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HOW HE DID SERVE HIS GLORIOUS MISTRESS; AND OF THE REWARD THAT SHE GAVE HIM
Great is the mercy of Almighty God, for many miracles and favours doth He do for His saints and servants upon earth. Yea! and day and night He does great things for His poor little ones, at the intercession of that Maiden who did bear Him in chastity and nursed Him and rocked Him to sleep.
Here we tell the history of a certain poor scholar, the which was a very loving servant of Madame Saint Mary. He dwelt in a city of Germany, that was a seat of learning, and went most diligently to school, there to be taught the Holy Scriptures and the liberal arts of rhetoric and grammar. And the heart of this young man had ever been inclined towards Our Lady with exceeding great love ; so that for her sake he had made a vow of his virginity, and shunned all worldly gauds and vain conceits. Every day before he went to his school he saluted her with great reverence and courtesy, kneeling before a fair image of God's Mother that there was in the church, and reciting seven
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times the Ave Maria ; nor would he forego this devotion for any necessity. And this poor scholar was accustomed to ask alms every day in the streets that he might have meat and drink, for he was far from home and his poverty was great. Often his body went hungry that his mind might have food; in that he was greatly set upon the attaining of scholarship. So did he live till his fifteenth year, in poverty and chastity, as Our Lady's servants should; nor was he led astray by the evil conversation of his fellows, for he had a pure and upright heart.
Now it befell at this time that a great feast was held in a village of that neighbourhood, and all who went thereto to make their orisons might gain an indulgence for their sins; and a fair was held there because of the feast, and there was much buying, selling, and revelry. Therefore came folk from all the country side to gain this indulgence, and the poor scholars of the city also, hoping that amongst so great company many might have pity on them and give them an alms. Thither would Saint Mary's scholar go to gain the indulgence; but because he had no money to pay for a bed at the inn, he would not go beforehand on the day of the vigil, as did the other pilgrims, but rising betimes before the dawn on the morning of the feast, he set out alone upon the road.
And because it was so early, and he was in haste to be gone, he forgot to say the seven Aves that he had vowed to offer to the Blessed
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Virgin every day; but when the sun rose, and the time was come when he was accustomed to pray to her, he remembered his duty that he had left undone. And he was heartily sorry for it, and grieved greatly. Indeed, he would have turned back to the city, and gone to her chapel, there to laud her according to his wont; but so doing he would have missed the indulgence he sought, the which was given only to them that heard Mass on the day of the feast, and this he could not bear to do. Wherefore he kneeled down in the road where he was, and prayed to Our Lady, and said:
"Most dear and glorious Virgin, sweet Saint Mary! Have compassion, I entreat you, on the feebleness of your poor scholar, that has forgotten his duty this day. Dear Lady, be not angry with me, for I acknowledge my sin and do most heartily bewail it. Here can I make you no amend, but I do promise that so soon as I come to the church whereto I journey, I will go to your chapel that is therein, and salute your image and do penance for my fault. And if that your chapel be shut, I will wait there till it be opened, even until the hour of Vespers if need be ; nor will I break my fast till I have made my peace with you."
Then when he had so prayed, he kissed the earth and went his way, weeping right bitterly because of his contrition and having all his thoughts set on the gaining of Our Lady's forgiveness. And so enrapt in meditation he came to an exceeding great wood, a very solitary
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place, and his road lay through it; and when he had entered therein, he came presently on a place where woodcutters had been, and the trees they had felled lay still upon the ground. There did he see, upon one of the said trees, an image of the glorious Virgin Mary, fairer than anything that craftsmen of this land have skill to carve or paint. He thought that some sculptor had left it by error in the wood, for it was most excellently gilt and coloured, and in all respects like to those images that stand within the church to bring the blessed saints into our minds. Great joy had the poor scholar when he saw it, for now he might take his devotions to Our Lady without delay. Therefore, falling on his knees before this image, he begged Saint Mary's favour, and made his prayer to her in full, saying seven times the Ave Maria. And when he had done this, being filled with a great and pure love, he thought what he might do as earnest of his thankfulness, for that by this image she had helped him to redeem his fault. And it seemed to him that something indeed he might do for it; for there were none in this forest to cherish it, and ill was it prepared to endure the foul weather or the dangers of the place, having no shelter from wind and rain, nor aught defence against the creatures of the woods.
Then straightway he let pick leaves from the trees, and made from them a little hat, the which he placed upon her sacred head that the birds might not perch upon it nor rain wet it;
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and when he had so done he saluted her very courteously and went his way. But when that he had gone a little while, great fervour of love came anew to his heart for that fair image, and he was grieved because the rich colours of it for indeed it was right skilfully painted with azure and gold should have naught to keep them from the weather. Therefore he turned back, and since he had nothing else but a shirt and breeches of linen stuff, and a cloak wherewith he covered them, he took his shirt and tore it into two parts, and folded it about the image of his Lady as best he could, that it might keep her somewhat from rain and cold. Then he wrapped himself in his cloak to cover his nakedness, and set forth upon his journey again, for no more could he do.
But behold! no sooner was he gone from her than he heard the image that called him to her again; and at this he was much amazed, for he had thought it nothing different from those carved images of wood, the which are common in that country and stand in every church. But he knew that none else could have spoken to him, for he was alone in the forest and very far from any house, and on each side of him was the brake where no man might be. Therefore he came back quickly, and with exceeding awe and reverence did offer himself wholly to the Queen of Angels, for he believed that he had heard her voice.
Then, whilst he knelt there, the Blessed Virgin spoke to him and said:
"My little son, I thank
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you for these gifts you have made me; for indeed I had great need of them for in that you have clothed this my image and have sheltered its limbs from cold and its head from rain, these things have you done unto me. Now shall you proceed on your journey to that shrine whither you are bound, and when you are come there you shall go to the bishop and speak with him in my name. And you will find him in the parson's house, there where he sits at meat with his friends. Then shall you say to him: 'My Mistress, that is the Virgin Mary, greets you, and she would have you to know that I am her scholar, and she would have me serve her at her altar forthwith. Therefore it is her will that you do ordain me priest tomorrow, for she is greatly impatient to have me sing her Mass.
When the poor scholar heard this, he thought it some jest, or rather a device of the Evil One to put foolishness into his heart. He knew that he was too young to be priested, for he had but fifteen years, and but little learning had he got in divine scholarship; and also the season of the orderings, when clerks are hallowed, was not come.
But the Queen of Heaven, who can read the heart though the tongue be silent, saw that he doubted her words. Therefore she spoke to him again and reassured him, saying: "My little one, be of good cheer; for all that I have promised shall befall. And when you are come to the bishop, if he believe you not, you shall give him a sign, saying: "My lord, I am come
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from that Lady to whom you did devote yourself on the day when this see was given to you. For then you did secretly vow and promise that you would be wholly her servant, and each day would salute her, saying fifty times Ave Maria; the which you have long time ceased to do. Therefore she ordains, that if you would again have her favour, you make me priest; for she would have me serve her at her altar all the days of my life.
When the poor scholar heard the Lady Mary thus speak, he fell down upon his face before her, and prayed most heartily that of her pity she would make him worthy of her grace. And when his prayer was done he rose up, and raised his eyes toward that image whence his happiness had come ; but no image was there, for it had vanished clean away, and he was alone in the forest.
Then, when he saw this, he knew that Our Lady had shown him a fair miracle, and he began to laud her with a loud voice, for he was full of thankfulness. And so praising her, he continued on his road, and came to the village where the feast was held, and to the church. There he went in and heard Mass, that he might have the indulgence for his soul; nor did he forget the glorious Virgin, for he went to her chapel that was in the church and there made orison. Then did he go to the parson's house, as she had bid him ; but in that he was now half naked, having but his cloak and breeches, the porter would not let him come
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in, turning him from the door with blows and harsh words, as he did all poor folk. Nevertheless, Saint Mary's scholar was nothing disheartened; but because of the strength that his Mistress's words had given him, he would not be thrust out, but won past the door and came into the great hall where the bishop sat at meat with his friends, priests, knights, and gentlemen of the pilgrimage. And he drew near the high board where the bishop was, and there stood, and cried with a loud voice that he had a message of great import to deliver.
The bishop, seeing this young man that was clad only in cloak and linen breeches, yet spoke with so great assurance, supposed he was some wandering jester that had come to the fair; and he and all his company held their peace, that they might the better hear his fooling. Then, when all were silent, Saint Mary's scholar spoke as Our Lady had commanded him, saying: "My Mistress, that is the Virgin Mary, greets you; and would have you to know that I am her scholar, and that she would have me serve her as her priest."
But when he had thus spoken, the bishop would hear him no longer, crying: "Fool, jest how you will of such things as be lawful, but the name of God's Mother you shall not bring into contempt, for this is malice and great blasphemy."
Then said the scholar: "This shall I never do, for I love Our Lady's honour above all else. But the devoir she has laid on me I must surely
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perform, and therefore I demand that tomorrow you ordain me priest, for this is her will."
Then the bishop mocked him and said: "Nay, you are too finely clad for the poor service of religion; but very surely if you cease not this blasphemy I will send you to the whipping-post, that your body may be better adorned with many stripes. To jest is good, but ill does it fare with them that lightly speak of holy things."
Said the poor scholar: "My lord, will you send to the whipping-post the messenger of that Lady to whom you did on the day of your consecration vow fifty Aves a day? These you have not given her, for the which cause she is angry; and now she demands a better chaplain, that shall serve her without neglect."
When the bishop heard these words he was so greatly astonished that he rose from before the table and dismissed the company without delay; and when they were gone, he bade Saint Mary's scholar to approach him and sit by his side and tell him all the matter. Then, when he had heard it, he fell down on his face before that glorious Virgin, who had thus rebuked him out of the mouth of this poor child of hers; and he promised that he would do in all things that which her messenger commanded, praying very humbly that she would pardon his neglect.
Then, when morning was come, he went with the poor scholar to the church, and there did hallow him: and when this was done he led him
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to Our Lady's altar and bade him to be her chaplain and to sing her Mass forthwith. But at this the young man was greatly afraid, for he was wholly ignorant of the manner in which this high service should be sung: therefore did he entreat that he might be excused from it till he had learned somewhat of the matter, but that instead he might read Mass, the which he could well do.
"Nay," said the bishop, "this Mass you shall sing, for it is a Mass of thanksgiving. Have no fear, for she who has sent you hither and called you to her service will be with you to aid you in your task."
Then said the young priest : "Domine, labia mea aperies!" And being vested he went to the altar, and there did recite the confiteor and the secret prayers. And when he had so done his heart was filled with a great fervour of love divine, and his tongue being moved by the spirit of wisdom and understanding, he began to sing the Introit of Our Lady, namely, that which begins "Salve sancta Parens," in fair and goodly sort, as one of long custom in that service. And lo! when he had sung the words, "Enixa puerpera Regem," the whole congregation took this song from his lips and cried, saying, "Qui coelum terramque regit in saecula saeculorum." Therefore, being greatly encouraged by this marvel, Saint Mary's scholar did well and bravely sing her Mass: so that one might have thought him a priest of great age and learning, for love had made him wise. And
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behold! when he came to the Offertory, the bishop, who sat in his throne that was in the choir, saw great wonder; to wit, his holy Mistress, that is Our Lady Queen of Angels, who came into the church with all her train. And she was most excellently apparelled in velvet and silk, and the clasp of her mantle shone like the stars, and her crown glittered so that no eye could bear it. And when her chaplain sang the Offertory words, namely, "Beata es Virgo Maria, quae omnium portasti Creatorem," this glorious Lady came very humbly to the altar, and there she offered, with exceeding great devotion, the little hat of leaves that he had woven for her in the forest. And it was as fresh and green as in the hour when it was made.
Then she withdrew a little space with her maidens, and the young priest, that had seen her offering, was uplifted with right holy joy, for now he knew his service was accepted. And the bishop also saw the miracle, by the which he was the more persuaded of the truth of all that he had heard; but the people that were in the church saw it not. And when the Oblation was made, and the priest began the prayer, "Suscipe sancta Trinitas," again the Queen of Angels drew near him, and with her fair and holy hands she offered upon the altar the linen shirt wherewith her scholar had wrapped her from the cold: and when she had so done she returned to Heaven with all her company.
Then did her chaplain sing her Office to the end exceeding sweetly, for his heart was full of
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joy ; and when that her Son was present upon the altar, and he had partaken of that Blessed Bread, he turned and raised his hands to bless the people. But no words came from him; rather stood he as an image might do that raises its hands toward God. Then his clerk, perceiving that he spake not, ran to him, fearing some ill; and the bishop came also, full of dread, for he knew that there was great and marvellous work in the sacring of this Mass. And verily, a fresh marvel there was; for the soul of Saint Mary's scholar was gone from him, even whilst he sang his Mistress's Mass. Yea, that Mistress whom he had clothed and cherished, the which forgets not the loving kindness of her friends, had taken him altogether to her keeping: that he might never leave her, but serve her in blessedness eternal before the very Altar of the Lamb!
