[** work in progress]
Translation of Sister Kathrina’s Story
In the year of our lord 1494, there lived an honorable knight in Holland, named Heer Henrick van Naeldewick, who was a commanding officer for the Hertog of Holland. And he married the daughter of Heer [45d] Huge van Henevliet in Seelant, who was also a renowned mighty knight, and the name of the young lady was Kathrina. And when Heer Henrick had brought his bride home, his mother, named Sophie, desired of him that he would give her the first child [lit., fruit] that God would give him from his bride, that she might keep the child for 12 years — [a request] which was not denied her. For, the next year, the Lady of Naeldewick was, through the ordinance of God, at Kraeijestein Castle
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with the mother of Heer Henrick, and there she bore her first child, and Heer Henrick had that child also named Kathrina [like her mother]. Then was his mother joyful, because she not only had her son’s child with her but also [46a] its mother, and Heer Hendrick allowed her to keep that child, according to her wishes. And she loved that child so very much, and cared for it, and raised it as though it had been her only child. And Kathrina, the child, held her [paternal grandmother] so dear as though she [Sophie] had been her mother. And as the child came to a proper age, she sent her to school in the cloister at Rijnsburg. And she desired of the abbess and of the other sisters that they should not tell her that the Lady of Naeldewick was her mother, and they kept it completely secret.
After a portion of time, the Lady of Naeldewick traveled to the cloister to her daughter, and she desired that one should not tell her that she was her mother.
And the abbess [46b] called Kathrina before them all and said, “Look all around now, and tell me who agrees with you best and pleases you out of all these women.”
And Kathrina looked diligently around and said, “That lovely lady pleases me the most,” and then she pointed to her mother.
Then the abbess said, “So go to her and take her in your arm and kiss her amiably, because she is your mother.”
And Kathrine said, “That I do not dare, for Lady Sophia is my mother.” [i]
This good Lady Sophia held Kathrina very much to virtue and to
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honorable, noble modesty. [ii] And particularly she taught her that whatever arose in the house, were it from father or mother or amongst the household, that she should always speak for the best, [46c] which lesson she truly remembered. And when she was 12 years old, she was brought to her father’s house. And she grew up and was a very lovely young lady, cheerful, peaceful, wise and friendly in affability, and she did not forget the teaching of her [adopted] mother Sophie. For she was well-mannered, modest and honorable, and a good-natured intermediary where ever she heard anything about a dispute, so that she was very beloved not only by her parents and the household but also by the inhabitants in her town, and particularly by the poor to whom she was particularly good-natured and merciful. And they commonly called her ‘mother’ for the sake of her mercy.
And she was also very beloved among her relatives and [46d] also in the court of Holland, where she also often was in the service of the Lady of Holland [Margaretha van Kleef]. And when one thought that she should have remained there a while of time with all [of them], so took she secretly to cloister. And when she was 17 years old, then her parents were approached very much by several mighty, rich people in order to have Kathrina for marriage, to which her parents were still not willing. But they [potential suitors] were so troublesome to them [her parents] that Kathrina heard of it, and she was very much concerned that she would be secretly kidnapped, but God foresaw this. For the great mighty people could not prevail against her. [iii] The superior king Christ, a bridegroom of virgins, desired her much more and chose her as his eternal bride and prevented their plans. And he pierced through her heart with a sharp arrow, although she did not herself know who did it to her. She was a very lovely, pure virgin and very lovable, wherever she went.
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And the world would still have enticed her, had her bridegroom not taken it from her. [iv] For he sent such great fear of death and of hell into her heart that it seemed to her that she should perish, if she came [to the afterlife] alone [without Christ as her bridegroom]. And however great the pleasure of the world was, the fear of death and of hell tormented her that much more, so that to her the idleness and temporal pleasure of the world began to become unpleasnat and biter. And she began to think that she must take on another [i.e., more religious] life, [47b] should she escape eternal pains. But how that she should achieve this, she did not know. For her parents held her very dear, as was well known to her; therefore, she was afraid to anger or sadden them. And she felt herself so inclined to her parents, that it should have been more pleasant to beg for bread with them, if God had ordained it for them, than to separate from them. And she was also afraid of her uncle, Heer Johan van Henevliet, if she were to act outside of his counsel, and that her parents might [therefore] acquire grief from him — and also from those who stood as her potential suitors. Also, she did not know to whom she should first give the knowledge [of her desire], who would not only not hinder her, but also might be [47c] helpful to her therewith.
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And within this time, it so happened that she should go to Heer Johan van Henevliet, her uncle, in order to do some nice embroidery there, which she could do well. But she kept making mistakes with the work, more than she usually did, because she was so very concerned with her affairs that she could not give herself to that work. And her uncle noticed this, and also that she was not as joyful as she usually was. Therefore he spoke to her and went one time away with her from the company, where they were entertaining themselves.
And he diligently investigated what bothered her because he noticed that she was very heavy of heart. And she poured out her heart [47d] and told him in confidence what bothered her and also what her intention was. And [she also told him that] how she might arrive at her goal without it becoming grievous or troublesome for her parents, she did not know, because she had not revealed it to anyone except him. And as her uncle heard this, he was very joyful, because he had been very afraid and had fear [that it would be] something much worse.
And he answered her with a comforting voice and said, “Dear niece, be at peace. If you desire this with all your heart, I will help you as I may, without trouble for your parents. And I will give you my wife, Heylwich, in order to bring you to a suitable place to serve our dear Lord according to your desire. But wait for my [48a] communication.
Then she was joyful, because she had won over her uncle. But how she should bring her parents to consent peacefully, she did not know. And she was concerned that it should be unbearable for them if she separated from them secretly. Therefore she was still concerned. And Heer Johan Henevliet was worried about how he might obtain a suitable place for his niece. Therefor, he spoke with the procurator from [a men’s cloister in] Brielle, named Fridocus. He had previously been the chaplain for Heer Huge van Henevliet, his father.
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And when he heard this, he was very joyful, and thought diligently about where might be the very best for him to bring her. But at that time, no one in Holland knew about [48b] Diepenveen. But as God willed, it happened that the procurator [Fridocus] had a reason to travel to Windesheim. And when he came into the area of Utrecht, he heard the news about Diepenveen and the holiness of Heer Johan Brinckerinck. And when he came to Windesheim, he spoke with the prior there. And the prior advised him that he should go to Heer Johan Brinckericnk and ask him for a place for Kathrina.
And when Heer Johan heard of her social position and lineage, he was very burdened by it and did not want to give consent [for her to obtain a place at Diepenveen]. And he said, “I have begun Diepenveen in poverty, hard work, and humility. It will not please her, and it would not do [48c] to make special arrangements for her in accordance with her social position.”
And as the procurator obtained no consolation [or consent] from him, he returned again to Windesheim and told the prior that he could not obtain consolation from Heer Johan. The prior of Windesheim, named Heer Johan Vos, took to Diepenveen with the prior of Arnhem and with the procurator and tried to change the decision of Heer Johan Brinckericnk, our father, in this matter. However, he remained completely hard against it.
Then the prior of Windesheim spoke and said, “Now, Haar Johan, you shall receive her. I want you to, and I command that you shall give your consent to it, because I know her parents and her family. She is of [48d] such a good lineage, that you may carry on without concern for her.”
And when our father Heer Johan heard this, he gave his consent.
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The procurator then took himself back home and told Heer Johan van Henevliet that he had obtained a place at Diepenveen [for Kathrina].
And young lady Kathrina revealed her plan to her parents. And when the parents heard it, they were very troubled in their hearts — particularly her mother, because she held her particularly dear — but they ddi not dare to forbid it of her, because they were both good and god-fearing people.
But the father spoke to his daughter as a wise man and said, “Daughter, if it is your will to serve the lord, then choose a cloister here where we and your family may visit [49a] you daily. And that shall be more pleasant for you and for us, than to move thus far into a strange land, where you are unknown. Or settle down here, and remain here with us and serve our dear Lord with us.” — But he did not say this because he meant it, but in order to test his daughter.
And Kathrina answered and said, “Heer father, I know well that you are much wiser than you are speaking now. Because it is impossible for me to serve our dear lord here with you: I know that I am not strong enough to do so. And also, if I want to serve him, then I want to serve him correctly, and the farther I am from my family, the better it will be for me” — which answer truly pleased her father so much that it was, henceforth, [49b] often repeated in the court of Holland.
The Lady of Naeldewic loved her daughter so much that she fell faint a good six times before she could give herself over [to the idea] but she did not, however, dare to dissuade her, because she was a devout woman, who feared God.
And she [Kathrina] held it [her plan] so secretly, that no one knew of it except her father and mother, so that no rumors arose
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among the household, and she was not hindered by her relatives and those around her.
Not long hereafter, Heer Johan van Henevliet sent a message to Heer Henrick van Naeldewick and to his sister and desired that they would send him his niece, in order to go on a pilgrimage with [49c] his wife.
When, then, Heer Henrick van Naeldewick and his wife had become knowledgeable of Heer Johan’s request and understood his will, so they called Kathrina to them. And her father spoke to her and said, “Kathrina, deliberate about this matter well. And if it is your will, then go to your uncle and travel with your aunt and go observe that cloister, and earnestly scrutinize the people and the habits of the cloister. And if it is the case that it pleases you to remain there, and you believe you can remain there, then it is pleasing to us; but if it does not please you there, then come freely back: you will be welcome with us. But if you remain there a year and a half and come back to us again, then you may not speak to me [49d] as your father.”
Saying this, he turned himself around so that she should not notice that he could not hold back his tears. This good knight said this, so that she should truly deliberate about and resolve what she should chose.
But Kathrina answered her father and said, “Heer father, I hope by the help of God that that shall not be necessary at all.”
And the mother was so weighed down by this, that Kathrina’s heart was very tormented. But she strove to come hastily to her uncle, and the Lady of Henevliet traveled with Kathrina and a portion of her household, and with the aforementioned procurator, to Diepenveen.
And as they had traveled a part of the way, Heer Henrick van [50a] Naeldewick, Kathrina’s father, came across them unexpectedly, with many lords and knights. And when he saw them and knew who they were, and saw his daughter and thought about where she was going,
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he looked as shocked and dismayed in his countenance as a dead person, and Kathrina did similar also, when she saw her father.
And that noble entourage riding with him noticed it and called: “Heer Henrick, what is distressing you? what has happened to you?”
And he collected himself and spoke: “Where hence, your ladyship [v], where hence?”
The Lady of Henevliet answered: “We are traveling on a pilgrimage.”
“So, travel forth,” he said. “in order to make your pilgrimage and bring it to completion.”
And Kathrina did not speak much to her father nor to the others — so perished her [50b] heart.
And they traveled forth and came to Diepenveen within the octave of Saint Augustine. And the prior of Windesheim came immediately to Diepenveen with a number of monks. And teh prior of Windesheim and Heer Johan Brinckerinck, our father, took pleasure in Kathrina greatly, when they saw her, for she was a very beautiful, pure young lady and clothed and adorned very expensively. For she had on a costly blue colored tabard with lined, open sleeves that reached to the ground — and the sleeves were covered full of twofold hooks and of golden leaf ornaments — and [she had on] a costly necklace and expensive adornments on her head and her [50c] body.
And [she] had such a sweet loving countenance, so that she was very pleasant to look at. But the thing most to prize in her, and the thing for which to most thank God, who gave it to her, and the thing in her that was most pleasing to our fathers and all good pepole, was this: that she was ready to give up all of this for God’s sake, and to leave father and mother and all idleness of the world, and to take on a poor, humble life. And the Lady of Henevliet and Kathrina herself also desired very much that she might be received immediately in the order, because of the danger
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that might come to her parents and also to the cloister, if it became public to her [extended] family that she was at the cloister. [50d] And what she desired, that she obtained. For she could read Latin well, and she had a good voice for singing. And the third day after the octave of our holy father St. Augustine, she was clothed [in the habit of the canonesses], when she was in her 18th year. Her hair was cut and she laid off all her adornment and was clothed as a sister. Besides the colorful tabard, she had on a white tunic.
And the fathers and the other priests sang the mass of the Holy Spirit in such a solemn manner. And our father Heer Johan Brinckerinck was then the one to read out the the gospel lesson, and he cried so much, that he could not express that gospel lesson well. And when it came to the last portion of the mass, the ‘Ite, missa est’, which he was supposed to sing, he went out of the church and did not dare to attempt to sing it, because he had fear that he would not be able to get it out [because of his crying]. And Heer Otto [Pooten], the sisters’ school master, was cantor and began the mass of the Holy Spirit so high — and
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in such an unusual sequence: ‘Veni, Santus Spiritus!‘ — that the fathers could not follow him well, and he had to sing through all the verses of the sequence.
Then, before the altar, the tabard was taken off of her, and she was clothed with the habit of the holy religion, which could not be seen well because of the great number of people who were present. And also there were not that many people who could see with dry eyes, [51b] particularly among those who had come with her, For they did not know, when they set out, that her plan had been to remain there. But she held herself firm and truly [vi] took on a new knighthood and piously took up that yoke of our lord and followed after her beloved bridegroom according to her capability, with his help, and his help and grace did not fail her in the end.
And when she was supposed to go into enclosure, her tabard lay spread before the steps where she should go up, and she balked at stepping upon it.
Then our father Heer Johan Brinckerinck said, “Walk upon it.”
And immediately, she stepped with both feet there upon and went forth devoutly into the enclosure. And as she was received [51c] by the prioress and by the common sisters and was set in her place, she read out directly so piously and loud, that one heard her voice all over the cloister.
….
Notes on Edition and Citation Information
Numbers in dashes (such as – 87 -) indicate pages in Brinkerink’s 1904 edition.
Numbers is brackets (such as [45d]) indicate column numbers in the manuscript.
Roman Numerals in brackets (such as [i]) indicate end notes (below) about terms that are notably freely translated.
Citation
End Notes
i. The term used is Ionfer, not vrouwe.
ii. hoefscher, noble or mannerly in the sense of ‘having to do with the court’
iii. “conden soe seer niet na hoer staen”
iv. Ende die werlt hadde hoer noch wal gelustet, en haddet hoer brudegom hoer niet benamen.
v. heerschap
vi. ‘vurchlick’ or ‘vurchlike’ is a mystery. Could it be related to “wirklich” in German?