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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。
When night was come； they went all to visit the dead body of
Master Chappelet； where they used an especiall and solemne Vigill； and
on the morrow； apparelled in their richest Coapes and Vestiments； with
bookes in their hands； and the Crosse borne before them； singing in
the forme of a very devoute procession； they brought the body
pompeously into their Church； accompanied with all the people of the
Towne； both men and women。 The Father Confessor； ascending up into the
Pulpit； preached wonderfull things of him； and the rare holinesse of
his life； his fastes； his virginity； simplicity； innocency； and true
sanctity； recounting also （among other especiall observations） what
Chappelet had confessed； as this most great and greevous sinne； and
how hardly he could be perswaded； that God would grant him pardon
for it。 Whereby he tooke occasion to reprove the people then
present； saying； And you （accursed of God） for the verie least and
trifling matter hapning； will not spare to blaspheme God； his
blessed Mother； and the whole Court of heavenly Paradise： Oh； take
example by this singular man； this Saint…like man； nay； a very Saint
indeede。
Many additions more he made； concerning his faithfulnesse； truth；
and integrity； so that； by the vehement asseveration of his words
（whereto all the people there present gave credible beleefe） he
provoked them unto such zeale and earnest devotion； that the Sermon
was no sooner ended； but （in mighty crowds and throngs） they pressed
about the Biere； kissing his hands and feete； and all the garments
about him were torne in peeces； as precious Reliques of so holy a
person； and happy they thought themselves； that could get the smallest
peece or shred of any thing that came neere to his body： and thus they
continued all the day； the body lying still open； to be visited in
this manner。
When night was come； they buried him in a goodly Marble tombe；
erected in a faire Chappell purposely； and for many dayes after
following； it was most strange to see； how the people of the Country
came thither on heapes； with holy Candles and other offerings； with
Images of waxe fastened to the Tombe； in signe of Sacred and solemne
Vowes； to this new created Saint。 And so farre was spread the fame and
renowne of his sanctity； devotion； and integrity of life； maintained
constantly by the Fathers of the Convent； that if any one fell sicke
in neede； distresse； or adversity； they would make their Vowes to no
other Saint but him： naming him （as yet to this day they do） Saint
Chappelet； affirming upon their Oathes； that infinite miracles were
there daily performed by him； and especially on such； as came in
devotion to visit his shrine。
In this manner lived and died Master Chappelet du Prat； who before
he became a Saint； was as you have heard： and I will not deny it to be
impossible； but that he may bee at rest among other blessed bodies。
For although he lived lewdly and wickedly； yet such might be his
contrition in the latest extreamity； that （questionlesse） he might
finde mercie。 But； because such things remaine unknowne to us； and
speaking by outward appearance； vulgar judgement will censure
otherwise of him； and thinke him to be rather in perdition； then in so
blessed a place as Paradice。 But referring that to the Omnipotents
appointment； whose clemencie hath alwayes beene so great to us； that
he regards not our errors； but the integrity of our Faith； making
（by meanes of our continuall Mediator） of an open enemy； a converted
sonne and servant。 And as I began in his name； so will I conclude；
desiring that it may evermore be had in due reverence； and referre
we our selves thereto in all our necessities； with this setled
assurance； that he is alwayes ready to heare us。 And so he ceased。
THE FIRST DAY； THE SECOND NOVELL
WHEREIN IS CONTAINED AND EXPRESSED； THE LIBERALITY AND
GOODNESSE OF GOD； EXTENDED TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
Abraham a Jew； being admonished or advised by a friend of his；
named Jehannot de Chevigny； travailed from Paris unto Rome： And
beholding there the wicked behaviour of men in the Church； returned
backe to Paris againe； where yet （neverthelesse） he became a
Christian。
The Novell recited by Pamphilus； was highly pleasing to the company；
and much commended by the Ladies： and after it had beene diligently
observed among them； the Queene co