Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/162

 many of these things that I heard reported by her. Afterward she told me, upon that occasion, how great need folk have that are visited with such visions to take heed and prove well of what spirit they come of; and in that communication she told me, that of late the Devil, in the likeness of a bird, was flying and fluttering about her in a chamber, and suffered himself to be taken; and being in hands, suddenly changed, in their sight that were present, into such a strange ugly-fashioned bird, that they were all afraid, and threw him out at a window.

For conclusion; we talked no word of the King's Grace, or any great personage else, nor in effect, of any man or woman, but of her self and myself; but after no long communication had, for or ever we met, my time came to go home, I gave her a double ducate, and prayed her to pray for me and mine, and so departed from her, and never spake with her after. Howbeit, of a truth, I had a great good opinion of her, and had her in great estimation, as you shall perceive by the letter that I wrote unto her. For afterwards, because I had often heard that many right worshipful folks, as well men as women, used to have much communication with her; and many folk are of nature inquisitive and curious, whereby they fall sometimes into such talking, and better were to forbear, of which thing I nothing thought while I talked with her of charity, therefore I wrote her a letter thereof; which sith it may be peradventure, that she brake or lost, I shall insert the very copy thereof in this present letter.

'Good Madam, and my right dearly-beloved sister in our Lord God, after most hearty commendation, I shall beseech you to take my good mind in good worth, and pardon me, that I am so homely as of my self unrequired, and also without necessity, to give counsel to you, of whom for the good inspirations and great revelations that it liketh Almighty God of his goodness to give and shew, as many wise,