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
borne of whom would be borne IESVS that is called CHRIST By the things before rehersed you may know how reasonable it is to celebrate the Natiuitie of this Virgin for that her desarts and graces be so great as is aboue mentioned The Church in auncient time did not solemnize this feast which is proued by the words of S. Augustine Aug de sanct ser 11 tâ—m 10. who saith in one sermon that the Natiuity of IESVS CHRIST and S. Iohn Baptist be only celebrated By this you may vnderstand that this feast was not kept through the vniuersall Church at that time though it be thought that from the time of the Apostles it was celebrated in some particular Churches In the time of Pope Innocent 4. it was ordeined that this solemnitie should be celebrated vniuersally by all the faithfull in the Catholike Church about the yeare of our Lord. 1250. The occasion to celebrate this feast was in one yeare and 8. moneths space no Pope was chosen after the death of Pope Celestine 4. which was the cause of infinite scandals through all Christendome but especiallie in Italy for that the Emperor Frederick who rebelled against the Church euerie day vsurped and got some of the lands belonging vnto the Church The Cardinals who were in the Conclaue desired to make the election but they could not agree At last they treated among them selfs it being propounded by some deuout person vnto our Lady to make a vowe that if any of them were made Pope in a short space for a remedy of those great damages and losses of the Church he should ordeine the celebration of the Natiuitie of our Ladie and should make it a feast with octaues through al Christendome The vowe being made forthwith ensued the election of Cardinall Sinibaldus who was called Innocent 4. who ordeined the Natiuity of our Lady to be kept on the. 8. day of September through all Christendome This election reioyced the wholle world that had longed for a pope and for that the cause of this was ascribed vnto the newe feast of the most B. virgin he ordeined that in the office they should sing this Antheme which beginneth Natiuitas tua dei genitrix virgo gaudium annunciauit vniuerso mundo c That is to say Thy birth ô virgin Mary mother of God brought ioye to the wholl world Some Authors seeme to say Vine in spec l. 7. c. 119. that a relligious man liuing in contemplation hard euery yere on the. 8. day of September the Angels to make melody and triumph and demaunding of one of them what was the cause of such ioy in heauen he was answered that on that day was celebrated the Natiuity of the mother of God and that then vpon the credit of that relligious man this feast began to be celebrated It may be true that this relligious man had that before remembred vision but the occasion to promulgate the solemnity of this feast is that which I rehersed first And to the end some thing may be spoken concerning the history collecting it out of that which S. Ierome S. Iohn Damascen Gregory of Nissen and Simeon Metaphrastes write therof I say that the father of the Virgin Marie was called Ioachim and her mother Anna Thy were both of the tribe of Iuda and of the house and family of Dauid and this is to be holden as an Article of faith for there be many prophecies in the holy writ which say that the MESSIAS should be borne of the tribe of Iuda and of the house and family of Dauid And he being to be borne of glorious virgin it followeth that the father and mother of her were to be of that tribe Hier. de ort B. Vir. Luc. 3. and of that family S. Ierome nameth some patriarches which must of necessity be the same which S. Luke nameth in his Gospell He saith then that Iannes begot Melchi and Melchi begot Leui See Iohn lucid l. 2. de temp hebr and Leui begot Mathan and Mathan begot Heli who is also called Ioachim who as he saith was naturall father vnto the Virgin Marie and legall father vnto Ioseph Ioachim took Anna vnto wife and both of them dwelt in Nazareth a citty of Galilee They were very rich and bestowed part of their goods vpon the poore and other pious vses S. Ierome saith also that they continued together 20. years and neuer had children for which Issachar the priest not only would not receue the offering of Ioachim in the temple of Ierusalem vpon a feast which was kept there and was called Encenia but bad him to depart out of the temple for that assuredly he had some secret sinne for the which God punished him and did not graunt him the fruit of benediction So that Ioachim all afflicted and ashamed departed from the temple Gregory Nizen and Simeon Metaphrastes say that S. Anna vpon the like solemnity came from Nazareth vnto Ierusalem 1. Reg. 1. and like the other Anna the mother of Samuel lamented wept and sighed in the Temple desiring God to graunt her children and euen as Anna the mother of Samuel did shee vowed to offer in the temple vnto the seruice of God the sonne or daughter that God would be pleased to giue her They say also that afer shee had made the vowe shee lay with her husband Ioachim and conceiued and was deliuered of the Queene of Angells the Virgin Mary our aduocate And though vsually when daughters are borne the father and mother do not reioyce so much as if it were a sonne for that the daughters are troblesome to bring vp and to mainteine more chargeable to set forth in marriage yet when the B. virgin was borne the father and mother felt and tasted infinite ioy as of a thing they had long desired They also reioyced for that they had some kinde of knowledg that this their daughter should not be any charge to them for a dowry in mariage but also by her meanes God would showe many fauors and blessings vpon all the world S. Bernard made this speech vnto the B. virgin in these wordes Happy art thou O Virgin Marie more then any other creature since of thee in thee and by thee God hath recreated the wholle world which he hath created In that we haue said before we haue in part seen the great worth of the Queen newly borne the order of her birth her coming into the world Now it remaineth as the vsage is to gratulate reioice with her father and mother saying vnto them O Holy and happy Patriark Ioachim and Anna happy may the birth of your daughter be wee pray God yee may see her brought vp and well married without doubt it shal be so for God will giue vnto her for spouse Ioseph one of the holiest men that shall be in the world He shal be her guard and help he shall not take of her the pledge dewe vnto spouses but rather by thes espousalls shee shall remaine
Emperours seruice that they should not think much to offer it for the seruice of God for that their death and torment should haue an end very shortly and tollerating it for such a cause they should afterward possesse the ioies of heauen cuerlastingly These such other words that Maurice said made such an impression in the minds of those seruants of CHRIST that euery one endeuored to be the first martir and to enter into heauen before his fellow souldier The legion being tenthed the second time the other which were left were demaunded if they would obey the Emperour Maximian and they answered Tell Th'emperour from vs that we do acknowledg our selfs to be his souldiers and withall that we be the seruants and worshippers of the true God we be bound to obey Maximian in things apperteining vnto the warre but much more bound vnto God in matters of religion from Maximian we haue pay for our seruice but of God we receaue our being and our life we may not nor will not deny IESVS CHRIT to obey Cesar Maximian receauing this answer finding the martirs resolute and seing the double decimation of them was to small auaile be commaunded the wholl army to set on them and to cut and hew them to pieces without reseruation of any this quailed not their noble courages but rather their death being occasioned for so good a cause they kneeled on the bare ground and lifting vp their hands and harts vnto heauen yealded to the butchery and slaughter their Coronell Maurice continually and incessantly incouraging and chearing them vp and in this maner they were all massacred Many of the bloudy villans were so fleshed herewith that not content with death they stripped them and put on their apparell and at mour and sat downe to eate the prouision the martirs had It happened a Christian souldier called Victor who was not a Theban but of another nation came by and beholding so many dead bodies ly in that plaine not knowing howe it came asked why those that eate thereby shewed such mirth and gladnes and did not loth and abhorre to eat and drink among so many dead bodies One related vnto him point by point what had befallē they bade him come eate and be mery with them for ioy they had done such pleasing seruice vnto themperour when Victor had heard all their speech he said aloud Oh wretch that I am I wishe I had bene partaker in their death By these words of Victor they which sat at the bloudy banket gathered that Victor was a christian wherefore leauing their banquet and taking their weapons they incontinent cut him in pieces as they had done the Thebans and by this meanes Victor merited the same reward that the Thebans had deserued This was the martirdome of S. Maurice and of his Theban souldiers and the holy church celebrateth it on the. 22. day of September in the year of our Lord 301 in the time of Dioclesian and Maximian After certein years passed the same holy martirs reuealed vnto a Bishop called Theodore where their bodies were and commaunded him to translate them to a place more conuenient The good Bishop was not slack or negligent in fulfilling it for the people of that countrey hauing made many pits and hauing put the bodyes of the holy martirs into them the good Bishop caused them to digge them out of them and out of theother places where those blessed bodyes were as he vnderstood by the diuine reuelation and sent them into diuers countreis where many Churches were builded vnto their honour and in them God graunted many fauors vnto such as being in tribulation and affliction did recommend themselfs vnto these blessed martirs In the vestry of the church in Toledo in Spaine is shewen the head of one of these holy martirs and they say there it is the head of S. Maurice * ⎠* The life of S. Linus Pope and Martir AMONG other precepts which S. 1. ep Paul gaue vnto the Corinthians there is one in especiall for Christians to vse when they go vnto the Church to pray He saith that men must stand vncouered when they be in the Church O holy Apostle shall this be vsed both by men and women shall the women also stand with their head vncouered in the Church The Apostle answereth and saith for the women we haue another lawe which is this that women must be in the Church with their head couered for as it is an vnseemely thing for a secular woman to be shauen and without long haire so is it an vnseemely thing for women to be in the Church with their head vncouered S. Ambrose yealdeth a reason of this and foundeth it vpon these wordes of the Apostle to wit that the man is the image of God and the woman is the image of the man of whom she is formed This glorious Doctor saith also that it was the ordinary vsage that slaues had their heades couered or bound with certaine bandes And the difference that was betweene the slaues and freemen was this that the salues had the head bound or couered and the freemen had it vncouered we may perceiue hereby that God would haue vs when we be in his presence to acknowledg our quality and condition The man that is superior in house and that hath authority to comaund therein must haue his head vncouered and bare as a free man and a master but the woman who is his inferior and who is obliged to obey in the house ought to haue her head couered by that meanes confessing her quality of obedience That the man do comaund and the woman do obey is a matter of such importance that not only S. Paul doth comaund it as is aforesaid but S. Peter also as chief and highest Bishop ordeined and comaunded the same But for that he left it not in writing S. Linus who was his disciple and successor in the Papacy comaunded it and left it written that it might be obserued and kept perpetually and in deed it is not read that he left any other order then this which yet if it might be obserued among all faithfull Christians were very comendable and praise worthy Now let us see the life of this holy Pope collected on of that which Damasus and other graue Authors write of him yet first I think good to admonish you that S. Peter being neere to his death thought it conuenient to nominate a worthy and weldeseruing sucessor to be in his place after him who might take care and charge of the Catholique Church To this entent he named Clement his disciple who for his great humility willed that Linus and Cletus who had bene coadiutors vnto S. Peter should haue that dignity before him So Linus had the Papacy vnto whom Cletus succeeded and after him the same S. Clement was Pope Returning vnto our purpose the life of S. Linus was this SAINT Linus was borne in Vol-terra a citty of Hetruria and was sonne of Hercolanus of the noble
this he was driuen and banished out of the citty After this S. Telcla was taken and hauing beene examined and her intention found that she desired to be a Christian and determined to conserue her virginity she was condemned to be consumed with fire The fire was kindled and a huge multitude of people were assembled to behold that most beautifull yong damosell that would willingly go to dy such a cruell death The blessed damosell was set in the midst of the fire which did not any hurt at all vnto her persons And on the sodaine fell from heauen such a storme with thunderclapps with such aboundance of raine that it put out the fire and afrighted all them that were present in such sort that euery one departed and the holy virgin was left at liberty whereby she might go free And so she went to the house of Onesiphorus where she found S. Paul with some other Christians who had continually for sixe daies made their praiers for her and they were all exceeding glad of her comming The Apostle did Baptise her and instructed her fully in the faith but because they were assured that the Proconsull would send againe for her the Apostle departed from that house and citty also recomending much the virgin Tecla vnto all the Christians that were in that place Though all dilligence that might be was vsed to keep her secret yet within a fewe dayes Alexander a lewd person apprehended her and brought her before the Proconsull who seing her to preseuer constantly in that she would not marry her spouse but continue a Christian gaue sentence that she should be deuoured of wilde beastes in the citty of Antioch whether the Proconsull was to go An especiall daye was apointed for this spectacle and in the meane space S. Tecla was deliuered vnto the custody of a matrone called Triphona When the apointed daie was come S. Tecla was brought into the Theater and a fierce Lionesse was let out against her which drawing neere vnto the holy saint lay downe quietly at her feete without doing her any harme S. Ambrose wondring much at that which the wild beasted did to the holy virgin said these wordes The firstly onesse which was let out against the blessed virgin was mild lay downe at her feete and hurt her not and also gaue example vnto the other lyons Beares and fierce Bulles who hauing bin let loose against her stood round about her peaceably and licked her feete The people were seuere cruel and the sauage and wild beastes were tame and pittifull though they were kept hungry and almost famished that they might haue their fill and make their praie vpon the holy damosell And though they were prouoked and pricked forward by their keepers that they might deuoure the holy saint yet could they not make them to hurt or harme her in the least degree The Iudge seing that the wild beastes spared her she being taken out of the Theater cōmaunded she should be cast into a ditch wherein were many dreadfull and venimous serpents when S. Tecla was put into that deep ditch there discended from heauen a fierie cloud that slewe all the serpents and by this meanes S. Tecla remained free from this third torment euen as God had deliuered her from the other two to wit from the fire and the wild beastes The people seing such great maruailes and especially the matrone Triphona who had her in keeping and in that time had conceiued great good affection vnto her she beginning and the cōmon people following her cried out iointly together That the God of Tecla was most potent and most worthy to be adored that had deliuered her from such and so great dangers The Iudge fearing some cōmotion of the people set S. Tecla free and Triphona led her vnto her house adopted her to be her daughter The holy virgin Tecla departed from that citty and went to make her abode in Seleucia In which place many by her meanes receaued the faith of CHRIST Spanish addeth being 90 yeeres old and there she ended her daies blessedly There is extant a history of S. Tecla in the which be many fabulous and vncertaine things As that she clothed her self in mans apparell and would haue gone so in the compaine of S. Paul and that he would not permitt it but willed her to go in her ordinary and vsuall attire of a woman moreouer it saith that a great Lord in the citty of Antioche would haue giuen vnto S. Paul a great summe of mony if he would haue giuen that yong damosell vnto him to be his paramour and that S. Paul would not do it These and other such like things are read in the abouenamed legend but Pope Gelasius commanded that those stories should not be credited and put them among the writings apocriphall and of none auctority but that which I haue written of this saint is auowed by graue authors and is authorised and of credit the Church also giueth credit thereto who in the praiers which are said in the commendations of soules saith these words O Lord deliuer this soule euen as thou didst deliuer S. Tecla from three most cruell torments The Catholik Church maketh commemoration of S. Tecla on the day of her death which was on the. 23. day of September in the year of our Lord 90. as Canisius saith in the time of Themperour Domitian It is said that the body of this holy saint is in Spaine in the city of Tarragona in the prouince of Catalonia spanish addeth In the Cathedrall church of that citty dedicated to her name The life of SS Cyprian and Iustinia Martirs SAINT Paul to confound the wise men of this world writing to the Corinthians saith God hath chosen the foolishnes of this world This was especially said vnto the Apostles who being people vnlettred and by consequens were holden as folish in that intending them selues to teach a new doctrine would preach vnto people learned and full of knowledg and yet their preaching was the cause that many were conuerted vnto God and receued glaldy the Ghospell This same is verefied by S. Iustina a damosell vnlettered in humain Wisdome yet God made chose her for an instrument to cōuert a Pagan who was very lerned not only in Philosophy but also in magike and sorcery and had dealing and practise with the diuell and though he was such a one yet was he conuerted vnto the faith of IESVS CHRISTE by the meanes of S. Iustina was martired with her The life history of theise two holy saints was written by S. Gregory Nazianzen though he was deceiued in that he thought he had bin Bishop of Carthage well he venerable Bede and other Authors wrote of these holy saints in this maner EVEN as it is no reproch vnto S. Paul to say of him that he had bene a persecutor of the Church of God nor any infamy vnto S. Matthew to say of him that he had bene a customer or vsurer before that either
who being offended with mankind for the first man many damosells were sought who were kept inclosed in the Temple of Ierusalem to the end his iust indignation might be mitigated and asswaged In that place were the damosells furnished of all things necessarie to make their soules faire and beautifull by adorning them with vertue and perfuming them with the holie excercises of prayers and meditations Thither was brought the most faire and prudent Esther to witt the soueraigne Quene of the Angells Mary the virgin who was elected to be the mother of God and who pacified and appeased the wrath of the heauenly father This is the solemnitie which is this day celebrated in the Church that is to say when the most blessed virgin was presented in the Temple There she remained for a tyme vntill she was presented to the heauenly Father who was pleased with her fauour and beautie and crowned her Queene of heauen and earth The eternall Father elected her for his daughter the Sonne for his mother and the holie Ghost for his spouse This historie is recountéd by Simeon Metaphrastes German Archbishop of Constantinople George Archbishop of Nicomedia and the Bishop Lippoman reherseth it in this manner THE most blessed virgin being come vnto the age of three yeares her father Ioachim conducted her vnto the Temple of Ierusalem and there offred her vnto God leauing her in a colledge of damosells where they being most of theÌ„ of noble blood were brought vp and especiallie the first borne daughters of the royall tribe of Iuda and of the priests tribe of Leuy and there they stayed vntill they came vnto the age to be marryed In this meane space they were continually imployed in holie excercises as prayer and working spending the time in all vertuous occupation and to that purpose they had many mistresses who taught and instructed them without intermission We may very well beleeue that Anna the propheâ—esse of whom S. Luke the Euangelist maketh mention that she spake of our Sauiour IESVS the same day that he was presented in the Temple we may beleeue I say that she had friendship and familiarâ—tie with the B. virgin they liuing both together in the Temple in that vertuous manner As also that her loue was exceeding much towards her as expecting that God should work the great misterie and benefitt of our redemption by her When the glorious virgin was brought vnto the Temple shee was placed on the first ascending step of the fifteene while the offring was prepared that was to be offred with her The Priests went to meet her and the B. infant leauing the hands of them that brought her thither and without the help of any person only fauoured and susteined by the grace of the holie Ghost began to climb the steppes and went euen to the Altar without other help as if she had beene of perfect age so that the priests of the Temple and they that were with her wondred but yet they reioyced much thereat hauing knowledg thereby that God began to shew maruaillse in the childhood of her that should be his mother The litle holie virgin remained in the Temple because her capacitie vnderstanding were excellent she profitted exceedinglie in such things as the damosells learned in that place which was to read write sowe weaue sing the Himâ—es of Dauid and to pray at certaine times and houres The blessed virgin surpassed all others in these excercises and in all vertue In her shone cleerly Charitie deuotion and all other vertues which made her beloued of euerie one This B virgin remaining there made a vowe to obserue virginitie yet some doctors say that her vowe was conditionall and not absolute so that we may pyously beleeue that she kneeling on her knees with her hands eyes and hart lifted vp vnto heauen might say these or the like words Oâ—ny God maker of heauen and earth who of thy only goodnes and bountie hast created my soule and body I promise withall integritie asmuch as is expected of me and as shall please thy maiestie to serue thee with them both to obserue virginitie and neuer to know man carnallie but to applly my self whollie in thy seruice This we may beleeue to be the vowe the holie virgin made When by the prouidence of God she was espoused vnto the patriarch Ioseph she gaue him notice of the vowe she had made and that â—â—er desire was to obserue it He reioyced and was well content there with for that as it is thought he also had made the like vowe though conditionate in such sort that both of them by inspiration of the holie Ghost had made a like vowe of virginitie This noble guiâ—t virginity was alwaies highlie esteemed both of God and men both of beleeuers and vnbeleeuers All the time Eue stayed in paradise she was a virgin but assoone as she went out she lost her virginity The high priest of the Hebrewes could not marry one that was not a virgin The Gentiles did nor permitt any woman that was not a virgin to inhabite in the Temple of the Goddesse Vesta If woemen desire to keep this pretious treasure it is requisite that they liue apart from the world and retyred Dyna the daughter of Iacob by her walking abroad to see the country whereunto she was new come with her father and brethren and to see the woemeÌ„ of that country lost both her virginitie and honour and was also the cause that all the men of that place lost their liues If the mother of God contynued withdrawen and shutt close vp let not yong damosells be grieued to be kept in and to liue retyred For if they remaine retyred and shut in they shall be out of daunger in security but if they will walk abroad gadding and gasing they shall incurâ—e great perill and danger and oftentimes come to reproach as some find by experience who to late perceaue their error when there is no remedy For as S. Ierome saith the losse of virginity cannot be recouered and being once lost it is without remedy Concerning the feature and corporall disposition of the B. virgin I will say that which S. Epiphanius said as Nicephorus Callisthus reherseth it which doth also agree with the Image S. Luke painted who sawe her and drew her picture whilest she lyued The virgin Mary was of a middle stature her collour was of the wheat her face was some what long her eyes great and of a good collour the eyeliddes black her mouth little lippes of a liuely collour her teeth white and little her haire yellow her hands and fingers long all her other lyneaments well proportioned She was surpassing faire and gratious of countenance her look was very graue and her speach delectable Shee neuer wore any cloth that had bene died She couered her forhead somewhat with her mantle Pope Pius 2. who sate in S. Peters chayre in the yeare of our Lord 1461. gaue lycence that the feast of the presentation of the glorious
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
you look for one alone why murder you so many Oh come now Sauiour of the world let these souldiers see thee without any perill ar danger vnto thee since the power to liue and dye is at thy pleasure so shalt thou deliuer vs from this great sorrow and our children from death S. Gregorie Nissen saith It was pittifull to see the mothers of the inocents how they imbraced their litle infants and bathed them in teares awaiting to haue them shortlie bathed in their owne blood The cruell edict of Herod hauing bene brought to Bethleem and the cruell souldiers being come they assailed the litle infants so furiosly that they wounded the mothers also and mingled the blood of the mother and the infant together Some mothers sawe the sword to come and pierce the bodie of her infant as she gaue it suck so that at one time the mother gaue milk vnto the child and the child restored asmuch blood vnto the mother There was one sorrowfull mother that had two sonnes at one birth She saw the sword drawen against them both and she knew not which to defend first from the blowe she looked on the one and held it fast to her brest and left the other further from her Then seing the blow come she pulled it close to her and thrust out the other The poore distressed mother had not much time to deliberate which of their liues she should longest saue for no sooner was the one wounded to death but the sword was thrust quite through the other and this was the case of many wofull mothers that had two children in their armes It happened also in this massacre that two butcherly villaines came vnto a mother that had two sonnes they seuered themselues to kill them and withall seuered the hart of the afflicted mother The one infant wailed and the other cryed also The wofull mother knew not which to answere first with the like musick Lastly she could but lament and sodeinlie she saw them dead at her feet S. Basill Bishop of Seleucia cited before saith that in all the cittie of Bethleem nothing could be heard for the confused noise which endured as long as the slaughter of the innocents continewed because the Infants that were killed cryed pittifully the elder brothers and sisters lamented and so did the fathers but the outcries of the mothers exceeded all the rest The oldmen said that there was neuer committed such a cruelltie in any place no not in a long susteined warre for though all were put to the sword yet infants were spared Complaints were generallie made yea of the sunne it self that stayed so long to keep back the darknes of the night whereby the furie of these enraged people might cease When these ruffian 's found no more infants in the cittie to murther they departed into the villages thereabout to do as they had done in Bethleem Then the lamentable outcries of the woefull mothers was renewed when they went to seek out the bodies of their dead infants Some that found them cut in pieces laid their seuered members together vsing pittifull and compassionat complaints Some kneeling downe to their slaughtered prettie babe said vnto him A wake now my sonne thou hast slept inough shake of this heauie drowsines which the cruelltie of Herod hath caused Come come arise my sweet babe take thy mothers breast which thou hast so often tasted Ah wilt thou not speak doest thou slumber still Alas alas too long lasteth this heauie sleep that thus oppresseth thee would to God it were possible for thee to enter againe into my womb that thy prettie members thus mangled might be reioyned and returne vnto life These and such like words said the mothers of the Innocents When Herod vnderstood that his commaundement was performed he made shew of great ioye and adorned himself with a crowne of victorie as if he triumphed ouer some dangerous enemie Neither did the cruell tyrant care though his owne child that was nursed in a place neere Bethleem was murthered among the residue Macrobius reporteth Lib 2. Satur. Cap 4. that this came vnto the eare of Octauius Augustus and that he said that it were better to be a hogge in the house of Herod then his sonne By which speach he ment that Herod being a Iew the hogge had bene secure for he would not haue killed it nor haue eaten thereof but his sonne was not so safe for he was killed amongst the other children Herod could not haue deuised a better meanes then this to diuulge and spread abroad the birth of CHRIST For hereby it came to the knowledg of all that a child was borne who was a king and had bene adored of the kings and of whom he was afeard that his kingdome should be taken from him But he stayed not so long for before CHRIST was of age Herod was depriued of his kingdome by loosing of his life killing himself with those hands with which he had persecuted our Sauiour CHRIST It is often seene that God doth punish and chastice men by the same thing and meanes wherewith they taken occasion and whereby they offend him Saul desired to kill Dauid with his owne hands 1. Reg 31. Mat. 27. and with the same he killed himself Iudas sinned by selling IESVS CHRIST and the wretch hanged himself with his owne hands Some thinck that the number of the slaine children was the same which S. Iohn nameth in the Apocalipse Cap 14. v. 1. when he saith that 144000. follow the lamb but this is not certaine It seemeth rather a thing impossible that in the towne and territorie of Bethleem should be so many children of two yeeres old and downwards The Euangelist S. Mathew saith that thē was fullfilled the words of the prophet Ieremie A loud voice was heard weeping and lamentation Math 2. v. 18. Rachell weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they were not In this place Bethleem is called Rachell because the faire Rachell who was wife to the patriarch Iacob was buried neere to the cittie of Bethleem The holie Innocents were the first martyrs that dyed for CHRIST and he being come into the world offred them to his eternall father as the first fruites of the garden of his Church He did them also an especiall fauour for that they were all saued Their patents also had no cause to be aggrieued for if they were depriued of their liues which he had before giuen vnto them for his sake we may also belieue that he bestowed others on them in their place Iob 42. as it happened to Iob who being depriued of seuen sonnes and two daughters God gaue vnto him as many more when he returned vnto his former prosperitie Lastly we may know as by the euent hereof that when the people of Israell departed from Egipt one may well say that God departed out of that countrie in the company of his people and that the Egiptians remained in lamentation For one and the last