she had seen in his picture which commonly was painted with the horns of a bull on his fore-head it was not in my opinion his fair eyes nor goodly nose which made him sought after for he was one of the most deformed creatures of the world Yet he notwithstanding was reputed a great Captain and a puissant King This blind Princess so breathed the air of ambition that though he were wholly Pagan and hydeous she no whit was affrighted for verily her passion was so much enkindled that she secretly dispatched one of her Eunuches with express letters beseeching Attila he would demand her in marriage of the Emperour her brother and she should account it a great honour to be his wife This Scythian entered into a much greater estimation of his own worth than ever beholding himself sued unto by a Romane Ladie of noble extraction and thereupon grew so eager that he immediately addresseth an Embassadour to the Emperour Valentinian to require his sister of him in marriage and the moity of his Kingdom otherwise he was not gone back so far but he would return with his Army to enforce his obedience All the world was now strucken with terrour when by good chance he saw himself for some pressing occasions engaged to return into his Countrey where all these lightenings were quickly turned into a shower of bloud After he had sweat under harness like another Hannibal who in the end of his conquests was bruitishly besotted in the bosom of a Capuan Ladie this haughty King of Hunnes as soon as he came into his Countrey wholly engulphed himself in wine and love Besides a great rabble of creatures which he had to satisfie his lust he became in his old days passionately enamoured of a gentlewoman named Hildecon whom he married with sports feasts and excessive alacrity That evening after he had freely drunk according to his custom he retired into his nuptial chamber with his new spouse and the next morning was found dead in his bed floating in a river of bloud who had drawn bloud from all the veins of the world Some said it was an eruption of bloud which Death of Attila choaked him but others thought Hildecon lead thereunto one knoweth not by what spirit nor by whom sollicited handled her pretended husband as Judith did Holofernes Behold how God punisheth the proud A despicable dwarf who commanded over 700000. men who forraged every where environed as with a brazen wall who boasted in the lightenings of his puissant arms who razed Cities all smoking in bloud and flames who wasted Provinces who destroyed Empires who would not tread but on Crowns and Scepters behold him the very night of his nuptials full of drink massacred by a woman having not so much as the honour to die by the hand of a man The same night that Attila yielded up the ghost in his own bloud our Saviour appeared in a dream to the good Emperour Martianus and shewing him a great bowe all shivered in pieces saith Martianus behold the bowe of Attila which I have broken thou hast no further cause to fear thy Empire Thus you see how God fighteth for the pious even while they sleep This scourge being so fortunately diverted Martianus and Pulcheria attended with all their power to the consolation and ornament of the universal Church under the direction of the great Pope Saint Leo whom their Majesties most punctually obeyed At that time were seen the reliques to march in triumph into Constantinople of the good Patriarch Flavianus massacred by the practices of hereticks at that time the exiled Bishops were with honour re-established in their seats At that time the Councel of Chalcedon was celebrated where the Emperour Martianus though wholly a souldier made an Oration first in Latin for the honour of the Romane Church then in Greek his natural language At that time heresie was fully condemned and impudence surcharged with confusion At that time an infinite number of goodly Canons were confirmed by the Councel and strongly maintained by the authority of the Emperour At that time justice was fixed in the height of perfection Briefly at that time the whole world was infinitely comforted by the good order and liberalities of this holy Court It was an admirable Empire and a happy marriage and nothing could be desired more in this match but immortality But the holy Virgin Pulcheria being about fifty years of age not so much loaden with years as merits wearied out with continual travel and care which she had endured almost fourty years in the mannage of affairs found her repose in exchange of the Court of Constantinople for that of Paradise She died in a most pure virginity which she carefully had preserved all her life time leaving the poor for her heirs who were her delight after she had built in her own life time five Churches and among the rest one to the honour of the most Blessed Virgin Marie which surpasseth all the other in magnificence besides many hospitals and sepulchres for pilgrimes Torches made of aromatick wood cast out their odoriferous exhalations when they are almost wasted and the virtuous Pulcheria made all the good odours of her life evaporate in the last instant of her death She who had lived as the Bee in the tastfull sweetness of purity died as the Phenix in the Palms not of Arabia but of conquests which she had obtained over the enemies of our nature We have here annexed her Picture and Elogie AVGVSTA AEL PVLCHERIA PULCHERIA FLA. THEODOSII JUNIORIS SOROR AUGUSTA VIRGO ET CONJUX AUGUSTORUM FILIA SOROR NEPTIS UXOR PROPUGNATRIX PONTIFICUM MAGISTRA IMPERATORVM CVSTOS FIDEI MVNIMEN ORTHODOXORVM ECCLESIAE ET IMPERII DECVS NOVA HELENA NOVVM ORBIS MIRACVLVM ANNO CHRISTI CLIII AETATIS LV. IMPERII XXXIX AD COELESTEM AVLAM PROFICISCITVR Upon the picture of PULCHERIA A Golden Virgin in an iron Age Who trampled under foot infernal rage A barren wife a fruitfull maid unstain'd That all the world within her heart contain'd Mother of people Mistress over Kings brings And who 'twixt Church and Law firm union She in herself bright Scepters did behold Joyn'd to the Cross Altars to Crowns of gold The married life unto virginitie And glorious greatness to humilitie If virtue were a substance to be seen Well might we here suppose this happy Queen Should lend her body that it outward may Resplendent lustre to the world display GReat-ones may here behold the shortest way to the Temple of Honour is to pass by that of Virtue Never woman was more honoured in her life never woman more glorious in her death That great Pope S. Leo S. Cyril and all the excellent men both of the East and West have employed their pens in her honour So magnificent and noble acclamations were made to her in Councels that nothing would be wished more glorious A little before her death in the Councel of Chalcedon they cried out Long live the Empress most Sacred Long live
enough and a great talker to stupifie weak judgements She perswaded her self that of two things one would happen either that S. Ambrose refusing disputatioÌ„ would leave some suspition of his inability or accepting it engage his authority This powerful woman unable to bow heaven resolved to stir hell She obtained a Mandat from the Emperour her son by which it was enjoyned to S. Ambrose to be on a day nominated at the Palace to confer in his presence upon points of Religion against Auxentius on this condition that Judges should be appointed for both parts to decide their difference The Tribune Dalmatius was the bearer of this Mandat who wished S. Ambrose by word of mouth that he should hasten to name the Judges which he intended to choose for his party and that Auxentius had already nominated his who were all Pagans to take away thereby the suspition might be framed against those of his Sect. He caused also certain words silently to slip from him by the subtility of Justina by the which he advised him handsomly to escape and go whither he thought good if he would not accept of this challenge S. Ambrose had a strange horrour upon this MaÌ„dat seeing how the cunning of a passionate woman the impudence of a shameless Heretick tyrannized over the feeble spirit of an infant enforcing him to demand this hateful Conference which seemed to be permitted for nothing but to expose the venerable Mysteries of our Religion to the scorn of Pagans He would by no means go to the Palace to excuse himself fearing he might seem to transfer a cause meerly Ecclesiastical to a Princes Court but he made a grave answer to the Emperour which is now extant in his Works where among other things the Arians condemning his refusal and taxing him of contumacy for giving occasion of jealousie to the Emperour Lib. 2 ep 15. upon the over-great authority of S. Ambrose he saith Sacred Majesty He that accuseth my refusal of Resolution of S. Ambrose contumacy accuseth the law of your father of injustice He who was a man most accomplished in arms and great affairs who signed his faith with the seal of his constancy and the wisdom of his counsels by the happiness of his State ever witnessed both by his words and Edicts that it appertained to none but Bishops to judge of Bishops You who are tender of age little experienced nay a Catechumene in faith will judge of mysteries which you have not yet learned If this seem reasonable unto you the laity may hereafter mount into the Chair and have those for their flock whom they have had for their Pastours which can never be done but by perverting the order of this Universe God forbid I should choose Judges of the laity to make them either Prevaricatours of faith or victims of the vengeance of our enemies It sufficeth me to leave my life therein which I so long have consecrated to the defence of the Church and not engage others in the peril I hold the faith of the Nicene Councel from which neither the sword nor death shall ever separate me I am ready to defend it at the Church not in the Court where never had I been but for you and whereof I better love not to know the customs than learn the cunning As concerning this which I hear that your Majesty offereth me peaceably to retire where I shall think good God himself knows with how much endeavour I avoided the burden your father himself of glorious memory laid on my shoulders Now I cannot with freedom discharge my self in conscience since the Bishops my associates crie out aloud unto me that it were one and the same crime in my person either to leave or betray the Altars Justina much moved with the liberty of these words complained in her Palace that among so many Legions there could not be a man so faithfull as to deliver her from the importunities of a Priest promising offices and singular favours in Court to any that would lead him into exile One named Euthymius offered himself who having purposely hired a house near to the Church provided a Coach well furnished to carry away S. Ambrose at his coming from divine Service but never was iâ— possible for him to perform his promise by reason of the great press of the people which perpetually environed their Pastour But much otherwise this miserable undertaker the year circumvolving the same day whereon he resolved to execute his design upon the holy man after he had shamefully been disgraced was banished and carried away in the same Coach he had prepared for S. Ambrose as it is said Perillus Authour of Phalaris his bull was the first that hanselled it and Hugh Ambriot who caused the Bastille to be built was the first that went into it in the quality of a Prisoner there to end his days Another named Caligoâ—ius a Groom of the Chamber to the Emperour threatned S. Ambrose to cut off his head with his own hands the holy man answered If God permit Genebrar Chronic. thee to execute what thou sayest thou will act but what Eunuchs do and I shall endure that which ordinarily the Bishop suffer Some time after as if Heaven had fought against the Prelates enemies this wicked man although an Eunuch being accused of some impurity by a Curtezan passed the dint of the sword which he would have drawn against his Bishop In the end the Empress resolved to play out the rest of her game and exercise the whole extent of her power She obtained bloudy Edicts which she her self made to satisfie her own passion She armed her Auxentius as the instrument of her fury She caused it to be published aloud that all Ecclesiasticks who would not deliver the Church which was in question should be held as criminals of treason She caused Squadrons of insolent souldiers to run up and down the streets and cast terrour into the minds of the most confident That was the time when the bruit of peril wherein S. Ambrose was being spred through the Citie universally drew all the people to the Church each one endeavouring to make a bulwark for him of his own body and never forsaking him either day or night Tribunes and Captains were dispatched to him who signified the Emperours pleasure which consisted of three articles The first was he should speedily deliver the holy vessels and all the moveables of the Church The secoÌ„d he should leave the place questioned in the Empresses dispose The third that in all haste he must go out of Milan and that he should have free liberty to travel whither he pleased The Bishop made answer That those holy vessels were the inheritance of Jesus Christ and as the Emperour had not abandoned the state of his Ancestours to Tyrants so Ambrose would never betray the patrimony of his Master Were gold and silver demanded which were his own proprieties be would make no difficulty to afford them but as for the
to death And now-adays is found a frantick Nobility who degrading themselves from the honour of generous spirits and bearing the sentence of an ignoble action against themselves make tropheys of that which is put upon Moorish slaves for punishment Yet the great Constantine saw this manner of punishing the base and abject creatures of the world was too brutish and butcherly and that it would do well to change these duels into Gallies or some such like thing for he wrote to Maximus the Superintendent of justice in these terms These bloudy spectacles in the civil repose and L. 1. de gladiat Cod. Theod. domestick peace wherein we live please me not at all Behold the cause why I will wholly take away these combats of Gladiatours For if there be such graceless wretches who for the punishment of their crimes deserve such a sentence and such condition I ordain that you rather cause them to labour in the mynes to the end that without effusion of bloud they may feel the pain due to their demerits Given at Berytus the first day of October under the Consulship of Paulinus and Julianus I leave you to think what this Monarch would Apostrophe to King Lewis the thirteenth have said of duels of this time where they hasten to pour out willingly upon publick passages that bloud which ought rather to be shed upon the walls of Infidels to cement up the glory of the French O Lewis our great Monarch it seemeth the God of peace hath permitted the heads of this Hydra to have hitherto budded forth that they might be made to fall under the innocency of your hands divinely destinated to so many good works You have again very lately renewed your Edicts against this pestilence assuring unto fathers and mothers the bloud of their children for the service of your Crown and taking away a stain which stuck so many years upon the brow of your Empire Heaven and earth have participated in the contentment which hath succeeded from these good ordinances as they do in the preservation of the lives of your subjects and tranquility of your whole Realm Let your Majesty so handle the matter that this Law may hold with nails of adamant and not loose a glory which Constantine would have bought at the price of two Empires This brave Prince who ever had been most chast His chastity made also sharp war against the infamous ordures of lust for he expelled from the Court as vermine certain effeminate men who had made sale of their souls to dishonour and at other times made a lamentable traffick of their bodies insinuating themselves by this means into the Palaces of Great-ones and sometime into honourable rank He degraded them all from Nobility and forbad them to bear even the marks of men of Arms tying them to services the most contemptible Besides he caused to be taken from publick infamies many poor Christian maids that had been abandoned to evil by the form of punishment making express inhibitions to those villains who live upon others sins never to undertake the like practises Briefly he so abolished the crimes which had been tolerated under the other Emperours that S. Hierom writing upon Isaiah hath given the title to Constantine that his Empire had vanquished two monsters the most dreadfull that were ever seen by destroying the infidelity and impurity of the earth His prudence descended even to the moderating His prudence Cod. Theod. L. de paenit Quo facies quae ad similitudinem pulchritudinis caelestis est sigurata minimè maculetur Zozom l. 1. c. 8. and changing the punishments of offenders which had some disproportion and among other things he decreed that characters should no more be imprinted upon the forehead of the miserable for the respect that is due to the face of man on the which God hath engraven his image And moreover for the honour he bare to the Gross he forbade it should ever again be defiled with the punishments and executions of malefactours thinking it unreasonable that that which was matter of glory to Emperours should likewise serve as an instrument for the pains of the unhappy He suffered not any image to be made unto him either in tables statues or coins whereon the Cross was not ever set such honour bare he to this Honour of the Cross venerable sign which Hereticks have ever rejected with as much malice as stupidity It were an infinite thing for him that would particularly decipher so many noble actions of our Constantine I content my self to have here set down that in brief which might have been distended into many chapters and to make many dishes of it endeavouring to furnish out more substance for my Reader than unprofitable amplifications The eleventh SECTION The zeal of Constantine in the proceedings of the Councel of Nice THe Emperour Constantine had great cause to say what he spake in Eusebius That he was as the common Bishop of the Church outwardly so much vigilance and zeal he exercised to procure all which concerned the maintenance thereof Behold an accident happening under his reign which more troubled Christendom than ever did the torturing racks the combs of iron or boyling cauldrons of Diocletian Theologie had been for a long time taught in the Original of the Arians Citie of Alexandria at which time a Priest named Arius held the regency who had the reputation to be subtile in seeking out questions which never had fallen into the thought of man but otherwise was malicious and of an evil life Out alas that these extravagant curiosities should bring and daily also introduce prejudice into the Church and repose of the people It were to be wished that those who through long idleness and itch of vanity amuze themselves to find out novelties in matter of belief might rather handle the coulter in tillage or the oar in gallies than turn over books and contaminate the honour of Divinity Satan never found a spirit more fit to perplexe holy letters and embroil Empires than this wretched man of whom we speak Saint Epiphanius who might often have seen him Arius and his qualities saith He was of a large body of a sad countenance covering under a mask of austerity hydeous monsters He had an extream ambition to hold the highest place and seeing that Alexander a holy man was preferred before him in the Episcopal Chair of Alexandria he entered into desperate jealousies searching out all possible means to crie down this Bishop and raise calumnies against him to dispossess him of his charge And the life of this Alexander being so unspotted that no least stain of reproach might be seen therein he resolved to involve him in some captious disputations thereby to accuse him to hold opinions not consonant to the doctrine of the Church It happened that the Bishop in preaching and speaking of the Son of God put him as he ought in equality of power and honour with his Celestial Father calling him by
from Alexandria for that he would not sign this proposition this drew compassion from her The spirit of Constantia tainted with this doctrine began already to cast an evil odour upon the Emperour her brother and Eusebius coming thereupon to make recital of that which passed in Alexandria between Alexander and Arius set such a face upon the whole business that he made as it is said the Sun with a cole figuring out the good Prelate Alexander as a passionate man who could not endure an excel-cellent spirit in his Bishoprick 'T is a pitifull thing that great men see not the truth but through the passions of those that serve them This poor Alexander who was a holy old man and grown white in the exercises of Religion was then presented to the Emperour by the information of Eusebius as a fool who under a grizled head had extravagancies of youth in such sort that Constantine Constantine deceived vouchsafing to write unto him taxed him as the authour of this tumult in that he put a frivolous question into consultation and gave occasion of dispute which could never have proceeded but from abundance of idleness And as for Arius he said of him that he gave too much scope to his spirit upon a subject which might much better have been concealed And for the rest they should be both reconciled mutually pardoning each other and hereafter hindering all manner of disputations upon the like occasion Alexander who had done nothing but by the Councel of an hundred Bishops seeing himself treated in a worse condition than Arius was in the Emperours letters and considering the blasphemy which this Heretick had vomited against the Divinity of the Word was reputed as a trifle thought verily they had endeavoured to envenom the spirit of Constantine to the prejudice of the truth For this cause he informed the other Bishops and namely Pope Sylvester of the justice of his cause answering very pertinently to the calumnies objected against him On Eusebius a true patron of hereticks the other side Eusebius who beheld the integrity of this holy Bishop with an ill eye and who had very far engaged himself to maintain Arius embroiled the affairs at Court as much as his credit might permit In the end the disputation was so enkindled through the Christian world that needs must a general Councel be held to determine it Three hundred and eighteen Bishops are assembled Councel of Nice at Nice a Citie of Bithynia by the approbation of Pope Sylvester at the request of the Emperour Constantine who invited the most eminent by express letters and gave very singular direction as wel for their journey as their reception Never was there seen a goodlier company It was a Crown not of pearls nor diamonds but of the rarest men of the world who came from all parts like bees bearing as saith S. Augustine honey in their mouths and wax in their hands There you might behold Venetians Arahians Aegyptians Scythians Thracians Africans Persians not speaking of Western Bishops who were there already in no small number It was a most magnificent spectacle to behold on one side venerable old men white as swans who still bare upon their bodies the scars of iron and persecution which were invincible testimonies of their constancy on the other men who had the gift of miracles so much as to force the power of death and tear from him the dead out of their tombs on the other part men accomplished in Theologie and eloquence who in opening their mouthes seemed to unfold the gate of a Temple full of wonders and beauties There was to be found that great S. James of Nisibis Paphnutius and Potamion There was Hosius S. Nicholas the first Gregorie the father of our Nazianzen Spiridion and so many other worthymen The good Pope S. Sylvester could not be present therat by reason of the decrepitness of his age but sent thither three Legats Hosius Vitus and Vincentius The Emperour received them all most lovingly kissing the scars of some and admiring the sanctity of others never satisfying himself with the modesty and good discourse of all both in particular and general Among these children of God were likewise some Satans adherents to Arius who discovered in their eyes and countenances the passions of their hearts These turbulent spirits fearing the aspect of this awfull assembly softly suggested divers calumnies to surprize the spirit of the Emperour which very naturally retained much goodness And for this purpose they presented to him many requests and many papers charged with complaints and accusations upon pretended domages Verily these proceedings were sufficient to divert this Prince from the love he bare to our Religion were it not that through the grace of God he had already taken very deep root in the faith In the end to do an act worthy of his Majesty beholding himself to be daily burdened with writings wherein these passionate Bishops spake of nothing but their own interests he advised them to set down all their grievances and all the satisfactions which they pretended to draw from those who had offended them and present them on a day designed They failed not to confound him with libels and supplications but this grave Monarch putting them into his bosom said openly Behold a large Zozom l. 1. cap. 16. proportion of Accusations all which must be transferred to the judgement of God who will judge them in the latter day As for my self I am a man nor is it my profession to take notice of such causes where those that accuse and such as be accused are Bishops Let us I pray you for this time leave these affairs and treat we the points for which this Councel is here assembled onely let every one following therein the Divine clemencie pardon all that is past and make an absolute reconciliation for the time to come When he had spoken this he took all the civil requests presented unto him and caused them to be cast into the fire which was much applauded by all those who had their judgements discharged from partialities In the mean space the Bishops before they entered into the Councel took time to examine the propositions that were to be handled and leisurably to inform themselves of the pretensions of Arius who was there present and who already felt the vehemency of the vigour of S. Athanasius though he was yet but a Deacon in the Church of Alexandria The day of the Councel being come the Bishops assembled in the great Hall of the Palace where many benches were set both on the one side and other Every one taketh his place according to his rank Baronius thinketh the Legats of the Pope were seated on the left hand as in the most honourable seats which he very pertinently proveth In the first place on the right hand sat the venerable Bishop Eustatius who was to begin the prayer and carry relations to the Emperour The Bishops remained silent for a Constantius in the
which might slide into the heat of contention and guided all the affairs to peace In the end Arius Condemnation of Arius is condemned and a form of faith conceived for the equality of the Word with the Father whereat many Arians much amazed failed not to strike sail and yield themselves to the plurality of voices fearing least their contestation might ruin their reputation with the Emperour It is thought Eusebius the Historiographer was of this number a man of the time who knew how to comply readily with the humour of those who had authority and force in their hands As for the other Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia who had maintained the faction of Arius with much passion he saw himself shamefully fallen from the opinion of his great credit and durst not refuse to sign the doctrine of the Councel Greatly was he streightned in another Session to pronounce excommunication upon Arius his creature saying he was consenting to the decision of the Councel under shadow of some perplexed words which he made use of to cover his opinion The fathers shutting up their eyes to all human reasons and fortifying their arms against favour surprized this Eusebius and Theognis Bishop of Nice in the condemnation of Arius which they would not sign declaring them upō this refusal deprived of their Bishopricks They interposed the authority of the Emperour who suspended the execution on such condition that they gave satisfaction to the Councel Never were men more humbled namely Eusebius who thought himself the all-predominant for he was constrained speedily to retire and address his request to the Bishops in terms most suppliant in which he protested wholly to submit himself to the decrees of the Councel yet notwithstanding he spared not to embroil matters with an infinity of wiles and malice which made the Emperour open his eyes to confirm their sentence who had condemned him and send him into banishment with subrogation of another in his place though he afterward by ordinary submission was repealed At that time happened a marvellous labyrinth of affairs in which began the combats of great S. Athanasius which are to take up another S. Athanasius History besides this it extending much further beyond the years of Constantine As for the success of Arius after the banishment of ten years he still intermedling with factions found means to be heard in another Councel of Jerusalem where feigning a penitence artificially counterfeited he handled the matter so by the practises of Eusebius who was then in favour that he was absolved with commandment given to the good Alexander Bishop of Constantinople to receive him into the communion of the Church The holy Prelate stoutly refused it knowing well it was an hypocrisie which tended to annul the decrees of the Councel of Nice and bring confusion into the Church But Eusebius of Nicomedia ceased not to make armed inhibitions threatening that in case of refusal he would deprive him of his Bishoprick He who cared not so much for the loss of his dignity as the safety of the Church forsook all these subtilities of Theologie and exhorting his people to a fast of seven days by the counsel of S. James of Nisibis who was then present spared not to macerate his body with austerities and present to God day and night his humble supplications to divert this scourge In the end the affair being very shortly to be determined he prostrated his face against the earth before the Altar and said My God if it be true that Arius ought to morrow to be received into the communion of the faithfull I beseech you let your poor servant Alexander go in peace and not loose the faithfull people with the wicked But if you be resolved to preserve your Church and I may be assured you will do it look on the threats of Eusebius and deliver not your inheritance to the scorn of the wicked but rather take Arius out of this world lest we receiving him may seem to introduce heresie and impiety into your house The next day Arius went early in the morning End of Arius from the Emperours Palace very well accompanied with Eusebius and walked in pomp through the streets of Constantinople He was a man more subtile than confident and it is thought the apprehensions he had of the issue of this combat put terrour in him and this terrour caused him to step out of the way Behold the cause why being by chance in the market-place of Constantinople he retired into a publick place of ease to satisfie the necessities of nature Socrates holdeth he cast forth a great quantity of bloud and thereupon falling into a swoon not being able to be holpen he yielded up his wicked soul by a just punishment from Heaven leaving to posterity a perpetual detestation of his life with a horrour of the very place of his death Eusebius caused the body to be intrerred Alexander breathed again and all the Church triumphed upon the admiration of the judgements of God seeing that he who had raised so many bloudy tragedies was dead in his own bloud and after he had infected the soundest parts of the world with his poison vomited up his contagious soul in the publick infections drawing on his criminal head the execration of all Ages The twelfth SECTION The government of Constantine HAving shewed unto you the greatness of Constantine Constant 19. Constantinople erected in matters of Religion let us now behold it in his politick government It is no slight note of the vigour of his spirit that he enterprized to make another Rome and so prosperously to have perfected this his design There is found among the Gentiles a certain Epigram in the ruines of ancient Rome which said It stood in need of Gods to make it but there was but one God necessary to destroy it What may we say of the courage prudence happy success of the Emperour in the establishment of Constantinople We will not make him a God as the Pagans but say he was a man singularly assisted by the providence of God in the greatness of his undertaking He perceived in this new change of Religion there were in Rome many harsh spirits and that even among the principal whom he could not reclaim to Christianity as his zeal fervently desired Behold whether desirous to consecrate to God a place better purified from Idols where he might be served with more consent and better judgement or whether he were transported with the desire of honour and the memory of posterity he resolved to build a City which should bear his name and be as it were the master-piece of a great Monarch For this purpose he had some desire to build on the ruins of Troy the Great thinking the fame of the place renowned for its unhappiness through all the parts of the habitable world might contribute somewhat to the glory of his name but he having laid the foundations God gave him notice in sleep that this was not the place
with a constancy which amazed this bloudy soul that so tortured her In the end she again took her garments going out of the water as from an Amphitheater of her glorious battel The twelfth SECTION The retreat of Hermingildus and his Conversion HErmingildus who knew nothing of what had passed beholding her somewhat pase and weakened with such harsh usage asked her if she felt any pain of body or affliction of mind to discolour her so much more than ordinary but the wise Princess replied It was nothing and that there was not any thing so important as to be worthy of his knowledge He who well perceived that she by her discretion dissembled some great affront enquired very curiously of those who might inform him and somewhat too soon discovered the cruel disgrace which his mother-in-law Goizintha had put upon his wife This transfixed him with a dolour so sensible and so enkindled him with fire and choller in his heart that if the fear of God and the sweetness of his wife had not served for a counterpoize to his passion he had torn this wicked Queen in pieces But the good Indegondis prostrating her self at his feet besought him by all that which was most noble in him not to precipitaâ—e the matter into such extremities and prevailed so well with her natural eloquence that he was contented to remove presently from the Court and retire to Sevil which his father had given him for his lively-hood Then was the time when those chast loves which had been crossed by the disturbances of Goizintha all obstacles being overcome enlarged themselves as a river which having broken his banks poureth it self with a victorious current in the wideness of his channel Hermingildus could not sufficiently satisfie himself to behold so many virtues in so great a beauty the modesty which she had witnessed in this last disgrace gave him apprehensions of her piety above all may be said Those who seek nothing in marriage but sensual pleasure which is more thin than smoke and much lighter than the wind cannot imagine how much these fair amities which are the daughters of virtues nourish holy delights These are celestial fires which are ever in the bosom of God as in their sphere It is he who begetteth them and breedeth them they being not constrained to descend upon earth to beg a caytiff nourishment from perishable creatures which promise so many wonders and produce nought but wind These two great souls beheld one another with the eyes of the dove and were mutually enflamed with affections so honest and innocent that Angels would not be ashamed to entertain the like fires since they are those of charity which is the eternal furnace of all souls the most purified Indegondis perceiving she had already great power in the affection of her husband and that there was no longer any step-mother to dissolve her designs sollicited him seriously for his Conversion and said Sir I must confess unto you the honour I have received from your alliance seemeth not accomplished whilest I behold between us a wall of division which separateth us in belief and Sacraments Since our amities are come to that point as to enjoy all in common and that they unite things most different why should we divide God who is most simple of nature Why should we make two Religions and two Altars since we now live in such manner that we have but one table one heart and one bed Verily Sir if I saw the least ray of truth in the Sect you profess and some hope of salvation I would submit thereunto the more to oblige me to your person which I love above all the things in the world But it is most undoubted that you are ill rectified that you pursue a fantasie in stead of a verity and that dying in this state you loose a soul so noble which I would purchase with expence of my bloud I boast not to be learned as you Arians who have so many goodly allegations of Scripture that you make the ignorant believe God is all that which to your selves you imagine Sir I for my part think the chief wisdom in matter of religion is not to be so wise as you are and to have a little more submission of spirit for faith is the inheritance of the humble and never doth the day of God shine in a soul which hath too much light of man You well see this heresie of the Arians is a revolted Band which hath forsaken the high way to wander cross the fields you are not ignorant that this Arius was a wicked Priest who raised an heresie for despight that he was not made Bishop and was rejected and solemnly condemned in a Councel of three hundred and eighteen Bishops These men were wise enough for you and me I fix my self upon their resolutions I follow the generality of the Church I adhere to the body of the tree and you tie your selves to a rotten branch I have no argument more strong than the succession of lawfull Pastours than the conformity of the Universal Church than the succession of all Ages than the wisdom sanctity and piety which I see resplendent on our side Besides I come from a Countrey where we have seen all the Arian Kings our neighbours round about to have had most unhappy ends when in the mean time my great grand-father King Clodovaeus for having sincerely embraced Catholick Religion received so many blessings from Heaven that he seemed to have good hap and victories under his pay I am not the daughter of a Prophet nor do I vaunt to have the spirit of prophesie but I dare well foretel the Kingdom of Spain shall not be of long continuance unless it vomit out this pestilence of Arianism which lies about the heart of it I would to God with expence of my life I might establish my Religion then should I account my self the most contented Queen of the world Hermingildus knew not what to answer to the strength of truth and love two the most powerfull things in the world onely he said it was a business which well deserved to be pondered and that these changes in persons of his quality are subject to much censure if they have not great reason for caution The good Princess to give him full leisure to advise thereupon handled the matter so by her industrie that he conferred with S. Leander who was a strong pillar of the Catholick faith in Spain The sage Prelate so well mannaged the spirit of this Prince that with assistance of God and the good offices of Indegondis who moved Heaven and earth for this conversion he drew him from errour This brave courage so soon as he saw the ray of truth needs would acknowledge and freely confess it taking the Chrism of Catholicks with pomp and solemnity even to the giving a largess of golden coyns which he purposely caused to be stamped a little too suddenly making his own image to be engraven thereon with a
it self in a bloudie tempest of three Ages in the contradiction of a thousand Sects From whence it proceedeth that the crueltie of Tyrants hath served for encouragement to the faithful and the bloud of Martyrs for seed to posterity Where can a Religion be found which with such innocency and purity of life such humility solidity sanctity and which is more with the arms of disgraces poverty despicable contempt austerity and torments hath changed the estate and face of the world hath planted the Cross in the capital Citie of the Empire above the thunder-bearing Eagles of the Emperours and the ashes of a poor fisherman massacred for this law above the Diadems of Kings What would the ancient Caesars say if they rose again from their graves to behold in Rome where all the Monarchies were established and incorporated where all the devils and furies were cantonnized as in their last and strongest fortress in Rome from whence came all the fulminating thunders and bloudy Edicts against Christians where the sword of persecution was sharpened to reap a harvest of heads where was a Pantheon the magazin Wonderful proceeding of all their false Deities to see there the state of the supream * * * Alii nec minùs Christiani a liter sentiunt Bishop of Christians to see there a Church erected to Peter the fisher-man much more magnificent than ever was the Pantheon Say human wisdom if the SAVIOUR of the world at the age of twelve years when he began publickly to testifie he was come to redeem the Kingdom of his Father from violent and unjust usurpers had asked counsel of you touching the proceedings which ought to be held in this business what had you advised him Had you not demanded of him where are your treasures Have you not inexhaustible riches to oppose an Empire which hath a hundred and fiftie millions of revenew No I pretend to have no other riches but poverty Have you some five hundred thousand men in pay for ten years to maintain one army on Nilus another on Euphrates one on Rhene another on the Ocean another within the entrails of the Romane Empire No I purpose not to levie for execution of this design but twelve poor men sea-faring men without strength without industrie arms or so much as a staff Have you a thousand brave Oratours men of great learning eminent eloquence who will endeavour by the charms of their flowing tongues to attract the people and dispose them to their wills No I have none but simple ignorant people ideots that go out to preach the Cross What would you have said thereupon O folly how do you think to come to honour by ignominie to riches by povertie to greatness by the infamious punishment of the Cross to immortalilitie by a bloudie death And yet behold it is done What say you Is there in all this process any thing that is human Must we search out other miracles for confirmation of faith Adde hereunto that the devils craftily counterfeited Sanctitie an irrefragable argument wisdom power force by deceitful violent and bruitish ways but never could they constantly feign humilitie patience purity sanctity Sects which have taken this dissembled mask have not been able long time to keep it they all have shivered and broken with pride presumption private and publick impurities with ordures of execrable sacriledges The spirit onely of Christianitie hath always appeared as a true spirit of piety humility patience charity continency chastity mansuetude contempt of the world virtues so noble so elate so heroick that the life alone of a Christian being with conformity directed fairly to the doctrine of our SAVIOUR is a perpetual miracle able to convert worlds All that which the great Philosophers of this Universe could not attain with the flight of their feathers the Christian toucheth with his hand he hath demonstrated more in his works than they have said in their books they have built Common-wealths on paper and our religion hath raised Monarchies of real virtues And if the wicked who stagger in their belief had addicted themselves to the exercise of good works never would infidelity have made prey upon their understandings but for that they suffered themselves to be transported with the overflow of pride presumption curiositie of toys vanities and carnal sensualities of the world God in just vengeance suffereth them to fall into a reprobate sense Oh lost soul which givest way to this faintness and remisness in thy religion consider a little attentively all that I have said hereupon And if truth content thee not thou mayest well hereafter expect the lot of Cain the absence from the face of God perpetually frightful anxiety terrours and menaces from heaven the indignation of the sovereign Judge the hatred of men the ill success of thy affairs extraordinary maladies desolation the life of a sad howling wolf a tragick death and detestation of thy posterity Even Atheists amongst the confusions of Paganism have seldom or never found assurance therein some have been sacrificed to flames as Diagoras others Diog. laert Paulus Diac. l. 15. eaten up with lice as Pherecydes others devoured by dogs as Lucian others thunder-shot in a hath and turned to ashes in the twinkling of an eye as Olympias others have suddenly lost human speech and have bellowed like bulls and in this roaring have yielded up their souls as Simon Thuvan a wicked pedant Polydor. l. 5. in the year 1201. others have burst in pieces in an infamous privie infecting the sinks and publick sewers with their souls much more stinking as did the wicked Arius others have lost their scepter and eyes as a King of the Bulgarians who was deprived and blinded by his own father Trebellius as soon as Sabel l. 6. Lun 85. he returned from a Monastery where he had retired himself with armed power to chastise the Atheism of his son We are not yet in an Age so caytife where brave and couragious Magistrates are wanting to bridle the impudency of those who would advance these detestable Maximes of impiety We have seen in fresh memory the Decree of that great and illustrious Parliament of Paris that condemned to the fire the Authours of such abominations which powerfully stayed the violent course of black and beastly impieties that dispread themselves under the mask of goodness which shewed an heroick zeal both of the glory of God and general integrity and maintenance of laws for which God hath reserved to them a crown of immortality This Decree hath been attended with favours from heaven which even in an instant hath sweetened notably these punishments and invited the blessings of all good men that have with thanksgiving lifted their hands to heaven We had seen a little before the ashes of some to flie in the wind perhaps into the eyes of those which Picus Mir. Ep. 1. Magna insania Evangelio non credere cujus vevitatem sanguis Martyrum clamat Apostolicae resonant voces prodigia
prophesie it were the ascendent in the spirits of men transported at that time the belief of the Empress who would no further proceed in this pursuit She caused the Bishops to be assembled signifying to them how having treated this business with much fidelity and sollicitude she could not find the Councel disposed to this resolution that they must have patience and suffer the fruit to ripen before it be gathered Thereupon Porphyrius Bishop of Gaza the principal Agent as being the most interessed well perceiving the Empress had not used the utmost of her credit saith to her in a discreet and effectual manner Madame that your Majesty may not fear seriously to employ your endeavours in the business now in question I promise you in recompence that God will give you a son which you bear in your bodie and that quickly you shall see it to sway the scepter by your side Women desire nothing more than to conceive male children But if it concerneth establishment of houses they passionately love their sons Eudoxia who notwithstanding all the forcible words of Porphyrius had before not undertaken the affair but sleightly upon this promise made to her of a male child and of a son to be Emperour protesteth to employ herself wholly therein and in such manner that she not onely would cause the idols of Gaza to be thrown down to the ground and absolutely raze the Temple but which was not to be expected from her zeal she addeth she would build in the place of the Temple it being demolished a most magnificent church Porphyrius thanking her for so much favour taketh leave to retire to his lodging attending the effect of the good mans prophesie Eudoxia faileth not in few Birth of Theodosius days to be delivered of a fair son who is our Theodosius the Younger As soon as he beginneth to breath air behold him covered with royal purple declared Augustus with intention to associate him the year following to the Empire of his father All the world was poured into joy at the birth of this infant there was nothing but sports largesses and publick alacrity so much happiness they promised themselves for this little Theodosius in whose infancy already were seen all hopes of the publick to bud The Empress seven days after her delivery shewing herself very gratefull to God caused the Bishops to be called and received them at her chamber door then holding her little Theodosius covered with a royal garment in her arms Fathers saith she to them behold the fruits of your prayers bless the mother and her infant Then bowing her royal head under the hands and benediction of the Bishops she presenteth to them the fruit of her child-bearing to be marked with the sign of our Redemption which they presently did The good Empress having made them to sit down Dream of Porphyrius Well then saith she what shall we do for discharge of our promise Porphyrius taking the word relateth to her a dream he had the night before upon this subject which was that he seemed to be at Gaza a Citie of his Bishoprick in the temple of idols named the temple of Marna and that the Empress coming to him offered him a book of the Gospels entreating him to open it and read therein whatsoever he should first encounter and that upon the opening thereof he found these words couched in the Gospel of S. Matthew Thou art Peter and upon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall have no power against it and that thereupon the Empress should say Courage in good time That saith she Pious stratagem of a woman very well accordeth with the design I have figured in my mind for the expedition of our affair In few days I hope the son whom God hath given me shall be presented at the holy font of Baptism In the mean time prepare some very ample request whatever you think good of and upon return from the Christening just at your going out of the Church present it confidently to my son I will instruct him that shall carry him in his arms to take it and do what then shall be needfull When he is returned to the house I will do the rest and hope so much from the mercifull hand of God that we shall have all we desire The Bishops assembled fail not to present their request causing therein to be inserted not onely the destruction of the Temple but also many priviledges and immunities in favour of their Churches The day of Baptism being come all the Citie is Baptism of Theodosius adorned and hanged in such sort that it seemed a little Heaven where the Sun and Stars smiled out of their houses The infant is carried in solemn pomp to the Font washed and regenerated with the water of Baptism by the hands of S. John Chrysostom who gave him the name of Theodosius his Grandfather and then adopted him for his spiritual child Baptism ended they went out of the Church in very good order The Princes and Lords of the Court glittered in robes of their degrees as stars the Court of Guard was in very good equipage the number of those who attired in white bare burning tapers in their hands was so great that they seemed to equal the lights of Heaven The Emperour Arcadius was there in person appearing that day with a most singular majestie as he who had given an Emperour to the world Near to the father the little Theodosius was carried who drew tears of joy from all the people The Bishops Porphyrius and John beheld this goodly procession to pass along and in the mean time spied their opportunitie They failed not to approach near as the Empress had instructed them and with a lowly obeysance presented their petition to the infant The Gentleman who bare him in his arms received it and opened it as if he would make the little Theodosius to read it afterwards skilfully guiding him with his hand he made him bow his head upon which he cried out aloud speaking to the Emperour who was near Sacred Majesty our little Master agreeth unto all whatsoever these good Prelates have asked of him and in speaking this held the petition upon his breast The people credulous and desirous to flatter the Emperour thinking the infant had made this inclination of his own motion began at that instant to thunder with loud acclamations of joy congratulating with the Emperour that he had a son who through forwardness of judgement already received petitions As soon as they were come to the Palace the mother who had contrived all this business made it to be read to her over and over as a thing she had never thought on before and straightways commandeth in the presence of the Emperour to open the petition once again There was to be read the destruction of the temple of Marna and many immunities which the Bishops earnestly demanded The Emperour knew not which way to turn him well knowing
Wandals in sect an Arian reigning in dffrick to make a voyage into Italie which he did with a huge Army by means whereof he easily possessed himself of Rome where all was in disorder And as he thither came rather led by his unquencheable avarice than any motive of justice or piety he riffled all that which was rich and excellent even to the treasures of the Temple of Jerusalem whereof some had still been preserved at Rome ever since Vespasian Maximus after he had reigned two moneths is knocked down and rent like a sacrifice He who in all charges had well thrived with honesty when he began to practice treachery found that which a great Prelate had said Sidon Apol. lib. 3. Ep. 13. Vt scorpius ultimâ parte percutis in his history That great mens fortunes like sâ—orpions carry their venom in their tails The Empress Eudoxia who to satisfie her feminine passion had made all this goodly innovation in the sight of the great Pope S. Leo who was spectatour of all these calamities mended not her market for she with her two daughters were by this Barbarian carried into Africk one of which bare her name and was married to the son of Gensericus who afterward possessed the scepter and the other was Placidia sent in the end with her mother to Constantinople after the death of Martianus Behold terrible accidents Eudoxia our pilgrime after recital made to her of Conversion of Eudoxia all this tragedy be gan seriously to open her eyes and laying her hand just upon the wound acknowledged so many disasters had befallen her for that she had strayed from the true faith Thereupon to settle her wavering spirit she deputeth an Embassadour to holy Simeon Stilites near the Citie of Antioch This Simeon was a prodigie of man who lived in a Stilites body as if he had been but a spirit For figure to your self a pillar fourty foot high and on this pillar some little shroud fixed there as a birds nest open and exposed on all sides to the injuries of weather there this great man to raise his body to God as well as his heart placed his abode It was a strange lodging where he could neither lye nor sit in any fashion but ever stood bolt upright without roof without coverture his hairs being somewhat whitened with snow and his beard full of ysicles sometime roasted with the boiling heats of the Sun and in the midst of all this he passed his days and nights in contemplation eating but once a week and that very sparingly To this famous Hermit then who was the Oracle of Christendom Eudoxia sendeth Anastatius a trusty Bishop who in much secrecy laboured her conversion to consult with him upon doubts of faith Simeon answereth in these terms Poor Princess the malice of the evil spirit who saw the great treasures of thy rare virtues would needs winnow and sift thee Theodosius the false Monk a minister of Satan hath corrupted thy fair and glorious soul But courage my Daughter thou shalt die in the true faith consult no more with me thou seekest water far off having the fountain near at hand It he hoveth to address thee to Euthymius who will serve as thy directour in a happy way This answer being related to Eudoxia she caused this Euthymius to be sought out on all sides who should undertake this business He was a venerable Hermit having become hoary in the exercises of a long penance and one who was hard to be found out so much he avoided light and the conversation of men Notwithstanding God permitted him to be found and brought as it were by force to the place where the good Empress was She seeing this blessed old man prostrated herself at his feet saying Father I have lived long enough since I have the honour to behold you it is from your hand I expect the remedy of all my evils The holy man raising her with much sweetness Daughter saith he the evil spirit hath too much abused your credulity It is time you open your eyes to see the scourges of God All your ills have proceeded of nothing but infidelity And if now you desire to be cured there is but one word Stand no longer upon disputation but follow the Councels of Nice and Constantinople Behold the rule of your faith which you shall learn of John Bishop of Jerusalem Euthymius after he had thus spoken to her returneth to his Cell and she goeth directly to the Temple of Jerusalem attended by an infinite number of Religious lifting their hands to Heaven in thanksgiving for this conversion She abjureth the heresie of Eutyches between the hands of the Bishop and absolutely reconcileth herself to the Catholick Church with so much fervour and zeal that she ceased not all the rest of her days to extirpate impiety amplifie the church in all parts of the East where her power extended The good Empress then led a life wholly celestial Worthy life and glorious death of Eudoxia her soul being purged in the furnace of painful tribulation afterward purified more and more in the love of God held not of the body but by a slender thread Her heart was an incense daily dissolved into the flames of her charity sending to Heaven its fragrant exhalations Her two eies were the conduits by which penance with a powerfull expression distilled tears which are as the nectar of the love of God her hands like those of the Spouse true globes of gold replenished with an ocean of bounty poured through the cities and deserts of Palestine In every place nothing was to be seen but Churches and Hospitals but houses for the poor built at her cost so that an Authour named Cyrillus who lived in her time assureth it was a thing impossible to number them God being willing to dispose her passage out of this life by the exercise of so many good works And being upon the confines of her last year she went to visit a magnificent Church of S. Peter which she had founded and one day reposing near to a cestern where she laboured for the good of the said Church she began to cast her eyes upon a great number of Monasteries all near one to another which were in the charge of her good father Euthymius then fetching a deep affectionate sigh she spake these words of the 24. Numeri O Jacob Numb 24. Quam pulchra sunt tentoria tua O Jacob habitationes tuae O Israell how fair are thy pavillions O Israel how excellent thy tabernacles Then turning herself to a gentleman of her train Go saith she seek out Euthymius and intreat him to do me the honour that I once again may speak to him If he shall say he speaketh not with women tell him I no longer know what sex is and that I converse onely with Angels Euthymius in his cell had by revelation that this Saint should quickly pass to a better life and he came directly to bring
who is pleased to take the pain to look into the deportments of men Ecclesiastical who are of eminent extraction shall perceive you are in the Church as an unprofitable burden (d) (d) (d) Principatus sine meritoris sublimitate bonorum titulus sinehomine dignitas in indigne ornameÌ„tum in luto Salvia l. 1. ad Eccles Cath. to disgrace the charge which honoureth you and that all those that name you when you happen to be mentioned in honourable assemblies will wish a cloud of darkness at noon-day to cover the shame of their foreheads Adde that the Church stretcheth out her arms and intreateth you would not suffer her laurels to wither in your hands to defile her victories nor eclipse her lights She hath seen many miseries many hath she born many vanquished but never felt any wounds more dolorous than those which fell upon her by vice (e) (e) (e) Nescio criminum an numinum turbam Tert. advers Valentinianos de eorum diis cap. 8. ignorance and the negligence of her Prelates That is it which hath opened the gate to heresies which hath fomented infidelities enlarged impiety disposed the brows of the wicked to impudence the tongue to slander the hands to rapine which hath darkened the present times with horrible confusions and which vomiteth upon the times and Ages of posterity Will you increase these calamities and with your corruptions make a bridge for the faithless to ruin Christianity For that perhaps shall be the last scourge which God will use to punish the abuses of ill Prelates and the sins of the people in general For conclusion I demand what will become of you in the end at the last judgement of God under which the Angels tremble who govern the world What will become of you when you shall be accused to have been a viper in the Church a scandal to the simple an ill example to the most corrupt a fiery torch that would enflame the house of God Where may one find punishments sufficient to inflict on you and where can you get members enough to furnish out so many punishments when the stones and marbles of those places you have possessed will crack in pieces to flie into your eyes On the contrary if you take the right way which I propose you shall lead a peaceable life in the security of a good conscience rich in honour and ability honourable in reputation terrible to the wicked reverenced by honest men fertile in good actions abundant in infinitie of fruits fruitfull in recompences prosperous in successes glorious to posterity attended on earth with the odour of virtues and crowned in Heaven by Eternitie The tenth SECTION The examples of great Prelates are very lively spurs to virtue TO come to this effect often represent before your eyes the lively images of so many worthy Prelates who have flourished through all Ages and behold them as stars which God with his own hand hath planted in this great firmament of the Church as well that he there might make his glory shine as here to prepare a way for our direction Think sometime within your self what a spirit one S. Nilamon Martyrol Rom. ad 6. Januar. had who died with terrour as they bare him to the Throne of a Bishop for which so many other pine away with ambition he forgoing life with apprehension he should loose his innocency What humility in S. Peter of Alexandria who being the lawfull Baronius Successour of S. Mark would never mount to his chair but contented himself to sit the residue of his days on the foot-stool until after his death the Chron. Alexandr people having attired him with his Pontifical habit did carry his body to the seat which he never had possessed A man truly humble whose death must be expected to honour his merit as if honour were incompatible with his life What zeal in Eustatius Bishop of Epiphanium whose heart was so surprized with onely notice of the prosanation of a Church that he fell down dead in the place making himself a tomb furnished with the triumphs of his own piety a thousand times more pretious than gold and richest diamonds What liberality in Saint Exuâ—erius Bishop of Tholouse to give away the gold and silver of his Church for the necessities of the poor yea even to the carrying of the Blessed Sacrament in a little basket of osier What charity in Saint Paulinus who after he had in alms spent his whole patrimony which was both very rich and abundant sold himself and voluntarily became a slave to redeem the son of poor widows What faith in Saint Gregorie Thaumaturgus to remove mountains and command over elements with as much liberty as a Master over his servants What power in S. Leo and S. Lupus to stay Attila and make head against an Army composed of seven hundred thousand men drawn from the most dreadful Nations of the earth What confidence in S. Martin to submit his shoulders to receive the fall of a huge tree on condition he might thereby banish the Idols Let us lay aside all other actions which are miraculous behold the lives of those who have traced a more ordinary way Imitate the contemplation of a S. Denis the fervour of a S. Ignatius the constancy of a S. Athanasius the contempt of the world of a S. Hilarie the generosity of a S. Cyprian the austerity of a S. Basil the mildness of a S. Augustine the majesty of a S. Ambrose the vigilancy of a S. Gregorie the vigour of a S. Cyril the wisdom of a S. Remigius Propose to your self the acts of S. Vedastus Herculanus Eleutherius Medardus Lucipinus Nicerius Romanus Sulpitius Pretextatus Germanus Amandus Claudius Lambertus Woâ—phranus Swibertus and many such like Consider the deportments of S. Thomas of Canterbury S. Lewis of Tholouse and above all let not your eye pass over Saint Charles Boromaeus whom God hath made resplendent in our days to teach us that no Age is secluded from sanctity A man is powerfull to perswade virtue when in one and the same instant he alledgeth three-score thousand reasons each of which weigh a Crown of gold hath one of the best Writers of this Age said and so did S. Charles forsaking three-score thousand crowns of yearly rent for one mornings Mass He was a Bishop who often fasted with bread and water even in the time of feasts who every day said his Breviary on his knees and moistened it with his The Reverend Father â—inet tears who celebrated Mass every day with a majesty more than humane who had two retirements in the year to attend to spiritual exercises who read the Bible on his knees sheading brinish tears who gave alms above his ability who in person waited on the infectious who wore hair-cloth under his scarlet habit who slept on the bare boards who stirred not out of his Diocess who visited it on foot who in his charge made himself indefatigable who ever was the foremost
and bryers Se you not also how at the point of the first season the earth is wholly bare then in the springs progress it beginneth to produce certain small flowers which are as the eyes of the medows but eyes which spring and eclipse in one and the self-same day and the best of all is kept for the latter season And we our selves when we are born are nothing else but a little lump of flesh which is pollished with time and changed into a more lively infancie but still ignorant untill our soul be perfected by time for then we leave the rudiments of minoritie to become perfect men Behold the course which Religions have held in the world all that which is gone afore hath been either in part gross and carnal or deceitfull and lying by the cunning of the devil Grace in latter times hath set a seal on the work it began from the birth of the world If things the less antient be the less perfect we must prefer the Chaos before the sun acorns before harvests March-violets before grapes and say we have done ill to cover the earth with silver and change shepherds cottages into the gilded marble of the Capitol But they are industrious to wound themselves crying up the ancient ceremonies If this antiquitie be so recommendable why did Rome yearly change her Religion as certain birds do their feathers introducing daily some innovation in matter of superstitions derived from the same Nations they by their arms had captivated Shall it be said she will open her Temples to all the Idols of the earth and onely shut them up from heavenly verities He now here speaketh to us of a victory which is a gift of God and not a Goddess a gift which is oftentimes granted to the strength of legions and never allotted to the impietie of superstitions They will set up their Altar in the midst of a sovereign Court and say that maugre our opposition we must swallow the smoak of their sacrifices hear their goodly musick and receive the ashes of their prophane victims on our forehead where we bear the character of the living God Is it not absolutely to out-brave Christianitie under most Christian Emperours What shall now presently be done at Court by the better part of the Senate which is Christian It will be necessary that they either in refusing untruth oppose your Edicts if the unhappiness of the time should make them favour a request so uncivil or by connivency confess their sacriledge I will speak freely it is not an Altar they desire to plant in the Capitol but rather faith which they now would tear from our hearts If you command such a sin you commit it The Emperour Constans of most worthy memorie being as yet but a Catechumen would not so much as behold this Altar for fear that by the sole sight thereof his conscience might be polluted he caused it presently to be taken away and will you restore it to make them hereafter swear to your laws before false Gods What need have we of such an oath The Senat is assembled by your commands and for you To you they ow their fidelitie and conscience not to Gods who are of no account It preferreth you before their own children but not before their Religion then is it a charitie much greater than your Empire to preserve that pietie which safeguards your Empire All here below in the affairs of men is most uncertain all therein is transitorie and great fortunes which have the sun in their face have ice under foot we possess nothing immortal but true Religion which raiseth us above Monarchs to equal us with Angels Pompey after he had measured three parts of the world more by his triumphs than travels is defeated repelled banished and dead on the frontiers of the Empire by the hand of a half man and the earth which seemed too scantie for his conquests was seen to fail him for a tomb Cyrus after he had overcome so many potent enemies after he had equalled his victories to his clemencie is vanquished by Tamaris and his head crowned with so many laurels served as a matter of sport for a woman who drencht it in a leathern sack filled with humane bloud saying unto him Satiate thee with that thou so much hast desired Hamilcar Captain of the Carthaginians one of the most superstitious Princes that ever the earth bare after so many tropheys threw himself through despair into the fire which be had caused to be kindled for the sacrifice of his Gods seeing it had no whit availed him I will not say Christian Emperours shall ever be fortunate in temporal affairs but I dare affirm that if we must needs be afflicted as men although we should loose all yet never ought we to forsake Religion as Julian that unhappie Monarch hath done who joyned the ship-wrack of his faith to the loss of his Empire Most sacred Majestie remember that all the men of the world fight for you and that you should combat for Ambros epist 11. ad Valent. the true Religion without which there is neither protection in the Empire nor safety in the world If there be occasion to resolve a matter of arms make address to your Councel of War but if a point of Religion be handled you neither ought nor may determine it without the advise of your Bishops You should see them all here assembled if the practice of our enemies had not prevented them I answer for all and in the name of all I implore the pietie and justice of your Majestie that no man here may pretend to abuse your Minoritie to the prejudice of your soul Take heed how you precipitate any thing in this affair without imparting it to the Emperour Theodosius whom you have hitherto honoured as a father If you do otherwise I will not conceal that from you which my profession commandeth and conscience obligeth me to tell you You will come to the Church but you will find no Bishop there or if you do it will be but to resist you What would you answer him when he should tell you The Church hath nothing to do with your liberalities since you have adorned the Temples of Gentilism you shall never build the houses of Sion the Altar of Jesus Christ cannot endure your offerings since you have erected Altars for Idols Your word your letter your signet is the work of your heart of which our enemies make a trophey and which you cannot denie Your service can no longer be pleasing to the Saviour of the world since you are engaged to false Divinities Think you to serve two Masters Think you it will be lawfull to entertain Vestals to the contempt of Religious women of your name and belief You have no more to do with Bishops since you have preferred Sacrificers to the devil before them What answer you to this That you have committed a fault pardonable in a child Every age is perfect for Jesus Christ and
leave a spirit in perpetual dotage Let us rather set our feet on the steps of Catholick Religion where we planted them from our tender age It is not so cloudy as the Manichees suppose it Ambrose hath already much freed me from errours let us pursue the rest I but Ambrose hath not leasure for thee Let us read where shall Disturbances of mind in S. Augustine we find necessary books and where have fit time Thy schollars busy thee all the mornings take at least some hours after noon to enjoy thy self But when shall I admit the necessary visits of friends that must be entertained and when the preparations for my lectures and when my recreations Let all be lost so I may gain my self This life as thou seest Augustine is most miserable and death uncertain If it catch thee upon a surprise in what estate wilt thou leave this world And where dost thou think to learn that which here thou hast neglected But how if death also should conclude the faculties and life of the soul It is a madness to think onely on it since all the greatness and choise of Religion wisdom and sanctity fights for the immortality of the soul We should never so much employ the spirit of God in so great advantages as he hath given us if we had no other life but that of flies and ants Augustine thy evil is thy sensuality If thou wilt find God thou must forsake thy self and from this time forward bid a long adue to worldly pleasures Thou art deceived when thou hast left them thou wilt have the repentance to have done that too soon which thou oughtest not to do nor canst thou any more make an honourable retreat into the world Let us live we have good friends we may in the end have an office a wife means and all sort of contentments There are too man◠miserable enough through necessity that consent not to it by any act voluntary To conclude a wife and the truth of the Gospel are not things incompatible Behold how this poor spirit turmoiled it self in the retirement of his cogitations as himself hath declared in his Confessions He beheld the life of Saint Ambrose and his chastity with an eye yet benummed and surcharged with terrestrial humours and it reflected some rays upon him but he found it so high mounted in the throne of its glory that the sole aspect affrighted him he measured continency by his own forces not by the grace of God Behold why he Confes 6. 11. Amans beatam vitam timebam illam in sede suâ despaired of a single life and thought a wife was a chain sometime unhappy but ever necessary He lived at that time with Alipius and Nebridius two noble Africans his intimate friends who followed him charmed with his doctrine and sweetness of his conversation and from this time they proposed that life to themselves which they afterward led He often put them upon the intention to establish a good manner of life to pass the rest of their days in the study of wisdom Alipius who was very chast maintained this could not be done in the company of women according to an ancient saying of Cato who affirmed If all the world were without a woman it would not be exempt from the conversation of gods Augustine that was less chast than Alipius and much more eloquent prepared himself to dispute this question strongly and firmly against him so that it seemed saith he that the old serpent spake by his mouth so much he connected together reasons and allegations to maintain his opinion The good Alipius was much amazed to behold such a great spirit so tyed to flesh and as he attributed much to all his opinions respecting him as his Master it was a great chance he had not drawn him into voluptuousness through a simple curiosity of experience This miserable snare stayed all his good purposes and needs must he break them to put this great soul into full libertie The ninth SECTION Three accidents which furthered this Conversion IT happened either by the industry of holy Saint Monica who failed not to observe opportunities for the salvation of her son or by a secret inspiration of God that the woman whom he had brought with him from Africk and with whom he had always lived in fair correspondence preserving to him inviolable faith as if she had been his lawfull wife resolved to leave him saying That she had now fulfilled the measure of her sins That it was time to think upon a retreat that she should die with this onely grief not to have tears enow to wash the offences of her youth so unthriftily wasted For the rest never man should possess her after him and that all her loves should be from this time forward for him who made her onely she recommended unto him a son which she left praying he would shew himself as a father and mother unto him Augustine was much amazed at this speech It seemed his heart was pulled away from him to see himself separated from a woman he so faithfully had loved and on the other side he was full of confusion to behold that she shewed him the way which he sought he not yet feeling himself strong enough to follow her example It was not in his power to stay her any longer nor to approve what she did His spirit was pensive and divided not knowing upon what to resolve After the departure of this woman the mother who as yet knew not the will of God speaks to him of marriage and he cast his eyes upon a young virgin of a very good house which much pleased him who though she were two years younger than the lawfull age of marriage permitteth he resolved to stay for her but in the mean space he found out new loves taking another unlawfull woman in the place of her whom he had forsaken Yet for all that he desisted not from the enquiry of truth feeling none of all those engagements more than that of love which made the sharpest resistance against him and seeing he could not accost S. Ambrose in his great multiplicity of affairs with that facility he wished he made his address to Simplicianus Holy Simplicianus Priest of the Church of Milan He was one of the most venerable men that was then in Europe endowed with infinite piety and excellent literature For this consideration he was delegated by his holiness to serve as a spiritual Father to S. Ambrose Otherwise he was so humble and modest that to give his Bishop the upper-hand he very often counterfeited ignorance in questions which he right well knew consulting with S. Ambrose as an Oracle because of his dignity and giving a perfect example to all of the duty we ow to the Prelates of the Church Besides these ornaments of virtue and science this holy man had strong attractives in the facility of his conversation and sweetness of entertainment so that a certain particular grace
the deluge which after it had born the whole world in the bowels thereof amongst so many storms and fatal convulsions of universal nature reposed on the mountains of Armenia So S. Monica when she so long time had carried in her entrails and heart a spirit as great as this universe among so many tears and dolours so soon as she was delivered of this painful burden went to take her rest on the mountains of Sion A little before her death beholding Heaven from a high window which opened on a garden she seemed there already to mark out her lodging so much she witnessed resentment and extasie towards her son Augustine who at that time made this admirable colloquie with her couched by him afterward in his Confessions The conclusion was that she said unto him My son I have now no more obligations to the world you have discharged all the promises of Heaven to me and I have consummated all the hopes I might have on earth seeing you a Catholick and which is more resolved to perfection of the life you have embraced When it shall please God to call me I am like fruit ripe and falling that holdeth on nothing Soon after she betook her to her bed being surprized with a feaver which she presently felt to be the messenger of her last hour Behold the cause why she being fortified with arms and assistances necessary for this combat took leave of Augustine and his brother there present affectionately entreating them to remember her soul at the Altar onely meditating on Heaven and neglecting the thought of the land of Africa which she had seemed at other times to desire for the sepulcher of her body And as her other son said unto her Madame my mother we as yet are not there we hope to close your eyes in our own countrey and burie you in the tomb of your husband this holy woman seeing this man would still tie her to the present life and divert her from cogitation of death which to her was most sweet beheld him with a severe eye and then turning her self towards her son Augustine Hearken saith she what he saith as if we absent from Africa must needs be further from God She often cast her dying eyes towards this son who was her precious conquest and who in her sickness served her with most particular assistances affirming that Augustine had ever been a good son towards her and though he had cost her many sorrows he never had forgotten the respect due to a mother Verily there was a great sympathie between the soul of such a mother and such a son which was infinitely augmented after this happy conversion and therefore we must give to nature that which belongs to it The child Adeodatus seeing his Grand-mother in the last agony as possessing the affections of his father threw out pitifull out-cries in which he could not be pacified And S. Augustine who endeavoured to comfort them all upon so happy a death withheld his tears for a time by violence but needs must he in the end give passage to plaints so reasonable The Saint died as a Phenix among Palms and they having rendered the last duties to her pursued the way begun directly for Africk Behold how the conversion of S. Augustine passed and though many cooperated therein yet next unto God S. Ambrose hath ever been reputed the principal Agent and for that cause his great disciple said of him (b) (b) (b) Aug. contra Julianum Pelagianum l. 1. c. 6. Excellens Dei dispensator quâ—m veneror ut patrem in Christo enim Jesu per Evangelium ipse me genuit eo Christi ministerio lavacrum Regenerationis accepi Ambrose is the excellent steward of the great father of the family whom I reverence as my true father for he hath begotten me in Jesus Christ by the virtue of the Gospel and God hath been pleased to make use of his service to regenerate me by Baptism Whilest stars and elements shall continue it will be an immortal glory to the Bishop Ambrose to have given the Church a S. Augustine of whom Volusianus spake one word worth a thousand (c) (c) (c) Volusian Epist 2. Vir est totius gloriae capax Augustinus In aliis sacerdotibus absque detrimento cultus divini toleratur inscitia at cum ad Antistitem Augustinum venitur Legi deest quicquid ab eo contigerit ignorari Augustine is a man capable of all the glorie of the world There is much difference between him and other Bishops The ignorance of one Church-man alone prejudiceth not Religion but when we come to Bishop Augustine if he be ignorant of any thing it is not he but the law which is defective because this man is as knowing as the law it self The eleventh SECTION The affairs of S. Ambrose with the Empeperours Valentinian the father and Gratian the son LEt us leave the particulars of the life of S. Ambrose to pursue our principal design which is to represent it in the great and couragious actions he enterprized with the Monarchs of the world Let us not behold this Eagle beating his wings in the lower region of the ayr but consider him among lightenings tempests and whirl-winds how he plays with thunder-claps and ever hath his eye where the day breaketh The state of Christianitie stood then in need of a The state of Christendom brave Prelate to establish it in the Court of Great-ones The memory of Jâ—lian the Apostata who endeavoured with all his power to restore Idols was yet very fresh it being not above ten years past since he died and yet lived in the minds of many Pagans of eminent quality who had strong desires to pursue his purpose On the other side the Arians who saw themselves so mightily supported by the Emperour Constans made a great party and incessantly embroyled the affairs of Religion Jovinian a most Catholick Emperour who succeeded Julian passed away as a lightening in a reign of seven moneths After him Valentinian swayed the Empire who had in truth good relishes of Religion but withal a warlick spirit and who to entertain himself in so great a diversitie of humours and sects whereon he saw this Empire to be built much propended to petty accommodations which for some time appeased the evil but took not away the root He made associate of the Empire his brother Valens who being a very good Catholick in the beginning of his reign suffered himself to be deceived by an Arian woman and did afterward exercise black cruelties against the faithfull till such time as defeated by the Goths and wounded in an encounter he was burnt alive by his enemies in a shepherds cottage whereunto he was retired so rendering up his soul in the bloud and flames where with he had filled the Church of God The association of this wicked brother caused much disorder in the affairs of Christendom and often slackened the good resolutions of Valentinian by coldness and
tollerations which were rather esteemed the feaver of times than men S. Ambrose entered into charge as is most probably thought about the end of the reign of this Valentinian and had not much occasion to intermedle with him yet from his enterance sheweth he would become a Lion For seeing in the State some practises in Magistrates which turned to the prejudice of the Church he with much freedom and generosity complained to the Emperour and though this Prince was one of the most absolute who had swayed the Scepter he was no whit offended but answered to S. â—mbrose It is a long time I have foreseen your nature Thood lib. 4. cap. 6. and the libertie you would use when a Myter was set on your head Yet notwithstanding did I never oppose your election and though I might exercise the resistance which the laws allow me without any other authoritie yet I gave my consent for the desire I have to behold a stout man in this charge Do what the laws of God appoint you the times are sick and need a good Physitian This so favourable beginning promised good effects The death of Valentinian the father for the future But this Prince lived not long after for having reigned about twelve years in a very harsh manner he being haughty and excessively cholerick it happened that hearing one day the Deputies of a Province in Bohemia who excused themselves upon certain incursions and roberies imputed unto them he entered into so violent and thundering distempers that they laid him on the bed of death for from the Councel-table he at that instant was carried into his chamber The veins of his body shrunk up his speech stopped his members were turmoiled with horrible convulsions and his face spread all over with purple spots In conclusion he was wasted with fervours of anger more daÌ„gerous than the dog-star which in few hours took him hence who under the sword of the Roman Empire had made so many Armies of Barbarians to tremble to teach us we have no greater enemies than our selves Valentinian left two sons the one by his first wife Severa which was Gratian The other by Justina which was Valentinian the Younger Let us see how S. Ambrose treated with them both The holy Bishop who had already exercised so much authority over the father retained it on the sons with so much the more priviledge as their age and the necessity of the affairs of the Church required Valentinian some years before his death foreseeing as it were what would happen declared his eldest son Gratian Successour of his Empire and from that time associated him to his dignity As he was a Prince very awfull and who among his sharp proceedings spared not to mingle many sweet attractives when he undertook an affair so he made himself appear in his latter days as a setting Sun in his Royal Throne and having made a most specious Oration to all his Captains and souldiers there then about him flattering and calling them companions by way of Court-ship he exhibited many large demonstrations of amity to them then taking his little son Gratian Gratian the son of Valentinian by the hand clad in an Imperial robe being then of fourteen or fifteen years of age he told them that this was his Heir whom they were one day to have for companion and who should with them tread under-foot the powers opposed against the Roman Empire adding he should equal his father in valour and in affection due to their good services but surpass him in sweetness having been made happy with a better education than himself This young youth as saith his history was beautifull as a star for his eyes sparkled like two lightening-flashes his face very amiable and complexion mingled with white and red When the souldiers beheld him in this habit they began softly to strike their targets and at that instant the trumpets sounded with a thousand acclamations to salute him This action was the cause that the sudden death of his father made him instantly Emperour with his uncle Valens who yet lived when for a singular tryal of friendship he divided his dignity with his brother the little Valentinian who was not yet above five or six years old being then left an orphan under the charge of his mother Justina Afterward the great necessities of the Empire made them likewise associate Theodosius to the Crown one of their fathers chiefest Captains The young Gratian who was endowed with an excellent disposition presently put himself under the wings of Saint Ambrose to direct him in affairs of his salvation and conscience which he esteemed the most important of all might concern him Our great Prelate entered so far into his soul that living and dying nothing was so sweet nor familiar in his mouth as the name of Bishop Ambrose And well to discover the apprehensions of this fair soul and the easie enterance it gave to all the forms of virtue proposed by this great Saint you must observe even in the judgement of Pagan Historians who never graced him above his merit that he was the most accomplished Prince for his age which ever bare the Diadem of Caesars And if a life so precious could have been redeemed with the bloud and tears of the faithfull it had replenished the Church with sanctity the Empire with glory and the whole world with wonders The beauty of body which he enjoyed contained a spirit wholly celestial enchased therein for it was full of generous viva city and as fire out of his sphere seeketh its nourishment in the conquests thereof so he lived by sciences and lights that they became tributary by his judgement and travel as well as men by his arms He laboured much in the matter of eloquence Excellent qualities of the Emperour Gratian. seeing it was then a study as it were absolutely necessary for Emperours to reign over people and that words were the cement which united wills and arms for the safety of the publick By good chance he had Ausonius for Master esteemed even in the judgement of Symmachus the most able man of his time most happy Master of an excellent schollar who made him change the school of Rhetorick for the purple of Consul-ship Gratian was naturally eloquent nor was it hard to manure so generous a nature When he pronounced some Oration he had early in his young years the majesty of his father conjoyned with an admirable modesty and a little a crimony which gave an edge to his actions The ordering and inflection of his voice were rarely proportioned He seemed eloquent in pleasing arguments grave in serious polite in laborious and when the subject required fervour and invective his mouth spake tempests This enforced no diminution upon his military exercises wherein he was infinitely dexterous whether he were to run wrastle or leap according to the custom of the Roman souldiers his agility made the world wonder or whether he were to manage a horse or handle
can ought avail me Ruffinus notwithstanding insisted protesting he would instantly perswade the Bishop what ever he pleased He failed not to find out the Bishop but the Saint gave him a very sharp reprehension advising him rather to dress his own wounds than intercede for others for he partly understood that he had a hand in this fatal counsel Ruffinus notwithstanding plyed it all he could and endeavoured to charm this man with fair words saying finally for conclusion he would immediately accompany the Emperour to the Church S Ambrose who was ever very serious answered If he come thither as a Tyrant I will stretch out my neek but if in quality of a Christian Emperour I am resolved to forbid him entrance Ruffinus well saw the Bishop was inflexible and went in haste to advise the Emperour not yet on this day to hazard his approach to the Church He found him on his way as a man distracted that had the arrow in his heart and hastened for remedy and he saying he had dealt with the Bishop It is no matter saith Theodosius let him do with me what he please but I am resolved to reconcile my self to the Church S. Ambrose advertised that Theodosius came went Aedicula jaculatoria out and expected him at the door of a little Cell seperated from the body of the Church where ordinarily salutations were made Then perceiving him environed with his Captains Come you oh Emperour saith he to force us No saith Theodosius I come in the quality of a most humble servant and beseech you that imitating the mercy of the Master whom you serve you would unloose my fetters otherwise my life will fail What penance replieth the holy man have you done for the expiation of so great a sin It is answereth Theodosius for you to appoint it and me to perform it Then was the time when to correct the precipitation of the Edict made against the Thessalonians he commanded him to suspend the execution of the sentence of death for the space of thirty days after which having brought him into the Church the faithfull Emperour prayed not standing on his feet nor kneeling but prostrated all along on the pavement which he watered with his tears tearing his Psal 118. Adhaesit pavimento anima mea vivisica me secundùm verbum tuum hair and pitifully pronouncing this versicle of David My soul is fastened to the pavement quicken me according to thy word When the time of Oblation was come he modestly lifted up himself having his eyes still bathed with tears and so went to present his offering then stayed within those rayls which seperated the Priests from the Laity attending in the same place to hear the rest of Mass Saint Ambrose asked him who set him there and whether he wanted any thing The Emperour answered He attended the holy Communion of which the sage Prelate being advertised he sent one of his chief Deacons which served at the Altar to let him understand that the Quire was the place of Priests and not of the Laicks that he instantly should go out to rank himself in his order adding the Purple might well make Emperours not Priests Theodosius obeyed and answered that what he had done was not on purpose but that such was the custom of the Church of Constantinople Yea it is also remarkable that returning afterward into the East and hearing Mass at Constantinople on a very solemn festival day after he had presented his offering he went out of the Quire whereat the Patriarch Nectarius amazed asked him why his Majesty retired in that manner He sighing answered I in the end have learned to my cost the difference between an Emperour and a Bishop To conclude I have found a Master of truth and to tell you mine opinion I do acknowledge amongst Bishops but one Ambrose worthy of that title Behold an incomparable authority which was as the rays of his great virtue and sanctity from whence distilled all that force and vigour which he had in treating with all men I imagine I hitherto have exposed the principal actions of S. Ambrose to the bright splendour of the day and so to have ordered them that all sorts of conditions may therein find matter of instruction It hath not been my intention to distend them by way of Annals but historical discourses proper to perswade virtue So likewise have I not been willing to charge this paper with other particular narrations which may be read in Paulinus Sozomen Ruffinus and which have exactly been sought out by Cardinal Baronius suitable to his purpose I conclude after I have told you that Paulinus his Secretary witnesseth he writing by him a little before his death saw a globe of fire which encompassed his head and in the end entered into his mouth making an admirable brightness reflect on his face which held him so rapt that whilest this vision continued it was impossible for him to write one word of those which Saint Ambrose dictated As for the rest having attained the threescore and Death of S. Ambrose fourth year of his age he was accounted as the Oracle of the world for they came from the utmost bounds of the earth to hear his wisdom as unto Solomon and after the death of Theodosius Stilicon who governed all held the presence of Saint Ambrose so necessary that he esteemed all the glory of the Roman Empire was tied to the life of this holy Prelate In effect when on the day of holy Saturday after his receiving the Communion he had sweetly rendered up his soul as Moses by the mouth of God a huge deluge of evils overflowed Italie which seemed not to be stayed but by the prayers of this Saint Let us I beseech you pass over his death in the manner of the Scripture which speaketh but one word of the end of so many great personages and let us never talk of death in a subject wholly replenished with immortality Oh what a life what a death to have born bees in his first birth on his lips and at his death globes of light in his mouth What a life to be framed from his tender age as a Samuel for the Tabernacle not knowing he was designed for the Tabernacle What a life to preserve himself in the corruption of the world in a most undefiled chastity as a fountain of fresh water in midst of the sea What a life to arrive to honour and dignities in flying them and to have enobled all his charges by the intefrity of his manners What a life not to have taught any virtue before he practised it and to become first learned in examples before he shewed himself eloquent in words What a life so to have governed a Church that it seemed a copy of Heaven and an eternal pattern of virtues What a life to have born on his shoulders the glory of Christendom and all the moveables of the house of God! What a life to have so many times trampled the head of
remembering what had passed in the Roman Empire he saw that those Emperours who had shewed themselves most fervent in the superstition of false gods and were the greatest persecutours of Christians had been infamous and unhappy not beloved of the people without name not honoured issueless and and for the most part odious and execrable to posterity He then imagined that this Religion which professed so much sanctity and was grown up in the tempests of three hundred years had something divine in it and that perhaps it would not be amiss to invoke in this great labyrinth of affairs the God of his mother As he then went up and down revolving these discourses in the bottom of his thoughts casting his eyes up to Heaven he perceived about the evening the figure of a great Cross all composed of most resplendent light which seemed unto him to bear these Characters IN HOC VINCE Vanquish in this sign This was much more important than the bowe in Heaven which Augustus Caesar saw about the sun when he entered into Rome to take possession of the Empire Notwithstanding Constantine and the Captains who observed this sign in Heaven had some distrust because of the figure of the Cross which till then was ever accounted of an ill presage Now as the Emperour slept in the night in great perplexity of cogitations it seemed that the God of the Christians appeared unto him with the same sign which he had seen the day before commanding him expresly to carry it hereafter in his Ensigns Following this vision he caused a Banner to be made in the manner as Eusebius describeth it who had seen it It was as a launce all of gold which had a piece of wood athwart in form of a Cross from whence hung a rich imbroidery in which was the image of the Emperour and about it a Crown of gold and pearl which bare in the middle the two first letters of the name of our Saviour This was from that time forward his prime Banner which the Romans called the Labarum It was no otherwise different from the standards of the Roman Bands but that it carried the sacred cypher of this venerable Title which was not understood by all the world but held by the Pagans as some devise of the fantasie of spirit The war against Maxentius having so prosperously succeeded as we have said under this propitious standard Constantine held the Saviour of the world in great veneration and made the Edicts which we know in favor of Christians Notwithstanding he for a long time deferred his publick and solemn profession thereof whether it were that the course of great warlike enterprizes and affairs diverted his mind or whether he feared to distast the prime men of the Empire by this change It is likewise thought that his wife Fausta whom he in the beginning much affected greatly weakened his love to Christianity in such sort that the Christians ceased not to be still ill intreated in this remisness of the Emperour In the Absolute coÌ„version of the Emperour end after the calamitie of the death of his son and wife so tragically happened in his own house he seriously opened his eyes about the nineteenth year of his Empire to seek remedy for his evils Zosimus a Pagan leadeth us as it were not thinking of it to the knowledge of the time and manner of his Baptism For he saith that Constantine after the death of Crispus and Fausta had great remorse of conscience and that not wholly having abjured Paganism he sought from South-sayers and Pagan Philosophers as others adde the means to purifie himself from the bloud which he so unfortunately had shed It is said that one Sopater the wisest of the Discourse of Sopater Platonists who had sometime lived in his Court told him these stains of bloud would stick on souls and never be washed out and that if they departed this life without punishment they would re-enter into other bodies to expiate in the end those crimes which they had committed and that there was no other remedy The Emperour found this Philosophie very harsh and his spirit being much tormented with very strange disturbances behold saith Zosimus an Aegyptian newly come from Spain to Rome note that he meaneth the great Bishop Hosius who was sent at the same time into Aegypt by Pope Sylvester This Aegyptian saith he having insinuated himself into the favour of some Ladies of the Court found by their means access to the Emperour who failed not to propose unto him the difficulties and troubles of his conscience This man answered him that his Majesty should not need to disquiet himself hereupon and that there was no crime so enormous which might not be expiated by the remedies which are practised in Christian Religion To this the Emperour very willingly hearkened and resolved all delayes laid apart to become a Christian See here the beginning of the Baptism of Constantine His Baptism As for the sequel it is a question much perplexed for some would have him to be baptized in the suburbs of Nicomedia upon the point of death and others at Rome by S. Sylvester about the 19th year of his Empire I say briefly to decide this difficulty that it is a most unreasonable belief to think that Constantine the Great called by the general voice of the holy Fathers The holy and Religious Emperour Constantine recorded in memorials and publick registers of the Church which are recited before Altars as the chief of Orthodox Princes Constantine whom the Arians yea the most refractory which have been after him never durst declare of their faction to have been christened at his death by the hand of an Arian Bishop out of the communion of the Catholick Church There is not one to be found who favoureth this opinion but Eusebius who hath been an Ensign-bearer of the Arians and who no more ought to be credited in this article than a Pagan Historian it being most unequal to take him for a Judge who had made himself a party in this affair And if some passages be found somewhat doubtful in the Chronicle of S. Hierom which seem to support this errour it is easie to consider that this Doctour who was a merchant enriched with infinite variety of learning hath made many pieces which he rather translated and compiled from others than composed upon his own invention and the learned are not ignorant that his Chronicle is accounted in this kind of books as a work formed from observations and opinions of Eusebius which should not at all alter the estimation we have of Constantine acknowledged and averred by so many other passages of the same Doctour And if S. Ambrose in the funeral Oration of Theodosius said that Constantine received Baptism being in extremity we must not Iâ— ultimis coâ—stitutus therefore infer that he was baptized by Arian in the last instant of his life otherwise he would not call him in the same passage a Monarch of great
the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereupon this man sought to reprehend him alledging some passages of scripture maliciously interpreted of which he made use to establish the unhappy heresie which denied that the Son was the same essence of God his Father and took away from Jesus Christ the diadem of the Eternal Divinity by making him a meer creature Alexander who was not a man of mean account but such an one as to his sanctity of life added solid doctrine defended himself couragiously against the impostures of this malign spirit very well justifying his belief touching the Divinity of our Saviour which having been throughly proved in the Assembly of an hundred Bishops who were first of all called together for this purpose under Hosius Legat of Pope Sylvester he pronounced the sentence of excommunication against Arius and his complices This wicked man who burst with anger to see this condemnation passed against him by those whom he reputed to be infinitely under him in ability put himself into the field with very much ostent the differences he lately had with these Prelates making him understand his Divinity was odious if he therein used not some colour to disguise the malice thereof He also practised so many wiles that he dazeled the eyes even of those who were men very eapable for after he had deduced his reasons with a great facility of words and large quantity of specious passages and that he thereunto added a cold countenance counterfeiting himself a modest man persecuted for the truth he trained spirits not vulgar to the love of his novelties All the very same proceedings have been seen with the Herericks of this time and if so many corrupt souls had not wholly enclined to their own ruin God gave them sufficient examples in elder evils to avoid the new We Proceeding of Arians may well say when we behold these schisms and heresies to arise that there is some comet of the kingdom of darkness which insensibly throweth plague and poison into hearts It is a strange thing that a little sparkle let fall in Alexandria caused instantly so many fires that having invaded Aegypt Lybia Thebais and Palestine they in the end involved almost the whole world No man at that time cared how to live but every one was ready to dispute Bishops bandying against Bishops drew the people distracted with opinions The Churches houses and Theaters ecchoed in the sharpness of contentious disputations and the Cities forgetting all other miseries rent one another for the interpretation of a word Arius to gain support instantly seeketh for favour from the Court. And knowing that Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia was of great credit he used all the flatteries of which this man was capable enough to gain him to his side This Eusebius was eminently furnished with all those dispositions and industries which the most subtile Hereticks have at any time exercised to trouble the Church of God He was verily one of the worst men then in the Empire since he had sold his soul to ambition so much the more pernicious as it was covered with a veil of Religion It is true which the Hebrews say that Vineger is an ill son of a good father for it is commonly made of the best wine so there is nothing more sincere than an Ecclesiastick who liveth in the duty of his profession but when corruption falleth thereinto and that he hath once degenerated there is not a worse sharpness nor a more dangerous malice Religion served this wicked man as a buskin for all feet for it had no other bounds but that of his own interests and he ever like weather-cocks on the top of steeples turned his face on what side soever the wind blew In the persecutions of Christendom he made himself an Idolater in the garboyls of Lycinius he leaned much to his side and when he saw Constantine absolute in the Empire never was man more plyable to flatter him Doubtless he had all the qualities we have seen in Luther Calvin and so many other new Sects who have still sought favour from Great-ones by wyles and most perillous charms So wanted he not excellent parts and great eminencies for he had a spirit very subtile speech cunning a face which spake before his tongue and as for his extraction he soared so high as to make himself the kins-man of Caesars The air he desired to breath was the Court and his Bishoprick when he was absent seemed to him a banishment Behold the cause why he drew near to the center of the Empire as much as he could in such sort that being first Bishop of Berytus he put himself forward to the chair of Nicomedia afterward took the heart of the Kingdom and in the end setled himself in the Royal Constantinople This alteration of chairs had in this time a very ill savour and this life of Court so passionately affected by an Ecclesiastick not called thereunto could not in any sort find approbation among good men Great personages are sometimes very lawfully in Court for the service of Kings and publick necessities but they are thereas the birds of Baruch upon Baruch 6. 70. Job 26. white thorns as the Gyants of holy Job which mourned under the waters as those sweet fountains found in the salt Sea An ambitious man who heweth down mountains to arrive thither and liveth not exemplary deserveth to be regarded therein as a fish out of his element or the pyde bird whereof Jeremie speaketh whom all the rest assailed with Jer. 12. 2. beak and talon Eusebius notwithstanding little regarded the reputation of a good Prelate so that he might arrive to the height of his enterprizes To insinuate himself the more into the good liking of the Emperour he gained Constantia sister of Constantine and widow of Lycinius as Calvin did afterward the sister of Francis the first The good Lady who being despoiled of Empire by the death of her husband and had no longer so much employment to number the pearls of her Diadem would needs then intermedle with curious devotion and dispute on the mysteries of the holy Trinity Constantine after the death of S. Helena his mother held her at his Court with much respect that she might the more easily digest the acerbities she had conceived in the loss of her husband and much easier was it to entertain her in the affairs of the Church than in those of Empires Besides he found it not amiss that she might busie her self in the doubtfull questions of Bishops So pursuing the Genius of her curious spirit she passed so far that she became an Arian by the practises of this Eusebius who having already gotten credit with her spake to her of Arius as of a worthy man persecuted by his own side for his great abilities and explicating to her his doctrine in popular terms which said there was no apparence how a son could be made as old as his father and that poor Arius had been banished
to the Saviour of the world which is yet at this time to be seen hanging over the Altar of Saint Sophia So did Mauritius so Henrie the Emperour at Clunie who made offer to the Church of a World all over diversified with most exquisite precious stones This is the cause why the King sent this present Flodoardus Philippus Bergomensis Savaro p. 15. de pietate Regis Ludovici as the History expresly mentioneth to be hanged up before the chief Altar of Saint Peter at Rome in token of the offer he made to God of his person and estate as the eldest Son of the Church And he that would well consider the foundation of the History shall find this Diadem called the Kingdom or Realm was a kind of crown come from Constantinople For it is said that the Emperour Anastasius who sought support from the favour of the King of France against the Goths that swayed in Italie understanding the great feats of arms done by our Clodovaeus sent a solemn Embassage unto him to congratulate and offer him the title of an honourable Consul the purple robe and the Crown which the Grecians of this time called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clodovaeus very gladly entertained this Embassage and shewed himself attired with those ornaments in the Church of S. Martin where he made a largess of gold and silver then acknowledging all these prosperities came to him from God after he was baptized he consecrated this rich jewel which had been presented to him by the Emperour in the chief Church of Christendom to serve as an eternal monument of his Religion Behold how this illustrious Monarch began at that time to manifest the marks of his zeal and to cement together the good intelligence which France afterwards had with the Pastor and spiritual Father of the whole world I am bound to touch this as I pass along with all sincerity being naturally an enemy of these questions which are many times moved with too much servour and inconsideration in the point of contestations of the jurisdiction of Sovereign authorities We are learned enough when we know that Jesus Christ who had the source of power in himself distributed it to Popes and Kings constituting the one for spiritual government the other for temporal It is his pleasure we honour the character of his authority both in the one and other and not to argue upon fantasies God hath set them over out heads to admire their lustes and not to controul their power Amongst the follies of Nero it is reported that one day beholding a space of land which separated two seas and held them in excellent order he had a desire to cut it that these two seas might encounter and himself see what countenance they would carry when they commixed together Take you good heed saith the Oracle unto him otherwise they will overflow to drown you Leave matters as God hath appointed and confound not the limits of nature It is true Ecclesiastical and civil power are two great seas God hath limited and divided them by the interposition of spiritual and temporal administration Both exercise their functions and live in fair peace God preserve us from those miseries which may dis-mantle the wall and cause them to intermingle together so that we may behold the world in a deluge of calamities To what purpose is all this The Sun doth not the work of the rain nor the rain of the Sun Constantine Communis Episcopus corum que extra exclesiam said the Bishops were Bishops in their Churches in that which concerneth Religion and God had appointed him for the government of his Empire in matters temporal Let us rest in these limits Give we to Caesar that which belongeth to Caesar to God what appertaineth to God We have better learned to live than dispute and our Ancestours have preserved a Monarchy so flourishing the space of twelve hundred years not with disputations and unprofitable wranglings but with the arms of wisdom obedience and courage We have always rendered to the Pope the honour 1 Pet. 2. Sub diti estote omni humanâ— creaturae propter Deum sive Regi quasi praecellenti sive â—ucibus tamquam ab co missis he deserveth as to the Sovereign Pastour of the Universal Church which is under Heaven We have confessed and do acknowledge the King true and absolute Monarch in the government of temporal things singularly honouring him and with most cordial affections loving him as an animated pourtraictute of the greatness of the Divine Majesty God thereupon maketh us to prosper and tast by experience that there is no science more noble than obedience nor any felicity but the accomplishment of the will of the sovereign Master On the contrary it is observed in the History of so many Ages that the wounds from Heaven have on all sides fallen upon those who have sought to cast the apple of discord into the house of God The wind blown from their moutheâ— returned on their heads since it is fit iniquity should first kill it self with its own poison The eighth SECTION The good success which God gave to Clodovaeus after he became a Christian CLodovaeus was no sooner become a Christian but that it seemed God had tied to his arms some secret virtue which made him triumph over his enemies and crown all his enterprizes with most glorious successes The first war he undertook after his Baptism was against Gombaut King of Burgundie of whom we have very amply spoken heretofore I much wonder at certain Authours who measuring the affections of Saints with the weaknesses of their own spirits and esteeming it a sweet glory to be revenged upon enemies from whom some notable injuries are received have said that Clotilda excited her husband to the ruin of her uncle to derive an account from him of the death of her father and mother This is too inferiour a conceit of a Lady who was arrived to so high a degree of perfection nay it was so much otherwise that she should enkindle the fire of this war that Gombaut being in the full possession of Clodovaeus to bereave him of life she withheld the fatal blow afterwards seeing he by his ill deportment had lost his Kingdom she did all that possibly she might to preserve a part thereof for Sigismund son of Gombaut her cousin-germane That which first of all ruined this unhappy King Paul Emil. of Burgundie was his heresie which drew upon him the vengeance of God for it being often preached unto him and he convinced by reasons offering himself in private to become a Catholick yet still retained Arianism in publick Behold the cause why he having divided his heart God divided his Kingdom The second cause of his ruin was his nature cruel and covetous which rendered him uncivil and an enemy of all order He sent his Neece as it were in anger to Clodovaeus giving her not any thing in marriage but many complements Whereupon the King making
these Motives and the felicity of others who have gloriously surmounted them And to add a pleasing variety to this last piece I will conclude with many short and remarkable Examples suited to those four mentioned Passions THE DISASTERS OF SUCH As have yielded to the Passion OF LOVE AND The Glory of Souls which have overcome it 1. LEt us begin with that Passion which is the Source of the rest and which in all times hath caused trouble among men to give a ground to our discourse The children of great Clodoveus became not so soon tractable to the severity of Christian manners but suffered themselves very often to be transported with very violent exorbitancies and particularly with unlawful loves which caused ill example in their house and great disorder throughout their Kingdome Gregory of Tours l. 4. Gregory of Tours observeth fordid and shamefull affections in the person of King Caribert grand-child of Clodoveus which cast an Eclipse upon the lights of the Diademe of this great King and could never be rooted out but by patience by prayers and by the effects of the puissant hand of God Queen Ingobergua who knew the humours of her The plot of Queen Ingobergna to cure her husbands passion succeedeth ill out of too much affectation husband to be addicted to inconsiderate love and who was jealous enough of her bed took not among her attendant Ladies those nymphs of the Court which are full of attractives and deserve admiration but purposely chose out base and despicable wayters thinking it was a singular remedy against the Kings malady She had at that time in her Court and service two daughters of a Clothworker the eldest of which was called Marcovessa and the youngest Mirefleur Caribert whose love was more lustfull then ambitious became desperately in love and courted them to the prejudice of his honour and wedlock which wounded the soul of the Queen with a very sensible arrow seeing the havock this passion made in the mind of this Monarch Jealousie suggesteth her a trick which seemed sufficient to divert him from his infamous servitude if this passion might be cured by another and that a jealous woman did not irritate the wounds of love by its proper remedies She calleth the Father of her two servants commanded him secretly to practise his trade in some corner of the Court whither she very cunningly brought his Majesty to make him see the base extraction of his Mistresses and to throw shame confusion upon him But he who at distance saw this wile coming towards him and the solemn preparation of it was displeased saying that if nothing were wanting but nobility to render these maids worthy of his love he would sufficiently ennoble them by his person and that it onely belonged to him to raise inferiour things by loving them and as great ones will rather be flattered in their passions then censured instantly he made a shamefull divorce with the Queen contrary to laws both divine and humane to take to wife the younger of these sisters which was Mirefleur But love which being of its nature a slave faiâ—eth not to be disdainfull quickly put a distaste of her unto him to make him look after the elder who seemed the more modest and wear a religious habit whether desirous to enflame love by this pretext which ordinarily is eagre to pursue all it can least obtein or whether she did it to give lesse advantage and suspicion to the jealous spirit of Queen Ingobergua The fire of Concupiscence which spareth not to enflame Linsey-wolsey as well as Satin continually blowed by the wind of ambition which promised this creature a giddy Fancy of a Crown burnt so strongly that this spirit which had more cunning then beauty caused so much madnesse to creep into the heart of this miserable king that he resolved to marry her which he did qualifying a prodigious whoredome with the title of wedlock The Queen was ready to dy and addresseth her complaints to God and men The Bishops who were assembled in the Councell of Tours in favour of her made Canons against incestuous marriages but the Canons at that time were not strong enough against the arrows of love S. German Bishop of Paris sent forth thunders of excommunication but passion armed with authority made no more account of them then of flying fires which are quenched in their birth God thereto put his hand by the prayers of the Church and took away this religious woman by a horrible and sudden death which affrighted the King and he in the end conceived shame and sorrow for his fault deriving his salvation out of necessity since he could not gain it from the glory of his refistance That which remained him of life was short and miserable and his passion having rendred him contemptible to his own subjects he quickly left Crown and Scepter to pay a tribute to his Tombe 2. Another kind of sottish love appeared in the government Gregory of Tours l. 5. of young Meraveus which I will here relate as being able to minister matter of terrour to youth which takes liberty in clandestine marriages King Chilperic his father happened to bear away the bloody spoil of his brother Sigebert who had been traiterously murthered by the subtile practises of Fredegond when he was come to the Eve of his triumph The famous Brunhault widow of the deceased King as yet very young was become a party of this miserable booty and saw her pretious liberty enthralled in the hands of her brother in law and sister who was born for vengeance and exercised in massacres Her fortune represented nothing unto her but a thousand images of terrour and the cruelty of her adversaries made her apprehend all that which notable mischievous wickednesse can do when it hath the sword of power in hand Yet her bloud was spared to consume her with languors sentence of her Captivity was pronounced by giving her the City of Roan for prison A trusty man A notable example of Merouevs to dievrt youth from licentious mariages was sought for to execute this Commission and the King cast his eye on his son Meroveus a young Prince of a nature sweet and facile endowed wiht excellent parts which made him to be beloved and beheld as a rising star by all the eyes of France This was to put fire too near to stubble not considering that the calme of such natures is ordinarily the most turmoiled with storms of love So soon as Brunhault who according to the relation of S. Gregory of Torus was a very beautyfull and well spoken Princesse began to unciel her eyes which had hitherto been drenched in a deluge of tears she appeared to Meroveus as a blushing Morn which raiseth the more fair after a shower and the arrow of love sharpned by compassion made such flames to sparkle in his heart that he was enforced to quench them with his bloud He saw himself the captive of his fair prisoner
and already well felt he was not born to be predominant over a beauty so triumphant The easinesse of his nature suffered him not to be long in resolving to give way to his passion He instantly declares himself and coloureth his request with the title of marriage Brunhault gives ear whether for the love of Meroveus or whether out of the hatred of Fredegond his mother supposing it was an opportunity to carry fire very far into the Royall race They secretly marry the Nephue espouseth the Aunt by a crime unheard Love is their Pope and King from whom they take dispensation and leave Fury conceiveth this marriage Timerity signeth it but misery sealeth the contract Meroveus returneth from Roan stil hiding his fire under the ashes He gives account of his commission The King his father resolveth to send him to take possession of Guyenne which he judged to be fallen unto him by the death of Sigebert He fergneth to depart from the Court with intention to go to Bourdeaux but the countrepoise of love insensibly carryed him to Roan and he hastneth to court his pretended spouse and forgets all cares and affairs to please his passion which being not kept with in the limits of moderation made a great noyse and was carried to the ears of the Court. King Chilperic went to Roan with an army to quench the fire in its beginning thinking there was some notable plot contrived against his state but he finds these lovers had no other arms but those of Cupid and that the excesse of their passion had given them so little leisure to think on their own safety that seeing themselves beset by souldiers they had recourse to altars which were then secure refuges for the miserable Chilperic durst not violate Sanctuaries in the presence of Pretextatus Bishop of Roan a man courageous and zealous for things divine He promised himself to take this new married Couple by the want of victuall and other naturall neecessities But he seeing the businesse to be drawn at length patience slips from him and he made them to come out of the Church with promise of impunity His soul was softned seeing a young Queen a widdow and miserable by the cruelty of his wife Nature pleadeth in his heart for his own bloud he embraceth them both with tears in his eyes and not to affright them enterteins them with fair hopes whilest they little think of it he sends Brunhault into Austrasia her own Countrey and keeps Meroveus under good and sure guard judging one could not well trust him if he were at his own dispose In the mean time Fredegonda immeasurably displeased with the proceedings of this affair and supposing the King her husband went on too remissly made it a great crime of state and of manifest conspiracy wherein she involved the Archbishop Pretextatus He was Meroveus his God-father could not but have some tendernesse towards this Prince his God-child which being sinisterly interpreted drew much misery upon him He with his moveables and papers were seized on where they found certain packets of Queen Brunhaults which strengthened the suspition they conceived to his prejudice He is sent for to an assembly of Bishops where the King coming in chargeth him with the crime of rebellion accusing him to have withdrawn the people from their obedience to crown his son and thereupon roundly required the Prelates that justice might be done according to holy Canons The witnesses are heard and confronted who do not throughly enough prove the crime whereof he was accused Pretextatus justifieth himself by a solemne protestation of his innocency which caused compassion in many But these Prelates assembled were partly weak and partly sold to serve the Kings passions there was almost none but Gregory of Torus who having an invincible spirit in a little body encouraged the whole Assembly to the defence of the truth the menacies of the King and murthering flatteries of Queen Fredegonde being unable to shake his constancy Other batteries were likewise made to ruine a man half dead by stirring up against him divers calumnies from which he very happily vindicated himself untill at length some treacherous Bishops counselled him to accuse himself by way of humiliation of the offence of state which was objected against him They told him he must not appear too just before his Master that it was not reasonable the King should receive an affront in this affair that he was a mild Prince who would Pretextatus should owe his safety to his clemency and that he no sooner could speak one word of confession but he should be freed from this vexation and restored to his Dignity The unfortuante Prelate giving ear to the hissing of serpents made his tongue the snare of his soul and owned an imaginary crime to undergo a reall unhappinesse He had no sooner pronounced the word but the King transported with excessive joy prostrated himself on his knees before the assembly of Bishops demanding that his robe for ignominy should be cut off and the execrations thundring against Judas to be pronounced over him The compassion of some procured moderation therein Neverthelesse he was instantly degraded condemned to banishment and delivered to the Kings Guard who lead him to a little desert Island near the city of Constance in Normandy whence he esaped to be in the end massacred by the practises of Q. Fredegonde This step-mother was not content to see Meroveus confined to a prison but she violently urged he might be shaven and shut in a Monastery which was executed But it is a great errour to think to make a religious man by holding a poignard to his throan and by taking hair from his head when the consent of his heart cannot be had The thoughts which according to the Interpreters of Scripture are as the hairs of the soul were not taken away by the roots from this miserble Samson They much persecuted him about his passed Loves that hâ— quickly forsook Cowl and Monastery to begin new stirs He went directly to Torus which gave much trouble to good Saint Grogory and spent nights upon the tomb of Saint Martin fasting and praying to have a revelation which might promise him a crown But seeing Chilperic pursued him with armed hand he fled from town to town and from Sanctuary to Sanctuary finding not any one who would support his rebellion In the end he gets into Austrasia and returneth to the embracements of his Spouse as it were to end himself in those eyes which had enkindled his first flames But the cunning Queen considering that her subjects were raised in alarms upon his comming and fearing she might draw upon them the totall storm of Chilperics arms preferred reasons of state before those of love besought him to retire They of Tours who were suspected by the King for having first of all favoured his flight thinking not to find their own safety but in his ruine called him back again under colour to support his arms and to become
But howsoever it were he by an unexpected miracle became victour over these two passions when after he had embroiled his whole life he was sensibly touched with a divine inspiration and forsook the crown of an Empire to take that of a Cloister changing his pride into humility his impiety into devotion and his ambition into penance It is an Act which onely appertaineth to a Hand wholly divine to draw light out of a Chaos and pull this serpent out of his cavern but it was likewise a most incomparable happinesse to see him to die a good Religious man at the years-end and to receive the Crown in the beginning of the Carreer although it be not likely that those grievous sinnes were so soon expiated but that a good part of them were reserved for purifying flames 3. Forasmuch as concerneth the diversity of ambitions Shallow and Fantastick ambitions there are some shallow and fantastick which resemble that of a silly Trades-man in Constantinople who gave all the wealth he had gathered in his whole life that he might but so much as one hour wear the crown on his head and play a King of the Cards on a Codinus in Eclog. stage where he was used with all manner of scorn Even so many Courtiers suffer themselves desperately to runne into certain barren vanities busying themselves about Genealogies marriages extractions right and left lines to find in the Ashes of Troy the great an ally of their bloud and to make themselves diadems in picture Others are a little Hypocondriack and have humours Lucianus in Peregrino not unlike those of Peregrinus who presented a letter of challenge in a great assembly of Grecians inviting all the world to come and see him burn alive wherein he failed not throwing himself into the fire to gain the glory of a generous man All our Gladiatours are in this state who desire to make themselves famous by infamous Duels and have a greater appetite to live in the fantasie of men such as themselves then in their own bodies 4. There are other covert desires of honour which The ambitions of Ecclesiasticks and Religious much more subtil sleep in the bosome of men consecrated to God and enkindle their flames with the fire of the Incensory which are much more subtile and which devour as fire from heaven 5. This was verified under the reign of Clotharius Crodielde daughter of King Caribert a Religious woman raiseth great troubles by her ambition in the person of Crodielde a religious woman of the Monastery of Saint Crosse of Poictiers She was daughter of Caribert and following the example of the Queen saint Radegonde she had generously despised the world to take a husband in the house of God But as these kind of persons are commonly treated with much honour and fair entertainment their passions sleep like the silk-worm solded up in its threads which in the end breaks its prison becomes a butterfly and flies aloft in the air She had a violent desire to hold the highest place and to yield to none as far as her power would extend She patiently enough endured S. Radegunde because she had been a Queen but so soon as death had closed up her eyes and that she saw without any regard had of Royall bloud Leuboece was chosen and confirmed for Abbesse of the Monastery she brake her bands of silk which so tenderly tied her to the Crosse awakened all her sleeping passions took the wings of such an exorbitant ambition that having opened the locks and broken open the doors she went out accompanied with Basines her Cousin and fourty others Religious Libertines to provide for her self at Court and to procure to be chosen Abbesse The good S. Gregory of Tours relateth that she coming unto his City throughly wet and much tired with her journey besought him to take her and her virgins into his protection against the violences of the Abbesse of Poictiers who had treated her with all manner of indignity She added that for this purpose she was going to the Court and prayed him that expecting her return he would be pleased according to usuall charity to provide for the entertainment of all her religious women The good Bishop who was very busie about his studies and the function of his charge would not undertake the trouble of maintaining so many virgins which he feared as much as a vast army but entertained her very canonically saying he could not approve her going forth and that if she were offended with her Abbesse she ought not therefore to forsake her Monastery without leave but peaceably to inform Moroveus the Bishop who by the obligation of his place was to order all their differences She who would not hear speech of this man answered He marred all and that order cannot be expected from the authour of disorder so that seeing S. Gregory nothing disposed to feed so many mouths she provided elswhere and went directly to her uncle King Gontran leaving all her religious under the charge of Basines Gontran received her very courteously as his niece and gave her many gifts but having well considered her businesse he would not meddle with it saying It was an Ecclesiasticall affair and that he would recommend it to the Bishops of the Province which he most exactly did without prescribing them any thing to the prejudice of right or the dishonour of their dignity Crodielde thereupon returning to Tours found her sisters much impaired and knew by experience that religious women dissolve in secular life as salt in water although thence it took its originall They were so chargeable to all but especially to saint Gregory that he prayed and made vows for their departure which caused them to hasten their retreat to Poictiers where instead of entering into the Abbey they withdrew into the Church of saint Hilary In the end Godegesillus Archbishop of Bourdeaux arrived with his Suffragans to decide the matter but these Mistresses who had good noses smelling that this assembly was not to favour their faction levied a regiment of souldiers to defend them of which they make Childeric to be the Captain a wicked and a most resolute fellow who failed not to be well followed such store there was of Frizlers and effeminate youngsters who put themselves into this army of women The Bishops failed not to march directly towards them accompanied with the Clergy and a great multitude of people to summon them to reenter into the Monastery but this Amazon instantly commanded her souldiers to strike which they did vvith so much violence that the Crosâ—ers and banners seeing themselves so unexpectedly charged began to totter the Bishops the Priests and Deacons fled There vvas a generall dissipation of the people and many vvere vvounded in the place the Church it self being stained vvith humane bloud Crodielde running on to the highest degree of insolency as if she had been puffed up vvith her victory entreth into the Monastery with her Hacksters and
makes them and that they have no need of our Sacrifices but that they would have our Heart The King ought to acknowledge God with a very deep sense of Piety as the chiefest essence the chiefest light a Trinity within an Unity infinite an Eternall Spirit whose Power is Almightinesse whose Will is the highest Reason and whose Nature is nothing but Holinesse That he is a Mysterious Silence a Lovely Terriblenesse an Immensnesse of Glory which Sees all and Knows all from whom all Beings have their rising which gives and takes away Empires before whom the World and all its Kingdomes and all its Monarchs are but as it were small atoms moving within that immovable Beam This sense will cause the Prince to tender his Crown and Person at the feet of God with a perfect humility and whole dependance on him in all things he will learn the mysteries of our faith and all the great maximes of Religion not for disputation but to believe and adore them In prosecution of this deep sense it behooves him The service of God to professe the outward worship and service for the performance of his duty and the example of his people as by his assisting at divine Service with great reverence honouring the holy Sacrament shewing himself exceeding devout towards the most holy mother of God towards the Angels and Saints frequenting confession and the Eucharist hearkening willingly to the word of God and regulating his prayers and daily devotions by the advice of those that direct his conscience and above all accounting it the chiefest devotion to be carefull of his people just in his Government and full of compassion towards the afflicted It is also expedient to take heed that the Prince in this do neither too much nor too little it is not fitting that he take upon him the devotion of a Priest or Religious man which might a little diminish the credit of his profession nor that he should likewise become too carelesse and negligent in Divine matters for fear lest he fall into Libertinism which is the gulf of all misfortunes True Piety in a Monarch shineth forth most of Zeal all in zeal which is a mostardent love of the honour of God and to attein to this he ought above all to keep the Law of God avoiding all grievous and scandalous sins and he ought continually to take care that God be served in his own house and throughout his whole Realm That Blasphemies Sacriledges Heresies Simonie and all impicties be scattered and vanish by the beams of his power That the Pope which is the Father and chief Shepheard of all Christendome be respected with a holy Reverence That the Bishops be honoured and mainteined That the Church be provided of good Pastours That the Clergy live under Rule and comelinesse and that it be mainteined in its rights That Hospitals Monasteries and Religious-houses be protected and preserved in their estates He ought not to suffer in any manner whatsoever according to the order of Lewis that sacred placed be violated in the Warrs which may happen between Christian Princes He ought to have an earnest zeal and indefatigable for the advancement of the Faith and Religion and according as the times and occasions shall permit to employ his arms and person to subdue the pride of Infidels and set up the Standard of the Crosse This is the portion which God reserves for Christian Princes which should never partake of true honour but that which is enclosed within the glory of Jesus Christ saith Julius Firmicus to the children of Constantine Neverthelesse in designs of war against the Insidels nothing should be too fervently hasted under pretence of zeal to the prejudice of the Realm but to attend the coming in of God which knowes the times and opportunities and that sometimes gives in without much labour which men at other times undertake without good advice and with little successe Wisedome doth very excellently agree with Piety as being a science of Divine and Humane things not idle but with an active relish and skill for the directing of our life If a Prince do not study to get this wisedome he is ignorant of his profession and makes himself contemptible to his subjects He is given by God to his Kingdome as the Soul to the Body and how can he then subsist without understanding He is given as the Eye what can he do without Light He ought himself to be the Light and would it not be a shame for him to be covered with perpetuall darknesse The Jer. 23. 5. King shall reign and shall be wise saith the holy Scripture this is the onely thing that Solomon desired of God at the beginning of his reign and he gave him this request in such a manner that he replenisht him with a wonderfull ability Wisedome maketh a man more worth then a thousand The greatnesse of Wisdome it multiplies it self into many heads and gathers together the riches of the Universe into one onely heart The Wiseman draws an harmlesse Tribute from the Learning of all ages he learns the lives of all for to husband well his own he enters into those great labyrinths of time past as into his own house he makes use of so many rare inventions of the best wits of the World as of his own Patrimony You may say that the Soul of a learned Prince hath run through many Ages in divers Bodies Wisedome maketh him to passe through long wayes with small charges and to discover the whole World without going out of his Closet He learns he discourseth he judgeth he approveth he condemneth that which is past makes him profit by that which is to come Good Counsels do enlighten him and even the follyes of others erect him a Theatre for Wisdome Yet he must take heed lest of a Prince becoming What the wisdome of a Prince should be a Philosopher he cease not to be a King he ought not to study onely to know and dispute but to have the knowledge and practise of Excellent things To think to become wise by the reading of Books onely is like thinking to be hot by the remembrance of fire He must of necessity traffick with his own understanding with his own experience and that he may profit by Teachers he must be a teacher to himself I would not that all Princes should be such Philosophers as Marcus Aurelius the Emperour nor so Eloquent as Julian the Apostate nor so curious in every Art as Hadrian It is a Science which comes very near to ignorance to studie for that which will profit nothing and to take the pains to learn that which would be better unlearned Seeing that the Scripture is the Book of books and that the Antients called the Bible the Crown a Hielel Autor Hebraeus excercet se in Corona 1. Lege King ought not to be ignorant thereof yet not to make himself a Divine but thereby to learn his duty Naturall Phylosophy which sets before us the
the day of its own brightness to consider how Providence guarding her dear Pool as the apple of her eye did reserve him for a time which made him the true Peace-maker of that nation For this effect it came to pass that Henry the Eighth The Estate of England having reigned eighteen years in schism leading a life profuse in luxury ravenous in avarice impious in Sacriledge cruel in massacres covered over with ordures bloud and Infamy did fall sick of a languishing disease which gave him the leisure to have some thoughts on the other world It is true that the affrighting images of his Crimes The death of Henry the Eighth and the shades of the dead which seemed to besiege his bed and perpetually to trouble his repose did bring many pangs and remorses to him Insomuch that having called some Bishops to his assistance he testified a desire to reconcile himself unto the Church and sought after the means thereof But they who before were terrified with the fury of his actions which were more than barbarous fearing that he spoke not that but onely to sound them and that he would not seal to their Counsels which they should suggest unto him peradventure with the effusion of their bloud did gently advise him without shewing him the indeavours and the effects of true repentance and without declaring to him the satisfactions which he ought to God and to his Neighbours for the enormities of so many Crimes He was content to erect the Church of the Cardeleirs and commanded that Mass should there be publickly celebrated which was performed to the great joy of the Catholicks which yet remained in that horrible Havock To this Church he annexed an Hospital and some other appurtenances and left for all a thousand Crowns of yearly Revenue As he perceived that his life began to abandon him he demanded the Communion which he received making a show as if he would rise himself but the Bishop told him that his weakness did excuse him from that Ceremony he made answer That if he should prostrate himself on the Earth to receive so Divine a Majesty he should not humble himself according to his duty He by his Will ordained that his Son Edward who was born of Jane Seimer should succeed him and in the case of death that Marie the Daughter of Queen Katharine should be the inheritress of the Crown and if that she should fail that his Daughter Elizabeth although a Bastard should fill her place and possess the Kingdom On the approches of death he called for wine and those who were next unto his bed did conceive that he oftentimes did repeat the word Monks and that he said as in despair I have lost all This is that which most truly can be affirmed of him for it is a very bad sign to behold a man to die in the honour of his Royal dignity and by a peaceable death who had torn in pieces JESUS CHRIST who had divided the Church into schisms who of the six Queens that he espoused had killed four of them who had massacred two Cardinals three Archbishops eighteen Bishops twelve great Earls Priests and Religious Men without number and of his people without end who had robbed all the Churches of his Kingdom destroyed the Divine worship oppressed a million of innocents and in one word who had assasinated mercy it self Howsoever he wanted not flatterers who presumed to say and write that his wisdom had given a good order to his affairs and that he happily departed this world not considering what S. dustine doth affirm That all the penitencies of those who have lived in great disorders and who onely do convert themselves at the end of their life being pressed to it by the extreamity of their disease ought to be extreamly suspected because they do not forsake their sins but their sins do forsake them It was observed indeed that at his death this King did testifie a repentance of his savage and inordinate life but we cannot observe the great and exemplary satisfactions which were due to the expiation of so many abominable sins King Antiochus made submissions of another nature and ordered notable restitutions to recompense the dammages which he had caused to the people of the Jews nevertheless he was rejected of God by reason of his bloudy life and the Gates of the Temple of mercy were shut against him for all eternity The foundation of a small Hospital which Henry caused at his death was not sufficient to recompense the injuries of so many Churches which he had pillaged nor of so much goods of his Subjects as he had forced from them seeing we know by the words of the wise man That to make a benefit Eccles 34. of the substance of the poor is to sacrifice a Son before the eyes of his Father He had by his Testament ordained many tutors to The Reign of Edward His Uncle Seimer spoileth all his Son who were able to have made as many Tyrants but Seimer Uncle by the mothers side to the deceased King gaining the favour of the principal of the Lords of the realm whom he had corrupted with mony and great presents did cause himself to be proclaimed Protector and Regent He took a great possession on little Edward the Son of Henry heir to the Crown whom he brought up in schism and Heresie against the intentions of his Father This furious man immediately began his Regency with so much insolence that he almost made the reign of Henry the Eight to be forgotten he fomented the poison which he had conceived under him he did use the Catholicks most unworthily and did cut off the head of his own Brother by a jealousy of women But as he had made himself insupportable so it came to pass that the affairs of war which he had enterprized against the French did fall out unfortunately for him Dudley one of the chiefest of the Lords drawing a party to him did accuse him of Treason and caused his head to be cut off on the same Scaffold where before he had taken off the head of his own Brother This death was followed with great fears and horrible commotions for the Regency which presently after was extinguished by the death of the young King Edward This poor Prince was rather plucked with pincers The Qualities and death of King Edward from his mothers womb than born and he could not come into the world without giving death to her who conceived him He was said to have none of the comeliest bodies He spake seven languages at fifteen years of age and in his discourse did testifie a rare knowledge of all those sciences which were most worthy of a King It seemeth that death did advance it self to ravish his spirit from his body which did awake too early and was too foreward for his age for he died in his sixteen year having not had the time throughly to understand himself and to see by what course
and whether it receive the tincture and complexion from Civil or Hostil bloud yet it is the bloud of man which is alwayes mixt with a benighting palenesse or darksome fear and a cruel desire And again that all humane Affairs are then seated in the best station of felicity when small Kingdomes are joyfull in Concord Piety and Unity of Religion And in a third place he hath this excellent saying Without doubt it is better to have the friendship of a good neighbour then to subdue a contentious bad neighbour They are evil wishes to desire to have whom you hate or whom you fear as he may prove whom you overcome If they judge it profitable for themselves to prolong the Warre truly they are most unjust who place the tears of a torn and ragged world amongst their felicities most miserable of all men are they who cannot be happy but by the miseries of other men He must needs be saith Homer without friend without affinity without law and without God who is a lover of Warre rather by choice then chance rather by will then necessity He is the most poor also who is rich by the calamity of all men How many who have alwayes been of a froward contentious and fighting wit have themselves been tortured with those pains and furies which they raised against others Achitophel that busie contriver of the Jewish warre between the Father and the Sonne paid himself the just wages of his traiterous counsels with an infamous halter The revenging hand of God fell upon Alcimus that traitour and fire-brand and counterfeit Priest among the Jews Alexander of Macedon whilst he makes the end of one Warre the beginning of another being impatient of rest and ever greedy after new bloud whilst he thrusts his Souldiers into battels beyond the progresse of the sunne and the limits of the sea he perished by poison given by his domesticks to whom he began to grow odious for his excessive appetite to Warre He was taken away as they say a green God lest he should further vex the world with arms who should have obliged it by benefits Hannibal whilst he weaveth inextricable webs of Warre a dishonourable old age surpriseth him solitude rejected him society shunn'd him therefore to shorten the date of these contempts he ends his dayes by voluntary poison The Romans that were Conquerours of the world alwayes full yet alwayes covetous whilst they remove the Temple of Peace without their gates they felt the hands of all men conspiring against them and seven times was this Mistresse of Cities taken whereof Sybil had said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rome shall be made a Village Cardinall Baronius cites a little Book witten by Carolus Crassus the Emperour of a Vision presented unto him three years before he reigned wherein he declareth that he beheld in the infernall places many souls of Princes and Bishops who had fomented controversies and fed the rage of Warres to be tormented with most dreadfull pains At the same time as this most learned Cardinall writeth Italy and France were agitated and afflicted with direfull factions but what was worse and indeed monstrous the Bishops and Abbats went forth armed to the battels which execrable custome when it long prevailed in France from thence it came to passe that the most flourishing Provinces were all laid waste with externall and Civil Warres But what was most detestable of all these Churches warriours are commended by the Writers of those times for this Ecclesiasticall gallantry and Spirituall valour when indeed they were rather to be abhorred as the violatours of the sacred Canons despisers of their Order and desertours of their Pastorall duty thus Baronius Likewise Julian a Clergy-man was the authour and promotour of that Varvensian slaughter which of all other was the most to be lamented by the Christian world who when he had contributed his perswasions for a countenance of the Warre against the League he exposed infinite companies of our side to the insulting fury of the Turks he himself being also slain with the young King of the Sarazens Thus Nemesis pursueth bloud-thirsty and contentious souls not suffering those to be at rest who sollicited others into disorder who would have been at rest A watchfull eye abides in heaven ever active never weary who perpetually contemplates the deeds of men and equally dispenseth to every one his deservings They that were long happy receive their portion and they who seem to be dismissed are onely dilated These things being put in so illustrious an example will they nothing move will they effect nothing Will brethren suffer themselves again to rush upon one anothers weapons Or will you O Princes and ye O Clergy-men encourage brethren to pull down tottering Kingdomes with more destructions Wo and alas Will brethren forgetfull of their covenant forgetfull of their name and unmindfull of their relations thus rage beyond the world and kill those they cannot hate But some will say this reason of bloud and alliance is inconsiderable and very unapt to procure a Peace for Kings have Subjects but kinsmen and consanguinity they have none O cruel speech O enemy of mankind O parricide of nature there must needs be a heap of grosse impieties where there is an oblivion of the greatest Charities Where Christ is banished and love finds no habitation there is either no Government or such as borders upon ruine The Turkish Empire that is established upon wickednesse and cemented with bloud may for a time subsist with wickednesse God appointing them to be the rods of his fury for our chastisement Christian Empires which were rooted in Faith and Piety and wanting the sap of Religion and Justice to nourish them have abandoned themselves to the infamous counsels of Machiavilians must unavoidably perish so preposterous a mind lodgeth not in pious Princes the voyce of nature sometime or other will be heard Christ will have a resurrection in the minds of all men Charity will revive and at length some Peace-maker will arise and at one the labouring world Now there hath shined round about us a most fortunate King and a most sweet Infant born for the Peace of Kingdomes and the worlds advantage By how many Prayers was he obtained and with what vehemence of soul was he sollicited how often hath he provoked our desires how often hath he raised our hopes and wasted them with delay when they were raised and renewed them when they were wasted Great things move slowly He had done lesse had he made more haste He lay concealed from the inhabitants of the earth in the secret Majesty of the Fates but now by the Dictates of heaven he is known unto us He was fore-shewed unto us long before he was and not being yet conceived he filled the world with Prophecies and designed his approaches by a prevolant fame At length the desired Infant came forâ—h in that moneth which they call the moneth of the Valiant by the prerogative of a great mind He was born