of them were conuerted since their heroycall vertues and famous deeds did couer and hide yea rather did wholly cancell and blot out their former defects So in like maner it is no reproch vnto S. Cyprian to say what he was before his conuersioÌ„ for though he had many faults yet did he deface and abolish them all with the holy life he led after it There was in the city of Antioche a yong damosell noble of bloud and faire of face who was a Christian and much addcted to vertue and deuotion There dwelt in the same city one Cypâ—ian yong in years a great Philosopher but a greater magitian who was ennamored on her At the first Cyprian sollicited her with messages letters presents and promised but the holy damosell resisted thes assaults with a mind determinat making small account of his profers and least of all of him Cyprian perceuing this way would not preuaile thought to obtein his purpose by the help of his magike So he coniured vp the deuills and made sacrifice vnto them promising to be perpetuall frend vnto them and that he would not worship any other God but them if they put him in posession of that damosell The deuills his familiers hauing gotten this promise of him went to Iustina and put into her mind filthy thoughts and dishonest imaginations which they nourished in her hart Euery one of the fiends did what they could to bend and bowe the hart of Iustina to the loue of Cyprian They represented vnto her cogitations a yong man faire rich of courtly behauior and deeply ingaged in her loue They recalled also many times vnto her mynd the pleasaunt and amorous words which he had spoken vnto her of the which she had before made small reconing The holy damosell perceued the storme that was raised against her and resorted vnto God for succour and kneeling in her closet made a deuout praier beseeching his heauenly maiesty that as he had deliuered Susanna from the accurse Elders Dan. 13. and S. Tecla from her importunate spouse and other holy saints both men and women from other and the like perils so it would please him to deliuer her from that daunger wher in she was at that present She also besought most humbly the glorious Virgin Marie that she would help her in that manifest perill Vnto her continuall praiers she added and adioined fastings hair-cloths and sleeping on the ground and in the end by these means she ouercame the temptation she remained victour and the deuill vanquished The fiend repleat with confusion returned vnto Cyprian confessed that he had not the power to do any thing against Iustina the virgin he told him also that the cause therof was because she was a Christian and that the deuills haue not any power ouer any of them if they them selues do not giue it vnto them When Cyprian heard this the griefe of his hart cannot be expressed but that was not so much for the loue of Iustina because in such like cases to despaire wholly of good successe sometimes proueth a manifest help and remedy but because he perceaued his error in that he had worshipped the deuils who had so small power force Studieng on this he determined to abandon and to forsake for euer the deuils together with their cursed art and to receaue the Christian faith He conferred his determination with a Bishop who was in that city called Antimus who instructed him to the full in the Christian faith and Baptised him but first and before all this he made him to burne all the books of Magick that had Being Baptised he made it knowen vnto Iustina telling her that vnto her he was much bound for that by her means he came to the knowledge of the truth and of the faith of IESVS CHRIST When Iustina heard this strange alteration she reioiced excedingly and would confer some times with him in the which coÌ„ference they comforted the one the other to perseuer in the seruice of God and many by their means were conuerted to the faith and were Baptised At that time Claudius 2 was Emperour of Rome who had sent a certein Count called Aurelius Spa Dioclesian or Eutelmius as venerable Bede calleth him as lieutenant into the Orient He persecuting the Christians as Themperour had apointed had notice that Cyprian and Iustina were Christians and that many others had receued Baptisme by their inducement wherefore he caused them both to be apprehended When he had examined Cyprian and found him constant and firme in the faith he caused him to be stripped naked and his body to be rent torn with rakes and hooks of Iron he caused Iustina to be buffetted on the face and then scourged with the rawe sinews of beasts After he had put them vnto these seuerall torments he laid them both in prison where they continued certein daies when he sawe them to perseuer stedfast in the profession of their faith he caused them to be taken from thence and cast into a huge big cauldron seething with pitch tallowe and such other matter Iustina was some what troubled when they went about to put her into the Cauldron but S. Cyprian comforted and animated her and so they were both put into the Cauldron and by the fauor of God they felt therin no paine at all for the which they rendered him infinite thanks Being taken out they were led backe vnto the prison and Aurelius hauing occasion to go vnto Nicomedia tooke order that the holy martirs should be brought thither in which place afflicting them with sondry torments he lastly caused them to be beheaded Their bodies remained sixe daies vnburied because none was so hardy as to take them away but then certaine Christians conuaied them away in the night and put them into a bark and brought them to Rome where at the first they were buried in a farme place belonging to a noble lady called Rufina and in after times they were translated into the city and buried in the Cathedrall Church of Constantiniana nere vnto the Fontestone It is said that at this present their bodies be in Placencia a city of Lombardy The Church doth celebrate the feast of these holy saints on the day of their martirdome which was on the 26 day of September in the yeare of our Lord 272 the abouenamed Claudius 2 being emperour Spa saith Dioclesian about the yeare 300. The life of SS Cosmas and Damianus martirs SALOMON saith in Ecclesiasticus that the phisition deserueth to be honored Cap. 38. Psa 138. Dauid saith also in a psalme that the freinds of God deserue to be and are much honored S. Cosmus and S. Damianus were phisitions and great frends of God since for to be such they gaue their life and therefore they deserue to be honored euen as the Catholique Church in generall and many faithfull people in particuler honor them and haue deuotion vnto them Such men desire to know their lifes and martirdome which they suffered
barbarous natured man to the end that he should draw them to offerre vp sacrifice or put them to most grieuous torments Besides that in this he also had another respecte to haue Sergius the more auiled and disgraced by hauing appointed for his judge Antiochus aman that in former times was one of his followers and had bin preferred to the dignitie of Gouernor of Prefect of the East by the meanes of Sergius The holie Saincts were brought before him and he committed them first to prison where they spent they re time in prayer and deuotion beseeching oure Lord to graunt them strength and affoord them succoure in they re battaile Afterwards Antiochus fending for them vsed all meanes to winne they re willes to offer vp sacrifice to his Idolls But they answearing that his Idolls were diuells and no Gods he commaunded foure lustie and merciless fellowes to whip and scourge Bacchus with the toughest and hardest finewes of Oxen. This torment was so terrible and the lashes so cruell tearing his fleshe and wounding him so deepely that heerewith the martyr ended his lyfe and yielded vp his spiritt to God He afterward appeered vnto Sergius shining with glorie ad heauenly brightnesse he declared vnto him the endless reward which he had receaued for those short torments and encouraged him to vndergoe what paine soeuer was prepared for him to the end that as in they re punishment they might be partners in they re victorie and triumph Antiochus earnestlie to make Sergius more plyant and reduce him to his opinion but seing all he could doe was in vaine led by his fierce and cruell nature and desirous to satisfie the Emperoure he commaunded a paire of shoes all bestudded and thick sett with points of sharp nailes to be putt on his feete so to runne before his chariott and after this manner he did driue him nine miles to the excessiue paine of the holie martyr our of whose feet ranne streames of bloud But the night next ensuing an Angell did come and cherish him and so healed his feet as yf he had suffered nothing at all The iudge attributed to Magicke this fauoure of God and being therewith more enhardened did commaund him to endure againe the same torment Then seeing nothinge would auaile nor worke the martyr to his will he commaunded that his head should be stroken of Sergius kneeled downe vpon his knees and made his prayer to allmightie God beseeching him to accept the loss of his lyfe as a sacrifice to pardon those that did persecute him and graunt them knowledge of his light and his trueth He heard a voyce which inuited him to the kingdome of heauē did congratulate his victorie wherefore stretching forth his necke he was streightwaie beheaded the 7 of october in the yeare of oure Lord 306. God did honoure Sergius from Heauen with miracles and on earth he was honoured with great gyfts of Princes For Cosroes king of Persia though a pagan and Infidell did send to his temple a most riche Cross of gold with other precious gyftes in token of preat fauours receaued at his hands as childen by his wyfe queene Sira and safetie in manie great daungers and perilles Iustinian the emperour built two fayre churches in his name one at Constantinople the other at Ptolemaida At Rome a churche with the title of a Deacon Cardinall is dedicated vnto them And the verie citie wherein S. Sergius was put to death was called by his name Sergiopolis Of these two Saincts there is mention made in the second Nicene councell actione 5. in the Roman martyrologe and manie famous authors The life of SS Marcellus and Apuleius martyrs ON this self same dai the 7. of Octob. the Churche doth make a commemoration of Marcellus Apuleius martyrs They had bin disciples of Simon Magus but seeing by his disputations with S. Peeter that he was nothing but a false deceaver they forsooke and left him astonied at the wondrous works miracles of the glorious Apostle receaued his doctrine were made Christiās followed him all the dai of his life After his death thei liued according to his heauenlie doctrine vntill they came to be so happie as to shed they re bloud for that Faith and religion which they had learned of so good a maister They were putt to death and martyred by the commaundement of a Consull called Aurelian in the raigne of Domitian and in the yeare of our lord 93. the 7. of October and were buried without Rome neere the walles of the cittie The life of S. Dionise Areopagite and others SALOMON in the booke of wisdome saith that God disposeth all things sweetlie ordaining most conuenient meanes to obtaine such ends as he intendeth This was the reason why in his birth he vsed a starre to guide the three Eastern Kinges to adore him For they being Magi that is men skillfull in Astrologie by seing a starre of so new a fashion so different in place in course and motion from all other starres would be the more easilie wonne and allured to seeke the author and cause of that starre as they did effectuallie finding and adoringe IESVS CHRIST To conuert S. Dionise the Areopagite a great Philosopher and Astrologer God vsed the like propertionable meanes and it was that rare and singular Ecclips which at the time of oure sauioures death happened beyond the course of nature For Dionise marking the strangeness there of and maruailing at such a neuer seene wonder noted the yeare the day and houre and after vnderstanding by S. Paule the true cause and misterie of that Ecclipse he was conuerted to embrace that religion which was established by his death who was principall author and only motiue of that wonder which surpassed nature The life of this Sainct with Rusticus and Elutherius his fellow martirs collected out of Michaël Singelus priest of Hierusalem out of Suidas and Simeon Metaphrastes is as followeth THE cittie of Athens was famous in all Greece for that it was the chief place of learning the wellspring of knowledge and mother of Wisemen Dionise the Areopagite was borne therein of a riche and honourable familie and of parents morallie iust and courteous louelie to strangers and liberall in his youth he gaue himselfe to learning wherein he became so eminent that aswell for his knowledge as for his Nobilitie he had the chiefe place amonghst the Magistrates which gouerned the cittie He was most eloquent in the Attick tongue a most skillfull Rhetorician a rare man in the doctrine of Stoicks Epicureans and other Philosophers But aboue all he was accounted a iust man and vertuous in exercising his office not fauouring the riche nor oppressing the poore not cōdemning the innocent nor leauing the culpable without due chastizement He went into Egypt to studie the better vnderstand the course of the heauē the force influence of the starres and all that knowledge of Astrologie Being about the age of fiue and twentie and residing in the cittie
was borne in the cittie of Neocaesaria of honorable parents and euen from his childhood he spent his youth in all vertuous exercises When he grew to more yeares he gaue himself vnto the studie of philosophie by which he came vnto the knowledg that the adoration vsed by the pagans was a vaine thing and without foundation and that there neither was nor could be any more then one God only This was the cause that he listened willinglie vnto the Ghospell and to the faith of CHRIST for that he perceiued that the same acknowledged one God only He saw also that the thing which the Christian beleeueth although it surpasse naturall reason since a philosopher cannot attaine by naturall reason some things yet nothing is quite contrarie vnto the same reason which hapeneth not in any other sects Lastly being ayded by God he determined to be a Christian and came vnto Baptisme without those things which others receaning the same at his age do bring with them And if vntill that time he had loued the morall vertues now he exercised himself much more in them and namely his great chastitie which made other yong men of his yeeres to be ashamed of their lewdnes and wantōnes His humillitie reprooued their pride his mildnes patience their intemperance so that they enuyed him and charged him with crymes falsly and slanderously to the end he should not be accounted better and more vertuous then they And vpon this they made an accord with a lewd woman perswading her that at such time as Gregorie was in the company of other philosophers and wisemen she should complaine of him and say that he had the vse of her bodie promising her a certaine some of mony but afterward that he deceiued her and gaue her nothing S. Gregorie was on a time in company with many persons who gaue willing eare vnto him disputing of certaine subtile questions with admirable grace and eloquence his apparell being comely but meane such as he vsed euery daie The lewd woman came in and made her dishonest and vntrue complaint and partly threatned according to the apointment giuen her They which were present hearing this turned from the woman and fixed their eyes on S. Gregorie Yet knowing right well that he was cleere from such a matter and that it was a suborned accusation they turned back vnto the woman minding to thrust her headlong out of dores But the blessed man without changing his countenance or forswering the act calling one of his seruāts said vnto him Giue vnto that woman what she demandeth least she hinder our discourses The seruant asked the woman what his master ought her and she telling him he paid it to her But God would not permitte the chastitie of this holie man to be thus stayned and the woman to escape without due punishment for she had no sooner receaued the mony but the diuell entred and took posession of her tormenting her in such sort that euery one perceiued her wickednes Yet the holie man was mooued vnto compassion and prayed so long and feruently for her that the diuell departed and left her free The woman being recouered published openly her owne iniquitie and told how she was hyred by those vngracious andenuious yong men to do and say that which she had said and done Neuerthelesse S. Gregorie was better content to be accounted bad then to be so indeed He hauing now proffited sufficiently in humanity and philosophie grew to the study of the holie scripture hauing for his master Origen a man conformable to his desire most renowned through Christendome in those daies as well in diuinity as in good and vertuous life S. Gregorie went to find him out and became his disciple remaining in his companie so long as was sufficient by reason of his aptnes and quick witt Then returned he vnto his natiue country where euery one expected that he would discouer and lay open the treasures which he had gotten in his studies that he might reap some fruite with fame and honor for his long trauells But he to auoide worldlie glorie taking some of his familier friends in his company went into a desert liuing solitarily with them in continuall penitence spending the greatest part of his time in prayer and reading the holie scripture There was at that time a holie man called Fedimus Bishop of Amasia who was not only a great scholler but also very vertuous He much desired that in the cittie of Neocaesarea the natiue place of Gregorie there should be a Bishop that Idollatry which was strong in that place might be ouerquelled and that Christianine might be augmented for it was openly said that in all that cittie there were but 17. persons that professed the faith of CHRIST This good pastor thought Gregorie would be a fit man for that place the fame and report of his learning and life being so diuulged into diuers partes He went into the desert to find him with entent to giue him the order of priesthood and make him Bishop of that cittie S. Gregorie being certified thereof left his habitation shifting from one place to another Fedimus laboured to find him so that the one sought him to make him Bishop and the other fled from that high dignitie At last Fedimus being wearie with seeking him and they being three daies iourney one from the other Fedimus lifted vp his face toward heauen and said O Lord thou seest right well both me and Gregorie I desired to haue him present that I might haue layd my hands vpon him and haue consecrated him but let my wordes work the same effect I consecrate and offer him vnto thee ô Lord and vnto him I giue the charge of the cittie of Neocaesarea that he may spread the Ghospell therein and in the territorie thereof that thy faith and seruants may increase and multiplie to the honor and glorie of thy most holie name These words said Fedimus S. Gregorie hearing and vnderstanding these words yealded and would not resist any longer supposing that if he had done so he should haue resisted the will of God Thē he came vnto Fedimus of himself and by his presence was performed all the ceremonies which in such a case are accustomed to be done for the making of a priest and Bishop S. Gregorie required respite for a time whererein he might studie how he might best exercise his office which being granted he spent certaine daies in praiers desiring God to instruct and shew him how he should performe his dutie Whilest he was in his deuout praiers and contemplation there apeared vnto him the mother of God and S. Iohn the Euangelist his especiall aduocats And by the apointment of the B. virgin S. Iohn gaue him instructions in what manner he should gouerne and of the misterie of the holie Trinitie teaching him what he should saie and what definitions and words he should vse They commaunded him to go forthwith into the cittie and to begin to preach and conuert soules vnto
In prol in Ioh. De pres cript as Tertullian S. Ierome say out of the which he came without any hurt and then he was banished into an Isle called Pathmos which is one of the Islands called Cyclades and is not farre from Rhodes There the Apostle stayd a whole yeare and on a Sunday he had a vision and a reuelation in the which was discouered the successes of the Catholike Church that should happen vntill the day of the generall iudgement and all that he wrot in a booke which he called the Apocalipse or Reuelation Apo◠2. Whilest that S. Iohn remained in that Island he conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST almost all the inhabitants thereof and such was their loue toward him that as Symeon Metaphrases saith When he was to depart from the backe vnto Ephesus they were like to dye with sorrow Procrus Cap. 49. He was released from the exile after the death of Domitian and succession of Nerua who did by the aduise of the Senate reuoque and abrogate all the lawes his predecessor had made The Islanders vnderstanding that S. Iohn would depart from the went all vnto him lamenting and wailing some called him father others Lord and all said with one voyce he was theire ioy and comfort They besought him with great affection saying Oh Iohn thou holy and admirable man wherefore camest thou into this Island if thou art to depart hence so soone Why was the knowledge of thee bestowed on vs if we were to loose thy company so soone Whither wilt thou go to be beloued as thou art of vs Where shall thou be obeyed as thou art heere Where shall thy words be so esteemed since we listen to them as if they came from God and do beleeue that God speaketh in thee Then ô father haue pitty on vs thy children behold that without thee we are left in danger and perill to loose our selues Oh Emperour Domitian thou hast done to none such euill as thou hast done good vnto vs thou hast sent hither the elect disciple of God whom we haue knowen and receiued Baptisme by his meanes Thou hast done right well but for that to do good was far from thee of this good ariseth this present euill that now we must loose him whom before thou mad'st vs to know They all came to the holy Euangelist and kneeled at his feere tooke his garments in their hands kissed his hands with great humblenesse and reuerent behauiour for that they thought to make him stay there more by prayers and entreaties then by force or violence They holy Euangelist sawe the griefe of this Islanders for his departure but hee promising not to forget them and to send them some that should take charge of them they remained somewhat pleased and satisfied And so he embarked and returned to Ephesus where he was receiued with great and incredible ioy As the holy saint was to enter the Citty they carried out to buryall a noble Matrone called Drusiana who had loued S. Iohn very dearely He vnderstanding the same by many persons that followed the corps lamenting and mourning for the losse of so vertuous a woman that was charitable and had done many good workes of piety toward all kind of persons and he remembring the same prayed for her and God at his request raised againe the dead woman to life and the holy Apostle went to lodge at her house Then he began to gouerne that prouince again and he vnderstood that two young men in a Citty had distributed much riches vnto the poore desiring to serue God in pouerty which life S. Iohn had commended and praised much in his sermons but after perceiuing themselues in great want of necessary things they repented of what they had done S. Iohn talked with them and badde them bring him two great branches of trees from a Hill he named and some stones and the young men did so Then the Apostle by the power of God turned the stones into most pretious Iewels and the branches into Gold and said to the two young men Behold now see you may be as rich as you were before but consider well that the riches of the world doe puffe men vp and doe not satisfy them Thinke also that there is but one paradise and he that will haue it in this life and enioy and posesse worldly riches delights and pleasures cannot haue it also in the other world The Apostle did also in their sight raist to life a young man sonne to a poore widow who with many teares besought him to haue compassion on her as he had on Drusiana The two young men hauing seene this strange miracles determined to continue still in poore life and besought the Apostle to pray vnto God for them and gaue him backe his Iewels and Gold and he threw it vpon the ground and they returned to their former nature and he prayed vnto God for them and they led a holy life euer after S. Iohn had a great controuersy and variance with a priest of the Goddesse Dyana called Aristodemus who said that the miracles the Apostle did were not by the power of God but of the deuill and if he would haue him to beleeue it was by the worke of God let him drinke a cuppe of poyson that he would temper for him without any nocument or hurt to his life or health The malicious villaine thought by this meanes to take away the Apostles life and to repaire the losse his false gods sustained thereby S. Iohn accepted of the match and tooke the impoysonned cup in his hand and made thereon the signe of the Crosse and drunke it of without receuing any hurt Some Authors say for this cause S. Iohn is painted with a cuppe in his hand out of which commeth a serpent and he seemeth to blesse it which signifieth that he destroyed the force of the venime Others say this is not the cause but that he is painted so vpon the words CHRIST said to him when his mother requested that hee and his brother might haue the next place vnto him the one on the right hand and the other on the left and the words of CHRIST were these Can you drinke the cup which I must drinke and they answered I and our Sauiour replyed I say vnto you in verity that you shall drinke my cup This cuppe as some say is signified by the cuppe which is painted in the hand of S. Iohn and it may be it is painted there for both the causes S. Clement of Alexandria S. Iohn Chrisostome and other Authors recount also a story which befell betweene S. Iohn and a disciple of his being a beautifull young man And it was this S. Iohn kept the young man very strait and would haue brought him to strict and a mortified life And hauing on a time occasion to visite one of his Churches commended him vnto the care and gouernement of a Bishop desiring him to haue good regard of him In the absence of S.
of the plagues that he sent vpon them was when he slew all their first borne So also when IESVS CHRIST departed from Bethleem the Bethleemits remained also in lamentation For a sure thing it is that in the place froÌ„ whence God departeth there remaineth nothing but sorrow and wayling Let vs praie vnto his diuine majestie that he alwaies remaine in our compaine that we maie alwaies be glad and ioyfull in him and that our ioy may be true and perfect enjoying it in this world by grace after in heauen by glorie Amen The Catholique Church celebrateth the feast of the holie Innocents on the 28. of December and their Martyrdome was in the time of Octauian Augustus in the beginning of the second yeere of CHRISTE according to Ioannes Lucidus The life of S. Thomas Arche Bishop of Canterbury and Martyr THE lyfe of this holy Prelat and famous martyr collected out of foure Historiographers of his tyme Wilhelmus Cantuariensis Ioannes Carnotensis or Sarisbeâ—ens Alanus Abbot of Teukesbyrie Herbert of Hosâ—ham clerke Petrus Blessensis Archedeacon of Bathe and manie epistles of Popes kinges and Bisshops is in this manner SAINT Thomas vsually called of Canterbury B. and martyr was borne in London the head cittie and royall seate of great Britanie His father was one Gilbert surnamed Becket a man inferioure to none of his cittizens for kindred and riches and superioure to most for a singular good carriage and holie conuersation This Gilbert being in the flower of his youthe voluntariely receaued the holy cross an ensigne of suche as enrolled they re names to serue against Infidells and trauailed into the holie land where as he returned from visiting those sacred places of Hierusalem he together with others was taken by his enemies that lay in ambush made prisoner to an Admirall a Prince of great account amonghst the Infidells There he remained in captiuitie the space of one yeare and a halfe wherein the only daughter of the aforesaid Admirall was so wonne with the carriage and excellente good partes and qualities of Gilbert with his discreet and weighty reasoning of matters that concerned Christian Religion and also with his noble and stoute resolution to dye for Gods honoure that he afterwards by flight hauing obteined his libertie she wounded with his loue and led with desire of being a Christian forsooke all her wealth abandoned her fathers house her countrie followed him secretly into England There being first well instructed in Christian religion and baptized in the Churche of S. Paule by the Bisshop of London with greate solemnitie in the presence of sixe Prelats she was marryed to Gilbert all but especially the Bisshop of Cicester wondring at this heauenly vocation and admirable prouidence of God and prophecying that her wombe should beare a childe whose sanctitie and holie laboures would make Gods Churche renowned and glorious Not long after was Thomas borne and brought vp by his vertuous mother in all good manners and excercises But he learned of her especially the feare and loue of allmighty God with a greate deuocion to his B. virgen mother Marie next after Christe reposing in her his greatest confidence and making her Patron and Protectriss of all the wayes and steppes of his lyfe He was first brought vp in a religious howse of Merton after was instructed in liberall sciences then sent to studie in the vniuersitie of Paris from whence returninge home he discharged with honoure and great good satisfaction some publicke offices of the cittie of LondoÌ„ And hauinge now for the space of three yeares attended vnto temporall affayres and followed courte-businesses shewing himselfe therein quicke discreete and well aduised and thereby attained greate creditt and learned much prudence and experience hauing also been carryed with affection to youthfull sportes of hawking hunting yett euer without staining or blemishing his good name with anie vice or imperfection led by the instinct of the holie Ghost more then by anie friends persuasion he retired weaned himselfe from secular affaires and betooke himselfe to Theobald Arche B. of Canterburie where his industrie diligence and well aduised managinge of matters wonne him a chiefe place and greate reputation amongst the Arche Bâ— most familiar trustie friends After his admittance into the companie of Theobalds counseloures and chiefest followers he studied at Bolognia and at Alâ—isiodorum was greatly imployed in Church affaires of greatest importance oftentimes sent for decision of weightie controuersies to Rome from whence he euermore returned with good dispatche in his busines lastly he was made Archedeacon of Canterburie a place in those dayes of highest degree in the English cleargie next vnto Lord Abbots and Bissh Muche about that time Henry duke of Aquitaine and Normandie succeeded kinge Stephen in the crowne of England Theobald fearing least the kings good nature might be abused by some of his craftie counselours and by such as vnder the cloake and pretence of publicke autoritie thirsted after the Churches reuenues and the commons spoyle drawen to some ouer sharpe course and rough proceeding desirous also that the bond of loue and amitie might encrease betweene the Prince and his Prelats and the kings gracious fauoure shine vpon his cleargie a thing most necessarie for the good and well fare of all the kingdome and well assured of his Archeadeacons sufficiencie to doe all faithfull seruice to the kinge good offices to all manner of people brought him to the courte and wrought him into the fauoure of his Maiestie from whome he receaued the office of high Chanceloure of England It might seeme in outward shew and apparance that Thomas had now forgotten quite that euer he was an Archedeacon His retinue was greate his followers men of good account his housekeeping such as might compare with yf not surpasse the greatest Earles of the kingdome his stuffe verie costlie and full of brauerie so farre forth as bridles of beaten syluer his principall care to retaine his Princes fauoure and winne all mens good will which care did also compell him sometimes to shew himselfe plyant to this Maty in his fare his discourse in hauking in huntinge and sporting aswell as in his serious affaires A table that daylie and Honorably intertained Barons Earles a house that wellcomed all needie afflicted persons a hand that bountifully bestowed large gyfts in howsehold stuffe apparail prouision plate and coyne Finally fortune did seeme to haue made him her darling and all things so flowed according to his wish his desire that one would haue Iudged him to haue laide cleane aside the verie thought of a cleargie man But this was only the outside of Thomas for inwardly he was humble and abject in his owne eyes much addicted to praier and deuotion a greate tamer curber of his owne body in so muche that manie times he would chastize himselfe with a cruell discipline lashing himselfe vpon the bare backe his zeale was greate for the good of the churche and reliefe
most pure and chast as she was before and euer shall be Shee shall haue another spouse in heauen which shal be God himself to wit The Holy Ghost the third person of the holy Trinity He shall be her spouse and by him shee shall conceiue without losse or dammage vnto her virginity and hauing conceiued shall bring forth into the world our Sauior and Redeemer After we haue thus reioiced with Ioachim and Anna for that thy haue such a daughter borne vnto them we may also reioice with their other kinsfolke for that they haue gotten nowe such a kinswoman Let vs reioice also with the sinners for that nowe this day is borne their aduocate Let vs reioice with the Angels since that on this day is borne their Queene let vs reioice with God since on this day is borne his mother daughter and spouse And at the last let vs reioice with the virgin her selfe since God hath elected her to such gretnes and dignity And the occasion of this being for that we be sinners for if sinne had not bin God had not bin made man and if he had not bin made man shee had not bin his mother Therfore without doute shee being aduaunced to this gretnes by our occasion will remember vs and obteine for vs of the same God who is her sonne pardon and mercy for our sinnes transgressions and also his heauenly grace that we may be partakers of his glory The life of S. Adrian Martir THE worthy king Dauid speaking with God in one Psalme said Ps 118 I haue inclined my hart to do iust and good workes for retribution sake that is hauing regard vnto the reward which ariseth in doing them It is not euill to exercise and do good and holy workes in hauing regard vnto that which is gained therby in doing them The reason hereof is that the guerdon or reward which is expected is God himselfe In such sort that he who for that respect doth good workes doth them for the loue of God In the number of those may the glorious martir S. Adrian be accounted who by hearing of the greate guerdon the martirs expected did voluntarilie offer himselfe vnto martirdome His life was written by Ado. B. of Triers and it was in this manner THE Emperour Maximian commaunded that the Christians that were in the citie of Nicomedia a city of Bithinia should be diligently sought out Many were apprehended and after that the Emperour had admonished and willed them to adore the Idoll and sawe them constant and firme in the profession of the faith of IESVS CHRIST he bad them all to be chained vnto wodden postes and to be beaten with the rawe sinewes of beastes and when he heard them in they re tormentes to praise the name of IESVS CHRIST he caused their tounges to be cut out and theire mouthes to be beaten with greate stones The number of these martirs was 23. Adrian was present there as an officer to attend and see that the commaundement of the Emperour should be executed He was an Idolater and a man of good account with Maximian And when he sawe howe patiently the holy martirs tollerated those terrible tormentes wondering therat he said vnto them I coniure you by the God which you adore and for whom you suffer these torments to tell me truly what guerdon or reward you expect for I suppose it to be very greate The holy martirs though they had no tonges by the permission of God answered him thus The reward we expect is such so greate that eyes neuer sawe it nor eares haue hard it nor the hart of man cānot conceiue it for it is an vnspeakable good which God hath prepared for his frends Adrian hearing this desired not to heare any more but being inspired by God and shewing himselfe desirous to be partaker of so greate good entred into the midst of the martirs and said to the Register before whom the matter was handled write also my name with these soulders of CHRIST for I will be a Christian also as they be The Emperour was certified hereof and when the name of Adrian was read vnto him among the other Christians which were prisoners he caused him to be called said vnto him O Adrian what art thou become foolish that thou seekest to lose thy life wretchedly Adrian aunswered I haue been but nowe I am not a foole for that I am a Christian and no more an Idolater as I haue bene before time The'mperour being desirous to make him alter his purpose discoursed and conferred long with him but seeing his words did not preuaile in rage and fury he caused him to be chained and fettered and put in prison Adrian was about 28. yeares old had to wife a woman called Natalia who was a Christian When shee heard what had befallen vnto her husband shee went with greate ioy vnto the prison and fell at his feet and kissing his fetters wherewith he was gyued said vnto him Blessed art thou ô Adrian my husband and my Lord nowe thou hast found the riches which thy father left not vnto thee Passe securely vnto IESVS CHRIST in whom thou hast reposed thy treasure which thou shalt find herafter in the time of necessity when no man shall be able to deliuer from punishment the wretch which shal be condemned The father shall not be able to deliuer the sonne nor the mother the daughter nor the transitorie riches of the world nor the ambition to haue many seruants and a great patrimony the freind shall not be of ability to help the freind only the deedes which a man hath done shall do a man good and pleasure Thou my Lord hast IESVS CHRIST in thy company in whom thou hast deposed and laid vp thy treasures walk in the way thou hast begon be not wery therof to the end thou maiest enioy the promises Take heede let not the remembrance of earthly and momentary things moue thee to turne backward from thy way begon nether let thy kinsfolks nor the wailings of thy father and mother nor the flattery of thy freinds nor the menaces of thy enemies moue thee Let not the torments of the tirant put thee in feare but fixe thy eyes vpon the constancie patience of these holie martirs which be with thee Imitate them in life and thou shalt be rewarded with them in death The blessed woman hauing said these words went vnto the holy martirs one by one and kissed their gyues and fetters saieng I beseech you ô seruants of IESVS CHRIST to animate and encourage my husband gaine you his soule Be vnto him a father that by your meanes he may be regenerated vnto euerlasting life Adrian said vnto his wife Goe home from hence my deare and chast sister for when the time shall come that we shal be examined and iudged I will bring thee notice therof that thou maiest be present and see the end of this work Certein daies after S. Adrian vnderstood that they resolued to
countrey to conquer it why dost thou giue such forces to our aduersaries This shal be an occasion that others shall take courage and it shal be a hard thing to subiect them God answered Iosua that this happened through the fault of the people them selues hauing broken his precept in reseruing some things in the destruction of the city Therefore seeke out the culpable and offender and let him be chastised and my iust indignation shall cease Assone as Iosua had by enquiry found him out he caused him to be punished and the people did after that preuaile against their enemies By this you may see that when Catholiques are ouercome and vanquished it happeneth bicause God is offended with them for their sinnes we ought there fore haue this regard euer when warre is made against infidells if we intend and desire to haue victory that wee be in good estate and accord with God by confessing our sinnes doing penance and receiuing the B. Sacrament of the Aultar and without doubt then a fewe Christians wil be able to resist many Infidels As it befell to Pope Leo. 4. in the yeare of our Lord. 854. who being certified that there was disembarqued or landed at Ostia a great nomber of Infidels and that no captein durst affront them The glorious Pope assembled people and said he himselfe would be generall of the Army And that he might set on and encounter with his enemies more securely he enioyned all the souldiers to confesse their sinnes and to receiue the B. sacrament he also comaunded eache one in the one hand to cary their weapons for the warre and in the other hand the Rosary to say their praiers in the way Arriuing after this manner in the sight of the enemy notwithstanding the huge number of the Infidels and the small host of the Christians he discomfited them and droue them out of Italy to the great honoure of the valiant Bishop and good and benefitt of all Christendome All this may be fitly applied vnto that which befell in the time of themperour Heraclius for that the sinnes of the Cristians were many and heinous Phocas ruling the Gretian empire who was a vitious man and so he died for Heraclius depriued him of thempire of his life also God permitted a tirant called Cosdroes king of Persia as a greuous scourge to rise against them He being not content to haue taken by force of armes the holly city of Ierusalem and to haue sacked it caried away the holy crosse on the which IESVS CHRIST died which had bin there from the time of Helena the mother of Constantine who found it into Persia and put it in the temple of one of his Idols and againe he inuaded the lands of the Christians with a new army were he vsed horrible cruelties With fury he passed into Egipt wonne the city of Alexandria in which place he stayed certein daies for that he vnder stood Heraclianus father to themperour Heraclius came against him with a huge host but by the secrete iudgment of God Heraclianus died of sicknes and his army was vtterly defeated The proud Cosdroes proceeded and in fewe daies made him self lord of all the dominons themperour had in Africa he sacchegged Thunis and hauing vsed horrible massacres of Christians he returned into his kingdome of Persia The Emperour Heraclius all this wile remained in Constantinople spendnig the time in iollity and pleasures hauing taken to wife a beautifull lady called Martina who was his cosin but when he sawe things go a way to his greate reproch and discredit and fearing greater losse might ensue in th' empire first he tried to obteine a peace by lowly and humble embassages and vpon conditions no lesse reprochfull then disauantageous for his estate but the arrogant infidell proud of his victories would giue no eare to his peticions but sent a messenger to say that he would make no accord with him except he would deny the faith of IESVS CHRIST and become an Idolater as he him self was This proud answer and blasphemy did so exasperate the Christian Emperour that he became another man was altered from a negligent and careles person to a couragious and enkindled with a godly zeale And being desirous to take on him the defence of Gods honour he behaued himself as a valiant prince a Catholique and good Christian First he assembled his forces very diligently that he might come to try it with that proud pagan by dint of word and also amassed greate store of men engines and other prouisions for the warre and commaunded that in all the empire processions and praiers should be made to beseech God to take the defence of his church and to punish the proud blasphemy of the presumptuous tirant against his heauenly maiesty Heraclius departed from Constantinople toward this pious and holy interprise carying alwais in his right hand the Image of IESVS CHRIST our Lord and of his glorious mother as his Captein and the report was the the same Image was brought from heauen and passing from thence the sea with a goodly company he entred into Asia to affront the proud enemy who when he vnderstood that themperour with a mighty army came to seeke him was aduised to haue regard of his person so he retired to a strong and secure place and left his army guided by valorous generals to defend the countreis he had conquered and his owne also There happened in this warre which lasted litle lesse then sixe yeares many greate and notable feats of armes The summe of all was that they fought in three set battailes The first was in the passage of the mount Taurus and the ryuer Saron and in this Heraclius discomfited and put to flight Saluarus one of the chiefest capteines of Cosdroes The second pitcht field was in the next yeare with Satinus who was another valiant captaine the encounter was very terrible for the Persians fought stoutly to recouer the honour they had lost in the former battaile so that Heraclius was in great daunger The Christians were resolued to leaue the field and to fly when it pleased God to heare the praier of his champion Heraclius for vnlooked for there fell from heauen a greate shower of raine with a storme which driuen with a strong wind carried the raine into the face of the pagans and depriued them of their sight in such sort that they not being able to fight began to fly which the Imperials seeing tooke hart beholding God apparantly to fight on their side and thus they obteined the second victory which was more greate then the first Lastly in the yere following Heraclius returned into the field to encounter with Razatanes the most valiant captain Cosdroes had and therin themperour behaued himselfe so valiantly that he vtterly defeated and daunted the pride of the arrogant and cruell king Cosdroes who was enforced by these ouerthrows to retire himself vnto the most strong and secure places of his kingdome of Persia This his
came vnto them a priest and seruant of God dwelling in Rome called Nicomedes who said masse and gaue them the B. Sacrament S. Petronilla hauing communicated began a long and feruent speech vnto IESVS CHRIST saieng that she had offered her virginity vnto him with a perpetuall vow and therfore desired him not to permit it to be violated against her will S. Felicula also as a true friend aided her importunating our Lord to deliuer his handmaid out of that danger though she desired not her death It was Gods pleasure to giue Petronilla remedy by that means for hauing ended her oraisons she went vnto bed and yelded vp her soule vnto God The matrones and damsells Flaccus had sent to accompany the spouse vnto his house on the wedding day came in god time to solemnise the funeralls of the holy saint When Flaccus was certefied and sawe Petronilla to be dead he cast his eies vpon Felicula who was very sorowfull for the death of her friend being very beutifull which drew the affection of Flaccus in such sort that he was enamored of her also and after many wordes he vsed to that purpose he finished his speach thus Felicula elect one of thes two things please thy self either to be my wife or els sacrifice vnto the Gods The good damsell made him this bold answere I will not be thy wife for I haue IESVS CHRIST to my spouse and I will not sacrifice vnto thy Gods for that I am a Christian when Flaccus hard the resolute answere of Felicula he deliuered her into the hands of the liuetenant to giue iudgment vpon her He kept her fast in a dark roome for seuen daies and beside other vexations he kept her from any sustenance Some women that belonged vnto the prison said vnto her Alas poore girle why art thou so fond as to dy willingly this euill death Take this great Lord vnto thy husband who is beutifull riche and in the flower of his youth and highly fauored of th' emperor who hath made him gouernour of this city other women would haue ben right glad therof and thou makest no account of him which may turne to thy damage and losse of life The blessed damosell replied I am the spouse of IESVS CHRIST and I will not mary any other but him After that seuen daies expired Felicula was led vnto the Vestall virgins where she remanied certein daies but she would neuer eate of the meat that they did eate bicause it was offered and sacrificed vnto the goddesse Vesta for if she had eaten therof she had giuen a signe to consent vnto their Idolatry and other Christians would haue bene much scandalised therat When the deputy vnderstood the constancy of Felicula he caused her to be taken out of that place and to be tortured with the torture called Eculeus and when she was tortired there with she said with a loud voice Now do I see my beloued IESVS CHRIST vpon whom I haue fixed my loue The excutioners said vnto her Say that thou art not a Christian and thou shalt be deliuered from this torture She answered I do not deny neither will I deny my beloued IESVS CHRIST who for my sake was crowned with thornes and had gall giuen him for drink and also died on the Crosse The executioners tooke her of from that torment and threw her in a gutter or sink in the which the blessed damosell yelded vp her soule vnto Almighty God Nicomedes the priest that had said masse giuen the B. sacrament vnto S. Petronilla on the day of her death and had laine cloâ—e and hidden in a caue for feare of the persecution was aduertised therof and one night he departed out of the caue and took the body of S. Felicula from thence and buried it a mile out of Rome in the way toward Ardea Flaccus being told what Nicomedes had done caused him to be apprehended for the same and being instigated by the fiend willed him to sacrifice vnto the gods The good priest said he would not sacrifice to any but to Almightie God that raigned in the heauens for that they whom they reputed gods were no other but stocks and stones which remained in their temples like prisoners The gouernour commaunded he should be whipped which was done with such vehemency that the good priest passed out of this vnto a better life in this torment and his body was cast into the riuer Tiber by the commandement of the cursed Iudge but one Iustus his seruant sought carefully after it and caried it being found vnto a garden of his nere vnto the walles of the citty in the way called Numentana there he buried it Vnto which place many Christians resorted and there by the merits of that holy Saint obteined many graces of God The death of S. Nicomedes was on the 15. day of September Spanish saith 52. vnder Clâ—â—dius and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast It was then as Canisius saith the yeare of our Lord. 90. in the raigne of the Emperour Domitian and the same he saith of S. Petronilla as is already said in her life But many think it was much sooner for if S. Petronilla died in the yeare of our Lord. 90. she must be of necessitie at that time 60. years old because she was borne before that our Lord gaue the chiefest prelacy or Papacy vnto S. Peter her father for froÌ„ thenceforth he obserued chastity And againe if she was so old it is not a thing likely that Flaccus should be ennamoured of her We reade also in the life of Pope Paule 1. that he translated from one place vnto another All this the Spanish hath not in this place the body of S. Petronilla and that he found an epitaph which S. Peter the Apostle had made at her death Which being so it followeth that before the yeare of our Lord. 70. in which S. Peter was crucified S. Petronilla was dead wherfore in mine opinion her death and the martirdome of S. Nicomedes was not in the yeare of our Lord. 90. as Canisius saith but in or about the yeare of our Lord. 60. in the reigne of Nero. The life of S. Cornelius Pope and Martir SALOMON saith in Ecclus Ca. 23. The man that sweareth much shal be full of iniquitie and the plague shall not depart from his house The wise man doth not say he that sweareth falsly but he that sweareth much For that speaking morally he that sweareth much sweareth false at one time or other This sinne displeaseth God so much that he deferreth not the chasticement till the world to come but punisheth it in this life sending plagues vpon the house where such poople be So then if the swearer be afflicted with necessities infirmities and other troubles of this life we may think he hath deserued it for his many oathes Those that be free from such miseries if they desire to be alwaies free let them abstaine from othes swearing The holie Pope Cornelius
of Cyprian Bishop and martir of IESVS CHRIST shall endure whilest the world lasteth for that he wrote so many eloquent and learned works yet requisite it is that beside this he should be registred for his famous and renoumed deeds and for his most holy life for the good of them that shall liue herafter And because many haue a care to describe the martirdomes that holy men haue suffered for CHRISTES sake making therby their name immortall it is very iust that the martirdome of S. Cyprian be also written that his eternall memorie may be conserued since he excelled in his life euen from the time of his conuersion lastly in his martirdome Wee need not to make any relation of his life before his conuersion because it was of no regard or estimation in the sight of God Cyprian was altogether giuen vnto worldly matters he studied humain letters in the which he came to be very learned He was a good retoritian and redd that science publikely in Carthage which was his natiue countrey but after he was conuerted vnto God and of an Idollater was made a beleeuer and of a painim a christian he gaue himself vnto the study of diuinity and thervnto he adioyned good works which be very acceptable vnto God He especially resolued to obserue chastity he sold his patrimony and distributed the mony arising therof vnto the poore and by this he obteined two things First he auoided therby worldly ambition vnto which worldly riches do drawe men that be welthy and secondly he was made perfect in vertue assoone as he had knowledg therof and knew what it was For our Lord IESVS CHRIST gaue this counsell vnto a yong man that in all his life had kept the commaundements of God and told him that if he would be perfect he must sell all that he had and giue the price vnto the poore S. Ciprian beginning to be good desired also to be perfectly good for as I haue said he sold all that he had and gaue the mony vnto the poore This was in him considerable and also stupendious because he that soweth gathereth not the fruit forthwith He that planteth a vineyard doth not forthwith gather grapes he that planteth a melon or a peare doth not by and by gather a peare or a melon This wonder was remarkable in Cyprian for he had not scarce thrown the seed out of his hand but he began to reap the corne the vineyard was vnneth planted and yet he gathered grapes of it So assone as the tree of the word of God and of faith was planted in his soule so soone were seen in him the fruits of holy and vertuous works And though that the Apostle aduiseth vs 1 Tim. 3. that the Neophite should not be made a Bishop to wit one that is newely conuerted from any sect what soeuer vnto true Christianity saying it is not fit to bestowe on him so soone a dignity of such account as it is to be a Bishop lest there should be any nouelty introduced by him into the Church of God which might smell or sauour of Paganisme yet this rule was not obserued in the election of Ciprian for that which is wrought in other men by time that did his great liuely faith operate in him presently and therefore he was made priest incontinent This function he exercised in all sanctity neither did the memory of the forsaking of his goods and to see him self poore any whit dismay or hinder him The flattering and guilefull words of his wife which he had when he was a heathen did not hinder him nor the preferments and reputation he had in the world no not his kinsfolks nor friends were any impediment or obstacle vnto him His vertue continued firme with him being in this state because it was well founded In such sort Iob. 2. that no temptation preuailed against him any whit yea rather like another Iob he blessed and praised God in the depth of his tribulations Being priest he dwelt apart from others in a house which was alway open for and to the needy Litle he could do because he was poore but for the litle that he could there neuer came widow orphan wounded or discomforted person that departed from him without help succour or good aduise He was a gret frend of a priest called Cecilius who was the man that with his liuely reasons and holy admonitions had wonne him from infidelity and had Baptised him and this is the cause why he called himselfe Cecilius Ciprianus allwaies esteeming this priest as his father Vnto this Cecilius S. Ciprian gaue and vsed meanes wherwith to sustein and maintain his wife which he had before his conuersion as also his children which he had by her that is to say one halfe of his patrimony for the rest he had bestowed vpon the poore Cecilius took this charge vpon him to the end Ciprian might better attend vnto the seruice of God and pious deeds for the which he grew so renoumed famous that shortly after he had bin made priest he was chosen Bishop by all the people of Carthage which dignity he refused as much as might be alleaging that in Carthage were many priests more auncient well lettred and of good life also which deserued the dignity much more then he who had bene an Idollater But the more he refused it the more earnest the People were in their opinion and said that Ciprian and none other should be Bishop and prelate of that city S. Ciprian seeing their resolution withdrew himself vnto his house and caused the gates to be fast locked All the People ranne thither in plumpes and enuironed the house in that maner that he repented that he had shut himself therin and then he wished he might get downe away from them as S. Paul did but it was impossible for all the waies were forelaid with multitudes of people There were some who seeing how vnwilling Ciprian was to accept the dignity grudged at them which in a manner forced him to accept it reciting some of his imperfections and saying also that it was not fit that one who was so lately an Idollater should be elected a Bishop so soone But S. Ciprian being Bishop vsed those persons that depraued him with gret loue and kindnes to the wonder of all men that knew it When he had accepted the charge and office of a Bishop he shewed that in such and like occasions the voice of the people is the voice of God No humaine toung can expresse with what sanctity and prudence he exercised himself in that office He was compassionate toward the brethren and the humble but toward the vaine glorious and hauty he was rigorous and austere He alwaies looked with a cheerefull countenaunce but yet with grauity in such maner that one could not know whether he was more to be loued or feared although he deserued both the one and the other His apparell was not very costly nor yet altogether course and
base because the too much or excesse was a thing reprouable for his person the too litle was not fit nor conuenient in respect of his function He was very merciful toward the poore and gaue them much almose of the mony which many rich men gaue vnto him very largely By these pious deeds Ciprian became in few daies so famous that among the heathen also he was renoumed and no lesse hated as one by whose meanes many left their paganisme and were made Christians For which cause they conferred among themselues howe they might take his life away and to haue a commaundement for it from Themperours Valerian and Gallien who at that time persecuted the Church most cruelly and put many Christians to death euery day God did not permit that this their purpose should come to passe as yet Because a man of such holy life and excellent learning as Cyprian was for some short time necessary to be in the church to the end he might with this holy sermons and admonitions draw many soules out of the bandes of sinne bring them vnto pennance and to the end he might exhort many to forsake the world and enter into relligion and that many damosells liuing in monasteries might keep perpetuall chastity This excellent doctor was also necessary for no preach the truch vnto the heretiks the vnion vnto the schismatiks and peace vnto the children of God He was asso necessary for the incouragement of the martirs to persuade them with a willing mind to suffer torments and death for the sake of IESVS CHRIST with hope to acquire the crowne of glorie in heauen He was likewise necessary to the end that they which only lost their goods in the persecution should be by him comforted in making them assured that they should haue them doubled in heauen This persecution being runne through diuers provinces and cities came also vnto Carthage and was put in execution with such rage and fury that it was worthy of note to see the miserable Christians to goe one this way another that way all of them in feare and dread labouring one while to saue their goods another while to preserue their liues In a short time the prisons were replenished with Christians not with thiefs or malefactors There was no offence punished but that which seemed most heinous vnto the painimes to be a Christian After certein daies expired the ChristiaÌ„s which were imprisoned were taken forth and executed in the high streets with diuersity of tormeÌ„ts Theire dead bodies lay in heapes and no man was so hardy as to touch or bury them What did the holly Bishop S. Ciprian in this time of great calamity and misery He called the Christians to him some times one and sometimes another and led them into certeine secret places where he preached vnto them telling them that the time was euen nowe coÌ„me in which it was to be clearly seen who was in deed the frend of God by perseuering in the confession of the faith by not fearing the tirants that had power to do harme only vnto their bodies and not vnto their soules but rather the more the bodies were abused the more glory should redound vnto their soules that therefore they should not hate the tirants which persecuted them but rather loue and pray vnto God for them knowing that IESVS CHRIST hath said that the difference between the Christian and the pagan is that the Christian doth loue his frends and foes also whereas the pagan loueth none but his frends He made vnto them demonstration of this verity by the example of CHRIST who praied for them that Crucified him and that therefore if they would be his true children they ought to imitate him in works Many other things said the good prelate vnto theÌ„ which if the tirants had heared they might haue bene conuerted by these words Yet they brought forth very gret fruite in the harts of the catholikes because they did much animate them not to fear the rigour to the persecution Ciprian also ordeined many things to preuent and auoid many incoueniences which happened euery day As to apoint stout and lusty fellowes who in the night at certein howers of security took away the bodies of the Martirs which lay in the streets and buried them to others he gaue in charge that the Christians which came out of prison with life yet very euill entreated with torments should be led by them vnto their houses there they should see them haue phisik with all speed He ordeined others to helpe the Christians which were designed to be taken and fled hither and thither and to prouide them sustenaunce and clothing These and such others the like prouisioÌ„s did the Blessed Bishop make in that time full of calamity and he had such a notable gift in commaunding things to be done that euery one obeied him And though they put them selues in manifest daunger yet did they performe all his commaundements The Proconsull who had the charge in Carthage to persecute the Christiants was aduertiezed of the good deeds that Cyprian did wherupon he would be informed who he was and when he heard that the people loued him and that he was of great autority with euery one he durst not arrest him to put him to death but caused his commaundement to be declared vnto him which was that he should depart from Carthage and go vnto a city called Corubitana In that place he staied about a yeare but the Proconsull deceasing he retruned vnto a place neere vnto Carthage and staied in certein gardeins which had bene sometimes parcell of his owne patrimony and which he had sold to be spent in almose But he which had purchased them had giuen restored them agein vnto him freely without any recompence And if the persecution had ceased S. Cyprian had sould them ageine and had giuen the price coming of them agein vnto the poore Remaining certein daies in these gardeins accompanied with manie priests and deacons and other friendes among whom was Pontius who wrote his life many of the city of Carthage and of other places also came to visite S. Cyprian and to confer with him of heauenly matters and at all times they found him affable and curteous Euery one was by him comforted euery one holpen and he persuaded and exhorted them all to serue God Some of his frends besought him to depart from thence and to remaine a litell further of from the Proconsul who being newly come might seek to get him into his handes and put him to death therefore staying there he was in great daunger But he who had receued a reuelation that about one yeres end after his banishment he should obtein the crown of martirdome had not the power to depart out of that place for he had a gret desire to die for the faith of CHRIST The Proconâ—ull had notice where Cyprian dwelt and howe much people came thither to visite him wherefore he sent officers to attach him
them that hartily are conuerted vnto God that he not only pardoneth them but also sheweth vnto them especiall fauors honouring them first vpon earth and then making them great also in heauen Concerning the ghospell of S. Matthew I write this to satisfy curious witts it is commonly said that he wrote it in Hebrew and some say the contrary This happeneth for that as Guido Fabricius saith there were two manners of speaking Hebrew the one was the Auncient which the Patriarchs and Prophets spake and the other was called Moderne or Hyerosolimitan for that it was vsed in that city For in Ierusalem there traded many forremeâ—s and strangers and by the commerce they had with them being Syrians and Chaldeans and other nations there were mingled words of sondry languages therin This Hebrew Hyerosolimitane laÌ„guage IESVS CHRIST spake as it is to be seene by many words in the gospell as Abba father Mammona Iniquity and such like Then I say that S. Matthew wrote his gospell not in that Auncient Hebrew language but in the Modern Hyerosolimitaine in which CHRIST spake The same which Guido Fabricius saith is affirmed also by Petrus Gallesinus in his annotations vpon Doroteus Bishop of Tyrus in his book of the life 's of the disciples of CHRIST S. Ierome saith that the Ghospell of S. Matthew was translated into Greek and that it is not knowne who did it The same holy saint saith that in his time the Hebrew text of S. Matthew was in the city of Cesarea but it was lost after that and was found again in the time of Themperor Zeno or of Anastasius who succeeded him hard by the body of S. Barnabas the Apostle who at that time was found in the Island of Cyprus as Nicephorus Callistus saith It was lost again Nicep lib. 16. cap. 37. and as Iohn Eckius that learned Catholike Doctor in the life of S. Matthew affirmeth Pope Nicholas 5. being desirous to find it send word into all parts where he thought he might haue notice therof and promised 5000 ducats of gold to him that brought it to him But for all that it was not found vntill the time of Themperouor Charles 5. vnto whom God reserued many good fortunes among which this was not the least This is not in the Spanish Afterward the Catholike king Philip. 2. his sonne caused it to be put into the Bible Royall which he caused to be printed and it is in it at this present and was againe translated into Latine by the aboue named Guido Fabricius The life of S. Maurice and other holie Martirs THE Euangelist S. Iohn rehearseth in the Apocalipse Ca. 9 that he saw a huge multitude of locusts to come out of a great pitt who were permitted and had leaue for fiue months to do all the euill they could on the earth These locusts represented the tirants who afflicted the martirs and vexed them in the fiue outward sences They killed their bodies and not their soules and herof it cometh that the holy martirs perseuered in the confession of the faith with such courage because they knew all the euill and mischiefe the tirants could do them was not extended further then the body This being considered by a noble and valiant regiment of Theban souldiers whose Coronell was called Maurice permitted themselues to be euill intreated and slain being assured that only their bodies endured paines and that the crueltie of the tyrant could not hurt their soules by any meanes The tirant that martired them was Maximian of whom and of Dioclesian one may rightlie say that there was neuer serpent so pernicious nor dragon so fell in the craggie mountains of Arabia or in the thick woods and deserts of Ethiop as these two before-named tyrants were against the Catholiks as may be seen in the life of S. Maurice and his companions martired with him which martirdome is written by Eucherius Bishop of Lyons Venerable Beda and other Authors of Martirologes THE Emperour Maximian entending to passe out of Italy into Fraunce to pacyfy certein people which were in rebellion against the empire for the better effecting of his enterprize had commaunded legions or Regiments of souldiers to be sent vnto him out of sundry prouinces One legion as Vsuardus saith coÌ„teined 6666 souldiers And bicause the great populous city of Thebes in Egipt which standeth on the bank of the riuer of Nilus was subiect vnto the Romain empire that sent also a legion of the which Maurice was Coronell and Exuperius was standerd bearer The other principall officers of the Regiment were Candidus Gereon Vitalis Innocentius and Tirsus All the common souldiers of this Regiment were Christians and had bin Baptised by Zabdus B. of Ierusalem This goodly company came first vnto Rome and visited the pope who was called Marcellus This good pope confirmed them all in the faith and gaue them his benediction and dismissed them Then they departed in the company of Maximian and passed the Alpes and came vnto a city which at that time was the head of the people of Sedun called Agaunum at this present it is called S. Maurice di Sauoya In that place Maximian had a mind to make a solemne sacrifice vnto his gods to the end they might be his aiders in this his entreprise and commaudned all the principall officers of the army to be present thereat Maurice and his Thebans hearing the same stepped all aside somewhat out of the way sayeng that they being Christans would not be present therat Maximian being certefied therof was much displeased and tooke it as a mutiney worthy of seuere punishment To which purpose he sent to their quarter the marshall and prouost to chastice some of them for a terror to the rest to reduce the others vnto the army and to the sacrifice The chasticement inflicted was this The officers made them passe vnder a spear and told them and when they came vnto the tenth man they incontinent cut of his head This was the ordinary punishmenr of that time when an host or Regiment coÌ„mitted a trespasse The Thebans which remained and escaped in patient and quiet maner boldly said that they would not be present at the sacrifice do what they could Themperour seing them to be resolute renewed his anger and bad that they should be tenthed or decimated againe for so that punishment was called This sentence no lesse cruell then vniust being begun to be executed it is a thing considerable to behold with what inconquerable courage the holly martirs seemed to tollerate the slaughter made of them The Thebans were by nature valiant and bigge of body but herin they shewed singular and rare valour in that they did not complain of the tirant and also for that they looked cheerefully on the matter They animated one the other but aboue all Maurice their Coronell went amongst them exhorting sometimes this man otherwhiles that man and told them that since they had heretofore endaungered their lifes for and in the
Emperours seruice that they should not think much to offer it for the seruice of God for that their death and torment should haue an end very shortly and tollerating it for such a cause they should afterward possesse the ioies of heauen cuerlastingly These such other words that Maurice said made such an impression in the minds of those seruants of CHRIST that euery one endeuored to be the first martir and to enter into heauen before his fellow souldier The legion being tenthed the second time the other which were left were demaunded if they would obey the Emperour Maximian and they answered Tell Th'emperour from vs that we do acknowledg our selfs to be his souldiers and withall that we be the seruants and worshippers of the true God we be bound to obey Maximian in things apperteining vnto the warre but much more bound vnto God in matters of religion from Maximian we haue pay for our seruice but of God we receaue our being and our life we may not nor will not deny IESVS CHRIT to obey Cesar Maximian receauing this answer finding the martirs resolute and seing the double decimation of them was to small auaile be commaunded the wholl army to set on them and to cut and hew them to pieces without reseruation of any this quailed not their noble courages but rather their death being occasioned for so good a cause they kneeled on the bare ground and lifting vp their hands and harts vnto heauen yealded to the butchery and slaughter their Coronell Maurice continually and incessantly incouraging and chearing them vp and in this maner they were all massacred Many of the bloudy villans were so fleshed herewith that not content with death they stripped them and put on their apparell and at mour and sat downe to eate the prouision the martirs had It happened a Christian souldier called Victor who was not a Theban but of another nation came by and beholding so many dead bodies ly in that plaine not knowing howe it came asked why those that eate thereby shewed such mirth and gladnes and did not loth and abhorre to eat and drink among so many dead bodies One related vnto him point by point what had befallē they bade him come eate and be mery with them for ioy they had done such pleasing seruice vnto themperour when Victor had heard all their speech he said aloud Oh wretch that I am I wishe I had bene partaker in their death By these words of Victor they which sat at the bloudy banket gathered that Victor was a christian wherefore leauing their banquet and taking their weapons they incontinent cut him in pieces as they had done the Thebans and by this meanes Victor merited the same reward that the Thebans had deserued This was the martirdome of S. Maurice and of his Theban souldiers and the holy church celebrateth it on the. 22. day of September in the year of our Lord 301 in the time of Dioclesian and Maximian After certein years passed the same holy martirs reuealed vnto a Bishop called Theodore where their bodies were and commaunded him to translate them to a place more conuenient The good Bishop was not slack or negligent in fulfilling it for the people of that countrey hauing made many pits and hauing put the bodyes of the holy martirs into them the good Bishop caused them to digge them out of them and out of theother places where those blessed bodyes were as he vnderstood by the diuine reuelation and sent them into diuers countreis where many Churches were builded vnto their honour and in them God graunted many fauors vnto such as being in tribulation and affliction did recommend themselfs vnto these blessed martirs In the vestry of the church in Toledo in Spaine is shewen the head of one of these holy martirs and they say there it is the head of S. Maurice * ⎠* The life of S. Linus Pope and Martir AMONG other precepts which S. 1. ep Paul gaue vnto the Corinthians there is one in especiall for Christians to vse when they go vnto the Church to pray He saith that men must stand vncouered when they be in the Church O holy Apostle shall this be vsed both by men and women shall the women also stand with their head vncouered in the Church The Apostle answereth and saith for the women we haue another lawe which is this that women must be in the Church with their head couered for as it is an vnseemely thing for a secular woman to be shauen and without long haire so is it an vnseemely thing for women to be in the Church with their head vncouered S. Ambrose yealdeth a reason of this and foundeth it vpon these wordes of the Apostle to wit that the man is the image of God and the woman is the image of the man of whom she is formed This glorious Doctor saith also that it was the ordinary vsage that slaues had their heades couered or bound with certaine bandes And the difference that was betweene the slaues and freemen was this that the salues had the head bound or couered and the freemen had it vncouered we may perceiue hereby that God would haue vs when we be in his presence to acknowledg our quality and condition The man that is superior in house and that hath authority to comaund therein must haue his head vncouered and bare as a free man and a master but the woman who is his inferior and who is obliged to obey in the house ought to haue her head couered by that meanes confessing her quality of obedience That the man do comaund and the woman do obey is a matter of such importance that not only S. Paul doth comaund it as is aforesaid but S. Peter also as chief and highest Bishop ordeined and comaunded the same But for that he left it not in writing S. Linus who was his disciple and successor in the Papacy comaunded it and left it written that it might be obserued and kept perpetually and in deed it is not read that he left any other order then this which yet if it might be obserued among all faithfull Christians were very comendable and praise worthy Now let us see the life of this holy Pope collected on of that which Damasus and other graue Authors write of him yet first I think good to admonish you that S. Peter being neere to his death thought it conuenient to nominate a worthy and weldeseruing sucessor to be in his place after him who might take care and charge of the Catholique Church To this entent he named Clement his disciple who for his great humility willed that Linus and Cletus who had bene coadiutors vnto S. Peter should haue that dignity before him So Linus had the Papacy vnto whom Cletus succeeded and after him the same S. Clement was Pope Returning vnto our purpose the life of S. Linus was this SAINT Linus was borne in Vol-terra a citty of Hetruria and was sonne of Hercolanus of the noble
family to the Mauri Being fully 20. yeeres old he was sent by his father to Rome to study where he remained in the house of Quintus Fabius his fathers friend vntill S. Peter the Apostle came to Rome to preach the Gospell Then this S. Linus was of his first disciples who followed him asisting him alwaies in his preaching and in the administration of the hely Sacramēts S. Peter seing in him many good partes as his holines learning and curteous affability he made him his coadiutor in the dignity to the which he was also elected after the death of the Apostle So that first he was coadiutor then Pope and head of the Church for the which with great care and prudence he prouided all thinges necessarie for the good gouernement thereof He comaunded in particuler that women hould not enter into the Church with their haire loose and vntied but bound vp and couered as S. Peter had comaunded and S. Paul had left written He gaue holy orders twise in the month of December and at them he consecrated 15. Bishops and ordered 18 Priests with some Deacons In the primitiue Church there was great care had in giuing holy orders and in receiuing any to the office of a priest or the other orders and therefore they kept a reconing and conserued the memory of the times when holy orders were giuen and how many were ordered Those ancient fathers did this for that this office was so reuerend holy and so hard to discharge that many deputed and apointed to take orders refused it yea some there were that cut of some member or other as their finger eare nose or the like to make themselues incapable to receiue an office so great and waighty as Priesthood is Moreouer the Christians at that time were fewe in number so that there was not such need of so many Pastors If the same were done at this present it would surely be a notable benefit aswell for the one part as for the other if that prelates were not so liberall and ready in giuing holy orders nor secular Christians so bold and hasty in procuring to receaue the same the Priests should not be so litle esteemed nor the seculars haue such occasion to murmure of the Ecclesiasticall state S. Linus wrote the deeds and doctrine of S. Peter the Apostle his maister and especialy his martirdome S. Linus being a most holy man cast out diuells and raised the dead to life He deliuered from the diuell a yong woman daughter to the Consul Saturninus who in recompence of that receaued benefitt by the handes of the good Pope comaunded he should be put to death and so he was made the martir of IESVS CHRIST It is no smal honour to S. Linus that the Catholike Church hath put his name in the Canon of the masse among other holy martirs there mētioned The feast of S. Linus is celebrated on the daie of his martirdom which was one the 23 of September in the yeare of our Lord 81. in the time of Vespasian the Emperour This holy Martir held the Papacy 11. yeeres 3. monthes and 12 daies was buried neere vnto the body of S. Peter the Apostle Shortly after his holy reliques were translated vnto the citty of Ostia and laid comely in the Church of S. Lawrence by Gregorie Bishop of that citty S. Paul maketh mention of Pope Linus in the second Epistle he wrote vnto Timothie his disciple in the 4. chapter The life of S. Tecla virgin THE Apostle S. Paule writing vnto the Corinthians saith 1. Cor. 7. that the virgin sinneth not in taking a husband but doth a good work though it should be better not to take a husband but to remaine a virgin I may be that the Apostle preached this doctrin in a sermon and that a yong woman named Tecla who had determined to take a hushand was present therat Who vnderstanding that it was better to conserue her virginity left and forsooke her earthly spouse taking IESVS CHRIST to her heauenly spouse for whose loue she tollerated very great afflictions and torments which were procured vnto her by him that thought to be her husband The life of this glorious saint gathered out of the writings of S. Ambrose Ado Arch of Triers and out of other graue authors was as followeth ON a time S. Paule departing from Antioch went vnto a city called Iconium in the prouince of Cilicia There had bene there before that time Titus his disciple and had giuen notice and signes of him vnto Onesiphorus who was a very vertuous man and dwelt in that city He had related allso vnto him the doctrine which he preached his life and behauior and informed him of the quality of his personage to wit that he was a man litle of body and that he had a hooked nose and faire in the face like an Angell When the Apostle came vnto the city Onesiphorus knew him by the signes before told him wherefore he led him to his house where some people of good intention and desirous to finde the true way to eternall life and happines were assembled The Apostle preached vnto them to the great profit of them that gaue due attention vnto him In the next house to the place where the Apostle preached there dwelt a damosell very beautifull but much more vertuous called Tecla This damosell had a mother liuing who had made a match and apointed to marry her to a yongman called Tamirus It hapened on a time that Tecla standing in a windowe of her house heard from thence the preaching wordes of S. Paul which made very great impressiō in the mind of the yong damosell She being not content to haue heard him this one time endeauored and made meanes to heare him sondry other times and so long that her mother came to the knowledge thereof how the wordes of the Apostle had made her daughter to alter her intent and purpose to marry Yea the virgin Tecla her self who was a pagan before said now boldly that she was a Christian and she that before was resolued to take an husband said now that she desired rather to loose her life then her virginity The mother made report of these things vnto the spouse of her daughter who finding the same to be very true because Tecla her self told him her mind freely and what she entended to do which was that she would not marry but remaine a virgin went vnto the Proconsull of the citty and gaue him notice that there was a forreiner come into the towne who took wiues from their husbands and brought in new and strange Gods to the notable preiudice and damage of them all as being contrary to that their fore fathers had beleeued This information was the cause that the Apostle was apprehended cruelly scourged and put in danger of his life had he not made it knowne vnto them that he had the priuiledge of a citisen of Rome by being borne in Tarsus a citty of Cicilia yet for all
which was written by Nicetas a philosopher and recounted by Simeon Metaphrastes and their martir dome was written by Ado Archbishop of Triers SAINT Cosmus and S. Damianus were brethren and phisitions and were borne in Egea a city of Arabya in Asia Their father and mother were Christians and Catholiques Their father died when they were yet litly children wherfore their mother Theodora brought them vp with great care and dilligence And being a woman of good behauior and chiefly because shee was a good Christian shee would not permit them to comit any fault or offence but endeuored to enstruct and direct them in vertue and godlines So that they became good children like to their good mother and good schollers like vnto their good mistris Amongst the other good qualities of these two breathren the profession of the Catholique faith shined most in them for which cause they despised and contemned Idolatry and other wicked superstition They were chast and honest in life and fled from all sensuall delight and tamed their flesh with austere sackcloth disciplines and fastings which be the most certein remedies to ouercome that enemy euen as they ouercame it by the grace of God Also couetousnes that abhominable vice neuer entred into their hart but rather bicause they made small account of mony and liued in poore and meane estate they were called Anargeni which is to say Men without monie and in this sort obseruing the Ghospell they liued an Angelicall life And to auoid Idlenes which is the mother of vices and stepmother vnto vertue they vsed the science of phisicke euen from theire childhood became skilfull and expert phisitions They gaue and ministred phisicke vnto the sick without any expectation of temporall gaine but only for the loue of God When the infirmity was perillous and not to be cured by art they resorted vnto God by praier and making the signe of the Crosse they healed and cured them and heerein they followed the steps of the Apostles They imitated the Patriarcks in being benigne piâ—tifull charitable in liuing a life in simplicity without doublenes or hypocrisy They imitated the Prophets in that they were zelous of Gods honor in reproouing them that were stubborn and obstinate in euill deeds They imitated the martirs in the valiancy of their minds shewed against the common enemies of mankind the world the flesh and the deuill They imitated the preists in their religious life chastity and grauity offering their body and soule for an acceptable sacrifice vnto God to serue him withall humility and obediencence to obserue and keepe his holy commaundements They imitated the monks in obedience concinency and pouerty in silence and repose of soule And at one word they imitated all the saints as much as lay in their power Thus they ranne their race making the world to wonder at their sincerity so that the report of them was spred very farre The rumor of them being dispersed came to the eares of Dioclesian and Maximian those noted persecutors of the Christians who had decreed that all the Iudges gouernours lieutenants and other officers of the prouinces subiect to them should put to death all that denied to sacrifice vnto the Idols Lisias the gouernor in the city of Egeas hauing notice of the blessed phisitions Cosmus and Damianus caused them to be brought before him and demaunded of what countrey they were and their names They answered that they were Arabians and borne in the city of Egea and that their names were Cosmus and Damian and that they were both Christians The gouernour persuaded them to sacrifice vnto the Idols but seeing them coÌ„stantly to refuse it he commaunded them to be tied hand and foot and to be cruelly beaten and after he had giuen them other torments he caused them to be throwne into the maine sea bound as they were They were no sooner cast into the water but an Angell came to their aide who vntyeng all their hands brought them aliue and vntied vnto the shore The gouernor was certified of that wonder wherfore he caused them ageine to be brought before him and requested them to teach him their Art magicke and inchauntments wherby they were deliuered from the sea and then he promised to be their good friend They answered We be Christians and haue no skill in Art magike but were deliuered our of the sea by the power of our Lord IESVS CHRIST The gouernor caused them againe to be put in prison and the next day a great fire to be kindled then he threw the blessed martirs into the same but the flame was deuided into two parts and the holy saints remained in the midst at their praiers The gouernor was astonied to see such a wonder yet he did not repent of his wickednes but caused them to be hoised aloft and to be beaten againe with wands and stones and beholding the holy saints cheerefull in countenaunce and to contemne the torments he caused them to be lifted vpon two Crosses and there to be stoned to death The officers threw the stones and though they cast them with all their might yet came none of the stones so farre as the holy martirs but fell vpon them that stood by to see the spectacle and wounded many of them but especially them tha threw them The gouernour seeing this an beleeuing assuredly that it was done by inchauntment enraged with fury and indignation commaunded them to be shot to death with Arrowes and the same happened to the Arrowes as did before vnto the stones for they did light on them that shot them and none touched the bodies of the martires At last he commaunded they should be both beheaded and in this sort the holy martirs finished their lifes and obteined the crowne of Martirdome Their bodies were buried by some vertuous people with out the walles of the city Egea It is said that ioyntly with these holy martirs SS Cosmus and Damian three other holy martirs were beheaded whose names were Antimus Leontinus and Euprepius and were their brethren as some Authors write There is a booke of the miracles that God showed by the merits of SS Cosmus and Damian wherof this is one A clowne sleeping in the field a serpent crept into his mouth and so further into his body wherby the poore man was in great danger of death He with great deuotion craued the help of the holy martirs and they were seene visibly by his side and commaunded the serpent to come out of his body and so it did These holy saints also gaue him phisike which cured him and then they vanished away the second Nicen Councell in the third action maketh mention of the booke of the myracles of SS Cosmus and Damian The Church celebrateth their martirdome on the 27 day of September which was in the yeare of our Lord 301 and in the time of Dioclesian and Maximian The bodies of these holy saints be in Rome in a Church dedicated to their name The venetians say not
help of his doctrine and good example praiers and meritts Especiallie those who take him for their Aduocate and recommend themselues vnto him The sea which runneth betweene is the sacred scripture with is a deepe sea that hath no ende 〈…〉 yet in the red sea there was some end In this sea be drowned many heretiks euery day we see one or other drowned for that they will not take such holy doctours for their guide as S. Ierome and others Of him it may be said truly that as Moyses taking his wand did deuide the sea so this glorious saint with the wand of the feare of God opened the deep sea of the sacred scripture This is certaine that as vnto S. Gregory is attributed the principall guift in reproouing of euill behauior and disorderly liuing and vnto S. Augustine in assotling scholasticall doubts so vnto S. Ierome is assigned the praise for the interpretation and expounding the holy scriptures So that we may say that he deuided this sea and showed away for others that will follow him and all they that passe therin shall passe dry foote and the same scripture shal be vnto them a wall and defence against the Egiptians that is to say the deuills and his members which be the heretiks our mortall enemies The life of this glorious Doctor taken out of his owne writings and out of other good Authors was this SAINT Ierome was borne in the time of Constantine sonne vnto Constantine the Great in a place vpon the borders of Dalmacy and Hongary called Strâ—do which city was in a maner wholly destroied by the Gothes in his life time as he himself saith and hereupon the memory therof is vtterly lost * The Spanish saith it is at this preseÌ„t a pretty village vnder the Venetians and is called Sdrinea that therin is conserued the memory of S. Ierome His fathers name was Eusebius and he had a brother called Paulinus he had also a sister whose name is not knowen and the name of his mother is vnknowen also The brother and sister of S. Ierome entred into religion and in the same ended their lifes in blessed maner He came of noble bloud yet he doth not speak therof in all his writings though other writers report so He had also aboundance of worldly possessions and goods which he sold when he caused the Abbey to be builded at Bethlem as he saith himself And by cause his parents were Christians epist 66. ad Ruffin epist 26 ad pamach Epist 51. ad Dom. onem he was instructed euen from a child in the Christian faith and relligion At that time flourished in Rome the schoole of the liberall sciences wherfore he went thither with intention to study He first studied the Latine and Greek toungs and Donatus was his schoolemaister in grammer Then went he vnto the study of philosophy and other liberall arts and in them he profited much as appeareth by his writings In Rome he receiued the vesture of IESVS CHRIST as Pope Damasus writeth that is to say Ep. 57. 58. ad Dam. he was Baptised It was the vsage of that time to be Baptised when they were of years of discretion and they that were baptized for certaine daies did weare a white vesture in place whereof when infants are now Baptised they put on their head a white cloth Ep 41. ad Ruf. lib 2. cont Iouin and that is called the vesture of IESVS CHRIST S. Ierome departed then from Rome with a desire to learn deeper studies he went into Gallia or Fraunce traueiling diuers waies seeking after wise and discreet men or lerned and good books and where he found any of these things there he staid some time The books he found if he liked them he endeuoured to buy or els he took paine to coppy theÌ„ out or to translate them Writing to Florentius he saith that he coopied out with his owne hands Ep. 6. in the city of Triers a great volume in which were written certaine Sinods collected by S. Hillary he found a man of good life he conuersed with him and lerned of him all the good he could and the same he did when he mett with any rare or singular lerned man by this meanes he was enriched not in temporall possessions but in vertue science After some time thus spent he returned vnto his countrey and from thence vnto Rome He thought he was not secure in Rome and the staieng also in his owne countrey pleased him not for there he had manie kinsfolk of whom he could receaue no help neither could he satisfy their desires And in Rome he thought would be too many occasions of pleasures and delights dangerous for yong men as he was at that time He determined therfore to passe the sea and to go into Greece where he entended to study and to conuerse with wise and learned men of whom there was store in that countrey at that time Knowing that Gregorie Nazianzen was Patriarch of Constantinople who for his excellency was surnamed the Deuine he went thither and though he might well be a maister instructor vnto others for his learning yet would he be disciple to that learned and holy Bishop that he might say and vaunt he had learned Diuinity of Gregorie Nazianzen Then visited he the holy land and trauelled through all the places therof which moued him to great deuotion and was a great content vnto his mind There was not a thing in all Pallestina whereof meÌ„tion is made in the holy scripture but he sawe it with his owne eyes which help him much as he saith himself to vnderstand the same There had he also maisters In coment Esay 6. Item â—ep 99 ad as sellam in ep 2. ad nepotiaÌ„ who taught him the Hebrew toung and likewise the Chaldean which he vnderstood best though he could not speake it The other he spake aswell as he vnderstood it He also conuersed with the people of Siria by that meanes learned many things of their language and speech and though he trauelled thus to get sondry languages yet he did not pretermit his first study of the Latine toung yea he so much delighted therin that becaused he would not omit the reading of Cicero and other eloquent authors therof he spent therin that litle time he might haue spent in more profitable studies so that I wonder that any man will make doubt that he was chastised of God for it Isid in quodaÌ„ himno Brevi ipsius since he writeth in himself S. Isidorus reciteth the same words who perhaps might feare to haue the like chas tisement since he likewise spent his time in the same study S. Ierome writing to Eustochium in that epistle which beginneth Audi filia saith these words I wretched sinner tooke paines in reading of Tullyes works and his eloquence was very delightfull vnto me and if then I took into my hands a book of any of the Prophets and read it their
had some doubt by reason that both were stricken in yeares but especiallie Cilinia could not be induced to belieue it Be thou assured quoth Montanus thou shalt be a mother giue suck vnto thy sonne with thy owne milke wash mine eyes therewith and I shall thereby recouer my sight All things happened euen as the holie monke had said for Cilinia conceaued and brought forth a sonne that was called Remigius she gaue him sucke with her owne brests and washed the eyes of Montanus with her milk and he therewith recouered his sight as he had foretold The vertue of this sainct did shine so cleerely in his childhood that euen in the day break of his life he plainelie declared how great would be the day-light of his perfect age He was sent to schoole where in a short space he did not onlie profitte much in knowledge and learning but allso in holie and vertuous life making learning to serue as a light to guide him in the path of vertue vertue by alaying the stormes of passions further him in the course of learning when he came vnto the age of 22. years Bennadius the Archbishop of the city deceasing the people assembled for the election of another pastour and fixing their eyes on that holie Saint there present sayed there was not any more fitte them Remigius to succeed in that dignity The holy yong man being there was troubled much in mind made many excuses saieng that soe eminent a degree was full vnseemely for one of his age and conuersation that the vsage was not to elect beardles youths to an office conuenient only for men well stricken in years or of a consistent age Vnto these allegations they made aunswere that his vertues supplied the defects of his age and therefore they had determined that he should be their Pastour and prelate Whilst the people and Remigius were thus at variance there descēded on a sodein a great light from heauen like vnto a beame which rested on the head of S. Remigius The wonderfull maruaill of the celestiall election and confirmation of S. Rimigius in the prelacy proceeded further for beside the light his head was found to be washed with a heauenly dewe or liqour and all they which were present felt the most fragrant and sweet smell that might be comming from the same All the people beholding this wonder with one voice praised God and gaue him thanks that he had vouchsaued to shew plannely that the election they had made was acceptable to him S. Remigius durst not make any further resistance least it should seeme that he withstood and gaine said the will of God So he was made priest and consecrated Bishop by the other Bishops that dwellt there about Assoone as he had accepted this high function he made euident demōstration that he was of sufficient ability to exercise the same he shewed him self to be an almose giuer vigilant deuout curteous perfect in doctrine and charity his conuersation was celestiall his words were all kindled with the fier or Gods loue He was affable and alwais pleasant in countenance but with grauity his preaching was of that which was necessary for saluation of soules what he preached in words he practised in works He moued them that looked on his face earnestly to deuotion for in him did shine clearly the liuely portraiture of santity His sight was dreafull and awfull vnto the presumptuous and proud but very mild and gratious vnto the lowly and humble Toward goodmen his aspect was louing and pleasing as S. Peters was but to the wicked his countenannce was grimme and stern like vnto S. Paules The riches of his soule were so great that notwistanding they could not be seen with corporall eies nor expressed in words yet were they manifested by his externall works He fled Idlenes and worldly pleasures were to him displesant on the other side trauaile was to him best pleasing and he had a delight to be contemned In his sermons he did especially reprehend the vice of carnallity and willed his hearers not to account their owne wifes foule or to think the wife of another man faire or beautifull He was in diet temperate and he sometimes because he would not seeme hautey or proud called some of his poor kindred and freinds to his table Sometimes the litle birds were seen to flye in at the windoes and to sit on the tables side or on the platter and he gaue them some what to eate and when some flewe away others came back At this S. Remigius took occasion to giue spirituall refection vnto the guests that sate at his table saieng See these bitle birds do not sowe nor reape nor haue no granaries wherin to conserue their goods and yet God doth not abandon them but prouideth for them day by day how much more will he prouide for man for whose sake he shed his precious bloud and lost his life ought not man therefore endeuor to do the will of God and be vnto him obedient as these litle birds be He said also This meat was not dressed and ordained for these litle birds euen so the goods which our fore fathers haue left vs or that we haue gotten by our labour and traueill we ought to bestowe part thereof cheerefully among poor men to the end God may make vs partakers of his glory in his kingdome out of the which the deuills were cast for their offence This good Prelate visited oftentimes his Bishoprik in person and committed not the same vnto any other It happened that on a time he came vnto a place called Calmaciacum there was a man possessed of an euill spirit which made him also blind from the time of the first entrance into him S. Remigius praied for him and the foule fiend departed the man recouered his sight and was free from all euill for which cause he gaue vnto God infinite thanks Another time the good Bishop being in the city of Rheimes lodged in the house of the Church of S. Nicasius martir sometime B. of that city there befell a great fier which burned a great part therof Notice herof came to S. Remigius who first praied and then went unto the place where the fire was raging and burning with such fury that all thought it would haue consumed the wholl citty The Blessed man made the signe of the Crosse against the fire which approched toward him and it fled from him and he followed it so long vntill it came to be like a great boule drew back to one of the gates of the city and issued out of the same to the great amazement of all the beholders In the Church of S. Iohn Baptist in the same city he cast a deuill out of a damosell which at his departure did so afflict her that he left her for dead S. Remigius made his oraisons for her restored her vnto life At that time Fraunce had suffered many afflictions by diuers tirants that made warre vpon it one of
he neuer staid long but continuallie trauailed from one place to another to escape his handes Once he came to the court of Achis king Geth who was a Phillistin being knowen of the courtiers he was led vnto the king that he might also see and knew him that had killed in the field the most valiant Champion of all the Philistians Golias the Giant Dauid feared that comming before the king he might incurre danger of his life wherefore to free himself of that perill he vsed a kind of pollicy in which he shewed himself as wise as he had before time valerous His craft was to faine himself foolish mad make faces and diffigure his countenance in diuers strange fashions to pulle at one and after at another and yf any catched at him againe to slip away from them as allso to let spiâ—tle fall on his beard and such like frantick toyes The king seing and thincking this to be done for nought but meere foolishnes scoffed at him and said to his courtiers To what end haue you brought this fellow hither want I fooles in my house take him away By this deuise Dauid was deliuered from the danger of death and out of the hands of the Phillistims O blessed Patriarch and Seraphicall Father holie S. Frauncis howe well and how perfectly wast thou pictured in this patterne Thou like a newe Dauid being yet verie yong wast persecuted not by Saule but by the deuill that endeuoured and laboured to depriue thee of the life not only of bodie but allso of soule Achis the king of Geth is this world in whose court thou wast and continuedst for a time in companie of other worldly men These made thee knowen to the world and the world did fixe his eyes vpon thee But thou fearing dauÌ„gers which hong ouer thy head to deliuer thy life out of his handes didst like a wise man faine thy selfe a foole Thou didst alter thy countenance when forsaking all that the world esteemeth thou didst embrace that which he most dispiseth When flying from all pleasures and delights thou didst make choice of contempt and afflictions Thou sometimes didst cherish one sometime another therby seeming to catche hold of them but if anie beganne to lay hold on thee to make the liue in sinne as others thou didst auoide and flye away from them Thou diddest many other things as a foole according to the iudgment of the world as in louing and seeking pouertie in appareilling and vsing of thy body not only meanely but also rigourously whereby the world reputed thee a foole and a verie dizard But thou like Dauid by this dilligence wast deliuered from out of the hands of Philisteans the hands of this world that so thou mightest fight and make fierce and cruell warre against him not only by thy owne person but also by thy sonnes and by thy daughters the religious people of thy holie order who continually waging warre against this enemie obteine many glorious spoiles and victories I haue taken the life of this blessed Saint out of the writings of S. Bonauenture S. Antoninus of Florence and others SAINT Frauncis was borne at Assisium a city in the valley of Spoleto in Italy in the yeare of our Lord 1182 and his father was a marchaunt called Peter Bernardo At his Christning he was named Iohn which name was after at his Confirmation chaunged into Francis for so was the will and pleasure of his father He was brought vp well and had good education as being the eldest sonne of his father who set him to learne both Latine and French intending to make him his factoure in marchandise whereunto the knowledge of many languages was as he knew well verie necessary S. Frauncis being come to years of discretion began to help his father in his trafficque aswell within as without the cittie And for that by this meanes he was as chiefe master and much money was returned thorough his hands a thing most perillous and pernitious for yong men he spent verie prodigally in what he liked This wrought many yong men of his years and of euil behauior into his company whoe moued him to liue as they did drowned in lasciuiousnes in ryot and youthfull vanities Thus he gaue himself wholly to delights to feastings and vaine company and yet alwaies in this euill behauioure he shewed some tokens of what he should then and what he woud be after ward On the one side he omitted not to commit all sinnes with out any feare yett on the other side he did some good deeds as giuing of almose in liberall sort for naturally he was very compassionat to the poore One day it fell out that a poore man asked an almose of him and he because he was verie busy gaue him none The poore man departed assoone as Francys perceued it he reproued himself and ruÌ„ning after him found him out and not only gaue him almose but also very lowely craued pardon of him and forthwith he also made a vowe that from theÌ„ceforth he neuer would deny to giue any thing that was demaunded of him for Gods sake if it lay in his power And perseuering in the obseruation of so worthy a vowe euen vntill his death he receaued manie especial great fauours of God one was that as often as euer he heard these words for Gods sake so often he felt a great tendernes of hart the cause of great consolation In regard of the Almose and other good deeds S. Frauncis did God sent him many good inspirations which serued as meanes to pull him out of that euill course of life in which he liued One of these meanes and motions was a whole yeares imprissonment in the city of Perugia among other citisens of AssisiuÌ„ caused by a controuersie between these two cities Francis in this prison shewed himself a man of great courage in aduersity as being always mery and comforting other his fellow prisoners that were pensiue and sad Peace was concluded between these citties the prisoners were discharged and Francis fell againe to his former courses prodigally spending his fathers goods among his companions in feasting gaming and carnallity and this life he led vntill he was 25. years old Comming to that age God did call him againe by a long and grieuous infirmitie the booke wherein man learnes manie good lessons First he learneth a liuelie and feeling knowledge of this trueth that he is mortall and that his health is not of himselfe He learneth moreouer to know his sinnes seing that sicknes is often times caused by them He learneth allso to feare hell fire as more neerely threatning deserued punishment which feare doth more earnestly stirre him vp to desire and thirst after eternall ioyes He learneth to despise all worldly riches as things that cannot restore him to health He lerneth to prepare himselfe to dye seinge infirmitie the harbinger of death in his lodginge He learneth to feare the iust iudgements of God making this discourse if in time of Mercie he chastizeth
was a shame reproach to all his kindred Hauing put this into his head shee vnloosed his bandes and set him at liberty and away went he from his fathers house who shortly after coming home finding Francis gone was wrothe therat and went to seek him At last he found him and to end all controuersies between them they agreed to go before the Bishop of Assisium that there Francis should renounce his right and heritage due to him and that his other brethen should haue it among them lest he should spend it prodigally S. Francis the true perfect louer of pouerty was content herewith and when they came before the Bishop he not only fulfilled his fathers request but also stripped himself of all his clothes euen to his shirt and gaue them to his father sayeng vntill this time I haue called thee father but from hensceforth I will acknowledge no other father but oure father in heauen The Bishop seeing this feruent act and wondering therat stood vp and embraced him weeping for tendernes couered him with his cloake and commaunded his seruants to bring him some cloths to put on They brought him a verie poore and course suite and the holy man receued it cheerfully Taking leaue and blessing of the Bishop he departed from Assisium and went to a hospitall of lepers and there remained certaine daies attending on the sick very charitably He washed their sores he clensed their filth and did eate that meat which they did leaue This mortification of the holy man was great for before his conuersion it was death for him to see a leper yea he would stoppe his nose and be ready to vomit but when he began a new life he was of a contrary mind for if he sawe a leaper he thought he sawe and Angell and his soares seemed to be pretious stones In the time of this exercise he vsed vncessant praier One day the B. man being at his praiers he heard a voice which said to him FRANCIS Change sweet into sower and despise thy self yf thou wilt please me The holy man iudged by this voice that God required of him some further seruice then to stay in that hospitall wherfore he departed entending to go vnto Gubbio As he went by the way singing in the Frenche toung thieues mett asked him who he was he aunswered I am trompetter to the great king The thieues beign wroth at this his aunswer and seing they could make no booty of him being meanely arraied they buffetted kicked him and then threw him into a ditch full of snowe Poore Francis got out of the ditch and the snowe with much a do but iocond he was and began a fresh to sing spirituall songs When he came to Gubbio an old friend who knew him and wondered to see him in that weede led him home and gaue him very good cloths of his owne to weare The study and care of this seruant of God was how he might best please almightie God wherfore vnderstaÌ„ding how the relligious men of S. Augustines order liued in pouerty obedience chastity and holy life he had a desire to try if that manner of liuing liked him wherfore he went to one of their monasteries and desired them to receue him into their house Those relligious men receued him and gaue him as Antoninus and Sabellicus say a habite of black say and a lether girdle which he wore but a while neither did he perseuere in this auncient order for that God had apointed Frauncis to institute a new relligious order One day being in in the Church and hearing in the Ghospell that IESVS CHRIST sent his disciples to preach and commaunded them to cary neither gold nor siluer nor any thing to eate nor staf nor shoos nor two garments with them he felt in his hart a sodaine and vnwonted ioy thinking these words were spoken to him and that all which he had searched to know to wit â—n what course he might serue God best was in these words declared vnto him that he must expect no other aunswer This coÌ„ceit was so imprinted in the mind of Francis that he thought it no time to stay any logner but forthwith he put of his black habite of S. Augustine and left of also the leather girdle and put about him a poore and bare garmeÌ„t of course cloth guirded himself with a cord He pluckt of his shoos and went barefoot and thus hauing property in nothing he began to lead a true penitent and Apostolicall life He went from place to place from one city to another and preached euery where as God inspired him his words were lowely simple and cleare yet so efficatious that many which hard him were moued to compunction and amended their lifes and some despising wholie the world clothed themselues in sack cloth or other course habites as S. Francis did and went and followed him So that he had II. disciples of which some were well studied in diuinity and humanity all which desired to serue God The blessed man acquainted them all with his mind which was to go and preach penannce in diuers places diuiding themselues and so they did After a while they mett againe all at the place where S. Francis was euery one giuing account of what he had done And beholding the great profit of soules arising thereby he had a greater desire to continew this exercize in regard the verie seeing of men ragged barefoot with such palefaces together with the consideraton of their profound humility renouncing all property to any thing yea although they should not speake was a preaching of Penannce and did much good But when they adioined words agreable therunto the more plaine and the more simple they were the more did they kindle the loue of God and were imprinted in the harts of the people to their great good S. Francis considering well all this to the end that the institution might haue a firme foundation and go well forward and encrease he thought it meet to acquaint the Apostolik sea there with and to desire the Pope to confirme it for which purpose he and his disciples went to Rome and caryed the Rule with them in writing to be showen vnto the Pope Inocent 3. There arose some difficultie when they treated of the obseruation of the Rule for the Pope many Cardinalls were of opinion that no newe relligious order should be instituted and that if any had an intention to serue God in relligion he might enter into some relligious order alredy approued as into the order of S. Augustine or S. Benedict It came to passe that the Pope went to bed toiled with affaires of the Church and falling a sleep dreamed that the Church of S. Iohn Lateran was ready to fall and that he sawe a poore bare and abiect man vnder propping it with his shoulders susteining and keeping it from falling Assoone as the Pope did behold S. Francis he knew straight that he was that poore maÌ„ who
is to be noted that S. Leo the Pope in his 8. sermon which he made of the feast of the tenth month speaking of the foure times of Ember saith It was a comaundement deriued from the Holy Ghost Gemb SuÌ„ma Comit. The Councell of Magunce held about the yeare of our Lord 813. in the 34. chapter speaking likewise of the foure Ember daies saith it was the institution of the Romaine Church and nameth not Callistus But the one and the other of these authorities is not against that which is here written for if S. Leo say that this fast was deriued from the holy Ghost we may say it is true and yet the introducing thereof into the Church was by the meanes of this good Pope Callistus And where the Councell saith it was instituted by the Romaine Church the meaning is that some Pope brought it in vse which of necessity must be a holy man and of a very auncient time The life of S. Luke the Euangelist THE Apostle S. Paule writing to the Romaines Rom. 1. saith of himself I am debter to the wise and to the foolish to the prudent and to the ignorant to the leâ—ned and to the vnlerned Into this debt fall all the preachers and masters that teach and preach IESVS CHRIST They be bound to satisfy the wise and the ignorant giuing to euery one of them meate agreable to their necessity that they may profit all by applieng themselfs to euery one in the matters they treat of in the busines they haue in hand S. Luke the Euangelist discharged very well this duety for he instructed the wise and the ignorant giuing to euery one books out of which to learn their dueâ—y The vse of Images in the Church is approoued by the Church as holy and profitable Among other the vtilities therof this is one that Images are the books of the ignorant and vnlettered for in them they see that painted which other men read in books So S. Luke writing the Ghospell did satisfy the learned wise and being a conning painter he painted some Images wherwith he satisfied the simple and the vnlettered By these two meanes he that before was a phisition and cured corporall infirmities did afterward cure and heale the maladies of the mind of many who were saued being turned to Christianity and the seruice of God by his meanes The life of this holy Euangelist was written by some graue Authors among others Simeon Metaphrastes whom I principally followe THe city of Antioch hath alwaies bene renoumed among the faithfull for that they took the name of Christians in that place whereas before they which professed the Ghospell and faith of IESVS CHRIST were called disciples In this city was S. Luke borne of noble parents Form his childhood he was inclined vnto vertue he loued chastity right wel for he obserued it all his life He was such an enemy vnto Idlenes that euen in his childhood because he would not be idle he gaue himself to study the Greek toung Then he passed to the study of philosophy and phisick and when he found himself dulled with study he vsed for his recreation to paint And though any of these studies require a mans whole atteÌ„tion yet had wit that he proued a good philsopher an excellent physition and a famous painter The report of the miracles of CHRIST coÌ„ming to Antioch S. Luke thought that if the fame was true he deserued that people should go and see him from the vt most parts of the earth but he especially being a phisition hearing it reported that IESVS healed the sick so easily peraduenture had a greater desire to see him then others and in case it was done by art and might be learned to be tought by him He went to Ierusalem and heard some of his sermons which made such impression in his mind that although he was very rich in posessions and worldly goods and that he sawe them that followid him forsook all and that other wise they were not admitted into his schoole desiring yet to be his disciple and to keep in his company he left and abandoned all his worldly goods and posessions as easily as one would haue shaken the dust from his feet when they are to be washed So he came into his B. company and IESVs receaued him to be his disciple and so he remained and was partaker of many misteries which our Lord wrought in the world He was sent to preach when the other disciples were sent by two and two into sondry costs He was in Ierusalem at such time as our B. sauior died And for that he had heard him say that he would rise againe the third day he staied till then on which day he according to the opinion of some Authors being accompanied with another disciple called Cleophas determined to iourney from Ierusalem vnto the castell of Emaus being 60. furlongs from thence Brocard in descrip tenae sancth Cap. 7.5 5. Which they did to secure themselfs of the inminent daunger and also to be informed by passengers of some euents They went in this iourney discontent talking together of the things which had befallen in Ierusalem and whilest they talked IESVS appeared to them in the shape of a traueller and kept them company In their communication and conference he reproued them for their litle faith and instructed theÌ„ in many things and reduced to their memory many sayengs of the prophets which showed that CHRIST must suffer and dy and then rise againe finally being come neere the castell he made as though he would go further but at their request he staied still with them And being set at the table they knew by breaking of bread that he was IESVS who was risen againe They returned speedily to Ierusalem to bring this good newes vnto the Apostles and there and in their company they sawe him ageine S. Luke was present likewise when our Lord ascended into heauen and at the comming of the holy Ghost After this he stayed in Ierusalem certein yeares with S. Iohn the Euangelist in the company of the mother of God vntill S. Paule was conuerted and came to Ierusalem S. Luke grew into great friendship is thought because they were both learned though they studied different faculties as likewise the cause of the frendship of S. Barnabas with the same S. Paule was because both of them had studied together in Ierusalem and had bene schollers vnto Gamaliel S. Luke being then in the company of S. Paule went with him in his long peregrinations and was partaker of his trauells Of S. Luke S. Paule maketh mention in his epistles to Tymothee Tym. 4. sayeng Luke only is with me and to the Colossians he saith Coloss 4.2 Cor. 9. Luke my dearly beloued saluteth you And to the Corinthians he saith I send to you Titus and a brother meaning S. Luke whose praise is in the Ghospell in the Churches not that only but he is deputed as a companion of
our peregrination by all the Churches S. Matthew being among the Hebrews had written his Gospell in the Hebrew toung and S. Mark remaining in Rome among the Romaines in Latin S. Luke wrote his in Greek because he preached among the Greeks It is said that at all times that S. Paule saith in his epistles After my Gospell Ierom. de scri eccles he meaneth of the Gospell of S Luke for that he wrot it being in his company S. Dorotheus B. of Tyrus saith that S. Luke wrot his Ghospell by the apointment of S. Peter not of S. Paule because he saith in the beginning therof that he wrot it by the relation of them who sawe it from the beginning S. Paule did not so This holy man wrot also another treatise which is called the Acts of the Apostles In the beginning of which he speaketh of the Ascension of CHRIST into heauen and of the coming of the holy Ghost Then speaketh he of the miracles and preachâ—â—g of the Apostles of their persecutions the death of S. Stephen the conuersion of S. Paule the death of S. Iames the Great and the imprisonment and escape of S. Peter After this he goeth on with 〈◊〉 peregrinations of S. Paule his persecutions and trauells of all which he himself bore no litle part and goeth on till he leaueth S. Paule in Rome Then S. Luke departing from thence returned into the Orient traueled ouer a great part of Asia arriued in Egipt He visited Thebais the higher the lower in all places preaching the faith of CHRIST sand conuerâ—ing soules in euery place where soeuer he went At the end of his peregrination he came to the great city of Thehais and was the prelate and pastor therof and as such a one laboured to destroy the Idolls and to build Churchs Which he might the better doe by reason of the great multitude that receued the faith of CHRIST and were Baptised by hearing his exhortations S. Luke remained there many years ordered bishops and priests whom he sent into diuers countreis to preache In such sort that this prouince brought forth many good plants worthy of the eternall life This holy Euangelist catied alwais with him two Images he had made himself the one of our B. Sauiour and the other of his B. mother which were good means to conuert the Painims for that not only he did miracles with them but all they that sawe them were moued to great deuotion These two Images were so like the one to the other that he which did not know whose pictures they were might yet easily know that there was some neere kindred between the two persoÌ„s represented by them To conclude the holy Euangelist being 84. years old passed froÌ„ this mortall vnto the eternall life Nicephorus Callistus in his ecclesiasticall history saith that S. Luke died a martir in Grecia and that he was hanged on a Oliue true lib 2. Cap. 43. but it is commonly holden that he died a naturall death The same Author and others with him say that Constantin the sonne of Constantin the Great by the meanes of one Artemius who whas after ward a glorious martir brought to Constantinople the bodies of S. Andrew from Patrasso a city of Achaia though at this time the body be at Amalphi a city of the kingdome of Naples in Italy of S. Timotheus from Ephesus in Asia and S. Luke from Thebes where it remained and that he builded a sumptuous Church to lay in all the said blessed bodies Nowe the citisens of Padoa say that they haue the body of S. Luke the Euangelist in their city in the Church of S. Iustina The Church celebrateth the feast of S. Luke on the day wheron he died which was on the. 18. day of October in the yeare of our Lord. 90. and in the raigne of Domitian as Canisius accounteth * ⎠* The life of S. Hilarion the Abbot THE Apostle S. Peter Cap. 4. in his fiirst Canonicall epistle hath one sentence fear full for the good and dreadfull to the euill viz If the iust shall scant be saued what shall become of the sinner If he that hath serued God all his life doth tremble at the hower of death what shall he do who hath bin a wicked man and is a sinner at that dreadfull hower This was verified in S. Hilarion the Abbot who being at the point of death felt a great fear in his â—oule but he incouraging it said Depart my soule out of my body of what art thou afraid thou hast serued CHRIST 70. years and dost thou nowe fear to dy The life of this holy Abbot was written by S. Ierome in this sort SAINT Hilarion was borne in Tabata fiue miles from the city of Gaza in Palestina His father and mother were both Idollaters so that he grewe as a rose among thornes Being a litle child he was sent to study in Alexandria in which place he made demonstration of his rare towardlines and inclination vnto goodnes rare witt morall vertues which caused all men that knew him to loue him But he was much more beloued of God for in that place he atteined vnto the knowledge of the Christian faith which he receiued and was Baptised So that he who before was only accounted a vertuous man was now such a one in verity and in deed and delighted in nothing but in vertuous actions and the seruice of God spending the greater part of his life in the Church and in the company of godly priests and by meanes of them he came to the knoweledg of S. Antony who dwelt in the desert and amazed all worldly men to see and heare of his strict life and his sanctity in confounding the deuills in which he reioiced the heauenly court Hilarion had a great desire to see him in the desert which when he had done he chaunged his ordinary clothes and put on such weedes as the moÌ„ks that were in the company of S. Antony wore with whom he also staied two months In this time he marked the order of his life his grauity in behauior his incessant praier his humility in the entertainment of straingers his seuerity in correcting offenders the austerity he vsed toward his body in diet apparell and sleeping he sawe the multitudes of people which came from all costs vnto him to obtein remedy and help for all maner of necessities by his intercession and praiers Hillarion thought that this was the beginning of the reward of the long endured trauels of Anthony and that he should do well to follow his steppes This being determined he returned into his country where the found his father and mother deceased wherfore he diuided his patrimony and bestowed part on his brethren and part on the poore hauing in mind these words of CHRIST He that doth not renounce all that he posesseth cannot be my disciple At that time Hillarion was 15. years old and by this means being poore yet accompanied by CHRIST he went vnto
passed into Africk and from thence into Cycile where he made his stay vpon a cragey mountein In the day he made a bundle of wood and laid it on the back of one of this disciples to cary vnto the next towne to be sold and with the mony arising therof they bought bread with the which those few that were with him liued and sustenied their lifes He could not liue vnknown in that place nether for a man posessed with euill spirite in Rome cried out and faid Hilarion the seruant of God is in Cycilc So that many diseased people came thither to recouer their health by his meanes By cause he perceiued himself honoured in that place also he departed and went into Dalmatia where was a dragon that destroied all the countrey deuoured the oxen and other beasts and killed the husband men and the shepheres The blessed man hauing compassion on the people caused a great stack and pile of wood to be made and when he had praied he commeunded the dragon to go vpon the stack of wood and when he was on it he bad the people set fire ther vnto and thus the dreadfull dragon was brent and consumed with fire in the sight of all the people Then he determined to depart from that place also for which cause he was embarked and being on the sea he was assailed by pirats His disciples with the others that were in the shippe doubted they should be slaine but the good man reprooued them for distrusting in God And Then standing on the deck he praied and stretchinh out his hard against the pyrats said Come no further this way O straunge and wonderfull thing at the saieng of these words they turned aside and returned back as swiftly as though a strong gale of wind had caried them away The sea was also obedient vnto him for at such time as he was at Ragusium the sea swelled and rose out of measure and so much that the people of the country feared all of them should be ouerflown and drowned The blessed old man took land made the signe of the Crosse in the sand and held vp his armes against the storme and the sea was asswaged and ceased incontinent to the great admiration of all the country who kept this deed in memory and the fathers vsed to tell the same vnto their children Another time as he sailed and not hauing any thing to pay for the fraight he would haue giuen vnto the owner of the bark a book in the which he had written the foure Ghospells with his owne hand which he alwais carried about him because he had cured before time the sonne of the master of the bark he would not receiue the book of him but he gaue him his fare and rendered vnto him infinite thanks for his former benefit Finally this blessed old man remaining in Cypres and hauing sent Isichius his disciple to visit the ashes ruines of his distroied monastery and to salute the monks remaining in that prouince staid in the city of Papho vnto which place many sick men and men possessed came out of all parts of the Island and the holy saint by praier healed them Isichius being returned from Siria the reuerend father conferred with him of his departure from thence which he did not vpon inconstancy but only to fly from credit and honour which was bestowed vpon him in that place So hauing found out a place not far distant from the city which stood out of the way and was vnhabitable for the craggines knowing that the going vp vnto it was very difficult for they must go vp creeping with their hands and that at the toppe therof was a plesante and delightfull place furnished with many trees and cleare founteins and that as the fame went many euill spirits haunted and vsed in that place and therefore none was so hardy as to dwell there the holy man resolued to make the same his habitation There were some that came to visite him yea many diseased persons and among others one sick of the palsy who was the owner of the place Great were the conflicts and encounters the seruant of God endured in that place by the deuills who did incessantly disquiet him because he was come to thrust them out of their long continewed habitation The blessed man took thereat great consolation for that he had there some enemy with whom to contend and striue S. Hilarion being nowe come to the age of 80. years Isichius his disciple being absent fell sick and perceuing that the hower of his death drew nere he wrote a schedule or note of his hand in which he left by his testament Isichius his disciple to inherite all his treasures the book of the Gospells written with his owne hand his long relligious weede the sackcloth or hoode with which it was couered When it was known in the country that the holy saint was sick some came to visite him and he charged them deeply that assoone as he was dead they should bury him in the same place where he dwelt and that they should not keep him aboue ground the moment of an hower When the pangues of death came all things failing but his sences which were perfect looking with his eyes open he spake to his soule and said Depart forth nowe depart feare not thou hast serued CHRIST 70. years and doest thou nowe feare death In speaking these words he ended his life His body was buried incontinently as he had apointed so that his death and buriall was reported in the city both at one time His disciple Isichius being certefied of his death returned into Cypres and faining that he desired to dwell in the same place where is master did dwell and was buried after ten moneths passed he stole away the blessed body of his master venturing his life for the same for if the Cypriots had knowne it he had bene slaine by them and caried it into Siria and buried it in his auncient monastery an infinite company resorting thither to see it The blessed body was found hole perfect and entier and so were all his cloths and garments euen as he and they were when he was aliue casting a very sweet pleasant smell S. Ierome saith that vntill his time there had ben variance and controuersy for the Syrians say they haue his body as they haue indeed and the Cypriots say they haue his spirite but aswell in the one as in the other place are seen many miracles done by the intercession and merits of this glorious saint but much more in the place of Cypres for in that place the blessed father took great delight The death of S. Hillarion the Abbot was on the 21. of October and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast It was also in the yeare of our Lord 379 Valentinian being the Romain emperour Nicephorus Callistus wrote of this holy saint in the 11. book cap 14. The life of S. Vrsula and the eleuen thousands Virgins ON the selâ—e
their blood for the faith of Christ and their virginity were accordinge to Adon S. Vrsula guide and theife leader of all the rest and Sentia Gregoria Pinnosa Mardia Saula Britula Saturnina Saturnia Rabacia Palladia Clementia and Grata On That day in with they suffered Christ their sweet and beloued spouse triumphed in these holy virgins ouer infidelity and carnality ouer sinne and hell and declared of what greater force the vertue of a Christian is in sufferinge death then the crueltie of the diuell and his ministers in inflicinge it for that his soldiers by their fall arise by their death ouercome and thereby receane a nowne of eternall glorie The bodies of these holy virgins were gathered together by the Christians with great deuotion and carried to the citie of Collen which is seated vpon the same riuer of Rhene where was erected a famous monastery of Nuns and euen vntill this day many heads of these holy virgins are to be â—eene and are reuerenced with singular deuotion although they be distributed into many parts of Christendome Some are of opinion that the place in which the holy bodies of these virgins now remaine is the verie same in with they were martirized because the earth on which that Church is built will not retaine any dead bodie although it be of a child newly baptized but by niâ—ht it casteth it forth as Lindanus Bishoppe or Ruremund recounteth giuinge this as a token that God will not haue any other body to be buried where the bodies of these so many virgins and martirs his spouses lie who there shed their purest blood for the confession of his faith and defence of their chastitie It is recounted also that S. Vrsula and her holy companions fauour and assist them at the hower of their death who in their life-time haue been deuoted vnto them The martirdome of these virgins was accordinge to Baronius in the yeere of our Lord 383. Baron tom 4. Annal an 383. Graetian and Valentinian and Theodosius the elder rulinge the Empire whome Gratian had made his compartener in the Empire seeinge himselfe to be straightened on euery side by the warres of so many barbarous people and standinge in neede of the assistance of so valourous a Captaine It was also vpon the 21. of October vpon which day the Holy Chuch celebrateth their feast Of these 11000 virgins besides those authors we haue already rehearsed haue written wandalbertus Vide Baron in Annâ—t Martirol 21. Oct. Claud-Rota Cap 134. Bonfin decad â— lib. 5. Petrus de Natal lib. 9. cap. 87. Polid lib 3. Surius tom 5. who florished in the yeere of our Lord 850 Sigibertus Moncke of the Monestery cald Gimblacense who liued almost 500 yeeres since Rogerius Cisterciensis Richardus Praemonstratensis Claudius de Rota Bonfinius in his Historie of the affaires of Hungarie Petrus de Natalibus Polidore Virgill in his Historie of England and aboue all the rest more copiousely Laurentius Surius in his fift tome of the liues of Saincts * ⎠* The life of SS Chrisantus Daria martirs SAINT Chrisantus was borne in the cittie of Alexandria he was sonne to an honourable Gentleman of the order of senators called Polemius who together with his sonne and the rest of his familie came to dwell at Rome where he was most graciouslie and friendlie wellcomed and honourablie aduaunced by Numerianus the emperoure Being once setled at Rome the greatest care of Polemius was to haue his sonne Chrisantus that was of a quick and piercing witt and great capacity trained vp in learning As Chrisantus was turning ouer manie bookes and seeking out suche as were most for his purpose it happened by the especiall prouidence of God that he mett with one wherein were written all the foure ghospells He did peruse them attentiuely and read them from the beginning to the end he plainely perceaued the steppes of darknesse and shade of death wherein he had walked and that our soules had no other light sauing online CHRIST IESVS And being desirous to haue the riches hidden in that booke more disclosed vnto him and vnderstanding how a famous clearke in holie writte named Carpophorus lay secrett in a caue for feare of the persecution he went vnto him and with teares besought him to instruct him in the faith and the ghospell of CHRIST Carpophorus did willingly accomplish his desire he instructed him first and then Baptized and lasty so confirmed and strenghthned him in oure faith that seauen daies after he openlie auouched and taught in Rome that IESVS CHRIST was the onlie true God Polemius came to haue notice heereof and partly for zeale of his blinde religion parely for feare of the cruell lawes and punishments established against the Christians he was greatly enraged with his sonnes proceedings whom he therefore committed to a darke and close prison assigninge him his meate with a scant and verie hard allowance But findinge this punishment was to litle purpose and wrought no other effect in Chrisantus but online to strengthen him in his faith he tooke another course of kinde vsage and gentleness and pamperinge seekinge by the meanes of certaine bond woemen of his owne yonge beautifull and gallantly attired to peruert him and allure him to naughtiness that leesing his chastitie he mighe the more easilie loose faith They brought him out of prison they apprailed him richely they lodged him in a goodly chamber most costly furnished and hanged the woemen came in to performe theire lewd and wicked intent but Chrisantus fearinge his frailtie and feebleness lyfted vp his eies to heauen crauing helpe and succoure of oure Lord. Metaphr in vit Chrisanti And he did affoord it him so boundantly that as Simeon Metaphrastes writeth a heauie sleepe and drousiness so deepelie possessed those woemen that none could awake them except they were caried out of the chamber and by this meanes God preserued his seruaunt from so great a daunger Polemius did iudge it more conuenient for his purpose to seeke our some faire yonge gentlewoman wise louely discreet and gracious and matche her with his sonne and make her his heire to the end that she as his lawfull wife might work his minde and make it more pliant which the others being seruants could not bring to pass Amonghst the virgens of Minerua they found out one called Daria endued with all the rare gifts and qualities that might be desired wished in a woman They acquinted her with all theire designes and purposes yet hardly could perswade her to marrie Chrisantus and vndergoe that taske of healinge him from that which they called madness Not withstanding at length the teares of old Polemius and a strong imagination that heerein she did her Gods great good seruice did make her relent and win her to doe it She aparailed her selfe most goregeouslie she came into the place where the yonge mau was with a comely behauioure yert some what streigning it to a light wantoness aad heedeless demeanure she assailed him with
louely and sweet but well weighed reasons and gentle termes endeuoring to persuade him to forsake and abandon that faith of CHRISTE and marrie with her But oure Sauioure was on Chrisantus his side to stay him from gliding into sinne he gaue his words such a heauenlie grace and printed in his minde such forcible reasons that with them he conquered Daria and made her fall into the selfe same snare wherein she laboured to entrappe Chrisantus For moued by his reasons and powerfully drawen by the grace of God she resolued to be a Christian They accorded to keepe they re virginitie vnspotted and yet giue it out and so possess others with a conceite that they were married by which meanes Chrisantus was freed out of prison and from the keepers hsi father had placed about him Daria was baptized and both of them did liue together as brother and sister keeping theire puritie vndefiled Now as it is the propertie of goodness freelie to impart it selfe to others and of vertuous people to desire and endeuoure that others be partakers of that precious iewell which themselues enioie eache of them counsailed all suche persons with whom they conuersed to receaue the faith of Christe oure sauioure and leade a chaste and vertuous life and manie were persuaded to embrace such good counsaile the woe men by Daria the men by Chrisantus This was speedilie knowen ouer all Rome and notice thereof came to Celerinus prefect of the cittie who forthwith comaūded thē to be apprehended and brought before Claudius the Tribune apointing him to heare and examine theire cause and finding them guiltie to punish them The Tribune comaunded Chrisantus should be led to the temple of Iupiter where because he refused to adore the Idoll he caused him to be most cruellie beaten The executioners performed the Tribunes comaund with so litle remorse cōpassion that his bones and bowells might be seene through his wounds They caried him back again to prison cast him into a loathsome darck dungeon loaded him with giues and fetters and cast vpon the ground manie filthie and stinking things But in the sight of the cruell officers his yrons were turned into dust and in steede of the stinking noy some smell there was a most sweete and fragrant sent Then a Bulls hide was flaied and taken of and Chrisantus naked was put thereinto wherein he remained a whole day exposed to the scorching beames of the Sunne though he receaued thereby no harme at all They cast him once againe in prison loden with yrons which were streight waies consumed and turned to pouder and manie lights appeared which made the dark dungeon bright like noone day They tied him vnto a post meaning to beate him with rodds of yron which whē the officers tooke vp in theire hands they became verie soft and no man could strike with them anie one stroake to anie purpose At length the Tribune Claudius conuinced that so great wonders as these were not done by art Magick but by the hand and power of God the beames of whose grace did now beginne to enlighten his hart falling downe at the feete of S. Chrisantus and crauing perdon for the harme which he had done him he desired him to pray to the God he adored and by whom he was assisted in so manie and so cruell torments to graunt him pardon for his sinnes and knowledge of him selfe The like did all his souldioures whom the martin embraced most louinglie and there were baptized all at one time Claudius with Iason and Maurus his sonnes and Hilaria his wife all his whole familie and the souldioures of his charge with manie other people The Emperoure Numerian assoone as he came to the knowledge of so great an alteration commaunded that all should be put to death Claudius was cast into the riuer Tiber with a great stone about his necke and drowned the rest were beheaded Hilaria some daies after being at her praiers in a caue where the bodies of the martirs were buried was taken by the painims and as they were about to carrie her before the Emperoure she craued some respitt to make het praier wherein she requested allmightie God to take her into the companie of her husband and sonnes His Maiestie vouchasafed to heare her praier and she rendered her soule into his hands and her bodie remained with the other holie saincts The Emperour gaue order that Chrisantus should be brought to a prison called Tullianum and Daria to the common stewes amongst nanghtie woemen where by the presence of that holie virgen so ignominious and reproachefull a place was turned with her praiers into a chappell For God did send in her defence a lion who slipping of his chaines and breaking loose out of his den laied himselfe at the feete of Daria with signes and tokens that he would defend her Not long after came in a bold impudent youth with intention to defloure the B. virgen But the lion encounterd him cast him to the ground held him downe with his pawes and looked vpon her as one demaunding how he should vse that wretched yong man She commaunded that he should doe him no harme and taking occasion from the lions obedience towards God she spake vnto the man and reduced him to the faith of CHRIST He seing in what perill of his life he had bin and how once he was rather dead then aliue seing himselfe againe free from all danger by the commaundment of the holie virgen went preaching aloude throught all Rome There was no other God but IESVS CHRIST whom the Christians adored The keepers of the lion came to haue him back but he fell vpon thē and cast them to the ground and staid expecting the will and pleasure of the saint she with so good an occasion did likewise acquaint them with the power and strength of the faith of CHRIST and they were conuerted thereunto and became the publishers and preachers of the glorie and Maiestie of oure Lord. Celerinus the Prefecte informed of all this caused a fier to be kindled about the lodging to burne and consume the virgen and the lion together but by the will of allmightie God to whose power nothing is impossible in whose sight his martirs are renowmed glorious the lion hauing receaued the Virgens blessing bowing downe his head went through the flame with out burning and through the whole citty without doing or receauing anie hurt or damage After all this Chrisantus was put vpon a torment called Armentarium but the post brake in sunder his bands were vnloosed and the torches which were lighted to burne him on the sides were quenched Those allso which would haue tormented Daria had the sinewes of theire handes contracted with such excessiue paine that they were constrained to let it alone Finallie they led them out of the cittie into the way called Salaria where hauinge digged a great ditche or pit both the saincts were put aliue into the same and then couered and ouerwhelmed with earth and stones and
work of great charitie acceptable vnto God profitable to keep a man out of sinne and is also good for the health of the body The holy Ghost entendeth so much in these wordes saying 2. Macha 12. V. 46 To pray and to do good for the dead is a holie and a healthfull work and is also very profitable for the soules their paines being diminished and they deliuered the sooner The workes that help them are foure viz Almes fasting discipline with other penall works an the fourth is the holie sacrifice of the Masse said for them You must also vnderstand that there is difference betweene these workes for that three of them if they shall do the soule good must be done in the grace of God and if they be done other wise they do not help them except they be done by the apointment of another And if that he that commaundeth the good work to be done as to giue almes or such like be then in the state of grace in this case the work is good and auaileable and helpeth the soule though the person that did that good work were not in that good estate himself Concerning the masse and these other workes as I haue insinuated before there is a difference For that helpeth alwaies not with standing that he that said it was not at that time in the fauour of God for that he who offreth it doth it in the person of the Church who is alwaies in the fauour of God and therefore it helpeth those soules alwaies for whom it is especially said and celebrated So that we may truly saie that this is the best and most secure work that can be done for the soules in purgatorie If this which we haue said be the truth as vndoubtedly it is viz that the paines in purgatorie be so great and excessiue and that also being true which S. Augustine saith as it is for certaine to wit that to see God one houre only is of more worth then all the treasures of the world And sithens with all them he cannot do that which one may do with the good workes he doth for a soule in purgatorie that is to deliuer it out of payne and that it may see God before the time it should otherwise see him How greatlie and vnspeakablie shall that soule be obliged and bound vnto the person that shall so help to deliuer it without doubt more then can easilie be said And that soule being so much bound vnto any partie after it is heauen and enioyeth the glorie of God shal be his perpetuall aduocate to beseech the diuine maiestie to be gratious vnto him that hath beene so good vnto it by procuring it to be freed from the fault land deliuered from paine purchasing heauen by enioying it before the deserued time Which happie felicitie in his kingdome God graunt vnto vs all for his heauenly bounty and infinite mercy Amen The life 's of SS Vitalis and Agricola Martyrs THE Apostle S. Paule in his epistle to the Galathians Galat. 3. speaking of them that are baptized haue put on IESVS CHRIST by receauing his faith saith that in the sight of God there is neither seruauÌ„t nor freeman but all are equall His meaninge is not that among Christians there should not be maisters and seruaunts some to commaund and some to obey for this would be contrarie to all good gouernment and to the common course and vniuersall order of the world wherein the Starres the Riuers the Trees the Beastes the Byrdes the Fishes are euidentlie distinguished not onlie by theire vertues but also by theire greatnesse and lessenes and by a certaine preeminence and subordination besides that if there were equallitie in all men none would vndergoe painfull and meaner offices in the common wealth none would laboure and toyle none plowe nor sowe and euerie one rulinge and none obeyinge all would runne streight waies to ruine and destruction So that S. Paules meaninge is not that Christians should be all equall in this but rather as S. Ierome and S. Augustine say that in the eyes and sight of God the seruant is no lesse worthie nor lesse esteemed then the master if both of them be Christians and bothe do the workes of Christians Of this we haue an example in the two holie martyrs SS Vitalis and Agricola Agricola being the master Vitalis the seruant They were both Christians and martyrs and equally esteemed and regarded by IESVS CHRIST and the holie Church doth celebrate the feast of them both equally Their life written by S. Ambrose was in this manner IN the persecution of Dioclesian and Maximian there dwelt in the citty of Bologna in Italy a noble citisen called Agricola who had a seruant named Vitalis They were both Christians and for that cause were apprehended by the ministers of these two cruell Emperours These holy Saints being in the presence of the Preâ—ident the seruant to wit Vitalis was first put to torments thereby the more to terrify the master And because seruaÌ„ts be ordinarily scourged for their chastisment and do tremble and quake to see the whippes it was the Iudges will that the first torment of Vitalis should be scourging and so he caused him to be beaten rigorously After that he put him vnto other manner of torments and herein the Iudg was so cruell and the officers so mercylesse that the bodie of the holie martyr was whollie couered with blowes and woundes So that search neuer so narrowly you could not see any thing but woundes and gashes There was not any blood left in his vaines but all was shed and the scourges and wandes of Iron where with they stroke him hit not ne touched not the whole skin any more but the rawe flesh and the bare bones so that his very bowells were seene The glorious martyr lifted vp his eyes vnto heauen and made a deuout prayer saying O my Lord LESVS CHRIST my God and Sauiour I humblie beseech thee that it would please thee to receaue my soule for I desire much to enjoye the crowne which thy holie Angell hath shewed vnto me His prayer being ended he yealded vp his soule vnto God Agricola was present at this spectacle who being a man of good nature pleasing behauiour friend to all affable doing good and hurting none was generally beloued of all And therefore the executioners yea and the Iudg himself also being desirous to haue him change his mind and to sacrifice vnto the Idolles wherby he might be deliuered from death made him to be present at the martyr dome of his seruant Vitalis to the end he might learne as is said before to beware by another mans cost and affliction But he that had seene the successe of his seruant was more desirous to gaine a crowne as he had done rather then to be terrifyed with the torments and so he remayned firme and constant in his first good purpose The Iudge and the officers were wroth and enraged against him and the more for that they
had vsed him courteously and he had despised and contemned them in which rage the Iudge commaunded he should be put on the Crosse The executioners were not slowe to execute the cōmandement of the ludge Forthwith the Crosse was brought and Agricola was stripped naked Then layd they him at length vpon the same piercing his handes and feete with sharp nayles they crucifyed him lifting him vp a loft In that place was to be seene a wonderfull and liuely representation of the Lord in his seruant that is to say of CHRIST in Agricola The holie martyr being thus raised on high shewed that he made smalle account of earthlie thinges but desired heauenlie He hauing bene on the Crosse a good space on the same daie that his seruant Vitalis yealded vp his soule vnto God by scourging he rendred vp also his spirit on the Crosse And so the maister and the seruant were equall in theire martyrdome and in theire reward Their bodies were buried in a Churchyard where the Iewes were buried and in that place they remayned as Roses among thornes and light in darknes vntill the time of S. Ambrose as he saith himself writing the story of their martyrdome But he hauing notice of the place where they were at the request of a holie widowe called Iuliana who had particuler and speciall deuotion to these holie saintes took them out of that place and translated them into a Church which the same Iuliana had builded vnto them where their bodies take their repose and rest and their soules expect to be reunited vnto them at the last daye of Iudgment The martyrdome of these holie saintes was on the 4. of Nouember and vpon that daie the Church maketh of them a commemoration This befell in the yeare of our Lord. 298. in the raigne of the Emperour Diocletian Spanish saith The bodies of these holie saintes are said to be in the Roiall monasterie of S. Maria Naxara in Spaine The foure Crovvned THe Apostle S◠Paul writing vnto Timothie his disciple saith None shal be crowned but he which fighteth lawfully which is asmuch as if he had said He that fighteth acording vnto the apointement of his captaine such a one moriteth the crowne and to triumph Amongst the Romaines in their warres some did worthy and very notable exploites but because some were against the apointement of the captaine they did not only depriue them of the crowne of victorie but chasticed them seuerely Some fathers there were which put their owne sonnes vnto death for that they went out to answere a challenger on the contrary part in single combate although he returned with victory and slew his aduersarie honorablie And this because he had bene forbiden Vpon paine of death not to issue out to any such incounter without speciall license Hereby wee se that that souldier only deserued to haue the crowne of triumph which fought and got the victory by the apointement of his Captaine It is conuenient that we imitate IESVS CHRIST euen as these holy martirs imitated him which are called the foure crowned because their names were not knowen These verily did merite the crowne for that they imitated IESVS CHRIST and as he gaue his life for their snakes in like manner did they giue their lifes for his sake The life of these holy martirs and of other fire whose bodies are buried in one and the same Church within the citty of Rome was this taken out of the Martirologes of Venerable Bede and Ado Archbishop of Treuers THe vnsatiable hunger of Dioclesian and Maximian those two great and professed enemies of IESVS CHRIST and his holy saints was not satisfied although by their order and apointement and of others which were their Iudges and presidents there was shed much Christian blood daily through most partes of the world but the more they put to death the more their cruellty encreased It was told vnto Dioclesian that there were in Rome foure citisens Christians whose names were Seuerus Seuerianus Carpoforus and Victorinus The Emperour commaunded that they should be forth with apprehended and led vnto the Idoll of Esculapius and if they refused to worship it that they should be scourged to death and acording to his apointement it was done They were led and conducted vnto that diuell and they made account of him as he was refusing to adore him wherevpon they began to torment them They pulled of their clothes and bound them vnto seuerall pillers The scourging which was giuen them was such and so great that in that torment they yealded vp their soules vnto God The tirant commaunded that their bodies should be cast into the street that the dogges might dououre them and although they remained there fiue daies yet they were not touched by any beast whereby it euidently apeared that men were more cruell and bloody then the very beastes The Christians took vp their bodies and buried them in the Arenarium three miles out of Rome in the Via Lauicana It is said that pope Melchiades who liued shortly after their martirdome put them into the Catalogue of holy martirs and because their names were not knowne he called them The foure Crowned But afterwardes it was reuealed to a holy man that their names as is said before were Seuerus Seuerianus Carpoforus and Victorinus Of the fiue Martirs SS Claudius Nicostratus Simphorianus Castorius and Simplicius NEERE vnto the place where the foure martirs last spoken of were buried there had bene laid two yeares before but on the same daie the bodies of fiue other holie saints who in like manner had bene put to death for the faith of CHRIST by comandement of the same Emperour Dioclesian Pope Melchiades who ordeined the feast of the foure crowned to be celebrated entended that together with them there should be a commemoration of these fiue martirs which were called Claudius Nicostratus Simphorianus Castorius and Simplicius These holy saintes were caruers and remained in Hungarie by the apointment of the Emperour and wrought together with many other of their trade in the quarries of marble which the Emperour vsed in his buildings in diuers places of the world Foure of these blessed men were Christians and Simplicius was an Idolater As the wrought together the Chizells and other tooles of Simplicius were oftentimes broken and the tooles of the others did neuer break Simplicius being much amased hereat demanded of Simphorianus how it fell so out and he made answere my tooles break not for that euery time I take any of them into my hand to work I call vpon IESVS CHRIST my God vpon this occasion Simphorianus vsed such perswasions vnto Simplicius that by the help of God he was conuerted vnto the Christian faith and was Baptised It fell out afterward that Dioclesian gaue the charge vnto these fiue blessed saintes of a building in which they should set the statues of diuers liuing beastes and in the midest of them an Idoll of one of his heathenish Gods The holie saintes made vp
relligious men sawe it they gaue vnto God infinite thanks and the yong man that had tasted of death was baptised and liued many yeares after S. Martin raised to life another dead man who had hanged himself as it was thought vpon a melancholick humor predominant in him depriuing him of his vnderstanding but by the praier of S. Martin he recouered and was restored to his life and health also The fame of this holy saint was spread very farre wherwith the citizens of Towers being moued sought meanes to haue him to their Bishop but it was a hard matter to get him out of his monastery They that went for him vsed this wile to get him away Aman that loued the monastery told him his wife was sicke in Poiters and desired him to goe thither to visite and heale her S. Martin vpon this occasion departed from the monastery and the messagers of the city of Towers carried him away by force before the monks who had laboured to hinder his departure perceiued it S. Martin was receiued in Towers with great ioy by all the common people who said all with one voice They were now happie since they had to their father and pastour so holy and humble a man After he was made Bishop though he changed his estate yet he altred not his life for he was as lowely and was appareilled as meanely as he was before time He discharged his office and duety to the full for he was very diligent in procuring the good of his flock and in repelling all euill from them He reproued vice commended vertue he preached he punished he rewarded and did not omitt any thing that was couenient and fit to be done so that thereby he discharged fully his duety toward his neighboure To discharge his duety toward God he caused a monastery to be built vpon a craggy mounteine two miles from the city to which place were assembled many relligious men and there he had a cell into which he withdrew himself oftentimes to pray and to liue in contemplation The relligious men who arose in short space to the nomber of 80. moued by the example of S. Martin liued a holy life in chastity pouerty obedience and continuall fasting and prayer and their habites were made of camells hayre Their diet was very temperate none dronk wyne except he was sick and they went very seldome out of their cells S. Martin had some of these monks always in his company and when he stayed any time in the monastery and returned into the city they that were posessed of the deuill gaue notice therof by the feare and dread they shewed and by the paine they suffered before he entred the towne and this befell into what city so euer he came This holy prelate vsed great dilligence in the extirpation of Idollatry out of his diocesse and trauelled into many places throwing to the ground the Idolls of the Gentills cutting downe and burnyng the groues and trees wherin the deuills gaue oracles and aunswers for which cause he was oftentimes in daunger to be murdered by the common people but his deportment and cariage was so discreet in all his affaires accompanied with some myracle in the sight of them that were agreued at his doings that sometimes whole compaines fell at his feet and besought him they might be made Christians It would be a long story to recount how many sicke he healed by his prayers but among others one was Paulinus ouer whose eyes was growne such a webbe that it made him blind and also put him to much paine The holy saint did clense them one time with a napkin and he was made whole his sight restored and his grief ceased After this S. Martin being Bishop raised to life the sonne of a distressed poore mother whofinding him in the city of Chaâ—tres in the company of many Idollaters layd before him her dead sonne and requested him very earnestly to raise him vnto life The holy saint made his prayer for him and he reuiued This myracle caused many of those pagans to come to the faith of CHRIST S. Martin after he was Bishop raised to life none but this child and bycause he had raised vnto life two before that he vsed to say vnto his disciples and friends that he was better by two parts before he was Bishop then after and that his high dignity had diminished his vertue It is apparant the holy man said these words for lowlines and humility for it is well known that after he was Bishop he did many admirable and vertuous deeds which he had not done in the former time But this declareth and sheweth his charity and humility He was Bishop when he came into Paris and sawe at the gate a leprous man soe full of soies and blaines that the only sight of him was greeuous and importable to many the good prelate came close to him and embraced him and layd his face on the face of the leper he kissed him very charitably there with cuted him and made him whole This leper whom the whole city had seene came the day following to the Church and gaue thanks publiquely vnto God for the recouery of his health He was Bishop when Sulpitius who wrote his life visited him whoÌ„ he receiued most kindly and gaue him harty thankes that he was come from Tolose to Towers only to see him The blessed man himself washed his feet made him sitt at his table at the which he filled more his soule then his body hearing his words enkindled with the fier of celestiall loue and the grauity of his reasons This Autor said I neuer sawe nor conuersed with any mortall man furnished with such science witte and eloquence such aboundance of pure chast words as I found in Martin it made me more to marueile for that I know he was vnlettered The somme of his speaches were of the contempt of the world to auoid vice to loue vertue and that which he said he performed also in deed Noe tounge is able to expresse that which I noted to be in this holy saint in the time I liued in his company I neuer sawe him angry I neuer sawe him displeased or discontent much lesse to laugh after a dissolute maner and this was because that what so euer befell he receiued it as sent from God The austerityes of his fastings watching continuall wearing of sackcloth were things rather to be admyred then imitated He slept continually on the ground he vsed to eate and sleep so litle that it seemed impossible he could liue with it He was neuer idle when he had dispatched the affaires and busines of his Church he spent the rest of his time in reading the holy scripture mixing it with praier Herin he did as the smithes doe striking vpon the hotte iron who that they may continue the better giue now and then an idle blow euen so did S. Martin as for a recreation praying one while and reading another O blessed man in
vpward being so painfull and he said Let me look vp toward heauen since that very shortly my spirit is to go that way which I behold When the agony of death came he saw the deuill the ennemy of mankind and said vnâ—o him what doest thou heere thou cruell beaâ— Thou shalt find in me nothing for which I shall eâ—damned and hauing said thus he rendered his spirit to our Lord being 81. yeares old His blessed soule was borne into heauen accompanyed with many Angells who made much ioy and song melodiously This musique was heard by sundry persons that were in places farre distant as of seuerinus Arch B. of Collein and by S. Ambrose Arch Bishop of Millan Who sayeng of masse fell a sleep from the which he awaked after three howers and then said to the standers by know you that my brother Martin B. of Towers is departed out of this life and I haue bene present there to bury his body S. Martin liued on the earth poore and humble and intred into heauen rich and with great maiesty His death was on the. 11. day of Nouember and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast and it was in the year of our Lord. 399. in the time of the Emperour Honorius This holy saint did many myracles in his life time and also after his death Whilest he liued he was the meanes that many were conuerted vnto God by his good example and excellent doctrine and after his death many were holpen by his merites and in tercession God of his great bountie and infinit mercie graunt that we may be in the number of the chosen to the end we may enioy his glory in the company of S. Martin Amen Many Authors write of S. Martin beside Seuerus Sulpitius as S. Paulinus Bishop of Nola Fortunaus the priest Gregory of Towers Odo the first Abbot of Cluny Hebernus Bishop of Turen and many others The life of S. Menna Martir OVR sauiour CHRIST saith vnto his seruants in S. Mathew Ca. 30 WheÌ„ you shal be brought before kings Iudges take no thought what you shall speak for at that time you shal be tought howe to answere This sentence is verefied in a holie souldier called Menna who haning spent his time in the warre among swords and lauâ—ces being brought before a tirani that did examine him of the faith of CHRIST which he professed made some answeres as if he had bene exercised in the studie of the holie scriptures all the daies of his life Of this holie saint Metaphrastes writeth as ensueth IN the second yeare of Caius Valerius Dioclesianus and in the first yeare of Caius Valerius Maximianus after the death of Numerianus who had gouerned the Empire before them there was raised a sore persecution against the Christians through all the lands subiect to the Empire Into which were sent publike proclamations conteining the will of the Emperours and the punishment that should be inflicted vpon those that disobeied the same There was in the cittie of Cottieum which is in the prouince of Phrigia or in Asia minor a president calsed Pirrhus Arginiscus who had the gouernement of that prouince had also authority ouer the men of warre which were resident in the same as a garrison for defence therof Notwithstanding they had a generall captaine ouer them called Firmilianus Among the souldiers there was one in the regiment of Rutilus called Menna by nation an Aegiptian and by profession a Christian whose vertue shone among the rest as the sunne doth aboue the starres The Emperours edict came vnto this cittie the tenor whereof was this Dioclesian and Maximian Emperours to all their subiects seÌ„deth greeting Forasmuch as we acknow ledg to haue receaued many fauours and graces of of the soueraigne Gods for which we thinck our selues obliged and bound to procure all honour and seruice to be done vnto them and their Temples We therefore coÌ„maund all magistrates and captaines of our Empire that assoone as they haue notice of this our Edict that they endeauour with all dilligence as a thing that concerneth the saffetie of our estate the honor of the Gods our benefactors that all our subiects aswell men as women of what estate or condition soeuer they bee do worship and adore them and do offer sacrifice in visiring often their temples And those that be disobedient and rebellious against our comaundements that they be tormented in the most cruell forte that may be inuented This was the tenor of the Edict Assoone as the president receaued it he caused it to be proclaimed through all the cittie other places of his prouince CoÌ„maunding withall that presently after the proclamation all men and women should go vnto the Temples to the end the disobedient persons might be knowne In most places where the proclamation was made there were great murmurings amongst the people for that it was thought both vniust and cruell yet the greatest part of people went of force vnto the Temples to obey the Edict When the valiant souldier so Menna vnderstood hereof he was not able to endure so vniust and vnrighteous proceedings as to haue the veneration and worship of the true GOD IESVS CHRIST to be abolished and that in stead thereof reuerence should be done vnto the fiends Because he would be free and not be partaker of this wicked transgression nor so much as see it he departed from the armie and withdrew himself into a desert where he remained fiue yeares leading a sollitarie life in continuall fasting and works of penance which was as an exercise and an entrance into the warre and battaile which he expected shortly to make At the last inspired by God he returned into the cittie vpon a day which was kept very sollemne as the birthdaie of one of their Godds The people of the cittie were generally assembled into a Theatre expecting certaine martiall exercises as Iusts and turneis And there was also the president Pirrhus for the same purpose S. Menna entred into the middest of the show and with a loud and cleere voice he rehersed a text out of the Pophet Esay Ca. 65. which saith I haue bene found of them that sought me not and manifested to them that asked not after me At these words all the standers by fixed their eies vpon him and seing him to be a rude plaine man meanely apparelled they know not what to make of his words nor what he ment by them The president Pirrhus causing him to be brought neerer vnto him demaunded of him who he was He aunswered I am Menna the seruant of IESVS CHRIST who is Emperour of heauen and earth The president enquired further Art thou a stranger or a citisen that thou seekest to disturb our feastiuall showes in this manner what is thy meaning herein One of them which stood by said vnto Pirrhus I know the man well He is a souldier of the regiment called Rutilica whose Coronell is Firmilianus and it is about fiue yeeres since he abandoned
rather to die then to deny my Lord CHRIST I am a Christian and therefore expect not that I will sacrifice vnto the diuells The Iudg was so wroth with this answere that he caused calthropes to be set thick on the ground the blessed martir to be dragged and haled ouer them In this torment the holie saint said Seek out other tortures for these be of too smalle force to make me worship thy diuells Pirrhus being now more enraged said Beat him with cudgells and knotted thongs of leather and buffet him on the face till he cease to call our Gods by the names of diuells But all these things preuailed not to make the valiant souldier of CHRIST shew any signe of feare or yeelding There was present a noble man of the court called Eliodorus who said vnto Pirrhus my Lord these Christians be a people which regard no torments yea death is more welcome vnto them then life Do not vexe nor trouble thy self any more with this man but giue iudgment of death vpon him as he hath well deserued for that he hath abandoned his captaine and refused to serue in the warres Thâ—n Pirrhus said vnto Menna If thou wilt resolue to sacrifice vnto the Gods I will cause thy captaine to pardon thy former offence and to giue thee more honorable office and degrees Menna said God forbid that I should desire such offices and honors I desire to haue them in heauen where true honor is to be had not those of the world which be vaine and transitorie The president seing the constancy of the blessed martir by the aduise of the other courtiers coÌ„demned him to die with these words Because Menna the souldier doth not obey the proclamation of the Emperours and because he followeth the religion of the Christians and will not sacrifice vnto our Gods we comaund that he be beheaded that others by his example may feare to comitt the like trespasses The blessed martir was led by the officers vnto a place called Potemia vnto which all the cittie was assembled The holie saint with a cheerefull countenance though meanely apparelled as making smalle account of any worldly thing went comunicating with some of his acquaintance as if he had not bene going vnto death Recomending them vnto God and taking leaue of them he lifted his eies toward heauen saying I blesse and praise thee o father eternall for that thou hast hitherto kept me and hast not turned thy face from me Thou hast giuen me strength that I should not loose my soule with this treacherous and faithles people but that I might confesse constantly thy blessed name and thy holie lawe I beseech thee through IESVS CHRIST thy sonne that thou wilt help me at this houre of death and deliuer my soule in granting it victorie in this last assault that it may appeere free before thy iudgment seat and there worship thee Saying this he came to the place of execution where falling on his knees and looking toward heauen the hangman cut of his head Then they cast his bodie into a great fire but the fire consumed it not so that some deuout persons took it and buried it in a place conuenient whither many Christians resorted crauing mercy at Gods hands by the praiers and merits of this his faithfull seruant Menna Who was of Egipt honorablie borne iust faithfull mild and vertuous and replenished with the grace of the Holie Ghost He was martired in the cittie of Cottieum in the prouince of Phrigia on the. 11. of Nouember in the yeere of our Lord 301. Spa saith 296. And on the same daie the Church maketh of him a commemoration The bodie of this holie saint was after ward translated vnto Constantinople The life of S. Martin Pope and Martyr THE noble king Dauid would not giue leaue 2. Râ—g 2 nor permit one of his souldiers to kill his father in lawe Saul when he might easily haue done it and theother well deserued it coming to pursue and search him out with an army and a full intention to kill him if he could haue gotten him within his daunger And though Dauid found him fast a sleep in his pauilion and in like maner all his guard who should haue watched in his defence yet would he not once touch him The reason which Dauid alleaged was because Saul was the anointed of the Lord. It happened farre otherwise vnto the glorious S. Martin Pope and martir who being annointed and consecrated and moreouer the vicar and lieutenant of CHRIST in earth yet some Christians in name but in their deeds worse then Pagans were so bold as to take him and vse him villanously as may appeare by his life collected out of the book of Poper lifes called Pontificall and out of other good Authors SAINT Martin the first Pope of that name was the sonne of one Fabritius and borne in Todi a city in Tuscane a very holy man and vertuous Assoone as he was elected to the gouernment of the Church he emploied all his vttermost dilligence endeuor to extirpat roote out some heresies about the person of IESVS CHRIST already condemned in former Councells The man who did bring them againe out of hell where they had bene a good space buried into the world was a Patriarch of Constantinople called Paulus who had some other prelaâ—s that abbetted him and were wrapped in the same error These wonne th'emperour Constans the second of that name to be of their sect and opinion such sleights and deuises they wrought with him The legats of the Pope who resided there certefied him of the proceedings of Paulus the Patriarch The Pope incontinent apointed by his letters what order should be taken therin and wrot vnto the same Paulus louing letters beseeching him not to be so determinately stubborne in ruynating the peace of the Church and in patronizing of his errors so many times condemned by the holy prelats ingreat assembles and generall Councells Paulus being by nature proud and obstinate to shew what small accouÌ„t he made of the Popes aduertisements caused an Aultar which the legats had set vp in the Church founded by Placida vpon which they said masse after the Roman vse to be cast to the ground and defaced The malice of Paulus was so much augmented that because the legats on the Popes behalf required him when they sawe his obstinacy to amend his fault and reforme his errors or els they would proceed against him as a contumacious person by the censures of the Church he made meanes to th'emperour to cause the legats to be restrained of their liberty and euill entreated and afterward he sent them into banishment into sondry parts of Christendome which was as if he had sent trompets to sound and publish the malignity of the Patriarch the tiranny of th'emperour and the misbelief of them both being obstinate in the error condemned by all the Catholike Church when Pope Martin had vnderstanding thereof he had recourse vnto the ordinary remedies in the
write a letter vnto Chrisogonus after this manner Vnto the holie confessor of IESVS CHRIST Chrisogonus Anastasia sendeth greeting Although my father which begot we was an Idollater yet my mother that bore me who was called Fausta was a Christian and a vertuous chaste woman She instructed me in the Christian faith euer from my childhood and after her death I was maryed vnto a sacrilegious and cruell man whose bed and companie I haue oftentimes refused excusing it with infirmities which I desired God to send me for that purpose I spent the night and the day in prayer desyring my sweet Sauiour that I might imitate his blessed example This most cruell man after he bath consumed my patrymonie amongst wicked and lewd company like vnto himself hath imprisoned me as if I were a malefactor or a detestable offender and forbiddeth any sustenance to be guieÌ„ vnto me that I may perish and dye for want of food Although I shal be glad to loose my life for CHRIST his sake neuerthelesse I find great grief that my goods be wasted in such lasciuious sort in such lewd company and in the seruice of the false Gods Therefore I beseech thee thou seruant of IESVS CHRIST to pray vnto God Almightie for me and that the either alter the mind of this my husband that he may be conuerted or els if he continew and perseuâ—r in his hardnes of hart and obstinacy that he take him out of this world And better it shal be for him to be taken out of this life then to adde daily sinne to sinne which will put him to double torments in hell I promise and vowe vnto Almightie God and to thee his seruant â—hat if euer I get cleere and freed from this affliction to spend all my time in the seruice of my Blessed Sauiour IESVS as my vse and custome was and in helping and prouiding fot thy necessities and to releeue the wants of all other holie confessors Our Lord keep thee euer thou B seruant of God Remember me and praie for me S. Chrisogonus hauing receiued this letter made his prayers and oraysons for Anastasia and then together with other confessors that were in the same prison he answered her in this manner Among the tempestuous stormes of this world in which at this present thou art enwrapped be assured that thou shalt be relieued by IESVS CHRIST who will easilie cast headlong into the bottomeles pitte the diuell that doth assaâ—le and torment thee Haue patience in the middest of thy troubles and put thy trust in him for he wild deliuer thee Cry out aloud vnto him Exalt thy voyce with the prophet and say why art thou so sad o my soule and why art thou so disquieted with in me Trust in God still for I will euer confesse that he is my saluation and my God Thinck Lady that it is his will to bestowe on thee the riches and treasures of heauen since he taketh away and depriueth thee of wordly comforts Be not too much troubled nor afflicted for that crosses and tribulation lighteth vpon thee that liuest vertuously God doth try vs but doth not deceaue vs. To trust in man is vayne and deceitfull an he that putteth his hope or confidence in him is accursed and euer deceiued but blessed is he that putteth his trust and affiance in God who neuer deceaued any Continewe in thy vertuous excercises and hope for rest and quietnes only in God whose comaundemers thou keepest when it shall best please him and thou thinkest least he will send thee traÌ„quillitie a calme tyme. The darknes shall flie away and the light shall appeere The frost and pinching cold of the winter shall passe and the ioyfull sweetenes of the spring shall succeed A quiet and comfortable tyme shall come that thou maiest cherish and relieue those againe that suffer persecution for the loue and profession of CHRIST God giuing thee heere meanes that thou mayst help other with temporall necessities and receiue thy self of him euerlasting rewards Our Lord be with thee good lady and pray for me With this Epistle S. Anastasia receiued great consolation endeavoring to equall if not to surpasse thereby the many complaâ—nts she had made of her hardharted and cruell husband Her persecutions encreased still he giuing to her now but the fourth part or one quater of a a smalle oridinary loaffe And she thincking verily that her death approached wrote another letter to S. Chrisogonus after this tenor and to this effect To the blessed martyr and Confessor of CHRIST Chrisogonus Anastasia sendeth greeting The end of my life draweth neere vouchsaffe to remember me and to pray vnto God to receaue my soule when it departeth from my body since for his loue and the profession of his holie name I suffer all this torment The holie man returned this answere Chrisogonus to Anastasia As darknes precedeth and goeth before light so after infirmitie ensueth health and life cometh after death Prosperities and aduersities haue the like and the same endes therefore let not the heauy and sorrowfull fall into desperation nor the happy and fortunate be proude or too much puffed vp Be of good comfort ô handmaid of CHRIST for thy peregrination which hath beene repleat with tempestuous stormes shal be finished with a prosperous and happy conclusion thereby desires shal be acomplished enjoying CHRIST by the palme of Martyrdome The further course and processe of her greeuous persecutions may be seene in her life on the 25. day of December Of S. Chrisogonus you are to vnderstand that the Emperour Dioclesian being in the cittie of Aquileya martyrising the Christians he sent to Rome to haue Chrisogonus brough thither to him who being come the Emperour said to him I will bestowe on thee high dignities I will make thee Prefect of the cittie that thou maiest so arise to be Consull And indeed such places and preferments are fittest for men of noble linage and such worthie partes as thy self hath but vpon this condition that thou wilt worship our Gods S. Chrisogonus answered I adore one onely God With my soule and hart I reuerence him and with all externall signes and tokens I confesse IESVS CHRIST to be the true God And as for thy Idolles which be habitacles of diuells and fiendes I detest and accurse them Dioclesian comaunded that he should be beheadded and that his body should be cast into the sea and so it was done A priest called zoilus found his bodie afterward and buried it honorablie His martyrdome was on the day whereon the Church celebrateth his memorie which was on the 24. of Nouember on a Tuesdaie in the yeare of our Lord. 302. Dioclesian being Emperour His name is in the Canon of the masse Of this holie saint wrote Suidas Ando venerable Bede Vsuardus and the Romane martyrologe The life of S. Catherine of Alexandria IN the Book of kings it is said of king Salomon that he had many wines It was the will of God that the Hebrewes should
things go in this manner in a great rage commaunded the Empresse should be put to death And for that Purphirius the captaine spoke in her behalf and the Emperour vnderstood he was a Christian and 200. of his souldiers also he gaue charge they should be all put to death fullfilling herein that which this holie saint had said before namelie that many should be saued by her meanes As the Empresse was led vnto her death she met S. Catherine on the waies and they embraced affectionatly requesting eache other to praie vnto God which they both promised hoping they should shortlie meet together in heauen The Empresse was beheaded on the 23 of Nouember and so was Porphirius and his souldiers The Emperour being in a manner beside himself to see the constancie of Catherine and not knowing what to do more commaunded to behead her also The holâ—e virgin was led to the place of excecutioÌ„ where was a great concourse of people as well men as women many of the companie weeping for compassion Before she was beheaded she prayed vnto God and yeelded him thancks for many graces that she had receiued at his hands but especiallie for this which she was at this instant to receiue to wit the loosing of her life for his sake which she took for the greatest signe of his loue toward her could be She besought him also that after her death he would not permitt her bodie to come into the hands of the perfidious Infidells least they might reproach or abuse it Moreouer she besought him that those that in their necessitie remembred her might be deliuered from their afflictions so farre forth as was conuenient for them This praier being finished one of the souldiers cut of her head and out of the wound came milk in stead of bloud Then were Angells seene to lift vp her bodie from the earth who caried it in the ayre vnto the mount Synay and there the same Angells buried it The Emperour Iustinian in processe of time caused a sumptuous Church to be built in the same place and a monasterie also in which the holie saint is honored and reuerenced Her death was on the 25. of Nouember and on the same daie the Catholique Church celebrateth her feast with great sollemnitie which is done with good reason for God hath three crownes with which he croweeth some of the faintes in heaven One is of red coullor which is for the holie martyrs The second is of skie-coullor wherewith the preachers be crowned and the third is white which is agreable vnto the virgins It seemeth all these crownes were due vnto S. Catherine For she was a Martyr and both before and at the time of her martyrdome she conuerted many person vnto the faith of CHRIST and she was a virgin also And for that she hath such rare prerogatiues beside as she said of her self that she was the especiall spouse of CHRIST with great reason deserueth shee to be honored and reuerenced of all Christians especially of students who by her meanes do receaue as we maie beleeue many graces and wisedome also infused by God This blessed martyr and virgin S. Catherine suffred martyrdome about the yeare of our Lord 310. in the raigne of Maxentius and Maximianus SPanish The ordinarie painting her with a sword in her hand and setting her foot vpon the head of an Emperour deuoteth that she conquered victoriously the tyrant that martyred her * ⎠* The life of S. Peter of Alexandria Bishop and Martyr THe prophet Zacharie sawe in a vision IESVS the high priest sore beaten and wounded his handes were all bruised and pierced through being demaunded who had vsed him so he made answere I haue receiued these stripes and woundes in the house of them that loued me This is spaken figuratiuely by IESVS CHRIST who being of his heauenly father loued infinitely yet he willed him or permitted him to dye This may also very well be sayd of them that haue receiued greater fauours and benefitts of Almightie God hauing higher and more eminent dignities and functions as he hath done vnto priests And if they offend or transgresse his lawes he is more displeased at their offences then he is at the faultes of others And through he be highly displeased with sinners yet he complayneth of them more then of all others This very same befell to S. Peter of Alexandria who sawe IESVS CHRIST with a coate rent and torne to pieces He demaunding who had vsed him in that manner answere was made Arrius the heretick The sonne of God shewed himself much displeased that that accursed man had set his toung against his honor in deprauing and touching him in his deitie it being his dutie to defend the same more then others for that he was a priest The life of this holie Bishop and martyr Peter collected out of Eusebius of Cesaria venerable Bede and other authors of Martyrologes is in this manner SAINT Peter of Alexandria was borne in the same cittie of Alexandria and thereof he took his surname For his great vertue and wisedome he was elected Bishop after the death of a holie man called Theonas And as some authors say he was the 16. prelate of that cittie after S. Mark the Euangelist In the persecution of Maximinus the Emperour great were the troubles he suffred in so much as many seing and beholding his patience and perseverance were stirred vp to imitat him neither did they quaile in the confession of theyr faith but perseuered in the same euen to the losse of their temporall liues Although the cruelty and tyrany of the ministers in the persecution encreased daily against the Christians yet the hoâ—ie Bishop left not of to look about and to prouide for the good and vtillitie of his Church And whereas the accursed heretick Arrius continued in the sowing of his cockle and infernall heresie he not only resisted him but excomunicate separated him from the congregation and comunion of the faithfull Hauing done this he was by the commaundement of the Emperour apprehended and put in prison And assoone as he knew that he was taken he sent a comaund vnto the officers to cut of his head This sentence being diuulged through the cittie it was a thing very remarkable to see all the people runne to the prison to defend him from death asmuch as lay in their power so great was their loue vnto their Pastor The accursed Arrius hauing a desire to be Bishop after Peter if he happened as he hoped to be put to death laboured guilefully and dâ—câ—â—tfully to be reconciâ—ed vnto Peter To that effect he spake to many Catholiques desired them to entreat him in the peoples name to absolue him and to signify vnto him that he was willing ready to submitt himself to his will and correction There were chosen two priests the one called Alexander the other Achillas to go on that Embassade or message who comming to the prison where Peter was propounded vnto him the cause
Idolls fell downe on the ground and broke to pieces Two souldiers the one called Papias and the other Maurus seing this cryed out and sayd Assuredly IESVS CHRIST whom Saturnine and Sisinnius do adore is the true God The prefect being in a great rage comaunded his officers to torment them they put them on the torment or Rack called Equuleus and hoysing them vp they scourged them very grieuously and rent and tore their bodies with yron bookes and scorpions They being in those torments song Himnes and said Glory be to thee O Lord IESVS CHRIST for that we are found worthie to be partakers of afflictions with thy seruans The tWo souldiers Papias and Maurus which were conuerted when the Idoll fell to the ground as is afore said were present and neere the holie martir These men being stiered vp with a desire of the crowne of martyâ—dome and repleat with holie anger against the excecutioners that tormented them with such rigor and cruelltie said to them with a loud voice How great is the diuell with you that he maketh you so cruell against the seruants of the liuing God When the Prefect Laodicio heard their wordes he was enraged against them and comaunded the officers to strike them on the mouth with stones and to carry them to prison from whence they were after taken and maâ—tyred After this he comaunded the officers to set burning torches to the sides of Saturninus and Sisinnius And when he saw all this would not make them yeeld and that they showed no signe of griefe or sorrow by their countenance he caused them to be taken from that torment and to be led two miles out of Rome into the way toward Numenium and there they were beheadded Their bodies were buried by a deuout man called Thraso in one of his posessions This was on the 29. day of Nouember and on the same day the holie Catholike Church maketh a commemoration of S. Saturninus His death was about the yeare of our Lord. 307. In the raigne of Maximian and Dioclesian Of S. Saturninus wryteth Ado venerable Bede Vsuardus and the Romain martyrologe The life of S. Andrevv Apostle THE sacred scripture saith of that proud captain Holophernes Iudith that as he went with his army and banners displayed against the city of Bethulia there happened a thing which did before neuer befall vnto him for the Hebrews shut the gates against him and fortified the city for their defence Holophernes wondered therat not litle wherfore he assembled all his captains to councell and said that the desired to know the cause why the people of that city did stand more to their defence then all the other thy had ouerpassed and desirous to know wherin they trusted he willed them to certify him what any of them knew TheÌ„ arose vp a captein of the Ammonites called Achior who said vnto him know you most poteÌ„â— Lord that in this city dwelleth a nation called Iewes who haue a God so mighty that if they haue his fauour and freindship neither the mighty army vnder thy conduct nor all the world if they should assault them can ouercome them But if perhaps they haue offended him as they do oftentimes it shal be very easy to vanquish them and to take this city let them fortify it as much as they can So that my councell is first to informe thy self whither they be in the fauour of their God and according to that relation if they be in his fauour to stay but if he be displeased with them to assault them Holophernes took great indignation against Achior for his words for he thought no force was able to resist his puissant army Vpon this he commaunded some of his souldiers to lead him vnto the city of Bethulia to the end that when he had taken the city by force of armes Achior should with his bloud and life pay the penalty of his rash vnaduisednes in taking vpon him the defence of the Hebrews The souldiers led Achior vp on the mountein neere vnto the city and there they left him tied vnto a tree The Iewes issued out found him and led him into the city where Achior in the presence of Ozias the high priest of all the people recouÌ„ted what had happened vnto him They heard his speech with great admiration and then feasted and enterteined him kindly because they thought he had defended the honour of God euery one embraced him and sheaâ—ed to him great tokens of loue But aboue all Ozias took him to his house and made vnto him a solemne banquet This figure agreeth very fitly to the gloryous Apostle S. Andrew who being figured in Achior defended the honouâ— of God as he did preaching the Ghospell among the infidells where Egeas the tirant figured in Holâ—phernes took him and deliuered him vnto his officers who led him vp on a mountein and bound him to a crosse where he remained a while vntil the Angells citisens of heauen vnbound him viz when his blessed â—oule departed from his body and leâ— him to the supreme city of God and there in the presence of the high priest IESVS CHRIST diuulging how he took the defence of his honour all the blessed spirits that illustrious and honored nation made him cheare and enterteyned him kindly embracing him as their brother And the priest IESVS CHRIST made him a feast apointing him a speciall seat in his celestiall beatitude The life of this gloryous Apostle collected out of the ghospell and the writings of his disciples who were present at his martirdome was in this maner SAINT Andrew the Apostle was borne in Behsayda a twon in the prouince of Galily and was the elder brother vnto S. Peter the Apostle and also disciple vnto S. Iohn Baptist With whom being one day he saw him when he pointed his finger at IESVS sayeng This is the lamb of God Andrew staid not a whit but ioyntly with another disciple left S. Iohn Baptist and followed IESVS CHRIST who turnyng his celestiall face and seeing asked them what they sought They answered that they desired to speak with him in his house Our Lord lâ—d them with him and kept hem one day in his company in which time thy talked together and they knew him to be the Messias Andrew departed then from our Sauiour and mett Symon his brother and said vnto him with great ioy O brother Symon that thou haddest seen that which I haue seene Knowe thou that the Messy as so much desired and so long expected by the Iewes is come My master Iohn Baptist shewed him vnto vs and I haue bene with him and I tell thee that his words and deeds confirme that he is that same Come thou and see him So the two brethren came together vnto IESVS who said Thou art SymoÌ„ the sonne of Iohn but thou shalt be called Caeâ—has that is Peter Another time those two brethren being a fishing in their barck IESVS CHRIST passed by the bank and called them saâ—eng follow me and
I will make you Fishers of men at this they left their bark and netts and followed him and from that houre they kept him company and he made them his Apostles S. Iohn maketh mention of S. Andrew in the recouÌ„ting the myracle our Sauiour did on the mouÌ„t when he would seed 5000. persons that followed him and asked S. Philippe where he might buy asmuch bread as would suffice all those people and he made an answer shewing little faith S. Andrew shewed a little more faith then he sayeng there was a boy that had fiue loaues two fishes though he doubted some what sayeng it was too litle for so many The same S. Iohn saith also of S. Andrew that some Gentills desired to see IESVS CHRIST vpoÌ„ the â—ame that was of him spoake to S. Philip to being theÌ„ to see him he spoke to S. Andrew both of theÌ„ told IESVS how some desired to see him There is no other particuler thing written in the Ghospell of S. Andrew though it be very certain that he was present in those things where it is said that all the Apostles of CHRIST were there as being one of them He was present at the resurrectioÌ„ of Lazarus he was at the entrie in to IerusaleÌ„ on Palme-sonday He was at the Supper where he was made priest and Bishop communicated Then with the rest he abandoned our Lord flyeng as the others did hee sawe our Sauiour raised to life and also ascend into heauen and receaued the holy Ghost and his gifts also He preached in Scithia Europea which fell to his lotte He passed into Thracia Epyrus in all which countryes he preached did myracles and conuerted much people to the faith of CHRIST Finally he came to the city of Patras in Achaia and there he staied and made it his place of abode and residence preaching and gainyng many soules by conuerting them to the faith not only in that prouince and city but also in the countreys adiacent in a small space there was not staÌ„ding one temple of the Idolls for that they were all turned into Chappell 's or into oratoryes where the Apostle said masse as occasioÌ„ serued He ordered deacons other ministers to help him in this holy misterie Euery one loued reuerenced him for that they knew our good God had bestowed many benefits on theÌ„ by his meanes His life was an example to them all with his words he coÌ„forted euery one his deeds were very gracyous vnto them for that he healed the sick and cast out the deuills To euery one he did good and did not permitt any to do euill There came into this city as Proconsull Egeas sent by the Romaines to gouern that prouince He seing how matters went began to persecute the Christians compelling them to sacrifice vnto the Idolls S. Andrew came sayd vnto him It is good reasoÌ„ that thou who art a Iudg ouer men shouldst acknowledge thy Iudg which is in heauen and honour him for the true God as he is indeed and leaue the honouring of them who be no Gods Egeas said perhaps thou art that Andrew who did destroy the temples of the Idolls and persuade men to receaue the superstityous sect of the Christians which the Romaines haue apointed to be persecuted and to be rooted out S. Andrew replied The Romaines haue not yet vnderstood how the sonne of God is come from heauen vnto earth for the saluation of mankind who hath taught that these Idolls be deuills and deceiuers who bring men from the true seruice of God that they may depart out of this life replenished with synne and be punished in the life to come with eternall torments Egeas said these be the things your CHRIST preached to the Iewes for the which they crucified him you say true said the holy Apostle that IESVS CHRIST died on the Crosse but that was done by his owne proper will Howe by his will said Egeas Is it not knowen that one of his disciples sold and deliuered him into the hands of the Iewes who presented him before their gouernour and he caused him to be crucified All these things shew that he dyed not of his owne will S. Andrew replyed I was and am still his disciple and I auow that he died by his owne will for that he knew and said these things before viz that he should be taken crucified and rise againe the third day yea and I tell there more that my brother Peeter would haue hindered him to the end he should not haue permitted such thing to be done and was called Satan for the same in which he shewed that the hinderance of his death was vnto him displeasing And wheÌ„ he said that one of vs that were with him at the table should betray sell him his best beloued disciple called Iohn asked him who it was that should be so treacherous he answered that it was he vnto whom he gaue a soppe dipped in the platter at which word he gaue it to Iudas who was the man that sold him and had already bargeined to betray him by this you may know that my maister who knew all things might haue preuented it and if he did it not you are compelled to confesse that he dyed by his owne will Egeas said were it of his owne will were it by force I reckon not but I meruell at thee that thou wilt worshippe for God a man crucified S. Andrew said very great was the mystery of the Crosse and I will declare it vnto thee if thou wilt heare me with patience Egeas said I will hear thee patiently but after that if thou doest not harken and obay me I will make thee to feele the mistery of the Crosse vpon thy shoulders Menace not me said S. Andrew for that if I feared it I would not preach the glory therof The first man hauing incurred the punishment of death for eating the fruit of the forbidden tree it was conuenient that with the fruit of the tree of the Crosse should be cancelled the death of the world and remedy giuen to the losse of mankind And as the first man was formed of the virgen earth and the ruyne of the world was caused by him so it was fitt that CHRIST should be borne of the imaculate virgin Mary true God and true man that he should be the cause of the redemption of the world Adam stretched out his armes to gather the fruit of the forbidden tree and CHRIST stretched his out because they should be nayled to it Adam tasted the fruit and CHRIST tasted gall To conclude I tell thee that my Lord was clothed with mortall flesh and would dye vpon the Crosse that he might cloth vs with immortality and giue vs eternall life Egeas hauing giuen care to the Apostle a while said Tell these thy tales to them that will beleeue thee and beleeue thou me that if thou doest not sacrifice to our Gods I will put thee on the Crosse thou
commendest so much S. Andrew answered I sacrifice euery day to the omnipotent lyuing and true God not the smoke of incense nor flesh of bulles nor bloud of skeep but the immaculate lamb in consecrating his most blessed body which being receiued by the faithfull the lamb remayneth intyer and whole as he was before although the faithfull do truly really eate his flesh drink bloud How may that be said Egeas The Apostle answered if I should tell thee and if thou wouldest vnderstand it it were first necessary for thee to be a Christian Egeas replyed I shall make thee by force of torments to tell me howe and by what meanes I may vnderstand it Then put he him in prison vnto which place resorted much people who would haue taken the Apostle away violently if he had not hindâ—â—ed it for out of the prison he preached to them and persuaded them not to rebell against the tirant whose cruelty would be vnto him an occasion of merit If he shall afflict the body said the Apostle he hath no power to hurt the soule his torments will quickly end but the reward shall endure for euer We ought rather to make much of him and to honor him then to vse him displeasantly since he may do vs much good and but a litle harme with these and the like words the Apostle stayed the people from any commocion or insurrection against the Proconsull The next day Egeas caused the Apostle to be brought before him and said I am persuaded thou art now better aduised and wilt fortake thy follyes which haue darkned thy mynd and that thou wilt leaue the worship of that thy CHRIST and enioy the sweet and delightfull life of this world and auoid withall bitter death The Apostle answered without the beliefe of CHRIST there is no true content nor true life as I haue always preached in this prouince whither he sent me to the end men should leaue and abandon the adoration of Idolls and receaue the true faith of IESVS CHRIST and so escape eternall death and obteine euerlasting life For this same cause said Egeas I will also procure thee to adore the Gods to the end these people whom thou hast deceiued may forsake the vanity of the doctrine and returne to the relligion of the auncient Gods for as I gesse there is not a city in all Achaia but the Temples are abandoned and thou art the cause of it I will haue thee also to be the cause to alter their course and to frequent the Temples againe and to renew their sacrificing in which doing the Gods wil be appeased toward the for now against thee they be sore offended But if thou be resolued to do other wise prepare thy selfe to endure and support terrible torments which shal be inflicted on thee and lastly thou shalt dy on the Crosse To this the Apostle answered Listen to me thou son of death thou dry rotten logge designed to nourish hell fire hitherto I haue spoken myldly to thee thinking that thou being a reasonable creature wouldest haue made vse and benefit of my words and haue forsaken thy false and vaine Gods but since I see thee so obstinate and hard harted I tell thee plainely think not to terrify me with thy threats do thy worst for the greater the torments be so much more shall the reward be which IESVS CHRIST will bestow on me and the greater shall the paines be which are prepared in hell fire for thee where the Gods whom at this time thou adorest shall giue thee thy due reward tormenting thee eternally for indeed they be no other but deuills Egeas raging exceedingly at his words caused the Apostle to be stripped apointed seueÌ„ fellows to beate him with all cruelty who gaue ouer three times for others to come in theire place And so many were the blowes they gaue to the Apostles body that it powred bloud out so abondantly that there was not one place free from wounds from the head to the foote Then Egeas said oh Andrew haue coÌ„passion of thy self consider that the bloud thou sheddest is mucâ— if thou doest not change thy oppinion I must crucify thee The holy Apostle answered sayeng I am the seruant of IESVS CNRIST and do not fear but loue the Crosse Thou hast more reason to fear for that if thou doest not beleue in CHRIST thy torments shall differ from myne for myne shall end in two dayes and thine shal be euerlasting Egeas could keep patience no longer but comaunded that he should be crucified yet not nailed to the cross with nailes but bound with cords which he apointed not for any pitty he had but to the end the torment might continew the longer Whilest the executioners led him to his martirdome an infinite company of people resorted to him crieng with a loud voice What hath this iust man and friend of God done that he should be Crucified The holy Apostle entreated them not to hinder his martirdome but went ioifull and merry and by the way preached to those that acompanied him When he saw the Crosse a farre of he said deuoutlie I adore thee o pretious Crosse consecrated with the bodie of CHRIST and adorned with his members as with perles and Iewells Before CHRIST came to thee thou diddst terrifie men but now thou causest ioie and delight O good Crosse made so beautifull by the bodie of CHRIST I haue desired thee a long time I haue sought thee diligently and now I haue found thee receaue me in thine armes and lift me vp from men present me to my master that he maie receaue me by thy meanes who hath redeemed me by thee Hauing said this and being now neere vnto the Crosse he stripped himself out of his clothes and gaue them to the officers who binding him to the Crosse lifted him vp as the sentence iudgement was There was a great number of people about the Crosse all lamenting and complaining of the cruell and wrongfull torments that the Apostle suffred But he comforted and encouraged them to suffer ioifully the like torments for CHRIST his sake when occasion was offred S. Andrew remained two daies on the Crosse the people complaining and criyng out aloud It is not iust that a man so holie so modest of so good partes and that teacheth so good doctrine should die in this manner Egeas vnderstanding that the people murmured against him fearing some tumult determined to take the Apostle from the Crosse and for that intent went vnto him The Apostle said vnto him What doest thou heere Egeas If thou comest to beleeue in CHRIST he will as readilie pardon and receaue thee as any other But if thou come to take me from the Crosse it is in vaine for I am now going to my Lord and king It seemeth I am now before his iudgment seat where I shal be rewarded and thou shalt be chasticed The Apostle seing that they yet laboured to take him from the Crosse and that
yielded vp her spirit vnto God in that torment on the second day of December on the which day the Church celebrateth her feast This befell in the year of our Lord. 364. in the time of Iulyan the Apostata The body of S. Bibiana was buryed by a priest called Iohn in the city of Rome in a place neere vnto the palace of Licinius The life of S. Barbara virgin and Martyr THE prophet Ezechiel recounteth a vision Cap. 40 saying that he sawe a man who measured the temple and the house of God who had in his hand a rod wand to measure which was sixe cubites long and one handfull The Gyant Golyas with whom Dauid sought and cut of his head was also sixe cubites 1. Râ—g 17 and one handfull hiâ— It is not without mistery that these two measures are alike It may be by the man whom Ezechiell sawe to measure the temple is signified our Lord God And by the Gyant Golyas is ment the deuill In that he was of the same measure that the rod of the other was sheweth that the deuill to the vttermost striueth to be likened vnto God And omitting many other examples I will speak of one seruing our purpose God commaunded Abraham to sacrifice his own sonne Gen. 22 who incontinent prepared himself to doâ—yt and had performed the same if God who bad him had not hindered and let him by an Angell Out of this act of Abraham redounded very much honor vnto God it being thereby seene hat he had such a faithfull seruant that to do him seruice he was willing to kill his owne sonne The deuill to be like vnto God in this persuaded one of his seruants called Dioscorus to kill his only daughter who was called Barbara a blessed damosell to do seruice to the same deuill The life of this holy saint was written in this maÌ„ner by Symeon Metaphrastes and Ado. Arch. B. of Treuers IN the time of Th'emperour Maximian there was in the city of Nicomedia a man very rich in worldly posessions and of a noble family but in relligion he was an Idollater and was called Dioscorus This man had one only daughter who was to be his heyre whom he loued dearely This damosell was very beautifull and witty and in religion which is the thing most to be regarded shee was a Christian and very vertuous though her father was ignorant that shee was Baptised Dioscorus doubted lest the yong woman lyuing alone in the house and being so faire should be sued vnto in some inconuenient manner by one or other which to preuent and auoid he inclosed her in a tower of his pallace It was no grief vnto the holy damosell to be so shut and mewed vp there since shee might bestowe her self wholy by this meanes in the seruyce of God as she did spending her time in prayers and meditations the inspirations of the holy Ghost recreating her soule There was in that same tower a faire hall and many chambers furnished shee might also goe downe from the tower into a garden for her recreation her father for her better contentment made therin a bayne or bathing house with two wyndowes to giue it light The work was not yet finished when Dioscorus was occasioned to go on a long iourney wherefore he gaue directions vnto the master work men and departed By happe Barbara went one day to see the labourers as they were working on the two wyndows and bad them make three The men sayd they durst not do so for Dioscorus had commaunded them to make but two Barbara said I would haue you make three in any case and if my father be offended therewith tell him that I bad you and I will yield him a reason why three be made So the workmen made three wyndowes as shee bad them The work being furnished Barbara weÌ„t vnto the Baine and in seeing the three wyndowes shee contemplated the mistery of the B. Trinity It befell one day shee meditating the misteryes of the passion and death of IESVS CHRIST and shedding teares from her beutifull eyes which like pretious perles drapped into the fountein and were mingled with the pure and christalline water shee came vnto a piller of marble out of which the water issued and on the same with her finger shee made the signe of the Crosse A merueillous thing to recount the marke made in the marble with the finger of the virgin continued as if it had bene imprinted by some seale into waxe The signe remayned there and after that the holy saint was martyred many came into the baine and looking on it deuoutly calling on the name of the holy Saint were deliuered from many infirmityes When the holy damosell had made the Crosse shee kissed it deuoutly many times casting aside her eyes shee sawe some statues of the Idolls her father adored which he had caused to be set there for the more ornament of the place It grieued her very sore and caused her to sigh and lament for compassion of them that adored such Gods and moued with indignation against them shee spit in their faces sayeng Let all them that adore you and seek for help at your hands be like vnto yow hauing done this shee returned vnto her tower and spent her life in fasting and prayer her mynd being always fixed vpon God Her father came home and went to visite his daughter and also to see his newe baine hauing the master workmen with him When he sawe they had made three wyndows and he had apointed them to make but two he asked them the cause therof and they told him again that his daughter charged them to do as they had done So he sayd no more at that time Afterward being alone with Barbara he said vnto her daughter what was thy meanyng to cause them to make three wyndows when I apointed theÌ„ to make but two The holy damosell without any feare answered father I caused them to make three because it was more conuenient and agreable to reason How so said Dioscorus Barbara replied for that three lights do illuminate euery man that cometh into this world The good virgin spake this with an intention to signify the high mistery of the B. Trynity Her father was somewhat troubled at her words and sayd Explaine these your speeches a litle better What is the meanyng that three wyndowes illumynate euery man that cometh into this world Then Barbara said Come with me and you shall vnderstand my meanyng They went to the Bayne and being neere the piller the holy damosell shewed him the signe of the Crosse which shee had made therin with her finger and sayd vnto him My father the thâ—re wyndowes signify the three persons viz the father the sonne and the holy Ghost by this light euery creature is illuminated to the end the high and souereigne mistery of the holy Crosse vpon which IESVS CHRIST dyed may be beleeued There was neuer bull bayted by dogges or wounded shewed such rage
brightnes in maner of a loÌ„g vesture euen to the ground so that the paynims could not see her The holy saint was let thorough all the city and brought back vnto the gouernour who seeing her constancy gaue sentence that shee should be beheaded The cursed father of the blessed damosell who had bene present at this dollorous spectacle and was not any thing mollified but rather more incrudelized desired the gouernour to shew him the fauour to execute the sentence pronounced by him against his daughter which request was easily graunted The glorious saint was led out of the city vnto a hâ—lâ—e where was the ordinary place of execution and there kneeling on her knees shee made a deuout prayer vnto God rendering him thankes for bringing her to that passage Then bowed shee her head before her father who voide of pitty lifted vp the sword and cut of her head Then returned the cursed wretch vnto the city vaunting he had done a memorable act for the seruice of his Gods saying he deserued to be honored by th'emperour and to haue his name eternized But God almighty was not pleased with his boasting of so inhumane an act for vnexpectedly it thundered and therwith a thunderbolt fell which strook and killed him out of hand So that at one time the daughter ascended to heauen where shee was receued with ioy and triumph of the heauenly citisens and of the celestiall king and the father descended into hell where he is and shall be perpetually tormented by the deuills The body of this glorious damosell and martir S. Barbara was buryed by a holy and religious man called Valentinian with musique songs to the praise laude of God of S. Barbara his spouse The martirdome of this blessed damosell was on the. 4. day of December in the year of our Lord. 288. in the time of Diocleâ—ian and Maximian This holy saint is a speciall aduocate against tempests thunder and thunderbolts Petrus Galesinus the Apostolique protonotary wrote the life of S. Babara and saith that he collected it out of S Iohn Damascen out of Arsenius and out of other Grecians and it is conformable to that which is here written The life of S. Sabba Abbot SAINT Theodoret writeth in his relligious history that holy Abbot called Publius congregated together many hermus and builded a conuent On a day conferring with them among other things he said That as one going to the high stret or market place to prouide things necessary for his house and at one shop buieth cloth at another shoes out of this is furnished with bread out of another is prouided of wine euen so the relligious man in the conuent is from one man to lern patience from another humility from an other chastity and he like of other vertues For this cause in ancient timme some seruants of God although it was pleasing and to yous for them to like in the desert and wildernes yet did they gather many disciples together and make conuents to the end that some being instructers of others and some lerning of their superiors or betters all might be saued One of these was S. Sabba the Abbot whose life collected out of Cyrill the monck and some Authors of martirologes was in this manner SAINT Sabba was borne in the prouince of Cappadocia in a city called Mutalasium his fathers name was Iohn and the name of his mother was Sophia and it was in the time of Theodosius 2. th'emperour of Rome It fell out that the father of S. Sabba went to serue in the warre that was then in Alexandria and recommended his sonne vnto his brother called Ieremy whose wife hated the child and could not abide to see him but vsed him hardly This was in part the cause that S. Sabba went vnto a monastery in the which Gregory a holy man was Abbot He receaued Sabba into the monastery and gaue him the relligious habite where he liued a holy life exercising himself alwayes in vertue but his abstinence was most remarkable and his mortification was admirable and so was his humility and patience wherfore God shewed by him some myracles and one in especiall which befell in that monastery and this it was The baker had one day put his cloths into the ouen which was somewhat hotte to dry and forgetting them put in fire which already flaming thorough all the ouen he remembred the cloths but could not gett them out by any meanes The poore man made moane for his mis-happe and by chance Sabba was there present who made the signe of the Crosse in the ouen and then he went into the ouen flamyng as it did and took out the cloths whole and without any hurt Then he asked leaue of his superiour to depart from that monastery and to go into a desert where he liued a solitary life certaine yeares and endured many terrible tentations of the deuills He went also vnto Ierusalem to visite the holy places where the misteryes of our redemptioÌ„ were wrought And being one day in that city neere vnto the Church of S. Iohn Baptist he healed a woman that had a bloudy flixe he cured another that was cruelly tormented by the deuill Whiels S. Sabba was in Ierusalem there was exceeding scarcity of water and there was not any to be found not to be had to drink in such sort that the people were ready to dye for thirst The good father Sabba fell to praier prostrated on the earth with his body but his soule being lifted and fixed in heauen in that manner he continued in praier all night the teares which bathed the place on earth where the holie saint was gaue testimonie with what efficacie he had requested God to succour and relieue his people in their necessitie It pleased God to shew fauour vnto his seruant for there fell a verie great shower of raine that filled the cisternes and satisfied the people euerie one yielding infinite thanks vnto God that had showen compassion vnto them though many of them did not know who had been the meanes to obtaine so notable a fauour Then did this good father collect and assemble toger her many disciples and founded some monasteries and liued a holie relligious life and finallie died in Ierusalem in the yeare of our Lord. 424. being 94 yeares old His body was buried between two Churches was afterward caried vnto Venice where at this present he â—eth in the Church of S. Antoninus The life of S. Nicholas Bishop and Confessor WE read in the book of kings that God talking of the noble king Dauid 2. Reg. â—3 said of him that he had found a man according to his owne hart and herefore made him captaine and ruler ouer his people These words though at the first said of Dauid may be very well applied vnto the glorious S. Nicholas for he was a man according to Gods owne hart They were verified of Dauid because he was pitifull and myld and the same may be said of S. Nicholas
for he was mercifull and myld also and endued with other good qualities and verâ—ues â—â—r which cause God elected him to be the captaine and pastor of his people in the city of Myrrea The life of this glorious saint was written by the Patriarch Methodius Symeon Metaphrastes and other Greeke authors our of whom Iohn the Deacon and Leonard Iustinian made a collection Out of these two was this sumarie taken and is in this manner SAINT Nicholas was borne in Patarae a city in the prouince of Licia His father and mother were Christians noble by birth and deuote seruants of God To this good couple God graunted a sonne in reward of their many teares praiers and continuall almes deeds desiring him to send vnto them an heire who should vse their goods in his seruice God heard the prayers of his dâ—uouâ—e seruants and comforted them by gyuing vnto them their sonne Nicholas Of him it is thought that he had the spirite of God euen from his infancie for that assoone as he was borne he began to serue him Assoone as he knewe what it was to eate he knew also what it was to fast for he would not take the brest to sucke but one time only in a day especially twâ—se a weeke to wit on the wednesday and the Friday and this fast he obserued all the dayes of his life Being somewhat growen in years he shewed signes of great vertue which increased in him as his yeares did His father sent him to schoole to learne to read and also other sciences where Nicholas made proofe of his delicate wytt because in very short time he profitted very much He would not keepe company with other yong men of his yeares who suffred themselfs to be transported into all vices and wantonnes but his conuersation was only with the most vertuous and honest people He avoyded also not only the conuersation of women but abhorred them euen as a deadly poyson for youth And to eseape the warre which is made by wicked thoughts and carnall cogitations against youth he tamed his flesh with watchings fastings hayrecloths and such like exercises He frequented the Churches and oratories of the Christians for he desired to be as the Temple of the Holy Ghost These holy exercises and other vertues in which Nicholas was employed did so shine in him that he was praysed and commended of euery one For as to see old men behaue themselues like yong men see meth a monstrous thing so on the other side to see a yong man to haue the deportment and cariage of old men is a thing very commendable and laudable S. Nicholas had an vncle who was Bishop of the city where he was borne a learned and a holy man He persuaded the father and mother of Nicholas to dedicate their sonne vnto God in the seruice of his Church and to be a priest It was an easy matter to obteine it of them for they remembred God had graunted that sonne vnto them through their many praiers therfore they willingly rendred him vnto God againe with right good will that he might alwaies be employed in his seruice The father and mother of S. Nicholas hauing made this grauÌ„â— his vncle made him priest whilest he gaue him orders he sayd these words vnto them that stood by Brethren I see a newe sonne arise in the earth who shal be a great consolation and repose for the world Happy is the pasture and happy be the sheepe that shall deserue to haue such a sheapherd The day shall come also when you shall see him reduce many straying sheepe vnto the flock of CHRIST you shall see him to be the consolation of the coÌ„fortles health of the sick and rest for them that be in tribulation All that which this good Bishop said was afterward found in S. Nicholas When S. Nicholas sawe he was a priest he thought it conuenient that with his newe dignity he should encrease his austerity and strict life imitating heerin the trees and plants which the more they spred their braunches the larger their roots grow also vnder the ground So the holy saint stroâ—e to be more sober and temperate more continenâ— more rygorous toward his owne body chastising the same with more seuerity not to make it dye but to make it more subiect vnto the spirite He depriued it of the ordinary sleepe of eating and of apparell although he did not like to go in stayned or spotted apparell as some hypocrits do but such as was comely and fitting for one of his dignity of function He frequented the Church more â—hâ—n he had vsed he was more earnest at his prayer then before time he would neuer read any book nor take it in his hand but the booke of the holy scripture or els some holy lecture treating of some ghostly matter He showed more modesty in his countenance more grauity in his speech so that it seemed although he were in mortall flesh that he led the life of a man imortall There befell in the country of Lycia and in all the East a great contagious pestilence which killed very many and among others within the space of three dayes died both the father and mother of S. Nicholas and he remayned sole inheritor to all their goods The yong man being already dedicated to God regarded not to be the heite but rather desired to be the dispenser of his fathers goods giuing out of them continually many almes deeds And because among many other he did one rare deed of charity it shall not be amisse to make a recitall therof by particulers There was in the city of Patara a gentleman of a good house who had bene before time very rich and nowe was become poore This man had three daughters which were of good yeares and maâ—igeable but because he had not wherewith to maynteine endowe theÌ„ with portions he vrged and sollycited them to get their liuyng and his also by dishonest life The poore father though he was ashamed so to doe spake to them to that purpose the distressed maydes shed teares incessantly considering to what a miserable estate their fathers pouerty had brought them S. Nicholas had an inkeling hereof and thought he could not bestow his almes better then with the same to delyuer their bodies from shame and their soules from synne He took a good some of mony all in gold and lapped it in a napkin and departing from home by night he went to the house of the poore decayed gentleman The holy man looked about to put in the mony in some place where the distressed man might light vpon it taking care that he should not know who bestowed in vpoÌ„ him whilest he studyed therof hesa wâ—y Mâ—nâ—light the casement of the chamber windowe where the poore man lay not fully open S Nicolas cast the gold wrapped in the cloute in at the wyndowe and went downe The pooâ—e man rising vp and finding there the mony the benediction of God he was in
a mase fearing it had bene a craft and deceyt of the deuill or pollycie of some of his ennemyes At the end seeing it to be good Gold he sett feare aside and for that he knew not his benefactor he rendered vnto God infinite thanks and sayd O Lord I know that thou art indeed very mercyfull since thou vsest such curtesy and benignity towards me I studyed to offend thee and thou hast holpen me and the help hath bin such that I am thereby obliged rather to lose my life then once thinke to offend thee I am hartily sorry for my former determynation and I ask pardon most humbly of thee This poore man thought he could with this Gold prouide for one of his daughters and so he did for he maâ—ryed lier according to his estate When S. Nicholas heard thereof he was very glad and purposed in his mynd to giue the man meanes to marry his other two daughters this his determynation he put in effect gyuing him as much Gold as he did before and with that the poore man bestowed his second daughrer in marriage This poore man desirous to knowe his benefactor vnto whom he was so much obliged watched almost continually to see if he returned any more since one of his daughters was not yet sett out this was not in vaine for the holy man returned and cast asmuch Gold in at the wyndow as at the first The poore man who stood close ranne after Nicholas and calling vnto him fell at his fâ—et and kissed them sayeng Oh Nicholas why didst thou hide thee from me wherefore wouldest thou not let me know him vnto whom I was so much obliged Thou hast holpen me in my necessity thou hast deliuered my soule from hell and the bodyes of my daughters from infamy if God had not moued thy hart to do that which thou hast done I and my daughters had liuâ—d in necessity in infamy and shame and afterward in the next world we should haue been cast into perpetuall torment and damnation in hell fire By thy meanes God hath raised the poore out of the myre and the needy from the dunghill All the while the poore man talked thus he kissed the feete of S. Nicholas and shed reares in great aboundance S. Nicholas was much displeased that the thing he handled so couertly was made manifest for he desired to haue had it secret and therefore he asked in way of guerdon of the poore man to keepe the pleasure he had done him secret but his request was in vaine for as long as the poore man liued wheresoeuer he went he published openly this act of the holy saint and other such good deeds done by him to other although this only be recounted in this place The Bishop of the city who was vncle vnto S. Nicholas was exercised alâ—o in vertuous works and among other things hauing founded a monastery of religious men thought Nicholas a fitt man to be their superiour He moued it vnto him and with great difficulty he got him to yield he was so humble and so vnwilling to take any charge vpoÌ„ him wherein he was to haue authority or coÌ„maundement yet coÌ„tinued he in that office certain years then being desirous of greater perfection he determined to goe into a desert but first he had a desire to visite the holy land To this end he was embarked and hauing entred the voyage the sky being cleare and the sea quiet he told the maryners that shortly there would be a hydeous storme for he had seene the deuill enter in the shippe with a naked sword in his hand menassing to kill all the men in the same Shortly after came the storme S. Nicholas had foretold wherefore the Maryners reputed him for a holy man and being out of hope to escape they resorted vnto him requesting him to pray for them So he prayed vnto God and the storme was asswaged It befell in the same voiage that a maryner mending or dressing the sailes fell downe froÌ„ aloft into the shippe dyed with the fall All the maryners were sorowfull for it S. Nicholas prayed for him and he rose on his feet without any hurt He arryued in Palestina and visited the place where CHRIST our Lord was Crucified his sepulcher and the other holy places and being desirous to liue retired in the deserts of Syria he had a reuelation from God commaunding him to returne into his owne country for he would not haue his seruice in the desert but in some other place S. Nicholas to obey this reuelatioÌ„ was embarked in another shippe the maryners deceitfully carried him toward Alexandria but wheÌ„ he came neere theruÌ„to the wynd chaÌ„ged and against their wills the shippe came into a hauen of Lycia his natiue countrey vnto which place they had agreed to carry him When the mariners perceued this maruellous accident they were amased and in great dread and craued pardon of the saint who returned vnto his monastery wherein he was receaued by the monks with great ioy for they were grieued much with the former absence of their good father and pastor S. Nicholas staied with them a good space but for that they honored him much and also because he knew that God would dispose of him otherwise he determyned to go vnto the city of Mirrea which was the head city of that prouince being also very populous and S. Nicholas thought he might haue liued there vnknowne It came to passe that when as Nicholas came into the Citty therein were assembled some Bishops of the Citties adiacent with the cleargie of that citty to choose a Bishop for the same wherefore euery one made their prayers vnto God to giue them grace to make a good election and it was reuealed vnto one of the Bishops that was an anciant man and of good life that Gods will was that he who entred first the church on the next day whose name was Nicholas should be elected by them to be Bishop of the citty The good olde Bishoppe tolde his vision to the other prelates and the rest of the cleargie This caused them to remaine all night in the Church awaiting in the next morning to see him whoÌ„ God had elected vnto that dâ—gnitie They were all in prayer and the olde Bishoppe stoode at the Church dooâ—e to see who came first into the Church S. Nicholas had bene at his prayers in his lodging from midnight as his custome was and when day was come he went vnto the Church and as he came to the doore the olde Bishop came vnto him and asked who he was and what was his name the holy Saint answered with great humility and said he was a poore sinner and that his name was Nicholas The Bishop looking in his face thought him to be a person worthy of great reuerence he respected also his name which was correspondent vnto the reuelation he had and said with a ioyfull and chearefull voice My bretheren come you hither here is the Bishop beholde you this
verses at the sepulcher of the Apostles SS Peter and Paule and another work in the which he wrot the lifes of the Popes who were his predecessors He also ordeined that the psaâ—mes of Dauid should be song one part of the quier sayeng one verse and the other part another verse which is obserued vnto our time through all the vniuersall Church though it was vsed before in some particuler Churches by the notice of S. Ignatius vnto whom it was reueiled that the Angells in heauen song in this maner as he sawe it himself being in a traunce Also Damasus Councelled thereto by S. Ierome commaunded there should be said at the end of euery psalme Gloria patri filio spiritui sancto sicut erat in principio nunc semper in secula seculorum Amen He ordeined also that the priest before he began masse should say the generall confession He also gaue authority approbation to the translation of the holy Bible made by S. Ierome for before the translation of the 72. interpreters was commonly vsed This good Pope ended this life on the 11. day of December in the year of our Lord 380. in the time of Theodosius being 80. years old of which he was Pope 18. years 3. months 11. dayes He gaue holy orders 5. times in the month of December and ordered 32. priests 11 deacons and 62. Bishops His body was buryed in the Church of the Apostles which he had buâ—â—ded in the same where his mother and sister were buried He was afterward translated vnto another Church which he had builded called S. Laurence in Damaso The life of S. Lucy virgin and Martir AT such time as Gedeon was captaine of the people of God Iudiâ— 7. they were in great danger and feare because their enemies were neere them and verie potent and strong themselues being but fewe in number and weak God commaunded Gedeon to do some enterprise and the people trusting in God hoped to atchieue victorie yet they conceiued not any meanes how it should come to passe For to fight hand to hand they might seeme rash and foolish to run headlong on their owne deaths The people remaining thus in doubt God spake vnto Gedeon and bad him to diuide his people which were 300. into three parts and when night came euerie souldier should haue in one hand a Trompet and in the other hand a vessell of earth and within it a burning light In this manner they should assault their enemies on three sides and when they came neere them they should sound the trompetâ—s and break the vessells of earth knocking one against the other that the burning lampes might be seene on a sodeine and then all of them should make a great shoute As God apointed so it was done The souldiers sounded the Trompets which awaked the Madianits who seing on a sodeine so many lights and hearing such a noise remained astonied and full of dread and knew not how to defend themselues or to offend their enemies but in steed of striking the Hebrewes they wounded one another By this straâ—ageme the madianites were ouerthrewne and quite discomfited and the Hebrewes obtained a notable victorie By this figure we learne that when the vessels of earth are broken the lights are discouered and the enemy ouerthrowne which thing noteth that in the warâ—e which IESVS CHRIST figured in Gedeon maketh against the Madianites which are the diuells vessells of earth are vsed hauing within them burning lampes that shine most clearlie when the vessells of earth be broken These earthen vessells signifie the holeâ— martyrs for their bodies were of earth which being broken when they were diuersly tormented their burning and liuelie faith did shine more gloriously It is seene by experience that holy men are most knowne and reputed the light of the world by the meanes of their death Then is laid open their constancie fortitude and patience their liuely faith and other vertues where with they were adorned whilest they liued their vertues were couered as the torch is in the earthen vessell but when the vessell is broken that is to saie when the holie person dyeth the light is discouered and their death weakneth the diuell vtterlie Though this figure maie be apropriated to all the martyrs yet in perticuler it agreeth verie fulie vnto S. Lucy who by her death showed the light and discouered the brightnes of her liuelie faith and other vertues which were in her soule Moreouer she is the aduocate for the sight the obiect of which is the light Yet we will not saie that she had her name Luce of the light The life of this glorious saint was written by venerable Bâ—dâ— Ado Archbishop of Treuers and other approoued author SAINT Lucy was borne in the Cittie of Syracusa in the is'le of Sicilia of honorable parents and of a great familie She was a Christian from her infancie and so instructed in the faith that shee perswaded her owne mother to exercise her selfe in all vertuous workes and especiallie in giuing large almose and relieuing the necessities of their neighbours The holie damosell finding a fit opportunitie distributed to the poore all her patrimonie which was verie great to set her selfe free from a rich Nobleman who by the consent of her mother and kinsfolke should haue beene her husband though she neuer consented to it An occasion fell out in this sort The mother of S. Lucy called Eutitia had bene sick foure yeares of the bloodie flixe no worldly helpe could be had to cure her At that time the report of S. Agatha was spread ouer all Sicilie who a little before had beene martired her bodie being in the Cittie of Catanea where many miracles were done and many sicke persons of sundrie infirmities were cured by visiting her sepulchre S. Lucy perswaded her mother that they might goe together and visite the reliques of the holie saint not doubting but that by her meanes she might be deliuered from her infirmitie Eutitia was content and went with her daughter vnto Catanea attended in such manner as was fit for their degree and estate When they came vnto the sepulchre of S. Agathata Lucy fell to prayer requesting the glorious Martir to obtaine of God by her intercession health for her mother Lucy being thus in prayer S. Agatha accompanied with many Angels appeared vnto her and with a familier pleasing countenance said vnto her Sister Lucy wherefore doest thou demaund that of me which thou thy selfe maiest giue vnto thy mother Aske thou this fauour of God for if he loue me he loueth thee also and if he will heare my prayers he wil also heare thine and where I haue giuen my life for his sake so shalt thou also giue thy life for his loue And if I be the cause that the cittie of Catanea be famous and and renowned for that it is washed and bathed in my bloud and posesseth my bodie so shall the citty of Syracusa by the same meanes be famous and
renowned for thee and thy sake After this S. Lucy returning came to her selfe for the vision had caused her to be in manner of a traunce or extasie and found her mother exceeding ioyfull for that she felt her selfe cured so both of them rendred thankes vnto God and to the glorious S. Agatha Then returned they home and Lucy desired her mother to permit her to bestowe the dowrie she would giue her to her mariage on the poore Her mother answered Good daughter first close vp mine eyes and then do euen as thou wilt The holy damosell replyed most deare mother I hartilie wish and desire that the almose to be giuen be not only profitable to me but to you also and that of the benefit comming thereby you may haue chiefe part thereof If almose be giuen after your death and onlie by my consent it will not doe you so much good If a man trauell by night in places where he may stumble and dangerously fall he sheweth great indiscretion if he carrie a light behind him when he may carrie it before him if he will this world is like a darke night in which we all doe trauell and wherein be many places whereat wee may stumble The good workes we may do and especiallie almesdeedes be like burning torches which enlighten vs to walke securelie without danger or stumbling wee ought therefore to carrie the light burning before vs for though it be good to leaue almose for the poore after ones death yet it is much better to giue it them in our life time By these and other like reasons S. Lucy obtained leaue of her mother to bestowe her whole portion and dowrie on the poore When he that should haue maried her vnderstood this he was displeased that he had missed so great store of riches And remembring being himselfe a Pagan or Infidell that Lucy did these good deedes as a Christian he accused her vnto the Gouernour of the Cittie called Paschasius who causing her to be brought before him vsed all milde perswasions he could to draw her to sacrifice vnto the Gods But S. Lucy answered To relieue the poore in their necessities is a sacrifice very acceptable vnto God and this sacrifice I haue alreadie offred vnto him now not hauing any more goods to bestowe I do heare offer vp my selfe and my life also vnto him being all that I haue to giue Then said the Gouernour Perhaps the God whom thou speakest of is CHRIST who was crucified by the Iewes in Ierusalem That same is he indeed said the holie saint The Gouernour said How standeth this together that he being God should dye such an opprobrious death The blessed Virgin answered It is not meete that your Iupiter Apollo Venus or the rest should be called Gods neither is it lawfull for any man to adore them for they were of lewd and wicked life some of them being Adulterers manquâ—llours and most cruell tyrants These qualities beseeme not a God but to dye as IESVS CHRIST did whom I confesse to be the true God doth not gaine say that he is God since he was made man that he might dye and by his death it pleased him to bestowe life vpon men Thou talkest too much said Paschasius and art too saucy being so young who taught thee to prattle in this manner The holie damosell said The seruants of CHRIST shall neuer want answeres when they be brought before Iudges and Maiestrates for so much he promised vnto them saying you shall not speake but the Holie-Ghost that dwelleth in you The gouernour said Then thou hast the Holie Ghost S. Lucy answered They that liue in chastitie and puritie be the Temple of the Holie Ghost If it be so said the Iudge I will driue out the Holie Ghost thou speakest of out of thee For I will haue thee led vnto the stewes where when thou hast lost thy chastitie thou shalt also loose the Holie-Ghost thou esteemest so much Then said the holie Virgin O wretched man thou are much deceiued for if thou make me loose my chastitie by force I shall gaine two crownes in heauen the one of a chast woman and the other because I haue beene forced and for defending my chastitie Then the Iudge said leaue your words for we will come to deedes and then instigated by the diuell he commaunded that she should be led vnto the brothel-house Many people flocked thither Some intending to satisfie their lust laid violent hands vpon her to draw her by force vnto their pleasures But God did helpe his handmaid by making her to be immoueable And though many endeauoured to pull her with their hands yea some with ropes and lastlie with many yoake of Oxen yet could they not draw her one foote out of the place wherefore the Iudge said Be these thy witchcraftes that being as thou art a sorrie girle many men nor many yoake of Oxen cannot stuâ—re thee Assuredlie the diuell thy familier helpeth thee that thou mayest scoffe and delude vs. The young damosell answered this is no witchcraft nor inchantment much lesse is it the diuell that maketh me stand immoueable the diuell rather desiâ—eth that I had beene led to the place by thee appointed that there I might haue lost my chastity but it is the spirit of God who being omnipotent and dwelling in my soule is able and doth giue me such constancie that all the world shall not be able to moue me from this place Then the iudge commaunded officers to bring store of wood and to place it about the holie damosell and that they should powre thereon Oyle Pitch and Rosin and then set fire thereto that she might be consumed to ashes The flame did her no hurt and in the midest of the fire she said My most louing and gratious Lord hath granted me a little space in my martyrdome that the faithfull beleeuers may be incouraged and not to feare torments which be not indeed so rigorous as they seeme to be and that Idollaters may be confounded when they see how little they can doe against the seruants of the most high God The Gouernour not knowing what to do more caused asword to be thrust through her throat which wounded her mortallie but before she died she spoke to certaine Christians present who lamented to see her so wounded and said vnto them Be of good comfort bretheren for the Church of God shal haue peace ere long the emperours that haue done such damage thereto shal shortlie loose the rule and dominion that they haue We read also that the Blessed Sacrament was brought thither secretlie by a priest and that when she had receaued the same she ended her life in peace Her bodie was buried in the same cittie of Syracusa where it remained many yeares god shewing diuers fauours and graces to his faithfull seruants by the merits and intercession of the blessed virgen In processe of time her bodie was caried vnto Constantinople and from thence vnto Venice in great regard and estimation as
God because they haue most cleare knowledge of him Other authors saie that in these three Masses are represented three states By that which is said at midnight is vnderstood the darksome state full of obscuritie and confusion of those that be in hell By the other that is said at the break of daie when the light beginne to be seene are vnderstood those that liue in the world who be in the middle betweene the light and darknes and do not know what shal be their end By the third which is said at cleare daie is vnderstood the state of the happie which be in eternall clearenes and posesse the ioyfull and blessed vision of God This is the signification of the three Masses which are comonlie said on Christmas daie as the doctors generallie say The occasion that mooued Pope Telesphorus to make this ordinance was The first Masse is called ad Galli cantum which is at midnight or a litle after because at that houre IESVS CHRIST was borne The second is called at the daie-break because at that houre he was visited and adored by the sheapheards The third is said at the ordinarie houre as on other daies and is called the high Masse The spanish saith Of these three Masses wâ—iteth Innocent 3. in the third sermon of the birth of CHRIST Galfridus lib de reb Eccles cap. 21. Albinus de diuin offic cap. 1. Sicardus Cremonens and others The life of S. Stephen the first Martyr ROBOAM the king of Israell 3. Reg. 12. suceeding his â—ather Salomon in the kongdome made some lawes and ordinances to be obserued of his suâ—iects who esteemed them to be too rigorous â—here caâ—â—â—d them to assemble together with intent to rebell against the king Roboam saying and professing openâ—â— that they would not obey him nor acknowledg him for king Those which did thus rebell were ten tribes of the twelue into which all the hebrewes were diuided The king being certifyed of this commotion called oâ—e Aduram his faithfull seruant and one of great account in his court commaunding him to go speak peaciblie to these rebellious people therby to quiet and appease them Aduram caused the ten tribes to be warned to appeare choosing out the most principall of them he shâ—wed him some reasons whereby he might reduce them to the seruice of the king but they hearing him named with great indignation took vp stones and stoned Aduram to death Roboam in asmuch as he is king of Israell is a figure of IESVS CHRIST vnto whom the father eternall gaue the lordship and power ouer all flesh and especially ouer that people vnto whom he was sent for guide and captaine and for king also as the Prophet Zacharie calleth him This king made his ordinances Cap 9. when ascending gloriously into heauen he commaunded his holie Apostles and disciples to publish the Euangelicall lawe and make knowne vnto all men that the old law was abrogated Many of the Iewes thought this to be verie strange and rigorous and therefore they took counsell together and determined that they would not acknowledg IESVS CHRIST nor receaue his Ghospell and doctrine He vnderstanding their consultation and entent sent a principall man of his court vnto them which was S. Stephen figured by Aduram whilest he talked to the principall of them to perswade them to acknowledge CHRIST for the Messias and that they would obey him and receaue his doctrine they on the contrarie part being obstinate and rebelliously bent took vp stones against S. Stephen and with extreame furie led him forth of the citty and there stoned him to death the martyr remaining victorious being crowned in his owne bloud The life of this glorious martyr written by S. Luke the Euangelist in the Acts of the Apostles and other good approoued authors is in this manner THE Apostles preaching and doing many miracles in Ierusalem the people of the cittie and the countries there abouts came and brought their sick in great aboundance and they were all healed This was the cause that the number of the disciples encreased daily Caiâ—t vpon this place for all those that were Baptised were called by that name It befell that amongst them arose a little controuersie mooued by the Greeks against the Hebrewes They were all Hebrews cap. 6. V. 1. but some of them were borne in Greece and others in Palestine and these were called Hebrews and the other Grecians These Grecians seemed agreeued that their widowes were not admitted into the publike ministerie and affaires because in those times they that were conuerted brought all their goods vnto the Apostles cap. 4. V. 37. and they prouided for them their diet apparrell and all other things necessarie And to the end that all things might be done in order they appointed to euerie one a particuler office and to the widowes that were honest and deuout women they gaue in chatge to dresse the meat and to attend the table The Grecians requested that the widowes of thir nation might be admitted vnto that seruice for euerie one desired to be employed in some office and to do the best seruice they could The Apostles assembled together to staye this matter least it might grow to discord And hauing called all the disciples said vnto them It is not fit that we should be busied in matters of such small importance therefore let vs find out and make choise of some good quiet men of honest fame who may haue authoritie to prouide persons which shall haue care of the prouision of dyet without aggrieuance of any nation one or other and out of both nations may be chosen widowes dilligent and apt to dresse meat for the multitude And when in this matter there may happen any occasion of disagreement they may resort to those that be elected who may quiet all dissentions if any arise and that we may attend to preaching and prayer This resolution pleased them all and out of the disciples were chosen seuen and as the head and chiefe of others Stephen a faithfull man and full of the holie Ghost was chosen S. Augustine out of this gathereth that S. Stephen was a man of great continencie and gouernement since vnto him was giuen an office in which he should haue so great dealings amongst women The Holie Ghost saith also of him that he was replenished with grace and fortitude and that he did â—ignes and many miracles He shewed himselfe to be very valiant and couragious preaching IESVS CHRIT to the Hebrewes perswading them to forsake the law of Moyses which now was of no force and that they should receaue the Ghospell and be Baptised The matter was brought to that passe that S. Stephen was more famous then any other of the disciples because he disputed face to face with the maisters of the Sinagogues in which were congregated the Grecians of sundrie Prouinces as of Cyrene of Alexandria of Cilicia and of Asia the lesse who altogether could not make resistance vnto the words
his blessed bodie was found I refer you vnto the feast of his Inuention which the holie Church keepeth on the third of August in which place you may read some more of them At this time we will speake only this That seing this saint made prayer for them that stoned him we which desire to honour him in celebrating his feast may hope that he will be a good meanes to obtaine mercy for vs of the heauenlie Maiestie and that by his especiall fauour we may haue the guift of perseuerance in his seruice vnto our death that afterward we may be worthy to see him in his glorie Amen Eusebius saith the death of S. Stephen was in the yeare of CHRIST 34. in the raigne of Tiberius Caesar Durandus in his rationall saith that the death of S. Stephen was on the third of August when his Inuention is celebrated which as he saith in the same booke was on the 26. of December being the day whereon his principall feast is kept The Chruch changeth it as the same Guilielmus saith to haue the Martyrdome more festiual adioining that rather then the Inuention vnto the birth of Christ The life of S. Iohn the Euangelist THE holy and valiant man Mardocheus the faithfull Chronicler of the King Assuerus and Esther recounteth that he being aduised and attent and hauing continuall regard to the health and welfare of his King and Lord heard one day that some seruants of the King had made a conspiracy to kill him and resolued to put it speedily to effect Mardocheus noted the words and taking knowledge of the men made a memoriall wherein he wrote all their conspiracy and wrought so that it came to the Kings hands who caused the affendors to be imprisoned and after they had confessed their offence to be punished according to their deserts There was no reward giuen to Mardocheus for discouering this treason but there was made only a noâ—e in the Annales of the Kings of Persia Some dayes after it happened that the King commaunded that booke to be read vnto him that he might reward the seruices done vnto him whereof in that booke the memory was conserued and when he came to that place where mention was made of Mardocay the King perceuing that he had bene the cause of a great and manâ—â—est deliuery from a danger of his life studied what reward to bestowe on him At last he determined that Mardocay should be arrâ—ied gorgeously and led thâ—rough the Citty vpon a goodly Horse and that before him should go trumpets sounding and declare that iâ— was the Kings will and pleasure that Mordecay should be hounoured and euery man was charged to do him honour This history agreeth and fitteth well S. Iohn Euangelist figured in Mordâ—cay For as he was Croniâ—lâ—r to the King of Persia so S. Iohn was a faithfull Cronicler of IESVS CHRIST The one was holy the other most holy Mardocay discouered the conspiracy made against the King whereby he auoided a greiuous hurt S. Iohn hauing notice also of another conspiracy that the Ebyoniâ—es heretâ—kes plotted against IESVS CHRIST denying that he was God wrote his Ghospell against them whereby their iniquity was disclosed the damage preuented and they confounded This writing was written in the memoriall of God and then came the day wherein the memorials are read and seing what S. Iohn had done for IESVS CHRISTS sake not only for this seruice but for diuers others worthy of rewarde it pleased his Lord to honour him euen as it happened to Mardocay To this end was giuen vnto him a gorgeous and rich vesture the like whereof is hardly to be found for the tittles that do agree vnto this holy saint do not ordinarily concurre in any other at one time He was set vpon a horse which was the speciall fauour bestowed on him by God The horse was that which Dauid meaneth in a Psalme saying O Lord thou shalt saue both men beasts In some sence you may vnderstand by beasts the bodies as by the names of men we may vnderstand the soules as if he had said that at the day of iudgement the holy saints shall goe to heauen both in body and soule Vpon this Horse viz. his owne body it pleased God that S. Iohn Euangelist not staying for the day of iudgement should rise againe assoone as he dyed and go vp into heauen as many great authors hold who yeeld many strong arguments to proue that S. Iohn Euangelist is in heauen both in body and souâ—e whereunto be entred like another Mordecay triumphantly with trumpeâ—ters before him who proclaime all his heroicall acts and declaring that God will so honour him and that he would haue him honored of all The life of this holy Apostle and Euangelist ensuyng is collected parâ—ly out of the Gospell and in part out of diuers good and graue Authors SAINT Iohn the Euangelist was the sonne of Zebedee brother of S. laâ—es the greater who was beheaded by Herode S. Iohn after Onuphrius was borne in the third yeare of CHRIST Lib. 1 â—a 28 He was of a noble house as Nicâ—phorus and S. Ierome say And they be of that opinion for that S. Iohn was familier in the house of the high priest as appeareth in the night that CHRIST was taken for S. Peter was suffered to come in by meanes of S. Iohn as one whom they respected Though he was a gentleman yet for to auoid idlenes the nurse of many vices he vsed the trade of fishing ioyntly with his father and brothers and the rather because their house was nere the sea of Galily This sheweth they were not so poore as some make them in that they had a barke of their owne wherewith they fished They being then one time busy at their fishing CHRIST called them and bad them follow him and be his disciples They knowing him to be their kinsman and reputing it happy that he would accept them into his schoole forsooke their father the barks and the nets and went to IESVS CHRIST S. Iohn was now abouâ— 28 yeares old and a virgin as he was all his life of a good nature beautifull in countenance very amiable and wise Whervpon the sonne of God tooke vnto him an especiall affection and made him his fauorite among all the Apostles This same Euangelist esteemed this prerogatiue so highly that when he recounteth any thing in the Ghospell where he is to name himselfe in steed thereof he vseth this phrase The disciple whom Iesus loued IESVS CHRIST shewed often to him particuler kindnes of the which one was that when he was to be transfigured vpon mount Thabor in the presence of three Apostles one of them was S. Iohn he was one of them that was present when our Sauiour raised the daughter of the prince of the Synagogue in the presence of two other Apostles he being the third S. Iohn gaue notice to his mother of the great affection CHRIST bore to him who guided by motherly affection or
like occasions and assembled a Councell of 105. Bishops in the Church of S. Saluator neere vnto S. Iohn La'eranne And the question of the aforementioned errors being againe disputed certein Canons were published by which all the auncient heresies and this also being lately reuiued were condemned and anathematised and with them Peter Cirus and Sergius their Patriarchs deceased accursing detesting and depriuing Paulus the Patriarch now liuing and all his followers and adherents of what state condition dignity or function so euer and depriuing them also of all offices and benefices ecclesiasticall And to the end this holy Councell and all the decrees and Canons of the same should be diuulged and published through the world Pope Martin caused many coppies to be sent into most parts thereof Th'emperour CoÌ„stans vnderstanding what the Pope had done in the Councell tooke such indignation therat that he determined to apprehend if he did not kill the Pope in reuenge of this iniury as he estemed it For this purpose he sent into Italy in which at that time the Emperours of Constantinople had some cities and countreis one Olimpius a noble man of his chamber but an heretike as he himself was and gaue vnto him the title of Exark or Regent with secret instructions what to do Olimpius arriued at Rauenna which was the ordinary place of residence of the Exarks and hauing amassed and gathered huge forces as he could went toward Rome where he endeuored to make a schisme in the Churche of God But not being able to compasse and effect it because the Bishops of Italy and the Clergy of the city were of one accord and held together in the defence of the faith and of the Pope he then diuised meanes to entrap the Pope and to take him prisoner But finding it hard to be effected because he could not get him out ' of Rome where he was well beloued and had many frends he lastly determined to kill him For the effectuating of this deuise he agreed with one of his seruaunts an auncient souldier and told him he had procured the Pope to say Masse the day following in S. Maria Maior where he would require the Pope to giue him the B. Sacrament and as he communicated this desperate fellow should come nere and stabbe the Pope with his dagger The souldier promised so do The next day came and the Pope said Masse and Olimpius like another Iudas came vp to communicate yet lingered till his man came that should do this treacherous deed but our B. God altered all this for he caused the man to loose his sight and though he was hard by the Pope yet he sawe him not which thing he confessed many times after with solemne oths By this meanes this infernall sacriledg was not committed and the holy Pope escaped free from this trecherous inuention Aftetwadrs the Sarracens inuaded the Island of Sycile in the which they made great spoile and by cause at that time it was subiect vnto th'emperour Olimpius was obliged to go and defend them and so he did being first reconciled to the Pope and making vnto him a relation of the true causes of his comming into Italy Olimpius fought with the Saracens in a pitcht field vanquished them yet so great was the toile he took in the battaile that a few dais after he deceased When th'emperour was aduertised of his death he sent in his place as Exark Theodorus Calliopa who had bene there before and had behaued himself so well that he was beloued in Rome and all Italy Euery one reioiced at his coming but at the end euery one was deceiued and deluded for th'emperour had drawne him vnto his opinion and had enioined him that assoone as he had imprisoned the Pope he should send him vnto th'emperour with a strong guard And because he had no assured confidence in him he ioined with him in commission for the affaires and busines with the Pope only one Paulus Pallurius a seruant of his of whom he had this opinion that he would not faile to performe what soeuer he should command him Calliopa and his associate arriued at Rauenna and with outlong stay went vnto Rome where he staied some fewe daies treating with the Pope about many and seuerall businesses but all that he did was in deceit The Pope who was a plaine meaning man had no conceit of the treachery which Calliopa entended toward him So that Calliopa one day fained being in the lodgiing of S. Iohn Laterane to go and visite the Pope but in steed thereof he laid blowes on him and the Pope being vnable to defend him self from that violence was put in prison Calliopa sent him incontinent in bonds vnto Paulus Pellarius who conueied him withall speed vnto Rauenna and from thence vnto Constantinople The wicked emperour Constans reioiced exceedingly that he had gotten the Pope into his hands and endeuored with flattery and faire promises to drawe the good Pope to fauor his error but finding him stedfast in his faith he banished him vnto the city of Chersona which is in the outmost borders of the sea Euxinus a very cold country almost inhabitable There the good Pope was so afflicted and euill entreated that within fewe daies he died very patiently as a glorious martir of IESVS CHRIST Pope Martin the first of that name after the most certain account died in the year of our Lord. 654. on the. 12. day of Nouember and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast His body was after this brought to Rome and buried in the Church dedicated vnto him and S. Siluester God did many miracles by the meanes of this saint who was his vicar in earth 6. yeares one moenth 26. dayes He gaue holy orders twice in the month of December in which he ordered 11. priests 5. deacons and 33. bishops The life of S. Gregorie Thaumaturgus HE that beleâ—ueth in me saith CHRIST Iohn 14. shall do the works and miracles that I do and greater also This sentence was most plainly verified in S. Gregorie Bishop of Neocaelarea which is the same that is now called Trabisonda Of him it is written that by his prayers he made a huge great rock as bigge as a hill to go from one place vnto another And also that he made a lake which caused discord betweene two brethren to drie vp and he stayed a great riuer that it should not ouerflowe to hurt the inhabitants by the bankes thereof We do not read that our Sauiour CHRIST did any of these thinges we doubt not but he could haue done them yet he did them not that his words might be fullfilled when he said that his faithfull seruants should do greater miracles after a certaine manner then those that he did And because it was euident in this holie saint he had the surname of Thaumaturgus that is a doer of marueilous things giuen vnto him His life was written by S. Gregorie Nissen in this manner SAINT Gregorie surnamed Thaumaturgus