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his life time very disorderly； fell day by day （according to the
Physicions judgement） from bad to worse； as no other way appeared
but death； whereat the brethren greatly grieved。
Upon a day； neere to the Chamber where the sicke man lay； they
entred into this communication。 What shall we doe （quoth the one to
the other） with this man？ We are much hindered by him： for to send him
away （sicke as he is） we shall be greatly blamed thereby； and it
will be a manifest note of our weake wisedome； the people knowing that
first of all we gave him entertainement； and have allowed him honest
physicall attendance； and he not having any way injuried or offended
us； to let him be suddenly expulsed our house （sicke to death as he
is） it can be no way for our credit。
On the other side； we are to consider also； that hee hath bin so
badde a man； as he will not now make any confession thereof； neither
receive the blessed Sacrament of the Church； and dying so without
confession； there is no Church that will accept his body； but it
must be buried in prophane ground； like to a Dogge。 And yet if hee
would confesse himselfe； his sinnes are so many and monstrous； as
the like case also may happen； because there is not any Priest or
Religious person； that can or will absolve him。 And being not
absolved； he must be cast into some ditch or pit； and then the
people of the Towne； as well in regard of the account we carry
heere； （which to them appeareth so little pleasing； as we are daily
pursued with their worst words） as also coveting our spoile and
overthrow； upon this accident will cry out and mutiny against us；
Behold these Lombard dogs； which are not to be received into the
Church； why should we suffer them to live heere among us？ In furious
madnesse will they come upon us； and our house； where （peradventure）
not contended with robbing us of our goods； our lives will remaine
in their mercy and danger； so that； in what sort soever it happen；
this mans dying here； must needs be banefull to us。
Master Chappelet； who （as we have formerly saide） was lodged neere
to the place where they thus conferred； having a subtle attention
（as oftentimes we see sicke persons to be possessed withall） heard all
these speeches spoken of him； and causing them to bee called unto him；
thus hee spake。
I would not have you to be any way doubtfull of me； neither that you
should receive the least damage by me： I have heard what you have
said； and am certaine； that it will happen according to your words； if
matters should fall out as you conceite； but I am minded to deale
otherwise。 I have committed so many offences against our Lord God；
in the whole current of my life； that now I intend one action at the
houre of my death； which I trust will make amends for all。 Procure
therefore； I pray you； that the most holy and religious man that is to
be found （if there bee any one at all） may come unto me； and referre
the case then to me； for I will deale in such sort for you and my
selfe； that all shall be well； and you no way discontented。
The two Brethren； although they had no great hope in his speeches；
went yet to a Monastery of Gray…Friars； and requested； that some one
holy and learned man； might come to heare the confession of a Lombard；
that lay very weake and sicke in their house。 And one was granted unto
them； being an aged religious Frier； a great read master in the sacred
Scripture； a very venerable person； who being of good and sanctified
life； all the Citizens held him in great respect and esteeme； and on
hee went with them to their house。 When he was come up into the
Chamber where Master Chappelet lay； and being there seated downe by
him； he beganne first to comfort him very lovingly； demanding also
of him； how many times he had bin at confession？ Whereto Master
Chappelet （who never had bin shrived in all his life time） thus
replied。
Holy Father； I alwayes used （as a common custome） to bee confessed
once （at the least） every weeke； albeit sometimes much more often； but
true it is； that being falne into this sicknesse； now eight daies
since I have not beene confest； so violent hath bene the extremity
of my weaknesse。 My sonne （answered the good old man） thou hast done
well； and so keep thee still hereafter in that minde： but I plainly
perceive； seeing thou hast so often confessed thy selfe； that I
shall take the lesse labour in urging questions to thee。
Master Chappelet replyed； Say not so good Father； for albeit I
have bene so oftentimes confessed； yet am I willing now to make a
generall confession； even of all sinnes comming to my remembrance；
from the very day of my birth； until this instant houre of my
shrift。 And therefore I entreat you （holy Father） to make a particular
demand of everie thing； even as if I had never bene confessed at
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 ther