Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/158

 of that, that I had had communication, not only with divers that were of acquaintance with the lewd nun of Canterbury, but also with her self; and had, over that, by my writing, declaring favour towards her, given her advice and counsel; of which my demeanour, that it liketh you to be content to take the labour and the pain to hear, by mine own writing, the truth, I very heartily thank you, and reckon my self therein right deeply beholden to you.

It is, I suppose, about eight or nine years ago sith I heard of that housewife first; at which time, the Bishop of Canterbury that then was, God assoil his soul, sent unto the King's Grace a roll of paper, in which were written certain words of hers, that she had, as report was then made, at sundry times spoken in her trances; whereupon it pleased the King's Grace to deliver me the roll, commanding me to look thereon, and afterwards shew him what I thought therein. Whereunto, at another time, when his Highness asked me, I told him, that in good faith I found nothing in these words that I could any thing regard or esteem; for seeing that some part fell in rithm, and that, God wots, full rude also; for any reason, God wots, that I saw therein, a right simple woman might, in my mind, speak it of her own wit wellenough. Howbeit, I said, that because it was constantly reported for a truth, that God wrought in her, and that a miracle was shewed upon her; I durst not, nor would not, be bold in judging the matter. And the King's Grace, as me thought, esteemed the matter as light as it after proved lewd.

From that time, till about Christmass was twelve-month, albeit that continually there was much talking of her, and of her holiness, yet never heard I any talk rehearsed, either of revelation of her's or miracle, saving that I heard say divers times, in my Lord Cardinal's days, that she had been both with his Lordship, and with the King's Grace, but what she said, either to the one or to the other, upon my faith, I had never heard any one word. Now, as I was about to tell you, about Christmas was twelve-month, Father Risby, Friar Observant, then of Canterbury, lodged one night at mine house; where, after supper, a little before he went to his chamber he fell in communication with me of the nun, giving her high commendation of holiness, and that it was