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HERE IS TOLD THE HISTORY OF A CERTAIN NOBLE VIRGIN, THAT SAID EVERY DAY THE HOURS OF OUR LADY, AND ONCE A WEEK THE VIGILS OF THE DEAD
THERE was a maiden of noble birth that was comely and debonair and had much of riches; for sith her father and mother died whilst yet she was a child, great wealth came to her, and many lands. And since she was thus solitary in this world's wilderness, having none to whom she owed obedience nor any save God in whom she might trust, this noble lady made offering of her virginity to Jesu Christ, and to His Mother, the glorious Virgin Mary; for she greatly feared the deception of earthly love. And she prayed Our Lady to have charge of her and help her keep her maidenhead, that she might be a worthy bride for her dear Son.
Thus dwelling on her demesne with her household, and living in honesty and charity as becomes the friend of God, this gentlewoman had all men's love and worship, for indeed she was a most fair ensample to that country side. For this cause, and also for the great wealth she had and the exceeding fairness of her face, many
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knights and noble lords did demand her hand in of marriage; yea, so sweet of aspect she was, that assuredly there was no man in the kingdom that would not have right willingly possessed her. But the lady was full of prudence, courtesy, and learning, knowing well how to read both Latin and French, and her mind was little set on gallantry; moreover, of her piety each day it was her custom to say the Hours of Our Lady her protectress, that she might guard her from all villainy and grief, and once every week she said also the Vigils of the Dead, to help all faithful souls. And though many lords and gentlemen did ardently entreat her love, yet she replied to them all that for the vow she had made she might not give it them; for the love of Jesu Christ her Saviour was more precious than that of earthly friend.
Now certain of her kindred, hearing how that their cousin lived alone upon her lands, refusing herself to all men, so that she had no defender to do battle for her rights, made common cause that they might steal her lands and wealth from her: the which she could in no wise keep from them, for what can woman do alone? And by their villainy she saw herself greatly despoiled and impoverished, and she was full of grief for it, fearing lest in the end she be brought to beggary. And there was a knight, a strong lord and powerful in that land, valiant, discreet, and debonair, the which had set his heart on this lady; and she knew that he loved her exceeding well. Therefore, being in great
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distress, not knowing what to do against them that would despoil her, she asked of this lord his help for friendship's sake. But he answered her saying :
"If you will give me your love, I will make war upon your kindred that do you this mischief, and restore all the lands that you have lost; but nought will I do for you till that you give me your troth."
She said, "Fair friend, this I cannot do, for my Lord Christ constraineth me."
Replied the knight, "If you will not do me this courtesy, little help shall I give you."
And he went his way, but he was in no wise disheartened, for he was well aware that this lady had small knowledge of love; therefore in a little while he came to her again and did beseech her anew, and told her the griefs that he endured because of his passion, which were indeed so great that often times he wished to die. And again he swore to be her defender in all things if that she would give him her troth.
But the lady excused herself very courteously, saying, " Verily, sire, I cannot break the vow that I have made for anything that may befall; and indeed he is but foolish that would tempt me to do it, for God and His Mother forbid, and I will not put my soul in peril to have worldly gain thereby. If my goods must go, so shall it be; for certainly it is better to know poverty in this world than damnation in the world to come."
Then the knight departed from her a second
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time, and went home all discomforted, recommending himself to God; but he came back before a fortnight was passed and prayed the lady anew that she would be his sweetheart. What need to set out all the words that passed between them? So many times did he come and go, and to so great straits was the lady brought both by reason of his gallantries and importunities, and also because she stood in much need of his help, that at last she was forced to yield all. And forgetting altogether how that she was the bride of Jesu Christ, she did make tryst with that knight to meet him in secret that they might exchange tokens of their love; for the ardour of his wooing was so great that it had altogether conquered her, and driven all else from her mind. And she took and showed him all the secret places of her demesne, saying:
"You will come to me by the orchard, and cross the little bridge, and enter into this oratory; there will I go so soon as it is night, and will wait you alone. And be sure that you are very secret, for none must know this thing."
The knight took but one kiss, the which the lady gave to him again, and he went away to await the hour that he had so long desired. And very long it seemed in coming; but if one cry Nowell long enough, Nowell at last is here, as the saw saith; and so it was with the day of this knight's joy. Then he disguised himself, that he might not be perceived; and he came alone to the garden that was about his
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mistress's house, there to wait till night fell. And the lady made her household to go early to bed while yet it was light, for it was summer time; and she dressed herself in a plain cotta without kerchief and put a circlet of gold on her head, the which became her well. Moreover her tresses, that were of a golden colour exceeding fair, fell to her waist. Verily she was a right comely lady, most meet to be the friend of any lord.
Then when she was ready, this gentlewoman departed from her chamber and came into the oratory, where there was a counterpane of silken stuff spread upon the earth; and she sat on it. And inasmuch as the hour she had appointed to her lover was already come, she looked every way to find him ; but she saw no one, neither within the chapel nor without, and she was much vexed at it. "Benedicite!" said she. "Was ever so false and laggardly a knight as this? Is it for such a man that I imperil my immortal soul? He should have been waiting in this place, yet he comes not. Of a surety he shall never have my love!"
Then she rose up full of wrath, and went from that oratory and returned into her chamber and sat on her bed. But after a while she repented her of her impatience and thought she would go anew to the tryst, lest he might be there; for she was assured that he loved her well, and she feared that if he came and found her not he might kill himself for grief. And
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remembering that she had not said her prayers, the which she would never willingly neglect to do, she took her Book of Hours from off the coffer where it lay and went anew to the said chapel, and there kneeled down to make her orisons. The moon shone exceeding bright, and this lady thought that she could read in her prymer by its light, and say her prayers for God's love whiles she waited her lover. And she began to recite the Vigils of the Dead, for this was the day on which she was accustomed to say them; most piously commemorating her father and mother and all the faithful departed, that their pains might be eased.
And whilst she did thus, the knight her lover left his concealment, for he judged the hour to be ripe; and he came to the door of the oratory and there saw the lady kneeling. But greater things he saw also, by the which he was filled with holy dread; to wit the shining bodies of the dead, that had arisen from their graves and were there upon their knees, a multitude exceeding great, crying mercy to the lady as it seemed. Verily at this sight that knight was so amazed that he dared go neither forward nor back. He looked at the dead, that were both men and women, young and old, of many and diverse manners, and began to weep right bitterly; for he perceived that this lady his sweetheart did miracles before his eyes. And it seemed to him that he had greatly sinned in that he had constrained her to give him of her love, for very surely it is an evil thing to tempt
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them that God would have to be His saints. And as he watched, being full of fear, the maiden made an end of her prayer and came to the Requiescant in Pace, the which is the conclusion of this Office. And when this she said, all the dead bowed down at her feet giving thanks with exceeding great devotion; and then they rose up and went very gently away.
Then did the lady straitway begin to recite the Compline of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and the knight her lover still watched her, for he dared not enter in, being full of awe. And it was not long before he saw another marvel, to wit the fairest company that ever was assembled under heaven; for there came into that oratory Our Lady Saint Mary, Mother of God, exceeding fair and clothed with so great a glory no tongue could tell it, and this gracious Virgin was encompassed by many angels, and seated on a throne most fairly wrought of precious stuffs, as are the works of Paradise. And ten or twelve angels upheld this throne, and thus did bear their Queen very gloriously; and after them came other that sang her praises. Of a surety, when they came into the chapel so great a light did shine there and so exceeding sweet and joyous was their song, that this knight could in no wise endure it, but he fell upon the earth in a swoon.
And presently, coming to himself, he lifted up his head and looked within the place discreetly ; for now he thought he had been dreaming. And there he did see the light
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divine, that is the light of Our Lady, her angels, her archangels and virgins; and behind the Queen of Heaven two angels standing that held two burning candles, one to the right hand and one to the left. And in the midst of this glorious company was that gentlewoman his mistress, that most meekly and devoutly said her prayers; and when Compline was done, then said she the hymn, Salve Regina.
Then sang with her all the angels and arch- angels, saints and virgins, praising the Mother of God and crying:
" Salve Regina ! Mater misericordiae, Vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve!"
And when this song was finished the Queen of Heaven and all her angels went away, and left that gentlewoman her servant kneeling alone; and she knew not that the Host of Heaven had been there. Then her lover, that had seen these marvels, being greatly afraid, entered into the oratory and fell down at her feet, saying, " Alas ! most dear and sainted lady, I cry you mercy of my sin!" And he kissed her feet, weeping bitterly.
But the maiden, knowing not what ailed him, and being grieved against him because she had waited so long, said:
"Oh, recreant knight and false lover! Are these the customs of chivalry, to come thus laggardly to the tryst? Go your ways, for you shall never have my troth. Here have I waited so long that I have said my Vigils
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from Placebo to Requiescant, and after them the Compline of Our Lady. Call you this the ardour of true love?"
Whereto the knight, greatly taken up with those wonders that she knew not, answered her, "Alas, lady! I might not come to you, for I have seen this night great marvels and holy matters that were done here by your grace. And by this I know that you are in the keeping of God and of His angels, and that no mortal man may lay his hand on you."
Saith the lady, "What have you seen?"
The knight replied to her, "At the hour of the tryst I came to the door of this oratory, and there I saw you kneeling upon the earth and reading I know not what; and the light of the moon fell on the book wherein you read. And because of this matter which you did read and recite, there came about you the shining bodies of the holy dead, so many that this place was full of them. And they kneeled with clasped hands before you, and so did stay a long while; verily because of them I dared not enter in. And at last you said somewhat that I might not hear, and they bowed themselves before you right humbly, and so did go their ways."
When the lady heard these things she was full of dread, and she began to praise God with tears. For well she knew that these souls had been called about her for her defence, by the virtue of those Vigils she said, by the which labour she did lighten their purgatorial pains : and she gave thanks to Our Lord Jesu Christ
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that of His mercy it had been permitted to these holy souls to guard their friend from sin. Then, when she had so done, the knight saith to her:
"This is not all, for when that the dead had gone from you I saw yet holier things, to wit, that this chapel was altogether filled with ghostly light, and in that light there came God's Mother, the Virgin Mary, who did descend from Heaven accompanied by angels and archangels and holy virgins, the which were a long time with you whiles you prayed. And at the end, when they must depart, the angels and virgins sang with you, lauding the Queen of Heaven with sweet sound and joyous melody, and then did go back to Heaven, leaving you here alone. I suppose no man ever saw the Mother of God better than I have done this night. And because of this, I am minded to repent me of all sinful desire, and to offer to her my body and soul ; and for this I will get me to an hermitage there to serve her. And you, lady, my very sweet friend and dear mistress, think on your soul, for verily it belongs altogether to that Lady that has guarded your maidenhead this night. That love which I did ask of you I give you back again ; but I will preserve your lands from them that would despoil you, that if it please you, you may offer them to God."
Then he went his way; and the lady, that was full of contrition because she had been tempted to the breaking of her vow, gave thanks with exceeding fervour to that compassionate Mother, who of her infinite mercy had
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kept her poor servant from this sin. And she was shriven as soon as might be, for she greatly desired to make confession, fleeing all worldly pride and vain deceit; in that now she knew she had about her a fairer meinie than earth could furnish to wit, the Queen of Angels and the souls of all good Christians, that are ever by the side of them that pray.
And with those riches that the knight her lover restored to her according to his word, this gentlewoman did presently build a fair abbey, and put many nuns therein. She herself also, having taken anew the vow of chastity, did live there in religion more than twenty years, and the fame of her holiness went through all the land and won many souls for God. Night and day did she laud her glorious patroness Saint Mary, making sweet hymns in her honour. Nor did she forget to entreat God for the souls of the faithful departed, that He would ease their pains and bring them to celestial joy; for these had helped their friend in the hour of her temptation, and kept her from the snare of Sathan to bring her to the perdurable blessedness of them that look on the Eternal Light.
REQUIEM AETERNAM DONA EIS, DOMINE, ET LUX PERPETUA LUCEAT EIS!
