vision called to account before the dreadfull tribunall of Onâ— punished by God for hindering Wolstans preaching an vnknowne iudge who sharply rebuked him for his temeritie in checking his beloued seruant and commaunded him to be layd along out he ground where he was soe scourged with sharp whipps as the teares which trickled downe his cheekes and the black and blew markes of the stripes which appeared on his shoulders when he awaked were euident and feeling witnesses of what had past When this was made knowne vnto holy WOLSTAN pittying his calamitie he pardoned him the offence and with his benediction likewise gaue him soe perfect a cure of his griefe that there remayned noe signe thereof to be seene VI. S. WOLSTAN standing aloose off happened once to see one fall hedlong from the top of the steeple at which woefull sight being suddenly strucken with grief he made the signe of the crosse towards him as he fell who coming to the ground armed with that siâ—â—â— of life was nothing at all bruised or hurt with the markes of death The woÌ„derfull vertue of the signe of the crosse but getting vp safe without anie helpe he imputed the cause of his fall to his owne temeritie and the miraculous preseruation of his life to S. WOLSTANS sainctetie VII AFTER some yeares Alred of Worcester being chosen Archbishop of Yorke the generall consent both of the Monks and common He is chosen Bish. people inclined totally to the election of WOLSTAN holy King EDWARD allowing them to choose a Bishop whom they pleased Their election was confirmed by the Popes Legats who then liued at Worcester expecting a dispatch of some affaires from the Kings Court But WOLSTAN as obstinately resisted these honours as He refuseth to accept it manie now a dayes doe ambitiously labour to gett them prochiming him self most vnworthy and protesting by oathe that he would rather lay downe his neck to be diuided by the sharpe edge of the sword then vndertake the burden of soe high a dignitie Being often times perswaded herevnto by manie vertuous religious men he would neuer consent till at length well checkt and sharply rebuked for his obstinacie and disobedience by the holy man of God Vlsius an Anachorite who had then liued a solitarie life aboue fortie yeares and terrified with a heauenly oracle his constancie was broken and he to his great grief compelled to yeeld and consent to their desires Therefore on the feast of our B. Ladies Natiuitie by the hands of Alrâ—d Archbishop of Yorke Stig and the vsurper of Cauturbury then being suspended from his function he was ordayned Ouercome with persvvasion he is ordained bishop Joan. 1. v. 47. and consecrated Bishop of Worcester in presence of holy King EDWARD the Confessor in the twentith yeare of his raigne In this consecration S. WOLSTAN opening the Bible as the manner was happened on this sentence worthily deuining of him Behould a true Jsraelite in whom there is noâ— deceipt For he was an open plaine man voide of all quainâ— deuices of dissimulation Yet was he not soe meerely simple as easily to suffer him self to be cosened by the greatest and wisest masters of deceipt the allmightie wisedom manie times giuing euident restimonie approuing the vertuous innocencie of his simplicitie For when Thomas Archbishop of Yorke would haue reduced the Sea of Worcester vnder his iurisdiction and did wrongfully alienate and detaine some of the lands and meanes the 〈◊〉 belonging a verie sharpe controuersie was had there vppon in presence of the King the Bishops and other Peeres of the Realme to decide this case whereon depended a great part of the Bishop of Worcesters estate In the meane time S. WOLSTAN goeing out oâ— the Councell maturely to deliberate with his Monks concerning this weighâ—ie matter that â—oe neerely touched their freehould when all their minds were most eagerly attentiue to the diligent examination See his wonderfull contempt of the world in respect of the diuine seruice of their cause Beleeue my Brethren sayd WOLSTAN we haue not yet song None therefore let vs goe â—ing it The Monkâ— offended herewith First replied they let vs dispatch the busines we came for and studie our answeare to the Councell we shall haue time inough to â—ing afterwards Beleeue me answeared he we will first doe our duties to God and then debate the contentious reasons of those humane affayres Therefore hauing without anie delay dispatched the ninth hower he commaunded his Monks that were very sollicitous of the euent of their cause to depose all care constantly affirming that he saw the â—B Bishops and Saincts DVNSTAN and OSWALD who would defend both them and their cause against all theiâ— aduersaries Neyther was he anie thing deceaued for entring into the Councell with great alacritie and boldnes he gott the sentence of them all in his owne behalf against Thomas Archbishop of Yorke who then willingly yeelded and very earnestly desired WOLSTAN to make a visitt in his diocesse and instruct the people with the pietie of his sermons Which allthough they did not â—low from him with that abundance of humane science and flanting eloquence The vertue of his preaching as other men made shew off yet his speeches tooke such deepe roote and impression in the breasts of his audience and touched them soe to the quick that he would moue to repentance and amendment of life more then anie others Preachers that were For his singular innocencie of life ioyned to the manie miracles which it pleased God through his merits to shew vnto the world did pearce and sting the hardest hearts and draw euen his aduersaries though vnwilling to loue and honour him But among all his miracles this ensuing is worthy eternally to be recorded in the Church of God VIII IN A Councell held at Westminster were besides the King with the Bishops and Peeres of England were present a Bishop and two Cardinals the Popes Legaâ—s from Rome after they had deposed Stigand a secular Priest out of the sea of C 〈…〉 which by i 〈…〉 sion he had vsurped the King Williaâ— Conquerour pretending insufficiencie The couÌ„cell dispute of his depositioÌ„ of learning and want of the French tongue in S. WOLSTAN by all meanes endeauoured to depriue him of his office and dignitie meaning belike to putt some Norman in his place and Lâ—â—frâ—â—ck Archbishop of C 〈…〉 vnaduisedly following the Kings opinion commaunded the holy man without further delay to resigne vp his staffe and â—iâ—g the chief armes and â—â—signes of his Episcopall dignitie WOLSTAN without anie shâ—w of alteration eyther in mind oâ— in countenanâ—e stood vp and houlding his câ—o 〈…〉 staffe in his hand In very dâ—ed my Lord Archbishop sayd he I know that I am â—â—yther worthy of this honour nor fiâ—t for sâ—e great a His speech to the councell burden nor able rightly to vndergoe the labour this I know and this did I know before when the Monks elected 〈◊〉 when the
he would receaue it he humbly desired pardon of all his brethren yf in anie thing he had offended them and imparted the like courtesie vnto them earnestly crauing it of him and then with great reuerence fortifieing him self with that heauenly Viaticum he prepared his pious soule to enter into the happie voyage of euerlasting life V. THIS done he asked the assistants how long it was to the hower that the Monkes should rise to Mattins They answered that the time was not farre of Well then sayd he let vs quietly expect that Blessing with the signe of the Crosse good hower And within a while when the standers by nothing suspected his death arming him self with the signe of the holy crosse the only signe of our redemption and softly inclining his head vppon the pillow he tooke a sweet slumber and therwithall in great His death correspondent to his life silence and tranquillitie both of mind and bodie he deliuered vp his still soule into the hands of his redeemer Soe that by the diuine prouidence it came to passe that euen as he serued our Lord in his life time with a pure and quiet deuotion of mind soe leauing this world he went to enioy the cleere vision of him he had serued by a peaceable and vntroubled death And that elegant tongue which had sung so manie sweet lines poems in prayse of his creatour did close vpp the breath of his last words to gods honour glorie when blessing him self with the signe of life recōmending his soule into the hands of his deare redeemer he changed this temorall life for an eternall He died about the yeare of our Lord 670. After the time of King William conquerour his bodie was found among the ruines of the monasterie of Streanshall and honourably shrined sett vpp in a Inuention of his bodie place worthie soe great a relique where the manie miracles wrought through his meritts are euident witnesses of what high esteeme he was in the fauour of allmightie God who is euer gloriousi n his saincts Amen His life we haue gathered out of Venerable Bede de gest Ang. lib. 4. cap. 24. Nicholas Harpsfield saec 7. cap. 36. William Malmesbury de gest pont Aug. lib. 3. Arnould Wion l. 2. cap. 62. and other grau◠authours make honourable mention of him And be is highly commended of all for his great vertue and holy life and conuersation The life of S. ERMENILD Queene and Abbesse of the holy order of S. BENEDICT FEB 13. Gathered out of diuers Authours SAINCT ERMENILD was daughter to Erconbert King of Kent and S. SEXBVRG his queene naturally and from the womb she inherited her good mothers propension to workes of pietie compassion and relieuing of euerie ones necessitie Both mother and daughter vsed the same bountie and charitie towards all and being both queenes on earth they had both the same pious desires and affectiōs to the King and kingdom of heauen ERMENILD was giuen in mapiage vnto Wulfere King of the Mercians and by that meanes the kingdom of Kent was happily vnited to that of the Mercians At that time her husband Wulfere being but newly baptised his poeple were but rude and scarse well setled in the Catholick fayth but S. ERMENILD who had bin trayned vp from her infancie in true vertue pietie and religion with her care and singular example of holy life her wise and prudent exhortations and manie benefits liberally bestowed vppon them tamed the obstinate heartes of that rude and vnlearned poeple and brought them vnder the sweet yoake of IESVS CHRIST by a mild force and a forceble mildnes subduing those peruerse rebellious mindes to the obediēce of the Catholick Church II. SVCH and soe great was the feruour zeale of this holy woemā to the seruice honour of allmightie God propagation of Christiā religiō that she was wholely carelesse of all other affayres in respect thereof neuer ceasing vntill she had quite destroyed Idolls rooted out all the diuelish rites of Idolatrie and furnished her Kingdō with churches Priests for the cōfort saluatiō of her poeple whom in the end she accustomed diligently to frequent the diuine seruices and sacraments and all other duties of Christian pietie and deuotion And this her godly zeale was much promoted by the royall power and authoritie of the king her husband who inuited by her pious example much aduanced her good endeauours and did manie good workes him self admiring to see the whole intentions mind of his wife amōgst the turbulent broiles of the world to be allwaies soe truely fixed on the contemplation of heauen and heauenly things Besides she did abound in charitie and compassion towards the poore all such as were in necessitie and affliction in soe much that neuer anie came to her that departed without consolation and her liberall almes to relieue their want III. AT length after the death of her husband with whom she had She taketh the habit of S. Benedicts order liued seauenteen yeares and been mother of S. WEREBVRG whose life you may read the third of this moneth hauing hither vnto ouercome all others she now ouercame her self for goeing to the monasterie of Benedictin Nunnes at Ely she renounced all mortall pompe and glorie for the pure loue of the immortall and putt on the habit of S. BEMEDICTS order vnder the gouernment of her holy mother S. SEXBVRG then Abbesse of the same place Where by humilitie and obedience she became queene of her owne passions and spent the remnant of her life in continuall fasting and prayer and all other austerities of a vertuous and religious life And after the death of the Abbesse S. SEXBVRG S. ERMENILD was chosen in her place in which office whilest she dischardged the dutie of a verie religious vertuous Matrone inciting her subiects by her owne good examples to embrace the rules of true religion she was deliuered out of this mortall prison and called to receaue the euerlasting reward of her labours in heauen the thirteenth day of February about the yeare of our Lord 685. and was buried in the same monasterie Where after her death it pleased allmightie God for the honour and glorie of this sainct to worke manie miracles at her tombe Whereof one was that a Saxon condemned for some offence to be bound with iron chaines or rings being on a time present at Masse in the monasterie of Elie and as he prayed before the bodie of S. ERMENILD about the time the ghospell was reading his irons forced by some secret and diuine power fell suddenly from his armes to the great admiration of manie that were present at the sayd masse Her life we haue gathered out of Ioannes Anglicus recited by Iohn Capgraue William Malmesbury de gest reg Angl. lib. 2. cap. 13. de gest pontif lib. 4. Mathew Wistminster anno 676. and Wigorniensis an 675. mention is made of her by Molanus in his additions to Vsuard Peter in
bequeathed him in his mind to allmightie God at the same instant and within a weeke after went him self in person and presented him to the charge of a holy man to be instructed according to his owne desires In that good schoole of vnited vertue and learning WINWALOKE profitted soe exceedingly that in a short time he became verie learned in holie scripture and most deuout in the seruice of allmightie God II. HIS master happening to be absent vppon a time the schollers fell to sport and recreate them selues in the fields whereby some misfortune one of them chaunced to breake his legge which turned By his prayers the signe of the Crosse he cureth a broken thigh all their mirth into morning and their play into earnest condoling their fellowes vnhappines But WINWALOKE exhorting them to take courrage and comfort caused the whole companie to fall to their praiers for the repayring of this disastrous losse he him self heartily beseeched the omnipotent worker of wonders to graunt this their humble request Which done he made the signe of the crosse on the wound saying In the name of our Lord IESVS-CHRIST rise and giue thankes vnto allmightie God and at the same instant he arose prefectly cured of his wound and restored againe to the vse of his legge as sound as he was before it was broken WINWALOKE earnestly desired and coniured his companions to conceale the miracle in silence but the will of God was otherwise whereby it was made knowne and publick to the world for the greater honour both of him and his Sainct III. HE WAS soe wonderfully pittifull coÌ„passionate on the poore His coÌ„passion to the poore that when he saw them begge an almes he would sigh and weepe with the grief he suffered in their miserie and not hauing wherewithall to feed their bodies he would at lest with the comfort of his admonitions endeauour to enrich their soules in which pious exercise he dayly employed some part of his time allthough he wanted not some wicked spiritts who spitefully reuiled and reproched him for this pietie saying that he spent the best part of his time idly amongst lazie beggers But he tooke all their blowes on the buckler of patience rendring sweet wordes for their rude exclamations and humble answeares for their insulting reproches And meeting on a time among those poore poeple with one that was blind to make knowne that his seruice was gratefull to God by his prayers he restored him to perfect sight IV. HE grew at lenght soe perfect in vertue and learning that With hallowed oyle he cureth onâ— stung with a serp 〈…〉 from a scholler he became a master when manie were glad to putt them selues into his schoole vnder his discipline to learne the diuine misteries of the holie scripture One of his schollers falling asleepe in the fields as he sate musing on his lesson happrened to be soe greiuously stung by a venemous serpent that the poison dispersing it self ouer all his bodie caused it to swell in a most strange manner and putt him in iminent danger of death But WNIWALOKE gining him oileto drinke which he him self had hallowed the swelling was forthwith asswaged the venom expelled and the man perfectly cured Not long after he vnderstood by reuelation that it was the will of allmightie God that he should depart with some of his associates to liue in an other place Therefore taking leaue of his master he departed with eleuen others not knowing as yet where to take vp his dwelling but with a firme fayth and confidence in allmightie God he committed him self and his companie to his sacred conduct At length he arriued into an Iland where togeather with his disciples for the space of three yeares he led a verie retired and solitarie life But finding that place to be verie subiect to stormie and tempestuous weather and withall soe barren that it was allmost inhabitable he went to seeke an other habitation beyond the sea whither by a diuine reuelation he was appointed to goe and there he found a place soe fitt and commodious for his purpose that he setled him self and his fellowes therein with intention neuer to stirre more while he liued One discomoditie it had which was want of water but that his deuout prayers supplied for the indeficient By his prayers he obtayneth a fresh fouÌ„taiâ—e fountaine of all goodnes that made water spring out of the rocks for the Jsraelites furnished his Seruant in this necessitie with an abundant spring of sweete cristall streames V. IN THIS place he beganne to leade a most celestiall and angelicall A summarie of his vertues life shining vnto his schollers like a bright starre of deuotion vertue and perfection He was of a verie venerable aspect sweete and modest in his discourse allwaies paynfull and vnwearied in the seruice of allmightie God of a pure bodie a sincere minde a sharpe witt a sound iudgement and verie prouident and wise in his aduise and counsell most firme and constant in hope and excellently perfect in charitie From the twentith yeare of his age to the last hower of his life he was neuer seene to fitt in the Church noe man euer found him ether fondly merrie or idly giuen to melancholy He was mild familiar and courteous to all In bodie he walked on earth but his minde and soule was allwaies fixed in heauen His custom was to reade ouer the psalter of Dauid euery day and to kneele in his prayers to God a hundred times a day and as oft by night His cloathing was poore made of goate-skinnes his bed hard his diet only barley bread and pottage of herbes Saturdaies sundaies he added thereunto some small quantitie of fish and a little châ—ese In lent he eate but twise a weeke he neuer dranke wine nor anie other liquour He vanquisheth the Deuill with the signe of the Cros se which might intoxicate the braine The Deuill enuying soe great sainctitie endeauoured with his hellish plotts to trouble and molest his pious labours appearing vnto him as he prayed in his oratorie in the most vglie and horrid shapes that master of wickednes could inuet vomitting out of his infernall throate manie reprochfull wordes against him when he nothing dismayed thereat couragiously proceeded in his deuotions and brandishing the chief armes of life the holy crosse against that black messenger of death he compelled him to vanish away in confusion VI. Now the excelleÌ„cie of his vertues begaÌ„ to be soe famous all ouer Brittaine that manie blind lame leaprous and other diseased persons flocked vnto him as to an Oracle whom he not only wonderfully cured in bodie but with the sacred baulme of his pious aduise and counsell healed the sinfull infections of their soules His fame arriued at length to the eares of a king of that countrey whose lewdnes of life did little answeare the dignitie of his calling but coming in a poore habitt vnto the holy man he fell prostrate at
according to the number of shares and Bishop ALWINE nine others to the sayd minster for euer and enriched the same with manie fayre ornaments VIII AS ONCE on the feast of Pentecost the King was present at the diuine misteries of Masse in time of the eleuation of the sacred bodie of Christ he beganne on a suddaine allwaies obseruing his princely grauitie to shew some more then vsuall alacritie and mirth in his lookes and countenance which he expressed with a graue and moderate smiling to him self whereat all that were present beganne to admire and not without cause knowing that to haue befallen him contrarie to custome And therefore Masse being ended some of his most familiar friends earnestly entreated him to declare the reason He euer endowed with a sincere simplicity plainly confessed the truth saying The His visiot of the Danish kings destructioÌ„ Danes mett and agreed togeather with their King to enter againe into the course of their auncient fâ—rie and malice to disturbe and ouerthrow that peace which the mercifull goodnes of God both bestowed vppon vs and being ignorant of his diuine iustice that hath scourged and chasticed our offences they attribute it to them selues extolling their owne strength and saying Our hands are mightie and not our Lord hath wrought all Deut. 32. these things And because the Allmightie being angrie with our forefathers did deliuer vs to the mercilesse power of these Danes they referring this to the vertue of their owne forces iudge it an easie matter to bring vs to the like miseries againe not vnderstanding that the same God that giues the wound giues allsoe a salue to heale it and the same that mortifieth reuiueth Ibidem sendeth to hell and reduceth from holl againe For this verie day the King of Denmark hauing gathered a huge armie togeather finding the winds to blow with his desires commaunded a nauie to be prepared And now the ships were readie to be committed to the sayles and the sayles to the winds when the wicked king whose hastie ambition not able to be contained within him self as out of a little boate he entred into his ship his feet slipt out and he betweene both fell hedlong into the sea in whose mercilesse depth and swelling waues he was instantly deuowred and swallowed vp And thus by his sudaine death the Danes and English were both sett free from sinne and danger And I hope in our Lord God and his most sweet mother that during my time their blouddie endeauours against vs shall neuer take effect This it is which by the reuelation of CHRIST I did both see and know and at which I seemed to reioyce and smile Our Lord made me reioyce and whosoeuer heareth this may reioyce The truth of his vision proued with me The time and hower being recorded spies were sent into Denmark who found all to be most true and to haue happened at the same instant as it was reuealed vnto this B. King IX THESE things thus prosperously succeeding the king not vnmindfull of his vow of pilgrimage and calling to mind the great benefits he had receiued at the hands of all mightie God who His care to performe his vow had enriched his pouertie exalted his humilitie and ennobied his low estate with glorie made diligent preparation for the performance of his promise with money to desray the charge oâ— his â—ourney rich guiâ—ts to bestow at Rome And therefore hauing assembled the Nobleâ— and Peeres of the Realme he made a speech before them of the state of his kingdom and of his pilgrimage to the sacred shrines of the Apostles in this manner You cannot haue forgotten His speech to his nobles how by the cruell inuasion of barbarous people into our inheritance we haue bin made a scorne to our neighbours and a scoffing mockerie to those that are round about vs. For some being slaine others oppressed with the hard yoake of an ignominious slauerie they left neyther honour nor glorie to our nation At length my father being dead my brethren murthered my nephews cast into banishement fortune soe highly fauoured our enemies in all things that indeede it seemed to me that there was noe remnant of anie hope left that promised anie redresse of our miseries When contrarie to all expectation yeelding my self vp to the mercie of Allmightie God and putting my whole confidence in him alone I vowed my pilgrimage to the sacred tombes of the Apostles in Rome and committed my self from thence forth to his diuine protection and disposing And he like a pittifull Father gaue such eare vnto my supplication and was soe farre from disdayning my prayers that he freed me from all blemish of scorne and restored me from an exiled life to the quiet possession of my fathers kingdom Moreouer to the increase of my gloriè he added heapes of worldly riches and ennobled all the rest with manie spirituall guifts and graces from heauen He it was that without anie bloud-shed brought our rebells vnder subiection made vs triumph ouer our enemies and composed all our disioynted affaires and inward broiles with a most amiable and desired peace Now God forbid that we should prooue vngratefull for such soe manie and soe great benifits but rather being deliuered out of the hands of our enemies let vs endeauour to obey and serue him in all truth and iustice following the Royall Prophets counsell that sayth Make vowes and render them vnto your Lord God Therefore it behooâ—es you togeather with Psalm me to determine and ordaine after what manner this realme may be gouerned dureing the time of my pilgrimage by what law what peace what iustice and what iudge things may be ordered and by whose courage and prudence our castles townes citties ports and all our publicke and priuate affaires shall be ruled My first hope is that God him self will be the cheif and supreme gouernor of all in generall and he alone will be LORD-PROTECTOVR of the sweet peace he hath bestowed vpon vs and he I hope will alwaies be with me and guide me in my iourney vnto whose sacred protection I committ you all humbly beseeching his heauenly maiestie to preserue and keepe you and soe to dispose of me that once againe I may see you Then all the whole companie with one voice cried mainly out vnto the King alleadgeing manie reasons and arguments that they ought not soe to be forsaken and exposed to the swords of their enemies that the countrey was not to be left soe naked and open to forreigne treacheries nether was it fitt they should runne the hazard of soe manie dangers for one and that but a seeming good deed Whereat the King finding him self to be not a little vrged and mooued with their woefull cries lamentations and prayers was verie wauering and doubtfull in mind not knowing for a long time what course to take For on the one side to omitt the performing of his vow he iudged most dangerous and on the other not
condemne or frowne on such as did eate flesh but willingly permitted them affirming merrily that as for his owne part he had noe desire to that kind of meate and if anie flesh were pleasant to the tast his opinion was that larkes were most pleasing and daintie in the eating II. THE holy mans father whose name was Estan and his mother Wlsgeue long before they died agreed both to professe perpetuall chastetie His parēts professe religion and to liue separated vnder the holy habitt of religion which they as faithfully performed as they died happily whose pious example lest the fruict should degenerate from the tree WOLSTAN resolued to follow being of him self much inclined that way and much more incited thereunto by the good perswasions of his mother He taketh the habit of S. Benedict Therefore putting on a constant resolution he forsoke the world and in the monastery of Worcester where his father had liued before he receaued the habitt of S. BENEDICTS order by the hands of Brichthege then Bishop of the same place It was rare to behold how in his verie entrance into the cloister he began likewise to enter into a strict and religious course of life exercising him self soe brauely in watching fasting prayer and all other vertues that he suddenly appeared as a wonder amongst the rest of his brethren Herevpppon the good rule and gouernment of his owne life caused him to be chosen for Master and Guardian of the yonger Monkes or nouices and afterwards by reason of his skill in singing and knowledge of the Ecclesiasticall office he was made Cantour and Treasurer of the Church riches by which office hauing gotten occasion more freely to serue God he gaue him self totally to a contemplatiue life remayning night and day in the Church eyther at his prayers or reading spirituall bookes continually punishing his body with a fast of two or three daies togeather soe giuen to holie watchings that not only a day and a night but sometimes which saith Roger Houedon a graue Authour we could scarse beleene had His won derfull vvatching we not heard it related by tradition from his owne mouth he spent fower nights and fower daies without taking anie sleepe in soe much that the drienes of his braine had like to putt him in danger of life had he not speedily satisfied nature with some desired rest And when weake nature forced him thereunto he would not foster his wearied bones in a soft bed but was wont to take a little sleepe lieing on a bench in the Church with his prayer-booke vnder his head in steed of a pillow III. BVT after some time Agelwin the Prior of the Monastery bing dead WOLSTAN by the election of the Monkes and the authoritie He is chosen Prior. of Alred the Bishop was constituted and ordayned Priour in his place which office most worthily he performed not forgetting allwaies to keepe in practise the austerity of his former conuersation yea to giue the greater example of life vnto others he encreased it more and more Three dayes in the weeke he abstained from tasting anie meate at all obseruing continuall silence the other three dayes his diet was rootes or herbes boyled and barly bread Whilst he shineth in this high degree of vertue and pietie the deuill enuying soe great goodnes assaulted him with a most horrible temptation For praying one night in the Church before the high aultar that wicked enemie of mankind appearing in the forme of a feruant at Court with cruell importunitie chalenged him to wrestle the holy man though already tired with patience yet in his owne defence he grappled with him and that soe stoutly as three seuerall times he layd him along to receaue a rude salutation on the pauement He wrestleth with the deuill yet in the last encounter he was soe breathlesse with the extremitie of labour that panting and gasping for wind he had allmost fallen into a sound But the diuine clemencie was present to his ayde and draue away that hellish monster to his place appointed and WOLSTAN perceauing him soe suddenly vanished then first vnderstood that it was the deuill whom before he tooke for a seruingman at whose only sight euer after he would waxe pale and tremble and quake all his bodie ouer with the very feare and thought of what had past in this encounter Which in him was much to be admired who otherwise was a man of a mightie courrage soe farre His great courage voyd of anie feare as he was wont to say he knew not what it meant For he would ride ouer bridges that were broken and dangerous neuer allighting from his horse and securely walke along the narrow ridges of high buildings without anie feare that we may worthily say of him Justus vt Leo confidens A iust man is confident Prou. 28. v. 1. as a Lion IV. A LADIE very rich and beautifull was soe farre besotted with a frantick and vnlawfull loue to the holy man and soe cruelly He is tēpted by a lasciuious woeman vexed therewith as her impure desire forced her beyond the limitts of shame and brought her to such a degree of impudency that she tore the vayle of modestie and layd open her filthie desire vnto him praying and entreating him with sighs and teares of sond loue to remitt a while his wonted rigour and voutchafe to take a tast of the delight of her bed-chamber More she would haue sayd but the holy man who thought she had allready sayd to much rose vp in a zealous anger and quickly cutt off the threed of her vnchast discourse He reiected her and arming his forehead with the signe of the crosse Pack hence sayd he thou wicked firebrand of lust daughter of death and vessell of Satan and thereat with all his force he gaue her such a smart blow on the face which though it heated her cheeke yet it cooled her foule desires that the sound thereof was heard all ouer the house And by this meanes like an other vndefiled Ioseph refusing to consent to her vile and wanton allurements he bridled the vnchast desires of her heart with the smart of an outward punishment V. HE WAS wont euerie Sonday with great care and deuotion He preacheth euerie Sunday publickly to preach the word of God vnto the people at which one of the monks being without iust cause disconteted reprooued him saying that it was the office of the Bishop only to preach and teach and that it better became a Monk as he was to keepe silence within his cloister and not to gadde abroade and putt his sicle into other mens haruest The holy man answeared The word of God is not bound 2. Tim. 2. and nothing is more gratefull then to preach CHRISTS Ghospell and reduce his people out of errour into the true waie therefore he would not desist from soe good a worke But the night following that Monke receaued the iust punishment of his boldnes being in a
with soe great paines against this breeding heresie and with soe great instance hauing allsoe the helping hand of the most pious Emperour Tiberius Constantine he vtterly broke in peeces that opinion that no man yet was euer found that offered to reuiue it VI. THEN within a short time after the venerable Leuite or Deacon GREGORY was returned back to Rome the riuer Tiber swelled ouer his bankes with soe great an inundation and grew soe powerfull that his raging waters flowed ouer the walles of the cittie and tooke violent possession of manie streets therein in soe much that it ouerwhelmed manie monuments of auncient building And with the outrage of this floud the barnes of the Church were ouerturned in which manie thousand bushels of wheat was lost Then a multitude of Serpents with a monstrous Dragon floted downe the gulph of this riuer like vnto a mightie beame of timber into the sea and manie beasts were drowned and cast on shoare by the brinie waues of the troubled waters Presently herevppon followed a pestilent disease of which first died Pope Pelagius acording Pope Pelagius dieth â—â—â—ch c 9. v. 6. to that A Sanctuario meo incipite Beginne from my sainctuarie and then there fell soe great a destruction of the common poeple that in manie parts of the cittie houses were left without anie inhabitants But because the Church of God could not be without a ruler all the poeple made choise of Blessed GREGORIE who by all meanes possible Gregorie is chosen Pope resisted against it And endeauouring more waryly to auoyd the height of that dignitie he often proclaimed him self vnworthie of such honour fearing indeed lest the glorie of the world which he had cast off before might by some meanes steale vppon him againe vnder the colour of Ecclesiasticall gouernment Whence it came to passe that he directed an Epistle to Mauritius the Emperour vnto whose sonne he was Godfather entreating and coniuring him with manie prayers neuer to graunt consent to the poeple to aduance him to the grace of soe great a dignitie But the Prefect of the cittie called German intercepted his messenger and hauig apprehended him and torne his Epistles he directed the election and consent of the poeple to the Emperour Who giuing God thankes for the friendship of the Deacon because according to his desire he had found an occasion to bestow an honour vppon him forthwith gaue a commaund for his installement VII AND THE time of his consecration being at hand when that pestilent disease still made great hauock amongst the poeple he His speech to the Poeple began to exhort them to doe works of peanance in this sort It behooueth most beloued brethren at least that we feare the scourges of God now come and made present among vs by experience which we ought to haue feared comming Let grief open vs the gate of our conuersion and let that verie punishment which wee feele dissolue the hardnes of our hearts For as by the testimonie of the Prophet it is foretould Pernenit gladius vsque Ier. c. 4. v. 10. ad animam The sword is come euen to the soule Behould all the poeple are smitten with the sharpe point of heauens wrath and all are destroyed with sudden and vnexpected ruine Nether doth sicknes preuent death but death it self as you see preuents the delayes of sicknes euery one that is strucken is suddenly taken away before he can be conuerted to teares of peanance Consider therefore Brethren what manner of man he appeares before the fight of the dreadfull iudge who had noe leasure to bewayle what he hath done Whole families tumble into destruction togeather their houses are left emptie parents see the buriall of their children and theyr heires goe before them to the graue Let vs all therefore flie to teares of peanance for refuge whilest we haue leasure to weepe before the blow of ruine fall vppon vs let vs call to mind whatsoeuer through errour and negligence we haue committed and chastise our default with sorrow and repenrance Let us goe before his face in confession and as Psalm 94. v 1. the royall prophet admonisheth Let us lift vp our hearts and hands to our Lord for to lift vp our hears with our hands is to rayse and stirre vp the endeauour of our prayers with the merit of good workes He giueth in very deed he giueth great confidence to our feare who crieth out by the Prophet I will not the death of a sinner but Ezech. c. 33. v. 11. that he be conuerted and liue Let noe man then despayre out of the immensitie of his sinnes for the inueterate faultes of the Niniuites were washt away with three dayes peanance and the conuerted theefe purchased the rewards of life eâ—en at the verie sentence of his death Let vs therefore change our hearts and presume that we haue obtayned what we aske the iudge will sooner incline to our prayer yf our minds be recalled from their wichednes The sword then of soe seuere a punishment hanging ouer our heads let vs earnestly labour with importune lamentations for that importunitie which to men is wont to be gratefull is pleasing to the Iudge of truth because our pious and mercifull Lord who will not be angry according as we deserue will haue things exacted from him by prayers Hence he telleth vs by the Psalmist Call vpon Psâ—m 49. v. 16. me in the day of thy tribulation and I will deliuer thee and thou shalt magnifie mee He him self therefore is a witnes for himself that he desires to haue mercie on such as call vppon him and exhorteth vs to call vppon him For this cause most deare brethreÌ„ hauing our hearts contrite and our workes amended from wendsday morning next let vs come in a deuout manner with teares to the Litanies for seaueÌ„ daies space that wheÌ„ the seuere iudge meaneth to punish vs and our offences he may mitigate the sentence of damnation and spare vs. We thought fitt to sett downe here this exhortation of S. GREGORY that we might shew on how great height of perfection he layd the foundation of his preaching Therefore when a great multitude of Priests Monkes and others of all ages sexes and conditions were gathered togeather at the day appointed according to the holy mans commaund to call to God for mercie the siknes waxed soe cruell and outrageous among them that within the space of owne hower whilst the poeple made their supplications to our Lord fowerscore persons fell to the ground and died But the holy Priest ceased not therefore to preach to the poeple and that they would not cease from their prayers vntill through the mercie of allmighty God the pestilence it self ceased Gregorie 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the Popedom VIII AND BEING afterwards to bee raysed to the Episcopall dignitie when as he did yet seeke meanes to conceale him self by flight for the preuenting of his desires watch and ward was appointed at all the gates of the
the exercising of iustice and obtayning of their soules health Besides all this he was wonderfully endowed with the spiritt of prophesie by vertue whereof he foretould verie manie things to come and had the perfect knowledge of things absent as yf they had bin present within the view of his owne corporall eyes And namely of the Saincts that should liue in Ireland and specially within the Prouinces of Conaght Munster for the space of a hundred yeares after he foretould the names vertues and places of their habitation Whomsoeuer he ether bound or absolued the diuine iustice approoued by euident signes to be bound and absolued Those vnto whom he imparted his benedictioÌ„ receaued the Blessing of our Lord and against whomsoeuer he pronounced the dreadfull sentence of his curse appeared straight replenished with the effects of malediction And whatsoeuer sentence proceeded from his mouth seemed to remyane soe irreuocably ratified as yf it had bin denouÌ„ced froÌ„ the tribunall of the allmightie Iudge Whence we may manifestly gather that the holy man firmly adhering vnto our Lord became one spiritt with him But albeit in some and most of his vertues he ether paralelled or excelled other His wonder full humilitie Saincts of Gods Church yet in humilitie he ouercame him self For in his epistles letters he was wont to nominate him self the lowest left and contemptiblest of all sinners And making small account of the wonderfull miracles and signes he wrought he would not daâ—e to iudge him self equall to anie the meanest man in perfection Nether amongst all these vertuous employments did he omitt to exercise him self in manuall labour as in fishing and tilling the earth but chiefly in building of Churches he would both with word and example incite his disciples to putt to their helping hands When neuerthelesse he did most instantly insist in baptising of the poeple and ordering clergimen for Church-seruice For he consecrated with his owne hands three hundred and fiftie Bishops he founded seauen hundred Churches and promoted fiue His infinite miacles thousand persons to the degree and dignitie of priesthood But of other clergimen of inferiour orders of Monkes and Nunnes which he segregated from the world to the diuine seruice none but he can tell the number who knoweth and foreseeth all things In this most holy manner running ouer the daies of this present life to attayne to the desired prize and reward of the future he florished with soe manie and soe great miracles that therein he is second to none of the Saincts his predecessours The blind the lame the dease the dumb the lunatick the leapers and all other diseased and grieued persons in the name of the Blessed Trinitie and by vertue of the holy Crosse of our redemption he restored to perfect health and the natutall function of their limmes Among which he is reported to haue bin the meruailous rayser of thirtie three from death to life a thing not read of anie other sainct of Gods Church Of which and other his miracles vertues thereescore and six bookes are sayd to haue bin written the greatest part whereof perished in the violence of fier during the raygne of GurmuÌ„d Turgesins But fower treatises of his life writteÌ„ at diuers times fower of his disciples S. BENIâ—NVS his successor S. MEL his nephew LVMAN Bishops little S. PATRICK his deare child are fouÌ„d yet extant And S. EVIN allsoe coÌ„piled his life in one volume partly in Latine partly in Jrish Out all which Iocelinus a Monk of Furne the authour of his life whoÌ„ wee haue followed in this historie maketh profession to haue gathered his whole treatise of S. PATRICK XII AT length the beloued seruant of allmightie God S. PATRICK He foreseeth his owne death loaden with age and merits hauing now faythfully and strongly ended the course of the charge committed vnto him foresaw both by diuine reuelation and the dissolution of his owne bodie that the eueâ—ing of his life was at hand And being in the Prouince of Vâ—ster not farre from the cittie of Downe and with him the pretious pearle of Jreland S. BRIGITT and a great number more of Ecclesiasticall and religious persons as the blessed sainct preached vnto them of the heauenly glorie of the saincts and the dwellings of the happie a glittering light appeared ouer the East part of the Church-yard of Down which was supposed to deseigne the place ordayned for his sacred buriall And this being soe expounded by S. BRIGITT the same light presently returned out of their sight towards heauen to foreshew thereby that his Blessed soule should in like sort ascend to the ioics of Paradise Then S. BRIGITT who had He falleth 〈◊〉 a desire he should be wrapt in a shrowd which purposely she had made for that end hastened to her monasterie to fetch it When in the meane time the holy man retired him self to the next monasterie where in the midst of a great multitude of his deuout monks he layd him downe on the bed of his last sicknes expecting the end of this mortall life or rather happily aspiring to the beginning of the immortall Vntill the disease growing still stronger drawne on with the weight of old age or rather our Lord calling him to a crowne of iustice the most blessed and happie bishop felt the hower of his death to draw-neere and reioysed that now he was arriued at the secure haueÌ„ of life into which through the gates of death he hastened Therfore being by the hands of S. THASACK Bishop his disciple armed with the diuine sacraments of the Church and lifting vp his eyes His happie departure to heauen like an other saint STEPHEN he beheld CHRIST IESVS in the midst of whole troupes of Angels expecting to receaue him into the euerlasting ioyes Into whose sacred hands blessing his disciples and commending them to God he deliuered vp his most pure soule passing out the thâ—â—ldon of this world to the neuer-dying â—oies of heauen O most blessed man to whom the heauens were layd open whom togeather with a lillie white companie of Virgins MARIS the imaculate Queene of heauen receiued whom legions of Angels admitted into their diuine quiers whom the foreseeing troupe of holy prophets doe accompanie whom the iudiciall Senate of the Apostles embraceth whom the laureat crownes of sacred martirs bautifieth the asseÌ„blie of glorious confessors adorneth and whom an innumerable multitude of all Gods elect Saincts and heauenly burgesses doe honour and glorisie for euer XIII HE DIED the seaueÌ„teeÌ„th day of March in the yeare of our Lord 493. in the first yeare of Anastasius the Emperour and in the hundred A summarie of his life tweÌ„tie third yeare of his age At the age of sixteene he was carried into banishment six yeares he liued therein eighteen yeares he spent vnder the tutorship of S. GERMAN and S. MARTIN his masters at the age of fiftie fiue yeares ennobled with the dignitie of Bishop he entred into Jreland
fists and heeles the Church is committed to the flames and all the flock of CHRIST slaine with the edge of the sword For the monks and all the poeple men woemen and children throughout the whole towne were tithed to the butcherie after a most cruell manner nine were slaine and the tenth saued soe that of all the monks there remayned but fower of the rest but eight hundred in all the towne The holie bishop was coÌ„mitted to the horrour of a close prison where he lay the space of seaueÌ„ moneths In the meane time allmightie God powred forth his reuengfull wrath against that barbarous poeple soe that within a a short time two thousand of them died miserably through most cruell torments in their gutts and all the rest being suddenly strucken with the same disease were sooner in danger of death then they were a ware of chainge Then they were admonished by the faythfull poeple to doe peanance for their sinnes and make satisfaction to the bishop which theâ— refused to doe imagining that afflction to haue befallen them bâ—â—haunce only But their destruction still encreasing and preuayling against all those that had endeauoured to depriue the holy man of life and now tenne now twentie being suddenly sent to follow their fellowes to death through most terrible torments of the head and entrailes struck such a terrour into those that remayned aliue that they ranne straight to the bishop and with teares desired pardon for their impietie committed and hauing with honour led him out of prison to the publick view of the poeple he spake these words vnto them Although your insatiable crueltie deserue noe pardon yet by the example of our Lord we are taught what we ought to doe who His speech to the poeple Joan. 13 when he voutchafed to wash the feet of his disciples did not exclude him whom he foresaw would betray him into the hands of his enemies nay he fedd him with the most sacred banquett of his bodie and bloud And hauing with the sole power of his word ouer throwne the officers of the Pharisees that came to apprehend Joan. 18. him he presently raysed them againe and cured them and which is a notable signe of his great goodnes those whom he perceaueth dayly with a stubborne mind to resist his diuine admonitions he suffers notwithstanding to liue yea and to excell their betters in humane goods and prosperities Wherefore because I desire to be an vnworthyly deuour follower of his sacred examples forgetting the burning of the cittie the shedding of soe much innocent bloud forgetting I say all the crimes of your former impietie done a-against me as our Lord entreated his father in behalfe of his Crucifiers Lâ—u 23. soe will I make intercession to him for you my tormentours Bring hither then some bread which forthwith shall be made wholesom and soueraigne against your infection that being refreshed therewith and receauing your desired health you may ether render thankes vnto the supreme giuer of all health or remaine more impious in your blasphemie and sacriledge And hauing giuen to With holy bread he cureth the infected Danes They reÌ„nder bad for good them all some of the bread which he had hallowed they were deliuered from that death-threatning infection X BVT ô barbarous ingratitude I all this goodnes could not draw a dram of true curtesie from those bloud-thirsting hearts For they were noe sooner restored to health but presently fower princes were sent to the bishop first to giue him some slight thankes for his benefitt and them to 〈◊〉 of him to ransom his life and libertie yf he would enioy ether with the summe of three thousand marks Which wheÌ„ he refuse 〈…〉 as being a thing against all iustice to giue the goods of the Church to Pirats they bound him againe in retters being on the verie festiuall day of Easter afflicted with most exquisite torments he was againe shutt vp in a prison Where as in a pensiue solitarines he gaue thankes to allmightie God in that he was found worthie to suffer for a good cause a See the subtle false hood of the deuill wicked spiritt appeared vnto him in forme of an Angel of light who being the father of all lies could not but tell a lie at the first word and say that he was sent from the court of heauen to deliuer him out of the horrour of that prison for the common good of his poeple Nether needed he to feare sayd that agent of Hell to be reprooued with the name of a cowardly Champion for Act. 9. Act. 12. this since he could not thinke him self humbler then the Apostles PETER who was led out of prison by an Angel or valianter then sainct PAVL whom was stolne out of the midst of persecution in a baskett And CHRIST him self to escape the hands of those that would haue stoned him went out of the Temple 10. 8. and by an euangelicall precept gaue licence to his disciples to flie from the face of persecution The holy bishop deceiued Matt. 10 with these faire-seeming speeches yeelded to follow his deceiuer out of the prison And hauing past ouer manie ditches and brookes of water through the darke and horrid shades of the night on a sudden the wicked spiritt vanished and left the holy man in the midst of bogges and marshes who now perceauing the guiles of his false leader fetcht a deepe sigh of greefe from the verie bottom of his heart and casting him self into Behould a miserable case the midst of those mirie places earnestly implored the assistance of our Lord in that miserie O Fountaine of all life sayd be powring out woefull streames of teares ô sole refuge of the children and stock of Adam why hath thy heauenly grace forsaken me in my old age whom in the flower of my youth it was neuer wont to fayle Wilt thou suffer him whoÌ„ soe loÌ„g thou hast mercifully preserued to be cast away and perish at the last O my beloued Lord how often in the shiphrack of this mortall life haue I had thee my deliuer Let me now againe I beseech thee haue experience of thy consolation in this vnhappie illusion of my enemie be my ayde in this vnlucky hower of my affliction The prison is behind me a riuer before me darknes round about mee and the horrid authour of darknes by me soe that wretched ELPHEGVS thy seruant stands encompassed on all sides with troupes of miseries and left poore to thy mercie thou I hope wilt be an ayde to thy forlorne Orphan XI WITH these and such like speeches the woefull witnesses of his afflicted heart he ceased not to callvppon the diuine mercie S. Elphegus comforted by an Angel when behould there appeared a yong man cloathed in most bright shining apparell bearing the ensigne of CHRISTS passioÌ„ in his hand and whither sayd he dost thou wander whither dost thou desire to flie Whither doth thy enuious conductour leade thee Is it
with populous townes and forreigne marchandise most famous for fayre poeple wealth and riches This huge and goodly Iland was long since destined for thee his elect Agent by the diuine prouidence of the mightie creatour of all things who from the beginning hauing made the world perfect in beautie gaue it into the possession of man his creature This nation soe fayre in face but black in soule with the filth of Idolatrie being by thee washed in the waters of Jordan ascendeth wholly pure and white as the Blackmoore woman by Moyses Now to the greater glory of God and thy owne crowne that new pillar of light which led the Israelites out of Egipt being erected in the fayth and Crosse of CHRIST thou leadest vs Heathens out of the Egiptian darknes of infidelitie and out of the shades of death into the true land of promise flowing with milke and honie For to thee as our Apostolicque Captaine the diuine grace of the Ghospell gaue that which was denied to Moyses the lawmaker of the Iewes and that which he could not obtaine in the law thou art found worthy to accomplish in IESVS-CHRIST the End of the law Now out of the spoiles of the fettered Tirant and out of the Kingdom of the captiue spoiler of our soules thou shalt make our God a Kingdom and a poeple of purchase now next to the heauenly Kingdom and those vnspeakable rewards of thy labours this countrey shall be thy perpetuall possession which by thee was purchased and gayned to CHRIST and whose temporall commodities thou hast forsaken thou shalt now possesse the hereditary gaines And being seated in the high towers of Paradise thou 〈…〉 iest as an holy sentinell perpetually watch and defend the whole countrey dedicated to thy honour and glory XXIV AT LENGTH this most victorious Champion of our Lord hauing runne the race of this mortall life in all sainctitie and perfâ—ction His last 〈◊〉 of coÌ„uersation hauing laboured in the conuersioÌ„ of our wretched countrey with continuall and vn wearies diligence care and industrie came to the goale and long desired rewards of the heauenly Kingdom Now our Lord knocking at the gates of his soule with sicknes he willingly opened with great and vnspeakable thanksgiuing Then with a couragious affection of a fatherly loue he exhorted as well the King Queene and princes as the Clergie and poeple allsoe inuiolably to remayne in the feare and seruice of allmightie God to obey the diuine precepts and obseruances proposed and preached vnto them by his Seruants Which done the end of his worldly tempests approched and the bright morning of his eternall ioies appeared and hauing giuen his benediction to the King and confirmed the infancie of his new-borne Church in CHRIST leauing vnto all manie holy pledges of his perpetuall loue and documents of his pious fellowes and disciples in presence of S. LAVRENCE his successour and a populous multitude of poeple he gaue vp his blessed soule into the hands of him that had created 〈◊〉 happy deaâ—â— it for his honour and in the triumphe glorie of the heauenly citizens he was receaued into the euer lasting blisse of all blessednes the 26 day of May about the yeare of our Lord 614. His sacred bodie was first buried without the Church of saint PETER and saint PAVL which me spoke off before and which was not yet finished nor dedicated But soone after it was consecrated by saint LAVRENCE and his bodie was honourably buried in the north Porch thereof where the bodies of the Archbishops his successors were allsoe buryed vntill the place would hould noe more Ouer Sainct AVGVSTINES tombe was written this Epitaphe in proâ—e Here resteth Lord Augustine the first Archbishop of Canturbury who His Epitaphe being in times past sent hither from blessed Gregory bishop of the Roman Cittie sustayned by God with the working of miracles brought King Ethelbert and his coâ—â—trey from the worshipping of Idols to the â—â—yth of Christ and the daies of his office being finished in peace he died the seamâ—â—th of the Calends of Iune the same King raygning XXV THE miracles wrought at is tombe are such soe manie and Miracles at his tombe soe great that they would require a whole volume farre beyond the limits of our purpose Gotzeline the Authour of his life whom we follow maketh mention of verie manie it shall suffice vs to relate one or two briefely When the Danes were outrageous in England the Benedictine Monasterie of saint PETER and S. PAVL without the walles of Canturbury which was afterwards called Sainct Augustines became allsoe a part of their prey But one of them as he endeauoured to steale the cloath that couered S. AVGVSTINES Tombe it stuck soe close to his hands as yf it had been his owne skinne till hauing asked pardon of the Sainct he restored it againe to the place Which miracle cloathed him and manie of his fellowes with the white robes of Christianitie and made them deuoted to sainct AVGVSTINE euer after Canutus King of the Danes and English being Canutus freed from shiprack at sea in imminent danger of shipracke calling vppon saint AVGVSTINE for helpe whose patronage he had oftentimes proued most comfortable the fearfull tempest ceased and he arriued quietly to a secure hauen and coming afterwards to the tombe of his holy Patrone with the royaltie of manie gratefull rewards and prayses of thankes he witnessed the great fauour he had receaued The Speech restored to the Dumbe same benefitt was bestowed vppon manie others in the like case that called to this holy Sainct for ayde A yong gyrle that by I know not what mischance was strucken dumbe when all art of phisicke had been foyled in curing her offering a candle at saint AVGVSTINES tombe and in heart recommending her self to his merits perfectly recouered her speech And the same fauour was shewed to an other of her sexe praying in the same place In a word all manner of diseases were cured at his holy reliques to those that humbly and religiously craued helpe And as to such he was allwaies mercifully indulgent soe those that endeauoured to wrong him his tombe or his Church escaped not the diuine punishment XXVI BVT O England England how farre art thou swerued An Apostrophe to England Thren 4 v. 1. from the religion of this thy first Apostle How is the gould made darke and the best colour chainged of thy first Fayth and charitie in IESVS-CHRIST In times past thou didest learne that Fayth only which is the beginning head and foundation of eternall saluation of those that were Catholick Roman Priests and Monkes whom now thou doest persecute they celebrated the dreadfull solemnities of Masse which now thou abhorrest they honoured and called vppon the Saincts in heauen whom thou despisest they acknowledged the supreme authoritie of the Bishop of the Roman and Apostolicque Sea whence they were sent to deliuer thee out of the blind night of Idolatrie to the bright day of
his will was created Prior in his place Which title of He is made Priour honour did not only not hinder him in the way to perfection but was rather a meanes more freely to applie him self thereunto by the coÌ„tinuall practise of diuine conteÌ„plation heaueÌ„ly discipline followed with soe great feruour that he attayned to suchan height of speculation that he discouered maintained with euident reasons manie questions and assertions of the diuine nature neuer heard off before his time Lying one night awake in his bed he had manie doubtfull thoughts how the Prophets did not only see things present but things to come allsoe foretelling them as distinctly as they had been present And being not able to perceaue how this might be his vnderstanding laboured with an incredible desire to be resolued in this poynt when on a suddaine fixing his eyes towards the Church and dorter by the meanes of a diuine light the beames of his eyes pierced through all the walls interposed and shewed him the monks whose office it was adorning the aultar preparing the quier for the singing He sâ—eth through the walls of mattins lighting of candles at the knock of the bell be beheld theÌ„ all rising out of their beds goeing to the diuine seruice Being much amazed hereat he vnderstood by this heauenly lustre that it was a verie easie matter with God to make the Prophets foresee things to come since he permitted him with corporall eyes to see what passed through the resistance of soe manie walls IV. FVRTHERMORE being replenished with the cleere light of wisedome he had such a certaine discretion of spirits that he easily pierced The geat light of his fâ—â—le the maÌ„ners and inclinations of all that came to him euen to the knowledge of their secretest thoughts He discouered allsoe the vetie source and roote of vertues and vices teaching with wonderfull rules and examples how to purchase the one and auoyd the other His vertuous exercises Out of the continuall contemplation of the celestiall happines and an ardent desire of the euerlasting life he would oftentimes powre out whole flouds of teares equally bewayling other mens sinnes as his one He had soe great force and efficacie in giuing of counsell that the verie spiritt of all good counsell seemed as in a throne to rule and raigne in his breast His continuall exercises in fasting watching prayer and other mortifications of bodie to bring it subiect to the spiritt were such and soe great that they deserue rather to be admired then writteÌ„ In fasting he had gott such a naturall habit that he was nether molested with hunger nor delighted in satisfying his hunger with eating He slep verie litle employing all his time in the carefull execution of his office in comforting the afflicted that had recourse vnto him in praying in meditating in studying in composing manie deuout bookes and corecting such as were corrupted V. THE prudence charitie and meekenes he vsed in gouerning His prudence in gouerning his subiects and trayning them in the studie of true vertue and religion was admirable especially towards those who were lesse obedient then was requisite Among whom were some whoe greatly enuied that he was preferred before them to the Priorship others who did carpe and back bite all his sayings and doeings Against these and their malice the prudent holy man fought with soe great discretion in shewing them all duties of fraternall charitie that with the sweetnes of his demeanour he brake their stonic hearts and with the maiestie of his humilitie and modestie he reclaymed them to the leuell of his owne will This sweet and meeke spiritt which our Lord bestowed vppon him appeared more cleerly in that which passed betweene him and a yong monk called Osberne one of a piercing witt and good abilitie but a verie libertine in his manners of a turbulent and detracting spiritt and in all things soe contrarie to his superiour that he disdayned to giue him a good looke when he was admonished to follow the rules of modestie and vertue Him runing headlong into the ruine of his One osberne iâ—ateth S. Auselme owne soule S. ANSELME vndertooke to cure which he performed with wonderfull great art and prudence For perceauing his course to be in a desperate violence inclined to vice he did not presently thunder against him with the terrour of sharpe words correctioÌ„s Anselms pious craft to reduce him to good but first shined in all loue and meeknes towards him giuing scope for a time to the raines of his inordinate passions when OSBERNâ— perceiuing how he enioyed his pleasures vnder the wings of his allowance began exceedingly to loue him and wholly to putt him self into his hands Off which desired occasion the holy man taking hould he beganne with a litle more seuetitie to curbe his depraued manners to cutt off all his boyish actions and to admitt nothing worthie reprehension in him which was not sharply reuenged both with words and stripes Whereby it came to passe that he who before was on the brinke readie to tumble into a precipice of vice was brought to the firme land of religious and regular obseruance whereon he kept sure footing to the hower of his death which followed shortly after During the time of his last sicknes S. ANSELME wayted him self vpon him and after his death eyther sayd or caused when he could not a masse to be sayd euerie day for the health of his soule the space of a whole yeare and by his meanes manie other seruants of God did the like A good example for all Superiours to learne how to carrie them selues in winning and correcting the sometimes turbulent spirits of their subiects how to deale with their sick and lastly how they ought to pray for those that die vnder their A good lesâ—oâ— for Superiours charge VI. HE SHEWED noe lesse charitie towards an other monke gray in old age but greene in vertue who by the instigation of the deuil was grieuously inceÌ„sed against the holy prelat soe that he could not affoor him a good word or looke This poore monk happened to fall sick and coming to such extremity that he expected nothing but death he seemed to behould two cruell wolues which tooke him about the neck and endeauoured to strangle him whereat he roared cried out soe dreadfully that S. ANSELME then busied in the cloister ranne towards the Infirmarie to know the matter and entring See the vertue of the â—oly Crosse into the chamber made the signe of the holy crosse vppon the sick man saying In nomine patris filij spiritus Sancti and straight he was quiet confessing that wheÌ„ ANSELME made the signe of the Crosse he saw as it were a fierie launce shott out of his mouth which feared away those vglie wolues that sought to deuoure him Then being exhorted to penance for his sinnes he confessed and was absolued by S. ANSELM who allsoe foretould him the hower
of his death all that heard saw what passed being greatly edified with soe great charitie of the Sainct amazed at the wonderfull light of his soule The like bountie and goodnes shined in him at other times in his great care towards the sick visiting cōforting reioycing with his owne hands seruing them and doeing the part not only of a true Father but allsoe of a most charitable Mother amongst thē Soe that in all their necessities the monks had recourse vnto him with as great confidence as the child hath in his mother laying open before him all the secret passions and wounds of their soules which he like an holy Phisitian because he knew the roote and origine of them all easyly cured This vnion of the parts of the bodie with their head subiects with their superiour is the Nurse and Soule of all religion VII HE willingly employed him self in bringing vp yong youth of Yong gentlemen brought vp in monasterics a middle age iudging his paines therein to be soe much the more profitable as that age like vnto soft wax was apt to receiue conserue all the lineaments of vertue imprinted therein It was a venerable custom in those times to nourish and bring vp Gentlemens sonnes of the best sort in Monasteries of S. BENEDICTS order ether to become Religious yf they were soe addicted or by that vertuons education to make them more capable in their riper yeares to profitt the cōmon wealth An abbott in great reputation of holy life came one day to vistt S. ANSELME discoursing with him of the gouernment of monasteries began greatly to cōplaine of the libertie disobedience of the yong gentlemen vnder his charge and that he watched night and day ouer them and made their faults to be seuerely whipt and chastised and yet it seemed that the more he kept them vnder the worse and more incorrigible they grew And what sayd S. ANSELME became of these children when their were at age or what profitt reaped you out of all this whipping and scourging Gentlenes most requisite in bringing vp youth For the most part replied the Abbott they grow to be great ignorant Dolts Then S. ANSELME This manner of education of youth seemeth to me most vncertaine for euē as yf one who by hedging in of yong plants doth soe choake them vp with thornes that they can nether grow nor putt forth their boughs will consequently bring noe fruict nor profitt soe in the nourishment of children who are rich and delicate plants to bring them to good one must vse a fatherly loue towards them giuing them a gentle discrete libertie and not allwaies making them slaues with feares threatnings and stripes Because when they doe not acknowledge and find in their tutours and masters that guide them the cordiall affection and loue of a father they thinke whatsoeuer is sayd or done to them proceeds out of chollar hatred and malice And as they grow in age they grow allsoe in a greater defiance of their masters of whom they haue as great horrour as a theefe of his executioner Rules for superiours in their gouernment In fine S. ANSELME taught the ABBOTT that true gouernment ought to know how to temper sweet with sower clemencie with seueritie and to cure wounds not only with the sharpnes of wine which closeth vp but with the supplenes of oyle allsoe which softens and opens the soares For allthough hard bread and crust be good for those that haue good teeth yet sucking children cannot eate it And yf a superiour will guide all his Inferiors the same way without discerning the different conditions and inclinations of the persons whom he gouerneth he will certainly committ manie grosse faultes to the great affliction and losse of his suiects The fame of S. Auselme drawes manie choller 's VIII S. ANSELME then inuironed with the glittering beames of excellent vertues his renowne was carried on the wings of fame ouer all Normandie through France into Flanders and England soe that manie learned and pious men came to the monasterie where he was Prior to range them selues into the spirituall warrefare vnder the colours of S. BENEDICT striuing to receaue the habitt at his hands and to liue vnder his correction and discipline Neuertheles he was soe prudent reserued that he neuer sollicited anie man to giue him self to God rather in his monasterie then in anie other but all waies left it to their choise to enter into what Conuent they best liked to the end that yf afterwards they happened to repent they should haue noe iust occasion to murmure or coplaine against him But they came soe thick of their owne accord that the Abbey of Bec was in a short time wōderfully encreased in tēporall spirituall goods of manie good religious monks and Abbott Herluine being dead ANSELME by the common suffrages of all the Conuent was chosen to succeed in his place allbeit he laboured with prayers and teares against it throwing him self prostrate at the feete of the monks and coniuring them by the deare passion of our lord ISSVS CHRIST not to charge his weake shoulders with such a weightie He is chosen Abbot of Bec. burden In fine when all his resistance did but encrease their importunitie he yeelded sincesuch he perceaued was the will of God Being therefore made Abbott he gouerned the monasterie with such holy prudence and prudent holines that this new encrease of dignitie was in him as a discouerie of a new mine of shining vertues whose beames amazed all behoulders IX AT that time there were manie possessions in England belonging He cometh into England to the Abbey of Bec to visitt which sainct ANSELME went ouer into England At Canturbury where LANFRANCK his old Master was Archbishop he was with wonderfull great honour receiued by the Benedictin monks of that citie which he no lesse ingeniously then elegantly putt off affirming the greater honour and greater affection of charitie to reside in them that performed it then in him to See his great humilitie whom it was performed Because he who vnworthyly receiued that vndeserued dutie could expect for it noe reward from God For what said he can be due to me from God in that anie one shewes loue towards me But to them from whō this loue proceeds he oweth a reward for their pious affection and he will not fayle to lay vp store of grace for them But the more he sought to auoyde honour the more still was throwne vppon him when poeple of all orders sexes and conditions striued to doe him the highest honours they could and amongst the rest King William the Conquerour who albeit otherwise a Norman of a fierce and barbarous nature yet towards sainct ANSELME beyond all mens expectation he behaued himself with an vnaccustomed courtesie and kindnes to the great admiration of all But the Sainct quickly wearied with these honours thought his iourney in nothing soe well spent as