gotten with child and the author of that wickednes was not knowen She being vpon the time of her deliuery her father and mother vrged her to tell the man that had dishonored her that they might inflict vpon him some punishment agreable to his desert Shee to free her self from further reproache for that he was of so base a coÌ„dition and estate that she was ashamed to say who it was laid the blame vpon a deacon of the Apostles saing that he committed that villany The deacon was forth with taken and led before the king The Apostles vnderstanding therof and knowing he was innocent went to the court and requested the king that the parties and the child that was new borne might be brought before him and so it was done The Apostle asked when the child was borne and they said that the same day then they looked on the child and said vnto him we commaund thee in the name of IESVS CHRIST to tell vs if this deacon hath committed the offence that thy mother chargeth him withall The infant aunswered This deacon is good and chast and neuer in his life committed any carnall sinne and he is not my father His ennemies vrged the Apostles instantly to ask of the child who it was that had committed the offence they aunswered It is lawfull for vs to cleare the innocent but it is not fit for vs to disclose them that are faulty And at this the wholle company remained astonied and amazed The faith being well planted in that place they departed from Babilon went preaching through many prouinces of that kingdome and at last they came to a very rich city called Suamir in which place Zaroes and Arphaxat the two magitians told the ministers of the Idolls that the Apostles were in the city Wherfore many of them assembled and took the Apostles and imprisoned them and led Simon to the temple of the Sonne and Thadeus to the temple of the Moone for to adore them but at the praiers of the Apostles the Idolls and their statues fell in pieces and to dust and out of them went two deuills in the shape of Negroes with horrible roaring and houling The painims were moued therat with such indignatioÌ„ that in a rage and with infernall fury they ranne vpon the Apostles and cut them in pieces At that time the heauens and skie was cleare and calme and one a sodein it was couered with black clouds which powred downe a dredfull tempest and withall fell many thunderbolts which beat downe to the ground the temples of the Idolls nere vnto them and slew many of the Painims among whom were the two Magitians whose bodies were afterwards found beaten to ashes The king of Babilon who was a Christian was much grieued for the death of the Apostles and sent men to fetch their bodies vnto Babilon where he caused a Church to be builded vnto them in which place they remained for a while They were after ward caried to Rome and laid in the Church of S. Peter The martirdome of these holy saints was on the 28. day of October and on the same day the Church celebrateth their feast The Apostle Iude Thaddeus wrote one epistle which is numbered in the canonicall scripture God graunt we may be all written in the book of life Amen The martirdome of these two holy saints was in the yeare of our Lord 64. in the time of Nero the Emperour after the opinion of Onuphrius and Canisius * ⎠* The end of the month of October NOVEMBER The feast of all Saincts THe sacred scripture in the booke of Hester recounteth Cap. 1 that king Assuetus to shew the greatnes and majesty of his Empire in the third yeare of his raigne made a most solemne feast to the Lordes and Princes of his court and to all other the subjects of his kingdomes This feast lasted manie daies the tables were allwaies couered and richly furnished with most costlie meat and delicious wines and euerie other thing was in great aboundance No man was forbidden but euery man might eare when and of what it best pleased him Yet that in which the greatnes and maiestie of the king was showed was as said the text that there was great store of wine and that most excellent and such was giuen to euery one as pleased him best When the king made this feast Queene Vasti his wife made also another vnto her Ladies and the damosells of the court in which likewise her magnificence and bountie wasshewed being serued also at her tables with sundrie different dishes of most delicate viandes This feast is a figure and representation of that which passeth in the triumphant and millitant Church The great king Assuerus representeth our Lord God who to shew the glory and maiestie of his Empire in the third yeere of his kingdome made a most solemne feast unto the Princes and Lords of his court and all other of his kingdomes These three yeeres signifie the three estates and ages of the world to witt of the law of nature of the law written and of the law of grace That king Assuerus made this feast in the third yeare signifieth that in the third age and state of the world to witt in the time of the law of grace our Lord God opened heauen for before in the time of the law of nature and law written heauen was shut vp from men and they could not enter thereinto but in the time of the law of grace God opened his royall pallace and inuited all the great Lords of his court to participate and enioy the rich treasors he had therein as the Apostles Martyrs Confessors and Virgins do who sit continually at his celestiall tables and eate that which is most to their content For the viands or meaâ—es being variable to witt the delights and contents in heauen being sundrie euery one taketh and reacheth that which sauoureth best to him But aboue all the wine for that it is most excellent maketh the feast better and sheweth the greatnes thereof This wine signifieth the taste and suauity of the Holie Ghost which is bestowed among them in great aboundance the blessed being as it were inebriated of God are made partakers thereof and haue no mind ner thought of any thing that may bring discontent or anney but all things causeth vnto them vnspeakable ioye and delight This is the feast which the king made It is said also that the Queene made a feast to the Ladies and damosells of the court By the Queene is vnderstood the Catholique Church who maketh a feast vnto her women and damosells that is the soules trauayling in her affaires It is not altogether from the purpose if it be said that they that be in the millitant Church be called woemen and they that be in the triumphant be called men because as man is the more perfect creature then woman so there is found more perfection in them that be in heauen then in them that be on the
and being aprehended he remained one night in the house of one of them that had taken him To that place resorted much people euery one desiring to see their prelate aliue for they were assured that right soone they should see him dead Thither came also many deuout women but he caused them to depart to auoid occasion of offence On the next morning the holy Bishop was brought before the Proconsull Galerius Maximus apparellend in pontificall vestures which made a goodly maiestical shewe when the Proconsull sawe him he said Art thou that Cyprian that hast the title of Pope or gret Bishop I am Cyprian said the good Bishop Tell me said the Proconâ—ull if thou knowe what our Emperours haue commaunded which is that thou must either sacrifice vnto the Gods or els thou must loose thy life Cyprian answered I am a Christian and I cannot nor may not sacrifice vnto your Gods wherefore do whatsoeuer hath bin coÌ„manded vnto thee The proconfull waxing wroth said Thou hast liued sacrilegiously and hast drawen many vnto thy deuotions you all haue made a confederacie against the Gods whom the Romain Emperous adore thou wouldest neuer obey their decrees But because thou art the author of this euill my will is that thy doctrine be writteÌ„ with thy bloud to the end thy adherents may take example by thee and be aduised by thy death Hauing said thus he pronounced the sentence that Cyprian should be beheaded The blessed Bishop said then I render infinite thanks vnto God who is pleased to deliuer me from the prison of this body The officers of Iustice inconâ—inent led him to be executed according to the sentence Much People followed him euery one lamenting and all of them saieng with a loud voice Cut of all our heads together with his When they came to the place of martirdome the B. Bishop put of his pontificall attire and wrapped and foulded vp the same agein and gaue it vnto his deacons and remained only in his last linnen garment He then requested one of his frends to giue him some mony who gaue him 20. pieces of gold all which he gaue vnto the headsman in recompence of the seruice he expected to receaue of him His frinds and the cleargy that were in the place lamented bitterly and laid their garments on the ground that his blessed bloud might fall on the same He himself put the napkin ouer his eies and being on his knees the headsman performed his office Assone as S. Ciprian was beheaded the priests that were in that place very reuerently took vp his body and caried it vnto the graue But they fearing lest the pagans would take it out of that publike place and vnbury it and pull and dismember it in pieces the same priests by night took it out of that place and caried it vnto the field of Macrobius Candidus S. Cyprian was the first prelat that was martirized in Africa Of him his life and death much mention is made by many holy men and graue Authors As S. Augustine S. Ierome S. Gregory Nazianzen Prudentius Maximus B. of Turine Paulus Diaconus Lactantius Firmianus and Eusebius Cesariensis You must note that S. Gregory Nazianzen saith that S. Ciprian was a magitian or inchaunter who tried by his art to gett the loue of a yong woman called Iustina and that hauing sent the euill spirits to bring her vnto him they could not bring her no not come neere her And this he saith was the occasion of his conuersion and that the yong maid Iustina was martired with him Marcus Marulus saith the same They the others that say thus ar deceued for they make but one Ciprian of two that were Ciprian B. of Carthage a most holy doctor and martir was one and Ciprian the sorcerer or coniurer was another The times wherin thes two Ciprians liued were diuers and the Church celebrateth their feasts on seuerall daies The feast of S. Cyprian B. of Carthage whose life we haue written at this time is celebrated on the same day that the feast of S. Cornelius the pope is vnto whom he was a great frend and many letters were written from the one vnto the other and they were martired on the same day but in sundry places and not in the same yeare as S. Ierome and Ado of Vienna say The day of the martirdome of S. Cyprian was on the. 14. day of September in the yeare of our Lord 259. But the Church translateth his feast vnto the 16. day of the same moneth because that on the 14. day is celebrated the feast of the Exaltation of the holy Crosse and on the 15. day is celebrated the octaue of the natiuity of our Lady The Spanish Dioclesian about 300. The feast of S. Cyprian the sorcerer who was martired with Iustina the virgin is celebrated on the. 26. day of September This S. Cyprian liued in the time of the Emperour Claudius 2. And S. Cyprian B. of Carthage was in the time of Valerian and Galien One was borne in Carthage and the-other in Antioche God some times permitteth the saints to erre in some matter for if they should not erre in some one thing they might be thought to be more then men The which be fell vnto S. Cyprian whose life we haue written for he was in an opinion that those which had bene Baptised by heretiks although they had obserued the forme which the Church obserueth in Baptisme should and ought neuertheles to be rebaptised and herein he erred but as S. Augustin saith the spot of this error was washed away with the bloud which he shed in his martirdome Venerable Bede saith that the reliques of S. Cyprian were brought from Africa into Fraunce and that they be in Lyons The life of S. Euphemia Virgin and of SS Lucy and Geminian Martirs IESVS CHRIST speaking vnto his Apostles of the persecutions that thy were to suffer for his sake as allso others Math. 10. which should come after them said thes words The sonnes shall arise against their owne fathers and shall procure their death by accusing them vnto tirants This was accomplished acording to the letter in a Romain matrone called Lucy who was accused by her owne sonne before a tirant that shee was a Christian for the which shee was allso put to death The church celebrateth her feast together with that of SS Geminian and Euphemia for that thy were martired all three on one day by the ordinance of one and the same tirant though in sundry places Their martirdome was written by venerable Bede Vsuardus wrote the same and like wise Ado Archbishop of Triers in this maner IN the time of the Emperour Dyocletian there was in the citty of Chalcedon a Senator called Philophronius he had only one daughter named Euphemia that being a Christian was as much ennobled for her vertue as for her bloud Shee was put into prison by a Proconsull called Priscus who commanded her to sacrifise vnto his gods The holy virgin
same being the 21 of October oure holy mother the church doth celebrate the Martirdome of S. Vrsula and and the 11000 virgins her companions Beda Adon in Martâ—ol Molan in Addit ad Maâ—â—â— Vsuar in whose historie some things are certaine other some doubtful This is certaine that S. Vrsula and all her holy compainons were Virgins martyrs and were 11000 in number For although neither he Romaine Martyrologe nor the Collecte vsed in their feast doe affirm that they were 11000 yet because venerable Bede and Adon in their Martyrologies and Molanus in the additions he made vnto the Martyrologe of Vsuardus and other authors together with the tradition of the church do auerre it we haue sufficient authoritie to beleaue it But that which is vntertaine and doubtful is the maner of theire martirdome the voyage which these virgins made to Rome with soe great a traine and theire returne from thence with Pope Sâ—ricius when he left his Popedome and other such things which some write without either ground authoritie or any probabilitie contradicting the trueth of Ecclesiasticall Histories and reason it selfe Wherefore leauing out that which commonly is reported of the maner of their meeting and the end for which these 11000 were gathered together and that they all died for the faith of Christ our Lord therby purchased vnto them selues the crounes of virgins and martirs I will relate heere what Cardinalle Baronius and William Lindanus Bishope of Rurimund men of rare learning Baron in An not Maâ—tirol 21. Octo. br tom 4 Annal an 383. Lindan apud Baron haue iudged most probable and secure taking it out of a very ancient booke of the Vatican librarie of Rome which treateth of Brittanie whose author is Gaufridus Bishop of Assaffe in the kingdom of England and is after this maner GRACIAN sonne vnto Valentinian the elder being Emperour a certaine captaine of his called Maximus a very stout and valiant man naturall of the Is'land of Britanie which now is called England rebelled against him and was proclaimed Emperour and by the fauour of the soldiers and of other Englishmen his friends and acquaintance entered into France and possessed himselfe of it all but especially of one prouince which then was called Armorica is that which now we call litle Britanie because the Brittons and Englishmen did conquerre and raze it and with great rage and furie putting to sword all the naturalls thereof left it vninhabited as a wildernes Maximus thought it necessarie to people that prouince againe because it lay fit for him therin to conserue and transport his English soldiers and for that purpose he deuided the fertill fields and lands of the lesser Britanie amongst his soldiers which came to him out of England to the end they might till and husband and mannure them reape the fruit therof But because his soldiers might marry and haue succession and settle them selues in that prouince where there were noe woemen for that they were also putt to the sword he determined to send vnto the Ilands of Britanie which comprehend England Scotland and Ireland for a great number of virgins which being brought vnto the newe lesser Britanie might marrie with those soldiers whoe were for the greatest part naturals of their owne countrie The chiefe commander of all that army was called Conanus a man of great birth and of greatest estimation of all the English nation whom Maximus had made his lieuetenant generalle Warden of all the ports of that coaste Conanus desired to marrie with the daughter of Deonocius kinge of Cornwall called Vrsula a most noble and vertuous lady in whom did shine all the gifts of chastitie beautie grace which might be desired in a woman Throughout all the prouinces of Britanie there were culled forth 11000 virgins as well for the intent aboue mentioned as also that they might accompaine Vrsula who was to be their leader and lady Some of these virgins went of their owne accord and others by constraint but seing the coÌ„maund of Maximus then Emperoure or rather tirant was soe peremptorie that no excuse could be admitted they imbarked them selues in those ships which were prepared for their passage vnto the new prouince of Brittanie It pleased our Lord that these ships lanchinge out of the hauen meâ—t with a quite contrary winde which in stead of carrying that blessed and holy companie towards Brittanie it furiously carried them quite contrarie and passing by the Ilands of Zealand and Holland droue them into the mouth of the riuer Rhene a riuer of greate capacitie depth and bredth and carried them soe highe as the water did ebb and flowe At that time which this hapned Gratian the Emperour vnderstanding what Maximus had done in England and France and that he carried himselfe as Lord and Emperour not as his Captaine and creature for to represse and chastize him he entertained into his seruice the Picts Hunnes a fearce cruell and barbarous people who had conquered the Gothes and done wonderous thinges by their force of armes These beinge gathered together vnder the commande of Melga Captaine of the Picts and Gaunus generall of the Huns began to molest the seas and to lye coastinge about after the manner of pirats robbinge and spoilinge all that fell into their hands with intent to passe ouer into England to expulse Maximus the tirant and to serue Gratian th'emperour who for that purpose had entertained them These barbarous people were at that present where these blessed virgins arriued perceauinge that the ships which brought the virgins belonged to their enemies and to Maximus in particular against whome they had vndertaken that voiage they encountred with them seing that they were loaden with virgins beinge as dishonest and lasciuious as they were cruell and furious they entended to rauish them But those holy virgins Vrsula their leader incouraginge and exhorting them determined rather to loose their liues then their chastetie and heere vpon as well in deedes as in wordes shewinge their valour and coÌ„stancy that they were prepared rather to suffer what torments soeuer then to offend God those barbarous people conuerting their loue into fury and detestation of the Christian faith fell vpon them like wolnes vpon a flocke of lambes and put them all to the sword because they would remaine there no longer but passe ouer speedely into EnglaÌ„d which they thought had been vninhabited because Maximus had drawne so many soldiers from thence Of all that holy and virginall companie onely one called Cordula remained aliue who through feare hid herselfe at the time of that slaughter but seeinge what had passed and that all the rest of her companions were martirized being encouraged by the motion of our Lord A don in suo Mart. 21. Oct. who had chosen them all for himselfe the next day followinge discouered herselfe and was also martirized as the Roman martirologe recounteth The principall of these virgins which there shed
their blood for the faith of Christ and their virginity were accordinge to Adon S. Vrsula guide and theife leader of all the rest and Sentia Gregoria Pinnosa Mardia Saula Britula Saturnina Saturnia Rabacia Palladia Clementia and Grata On That day in with they suffered Christ their sweet and beloued spouse triumphed in these holy virgins ouer infidelity and carnality ouer sinne and hell and declared of what greater force the vertue of a Christian is in sufferinge death then the crueltie of the diuell and his ministers in inflicinge it for that his soldiers by their fall arise by their death ouercome and thereby receane a nowne of eternall glorie The bodies of these holy virgins were gathered together by the Christians with great deuotion and carried to the citie of Collen which is seated vpon the same riuer of Rhene where was erected a famous monastery of Nuns and euen vntill this day many heads of these holy virgins are to be â—eene and are reuerenced with singular deuotion although they be distributed into many parts of Christendome Some are of opinion that the place in which the holy bodies of these virgins now remaine is the verie same in with they were martirized because the earth on which that Church is built will not retaine any dead bodie although it be of a child newly baptized but by niâ—ht it casteth it forth as Lindanus Bishoppe or Ruremund recounteth giuinge this as a token that God will not haue any other body to be buried where the bodies of these so many virgins and martirs his spouses lie who there shed their purest blood for the confession of his faith and defence of their chastitie It is recounted also that S. Vrsula and her holy companions fauour and assist them at the hower of their death who in their life-time haue been deuoted vnto them The martirdome of these virgins was accordinge to Baronius in the yeere of our Lord 383. Baron tom 4. Annal an 383. Graetian and Valentinian and Theodosius the elder rulinge the Empire whome Gratian had made his compartener in the Empire seeinge himselfe to be straightened on euery side by the warres of so many barbarous people and standinge in neede of the assistance of so valourous a Captaine It was also vpon the 21. of October vpon which day the Holy Chuch celebrateth their feast Of these 11000 virgins besides those authors we haue already rehearsed haue written wandalbertus Vide Baron in Annâ—t Martirol 21. Oct. Claud-Rota Cap 134. Bonfin decad â— lib. 5. Petrus de Natal lib. 9. cap. 87. Polid lib 3. Surius tom 5. who florished in the yeere of our Lord 850 Sigibertus Moncke of the Monestery cald Gimblacense who liued almost 500 yeeres since Rogerius Cisterciensis Richardus Praemonstratensis Claudius de Rota Bonfinius in his Historie of the affaires of Hungarie Petrus de Natalibus Polidore Virgill in his Historie of England and aboue all the rest more copiousely Laurentius Surius in his fift tome of the liues of Saincts * ⎠* The life of SS Chrisantus Daria martirs SAINT Chrisantus was borne in the cittie of Alexandria he was sonne to an honourable Gentleman of the order of senators called Polemius who together with his sonne and the rest of his familie came to dwell at Rome where he was most graciouslie and friendlie wellcomed and honourablie aduaunced by Numerianus the emperoure Being once setled at Rome the greatest care of Polemius was to haue his sonne Chrisantus that was of a quick and piercing witt and great capacity trained vp in learning As Chrisantus was turning ouer manie bookes and seeking out suche as were most for his purpose it happened by the especiall prouidence of God that he mett with one wherein were written all the foure ghospells He did peruse them attentiuely and read them from the beginning to the end he plainely perceaued the steppes of darknesse and shade of death wherein he had walked and that our soules had no other light sauing online CHRIST IESVS And being desirous to haue the riches hidden in that booke more disclosed vnto him and vnderstanding how a famous clearke in holie writte named Carpophorus lay secrett in a caue for feare of the persecution he went vnto him and with teares besought him to instruct him in the faith and the ghospell of CHRIST Carpophorus did willingly accomplish his desire he instructed him first and then Baptized and lasty so confirmed and strenghthned him in oure faith that seauen daies after he openlie auouched and taught in Rome that IESVS CHRIST was the onlie true God Polemius came to haue notice heereof and partly for zeale of his blinde religion parely for feare of the cruell lawes and punishments established against the Christians he was greatly enraged with his sonnes proceedings whom he therefore committed to a darke and close prison assigninge him his meate with a scant and verie hard allowance But findinge this punishment was to litle purpose and wrought no other effect in Chrisantus but online to strengthen him in his faith he tooke another course of kinde vsage and gentleness and pamperinge seekinge by the meanes of certaine bond woemen of his owne yonge beautifull and gallantly attired to peruert him and allure him to naughtiness that leesing his chastitie he mighe the more easilie loose faith They brought him out of prison they apprailed him richely they lodged him in a goodly chamber most costly furnished and hanged the woemen came in to performe theire lewd and wicked intent but Chrisantus fearinge his frailtie and feebleness lyfted vp his eies to heauen crauing helpe and succoure of oure Lord. Metaphr in vit Chrisanti And he did affoord it him so boundantly that as Simeon Metaphrastes writeth a heauie sleepe and drousiness so deepelie possessed those woemen that none could awake them except they were caried out of the chamber and by this meanes God preserued his seruaunt from so great a daunger Polemius did iudge it more conuenient for his purpose to seeke our some faire yonge gentlewoman wise louely discreet and gracious and matche her with his sonne and make her his heire to the end that she as his lawfull wife might work his minde and make it more pliant which the others being seruants could not bring to pass Amonghst the virgens of Minerua they found out one called Daria endued with all the rare gifts and qualities that might be desired wished in a woman They acquinted her with all theire designes and purposes yet hardly could perswade her to marrie Chrisantus and vndergoe that taske of healinge him from that which they called madness Not withstanding at length the teares of old Polemius and a strong imagination that heerein she did her Gods great good seruice did make her relent and win her to doe it She aparailed her selfe most goregeouslie she came into the place where the yonge mau was with a comely behauioure yert some what streigning it to a light wantoness aad heedeless demeanure she assailed him with
After their deaths the gouernor Almachius entended to get the goods of the two brethren into his hands but vnderstanding that Cecilie had distributed them vnto the poore he caused her to be brought before him She confessed vnto him the truth namelie that all the goods of the two noble gentlemen Tiburtius and Valerian were giuen vnto the poore The gouernour therefore seeking a quarrell and desiring to be reuenged on her said in a great rage I think we shall haue a Christian of you also but I will haue you to sacrifice vnto the Gods in my sight that I maie be witnes whether you deserue the same punishment that those brethren deserued and had The officers of the gouernour vrged her to sacrifice to whom she said Harken to me brethren You be the officers of the gouernour and you think it meet that I should obey his comandement but I on the other side think it verie vniust in him to comaund me to sacrifice vnto those Gods which be not such indeed and to leaue of to sacrifice vnto the true God that is IESVS CHRIST Be assured that I will suffer and endure and the torments that can be inflicted vpon me and at the end rather lose my life then do his cōmaundement The officers made shew of pittie compassion toward her seing a damosell so yong so discreet so faire and gratious readie to abandon and leaue all these yea life and all for her faith and religion They said vnto her Consider thy youth and beautie haue compassion on thy self and change not all other thy good parts in these tender yeares for vntimelie death The holie virgin said vnto them To change earth for gold is not to loose but to gaine Or to giue a cottage half-ruinated for a house built with perles and pretious stones or a life repleat with troubles and miseries which shall quiklie end for a life replenished with riches and treasure that shall endure for euer These and the like speaches vsed S. Cecilie and her words were of such force and wrought so that many that were present resolued to be Christians and were afterward Baptised by S. Vrban The gouernor was astonied to heare the holie virgin speak and viewing her angelike beautie asked what her name was for till that time he knew no other name but only that she was the wife of Valerian She told him that her name was Cecilie and then the gouernour replyed knowest thou not that the Emperours of Rome haue comaunded that the Christians either do sacrifice vnto the Gods or else that they be put to death I know it right well said the holie saint What wilt thou then do said the gouernour I determine to die said she For it is farre better to dye for confessing IESVS CHRIST then to liue denying him Consider said the gouernour that it wil be best for thee to leaue and forsake this thy oppinion and to sacrifice vnto our Gods S. Cecilie said It were better for thee to open thine eyes and to consider that those whom thou callest Gods be but stocks and stones If thou wilt not beleeue me touch them with thy hands or throwe them into the fire and there will come lime from the stones which maie serue to build with so shall there be no deceit in them as there is nowe Then said the gouernour How should I suffer thee to speak such words in my presence knowest thou not that I haue power to giue thee life or to take it awaie at my pleasure S. Cecilie answered thou thinkest my words void of reason and I know thy words to be false and no truth in them Almachius said doest thou saie Cecilie that I speak not truth The holie virgin said I saie it and auouch it in that thou saiest thou hast authoritie to giue and take awaie my life Thou maiest take life from the liuing but to giue life vnto the dead it is most cleere and certaine thou canst not So that I maie well call thee the minister of death I wil be such an officer vnto thee said Almachius if thou wilt not sacrifice So when he sawe she was constant and resolute and would not sacrifice he caused her to be put into certaine bathes which were in her owne house and hauing shut her in one of them being empty without water they made a great fire vnder which burned a whole daie and a night The holie saint receaued not any hurt thereby but it seemed to her a place rather of pleasure and refreshing then other wise when Almachius heard thereof he comaunded one to cut of her head in that place The hangman gaue her three blowes yet did he not cut of her head altogether but left it euen as it was hanging by the skinne The blessed virgin being thus wounded liued three daies many Christians coming to visite her Among these were some that had receaued the faith by her meanes whom she seing sorowfull comforted They dried vp the bloud that ran from her wound with napkins and other clothes with intent to keep them as reliques S. Vrban went also to visite her and she told him that she had desired of God to liue three daies that she might dispose of her goods and request him to consecrate that house of hers into a Church When the three daies were ended this holie virgin and glorious martyr being in prayer yeelded her blessed soule vnto God on the 22 of Nouember Her bodie was buried by pope Vrban in the Chruchyard of Callistus and her house was consecrated into a Church In processe of time pope Paschalis translated the bodies of SS Cecilie Tiburtius Valerian and pope Vrban into the Church of S. Cecilie The Catholique Church celebrateth the feast of this holie saint on the daie of her martyrdome At the end of the life of SS Tiburtius and Valerian on the 14. of Aprill is rehersed the saying of Canisius to wit that these saints were martyred in the time of Alexander Seuerus in the yeare of our Lord 225. the same he saith of S. Cecilie also and because mention is made there of pope Vrban the account cometh to be iust at that time But the Romane Breuiarie of Pius 5. putteth her martyrdome about 50. yeeres before in the times of the Emperours Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Commodus Her name is in the Canon of the masse The life of S. Clement Pope and Martir GREAT was the fame and credit which Moises the guide Exod. 27. and captein of the Hebrewes acquired and got when the said people being in the desert and at the point to dy for thirst he by the apointement of God strook a rock out of which issued water in abundance sufficient for them all to drink and to be refreshed and comforted No lesse glorious and worthy of fame was S. Clement the holie Pope and martir who did the like He liued in a desert banished thither with many other Christians for the profession of the name of IESVS CHRIST and they all
write a letter vnto Chrisogonus after this manner Vnto the holie confessor of IESVS CHRIST Chrisogonus Anastasia sendeth greeting Although my father which begot we was an Idollater yet my mother that bore me who was called Fausta was a Christian and a vertuous chaste woman She instructed me in the Christian faith euer from my childhood and after her death I was maryed vnto a sacrilegious and cruell man whose bed and companie I haue oftentimes refused excusing it with infirmities which I desired God to send me for that purpose I spent the night and the day in prayer desyring my sweet Sauiour that I might imitate his blessed example This most cruell man after he bath consumed my patrymonie amongst wicked and lewd company like vnto himself hath imprisoned me as if I were a malefactor or a detestable offender and forbiddeth any sustenance to be guieÌ„ vnto me that I may perish and dye for want of food Although I shal be glad to loose my life for CHRIST his sake neuerthelesse I find great grief that my goods be wasted in such lasciuious sort in such lewd company and in the seruice of the false Gods Therefore I beseech thee thou seruant of IESVS CHRIST to pray vnto God Almightie for me and that the either alter the mind of this my husband that he may be conuerted or els if he continew and perseuâ—r in his hardnes of hart and obstinacy that he take him out of this world And better it shal be for him to be taken out of this life then to adde daily sinne to sinne which will put him to double torments in hell I promise and vowe vnto Almightie God and to thee his seruant â—hat if euer I get cleere and freed from this affliction to spend all my time in the seruice of my Blessed Sauiour IESVS as my vse and custome was and in helping and prouiding fot thy necessities and to releeue the wants of all other holie confessors Our Lord keep thee euer thou B seruant of God Remember me and praie for me S. Chrisogonus hauing receiued this letter made his prayers and oraysons for Anastasia and then together with other confessors that were in the same prison he answered her in this manner Among the tempestuous stormes of this world in which at this present thou art enwrapped be assured that thou shalt be relieued by IESVS CHRIST who will easilie cast headlong into the bottomeles pitte the diuell that doth assaâ—le and torment thee Haue patience in the middest of thy troubles and put thy trust in him for he wild deliuer thee Cry out aloud vnto him Exalt thy voyce with the prophet and say why art thou so sad o my soule and why art thou so disquieted with in me Trust in God still for I will euer confesse that he is my saluation and my God Thinck Lady that it is his will to bestowe on thee the riches and treasures of heauen since he taketh away and depriueth thee of wordly comforts Be not too much troubled nor afflicted for that crosses and tribulation lighteth vpon thee that liuest vertuously God doth try vs but doth not deceaue vs. To trust in man is vayne and deceitfull an he that putteth his hope or confidence in him is accursed and euer deceiued but blessed is he that putteth his trust and affiance in God who neuer deceaued any Continewe in thy vertuous excercises and hope for rest and quietnes only in God whose comaundemers thou keepest when it shall best please him and thou thinkest least he will send thee traÌ„quillitie a calme tyme. The darknes shall flie away and the light shall appeere The frost and pinching cold of the winter shall passe and the ioyfull sweetenes of the spring shall succeed A quiet and comfortable tyme shall come that thou maiest cherish and relieue those againe that suffer persecution for the loue and profession of CHRIST God giuing thee heere meanes that thou mayst help other with temporall necessities and receiue thy self of him euerlasting rewards Our Lord be with thee good lady and pray for me With this Epistle S. Anastasia receiued great consolation endeavoring to equall if not to surpasse thereby the many complaâ—nts she had made of her hardharted and cruell husband Her persecutions encreased still he giuing to her now but the fourth part or one quater of a a smalle oridinary loaffe And she thincking verily that her death approached wrote another letter to S. Chrisogonus after this tenor and to this effect To the blessed martyr and Confessor of CHRIST Chrisogonus Anastasia sendeth greeting The end of my life draweth neere vouchsaffe to remember me and to pray vnto God to receaue my soule when it departeth from my body since for his loue and the profession of his holie name I suffer all this torment The holie man returned this answere Chrisogonus to Anastasia As darknes precedeth and goeth before light so after infirmitie ensueth health and life cometh after death Prosperities and aduersities haue the like and the same endes therefore let not the heauy and sorrowfull fall into desperation nor the happy and fortunate be proude or too much puffed vp Be of good comfort ô handmaid of CHRIST for thy peregrination which hath beene repleat with tempestuous stormes shal be finished with a prosperous and happy conclusion thereby desires shal be acomplished enjoying CHRIST by the palme of Martyrdome The further course and processe of her greeuous persecutions may be seene in her life on the 25. day of December Of S. Chrisogonus you are to vnderstand that the Emperour Dioclesian being in the cittie of Aquileya martyrising the Christians he sent to Rome to haue Chrisogonus brough thither to him who being come the Emperour said to him I will bestowe on thee high dignities I will make thee Prefect of the cittie that thou maiest so arise to be Consull And indeed such places and preferments are fittest for men of noble linage and such worthie partes as thy self hath but vpon this condition that thou wilt worship our Gods S. Chrisogonus answered I adore one onely God With my soule and hart I reuerence him and with all externall signes and tokens I confesse IESVS CHRIST to be the true God And as for thy Idolles which be habitacles of diuells and fiendes I detest and accurse them Dioclesian comaunded that he should be beheadded and that his body should be cast into the sea and so it was done A priest called zoilus found his bodie afterward and buried it honorablie His martyrdome was on the day whereon the Church celebrateth his memorie which was on the 24. of Nouember on a Tuesdaie in the yeare of our Lord. 302. Dioclesian being Emperour His name is in the Canon of the masse Of this holie saint wrote Suidas Ando venerable Bede Vsuardus and the Romane martyrologe The life of S. Catherine of Alexandria IN the Book of kings it is said of king Salomon that he had many wines It was the will of God that the Hebrewes should