they came to the sea shore where they were for to loose their heads Placidus made his prayer in that place and lifted vp his eyes and sayd My lord IESVS CHRIST sonne of the liuing God which didst descend from heauen vnto earth for our saluation didst abyde death vpon the Crosse haue mercy on vs ô lord and by thy merits and intercession of Benedict thy seruant our maister wee beseech thee to giue vnto vs the vertue of constancy to the end that passing this cruell passage of death without any impediment or stay layd in our way by our enemy the deuill we may come to enioy the eternall felicitie of thy heauenly kingdome let thy holy Angell S. Michaell receaue oure soules in peace and present them before thy heauenly tribunall This we request and beseeche of thee who art our God blessed and gloryous for euer Placidus hauing said these words all the other auÌ„swered Amen And as they kneeled they were beheaded forthwith in Sicilia in the hauen of Messina and their bodies remayned foure dayes vnburyed The Barbaryans not content herewith destroyed the monastery so that they left not one stone vpon another and though the Church of S. Iohn Euangelist stood very neere it whether it was for deuotion for the moores do reuerence him highly or whether for Gods pleasure it was not touched nor defaced And for that the stormes and roughnes of the sea was now ceased Mamucha comaunded euery one to be embarked to goe vnto Reggio in Calabria As they were passing the Faro there rose such a tempest that they could not goe forward nor returne back and by the iust iudgment of God they were drowned and sunke all of them being 100. vessells and 16800. men The bodyes of the holy martyr Placidus and of his brethren were buryed in the Church of S. Iohn Baptist by Gordianus his familier freind who came with him froÌ„ Monte Cassino The same man buryed the other 33. martirs in the same place where they were beheaded And in the one place and the other God did for them many myracles many sicke men recoueryng from all diseases by theyr intercession S. Placidus at his death was 26. yeares old for when he was 7. years old the blessed father S. Benedict receaued him into his company he remayned in Sublacque 5. yeares and vpon Monte Cassino 9 years in building the monastery he spent foure and there he was Abbot one year All which make the somme of 26. years He was borne in the yeare of our lord 515. and he was martyred in the yeare 541. on the first day of October being saterday The life of S. Marke Pope and Confessor BY the death of that holy Pope Siluester was chosen to succeede in his place in the chaire of S. Peter Marke a cittizen of Rome sonne of one Priscus endued with rare and excelent vertues The churche of God enioyed in his dayes great peace outward tranquillitie being fauoured freed by Christian Princes from all forreine enemies Yet inwaâ—dly the Arian hereticks infested the same as spitefullie as they could They had wonne them selues fauoure and wrought an entraunce in to the Emperours house and familie and inueagling one of his verie sonnes drawen him into the snares of they re heresies which was after a cause of great persecution in the churche of God and manie afflictions layed vpon Catholiks The old Emperour continued sound and allwayes a good Catholique and accordinglie affected and fauourâ—d S. Marke asmuch as he had before honoured S. Syluestre Wherefore this holie Pope furthered and cherished with the Emperours countenance employed his care and best endeuoures in resisting these Arrian hereticks and setling and ordaining such good orders as for the gouernement of the Churche were adiudged necessarie Amonghst which one was to prescribe that on Sundayes and chiâ—fe festiuall dayes the Creed or beliefe should be said in the masse to the end that the hearers might the better learne it and be more strengthned in they re fayth by this publique profession made thereof He moreouer builded two churches one in the way to Ardea three miles from Rome the other in the cittie called by the name of him that built it both which churches Constantine endowed with great reuenues and possessions and adorned with vessells of gold and syluer He graunted the Bisshop of Ostia leaue to vse the Pallium by reason it was his auncient priuiledge to consecrate the Pope of Rome He gaue holie orders twice in the moneth of December wherein he ordered 8. Bisshops 25. Priests and 6. Deacons And hauing liued 2. yeares 8. moneths 20. dayes in the chayre of Peeter he dyed the 7. day of october on which the churche doth celebrate his feast and in the yeare of oure lord 340 and was buried in the churchyard of Balbina in the same churche he made in the way to Ardea Spa S. Ierome saith he dyed in the yeare 334 Onuphrius 336. * ⎠* The life of SS Sergius Bacchus Marcellus and Apuleius Martyrs THE holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus liued in the time of the Emperoure MaximiaÌ„ serued him in an honorable office the one being Primicerius the other Secundicerius that is Sergius principall and Bacchus second secretarie of staâ—e both for their vertues especiallie beloued and honoured by the Emperoure ignorant as yett that they were Christians Being in the cittie of Augusta in the prouince of Eufratesia he came to haue some knowledge heereof by reason of certaine accusations layd against them And desiring to be further certefyed he called them to waite vpon him to Churche wither he was going to sacrifize vnto his Idolls The holie Saincts accompanied him and gaue they re attendance yett in such sort that hauing brought him to the churche doore they stayed without when the Emperours went in When the time came to offer sacrifice Maximian looked about for them and not seeing them commaunded others to looke where they were The messengers found those holie Saincts at the gates of the temple making they re prayer vnto God who vnderstanding the Emperouâ— did send for them came to his presence He shewing himfelfe displeased dimaunded of them why they came not in whith him and offered sacrifice to the great Iupiter They answeared boldly bicause thei were Christians and thought that sacrifice was due to none but onlie him who was the true God that made heauen and earth The Emperour all in a rage coÌ„maunded to plucke of they re golden chaynes from they re neckes and strippe them out of they re rich apparail the tokens of rheyre nobilitie then to cloathe them in woemens garments lade them with yrons with gyues and fetters leade them with open reproache and ignominie through out all the cittie and soe cast them in prison And hauing tryed that all his cruelltie and craft could not make those noble spiritts relent nor swarue in in the least thing from they re Religion he sent them to Antiochus gouernour of the East a fierce cruell
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
all the world and to build Churches to the honor of CHRIST his saints but especially in Rome where beside the aforenamed he builded in the field Sossorium the Church of the Holy Crosse that is called in Ierusalem and in the field Veranius without the walles he built the Church of S. Laurence and in the way to Lauico he built a Church to the holy martirs SS Peter and Mâ—rcâ—llin Hither to we haue seene the occasion of the feast the Church celebrateth the which is The dedication of the Church of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul Nowe it wil be good to see the reason why the Church maketh such account of these holy Apostles and of all theother martirs and saints that it buildeth Churches vnto them in which the faithfull do assemble to celebrat their feasts Moreouer it shal be good to see what is the signification of the Vigills and Octaues and for what cause there is a greater feast kept of one saint more then of another These may be thought by some to be but curious questions yet they may be profitable and it is very good in my oppinion that euery Christian should know the reason therof First I say that the Catholik Church hath had many respects to celebrat the feasts of the saints On was for that in the primitiue Church they desiring to extirpate totally the adoration of the Idolls wherin the Painims were drowned the holy Bishops brought in this vertuous custome of worshipping the holy saints to the end the memory of Iupiter Saturn Apollo Venus Mars and Diana and of the other Gods might be abolished by substituting in the place of them S. Peter S. Paul S. Iames S. Iohn S. Stephen S. Laurence S. Agnes S. Agatha S. Lucia and theother saints Theother reason that moued the Church was this that in honoring and making feasts to the saints there is feast made and honor done vnto God himself that made them saints The Church had also another regard viz to satisfy the obligement and duety we all haue and owe vnto the saints They reioice in heauen and make triumph when we conuert our selues vnto God and therefore it is reason we should make feast and reioyce in that day that they begin to enioy the sight of God in heauen viz the day of their death Moreouer the feasts of the Saints are celebrated because of the great neede we haue of them that they may pray vnto God for vs the he may truly conuert vs vnto him that he may giue vs perseuerance that he may deliuer vs from tentations that he may teach vs to do his will that he may giue vs things necessary for the sustenaunce of our life All these things many other such like God doth giue vs by the praiers of his saints And therefore it is reason that in some part we do satisfy our great obligement that we owe vnto theÌ„ by celebrating their feasts Another motion the Church hath to celebrate the feasts of the saints was for our example for when we consider that the saints were men as we be formed of flesh and bone and subiect vnto the same frailty and misery of our natures yet that they did such famous acts and heroicall deeds supporting and enduring such outragious paines in their martirdome such cruell persecutions horrible reproches lastly death by which they came to be so honored and rewarded by God in heauen we also moued by their example should striue to imitate them To this purpose saith S. Augustine they do truly celebrate the feast of the martirs who followe their examples for he who doth not followe them in what he can 2. Cor. 1. can not enioy beatiâ—udâ— in their company S. Paul saith also If we shall be partakers of their troubles and passions we also shall haue part of their consolations Concerning the Virgills of Saints Isay that a Vigill properly is not a day of fasting but of watching And so it was vsed in the feasts of IESVS CHRIST of the B. Virgin of the Apostles and of some other saints especially of the patrons of the Church when all the people the night before the day of the feast came vnto the Church and remained there all the night in praier and other holy exercises This holy and good custome began some what to be corrupted for the people who kept the vigills if they spent a litle time in praier they spent a great deale more in eating and drinking and sometime in gaming lewd talk vncomely behauior yea it came to such a passe that many foule and grosse abuses were vsed in the Church To remedy this mischief S. Ambrose who was enformed therof by S. Monica the mother of S. Augustine at her being at Millaine did in his Church as other Bishops in their diocesses the Pope through all Christendome change the vigills and watchings into fasting the day before the festiuall day and yet it reteineth the auncient anme of vigill still The vigill signifieth also this present life in the which we must be vigilant and must support troubles as the body doth endure troble by fasting that we may haue the feast in the next life But he that on the contrary side will first haue the feast before the fast and wil be mery and take his pleasure in the world let such a one know that he must make a long and greuous vigill in theother life for he shall abide in hell fasting for euer For the Octaues the Church began to celebrat them in imitation of certain feasts the hebrews had which lasted seuen daies as the Pascha of the vnleuened bread the feast of Tabernacles and the Dedication of the Temple So the Church ordeined that some of her feasts which are worthy of all honour and reuerence as well as they were should haue Octaues to the end the solemnity should be greater and in the office of these daies are many things read of those solemnities that the faithfull might heare and consider the same and take profit thereby We read that the Idollaters assaulted the Macchabeis on the day of the feast and that they because they would not violat it for they thought it was a work to defend themselfs and so a breach of the feast though after ward they resolued to do other wise suffered themselues to be killed rather So do the deuills also they do assault the faithfull on the festiuall daies especially with more and greater tentations then on the other daies which is the cause that sometimes the sinnes which are comitted on the feast be more heinous then theother of all the week coÌ„ming of frailty For some be so fraile and feeble that assoone as tentation coÌ„meth they confent vnto it and know not howe to resist or with stand it Let the tentations be of gaming murmuring of losse of time of vnseemly words and of sensuality they yield streight and resist them not yet there be some worse then these who do seek tentations and do
not tarry to be tempted by the deuill for they themselues seek occasions to offend God and especially at those times when we be most obliged to to serue him viz on the feast day or in their Octaues which were ordeined that we might haue more time to be emploied in the seruice of God and to solemnize them The reason then why a greater feast is kept on one holy day then another and more to one saint then to another is because one signifieth a more higher mistery then another The Resurrection and Ascension of CHRIST be two high and principall feasts yet there is greater solemnity obserued in the first then in the second for the cause aboue-mentioned The same reason is of the saints The Catholike Church maketh a greater holy day vnto one saint then vnto another for that the deeds of one haue bene greater then of the other or for that his estate and dignity was greater or els for that he had done more good in the Catholik Church And for this reason the feasts of S. Peter S. Paule of S. Iohn Baptist of S. Laurence and other like saints be higher and more principall feasts then others though they which haue the lesser feasts and they who haue the greater be all in heauen contented enioyng God in his glory vnto which he bring vs for his great mercy Amen The life of S. Pontianus Pope and Martyr GOD commaunded Moises that to snuff the lights that burned in the temple vpon a candlestick which had seuen braunches he should cause to be made snuffers of the most fine and purest gold These lights be a figure of the priests who are called light by IESVS CHRIST By the name of seuen is giuen to vnderstand the seuen gifts of the Holy Ghost Then he commaunding that the snuffers where with they must snuffe the said lights should be of gold would demonstrate that vnto them they ought to beare great respect And that the reprouing and chastising of them though they deserue it is not graunted vnto euery one but only to him that shal be of such perfection that he is likened vnto the most pure gold And he that knoweth of himself that he is not gold but that he hath some defect and imperfection Let him not touch the light to wit Let him not murmure or speak euill of the priests but leaue the matter to God or els to his superiors who haue the office from God to reprehend and chastise them But if they leaue the matter vnto God the reproof punishment wil be more seuere and worthily shall the priests deserue it if their life be not correspondent vnto the dignity and function they haue aboue other men The holy Pope Pontianus hauing in mind the respect and regard that ought to be giuen to priests maketh mention and giueth many aduises in one of the two epistles he wrote out of his place of exile vnto all the faithfull for he was banished into the Island of Sardegna not for any fault he had committed but for confessing the faith of IESVS CHRIST The life of this holy saint was written in this manner by Damasus and other Authors BY the death of Pope Vrbane the first of that name there was placed in the seat of S. Peter Pontianus the sonne of Calphurnius borne in Rome He liued peaceably in the Papacy a while and attended to the gouernement of Church to the good contentment of all the Clergy people At the end of that time Alexander Seuerus th'emperour who of his owne nature was milde and no ennemy to the Christians persuaded by the priests of the Pagan Gods banished him from Rome and with him a priest called Philip by some martirologes called Hippolitus Those two were conducted into Sardegna and commanded not to depart out of that Iland In that place the blessed Pope Pontianus endured very great troubles and afflictions yet for all that he forgot not to gouern his Church with good and holy aduises and counsells when he could not do any other thing In that Island he wrote two epistles vnto all the faithfull Christians In the first he commendeth as hath bene aboue said the veneration and reuerence that ought to be vsed toward priests in regard of the high mistery they deale in consecrating by their words and holding in their hands the most Blessed Body of CHRIST our Lord. In the other he exorteth them all generally vnto charity brotherly loue Some Authors attribute vnto Pontianus the vse which is kept in the Church of singing the psalmes of Dauid in the office of the Howers and that he ordeined that the priest before he began Masse should say the psalme Iudica me Deus but to conclude the troubles and molestations of the holy Pope were so extreme which he endured in this banishment that he died in the same Island of Sardegna on the. 19. day of Nouember when he had ben Pope fiue years 5. months and. 2. dayes He gaue holy orders twise in the month of December and ordered 6. Bishops 6. priests 5. deacons His blessed body was buried in Sardegna but some years after S. Fabian the Pope caused it to be brought vnto Rome and buried it in the Churcheyard of Callistus among many other Martirs And because he died in exile through the vexation and trouble he endured he was accounted among the holy martirs His death was in the year of our Lord 236 Maximinus being then emperour of Rome * ⎠* The presentation of our B. Lady THE great king Assuerus hauing depryued Queene Vasthy his wife of the royall crowne and hauing expulsed her out of his pallace because she would not obey his commaundements All the princes and great lords of his kingdome were assembled to seeke out another wife for the king which should not only be equall to Vasthy but should rather surpasse her in all fauour and beauty For this end all the choysest damosells were sought out through the realme to whom there was apointed a roome by themselues and an Eunuch called Egeus had the charge of them who sawe them prouyded of all things necessarie aswell for their dyet as also for their apparell and adornements There wanted no odoures perfumes or Iewells which might aggrandize and shewe forth their beauties This was done the more to please king Assuerus vnto whom they were led one by one as their turne was to the end he might choose one that lyked him best to be Queene in stead of Vasthy The prudent and beautifull Esther being elected out of the rest for that purpose the day came that she was to be presented before the king Assoone as the king sawe her he was so pleased with her fauour and beautie that he chose her out from among the rest for his wife and Queene and set the royall crowne on her head commaunding all his subiects to honor her and to regard and esteeme her as their soueraigne Queene and ludy This king Assuerus is a figure of our Lord God
had some doubt by reason that both were stricken in yeares but especiallie Cilinia could not be induced to belieue it Be thou assured quoth Montanus thou shalt be a mother giue suck vnto thy sonne with thy owne milke wash mine eyes therewith and I shall thereby recouer my sight All things happened euen as the holie monke had said for Cilinia conceaued and brought forth a sonne that was called Remigius she gaue him sucke with her owne brests and washed the eyes of Montanus with her milk and he therewith recouered his sight as he had foretold The vertue of this sainct did shine so cleerely in his childhood that euen in the day break of his life he plainelie declared how great would be the day-light of his perfect age He was sent to schoole where in a short space he did not onlie profitte much in knowledge and learning but allso in holie and vertuous life making learning to serue as a light to guide him in the path of vertue vertue by alaying the stormes of passions further him in the course of learning when he came vnto the age of 22. years Bennadius the Archbishop of the city deceasing the people assembled for the election of another pastour and fixing their eyes on that holie Saint there present sayed there was not any more fitte them Remigius to succeed in that dignity The holy yong man being there was troubled much in mind made many excuses saieng that soe eminent a degree was full vnseemely for one of his age and conuersation that the vsage was not to elect beardles youths to an office conuenient only for men well stricken in years or of a consistent age Vnto these allegations they made aunswere that his vertues supplied the defects of his age and therefore they had determined that he should be their Pastour and prelate Whilst the people and Remigius were thus at variance there descēded on a sodein a great light from heauen like vnto a beame which rested on the head of S. Remigius The wonderfull maruaill of the celestiall election and confirmation of S. Rimigius in the prelacy proceeded further for beside the light his head was found to be washed with a heauenly dewe or liqour and all they which were present felt the most fragrant and sweet smell that might be comming from the same All the people beholding this wonder with one voice praised God and gaue him thanks that he had vouchsaued to shew plannely that the election they had made was acceptable to him S. Remigius durst not make any further resistance least it should seeme that he withstood and gaine said the will of God So he was made priest and consecrated Bishop by the other Bishops that dwellt there about Assoone as he had accepted this high function he made euident demōstration that he was of sufficient ability to exercise the same he shewed him self to be an almose giuer vigilant deuout curteous perfect in doctrine and charity his conuersation was celestiall his words were all kindled with the fier or Gods loue He was affable and alwais pleasant in countenance but with grauity his preaching was of that which was necessary for saluation of soules what he preached in words he practised in works He moued them that looked on his face earnestly to deuotion for in him did shine clearly the liuely portraiture of santity His sight was dreafull and awfull vnto the presumptuous and proud but very mild and gratious vnto the lowly and humble Toward goodmen his aspect was louing and pleasing as S. Peters was but to the wicked his countenannce was grimme and stern like vnto S. Paules The riches of his soule were so great that notwistanding they could not be seen with corporall eies nor expressed in words yet were they manifested by his externall works He fled Idlenes and worldly pleasures were to him displesant on the other side trauaile was to him best pleasing and he had a delight to be contemned In his sermons he did especially reprehend the vice of carnallity and willed his hearers not to account their owne wifes foule or to think the wife of another man faire or beautifull He was in diet temperate and he sometimes because he would not seeme hautey or proud called some of his poor kindred and freinds to his table Sometimes the litle birds were seen to flye in at the windoes and to sit on the tables side or on the platter and he gaue them some what to eate and when some flewe away others came back At this S. Remigius took occasion to giue spirituall refection vnto the guests that sate at his table saieng See these bitle birds do not sowe nor reape nor haue no granaries wherin to conserue their goods and yet God doth not abandon them but prouideth for them day by day how much more will he prouide for man for whose sake he shed his precious bloud and lost his life ought not man therefore endeuor to do the will of God and be vnto him obedient as these litle birds be He said also This meat was not dressed and ordained for these litle birds euen so the goods which our fore fathers haue left vs or that we haue gotten by our labour and traueill we ought to bestowe part thereof cheerefully among poor men to the end God may make vs partakers of his glory in his kingdome out of the which the deuills were cast for their offence This good Prelate visited oftentimes his Bishoprik in person and committed not the same vnto any other It happened that on a time he came vnto a place called Calmaciacum there was a man possessed of an euill spirit which made him also blind from the time of the first entrance into him S. Remigius praied for him and the foule fiend departed the man recouered his sight and was free from all euill for which cause he gaue vnto God infinite thanks Another time the good Bishop being in the city of Rheimes lodged in the house of the Church of S. Nicasius martir sometime B. of that city there befell a great fier which burned a great part therof Notice herof came to S. Remigius who first praied and then went unto the place where the fire was raging and burning with such fury that all thought it would haue consumed the wholl citty The Blessed man made the signe of the Crosse against the fire which approched toward him and it fled from him and he followed it so long vntill it came to be like a great boule drew back to one of the gates of the city and issued out of the same to the great amazement of all the beholders In the Church of S. Iohn Baptist in the same city he cast a deuill out of a damosell which at his departure did so afflict her that he left her for dead S. Remigius made his oraisons for her restored her vnto life At that time Fraunce had suffered many afflictions by diuers tirants that made warre vpon it one of
he neuer staid long but continuallie trauailed from one place to another to escape his handes Once he came to the court of Achis king Geth who was a Phillistin being knowen of the courtiers he was led vnto the king that he might also see and knew him that had killed in the field the most valiant Champion of all the Philistians Golias the Giant Dauid feared that comming before the king he might incurre danger of his life wherefore to free himself of that perill he vsed a kind of pollicy in which he shewed himself as wise as he had before time valerous His craft was to faine himself foolish mad make faces and diffigure his countenance in diuers strange fashions to pulle at one and after at another and yf any catched at him againe to slip away from them as allso to let spiâ—tle fall on his beard and such like frantick toyes The king seing and thincking this to be done for nought but meere foolishnes scoffed at him and said to his courtiers To what end haue you brought this fellow hither want I fooles in my house take him away By this deuise Dauid was deliuered from the danger of death and out of the hands of the Phillistims O blessed Patriarch and Seraphicall Father holie S. Frauncis howe well and how perfectly wast thou pictured in this patterne Thou like a newe Dauid being yet verie yong wast persecuted not by Saule but by the deuill that endeuoured and laboured to depriue thee of the life not only of bodie but allso of soule Achis the king of Geth is this world in whose court thou wast and continuedst for a time in companie of other worldly men These made thee knowen to the world and the world did fixe his eyes vpon thee But thou fearing dauÌ„gers which hong ouer thy head to deliuer thy life out of his handes didst like a wise man faine thy selfe a foole Thou didst alter thy countenance when forsaking all that the world esteemeth thou didst embrace that which he most dispiseth When flying from all pleasures and delights thou didst make choice of contempt and afflictions Thou sometimes didst cherish one sometime another therby seeming to catche hold of them but if anie beganne to lay hold on thee to make the liue in sinne as others thou didst auoide and flye away from them Thou diddest many other things as a foole according to the iudgment of the world as in louing and seeking pouertie in appareilling and vsing of thy body not only meanely but also rigourously whereby the world reputed thee a foole and a verie dizard But thou like Dauid by this dilligence wast deliuered from out of the hands of Philisteans the hands of this world that so thou mightest fight and make fierce and cruell warre against him not only by thy owne person but also by thy sonnes and by thy daughters the religious people of thy holie order who continually waging warre against this enemie obteine many glorious spoiles and victories I haue taken the life of this blessed Saint out of the writings of S. Bonauenture S. Antoninus of Florence and others SAINT Frauncis was borne at Assisium a city in the valley of Spoleto in Italy in the yeare of our Lord 1182 and his father was a marchaunt called Peter Bernardo At his Christning he was named Iohn which name was after at his Confirmation chaunged into Francis for so was the will and pleasure of his father He was brought vp well and had good education as being the eldest sonne of his father who set him to learne both Latine and French intending to make him his factoure in marchandise whereunto the knowledge of many languages was as he knew well verie necessary S. Frauncis being come to years of discretion began to help his father in his trafficque aswell within as without the cittie And for that by this meanes he was as chiefe master and much money was returned thorough his hands a thing most perillous and pernitious for yong men he spent verie prodigally in what he liked This wrought many yong men of his years and of euil behauior into his company whoe moued him to liue as they did drowned in lasciuiousnes in ryot and youthfull vanities Thus he gaue himself wholly to delights to feastings and vaine company and yet alwaies in this euill behauioure he shewed some tokens of what he should then and what he woud be after ward On the one side he omitted not to commit all sinnes with out any feare yett on the other side he did some good deeds as giuing of almose in liberall sort for naturally he was very compassionat to the poore One day it fell out that a poore man asked an almose of him and he because he was verie busy gaue him none The poore man departed assoone as Francys perceued it he reproued himself and ruÌ„ning after him found him out and not only gaue him almose but also very lowely craued pardon of him and forthwith he also made a vowe that from theÌ„ceforth he neuer would deny to giue any thing that was demaunded of him for Gods sake if it lay in his power And perseuering in the obseruation of so worthy a vowe euen vntill his death he receaued manie especial great fauours of God one was that as often as euer he heard these words for Gods sake so often he felt a great tendernes of hart the cause of great consolation In regard of the Almose and other good deeds S. Frauncis did God sent him many good inspirations which serued as meanes to pull him out of that euill course of life in which he liued One of these meanes and motions was a whole yeares imprissonment in the city of Perugia among other citisens of AssisiuÌ„ caused by a controuersie between these two cities Francis in this prison shewed himself a man of great courage in aduersity as being always mery and comforting other his fellow prisoners that were pensiue and sad Peace was concluded between these citties the prisoners were discharged and Francis fell againe to his former courses prodigally spending his fathers goods among his companions in feasting gaming and carnallity and this life he led vntill he was 25. years old Comming to that age God did call him againe by a long and grieuous infirmitie the booke wherein man learnes manie good lessons First he learneth a liuelie and feeling knowledge of this trueth that he is mortall and that his health is not of himselfe He learneth moreouer to know his sinnes seing that sicknes is often times caused by them He learneth allso to feare hell fire as more neerely threatning deserued punishment which feare doth more earnestly stirre him vp to desire and thirst after eternall ioyes He learneth to despise all worldly riches as things that cannot restore him to health He lerneth to prepare himselfe to dye seinge infirmitie the harbinger of death in his lodginge He learneth to feare the iust iudgements of God making this discourse if in time of Mercie he chastizeth
barbarous natured man to the end that he should draw them to offerre vp sacrifice or put them to most grieuous torments Besides that in this he also had another respecte to haue Sergius the more auiled and disgraced by hauing appointed for his judge Antiochus aman that in former times was one of his followers and had bin preferred to the dignitie of Gouernor of Prefect of the East by the meanes of Sergius The holie Saincts were brought before him and he committed them first to prison where they spent they re time in prayer and deuotion beseeching oure Lord to graunt them strength and affoord them succoure in they re battaile Afterwards Antiochus fending for them vsed all meanes to winne they re willes to offer vp sacrifice to his Idolls But they answearing that his Idolls were diuells and no Gods he commaunded foure lustie and merciless fellowes to whip and scourge Bacchus with the toughest and hardest finewes of Oxen. This torment was so terrible and the lashes so cruell tearing his fleshe and wounding him so deepely that heerewith the martyr ended his lyfe and yielded vp his spiritt to God He afterward appeered vnto Sergius shining with glorie ad heauenly brightnesse he declared vnto him the endless reward which he had receaued for those short torments and encouraged him to vndergoe what paine soeuer was prepared for him to the end that as in they re punishment they might be partners in they re victorie and triumph Antiochus earnestlie to make Sergius more plyant and reduce him to his opinion but seing all he could doe was in vaine led by his fierce and cruell nature and desirous to satisfie the Emperoure he commaunded a paire of shoes all bestudded and thick sett with points of sharp nailes to be putt on his feete so to runne before his chariott and after this manner he did driue him nine miles to the excessiue paine of the holie martyr our of whose feet ranne streames of bloud But the night next ensuing an Angell did come and cherish him and so healed his feet as yf he had suffered nothing at all The iudge attributed to Magicke this fauoure of God and being therewith more enhardened did commaund him to endure againe the same torment Then seeing nothinge would auaile nor worke the martyr to his will he commaunded that his head should be stroken of Sergius kneeled downe vpon his knees and made his prayer to allmightie God beseeching him to accept the loss of his lyfe as a sacrifice to pardon those that did persecute him and graunt them knowledge of his light and his trueth He heard a voyce which inuited him to the kingdome of heauē did congratulate his victorie wherefore stretching forth his necke he was streightwaie beheaded the 7 of october in the yeare of oure Lord 306. God did honoure Sergius from Heauen with miracles and on earth he was honoured with great gyfts of Princes For Cosroes king of Persia though a pagan and Infidell did send to his temple a most riche Cross of gold with other precious gyftes in token of preat fauours receaued at his hands as childen by his wyfe queene Sira and safetie in manie great daungers and perilles Iustinian the emperour built two fayre churches in his name one at Constantinople the other at Ptolemaida At Rome a churche with the title of a Deacon Cardinall is dedicated vnto them And the verie citie wherein S. Sergius was put to death was called by his name Sergiopolis Of these two Saincts there is mention made in the second Nicene councell actione 5. in the Roman martyrologe and manie famous authors The life of SS Marcellus and Apuleius martyrs ON this self same dai the 7. of Octob. the Churche doth make a commemoration of Marcellus Apuleius martyrs They had bin disciples of Simon Magus but seeing by his disputations with S. Peeter that he was nothing but a false deceaver they forsooke and left him astonied at the wondrous works miracles of the glorious Apostle receaued his doctrine were made Christiās followed him all the dai of his life After his death thei liued according to his heauenlie doctrine vntill they came to be so happie as to shed they re bloud for that Faith and religion which they had learned of so good a maister They were putt to death and martyred by the commaundement of a Consull called Aurelian in the raigne of Domitian and in the yeare of our lord 93. the 7. of October and were buried without Rome neere the walles of the cittie The life of S. Dionise Areopagite and others SALOMON in the booke of wisdome saith that God disposeth all things sweetlie ordaining most conuenient meanes to obtaine such ends as he intendeth This was the reason why in his birth he vsed a starre to guide the three Eastern Kinges to adore him For they being Magi that is men skillfull in Astrologie by seing a starre of so new a fashion so different in place in course and motion from all other starres would be the more easilie wonne and allured to seeke the author and cause of that starre as they did effectuallie finding and adoringe IESVS CHRIST To conuert S. Dionise the Areopagite a great Philosopher and Astrologer God vsed the like propertionable meanes and it was that rare and singular Ecclips which at the time of oure sauioures death happened beyond the course of nature For Dionise marking the strangeness there of and maruailing at such a neuer seene wonder noted the yeare the day and houre and after vnderstanding by S. Paule the true cause and misterie of that Ecclipse he was conuerted to embrace that religion which was established by his death who was principall author and only motiue of that wonder which surpassed nature The life of this Sainct with Rusticus and Elutherius his fellow martirs collected out of Michaël Singelus priest of Hierusalem out of Suidas and Simeon Metaphrastes is as followeth THE cittie of Athens was famous in all Greece for that it was the chief place of learning the wellspring of knowledge and mother of Wisemen Dionise the Areopagite was borne therein of a riche and honourable familie and of parents morallie iust and courteous louelie to strangers and liberall in his youth he gaue himselfe to learning wherein he became so eminent that aswell for his knowledge as for his Nobilitie he had the chiefe place amonghst the Magistrates which gouerned the cittie He was most eloquent in the Attick tongue a most skillfull Rhetorician a rare man in the doctrine of Stoicks Epicureans and other Philosophers But aboue all he was accounted a iust man and vertuous in exercising his office not fauouring the riche nor oppressing the poore not cōdemning the innocent nor leauing the culpable without due chastizement He went into Egypt to studie the better vnderstand the course of the heauē the force influence of the starres and all that knowledge of Astrologie Being about the age of fiue and twentie and residing in the cittie
which others would haue raken as a reproach th'emperour and all they that were at the table commended Th'emperour Valentinian the second being restored vnto th' empire after the death of Maximus who put him to flight did not behaue himself so for 5. Martin commyng one day to visite th'emperour who had a wife infected with the heresy of Arrius and therfore an ennemy vnto S. Martin shee requested th'emperour not to doe him any honour and he yeelded ro her desire The blesled prelate came into the roome where th'emperour was who stirred not from his seat The holy saint came neerer vnto him yet th'emperour stirred not nor made any signe of kindnes or curtesy It was surely the will of God that the seat where th'emperour sat fell a fier of it self and burned and flamed out When Valentinian felt the fier he rose in hast and stumbled hauing already burned his clothes and scorched his skinne and considering what the cause was he went toward S. Martin and did vnto him very great reuerence and before the holy saint sayd any thing graunted vnto him what soeuer he came to demaunde Another time S. Martin went to visit a holy damosell and it is good to make memory of her for the example of others to the end the may be aduised that if they shutt their gates against apparant wicked men they should not always open their dores vnto them that seme to be good There was in a litle village a damosell who hued secret and priuat whose good report was diuulged thorough the chiefest cities of Fraunce aswell for her beauty as for her verruous liuers so that their house seemed to be a monastery S. Martin being told of her was desirous to see if the report made was true and though he was estranged from the conuersation and visiting of women yet one day passing neere vnto the village he desired to see that yong woman All the people as the vse was in all places where the holy man went came out to meet him as if he had bene one of the Apostles so much they reioiced to see him The holy saint turned out of the way to go to the house of that vertuous damosell who being certified that S. Martin came to visit her and being fully resolued not to alter her determination she sent one of those women who kept her company vnto s. Martin to excuse her and to alleadg a reason why shee came not out to meet him The blessed man accepted it for very good as well done and praised exceedingly the yong woman and said that her vertue surpassed the report that went of her S. Martin being gone vnto anot her towne the damosell sent vnto him a present which the holy saint receiued with a cheareful countenáce though it be not knowne that euer he receiued any guift of any woman but that in all his life and when he receiued it he said it is not fit a priest should refuse the present sent by a damosell that was more vertuous in her life then many priests This good pastour went sometimes to visite his diocesse and at one time among others he came vnto a samll village Because it was wynter they prepared his lodging in the vestry of the Church in which place they made him abed and a fire also They holy saint went to rest yet because he was not vsed to lye but on the ground the bed was trouble some vnto him And being desirous to throw the couerlet of him by chaunce he cast it on the fire and perciued it not at last he fell on sleep and the couerlet began to burne and set fire on the roome The flame being now gotten to the toppe of the house S. Martin started vp and ran to the doore but he was so troubled that he could not open it His priests and monks were without in great care and grief for that they knew not how to help him or saue the house At last the holy saint determyned to fall to his prayer as the generall remedy in all his daungers and so he did wherby it came to passe that the fier was extinguished and he was deliuered from all daunger in a moment He was often in daungers by sondry persecuitions of the Arryans who neuer permitted him to be attepose or quiet as appeared in many Councells in which the holy saint was present wherein they outfaced menaced adn vsed reprochfull and opprobrious words of him yet the holy man preuailed and continued a constant and valyant defender of the Catholique Romane Church vnto which he was always subiect as an obedyent sonne ought This good prelat bare such a reuerence in the Church that he was neuer seene to sit therein but either did kneele or stand on his feet and being asked the cause he said know you not that God is present in this place Finally being nowe old and tired with these conflicts with the deuill and his mynisters the fiend oftentimes appearing vnto him and sometimes by threats and other whiles by craft and surrlery seeking to do him harme and the time of his death approaching which he knowing by reuelation being at Candacense a place in his dyoces he asembled his disciples together and certefied them that the hower of his death drew neere This newes putting them in great sorrowe and grief they said vnto him deare father why wilt thou leaue vs vnto whom doest thou recommend vs behold the hungry wolfs will assaile thy flocke and there wil be no meanes to repaire the losse when then shepheard is gone we knowe thou defirest to be with CHRIST and we know also that thy reward remayneth sure and certein in he auen and that it is not lessened though thou stay with vs a litle space Haue pitty on vs that shall be left alone and abandoned S. Martin heating these words was moued to pitty and compassion and shedding teares his eyes fixed also toward heauen said Lord if thy people haue yet need of me I refufe not the paine and the trauell but thy will be done Thus this glorious father was distracted bettewne loue and hope and knew not which to elect It greued him to leaue his disciples and he was not willing to stay any longer from enioying the presence of God vnto whom he remitted all O man rightly to be called valliant who was not ouercome by trauell and paine much lesse by death he feared not death and refused not to liue His feuer encreased and his disciples seing his end to approach and that he lay on the earth and ashes which was his vsuall bed requested him then to permit cherishing and comfort to be done to him And he aunswered A Christian should not dye but on haire cloth and ashes then it is more fit that I doe so who am your master and prelate and am therefore obliged and bound to giue you good example Then they requested him to turne his head a litle on the one side and not to hold it always vpright to looke
the Virgin Mary Why then hauing bestowed so great a benefite on her should he deny her the grace of preseruation which was fitting and conuenient for her He exempted and priuiledged her from the paines of child-birth and from being turned vnto dust which be generall lawes was it not also reason that he should exempt and set her free from originall sinne Eua who was the cause occasion of all our euill as S. Anselme saith was created in grace is it meere then that Mary by whom we haue had so great good should be thought to be conceiued in sinne Moreouer they which be conceiued in originall sinne be called by the Apostle children of wrath and slaues to the deuill and to say so of the most B. virgin is a thing most inconuenient Further a good sonne ought to doe to his mother all the honour that he can and in not doing of it it seemeth he doth not intyrely fulfill the precept of God to honour his father and mother Our Lord IESVS is the true Sonne of the glorious Virgin and it is fit he should do that for his mother that any other good sonne would doe to his mother And though the B. Virgin was preserued from it therefore cannot we say that CHRIST was not her Redeemer for that in preseruing of her she was more deeply redeemed for there be two manners of redemptions one preseruatiue and the other subleuatiue or restoring The first is more excellent then the secoÌ„d for it is euident that one shall be more obliged and beholden to him that sustaineth him that he fall not into the durt and myre then vnto him that lifteth him vp out of it and then wipeth his cloths Likewise if God caused a Temple to be builded the most sumptuous and stately that euer any was in the world wherein to set the Arke of the testament which for that it was to conserue the Manna the table of the law and the wand wherewith Moyses did the miracles was to be couered with most fine Gold within without to be made of incorruptible wood more iust it was that God should giue rare and soueraigne perfections vnto the bowells and wombe wherein he would inclose his sonne and where his diuinity should inhabite in a manner ineffable If God commanded the children of Israel to be sanctified when they desired to come and talke with him it shall be then very iust that she who was to be the mother of God and cloth him with his humanity should be adorned with singuler purity God conserued the garments and shoes of the Hebrews in the desert for the space of 40. yeares so that they were neuer torne which thing he did for his honour much more fit was it he should preserue the soule of his mother to the end she should neuer fall out of his fauour or be without grace Ioseph made all the land of Egipt tributary vnto King Pharao except the land of the Priests signifying that our Lord redeemer ought to exempt from the tribute of originall sinne the B. virgin with whose flesh the true Priest after the order of Mâ—lchizedech should be clothed Our holy forefathers though they spoke many great commendations and praises of the B. Virgin yet said they not that she should not be conceiued in originall sinne neither hath any ancient Counsell made any decree or said their opinion in it This came to passe because God hath not declared all thing together at one time vnto his Church nor vnto the faithfull neither was it conuenient to be so Therefore he said vnto his Apostles after he had declared great matters vnto them at his last supper as S. Iohn writeth I haue many things to say but yet you are not capable of them your vnderstanding is not able to conceiue them the holy Ghost shall reueale them vnto you This was true for when the Holy Ghost came he declared all things that were fit for that time and continually doth declare and manifest things Those which are now laid open doe not contradict that which was discouered before yet are not all things which were before hidden and darkned with a cloud discouered and opened all together for some Counsels of our times doe declare some things belonging to faith which our forefathers did not And so the saying that the mother of God was conceiued without sinne was hidden and secret many yeares which was a thing not without cause The reason might be this That the common people was ordinarily so deuote to her that if it had bene published and affirmed in former times when things were not so well declared and when that they which had erred could not so well haue bene instructed and reformed as it is fit they should in such a case it might haue bene that the B. Virgin should haue bene adored for God To auoide this inconuenience it seemeth good reason this secret should be kept close At this present time the Church hath opened this secret in giuing leaue that we may hold and beleeue that the glorious Virgin was conceiued without sinne And when the Church graunteth this licence is it not necessary for vs which be so much obliged to her and trauell to serue her to seeke out such reasons and meanes how it should be And so much the more for that beside the former reasons alleaged there be many more which ought to enforce any curious person or man of an indifferent vnderstanding The first is that though the ancient fathers say not in plaine words that the B. Virgin was conceiued without sinne but rather seeme to infer the contrary for it was conformable to their time yet is it most sure that if they had written in our time they would haue said and written otherwise then that they now write for all that I say they all namely S. Bernard giue a note touching the Virgin saying that whatsoeuer is honorable and and can be said in praise of any saint ought to be attributed vnto her with surplusage and aduantage But being so as it is said that many saints after baptisme sinned not mortally as S. Nicholas S. Bernard S. Thomas Aquinas and others If it be said which is an Article of the Catholicke faith that S. Iohn Baptist and Ieremie were sanctified in their mothers womb it is apparant by the rule giuen that this and much more may be said and beleeued of the B. Virgin Then shee was not only sanctified in her mothers womb but also preserued from all sinne He spoke not much from the purpose that said That when IESVS CHRIST said by S. Iohn Baptist that among the sonnes of women there was not a greater arose then Iohn Baptist though the Greeke text saith no prophet yet the Latine text from which it is not lawfull to appele saith none borne of a woman theÌ„ the B. Virgin being greater and more holy then Iohn Baptist as all confesse and graunt when our Sauiour saith none arose she is excepted for she
in the Councell of Chalcedon Some holy doctors as S. Cyrill S. Iohn Damascen S. Augustine and S. Thomas declare the maner therof The substance of that which they say is this that the blessed virgin hauing conceiued IESVS CHRIST our Lord shee was his mother for that her most chast pure and more then illustrious bloud serued for matter of which the holy Ghost by his deuine vertue formed the body of IESVS CHRIST for which cause shee became a true and veritable mother as any other mothers be Hauyng layd this foundation of truth I say that to be the mother of God argueth the great noblenes and worthynes of this holy damosell This is proued by a principle the phylosophers hold to wyt that there is not only a proportion betweene the cause and the effect but also if the cause be not empeached or hindered it produceth a like effect to it selfe euen to the Indiuiduum and the accidents as a lyon that hath spots produceth not only another lyon but also with the same spots This being graunted I say that if the naturall guifts of the wyt complexion and proportion of members naturall condition of CHRIST were transcendent and excellent in the hiest degree as it is apparant by the sacred scripture also said by the holy doctors we are by great reason to find all the same in the B. virgin as in his true and veritable mother to witt that shee was of an excellent wyt an amyable complection of an admyrable beauty absolute proportion of limmes and most goodly naturall condition So that saying that IESVS CHRIST was the fairest of all men Psal 44. v. 3. the same may be affirmed of the B virgin wherfore we may well say thus O lady vnto whom shall we liken thee what goodlines shal be like vnto thyne who is so beutifull as thou art The sonne compared vnto thee is foul and vgly the moone is dark and obscure and the starres are as clouds The Angels are far inferior and the Seraphins come not nere vnto thee vnto whom shall we liken thee but euen vnto IESVS CHRIST thy sonne will you haue saith S. Gregory a liuely pattern of the glorious virgin fixe your eys and behold IESVS CHRIST Behold the sonne in him you shall see a picture of the mother note you that there is litle difference between the mother and the sonne Such a sonne and of such and so great perfections was fit for such a mother and such a mother endued with so many graces was fit for such a sonne yee ought also to consider a heuenly workmanship betwene the B. Virgin her sonne for she gaue him one thing which was the humain nature he gaue vnto her another to wit the fulnes of grace The mother gaue vnto him that which she had to wit the humanity and CHRIST being God and fountein of grace gaue it vnto his mother Of this groweth two admirable things The one is that as the glorious virgin for his nature is his mother so is shee his daughter in respect of grace so that the mother is daughter and the sonne is father and that which other mothers say in sport to their sonnes calling them my king my prince my father and my treasor the glorious virgin might say it in truth and verity This also ariseth betwene the mother and the sonne That as the sonne for his humaine nature is made like vnto his mother so the mother in respect of grace is like vnto the sonne Shee was humble in proportion not in equality as he charitable as he obedyent as he and in her proportion full of grace as he so the Angell called her Aâ—haile full of grace The consideration of this mother and sonne Luc. 1. goeth further The virgin in his conception bestowed the bloud of her vaines of which to forme his body and in the nyne moneths that she caryed him in her wombe ouer beside the giuing vnto him her most chast bowells for his rich pallace and the couerings and pannycles of her hart to be the tapissery of his chamber shee also gaue him the very same meate shee took her self so that like a blissed doue with her bill shee put the nutriment in the mouth of her sonne After he was borne the armes of his mother was his cradell holding him vnto her brest she warmed him better then Abysac warmed Dauid IESVS being growen vp his mother gaue him her handes her care and diligence to the end all things shee had might serue him After he was dead taken from the crosse shee took him also in her armes and embraced him with tender affection All this gaue the mother vnto the sonne The sonne gaue vnto the mother grace in her conception in preseuring her from sinne he gaue vnto her the vse of reason before the ordinary time and at three yeres old he conducted her as his owne vnto the Temple Then he aduaunced her higher vntill he made her his mother most fit for such a sonne in such maner that shee is no reproch vnto CHRIST before his eternall father the Angels and all men Yea he glorieth and ioyeth to haue such a mother as Mary is IESVS CHRIST and his mother were in this as other things most faithfull louers for the presents and gifts the one had from the other liked them so well that they neuer left them IESVS had his humanity of his mother and he so firmely embraced it that as the deuines say that which he once vnited to himself he neuer last He lost his life in his passion and in the three dayes he lay in the sepulcher the humane nature was not there for his parts to wit the body and the soule were seperated asunder but the parts were neuer seperated from the diuine Suppositum It is also very cleare that the iewels with which this infant was borne and were bestowed on her in her conception were neuer lost for shee neuer commytted any mortall sinne Let vs then conclude this first tretise to wit of the nobility which accrewed and arose vnto the virgin in being the mother of God with the words of S. Augustine to wyt That to be the mother of God is so great a dignity that by it shee surpasseth not only all mankind but also all the Angels Asmuch as it is more to be the mother rather then the seruant so much is the dignity greater to be the mother of the prince then to be his seruant This reason also conuinceth it for that so much the more is a thing aduanced in perfection the more or nerer it is vnited to God who is the hiest perfection This is the daughter that is borne this day the infant whose feast the Catholike Church celebrateth a litle infant but a great Lady An infant whose graces cannot be expressed but by him that created her THis is a day of great desart a day whose memorie reioyceth both heauen and earth This is the day in which shee is
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
base because the too much or excesse was a thing reprouable for his person the too litle was not fit nor conuenient in respect of his function He was very merciful toward the poore and gaue them much almose of the mony which many rich men gaue vnto him very largely By these pious deeds Ciprian became in few daies so famous that among the heathen also he was renoumed and no lesse hated as one by whose meanes many left their paganisme and were made Christians For which cause they conferred among themselues howe they might take his life away and to haue a commaundement for it from Themperours Valerian and Gallien who at that time persecuted the Church most cruelly and put many Christians to death euery day God did not permit that this their purpose should come to passe as yet Because a man of such holy life and excellent learning as Cyprian was for some short time necessary to be in the church to the end he might with this holy sermons and admonitions draw many soules out of the bandes of sinne bring them vnto pennance and to the end he might exhort many to forsake the world and enter into relligion and that many damosells liuing in monasteries might keep perpetuall chastity This excellent doctor was also necessary for no preach the truch vnto the heretiks the vnion vnto the schismatiks and peace vnto the children of God He was asso necessary for the incouragement of the martirs to persuade them with a willing mind to suffer torments and death for the sake of IESVS CHRIST with hope to acquire the crowne of glorie in heauen He was likewise necessary to the end that they which only lost their goods in the persecution should be by him comforted in making them assured that they should haue them doubled in heauen This persecution being runne through diuers provinces and cities came also vnto Carthage and was put in execution with such rage and fury that it was worthy of note to see the miserable Christians to goe one this way another that way all of them in feare and dread labouring one while to saue their goods another while to preserue their liues In a short time the prisons were replenished with Christians not with thiefs or malefactors There was no offence punished but that which seemed most heinous vnto the painimes to be a Christian After certein daies expired the ChristiaÌ„s which were imprisoned were taken forth and executed in the high streets with diuersity of tormeÌ„ts Theire dead bodies lay in heapes and no man was so hardy as to touch or bury them What did the holly Bishop S. Ciprian in this time of great calamity and misery He called the Christians to him some times one and sometimes another and led them into certeine secret places where he preached vnto them telling them that the time was euen nowe coÌ„me in which it was to be clearly seen who was in deed the frend of God by perseuering in the confession of the faith by not fearing the tirants that had power to do harme only vnto their bodies and not vnto their soules but rather the more the bodies were abused the more glory should redound vnto their soules that therefore they should not hate the tirants which persecuted them but rather loue and pray vnto God for them knowing that IESVS CHRIST hath said that the difference between the Christian and the pagan is that the Christian doth loue his frends and foes also whereas the pagan loueth none but his frends He made vnto them demonstration of this verity by the example of CHRIST who praied for them that Crucified him and that therefore if they would be his true children they ought to imitate him in works Many other things said the good prelate vnto theÌ„ which if the tirants had heared they might haue bene conuerted by these words Yet they brought forth very gret fruite in the harts of the catholikes because they did much animate them not to fear the rigour to the persecution Ciprian also ordeined many things to preuent and auoid many incoueniences which happened euery day As to apoint stout and lusty fellowes who in the night at certein howers of security took away the bodies of the Martirs which lay in the streets and buried them to others he gaue in charge that the Christians which came out of prison with life yet very euill entreated with torments should be led by them vnto their houses there they should see them haue phisik with all speed He ordeined others to helpe the Christians which were designed to be taken and fled hither and thither and to prouide them sustenaunce and clothing These and such others the like prouisioÌ„s did the Blessed Bishop make in that time full of calamity and he had such a notable gift in commaunding things to be done that euery one obeied him And though they put them selues in manifest daunger yet did they performe all his commaundements The Proconsull who had the charge in Carthage to persecute the Christiants was aduertiezed of the good deeds that Cyprian did wherupon he would be informed who he was and when he heard that the people loued him and that he was of great autority with euery one he durst not arrest him to put him to death but caused his commaundement to be declared vnto him which was that he should depart from Carthage and go vnto a city called Corubitana In that place he staied about a yeare but the Proconsull deceasing he retruned vnto a place neere vnto Carthage and staied in certein gardeins which had bene sometimes parcell of his owne patrimony and which he had sold to be spent in almose But he which had purchased them had giuen restored them agein vnto him freely without any recompence And if the persecution had ceased S. Cyprian had sould them ageine and had giuen the price coming of them agein vnto the poore Remaining certein daies in these gardeins accompanied with manie priests and deacons and other friendes among whom was Pontius who wrote his life many of the city of Carthage and of other places also came to visite S. Cyprian and to confer with him of heauenly matters and at all times they found him affable and curteous Euery one was by him comforted euery one holpen and he persuaded and exhorted them all to serue God Some of his frends besought him to depart from thence and to remaine a litell further of from the Proconsul who being newly come might seek to get him into his handes and put him to death therefore staying there he was in great daunger But he who had receued a reuelation that about one yeres end after his banishment he should obtein the crown of martirdome had not the power to depart out of that place for he had a gret desire to die for the faith of CHRIST The Proconâ—ull had notice where Cyprian dwelt and howe much people came thither to visite him wherefore he sent officers to attach him
denied it with a valiant courage for which cause he put her into a more lothsome prison and after a fewe daies brought her to a publike hearing and then seeing her to be constant and resolute he commaunded her to be tortured The torments were such that they would haue bereaued the stoutest and lustiest man of his life and much more such a tender damosell as Euphemia was At the first they did beat her with wands of Iron then they put her on the torture called Eculeus which disiointed all her tender limmes Then an engin was made with a wheele full of kniues which being turned round about came to strike alwais in that same place where the holy saint was to be tied The wheele was in order and Euphemia was tied but bicause the torment was so dreadfull the holy saint made her oraisons vnto God and behold there descended from heauen an Angell who broke it to shiuers The maker of that engine died in that place with many other persons wherupon the kinsfolke and frends of the slaine men kindled a great fire to haue burned the holy virgin therin as though shee had bene the cause of their deaths but by the grace fauour of God she was freed from those fiery flames with out receauing any harme at all Lastly the proconsull commaunded shee should be giuen as a pray vnto the cruelty of sauage beasts She being already wearied of enduring so great torments besought God that this might be the last and so it was for there were let out vpon her two fierce Lyons which killed her but they did not eate her flesh at all and in this maner was finished the glorious conflict of S. Euphemia Of SS Lucy and Geminian Martirs SAINCT Lucy was a Romain matrone who had bin maried and her husband deceasing of infirmity shee continued widow from the age of 36 years vntill the age of 85. years Shee was a Christian and spent her time in pious vertuous actioÌ„s had a sonne called Eutropius who was fully as wicked as his mother was good And bicause his mother reproued him for his misdeeds shee grewe odious vnto him and he vsed a most enormous villany that so he might liue as he listed and liked and this it was At that time the persecution which Dioclesian and Maximian vsed against the Christians was terrible and executed with all rigoure the accursed sonne went to one of them accused his mother Lucy to be a Christian Themperour forth with commanded her to be apprehended so shee was And when Lucy continewed firme and constant in her faith he coÌ„maunded shee should be put into a great Cauldron full of pitch and molted lead but the holy saint was taken out this torment not doing her any harme Then the tirant commaunded that shee should be put to open shame and reproch causing her to be led gyued and fettered thorough the city which was not only a reproch vnto the holy saint but also a greeuous paine with the gret weight she carried and it was augmented in that she was so aged and moreouer the officers forced her to make hast to giue vnto her the more annoy S. Lucy being in this maÌ„ner euill entreated came nere vnto the house of a noble citisen called Geminian who kept certein Idolls in a priuate roome all which did fall vnto the ground when S. Lucy passed by This was the cause that Geminian with others that imitated him were conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST Geminian ranne vnto the place where S. Lucy was and kneeling on his knees before her said that he desired to be a Christian and requested her to pray vnto God for him that since God had giuen him that good desire that he would also giue him ability to performe and to accomplishe it The officers hearing this laid hold on him and led him vnto Dioclesian who commaunded that both Lucy and he should be beheaded and so they were The martirdome of these three saints Eufemia Lucy and Geminian was on the same day that the Church maketh coÌ„memoration of them to wit on the. 16. day of September about the year of our Lord 290. Zon in vita Copronimi the aforenamed Dioclesian and Maximian being Emperours Metaphrastes Zonaras an Euagrius make mention of S. Eufemia The life of S. Ianuarius and others AMONG other the great miracles which are read in holy writ wrought by our Lord God in his seruants in mine opinion that in the 3. cap. 〈◊〉 â—he prophet Daniell is the most principall and the cheefest The proud king Nabuchodonosor desirous to be accounted a God on the earth caused to be made that huge and most prodigious statua representing his person He iointly sent forth a publick proclamation that all and euery one of his subiects none exempted should adore it on their knees at the sound of sondry Instruments the three yong Hebrue gentlemen called Ananias Azarias and Misael otherwise Sidrac Misac and Abdenago being requested so to doe denied it they remained faithfull vnto God to whom principally and only apperteineth diuine worship not respecting the great fauours they had receued of the king not regarding his large promisses and offers of great welth not caring for his threats nor esteeming the losse of their owne lifes The king who more rightly might be called a tirant in a rage and fury caused a great ouen to be beat seuen times more then it vsed to be and those blessed yong men clothed as they were to be cast into the same but they by the merite of their faith and relligion toward God were not touched nor hurt by the fyer in their garments or bodies but walking securely in the midst of the fornace as if it had bene a hall or faire street did sing praises and lauded God merily ioyfully And that which more increased the wonder there discended an Angell downe from heauen who cast the burning flame violently out of the ouen which burned and consumed the Chaldeans and officers of the king that were nere vnto the mouth of the fornace It pleased our Lord to do the like thing in commendation and for the merit of the true faith and holines of S. Ianuarius the Bishop He for that he refused to worship the Idolls and to wrong the maiesty of God regarded not the threats of torments nor was moued by the flattering promise of temporall goods was after many torments endured by the commaundement of a president vnder Dioclesian that cruell tirant and other his diuellish ministers cast into a burning fornace made as hote as it could be and yet the blessed man remained without any hurt at all and he together with the Angels song praises and rendered thanks vnto our Lord and the wicked officers were all consumed and brent miraculously with the flame of the fire which came out of the fornace The life and death of this holy Bishop and his fellowe martirs as it is gathered out of the catalogue of saints the Romain
would not adore IESVS CHRIST for he thought he lost much of his reputation if he that was an Angell had abased himself to adore IESVS CHRIST a man though he was God also It is the common opinion of the doctors founded vpon holy writte that the sinne of Lucifer was pride and disobedience S. Paul seemeth to say so writing to the Hebrewes where he saith Let all the Angels of God adore him S. Iohn Chrisostome saith that this was a precept giuen vnto the Angels Hereof riseth the great malice and enuy of Lucifer against IESVS CHRIST for that he was cast out of heauen for his sake Ad hebr cap. 1. and because the cursed wretch cannot reuenge himself against him there fore he laboureth to wreak his malice against men wherupon S. Basill saith D. Bas 1. tom hom in lai that Lucifer doth after the manner of a bull who seeing a man to cast a snare or cord about his hornes is chafed and enraged against him and whilest he is in his greatest fury they vse to set before him the shape of a man against which he vttereth all his rage though it put not the cord aboute him In like sort Lucifer doth who because he cannot be reuenged on IESVS CHRIST who tied him and was the cause he was throwne out of heauen and also of his torment he hath in hell striueth to reuenge himself on men who are made to the image and similitude of god On the contrary the Angels do loue men entirely bicause they see CHRIST who is both God and man for whose cause they enioy the heuenly glory and also because they behould the deuils to persecute and make cruell warre against them Hereof it commeth that God commaunding them to be the keepers and guardians of men and to be their guides they do not scorne it yea they esteeme it honorable and take great content therat Therfore in this warre which the deuill maketh against men assisted by two lusty fellowes his seruants the world and the flesh the Angells hold on our sides helping and ayding vs As it it happened to Iudas Machabeus 2. Mach. 11. who being ready to incounter with a great army of his enemies two Angels went by his side and aided him and caused him to obteine a famous victory These holy Angels deliuer vs from many daungers into which we fall oftentimes as it befell to Loth when the Angels pulled him almost by force out of Sodome Gen 19. that he should not be consumed with fier among the other people of Sodome These Angels hold vs back and with drawe vs if we go sometimes headlong into sinne as happened to the prophet Balaam who being on the way entending to curse the people of God Nū 22. an Angell met him on the high way with a naked sword in his hand and though the prophet did not see him yet the Asse on which he rode such was the pleasure of God sawe him and afterward the Angell told him what to do and spake vnto him These holy Angels comfort vs in our troubles as befell to IESVS CHRIST in that great agony Luc. 22. which he had in the gardē when he sweate bloud CHRIST had no Angell guardyan for that he needed none yet an Angell descended from heauen which comforted him reducing vnto his mind the great good proffit that would arise of his death These B. Angells keepe vs company in all our voyages and iourneis Tobia 3. as it befell to yong Tobyas who was accompanied by an Angell in a long iourney and receued by him many graces and fauours They do defend vs and stand on our side daunting our enemies as happened to the prophet Heliseus 4. Reg 6. when the Assirians besieged him in mont Carmelo when many Angels enuironed him round in his defence These Angels guide vs in the way we are to walk as befell to the Hebrewes when they departed out of Egipt Exod. 14. for an Angell went before them as a cloud and guided them in the day and in the night directed them in the forme of a piller of fire These B. 3. Reg. 19. spirites comfort vs and prouide vs sustentation as befell vnto the prophet Elias for an Angell brought him sustenance before he went a long iourney These Angells present our praiers our sobbes and teares before God as befell vnto the beutifull Sara Toby 3. the daughter of Raguel who was widowe seauen times the diuell killing her husbands an Angell presented her praiers and teares before the face of God and shee was deliuered from that affliction These Angells finally when the soules are seperated from the bodies if they go vnto purgatorie keep them companie and comfort them with their often visitations if they go vnto heauen they go before them making triumph and ioy For which cause it is fit and iust that men who receaue these great benefits by the Angells should make great estimation of them and also honour them and be prompt and ready to do them seruice Pope Boniface the 4. who sate in the chaire of S. Peter about the yeare of our Lord 614. cōsidering seeing that in Rome there were many Churches dedicated to diuers Saints caused a Church to be builded in the honor of S. Michaell the Archangell the which was builded in Rome in a place called Circus Maximus which building was fully ended and finished on the 29. day of September And in remembrance of the building of the Church the Pope willed the feast of S. Michaell the Archangell and of all the other Angells to be celebrated through all parts of Christendome It is our duety to reioice on this day especially with them shewing our selfes to be gladsome of that they enioy the eternall felicity in heauen of which God make vs partakers for his mercies sake Amen The life of S. Hierome WE READ of the great friend of God Moises guide and captaine to the children of Israell that when he took the same people from the hands of Pharao and conducted them out of the land of Egipt the Red sea stopped him but when he stroke it with his wand it deuided into two partes so that all the people passed through drie foot the water seruing them for a wall and a defence against the Egiptians their enemies that pursued them Moyses is not only a figure of IESVS CHRIST our Lord the guide and captaine of the Christians whome he deliuered from the hand of Pharao to witte the deuill opening the way by the sea of his death passion with the wand or wood of the Crosse but also representeth the holie Doctors though not so properlie who in some sort are guides and captaines vnto the Christians Amonghst other Doctors figured in Moyses one is glorious S. Hierome for that this Doctor like vnto another Moises is the guide and meanes whereby many that were slaues and subiect to vices haue freed themselues from their miserable bondage by the
of Heliopolis in companie of one Appollophanes an Athenian and a famous sophister he did behold that strange Eclypse which happened at the death of oure Sauioure when viewing the creator of al things the author of lyfe and fountaine of all light so darkned soe ecclypsed so ignominiously suffering death the Sunne as one ashamed to behold that spectacle did hide an whollie loose his beames in the midst of the day S. Dionyse as a man that was skillfull in learning did quicklie perceaue this Ecclypse was against the course of nature by reason it lasted aboue the naturall periode but much more bicause the Moone was at the full and whollie opposite to the sunne so that supernaturallie running a violent course she alltogether couered the sunne and keeping him so for the space of three houres returned againe to her former place of opposition He wondered at so rare a miracle that neither was heard nor seene before and being amazed said to Appollophanes and others Either the God of nature doth suffer or els the wholle frame of the world doth perish and is dissolued He noted the yeare the day and the houre in which this strange noueltie and wonder succceded which was so deepelie imprinted in his minde that he neuer forgot it all his life He returned to Athens and liued in his owne cōmon wealth with great moderation and reputation the Athenienses honouring him as a most wise Philosopher and vprighte Iudge They made him president or chiefe of the highest courte of Iustice that was in all Athens This courte was called of the Areopagites who tooke theire name from a place where the court was kepte which was in a streete or litle hill called in Greeke Pagus dedicated to Ares that is to say Mars and the Iudges of this court were so graue vpright that in ancient times to call a Iudge vnspotted seuere vncorrupted vnflexible either for loue or feare or flatterie or briberie they would call him an Areopagite It came to passe that about this time S. Paule did preache the Ghospell in Athens He disputed sundrie times with the Epicurean Pithagorean Academicall Stoicall Peripateticall philosphers and laboured to reduce them to the faith of IESVS CHRIST and draw them from theire Idolatrie He told them of an other life of resurrectiō of the bodies of a generall Iudgement of a supernaturall reward or punishment according to eache mans good or bad works These Philosophers hearing a matter of such consequence and fearing the daunger of new religions and thinking it a thinge of greatest importance brought him before the chiefe court of Areopagites and theire supreme Iudge Dionisius For allthough the Romaines were in actuall posession of the wholl world in a maner and Lords of all Greece yet the Lacedemonians and the Atheniens were permitted to liue in their auncient liberty gouerned by theire owne Lawes officers magistrats freely elected by themselfs When S. Paule was brought before Dionyse the other magistrats in the presence of the philosophers who had before giuen informatiō of him he with a Retorique more diuine then humain meaning not to exasperat so wise and learned a nation by telling them he was come to teach them a thing wherin thy were ignorant and to giue them notice of gods that they knewe not of all which they would hardly haue disgested or els taken in euill part said thus vnto them You men of Athens I haue sene by experience that you be a very superstitious people more addicted to your gods then the other Greeks for you labour to haue more honoure them more then all the rest as you haue more knowledg and be more learned thē the rest Now I walking through your city and beholding the many temples which be therin I sawe one vpon whose altar there was this Inscriptiō To the vnknowen god That same God whom you doe honor vnknowen is he whom I doe preach vnto you and wish you to honor carefully He is not for from you nor from any mortall man since as one of your owne poets said very well we liue in him by him we moue and remain in him of him we gaue oure being oure motiō lyfe Then speaking against the multiplicitie of God he tould them at last of the day of iudgement and of the resurrection of the dead The answere they gaue him was this that they would giue him audience some other day and so dismissed him These fewe words of the Apostle were so full of misteryes that they put all these wise lerned mē to silence yea and astonied and amased them The Apostle departed but not empty handed for he caught in his net the chief magistrat Dionise with whom he had conferēce in priuate and in the end the Apostle gaue him prefect and full notice of our faith He preached vnto him IESVS CHRIST God and man his death passion resurrection and ascēsion vnto heauen And bycause the Apostle made particuler mention of the eclipse which happened at the time of our Sauiours death S. Dionise was desirous to know that wonder assone as it was laid open vnto him he yielded forthwith and said he would be a Christian It might seeme a lightness in S. Dionise to giue creditt so soone vnto a strāger in a matter of suche importāce as it is to renoūce the gods so lōg time adored by his forefathers and to receue a newe God that was crucified and the more for that he was so lerned and was therefore more obliged to consider very well thereof before he altered his opinion in a matter of such cōsequence Vnto this I aunswere by the same reason S. Dionise because he was wise and learned resolued vpon an honorable and worthy matter so soone For euen as he and all other wisemen of the Paynims were reprouable to adore them for gods whom thy knew had bene infamous wycked men so they desired to find some that should giue them knowledge of another God more worthy to be worshipped then they were They knew likewise by the light of nature that there ought not to be many gods but one God only So that Dionise hauing this desire and S. Paule coming to incounter him he fled not from the combat but did rather holpen by God follow the Apostle with out resistaunce and by Baptisme was made a Christian There were others also conuerted but S. Dionise did surpasse them all in vertuous and holy works for which cause the Apostle made him priest and also Bishop of that city S. Dionise was the first Bishop that Athens had and that was great glory vnto the city bycause it had brought vp and giuen learnyng vnto her first pastour This holy saint had priuate frendship and conuersed a long time with the Deuine Hierotheus a Spaniard borne after the opinion of many Autors who was instructed in like maner by S. Peter in deuine letters and ther vpon he was called Diuine S. Dionise confesseth that he was his instructor and that of
But the couetous churle who would not suffer any to enter within his vineiard had much lesse then he vsed to haue and that litle which he had became sower and then he repented but to late that he had ben so churlish and discourteous toward the holy saint This blessed old man had a guift of God by the smell of bodies of garments and things which any man touched to know the vices they had and to what euill spirit they were subiect and with what vertues they were adorned Being now fully 6 years ole and seing the multitud of relligious men that were vnder his obedience and the great concourse of people that came to him dailie to haue remedy of their afflictions he was much discontent there at lamented for the same His religious men askindg him the cause he aunswered them It seemeth to me being esteemed holy by men that God hath rewarded me in this life for the small seruice I haue done vnto him It seemeth to me also that I retorne vnto the world sins vnder the colour of susteining and mainteining the relligious men there are presented vnto me many occasions of sinne His disciples hearing thes words did watch him dilligently especially Isichius for the great loue and affection he bore vnto him fearing he would strale away from thence One a time a venerable matrone came to visite him with intention to go further and visite S. Antony also He vnderstanding her intention wept and said vnto her I was also of that mind if the gouernement of this monastery had not said and with hed me but nowe it is to late for two dais since the worle is depriued of that worthy father This matrone credited his words and went no further and within a few daies after came vnto their eares the newes of S. Antonies death It were a wonderfull thing to consider the graces and gifes of this saint his miracles his abstinence and his profound humility S. Ierome saith of him I am amazed and astonied to consider the great enmity Hillarion had with worlely pompe and glory and with the estimation of men This blessed old man was visited by priests by relligious men by clerks by all maner of people and he to fly from honour which was dome vnto him by euery one determined to depart and trauell into some other country When this was knowen he was beset and enuirouned with more then 10000. persons who besought him not to leaue them but he striking the earth With his walking staffe said I cannot abide that my God should be accounted a deceuier or a lyer I cannot endure to see the Churchs demolished theâ— Altars troden vnder feet and my children slaine with the sword By thes words he said many gathered that God had reuealed vnto-him some great euill and persecution that should ensew vnto his brethren as it came to pase after in the time of Iulian the Apostata To conclude the blessed man would not stay with them any longer and told the people he would neuer eate bit of sustenannee if they did not permit him to go quietly and they hindring him be would not eate any thinge for seanen daies to geathey They seing his resolution to be such permitted him to depart in peace thought it was much against their willes and because the good old man was so feeble that he could not trauell on foote he rode and choose for to keep him company 40. monks whom he iudged to be most abstinent and most prepared to abide trauell and paine Passing with them through many countreis he at the last arriued at the Cell of S. Antony There he talked with the disciples left by that blessed man and conforted them being sadde for the death of the death of their master He recreated himself a while with them in visiting diuers places which they showed vnto him In this place said they S. Antony vsed to pray here he exercised himself in digging the earth These trees were planted with his hands here he made the founâ—ein handsome for their vse with his owne hands Then they shewed him his Cell the length wherof was fit to receue a man lieng out in length They also rehersed vnto him some of his miracles S. Hillarion demaunded of two of those monks for the place of S. Antony his buriall they only knowing it It is not knowen if they did shew it vnto him or no bicause S. Antony had commanded them and bound them by othe not to disclose it vnto any and he did it lest any man should honor or reuerence his body After the death of S. Anthony for three years space it had not rained in all that prouince wherefore the common people said it was bicause the clements lamented for the death of that blessed man They besought S. Hilarion to pray for them which he did and then it rayned Wherfore he was for that benefit highly esteemed among the people of that country they sayeng that God had sent him vnto them in the steed of S. Anthony He departed from thence and went to visite two holy Bishops Dracontius and Philo who were banished from their churchs by themperor Constantius for that they would not follow the heresy of Arrius These holy bishops were comforted much to see S. Hilarion who departed from them and went to Alexandria and was lodged by certein relligious men neere vnto the city When night came he saddled his litle beast meaning to depart and when they asked of him why he would go a way thus sodenly he aunsweted lest my stay be the cause of some great trouble On the next day it proued euen so as he had said for thither came officers of themperour Iulian the Apostata guided by some of the citisens of Gaza to apprehend him by order from that tirant but when they found him not they wondred saieng nowe we find it true that hath bene said vnto vs of this man viz that he is a coniurer and a sorcerer knowing things to come Behold howe he is escaped out of our hands The B. Abbot went like a pilgrime in diuers countreis but he was easilie knowen where soeuer he came for men posessed with the deuill discouered him He knew that Iulian the renegat had made a search for him and his disciple Isichius with an intention to put them to death if he had taken them In which because he missed he set their monastery on fire and persecured the monks with extreme rigour But within a while after the wicked emperour being dead and also Iouinian who liued a very short time Valentinian succeded in the Empire S. Hilarion was entreated to returne and gather his monks together and to reedify his monastery which he would not do but rather be took sea to go and dwell in some Islands vnhabited that the sea might keep that secret which the land did diuulge and publish but he could not be hid for the people came likewise vnto him in that place also So he departed from that Island and
passed into Africk and from thence into Cycile where he made his stay vpon a cragey mountein In the day he made a bundle of wood and laid it on the back of one of this disciples to cary vnto the next towne to be sold and with the mony arising therof they bought bread with the which those few that were with him liued and sustenied their lifes He could not liue vnknown in that place nether for a man posessed with euill spirite in Rome cried out and faid Hilarion the seruant of God is in Cycilc So that many diseased people came thither to recouer their health by his meanes By cause he perceiued himself honoured in that place also he departed and went into Dalmatia where was a dragon that destroied all the countrey deuoured the oxen and other beasts and killed the husband men and the shepheres The blessed man hauing compassion on the people caused a great stack and pile of wood to be made and when he had praied he commeunded the dragon to go vpon the stack of wood and when he was on it he bad the people set fire ther vnto and thus the dreadfull dragon was brent and consumed with fire in the sight of all the people Then he determined to depart from that place also for which cause he was embarked and being on the sea he was assailed by pirats His disciples with the others that were in the shippe doubted they should be slaine but the good man reprooued them for distrusting in God And Then standing on the deck he praied and stretchinh out his hard against the pyrats said Come no further this way O straunge and wonderfull thing at the saieng of these words they turned aside and returned back as swiftly as though a strong gale of wind had caried them away The sea was also obedient vnto him for at such time as he was at Ragusium the sea swelled and rose out of measure and so much that the people of the country feared all of them should be ouerflown and drowned The blessed old man took land made the signe of the Crosse in the sand and held vp his armes against the storme and the sea was asswaged and ceased incontinent to the great admiration of all the country who kept this deed in memory and the fathers vsed to tell the same vnto their children Another time as he sailed and not hauing any thing to pay for the fraight he would haue giuen vnto the owner of the bark a book in the which he had written the foure Ghospells with his owne hand which he alwais carried about him because he had cured before time the sonne of the master of the bark he would not receiue the book of him but he gaue him his fare and rendered vnto him infinite thanks for his former benefit Finally this blessed old man remaining in Cypres and hauing sent Isichius his disciple to visit the ashes ruines of his distroied monastery and to salute the monks remaining in that prouince staid in the city of Papho vnto which place many sick men and men possessed came out of all parts of the Island and the holy saint by praier healed them Isichius being returned from Siria the reuerend father conferred with him of his departure from thence which he did not vpon inconstancy but only to fly from credit and honour which was bestowed vpon him in that place So hauing found out a place not far distant from the city which stood out of the way and was vnhabitable for the craggines knowing that the going vp vnto it was very difficult for they must go vp creeping with their hands and that at the toppe therof was a plesante and delightfull place furnished with many trees and cleare founteins and that as the fame went many euill spirits haunted and vsed in that place and therefore none was so hardy as to dwell there the holy man resolued to make the same his habitation There were some that came to visite him yea many diseased persons and among others one sick of the palsy who was the owner of the place Great were the conflicts and encounters the seruant of God endured in that place by the deuills who did incessantly disquiet him because he was come to thrust them out of their long continewed habitation The blessed man took thereat great consolation for that he had there some enemy with whom to contend and striue S. Hilarion being nowe come to the age of 80. years Isichius his disciple being absent fell sick and perceuing that the hower of his death drew nere he wrote a schedule or note of his hand in which he left by his testament Isichius his disciple to inherite all his treasures the book of the Gospells written with his owne hand his long relligious weede the sackcloth or hoode with which it was couered When it was known in the country that the holy saint was sick some came to visite him and he charged them deeply that assoone as he was dead they should bury him in the same place where he dwelt and that they should not keep him aboue ground the moment of an hower When the pangues of death came all things failing but his sences which were perfect looking with his eyes open he spake to his soule and said Depart forth nowe depart feare not thou hast serued CHRIST 70. years and doest thou nowe feare death In speaking these words he ended his life His body was buried incontinently as he had apointed so that his death and buriall was reported in the city both at one time His disciple Isichius being certefied of his death returned into Cypres and faining that he desired to dwell in the same place where is master did dwell and was buried after ten moneths passed he stole away the blessed body of his master venturing his life for the same for if the Cypriots had knowne it he had bene slaine by them and caried it into Siria and buried it in his auncient monastery an infinite company resorting thither to see it The blessed body was found hole perfect and entier and so were all his cloths and garments euen as he and they were when he was aliue casting a very sweet pleasant smell S. Ierome saith that vntill his time there had ben variance and controuersy for the Syrians say they haue his body as they haue indeed and the Cypriots say they haue his spirite but aswell in the one as in the other place are seen many miracles done by the intercession and merits of this glorious saint but much more in the place of Cypres for in that place the blessed father took great delight The death of S. Hillarion the Abbot was on the 21. of October and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast It was also in the yeare of our Lord 379 Valentinian being the Romain emperour Nicephorus Callistus wrote of this holy saint in the 11. book cap 14. The life of S. Vrsula and the eleuen thousands Virgins ON the selâ—e
for the which it is fit those saints should be nominated and none other And it seemeth to be the ordinance of God that in some particuler citties and prouinces the feasts of sundrie saints should be celebrated As through all Spâ—ine the feasts of S. Isâ—â—dore and Ildephonse are celebrated At Toledo is kept the feast of S. Eugenius and at Alcala the feast of the two saints Iustus and Pastor The Popes do also obserue the same order in Canonization of saints concerning the saying of their office and solemnising of their feast For although he that is canonised is to be holden and reputed a saint of all Christians vnto all whom it is comaunded that they honour him as a sainte yet for the celebration of his feast a place is set downe and assigned or els a particuler congregation As to S. Francis of Paula founder of the order of the Minimes his feast is kept in all the places of his religion and in some citties as in Towers in France where he died Of S. Catherine of Siena also who is canonised and her feast is kept through all the order of preachers and in the cittie of Syena in Italy Of S. Romualdus founder of the Calmaldoly whose feast is sollemnised in all the monasteries of his religion and in the cittie of Rauenna where he was borne and in the towne of Fabriano where his body lieth yea not long agoe Pope Gregorie 13 hath granted a plenarie Indulgence to all Christians both men and women vpon the feast day of the said Romualdus which is on the 19 of Iune that shall visite the Churches of the monasteries of the Calmaldoly aswell of monkes as of nonnes And the like is also of many other saints Notwithstanding all this dilligence of the Catholique Church there remaine many thousands of saints of whom is kept no feast nor comemoration neither in generall nor in particuler yea of many there is no memory nor knowledge Of these then which be an infinite number is celebrated the feast of all saints Which is a reason of great consolation for afflicted and tormented mindes for though when the sacred scripture maketh mention of those which be saued it is done with such restriction and limitation that it maketh the most valiant to tremble and desmaieth the faint and weake harted As it is said of them that departed out of Egipt that of so many thousands two only entred into the land of promise and also when CHRIST saith that the gate of heauen is narrow and the way by which we go thither straite As also when he speaketh of rich men and saith that it is more easie for a Camell to passe through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into heauen As also the parable of the ten Virgins of which sine were excluded out of the gate Yet this I say is matter of great consolation Tho vvald de Sacram tit 16. Gab de canon misse Pighius Coent Vers 13. Eck enchir Cap. 15. Castiâ— lib 13. cont heres to see that the holie saints be so many that there cannot be feasts performed vnto them all through the whole yeare and that they must haue a particuler daie allotted for them all in which the Church singeth for the Epistle a lecture of the Apocalips of S. Iohn where it is said that euerie tribe had so many thousands of saints in heauen The third reason why the feast of all saints is kept is for that we be much bound vnto theÌ„ for many graces and fauours which we continually receaue of them and by their meanes for that cause it is conuenient that in their memory we make some feast reioice for the ioie which they haue by posessing the presence of God in heauen This obligement and bond is so great that before this sollemnitie was instituted by Gregorie or Boniface some Catholiques and deuout Christians were in particuler perswaded to celebrate such a feast of which number S. Angustine was one who saith in a sermon my deare and louing brethren we celebrate the feast of all saints vnder one sollemnitie of whose company heauen reioiceth Serm. 27. tom 10. and the earth is made happy by their aide and the Church renowned by their triumphes That the obligation and bond which we haue to the saints is great we may see by this that not speaking of the fauours and graces which we all receaue of God by their merits and intercession there is not a man in this world if he look into his life but he shall find himself obliged to some particuler saint it being certaine that God for his sake hath done him some good Moreouer it is a cleare case that we be bound vnto the saints hearing CHRIST say of them Luk 15. that they feele an accidentall ioy euery time that a sinner doth repent By which we may gather that if they feele such ioy to see a sinner bewaile his sinues with teares to knock his breast to sigh and lifte vp his voice to heauen if this musick please them so much that for the same they make publike ioy and sollemnise his conuersion what Iubiley triumph and sollemnity make they when such a sinner is freed clearly from his sinnes and from the prison of the body and entreth into heauen If the saints reioice so much at our good it is very fit that we reioice by celebrating their feastes The fourth and last reason why we celebrate the feastes of all the saints is because we should imitate them When the poore man seeth the treasors of the rich his pouerty is more apparent and manifest and the sinner seeth his defects better when the vertues of the saints are represented vnto him The Catholike Church celebrating the feasts of the saints Greg naz orat in Athanas S. E pihhere 26. Basil hom in 40 m art doth not only intend to honor them and God in them but also would lay them before vs for a patterne and example to the end we should imitate them if we would go whither they be gone and be saued as they are saued and posesse Gods glory as they possesse it Assueredly we may say that many that are called the disciples of CHRIST indeed be ChristiaÌ„s for that they be Baptised haue faith in workes are Pagans disciples of the diuell blinded and deceiued and that their consciences be harquebuze proofe as may be seene by that which followeth In this feast of the sollemnitie of all saints the Church readeth a Ghospell which was the first that IESVS CHRIST preached in the world conteineth the despising of all temporall things and as S. Augustine saith compriseth the somme of all that which is necessarie for the perfection of a Christian He staieth not on that point but beginning to preach his new law and Gospell teacheth vs all to make small account of things present and to make most reconing of things to come to extirpate the loue of terrene goode
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
like occasions and assembled a Councell of 105. Bishops in the Church of S. Saluator neere vnto S. Iohn La'eranne And the question of the aforementioned errors being againe disputed certein Canons were published by which all the auncient heresies and this also being lately reuiued were condemned and anathematised and with them Peter Cirus and Sergius their Patriarchs deceased accursing detesting and depriuing Paulus the Patriarch now liuing and all his followers and adherents of what state condition dignity or function so euer and depriuing them also of all offices and benefices ecclesiasticall And to the end this holy Councell and all the decrees and Canons of the same should be diuulged and published through the world Pope Martin caused many coppies to be sent into most parts thereof Th'emperour CoÌ„stans vnderstanding what the Pope had done in the Councell tooke such indignation therat that he determined to apprehend if he did not kill the Pope in reuenge of this iniury as he estemed it For this purpose he sent into Italy in which at that time the Emperours of Constantinople had some cities and countreis one Olimpius a noble man of his chamber but an heretike as he himself was and gaue vnto him the title of Exark or Regent with secret instructions what to do Olimpius arriued at Rauenna which was the ordinary place of residence of the Exarks and hauing amassed and gathered huge forces as he could went toward Rome where he endeuored to make a schisme in the Churche of God But not being able to compasse and effect it because the Bishops of Italy and the Clergy of the city were of one accord and held together in the defence of the faith and of the Pope he then diuised meanes to entrap the Pope and to take him prisoner But finding it hard to be effected because he could not get him out ' of Rome where he was well beloued and had many frends he lastly determined to kill him For the effectuating of this deuise he agreed with one of his seruaunts an auncient souldier and told him he had procured the Pope to say Masse the day following in S. Maria Maior where he would require the Pope to giue him the B. Sacrament and as he communicated this desperate fellow should come nere and stabbe the Pope with his dagger The souldier promised so do The next day came and the Pope said Masse and Olimpius like another Iudas came vp to communicate yet lingered till his man came that should do this treacherous deed but our B. God altered all this for he caused the man to loose his sight and though he was hard by the Pope yet he sawe him not which thing he confessed many times after with solemne oths By this meanes this infernall sacriledg was not committed and the holy Pope escaped free from this trecherous inuention Aftetwadrs the Sarracens inuaded the Island of Sycile in the which they made great spoile and by cause at that time it was subiect vnto th'emperour Olimpius was obliged to go and defend them and so he did being first reconciled to the Pope and making vnto him a relation of the true causes of his comming into Italy Olimpius fought with the Saracens in a pitcht field vanquished them yet so great was the toile he took in the battaile that a few dais after he deceased When th'emperour was aduertised of his death he sent in his place as Exark Theodorus Calliopa who had bene there before and had behaued himself so well that he was beloued in Rome and all Italy Euery one reioiced at his coming but at the end euery one was deceiued and deluded for th'emperour had drawne him vnto his opinion and had enioined him that assoone as he had imprisoned the Pope he should send him vnto th'emperour with a strong guard And because he had no assured confidence in him he ioined with him in commission for the affaires and busines with the Pope only one Paulus Pallurius a seruant of his of whom he had this opinion that he would not faile to performe what soeuer he should command him Calliopa and his associate arriued at Rauenna and with outlong stay went vnto Rome where he staied some fewe daies treating with the Pope about many and seuerall businesses but all that he did was in deceit The Pope who was a plaine meaning man had no conceit of the treachery which Calliopa entended toward him So that Calliopa one day fained being in the lodgiing of S. Iohn Laterane to go and visite the Pope but in steed thereof he laid blowes on him and the Pope being vnable to defend him self from that violence was put in prison Calliopa sent him incontinent in bonds vnto Paulus Pellarius who conueied him withall speed vnto Rauenna and from thence vnto Constantinople The wicked emperour Constans reioiced exceedingly that he had gotten the Pope into his hands and endeuored with flattery and faire promises to drawe the good Pope to fauor his error but finding him stedfast in his faith he banished him vnto the city of Chersona which is in the outmost borders of the sea Euxinus a very cold country almost inhabitable There the good Pope was so afflicted and euill entreated that within fewe daies he died very patiently as a glorious martir of IESVS CHRIST Pope Martin the first of that name after the most certain account died in the year of our Lord. 654. on the. 12. day of Nouember and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast His body was after this brought to Rome and buried in the Church dedicated vnto him and S. Siluester God did many miracles by the meanes of this saint who was his vicar in earth 6. yeares one moenth 26. dayes He gaue holy orders twice in the month of December in which he ordered 11. priests 5. deacons and 33. bishops The life of S. Gregorie Thaumaturgus HE that beleâ—ueth in me saith CHRIST Iohn 14. shall do the works and miracles that I do and greater also This sentence was most plainly verified in S. Gregorie Bishop of Neocaelarea which is the same that is now called Trabisonda Of him it is written that by his prayers he made a huge great rock as bigge as a hill to go from one place vnto another And also that he made a lake which caused discord betweene two brethren to drie vp and he stayed a great riuer that it should not ouerflowe to hurt the inhabitants by the bankes thereof We do not read that our Sauiour CHRIST did any of these thinges we doubt not but he could haue done them yet he did them not that his words might be fullfilled when he said that his faithfull seruants should do greater miracles after a certaine manner then those that he did And because it was euident in this holie saint he had the surname of Thaumaturgus that is a doer of marueilous things giuen vnto him His life was written by S. Gregorie Nissen in this manner SAINT Gregorie surnamed Thaumaturgus
God S. Gregorie obeying forthwith went on his iourney with his familiers and friends that were in his companie As they trauailed they neere benighted were vnto a Temple of Apollo not farre distant from the cittie into the which S. Gregorie and his friends entring he made the signe of the Crosse in the ayre and forthwith flew away a huge companie of diuells which inhabited there and gaue oracles answeres vnto such persons as came to make sacrifice vnto them S. Gregorie spent the greatest part of the night in praiers and singing Himnes and Psalmes so that the place that was before the habitation of diuells became now the house of God In the morning S. Gregorie departing to go on his iourney the ministers of the Idolls who had the charge of the Temple entred therein to and making their acustomed salutations and sacrifices vnto the Idoll in stead of answere there was heard yellings and howlings out of the Temple and the diuells said that they could not enter againe into that house because Gregorie had bene within it Notwithstanding the ministers made sacrifice vnto them and vsed certaine ceremonies to induce them to returne into the Temple but they bad thoÌ„ not to wearie themselfs nor to loose their time for they could not returne into that place by any meanes The ministers were also informed that it was Gregorie and where they should find him Hauing learned this they determined to follow him and found him and his companie as they walked toward the cittie The ministers of the Idolls began to threaten him that they woâ—ld complaine to the maiestrates of the cittie for that he being a Christian had entered into a Temple of their Gods and driuen them from their habitation so making their Oracles to cease S. Gregorie with great mildnes and modesty said Be not offended hereat for I serue such a Lord as I can in his name cast out diuells from any place and make them to returne whither I please They maruailing hereat said vnto him Then make them returne into the Temple where they were before S. Gregorie rent a leafe out of a paper book he had and wrote thereon these wordes Gregorie to Satanas ENTER This note he gaue vnto the minister who laid it vpon the Altar and offred sacrifice and the diuells gaue answeres as beforetime The minister pondered vpon this and considered that when Gregorie commaunded their Gods they obeyed him and that he did it by his seruice vnto one God Hereupon he resolued that this God was very potent and mighty since his seruants could do such great things After this resolution made he departed from the Temple to seek out Gregorie who by Gods prouidence had done these things expecting the fruite to come thereof and found him He told him what had happened and besought him instantly to instruct him what his God was so great and potent for he would serue him and forsake these other Gods so weak and feeble S. Gregorie preached vnto him IESVS CRHâ—T and hauing giuen him notice of the principall misteries of our faith said we do not prooue these things by reasons because they surmount reason and naturall vnderstanding but we confirme them by miracles The minister of the Idolls said do a miracle in my sight that I may beleeue what you haue said and Baptise me What miracle would you haue me do said S. Gregerie The minister beholding a huge great stone like a mountaine said vnto him make this huge stone to raise it self from this place and to go into another S Gregorie doubted not to do it and as if the stone had bene a reasonable creature he commaunded it to go vnto the place the minister had apointed His words being ended the effect followed The minister remained so satisfied herewith that he his wife and children seruants and friends vnto whom he related the matter performed by the saint were all Baptised S. Gregorie came into the cittie and lodged in the house of a great man called Musonius To this house resorted many vnto whom the holy saint preached with such feruour that in a short space there were thousands of Christians in that cittie In this discourses he gaue content and delight to all To the discomforted he vsed such wordes that they took consolation He perswaded the yong men to chastity the old men vnto patience He exhorted seruants to be obedient to their masters aduised masters to be mild and courteous to their seruants He said rich men ought to be stewards and not masters of their goodes To women children and all other that came to heare him he spake that which was conuenient and fitting for their estates reaping daily proffit by his preaching There was in that citty many Temples of the Idolls whereupon the holie saint thought fitt that there should be one at least built to the honour of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST wherein he might be adored and serued The charge hereof he gaue vnto the chiefest of them that were Baptised and himself in person laid the first stone in the foundation Eusebius Caesariensis saith li 7. c. 25. that this holie saint by his praiers made a hill to remooue from one place vnto another because it hindered the building of the Church Gregorie of Nissen doth not saie thus much but he saith that in his time there was a great earthquake in that cittie which threw downe the greater part thereof but that the Church founded by Gregorie Thaumaâ—urgus stood firme stirred not Great were the miracles that God wrought by the meanes of this blessed saint by his preaching the Gospell many people were daily conuerted vnto the faith Among many other wonders this of the two brethren is notable They two deuiding the many posessions and land left vnto them by their father fell at variance about a water which controuersie was caused by a great lake in which much fishe was taken and each of them desired to haue that water for their part This matter came to that height that they had assembled many people and intended to end their quarrelly by the sword The holie saint came betweene them as vmprie but seing no meanes to bring them to atonemeÌ„t they being euen ready to come to handy strokes hard by the lake and it was feared much blood would he shed This glorious saint fell vnto praier and continewed therein so long till the water in the lake was dried vp and the ground thereof was equall with the banckes so that there remained no signe either of water or lake When the morning came the two enraged brethren seing now no cause wondering at this great miracle that God had done by the meanes and prayer of his seruant Gregorie After this miracle ensued another The people dwelling by the bancks of the riuer Lyous which descendeth from the mountaines of Armenia and sometimes encreaseth so much that it ouerfloweth and spoileth the fieldes and villages of the country neere adiacent hauing knowledg giuen them of S. Gregorie
and fury as Dioscorus did at the hearing of these words and he was repleat with indignation and choller and as a man posessed to see his daughter so much contrary vnto him in relligion Then he called to remembraÌ„ce that many times when he talked with her concernyng marriage shee had wished him not to take care for her for she had no thought of any husband wherupon he perceued that shee answered him so for that shee was a Christian and he knew that among them many obserued chastity It came into his head that th'emperour Maximian persecuted the Christians and that in the city was a gouernour that tormented and put many of them to death All these things together caused Dioscorus to be so much distracted that being ouercome with passion and forgetting that he was her father and taking on him the person of a tyrant and parricide he layd hands on his sword with a full intentioÌ„ therwith to runne through the breast of his owne daughter The holy damosell that shee might be reserued to a more glorious triumph departed away and fled from her fathers sight By this meanes Dioscorus had space to be aduised that by killing his daughter he might fall into some trouble and could not justify it if he did not declare and publish the cause and reason of his doing he staied not so much for any piety as to haue an occasion and meanes to be more reuenged on her and to shewe vnto the other Idollaters how great his zeale was to the honour of his Gods Wherfore he took order that his daughter Barbara should be brought before the gouernor Martianus whom he informed that she was a Christian and moreouer he humbly besought him to proceed against her according to the late decrees of th'emperour The gouernour much wondered at Dioscorus seeing him so cruelly bent against his owne daughter but he was much more astonied to see her Angel-like beauty which was so goodly that it seemed to him though she had done the greatest offence in the world the sight of her only would haue obteined her pardon And yet her owne father was the only man whâ— without any wrong offered on her part laboured all he might to procure her death The iudge spake vnto her mildly sayeng Babara I see thou art a tender delicate virgin and very beautifull therefore haue compassion on thy self sacrifice vnto our Gods for I cannot be rigorous against so beautifull a damosell The blessed maid answered I offer sacrifice vnto my God who created heauen and earth but of those whom thou callest Gods heare what a holy king and prophet called Dauid saith The Gods of the Gentills be gold and siluer the work of mens hands Psal. 130.113 and they who are represented by them be deuills but the true God made heauen and earth I say and confesse the same and therefore trouble not thy self to persuade me to adore them The gouernour was so vexed with this speeche that taking no pitty of this beautyfull damosell he caused her to be stripped and to be beaten without mercy with the sinewes of oxen and when all her body was wounded and made sore he commauÌ„ded the officers to rubbe her with a course heare-cloth which put her to a greuous paine and the bloud ranne aboundantly from her body vnto the ground then he caused her to be led back into prison that he might haue time to deuise some more greeuous torments for her On that same night there was a great brightnes in the prison where Barbara lay in the midst wherof appeared IESVS CHRIST who comforted and encouraged his handmaide and told her that he would alwais assist her and keep her in his custody and that the inuentions of cruell tyrants should not preuaile any thing against her These words were scant ended when the blessed damosell perceued her body to be healed of all her hurts and wounds which thing did excedingly reioyce her in spirite and for the same shee rendered infinite thanks vnto the highest God for that he vouchsafed to visite her as also for that he had healed her in this maner On the next day the holy virgin came againe before the iudge he seeing her hole sound was amazed therat and so were many other who had seene her the day before when she was led vnto prison brused and wounded The gouernor said vnto her See Barbara howe the Gods haue had compassion of thee and haue healed againe thy wounds they be so desirous to reduce thee vnto their seruice by mildnes Be not thou vnto them vnthankfull nor obstinate in thy errour lest thy do hereafter vse rigour and seuerity against thee To this the holy damosell answered They who be blinde as thou art think as thou doest but I will tel thee the truth how I was healed if thou desire to know it It was IESVS CHRIST the sonne of the liuing God whom thou canst not see thy soule being blinded and drowned in the profound darknes of iniquity The gouernour seeing he preuailed not with this â—light commaunded two lusty fellowes to take the sides and brest of the damosell with iron combes and then burning torches to be sett to her sides and many strokes to be also giuen her on the head with a hammer The holy damosell Barbara in the midst of these torments lifted vp her eyes vnto IESVS CHRIST sayeng Thou o Lord who seest the secrets of harts behold like wise I haue put all my trust in thee I beseech thee Lord not to abandon me but susteine me with thy pityfull hand for as without thee I cannot do any thing euen so with thee I can do all things The tirant not content with this cruelty but proceeding further bad them to cut of the nipples of her breasts which put her to much paine but much more was the loue that shee bore vnto IESVS CHRIST which caused her with patience to suffer the paine for all which respect shee said with the prophet Dauid Psal 50. O Lord my God turne not thy face from me and do not take a way thy holy spirite from my hart The very sight of her body so misused and bruised put men in feare wherfore the tyrant to do her the more shame and for to terryfie the Christians the more by her example coÌ„maunded her to be led through the high streets naked all the whiles to be beaten with staues When the holy damsell vnderstood the sentence of the tyrant perceuing they ment to put it in execution shee lifted vp her eyes vnto heauen and said O soueraigne king and my sweet Lord thou couerest the sky with the thick clouds and the earth with darknes of the night may it please thee to couer my naked body so that it be not seene of the vnbeleuers who if they see me will blaspheme thy holy name Our pityfull Lord who giueth care vnto his seruants who resort for his help in their tribulations heard her prayer and couered her boâ—y with a
departed from the port of Tanais in a shippe to go vnto Myrrea to visite the sepulcher of the holy sait When they wâ—re embarked that deuill who had dwelt in the temple of Diana which S. Nicholas had demolished being wroth that he was expulsed out of his habitation laboured all that he might that the holy saints should not be honoured nor visited by the pilgrimes This cursed fiend tooke on him the shape of a woman caryeng a great vessel of oyle and comyng to the passengers said vnto them I knowe you go to visite the body of S. Nicholas I desire also to go in this voiage but now I caÌ„not conueniently I pray you therfore carry this vessell of oyle to burne in the lampes vpon his sepulcher They imagyning the deuill to be a deuout woman took at her hands the oyle and sailed with a prosperous wind one day on the second day there rose a great storme in such sort that they all feared they should be drowned and when they were out of hope they sawe a venerable old man came close to the shippe in a litle bark who said vnto them The feare and danger you abide in this storme is for your faults Throwe into the sea that vessell of oyle that the woman gaue you and you shal be delyuered for it was the deuill Assoone as the oyle was cast out into the sea in the place where the oyle fell was kindled a fâ—er which made a great noyse and a filthy stink that they might easily perceue it came from hell The auncyent old man told them he was S. Nicholas and then vanished out of their sight Memorable is the history of a child sonne vnto Ceâ—rone and Euphrosina two deuout persons vnto S. Nicholas who celebrated his feast euery year This their sonne was stolen away by the Agarens people wholy giuen to robbing and spolying who carryed him prisoner to Babylon where he was giuen vnto the king on whose table the child attended On an euening the child remembred that it was the day of S. Nicholas on which day his father and mother made great feast and then he began to weep The king demaunded of him why he wept he told him the reason The king vnderstanding the cause of his plaint said vnto him in scoffing maner If this Nicholas be so mighty bid him carry thee away out of thy captiuity The child had in his haÌ„d the kings cuppe wherin he vsed to drink and behold in an instant one took him by the hayre of his head and lifted him and he vanished quite from the sight of the king and of all the rest and within a litle time after he was found in the Church of S. Nicholas where his father celebrated the feast of the holy saint also that year with sighes and sobbes for the losse of their sonne but when they sawe him sett free they renewed their ioy and deuotion toward the holy saint The same Authors that write the life of this holy saint Nicholas write this story that ensueth An army of pagans being vandalls passing from Africa into Calabria made great spoile in the counâ—trey and carryed away a great pray and booty An Image of S. Nicholas among other things fell to the share of one of them and when he came into his countrey he asked of certein Christian slaues what that picture represented They told him that it was the picture of a holy saint called Nicholas who though he was dead did many miracles and holpe them that were deuoute vnto him This paynime was a vsurer who had taken a good some of mony out of his chests and hasty and important busines calling him suddâ—inly away he had not time to put it vp in the places apointed for the saffekeeping therof wherefore he said vnto the Image of S. Nicholas in this maner Nicholas be carefull looke well to the mony that lyeth here When the paynime was gone forth certein thiefs got into the roome and stole away the mony when the vsurer was returned and sawe his mony stollen he said vnto the Image of S. Nicholas Thou hast kept my mony well indeed Nicholas look to it and see my mony be gotten againe or I shall cast thee into the site and burne thee The thiess were gone into a secret place to part the mony they had gotten among themselfs S. Nicholas appeared vnto them and threatned to punishe them except they did restore the mony vnto the true owner againe which they fearing to be discouered and punished did euen to the value of a peny When the pagan sawe this myracle he was conuerted to the Christian faith and diuulged this wonderfull work abroad and herupon all the Christiansin Africa took great deuotion vnto this gloryous saint To this end did God permit the pagan to do such a thing which if it had bene done by another he had bene punished by God for his foole hardynes for the saints are to be intreated not with brauing words and menasses but with teares and submission knowing that for the one we may be chastised and for the other we may obteine mercy as God vseth to do by their meanes The Venetyans say that they haue the body of S. Nicholas in their city and recount a long history how it came thither if it be so they haue good reason to esteeme highly the grace and fauour of God shewed vnto them in grannting vnto them the posession of such a rich treasure It is said that the translation of S. Nicholas was in the yeare of our Lord God 1086. The life of S. Ambrose doctor of the Church SAMSON that valiant captain departing from his home vnto the countrey of his wife who dwelt among the Gentills being gone a litle out of the highe way found a dead lyon which he himself had killed a fewe dayes before and the scripture saith he found bees had made hony within him Samson approached thervnto and toke some of the hony combe and eate the hony and carryed part to his spouse This lyon signifieth S. Ambrose of whom it is said that when being a child he lay in the cradâ—ll there came aswarme of beeâ— and entred and came out of his mouth as though they would haue builded there It is said the lyon was dead for that when this happened Ambrose was not yet Baptised for he was not Baptised vntill his consistent age The hony of his mouth signifieth his doctrine which was assuredly sweet and mellifluous which IESVS CHRIST signifyed by Samson gaue vnto his spouse the holy Church appointing him one of her doctors The lyon of Samson remayned always dead but it happened not so vnto S. Ambrose for when time came he roared like a lyon in taking the defence of God and his Church not only against the Aâ—ryan heretiks her deadly enemyes but also against th'emperour Theodosius who was Catholike whom he excommunicated and cast out of the Church because he committed a cruelty would not suffer him to enter into
it vntill he did penance therefore The life of this gloryous doctor collected of Paulinus the preist Symeon Metaphrastes Paulus Diaconus The tripartite hisstory Nicephorus Callistus and out of his owne writing is in this manner SAINT Ambrose was the sonne of an honorable Romaine who was also called Ambrose and vnto him being gouernour of Fraunce with the title of Prefect was borne this sonne On a day the infant Ambrose being in the cradle there came on him sudainly a swarme of Bees many of the which entred his mouth and others went out The nurse would haue chased them away but the father of the child forbad her for he was much amased to see it and stayed to see the end thereof the Bees rose then and flew so high that they were out of sight The father being astonied said God will do some strange thing by this child if he liue to it This was a foretoken of his admirable eloquence and doctrine It happened that the father of S. Ambrose dyed and his mother being widdow brought him to Rome ioyntlie with his sister who had vowed virginity and perpetuall chastity There was another damosell with her that made the same vow who as Paulinus who wrote his life saith was in his time an olde woman and liuing in Carthage Ambrose being very young seing on a day that his sister kissed the hands of the Bishops and Priests when they were at their house as it were in iest he reached out his hand to the women and said kisse yee my hand also for I shall be a priest and a Bishop also The women reproued him but they excused him as a child yet the end proued that he said true Ambrose being come vnto the yeares of discretion employed his time in sundry studies in the which he made demonstrance of his sharpe and quicke witte for he became famous in Retorique and other sciences He had a great liking to exercise the office of an Aduocate which at that time was the office of Rhetoâ—itions and he pleaded the causes in the which he was retained with such eloquence that a great Nobleman called Probus who was gouernour of Rome made him one of his counsell and bestowed vpon him other honorable offices in the Ciâ—ty in which he behaued himselfe so well that the Emperour Valentinian made him Gouernour of Millan and Genoua Citties subiect vnto the Empire of Rome It is a thing considerable that when Probus in the Emperours name gaue him his dispatch he said vnto him Ambrose take on thee this charge which Valentinian hath bestowed on thee and exercise it not as a Iudge but as a Bishop The meaning of Probus in these words was that in the administration of his office the should not be extreame and rigorous but to vse mildnes like a pastour or a Prelate The words of Probus were not in vaine for Ambrose vsed that office with such prudence and disretion that euery one were very well pleased with his gouernement and he was also esteemed and beloued of all men It happened that S. Ambrose residing in Millan Auxentius an Arryan heretike and Archbishop of that citty died and because there was a commotion of the people about the election of a new Bishop the Catholikes desiring to haue a Catholike Bishop and the heretikes labouring to haue an Arrian Ambrose went thither to quiet the people as a thing belonging to his office and spake to them bidding them to choose them a Prelate not with vprores and outcries but with regated to the qualitive of the person and to the conditions fit for such a dignity Whilest Ambrose talked thus a yong child said with a loud voice Ambrose the Archbishop The people hearing this voice esteeming it as the voice of God was quieted and euery one as well the Catholikes as the heretikes said the same The minde of Ambrose was not to take this charge on him and therefore he departed away to his lodging in the manner of a flight And to remoue the good opinion of the people from him and to make them dislike he began to execute instice with more rigour then he used in former times and contrary to his milde nature also and because that would not serue Paulinus saith he made defamed harlots to come vnto his house not to doe euill but because he desired to diminish his credit with the people and to giue them occasion not to elect him to their Bishop Neuertheles because euery one knew him to be right honest of his body and also because it was knowen to what end he did it they were more instant with him to be their Prelate crying all with one voice Thy sinne fall vpon vâ— Ambrose seing that the former dillingences were to small purpose found out another deuise which was he depatted out of the citty seretly to goe vnto Pauia and though he trauelled all the night yet loosing his way he found himselfe hard by the walles of Milan The people vnderstanding the same tooke him in a manner by violence conducted him vnto his house where they set a watch vpon him that he should not fly Then sent they vnto the Emperour Valentinian to request that he would confirme the election of Ambrose The Emperour receiued the embassage with great ioy for it pleased him much to see that the iudges which he sent to gouerne the people were such that they deserued to be Bishops wherupon forthwith he confirmed the election and gaue order to effect the same Whilest the people vsed this dilligence S. Ambrose was stolne secretly gaine out of the citty and lay hidden at the farme of one Leontius his assured friend and a man of great autority in Millan When the Embassadors returned from the Emperor with his consent and Ambrose was missed a great forfaiture and penalty was imported by proclamation on them that did not bring him out if they knew where he was so that Leontius to auoid the forfaiture told them where Ambrose was The people ranne in hast to the farme and brought him vnto Millan and then Ambrose thinking it to be Gods will agreed vnto the election S. Ambrose was at that time a Catechumen only and necessary it was he should be Baptised and for that the desired a Catholike Priest this was the first thing that made the Arâ—iaÌ„s to dislikehim After hee was Baptised he passed by degrees according to the orders of the Church and on the eight day which was on the seuenth day of December he was consecrated Bishop and on that same day he was enstalled The life of this saint was full of good examples He was very abstinent he fasted euery day except the saterday and Sunday and when the feast of any Martir was celebrated he was very watchfull and spent the greatest part of the night in prayer he also appointed certaine houres in the day to that vse he would also be present at the diuine seruice in his Church and at the same he was very deuout and curious adding
neuer arose because she neuer fell The other reason is the holy Catholicke Church celebrateth the feast of the Conception of the B. Virgin not with the title and name of sanctification but of Conception which was on the 8. day of December And this is not instituted for particuler Churches to celebrate but it is instituted to be kept generally in all Christendome since the breuiary of Pius 5. which is receiued by all the Church Finally I conclude that among all the feasts solemnised of the B. Virgin none is so solemnely celebrated by the faithfull as this is and that is done to shew her vertue nobilitie the more thereby and in respect of the great good which beginneth this day for vs all Let vs also consider what a great mayne we should haue had to haue wanted the glorie that we shall receiue by her company in heauen And though that the essentiall glory of the saints proceed from God yet receiue they also a very great accidentall glory from the company of the B. Virgin for though the estate of the kingdome dependeth of the King yet alwayes or for the most part particuler feasts and triumphes as iusts torneys daunces maskes and other pleasant shewes are made for the honour of the Queene and of her Ladies and damosels So also is it in heauen but in another manner it is cleare that there is accidentall glory with ioyes and triumphes continually made for the mother of God But we wretches heere in the world what should we doe without the glorious Virgin to whom should we haue recourse in our troubles and necessities Who should comfort vs who should giue vs helpe who will shew themselues so pittifull and mercifull as this glorious Virgin when we call vpon her deuoutely how great our lost and dammage should be without this gratious mother may be known by the great ioy we ought to make this day of her conception in the which she began to haue her beginning in this world Let vs then reioyce and solemnize this day confessing our selues deuout to this B. mother and her pure Conception that as many haue beene fauoured by her that haue done so some being deliuered from most dangerous perills and others hauing obtained particuler fauours So wee also being deliuered by her meanes from our offences faults may merit to obtaine euerlasting life Amen Spa Cesar Baronius saith in his martyrologe that this feast was first celebrated in England and after at Lyons and then in other countries The life of S. Melchiades Pope and Martir WE read in Leuiticus that God commaunded that salt should be put in all their sacrifices if that any offred sacrifice and did not put salt therin it was not gratefull vnto him neither did he accept in In ihis our Lord would giue vs to vnderstand that in all our works though they be good in themselfs yet must they be done with prudence for if they be done otherwise in steed of seruing him they shall offend him Almese is a good thing yet of one giue almose vnto a strager and let necessaryes in his owne house and for his children be wanting this pleaseth not God Good and holy is prayer but if one kneele on the ground to say his prayer and shall leaue vndone something vnto which he is bound this his work shall not be altogether good One cannot deny but the Communyon is a very holy thing neuertheles if one that is wycked hath a conscience clogged and burdened with mortall synne will â—et comnunicate he doth loose more thereby then he gayneth Fasting is a good thing but he thaâ— will fâ—st as do the Iewes and the moores in stâ—ed of doing the action of a Christian he shall giue a signe to be a painime And therefore we should do well to put the salt of prudence in all our works The holy pope and martir Melchiades considering this made a decree by which he commaunded that the faithfull should not fast vpon the sonday and thursday for that on one of those dayâ—s the Iewes fasted and the moores on the other and a Christian ought not only auoid to be a moore or a Iewe but also to make any shew to be such a one The not fasting the sunday remaineth in generall vse but that of Thursday is growne out of vse The Christian wâ—eÌ„ he fasteth ought to haue the intention pure not to do inwardly as the Iewes and moores do though be doth the same thing outwardly that they do The life of this holy saint was written in this maner by Damasus and other Authors Melchiades the pope was an African and succeceeded Eusebius in the papacy From the time of S. Peter vnto his popedome there had bene 20. popes which had bene martired for the faith of IESVS CHRIST There is extant an epistle of Melchiades written vnto the Bishops of Spaine in the which he sheweth himself to be a godly and lerned man In that epistle he saith that all the Apostles acknowledged S. Peter to be their superior And by cause those Bishops bad moued a question which was the greater sacrament Baptisme or CoÌ„firmation he answered sayeng that Baptisme is of greater necessity for that without it none can be saued but that confirmation was of greater dignity for that none giue it but a Bishop And then he reciteth vnto them the effects of the one and the other sacrament Moreouer he treateth of the great profit the Apostles receaued by the comming of the holy Ghost and how great the goods be Christians attaine by receauing the holy Ghost in Baptisme and then in Confirmation In the same epistle he ordeined that which is already aforesaid viz that Christians should not fast on the sunday and thursday to avoid the imitation of the Iewes and the paynims Melchiades found in Rome many heretiks of the Manichees against whoÌ„ he ordeined many things apperteinyng to the offerings and other dueties to be done in Church Some Authors say that in the time of this pope was celebrated the prouinciall councell of Neocesarea which is at this day called Trapezunda in which be ordeined some things perteyning vnto the state of the Church conformable vnto that time Lastly Melchiades hauing gouerned the Church as Damasus saith 3. yeares 7. months and 8. dayes hauing giuen holy orders one time in the month of December and ordered 6. priests 5. deacons and 11. Bishops was martyred in the tyme of the emperor Maxentius about the year of our Lord 304. Some say that Maximinus did put him to death but in my opinion they are deceiued for that Maximinus persecuted the Christians in Alexandria and Egipt and not in Rome for there Maxentius always remayned and vsed intollerable cruelty vntill the time that Constantine depriued him of his Empire and of his life also The Church celebrateth the feast of this pope on the 10. day of December and his body was buryed in the Churchyard of Callistus in the Via Appia The life of S. Damasus
Pope and Confessor THE prophet Malachy said Cap 2. The lippes of the priests ought to keep wisedome and the lawe must be learned from their mouths for he is the Angell of the Lord God of Hosts These be the properties of a good priest And for that S. Damasus was really good this sentence fitteth and agreeth vnto him For the prophet saying that the lippes of the priests ought to keep wisedome he would inferre that they should be wise and so was S. Damasus That the lawe must be learned from his mouth this also agreeth â—ohâ—m for that he expounded many important things of the faith there being celebrated in his time diuers councels in which many things apperteinyng to the faith were determined which he approued That the priest is the Angell of our Lord agreeth most fitly vnto S. Damasus for that his life was Angelicall Chast and honest The which taken out of the â—ontificale and other graue authors is as followeth POPE Damasus was a Spayniard borne the Sonne of one Antonius It is hard to say for certein of what prouince therof he was Doctor Beuther in the history of Spaine saith he was of Taragona Maâ—yneus saith he was of Madrill and that in the Church of S. Saluator of that citty there is some letters that say so Vaseus saith he was a Portughez and borne in Guimaranes a place in the countrey called Beyond Duero and Minio three leagues from Braga There is no particuler knowledg of his life and for what cause he came to Rome and what he did there vntill he was Pope onely it is said that Liberius his Predecessor being banished from Rome he neuer abandoned him and he took such kindnes at his charity and consolation at his words that he told him he should be his successor in the chaire of S. Peter after his death And that which the good Pope Liberius said came afterward to passe Assoone as Damasus was elected Pope there fell great contention betweene those his electors and the friends of Vrsicinus the deacon They fell from words to blowes in the cathedrall Church of Licinius so that many were wounded and some slaine on both parts The which as we may well beleeue happened against the will of Damasus When th' emperor Valentinian was certified of this vprore and tumult he took order to displace Vrsicinus wherupon Damasus was coÌ„firmed peaceably in the Apostolik dignity Of this schisme of this broile mention is made by S. Ierome Ammianus Marcellinus Ruffinus Theodoretus Sozomenus the other authors of the ecclesiasticall historyes After a few dayes the faction of Vrsicinus seing they could not preuaile against Damasus this way suborned two lewd men that were deacons the one was called Concordius the other Callistus who accused the holy Pope of Adultery He was enforced to defend his cause publikly which moued him to call a councell of 40. Bishops to be kept at Rome who treating of his cause found him innocent and without fault and condemned his accusers cast them out of the bosome of the Church In the same Councell with consent of the fathers that were present therin it was ordeined that the punishement duâ— vnto the accused if he were not found guilty should be inflicted vpon the accuser if he failed in his proofe S. Damasus was a famous Pope and did many things in the defence of the faith in the gouernment of the Church for the which he is comended diuersly by all the writers of that time Theodoretus saith that Damasus was an admirable man and worthy of souerein praise and adorned with the splendour of many vertues S. Ierome writing vnto Pammachius among other praises of Damasus saith he was a virgin as a true Pope of the Church pure without spot S. Ambrose saith that Damasus was chosen to the papacy by the ordinance of God The fathers of the sixth Constantinopolitan CouÌ„cell call him the Adamant of the faith for his firme constancy against diuers heresyes In the time of S. Damasus was celebrated one of the foure Generall Councells of the which S. Gregory saith that he reuerenced them as the foure Ghospells and this was the first Councell of Constantinople in thâ— which were assembled 150. prelats in the time of th'emperour Theodosius and they all with one consent confessed the faith of the Nicens Councell and condemned Macedonius and other heretiks and Damasus confirmed all the decrees of that Councell In his time was celebrated another Councell at Aquilegia also This good pastor laboured not only to destroy the heretiques and heresies but also to take away the abuses which had crept into the Chuch this was one From the time of the primitiue Church there was a kind of priests who serued in the place where was fewe people as in the villages These kept company with the Bishops and were called Chorepiscopi and at that time they were thought to be conuenient and fit to be there for a principall charge of the Bishops was to prouide things necessary for the poore and to distribute among them the goods of the Church in helping the sick and needy And bycause the Bishop alone could not performe all things with his owne person he had need of some others to help him These Chorepiscopi though they had not a greater function or degree thâ—n other priests yet they began to intrude themselfs vpon pâ—ide into some things apperteining only to the office of a Bishop as to consecrat deacons subdeacons nonnes Churches Crisme wherfore it was fit to remedy and take away the abuse And so the Church by a publick decree ordeined that the Chorepiscopi should be taken away considering that our Lord IESVS had only Apostles whom the Bishops represented and disciples represented by the priests And that there was neuer any such order in the Church different from others wherfore the holy Pope Damasus in one epistle among many which he wrote saith that in the Catholik Church there neither be nor ought to be any Chorepiscopi as needfull yea rather the contrary is true and the holy Canons are expressely against them By this diligence of the holy Pope grewe in the Church of God a vniuersall peace and repose th'emperour Theodosius helping thereto who was in like maner a Spainiard borne in Italica a city not far from Ciuill This quiet repose of the Church gaue time and meanes to the good Pope Damasus to build some Churches in Rome As he builded one to the most blessed martir S. Laurence with a goodly pallace which vntill our time serueth for the Popes Chauncery and is called S Laurence in Damaso he builded another out of Rome in the way to Ardea at the Catacumbe where he consecrated Platonia which was the sepulcher of S. Peter the Apostle and there he offered many vessells of siluer and brasse Also he beautified another Church of S. LaureÌ„ce with rich guifts S. Damasus wrote some works of which are extant 5. decretall epistles and a work in
his blessed bodie was found I refer you vnto the feast of his Inuention which the holie Church keepeth on the third of August in which place you may read some more of them At this time we will speake only this That seing this saint made prayer for them that stoned him we which desire to honour him in celebrating his feast may hope that he will be a good meanes to obtaine mercy for vs of the heauenlie Maiestie and that by his especiall fauour we may haue the guift of perseuerance in his seruice vnto our death that afterward we may be worthy to see him in his glorie Amen Eusebius saith the death of S. Stephen was in the yeare of CHRIST 34. in the raigne of Tiberius Caesar Durandus in his rationall saith that the death of S. Stephen was on the third of August when his Inuention is celebrated which as he saith in the same booke was on the 26. of December being the day whereon his principall feast is kept The Chruch changeth it as the same Guilielmus saith to haue the Martyrdome more festiual adioining that rather then the Inuention vnto the birth of Christ The life of S. Iohn the Euangelist THE holy and valiant man Mardocheus the faithfull Chronicler of the King Assuerus and Esther recounteth that he being aduised and attent and hauing continuall regard to the health and welfare of his King and Lord heard one day that some seruants of the King had made a conspiracy to kill him and resolued to put it speedily to effect Mardocheus noted the words and taking knowledge of the men made a memoriall wherein he wrote all their conspiracy and wrought so that it came to the Kings hands who caused the affendors to be imprisoned and after they had confessed their offence to be punished according to their deserts There was no reward giuen to Mardocheus for discouering this treason but there was made only a noâ—e in the Annales of the Kings of Persia Some dayes after it happened that the King commaunded that booke to be read vnto him that he might reward the seruices done vnto him whereof in that booke the memory was conserued and when he came to that place where mention was made of Mardocay the King perceuing that he had bene the cause of a great and manâ—â—est deliuery from a danger of his life studied what reward to bestowe on him At last he determined that Mardocay should be arrâ—ied gorgeously and led thâ—rough the Citty vpon a goodly Horse and that before him should go trumpets sounding and declare that iâ— was the Kings will and pleasure that Mordecay should be hounoured and euery man was charged to do him honour This history agreeth and fitteth well S. Iohn Euangelist figured in Mordâ—cay For as he was Croniâ—lâ—r to the King of Persia so S. Iohn was a faithfull Cronicler of IESVS CHRIST The one was holy the other most holy Mardocay discouered the conspiracy made against the King whereby he auoided a greiuous hurt S. Iohn hauing notice also of another conspiracy that the Ebyoniâ—es heretâ—kes plotted against IESVS CHRIST denying that he was God wrote his Ghospell against them whereby their iniquity was disclosed the damage preuented and they confounded This writing was written in the memoriall of God and then came the day wherein the memorials are read and seing what S. Iohn had done for IESVS CHRISTS sake not only for this seruice but for diuers others worthy of rewarde it pleased his Lord to honour him euen as it happened to Mardocay To this end was giuen vnto him a gorgeous and rich vesture the like whereof is hardly to be found for the tittles that do agree vnto this holy saint do not ordinarily concurre in any other at one time He was set vpon a horse which was the speciall fauour bestowed on him by God The horse was that which Dauid meaneth in a Psalme saying O Lord thou shalt saue both men beasts In some sence you may vnderstand by beasts the bodies as by the names of men we may vnderstand the soules as if he had said that at the day of iudgement the holy saints shall goe to heauen both in body and soule Vpon this Horse viz. his owne body it pleased God that S. Iohn Euangelist not staying for the day of iudgement should rise againe assoone as he dyed and go vp into heauen as many great authors hold who yeeld many strong arguments to proue that S. Iohn Euangelist is in heauen both in body and souâ—e whereunto be entred like another Mordecay triumphantly with trumpeâ—ters before him who proclaime all his heroicall acts and declaring that God will so honour him and that he would haue him honored of all The life of this holy Apostle and Euangelist ensuyng is collected parâ—ly out of the Gospell and in part out of diuers good and graue Authors SAINT Iohn the Euangelist was the sonne of Zebedee brother of S. laâ—es the greater who was beheaded by Herode S. Iohn after Onuphrius was borne in the third yeare of CHRIST Lib. 1 â—a 28 He was of a noble house as Nicâ—phorus and S. Ierome say And they be of that opinion for that S. Iohn was familier in the house of the high priest as appeareth in the night that CHRIST was taken for S. Peter was suffered to come in by meanes of S. Iohn as one whom they respected Though he was a gentleman yet for to auoid idlenes the nurse of many vices he vsed the trade of fishing ioyntly with his father and brothers and the rather because their house was nere the sea of Galily This sheweth they were not so poore as some make them in that they had a barke of their owne wherewith they fished They being then one time busy at their fishing CHRIST called them and bad them follow him and be his disciples They knowing him to be their kinsman and reputing it happy that he would accept them into his schoole forsooke their father the barks and the nets and went to IESVS CHRIST S. Iohn was now abouâ— 28 yeares old and a virgin as he was all his life of a good nature beautifull in countenance very amiable and wise Whervpon the sonne of God tooke vnto him an especiall affection and made him his fauorite among all the Apostles This same Euangelist esteemed this prerogatiue so highly that when he recounteth any thing in the Ghospell where he is to name himselfe in steed thereof he vseth this phrase The disciple whom Iesus loued IESVS CHRIST shewed often to him particuler kindnes of the which one was that when he was to be transfigured vpon mount Thabor in the presence of three Apostles one of them was S. Iohn he was one of them that was present when our Sauiour raised the daughter of the prince of the Synagogue in the presence of two other Apostles he being the third S. Iohn gaue notice to his mother of the great affection CHRIST bore to him who guided by motherly affection or
and succoure of the commons vndergoing for this cause manie encounters and afflictions manie calumniations slaunders and snares armed to entrap him by such as in court know not how to rise but by others ruines Nay sometimes as farre as Majestie and duetie would permit it he gently and with greate respect reuerence withstoode euen his Prince who liked therein his constancie and tooke it in good part and not as proceeding of anie disloyaltie for why he did finde him most faithfull in all his proceedings aduised discreete in counsaile prouident vn appalled in doubtfull businesse and in aduersitie valiant and magnanimous in puritie of mind chastitie of bodie euermore vnspotted and vndefiled manie greate trialls hauing bin made to proue his honestie And for most of that which we haue rehearsed let this one thinge serue as a sufficient witnesse There was in Stafforde a beautifull yonge woeman whom the Prince greately fauoured She as often as the Chanceloure came that way did send him manie tokens and fauoures Her guardian misdoubting that all this kindnesse proceeded from some lewd intention and seing the yonge fresh beautifull yeares of Thomas and the neerenesse of theyr lodginges did encrease his suspicion he needes would be acertained thereof In the dead of the night by a secret way and with a close lanterne in he goeth to his chamber and findinge his bed with our anie print of his bodie or once being touched was strongly confirmed in his suspicion but lyfting vp his lanterne and looking some what further he found that after longe kneeling vpon his bare knees in prayer he was fallen fast a sleepe vpon the grounde in a verie incomodious manner whereupon altering his opinion he verily deemed him a saincte whom before he suspected to be dishonest Not only in this of Chancelour but also in manie other offices Thomas did the kinge good seruice for being made tutour to the yonge Prince Henry his care was greate to bringe him vp with the sonnes of manie Lords of the court in learning ciuilitie all manner of courtly and Princely knowledge and behauiour Moreouer he serued the kings Majestie in his warres of Fraunce with a choyce band of seueÌ„ hundred souldioures of his owne familie besides manie others with whome alone after the kings departure he obtained a worthie victorie yea another time he himselfe in person vnhorsed a frencheman called Enguerranus de Creya a most hardie souldiour and most renouned in all deeds of armes and chiualrie And with his good example he so encouraged all his followers that in all the kinges armie the ChaÌ„cellours souldiours were esteemed the verie flower and the valiantest These and manie other vertues made him honoured eueÌ„ amongst his foes the Peeres and Prince of France and greately beloued amongst his friends Especially the kings Maty of England sometimes after hunting sometime after riding would vpon a soddaine without anie biddinge come the Chancelours house when they were at dinner and somewhiles dine with him other whiles sitte by him to see the order and heare the discourse which was at his table whereof manie things were spoken with admiration It fell our the Theobald Arche B. of Canterbury dyed newes there of came beyond sea to the kinge who weighing well the great sufficiencie of his Chanceâ—lour whome euen then he had in his companie after some deliberation turninge about comaunded him to prepare himselfe to goe on a iourney and hauing now receaued his instructions concerning manie other affaires comming to take leaue of his Maty and goe forward on his iourney Nay soft quoth the kinge you know not fully yet what you must goe aboute My pleasure is to haue you Arche B. of Canterbury The Chancelour first starting and afterwards smiling vpon the king and shewing him his riding suite full vnfitt and vncomely for suche a calling said Oh! and loe heere how religious and how sanctlike a man youre Maty will place in so holy a seate in the coÌ„uent of so manie blessed MoÌ„ckes If euer I haue done your Maty anie seruice let me craue and obtaine this as a reward that this charge be not imposed vpon me For I certainly know that yf I vndergoe it you will quickly with drawe your fauoure from me and turne it into deadly hatred enuious people will neuer be wanting whoe vpon some exactioÌ„s of your Maty in Ecclesiasticall affaires and some resistance wich I must of dutie and necessitie make as Primate of England will wholy alienate youre royall harte affection from me and extinguishing all the former grace enkindle suche flames of enemitie as neuer will be anie more alayed These words of the Chanceloure so litle tasting of Ambition so plainely disclosing a constant resolution did more enkindle the kinges desire Wherefore ioyning others in his coÌ„panie to effect his purpose he called to the chiefest of theÌ„ Richard Lucie coÌ„maunding him to effect as diligently the promotion of the Chanceloure to the sea of Canterburie as he would the succession to the crowne of his sonne Prince Henry in case that the kinge himselfe were deceased To the same effect he like wise spake to Henricus Pisanus Cardinall and legate of the Pope who at last brought Thomas to accept that dignitie He was chosen at London at westminster by the whole consent of all the Bishs. of the Realme only London exepted and by the voyce of Canterburie monkes and after was presented vnto prince Henry who by the authoritie of his Father committed vnto him for this effect freed the Chanceloure from all former debts accounts and obligations of court or exchequer in his full libertie restored him vnto his cleargie who receaued him with great ioy and spirituall canticles After his election at London he went to Canterburie where in white sonday-weeke he was made priest vpon the satterday hitherto he was but Deacon and consecrated Bishop vpon Trinitie sundaye Prince Henry heire apparant of the crowne fourteene Bishops and manie other greate Peeres of the realme being present at the solemnitie Streightwayes after Alexander 3. Pope of Rome did send him the Palle which he receaued with vnaccustomed deuocion going barefoote and lying prostrate on the ground Hauing now receaued that sacred vnction he was changed into an other man He gaue not himselfe to a vaine loose ftately wide free maÌ„ner of liuing as many accustome after dignities obtained but rather obserued greater abstinence watched more prayed more preached often vnto his flocke iudged he neuer could rule well others yf first he did nor rule and maister himselfe His outward apparail was of a Bishop vnder a fryers weede next to his skinne a course roughe heâ—re cloth like an Hermit Hauing done his office streight after the cocke-crowing he serued thirteene poore men at the table waiting on them in person washinge allso they re feete not only with water but with his owne teares crauing most earnestly theyr prayers giuing eache of them foure pence in monie in the
to the secular power and Magistrates to giue their wickednesse it 's due reuenge and recompence That seeing this had beene the auncient practize of the primitiue Church in her glorious dayes and now wee had no new Christ nor new Church he besought the royall clemencie of his Maiestie not to bring in this new manner of proceeding so contrarie to the statutes of all Antiquitie neither so to be lead with a zeale of Iustice as to raze the verie foundations of Iustice which could not stand firme without conseruing the bounds and limits prescribed vnto each power and authoritie But the King esteeming this so round resolute an answer to be a disloyaltie in his Bishops and open-withstanding his soueraigne authoritie did presse them further to make him a promise of keeping his ancient prerogatiues and royall customes The Archbishop with the assent of his brethren answered they would so farre forth as they were not contrarie to the priuiledges and prerogatiues of the Church soe firmely established Now amonghst those royall prerogatiues these sixe were included amonghst many others 1. That vpon no cause whatsoeuer any appeale should be made to the Sea Apostolique without hauing obtained licence of his Maiestie 2. That it should neuer be lawfull for any Bishop or Archbishoppe to depart out of the kingdome or come at the commaund of the Pope without licence of the King 3. That it should not be lawfull for any Bishop to excommunicate any person that holdeth in Capite of the King without licence of the King nor graunt any interdict against his lands nor the lands of any his officers 4. That it should not be lawfull for any Bishoppe to punish Periâ—rers nor False witnesses 5. That Cleargie men should be bound to answer haue their tryall and punishment in secular Tribunals 6. That the King and his secular Iustices and other officers should bee Iudges in matters of Tithes and other like causes Ecclesiastical These were contained amongst many other articles drawn by his Maiesties officers as auncient prerogatiues of the Crowne and notwithstanding they were so contrarie and preiudiciall to the practize of the Primitiue Church and priuiledges of great Kings Monarches yet his Maiestie thereunto moued by his officers and esteeming it a great disparagement of his Princely autoritie to be subiect to the Church and want of Iustice not to chastize the offences of cleargie-men most earnestly insisted to haue all the Bishops promise without any restriction or limitation to keep the aforesaid prerogatiues contained as he said in their temporall allegiance And not hauing obtained his desire hee was greatly incensed against the Bishops and rising in a great wroth and indignation went forth of the place wherein was the assembly and next day very earely without giuing audience to any of the cleargie out of London All the courte was in a tumult and vproare and now of the Bishops some began to shrinke and seeke by all meanes though with shipwracke of their conscience to recouer the fauour of their Prince and remaine assured of their temporall goods though with euident hazard of loosing those which are euerlasting Amonghst the Prelates some that should haue aduaunced the vnitie of the Church gaue the King counsaile to set the Prelates at variance amonghst themselues Others laboured to make the Archbishop more plyant to his Maiesties will with promises with menaces wiâ—h rehearsing benefits receaued daungers iminent to the whole cleargie the fruites of peace the bad sequeles of disunion betwixt Prince and cleargie That rigour was not fit for all times that somtimes yeelding though with some inconuenience did afterwards draw on many greater commodities that troubles and vexation now threatning the Church were matters of more weight then some liberties of the Church that his Maiestie protested his desire neuer was to preiudice the Church but only to be honoured before the Peeres of his Realme and that a bare promise and consent would giue him satisfaction Wherefore oppressed with the weight of manie Noblemen and Prelates persuasions and with the teares of many that bitterly wept the vtter ruine and distruction of the cleargie he yeelded to the will and pleasure of his Maiestie and in a Generall Parlament holden at Claringdon promised in the word of Trueth and without any restriction or limitation to keepe the aforenamed Prerogatiues and so did likewise all the other Bishops The King was not yet contented heerewith but hauing drawne a writing of those prerogatiues would for the greater euidence and strength thereof haue it signed with all the Prelates seales The Archbishop crauing some little respitte to consider of so weighty a matter tooke one coppie of the writing with himselfe and gaue one to the Archbishop of Yorke leauing the third in his Maiesties hand and so being licensed by the King departed from the Courte and went towards Winton And now being retired and alone by himselfe and reflecting vpon all his former actions duely poising the sequele of all this businesse how preiudicious it would be to all the Church of God what a breache and confusion of Ecclesiasticall libertie how great a slauerie to men that were the particular lot of IESVS CHRIST and how bad a precedent to all the world and scandall to all other Princes and Prelates sorrow griefe teares sighes and sobbes proceeding from a repentant heart did make him consume and melt away Neither was he content to doe rigorous penance in fasting and sack-cloth but he also suspended himselfe from the Altar and from the communion of the bodie and bloud of our Sauiour CHRIST vntill he was restored thereunto by the absolution and spirituall consolation of the Bishoppe of Rome The King vnderstood of the Archbishops change and alteration and all his proceedings were aggrauated and misconstered by his calumniators aduersaries His austeritie of life was superstition his zeale of Iustice nothing but crueltie the care of his Churches reuenues was attributed vnto couetuousnesse his contempt of wordly fauours was desire of vaine glorie following the will of God a proud conceite of himselfe insisting in his Auncestours steppes in defending right and a little more care thereof then some of his later slacke temporizing Predecessoures rashnesse and ouermuch wilfulnesse finally some made no scruple to say that if the Archbishops power went on in that manner the Kings Maiesties royall dignitie would quite decay and Princes should heere after reigne such and so long and with only that power and autoritie as the Archbishoppe with his cleargie would Heereupon the Archbishop was cited to appeare before his Maiestie at North-Hampton First he was iudged both by Nobleman and Prelates to haue all his moueables confiscated for not appearing personally vpon a citation of the King and yet his answer to their obiection was verie sufficient Now in the verie first entrance and beginning heere were two strange things as the Archbishop pleaded and neuer heard of before in the world An Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of England spirituall
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
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
things go in this manner in a great rage commaunded the Empresse should be put to death And for that Purphirius the captaine spoke in her behalf and the Emperour vnderstood he was a Christian and 200. of his souldiers also he gaue charge they should be all put to death fullfilling herein that which this holie saint had said before namelie that many should be saued by her meanes As the Empresse was led vnto her death she met S. Catherine on the waies and they embraced affectionatly requesting eache other to praie vnto God which they both promised hoping they should shortlie meet together in heauen The Empresse was beheaded on the 23 of Nouember and so was Porphirius and his souldiers The Emperour being in a manner beside himself to see the constancie of Catherine and not knowing what to do more commaunded to behead her also The holâ—e virgin was led to the place of excecutioÌ„ where was a great concourse of people as well men as women many of the companie weeping for compassion Before she was beheaded she prayed vnto God and yeelded him thancks for many graces that she had receiued at his hands but especiallie for this which she was at this instant to receiue to wit the loosing of her life for his sake which she took for the greatest signe of his loue toward her could be She besought him also that after her death he would not permitt her bodie to come into the hands of the perfidious Infidells least they might reproach or abuse it Moreouer she besought him that those that in their necessitie remembred her might be deliuered from their afflictions so farre forth as was conuenient for them This praier being finished one of the souldiers cut of her head and out of the wound came milk in stead of bloud Then were Angells seene to lift vp her bodie from the earth who caried it in the ayre vnto the mount Synay and there the same Angells buried it The Emperour Iustinian in processe of time caused a sumptuous Church to be built in the same place and a monasterie also in which the holie saint is honored and reuerenced Her death was on the 25. of Nouember and on the same daie the Catholique Church celebrateth her feast with great sollemnitie which is done with good reason for God hath three crownes with which he croweeth some of the faintes in heaven One is of red coullor which is for the holie martyrs The second is of skie-coullor wherewith the preachers be crowned and the third is white which is agreable vnto the virgins It seemeth all these crownes were due vnto S. Catherine For she was a Martyr and both before and at the time of her martyrdome she conuerted many person vnto the faith of CHRIST and she was a virgin also And for that she hath such rare prerogatiues beside as she said of her self that she was the especiall spouse of CHRIST with great reason deserueth shee to be honored and reuerenced of all Christians especially of students who by her meanes do receaue as we maie beleeue many graces and wisedome also infused by God This blessed martyr and virgin S. Catherine suffred martyrdome about the yeare of our Lord 310. in the raigne of Maxentius and Maximianus SPanish The ordinarie painting her with a sword in her hand and setting her foot vpon the head of an Emperour deuoteth that she conquered victoriously the tyrant that martyred her * ⎠* The life of S. Peter of Alexandria Bishop and Martyr THe prophet Zacharie sawe in a vision IESVS the high priest sore beaten and wounded his handes were all bruised and pierced through being demaunded who had vsed him so he made answere I haue receiued these stripes and woundes in the house of them that loued me This is spaken figuratiuely by IESVS CHRIST who being of his heauenly father loued infinitely yet he willed him or permitted him to dye This may also very well be sayd of them that haue receiued greater fauours and benefitts of Almightie God hauing higher and more eminent dignities and functions as he hath done vnto priests And if they offend or transgresse his lawes he is more displeased at their offences then he is at the faultes of others And through he be highly displeased with sinners yet he complayneth of them more then of all others This very same befell to S. Peter of Alexandria who sawe IESVS CHRIST with a coate rent and torne to pieces He demaunding who had vsed him in that manner answere was made Arrius the heretick The sonne of God shewed himself much displeased that that accursed man had set his toung against his honor in deprauing and touching him in his deitie it being his dutie to defend the same more then others for that he was a priest The life of this holie Bishop and martyr Peter collected out of Eusebius of Cesaria venerable Bede and other authors of Martyrologes is in this manner SAINT Peter of Alexandria was borne in the same cittie of Alexandria and thereof he took his surname For his great vertue and wisedome he was elected Bishop after the death of a holie man called Theonas And as some authors say he was the 16. prelate of that cittie after S. Mark the Euangelist In the persecution of Maximinus the Emperour great were the troubles he suffred in so much as many seing and beholding his patience and perseverance were stirred vp to imitat him neither did they quaile in the confession of theyr faith but perseuered in the same euen to the losse of their temporall liues Although the cruelty and tyrany of the ministers in the persecution encreased daily against the Christians yet the hoâ—ie Bishop left not of to look about and to prouide for the good and vtillitie of his Church And whereas the accursed heretick Arrius continued in the sowing of his cockle and infernall heresie he not only resisted him but excomunicate separated him from the congregation and comunion of the faithfull Hauing done this he was by the commaundement of the Emperour apprehended and put in prison And assoone as he knew that he was taken he sent a comaund vnto the officers to cut of his head This sentence being diuulged through the cittie it was a thing very remarkable to see all the people runne to the prison to defend him from death asmuch as lay in their power so great was their loue vnto their Pastor The accursed Arrius hauing a desire to be Bishop after Peter if he happened as he hoped to be put to death laboured guilefully and dâ—câ—â—tfully to be reconciâ—ed vnto Peter To that effect he spake to many Catholiques desired them to entreat him in the peoples name to absolue him and to signify vnto him that he was willing ready to submitt himself to his will and correction There were chosen two priests the one called Alexander the other Achillas to go on that Embassade or message who comming to the prison where Peter was propounded vnto him the cause
of their coming The holie Bishop fetching a great sigh made them this answere Arrius is already dead in the sight of God for that he hath so grieuously blasphemed against the diuine essence denying that there is one naturality of all the three persons Peter then took the two priests aside and said to them in secret Although I be a grieuous sinner God out of his mercy hath called me to martyrdome and I will shew you part of mistery reueiled vnto me and I do it the rather for that you two are to succeed me in this dignitie wherein I now am the one after the other first Achillas and then Alexander I was at my prayers with great attention as my custome is and on a so daine IESVS CHRIST my Lord and God appeared to me in the likenes of a little infant The glorie of his face could not be seene so great was the splendour and brightnes that did proceed from it He was apparailed with a long harment which reached downe to the ground but it was rent from the toppe to the bottome and with his two hands he pulled it together to couer the nakednâ—s of his breast which when I saw I was in a great feare but after being somewhat reuyued I asked him Omy Lord IESV what is this that I see how petifully is this your garment torne And he answered me Thou talkest often hereof but doest not endeuour to know it But know thou that Arrius hath done this evill vnto me who seeketh to get away may people from me which be my heritaâ—ge and which I haue purchased with the shedding of my very deerest blood This which thou hast seene I wishe thee to shew to Aquila and Alexander which are to succeed the that they may as thou hast done Anathematize and excomunicate him that his soule may he saued This being saied and charging and enioyning them so to do it being the will of God he dissimissed them and sent them away in peace And it happened that people perseuering and awayting at the dore of the prison for the defence of the life of their Pastor to auoyd a tumult and the effusion of blood the tirannous ministers of the Emperour gaue direction and order that in the nigh at the officers should make a breach through the back side of the prison and take out of the same the holie Bissop Peter and to lead him to the place where S. mark had before time beene martyred and euen thus the cruell officers did and there beheadded him His body wad buryed in the same cittie of Alexandria by the Christians This was on a wedensday being the 26. of Nouember on which day the Church celebrateth his feast And it was in the yeare of our Lord 312. Maximinus being Emperour Of this holie saint maketh mention the Councell of Ephesus and the seuenth generall Synode S. Gregorie Nazianzene Eusebius in his 8 book 14. Chapter and 9. book 6. chapt Nicephorus The Tripartite historie Vsuardus Venerable Bede and Ado. The life of S. Saturnine Martyr OVR first father Adam hauing offended Almightie God in breaking his comandement God â—â—ioyned him in penance for his sinne to digge and till the ground Hereof it cometh that all men being partakers of his sinne for as S. Paul saith all sinned in him we be also partakers of his penance and punishment So it befell to S. Saturnine that glorious martyr who being old was condemned by the Emperour Maximian to labour about the building of certaine Thermi or hote bathes by carying sand morter and stones from one place to another though the cause why he suffred this slauery and drudgery was not for any sinne he had comitted but only for that he was a Christiane which this tyrant hold and accounted to be the most heynous offence of all other and therefore he layd on him these grieuous afflictions The life of this holie martyr with the life of S. Marcellus the Pope was written by the notaries of the Romaine Church and is rehersed by Laurence Surius in this manner The Emperour Maximian returning from Africa to Rome and being desirous to please Dioclesian that had aduanced him to high estate and made him his partner in the Empire and knowing that Dioclesian had comaunded certaine artificiall hote Bathes to be made was very dilligent to further and hasten the workes for which cause he comaunded all them that were conuicted of any grieuous or heynous oftences among which he held and accounted the Christians not to be the least to worâ—k and labour about that building vnder a saffe guard and watch hauing many ouerseers and masters ouer them Among other that were condemned to this slauery an honorable old man called Saturnine was one His work was to digge sand and to carry it from one place to another and for that through his weakenes and debillitie of age he fainted and tyred oftentimes and was not able to doe his taske as the ouerseers of the work required they often rated and reuiled him But he was holpen out very charitably by other Christian that were yonger and especially by one Sisinnius who carried those burdens that were apointed for himself and most of those that belonged to Saturnine and that so cheerefully that they went singing Hâ—mnes and psalmes in the praise of IESVS CHRISTE The surueiors of the work wondering at the same acquainted a Tribune called Spuriuâ— there with and he certyfied the Emperour Maximian thereof who comaunded they should be brought to his presence They being before him he said to Sisinnius what is your name Sisinnius answered I am a sinner and a seruant of the seruants of IESVS CHRIST and I am called Sisinnius The Emperour said vnto him what verses be those that you sing as you work Sisinnius answered If thou diddst vnderstand them or haddst notice of theÌ„ thou shouldest also know thy ceator who is the Creator said Maximian but the inuincible Hercules To vs Christians said Sisinnius it is a thing abhominable and detestable to speak such a word or to name him in such sort Choose one of these two things said the Emperour eyther sacrifice to our God Hercules or els assure thy self thou shalt be put to a terrible death Sisinnius answered I haue alwaies desired to dye in that manner and to be worthie to obtaine the crowne of Martiredome for the profession and loue of my Lord IESVS CHRIST Maximian chasing at these wordes deliuered him to Laodicio a prefect charging him either to compell Sisinnius and Saturnine to sacrifice to their Gods or els to put them to a cruell death He put them into prison where they remained a while and there they conuerted many Pagans to the faith of CHRIST Then were they taken out from thence loaden with giues and fetters bare foote and barelegged and so lâ—d into a Temple to do sacrifice when they were brought before the Idoll Saturnine lifted vp his voyce and sayd O lord confound the Idolls of the Gentilles At these wordes the