1 Mary looks on a woman in whom Satan had taken
up his abode, and she becomes dispossesed.
5 Christ kissed by a bride made dumb by sorcerers,
cures her.
11 Miraculously cures a gentlewoman in whom Satan
had taken up his abode.
16 A leprous girl cured by the water in which he was
washed, and becomes the servant of Joseph and Mary.
20 The leprous son of a prince's wife cured in like manner.
37 Has mother offers large gifts to Mary, and dismisses her.
THEN they went into another
city where there was a woman
possessed with a devil, and in
whom Satan, that cursed rebel,
had taken up his abode.
2 One night, when she went to
fetch water, she could neither
endure her clothes on, nor to be
in any house; but as often as they
tied her with chains or cords, she
brake them, and went out into desert
places, and sometimes standing
where roads crossed, and in
church yards, would throw stones
at men.
3 When St. Mary saw this
woman, she pitied her; where
upon Satan presently left her, and
fled away in the form of a young
man, saying, Wo to me, because
of thee, Mary, and thy son.
4 So the woman was delivered
from her torment; but considering
herself naked, she blushed,
and avoided seeing any man and
having put on her clothes, went
home, and gave an account of her
case to her father and relations
who, as they were the best of the
city, entertained St. Mary and
Joseph with the greatest respect.
5 The next morning having
received a sufficient supply of
provisions for the road, they went
from them, and about the evening of
the day arrived at another town,
where a marriage was then about
to be solemnized; but by the arts
of Satan and the practices of a
sorcerers, the bride was become
so dumb, that she could not so
much as open her mouth.
6 But when this dumb bride
saw the Lady St. Mary entering
into the town, and carrying
Lord Christ in her arms, she
stretched out her hands to the
Lord Christ, and-took him in her
arms, and closely hugging him,
very often kissed him, continually
moving him and, pressing him to
her body.
7 Straightway the string of her
tongue was loosed, and her ears
were opened, and she began to
sing praises unto God, who had
restored her.
8 So there was great joy among
the inhabitants of the town that
night, who thought that God and
his angels were come down among
them.
9 In this place they abode
three days, meeting with the greatest
respect and most splendid entertainment.
10 And being then furnished by
the people with provisions for the
road, they departed and went to
another city, in which they were
inclined to lodge, because it was a
famous place.
11 There was in this city a
gentlewoman, who, as she went down
one day to the river to bathe, behold
cursed Satan leaped upon her in the
form of a serpent.
12 And folded himself about her
belly, and every night lay upon
her.
13 This woman seeing the Lady
St. Mary, and the Lord Christ the
infant in her bosom, asked the
Lady St. Mary, that she would
give her the child to kiss, and
carry in her arms.
14 When she had consented,
and as soon as the woman had
moved the child, Satan left her,
and fled away, nor did the woman
ever afterwards see him.
15 Hereupon all the neighbors
praised the Supreme God, and the
woman reward them with ample,
beneficence.
16 On the morrow, the same
woman brought perfumed water to
wash the Lord Jesus; and when
she had washed him, she preserved
the water.
17 And there was a girl there,
whose body was white with a
leprosy, who being sprinkled with
this water, and washed, was
instantly cleansed from her leprosy.
18 The people therefore said
Without doubt Joseph and Mary,
and that boy are Gods, for they do
not look like mortals.
19 And when they were making
ready to go away, the girl, who
had been troubled with the leprosy,
came and desired they would
permit her to go along with them;
so they consented and the girl went
with them till they came to a city
in which was the palace of a great
king, and whose house was not far
from the inn.
20 Here they staid, and when
the girl went one day to the
prince's wife, and found her in a
sorrowful and mournful condition,
she asked her the reason of her
tears.
21 She replied, wonder not at
my groans, for I am under a great
misfortune, of which I dare not
tell any one.
22 But, says the, girl, if you
will entrust me with your private
grievance, perhaps I may find you
a remedy for it.
23 Thou, therefore, says the
prince's wife, shall keep the
secret, and not discover it to
any one alive.
24 I have been married to this
prince, who rules as king over
large dominions, and lived long
with him before he had any child
by me.
25 At length I conceived by
him, but alas! I brought forth a
leprous son; which, when he saw
him would not own to be his, but
said to me,
26 Either do thou kill him, or
send him to some nurse in such a
place, that he may be never heard
of; and now take care of yourself;
I will never see you more.
27 So here I pine, lamenting
my wretched and miserable
circumstances. Alas, my son! alas,
my husband; Have I disclosed it
to you?
28 The girl replied I have found
a remedy for your disease, which
I promise you, for I also was
leprous, but God hath cleansed
me, even he who is called Jesus
the son of the Lady Mary.
29 The woman inquiring where
that God was, whom she spake
of; the girl answered, He lodges
with you here, in the same house.
30 But how can this be? says
she; where is he? Behold, replied
the girl, Joseph and Mary; and
the infant who is, with them is
called Jesus; and it is he who
delivered me from my disease and
torment.
31 But by what means, says she,
were you cleansed from your leprosy?
Will not you tell me that?
32 Why not? says the girl; I
took the water with which his
body had been washed, and poured
it upon me, and my leprosy
vanished.
33 The prince's wife then arose
and entertained them, providing a
great feast for Joseph among a
large company of men.
34 And the next day took
perfumed water to wash the Lord
Jesus, and afterwards poured the
same water upon her son, whom
she had brought with her, and her
son was instantly cleansed from
his leprosy,
35 Then she sang thanks and
unto God, and said, Blessed
is the mother that bare thee,
O Jesus!
36 Dost thou thus cure men of
the same nature with thyself, with
the water with which thy body is
washed?
37 She then offered very large
gifts to the Lady Mary, and sent
her away with all imaginable
respect.