all, and to make no respect of my sicknesse: for I had rather be
offensive to mine owne flesh, then by favoring or allowing it ease, to
hazard the perdition of my soule, which my Redeemer bought with so
precious a price.
These words were highly pleasing to the holy Friar, and seemed to
him as an argument of a good conscience: Wherefore, after hee had much
commended this forwardnesse in him, he began to demand of him if he
had never offended with any Woman? Whereunto master Chappelet
(breathing forth a great sigh) answered.
Holy Father, I am halfe ashamed to tell you the truth in this
case, as fearing least I should sinne in vaine-glory. Whereto the
Confessor replyed; Speake boldly sonne, and feare not, for in
telling the truth, bee it in confession or otherwise, a man can
never sinne. Then sayde Maister Chappelet, Father, seeing you give
me so good an assurance, I will resolve you faithfully heerein. I am
so true a Virgin-man in this matter, even as when I issued forth of my
mothers Wombe. O sonne (quoth the Friar) how happy and blessed of
God art thou? Well hast thou lived, and therein hast thou not meanly
merited, having had so much libertie to doe the contrary if thou
wouldest, wherein verie few of us can so answer for our selves.
Afterward, he demanded of him, how much displeasing to God hee had
beene in the sinne of Gluttony? When (sighing againe greatly) hee
answered: Too much, and too often, good Father. For, over and beside
the Fasts of our Lent season, which everie yeare ought to bee duely
observed by devout people, I brought my selfe to such a customarie
use, that I could fast three dayes in every Weeke, with Bread and
Water. But indeede (holy Father) I confesse, that I have drunke
water with such a pleasing appetite and delight (especially in
praying, or walking on pilgrimages) even as greedy drunkards doe, in
drinking good Wine. And many times I have desired such Sallades of
small hearbes, as Women do gather abroad in the open fields, and
feeding onely upon them, without coveting after any other kinde of
sustenance, hath seemed much more pleasing to me, then I thought to
agree with the nature of Fasting, especially, when as it swerveth
from devotion, or is not done as it ought to bee.
Sonne, Sonne, replied the Confessour, these sinnes are naturall,
and very light, and therefore I would not have thee to charge thy
conscience with them, more then is needfull. It happeneth to every man
(how holy soever he be) that after he hath fasted overlong, feeding
will be welcome to him, and drinking good drinke after his travaile. O
Sir, (said Maister Chappelet) never tell me this to comfort me, for
well you know, and I am not ignorant therein, that such things as
are done for the service of God, ought all to be performed purely, and
without any blemish of the minde; what otherwise is done, savoureth of
sinne. The Friar being well contented with his words, said: It is
not amisse that thou understandest it in this manner, and thy
conscience thus purely cleared, is no little comfort to me. But tell
me now concerning Avarice, hast thou sinned therein, by desiring
more then was reasonable, or withholding from others, such things as
thou oughtst not to detaine? Wherein Maister Chappelet answered.
Good Father, I would not have you to imagine, because you see me
lodged heere in the house of two Usurers, that therefore I am of any
such disposition. No truely Sir, I came hither to no other end, but
onely to chastise and admonish them in friendly manner, to clense
their mindes from such abhominable profit: And assuredly, I should
have prevailed therein, had not this violent sicknesse hindered mine
intention. But understand (holy Father) that my parents left me a rich
man, and immediatly after my Fathers death, the greater part of his
goods I gave away for Gods sake, and then, to sustaine mine owne life,
and to helpe the poore members of Jesus Christ, I betooke my selfe
to a meane estate of Merchandise, desiring none other then honest
gaine thereby, and evermore whatsoever benefit came to me; I
imparted halfe thereof to the poore, converting mine owne small
portion about my necessary affaires, which that other part would
scarcely serve to supply: yet alwayes God gave thereto such a
mercifull blessing, that my businesse dayly thrived more and more,
arising still from good to better.
Well hast thou done therein good Sonne, said the Confessour: but how
oftentimes hast thou beene angry? Oh Sir (said Maister Chappelet)
therein I assure yee, I have often transgressed. And what man is
able to forbeare it; beholding the dayly actions of men to be so
dishonest? No care of keeping Gods Commandements, nor any feare of his
dreadfull judgements. Many times in a day, I have rather wished my
selfe dead then living, beholding youth pursuing idle vanities, to
sweare and forsweare themselves, tipling in Tavernes, and never
haunting Churches; but rather affecting the worlds follies, then any
such duties as they owe to God. Alas Sonne (quoth the Friar) this is a
good and holy anger, and I can impose no penance on thee for it. But
tell me, hath not rage or furie at any time so over-ruled thee, as
to commit murther or man-slaughter, or to speake evill of any man,
or to doe any other such kinde of injurie? Oh Father (answered Maister
Chappelet) you that seeme to be a man of God, how dare you use any
such vile words? If I had had the very least thought, to doe any
such act as you speake, doe you thinke that God would have suffered me
to live? These are deeds of darknesse, fit for villaines and wicked
livers, of which hellish crew, when at any time I have happened to
meet with some one of them, I have said; God, God convert thee.
Worthy, and charitable words, replied the Friar: but tell me
Sonne, Didst thou ever beare false witnes against any man, or hast
spoken falsly, or taken ought from any one, contrary to the will of
the owner? Yes indeed Father, said Maister Chappelet, I have spoken
ill of another, because I have sometime seene one of my neighbors, who
with no meane shame of the world, would do nothing else but beat his
wife: and of him once I complained to the poore mans parents,
saying, that he never did it but when he was overcome with drinke.
Those were no ill words, quoth the Friar; but I remember you said,
that you were a Merchant: Did you ever deceive any, as some
Merchants use to doe? Truely Father, answered M. Chappelet, I thinke
not any, except one man, who one day brought me money which he owed me
for a certaine peece of cloath I sold him, and I put it into a purse
without accounting it. About a moneth afterward, I found that there
were foure small pence more then was due to mee: and never happening
to meete with the man againe, after I had kept them the space of a
whole yeare, I then gave them away unto foure poore people, for Gods
sake.
A small matter, said the Friar, and truly payed backe againe to
the owner, in bestowing them on the poore. Many other questions he
demanded of him, whereto still he answered in the same manner. But
before he proceeded to absolution, Master Chappelet spake thus: I have
yet one sinne more, which I have not revealed to you: when being urged
by the Friar to confesse it, he said. I remember, that I should afford
one day in the weeke, to cleanse the house of my soule, for better
entertainement to my Lord and Saviour, and yet I have done no such
reverence to the Sunday or Sabbath, as I ought to have done. A small
fault Sonne, replyed the Friar. O no (quoth Master Chappelet)
doe not terme it a small fault, because Sunday being a holy day,
is highly to be reverenced: for as on that day, our blessed Lord arose
from death to life. But (quoth the Confessor) hast thou done nothing
else on that day? Yes, said he, being forgetfull of my selfe, once I
did spet in Gods Church. The Friar smiling, said: Alas Sonne, that
is a matter of no moment; for wee that are Religious persons, doe
use to spet there every day. The more is your shame, answered Master
Chappelet, for no place ought to bee kept more pure and cleane then
the sacred Temple, wherein our daily sacrifices are offered up to God.
In this manner he held on an houre and more, uttering the like
transgressions as these; and at last began to sigh very
passionately, and to shed a few teares, as one that was skilfull
enough in such dissembling pranks: whereat the Confessor being much
mooved, saide: Alas Sonne, what aylest thou? Oh Father (quoth
Chappelet) there remaineth yet one sinne more upon my conscience,
wherof I never at any time made confession, so shamefull it
appeareth to mee to disclose it; and I am partly perswaded, that God
will never pardon me for that sinne. How now Sonne? said the Friar,
never say so; for if all the sinnes that ever were committed by men,
or shall be committed so long as the World endureth, were onely in one
man, and he repenting them, and being so contrite for them, as I see
thou art; the grace and mercy of God is so great, that upon penitent
confession, he will freely pardon him, and therefore spare not to
speake it boldly. Alas Father (said Chappelet, still in pretended
weeping) this sinne of mine is so great, that I can hardly beleeve (if
your earnest prayers do not assist me) that ever I shall obtaine
remission for it. Speake it Sonne, said the Friar, and feare not, I
promise that I will pray to God for thee.
Master Chappelet still wept and sighed, and continued silent,
notwithstanding all the Confessors comfortable perswasions; but
after hee had helde him a long while in suspence, breathing forth a
sighe, even as if his very heart would have broken, he saide; Holy
Father, seeing you promise to pray to God for me, I will reveale it to
you: Know then, that when I was a little boy, I did once curse my
Mother; which he had no sooner spoken, but he wrung his hands, and
greeved extraordinarily. Oh good Son, saide the Friar: doth that seeme
so great a sinne to thee? Why, men doe daily blaspheme our Lord God,
and yet neverthelesse, upon their hearty repentance, he is alwayes
ready to forgive them; and wilt not thou beleeve to obtaine remission,
for a sinne so ignorantly committed? Weepe no more deare Sonne, but
comfort thy selfe and rest resolved, that if thou wert one of them,
who nayled our blessed Saviour to his Crosse; yet being so truly
repentant, as I see thou art, he would freely forgive thee. Say you so
Father? quoth Chappelet. What mine owne deare Mother? that bare me
in her wombe nine moneths, day and night, and afterwards fed me with
her breasts a thousand times, can I be pardoned for cursing her? Oh
no, it is too haynous a sinne, and except you pray to God very
instantly for me, he will not forgive me.
When the religious man perceived, that nothing more was to bee
confessed by Master Chappelet; he gave him absolution, and his owne
benediction beside, reputing him to be a most holy man, as verily
beleeving all that hee had said. And who would not have done the like,
hearing a man to speake in this manner, and being upon the very
point of death? Afterward, he saide unto him, Master Chappelet, by
Gods grace you may be soone restored to health, but if it so come to
passe, that God doe take your blessed and well disposed soule to his
mercy, will it please you to have your body buried in our Convent?
Whereto Master Chappelet answered; I thanke you Father for your good
motion, and sorry should I be, if my friends did bury me any where
else, because you have promised to pray to God for me; and beside, I
have alwayes carried a religious devotion to your Order. Wherefore,
I beseech you, so soone as you are come home to your Convent, prevaile
so much by your good meanes, that the holy Eucharist, consecrated this
morning on your high Altar, may be brought unto me: for although I
confesse my selfe utterly unworthy, yet I purpose (by your reverend
permission) to receive it, as also your holy and latest unction, to
this ende, that having lived a greevous sinner, I may yet (at the
last) die a Christian. These words were pleasing to the good olde man,
and he caused every thing to be performed, according as Master
Chappelet had requested.
The two Brethren, who much doubted the dissembling of Chappelet,
being both in a small partition, which sundered the sicke mans Chamber
from theirs, heard and understood the passage of all, betweene him and
the ghostly Father, being many times scarcely able to refraine from
laughter, at the fraudulent course of his confession. And often they
said within themselves, What manner of man is this, whom neither
age, sickenesse, nor terror of death so neere approaching, and
sensible to his owne soule, nor that which is much more, God, before
whose judgement he knowes not how soone he shall appeare, or else be
sent to a more fearefull place; none of these can alter his wicked
disposition, but that he will needes die according as he hath lived?
Notwithstanding, seeing he had so ordered the matter, that he had
buriall freely allowed him, they cared for no more.
After that Chappelet had received the Communion, and the other
Ceremonies appointed for him; weakenesse encreasing on him more and
more, the very same day of his goodly confession, he died (not long
after) towards the evening. Whereupon the two Brethren tooke order,
that all needefull things should be in a readinesse, to have him
buried honourably; sending to acquaint the Fathers of the Convent
therewith, that they might come to say their Vigilles, according to
precedent custome, and then on the morrow to fetch the body. The
honest Friar that had confessed him, hearing he was dead, went to
the Prior of the Convent, and by sound of the house Bell, caused all
the Brethren to assemble together, giving them credibly to understand,
that Master Chappelet was a very holy man, as appeared by all the
parts of his confession, and made no doubt, but that many miracles
would be wrought by his sanctified body, perswading them to fetch it
thither with all devoute solemnity and reverence: whereto the Prior,
and all the credulous Brethren presently condiscended very gladly.
