commended to S. Martyn expecting with a kind of ambition to receiue it afterwards from his hand But the great Prelat hauing tasted therof drank to his Priest giuing to vnderstand therby in that assembly was none more worthy then he to pledge him esteeming he had done ill if eyther the Emperour himselfe or his chiefest Fauourits or neerest to him had beene preferred by him before that poore Seruant of God They receiued all much edification heerat being slighted in that case tooke it so much the better as the most of the other Bishops in Court were subiect to base flattery and with much indignity sought the grace and fauour of the Officers and Ministers of Cesar. True it is that this liberty and confidence of S. Martin had not been so conuenient and fit for all not hauing equal splendour of life nor such diuinity of miracles as he Wherof though we haue mentioned some already notwithstanding of an infinite number of others yet remayning we shall not spare to set downe some few which without preiudice to the Reader and in some manner without iniury of the Saint himselfe may not well be let passed How S. Martin miraculously escaped burning Chap. 18. SAINT Martyn being gone in the midst of winter to visit a place of his diocesse a lodging was prepared him by his Clerks in the precincts of the Church and to ayre the chamber there wâ—… a great fire made vnderneath and insteed of a bed was strewed a good quantity of dry litter and straw whereon S. Martin at night reposing and setling himselfe to sleepe and being accustomed as we haue said to lye on the hard ground could not away with such softnes and as it were displeased therewith immediately putting the straw aside returned to his ordinary manner of lodging but aâ—… the flore was broken and full of cleâ—…s it happened that the force of the fire piercing through them by little and little it came to enkindle the straw and furiously to burne Whereupon S. Martyn awaking and seeing himselfe sudenly in so great a danger without hauing tyme or to say better aduertence to call vpon the diuine ayde with a naturall motion which he had got vp on his feete ran in hast to open the doore but it pleased God he found it so bâ—…red as that while he laboured and toyled himselfe to put back the bolt the fire approaching had now taken hold of his Cassock Then finally S. Martin returning to himselfe and perceiuing that his remedy consisted not in flying away but in crauing ayde from heauen taking hold of the sheild of fayth and prayer 〈◊〉 himselfe on his knees in the midst of the flames which euen heeâ—… likewise sudenly as it were affrighted thereat withdrew themselues while he stood immoueable still pursuing his prayers In the meane tyme the Monks who were companions to the Saint â—…emayning in the next Chamber being awaked with the noyse and terrifyed at the chance by force and not without some delay difficulty brake open the doore and thinking by that tyme to haue found the blessed Father consumed and dead they saw him beyond all hope amidst the flames both aliue and entire and comming boldly vnto him tooke out his body from thence The blessed man confessed afterwards not without sighs his owne fault For that he hauing among other his spirituall employments an ancient custome in awaking alwayes before any other thing to lift vp his mind to God and to sanctify with the perfume of prayer the Aultar of his hart and so to shut vp the Temple of his soule that no vncleane or hurtfull beast of euill thoughts might seeme to put â—…heir foote therinto yet howsoeuer at that tyme eyther out of human feare or subtility of the enemy being quite as it were besides himselfe and wholy vnmindfull of his good custome he had first made his recourse to visible remedyes then to the inuisible affirming for certayne that he was in extreme danger of burning being alone while he laboured with a troubled mind to open the bolt But that after he had betaken himselfe to the armes of the holy Crosse and prayer the flames were on a sudden as he sayd so contracted within themselues as they left him vntouched through diuine power How Euantius was cured of a grieuous sicknes by S. Martin and what other notable things he wrought besides Chap. 19. ABout this tyme a certayne honourable person and a man of much piety by name Euantius fell mortally sicke and being now as it were despaired of by the Phisitians with a great deale of fayth called for S. Martyn who without all delay went his waies thither An admirable thing he was not yet gone halfe way when the sicke man felt the benefit thereof and hauing suddenly receiued health came in person to meete with him and to entertayne him as a Ghest And S. Martin being willing to depart the next day with humble intreatyes and much importunity he was enforced at last to remayne a while with him In that interim a Page of the house was stung with a venemous Serpent so pestiferous indeed as he was now euen ready to giue vp the last breath When lo the same Euantius taking him on his shoulders with great confidence carryed him to the feete of the Saint And now was the euill already spread through all his lymmes when you might haue seene the skinne to swell in euery veyne and the vitall parts to stretch like a bladder till S. Martyn which his blessed hand feeling them heere there at last with his finger touched the wound it selfe At the point whereof might cleerely be seen the poyson retyring it selfe to runne to the fingars end and thence by the narrow mouth of the wound with long spinning to gush forth mingled with bloud like the milke which sprinkles from the teaâ—… being hardly wrung Wherewith the youth arose vp â—…ound and the standers by remayned astonished confessing vnder Heaueâ—… nothing to be any awhit comparable to S. Martin Nor was the worke lesse famous that followes after There was in the Citty of Chartres a young girle of twelue yeare old so dumbe as till that time she could neuer frame a worâ—… Now S. Martin being in the company of other two Bishops Vâ—… tinian and Viâ—…us by name the sayd little girle was presented to him by her sad Father that by his meanes her tongue might be loosed when as S. Martin with much modesty began to put of that office to those two Prelates alledging that to their fayth and vertue nothing would be impossible But they on the other side vniting their intreatyes with the Suppliant began to vrge him much to vouchsafe to comfort him Whereupon S. Martin without more delay shewing no lesse piety in the prompt execution then humility in the first refusall gaue order that the multitude of people should stand off and he remayning only with the Bishops and with the Father of the child according to his custome puts himselfe
who spent all his life as it were in visiting of Villages and Parishes so seruing the Ghospell and by the Ghospell therefore susteyning himselfe according to the order and decree of our Lord. It is true that he and his companions because they would not be burdensome or put any to expences would mainteyne themselues oftentymes with the sweat of their browes and labours of their proper hands And when at such tymes he had need of some rest he would vsually be taking it in pious places dispersed by himselfe heere and there through Ireland and if he chanced to abyde any where he would allwayes so conforme himselfe to the customes and obseruances of the house as neyther at Table or elswhere would he seeme to haue any thing in particular nor euen at first sight could there any the least difference be discouered betweene him and the rest of the Brothers What more can be sayd of him Euen inough to conteyne many Volumes his life was so admirable a mirrour to all Mortals But my scope and intention is only to demonstrate those thinges which in his life are most imitable as I said aboue To proceed then although our blessed S. Malachy were now an aged man and Legate of the highest Bishop yet did he neuer giue ouer his ancient vse to go on foote to preach himselfe in person still causing such others as he lead along with him to do the like a forme very truly Euangelicall and so much the more recommendable in S. Malachy as it is found to be lesse in practice with others Whereas he who doth such things may worthily be called the lawfull heyre and Successour of the Apostles What wonder is it then if the diuine Man did worke such admirable things he being so admirable himselfe though he wrought them not of himselfe but God in him since we read Tu es Deus qui facis mirabilia By occasion of the loud acclamations of these his transcendent Vertues most notable working of Miracles his fame beganne to spread it self through out all the neighbouring places nay euen ouer the whole Country and there resorted dayly many to be cured by him of all kind of diseases and among the rest a woman extremely vexed with the deuill who dwelt in a Citty which is called Cultafin Her parents thereupon procured S. Malachy to be sent for Who comming into the house presently fell vnto his prayers and commaunds the vniust possessour in the name of the highest to go forth of that body he obeys but in stantly leapes into another Woman present S. Malachy perceiuing this spake thus to the accursed Enemy of Making I haue not so quit thee of her as that thou shouldst seeme to assaile that other Therefore I charge thee agayne in the name of the Highest that thou let her go also The Fiend being constrained thereto obeyes his behest but yet returnes to his former habitation When the Blessed Seruant of Christ obseruing the deceypt of our Aduersary expells him a new from thence he then flyes agayne into the second This bobb the peruerse spirit gaue to him for a pretty while in chopping so alwayes and flying from one into the other At last S. Malachy being stirred vp with a holy zeale and not without iust indignation to see him so mocked by all vncleane Spirit recollected himselfe a little and resuming more in tense forces from Heauen withall violence quite banished him from both leauing the cruell Serpent so full of fraude and deceipt enraged thereat thinking perhaps by that policy to make the Holy man desist from further troubling himself But peraduenture some will admire at this long delay heerein and resistance of the Aduersary attributing the same it may be to the power of the malignant Spirit To such persons I answere that it pleased the Diuine Dispensatour of all things Qui omnia ben◅ suauiter disponit to try the patience of his Seruant S. Malachy and to the end that by such delay and changes both the presence of the Enemy and victory of S. Malachy more cleerely might appeare Which thing is yet more illustrated and made to appeare to be true therefore attend heere a while to that which elswhere this great Seruant of Christ seemed to worke not in person as before is declared but in absence Which yet surely had been◅ great deale more easy for him to haue done at hand then so same asunder A man is dispossessed of euill spirits by the power of S. Malachy in his absence With diuers other miracles besides Chap. 18 IN the Northern parts of Ireland in a certayne howse where S. Malachy before had happened to lodge lay one afflicted and terribly tormented with Deuils Who on a night ouer heard some discourses they had among them Wherin they sayd to ech other Beware this wretch do not touch any of the straw there wherin that Hippocrit had sometymes slept least perhappes he escape out of our hands Frō which words the sick man did gather that those infernall Spirits meant it of S. Malachy and then taking courage began to approach by creeping thereunto as well as he could but being weake in body he could not get thither by crawling yet was he very strong in fayth for he desisted not to go forward as he was able Wherupon you might heare in the ayre certayne feareful cryes and perplexed voyces Hold hold him off or we loose the prey But he trāsported with hope and desire made so much the greater hast to reach thereunto through diuine Mercy being come to the blessed Litter of straw fell a stretching himselfe thereon and wallowing vp downe therin While the infernall furyes with howling la◅ most bitterly exclamed Alas alas we haue bewrayed our selues we haue deceiued our selues For loc he is euen now made sound And so he was indeed being whole in a moment of all his lymnes and freed of the diabolicall affrights and horrours which he suffered In Lesmor likewise did S. Malachy deliuer a Lunatike person made him whole and perfect in all his senses Moreouer our great Saint did restore another person to his former wits who dwelt in Praginia And in the same Countrey by causing a frantike woman to wash her selfe with a water which he blessed she was presently released of her chaynes and disease Another woman in like sort being enraged so as she would be a biting tearing her flesh with her teeth was by him through Prayer a simple touch only restored to health There was like wise a Man who in phrensy could seeme to foretell certayne things to come and so impetuo◅ and terrible withall as the greatest cords were hardly able to with hold him And yet this Man in a moment was freed also through the prayers of S. Malachy restored to his wits I could name the place where this fel out but because it happened in a place of so barbarous a name that as it happens often in many other words of that Nation
it may scarce seeme fit to be expressed with the voyce much lesse represented with the pen I thinke it a thing very conuenient to let it passe namelesse There was in the aforesayd Citty of Lesmor a certayne young girle very dumbe whome her Parents hauing humbly put in the presence of S. Malachy as he passed along the man of God made a stop and touching her tongue with a little of his spittle without more ado in the sight of all affoarded her the vse of speach Another tyme going forth of the Church with a great trayne after him a woman was presented to him at the Porch by a distressed Man her Husband wholy depriued likewise of her pronunciation Whē S. Malachy beheld this miserable woman he signed her with the most holy Crosse and commaunded her in the presence of all to recite the prayer of our Lord which she presently sayd very punctually The multitude seeing this Myracle gaue glory to the diuine Goodnes In a certayne place called Ob◅reb a rich man being mortally sick had now for some twelue dayes continually remayned without once being able in any wise to vtter a word and consequently was hindered from making his Confession But S. Malachy comming to visit him immediately he recouered his lost speach being armed with the Sacraments with singular Confidence of eternall life gaue vp the Ghost A certayne Baron being in S. Malachyes Inne while he was treating there with him about some affayres at one full of faith stole away but three rushes only from his poore little Couch and with that pious theft wrought wonderous things which we haue not tyme to relate in this place The Man of God being come to Duenu◅ania there came in to him a Gentleman of that Citty as he sat at table earnestly beseeching him on the behalfe of his wife who was not without great feare daunger of her Child-birth being longer thē the ordinary terme required The Bishop of Mehome likewise with others that were present at that sitting did very earnestly recommend the case vnto him When S. Malachy heard this he answered I am not a little sorry for it in reguard that the is a very good Matron And without more a doe reaching to the Husband a cup by him blessed added Go your wayes and giue her this drinke and bid her not feare any thing So the Noble man did as he was commaunded and the next night without any difficulty at all the woman was safely deliuered S. Malachy happening to abide in the Champion countryes with the Count of Vlidia behold a woman appeared before him very great with Child now at least for fifteen months and twenty dayes gone and who finding no humane remedy with piteous teares came seeking for succour from the Seruant of Christ. Malachy being moued with so new and vnexpected an accident puts himselfe into Prayer sudenly there in the place the poore wretch without any trauaile at all brought forth the creature into the world A rehearsall of other myracles of S. Malachy vpon sundry occasions Chap. 19. ANother thing yet of no lesse wonder though in a diuerse kind happened in the land of Vlidia A certayne Souldiour of the Count of Vlidia hauing no regard vnto Gods commaundements and without hauing any feare of his heauy displeasure kept the Concubine of his owne Brother Saint Malachy hauing notice heereof performed like another S. Iohn Baptist the very same office of charity in reprehending the wicked man But that wretchlesse creature representing Herod not onely disobeyed him but made him answere moreouer with swearing in the hearing of all that he would neuer abandon his Mistris S. Malachy the true seruant of Christ being fraught with the zeale of Iustice answered God may then disseuer you agaynst your will For which the incestuous wretch as caring but litle in a most despightfull manner went his wayes from him He had scarce gone a mile from that place and within lesse then a full houre but God punished him for this his enormous crime by being assayled by certayne men and that so desperatly as wounds were the beginning of their fray and stabbes euen to the heart were the period In this bloudy on set his Soule payed for the transgression of his disobedience For one of the Ruffians sent him on a rufull message to Grand Lucifer At this newes euery one remayned astonished especially seeing the speedy execution of the sentence of S. Malachy and other wicked men being heerby gently admonished were truly conuerted In the same coūtrey Count Dermitius through manifest disorders of Gluttony and other Sensualityes had layne now sicke and vnweildy a long tyme. This man being visited by S. Malachy first sharpely rebuked for the scandall and ill example he had giuen and after blessed with holy water was sudenly raysed beyond the expectation of him and his very nimbly mounted on his horse In the Citty of Cassel came one to S. Malachy with a sonne of his being sick of the palsey crauing pitty at his hands The holy Bishop thē litting vp his mynd to our Lord said to the Father of that child Goe thy wayes for thy sōne shall recouer He went then but returned the next Morning with the child not yet cured S. Malachy making his prayer for the Child some what longer then before cheered him vp and gaue strict order to the Father of the lame child to dedicate him to the diuine Seruice which he faithfully promised to do But yet afterwards kept not his word Wherupon the youth after some yeares relapsed agayne into the same palsey Another Man likewise brought his sonne to the holy Man frō parts farre distant This child had withered feete and was not able to moue a whit S. Malachy demaunded how the same happened I thinke answered the Man it was the worke of the Deuill because my sonne being on a tyme childishy disporting himselfe in a certayne meadow that accursed Fiend if I be not deceiued made him to fall a sleepe then awaking I know not how he was foūd taken in this manner And speaking thes words he powred forth abundance of teares and humbly prayed the Diuine Man to giue his sonne some succour Who being mollifyed therwith according to his custome cōmaunded the lame child to giue himself to sleepe while he prayed who did as much and when S. Malachy had ended his prayer the child immediately stood vpon his feete very iocund and lusty The holy man kept him afterwards with him a prety while and iustructed him well in the Rudiments of the Christian Fayth carrying him along with him into diuers places with his other Domestiques A certaine poore Man serued in a Mill of the Monastery of Benchor maynteyning himselfe partly with that labour partly also with dayly almes This man had likewise been lame now for these twelue yeares in such sort as he was compelled to go with his hāds on the ground and trayling his dead feete after him Now S. Malachy beholding him
deportments but he escaped not free for so great iniustice He had an only sonne who through the example of the wicked Father being likewise bent to molest offend the Man of God within the terme of a yeare onely made a miserable End The matter succeeded in this sort It seemed good to S. Malachy for the increase of diuine worship to build an Oratory of stone worke as he had seene done in other countryes and the foundations now being layd those barbarous people fell a wondering thereat as at a thing very vnusuall with them But that malicious and proud yong man aboue the rest of whome we spake shewed not only with the others an admiration thereof but such rancour withall as he could not conteyne himselfe from murmuring heere and there agaynst the same and after he had with diuers instigations and calumnies endeauoured to stirre vp those people agaynst the Seruant of Christ at last comming with a shole of Townsmen vpon the heate of the busines and with a scornefull eye beholding S. Malachy Hold sayth he O you Syr what cappriccio is now come into your head to bring such a nouelty into our house We are in Ireland not in France What a lenity is this What need is there of such a sump◅uous and proud worke Where haue you meanes to finish it poore thing as you are Who shall euer see it come to the roofe It is surely the tricke of a mad man to set hand to a worke so beyond his compasse Hold hold your hand Desist from a vanity so great or otherwise shall we make you giue ouer nor will we suffer you to go forward by any meanes about such a building impossible to be brought to perfection In which words the hayr◅brayne and rash man came to discouer his wicked intention without once reflecting on his small forces Forasmuch as his followers in whome he confided so much as soone as they came in sight of the venerable Bishop being suddenly chaunged in hart returned home to their houses that impious seditious and wretched Leader being quite aboandoned as he deserued To whome with Fortitude and Meroy withall the man of God answered Thou miserable wretch this worke which thou heere seest begunne and beholdest with an ill countenance shall be finished without doubt and many shall see it accomplished But thou because thou hast no will thereunto shalt neuer see it And looke you to it least Death surprize you not in your sinne So S. Malachy sayd so fell it out He dyed and the worke was finished but he saw it not because as we sayd he dyed the very same yeare Now the Father of that wicked wretch hauing known of the Saints prediction he hath kild sayth he my sonne and was so incensed agaynst him for it as in the presence of the Captayne and of the Chiefe of the Country there he had no respect to him a whit but called him Enuious hollow-harted and a meere Cosener and lastly for a greater spight termed him a Moncky To which bitter contumelies the follower of Christ answered not a word But yet the great God would not seeme to hold his peace throgh whose will on that very day that impious wretch being seized on by an infernall spirit and cast into the fire was by his friends very hardly taken forth from thence with his lymmes all burnt with his wits crackt with his face awry foaming as the mouth sending forth such horrible cryes framing such strange gestuures of the body as put a terrour into euery one and many togeather had much a do to hold him Heerupon Saint Malachy was called to the spectacle and with wonted clemency making his prayer for him was heard but not to the full Because that in chastisement and memory of the offence committed agaynst the holy Father he had after that euen to this day certayne grieuous fits which at changes of the Mooue doe most bitterly afflict him S. Malachy lights on a treasure to build with the medell was presented to him in a vision Together with his gift of Prophesy Chap. 24. REturne we now to the building for which in truth S. Malachy had no manner of meanes at all eyther little or much but yet felt in his hart a certayne firme confidence in God Wherof he was not a whit deceiued since our Lord perceiuing this Seruant of his not to go founding himselfe in treasures any wayes by him purchased made him to light vpon one within the scituation it selfe neuer touched or knowne till that very hower S. Malachy then seemed to find in the purse of God what he could not haue found in his ownes and that worthily truly For what was more reasonable then for him to haue the coffer in common with God who had nothing proper of his owne While he in fine that hath a liuely fayth hath all the riches of the world And what els is the world but an inexhanstible Banck of the diuine Clemency The whole circuit of the world is myne sayth he and whatsoeuer is conteyned therin And hence it is that S. Malachy discouered those moneys not disposing the or laying them vp but exposing them indeed ordeyning so large a donary of the Creatour should wholy without sparing a whit be spent in the seruice of the Creatour and so much the rather as by a passed Reuelation he knew that Edifice to be acceptable to his diuine Maiesty Because that hauing first before he once set hand vnto it conferred the intent with his Domestiques and finding them somwhat dubious by reason of the charges he gaue himselfe to prayer to find out by that meanes the will of God therupon When returning one day from a certayne Pilgrimage which he made being now somewhat neare to the place designed he lifted vp his eyes and behold he seemed to discerne a very goodly Oratory of stone and of excellent workman ship withall regarding the scite the former cōposition therof impressed the same in his fantasy with that tenacity as the thing being cōmunicated with some few of his owne disciples of the more ancient sort of them he gaue beginning to the building finished with such diligence the scite the modell and prorportion with all the circumstances by degrees as the plot came iust to answere the fold as if he also with Moyses had heard See you do all according to the plat-forme which was ◅hewed you in the mountayne He had afterwards a like vision to this of that other Oratory which he built in a place called Sabelline sauing that he saw the fashion not only of the Oratory there but euē of the whole Monastery like wise These said manifestations were of material and sensible things But that which now we shall set downe was of an edifice meerely spirituall S. Malachy passing a long by a certayne Citty and a great multitude concurring thither to meete with him by chaunce he discouered among the troupes a yong man very curious to view him who
reâ—…yred herselfe from him Nor with words only shewed he forth the high opinion he had framed of her but with facts also forasmuch as she afterward in the Euening hauing sent him certayne presents of refection and refreshment S. Martin who in his whole visit till that tyme had neuer accepted of any thing which was offered him yet of what the Virgin sent him he refused iâ—… not 〈◊〉 ledging it was not â—…itting for a Priest to refuse the benedictâ—… 〈◊〉 her who deserued to be preferred before many Priests With such like words and workes from tyme to tyme gâ—… S. Martin euident signes of a full victory gotten ouer his passions of the peacefull possession he maintayned in himselfe But in regard some will say perhaps how these manner of prayses are 〈◊〉 mon also with priuate persons let vs come to the proper 〈◊〉 of a true Prelate and Apostolicall Guardian Among which it seemes that the zeale of the holy and orthodoxe fayth and of 〈◊〉 sincere worship of God doth hoâ—…d the first place For whose conseruation S. Martyn was alwayes wonderfully sollicitous and vigilant keeping himselfe and all all his flocke from euery leâ—… contagion oâ—… Heretiques or of others seuered from the Roman Sâ—… Heer with did burne in his breast an inextinguishable thirst to â—…state and propagate the Christian verity on euery side and pâ—… ticularly in the neighbour parts where it seemed to him an inâ—…lerable thing that any relique of Paganisme should yet be extaâ—… He endeauoured then maynly to extinguish the same and Almigâ—…ty God most commonly for his part with a powerfull hand 〈◊〉 stupendious workes concurred thereunto S. Martin restores a Womans sonne from Death to life with other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thinges Chap. 11. SAint Martin on a tyme going by occasion of the diuine serâ—… to the Citty of Chaâ—…es chanced to passe through a Village 〈◊〉 Gentils who at the fame of the Saint going forth of the Towâ—… put themselues in the high way to behold him and at the same â—…mour concurred so great a multitude of the neighbour countries 〈◊〉 all that playne was seene to be couered with an infinite people 〈◊〉 the fight of which sheep for that the most were led astray the 〈◊〉 Bishop sighing and eleuated in spirit beginnes to preach to theâ—… 〈◊〉 word of God and to inuite them to eternall saluation and that wiâ—… such a feeling and with such a voyce action as doubtles seemâ—… to them some what more then humane Now while he thus discoursed it pleased our Lord that a Woman whose only Sonne was dead at that tyme comming beâ—… him with hands lifted vp presented him to the blessed S. 〈◊〉 saying we vnderstand that thou art the friend of God restore me â—…y Sonne which is the only Child I haue To the prayers of the â—…us Mother were added the fighes and intercessions of the â—…tanders by So as S. Martyn perceyuing how for the conuersion of that people some miracle were fit lifting vp his eyes and mind â—…o Heauen and conceiuing therice an vndoubted certaynty of the â—…iuine ayde he tooke the body in his armes and in the presence â—…f all put himselfe on his knees and after a little space the party â—…rose vp and so restored the child reuiued to the Mother astoniâ—…hed and almost besides herselfe for ioy whereupon a cry was lifâ—…ed vp to the starres and all these people confessing Christ for true God began in troupes with great vehemency to runne after S. Marâ—…in most instantly intreating him to make them Christians And he â—…ull of iubiley lifting vp his hands ouer them made them Catheâ—…mens all at once giuing order besids that they might be instruâ—…ted affirming it not vnfit to make Cathecumens in the open â—…ields since in fields in like manner haue Martyrs beene consecrated With this manner of purchase our S. Martin reioyced much more then with the increase of rents or tytles and not onely from manners and minds of persons but euen from their memoâ—…y also and eyes endeauoured he to take away all apparence of â—…rofane Centill worship nor were the difficulties of the enterâ—…rise nor magnificence of Antiquityes able to diuert him from it In the Castle of Ambatia was a Tower of pollished stones heertoâ—…ore dedicated to a false God which from the solid and spacious â—…oundations aâ—…sing more and more came at the top to finish in â—…me of a Pine-aple a worke both of art and cost alike and not â—…nly curious to behold but also very firme and durable Now the holy Bishop hauing appointed Marcelluâ—… a Priest â—…here dwelling by all meanes to destroy such an abhomination â—…ter some tyme finding the same as yet on foote repâ—…ded his â—…cknes But Marcelluâ—… excusing himselfe with the difficulty therof â—…or that the making was such as hardly would an Army be able to demolish it much lesse a small number of Clerks or feeble Monks which liued with him S. Martin without more reply hauing reâ—…ourse to his wonted tacklings spent all that night and morning â—…n prayer When behold on a suden a vehement tempest of winds â—…ightning and thunder impetuously smiting the building fetcht 〈◊〉 vp by the ground and layd it flat on the Earth In another place stood a pillar of an vnmeasurable greatâ—… on the top whereof was an Idoll And S. Martyn being not able to endure so great an offence of the true God determined by 〈◊〉 meanes to leuell it with the ground but not finding commodity eyther of Masons or instruments to affect it he craued likewise the diuine succour with so much ardour and such efficacy withall 〈◊〉 the prayer being ended the effect very sudenly followed because that in the sight-of-all the standers by these appeared from Heauen another Pillar no lesse then that which descended with such a force vpon it as reduced it into dust together with the Idol How S. Martyn by the signe of the Crosse escaped Death And how the peopâ—… were conuerted thereupon to the Fayth of Christ. Chap. 12. SAINT Martin in a certaine Bourge of the Infidels hauing 〈◊〉 stroyed their Temple would needs presently vpon it coÌ„maund a tall Pine-tree there that was consecrated to the Deuill to be felled to the ground But the Country-people who through the diuine will had beene quiet at the one very tumultuously afterwards opposed themselues to the other S. Martin endeauoured to pacify thâ—… blind people what he could to make them capable of the Truâ—… shewing by diuers reasons how one sole God was the Maker of euery thing and that to him was due from the rationall creature all honour oblation and Sacrifice and not to the Angels thurst oâ—… of Paradise deceiptfull and proud whome hitherto they had miserably serued and went prouing withall how in that Truâ—… could be no matter worthy of veneration at all Now while he wâ—… preaching in this sort with great charity one of those Pagans more impudent and more saucy then the rest lifting vp his voyce sayd to him
side expecting a ship to passe ouer the ship came approached to him but being to leape therinto it suddenly gaue backe so did it thrice togeather and at last leauing him on the shore it went away without returning any more so as S. Bernard easily gathered that the houre of his passage was not yet come notwithstanding his dolours continued so much more sharp and irksome as he had lesse hope to be hastily rid thereof Now it happened in the euening that all the other Monkes going according to custome to the lesson which was made of the collations of the ancient Fathers the two only assistants of the Abbot remayned there and he being continually more afflicted and tormented with the malady bad one of them to go into the Church to pray for him There were three Altars in the sayd Church one of the Blessed Virgin and at the sides thereof two others to wit of S. Laurence and of S. Benet making prayer then at all three euen at the instant the glorious Mother of God accompanyed with those two Saints with such a suauity and serenity as may rather be imagined then described entred into â—…e sicke mans Cell so manifestly as he with full and perfect knowledge could easily distinguish ech person Thence she approaching to him and touching softy all the places of the paines immediatly all malignant qualityes vanished that rhew matique spring in the same moment being quite dyed vp whence grew the dolours Diuers examples where S. Bernard in his life tyme appeared to many remayning in places farre remote Chap. 24. THe foresayd apparitions were made by others vnto S. Bernard now follow some of him to others of which number one was to brother Robert of the order of Cisterce This man at such tyme as the venerable Abbot remayned in the Citty of Rome fell deadly sick at Clareuallis In that state appeared to him a yonge man like to the infirmarian commaunding him to goe along with him and so doing he was streight conducted to the top of a high mountayne where Christ was encompassed round with Angells who sayd to his guide looke well to that man there and withall he put a message into the sickmans hart to deliuer the Conuent of Clareuallis The morning being come he sits vpright in his bed whome euery one held to be quite dead and calling for Don Gaudfrid as then Priour that was afterwardes Bishop of Langres among other things sayd cleerely to him Our Lord commaunds you to erect great buildings to contayne the multitude of people which he is to send you and for the same end giue order that our Brothers who haue care of the possessions and tenements be mindfull of modesty and endeauour to giue good example to seculars for wo be to him through whose default any one should come to fall From hence twenty dayes being passed the sicke man still remayning quite forsaken of the Phisitians S. Bernard appeared to him in his cell in spirit paternally visiting him sung there the mattyns with a good number of brothers and passed all that night with him and the morning being come Robert without any more adoe arose vp sound and faithfully recounted the manner how he escaped so great a daunger A notable euent surely but this other is no lesse worthy of memory The seruant of God lay sicke in Clareuallis more worne and decayd with labours and infirmityes then yeares how beyt he ceased not to attend to the gouernement of his Monkes and to feed them with the word of God and to rise likewise euery day to celebrate Masse which he neuer omitted but of meere necessity reuiuing his afflicted members with the feruour of spirit In this while it so happened that he was fayne to send some person of quality into some more remote parts of Germany about matters of importance For which enterprise a German Monke was elected by name Henry whom with many other subiects the same holy Father some six yeares before in his returne from Constance had induced to the diuine seruice This man entring into so long a voyage especially in the midst of winter as one with reason indeed feared many disasters and aboue all he doubted least the venerable Abbot might come to dye in the meane tyme and he remayne defrauded and depriued of his last benediction But the holy Father blessing him for the present and saying Goe thy wayes in Gods name for thou shalt returne safe and shalt further find me as thou desirest and so sent him away full of comfort Being arriued in the territory of Strasburge as he was passing ouer a riuer all frozen with Ice his beast stumbled and he without remedy fell quite ouer head and eares in the water What could the poore wretch doe heere being plundged beneath in the waters aboue couered with Ice both back and sides being dashed with the current He had surely no comfort but meerely the promise of the holy Father by whom indeed he was not deceiued Because in that agony he saw him before him and was so full of consolation withall that now he selt not the violence of the riuer nor any difficulty of breathing nor finally feare nor any manner of disease at all Heereupon forsaking the beast he was on through diuine power he found himselfe to be pushed softly against the streame without any force of his to the same breach which with his fall he had made where taking hold with his hands on the edge of the Ice he escaped he returned very safe and sound to Clareuallis and for a full accomplishment of ioy and contentment had the wished fauour to see his most deere and desired Maister againe to whom he shewed himselfe very gratefull and obsequious not only as long as he liued but euen also after the death of S. Bernard in frequenting his sepulcher and there most deuoutly making his prayers Surely a large matter of discourse for him that would compare this with other such like meruayles But let vs leauing this artificiousnes to Oratours content our selues with the naked simple truth Besides what hath been sayd it is also reported for a thing most certaine that the vigilant Prelate in the gouernement of his order through diuers Monasteryes very farre asunder and remote from him gaue many commissions and precepts of things which through human meanes he could no wayes come to vnderstand in so much as though absent in person notwithstanding as it is read likewise of S. Benet and other seruants of God with the spirit he seemed to be present at the actions and proceedings of his Monkes The which reuelations albeit Deuines ascribe to the gift of Prophecy yet we restrayning the sense of this word and applying it only vnto presage and prediction of future things shall demonstrate that to S. Bernard also among other titles this same so precious a guift was not wanting Some examples of the admirable guift of Prophecy and discretion of spirit in S. Bernard Chap. 25. THat troupe of