of Christ. [And there was one blessed Irish maiden, of adult age,
noble and very beautiful, whom I baptized, and after a few days she
came to us for a reason, and gave us to understand that she had
received a command from God, and was informed that she was to become a
virgin of Christ, and to draw near to God. Thanks be to God, six days
after this she most excellently and eagerly entered on this state of
life, which all the virgins of God now adopt, even against the will of
their parents, even enduring reproaches and persecution from them, and
notwithstanding they increase in number; and as for those who are born
again in this way, we know not their number, except the widows and
those who observe continency. But those who are in slavery are most
severely persecuted, yet they persevere in spite of terrors and
threats. But the Lord has given grace to many of my handmaids, for
they zealously imitate him as far as they are able.

Therefore, though I could have wished to leave them, and had been ready
and very desirous to go to Britannia, as if to my country and parents,
and not that alone, but to go even to Gallia, to visit my brethren, and
to see the face of my Lord's saints; and God knows that I desired it
greatly. But I am bound in the spirit, and he who witnesseth will
account me guilty if I do it, and I fear to lose the labor which I have
commenced--and not I, but the Lord Christ, who commanded me to come and
be with them for the rest of my life; if the Lord grants it, and keeps
me from every evil way, that I should not sin before him. But I hope
that which I am bound to do, but I trust not myself as long as I am in
this body of death, for he is strong who daily tries to turn me from
the faith, and from the sincere religious chastity to Christ my Lord,
to which I have dedicated myself to the end of my life, but the flesh,
which is in enmity, always draws me to death--that is, to unlawful
desires, that must be unlawfully gratified--and I know in part that I