Page:The Chronicle of Clemendy.pdf/122

 confession or receiving absolution for her sins; her body having been exhausted and her reason destroyed by the usage she endured. But before the hand of death cut short her life she raved continually of a lover, whom she called by the pagan and outlandish name of Yussuf, and still murmured words taken from Love's Promptorium, the which was never known to be in her hands. And the accused person, Benedictus de Rotherham aforesaid having been subjected to torments unendurable, that the truth might appear the more clearly, has confessed that when he had inhabited the Castle of Caldicot for the space of three months he became possessed with a stronger lust to enjoy the body of Loyse de la Haye, than had ever affected him towards other women, though he had dwelt for many years among the Infidels who are known to be preposterously and beyond all measure addicted to venery. And this desire so influenced him that he had almost died of it, and often he swooned away and became senseless from hot, intolerable imaginations in the which the beautiful body of Loyse de la Haye was continually presented to him in such wise that all his inward parts appeared to burn with the unquenchable flames of Hell. And being well assured that he was not able to get possession of her by natural means, by which maidens are used to be won, he determined to enjoy her by the power of his art, not doubting its sufficiency for this or any other purpose. And as the girl Loyse aforesaid passed below his lodging he appeared to her at the head of the stair, having trans-