goodnciiS  with  etenial  glory  and  bliss  for  this  consolation ;  and
I  do  most  earnestly  boaoech  you  to  recomrnenfl  my  approaching
sufferings,  conflict,  and  agony  to  the  Divine  mercy,  and  to  as-
sist me  therein  by  your  continual  prayera.  And  for  the  rest,  I
do  moat  humbly  entreat  yon  not  to  doubt  of  my  constancy,  nor
to  be  troubled  for  the  grieTonsness  of  the  torments  appointed
for  me ;  for  it  does  not  become  my  gray  hiura  to  be  diaturbed  in
God's  cause  with  such  childi^  bngbeara ;  it  does  not  become  a
man  to  fly  from  death  basely,  after  he  has  lived  sixty-four  years.
Much  less  does  it  become  a  religious  man  not  to  love  God,  and
with  his  ntmMt  endeavors  aspire  to  heavenly  things,  after  he
has  been  for  four-and-forty  years  in  the  habit  of  St.  Francis,
leamii^  and  teaching  the  contempt  of  all  that  ia  earthly.  I
will  be  mindful  of  you  (my  Sovereign  Lady  and  Daughter  in
Christ)  both  in  this  life  and  in  the  nest ;  and  will  never  cease
from  praying  to  the  God  of  Mwcy  to  give  you,  according  to  the
preatness  of  your  sorrows,  all  grace  and  comfort.  In  the  mean-
time, vouchsafe  to  pray  most  earnestly  for  me,  your  devoted
servant  and  beadsman,  especially  at  the  hoar  when  you  shall
understand  I  am  to  be  laboring  under  those  dreadful  torments
prepared  for  me.  I  presume  to  make  you  a  poor  present  of  my
beads,  having,  as  it  is  given  out,  hut  three  days  longer  to  live  on

The  immediate  execution  of  the  friar  was  expected,
when  these  letters  were  written  ;  bnfc,  as  we  haye  said,
it  was  delayed  for  a  time,  and  Catherine  was  spared
the  account  of  the  barbarities  which  accompanied  it.
