borne of whom would be borne IESVS that is called CHRIST By the things before rehersed you may know how reasonable it is to celebrate the Natiuitie of this Virgin for that her desarts and graces be so great as is aboue mentioned The Church in auncient time did not solemnize this feast which is proued by the words of S. Augustine Aug de sanct ser 11 tâ—m 10. who saith in one sermon that the Natiuity of IESVS CHRIST and S. Iohn Baptist be only celebrated By this you may vnderstand that this feast was not kept through the vniuersall Church at that time though it be thought that from the time of the Apostles it was celebrated in some particular Churches In the time of Pope Innocent 4. it was ordeined that this solemnitie should be celebrated vniuersally by all the faithfull in the Catholike Church about the yeare of our Lord. 1250. The occasion to celebrate this feast was in one yeare and 8. moneths space no Pope was chosen after the death of Pope Celestine 4. which was the cause of infinite scandals through all Christendome but especiallie in Italy for that the Emperor Frederick who rebelled against the Church euerie day vsurped and got some of the lands belonging vnto the Church The Cardinals who were in the Conclaue desired to make the election but they could not agree At last they treated among them selfs it being propounded by some deuout person vnto our Lady to make a vowe that if any of them were made Pope in a short space for a remedy of those great damages and losses of the Church he should ordeine the celebration of the Natiuitie of our Ladie and should make it a feast with octaues through al Christendome The vowe being made forthwith ensued the election of Cardinall Sinibaldus who was called Innocent 4. who ordeined the Natiuity of our Lady to be kept on the. 8. day of September through all Christendome This election reioyced the wholle world that had longed for a pope and for that the cause of this was ascribed vnto the newe feast of the most B. virgin he ordeined that in the office they should sing this Antheme which beginneth Natiuitas tua dei genitrix virgo gaudium annunciauit vniuerso mundo c That is to say Thy birth ô virgin Mary mother of God brought ioye to the wholl world Some Authors seeme to say Vine in spec l. 7. c. 119. that a relligious man liuing in contemplation hard euery yere on the. 8. day of September the Angels to make melody and triumph and demaunding of one of them what was the cause of such ioy in heauen he was answered that on that day was celebrated the Natiuity of the mother of God and that then vpon the credit of that relligious man this feast began to be celebrated It may be true that this relligious man had that before remembred vision but the occasion to promulgate the solemnity of this feast is that which I rehersed first And to the end some thing may be spoken concerning the history collecting it out of that which S. Ierome S. Iohn Damascen Gregory of Nissen and Simeon Metaphrastes write therof I say that the father of the Virgin Marie was called Ioachim and her mother Anna Thy were both of the tribe of Iuda and of the house and family of Dauid and this is to be holden as an Article of faith for there be many prophecies in the holy writ which say that the MESSIAS should be borne of the tribe of Iuda and of the house and family of Dauid And he being to be borne of glorious virgin it followeth that the father and mother of her were to be of that tribe Hier. de ort B. Vir. Luc. 3. and of that family S. Ierome nameth some patriarches which must of necessity be the same which S. Luke nameth in his Gospell He saith then that Iannes begot Melchi and Melchi begot Leui See Iohn lucid l. 2. de temp hebr and Leui begot Mathan and Mathan begot Heli who is also called Ioachim who as he saith was naturall father vnto the Virgin Marie and legall father vnto Ioseph Ioachim took Anna vnto wife and both of them dwelt in Nazareth a citty of Galilee They were very rich and bestowed part of their goods vpon the poore and other pious vses S. Ierome saith also that they continued together 20. years and neuer had children for which Issachar the priest not only would not receue the offering of Ioachim in the temple of Ierusalem vpon a feast which was kept there and was called Encenia but bad him to depart out of the temple for that assuredly he had some secret sinne for the which God punished him and did not graunt him the fruit of benediction So that Ioachim all afflicted and ashamed departed from the temple Gregory Nizen and Simeon Metaphrastes say that S. Anna vpon the like solemnity came from Nazareth vnto Ierusalem 1. Reg. 1. and like the other Anna the mother of Samuel lamented wept and sighed in the Temple desiring God to graunt her children and euen as Anna the mother of Samuel did shee vowed to offer in the temple vnto the seruice of God the sonne or daughter that God would be pleased to giue her They say also that afer shee had made the vowe shee lay with her husband Ioachim and conceiued and was deliuered of the Queene of Angells the Virgin Mary our aduocate And though vsually when daughters are borne the father and mother do not reioyce so much as if it were a sonne for that the daughters are troblesome to bring vp and to mainteine more chargeable to set forth in marriage yet when the B. virgin was borne the father and mother felt and tasted infinite ioy as of a thing they had long desired They also reioyced for that they had some kinde of knowledg that this their daughter should not be any charge to them for a dowry in mariage but also by her meanes God would showe many fauors and blessings vpon all the world S. Bernard made this speech vnto the B. virgin in these wordes Happy art thou O Virgin Marie more then any other creature since of thee in thee and by thee God hath recreated the wholle world which he hath created In that we haue said before we haue in part seen the great worth of the Queen newly borne the order of her birth her coming into the world Now it remaineth as the vsage is to gratulate reioice with her father and mother saying vnto them O Holy and happy Patriark Ioachim and Anna happy may the birth of your daughter be wee pray God yee may see her brought vp and well married without doubt it shal be so for God will giue vnto her for spouse Ioseph one of the holiest men that shall be in the world He shal be her guard and help he shall not take of her the pledge dewe vnto spouses but rather by thes espousalls shee shall remaine
all the world and to build Churches to the honor of CHRIST his saints but especially in Rome where beside the aforenamed he builded in the field Sossorium the Church of the Holy Crosse that is called in Ierusalem and in the field Veranius without the walles he built the Church of S. Laurence and in the way to Lauico he built a Church to the holy martirs SS Peter and Mâ—rcâ—llin Hither to we haue seene the occasion of the feast the Church celebrateth the which is The dedication of the Church of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul Nowe it wil be good to see the reason why the Church maketh such account of these holy Apostles and of all theother martirs and saints that it buildeth Churches vnto them in which the faithfull do assemble to celebrat their feasts Moreouer it shal be good to see what is the signification of the Vigills and Octaues and for what cause there is a greater feast kept of one saint more then of another These may be thought by some to be but curious questions yet they may be profitable and it is very good in my oppinion that euery Christian should know the reason therof First I say that the Catholik Church hath had many respects to celebrat the feasts of the saints On was for that in the primitiue Church they desiring to extirpate totally the adoration of the Idolls wherin the Painims were drowned the holy Bishops brought in this vertuous custome of worshipping the holy saints to the end the memory of Iupiter Saturn Apollo Venus Mars and Diana and of the other Gods might be abolished by substituting in the place of them S. Peter S. Paul S. Iames S. Iohn S. Stephen S. Laurence S. Agnes S. Agatha S. Lucia and theother saints Theother reason that moued the Church was this that in honoring and making feasts to the saints there is feast made and honor done vnto God himself that made them saints The Church had also another regard viz to satisfy the obligement and duety we all haue and owe vnto the saints They reioice in heauen and make triumph when we conuert our selues vnto God and therefore it is reason we should make feast and reioyce in that day that they begin to enioy the sight of God in heauen viz the day of their death Moreouer the feasts of the Saints are celebrated because of the great neede we haue of them that they may pray vnto God for vs the he may truly conuert vs vnto him that he may giue vs perseuerance that he may deliuer vs from tentations that he may teach vs to do his will that he may giue vs things necessary for the sustenaunce of our life All these things many other such like God doth giue vs by the praiers of his saints And therefore it is reason that in some part we do satisfy our great obligement that we owe vnto theÌ„ by celebrating their feasts Another motion the Church hath to celebrate the feasts of the saints was for our example for when we consider that the saints were men as we be formed of flesh and bone and subiect vnto the same frailty and misery of our natures yet that they did such famous acts and heroicall deeds supporting and enduring such outragious paines in their martirdome such cruell persecutions horrible reproches lastly death by which they came to be so honored and rewarded by God in heauen we also moued by their example should striue to imitate them To this purpose saith S. Augustine they do truly celebrate the feast of the martirs who followe their examples for he who doth not followe them in what he can 2. Cor. 1. can not enioy beatiâ—udâ— in their company S. Paul saith also If we shall be partakers of their troubles and passions we also shall haue part of their consolations Concerning the Virgills of Saints Isay that a Vigill properly is not a day of fasting but of watching And so it was vsed in the feasts of IESVS CHRIST of the B. Virgin of the Apostles and of some other saints especially of the patrons of the Church when all the people the night before the day of the feast came vnto the Church and remained there all the night in praier and other holy exercises This holy and good custome began some what to be corrupted for the people who kept the vigills if they spent a litle time in praier they spent a great deale more in eating and drinking and sometime in gaming lewd talk vncomely behauior yea it came to such a passe that many foule and grosse abuses were vsed in the Church To remedy this mischief S. Ambrose who was enformed therof by S. Monica the mother of S. Augustine at her being at Millaine did in his Church as other Bishops in their diocesses the Pope through all Christendome change the vigills and watchings into fasting the day before the festiuall day and yet it reteineth the auncient anme of vigill still The vigill signifieth also this present life in the which we must be vigilant and must support troubles as the body doth endure troble by fasting that we may haue the feast in the next life But he that on the contrary side will first haue the feast before the fast and wil be mery and take his pleasure in the world let such a one know that he must make a long and greuous vigill in theother life for he shall abide in hell fasting for euer For the Octaues the Church began to celebrat them in imitation of certain feasts the hebrews had which lasted seuen daies as the Pascha of the vnleuened bread the feast of Tabernacles and the Dedication of the Temple So the Church ordeined that some of her feasts which are worthy of all honour and reuerence as well as they were should haue Octaues to the end the solemnity should be greater and in the office of these daies are many things read of those solemnities that the faithfull might heare and consider the same and take profit thereby We read that the Idollaters assaulted the Macchabeis on the day of the feast and that they because they would not violat it for they thought it was a work to defend themselfs and so a breach of the feast though after ward they resolued to do other wise suffered themselues to be killed rather So do the deuills also they do assault the faithfull on the festiuall daies especially with more and greater tentations then on the other daies which is the cause that sometimes the sinnes which are comitted on the feast be more heinous then theother of all the week coÌ„ming of frailty For some be so fraile and feeble that assoone as tentation coÌ„meth they confent vnto it and know not howe to resist or with stand it Let the tentations be of gaming murmuring of losse of time of vnseemly words and of sensuality they yield streight and resist them not yet there be some worse then these who do seek tentations and do
heauen gate also You may go all to the Church to celebrate the feast of the natiuity of our Lord and I wretch being debarred will remaine here and lament and weep alone Ruffinus vnderstanding the cause of th'emperours sorowe sayd My Lord if it shall please you I will talke with Ambrose and entreat him to permit you to enter into the Church for the sorowe you haue had the teares you haue shed for the euill of which he reproued you is sufficient Theodosius aunswered Thy words will do no good for I know very well his constancy in vertue he is not a man will omit any matters belonging vnto God for feare or dread of emperiall maiesty or might Notwithstanding these words Ruffinus assayed how it would proue And when he treated with S. Ambrose he found him so constant and resolute yea so ready and prepared to dye if violence were offred for the defence of the autority of the church that he forthwith sent word vnto th'emperour to stay but he trusting vpon the former words of Ruffinus was comyng toward the Church When Theodosius heard this message he stayed not but went forward saying I will goe vnto the Church and there the Bishop shall tell me my fault and enioine me penance if he will as I deserue S. Ambrose stayed for him without the Church and when the Emperour came he besought S. Ambrose in most lowly wise to absolue him alleadging the example of Dauid who sinned and yet God pardoned him S. Ambrose replied If thou settest Dauid that sinned for an example consider also that he lamented and did penance for his sinne The Emperour said againe I haue sorrowed very much for the same The said S. Ambrose This is not ynough for thou hast committed a publique offence and thou must also doe publique penance The Emperour said I will so that shall suffice S. Ambrose said I would haue thee doe another thing which shal be a remedy for thy wrath and indignation for the time to come viz. That thou make a law that when thou or any other Emperour commaund any offendor to be put to death forthwith that the execution be staid vntill thirty dayes be expired Theodosius was content to doe all as the holy Bishop willed and did the penance with great sorrow and humility and also made the law which is extant to this day in the Codex Iustiniani when this was done he went to the Church I haue stayed some what long in recounting this accident aswell for that it appertaineth vnto the story of S. Ambrose as also for that Theodosius was a Spaniard and it is fit that the Spaniards should haue knowledge of a man that was so worthy to be Emperour as Theodosius was who though hee sinned did receiue with such lowelines the correction and penance imposed vpon him by a particuler Bishop Another notable thing happened vnto S. Ambrose with Stilico Gouernour of Millan for the Emperour The case was this Certaine publique baiting of beasts being made in the high streetes the Gouernour thought the time fit to apprehend one Cresconius who was fled vnto the Church for he much desired to punish him for certaine faultes he had committed To effect it he sent his officers who came into the Church and tooke out Cresconius pulling him by force from the Altar to which place he was fled for succour S. Ambrose saw it but could not help it for he had but a few Priests with him at that time wherefore he fell on his knees and wept bitterly for the violence offered to the Church not being able to remedy the same The officers led the man away and hauing put him safe in prison came to see the sports where they found Stillico and certified him of that they had done They had not yet told all their tale when two Leopards set vpon them and for all the rescue and defence that could be made to saue them they tore them to pieces and put the Gouernor to great feare who incontinent commaunded the prisoner to be restored vnto the Church and to be set free and he made satisfaction for the violence committed Many other things God did by this glorious saint for with his prayers he healed many sicke men deliuered many men that were posessed many were by him conuerted to the faith and attained vnto saluation The fame of this holy saint was spred ouer all the world and people resorted from farre distant places to see him as did Fridigildis Queene of the Morauians who was a paynime and hauing heard marueillous things spoken of S. Ambrose and desirous to be a Christian went to visite him and to craue of him a rule which she ought to beliue and how also she ought to liue The holy saint conuerted her and satisfied her in euery point and especially he appointed her to procure that her husband should keep peace and be in league with the Romans And so she departed after she was Baptised into her countrey very well pleased The end of the life of S. Ambrose approched whereof he had a reuelation long before so he had found that he should dye about Easter Being sicke in his bed Stillico the Gouernour of Millan said that the death of this man menaced the ruine and destruction of all Italy then called he some of the chiefe men of the Citty and bad them to speak vnto S. Ambrose and to exhort him to pray vnto God for the prolonging of his life for the great good they receiued by him The Cittizens went vnto the holy saint and did their message and hee answered I haue not liued so among you that I should be ashamed to liue and I haue not serued such a Lord that I should be a feard to dye and therefore I put my selfe wholly into his handes His holy will be done S. Ambrose was now at the point of death and two deacons that were in the same chamber although a good way from him talked to themselues in a low voice who should be Bishop after him One of them said Simplician should be Bishop for that he was a man of very good behauiour and an Abbot of a monastery vnto whom S. Augustine was a verie deare friend Whilest they talked S. Ambrose said aloud He is old but very good The deacons were much astonied seing him to heare their speeches and after his death by the relation the two Deacons made of those his words Symplician was elected Bishop When the holy saint was at the last point of death there was in another roume Honoratus Bishop of Vercellae who heard himselfe called by one that said to him Runne for it is time now He hearing these words went to the place where the holy saint was and gaue vnto him the B. Sacrament which he receiued with very great deuotion Then laid he is armes acrosse and said his prayers and in saying of them he rendered vp his soule vnto God on the fourth day of Aprill about the yeare of our Lord
In prol in Ioh. De pres cript as Tertullian S. Ierome say out of the which he came without any hurt and then he was banished into an Isle called Pathmos which is one of the Islands called Cyclades and is not farre from Rhodes There the Apostle stayd a whole yeare and on a Sunday he had a vision and a reuelation in the which was discouered the successes of the Catholike Church that should happen vntill the day of the generall iudgement and all that he wrot in a booke which he called the Apocalipse or Reuelation Apo◠2. Whilest that S. Iohn remained in that Island he conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST almost all the inhabitants thereof and such was their loue toward him that as Symeon Metaphrases saith When he was to depart from the backe vnto Ephesus they were like to dye with sorrow Procrus Cap. 49. He was released from the exile after the death of Domitian and succession of Nerua who did by the aduise of the Senate reuoque and abrogate all the lawes his predecessor had made The Islanders vnderstanding that S. Iohn would depart from the went all vnto him lamenting and wailing some called him father others Lord and all said with one voyce he was theire ioy and comfort They besought him with great affection saying Oh Iohn thou holy and admirable man wherefore camest thou into this Island if thou art to depart hence so soone Why was the knowledge of thee bestowed on vs if we were to loose thy company so soone Whither wilt thou go to be beloued as thou art of vs Where shall thou be obeyed as thou art heere Where shall thy words be so esteemed since we listen to them as if they came from God and do beleeue that God speaketh in thee Then ô father haue pitty on vs thy children behold that without thee we are left in danger and perill to loose our selues Oh Emperour Domitian thou hast done to none such euill as thou hast done good vnto vs thou hast sent hither the elect disciple of God whom we haue knowen and receiued Baptisme by his meanes Thou hast done right well but for that to do good was far from thee of this good ariseth this present euill that now we must loose him whom before thou mad'st vs to know They all came to the holy Euangelist and kneeled at his feere tooke his garments in their hands kissed his hands with great humblenesse and reuerent behauiour for that they thought to make him stay there more by prayers and entreaties then by force or violence They holy Euangelist sawe the griefe of this Islanders for his departure but hee promising not to forget them and to send them some that should take charge of them they remained somewhat pleased and satisfied And so he embarked and returned to Ephesus where he was receiued with great and incredible ioy As the holy saint was to enter the Citty they carried out to buryall a noble Matrone called Drusiana who had loued S. Iohn very dearely He vnderstanding the same by many persons that followed the corps lamenting and mourning for the losse of so vertuous a woman that was charitable and had done many good workes of piety toward all kind of persons and he remembring the same prayed for her and God at his request raised againe the dead woman to life and the holy Apostle went to lodge at her house Then he began to gouerne that prouince again and he vnderstood that two young men in a Citty had distributed much riches vnto the poore desiring to serue God in pouerty which life S. Iohn had commended and praised much in his sermons but after perceiuing themselues in great want of necessary things they repented of what they had done S. Iohn talked with them and badde them bring him two great branches of trees from a Hill he named and some stones and the young men did so Then the Apostle by the power of God turned the stones into most pretious Iewels and the branches into Gold and said to the two young men Behold now see you may be as rich as you were before but consider well that the riches of the world doe puffe men vp and doe not satisfy them Thinke also that there is but one paradise and he that will haue it in this life and enioy and posesse worldly riches delights and pleasures cannot haue it also in the other world The Apostle did also in their sight raist to life a young man sonne to a poore widow who with many teares besought him to haue compassion on her as he had on Drusiana The two young men hauing seene this strange miracles determined to continue still in poore life and besought the Apostle to pray vnto God for them and gaue him backe his Iewels and Gold and he threw it vpon the ground and they returned to their former nature and he prayed vnto God for them and they led a holy life euer after S. Iohn had a great controuersy and variance with a priest of the Goddesse Dyana called Aristodemus who said that the miracles the Apostle did were not by the power of God but of the deuill and if he would haue him to beleeue it was by the worke of God let him drinke a cuppe of poyson that he would temper for him without any nocument or hurt to his life or health The malicious villaine thought by this meanes to take away the Apostles life and to repaire the losse his false gods sustained thereby S. Iohn accepted of the match and tooke the impoysonned cup in his hand and made thereon the signe of the Crosse and drunke it of without receuing any hurt Some Authors say for this cause S. Iohn is painted with a cuppe in his hand out of which commeth a serpent and he seemeth to blesse it which signifieth that he destroyed the force of the venime Others say this is not the cause but that he is painted so vpon the words CHRIST said to him when his mother requested that hee and his brother might haue the next place vnto him the one on the right hand and the other on the left and the words of CHRIST were these Can you drinke the cup which I must drinke and they answered I and our Sauiour replyed I say vnto you in verity that you shall drinke my cup This cuppe as some say is signified by the cuppe which is painted in the hand of S. Iohn and it may be it is painted there for both the causes S. Clement of Alexandria S. Iohn Chrisostome and other Authors recount also a story which befell betweene S. Iohn and a disciple of his being a beautifull young man And it was this S. Iohn kept the young man very strait and would haue brought him to strict and a mortified life And hauing on a time occasion to visite one of his Churches commended him vnto the care and gouernement of a Bishop desiring him to haue good regard of him In the absence of S.
condescended to the Kings request but that S. Thomas alwayes cryed out The Church of God ought not to be ruled and directed with hypocriticall dissembling and worldly crafte and pollicie but with Iustice and Trueth which freeth her followers from all dangers At length the King of Fraunce with entreaty and the Pope with the terroure of the Churches censures made a full attonement and reconciliation betweene his Maiestie of England and the Archbishop the King not only recalling him and all his friends from his banishment but also writing into England that peacebly well and honorably he his might be restored to all which they enioyed three moneths before his departure out of England He led him also aside and talked with him so long and so familiarly as if no disagreement had euer bin betweene them he gaue him leaue to proceede against such of his suffragans as had offended during his absence and at his departure willed him to forget all former hatred and restore vnto each other their auncient loue and affection and so the Archbishop humbling himselfe at his Maiesties feete tooke his leaue and departed towards England after seauen yeares of banishment And although he vnderstood by the Earle of Bullen and manie others comming out of England that no other preparation was made there to receaue him but of prisons and bonds and treacherous proceedings and thirsting after his bloud and his life yet would he not stay his iourney but answered Allthough I should be torne in pieces I wil not break of my intended iourney no feare no force no torment shall stay me any longer let it suffice that the flocke of CHRIST hath for seauen yeares space bewailed the absence of her shepheard At his returne into his Church he was receaued with great ioy and deuotion by the cleargie and all well affected people though some others guiltie of their owne wickednesse repined thereat and endeuoured to haue hindered his landing with armed men Wheresoeuer the Archbishop went there was exceeding great ioy and triumph eache Parish with their crosses and Parish priests wellcoming him with a solemne procession and ioyntly singing and weeping for ioy and praising God that had sent them home their Father againe Whithin some few dayes after at his comming to London there was the like publike ioy and triumphing For all the cleargie and poore-schollers of the cittie to the number of three thousand men went forth to meete him without the cittie So did likewise the flower of the cittie with an innumerable number of people and all-together singing Te Deum laudamus accompanied him vnto his lodging But this reioycing and gladnesse lasted not long for some Bishops and other men of great account that were excommunicated by the Pope resorted vnto the Archbishop and earnestly required to receaue their absolution at his hands He answered that notwithstanding their excommunication suspension was from the Pope yet he would presume so farre as to absolue them in case they would make him a Canonicall caution or assurance of standing to the Iudgement of the Church in those things for which they were excommunicated They esteeming it to much pride in the Archbishop to tye them to any such conditions went ouer to the King in Normandie and complained vnto him That Thâ—mas was rather more haughtie proud and imperious after his banishment then before that he went vp and down with great troupes of men both horse and foote that attended on him as vpon the Kings owne royall person that to be a King indeede he wanted but the name and setting the Crowne vpon his head and saying that he would be King That such as were most loyall to his Maiestie were most oppressed with frequent exactions and excommunications by the Archbishop and manie other aggreeuances and calumnations to the same purpose which so much enraged and enflamed the Kinges indignation that with anxietie of minde he burst forth into these impatient words And is it possible that I cannot peaceably enioy neither Kingdome dignitie nor life and all this for one only Priest Cursed be all such as eate my bread since none will reuenge me of this fellow Vpon these words some principall gentlemen of the Kings chamber conspired together and with oathes and protestations combined themselues to kill the Archbishop imagining it would be most gratefull seruice to the King For flatterie and desire to humoure Princes and execute not only what they commaund but what they incline or bend vnto is a passion that 's ouer-powerfull in Courtes and blindeth many men to worke their owne euerlasting perdition They embarked themselues they landed in England at a castell called Flatwide associated themselues with others of great ranke but little grace and with manie armed men came marching to Canterbury and went to the Archbishop and with discurteous and vnseemely speeches reuiled him for manie treasons coÌ„mitted against the Kings Maiestie The good Prelate answered to all their obiections and with humilitie and modestie and yet with valour and constancie defended him selfe against all accusations wherewith they did charge him alleadging that for some of those which they esteemed enormious crimes he had expresse leaue and licence from the King At this they began to crye aloud and say this was to touche the honour of the Kinge appeache his Maiestie of Treason and fearing the nuÌ„ber of the Archbishops seruauÌ„ts they went forth both to arme themselues call in other companie prepared to assist them in the meane time the B. went in to euening prayer At the noyse of armes and armed men all the churche was in a tumult some flying away some hiding themselues some shutting fast the doores of the Church Only the Archbishop did so behaue himselfe as one deuoyde of all dread and feare and comming to the doores did set them wide open saying that Churches ought not to be defended as castles besieged with enemies and that he should ouercome farre better with suffering then with fighting In came they rushing to the Church crying out aloude Where is that Beket the Archbishop Where is that Traytour to the King all his kingdome He without any trouble or alteration answered Heere I am no Traitoure to the King but a Priest and seruant of IESVS CHRIST readie to leese my life for my Lord and shed my bloud in defence of his Church I coÌ„maund yee in the name of God and vnder paine of excommunication that none of yee doe hurt any of these which are present if there be any fault it is wholly mine that haue raken vpon me to defend the cause of the Church for whome I embrace death most willingly hoping that by the effusion of my bloud she shall enioy libertie and peace And theÌ„ ioyning his hands lifting theÌ„ and eyes hart to Heauen setling himselfe to prayer he said these last words To God Ladie to all the sainctes Patrons of this Church and to the blessed martyr S. Dionyse I commend my selfe the cause
for their Abbot Who was vnwilling to take the charge on her but the entreaty of the monks who were much pleased with hir holy life preuailed There was in Alexandria a matrone called Melantia who had bin cured and healed of a great infirmitie by the praiers of Eugenius who adiudged her to be a man Eugenius went oft vnto her house at her importunate inuitations The matrone was indeed ennamoured of her and they two being alone without any regard of her estate or credit laid open her loue imagining her to be a man Eugenius sharply reproued her and so departed and left hir alone Melantia seing her self contemned and refused like the mistris of Ioseph shricked out and said Gen. 39. that the Abbot Eugenius would haue forced her And not content with that did also accuse her falsely vnto the Gouernor who was the father of Eugenia The Regent hauing heard the accusation of Melania commanded the Abbot Eugenius to be brought in before him When the blessed Saint vnderstood the cause wherefore shee was called she tooke thhe Eunuchs Protus and Iacinctus in the habite of religious men with her being come before Philip her father he vsed rough words and asked them if CHRIST their God counselled them to force honorable Ladies The virgin with a modest and cherefull face said There is time to be silent and a time to speak Eccle. 3. If Melantia saith that I would vse force it is not true and thou ô Philip peraduenture doest but iest with me in asking if the God that I adore doth will me to do such things Now thou shalt see the verity of this womans acusation Hauing saith this she rent her habite before her breast and opened it that euery one might see by her breastes that she was a woman Then she proceeded and told him that she was Eugenia his daughter and moreouer she spake so well vnto hir father that he was conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST and so was Claudia his wife and all the rest of his family Philip gaue vp his office and place and not long after was chosen Bishop and afterward in the persecution raised by the Emperours Valerian and Gallyen he was martired Claudia Eugenia Prothus and Iacinctus returned vnto Rome where by the labour of the holy damosell Eugenia and of the two holy Eunuches Protus Iacinctus many were conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST Gallien being certified herof caused Eugenia to be apprehended after the indurance of many torments to be beheadded Then he caused the two Eunuchs Prothus and Iacinctus to be taken and hauing vsed sundry enducements to moue them to sacrifice vnto the Idolls which they refused to do shewing themselues very couragious and constant in the faith of CHRIST the tirant caused them to be cruelly scourged and after many other torments giuen vnto them he caused them in like maner to be beheaded Their martirdome and death was on the 11. day of September and on that day the Church celebrateth their feast It was in the yeare of our Lord. 263. in the reigne of the aforesaid Gallyen The exaltation of the holy Crosse ALMIGHTY God glorieth by the mouth of the prophet Ezechiel to haue done a famous work Ezech. 17. and indeed worthy of himselfe as he showeth by the maner of rehersing the saue saieng I the Lord haue humiliated and abased the lofty and stately wood haue enhaunced the lowly and humble wood S. Ierome saith that this humble wood is IESVS CHRIST and he saith very well for he being so humbled that at the last he died on the Crosse God for that cause did exalt him as S. Paule saith to such height that the Angells in heauen Phil. 2. the men on earth and vnder the earth in purgatory do bowe their knees at his name and do him reuerence And IESVS CHRIST was not exalted only to that height for that he was humiliated but the wood also which was the instrument of his humiliation was exalted and honored by God since as S. Augustine saith the Crosse which was alwaies before reprochefull bicause thieues and other malefactors were put to death on the same now Emperours and kings beare it on their heads for that IESVS CHRIST died vpon the same Themperour Heraclius honored and respected it especially wresting it out of the hands of Cosdroes king of Persia who had taken it from Ierusalem and carried it into his kingdome and putting it in the former place Nowe let vs see howe it passed framing a history therof out of a sermon that Andreas B. of Candia made of the Exaltation of the holie Crosse rehersed by Lippomanus and the lections of the Romaine Breuiary and diuers martirologes and historiographers yet first we will propound an important doctrine which is this OVR Lord God desiring to be serued and not to be offended by men seing their condition and seuerall estates and that some be noble and to be dealt with all mildly and that others be rude and are to be handled roughly he gaue premonitions vnto them to the end they should not lament nor complaine of him as if they had not ben warned He talking with the Hebrewes as we reade in Leuiticus said to them Leuit. 26. If you obserue my commaundements among other good and profit you shall reap therby one shal be this that if you haue enemies that molest and make warre on you five of you shall put a. 100. of them to flight and a. 100. of you shall put to flight 10000. of them But if on the other side you shal be disobedienr to me a fewe of your enemies shall make many of you to fly and that in dread and feare though none pursue you This which God said then vnto the people was apparant and seen as we read in the booke of Iosua where it is said Ios 7. that the Hebrues hauing beseiged Iericho certein daies finally they took it without drawing their sword bicause the walles fell downe and they which were within made no resistance all was put to the fire and sword not sparing any thing for so God had comaunded bicause his indignation was kindled against that nation as also to terrify his other enemies It came to passe in the pilling therof that there came to the hands of a souldier called Achan a scarlet robe some mony and a wand or rod of gold which things he kept against the commaundement of God And to be more secure he hid them all in the ground This being done part of the army dislodged and went to fight against Hay the citisens wherof issued out and encountred with them and preuailed killing many Israelites and fewe returned with this dolefull newes Iosua generall of the host seing the same fell on the ground and weeping said vnto God Howe happeneth it o Lord be these thy promises Doth it seeme to thee a iust thing to haue thy people so euil entreated by thine enemies Assoone as we be entred into this
Emperours seruice that they should not think much to offer it for the seruice of God for that their death and torment should haue an end very shortly and tollerating it for such a cause they should afterward possesse the ioies of heauen cuerlastingly These such other words that Maurice said made such an impression in the minds of those seruants of CHRIST that euery one endeuored to be the first martir and to enter into heauen before his fellow souldier The legion being tenthed the second time the other which were left were demaunded if they would obey the Emperour Maximian and they answered Tell Th'emperour from vs that we do acknowledg our selfs to be his souldiers and withall that we be the seruants and worshippers of the true God we be bound to obey Maximian in things apperteining vnto the warre but much more bound vnto God in matters of religion from Maximian we haue pay for our seruice but of God we receaue our being and our life we may not nor will not deny IESVS CHRIT to obey Cesar Maximian receauing this answer finding the martirs resolute and seing the double decimation of them was to small auaile be commaunded the wholl army to set on them and to cut and hew them to pieces without reseruation of any this quailed not their noble courages but rather their death being occasioned for so good a cause they kneeled on the bare ground and lifting vp their hands and harts vnto heauen yealded to the butchery and slaughter their Coronell Maurice continually and incessantly incouraging and chearing them vp and in this maner they were all massacred Many of the bloudy villans were so fleshed herewith that not content with death they stripped them and put on their apparell and at mour and sat downe to eate the prouision the martirs had It happened a Christian souldier called Victor who was not a Theban but of another nation came by and beholding so many dead bodies ly in that plaine not knowing howe it came asked why those that eate thereby shewed such mirth and gladnes and did not loth and abhorre to eat and drink among so many dead bodies One related vnto him point by point what had befallē they bade him come eate and be mery with them for ioy they had done such pleasing seruice vnto themperour when Victor had heard all their speech he said aloud Oh wretch that I am I wishe I had bene partaker in their death By these words of Victor they which sat at the bloudy banket gathered that Victor was a christian wherefore leauing their banquet and taking their weapons they incontinent cut him in pieces as they had done the Thebans and by this meanes Victor merited the same reward that the Thebans had deserued This was the martirdome of S. Maurice and of his Theban souldiers and the holy church celebrateth it on the. 22. day of September in the year of our Lord 301 in the time of Dioclesian and Maximian After certein years passed the same holy martirs reuealed vnto a Bishop called Theodore where their bodies were and commaunded him to translate them to a place more conuenient The good Bishop was not slack or negligent in fulfilling it for the people of that countrey hauing made many pits and hauing put the bodyes of the holy martirs into them the good Bishop caused them to digge them out of them and out of theother places where those blessed bodyes were as he vnderstood by the diuine reuelation and sent them into diuers countreis where many Churches were builded vnto their honour and in them God graunted many fauors vnto such as being in tribulation and affliction did recommend themselfs vnto these blessed martirs In the vestry of the church in Toledo in Spaine is shewen the head of one of these holy martirs and they say there it is the head of S. Maurice * ⎠* The life of S. Linus Pope and Martir AMONG other precepts which S. 1. ep Paul gaue vnto the Corinthians there is one in especiall for Christians to vse when they go vnto the Church to pray He saith that men must stand vncouered when they be in the Church O holy Apostle shall this be vsed both by men and women shall the women also stand with their head vncouered in the Church The Apostle answereth and saith for the women we haue another lawe which is this that women must be in the Church with their head couered for as it is an vnseemely thing for a secular woman to be shauen and without long haire so is it an vnseemely thing for women to be in the Church with their head vncouered S. Ambrose yealdeth a reason of this and foundeth it vpon these wordes of the Apostle to wit that the man is the image of God and the woman is the image of the man of whom she is formed This glorious Doctor saith also that it was the ordinary vsage that slaues had their heades couered or bound with certaine bandes And the difference that was betweene the slaues and freemen was this that the salues had the head bound or couered and the freemen had it vncouered we may perceiue hereby that God would haue vs when we be in his presence to acknowledg our quality and condition The man that is superior in house and that hath authority to comaund therein must haue his head vncouered and bare as a free man and a master but the woman who is his inferior and who is obliged to obey in the house ought to haue her head couered by that meanes confessing her quality of obedience That the man do comaund and the woman do obey is a matter of such importance that not only S. Paul doth comaund it as is aforesaid but S. Peter also as chief and highest Bishop ordeined and comaunded the same But for that he left it not in writing S. Linus who was his disciple and successor in the Papacy comaunded it and left it written that it might be obserued and kept perpetually and in deed it is not read that he left any other order then this which yet if it might be obserued among all faithfull Christians were very comendable and praise worthy Now let us see the life of this holy Pope collected on of that which Damasus and other graue Authors write of him yet first I think good to admonish you that S. Peter being neere to his death thought it conuenient to nominate a worthy and weldeseruing sucessor to be in his place after him who might take care and charge of the Catholique Church To this entent he named Clement his disciple who for his great humility willed that Linus and Cletus who had bene coadiutors vnto S. Peter should haue that dignity before him So Linus had the Papacy vnto whom Cletus succeeded and after him the same S. Clement was Pope Returning vnto our purpose the life of S. Linus was this SAINT Linus was borne in Vol-terra a citty of Hetruria and was sonne of Hercolanus of the noble
this he was driuen and banished out of the citty After this S. Telcla was taken and hauing beene examined and her intention found that she desired to be a Christian and determined to conserue her virginity she was condemned to be consumed with fire The fire was kindled and a huge multitude of people were assembled to behold that most beautifull yong damosell that would willingly go to dy such a cruell death The blessed damosell was set in the midst of the fire which did not any hurt at all vnto her persons And on the sodaine fell from heauen such a storme with thunderclapps with such aboundance of raine that it put out the fire and afrighted all them that were present in such sort that euery one departed and the holy virgin was left at liberty whereby she might go free And so she went to the house of Onesiphorus where she found S. Paul with some other Christians who had continually for sixe daies made their praiers for her and they were all exceeding glad of her comming The Apostle did Baptise her and instructed her fully in the faith but because they were assured that the Proconsull would send againe for her the Apostle departed from that house and citty also recomending much the virgin Tecla vnto all the Christians that were in that place Though all dilligence that might be was vsed to keep her secret yet within a fewe dayes Alexander a lewd person apprehended her and brought her before the Proconsull who seing her to preseuer constantly in that she would not marry her spouse but continue a Christian gaue sentence that she should be deuoured of wilde beastes in the citty of Antioch whether the Proconsull was to go An especiall daye was apointed for this spectacle and in the meane space S. Tecla was deliuered vnto the custody of a matrone called Triphona When the apointed daie was come S. Tecla was brought into the Theater and a fierce Lionesse was let out against her which drawing neere vnto the holy saint lay downe quietly at her feete without doing her any harme S. Ambrose wondring much at that which the wild beasted did to the holy virgin said these wordes The firstly onesse which was let out against the blessed virgin was mild lay downe at her feete and hurt her not and also gaue example vnto the other lyons Beares and fierce Bulles who hauing bin let loose against her stood round about her peaceably and licked her feete The people were seuere cruel and the sauage and wild beastes were tame and pittifull though they were kept hungry and almost famished that they might haue their fill and make their praie vpon the holy damosell And though they were prouoked and pricked forward by their keepers that they might deuoure the holy saint yet could they not make them to hurt or harme her in the least degree The Iudge seing that the wild beastes spared her she being taken out of the Theater cōmaunded she should be cast into a ditch wherein were many dreadfull and venimous serpents when S. Tecla was put into that deep ditch there discended from heauen a fierie cloud that slewe all the serpents and by this meanes S. Tecla remained free from this third torment euen as God had deliuered her from the other two to wit from the fire and the wild beastes The people seing such great maruailes and especially the matrone Triphona who had her in keeping and in that time had conceiued great good affection vnto her she beginning and the cōmon people following her cried out iointly together That the God of Tecla was most potent and most worthy to be adored that had deliuered her from such and so great dangers The Iudge fearing some cōmotion of the people set S. Tecla free and Triphona led her vnto her house adopted her to be her daughter The holy virgin Tecla departed from that citty and went to make her abode in Seleucia In which place many by her meanes receaued the faith of CHRIST Spanish addeth being 90 yeeres old and there she ended her daies blessedly There is extant a history of S. Tecla in the which be many fabulous and vncertaine things As that she clothed her self in mans apparell and would haue gone so in the compaine of S. Paul and that he would not permitt it but willed her to go in her ordinary and vsuall attire of a woman moreouer it saith that a great Lord in the citty of Antioche would haue giuen vnto S. Paul a great summe of mony if he would haue giuen that yong damosell vnto him to be his paramour and that S. Paul would not do it These and other such like things are read in the abouenamed legend but Pope Gelasius commanded that those stories should not be credited and put them among the writings apocriphall and of none auctority but that which I haue written of this saint is auowed by graue authors and is authorised and of credit the Church also giueth credit thereto who in the praiers which are said in the commendations of soules saith these words O Lord deliuer this soule euen as thou didst deliuer S. Tecla from three most cruell torments The Catholik Church maketh commemoration of S. Tecla on the day of her death which was on the. 23. day of September in the year of our Lord 90. as Canisius saith in the time of Themperour Domitian It is said that the body of this holy saint is in Spaine in the city of Tarragona in the prouince of Catalonia spanish addeth In the Cathedrall church of that citty dedicated to her name The life of SS Cyprian and Iustinia Martirs SAINT Paul to confound the wise men of this world writing to the Corinthians saith God hath chosen the foolishnes of this world This was especially said vnto the Apostles who being people vnlettred and by consequens were holden as folish in that intending them selues to teach a new doctrine would preach vnto people learned and full of knowledg and yet their preaching was the cause that many were conuerted vnto God and receued glaldy the Ghospell This same is verefied by S. Iustina a damosell vnlettered in humain Wisdome yet God made chose her for an instrument to cōuert a Pagan who was very lerned not only in Philosophy but also in magike and sorcery and had dealing and practise with the diuell and though he was such a one yet was he conuerted vnto the faith of IESVS CHRISTE by the meanes of S. Iustina was martired with her The life history of theise two holy saints was written by S. Gregory Nazianzen though he was deceiued in that he thought he had bin Bishop of Carthage well he venerable Bede and other Authors wrote of these holy saints in this maner EVEN as it is no reproch vnto S. Paul to say of him that he had bene a persecutor of the Church of God nor any infamy vnto S. Matthew to say of him that he had bene a customer or vsurer before that either
of Heliopolis in companie of one Appollophanes an Athenian and a famous sophister he did behold that strange Eclypse which happened at the death of oure Sauioure when viewing the creator of al things the author of lyfe and fountaine of all light so darkned soe ecclypsed so ignominiously suffering death the Sunne as one ashamed to behold that spectacle did hide an whollie loose his beames in the midst of the day S. Dionyse as a man that was skillfull in learning did quicklie perceaue this Ecclypse was against the course of nature by reason it lasted aboue the naturall periode but much more bicause the Moone was at the full and whollie opposite to the sunne so that supernaturallie running a violent course she alltogether couered the sunne and keeping him so for the space of three houres returned againe to her former place of opposition He wondered at so rare a miracle that neither was heard nor seene before and being amazed said to Appollophanes and others Either the God of nature doth suffer or els the wholle frame of the world doth perish and is dissolued He noted the yeare the day and the houre in which this strange noueltie and wonder succceded which was so deepelie imprinted in his minde that he neuer forgot it all his life He returned to Athens and liued in his owne cōmon wealth with great moderation and reputation the Athenienses honouring him as a most wise Philosopher and vprighte Iudge They made him president or chiefe of the highest courte of Iustice that was in all Athens This courte was called of the Areopagites who tooke theire name from a place where the court was kepte which was in a streete or litle hill called in Greeke Pagus dedicated to Ares that is to say Mars and the Iudges of this court were so graue vpright that in ancient times to call a Iudge vnspotted seuere vncorrupted vnflexible either for loue or feare or flatterie or briberie they would call him an Areopagite It came to passe that about this time S. Paule did preache the Ghospell in Athens He disputed sundrie times with the Epicurean Pithagorean Academicall Stoicall Peripateticall philosphers and laboured to reduce them to the faith of IESVS CHRIST and draw them from theire Idolatrie He told them of an other life of resurrectiō of the bodies of a generall Iudgement of a supernaturall reward or punishment according to eache mans good or bad works These Philosophers hearing a matter of such consequence and fearing the daunger of new religions and thinking it a thinge of greatest importance brought him before the chiefe court of Areopagites and theire supreme Iudge Dionisius For allthough the Romaines were in actuall posession of the wholl world in a maner and Lords of all Greece yet the Lacedemonians and the Atheniens were permitted to liue in their auncient liberty gouerned by theire owne Lawes officers magistrats freely elected by themselfs When S. Paule was brought before Dionyse the other magistrats in the presence of the philosophers who had before giuen informatiō of him he with a Retorique more diuine then humain meaning not to exasperat so wise and learned a nation by telling them he was come to teach them a thing wherin thy were ignorant and to giue them notice of gods that they knewe not of all which they would hardly haue disgested or els taken in euill part said thus vnto them You men of Athens I haue sene by experience that you be a very superstitious people more addicted to your gods then the other Greeks for you labour to haue more honoure them more then all the rest as you haue more knowledg and be more learned thē the rest Now I walking through your city and beholding the many temples which be therin I sawe one vpon whose altar there was this Inscriptiō To the vnknowen god That same God whom you doe honor vnknowen is he whom I doe preach vnto you and wish you to honor carefully He is not for from you nor from any mortall man since as one of your owne poets said very well we liue in him by him we moue and remain in him of him we gaue oure being oure motiō lyfe Then speaking against the multiplicitie of God he tould them at last of the day of iudgement and of the resurrection of the dead The answere they gaue him was this that they would giue him audience some other day and so dismissed him These fewe words of the Apostle were so full of misteryes that they put all these wise lerned mē to silence yea and astonied and amased them The Apostle departed but not empty handed for he caught in his net the chief magistrat Dionise with whom he had conferēce in priuate and in the end the Apostle gaue him prefect and full notice of our faith He preached vnto him IESVS CHRIST God and man his death passion resurrection and ascēsion vnto heauen And bycause the Apostle made particuler mention of the eclipse which happened at the time of our Sauiours death S. Dionise was desirous to know that wonder assone as it was laid open vnto him he yielded forthwith and said he would be a Christian It might seeme a lightness in S. Dionise to giue creditt so soone vnto a strāger in a matter of suche importāce as it is to renoūce the gods so lōg time adored by his forefathers and to receue a newe God that was crucified and the more for that he was so lerned and was therefore more obliged to consider very well thereof before he altered his opinion in a matter of such cōsequence Vnto this I aunswere by the same reason S. Dionise because he was wise and learned resolued vpon an honorable and worthy matter so soone For euen as he and all other wisemen of the Paynims were reprouable to adore them for gods whom thy knew had bene infamous wycked men so they desired to find some that should giue them knowledge of another God more worthy to be worshipped then they were They knew likewise by the light of nature that there ought not to be many gods but one God only So that Dionise hauing this desire and S. Paule coming to incounter him he fled not from the combat but did rather holpen by God follow the Apostle with out resistaunce and by Baptisme was made a Christian There were others also conuerted but S. Dionise did surpasse them all in vertuous and holy works for which cause the Apostle made him priest and also Bishop of that city S. Dionise was the first Bishop that Athens had and that was great glory vnto the city bycause it had brought vp and giuen learnyng vnto her first pastour This holy saint had priuate frendship and conuersed a long time with the Deuine Hierotheus a Spaniard borne after the opinion of many Autors who was instructed in like maner by S. Peter in deuine letters and ther vpon he was called Diuine S. Dionise confesseth that he was his instructor and that of
serued him both for meat and drink This thing may cause men rather to wonder then to put any in hope to be able to imitate him because the grace of God strengthened him and the long vse of therof and abstinence in his youth from all carnality which debilitateth the body made it to him more easy and more able to liue such an austere life wherin he merited much and perhaps an other man should offend God by shortening his daies in doing the same S. Hillarion liuing now in his cabbin the thieues had notice and came to him but seeing the estate he was in they said vnto him scoffingly What wouldest thou do to see they self assailed by thieues He aunswered The poore and naked man feareth not the thief They replied At left thou maist lose they life And he said It is true they may depriue me therof but I care not a beane if they do so at this present The thieues were astonied and amased to heare his words and to see his constancy which might haue bene a motiue for them to amend their life spent in wickednes seing a man that had chosen rather to lead such a streight life then to fall into any offence toward God Hilarion liued in this maner 22. years and was knowne in all the Land of Palestina Vpon a day a woman came vnawares vnto him and fell at his feet shee perceiuing that he seemed to be displeased to see her in that place and to make signes to haue her depart she shed many rears and said vnto him Oh Seruant of God pardon my presumtion and boldnes for my great afflictions enforce me so to do Do not shunne me turne thy eies of pitty toward me behold me not as a woman but as a person afflicted Remember that a woman was mother vnto our B. Sauiour They that be hole haue no need of the phisition but they that be sick At the words S. Hilarion staied and asked of her the cause of her coming thither and why shee wept The woman made aunswer That this 15. years she had bene maried and neuer had child for which cause her husbande determined to depart from her and leaue her desolate The holy saint lifted vp his eies vnto heauin and praied for her and so dismissed her After a yeare that same woman retorned to visiâ—e him with her sonne in her armes which God had giuen her at the praiers of S. Hilarion and this was the first miracle that God shewed by him After this fellowed another mroe wonderfull viz A noble lady returned home from visiting S. Antony with her three litle sonnes and being come vnto Gaza all three fell sick there and died whether it was by the chaunge of the aire or whether God would haue it for the honor of S. Hilarion The disconforted mother seing such a desolation in her house was in maner out of her witts and called vnto mind one whiles one sonne another time the other sonne and knew not which of them to bewaile first And hearing that in the desert nere vnto the city Hilarion did Dwell came vnto him accompanied with two hand maies and said vnto him with vnspeakable grief I besech thee o holy man by IESVS CHRIST by his sacred bloud to come with me vnto the city of Gaza and raise my three sonnes lying dead in that place which thing wil be for the glory of God and the confusion of the Idollaters S. Hilâ—rion refused to do it saieng it was not his vsage to go into the city no not out of his Cell but the woman weeping bitterly said o Seruant of God giue me thy three sonnes whom Antony hath seen aliue in Egipt cause that I and thou may see theÌ„ aliue also in Siria The people present heating the womans words wept aboundantly and so did S. Hilarion who vanquished with the tears of the woman went into the city of Gaza at sonne sett and called one the name of IESVS vpon the dead chileren who arose incontinent and gaue thanks vnto the holy saint and all the company rendered infinite praised vnto God This miracle was diuulged in many places wherfore much people resorted only to see the holy man And many that were heathens and pagans by the only sight of him receued the Christian faith and took the order of monasticall life and staie with him There had not bene before his time any monks in Siria so that S. Hilarion was the first bringer of that holy institution and to liue in monasteries in to thos parts There was brought to him a woman who had bene blind ten years and had spent all her goods in phisike which when S. Hillarion vnderstood he said vnto her It would haue done thee more good to haue giuen all thy possessions vnto the poore bicause IESVS CHRIST would haue cured thee When he had said this he laid a litle of his spittle vpon her eies and incontinent shee recouered her fight perfectly There was in Gaza a Chariott man posessed with the deuill who had left nothing free in him but his toung This poore man was brought to S. Hillarion who said vnto him Beleeue in IESVS CHRIST and vse this trade no more which is perilous for thee thou being of an impatient nature And he promised so to do and instantly he was hole and sound both in body and mind Another man called Marsitas was able and did cary on his back 15. bushells of corne and was in great estimation for it for there was neuer an asse in all Siria that was able to carry such a load Into this man the deuill entred and made him so fierce that he did much harme and it was in vaine to bind him with cords or chaines for he brake them all in sonder One while he assailed this man another time that man and with his teeth did bite of the nose of some and the eares of others He was led vnto S. Hillarion in such sort as men vse to lead a bull when he goeth to be baited When the monks sawe him they were all afraid because he was a man of a great stature of a terrible aspect and of a grimme countenance S. Hillarion commaunded them to vnlose all his bands and to take of all his fetters he wore When he was vntied he said vnto him Come hither vnto me Marsitas trembled and held downe his head fell at his feet and licked them with his â—oung all his former fiercenes being vanished away The Blessed man kept him seuen daies in his company and made continuall praiers vnto God for him and to conclude perfectly cured him There was brought also vnto him another man posessed with the deuill whose name was Orion a very rich man who had a legion of Deuills in him S. Hillarion expounding a passage of holy writte vnto his monks the roan posessed came on a soodein and flipping out of the hands of them that led him ranne toward the holy saint and took him vp in his armes and hoised
neuer arose because she neuer fell The other reason is the holy Catholicke Church celebrateth the feast of the Conception of the B. Virgin not with the title and name of sanctification but of Conception which was on the 8. day of December And this is not instituted for particuler Churches to celebrate but it is instituted to be kept generally in all Christendome since the breuiary of Pius 5. which is receiued by all the Church Finally I conclude that among all the feasts solemnised of the B. Virgin none is so solemnely celebrated by the faithfull as this is and that is done to shew her vertue nobilitie the more thereby and in respect of the great good which beginneth this day for vs all Let vs also consider what a great mayne we should haue had to haue wanted the glorie that we shall receiue by her company in heauen And though that the essentiall glory of the saints proceed from God yet receiue they also a very great accidentall glory from the company of the B. Virgin for though the estate of the kingdome dependeth of the King yet alwayes or for the most part particuler feasts and triumphes as iusts torneys daunces maskes and other pleasant shewes are made for the honour of the Queene and of her Ladies and damosels So also is it in heauen but in another manner it is cleare that there is accidentall glory with ioyes and triumphes continually made for the mother of God But we wretches heere in the world what should we doe without the glorious Virgin to whom should we haue recourse in our troubles and necessities Who should comfort vs who should giue vs helpe who will shew themselues so pittifull and mercifull as this glorious Virgin when we call vpon her deuoutely how great our lost and dammage should be without this gratious mother may be known by the great ioy we ought to make this day of her conception in the which she began to haue her beginning in this world Let vs then reioyce and solemnize this day confessing our selues deuout to this B. mother and her pure Conception that as many haue beene fauoured by her that haue done so some being deliuered from most dangerous perills and others hauing obtained particuler fauours So wee also being deliuered by her meanes from our offences faults may merit to obtaine euerlasting life Amen Spa Cesar Baronius saith in his martyrologe that this feast was first celebrated in England and after at Lyons and then in other countries The life of S. Melchiades Pope and Martir WE read in Leuiticus that God commaunded that salt should be put in all their sacrifices if that any offred sacrifice and did not put salt therin it was not gratefull vnto him neither did he accept in In ihis our Lord would giue vs to vnderstand that in all our works though they be good in themselfs yet must they be done with prudence for if they be done otherwise in steed of seruing him they shall offend him Almese is a good thing yet of one giue almose vnto a strager and let necessaryes in his owne house and for his children be wanting this pleaseth not God Good and holy is prayer but if one kneele on the ground to say his prayer and shall leaue vndone something vnto which he is bound this his work shall not be altogether good One cannot deny but the Communyon is a very holy thing neuertheles if one that is wycked hath a conscience clogged and burdened with mortall synne will â—et comnunicate he doth loose more thereby then he gayneth Fasting is a good thing but he thaâ— will fâ—st as do the Iewes and the moores in stâ—ed of doing the action of a Christian he shall giue a signe to be a painime And therefore we should do well to put the salt of prudence in all our works The holy pope and martir Melchiades considering this made a decree by which he commaunded that the faithfull should not fast vpon the sonday and thursday for that on one of those dayâ—s the Iewes fasted and the moores on the other and a Christian ought not only auoid to be a moore or a Iewe but also to make any shew to be such a one The not fasting the sunday remaineth in generall vse but that of Thursday is growne out of vse The Christian wâ—eÌ„ he fasteth ought to haue the intention pure not to do inwardly as the Iewes and moores do though be doth the same thing outwardly that they do The life of this holy saint was written in this maner by Damasus and other Authors Melchiades the pope was an African and succeceeded Eusebius in the papacy From the time of S. Peter vnto his popedome there had bene 20. popes which had bene martired for the faith of IESVS CHRIST There is extant an epistle of Melchiades written vnto the Bishops of Spaine in the which he sheweth himself to be a godly and lerned man In that epistle he saith that all the Apostles acknowledged S. Peter to be their superior And by cause those Bishops bad moued a question which was the greater sacrament Baptisme or CoÌ„firmation he answered sayeng that Baptisme is of greater necessity for that without it none can be saued but that confirmation was of greater dignity for that none giue it but a Bishop And then he reciteth vnto them the effects of the one and the other sacrament Moreouer he treateth of the great profit the Apostles receaued by the comming of the holy Ghost and how great the goods be Christians attaine by receauing the holy Ghost in Baptisme and then in Confirmation In the same epistle he ordeined that which is already aforesaid viz that Christians should not fast on the sunday and thursday to avoid the imitation of the Iewes and the paynims Melchiades found in Rome many heretiks of the Manichees against whoÌ„ he ordeined many things apperteinyng to the offerings and other dueties to be done in Church Some Authors say that in the time of this pope was celebrated the prouinciall councell of Neocesarea which is at this day called Trapezunda in which be ordeined some things perteyning vnto the state of the Church conformable vnto that time Lastly Melchiades hauing gouerned the Church as Damasus saith 3. yeares 7. months and 8. dayes hauing giuen holy orders one time in the month of December and ordered 6. priests 5. deacons and 11. Bishops was martyred in the tyme of the emperor Maxentius about the year of our Lord 304. Some say that Maximinus did put him to death but in my opinion they are deceiued for that Maximinus persecuted the Christians in Alexandria and Egipt and not in Rome for there Maxentius always remayned and vsed intollerable cruelty vntill the time that Constantine depriued him of his Empire and of his life also The Church celebrateth the feast of this pope on the 10. day of December and his body was buryed in the Churchyard of Callistus in the Via Appia The life of S. Damasus
Pope and Confessor THE prophet Malachy said Cap 2. The lippes of the priests ought to keep wisedome and the lawe must be learned from their mouths for he is the Angell of the Lord God of Hosts These be the properties of a good priest And for that S. Damasus was really good this sentence fitteth and agreeth vnto him For the prophet saying that the lippes of the priests ought to keep wisedome he would inferre that they should be wise and so was S. Damasus That the lawe must be learned from his mouth this also agreeth â—ohâ—m for that he expounded many important things of the faith there being celebrated in his time diuers councels in which many things apperteinyng to the faith were determined which he approued That the priest is the Angell of our Lord agreeth most fitly vnto S. Damasus for that his life was Angelicall Chast and honest The which taken out of the â—ontificale and other graue authors is as followeth POPE Damasus was a Spayniard borne the Sonne of one Antonius It is hard to say for certein of what prouince therof he was Doctor Beuther in the history of Spaine saith he was of Taragona Maâ—yneus saith he was of Madrill and that in the Church of S. Saluator of that citty there is some letters that say so Vaseus saith he was a Portughez and borne in Guimaranes a place in the countrey called Beyond Duero and Minio three leagues from Braga There is no particuler knowledg of his life and for what cause he came to Rome and what he did there vntill he was Pope onely it is said that Liberius his Predecessor being banished from Rome he neuer abandoned him and he took such kindnes at his charity and consolation at his words that he told him he should be his successor in the chaire of S. Peter after his death And that which the good Pope Liberius said came afterward to passe Assoone as Damasus was elected Pope there fell great contention betweene those his electors and the friends of Vrsicinus the deacon They fell from words to blowes in the cathedrall Church of Licinius so that many were wounded and some slaine on both parts The which as we may well beleeue happened against the will of Damasus When th' emperor Valentinian was certified of this vprore and tumult he took order to displace Vrsicinus wherupon Damasus was coÌ„firmed peaceably in the Apostolik dignity Of this schisme of this broile mention is made by S. Ierome Ammianus Marcellinus Ruffinus Theodoretus Sozomenus the other authors of the ecclesiasticall historyes After a few dayes the faction of Vrsicinus seing they could not preuaile against Damasus this way suborned two lewd men that were deacons the one was called Concordius the other Callistus who accused the holy Pope of Adultery He was enforced to defend his cause publikly which moued him to call a councell of 40. Bishops to be kept at Rome who treating of his cause found him innocent and without fault and condemned his accusers cast them out of the bosome of the Church In the same Councell with consent of the fathers that were present therin it was ordeined that the punishement duâ— vnto the accused if he were not found guilty should be inflicted vpon the accuser if he failed in his proofe S. Damasus was a famous Pope and did many things in the defence of the faith in the gouernment of the Church for the which he is comended diuersly by all the writers of that time Theodoretus saith that Damasus was an admirable man and worthy of souerein praise and adorned with the splendour of many vertues S. Ierome writing vnto Pammachius among other praises of Damasus saith he was a virgin as a true Pope of the Church pure without spot S. Ambrose saith that Damasus was chosen to the papacy by the ordinance of God The fathers of the sixth Constantinopolitan CouÌ„cell call him the Adamant of the faith for his firme constancy against diuers heresyes In the time of S. Damasus was celebrated one of the foure Generall Councells of the which S. Gregory saith that he reuerenced them as the foure Ghospells and this was the first Councell of Constantinople in thâ— which were assembled 150. prelats in the time of th'emperour Theodosius and they all with one consent confessed the faith of the Nicens Councell and condemned Macedonius and other heretiks and Damasus confirmed all the decrees of that Councell In his time was celebrated another Councell at Aquilegia also This good pastor laboured not only to destroy the heretiques and heresies but also to take away the abuses which had crept into the Chuch this was one From the time of the primitiue Church there was a kind of priests who serued in the place where was fewe people as in the villages These kept company with the Bishops and were called Chorepiscopi and at that time they were thought to be conuenient and fit to be there for a principall charge of the Bishops was to prouide things necessary for the poore and to distribute among them the goods of the Church in helping the sick and needy And bycause the Bishop alone could not performe all things with his owne person he had need of some others to help him These Chorepiscopi though they had not a greater function or degree thâ—n other priests yet they began to intrude themselfs vpon pâ—ide into some things apperteining only to the office of a Bishop as to consecrat deacons subdeacons nonnes Churches Crisme wherfore it was fit to remedy and take away the abuse And so the Church by a publick decree ordeined that the Chorepiscopi should be taken away considering that our Lord IESVS had only Apostles whom the Bishops represented and disciples represented by the priests And that there was neuer any such order in the Church different from others wherfore the holy Pope Damasus in one epistle among many which he wrote saith that in the Catholik Church there neither be nor ought to be any Chorepiscopi as needfull yea rather the contrary is true and the holy Canons are expressely against them By this diligence of the holy Pope grewe in the Church of God a vniuersall peace and repose th'emperour Theodosius helping thereto who was in like maner a Spainiard borne in Italica a city not far from Ciuill This quiet repose of the Church gaue time and meanes to the good Pope Damasus to build some Churches in Rome As he builded one to the most blessed martir S. Laurence with a goodly pallace which vntill our time serueth for the Popes Chauncery and is called S Laurence in Damaso he builded another out of Rome in the way to Ardea at the Catacumbe where he consecrated Platonia which was the sepulcher of S. Peter the Apostle and there he offered many vessells of siluer and brasse Also he beautified another Church of S. LaureÌ„ce with rich guifts S. Damasus wrote some works of which are extant 5. decretall epistles and a work in
God because they haue most cleare knowledge of him Other authors saie that in these three Masses are represented three states By that which is said at midnight is vnderstood the darksome state full of obscuritie and confusion of those that be in hell By the other that is said at the break of daie when the light beginne to be seene are vnderstood those that liue in the world who be in the middle betweene the light and darknes and do not know what shal be their end By the third which is said at cleare daie is vnderstood the state of the happie which be in eternall clearenes and posesse the ioyfull and blessed vision of God This is the signification of the three Masses which are comonlie said on Christmas daie as the doctors generallie say The occasion that mooued Pope Telesphorus to make this ordinance was The first Masse is called ad Galli cantum which is at midnight or a litle after because at that houre IESVS CHRIST was borne The second is called at the daie-break because at that houre he was visited and adored by the sheapheards The third is said at the ordinarie houre as on other daies and is called the high Masse The spanish saith Of these three Masses wâ—iteth Innocent 3. in the third sermon of the birth of CHRIST Galfridus lib de reb Eccles cap. 21. Albinus de diuin offic cap. 1. Sicardus Cremonens and others The life of S. Stephen the first Martyr ROBOAM the king of Israell 3. Reg. 12. suceeding his â—ather Salomon in the kongdome made some lawes and ordinances to be obserued of his suâ—iects who esteemed them to be too rigorous â—here caâ—â—â—d them to assemble together with intent to rebell against the king Roboam saying and professing openâ—â— that they would not obey him nor acknowledg him for king Those which did thus rebell were ten tribes of the twelue into which all the hebrewes were diuided The king being certifyed of this commotion called oâ—e Aduram his faithfull seruant and one of great account in his court commaunding him to go speak peaciblie to these rebellious people therby to quiet and appease them Aduram caused the ten tribes to be warned to appeare choosing out the most principall of them he shâ—wed him some reasons whereby he might reduce them to the seruice of the king but they hearing him named with great indignation took vp stones and stoned Aduram to death Roboam in asmuch as he is king of Israell is a figure of IESVS CHRIST vnto whom the father eternall gaue the lordship and power ouer all flesh and especially ouer that people vnto whom he was sent for guide and captaine and for king also as the Prophet Zacharie calleth him This king made his ordinances Cap 9. when ascending gloriously into heauen he commaunded his holie Apostles and disciples to publish the Euangelicall lawe and make knowne vnto all men that the old law was abrogated Many of the Iewes thought this to be verie strange and rigorous and therefore they took counsell together and determined that they would not acknowledg IESVS CHRIST nor receaue his Ghospell and doctrine He vnderstanding their consultation and entent sent a principall man of his court vnto them which was S. Stephen figured by Aduram whilest he talked to the principall of them to perswade them to acknowledge CHRIST for the Messias and that they would obey him and receaue his doctrine they on the contrarie part being obstinate and rebelliously bent took vp stones against S. Stephen and with extreame furie led him forth of the citty and there stoned him to death the martyr remaining victorious being crowned in his owne bloud The life of this glorious martyr written by S. Luke the Euangelist in the Acts of the Apostles and other good approoued authors is in this manner THE Apostles preaching and doing many miracles in Ierusalem the people of the cittie and the countries there abouts came and brought their sick in great aboundance and they were all healed This was the cause that the number of the disciples encreased daily Caiâ—t vpon this place for all those that were Baptised were called by that name It befell that amongst them arose a little controuersie mooued by the Greeks against the Hebrewes They were all Hebrews cap. 6. V. 1. but some of them were borne in Greece and others in Palestine and these were called Hebrews and the other Grecians These Grecians seemed agreeued that their widowes were not admitted into the publike ministerie and affaires because in those times they that were conuerted brought all their goods vnto the Apostles cap. 4. V. 37. and they prouided for them their diet apparrell and all other things necessarie And to the end that all things might be done in order they appointed to euerie one a particuler office and to the widowes that were honest and deuout women they gaue in chatge to dresse the meat and to attend the table The Grecians requested that the widowes of thir nation might be admitted vnto that seruice for euerie one desired to be employed in some office and to do the best seruice they could The Apostles assembled together to staye this matter least it might grow to discord And hauing called all the disciples said vnto them It is not fit that we should be busied in matters of such small importance therefore let vs find out and make choise of some good quiet men of honest fame who may haue authoritie to prouide persons which shall haue care of the prouision of dyet without aggrieuance of any nation one or other and out of both nations may be chosen widowes dilligent and apt to dresse meat for the multitude And when in this matter there may happen any occasion of disagreement they may resort to those that be elected who may quiet all dissentions if any arise and that we may attend to preaching and prayer This resolution pleased them all and out of the disciples were chosen seuen and as the head and chiefe of others Stephen a faithfull man and full of the holie Ghost was chosen S. Augustine out of this gathereth that S. Stephen was a man of great continencie and gouernement since vnto him was giuen an office in which he should haue so great dealings amongst women The Holie Ghost saith also of him that he was replenished with grace and fortitude and that he did â—ignes and many miracles He shewed himselfe to be very valiant and couragious preaching IESVS CHRIT to the Hebrewes perswading them to forsake the law of Moyses which now was of no force and that they should receaue the Ghospell and be Baptised The matter was brought to that passe that S. Stephen was more famous then any other of the disciples because he disputed face to face with the maisters of the Sinagogues in which were congregated the Grecians of sundrie Prouinces as of Cyrene of Alexandria of Cilicia and of Asia the lesse who altogether could not make resistance vnto the words