to hear them; and there they continued till it was the hour for sleep.
And the holy Hermit shewed him his bed, and said, When I shall have left
the company, thou wilt follow the ways which I have followed, for which
our Lord will have mercy upon thee, and will extend his hand over thee,
that thou mayest persevere in good, and in his holy service. And then
they laid down and slept till it was the hour of matins, when they should
both arise. And the Hermit awoke him, for as the King had not slept for a
long time, and was moreover full weary, he would not have awaked so soon,
if the Hermit had not roused him; and they said their hours. And when it
was time the Hermit said mass, and the King heard it with great devotion,
and communicated with great contrition, and remained in prayer for the
space of two hours. And the hour for taking food came, and the Hermit
took a loaf which was made of pannick and of rye, and gave half thereof
to the King, and took for himself the other half: And they ate little
of it, as men who could not eat more, the one by reason of age, and the
other because he was not used to such fare. And thus they continued till
the third day, when the holy Hermit departed this life.”
Ch. 239.—_How the Hermit died, and the King found a writing in his hand._
“On the third day, the pious Hermit expired at the same hour which he
had said to the King, whereat the King was full sorrowful, as one who
took great consolation in the lessons which he gave. And when he had thus
deceased, the King by himself, with his hands, and with an oaken stick
which was there, made his grave. And when he was about to bury him, he
found a writing in his hand; and he took it and opened it, and found that
it contained these words.
Ch. 240.—_Of the rule of life which the Hermit left written for King Don
Rodrigo._
“O King, who through thy sins hast lost the great honour in which
thou wert placed, take heed that thy soul also come not into the same
judgement which hath fallen upon thy flesh. And receive into thy heart
the instructions that I shall give thee now, and see that thou swerve not
from them, nor abatest them a jot; for if thou observest them not, or
departest in ought from them, thou wilt bring damnation upon thy soul;
for all that thou shalt find in this writing is given thee for penance,
and thou must learn with great contrition of repentance, and with
humbleness of patience, to be content with that which God hath given thee
to suffer in this world. And that thou mayest not be deceived in case
any company should come unto thee, mark and observe this and pass in it
thy life. Thou shalt arise two hours after midnight, and say thy matins
within the hermitage. When the day breaks thou shalt go to the oratory,
and kneeling upon the ground, say the whole hours by the breviary, and
when thou hast finished them thou shalt say certain prayers of our Lord,
which thou wilt find therein. And when thou hast done this, contemplate
then upon the great power of our Lord, and upon his mercy, and also upon
the most holy passion which he suffered for mankind upon the cross, being
himself very God, and maker of all things; and how with great humility
he chose to be incarnate in a poor virgin, and not to come as a king,
but as a mediator among the nations. And contemplate also upon the poor
life which he always led in this world, to give us an example; and that
he will come at the day of judgement to judge the quick and the dead, and
give to every one the meed which he hath deserved. Then shalt thou give
sustenance to thy flesh of that bread of pannick and rye, which shall
be brought to thee every Friday in the manner that I have said; and of
other food thou shalt not eat, although it should be given or sent thee;
neither shalt thou change thy bread. And when thou hast eaten give thanks
to God, because he has let thee come to repentance; and then thou shalt
go to the oratory, and there give praise to the Virgin our Lady holy
Mary, mother of God, in such manner as shall come to thee in devotion. If
when, thou hast finished, heaviness should come upon thee, thou mayest
sleep, and when thou shalt have rested as long as is reasonable, return
thou to thy oratory, and there remain, making thy prayers always upon thy
knees, and for nothing which may befall thee depart thou from thence,
till thou hast made an end of thy prayers, whether it rain or snow, or
if a tempest should blow. And for as much as the flesh could sustain so
many mundane pleasures, so must it suffer also celestial abstinences;
two masses thou hast heard in this hermitage, and in it, it is God’s
will that thou shalt hear no more, for more would not be to his service.
And if thou observest these things, God will have compassion upon thy
deserts. And when the King had read this, he laid it upon the altar, in a
place where it would be well preserved.”
Ch. 241.—_How the Devil came in the form of a Hermit to deceive the King
Don Rodrigo._
“Now when the King had made a grave in which to bury the Hermit, the
Devil was troubled at the good course which the King had taken, and
he cast about for means how he might deceive him; and he found none so
certain as to come to him in the figure of a hermit, and keep company
with him, to turn him aside from those doctrines which the Hermit had
given him, that he might not fulfil his penitence. And the King being in
great haste to bury the body, the Devil came to him with a long white
beard, and a great hood over the eyes, and some paternosters hanging from
his girdle, and supporting himself upon a staff as though he were lame,
and could not go. And when he came where the King was he humbled himself,
and said unto him, Peace be with thee! And the King turned toward that
side from which he came, and when he saw him of so great age, he thought
that it was some holy man who knew of the death of the Hermit, and was
come to bury him; and he humbled himself, and went towards him to kiss
his hand, and the Devil would not, saying, It is not fitting that a
King should kiss the hand of a poor servant of God. And the King was
astonished at hearing himself named, and believed that this must needs be
a man of holy life, and that he spake by some revelation; nevertheless
he said, I am not a king, but a miserable sinner, for whom it had been
better never to have been born, than that so much evil should have
happened through me. And the false Hermit said to him, Think not that
thou hast so much fault as thou imaginest in what has now been done, for
even if thou hadst had no part in it, this destruction would have fallen
at this time. And since it was ordained that it should be so, the fault
is not thine; some fault thou hadst, but it was very little. And think
not that I speak this of myself; for my words are those of a spirit made
and created by the will of God, who speaks through me this and many other
things, which hereafter thou shalt know, that thou mayest see how God has
given me power that I should know all thy concerns, and counsel thee in
what manner thou shouldst live. And albeit I have more need of rest than
of labour, by reason of my age, which is far greater than my countenance
shows, yet I have disposed myself to labour for the love of thee, to
console thee in this thy persecution, knowing that this good man was
about to die. Of a truth you may believe that on this day month I was
in Rome, being there in the church of St. John de Lateran, out of which
I had never gone for thirty years, till I came now to keep thee company
according as I am commanded. Marvel not that a man of so great age and
crippled as I am, should have been able to traverse so much land in so
short time, for certes I tell thee that he who speaks in this form which
thou seest, has given me strength to go through so great a journey; and
sans doubt I feel myself as strong now as on the day when I set forth.
And the King said to him, Friend of God, I rejoice much in thy coming,
for that in my misfortunes I shall be by thee consoled and instructed in
that which must be done to fulfil my penitence; I rejoice also that this
holy Hermit here shall receive burial from the hands of a man much more
righteous than I. And the false Hermit said, Think not, King, that it is
for the service of God to give to any person a name not appertaining to
him. And this I say because I well know the life of this person, what it
was; and as thou knowest nothing of celestials, thou thinkest that as the
tongue speaketh, even such is the heart. But I tell thee the habit doth
not make the monk, and it is from such persons as these that the saying
arose which is common in the world, I would have justice, but not for
my own house. This I say to thee, because he commanded thee to perform
a penance such as never man did, the which is, that thou shouldst eat
only once a day, and that of such bread that even the shepherds’ dogs
would not eat it; and of this that thou shouldst not eat as much as
thou couldst; and appointed thee the term of a year that thou shouldst
continue in this diet. Also he commanded thee that thou shouldst not hear
mass during the time that thou abidest here, for that the two masses
which thou hast heard should suffice; look now if that doctrine be good,
which bids a man forget the holy sacrament! Certes I tell thee that only
for that which he commanded thee to observe, his soul is consigned to
a place where I would not that thine should go for all the world, if
it were in my power, with all its riches. Nevertheless, to be rid of
the ill smell which he would give, it is fit that you should bury him,
and while you do this I will go for food. And the King said, Friend of
God, do not take this trouble, but remain still, and before noon there
will come food, which will suffice for you and for me; help me now to
give burial to this good man, which will be much for the service of God,
although he may have been a sinner. And the false Hermit answered, King,
it would be less evil to roll him over these rocks into the sea; but
if not, let him lie thus upon the earth till the birds and the beasts
devour his flesh. And the King marvelled at this: nevertheless though he
believed that this false Hermit was a servant of God, he left not for
that to bury the good Hermit who there lay without life, and he began
by himself to carry him to the grave which he had made. And as he was
employed in burying him, he saw that the false Hermit went away over the
mountains at a great rate, not as one who was a cripple, but like a stout
man and a young; and he marvelled what this might mean.
Ch. 242.—_How King Don Rodrigo informed himself concerning the penance
which he was to perform, from the writing which the holy Hermit left him._
“When the King had finished burying the good servant of God, he went
to the altar, and took the writing in his hand, and read it to inform
himself well of it. And when he had read it, he saw that of a certainty
all that was said therein was for the service of God, and was of good
doctrine for his soul; and he said, that, according to the greatness of
his sins, it behoved that his penitence must be severe, if he wished
to save his soul. And then he called to mind the life which St. Mary
Magdalen endured, for which God had mercy on her. And forthwith he went
to his oratory, and began his prayers; and he remained there till it was
near noon; and he knew that he had nothing to eat, and awaited till it
should be brought him.
Ch. 243.—_How the Devil brought meat to King Don Rodrigo that he should
eat it; and he would only eat of the Hermit’s bread._
“After it was mid-day the false Hermit came with a basket upon his
shoulders, and went straight to where the King was, and he came sweating
and weary. And the King had compassion on him, howbeit he said nothing,
neither did he leave his prayers. And the false Hermit said to him,
King, make an end of thy prayers, for it is time to eat; and here I
bring food. And the King lifted up his eyes and looked toward him, and
he saw that there came into the hermitage a shepherd with a wallet upon
his back, and he thought this must be he who brought him that which he
was to eat. And so in truth it was, that that shepherd brought every
Friday four loaves of pannick and rye for the holy Hermit, upon which he
lived during the week. And as this shepherd knew not that the good man
was dead, he did no more than put his bread upon the altar, and go his
way. And the King, when he had ceased praying, rose up from the oratory,
and went to the false Hermit. And he found the four loaves, and he took
one, and brake it in the middle, and laid by the rest carefully, and he
went out of the hermitage into the portal, where there was a table full
small, and he laid a cloth upon it, and the bread which he was to eat,
and the water; and he began to bless the table, and then seated himself.
And the false Hermit noted well how he blest the table, and arose from
where he was, and went to the King, and said, King take of this poor
fare which I have brought, and which has been given me in alms. And he
took out two loaves which were full white, and a roasted partridge, and
a fowl, of which the legs were wanting; and he placed it upon the table.
And when the King saw it, his eyes were filled with tears, for he could
not but call to mind his great honour in former times, and how it was
now fallen, and that his table had never before been served like this.
And he said, addressing himself to the Lord, Praised be thy name, thou
who canst make the high low, and the low nothing. And he turned to his
bread and did eat thereof. And though he had great hunger, yet could he
scarcely eat thereof, for he had never used it till in that hermitage,
and now it seemed worse by reason of the white bread which that false
Hermit had brought. And the false Hermit, who saw that he gave no regard
neither to the bread, nor the meat which he had brought, said to the
King, Why eatest thou not of this which God has sent thee? and the King
said, I came not to this hermitage to serve God, but to do penance for
my sins, that my soul may not be lost. And the penance which is given me
in this life, I must observe for a year and not depart from it, lest it
should prove to my great hurt. And the false Hermit said, How, King, hath
it been given thee for penance, that thou shouldst let thyself die for
despair? The Gospel commands not so; contrariwise it forbids man to do
any such penance through which the body might be brought to death; for
if in killing another, he who causes the death is held for a murderer,
much more is he who killeth himself; and such thou wouldst be. And
now through despair thou wouldst let thyself die of hunger, that thou
mightest no longer live in this world, wherefore I say eat of this food
that I have brought thee some little, that thou mayest not die. And with
that he began to eat right heartily. And the King, when he beheld him,
was seized with affection to do the like, howbeit he was withheld, and
would eat nothing thereof. And as it was time when he would drink of the
water, the false Hermit said to him, that he should drink of the wine;
and the King would only taste of that water; and as he went to take of
it, the false Hermit struggled with him, but he could not prevail, and
the King did according to his rule, and departed not from it. And when
he had eaten, he began to give thanks to God. And the false Hermit, who
saw that he would have to cross himself at arising from the table, rose
up before him, as one who was about to do something; and the King heeded
it not. And when he had thus eaten, he went to the oratory, and began to
give praises to the Virgin Mary, according as the good man had commanded
him; when that traitor went to him and said, Certes this doctrine which
thou holdest is no way to serve God, for sans doubt when the stomach
is heated with food the will shall have no power to pray as it ought;
and although the tongue may say the prayers, the heart confirms them
not, being hindered by the force which nature derives from the food.
Therefore I say to thee that thou oughtest to sleep first; for whilst
thou art sleeping the food will settle, and the will will then be more
able for contemplation. Moreover, God is not pleased with prayers without
contrition, as with one who speaketh of one thing, and hath his heart
placed on another, so that he can give no faith to the words which he
beginneth. If thou wouldest be saved, O King, it behoves thee to listen
to me; and if thou wilt not believe me, I will depart and leave thee, as
one who will take no counsel, except from himself. And the King replied,
if I should see that thou confirmedst the good manner of life whereof my
soul hath need, according as it was appointed by the good man whom I have
buried, then would I follow thy way. But I see that thy life is not that
of a man of abstinence, nor of one who forsakes worldly enjoyments for
the love of God; rather it seemeth by what I see in thee that thy life is
a strengthening of worldly glory; for thou satisfiest thy flesh with good
viands as I was wont to do, when I was puffed up with the vanities of the
world. Wherefore I will in no wise follow thy way, for I see that thou
art a worldly man, who deceivest God and the world, and when it comes to
the end thou thyself wilt be deceived.
Ch. 244.—_Of what the Devil said to King Don Rodrigo to dispart him from
his penance._
“The false Hermit said to him, For what reason art thou certain that the
rule which this deceiver whom thou hast buried appointed for thee, will
be salvation for thy soul, and that what I say to thee is not of a truth?
Thou understandest me not well: I never forbade thee that thou shouldst
hear mass, as he has done; for this is one of the good things that man
may every day see his Saviour and adore him. And seeing that he forbade
thee to do this, thou mayest be certain that as he deceived his own soul,
he would deceive thine also. For at the hour when man passeth away out of
the world, he would fain that that same hour should be the end of all the
world; and thus that enemy did, for where he went, thither he would draw
thee also. Now since God hath given thee sense and reason, thou mayest
clearly understand that his counsel and doctrine are deceitful, and what
thou oughtest to do.
Ch. 245.—_Of the Reply which the King made to the Devil._
“Sans doubt, said the King, he forbade me not that I should hear mass;
but because he commanded me that I should fulfil my penance here for the
term of a year, as he knew the hour of his own death, so also he knew
that no other person who could say mass would come to this hermitage
within the year; and, therefore, he said to me, that in this hermitage I
should not hear mass, but he never forbade me from hearing it.
Ch. 246.—_Of the Reasoning which the false Hermit made to King Don
Rodrigo._
“The false Hermit said, Now thou thyself manifestest that he was not
so worthy as a man ought to be who knows that which is to come. For
according to thy words, he knew not that I should come here, who can
say mass if I please; and if there be good judgement in thee, thou wilt
understand that I must needs be nearer to God, because I know all which
he had commanded thee to do, and also how he was to die. And I can know
better in what place he is, than he who has commanded thee to observe
this rule, knew concerning himself while he was here. But this I tell
thee, that as I came to teach thee the way in which thou shouldst live,
and thou wilt not follow my directions, I will return as I came. And now
I marvel not at any thing which has befallen thee, for thou hast a right
stubborn heart; hard and painful wilt thou find the way of thy salvation,
and in vain wilt thou do all this, for it is a thing which profiteth
nothing.
Ch. 247.—_Of the Reply which King Don Rodrigo made to the false Hermit._
“Good man, said the King, all that thou shalt command me to do beyond the
rule which the holy Hermit appointed me, that will I do; that in which my
penance may be more severe, willingly will I do it. But in other manner I
will not take thy counsel; and as thou hast talked enough of this, leave
me, therefore, to my prayers. And then the King bent his knees, and began
to go on with his rule. And the false Hermit when he saw this, departed,
and returned not again for a month; and all that time the King maintained
his penance, in the manner which had been appointed him. And by reason
that he ate only of that black bread, and drank only water, his flesh
fell away, and he became such that there was not a man in the world who
would have known him. Thus he remained in the hermitage, thinking of no
other thing than to implore the mercy of God that he would pardon him.
Ch. 248.—_Of what the false Hermit said to King Don Rodrigo to dispart
him from his rule._
“King Don Rodrigo living thus, one day, between midnight and dawn,
the false Hermit came to the hermitage; and not in the same figure as
before, but appearing more youthful, so that he would not be known. And
he called at the door, and the King looked who it might be, and saw that
he was habited like a servant of God, and he opened the door forthwith.
And they saluted each other. And when they saw each other, the false
Hermit greeted the King, and demanded of him where the father was; and
the King answered, that for more than a month there had been no person
dwelling there save himself. And the false Hermit, when he heard this,
made semblance as if he were afflicted with exceeding grief, and said,
How came this to be, for it is not yet six weeks since I came here and
confessed my sins to the father who abode here, and then departed from
this hermitage to my own, which is a league from hence? And King Don
Rodrigo said, Friend, know that this Hermit is now in Paradise, as I
believe, and I buried him with my own hands: and he showed him the place
where he lay. And when he went there he began to kiss the earth of the
grave, and to make great dole and lamentation over him. And when some
half hour had past, he withdrew, making semblance as if he wished to say
his hours. And before the King had finished to say his, he came to him,
and said, Good man, will you say mass? And the King answered, that he
never said it. Then, said the false Hermit, Hear me then in penitence,
for I would confess. And the King seeing that it was for the service of
God to hear him in penitence, they seated themselves both at the foot of
the altar. And when the false Hermit spake, it appeared that he had no
sin to confess: for he began to relate many great services which he had
done to God, as well in the life which he led as in other things. And
before the King could absolve him he rose up, and asked if things were
ready for the mass. And the King said that he knew not, and bade him
look. It was now time that he should go to his oratory. And the false
Hermit asked him that he should assist him in saying mass, and then he
should hear it. And the King said, that for nothing in the world would
he leave to fulfil his penance, according as it had been appointed him:
and he went to his oratory. And the false Hermit made as if he put on the
vestments and all the ornaments, and began to say mass, to the end that
he might deceive the King, and make him cease to observe his penance,
and come to adore the mass. And he made a watery cloud arise, so that
it rained heavily where the King was. And when he saw that he could in
no ways entice him, then he went to him, and said, Good man, for that
you may be placed out of danger in cases which at all times will happen,
seeing that you are alone, I have consecrated the body of Jesus Christ,
that you may adore it every day, since you may not hear mass; and thus
you may fulfil your penance as a faithful Christian. And with that he
dispeeded himself, saying, In the coffer upon the altar you will find the
Corpus Christi: when you rise from hence go and adore it. When he had
said this, he went his way. And the King believed that what he said was
true, and held that he was a good man, and of holy life.”
Ch. 249.—_How the Holy Ghost visited King Don Rodrigo._