A marvelous history of Mary of Nimmegen: Who for more than seven year lived and had ado with the devil

In Short

This work is a classic of late medieval Dutch literature, blending high drama with earthy, colloquial humor. It tells the story of Mary of Nimmegen, a young woman who, after being rejected by her aunt, invokes the devil in a fit of rage and spends seven years as his companion. The story chronicles her descent into sin and her eventual, agonizing quest for salvation. It has endured for centuries not merely as a moral lesson, but as a compelling piece of theater that explores human frailty and the promise of redemption.

The Story

The story begins in the countryside near Nimmegen, where young Mary serves her uncle, a devout priest. While on an errand in the city, she stops to visit her aunt. The visit turns disastrous when the aunt, already volatile and embroiled in local political strife, cruelly berates Mary, accusing her of being a "slut" and a "harlot." Shamed and weeping, Mary retreats to the outskirts of the town. In a moment of profound despondency, she cries out that she is so lost that she would give herself to God or the devil, it matters not which.

The devil, appearing as a man with a single, distorted eye, instantly accepts the invitation. He offers her worldly pleasure, finery, and secret knowledge in exchange for her soul and a promise that she will never cross herself. He insists she change her name to Emma, and together they travel to Antwerp. There, they take up residence at the "Golden Tree" tavern. Under the devil’s influence, Emma thrives in a world of revelry, but the cost is catastrophic; everywhere they go, violence erupts, and people die, leaving Emma’s conscience deeply troubled.

After seven years, a longing for her uncle pulls Emma back toward home. They return to Nimmegen just as a religious festival is underway. There, she encounters a mystery play about the advocate of hell, Maskeroon, who debates God and the Virgin Mary regarding the salvation of sinners. Watching the play, Emma is struck by a sudden, overwhelming sense of remorse. The devil, furious at her awakening, attempts to kill her by hurling her into the clouds, but her uncle intervenes.

The remainder of the story follows Emma’s arduous path to atonement. She confesses to her uncle, who guides her on a pilgrimage to Cologne and then to Rome. Because her sins are so grave—including the deaths of hundreds of people—the Pope initially finds her beyond his power to absolve. He eventually sentences her to wear iron rings around her neck and wrists, which will only fall off when God has fully forgiven her. Emma enters a convent for converted sinners in Maestricht, living a life of extreme penance. After years of service, an angel finally removes the rings, signaling her salvation. She spends her final days in peace, and the iron rings are said to remain on display at her grave to this day.

How It Unfolds

The rejection Mary is sent on a routine errand to Nimmegen, but a harsh encounter with her aunt destroys her sense of self-worth. Her vulnerability to despair acts as a beacon for the devil, who stands waiting to exploit her emotional breakdown.

The compact The devil presents himself as a charming companion, offering Mary the world's knowledge and pleasure if she agrees to serve him. She agrees to the pact, stripping away her identity and her faith to escape her immediate pain.

The life of sin The pair settles into the raucous life of an Antwerp tavern, where the devil orchestrates chaos and bloodshed for his own amusement. Emma begins to experience the cognitive dissonance of her lifestyle, haunted by the violence that follows her.

The turning point A chance viewing of a religious play triggers a profound awakening in Emma, causing her to reject her demonic companion. The devil’s violent reaction fails to destroy her, leaving her open to the guidance of her uncle.

The pilgrimage and penance Emma undertakes a grueling journey to the highest religious authorities, seeking a path to forgiveness for her past atrocities. The narrative moves from the world of tavern intrigue to the solemnity of the convent, where she earns her redemption through long years of suffering.

The People

Mary, later called Emma, is the central figure whose capacity for both despair and devotion drives the narrative. She is a woman of intense, volatile emotions who suffers from a lack of support in her youth, leading her to make a desperate bargain. As she matures through her penance, her character shifts from a fragile girl into a woman of enduring spiritual strength.

Her uncle, Sir Gysbrecht, represents the steadfast, compassionate side of faith. He is defined by his love for his niece and his refusal to abandon her even when she is lost to darkness. He acts as her moral compass, providing the necessary guidance for her to navigate her way back to the Church.

The devil, who adopts the guise of a man named Moonen, is the primary antagonist. He is characterized by his malice, his single eye, and his predatory nature. He wants nothing more than to claim souls, yet he is constantly frustrated by the power of prayer and the persistence of the "old shave-poll’s" (the uncle's) devotion.

The aunt serves as the catalyst for the entire tragedy. Her anger and abusive speech provide the initial wound that makes Mary susceptible to the devil's influence. She is a woman of the world, deeply invested in local politics and entirely lacking in the empathy that might have saved her niece from her dark fate.

In Its Own Voice

“Help, what temptations on me throng! Shall I yet do some violence? Ah, youth, canst thou bear up so long? Can reason offer no defence?”

When Mary is sitting alone, abandoned by her aunt, she experiences the internal conflict that leads her to finally cry out for the devil.

“And for my wife a pint of ypocras, And of romany a pint, the which nought doth surpass To raise a man’s spirits when they be low.”

In the bustling tavern of the Golden Tree, the devil attempts to keep Emma distracted with drink and luxury to prevent her from reflecting on her life.

“If all the sins that in the world there be Were wholly done by one sole man And then in heartfelt earnest he began To feel remorse, straight he to grace hath won.”

In the play-within-a-play, the devil Maskeroon articulates the very doctrine of divine mercy that eventually leads Emma to her own conversion.

What It's Really About

At its core, this is an exploration of the theological doctrine of wanhope—a state of despair so profound that it leads the sufferer to believe they are beyond the reach of God’s grace. The play argues that this despair is the devil’s most effective tool, as it blinds the soul to the possibility of redemption. It also functions as an argument for the efficacy of art, suggesting that theater—even a simple village play—can act as a mirror for the conscience, providing a "preaching" more effective than a formal sermon. By framing the story as a "true" history, the text seeks to bridge the gap between the legendary and the lived experience of the audience.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the darker, more visceral side of medieval literature will find this book particularly rewarding. It provides a rare, grounded look at how medieval people understood the relationship between the mundane and the supernatural. The prose translation is crisp and energetic, capturing both the high-minded rhetoric of the religious scenes and the coarse, lively atmosphere of the tavern.

However, the reader should be prepared for the book's archaic sensibilities. The casual brutality of the characters, the abruptness of the moral turns, and the period-specific attitudes toward women and social order might surprise a modern audience. The text contains both dramatic verse and inserted prose, which can create a jarring rhythm for those used to modern novels. Despite these challenges, there is a genuine, haunting beauty in Emma’s journey. The image of the iron rings—a physical manifestation of a psychological burden—remains a powerful, lingering symbol of the long, slow work of healing. It is a story about the endurance of the human spirit when faced with the consequences of its own worst mistakes, and for that reason, it continues to resonate with a quiet, persistent authority.