to the secular power and Magistrates to giue their wickednesse it 's due reuenge and recompence That seeing this had beene the auncient practize of the primitiue Church in her glorious dayes and now wee had no new Christ nor new Church he besought the royall clemencie of his Maiestie not to bring in this new manner of proceeding so contrarie to the statutes of all Antiquitie neither so to be lead with a zeale of Iustice as to raze the verie foundations of Iustice which could not stand firme without conseruing the bounds and limits prescribed vnto each power and authoritie But the King esteeming this so round resolute an answer to be a disloyaltie in his Bishops and open-withstanding his soueraigne authoritie did presse them further to make him a promise of keeping his ancient prerogatiues and royall customes The Archbishop with the assent of his brethren answered they would so farre forth as they were not contrarie to the priuiledges and prerogatiues of the Church soe firmely established Now amonghst those royall prerogatiues these sixe were included amonghst many others 1. That vpon no cause whatsoeuer any appeale should be made to the Sea Apostolique without hauing obtained licence of his Maiestie 2. That it should neuer be lawfull for any Bishop or Archbishoppe to depart out of the kingdome or come at the commaund of the Pope without licence of the King 3. That it should not be lawfull for any Bishop to excommunicate any person that holdeth in Capite of the King without licence of the King nor graunt any interdict against his lands nor the lands of any his officers 4. That it should not be lawfull for any Bishoppe to punish Periâ—rers nor False witnesses 5. That Cleargie men should be bound to answer haue their tryall and punishment in secular Tribunals 6. That the King and his secular Iustices and other officers should bee Iudges in matters of Tithes and other like causes Ecclesiastical These were contained amongst many other articles drawn by his Maiesties officers as auncient prerogatiues of the Crowne and notwithstanding they were so contrarie and preiudiciall to the practize of the Primitiue Church and priuiledges of great Kings Monarches yet his Maiestie thereunto moued by his officers and esteeming it a great disparagement of his Princely autoritie to be subiect to the Church and want of Iustice not to chastize the offences of cleargie-men most earnestly insisted to haue all the Bishops promise without any restriction or limitation to keep the aforesaid prerogatiues contained as he said in their temporall allegiance And not hauing obtained his desire hee was greatly incensed against the Bishops and rising in a great wroth and indignation went forth of the place wherein was the assembly and next day very earely without giuing audience to any of the cleargie out of London All the courte was in a tumult and vproare and now of the Bishops some began to shrinke and seeke by all meanes though with shipwracke of their conscience to recouer the fauour of their Prince and remaine assured of their temporall goods though with euident hazard of loosing those which are euerlasting Amonghst the Prelates some that should haue aduaunced the vnitie of the Church gaue the King counsaile to set the Prelates at variance amonghst themselues Others laboured to make the Archbishop more plyant to his Maiesties will with promises with menaces wiâ—h rehearsing benefits receaued daungers iminent to the whole cleargie the fruites of peace the bad sequeles of disunion betwixt Prince and cleargie That rigour was not fit for all times that somtimes yeelding though with some inconuenience did afterwards draw on many greater commodities that troubles and vexation now threatning the Church were matters of more weight then some liberties of the Church that his Maiestie protested his desire neuer was to preiudice the Church but only to be honoured before the Peeres of his Realme and that a bare promise and consent would giue him satisfaction Wherefore oppressed with the weight of manie Noblemen and Prelates persuasions and with the teares of many that bitterly wept the vtter ruine and distruction of the cleargie he yeelded to the will and pleasure of his Maiestie and in a Generall Parlament holden at Claringdon promised in the word of Trueth and without any restriction or limitation to keepe the aforenamed Prerogatiues and so did likewise all the other Bishops The King was not yet contented heerewith but hauing drawne a writing of those prerogatiues would for the greater euidence and strength thereof haue it signed with all the Prelates seales The Archbishop crauing some little respitte to consider of so weighty a matter tooke one coppie of the writing with himselfe and gaue one to the Archbishop of Yorke leauing the third in his Maiesties hand and so being licensed by the King departed from the Courte and went towards Winton And now being retired and alone by himselfe and reflecting vpon all his former actions duely poising the sequele of all this businesse how preiudicious it would be to all the Church of God what a breache and confusion of Ecclesiasticall libertie how great a slauerie to men that were the particular lot of IESVS CHRIST and how bad a precedent to all the world and scandall to all other Princes and Prelates sorrow griefe teares sighes and sobbes proceeding from a repentant heart did make him consume and melt away Neither was he content to doe rigorous penance in fasting and sack-cloth but he also suspended himselfe from the Altar and from the communion of the bodie and bloud of our Sauiour CHRIST vntill he was restored thereunto by the absolution and spirituall consolation of the Bishoppe of Rome The King vnderstood of the Archbishops change and alteration and all his proceedings were aggrauated and misconstered by his calumniators aduersaries His austeritie of life was superstition his zeale of Iustice nothing but crueltie the care of his Churches reuenues was attributed vnto couetuousnesse his contempt of wordly fauours was desire of vaine glorie following the will of God a proud conceite of himselfe insisting in his Auncestours steppes in defending right and a little more care thereof then some of his later slacke temporizing Predecessoures rashnesse and ouermuch wilfulnesse finally some made no scruple to say that if the Archbishops power went on in that manner the Kings Maiesties royall dignitie would quite decay and Princes should heere after reigne such and so long and with only that power and autoritie as the Archbishoppe with his cleargie would Heereupon the Archbishop was cited to appeare before his Maiestie at North-Hampton First he was iudged both by Nobleman and Prelates to haue all his moueables confiscated for not appearing personally vpon a citation of the King and yet his answer to their obiection was verie sufficient Now in the verie first entrance and beginning heere were two strange things as the Archbishop pleaded and neuer heard of before in the world An Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of England spirituall
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
would not adore IESVS CHRIST for he thought he lost much of his reputation if he that was an Angell had abased himself to adore IESVS CHRIST a man though he was God also It is the common opinion of the doctors founded vpon holy writte that the sinne of Lucifer was pride and disobedience S. Paul seemeth to say so writing to the Hebrewes where he saith Let all the Angels of God adore him S. Iohn Chrisostome saith that this was a precept giuen vnto the Angels Hereof riseth the great malice and enuy of Lucifer against IESVS CHRIST for that he was cast out of heauen for his sake Ad hebr cap. 1. and because the cursed wretch cannot reuenge himself against him there fore he laboureth to wreak his malice against men wherupon S. Basill saith D. Bas 1. tom hom in lai that Lucifer doth after the manner of a bull who seeing a man to cast a snare or cord about his hornes is chafed and enraged against him and whilest he is in his greatest fury they vse to set before him the shape of a man against which he vttereth all his rage though it put not the cord aboute him In like sort Lucifer doth who because he cannot be reuenged on IESVS CHRIST who tied him and was the cause he was throwne out of heauen and also of his torment he hath in hell striueth to reuenge himself on men who are made to the image and similitude of god On the contrary the Angels do loue men entirely bicause they see CHRIST who is both God and man for whose cause they enioy the heuenly glory and also because they behould the deuils to persecute and make cruell warre against them Hereof it commeth that God commaunding them to be the keepers and guardians of men and to be their guides they do not scorne it yea they esteeme it honorable and take great content therat Therfore in this warre which the deuill maketh against men assisted by two lusty fellowes his seruants the world and the flesh the Angells hold on our sides helping and ayding vs As it it happened to Iudas Machabeus 2. Mach. 11. who being ready to incounter with a great army of his enemies two Angels went by his side and aided him and caused him to obteine a famous victory These holy Angels deliuer vs from many daungers into which we fall oftentimes as it befell to Loth when the Angels pulled him almost by force out of Sodome Gen 19. that he should not be consumed with fier among the other people of Sodome These Angels hold vs back and with drawe vs if we go sometimes headlong into sinne as happened to the prophet Balaam who being on the way entending to curse the people of God Nū 22. an Angell met him on the high way with a naked sword in his hand and though the prophet did not see him yet the Asse on which he rode such was the pleasure of God sawe him and afterward the Angell told him what to do and spake vnto him These holy Angels comfort vs in our troubles as befell to IESVS CHRIST in that great agony Luc. 22. which he had in the gardē when he sweate bloud CHRIST had no Angell guardyan for that he needed none yet an Angell descended from heauen which comforted him reducing vnto his mind the great good proffit that would arise of his death These B. Angells keepe vs company in all our voyages and iourneis Tobia 3. as it befell to yong Tobyas who was accompanied by an Angell in a long iourney and receued by him many graces and fauours They do defend vs and stand on our side daunting our enemies as happened to the prophet Heliseus 4. Reg 6. when the Assirians besieged him in mont Carmelo when many Angels enuironed him round in his defence These Angels guide vs in the way we are to walk as befell to the Hebrewes when they departed out of Egipt Exod. 14. for an Angell went before them as a cloud and guided them in the day and in the night directed them in the forme of a piller of fire These B. 3. Reg. 19. spirites comfort vs and prouide vs sustentation as befell vnto the prophet Elias for an Angell brought him sustenance before he went a long iourney These Angells present our praiers our sobbes and teares before God as befell vnto the beutifull Sara Toby 3. the daughter of Raguel who was widowe seauen times the diuell killing her husbands an Angell presented her praiers and teares before the face of God and shee was deliuered from that affliction These Angells finally when the soules are seperated from the bodies if they go vnto purgatorie keep them companie and comfort them with their often visitations if they go vnto heauen they go before them making triumph and ioy For which cause it is fit and iust that men who receaue these great benefits by the Angells should make great estimation of them and also honour them and be prompt and ready to do them seruice Pope Boniface the 4. who sate in the chaire of S. Peter about the yeare of our Lord 614. cōsidering seeing that in Rome there were many Churches dedicated to diuers Saints caused a Church to be builded in the honor of S. Michaell the Archangell the which was builded in Rome in a place called Circus Maximus which building was fully ended and finished on the 29. day of September And in remembrance of the building of the Church the Pope willed the feast of S. Michaell the Archangell and of all the other Angells to be celebrated through all parts of Christendome It is our duety to reioice on this day especially with them shewing our selfes to be gladsome of that they enioy the eternall felicity in heauen of which God make vs partakers for his mercies sake Amen The life of S. Hierome WE READ of the great friend of God Moises guide and captaine to the children of Israell that when he took the same people from the hands of Pharao and conducted them out of the land of Egipt the Red sea stopped him but when he stroke it with his wand it deuided into two partes so that all the people passed through drie foot the water seruing them for a wall and a defence against the Egiptians their enemies that pursued them Moyses is not only a figure of IESVS CHRIST our Lord the guide and captaine of the Christians whome he deliuered from the hand of Pharao to witte the deuill opening the way by the sea of his death passion with the wand or wood of the Crosse but also representeth the holie Doctors though not so properlie who in some sort are guides and captaines vnto the Christians Amonghst other Doctors figured in Moyses one is glorious S. Hierome for that this Doctor like vnto another Moises is the guide and meanes whereby many that were slaues and subiect to vices haue freed themselues from their miserable bondage by the
they came to the sea shore where they were for to loose their heads Placidus made his prayer in that place and lifted vp his eyes and sayd My lord IESVS CHRIST sonne of the liuing God which didst descend from heauen vnto earth for our saluation didst abyde death vpon the Crosse haue mercy on vs ô lord and by thy merits and intercession of Benedict thy seruant our maister wee beseech thee to giue vnto vs the vertue of constancy to the end that passing this cruell passage of death without any impediment or stay layd in our way by our enemy the deuill we may come to enioy the eternall felicitie of thy heauenly kingdome let thy holy Angell S. Michaell receaue oure soules in peace and present them before thy heauenly tribunall This we request and beseeche of thee who art our God blessed and gloryous for euer Placidus hauing said these words all the other auÌ„swered Amen And as they kneeled they were beheaded forthwith in Sicilia in the hauen of Messina and their bodies remayned foure dayes vnburyed The Barbaryans not content herewith destroyed the monastery so that they left not one stone vpon another and though the Church of S. Iohn Euangelist stood very neere it whether it was for deuotion for the moores do reuerence him highly or whether for Gods pleasure it was not touched nor defaced And for that the stormes and roughnes of the sea was now ceased Mamucha comaunded euery one to be embarked to goe vnto Reggio in Calabria As they were passing the Faro there rose such a tempest that they could not goe forward nor returne back and by the iust iudgment of God they were drowned and sunke all of them being 100. vessells and 16800. men The bodyes of the holy martyr Placidus and of his brethren were buryed in the Church of S. Iohn Baptist by Gordianus his familier freind who came with him froÌ„ Monte Cassino The same man buryed the other 33. martirs in the same place where they were beheaded And in the one place and the other God did for them many myracles many sicke men recoueryng from all diseases by theyr intercession S. Placidus at his death was 26. yeares old for when he was 7. years old the blessed father S. Benedict receaued him into his company he remayned in Sublacque 5. yeares and vpon Monte Cassino 9 years in building the monastery he spent foure and there he was Abbot one year All which make the somme of 26. years He was borne in the yeare of our lord 515. and he was martyred in the yeare 541. on the first day of October being saterday The life of S. Marke Pope and Confessor BY the death of that holy Pope Siluester was chosen to succeede in his place in the chaire of S. Peter Marke a cittizen of Rome sonne of one Priscus endued with rare and excelent vertues The churche of God enioyed in his dayes great peace outward tranquillitie being fauoured freed by Christian Princes from all forreine enemies Yet inwaâ—dly the Arian hereticks infested the same as spitefullie as they could They had wonne them selues fauoure and wrought an entraunce in to the Emperours house and familie and inueagling one of his verie sonnes drawen him into the snares of they re heresies which was after a cause of great persecution in the churche of God and manie afflictions layed vpon Catholiks The old Emperour continued sound and allwayes a good Catholique and accordinglie affected and fauourâ—d S. Marke asmuch as he had before honoured S. Syluestre Wherefore this holie Pope furthered and cherished with the Emperours countenance employed his care and best endeuoures in resisting these Arrian hereticks and setling and ordaining such good orders as for the gouernement of the Churche were adiudged necessarie Amonghst which one was to prescribe that on Sundayes and chiâ—fe festiuall dayes the Creed or beliefe should be said in the masse to the end that the hearers might the better learne it and be more strengthned in they re fayth by this publique profession made thereof He moreouer builded two churches one in the way to Ardea three miles from Rome the other in the cittie called by the name of him that built it both which churches Constantine endowed with great reuenues and possessions and adorned with vessells of gold and syluer He graunted the Bisshop of Ostia leaue to vse the Pallium by reason it was his auncient priuiledge to consecrate the Pope of Rome He gaue holie orders twice in the moneth of December wherein he ordered 8. Bisshops 25. Priests and 6. Deacons And hauing liued 2. yeares 8. moneths 20. dayes in the chayre of Peeter he dyed the 7. day of october on which the churche doth celebrate his feast and in the yeare of oure lord 340 and was buried in the churchyard of Balbina in the same churche he made in the way to Ardea Spa S. Ierome saith he dyed in the yeare 334 Onuphrius 336. * ⎠* The life of SS Sergius Bacchus Marcellus and Apuleius Martyrs THE holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus liued in the time of the Emperoure MaximiaÌ„ serued him in an honorable office the one being Primicerius the other Secundicerius that is Sergius principall and Bacchus second secretarie of staâ—e both for their vertues especiallie beloued and honoured by the Emperoure ignorant as yett that they were Christians Being in the cittie of Augusta in the prouince of Eufratesia he came to haue some knowledge heereof by reason of certaine accusations layd against them And desiring to be further certefyed he called them to waite vpon him to Churche wither he was going to sacrifize vnto his Idolls The holie Saincts accompanied him and gaue they re attendance yett in such sort that hauing brought him to the churche doore they stayed without when the Emperours went in When the time came to offer sacrifice Maximian looked about for them and not seeing them commaunded others to looke where they were The messengers found those holie Saincts at the gates of the temple making they re prayer vnto God who vnderstanding the Emperouâ— did send for them came to his presence He shewing himfelfe displeased dimaunded of them why they came not in whith him and offered sacrifice to the great Iupiter They answeared boldly bicause thei were Christians and thought that sacrifice was due to none but onlie him who was the true God that made heauen and earth The Emperour all in a rage coÌ„maunded to plucke of they re golden chaynes from they re neckes and strippe them out of they re rich apparail the tokens of rheyre nobilitie then to cloathe them in woemens garments lade them with yrons with gyues and fetters leade them with open reproache and ignominie through out all the cittie and soe cast them in prison And hauing tryed that all his cruelltie and craft could not make those noble spiritts relent nor swarue in in the least thing from they re Religion he sent them to Antiochus gouernour of the East a fierce cruell
the venerable and B. Prelat S. Dionise bad the headsman to do his office And he being ready began with him and then went to Rusticus and lastly to Eleutherius and cut of all their three heads in that order Although God permitted these his seruants to be put to death as is aboue said yet was not he forget full of them yea because he would the more glorify them and not suffer their bodies to be dishonored his will was to worke a wonderfull miracle in that place The headles body of S. Dionise arose on his feet and tooke vp in his hand his owne head and went as it were in maner of triumph untill it mett a vertuous woman coming out of her own house not farre distant from the place where the holy saints were martired The body of S. Dionise being come vnto that place where the woman was deliuered his head vnto her as a pretious treasure and shee also receued it as a most goodly Iewell The bodies of SS Rusticus and Eleutherius continued still in the place of execution and the headsman and the other officers talked and deuised to cast them into the riuer to be deuoured by the fihses and with all to bereaue the Christians of them who as they knew well would reuerence and esteem them very much A woman called Caâ—ulla who had bin a defender and helper of S. Dionise and his companions in this persecution heard of their wycked designe intention and inuited the headsman and the officers vnto her house to make good cheare and accordingly did sett meat and drink before them In the meane space shee sent for certain Christians secretly who conuayed away and hid the bodies of the holy martirs When the officers and headsman had eateÌ„ their fill they went out to looke for the bodies of the blessed saints to haue put in practise their lewd designe and not finding them they streightwaies made a tumult and threatned exceedingly such as had stollen them away but the discreet woman appeased them with gifts and with fair words and so they departed quietly away The Christians laid the bodies of the holy saints in a priuate house without the walls of Paris and after certein years there was builded for them a goodly sumptuous and stately Church where they now do rest They who do visite their holy relicks do obteine many graces by the intercession of these holly martirs The death of these holy saints fell on the same day that the Church celebrateth the same viz on the 9. of October in the year of our Lord. 96. in the time of Domitian or Traian as others say S. Dionise was 90. years old when he was martired as Trithemius saith He wrote certein books replenished with merueillous and profound doctrine viz De Ecclesiastica Caelesti hierarchia De mistica Theologia De diuinis moninibus and others out of which the faithfull beleeâ—ers reap no les fruit of his doctrine them the former had gathered by the good example of his holy life as the third Countell of ConstaÌ„tinople affirmeth in which place 6. Sinod CoÌ„staÌ„tinop they were acknowledged for his books and were highly esteemed The life of S. Callistus Pope and martir SALOMON saith in Ecclesiasticus cap. 37. The abstineÌ„â— man encreaseth the daies of his life This sentence is verified in Gallen the prince of phisike and medicine who liuing 140. yeares and being asked howe and by what meanes he liued so long answered I neuer rose from the table satiate and full More are they that dy by furfet and to much then by abstinence and too litle This being considered by the B. Pope Callistus he ordeined the fast called the Ember by commaunding the faithfull that in the foure times of the year viz the Spring Sommer Autumne and Winter they should fast three daies in one week in euery one of these quarters and likewise in those daies pray vnto God that he would giue and conserue the fruits of the earth and also that prayer maie be made vnto God for them that take holy orders at those times Also as the church saith in a praier fasting was instituted for the good of body and soule being vnto them bothe a holesome medicine oration Quadrag The life of this holy Pope was written by Damasus and other Authors in this maner BY the death of S. Zepherinus Pope and martir Callistus the first of that name was placed in the Chair of S. Peter He was borne in Rome and was the sonne of Domitius He builded a Church in the honor of the glorious virgin which is called Santa Maria trans Tiberim though as Plaâ—â—na saith it cannot be that which is so called at this present bicause at that time the Christians had not such large liberty as to build sumptuous Churches yea those which they had were litle meane and priuat as this was then because of the persecutions but Gregory the 3. enlarged it and before him Pope Siluester the first that builded publik Churches Pope Callistus at this owne cost caused to be made a Churcheyard in the way called Appia which is called the Churchyard of Callistus where many martirs are buried In this Churchyard was afterward built the Church of S. Sebastian therein are conserued many relicks and many alters and litle chapples are vnder the ground where masses were said in great secrecy for feare of the Pagans This same Pope as is afore said ordeined the feast of the Quaâ—uor tempora or Ember daies And bicause the giuing of holy orders was vsed to be done but once in the yeare which then was not sufficient for that the number of the faithfull was very much augmented it was also necessary to encrease the number of priests and Deacons and so it was permitted to giue holy orders at those foure times of fasting Callistus for bad all faithfull beleeuers to participate or conuerse with persons excommunicate and also commaunded that no excommunicate person should be absolued Cap. Consang 3 q. 4. except the cause was first heard and the party satisfied He also was the first who prohibited matrimony betwene kinsfolks and apointed the same consanguinity vntill the seuenth degree though it after was limited to the fourth degree as it is at this present This good Pope gouerned the Church of God vertuously 6. years 2. months and 10. daies in the which he gaue holy orders fiue times in the moneth of December and ordered 8. Bishops 16. priests and foure deacons and then was martired Vsuardus recounteth his martirdome in this ensuing maner saâ—eng That the Emperour AlexaÌ„der Seuerus hauing kept him long in prison caused many bastanadoes to be giuen him allowing him with all verie litle sustenaunce and lastly he caused him to be thrown out of a window of the prison and in that sort he yielded vp his soule vnto God The Church celebrateth his feast on the. 14. day of October which was the same day he was martired in the year of our Lord. 224. It
like occasions and assembled a Councell of 105. Bishops in the Church of S. Saluator neere vnto S. Iohn La'eranne And the question of the aforementioned errors being againe disputed certein Canons were published by which all the auncient heresies and this also being lately reuiued were condemned and anathematised and with them Peter Cirus and Sergius their Patriarchs deceased accursing detesting and depriuing Paulus the Patriarch now liuing and all his followers and adherents of what state condition dignity or function so euer and depriuing them also of all offices and benefices ecclesiasticall And to the end this holy Councell and all the decrees and Canons of the same should be diuulged and published through the world Pope Martin caused many coppies to be sent into most parts thereof Th'emperour CoÌ„stans vnderstanding what the Pope had done in the Councell tooke such indignation therat that he determined to apprehend if he did not kill the Pope in reuenge of this iniury as he estemed it For this purpose he sent into Italy in which at that time the Emperours of Constantinople had some cities and countreis one Olimpius a noble man of his chamber but an heretike as he himself was and gaue vnto him the title of Exark or Regent with secret instructions what to do Olimpius arriued at Rauenna which was the ordinary place of residence of the Exarks and hauing amassed and gathered huge forces as he could went toward Rome where he endeuored to make a schisme in the Churche of God But not being able to compasse and effect it because the Bishops of Italy and the Clergy of the city were of one accord and held together in the defence of the faith and of the Pope he then diuised meanes to entrap the Pope and to take him prisoner But finding it hard to be effected because he could not get him out ' of Rome where he was well beloued and had many frends he lastly determined to kill him For the effectuating of this deuise he agreed with one of his seruaunts an auncient souldier and told him he had procured the Pope to say Masse the day following in S. Maria Maior where he would require the Pope to giue him the B. Sacrament and as he communicated this desperate fellow should come nere and stabbe the Pope with his dagger The souldier promised so do The next day came and the Pope said Masse and Olimpius like another Iudas came vp to communicate yet lingered till his man came that should do this treacherous deed but our B. God altered all this for he caused the man to loose his sight and though he was hard by the Pope yet he sawe him not which thing he confessed many times after with solemne oths By this meanes this infernall sacriledg was not committed and the holy Pope escaped free from this trecherous inuention Aftetwadrs the Sarracens inuaded the Island of Sycile in the which they made great spoile and by cause at that time it was subiect vnto th'emperour Olimpius was obliged to go and defend them and so he did being first reconciled to the Pope and making vnto him a relation of the true causes of his comming into Italy Olimpius fought with the Saracens in a pitcht field vanquished them yet so great was the toile he took in the battaile that a few dais after he deceased When th'emperour was aduertised of his death he sent in his place as Exark Theodorus Calliopa who had bene there before and had behaued himself so well that he was beloued in Rome and all Italy Euery one reioiced at his coming but at the end euery one was deceiued and deluded for th'emperour had drawne him vnto his opinion and had enioined him that assoone as he had imprisoned the Pope he should send him vnto th'emperour with a strong guard And because he had no assured confidence in him he ioined with him in commission for the affaires and busines with the Pope only one Paulus Pallurius a seruant of his of whom he had this opinion that he would not faile to performe what soeuer he should command him Calliopa and his associate arriued at Rauenna and with outlong stay went vnto Rome where he staied some fewe daies treating with the Pope about many and seuerall businesses but all that he did was in deceit The Pope who was a plaine meaning man had no conceit of the treachery which Calliopa entended toward him So that Calliopa one day fained being in the lodgiing of S. Iohn Laterane to go and visite the Pope but in steed thereof he laid blowes on him and the Pope being vnable to defend him self from that violence was put in prison Calliopa sent him incontinent in bonds vnto Paulus Pellarius who conueied him withall speed vnto Rauenna and from thence vnto Constantinople The wicked emperour Constans reioiced exceedingly that he had gotten the Pope into his hands and endeuored with flattery and faire promises to drawe the good Pope to fauor his error but finding him stedfast in his faith he banished him vnto the city of Chersona which is in the outmost borders of the sea Euxinus a very cold country almost inhabitable There the good Pope was so afflicted and euill entreated that within fewe daies he died very patiently as a glorious martir of IESVS CHRIST Pope Martin the first of that name after the most certain account died in the year of our Lord. 654. on the. 12. day of Nouember and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast His body was after this brought to Rome and buried in the Church dedicated vnto him and S. Siluester God did many miracles by the meanes of this saint who was his vicar in earth 6. yeares one moenth 26. dayes He gaue holy orders twice in the month of December in which he ordered 11. priests 5. deacons and 33. bishops The life of S. Gregorie Thaumaturgus HE that beleâ—ueth in me saith CHRIST Iohn 14. shall do the works and miracles that I do and greater also This sentence was most plainly verified in S. Gregorie Bishop of Neocaelarea which is the same that is now called Trabisonda Of him it is written that by his prayers he made a huge great rock as bigge as a hill to go from one place vnto another And also that he made a lake which caused discord betweene two brethren to drie vp and he stayed a great riuer that it should not ouerflowe to hurt the inhabitants by the bankes thereof We do not read that our Sauiour CHRIST did any of these thinges we doubt not but he could haue done them yet he did them not that his words might be fullfilled when he said that his faithfull seruants should do greater miracles after a certaine manner then those that he did And because it was euident in this holie saint he had the surname of Thaumaturgus that is a doer of marueilous things giuen vnto him His life was written by S. Gregorie Nissen in this manner SAINT Gregorie surnamed Thaumaturgus
endured great and extream thirst for that they were to bring their water from a place distant farre from them This blessed and holy saint strook the earth in a place where our sauiour in the figure of a lamb appeared vnto him and there sprang vp a plentifull fountein of water pure and cleare with the which all the distressed Christians were recreated and conforted The life of this holy Pope was written by Damasus Simeon Metaphrastes and other graue Authors in this maner SAINT Clement was the sonne of Faustinus and borne in Rome in the region called Caeli-montana Where at this present is the Church of S. Iohn La eran This holy saint did helpe the Apostle S Paul in his preaching as he writeth thus philip 4. that thou help the persons that trauell with me in the Ghospell with Clement and my other coadiutors whose names are written in the book of life Yet S. Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus saith that Clement of whom S. Paul speaketh was Bishop of Caria and was disciple vnto the same S. Paul and that he was one of the first that receiued the faith by his preaching among the Greeks The most common receaued opinion is that this Clement of whom we now treat was the Pope and went with S. Paul for a time neuerthelesse he was after the disciple of S. Peter S. Clement was not only a man of very holy life but also verie learned wrot many things which haue bene lost by antiquity of time There are extant yet his fiue epistles the first of which is most elegant being al repleat with learning and a true Apostolicall spirite which some of the Popes his successors do alleage in many places He wrot likewise the CanoÌ„s of the Apostles the eight books called Apostolique Constitutions which ordeine that in the seuen regions of Rome should be seuen Notaries to write the deeds and martirdome of the Christians He commaunded also that vnto them that were Baptised should be giuen the Sacrament of Confirmation assoone as they had learned the principles of the Christian faith He also ordeined that the Bishops Chaire should stand in a publique and eminent place This holy saint preached thee word of God with such feruour and so great courage that manie Gentills pagans were conuerted vnto the faith and many that were already conuerted not content with the obseruation of the precepts of the Ghospell did keep also and obserue the counsells thereof As a holy damosell did called Domitilla who was niece vnto the Emperour Domitian as daughter to one of his sisters and to Flauius Clemens the Consull which holy virgin was by this Pope consecrated and veyled for a Nunne He also conuerted vnto the faith Theodora the wife of Sisinius a man great and potent in Rome This man desirous to see what the Christians did in their oratories where they vsed to pray and whither his wife vsed to go went thither one time very secretly but by the permission of God he was strook blind This blindnes of his body was an occasion vnto him that he recouered the sight of his soule for the prayer of S. Clement caused the recouery of his corporall sight his holy words and admonitions were the cause that he was Baptised and recouered there with the sight of his soule Sisinius being Baptised many noble men of Rome moued by his example receued the faith So that for this and manie other miracles the holy Pope did he was much malliced by the ministers of the Idolls and other lewd people whom the diuill vsed as instruments and meanes to disturbe the increase of Christianity and to dispatch out of the way Clement who did him much scath and harme These moued a mutiney and vproare against him though there were some that took his part and defence Some accused him at the iudgment seat of Mamorâ—inus gouernour of the city and others defended him saieng that Clement did not any euill or hurt to any person but did rather good vnto them in curing the sick reliuing the necessity of the poore that he quieted controuersies and made atonement betwene many men They that accused him said he brought in a strange relligion and persuaded men to adore for God a man that had bene crucified and did what he could to annihilate the adoration of the auncient Gods that he caused many maides that they maried not to them vnto whom they were espoused making the title of relligion an excuse and collour for the same The Gouernor of the city hearing all this caused Clement to be brought before him vnto whom he said I vnderstand that thou art borne of an honorable family in this city and that thou art of the Roiall bloud therefore thou art more obliged not to transgresse the customes and lawes of thy forefathers Tell me I praie thee what strange relligion is this thou preachest and what is that crucified man whom thou wouldest haue adored for God to the notable despite and disgrace of the knowâ—n Gods adored by out elders S. Clement made this aunswer Most prudent Iudge I desire thee not to be ouer-ruled by the speechs of the vulgar people who are ignorant and malicious but to giue eare vnto me and if of that wherof I am accused I do not with iust reasons defend my self then condemne me without any fauour Mamertinus said I will present thy cause before th'emperour Traiane where thou maiest if thou canst excuse thy self and iustify thy cause for I will neither condemne thee nor absolue thee When the Gouernouâ— sawe time conuenient he made relation of the mutiney raised against S. Clement and what was the cause also vnto th'emperour to the end he might sett downe what should be done therin the person accused desiring to make proofe of his Inocency in showing that the faults imposed vpon him had no sufficient ground Traian decreed that Clement should sacrifice vnto the Gods or els be banished into Chersona Mamertinus hauing this direction laboured all that he could to bring Clement to sacrifice vnto the Idolls and he on the other part endeuored to drawe him to be a Christian to let him knowe that the banishment which he was to suffer for professing CHRIST should be vnto him pleasaunt and acceptable It pleased God to giue such efficacy and grace vnto the words of the holy saint that Mamertinus yelded and shedding many teares for compassion of Clement and his vexations said vnto him The God whom thou adorest help thee in this tribulation which thou art to suffer for his loue Then he prouided him a bark and of things necessary for the voyage and sent him into exile There went many voluntarily in the company of the blessed Pope who being arriued and come in saffly vnto the Island found there more then 2000 Christians who by the sentence of th'emperour had bene condemned to digge stones out of the quarries These holy confessors of CHRIST among their other mollestations had one which vexed them much in that
Nicholas beholde the man elected by God they ranne all thither and liking his graue countenance tolde the people of that had passed and consecrated him Bishop euery man reioycing thereof so that he knew not how to resist them thinking it to be the will of God though it was much displesant vnto him as he declared in his oration wherein he manifested his great humility and sanctity Assoone as Nicholas saw himself a Bishop he reasoned thus to himselfe saying Nicholas this dignity requireth another manner of life Vntill this time thou hast liued vnto thyself now thou must liue for the good of other men The example of life that thou must giue vnto euerie one must be such that thou need not by talk to persuade thy people to be good This the saint said and if vntill this time he vsed in his life great mortification and austeritie he afterward much augmented the same His appatell was more course he eate but once euerie day but neuer any flesh he would haue something of holie writte read at his table he spent the greatest part of the night in praier and meditation and the small time he slept he lay on the bare grouÌ„d he arose before day and called vp his priests to sing hymnes psalmes in the praise our Lord IESVS CHRIST When the sonne arose he went vnto the Church there he heard diuine seruice the rest the day he bestowed in the affaires of his Church He was carefull that in the Churches of his Dyoces there should be curats borne in the same village or parishe and that they were also learned and vertuous in their lifes These he assembled once euerie yeare in the moneth of September and kept a Synode with them making those ordinances that were coÌ„uenient for the good profit of his flock and tooke information of the publick sinnes that befell within their charges and also of all needy persons and then for the one and for the other he prouided remedy in the best manner he could For the relief and helpe of the poore and needy he would resort vnto knowen rich frindes which he had and they gaue almes largely and bountifully for that the good father in his house was verie poore after he was Bishop he had not any thing to sell nor to lay vnto pledge the books he had were borrowed for he would not haue any thing of his owne For the necessitie of soules he had the iudges magistrats on his side who hauing notice of anie publick crime remedied the same This good prelate desired to do the will of God in euerie thing Although he was expert skilfull in the dispatch of affaires yet he trusted not to himself but tooke vnto his counsellers two meÌ„ well learned graue the one was called Paulus Rhodius and the other Theodorus Ascalonâ—a by the aduise and approbation of these two men he did all things At that time the two most cruell tyrants and enemies of the name of CHRIST Maximian and Dioclesian were emperours of Rome persecuting the Christians withall extremity either by themselues or by their Iudges This persecutioÌ„ arriued at the last at Mirrea where S. Nicholas was Bishop First they imprisoned the Christians whom the holie prelate zelouslie moued with the honour of God exhorted and animated and shewed himfelf a defender of the Christians his subiects and others vnder his charge both in publique and in priuate reprouing the tiranny and crueltie of the iudges whereupon they imprisoned him but they were not so hardy as to put him to death douting least the people would make an insurrection wherefore they onlie banished him S. Nicholas being sent into exile he found many Christians who tooke verie great consolation at his presence The holy Bishop was not idle in that place yea he serued God in the best manner he could no we comforting one then an other and exhorting them to support patientlie the persecution hold them in their necessities to his power but because God assisted him in his actions some helpe and reliefe he gaue vnto them for the which he was beloued of all them with whom he conuersed The furie of that persecution passed away and the golden age of th'emperour Constantin succeded and then S. Nicholas returned to his Church all the people reioycing for the same and because Constantin had made an edict by which he commaunded the temples of the Idolls to be throwen to the ground in Mirrea was a most goodly temple dedicated to the goddesse Diana which stood still because of the conning workmanshippe therof lest the people should raise a commocion none durst lay on hands to demolish the same S. Nicholas moued with zeale and without respect of any got together many lusty and strong yong fellowes and he as their captein guided them vnto the temple and cast it downe euen vnto the foundations Whiles they ruynated the walles the deuills were heard to howle and rore for that they were expelled out of their auncient habitation After this arose a newe trouble against the Catholike Church by the Arryans for remedy wherof a generall Councell was assembled in Nice by the commanndement of pope Syluester then Bishop of Rome and by the good dilligence of themperour Constantyn In this assembly among the 318. Bishops that were there S. Nicholas was one who by the meanes of the disputations he had with the heretiks and by the vertue of his continuall prayer wherin he desired the good of the Church was a great cause that Catholiks preuailed and obteined victory against the heretiks and that it was declared by the Councell That the sonne one of the three persons is of the same substance with the father and is God as he is for that is the state of the questyon which was disputed betwene the Catholikes and the heretiks When the Councell was ended S. Nicholas returned vnto his Church and then befell a great dearth At that time a merchaunt had laden ships with wheat in Sicilia intending to transport it into Spaine S. Nicholas appeared vnto him in his sleepe and requested him to bring it into Lycia and agreed with him for the price and in wytnes of the truth gaue him three pieces of gold in earnest The merchaunt awoke and finding the three pieces of gold in his hand determyned to go into that couÌ„trey so he did and sold the wheat according to the bargaine made with the saint and so the dearth of corne was remedyed At another time there was a great scarcity of bred in that countrey and certein shippes laden with wheat passed by trauelling toward Constantinople S. Nicholas requested the owners of the shippes to giue vnto him a 100. measures of wheat out of euery one promising them that when they came vnto the vnloding at Constantinople they should not want any thing of their measure The patrones and owners gaue credit vnto the saint and gaue the wheat vnto him wherupon two myracles ensued One was when
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
morning verie earlie twelue more were serued by the Arche Bs. almoner about nine of the clocke a hundred poore men called Prebens on whome two monkes of the conuent attended The Bisshop hauing discharged his parte reposed a litle to refresh his senses bestowed all the time he could steale from his rest without great disparagement of his health in prayinge weeping and holie meditation When he was to celebrate the most dreadfull oblation then he did seeme to poure out his hart with teares and sighes and sobbes that cames as often as his words He was somewhat speedie in discharginge this office fearinge distractions yett all wayes attent recollected without vaine addinge of more then the churche appointed performing the communion with suche deuotion and teares as yf he did visibly behold the wounds of our sauiour IESVS CHRIST Not only his owne but also the hands of all his household were so free from receauing bribes that an Abbot comminge to his courte with important busines and desiring to winne his officers good will with gold and not findinge anie that would receaue it he himselfe notwithstanding receauing great satisfaction in his suite cryed oute at his departure I haue founde a court more golden then euer I could haue belieued or imagined for not onlie it walketh not after gold but also scorneth despiseth flyeth from gold Semblable to these were all his other vertues so vpright a Iudge that no might nor meanes could with-drawe him right so good a father to the poore that none departed from him without reliefe soe bountifull in giuinge almes that he twice doubled the vsuall allowance giuen to the poore by all his Predecessoures so zealous a prelate that no vice especially no schisme or errour could take roote with in his Iurisdiction so addicted to learninge that his conuersation at table vpon the way was allway of learning so prouident in giuing orders that he neuer impossed his hands vpon anie without mature and diligent examine whither he had sufficiencie enough in meanes in learninge and vertue least anie of these three being wanting priesthood should turne into scandall derision and beggerie so greate a fauourer and Patron of learned men that his moste especially be friended followers were the most especiall learned men of those dayes of English men Ioannes Salesberiensis afterward B. of Carnotum Robert Foliot afterward B. of Hereford William Glauile aftewards B. of Rochester Gerard Mayde afterwards B. of Couentrie of stranger Hughe Dantinant a Norman Archedeacon of Oxeford afterwars B. of Couentrie Herbert of Woscham afterwards Cardinall of Rome Arche B. of Beneuentum Humbert of Lumbardie afterwards Arche B. of Milan his natiue countrie and lastly Pope of Rome by name of Vrbanus tertius these were his followers of greatest name besides manie others of a lower ranke in dignitie though inferioure to none in learning and vertue Finallie his watching in meditation his teares in praying his puritie of life his modestie in speeche his vprighteousnes in his workes his trueth in his word his compassion of the poore care of the commons goode and welfare did spread his fame so wyde that it made the Kinges Maiestie hartilie to reioyce for the good election he made of so holy a prelate More ouer he was renowned in forraine countries where coÌ„ming to the Councell of â—owers in Fraunce he was so ioyfully receaued by Pope Alexander 3. all the Cardinalls and Prelates that all of them sauing the Pope and two Cardinalls who stayed to accompanie his Holines went oute of the towne to meete and well-come the Arche Bishop Hitherto he might seeme to haue had a prosperous course and nauegacion but God would haue him also tryed in aduersitie and therefore suffered a storme of persecution to be raised against him First certaine men of greate account oute of whose hands he had wrested churche-liuings which they had wrongfully vsurped began to calumniate him with his Maty alleaging that his royall fauoure emboldned the Arche B. to such attempts and wrongs which he had and did offer vnto manie yet they could not impaire the good opinion which the kinge entertained of the Arche B. Then followed his renouncing the office of Chanceloure which somewhat exasperated the Kinge next some resistance in a matter belonging to the Exchequer But lastly that which enkindled his Matys indignation was in this manner The friends of a certaine man that was slaine accused a priest for coÌ„mitting the murder he being apprehended and brought before his Bisshop so denied the facte that his aduersaries could not sufficiently conuince him by reason they re information was weake neyther he Canonically cleare himselfe He therefore remaining thus infamous and branded with suspicion his cause was referred to the Arche B who depriued him of all Ecclesiasticall benefice and shut him vp in a Monasterie commaunding that he should be perpetually recluded and made doe hard penance all dayes of his lyfe About the same time one Philip de Lidrois a Canon had contumeliously abused one of the Kings Iustices of peace the complaint being brought to the Archebishop he commaunded the Canon should be publiquely whipped for certaine yeares depriued of all Ecclesiasticall benefice and office These punishments esteemed rigorous enough could not quyet the rage of some of the laitie for laying some few mens faults vpon all the cleargie and pleading that priests and clearks presuming on their priuiledges that they were not put to death committed manie outrages offences and vilainies they made a great vproare and commotion in all the countrie The Kings Majestie as zealous of the peace and quyet of the commonwealth as the Archebishop of the Churches liberties and being informed by some of the cleargies enemies how their manifold offences daylie encreased presuming vpon their priuiledges he made an assembly of all the Bishops of the Realme and cleargie of London demaunding that all such Priestes as committed anie offence should enioy no priuiledge of the Church but deliuered ouer to the secular Iustice be punished with corporall paiue the only meanes as he said to stop the course of their wickednesse who building to much vpon their order stained shamefully debased the renoumne and glorie of their order For the higher one is seated in dignity the fouler is his crime and more exhorbitant the more scandalous his example and of greater consequence to draw meaner people into sinne and therefore such deliquentes ought to feele the smart of more heauie punishments To this demaund the holie Prelate mildly and constantly replied That sacred Canons and Generall Councels and holie Popes and glorious Kings Emperours had so ordained that cleargie men should be iudged and chastized by none but only their owne superiours and Prelates That when crimes were such as deserued death the Church did not winke at her ministers faults nor foster enormous offences with priuiledges but first degrading them from their order abandone and forsake them as none of hers and then turne them ouer
father both of Prince an People iudged by the Peeres that were his children and Suffragans pronouncing sentence of condemnation against their Metropolitan ouer whom they had no iurisdiction He was further call'd in question about 500li. receaued of the King during the time of his Chanceloureship He acknowledged the receite but pleaded 't was a guift and yet was the money adiudged to the King and he straight wayes enforced to giue securitie for the payment thereof or in plaine tearmes commaunded to his face to remaine there as prisoner When some perceauing the Archbishop quite forsaken of his bretheren and in daunger of shipwrack offered themselues of their owne accord to enter band for the payment of the monie and so this daunger was eschewed Many other controuersies of old forgotteÌ„ Excheq matters were maliciously enforced against him by his Aduersaries only of purpose as men talked then to ouerwhelm the Bishop But Henrie Bishop of Winchester a man renowned for nobilitie of birth and a sanctlike life found a way to free him from all further troubles in this kinde by auouching That when being Archdeacon and Chanceloure he was chosen for to be Archbishop he was by the Kings authoritie freed and acquitted of all debts and obligations of Courte and Exchequer and so deliuered ouer to the Church of England Which testimonie being so euidently true none could withstand Now remained the last and the fiercest assault concerning those royall Prerogatiues The Archbishop hoping thereby to moue his Maiestie the sooner to compassion and clemencie towards the Church resolued the last day to goe to Court in his sacred roabes and bare footed with his crosse in his hand and kneeling on his knees entreate his Maiestie for peace Heerein also his aduersaries depraued his good intention and informed the King that he was come all armed to courte His Maiestie hearing the bruite of armes and not informed nor reflecting of what sort and condition they were withdrew himselfe into an inner roome there calling vnto him the Noblemen and Bishops made a grieuous complaint and narration how the Archbishop was come not as into the Courte and Pallace of a King but the house of a Traitour in so odious and despitefull a manner as neuer was heard of before in the courte of any Christian King There wanted not others that seconded amplified his Maiesties speeche alleadging that his pride had now drawne him so farre as to make him fall into open Treason and Periurie himselfe and with his manner of proceeding cast vpon the King and all his kingdome an aspersion and infamous note of Treason All the chamber rebounded with Periurie Treason and the officers of the Courte came forth and with enraged lookes pointed at the Bishoppe that was left all alone with his crosse in his handes the banner vnder which he was to fight the portraiture of him that he was to follow only some few of his Chaptaine about him and euen those were not permitted by the officers to speake vnto him Proclamations were made that none should declare himselfe of the Archbishops side vnder paine of being accounted an enemie to the state The Bishops they appealed against their Primate as one that was periured not obseruing the allegiance he had sworne to his Maiestie The Earles and Barons were now come forth to giue iudgement against him To whome all but especially to the Earle of Leister that had spoken in the behalfe of the rest the Archbishop made this answer Iudgement against me my Lord and my Sonne neither law nor reason doth permit that children should iudge and condemne their Father My ordinarie Iudge is the Bishop of Rome to him I appeale from your Iudgement And likewise I summon these my brethren to appeare and decide all matters and controuersies in his Tribunall Hauing said these words and fearing with his stay to giue them occasion of heynous sacriledge hee forthwith departed from the Courte many of his aduersaries and some others of the Courtiers following after and reuiling and calling him a haughtie proud and periured Traitoure All his traine and followers were fledde and only some cleargie men attended on him with a great number of sicke folkes and poore men that hartily reioyced and praised God who had deliuered his seruaunt from the hands of his enemies How glorious a procession quoth the Bishoppe doth accompanie oure returne from the face of tribulation Sithence they haue shared in oure affliction let them all come in that wee may all feast together in our Lord. After prayer some mention was made of the bitternesse and dreadfulnesse of that day Vnspeakeably more bitter quoth the Bishop and more dreadfull will the latter day be And I charge you all that each man demeane himselfe modestly quietly patiently and that none be so bold as to vtter any rough or distastfull words In such traunces as these a patient milde suffering is most gratefull to God and most auaileable to worke good in all men whether inferiours or superiours In the dead of the night two Noblemen of great renowne in the kingdome and his faithfull friends came vnto him and with ruefull lookes and teares in their eyes and knocking their breast protested by the dreadfull iudgement of God almightie how they certainly knew that some debauched and wicked people had conspired together with mutuall oathes bound themselues to kill him Wherefore greatly fearing least the cause of the Church which was not fully made knowen to the world should be not only endamaged but vtterly ouerthrowen with his death he resolued to depart out of the kingdome He desguised himselfe trauailed by night went strange and vncouth wayes lay secret and hidden euen in his owne Lordships hearing seruice from out of a little hoale finally apparailed in a white monkes weede and going barefooted and calling himselfe brother Christian got safely in a little boate out of the Realme and with great labour penurie affliction difficulties and daunger sometimes trauailing twelue leagues in a winters day barefooted arriued at last at Sens in Fraunce where Alexander 3 Pope driuen out of Italie by a schisme resided The King had sent before his comming thither an honorable Embassage by the Archbishop Of Yorke and 4. other Bishops the Earle of Arundell and other Noblemen to certifie the Pope and complaine against the Archbishop and obtaine that he might be sent backe into England with a â—egat which they call a latere to haue his cause decided there And although they obtained not their suite by reason of the Archbishops absence who according to law should first be heard in his appeale before any course were taken against him yet so had they alienated the affections of the Cardinals from him that verily esteeming him a rash presumptuous stiffe-necked man and one that for matters of no importance had made an vproare in the kingdome and broaken that vnitie and bond of peace which before was betweene the king and the cleargie none of them would shew him