the work very cuÌ„ningly and placed the statues of the beastes orderly but for the statue of the Idoll they would neither set it vp nor so much as ingraue or make it The Emperour who was then in that prouince seing this building finished admired the artificiall workmanship thereof but he was much displeased for that they had not set vp the Idoll as he had comaunded The fiue blessed saintes were not present when the Emperour viewed the work but the other master workmen were And for that one arâ—ificer oftentimes enuieth another especially â—he ignorant who are most malicious against the most skillfull in their misteries the Emperour demaunding to know the cause why the Idoll was not set vp the other surueyors chief workemen answered that the other would not do it for that they were Christians and refused it not only in that Idoll but allso in all other of that kind The Emperour hearing this dissembled the matter some fewe dayes demaunding of the workmen if there were any other caruers in stone that were as cunning as these fiue And when it was aunswered him that their like were hardly to be found he called them before him and said vnto them If you will make the figure of this Idoll you shall do me very acceptable seruice and I will reward you liberaly for the same The holy saintes made this bold answere we had rather suffer death then giue men ocasion to comitt Idolatry Then you be Christians said the Emperour They answered resolutely In deed so we be And if in that art or mistery our knowledge or skill passe in excellency other workmen it cometh to passe for that euery time we begin â—o work we call vpon the most holy name of IESVS The Emperour being loth to loose such excellent workmen gaue in charge to Lampadius atribune that by mild wordes and offers he should perswade the holy saintes to renounce the Christian faith and to worship the Idolls Lampadius vsed all dilligence herein but seing the holie saintes constant and firme in their faith he certified the Emperour thereof who comaunded him to put them to the torments The tribune caused the holie saintes to be brought before him withall the sundry instruments belonging to those engines that Dioclesian as a fâ—ll and cruell beast had inuented to torture the Christians But this spectacle quailed not the resolute seruants of CHRIST whereupon the tribune caused them to be cruelly beaten and their flesh to be torne with crookes of Iron which had keene sharp pointes like vnto the clawes of Scorpions It is said that when the Tribune had tormented them in this cruell manner and had spoken many blasphemies against IESVS CHRIST the diuell entred into him and killed him The wife children and kinsfolk of the tribune went vnto the Emperour complayning and saying that the fiue workmen were inchanters and that by their art they had killed the Tribune Dioclesian being enraged hereat commaunded they should be enclosed in coffins of lead and cast into the sea and so it was done Fortis daies after a christian called Nicodemus accoÌ„panied with certaine other Christians sought out the Râ—â—iques of these fiue holy mattirs Claudius Nicostratus Simphorianus Castorius and Simplicius and carrying them vnto Rome buried them in the Arenarium before named in the way Lauicana The martyrdome of these fiue was as the other of the foure crowned on the 8. of Nouember on that day the holy Church maketh of them a coÌ„memoration though it be alwaies vnder the title of the Foure Crowned Their martirdome was about the yeere of our Lord. 300. In the time of Dioclesian two yeeres before the other holie martirs as is aboue specified The Dedication of the Church of S. Sauiour in Rome WE read in the sacred scripture that the wise king Salomon hauing finished the most famous work of the Temple apointed a day to consecrate it at which day there assembled an infinite multitude of people of his realme aparailed all in festiuall garments The priests and leuites were ready in most rich or naments The singers and musitions stood also prepared for their office There was a huge company of bullocks and sheep sloyne to be offred on the Altar for a burnt offring King Salomon was vpon a Throne in the middest of the Temple three cubitts high from the ground and kneeled toward the Sancta Sanctorum making his prayer vnto God and in humble and lowely speeches offred the Temple to the diuine maiestie saying by what meanes shall I presume to giue a thing vnto thee on earth if the heauens be too litle for thy habitation Then he made certaine requests saying thus Lord I beseech thee that euerie one that shall come into this Temple to make their prayer for any affliction or trouble thou o my God vouchsafe to help him and â—omfort him I beseech thee also that this fauour may not only be shewed vnto the inhabitants of this cittie and countrie but also vnto strangers and those that shall come hether from farre countries If they shall want rayne and the earth be barraine and drye if the people come into this place and make their praier vnto thee I beseech thee Lord to send it them forthwith If there shall be pestilence or mortallitie amongst thy people and they shall resort vnto this Temple and desire thee to turne thine anger from them â—hou mercifull Lord veuchsafe to heare and deliuer them If they go vnto the warres be the enterprise neuer so dangerous and the souldiers come first into this Temple to pray I beseech thee Lord to grant them victorie If at any time thou be incensed against the sinnes of thy people although thou shall threaten to punish them rigorously that thy hand be lifted vp and aduanced to strike theÌ„ yet if they that be in fault resort to this Temple and craue mercy of thee thou ô mercifull Lord be mercyfull vnto them I request this said Salomon for thy infinit mercy for the loue thou bearest to Dauid my father and for the seruice that I the king and guide of thy people haue done to thee in building vnto thee this Temple This Salomon said and for a signe that God granted all his requestes as after in the night God told him there descended a great fire from heauen that consumed the sacrifice and the glorie of God fiâ—led all the house with brightnes and resplendencie so that euerie one lifâ—ed vp their voyce and shouted in signe of ioye and admiration The priests and the leuiles and those that had the charge of the musike of voices and instruments sounded and praised God and they all ioynâ—lie gaue him thancks that he would vouchsafe to haue a house amongst men vnto which they might resort to aske for mercy and grace The feast lasted eight dayes in the which the king and the priests offred many sacrifices and the people were in all that time in continuall tryumph and ioye Hereof the Catholique Church taketh the custome
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
Surius we read Iacob phil in sumpt vinâ— in spec historlib 25.106 that a religious man returning from the visitation of the holie sepulchre in Ierusalem and other places of the holie land the ship where in he sailed was driven forceably vpon certaine vninhabited I'lands which were full of rocks and craggie hilles neere vnto Thessalonica be called the Iles of Vulcan The religious man took land in the I le and found in an obscure and secret place an hermite vnto whom he went and among their conferences the religious man told him that he was of the prouince of Aquitaine in France The hermite hearing that was very glad as appeared by his countenance and asked him if he knew the monasterie of Cluny and Odilo the Abbot thereof The religious man said yes and desired to know the reason why he demaunded that question The hermite answered know you that in this Iland be hollow places full of wind and fire which some call the mouth of Vulcan by the which are seene divells to enter in and to go out ordinarilie in diuers and sundrie shapes and formes Sometimes by their externall looks they seeme to be cheerfull and iocund and at other times they see me to be pensiue and sadde I being desirous to know the causes of this different behauiour adiured and charged them in the name of Almightie God to tell me the true cause and they said vnto me that they make show of ioye and gladnes when the soule of any person that hath liued well in the world whom they could neuer induce to committ mortall sinne is brought vnto purgatorie for some veniall sinnes and the diuells seing them to suffer in the flames are satisfied therewith and shew their gladnes by externall signes But if there be giuen any almes any masses said or any good workes done by good people as fasting and prayer whereby the soule departeth sooner out of that place and flyeth vnto heauen this causeth the diuells to be afflicted They complayne especiallie of the monkes of Cluny where continuall prayers are made for the soules of the dead that they may be deliuered out of that paine Therefore I praie thee said the sollitarie hermite and I coniure thee in the name of God Almightie to request the Abbot Odylo and the other to say masse and prayers without ceasing for the soules in purgatorie since so much good aryseth thereof The religious man wondred at his wordes and promised him faithfully to deliuer the message So being returned into France he visited that monasterie and recyted vnto the Abbot and his monkes all that which befell in those caues and mouth of Vulcan The holie Abbot Odylo vnderstanding the same ordeined and commaunded that in all his monasteries they should haue the soules in recomendation Then he made a generall constitution throught all his order that euerie yeare on the next daie after the feast of all saints they should make a generall Aniuersary for the soules of the faithfull deceased The Bishop of Rome who was at that time Iohn the 16. hauing notice hereof examining well the deed and seeing it to be holie and repleat with vertuous compassion not only approoued it but also comaunded the same to be done through the vniuersall Church This Catholique article that there is a Purgatorie being certain and also explaned ye must vnderstand that the proper place is one of the partes of hell of which there be foure One is of the damned the other of the children that dye without Baptisme before they haue the vse of reason the other is Purgatorie and the fourth is Limbus Patrum or the place of the holie fathers where the holie soules remayned before CHRIST dyed and were then deliuered out of the same place which now at this present is vacant It is also very certaine that by especiall order and decree of Almightie God some soules haue their Purgatorie in places particuler to them selues diolo lib. 4. cap. 40. 55. as S. Gregorie saith of one that had his Purgatorie in a Bayne for his faultes committed therein and it being manifested vnto a priest and that he should celebrate Masse for him he was quitte and freed and went vnto heauen Concerning the paines of Purgatorie you must vnderstand that it is fire and as S. Augustine saith it is the same that the fire off hell is and is yet discreet and different For as the naturall fire consumeth the straw and puryfieth the gold so this fire consumeth eternally the soule in hell after the manner of straw and the soules in purgatorie which be like gold it burneth and purifieth It hath also another propertie that it tormenteth not all men equally and therefore it is called discreet fire for it maketh one to feele more paines another lesse according to the faultes and sinnes they haue committed It is vsually said thereof and it is most true that the stoning of S. Stephen the grydiron of S. Laurence the arrowes of S. Sebastian the Iron combes of S. Vincent and all the martirdomes the saints endured do not come neere the paines of them that suffer in purgatorie And there is as great difference betweene the one paine and the other as betweene the soule that suffreth in purgatorie and the bodie that suffreth heere in this world There is adioyned vnto the paine of feeling a greeuous longing and desire the soules haue to see God which is so great that in some sort it doth surmount the paine of feeling which is the fire They see themselues there without remedy for any thing they can do of themselues they know they must paye the vttermost farthing if they in the world do not help them In that place doth afflict them the negligence and carelesnes of their kinsfolk and friends they sorrow also for the ingratitude of their heires and slownes of their excecutors in acomplishment of their willes They say many times with the holie man Iob Haue mercy and compassion of vs you at the least who in the world are said to be our friends for the hand of our Lord hath touched vs. we be in those paines Iob 3. out of which we cannot deliver our selues you may well do it but why then do you not you may help vs why be you then so forgetfull you may ridde vs from and out of these sharp and byting torments why be you then so negliâ—gent or rather cruell as to let vs lye still therein The father coÌ„plaineth of his soÌ„ne the wife of the husband the sister of the brother and the friend of his friend Sometimes God permitteth those that haue not remembred their friends deceased to he forgotten themselues and to suffer that which they haue permitted other men to suffer and to be tormented by the torments from which they would not help to deliuer others Lastlie you must vnderstand that to do good vnto the soules in Purgatorie is not only profitable vnto them but also vnto those that do it sins it is a
of th'emperour Traian The life of S. Felicitas Martyr ONe of the affections which parents ought to conquer and bring to a meane is the ouer-great fondness of loue to they re children For though nature hath engrafted a loue vnto them and reason teacheth that loue is due to them yett is it due with such proportion and measure that the loue of they re children depriue them not of the loue of God which ought to be prized and preferred aboue all other Moreouer they ought to marke well and regard wherein consisteth the true loue of they re children For manie times parents desire and procure for they re children the false fayned fading goods of this world with such painfull endeuoure such vnquencheable thirst that euerie thing seemeth to meane and to little in repect of that which most they wish them and faine would haue for them And herein they bound the limitts of they re loue this they prefixe as they re only marke not regarding how to enrich they re children with vertues nor make them worthie of those verie goods which they painfully scrape and carefully heape vp together for them litle mindfull of instructing them how to purchase those euerlastinge vnspeakeble treasures of glorie in whose comparison all the good and riches of earth are only shadowed conterfayted goods To teache and instruct parents in this trueth and set before they re eyes a rule and patterne of they re duety the holie Churche makes this day a commemoracion of Holie S. Felicitas She was a most honourable Matrone of Rome where being lefte a widow with seauen sonnes she liued without blame or reprehension bending her greatest care and endeuoure to serue her selfe and make her children serue allmightie God And so much preuailed her good example and holie education that Gods loue was so deepelie rooted in they re harte as to make them holie martyrs of his in the time of the Emperoure Antoninus when before the eyes of they re blessed mother with cruell torments and sundrie kinds of death they bought one euerlasting lyfe as hath bin said in the month of Iulie But after those glorious Knights of CRHIST IESVS the sonnes of blessed Felicitas had manfully fought and wonne the victorie all the rage and furie of the Emperour was turned againste that holie mother whose woords had encouraged and giuen her sonnes weapons to fight the battaile The Tyraunt therefore commaunded that she should be cast into a loth some prison to the end that sparing for some time her lyfe he might make her grieue daylie more and more for her childrens death For though she reioyced as knowing that now they were cittizens of heauen yett could she not as a mother but feele some sorrow they being lost to her allthough she had gained them to God There he kept her foure months in prison to afflict her and molest her the more and at the length seing that still she perseuered constant in the faith of IESVS CHRIST he commaunded her to be beheaded Of this blessed mother the patterne of all christian mothers of this martyr or as S. Gregorie saith more then martyr for she was eight tymes martyred seauen in her children and once in her selfe the same S. Gregorie hath these words Let vs behold my brethren consider this woeman and be ashamed to see her so much surpasse vs. Often times one only word said against vs doth trouble and vexe and make vs breake all oure good purposes whereas neyther torments nor death it selfe was able to conquer blessed Felicitas nor make her yield or giue backe one foote Wee with a blast of contradiction are streight waies dismayed and shamefully fall she wrought a way thorough steele and flint to obtaine and euerlasting crowne We giue not the least part of oure goods to the poore for the loue of CHRISTE she offered him her flesh in sacrifize Wee when God calleth backe for oure children which he had giuen vs in loane waile euerlastingly without comfort she be-wayled her children vntill they died for CHRISTE and reioyced when she did behold them dead And Peeter Archeb of Rauenna saith B holde a woman whose children liuing were cause of her care dead of her securitie Most happie she that now hath as manie faire shining lights in heauen as heretofore she had sonnes on earth Happie in bringing them into this world most happie in sending them vp into heauen She was farre more diligent and industrious when the tyraunt commaunded them to be slaine and when she walked amonghst they re dead bodies then when she did rocke them in the cradle and gaue them milke with her owne brests she viewed full well with the eyes of her soule that as manie wounds as they receaued so manie should be the pretious jewells of they re victorie how manie they re torments so manie they re rewards the crueller they re combats the more glorious they re crowns what shall I say of this valerous woman only this that she 's no true mother that loues not her children as this loued hers Hitherto are the words of S. Peeter of Rauenna The martyrdome of S. Felicitas was on the 23 day of Nouember the yeare of oure Lord 175. There is mention made of her in the Roman and other Martyrologes * ⎠* The life of S. Chrisogonus Martyr GREAT was the ioje and content the holy man Ioseph conceiued when he was taken out of prison in which he had remayned a long tyme suffring therein many troubles â—fflictions especially being vpon his deliuery ouâ— made gouernour ouer all ihe land of Egipt No lesse was the content and spirituall ioye S. Chrisogonus had when he departed out of prison where he had continued two yeares and had endured the ordinary molestations incident to prisons though he was not taken out to be a prince on the earth but to be a glorious and happie Saint in heauen whether his soule presently ascended by meanes of his martyrdome The life of this holie Sainct was written by Venerable Bede and by Ado Archbishop of Treuers in this manner SAâ—NT Chrisogonus was borne in Rome of a noble and honorable family and was in all his cariage and behauiour no lesse worthie and gracious with all men He was apprehended by the comaund and apoyntment of Dioclesian the Emperour and was kept in prison two yeeres contynually being there releeued with all things necessary by a vertous woman his disciple called Anastasia wife vnto Publius a man great and potent in the cittie but an Idollater This Phlius hauing knowledg of that which this wife Anastasia did shutte her vp and locked her stronglie in a chamber of his pallace setting a guard and watch ouer her to the end she should not send any help or relief vnto Chrisogonus as also that the should not haue any sustenance for here self determining that both the one and the other of them might dye by famine Notwithstanding the blessed woman was shut vp in this sort yet she found meanes to
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
I will make you Fishers of men at this they left their bark and netts and followed him and from that houre they kept him company and he made them his Apostles S. Iohn maketh mention of S. Andrew in the recouÌ„ting the myracle our Sauiour did on the mouÌ„t when he would seed 5000. persons that followed him and asked S. Philippe where he might buy asmuch bread as would suffice all those people and he made an answer shewing little faith S. Andrew shewed a little more faith then he sayeng there was a boy that had fiue loaues two fishes though he doubted some what sayeng it was too litle for so many The same S. Iohn saith also of S. Andrew that some Gentills desired to see IESVS CHRIST vpoÌ„ the â—ame that was of him spoake to S. Philip to being theÌ„ to see him he spoke to S. Andrew both of theÌ„ told IESVS how some desired to see him There is no other particuler thing written in the Ghospell of S. Andrew though it be very certain that he was present in those things where it is said that all the Apostles of CHRIST were there as being one of them He was present at the resurrectioÌ„ of Lazarus he was at the entrie in to IerusaleÌ„ on Palme-sonday He was at the Supper where he was made priest and Bishop communicated Then with the rest he abandoned our Lord flyeng as the others did hee sawe our Sauiour raised to life and also ascend into heauen and receaued the holy Ghost and his gifts also He preached in Scithia Europea which fell to his lotte He passed into Thracia Epyrus in all which countryes he preached did myracles and conuerted much people to the faith of CHRIST Finally he came to the city of Patras in Achaia and there he staied and made it his place of abode and residence preaching and gainyng many soules by conuerting them to the faith not only in that prouince and city but also in the countreys adiacent in a small space there was not staÌ„ding one temple of the Idolls for that they were all turned into Chappell 's or into oratoryes where the Apostle said masse as occasioÌ„ serued He ordered deacons other ministers to help him in this holy misterie Euery one loued reuerenced him for that they knew our good God had bestowed many benefits on theÌ„ by his meanes His life was an example to them all with his words he coÌ„forted euery one his deeds were very gracyous vnto them for that he healed the sick and cast out the deuills To euery one he did good and did not permitt any to do euill There came into this city as Proconsull Egeas sent by the Romaines to gouern that prouince He seing how matters went began to persecute the Christians compelling them to sacrifice vnto the Idolls S. Andrew came sayd vnto him It is good reasoÌ„ that thou who art a Iudg ouer men shouldst acknowledge thy Iudg which is in heauen and honour him for the true God as he is indeed and leaue the honouring of them who be no Gods Egeas said perhaps thou art that Andrew who did destroy the temples of the Idolls and persuade men to receaue the superstityous sect of the Christians which the Romaines haue apointed to be persecuted and to be rooted out S. Andrew replied The Romaines haue not yet vnderstood how the sonne of God is come from heauen vnto earth for the saluation of mankind who hath taught that these Idolls be deuills and deceiuers who bring men from the true seruice of God that they may depart out of this life replenished with synne and be punished in the life to come with eternall torments Egeas said these be the things your CHRIST preached to the Iewes for the which they crucified him you say true said the holy Apostle that IESVS CHRIST died on the Crosse but that was done by his owne proper will Howe by his will said Egeas Is it not knowen that one of his disciples sold and deliuered him into the hands of the Iewes who presented him before their gouernour and he caused him to be crucified All these things shew that he dyed not of his owne will S. Andrew replyed I was and am still his disciple and I auow that he died by his owne will for that he knew and said these things before viz that he should be taken crucified and rise againe the third day yea and I tell there more that my brother Peeter would haue hindered him to the end he should not haue permitted such thing to be done and was called Satan for the same in which he shewed that the hinderance of his death was vnto him displeasing And wheÌ„ he said that one of vs that were with him at the table should betray sell him his best beloued disciple called Iohn asked him who it was that should be so treacherous he answered that it was he vnto whom he gaue a soppe dipped in the platter at which word he gaue it to Iudas who was the man that sold him and had already bargeined to betray him by this you may know that my maister who knew all things might haue preuented it and if he did it not you are compelled to confesse that he dyed by his owne will Egeas said were it of his owne will were it by force I reckon not but I meruell at thee that thou wilt worshippe for God a man crucified S. Andrew said very great was the mystery of the Crosse and I will declare it vnto thee if thou wilt heare me with patience Egeas said I will hear thee patiently but after that if thou doest not harken and obay me I will make thee to feele the mistery of the Crosse vpon thy shoulders Menace not me said S. Andrew for that if I feared it I would not preach the glory therof The first man hauing incurred the punishment of death for eating the fruit of the forbidden tree it was conuenient that with the fruit of the tree of the Crosse should be cancelled the death of the world and remedy giuen to the losse of mankind And as the first man was formed of the virgen earth and the ruyne of the world was caused by him so it was fitt that CHRIST should be borne of the imaculate virgin Mary true God and true man that he should be the cause of the redemption of the world Adam stretched out his armes to gather the fruit of the forbidden tree and CHRIST stretched his out because they should be nayled to it Adam tasted the fruit and CHRIST tasted gall To conclude I tell thee that my Lord was clothed with mortall flesh and would dye vpon the Crosse that he might cloth vs with immortality and giue vs eternall life Egeas hauing giuen care to the Apostle a while said Tell these thy tales to them that will beleeue thee and beleeue thou me that if thou doest not sacrifice to our Gods I will put thee on the Crosse thou
the hangman began to vntie him he lyfted vp his voice to IESVS CHRIST and said Lord I beseech thee for thy holie names sake permitt me not to be taken from the Crosse aliue Receaue me my master whom I haue loued whom I haue confessed whom I haue preached and of whom I hope to be rewarded Oh good IESVS receaue my spirit in peace for now is it time to come to thee whom I haue so much desired Whilest the Apostle said these wordes there discended from heauen a great brightnes in manner of a beame of the sunne which euerie one saw and couered the bodie of the Apostle that for half an houres space it could not be seene at which time it vanished awaye and then they perceiued that the was dead One Maximilla a deuout woman a disciple of the Apostle being of that cittie and verie rich went to the Crosse with some of her seruants and took the bodie of the saint and buried it anointing it first with pretious ointments When Egeas vnderstood what Maximilla had done he ment to complaine vnto the Emperour both of her and of many other that asisted her Whilest he was in the publique hall taking informations thereof tâ—e diuell entred into him making him to roare and crie out as a beast and tormenting him in the sight of the people made him to yield his soule to be tormented in hell This iudgment of God caused many to be conuerted to the faith of CHRIST The martirdome of S. Andrew was on the 30. of Nouember and on the same daie the Church celebrateth his feast His death was in the yeere of our Lord. 62. as Canisius saith in the raigne of Nero. In the time of the Emperour Constantine the bodie of S. Andrew was translated to Constantinople and from thence to diuers other places till lastlie it was carried into Italie to the cittie of Amalfy in the kingdome of Naples where it is at this present And it is said that out of this blessed bodie cometh a most pretious liquor that cureth and healeth diuers infirmities When Pius the second was Pope his head was brought to Rome and set in a tabernacle made for that purpose in the Church of S. Peter S. Gregorie of Toures recounteth many miracles done by the intercession of S. Andrew namelie the curing of diuers and sundrie infirmities He saith also that in the time of Clodoueus king of France in a warre he made in Burgundie and in the sacking of a countrie fire was set on the Church of a holie martir called Saturninus within the which were some reliques of S. Andrew The fire enereased and the people were much agreeued that the reliques of the holie Apostle should be so consumed There was a souldier borne at Toures who perceiuing the sorrow of the people entred resolutlie into the middest of the fire and went vnto the place where the reliques of the holie Apostle were and brought them awaie safe without hurt And God was pleased to shew how acceptable this pious deed was to him preseruing the souldier from the fire that it hurt him not at all We read also of other miracles of S. Andrew as of a Bishop whom the diuell in forme of a damosell would haue deceiued and the holie Apostle went to his house in the shape of a pilgrime and told him of the deceit but for that I haue not read it in any approoued author I do not auerre it yet God can and vseth to do those or the like things by the intercession of his holie saints And we ought not to doubt but he hath done many miracles by the intercession of S. Andrew who followed and loued him so that at last he died on the Crosse for his loue as himself had done It is iust therefore that we be deuout to this holie saint that by his prayers and meritts we maie obtaine of God eternall glorie Amen DECEMBER The life of S. Bibiana virgin and Martir MANY were the vexations and great were the tribulations the holy man Dauid suffered at the haÌ„ds of sondry persons who without any cause giuen on his part endeuored to do him all the mischief they could as amoÌ„g others his father in lawe Saul did yet he supported all these troubles with patience and myldnes but the insurrection of his sonne Absalon nipped him to the hart and mollested him aboue all the rest wherefore he said in one psalme If myne enemy had said euill of me and had persecuted me Ps. 54 I would haue supported it bycause that of an enemy no friendly kindnes is expected but I am aggreiued that this my sonne he who satt at my table and eate with me in the same dish should be the maÌ„ that should persecute me Oh how worthy was he and such as he was to descend aliue into hell Many were the tyrants that persecuted the Church and many more were they that put the Christians to death but S. Bibiana had reason to complaine of none more then of Iulyan the Apostata because the others were her professed enemyes in that they were Idollaters But this wicked and damnable man was a Christian and within holy orders who put her to very great sorrow and moued her to desire God to chastise him as indeed he did by depriuing him in a short time both of his empire and life it being not knowen by whom nor in what maner This is only certain that the lewd and wicked man being in the middest of his army was wounded with a speare wherof he dyed blasphemyng and reuiling at IESVS CHRIST his cursed soule falling as a pray into the diuells hands S. Bibiana was martyred in the time of this wicked emperour Venerable Bede and other Authors of martyrologes write her martyrdome in this maner SAINT Bibiana was borne in Rome and was daughter vnto Faustus and Drafosa who were both Christians and holy matâ—yrs S. Bibiana being very yong did exercise her self in holy and vertuous woorks Shee was taken in the time of th'emperour Iulian the Apostata a cruell foe vnto Christians and deliuered to the custody of Faustus the gouernour who was apointed to heare and determyne her cause He persuaded her to sacrifice vnto the Idols the souer to drawe her to the same he threatned to put her vnto grieuous torments if shee refused it But the holy saint answered with such godly reasoÌ„s that shee persuaded the Gouernour himself to forsake and relinquish the Idolls and to be made a Christian and consequently to endure torments and death couragiously for the same The holy damsell Bibiana was very ioyous that shee had made that gaine as to gaine a soule to her spouse IESVS CHRIST Then was shee led before the Emperour who exhorted her to sacrifice vnto the Idolls and shee aunswered him that the God creator and gouernour of heauen and earth was only worthy to be adored Th'emperour hearing this answer commaunded Bibiana to be beaten with cudgells which was done with such cruelty that shee
father both of Prince an People iudged by the Peeres that were his children and Suffragans pronouncing sentence of condemnation against their Metropolitan ouer whom they had no iurisdiction He was further call'd in question about 500li. receaued of the King during the time of his Chanceloureship He acknowledged the receite but pleaded 't was a guift and yet was the money adiudged to the King and he straight wayes enforced to giue securitie for the payment thereof or in plaine tearmes commaunded to his face to remaine there as prisoner When some perceauing the Archbishop quite forsaken of his bretheren and in daunger of shipwrack offered themselues of their owne accord to enter band for the payment of the monie and so this daunger was eschewed Many other controuersies of old forgotteÌ„ Excheq matters were maliciously enforced against him by his Aduersaries only of purpose as men talked then to ouerwhelm the Bishop But Henrie Bishop of Winchester a man renowned for nobilitie of birth and a sanctlike life found a way to free him from all further troubles in this kinde by auouching That when being Archdeacon and Chanceloure he was chosen for to be Archbishop he was by the Kings authoritie freed and acquitted of all debts and obligations of Courte and Exchequer and so deliuered ouer to the Church of England Which testimonie being so euidently true none could withstand Now remained the last and the fiercest assault concerning those royall Prerogatiues The Archbishop hoping thereby to moue his Maiestie the sooner to compassion and clemencie towards the Church resolued the last day to goe to Court in his sacred roabes and bare footed with his crosse in his hand and kneeling on his knees entreate his Maiestie for peace Heerein also his aduersaries depraued his good intention and informed the King that he was come all armed to courte His Maiestie hearing the bruite of armes and not informed nor reflecting of what sort and condition they were withdrew himselfe into an inner roome there calling vnto him the Noblemen and Bishops made a grieuous complaint and narration how the Archbishop was come not as into the Courte and Pallace of a King but the house of a Traitour in so odious and despitefull a manner as neuer was heard of before in the courte of any Christian King There wanted not others that seconded amplified his Maiesties speeche alleadging that his pride had now drawne him so farre as to make him fall into open Treason and Periurie himselfe and with his manner of proceeding cast vpon the King and all his kingdome an aspersion and infamous note of Treason All the chamber rebounded with Periurie Treason and the officers of the Courte came forth and with enraged lookes pointed at the Bishoppe that was left all alone with his crosse in his handes the banner vnder which he was to fight the portraiture of him that he was to follow only some few of his Chaptaine about him and euen those were not permitted by the officers to speake vnto him Proclamations were made that none should declare himselfe of the Archbishops side vnder paine of being accounted an enemie to the state The Bishops they appealed against their Primate as one that was periured not obseruing the allegiance he had sworne to his Maiestie The Earles and Barons were now come forth to giue iudgement against him To whome all but especially to the Earle of Leister that had spoken in the behalfe of the rest the Archbishop made this answer Iudgement against me my Lord and my Sonne neither law nor reason doth permit that children should iudge and condemne their Father My ordinarie Iudge is the Bishop of Rome to him I appeale from your Iudgement And likewise I summon these my brethren to appeare and decide all matters and controuersies in his Tribunall Hauing said these words and fearing with his stay to giue them occasion of heynous sacriledge hee forthwith departed from the Courte many of his aduersaries and some others of the Courtiers following after and reuiling and calling him a haughtie proud and periured Traitoure All his traine and followers were fledde and only some cleargie men attended on him with a great number of sicke folkes and poore men that hartily reioyced and praised God who had deliuered his seruaunt from the hands of his enemies How glorious a procession quoth the Bishoppe doth accompanie oure returne from the face of tribulation Sithence they haue shared in oure affliction let them all come in that wee may all feast together in our Lord. After prayer some mention was made of the bitternesse and dreadfulnesse of that day Vnspeakeably more bitter quoth the Bishop and more dreadfull will the latter day be And I charge you all that each man demeane himselfe modestly quietly patiently and that none be so bold as to vtter any rough or distastfull words In such traunces as these a patient milde suffering is most gratefull to God and most auaileable to worke good in all men whether inferiours or superiours In the dead of the night two Noblemen of great renowne in the kingdome and his faithfull friends came vnto him and with ruefull lookes and teares in their eyes and knocking their breast protested by the dreadfull iudgement of God almightie how they certainly knew that some debauched and wicked people had conspired together with mutuall oathes bound themselues to kill him Wherefore greatly fearing least the cause of the Church which was not fully made knowen to the world should be not only endamaged but vtterly ouerthrowen with his death he resolued to depart out of the kingdome He desguised himselfe trauailed by night went strange and vncouth wayes lay secret and hidden euen in his owne Lordships hearing seruice from out of a little hoale finally apparailed in a white monkes weede and going barefooted and calling himselfe brother Christian got safely in a little boate out of the Realme and with great labour penurie affliction difficulties and daunger sometimes trauailing twelue leagues in a winters day barefooted arriued at last at Sens in Fraunce where Alexander 3 Pope driuen out of Italie by a schisme resided The King had sent before his comming thither an honorable Embassage by the Archbishop Of Yorke and 4. other Bishops the Earle of Arundell and other Noblemen to certifie the Pope and complaine against the Archbishop and obtaine that he might be sent backe into England with a â—egat which they call a latere to haue his cause decided there And although they obtained not their suite by reason of the Archbishops absence who according to law should first be heard in his appeale before any course were taken against him yet so had they alienated the affections of the Cardinals from him that verily esteeming him a rash presumptuous stiffe-necked man and one that for matters of no importance had made an vproare in the kingdome and broaken that vnitie and bond of peace which before was betweene the king and the cleargie none of them would shew him
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