Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/159

 wonderful to see and understand the works that God wrought in her; which thing, I answered, that I was very glad to hear it, and thanked God thereof. Then he told me, that she had been with my Lord Legat in his life, and with the King's Grace too; and that she had told my Lord Legat a revelation of hers, of three swords that God hath put in my Lord Legat's hand, which if he ordered not well, God would lay it sore to his charge. The first, she said, was the ordering the spirituality under the Pope, as Legat. The second, the rule that he bore in order of the temporality under the King, as his Chancellor. And the third, she said, was the medling he was put in trust with by the King, concerning the great matter of his marriage. And therewithal I said unto him, that any revelation of the King's matters I would not hear of, I doubt not but the goodness of God should direct his Highness, with his grace and wisdom, that the thing should take such end as God should be pleased with, to the King's honour and surety of the realm. When he heard me say these words, or the like, he said unto me, That God had specially commanded her to pray for the King; and forthwith he brake again into her revelations concerning the cardinal, that his soul was saved by her mediation; and without any other communication went unto his chamber. And he and I never talked any more of any such manner of matter, nor since his departing on the morrow, I never saw him afterwards, to my remembrance, till I saw him at Paul's Cross.

After this, about Shrovetide, there came unto me, a little before supper, Father Rich, Friar Observant of Richmond; and as we fell in talking, I asked him of Father Risby, how he did? And upon that occasion he asked me, Whether Father Risby had any thing shewed me of the holy Nun of Kent? and I said, Yea, and that I was very glad to hear of her vertue. I would not, quoth he, tell you again that you have heard of her already; but I have heard, and known, many great graces that God hath wrought in her, and in other folk, by her, which I would gladly tell you, if I thought you had not heard them already. And therewith he asked me, Whether Father Risby had told me any thing of her being with my Lord Cardinal; and I said Yea: Then he told you, quoth he, of the three swords: Yea