Chancello'rs neck But afterwards both the ceremonyes of enstallment and his court of Chancery was augmented three seales one of gold two of syluer a great one and a lesser and for the Lawyers abuses and quirkes in the Common law the Chancello'rs court or Chancery erected to moderate all as Vmpire meerly out of equity and justice independent of sophisticall tricks and verball cauills This was the office of the Lord Chancellor of England synce the Norman conquest for the most part with some ceremoniall changes rather accidentall then in substance as the Kings who raignd thought fitt In the administration of this office as our Saint shewd great wisdome so did he also great integrity and these two compleated his justice so that the former securd him against mistakes and ignorance the latter against bribes and extorsions neyther of which eyther was or euer could be justly layd to his charge Nay he was so scrupulously nice in the latter that he would not haue so much as the shadow of it to approach him It is recorded particularly that certaine Religious men who had a suite depending at Law applyd themselues to him for his fauour and furtherance in the dispatch of the same and therto presented him with a jewell of value which he rejected not without indignation asking them whether they thought him to be wonn with guifts Nor was his courage inferiour eyther to his wisdome or integrity vpon which account when reason and equity dictated that such a thing was to be done he was vndaunted as to the execution euen though the king himselfe stood in the way yett none more obseruant of his Majesty then he This may be confirmd by what happend at the councill table and was driuen on by many great ones who perswaded the king to conferr an office vpon a new conuerted Iew wherby he was impowerd ouer the liues and persons of such subjects as were found to be coyners of false money He opposd it with much earnestnes saying it was too unlimited a power ouer Christians to be committed to a new conuerted Iew who might easily be tempted according to his former ill habitts to abuse it and therfore besought his Majesty with teares eyther to reuoke it or giue him leaue to absent himselfe for he could not approue it The king mou'd with his teares and candour as well as the force of his reasons bidding him sit still changd ther vpon his determination I shall say more relating to this in the last Chapter Now how satisfactory his mannagement of affayres in this ticklish charge was both to Prince and people is euidenc'd by this that the King vpon urgent occasions being calld into France left to him during his absence the trust and charge of the whole kingdome IX CHAPTER King Henry dyes his Sonn succeeds S. Thomas with License giues vpp his Seale and retyres IN this equall track of justice declining neyther to the right hand nor the left did our Saint walk all the respitt of King Henry's life Full often during this space of time did he sigh after his former Retyrement and ceasd not vpon fitt occasions to importune the same but the good King who had found his assistance and dexterity so seruiceable in the dispatch of affayres would by noe meanes harken to that request giuing him leaue to groane vnder his burden and he in complyance with his will submitted to it making the best of the worst and a vertue of necessity At last hauing finishd the course of nature as well as of a vertuous life he payd the common tribute of mortality to death and Edward his eldest Sonn calld the first of that name immediately succeded in the throne of whome it will not be amiss to giue some short account as also how things went in the course of affayres This Edward was not onely a warr-like but wise Prince and as he had receiud both Crowne and life from his father so he restord both againe by cutting off with his owne hand the last and most dangerous Rebellion of all This was raisd by Simon Montfort a great souldier and of a high Spiritt otherwise a pious and gracious person to most men by reason of his forward zeale to engage in what he conceiud did concerne the common good which cost him first expulsion out of France and after his being receiud in England and made Earle of Lecester noe less then his life This great Warriour obseruing the march and approach of Prince Edward to giue him battaile turnd to his Commanders and thus aduisd them let vs commend our soules to God for our bodyes are theyrs as it fell out and he dy'd with the rest The same great Prince Edward the first after he had brought the kingdome of Scotland to the vtmost extremity but preuented by death could not compleat the full conquest he chargd his Sonn Edward the 2. or of Caernaruan calld so from his birth in that castle not to enterre his body till he finishd the work begunn by him of which little remayn'd to be atchieu'd But those court Parasites the young Kings fauorites hating as death the life of a Souldier drew him of from that noble designe to court againe to the shame and infamy of the English Nation and wretched end of that vnfortunate Prince A sad example of disobedience to the last words of a dying father and such a father as England had scarse his like for valour conduct and wisdome In the very beginning of whose Raigne and first stepp into the throne S. THOMAS as his place and office requird brought him the great Seale of England with most humble acknowledgment of his obligation to his Majesty's father for honouring him aboue all desert with that eminent charge which he resignd into his Majestyes hands with this humble petition that with his Majestyes approbation and leaue he may retyre to that knowne mother of learning and wisdome Oxford where he may more enable himselfe for the seruice of God and of his Majesty and the assistance of his country To which the King answerd first with thanks as the manner is for the great seruice done to the King and kingdome and for his petition that he assented to it and for the present gaue him full liberty to dispose of himselfe as he thought fitting This was it which our Saint much more addicted to the Schooles then the court so earnestly breathd after and as cheerfully hastend to them as a stone to its Center or fyre to its element „ trahit sua quemque voluptas And heer I cannot but pawse a while vpon this noble and heroicall act of S. THOMAS which if we measure by a humane ell and mans naturall inclination to greatnes was perchance one of the noblest of his life For where in the world shall one find euen vertuous and holy men who make not preferrments a part of theyr ayme and reward of theyr studyes much less who will diuest themselues willingly of it especially the highest when they
this Chapter This purity is that cleanes of hart to which our B. Sauiour affixd a beatitude and in its beames our B. Saint saw God so present in all his actions that he was ashamd as well as reuerentially afrayd to offend him whence it made him sollicitous to walk like a child of light and the Apostle tells vs that theyr Eph. 5. 9. journey and progress is in all goodnes and justice and truth Whence it was that the Royall Prophett desyrd so Psal 50. 62. much to haue a cleane hart created in him for such as is the hart such is the whole man and God who so earnestly Couetts our hart will eyther haue a pure one or none This is the eye of man which if it be simple the whole body will be lightsome if troubled and obscure darksome and if the light that 's in vs sayth our Sauiour be darknes Matt. 6. 23. how great and lamentable must that needs be This is the reason why the Wiseman aduises vs to guard our hart with all diligence because it is the Originall house of life as well Spirituall as Corporall the chiefe seat of life and the H. Ghost whose throne it is What is engenderd heer must be like that of pearles by the pure dew of heauen without speck or blemmish one dropp of salt water causes a miscarriage and as the Spouse feeds and lyes not but among lillyes so if we couett his Company at bed and bord this must be his entertainment euen a discomposd cast of an eye will make him quitt the Company for Diuine Wisdome will Sap. 1. 4. not enter into a maleuolous soule nor dwell in a body subject to Sinn To this due preseruation of the hart and maintenance of purity there must be a joynt Concurrence of both the parts of man body and soule nor will the one be able to effect it whithout the other it being a result of both One flaw spoyles the worth of a iewell one distorted limb or wenn a beautifull body perfection Consists in an integrity of the parts and whole and this was the care and sollicitude of our Saint to combyne both his in this respect into a Common interest nor did he endeauour it by fitts and spurts but was the constant practise of his life and who euer aymes at it his solid resolution must be like that of the Ermin Malo mori quam faedari rather dye then suffer a blemmish To effect this was the grand work of our B. Saint as it is of all those who intend to serue God in syncerity and purity and to Compass it the better he keept a strict eye vpon both and theyr proceedings by a due inquiry into them and sett for that end watch and ward vpon all the auenues which lead therto securing himselfe thus against all surprizes by a due intelligence of all that pasd admitting the good rejecting the bad By this diligence he enioyd a perfect peace both at home and abroad nor in his interiour did he find eyther mutiny or insurrection and whoeuer will imitate this his mannagement of such affayres shall experience the same By this wary watchfullnes and the assistance of a good Spirituall Directour in his beginnings or younger dayes he preseru'd himselfe so vnderild both in body and soule the grace of Alm. God Cooperating that he deseru'd from the same his Directour in his now declining age that publique Elogium of his integrity which I mentiond in the 10. Chapter which by aduancing from vertue to vertue he was still Consummating euen till death This was one reason why he treated his crazy body so seuerely both by abstinence and other chastisements knowing right well that to haue it a dutifull seruant it must be keept vnder and at task least through idlenes getting head it become vnruly and play the wanton debauching the soule to its licentiousnes to which our corrupt nature too much inclines it This flesh of ours is the worst naturd creature vpon earth a meer diuell to our and its owne vndoing it cares for no body but it selfe and that 's the propperty of self loue neuer regarding what woe it work the soule so it can Compass its desyres and please its appetites it is little concernd eyther for heauen or hell creditt or discreditt friend or foe and what doe we in pampering such a one but make much of a churlish curr which will one day doe his best to pull out our throat that is vndoe vs the way to cast out this Diuell is that which our Sauiour prescribes „ in jejunio oratione „ Matt. 17. 20. in fasting and prayer He added to this by way of preuention a shunning of conuersation with woemen occasion they say makes a thiefe and he that touches pitch shall be defil'd by it euen his owne Sisters as much as could stand with Common ciuility not permitting them to lodge aboue one night in his pallace and then his custome was to leaue it himselfe and diuert to some of his maunour houses He had a horrour of all speeches glauncing at leuity nor durst any in his presence scatter such smutty jeasts much less vtter broad ribaldry without the penalty of a sound check a language much vnbeseeming Christian Conuersation as made vpp onely of the dreggs of witt fitt onely indeed for the mouth of a bargman though not a little in vogue among many world lings The loue of this vertue made him conceiue a perfect hatred and horrour of the contrary vice and as both the impious and his impiety is abominable to God so had he not onely a loathing of the latter but also an auersion from the former and those he knew to be giuen to the same nor could he affect them further then Christian charity commanded though otherwise his neerest allyes This he made euident by his Carriage towards a nephew of his one for whome he had a great kindnes so long as he did well maintaining him in the Uniuersity making him his Confident and would certainly haue done very much for him But vnderstanding that he was become loose of behauiour and not so chast in his wayes he totally withdrew his affection and though much pressd to take him along in his journey to Rome no perswasion could preuaile on which subject he expressd himselfe to this effect These young men sayd he are not now adayes so bashfull and modest as heertofore for when I was such a one if a handsome woman had lookd me in the face I should presently haue bin putt to the blush turnd my eyes from her they are words of the Record or pulld my hatt ouer them that eyther I should not haue seen her or shee mee but now things goe farr otherwise nor could he euer be induc'd to receiue him into fauour or familiarity This vertue of Angelicall purity was so conspicuous in him that the Prayer vsd in the office of his feast petitions by it graces from God and that by its
meritts we may deserue to be associated to the quires of Angells and the first lesson of the same Office calls him Angelicus homo an Angelicall man And the loue and esteem he had for this vertue was not onely verball or from the teeth outwards but he made good in deed what he professd in word and Alm. God was pleasd to permitt Certamen forte dedit ei ut vinceret Sap. â—0 12. some trialls in this kind and to giue him a strong Combatt for the greater glory of his victory While he liu'd at Paris he like another chast Joseph was assaulted in the same as dangerously as impudently and he like him forc'd to flye and leaue his cloak behind him nor can that flight by deemd disgracefull when by it we gett the victory He gott it and in this was more happy then Joseph that he wonn not onely the Combatt but also the Tempter into the bargaine reclayming her to a chast life from her impudent lubricity and so deseru'd a double reward Such a chast body was fitt to be the consort of so pure a soule to make vpp an Angelicall Compound and it s but meet that such a jewell of purity should be keept in a suitable Cabinett that both parts might beare proportion and mutually correspond A Christian ought to trayne vpp his body to immortality and labour to leaue it such in life and death as he desyres to find it in the Resurrection such that it may be acknowledgd and ownd for a Member of Chtist as indeed it is and what a shame then is it as the Apostle argues to make it the member of a harlott Our B. Saint vnderstood this right well both as to proportion decency and other aduantages which thence accru'd and therfore he made it allwayes his busynes to procure and maintaine a good Correspondence betwixt both Now he that was so industrious in the Cultiuating and preseruation of his body what would he be for his soule and Conscience the other 's but the seruant this the Mistress that but the Shell this the Pearle and he knew very well how to giue euery one its due All he was to doe in this kind was to keep it to Christian duty according to his state to cultiuate it in piety and the seruice of God sowing in it the seeds of all vertues and how he did this euen in his youth and in what a nice and delicate temper he keept it maybe knowne by what we related in the end of the 5. Chapter of the vine-propp taken out of anothers vineyard and the 7. yeares pennance he did for the same Whence we may gather how Angelically pure that delicate soule was which checkd so feelingly at so small a matter and how farr it was from harbouring any great offence which deemd the least to be so great Nor yett was it one of those which flea a gnatt and swallow a Camell according to the expression of our B. Sauiour or stumbles at a straw and leaps ouer a block but pure illuminated soules in theyr quick-sightednes can espye a blemmish where a dimm eye of a grosser Complexion makes no discouery at all This was the Constitution of his mind and tenour of proceeding when he was now in the flower of his youth and nature pronest to lubricity where nothing but the speciall grace of God in an eminent sanctity could work such effects so opposite to nature and aboue it And as he went allwayes aduancing to Sanctity euen till death so did he also in purity sanctity as S. Anselme defines out of S. Denys being a most perfect and vnspotted purity free and entyre from all blemmish and to what a pitch of eminency must he needs arriue I shall conclude all in this that he liu'd and dy'd a pure Virgin both in body and mind XXV and last CHAPTER Of his Justice and Prudence BOth these are Cardinall Vertues and when I haue shewd with what a rich stock our Saint traded in them I shall haue made him Conspicuous in in all fower As for his temperance and fortitude I haue already giuen a character of them the former while I treated of his abstinence the latter of his courage and magnanimity in defence of his Church As to what we treat of at present he had great practise of the former to witt Iustice in both his Chancellorships and dischargd his trust with such integrity that all partyes concernd were abundantly satisfyd And he took the true way to doe it for he sought it not himselfe and made its advance his end not his owne nor the enrichment of his estate while others peruersly inuert true order by taking the quite contrary course The ordering of this depends much vpon the well or ill ordering of theyr owne Conscience which must be the beame of the ballance and to be right stand allwayes perpendicular inclining neyther to one syde or other but as the scales sway it in the one wheroff must be justice in the other the thing controuerted to the end an eeuen and vnpartiall hand may be keept It were much to be wishd that all distributers of justice did this more indeed to be wishd then hopd for while so many make a trade of selling what they ought to giue and gratis theyr honesty becoming venall to auarice and them selues imitatours of Iudas who as he sold his Master so they theyr Mistress for what are all in office but her Seruants and Ministers that which Captiuated the other Captiuates them peruerts theyr sense and misleads them from the paths of equity This proceeds from being not so well principled in poynt of Conscience and justice which goe allwayes hand in hand togeather and are attended by vprightnes and syncerity and thus our B. Saint walkd in them with the Common approbation of all guided not by the dictamens of this world but Diuine Wisdome by whose Prou. 8. 15 direction all both Lawgiuers and Administers of justice decree and execute just things Thus he purchasd that vogue of integrity which euery where accompany'd his proceedings growing vpp with him euen from his youth and so habitually rooted and relucent in all his carriage that it is noted as the prime Motiue why he was chosen first to the Chancelorship of the Vniuersity and then of the whole Kingdome And Certainly such an integrity of justice is an excellent Cemmendatory to preferment as giuing great aduantages to a full discharge of trust and strange it is that men do not take this way to Compass it when they seek so greedily after it If naturall abilityes be so much regarded how much more in all reason ought supernaturall if witt how much more vertue Witt without vertue and grace degenerates for the most part into Craft and turnes publique justice into priuate ends and selfseeking Euen those that are not vertuous are great admirers of it in others as being praise worthy in a very enemy and synce no body but loues to haue theyr things well done and
him how to dye well which is one of the most important arts in the world for what auailes it if we gaine the whole uniuerse and suffer shipwrack of our owne Soules This maxime was the study of his whole life and on it all his principles were grounded and so well that he was not a frayd to look death in the face he regarding it no otherwise then as a passage to a better life and therfore amidst all its appalements he sate vpon its Couch as the Phenix on her pile of spices expecting that the same flames which consumd his body should renew his soule to a better and immortall life Of this his passage I shall say no more then I find vpon authentique Record the Process of his Canonization reflecting on two things first his preparation to it secondly the sequels of it And as to the former when he perceiu'd that the euening of life was in a great decline and its sunn neer vpon setting though his whole life had bin nothing else but a preparation to death or disposition to the sleep of Saints by which they rest in our Lord yett the neerer it approachd the more it awakd him to a discharge of his last dutyes And therfore with hart and eyes fixd on heauen the first of his desyres according to the Rytes of H. Church were the last Sacraments or Viaticum of that great journey doing himselfe as he had taught others to doe in that passage These are Confession Communion and Extreme Unction which as no good Christian doth omitt so no good seruant of God but has them in esteem and veneration and the greater the better insight they haue into the Concerns of theyr soule and its happy passage Hauing thus prouided for the substantiall part all the rest of his minutes were lett out at the highest exchange and he vnmindfull of all worldly things inuokd the Spiritt both of life and light by a „ Veni Creator Spiritus to be assistant to him in this last conflict against the Spiritts of Darknes when both life and light lye at the Stake This done he armd himselfe with the signe of the crosse or ensigne of Christianity as formidable to the infernall powers as confortable to a parting soule who whilst he consignd himselfe by it ouer to Alm. God he added these deuout expressions taught him probably in his child hood „ Per signum Crucis de inimicis nostris libera nos Deus noster and againe Per Crucis hoc signum fugiat procul omne malignum and lastly „ Per idem signum saluetur omne benignum All these are put downe verbatim in the record and teach vs how to arme our selues in our last Conflict towards a victory ouer our enemyes This done he calld his retinue about him and imparting to each fayth the lessons of his office the kiss of peace togeather with wholsome instructions for a pious life amidst these embracements he took and gaue the last adieu And now by this time the stock of life being quite spent the pangs of death came stronger vpon him and these increasing he betook himselfe more earnestly to his refuge of prayer making vse of that verse of the Psalmist propper in such a passage in manus tuas Domine commendo Spiritum meum Domine Deus veritatis Commendo Spiritum meum which words whilst he repeated thrice with his hands eleuated towards heaven he renderd his sweet Soule most acceptable to heauen to be receiud according to its meritts into the eternall tabernacles This was the setting of this sweet Sunn shewing much not onely of the Christian but of the Saint and verifying the old saying „ vt vixit sic morixit teaching vs that generall rule without exception he that liues well dyes well Which Sunn though he went downe in a strange horizon yett found a wellcome in the Ocean of bliss or a blessed eternity the true Christian deemes that his Hemisphere where God places him we being all Cittizens of the world and like beggars neuer out of our way while we are tending to Paradise Happy they that can make a happy Conclusion of so important an affayre which when thus concluded our work is done and if not happily all 's vndone and that without redress that is a moment of greatest moment wheron depends eternity Though his festiuity were keept on the 2. of October yett the day of his death happend on the 25. of August or the morrow to the Apostle S. Bartholomew And synce all Authours that I can find vnanimously agree as to the place to witt that it was neer Monte fiascone one would wonder why Bp. God win in contradiction heer of without alledging any ground for his assertion should maintaine that he dy'd at Ciuita Vecchi and in his way to Rome wheras there are vndenyable prooffs both of his arriuall there and obtayning his pretentions returne by land and holy death at the place aforesayd To say the least this cannot but argue a spiritt of contradiction propper to one of his coat and little beseeming the name of a Bishop nor had he more besydes the reuenues Onely it is a knowne trick of such I can call it no better to render the clearest truths disputable and thence doubtfull and so by degrees eneruate all fayth both humane and diuine by vndermining the autority which is theyr basis It happend the night after his decease that one of his officers whome he had left behind him in England his name was Robert of Glocester then his Secretary afterwards Chancellor of Hereford being at that time at London and Lodging in the Bishops owne Chamber had this dreame or vision call it as you please He thought himselfe to be at Lions in France where in the great street of that Citty which leads to the Cathedrall he seemd to behold his Lord and Master going towards that Church whither himselfe was also bound Both being enterd his Lord he thought went into the Sacristy where putting of the vpper garment which he wore he vested himselfe with white Pontificall Robes and those most rich and carrying in his hand the Body of our Lord or most B. Sacrament in forme of a Consecrated Host he appeard suddainly in the midst of a most solemne and stately Procession both of Clergy and religious and those likewise cladd all in white The Procession seemd to moue towards the Cloyster of the Cathedrall while others of that quire enton'd and prosecuted with delicate Musique that part of the Capitulum propper to the Office of S. Peter ad Vincula Occidit autem Jacobum fratrem Joannis gladio But before all were enterd the gate which led into the sayd Cloyster it on a suddain was shutt and Robert who with many others desyrd also to enter were excluded to theyr no small defeatment and left to consider the dreame of which he as the ignorant of the Saints death could look vpon no otherwise then a dreame But when immediately after certaine tydings both of
space of 9. yeares togeather All humane remedyes prou'd vnusefull to her cure and how to obtayne diuine she knew not the fame and name of S. THOMAS was then not blazd abroad though it happend after his death and while his sacred bones lay bury'd in our Ladyes Chappell Yett the charitable Saint had a kindnes for the poore Creature and appearing 6. seuerall times to her wishd her to goe to the Tomb of Bishop THOMAS which was in our Lady's Chappell at Hereford and there she should be curd She neyther knew what Bishop THOMAS nor Lady's Chappell meant but vpon so many warnings resolu'd to send her husband to Hereford to learne by enquiry what they might meane He went he informd himselfe he returnd yett the disabled wretch lay languishing a whole yeare before she could resolue to be carryd thither The bruit of the sollemne Translation quickned her deuotion a little and being carryd in a baskett was plac'd in our Lady's Chappell at the Saints Reliques there falling into a slumber he appeard to her againe bidding her rise and goe to the new Tombe she made what shift she could to gett to it nor had she sooner touchd it and sayd a few prayers but by leaning on it she rose found her selfe well and walkd thrise about it and the next day home without any help The baskett in which she was brought she left behind her at the Tomb but it being borrowd of a poore neighbour who demanded her baskett againe Iuliana the next morning sent for it and restord it to the owner But what much hightned the Miracle was this the baskett was no sooner taken away but the woman relapsd into her former Contraction it seems the Saint requird it for a monument of his charitable redress What remedy now she is carryd againe to his Tomb and in the same baskett remayning so amidst teares and prayers a whole day and night the next morning her good Benefactour mindfull of his patient restord her limms once more to a full and perfect vse of them and least she might incurr a second forfeyture she presumd no more to take away the baskett A publique Incendiary was taken in flagrante and deseruedly by the Lord of the Mannour who had legall power sentencd to the gallowes which was executed and he lay there a sad spectacle of justice with all the certain signes of a dead man in so much that now they thought of nothing more but his buryall The lady of the Mannour a very vertuous matrone and her daughter like herselfe hauing theyr charity not ty'd to meritt much beyond his deserts had a great mind to haue him thus as he was measurd to S. THOMAS in hopes of a reuiuall Confiding surely that the latter part of his life would be more edificatiue then the former In fine she did it and not once or twice but thrise with much deuotion seconded with the feruent prayers of all that were present Her fayth was equall to her hope and charity and all three so acceptable to the Saint that vpon this deuout petition as a prelude to what would follow the dead body mou'd first one foot then begann to breath the eyes which hung gastly vpon his cheeks fell back of themselues to theyr propper place and so did his tongue to its in fine there was a perfect recouery from death to life and he is sayd and no great wonder it should be so to haue mended his manners very much and behau'd himselfe through all like a good Christian It is not granted euery one to dye twice The palpablest of miracles or raising the dead was so ordinary with our glorious Saint that 40. such like resuscitations stand vpon a juridicall record Our Lord and sauiour has the sole Dominion of life and death keeping in his owne hands the keyes of both without controule yett so as that he lends them somtimes to his seruants who what they doe is by his power and dispensation as are also all the miracles which they work not done by theyr propper vertue but his Concurrence who communicates it and thus he wrought with our Saint who will say as did S. Peter to the Iewes Viri Israelitae quid admiramini Act. 3. 12. aut quid nos intuemini c. Ye men of Israel why maruell you at this or why look you vpon vs as though by our power or holynes we haue made this man to walk the God of Abraham c. In this kind a little Child scarse 3. yeares old playing with another of the same age on the bank of a fish-pond the other to frighten this made as if he would thrust her in and she out of feare fell in indeed and was actually drownd before the mischance knowne or help could be giuen This pond belongd and was neer to an Alehouse where store of Company was at the same time making merry and among the rest the Parents of the child so close many times and vnexpectedly doth sorrow follow myrth at the heeles dashing the wine of comfort with the water of teares suitable to that of the wiseman „ Extrema gaudii luctus occupat and thus many times is all the sport Prou. 14. 13. spoyld The Child is taken out lifeles and while they are all lamenting ouer it the Father who had heard much of the miracles wrought by S. THOMAS togeather with all the company recommended the matter with much Deuotion to the Saint and with his girdle measurd her to him according to custome Thus they all perseuerd praying and on theyr bare knees sayth the Record till next morning without any signe of life in the morning naturall heat came into her body motion of her limbs followd that and speech motion and so by degrees came perfectly to her selfe This miracle was among the first which Alm. God wrough by his Saint and it being noysd abroad people came farr and neer to behold the Child it was also the first which was solemnly examind and approu'd by the Lords Commissioners She liu'd till she came to womans estate but could neuer be perswaded by her Parents to marry though much urgd therto and therfore was Commonly calld by the name of S. THOMAS his Vingin A poore man by an vniust oppression of his Land-lord was cast into prison and so loaden with irons that the weight of them broke his left arme In this sad Condition both of want and torment all humane meanes fayling him he sought diuine and had recourse to our Saint making a vow that if he cur'd his arme and restord him to liberty himselfe would make a pilgrimage to his Tombe He found a propitious Patrone his arme was forth with Curd and he eerlong releasd from hold But alas a good purpose is sooner made then keept he that sayd VOUETE sayd also REDDITE which latter part was wholly neglected by this vngratefull Client who now hauing obtaynd what he desyrd thought no more of what he promisd and so it fares with a great