How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Page)
Quote #4
"Sirs, I fear you will be burned in hell without end, unless you correct yourselves of your swearing of oaths, for you do not keep the commandments of God." (I.52.162).
Kempe has no problem calling people out for behavior she finds offensive to God. She will later say that those who curse or swear are "vicious," because their blasphemous language actually does violence to the body of Christ. Cursing may seem like a mild offense compared to others, but Kempe and the religious establishment see it as a pretty serious violation of the Ten Commandments ("You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain").
Quote #5
Then the Archbishop said to her: "I am told very bad things about you. I hear it said that you are a very wicked woman." (I.52.163)
Kempe here stands accused of Lollardy before the Archbishop of York. It's a burnable offense and a very bad situation for her to be in. When the archbishop accuses her of wickedness, he really means that he thinks that she has an "unclean" sexual reputation (it's the easiest way to discredit her). But we're about to learn that "wicked" is a relative term. Kempe turns the tables and tells the archbishop that she's heard some pretty bad things about him, too.
Quote #6
"Ah, sir," said the clerics, "here we know that she has the devil in her, for she speaks of the Gospel." (I.52.164)
This is a very serious accusation for the clerics to make against Kempe before the Archbishop of York. They are basically saying that Kempe is handling scripture on her own and speaking about it openly. At this time, women were not allowed to do this, and it was a particular hallmark of the Lollard heresy. Of course, heresy is a matter of which side you're on—and so, in this case, is evil. Kempe is a highly orthodox Catholic persecuted by her own kind. We'll let you figure out who has the devil in them here.