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
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
in the Councell of Chalcedon Some holy doctors as S. Cyrill S. Iohn Damascen S. Augustine and S. Thomas declare the maner therof The substance of that which they say is this that the blessed virgin hauing conceiued IESVS CHRIST our Lord shee was his mother for that her most chast pure and more then illustrious bloud serued for matter of which the holy Ghost by his deuine vertue formed the body of IESVS CHRIST for which cause shee became a true and veritable mother as any other mothers be Hauyng layd this foundation of truth I say that to be the mother of God argueth the great noblenes and worthynes of this holy damosell This is proued by a principle the phylosophers hold to wyt that there is not only a proportion betweene the cause and the effect but also if the cause be not empeached or hindered it produceth a like effect to it selfe euen to the Indiuiduum and the accidents as a lyon that hath spots produceth not only another lyon but also with the same spots This being graunted I say that if the naturall guifts of the wyt complexion and proportion of members naturall condition of CHRIST were transcendent and excellent in the hiest degree as it is apparant by the sacred scripture also said by the holy doctors we are by great reason to find all the same in the B. virgin as in his true and veritable mother to witt that shee was of an excellent wyt an amyable complection of an admyrable beauty absolute proportion of limmes and most goodly naturall condition So that saying that IESVS CHRIST was the fairest of all men Psal 44. v. 3. the same may be affirmed of the B virgin wherfore we may well say thus O lady vnto whom shall we liken thee what goodlines shal be like vnto thyne who is so beutifull as thou art The sonne compared vnto thee is foul and vgly the moone is dark and obscure and the starres are as clouds The Angels are far inferior and the Seraphins come not nere vnto thee vnto whom shall we liken thee but euen vnto IESVS CHRIST thy sonne will you haue saith S. Gregory a liuely pattern of the glorious virgin fixe your eys and behold IESVS CHRIST Behold the sonne in him you shall see a picture of the mother note you that there is litle difference between the mother and the sonne Such a sonne and of such and so great perfections was fit for such a mother and such a mother endued with so many graces was fit for such a sonne yee ought also to consider a heuenly workmanship betwene the B. Virgin her sonne for she gaue him one thing which was the humain nature he gaue vnto her another to wit the fulnes of grace The mother gaue vnto him that which she had to wit the humanity and CHRIST being God and fountein of grace gaue it vnto his mother Of this groweth two admirable things The one is that as the glorious virgin for his nature is his mother so is shee his daughter in respect of grace so that the mother is daughter and the sonne is father and that which other mothers say in sport to their sonnes calling them my king my prince my father and my treasor the glorious virgin might say it in truth and verity This also ariseth betwene the mother and the sonne That as the sonne for his humaine nature is made like vnto his mother so the mother in respect of grace is like vnto the sonne Shee was humble in proportion not in equality as he charitable as he obedyent as he and in her proportion full of grace as he so the Angell called her Aâ—haile full of grace The consideration of this mother and sonne Luc. 1. goeth further The virgin in his conception bestowed the bloud of her vaines of which to forme his body and in the nyne moneths that she caryed him in her wombe ouer beside the giuing vnto him her most chast bowells for his rich pallace and the couerings and pannycles of her hart to be the tapissery of his chamber shee also gaue him the very same meate shee took her self so that like a blissed doue with her bill shee put the nutriment in the mouth of her sonne After he was borne the armes of his mother was his cradell holding him vnto her brest she warmed him better then Abysac warmed Dauid IESVS being growen vp his mother gaue him her handes her care and diligence to the end all things shee had might serue him After he was dead taken from the crosse shee took him also in her armes and embraced him with tender affection All this gaue the mother vnto the sonne The sonne gaue vnto the mother grace in her conception in preseuring her from sinne he gaue vnto her the vse of reason before the ordinary time and at three yeres old he conducted her as his owne vnto the Temple Then he aduaunced her higher vntill he made her his mother most fit for such a sonne in such maner that shee is no reproch vnto CHRIST before his eternall father the Angels and all men Yea he glorieth and ioyeth to haue such a mother as Mary is IESVS CHRIST and his mother were in this as other things most faithfull louers for the presents and gifts the one had from the other liked them so well that they neuer left them IESVS had his humanity of his mother and he so firmely embraced it that as the deuines say that which he once vnited to himself he neuer last He lost his life in his passion and in the three dayes he lay in the sepulcher the humane nature was not there for his parts to wit the body and the soule were seperated asunder but the parts were neuer seperated from the diuine Suppositum It is also very cleare that the iewels with which this infant was borne and were bestowed on her in her conception were neuer lost for shee neuer commytted any mortall sinne Let vs then conclude this first tretise to wit of the nobility which accrewed and arose vnto the virgin in being the mother of God with the words of S. Augustine to wyt That to be the mother of God is so great a dignity that by it shee surpasseth not only all mankind but also all the Angels Asmuch as it is more to be the mother rather then the seruant so much is the dignity greater to be the mother of the prince then to be his seruant This reason also conuinceth it for that so much the more is a thing aduanced in perfection the more or nerer it is vnited to God who is the hiest perfection This is the daughter that is borne this day the infant whose feast the Catholike Church celebrateth a litle infant but a great Lady An infant whose graces cannot be expressed but by him that created her THis is a day of great desart a day whose memorie reioyceth both heauen and earth This is the day in which shee is
in the Spanish that the bodies of the aforenamed holy saints were brought vnto their city in the yeare of our Lord. 1154. The spanish saith That Procopius in the first book saith that these holy saints healed the Emperour Instinian recomending himself vnto them of a greenous infirmity and that in gratification thereof he built a sumptuous temple vnto their name The Dedication of S. Michael the Archangell THE sacred scripture reciteth in the first booke of thing that the reputation and credit of king Saul was in great perill when that proud Philistean called Golias defied him and all his army It was not fit the king should accept the battaile and yet there was not any found in his court whose hart did serue him to encounter that proud giant who was reputed valiant and strong and aunswer the challeng King Saul studied and devised howe to be freed from this dishonour and daunger At last he made a proclamation that if any man ouercame the Phylistean he should be made a noble man and be exempt from all tribute and that he would giue him an honorable office in the court and also his daughter vnto wife These promises of the king were very great yet there was not a man in all the army that was so hardy as to behold the face of the giant only the lowly litle shepherd Dauid zelous of the kings honour and of the peoples also tooke on him the enterprise to combat with the Philistean which he did and shewed such valour that with a stone which he threw he hitte him on the forhead and felled him to the ground then he ranne speedily vnto him and out of his head and returned with the same euery one making triumph for his victory but especially the damsels declared his prowesse in a song After this king Saul obserued his promise he made him a noble man and a great officer in his court and gaue vnto him his daughter Michol vnto his wife This is a perfect portraict of the battell which was in heauen between the Angels of which it is good the memory be celebrated as often as their feast is solemnished for that which they did was a famous and rare work The Philistean Golias is a figure of Lucifer who was the highest Angell and seing himself endowed with grace and guifts aboue other Angel was puffed in pride and came into the field against God pretending to be like and equall to him in some things It was not fit God should come into the field against him for then the victory would haue bene of farre lesse estimation but S. Michaell figured by the lowely shepherd Dauid tooke on him this entreprise and entred boldy into the field against Lucifer in the defence of Gods honor and behaued himself so well that with one stone which was his profound humility saieng who is as God he cast the giant to the earth that is threw Lucyfer into hell Lucifer being ouercome with all his followers S. Michaell returned victoriously from the conflict euery one making ioy and triumph for it but especially the damsels who sang of his prowesse which happeneth euery time this feast of him and the Angels is celebrated for that many blessed soules singing the victory of S. Michaell do reioice at his honorable enterprise God also performed his promise vnto him he made him a noble man and gaue him an honorable office making him Chief Iustice in his kingdome for which cause he beareth the Ballaunce and the sword in his hand when he is painted and gaue vnto him an honorable companion which was his diuine grace confirming him in the same and all the other blessed spirits also EVERY time the Catholike Church celebrateth the feast of the Angels there is red in the office of the masse a ghospell which treateth howe controuersy arising amongst the Apostles which of them should be the greatest the sonne of God called a litle child and set him in the midst of them and said If you be not humbled as this child you shall not be great in the kingdome of heauen but more then that You shall neuer come thither The vse of the Catholike Church guided by the holy Ghost is to reade this Ghospell in such like solemnities because there is mention made of the Angels for in the end therof it is said That None should contemne the lowely and humble as children be bicause their Angels see alwaies in heauen the face of God Some Authors though not in the literall sence will drawe this history to the Angels saieng that assoone as God created them he gaue theÌ„ notice of the mistery of the Incarnation and set before their eies that B. child IESVS who should giue remedy vnto the world and then said vnto them uerily I tel you if you be not humble lowely as this child and imitate him therin if in this small space in which you be viatores or trauellors and haue time to merite or demerite yee do not imitate him and be likened to this child If you do not honor and adore him you shall not be confirmed in grace you shall not enter into my glory But Lucifer seeing him felf so faire beutifull and honoured iudged it would be an abacement and vility to imitate a man and much more to adore him And labouring to drawe the Angels vnto his opinion said vnto them it would be a great basenes and shame vnto them to be humbled to adore a man and with these speechs drew the third part vnto his opinion S. Michael together with all the other holy Angels obeied God and adored the litle child IESVS and tooke vpon him the defence of Gods honor against Lucifer and the Angels that followed him The fierce warre betweene them was not of materiall weapons but of different willes and S. Michael and his company were so potent that they cast Lucifer and all his followers out of heauen Assoone as Lucifer was cast out of heauen fallen into the world there was heard a great voice which said wo vnto the world because Lucifer is fallen into it and will giue occasion of offence but more wo vnto him by whom such scandals shall come it were better for such a one to haue a millstone tied vnto his necke and that he were throwen into the sea This befell vnto the deuill because there was tied vnto the neck of his will a greate stone which was their obstinacy with which they were drowned in the bottomles pitt Then said God take heed that none make small account of these humble Angels Spa as lactan l 2. c. 9. D. Berâ—â— ser 17. super mis est Alex. 3. p. q. 74. memb 8. Nacl deoper sex dier which remaine in heauen but honor and reuerence them for I tell you true they alwais see the face of the father eternall This is that which some doctors say and I had not rehersed it here if it had not a good ground that the sinne of Lucifer was for that he
earth though they be all holie persons the reason is this they which be in heauen cannot fall any more but they that be holie on earth may fall againe and so do many and often tymes Before Queene Vasty kept this feast she gaue vnto her damosells to eate sometimes of one kind of meat sometimes of an other yet moderately and in measure but on the festiuall daye she gaue them all kind of delicacies most freely So also the Catholique Church maketh ready her table daily for all faithfull beleevers yet diuersly some dayes with one ind of meat somedaies with another Sometimes she maketh a feast and giueth meat to all them that haue been good all the time of their liues and this she doth in celebrating the feast of S. Iohn Baptist Another day she dres seth a dinner for great sinners presenting vnto them a Mathew a Marie Magdalene which for a season offended God by their wicked liues She also maketh a feast for religious men on the day of S. Benedict S. Dominik S. Francis and such others as they be She maketh a feast to the religious recluses on the day of S. Clare of S. Catherine of Siena and such others To the maried people when she celebrateth the feast of S. Ioseph Vnto Kings and great Lords on the daie of the Epiphanie when the feast of the three kings is celebrated vnto Bishops and Prelates on the daie of S. Ambrose S. Martin S. Nicholas of such like Vnto virgins and damosells on the day of S. Agnes S. Lucy and many others But the day of all Saints signifieth the day that Queene Vasty made the feast and prepared the royall banquet vnto all her ladies damosells because on this day the Catholique Church doth prepare and dresse meat for all manner of people when she celebrateth the feast-day of all the saints in heauen who be a patterne and example for all men in the world that by imitating them they may reforme their liues and amend all loose and lewd behauiour DIVERS and sundrie reasons haue been diuersly alleadged why the Church of God doth celebrate a feast of all the saints together One reason is the dedication of a temple which was consecrated in Rome in the name of all the Saints Ado Bishop of Vienna and those authors that write the liues of the popes and Emperours relate it in this manner In chro aetat 6 ano 604. About the yeare of our Lord 608. Boniface the 4. being pope there raigned in Constantinople Phocas the Emperour who though he be noted to be couetous and cruell yet was he a Catholique prince very affectionate to the Church of Rome and a priuate friend vnto Pope Boniface There had been built in Rome a most sumptuous temple in honour of Cybele that false goddesse mother of all the Gods and in the name of all the other Gods also This was built by Marcus Agrippa a noble man of Rome who called it by a greek name Pantheon that is to say the habitation of all the Gods The temple is round and hath no other windowe but one great hole in the top thereof which giueth light to all the temple It is said Agrippa caused it to be built in that fashion for that he would not shew himself partiall toward the Gods in setting one in a more honorable place then another but to make them all equall and by the iudgment of those that haue skill in Architecture it is held the most artificiall building that is in our knowne world Of this temple with the consent of the Emperour Phocas because he had iurisdiction and comaunded in Rome and a great part of Italy Boniface made a Church consecrated it to the mother of God and of all saints His reason was that euen as the pagans in this temple had adored the diuells and all the crew of their heathenish Gods with Cibele their mother so from thence forth there should be honored in the same place the Blessed mother of the true sonne of God and all the whole court of heauen with the holie martirs also For at that time they did not so ordinarilie celebrate in the Church the festiuall daies of the Confessors The Pope called this feast S. Mariaad Martires and willed it should be kept on the ninth day of May. Afterward Pope Gregorie the 4. who liued in the yeare of our Lord 827. after the opinion of Onuphrius Panuinius translated the feast vnto the first of Nouember because of the infinite number of people that resorted to Rome to sollemnise that feast Wherefore he thought it more conuenient to transferre it vnto a season wherein the fruits of the earth were inned and brought into the barnes that there might be sufficient store therof and no scarcity for the pilgrimes and strangers as there was wont to be and is ordinarilie in the month of May. At this present that Church is called S. Maria Rotunda the daie is called the daie of all saints On the first of Nouember it is celebrated with great sollemnitie and marueilous concurse of people to the honour of the B. virgin Mary and all saints And this may be one of the reasons why the Catholique Church celebrateth this sollemnity Another reason is for that the Church endeuoureth to satisfie in honoring all saints in common since it is not possible so to do in particuler feastes The holie Ghost by whom the Church is ruled and gouerned apointeth some feast daies of saints to be kept festiuall besides those daies which are kept holie in the honour of CHRIST his B. mother and the Apostles The reason why feast day of one faint is celebrated more then another may be because they were martired in Rome which is the head of the world and the perpetuall sea of the vicar of CHRIST as long as the world endureth as S. Laurence S. Agnes and others Or for that their bodies haue been translated thither from other countries as S. Anastasius and S. Gorgonius Or else for that they haue been renowned martirs as S. Vincent of Valentia the Spaniard and S. Catherine of Alexandria or it may be for some other such like cause The reasons of them all are not knowne but secret As of the saints which the same Church putteth into the Canon of the masse Sup Canon Leâ—â— 32. lit K. for though they imiâ—ate liuely as Gabriell saith the passion of CHRIST yet it seemeth there be saints of more fame which might haue beene set in that most rare singuler place as well as other that be there as S. Sebastian S. Georg many others Yea as the same Gabriell saith it hat beene knowne that some men in particuler Churches haue taken some saints out of the Canon put others in their place it hath beene found that they that haue beene blotted out haue beene put in againe and they that were newlie written were cancelled and blotted out So that it seemeth there is in it some misterie
of the plagues that he sent vpon them was when he slew all their first borne So also when IESVS CHRIST departed from Bethleem the Bethleemits remained also in lamentation For a sure thing it is that in the place froÌ„ whence God departeth there remaineth nothing but sorrow and wayling Let vs praie vnto his diuine majestie that he alwaies remaine in our compaine that we maie alwaies be glad and ioyfull in him and that our ioy may be true and perfect enjoying it in this world by grace after in heauen by glorie Amen The Catholique Church celebrateth the feast of the holie Innocents on the 28. of December and their Martyrdome was in the time of Octauian Augustus in the beginning of the second yeere of CHRISTE according to Ioannes Lucidus The life of S. Thomas Arche Bishop of Canterbury and Martyr THE lyfe of this holy Prelat and famous martyr collected out of foure Historiographers of his tyme Wilhelmus Cantuariensis Ioannes Carnotensis or Sarisbeâ—ens Alanus Abbot of Teukesbyrie Herbert of Hosâ—ham clerke Petrus Blessensis Archedeacon of Bathe and manie epistles of Popes kinges and Bisshops is in this manner SAINT Thomas vsually called of Canterbury B. and martyr was borne in London the head cittie and royall seate of great Britanie His father was one Gilbert surnamed Becket a man inferioure to none of his cittizens for kindred and riches and superioure to most for a singular good carriage and holie conuersation This Gilbert being in the flower of his youthe voluntariely receaued the holy cross an ensigne of suche as enrolled they re names to serue against Infidells and trauailed into the holie land where as he returned from visiting those sacred places of Hierusalem he together with others was taken by his enemies that lay in ambush made prisoner to an Admirall a Prince of great account amonghst the Infidells There he remained in captiuitie the space of one yeare and a halfe wherein the only daughter of the aforesaid Admirall was so wonne with the carriage and excellente good partes and qualities of Gilbert with his discreet and weighty reasoning of matters that concerned Christian Religion and also with his noble and stoute resolution to dye for Gods honoure that he afterwards by flight hauing obteined his libertie she wounded with his loue and led with desire of being a Christian forsooke all her wealth abandoned her fathers house her countrie followed him secretly into England There being first well instructed in Christian religion and baptized in the Churche of S. Paule by the Bisshop of London with greate solemnitie in the presence of sixe Prelats she was marryed to Gilbert all but especially the Bisshop of Cicester wondring at this heauenly vocation and admirable prouidence of God and prophecying that her wombe should beare a childe whose sanctitie and holie laboures would make Gods Churche renowned and glorious Not long after was Thomas borne and brought vp by his vertuous mother in all good manners and excercises But he learned of her especially the feare and loue of allmighty God with a greate deuocion to his B. virgen mother Marie next after Christe reposing in her his greatest confidence and making her Patron and Protectriss of all the wayes and steppes of his lyfe He was first brought vp in a religious howse of Merton after was instructed in liberall sciences then sent to studie in the vniuersitie of Paris from whence returninge home he discharged with honoure and great good satisfaction some publicke offices of the cittie of LondoÌ„ And hauinge now for the space of three yeares attended vnto temporall affayres and followed courte-businesses shewing himselfe therein quicke discreete and well aduised and thereby attained greate creditt and learned much prudence and experience hauing also been carryed with affection to youthfull sportes of hawking hunting yett euer without staining or blemishing his good name with anie vice or imperfection led by the instinct of the holie Ghost more then by anie friends persuasion he retired weaned himselfe from secular affaires and betooke himselfe to Theobald Arche B. of Canterburie where his industrie diligence and well aduised managinge of matters wonne him a chiefe place and greate reputation amongst the Arche Bâ— most familiar trustie friends After his admittance into the companie of Theobalds counseloures and chiefest followers he studied at Bolognia and at Alâ—isiodorum was greatly imployed in Church affaires of greatest importance oftentimes sent for decision of weightie controuersies to Rome from whence he euermore returned with good dispatche in his busines lastly he was made Archedeacon of Canterburie a place in those dayes of highest degree in the English cleargie next vnto Lord Abbots and Bissh Muche about that time Henry duke of Aquitaine and Normandie succeeded kinge Stephen in the crowne of England Theobald fearing least the kings good nature might be abused by some of his craftie counselours and by such as vnder the cloake and pretence of publicke autoritie thirsted after the Churches reuenues and the commons spoyle drawen to some ouer sharpe course and rough proceeding desirous also that the bond of loue and amitie might encrease betweene the Prince and his Prelats and the kings gracious fauoure shine vpon his cleargie a thing most necessarie for the good and well fare of all the kingdome and well assured of his Archeadeacons sufficiencie to doe all faithfull seruice to the kinge good offices to all manner of people brought him to the courte and wrought him into the fauoure of his Maiestie from whome he receaued the office of high Chanceloure of England It might seeme in outward shew and apparance that Thomas had now forgotten quite that euer he was an Archedeacon His retinue was greate his followers men of good account his housekeeping such as might compare with yf not surpasse the greatest Earles of the kingdome his stuffe verie costlie and full of brauerie so farre forth as bridles of beaten syluer his principall care to retaine his Princes fauoure and winne all mens good will which care did also compell him sometimes to shew himselfe plyant to this Maty in his fare his discourse in hauking in huntinge and sporting aswell as in his serious affaires A table that daylie and Honorably intertained Barons Earles a house that wellcomed all needie afflicted persons a hand that bountifully bestowed large gyfts in howsehold stuffe apparail prouision plate and coyne Finally fortune did seeme to haue made him her darling and all things so flowed according to his wish his desire that one would haue Iudged him to haue laide cleane aside the verie thought of a cleargie man But this was only the outside of Thomas for inwardly he was humble and abject in his owne eyes much addicted to praier and deuotion a greate tamer curber of his owne body in so muche that manie times he would chastize himselfe with a cruell discipline lashing himselfe vpon the bare backe his zeale was greate for the good of the churche and reliefe
and succoure of the commons vndergoing for this cause manie encounters and afflictions manie calumniations slaunders and snares armed to entrap him by such as in court know not how to rise but by others ruines Nay sometimes as farre as Majestie and duetie would permit it he gently and with greate respect reuerence withstoode euen his Prince who liked therein his constancie and tooke it in good part and not as proceeding of anie disloyaltie for why he did finde him most faithfull in all his proceedings aduised discreete in counsaile prouident vn appalled in doubtfull businesse and in aduersitie valiant and magnanimous in puritie of mind chastitie of bodie euermore vnspotted and vndefiled manie greate trialls hauing bin made to proue his honestie And for most of that which we haue rehearsed let this one thinge serue as a sufficient witnesse There was in Stafforde a beautifull yonge woeman whom the Prince greately fauoured She as often as the Chanceloure came that way did send him manie tokens and fauoures Her guardian misdoubting that all this kindnesse proceeded from some lewd intention and seing the yonge fresh beautifull yeares of Thomas and the neerenesse of theyr lodginges did encrease his suspicion he needes would be acertained thereof In the dead of the night by a secret way and with a close lanterne in he goeth to his chamber and findinge his bed with our anie print of his bodie or once being touched was strongly confirmed in his suspicion but lyfting vp his lanterne and looking some what further he found that after longe kneeling vpon his bare knees in prayer he was fallen fast a sleepe vpon the grounde in a verie incomodious manner whereupon altering his opinion he verily deemed him a saincte whom before he suspected to be dishonest Not only in this of Chancelour but also in manie other offices Thomas did the kinge good seruice for being made tutour to the yonge Prince Henry his care was greate to bringe him vp with the sonnes of manie Lords of the court in learning ciuilitie all manner of courtly and Princely knowledge and behauiour Moreouer he serued the kings Majestie in his warres of Fraunce with a choyce band of seueÌ„ hundred souldioures of his owne familie besides manie others with whome alone after the kings departure he obtained a worthie victorie yea another time he himselfe in person vnhorsed a frencheman called Enguerranus de Creya a most hardie souldiour and most renouned in all deeds of armes and chiualrie And with his good example he so encouraged all his followers that in all the kinges armie the ChaÌ„cellours souldiours were esteemed the verie flower and the valiantest These and manie other vertues made him honoured eueÌ„ amongst his foes the Peeres and Prince of France and greately beloued amongst his friends Especially the kings Maty of England sometimes after hunting sometime after riding would vpon a soddaine without anie biddinge come the Chancelours house when they were at dinner and somewhiles dine with him other whiles sitte by him to see the order and heare the discourse which was at his table whereof manie things were spoken with admiration It fell our the Theobald Arche B. of Canterbury dyed newes there of came beyond sea to the kinge who weighing well the great sufficiencie of his Chanceâ—lour whome euen then he had in his companie after some deliberation turninge about comaunded him to prepare himselfe to goe on a iourney and hauing now receaued his instructions concerning manie other affaires comming to take leaue of his Maty and goe forward on his iourney Nay soft quoth the kinge you know not fully yet what you must goe aboute My pleasure is to haue you Arche B. of Canterbury The Chancelour first starting and afterwards smiling vpon the king and shewing him his riding suite full vnfitt and vncomely for suche a calling said Oh! and loe heere how religious and how sanctlike a man youre Maty will place in so holy a seate in the coÌ„uent of so manie blessed MoÌ„ckes If euer I haue done your Maty anie seruice let me craue and obtaine this as a reward that this charge be not imposed vpon me For I certainly know that yf I vndergoe it you will quickly with drawe your fauoure from me and turne it into deadly hatred enuious people will neuer be wanting whoe vpon some exactioÌ„s of your Maty in Ecclesiasticall affaires and some resistance wich I must of dutie and necessitie make as Primate of England will wholy alienate youre royall harte affection from me and extinguishing all the former grace enkindle suche flames of enemitie as neuer will be anie more alayed These words of the Chanceloure so litle tasting of Ambition so plainely disclosing a constant resolution did more enkindle the kinges desire Wherefore ioyning others in his coÌ„panie to effect his purpose he called to the chiefest of theÌ„ Richard Lucie coÌ„maunding him to effect as diligently the promotion of the Chanceloure to the sea of Canterburie as he would the succession to the crowne of his sonne Prince Henry in case that the kinge himselfe were deceased To the same effect he like wise spake to Henricus Pisanus Cardinall and legate of the Pope who at last brought Thomas to accept that dignitie He was chosen at London at westminster by the whole consent of all the Bishs. of the Realme only London exepted and by the voyce of Canterburie monkes and after was presented vnto prince Henry who by the authoritie of his Father committed vnto him for this effect freed the Chanceloure from all former debts accounts and obligations of court or exchequer in his full libertie restored him vnto his cleargie who receaued him with great ioy and spirituall canticles After his election at London he went to Canterburie where in white sonday-weeke he was made priest vpon the satterday hitherto he was but Deacon and consecrated Bishop vpon Trinitie sundaye Prince Henry heire apparant of the crowne fourteene Bishops and manie other greate Peeres of the realme being present at the solemnitie Streightwayes after Alexander 3. Pope of Rome did send him the Palle which he receaued with vnaccustomed deuocion going barefoote and lying prostrate on the ground Hauing now receaued that sacred vnction he was changed into an other man He gaue not himselfe to a vaine loose ftately wide free maÌ„ner of liuing as many accustome after dignities obtained but rather obserued greater abstinence watched more prayed more preached often vnto his flocke iudged he neuer could rule well others yf first he did nor rule and maister himselfe His outward apparail was of a Bishop vnder a fryers weede next to his skinne a course roughe heâ—re cloth like an Hermit Hauing done his office streight after the cocke-crowing he serued thirteene poore men at the table waiting on them in person washinge allso they re feete not only with water but with his owne teares crauing most earnestly theyr prayers giuing eache of them foure pence in monie in the