The xxxiiii. Chapter.
Lessons read in all churches, where the pope hath authoritie, on S. Margarets daie, translated into English word for word.
HOLIE Margaret required of GOD, that she might have a conflict face to face with hir secret enimie the divell; and rising from praier,Lect. in die sanctissimæ Marg. vir. 5. she sawe a terrible dragon, that would have devoured hir, but she made the signe of the crosse, and the dragon burst in the middest.
Lect. 6.Afterwards, she sawe another man/456. sitting like a Niger, having his hands bound fast to his knees, she taking him by the haire of the head, threw him to the ground, and set hir foote on his head; and hir praiers being made, a light shined from heaven into the prison where she was, and the crosse of Christ was seene in heaven, with a doove sitting thereon, who said; Blessed art thou O Margaret, the gates of paradise attend thy comming. Then she giving thanks to God, said to the divell, Declare to me thy name. The divell said; Take awaie thy foote from my head, that I may be able to speake, and tell thee: which being done, the divell said, I am Veltis,Looke in the word Iidoni, pag. 383. one of them whome Salomon shut in the brasen vessell, and the Babylonians comming, and supposing there had beene gold therein, brake the vessell, and then we flew out: ever since lieng in wait to annoie the just. But seeing I have recited a part of hir storie, you shall also have the end therof: for at the time of hir execution this was hir praier following.
Grant therefore O father, that whosoever writeth, readeth, or heareth my passion, or maketh memoriall of me, may deserve pardon for all his sinnes: whosoever calleth on me, being at the point of death, deliver him out of the hands of his adversaries. And I also require, O Lord, that whosoever shall build a church in the honor of me, or ministreth unto me anie candles** For the preests profit, I warrant you. of his just labour, let him obteine whatsoever he asketh for his health. Deliver all women in travell that call upon me, from the danger thereof.
This is cōmon (they saie) when a witch or conjuror dieth.Hir praier ended, there were manie great thunderclaps, and a doove came downe from heaven, saieng; Blessed art thou O Margaret the spouse of Christ. Such things as thou hast asked, are granted unto thee; there/fore330. come thou into everlasting rest, &c. Then the hangman (though she did bid him) refused to cut off hir head: to whome she said; Except thou doo it, thou canst have no part with me, and then lo he did it, &c. But sithens I have beene, and must be tedious, I thought good to refresh my reader with a lamentable storie, depending upon the matter precedent, reported by manie grave authors, word for word, in maner and forme following./