borne of whom would be borne IESVS that is called CHRIST By the things before rehersed you may know how reasonable it is to celebrate the Natiuitie of this Virgin for that her desarts and graces be so great as is aboue mentioned The Church in auncient time did not solemnize this feast which is proued by the words of S. Augustine Aug de sanct ser 11 tâ—m 10. who saith in one sermon that the Natiuity of IESVS CHRIST and S. Iohn Baptist be only celebrated By this you may vnderstand that this feast was not kept through the vniuersall Church at that time though it be thought that from the time of the Apostles it was celebrated in some particular Churches In the time of Pope Innocent 4. it was ordeined that this solemnitie should be celebrated vniuersally by all the faithfull in the Catholike Church about the yeare of our Lord. 1250. The occasion to celebrate this feast was in one yeare and 8. moneths space no Pope was chosen after the death of Pope Celestine 4. which was the cause of infinite scandals through all Christendome but especiallie in Italy for that the Emperor Frederick who rebelled against the Church euerie day vsurped and got some of the lands belonging vnto the Church The Cardinals who were in the Conclaue desired to make the election but they could not agree At last they treated among them selfs it being propounded by some deuout person vnto our Lady to make a vowe that if any of them were made Pope in a short space for a remedy of those great damages and losses of the Church he should ordeine the celebration of the Natiuitie of our Ladie and should make it a feast with octaues through al Christendome The vowe being made forthwith ensued the election of Cardinall Sinibaldus who was called Innocent 4. who ordeined the Natiuity of our Lady to be kept on the. 8. day of September through all Christendome This election reioyced the wholle world that had longed for a pope and for that the cause of this was ascribed vnto the newe feast of the most B. virgin he ordeined that in the office they should sing this Antheme which beginneth Natiuitas tua dei genitrix virgo gaudium annunciauit vniuerso mundo c That is to say Thy birth ô virgin Mary mother of God brought ioye to the wholl world Some Authors seeme to say Vine in spec l. 7. c. 119. that a relligious man liuing in contemplation hard euery yere on the. 8. day of September the Angels to make melody and triumph and demaunding of one of them what was the cause of such ioy in heauen he was answered that on that day was celebrated the Natiuity of the mother of God and that then vpon the credit of that relligious man this feast began to be celebrated It may be true that this relligious man had that before remembred vision but the occasion to promulgate the solemnity of this feast is that which I rehersed first And to the end some thing may be spoken concerning the history collecting it out of that which S. Ierome S. Iohn Damascen Gregory of Nissen and Simeon Metaphrastes write therof I say that the father of the Virgin Marie was called Ioachim and her mother Anna Thy were both of the tribe of Iuda and of the house and family of Dauid and this is to be holden as an Article of faith for there be many prophecies in the holy writ which say that the MESSIAS should be borne of the tribe of Iuda and of the house and family of Dauid And he being to be borne of glorious virgin it followeth that the father and mother of her were to be of that tribe Hier. de ort B. Vir. Luc. 3. and of that family S. Ierome nameth some patriarches which must of necessity be the same which S. Luke nameth in his Gospell He saith then that Iannes begot Melchi and Melchi begot Leui See Iohn lucid l. 2. de temp hebr and Leui begot Mathan and Mathan begot Heli who is also called Ioachim who as he saith was naturall father vnto the Virgin Marie and legall father vnto Ioseph Ioachim took Anna vnto wife and both of them dwelt in Nazareth a citty of Galilee They were very rich and bestowed part of their goods vpon the poore and other pious vses S. Ierome saith also that they continued together 20. years and neuer had children for which Issachar the priest not only would not receue the offering of Ioachim in the temple of Ierusalem vpon a feast which was kept there and was called Encenia but bad him to depart out of the temple for that assuredly he had some secret sinne for the which God punished him and did not graunt him the fruit of benediction So that Ioachim all afflicted and ashamed departed from the temple Gregory Nizen and Simeon Metaphrastes say that S. Anna vpon the like solemnity came from Nazareth vnto Ierusalem 1. Reg. 1. and like the other Anna the mother of Samuel lamented wept and sighed in the Temple desiring God to graunt her children and euen as Anna the mother of Samuel did shee vowed to offer in the temple vnto the seruice of God the sonne or daughter that God would be pleased to giue her They say also that afer shee had made the vowe shee lay with her husband Ioachim and conceiued and was deliuered of the Queene of Angells the Virgin Mary our aduocate And though vsually when daughters are borne the father and mother do not reioyce so much as if it were a sonne for that the daughters are troblesome to bring vp and to mainteine more chargeable to set forth in marriage yet when the B. virgin was borne the father and mother felt and tasted infinite ioy as of a thing they had long desired They also reioyced for that they had some kinde of knowledg that this their daughter should not be any charge to them for a dowry in mariage but also by her meanes God would showe many fauors and blessings vpon all the world S. Bernard made this speech vnto the B. virgin in these wordes Happy art thou O Virgin Marie more then any other creature since of thee in thee and by thee God hath recreated the wholle world which he hath created In that we haue said before we haue in part seen the great worth of the Queen newly borne the order of her birth her coming into the world Now it remaineth as the vsage is to gratulate reioice with her father and mother saying vnto them O Holy and happy Patriark Ioachim and Anna happy may the birth of your daughter be wee pray God yee may see her brought vp and well married without doubt it shal be so for God will giue vnto her for spouse Ioseph one of the holiest men that shall be in the world He shal be her guard and help he shall not take of her the pledge dewe vnto spouses but rather by thes espousalls shee shall remaine
sent vnto he Iudgment seat of the great God For in it in very deed is the ladder of â—acob Gen. 28. whereby the Angells go vp and come downe They go vp with the praiers and petitions of the faithfull and present them vnto God and then come downe with their dispatch for the good and profitt of the faithfull beleeuers In the Church is preached the Gospell the obseruation of the commaundments of God is taught vertue is comended and vices be reprooued So that in it some are stroke with feare some haue compunction these weepe others reioice some are comforted and others are inflamed with the loue of God In the Church the faithfull soule talketh with God there he is praied vnto and in that place he is honored In the Church the Angells are present because there is the heauenly court yea the very same God is there really and personally and hath promised to be there vntill the end of the world In all these things you may see how much our Churches be more worthy then the Temple of Salomon So then if that Temple be so much magnifyed by men and God also it is conuenient and most iust seing that our Churches be in so high manner honored with the presence of God himself that they be also honored and reuerenced by vs and that therein nothing may be said or done vnseemely or vnfitting of so worthie a place Let presumptuous people and the prophaners of Churches feare the like seuere punishment as God gaue to that wretched king Antiochus who prophaned the Temple of Ierusalem 2. Macha 9. God striking him with a most terrible and horrible infirmitie This wretched caitife knew that this euill happened vnto him for prophaning the Temple of God in Ierusalem and therefore he bewayled his sinne exceedinglie He prayed vnto God and craued pardon of him but the text vttereth there a terrible and dreadfull sentence viz. The wretch prayed vnto God of whom he could not obtaine mercy The sorrow of this man was like the sorrow and repentance of Esau Cain and Iudas Heb 12. Gen 3. Math 27. P. Orosius that is to say defectiue and vnprofitable and therefore he was condempned as they were also We read in auncient histories that Pompey the Great was victorious in all his enterprises and affaires before he did prophane the Temple of Ierusalem but after that time he was vnfortunate in all his businesses and finally he was vanquished in battaile by Iulius Caesar and escaping by flight repaired for aide to the king of Egipt as to his friend but in steed of help he found his death the king cutting of his head and sending it vnto Caesar the conquerour as a present For prophaners of Churches and holie places these two examples are sufficient and for those that vse small or no reuerence to Churches this one is inough That our Lord and Sauiour himself chastised them with rigour which caryed not due respect vnto the Temple of Salomon For he himself in person when as man he conuersed with men did driue the people our of the same Temple with whippes and scourges because they vsed to and in the same smalle or no reuerence Let them who prophane our Churches being of farre more excellency then that was imagine yea assure themselues that they shal be chastised with much more rigour Surelie we ought to beare great respect and reuerence to our Churches and to behaue our selues in them as Dauid counselleth in a psalme where he saith In the Temple of God let euery one speak of his glorie All that which is to be spoken of in the Church ought to be to the glorie of God and if it be to his glorie it will redound and arise to our profitt since in that place he will make vs partakers of his mercyes which shal be the beginning of our Beatitude God grant vs all to find in his Church mercy for his deare sonnes sake our Blessed Sauiour Amen The life of S. Theodore Martyr IT is written in the book of Iudges how Sampson that renowned souldier of God at his death pulled downe a temple of the Gentiles whereby manie of them were killed and the temple falling to the ground was vtterly destroyed Herein Sampson did worthy seruice vnto Almightie God who had determined by this meanes to chastice that treacherous and vnbeleeuing nation The verie like befell vnto another valiant souldier of CHRIST called Theodore who set fire to a temple of the Gentiles for which cause he was afterward martyred And in the one and the other of the these things there was done vnto our Lord God great and good seruice The life of this glorious martyr is taken out of an homilie or sermoÌ„ made by S. Gregorie Nissen which he preached on the daie of his martyrdome in the same Church where he was buried He reherseth it in this wise THE cause good Christian people why you be here assembled from diuers partes with trauaile and toile of your persons by reason of the sharpnes of the winter is onlie to celebrate the feast of the glorious martyr S. Theodore This is a thing iust and reasonable since we be all obliged vnto him for the great and many benefitts which we haue receaued by his intercession One of these is well knowne vnto all namely how the Barbarous Scithians this last yeere threatening to kill vs and hauing drawne their swordes to bathe them in our blood returned back vnto their countries in manner of flight not for feare of our corporall armes but being terrified with the Crosse of CHRIST with which this glorious saint our patrone chased the away I desire you all to be attentiue and I will reherse in what manner this holie martyr came to giue his life for CHRIST whilest he liued in this world for I do not know in perticuler the reward he hath in heauen And when we know this we ought to take profitt by endeauouring to imitate him I saie then that we haue his blessed body in this Church and although it be of the same matter and nature that other dead bodies be yet it is not to be likened vnto them for if you open any of their sepulchers the bodies appeere lothesome to the sight and be displeasing to the smell so that we turne our face from them considering the miserie of our nature and the frailtie of mankind But vnto this glorious martyr it falleth out otherwise For assoone as we enter into the Church where his blessed bodie is as all we haue done this daye the sight is pleased seing the sumptuous and cunning built Church where it seemeth the caruer and the painter contended to excell each other the one in the building of the same aswell in the pauement as pillers of the finest marble in which be engrauen sondrie pictures of lyuing creatures as in the rooffe and couering of tymber which is curiouslie wrought and cunningly ioyned The painter was not inferioure in his art setting forth liuely
most pure and chast as she was before and euer shall be Shee shall haue another spouse in heauen which shal be God himself to wit The Holy Ghost the third person of the holy Trinity He shall be her spouse and by him shee shall conceiue without losse or dammage vnto her virginity and hauing conceiued shall bring forth into the world our Sauior and Redeemer After we haue thus reioiced with Ioachim and Anna for that thy haue such a daughter borne vnto them we may also reioice with their other kinsfolke for that they haue gotten nowe such a kinswoman Let vs reioice also with the sinners for that nowe this day is borne their aduocate Let vs reioice with the Angels since that on this day is borne their Queene let vs reioice with God since on this day is borne his mother daughter and spouse And at the last let vs reioice with the virgin her selfe since God hath elected her to such gretnes and dignity And the occasion of this being for that we be sinners for if sinne had not bin God had not bin made man and if he had not bin made man shee had not bin his mother Therfore without doute shee being aduaunced to this gretnes by our occasion will remember vs and obteine for vs of the same God who is her sonne pardon and mercy for our sinnes transgressions and also his heauenly grace that we may be partakers of his glory The life of S. Adrian Martir THE worthy king Dauid speaking with God in one Psalme said Ps 118 I haue inclined my hart to do iust and good workes for retribution sake that is hauing regard vnto the reward which ariseth in doing them It is not euill to exercise and do good and holy workes in hauing regard vnto that which is gained therby in doing them The reason hereof is that the guerdon or reward which is expected is God himselfe In such sort that he who for that respect doth good workes doth them for the loue of God In the number of those may the glorious martir S. Adrian be accounted who by hearing of the greate guerdon the martirs expected did voluntarilie offer himselfe vnto martirdome His life was written by Ado. B. of Triers and it was in this manner THE Emperour Maximian commaunded that the Christians that were in the citie of Nicomedia a city of Bithinia should be diligently sought out Many were apprehended and after that the Emperour had admonished and willed them to adore the Idoll and sawe them constant and firme in the profession of the faith of IESVS CHRIST he bad them all to be chained vnto wodden postes and to be beaten with the rawe sinewes of beastes and when he heard them in they re tormentes to praise the name of IESVS CHRIST he caused their tounges to be cut out and theire mouthes to be beaten with greate stones The number of these martirs was 23. Adrian was present there as an officer to attend and see that the commaundement of the Emperour should be executed He was an Idolater and a man of good account with Maximian And when he sawe howe patiently the holy martirs tollerated those terrible tormentes wondering therat he said vnto them I coniure you by the God which you adore and for whom you suffer these torments to tell me truly what guerdon or reward you expect for I suppose it to be very greate The holy martirs though they had no tonges by the permission of God answered him thus The reward we expect is such so greate that eyes neuer sawe it nor eares haue hard it nor the hart of man cānot conceiue it for it is an vnspeakable good which God hath prepared for his frends Adrian hearing this desired not to heare any more but being inspired by God and shewing himselfe desirous to be partaker of so greate good entred into the midst of the martirs and said to the Register before whom the matter was handled write also my name with these soulders of CHRIST for I will be a Christian also as they be The Emperour was certified hereof and when the name of Adrian was read vnto him among the other Christians which were prisoners he caused him to be called said vnto him O Adrian what art thou become foolish that thou seekest to lose thy life wretchedly Adrian aunswered I haue been but nowe I am not a foole for that I am a Christian and no more an Idolater as I haue bene before time The'mperour being desirous to make him alter his purpose discoursed and conferred long with him but seeing his words did not preuaile in rage and fury he caused him to be chained and fettered and put in prison Adrian was about 28. yeares old had to wife a woman called Natalia who was a Christian When shee heard what had befallen vnto her husband shee went with greate ioy vnto the prison and fell at his feet and kissing his fetters wherewith he was gyued said vnto him Blessed art thou ô Adrian my husband and my Lord nowe thou hast found the riches which thy father left not vnto thee Passe securely vnto IESVS CHRIST in whom thou hast reposed thy treasure which thou shalt find herafter in the time of necessity when no man shall be able to deliuer from punishment the wretch which shal be condemned The father shall not be able to deliuer the sonne nor the mother the daughter nor the transitorie riches of the world nor the ambition to haue many seruants and a great patrimony the freind shall not be of ability to help the freind only the deedes which a man hath done shall do a man good and pleasure Thou my Lord hast IESVS CHRIST in thy company in whom thou hast deposed and laid vp thy treasures walk in the way thou hast begon be not wery therof to the end thou maiest enioy the promises Take heede let not the remembrance of earthly and momentary things moue thee to turne backward from thy way begon nether let thy kinsfolks nor the wailings of thy father and mother nor the flattery of thy freinds nor the menaces of thy enemies moue thee Let not the torments of the tirant put thee in feare but fixe thy eyes vpon the constancie patience of these holie martirs which be with thee Imitate them in life and thou shalt be rewarded with them in death The blessed woman hauing said these words went vnto the holy martirs one by one and kissed their gyues and fetters saieng I beseech you ô seruants of IESVS CHRIST to animate and encourage my husband gaine you his soule Be vnto him a father that by your meanes he may be regenerated vnto euerlasting life Adrian said vnto his wife Goe home from hence my deare and chast sister for when the time shall come that we shal be examined and iudged I will bring thee notice therof that thou maiest be present and see the end of this work Certein daies after S. Adrian vnderstood that they resolued to
for their Abbot Who was vnwilling to take the charge on her but the entreaty of the monks who were much pleased with hir holy life preuailed There was in Alexandria a matrone called Melantia who had bin cured and healed of a great infirmitie by the praiers of Eugenius who adiudged her to be a man Eugenius went oft vnto her house at her importunate inuitations The matrone was indeed ennamoured of her and they two being alone without any regard of her estate or credit laid open her loue imagining her to be a man Eugenius sharply reproued her and so departed and left hir alone Melantia seing her self contemned and refused like the mistris of Ioseph shricked out and said Gen. 39. that the Abbot Eugenius would haue forced her And not content with that did also accuse her falsely vnto the Gouernor who was the father of Eugenia The Regent hauing heard the accusation of Melania commanded the Abbot Eugenius to be brought in before him When the blessed Saint vnderstood the cause wherefore shee was called she tooke thhe Eunuchs Protus and Iacinctus in the habite of religious men with her being come before Philip her father he vsed rough words and asked them if CHRIST their God counselled them to force honorable Ladies The virgin with a modest and cherefull face said There is time to be silent and a time to speak Eccle. 3. If Melantia saith that I would vse force it is not true and thou ô Philip peraduenture doest but iest with me in asking if the God that I adore doth will me to do such things Now thou shalt see the verity of this womans acusation Hauing saith this she rent her habite before her breast and opened it that euery one might see by her breastes that she was a woman Then she proceeded and told him that she was Eugenia his daughter and moreouer she spake so well vnto hir father that he was conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST and so was Claudia his wife and all the rest of his family Philip gaue vp his office and place and not long after was chosen Bishop and afterward in the persecution raised by the Emperours Valerian and Gallyen he was martired Claudia Eugenia Prothus and Iacinctus returned vnto Rome where by the labour of the holy damosell Eugenia and of the two holy Eunuches Protus Iacinctus many were conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST Gallien being certified herof caused Eugenia to be apprehended after the indurance of many torments to be beheadded Then he caused the two Eunuchs Prothus and Iacinctus to be taken and hauing vsed sundry enducements to moue them to sacrifice vnto the Idolls which they refused to do shewing themselues very couragious and constant in the faith of CHRIST the tirant caused them to be cruelly scourged and after many other torments giuen vnto them he caused them in like maner to be beheaded Their martirdome and death was on the 11. day of September and on that day the Church celebrateth their feast It was in the yeare of our Lord. 263. in the reigne of the aforesaid Gallyen The exaltation of the holy Crosse ALMIGHTY God glorieth by the mouth of the prophet Ezechiel to haue done a famous work Ezech. 17. and indeed worthy of himselfe as he showeth by the maner of rehersing the saue saieng I the Lord haue humiliated and abased the lofty and stately wood haue enhaunced the lowly and humble wood S. Ierome saith that this humble wood is IESVS CHRIST and he saith very well for he being so humbled that at the last he died on the Crosse God for that cause did exalt him as S. Paule saith to such height that the Angells in heauen Phil. 2. the men on earth and vnder the earth in purgatory do bowe their knees at his name and do him reuerence And IESVS CHRIST was not exalted only to that height for that he was humiliated but the wood also which was the instrument of his humiliation was exalted and honored by God since as S. Augustine saith the Crosse which was alwaies before reprochefull bicause thieues and other malefactors were put to death on the same now Emperours and kings beare it on their heads for that IESVS CHRIST died vpon the same Themperour Heraclius honored and respected it especially wresting it out of the hands of Cosdroes king of Persia who had taken it from Ierusalem and carried it into his kingdome and putting it in the former place Nowe let vs see howe it passed framing a history therof out of a sermon that Andreas B. of Candia made of the Exaltation of the holie Crosse rehersed by Lippomanus and the lections of the Romaine Breuiary and diuers martirologes and historiographers yet first we will propound an important doctrine which is this OVR Lord God desiring to be serued and not to be offended by men seing their condition and seuerall estates and that some be noble and to be dealt with all mildly and that others be rude and are to be handled roughly he gaue premonitions vnto them to the end they should not lament nor complaine of him as if they had not ben warned He talking with the Hebrewes as we reade in Leuiticus said to them Leuit. 26. If you obserue my commaundements among other good and profit you shall reap therby one shal be this that if you haue enemies that molest and make warre on you five of you shall put a. 100. of them to flight and a. 100. of you shall put to flight 10000. of them But if on the other side you shal be disobedienr to me a fewe of your enemies shall make many of you to fly and that in dread and feare though none pursue you This which God said then vnto the people was apparant and seen as we read in the booke of Iosua where it is said Ios 7. that the Hebrues hauing beseiged Iericho certein daies finally they took it without drawing their sword bicause the walles fell downe and they which were within made no resistance all was put to the fire and sword not sparing any thing for so God had comaunded bicause his indignation was kindled against that nation as also to terrify his other enemies It came to passe in the pilling therof that there came to the hands of a souldier called Achan a scarlet robe some mony and a wand or rod of gold which things he kept against the commaundement of God And to be more secure he hid them all in the ground This being done part of the army dislodged and went to fight against Hay the citisens wherof issued out and encountred with them and preuailed killing many Israelites and fewe returned with this dolefull newes Iosua generall of the host seing the same fell on the ground and weeping said vnto God Howe happeneth it o Lord be these thy promises Doth it seeme to thee a iust thing to haue thy people so euil entreated by thine enemies Assoone as we be entred into this
family to the Mauri Being fully 20. yeeres old he was sent by his father to Rome to study where he remained in the house of Quintus Fabius his fathers friend vntill S. Peter the Apostle came to Rome to preach the Gospell Then this S. Linus was of his first disciples who followed him asisting him alwaies in his preaching and in the administration of the hely Sacramēts S. Peter seing in him many good partes as his holines learning and curteous affability he made him his coadiutor in the dignity to the which he was also elected after the death of the Apostle So that first he was coadiutor then Pope and head of the Church for the which with great care and prudence he prouided all thinges necessarie for the good gouernement thereof He comaunded in particuler that women hould not enter into the Church with their haire loose and vntied but bound vp and couered as S. Peter had comaunded and S. Paul had left written He gaue holy orders twise in the month of December and at them he consecrated 15. Bishops and ordered 18 Priests with some Deacons In the primitiue Church there was great care had in giuing holy orders and in receiuing any to the office of a priest or the other orders and therefore they kept a reconing and conserued the memory of the times when holy orders were giuen and how many were ordered Those ancient fathers did this for that this office was so reuerend holy and so hard to discharge that many deputed and apointed to take orders refused it yea some there were that cut of some member or other as their finger eare nose or the like to make themselues incapable to receiue an office so great and waighty as Priesthood is Moreouer the Christians at that time were fewe in number so that there was not such need of so many Pastors If the same were done at this present it would surely be a notable benefit aswell for the one part as for the other if that prelates were not so liberall and ready in giuing holy orders nor secular Christians so bold and hasty in procuring to receaue the same the Priests should not be so litle esteemed nor the seculars haue such occasion to murmure of the Ecclesiasticall state S. Linus wrote the deeds and doctrine of S. Peter the Apostle his maister and especialy his martirdome S. Linus being a most holy man cast out diuells and raised the dead to life He deliuered from the diuell a yong woman daughter to the Consul Saturninus who in recompence of that receaued benefitt by the handes of the good Pope comaunded he should be put to death and so he was made the martir of IESVS CHRIST It is no smal honour to S. Linus that the Catholike Church hath put his name in the Canon of the masse among other holy martirs there mētioned The feast of S. Linus is celebrated on the daie of his martirdom which was one the 23 of September in the yeare of our Lord 81. in the time of Vespasian the Emperour This holy Martir held the Papacy 11. yeeres 3. monthes and 12 daies was buried neere vnto the body of S. Peter the Apostle Shortly after his holy reliques were translated vnto the citty of Ostia and laid comely in the Church of S. Lawrence by Gregorie Bishop of that citty S. Paul maketh mention of Pope Linus in the second Epistle he wrote vnto Timothie his disciple in the 4. chapter The life of S. Tecla virgin THE Apostle S. Paule writing vnto the Corinthians saith 1. Cor. 7. that the virgin sinneth not in taking a husband but doth a good work though it should be better not to take a husband but to remaine a virgin I may be that the Apostle preached this doctrin in a sermon and that a yong woman named Tecla who had determined to take a hushand was present therat Who vnderstanding that it was better to conserue her virginity left and forsooke her earthly spouse taking IESVS CHRIST to her heauenly spouse for whose loue she tollerated very great afflictions and torments which were procured vnto her by him that thought to be her husband The life of this glorious saint gathered out of the writings of S. Ambrose Ado Arch of Triers and out of other graue authors was as followeth ON a time S. Paule departing from Antioch went vnto a city called Iconium in the prouince of Cilicia There had bene there before that time Titus his disciple and had giuen notice and signes of him vnto Onesiphorus who was a very vertuous man and dwelt in that city He had related allso vnto him the doctrine which he preached his life and behauior and informed him of the quality of his personage to wit that he was a man litle of body and that he had a hooked nose and faire in the face like an Angell When the Apostle came vnto the city Onesiphorus knew him by the signes before told him wherefore he led him to his house where some people of good intention and desirous to finde the true way to eternall life and happines were assembled The Apostle preached vnto them to the great profit of them that gaue due attention vnto him In the next house to the place where the Apostle preached there dwelt a damosell very beautifull but much more vertuous called Tecla This damosell had a mother liuing who had made a match and apointed to marry her to a yongman called Tamirus It hapened on a time that Tecla standing in a windowe of her house heard from thence the preaching wordes of S. Paul which made very great impressiō in the mind of the yong damosell She being not content to haue heard him this one time endeauored and made meanes to heare him sondry other times and so long that her mother came to the knowledge thereof how the wordes of the Apostle had made her daughter to alter her intent and purpose to marry Yea the virgin Tecla her self who was a pagan before said now boldly that she was a Christian and she that before was resolued to take an husband said now that she desired rather to loose her life then her virginity The mother made report of these things vnto the spouse of her daughter who finding the same to be very true because Tecla her self told him her mind freely and what she entended to do which was that she would not marry but remaine a virgin went vnto the Proconsull of the citty and gaue him notice that there was a forreiner come into the towne who took wiues from their husbands and brought in new and strange Gods to the notable preiudice and damage of them all as being contrary to that their fore fathers had beleeued This information was the cause that the Apostle was apprehended cruelly scourged and put in danger of his life had he not made it knowne vnto them that he had the priuiledge of a citisen of Rome by being borne in Tarsus a citty of Cicilia yet for all
louely and sweet but well weighed reasons and gentle termes endeuoring to persuade him to forsake and abandon that faith of CHRISTE and marrie with her But oure Sauioure was on Chrisantus his side to stay him from gliding into sinne he gaue his words such a heauenlie grace and printed in his minde such forcible reasons that with them he conquered Daria and made her fall into the selfe same snare wherein she laboured to entrappe Chrisantus For moued by his reasons and powerfully drawen by the grace of God she resolued to be a Christian They accorded to keepe they re virginitie vnspotted and yet giue it out and so possess others with a conceite that they were married by which meanes Chrisantus was freed out of prison and from the keepers hsi father had placed about him Daria was baptized and both of them did liue together as brother and sister keeping theire puritie vndefiled Now as it is the propertie of goodness freelie to impart it selfe to others and of vertuous people to desire and endeuoure that others be partakers of that precious iewell which themselues enioie eache of them counsailed all suche persons with whom they conuersed to receaue the faith of Christe oure sauioure and leade a chaste and vertuous life and manie were persuaded to embrace such good counsaile the woe men by Daria the men by Chrisantus This was speedilie knowen ouer all Rome and notice thereof came to Celerinus prefect of the cittie who forthwith comaūded thē to be apprehended and brought before Claudius the Tribune apointing him to heare and examine theire cause and finding them guiltie to punish them The Tribune comaunded Chrisantus should be led to the temple of Iupiter where because he refused to adore the Idoll he caused him to be most cruellie beaten The executioners performed the Tribunes comaund with so litle remorse cōpassion that his bones and bowells might be seene through his wounds They caried him back again to prison cast him into a loathsome darck dungeon loaded him with giues and fetters and cast vpon the ground manie filthie and stinking things But in the sight of the cruell officers his yrons were turned into dust and in steede of the stinking noy some smell there was a most sweete and fragrant sent Then a Bulls hide was flaied and taken of and Chrisantus naked was put thereinto wherein he remained a whole day exposed to the scorching beames of the Sunne though he receaued thereby no harme at all They cast him once againe in prison loden with yrons which were streight waies consumed and turned to pouder and manie lights appeared which made the dark dungeon bright like noone day They tied him vnto a post meaning to beate him with rodds of yron which whē the officers tooke vp in theire hands they became verie soft and no man could strike with them anie one stroake to anie purpose At length the Tribune Claudius conuinced that so great wonders as these were not done by art Magick but by the hand and power of God the beames of whose grace did now beginne to enlighten his hart falling downe at the feete of S. Chrisantus and crauing perdon for the harme which he had done him he desired him to pray to the God he adored and by whom he was assisted in so manie and so cruell torments to graunt him pardon for his sinnes and knowledge of him selfe The like did all his souldioures whom the martin embraced most louinglie and there were baptized all at one time Claudius with Iason and Maurus his sonnes and Hilaria his wife all his whole familie and the souldioures of his charge with manie other people The Emperoure Numerian assoone as he came to the knowledge of so great an alteration commaunded that all should be put to death Claudius was cast into the riuer Tiber with a great stone about his necke and drowned the rest were beheaded Hilaria some daies after being at her praiers in a caue where the bodies of the martirs were buried was taken by the painims and as they were about to carrie her before the Emperoure she craued some respitt to make het praier wherein she requested allmightie God to take her into the companie of her husband and sonnes His Maiestie vouchasafed to heare her praier and she rendered her soule into his hands and her bodie remained with the other holie saincts The Emperour gaue order that Chrisantus should be brought to a prison called Tullianum and Daria to the common stewes amongst nanghtie woemen where by the presence of that holie virgen so ignominious and reproachefull a place was turned with her praiers into a chappell For God did send in her defence a lion who slipping of his chaines and breaking loose out of his den laied himselfe at the feete of Daria with signes and tokens that he would defend her Not long after came in a bold impudent youth with intention to defloure the B. virgen But the lion encounterd him cast him to the ground held him downe with his pawes and looked vpon her as one demaunding how he should vse that wretched yong man She commaunded that he should doe him no harme and taking occasion from the lions obedience towards God she spake vnto the man and reduced him to the faith of CHRIST He seing in what perill of his life he had bin and how once he was rather dead then aliue seing himselfe againe free from all danger by the commaundment of the holie virgen went preaching aloude throught all Rome There was no other God but IESVS CHRIST whom the Christians adored The keepers of the lion came to haue him back but he fell vpon thē and cast them to the ground and staid expecting the will and pleasure of the saint she with so good an occasion did likewise acquaint them with the power and strength of the faith of CHRIST and they were conuerted thereunto and became the publishers and preachers of the glorie and Maiestie of oure Lord. Celerinus the Prefecte informed of all this caused a fier to be kindled about the lodging to burne and consume the virgen and the lion together but by the will of allmightie God to whose power nothing is impossible in whose sight his martirs are renowmed glorious the lion hauing receaued the Virgens blessing bowing downe his head went through the flame with out burning and through the whole citty without doing or receauing anie hurt or damage After all this Chrisantus was put vpon a torment called Armentarium but the post brake in sunder his bands were vnloosed and the torches which were lighted to burne him on the sides were quenched Those allso which would haue tormented Daria had the sinewes of theire handes contracted with such excessiue paine that they were constrained to let it alone Finallie they led them out of the cittie into the way called Salaria where hauinge digged a great ditche or pit both the saincts were put aliue into the same and then couered and ouerwhelmed with earth and stones and
the auncyent souldyers should be enrolled and serue in person in the warres By this occasion the father of Martin who disliked the holie desires of his sonne caused him to be enrolled and sent him vnto the warres being then 15. yeares old and in those warres of Constantius the sonne of Constantine the great and Iulian he serued He was in the ordinary garrison of Pauia a city of Italy and with him he had a seruant vnto whom many times he gaue attendance such was his humility They eate at one table and sometimes Martin pulled of his bootes and made them cleane yea it is said that once hauing a seruant of a good nature he dismissed him looked for another that should be stark naught that he might haue occasion to merite more He serued in the warres 3. yeres before he was Baptised yet he eschued the vices which be ordinary and vsuall amongst souldiers He was affable curteous and charitable to his equalles lowely among his companions he was sober and temperate in the cherishing of himself in such sort that he seemed rather a relligious man then a souldier and before he was baptised he did all that a good Christian should doe He took that wages which was giuen him and reserued no more therof for his owne vse then that which was necessary for the mayntenance of his person the rest he gaue vnto the poore for those vertues and charitable acts which were in him he was beloued of all men On a time as he entred the city of Amiens which is in Gallia Belgica he saw a poore man naked that craued almes of them that passed by It was winter and extreame cold S. Martin was at that time armed and had no other garment but his souldiers coate The holy saint seeing no man to bestowe any thing on the poore man cut his cote in two parts with his sword and gaue one halfe therof to the poore man and the other part he reserued for himself Many saw this deed and some laughed to see him with half a garment and others were ashamed to consider they had not done the like charitable deed in all their life and better might they haue done it since they might haue clothed the poore man and not haue vnclothed themselfs The next night S. Martin being in a sound sleep he saw in a vision CHRIST couered with the piece of the garment he had giuen vnto the poore man and drawing nere vnto him asked if he knew that garment Then he heard CHRIST say to his Angells Martin being yet a Catechumen hath couered me with this garment By this doth euidently appeare that which IESVS CHRIST said in the ghospell That which is done vnto the poore is done vnto me S. Martin was not proud of this but yelded thanks vnto CHRIST for it and was very earnest and diligent to obteine Baptisme and desired to leaue the seruice of the warres but at the entreaty and importunacy of his Coronell he staied vntill his time was expired He was Baptised at the age of 18. yeares and remained still a souldier for the space of two years after which time he lefte the warres by reason of a peace ensuing which seemed to be miraculous and was thus The armies being ready to ioine battell a peace was made vpon very honorable condicions for the side wheron S. Martin was yea it is thought that almightie God made it for his holy saints sake who being abused in words by his captaine who called him coward and base fellow saying also that he desired to leaue the souldiers life that he might not be indangered in that battell S. Martin offered to passe through the enemies squadrons with out any armor for which cause God to preserue him from that iminent daunger procured an honorable peace to be made for his side Then went S. Martin to S. Hillary Bishop of Poiters with whom he remained some certeine dayes enioying his holy company and was edified by his vertuous behauior Then desirous to returne into his owne countrey he tooke leaue of S. Hillary both of them weeping aboundantly at their departure at which time S. Hillary gaue vnto S. Martin the order of Acolite besought him to retorne back vnto him speedely S. Martin trauelling on the way was like to haue bene murdered for certain thieues lying in waite for him one of them striking a full blow with his sword to wound him and another bearing it of with his weapon S. Martin shewed no feare at all And being demaunded the cause he made aunswere I neuer had lesse feare in my life for that I serue a Lord who I am assuered will not abandon me in a greater daunger then this is Herof the holy saint tooke occasion to preach vnto them IESVS CHRIST and one of those thiefs was conuerted and entred into relligion and died a blessed man At last he came to his owne countrey and preached the faith of CHRIST vnto his father and mother His mother was conuerted but his father continued still in his Idollatry and after that many other persons were conuerted to the faith by his meanes At that time the Arrian heresy was spred very much in the countrey where S. Martin preached and because he only publikely resisted them the heretiks did persecute him with all extremity and on a time they imprisoned him and scourged him publikely so shamelesse they were and not content herewith they sent him into exile S. Martin departing from his natiue countrey returned into Fraunce and there he vnderstood that S. Hillary was also banished by the Arrians wherfore he passed into Italy and builded a monastery nere vnto Millan where some Catholiques assembling together liued iointly with him a monasticall life But he was there also greuously persecuted by a principall Arrian heretique called Auxentius who after he had done him many wrongs and abuses neuer ceased vntill he had driuen him from thence also S. Martin yealding to the time took sea and came to an Island called Gallinaria in the cōpany of a holy priest where they two remained a good space susteining themselfs with the rootes of herbes only Then newes came vnto him that S. Hillary was returned vnto his Bishoprique wherefore he determined to find him out and when he came thither the holy father receiued him very louingly S. Martin dwelling there built another monastery nere vnto Poiters vnto which place came a Catechumen to be instructed in the faith and holy behauior It happened that S. Martin being absent the yong man fell sicke and died and whilest the other relligious men prepared to bury him the holy saint came and made great shew of sorowe for the death of that his disciple and coming into the roome where the dead body lay he bad all the other depart out then he shutt the dore and remained there two houres in praiers and he that was dead began then by litle and litle to recouer his sences and returned to life and perfect health When theother
virgine Mary might be kept on the 21. Nouember The life of S. Cecilie ONE of the vertuous excercises that the holie matrone Iudith vsed in the seruice of God and to please him was that she wore a course haire-cloth by which she tamed her flesh and brought it in subiestion This was the cause that she had the victorie ouer her flesh and that she liued many yeares a continent and chast life and was freed from all danger and brought home an honorable victorie at such time as she was in the handes of Holofernes We maie saie the same of the glorious virgin and martyr S. Cecilie who amongst many other her pious and vertuous excercises wore continually a haire-cloth and she was deliuered from a danger like vnto that of Iudith for she was preserued a virgin though she were espoused and brought her husband to be a Christian and to keep perpetuall chastitie with her which both of them obserued during their liues The life of this holie saint was written by Symeon Metaphrastes after this manner MANY and great were the graces and fauours that IESVS CHRIST bestowed vpon men discending from heauen vnto earth and deliuering them with his owne death from eternall death ouercoming thereby him that had power in the world and then guiding them by his doctrine vnto heauen Many men acknowledging this good done vnto them by our blesses Sauiour followed him The first were the Apostles then the martyrs Confessors priests virgins wydowes and maried people and those that excercise themselues in all vertuous workes To conclude his diuine maiestie calleth euerie one by the meanes of his euangelists saying Come vnto me all you that be wearied and afflicted and I will refresh you I will lighten the waight that lyeth so heauen vpon you This comfortable saying was heard by S. Cecilie a virgin of Rome who was beautifull of bodie noble of bloud and ritch in posessions Shee beleeuing the Gospell caried it alwaies about her reading often thereon and praying vnto God continually Her father had espoused her to a verie goodlie gentleman of Rome called Valerian who being inflamed with the loue of Cecilie desired much the wedding daie At last the daie came and the glotious virgin though she were in rich apparrell of silk and gold conformeable to her owne birth and the estate of her husband yet vnder her said apparrell next to her skinne she wore a course haircloth Three daies before the apointed tâ—me of the wedding she fasted wept and prayed continuallie desiring God to preserue her virginitie for that this mariage was not by her desired neither should it be by her will since she had giuen herself whollie to IESVS CHRIST and offred to him her virginitie And that her praier might the rather be heard she desired the Angells Apostles martyrs virgins and all the court of heauen to make intercession for her The time at last being come that she and Valerian were to be priuate in their chamber alone she spake to him after this manner My honorable Lord and deare loue I will discouer vnto you a waighty matter if you will promise to keep it secret Valerian forth with promised and then Cecilie said vnto him The secret is this I haue an Angell of God in my companie who is iealous of me and guardeth my bodie verie dilligentlie If he see thee so hardie as to come neere or touch me with carnall or lasciuious loue he will chastice thee rigorously but if he see that thou loue me with pure and chast loue he will loue thee as he loueth meâ— and will bestowe the like pretious fauours as he bestoweth on me Valerian hearing thâ—se words was some what troubled and fearefully said If thou my dearest Cecilie desire that I beleeue thy wordes let me see the Angell If I see him not I shall thinck it is some person that thou louest in dishonest sort which is a wrong to me that am thy husband And if I find it so I wil not faile to kill you both To this S. Cicilie answered If you desire to see the Angell you must be Baptised beleeue in one God eternall and Omnipotent Creator of heauen and earth The conclusion of their long speech was they agreed that on the next daie Valerian should talk with the blessed Bishop Vrban who at that tyme sat in the Chaire of S. Peter and by him Valerian being first instructed in the faith was Baptised Then returning home and coming into the chamber where Cecilie was he found her at prayer and an Angell by her in the shape of a beautifull yongman from whose face came a glorious brightnes The yong man had two garlands in his hand made of Lillies and fresh odoriferous Roses The one he gaue vnto S. Cecilie and the other vnto Vallerian When he deliuered them he said I haue brought these garlands for you wrought with flowres gathered in paradise and in signe I saie true they will continew allwaies fresh and smell verie sweet and maie not be seene but of them that endeauour to liue chast as you do And because thou Valerian hast giuen credit vnto thy spouse and hast receaued the faith of CHRIST the same IESVS hath apointed me to tell thee from him that demaund what thou wilt and he will grant it vnto thee When Valerian heard this he kneeled on the ground and rendred thanckes vnto God for the great benefitt bestowed on him and said I desire this fauour that my brother Tiburtius whom I loue most hartelie maie be conuerted vnto the faith I shall not shew the loue that I beare him if I being now deliuered from the blindnes of Idollatrie wherein I liued do not help to deliuer him also out of it if it be in my power To this the Angell answered with a cheerful countenance Since thou hast demaunded so iust a thing God doth grant it vnto thee And as Cecilie thy spouse hath bene the meanes of thy saluation so shall she also be a meanes for thy brother Tiburtius All came to passe as the Angell said for Tiburtius coÌ„ming by hap into the chamber and feeling a sweet smell of lillies and roses and seing none demaunded of them whence the fragrant smell came that he felt Valerian told him that it came from two garlands which he and Cecilie had on their heads and had bene brought vnto them from heauen Valerian took occasion hereupon to giue him knowledg of IESVS CHRIST and told him also that he himself was Baptised Then leading his brother Tiburtius to Vrban the pope he instructed him in the faith and Baptised him also It befell afterward that the two brethren excercising themselues in good works and especiallie in burieng the Christians that were martyred information was giuen of them to a gouernor called Almachius who imprisoning them and tormenting them in diuers manners as is written in their liues on the 14 of Aprill they were beheaded for the profession of the faith of CHRIST and S. Cecilie buried their bodies
I will make you Fishers of men at this they left their bark and netts and followed him and from that houre they kept him company and he made them his Apostles S. Iohn maketh mention of S. Andrew in the recouÌ„ting the myracle our Sauiour did on the mouÌ„t when he would seed 5000. persons that followed him and asked S. Philippe where he might buy asmuch bread as would suffice all those people and he made an answer shewing little faith S. Andrew shewed a little more faith then he sayeng there was a boy that had fiue loaues two fishes though he doubted some what sayeng it was too litle for so many The same S. Iohn saith also of S. Andrew that some Gentills desired to see IESVS CHRIST vpoÌ„ the â—ame that was of him spoake to S. Philip to being theÌ„ to see him he spoke to S. Andrew both of theÌ„ told IESVS how some desired to see him There is no other particuler thing written in the Ghospell of S. Andrew though it be very certain that he was present in those things where it is said that all the Apostles of CHRIST were there as being one of them He was present at the resurrectioÌ„ of Lazarus he was at the entrie in to IerusaleÌ„ on Palme-sonday He was at the Supper where he was made priest and Bishop communicated Then with the rest he abandoned our Lord flyeng as the others did hee sawe our Sauiour raised to life and also ascend into heauen and receaued the holy Ghost and his gifts also He preached in Scithia Europea which fell to his lotte He passed into Thracia Epyrus in all which countryes he preached did myracles and conuerted much people to the faith of CHRIST Finally he came to the city of Patras in Achaia and there he staied and made it his place of abode and residence preaching and gainyng many soules by conuerting them to the faith not only in that prouince and city but also in the countreys adiacent in a small space there was not staÌ„ding one temple of the Idolls for that they were all turned into Chappell 's or into oratoryes where the Apostle said masse as occasioÌ„ serued He ordered deacons other ministers to help him in this holy misterie Euery one loued reuerenced him for that they knew our good God had bestowed many benefits on theÌ„ by his meanes His life was an example to them all with his words he coÌ„forted euery one his deeds were very gracyous vnto them for that he healed the sick and cast out the deuills To euery one he did good and did not permitt any to do euill There came into this city as Proconsull Egeas sent by the Romaines to gouern that prouince He seing how matters went began to persecute the Christians compelling them to sacrifice vnto the Idolls S. Andrew came sayd vnto him It is good reasoÌ„ that thou who art a Iudg ouer men shouldst acknowledge thy Iudg which is in heauen and honour him for the true God as he is indeed and leaue the honouring of them who be no Gods Egeas said perhaps thou art that Andrew who did destroy the temples of the Idolls and persuade men to receaue the superstityous sect of the Christians which the Romaines haue apointed to be persecuted and to be rooted out S. Andrew replied The Romaines haue not yet vnderstood how the sonne of God is come from heauen vnto earth for the saluation of mankind who hath taught that these Idolls be deuills and deceiuers who bring men from the true seruice of God that they may depart out of this life replenished with synne and be punished in the life to come with eternall torments Egeas said these be the things your CHRIST preached to the Iewes for the which they crucified him you say true said the holy Apostle that IESVS CHRIST died on the Crosse but that was done by his owne proper will Howe by his will said Egeas Is it not knowen that one of his disciples sold and deliuered him into the hands of the Iewes who presented him before their gouernour and he caused him to be crucified All these things shew that he dyed not of his owne will S. Andrew replyed I was and am still his disciple and I auow that he died by his owne will for that he knew and said these things before viz that he should be taken crucified and rise againe the third day yea and I tell there more that my brother Peeter would haue hindered him to the end he should not haue permitted such thing to be done and was called Satan for the same in which he shewed that the hinderance of his death was vnto him displeasing And wheÌ„ he said that one of vs that were with him at the table should betray sell him his best beloued disciple called Iohn asked him who it was that should be so treacherous he answered that it was he vnto whom he gaue a soppe dipped in the platter at which word he gaue it to Iudas who was the man that sold him and had already bargeined to betray him by this you may know that my maister who knew all things might haue preuented it and if he did it not you are compelled to confesse that he dyed by his owne will Egeas said were it of his owne will were it by force I reckon not but I meruell at thee that thou wilt worshippe for God a man crucified S. Andrew said very great was the mystery of the Crosse and I will declare it vnto thee if thou wilt heare me with patience Egeas said I will hear thee patiently but after that if thou doest not harken and obay me I will make thee to feele the mistery of the Crosse vpon thy shoulders Menace not me said S. Andrew for that if I feared it I would not preach the glory therof The first man hauing incurred the punishment of death for eating the fruit of the forbidden tree it was conuenient that with the fruit of the tree of the Crosse should be cancelled the death of the world and remedy giuen to the losse of mankind And as the first man was formed of the virgen earth and the ruyne of the world was caused by him so it was fitt that CHRIST should be borne of the imaculate virgin Mary true God and true man that he should be the cause of the redemption of the world Adam stretched out his armes to gather the fruit of the forbidden tree and CHRIST stretched his out because they should be nayled to it Adam tasted the fruit and CHRIST tasted gall To conclude I tell thee that my Lord was clothed with mortall flesh and would dye vpon the Crosse that he might cloth vs with immortality and giue vs eternall life Egeas hauing giuen care to the Apostle a while said Tell these thy tales to them that will beleeue thee and beleeue thou me that if thou doest not sacrifice to our Gods I will put thee on the Crosse thou
heauen gate also You may go all to the Church to celebrate the feast of the natiuity of our Lord and I wretch being debarred will remaine here and lament and weep alone Ruffinus vnderstanding the cause of th'emperours sorowe sayd My Lord if it shall please you I will talke with Ambrose and entreat him to permit you to enter into the Church for the sorowe you haue had the teares you haue shed for the euill of which he reproued you is sufficient Theodosius aunswered Thy words will do no good for I know very well his constancy in vertue he is not a man will omit any matters belonging vnto God for feare or dread of emperiall maiesty or might Notwithstanding these words Ruffinus assayed how it would proue And when he treated with S. Ambrose he found him so constant and resolute yea so ready and prepared to dye if violence were offred for the defence of the autority of the church that he forthwith sent word vnto th'emperour to stay but he trusting vpon the former words of Ruffinus was comyng toward the Church When Theodosius heard this message he stayed not but went forward saying I will goe vnto the Church and there the Bishop shall tell me my fault and enioine me penance if he will as I deserue S. Ambrose stayed for him without the Church and when the Emperour came he besought S. Ambrose in most lowly wise to absolue him alleadging the example of Dauid who sinned and yet God pardoned him S. Ambrose replied If thou settest Dauid that sinned for an example consider also that he lamented and did penance for his sinne The Emperour said againe I haue sorrowed very much for the same The said S. Ambrose This is not ynough for thou hast committed a publique offence and thou must also doe publique penance The Emperour said I will so that shall suffice S. Ambrose said I would haue thee doe another thing which shal be a remedy for thy wrath and indignation for the time to come viz. That thou make a law that when thou or any other Emperour commaund any offendor to be put to death forthwith that the execution be staid vntill thirty dayes be expired Theodosius was content to doe all as the holy Bishop willed and did the penance with great sorrow and humility and also made the law which is extant to this day in the Codex Iustiniani when this was done he went to the Church I haue stayed some what long in recounting this accident aswell for that it appertaineth vnto the story of S. Ambrose as also for that Theodosius was a Spaniard and it is fit that the Spaniards should haue knowledge of a man that was so worthy to be Emperour as Theodosius was who though hee sinned did receiue with such lowelines the correction and penance imposed vpon him by a particuler Bishop Another notable thing happened vnto S. Ambrose with Stilico Gouernour of Millan for the Emperour The case was this Certaine publique baiting of beasts being made in the high streetes the Gouernour thought the time fit to apprehend one Cresconius who was fled vnto the Church for he much desired to punish him for certaine faultes he had committed To effect it he sent his officers who came into the Church and tooke out Cresconius pulling him by force from the Altar to which place he was fled for succour S. Ambrose saw it but could not help it for he had but a few Priests with him at that time wherefore he fell on his knees and wept bitterly for the violence offered to the Church not being able to remedy the same The officers led the man away and hauing put him safe in prison came to see the sports where they found Stillico and certified him of that they had done They had not yet told all their tale when two Leopards set vpon them and for all the rescue and defence that could be made to saue them they tore them to pieces and put the Gouernor to great feare who incontinent commaunded the prisoner to be restored vnto the Church and to be set free and he made satisfaction for the violence committed Many other things God did by this glorious saint for with his prayers he healed many sicke men deliuered many men that were posessed many were by him conuerted to the faith and attained vnto saluation The fame of this holy saint was spred ouer all the world and people resorted from farre distant places to see him as did Fridigildis Queene of the Morauians who was a paynime and hauing heard marueillous things spoken of S. Ambrose and desirous to be a Christian went to visite him and to craue of him a rule which she ought to beliue and how also she ought to liue The holy saint conuerted her and satisfied her in euery point and especially he appointed her to procure that her husband should keep peace and be in league with the Romans And so she departed after she was Baptised into her countrey very well pleased The end of the life of S. Ambrose approched whereof he had a reuelation long before so he had found that he should dye about Easter Being sicke in his bed Stillico the Gouernour of Millan said that the death of this man menaced the ruine and destruction of all Italy then called he some of the chiefe men of the Citty and bad them to speak vnto S. Ambrose and to exhort him to pray vnto God for the prolonging of his life for the great good they receiued by him The Cittizens went vnto the holy saint and did their message and hee answered I haue not liued so among you that I should be ashamed to liue and I haue not serued such a Lord that I should be a feard to dye and therefore I put my selfe wholly into his handes His holy will be done S. Ambrose was now at the point of death and two deacons that were in the same chamber although a good way from him talked to themselues in a low voice who should be Bishop after him One of them said Simplician should be Bishop for that he was a man of very good behauiour and an Abbot of a monastery vnto whom S. Augustine was a verie deare friend Whilest they talked S. Ambrose said aloud He is old but very good The deacons were much astonied seing him to heare their speeches and after his death by the relation the two Deacons made of those his words Symplician was elected Bishop When the holy saint was at the last point of death there was in another roume Honoratus Bishop of Vercellae who heard himselfe called by one that said to him Runne for it is time now He hearing these words went to the place where the holy saint was and gaue vnto him the B. Sacrament which he receiued with very great deuotion Then laid he is armes acrosse and said his prayers and in saying of them he rendered vp his soule vnto God on the fourth day of Aprill about the yeare of our Lord
God because they haue most cleare knowledge of him Other authors saie that in these three Masses are represented three states By that which is said at midnight is vnderstood the darksome state full of obscuritie and confusion of those that be in hell By the other that is said at the break of daie when the light beginne to be seene are vnderstood those that liue in the world who be in the middle betweene the light and darknes and do not know what shal be their end By the third which is said at cleare daie is vnderstood the state of the happie which be in eternall clearenes and posesse the ioyfull and blessed vision of God This is the signification of the three Masses which are comonlie said on Christmas daie as the doctors generallie say The occasion that mooued Pope Telesphorus to make this ordinance was The first Masse is called ad Galli cantum which is at midnight or a litle after because at that houre IESVS CHRIST was borne The second is called at the daie-break because at that houre he was visited and adored by the sheapheards The third is said at the ordinarie houre as on other daies and is called the high Masse The spanish saith Of these three Masses wâ—iteth Innocent 3. in the third sermon of the birth of CHRIST Galfridus lib de reb Eccles cap. 21. Albinus de diuin offic cap. 1. Sicardus Cremonens and others The life of S. Stephen the first Martyr ROBOAM the king of Israell 3. Reg. 12. suceeding his â—ather Salomon in the kongdome made some lawes and ordinances to be obserued of his suâ—iects who esteemed them to be too rigorous â—here caâ—â—â—d them to assemble together with intent to rebell against the king Roboam saying and professing openâ—â— that they would not obey him nor acknowledg him for king Those which did thus rebell were ten tribes of the twelue into which all the hebrewes were diuided The king being certifyed of this commotion called oâ—e Aduram his faithfull seruant and one of great account in his court commaunding him to go speak peaciblie to these rebellious people therby to quiet and appease them Aduram caused the ten tribes to be warned to appeare choosing out the most principall of them he shâ—wed him some reasons whereby he might reduce them to the seruice of the king but they hearing him named with great indignation took vp stones and stoned Aduram to death Roboam in asmuch as he is king of Israell is a figure of IESVS CHRIST vnto whom the father eternall gaue the lordship and power ouer all flesh and especially ouer that people vnto whom he was sent for guide and captaine and for king also as the Prophet Zacharie calleth him This king made his ordinances Cap 9. when ascending gloriously into heauen he commaunded his holie Apostles and disciples to publish the Euangelicall lawe and make knowne vnto all men that the old law was abrogated Many of the Iewes thought this to be verie strange and rigorous and therefore they took counsell together and determined that they would not acknowledg IESVS CHRIST nor receaue his Ghospell and doctrine He vnderstanding their consultation and entent sent a principall man of his court vnto them which was S. Stephen figured by Aduram whilest he talked to the principall of them to perswade them to acknowledge CHRIST for the Messias and that they would obey him and receaue his doctrine they on the contrarie part being obstinate and rebelliously bent took vp stones against S. Stephen and with extreame furie led him forth of the citty and there stoned him to death the martyr remaining victorious being crowned in his owne bloud The life of this glorious martyr written by S. Luke the Euangelist in the Acts of the Apostles and other good approoued authors is in this manner THE Apostles preaching and doing many miracles in Ierusalem the people of the cittie and the countries there abouts came and brought their sick in great aboundance and they were all healed This was the cause that the number of the disciples encreased daily Caiâ—t vpon this place for all those that were Baptised were called by that name It befell that amongst them arose a little controuersie mooued by the Greeks against the Hebrewes They were all Hebrews cap. 6. V. 1. but some of them were borne in Greece and others in Palestine and these were called Hebrews and the other Grecians These Grecians seemed agreeued that their widowes were not admitted into the publike ministerie and affaires because in those times they that were conuerted brought all their goods vnto the Apostles cap. 4. V. 37. and they prouided for them their diet apparrell and all other things necessarie And to the end that all things might be done in order they appointed to euerie one a particuler office and to the widowes that were honest and deuout women they gaue in chatge to dresse the meat and to attend the table The Grecians requested that the widowes of thir nation might be admitted vnto that seruice for euerie one desired to be employed in some office and to do the best seruice they could The Apostles assembled together to staye this matter least it might grow to discord And hauing called all the disciples said vnto them It is not fit that we should be busied in matters of such small importance therefore let vs find out and make choise of some good quiet men of honest fame who may haue authoritie to prouide persons which shall haue care of the prouision of dyet without aggrieuance of any nation one or other and out of both nations may be chosen widowes dilligent and apt to dresse meat for the multitude And when in this matter there may happen any occasion of disagreement they may resort to those that be elected who may quiet all dissentions if any arise and that we may attend to preaching and prayer This resolution pleased them all and out of the disciples were chosen seuen and as the head and chiefe of others Stephen a faithfull man and full of the holie Ghost was chosen S. Augustine out of this gathereth that S. Stephen was a man of great continencie and gouernement since vnto him was giuen an office in which he should haue so great dealings amongst women The Holie Ghost saith also of him that he was replenished with grace and fortitude and that he did â—ignes and many miracles He shewed himselfe to be very valiant and couragious preaching IESVS CHRIT to the Hebrewes perswading them to forsake the law of Moyses which now was of no force and that they should receaue the Ghospell and be Baptised The matter was brought to that passe that S. Stephen was more famous then any other of the disciples because he disputed face to face with the maisters of the Sinagogues in which were congregated the Grecians of sundrie Prouinces as of Cyrene of Alexandria of Cilicia and of Asia the lesse who altogether could not make resistance vnto the words
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
heare and determine the causes of him and of the other prisoners which were with him wherupon he gaue a large some of mony vnto the keepers of the prison some of his acquaintance interceding and being his suerties that he might go home vnto his house promising to retorne back with speed Adrian was so well beloued of all men that they seemed not to desire his returne vnto the prison they let him depart and to escape if he would though they knew and sawe themselfes in apparant daunger of life And it is to be thought his suerties were in the same daunger Forthwith some ranne before him to giue notice vnto his wife that he came home Shee hearing this newes did not beleeue it at the first but said Who hath power to put of the gyues with the which I left him fettered herewithall came thither a yong man theire seruant who told them Adrian came home free and discharged She imagining that he had yeelded and now fled to escape Martirdome was much troubled in mind began to weep and when shee sawe him to approch the gate of the house shee threw her sowing work which shee had in her hands on the ground and running locked the gate fast and said I will not haue any thing to do with this vile base dastarly coward that hath returned back and forsaken the good way he had begon and much les will I see him with mine eies I will not heare him speak word vnto me neither will I listen to that tounge which hath dealt deceitfully in the sight of his Creator When he came some what neerer shee held the gate shut very close all the while and said vnto him O man of all men most miscreant and irreligious what hath enforced thee to begin that course which thou wilt not accomplishe who is he that hath gotten thee out of the society of the blessed men with whom I left thee who hath deceiued thee and made thee to depart out of the company of peace and perpetually ioy Tellme tellmee wherfore hast thou tourned thy back and fled before the conflict begin Wherefore doest thou cast downe thy armour on the ground like a dastard before thou sawest thy enemy come to assaile thee wherfore doest thou enroll thy name among the wounded men before there be a sword drawen or arrowe shot what shall I do wretch that I am who was he that ioyned me to a faithles person I haue not deserued to be the wife of a martir nay nowe I shal be called the wife of a Renegate A small time endured my ioye and gladnes and long shall last my shame and reproche S. Adrian staied with out the gate very glad to heare his wife say thes things wherfore he said vnto her Natalia my sister open me the dore for I do not fly to escape death as thou thinkest but come to call thee that thou maiest be present at our martirdome as I haue heretofore promised thee Natalia did not beleiue him but rather called him deceiuer He auerred earnestly vnto her that his words were truth and that if shee would not open the gate quickly he would returne vnto the prison that he might keepe his word and not be depriued of the crowne of martirdome Natalia gaue him then credit and opened the gate and fell humbly at his feet and he embraced her and then both of them returned back vnto the Iaile By the way S. Adrian said vnto his wife Natalia Tell me my dearest what order hast thou taken with thy goodes and patrymony lest after my death all be confiscated and taken from the Natalia made answere my lord and husband take no thought for the temporall and transitory goodes lest they do captiuate thy hart and desire Call to thy remembrance and reuolue in thy mind the goodes that be permanent and euerlasting vnto which thou drawest nere to be partaker together with the other holy men in whose company thou doest desire to dy for the loue of IESVS CHRIST They both being come vnto the prison all wondered that Adrian would returne for they were assured that he came back to his death Then did Maximian comand that all the Christian prisoners should be brought forth before him Some came with ther flesh wounded putrefied for in those places where their Irons and gyues had bene wormes were engendred as was apparant to be seene Natalia came close vnto her husband and said vnto him Be carefull my lord that thy soule be firme stable in God beware thy hart doth nor wauer when they present the tortures before thy corporall sight The present troubles shall endure for a small time but the guerdon and the beatitude shall endure for euer The Emperour looked first vpon Adrian and said vnto him wilt thou continue still in thy folly The blessed man answered I am prepared to giue my life for this which thou callest folly Maximian tooke such indignation at this answere that he caused him in his owne sight to be stripped out of his clothes and to be cruelly scourged The officere were tired and changed they were first one and then another but the tirant was not tired but bid them scourge the holy martir in cruell sort and no lesse the martir stroue to tollerat the torment with a resolute mind and greate patience Oh that one had then seene Natalia howe often the collour chaunged in her face sometimes shee feared that her husband should yeld and shrink at the cruelty of the torments and then shee was pale as a clothe but when shee sawe him endure all constantly and courageously her liuely and cherefull colloure returned into her face Sometimes Adrian looked toward her and though nothing shee said yet only by her countenance he vnderstood howe shee bad him be valliant and resolute and to haue consideration that the more the tormēts encreased so much greater should his reward be The holy martir was beaten with such cruelty that they hauing torne and rent his flesh and laid his ribbes open to the view might also see vnto his bowels The tirant nowe weary to see any more vsed on that fashion at that time commanded him into the same prison where he was before in which place he remained certain daies in the company of the other Christians who had endured the same torment and suffered the same molestation as he had done After this Maximian caused them to be ageine presented vnto him in the place of iudgment The martirs were taken out of the dark prison where thy were brought vnto that state that it affrighted men and moued them to compassion to behold them yet they remained constant as before in the faith of IESVS CHRIST The tirant commaunded the bones of all their legges to be broken to shiuers and one of the hands of St Adrian to be cut of The holy martirs in this torment passed from this vnto a better life euen as they made their prayers vnto our Lord. Then Maximian gaue commaundement