Marjorie Kemp was born in Norfolk in the UK in 1373. She's known for her book, The Book of Marjorie Kemp. It chronicles her life

with all of its afflictions and struggles, chronicles her mystical visions and conversations with God that she

claimed to have had throughout her life, and it also chronicles her remarkable pilgrimages.

She was born Marjorie Burnham.

Her father was a merchant and a politician

serving as a mayor and as a member of parliament.

She married John Kemp around 1393. They would go on to have 14 children.

It was after the birth of her first son that she had the first of her visions.

Marjorie Kemp would go on to write her book in the 1430s and she died sometime

after 1438, but we don't know the exact date.

As I mentioned, she took pilgrimages, and her longest pilgrimage was made over the years 1413 to 1415.

She went all the way to Jerusalem alone. She made her way first to Venice. This is where all pilgrims

to the Holy Land would converge. It was a great port and a gateway to the

Mediterranean world.

Every visitor to Venice in the Middle Ages had to register.

Their name was recorded in a book

and they would be assigned a place to stay until their ship was ready.

They were also examined to make sure they had no signs of the Black Plague.

They could exchange money there and they could stock up on provisions while they

waited for their passage and waiting for a ship could take anywhere from weeks to several months.

Marjorie Kemp had to wait in Venice for 13 weeks. Well, finally the day came and she

sailed across the Mediterranean to the Port City of Israel, Jaffa.

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