and diminishing many things so that at the last he ordained a particuler office for his Church He composed many Hymnes Antiphonaries and Responsories some of the which are vsed to this day in the Catholike Church Whilest the diuine office was celebrated hee would haue all the cleargie very attent and to vse deuotion And to the end it might be done with more decency and maiesty he would not permitte that any lay or seculer man should remaine among the cleargie were they neuer so great and mighty yea one time seing the Emperour Theodosius to be place among the Priests he told him his place was not there and that the purple garment made him not a Priest The good Emperour obeyed and replied not yea the zeale and the Christian boldnes of Ambrose did so please Theodosius that on a time being in Constantinople the Patriarch inuited him to sit in a seat in the quier among the cleargy The Emperour answered that it was not his place and that only Ambrose of all that he had seene deserued to be called a Bishop for the zeale he had of Gods honor and of the reputation of his Church hauing put him out of that place whereunto the Patriarch did inuite him and with these words he commended Ambrose and reprehended the Patriarch Moreouer this holy saint was busied continually in composing and writing of the workes whereof the Church maketh great vse all which he wrote with his owne hand and that he vsed to doe euen vnto his death He preached also ordinarily vnto the people and alwayes he persecuted the Arrians vnto whom he was a deadly enemy He reduced many vnto the faith and many he wholly conuerted of whom one was the great Augustine who by meanes of his sermons and priuate conferences forsooke the sect and error wherein he was drowned for he could not be called an heretike bacause he was not baptised S. Ambrose himselfe did baptise him and at his baptisme they two did compose that canâ—cle vsed and frequented by the Church in the time of ioy which beginneth with Te deum laudamus S. Ambrose saying one verse and S. Augustine another euen to the end thereof This good Bishop baptised many other also and as S. Paulinus saith the only trauell to baptize so many people was sufficient to hold fiue Bishops in worke Moreouer he was very carefull and dilligent in helping poore men prisoners and other needy persons The gold and siluer which fell to his part of his patrimony being a great somme which hee had when he was made Bishop he bestowed all partly in ornaments of his Church and partly to the poore for at that time his mother was dead also He bestowed the possessions which remained vnto his Church vpon this condition that his sister might haue the profit of them during her life He reserued nothing for himselfe that naked and needy he might the better follow CHRIST that was poore and needy This holy saint was of a noble and gratious condition he laughed and was merry with them that were merry and also lamented with them that were in sorrow When any man confessed vnto him any heynous sinne he lamented so greeuously that he caused the penitent to sorrow were he neuer so hard harted When he knew of any sinne out of confession he vsed great dilligence for thee amendment and that he did secretly And many times he obtained his purpose aswell by the meanes of his prayer as of his mild correction When he heard that any priest was dead whom he had knowen to be a man studious and of good life he receiued great sorrow thereof and neuer ceased to lament for it And if he was asked why he did so he would answer there were two causes the one was because a man that worthily exerciseth the function of a Priest was hard to be found the other was because he was dead before him Such was the life of S. Ambrose and yet there were some that persecuted him For the Emperour Valentinian dying the Empresse Iustina who was secretly an Arrian had dissembled during her husbands life began to discouer he venime and poison Valentinian her sonne who remained Emperor in Italy being very young vpon which ground this wicked woman began to persecute the Catholiks and specially S. Ambrose as the chiefe of them One time there was an election to be made of a Bishop in the Citty of Sirmium The Catholikes desired to haue one Annemius a man of vertuous life to be Bishop and S. Ambrose going thither at their request to further it the election was made accordingly But because the Empresse Iustina being present laboured that S. Ambrose should not consecrate him but that an Arrian Bishop should the people were congregated in the Church for that purpose and on the one side sate the holy saint and on the other side sate the Empresse with many Ladies and damosels attending on her with other Courtiers The Empresse said to her Ladies that she was heauy to see Ambrose do that office wherupon one of her women more presumptuous then the rest thinking to please the Empresse therewith arose and went vnto the chaire of the holy saint with intention to bring him as it were by force vnto the place where the Empresse sate meaning to vse some violence or abuse toward him and to thrust him out of the Church The mild Bishop with patience putting the presumptuous woman froÌ„ him said vnto her Although I be not worthy of this place and office yet it is not lawfull to put me away and to detaine me from laying hands on this Priest Well said he take heed thou beest not shortly punished by God As S. Ambrose said so it came to passe for on the next day that wretched woman dyed and the holy saint honoured her by accompanying her corps vnto the graue The Empresse and the other Arrians beholding this accident knew not what to doe and so S. Ambrose consecrated the Catholike Bishop without any further disturbance The holy Doctor went then to Rome as Marcus Marulus saith of him he lodged in the house of a rich man who boasted that in all his life he had receaued no great misfortune of affliction S. Ambrose called his cleargimen assoone as he heard it and said vnto them Let vs depart from hence lest vnto vs happeÌ„ some euill with this fortunate man and assoone as he was departed out of the house they saw the earth to open and swallow it and all that was within it At Rome S. Ambrose visited his sister and that damosell that kept her company who now was ancient in yeares This was that young woman that laughed at him when he being a child did hold out his hand that she might kisse it saying vnto her that he should be a Bishop and the holy saint remembred her of it when she kneeled downe before him requesting that the might kisse his hand S. Ambrose also visited a great Lady at his sisters request who desired
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.
this he was driuen and banished out of the citty After this S. Telcla was taken and hauing beene examined and her intention found that she desired to be a Christian and determined to conserue her virginity she was condemned to be consumed with fire The fire was kindled and a huge multitude of people were assembled to behold that most beautifull yong damosell that would willingly go to dy such a cruell death The blessed damosell was set in the midst of the fire which did not any hurt at all vnto her persons And on the sodaine fell from heauen such a storme with thunderclapps with such aboundance of raine that it put out the fire and afrighted all them that were present in such sort that euery one departed and the holy virgin was left at liberty whereby she might go free And so she went to the house of Onesiphorus where she found S. Paul with some other Christians who had continually for sixe daies made their praiers for her and they were all exceeding glad of her comming The Apostle did Baptise her and instructed her fully in the faith but because they were assured that the Proconsull would send againe for her the Apostle departed from that house and citty also recomending much the virgin Tecla vnto all the Christians that were in that place Though all dilligence that might be was vsed to keep her secret yet within a fewe dayes Alexander a lewd person apprehended her and brought her before the Proconsull who seing her to preseuer constantly in that she would not marry her spouse but continue a Christian gaue sentence that she should be deuoured of wilde beastes in the citty of Antioch whether the Proconsull was to go An especiall daye was apointed for this spectacle and in the meane space S. Tecla was deliuered vnto the custody of a matrone called Triphona When the apointed daie was come S. Tecla was brought into the Theater and a fierce Lionesse was let out against her which drawing neere vnto the holy saint lay downe quietly at her feete without doing her any harme S. Ambrose wondring much at that which the wild beasted did to the holy virgin said these wordes The firstly onesse which was let out against the blessed virgin was mild lay downe at her feete and hurt her not and also gaue example vnto the other lyons Beares and fierce Bulles who hauing bin let loose against her stood round about her peaceably and licked her feete The people were seuere cruel and the sauage and wild beastes were tame and pittifull though they were kept hungry and almost famished that they might haue their fill and make their praie vpon the holy damosell And though they were prouoked and pricked forward by their keepers that they might deuoure the holy saint yet could they not make them to hurt or harme her in the least degree The Iudge seing that the wild beastes spared her she being taken out of the Theater cōmaunded she should be cast into a ditch wherein were many dreadfull and venimous serpents when S. Tecla was put into that deep ditch there discended from heauen a fierie cloud that slewe all the serpents and by this meanes S. Tecla remained free from this third torment euen as God had deliuered her from the other two to wit from the fire and the wild beastes The people seing such great maruailes and especially the matrone Triphona who had her in keeping and in that time had conceiued great good affection vnto her she beginning and the cōmon people following her cried out iointly together That the God of Tecla was most potent and most worthy to be adored that had deliuered her from such and so great dangers The Iudge fearing some cōmotion of the people set S. Tecla free and Triphona led her vnto her house adopted her to be her daughter The holy virgin Tecla departed from that citty and went to make her abode in Seleucia In which place many by her meanes receaued the faith of CHRIST Spanish addeth being 90 yeeres old and there she ended her daies blessedly There is extant a history of S. Tecla in the which be many fabulous and vncertaine things As that she clothed her self in mans apparell and would haue gone so in the compaine of S. Paul and that he would not permitt it but willed her to go in her ordinary and vsuall attire of a woman moreouer it saith that a great Lord in the citty of Antioche would haue giuen vnto S. Paul a great summe of mony if he would haue giuen that yong damosell vnto him to be his paramour and that S. Paul would not do it These and other such like things are read in the abouenamed legend but Pope Gelasius commanded that those stories should not be credited and put them among the writings apocriphall and of none auctority but that which I haue written of this saint is auowed by graue authors and is authorised and of credit the Church also giueth credit thereto who in the praiers which are said in the commendations of soules saith these words O Lord deliuer this soule euen as thou didst deliuer S. Tecla from three most cruell torments The Catholik Church maketh commemoration of S. Tecla on the day of her death which was on the. 23. day of September in the year of our Lord 90. as Canisius saith in the time of Themperour Domitian It is said that the body of this holy saint is in Spaine in the city of Tarragona in the prouince of Catalonia spanish addeth In the Cathedrall church of that citty dedicated to her name The life of SS Cyprian and Iustinia Martirs SAINT Paul to confound the wise men of this world writing to the Corinthians saith God hath chosen the foolishnes of this world This was especially said vnto the Apostles who being people vnlettred and by consequens were holden as folish in that intending them selues to teach a new doctrine would preach vnto people learned and full of knowledg and yet their preaching was the cause that many were conuerted vnto God and receued glaldy the Ghospell This same is verefied by S. Iustina a damosell vnlettered in humain Wisdome yet God made chose her for an instrument to cōuert a Pagan who was very lerned not only in Philosophy but also in magike and sorcery and had dealing and practise with the diuell and though he was such a one yet was he conuerted vnto the faith of IESVS CHRISTE by the meanes of S. Iustina was martired with her The life history of theise two holy saints was written by S. Gregory Nazianzen though he was deceiued in that he thought he had bin Bishop of Carthage well he venerable Bede and other Authors wrote of these holy saints in this maner EVEN as it is no reproch vnto S. Paul to say of him that he had bene a persecutor of the Church of God nor any infamy vnto S. Matthew to say of him that he had bene a customer or vsurer before that either
they came to the sea shore where they were for to loose their heads Placidus made his prayer in that place and lifted vp his eyes and sayd My lord IESVS CHRIST sonne of the liuing God which didst descend from heauen vnto earth for our saluation didst abyde death vpon the Crosse haue mercy on vs ô lord and by thy merits and intercession of Benedict thy seruant our maister wee beseech thee to giue vnto vs the vertue of constancy to the end that passing this cruell passage of death without any impediment or stay layd in our way by our enemy the deuill we may come to enioy the eternall felicitie of thy heauenly kingdome let thy holy Angell S. Michaell receaue oure soules in peace and present them before thy heauenly tribunall This we request and beseeche of thee who art our God blessed and gloryous for euer Placidus hauing said these words all the other auÌ„swered Amen And as they kneeled they were beheaded forthwith in Sicilia in the hauen of Messina and their bodies remayned foure dayes vnburyed The Barbaryans not content herewith destroyed the monastery so that they left not one stone vpon another and though the Church of S. Iohn Euangelist stood very neere it whether it was for deuotion for the moores do reuerence him highly or whether for Gods pleasure it was not touched nor defaced And for that the stormes and roughnes of the sea was now ceased Mamucha comaunded euery one to be embarked to goe vnto Reggio in Calabria As they were passing the Faro there rose such a tempest that they could not goe forward nor returne back and by the iust iudgment of God they were drowned and sunke all of them being 100. vessells and 16800. men The bodyes of the holy martyr Placidus and of his brethren were buryed in the Church of S. Iohn Baptist by Gordianus his familier freind who came with him froÌ„ Monte Cassino The same man buryed the other 33. martirs in the same place where they were beheaded And in the one place and the other God did for them many myracles many sicke men recoueryng from all diseases by theyr intercession S. Placidus at his death was 26. yeares old for when he was 7. years old the blessed father S. Benedict receaued him into his company he remayned in Sublacque 5. yeares and vpon Monte Cassino 9 years in building the monastery he spent foure and there he was Abbot one year All which make the somme of 26. years He was borne in the yeare of our lord 515. and he was martyred in the yeare 541. on the first day of October being saterday The life of S. Marke Pope and Confessor BY the death of that holy Pope Siluester was chosen to succeede in his place in the chaire of S. Peter Marke a cittizen of Rome sonne of one Priscus endued with rare and excelent vertues The churche of God enioyed in his dayes great peace outward tranquillitie being fauoured freed by Christian Princes from all forreine enemies Yet inwaâ—dly the Arian hereticks infested the same as spitefullie as they could They had wonne them selues fauoure and wrought an entraunce in to the Emperours house and familie and inueagling one of his verie sonnes drawen him into the snares of they re heresies which was after a cause of great persecution in the churche of God and manie afflictions layed vpon Catholiks The old Emperour continued sound and allwayes a good Catholique and accordinglie affected and fauourâ—d S. Marke asmuch as he had before honoured S. Syluestre Wherefore this holie Pope furthered and cherished with the Emperours countenance employed his care and best endeuoures in resisting these Arrian hereticks and setling and ordaining such good orders as for the gouernement of the Churche were adiudged necessarie Amonghst which one was to prescribe that on Sundayes and chiâ—fe festiuall dayes the Creed or beliefe should be said in the masse to the end that the hearers might the better learne it and be more strengthned in they re fayth by this publique profession made thereof He moreouer builded two churches one in the way to Ardea three miles from Rome the other in the cittie called by the name of him that built it both which churches Constantine endowed with great reuenues and possessions and adorned with vessells of gold and syluer He graunted the Bisshop of Ostia leaue to vse the Pallium by reason it was his auncient priuiledge to consecrate the Pope of Rome He gaue holie orders twice in the moneth of December wherein he ordered 8. Bisshops 25. Priests and 6. Deacons And hauing liued 2. yeares 8. moneths 20. dayes in the chayre of Peeter he dyed the 7. day of october on which the churche doth celebrate his feast and in the yeare of oure lord 340 and was buried in the churchyard of Balbina in the same churche he made in the way to Ardea Spa S. Ierome saith he dyed in the yeare 334 Onuphrius 336. * ⎠* The life of SS Sergius Bacchus Marcellus and Apuleius Martyrs THE holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus liued in the time of the Emperoure MaximiaÌ„ serued him in an honorable office the one being Primicerius the other Secundicerius that is Sergius principall and Bacchus second secretarie of staâ—e both for their vertues especiallie beloued and honoured by the Emperoure ignorant as yett that they were Christians Being in the cittie of Augusta in the prouince of Eufratesia he came to haue some knowledge heereof by reason of certaine accusations layd against them And desiring to be further certefyed he called them to waite vpon him to Churche wither he was going to sacrifize vnto his Idolls The holie Saincts accompanied him and gaue they re attendance yett in such sort that hauing brought him to the churche doore they stayed without when the Emperours went in When the time came to offer sacrifice Maximian looked about for them and not seeing them commaunded others to looke where they were The messengers found those holie Saincts at the gates of the temple making they re prayer vnto God who vnderstanding the Emperouâ— did send for them came to his presence He shewing himfelfe displeased dimaunded of them why they came not in whith him and offered sacrifice to the great Iupiter They answeared boldly bicause thei were Christians and thought that sacrifice was due to none but onlie him who was the true God that made heauen and earth The Emperour all in a rage coÌ„maunded to plucke of they re golden chaynes from they re neckes and strippe them out of they re rich apparail the tokens of rheyre nobilitie then to cloathe them in woemens garments lade them with yrons with gyues and fetters leade them with open reproache and ignominie through out all the cittie and soe cast them in prison And hauing tryed that all his cruelltie and craft could not make those noble spiritts relent nor swarue in in the least thing from they re Religion he sent them to Antiochus gouernour of the East a fierce cruell
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
serued him both for meat and drink This thing may cause men rather to wonder then to put any in hope to be able to imitate him because the grace of God strengthened him and the long vse of therof and abstinence in his youth from all carnality which debilitateth the body made it to him more easy and more able to liue such an austere life wherin he merited much and perhaps an other man should offend God by shortening his daies in doing the same S. Hillarion liuing now in his cabbin the thieues had notice and came to him but seeing the estate he was in they said vnto him scoffingly What wouldest thou do to see they self assailed by thieues He aunswered The poore and naked man feareth not the thief They replied At left thou maist lose they life And he said It is true they may depriue me therof but I care not a beane if they do so at this present The thieues were astonied and amased to heare his words and to see his constancy which might haue bene a motiue for them to amend their life spent in wickednes seing a man that had chosen rather to lead such a streight life then to fall into any offence toward God Hilarion liued in this maner 22. years and was knowne in all the Land of Palestina Vpon a day a woman came vnawares vnto him and fell at his feet shee perceiuing that he seemed to be displeased to see her in that place and to make signes to haue her depart she shed many rears and said vnto him Oh Seruant of God pardon my presumtion and boldnes for my great afflictions enforce me so to do Do not shunne me turne thy eies of pitty toward me behold me not as a woman but as a person afflicted Remember that a woman was mother vnto our B. Sauiour They that be hole haue no need of the phisition but they that be sick At the words S. Hilarion staied and asked of her the cause of her coming thither and why shee wept The woman made aunswer That this 15. years she had bene maried and neuer had child for which cause her husbande determined to depart from her and leaue her desolate The holy saint lifted vp his eies vnto heauin and praied for her and so dismissed her After a yeare that same woman retorned to visiâ—e him with her sonne in her armes which God had giuen her at the praiers of S. Hilarion and this was the first miracle that God shewed by him After this fellowed another mroe wonderfull viz A noble lady returned home from visiting S. Antony with her three litle sonnes and being come vnto Gaza all three fell sick there and died whether it was by the chaunge of the aire or whether God would haue it for the honor of S. Hilarion The disconforted mother seing such a desolation in her house was in maner out of her witts and called vnto mind one whiles one sonne another time the other sonne and knew not which of them to bewaile first And hearing that in the desert nere vnto the city Hilarion did Dwell came vnto him accompanied with two hand maies and said vnto him with vnspeakable grief I besech thee o holy man by IESVS CHRIST by his sacred bloud to come with me vnto the city of Gaza and raise my three sonnes lying dead in that place which thing wil be for the glory of God and the confusion of the Idollaters S. Hilâ—rion refused to do it saieng it was not his vsage to go into the city no not out of his Cell but the woman weeping bitterly said o Seruant of God giue me thy three sonnes whom Antony hath seen aliue in Egipt cause that I and thou may see theÌ„ aliue also in Siria The people present heating the womans words wept aboundantly and so did S. Hilarion who vanquished with the tears of the woman went into the city of Gaza at sonne sett and called one the name of IESVS vpon the dead chileren who arose incontinent and gaue thanks vnto the holy saint and all the company rendered infinite praised vnto God This miracle was diuulged in many places wherfore much people resorted only to see the holy man And many that were heathens and pagans by the only sight of him receued the Christian faith and took the order of monasticall life and staie with him There had not bene before his time any monks in Siria so that S. Hilarion was the first bringer of that holy institution and to liue in monasteries in to thos parts There was brought to him a woman who had bene blind ten years and had spent all her goods in phisike which when S. Hillarion vnderstood he said vnto her It would haue done thee more good to haue giuen all thy possessions vnto the poore bicause IESVS CHRIST would haue cured thee When he had said this he laid a litle of his spittle vpon her eies and incontinent shee recouered her fight perfectly There was in Gaza a Chariott man posessed with the deuill who had left nothing free in him but his toung This poore man was brought to S. Hillarion who said vnto him Beleeue in IESVS CHRIST and vse this trade no more which is perilous for thee thou being of an impatient nature And he promised so to do and instantly he was hole and sound both in body and mind Another man called Marsitas was able and did cary on his back 15. bushells of corne and was in great estimation for it for there was neuer an asse in all Siria that was able to carry such a load Into this man the deuill entred and made him so fierce that he did much harme and it was in vaine to bind him with cords or chaines for he brake them all in sonder One while he assailed this man another time that man and with his teeth did bite of the nose of some and the eares of others He was led vnto S. Hillarion in such sort as men vse to lead a bull when he goeth to be baited When the monks sawe him they were all afraid because he was a man of a great stature of a terrible aspect and of a grimme countenance S. Hillarion commaunded them to vnlose all his bands and to take of all his fetters he wore When he was vntied he said vnto him Come hither vnto me Marsitas trembled and held downe his head fell at his feet and licked them with his â—oung all his former fiercenes being vanished away The Blessed man kept him seuen daies in his company and made continuall praiers vnto God for him and to conclude perfectly cured him There was brought also vnto him another man posessed with the deuill whose name was Orion a very rich man who had a legion of Deuills in him S. Hillarion expounding a passage of holy writte vnto his monks the roan posessed came on a soodein and flipping out of the hands of them that led him ranne toward the holy saint and took him vp in his armes and hoised
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
God S. Gregorie obeying forthwith went on his iourney with his familiers and friends that were in his companie As they trauailed they neere benighted were vnto a Temple of Apollo not farre distant from the cittie into the which S. Gregorie and his friends entring he made the signe of the Crosse in the ayre and forthwith flew away a huge companie of diuells which inhabited there and gaue oracles answeres vnto such persons as came to make sacrifice vnto them S. Gregorie spent the greatest part of the night in praiers and singing Himnes and Psalmes so that the place that was before the habitation of diuells became now the house of God In the morning S. Gregorie departing to go on his iourney the ministers of the Idolls who had the charge of the Temple entred therein to and making their acustomed salutations and sacrifices vnto the Idoll in stead of answere there was heard yellings and howlings out of the Temple and the diuells said that they could not enter againe into that house because Gregorie had bene within it Notwithstanding the ministers made sacrifice vnto them and vsed certaine ceremonies to induce them to returne into the Temple but they bad thoÌ„ not to wearie themselfs nor to loose their time for they could not returne into that place by any meanes The ministers were also informed that it was Gregorie and where they should find him Hauing learned this they determined to follow him and found him and his companie as they walked toward the cittie The ministers of the Idolls began to threaten him that they woâ—ld complaine to the maiestrates of the cittie for that he being a Christian had entered into a Temple of their Gods and driuen them from their habitation so making their Oracles to cease S. Gregorie with great mildnes and modesty said Be not offended hereat for I serue such a Lord as I can in his name cast out diuells from any place and make them to returne whither I please They maruailing hereat said vnto him Then make them returne into the Temple where they were before S. Gregorie rent a leafe out of a paper book he had and wrote thereon these wordes Gregorie to Satanas ENTER This note he gaue vnto the minister who laid it vpon the Altar and offred sacrifice and the diuells gaue answeres as beforetime The minister pondered vpon this and considered that when Gregorie commaunded their Gods they obeyed him and that he did it by his seruice vnto one God Hereupon he resolued that this God was very potent and mighty since his seruants could do such great things After this resolution made he departed from the Temple to seek out Gregorie who by Gods prouidence had done these things expecting the fruite to come thereof and found him He told him what had happened and besought him instantly to instruct him what his God was so great and potent for he would serue him and forsake these other Gods so weak and feeble S. Gregorie preached vnto him IESVS CRHâ—T and hauing giuen him notice of the principall misteries of our faith said we do not prooue these things by reasons because they surmount reason and naturall vnderstanding but we confirme them by miracles The minister of the Idolls said do a miracle in my sight that I may beleeue what you haue said and Baptise me What miracle would you haue me do said S. Gregerie The minister beholding a huge great stone like a mountaine said vnto him make this huge stone to raise it self from this place and to go into another S Gregorie doubted not to do it and as if the stone had bene a reasonable creature he commaunded it to go vnto the place the minister had apointed His words being ended the effect followed The minister remained so satisfied herewith that he his wife and children seruants and friends vnto whom he related the matter performed by the saint were all Baptised S. Gregorie came into the cittie and lodged in the house of a great man called Musonius To this house resorted many vnto whom the holy saint preached with such feruour that in a short space there were thousands of Christians in that cittie In this discourses he gaue content and delight to all To the discomforted he vsed such wordes that they took consolation He perswaded the yong men to chastity the old men vnto patience He exhorted seruants to be obedient to their masters aduised masters to be mild and courteous to their seruants He said rich men ought to be stewards and not masters of their goodes To women children and all other that came to heare him he spake that which was conuenient and fitting for their estates reaping daily proffit by his preaching There was in that citty many Temples of the Idolls whereupon the holie saint thought fitt that there should be one at least built to the honour of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST wherein he might be adored and serued The charge hereof he gaue vnto the chiefest of them that were Baptised and himself in person laid the first stone in the foundation Eusebius Caesariensis saith li 7. c. 25. that this holie saint by his praiers made a hill to remooue from one place vnto another because it hindered the building of the Church Gregorie of Nissen doth not saie thus much but he saith that in his time there was a great earthquake in that cittie which threw downe the greater part thereof but that the Church founded by Gregorie Thaumaâ—urgus stood firme stirred not Great were the miracles that God wrought by the meanes of this blessed saint by his preaching the Gospell many people were daily conuerted vnto the faith Among many other wonders this of the two brethren is notable They two deuiding the many posessions and land left vnto them by their father fell at variance about a water which controuersie was caused by a great lake in which much fishe was taken and each of them desired to haue that water for their part This matter came to that height that they had assembled many people and intended to end their quarrelly by the sword The holie saint came betweene them as vmprie but seing no meanes to bring them to atonemeÌ„t they being euen ready to come to handy strokes hard by the lake and it was feared much blood would he shed This glorious saint fell vnto praier and continewed therein so long till the water in the lake was dried vp and the ground thereof was equall with the banckes so that there remained no signe either of water or lake When the morning came the two enraged brethren seing now no cause wondering at this great miracle that God had done by the meanes and prayer of his seruant Gregorie After this miracle ensued another The people dwelling by the bancks of the riuer Lyous which descendeth from the mountaines of Armenia and sometimes encreaseth so much that it ouerfloweth and spoileth the fieldes and villages of the country neere adiacent hauing knowledg giuen them of S. Gregorie
of th'emperour Traian The life of S. Felicitas Martyr ONe of the affections which parents ought to conquer and bring to a meane is the ouer-great fondness of loue to they re children For though nature hath engrafted a loue vnto them and reason teacheth that loue is due to them yett is it due with such proportion and measure that the loue of they re children depriue them not of the loue of God which ought to be prized and preferred aboue all other Moreouer they ought to marke well and regard wherein consisteth the true loue of they re children For manie times parents desire and procure for they re children the false fayned fading goods of this world with such painfull endeuoure such vnquencheable thirst that euerie thing seemeth to meane and to little in repect of that which most they wish them and faine would haue for them And herein they bound the limitts of they re loue this they prefixe as they re only marke not regarding how to enrich they re children with vertues nor make them worthie of those verie goods which they painfully scrape and carefully heape vp together for them litle mindfull of instructing them how to purchase those euerlastinge vnspeakeble treasures of glorie in whose comparison all the good and riches of earth are only shadowed conterfayted goods To teache and instruct parents in this trueth and set before they re eyes a rule and patterne of they re duety the holie Churche makes this day a commemoracion of Holie S. Felicitas She was a most honourable Matrone of Rome where being lefte a widow with seauen sonnes she liued without blame or reprehension bending her greatest care and endeuoure to serue her selfe and make her children serue allmightie God And so much preuailed her good example and holie education that Gods loue was so deepelie rooted in they re harte as to make them holie martyrs of his in the time of the Emperoure Antoninus when before the eyes of they re blessed mother with cruell torments and sundrie kinds of death they bought one euerlasting lyfe as hath bin said in the month of Iulie But after those glorious Knights of CRHIST IESVS the sonnes of blessed Felicitas had manfully fought and wonne the victorie all the rage and furie of the Emperour was turned againste that holie mother whose woords had encouraged and giuen her sonnes weapons to fight the battaile The Tyraunt therefore commaunded that she should be cast into a loth some prison to the end that sparing for some time her lyfe he might make her grieue daylie more and more for her childrens death For though she reioyced as knowing that now they were cittizens of heauen yett could she not as a mother but feele some sorrow they being lost to her allthough she had gained them to God There he kept her foure months in prison to afflict her and molest her the more and at the length seing that still she perseuered constant in the faith of IESVS CHRIST he commaunded her to be beheaded Of this blessed mother the patterne of all christian mothers of this martyr or as S. Gregorie saith more then martyr for she was eight tymes martyred seauen in her children and once in her selfe the same S. Gregorie hath these words Let vs behold my brethren consider this woeman and be ashamed to see her so much surpasse vs. Often times one only word said against vs doth trouble and vexe and make vs breake all oure good purposes whereas neyther torments nor death it selfe was able to conquer blessed Felicitas nor make her yield or giue backe one foote Wee with a blast of contradiction are streight waies dismayed and shamefully fall she wrought a way thorough steele and flint to obtaine and euerlasting crowne We giue not the least part of oure goods to the poore for the loue of CHRISTE she offered him her flesh in sacrifize Wee when God calleth backe for oure children which he had giuen vs in loane waile euerlastingly without comfort she be-wayled her children vntill they died for CHRISTE and reioyced when she did behold them dead And Peeter Archeb of Rauenna saith B holde a woman whose children liuing were cause of her care dead of her securitie Most happie she that now hath as manie faire shining lights in heauen as heretofore she had sonnes on earth Happie in bringing them into this world most happie in sending them vp into heauen She was farre more diligent and industrious when the tyraunt commaunded them to be slaine and when she walked amonghst they re dead bodies then when she did rocke them in the cradle and gaue them milke with her owne brests she viewed full well with the eyes of her soule that as manie wounds as they receaued so manie should be the pretious jewells of they re victorie how manie they re torments so manie they re rewards the crueller they re combats the more glorious they re crowns what shall I say of this valerous woman only this that she 's no true mother that loues not her children as this loued hers Hitherto are the words of S. Peeter of Rauenna The martyrdome of S. Felicitas was on the 23 day of Nouember the yeare of oure Lord 175. There is mention made of her in the Roman and other Martyrologes * ⎠* The life of S. Chrisogonus Martyr GREAT was the ioje and content the holy man Ioseph conceiued when he was taken out of prison in which he had remayned a long tyme suffring therein many troubles â—fflictions especially being vpon his deliuery ouâ— made gouernour ouer all ihe land of Egipt No lesse was the content and spirituall ioye S. Chrisogonus had when he departed out of prison where he had continued two yeares and had endured the ordinary molestations incident to prisons though he was not taken out to be a prince on the earth but to be a glorious and happie Saint in heauen whether his soule presently ascended by meanes of his martyrdome The life of this holie Sainct was written by Venerable Bede and by Ado Archbishop of Treuers in this manner SAâ—NT Chrisogonus was borne in Rome of a noble and honorable family and was in all his cariage and behauiour no lesse worthie and gracious with all men He was apprehended by the comaund and apoyntment of Dioclesian the Emperour and was kept in prison two yeeres contynually being there releeued with all things necessary by a vertous woman his disciple called Anastasia wife vnto Publius a man great and potent in the cittie but an Idollater This Phlius hauing knowledg of that which this wife Anastasia did shutte her vp and locked her stronglie in a chamber of his pallace setting a guard and watch ouer her to the end she should not send any help or relief vnto Chrisogonus as also that the should not haue any sustenance for here self determining that both the one and the other of them might dye by famine Notwithstanding the blessed woman was shut vp in this sort yet she found meanes to
the hangman began to vntie him he lyfted vp his voice to IESVS CHRIST and said Lord I beseech thee for thy holie names sake permitt me not to be taken from the Crosse aliue Receaue me my master whom I haue loued whom I haue confessed whom I haue preached and of whom I hope to be rewarded Oh good IESVS receaue my spirit in peace for now is it time to come to thee whom I haue so much desired Whilest the Apostle said these wordes there discended from heauen a great brightnes in manner of a beame of the sunne which euerie one saw and couered the bodie of the Apostle that for half an houres space it could not be seene at which time it vanished awaye and then they perceiued that the was dead One Maximilla a deuout woman a disciple of the Apostle being of that cittie and verie rich went to the Crosse with some of her seruants and took the bodie of the saint and buried it anointing it first with pretious ointments When Egeas vnderstood what Maximilla had done he ment to complaine vnto the Emperour both of her and of many other that asisted her Whilest he was in the publique hall taking informations thereof tâ—e diuell entred into him making him to roare and crie out as a beast and tormenting him in the sight of the people made him to yield his soule to be tormented in hell This iudgment of God caused many to be conuerted to the faith of CHRIST The martirdome of S. Andrew was on the 30. of Nouember and on the same daie the Church celebrateth his feast His death was in the yeere of our Lord. 62. as Canisius saith in the raigne of Nero. In the time of the Emperour Constantine the bodie of S. Andrew was translated to Constantinople and from thence to diuers other places till lastlie it was carried into Italie to the cittie of Amalfy in the kingdome of Naples where it is at this present And it is said that out of this blessed bodie cometh a most pretious liquor that cureth and healeth diuers infirmities When Pius the second was Pope his head was brought to Rome and set in a tabernacle made for that purpose in the Church of S. Peter S. Gregorie of Toures recounteth many miracles done by the intercession of S. Andrew namelie the curing of diuers and sundrie infirmities He saith also that in the time of Clodoueus king of France in a warre he made in Burgundie and in the sacking of a countrie fire was set on the Church of a holie martir called Saturninus within the which were some reliques of S. Andrew The fire enereased and the people were much agreeued that the reliques of the holie Apostle should be so consumed There was a souldier borne at Toures who perceiuing the sorrow of the people entred resolutlie into the middest of the fire and went vnto the place where the reliques of the holie Apostle were and brought them awaie safe without hurt And God was pleased to shew how acceptable this pious deed was to him preseruing the souldier from the fire that it hurt him not at all We read also of other miracles of S. Andrew as of a Bishop whom the diuell in forme of a damosell would haue deceiued and the holie Apostle went to his house in the shape of a pilgrime and told him of the deceit but for that I haue not read it in any approoued author I do not auerre it yet God can and vseth to do those or the like things by the intercession of his holie saints And we ought not to doubt but he hath done many miracles by the intercession of S. Andrew who followed and loued him so that at last he died on the Crosse for his loue as himself had done It is iust therefore that we be deuout to this holie saint that by his prayers and meritts we maie obtaine of God eternall glorie Amen DECEMBER The life of S. Bibiana virgin and Martir MANY were the vexations and great were the tribulations the holy man Dauid suffered at the haÌ„ds of sondry persons who without any cause giuen on his part endeuored to do him all the mischief they could as amoÌ„g others his father in lawe Saul did yet he supported all these troubles with patience and myldnes but the insurrection of his sonne Absalon nipped him to the hart and mollested him aboue all the rest wherefore he said in one psalme If myne enemy had said euill of me and had persecuted me Ps. 54 I would haue supported it bycause that of an enemy no friendly kindnes is expected but I am aggreiued that this my sonne he who satt at my table and eate with me in the same dish should be the maÌ„ that should persecute me Oh how worthy was he and such as he was to descend aliue into hell Many were the tyrants that persecuted the Church and many more were they that put the Christians to death but S. Bibiana had reason to complaine of none more then of Iulyan the Apostata because the others were her professed enemyes in that they were Idollaters But this wicked and damnable man was a Christian and within holy orders who put her to very great sorrow and moued her to desire God to chastise him as indeed he did by depriuing him in a short time both of his empire and life it being not knowen by whom nor in what maner This is only certain that the lewd and wicked man being in the middest of his army was wounded with a speare wherof he dyed blasphemyng and reuiling at IESVS CHRIST his cursed soule falling as a pray into the diuells hands S. Bibiana was martyred in the time of this wicked emperour Venerable Bede and other Authors of martyrologes write her martyrdome in this maner SAINT Bibiana was borne in Rome and was daughter vnto Faustus and Drafosa who were both Christians and holy matâ—yrs S. Bibiana being very yong did exercise her self in holy and vertuous woorks Shee was taken in the time of th'emperour Iulian the Apostata a cruell foe vnto Christians and deliuered to the custody of Faustus the gouernour who was apointed to heare and determyne her cause He persuaded her to sacrifice vnto the Idols the souer to drawe her to the same he threatned to put her vnto grieuous torments if shee refused it But the holy saint answered with such godly reasoÌ„s that shee persuaded the Gouernour himself to forsake and relinquish the Idolls and to be made a Christian and consequently to endure torments and death couragiously for the same The holy damsell Bibiana was very ioyous that shee had made that gaine as to gaine a soule to her spouse IESVS CHRIST Then was shee led before the Emperour who exhorted her to sacrifice vnto the Idolls and shee aunswered him that the God creator and gouernour of heauen and earth was only worthy to be adored Th'emperour hearing this answer commaunded Bibiana to be beaten with cudgells which was done with such cruelty that shee
him to say masse in her house The holy man being gone thither in the company of his sister there was brought to him a woman sicke of the palsy in a chaire and shee besought the holy saint to pray for her which when he had done the sicke woman kissed his priestly garment and was healed After this S. Ambrose returned vnto Millan where the Empresse Iustina persecuted him greeuously vsing also both requests and threats Then with rewards she laboured to draw the chiefe men of the Citty yea and the cleargie also as well as lay men vnto her opinion and partiality against S. Ambrose entending to send him into exile Matters were so prepared and wrought that a rich man and mighty called Eutimius but much more wicked had prepared a chariot in the which he purposed to set S. Ambrose by faire or by foule meanes and then to carry him vnto banishment This wicked man had so purposed but God disposed it otherwise for as Aman had made a gibbet whereon to hang Mardochey and was hanged on it himselfe so Eutimius was banished caried away in the same waggon he had made for S. Ambrose This holy saint found the bodies of some Martirs which were laid in places vncomely and vndecent therefore he translated them into other places where they were laid with more reuerence as the bodies of S. Geruasius and Protasius and of S. Nabor and Faelix In the translations of these saints were may miracles done and many sicke men healed The Arrian heretiks calumniated the miracles and moreouer said that Ambrose had hired persons to faine themselues blind or lame and that when they came neere to the bodies of the saints they fained to be healed It came to passe that one of the most malitious cauillers thereat was in the sight of them all posessed by the deuill who being within him by the iudgement of God caused him to confesse the truth which he denied when he was in health aswell in the miracles of the saints as also in the mistery of the B. Trinity the wretch yelling aloud and saying That which Ambrose preacheth is true and that which the Arrians teach is false and vntrue Then many of the Arrians who by reason should haue giuen credit to that apparant testimony came vnto him and adding euill to euill threw him into a pond of water wherein the man was drowned An other obstinate heretik which was one of the most principall was conuerted vnto the true faith And when he was demaunded why hee changed his faith so suddainly he answered he had seene an Angell speake in the eare of S. Ambrose when he preached and tell him what to say At that same time was discouered in France a tyrant called Maximus who by a stratagem murdered Gratian who gouerned Fraunce and Spaine all the life of Valentinian his father And not resting content therewith he marched against his brother called Valentinian sonne vnto Iustina who then ruled Italy The young man not daring to oppose himselfe in the field fled with his mother Iustina the mortall persecutor of S. Ambrose and came to Constantinople to demaund succour and ayde of the Emperour Theodosius S. Ambrose went vnto Maximus who tooke vpon him the name of Emperour and requested the dead body of Gratiane to be bestowed vpon him Strange it was that although the holy bishop went to talke with him that was a tyrant and also went for to obtaine a fauour of him when it seemeth he should haue vsed louely words yet did he with his accustomed and Christian boldnes reprooue him for his tiranny and for the vniust murdering of his Lord. He also bad him to do penance for his sinnes and because he would not obey he excommunicated him and gaue order in all places of his Archbishoprique where the Tyrant passed that he should not be admitted to heare the diuine office and commaunded all his priests vnder great paines none should be so bold to celebrate Masse before him nor to conuerse with him But aboue all he fore-told him saying that God would chastice him for his rebellion as afterward it befell for when Theodosius came against him he was slaine by his owne souldiours After the death of Maximus Theodosius went vnto Millan and there the Iewes complained of S. Ambrose vnto the Emperour for burning their Synagogue The Emperour thought S. Ambrose had done them great wrong and bad him to reedify it at his owne cost and charge After this S. Ambrose preached before the Emperour and reduced to his remembrance all his former life and told him he ought to remember how from a poore captaine who fled thorough Africa for feare to be slaine which was presently after the death of Valens the Emperour God had aduanced him to be Emperour and bestowed on him many victories and therefore he had reason to behold and marke well the reward he should render vnto God in restoring the Synagogue and causing it to be builded for the Iewes which were enemies vnto God and all Christians When the sermon was ended the Emperour said vnto him Art thou this day mounted into the pulpit to preach speake euill of me in mine owne presence Yea said S. Ambrose I haue done it but we will say well of thee in thy absence to the end that none doe murmure of thee for that thou wilt be partiall fauourable vnto the Iewes and build a Synagogue for them Thus S. Ambrose delt with the Emperour and it was so effectuall that he forbad the reedifying of the Synagogue It was a notable case and example worthy to be marked haâ— S. Ambrose did vnto the same Emperour Theodosius because of the cruelty coÌ„mitted in Thessalonica There was at that time a great Citty in Macedâ—ry inhabited by Christians called Thessalonica the vsage was in all Greece to haue pastimes and pâ—â—â—es called Câ—â—censes in which â—aâ—ne horses in â—ace some alone and some in wagons and great care men had to gett the prise which was giuen to the Victors because those playes were very delightful they which were skilfull in guiding the horses wagons were highly esteemed regarded The time of these pastimes being at hand it fell out that one of the waggoners which was to runne for the wager and was famous for his skill and beloued of all the people was imprisoned by Bulericus the gouernor of Thessalonica vnder Theodosius the cause was this the waggoner was accused to haue offended carnally with the gouernours page The Emperour was comming in person to be present at the pastimes which were to be made All the people thought the triumphes would be disgraced if the waggoner thus imprisoned were not deliuered Therefore with one voice they besought the gouernour that he would vpon their intreaty deliuer him He answering them arrogantly and vsing some opprobrious words vnto them with the which the people thought themselues wronged the raised a commotion and in a fury tooke armes and killed the Gouernour and some of the
fullfilled yet Do not you remember the three kings that came from the East who plainlie reported that this king was borne and that they came to worship him and to giue him obedience If these kings so farre distant stood in awe of him much more cause haue I to feare that am so neere vnto him I appointed these kings that they should giue me notice when they found him because I would haue gone to see him and then I would haue beene freed from this danger But they I know not for what cause haue mocked me and be returned into their countries and kingdomes by another waie and haue giuen me no notice I feare I doubt I faint and consume with sorrow when I studie on the successe of this busines I haue no remedie and I know not vnto whom to resort but vnto you My will therefore is this I would haue you go vnto Bethleem Math. 2. v. 16. and into all the territorie thereof and the countrie thereabout and with your naked weapons rushe into the houses pardon the old men touch not the young men spare the women only kill all the children all of them from two yeeres old vnto a daie old My will is that you kill them all spare none of them for if one of them remaine aliue that same one shall depriue me of my kingdome Take no regard nor pittie not the teaâ—es of the mothers yea in their armes I would haue you search our mine enemies And if any woman will defend her child kill her also with him Feare not to be accused for this fact for it is by my commaund that you do it Go into the cittie like Lyons search it through diligentlie least any remaine hidden and perchance it maie be that child that the kings came to adore The captaines vnderstanding the kings mind and intention gathered all the armie recyting vnto them the same reasons that the king had alleadged before They all accorded and agreed to performe this mischeiuous act and so to Bethleem they went and he seemed the best and worthiest fellowe that trauelled thither with most speed So comming to Bethleem they began the massacre the cruell butchers slaughtering the quiet lambes All the houses were repleat with the outcries of the afflicted mothers the waies streamed with riuers of blood and the streets were filled with bodyes of the hoie Innocents Herod desired to slay IESVS CHRIST in the person of euerie one of them and so euerie of them dyed for CHRIST who being in Egipt had yet compassion on them seing they dyed for his sake Trulie Herod did vnto them herein more good then harme and more proffit then damage since they be all saued If these children had not bene put to death at that age and by such occasion it might haue come to passe that many of them might haue beene damned But IESVS CHRIST our blessed sauiour and of all mankind would not that nay of them that were borne in that prouince and at the time that he was borne should be condemned The slaughter and butcherie continewed the waies were all stayned with blood and the number of dead bodies increased but the rage and cruell furie of these barbarous ruffians was no whit diminished The most secret roomes could not defend the holie infants from the slaughter neither was the Temple where God was honored a sufficient refuge or safftie for their liues In that their Temple they assembled to make their prayers but they offred no sacrifice therein for that was to be done only in the Temple of Ierusalem They began now to make sactifices in the Temple of Bethleem not of brute beasts but of innocent children Euerie thing was stayned with blood graues and diâ—ches were filled with children and their dead bodies were lying in euerie place And if perhaps any mother did hide her sonne from the souldiers the child manifested himself seeming with his crying to call those butchers to kill him because he would not be depriued of so happie and blessed death Some mothers that were more bold thrust forward on the executioners desirous rather to receaue the blow themselues then it should light on their children but his was to no purpose for themselues were wounded and their children slaine Some other mothers held them so hard in their armes that they could not get them from them then would they cut and deuide them in the middle so that one part of the child remained in the hands of the mother and the other in hand of the souldier Some women ran to and froe with their children in their armes to get out of the place where the slaughter was and stumbling on the dead bodies killed their owne children themselues Some other turning vnto these bloodie fellowes said vnto them How is it that you become so senceles and voyd of pittie Haue none of you a mother haue you not wiues and children Do none of you know how great the loue of pareÌ„ts is toward their children How sauage and beastlie is this your cruelltie If in this cittie hath bene comÌ„mitted any offence these whoÌ„ you kill haue not done it Slaievs that deserue death the rather for that we haue liued in coÌ„panie with such men as you bee brought theÌ„ children The souldiers hearing these words were mooued vnto compassion and shed teares but remembring the commaundement of king Herod they became more fierce and enraged then before killing a fresh the children in their mothers armes S. Augustine who also wrote hereof faith in a sermon when our Lord was borne ser de sanct 1. huius fest there was heard many plaints not in heauen but in earth The Angells in heauen reioyced and the mothers which were in earth lamented God was borne a litle child and his will was that vnto him should be offred a sacrifice of children He that was to be sacrificed like a lambe on the Altar of the Crosse would haue the Innocent children sacrificed vnto him It was a lamentable spectacle to see souldiers with naked swords in their hands to kill so many litle infants and not to know the cause seing none of them could committ such an offence as might merit so vntimelie a death It was euident therefore that enuy was the only cause Theire poore mothers tore their haire stroke their breasts and made pittiful outcries their eyes running like fountaines of water The more they laboured to hyde their litle infants the sooner they were discouered they not hauing the skill to hold their peace for they had not learned to feare such butcherly ruffians The mother and the souldier strugled together the one to deliuer her sonne the other to take him awaie The mother said why will you pull froÌ„ me him that was borne of me Ah my prettie tender infant I haue not brought thee so carefully vp that thou shouldest be thus rudelie handled If any fault or offence hath bene committed I haue done it let this babe liue and kill me Others said If
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