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N
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

N
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

N
 

Sythyn yed sche forth to Leycetyr, and a good man also, Thomas Marchale, of 
whom is wretyn beforn. And ther sche cam into a fayr cherch wher sche behelde a 
crucyfyx was petowsly poyntyd and lamentabyl to beheldyn, thorw whech beheldyng 
the Passyon of owr Lord entryd hir mende, wherthorw sche gan meltyn and al to 
relentyn be terys of pyté and compassyown. Than the fyer of lofe kyndelyd so yern in 
hir hert that sche myth not kepyn it prevy, for, whedyr sche wolde er not, it cawsyd hir 
to brekyn owte wyth a lowde voys and cryen merveylowslyche and wepyn and sobbyn 
ful hedowslyche that many a man and woman wondryd on hir therfor. Whan it was 
ovyrcomyn, sche goyng owt at the chirche dore, a man toke hir be the sleve and seyd, 
"Damsel, why wepist thu so sor?" "Ser," sche seyd, "it is not yow to telle." And so 
sche and the good man, Thomas Marchale, went forth and toke hir hostel and ther etyn 
her mete. Whan thei had etyn, sche preyd Thomas Marchale to writyn a lettyr and 
sendyn to hir husbond that he myth fettyn hir hom. And, wyl the lettyr was in wrytyng, 
the osteler cam up to hir chawmbyr in gret hast and toke awey hir scryppe and bad hyr 
comyn yerne and spekyn wyth the meyr. And so sche dede. Than the meyr askyd hir 
of what cuntré sche was and whos dowtyr sche was. "Syr," sche seyd, "I am of Lynne 
in Norfolke, a good mannys dowtyr of the same Lynne, whech hath ben meyr fyve 
tymes of that worshepful burwgh and aldyrman also many yerys, and I have a good 
man, also a burgeys of the seyd town, Lynne, to myn husbond." "A," seyd the meyr, 
"Seynt Kateryn telde what kynred sche cam of and yet ar ye not lyche, for thu art a fals 
strumpet, a fals loller, and a fals deceyver of the pepyl, and therfor I schal have the in 
preson." And sche seyd ageyn, "I am as redy, ser, to gon to preson for Goddys lofe as 
ye arn redy to gon to chirche." Whan the meyr had long chedyn hir and seyd many 
evyl and horybyl wordys onto hir and sche, be the grace of Jhesu, had resonabely 
answeryd hym to al that he cowde seyn, than he comawndyd the jaylerys man to 
ledyn hir to preson. The jaylerys man, havyng compassyon of hir wyth wepyng terys, 
seyd to the meyr, "Ser, I have non hows to put hir inne les than I putte hir among 
men." Than sche, mevyd wyth compassyon of the man whech had compassyon of hir 
preyng for grace and mercy to that man as to hir owyn sowle, seyd to the meyr, "I prey 
yow, ser, put me not among men, that I may kepyn my chastité and my bond of 
wedlak to myn husbond, as I am bowndyn to do." And than seyd the jayler hys owyn 
selfe to the meyr, "Ser, I will be bowndyn to kepe this woman in safwarde tyl ye wyl 
have hir ageyn." Than was ther a man of Boston, and seyd to the good wyfe ther sche 
was at ostel, "Forsothe," he seyth, "in Boston this woman is holdyn an holy woman 
and a blissed woman." Than the jayler toke hir into hys awarde and led hyr hom into 
hys owyn hows and put hir in a fayr chawmbyr, schetyng the dor wyth a key and 
comendyng hys wyfe the key to kepyn. Nevyrthelesse he lete hir gon to chirche whan 
sche wolde and dede hir etyn at hys owyn tabyl and mad hir ryght good cher for owr 
Lordys lofe, thankyd be almygthy God therof.