I will go into St. Patrick's Purgatory". The
Bishop, to diswade him from so bold an attempt, related unto him, how
many had perished in that Place; but the Soldier, who never feared
any danger, wou'd not be diswaded. The Bishop advised him to take
the Habit of the Canon Regulars, or that of the Monks; and the
Soldier declared he wou'd do neither till he had first gone into the
said Purgatory. Whereupon the Bishop, perceiving he was inflexible
and Truely penitent, wrote by him to the Prior of the place and
charged him to deal with the Soldier, as was usually done with those,
who desire to enter this Purgatory. The Prior, upon perusal of the
Bishop's Letter, after that he had observed all the other Formalities
required, conducted the Soldier into the Church, where he passed the
accustomed time of fifteen days in Fast and Prayer. Then the Prior
having celebrated
Mass gave him the Sacrament, called together his own Brethern, and
the Neighbouring Clergy, conducted him to the door of the Cave,
sprinkled him with Holy-water, and made him this speech.-- "Behold
thou shalt now enter in here, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and shalt walk thro' the Hollow of this Cave, till thou comest to a
Field, where thou shalt find a Hall artificially wrought; into which
when thou hast enter'd thou shalt find Messengers sent from God, who
shall tell thee in Order what thou art to do, and to suffer.
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