylle in to fekenes / by the whyche long tyme 
 he was wele prouyd and purgyd and dyfcefte a foure 
 yere a goe and made a bleffyd ende. And bothe the 
 forfeyde abbotte and the monke y fonde there in pur- 
 gatorye Trewely the abbot was holdyn yette in fcharpe 
 peynys and mofte by caufe that ful carnaly and ouer 
 mekyl he louyd hys kynnys folke and alfo was to hem 
 ouer large in geftys of the goodys of hys monaflerye and 
 fpende on hem mekyl more than was conuenyent to do. 
 Playnly that fame vyfe that ys to feye carnalle loue to 
 kynred more thanne ryght requyryth. full fore greuyth 
 al mofte alle maner of peple that were profefte to holy 
 relygyon in her lyfe. and alfo al them that were dyf- 
 penfours of holy chirche goodys as byffhopys byn and 
 fuche other the whyche fpende hem probably in other 
 vyfys than they fchulde. And as y gefe of hem them 
 which e waftyn the godys of the holy chyrche wherby 
 they were made ryche in dyffolucyon of clothyng in vol- 
 uptuous metys and pompys of the world fo fchalle they 
 that vfyn fcarfly to her nede the godys that they haue 
 thaugh no thing of hyt be fpende in vanyte. ful flraytely 
 geue acomtys of fuche godys as they haue and kepe and 
 remeynyth aboue her yede Sothely they fchuld firft 
 geue of here goodys more largely to the pore pepulle 
 of her parifhonfe and afterward by difcrecyon helpe 
 her faders and moders as they nede alle fuperfluyte 
 putte afyde and alfo releue other pore folke and fo de- 
 ferue mede of god withoute any offenfe. For ther in 
 purgatorye y knewe firft this rewle ordende to byffhop- 
 pys and abbottys perfons and vicars of the chirche the 
 whyche can not be brokyn withoute grete vengns. And 
 yere y fawe thefe thyngys fo ordend. full fer y thought 
 odyr wyfe of hem. For y knewe afore that the maners 
 and condycyons of feche prelatys were ferre fro hyt and 
 odyr wyfe demenyd And alle that kepe and fulfille
 
 8 9 
 
 this lawe and ordenans as ryght and reafon requyryth 
 fchalle fo be rewardyd of god for hem as they hadde 
 geuyn alle fuche godys of her owne propre patrymonye. 
 Therfore thys Abbot afore feyde among fore and greuys 
 peynys and tormentys haftyd hym toward the refte of 
 paradyfe. And as he fawe and behylde the forfeyde 
 monke hys brother the whiche was there in a certen 
 parte befyde remouyd fro the greuys peynys and tor- 
 mentys that were there, and ful lyghtly peynde in com- 
 paryfon of hym bowde hym felfe oftyn tymes to the 
 fame monke and thankyd hym with bothe hys handys 
 for the grete charyte that he fchewyd for hym in the 
 dyftrybucyon and delyng of the forfeyde money that 
 he delyueryd to hym And the monke fchewyd hym 
 felfe to the abbot that behylde hym ful gracyous of 
 fyghte and gladfum of chere For he was right feyre 
 and fembly in whyte clothyng thawghe they were ref- 
 perfte and had on hem a few fpottys And whenne y 
 fawe thys y merueyled in my felfe. Thenne fente Ny- 
 cholas yat hylde me by the hand tolde me this of hym. 
 Knowyft this monke that thou feyft. he feruyd and 
 pleafyd god ful wele in hys lyfe wyth grete clennes of 
 herte and chaftyte of bodye. and mekyl euyl the whiche 
 fchulde haue be done in the place were he was he 
 lettyd and was agenfte hyt. For he was feruent in zele 
 of ryghtwyfnes and hatyng euyl of herte wherfore many 
 reproues oftyn tymes pacyentelyhe fofryd for the defenfe 
 and honefte of his religion and fpecyaly of hem the 
 whiche ware the habet of religyon apon hem for that 
 entent that they myght dyftroye the vertuus leuing 
 and conuerfacion of relygyon ful befyly feruyng not 
 her fpiryte but the wrechidnes of her flefh and the 
 worlde in the monafteriis of fpyritual and goftely leuing. 
 And alas for forow for now by feche perfons the fpe- 
 cyal worfchyppe and honoure that holy chirche was of 
 before is almoft brought to nought whyle the muitytude 
 of carnal and worldly men encrefyn aboue noumbre. 
 home the fewnes of fpyrytuall men fofryn chefyng 
 rather to dyffymylle and not to knowe her euyll and 
 fo to refte hem felfe than by her blamyng and refyft-
 
 9 
 
 ing flere and moue agenfle hem the wrathe and trow- 
 bullus haflynes of fuche euyl dyfpofyd perfons And 
 thaught they foo do yette they can not be fewer fro the 
 fpyes and fraudys of hem And as fum tyme yfmael 
 that was bore carnaly purfewyd yfaac that was bore 
 fpyrytualy that ys to feye by a fpyrytual promyfe of 
 almighty god. lyke wyfe hyt is nowe. For carnal folke 
 ben ful greuys to fpyrytuall pepul. be caufe they can 
 not peruerte hem to her frawardnes Alfo many ther 
 byn that gretely hyt ys to forowe the whyche in her 
 leuyng begunne fpyrytualy. but by proceffe of tyme 
 owther they be ouercumme by onftabulnes or els ben 
 dyfceyuyd by fympylnes. and alfo they falle done fro 
 her purpofe and begynnyng vnto the myferabul and 
 wrechyd corrupcyon and flowfulnes of this world, en- 
 tyfyd and drawyn by the examplys and councelys of 
 euyll dyfpofyd perfons. Trewly thefe grete hirtys of 
 relygyous leuyng the whyche before in the tyme ot 
 faders. ful nobly flowryd and fchone as an heuynly 
 lyght. ful gretely beholdyth the Prelatys of holy chyrche 
 in thys dayes. that knowen thys and defpyfen hyt. in 
 fo mekyl that they vndyrftonde not hem felfe. that hyt 
 ys fo wyth hem They knewe veryly what thynge they 
 be cum to. but they what thinge they fchulde haue 
 cum to. becaufe yat they be cum to the lufle and ple- 
 fure of thys world but they fchulde haue cum to the 
 folowing of cryflys pouerte. and to the karke and dily- 
 gente kepyng of her cure, that ys the pepul of god 
 commytted to hem. And therfore that they feche and 
 that they care. For that they be cum to and that they 
 haue. The pepul of god they fede not but diftroye 
 and hem perauenture that they haue turnyd fro ryhht- 
 wyfnes they fleyn fpirytually and lefyn. for her con- 
 formyng to hem not fhewyng hem felfe faders and 
 paftors. but woluys and theuys. Trewely the promot- 
 yng of fuche perfons kyngys and byfmoppys and other 
 grete men procuron and gete. and her fogettys ful 
 mekyl loke ther aftur not beyng rectors and faders. 
 but peruerfours and deftroyers of her fowlys the whiche 
 thynkyn that alle thynge that ys vnder hem that lykyth.
 
 ys leuefulle. why by the rightwes iugemente of god 
 byn remys trowbuld and chyrchys confowndyd and tie 
 ilate of erthely folke vtwardly fubuertyd And for feche 
 demenyng they be acurfyd of god the whyche fchulde 
 be deuowt and meke interceffours to god bothe for hym 
 that byn a lyue. and for hym that byn dede by hoys 
 meritys and prayers, fpecialy the welfare of al cryftyn- 
 dome myght be preferuyd and encrefyd and al euyl 
 fer put awey fro the pepul of god And whyle fent 
 Nycholas complaynyd of feche thynghes and of many 
 othyr yn thys wyfe. and remembryd alfo fome thyngys 
 that were of grete commendacyon and laude of certen 
 perfons. the whyche yn her tyme ftode ful manly yn 
 feche perels. and ftrenthyd othyr fo to doo y faw ful 
 many on euery fyde me the whyche y knewe be fore 
 fore holdyn yn ful greuys peynys and tormentys 
 Trewly y lokyd moft apon hem that y knew a lytyl 
 be fore and louyd ryght fpecialy. 
 
 C f an afcassse also. C <a slfit/ 
 
 [jF the which e a certen worfchipful abbas was 
 ther that bleffedly pafte thys fame yere 
 owte fro thys world tawarde the euerlaft- 
 yng lyfe and ioys of heuyn. Sothelyfche 
 tolde me many thyngys bothe of her ftate 
 that fche was pafte and of her ftate that fche was yn. 
 alfo fche feyde many thingys to me the whyche y fchulde 
 telle to her owne naturale fifters that were vnder de 
 tytyl of virgynyte amonge othyr holy virgenis yn the 
 fame monafterye. that fche was abbas of by fome certen 
 tokyns of the whyche fome y wolde telle that fchulde 
 be to the herers of hem ful gracius and good but that 
 fche bade me telle hyt to no nothyr. faue to hem that 
 fche commawndyd me Sche feyde alfo that fche hathe 
 refceuyd mekyl releuyng andhelpe of her peynys by the 
 detiowte prayers and pfalmys of her fyfters the feruan- 
 tis of god tho home be fore fche was a fpiritual modere. 
 And fche commawndyd me to thanke hem for mony 
 good dedys the whyche they haue done for her and
 
 9 2 
 
 for the fofragys of meffys and othyr holy prayers that 
 they haue gotyn for her as they myghte of certen reli- 
 gious perfons. And more ouer they haue made and 
 ordende to be offerd to oure lord dayly withoute any 
 cefyng for me meffys and other deuoute prayers And 
 therfore lete him knowe withouten doute that they 
 fchalle haue therfore ful grete mede and y alfo haue 
 fcapyd ful fcarpe peynys. And yf they perfeuere as 
 they haue begunne. fone y hope to fcape the remnande 
 of my peynys. Sche tolde my alfo that gretely hyt 
 helped her that before me was made abbas fche 
 fchewyd and behauyd her felfe with grete compafTyon 
 ful mekely to fome of her fyfters that were fore vexed 
 wyth grete fekeneffe or temptacyon and ful ofte dyd 
 alle maner of feruyce deuowtely that were right foule 
 and abiecte in the monafterye. 
 
 C <0t ft. gouge nonngB tfjat toew Iqpttrc C xlb 
 
 Here were fche feyde on a tyme in owre 
 place, ii. yonge vyrgyns the whiche were 
 ful fore infecte with the grete plage of 
 lepur. And for afmoche that in many 
 placys of her bodyes. the flefche was falle 
 downe to the bonys and the fkynne aboue. oftyn tymes 
 horrably blyfter owte of bleynys. And alle my fyflers 
 of owre monafterye lothyd alle mofte. to fee or vyfyte 
 hem or to toche hem but to me me thought and femyd 
 full fwete. to haue and opteyne hem yn my lappe or 
 holde hem in my harmys. and forthermore alfoo to weffe 
 hem in bathys. and alfo to wype her fores wyth my 
 fleuys. and they ful wele and gladly fofryd that plage 
 of lepur and tankyde god of that chaftement and 
 dyffefe And fo delytyd hem yn hyt as they had ref- 
 ceyued of hym gracius gyftys of diners ornamentys 
 And where alytyl whyle agon, they were peynyd yn 
 the worlde by a longe martyrdome. now ful bleffydly 
 they folowyn the heuenly lambe her fpowfe ihefu cryfte 
 wyhtowtyn any fpotte wher fum euer he goo. And for 
 they pety and charyte that y had and fchewyd to hem
 
 93 
 
 yn her nede y haue euermore had yn al my peynys. a 
 fwyfte refrefchyng and releuyng of helpe. Alfo many 
 othyr thyngys the fame abbas tolde me amonge the 
 whyche fche complaynyd that for on thyng that fhe 
 dyd fhe had fofryd fore peynys and that was by caufe. 
 neglygently fche lefte a certen chylde a yonge fcoler. 
 that was deftitute of al hys frendys. and was comyttyd 
 to her of a certen byfhoppe for to be browght vppe. 
 and therfore the chylde leuyd longe tyme in grete dyf- 
 comforte and heuynes Alfo y faw and knew fum of 
 her fyfters that were noonys of her monaftery ther yn 
 that place of purgatory yn lyght peynys. 
 
 C <S)f a fenggfjte tljat gftmgtt gtt stmong C Ca xM 
 
 Certen knyght that was patron of a chyrche 
 folde on a tyme a perfonage to a certen 
 clerke for. xxvij. marke Sothely aftyr- 
 warde he repente hym of that dede. and 
 for the fatyffaccion of fo grete a fynne he 
 toke the croffe to go the holy londe. and to vyfet owre 
 lordys fcepulcur yef he myghte. and for hys ofifenfys 
 there to afke god forgeuenes and mercy Trewly that 
 tyme. the hethyn folke had put thens cryftin pepul 
 and fo occupied the holy londe Then were criften 
 pepul gedyrde of al cooflys of the worlde to fyghte 
 agenfte hem. and to dryue hem away and fo thys 
 knyghte yoynde hym felfe to goo amonge hem And 
 aftyrwaide he was fmytte wyth fekenes. and endyd hys 
 lyfe yn that yourney Sothly y fownde thys knyghte 
 there yet yn mene peynys And he tolde me that for 
 the fynne of fymony that he dyd. as hyt ys a fore feyde 
 he had fofryd ful greuys peynys andgret And more ouer 
 he feyde. yf y had not be preuent by the mercy of god 
 to repente me ful fore afore my dethe for that fynne of 
 fymony yn no wyfe fchulde haue fcape eternal damp- 
 nacyon. And the labur of the pylgrymmage that y 
 toke for god tawarde the holy londe. gretly efyd me of 
 thoo peynys. that were due for the fame fynne Alfo 
 hit was orawntyd me by the goodnes of god that y
 
 94 
 
 fchukle fende to her that was my wyfe. by a feyth- 
 ful clerke warnyd yn hys ilepe of me. that fche 
 fchulde orden to be feyde for me. v. tricennarijs of 
 meffys wyth the offycys of placebo and dirige as the 
 chirche had ordende for hem that byn dede and of 
 feche pryflys that were of honefte and chafle lyuyng. 
 of the whyche. fome y tolde by name. Than fche 
 made thefe meffis wyth othyr thyngys a fore feyde. to 
 be trewly done for hym. and aftyrwarde fche rewardyd 
 hem as they were worthy by the whyche he feyde 
 hys peynys were ful gretly abatyd. For a bowte 
 the begynnyng after my dethe oftyn tymes y was 
 compellyd dayly to deuoure tho penfys hoote and 
 brennyng that y had takyn of the pryfte and per- 
 fon afore feyd. And nowe by the mercy of god y am 
 delyueryd fro that grete tormente. and that was mode 
 for the fuffragiis the whiche was done for me. And 
 yette y am conflrayned ful fore to fofyr the scarpnes of 
 colde. by caufe whenne y leuyd y had not compaf- 
 fyon on powre and nedeful people that were clothles 
 and coolde. And oftyn tymes whenne y gaue hem 
 mete and drynke y wuld be ryght wele warre by the 
 vyce of hardnes to fpende no money apon hem. 
 Thanne feyde y to hym. what and there were done 
 yet ageyne meffys for you fchuld ye not trowe ye 
 refceyue perfetly refte. Thanne he feyde. yys and 
 there were done for me. vii. tricennariis with the officys 
 longyng to hem this ys placebo and dirige. y hope that 
 anone as they were done for me. y fchuld be delyueryd 
 fro peynys to euerlaftyng refte. Here nowe hyt ys to 
 be vndyrftonde that thys fame knyght after his deth 
 as y knowe hyt nowe withoute any doute. apperyd in 
 a vyfyon to the fame clarke afore feyd. and affygned 
 hym. v, ful chafte pryftys and chofyn by name, that 
 fchuld feye thefe meffys and other thingys lyke as hyt 
 ys feyde aboue. Hoys perfons and namys and the 
 placys of her dwellynges the whyche dylygentely he 
 expreffyd were to hym felfe while he leuyd in hys bodye. 
 and to y clarke that he apperyd to. and alfo to hys 
 wyfe that dydde for hym vtwardly onknowen.
 
 95 
 
 C <f a certtn gonge tnonfte tfjat somntc tj>me fit 
 f)i>9 Bai>fs toas shorten of tije ctytrcJje. C <a xttnf 
 
 Certen yonge man a monke that fomme 
 tyme y had feyne the whiche in many 
 thyngys behauyd hym relygyoufly and he 
 was alfo fexten of the chyrche where he 
 dwellyd. Sothely there were in thys fame 
 chyrche. iii. or. iiii. ymagys of our bleffyd lady fent 
 marye hauyng in her lappys the ymage of oure fauyur 
 ihefu cryfle yn fourme of a lytyl babe and they were 
 fette at euery auter on right wele peynted and feyre 
 arayed wyth golde and diuers other colours, the whyche 
 fchewyd to the people that behylde hym grete deuo- 
 cyon. And before euery ymage hynge a lampe. the 
 whyche after the cuftome of that fame chyrche. were 
 wonte to be lyghted at euery pryncypale fefte thorowe 
 alle the yere. bothe by nyghte and by daye enduryng 
 fro the firft enfonge vnto the fecond enfonge afore the 
 forfeyde ymages of owre bleffyd lady feynte Marye. 
 And alfoo thylke lampys lyghtnyd alle the chyrche 
 abowte. Trewely hyt happonde apon a tyme in the 
 forfeyde Sextenys dayes. that grete fcarfneffe of oyle 
 was in that countreye that fame tyme. and alfo there 
 was no man that there had any oyle thanne to felle. 
 and feldyn hyt was that any flranger at that fefyn putte 
 forth e any fuche chafer for to felle. where fore the for- 
 feyde fexten. by caufe he wyfte not. where he myght 
 gete oyle for neceffary vfys the mene whyle he with- 
 drew the lyghte fro the forfeyde lampys. as hym 
 thowghte he myghte lefully doo how be hyt that he 
 had fome yn ftore. but he drede lefte hyt wolde not 
 fuffyce tyl he hade more, fo that on afcenfyon day and 
 wythffonday he put no lyght to hym. the whiche yn 
 thefe feftis fpecialy were wonte to brenne But he went 
 not onponyfhte. Sothely the thyrde day yn whytffon 
 weke when he was feyen yn al thyngys ryght hole and 
 fownde fodenly he was fmyte wyth a ful fcharpe axces. 
 and fo a vexid ther of that he was madde and owte of 
 hys mynde and on thewyfday the nexte weke aftir he
 
 9 6 
 
 dyde And on faterday by fore hys dethe. when he was 
 almofle at hys lade ende. he faw yn a uyfyon the quene 
 of heuyn owre bleffyd lady fent mary. flondyng on a 
 grice of a certen wyndyng fleyer yn the chyrche that 
 was by on of the fame ymagys of owre bleffyd lady 
 aforefeyde And when he faw her he cryde to her 
 remembryng hys fekenes and perelle and feyde. O 
 holy and bleffyd mary. haue mercy on me. Than fche 
 andfwerde hym fcharply bothe yn worde and yn chere 
 feying thys wyfe. Thow hafte take fro me the wor- 
 fhyppe of my lyghte yn erthe. and y fchal ageyn take 
 fro the the lyghte of thys prefent lyfe. Sothely whenne 
 he herde and vnderftode this thretyng he was fore aferd 
 and abaffhid and no meruelle. and cafte hym felfe done 
 at her fete with grete wepyng and forowyng and afkyng 
 for[g]euenes of hys trefpas and promyfed amendement 
 Thenne cure bleffyd lady hoys thretyng ys wonte to 
 be of mercye mekely behylde hym and made a figne 
 with her hand fchewyng hym the grice that fche ftode 
 apoa and feyde. Sytte done here Thanne he begunne 
 as hym thoughte to fytte done ful fore aferd at her fete, 
 whenne fche fodenly vanyfhte awey. And whenne he 
 was cumme to hym felfe ageyne callyd for hys bretheren 
 and tolde hym thys vyfyon that he had feyne and 
 prayde hem and alfo bade hem with grete inftaunce 
 and wothys that the nexte nyghte with the daye folow- 
 yng. the lampys afore feyd fchuld be lyghtynde and 
 brenne. as the cuftome was before Alfo he made 
 a vowe that and he myght haue hys helthe ageyne he 
 wold contynally kepe forthe and encrefe the forfeyde 
 lampys to worfchyppe and lawde of the gloryous vyr- 
 gyn and moder of god oure bleffyd Lady feynt marye. 
 But he cowde not calle ageyne the worde and fentence 
 that fche feyde to hym And fo he dyde the tewfday 
 after trynyte fonday and as for the reftoryng of the 
 forfeyde lampys fome fatyffaccyon he dydde for his 
 ofFenfe and trefpas. Trewly yette hethir to was he 
 holdyn in peynys and tormentys bycaufe often tymes 
 he had offendyd in kepyng of hys relygyon and in fey- 
 ing of dyuyne feruyce And alfo he was lyght of be-
 
 97 
 
 hauyng and ondyfcrete as in etyng and drynkyng. 
 lavvghyng fpekyng. iapyng and in many other mo. 
 
 C f a certen clerft tfjat leuwtJ fcolglg c a *Uwj 
 
 jjOrthermore a certen clerke that pafle oute 
 of thys world in hys yowthe y fawe there 
 in the fame place the whyche by the in- 
 fpyracyon of the holy gofte bothe in 
 connyng of dyuynyte as in other lyberals 
 facultees paffyd al mofte alle other that were hys 
 felawys. Sothely he was there peynde in a light and 
 amene wyfe gladly goyng forthe by the teftymony and 
 witnes of a goode confciens that he had toward the 
 ioys and refte of paradyfe Trewely he was ful wele 
 difpofyd of maners and condicions and fludeyng in 
 fcolys pure of chaftyte and benyuolente in charyte 
 with other geftys of grace by the whyche he plefyd 
 oure lord ful wele. Alfo he had gotyn to hym fpecy- 
 aly the loue of the mofte gloryus vyrgyne the modyr 
 of god oure bleffyd lady fent marye home he feruyd ful 
 deuoutely in hys lyfe and ful oftyn tymes wachyd longe 
 in prayers before her auter with a ful meke fpyryte and 
 'a contryte herte and for her loue gave to pore pepul 
 mekyl almys wherfore withoutyn doute thys remaynyd 
 to hym of the fame bleffyd lady in heuyn euerlailyng 
 ioye and grete mede And for the houre of hys paff- 
 yng oute of thys world he had refceyued mekyl 
 refreffhyng and by her contynual folace and helpe was 
 mercyfully alfo in hys peynys fokyrde and conforted 
 Sothely whenne he was fchewyd to me he was fum 
 what dyffefyd and peynyd only by the intemperans of 
 the eyre as in coolde and in hete Then y enquyred 
 and he had fofrid any other peynys afore. And hyt was 
 tolde me that he had fofryd other whyles amorige the 
 peynfull hete of thirfte. and that was becaufe whenne 
 he abowndyd in temporal goodys he was more harder to 
 the pore pepul than he fchulde haue be. or ryghte wolde 
 And trewely he had gret compaffyon of hem. and 
 mekyl he dyd in hys lyfe to helpe and releue hem.
 
 98 
 
 But neuertheles oftyn tymes he was wery of hem. 
 and fpecyaly after that he was waxin rycher in fo 
 mekyl that before when he was powrer and had not 
 fo mekyl he was more lyberale to powre folke than he 
 was after whenne hys goodys were encrefyd And ther- 
 fore full fore hyt ys to drede howe ftreytely they 
 fhulde geue acomtys of her difpenfacyon that haue 
 refceyued benefytys and ryches of the chyrche. owre 
 lord yhefus feyyng thys wyfe yn the gofpel. Cui plus 
 commititur ab eo plus exigetur that ys to fey To 
 home more ys commytid or be takyn. of hym more 
 fhal be afkyd Now fothly by caufe whe haue here 
 trewly wretyn yn wordes mony thynghes that we 
 fownde and faw yn placys of peynys let vs here ende 
 owre narracion of hem And aftinvard as god wyl 
 geue vs grace we wyl afaye to telle and declare fome 
 thynghys that we faw of the conforte and gladnes of 
 the bleffyd fowlys the whyche reftyd hem yoyfully 
 yn the ful mery and yocunde place of paradyfe. 
 
 C &Iso of paralyse anD of tije multttuDe of pqpul 
 tfjat ijc satoe anB founDe t!jm. C <Ea xlix 
 
 JlOwe of the folace and conforte of the 
 bleffyd fowlys that byn fcapyd her peynys 
 and be at refte and of her euerlaftyng ioys. 
 fum what y wille tel you as y can and may 
 For no man may fufficiently And whenne 
 we were pafte and gonne thefe thre placys of peynys 
 as hyt ys aboue feyde and had beholde the grete 
 peynys and dyuers tormentys of fynnarys. we wente 
 forthe farthir And as we wente farther, there begunne 
 to appere a lytyl and a lytyl more and more a full 
 feire lyghte vnto vs and with al brake oute a ful 
 plefaunte fwete fauyr And anone after we cam to a 
 fylde the which was full of alle maner of feyre and 
 plefaunte flowrys that gaue to vs an oncredyble and in- 
 eftymable conforte of ioye and plefure Sothely in thys 
 fylde we fawe and founde infynyte thoufandys of fowlys 
 ful iocunde and merye in a ful fwete refte after her
 
 99 
 
 penauns and after her purgacyon. And hem that we 
 founde firfle in the begynnyng of that fildehadapon hem 
 white clothyng. but hyt was not very bryght nethyr wele 
 fchynyng. Notwithftondying they had no fpotte of black- 
 nes or of any other onclennes on hem as hyt femyd. faue 
 thys as y feyd before they were not very bryght fchynyng 
 whyte. Trewely amonge thefe many y knewe the whyche 
 fum tyme y fawe and knewe ful wele whenne they 
 leuyd in thys world. Of the whyche fchortely fum 
 what y wylle telle yow and of other y purpofe to ceffe. 
 
 C <f a ctttcn atj&as ttye toJ)c!je ije satoe antt 
 imctoc tfjere also. C <a. I. 
 
 Ere in thys place was a certen abbas that 
 was of worfchipful conuerfacyon. the 
 whyche y knewe whenne y was a chylde. 
 and fche dyed a xiiii yere agone. Sothely 
 fche had grete feruour and zefe to chaftyte. 
 and to alle other honefte Alfo fche was wyfe and 
 warre and deuowte in kepyng her fifters. to whome fche 
 was commytted Thys abbas y fawe amonge them 
 that were in the begynnyng of that ioyful place. For 
 fche was but as newe cum thedur fro her peynys. and 
 fche had apon her clene clothyng but not verey whyte 
 fchynyng. And fche femyd by her chere and dyfpofy- 
 cyon as fche had be longe tyme ficke or diffefyd and 
 had cumme late fro bathys. I paffe by here to tel of 
 fumme lyghte thyngys for the whyche fche had fofryd 
 ryghte fcarpe peynys. Sothely fche had not ouer- 
 cumme in her leuyng the vyce and mocyon of vayne 
 glorye. amonge the merytys of vertu and commenda- 
 cyon of flatryng and of other thyngis innumerabulle y 
 paffe by. in the whyche the febull ignoraunce of good 
 pepul often tymes offendythe Trewely fche told me 
 that fche had fofryd peynys fpecyaly by caufe- fche 
 louyd her kynnys folke ouermekyl carnaly. and to 
 hem gaue mekyl goodys of the place that fche had 
 rule of. whenne fomme of her fyflers to home fche was 
 a fpyrytuall moder lackyd fum tymes fuche thyngys as
 
 100 
 
 longed to her leuyng and clothyng. And whenne y 
 harde thys of her. gretely y meruelyde. For y knowe 
 not onethe any prelate in thys dayes. that vfyd fo 
 grete fcarfnes to her kynnys folke as fche me femyd 
 dydde to her cofynis. And as tochyng fuperfluyte as 
 fer as y knew, onethe fche gaue any tyme to hem that 
 were of her kynne ther neceffarijs. Alfo her neueys 
 and necys. and othyr that were of her kynne fhe cow- 
 pulde hem not to carnal matrymony. but be toke hem 
 to religyon for to feme god. And fo fterne fche be- 
 hauyd her yn wordys and yn chere. to hem fpecialy. 
 that when fche was feyne to othyr flrangers frendely 
 and yefely. fche was only to her cofynis ryghte gaftful 
 and on mylde. Alfo fche vfyd to enquyre ther fawtys 
 ful warly. and when perauenture fche myghte fynde 
 hem fawtye. ful bytturly therfor fche wolde hem po- 
 nyfhe Alfo fche wolde haue the honefte of maners. 
 and the clennes of chaflyte obferuyd and kepte. of al 
 feruantys and perfons that fche hade longyng to the 
 monafterye. but moofte of hem yat were of her kynne. 
 And ther was no brothyr ne fyfler that fche vfyd to 
 fauer. as dydde othyr that were not of her kynne 
 And when y had feyde thys to her. and alfo that fche 
 had browghte for the many that y knewe to kepe de- 
 uowtly her purpofe and habet of relygyon that they 
 had takyn apon hem thys wyfe the fame abbas feide 
 to me ageyne. Sothe hyt ys fche feyde as ye fey. 
 But neuertheles for the carnal affeccyon and loue. that 
 y had ynwardely to my frendys when y was bownde 
 to the due goflely leuyng of religion, as wele by the 
 refon of my profeffyon. as by the office that y bare. } 
 kowde fynde non excufe. be fore the ftreyte iugement 
 of god yn the whyche y was examynde to the vttur- 
 mafte poynte of my leuyng. And mofte by caufe that 
 occafyon of gruggyng. and example of ouermekyl be- 
 fynes grewe to my fyfters, by my fawte and negligens for 
 the carke and befynes that they had to her frendys 
 Trewly y fchulde rathyr haue be warre and takyn hedt 
 of the hurteof her fowlys of home yhad cure and charge, 
 than the fuperfluyteis and prouyfyon of wordly goodys
 
 101 
 
 to my frendys the whyche y lefte onys wyth the worlde 
 for god. And when thys worfchippful abbas had tolde 
 me thys and many othyr thyngys alfo. we wente forth e 
 farther yn to the fame ioyful fylde. 
 
 C f a tertett prior fljat leugfl iwtofotlj) 
 
 ijotolg. C <a If 
 
 Saw and knew alfo yn thys ioyful place a 
 certen worfhipful perfon yat was a prior 
 of a monaflerye the whyche dyed a. iij 
 yere agonne Trewly y faw hym ful blef- 
 fydly amonge ye holy fpiritys and bleffyd 
 feyntys yn a ioyful refte. exempte and delyueryd frome 
 al peynys. gladfum and mery of yat place yat he was 
 yn but mekyl more gladder and that yncomparable for 
 the certen bydyng that he boode. to haue the fight of 
 god. And he bare euermore whyle he leuyd in thys 
 world the habet of a monke bothe on his body and in 
 hys herte fro the tyme of hys chyldhode on to hys 
 oolde aage and to hys lafte ende. Alfo he kepeth and 
 hydde the floure of hys vyrgynite in the bofum of 
 mekenes and he cowpuld to hem ful fuerly the vertu 
 of pacyens. Trewely he vfyd gret abflynence and 
 longe wacchyng. and bothe too he ouercome by holy 
 deuocyon. And whenne neceffyte compellyd hym to 
 be aboute werkys of charyte as hys office requyred for 
 the tyme. he wulde euer amonge be feying fome falmys 
 or other deuowte prayers to god. No man had more 
 compaffyon to hem that were in temptacyon than he. 
 ne no man was more deuowtur and befyur in feruyce 
 to feke men / than he. Alfo he neuer denyed hem her 
 petycyons and afkynges that were dyffefyd al only of 
 tho thyngis that myghte be hadde. And for to helpe 
 hem that were in heuynes. a becke of warnyng was fuf- 
 fycyent. And whenne he was of feche holy leuyng 
 and conuerfacyon. and alfo laborde cont[i]nualymony 
 yerys before hys dethe. in grete wekenes of bodye fo 
 that by hys febulnes and diffefe he had vtwardly lofte 
 the fight of on of his yes a too yere before his obite
 
 when other lymmys of his body faylde him for dyuers 
 other dyffefis. and not withflonding alle thys yette 
 wolde he neuer be fro the couent ne fro the quere ne 
 fro the comyn table of the frayter where he was more 
 fedde of the refeccyon of his brethyrne. than of hys 
 owne Sothely aftyr hys yonge age. he vtwardly abfley- 
 nide hym fro flefche metys neuertheles he wolde to his 
 brethirne yat wer fickelew and febul befyly and de- 
 uowtly profer hem fleffche metys for her recoueryng 
 And at the lafte he fyl yn to a fekenes yat ys called 
 diffenteria And when he was al mofte browghte to 
 hys ende. he toke hys goftely conforte and focur the 
 holy and bleflyd fakyrment of owre lordys precius 
 body and blode with hys lafte anoyntyng. and fo bode 
 al mofte. x. days with owte any mete intendyng only 
 thebenefitys of god and the exhortacion of hys brethyrne 
 Trewly the nyghte before the day yat he pafte to god 
 abowte the owre of diuyne feruyce. he faw owre lord 
 ihefu and owre bleffyd lady feynt mary cummyng tohym. 
 and with a ful meke fygne they made a tokyn to hym 
 that he fchulde folow hem. and anon aftyr callyd for 
 hys brethirne. and declaryd to hem the vifyon that 
 he had feyne. and tolde hem before, and yat with a 
 ful glade herte yat he fchulde paffe hens on the 
 morow nexte. and fo he dydde Longe hyt were yef 
 y fchulde telle and remembre all thyng that he feyde 
 before hys ende. how he commendyd hym felfe and 
 hys brethirne to god. and exhortyd hem to contynew 
 yn good leuyng. hoys wordys and exhortacion was not 
 of man. but of the holy goofte that fpake yn hym 
 Sothly then on the morow aftyr abowt the howr of 
 tyrfe lying yn afhys and yn herre when he had feyde 
 the feruice of the day. and of the holy trinite. and of 
 owre bleflyd lady, the whyche he vfyd euermore of a 
 childe and when he had herde deuowtly the paffion of 
 owre lorde after the .iiii. euangelyftys. and other falmys 
 with grete compunccyon of herte betwhene the fwhete 
 kyffyngys of oure lordys crofle and the falutacions 
 of oure bleflyd lady, bleffyng hys brethyrne deuoutely 
 expyrvd. Therfore thys worfchyfful fader, wyth home
 
 103 
 
 fro my ryghte yonge aage y was ful wele acquentyd 
 anon as y fawe hym deuoutely y grete hym and he grete 
 me ageyne ful mekely and tolde me many thyngys. 
 
 C f a certcn gonge monfee tfjm of fjt s <Ea In 
 
 [Othely thys worfchipful fader and Prior 
 fchewyd to me ther alfo a certen adole- 
 fcente a yonge man the whyche in hys 
 chyldhode with gret feruent deuocyon 
 entryd in to relygyon and was a monke 
 in the fame place and monaflerye yat thys worfchyp- 
 ful fader aforefeyde was prior of. and there he leuyd 
 a good whyle but no longe tyme. for he was preuent 
 haflely and fone of dethe and fo bleffydly he paffyd 
 out of this worlde Trewly y neuer faw hym in body 
 Neuertheles often y haue harde the bretheren of the 
 fame place tel of his pure and innocent leuing and 
 alfo of hys holy paffing mony thingys Then feyd the 
 forfeyde prior to me of hym This ys my fonne he feyde 
 of home often tymes thou hafle herde. he was my 
 felowe when y leuyd in the worlde in holy leuing and 
 deuocyon. he ys now alfo my felowe going to heuyn. 
 and fchalle be an euyn heyre with me eternaly in euer- 
 lafting ioye and blyffe and the fame yong monke alfo 
 tolde opinly to hys brethirne before his dethe the 
 howre of hys paffyng. And alfo heuynly melody was 
 harde at hys paffyng as many can telle that were ther 
 in the monaflerie the fame tyme Treuly the for- 
 feyde prior, what for diuers negligencys of hys owne 
 doyng and for othyr diuers fawtys of hys brethirne. 
 he had fofryd fome lytyl peynys And the fame yonge 
 monke alfo. as he had offendyd yn ful fmale and 
 lytyl thyngys. fo he had felte afore fum what of lytyl 
 peynys. not wythflondyng they were bothe equale yn 
 wythnes and in ioy Sothly the forfeide prior as hyt 
 femyd had a trufle of a more greter rewarde for the 
 more goode dedys and meritys of vertu the whyche he 
 had by lengur leuyng deferuyd.
 
 104 
 
 of a toorsdjfpful prgste. c a lit'/ 
 
 Saw alfo yn thys fame place a certen wor- 
 fchipful prifle the whyche yn hys lyfe 
 dydde mekyl good to the pepul by hys 
 holy preching Treuly he had grace of 
 prechyng fo ioynyd which the zele of 
 ryghtwefnes and with good example of leuyng. yat he 
 callid not only the pepul of hys owne parymons fro 
 wekyd leuyng and dedly dedis. but alfo he enformid 
 and tawghte innumerable pepul of other parifhons 
 ferre and brode. how they fchulde leue her fynnys and 
 fulfille owre lordis commandmentis and how they 
 fchulde dayly encrefe and perfet in goode and vertu- 
 us leuyng and fo to continew to a dew and a con- 
 uenient ende And fothly fumme were fo ferre fallyn 
 yn to the deuyls bondys by her euyl and wekyd 
 leuyng whome he callyd ageyne by prayur and holy 
 prechyng that vifibly they myghte aftyrwarde vnder- 
 flonde and know how they had be takyn hem felfe to 
 the deuyl and hys feruice the whiche he made of oure 
 lordys infinite mercy by confeffion and fatiffaccion and 
 penanfe doyng. ryght wele and parfet yn the feithe 
 and yn good leuyng Neuertheles for what caufys he 
 had alfo fofryd before a lytyl while diuers peynis y 
 leue oute here by caufe y haue feyde a fore many 
 feche lyke thyngys.' And as we wente more ynward and 
 farthir yn to yat ioyful place of paradyfe. we had 
 euermore a clere lyghte and felte a fwetur fauer 
 and hem that we founde and faw ther were more 
 whyttur and gladder than were othyr that we faw 
 before And Vher to fchulde y tarye here now to 
 nowmbre tho perfons and her merytys the whiche y 
 faw ther. that y knew fumme tyme before yn the 
 worlde. and hem alfo that y knew not before For 
 al that were ther yn that place, were ordende to be 
 the cytfonnys of the hye and euerlaftyng ierufalem and 
 al had pafte the ftryfe and batel of this worlde and 
 were victurs of deuyls. and fo lyghtly they went tho-
 
 rowe al peynys. as they were before les comyrd [com- 
 byrd ?J and holde by wrechyd leuyng and worldely vicys 
 
 C ijoto otore lottos passion foas reprcsentgo* 
 anB sljrtogB to tfje sotolgs tfjat torn in pa[ra> 
 Bise. C a liiii 
 
 |Owe fothely tho thyngys the whiche we fawe 
 as we wente forthe farthir in to the fame 
 place nethyr tonge may telle ne mannys 
 mynde maye worthely confyder. who ys 
 he that may worthily tel in worde how in 
 the myddys of tho bleffyd and holy fowlys the holy 
 croffe of cryftys paffyon was prefented and fchewed to 
 hem. of the whiche infynite thoufandys were there 
 ftondyng aboute hyt and as oure lorde had be prefent 
 in hys body fo they worfchyppte and halowed hys 
 bleffyd paffyon Trewly there was feyne the meke 
 redemer of mankynde oure fwete lorde and fauyur 
 ihefus crifte as he had be done frefche on the croffe. 
 For alle hys body was blake and blody of fcurgys and 
 betyng and cruelly diffigurde by fowle fpyttyng 
 crownyd with fcarpe thornys and fmytte throw with 
 grete naylys hys fyde was fore perfyd with a fpere and 
 fro his handys and fete ranne out blode redde as pur- 
 pul and from his holy fyde came downe blode and water 
 ful largely, and at this grete and wondyrful fpectacul 
 flode his holy moder oure bleffyd lady fent marye. not 
 now in heuynes and momyng but right gladfum and 
 ioyng and yat was in a ful feyre demenyng. and ther 
 alfo ftode with herre the fwete dyfcipil of crifte feynt 
 iohnne the bleffyd euangelifte and ho may now con- 
 ceue in mynde how thoo holy foulys ranne thedir on 
 euery fyde gladly and lightly to fee and beholde yat 
 bleffyd fight O what deuocyon was there of hem that 
 behilde that glorius vyfyon O what concurs was ther 
 of worfchipping and thanking our lorde ihefu crifte 
 and how meruelus was her ioyful gladnes Trewly
 
 io6 
 
 remembryng thefe thyngys in my felfe y wote not 
 whedir forow or deuocyon or compaffion or gratula- 
 cyon drawyn nowe myne onhappy foule dyuers weyes. 
 For wondyr and meruel of tho thingis rnakyn me 
 alyenate fro my felfe and fum what abfent to my felfe. 
 who ys he that wolde not ml gretly forow to fee fo 
 feire and fo folemly a body to be cafle under fo grete 
 iniuriis and fore peynys. and who wolde not with al 
 his harte haue compaffion apon his mekenes fo mouid 
 and vexyd with tormentys and vpbraydys of feche 
 wekyd folke. and what ioye and conforte may nowe 
 here be thoughte. that by his paffion and meke dethe 
 helle ys foughtyn agenft. the deuyl ys ouercome and 
 bounde his power and ftrenthe is deftroyed and man 
 that was lofle ys reftoryd ageyne to grace and takyn 
 oute of the peynful prifon of helle and ioynyd blef- 
 fydly to the holy angelys of heuyn. and ho wolde not 
 meruel on the grete mercy and goodnes of our 
 fauyur cryfte ihefu the whiche now beyng immortalle 
 wyl whytefaue yat hys paffyon and dethe the whyche 
 he fofryd onys in this worlde bodely for the redemp- 
 cion of manicynde be reprefentyd and fchewde in a 
 vyfyon to the holy fowlys that byn in paradyfe. that 
 her deuocyon and loue fchuld be the more accendyd 
 and increfyd to hym. Many other thingis y faw and 
 herde there the whyche y trowe at this tyme is bettur 
 to leue hem out than to wryte hem. and than aftyr- 
 ward fodenly this bleffyd fyghte and holy vyfyon was 
 takyn fro thens Than al that grete multytude of foulys 
 that came thedir to worfchippe the holy croffe of 
 cryftys paffion wente ageyne euerichon to her owne 
 places with ioy and gladnes Treuly y folowyde euer- 
 more my duke and lodifman fent Nicholas that went 
 forthe farthir and farther repletyd now with grete ioye 
 and gladnes amonge the ml brighte and light man- 
 fyons of bleffid fowlys. and the whitnes of hem yat were 
 here in this place and the fwetnes of fauer and alfo 
 the melodye of fynging laudys to god wes ineftymable 
 and onethe to mannys vnderftondyng credyble.
 
 icy 
 
 C $f tfje nttrgng of tfjc gate of paralyse and of 
 tfje toj? tijat apiergB tottljmfortf). C a Ib 
 
 Orthermore nowe whenne we were pafle all 
 thefe placys and fightys aforefeyde and 
 had gonne a good fpace more inward and 
 euer grew to vs more and more ioye and 
 feyernes of placys. alfo at the laile we 
 fawe aferre a ful glorious walle of cryftal hoys heythe 
 no man might fee. and lenthe no man might confider. 
 and when we came thedyr y fawe within forthe a ful 
 feyre brighte fchynyng gate and ftode opyn faue hit was 
 figned and leide ouer with a croffe Treuly theder 
 came flockemele the multytude of tho bleffyd fowlys 
 that were next to hyt. and wolde cum in at that feyre 
 gate The croffe was fette in the myddys of that gate. 
 and nowe fche was lyfte vppe an hye and fo gaue to 
 hem that came thedyr an opyn and a fre entryng. and 
 afterward fche was lettyn done ageyne. and fo fparyd 
 other oute that wuld haue commyn in But howe ioy- 
 ful they were that wente in and how reuerently they 
 taryde that ftode withoute abydyng the lyftyng vppe 
 of the croffe ageyne y can not telle by no wordys 
 Sothely here fent Nycholas and y ftode ftille to geder. 
 and the lyftyngys vppe of the croffe and the lettyngys 
 done ageyne. wherby fomme wente in and fome taryde 
 withoute. y behilde long tyme with grete wonder And 
 at the lafte fent Nycholas and y came thedyr to the 
 fame gate hande in hande. And when we came thedyr 
 the croffe was lyfte vp. And fo they that were there 
 wente in. Sothely than my felowe fent Nycholas frely 
 wente in and y foloude but fodenly and onauyfyd the 
 croffe of the gate came done apon owre handys and 
 departyd me fro my felawe fente Nycholas and when 
 y fawe thys. ful fore aferde y was Then feyde fent 
 Nycholas to me. Be not aferde but haue only ful cer- 
 ten feythe in our lorde ihefu crifle and doutheles thou 
 fchalt come yn And aftyr thys my hope and trufte 
 came ageyne and the croffe was lyfte vppe and fo y 
 cam in. but what brightnes and clerenes of light was
 
 io8 
 
 there with in forthe al aboutys no man afke ne feche 
 of me for y can not only telle hit by worde but alfo y 
 can not remembre hit in mynde Thatgloryous fchyning 
 light was brighte and fmothe and fo rauefhte a man 
 that behylde hit that hit bare a man aboue hym felfe 
 by the grete brightnes of lyghte yn fo mekyl that what 
 fumeuer y fawe before hit was as no thing me thought 
 in comparyfon of hit That bryghtneffe thawghe hyt 
 were ineftymable. Neuertheleffe hyt dullyd not a 
 mannys fyghte. hyt rathyr fcharpyd hyt. Sothly hyt 
 fchynyd ful meruelufly. but more yneftymably hyt de- 
 lytyd a man that behylde hyt. and wondirfully cow- 
 pulde a mannys fyghte to fe hit. And wyth ynforthe 
 no thyng y myght fee. but lighte and the walle of cryf- 
 talle throw the whyche we came yn And alfo fro the 
 gronde vppe to toppe of that walle were grycis ordende 
 and dyfpofyd feyre and meruelufly. by the whyche the 
 ioyful company that was cum yn at the forfeyde gate 
 gladly afcendyd vppe Ther was no labur. ther was no 
 difficulte ther was no taryng yn her afcendyng. and the 
 hier they wente the gladder they were. Sothely y 
 ftode benethe on the grunde. and longe tyme y faw 
 and behylde how they that came yn at the gate afcendyd 
 vppe by the fame grycis And at the lafte as y lokyd 
 vppe hier y faw yn a trone of ioy fittyng owre bleffyd 
 lord and fauyur ihefus crifte yn lykenes of man. and 
 abowte hym as hyt femyd to me were a fyue hondred 
 fowlys. the whyche late had flyed vppe to that glorius 
 trone. and fo they came to owre lorde and worfchpte 
 hym and thankyde hym. for hys grete mercy and grace 
 fchewyd and done to hem And fome were feyne on 
 the vppur partys of the walle as they had walkyd hethyr 
 and dedyr Trewly y knew for certen that thys place. 
 were y faw owre lorde fyttyng yn a trone. was not the 
 hye heuyn of heuyns where the bleffid fpiritis of angels 
 and the holy fowlys of ryghtwys men ioyin yn the feyghte 
 of god feyng hym yn hys magefte as he ys. where alfo 
 innumerable thowfondis of holy fpiritys and angels 
 lerue hym and affifte hym But than fro thens wythowten 
 any hardnes or taryng. they afcende vppe to the hey
 
 IOQ 
 
 heuin the whyche ys bleffyd of the fyghte of the euer- 
 laflyng godhed where al only the holy angels and the 
 fowlys of ryghtwes men that byn of angels perfeccion 
 feyn the ynuifibly and inmortalle kynge of al worldys 
 face to face, the whyche hathe only immortalite. and 
 dwellyth yn lyghte. that ys inacceffyble. for no man 
 may cumme to hyt. the whyche no mortalle man feithe 
 nethyr may fee Sothely he ys feyne only of holy 
 fpiritys that byn pure and clene. the whyche be not 
 greuyd by no corrupcion of body nethir of fowle And 
 yn thys vifion that y faw. fo mekylle y conceuyd yn my 
 fowle of ioy and gladnes that wat fum euer may be feyde 
 of hyt by mannys mowthe. ful lytyl hyt ys. and onfuffi- 
 cient to expreffe the ioy of myne herte. that y had there. 
 
 C ijoto t!)c monltr came ototc atjnwe tfjroUj tfte 
 same gate of paraBgae. C &a Hit 
 
 [Herfore when y had feyn al thefe fyghtys 
 aboue feyde and many othyr innumerable 
 my lorde fent Nycholas that hylde me by 
 the hande feyde fchortly thys to me Loo 
 fonne he feyde now a party aftyr they peti- 
 cion and grete defir thow hafte feyne and beholde. 
 the (late of the worlde yat ys to cumme as hyt myghte 
 be to poffible Alfo the perels of hem that offendyn 
 and erryn the peynys of fynners. the refte alfo of hem 
 yat haue done her purgacion. the defyrys of hem that 
 be goyng to heuynward. and the ioys of hem. that now 
 byn cumme to the courte of heuyn and alfo the ioy of 
 cryflis reynynge And now thow mufte go ageyne to 
 they felfe and to thyne. and to the worldys feyghtyng 
 Treuly thow fchalt haue and perceue the ioys that thow 
 hafte feyne and mekyl more, yeffe thow contynew and 
 perfeuer in the drede of god. And when he had feyde 
 thys to me he browghte me forthe throwe the fame 
 gate that we came yn. wherfor ful heuy and fory was y 
 and more than a man may fuppofe. for wele y knew 
 that y muft turne ageyne. fro that heuynly blyffe to thys 
 worldys wrechidnes. And gretely he exhortyd me.
 
 no 
 
 how y fchulde dyfpofe me. to abyde the day of 
 my callyng oute of my body yn clennes of herte and 
 of body, and mekenes of fpirite wyth dylygent kepyng of 
 my religyon. Dylygently he feyde to me. kepe the com- 
 maundementys of god. and dyfpofe they leuyng aftyr the 
 example of ryghtwes men. And truely fo hyt fchal be. 
 that aftyr the terme of they bodely leuyng thow fchal be 
 admyttyd bleffydly. to her felefchippe euerlaftyngly. 
 
 C <Sf rtje sto* te pele anfl melo&re of fcellgs tijat 
 lie ijrrDc in paraDnsc anD also ijoto fje came to 
 self agemte* ~ C a. Mi 
 
 jjNd whyle the holy confeffour fent nycholas 
 thys wyfe fpake yet with me fodenly y 
 harde ther a folenne pele and a rynggyng 
 of a meruelus fwetenes. and as al the bellys 
 yn the worlde or what fumeuer ys of fovvn- 
 yng had be rongyn to gedyr at onys Trevvly yn thys 
 pele and rynging brake owte alfo a meruelus fwetenes. 
 and a variant medelyng of melody fownyd wyth alle 
 And y wote not whether the gretnes of melody, or the 
 fwetnes of fownnyng of bellys was more to be wondirde 
 And to fo grete a noyfe y toke good hede and ful gretly 
 my mynde was fufpendyd to here hyt Sothly anone 
 as that gret and meruelus fownnyng and noyfe was 
 ceffyd fodenly y faw my felfe departyd fro the fwete 
 felefchippe of my duke and leder fent Nicholas Than 
 was y returnyd to my felfe ageyne. and anone y hard 
 the voycis of my brethyrne. that (lode abowte our 
 bedde alfo my bodely flrenthe cam ageyn to me a lytyl 
 and a litil and myn yes opinde to the vfe of feying as 
 ye fawe ryghte wele. Alfo my fekenes and febulnes 
 by the which e y was longe tyme ful fore diffefid was 
 vtwardly excludyd and gonne fro me. and fate vppe 
 before yow fo flronge and myghty as y was afore by hyt 
 foroful and heuy And y wende that y had be then yn 
 the chirche afore the auter. where y worfchipte fyrfle 
 the croffe And as tochyng the taryng that y made yn 
 thys vyfyon y had wende hyt had be noone. but al only
 
 Ill 
 
 the fpace of on matens while, and now as y vnderftonde. 
 y was terdye .ij. days and more And now as com- 
 pendeufly as y kowde y haue here tolde yow of al tho 
 thingys the whiche y fawe and were fchewyd to me 
 yn body or yn fpirite at the inftauns and commande- 
 ment of youre holynes and deuoute charyte. And nowe 
 y befeche you mekely and that with fore weping that ye 
 will with faue [vouchfafe] to praye to god for me an vn- 
 happy wrecche yat y may fcape the grete and greuys 
 peynys of fynners the whyche y fawe. and cum to the 
 ioys of the holy fowlys that y knewe. and alfoo to fee 
 euerlaftyngly the gloryous face of oure bleffyd lorde 
 and fauyur ihefu crifte and oure bleffyd lady fent marye. 
 
 C n proffe tfjat tfjs reuelacron gs of goB anfl 
 moste nrru>s tie trcto for tije grete mwraclgs tijat 
 our lovU s5etoi>& on tins same monlic tfjat same 
 tome. C Ta ttmf 
 
 [Ony inflruccyons and opyn examples byn 
 here at the begynnyng of thys narracyon 
 that euydentely prouyn thys vyfyon. not 
 to be of mannys conceyte but vtwardely 
 of the wylle of god the whiche wolde 
 haue hyt fchewed to cryftyn pepul Neuertheleffe yefe 
 there be fo grete infydelyte or infyrmyte of any per- 
 fons that can not beleue to thefe thyngys aforfeyde lete 
 hem confyder the grete fekeneffe and febulnes of hym 
 that fawe hyt. fo fodenly and fo fone helyd in to a 
 very wytnes and trowthe of this vyfyon that he fawe. 
 Alfo let hem meruelle the grete noyfe that was abowte 
 hym. and alfo howe that he was prycked in hys fete 
 with nyldys by the whyche he kowde not in any wyfe 
 be mouyd. Forthermore let hem take hede to hys 
 yes that were fo ferre fallyn done in to hys hede and 
 was not feyne onethe tobrethefpace of .ij. days, and alfo 
 aftyr a ful longe fpace of howris onethe lafte myghte 
 be perfeuyd yn hym a ful fmalle meuyng as a thynne 
 drede yn hys vytalle veynys Alfo let hem confyder 
 hys contynualle wepyng and terys the whyche he had 
 aftyrward many days. And befyde all thes thyngys
 
 112 
 
 we knowe alfo a nothyr certen thynge that was a ful 
 feyre myracle and a very tokyn of godys curacyon 
 fchewyd on hym the fame tyme. and as mekyl to be 
 merueld. Sothely he had al mode the fpace of an 
 hole yere yn hys lyfte legge a grete fore and a ful 
 byttur as hyt were a canker large and brode wherby 
 he was peynyd intollerably. And he was wonte to fey. 
 that he had feche a forowandpeyne therof. as he had bore 
 an hoote plate of yrne bownde fafte to hys legge And 
 ther was no emplaftur no oyntmente nethyr any othyr 
 medicyn how be hit that he had mekyl of lechis leyde 
 to hyt. yat myghte yefe hym of hys peyne or drawe the 
 wownde to gedyr Trewly yn the fpace of hys rauefh- 
 yng. he was fo fully helyd that he hym felfe meruelyd 
 wyth vs to fele and fee the peyne and ache wyth the 
 wownde fo clene agonne. that no tokyn of hyt. ne figne 
 of rednes or of whythnes remaynyd aboue the meruelus 
 curacion of god. Al only thys differens had hys legge 
 that was fore, fro todyr legge that where the forfeyde 
 fore was that place was bare and had none heere. 
 
 j]Ul delectable hyt was to hym as he feyde 
 fro that tyme forthe. as ofte as he harde 
 any folenne pele of ryngyng of bellys. 
 by caufe hyt wolde then cum to hys 
 mynde ageyne. the ful fwete pele and 
 melody the whyche he herde. when he was amonge 
 the bleffyd fowlys yn paradyfe. Sothely aftyr that he 
 was cum to hym felfe and hys brethirne had tolde hym. 
 that now ys the holy tyme of yeftyr. than fyrfte he 
 beleuyd. when he harde hem rynge folenly to complen. 
 for then he knew certenly. that the pele and melodye. 
 that he herde yn paradyfe. wyth fo grete ioy and glad- 
 nes. betokynde the fame folennyte of yeftir yn the 
 whyche owre bleffyd lorde and fauyur ihefus crifte rofe 
 vppe vifibly and bodely fro dethe on to lyfe. to home 
 wyth the fadyr and the holy goofte be now and euer- 
 more euerlaftyng ioye and blyffe Amen. 
 
 Muir fs> Paterson, Printert, Edinburgh.
 
 A List of WORKS 
 
 Edited by 
 Professor EDWARD ARBER 
 
 F.S.A. ; Fellow of Kings College, London ; Hon. Member of the Virginia. 
 and Wisconsin Historical Societies ; late English Examiner at the 
 London University ; and also at the Victoria University, Man- 
 chester; Emeritus Professor of English Language and 
 Literature, Mason College, Birmingham. 
 
 An English Garner 
 
 English Reprints 
 
 The War Library 
 
 The English Scholar's Library 
 
 The first Three English Books on America 
 
 The first English New Testament, 1526 
 
 The Paston Letters, 1422-1509. Edited 
 
 by JAMES GAIRDNER. 3 vols. 
 A List of 837 London Publishers, 1553- 
 
 1640 
 
 All the Works in this Catalogue are published at net prices, 
 
 ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND CO., 
 
 14, PARLIAMENT ST., WESTMINSTER.
 
 NOTE 
 
 THE ENGLISH GARNER, THE ENGLISH REPRINTS, and THE 
 ENGLISH SCHOLAR'S LIBRARY are now issued in a new style 
 of binding. A few copies in the old style are still to if had, 
 and will be supplied if specially ordered, as long as the stock 
 lasts. Some of Professor A rber's Publications can still be sup- 
 plied on Large Paper. Prices on application to the Booksellers 
 or from the Publishers. 
 
 ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE & CO.
 
 An English Garner 
 
 INGATHERINGS FROM OUR HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 
 
 %* Abridged Lists of the Texts ; many of which are very 
 
 rare, and not obtainable in any other form. 
 
 VOL I. 
 Large Crown 8vo, doth, 5.5. net. 
 
 English Political, Naval, and Military History, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 1. The Expedition to Scotland in May, 1543. 
 
 2. R. PEEKE'S fight at Xerez with a quarter-staff against three 
 Spaniards at once, armed with poniards and daggers ; when he 
 killed one and put the other two to flight. 1625. 
 
 3. The Capture of Cris, in Galatia, by Captain QUAILE and 35 
 men. 1626. 
 
 4. Ranks in the British Army, about 1630. 
 
 5. The Return of CHARLES II. to Whitehall, 1660. 
 
 6. The Retaking of St. Helena, 1673. 
 
 English Voyages, Travels, Commerce, etc., etc. 
 
 7. The Beginnings of English Trade with the Levant, 1511-1570. 
 
 8. The Voyage from Lisbon to Goa of the first Englishman 
 (THOMAS STEVENS, a Jesuit) known to have reached India by the 
 Cape of Good Hope. 1572. 
 
 9. The extraordinary captivity, for nineteen years, of Captain 
 ROBERT KNOX in Ceylon ; with his singular deliverance. 1660- 
 1679. 
 
 English Life and Progress. 
 
 10. The Benefits of observing Fish Days. 1594. 
 
 it. The Great Frost. Cold doings in London. 1608. 
 
 12. The Carriers of London, and the Inns they stopped at, in 
 1637. 
 
 13. A Narrative of the Draining of the Fens. 1661. 
 
 English Literature, Literary History, and 
 Biography. 
 
 14. Sir HENRY SIDNEY. A Letter to his son PHILIP, when at 
 Shrewsbury School. 
 
 English Poetry. 
 
 15. Love Posies. Collected about 1590. 
 
 16. Sir PHILIP SIDNEY. ASTROPHEL and STELLA [Sonnets] 
 1591. With the story of his affection for Lady PENELOPE DEVER- 
 EUX, afterwards RICH. 
 
 17. EDMUND SPENSER and others. ASTROPHEL. A Pastoral 
 Elegy on Sir PHILIP SIDNEY. 1591. 
 
 18. JOHN DENNIS. The Secrets of Angling [i.e. Trout Fishing}. 
 1613. Forty years before WALTON'S Angler. 
 
 19. Many other single Poems by various Authors.
 
 2 An English Garner. 
 
 VOL II. 
 Large Crown Svo, cloth, $s. net. 
 
 English Political, Naval, and Military History, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 1. The Triumph at Calais and Boulogne of HENRY VIII. [with 
 ANNE BOLEYN] and FRANCIS I. November, 1532. 
 
 2. The Coronation Procession of Queen ANNE [BOLEYN] from 
 the Tower through London to Westminster. June, 1533. 
 
 3. English Army Rations in 1591. 
 
 4. Rev. T. PRINCE. A History of New England in the form of 
 Annals, from 1602 to 1633. Published at Boston, N.E., in 1736- 
 1755. This is the most exact condensed account in existence of the 
 foundation of our first Colonies in America. 
 
 English Voyages, Travels, Commerce, etc., etc. 
 
 5. Captain T. SANDERS. The unfortunate voyage of the Jesus 
 to Tripoli, where the crew were made slaves. 1584-1585. 
 
 6. N. H. The Third Circumnavigation of the Globe, by THOMAS 
 CAVENDISH, in the Desire. 1586-1588. 
 
 7. The famous fight of the Dolphin against Five Turkish Men- 
 of-War off Cagliari. 1617. 
 
 English Life and Progress. 
 
 8. Dr. J. DEE. The Petty Navy Royal. [Fisheries]. 1577. 
 
 9. Captain HITCHCOCK. A Political Plat [Scheme], etc. [Her- 
 ring Fisheries.] 
 
 10. D. DEFOE. The Education of Women. 1692. 
 
 English Literature, Literary History, and 
 Biography. 
 
 11. F. MERES. A Sketch of English Literature, etc., up to 
 September, 1598. This is the most important contemporary 
 account of SHAKESPEARE'S Works to this date ; including some 
 that have apparently perished. 
 
 12. J. WRIGHT. The Second Generation of English Actors, 
 1625-1670. This includes some valuable information respecting 
 London Theatres during this period. 
 
 English Poetry. 
 
 13. Sir P. SIDNEY. Sonnets and Poetical Translations. Before 
 1587. 
 
 14. H. CONSTABLE, and others. DIANA. [Sonnet.] 1594. 
 
 15. Madrigals, Elegies, and Poems, by various other Poets.
 
 An English Garner. 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 Large Crown 8v0, cloth, $s. net. 
 
 English Political, Naval, and Military 
 History, etc., etc. 
 
 1. W. PATTEN. The Expedition into Scotland : with the Battle 
 of Pinkie Cleugh or Musselburgh, 1547. This was the " Rough 
 Wooing of MARY, Queen of Scots," whom the English wanted to 
 marry EDWARD VI. 
 
 English Voyages, Travels, Commerce, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 2. J. H. VAN LINSCHOTEN. Voyage to Goa and back, in 
 Portuguese carracks. 1583-1592. 
 
 This work showed the way to the East, and led to the formation 
 of the Dutch and the English East India Companies. For nearly 
 three years this Dutchman, returning in charge of a cargo of 
 pepper, spices, etc., was pinned up in the Azores by the English 
 ships ; of whose daring deeds he gives an account. 
 
 3. E. WRIGHT. The voyage of the Earl of CUMBERLAND to 
 the Azores in 1589. This is a part of LINSCHOTEN'S story re-told 
 more fully from an English point of view. 
 
 4. The first Englishmen JOHN NEWBERY and RALPH FITCH 
 that ever reached India overland, vid Aleppo and the Persian 
 Gulf, in 1583-1589. They met with LINSCHOTEN there ; and 
 also T. Stevens, the Jesuit, see vol. i. p. 130. 
 
 English Life and Progress. 
 
 5. J. CAIUS, M.D. Of English Dogs. 1536. Translated from 
 the Latin by A. FLEMING in 1576. 
 
 6. Britain's Buss. A Computation of the Cost and Profit of a 
 Herring Buss or Ship. 1615. 
 
 English Literature, Literary History, and 
 Biography. 
 
 7. T. ELLWOOD. Relations with J. MILTON. This young 
 Quaker rendered many services to the Poet ; amongst which was 
 the suggestion of Paradise Regained. 
 
 8. J. DRYDEN. Of Dramatic Poesy. An Essay. This charm- 
 ing piece of English Prose was written in 1665 and published in 
 1668. With it is given the entire Controversy between DRYDEN 
 and Sir R. HOWARD on this subject. 
 
 English Poetry. 
 
 9. S. DANIEL. DELIA. [Sonnets.] 1594. 
 
 10. T. CAMPION, M.D. Songs and Poems. 1601-1613. 
 
 11. Lyrics, Elegies, etc., by other Poets.
 
 An English Garner. 
 
 VOL IV. 
 
 Large Crown Svo, cloth, 55. net. 
 
 English Political, Naval, and Military History, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 1. E. UNDERBILL, " the Hot Gospeller," Imprisonment in 1553, 
 with Anecdotes of Queen MARY'S Coronation Procession, WYATT'S 
 Rebellion, the Marriage of PHILIP and MARY, etc. 
 
 2. J. Fox. The Imprisonment of the Princess ELIZABETH. 
 1554-1555. 
 
 3. Texts relating to the Winning of Calais and Guisnes by the 
 French in January, 1556. 
 
 4. The Coronation Procession of Queen ELIZABETH. January, 
 
 *SS9- 
 
 5. Sir THOMAS OVERBURY. Observations of Holland, Flanders, 
 and France, in 1609. A most sagacious Political Study. 
 
 6. JAMES I. The Book of Sports. 1618 
 
 7. Abp. G. ABBOTT. Narrative of his Sequestration from Office 
 in 1627 by CHARLES I., at the instigation of BUCKINGHAM and 
 LAUD. 
 
 8. Major-General Sir T. MORGAN. Progress [i.e. March\ in 
 France and Flanders, with the 6,000 " Red Coats" at the taking of 
 Dunkirk, etc. , in 1657-8. 
 
 English Voyages, Travels, Commerce, etc., etc. 
 
 9. The first Britons who ever reached the city of Mexico : T. 
 BLAKE, a Scotchman, before 1536 ; and J. FIELD and R. TOMSON, 
 
 I55& 
 
 10. The wonderful recovery of the Exchange from forty-five 
 Turkish pirates of Algiers by J. RAWLINS and twenty-four other 
 slaves. February, 1622. 
 
 English Life and Progress. 
 
 11. T. GENTLEMAN. England's Way to Win Wealth. [Fish- 
 eries.] The Dutch obtained more wealth from their Herring 
 Fishery along the English shores than the Spaniards did from their 
 American gold mines. 
 
 English Poetry. 
 
 12. ? T. OCCLEVE. The Letter of CUPID. 1402. 
 
 13.' L. SHEPPARD. JOHN BON and Mast[er] PARSON. [A Satire 
 on the Mass.] 1551. 
 
 14. Rev. T. BRICE. A Register of the Tormented and Cruelly 
 Burned within England. 1555-1558. These verses give the names 
 of most of the Marian Martyrs. 
 
 15. J. C. ALCILIA ; PHILOPARTHEN'S loving folly ! [Love 
 Poems.] 1595. 
 
 16. G. WITHER. Fair VIRTUE, the Mistress of PHIL'ARETE. 
 1622. This is WITHER'S masterpiece. Over 6,000 lines of verse 
 in many metrical forms. 
 
 17. The Songs that JOHN DOWLAND, the famous Lutenist, set 
 to music.
 
 An English Garner. 5 
 
 VOL. V. 
 
 Large Crown 8z>o, cloth, 5.?. net, 
 
 English Political, Naval, and Military History, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 1. J. SAVILE, King JAMES'S entertainment at Theobalds, and 
 his Welcome to London. 1603. 
 
 2. G. DUGDALE. The Time Triumphant. King JAMES'S Coro- 
 nation at Westminster, 25 July, 1603 ; and Coronation Procession 
 [delayed by the Plague], 15 March, 1604. 
 
 English Voyages, Travels, Commerce, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 3. The Voyages to Brazil of WILLIAM HAWKINS, Governor of 
 Plymouth and father of Sir JOHN, about 1530. 
 
 4. Sir J. HAWKINS. First Voyage to the West Indies, 1562- 
 1563. This was the beginning of the English Slave Trade. 
 
 5. R. BODENHAM. A Trip to Mexico. 1564-1565. 
 
 6. Sir J. HAWKINS. Second Voyage to the West Indies. 1564- 
 
 1565- 
 
 7. SirJ. HAWKINS. Third and disastrous Voyage to the West 
 Indies, 1567-1569 : with the base treachery of the Spaniards at San 
 Juan de Ulna, near Vera Cruz; and the extraordinary adventures 
 of Three of the Survivors. This was DRAKE'S 2nd Voyage to the West 
 Indies ; and the first in which he commanded a ship, the Judith, 
 
 8. Sir F. DRAKE'S 3rd (1570), 4th (1571), and 5th (1572-73), 
 Voyages to the West Indies. Especially the 5th, known as The 
 Voyage to Nombre de Dios : in which, on n February, 1573, he 
 first saw the Pacific Ocean ; and then besought GOD to give him 
 life to sail once in an English ship on that sea. [See opposite page.] 
 
 English Life and Progress. 
 
 9. B. FRANKLIN. ' Poor Richard ' improved. Proverbs of 
 Thrift and to discourage useless expense. Philadelphia, 1757. 
 
 English Poetry. 
 
 10. B. BARNES. PARTHENOPHIL and PARTHENOPHE. Sonnets, 
 Madrigals, Elegies and Odes. 1593. [A perfect Storehouse of 
 Versification, including the only treble Sestine in the language.] 
 
 11. ZEPHERIA. [Canzons.] 1594. 
 
 12. Sir J. DAVIES. Orchestra or a Poem on Dancing. 1596. 
 
 13. B. GRIFFIN. FIDESSA, more chaste than kind. [Sonnets.] 
 J 596. 
 
 14. Sir J. DAVIES. Nosce teipsum ! In two Elegies : (i) Of 
 Human Knowledge, (2) Of the Soul of Man and the Immortality 
 thereof. 1599. 
 
 15. SirJ. Davies. Hymns of ASTR^EA [i.e. Queen ELIZABETH]. 
 In acrostic verse. 1599.
 
 6 An English Garner. 
 
 VOL. VI. 
 
 Large Crown &vo, cloth, 5-r. net. 
 
 English Political, Naval, and Military 
 History, etc., etc. 
 
 1. The Examination, at Saltwood Castle, Kent, of WILLIAM of 
 THORPE, by Abp. T. ARUNDELL, 7 August, 1407. Edited by W. 
 TYNDALE, 1530. This is the best account of Lollardism from the 
 inside, given by one who was the leader of the second generation of 
 Lollards. 
 
 English Voyages, Travels, Commerce, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 2. J. CHILTON. Travels in Mexico. 1568-1575. 
 
 3. J. BiON. An Account of the Torments, etc. 1708. 
 
 English Life and Progress. 
 
 4. The most dangerous Adventure of R. FERRIS, A. HILL, and 
 W. THOMAS ; who went in a boat by sea from London to Bristol. 
 1590. 
 
 5. Leather. A Discourse to Parliament. 1629. 
 
 6. H. PEACHAM. The Worth of a Penny, or a Caution to keep 
 Money. 1641. With all the variations of the later Editions. 
 
 7. Sir W. PETTY. Political Arithmetic. [Written in 1677.] 
 1690. One of the earliest and best books on the Science of Wealth. 
 
 English Literature, Literary History, and 
 Biography. 
 
 8. ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Esq. [Dean J. Swift.] Predictions for 
 the year 1708. [One of these was the death of J. PARTRIDGE, the 
 Almanack Maker, on 29 March, 1708.] Other tracts of this 
 laughable controversy follow. 
 
 9. [T. GAY.] The Present State of Wit. 3 May, 1711. [A 
 Survey of our Periodical Literature at this date ; including the 
 Review, Tatler, and Spectator.} 
 
 10. [Dr. J. ARBUTHNOT.] Law {i.e. War] is a Bottomless Pit, 
 exemplified in the Case of the Lord STRUTT [the Kings of Spain], 
 JOHN BULL [England] the Clothier, NICHOLAS FROG \Holland} 
 the Linendraper, and LEWIS BABOON [Louis XIV. of Bourbon = 
 France]. In four parts. 1712. 
 
 This famous Pofitical Satire on the War of the Spanish Succes- 
 sion was designed to prepare the English public for the Peace of 
 Utrecht, signed on n April, 1713. In part I., on 28 February, 
 1712, first appeared in our Literature, the character of JOHN BULL, 
 for an Englishman. 
 
 11. T. TICKELL. The life of ADDISON. 1721. 
 
 12. Sir R. STEELE. Epistle to W. CONGREVE [in reply]. 1722. 
 
 English Poetry. 
 
 13. The first printed Robin Hood Ballad. Printed about 1510. 
 
 14. W. PERCY. COELIA. [Sonnets.] 1594. 
 
 15. G. WITHER. FIDELIA. [This is WITHER'S second master-
 
 An English Garner. 7 
 
 piece. The lament of a Woman thinking that she is forsaken in 
 love.] 1615. 
 
 16. M. DRAYTON. IDEA. [Sonnets.] 1619. 
 
 17. The Interpreter. [A Political Satire interpreting the mean- 
 ing of the Protestant, The Puritan, The Papist.] 1622. 
 
 VOL. VII. 
 
 Large Crown Sve, cloth, $s. net, 
 
 English Political, Naval, and Military 
 History, etc., etc. 
 
 1. Sir F. VERE, General of the English troops in the Dutch ser- 
 vice. Commentaries of his Services : at (i) the Storming of Cadiz 
 in 1596, (2) the Action at Turnhoutin 1597, (3) The Battle of Nieu- 
 port in 1600 ; but especially (4) the Siege of Ostend, of which place 
 he was Governor from n June, 1601, to 7 June, 1602. 
 
 2. The retaking of The Friends Adventure from the French by 
 R. LVDE and a boy. 1693. 
 
 English Voyages, Travels, Commerce, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 3. H. PITMAN. Relation, etc. For doing noble Red Cross 
 work at the Battle of Sedgemoor this surgeon was sent as a White 
 Slave to Barbadoes, etc. 1689. 
 
 English Life and Progress. 
 
 4. W. KEMP'S [SHAKESPEARE'S fellow Actor] Nine Days' 
 Wonder ; performed in a Morris Dance from London to Norwich. 
 April, 1600. 
 
 5. A series of Texts on the indignities offered to the Established 
 Clergy, and especially the Private Chaplains, in the Restoration Age, 
 by the Royalist laity ; including 
 
 Dr. J. EACHARD'S witty ' Grounds of the Contempt of the 
 Clergy and Religion.' 1670. 
 
 English Literature, Literary History and 
 Biography. 
 
 6. Another Series of Tracts, in prose and verse, illustrating the 
 great Public Services rendered by D. DEFOE, up to the death of 
 Queen Anne ; including : 
 
 D. DEFOE. An Appeal to Honour and Justice, etc. 1715. 
 
 D. DEFOE. The True Born Englishman. 1701. 
 
 D. DEFOE. The History of Kentish Petition. 1701. 
 
 D. DEFOE. LEGION'S Memorial. 1701. 
 
 D. DEFOE. The Shortest Way with the Dissenters, etc. 1702. 
 
 D. DEKOE. A Hymn to the Pillory. 1703. 
 
 D. DEFOE. Prefaces to the Review. 1704-1710. 
 
 English Poetry. 
 
 7. T. DELONEY. Three Ballads on the Armada fight. August, 
 1588. 
 
 8. R. L. (i) DIEI.LA [Sonnets] ; (2) The Love of DOM DIKGO 
 and GYNEURA. 1596. *
 
 8 An English Garner. 
 
 9. AN. Sc. DAIPHHANTUS, or the Passions of Love. 1604. 
 
 See also above. 
 
 D. DEFOE. The True Born Englishman. 1701. 
 
 D. DEFOE. A Hymn to the Pillory. 1703. 
 
 VOL. VIII. 
 
 Large Crown 8vo, cloth, 5*. net. 
 
 This Index Volume will, if possible, contain the following : 
 
 English Political, Naval, and Military 
 
 History, etc., etc. 
 
 1. J. PROCTOR. The History of WYATT'S Rebellion. 1554. 
 
 2. The burning of Paul's Church, London. 1568. 
 
 3. G. GASCOIGNE the Poet. The Spanish Fury at Antwerp. 
 
 1577- 
 
 4. J. LINGHAM. English Captains in the Low Countries. 
 1584. 
 
 5. The Burial of MARY QUEEN of Scots at Peterborough Cathe- 
 dral, i August, 1587. 
 
 6. T. M. The Entertainment of JAMES I. from Edinburgh to 
 London. 1603. 
 
 7. Bp. W. BARLOW. The Hampton Court Conference. 1604. 
 
 8. The speeches in the Star Chamber at the Censure of BAST- 
 WICK, BARTON, and PRYNNE. 1637. 
 
 9. N. N. The Expedition of the Prince of ORANGE. 1688. 
 
 English Voyages, Travels, Commerce, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 10. The strange things that happened to R. HASLETON in his ten 
 years' Travels. 1585-1595. 
 
 11. E. PELLHAM. The miraculous Deliverance of eight English- 
 men left in Greenland, anno 1630, nine months and twelve days. 
 
 English Life and Progress. 
 
 12. J. MAY. The Estate of Clothing [the manufacture of woollen 
 Cloths'] now in England. 1613. 
 
 English Poetry. 
 
 13. A translation [? by Sir E. DYER] of Six of the Idyllia of 
 THEOCRITUS. 1588. 
 
 14. Verses penned by D. GWIN, eleven years a slave in the 
 Spanish galleys, and presented by him to Queen ELIZABETH on 18 
 August, 1588. 
 
 15. W. SMITH. CHLORES. [Sonnets.] 1596. 
 
 16. T. STORER. The Life and Death of Cardinal WOLSEY. 
 599- 
 
 17. E. W. Thameseidos. In 3 Cantos. 1600. 
 
 18. Some Collections of Posies. 1624-1679. 
 
 Chronological List of Works included in 
 
 the Series. 
 
 Index.
 
 IReprtnts. 
 
 No. Text. s. d. 
 
 \. Milton Areopagitica . . . 1644 1 
 
 2. Latimer The Ploughers . . . 1549 1 
 
 3. Gosson The School of Abuse . . 1579 1 
 
 4. Sidney An Apology for Poetry . ? 1580 1 
 
 5. E. Webbe Travels . . . . 1590 1 
 
 6. Selden Table Talk .... 1634-54 1 
 
 7. Ascham Toxophiius . . . . 1544 1 
 
 8. AddiSOn Criticism on Paradise Lost , 1711-12! 
 
 9. Lyly E UP HUES . . . 1579-80 4 
 
 10. VilliePS The Rehearsal . . . 1671 1 
 
 n. GaSGOigne The Steel Glass, etc. . . 1576 1 
 
 12. Earle Micro-cosmographie . . 1628 1 
 
 13. LatimeP 7 Sermons before EDWARD VI. 1549 1 6 
 
 14. More Utopia . . ... 1516-57 1 
 
 15. Puttenham The Art of English Poesy . 1589 2 6 
 
 16. Howell Instructions for Foreign Travel 1642 1 
 
 17. Udall Roister Doister . . . 1553-66 1 
 
 18. Mk. Of Eves. The Revelation, etc. . 1186-1410! 
 
 19. James I. A Counterblast to Tobacco, etc. 1604 1 
 
 20. Naunton Fragmenta Regalia . . 1653 1 
 
 21. Watson Poems .... 1582-93 1 6 
 
 22. Habington CASTARA .... 1640 1 
 
 23. Aseham The Schoolmaster . . 1570! 
 
 24. Tottel'S Miscellany [Songs and Sonnets] 1557 2 6 
 
 25. Lever Sermons .... 1550 1 
 
 26. W. Webbe A Discourse of English Poetry 1586 1 
 
 27. Lord Bacon A Harmony of the Essays 1597-1626 5 
 
 28. Roy, etc. Read me, and be not wroth ! 1528! 6 
 29- Raleigh, ete. Last Fight of the l Revenge* 1591! 
 30. Googe Eglogues, Epitaphs, ami Sonnets 1563 1 
 
 41 6 
 
 (For full titles, etc., see pp. 10-19.)
 
 io English Reprints. 
 
 i. JOHN MILTON. 
 
 Areopagitica. 1644. 
 
 (a) AREOPAGITICA : A Speech of Mr. JOHN MILTON For the 
 Liberty of Unlicencd Printing, To the Parliament of England. 
 
 () A Decree of Starre-Chamber, concerning Printing, made the eleuenth 
 of July last past, 1637. 
 
 (c) An Order of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the 
 Regulating of Printing, &c. 1643. 
 
 LORD MACAULAY. He attacked the licensing system in that sublime 
 treatise which every statesman should wear as a sign upon his hand, and as 
 frontlets between his eyes. Edinburgh Review, p. 344, August, 1825. 
 
 H. H AI.LAM. Many passages in this famous tract are admirably elo- 
 quent : an intense love of liberty and truth flows through it ; the majestic 
 soul of MILTON breathes such high thoughts as had not been uttered before. 
 Introduction to tlie Literature of Europe, iii. 660. Ed. 1839. 
 
 W. H. PRESCOTT. The most splendid argument perhaps the world had 
 then witnessed on^behalf of intellectual liberty. History of FERDINAND 
 ant ISABELLA, iii. 391. Ed. 1845. 
 
 2. HUGH LATIMER. 
 
 Ex-Bisltop of Worcester. 
 
 The Ploughers. 1549. 
 
 A notable Sermon of ye reuerende Father Master HUGHE 
 LATIMER, ivhiche he preached in ye Shrouds at patties churche 
 in London on the xviii daye of January e. 
 
 SIR R. MORISON. Did there ever any one (I say not in England only, 
 but among other nations) flourish since the time of the Apostles, who 
 preached the gospel more sincerely, purely, and honestly, than HUGH 
 LATIMER, Bishop of Worcester" 1 . Apomaxis Calumniarum . . quibus 
 JOANNES COCLEUS &c., f. 78. Ed. 1537. 
 
 It was in this Sermon, that LATIMBR (himself an ex-Bishop) astonished 
 his generation by saying that the Devil was the most diligent Prelate and 
 Preacher in all England. " Ye shal neuer fynde him idle I warraunte 
 
 3. STEPHEN GOSSON. 
 
 Stud. Oxon. 
 
 The School of Abuse. 1579. 
 
 (a) The Schoole of Abuse. Conteining a pleasaunt inuective 
 against Poets, Pipers, Platers, Jesters, and such like Caterpillers 
 of a Commonwealth ; Setting up the Flagge of Defiance to their 
 mischieuous exercise and ouerthrowing their Bulwarkes, by Pro- 
 phane Writers, Naturall reason and common experience. 1579- 
 
 (b) An Apologie of tfie Schoole of Abuse, against Poets, Pipers, 
 Players, and their Excusers. [Dec.] 1579. 
 
 V This attack is thought to have occasioned SIR PHILIP SIDNEY'S writ- 
 ing of the following Apologie for Poesie. 
 
 GOSSON was, in succession, Poet, Actor, Dramatist, Satirist, and a 
 Puritan Clergyman.
 
 English Reprints. 1 1 
 
 4. Sir PHILIP SIDNEY. 
 
 An Apology for Poetry. [? 1580.] 
 
 An Apologie for Poetrie. Written by the right noble, verluous, 
 and learned Sir PHILIP SIDNEY, Knight, 1595. 
 
 H. W. LONGFELLOW. The defence of Poetry is a work of rare merit. It 
 is a golden little volume, which the scholar may lay beneath his pillow, as 
 CHRYSOSTOM did the works of ARISTOPHANES. North American Review, 
 p. 57. January, 1832. 
 
 The Work thus divides itself : 
 
 The Etymology of Poetry. 
 The Anatomy of the Effects of Poetry. 
 The Anatomy of the Parts of Poetry. 
 Objections to Poetry answered. 
 Criticism of the existing English Poetry. 
 
 5. EDWARD WEBBE, 
 
 A Chief Master Gunner. 
 
 Travels. 1590. 
 
 The rare and most wonderful thinges which EDWARD WEBBE 
 an Englishman borne, hath scene and passed in his troublesome 
 trattailes, in the Citties of Jerusalem, Damasko, Bethelem and 
 Galely : and in all the landes of lewrie, Egipt, Grecia, Russia, 
 and in the Land of Prester John. 
 
 Wherein is set foorth his extreame slauerie sustained many 
 yeres togither, in the Gallies and wars of the great Turk against 
 the Landes of Persia, Tartaria, Spaine, and Portugall, with the 
 manner of his releasement and coming to England. [1590.] 
 
 6. JOHN SELDEN. 
 
 Table Talk. [1634-1654.] 
 
 Table Talk : being the Discourses <?/"JOHN SELDEN, Esq. ; or 
 his Sence of various Matters of weight and high consequence, 
 relating especially to Religion and State. 1689. 
 
 S. T. COLERIDGE. There is more weighty bullion sense in this book than 
 I ever found in the same number of pages of any uninspired writer. . . . 
 O ! to have been with SELDEN over his glass of wine, making every accident 
 an outlet and a vehicle of wisdom. Literary Remains, iii. 361-2. Ed. 
 1836. 
 
 H. HALLAM. This very short and small volume gives, perhaps, a more 
 exalted notion of SELDEN'S natural talents than any of his learned writings. 
 Introduction to the Literature of Europe, iii. 347. Ed. 1836. 
 
 Above all things, Liberty.
 
 12 English Reprints. 
 
 7. ROGER ASCHAM. 
 
 Toxophilus. 1544. 
 
 Toxophilus, the Schole of Shootinge, conteynedin two bookes. 
 
 To all Gentlemen and yomen of Englande, pleasannte for tkeyr 
 pastime to rede, and profitable for theyr use to follow both in war 
 and peace. 
 
 In a dialogue between TOXOPHILUS and PH1L.OLOGUS, ASCHAM not 
 only gives us one of the rery best books on Archery in our language : but 
 as he tells King Henry VIII., in his Dedication, "this litle treatise was 
 purposed, begoii, and ended of me, onelie for this intent, that Labour, 
 Honest pastime, and Verm might recouer againe that place and right, that 
 Idlenesse, Unthriftie Gaming, and Vice hath put them fro." 
 
 8. JOSEPH ADDISON. 
 
 Criticism on Paradise Lost. 1711-1712. 
 
 From the Spectator, being its Saturday issues between 31 December, 1711, 
 and 3 May, 1712. In these papers, which constitute a Primer to Paradise 
 Lost. ADDISON first made known, and interpreted to the general English 
 public, the great Epic poem, which had then been published nearly half a 
 century. 
 
 After a general discussion of the Fable, the Characters, the Sentiments, 
 the Language, and the Defects of MILTON'S Great Poem ; the Critic devotes 
 a Paper to the consideration of the Beauties of each of its Twelve Books. 
 
 9. JOHN LYLY, 
 
 Novelist, Wit, Poet, and Dramatist. 
 
 Euphues. 1579-1580. 
 
 EUPHVES, the Anatomy of Wit. Very pleasant for all 
 Gentlemen to reade, and most necessary to remember. 
 
 Wherein are conteined the delights that Wit followeth in his 
 youth, by the pleasantnesse of lotte, and the happinesse he reapeth 
 in age by the perfectnesse of Wisedome. 1579. 
 
 EUPHUES and his England. Containing his voyage and 
 adttentures, myxed with sundry pretie discourses of honest Lone, 
 the description of the conntrey, the Court, and the manners of 
 that Isle. 1580. 
 
 Of great importance in our Literary History.
 
 English Reprints. 13 
 
 10. GEORGE VILLIERS, 
 
 Second Duke of BUCKINGHAM. 
 
 The Rehearsal. 1671. 
 
 The Rehearsal, as it -was Acted at the Theatre Royal. 
 
 Many of the passages of anterior plays that were parodied in this famous 
 Dramatic Satire on DRVDEN in the character of BAYES, are placed on 
 opposite pages to the text. BRIAN FAIRFAX'S remarkable life of this Duke 
 of BUCKINGHAM is also prefixed to the play. 
 
 The Heroic Plays, first introduced by Sir W. D'AVENANT, and afterwards 
 greatly developed by DRYDEN, are the object of this laughable attack. LACY, 
 who acted the part of BA YHS, imitated the dress and gesticulation of DRY- 
 DEN. 
 
 The Poet repaid this compliment to the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, in 1681, 
 by introducing him in the character of ZlMRA in his ABSOLOM and 
 ACHITOPHBL. 
 
 1 1. GEORGE GASCOIGNE, 
 
 Soldier and Poet. 
 
 The Steel Glass, &c. 1576. 
 
 (a) A Remembrance of the wel imployed life, and godly end, of 
 GEORGE GASKOIGNE, Esquire, -who deceassed at Stalmford in 
 Lincoln shire, the ^ of October, 1577. The reports of GEOR. 
 WHETSTONS, Gent. 1577. 
 
 There is only one copy of this metrical Life. It is in the Bodleian Library. 
 (l>) Certayne notes of instruction concerning the making of 
 verse or ryme in English. 1575. 
 
 This is our First printed piece of Poetical Criticism. 
 (<) The Steele Glas. 
 
 Written in blank verse. 
 
 Probably the fourth printed English Satire : those by BARCLAY, ROY, and 
 Sir T. WYATT being the three earlier ones. 
 
 (d) The complaynt of PHI LOME NE. An Elegie. 1576. 
 
 12. JOHN EARLE, 
 
 Afterwards Bishop of SALISBURY. 
 
 Microcosmographie. 1628. 
 
 Micro-cosmogreiphie, or a Peece of the World discovered ; in 
 Essays and Characters. 
 
 This celebrated book of Characters is graphically descriptive of the Eng- 
 lish social life of the time, as it presented itself to a young Fellow of Merton 
 College, Oxford ; including A She precise Hypocrite, A Sceptic in Religion, 
 A good old man, etc. 
 
 This Work is a notable specimen of a considerable class of books in our 
 Literature, full of interest : and which help Posterity much better to under- 
 stand the Times in which they were written.
 
 14 English Reprints. 
 
 13. HUGH LATIMER, 
 
 Ex- Bishop of WORCESTER. 
 Seven Sermons before Edward VI. 1549. 
 
 The fyrstc [seuenth] Sermon of Mayster HUGHE LATIMER, 
 whiche he preached before the Kynges Maiestie wythin his graces 
 palayce at Westminster on each Friday in Lent. 1549. 
 
 Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH. LATIMER, . . . brave, sincere, honest, in- 
 flexible, not distinguished as a writer or a scholar, but exercising his power 
 over men's minds by a fervid eloquence flowing from the deep conviction 
 which animated his plain, pithy, and free-spoken Sermons. History of 
 England, ii. 291. Ed. 1831. 
 
 14. Sir THOMAS MORE. 
 
 Translation of Utopia. 1516-1557. 
 
 A frutefull and pleasaunt worke of the best stale of a publique 
 weale, and of the new yle called Utopia : Written in Latine by 
 Sir THOMAS MORE, Knyght, and translated into Englyshe by 
 RALPH ROBYNSON. 
 
 LORD CAMPBELL. Since the time of PLATO there had been no composi- 
 tion given to the world which, for imagination, for philosophical discrimina- 
 tion, for a familiarity with the principles of government, for a knowledge of 
 the springs of human action, for a keen observation of men and manners, and 
 for felicity of expression, could be compared to the Utopia. Lives of the 
 Lord Chancellors (Lift of Sir. T. More), \. 583. Ed. 1845. 
 
 In the imaginary country of Utopia, MOKE endeavours to sketch out 
 a State based upon two principles (i) community of goods, no private 
 property ; and consequently (2) no use for money. 
 
 15. GEORGE PUTTENHAM, 
 
 A Gentleman Pensioner to Queen ELIZABETH. 
 
 The Art of English Poesy. 1589. 
 
 The Arte of English Poesie. 
 
 Conlriued into three Bookes : The first of POETS and POESIE, 
 the second of PROPORTION, the third of ORNAMENT. 
 
 W. OLDYS. It contains many pretty observations, examples, characters, 
 and fragments of poetry for those times, now nowhere else to be met with. 
 
 Sir WALTER RALEIGH, liv. Ed. 1736. 
 
 O. GILCHRIST. On many accounts one of the most curious and entertain- 
 ing, and intrinsically one of the most valuable books of the age of QUEEN 
 ELIZABETH. The copious intermixture of contemporary anecdote, tradition, 
 manners, opinions, and the numerous specimens of coeval poetry nowhere else 
 preserved, contribute to form a volume of infinite amusement, curiosity, and 
 value. Censura Literaria, i. 339. Ed. 1805. 
 
 This is still also an important book on Rhetoric and the Figures of Speech.
 
 English Reprints. 15 
 
 1 6. JAMES HOWELL, 
 
 Clerk of the Council to CHARLES I. ; afterwards Historiographer to 
 
 CHARLES II. 
 Instructions for Foreign Travel. 1642. 
 
 Instructions for forreine travelle. Shewing by what cours, and 
 in what compasse of time, one may take an exact Survey of the 
 Kingdomes and States of Christendome, and arrive to the practical 
 knowledge of the Languages : , to good purpose. 
 
 The MURRAY, BsEDEKER, and Practical Guide to the Grand Tour 
 of Europe, which, at that time, was considered the finishing touch to the 
 complete education of an English Gentleman. 
 
 The route sketched out by this delightfully quaint Writer, is France, 
 Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Holland. The 
 time allowed is 3 years and 4 months : the months to be spent in travelling, 
 the years in residence at the different cities. 
 
 17. NICHOLAS UDALL, 
 
 Master, first of Eton College, then of Westminster School. 
 
 Roister Doister. [1553-1566.] 
 
 This is believed to be the first true English Comedy that ever came to the 
 press. 
 
 From the unique copy, which wants a title-page, now at Eton College ; 
 and which is thought to have been printed in is66. 
 .Dramatis Persona;. 
 
 RALPH ROISTER DOISTER. 
 
 MATTHEW MERRYGREEK. 
 
 GAWIN GOODLUCK, affianced to Dame CUSTANCE. 
 
 TRISTRAM TRUSTY, his friend. 
 
 DOBINET DOUGHTY, " boy " to ROISTER DOISTER. 
 
 TOM TRUEPENNY, servant to Dame CUSTANCE. 
 
 SIM SURESBY, servant to GOODLUCK. 
 
 Scrivener. 
 
 Harpax. 
 
 Dame CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE, a widow. 
 
 MARGERY MUMBLECRUST, her nurse. 
 
 1 8. A Monk of Evesham, 
 
 The Revelation, &c. ii86[-i4io]. 1485. 
 
 IT Here begynnyth a marvellous retielacion that was schewyd 
 of almighty god by sent Nycholas to a monke of Euyshamme yn 
 the days of Kynge Richard thefyrst. Ami the y ere of own lord, 
 M. C. Lxxxxvi. 
 
 One of the rarest of English books printed by one of the earliest of English 
 printers, WILLIAM DE MACLINIA ; who printed this text about 1485, in the 
 lifetime of CAXTON. 
 
 The essence of the story is as old as it professes to be ; but contains later 
 additions, the orthography, being of about 1410. It is very devoutly written, 
 and contains a curious Vision of Purgatory. 
 
 The writer is a prototype of BUNYAN ; and his description of the Gate in 
 the Crystal Wall of Heaven, and of the solemn and marvellously; sweet 
 Peal of the Bells of Heaven that came to him through it, is very 
 beautiful.
 
 1 6 English Reprints. 
 
 19. JAMES I. 
 
 A Counterblast to Tobacco. 1604. 
 
 (a) The Essays of a Prentise, in the Diuine Art of Poesie. 
 
 Printed while JAMES VI. of Scotland, at Edinburgh in 1585 ; and includes 
 Ane Short treatise, conteining some Reulis and Cautelis to be obseruit and 
 escheivit in Scottis Poesie, which is another very early piece of printed 
 Poetical Criticism. 
 
 (b) A Counterblast e to Tobacco. 1604. 
 
 To this text has been added a full account of the Introduction and Early 
 use of Tobacco in England. The herb first came into use in Europe as a 
 medicinal leaf for poultices : smoking it was afterwards learnt from the 
 American Indians. 
 
 Our Royal Author thus sums up his opinion : 
 
 "A cttstome lothsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmefull to the 
 braine, dangerous to the lungs, and in the blacke stinking fume thereof, 
 nearest resembling the horrible Stigian smoke of the pit that is bottomless." 
 
 20. Sir ROBERT NAUNTON, 
 
 Matter of the Court of Wards. 
 
 Fragmenta Regalia. 1653. 
 
 Fragmenta Regalia : or Observations on the late Queen 
 ELIZABETH, her Times and Favourites. [1630.] 
 
 Naunton writes : 
 
 "And thus I have delivered up this my poor Essay ; a little Draught of 
 this great Princess, and her Times, with the Servants of her State and 
 favour." 
 
 21. THOMAS WATSON, 
 
 Londoner, Student-at-Latv. 
 
 Poems. 1582-1593. 
 
 (a) The 'E/caT(vtira0a or Passionate Centurie of Loue. 
 Divided into two parts : whereof " t the first expresseth the 
 
 Author's sufferance in Loue: the latter, his long farwell to Loue 
 and all his lyrannie. 1582. 
 
 (b) MELIBCEUS, Sive Ecloga in obitum Honoratissimi Viri 
 Domini FRANCisci WALSINGHAMI. 1590. 
 
 (c) The same translated into English, by the Author. 1590. 
 
 (d) The Tears of Fancie, or Loue disdained. 1 593. 
 
 From the unique copy, wanting Sonnets 9-16, in the possession of S. 
 CHRISTIE MILLER, Esq., of Britwell.
 
 English Reprints. 17 
 
 22. WILLIAM HABINGTON, 
 
 Castara. 1640. 
 
 CASTARA. The third Edition. Corrected and augmented. 
 
 was Lady LUCY HERBERT, the youngest child of the first 
 Lord Powis ; and these Poems were chiefly marks of affection during a pure 
 courtship followed by a happy marriage. With these, are also Songs of 
 Friendship, especially those referring to the Hon. GEORGE TALBOT. 
 
 In addition to these Poems, there are four prose Characters ; on A 
 Mistress, A Wife, A Friend, and The Holy Man. 
 
 23. ROGER ASCHAM, 
 
 The Schoolmaster. 1570. 
 
 The Scholemaster, or plane and perfite way of teachyng- 
 children to understand, write, and speake, in Latin tong, but 
 specially purposed for the priuate brynging tip of youth in lentle- 
 man and Noble metis houses, <&V. 
 
 This celebrated Work contains the story of Lady JANE GREY'S delight 
 in reading PLATO, an attack on the 1 'talianated Englishman of the time, 
 and much other information not specified in the above title. 
 
 In it, ASCHAM gives us very fully his plan of studying Languages, which 
 may be described as the double translation of a model book. 
 
 24. HENRY HOWARD, 
 
 Earl of SURREY. 
 
 Sir THOMAS WYATT. 
 
 NICHOLAS GRIMALD. 
 
 Lord VAUX. 
 
 Tottel's Miscellany. 5 June, 1557. 
 
 Songes and Sonettes, written by the right honourable Lorde 
 HENRY HOWARD late Earle <T/"SURREY, and other. 
 
 With 39 additional Poems from the second edition by the same printer, 
 RICHARD TOTTEL, of 31 July, 1557. 
 
 This celebrated Collection is the First of our Poetical Miscellanies, and 
 also the first appearance in print of any considerable number of English 
 Sonnets. 
 
 TOTTEL in his Address to the Reader, says : 
 
 "That to haue wel written in verse, yea and in small parcelles, deserueth 
 great praise, the workes of diuers Latines, Italians, and other, doe proue 
 sufficiently. That our tong is able in that kynde to do as praiseworthely as. 
 ye rest, the honorable stile of the noble earle of Surrey, and the weightinesse 
 of the depewitted Sir Thomas Wyat the elders verse, with seuerall graces in 
 sondry good Englishe writers, doe show abundantly."
 
 1 8 English Reprints. 
 
 25. Rev. THOMAS LEVER, 
 
 Fellow and Preacher of St. John's College, Cambridge. 
 
 Sermons. 1550. 
 
 (<z) A fruitfull Sermon in Faults church at London in the 
 Shroudes. 
 
 (i>) A Sen/ton preached the fourth Sunday in Lent before the 
 Kynges Maiestie, and his honourable Counsdl. 
 
 (f) A Sermon preached at Pauls Crosse. 1550. 
 
 These Sermons are reprinted from the original editions, which are of 
 extreme rarity. They throw much light on the communistic theories of the 
 Norfolk rebels ; and the one at Paul's Cross contains a curious account 
 of Cambridge University life in the reign of EDWARD VI. 
 
 26. WILLIAM WEBBE, 
 
 Graduate. 
 
 A Discourse of English Poetry. 1586. 
 
 A Discourse of English Poetrie. Together with the Authors 
 judgement, touching the reformation of our English Verse. 
 
 Another of the early pieces of Poetical Criticism, written in the year in 
 which SHAKESPEARE is supposed to have left Stratford for London. 
 
 Only two copies of this Work are known, one of these was sold for 64. 
 
 This Work should be read with STANYHURST'S Translation of SEncid, 
 I.-IV., 1582, see p. 64. WEBBE was an advocate of English Hexameters ; 
 and here translates VIRGIL'S first two Eglogues into them. He also trans- 
 lates into Sapphics COLIN'S Song in the Fourth Eglogue of SPENSER'S 
 Shepherd's Calendar. 
 
 27. FRANCIS BACON. 
 
 afterwards Lord VllRULAM Viscount ST. ALBANS. 
 
 A Harmony of the Essays, &c. 1597-1626. 
 
 And after my manner, I alter ever, -wlien I add. So that nothing it 
 finished, till all be finished. Sir FRANCIS BACON, 27 Feb., i6io-[n]. 
 
 (a) Essays, Religious Meditations, and Places of persuasion 
 and disswasion. 1597. 
 
 (&) The Writings of Sir FRANCIS BACON Knight the Kinges 
 Sollicitor General in Moralitie, Policie, Historic. 
 
 (t) The Essaies of Sir FRANCIS BACON Knight, the Kings 
 Solliciter Generall. 
 
 (J) The Essayes or Counsells, Civill and Morall of FRANCIS 
 Lord VERULAM, Viscount ST. ALBAN. 1625.
 
 English Reprints. 19 
 
 28. WILLIAM ROY. JEROME BARLOW. 
 
 Franciscan friars. 
 
 Read me, and be not -wroth ! [1528.] 
 
 (a) Rede me and be nott ivrothe, 
 For I saye no thynge but trotJte. 
 I will ascende makynge my state so hye. 
 That my pompous honoure shall never dye. 
 O Cnytyfe when than thynkest least of all, 
 IVith confusion thou shall have a fall. 
 
 This is the famous satire on Cardinal WOLSEY, and is the First English 
 Protestant book ever printed, not being a portion of Holy Scripture. See 
 /. 22 for the Fifth such book. 
 
 The next two pieces form one book, printed by HANS LUFT, at Marburg, 
 in 1530. 
 
 {b) A proper dyaloge, betwene a Gentillinan and a husband- 
 man, eche complaynynge to other their miserable catamite, through 
 the ambition of the dergye. 
 
 (c) A compendious old treatyse, shewynge, how that -we ought 
 to have the scripture in Englysshe. 
 
 29. Sir WALTER RALEIGH. GERVASE 
 MARKHAM. J. H. VAN LINSCHOTEN. 
 
 The Last Fight of the " Revenge." 1591. 
 
 (a) A Report of the truth of the fight abotit the lies of Acores, 
 this last la Sommer. Betwixt the REUENGE, one of her 
 Afaiesties Shippes, and an ARMADA of the King of Spaine. 
 
 [By Sir W. RALEIGH.] 
 
 (/;) The most honorable Tragedie of Sir RICHARD GRINUILE, 
 Knight. 1595. 
 
 [By GERVASE MARKHAM.] 
 (c) [ The Fight and Cyclone at the Azores. 
 
 [By JAV HUYGHEN VAN LINSCHOTEN.] 
 
 Several accounts are here given of one of the most extraordinary Sea 
 rights in our Naval History. 
 
 30. BARNABE GOOGE. 
 
 Eglogues, Epitaphs, and Sonnets. 1563. 
 
 Eglogs, Epytaphes, ami Sonettes Newly uritten by BARNABE 
 GOOGE. 
 
 Three copies only known. Reprinted from the Huth copy. 
 
 In the prefatory Notes of the Life and Writings of B. GOOGE, will be 
 found an account of the trouble he had in winning MARY DARELL for his 
 wife. 
 
 A new Literature generally begins with imitations and translations. 
 When this book first appeared, Translations were all the rage among the 
 "young England" of the day. This Collection of original Occasional 
 Verse is therefore the more noticeable. The Introduction gives a glimpse 
 of the principal Writers of the time, such as the Authors of the Mirror for 
 Magistrates, the Translators of SENECA'S Tragedies, etc., and including 
 such names as BALDWIN, BAVANDE, BLUNDESTON, NEVILLE, NORTH, 
 NORTON, SACKVILLE, and YELVERTON.
 
 2O Works in the Old Spelling. 
 The English Scholar's Library. 
 
 16 Parts are now published, in Cloth Boards, 2 Is. 
 
 Any part may be obtained separately. 
 
 The general character of this Series will be gathered 
 
 from the following pages: 21-26. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 1. WILLIAM CAXTON. Reynard the Fox. 1 6 
 
 2. JOHN KNOX. The First Blast of the 
 
 Trumpet 16 
 
 3. CLEMENT ROBINSON and others. A 
 
 handful of Pleasant Delights . 1 6 
 
 4. [SIMON FISH.] A Supplication for 
 
 the Beg-gars 16 
 
 5. [Rev. JOHN UDALL.] Diotrephes. . 1 6 
 
 6. [ ? ] The Return from Parnassus . 1 6 
 
 7. THOMAS DECKER. The Seven Deadly 
 
 Sins of London . . . .16 
 
 8. EDWARD ARBER. An Introductory 
 Sketch to the "Martin Marpre- 
 
 late" Controversy, 1588-1590 . 3 
 
 9. [Rev. JOHN UDALL.] A Demonstra- 
 
 tion of Discipline . . . .16 
 
 10. RICHARD STANIHURST. ** .ffineid L- 
 
 IV." in English hexameters. . .30 
 
 11. "The Epistle" 16 
 
 12. ROBERT GREEN. Menaphon . .16 
 
 13. GEORGE JOY. An Apology to William 
 
 Tyndale . ... 1 6 
 
 14. RICHARD BARNFIELD. Poems . .30 
 
 15. Bp. THOMAS COOPER. An Admonition 
 
 to the People of England . .30 
 
 1 6. Captain JOHN SMITH. Works. 1120 
 
 pages. Six Facsimile Maps. 2 Vols . 12 6
 
 The English Sclwlars Library. 21 
 i. William Caxton, 
 
 our first Printer. 
 
 Translation of REYNARD THE FOX. 1481. 
 [COLOPHON.] / haue not added ne mynusshed btit haue 
 folowed as nyghe as I can my copye -which was in dittche \ and by 
 me WILLIAM CAXTON translated in to this rude and symple 
 englyssh in th\e\ abbey of westmestre. 
 
 Interesting for its own sake ; but especially as being translated as well as 
 printed by CAXTON, who finished the printing on 6 June, 1481. 
 
 The Story is the History of the Three fraudulent Escapes of the Fox 
 from punishment, the record of the Defeat of Justice by flattering lips and 
 dishonourable deeds. It also shows the struggle between the power of 
 Words and the power of Blows, a conflict between Mind and Matter. It 
 was necessary for the physically weak to have Eloquence : the blame of 
 REYNARD is in the frightful misuse he makes of it. 
 
 The author says, "There is in the world much seed left of the Fox, 
 which now over all groweth and cometh sore up, though they have no red 
 beards." 
 
 2. John Knox, 
 
 the Scotch. Reformer. 
 
 THE FIRST BLAST OF THE TRUMPET, &c. 
 
 1558. 
 
 (a) The First Blast of a Trumpet against the monstrous 
 Regiment of Women. 
 
 (i>) The Propositions to be entreated in the Second BLAST. 
 
 This work was wrung out of the heart of JOHN KNOX, while, at Dieppe, 
 he heard of the martyr fires of England, and was anguished thereby. At 
 that moment the liberties of Great Britain, and therein the hopes of the 
 whole World, lay in the laps of four women MARY of Loraine, the Regent 
 of Scotland ; her daughter MARY (the Queen of Scots); Queen MARY 
 TUDOR ; and the Princess ELIZABETH. 
 
 The Volume was printed at Geneva. 
 
 (c) KNOX'S apologetical Defence of his FIRST BLAST, &c., to 
 Queen ELIZABETH. 1559. 
 
 3. Clement Robinson, 
 
 and divers others. 
 
 A HANDFUL OF PLEASANT DELIGHTS. 
 
 1584. 
 
 A Handeful of pleasant deities, Containing sundrie new Sonets 
 and delectable Histories, in diuers kindes of Meeter. Newly 
 deuised to the newest tunes that are now in vse, to be sung : 
 euerie Sonet orderly pointed to his proper Tune. With new 
 additions of certain Songs, to verie late deuised Notes, not 
 commonly knowen, nor vsed heretofore. 
 
 OPHELIA quotes from A Nosegaie, &>c., in this Poetical Miscellany ; of 
 which only one copy is now known. 
 
 It also contains the earliest text extant of the Ladle Greensleeues, which 
 first appeared four years previously. 
 
 This is the Third printed Poetical Miscellany in our language.
 
 22 The English Scholars Library 
 4. [Simon Fish, 
 
 of Gray's Inn.} 
 
 A SUPPLICATION FOR THE BEGGARS. 
 [? 1529.] 
 
 A Supplicacyon for the Beggars. 
 
 Stated by J. Fox to have been distributed in the streets of London on 
 Candlemas Day [2 Feb., 1529]. 
 
 This is the Fifth Protestant book (not being a portion of Holy Scripture 
 that was printed in the English Language. 
 
 The authorship of this anonymous tract, is fixed by a passage in Sir T. 
 MORE'S Apology, of 1533, quoted in the Introduction. 
 
 5. [Rev. John Udall, 
 
 Minister at Kingston on Thames.] 
 
 DlOTREPHES. [1588.] 
 
 The state of the Church of Englande, laid open in a confer nice 
 betweene DIOTREPHES a Byshopp, TERTULLUS a Papiste, DE- 
 METRIUS an vsurer, PANDOCHUS an Innekeeper, and PAULE a 
 preacher of the -word of God. 
 
 This is the forerunning tract of the MARTIN MARPRELATE Contro- 
 versy. For the production of it, ROBERT WALDEGRAVE, the printer, was 
 ruined ; and so became available for the printing of the Martinist invectives. 
 
 The scene of the Dialogue is in PANDOCHUS'S Inn, which is in a posting- 
 town on the high road from London to Edinburgh. . 
 
 6. [ ? ] 
 THE RETURN FRO M PARNASSUS. 
 
 [Acted 1602.] 1606. 
 
 The Retume front Pernassus : or The Scourge of Simony. 
 Ptibliquely acted by the Students in Saint Johns Colledge in 
 Cambridge. 
 
 This play, written by a University man in December, 1601, brings 
 WILLIAM KEMP and RICHARD BURBAGE on to the Stage, and makes them 
 speak thus : 
 
 " KEMP. Few of the vniuersity pen plaies well, they smell too much of 
 that writer Oiiid and that writer Metamorphosis, and talke too much of 
 Proserpina and htppiter. Why herees our fellow Shakespeare puts them 
 all downe, I [Ay] and Ben lonson too. O that Ben lonson is a pestilent 
 fellow, he brought vp Horace giuing the Poets a pill, but our fellow Shake- 
 speare hath given him a purge that made him beray his credit : 
 
 " BURBAGB. It's a shrewd fellow indeed : " 
 
 What this controversy between SHAKESPEARE and JONSON was, has not 
 yet been cleared up. It was evidently recent, when (in Dec., 1601) this 
 play was written.
 
 The English Scholar s Library. 23 
 7. Thomas Decker, 
 
 The Dramatist. 
 
 THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF 
 LONDON, &c. 1606. 
 
 The seuen deadly Sinnes of London : drawn in seuen seuerall 
 Coaches, throtigh the seuen seuerall Gates of the Citie, bringing 
 the Plague with them. 
 
 A prose Allegorical Satire, giving a most vivid picture of London life, in 
 October, 1606. 
 The seven sins are 
 
 FRAUDULENT BANKRUPTCY. 
 LYING. 
 
 CANDLELIGHT (Deeds of Darkness). 
 SLOTH. 
 
 APISHNKSS (Changes of Fashion). 
 SHAVING (Cheating), and CRUELTY. 
 
 Their chariots, drivers, pages, attendants, and followers, are all allegori- 
 cally described. 
 
 8. The Editor. 
 
 AN INTRODUCTORY SKETCH TO THE 
 MARTIN MARPRELATE CONTROVERSY. 
 
 1588-1590. 
 
 (a) The general Episcopal Administration, Censorship, Sfc. 
 
 (b) The Origin of the Controversy. 
 (() Depositions and Examinations. 
 
 (d) State Documents. 
 
 (e) The Brief held by Sir JOHN PUCKERING, against the 
 Martinists. 
 
 The REV. J. UDALL (who was, however, not a Martinist) ; Mrs. CRANE, 
 of Molesey, Rev. J. PENRY, Sir R. KNIGHTLEY, of Fawsley, near North- 
 ampton ; HUMPHREY NEWMAN, the London cobbler ; JOHN HALES, Esq., of 
 Coventry ; Mr. and Mrs. WHEKSTON, of Wolston : JOB THROCKMORTON, 
 Esq. ; HENRY SHARPE, bookbinder of Northampton, and the four printers. 
 
 (f) Miscellaneous Information. 
 
 (g) Who were the Writers who wrote under the name of MAR- 
 TIN MARFRELATE? 
 
 9. [Rev. John Udall, 
 
 Minister at Kingston on Thames.} 
 
 A DEMONSTRATION OF DISCIPLINE. 1588. 
 
 A Demonstration of the trueth of that discipline which 
 CHRISTE hath prescribed in his wordefor the gouernement of his 
 Church, in all times and places, vntil the ende of the worlde. 
 
 Printed with the secret Martinist press, at East Molesey, near Hampton 
 Court, in July, 1588 ; and secretly distributed with the Epitome in the 
 following November. 
 
 For this Work, UDALL lingered to death in prison. 
 
 It is perhaps the most complete argument, in our language, for Presby- 
 terian Puritanism, as it was then understood. Its author asserted for it, the 
 infallibility of a Divine Logic ; but two generations had not passed away, 
 before (under the teachings of Experience) much of this Church Polity had 
 been discarded.
 
 24 The English Scholar's Library. 
 10. Richard Stanyhurst, 
 
 tht Irish Historian. 
 Translation of ^ENEID I. -IV. 1582. 
 
 Thee first fovre Bookes of VIRGIL his ^Eneis translated intoo 
 English heroical [i.e., hexameter] verse by RICHARD STANY- 
 HURST, wyth oother Poetical diuises theretoo annexed. 
 
 Imprinted at Leiden in Holland by IOHN PATES, Anno 
 M.D.LXXXII. 
 
 This is one or the oddest and most grotesque books in the English 
 language ; and having been printed in Flanders, the original Edition is of 
 extreme rarity. 
 
 The present text is, by the kindness of Lord ASHBURNHAM and S. 
 CHRISTIE-MILLER, Esq., reprinted from the only two copies known, neither 
 of which is quite perfect. 
 
 GABRIEL HARVEY desired to be epitaphed, The Inventor of the English 
 Hexameter; and STANYHURST, in imitating him, went further than any 
 one else in maltreating English words to suit the exigencies of Classical feet. 
 
 11. Martin Marpr elate. 
 THE EPISTLE. 1588. 
 
 Oh read otter D. JOHN BRIDGES, for it is a worthy worke : 
 Or an epitome of the fyrste Booke of that right worshipfull vol- 
 ume, written against the Puritanes, in the defence of the noble 
 cleargie, by as worshipfull a prieste, JOHN BRIDGES, Presbyter, 
 Priest or Elder, doctor of Diuillitie, and Deane of Sarum. 
 
 The Epitome [p. 26] is not yet published, but it shall be, when 
 the Byshops are at convenient leysure to view the same. In the 
 meane time, let them be content with this learned Epistle, 
 
 Printed oversea, in Europe, within two furlongs of a Boun- 
 sing Priest, at the cost and charges of M. MARPRELATE, gentle- 
 man. 
 
 12. Robert Greene, M.A. 
 MENAPHON. 1589- 
 
 MENAPHON. CAMILLAS alarum to slumbering EUPHUES, 
 in his melancholie Cell at Silexedra. Wherein are deciphered 
 the variable effects of Fortune, the wonders of Loue, the triumphes 
 of inconstant Time. Displaying in sundrie conceipted passions 
 (figured in a continuate Historic} the Trophees that Vertue 
 carrieth triumphant, maugre tht wrath of Enuie, or the resolu- 
 tion of Fortune. 
 
 One of GREENE'S novels with TOM NASH'S Preface, so important in refer- 
 ence to the earlier HAMLET, before SHAKESPEARE'S tragedy. 
 
 GREENE'S "love pamphlets" were the most popular Works of Fiction in 
 England, up to the appearance of Sir P. SIDNEY'S Arcadia in 1590.
 
 The English Scholar s Library. 25 
 13. George Joy, 
 
 an early Protestant Reformer. 
 
 AN APOLOGY TO TINDALE. 1535- 
 
 An Apologye made by GEORGE JOYE to satisfye (if it may be) 
 W. TINDALE : to poitrge and defende himself ageinst so many 
 sdaunderouse lyes fayned vpon him in TINDAL'S uncharitable 
 andunsober Pystle so well worthye to be prefixed for the Reader to 
 induce him into the understanding of hys new Testament dili- 
 gently corrected and printed in the yeare of our Lorde, 1534, in 
 Nouember [Antwerp, 27 Feb., 1535. 
 
 This almost lost book is our only authority in respect to the surreptitious 
 editions of the English New Testament, which were printed for the English 
 market with very many errors, by Antwerp printers who knew not English, 
 in the interval between TINDALE'S first editions in 1526, and his revised Text 
 (above referred to) in 1534. 
 
 14. Richard Barnfield. 
 
 of Darlaston, Staffordshire. 
 
 POEMS. 1594-1598. 
 
 The affectionate Shepherd. Containing the Complaint of 
 DAPHNIS/V the Loue of GANYMEDE. 
 
 In the following Work, BARNFIELD states that this is " an imitation of 
 Virgill, in the second Eglogue of Alexis." 
 
 CYNTHIA. With Certaine Sonnets, and the Legend of CAS- 
 SANDRA. 1595. 
 
 The Author thus concludes his Preface : " Thus, hoping you will beare 
 with my rude conceit of Cynthia(A for no other cause, yet, for that it is the 
 First Imitation of the verse of that excellent Poet, Maister Spencer, in his 
 Fayrie Queetu), I leaue you to the reading of that, which I so much desire 
 may breed your delight." 
 
 The Encomion of Lady PECUNIA : or, The Praise of Money. 
 
 1598. 
 
 Two of the Poems in this Text have been wrongly attributed to SHAKE- 
 SPEARE. The disproof is given in the Introduction. 
 
 1 5. T[homas] C[ooper]. 
 
 [Bishop of WINCHESTER.] 
 
 ADMONITION TO THE PEOPLE OF 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 An admonition to the people of England' Wherein are an- 
 swered, not onley the slaunderoui vntruethes, reprochfully uttered 
 by MARTIN the Libeller, but also many other Crimes by some of 
 his broode, objected generally against all Bishops, and the chief e of 
 the Cleargie, purposely to deface and discredit the present state of 
 the Church. {Jan. 1589]. 
 
 This is the official reply on the part of the Hierarchy, to MARTIN MAR- 
 PRELATE's Epistle of [Nov.] 1508 : see No. ii. on/. 24. 
 
 It was published between the appearance of the EpistltxaA that of the 
 Epitome.
 
 26 The English Scholar s Library. 
 
 1 6. Captain John Smith, 
 
 President of Virginia, and Admiral of New England. 
 
 WORKS. 1608-1631. 2 vols. I2s. 6d. 
 A complete edition, with six facsimile plates. 
 Occasion was taken, in the preparation of this Edition, dispas- 
 sionately to test the Author's statements. The result is perfectly 
 satisfactory. The Lincolnshire Captain is to be implicitly believed 
 in all that he relates of his own personal knowledge. 
 The following are the chief Texts in this Volume : 
 (i.) A true Relation of Occurrences in Virginia. 1608. 
 (2.) A Map of Virginia. 1612. 
 (3.) A Description of New England. 1616. 
 (4.) New England's Trials. 1620 and 1622. 
 (5.) The History of Virginia, New England, and Bermuda. 
 1624. 
 
 (6. } An Accidence for young Seamen. 1626. 
 (7.) His true Travels, Adventures, and Observations. 1630. 
 (8.) Advertisements for Planters in New England, or any- 
 where. 1631. 
 
 The first Three English Books on 
 America. [? 1511]-! 5 5 5. 
 
 This work is a perfect Encyclopaedia respecting the earliest 
 Spanish and English Voyages to America. 
 
 Small Paper Edition, 456 pp., in One Volume, Demy 4/0, 
 l is. 
 
 Large Paper Edition in One Volume, Royal 4/0, .3 3-c. 
 The Three Books are 
 
 (i.) Of the new landes, etc. Printed at Antwerp about 1511. 
 This is the first English, book in which the word America [. e. 
 Armonica] occurs. 
 
 (2.) A Treatise of the new India, etc. Translated by 
 RICHARD EDEN from SEBASTIAN MUENSTER'S Cosmography: 
 and printed in 1553.. The Second English Book on America. 
 
 (3. ) The Decades of the New World, etc., by PIETRO MARTIRE 
 [PETRUS MARTYR], translated by RICHARD EDEN, and printed in 
 1555. The Third English Book on America. SHAKESPEARE 
 obtained the character of CALIBAN from this Work. 
 
 A List of 837 London Publishers, 
 
 This Master Key to English Bibliography for the period also 
 gives the approximate period that each Publisher was in busi- 
 ness. 
 
 Demy 4/0, 32//., los. 6d. net.
 
 27 
 
 Fcap. $to, Cloth, Gilt, los. 6d. net. 
 
 THE ONLY KNOWN FRAGMENT OF 
 
 The First printed 
 English New Testament, in Quarto. 
 
 BY W. TINDALE AND W. ROY. 
 Sixty photo-lithographed pages ; preceded by a critical PREFACE. 
 
 BRIEFLY told, the story of this profoundly interesting work is as 
 follows : 
 
 In 1524 TINDALE went from London to Hamburgh ; where 
 remaining for about a year, he journeyed on to Cologne ; and 
 there, assisted by WILLIAM ROY, subsequently the author of the 
 satire on WOLSEY, Rede me and be nott wrotht [see/. 19], he began 
 this first edition in 410, with glosses, of the English New Testament. 
 
 A virulent enemy of the Reformation, COCHLJEUS, at that time an 
 exile in Cologne, learnt, through giving wine to the printer's men, 
 that P. QUENTAL the printer had in hand a secret edition of three 
 thousand copies of the English New Testament. In great alarm, he 
 informed HERMAN RINCK, a Senator of the city, who moved the 
 Senate to stop the printing ; but COCHL^EUS could neither obtain a 
 sight of the Translators, nor a sheet of the impression. 
 
 TINDALE and ROY fled with the printed sheets up the Rhine to 
 Worms ; and there completing this edition, produced also another 
 in 8vo, without glosses. Both editions were probably in England by 
 March, 1526. 
 
 Of the six thousand copies of which they together were com- 
 posed, there remain but this fragment of the First commenced 
 edition, in 410 ; and" of the Second Edition, in 8vo, one complete 
 copy in the Library of the Baptist College at Bristol, and an 
 imperfect one in that of St Paul's Cathedral, London. 
 
 In the Preface, the original documents are given intact, in 
 connection with 
 
 Evidence connected with the first Two Editions of the English 
 New Testament, viz., in Quarto and Octavo 
 I. WILLIAM TINDALE'S antecedent career. 
 II. The Printing at Cologne. 
 
 III. The Printing at Worms. 
 
 IV. WILLIAM ROY'S connection with these Editions. 
 V. The landing and distribution in England. 
 
 VI. The persecution in England. 
 
 Typographical and Literary Evidence connected with the present 
 Fragment 
 
 I. It was printed for TINDALE by PETER QUENTAL at 
 
 Cologne, before 1526. 
 II. It is not a portion of the separate Gospel of Matthew printed 
 
 previous to that year. 
 
 III. It is therefore certainly a fragment of the Quarto. 
 Is the Quarto a translation of LUTHER'S German Version f 
 Text. The prologge. Inner Marginal References. Outer 
 Marginal Glosses. 
 ** For a continuation of this Story see G. JOY'S Apology at p. 25.
 
 28 THE WAR LIBRARY. 
 
 Captain WILLIAM SIBORNE. 
 
 The Waterloo Campaign. 1815. 
 
 4th Ed. Crown 8vo. 832 pages. 13 Medallion Portraits of 
 Generals. 1 5 Maps and Plans. 
 
 Bound in Red Cloth, uncut edges. FIVE SHILLINGS, Net. 
 
 The Work is universally regarded to be the best general Account 
 in the English language of the Twenty Days' War : including the 
 Battles of Quatre Bras, Ligny, Waterloo, and Wavre ; and the 
 subsequent daring March on Paris. It is as fair to the French as 
 it is to the Allies. 
 
 WILLIAM BEATTY, M.D., Surgeon of H.M.S. Victory. 
 
 An Authentic Narrative of 
 
 the Death of Lord Nelson. 
 
 2ist October, 1805. 
 
 2nd Ed. Crown 8vo. 96 pages. Two Illustrations : 
 
 (i) Of Lord NELSON in the dress he wore when 
 he received his mortal wound. 
 
 (a) Of the Bullet that killed him. 
 
 Bound in Blue Cloth, uncut edges. HALF-A-CROWN, Net
 
 2 9 
 
 The Paston Letters. 
 1422-1509. 
 
 A NEW EDITION, containing upwards of 400 letters, 
 etc., hitherto unpublished. 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 JAMES GAIRDNER, 
 
 Of the Public Record Office. 
 
 3 Voh. Fcap. 8vo, Cloth extra, 15s. net. 
 
 " The Paston Letters are an important testimony to the progressive con- 
 dition of Society, and come in as a precious link in the chain of moral history 
 of England, which they alone in this period supply. They stand, indeed, 
 singly, as far as I know, in Europe ; for though it is highly probable that 
 in the archives of Italian families, if not in France or Germany, a series of 
 merely private letters equally ancient may be concealed ; I do not recollect 
 that any have been published. They are all written in the reigns of HENRY 
 VI. and EDWARD IV., except a few that extend as far as HENRY VII., by 
 different members of a wealthy and respectable, but not noble, family ; and 
 are, therefore, pictures of the life of the English gentry of that age." 
 HENRY HALLAM, Introduction to the Literature of Europe, \. a8, 
 Ed. 1837. 
 
 These Letters are the genuine correspondence of a family in Nor- 
 folk during the Wars of the Roses. As such, they are altogether 
 unique in character ; yet the language is not so antiquated as to 
 present any serious difficulty to the modern reader. The topics of 
 the letters relate partly to the private affairs of the family, and 
 partly to the stirring events of the time : and the correspondence 
 includes State papers, love letters, bailiffs accounts, sentimental 
 poems, jocular epistles, etc. 
 
 Besides the public news of the day, such as the Loss of Nor- 
 mandy by the English ; the indictment, and subsequent murder at 
 sea of the Duke of SUFFOLK ; and all the fluctuations of the great 
 struggle of YORK and LANCASTER ; we have the story of JOHN 
 PASTON'S first introduction to his wife ; incidental notices of severe 
 domestic discipline, in which his sister frequently had her head 
 broken ; letters from Dame ELIZABETH BREWS, a match-making 
 Mamma, who reminds the youngest JOHN PASTON that Friday is 
 "Saint Valentine's Day," and invites him to come and visit her 
 family from the Thursday evening till the Monday, etc., etc. 
 
 Every Letter has been exhaustively annotated ; and a Chrono- 
 logical Table, with most copious Indices, conclude the Work.
 
 THE "WHITEHALL EDITION" 
 
 OF THE WORKS OF 
 WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. 
 
 Edited from the Original Texts by H. ARTHUR DOUBLEDAY, 
 
 with the assistance of T. GREGORY FOSTER and ROBERT ELSON. 
 
 In 12 volumes, imperial :6mo. 
 
 The special features to which the publishers would call atten- 
 tion are the TYPE, which is large enough to be read with com- 
 fort by all ; the NUMBERING of the LINES, for convenience of 
 reference ; the ARRANGEMENT of the PLAYS in chronological 
 order ; and the GLOSSARY which is given at the end of each 
 play. The text has been carefully edited from the original 
 editions, and follows as nearly as possible that of the Folio of 
 1623. A few notes recording the emendations of modern 
 Editors which have been adopted are printed at the end of each 
 play. 
 
 The volumes are handsomely bound in buckram and in cloth, 
 5^. per volume. Also in half-parchment, gilt top, 6s. per 
 volume. 
 
 SOME PRESS OPINIONS OF "THE WHITEHALL 
 SHAKESPEARE." 
 
 " The print is clear, the paper good, the margin sufficient, and the volume 
 not too cumbersome." Times. 
 
 " The text gives every evidence of being edited with care and scholarship. 
 . . . On the whole, The Whitehall Shakespeare promises to be one of 
 the most generally attractive among the many editions of the bard which 
 compete for public favour." Scotsman. 
 
 " The general effect is excellent ... it deserves a great success.'' 
 National Observer. 
 
 " The Whitehall Shakespeare commends itself by its convenient form, 
 and its clear and handsome type, as well as by some special features, among 
 which is the alphabetical index to all the characters in the plays in each 
 volume." Daily News. 
 
 " It combines, as far as possible, the requirements of a library and popular 
 edition." Literary World. 
 
 "There is certainly no edition of Shakespeare in the market which is 
 more prettily got up or better printed. . . . One of the best editions for 
 the general reader that have ever appeared in this country." Scottish 
 Leader. 
 
 " Paper, print, and binding leave little to be desired." Standard. 
 
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