Α.η. 1225.] OF A RECLUSE. over declared, that as chastity was imposed on her hy the vow of religion and of her order, it would he wicked to break that vow ; and with these words she went away to take her nightly repose in a corner of the house wdiere, according to the strict rules of the order, she placed a mat under her for a bed and a stone under her head for a pillow. The young man, inflamed with lust, determined in his heart that if he could not obtain the girl's voluntary consent he would effect his purpose by force, he therefore went to her and told her his determination. The religious woman then was in great agony of mind lest her virgin purity should be destroyed by the youth's burning desire, but calling to mind what the devil hud told her, namely, that he would immediately fulfil any wish of hers, she raised her voice and said, " Demon, where art thou ?" The devil immediately replied, "Mistress, here am I. What is your will?" The girl then said, " Free me from this villain who disturbs mc, and does not permit me to sleep." The demon immediately took the young man forcibly by the feet and threw him to a distance from the young woman; three times during that night was she freed by the devil from the violence of the young man, and in the morning she left the city a virgin as she entered it. What became of the girl in the end is unknown to me, therefore what I have related must content those who love piety and chastity. Of a certain recinse xcho took no food for seven years. Tn the same year there died in the city of Leicester a certain recluse, who for seven years before her death had taken no food of any kind, except when on Sundays she partook of the communion of the body and blood of our Lord : and when this miracle reached the ears of Hugh bishop of Lincoln, he put no faith in the truth of the story, but disbelieved it entirely; he however ordered the said recluse to be closely confined and watched by his priests and clerks for fifteen days, when it was proved that during the whole of that time she partook of no bodily nourishment. lier complexion was always white as a lily and tinged with a rosy red colour, as an indication of modesty and virgin purity. How the countess of Salisbury refused to marry. About this time news was brought to the king of England