Of the Eyghte Mansion, That is of the Godhede

Capitulo Quinto

`The eyghte world whiche thou seest - hyhest of alle - theryn sytteth the Hyhe Kynge, and in myddes therof is sette this royal throne that is wondre precious and ful clere polysshed. And it is full lyke to the sonne, but it is^a moche more reede and also moche more shynynge bryghter in it seluen.

`There he yeueth his blessynge in euery parte aboute to them that hym seruen and obeyen as to their Souerayn Lord. Abouten hym is that ioye with whiche he is corowned more lusty and fayre, hit myght nought be deuysed. And his corowne is ful sowen of precious stones, ful bryght shynynge of merueylous beaute, among the whiche ben sette wonder subtylly sterres of huge light, wonderfully sparkelyng and castyng oute bemes of huge bryghtynes and passyng clerte.

`Within this ioye and this Royall Coroune whiche that enuyronneth the throne in euery parte aboute [95r] oftymes entreth the Quene, and comyth to the Kynges presence, beholdyng in his Blessid Visage withouten ony corteyn or enterclosynge bytwene. And there she sytteth vpon a sege of cristall, ful clerly bornysshed. And there she prayeth for synners, that the Lord hath them ryght heuy at hert for theyr wycked erroure, but that he suffre them softely,  abydynge theyr amendement.

`And wyte it wel, that alle these habytacions these heuenes and these worldes, whiche I haue rehercyd, is but one hows, wonderly departid in shewyng the grete nobylyte and fayrehede, to that ende, that the dyuersite of merytees and the degrees of enhabytours whiche that ben therynne, mowe openly be shewed and sene.

`The closure of this place is infynyte of perdurable mater, whiche that by enemyes ne maye neuer be wasted ne no weye vndermyned. More thynke I nought to telle the of this place, now at this tyme.'

In this poynte I ganne to byhold in to the hyhe heuene, that euerydele shyned as bryght bornysshed gold. And ther I sawe a merueylous Cerkle of syngulere gretnesse, conteynynge^b within it self wonder grete space. And a full circuite it made, the gretenes therof ne couthe I not gesse nor acounte.

This Cercle entred in to that one side of that golden Heuen, and come oute in that other, in maner of a reynbowe. This Cercle in his bordure was, as me semyd, of mesurable brede, of coloure saphyryn, and was redyly lyned by ordre, and set full of sterres, wonder bryght shynynge and clerely flammynge, whiche were sette by thyrty and by thyrty in suche a maner wyse, that in euery thyrty was sette a grete sonne, as me semyd, as large as the bordure of this Cercle.

Abouen this Cercle, Aungels songen and maden moche melodye with many dyuerse instrumentes, that yf there had be herd suche a songe in Erthe, I suppose that the stones sholde nought haue kepte them fro syngynge for the passaunt ioye. There nys thynge in Erthe that ne wold haue hasted thyder and haue receyued lyf by meuyng of the forsaid Cercle different; soo mesurable it torneth aboute.

These forsaide Aungels ledden thre spirites, whiche were coroned with gold and clothed to the foote of reed blody purpre, gyrd with ceyntes of gold wonder bryght shynynge. Within this golden Heuen they entred, and in a litel while they comen oute agayne. And all these other sayntes oute of their mansions assembled them redy for to mete with them. And soo they wenten aboute, enuyronnynge the Heuene, and syngynge besily, and said in this wise: `Blessid be [95v] thou, Lord oure God, and Oure Souerayne God Ihesu Goddes Sone, that bought vs with thy blood, that soo honourest oure felauship, for the good dedes of whiche we ben partyners of thy Souerayn Grace.'

Thenne I bethought me vppon the byrdes as thrusshes and thrustels and stares, whiche I haue sene syttynge in assemble vpon a hy tree in a clere day, syngyng so swetely, and preising the Lord, that is hyr creatour. Ryght so dyde alle these Sayntes, ful besyly honourynge and preysynge the Souerayne Lord aboue ful mekely and deuoutely, ioynynge theyr handes.