Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	court_n	great_a	king_n	2,817	5	3.7634	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02208	The dialogues of S. Gregorie, surnamed the Greate: Pope of Rome: and the first of that name deuided into fower bookes. Wherein he intreateth of the liues, and miracles of the saintes in Italie: and of the eternitie of mens soules. With a shorte treatise of sundry miracles, wrought at the shrines of martyrs: taken out of S. Augustin. Together with a notable miracle wrought by S. Bernard, in confirmation of diuers articles of religion. Translated into our English tongue by P.W.; Dialogi. Part 1. English	Gregory I, Pope, ca. 540-604.; Woodward, Philip, ca. 1557-1610.; Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo. De civitate Dei. Book 22. Chapter 8. English.	1608 (1608)	STC 12349; ESTC S121026	216,240	619

familiar and pleasing manner no griefe interposing it selfe except it be that which is to be wished of true contrition for sinne or els that which other busines bringeth by drawing vs from so sweete conuersation or lastly to see that the golden streame of so diuine a discourse runneth not still forwarde in an endlesse channell As your royal dispositiō to vertue hath iustly deserued the dedicatiō of this booke so the loue of the author himselfe blessed S. Gregory not only to our coūtry in general but to your most excellēt persō in particular perswadeth the same For if the purple gluttō buried in hell had care Luc. 16. v. 27. of his brethren and praied for thē moued thereūto of mere natural cōpassiō how much more doth his soule raigning in heauē inflamed with supernatural charity tēder the good of thē whō whiles he liued he loued so deerely Being vpon earth such was his affectiō to our natiō that by his pastorall care it was turned 1. Thessal 1. v. 9. to God from idols to serue the liuing and true God and being yet mortall he wrotte to Aldiberga Lib. 9. epist 59. cap. 69. Queene of England most kinde letters encouraging hir by the example of Saint Helena the glory of great Britayne to labour the conuersion of the kinge and his people and therfore no question but liuing now in heauen his charity to God being greater his loue towarde vs is not lesse and consequently no doubt can be made but with farre more burning zeale he doth sollicitte in that celestiall court the cause of our country and enioying him selfe immortall felicity both desireth and also laboureth the temporall and eternall happines of Queene Anne our most gratious Princes To these former reasons which especiallye gaue support to my fearefull harte this also was adioyned as no small inducement to thincke that I was the first that offered his labours to your most excellent Maiesty for whereas diuers of diuers professions haue directed theire workes to our most dread Soueraigne and one also to our younge Prince your deere sonne and the orient obiect of our countries ioye so none at all for ought that I can learne much lesse that professeth the religion os S. Gregorie hath hitherto presented any booke to your Princely person Together with this alluring motiue concurred also the very tyme it selfe of the newe yeare dedicated by longe and laudable custome descending to vs from our forefathers to the giving and receiuing of divers giftes and presents Voulsafe therefore most noble Queene gratiously to accept among so many Princely giftes this small present of Saintes liues written a thowsande yeares since by the glorious Apostle of Englande blessed Sainte Gregorie inferior no question to any for temporal value but yelding to none at all as I verily suppose in spiritual and true estimation to grace with the benigne beames of your roiall countenance these my poore labours published to the worldes viewe vnder the patronage of your gratious Highnes which your renoumed inclination to vertue and pious affection to spirituall bookes hath deserued the loue of S. Gregorie to our countrie and the Queenes of England hath allotted you my happy fortune to be the first in this kinde with the very consideration of the tyme it selfe hath iustlie consecrated to your most excellent and worthie person and to cast a fauorable eye vpon the first fruites of my syncere and seruiceable affection which is such that shoulde I mention worthily might I be suspected and yet verily hope were it knowne that it woulde neuer by Princely bountie be reiected The newe borne Sauiour of the worlde Christ Iesus send you in earthly courte both this and many happy newe yeares and eternity of yeares in the celestiall court of heauene The first of Ianuarie 1608. Your Maiesties most deuoted seruant and daily orator P. VV. TO THE COVRTEOVS AND VERTVOVS CHRISTIAN READER DESIROVS OF THAT KNOWLEDGE which bringeth pleasure and leadeth to true religion piety and deuotion THERE is no kinde of study yood Christian reader that either generally so contenteth all humors and fitteth all affections or which bringeth such honest pleasure to the soule and with so exquisite knowledge and necessary documents for the direction of a man●life furnisheth our vnderstanding or so forcibly and sweetlye inclineth our wills to the pu●suite of vertue as doth the reading of a learned and holy history Some there be that delight in the speculation of the Mathematicks others otherwise addicted principally price poetrye and the study of humanity some take no pleasure but in the secrets of philosophy and Aphorismes of Galen and others whose harts Gods grace hath more touched rapt as it were with S. Paul contemne 2 Corint 12. all earthly thinges and bestowe them selues wholy in diuinitye and the most pleasant contemplation of heauenly mysteries Yet this variety of natures and diuersity of desires is euer accompained with this vnity thar all with common cons●nt commend the reading of histories and in them finde singular recreation none almost being so simple that can for any difficulty reiect them the subiect being so easy and familiar nor any so curious thar can contemne them plenty of diuerse matrers drawing still forewarde and with wonderfull pleasure rauishing the soule of man This is that study which in prosperity delighteth in aduersity bringeth comfort when we are solitarye it is our companion when in company it ministreth matter of talke and excellent discourses This presenteth before our eyes the factes of former ages and deliuereth the sundry accidents of our time to succeding posterity This by the fall of many teacheth vs what to feare by the aduancement of others for worthy deedes what to followe This by the euents of other mens actions quickneth the witt ripeneth the iudgement so purchaseth true wisdome for the carriage of our life managing all worldly affaires This intertayneth all wits sitteth all fancies and pleaseth all persons with this exercise many weare out sundry troubles deceaue many melancholy passions and the mighty Monarch of the world Assuerus passed Esther cap. 6. ouer the tedious night which gaue no sleepe to his heauy eyes as holy scripture reporteth Ys this great commodity and pleasure be reaped by the Dccades of Titus Liuius the paralelled liues of Plutarch or the Chronicles of our owne country what treasure of true delight and what singular profitt shall an Ecclesiastical history especially intreating of the liues of holy men and Saints of Gods church bringe to a true christian harte that loueth God and preferreth the goode of his owne soule before all the vaine pleasure and transitory pelfe of this flattering false worlde For who can doubt but that so far as heauen is distant from earth the immortall soule excelleth the corruptible body so great difference there is betwixt a prophane and a sacred history that intreating of thinges belonginge to this life this hādlinge those which auaile to life euerlasting that describing the tēporall warres of

ears OF TVVO HVNDRED BVSSHELS of meale found before the man of Gods cell CHAPTER XXI AT an other tyme there was a great dearche in the same countrye of Campania so that all kinde of people tasted of the miserye and all the wheat of Bennets monasterye was spent and likewise all the breade so that there remayned no more then fiue loaues for dinner The venerable man beholdinge the monkes sad both rebuked thē modestly for thiere pusillanimitye and againe did comforte them with this promise why quoth he are you so grieued in your mindes for lack of breade Indede too day some want there is but to morrowe yowe shall haue plentye and so it fell out for the next day two hūdred busshells of meale was founde in sackes before his cell dore which almighty God sent them but by whom or what meanes that is vnknowne to this verye daye which miracle when the monkes sawe they gaue God thanckes and by this learned in want not to make any doubte of plenty Peter Tell me I praye you whether this seruaunt of God had alwaies the spirit of prophecye when him selfe pleased or only at certaine tymes Gregory The spirit of prophecy doth not alwaies illuminate the mindes of the prophetes because as it is written of the holy Ghoste that he breatheth where Ioh. 3. he will so we are also to knowe that he doth breathe likewise for what cause and when he pleaseth And hereof it commeth that when kinge Dauid demanded of Nathan whether he mighte 1. Paralip 17. builde a tēple for the honoure of God the prophet Nathan gaue his consent and yet afterwarde vtterly for bad it From hence likewise it procedeth that when Helizeus sawe the woman weeping and knewe not the cause he saide to his seruaūt that did trouble her Let 4. Reg. 4. her alone for her soule is in griefe and God hath concealed it from me and hath not tolde me Which thinge almightye God of great pietye so disposeth for giuinge at some tymes the spirit of prophecye and at other tymes withdrawinge it he doth both lifte vp the prophetes mindes on highe and yet doth preserue them in humilitye that by the gifte of the spirit they may knowe what they are by Gods grace and at other tymes destitute of the same spirit may vnderstande what they are of them selues Peter There is very great reason for that you saye But I pray you let me heare more of the venerable man Bennet yf there be any thinge els that cometh to your remembrance HOVV BY VISION VENERABLE Bennet disposed the buildinge of the Abbey of Taracina CHAPTER XXII Gregory AT an other tyme he was desired by a certa●ne vertuous man to bulide an Abbeye for his monkes vpon his grounde not far from the citye of Taracina The holy man was content and appointed an abbot Prior with diuers monkes vnder them and when they were departinge he promised that vpon suche a day he wolde come and shewe them in what place the oratory sholde be made and vvhere the refectorye sholde stande and all the other necessary roomes and so they takinge his blessinge went there waye and against the day appointed which they greatlye expected they made all such thinges readye as were necessary to entertaine him and those that sholde come in his companye But the verye nighte before the man of God in sleepe appeared to the Abbot and the Prior and particularly described vnto them where eache place and office was to be builded And when they were both risen they conferred together what either of them had seene in thiere sleep but yet not giuing full credit to that vision they expected the man of God him selfe in person accordinge to his promise But when they savve that he came not they returned backe vnto him verye sorovvfullye sayinge vve expected father that you sholde haue come accordinge to promise and tolde vs vvhere eache place sholde haue bene built vvhich yet you did not To vvhom he ansvvered vvhy say you so goode brethren Did not I come as I promised you and vvhen they asked at vvhat tyme it vvas vvhy quoth he did not I appeare to either of you in your sleepe and appointed hovv and vvhere euerye place vvas to be builded Go your vvaye and accordinge to that plat-forme which you then ●awe builde vp the Abbey At which wordes they muche maruailed and returninge backe they caused it to b● builded in such sorte as they had bene taught of him by reuelation Peter Gladly wolde I learne by what means that could be done to witt that he sholde goe so far to tell thèm that thinge in thiere sleepe which they sholde both heare and knowe by vision Gregory Why do you Peter seeke out and doubte in what manner this thinge was done For certaine it is that the soule is of a more noble nature then the bodye And by authority of scripture we knowe that the prophet Abacuck was carried from Iudea with that dinner whiche he had and was suddainlye sett in Chaldea by which meate the prophet Daniel was relieued presentlye Daniel cap. 14. after was broughte backe againe to Iudea Yf then Abacuck coulde in a moment with his bodye go so far and carrye prouision for an other mans dinner what maruaile is it yf the holy father Bennet obtayned grace to goe in spirit and to informe the soules of his brethren that were a sleepe cōcerninge suche thinges as were necessarye and that as Abacuck about corporall meate went corporally so Bennet sholde go spiritually about the dispatche of spirituall busines Peter I confesse that your wordes haue satisfied my doubtfull minde But I wolde knowe what maner of man he was in his ordinary talke and conuersation OF CERTAINE NVNNES absolued after thiere deathe CHAPTER XXIII HIs common talke Peter was vsuallye full of vertue for his harte conuersed so aboue in heauen that no vvordes coulde in vayne procede from his mouthe And yf at any tyme he spake oughte yet not as one that determined vvhat vvas best to be done but onlye in a threatnnige manner his speeche in that case vvas so effectuall and forcible as though he had not doubtfully or vncertainly but assuredly pronounced and giuen sentence● For not far from his Abbey there liued two Nunnes in a place by them selues borne of vvorshipfull parentage vvhom a religious good man did serue for the dispatche of thiere outvvarde busines But as nobility of family doth in some breede ignobility of minde and mak●th them in conuersation to shevve lesse humilitye because they remember still what superiority they had aboue others euen so was it with these Nunnes for they had not yet learned to temper thiere tongues and kepe them vnder with The habit of Nunnes the bridle of thiere habit for often did they by thiere indiscret speech prouoke the foresaide religious mā to anger who hauinge borne with them a longe tyme at lengthe he complained to the man of God and tolde him with what

see how thowe art become like vnto hogges and rattes thowe that woldest needes vnworthilye be like vnto God beholde how thowe doest nowe according to thy desertes imitate brute beastes At these wordes the wicked serpent was as I may well terme it ashamed that he was so disgratiously and baselye put downe for wel maye I saye that he was ashamed who neuer after troubled that house with any such terrible and monstrous shapes as before he did for euer after that tyme Christian men did inhabit the same for so sone as one man that was a true and faithful christian tooke possession thereof the lyinge and faith lesse spirit straight-waies did forsake it But I will nowe surcease from speaking of thinges done in former tymes and come to suche miracles as haue happened in our owne daies OF SABINVS BISSHOP OF Camisina CHAPTER V. CErtaine religious men well knowne in the prouince of Apulia do reporte that which many both far and nere knowe to be most true and that is of Sabinus Bishoppe of Camisina who by reason of his great age was become so blinde that he sawe nothinge at all And for as much as Totilas King of the Gothes hearinge that he had the gifte of prophecye and wolde not beleue it but was desirous to proue whether it were so or no it fel so out that comminge into those partes the man of God did inuite him to dinner And when the meate was broughte in the Kinge wolde not sitt at the table but satt beside at the righte hande of venerable Sabinus and when the Bisshoppes man broughte him as he vsed to doe a cupp of wine the Kinge softlye putt forthe his hande tooke the cupp and gaue it him selfe to the Bisshop to trye whether he coulde tell who he was that gaue him the wyne Then the man of God taking the cupp but not seeing him that did deliuer it saide Blessed be that hande At which wordes the Kinge very merily blushed because albeit he was taken yet did he finde that gifte in the man of God which before he desired to knowe The same reuerent man to giue goode example of life to others liued vntill he was passinge olde which nothinge pleased his archdeacon that desired his Bishopricke and therfore vpon ambition he soughte how to dispatche him with poison and for that purpose corrupted his cup bearer who ouercome with money offered the Bisshop at dinner that poison in his wine which he had receiued of the Archdeacon The holye man knowinge what he broughte willed him selfe to drincke that which he offered him The wretche trembled at those wordes and perceiuing his villany to be derected thoughte better to drincke it and so quickly dispatch him selfe then with shame to suffer tormentes for the sinne of so horrible a murder but as he was puttinge the cuppe to his mouth the man of God hindred him sayinge Do not take it but giue it me and I will drincke it my selfe but go thy way and tell him that gaue it the that I will drinck the poison but yet shall he neuer liue to be Bisshopp And so blessinge the Blessing with the signe of the crosse cuppe with the signe of the crosse he drunke it without any harme at all at which very tyme the Archdeacon being in an other place departed this life as thoughe that poison had by the Bishoppes mouth passed to his Archdeacons bowels for althoughe he had no corporall poison to kill him yet the venim of his owne malice did destroye him in the sighte of the euerlastinge iudge Peter These be straunge thinges and muche in our dayes to be wondred at yet the life of the man is suche that he which knoweth his holye conuersation hath no such cause to maruaile at the miracle OF CASSIVS BISSHOP OF Narny CHAPTER VI. Gregory NEither can I Peter passe ouer with silence that thing which many of the city of Narny which be here present affirme to be most true For in the tyme of the same Gothes the foresaide Kinge Totilas comminge to Narnie Cassius a man of venerable life Bishop of the same city wēt forth to meete him whom the king vtterly contemned because his face was highe coloured thinking that it proceded not from any other cause then drinking But almighty God to shewe howe worthy a man was despised permitted a wicked spirit before his whole armye in the fieldes of Narnie where the Kinge also him selfe was to possesse one of his garde and cruellye to torment him Straight-waies was he broughte to the venerable man Cassius in the presence of the Kinge who praying to God for him and making the signe of the crosse forth with he The vertue of the signe of the crosse cast out the deuill so that neuer after he durst presume any more to enter into his bodye And by this meanes it fell out that the barbarous Kinge from that daye forwarde did with his hart much reuerence the seruant of God whom before by his face he iudged to be a man of no account for seeing him now to be one of such power and vertue he gaue ouer those proude thoughtes which before he had conceiued OF ANDREVVE BISSHOP of Funda CHAPTER VII BVt as I am thus busied in tellinge the actes of holy men there commeth to my minde what God of his great mercy did for Andrewe Bishop of the citye of Funda which no table storye I wish all so to reade that they which haue dedicated them selues to Bishopes dedicated to continencye continencye presume not in any wise to dwell amongst wemen least in tyme of tentation theire soule per●she the soner by hauinge that at hand which is vnlawfullye desired Neither is the story which I reporte either doubtfull or vncertaine for so many witnesses to iustifye the truthe thereof may be produced as there be almost inhabitants in that citye When therfore this venerable man Andrewe liued vertuouslye with diligent care answerable to his priestlie functiō lead a continent and chast life he kept in his house a certaine Nunne which also had remained with him befor he was preferred to that dignitye for assuringe him selfe of his owne continencye and nothing doubtinge of hers content he was to let her remaine stil in his house which thinge the deuil tooke as an occasion to assalte him with tentation and so he began to present before the eies of his minde the forme of that woman that by suche allurements he mighte haue his harte wholy possessed with vngodly thoughtes In the meane tyme it fell so out that a Iewe was trauailinge from Campania to Rome who drawinge nighe to the city of Funda was so ouertaken with nighte that he knewe not where to Iodge and therfore not findge any better commoditye he retired him selfe into a temple of the God Apollo which was not far of meaninge there to repose him selfe but muche affraide he was to The signe of the crosse vsed in old tyme. ly in so a wicked and