ABSTRACT
Elizabeth(laterLucy)Knatchbull(1584-1629)firstconvertedfromtheProtestantto theCatholicfaithwhenshewas17,thoughnotwholeheartedlyatthatstage.However,by1604hercommitmentwasfirm,andshewenttoBrusselstobecomea postulantataBenedictineconvent.In1609sheprogressedtonovitiate,andin1611 madeherfullprofessionasanun.Sheeventuallybecameabbessofanewconventin Ghent(1624).Chapters3and5ofMatthew'sbiographycompriseextractsfrom Knatchbull'sownpapers.Chapter3('AnexactRelation')isanaccountofher religiouslife-probablywrittenbetween1619and1621,atthebehestofMatthew, whowasatthattimeherspiritualdirectoratBrussels.Heisthereadersheaddresses, andthewayinwhichshewritesherselfislargelydeterminedbythis.Thespiritual resolutionsinthesecondpartoftheextractweretakenbyMatthewfrom'loose... papersofhers',writtenatGhentbetween1624and1629;theywereforherowneyes. Thetitle'lady'wascustomarilygiventoabbessesofEnglishBenedictineconvents. ThefollowingextractmaybecoupledwiththatfromCatherineHolland's'Narration' [2:5]:Hollanddescribesherdeterminationtobecomeanun;Knatchbullrecordsher experiencesaftertakingtheveil.Duringthefivemonthsleadinguptoherprofession, Knatchbullhadenduredmuchspiritualdesolation.Therehadalsobeenaperiodof tensionwhensheandsomeothersistershadmovedawayfromBrusselsandtriedto establishaconventguidedbytheJesuits.Nowshehadreturned.
