Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/358

vvith prayer, fast and vigill of 15. dayes, so long together as in discretion can be endured. This time expired, if he yet persevere in his former purpose, the vvhole Convent accompanieth him with solemne procession and benediction to the mouth of the cave, vvhere they let him in, & so barre up thedoore till the morrow, & then vvith like ceremonies they awaite his returne, & reduce him to the Church. If he be seene no more, they fast & pray 15. dayes after. Touching the credit of those matters, I see no cause but a Christian man assuring himself that there is both hel & heaven, may vvithout vanity upon sufficient information, be persuaded that it might please God at somtime for considerations to his infinit vvisdome knovvn to reveale by miracles the vision of loyes & paines eternal, but that altogether in such sort, & so ordinarily, & to such persons, and by such meanes as the common fame & some records therof doe utter, I neither believe, nor wish to be regarded. It appeares by Trevisa in his additions to Polichronicon, that a superstitious opinion of this Purgatory was then conceived, which he disproveth. And a man of indifferent judgement may soone suspect that in the drift and strength of Imagination, a contemplative person would happely suppose the sight of many strange things which he never saw. Since writing hereof I met with a Priest, who told mee that he had gone the same pilgrimage, and affirmed the order of the premisses: But that he for his owne part saw no sight in the world, save onely fearefull dreames when he chanced to nod, and those he saith