Up to this point, Kempe’s travels have been described in detail as a religious pilgrimage, during which she struggled greatly with others’ perceptions of her devoutness. Her companions were not the only obstacle during her travels, though. In Chapter 11 of her book, Margery describes the struggles and arguments she and her husband had before Kempe was permitted to begin her journey. Kempe and her husband start the chapter by discussing undertaking a vow of chastity. Kempe’s husband is hesitant to do so, as they are married and should not have to be chaste in matrimony. Kempe, on the other hand, insists that, for religious reasons, she yearns to be chaste once again; Kempe even states that she would rather see her husband killed than have intercourse again.

When they reach an impasse, Kempe goes to pray and converse with God. Throughout her travels and in this chapter, it is evident that Kempe uses prayer as a type of clarifying, meditative process to come up with solutions and the courage to face challenges. Here, God encourages Kempe to compromise with her husband on this matter, as he wants multiple things from Kempe. They eventually compromise, and Kempe is allowed to travel to the Holy Land and undergo the vow of chastity, as long as she eats meat on Fridays with her husband and pays off his debts on her journey to Jerusalem.

Chapter 11 ends with Kempe and her husband rejoicing at their compromise, and the two pray and celebrate together. They discuss how they ended up traveling together to many places, including Bridlington, and recount the many people they met along the way: “God’s servants, both anchorites and recluses, and many others of Our Lord’s lovers, with many worthy clerks, doctors of divinity and bachelors also, in divers places (Kempe 50).” The final line of the chapter states that throughout her journeys, Kempe acted as she always had: passionate in her devoutness, often weeping or making strict decisions because of her religious beliefs.

This chapter is important to better understand what we already know of Kempe’s travels. Up to this point, Kempe had mostly struggled with her companions’ thoughts of her. These companions were generally strangers to Kempe, and yet she saw similar issues with her husband who knew her very well. Her devout religiousness even caused a rift between her and her husband, who is also evidently religious based on their ability to pray and rejoice together.

It follows, then, that she would be set in her religious actions if she has had to deal with them for much of her adult life, even with people who know her and love her well. She is strong and courageous because of the discrimination and negativity she has faced, and through these past struggles, her ability to be so strong-willed with her companions along her pilgrimage becomes more understandable. Kempe’s ability to turn to God for courage and to lean on the very thing that causes her such strife as a source of positivity and strength is Kempe’s greatest quality.