Chapter 3

How, being converted, he came to Rome.

THIS man, therefore, by God's grace in time repenting of his faults and proposing to halve his days, that he might obtain full plenary and a perfect pardon of all his sins, determined to go to the holy Roman Court, desiring in so laborious a journey to do fruits meet to repentance. And in no way with slothful spirit putting off for time and years this frame of mind inspired from heaven, but constantly carrying out the good work conceived with pious longing, he set off upon his journey and, God directing his steps, arrived safely whither he had purposed. And there, at the places of the martyrdoms of the most blessed apostles Peter and Paul, deploring his misdeeds and recalling to memory the sins and ignorances of his youth, he prayed that remission of them should be granted him by the Lord, promising that he would do nothing of like nature in the future but, having renounced these, would devoutly obey His will. Those two brilliant luminaries of heaven [Sts. Peter and Paul], two men of mercy, he set as mediators between himself and the governor of the whole earth, that he would avoid his past follies and pay assiduous attention to his promises.

In the meantime, while he sojourned there, he began to be vexed with a grievous sickness and, his pains gradually increasing, he was brought to extremity. And he, fearing that he had not yet given satisfaction to God for his misdeeds -- and wondering whether, therefore, in order to avenge his crimes, the final hour of his death was upon him among outlandish people -- poured out his heart like water in the sight of God and, all breaking out into tears, he vowed a vow that if -- having obtained health -- it should be allowed him to return to his own country, he would erect a hospital for the restoration of poor men and, as far as he could, would minister to the necessities of the poor gathered together in that place. And not long after, the benign and merciful Lord -- who saw the tears of Hezekiah, who rewarded the importunity of the woman of Canaan with the benefit of His pity -- mercifully looked upon him also as he wept and approved his vow by granting him the health that he desired. And he, gaining strength after his weakness, and having become whole, prepared to return to his home ready to perform the vow he had made.

 

The Book of the Foundation of St. Bartholomew's, Smithfield Rendered into Modern English from the original Latin version preserved in the British Museum, numbered Vespasian B. IX, by Mr. Humphrey H. King and Mr. William Barnard for use in the Records of St. Bartholomew's Priory by E.A. Webb.

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