the maÌ„ of God cam in base apparrell and a paier of shoes beaten full of nailes caryinge his sit he vpon his necke and beinge yet far of his man tolde him that he was the Abbot So sone as Iulianus behelde him attired in that base sorte he contemned him and deuised with him selfe howe to speake vnto him in the most crosse and crooked manner he coulde But when Gods seruaunt drewe nighe such an intollerable feare came vpon Iulianus that he fell a tremblinge and his tongue so faltred that he colde scarse deliuer the messag for which he came wherevpon he fell downe at his feete and desired that he wolde voutsafe to praye for him and withall gaue him to vnderstande that his Apostolical father the Pope was desirous to see him Vpon the receipte of which newes the venerable man Equitius gaue almightie God most The Pope highest bisshop hartie thaÌ„ckes sayinge that heaueÌ„ly grace had visited him by meanes of the highest Bishoppe and straighte waies he called for some of his moÌ„ckes commandinge horse to be made ready in all hast but Iulianus wearye of his iornye tolde him that he coulde not trauaile so sone but of necessitye must resâ— him selfe that nighte I am very sorie for that quoth the holy maÌ„ for yf we goe not to day to morrowe we shall not and thus by reason of the others wearines he vvas enforced that nighte to remayne in the Abbeye The next morninge about the davvning of the daye came a post vvith a tired horse bringing letters to Iulianus commanding him not to preâ—ume to molest or to dravve the seruaunt of God out of his monasterye And vvhen he required the reason of this countercommande the messenger tolde him that the next nighte after his departure the Pope vvas terribly frighted in a vision for presuminge to send for the man of God vvherevpon Iulianê° risinge suddainly out of his bedde and commendinge him seâ—fe to the venerable mans prayers spake thus vnto him Our father desireth you not to troble your selfe any further but to stay in your monastery which when Gods seruaunt hearde very sory he was and saide did not I tel you that yf we did not sett forward on our iorny by and by that afterwarde we sholde not Then vpon charity he entertained his messenger a little while with him in his Cloister and thoughe by all means he refused yet he enforced vpoÌ„ him a reward for the paines he had taken See therfor Peter how God doth preserue and keepe them who in this life do contemne them selues and how they are secretly honored of the citizens in heauen who are not ashamed outwardly to be litle estemed in this worlde and on the contrary in the sighte of God they be of no accounte who in the eies of theire owne frends and neyghbours do swell through desire of vaine glorye And therfor our Sauiour Christ who was truth it selfe saide to certaine Yow are they that iustisye Luc. 16. your selues before men but God knoweth your hartes for that whiche is highe to men is abâ—omminable in the sighte of God Peter I maruayle very muche howe so great a Bishopp colde be deceiued in so worthy a man Gregory VVhy do you maruaile Peter for the reason why we are deceiued is bycause we be men what haue yow forgotten hovv Dauid who vsually had the spirit of prophecy pronounced sentence against innocent 2. Reg. ca. 16. and cap. 19. Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathas when he gaue credit to the lyinge words of his seruaunt Siba which thinge notwithstanding bycause iâ— vvas done by Dauid we both belieue to be iust in the secret iudgement of God and yet by humane reason hovve it was iust vve can not perceiue what maruaile then is it if we that be not prophets be some tymes by lyinge tongues abused and otherwise transported then charity and iustice vvolde for it is muche to be considered that euery Bishoppe hath his minde troubled vvith a vvorlde of busines and it can not be vvhen the mind is distracted about many thinges but that it is the lesse able sufficientlye to examin those that be particular so muche the soner is he deceiued in some speciall case by hovve much he is busied vvith the multitude of many Peter It is most true that yowe saye Gregory But I must not passe ouer with silence that which the reuerent man Valentinus sometyme myne ab bot tolde me concerninge Equitius For he saide that his bodye beinge buried in the oratorye of S. Laurence the martir Churches dedicated to Sainctes a certaine countrye man set vpon his graue a chest full of wheate little coÌ„sideringe or respectinge howe worthie and notable a man laye there buried Wherevpon suddainlye a miraculous whirlewinde came ouerthrevve that chest and cast it far of all other thinges remayninge still in theire former places by which all did plainely perceiue of what worth and merit that man was whose bodye laye there buried To this must I also add an other thinge which I hearde of venerable Fortunatus a man that doth much please me for his yeres life simplicitye At suche tyme as the Lombardes cam into the prouince of Valeria the monckes of the monastery of the reuerent man Equitius fled from thence into the oratorie to the holy mans sepulchre into which place the cruell men entringe they began by violence to pull the monckes forth either to torment them or els with theire swordes to kill them Amongest whom one sighthed and for very bitter griefe cried out Alas InuocatioÌ„ of sainctes and there protectioÌ„ alas holy Equitius is it thy pleasure and art thow coÌ„tent that we sholde be thus miserably haled violently drawne forth and doest not thowe voutsafe to defende vs which wordes were no soner spoken but a wicked spirit possessed those sauage soldiers in such sort that falling dovvne vpon the grounde they were there so longe tormented vntill all the rest of the Lombardes which vvere without vnderstode of the matter to th ende that none shold be so hardly as to presume to violate that holy place And thus as the holy man at that tyme defended his owne monckes so did he likewise Pilgrimage to sainctes bodies afterward succor preserue manie more that fled vnto the same place OF CONSTANTIVS CLARCKE OF the Churche of S. Steuene CHAPTER V. THat vvhich I entende nowe to tell you I learned by the relation of one of my fellowe Bishops vvho liued in a monckes vveede many The distinct habit of Monckes yeres in the citie of Ancona and led there a goode religious life Many also of myne owne frendes vvho be novv of goode yeres liue in the same parts assirme it to be most true Nere to the foresaide citie of Ancona there is a churche of the blessed martir S. SteueÌ„ in which one called CoÌ„staÌ„tius a man of venerable life did serue there for clarcke vvho for his vertue and holines vvas famous far nere
of thine Riggo hearinge this fell straighte waies downe to the grounde and was very muche affraide for presuminge to go aboute to mocke so vvorthye a man and all his attendantes and seruitours fell dovvne likevvise to the earthe and after they vvere vp againe they durst not approche any nerer to his presence but returned backe to thiere kinge rellinge him vvith feare hovve quickely they vvere discouered HOVV VENERABLE BENNET prophecied to kinge Totilas and also to the Bisshop of Camisina such thinges as were afterward to fall out CHAPTER XV. THen Totilas him selfe in person vvent vnto the man of God and seeinge him sitting a far of he durst not come nere but fell dovvne to the grounde vvhom the holy man speaking to him tvvise or thrise desired to rise vp and at length came vnto him and vvith his ovvne handes lifte him vp from the earth vvhere he lay prostrat and then entring into talke he reprehended him for his vvicked deedes and in fewe vvordes tolde him all that vvhich sholde befall him sayinge Muche vvickednes doe you daily committe and many great sinnes haue you done nowe at length giue ouer your sinfull life In to the citye of Rome shall you enter and ouer the sea shall you passe nine yeres shall you raigne and in the tenth shall you leaue this mortall life The kinge hearinge these thinges was wonderfully affraâ—de and desiring the holy man to commend him to God in his praiers he de parted and from that tyme forwarde he was nothing so cruell as before he had bene Not long after he went to Rome sailed ouer into Sicily and in the tenthe yere of his raigne he lost his kingdome together with his life The Bishop also of Camisina vsed to visit the seruaunt of God whom the holy man derely loued for his vertuous life The Bishop therfore talkinge with him of kinge Totilas of his takinge of Rome and the destruction of that citye saide This citye wiâ—l be so spoiled and ruyned by him that it will neuer be more in habited To whom the man of God answered Rome quoth he shall not be vtterly destroied by strangers but shall be so shaken with teÌ„pestes lightninges whirlwindes earth quakes that it will fall to decay He semeth to speake of the inuasion of the Lombardes se the third booke cha xxxviij of it selfe The mysteries of which prophecy we nowe beholde as clere as the daye for we see before our eyes in this verye citye by a strange whirlwinde the world shaken houses ruined and churches ouerthrowne and buildinges rotten with old age we beholde daily to fall downe True it is that Honoratus by whose relation I had this saith not that he receiued it from his owne mouthe but that he had it of other monkes which did heare it them selues OF A CERTAINE CLERGY man whom venerable Bennet for a tyme deliuered from a deuil CHAPTER XVI AT the same tyme a certaine clergye man that serued in the churche Pilgrimage to the tombes of martirs Martirs often help suche as be deuout vnto them of Aquinum was possessed whom the venerable man Constantius Bishope of the same citye sent vnto many places of holy martirs for helpe but Gods holy martirs wolde not deliuer him to the end that the worlde mighte knowe what great grace was in the seruante of God Bennet wherfore at lengthe he was broughte vnto him who prayinge for helpe to Iesus Christ our Lorde did forthwith cast the olde enemye out of the possessed mans bodye giuing him this charge Go your way and hereafter abstaine from eating AbstineÌ„ce from slesh of flesh and presume not to enter into holy orders for when soeuer you shall attempt any such thinge the deuil againe will haue power ouer you The man departed safe and sounde and because punnishement freshe in memorye vseth to terrifye the mynde he obserued for a tyme what the man of God had giuen him in commandement But after many yeres when all his seniors were deade and he sawe his iuniors preferred before him to holy orders he neglected the wordes of the man of God as thoughe forgotten through lengthe of tyme and tooke vpon him holy orders wherevpon straightewaies the deuill that before had lefte him entred againe and neuer gaue ouer to torment him vntill he had seperated his soule from his bodye Peter This holy man as I perceiue did knowe the secret counsell of God for he sawe that this clergye man was deliuered to the power of the deuill to the end he should not presume to enter into holy orders Gregory Why sholde he not knowe the secretes of God who kept the commandements of God when as the scripture saithe He that cleaueth vnto our Lorde is one 1. Corint 6. spirit with him Peter Yf he that cleaueth vnto our Lorde be one spirit with our Lorde what is the meaninge of that vvhich the Apostle saithe VVho knoweth the sence of Rom. 11. our Lorde or who hath bene his counsellor for it semeth very inconuenient to be ignorant of his sence to vvhom being so vnited he is made one thinge Gregory Holy men in that they be one with our Lord are not ignoraÌ„t of his sence for the same Apostle saithe for what 1. Cor. 2. man knoweth those thinges which belonge to man but the spirit of man which is in him Euen so the thinges which belonge to God no man knoweth but the spirit of God and to showe also that he knewe such thinges as belonge to God he addeth straighte after But we Ibidem haue not receiued the spirit of this worlde but the spirit which is of God And for this cause againe he saithe that eye hath not sene Ibidem nor eare hearde nor it hath ascended into the harte of man those thinges which God hath prepared for them that loue him but God hathe reuealed to vs by his spirit Peter Yf then the mysteries of God were reuealed to the same Apostle by the spirit of God why did he then entreatinge of this question set downe these wordes before hande sayinge O the depthe of the riches of the wisdom and Rom. 11. knowledge of God how incomprehensible be his iudgements and his waies inuestigable And againe whiles I am thus speaking of this matter an other question commeth to my minde for the prophet Dauid saith to our Lorde with my lippes Psal 118. haue I vttered all the iudgementes of thy mouth Wherfore seeinge it is lesse to knowe then to vtter what is the reason that S. Paul affirmeth the iudgements of God to be incomprehensible and yet Dauid saith that he did not only knowe them but also with his lippes pronounce them Gregory To both these questions I haue already briefely answered when I saide that holy men in that they be one with our Lorde are not ignorant of the sence of our Lorde For all suche as do deuoutly followe our Lorde be also by deuotion one with our Lorde and yet sor all this
monke of mount Marsico 17. Of a monk dwelling in the mountaine called ArgeÌ„tario who raised vp a deade man 18. Of Bennet the monke 19. Of the churche of S. Zeno the martir into which the swellinge waters came not any further then to the dore 20. Of SteueÌ„ a Priest in the ProuiÌ„ce of Valeria 21. Of a Nunne that with her only authority dispossessed a deuil 22. Of a Priest in the prouince of Valeria that held a thiese at his sepulchre 23. Of the Abbot of mount Preneste and his Prieste 24. Of Theodorus clarke of S. Peters churche in Rome 25. Of Abundius clarcke of the same churche 26. Of a solitarye moncke 27. Of fourtye couÌ„trye men that were martired because they wolde not eate fleshe sacrificed to Idols 28. Of a great multitude of captiues that were slaine because they wold not adore a goates heade 29. Of an Arrian Bisshop strooken blinde 30. Of a churche of the Arrians consecrated catholicklye in the city of Rome 31. Of Ermigildus the sonne of Liuigildus kinge of the Visegothes put to death by his father for the catholike faithe 32. Of certaine Bisshops of Africk that had for defence of the catholik faithe theire tongues cut out by the Arrians and yet spake as perfectly as they did before 33. Of the seruant of God Eleutherius 34. How many kinde of compunctions there be 35. Of Amantius a Priest in the countrye of Tuscania 36. Of Maximianus Bisshop of Siracusa 37. Of Sanctulus a Priest in the prouince of Nursia 38. Of a vision which appeared to Redemptus Bisshop of Ferenti THE THIRDE BOOKE OF S. GREGORIES DIALOGVES BEING carefull to intreat of such fathers as liued not longe since I passed ouer the worthy actes of those that were in former tymes so that I had almost forgot the miracle of Paulinus Bishop of Nolas who both for tyme was more auncient and for vertue more notable then many of those which I haue spoken of wherfor I will nowe spenke of him but as briefely as I can For as the life and actions of goode men are soonest knowne to suche as be like them so the famous name of Venerable Paulinus became knowne to myne holy elders and his admirable facte serued for theire instruction Who for theire grauity and old yeres are as well to be credited as yf that which they reported they had seene with theire owne eies OF S. PAVLINVS BISSHOP of the city of Nola. CHAPTER I. VVHen as in the tyme of the cruell Vandals that parte of Italy which is called Campania was ouerrunne and sacked and many were from thence carried captiue into Affricke then the seruaunt of God Paulinus bestowed all the wealthe of his Bishopricke vpon prisoners and poore people And not hauinge nowe any thinge more lefte a certaine widowe came vnto him lamentinge howe her sonne was taken prisonner by one that was sonne in lawe to the kinge of the Vandals and by him carried away to be his slaue and therfore she besoughte him that he wolde vouchsafe to helpe her with a ransome for the redeeming of her sonne But the man of God seeking what he had to giue the poore woman founde nothinge left but him selfe alone and therfore he answered her in this manner Good woman nothing haue I to helpe the withal but my selfe and therfore take me a Gods name say that I am your seruant and see whether he will receiue me for his slaue and so sett your sonne at libertye which wordes she hearinge from the mouthe of so notable a man tooke them rather for a mocke then to proceede indeed from true compassion But as he was an eloquent man and passinge well learned in humanitye so did he quickly perswade the doubtefull woman to giue credit to his wordes and not to be affraide to offer a Bishoppe for the ransome of her sonne wherevpon awaye they trauiled both into Asfricke And when the kinges sonne in lawe caâ—e abroade the widowe putt vp her petition concerninge her sonne humbly beseeching him that he wolde vouchesafe to sett him nowe at liberty and bestowe him vpon his mother But the barbarous man swellinge with pride and puffed vp with the ioye of transitorye prosperitye refused not only to doe it but disdayned also to giue any eare to her petition This waye therfore taking no successe the desolat widowe tried the next and saide vnto him Beholde I giue you here this man in steade of him onlye take compassion on me and restore me myne only sonne At which wordes he castinge his eies vpon Paulinus and seeinge him to haue an honest and goode face asked him of what occupation he was to whom the man of God answered Trade or occupation I can none but some skill I haue in keepinge of a gardin This pleased the Pagan verye well wherevpon he admitted him for his seruaunt and restored the widowe her sonne with whom she departed out of Affricke and Paulinus tooke charge of the gardin The kinges sonne in lawe comminge often into the gardin demanded certayne questions of his newe man and perceiuing him to be very wise and of goode iudgement he began to giue ouer the company of his old familiar friendes and conuersed much with his gardiner taking greate pleasure in his talke Euery day Paulinus brought him to his table diuers sortes of grene herbes and after dinner returned to his gardin After he had vsed this a longe tyme vpon a day as his master and he were in secret talke together Paulinus spake vnto him in this manner Consider my Lord what is your best course and howe the kingdome of the Vandals shall be disposed of for the kinge is to dye shortly which newes because he was in speciall grace with the kinge he gaue him to vnderstande addinge that his gardiner who was a passinge wise man had told him so much The kinge hearinge this was desirous to see the man he spake of Your Maiestie quoth he shall see him for his manner is to bring me in daily fresh herbes for my dinner and I will giue order that he shall do it in your presence which direction being giuen as the kinge satt at dinner Paulinus came in bringing with him diuers sallettes fresh herbes whom so soone as the king beheld he fell a trembling and sending for Paulinus master who by the marriage of his daughter was so nere allied vnto him acquainted him with that secret which before he had concealed saying It is verie true that which you haue hearde for the last nighte in a dreame I sawe certaine iudges in theire seates sittinge vpon me amongest whom this man also sat for one and by theire sentence that whipp was taken from me vvhich for the punnishment of others some tyme I had But inquire I praye you vvhat he is for I do not thincke one of so great merit to be an ordinary man as he outvvardly seemeth Then the kinges sonne in lavve tooke Paulinus in secret and asked him vvhat he vvas to vvhom the
he had coÌ„mitted durst not him selfe go vnto Gods seruaunt fearing least as his manner was he wolde sharpelie haue rebuked him and therfore he sent his offringes amonge others that at least through ignorance he mighte receiue what he sent him But when all the offringes were broughte before him he satt still viewinge them all in particular and layinge the rest aside he tooke those which Carterius sent and cast them away sayinge Goe and tell him Thowe hast taken awaye Gods offringe and doest thowe sende me thine I will none of thy offringe because thou hast taken from God that which was his By which facte all that were present fell into a great feare perceiuinge that he could certainly tell what they did which were absent Peter Many suche men as he was mighte in myne opinion haue bene martirs yf they had liued in tymes of persecution Gregory There be Peter two kindes of martirdoms the one secret the other open for yf a man hath a burninge zeale in his minde to suffre death for Christe althoughe he endureth not any externall persecution yet hathe he in secret the merit of martirdome For that one may be a martir without suffringe death openly our Lorde doth teache vs in the Gospell who saide vnto the sonnes of Zebedeus desiringe as then throughe infirmitye of soule the principall places to sitt vpon in his kingdom Can you drincke the chalice which Math. 20 I shall drincke and when they answered that they coulde he saide to them bothe My chalice verily shall you drincke but to sitt at my righte hand or lefte is not myne to giue you in which wordes what is signified els by the name of chalice but the cupp of passion and death And seeinge we knowe that Iames was put to deathe for Christe and that Iohne died when the churche enioyed peace vndoubtedlye we do gather that one may be a martir without open suffringe for as much as he is saide to haue drunke our Lordes chalice who yet in persecution was not put to deathe But concerning those notable and excelleÌ„t men of whoÌ„ I haue made meÌ„tioÌ„ before why may we not truly say that yf they had fallen into a tyme of persecution they mighte haue bene martirs when as by enduringe the secret assaultes of the deuill and by louinge theire enemies in this worlde by resistinge all carnall desires and in that they did in theire harte sacrifice them selues to almighty God they were also martirs in the tyme of peace seeing that now in our daies we see that meane men and of secular life yea and euen those of whom one woulde haue supposed that they did little thincke of heauen haue by occasion of persecution obtained the glorious crowne of martirdome OF FOVRTYE COVNTRY HVSBAND men that were slaine by the Lombardes because they wold not eate fleshe sacrificed to idols CHAPTER XXVII FOr aboute fiftene yeres since as they report who mighte very well haue bene present fourtye husbande men of the countrie were taken prisonners by the Lombardes whom they wolde needes haue enforced to eate of that which was sacrificed to idols but when they vtterly refused so to do or so muche as once to touche that wicked meate then they threatned to kill them vnlesse they wolde eate it but they louinge more eternall then transitory life continued constant and so they were all slaine What then were these men what els but true martirs that mad choise rather to dy then by eatinge of that which was vnlawfull to offend theire creator OF A GREAT NVMBER OF prisoners 〈…〉 because they 〈…〉 goates heade CHAPTER XXVIII AT the same tyme the Lombardes hauing almost fower hundred prisoners in theire handes did after theire manner sacrifice a goates heade to the deuill running round about with it in a circle and by singing a most blasphemous songe did dedicate it to his seruice And when they had them selues with bowed heades adored it then wolde they also haue inforced theire prisoners to doe the like But a verye great number of them chosinge rather by death to passe vnto immortall life then by such abhominable adoration to preserue theire mortall bodies refused vtterly to do what they commanded them and so would not by any means bowe downe theire heades to a creature hauing alwaies done that seruice to theire creator whereat theire enemies in whose handes they were fell into such an extreme rage that they slewe all them with theire swordes which wolde not ioyne with them in that sacrilegious facte What maruaile then is it that those notable men before mentioned mighte haue come to martirdom had they liued in the dayes of persecution who in the tyme of peace by continuall mortification walked the straight waye of martirdome when as we see that in the storme of persecution they merited to obtaine the crowne of martirdome who the churche being quiet semed to walke the broade waye of this worlde yet that which we saye concerning the elect seruantes of God is not to be holden for a generall rule in all For when open persecution afflicteth the churche as most true it is that many may ariue to martirdom who when no such tempest did blowe seemed contemptible and of no account so likewise sometimes they fall awaye for feare who before persecution and when all was quiet semed to stand very constant but suche holy men as before haue bene mentioned I dare boldlye saye that they mighte haue bene martirs because we gather so muche by theire happy deathes for they could not haue fallen in open persecution of whom it is certaine that to the very ende of theire liues they did contynue in the profession of piet and vertue Peter It is as you saye but I muche wonder at the singular prouidence of Gods mercie which he sheweth to vs vnworthy wretches in that he doth so moderate and temper the crueltye of the Lombardes that he suffreth not theire wicked Priestes to persecute the faithe of Christians when as they see them selues as it were the conquerors and rulers of Christian people OF AN ARRIAN BISSHOP that was miraculously strooken blinde CHAPTER XXIX Gregory MAny Peter haue attempted that but miracles from heauen haue staied the course of theire cruelty and one wil I now tel you which I hearde three daies since of Bonifacius a monke of my Abbey who vntill these fower yeres last past remayned amongest the Lombardes An Arrian Bishop of theirs comminge to the citye of Spoleto and not hauinge any place where to exercise his religion demanded a churche of the Bishop of that towne which when he constantly denied him the Arian prelat tolde him that the nexte daye he wolde by force take possession of S. Paules churche which was harde by his lodginge The keeper of the churche vnderstanding this newes in all hast ranne thither shutt the dores and with lockes and boltâ— made them as fast as he Lampes burning â—n the â—hurche coulde and when 〈…〉 he put out all the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 him selfe
churche which thing shall be more plaine yf I do briefly tell you what concerninge this pointe hath chaunced in our tyme. OF A CERTAINE NVNNE that was buried in the churche which appeared with her body halse burnt CHAPTER LI. FElix Bishop of Portua a man of holy life vvho was borne and brought vp in the Prouince of Sabina saith that there liued in that place a certaine Nunne which thoughe she were chast of her bodye yet had she an vngratious and foolishe tongue which departing this life was buried in the church the keeper whereof the nighte following saw her by reuelation brought before the holy altar where she was cutt in two peeces and the one halfe was burnt in the fire and the other was not touched at all Rising vp in the morning he tolde vnto others what a strange vision he had sene and shewed them the very place in which she was burnt the marble whereof appeared with the verye marckes and signes of a fire vpon it as thoughe that woman had bene there burnt in very dede with corporall fire By which we may plainely see that such as haue not theire synnes pardoned can reape small benefit by hauing theire bodies after deathe buried in holy places OF THE BVRIALL OF Valerianus CHAPTER LII IOhn also an honorable man one of the gouernors of this citye and one that is of great grauity and credit as all knowe tolde me howe one Valerianus that was a gentleman of the city of Bressa departed this life whose bodye for money the Bishoppe was content sholde be buried in the churche This Valerianus euene to his verye old age led a lighte and wanton life refusing vtterlye to giue ouer synne and wickednes That verye nighte in which he was buried the blessed martir Faustinus in whose churche his bodye laye appeared to the keeper thereof sayinge Goe bid the Bishoppe cast out that stinckinge carcasse vvhich he hath here buried and he yf he vvill not do it tell him that thirty daies hence he shall dye him selfe This vision the poore man vvas affraide to report vnto the Bishoppe and thoughe he vvere admonished the second tyme to do it yet he refused and so vpon the thirtith day the Bishoppe goinge safe and sounde to bedd neuer fearing any such thinge suddainly departed this life OF THE BODYE OF VALENTINVS that was after his buriall cast out of the churche CHAPTER LIII THere be also at this tyme here in the city our venerable brother Venātius Bishop of Luna Liberius a noble man and one of very great credit both which do saye that them selues knowe it and that theire seruantes were present in the city of Genua when this strange thinge happened One Valentinius who had an office in the churche of Millan died there a man in his life tyme giuen to wantonnes all kinde of lightenes whose bodye was buried in the church of the blessed martir Sirus The midnighte followinge a great noise was hearde in that place as thoughe some bodye by force had bene drawne out from thence wherevpon the keepers ran thither to see what the matter was and when they vvere come they savve tvvo verye terrible deuiles that had tied a rope about his legges and vvere dravving him out of the churche him selfe in the meane tyme crying and roaring out at vvhich sighte they vvere so frighted that they returned home againe to theire beddes but vvhen the morning vvas come they opened the graue in vvhich Valentinus vvas buried but his body they coulde not finde therfore they sought vvithout the churche to see vvhere it vvas and so founde it throwne into an other place with the feete still bounde as it was drawne out of the churche Out of which Peter you may learne that such as dye in mortall synne and cause theire bodies to be buried in holy grounde are punnished also for that theire presumption the holy places not helping them but rather the synne of theire temeritye accusing them OF THE BODYE OF A DIER buried in the churche which afterwarde coulde not be founde CHAPTER LIIII FOr an other thinge also which happened in this citye the companye of diers dwelling here do testifye to be most true and it is concerning one that was the chiefe of theire profession who departed this life and was by his wife buried in the church of S. Ianuarius the martir neere to the gate of S. Laurence whose spirit the nighte followinge in the hearinge of the sextin cried out of his graue saying I burne I burne and when he continued a longe tyme crying so the sextin tolde it to the diers wife who therevpon sent certaine of his owne profession to the churche to see in what case his body was in the graue who so cried out in that pitifull manner and The manner of Italy is to bury men in theire garmentes when they had opened it there they founde his garmentes safe and sound which be still kept in the same churche for a perpetuall memorye of that which happened but his body by no meanes could they finde as thoughe it had neuer bene buried there by which we maye gather to what tormentes his soule was condemned whose bodye was in that sort turned out of the churche what profitt then doe holy places bring to them that be buried there when as those that be wicked vnworthy be by Gods appointement throwne out from those sacred places Peter What thinge is there then that can profit and relieue the soules of them that be departed VVHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR the soule after death and of a Priest of Centumcellis who was desired by a certaine mans spirit to be holpen after his death by the holy sacrifice and of the soule of a monke called Iustus CHAPTER LV. Gregory YF the synnes after death be pardonable Some sinnes pardonable after death then the sacred oblation of the holy host vseth to helpe mens soules for which cause the soules sometyme of them that be deade do desire the same for Bishoppe Felix whom we spake of before saith that a vertuous priest who died some two yeares since and dwelt in the diocesse of the citye of Centumcellis and was Pastor of the churche of S. Iohn in the place called Tauriana told him that him selfe did vse when he had neede to wash his bodye in a certaine place in which there were passing hote waters that going thither vpon a tyme he founde a certaine man whom he knewe not ready to do him seruice as to pull of his shoees take his clothes and to attend vpon him in all dutifull manner And when he had diuers tymes done thus the Priest minding vpon a day to go to the bathes began to thincke with him selfe that he would not be vngratefull to him that did him such seruice but cary him some-what for a rewarde and so he toke with him two synging breades and comming thither he founde the man there ready and vsed his helpe as he was wont to do and when he
enacted against vulgar translations no such necessitie then occurring which might moue the gouernours of the Church to make any such lawe men in those tymes generally proceedinge with more discretion and moderation But the licentiousnes of latter times hath herein bene so exorbitant that requisite it was the precipitate headines of mens vnbridled affections shoulde be restrained and curbed by the seueritie of lawe So in old tyme not only fasting but also watching in the Church vpon the Eues of principall feastes was with greate deuotion obserued and Vigilantius the hereticke about Contra Vigilant that very pointe taxed by the famous doctor S. Hieron yet the greate abuses which latter tymes brought forth caused that custome to be quite abandoned for God hath left that authoritye with his Church in such matters as these to commande or sorbidde as the varietie of tymes and edification of mens soules shoulde require Lastly neuer did the Church so forbidde vulgar translations that they might no manner of waies in priuate be readde of lay people for euene in these our daies they be founde generally in all languages translated by Catholickes and may be redde of those that haue licence which is easily graunted to such as are knowne to be of staide iudgement and humilitie and likely to reade them with spirituall profitt to theire soules yea in those countries which be not infested with the late doctrine of Protestants marry where that infection rangeth the reason of reading is more apparant and consequently the libertie more inlarged This being so the fact of Seruulus giueth no shelter of refuge to the vnruly practise of our tymes both because the scripture readde to him was in the latin tongue which neuer any lawe interdicted and thoughe it had bene in an other vulgar language yet was it not tainted with the leuin of hereticall noueltie against which kinde of Bibles in those daies I suppose no prohibiting decree can be produced and though there coulde yet not so strict but that deuoute people and of an humble spirit might haue them with licence especially such a one as Scruulus was who as S. Gregorie reporteth vsed therein the helpe of religious people VVere men in these daies endoued with his spirit and the scriptures sincerely translated this question woulde be sone determined But alas we are fallen into these tymes in which newe masters with extreme boldnes haue corrupted both the sacred text it selfe and the vnlearned of either sex be mounted to so highe a pitch of presumption and so addicted to the suggestion of the priuate spirit that they neuer blushe to censure cotrary both fathers Councels by reason whereof newe faithes be Anabaptistes burnt in Smith field in the 17. yeare of Queene Eâ—â—zab HaÌ„mond Ket and Cole burnt at Nâ—â— wich Hâ—ckat with his prophets Lib. 1. cap. 10. pag. 74. daily forged and vnspeakeable blasphemies haue bene broached some oppugning the incaernation of the sonne of God some denying his diuinitie others with insernal inspiration aduaÌ„cing theÌ„ selues I know not to what participatioÌ„ of Christ and diuine dignitiâ— which being so can any mâ—ruaile oriustly coÌ„plaine that either such insectious traslaâ—ios be sorbideÌ„ or the outra giouslices of such vnrulye spirites be reslrained An other doubt also which may occurr is that fearefull punnishment which besella certaine geÌ„t lewoman present at a processioÌ„ in which the relickes of the blessed martir S. Sebastian were translated for the dedication of a newe oratorie sor as S. Gregorye saith not abstaining the night before from her husbande she was there by a deuile possessed by which it shoud seeme that she committed therein a greiuous synne This lamentable accident because it may breede some scruple in those that be of a timorous and goode conscience when they are to receiue the holy communion I haue thought goode briâ—sely to speake thereof Certayne therfore it is that it is goode counsell for married folke at such holy times to refrayne as the Israelites did at the receiuing of the Exod. 19. v. 25. lure that they may be the better disposed for so heauenly a bancket and that sometyme likewise a veniall synne may be cowmitted especially by the partie demanding that coniugall dutye so according to the resolution of holy and learned men no synne at all may be incurred and verie hardly a mortall except it be either done in contempt of God or the holy tyme which malice is not almost imaginable amonge Catholickes or els against our conscience for to do any thinge thoughe otherwise indifferent or neuer so goode against our conscience is accompained alwaies with synne more or lesse which 4. dist 32. q. vnica aâ— 5. quest 2. ad pr. Sancher lib 9. de Matrim 6. disput 12. was the error of this woman mentioned by S. Gregorie as S. Thomas Aquinas affirmeth other learned meÌ„ following him teach maynetaine Yf any desire further instructioÌ„ herein let them in the feare of God coÌ„sult with their learned vertuous and discrete spirituall fathers Now to make an ende I reserre the gentle Reader to the diuine communication and most pleasant conferences that passed betwixt S. Gregorie and Peter his Deacon Voutsafe them I beseeche thee of audience and no question but thow wilt saye that they are Psal 18. more to be desired then golde many pretious stones and more swete then the hony and the hony combe and that in this small booke be more rich treasures and rare spices contayned then euer kinge Ezechias 4. Reg. 20. shewed to the embassadors of Babilon gardins more fuller of delighte for the soule to sollace it selfe then euer were the vyneyardes of Engaddi and to conclude varietie Cant. 1. of most excellent and sacred stories far more pleasaunt to the eare then euer was bewtifull to the eye Genes câ—p 13. the Paradise of God or Egipt to them that come into Segor P. W. FAVLTES TO BE CORRECTED IN SOME COPIES Pag. 1. lin 20. reade cap. 39. Pag. 16. lin 11. reade since THE CHAPTERS OF THE FIRST BOOKE 1. OF Honoratus Abbote of the monasterie of Funda 2. Of Libertinus Prior of the same Abbey 3. OF a monke that was gardiner to the same Abbey 4. Of Equitius Abbote in the prouince of Valeria 5. Of Constantius clerke of S. Steuens church 6. Of Marcellinus Bishoppe of Ancona 7. Of Nonnosus Prior of the Abbey in Mount Soracte 8. Of Anastasius Abbote of the monasterie called Suppentonia 9. Of Bonifacius Bishoppe of the citye of Tuderti 10. Of Fortunatus Bishoppe of the citie of Tudertin 11. Of Martirius a Monke in the prouince of Valeria 12. Of Seuerus a Priest in the same prouince THE DIALOGVES OF S. GREGORIE THE GREATE POPE OF Rome The first Booke BEINGE vpon a certayne daye too muche ouercharged with the troubles of worldelye busynes in which ofteÌ„tymes men are enforced to do more then of dutye they are bounde I retired my selfe into a solitarye place verye fitt for a sad and melancholy disposition where each
but one there is which by no meanes I can ommitt This it was In the same Abbey there liued a certaine moncke very vertuous who was the gardiner A theife likewise there was that vsed to clyme ouer the hedge so to steale away the wortes The holy man seing that he did sett many which afterward he colde not finde and perceiuinge that some were trodden downe and other stolne awaye walked rounde about the gardaine to finde the place where the theife came in which when he had found by chaunce also as he was there he lighte vpon a snake which he willed to followe him and bringing him â—o the place where the theife entred gaue him this charge In the name of IESVS quoth he I command thee to keepe this passage and not to suffer any theife to come in Wherevpon the snake forthwith obeying his coÌ„mandement laid it selfe a crosse in the waye and the monke returned to his cell Afterwarde in the heate of the daye when all the monckes were at rest the theife according to his custome came thither and as he was clyming ouer the hedge and had put one leg on the other side suddainlye he sawe the snake whiche stopped the vvaye and for feare falling backewarde he lefte his foote hanginge there by the shoe vpon a stake so he hunge with his heade downewarde vntil the returne of the gardiner who comming at his vsuall hower founde the theife hanginge there in the hedge whom when he sawe he spake thus to the snake God be thancked thowe hast done what I bad the and therfor go nowe thy waye vpon which liceuce the snake by and by departed Then commynge to the theife he spake thus vnto him What meaneth this goode brother God hath deliuered yowe as you see into myne handes why haue you bene so bold as so often to robb away the labor of the monckes and speakinge thus he loosed his foote without doinge him any harme willing him also to follovve him vvho broughte him to the gardin gate and gaue him those vvortes vvhich he desired to haue stolne speaking also to him in svvete manner after this sorte Goe your vvaye and steale no more but vvhen yowe haue need come hither to me vvhat sinfully yovv vvolde take that vvill I vvillinglye bestovve vpon yovve for Gods sake Peter I haue hitherto as I novve perceiue liued in an error for neuer did I thincke that there had bene any holy men in Italie vvhich had vvrought miracles OF EQVITIVS ABBOT IN THE prouince of Valeria CHAPTER IIII. Gregory BY the relation of venerable Fortunatus Abbot of the monasterye vvhich is called Ciceroes bathe and also of others reuerent men I haue come to the knovvledge of that vvhich novve I meane to tell yowe There vvas a passinge holy man called Equitius dvvellinge in the prouince of Valeria vvho for his vertuous life vvas in great admiration vvith all men vvith vvhom Fortunatus vvas familiarlye acquainted This Equitius by reason of his greate holines of life vvas the father and gouernor of many Abbeis in that Prouince In his yonger yeres many and sore carnall tentations he endured which made him more feruent and diligent in praiers and to perseuere continually in that holy exercise which he did crauing most instantly of God to afforde him some remedye Lyring in that manner it fell so out that in vision vpon a certaine nighte he sawe an Angell come vnto him who made him an eunuch and so â—eliuered him from all those carnall motions in such sort that neuer after he felt any more as thoughe he had not bene any man at all Trusting now vpon this great grace receiueâ— by the speciall goodenes of God as before he was a gouerner of men so afterwarde he toke charge likewise of we men and yet for all that did he continually admonishe his scollers not easily to credit them selues herein nor to follovve his example nor yet to trust vpon that gifte which they had not in them selues least it turned to theire owne ruyne and destruction At such tyme as diuers witches were here in this city of Rome appreheÌ„ded one Basilius that was â— principall man in that wicked arte put Monckes apparel different from others vpon him the habit of a moncke and so fled a waye to Valeria and comminge to the reuerent Bishop of the city of Amirtin he desired his helpe that he wold for the goode of his soule commende him to Abbot Equitius The Bishop went with him to the Abbey where he made sute to the seruant of God that he wolde vouchsafe to receiue into his conuent that moncke which he broughte whom so sone as the holy man behelde he saide to the Bishop This man good brother quoth he whom yowe commende vnto me semeth in myne eies to be a deuill and not any moncke whereunto the Bishop replied saide that he sought excuses not to graunt his petition Not so quoth the seruaunt of God but I do denounceâ— him to be suche a one as I see him and because yow shall not thincke that I will be disobedient what yowe commande I will performe Wherevpon he was receiued into the Abbeye Not many daies after Gods seruant trauailed far of to preache vnto the people in the countrye after whose departure It fell out that in the monasterye of virgins which was vnder his charge one of them which in respect of her corruptible carcasse semed bewtiful fel into an ague to be afflicted with sore fittes and not so much to speake as pitifully to cry out in this manner I shal dy forth with vnles Basilius com vnto me by his skill in phisick restore me to my health But in the abseÌ„ce of their father none of the moÌ„ckes durst presume to enter into the monastery of virgins much lesse was he permitted that was yet but a nouice whose life coÌ„uersation was not knoweÌ„ to the rest of the brethreÌ„ A messenger therfor with all spede was dispatched to the seruant of God Equitius to let him vnderstande how suche a Nun was fallen into a terrible burninge ague and how she did earnestly desire to be visited of Basilius which newes so sone as the holy man did heare in an anger he smiled and saide did I not saye before hand that this companion was a deuill and not a moncke goe your waies and turne him out of the Abbeye and as for the virgin that is so sicke of a feuer take no further care for hereafter it shall not troble her any more nor she make any further inquisitioÌ„ after Basilius The moncke that was the messenger returninge backe vnderstode that the Nunne was at that very chowre restored to her health in which the seruant of God Equitius far distant affirmed that she sholde no question but by speciall miracle like to the example of our Sauiour who beinge desired Ioan. 4. to visit the sonne of a Lorde did by his only worde restore him to his health so that the father at
his returne knewe his sonne to be restored to life at that verye howre in which he hearde so much from the mouth of truth it selfe The monckes puttinge theire fathers commandement in execution turned Basilius out of the Abbeye who beinge so expulsed did often saye that he had by his incantations hanged Equitius his cell in the aire and yet that he colde not hurt any of his monckes This wretch not longe after in this citie of Rome throughe the zeale of goode people for his wickednes was burnt and so ended his life Vpon a certaine daye one of the Nunnes of the same monasterye goinge into the gardin sawe a lettice that liked her and forgettinge to blesse it before with the signe of the The signe of the cros vsed in blessinge crosse greedily did she eate it where vpon she was suddainly possessed with the deuill fell downe to the grounde and was pitifully tormented worde in all hast was carried to Equilius desiring him quickely to visit the afflicted woman and to helpe her with his praiers who so sone as he came into the gardin the deuill that was entred began by her tongue as it were to excuse him selfe sayinge what haue I done what haue I done I was sitting there vpon the lettice and she came and did eat me But the man of God in great zeale commanded him to departe and not to tarry any longer in the seruant of almightye God who straighte waies went out not presuminge any more to touche her A certaine noble man likewise called Felix of the prouince of Nursia father to Castorius who nowe dwelleth here with vs in Rome vndeâ—standinge that Equitius had not receiued holy orders and yet that he did visit many places preache vnto dâ—uers vpon a day very boldly went and asked him howe he durst presume to preach not hauing receiued holy orders nor yet licence of the Bishop of Rome vnder whom he did live vpon which demande the holy man being thus compelled gaue him to vnderstande by what means he had obtayned licens to preache speaking thus vnto him What you say vnto me my selfe haue seriously thought vpon but on a certaine nighte a yonge man in vision stode by me and touched my tongue with such an instrument as theie vse in letting of blode sayinge Beholde I haue put my worde into thy mouth goe thy way preache And since that daye thoughe I wolde I can not but talke of God Peter Desirous I am to knowe what manner of life he ledd who is saide to haue receiued such giftes at Gods hande Gregory The worcke Peter procedeth of the gifte and not the gifte from the worcke otherwise grace were not grace for Goddes giftes do go Grace encreaseth by good workes before all worckes of ours althoughe the gifts by the worckes which followe do encrease but to the end that your maye vnderstande what life he led which was knowne to the reuerent man Albinus Bishop of Reatino and many there be yet alive which mighte very well remember the same But what do yowe seeke for further worckes wheÌ„ as his purity of life was answerable to his diligence in preachinge for such a zeale to saue soules had inflamed his harte that albeit he had the charge of many monasteries yet did he diligently trauaile vpp and downe and visit churches townes villages and particular mens houses and all this to stirr vp the hartes of his auditors to the loue of heauenly ioyes The apparell which he ware was so base and contemptible that such as knewe him not wolde haue thoughte scorne so much as to haue saluted him though him selfe had first offered that courtesye And whether so euer he went his manner was to ride but that vpon the most forlorne beast which coulde be founde his bridle was but an halter his saddle no better theÌ„ plaine shepes skinnes His bookes of diuâ—niâ—y were putt in to leather bagges those he did carry him selfe some hanging on the righte side of his horse and some vpon the lefte and to what place so ouer he came he did so open the fountains of sacred scripture that he waâ—tered theire soules with the heauenly dewe of his sermons Whose grace in preaching was so great that the fame thereof came euen to Rome it selfe and as the tongues of flatterers doe with theire glorious wordes kill the soules of such as giue them the hearinge at the same tyme some of the Roman clergy did in flatteringe sorte complaine vnto the Bishoppe of this Apostolique sea sayinge what manner of rusticall companion is this that hath taken vpon him authority to preache and being without learning presumeth to vsurpe vnto him selfe the office of our Apostolical Lorde wherfor yf it please yow let him be sent for before your presence that he may tast of the seuerity of ecclesiasticall discipline And as it falleth out that he which hath much busines is ouercome sometyme by flattery yf that pleasing venime be not spedilye dispatched from the soule at the perswasion of his clergye the Pope gaue his consent that he sholde be sent for to Rome to vnderstande vvhat talent and gifte he had receiued from God and so one Iulianus who afterwarde was made Bishop of Saâ—inum was sent hauing yet commaundement giuen him to brâ—nge him vp with great honor to th end that the seruaunt of God mighte not thereby sustaine any iniury or detriment in his fame who to gratifie the Popes clergye went in post to the Abbey and finding there in his absence certaine antiquaties writinge demanded of them for the Abbot who tolde him that he was in the valley at the bottom of the Abbey mowinge of haye Iulian had a man very proude and stubborn suche a one that he colde scarse rule him This man he sent in all hast for the Abbot who in an angrye mode went his way and comminge quickly into the medowe where beholdinge all that were there cuttinge of grasse he demanded which of them was Equitius and when they shewed him where he was being yet far of he fel into a great feare and became therewith so fainte that he colde scarce goe vpon his legges tremblinge in that manner he came to the man of God and humbly bowinge downe his heade he embraced his knees and kissed them tellinge him that his master was desirous to speake with him After Goddes seruaunt had saluted him againe he willed him to take vp some of the grasse and to carry it home for theire horse and I will quoth he straighte waies come when I haue dispatched this little worke which remaineth In this meane time Iulianus much maruailed what the matter was why his man tarried so longe and seinge him at length to come laden with grasse vpon his necke in great rage he cried out to him saying Sirrha what meaneth this I sent yow to fetch me the Abbot and not to bringe meate for myne horse Sir quoth his man he will come to yowe by and by and forthwith
being one that vtterly dispised all vvordly things and with the whole povver of his soule thirsted after the ioyes of heauene Vpon a certaine daye it fell s out that there vvanted oile in the churche by reason vvhereof the foresaid seruaunt of God had not vvherwith to lighte the lampes vvhere vpon he filled them all vvith vvater as the manner is put a pece of paper in the middest then sett thim on fire the vvater did so burne in the lampes as though Burning lamppos in the church it had bene very oile by vvhich you may gather Peter of vvhat merit this man vvas vvho enforced by necessity did chaunge the nature of the element Peter Very strange it is that yovv saye but desirous I am to knovve vvhat humility he had invvardlye in his soule who outwardly was so wonderfull in the eies of the worlde Gregory Amonge miracles very fitly do yow enquire the inwarde state of the minde for it is almost incredible howe miracles wroughâ—te in the sighte of men do with theire tentation inwardly assalt the soule But after yow haue hearde onlye one thinge vvhich this venerable CoÌ„stantâ—us did yovv vvil quickly perceiue vvhat an humble man he vvas Peter Hauing novve tolde me one of his miracles it remayneth that yovve do edifye me also vvith the humilytie of his soule Gregory Because the reporte of his holy life vvas verye muche spread abroade many from diuers countries trauailed to Ancona beinge verye desirous to see him and amongest others a certain countrye fellovve vvas come far of for that very purpose at vvhich tyme it so chaunced that the holy man vvas standinge vpon a paier of vvodden staiers busying him selfe there in mending of lamppes A verie little person he vvas of stature vvith a thinne face and to the outvvard vievv contemptible This fellovv that cam to see him inquired earnestly vvhich vvas the man for vvhose sake he had trauailed so longe a iornye Those that knevv him forth vvith tolde him pointing to Constantius But as folishe soules do measure the merites of men by the qualitye of theire bodies so he beholdinge him so little and coÌ„temptible by no means coulde be persvvaded that they told him truth for in the countrye fellovves minde there fell out as it vvere a great conteÌ„tion betvvixt that which he had heard that which he sawe and he verily perswaded him selfe that he coulde not be so little in his eies vvho vvas so great in his former conceipte and therfor vvhen very many did constantly affirme that he was the man the simple soule despised him and in scoffing manner said I verily belieued that he had bene a goodly great man but this fellovve hath not any thing at all in him that is like a man vvhich vvordes of his the seruant of God Constantius hearing forthvvith left his lampes vvhich he vvas in hande vvith and in great hast cam merily dovvne the staiers imbraced the countrye clowne and of exceding loue helde him fast in his armes kissed him gaue him great thanckes for hauinge that opinion and spake thus vnto him Thovv only quoth he haâ—t thyne eies open and doest truly beholde vvhat I am By vvhich facte vve may easily gather vvhat an humble man he vvas that loued the countrie fellovve the more for contemninge him for iniurious vvords and contumelious vsage trie vvhat a man is invvardly in his soule for as proude men are glad of honor so those that be humble for the most parte reioyce in contempte and disgrace when they beholde them selues to be of no account in the opinion of others glad they are bycause they see that to be confirmed by the iudgement of others which inwardly in theire owne soules they had of them selues Peter This man as I perceiue was outwardly great in miracles but yet greater by his inwarde humility of soule OF MARCELLINVS BISSHOPPE of Ancona CHAPTER VI. Gregory MArcellinus also a man of holye life was Bishopp of the same citye of Ancona who was so sore trobled with the gowte that being not able to goe his seruauntes were enforced to carry him in theire handes Vpon a daye by negligence the city was set on fire and thoughe many labored by throwinge on of water to quenche it yet did it so increase and go forwarde that the whole city was in great danger for it had laid holde of all the houses that were next it and consumed alreadye a great parte of the towne none beinge able to helpe or withstande it In so pitifull a necessity and great danger the Bishopp carried by his seruantes came thither and commanded him selfe to be sett downe righte against those furious flames and in that very place whether the force of the fier did seeme most to beÌ„de which being done the fire maruailous strangelye turned backe into it selfe and as it were cryed out that it coulde not passe the Bishopp and by this meanes was it stopped from goinge forwarde went out of it selfe not beinge able to touche any other buildinges By which Peter yovve see what an argument of great holines it was for a sicke man to sit still by his praiers to quench those raging flames Peter I do both see it and much wonder at so notable a miracle OF NONNOSVS PRIOR OF the Abbey in mounte Soracte CHAPTER VII Gregory NOwe I intende to let yovv vnderstande somewhat of a place not far distaÌ„t which I hearde of the reuerent Bishop Maximianus and of the olde moncke Laurio one whom you knowe both which are yet liuinge as for Laurio he was broughte vp vnder that holy man Anastasius in the Abbeye whiche is harde by the citye of Nepye and Anastasius both by reason of the nerenes of the place equall loue of vertue and like profession of life was dailye in the companye of holy Nonnosus Prior of the Abbey which is in mount Soracte This Nonnosus had for his Abbot a very sharpe man whose roughe conditions notwithstandinge he did alwaies beare with wonderfull patience and did in such swete sort gouerne the monckes that oftentymes by his humility he appeased the Abbotes anger The Abbey standinge in the topp of an hill had neuer an euene and playne place fitt for a gardin one only little plott of grounde there was in the side of the mountayne but that was takeÌ„ vp of a great stone which did naturally growe there so that by no meanes it coulde serue for a gardin yet venerable Nonnosus vpon a daye began to thinâ—ke with him selfe that at least that pece of ground wolde serue verye well to sett wortes yf by any meanes that huge stone coulde be taken awaye but then he likewise thought that fiue hundred yoke of oxeÌ„ wold not be able to stirr it wherevpoÌ„ despairinge of all humane helpe he betokehim selfe to Gods goodnes and in that very place gaue him selfe to prayer in the quiettyme of the nighte beholde on the morninge when the monkes came thither they founde that huge stone remoued far of
Ferenti CHAPTER IX Gregory A Man of holye life there vvas called Bonifacius Bishop of the city of Ferenti one that vvith his vertuous conuersation did vvel discharge his dutye Many miracles he did vvhich Gaudentius the priest vvho yet liueth doth still reporte and seinge he vvas broughte vp vnder him no question but by reason of that his presence he is able to tell all thinges the more truelye His Bishopricke was passing poore a thinge which to goode men is the preseruer of humilitye for he had nothinge els for his reuenues but only one vineyarde which was also aâ— one tyme so spoiled with a teÌ„pest of haile that very fewe grapes did remayne Bonifacius comminge in seing vvhat vvas happened gaue God great thanckes for that he had sent him further pouertye to his former necessity And when the tyme came that those fewe grapes which remayned were ripe he appointed one accordinge to the custome to keepe his vineyard commaÌ„dinge him carefully to looke well vnto it And vpon a certaine daye he willed Constantius who both was a Priest and his nephewe to make ready as before they were wont to do al the barrels and wine vessels they had which thinge vvhen his nephevve the Priest vnderstoode he maruailed much to heare him commande so mad a thinge as to make ready the vessels for wine him selfe hauinge no wine at all to put in yet durst he not inquire the reason why he gaue that charge but did as he commanded and made all the vessels other thinges ready as before they had alwaies vsed to doe TheÌ„ the man of God caused the poore remnaunt of grapes to be gathered and carried to the vvine-presse and dispatching all others awaye him selfe tarried there still with a little boy whom he commanded to treade those grapes and vvhen he perceiued that a little vvine began to runne forth the man of God toke it and put it into a little vessell and powred somwhat thereof into all the other barrels vessels whiche were made ready as it were to blesse them with that little quantitye when he had so done he called straighte waies for the Priest commanding him to sende for the poore vpon whose comminge the wine in the presse began to increase runne out so plentifully that it did fill all the pottes and other vessels which they broughte WheÌ„they were all serued he bad the boy to leaue treadinge and come downe then locking vp the store house into which he had put his owne vessels and setting his owne seale vpon the dore to the churche he went and three daies after he called for Constantius and hauing saide a fewe praiers he opened the dore where he founde all the vessels into which he had before poured but a very little liquor worckinge so plentifully that yf he had not then come they had al runne ouer â—nto the floore Then he straightly commanded the priest his kinseman not to reueale this miracle to any so longe as he liued fearinge least by meanes thereof the outwarde opinion of men mighte throughe vaine glorye inwardly haue hurte his soule followinge therein the example of our master Christe who to teache vs to walke in the pathe of humilitye commanded his disciples concerninge him selfe not to tell any what they had sene vntill the sonne of man was risen againe from death Peter Bycause fitt occasion is now offered desirous I am to knowe what the reason was that when our Sauiour restored sighte vnto two blinde mene and commanded them to tell no bodye yet they after theire departure made him knowne throughout al that countrye For had the only begotten sonne of God who is coeternal to his father and the holy Ghost a desire herein to do that which he coulde not performe to witt that the miracle which he wolde haue kept secret colde not yet be concealed Gregory All that which our blessed Sauiour wroughte in his mortall body he did it for our example and instruction to th ende that followinge his stoppes accordinge to our poore abilitye we mighte without offence passe ouer this present life and therfore when he did that miracle he both commanded them to conceale it and yet it cold not be kept in al this to teache â—is elect seruantes to followe his doctrine to witt that when they do any notable thinge whereof glorye may arise to them selues that they shoulde haue a desire not to be spoken of and yet for the goode of others contrary to theire owne minde they sholde be laide open knowne so that it procede of theire great humility to desire that theire worcks may be buried with silence yet for the profit of others it sholde fall so out that they can not be concealed Wherfore our Lorde wolde not haue any thinge done which he could not effect but what his seruaÌ„tes ought to desire and what also conâ—rary to theire mindes was conuenient to be done like a good master he taughte vs by his owne example Peter I am verye well satissied with this your answere Gregory For as much as we haue now made mention of Bonifacius let vs prosecute a fewe more of his actes not yet spoken of Aâ—an other tyme vpon the feast daye of S. Proculus the martir one Feast daies of saâ—inctes Fortunatus a noble man that dwelt in that towne did hartily entreat the Bishop that after he had done the soleÌ„nitye of masse he wolde voutsafe to Saying of masse come vnto his house to bles his meate dine with him The man of God was content to satisfye his request so charitably was he inuited and therfor wheÌ„ masse vvas done he vveÌ„t thither but before the table was yet blest suddainly as som meÌ„ by such meanes get theire liuinge one cam to the gate vvith an ape vvho begaÌ„ to playe vpon an instrument vvhich the holy man hearing vvas discontented and saide Alas alas this vvretched man is deade this vvretched man is deade Beholde I am come hither to dinner and haue not yet opeÌ„d my lippes to prayse God and he is here vvith his ape playing vpon his instrument Then he desired them to giue him some meate and drincke yet I wolde haue yow knowe quoth he that he is a deade man when the vnhappy wretche had filled him selfe and was going out at the gate a great stone fell from the house and brake his heade Of which blowe he fell downe and was taken vp halfe deade and being caried away the nexte day as the man of God had before said he departed this life wherein Peter we haue to consider how holy men are with feare to be reuerenced for they no question be the temples of God and when an holy man is enforced to anger who is then moued but he that dwelleth in that temple wherfor we haue so much the more cause to feare how we prouoke such kinde of persons to wrath seing we knowe that he is present in theire soules who hath power and mighte sufficient to inflict what
punishment him selfe best pleaseth At an other tyme the foresaide Priest Constantius his nephew had solde his horse for twelue crounes which money he laid vp in his chest and being abroad about other busynes it so happened that certain poore people pititully begged of the holy Bishopp that he would vouchsafe to bestowe some thinge vpon them for the reâ—iefe of theire necessity The man of God not hauinge any thinge to giue them was muche grieued to sende them away emptye whiles he was thus trobled suddainly it came to his minde howe his nephew had solde his horse and that the mony was in his chest wherevpon in his absence by vertuous violence he brake open the locke toke awaye the twelue crownes and bestowed them as best pleased him selfe vpon the poore people Constantius returninge home and findinge his chest open looked for his mony and findinge it not he began to exclaime and with great noyse and furye to cry out against his vncle sayinge All other can liue here in quiet onlye I can not The Bishop hearinge him crying out in that manner came vnto him as also the rest of his family and when he began with swete speche to mitigat his furye in great anger he replied sayinge All other can liue with you only I can not be suffered to be in quiet giue me my money vvhich you haue takeÌ„ out of my chest The Bishop moued at his vvordes departed Churches dedicated to our Ladieâ— avvay and vvent into the churche of the blessed virgin Mary vvhere liftinge vp his handes vvith his vestiment vpon them he began standinge Praier to our Ladyeâ— to praye that she vvolde helpe him to so muche money that he mighte quiet the furye of the mad Prieste castinge suddainly his eies vpon the garmeÌ„t that lay betwene his armes stretched out he founde tvvelue crovvnes lyinge there so faire and brighte as thoughe they had then nevvly come from the mint vvho forth vvith goinge out of the churche cast them to the raginge Priest vvith these vvordes Loe there is your money vvhich you haue kept such a stirr for but knovve you that after my deathe you shall neuer be Bishopp of this place and that for your couetous minde By vvhich true ceÌ„sure of his vve gather that the priest prouided that money for the gettinge of the Bishopricke But the wordes of the maÌ„ of God did preuaile for the same Constantius ended his life vvithout any further promotion then to the dignity of Priesthoode At an other tyme tvvo Gothes cam vnto him for hospitalitye sayinge that they were trauailinge to Rauenna vnto whom he gaue with his owne handes a little wodden bottle full of wine ynoughe haply for theire dinner of which notwithstandinge they drancke vntill they caÌ„ to Rauenna thoughe they staide Iorne daies in that citye yet had they no other wine then that which the holy man bestowed vpon them and so likewise they continued vntill they returned backe againe to the same venerable Bishop drincking dailye of the same and yet neuer lackinge wine to serue theire necessity as thoughe in that wodden bottell which he gaue them wine had growne and not there increased Not longe siâ—hence there came from the same countrye a certaine olde man that is a clercke who reporteth diuers notable thinges of him which must not be past ouer with silence For he saithe that goinge vpon a daye into his gardin he founde it all full of caterpillers and seinge all his vvortes spoiled turninge him selfe to them he spake thus I adiure you in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ to departe from hence and not to eate any more of these wortes after which wordes those wormes did forthwith so vanish awaye that there was not one to be founde in all the whole gardin But what great maruaile is it to heare such thinges reported of him that was now a Bishopp being then both by reason of his orders and also holy conuersation of life growen into fauour with almighty God seinge those are more to be admired which this olde clergy man saide that he did being yet but a little boy For he affirmeth that at suche tyme as Bonifacius dwelt vvith his mother and went abroade that somtyme he cam home without his shirte and oftentymes vvithout his coate for no soner did he see a naked man but he gaue away his clothes and put them vpon him to th ende that him selfe mighte be clothed with a rewarde in the sighte of God his mother rebuked him often for doing so and tolde him that it was no reason that being poore him selfe he sholde giue away his apparrel to other Vpon an other daye goinge into the barne she founde almost all her wheate which she had prouided for the whole yeare giuene away by her sonne to the poore as she was for very griefe thereof beatinge and tearinge of her selfe the childe of God Bonifacius came and with the best vvordes he coulde began to comforte his afflicted mother but vvhen by no means she wold be quieted he entreated her to go out of the barne vvhere the little vvheat that remayned vvas vvhen she vvas departed the vertuous youth fell straighte vvaie to his praiers and after a little vvhile goinge out he broughte his mother backe againe vvhere she found it as full of wheate as before it was at the sighte of which miracle she being touched in soule exhorted him to giue as he pleased seinge he coulde so sone obtayne at Gods handes what he asked His mother also kept hennes before her dore which a fox that had his berye not far of vsed to carye awaye and vpon a certaine daye as the youth Bonifacius was standinge in the entrye the fox after his old maner came and toke away one of the hennes wherevpon in all hast he ran to the churche and prostrat there in praier with loude voice he spake thus Is it thy pleasure o Lorde that I shal not eate of my mothers hennes for beholde the fox doth deuoure them vp and rising from his praiers he went out of the churche and straighte waies the fox came backe againe with the henne in his mouth leauing it where he found it and forthwith fel downe deade in the presence of Bonifacius Peter It semeth strange vnto me that God vouchsafeth in such small thinges to heare the praiers of them that put theire trust in him Gregory This falleth out Peter by the great prouidence of our creator to th ende that by little thinges which we receiue at his handes we sholde hoope for greater for the holy and simple ladd was heard in prayinge for small matters that by theÌ„ he sholde learne hovve muche he oughte to trust in God when he praied for thinges of greater importance Peter What you saye pleaseth me verye well OF FORTVNATVS BISHOPPE of the citye of Tuderti CHAPTER X. Gregory AN other man also there was in the same partes called Fortunatus Bishopp of Tuderti who had a most singular grace
in castinge out of deuils in so muche that sometyme he did cast out of possessed bodies whole legions and by the continuall exercise of praier he ouercam all thiere tentations Iulianus who had an office here in our church and not long since died in this city was familiarly acquainted with him by whose relation I learned that which I will nowe tell you for by reason of his great and in ward familiarity often was he present at such miracles as he wroughte and did diuers tymes talke of him to our instruction and his owne comforte A certaine noble matrone there was dwellinge in the hither partes of Tuscania that had a daughter in lawe which not longe after the marriage of her sonne was togither with heâ— mother in lawe inuited to the dedication of the oratory of the blessed martir S. Sebastian and the nighte before this Dedication of churches solemnitye ouercome with carnall pleasure she coulde not abstaine from her husbande and thoughe in the morninge her former delighte trobled her conscience yet shame draue her ProcessioÌ„ forth to the procession beinge more ashamed of men then fearinge the iudgement of God and therfor thither she went togither with her mother in lawe And beholde straighte vpon the bringing of the reliques of S. Sebastian Translation of â—eliâ—es the martir into the oratorye a wicked spirit possessed the foresaide matrons dawghter in lawe and pitifully tormented her before all the people The Priest of the oratory beholdinge her so terribly vexed and lifted vp toke a white lynninge cloth and cast vpon her and forth withe the deuill also entred into him and bycause he presumed aboue his strengthe enforced also he was by his owne vexation to knowe what him selfe was Those that were present tooke vp the yonge getle woman in thiere handes and carried her home to her owne house And for as muche as she was by the enemye continually and cruelly tormented her kinsfolke that carnally loued her with thiere loue did persecut her caused her caused her to be caried for helpe to certaine witches so vtterlye to cast awaye her soule whose body they went about by sorcerye for a tyme to relieue Comming into thiere handes she was by them broughte to a riuer and there washed in the water the sorcerers laboring a longe tyme by theire inchantementes to cast out the deuill that had possessed her bodye but by the wonderfull iudgement of almightye God it fell ouâ— that whiles one by vnlawfull arte was expelled suddainly a whole legion did enter in And from that tyme forwarde she began to be tossed with so many varieties of motions to shrike out in so many sundry tunes as there were deuils in her bodye Then her parentes consultinge togither and confessing thiere owne wickednes caried her to the venerable Bishop Fortunatus and with him they left her who hauinge taken her to his charge fel to his praiers many daies and nightes and he prayed so muche the more earnestly because â—he had against him in one body an whole army of deuils and many daies passed not before he made her so safe and â—ounde as thoughe the deuill had neuer had any power or interest in her bodye At an other tyme the fame seruant of almighty God cast forth a deuil out of one that was possessed which wicked spirit when it was no we nighte and sawe fewe men stirring in the stretes takinge vpon him the shape of a stranger began to go vp and downe the citye crying out O holy Bishop Fortunatus beholde what he hath done he hath turned a stranger out of his lodginge and nowe I seeke for a place to rest in and in his whole citye can finde none A certaine man sittinge in his house by the fire with his wife and his little sonne hearing one to crye out in that manner went forth and enquired what the Bishop had done and withall inuited him to his house where he caused him to sett with them by the fire and as they were amonge them selues discoursinge of diuers matters the same wicked spirit on a sudcâ—ain entred into his little childe cast him into the fire and forth with killed him then the wretched father by the losse of his sonne in this manner knewe full well whom he had entertained and the Bishopp turned out of his lodginge Peter What was the cause that the olde enemye presumed to kill his sonne in his owne house who thinckinge him to be a stranger voursafed him of lodging and entertaynement Gregory Many thinges Peter seme to be goode and yet ar not because they be not done with a goode mynde and intention and therfor our Sauiour saith in the gospell Yf they eye be naughte al thy Math. 6. bodye shal be darcke for when the intention is wicked all the worcke that followeth is naughte althoughe it seme to be neuer so goode and therfore this man who lost his childe thoughe he semed to giue hospitalitye yet I thincke that he toke not any pleasure in that worcke of mercye but rather in the detraction and infamy of the Bishoppe for the punnishemeÌ„t which followed did declare that his entertainement goinge before was not voide of synne for some there be which are carefull to do goode worckes to th ende they may obscure the vertue of an other mans life neither take they pleasure in the good thinge which they doe but in the conceipt of that hurte which thereby they imagin reclouÌ„deth to others and therfore I verilye suppose that this man which gaue entertainment to the deuill was more desirous to seme to do a goode worcke then to do it in dede to th ende that he mighteseme more charitable then the Bishop in that he entertained him whom the man of God Fortunarus had thrust out of his house Peter It is verilye so as you saye for the ende of the worcke declared that the intente of the doer was not good Gregory At an other tyme likewise one that had lost his eysighte was brought vnto him who craued his intercession and obtayned it for so sone as rhe man of God had praied for him and made A miracle of the signe of the crosse the signe of the crosse vpon his eies straighte waies he receiued his sighte Beside this a certaine soldiars horse became so mad that he colde scant be holden by many and so cruel he was that he rent and tare the flesh of all such as he coulde reach with his tethe at lengthe as well as they coulde they tied him with roopes and so brought him to the man of God who puttinge An other miracle of the signe of the crosse forth his hande made vpon his heade the signe of the crosse forth with all his madnes departed in such sort that he became more gentle then euer he was before Then the soldiar seing his horse so miraculously cured determined to bestowe him vpon the Bishop which because he refused and yet the other instantly entreated
see how thowe art become like vnto hogges and rattes thowe that woldest needes vnworthilye be like vnto God beholde how thowe doest nowe according to thy desertes imitate brute beastes At these wordes the wicked serpent was as I may well terme it ashamed that he was so disgratiously and baselye put downe for wel maye I saye that he was ashamed who neuer after troubled that house with any such terrible and monstrous shapes as before he did for euer after that tyme Christian men did inhabit the same for so sone as one man that was a true and faithful christian tooke possession thereof the lyinge and faith lesse spirit straight-waies did forsake it But I will nowe surcease from speaking of thinges done in former tymes and come to suche miracles as haue happened in our owne daies OF SABINVS BISSHOP OF Camisina CHAPTER V. CErtaine religious men well knowne in the prouince of Apulia do reporte that which many both far and nere knowe to be most true and that is of Sabinus Bishoppe of Camisina who by reason of his great age was become so blinde that he sawe nothinge at all And for as much as Totilas King of the Gothes hearinge that he had the gifte of prophecye and wolde not beleue it but was desirous to proue whether it were so or no it fel so out that comminge into those partes the man of God did inuite him to dinner And when the meate was broughte in the Kinge wolde not sitt at the table but satt beside at the righte hande of venerable Sabinus and when the Bisshoppes man broughte him as he vsed to doe a cupp of wine the Kinge softlye putt forthe his hande tooke the cupp and gaue it him selfe to the Bisshop to trye whether he coulde tell who he was that gaue him the wyne Then the man of God taking the cupp but not seeing him that did deliuer it saide Blessed be that hande At which wordes the Kinge very merily blushed because albeit he was taken yet did he finde that gifte in the man of God which before he desired to knowe The same reuerent man to giue goode example of life to others liued vntill he was passinge olde which nothinge pleased his archdeacon that desired his Bishopricke and therfore vpon ambition he soughte how to dispatche him with poison and for that purpose corrupted his cup bearer who ouercome with money offered the Bisshop at dinner that poison in his wine which he had receiued of the Archdeacon The holye man knowinge what he broughte willed him selfe to drincke that which he offered him The wretche trembled at those wordes and perceiuing his villany to be derected thoughte better to drincke it and so quickly dispatch him selfe then with shame to suffer tormentes for the sinne of so horrible a murder but as he was puttinge the cuppe to his mouth the man of God hindred him sayinge Do not take it but giue it me and I will drincke it my selfe but go thy way and tell him that gaue it the that I will drinck the poison but yet shall he neuer liue to be Bisshopp And so blessinge the Blessing with the signe of the crosse cuppe with the signe of the crosse he drunke it without any harme at all at which very tyme the Archdeacon being in an other place departed this life as thoughe that poison had by the Bishoppes mouth passed to his Archdeacons bowels for althoughe he had no corporall poison to kill him yet the venim of his owne malice did destroye him in the sighte of the euerlastinge iudge Peter These be straunge thinges and muche in our dayes to be wondred at yet the life of the man is suche that he which knoweth his holye conuersation hath no such cause to maruaile at the miracle OF CASSIVS BISSHOP OF Narny CHAPTER VI. Gregory NEither can I Peter passe ouer with silence that thing which many of the city of Narny which be here present affirme to be most true For in the tyme of the same Gothes the foresaide Kinge Totilas comminge to Narnie Cassius a man of venerable life Bishop of the same city weÌ„t forth to meete him whom the king vtterly contemned because his face was highe coloured thinking that it proceded not from any other cause then drinking But almighty God to shewe howe worthy a man was despised permitted a wicked spirit before his whole armye in the fieldes of Narnie where the Kinge also him selfe was to possesse one of his garde and cruellye to torment him Straight-waies was he broughte to the venerable man Cassius in the presence of the Kinge who praying to God for him and making the signe of the crosse forth with he The vertue of the signe of the crosse cast out the deuill so that neuer after he durst presume any more to enter into his bodye And by this meanes it fell out that the barbarous Kinge from that daye forwarde did with his hart much reuerence the seruant of God whom before by his face he iudged to be a man of no account for seeing him now to be one of such power and vertue he gaue ouer those proude thoughtes which before he had conceiued OF ANDREVVE BISSHOP of Funda CHAPTER VII BVt as I am thus busied in tellinge the actes of holy men there commeth to my minde what God of his great mercy did for Andrewe Bishop of the citye of Funda which no table storye I wish all so to reade that they which haue dedicated them selues to Bishopes dedicated to continencye continencye presume not in any wise to dwell amongst wemen least in tyme of tentation theire soule perâ—she the soner by hauinge that at hand which is vnlawfullye desired Neither is the story which I reporte either doubtfull or vncertaine for so many witnesses to iustifye the truthe thereof may be produced as there be almost inhabitants in that citye When therfore this venerable man Andrewe liued vertuouslye with diligent care answerable to his priestlie functioÌ„ lead a continent and chast life he kept in his house a certaine Nunne which also had remained with him befor he was preferred to that dignitye for assuringe him selfe of his owne continencye and nothing doubtinge of hers content he was to let her remaine stil in his house which thinge the deuil tooke as an occasion to assalte him with tentation and so he began to present before the eies of his minde the forme of that woman that by suche allurements he mighte haue his harte wholy possessed with vngodly thoughtes In the meane tyme it fell so out that a Iewe was trauailinge from Campania to Rome who drawinge nighe to the city of Funda was so ouertaken with nighte that he knewe not where to Iodge and therfore not findge any better commoditye he retired him selfe into a temple of the God Apollo which was not far of meaninge there to repose him selfe but muche affraide he was to The signe of the crosse vsed in old tyme. ly in so a wicked and
sacrilegious a place for which cause thoughe he beleued not what we teache of the crosse yet he thoughe goode to arme him selfe with that signe About midnighte as he lay wakinge for verye feare of that forlorne and desert temple and looked suddainlie about him he espied a troupe of wicked spirites walkinge before an other of greater authority who comminge in tooke vp his place and satt downe in the body of the temple where he began diligeÌ„tlye to inquire of those his seruaÌ„tes how they had bestowed theire tyme and what villanye they had done in the worlde And when eache one told what he had done against Gods seruantes out stepped a companion and made solemne relation what a notable tentation of carnalitye he had put into the minde of Bishop Andrewe concerninge that Nunne which he kepte in his pallace where vnto whiles the master deuill gaue attentiue eare consideringe with him selfe what a notable gaine it wolde be to vndoe the soule of so holy a man the former deuill went on with his tale and saide that the verye eueninge before he assalted him so mightelye that he drewe him so far forth that he did merily strike the saide Nunne vpon the backe The wicked serpent and olde enemie of mankinde hearinge this ioyfull newes exhorted his agent with verye faire wordes diligently to labour about the effecting of that thinge which he had already so well begun that for so notable a pece of seruice as the contriuing the spirituall ruyne of that vertuous Prelat he mighte haue a singular reward aboue all his fellowes The Iewe who al this while lay wakinge and hearde all that which they saide was wonderfully affraide at length the master deuill sent some of his followers to see who he was and howe he durst presume to lodge in theire temple when they were come and had narrowlye viewed him they founde that he was marked with the mystical signe of the crosse whereat they maruailed and saide Alas alas here is an empty vessel but The signe of the crosse protected a Iowe yet it is signed which newes the resâ— of those helhoundes hearinge suddainly vanished awaye The Iewe who had seene all that which then passed among them presently rose vp and in all hast sped him selfe to the Bishop whom he founde in the churche and taking him a side he demanded with what tentation he was trobled but shame so preuailed that by no meanes he wolde confesse the truthe Then the Iewe replied and tolde him that he had cast his eies wickedly vpon such a one of Gods seruantes But the Bishop wolde not acknowledge that there was anye such thinge Why do you deny it quoth the Iewe for is it not so true that yesternighte you were broughte so far by sinfull tentation that you did strike her on the backe When the Bishop by these particularities perceiued that the matter was broken forth he humbly confessed what before he obstinately denied Then the Iewe moued with compassion to his soule and tenderinge his credit tolde him by what means he came to the knowledge thereof and what he hearde of him in that assemblye of wicked spirites The Bishop hearinge this fell prostrat vpon the earth and betooke him selfe to his praiers and straight after he discharged out of his house not only that Nunne but all other wâ—men that attended vpon her And not longe after he conuerted the temple of Apollo into an oratory of the blessed Churches dedicated to Sainctes Apostle S. Andrewe and neuer after was he trobled with that carnall tentation and the Iewe by whose means he was so mercifully preserued he broughte to euerlasting saluation for he baptized him and made him a member of holy churche And thus by Gods prouidence the Iewe hauinge care of the spirituall health of an other attained also him selfe the singular benefit of the same and almightye God by the same means brought one to imbrace piety and vertue by which he preserued an other in an holy and godly life Peter This historye which I haue hearde worketh in me feare and yet withal giueth me cause of hoope Gregory That is not amisse Peter for necessary it is that we shoulde both trust vpon the mercye of God and yet consideringe our owne frailtye be affraide for we haue nowe heard howe one of the cedars of Paradise was shaken and yet not blowne downe to the end that knowing our owne infirmitye we sholde both tremble at his shakinge and yet conceiue hoope in that he was not ouerthrowne but kept his standinge still OF CONSTANTIVS BISSHOP of Aquinum CHAPTER VIII COnstantius likewise a man of holy life was Bishop of Aquinum who not longe since died in the tyme of Pope Iohne of blessed memorye my predecessor many that knewe him familiarly saye that he had the gifte of prophecy And amongest diuers other thinges which he did religious and honest men then present reporte that lyinge vpon his death bed the citizens that stoode about him wept bitterly asked him with teares who sholde be theire father and Bishop after him To whom by the spirit of prophecy he answered sayinge After Constantius you shall haue a muletour and after a muletour a fuller of cloth and these men quoth he be now in the city of Aquinum and hauing spoken these propheticall wordes he gaue vp the Ghost After whose departure one Andrewe his Deacon was made Bishop who in tymes past had kept mules and post horses And when he died one Iouinus was preferred to that dignitye who in former tymes had bene a fuller in the same citye in whose daies all the citizens were so wasted some by the sworde of barbarous people and some by a terrible plague that after his death neither could any be founde to be made Bishop nor yet any people for whose sake he sholde be created And so the saying of the man of God was fulfilled in that his churche after the death of two that followed him had no Bishopp at all OF FRIGIDIANVS BISSHOP of Luca. CHAPTER IX BVt I must not forget to tell you what I hearde of the reuerent man Venantius Bishop of Luna some two daies agoe who saide that there was nighe vnto him a man of rare vertue called Frigidianus Bishopp of Luca who wroughte a strange miracle which as he saith all the inhabitantes of that place do speake of and it was this Hard by the walles of the city there runneth a riuer called Anser which diuers tymes doth so swell and ouerflowe the bankes that it drowneth many acres of grounde spoileth muche corne and fruite The inhabitants inforced by necessity seeinge that this did often happen went about by all means possible to turne the streame an other waye but when they had bestowed much labour yet coulde they not cause it to leaue the olde channell Wherevpon the man of God Frigidianus made a little rake and came to the riuer where all alone he bestowed some tyme in praier and then he commaunded the riuer to followe him
and goinge before he drewe his rake ouer suche places as he thoughte goode and the whole riuer forsakinge the olde channell did followe him and kept possession of that which the holy man by that signe of his rake had appointed and so neuer afterwarde did it hurte any more either corne or other thinges planted for the maintenance of men OF SABINVS BISSHOP OF Placentia CHAPTER X. THe same Venantius tolde me likewise an other miracle done as he saide in the city of Placentia which one Iohn the seruant of God and a man of credit liuing now here amongest vs and who was borne and broughte vp in that city affirmeth also to be most true For in that towne of Placētia they saye that there was a Bishopp of wonfull vertue called Sabinus who vnderstandinge by one of his Deacons that the great riuer of Poe was broken forth and had ouerflowed the lande which belonged to the churche and done muche harme he bad him goe vnto the riuer and deliuer it this message from him The Bishop commandeth you to retire and keepe your selfe within your owne boundes His Deacon hearing these wordes scornefully contemed to be emploied in any suche busines Then the man of God Sabinus sent for a Notarye and willed him to write these wordes Sabinus the seruaunt of our Lorde Iesus Christ sendeth admonition to Poe. I commande the in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ that thou come not out of thy channell nor presume any more to hurte the landes of the churche This shorte letter he bad the Notary write and when he had so done to goe and cast it into the riuer The Notary did as he bad him and the riuer obeyed the precept of the holy man for straightwaies it withdrewe it selfe from the churche-landes returned to his owne channell and neuer presumed any more to ouerflowe those groundes By which facte Peter the pride of disobedient men is confounded seeinge that the very senselesse element in the name of Iesus obeyed the holy mans commandement OF CERBONIVS BISSHOP of Populonium CHAPTER XI CErbonius also a man of holy life Bishop of Populonium hath made great prooffe in our tyme of his rare vertue For beinge muche giuen to hospitality vpon a certaine day he gaue entertainement to diuers soldiars which for feare of the Gothes that passed likewise by his house he conueyed out of the way and so saued theire liues from those wicked men Totilas theire impious kinge hauinge intelligence thereof in great rage and cruelty cōmanded him to be broughte vnto a place called Merulis eighte miles from Populonium where he remayned with his whole armie and in the sighte of the people to be cast vnto wilde beares to be deuoured And because the wicked kinge wolde nedes be present him selfe to beholde the Bishoppe torne in peces great store of people were likewise assembled to see that pitifull pagent The Bishop was broughte forthe and a terrible beare prouided that mighte in cruell manner teare his bodie in peeces so to satisfye the minde of that blodye Kinge Out of his den was the beast let loose who in great fury and hast sett vpon the Bishop but suddainly forgettinge all cruelty with bowed necke and humble heade he began to licke his feete to giue them al to vnderstande that men caried towardes the man of God the hartes of beasts and the beast as it were the harte of a man At this sighte the people with great showtinge and outcries declared how highely they did admire the holy man the Kinge him selfe was moued to haue him in great reuerence and so by Gods prouidence it fell out that he which before refused to obey and followe God by sauing the Bishops life was broughte to do it by the miraculous meekenes of a cruell beare Many of them which were then present and sawe it be yet liuing who do all affirme this to be most true An other miracle concerninge the same man I hearde of Venantius Bishop of Luna and it was this Cerbonius had in the churche of Populonium a tombe prouided for him selfe but when the Lombardes inuaded Italy and spoiled all that country he retired him selfe into the Ilande of Helba Where fallinge sore sicke before his deathe he commanded his chapleins to bury his body in the foresaide tombe at Populonium and when they tolde him how harde a thinge it was by reason of the Lombardes which were Lordes of the country and did range vp and downe in all places Carry me thither quoth he securely and feare nothinge but bury me in all hast and that being done come away as fast as you can For performinge of this his will they prouided a shipp and away they went with his body towardes Populonium in which iornye there fell great store of rayne but that the worlde might knowe whose body was transported in that shippe in that twelue miles space which is betwixt the ilande Populonium a great storme of raine fell vpon bothe sides of the shippe but not one droppe within When they were come to the place they buried his bodye and accordinge to his commandement returned to theire shipp with all speede and they were no soner a borde then there entred into the churche where the Bishop was buried a most cruell captayne of the Lombardes called Gunmar By whose suddaine comminge to that place it appeared planiely that the man of God had the spirit of prophecye when he willed them in all hast to departe from the place of his buriall OF FVLGENTIVS BISSHOP of Otricoly CHAPTER XII THe verye same miracle which I tolde you concerninge the diuision of the rayne happened likewise to the great veneration of an other Bishop For a certaine olde Priest who yet liueth was then present when it happened and saith that Fulgentius Bishop of Otricoly was in disgrace with that cruell tyrant Totilas therfore as he was passing that way with his army the Bishoppe did carefully before hande by his Chaplins send him certaine presentes by that means if it were possible to mitigat his furious minde But the tyrant contemned them and in great rage commanded his soldiars hardly to binde the Bishop and to keepe him safe vntill he had hearde his examination The mercilesse Gothes executed his cruell commandement and setting him vpon a pece of ground they made a circle rounde about him out of which they commanded him not to stir his foote whiles the man of God stoode there in great extremity of heate inuironed round about with those Gothes suddainly there fell suche thunder and lighteninge and suche plentye of raine that his keepers could not indure that terrible storme and yet for all that not one droppe fell within the circle where the man of God Fulgentius stoode Which strange newes beinge tolde to that tyrannicall kinge his barbarous minde was broughte to haue him in great reuerence whose torment before he desired so cruellye thirsted after his blode Thus almighty God to bringe downe the loftye mindes of carnall
arme to strike of his head but by no meanes coulde he bring it downe againe for it became suddainly so stiffe that it remained still aboue the man being not able once to bende it downewarde Then all the Lombardes who came to feede theire eies with the lamentable sighte of his death began with admiration to praise Gods name and with feare to reuerence the man of God for they now sawe apparantlye of what great holines he was that did so miraculouslye staye the arme of his executioner aboue in the ayre Then they desired him to rise vp which he did but when they required him to restore his executioners arme to his former state he vtterly refused sayinge By no meanes will I once pray for him vnlesse before hande he sweare vnto me that he will neuer vvith that arme offer to kill any christian more The poore Lombarde vvho as vve may truly saye had stretched out his arme against God enforced vvith this necessitye tooke an oath neuer more to putt any Christian to death Then the man of God commanded him to putt downe his arme which forthwith he did he commanded him also to putt vp his sworde which in like manner he performed All the Lombardes by this perceiuing him to be a man of rare vertue began in all hast to present him with the giftes of such oxen and other cattle as before they had taken from others but the man of God vtterly refused all such kinde of presentes desiringe them rather yf they ment to bestowe any thinge vpon him worth the giuinge that they wolde deliuer vnto him all such prisoners as they had in theire keeping that he mighte haue some cause in his praiers to commend them to almighty God To which request of his they condescended and so all the poore captiues were discharged and thus by Gods sweete prouidence one offering him selfe to dy for an other manye were deliuered from death Peter A strange thinge it was and althoughe I haue hearde the same story by the relation of others yet I can not denye but so often as I heare it repeated it seemeth still vnto me as thoughe it were freshe newes Gregory There is no cause why you sholde admire Sanctulus for this thing but ponder with your selfe if you can what manner of spirit that was which possessed his simple soule and did aduaunce it to so highe a perfection of vertue For where was his minde when he offered him selfe with such constancye to dy for his neighbour and to saue the temporall life of his brother contemned his owne and put his heade vnder the executioners sworde what force of true loue did then harbor in that hart when he nothinge feared death to preserue the life of an other Ignorant I am not that this venerable man Sanctulus could scant reade well and that he knewe not the preceptes of the lawe yet because charitye is the fulfilling of the lawe by louing God and his neighbour he kept the whole lawe and that which outwardlye lacked in knowledge did in wardlie by charity liue in his soule And he perhappes who neuer read that which S. Iohne the Apostle saide of our Sauiour to witt that as he Ioan. 13. v. 16. yeelded his life for vs so we likewise shold yeeld our liues for our brethren yet that great highe precept of the Apostle he knewe more by action then by speculation Let vs here yf you please compare his learned ignorance with our vnlearned knowledge Where our kinde of 〈…〉 inge is nothing worth his is of 〈…〉 t price and estimation we destit◠〈…〉 vertue doe speake thereof and as 〈…〉 vere in the middes of plentifull 〈…〉 s smell of the fruite but do not 〈…〉 e thereof He knewe full well 〈…〉 we to gather and tast of the fruite 〈…〉 elfe althoughe he lacked the smell 〈…〉 wordes and vaine speeche Peter What I pray doe you thincke is the 〈…〉 ause that goode men are still taken 〈…〉 vvaye and such as for the benefit and 〈…〉 dification of many might liue still in this vvorlde either are not to be founde at all or at least verye fevve can be hearde of Gregory The malice and vvickednes of them that remayne behinde in the vvorlde deserueth that those shoulde quickly be taken avvaye vvho by theire life mighte much helpe vs and for as much as the vvorlde dravveth tovvardes an end Gods chosen seruantes are taken out of it that they fall not into more vvicked tymes and therfore from hence it commeth that the prophet saith The iust man doth perish and there is Esay 5. none that doth ponder it in his hart and men of mercye are gathered together because there is none that hath vnderstandinge And from hence also it proceedeth that the scripture saith Open ye that they may goe forth Ierem. 50. which doe tread it vnder foote Hence likewise it is that Salomon saith There is a Eccles 3. time of casting stones abroad and a tyme of gathering them together And therfore the nerer that the worlde draweth to an end so much the more necessary it is that the liuing stones shold be gathered together for the heauenly building that our celestiall Ierusalem may arriue to the full measure of his whole perfection And yet doe I not thincke that all Gods elect seruaÌ„tes are so taken out of the worlde that none but the wicked remayne behinde for synners wolde neuer be conuerted to the sorrowe of true penance yf they had not the examples of some goode people to prouoke them forwarde Peter Without cause doe I complaine of the death oâ—goode men wheÌ„ as daily I see them also that be wicked in great numbers to depart this life OF THE VISION OF REdemptus Bisshop of the city of Ferenti CHAPTER XXXVIII Gregory VVOnder nothing at this Peter for you knevve very vvell Redemptus Bishop of the city of Ferenti a man of venerable life vvho died almost seuen yeares since vvith vvhom I had familiar acquaintance by reason that he dvvelt not far from the Abbey in vvhich I liued This man vvhen I asked him for the matter vvas very vvell knovvne far and nere tolde me that vvhich by diuine reuelation he had learned concerning the ende of the vvorlde in the tyme of Ioâ—â—e the yonger vvho vvas my prededecessor For he saide that vpon a certaine daye as he vvas according to his manner visiting of his Diocesse he came to the Church of the blessed martir Euthicius and vvhen it vvas nigh the vvolde nedes be lodged nighe to the sepulchre of the martir vvhere after his trauail he â—eposed him selfe About midnighte being as he saide him selfe neither perfectly waking nor yet sleeping but rather heauy of sleepe he felt his waking soule oppressed with great sorrowe and being in that case he sawe the same blessed martir Euthicius standing before him who spake thus Art thou waking Redemptus to whom he answered that he was Then the martir saide The end of all fleshe is come the
end of all fleshe is come which worâ—es after he had repeated thus three tymes he vanisshed out of his sight Then the man of God rose vp and fell to his pâ—aiers with many teares And straight after those fearefull sightes in heauen followed to wit firy lances and armies appearing from the north Straight after likewise the barbarous and cruell nation of the Lombardes drawne as a sworde out of a sheath left theire owne countrye and inuaded ours by reason whereof the people which before for the huge multitude were like to thicke corne fieldes remayne nowe withered and ouerthrowne for cities be wasted townes and villages spoiled churches burnte monasteries of men and wâ—men destroied farmes left desolate the countrye remayneth solitarye and voide of men to till the grounde and destitute of all inhabitantes beastes possessinge those places where before great plenty of men did dwell And howe it goeth in other partes of the worlde I knowe not but here in this place where we liue the worlde doth not foretel any end but rather sheweth that which is present and already come Wherfore so much the more zealouslye ought we to seeke after eternal thinges by how much we finde all temporall so quicklye to be fled and gone Suerlye this worlde were to be contemned althoughe it did flatter vs and with pleasant prosperitye contented our minde but now seing it is fraught with so many miseries and diuers afflictions and that our sorrowes and crosses do daily encrease and be doubled what doth it els but crye vnto vs that we sholde not loue it Maâ—y more thinges yet remaine of the worthy actes of Gods seruauntes but because I haue resolued vpon an other course I wil passe ouer with silence Peter For as much as I perceiue that many Christians doe doubt of the immortality of the soule after the dissolution of the bodye I beseech you for the spirituall goode of manye to sett downe some reasoÌ„s for proffe thereof or the examples of some soules which haue testified the same yf you remember any to the end that those which be troubled with any such tentations may learne that the soule doth not dy together with the bodie Gregory This is a worke of great labour especially for one that is busied with other affaires and hath other thinges to attende vnto yet yf any profit by my meanes may redound to others willingly doe I prefer that before myne owne will and pleasure and therfore Gods grace assisting me in this fourth booke followinge I will clerely shewe that the soule doth liue after the death of the body The end of the third booke THE CHAPTERS OF THE FOVRTH BOOKE 1. THat carnal men doe the lesse belieue eternal and spiritual thinges because those of which they heare they knowe not by experience 2. That an infidel liueth not without faith 3. That there were three vital spirittes created 4. Of that question of Salomon wherein it is said That the death of a man and beastes is all one 5. Of that question concerninge the soule which goeth inuisiblye out of the bodye to witt whether there be any such thinge when as it can not be seene 6. That as the life of the soule whiles it remaineth in the body is knowne by the motions of the members so the life of the soule asâ—er it is out of the bodye in Sainctes is gathered by the vertue of miracles 7. Of the departures of soules 8. Of the departure of the soule of a monke called Specioâ—us 9. Of the soule of an Anchoret 10. Of the departure of the soule of an Abbot called Hope 11. Of the departure of the soule of a Priest caled Vrâ—inus 12. Of the soule of Probus Bisshop of the citye of Reati 13. Of the departure of a Nunne called Galla. 14. Of the departure of Seruulus sicke of the Palsye 15. Of the departure of a Nunne called Romula 16. Of the departure of the virgin Tarsilla 17. Of the departure of a yong maide called Musa 18. How certaine yong children come not to heauen throughe the fault of theire parentes because they bring them vp wickedly as is shewed and afterward declared by the example of a blaspheâ—â—ous yonge boye 19. Of the departure of one Steuen the seruant of God 20. That sometyme the merit of the soule is not sene at the departure but is after deathe more truly declared 21. Of the two monkes of Abbot Valentius 22. Of the departure of Abbot Soranus 23. Of the departure of the Deacon of the Churche of Marsi 24. Of the death of the man of God that was sent to Bethel 25. VVhether the soules of iust men be receiued into heauen before the resurrection of the body 26. By what meanes some that are a dying doe prophecy Of the death of a certaine Aduocat Of the reuelation of the two monkes Gerontius and Mellirus Of the death of a boy called Armentarius and of the diuersitye of tongues 27. Of the death of the Earle Theophanius 28. That as the soules of iust men be in heauen so we ought to belieue that after the death of the bodies the soules of wicked men are in hell 29. VVhat reason we haue to belieue that corporal fire can hold spirittes they being without bodyes 30. Of the death of the Arrian kinge Theodoricus 31. Of the death of Reparatus 32. Of the death of a courtier whose graue burnt with fire 33. VVhether the goode knowe the goode in heauen and the bad those that be bad in hell 34. Of a certaine religious man who at his death saw the Prophetes 35. How sometime soules ready to departe this worlde that knowe not one an other doe knowe for all that what torments for theire sinnes or like rewardes for theire goode deedes they shal receiue And of the death of Iohne Vrsus Eumorphius SteueÌ„ 36. Of those soules which throughe error seme to be carried out of theire bodies Of the vocation and reuocation of Peter the monke and of the death and resusciâ—ation of Steuen Of the vision of a certaine soldiar and of Deusdedit whose house was sene to be built vpon the sabboth daye and of the punnishement of the men of Sodome 37. That the soules of certaine men whiles they be yet in theire bodies do see some spiritual punnishment and of the boy Theodorus 38. Of the death of Chrisorius and of a certaine monke of Iconia 39. VVhether there be any fire of purgaâ—orye after death 40. Of the soule of Paschasius the Deacon 41. VVhy in latter times so many thinges come to lighte concerning mens soules which before were not knowne 42. In what place we ought to beleue that hel is 43. VVhether the fire of hel be one or manye 44. VVhether they alwaies burne that lye in hell 45. How the soule is saide to be immortal if it be punnished with the sentence of death 46. Of a certaine holy man who was affraide at the tyme of his death 47. That some are by reuelation strengthned not to
open vnto them the spirituall lighte of the soule who forthwith obeying Gods commandement visited the foresaide Albeies and preached vnto them such preceptes of goode life as him selfe before had in conuersation practised Returning after fiftene daies to his owne Abbeye he called his monkes together and in theire presence receiued the Sacrament of the body and bloude of our Lorde and straighte-waies began together with them the mysticall hymnes of the Psalmes afterwarde falling with attention to his praiers whiles they continued on theire singing he gaue vp the ghost at which very tyme all the monkes sawe a doue comminge out of his mouth which in theire sighte flying forth throughe the topp of the oratory being then opened ascended vp into heauen And surely it is to be thoughte that his soule by diuine prouidence did in that manner appeare in the likenes of a doue that almighty God mighte thereby shewe with what a true and simple heart that holy man had alwaies serued him OF THE DEPARTVRE OF a Priestes soule called Vrsinus CHAPTER XI NEither must I forget that which the reuerent Abbot Steuen who not long since died in this city and whom you kne we very well tolde me to haue happened in the same Prouince of Nursia For he saide that a Priest dwelled in that countrye who in the feare of God gouerned the Church committed to his charge and althoughe after he had taken orders he did still loue his old wife as his enemy and neuer wolde he permit her to come neare him vpon any occasion Priestes after holy orders bounde to abstayne from the carnal company of theire former wiues abstayning wholy from all intercourse of familiarity For this is a thinge proper to holy men often tymes to depriue them selues of those thinges which be lawful to the end they may remaine the more free from such as be vnlawfull and therfore this man not to fal into any synne vtterly refused al necessary and requisit seruice at her handes When this reuerent man had long liued in this worlde the fourtith yeare after he was made Priest by a great and vehement agewe was broughte to the last cast his olde wife beholding him so far spent and to ly as thoughe he had bene deade putt her heade neare vnto him to see whether he did breath or no which he perceiuing hauing yet a little life lefte enforced him selfe to speake as well as he coulde and in greatferuor of spirit brake out into these wordes Gett the awaye woman a little fire is yet lefte away with the strawe after she was gone his strength some-what increasing he began with greatioy to cry out welcome my Lordes welcome my Lordes why haâ—e you vouchsafed to visit me your vnworthy seruant I come I come I thancke you I thancke you and when he did often repeate these and the like wordes his friendes that were present asked him to whom hespake to whom with a kinde of admiration he answered what do you not here beholde the holy Apostles Do you not see the chiefe of them S. Peter and S. Paul and so turning him selfe againe towardes them he saide Beholde I come beholde I come and in speaking those wordes he gaue vp his happy ghost And that he did indede verily beholde the holy Apostles he testified by that his departure with them And thus it doth often fall out by the sweete prouidence of God that goode men at theire death do beholde his Sainctes going before them and leading as it were the waye to the end they sholde not be affraide at the panges thereof and that whiles theire soules do see the Sainctes in heauen they maye be discharged from the prison of this bodye without all feare and griefe OF THE SOVLE OF PROBVS Bisshop of the city of Reati CHAPTER XII COncerning which thing I must also tel you that which the seruaÌ„t of God Probus who now in this city liueth in an Abbey gaue me to vnderstande of an vncle of his called also Probus who was Bishop of the citye of Reati For he saide that being grieuously sick in great extremity of death his father whose name was Maximus caused many Phisitions to be sent for to see whether by theire skill he could any waies be holpen who all vpon the feeling of his pulse gaue sentence of speedy death When dinner tyme was come and the day some what far spent the venerable Bishop more carefull of theire health then of his owne desired them that they woulde goe vp with his old father into the higher part of his pallace and after theire great paynes to refresh them selues with a poore dinner Wherevpon all went vp and none remayned with him but a little yonge boy who as Probus saith is yet liuing The little boye standing by his beddes side suddainly sawe certaine men comming into the man of God apparrelled in white stoales whose faces were far more bewtifull and brighte then the whitenes of theire garmentes whereat being amazed and affraide he began to crye out and aske who they were at which noise the Bishop also loking vp behelde them comming in and knewe them and therevpon comforted the little boye bidding him not to crye or be affraide saying that they were the holy martirs S. Iuuenall and S. Eleutherius that came to visit him but he not acquainted with any such strange visions ran out at the dores as fast as he coulde carying newes hereof both to his father the phisitions who going downe in all hast found the Bishop departed for those Sainctes whose sighte the childe coulde not endure had carried his soule away in theire company OF THE DEATH OF A Nunne called Galla. CHAPTER XIII NEither will I conceale that which I receiued by the relation of those that are graue and of goode credit In the tyme of the Gothes an honorable yonge maide called Galla daughter to Simmachus the Consull was bestowed in marriag whose husbande before the yere came about departed this life and thoughe both plentye of wealth and her yonge yeres were great allurementes to a seconde marriag yet she made choise rather to be married spiritually to God in which after mourninge euerlasting ioy doth followe then to become againe subiect to carnall matrirnonye which alwaies begineth with ioye and in conclusion endeth with sorrowe But because she had a passing highe colour the Phisitions tolde her that vnlesse Nunnes maye not marrye she did marrye againe that she wolde throughe abundance of heate contrary to nature haue a bearde like vnto men which afterwarde fell so out indede but the holy woman little regarded outwarde deformitye which in wardly in her soule was inamored with the bewtye of the heauenly spouse and feared not yf that in her became foule which she knewe that her caelestial spouse did nothing loue Wherfore straight vpon the death of her husbande casting of her secular Nunnes weare no secular habitâ— habit and attire she rendred her selfe for the seruice of God to that Nunnery
inprisonment bene the death of Pope Iohne and also killed Symnachus iustlye did he appeare to be throwne of them into fire whom before in this life he had vniustly condemned OF THE DEATH OF Reparatus CHAPTER XXXI AT the same tyme when I first desired to leade a solitary life a certaine old man called Deusdedit passing well beloued of the whole citye and one also that was my friende and familiar acquaintance tolde me that in the tyme of the Gothes a certaine worshipfull man called Repararus came to dye who lying a longe while with his countenance changed and his body stiffe many thoughte in verye deede that he had bene deadeâ— and when diuers of his friendes and familye wept for his departure all on a suddaine he came to him felfe to the great admiration of his mourning house-holde Being returned thus to life he bad them in all hast to send a boye to the church of S. Laurence in Damafo so called of him that built it and quicklye to bringe worde what was become of Tiburtius the Prlest This Tiburtius as the speeche went was much giuen to a dissolute and wanton life and Florentius who at that tyme was a Priest in the same church remembreth full well his conuersation and manner of life When the messenger was gone Reparatus that was returned to life tolde them that in the place where he was he sawe a great woode-pile made readye and Tiburtius broughte forthe and laide vpon it and there to haue bene burnt with fire Then an other fire quoth he was prepared which was so highe that it reached from earth to heauen but althoughe they demanded for whom it was yet did he not tell them for when he had spoken these wordes straight-waies he died and the boy vvhich vvas sent to see vvhat vvas became of Tiburtius returned vvith newes that he found him a little before his comming departed this life By vvhich vve may learne that seing this Reparatus vvas caried to the places of tormentes to see them returned after vvarde to life to tell vvhat he had there behelde and straighte after left this vvorlde that he savve not all these thinges for him selfe but for vs that yet liue and haue tyme graunted to amende our vvicked liues And the reason vvhy Reparatus savve that great vvoode-pile burning vvas not that vve sholde thincke that the fire of hell is nourished with any woode but because he vvas to make relation of these thinges to them that remayned still in this vvorlde he savve that fire prepared for the vvicked to be made of the same matter of vvhich our fire is to the ende that by those thinges vvhich vve knovve and be acquainted vvith vve should learne to be affraide of those vvhich yet vve haue not sene nor haue any experience OF THE DEATH OF A COVRtier whose graue burned with fire CHAPTER XXXII MAximianus Bishop of Siracusis a man of holy life who for a longe tyme in this citye had the gouernment of my Monasterye often tolde me a terrible storye which fell out in the Prouince of Valeria A certaine courtier vpon Easter euen was Godfather to a yonge maide who after the fast was ended returned home to his house where drinckinge more wine then ynoughe he desired that his God daughter might tarry with him whom that nighte which is horrible to speake of he did vtterlye vndoe In the morning vpp he rose and with guilty conscience thought goode to go vnto the bathe as thoughe the water of that place coulde haue washed awaye the filthines of his synne yet he went and washed him selfe Then he began to doubt whether it vvere best to goe vnto the church or no fearing on the one side vvhat men wolde say yf he vvent not vpon that so great a festiual day and on the other yf he did go he trembled to thincke of Gods iudgement In conclusion shame of the worlde ouercame him and therfore to the churche he went where yet he remained with great feare and horror loking euery instant that he should haue bene deliuered to the deuile and tormented before all the people At that solemne masse Solemne masse though he did wonderfully shake for feare yet he scaped free from all punishement and so he departed very ioyfully from churche and the next day after came thither without any feare at all and so merilie and securely he continewed for six daies together thincking with him self that either God savve not that his abhominable sinne or els that mercifully he had pardoned the same Vpon the seuenth daye by suddaine death he was taken out of this vvorlde And being buried for a longe time after in the sighte of the whole to vvne a flame of fire came out of his graue vvhich burnt his bones so longe vntill it consumed the very graue it selfe in such sorâ—e that the earth vvhich was raised vp with a little bancke appeared lower then the rest of the grounde By which fact almightye God declared vvhat his soule suffred in the other vvorlde vvhose dead body flaminge fire consumed in this To vs also he hath lefte a fearefull example that vve may there-by learne vvhat the liuing and sensible soule suffreth for synne committed vvhen as the sensible bones by such a punnishement of fire vvere burnt to nothinge Peter Desirous I am to knovve vvhether in heauen the goode knovve the goode and the vvicked in hell knovve one an other THAT IN HEAVEN THE GOODE knowe the goode and in hel the wicked haue knowledge of the wicked CHAPTER XXXIII Gregory THe truthe of this question vve finde most clerelye resolued in those vvordes of our Sauiour before alleaged in vvhich vvhen it is saide that There was a certaine rich man and he Luc. 16. was clad with purple and silke and he fared euery day magnificallye and there was a certaine begger called Lazarus that lay at his gate ful of sores desiring to be filled of the crommes that fel from the rich mans table and none did giue him but the dogges also came and licked his sores straighte vvaies it is there also saide that Lazarus died and was carried of the Angels into Abrahames bosome and the rich man also died and was buried in hell who lifting vp his eies being in tormentes sawe Abraham a far of and Lazarus in his bosome and he cried saying father Abraham haue mercye on me and send Lazarus that he may dippe the tippe of his finger into water for to coole my tongue because I am tormented in this flame To vvhom Abraham an â—vvered Sonne remeÌ„ber that thowe diddesâ— receiue goode thinges in thy life tyme and Lazarus likewise euil By vvwhich wordes the rich man hauing no hoope of saluation for him selfe beginneth to make sute for his friendes saying Father I beseeche the that thow woldest send him vnto my fathers house for I haue fiue brethren for to testify vnto them least they also come into this place of tormentes In which wordes we see plainlye that the good do knowe the goode
let vs hereby meditate what manner of sacrifice this is ordained for vs which for our absolution doth alwaies represent the passion of the onlye sonne of God for what right beleeuing Christian can doubt that in Ponder attentiuely thesâ— wordes the verye howre of the sacrifice at the wordes of the Priest the heauenes be opened and the quires of Angels are present in that mystery of Iesus Christ that highe thinges are accompanied with lowe and earthly ioyned to heauenlye and that one thinge is made of visible and inuisible HOVV VVE OYGHTE TO PROCVRE sorrowe of hart at the tyme of the holy mysteries and of the custodye of our soule after contrition CHAPTER LIX BVt necessary it is that when we doe these thinges we shoulde also by contrition of hart sacrifice our selues vnto almightye God for when we celebrate the mystery of our Lordes passion we ought to imitate what we then doe for then shall it truly be a sâ—crifice for vs vnto God yf we offer our selues also to him in sacrifice Carefull also must we be that after we haue bestowed some tyme in praier that as much as we can by Gods grace we keepe our minde fixed in him so that no vaine thoughtes make vs to fall vnto dissolution nor any foolishe mirth enter in to our hart least the soule by reason of such transitory thoughtes lose all that which it gained by former contrition For so Anne deserued to obtaine that which she craued at Gods hande because after her teares she preserued her selfe in the former force of her soule for of her thus it is written And her lookes were not any more chaunged to 1. Reg. 1. diuers thinges She therfore that forgot not what she desired was not depriued of that gifte which she requested THAT VVE OVGHTE TO PARDON other men theire synnes that we may obtaine remission of our owne CHAPTER LX. VVE haue also further to knowe that he doth â—ightly and in good sorte demande pardon for his owne synne who doth forgiue that which hath bene done against him selfe For our gifte is not receiued yf before we free not our soule from all discorde and lacke of charitye for our Sauiour saith Yf thow Math. 5. offer thy gifte at the altar and there thow remember that thy brother hath oughte against the leaue there thy offering besore the altar and goe first to be reconciled to thy brother and then comming thow shalt offer thy gift Wherein we haue to consider that whereas all synne by a gift is loosed howe grieuous the synne of discorde is for which no gift is receiued and therfore we oughte in soule and desire to goe vnto our neighbour thoughe he far of and many miles distant from vs and there to humble our selues before him and to pacifye him by humility and harty goode will to the end that our creator beholdinge the desire of our minde may forgiue vs our owne synne who receiueth a gift for synne And our Sauiour him selfe teacheth vs how that seruant which did owe ten thousande talentes by penance obtained of his Lord the forgiuenes of â—hat debt Math. 18. but yet because he would not forgiue his fellowe seruant an hundred pence which were due to him that was againe exacted at his handes which before was pardoned Out of which sayinges we learne that 〈◊〉 doe not from our hart forgiue 〈◊〉 which â—s committed against vs â—ow that is againe required at our handes whereof before we were glad that by penance we had obtayned pardon and remission Wherfore whiles tyme is giuen vs whiles our iudge doth beare with vs whiles he that examineth our synnes doth expect our conuersion and amendement let vs mollyfy with teares the hardenes of our harte and with sincere charity loue our neighbours and then dare I speake it boldly that we shall not haue any nede of the holy sacrifice after our death yf before death we offer vp our selues for a sacrifice vnto almightye God FAVLTEâ— ESCAPED IN SOME FEWE copies Pag. 38. lin 17. read message Pag. 96. lin 10. read childe Pag. 268. lin 13. read opinion Pag. 289. marg blott out the word how Pag. 297. lin 10. read boldlye Pag. 290. lin 23. read stick Pag. 269. lin 16. read into Pag. 386. lin 2. read spake Pag. 437. lin 19. read corruptible Pag. 461. lin 27. blot out the word saying Pag. 473. lin 13. read sorthwith Pag. 474. lin 19. read quantitie Pag. 489. lin 22. read life A SHORTE RELATION OF DIVERS MIRACLES WROVGHTE AT THE MEMORIES OR SHRINES OF CERTAINE MARTIRS ESPECIALLY S. Steuene the Protomartyr of Christes Church VVritten by the auncient learned and holy doctor S. Augustin and tranflated into our English tongue by P. VV. Hebr. cap. 13. v. 7. Remember your Prelates which haue spoken the wordes of God to you the ende of whose conuersation beholding imitate their faith Gregor lib. 8. epistol cap. 37. He that desireth throughly to be filled with delitious foode let him reade the workes of Blessed Augustin Printed at Paris 1608. TO THE GOODE CHRISTIAN READER ACcordinge to promise gentle Reader I haue here for the antiquitie and veritie of our religion added to S. Gregorie the testimonie of glorious S. Austen vpon whom the heauenly dewe of Gods grace was so plentifully powred that he was for sharpenesse of witt depth of learninge and holynes of life both to them of his time and all posteritie the light of the world and salt of the earth Many singular and rare testimonies for his vertue learninge and zeale of true religion might be produced but I will content my selfe only with two The first shal be of S. Celestinus Bishoppe of Rome who writeth thus in his coÌ„mendation Augustinum Epist 1. ad quosdaÌ„ GalliaruÌ„ Episcopos cap. 2. sanctae recordationis viruÌ„ c. We haue allwayes for his life and merits had in our communion Augustin a man of holy memorie neither was he euer so much as once touched with any sinister suspition Whom longe since we remember to haue bene of so great learninge that he was by my predecessors reckoned amongest the best Doctors Wherefore all did generallie thinke well of him as he that was euery where both loued and honoured The secoÌ„d shal be of master Cooper one liuing in our dayes and not partial as the world knoweth on our syde whose woordes be these Austen the most famous In his chronicle anno DoÌ„ 397. and learned Doctor of Christes Church was Bishoppe of Hippone a Citie in Affricke This man was of such excellent witt that in his Childhoode Se also his Dictionaay in the words Augustinus he learned all the liberall sciences without any instructor and in all partes of Philosophie was wonderfully learned At the begininge he fauored the opinion of them which be called Maniches but by the continuall prayer of his goode mother Monica and the persuasion of holy S. Ambrose he was conuerted to the true faith They both being replenished with the holy
and a very fit plot of grounde left to make them a gardin At an other tyme the same holye man beinge washinge of lamppes made of glasse one of them by chaunce fell out of his handes and brake into manye peeces who fearinge the great furye of the Abbot did forthwiâ—h gathere vp al the fragmentes laide them before the altar and there with great sithinge fell to his praiers and afterwarde liftinge vp his heade he founde the lampe entire whole And thus in these two mâ—racles did he imitat two notable fathers to wit Gregory and Donatus the first of which remoued a mountaine and the other madâ— a broken chalice safe and sounde Peter We haue as I perceiue now miracles after the imitation of old sainctes Gregory Howe say yowe ar you content also in the conuersation of Nonnosus to heare howe he did imitat the facte of the prophet Ileliseus Peter Content I am and most earnestly desire it Gregory Vpon a certaine daye when the old oile was spent and the tyme to gather oliues was nowe at hande the Abbot bycause there owne trees toke not thoughte it best to sende the monckes abroade to helpe straÌ„gers in the gatheringe of theires that for the recompeÌ„se of theire labor they might bringe home some oile for the necessities of theire owne house This determinatioÌ„ the man of God Nonnosus in great humility did hinder least the monckes goinge abroade from theire cloister to gett oile mighte lose somwhat in the deuotion of theire soules And therfore bycause he savve that theire owne trees had yet a fevve oliues he willed those to be gathered and put into the presse and that oile which came forth to be broughte vnto him thoughe it were neuer so little which being done he sett the little vessell before the aultar and after theire departure he offered his praiers to God which being ended he called for the monckes commandinge them to take awaye the oile which they brought to powre a little thereof into all the vessels which they had that each of them mighte haue some of the benedictioÌ„ of that oile which beinge done he caused the vessels empty as they were to be close stopped and the next day they founde them al full Peter We finde daily the wordes of our Sauiour to be verified who saith My father euen to this tyme doth worcke and I do Ioan. 5. worcke OF ANASTASIVS ABBOT OF the Monastery called Suppentonia CHAPTER VIII Gregory AT the same tyme the reuerent man Anastasius of whom I spake before vvas notarye to the churche of Rome whereof by Gods prouidence I haue nowe the charge who desirous only to serue God gaue ouer his office and made choise of a monasticall life and in that Abbeye which is called Suppentonia he liued many years vertuously and gouerned that place with great care and diligence Ouer the Abbey there hangeth an huge rocke and beneath it there is a stiepe downefall Vpon a certaine nighte when God had determined to rewarde the labours of venerable Anastasius a voice was hearde from the topp or that rocke which very leisurely did cry out Come away Anastasius who being so called straighte after seuen other monkes were seuerally called by theire names And then the voice staied for a little tyme and then called againe the eighte moncke Which strange voice the ConueÌ„t hearinge very plainelye made no doubte but that the death of them that were so called was not farr of wherfore not many daies after before the rest Anastasius him selfe and then the others in order departed this mortal life as they were before called from the topp of the rocke And that moncke who was called after som pausing did a little while suruiue the rest and then he also ended his life whereby it was plaine that the stayinge of the voice did signify that he sholde liue a little longer then the other But a strange thinge happened for when holy Anastasius lay vpon his death bed a certaine monke there was in the Abbey that wolde needes dye with him and therfore fel downe at his feere and there began with teares to begg of him in this manner For his loue to whom you are nowe goinge I beseche and adsure you that I may not remayne in this worlde seuen daies after your departure and indede it so fel out that before the seuenth day was come that he lefte this mortall life and yet was not he that nighte named by that voice amongest the rest so that it appeareth plainelye that it vvas only the intercession of Anastasius vhich obtayned that his departure Peter Seinge that monke vvas not called amongest the other and yet by the intercession of that holy man vvas taken out of this life vvhat other thinge can vve gather hereof but that suche as be of great merit and in fauor vvith God can somtyme obtayne those thinges vvhich be not predestinate Gregory Such thinges as be not predestinat by God caÌ„ not by any meanes be obtained at his handes but those thinges which holy men do by theire praiers effect were from all eternitye predestinat to be obtained by praiers For very predestination it selfe to life euerlastinge is so by almighty God disposed that Gods elect seruantes doe throughe theire labor come vnto it in that by theire praiers they do merit to receiue that which almighty God determined before all worldes to bestowe vpon them Peter Desirous I am to haue this pointe more plainly proued to wit that predestination may by praiers be holpen Gregory That which I inferred Peter may quickly be proued for ignorant you are not that our Lorde saide to Abraham In Isaac shal sede be called to the to whom also he saide I haue appointed thee to be a father of many nations and againe he Gen 21. Gen. 27. Gen. 22. 26. promised him sayinge I wil blessâ—hee and multiplye thy sede as the starres of the heauen and as the sand of the sea Out of which places it is plaine that almighty God had predestinat to multiply the seede of Abraham by Isaac and yet the scripture Gen. 25. saith Isaac did praye vnto our Lorde for his wise bycause she was barren who did heare him and Rebecca conceiued Yf then the increase of Abrahams posteritye was predestinat by Isaac how came it to passe that his wife was barren by which most certaine it is that predestination is fulfilled by praiers when as we see that he by whom God had predestinaâ— to increase Abrahams seed obtained by praier to haue children Peter Seing reason hath made that plaine which before I knewe not I haue not herein any further doubte Gregory Shall I now tell you somewhat of such holy men as haue bene in Tuscania that you may be informed what notable persons haue florished in those partes and how greatly they were in the fauor of almighty God Peter Willing I am to giue you the hearinge and therfor beseche you to procede forvvarde OF BONIFACIVS BISHOPPE OF