Chapter 12

1A leprous woman healed by Christ's washing water. 7 A princess healed by it and restored to her husband . AGAIN there was a leprous woman who went to the Lady St. Mary, the mother of Jesus, and said, O my Lady, help me.
2St. Mary replied, what help dost thou desire? Is it gold or silver, or that thy body be cured of its leprosy?
3Who, says the woman, can grant me this?
4St. Mary replied to her, Wait a little till I have washed my son Jesus, and put him to bed.
5The woman waited, as she was commanded; and Mary when she had put Jesus in bed, giving her the water with which she had washed his body, said, Take some of the water, and pour it upon thy body;
6Which when she had done, she instantly became clean, and praised God, and gave thanks to him.
7Then she went away, after she had abode with her three days:
8And going into the city, she saw a certain prince, who had married another prince's daughter;
9But when he came to see her, he perceived between her eyes the signs of leprosy like a star, and thereupon declared the marriage dissolved and void.
10When the woman saw these persons in this condition, exceedingly sorrowful, and shedding abundance of tears, she inquired of them the reason of their crying.
11They replied, Inquire not into our circumstances; for we are net able to declare our misfortunes to any person whatsoever.
12But still she pressed and desired them to communicate their case to her, intimating, that perhaps she might be able to direct them to a remedy.
13So when they shewed the young woman to her, and the signs of the leprosy, which appeared between her eyes,
14She said, I also, whom ye see in this place, was afflicted with the same distemper, and going on some business to Bethlehem, I went into a certain cave, and saw a woman named Mary, who had a son called Jesus.
15She seeing me to be leprous, was concerned for me, and gave me some water with which she had washed her son's body; with that I sprinkled my body, and became clean.
16Then said these women, Will you, Mistress, go along with us, and shew the Lady St. Mary to us?
17To which she consenting, they arose and went to the Lady St. Mary, taking with them very noble presents.
18And when they came in and offered their presents to her, they showed the leprous young woman what they brought with them to her.
19Then said St. Mary, The mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ rest upon you;
20And giving them a little of that water with which she had washed the body of Jesus Christ, she bade them wash the diseased person with it; which when they had done, she was presently cured;
21So they, and all who were present, praised God; and being filled with joy, they went back to their own city, and gave praise to God on that account.
22Then the prince hearing that his wife was cured, took her home and made a second marriage, giving thanks unto God for the recovery of his wife's health.