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
When it was diuâ—lged bruited in that countrey that Ierome had chosen his habitation in that place it cannot be expressed how people resorted thither from all parts especially from Rome The holy woman Paula with other deuour women went thither though the other returned and shee only staied there vntill her death Paula sold her lands and possessions in Rome and with the money comyng therof builded foure monasteries in Bethlehem three for women and one for men It may be that shee caused the monastery which S Ierome had built before to be enlarged and made bigger S. Ierome was the superior and gouerned the monastery of men and Paula gouerned the other three made for the women being so discreet and holy that she ruled those three in good sort dwelling now in the one and then in another There S. Ierome ended the writing of his admirables works which the church keepeth and esteemeth at this day He translated the Bible viz the old testament out of the Hebrew into latine thee newe testament out of Greek into latine and wrote commentaries out of Greek into latine and wrote commentaries on the greatest part there of and expounded it excellently His books being spread through the world beside the many epistles which he wrote almost with out intermission vnto sondy persons caused euery one to find and knowe his sanctity and profound doctrine and to accept and account him for a very good and sound Catholike for some had at the first doubt therof by cause of that which Ruffinus his aduersary wrote against him One of these was S. Augustine who at the first had a distrust in him but afterward he bare vnto him such loue and affection that being Bishop of Hippo he sent one of his trusty friends called Alipius and other of his priests to visite him on his behalf and to be instructed by him reputing it for a great honour and credit knowing as he knewe to be the disciple of the disciples of S. Ierome There went persons of great account from all countreys to visite him as Paulus Orosius did who was also sent by S. Augustine Seuerus Sulpitius Apodemius and other rare and renoumed men And though the voyage was long and the daunger great yet all that seemed a small thing to see thee venerable old man S. Ierome replenished with sanctity and learning This holy doctor wrote incessantly against heceticks and persecuted them with out any intermission and they were afrayd and trembled to heare him named Origen had written many books before the time of S. Ierome all which he read taking great delight in his delicate and fine witt and for affection called him his teacher but for all that he did not pardon nor spare the errors he found in his books yea he impugned them to the vttermost of his ability S. Ierome was subiect to many infirmities caused by continuall study and the hard austerity he had vsed to ward his body so that some times he remayned whole years bedrid yet ceased he not but endited to others that wrote so that he composed many books being occupied in that exercize 30. years as he writeth himself The countrey of Greece did much honour this glorious doctor by translating the works he wrote in latine into the Greek toung It is said by S. Ierome that as he red one day vnto his disciples wherof he had many in ordinary from many parts there entred into his schoole or place of lecture a lyon halting All the schollers ranne away but the holy doctor receued him without dread when the lyon came neere he lifted vp and shewed one of his forefeet wounded with a thorne which was runne into his foot and the holy man dressed it and when it was hole the lyon would not depart but attended in the monastery as if he had bene tame and domesticall This story I tell because he is painted with a lyon by him It is also said that S. Ierome apointed thereto by Damasus the pope set in order the office of the Church diuiding the psalmes for euery day of the week and apointing that euery one should end with this versicle Gloria Patri c. Sicut erat c. He apointed also the Epistles and Ghospells for all the yeare with the lectures and prophecies that are red in the office of the masse S. Ierome being employed in these holy exercises and such like in aunswering and assoiling douts which Bishops and other relligious persons sent vnto him from all parts of Christendome and also in giuing aduise to people that were in necessity he came vnto such perfectioÌ„ that he was rapt and translated some times in spirite among the Quiers of Angells and began in this life to tast the reward of his paine and traueill though there remained some other afflictions for his old age which was a feeblenes that he could not rise from his bed and as Sigibertus saith he had a corde tied to a piece of wood ouer his bed and he held by that when he desired to turne from one side vnto the other His infirmity encreasing and he knowing the hower of his death approched commaunded the B. Sacrament to be brought vnto him and then communicated with great deuotion which when he had done he yielded vp his spirite vnto God on the 30. day of September about the year of our Lord 422. Honorius and Theodosius the second being Emperours Marianus victorius in the life of S. Ierome saith that this holy Doctor dyed at the age of 99. years as some Authors hold for some others say otherwise It is most true and assured that he liued till his decrepit age as S. Augustine saith in the first book against Iulianus His blessed body was buryed in Bethleham and after ward in processe of time it was brought to Rome and laid in the Chuch of S. Maria ad presepe which at this day is called S. Maria Maior God shewed many miracles by meanes of this holy saint aswell in his life as after his death The Church accounteth him for one of the foure Doctors and maketh a great feast of him and especially in Rome for that there he studied there he was Baptised and there resteth his blessed body It is also very fit that fraunce should keep it festiuall for there he was a good space and sawe the principall places of that king dome Germany is also obliged in like maner vnto S. Ierome for that he wrote a book of it and made the countrey famous Greece is in the same debt for the commodity they reape by the books of this holy doctor which are traÌ„slated into their language Egipt is also deeply in his debt for that it enioyed a long time his company and blessed conuersation The deserts of Siria are in the same debt for the austere penance S. Ierome did there doth nobilitate and make them famous Bethlehem shal be reconed in this account yea and we may call it happy for two respects first and principally because
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
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
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
for he was mercifull and myld also and endued with other good qualities and verâ—ues â—â—r which cause God elected him to be the captaine and pastor of his people in the city of Myrrea The life of this glorious saint was written by the Patriarch Methodius Symeon Metaphrastes and other Greeke authors our of whom Iohn the Deacon and Leonard Iustinian made a collection Out of these two was this sumarie taken and is in this manner SAINT Nicholas was borne in Patarae a city in the prouince of Licia His father and mother were Christians noble by birth and deuote seruants of God To this good couple God graunted a sonne in reward of their many teares praiers and continuall almes deeds desiring him to send vnto them an heire who should vse their goods in his seruice God heard the prayers of his dâ—uouâ—e seruants and comforted them by gyuing vnto them their sonne Nicholas Of him it is thought that he had the spirite of God euen from his infancie for that assoone as he was borne he began to serue him Assoone as he knewe what it was to eate he knew also what it was to fast for he would not take the brest to sucke but one time only in a day especially twâ—se a weeke to wit on the wednesday and the Friday and this fast he obserued all the dayes of his life Being somewhat growen in years he shewed signes of great vertue which increased in him as his yeares did His father sent him to schoole to learne to read and also other sciences where Nicholas made proofe of his delicate wytt because in very short time he profitted very much He would not keepe company with other yong men of his yeares who suffred themselfs to be transported into all vices and wantonnes but his conuersation was only with the most vertuous and honest people He avoyded also not only the conuersation of women but abhorred them euen as a deadly poyson for youth And to eseape the warre which is made by wicked thoughts and carnall cogitations against youth he tamed his flesh with watchings fastings hayrecloths and such like exercises He frequented the Churches and oratories of the Christians for he desired to be as the Temple of the Holy Ghost These holy exercises and other vertues in which Nicholas was employed did so shine in him that he was praysed and commended of euery one For as to see old men behaue themselues like yong men see meth a monstrous thing so on the other side to see a yong man to haue the deportment and cariage of old men is a thing very commendable and laudable S. Nicholas had an vncle who was Bishop of the city where he was borne a learned and a holy man He persuaded the father and mother of Nicholas to dedicate their sonne vnto God in the seruice of his Church and to be a priest It was an easy matter to obteine it of them for they remembred God had graunted that sonne vnto them through their many praiers therfore they willingly rendred him vnto God againe with right good will that he might alwaies be employed in his seruice The father and mother of S. Nicholas hauing made this grauÌ„â— his vncle made him priest whilest he gaue him orders he sayd these words vnto them that stood by Brethren I see a newe sonne arise in the earth who shal be a great consolation and repose for the world Happy is the pasture and happy be the sheepe that shall deserue to haue such a sheapherd The day shall come also when you shall see him reduce many straying sheepe vnto the flock of CHRIST you shall see him to be the consolation of the coÌ„fortles health of the sick and rest for them that be in tribulation All that which this good Bishop said was afterward found in S. Nicholas When S. Nicholas sawe he was a priest he thought it conuenient that with his newe dignity he should encrease his austerity and strict life imitating heerin the trees and plants which the more they spred their braunches the larger their roots grow also vnder the ground So the holy saint stroâ—e to be more sober and temperate more continenâ— more rygorous toward his owne body chastising the same with more seuerity not to make it dye but to make it more subiect vnto the spirite He depriued it of the ordinary sleepe of eating and of apparell although he did not like to go in stayned or spotted apparell as some hypocrits do but such as was comely and fitting for one of his dignity of function He frequented the Church more â—hâ—n he had vsed he was more earnest at his prayer then before time he would neuer read any book nor take it in his hand but the booke of the holy scripture or els some holy lecture treating of some ghostly matter He showed more modesty in his countenance more grauity in his speech so that it seemed although he were in mortall flesh that he led the life of a man imortall There befell in the country of Lycia and in all the East a great contagious pestilence which killed very many and among others within the space of three dayes died both the father and mother of S. Nicholas and he remayned sole inheritor to all their goods The yong man being already dedicated to God regarded not to be the heite but rather desired to be the dispenser of his fathers goods giuing out of them continually many almes deeds And because among many other he did one rare deed of charity it shall not be amisse to make a recitall therof by particulers There was in the city of Patara a gentleman of a good house who had bene before time very rich and nowe was become poore This man had three daughters which were of good yeares and maâ—igeable but because he had not wherewith to maynteine endowe theÌ„ with portions he vrged and sollycited them to get their liuyng and his also by dishonest life The poore father though he was ashamed so to doe spake to them to that purpose the distressed maydes shed teares incessantly considering to what a miserable estate their fathers pouerty had brought them S. Nicholas had an inkeling hereof and thought he could not bestow his almes better then with the same to delyuer their bodies from shame and their soules from synne He took a good some of mony all in gold and lapped it in a napkin and departing from home by night he went to the house of the poore decayed gentleman The holy man looked about to put in the mony in some place where the distressed man might light vpon it taking care that he should not know who bestowed in vpoÌ„ him whilest he studyed therof hesa wâ—y Mâ—nâ—light the casement of the chamber windowe where the poore man lay not fully open S Nicolas cast the gold wrapped in the cloute in at the wyndowe and went downe The pooâ—e man rising vp and finding there the mony the benediction of God he was in
they came vnto Constantinople they found no diminution of their measure they had laden theother was that the wheat which the owners gaue vnto S. Nicholas although it was but a small quantity yet was it so multiplied that it sufficed all the people vntill haruest came These things brought S. Nicholas to that credit and auctority that the clergâ— and the laâ—tie of his city had a great respect vnto him and obeyed him as if he had bene the true owner of all their goods It befell also that the gouernour of the city called Eustathius being corrupted with mony gaue an vniust iudgment against three yong knights in sentencing them to death S Nicholas was at that time out of the city for he was gone to pacify the inhabitants on the sea cost which were vp in armes against certein bands of souldyers which were to passe into Africa by the coÌ„maundement of th'eÌ„perour Constantin These souldyers aggreued the people as souldyers vse to doe as they passe on their voyage and they were ready to fight it out S Nicholas went thither in person and all of them gaue vnto him great respect He talked with the three captaines whose names were Nepotian Vâ—rsus and Herpilion and brought the matter to a good passe and ended the quarell In that place he was certified of the vniust senteÌ„ce giuen by Eustathius wherfore he forthwith sped him home and came vnto the city at such time as the three wrongfully coÌ„demned persons had their eyes couered and awayted when the executioner would giue them the mortall blowe S. Nicholas being come vnto the executyon passed through the throng of the people and comyng to the executyoner pulled the sword out of his hand and then vntyed the three yong men and taking one of them by the hand lead them all three away none of the officers being so bold as to resist him Eustathius being ascerteined therof and hauing a remorce in his conscience went vnto S. Nicholas and kneeling before him asked him forgiuenes for that he said he perceued S. Nicholas knew certeinly that his sentence was vniust since he was so hardy as to take and rescue the prisoners and also for that he had at other times biddeÌ„ him do iustice and to chastice theÌ„ that deserued punishment S. Nicolas reproued him throughly for this faulte and menaced to certify all things vnto the emperour if he euer committed the like faulte againe At this the three captains of Constantin were present who being returned from Africa hauing archieued th'entreprise for which thy weâ—e sent were accused of some offence at their commyng home to Constantinople the issue was Th'emperour gaue iudgment they should be beheaded according to their deserts for their offences euidently proued against them though the matter was falsely contriued by a Iustice of the city who was bribed by the aduersaries to bring them to their end were it right or wrong When the three Capteins were certefied that on the next day they should dy they called to remembrance that S. Nicholas had freed and delyuered three innocent kinghts from death in the city of Myrea So they remayned all the night in prayer desiring God to be mercyfull vnto thé and beseeching S. Nicholas to help them in that daunger it pleased God to heare them and to honour the blessed man for S. Nicholas appeared vnto th'emperour in his sleepe and with a venerable aspect saluted him first and then with a sterne and grâ—m countenance sayd vnto him Aryse vp thou Emperour and delyuer out of prison Nepotian Versus and Herpilion for they be wrongfully accused and be cleare and innocent of those faults which be imposed vpon them If thou doest not so as I tell thee I denounce against thee as a messenger from God most deadly warre in which shal be destroyed thy nation and thou thy state and family shall come to vtter ruyne Th'emperour was woÌ„derfully afeard therat and said who art thou that doest menace me thus The holy saint aunswered I am Nicholas Bishop of Myrrea and withall vanished away and went vnto the Iustice called Ablanius and threatned him after the same manner On the morrowe th'emperour and the Iustice mett and conferred of their visions and causing the three capteines which were prisoners to be brought before them th'emperour said vnto them Tell me haue you any skill in art magick and they aunswered no and wondering at the questyon they demaunded of th'emperour why he asked such a question of them Th'emperour replyed Bycause this last night one Nicholas I knowe not what he is menaced me greuously if I do not ley you go and discharge you The captaines hearing this kneeled downe and kissed the ground and yielded infinite thanks vnto God and wept for ioy Th'emperour commaunded them to declare this secret and they told him to wit howe Nicholas saued the lifes of the three yong knights at Myrrea and how they had recommended themselfs vnto him and therefore he was come to help them Then they declared to feature of the holy saint and th'emperour perceiued that he was the same man that he had seen in his sleep These things moued th'emperour to reuiew their cause more dilligently and hauing found theÌ„ innocent he caused them which had accused them falsely to be punished and delyuered them out of prison and he gaue them a book of the Gospells written with letters of Gold and a thurible or senser of Gold and said vnto them Carry these things vnto Nicholas desire him not to threaten me but to pray vnto God for me and my empire The three capteins went vnto the holy saint when they came vnto him they fell at his feet and publiquely told the former history and delyuered vnto him the present which the Emperour had sent vnto him The holy saint was ashamed and blushed to haue these things told vnto him publikely wherefore he said my sonnes render thanks vnto God and not vnto me for I am a synner TheÌ„ he called vnto him aside the three capteins and told them that they fell into those perills daungers for certein secret synnes they had exhorted them to amend them lest God punished them with some more greuous punishment The end of this holy saints life drew neere and he fell into a greuous infirmity and being at the point of death he lifted his eyes toward heauen and he saw many Angells to discend vnto the place where he was wherefore he began to say this psalme In te domine speraui and when he came vnto that verse In manus tuaâ— domine commendo spiritum meum he passed from this mortall life vnto the eternall on the sixth day of December in the year of our Lord 343. His body was buryed by his citisens with great pompe and with no lesse sorowe for that they were deptiued of such a pastor and father Asso one as he was dead the Christians began to visite his sepulcher with great deuotion And it happened that certein Christians
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