"
"CHAPTER IV.
"Of the Penitent Soldier, his going into this Purgatory, and of the
Messengers sent from God unto him.
"There was a certain Soldier called Owen, who had for many years
served in King Stephen's Army. This Man, having obtained Licence
from the King, came to the North of Ireland, his Native Country, to
visit his Parents; and when he had continued there for some time, he
began to reflect upon the wickedness of the Life he had led from his
Infancy; upon his Plundering and Burning in the Army; and (which
grieved him more) upon the many sacrileges he had been guilty of in
Robbing and Spoiling Churches; together with many other Enormous
hidden Sins. Being then interiorly moved to repentance, he went to a
certain Bishop in that country, and Confess'd all his Sins unto him.
The Bishop severely reproved him, and let him know how grievously he
had provoked God's indignation. The Soldier hereupon being
exceedingly sorrowful, resolved to do penance suitable to the
greatness of [his] Sins. For the People of that country have this
Naturally, that as they are more prone to evil thro' Ignorance than
Men of other Countries,* so are they more ready and willing to do
penance, when they are made sensible of the Enormity of their Sins.
When the Bishop wou'd then enjoin him such penance as he thought
reasonable, the Soldier answered: "Since you say that I have offended
God so grievously, I will undergo a penance more grievous than any
other whatsoever.
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