him how to dye well which is one of the most important arts in the world for what auailes it if we gaine the whole uniuerse and suffer shipwrack of our owne Soules This maxime was the study of his whole life and on it all his principles were grounded and so well that he was not a frayd to look death in the face he regarding it no otherwise then as a passage to a better life and therfore amidst all its appalements he sate vpon its Couch as the Phenix on her pile of spices expecting that the same flames which consumd his body should renew his soule to a better and immortall life Of this his passage I shall say no more then I find vpon authentique Record the Process of his Canonization reflecting on two things first his preparation to it secondly the sequels of it And as to the former when he perceiu'd that the euening of life was in a great decline and its sunn neer vpon setting though his whole life had bin nothing else but a preparation to death or disposition to the sleep of Saints by which they rest in our Lord yett the neerer it approachd the more it awakd him to a discharge of his last dutyes And therfore with hart and eyes fixd on heauen the first of his desyres according to the Rytes of H. Church were the last Sacraments or Viaticum of that great journey doing himselfe as he had taught others to doe in that passage These are Confession Communion and Extreme Unction which as no good Christian doth omitt so no good seruant of God but has them in esteem and veneration and the greater the better insight they haue into the Concerns of theyr soule and its happy passage Hauing thus prouided for the substantiall part all the rest of his minutes were lett out at the highest exchange and he vnmindfull of all worldly things inuokd the Spiritt both of life and light by a „ Veni Creator Spiritus to be assistant to him in this last conflict against the Spiritts of Darknes when both life and light lye at the Stake This done he armd himselfe with the signe of the crosse or ensigne of Christianity as formidable to the infernall powers as confortable to a parting soule who whilst he consignd himselfe by it ouer to Alm. God he added these deuout expressions taught him probably in his child hood „ Per signum Crucis de inimicis nostris libera nos Deus noster and againe Per Crucis hoc signum fugiat procul omne malignum and lastly „ Per idem signum saluetur omne benignum All these are put downe verbatim in the record and teach vs how to arme our selues in our last Conflict towards a victory ouer our enemyes This done he calld his retinue about him and imparting to each fayth the lessons of his office the kiss of peace togeather with wholsome instructions for a pious life amidst these embracements he took and gaue the last adieu And now by this time the stock of life being quite spent the pangs of death came stronger vpon him and these increasing he betook himselfe more earnestly to his refuge of prayer making vse of that verse of the Psalmist propper in such a passage in manus tuas Domine commendo Spiritum meum Domine Deus veritatis Commendo Spiritum meum which words whilst he repeated thrice with his hands eleuated towards heaven he renderd his sweet Soule most acceptable to heauen to be receiud according to its meritts into the eternall tabernacles This was the setting of this sweet Sunn shewing much not onely of the Christian but of the Saint and verifying the old saying „ vt vixit sic morixit teaching vs that generall rule without exception he that liues well dyes well Which Sunn though he went downe in a strange horizon yett found a wellcome in the Ocean of bliss or a blessed eternity the true Christian deemes that his Hemisphere where God places him we being all Cittizens of the world and like beggars neuer out of our way while we are tending to Paradise Happy they that can make a happy Conclusion of so important an affayre which when thus concluded our work is done and if not happily all 's vndone and that without redress that is a moment of greatest moment wheron depends eternity Though his festiuity were keept on the 2. of October yett the day of his death happend on the 25. of August or the morrow to the Apostle S. Bartholomew And synce all Authours that I can find vnanimously agree as to the place to witt that it was neer Monte fiascone one would wonder why Bp. God win in contradiction heer of without alledging any ground for his assertion should maintaine that he dy'd at Ciuita Vecchi and in his way to Rome wheras there are vndenyable prooffs both of his arriuall there and obtayning his pretentions returne by land and holy death at the place aforesayd To say the least this cannot but argue a spiritt of contradiction propper to one of his coat and little beseeming the name of a Bishop nor had he more besydes the reuenues Onely it is a knowne trick of such I can call it no better to render the clearest truths disputable and thence doubtfull and so by degrees eneruate all fayth both humane and diuine by vndermining the autority which is theyr basis It happend the night after his decease that one of his officers whome he had left behind him in England his name was Robert of Glocester then his Secretary afterwards Chancellor of Hereford being at that time at London and Lodging in the Bishops owne Chamber had this dreame or vision call it as you please He thought himselfe to be at Lions in France where in the great street of that Citty which leads to the Cathedrall he seemd to behold his Lord and Master going towards that Church whither himselfe was also bound Both being enterd his Lord he thought went into the Sacristy where putting of the vpper garment which he wore he vested himselfe with white Pontificall Robes and those most rich and carrying in his hand the Body of our Lord or most B. Sacrament in forme of a Consecrated Host he appeard suddainly in the midst of a most solemne and stately Procession both of Clergy and religious and those likewise cladd all in white The Procession seemd to moue towards the Cloyster of the Cathedrall while others of that quire enton'd and prosecuted with delicate Musique that part of the Capitulum propper to the Office of S. Peter ad Vincula Occidit autem Jacobum fratrem Joannis gladio But before all were enterd the gate which led into the sayd Cloyster it on a suddain was shutt and Robert who with many others desyrd also to enter were excluded to theyr no small defeatment and left to consider the dreame of which he as the ignorant of the Saints death could look vpon no otherwise then a dreame But when immediately after certaine tydings both of
Prelate the onely of our Iland which has sanctifyd your Tuscany with a holy death and enrich'd it with his Reliques Another Saint and King also about the yeare 741. Richard by name Father of the Saints Willebald Wunnebald and Walburga Virgin renouncing both Crowne and Kingdome for the loue of Christ and a vertuous life after a long pilgrimage to holy places Settled in fine at Luca and there concluded the whole journey of his life with great opinion of Sanctity where he also was bury'd in the Church of S. Frigidianus his Tomb being afterwards illustrated with many miracles what euer memory may at this present remayne there of him and them So that great Sr. you see our fauours from Tuscany are not groundles wee hauing two such noble Pledges there of intercession and who more powerfull then they that is then the Saints when the Concern relates to the glory of God and aduance of Catholique Religion And giue me leaue Sr. to ascribe and I think not rashly these your present pious inclinations towards our Country and distressd Catholiques to this Originall source the Saints seeming to haue infus'd these noble Sentiments of a feeling ressentment which I mention'd before from your owne pen and cannot too often reflect vpon These pious inclinations haue already produced great and good effects of which we are most sensible and for which we shall hould our selues obliged euer to be most thankfull And now I haue sayd all as to the Apologizing part what remaynes to be sayd further is onely this that your Highnes will daigne to accept what is sayd in good part as also what is humbly offerd by so vndeseruing a hand If it be the first from an English pen the nouelty will in some sort recommend it in hopes it may draw more after it who will suppley for its deficiencyes and it is somthing to lead the way and break the yce If others haue preceeded and I wish they may it willingly for theyr better meritts beggs admittance at least for the Saints if for none of its owne As to him as humbly as hartily I wish you his Patronage and that he may be as fertile to you in heauenly blessings as he was heertofore to his country in supernaturall miracles and what miracle but imports a blessing And Sr. while you haue this Paper-picture before you if in the perusall of his vertues you find any thing for your aduance or aduantage in the same I humbly propose it to your imitation as I doe to others The world is wittnes of your endowments in this but they must be more then very good that cannot be better nor is it any disparagement to be still improueing in the science of Saints and Christian perfection to which each one in his degree and quality be he who he will by that Estote perfecti of our B. Lord and Sauiour is oblig'd What is there prizable in this lifes intercourse but piety and the seruice of God no body being more then he is in that and what imprints this truth more liuely in vs then the liues and examples of Saints wee seeing by what was done by them not onely what is to be done but what is fesible to and by vs. This is the thing I endeauourd to ayme at in this Narratiue by inserting reflexions to that purpose and chiefly of the 4. Cardinall vertues as both propper and common to all states and conditions And if your Highnes or any Reader may be benefitted therby to a due discharge of theyr incumbent duty in the same I haue my desyre which is no other then glory to God honour to the Saint and aduance of soules in vertu and piety A Table of the Chapters Chap. Â Page 1. THe time and Circumstances of his birth 11 2. Of the Parents and Discent of S. Thomas 23 3. Of his Child hood and Domestique Education 33 4. His first Studyes in Oxford 48 5. S. Thomas his Study of Philosophy 56 6. His Study of the Canon-Law at Oxford 63 7. He is made Chancellor of the Vniuersity of Oxford 72 8. He is made Lord High Chancellor of England 79 9. King Henry the 3. dyes his Son Succeeds S. Thomas with license giues vp his Seale and retyres 89 10. S. Thomas returns to Oxford proceeds Doctour of Diuinity the testimony giuen of him c. 97 11. He is made Bishop of Hereford 109 12. His Retyrement and Vnion with God 121 13. Of his Loue to the Poore 136 14. His Charity to all and detestation of detraction 149 15. His Courage in defence of Ecclesiasticall Libertyes 162 16. His journey to Rome and entertainment there 173 17. His returne homewards and death on the way 186 18. The Buriall of his H. Body and returne of his Bones into England 200 19. The Translation of them into a more eminent place 212 20. The multitude of miracles wrought by the Saint 230 21. His Canonization and generall Deuotion of all vnto him both Prince and people till this vnhappy breach 258 22 His Humility and Abstinence 270 23. His Discharge of Duty towards God and his Neighbour 286 24. His Purity of body and mind 301 25. His Iustice and Prudence 314 THE LIFE And Gests of S. THOMAS CANTILUPE Sometimes Chancellor of England and afterwards Bishop of Hereford in the same Kingdome PREFACE THe liues and memory of divers Illustrious persons seem to carry no small resemblance with those great Rivers Nilus Ganges Tigris Euphaates whose names and greatnes are as generally frequent in the mouthes of men as the particulars of theyr course and originall scarse kuowne to any Nor need we wonder it is so especially in the Saints of God for Sanctity is alwayes built vpon humility and with its mantle shrowds it selfe from the eyes of the world neuer better content then when conceald and the profounder it is like the same Rivers the less noyse it makes soe that none but an obseruing eye can discouer its course And if this were true in any it was I may say in our Glorious Prelate S. THOMAS CANTILVPE Bishop of Hereford who the greatest part of his dayes as he liu'd to the eyes of men a secular orderly but ordinary life nothing extraordinary to outward appearance so they knew no more of him then what could not be hid a great vprightnes singular innocency vertuous Conuersation set of with none of these surprising Commendatoryes Raptures Visions Miracles which vsually accompany sanctity True it is that the Common Legends haue left enough to conuince that he was a great Saint and wrought many Miracles Yett if we decend further to particulars we shall find that the greatest part of what we know oâ— him is the least part of what we are ignorant and all compriz'd in a leafe or two For though he were renownd both at home and abroad for his noble Extraction Learning Sanctity yet he was little knowne as to most particulars of his heauenly life and appeard rather visible to the world
course of life he would chuse what pleasd him best The child freely answerd him that he would be a Souldier Well sayd sweet hart quoth the Bishop thou shalt be a souldier to serue the highest of Kings and figh vnder the colours of his glorious Martyr S. THOMAS These words prou'd not onely propheticall by the euent but also had such efficacy that the Parents as in obedience to a diuine decree directed the whole education of the child to piety and learning And the Child himselfe as if he had learn'd a new lesson from heauen thought no more of those glorious fancyes to which his owne generous nature carry'd him and the examples of his illustrious progenitours incited him but with the same courage betook himselfe wholly to his book and with the little Salomon preferrd it before thrones and kingdomes This resolution was truly to be admird in the child and no less in his parents considering not onely the vehement inclination of men to liue after death in theyr image by posterity but much more the hight of theyr fortune with so rich a stock of antiquity and honour preserud and amplifyd for soe many descents wheras if he took a course of retyremēt from a worldly life and not compatible with succession as his education seemd to dispose him all must dye with him and lye buryed in the same graue None of these respects could euer perswade the Parents of our Saint to let him runn the common race of the world in liberty in plenty in wantonnes in excess of vanity and pleasure without restraint of any thing that flatters the sensuall appetite foments self loue and reiects all command of reason These generally being esteemd in the deprau'd iudgmēt of men as propper attributes of greatnes and on the contrary discipline learning and piety laughd at as a debasement of noble spiritts and meer precisianisme But these pious prudent Parents weigh'd things in another ballance they were fully satisfy'd of this truth that nothing suites better with honour then uertue and that nobility cannot liue in a more immortall Monument upon earth thē in the shrine of sanctity They knew that the nobler the mind the more need of cultiuating otherwise like a rich soyle more subiect to grow wild and degenerate They were not so sollicitous to propagate as to illustrate theyr family the happiness wherof they plac'd not in long continuance but a good conclusion And since familyes are mortall and haue theyr tearme of life as well as each particular man they cannot come to a better end then to dye in the bed of honour with integrity of fame and vertue IV. CHAPTER His first Studyes in Oxford OUr little S. THOMAS hauing now receiud the first tincture elements of learning at home both the autority of his Parents and his owne propension ledd him to a place of higher improuement the vniuersity of Oxford which was at that time in the primitiue vigour and esteemd by all as great a schoole of uertue as learning and therfore the common Nursery of our chiefe nobility of Engeland a thing continu'd euen to our dayes though with different success as but too true experience teaches vs. It was hard to say whether Oxford in that age though it euer bore the preeminence of antiquity or Paris had the greater repute and fame of learning Yet this noble strife bred nothing of that malignity to which the emulous nature of man is but too prone yea rather maintaynd a friendly Commerce and as it were free trade beweene these two great Marts of wisdome and sanctity And as those times were fertill of great persons in all perfections neyther of these two renownd Academyes did ingross any aduantage to themselues nor enuye the others benefitt but mutually imparted to each other what was rare and eminent The two glorious lights of the Catholique Church S. Dominick and S. Frācis his Orders illustrated the world at that time with theyr primitiue splēdour and reuiu'd Christianity with new vigour of learning and piety S. THOMAS of Aquine S. Bone S. Bonauenture Doctour of Doctours Alexander of Hales borne in Glocestershyre master of both these Saints with many others of the foresayd holy Institutes were the Oracles of that age and particularly enrich'd and cultiuated the French and English Vniuersities with theyr admirable doctrine Among the rest that famous learned Prelate Robert Kilwarby was highly eminent who bred and borne in England was one of the first of that nation who Consecrated him selfe to God in the holy habit of S. Dominick But his great abilityes and learning gaue him not leaue to enioy the sweet retyrement of a Religious life He was first calld by the Sea Apostolique to the Primacy of England in which charge he gaue such testimonyes of his incomparable worth that Nicolas the 3. who then sate in S. PETERS Chayre a great admirer of learning and vertue which he onely regarded in all preferments to haue his neerer assistance in the generall gouerment of the whole Church thought fitt to create him Cardinall and Bishop of Porto neer Rome which is the second dignity among those Princes of the Church The holy Prelat hauing receiud this new addition of honour was so farr from that Common disease and dropsy of Soules who the more they haue of greatnes the more they thirst that the first thing he did was to disburden himselfe of his Metropolitan charge of Canterbury not without resentment and repugnance of the king and all the nobility of England who extremely affected and reuerened him for his great learning and holynes of life He left behind him a perpetuall Monument of his piety and loue to his Order which is yett ex ant though applyd to a different vse Commonly knowne by the name of Black-Fryars in London This place when he was Arch Bishop of Canterbury he purchasd and built both Church and Conuent for his Religious whome he transferrd thither from a less Conuenient Residence in the suburbs The modesty and humble Carriage of this great Prelat was no less admird in the Court of Rome then his eminent parts and excelling knowledg He would not chāge his poore Religious habitt for the purple of Princes and was the first Cardinall that retaynd his habitt in that dignity as euer synce his example was followd by those who were promoted to that degree of honour from Religious Orders of Monastique discipline He neuer appeard in publick but on foot and neuer had other trayne but two of his owne Religious to accompany him and two other attendants in the nature of seruants In fine though he was admird and honourd as the Oracle of those times and mouth of the See Apostolique as appeard in that famous treaty and letters written by him in the Popes name to the king of Tartary about the Conuersion of that nation to the Christian fayth yett nothing could euer lift him the least thought aboue himselfe out of the profound humility and pouerty of
had of his sanctity were esteemd for such In the present circumstances that could not be conueniently done but care was thus farr taken that the bones being separated from the fleshy parts they togeather with his head and hart were transported into England and deposited as a most pretious treasure in the Church of Hereford These were receiu'd with much Deuotion by the people who went forth togeather with the Chapter and Clergy to meet them and were enshrynd in the Chapell of our B. Lady in the same Cathedrall that they might repose in her bosome after death to whome liuing and dying he was so singularly deuoted and where could his hart rest better then in her hands to whose honour he had sacrific'd both hart and hands Among others whome eyther deuotion or curiosity mou'd to meet this wellcome pledge one was Gilbert Lord Clare Earle of Glocester betwixt whome and our Saint as we insinuated heertofore there was no good vnderstanding vpon the account of some lands which the Earle detaynd and the Saint claymd as due to his Church and recouerd from him by force of law with much both cost and paynes He now approaching to the sacred pledge it was very remarkable and lookd on as a Miracle by all the Company that the dry Bones in his presence begann to bleed a fresh and in such a quantity that he and all might see the Cask in which they were carryd imbru'd with the same The Earle much amazd heerat was struck with compunction and acknowledging his fault made a full restitution of all to the Church expiating by pennance what he had rashly committed as the onely way to make the best of an ill bargaine In the retinue of the deceasd Bishop the chief mannager of affayres was Richard Swinfield his Secretary first in autority aboue the rest he was a Priest of great parts and vertuous conuersation for which he was afterwards promoted to succeed in that vacant See and in process of time chief sollicitour and informer in order to the Saints Canonization To him as such belongd the charge of conueying the Sacred Depositum and he tells vs in his deposition before the Commissaryes Apostolicall what happend to himselfe the night before he with it arriu'd at Hereford To the end all things might be the next morning in a better readynes he cast his journey so as to lodge with his Company that night in a village 2. miles distant from the Citty where weary with journeying and going late to bed he ouersleept himselfe beyond his time the next morning His chamber was remote from all Company and so high that without a ladder there was no access to the windowes and yett 3. knocks were giuen as with the knuckle of a bended fingar on the same and soloud that they seru'd for an alarme to awake and tell him it was time to rise And in that sense he vnderstood them and ther vpon calld vpp his Company concluding with-in himselfe that this was a fauour done him by the Saint towards the pursuit and furtherance of what they had in hand to witt the solemne Reception and placing of the same bones And what indeed could it be else synce humanely speaking no body without a ladder could come there and looking curiously about he saw there was none therfore he ascribd it to the meritts of the Saint and very thankfull for such an extraordinary fauour to his honour he recorded it to posterity making thence a conjecture that this piece of seruice the conueyance of his bones was acceptable to him synce he had bin pleasd to giue it such an vnusuall concurrence While S. THOMAS was yett aliue no body seemd to carry a greater respect and Veneration for his sanctity then Edmund Earle of Cornwall Sonn to Richard King of the Romans He it was that inuited the Saint to keep his Whitsontyde with him at his Castle of Wallingford where whilst he sung the „ Veni Creator Spriritus the strange Miracle of the birds happend which we shall relate heer after in the 23. Chapter Howeuer it was procurd this great Deuotist made meanes to gett his Hart a treasure he esteemd aboue any iewells and to testify this esteem thought he could not honour it sufficiently any other way then by enclosing it in a most costly shryne togeather with a parcell of our Bl. Sauiours Blood and founding a Monastery of Bons-Hommes at Ashridg in Buckingham shyre to its honour where it might be dayly and duely venerated to the praise and glory of Alm. God who had raisd his Seruant to such an eminency of perfection This deuout Earle had such a Confidence in his patronage and intercession that he was wont to profess he had not greater in those of our glorious Apostle S. Austin XIX CHAPTER The Translation of his H. Bones into a more eminent place THe neer approach of the most wellcome Treasure being knowne at Hereford stirrd vpp the Cittizens both Ecclesiastiques and laymen to ioyne as we sayd in a solemne Procession to fetch it in so shewing by theyr Veneration to the dead how much respect they had for him aliue and how deeply they ressented theyr incomparable loss It was done with as much splendour as the shortnes of the time would permitt and so amidst all the festiualls of deuotion it was brought into the Cathedrall a small parcell God wott of what they desyrd yett euen as such most wellcome They wishd him such in his returne home as they sent him abroad aliue and gouerning as theyr Pastour they wishd if dead not onely his Bones but whole body for a treasure the greater it is the better and more pretious but as it was content with what necessity imposd they lent theyr concurrence towards a solemne enterring it in the Chappell of our B. Lady the place designd for its Reception Heer it was layd in a Coffin of stone and a fayre Grauestone such as beseemd his quality plac'd for a Couer to the Orifice cimented on all sydes as close and handsomely as art could make it Heer it lay 5. yeares amidst the priuate veneration of deuout persons partaking of no more honour then theyr Deuotion gaue it each one according to the opinion they had of his Sanctity For though diuers things more then ordinary and such as begott much wonder and Veneration were related on seuerall passages as the fragrant oudour it exhald the blood it sweat morning call c. Yett formall Miracles none were wrought nor pretended to and the Catholique Church hath allwayes vsd a speciall warynes to preuent disorders of this nature that nothing may be publiquely ascribd before attested by legall autority and we need not doubt but the Saint himselfe among so many decrees as he made had left this enacted During this interuall of time the Vacant Chayre was prouided of a successour the party elected was Richard Swinfeld of whome we sayd somthing in the precedent Chapter the same that accompanyd our Saint to Rome and by his good
Easter Eeue he prayd there deuoutly the whole night beseeching the Saint that as he was noble himselfe he would be propitious to a noble knight commiserating his present pittifull condition and vouchsafing him the gracious fauour of a Cure To render himselfe better disposd like a good Christian he frequented the H. Sacraments of Confession and Communion and at the time when in the sayd Church the Mystery of the Resurrection sayth the Record was that morning represented he found himselfe so perfectly cur'd at the sayd Tomb that the same day exulting in our Lord whole and sound he playd the Seruingman at the Bishops table wayting on him and his other guests For a conclusion of this Chapter I must insert a remarkable Cure which was wrought while the sacred Reliques remaynd yett in our Ladyes Chappell sixe dayes before the Translation that is the day before Palmsunday and therfore may deseruedly clayme to be heer inserted it is thus recorded in the forementiond Process One Edith wife to a Cittizen of Hereford in the beginning of that same lent was seizd with a furious phrenzey and all humane meanes falling short so she continu'd till the day before Palmsunday The recourse to S. THOMAS not being as then famd by any Miracles her husband causd her to be measurd to a Relique of the H. Cross much venerated in that Cathedrall at whose Aultar she was keept night and day bound and attended by two of her sexe though at the same time she were aduisd by a Priest of the Church to haue recourse to S. THOMAS and to be measurd to him giuing her great hopes of a recouery by his intercession All this was done at his suggestion and a Candle was made of the thread that measurd her and sett at her head as she lay bound hand and foot her ordinary Station being all this while at the Aultar of the H. Cross The friday before Palme sunday as she was there hearing Mass not onely the candles on the Aultar but all through the Church were on a suddain putt out no body knew how and a great noyse like the murmure of a great riuer was heard at the same time this lasting the space of ten Paters and Aue's visibly before them all fire came from heauen and lighted the Candle standing at her head whose week was made of the thread that measurd her to the Saint At the lighting of this she recouerd her senses and became well the Saint at that instant appearing to her and bidding her be well at the same time also the Cords which bound her of themselues became loose and she in the presence and hearing of all repeating it ouer and ouer againe sayd aloud where is this S. THOMAS that bids me be well She went to our lady's Chappell prayd before his Reliques a „ Te Deum „ was sung in thanksgiuing for the cure she continu'd as well and sensible as euer before and this was the first miracle which the Saint wrought in the Church of Hereford Upon the Relation of this Miracle it occurrs to mee that some peruser of the same may check perchance as it is allwayes easy to find fault at one or two passages mentiond therin the which to cleare vpp by way of preuention will happily not be vnacceptable One may be her leauing the H. Cross and its Aultar to betake herselfe to S. THOMAS in which if there were any fault it was was the Priests who aduisd her to it which could not be great it being warranted by the good miraculous effect immediately ensuing Neyther did he disswade her from the H. Cross whose efficacious vertue is venerable to all Christians but onely perswaded her whether by diuine instinct or the impulse of his deuotion matters not much to make her recourse to God and it by the mediation of the Saint His deuotion to S. THOMAS mou'd him to vrge this recourse which if vpon the opinion had of his Sanctity he aduisd where is the errour Nay it 's glorious to the H. Crosse as it is also to honour God in his Saints so farr is it from disparagement to see its seruants honourd and inuokd besydes that a new Starr may many times and without prejudice to the Sunn draw more eyes to it then the Sunn it selfe and haue its influences more cry'd vpp both deuotions were compatible and good nor doth the latter derogate from the former Another perhaps will be dissatisfyd yea euen a little scandalizd at this measuring to the Saint and ask what it meanes Truly I do not remember to haue read it elswhere nor is it any Ecclesiasticall Ceremony of any Church much less of the Catholique it seems to haue bin taken vpp by the deuotion of the people therabouts and as an innocent harmles expression of theyr deuotion and recourse to the Saint approu'd by custome and though frequently us'd yett not so of necessity but that it was and with equall succes as frequently omitted at least not mentiond This theyr recourse and application to the Saint was twofold and the miraculous effects as to both shew its acceptablenes to him eyther by bending a piece of siluercoyne ouer the patients head who sought redress to the honour of the Saint appropriating the party by this expression to him and his peculiar patronage for redress or else by measuring the sayd client by a thread or some such thing that is by taking his length and breadth with the same intention as in the former and depositing them at his Aultar or to his honour The manifold miraculous effects ensuing heer vpon vindicate the fact from all suspition of irreligiosity and superstition and if the Saint was pleasd to accept it let not vs harbour a prejudice against it When we see the Candle whole week was made of this measure miraculously and before all the rest lighted from heauen let vs take that Miracle for an approuement of its innocency all 's well when all 's meant well alius quidem sic alius autem 1 Co◠7. sic thus much I thought good to premitt for the scandall of the weake XX. CHAPTER The multitude of Miracles wrought by the Saint WE may indeed call them a multitude and of the greatest size for few Saints perchance in Gods Church haue wrought more and therfore he was not undeseruedly calld in the Preface the Thaumaturgus of that age And theyr quality is no less remarkable then theyr quantity it being such as renders them vnquestionable in theyr kind that is euident and patent like those of the Ghospell and such as our B. Sauiour both wrought and alledgd for testimonialls of his Reception as Messias by giuing sight to the blind healing the lame raysing the dead c. and these as well as others in great abundance For the Readers satisfaction and the Saint's greater glory I will summarily putt downe heer what the seuerall Authours of his life say in this behalfe that the autority of his Miracles may remayne as questionles as they
with such excesse of payne that it made him seek all humane redress though in vayne and try the skill of Chirurgery which not withstanding he remaynd 3. yeares stark blind faine to be ledd whither euer he went and he dayly did to S. Paules Church to heare Mass Much discomforted with this accident he calld to mind his old Patron and great well wisher S. THOMAS now Canonizd a Saint and working Miracles He recommends himselfe most earnestly to him and our B. Lady beseeching her by the deuotion he had to her to obtayne of Alm. God a cure of his misery and restorement of sight that he might againe to his comfort behold her Sonn in the Consecrated Host while it is eleuated for all to adore For this end he causd himselfe to be measurd according to custome to S. THOMAS and sent the measure and two Eyes of waxe with it to Hambleden in lincoln shyre the place where our Saint was borne and Christend Two dayes after he found some glimmerings of light so as to distinguish imperfectly motion and colour and ther vpon causd himselfe to be measurd the second time and that measure he sent to Hereford to the Saints Shryne and ther vpon found such help that with in 8. dayes space he could walk any whither without a leader and could discerne as he desyrd the eleuated Host at a Competent distance The cure he ascribd to the Saint as also in this respect the cause of his blindnes for that he in his youth when he seru'd S. THOMAS being of a loose life and wanton behauiour and chid therfore frequently by him for his amendment the Saint obtaynd of Alm. God this temporall affliction it many times giues vnsterstanding and such blindnes light to see our selues towards an amendment of his spirituall and he acknowledgd that he had reahd great benefitt therby and hartely thankd Alm. God and the Saint for the same It were as easy for mee to cite some hundreds as these few were it any part of my designe to swell this little Summary into a great volume It doth not ayme at a Rehearsall of his miracles but of his vertues which are the noblest kind of miracles for in this corrupt nature of ours so prone to vice I esteem euery soule eminent in sanctity so many miracles of Gods grace working in it And these miracles are more for our purpose that is for our imitation to which purpose if we do not apply them we swarue from the purpose the greatest honour and deuotion we can shew towards a Saint being to imitate his vertues as also the most beneficiall to vs. Miracles are good wittnesses of Sanctity ascertaning vs how high the Saint stands in the fauour of God and they stirr vs vpp also to a due recourse towards him in our necessityes but to profitt otherwise then by theyr imitation we cannot pretend synce being aboue the course of nature they are objects rather to be admird then imitated sett your selfe to a generous imitation of theyr vertues and you may probably work miracles your selfe XXI CHAPTER His Canonization and generall deuotion of all vnto him both Prince and people till this vnhappy breach THe multitude of extraordinary graces and fauours which Alm. God imparted to all sorts of people by the meritts of his glorious Seruant an Bishop S. THOMAS was the reason why the whole Kingdome sollicited the then Pope for his Canonization Now 25. yeares or ther abouts were elapsd synce the Translation of his Sacred Bones into his new Sepulcher synce which time the current of miracles neuer ceasd and the dayly Monuments theroff hanging at the same were so many Remembrancers minding them as much to glorify him as he was beneficiall toward them One good turne requires another if Saints obtayne vs temporall blessings let vs giue them the glory theroff glory is a celebrious knowledg with praise nor can this be better had in this world then from the mouth of the Church whose words in this matter are Oracles and her publique declaration in poynt of Sanctity a Canonization Hence it was that Prince and people Clergy Religious Secular all intereâ—sd alike in his fauours yett aboue others the Bishopp and Chapter of Hereford became joynt Sollicitours that as heauen had ownd his piety by so many prodigyes the Church would authentically declare it autorizing them to honour him as a Saint who had exhibited so many vndenyable prooffs of Sanctity The generalitty of the Bishops of our Nation Concurrd to this and I find a Transscript in the Processe it selfe exhibited by the Procuratour of the Chapter of Hereford to the LL. Commissioners which Transcript was subscribd by the LL. Bishops John Arch-Bishop of York Antony of Durham Godfrey of Worcester John of Landaff Iohn of Winchester Raph of Norwich Walter of Bath Aluian of Bangor Iohn of Carlile Thomas of Excester and was directed by them to his Holynes contayning theyr esteem and sentiment both of his life and vertues and the wonders dayly wrought at his Shryne Vpon this and other such Sollicitations it was that a publique Process of the Saints life and Miracles was instituted and Commissaryes Apostolicall deputed therto the two Bishopps and Arch Deacon specifyd in the precedent Chapter Procuratour for the Chapter of Hereford was one Henricus a Schorna and Bishop Richard who best knew the Saint liuing and dying as one that was bred vnder him Conscious to all his secretts was the first and chiefe Deponent The Commission took date the 13. of Iuly 1307. and was to continue but 4. months which limitation of time and multiplicity both of Wittnesses and Miracles was the reason why they could not insist vpon or pass through all but as many as were examind by them eyther in order to his vertues or miracles all Depositions passd vnder oath the H. Ghospells lying open before them and they swearing to speak nothing but truth Which depositions were duely Registerd by appoynted Notaryes reuiewd by the Commissioners and by them Consignd vpp to his Holynes and keept to posterity in the Vatican Library the perusall of an authenticall Coppy wheroff by the fauour of a speciall friend and diligent Searcher into the gests and Legends of Saints was Communicated to mee and therfore I can auerr much for the vndoubted truth of what I say The information being taken as aboue and a due returne made to the Congregation of Rites whome such matters concerne all being adjusted according to forme HIS HOLYNES Iohn the 22. at the instance of our King and Prelates proceeded to a Canonization which was solemnizd both at Rome with vsuall festiualls and to the vniuersall ioy of the whole Kingdome much more in England and chiefly in the Church of Hereford Though the day of its solemnization be not specifyd yett we may credibly think it was on the 2. of October on which day the Church celebrates his yearly memory though it be otherwise certainly knowne as we sayd aboue that the day of his
implying both parts of Christian duty to decline from euill and doe good and doe good not how euer but after a good manner and as beseems such a Majesty for God loues not slubberd seruices but wil haue them done as well with the hart as hand and tongue or else they 'l find a cold acceptance By a due complyance in this Kind we shew our loue to him and this complyance in our Spirituall functions is calld Deuotion which is esteemd greater or less as our performance is more feruorous or remiss Deuotion is an effect of loue and an issue of diuine grace which if not sourc'd from these two is not esteemd genuine and currant but to want of its graines of weight and this may be counterfeyted as well as other vertues The subject of his deuotion or his spirituall exercises relating immediately to Alm. God were chiefly Prayer the H. Sacrifice of Masse his Canonicall Houres or diuine Office and in the discharge of these he was not onely sayth the Record deuout but most deuout performing them with a most profound attention and Reuerence Prayer is calld an Incense and this inconse he was I may say continually offering according to the aduise of S. Paule sine Thess 5. 17. intermissione orate be allwayes praying not onely as each good work in the opinion of S. Basil is a good prayer but also by a more neer interiour and familiar Conuersation with Alm God by the powers of our soule employing them not onely in a Consideration of his attributes but an vnion of will And what could a pious hart nursd vpp in its baptismall grace and consequently the throne and Aultar of the H. Ghost Sacrifice to so diuine a guest besydes prayers and prayses the former to begg new blessings the latter in thanks giuing for them receiu'd To attend the more freely to this was the chiefe reason why he cutt his sleep so short and rise by night that he might watch and pray and offer early a morning oblation to God and his Saints in an odour of sweetness killing as the Royall Prophet did in the feruor of his prayer all Psal 100. 8. the sinners of the earth He knew that in a spirituall life no great matter could be atchieu'd or aduance made without this and therfore he made it his dayly bread and was much more frequently feeding his soule with it then his body with Corporall deeming it the life which was to animate all his actions We treated in the 12. Chapter of his Retyrement and vnion with God and this vnion was chiefly effected by Prayer and intimates a frequent and constant practise of the same euen to an intimate familiarity whose result it is Euen before he was Bishop he was particularly noted for his singular Reuerence and Deuotion in reciting Diuine office which argues a true feeling of Spiritt and the presence of Alm. God in which his exteriour Composure of body and attention of mind was such that it was of great edification to the beholders Thus he begunn thus he perseuerd vntill the end fullfilling exactly what our H. Mother the Church requires of vs for a due discharge of that great function and it were to be wishd all those to whome this obligation is incumbent were imitatours of the same He was most exact in the administration of the Sacraments and performance of Ecclesiasticall Ceremonyes so mixing piety with a Majestick grauity that both the one and other begott a Reuerentiall esteem towards those Sacred Rytes in them that were present But aboue all he was most singularly deuoted to the H. Sacrifice of Masse heer his deuotion seemd to triumph and he at the Aultar to be in his Center so full was his hart fraught with pious affections with such a spiritt of humility and Contrition did he approach it such an ample testimony heeroff did he giue by his abundance of teares that one would haue thought he had rather sayth the Record actually be held the bloody Sacrifice it selfe and his Lord and Sauiour therin immolated then an vnbloody and Mysticall representation of the same an argument both of his liuely fayth and ardent charity To indulge the more to these pious affections he gaue heer ample scope to his deuotion much beyond the ordinary stint of halfe an houre letting his soule feed at leasure on these sweet Mysteryes and Alm. God did so concurr that he was frequently alienated from his senses and as it were in a rapture so that it was necessary for the seruer who deposd this vpon oath to cough and make a noyse to bring him to himselfe and make an end of his Mass and this sayth the same happend frequently while he liu'd at Rouen from the feast of S. Peter ad Vincula till the feast of S. Michael next ensuing To shew how acceptable this his piety in the H. Sacrifice and other spirituall deuoyrs was to Alm. God it pleasd his diuine Majesty to grace him particularly at the same with a fauour which all that were present attributed to Miracle and as such it was approu'd by the Lords Commissioners and those that beheld it On the feast of Pentecost or Whitsunday he was inuited by Edmund Earle of Cornwall a great admirer of his Sanctity to Celebrate the feast and say Mass at his Castle of Wallingford and it happend in the second or third yeare of his Pontificate While he was preparing and disposing himselfe therto by singing the Hymne „ Veni Creator Spiritus vpon the entonement of the first verse a flock of byrds in the sight and hearing of all with Musicall notes and beating theyr wings against the Chappell windowes seemd to applaud the Saint while he sung and he hauing ended they retyrd while the Quire prosecuted what he had enton'd till the end of the strophe But he entoning the first verse of the second they returnd againe and while he sung both with voyce and wing they accompanyd him and applauded as before and soe strophe after strophe till the hymne was ended This seemd a great Nouelty to the sayd Earle and all that beheld it which were many and to satisfy themselues the better they went out of the Chappell abroad and had a full sight of them judging them to be about 40. and beheld them Coming and going as before nor could interprett such an vnusuall thing neuer obseru'd before nor after otherwise then as orderd by God to wittnes the sanctity of our Saint and the acceptablenes of the great work he was about Then it was that the Earle in the hearing of all Bishop Richard then Chancellour of Hereford being present made that expression cited in the end of the 18. Chapter of his singular Confidence in the prayers and patronage of S. THOMAS no less then in those of our great Apostle S. Austin The liuely fayth and high esteem he had of the dignity of this diuine Sacrifice as it made him recollect all his powers and attention for its better performance so it
meritts we may deserue to be associated to the quires of Angells and the first lesson of the same Office calls him Angelicus homo an Angelicall man And the loue and esteem he had for this vertue was not onely verball or from the teeth outwards but he made good in deed what he professd in word and Alm. God was pleasd to permitt Certamen forte dedit ei ut vinceret Sap. â—0 12. some trialls in this kind and to giue him a strong Combatt for the greater glory of his victory While he liu'd at Paris he like another chast Joseph was assaulted in the same as dangerously as impudently and he like him forc'd to flye and leaue his cloak behind him nor can that flight by deemd disgracefull when by it we gett the victory He gott it and in this was more happy then Joseph that he wonn not onely the Combatt but also the Tempter into the bargaine reclayming her to a chast life from her impudent lubricity and so deseru'd a double reward Such a chast body was fitt to be the consort of so pure a soule to make vpp an Angelicall Compound and it s but meet that such a jewell of purity should be keept in a suitable Cabinett that both parts might beare proportion and mutually correspond A Christian ought to trayne vpp his body to immortality and labour to leaue it such in life and death as he desyres to find it in the Resurrection such that it may be acknowledgd and ownd for a Member of Chtist as indeed it is and what a shame then is it as the Apostle argues to make it the member of a harlott Our B. Saint vnderstood this right well both as to proportion decency and other aduantages which thence accru'd and therfore he made it allwayes his busynes to procure and maintaine a good Correspondence betwixt both Now he that was so industrious in the Cultiuating and preseruation of his body what would he be for his soule and Conscience the other 's but the seruant this the Mistress that but the Shell this the Pearle and he knew very well how to giue euery one its due All he was to doe in this kind was to keep it to Christian duty according to his state to cultiuate it in piety and the seruice of God sowing in it the seeds of all vertues and how he did this euen in his youth and in what a nice and delicate temper he keept it maybe knowne by what we related in the end of the 5. Chapter of the vine-propp taken out of anothers vineyard and the 7. yeares pennance he did for the same Whence we may gather how Angelically pure that delicate soule was which checkd so feelingly at so small a matter and how farr it was from harbouring any great offence which deemd the least to be so great Nor yett was it one of those which flea a gnatt and swallow a Camell according to the expression of our B. Sauiour or stumbles at a straw and leaps ouer a block but pure illuminated soules in theyr quick-sightednes can espye a blemmish where a dimm eye of a grosser Complexion makes no discouery at all This was the Constitution of his mind and tenour of proceeding when he was now in the flower of his youth and nature pronest to lubricity where nothing but the speciall grace of God in an eminent sanctity could work such effects so opposite to nature and aboue it And as he went allwayes aduancing to Sanctity euen till death so did he also in purity sanctity as S. Anselme defines out of S. Denys being a most perfect and vnspotted purity free and entyre from all blemmish and to what a pitch of eminency must he needs arriue I shall conclude all in this that he liu'd and dy'd a pure Virgin both in body and mind XXV and last CHAPTER Of his Justice and Prudence BOth these are Cardinall Vertues and when I haue shewd with what a rich stock our Saint traded in them I shall haue made him Conspicuous in in all fower As for his temperance and fortitude I haue already giuen a character of them the former while I treated of his abstinence the latter of his courage and magnanimity in defence of his Church As to what we treat of at present he had great practise of the former to witt Iustice in both his Chancellorships and dischargd his trust with such integrity that all partyes concernd were abundantly satisfyd And he took the true way to doe it for he sought it not himselfe and made its advance his end not his owne nor the enrichment of his estate while others peruersly inuert true order by taking the quite contrary course The ordering of this depends much vpon the well or ill ordering of theyr owne Conscience which must be the beame of the ballance and to be right stand allwayes perpendicular inclining neyther to one syde or other but as the scales sway it in the one wheroff must be justice in the other the thing controuerted to the end an eeuen and vnpartiall hand may be keept It were much to be wishd that all distributers of justice did this more indeed to be wishd then hopd for while so many make a trade of selling what they ought to giue and gratis theyr honesty becoming venall to auarice and them selues imitatours of Iudas who as he sold his Master so they theyr Mistress for what are all in office but her Seruants and Ministers that which Captiuated the other Captiuates them peruerts theyr sense and misleads them from the paths of equity This proceeds from being not so well principled in poynt of Conscience and justice which goe allwayes hand in hand togeather and are attended by vprightnes and syncerity and thus our B. Saint walkd in them with the Common approbation of all guided not by the dictamens of this world but Diuine Wisdome by whose Prou. 8. 15 direction all both Lawgiuers and Administers of justice decree and execute just things Thus he purchasd that vogue of integrity which euery where accompany'd his proceedings growing vpp with him euen from his youth and so habitually rooted and relucent in all his carriage that it is noted as the prime Motiue why he was chosen first to the Chancelorship of the Vniuersity and then of the whole Kingdome And Certainly such an integrity of justice is an excellent Cemmendatory to preferment as giuing great aduantages to a full discharge of trust and strange it is that men do not take this way to Compass it when they seek so greedily after it If naturall abilityes be so much regarded how much more in all reason ought supernaturall if witt how much more vertue Witt without vertue and grace degenerates for the most part into Craft and turnes publique justice into priuate ends and selfseeking Euen those that are not vertuous are great admirers of it in others as being praise worthy in a very enemy and synce no body but loues to haue theyr things well done and