after this manner iomtlie martired and buried Manie Christians had gathered themselues once together in a caue to celebrate the feast of these holie martirs Numerianus the Emperour vnderstanding this sent a companie of souldioures commaundinge them to stop vp the mouth of the caue and let not one escape with life There was amonghst them a priest whose name was Diodorus he said mass and gaue them all the B. sacrament encouraging them to suffer that death with ioy and constancie for the loue of CHRIST they did according as he did exhorte them and ended theire lifes gloriouslie in that place The Churche doth celebrate the feast of SS Chrisantus and Daria the 25 of October and theire death was in the yeare of oure Lord God 284. in the raigne of Numerianus Emperoure The martir dome of these saints was written by Verinus and Armenius priests of saint Steuen Pope and martir Metaphrastes enlarged it some what more S. Damasus made certain eloquent verses in praise of these saintes In annot and 2. to annal de glor mart â— 38. and set them on they re tombe There is mention of them allso in the Romaine Martirologe and in that of Vsuardus as allso in the 5 tome of Surius in Cardinall Baronius and Gregorius Turonensis The life of S. Euaristus Pope and Martir OVR Sauior saith in S. Mathew Mat 7 that none can gather grapes of thornes nor figgs of thistles This cometh to passe because a mans power is bounded and limitted but the power of God is infinite without bounds or measure he can therefore if he please gather figgs of thistles and grapes of thornes as it appeareth he did by S. Euaristus Pope who was made a sweet and delicious fruite being in his life holy and in his death a martir God gathered this grape from a thorne viz from a Iew that was his father The life of this holy saint collected by Damasus and out of an epistle decretall of the same Euaristus and out of other Authors was this EVARISTVS was sonne to a Iewe called Iudas and was borne in Bethlehem and when then holy Poper Anacletus was dead he was chosen to succeede in his place He was a verie learned and holie man and the first that diuided the parishes of Rome into sundrie titles among sundrie priests which were after-ward called Cardinalls The same Euaristus ordained that seuen deacons should accompany the Bishop where soeuer he went and should stand by his side whensoeuer he preached to the end his ministery should be honoured his doctrine wittnessed and also that he might shew some kind of autority be defended if any Gentill made shewe of violence against him He also prouided that matrimony should be publikly solemnized and not in secret and that the spouses should go vnto the Church to haue the nuptiall benediction Tertull lib 2. ad vxor Ca siour vir 7. q. 1. 2. q. 7. si quâ— sunt though as Tertulian saith the espousalls and marriage were made in the Church euen from the time of the Apostles Moreouer he commaunded that Bishops should not leaue of forsake their Churches to go vnto others which thing is agreeable with the condition of maried folks who may not abandon their own wifes for other women He also ordeined that the accusations of the people should not be receued against their owne Bishops if they had not notice before or els some pregnant suspition of fault in him It is not knowen how S. Euaristus died but that the Catholik Church hath doth account him in the nomber of the Popes which were martirs In such sort that hauing holden the Papacy 9. years 10. months and 2. daies and hauing giuen holy orders three times in the moneth of December and at them ordered 5. bishops 6. priests and 2. deacons he exchanged this temporall life for the eternall and was buried in the Vatican nere vnto the supulcher of S. Peter chief of the Apostles on the 26 day of October and on that day the Church doth celebrate his feast The death of this holy saint was in the yeare of our Lord 120. in the time of the Emperour Traiane The life of SS Symon and Iude Apostles HOLY writ in the first booke of Machabees speaketh of Mattathias who hauing done noble acts in the defence of the people of Israel and finding himselfe now tired old and neere his death called to him his sonnes kinsfolke and freinds and the chief of them that had serued vnder his standard When they were all come he made vnto them a large speech exhorting them earnestly to perseruer in the seruice of God and in his holy faith for that he was able to deliuer them though all the world was against them as he had done in former times when they put their trust in him He to this purpose recounted vnto them the examples of Abraham Phynees Dauid Daniel and his three freinds After this he concluded his speech with these words Behold Symeon your brother is a man of wisedome giue eare to him as to your father Iudas Machabeus also is valiant and corragious euen from his child bode let him be the captein of your hoast This history agreeth much for the B. Apostles Symon and Iude for that Mattathias is the figure of IESVS CHRIST our Lord who hath done worthy acts in the world for the defence of all Christians which haue serued vnder his banner and speaketh thus to them Behold you Christians Symon my Apostle is your brother and a man of wisdome listen to him and esteeme him as your father and imitate him in his holy and vertuous life Iudas also his companion in martir dome is valiant euen from his youth let him be your captein in the battle take him for your Aduocate and commend your self to him for that will help you much to obtein the victory The life 's of these two Apostles taken out of that which is written of them in the holy Scriptures and out of diuers Authors was in this manner SAINT Symon and S. Iude were the sonnes of Alpheus and Mary Cleophae and brethren to S. Iames the lesse and Ioseph the iust Symon was called Cananeus for that he was borne in Cana of Galyly and S. Luke calleth him Zelotes in the Greeke toung for that Cana by interpretation is zelous He was thus surnamed to be knowne from S. Peter who is also called Symon as Iudas was surnamed Thaddeus to distinguish him from Iudas Iscariot It is not written when or howe they were called to the Apostle ship but there is mention made of them in the Ghospell when the names of the twelue Apostles are reconed As also when IESVS CHRIST in the sermon of the supper Ioan. 14. said He that loueth me shal be loued of my Father and I will loue him and manifest my self to him Iudas answered him How is this to be done that hout wilt manifest thy self to vs and not to the world CHRIST spake of his death and of
commendest so much S. Andrew answered I sacrifice euery day to the omnipotent lyuing and true God not the smoke of incense nor flesh of bulles nor bloud of skeep but the immaculate lamb in consecrating his most blessed body which being receiued by the faithfull the lamb remayneth intyer and whole as he was before although the faithfull do truly really eate his flesh drink bloud How may that be said Egeas The Apostle answered if I should tell thee and if thou wouldest vnderstand it it were first necessary for thee to be a Christian Egeas replyed I shall make thee by force of torments to tell me howe and by what meanes I may vnderstand it Then put he him in prison vnto which place resorted much people who would haue taken the Apostle away violently if he had not hindâ—â—ed it for out of the prison he preached to them and persuaded them not to rebell against the tirant whose cruelty would be vnto him an occasion of merit If he shall afflict the body said the Apostle he hath no power to hurt the soule his torments will quickly end but the reward shall endure for euer We ought rather to make much of him and to honor him then to vse him displeasantly since he may do vs much good and but a litle harme with these and the like words the Apostle stayed the people from any commocion or insurrection against the Proconsull The next day Egeas caused the Apostle to be brought before him and said I am persuaded thou art now better aduised and wilt fortake thy follyes which haue darkned thy mynd and that thou wilt leaue the worship of that thy CHRIST and enioy the sweet and delightfull life of this world and auoid withall bitter death The Apostle answered without the beliefe of CHRIST there is no true content nor true life as I haue always preached in this prouince whither he sent me to the end men should leaue and abandon the adoration of Idolls and receaue the true faith of IESVS CHRIST and so escape eternall death and obteine euerlasting life For this same cause said Egeas I will also procure thee to adore the Gods to the end these people whom thou hast deceiued may forsake the vanity of the doctrine and returne to the relligion of the auncient Gods for as I gesse there is not a city in all Achaia but the Temples are abandoned and thou art the cause of it I will haue thee also to be the cause to alter their course and to frequent the Temples againe and to renew their sacrificing in which doing the Gods wil be appeased toward the for now against thee they be sore offended But if thou be resolued to do other wise prepare thy selfe to endure and support terrible torments which shal be inflicted on thee and lastly thou shalt dy on the Crosse To this the Apostle answered Listen to me thou son of death thou dry rotten logge designed to nourish hell fire hitherto I haue spoken myldly to thee thinking that thou being a reasonable creature wouldest haue made vse and benefit of my words and haue forsaken thy false and vaine Gods but since I see thee so obstinate and hard harted I tell thee plainely think not to terrify me with thy threats do thy worst for the greater the torments be so much more shall the reward be which IESVS CHRIST will bestow on me and the greater shall the paines be which are prepared in hell fire for thee where the Gods whom at this time thou adorest shall giue thee thy due reward tormenting thee eternally for indeed they be no other but deuills Egeas raging exceedingly at his words caused the Apostle to be stripped apointed seueÌ„ fellows to beate him with all cruelty who gaue ouer three times for others to come in theire place And so many were the blowes they gaue to the Apostles body that it powred bloud out so abondantly that there was not one place free from wounds from the head to the foote Then Egeas said oh Andrew haue coÌ„passion of thy self consider that the bloud thou sheddest is mucâ— if thou doest not change thy oppinion I must crucify thee The holy Apostle answered sayeng I am the seruant of IESVS CNRIST and do not fear but loue the Crosse Thou hast more reason to fear for that if thou doest not beleue in CHRIST thy torments shall differ from myne for myne shall end in two dayes and thine shal be euerlasting Egeas could keep patience no longer but comaunded that he should be crucified yet not nailed to the cross with nailes but bound with cords which he apointed not for any pitty he had but to the end the torment might continew the longer Whilest the executioners led him to his martirdome an infinite company of people resorted to him crieng with a loud voice What hath this iust man and friend of God done that he should be Crucified The holy Apostle entreated them not to hinder his martirdome but went ioifull and merry and by the way preached to those that acompanied him When he saw the Crosse a farre of he said deuoutlie I adore thee o pretious Crosse consecrated with the bodie of CHRIST and adorned with his members as with perles and Iewells Before CHRIST came to thee thou diddst terrifie men but now thou causest ioie and delight O good Crosse made so beautifull by the bodie of CHRIST I haue desired thee a long time I haue sought thee diligently and now I haue found thee receaue me in thine armes and lift me vp from men present me to my master that he maie receaue me by thy meanes who hath redeemed me by thee Hauing said this and being now neere vnto the Crosse he stripped himself out of his clothes and gaue them to the officers who binding him to the Crosse lifted him vp as the sentence iudgement was There was a great number of people about the Crosse all lamenting and complaining of the cruell and wrongfull torments that the Apostle suffred But he comforted and encouraged them to suffer ioifully the like torments for CHRIST his sake when occasion was offred S. Andrew remained two daies on the Crosse the people complaining and criyng out aloud It is not iust that a man so holie so modest of so good partes and that teacheth so good doctrine should die in this manner Egeas vnderstanding that the people murmured against him fearing some tumult determined to take the Apostle from the Crosse and for that intent went vnto him The Apostle said vnto him What doest thou heere Egeas If thou comest to beleeue in CHRIST he will as readilie pardon and receaue thee as any other But if thou come to take me from the Crosse it is in vaine for I am now going to my Lord and king It seemeth I am now before his iudgment seat where I shal be rewarded and thou shalt be chasticed The Apostle seing that they yet laboured to take him from the Crosse and that
came vnto them a priest and seruant of God dwelling in Rome called Nicomedes who said masse and gaue them the B. Sacrament S. Petronilla hauing communicated began a long and feruent speech vnto IESVS CHRIST saieng that she had offered her virginity vnto him with a perpetuall vow and therfore desired him not to permit it to be violated against her will S. Felicula also as a true friend aided her importunating our Lord to deliuer his handmaid out of that danger though she desired not her death It was Gods pleasure to giue Petronilla remedy by that means for hauing ended her oraisons she went vnto bed and yelded vp her soule vnto God The matrones and damsells Flaccus had sent to accompany the spouse vnto his house on the wedding day came in god time to solemnise the funeralls of the holy saint When Flaccus was certefied and sawe Petronilla to be dead he cast his eies vpon Felicula who was very sorowfull for the death of her friend being very beutifull which drew the affection of Flaccus in such sort that he was enamored of her also and after many wordes he vsed to that purpose he finished his speach thus Felicula elect one of thes two things please thy self either to be my wife or els sacrifice vnto the Gods The good damsell made him this bold answere I will not be thy wife for I haue IESVS CHRIST to my spouse and I will not sacrifice vnto thy Gods for that I am a Christian when Flaccus hard the resolute answere of Felicula he deliuered her into the hands of the liuetenant to giue iudgment vpon her He kept her fast in a dark roome for seuen daies and beside other vexations he kept her from any sustenance Some women that belonged vnto the prison said vnto her Alas poore girle why art thou so fond as to dy willingly this euill death Take this great Lord vnto thy husband who is beutifull riche and in the flower of his youth and highly fauored of th' emperor who hath made him gouernour of this city other women would haue ben right glad therof and thou makest no account of him which may turne to thy damage and losse of life The blessed damosell replied I am the spouse of IESVS CHRIST and I will not mary any other but him After that seuen daies expired Felicula was led vnto the Vestall virgins where she remanied certein daies but she would neuer eate of the meat that they did eate bicause it was offered and sacrificed vnto the goddesse Vesta for if she had eaten therof she had giuen a signe to consent vnto their Idolatry and other Christians would haue bene much scandalised therat When the deputy vnderstood the constancy of Felicula he caused her to be taken out of that place and to be tortured with the torture called Eculeus and when she was tortired there with she said with a loud voice Now do I see my beloued IESVS CHRIST vpon whom I haue fixed my loue The excutioners said vnto her Say that thou art not a Christian and thou shalt be deliuered from this torture She answered I do not deny neither will I deny my beloued IESVS CHRIST who for my sake was crowned with thornes and had gall giuen him for drink and also died on the Crosse The executioners tooke her of from that torment and threw her in a gutter or sink in the which the blessed damosell yelded vp her soule vnto Almighty God Nicomedes the priest that had said masse giuen the B. sacrament vnto S. Petronilla on the day of her death and had laine cloâ—e and hidden in a caue for feare of the persecution was aduertised therof and one night he departed out of the caue and took the body of S. Felicula from thence and buried it a mile out of Rome in the way toward Ardea Flaccus being told what Nicomedes had done caused him to be apprehended for the same and being instigated by the fiend willed him to sacrifice vnto the gods The good priest said he would not sacrifice to any but to Almightie God that raigned in the heauens for that they whom they reputed gods were no other but stocks and stones which remained in their temples like prisoners The gouernour commaunded he should be whipped which was done with such vehemency that the good priest passed out of this vnto a better life in this torment and his body was cast into the riuer Tiber by the commandement of the cursed Iudge but one Iustus his seruant sought carefully after it and caried it being found vnto a garden of his nere vnto the walles of the citty in the way called Numentana there he buried it Vnto which place many Christians resorted and there by the merits of that holy Saint obteined many graces of God The death of S. Nicomedes was on the 15. day of September Spanish saith 52. vnder Clâ—â—dius and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast It was then as Canisius saith the yeare of our Lord. 90. in the raigne of the Emperour Domitian and the same he saith of S. Petronilla as is already said in her life But many think it was much sooner for if S. Petronilla died in the yeare of our Lord. 90. she must be of necessitie at that time 60. years old because she was borne before that our Lord gaue the chiefest prelacy or Papacy vnto S. Peter her father for froÌ„ thenceforth he obserued chastity And againe if she was so old it is not a thing likely that Flaccus should be ennamoured of her We reade also in the life of Pope Paule 1. that he translated from one place vnto another All this the Spanish hath not in this place the body of S. Petronilla and that he found an epitaph which S. Peter the Apostle had made at her death Which being so it followeth that before the yeare of our Lord. 70. in which S. Peter was crucified S. Petronilla was dead wherfore in mine opinion her death and the martirdome of S. Nicomedes was not in the yeare of our Lord. 90. as Canisius saith but in or about the yeare of our Lord. 60. in the reigne of Nero. The life of S. Cornelius Pope and Martir SALOMON saith in Ecclus Ca. 23. The man that sweareth much shal be full of iniquitie and the plague shall not depart from his house The wise man doth not say he that sweareth falsly but he that sweareth much For that speaking morally he that sweareth much sweareth false at one time or other This sinne displeaseth God so much that he deferreth not the chasticement till the world to come but punisheth it in this life sending plagues vpon the house where such poople be So then if the swearer be afflicted with necessities infirmities and other troubles of this life we may think he hath deserued it for his many oathes Those that be free from such miseries if they desire to be alwaies free let them abstaine from othes swearing The holie Pope Cornelius
mention of this miracle of raising the kings sonne from death to life by S. Matthew and also of the two dragons and of other miracles and admirable acts the Apostle did in Ethiope although he do not particularize the same he saith also that much people came vnto the place where S. Matthew lodged and would haue done sacrifice to him as if he had bene a God and presented many gifts vnto him and that the Apostle said vnto them I am not a God but a mortall man and the seruant of IESVS CHRIST who is the true God Then he requested them to bestow those presents and gifts which they would haue giuen him vpon the building of a temple to the same IESVS CHRIST for he whom he preached and by whose power he did those miracles was the true liuing God exhorting them to be Baptised in his name for that was the true waye and meanes to obteine euerlasting life To conclude the Apostle said such words and confirmed them so with miracles that the king with all his court and a great number of other people were Baptised The king had a daughter called Iphigenia who was very beautifull but much more commended for her wisedome who hauing heard S. Matthew oftentimes in his sermons to commend and extoll virginity conceiued a good liking of him and vsing his aduise was closed in a monastery with 200. other damosells desiring to do the same S. Matthew staid in Etiope 23. years continually conuerting soules to our Lord IESVS building Churches ordering priests consecrating Bishops gaining many soules and augmenting the faith of CHRIST and that which he preached with the mouth he performed also in deeds to the edification of others lib. 2. pedagog his life being holy and exemplary Clement of Alexandria saith that S. Matthew neuer eate flesh and that he liued only with herbes King Egippus afterward deceasing his brother Hyrtacus succeeded in the kingdome This newe king to establish himself more suerly in the kingdome and also moued with the rare beauty of Iphigenia intended to marry her To bring this his purpose to effect he acquainted the Apostle with his intent thinking it a good meanes to drawe the mind of the yong woman to his will The Apostle aunswered the king that he would giue notice vnto Iphigenia of the good that ariseth of matrimony and howe it is a holy thing and that then he might come and talk with her himself The king thought this would be a very good course and for that the Apostle said he would declare this matter in a sermon the king said that he would also be present therat Sonday came and the Apostle in the presence of Iphigenia and the other relligious women the king being there also and all the cheifest Lords of his court began to discourse of matrimony and to shewe howe necessary it was for the conseruation of mankind and gaue it other commendations He also said that matrimony was ordeined and instituted by God and howe good it was to haue children All this pleased Hirtacus very well and he awayted to hear the Apostle say that Iphigenia might forsake and leaue the estate of a relligious woman and take a husband and be made Queene of Ethiope But the conclusion of Apostle was farre otherwise then Hirtacus exspected for then he fell in hand to treate of the grieyous punishment that adulteres deserued out of which he seemed to inferre that if the seruant of any king was so bold as to take away his wife from him he did not merite only to be put out of fauour and to be disgraced but also he deserued to dy an euill death though he did not effect but only attempte it Therefore ô king I giue thee to vnderstand said Apostle looking vpon him that Iphigenia is the spouse of IESVS CHRIST the king of heauen and if thou seek to take her away from him thou shalt fall into his heauy displeasure When Hirtacus perceaued the conclusion of the Apostles words and wherunto they tended he was moued to great indignation which he vttered in his countenance and so threatning him he departed out of the Church Iphigenia was heereat surprised with great feare and with the other relligious women kneeled at the feet of the Apostle and asked his aduise what shee and they should do to be quit of the persecution and assault the king had begon against her virginity The Apostle incouraged them all with good words and put a veile vpon euery one of their heads making them hereby and by their vowing the three vowes of Pouertie Chastity and Obedience true Nonnes and these were the first Nonnes the were among the Christians This being done the Apostle said Masse and hauing ended the same there came thither a cruell fellow sent by Hirtacus who gaue the Apostle many wounds with a speare so that the Altar was all stained with bloud and his body lay dead in the place The grief and compassion of the people for the death of S. Mathew was so great that they made a commotion and rose in armes entending to kill the tyraunt and had effected it if some priests had not intromitted themselues and said them sayeng that God would not be pleased there with and that therefore he commanded Peter to put vp his sword into the sheath Then Hyrtacus laboured by the meanes of some ladies to persuade Iphigania to be his wife but seeing that this way would not remoue the holy virgin from her good purpose in a diabolicall rage he caused the monastery to be fired but S. Mathew was seene in the aire to quench it The sacrilegious tyraunt escaped not this deserued punishment for God strook him with the leprosy which was so sore that he killed himself for paine and the kingdome came to the brother of Iphigenia sonne to Egippus who was a Christian ruled that prouince many years to the honour and glory of God which was spred through all Ethiope where the body of S. Matthew was kept and holden in great veneration and reuerence vntill the time of pope Gregory 7. when it was translated ro the city of Salerno in Italy where it is holden in great veneration to this day by all good Christians Great reason there is to doe so for that this glorious Apostle hath three honorable titles for euery of which he meriteth to be honored The first is of Apostle the second of Euangelist the third of martir His death was on the 21 day of September and on that day the Church celebrateth his feast and in the year of our Lord. 90. in the raigne of Domiâ—ian after Canisius It is not with out mistery that among all the other Euangelists whom the Church vseth in her seruice S. Matthew holdeth the first place as likewise doe S. Paule and Dauid of the one of which almost euery day the epistles be red of the other the psalmes be song The mistery may be for that all three were great sinners to giue hope to all
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
of Heliopolis in companie of one Appollophanes an Athenian and a famous sophister he did behold that strange Eclypse which happened at the death of oure Sauioure when viewing the creator of al things the author of lyfe and fountaine of all light so darkned soe ecclypsed so ignominiously suffering death the Sunne as one ashamed to behold that spectacle did hide an whollie loose his beames in the midst of the day S. Dionyse as a man that was skillfull in learning did quicklie perceaue this Ecclypse was against the course of nature by reason it lasted aboue the naturall periode but much more bicause the Moone was at the full and whollie opposite to the sunne so that supernaturallie running a violent course she alltogether couered the sunne and keeping him so for the space of three houres returned againe to her former place of opposition He wondered at so rare a miracle that neither was heard nor seene before and being amazed said to Appollophanes and others Either the God of nature doth suffer or els the wholle frame of the world doth perish and is dissolued He noted the yeare the day and the houre in which this strange noueltie and wonder succceded which was so deepelie imprinted in his minde that he neuer forgot it all his life He returned to Athens and liued in his owne cōmon wealth with great moderation and reputation the Athenienses honouring him as a most wise Philosopher and vprighte Iudge They made him president or chiefe of the highest courte of Iustice that was in all Athens This courte was called of the Areopagites who tooke theire name from a place where the court was kepte which was in a streete or litle hill called in Greeke Pagus dedicated to Ares that is to say Mars and the Iudges of this court were so graue vpright that in ancient times to call a Iudge vnspotted seuere vncorrupted vnflexible either for loue or feare or flatterie or briberie they would call him an Areopagite It came to passe that about this time S. Paule did preache the Ghospell in Athens He disputed sundrie times with the Epicurean Pithagorean Academicall Stoicall Peripateticall philosphers and laboured to reduce them to the faith of IESVS CHRIST and draw them from theire Idolatrie He told them of an other life of resurrectiō of the bodies of a generall Iudgement of a supernaturall reward or punishment according to eache mans good or bad works These Philosophers hearing a matter of such consequence and fearing the daunger of new religions and thinking it a thinge of greatest importance brought him before the chiefe court of Areopagites and theire supreme Iudge Dionisius For allthough the Romaines were in actuall posession of the wholl world in a maner and Lords of all Greece yet the Lacedemonians and the Atheniens were permitted to liue in their auncient liberty gouerned by theire owne Lawes officers magistrats freely elected by themselfs When S. Paule was brought before Dionyse the other magistrats in the presence of the philosophers who had before giuen informatiō of him he with a Retorique more diuine then humain meaning not to exasperat so wise and learned a nation by telling them he was come to teach them a thing wherin thy were ignorant and to giue them notice of gods that they knewe not of all which they would hardly haue disgested or els taken in euill part said thus vnto them You men of Athens I haue sene by experience that you be a very superstitious people more addicted to your gods then the other Greeks for you labour to haue more honoure them more then all the rest as you haue more knowledg and be more learned thē the rest Now I walking through your city and beholding the many temples which be therin I sawe one vpon whose altar there was this Inscriptiō To the vnknowen god That same God whom you doe honor vnknowen is he whom I doe preach vnto you and wish you to honor carefully He is not for from you nor from any mortall man since as one of your owne poets said very well we liue in him by him we moue and remain in him of him we gaue oure being oure motiō lyfe Then speaking against the multiplicitie of God he tould them at last of the day of iudgement and of the resurrection of the dead The answere they gaue him was this that they would giue him audience some other day and so dismissed him These fewe words of the Apostle were so full of misteryes that they put all these wise lerned mē to silence yea and astonied and amased them The Apostle departed but not empty handed for he caught in his net the chief magistrat Dionise with whom he had conferēce in priuate and in the end the Apostle gaue him prefect and full notice of our faith He preached vnto him IESVS CHRIST God and man his death passion resurrection and ascēsion vnto heauen And bycause the Apostle made particuler mention of the eclipse which happened at the time of our Sauiours death S. Dionise was desirous to know that wonder assone as it was laid open vnto him he yielded forthwith and said he would be a Christian It might seeme a lightness in S. Dionise to giue creditt so soone vnto a strāger in a matter of suche importāce as it is to renoūce the gods so lōg time adored by his forefathers and to receue a newe God that was crucified and the more for that he was so lerned and was therefore more obliged to consider very well thereof before he altered his opinion in a matter of such cōsequence Vnto this I aunswere by the same reason S. Dionise because he was wise and learned resolued vpon an honorable and worthy matter so soone For euen as he and all other wisemen of the Paynims were reprouable to adore them for gods whom thy knew had bene infamous wycked men so they desired to find some that should giue them knowledge of another God more worthy to be worshipped then they were They knew likewise by the light of nature that there ought not to be many gods but one God only So that Dionise hauing this desire and S. Paule coming to incounter him he fled not from the combat but did rather holpen by God follow the Apostle with out resistaunce and by Baptisme was made a Christian There were others also conuerted but S. Dionise did surpasse them all in vertuous and holy works for which cause the Apostle made him priest and also Bishop of that city S. Dionise was the first Bishop that Athens had and that was great glory vnto the city bycause it had brought vp and giuen learnyng vnto her first pastour This holy saint had priuate frendship and conuersed a long time with the Deuine Hierotheus a Spaniard borne after the opinion of many Autors who was instructed in like maner by S. Peter in deuine letters and ther vpon he was called Diuine S. Dionise confesseth that he was his instructor and that of
our peregrination by all the Churches S. Matthew being among the Hebrews had written his Gospell in the Hebrew toung and S. Mark remaining in Rome among the Romaines in Latin S. Luke wrote his in Greek because he preached among the Greeks It is said that at all times that S. Paule saith in his epistles After my Gospell Ierom. de scri eccles he meaneth of the Gospell of S Luke for that he wrot it being in his company S. Dorotheus B. of Tyrus saith that S. Luke wrot his Ghospell by the apointment of S. Peter not of S. Paule because he saith in the beginning therof that he wrot it by the relation of them who sawe it from the beginning S. Paule did not so This holy man wrot also another treatise which is called the Acts of the Apostles In the beginning of which he speaketh of the Ascension of CHRIST into heauen and of the coming of the holy Ghost Then speaketh he of the miracles and preachâ—â—g of the Apostles of their persecutions the death of S. Stephen the conuersion of S. Paule the death of S. Iames the Great and the imprisonment and escape of S. Peter After this he goeth on with 〈◊〉 peregrinations of S. Paule his persecutions and trauells of all which he himself bore no litle part and goeth on till he leaueth S. Paule in Rome Then S. Luke departing from thence returned into the Orient traueled ouer a great part of Asia arriued in Egipt He visited Thebais the higher the lower in all places preaching the faith of CHRIST sand conuerâ—ing soules in euery place where soeuer he went At the end of his peregrination he came to the great city of Thehais and was the prelate and pastor therof and as such a one laboured to destroy the Idolls and to build Churchs Which he might the better doe by reason of the great multitude that receued the faith of CHRIST and were Baptised by hearing his exhortations S. Luke remained there many years ordered bishops and priests whom he sent into diuers countreis to preache In such sort that this prouince brought forth many good plants worthy of the eternall life This holy Euangelist catied alwais with him two Images he had made himself the one of our B. Sauiour and the other of his B. mother which were good means to conuert the Painims for that not only he did miracles with them but all they that sawe them were moued to great deuotion These two Images were so like the one to the other that he which did not know whose pictures they were might yet easily know that there was some neere kindred between the two persoÌ„s represented by them To conclude the holy Euangelist being 84. years old passed froÌ„ this mortall vnto the eternall life Nicephorus Callistus in his ecclesiasticall history saith that S. Luke died a martir in Grecia and that he was hanged on a Oliue true lib 2. Cap. 43. but it is commonly holden that he died a naturall death The same Author and others with him say that Constantin the sonne of Constantin the Great by the meanes of one Artemius who whas after ward a glorious martir brought to Constantinople the bodies of S. Andrew from Patrasso a city of Achaia though at this time the body be at Amalphi a city of the kingdome of Naples in Italy of S. Timotheus from Ephesus in Asia and S. Luke from Thebes where it remained and that he builded a sumptuous Church to lay in all the said blessed bodies Nowe the citisens of Padoa say that they haue the body of S. Luke the Euangelist in their city in the Church of S. Iustina The Church celebrateth the feast of S. Luke on the day wheron he died which was on the. 18. day of October in the yeare of our Lord. 90. and in the raigne of Domitian as Canisius accounteth * ⎠* The life of S. Hilarion the Abbot THE Apostle S. Peter Cap. 4. in his fiirst Canonicall epistle hath one sentence fear full for the good and dreadfull to the euill viz If the iust shall scant be saued what shall become of the sinner If he that hath serued God all his life doth tremble at the hower of death what shall he do who hath bin a wicked man and is a sinner at that dreadfull hower This was verified in S. Hilarion the Abbot who being at the point of death felt a great fear in his â—oule but he incouraging it said Depart my soule out of my body of what art thou afraid thou hast serued CHRIST 70. years and dost thou nowe fear to dy The life of this holy Abbot was written by S. Ierome in this sort SAINT Hilarion was borne in Tabata fiue miles from the city of Gaza in Palestina His father and mother were both Idollaters so that he grewe as a rose among thornes Being a litle child he was sent to study in Alexandria in which place he made demonstration of his rare towardlines and inclination vnto goodnes rare witt morall vertues which caused all men that knew him to loue him But he was much more beloued of God for in that place he atteined vnto the knowledge of the Christian faith which he receiued and was Baptised So that he who before was only accounted a vertuous man was now such a one in verity and in deed and delighted in nothing but in vertuous actions and the seruice of God spending the greater part of his life in the Church and in the company of godly priests and by meanes of them he came to the knoweledg of S. Antony who dwelt in the desert and amazed all worldly men to see and heare of his strict life and his sanctity in confounding the deuills in which he reioiced the heauenly court Hilarion had a great desire to see him in the desert which when he had done he chaunged his ordinary clothes and put on such weedes as the moÌ„ks that were in the company of S. Antony wore with whom he also staied two months In this time he marked the order of his life his grauity in behauior his incessant praier his humility in the entertainment of straingers his seuerity in correcting offenders the austerity he vsed toward his body in diet apparell and sleeping he sawe the multitudes of people which came from all costs vnto him to obtein remedy and help for all maner of necessities by his intercession and praiers Hillarion thought that this was the beginning of the reward of the long endured trauels of Anthony and that he should do well to follow his steppes This being determined he returned into his country where the found his father and mother deceased wherfore he diuided his patrimony and bestowed part on his brethren and part on the poore hauing in mind these words of CHRIST He that doth not renounce all that he posesseth cannot be my disciple At that time Hillarion was 15. years old and by this means being poore yet accompanied by CHRIST he went vnto
at a Church there came in a man posessed with the diuell and made such a noise that the deuine office could not be heard The holy man praied for him and not only obteined that the deuill in him did hold peace but also did depart out of him left him free Through all Greece the fame of S. Giles was spred wherupon he fearing to be honoured and reputed for a holy man tooke sea intending to go into some country where he should not be knowen The bark was not far from the shore but a huge tempest arose so that euery one made accoūt to perish in the sea S. Giles praied and the storme ceased by which all the mariners and passengers wel perceiued that the storme ceased by his praiers and they yelded vnto him many thankes for the same After a fewe daies the barck arriued at a hauen in France where S. Giles took land and went to the city of Arlez where a holy man called Cesarius was Bishop The holy Saint staied in his company two yeares to the great content of them both for that all their conference and conuersation was of heauenly matters In that place S. Giles by his praiers healed a man which had bene sick of a feuer three yeares And because that deed and the comendations of Cesarius caused him to be had in great reuerence and that euery one called him the holy man he resolued to depart and to fly from the reputation and honor of the world though the conuersation and company of Cesarius pleased him much So he passed ouer the riuer of Rhosne which is wel knowen in that realme he founde on the bank therof a holly hermit called Veredemius liuing a solitary life with whom he staied and continued certaine daies And wheras the countrey naturally was barren it became fertile and fruitfull by the praiers of S. Giles It happened that on a time a sick man was carried vnto the cell of Veredemius to be healed by him but it falling out that he was not at home at that time S. Giles praied for him and healed him There was neuer man that auoided to be contemned and despised as S. Giles laboured to shunne and to repell the estimation honor of the world and therfore he departed from that place went vnto an other which was more solitary and fuller of woode toward the mouth of the Riuer In that place he found a cane among certein thornes and other wild plantes nere vnto which sprang a cleare and pure fountaine In it he also sawe a hind which made signes to be content that he should lodge with her so the holy man resolued to make his abode in that place His food was the rootes of herbes and running water and sometimes the hind permitted him to milk her and in that sort he spent part of his life passing the time in praier and meditation It befell afterward that the king who then reigned in France being a Christian went one day on hunting and his houndes found the hind of S. Giles and pursued her hard to kill her Shee with a swift course ranne back vnto the caue where the holy man remained and lay at his feet as it were to demaund succor and help at his handes in that danger when the hind came into the caue S. Giles was at his praiers on his knees though he sawe his hostesse that gaue him lodging in manifest daunger he did not therfore arise from his exercise but he besought God to defend and deliuer her The praier of the holy Confessor was hearde for by the power of God the dogges could not enter into the caue but stood a good way of and barked At this noise the king the other hunters came in but they being not able to enter the caue one that caried a crosbowe put a quarell therin which he shot of toward the caue determinating to make triall what was within and the quarell or arrowe be what it was lighted vpon the holy Saint and wounded him who patiently tollerated the wound which was made The hunters passed through the thornes and braunches determining to see what was in the caue and at the last they came to the place where S. Giles was It seemed vnto euery one of them a strange spectacle to see him at the mouth of the caue on his knees with a graue and venerable aspect and nothing troubled looking with his face and eyes and likewise his handes lifted toward heauen The wound had made him all bloudie and the hind lay close by his side These thinges put the King and all his people in great dread wherfore he went vnto him and reputing him a holy man made obeysaunce and craued pardon of him because his bowe-bearer had wounded him gaue order that prouision should be made for his cure though the holy Saint made therunto deniall wishing that the wound and the sore might continew all his life that it might be an occasion wherby he might haue more merite The king offered vnto him great sommes of mony to the end he should pray vnto God for him but the holy Saint would not accept any guiftes but perswaded him to lay out that which he desired to bestow on him in building of a monastery in which religious men might dwell that should pray vnto God for him and for his kingdome The king was well pleased therewith caused a monastery to be builded of the which the holy man was compelled by the importunity of the king to take on him the gouernment with the title of Abbot S. Giles liued in this monastery certain yeares and all that time he spent in praiers and fastinges endeuouring that euery one should fly from sinne and attend to the seruice of God This may euidently appere by the same king who was obstinate in a certaine sinne he had committed and therof had small remorse and greefe and lesse wil to confesse it yet so much the praier of S. Giles preuailed that the king confessed it with great sorrowe of mind and repentance for his trespasse and all other offences committed in his life It is said that the holy Saint went vnto Rome and at his returne brought many indulgences and pardons graunted vnto him by the Popes for his monasteries aswell for them that dwelt therin and wore his habite as also for them that visited it S. Giles hauing gouerned his monastery no lesse religiously then holylie certain yeares the time of his death approched which was agreable vnto his good and vertuous life leauing behind him a holy enuy vnto all them that were present at that time for it was apparant and euident that he went to possesse the kingdome of heauen where was for him prepared a most honourable place His glorious death was on the first day of September and theron the Church celebrateth his feast In the history of the life of this holy Saint it is written that S. Giles liued sometime with Cesarius Bishop of Arlez
base because the too much or excesse was a thing reprouable for his person the too litle was not fit nor conuenient in respect of his function He was very merciful toward the poore and gaue them much almose of the mony which many rich men gaue vnto him very largely By these pious deeds Ciprian became in few daies so famous that among the heathen also he was renoumed and no lesse hated as one by whose meanes many left their paganisme and were made Christians For which cause they conferred among themselues howe they might take his life away and to haue a commaundement for it from Themperours Valerian and Gallien who at that time persecuted the Church most cruelly and put many Christians to death euery day God did not permit that this their purpose should come to passe as yet Because a man of such holy life and excellent learning as Cyprian was for some short time necessary to be in the church to the end he might with this holy sermons and admonitions draw many soules out of the bandes of sinne bring them vnto pennance and to the end he might exhort many to forsake the world and enter into relligion and that many damosells liuing in monasteries might keep perpetuall chastity This excellent doctor was also necessary for no preach the truch vnto the heretiks the vnion vnto the schismatiks and peace vnto the children of God He was asso necessary for the incouragement of the martirs to persuade them with a willing mind to suffer torments and death for the sake of IESVS CHRIST with hope to acquire the crowne of glorie in heauen He was likewise necessary to the end that they which only lost their goods in the persecution should be by him comforted in making them assured that they should haue them doubled in heauen This persecution being runne through diuers provinces and cities came also vnto Carthage and was put in execution with such rage and fury that it was worthy of note to see the miserable Christians to goe one this way another that way all of them in feare and dread labouring one while to saue their goods another while to preserue their liues In a short time the prisons were replenished with Christians not with thiefs or malefactors There was no offence punished but that which seemed most heinous vnto the painimes to be a Christian After certein daies expired the ChristiaÌ„s which were imprisoned were taken forth and executed in the high streets with diuersity of tormeÌ„ts Theire dead bodies lay in heapes and no man was so hardy as to touch or bury them What did the holly Bishop S. Ciprian in this time of great calamity and misery He called the Christians to him some times one and sometimes another and led them into certeine secret places where he preached vnto them telling them that the time was euen nowe coÌ„me in which it was to be clearly seen who was in deed the frend of God by perseuering in the confession of the faith by not fearing the tirants that had power to do harme only vnto their bodies and not vnto their soules but rather the more the bodies were abused the more glory should redound vnto their soules that therefore they should not hate the tirants which persecuted them but rather loue and pray vnto God for them knowing that IESVS CHRIST hath said that the difference between the Christian and the pagan is that the Christian doth loue his frends and foes also whereas the pagan loueth none but his frends He made vnto them demonstration of this verity by the example of CHRIST who praied for them that Crucified him and that therefore if they would be his true children they ought to imitate him in works Many other things said the good prelate vnto theÌ„ which if the tirants had heared they might haue bene conuerted by these words Yet they brought forth very gret fruite in the harts of the catholikes because they did much animate them not to fear the rigour to the persecution Ciprian also ordeined many things to preuent and auoid many incoueniences which happened euery day As to apoint stout and lusty fellowes who in the night at certein howers of security took away the bodies of the Martirs which lay in the streets and buried them to others he gaue in charge that the Christians which came out of prison with life yet very euill entreated with torments should be led by them vnto their houses there they should see them haue phisik with all speed He ordeined others to helpe the Christians which were designed to be taken and fled hither and thither and to prouide them sustenaunce and clothing These and such others the like prouisioÌ„s did the Blessed Bishop make in that time full of calamity and he had such a notable gift in commaunding things to be done that euery one obeied him And though they put them selues in manifest daunger yet did they performe all his commaundements The Proconsull who had the charge in Carthage to persecute the Christiants was aduertiezed of the good deeds that Cyprian did wherupon he would be informed who he was and when he heard that the people loued him and that he was of great autority with euery one he durst not arrest him to put him to death but caused his commaundement to be declared vnto him which was that he should depart from Carthage and go vnto a city called Corubitana In that place he staied about a yeare but the Proconsull deceasing he retruned vnto a place neere vnto Carthage and staied in certein gardeins which had bene sometimes parcell of his owne patrimony and which he had sold to be spent in almose But he which had purchased them had giuen restored them agein vnto him freely without any recompence And if the persecution had ceased S. Cyprian had sould them ageine and had giuen the price coming of them agein vnto the poore Remaining certein daies in these gardeins accompanied with manie priests and deacons and other friendes among whom was Pontius who wrote his life many of the city of Carthage and of other places also came to visite S. Cyprian and to confer with him of heauenly matters and at all times they found him affable and curteous Euery one was by him comforted euery one holpen and he persuaded and exhorted them all to serue God Some of his frends besought him to depart from thence and to remaine a litell further of from the Proconsul who being newly come might seek to get him into his handes and put him to death therefore staying there he was in great daunger But he who had receued a reuelation that about one yeres end after his banishment he should obtein the crown of martirdome had not the power to depart out of that place for he had a gret desire to die for the faith of CHRIST The Proconâ—ull had notice where Cyprian dwelt and howe much people came thither to visite him wherefore he sent officers to attach him
and being aprehended he remained one night in the house of one of them that had taken him To that place resorted much people euery one desiring to see their prelate aliue for they were assured that right soone they should see him dead Thither came also many deuout women but he caused them to depart to auoid occasion of offence On the next morning the holy Bishop was brought before the Proconsull Galerius Maximus apparellend in pontificall vestures which made a goodly maiestical shewe when the Proconsull sawe him he said Art thou that Cyprian that hast the title of Pope or gret Bishop I am Cyprian said the good Bishop Tell me said the Proconâ—ull if thou knowe what our Emperours haue commaunded which is that thou must either sacrifice vnto the Gods or els thou must loose thy life Cyprian answered I am a Christian and I cannot nor may not sacrifice vnto your Gods wherefore do whatsoeuer hath bin coÌ„manded vnto thee The proconfull waxing wroth said Thou hast liued sacrilegiously and hast drawen many vnto thy deuotions you all haue made a confederacie against the Gods whom the Romain Emperous adore thou wouldest neuer obey their decrees But because thou art the author of this euill my will is that thy doctrine be writteÌ„ with thy bloud to the end thy adherents may take example by thee and be aduised by thy death Hauing said thus he pronounced the sentence that Cyprian should be beheaded The blessed Bishop said then I render infinite thanks vnto God who is pleased to deliuer me from the prison of this body The officers of Iustice inconâ—inent led him to be executed according to the sentence Much People followed him euery one lamenting and all of them saieng with a loud voice Cut of all our heads together with his When they came to the place of martirdome the B. Bishop put of his pontificall attire and wrapped and foulded vp the same agein and gaue it vnto his deacons and remained only in his last linnen garment He then requested one of his frends to giue him some mony who gaue him 20. pieces of gold all which he gaue vnto the headsman in recompence of the seruice he expected to receaue of him His frinds and the cleargy that were in the place lamented bitterly and laid their garments on the ground that his blessed bloud might fall on the same He himself put the napkin ouer his eies and being on his knees the headsman performed his office Assone as S. Ciprian was beheaded the priests that were in that place very reuerently took vp his body and caried it vnto the graue But they fearing lest the pagans would take it out of that publike place and vnbury it and pull and dismember it in pieces the same priests by night took it out of that place and caried it vnto the field of Macrobius Candidus S. Cyprian was the first prelat that was martirized in Africa Of him his life and death much mention is made by many holy men and graue Authors As S. Augustine S. Ierome S. Gregory Nazianzen Prudentius Maximus B. of Turine Paulus Diaconus Lactantius Firmianus and Eusebius Cesariensis You must note that S. Gregory Nazianzen saith that S. Ciprian was a magitian or inchaunter who tried by his art to gett the loue of a yong woman called Iustina and that hauing sent the euill spirits to bring her vnto him they could not bring her no not come neere her And this he saith was the occasion of his conuersion and that the yong maid Iustina was martired with him Marcus Marulus saith the same They the others that say thus ar deceued for they make but one Ciprian of two that were Ciprian B. of Carthage a most holy doctor and martir was one and Ciprian the sorcerer or coniurer was another The times wherin thes two Ciprians liued were diuers and the Church celebrateth their feasts on seuerall daies The feast of S. Cyprian B. of Carthage whose life we haue written at this time is celebrated on the same day that the feast of S. Cornelius the pope is vnto whom he was a great frend and many letters were written from the one vnto the other and they were martired on the same day but in sundry places and not in the same yeare as S. Ierome and Ado of Vienna say The day of the martirdome of S. Cyprian was on the. 14. day of September in the yeare of our Lord 259. But the Church translateth his feast vnto the 16. day of the same moneth because that on the 14. day is celebrated the feast of the Exaltation of the holy Crosse and on the 15. day is celebrated the octaue of the natiuity of our Lady The Spanish Dioclesian about 300. The feast of S. Cyprian the sorcerer who was martired with Iustina the virgin is celebrated on the. 26. day of September This S. Cyprian liued in the time of the Emperour Claudius 2. And S. Cyprian B. of Carthage was in the time of Valerian and Galien One was borne in Carthage and the-other in Antioche God some times permitteth the saints to erre in some matter for if they should not erre in some one thing they might be thought to be more then men The which be fell vnto S. Cyprian whose life we haue written for he was in an opinion that those which had bene Baptised by heretiks although they had obserued the forme which the Church obserueth in Baptisme should and ought neuertheles to be rebaptised and herein he erred but as S. Augustin saith the spot of this error was washed away with the bloud which he shed in his martirdome Venerable Bede saith that the reliques of S. Cyprian were brought from Africa into Fraunce and that they be in Lyons The life of S. Euphemia Virgin and of SS Lucy and Geminian Martirs IESVS CHRIST speaking vnto his Apostles of the persecutions that thy were to suffer for his sake as allso others Math. 10. which should come after them said thes words The sonnes shall arise against their owne fathers and shall procure their death by accusing them vnto tirants This was accomplished acording to the letter in a Romain matrone called Lucy who was accused by her owne sonne before a tirant that shee was a Christian for the which shee was allso put to death The church celebrateth her feast together with that of SS Geminian and Euphemia for that thy were martired all three on one day by the ordinance of one and the same tirant though in sundry places Their martirdome was written by venerable Bede Vsuardus wrote the same and like wise Ado Archbishop of Triers in this maner IN the time of the Emperour Dyocletian there was in the citty of Chalcedon a Senator called Philophronius he had only one daughter named Euphemia that being a Christian was as much ennobled for her vertue as for her bloud Shee was put into prison by a Proconsull called Priscus who commanded her to sacrifise vnto his gods The holy virgin
which was written by Nicetas a philosopher and recounted by Simeon Metaphrastes and their martir dome was written by Ado Archbishop of Triers SAINT Cosmus and S. Damianus were brethren and phisitions and were borne in Egea a city of Arabya in Asia Their father and mother were Christians and Catholiques Their father died when they were yet litly children wherfore their mother Theodora brought them vp with great care and dilligence And being a woman of good behauior and chiefly because shee was a good Christian shee would not permit them to comit any fault or offence but endeuored to enstruct and direct them in vertue and godlines So that they became good children like to their good mother and good schollers like vnto their good mistris Amongst the other good qualities of these two breathren the profession of the Catholique faith shined most in them for which cause they despised and contemned Idolatry and other wicked superstition They were chast and honest in life and fled from all sensuall delight and tamed their flesh with austere sackcloth disciplines and fastings which be the most certein remedies to ouercome that enemy euen as they ouercame it by the grace of God Also couetousnes that abhominable vice neuer entred into their hart but rather bicause they made small account of mony and liued in poore and meane estate they were called Anargeni which is to say Men without monie and in this sort obseruing the Ghospell they liued an Angelicall life And to auoid Idlenes which is the mother of vices and stepmother vnto vertue they vsed the science of phisicke euen from theire childhood became skilfull and expert phisitions They gaue and ministred phisicke vnto the sick without any expectation of temporall gaine but only for the loue of God When the infirmity was perillous and not to be cured by art they resorted vnto God by praier and making the signe of the Crosse they healed and cured them and heerein they followed the steps of the Apostles They imitated the Patriarcks in being benigne piâ—tifull charitable in liuing a life in simplicity without doublenes or hypocrisy They imitated the Prophets in that they were zelous of Gods honor in reproouing them that were stubborn and obstinate in euill deeds They imitated the martirs in the valiancy of their minds shewed against the common enemies of mankind the world the flesh and the deuill They imitated the preists in their religious life chastity and grauity offering their body and soule for an acceptable sacrifice vnto God to serue him withall humility and obediencence to obserue and keepe his holy commaundements They imitated the monks in obedience concinency and pouerty in silence and repose of soule And at one word they imitated all the saints as much as lay in their power Thus they ranne their race making the world to wonder at their sincerity so that the report of them was spred very farre The rumor of them being dispersed came to the eares of Dioclesian and Maximian those noted persecutors of the Christians who had decreed that all the Iudges gouernours lieutenants and other officers of the prouinces subiect to them should put to death all that denied to sacrifice vnto the Idols Lisias the gouernor in the city of Egeas hauing notice of the blessed phisitions Cosmus and Damianus caused them to be brought before him and demaunded of what countrey they were and their names They answered that they were Arabians and borne in the city of Egea and that their names were Cosmus and Damian and that they were both Christians The gouernour persuaded them to sacrifice vnto the Idols but seeing them coÌ„stantly to refuse it he commaunded them to be tied hand and foot and to be cruelly beaten and after he had giuen them other torments he caused them to be throwne into the maine sea bound as they were They were no sooner cast into the water but an Angell came to their aide who vntyeng all their hands brought them aliue and vntied vnto the shore The gouernor was certified of that wonder wherfore he caused them ageine to be brought before him and requested them to teach him their Art magicke and inchauntments wherby they were deliuered from the sea and then he promised to be their good friend They answered We be Christians and haue no skill in Art magike but were deliuered our of the sea by the power of our Lord IESVS CHRIST The gouernor caused them againe to be put in prison and the next day a great fire to be kindled then he threw the blessed martirs into the same but the flame was deuided into two parts and the holy saints remained in the midst at their praiers The gouernor was astonied to see such a wonder yet he did not repent of his wickednes but caused them to be hoised aloft and to be beaten againe with wands and stones and beholding the holy saints cheerefull in countenaunce and to contemne the torments he caused them to be lifted vpon two Crosses and there to be stoned to death The officers threw the stones and though they cast them with all their might yet came none of the stones so farre as the holy martirs but fell vpon them that stood by to see the spectacle and wounded many of them but especially them tha threw them The gouernour seeing this an beleeuing assuredly that it was done by inchauntment enraged with fury and indignation commaunded them to be shot to death with Arrowes and the same happened to the Arrowes as did before vnto the stones for they did light on them that shot them and none touched the bodies of the martires At last he commaunded they should be both beheaded and in this sort the holy martirs finished their lifes and obteined the crowne of Martirdome Their bodies were buried by some vertuous people with out the walles of the city Egea It is said that ioyntly with these holy martirs SS Cosmus and Damian three other holy martirs were beheaded whose names were Antimus Leontinus and Euprepius and were their brethren as some Authors write There is a booke of the miracles that God showed by the merits of SS Cosmus and Damian wherof this is one A clowne sleeping in the field a serpent crept into his mouth and so further into his body wherby the poore man was in great danger of death He with great deuotion craued the help of the holy martirs and they were seene visibly by his side and commaunded the serpent to come out of his body and so it did These holy saints also gaue him phisike which cured him and then they vanished away the second Nicen Councell in the third action maketh mention of the booke of the myracles of SS Cosmus and Damian The Church celebrateth their martirdome on the 27 day of September which was in the yeare of our Lord 301 and in the time of Dioclesian and Maximian The bodies of these holy saints be in Rome in a Church dedicated to their name The venetians say not
was a shame reproach to all his kindred Hauing put this into his head shee vnloosed his bandes and set him at liberty and away went he from his fathers house who shortly after coming home finding Francis gone was wrothe therat and went to seek him At last he found him and to end all controuersies between them they agreed to go before the Bishop of Assisium that there Francis should renounce his right and heritage due to him and that his other brethen should haue it among them lest he should spend it prodigally S. Francis the true perfect louer of pouerty was content herewith and when they came before the Bishop he not only fulfilled his fathers request but also stripped himself of all his clothes euen to his shirt and gaue them to his father sayeng vntill this time I haue called thee father but from hensceforth I will acknowledge no other father but oure father in heauen The Bishop seeing this feruent act and wondering therat stood vp and embraced him weeping for tendernes couered him with his cloake and commaunded his seruants to bring him some cloths to put on They brought him a verie poore and course suite and the holy man receued it cheerfully Taking leaue and blessing of the Bishop he departed from Assisium and went to a hospitall of lepers and there remained certaine daies attending on the sick very charitably He washed their sores he clensed their filth and did eate that meat which they did leaue This mortification of the holy man was great for before his conuersion it was death for him to see a leper yea he would stoppe his nose and be ready to vomit but when he began a new life he was of a contrary mind for if he sawe a leaper he thought he sawe and Angell and his soares seemed to be pretious stones In the time of this exercise he vsed vncessant praier One day the B. man being at his praiers he heard a voice which said to him FRANCIS Change sweet into sower and despise thy self yf thou wilt please me The holy man iudged by this voice that God required of him some further seruice then to stay in that hospitall wherfore he departed entending to go vnto Gubbio As he went by the way singing in the Frenche toung thieues mett asked him who he was he aunswered I am trompetter to the great king The thieues beign wroth at this his aunswer and seing they could make no booty of him being meanely arraied they buffetted kicked him and then threw him into a ditch full of snowe Poore Francis got out of the ditch and the snowe with much a do but iocond he was and began a fresh to sing spirituall songs When he came to Gubbio an old friend who knew him and wondered to see him in that weede led him home and gaue him very good cloths of his owne to weare The study and care of this seruant of God was how he might best please almightie God wherfore vnderstaÌ„ding how the relligious men of S. Augustines order liued in pouerty obedience chastity and holy life he had a desire to try if that manner of liuing liked him wherfore he went to one of their monasteries and desired them to receue him into their house Those relligious men receued him and gaue him as Antoninus and Sabellicus say a habite of black say and a lether girdle which he wore but a while neither did he perseuere in this auncient order for that God had apointed Frauncis to institute a new relligious order One day being in in the Church and hearing in the Ghospell that IESVS CHRIST sent his disciples to preach and commaunded them to cary neither gold nor siluer nor any thing to eate nor staf nor shoos nor two garments with them he felt in his hart a sodaine and vnwonted ioy thinking these words were spoken to him and that all which he had searched to know to wit â—n what course he might serue God best was in these words declared vnto him that he must expect no other aunswer This coÌ„ceit was so imprinted in the mind of Francis that he thought it no time to stay any logner but forthwith he put of his black habite of S. Augustine and left of also the leather girdle and put about him a poore and bare garmeÌ„t of course cloth guirded himself with a cord He pluckt of his shoos and went barefoot and thus hauing property in nothing he began to lead a true penitent and Apostolicall life He went from place to place from one city to another and preached euery where as God inspired him his words were lowely simple and cleare yet so efficatious that many which hard him were moued to compunction and amended their lifes and some despising wholie the world clothed themselues in sack cloth or other course habites as S. Francis did and went and followed him So that he had II. disciples of which some were well studied in diuinity and humanity all which desired to serue God The blessed man acquainted them all with his mind which was to go and preach penannce in diuers places diuiding themselues and so they did After a while they mett againe all at the place where S. Francis was euery one giuing account of what he had done And beholding the great profit of soules arising thereby he had a greater desire to continew this exercize in regard the verie seeing of men ragged barefoot with such palefaces together with the consideraton of their profound humility renouncing all property to any thing yea although they should not speake was a preaching of Penannce and did much good But when they adioined words agreable therunto the more plaine and the more simple they were the more did they kindle the loue of God and were imprinted in the harts of the people to their great good S. Francis considering well all this to the end that the institution might haue a firme foundation and go well forward and encrease he thought it meet to acquaint the Apostolik sea there with and to desire the Pope to confirme it for which purpose he and his disciples went to Rome and caryed the Rule with them in writing to be showen vnto the Pope Inocent 3. There arose some difficultie when they treated of the obseruation of the Rule for the Pope many Cardinalls were of opinion that no newe relligious order should be instituted and that if any had an intention to serue God in relligion he might enter into some relligious order alredy approued as into the order of S. Augustine or S. Benedict It came to passe that the Pope went to bed toiled with affaires of the Church and falling a sleep dreamed that the Church of S. Iohn Lateran was ready to fall and that he sawe a poore bare and abiect man vnder propping it with his shoulders susteining and keeping it from falling Assoone as the Pope did behold S. Francis he knew straight that he was that poore maÌ„ who
extasi as vsuallie he accustomed in the meditation of the passion of CHRIST to the which he was deuoted more then can be expressed And at this time he was transformed into the similitude of CHRIST crucified the figure of his blessed wounds remaining imprinted in this flesh his hands were pierced through the middest with nailes of flesh the heads of which nailes appearing in the palmes of his hands were round and black and the points long and crooked the like appeared in his feet and vpon his right side he had a wound as if it had bene with a speare the wound being both red wide S. Bonuaenture affirmeth that he heard them say so that had seen them with their eies and touched them with their hands When Ionathas desired to shewe kindnes to Dauid 4. Reg 4. he gaue him his garments and when IESVS CHRIST would shew his fauour to S. Francis he bestowed on him his wounds 1. Reg 18. when Eliseus would resuscitate the dead infant he lay ouer the child and it may be he said to God Lord ioine these my eies to him that they may see in him and these my hands that they may haue feeling in him so CHRIST lay ouer S. Francis and gaue his wounds to him CHRIST visibly ascended in to heauen and for that his will was to haue in his Church a perfect pourtraiture of him for a small time he made S. Francis one for considering his holy life streight after his conuersion it seemeth that S. Francis did set down his foot in the steppe from whence CHRIST took vp his foot And to the end he should be likened vnto him in euery thing he imprinted his wounds also in his body Sometimes one that is vitious or one that is good is bidden to imitate God and if perhapps he thinketh he can not do it God giueth him a patterne or a modell which he may imitate when he will S. Francis preached the despising and contempt of the world and it seemeth that many men did not giue credit vnto him Wherfore to the end he should be credited CHRIST gaue him his wounds like an instrument which is written sealed for that is should be of sufficient creditt S. Francis is like the keeper of the common standard of measure vnto which all the other keepers of measure resort CHRIST on the Crosse got many children some were martirs some Confessors and some were virgins The children are likened vnto the father some had his similitude in their patience others in their humility and others in other vertues but for that none had the similitude of him in the wounds God elected S. Francis for that purpose and gaue them vnto him imprinted in his flesh The courtiers that be fauored of the king are apparailled in his liuery and because S. Francis was highly fauored of IESVS CHRIST he was therfore cloathed in the liuery of his wounds Iacob wrastled with God and remained lame S. Francis wrastled with God and he was made lame also for the wounds of his feet suffered him not to trauell but he was compelled to ride on a litle Asse The death of this glorious patriarch drawing nighe he was much diseased with a grief in his stomack and in his eies as also with the paines of his wounds sixe moneths before his death he fell sick of the dropsy which thinge persuaded him he had not long to liue The citizens of Assisium doubting that if he died in any other place they should loose the pretious treazure of the holy maÌ„s body sent for him to Sienna where he remained and conducted him to their city and lodged him in the Bishops house The holy saint being there and knowing that the hower of his death approached commaunded them to cary him to the Church of Sancta Maria de portinncula other wise called dy Angeli Being come thâ—ther he made his testament in which he left his friers heires of his holly pouerty which he much recommended vnto them to keep and obserue ioyntly with charity and obedience and gaue vnto them his benediction On a saterday in the euening on the. 4. day of October in the time of pope Honorius 3. and of Fredericque 2. themperour in the year of our Lord. 1226 twenty years after his conuersion and in the. 45. year of his age this holy father heard the voice of God who called him out of this life vnto him And because he would make a true demonstration that he had not any thing common with the world not the world any thing with him The holy father with feruor of spirite did arise stark naked out of his bed and lay on the ground He had before receued the sacraments of Confession Eucharist and extreame vnction and hauing at the reasembly of his friers who wept and lamented pitifully remenbred them and ageine commaunthem to loue pouertie and to be subiect and obedient to the Church of Rome He gaue them his finall benediction aswell to the absent as to the present saieng to them My children remaine in peace and feare of our Lord and continew alwais in the same for I depart hence to God vnto whom I commend you all Then he willed them to read vnto him the passion according to S. Iohn After which the holy saint said the psalme of Dauid which beginneth thus Voce mea ad dominum clamaui and went vnto the last verse which is Educ de custodia animam meam ad confitendum nomini tuo me expectant iusti donc retribuas mihi and with those words his blessed soule vnloosed from the bands of the flesh and went out to enioy the euerlasting felicity His body continued so beutifull that only to behold it would moue a man to celestiall desires There resorted to his buriall innumerable people He was caried to the city of Assisium by the way the laid it in the Church of Damian at the instancy and petition of S. Clara for there was her monastery to the end shee and the other Nonnes her daughters might see him The sight of him caused them to shed aboundance of deuout teares especially when they sawe the wounds of his hands feet and side which might be seene of euery man From thence he was caried into the city and buried in the Church of S. George vntill that foure years after A sumptuous Church was builded for him into which he was translated and therin buryed Pope Gregory 9. hauing first vsed the accustomed diligences canonized him vpon a sonday one yeare mine months and a half after his glorious death Spa Marius Antonius Sabelliâ—â—s saith that in this time which was in the yeare of our Lord. 1494 there were Franciscan friers to the number of 60000. in forty prouinces The life of S. Placidus and others THE hautie pride and boldnes of Pharao with the help of the praier of Moises was the cause that he was drowned in the red sea the people of God escaped out of his cruell handes But
passed into Africk and from thence into Cycile where he made his stay vpon a cragey mountein In the day he made a bundle of wood and laid it on the back of one of this disciples to cary vnto the next towne to be sold and with the mony arising therof they bought bread with the which those few that were with him liued and sustenied their lifes He could not liue vnknown in that place nether for a man posessed with euill spirite in Rome cried out and faid Hilarion the seruant of God is in Cycilc So that many diseased people came thither to recouer their health by his meanes By cause he perceiued himself honoured in that place also he departed and went into Dalmatia where was a dragon that destroied all the countrey deuoured the oxen and other beasts and killed the husband men and the shepheres The blessed man hauing compassion on the people caused a great stack and pile of wood to be made and when he had praied he commeunded the dragon to go vpon the stack of wood and when he was on it he bad the people set fire ther vnto and thus the dreadfull dragon was brent and consumed with fire in the sight of all the people Then he determined to depart from that place also for which cause he was embarked and being on the sea he was assailed by pirats His disciples with the others that were in the shippe doubted they should be slaine but the good man reprooued them for distrusting in God And Then standing on the deck he praied and stretchinh out his hard against the pyrats said Come no further this way O straunge and wonderfull thing at the saieng of these words they turned aside and returned back as swiftly as though a strong gale of wind had caried them away The sea was also obedient vnto him for at such time as he was at Ragusium the sea swelled and rose out of measure and so much that the people of the country feared all of them should be ouerflown and drowned The blessed old man took land made the signe of the Crosse in the sand and held vp his armes against the storme and the sea was asswaged and ceased incontinent to the great admiration of all the country who kept this deed in memory and the fathers vsed to tell the same vnto their children Another time as he sailed and not hauing any thing to pay for the fraight he would haue giuen vnto the owner of the bark a book in the which he had written the foure Ghospells with his owne hand which he alwais carried about him because he had cured before time the sonne of the master of the bark he would not receiue the book of him but he gaue him his fare and rendered vnto him infinite thanks for his former benefit Finally this blessed old man remaining in Cypres and hauing sent Isichius his disciple to visit the ashes ruines of his distroied monastery and to salute the monks remaining in that prouince staid in the city of Papho vnto which place many sick men and men possessed came out of all parts of the Island and the holy saint by praier healed them Isichius being returned from Siria the reuerend father conferred with him of his departure from thence which he did not vpon inconstancy but only to fly from credit and honour which was bestowed vpon him in that place So hauing found out a place not far distant from the city which stood out of the way and was vnhabitable for the craggines knowing that the going vp vnto it was very difficult for they must go vp creeping with their hands and that at the toppe therof was a plesante and delightfull place furnished with many trees and cleare founteins and that as the fame went many euill spirits haunted and vsed in that place and therefore none was so hardy as to dwell there the holy man resolued to make the same his habitation There were some that came to visite him yea many diseased persons and among others one sick of the palsy who was the owner of the place Great were the conflicts and encounters the seruant of God endured in that place by the deuills who did incessantly disquiet him because he was come to thrust them out of their long continewed habitation The blessed man took thereat great consolation for that he had there some enemy with whom to contend and striue S. Hilarion being nowe come to the age of 80. years Isichius his disciple being absent fell sick and perceuing that the hower of his death drew nere he wrote a schedule or note of his hand in which he left by his testament Isichius his disciple to inherite all his treasures the book of the Gospells written with his owne hand his long relligious weede the sackcloth or hoode with which it was couered When it was known in the country that the holy saint was sick some came to visite him and he charged them deeply that assoone as he was dead they should bury him in the same place where he dwelt and that they should not keep him aboue ground the moment of an hower When the pangues of death came all things failing but his sences which were perfect looking with his eyes open he spake to his soule and said Depart forth nowe depart feare not thou hast serued CHRIST 70. years and doest thou nowe feare death In speaking these words he ended his life His body was buried incontinently as he had apointed so that his death and buriall was reported in the city both at one time His disciple Isichius being certefied of his death returned into Cypres and faining that he desired to dwell in the same place where is master did dwell and was buried after ten moneths passed he stole away the blessed body of his master venturing his life for the same for if the Cypriots had knowne it he had bene slaine by them and caried it into Siria and buried it in his auncient monastery an infinite company resorting thither to see it The blessed body was found hole perfect and entier and so were all his cloths and garments euen as he and they were when he was aliue casting a very sweet pleasant smell S. Ierome saith that vntill his time there had ben variance and controuersy for the Syrians say they haue his body as they haue indeed and the Cypriots say they haue his spirite but aswell in the one as in the other place are seen many miracles done by the intercession and merits of this glorious saint but much more in the place of Cypres for in that place the blessed father took great delight The death of S. Hillarion the Abbot was on the 21. of October and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast It was also in the yeare of our Lord 379 Valentinian being the Romain emperour Nicephorus Callistus wrote of this holy saint in the 11. book cap 14. The life of S. Vrsula and the eleuen thousands Virgins ON the selâ—e
his resurrection after which they were to see him againe for that he would manifest himself vnto them really and veritably in body and soule When allsoe his eternall father would truly come to inhabite by grace in him who loueth him and obserueth his lawe There is no other particuler mention of S. Iude nor of S. Symon in the Ghospell but that they were presēt in all places at all times that the Ghospell saith the Apostles were with IESVS As at the banket in the desert Io. 10. when CHRIST fed much people twise with a fewe loaues and a fewe fishes They were present at the raising of Lazarus at the entring of our Lord into Ierusalem when they sange Osanna They were present at the supper when our Lord washed their feet communicated them made them priests and consecrated them Bishops They fled also when IESVS was taken in the garden they sawe him raysed to life not as a spirite but the same that he was before he died Our Lord talked and conuersed with them as may be seene by the actions of Thomas who touched the wounds of his hands and side they sawe him also ascend into heauen they were also present at the comming of the Holy Ghost with the other Apostles when they receiued him they receued also his gifts and especially that gift of toungs with which they preached the Ghospell in diuers parts of the world Symon preached in Egipt and Thaddeus in Mesopotamia They kept company in Persia and preached therin together as S. Isidorus Ado and venerable Beda say Assoone as they came into that country all the Idolls which before gaue oracles became dumb and whereas Baradach captain to the king of Babylon whom some Authors call Xerxes hauing then in hand a great interprise desired to be enformed of the successe therof by oracle and passed from one vnto another at last one of them bad him looke for no answer as long as Symon and Iude Apostles of CHRIST were in the country Baradach caused them to be sought out and brought before him He demāded who they were from whence they came and what they did in that same country The Apostles aunswered that they were Hebrews seruants of IESVS CHRIST and that they were come into that country for the good of all maner of persons in teaching them the true faith which if they receued it should be the right meanes for the sauing of their soules Baradach said to them when I returne from the dispatch of my affaires I will heare you willingly The Apostles said It shal be better for thee presently to confesse him by whose meanes thou maist ouercome thine enemies and reduce them to the obedience of thy king Baradach said I think your God be more potent then ours sine that your comming hath put them to silence but tell me what successe shall the warre vnto which I go haue The Apostles said To the end thou maist see that thy Gods be not only impotent but also liers and deceuers we will giue them leaue to aunswer to thy demaunds that they giuing an answer of that which they know we may showe what they be and what they can do The Gods answered by their ministers whom Baradach had caused to come thither That the warre should be long and that therin much slaughter should be on both sides When the Apostles heard their answer they laughed and Baradach said to them I heare these words to my grief and sorrow and do you laugh The Apostles replied feare not for too morrow at three a clock there shall come embassadors from the Indian rebells vnto thee who shall most humbly entreat thee for peace and submit themselfs wholly to thy mercy When the ministers of the Idolls heard these words of the Apostles thy scoffed therat and in a rage against them said to the captein These fellowes come from the Indians thy enemies that thou crediting their deceitfull speeches maist not be prouided and furnished with defence and then the Indians may come and giue thee some notable discomfiture To this the Apostles replied and said to the captein we do not bid thee to tarry a moneth or longer but one day only if thou find vs to ly punish vs as thou please Baradach aunswered I think best to keep you them also in prison vntill I see which doth deceiue me and then I will punish them that do deserue it On the next day euen as the Apostles said the embassadours to the Indians came with whom Baradach hauing concluded a peace resolued to punish seuerely those false prophets but the Apostles staid him saieng that thy were not come in to that country to take away any mans life but to giue it vnto many Then the captein would haue giuen them many Iewells but they would not take any He had them vnto Babilon where the king was vnto whom he repeated what had befallen betwene him and the Apostles and commended them very much and said they had the gift of prophecy knew things to come were humble and vertuous and coueted no temporall gaine At that time the king had in his companie two magitians or Inchaunters one was called Zaroes theother Arphaxat who were fled out of India where S. Matthew preached for that he had discouered their wickdnes and deceits These mallicious fellowes seeing the Apostles to be of the colledge and company of S. Matthew their deadly foe persecuted them saieng of them much euill vnto the king And with their inchantments caused many serpents to appeare in the place to terrify the Gentills and to hurt the Apostles but they by their word only commanded the serpents to wound the inchauntors but not to kill them The serpents obeied put them to great griefe and paine and moreouer hauing lost hereby their reputation and credit they were enforced to depart from Babilon and to go vnto other cities They laboured what they could to do some mischief vnto the Apostles saieng in euery place where they passed that they were enemies to their Gods would not haue them to be adored and that they seperated wifes from their husbands vnder the collour of relligion and such other things And in the places where credit was giuen vnto them they gaue the people warning that if the Apostles came that way they should put them to death and neuer suffer them to speak The holy Apostles preached the faith without empeachment or contradiction in Babilon and conuerted many for that they did many miracles especially in healing all sickfolks from their infirmities what soeuer They baptised the king and all his family and hauing instructed many in the faith they ordered priests and deacons and made Abdias bishop who had followed them from Ierusalem and had as he saith seen with his corporall eies IESVS CHRIST in his mortall flesh If fell out at that time as the said Abdias recounteth it and S. Antoninus of florence repeateth it that a woman daughter to a noble man of Babilon was
our of our hearts and to direct our loue vnto celestiall things This is quite contrary vnto that which the world teacheth for CHRIST saith Blessed be the poore and the world replieth Blessed be the rich CHRIST saith Blessed be they that weepe and the world saith Blessed be they that laugh Our souiour saith Blessed be they that suffer hunger the world saith Blessed are they that are allwaies full Hereby we may see of whose schoole euery one is and whose disciple he is Some are troubled vexed and tired neuer taking repose nor rest to get ritches together to vse delights and pleasures of the world which are hurtfull vnto their soules and yet they seeke after them so earnestly that they could not vse more dilligence if they should haue heard CHRIST say They that seeke riches delights and pleasures of the world be happie and blessed What folly and blindnes is this to professe thy self a Christiane and to liue like a Pagan Either liue as thou beleeuest or beleeue as thou liuest In times past there were in Athens many schooles of Philosophers different one from another as the Stoicks Academicks Peripateticks Pythagoreans Epicureans and Cynicks euery one liued conformeable vnto the opinion of his sect You needed not aske of them whose disciples they were for by their habite and behauiour it was forth with knowne vnto what schoole they belonged You should see in a stoick a graue maiestie an honest behauiour quietnes temperance constancy in one state and stabillitie like a rock in aduersitie In a Cynick an Epicurean yee might haue seene the inconstancy and vanitie of a dissolute person a scoffer pratler and taunter so that euerie one showed in deed what doctrine he professed It were well if euerie Christiā would do so also to witt that euery one in his countenance his words and workes would shew himselfe to be a Christian and the disciple of CHRIST That great Philosopher Picus Mirandula saith very well Not to beleeue the faith of CHRIST IESVS and his doctrine preached so plainly and confirmed with so many miracles is great obstinacy Then to haue receiue and to beleeue the same and to liue contrary to that which it teacheth is folly in the highest degree Is it not extreame folly as that excellent and famous preacher Thomas de villa noua saith in a sermon for vs that fight as we Christians do vnder the banner and standerd of CHRIST Crucified to labour and striue for riches for delights and pleasures of the world CHRIST our captaine is nailed on the Crosse naked poore shamed and reproached and we that be his souldiers will forsooth be rich well apparelled honored and enioye all contentments and pleasures we can procure Is it not a very folly for vs that haue alwaies enioyed in the world consolations recreations and all kind of temporall delights and yet make account to be receiued into the societie of the Apostles and company of the Martyrs S. Paul speaking aloud to all men saith 1. Cor 1 If we suffer as the Saints haue done if we imitate them and their liues we shall raigne with them Which is as if he had said If we do not imitate them we may be well assured we shall not haue their company S. Iohn Euangelist saw a great company of the Saints in heauen and wondering much to see them so bright and beautifull demaunded of an Angell who they were The Angell aunswered Apoc 7. These be they which be come out of tribulation and haue endured in the world many troubles persecutions and death it self How can they that be nice delicate drowned in worldly pleasures come into their cōpany The Saints sit at the table of CHRIST and they all weare the signes and tokens of their torments as CHRIST himself carieth the signalls of his woundes Some carie those markes they receiued in the world hauing beene beheaded stoned boyled or flaied Others how they were broiled killed with clubbes or the like How can those people that were euer rich and laboured to be tenderly cherished honored whollie posessed of worldly delights appeere among them that were flaied boiled to death killed with clubbes stoned or beheaded The same IESVS CHRIST which said Mat. 8. Blessed be the poore Blessed be those that waile Blessed be they that be hungrie Blessed be they that be persecuted saith presently after that Wo to you that be rich Wo to you that haue your content in this world Here you haue it and in the next you shall faile of it As if he had said Remember that there be not two paradises There were two before time but because man was rebellious against God he lost the terrestriall Paradise and was cast out of the same to the end he should not thinck of it nor labour to obtaine it againe And if he should striue to obtaine the same he should be assuered neuer to haue the celestiall paradise for he that hath his paradise heere let him not look to haue the other hereafter So was it said to the vnfortunate rich man who being in the flames of hell lifted vp his eies and seing Abraham and Lazarus asked for one drop of water to coole his tong in that flame but he was answered Remember thou hast had prosperitie therefore look not to haue it any more All these things we are taught by the feast of all Saints and the Catholique Church doth celebrate it to the end we should imitate them If we cannot imitate the Apostles let vs follow the examples of the Martirs If not the martirs yet of the Confessors And if not of the Confessors let vs be ashamed at least that eleuen thousand weak and tender damsells hauing giuen their liues to enioy that which the holie saints in heauen enioy any man should be such a coward or recreant as not to do that which feeble woemen virgins haue endured This is the last reason why the feasts of all saints is celebrated to wiit because we should imitate and follow their steppes both in life and death For all these reasons before mentioned it is iust and reasonable that on this daie we should do honour vnto them all And as S. Iohn Damascene saith Lib 4. de side or-th o◠cap. 6. we are to honour the most B. virgin for that she is the mother of God And we ought to honour S. Iohn Baptist for that he was a prophet the precursor a Martir We should honour the Apostles as the brethren of IESVS CHRIST and witnesses of his life death We are to giue honour to the Martirs as to the souldiers and partakers of the cup of CHRIST We must give reuerence of the Confessors for the conflicts they had within themselues liuing in continuall penance and mortification We must beare reuerence vnto the virgins as vnto the spouses of CHRIST and vnto the other holie saints and all the Angells of the Hierarchies as citisens of heauen enioyeng the presence of God And
on the walles the heroycall acts of this glorious martyr On the one side are the tyrants with their sterne and fell lookes on the other side the flame and fire of his martyrdome the holy saint keeping alwaies a mild and quier countenance These images and pictures serue vs in stead of bookes because without speech they continuallie publish and shewe vnto vs the worthy deedes of this glorious martyr For it is the property of a picture by silence to speak being painted on the walle serueth vs in stead of a lecture in the schoole If one hath entred into the Church and enjoyed the sight of these things and yet being desirous to go further if he approch vnto the sepulchre of the holie saint and touch it with his hands it seemeth a holie and deuout work But if he be worthie to haue the sepulchre opened and that he may see the holie bodie there inclosed O what great content hath he for that there was neuer meadowe decked with odoriferous flowers that gaue a better smell or would be more pleasing to the sight then this He that is thereof worthy forth with approcheth his eyes fixed and his mouth ioyned vnto the blessed reliques from which issueth no euill sauour but a fragrant smell There are shed warme teares there are powred out inflamed sobbes the saint is hartely besought to make intercession for vs vnto the maiesty of God But it one be worthie to haue a litle of the earth into which his blessed bodie was conuerted this is accounted a chief happines The vse is to lay it vpon sick men hoping thereby the may recouer their health as oftentimes they do I wishe the faithfull beleeuers to consider hereof and withall whether it be granted vnto the Emperours and monarks of the world to haue the worthie honor and veneration that is done vnto this saint But leauing this I come vnto the historie of his life His natiue country was in a part of this region which looketh toward the East In that place he was borne and in that place he was brought vp but at this present the whole world is his natiue country for euery martyr may call himself Natiue of what country soeuer is vnder the sunne This blessed saint was a souldier and serued vnder the standerds of Dioclesian and Maximian at such time as they ruled the Empire These Emperours being lodged in that country for the winter time by aduise of their captaines there arose a most perillous warre not with the Barbarous nation but in the same army which was caused by a diuelish decree made by the Emperours and put in excecution by the captaines in which Edict all Christians that refused to sacrifice to the Idolls were condemned to dye The blessed souldier not now of the Emperour but of IESVS CHRIST seing the wicked ordinance made and how cruelly it was executed shewed not any basenes in mind nor altered not his countenāce though he knew for certaine that he was accounted by all men for a Christian but said boldlie that this decree was detestable and that he ment not to obey it though he lost this life for the same These wordes came vnto the eares of the Coronell who called vnto him the captaine and euen as Herod and Pilate did before when they conferred together of the death of CHRIST and were made friendes by depriuing him of life so these two consulted and accorded together against S. Theodore Causing him to be brought before them with roughe wordes and sterne countenance they demaunded of him how he durst be so arrogantlie bold as to despise this lawe of the Emperours and to saie that he would not obey it s. Theodore with a constant and cheerfull countenance said I do not disobey the Emperour when he commaundeth things that be iust and reasonable and wherein he is to be obeyed but when he commaundeth me to adore for Gods those which be none and which I do not acknowledg for such I entēd not to obey him I confesse IESVS CHRIST to be God the only begotten sonne of his father consubstantiall with the holie Ghost who is likewise God and yet not three Gods but one God whose faith and religion I professe If this seeme to be euill vnto you heere am I ready offer my self Let the hangman come and cut of my head let fire come and consume me and let him that is offended at my wordes cut our my toung I am resolued and my bodie is heere ready patiently to suffer any torment what soeuer in any part or in euery member thereof for the loue of his creator and maker The two vniust iudges hearing the couragious resolution of the yong man were cōfounded studying what answere to make him A certaine souldier of that company who was accounted discreet wise presenting himself before them said vnto him ô Theodore if the God whom thou adorest haue a sonne as thou saist tell me whether he hath begotten him after the manner of men who seek out solitarie and obscure places as being loth to be seene in so base and shamefull an acte S. Theodore answered my God feeleth no shame in the generation of his only begotten sonne but it is a heauenly generation conuenient vnto God onlie and so I do beleeue and reverence it But do thou which seemest to be a discreet and considerate man tell me doest thou not hold and repute it for great reproch and infamy to adore for God a woman as your Cibele mother of the Gods who after the manner of a shee wolfe from tyme to tyme is great with child and bringeth forth children At this question of S. Theodore not onlie that sawcy fellow was put to silence but also the iudges cast their eyes to the ground noting well the substantiall reason of the yongman and how vnfit it was to adore for a Goddesse a woman who was alwaies either with child or els that was deliuered of child Afterward studying what to do with S. Theodore they determined to let him go at liberty and they gaue him time wherein he should be better aduised what he would doe It may be said they among themselues that when he hath thought better on it he will leaue his foolish opinion and obey our Emperours These men called the wisedome of the yongman folly as they which be stark dronk vse to call them dronck which be sober and most free from that distemper The time which was assigned vnto S. Thedore to aduise and deliberate he conuerted to the effecting of a renowned deed which was this There was in Amasia the chief cittie of that prouince a Temple dedicated vnto Cybele mother of the Gods which Temple was neere vnto a ryuer that ran by the citty S. Theodore determining to burne it to the ground for the better performance expected a wind that should driue the flame and so setting fire vnto it the Temple and all therein contained was consumed to ashes By this heroicall deed he gaue answere
the auncyent souldyers should be enrolled and serue in person in the warres By this occasion the father of Martin who disliked the holie desires of his sonne caused him to be enrolled and sent him vnto the warres being then 15. yeares old and in those warres of Constantius the sonne of Constantine the great and Iulian he serued He was in the ordinary garrison of Pauia a city of Italy and with him he had a seruant vnto whom many times he gaue attendance such was his humility They eate at one table and sometimes Martin pulled of his bootes and made them cleane yea it is said that once hauing a seruant of a good nature he dismissed him looked for another that should be stark naught that he might haue occasion to merite more He serued in the warres 3. yeres before he was Baptised yet he eschued the vices which be ordinary and vsuall amongst souldiers He was affable curteous and charitable to his equalles lowely among his companions he was sober and temperate in the cherishing of himself in such sort that he seemed rather a relligious man then a souldier and before he was baptised he did all that a good Christian should doe He took that wages which was giuen him and reserued no more therof for his owne vse then that which was necessary for the mayntenance of his person the rest he gaue vnto the poore for those vertues and charitable acts which were in him he was beloued of all men On a time as he entred the city of Amiens which is in Gallia Belgica he saw a poore man naked that craued almes of them that passed by It was winter and extreame cold S. Martin was at that time armed and had no other garment but his souldiers coate The holy saint seeing no man to bestowe any thing on the poore man cut his cote in two parts with his sword and gaue one halfe therof to the poore man and the other part he reserued for himself Many saw this deed and some laughed to see him with half a garment and others were ashamed to consider they had not done the like charitable deed in all their life and better might they haue done it since they might haue clothed the poore man and not haue vnclothed themselfs The next night S. Martin being in a sound sleep he saw in a vision CHRIST couered with the piece of the garment he had giuen vnto the poore man and drawing nere vnto him asked if he knew that garment Then he heard CHRIST say to his Angells Martin being yet a Catechumen hath couered me with this garment By this doth euidently appeare that which IESVS CHRIST said in the ghospell That which is done vnto the poore is done vnto me S. Martin was not proud of this but yelded thanks vnto CHRIST for it and was very earnest and diligent to obteine Baptisme and desired to leaue the seruice of the warres but at the entreaty and importunacy of his Coronell he staied vntill his time was expired He was Baptised at the age of 18. yeares and remained still a souldier for the space of two years after which time he lefte the warres by reason of a peace ensuing which seemed to be miraculous and was thus The armies being ready to ioine battell a peace was made vpon very honorable condicions for the side wheron S. Martin was yea it is thought that almightie God made it for his holy saints sake who being abused in words by his captaine who called him coward and base fellow saying also that he desired to leaue the souldiers life that he might not be indangered in that battell S. Martin offered to passe through the enemies squadrons with out any armor for which cause God to preserue him from that iminent daunger procured an honorable peace to be made for his side Then went S. Martin to S. Hillary Bishop of Poiters with whom he remained some certeine dayes enioying his holy company and was edified by his vertuous behauior Then desirous to returne into his owne countrey he tooke leaue of S. Hillary both of them weeping aboundantly at their departure at which time S. Hillary gaue vnto S. Martin the order of Acolite besought him to retorne back vnto him speedely S. Martin trauelling on the way was like to haue bene murdered for certain thieues lying in waite for him one of them striking a full blow with his sword to wound him and another bearing it of with his weapon S. Martin shewed no feare at all And being demaunded the cause he made aunswere I neuer had lesse feare in my life for that I serue a Lord who I am assuered will not abandon me in a greater daunger then this is Herof the holy saint tooke occasion to preach vnto them IESVS CHRIST and one of those thiefs was conuerted and entred into relligion and died a blessed man At last he came to his owne countrey and preached the faith of CHRIST vnto his father and mother His mother was conuerted but his father continued still in his Idollatry and after that many other persons were conuerted to the faith by his meanes At that time the Arrian heresy was spred very much in the countrey where S. Martin preached and because he only publikely resisted them the heretiks did persecute him with all extremity and on a time they imprisoned him and scourged him publikely so shamelesse they were and not content herewith they sent him into exile S. Martin departing from his natiue countrey returned into Fraunce and there he vnderstood that S. Hillary was also banished by the Arrians wherfore he passed into Italy and builded a monastery nere vnto Millan where some Catholiques assembling together liued iointly with him a monasticall life But he was there also greuously persecuted by a principall Arrian heretique called Auxentius who after he had done him many wrongs and abuses neuer ceased vntill he had driuen him from thence also S. Martin yealding to the time took sea and came to an Island called Gallinaria in the cōpany of a holy priest where they two remained a good space susteining themselfs with the rootes of herbes only Then newes came vnto him that S. Hillary was returned vnto his Bishoprique wherefore he determined to find him out and when he came thither the holy father receiued him very louingly S. Martin dwelling there built another monastery nere vnto Poiters vnto which place came a Catechumen to be instructed in the faith and holy behauior It happened that S. Martin being absent the yong man fell sicke and died and whilest the other relligious men prepared to bury him the holy saint came and made great shew of sorowe for the death of that his disciple and coming into the roome where the dead body lay he bad all the other depart out then he shutt the dore and remained there two houres in praiers and he that was dead began then by litle and litle to recouer his sences and returned to life and perfect health When theother
relligious men sawe it they gaue vnto God infinite thanks and the yong man that had tasted of death was baptised and liued many yeares after S. Martin raised to life another dead man who had hanged himself as it was thought vpon a melancholick humor predominant in him depriuing him of his vnderstanding but by the praier of S. Martin he recouered and was restored to his life and health also The fame of this holy saint was spread very farre wherwith the citizens of Towers being moued sought meanes to haue him to their Bishop but it was a hard matter to get him out of his monastery They that went for him vsed this wile to get him away Aman that loued the monastery told him his wife was sicke in Poiters and desired him to goe thither to visite and heale her S. Martin vpon this occasion departed from the monastery and the messagers of the city of Towers carried him away by force before the monks who had laboured to hinder his departure perceiued it S. Martin was receiued in Towers with great ioy by all the common people who said all with one voice They were now happie since they had to their father and pastour so holy and humble a man After he was made Bishop though he changed his estate yet he altred not his life for he was as lowely and was appareilled as meanely as he was before time He discharged his office and duety to the full for he was very diligent in procuring the good of his flock and in repelling all euill from them He reproued vice commended vertue he preached he punished he rewarded and did not omitt any thing that was couenient and fit to be done so that thereby he discharged fully his duety toward his neighboure To discharge his duety toward God he caused a monastery to be built vpon a craggy mounteine two miles from the city to which place were assembled many relligious men and there he had a cell into which he withdrew himself oftentimes to pray and to liue in contemplation The relligious men who arose in short space to the nomber of 80. moued by the example of S. Martin liued a holy life in chastity pouerty obedience and continuall fasting and prayer and their habites were made of camells hayre Their diet was very temperate none dronk wyne except he was sick and they went very seldome out of their cells S. Martin had some of these monks always in his company and when he stayed any time in the monastery and returned into the city they that were posessed of the deuill gaue notice therof by the feare and dread they shewed and by the paine they suffered before he entred the towne and this befell into what city so euer he came This holy prelate vsed great dilligence in the extirpation of Idollatry out of his diocesse and trauelled into many places throwing to the ground the Idolls of the Gentills cutting downe and burnyng the groues and trees wherin the deuills gaue oracles and aunswers for which cause he was oftentimes in daunger to be murdered by the common people but his deportment and cariage was so discreet in all his affaires accompanied with some myracle in the sight of them that were agreued at his doings that sometimes whole compaines fell at his feet and besought him they might be made Christians It would be a long story to recount how many sicke he healed by his prayers but among others one was Paulinus ouer whose eyes was growne such a webbe that it made him blind and also put him to much paine The holy saint did clense them one time with a napkin and he was made whole his sight restored and his grief ceased After this S. Martin being Bishop raised to life the sonne of a distressed poore mother whofinding him in the city of Chaâ—tres in the company of many Idollaters layd before him her dead sonne and requested him very earnestly to raise him vnto life The holy saint made his prayer for him and he reuiued This myracle caused many of those pagans to come to the faith of CHRIST S. Martin after he was Bishop raised to life none but this child and bycause he had raised vnto life two before that he vsed to say vnto his disciples and friends that he was better by two parts before he was Bishop then after and that his high dignity had diminished his vertue It is apparant the holy man said these words for lowlines and humility for it is well known that after he was Bishop he did many admirable and vertuous deeds which he had not done in the former time But this declareth and sheweth his charity and humility He was Bishop when he came into Paris and sawe at the gate a leprous man soe full of soies and blaines that the only sight of him was greeuous and importable to many the good prelate came close to him and embraced him and layd his face on the face of the leper he kissed him very charitably there with cuted him and made him whole This leper whom the whole city had seene came the day following to the Church and gaue thanks publiquely vnto God for the recouery of his health He was Bishop when Sulpitius who wrote his life visited him whoÌ„ he receiued most kindly and gaue him harty thankes that he was come from Tolose to Towers only to see him The blessed man himself washed his feet made him sitt at his table at the which he filled more his soule then his body hearing his words enkindled with the fier of celestiall loue and the grauity of his reasons This Autor said I neuer sawe nor conuersed with any mortall man furnished with such science witte and eloquence such aboundance of pure chast words as I found in Martin it made me more to marueile for that I know he was vnlettered The somme of his speaches were of the contempt of the world to auoid vice to loue vertue and that which he said he performed also in deed Noe tounge is able to expresse that which I noted to be in this holy saint in the time I liued in his company I neuer sawe him angry I neuer sawe him displeased or discontent much lesse to laugh after a dissolute maner and this was because that what so euer befell he receiued it as sent from God The austerityes of his fastings watching continuall wearing of sackcloth were things rather to be admyred then imitated He slept continually on the ground he vsed to eate and sleep so litle that it seemed impossible he could liue with it He was neuer idle when he had dispatched the affaires and busines of his Church he spent the rest of his time in reading the holy scripture mixing it with praier Herin he did as the smithes doe striking vpon the hotte iron who that they may continue the better giue now and then an idle blow euen so did S. Martin as for a recreation praying one while and reading another O blessed man in
vpward being so painfull and he said Let me look vp toward heauen since that very shortly my spirit is to go that way which I behold When the agony of death came he saw the deuill the ennemy of mankind and said vnâ—o him what doest thou heere thou cruell beaâ— Thou shalt find in me nothing for which I shall eâ—damned and hauing said thus he rendered his spirit to our Lord being 81. yeares old His blessed soule was borne into heauen accompanyed with many Angells who made much ioy and song melodiously This musique was heard by sundry persons that were in places farre distant as of seuerinus Arch B. of Collein and by S. Ambrose Arch Bishop of Millan Who sayeng of masse fell a sleep from the which he awaked after three howers and then said to the standers by know you that my brother Martin B. of Towers is departed out of this life and I haue bene present there to bury his body S. Martin liued on the earth poore and humble and intred into heauen rich and with great maiesty His death was on the. 11. day of Nouember and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast and it was in the year of our Lord. 399. in the time of the Emperour Honorius This holy saint did many myracles in his life time and also after his death Whilest he liued he was the meanes that many were conuerted vnto God by his good example and excellent doctrine and after his death many were holpen by his merites and in tercession God of his great bountie and infinit mercie graunt that we may be in the number of the chosen to the end we may enioy his glory in the company of S. Martin Amen Many Authors write of S. Martin beside Seuerus Sulpitius as S. Paulinus Bishop of Nola Fortunaus the priest Gregory of Towers Odo the first Abbot of Cluny Hebernus Bishop of Turen and many others The life of S. Menna Martir OVR sauiour CHRIST saith vnto his seruants in S. Mathew Ca. 30 WheÌ„ you shal be brought before kings Iudges take no thought what you shall speak for at that time you shal be tought howe to answere This sentence is verefied in a holie souldier called Menna who haning spent his time in the warre among swords and lauâ—ces being brought before a tirani that did examine him of the faith of CHRIST which he professed made some answeres as if he had bene exercised in the studie of the holie scriptures all the daies of his life Of this holie saint Metaphrastes writeth as ensueth IN the second yeare of Caius Valerius Dioclesianus and in the first yeare of Caius Valerius Maximianus after the death of Numerianus who had gouerned the Empire before them there was raised a sore persecution against the Christians through all the lands subiect to the Empire Into which were sent publike proclamations conteining the will of the Emperours and the punishment that should be inflicted vpon those that disobeied the same There was in the cittie of Cottieum which is in the prouince of Phrigia or in Asia minor a president calsed Pirrhus Arginiscus who had the gouernement of that prouince had also authority ouer the men of warre which were resident in the same as a garrison for defence therof Notwithstanding they had a generall captaine ouer them called Firmilianus Among the souldiers there was one in the regiment of Rutilus called Menna by nation an Aegiptian and by profession a Christian whose vertue shone among the rest as the sunne doth aboue the starres The Emperours edict came vnto this cittie the tenor whereof was this Dioclesian and Maximian Emperours to all their subiects seÌ„deth greeting Forasmuch as we acknow ledg to haue receaued many fauours and graces of of the soueraigne Gods for which we thinck our selues obliged and bound to procure all honour and seruice to be done vnto them and their Temples We therefore coÌ„maund all magistrates and captaines of our Empire that assoone as they haue notice of this our Edict that they endeauour with all dilligence as a thing that concerneth the saffetie of our estate the honor of the Gods our benefactors that all our subiects aswell men as women of what estate or condition soeuer they bee do worship and adore them and do offer sacrifice in visiring often their temples And those that be disobedient and rebellious against our comaundements that they be tormented in the most cruell forte that may be inuented This was the tenor of the Edict Assoone as the president receaued it he caused it to be proclaimed through all the cittie other places of his prouince CoÌ„maunding withall that presently after the proclamation all men and women should go vnto the Temples to the end the disobedient persons might be knowne In most places where the proclamation was made there were great murmurings amongst the people for that it was thought both vniust and cruell yet the greatest part of people went of force vnto the Temples to obey the Edict When the valiant souldier so Menna vnderstood hereof he was not able to endure so vniust and vnrighteous proceedings as to haue the veneration and worship of the true GOD IESVS CHRIST to be abolished and that in stead thereof reuerence should be done vnto the fiends Because he would be free and not be partaker of this wicked transgression nor so much as see it he departed from the armie and withdrew himself into a desert where he remained fiue yeares leading a sollitarie life in continuall fasting and works of penance which was as an exercise and an entrance into the warre and battaile which he expected shortly to make At the last inspired by God he returned into the cittie vpon a day which was kept very sollemne as the birthdaie of one of their Godds The people of the cittie were generally assembled into a Theatre expecting certaine martiall exercises as Iusts and turneis And there was also the president Pirrhus for the same purpose S. Menna entred into the middest of the show and with a loud and cleere voice he rehersed a text out of the Pophet Esay Ca. 65. which saith I haue bene found of them that sought me not and manifested to them that asked not after me At these words all the standers by fixed their eies vpon him and seing him to be a rude plaine man meanely apparelled they know not what to make of his words nor what he ment by them The president Pirrhus causing him to be brought neerer vnto him demaunded of him who he was He aunswered I am Menna the seruant of IESVS CHRIST who is Emperour of heauen and earth The president enquired further Art thou a stranger or a citisen that thou seekest to disturb our feastiuall showes in this manner what is thy meaning herein One of them which stood by said vnto Pirrhus I know the man well He is a souldier of the regiment called Rutilica whose Coronell is Firmilianus and it is about fiue yeeres since he abandoned
rather to die then to deny my Lord CHRIST I am a Christian and therefore expect not that I will sacrifice vnto the diuells The Iudg was so wroth with this answere that he caused calthropes to be set thick on the ground the blessed martir to be dragged and haled ouer them In this torment the holie saint said Seek out other tortures for these be of too smalle force to make me worship thy diuells Pirrhus being now more enraged said Beat him with cudgells and knotted thongs of leather and buffet him on the face till he cease to call our Gods by the names of diuells But all these things preuailed not to make the valiant souldier of CHRIST shew any signe of feare or yeelding There was present a noble man of the court called Eliodorus who said vnto Pirrhus my Lord these Christians be a people which regard no torments yea death is more welcome vnto them then life Do not vexe nor trouble thy self any more with this man but giue iudgment of death vpon him as he hath well deserued for that he hath abandoned his captaine and refused to serue in the warres Thâ—n Pirrhus said vnto Menna If thou wilt resolue to sacrifice vnto the Gods I will cause thy captaine to pardon thy former offence and to giue thee more honorable office and degrees Menna said God forbid that I should desire such offices and honors I desire to haue them in heauen where true honor is to be had not those of the world which be vaine and transitorie The president seing the constancy of the blessed martir by the aduise of the other courtiers coÌ„demned him to die with these words Because Menna the souldier doth not obey the proclamation of the Emperours and because he followeth the religion of the Christians and will not sacrifice vnto our Gods we comaund that he be beheaded that others by his example may feare to comitt the like trespasses The blessed martir was led by the officers vnto a place called Potemia vnto which all the cittie was assembled The holie saint with a cheerefull countenance though meanely apparelled as making smalle account of any worldly thing went comunicating with some of his acquaintance as if he had not bene going vnto death Recomending them vnto God and taking leaue of them he lifted his eies toward heauen saying I blesse and praise thee o father eternall for that thou hast hitherto kept me and hast not turned thy face from me Thou hast giuen me strength that I should not loose my soule with this treacherous and faithles people but that I might confesse constantly thy blessed name and thy holie lawe I beseech thee through IESVS CHRIST thy sonne that thou wilt help me at this houre of death and deliuer my soule in granting it victorie in this last assault that it may appeere free before thy iudgment seat and there worship thee Saying this he came to the place of execution where falling on his knees and looking toward heauen the hangman cut of his head Then they cast his bodie into a great fire but the fire consumed it not so that some deuout persons took it and buried it in a place conuenient whither many Christians resorted crauing mercy at Gods hands by the praiers and merits of this his faithfull seruant Menna Who was of Egipt honorablie borne iust faithfull mild and vertuous and replenished with the grace of the Holie Ghost He was martired in the cittie of Cottieum in the prouince of Phrigia on the. 11. of Nouember in the yeere of our Lord 301. Spa saith 296. And on the same daie the Church maketh of him a commemoration The bodie of this holie saint was after ward translated vnto Constantinople The life of S. Martin Pope and Martyr THE noble king Dauid would not giue leaue 2. Râ—g 2 nor permit one of his souldiers to kill his father in lawe Saul when he might easily haue done it and theother well deserued it coming to pursue and search him out with an army and a full intention to kill him if he could haue gotten him within his daunger And though Dauid found him fast a sleep in his pauilion and in like maner all his guard who should haue watched in his defence yet would he not once touch him The reason which Dauid alleaged was because Saul was the anointed of the Lord. It happened farre otherwise vnto the glorious S. Martin Pope and martir who being annointed and consecrated and moreouer the vicar and lieutenant of CHRIST in earth yet some Christians in name but in their deeds worse then Pagans were so bold as to take him and vse him villanously as may appeare by his life collected out of the book of Poper lifes called Pontificall and out of other good Authors SAINT Martin the first Pope of that name was the sonne of one Fabritius and borne in Todi a city in Tuscane a very holy man and vertuous Assoone as he was elected to the gouernment of the Church he emploied all his vttermost dilligence endeuor to extirpat roote out some heresies about the person of IESVS CHRIST already condemned in former Councells The man who did bring them againe out of hell where they had bene a good space buried into the world was a Patriarch of Constantinople called Paulus who had some other prelaâ—s that abbetted him and were wrapped in the same error These wonne th'emperour Constans the second of that name to be of their sect and opinion such sleights and deuises they wrought with him The legats of the Pope who resided there certefied him of the proceedings of Paulus the Patriarch The Pope incontinent apointed by his letters what order should be taken therin and wrot vnto the same Paulus louing letters beseeching him not to be so determinately stubborne in ruynating the peace of the Church and in patronizing of his errors so many times condemned by the holy prelats ingreat assembles and generall Councells Paulus being by nature proud and obstinate to shew what small accouÌ„t he made of the Popes aduertisements caused an Aultar which the legats had set vp in the Church founded by Placida vpon which they said masse after the Roman vse to be cast to the ground and defaced The malice of Paulus was so much augmented that because the legats on the Popes behalf required him when they sawe his obstinacy to amend his fault and reforme his errors or els they would proceed against him as a contumacious person by the censures of the Church he made meanes to th'emperour to cause the legats to be restrained of their liberty and euill entreated and afterward he sent them into banishment into sondry parts of Christendome which was as if he had sent trompets to sound and publish the malignity of the Patriarch the tiranny of th'emperour and the misbelief of them both being obstinate in the error condemned by all the Catholike Church when Pope Martin had vnderstanding thereof he had recourse vnto the ordinary remedies in the
they sought for them found them out aprehended them put them in prison and at the end vnto some cruell death Notice was giuen by some informers that Gregorie laie hidden in the mountaine whereupon officers were sent forth with to aprehend him for the iudges thought that if they put him to death being the cheif the inferior Christians would be discouraged to make such bold profession of their faith S. Gregorie being on the mountaine comaunded his deacon to make his oraisons So both of them kneeling with their hands lifted vp to heauen somewhat distant the one from the other they besought God if it were for his seruice that he would deliuer them from the persecution but if his will was that they should dye for his sake and loue of his holie Gospell they did like wise desire that his will might be done The souldiers arryuing at the mountaine went vp and downe all the hill searching for them and returned vnto the Iudge telling him that they had found noting but two trees somewhat distant the one from the other The Iudg knew for certaine that Gregorie was on the mountaine and therefore he went thither in person alone finding those that seemed to the souldiers to be trees to be Gregorie and his deacon at their praiers When the Iudg saw this wonder God so touched his hart that he went vnto S. Gregorie and fell at his feete confessing IESVS CHRIST to be the true God And he that before persecuted them from thenceforth was one of them that fled from the persecution Another time the holie saint being in praier and with him some of his disciples with his deacon he lifted vp his voice on a sodaine saying these words of Dauid Psa 123. Blessed be our Lord who hath not suffred vs to be taken in their teeth His disciples asked him why he said these wordes and he answered that in that very instant of time was finished in the citie the martyrdome of a Christian who had valiantlie ouercome his persecutors by cōtinuing firme and constant in the faith of CHRIST and said he was called Troadius The deacon asked leaue of the holie saint and went secretlie into the cittie finding all that the blessed man had said to be verie true The persecution then ceasing S. Gregorie returned vnto this Church and recollected together the faith full beleeuers that were dispersed by flight into sundrie partes setling himself againe vnto the preaching of the faith By which meanes some that shewed themselues weak in the time ef persecution were reduced againe to a good estate and many Gentiles were Baptised He vsed great dilligence to know them that had bene martyred and apointed that their feasts should be kept euery yeare on the same daie on which they had beene put to death The good father was now verie old and knowing that his death aproached he desired to be certifyed how many Idolaters and vnbeleeuers remained in that cittie It was told to him there was left but 17. that continewed obstinate in their Idollatrie I am much agreeued said the holie faint that these continew in such an error but yet I yeeld infinite thancks vnto God because I leaue behind me vnto my successor but so many vnbeleeuers in the Bishoprike as I found beleeuers when I was consecrated Bishop Then made he his praier for the Catholique Christians desiring God to giue them grace to continew in his seruice and he besought those that were present that they would bury him amongst others and not in any peculier graue of his owne For I would haue it said of me when I am gone that I had not in my life time an house of mine owne nor after my death a sepulcre This glorious saint rendred his soule vnto God on the 17. daie of Nouember and on the same daie the Catholique Church celebrateth his feast His body was buried as he had apointed all the people making great lamentation but especially his disciples and houshold seruants for loosing so louing a father and so good a master although they were comforted knowing for certaine that they had him for their patrone and aduocate in heauen His death was in the yeare of our Lord. 267. in the time of the Emperour Gallien Nicephorus Callistus writeth the life of this holie saint in the 6. book and 17. chapter The Dedication of the Church of SS Peter Paule THE wise king Salomon was not content to build a house and temple for the great God but hauing finished that work He entended to do another which was to build a lodging for his chiefest Queene among all his other wife 's who was the daughter of king Pharao In like sort also our Lord God would not only haue Churches builded by the Christians for himself to inhabite and dwell and therin to be honored reuerented but his pleasure was that there should be also others builded for his saints whose soules were his spouses by faith For this cause the holy Church of Rome celebrateth the feast of the building of the Church of our Sauiour and of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paule The which I haue gathered out of the lessons of the mattins of this solemnity out of some particulers which are redd in the liues of the Popes and Emperours which was in this manner IT was a custome in the Primitiue Church for the Christians to assemble together in priuar and set places to celebrate the diuine office to hear masse to receue the B. sacrament to heare the word of God preached and to make praier They were assembled to do these things especially in the places where the martirs had bene buried and among other one part of the Vatican was highly regarded which they called the Confession of S. Peter for that his B. body had bene in that place enterred and thither resorted people from all parts of the world to giue honor and reuerence vnto it To that same place came th'emperour Constantin the Great 8. daies after he was Baptised where he made his praier and shed many tears Then he took a mattock and digged vp 12. baskets of earth which he himself caried away in honor of the. 12. Apostles in which place they should build a Church vnto S. Peter the head of them Hauing thus begon the work was continewed finished and S. Siluester the Pope consecrated it on the 18. day of Nouember in the year of our Lord. 325. euen as he had consecrated the Church of S. Sauiour on the 9. day of the same moneth He made there an Altare of stone and consecrated it ordeining that from thensforth the Altars should be made of stone The same Emperour Constantin caused another Church to be builded in the honor of the Apostle S. Paul in the way to Hostia and enriched the one theother with reuenewes and adorned them with vessells and iewells of great value Great was the feruour and desire this Prince had to raze to the ground the temples of the Idolls through
After their deaths the gouernor Almachius entended to get the goods of the two brethren into his hands but vnderstanding that Cecilie had distributed them vnto the poore he caused her to be brought before him She confessed vnto him the truth namelie that all the goods of the two noble gentlemen Tiburtius and Valerian were giuen vnto the poore The gouernour therefore seeking a quarrell and desiring to be reuenged on her said in a great rage I think we shall haue a Christian of you also but I will haue you to sacrifice vnto the Gods in my sight that I maie be witnes whether you deserue the same punishment that those brethren deserued and had The officers of the gouernour vrged her to sacrifice to whom she said Harken to me brethren You be the officers of the gouernour and you think it meet that I should obey his comandement but I on the other side think it verie vniust in him to comaund me to sacrifice vnto those Gods which be not such indeed and to leaue of to sacrifice vnto the true God that is IESVS CHRIST Be assured that I will suffer and endure and the torments that can be inflicted vpon me and at the end rather lose my life then do his cōmaundement The officers made shew of pittie compassion toward her seing a damosell so yong so discreet so faire and gratious readie to abandon and leaue all these yea life and all for her faith and religion They said vnto her Consider thy youth and beautie haue compassion on thy self and change not all other thy good parts in these tender yeares for vntimelie death The holie virgin said vnto them To change earth for gold is not to loose but to gaine Or to giue a cottage half-ruinated for a house built with perles and pretious stones or a life repleat with troubles and miseries which shall quiklie end for a life replenished with riches and treasure that shall endure for euer These and the like speaches vsed S. Cecilie and her words were of such force and wrought so that many that were present resolued to be Christians and were afterward Baptised by S. Vrban The gouernor was astonied to heare the holie virgin speak and viewing her angelike beautie asked what her name was for till that time he knew no other name but only that she was the wife of Valerian She told him that her name was Cecilie and then the gouernour replyed knowest thou not that the Emperours of Rome haue comaunded that the Christians either do sacrifice vnto the Gods or else that they be put to death I know it right well said the holie saint What wilt thou then do said the gouernour I determine to die said she For it is farre better to dye for confessing IESVS CHRIST then to liue denying him Consider said the gouernour that it wil be best for thee to leaue and forsake this thy oppinion and to sacrifice vnto our Gods S. Cecilie said It were better for thee to open thine eyes and to consider that those whom thou callest Gods be but stocks and stones If thou wilt not beleeue me touch them with thy hands or throwe them into the fire and there will come lime from the stones which maie serue to build with so shall there be no deceit in them as there is nowe Then said the gouernour How should I suffer thee to speak such words in my presence knowest thou not that I haue power to giue thee life or to take it awaie at my pleasure S. Cecilie answered thou thinkest my words void of reason and I know thy words to be false and no truth in them Almachius said doest thou saie Cecilie that I speak not truth The holie virgin said I saie it and auouch it in that thou saiest thou hast authoritie to giue and take awaie my life Thou maiest take life from the liuing but to giue life vnto the dead it is most cleere and certaine thou canst not So that I maie well call thee the minister of death I wil be such an officer vnto thee said Almachius if thou wilt not sacrifice So when he sawe she was constant and resolute and would not sacrifice he caused her to be put into certaine bathes which were in her owne house and hauing shut her in one of them being empty without water they made a great fire vnder which burned a whole daie and a night The holie saint receaued not any hurt thereby but it seemed to her a place rather of pleasure and refreshing then other wise when Almachius heard thereof he comaunded one to cut of her head in that place The hangman gaue her three blowes yet did he not cut of her head altogether but left it euen as it was hanging by the skinne The blessed virgin being thus wounded liued three daies many Christians coming to visite her Among these were some that had receaued the faith by her meanes whom she seing sorowfull comforted They dried vp the bloud that ran from her wound with napkins and other clothes with intent to keep them as reliques S. Vrban went also to visite her and she told him that she had desired of God to liue three daies that she might dispose of her goods and request him to consecrate that house of hers into a Church When the three daies were ended this holie virgin and glorious martyr being in prayer yeelded her blessed soule vnto God on the 22 of Nouember Her bodie was buried by pope Vrban in the Chruchyard of Callistus and her house was consecrated into a Church In processe of time pope Paschalis translated the bodies of SS Cecilie Tiburtius Valerian and pope Vrban into the Church of S. Cecilie The Catholique Church celebrateth the feast of this holie saint on the daie of her martyrdome At the end of the life of SS Tiburtius and Valerian on the 14. of Aprill is rehersed the saying of Canisius to wit that these saints were martyred in the time of Alexander Seuerus in the yeare of our Lord 225. the same he saith of S. Cecilie also and because mention is made there of pope Vrban the account cometh to be iust at that time But the Romane Breuiarie of Pius 5. putteth her martyrdome about 50. yeeres before in the times of the Emperours Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Commodus Her name is in the Canon of the masse The life of S. Clement Pope and Martir GREAT was the fame and credit which Moises the guide Exod. 27. and captein of the Hebrewes acquired and got when the said people being in the desert and at the point to dy for thirst he by the apointement of God strook a rock out of which issued water in abundance sufficient for them all to drink and to be refreshed and comforted No lesse glorious and worthy of fame was S. Clement the holie Pope and martir who did the like He liued in a desert banished thither with many other Christians for the profession of the name of IESVS CHRIST and they all
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
write a letter vnto Chrisogonus after this manner Vnto the holie confessor of IESVS CHRIST Chrisogonus Anastasia sendeth greeting Although my father which begot we was an Idollater yet my mother that bore me who was called Fausta was a Christian and a vertuous chaste woman She instructed me in the Christian faith euer from my childhood and after her death I was maryed vnto a sacrilegious and cruell man whose bed and companie I haue oftentimes refused excusing it with infirmities which I desired God to send me for that purpose I spent the night and the day in prayer desyring my sweet Sauiour that I might imitate his blessed example This most cruell man after he bath consumed my patrymonie amongst wicked and lewd company like vnto himself hath imprisoned me as if I were a malefactor or a detestable offender and forbiddeth any sustenance to be guieÌ„ vnto me that I may perish and dye for want of food Although I shal be glad to loose my life for CHRIST his sake neuerthelesse I find great grief that my goods be wasted in such lasciuious sort in such lewd company and in the seruice of the false Gods Therefore I beseech thee thou seruant of IESVS CHRIST to pray vnto God Almightie for me and that the either alter the mind of this my husband that he may be conuerted or els if he continew and perseuâ—r in his hardnes of hart and obstinacy that he take him out of this world And better it shal be for him to be taken out of this life then to adde daily sinne to sinne which will put him to double torments in hell I promise and vowe vnto Almightie God and to thee his seruant â—hat if euer I get cleere and freed from this affliction to spend all my time in the seruice of my Blessed Sauiour IESVS as my vse and custome was and in helping and prouiding fot thy necessities and to releeue the wants of all other holie confessors Our Lord keep thee euer thou B seruant of God Remember me and praie for me S. Chrisogonus hauing receiued this letter made his prayers and oraysons for Anastasia and then together with other confessors that were in the same prison he answered her in this manner Among the tempestuous stormes of this world in which at this present thou art enwrapped be assured that thou shalt be relieued by IESVS CHRIST who will easilie cast headlong into the bottomeles pitte the diuell that doth assaâ—le and torment thee Haue patience in the middest of thy troubles and put thy trust in him for he wild deliuer thee Cry out aloud vnto him Exalt thy voyce with the prophet and say why art thou so sad o my soule and why art thou so disquieted with in me Trust in God still for I will euer confesse that he is my saluation and my God Thinck Lady that it is his will to bestowe on thee the riches and treasures of heauen since he taketh away and depriueth thee of wordly comforts Be not too much troubled nor afflicted for that crosses and tribulation lighteth vpon thee that liuest vertuously God doth try vs but doth not deceaue vs. To trust in man is vayne and deceitfull an he that putteth his hope or confidence in him is accursed and euer deceiued but blessed is he that putteth his trust and affiance in God who neuer deceaued any Continewe in thy vertuous excercises and hope for rest and quietnes only in God whose comaundemers thou keepest when it shall best please him and thou thinkest least he will send thee traÌ„quillitie a calme tyme. The darknes shall flie away and the light shall appeere The frost and pinching cold of the winter shall passe and the ioyfull sweetenes of the spring shall succeed A quiet and comfortable tyme shall come that thou maiest cherish and relieue those againe that suffer persecution for the loue and profession of CHRIST God giuing thee heere meanes that thou mayst help other with temporall necessities and receiue thy self of him euerlasting rewards Our Lord be with thee good lady and pray for me With this Epistle S. Anastasia receiued great consolation endeavoring to equall if not to surpasse thereby the many complaâ—nts she had made of her hardharted and cruell husband Her persecutions encreased still he giuing to her now but the fourth part or one quater of a a smalle oridinary loaffe And she thincking verily that her death approached wrote another letter to S. Chrisogonus after this tenor and to this effect To the blessed martyr and Confessor of CHRIST Chrisogonus Anastasia sendeth greeting The end of my life draweth neere vouchsaffe to remember me and to pray vnto God to receaue my soule when it departeth from my body since for his loue and the profession of his holie name I suffer all this torment The holie man returned this answere Chrisogonus to Anastasia As darknes precedeth and goeth before light so after infirmitie ensueth health and life cometh after death Prosperities and aduersities haue the like and the same endes therefore let not the heauy and sorrowfull fall into desperation nor the happy and fortunate be proude or too much puffed vp Be of good comfort ô handmaid of CHRIST for thy peregrination which hath beene repleat with tempestuous stormes shal be finished with a prosperous and happy conclusion thereby desires shal be acomplished enjoying CHRIST by the palme of Martyrdome The further course and processe of her greeuous persecutions may be seene in her life on the 25. day of December Of S. Chrisogonus you are to vnderstand that the Emperour Dioclesian being in the cittie of Aquileya martyrising the Christians he sent to Rome to haue Chrisogonus brough thither to him who being come the Emperour said to him I will bestowe on thee high dignities I will make thee Prefect of the cittie that thou maiest so arise to be Consull And indeed such places and preferments are fittest for men of noble linage and such worthie partes as thy self hath but vpon this condition that thou wilt worship our Gods S. Chrisogonus answered I adore one onely God With my soule and hart I reuerence him and with all externall signes and tokens I confesse IESVS CHRIST to be the true God And as for thy Idolles which be habitacles of diuells and fiendes I detest and accurse them Dioclesian comaunded that he should be beheadded and that his body should be cast into the sea and so it was done A priest called zoilus found his bodie afterward and buried it honorablie His martyrdome was on the day whereon the Church celebrateth his memorie which was on the 24. of Nouember on a Tuesdaie in the yeare of our Lord. 302. Dioclesian being Emperour His name is in the Canon of the masse Of this holie saint wrote Suidas Ando venerable Bede Vsuardus and the Romane martyrologe The life of S. Catherine of Alexandria IN the Book of kings it is said of king Salomon that he had many wines It was the will of God that the Hebrewes should
with the sacrifices offred vpon them This was verie pleasing to the Emperour who yet to encourage others apointed a sollemne sacrifice of 100 Oxen to be made which being readie to be performed it happened That a yong damosell of Alexandria borne of the bloud royall learned in diuers sciences and also verie beautifull called Catherine who acknowledged no other God but IESVS CHRIST desirous to defend the lawe of her lord and sauiour and greeuing that so many people should be drowned in Idollatrie and especiallie for that the Emperour caused these people thus to offend determined to go speak to him and to reprooue him and to preuent if she could possiblie this mischeif that it might go no further Departing with this entention from her house well attended by her men-seruants and handmaides she came vnto the Temple and sent one to tell the Emperour that she desired to speak with him and he gaue her leaue to come in S. Catherine came into the Temple and at her entrance all the people present were amased at her wonderfull and Angelicall beautie as also for her modest and lowelie behauiour The Emperour wondred also to see a yong maid so gratious and desired to heare her speak that he might know the entent of her coming This render virgin verie modestlie yet with a Christian boldnes said vnto him O mightie Emperour it seemes to me that thou shouldest in thine owne discretion take notice of thine error and not to sacrifice in this sort vnto Idolls which represent vnto thee men subiect to many vices And if perhaps thou doest not know who they were that thou adorest enquire of those that can certifie thee who will tell thee that they were principall men in the world that for some benefits done in the countrie where they dwelt obtained of the people to haue statues erected vnto them that their memorie might be preserued and that others seing them might be incouraged to do the like deedes and thereby attaine such like honor and reputation But the rude and ignorant people began to call them Gods and to sacrifice vnto them as Gods not regarding that they had beene men And though in some respect they were rare and deserued honour and regard yet in many other things they deserued reproach and infamie for that they had bene vitious of life and wicked Thou ô Emperour oughtest to draw the people from this their error and blindnes and not to perswade them thus to runne further from the light to the preiudice of their soules Acknowledg the true God that created thee and hath giuen thee the Empire who being immortall was made man for our sake and of his owne will did subiect himself to dye that we might be deliuered from death which oure disobedience deserued This Lord will not know them that know not him nor suffer them to enter into his kingdome But those that acknowledg him he rewaâ—deth and giueth to them euerlasting life The Emperour hearing the bold speaches of the virgin stood still a while and could not speak a word for anger considering withall that vnto the reasons the damosell alleadged answere could hardlie be made yet he said vnto her yong girle we will first end our sacrifice and then we will make you an answere withall he commaunded she should be led vnto his pallace The sollemnitie of the sacrifices being ended the Emperour returned vnto his pallace and causing her to be brought before him he said vnto her Tell me yong damosell who thou art and of the words that thou hast spoken this daie Catherine answered It is well knowne in this cittie what bloud I am of my discent being both from Emperours and kings My name is Catherine and I haue spent my time in the studie of Rhetorique philosophie and other sciences but that which I most esteeme and regard is that I am come to the knowledg of IESVS CHRIST true God and true man whoÌ„ I haue taken to my spouse and he hath said I will destroy the wisedome of the wise and refuse the prudence of the prudent for all the wisdome and prudence of man compared to that which I haue learned is nothing worth and not to be regarded Whilest Catherine spoke the Emperour viewed her and wondered at her rare beautie her comelie feature and force of her reasons He thought her not a woman borne on the earth but did liken her to one of the goddesses which he and the other pagans adored The more he talked with the holie maid the more he was confounded for the more stronglie she prooued and concluded that his Gods were diuells and that IESVS CHRIST was more potent then they for that the signe of the Crosse made in the ayre did both feare them and driue them away wherefore he douting to be ouercome by her and put to reproach determined to send for wise and learned orators to dispute with Catherine and to conuince her by their reasons The Emperour himself told the saint hereof and in the meane space caused her to be kept in his pallace vnder a strong guard This being done he gathered famous men out of diuers countries and fiftie such were assembled at his pallace They vnderstanding the cause wherefore they were called the chief of them said vnto him Though there be found o mightie Emperour women of good intendment and sharp witt and though I think this woman maie be such a one yet vnto vs hast thou done apparant wrong since thou makest such account of her by equalling her vnto vs and by thinking that her wisedome and learning maie be compared with ours Some of our disciples maie dispute with her though that be also superfluous and more then needeth for that she hath not the methode to propound nor order to alleadg not to deny nor grant Yea if she speak with a philosopher that can dispute with her she shall not haue a word to saie but will presentlie shew her ignorance and yield The Emperour answered him I would not haue you deceiued I haue studied my self though not so much as you and as farre as I can gather I thinke her worthie to be compared to Plato or any other famous philosopher Be assured that if you ouercome her you shall haue victorie not of a woman but of another Plato On the contrarie part if you be ouercome by her remember you shal be vanquished of a woman If this happen you shal be put to great reproach but if you ouercome her you shal be highlie honored and bountifully rewarded by me The daie apointed for the disputation being come the holie damosell was called for that purpose but first she making her praier vnto IESVS CHRIST an Angell appeared who said vnto her Feare not thou spouse of CHRIST for vnto thy humane wisedome gotten by studie and paines shal be adioyned wisedome infused and supernaturall with which thou shalt ouercome those philosophers and shalt reduce them and many others to the faith of CHRIST the true God and ioyntlie with
Idolls fell downe on the ground and broke to pieces Two souldiers the one called Papias and the other Maurus seing this cryed out and sayd Assuredly IESVS CHRIST whom Saturnine and Sisinnius do adore is the true God The prefect being in a great rage comaunded his officers to torment them they put them on the torment or Rack called Equuleus and hoysing them vp they scourged them very grieuously and rent and tore their bodies with yron bookes and scorpions They being in those torments song Himnes and said Glory be to thee O Lord IESVS CHRIST for that we are found worthie to be partakers of afflictions with thy seruans The tWo souldiers Papias and Maurus which were conuerted when the Idoll fell to the ground as is afore said were present and neere the holie martir These men being stiered vp with a desire of the crowne of martyâ—dome and repleat with holie anger against the excecutioners that tormented them with such rigor and cruelltie said to them with a loud voice How great is the diuell with you that he maketh you so cruell against the seruants of the liuing God When the Prefect Laodicio heard their wordes he was enraged against them and comaunded the officers to strike them on the mouth with stones and to carry them to prison from whence they were after taken and maâ—tyred After this he comaunded the officers to set burning torches to the sides of Saturninus and Sisinnius And when he saw all this would not make them yeeld and that they showed no signe of griefe or sorrow by their countenance he caused them to be taken from that torment and to be led two miles out of Rome into the way toward Numenium and there they were beheadded Their bodies were buried by a deuout man called Thraso in one of his posessions This was on the 29. day of Nouember and on the same day the holie Catholike Church maketh a commemoration of S. Saturninus His death was about the yeare of our Lord. 307. In the raigne of Maximian and Dioclesian Of S. Saturninus wryteth Ado venerable Bede Vsuardus and the Romain martyrologe The life of S. Andrevv Apostle THE sacred scripture saith of that proud captain Holophernes Iudith that as he went with his army and banners displayed against the city of Bethulia there happened a thing which did before neuer befall vnto him for the Hebrews shut the gates against him and fortified the city for their defence Holophernes wondered therat not litle wherfore he assembled all his captains to councell and said that the desired to know the cause why the people of that city did stand more to their defence then all the other thy had ouerpassed and desirous to know wherin they trusted he willed them to certify him what any of them knew TheÌ„ arose vp a captein of the Ammonites called Achior who said vnto him know you most poteÌ„â— Lord that in this city dwelleth a nation called Iewes who haue a God so mighty that if they haue his fauour and freindship neither the mighty army vnder thy conduct nor all the world if they should assault them can ouercome them But if perhaps they haue offended him as they do oftentimes it shal be very easy to vanquish them and to take this city let them fortify it as much as they can So that my councell is first to informe thy self whither they be in the fauour of their God and according to that relation if they be in his fauour to stay but if he be displeased with them to assault them Holophernes took great indignation against Achior for his words for he thought no force was able to resist his puissant army Vpon this he commaunded some of his souldiers to lead him vnto the city of Bethulia to the end that when he had taken the city by force of armes Achior should with his bloud and life pay the penalty of his rash vnaduisednes in taking vpon him the defence of the Hebrews The souldiers led Achior vp on the mountein neere vnto the city and there they left him tied vnto a tree The Iewes issued out found him and led him into the city where Achior in the presence of Ozias the high priest of all the people recouÌ„ted what had happened vnto him They heard his speech with great admiration and then feasted and enterteined him kindly because they thought he had defended the honour of God euery one embraced him and sheaâ—ed to him great tokens of loue But aboue all Ozias took him to his house and made vnto him a solemne banquet This figure agreeth very fitly to the gloryous Apostle S. Andrew who being figured in Achior defended the honouâ— of God as he did preaching the Ghospell among the infidells where Egeas the tirant figured in Holâ—phernes took him and deliuered him vnto his officers who led him vp on a mountein and bound him to a crosse where he remained a while vntil the Angells citisens of heauen vnbound him viz when his blessed â—oule departed from his body and leâ— him to the supreme city of God and there in the presence of the high priest IESVS CHRIST diuulging how he took the defence of his honour all the blessed spirits that illustrious and honored nation made him cheare and enterteyned him kindly embracing him as their brother And the priest IESVS CHRIST made him a feast apointing him a speciall seat in his celestiall beatitude The life of this gloryous Apostle collected out of the ghospell and the writings of his disciples who were present at his martirdome was in this maner SAINT Andrew the Apostle was borne in Behsayda a twon in the prouince of Galily and was the elder brother vnto S. Peter the Apostle and also disciple vnto S. Iohn Baptist With whom being one day he saw him when he pointed his finger at IESVS sayeng This is the lamb of God Andrew staid not a whit but ioyntly with another disciple left S. Iohn Baptist and followed IESVS CHRIST who turnyng his celestiall face and seeing asked them what they sought They answered that they desired to speak with him in his house Our Lord lâ—d them with him and kept hem one day in his company in which time thy talked together and they knew him to be the Messias Andrew departed then from our Sauiour and mett Symon his brother and said vnto him with great ioy O brother Symon that thou haddest seen that which I haue seene Knowe thou that the Messy as so much desired and so long expected by the Iewes is come My master Iohn Baptist shewed him vnto vs and I haue bene with him and I tell thee that his words and deeds confirme that he is that same Come thou and see him So the two brethren came together vnto IESVS who said Thou art SymoÌ„ the sonne of Iohn but thou shalt be called Caeâ—has that is Peter Another time those two brethren being a fishing in their barck IESVS CHRIST passed by the bank and called them saâ—eng follow me and
heauen gate also You may go all to the Church to celebrate the feast of the natiuity of our Lord and I wretch being debarred will remaine here and lament and weep alone Ruffinus vnderstanding the cause of th'emperours sorowe sayd My Lord if it shall please you I will talke with Ambrose and entreat him to permit you to enter into the Church for the sorowe you haue had the teares you haue shed for the euill of which he reproued you is sufficient Theodosius aunswered Thy words will do no good for I know very well his constancy in vertue he is not a man will omit any matters belonging vnto God for feare or dread of emperiall maiesty or might Notwithstanding these words Ruffinus assayed how it would proue And when he treated with S. Ambrose he found him so constant and resolute yea so ready and prepared to dye if violence were offred for the defence of the autority of the church that he forthwith sent word vnto th'emperour to stay but he trusting vpon the former words of Ruffinus was comyng toward the Church When Theodosius heard this message he stayed not but went forward saying I will goe vnto the Church and there the Bishop shall tell me my fault and enioine me penance if he will as I deserue S. Ambrose stayed for him without the Church and when the Emperour came he besought S. Ambrose in most lowly wise to absolue him alleadging the example of Dauid who sinned and yet God pardoned him S. Ambrose replied If thou settest Dauid that sinned for an example consider also that he lamented and did penance for his sinne The Emperour said againe I haue sorrowed very much for the same The said S. Ambrose This is not ynough for thou hast committed a publique offence and thou must also doe publique penance The Emperour said I will so that shall suffice S. Ambrose said I would haue thee doe another thing which shal be a remedy for thy wrath and indignation for the time to come viz. That thou make a law that when thou or any other Emperour commaund any offendor to be put to death forthwith that the execution be staid vntill thirty dayes be expired Theodosius was content to doe all as the holy Bishop willed and did the penance with great sorrow and humility and also made the law which is extant to this day in the Codex Iustiniani when this was done he went to the Church I haue stayed some what long in recounting this accident aswell for that it appertaineth vnto the story of S. Ambrose as also for that Theodosius was a Spaniard and it is fit that the Spaniards should haue knowledge of a man that was so worthy to be Emperour as Theodosius was who though hee sinned did receiue with such lowelines the correction and penance imposed vpon him by a particuler Bishop Another notable thing happened vnto S. Ambrose with Stilico Gouernour of Millan for the Emperour The case was this Certaine publique baiting of beasts being made in the high streetes the Gouernour thought the time fit to apprehend one Cresconius who was fled vnto the Church for he much desired to punish him for certaine faultes he had committed To effect it he sent his officers who came into the Church and tooke out Cresconius pulling him by force from the Altar to which place he was fled for succour S. Ambrose saw it but could not help it for he had but a few Priests with him at that time wherefore he fell on his knees and wept bitterly for the violence offered to the Church not being able to remedy the same The officers led the man away and hauing put him safe in prison came to see the sports where they found Stillico and certified him of that they had done They had not yet told all their tale when two Leopards set vpon them and for all the rescue and defence that could be made to saue them they tore them to pieces and put the Gouernor to great feare who incontinent commaunded the prisoner to be restored vnto the Church and to be set free and he made satisfaction for the violence committed Many other things God did by this glorious saint for with his prayers he healed many sicke men deliuered many men that were posessed many were by him conuerted to the faith and attained vnto saluation The fame of this holy saint was spred ouer all the world and people resorted from farre distant places to see him as did Fridigildis Queene of the Morauians who was a paynime and hauing heard marueillous things spoken of S. Ambrose and desirous to be a Christian went to visite him and to craue of him a rule which she ought to beliue and how also she ought to liue The holy saint conuerted her and satisfied her in euery point and especially he appointed her to procure that her husband should keep peace and be in league with the Romans And so she departed after she was Baptised into her countrey very well pleased The end of the life of S. Ambrose approched whereof he had a reuelation long before so he had found that he should dye about Easter Being sicke in his bed Stillico the Gouernour of Millan said that the death of this man menaced the ruine and destruction of all Italy then called he some of the chiefe men of the Citty and bad them to speak vnto S. Ambrose and to exhort him to pray vnto God for the prolonging of his life for the great good they receiued by him The Cittizens went vnto the holy saint and did their message and hee answered I haue not liued so among you that I should be ashamed to liue and I haue not serued such a Lord that I should be a feard to dye and therefore I put my selfe wholly into his handes His holy will be done S. Ambrose was now at the point of death and two deacons that were in the same chamber although a good way from him talked to themselues in a low voice who should be Bishop after him One of them said Simplician should be Bishop for that he was a man of very good behauiour and an Abbot of a monastery vnto whom S. Augustine was a verie deare friend Whilest they talked S. Ambrose said aloud He is old but very good The deacons were much astonied seing him to heare their speeches and after his death by the relation the two Deacons made of those his words Symplician was elected Bishop When the holy saint was at the last point of death there was in another roume Honoratus Bishop of Vercellae who heard himselfe called by one that said to him Runne for it is time now He hearing these words went to the place where the holy saint was and gaue vnto him the B. Sacrament which he receiued with very great deuotion Then laid he is armes acrosse and said his prayers and in saying of them he rendered vp his soule vnto God on the fourth day of Aprill about the yeare of our Lord
neuer arose because she neuer fell The other reason is the holy Catholicke Church celebrateth the feast of the Conception of the B. Virgin not with the title and name of sanctification but of Conception which was on the 8. day of December And this is not instituted for particuler Churches to celebrate but it is instituted to be kept generally in all Christendome since the breuiary of Pius 5. which is receiued by all the Church Finally I conclude that among all the feasts solemnised of the B. Virgin none is so solemnely celebrated by the faithfull as this is and that is done to shew her vertue nobilitie the more thereby and in respect of the great good which beginneth this day for vs all Let vs also consider what a great mayne we should haue had to haue wanted the glorie that we shall receiue by her company in heauen And though that the essentiall glory of the saints proceed from God yet receiue they also a very great accidentall glory from the company of the B. Virgin for though the estate of the kingdome dependeth of the King yet alwayes or for the most part particuler feasts and triumphes as iusts torneys daunces maskes and other pleasant shewes are made for the honour of the Queene and of her Ladies and damosels So also is it in heauen but in another manner it is cleare that there is accidentall glory with ioyes and triumphes continually made for the mother of God But we wretches heere in the world what should we doe without the glorious Virgin to whom should we haue recourse in our troubles and necessities Who should comfort vs who should giue vs helpe who will shew themselues so pittifull and mercifull as this glorious Virgin when we call vpon her deuoutely how great our lost and dammage should be without this gratious mother may be known by the great ioy we ought to make this day of her conception in the which she began to haue her beginning in this world Let vs then reioyce and solemnize this day confessing our selues deuout to this B. mother and her pure Conception that as many haue beene fauoured by her that haue done so some being deliuered from most dangerous perills and others hauing obtained particuler fauours So wee also being deliuered by her meanes from our offences faults may merit to obtaine euerlasting life Amen Spa Cesar Baronius saith in his martyrologe that this feast was first celebrated in England and after at Lyons and then in other countries The life of S. Melchiades Pope and Martir WE read in Leuiticus that God commaunded that salt should be put in all their sacrifices if that any offred sacrifice and did not put salt therin it was not gratefull vnto him neither did he accept in In ihis our Lord would giue vs to vnderstand that in all our works though they be good in themselfs yet must they be done with prudence for if they be done otherwise in steed of seruing him they shall offend him Almese is a good thing yet of one giue almose vnto a strager and let necessaryes in his owne house and for his children be wanting this pleaseth not God Good and holy is prayer but if one kneele on the ground to say his prayer and shall leaue vndone something vnto which he is bound this his work shall not be altogether good One cannot deny but the Communyon is a very holy thing neuertheles if one that is wycked hath a conscience clogged and burdened with mortall synne will â—et comnunicate he doth loose more thereby then he gayneth Fasting is a good thing but he thaâ— will fâ—st as do the Iewes and the moores in stâ—ed of doing the action of a Christian he shall giue a signe to be a painime And therefore we should do well to put the salt of prudence in all our works The holy pope and martir Melchiades considering this made a decree by which he commaunded that the faithfull should not fast vpon the sonday and thursday for that on one of those dayâ—s the Iewes fasted and the moores on the other and a Christian ought not only auoid to be a moore or a Iewe but also to make any shew to be such a one The not fasting the sunday remaineth in generall vse but that of Thursday is growne out of vse The Christian wâ—eÌ„ he fasteth ought to haue the intention pure not to do inwardly as the Iewes and moores do though be doth the same thing outwardly that they do The life of this holy saint was written in this maner by Damasus and other Authors Melchiades the pope was an African and succeceeded Eusebius in the papacy From the time of S. Peter vnto his popedome there had bene 20. popes which had bene martired for the faith of IESVS CHRIST There is extant an epistle of Melchiades written vnto the Bishops of Spaine in the which he sheweth himself to be a godly and lerned man In that epistle he saith that all the Apostles acknowledged S. Peter to be their superior And by cause those Bishops bad moued a question which was the greater sacrament Baptisme or CoÌ„firmation he answered sayeng that Baptisme is of greater necessity for that without it none can be saued but that confirmation was of greater dignity for that none giue it but a Bishop And then he reciteth vnto them the effects of the one and the other sacrament Moreouer he treateth of the great profit the Apostles receaued by the comming of the holy Ghost and how great the goods be Christians attaine by receauing the holy Ghost in Baptisme and then in Confirmation In the same epistle he ordeined that which is already aforesaid viz that Christians should not fast on the sunday and thursday to avoid the imitation of the Iewes and the paynims Melchiades found in Rome many heretiks of the Manichees against whoÌ„ he ordeined many things apperteinyng to the offerings and other dueties to be done in Church Some Authors say that in the time of this pope was celebrated the prouinciall councell of Neocesarea which is at this day called Trapezunda in which be ordeined some things perteyning vnto the state of the Church conformable vnto that time Lastly Melchiades hauing gouerned the Church as Damasus saith 3. yeares 7. months and 8. dayes hauing giuen holy orders one time in the month of December and ordered 6. priests 5. deacons and 11. Bishops was martyred in the tyme of the emperor Maxentius about the year of our Lord 304. Some say that Maximinus did put him to death but in my opinion they are deceiued for that Maximinus persecuted the Christians in Alexandria and Egipt and not in Rome for there Maxentius always remayned and vsed intollerable cruelty vntill the time that Constantine depriued him of his Empire and of his life also The Church celebrateth the feast of this pope on the 10. day of December and his body was buryed in the Churchyard of Callistus in the Via Appia The life of S. Damasus
verses at the sepulcher of the Apostles SS Peter and Paule and another work in the which he wrot the lifes of the Popes who were his predecessors He also ordeined that the psaâ—mes of Dauid should be song one part of the quier sayeng one verse and the other part another verse which is obserued vnto our time through all the vniuersall Church though it was vsed before in some particuler Churches by the notice of S. Ignatius vnto whom it was reueiled that the Angells in heauen song in this maner as he sawe it himself being in a traunce Also Damasus Councelled thereto by S. Ierome commaunded there should be said at the end of euery psalme Gloria patri filio spiritui sancto sicut erat in principio nunc semper in secula seculorum Amen He ordeined also that the priest before he began masse should say the generall confession He also gaue authority approbation to the translation of the holy Bible made by S. Ierome for before the translation of the 72. interpreters was commonly vsed This good Pope ended this life on the 11. day of December in the year of our Lord 380. in the time of Theodosius being 80. years old of which he was Pope 18. years 3. months 11. dayes He gaue holy orders 5. times in the month of December and ordered 32. priests 11 deacons and 62. Bishops His body was buryed in the Church of the Apostles which he had buâ—â—ded in the same where his mother and sister were buried He was afterward translated vnto another Church which he had builded called S. Laurence in Damaso The life of S. Lucy virgin and Martir AT such time as Gedeon was captaine of the people of God Iudiâ— 7. they were in great danger and feare because their enemies were neere them and verie potent and strong themselues being but fewe in number and weak God commaunded Gedeon to do some enterprise and the people trusting in God hoped to atchieue victorie yet they conceiued not any meanes how it should come to passe For to fight hand to hand they might seeme rash and foolish to run headlong on their owne deaths The people remaining thus in doubt God spake vnto Gedeon and bad him to diuide his people which were 300. into three parts and when night came euerie souldier should haue in one hand a Trompet and in the other hand a vessell of earth and within it a burning light In this manner they should assault their enemies on three sides and when they came neere them they should sound the trompetâ—s and break the vessells of earth knocking one against the other that the burning lampes might be seene on a sodeine and then all of them should make a great shoute As God apointed so it was done The souldiers sounded the Trompets which awaked the Madianits who seing on a sodeine so many lights and hearing such a noise remained astonied and full of dread and knew not how to defend themselues or to offend their enemies but in steed of striking the Hebrewes they wounded one another By this straâ—ageme the madianites were ouerthrewne and quite discomfited and the Hebrewes obtained a notable victorie By this figure we learne that when the vessels of earth are broken the lights are discouered and the enemy ouerthrowne which thing noteth that in the warâ—e which IESVS CHRIST figured in Gedeon maketh against the Madianites which are the diuells vessells of earth are vsed hauing within them burning lampes that shine most clearlie when the vessells of earth be broken These earthen vessells signifie the holeâ— martyrs for their bodies were of earth which being broken when they were diuersly tormented their burning and liuelie faith did shine more gloriously It is seene by experience that holy men are most knowne and reputed the light of the world by the meanes of their death Then is laid open their constancie fortitude and patience their liuely faith and other vertues where with they were adorned whilest they liued their vertues were couered as the torch is in the earthen vessell but when the vessell is broken that is to saie when the holie person dyeth the light is discouered and their death weakneth the diuell vtterlie Though this figure maie be apropriated to all the martyrs yet in perticuler it agreeth verie fulie vnto S. Lucy who by her death showed the light and discouered the brightnes of her liuelie faith and other vertues which were in her soule Moreouer she is the aduocate for the sight the obiect of which is the light Yet we will not saie that she had her name Luce of the light The life of this glorious saint was written by venerable Bâ—dâ— Ado Archbishop of Treuers and other approoued author SAINT Lucy was borne in the Cittie of Syracusa in the is'le of Sicilia of honorable parents and of a great familie She was a Christian from her infancie and so instructed in the faith that shee perswaded her owne mother to exercise her selfe in all vertuous workes and especiallie in giuing large almose and relieuing the necessities of their neighbours The holie damosell finding a fit opportunitie distributed to the poore all her patrimonie which was verie great to set her selfe free from a rich Nobleman who by the consent of her mother and kinsfolke should haue beene her husband though she neuer consented to it An occasion fell out in this sort The mother of S. Lucy called Eutitia had bene sick foure yeares of the bloodie flixe no worldly helpe could be had to cure her At that time the report of S. Agatha was spread ouer all Sicilie who a little before had beene martired her bodie being in the Cittie of Catanea where many miracles were done and many sicke persons of sundrie infirmities were cured by visiting her sepulchre S. Lucy perswaded her mother that they might goe together and visite the reliques of the holie saint not doubting but that by her meanes she might be deliuered from her infirmitie Eutitia was content and went with her daughter vnto Catanea attended in such manner as was fit for their degree and estate When they came vnto the sepulchre of S. Agathata Lucy fell to prayer requesting the glorious Martir to obtaine of God by her intercession health for her mother Lucy being thus in prayer S. Agatha accompanied with many Angels appeared vnto her and with a familier pleasing countenance said vnto her Sister Lucy wherefore doest thou demaund that of me which thou thy selfe maiest giue vnto thy mother Aske thou this fauour of God for if he loue me he loueth thee also and if he will heare my prayers he wil also heare thine and where I haue giuen my life for his sake so shalt thou also giue thy life for his loue And if I be the cause that the cittie of Catanea be famous and and renowned for that it is washed and bathed in my bloud and posesseth my bodie so shall the citty of Syracusa by the same meanes be famous and
renowned for thee and thy sake After this S. Lucy returning came to her selfe for the vision had caused her to be in manner of a traunce or extasie and found her mother exceeding ioyfull for that she felt her selfe cured so both of them rendred thankes vnto God and to the glorious S. Agatha Then returned they home and Lucy desired her mother to permit her to bestowe the dowrie she would giue her to her mariage on the poore Her mother answered Good daughter first close vp mine eyes and then do euen as thou wilt The holy damosell replyed most deare mother I hartilie wish and desire that the almose to be giuen be not only profitable to me but to you also and that of the benefit comming thereby you may haue chiefe part thereof If almose be giuen after your death and onlie by my consent it will not doe you so much good If a man trauell by night in places where he may stumble and dangerously fall he sheweth great indiscretion if he carrie a light behind him when he may carrie it before him if he will this world is like a darke night in which we all doe trauell and wherein be many places whereat wee may stumble The good workes we may do and especiallie almesdeedes be like burning torches which enlighten vs to walke securelie without danger or stumbling wee ought therefore to carrie the light burning before vs for though it be good to leaue almose for the poore after ones death yet it is much better to giue it them in our life time By these and other like reasons S. Lucy obtained leaue of her mother to bestowe her whole portion and dowrie on the poore When he that should haue maried her vnderstood this he was displeased that he had missed so great store of riches And remembring being himselfe a Pagan or Infidell that Lucy did these good deedes as a Christian he accused her vnto the Gouernour of the Cittie called Paschasius who causing her to be brought before him vsed all milde perswasions he could to draw her to sacrifice vnto the Gods But S. Lucy answered To relieue the poore in their necessities is a sacrifice very acceptable vnto God and this sacrifice I haue alreadie offred vnto him now not hauing any more goods to bestowe I do heare offer vp my selfe and my life also vnto him being all that I haue to giue Then said the Gouernour Perhaps the God whom thou speakest of is CHRIST who was crucified by the Iewes in Ierusalem That same is he indeed said the holie saint The Gouernour said How standeth this together that he being God should dye such an opprobrious death The blessed Virgin answered It is not meete that your Iupiter Apollo Venus or the rest should be called Gods neither is it lawfull for any man to adore them for they were of lewd and wicked life some of them being Adulterers manquâ—llours and most cruell tyrants These qualities beseeme not a God but to dye as IESVS CHRIST did whom I confesse to be the true God doth not gaine say that he is God since he was made man that he might dye and by his death it pleased him to bestowe life vpon men Thou talkest too much said Paschasius and art too saucy being so young who taught thee to prattle in this manner The holie damosell said The seruants of CHRIST shall neuer want answeres when they be brought before Iudges and Maiestrates for so much he promised vnto them saying you shall not speake but the Holie-Ghost that dwelleth in you The gouernour said Then thou hast the Holie Ghost S. Lucy answered They that liue in chastitie and puritie be the Temple of the Holie Ghost If it be so said the Iudge I will driue out the Holie Ghost thou speakest of out of thee For I will haue thee led vnto the stewes where when thou hast lost thy chastitie thou shalt also loose the Holie-Ghost thou esteemest so much Then said the holie Virgin O wretched man thou are much deceiued for if thou make me loose my chastitie by force I shall gaine two crownes in heauen the one of a chast woman and the other because I haue beene forced and for defending my chastitie Then the Iudge said leaue your words for we will come to deedes and then instigated by the diuell he commaunded that she should be led vnto the brothel-house Many people flocked thither Some intending to satisfie their lust laid violent hands vpon her to draw her by force vnto their pleasures But God did helpe his handmaid by making her to be immoueable And though many endeauoured to pull her with their hands yea some with ropes and lastlie with many yoake of Oxen yet could they not draw her one foote out of the place wherefore the Iudge said Be these thy witchcraftes that being as thou art a sorrie girle many men nor many yoake of Oxen cannot stuâ—re thee Assuredlie the diuell thy familier helpeth thee that thou mayest scoffe and delude vs. The young damosell answered this is no witchcraft nor inchantment much lesse is it the diuell that maketh me stand immoueable the diuell rather desiâ—eth that I had beene led to the place by thee appointed that there I might haue lost my chastity but it is the spirit of God who being omnipotent and dwelling in my soule is able and doth giue me such constancie that all the world shall not be able to moue me from this place Then the iudge commaunded officers to bring store of wood and to place it about the holie damosell and that they should powre thereon Oyle Pitch and Rosin and then set fire thereto that she might be consumed to ashes The flame did her no hurt and in the midest of the fire she said My most louing and gratious Lord hath granted me a little space in my martyrdome that the faithfull beleeuers may be incouraged and not to feare torments which be not indeed so rigorous as they seeme to be and that Idollaters may be confounded when they see how little they can doe against the seruants of the most high God The Gouernour not knowing what to do more caused asword to be thrust through her throat which wounded her mortallie but before she died she spoke to certaine Christians present who lamented to see her so wounded and said vnto them Be of good comfort bretheren for the Church of God shal haue peace ere long the emperours that haue done such damage thereto shal shortlie loose the rule and dominion that they haue We read also that the Blessed Sacrament was brought thither secretlie by a priest and that when she had receaued the same she ended her life in peace Her bodie was buried in the same cittie of Syracusa where it remained many yeares god shewing diuers fauours and graces to his faithfull seruants by the merits and intercession of the blessed virgen In processe of time her bodie was caried vnto Constantinople and from thence vnto Venice in great regard and estimation as
it well deserueth The Church beside all her other merits holdeth and accounteth her for aduocate of the eyes and for the sight It is therefore requisite that we all haue particuler deuotion and recommend our selues vnto her that God may by her merites and intercession preserue our corporall sight and grant the light of our soules that we may be able and worthie to see his diuine maiestie in heauen Amen The Catholique Church celebrateth the feast of S. Lucy on the day of her martirdome which was on the 13. of December in the yeare of our Lord 305. in the time of Maximian and Dioclesian Spanish Her name is in the Canon of the Masse One of the handes of S. Lucy is shewed in the vestrie of the Church of Toledo Of S. Lucy write Sigisbert the Breuiarie and the Romane Martyrologe The life of S. Thomas Apostle WHEN it happeneth sometimes that the predestinate and iust man falleth by negligence into a heinous sinne cap â—4 God vseth the words of the Prophet Esay vnto him and saith A little moment will I hide my face from thee and in euerlasting mercy will I remember thee haue pittie on thee Which is as if he had said I will turne my face from thee because thou hast offended me but for that thou didst quicklie acknowledge thy sinne and the vnhappie estate in which I found thee and didst not continue long in thy fault but forthwith didst craue pardon I will turne my face toward and thee and will behold thee with the eyes of my mercy I haue made peace with thee and will take thee into my fauour wherein thou shalt continue for euer This sentence fitteth and agreeth with S. Thomas the Apostle who offended God in not beleeuing the article of his resurrection wherefore God turned his face from him yet he returned forthwith when he remembred his error and touched with his hands the wounds of his maister which caused him to become as softe as waxe and to say My God my Lord I confesse my sinne and I confesse that thou art true God and my Lord. I confesse thou art him whom I saw dead naâ—led on the Crosse and I confesse that thou art risen againe For this cause God looked wildlie and louinglie vpon him renewed friendship with him and tooke him againe into his fauour in which he continued till his death The life of this blessed Apostle is gathered out of the Euangelistes S. Isidore Simeon Metaphrastes and Gregorie of Toures in this sort SAINT Thomas the Apostle was a Galilean but it is not knowne how or when he was called to the Apostleship S. Iohn the Euangelist maketh of him particuler mention when Mary Magdalene and Martha sent to IESVS CHRIST to tell him that their brother was dead And when he talking with his disciples told them that he would returne into Iudea and the Apostles sought to stay his iourney saying to him Maister they would latelie haue stoned thee and wilt thou yet returne amongst them he answered there be twelue houres in the day Giuing them to vnderstand that so many times their harts might be changed and altred from that they intended to doe S. Thomas seing he was determined to go said to the other disciples with a stout resolution Let vs go also dye with him S. Thomas in these wordes shewed himselfe to be of a good courage and that he loued IESVS CHRIST sincerelie At the euening after the last supper which our Sauiour made with his disciples S. Thomas was present also and was made Priest and communicated as others did When our Sauiour made that sweete and louelie sermon saying among other thinges that he went to prepare mansions for them and that they knew whether he went S. Thomas said to him Ioan 14. Lord we do not know whether thou goest how is it possible for vs to know the way After the death of our Lord and after his resurrection yea the verie same day he rose againe late in the euening the Apostles being assembled in the dyning parlour none being wanting but Iudas that had hanged himselfe and Thomas who was gone forth vpon especiall busines Ioan 20. IESVS CHRIST appeared vnto them and shewed them his wounds letting them know that he was the same that had conuersed with them dyed for them and that he was raised againe When Thomas was returned the other Apostles said to him O brother whilest thou wert absent we haue seene our Lord and Maister the very same whom we saw taken in the garden the same that was beaten and crowned with thornes nailed and dead on the Crosse whose side was opened with a speare that was taken downe from the Crosse and laid in his sepulchre This our Lord we haue seene risen againe glorious and immortall We haue seene the signes of his woundes which seeme not as they were all stained with bloud but they be adorned wonderfullie they shew as Diamonds and Rubies set in Gold and but euen now he departed from vs. S. Thomas answered It is assuredlie some fantasticke vision and for my part I tell you plainlie that before I shall see him with mine owne eyes and put my hands into his wounds and my fingers into his side I will not beleeue that you haue seene him or that he is risen againe Thus S. Thomas remained in his hardnes of heart eight dayes Iohn 19. v. 27. without relenting We may piously beleeue that the Apostles the Maries and perhaps the Mother of God also said thus vnto him As it is the signe of a light-headed person to credit and beleeue all things he heareth so is it the signe of a stubborne and peruerse mind not to beleeue that which so many affirme especiallie such people as these be How shall the Iewes which be enemies to my Sonne beleeue that he is risen againe if thou which art an Apostle wilt not beleeue it Doest thou not remember that he said oftentimes with his owne mouth that he must suffer yea he named some of the torments which he was to endure withall he said that he should arise againe the third day Now if thou hast had triall that he said truth in these things why shouldest thou thinke that hee lyed in the other If thou thinkest that the Apostles and the Maries be deceiued and that he whom they saw is another be assured that at least I am not deceiued but that I know him perfectlie well For I haue brought him forth I haue attended and borne him companie this thirtie and three yeares Although the rest should be mistaken yet I cannot be deceiued And I tell thee againe that my Sonne and thy Maister is raised to life and I beseech thee not to be obstinate or incredulous any more These and the like words we may well suppose that the glorious Virgin said to S. Thomas who neuertheles remained in his hardnes and vnbeliefe saying If I do not see him I do not beleeue it I know not the
to a Temple of the Sunne where was the statue of brasse and he willed him to adore it The Apostle fell on his knees and besought God to breake that statue that the people seing the small force of their God might be ashamed and forsake the errors wherein they were enwrapped The Apostle hauing finished his prayer the statue fell on the earth into diuers pieces The ministers of the Idols being present and seing all this enraged with furie they ran the Apostle through with Launces and killed him His bodie was buried in the same Cittie of Calamina and was after translated to the citty of Edessa in Syria where as S Gregorie of Toures saith was built a sumptuous Church in which God shewed many miracles by the merits of his holie Apostle The death of S. Thomas was on the 21. of December and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast This was in the yeare of our Lord. 75. in the raigne of Vespasian Beside the afore-rehearsed things there are recounted of S. Thomas many other which be taken for vaine and Apocripha and this is one that he was brought from Cesarea euen to India to build a Pallace and that great store of treasure was giuen him to build it The king departing from thence for two whole yeares and the Apostle giuing all the mony to the poore the king at his returne put him in prison that he might gâ—t againe the mony of him It is said also that S. Thomas being inuited to a mariage whilest he dyned an Hebrew woman song certaine verses in the praise of God and the holie sunt stayed contemplating the words which she said Wherefore one of them that wayted at the table seing he eate not but â—ate musing gaue him a buffet on the face whereat the Apostle being wroth said to them I will not depart from this table vntill I see the hand that strooke me in a dogges mouth which caine so to passe for the fellow going for water vnto a spring was deuoured of dogges and one of them came in with his hand in his mouth These thinges thus reported giue testimonie what they be as hauing no great foundation nor good authoritie for them Yea this especiallie of the hand and the dogge was inuented by heretiks who mingled this tale in the life of this saint and holie Apostle to the end reuenge cursing and wishing euill vnto our neighbour should be reputeda thing lawfull Anf if any should iudge this to be euill that then the Apostle should be accounted so also and by this meanes he should loose his credit and authoritie I maruaile that of this holie saint who was so slow in beliefe such vnlikelie and vnprobable tales should readilie be beleeued of him Also I do not know of what credit it is that is said in some Cronicles of him as of his being present with the Lord of the countrie that is now called Preter Iean where they say his bodie is kept till this day We read also of a thorne that beareth grapes on S. Thomas day of which as made muste or sweete wine and they celebrate Masse therewith I thinke he that will auouch this for true had neede to haue greater authorities then the places where they be written Howsoeuer these things be this which I now say is most certaine that S. Thomas was carried to the passage and death of the glorious Virgin aswell as the other Apostles And for that when he came thither it was the third day after the death of the blessed mother of God and that her bodie was alreadie buried God willing it so he was desirous to see it The Sepulchre being opened the bodie was not found therein for that it was raised againe and was assumpted into heauen as is said in the sollemnitie of the feast of her Assumption The Natiuitie of our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST AMONG the other marueilous histories of the sacred scripture 4 Reg Cap 4. we read one most notable in the book of kings of the woman Sunamite the hostesse of the prophet Eliseus Of her it is said that she had a little child an infant which she tenderlie loued This child being one daie abroad in the field with his father complained of a great paine in his head whereupon his father caused him to be carried home vnto his mother in whose presence the child dyed The woman felt as great grief as might be for the death of her child and going to the prophet Eliseus fell at his feet weeping and lamenting shewing by outward signes the inward sorrow of her hart The prophet hauing compassion on her sent with her his seruant Giezie and gaue vnto him his staffe to laie it on the dead bodie of the child which was cold as Ise The seruant did as he was apointed but the child by that meanes was not raised to life The afflicted mother returned vnto the prophet and so much her praiers and suit preuailed that she brought him in person vnto her house The prophet entred into the roome where the child laye and shut the dore close and after he lay flat on the bodie of the litle infant vsing this dilligence he laid his face on the face his hands on the hands and his feet on the feet thereof Then he cryed aloud seuen times and the child beginning to be warme opened the eyes and recouered life This being done the holie prophet restored him vnto his mother who receaued him with more ioye and gladnes then can easilie be expressed Though as it be said before that this indeed be a true historie which happened really yet was it a liuelie patterne of the high and maruailous misterie that God wrought in being made man For the woman Sunamite is a figure of the Church who hauing a litle sonne which is mankind ass one as he was created and put into the pleasant field of Terrestriall paradise felt a paine in his head for from thence issued fumes of desire to be like vnto God This was our forefather Adam who dyed of this infirmitie when he eate the fruit of the forbidden tree whereby mankind be came cold frosen and without the grace of God The miserable afflicted Sunamite went for help vnto the prophet for the holie Church did continuallie beseeche God to giue remedie for this great losse The diuine maiestie had compassion on her and sent Giezi with his staffe which were the two lawes the law of nature being figured in Giezi and the law written figured in the staffe of the prophet This yet raised not againe the dead child to life nor gaue remedie vnto the losse the world had as S. Paul saith wryting vnto the Hebrewes of the law writteÌ„ that the law reduced not things vnto perfection nor gaue not full remedie vnto our losses Yet the Church ceased not to desire God more instantlie vntill he came in persoÌ„ into the world was inclosed in the secret chamber of the bowells of the most blessed virgin He
God because they haue most cleare knowledge of him Other authors saie that in these three Masses are represented three states By that which is said at midnight is vnderstood the darksome state full of obscuritie and confusion of those that be in hell By the other that is said at the break of daie when the light beginne to be seene are vnderstood those that liue in the world who be in the middle betweene the light and darknes and do not know what shal be their end By the third which is said at cleare daie is vnderstood the state of the happie which be in eternall clearenes and posesse the ioyfull and blessed vision of God This is the signification of the three Masses which are comonlie said on Christmas daie as the doctors generallie say The occasion that mooued Pope Telesphorus to make this ordinance was The first Masse is called ad Galli cantum which is at midnight or a litle after because at that houre IESVS CHRIST was borne The second is called at the daie-break because at that houre he was visited and adored by the sheapheards The third is said at the ordinarie houre as on other daies and is called the high Masse The spanish saith Of these three Masses wâ—iteth Innocent 3. in the third sermon of the birth of CHRIST Galfridus lib de reb Eccles cap. 21. Albinus de diuin offic cap. 1. Sicardus Cremonens and others The life of S. Stephen the first Martyr ROBOAM the king of Israell 3. Reg. 12. suceeding his â—ather Salomon in the kongdome made some lawes and ordinances to be obserued of his suâ—iects who esteemed them to be too rigorous â—here caâ—â—â—d them to assemble together with intent to rebell against the king Roboam saying and professing openâ—â— that they would not obey him nor acknowledg him for king Those which did thus rebell were ten tribes of the twelue into which all the hebrewes were diuided The king being certifyed of this commotion called oâ—e Aduram his faithfull seruant and one of great account in his court commaunding him to go speak peaciblie to these rebellious people therby to quiet and appease them Aduram caused the ten tribes to be warned to appeare choosing out the most principall of them he shâ—wed him some reasons whereby he might reduce them to the seruice of the king but they hearing him named with great indignation took vp stones and stoned Aduram to death Roboam in asmuch as he is king of Israell is a figure of IESVS CHRIST vnto whom the father eternall gaue the lordship and power ouer all flesh and especially ouer that people vnto whom he was sent for guide and captaine and for king also as the Prophet Zacharie calleth him This king made his ordinances Cap 9. when ascending gloriously into heauen he commaunded his holie Apostles and disciples to publish the Euangelicall lawe and make knowne vnto all men that the old law was abrogated Many of the Iewes thought this to be verie strange and rigorous and therefore they took counsell together and determined that they would not acknowledg IESVS CHRIST nor receaue his Ghospell and doctrine He vnderstanding their consultation and entent sent a principall man of his court vnto them which was S. Stephen figured by Aduram whilest he talked to the principall of them to perswade them to acknowledge CHRIST for the Messias and that they would obey him and receaue his doctrine they on the contrarie part being obstinate and rebelliously bent took vp stones against S. Stephen and with extreame furie led him forth of the citty and there stoned him to death the martyr remaining victorious being crowned in his owne bloud The life of this glorious martyr written by S. Luke the Euangelist in the Acts of the Apostles and other good approoued authors is in this manner THE Apostles preaching and doing many miracles in Ierusalem the people of the cittie and the countries there abouts came and brought their sick in great aboundance and they were all healed This was the cause that the number of the disciples encreased daily Caiâ—t vpon this place for all those that were Baptised were called by that name It befell that amongst them arose a little controuersie mooued by the Greeks against the Hebrewes They were all Hebrews cap. 6. V. 1. but some of them were borne in Greece and others in Palestine and these were called Hebrews and the other Grecians These Grecians seemed agreeued that their widowes were not admitted into the publike ministerie and affaires because in those times they that were conuerted brought all their goods vnto the Apostles cap. 4. V. 37. and they prouided for them their diet apparrell and all other things necessarie And to the end that all things might be done in order they appointed to euerie one a particuler office and to the widowes that were honest and deuout women they gaue in chatge to dresse the meat and to attend the table The Grecians requested that the widowes of thir nation might be admitted vnto that seruice for euerie one desired to be employed in some office and to do the best seruice they could The Apostles assembled together to staye this matter least it might grow to discord And hauing called all the disciples said vnto them It is not fit that we should be busied in matters of such small importance therefore let vs find out and make choise of some good quiet men of honest fame who may haue authoritie to prouide persons which shall haue care of the prouision of dyet without aggrieuance of any nation one or other and out of both nations may be chosen widowes dilligent and apt to dresse meat for the multitude And when in this matter there may happen any occasion of disagreement they may resort to those that be elected who may quiet all dissentions if any arise and that we may attend to preaching and prayer This resolution pleased them all and out of the disciples were chosen seuen and as the head and chiefe of others Stephen a faithfull man and full of the holie Ghost was chosen S. Augustine out of this gathereth that S. Stephen was a man of great continencie and gouernement since vnto him was giuen an office in which he should haue so great dealings amongst women The Holie Ghost saith also of him that he was replenished with grace and fortitude and that he did â—ignes and many miracles He shewed himselfe to be very valiant and couragious preaching IESVS CHRIT to the Hebrewes perswading them to forsake the law of Moyses which now was of no force and that they should receaue the Ghospell and be Baptised The matter was brought to that passe that S. Stephen was more famous then any other of the disciples because he disputed face to face with the maisters of the Sinagogues in which were congregated the Grecians of sundrie Prouinces as of Cyrene of Alexandria of Cilicia and of Asia the lesse who altogether could not make resistance vnto the words
clear that he who is to he head of others must haue both hony and gall for he must at one time be affable myld toward the lowly and humble and must shew himself sterne and rigorous to the prowd and hauty S Peter had these conditions he was not altogether mylde for when occasion serued he knew to fight with his sword and to wound men but S. Iohn he was peaceable myld at all times Moreouer S. Iohn was the kinsman of CHRIST after the flesh â—f he had giuen him the Papacy it would haue bene thought and he should haue giuen occasion to think so that such a dignity might haue bene bestowed vpoÌ„ their friends and kinne He gaue it then to S. Peter with whom he had no kindred S. Thomas saith also that our Lord gaue the Papacy to S. Peter for that he loued him more Iohn 21. then any other as it is collected out of the same Ghospell and therefore it was good reason he should be preferred vnto that high dignity Christ hauing giueÌ„ that function vnto S. Peter said to him obscurely that he should dye on the Crosse as he did S. Peter who loued S. Iohn dearly asked our Lord. what should become of him as if he had said Shall Iohn also dy on the Crosse the sonne of God answered him what if it please me that Iohn stay till I come to iudge both the quick the dead to the o Peter what importeth it to know it the same S. Iohn also recounteth that the brethreÌ„ talked amongst themselfs that he disciple should not dy but they marked not that CHRIST said not that he should not dy but if it pleased him that he should liue vntill his second comming what had S. Peter to do to know it This speech S. Iohn made himself is not sufficient but that some make a doubt for there the many that say that he liueth yet is to come and preach against Antechrist in the company of Enoch and Eâ—â—as whom God keepeth aliue for that entent and that S. Iohn is to be martired with theÌ„ Some agâ—ine be of a contrary opinion and say that the same S. Iohn who treateth of the commyng of Enoch Elias in the Apocalipse Cap. 11 saith thy shal be two so that if he should haue him ioyned vnto them he would not haue concealed it And to the end it may appear which of these two opinions is of greatest autority I will in this place name them that be of those opinieus this I say if it be lawfull to put this matter in opinion for that considering the words of S. Iohn of himself against the other Apostles that douted of his death it seemeth not secure to say that the Apostle did not dy They that affirme that he dyed not be Abbot Ioachin and George of Trapeunt a grammaryan who made a treatise of this matter and Francis Mairon red this treatise and saith also that S. Iohn is yet aliue He was a franciscan fryer and was the first that determinately saith Mai. 4. dis 49. that the mother of God was conceiued without originall synne for thought that Scotus who was a fryer mynour also moued the questioÌ„ yet he did not resolue the matter clearly though he seemeth to be of that opinion as Mairon is who affirmeth and determyneth it to be so These three Authours I haue seene and I know not if any other be of that opinion for that Theophilactus and Euthimius who be graue and ancient autors if you mark their words well say only that in their time it was the opinion of some that S. Iohn was not dead and the same saith Symeon Metaphraster also But other holy doctors be of a coÌ„trary oppinion S. Ierome saith plainely in many places In mat 20. that S. Iohn dyed the same in auouched by S. Iohn Chrisostome Tertullian who wrot the martirdome of S. Iohn Hâ— 26 in epis ad hâ— lib de In â—â— 21. Lib. 3. c. 3. Lib. 1.35.4 d. 43 art 3. when he was put into the boyling oyle saith that then he was deliuered from death but he afterward dyed and the same saith venerable Bede Eusebius of Cesarea in his ecclesiasticall history Polyerates B. of Ephesus said that S. Iohn dyed Nicephorus Callistus not only saith that he dyed but also that he rose againe incontinent and that he went into heauen in body and soule and S. Thomas Aquinas is of that opinion also S. Ierome and venerable Bede seeme to infer that S. Iohn is in heauen both in body and soule for they say that he dyed without griefe and that his body was not turned into dust So that the Authors who say S. Iohn did not dy be not of any great account and against them is the opinion of many and auncient doctors Iudge then whom we shall beleeue But in my opinion there is no dout but that S. Iohn did by After that IESVS CHRIST ascended into heauen and after the commyng of the Holy Ghost at the which S. Iohn was present with the other Apostles and disciples S. Luke recounteth in the Acts of the Apostles Act. â— that S. Peter and S. Iohn going into the temple to pray at the nynth houre healed a lame man to the great wonder of all the people Whereupon the two holy Apostles were led into the consistory of the Iewews where they constantly professed the faith of IESVS CHRIST They were also put in prison and beaten whereof they much reioyced thought they had receued a singular benefite in that they had suffered persecution for the name of IESVS CHRIST In this consistory was present Gamaliel a disciple of CHRIST who laboured to set the Apostles free without punishment but he could not effect it S. Iohn remained in Ierusalem certaine yeares and that was as some thinke as long as the B. Virgin liued after the Ascension of our Sauiour into heauen He had a great regard and care of herâ— he stayed ordinarily in her company He said masse vnto her and she did often times receaue the B. Sacrament at his hand as S. Bonauenture saith The communication that these two blessed creatures had together was questionles euen â—eraphicall being both of them so inflamed with the loue of God as they were After the death of the B. Virgin S. Iohn went to preach in Asia which country fell vnto his lotte in the diuision of prouinces This glorious Apostle preached with great zeale and founded seuen Churches in seuen principall Citties viz Ephesus Smirna Pergâ—mo Thyatira Philadelphia Sardis and Laodicea In all thâ—se places he ordained priests to administer the sacraments to the Christians that were many in euery one of these Citties It befell that Domitian a most cruell tyrant was made Emperour of Rome who persecuted the Christians in all the lands subiect to the Empire In this persecution S. Iohn was taken in Ephesus and brought to Rome and was there put into a vessel of boyling oyle