made and howbeit in your selues you be not conscious of any great cryme yet beware you esteeme not your selues in your owne iudgement to be innocent and iust since to iustify and iudge the cōscience appertaines to God only yea by how much a man is more forward in perfection so much the lesse presumes he of the strait rigourous account of the diuine iustice On the other side make you no reckoning of humane iudgements eyther of your selues or others but so keep you vnder the feare of God that neither you in iudging by him come to dash vpon some rocke of pride or vanity You are to attend to an exact and continuall search into your selues and of your selues which doing yet shall you alwaies repute your selues to be vnprofitable seruants as our Lord commands It behoues me to go whither the chiefe Pastour appoints me and since all this trauaile is vndertaken by me purely for the seruice and glory of the diuine goodnes I shall not fayle to beseech the same with much confidence to take you into his custody and protection After these words being accompanyed with aboundance of teares and deuout desires of that pious congregation he puts himselfe on the way towardes Rome and being receaued wheresoeuer he passed as a man from heauen with his arriuall he brought extraordinary ioy and comfort to the Pope with all Catholiques And without delay endeauouring with diligence to find out whence so long obstinacy of the cōtrary faction proceeded he soone came to vnderstand how the Clergy though stung in conscience yet through feare of loosing the benefices obteyned of the Antipope durst not forsake him besides which the respect they had of a vaine constancy and foolish reputation filled their mynds with a cloud of obscurity but for the popular sort being likewise deceiued partly through couetousnes and partly with a false religion held it a great scorne and iniquity to breake the oath of fidelity once giuen to Pierlonio S. Bernard endeuoured in vayne to withdraw the king of Sicily from the part of the Anti-pope through whose death peace was restored to the Church agayne Chap. 17. FRom these errours S. Bernard did endeauour and not without fruite to deliuer that blind people when the Embassadours of Roger King of Sicily arriued at Rome who with a dissembling zeale of the common good made shew of being desirous to enforme himselfe fully of the truth and to become arbiter of so great and pertinacious discords though in secret as we sayd he were held to be a fautour of the peruerse faction and therefore craftily required Anaclet to send him Peter of Pisa a most wise and eloquent man on his behalfe and made instance to Innocent for the Abbot of Clareuallis that these two as aduocates being to argue and plead in his presence might giue him true notice of all hoping by this meanes the lowlynes and simplicity of one poore Monke might be ouerborne and opprest through the eloquence and cunning of that famous Doctour The sayd King was very potent and was at that tyme with a puissant army in the kingdome of Naples so as the Embassadours had no great difficulty to obtayne at Rome what they would But through diuine disposition the matter had a farre different euent from that which the King thought of Because that Peter and S. Bernard being arriued at his Court after they had discoursed apart with him and the principall Officers there was finally deputed a certaine day to both the Procuratours togeather for publique audience Now what successe was to follow of this duell a certaine battayle fought betweene the sayd King and the Duke Ranulphus who was a Prince and a very vertuous Catholike gaue no small demonstration at that tyme. S. Bernard with Charity had endeuoured to hinder the sayd conflict and to make peace betweene the two Christian armyes and to Roger had manifestly threatned and foretold that if he fought he should loose the battayle But he finding himselfe to haue much odds and aduantage ouer Ranulphus in number and forces with haughtynes and pride contemning the aduises and protestations of the man of God would needs by all meanes encounter and set vpon him neer vnto the Citty of Salerno where with the astonishment of all there suddenly entring a feare into the campe he was vanquished by the Dukes army routed and put to flight And yet notwithstanding hauing reassembled together the vnhappy remainder and with new succours made vp a Royall army agayne he presents himselfe in Councell and Tribunall on the day assigned for the dispute hauing first in priuate with great promises and large offers set the Pisan Doctour on fire to purchase himselfe honour in sustayning the cause of Pope Anaclete and in that assembly of noble and learned men to stop the mouth of the French Abbot Peter then full of vayne hopes and of high thoughts appeared in the Court where with much eloquence and great memory and art depainting forth first the fact with handsome coulours then alleadging and interpreting in his manner the decrees and Canons he endeuoured to proue how the election of Anaclete had been most sincere and legitimate On the contrary the holy man hauing heard the Oratour with much patience began his discourse with great humility and modesty and by little and little grew into so great vehemency and liberty of heauenly spirit and with such pregnancy of reasons and weight of Scriptures and variety of examples and comparisons so defeated the foundations and discouered the falshoods of the aduersary as not only almost all the auditory then remained perswaded but euen the Aduocate Anaclete himselfe of being conuinced with the truth and returned to himselfe repented he had euer vndertaken the protection of the wicked and false Pope and being afterwards further assisted with the priuate exhortations of the seruant of Christ fayled not to reconcile himselfe to Innocent But Roger how beit he could now pretend no ignorance yet being ouerwhelmed with diuers passions could neuer be brought to the sayd demonstrations and acts which in a matter of so great importance ought publiquely to be done Whence S. Bernard being satisfyed with his owne conscience and remitting the rest to the diuine Iustice returned back to Rome and renewed agayne the interrupted labour of reducing the soules to the obedience of the Pope vnion of the Church which till that time had been eyther seduced through opinion or enchayned by malice For so great a hurt and notorious a scandal S. Bernard was exceedingly afflicted but it pleased the diuine goodnes soone to deliuer him from that greife through the death of Pierlonio who being seized with a pestilent malady though he had three dayes space to acknowledge his offences yet obdurate impenitent he passed to render accompt to the eternall Iudge of his misdeed Being dead his followers did presently substitute and set vp an other Anti-pope who yet being conscious of his owne weakenes and the dangers which hung ouer
in thee be darkenes â—…ow great then shall the darknes it selfe be And in truth who sees not â—…hat when the iudgement through ignorance remayning in the darke goes doubtfull and wauering but needs must the thoughts â—…nd actions depending thereon come thence to be entrapped in a greater and thicker myst of sinnes Of which truth he doth giue vs â—…ufficient testimony who by the eternall Maiesty being chosen the first King of Israel for not hauing this eye of discretion sound but â—…ll members ill affected with darknes deserued to loose the Kingdome while he thought to be more seruiceable to God in sacrificing to him then obeying of Samuel incurring thereby the diuine â—…ffence in the selfe same thing wherein he made full rekoning to gayne his fauour The defect of this knowledge after that glorious triumph â—…erswaded Achab that mercy and clemency were better then seucâ—…ity and the execution of that rigorous and cruell command as it â—…eemed to him Through which coÌ„sidering being mollifyed whilst â—…e would needs seeme to be contemning with an act of piety the â—…loudy victory as he thought through indiscreet compassion beâ—…ng himselfe likewise obscured in his whole person was without â—…emission condemned to death This is that Discretion which is not only called by the Apostle a Lampe but a Sunne also where he saith â—…et not the sunne seeme to set vpon your anger This in like manner is called â—…he Gouernment of our life according to that saying Such as haue â—…o gouernment with them do fall like leaues This is worthily termed Counsayle without the which to do any thing is by the holy Scripture so precisely forbidden vs as neyther are we to take otherwise the spirituall wine it selfe which is that Gladnes that cheeres vp the â—…hart of man while Salomon saith Do you euery thing with Counsaile and with Counsaile likewyse do you drinke your wyne And elsewhere Who workes without Counsayle is like to a Citty which is dismantled quite and destroyed as shewing with this similitude how pernicious to the soule is the lack of such a vertue In this knowledge in this the vnderstanding and iudgment consists according to that aduertisement which saith with wisedome is the house built with vnderstaÌ„ding repayred with iudgment is the Cellar replenished withall the best and most precious things This I say is that solid foode that cannot be taken but of strong perfect men Whence the Apostle sayth To the perfect belonges a solid foode who through long experience let tâ—… senses be well exercised in the discretion of good and ill What more It is so profitable and necessary as it comes to be numbred among the other diuine attributes according to the sentence of the same S. pal Quick and liuely is the word of God and very efficacious and more penetrate farre then the sharpest knife arriuing to the diuision of the soule spirit â—…ea euen to the ioynts marrow is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the hart Out of which authorityes it is manifestly shewed that with out the grace of Discretion it is impossible eyther perfectly to purchase or long to conserue any vertue whatsoeuer This then in matter of Perfection was the iudgment this the Doctrine of S. Antony The which being first by that sacred Session of Fathers without reluctatioÌ„ approued after with good reason by Cassian as we said inserted into his Collations hath also seemed good to vs for the publique vtility to transferre into our present discourse The multitude of Monks increaseth The Angelicall life of S. Antony And of the persecution raysed by Maximinian against the Church Chap. 9. IN the meane season the number of Monks did meruaylously increase and throughout all those hills could nothing els be seene but Cells and Monasteryes like to Pauillions applyed to a sacred warfare full of Psalmes Conferences Lessons Prayers Fasts and vigils accompanyed partly with a iubiley of hart through expectation of the future goods partly also with the industry and labour of the hands to purchase almes for the poore Who shall expresse then the chast dilection and streight concord amongst theâ—… In such sort as casting the eyes vpon those countryes a Man verily seemed to behold a Region as wholy dedicated to the worship Iustice of God Heere raigned not eyther open or hidden factions not practices or designes of transitory or terrene things but only a multitude well ordered of men all applyed to the study of the more eminent vertues So as one beholding them the Orders withall might truly breake forth into that exclamation of Numbers the 23. chapter Quam bona domus tuae Iacob tabernacula tua Israel tamquam nemorâ—… obrumbrantia tamquam Paradisus super flumina tamquam tabernacula qua fixâ—… sunt à Domino tamquam cedri Libani circa aquas But yet in so vniuersall a feruour did the Lampe of S. Anteny alwayes seeme farre to exceede both in heate and splendour the other lights who neuer ceasing his angelicall customes did alwaies â—…o his power keepe silence and augment his pennances aspiring day and night to the happy mansions of Heauen Whereupon as â—…ikewise the imitation of the more glorious Saints he had so fixed â—…is mynd that whensoeuer it was needfull for him to eate or sleep â—…r in any other manner to serue the body he beheld the noblenes â—…f the Soule so miserably abased with so vile an exercise And thus â—…hrough compulsion he would take his refection now alone â—…ow with others not omitting through occasion thereof to remeÌ„â—…er his disciples how much it behoued them very seriously to atâ—…end to the soule and to seeke after the profit thereof in spending as â—…tle tyme as might be in the care of the body that the spirit be not â—…ulled downwards by sensuall delights but the flesh to be reduced â—…ather into the seruitude and power of the spirit and this sayd he â—…as the sense of those wordes of the Ghospell Nolite soliciti esse animae â—…estrae quid manducetis neque corpori quid induamini haec enim omnia genâ—…s inquirunt Scit enim Pater vester quod his omnibus indigetis Querite auâ—…m regnum Dei haec omnia adijcientur vobis At the same tyme while S. Antony was instructing and guiâ—…ing his Monkes in this manner was raised in Egypt that cruell perâ—…cution of Maximinian agaynst the Church of God At the newes â—…hereof the holy Abbot being desirous to shed his bloud for Christ â—…ent his way in hast to Alexandria accompanyed with many sayâ—…g let vs be present by all meanes at the glorious combats of â—…e Champions of Christ for that God will eyther make vs worâ—…y of that glorious Fellowship with them or at least if our Voâ—…ation extend not so high their fayth and fortitude will affoard â—…s a noble spectacle and of much edification In the meane tyme â—…e puts himselfe in publique to help and encourage them First in â—…e mines and in prisons and afterwards much
choice young men which as at the beginning we mentioned S. Bernard in the citty of Chalon purchased to our Lord were almost all of them in worldly wisedome the disciples of one Stephen of Vitreo a person very famous in those dayes and Country thereabouts Now being come to Clareuallis while they were yet kept by the man of God in an Inne as it were in their first probation and instructed by litle and litle in the rules of the diuine seruice comes in Stephen of Vitreo beyond all expectation and demaunds to be likewise receiued into monasticall discipline It is the manner of those who haue newly left and forsaken the secular hopes and affayres to feele incredible iubiley of hart when they behold some others to doe the like whether it be through that new zeale which the beginning of spirit subministred to them or els for that they take delight to haue their election approued by the iudgment and example of many so as at the vnlooked for appearing of no ordinary subiect but euen of their owne so famous a Maister it cannot be told what great contentment those good Brothers tooke and what ioy they made both priuate and publike But the mind and iudgment of the wise Abbot in this point was so farre otherwise Who by diuine aduise knowing suddenly the quality of his vocation first sighing held his peace then in the presence of all he sayd This man is sent hither by the euill spirit he comes without a companion and without a companion he shall goe his wayes againe At this speach of his they were astonished and amazed who euen now could not containe themselues for ioy neuerthelesse not to scandalize those tender plants S. Bernard was content to admit Stephen vpon tryall especially making large promises to obserue very punctually the rule and to execute with all promptnes whatsoeuer should be ordayned him But it was not long ere being ouercome with the tediousnes of silence and of solitude being affrighted with the rigour of the obseruance weary of the exercises and mentall labours he was seene to be drawne forth of the Oratory by a vile Black-more as heeretofore was that Monke of Cassin From hence after some six monthes were passed repenting himselfe of the good begun he endeauours to attempt and to stirre vp others according to the manner of Religious men ill grounded mutable who being resolued to leaue the banners of Christ and to returne to the leekes of Aegypt thinke to couer their shame with the multitude of companions and to diminish the infamy by communicating the fault but neither he nor he that set him a worke could effect the same Because all those soules through the preseruatiue infused into them by the faythfull prudent Steward still remayned where they were firme and immoueable and according to the protestation of the holy Pastour that vnhappy Stephen de Vitreo did but trauaile in vayne He entred alone and alone went forth againe Nor was the prophesy which followes much vnlike Three yong men hauing taken the habit together in Clareuallis one of them through instigation of the deuill within a litle while after returned to his vomit againe Whereupon the Fathers being so much more anxious for the health of the other two in their presence treated of this matter with the holy Abbot Then he looking in the face of both those Nouices answeared plainely This man shall neuer haue temptations of moment That other shall haue many but shall finally preuayle The one then with a prosperous gale went allwayes forward in religion The other being encompassed with tribulations and assayled with perillous assaults after he had wauered more then once and turned his back as it were yet being sustayned by diuine grace and through the memory of the Saints promises victorious at last was crowned with perseuerance Of these kind of Oracles this same that followes was so much more famous as it was published vpon a greater occasion and in a place more notable and with persons more illustrious Lewes the old King France being greiuously offended with some Bishops of that kindome suffered himselfe to be led so farre into p◅sion as to expell them by force from their Churches and Cittyes Whereupon S. Bernard wrote many letters to him to appease him whose coppyes are yet kept to this day It chaunced the while the seruant of Christ being present that many of those Bishops to mollify the Kings mind prostrate with all humility on the ground and imbracing his feet were not all able to moue him to pitty The man of God touched with this spectacle and full of a holy zeale stuck not the day following to giue a free and stout reprehension to the King himselfe for hauing in that manner despised the submission and prayers of the Preists of Christ and clearely made protestation of that which was reuealed to him that night This thy obstinacy shall cost thee the death of Philip thy eldest sonne and sworne Prince I haue seene thee in company of thy yonger sonne fall prostrate at the feete of those Bishops whom but yesterday thou madest so small accompt of Collecting thence that soone thou shalt loose Philip and for substitution of this other thou shalt sue to the Prelates whome now thou vsest so hardly Which was not long ere it came to passe Philip dyed and the Father being humbled wrought by al meanes with the Ecclesiastical state that Lewes the second borne might be accepted for Successour and be annoynted with accustomed ceremonyes And so much may suffice of matters sayd or done by this admirable man aboue all force or terme of nature of which subiect notwithstanding though perhapps by vs too sparingly and scantly handled yet it is much harder for vs to find an end then how to beginne The great Humility of S. Bernard in auoyding worldly prayses and hhnours and the pious shift he vsed to acquite himselfe thereof Chap. 26. OF all that which we haue hitherto written or left vntouched two things doe most astonish me The one how S. Bernard amidst so great variety of vniuersall businesses mainetayned himselfe allwayes as Lord and Maister of himselfe without neglecting euer the custody of his hart and continuall examine of his actions and alwayes walking therein so vigilant and prouident as if euen then from the shade of the Nouiciate he had past forth into the dust sunne of Christian warfarre The other wonder is how among so many fauours from heauen and applauses of men he neuer abandoned the confines and center of holy Humility and this seems to me to be the principall cause why continually from the diuine hand were showred vpon him so excellent guifts and so rare and incōparable graces because that euen as there is nothing which of its part more dryes vp the fountaines of the diuine benignity then Pride and Arrogancy in whose company Ingratitude goes hand in hand so is there not a nearer and more apt disposition to become capable of
darest thou aspire to a degree whereto none how holy soeuer but through constraine is worthily aduanced At this reprehension S. Hugh being terrifyed falling flat on the ground with teares in his eyes suddenly craued pardon at which humility of his the Maister being tender and touched with the spirit of prophecy sayd Rise vp my sonne rise vp do not trouble thy selfe I know very well with what effect and with what intention thou vtteredst such wordes and I tell thee moreouer and affirme it to thee without all doubt that ere long thou shalt be a Priest and within a certaine tyme after shalt thou be a Bishop also At which presage of his the good disciple ful of blushing and confusion held his peace and a little after being promoted to the dignity of the Altar prepared himselfe with most exact diligence to the sacrifice and with the same continuing to celebrate not only slackened not but augmented his spirituall exercises and his accustomed mortifications whence he tooke such a weaknes of stomacke as euer after afflicted him sorely for the obligation of the rule and the publike assemblies of the Quire the Chapter and the like was he euer the first endeauouring in all thinges yea euen in the least to edify as many as conuersed with him In this manner hauing passed in his priuate Cell and priestly ministery about ten yeares the principall Procuratourship of the house being a charge amongst those Religious of no light importance was by Superiours imposed vpon him and which to S. Hugh layd open a new field to exercise his excellent Vertues in Because he vnderstanding very well how from his care and vigilancy depended the Religious quiet and contemplatiue life of the others abandoning quite for the loue of Christ his owne consolations attended with extraordinary care vnto all the partes of Oeconomy and of a perfect Steward making prouisions in good tymes preuenting the necessityes of euery one and especially of the sicke surueying and reuiewing the accounts of the Officialls and Factours improuing continually the possessions defending and conseruing the rights and rents and all in such manner and with that maturity as well gaue the world to vnderstand how farre he was from all particuler interest For these so rare qualityes in short tyme his fame was spread euen to the remotest Countreyes and Henry the second King of England who in those dayes was vpon founding a Monastery of Carthusians at VVhitam through the ill condition of that neighbourhood could not bring the matter to any good passe after he had with small fruite applyed two Priours of the Order vpon the enterprise being finally moued with the constant relation of the worth and sanctity of S. Hugh not fayled to send in post to that end very honourable personages to the aforesayd Charterhouse of Grenoble and among them Reginald Bishop of Bath to require him for this office To which purpose those Fathers being assembled togeather there followed an earnest dispute among them while to some it seemed not iust or reasonable for any ones sake whosoeuer to depriue their owne house of so firme a propp others iudging on the contrary with liuely reasons demonstrating how it became not Christian charity and the Euangelicall profession to haue the eye fixed vpon the commodityes only of one family and to keep that vertue enclosed in so little a space which might be extended for the benefit and saluation of foraine nations with the great augmentation of the diuine glory Among such contentions had for a while to and fro of no light moment that Part preuayled at last which would the publike and vniuersall should be preferred before the priuate and that they ought not with so harsh a repulse prouoke the displeasure of so great a King In this manner S. Hugh being otherwise an enemy to Prelacy and who protested himselfe to be wholy insufficient for such a charge was by Superiours constrained to take it vpon him and not without much teares departing from his deere Cloister in company of the sayd Embassadours he arriued sale sound at the coasts of England From thence without going to the Court trauayling by the neerest way to VVhittam the first thing he endeauoured to do was with a cheerfull countenance and with fit exhortations to comfort those few afflicted Monks whom he found there and being afterwards sent for by letters vnto the Kings prefence through diuine fauour he had such grace in the eyes of that Maiesty as that after diuers discourses thereof he brought away both for the present and future necessities a very large prouision of all thinges and besides could tell how to vse such dexterity with that people and so to purchase their loue and good opinion as that from harsh contumacious and froward in short tyme they became very gentle obedient and tractable whereby very easily both the Church became more enriched through diuine offices the house to be the better accommodated for the sustentation of the Monkes and for the splendour and ornament of the place the fabricque to be finished while S. Hugh laboured thereat with his owne handes and carrying for example and publique edification stones morter on his shoulders in so much as many seculars being inuited partly by his sweet and sanctifyed manners partly also through a gust of a retyred life and of the commodity of the buildings there abandoning the cares of the world and renouncing the proper liberty came thither to consecrate themselues vnto God by vow to oblige themselues vnto monasticall discipline The King with his whole army at Sea is deliuered by commending himselfe to the prayers of S. Hugh Chap. 3. THe king of England tooke no small cōfort at these proceedings he reioyced much in that he was not deceiued awhit in his iudgment in the election of such a one And as he was a wise and prudent King hauing very often familiar and long discourses with the Priour the more he diued into him the greater esteeme made he not only of his prudence but of his piety and perfection also holding it a great happynes to haue such a man in his Kingdome and placing a good part of his hopes in his deuout intercessions suffrages as among other tymes he cleerely shewed when as returning with a great Army from the enterprize of France he was suddenly assayled with so cruell a tempest as the fury of the winds illuding all the art of the Mariners they all betooke themselues as many as were with him according to custome to vowes and prayers and the King notwithstanding perceauing the waues to grow more rough brake forth at last into these words O if my good Hugh of the Charter-howse were now aware of this would make feruēt prayer for vs as he was wont the diuine mercy would not be so slow to our succour And a little after with other sighes he gaue not ouer but added O blessed God whom the Priour of VVhittam truly serues vouchsafe
they were snatched out as it were froÌ„ the clawes of the rauenous and greedy deuourer in whose hands they had alwayes beene out of whose diabolicall custody being set free they made so notable a change as at this day to those people these words suite well which God seemed to vtter by Esay the Prophet The people which heeretofore were none of mine are now become my people The Citty of Conerthen is destroyed and S. Malachy with his repayretâ—… Cormacus The Church of Ardmach fell into Seculars With the Resolution of Celsus therupon Chap. 8. AFTER a certayne number of yeares now passed ouer for better purging of sinnes succeeded an incursion vpon them by the barbarous Inhabitants of the North when a great part of the Citty of Conerthen was destroied in so much as S. Malachy with his Religious who were about an hundred and twenty was constrayned to go his wayes out of that Citty But yet his departure froÌ„ thence proued not altogeather vnprofitable because that repairing himself into the kingdome of Momonia whereof we haue spoken before hee erected there a goodly Monastery at the cost of Cormacus being very mindfull of the good Offices and Charity affoarded him in tyme of his banishment So as besides his coÌ„ming in persoÌ„ to meete and receaue him and his conuersing with him afterwards with the rest of his Company with much familiarity loue he concurred moreouer as we said very royally to the Fabrick Whereby in short tyme it was fully accomplished and wonderfully increased in annuall rents and moueables and that which is yet more to be esteemed in subiects Who to the end they might walke with the better will by the strait and difficult way the Blessed Man ceased not being a Bishop and a Maister as he was as if but then he had newly become a Nouice to be the first in obseruing the Traditions and Rules He serued in his turne now in the Kitchin now in the Refectory In the Antiphons Lessons Ceremonyes or labours of the Quire he would haue no manner of priuiledge at all performing alwayes his part as one of the least Heere likewise he shewed himselfe to be so ardent a louer of voluntary Pouerty as in courting and â—…uing the same among all the Riuals there was none could seeme 〈◊〉 come any whit neare him And howbeit for the maintenance of 〈◊〉 place he iudged it fit to admit of reÌ„ts in coÌ„mon he was yet notwithstanding very vigilant least the publique through human fraâ—…y might degenerate into priuate Amidst such cares as these whiâ—…st in holy peace he aduaunceth by all meanes the profit of his â—…e glory of God for his greater probation there came an assault â—…on him no lesse slyly then vnlooked for Which truly the better 〈◊〉 vnderstaÌ„d it shall be needfull for vs to fetch the narration a prety â—…ay off The Church of Ardmach as it is the Mother of the other Churches 〈◊〉 Ireland so is it more illustrious and farre more reuerenced then 〈◊〉 Besides that heere was the residence of S. Patrick and the saâ—…ed bones heere left of that first Apostle first Father of all those Nations Whose fame esteeme with great reason is heere so famous â—…at euen his Successours be what they will do come to be feared â—…d obeyed not only of the inferiour the rest of the Clergy but â—…en likewise of any Baron Lord or Peere of the Iland But as all â—…e affayres of mortal meÌ„ seeme euer to incline to the worse there â—…d entred in now a good while since a very execrable abuse to retayne forsooth the Pastorall Chayre in a certayne family In so much as from one Vsurper passing to another it had there so enduâ—…d now for fifteene continuall generations and vnder a Diabolicall tytle of imaginary Prescription they were so rooted in the wicked possession as that when there were found to be no Clerks in the family they would be substituting the marryed and of the â—…me condition before Celsus there had beene to the number of â—…ght men though learned for the most yet as I sayd without sacred Orders And hence came the dissolution of the whole Christianity with the spirituall ruine and temporall likewise of all Ireland in creating and changing heere there Bishops at euery caâ—…riccio of the wicked Metropolitan yea a thing which was neuer â—…eard of in making in one Bishopricke only for euery people as 〈◊〉 were an infamous Bishop with a hellish multiplication of most vnworthy administratours Now then to take away so pernicious a scandall it pleased the Diuine Maiesty the Miter should lastly light on the head of Celsus Who though of the same stocke yet notwithstanding he being prickt with the feare of God as soone as through a mortall infirmity he perceiued the end of his dayes to approach he determined to put in execution the designe which he had a pretty while before that is to cut off indeed that infenall line of inheritance by freely yielding vp the Archbish opricke into the hands of S. Malachy whose reputation and credit he knew well to be very sufficient in this case to purchase to himselfe the fauour of the Citty and to oppose himselfe as a firme wall to the ambition and greedines of Tyrants To which effect as it were by way of Testament he declared his mynd to be that the Sea being vacant by all meanes the holy Bishop Malachy should be placed therein since there was not to be found a person more deseruing it then he To which purpose he most earnestly desired that the Primacy might be after his decease transferred vpon him For the better manifestation of his ardenâ—… desire he not only declared this intent viua voce to the standers by but euen likewise did intimate and recommend the same by letters and precepts on the behalfe of S. Patricke to such as were absent and especially to personages of quality and very particulerly to both the Kings of the vpper and lower Momoniâ—… These through diuine inspiration were the thoughts of Celsus and they had a glad successe though not so easy nor yet so speedy as he would haue wished S. Malachy is elected Bishop Mauritius holds stillpossession whilst S. Malachy refusing the charge is enforced by Malcus and the Popes Legâ—… to accept it Chap. 9. THE occasion of the delay was for that Celsus departing this life the Electours being come to the Diet the greater better number of suffrages without controuersy elected S. Malachy and the rest of the voices were for a certaine Cousen of Celsus called Mauritius This man through his presence and power ouer-swaying quite all iustice and reason was temerariously planted in the Archiepiscopall Throne to the infinite griefe of all good men and especially of Malcus the Bishop euen now so extolled by vs and of the Bishop Gilbert Legate of the Apostolike Sea for all the Kingdomes of Ireland These two great Prelates with many others of ech quality made great instance and
only satisfyed now with the Election made but shewed himselfe afterwards alwayes louing and much deuoted to S. Malachy For which successe the good conceiued an incredible ioy is beholding him to escape so that day who had no fault through his merits so many soules deliuered from the perill of eternal death This action of his made not only the name and respect of S. Malachy now to dilate it selfe more then euer but euen likewise wrought a great dread in all people who vnderstood that two of his most fierce and potent Persecutours were with a sudden diuine powâ—… made prostrate though in a very diuerse manner the one beâ—…g terribly punished in body the other benignly compunct and â—…nged in mind â—…gretus is constreyned to render vp the pledges to S. Malachy 〈◊〉 the Iudgement of God is seuerely shewed vpon two bitter Raylers against S. Malachy Chap. 12. SVCH difficult Encounters and grieuous disturbances being now passed ouer the holy Archbishop began very freely to orâ—…yne and dispose whatsoeuer might seeme in any wise to belong 〈◊〉 his Ministery but yet neuer without some eminent daunger of 〈◊〉 life while he found no tyme or place secure from treacheryes â—…erupon by publique counsayle there was a Guard of select men â—…poynted for his person day and night although he was resolued 〈◊〉 we haue said euer to relye much more vpon diuine protection â—…n on human guards And because the banished Nigretus was conâ—…ually working of no small domage in stirring vp the rude people â—…d causing of separations and discordes in the Church of God it â—…med conuenient to S. Malachy to vse his best endeauours against a â—…order scandall of so great importance And therefore the good â—…chbishop applyed himselfe withall care and industry to wype aâ—…ay this great scandall and did vse such effectuall meanes to stop â—…o the wayes to the minister of the Deuill as the wretched Man â—…as constreyned in despight of himselfe to yeild and restore the â—…lne pledges and for euer after to rest quiet and subiect himselfe â—…ithall humility And thus S. Malachy though amidst so many difficultyes and Tribulations notwithstanding with the fauour of God â—…ent prosperously on procuring the saluation of many Soules and â—…oceeding successiuely day by day Nor were the malefactours â—…ly but euen likewise his detractours chastized by diuine Iustice. â—…herof among others vpon a certayne peruerse fellow was a noble demonstration shewed This man not content to thinke vnworthyly of the great â—…rchbishop and to maligne him agaynst all reason but moreouer â—…deauoured to defame and wound him with bitter speaches and â—…amefull calumnyes in publique meetings more eminent places â—…lping himselfe therein with a certaine pernicious Eloquence wherwith he was endued and with the fauour of Princes great Ones purchased through base flatteryes scurrile iests And now was he arriued to such enormous insolence as that wheresouer he met with S. Malachy espccially in the more publique assemblies he would not spare to vse him discourteously both in words and gestures But this manner of audaciousnes did cost the wretch full deare for the instrument of rayling in him was so putrifyed and swoln vp as that after he had for seauen continuall dayes done nothing but spit out wormes which seemed to swarme from his diuelish tongue being finally consumed quite and pined away with abominable corruption issuing from thence he gaue vp the Ghost leauing his filthy Carkasse to be meate for wormes of the Earth The other was a Woman of that accursed generatioÌ„ so enuious alwayes bearing such an implacable hatred towards Blessed Malachy as she euer abhorred his very sight NotwithstaÌ„ding as she weÌ„t to heare him preach to the people the wretched and shameles creature did not forbeare to lift vp her voyce in that assembly call him Hypocrite and a robber of other mens goods adioyning besides to so bitter iniuries outragious taunts vpon the Baldenes of the man of God who being wise and meeke gaue no answere himselfe of any kind but the great God who reserues reuenge glory to himselfe sufficiently made answere for him for that the wicked and damnable wreth thereupon lost her wits became furious and frantique continually crying out she was strangled by S. Malachy nor ceased she from horrible screeches til she likewise yielded vp her vitall Spirit Insomuch as hauing vsurped the ancient Nickname of Elizaeus through the iust iudgement of God she found to her cost another Elizaeus In the meane tyme there happened a cruell Plague to rage in Ardmach by which pestilence an infinite multitude of people consumed eueryday away Whereupon S. Malachy ordayned a solemne procession and sent vp enflamed darts both of iaculatory and vocall prayers which pierced the skyes and came to the Throne of his diuine Maiesty who graunted his humble request and very speedily caused it to cease And this thing bred a wonder in the people who did obserue the sanctity of the great Archbishop and euer after caused them to haue a farre more reuerent respect to his sacred person and likewise it stopped the mouthes of the malignant and in particular those of the seede of Chanaan who being by this and other examples terriâ—…d and conuinced by such soueraygne wonders sayd likewise â—…ith the Egyptians Let vs fly from S. Malachy because the Lord seemes to â—…ht for him But to late were they aware of their owne wretchedâ—…es nor were they able to auert the heauenly Indignation since â—…ithin a litle while after that vnfortunate race was quite annihiâ—…ed and extinguished not without the terrour and amazement of 〈◊〉 many as knew the same 〈◊〉 Malachy surrenders the Archbishopricke and returnes to Conerthen and soone after resolues vpon a iourney to Rome Chap. 13. BY these meanes the affayres of Ardmach being now reduced to good termes the Clergy reformed the rumours quieted the Enemyes by this tyme taken away S. Malachy whose breast was inflamed with the loue of Humility after he had now brought peace to others determines to procure the same likewise for himselfe And calling a new Diet of Priests â—…ayks obteyned in verâ—…e of the former Pact though not without their great sorrow griefe to discharge himselfe at last of that cure so burdensome and in his roome to substitute a person of rare and approued vertues by â—…ame Gelasius Whome as soone as he had consecrated and seriously â—…ecommended to the principall of the kingdome being loaden with victories and triumphes he returnes agayne to his first charge of â—…onerthen which by this time was reasonably well recouered of the â—…osse receiued from the barbarous people And in this returne seeâ—…ed S. Malachy to giue forth apparent signes now more cleere then euer of Christian Modesty or to say better of the greatnes of a singular courage The Diocesse of Conerthen of ancient tymes had two Episcopal Seates but afterwards through the couetousnes and ambition of a great Incumbent they were confounded together and reduced
whence with multiplyed seed the number of Religious euery day increased according to the prediction and vow of S. Malachy S. Malachy arriueth in Scotland and there cureth King Dauids sonne He passeth from thence into Ireland and comes to the Monastery of Benchor Chap. 16. THE venerable Ghest being departed from vs prosperously landing in Scotland found there King Dauid in a certayne castle of his with his only Sonne lying sicke of an incurable disease Where being intreated to stay and that he would be pleased to afford him health he sprinckled him with water by him blessed looking him in the face said to him Be of good cheere my Sonne since you are not to dye at this present These were his words immediatly the effect followed For the day after the Prince recouered his health to the exceeding consolation of the King and the infinite iubiley and ioy of all the Court and finally to the stupour and amazement of al that heard and knew the same The rumour therof being spread there was nothing euery where but bon◅yers ringing of bells and giuing of thankes and voyces of prayse as well for the vnexpected recouery of their Lord as for the greatnes nouelty of the Myracle it selfe This Dauid the father and Henry the sonne being now valourous and wise Souldi◅urs are yet lyuing to this day and as at that tyme they vsed much importunity to retayne S. Malachy their Ghest with them to make much of him so while he liued they alwayes striued to honour him and to shew themselues not to be vnmyndfull and very gratefull for such a benefit and therefore offered to him many rich Presents But the wise Contemner of transitory Rewards and worldly pompe by any meanes on the next Morning would needs depart from thence and passing by the way of Crugeldus restored speach to a certaine young Girle And in the Iland of S. Michael he cured in the presence of all the people a woman so possessed with Deuils as her friends were enforced to hold her very streightly bound with cords sometymes in chaynes of Iron From thence being come to the hauen of Lapisperius while he expected commodity to passe ouer into Ireland he was not ydle but among other things gaue order and himselfe likewise put hands to a certayne Oratory of grates or lattuce-worke encompassed it round with a fense leauing in the midst a certayne space for the buryall of the dead and blessed the same Which was so efficacious as that euen to this day from diuers parts are brought thither many laguishing persons and ill affected and from thence returne with strength and wished comfort That same also was very notable which happened there to a certayne insolent fellow who being entred into that inuiolable Cemeter with soule and impious intents to profane the same he was seized vpon by an vgly and horrible Toade which suddenly shewing it selfforth with a swelling looke fell a spitting of venome vpon him Whereat the poore wretch being sorely astonished and affrighted threw himselfe ouer the sacred rayles euen headlong the shortest way But to leaue these degressions and returne to S. Malachy after he had embarqued himselfe in the said Port with a good gale he very happily arriued at the Monastery of Benchor to the end that his first Children perhaps might likewise be the first to gayne his Benediction And who were able sufficiently to expresse the ioy they felt in the reuiew and receiuing of such a Father returned safe and found from parts so remote Nor the said Congregation only but euen all those people also thereabout did shew forth such ioy for his returne that euen from Cittyes Castles and Townes they ran thither in great troupes to do him Reuerence bid him welcome And he himselfe not to hold his new Legation in vayne without delay endeauours to visit all those kingdomes distributing on euery side very holsome gifts of Apostolicall Facultyes in such sort as no Sex nor Age nor Condition or Profession whatsoeuer remayned without feeling of some part of the Comfort He celebrated likewise some Nationall Councells in the more conuenient Cities Where for the sound and Catholique Religion were most profitable Canons and Decrees established carrying in the meane while his eyes continually fixed vpon the necessityes of euery one and applying remedyes all wayes as need required now with sweetnes and now with seuerity Nor was there heere to be found any one that would seeme to contradict his precepts or proudly contemne his admonishments but they were rather accepted of all as holsome medicines and as constitutions deriued from Heauen And how could it be otherwise while al was confirmed by so many workes aboue nature In testimony wherof besides those others we haue touched already we wil in the Chapters following relate some others most to our purpose since to recount vnfold them all were not possible and I on the other side am more willing to dilate my self in things conducing to Imitation then such as may only excite Admiration A briefe Description of S. Malachyes manner of life as an introduction to the ensuing miracles which he wrought Chap. 17. IN my iudgment truly the first and most stupendious myracle that S. Malachy wrought was S. Malachy himselfe For why setting apart the interiour man whose beauty worth and sincerity sufficiently shined most brightly in his life and actions what shall we say of the exteriour only which with conformity of manners to wit most modest and decent he would be alwayes shewing in such sort as not the least thing could euer be discouered therin that might any wayes seeme to offend the eyes of the beholders Let vs come to the tongue It is surely most certayne that for a man not to trip in talking is a very great perfection And yet what man so curious let him be was euer knowne that could euer espye or note in S. Malachy I say not a word but so much as an ill gesture Who euer saw him to moue eyther hand or foote with vanity Nay wherin gaue he not Edification to his Neigbhours in walking in his habit and semblance He had so perpetuall a serenity in his cōtenance as neyther with the grauity of Melancholy or leuity of Laughing was he euer seen to be distempered All was discipline in him all harmony all Vertue He was an Enemy to scoffs but yet not austere or froward Remisse would he be sometymes but dissolute neuer Careles in nothing though in many he knew wel how to dissemble till tyme and place Quiet oftentymes but yet not once would seeme to be slouthfull From the day of his conuersion vnto his last breath he had neuer any thing proper not seruants nor farmes nor messuages nor finally any manner of rents eyther Ecclesiasticall or secular For his Episcopall table he had no assignement made him at all yea the good Prelate indeed had not so much as a determinate dwelling to put his head in as he
one to attend vpon him This miserable wretch turning himselfe to S. Malachy with a lamentable voyce and full of teares sayd Ay me Father you go now your wayes and know in how great and how many afflictions you leaue me and yet can you help it if you please and though I for my sinnes haue and do deserue all euill yet alas what fault haue these poore Brothers done to whome for my sake is not permitted an houre of rest with this plaint the hart of the Blessed Bishop was as it were now spilt asunder When he deerly imbracing the sick man made the signe of the Crosse on his breast saying Rest secure yet and be confident that you shall not fall into the like fit agayne till my returne That malady the poore man had susteyned for six yeares togeather But now at the only speach of S. Malachy he was recouered in such sort as he neuer fell more thereinto being in a moment deliuered from so grieuous bitter a payne and the assistants themselues from a long and yrksome a custody After which as S. Malachy was taking ship came two of his most inward friends to him for to craue a notable boone at his hands and he demanding what their request was we will not tell you sayd they till you promise vs first to comfort vs he promised so to do then they replyed We will sayd they that you faithfully promise vs another thing which is to make your returne to Ireland agayne very safe and sound the very same did all the others beseech him Whereupon the seruant of Christ retiring a litle as he was wont within himselfe and being sorry first for hauing so engaged his word not knowing how to discharge himselfe being â—…ing on the one syde to come out of debt and sory on the other 〈◊〉 leaue Clareuallis But after the same at last resolued with himselfe to comply with that which pressed him most that is not to fayle in his promise remitting the rest to the diuine pleasure Then though with an euill will he answered yea and his disciples being comforted not a litle heerwith he caused them to hoyse vp sayle But in the midst of the Sea he was driuen backe agayne vpon the cost of Ireland by a sudden contrary wind Where he landed and passed the night in a Church of his acknowledging and thanking the diuine goodnes for that without the preiudice of any he had by that meanes acquit him from all wherein he was bound to his Monkes And in the morning being afresh embarqued he landed very happily on the same day in the Kingdome of Scotland after two dayes more arriued at Verdestagnus where leauing certayne subiects for a Cistercian Abbay which he had founded there he pursued his iourney and being honorably receiued by King Dauid in the confines there staying in that place for some dayes not without a great deale of fruite he passed into England In Gisburne in England S. Malachy cures a woman of a Canker And after arriues at Clareuallis where he fals mortally sick Chap. 26. SAINT Malachy at his entrance into the kingdome of England lodged in the Canonry of Gisburne where he contracted a very streight friendship with those Priests there of singular fame Moreouer in that place a woman was presented to him very much deformed and eaten with a horrible Canker He blessed a little water therewith sprinkled the soares so efficaciously as the paines therof sudenly ceasing the next day they could hardly be seene Departing from thence he went to the Sea side where he met withan vnlookt for impediment caused through certayne differeÌ„ces risen at that tyme betweene the Apostolique Sea and the King of England about iurisdiction which were then growne so hoat as he through aboundaÌ„t iealousy permitted no Prelate to go forth of the Iland and for the same respect was the Bishop Malachy likewise reteyned for some tyme. Who on the one syde though he were sory to be delayed in that sort from his businesses yet was he not aware on the other syde that this very delay seemed to fauour his vowes designes Because if he had presently gon into Fraunce he had been feigne leauing Clareuallis and passing the Alps with diligence to haue measured the greater part of Italy the Pope Eugenius being already gone forth of France approached to Rome Where as now by this delay through a sea-passage his iourney by diuine prouidence came to be disposed in that manner as he arriued at Clareuallis euen at the point himselfe desired Where being receiued by vs as an Angell descended from Paradise what a light seemed to shine vpon this our habitation and what a solemne Feast was it for vs al and I my selfe now trembling and weake as I was being reuiued with the newes ran full of exultation and iubiley to his holy kisses and imbraces and he reciprocally shewed himselfe to vs as he was wont very pleasant and affable and wonderfully gratefull to euery one Now by this tyme were some foure or fiue dayes of our common gladnes passed ouer when behold on the Feast of the glorious S. Luke the Euangelist after he had with extraordinary deuotion celebrated Masse in publique he was taken with a feuer Wherupon falling downe on his bed he fell sick and all our ioy was turned â—…o sadnes though somewhat moderated the while in that the feuer as yet was not very violent nor rigid So as recouering hope you might haue seene what running there was vp and downe in the howse some to prouide medicins some to apply someÌ„tations some to bring him meate some to exhort and intreate him to eate euery one striuing to serue such a Ghest and accompting themselues most happy that could haue most accesse to that holy blessed man WheÌ„ S. Malachy beholding theÌ„ with a benigne countenance All these paynes would he say are too much for you to take but yet for your sakes I refuse them not and willingly do what you coÌ„maund me He knew right well his latest hower approched and to his companions who would seeme to comfort him with saying there appeared in him no mortall signe It is conuenient would he answere by all meanes that Malachy this yeare depart this life The day approches now which I as you very well know haue alwayes wished to be the last of my short dayes I know well in whome I trust and now that I haue part of my intent I am certaine and secure in like sort that my desire shal be graunted in the rest He that brought me through his clemency to this place I desired so much will not deny me the tyme nor terme and for as much as concernes this weary body of myne I will heere repose it for the soule he shall prouide for it who giues saluation to such as put their trust in him Nor haue I any small confidence in the same dya wherin by the lyuing is purchased so great a help to the dead And now
all manner of debauchnes being at last compunct and contrite for all went his wayes to Rome and there making a generall Confession of his whole life had for his penaÌ„ce to weare on his bare flesh a breast plate of steele tyed on with fiue chaynes of iron with a sheet of paper written therein wherein his more enormous crymes were conteyned signed with the seale of his Holynes and in this habit to go visit the holy places of Christendome vntill such tyme as through diuine power the bands should be vndone the writing be wholy cancelled This man obeyed with great promptnes and after he had beene at Hierusalem and other famous Monuments of Saints he came at last vnto Alba-regalâ—… there putting himself in prayer at the shrine of the holy King StepheÌ„ he determined not to arise from thence vntill he had perfectly obteyned the grace And now he had perseuered from one to nine a clock at night when sleepe through wearynes oppressed him and immediately the glorious King appeared vnto him saying Get vp friend and go thy wayes to the Chapell hard by of my sonne Emericus who through especiall priuiledge of incorrupt virginity shall obtayne thee vndoubtedly pardon of thy so great crymes he being one of the number of those who haue neuer defiled their garments but accompany the Lambe wheresoeuer he goes and who stand singing before the Throne of God that new song Which said he vanisheth the Penitent without delay passing to the Monument of Blessed Emericus had no sooner begun to frame new prayers but that in a moment his hard knots fell loose of theÌ„selues the seale broke open discouered the paper to be blank At the noyse of the cheynes falling off the Keepers of the Church others at that tyme entring to do their deuotions came running to him and some of them vnderstanding particularly by relation and the rest with their owne eyes what had happened neuer ceased to magnify God the giuer of all good and merueilous in his Saints To whome be all honour power and benediction for all eternity Amen S. EDVVARD KING THE ARGVMENT AN Orphan left and in minority Heau'en was my Guardian this did mee protect To this I did assigne my custody My raging â—…es heerby suppress't and checkt Yielding to 〈◊〉 did grant me liberty To serue my deare Aduancer and reflect On this false world which promising content Doth only yield vs matter to repent As those that in the Eternall Essence see What ere falls out what euer was before Veyl'd vnder bread Deare Lord I viewd in thee The machinations of the Prince that bore A Rauen bath'd in Martiall Gules to bee Dissolu'd I stretcht mine Empire past the shore That Albion bounds my force did Ireland tame That thought my standards fatall where they came Treasures so much I slighted that I viewd Vnmoued thereat my treasures borne away The â—…ately Fane at Thorney rays'd hath shewd My end Heau'ns glory Still it doth display A mynd with true Magnificence endâ—…'de Heerby I gaind what neuer shall decay And with a Ring espous'd me to the skie Where my Raygne done I raygne Eternally THE LIFE OF S. EDVVARD KING OF ENGLAND Written by Alred Abbot of Ridall of the Order of Cisterce S. Edward is chosen King in his Mothers wombe Ethelrede the Father dying Edmund succeeds Canutus rages Emma flies with her two yonger Sonnes into Normandy with the great towardlines of S. Edward IT pleased Gâ—… the Blessed Edward through especiall pâ—…ogatiue should be chosen King before his aâ—…pearing to the world for that at the instance of his Father Ethelred King of England a Parliament being called as wel for other publique affayres as to declare sweare to a new Prince howbeyt already there were two soÌ„nes of his of strong constitution Edmond and Alfred yet the Nobility Clergy being but little satisfyed with eyther of them with a wonderous inclination concurred to yeild homage vnto an vncertaine yssue as yet enclosed in the Mothers wombe which being born 〈◊〉 little after was called by the name of Edward True it is that Eâ—…red dying in those dayes and most cruell tempests threatning the Iland on euery side with consent of the Barons not to leaue thingâ—… altogether without a head the said Edmond tooke the rule vpon him Nor was it long but that a terrible inundation of the Barbarous Danes came rushing into England vnder the Tyrant Canutus Who beginning to put all things to fire and sword the Queene Mother whose name was Emma a Norman by natioÌ„ was conuayed for greater security with her yonger sonnes into her Fathers Country Heere the child Edward began betymes to giue forth very euident signes of the mature piety he was like to atteyne in tyme. Iâ—… reguard that hauing in scorne all childish sports he attended still among other tokens of a Christian mind to visit now this now that holy Conuent and to linck streight amityes with the most famous Seruants of God In the meane tyme in England the â—…ury of the Enemy grew day by day more cruell then other nor was now to be seen at last or heard any other then slaughters rapins bitter plaints and terrible outcrys The Temples burned the sacred habitations ruined the Guardians and Pastours oâ—… soules for feare of the worst punishments hid themselues in the most craggy and desert places Among which was Britwald Bishop of Winchester a man of great prayer and of a notable spirit Who praying one day with many teares for the health of the Kingdome and powring forth his afflicted hart with sighs and laments before the diuine presence after much wearynes of mind and body fell finally asleepe Where behold the Prince of the Apostles appeared to him from an eminent place with S. Edward before him a youth very gracious in countenance and adorned with a scepter diadem and royall manâ—…le who after he had with solemne vnction consecrated him with his owne hands gaue him many good documents withall full of verity and life and in particular exhorted him to keepe virginity reuealing to him besisides for how many yeares he should hold the dominion Now Britwald being sorely astonished at such a vision at soone as he returned agayne to himselfe tooke hart beseeched S. 〈◊〉 to vouchsafe to manifest to him some things of the estate of that miserable CouÌ„try of the end of the troubles which afflicted the same To which demaund the Apostle answered with a seren countenaÌ„ce Kingdomes O Bishop are of God he is the Lord and Maister of all he at his pleasure alters and changes gouernments for the sinnes of nations doth ofteÌ„ exalt the Hypocrit The diuine Maiesty is grieuously offended with thy people and therfore they are falleÌ„ into the hands of their most capitall aduersaryes but yet neuerthelesse God shall not be vnmindfull of his wonted mercy nor stretch forth his iust vengeance for euer vpon them because many yeares shall not passe after thy death but
Kings mynd was approching to aduertise him thereof whereof S. Edward being aware Stand still Leofrick said he stand still what thou seest I see also and then Masse being ended he added I cōiure thee O Earle for the Maiesty of him we haue both seene too day that while we are in this life thou speake not a word of this vision to the end that eyther throgh popular applause we may not fall into pride or through so rare a nouelty occasion may be giuen of murmuring to those who belieue no more then what they can touch or feele with the fingar Among these things S. Edward being now well stept in yeares and loaden with merits was certified that now at last his reward approched and his certificate was in this manner He held next S. Peter S. Iohn Euangelist the beloued Disciple of Iesus in greatest veneration insomuch as he neuer denyed any honest petition that euer was made to him in the name of S. Iohn Euangelist When among other times it happened one day his priuy Almenour being absent that a certayne Pilgrime with the sayd inuocation most importunely craued an almes of him and he not hauing any thing at hand pulling off a precious ring from his fingar very graciously gaue it him It fell out afterwards that two English men went in pilgrimage to the holy Sepulcher hauing crossed the Seas and now strayed vnawares out of their way in that errour they were ouertaken by the darke night wherein very sad and afflicted they could find neyther Guide nor Counsayle till beyond all hope appeared a venerable old man who conducting them into the Citty of Ierusalem benignely receyued them as ghests into his house and after a dainety supper brings them to their lodgings with great charity The morning being come they both hauing giuen thankes ready to take their iourney the good Host sayd to them Know Brethren you are like to haue a good voyage and shall returne safe and sound againe into your Country God shal be propitious to you I for your Kings sake in all this time will regard you still I am Iohn the Apostle that loues your King very tenderly for the excellency of his chastity You shall carry him backe this ring which he gaue me some dayes since when I appeared to him in forme of a Pilgrime and acquaint him that the day of his deposition approches and six months shall not passe ouer his head ere I put him into the company who follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he goes Which said the Apostle vanished they happily arriuing at home gaue faythfull accompt to the King of what they had heard and seene Not was the prediction vayne because S. Edward very soone after fell into his last sicknes wherein purposing to edify by all manner of wayes as many as conuersed with him now feeling himselfe to decay apace ordayned his death should be presently published though all the kingdome that his soule being loosed from prison might haue the suffrages of the faythfull assoone as might be and with this he passed to his most desired Lord on the 5. of Ianuary 1066. hauing held the scepter 23. yeares 6. months and 27. dayes He was bewayled and buryed with that feeling and concurse of the people as became such a Ruler and Gouernour Two translations haue been made of that vessell of the holy Ghost the one some 36. yeares after his pappy passage which vntil the other was the space of 60. yeares In both discoueryes not only those sacred members but euen also his Princely robe and habit appeared very whole and vncorrupted The first Translation was made to afford him a more honourable funerall The other followed at the tyme of his Canonization vnder Pope Alexander the III. When deposing the venerable Reliques there succeeded so many miracles anew as would be too long a matter far from our purpose to make narratiō of them Whence we may with reason hope through the merits and intercessions of this great Seruant of God that as so many particuler persons haue obtayned the graces which they craued euen so that most noble Kingdome all scandals being taken away and Heresies destroyed may one day be reduced to the vnion of the faythfull and to the lap of the holy Catholique Church S. ANSELME THE ARGVMENT SEe in the West Arabia's wonder bred With gorgeous lustre fayre embellished Rich in all colours which our eyes behold Vying agaynst the Sunne his natiue Gold The Phoenix of his age His Parents left And of all help and succour quite bereft Heau'n vndertooke his charge He needs not feare The want of friends whose friends whose Hopes are there Deuided from the world can England be The worlds chiefe Grace hauing espous'd in thee Or seeme discourag'd now or hartlesse growne When such a Saint is denized her owne No she may hope that though some clouds may hide A while the light it will at length be spi'de And that th' offended Sunne will glister more And spread his rayes far brighter then before When you Deare Saints shall put an helping hand That you agayne may on our Altars stand THE LIFE OF S. ANSELME ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBVRY Written by Edinerus a Monke of Canterbury vvho liued in his tyme. What the condition of S. Anselms Parents was The presage of his future life His good inclinations and first vocation to Religion Chap. I. WE being to vnfold the Life and manners of S. Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury a most noble Citty of England will first touch some things of his Parents His Father then was one Gondolfus who being borne in Lombardy of Italy and comming to liue in the Citty of Augusta Pratoria now called Aust in the confines of Piemont tooke to wife a gentlewoman whose name was Ermenberga These two consorts for riches nobility were equall but in manners and disposition far vnlike Because the husband being giuen to his pleasures was held to be no good husband for his family While the wife on the contrary being serious in the gouernment of the house and a wise dispenceresse of his goods gaue alwayes forth a most excellent odour of her life vnto her last leauing Gondolfus aliue who seeing himselfe vnloosedfrom the bands of Matrimony being now growne of great yeares became a Monke and dyed in his Monastery Of this couple S. Anselme was borne of whome as through a certayne presage of his future sanctity it is reported in his tender yeares hauing heard his Mother say that aboue in Heauen was but one God only who ruled and maynteyned the whole Vniuerse he thought with a childish imagination that the Heauens were shored vp and susteyned by the mountaynes that from the tops of them one might reach to the royall pallace of that great Monarke and as he often had this thought it happened one night that he seemed to mount vp by one of those tops to the forsayd pallace and beholds at the foote therof certaine seruants of the King reaping of corne
and at the same instant were the Deacons aduised that the vessell of Chrisme was not to be found for which there arising a great cry vpon good aduise and discreet coniecture the foresayd Clerke was immediately apprehended and the vessell being found about him vnder his cloake with menaces and rating he was brought to S. Anselme who being moued with compassion towards the wretch with cheerfull countenance reprehended him Fatherly for it and ordayned he should be let go forthwith without punishment and immediately the Man went directly home to his house This Dedication being finished S. Anselme was very suddenly recalled agayne to the Court of purpose to giue his benediction to the King before he crossed the seas He went then presently thither and for that the wind in those dayes was very contrary vnto him he thought it his duty in the meane tyme with all care and diligence to admonish K. William agayne of the great disorders many abuses introduced into the kingdome and to exhort him to relieue the afflicted Churches and to help to reforme the same He did it then in the best manner he could but the King being now troubled already and wholy vncapable of good counsayle not only slighted the man of God with the Fatherly correction he gaue him but euen also with great disdayne and contempt did banish him his presence Whereupon some wicked and insolent men present tooke new courage and boldnes agayne to offer wrongs and iniuries to Ecclesiasticall persons and their goods bearing but li◅le respect to the dignity and merits of S. Anselme himselfe who being much more seen and expert in the knowledge of spirits then in the manage of temporall affayres partly suffered himselfe to be deceyued not being able to persuade himselfe that any one for trāsitory things would willingly loose the eternall and partly also was enforced to yield hauing as we sayd the King for aduersary and his grieuous enemy So as now being wholy anxious he neuer ceased to bemoane himselfe for the quiet and peace of a religious state nor found he any comfort but when he could now then retire himselfe from company into Cloysters Nor would he neither within the Bishoprique nor yet without euer liue without the company assistance of some vertuous and approued Monkes to his exceeding gust and to the great edification of as many as knew him Besides which he fayled not to steale some tyme for meere contemplation and to remedy the troubles of the Catholique Church by meanes of his most learned writings Among which is that worke of his most worthily renowned which he wrote in the midst of so great afflictions vpon the subiect of the Incarnation of the Eternall Word wherewith the errour of the Greeks remayned discouered and conuinced being so audacious as to deny the Procession of the holy Ghost from the second person of the Blessed Trinity Not only thus in his Cell and studies but euen likewise at table when they had giuen ouer reading as a most excellent Deuine he would solue very intricate knots expoūd difficult passages of the sacred Scripture He likewise feared so much euery offence how light soeuer as he often affirmed with sincerity that if he had on the one side the horrour of sinne before his eyes and the paynes of Hell on the other with the necessity of being drenched or engulted in this or that he would doubtles make choyce rather of the infernall paynes then of the offence of God and sooner accept of Hell as pure and innocent then the heauenly mansion being polluted with sinne What occasions S. Anselme would vsually take of spiritual Conceyts How K. William returnes from beyond Seas and S. Anselme goes to Rome Chap. 15. THe Seruant of Christ was wont with the gift which he had of knowledge to gather spirituall fruitfull conceipts from the things which daily occurred as once certaine Seruants of his had a course at a Hare who after she had diuers wayes very nimbly tryed to escape from them by secret instinct came at last to squat euen vnder S. Anselmes horse who suddenly thereupon made a stop so as the dogs not daring to set vpon her stood aloofe baying at her expecting her starting agayne At which sight the company laughing and making much sport S. Anselme fell a weeping You laugh my Maysters sayd he but this poore little beast heere laughs not at all or finds any sport Her enemies encompasse her round about and she with the agonies of death recurres to vs for succour The same indeed succeeds very often to the reasonable soule of man which no sooner yssues from the body but the hunters malignant spirits pursuing her as long as she liueth in flesh by the diuers turnings crooked pathes of vices and iniquityes euen to the article of death do then cruelly stand ready to snatch her away and to cast her headlong to eternall perdition laughing making great sport thereat whiles the poore wretch lyes depriued and despoyled of all helps And after these words S. Anselme spurd on his horse and commaunded them not to molest the poore creature when by by hauing escaped the dāger she skippes againe into the meadowes woodes from whence she had fled Another day the holy Father seeing a boy in the stretes holding in his hand a certaine little Bird fast tyed by the feete with a long thrid taking much pleasure to let the thrid go and come now and then and in the midst of its flight to pull it backe on a sudden agayne and let it fall often to the ground Whereat S. Anselme tooke compassion on the poore creature and much desired to see the bird at liberty when behold on a sudden the thrid brake and the bird flew away and the boy cryed S. Anselme reioyced the while calling to his companions haue you sayd he taken heed to the sport of the litle Boy heere Whereto the others answering yea he then replyed And now such manner of sport for all the world the ancient aduersary makes euery day with many sinners he holds them so entangled in his snares and playing at his pleasure precipitates them now into this and then into that vice As for example some be giuen to auarice or els carnallity or to some other such like miseries To these will it happen now and then that being touched with pennance and compunction they make reflexion vpon the euill life which formerly they haue lead for which they are moued to teares for that time make good purposes to amend themselues And now it seemes verily to them they are loose already at full liberty but yet with the thrid or lyne of euill custome in the very loose and iumpe as it were of their flying away they are suddenly pulled backe agayne by the Deuill and made to fall as before into the same sinnes And this thing happens very often nor do they euer come to get forth of so abominable a seruitude till with some
through the merits and intercession of thy faythfull seruant with the eye of pitty to reguard our distresse and afflictions And behold the inuocation was scarcely finished but a calme began in such sort as the whole company with as many as sayled with them yeilding thanks without end to the diuine Clemency very happily arriued at the wished port The newes whereof on a sudden flew into all parts and the name of S. Hugh grew to be in so great veneration as Henry had not in his whole kingdome besides a man he esteemed more nor in whom he reposed more confidence and the number of those Religious went multiplying euery day more more in the manage instruction of whom S. Hugh shewed very well how excellent a guift he had in gouernement Because that pursuing his ancient thoughts the first thing he endeuoured effectually was that men might know cleerely that nothing was more deer vnto him then the quiet and consolation of euery one To works as need was he adioyned words and efficacious and discreet aduises But aboue all things he pressed them through the example of his owne manners being so habituated in treating with God as his familiars also in his sleep should heare him vnawares to pray say his Psalter He was besides as much as publike occasions permitted him much giuen to sacred reading and was wont to say how the diuines Scriptures to all Religious and especiall to such as leade a more solitary life are delights in peace armes in warre foode in tyme of famine and a medecine in infirmity so as when according to the custome of the Order he eate alone he had allwayes on a litle table the scripture open before him or some holy Doctour though otherwise he was so diligent in the custody of his senses as when he happened on holy dayes to take his refection with the rest he would neuer hold his eyes from the table cloth his eares from the pulpit and his mind from God This holy man was exceeding carefull that for his sake or any of his no person should receiue any agreiuance and scandall And to this purpose we may not conceale how the King hauing taken from a certaine rich Monastery and well furnished with bookes the new and old Testament written by those Regulars with great labour and diligence and bestowed it on the Fathers of VVhittam as yet not well prouided of such necessaryes as soone as S. Hugh had knowledge therof from one of the aforesaid Monastery he answeared with a sad cheer thus stands the matter then The King would haue depriued your Church of your labours and trauayles so fruitefull to accommodate and enrich vs by such meanes We cry you mercy with all our harts for the losse you haue sustayned for our sake though in truth til now we were neuer made acquainted therewith Take yee then the Booke agayne and if your Fathers will not receaue it I will without more ado restore it my selfe to the party that caused it to be brought hither And further if they be willing to accept the same I will cause the matter to be kept secret by all meanes This modesty of his pleased them exceedingly and as they remayned much edifyed thereat so they came to contract a great frendship with the Family of VVhittam S. Hugh is made Bishop of Lincolne and how stoutly he de◅eanes himself in his Pastor all charge Chap. 4. NOw approached the tyme destined by the diuine prouidence for the exaltation of his faythfull and wise feruant The Sea of the Citty of Lincolne had now beene vacant for some eighteene years and those of the Chapter being moued at the losse which the flocke suffered so without a Pastour laying finally aside the strifes and contentions risen amongst them resolued with the approbation of the Metropolitan of Canterbury to goe a sufficient number of them to the Court of the King vnder whose protection and superintendency the election being celebrated with wonted ceremonyes they agreed vpon the person of the Priour of VVhittam whereat Henry being extraordinarily ioyfull sent the newes thereof presently to S. Hugh as he thought most ioyfull tydinges There also arriued together the letters and messages of the Archbishop himselfe who congratulating with him for such a dignity did liuely exhort him not to resist so honourable a iudgment of the Canons and so manifest a signe of the diuine will His freinds likewise generally encouraged him to it with reasons and importunityes But S. Hugh now experienced in the chast gouernment of soules weighed all things with a more iust ballance and who knew very well how great temerity it was in a stormy sea to take voluntarily in charge with so much hazard a barke repleate with the bloud of Christ with might and mayne endeuoured to withdraw himselfe from the enterprise alleadging besides his owne insufficiency the election to be likewise inualid as well for being prosecuted forth of the Diocesse and practized with the fauour and authority of the King Archbishop as for that the voyce of the Priour of the great Charterhouse was not concurring thereto without whose approbation he could by no meanes accept such a charge These and many other things of like tenour the man of God replyed hoping the Electours eyther mooued through equity or disdaining the repulse would easily turne the designes to the other part But through diuine dispensation he remayned much deceiued of his conceit Because the same humility wherewith he thought himselfe vnworthy of such a manage the earnest instance which he made that it might be transferred vpon some other inflamed the Chanons to extoll and aduance so great submission so great vertue so as to take away from S. Hugh all excuses and occasions being a new assembled togeather in the same Citty Cathedrall Church of Lincolne with like consent they ratifyed the decree as at first and besides sending for that purpose vnto the great Charter-house of persons of quality they brought backe in ample forme not leaue only but so expresse command as for S. Hugh there was no euasion With this dispach went all the fauourers of that creation very glad and triumphant to the Monastery and taking the sad and sorowfull Priour from his Cell they lead him with great ioy to the Cathedrall Church In which act appeared very well how great a friend he was of pouerty both of body and mind because being not able to hinder so noble a concourse which came to accompany him reteyning at least in himselfe the desired lowlynes he would neuer permit some few cōmodityes of his for his owne vse should be carryed by any but rather putting them behind him on the cropper of his horse would needes conuay them himselfe publiquely to the Bishops lodgings and by no meanes before consecration he would admit eyther title of Prelacy Pontifical robes or attendance of seruants Finally being afterwards annoynted and placed with solemne rites in the Pontifical Throne he felt himselfe as a
shewed it selfe very shye and coy to the Bishop only it would be most domestike and giue forth infinite shewes of welcome it would take meate from his hand it would thrust as in a poole the head and neck within those large and ample sleeues of his and not contented therewith leauing the fresh waters and its accustomed haunts would stand all night a watching and keeping centinell at his chamber doore Moreouer it had taken vp a custome as often as the Bishop was to retyre thither to be very iocund to cry out and flap with the wings in so much as the keepers of the castle as they had been aduertized by some harbinger would be accited thereby to prepare the chambers and to put all things in order against his coming Now the last tyme that S. Hugh came thither the amourous Swan leauing its accustomed dauances would so hide it selfe with the head drooping and with other signes of sadnes and frowardly sequestring it selfe from his sight which it was neuer to behold more as the seruants were fayne to take it and bring it in by force And thus much of this new prognosticate The death and funeralls of the Venerable Bishop not without some miracles accompanying the same Chap. 11. IN those dayes was assembled at Lincolne a most famous nationall Councell and S. Hugh being then in the Citty of London vpon vrgent occasion with purpose to hye himselfe as soone as possibly he could to the sayd Assembly being there ouertaken by a suden vehement feuer was forced to keep his bed and yet in despite of the disease re-enforcing his prayers vnto God and to the most blessed Virgin and deuout colloquyes with his Angell Guardian and with the Citizens of Heauen he ceased not withall to afford gratefull audience with holsome admonitions to as many as came to visit him Being admonished to make his will It greiues mee said he for this custome of making wils introduced into the clergy I neuer had nor haue at this present any thing that is not wholy of my Church and yet that the Fiscall may not lay hand thereon let all be distributed to the poore as soone as may be whatsoeuer may seeme to others I possesse Heereupon the Feast of S. Mathew being come wherein he remembred he was consecrated Bishop he caused the celestiall Viatique and the Sacrament of Extreme vnction also to be ministred to him as thinking very probably that immediately he was to depart but it pleased our Lord to differre the same vntill the 17. day of the next moneth in which space he ceased not from deuotious for himselfe and exhortations for others and moreouer with the spirit of Prophecy very cleerely foretold the great disasters which soone after were to happen to that Kingdome and particulerly to the Clergy The foresayd terme being afterwards arriued the holy Bishop being interiourly certifyed of his departure caused besides his Chaplyns some Monks and Preists to be called to assist him and seeing them all to weep bitterly he sought with interrupted speeches but graue and affectuous withall to comfort them and laying his right hand vpon ech one he recommended them to the diuine custody And now his feeble voyce began quite to fayle when he willed that the flore being swept a crosse of hallowed ashes should be formed thereon and that a seruice should be sayd in manner of a Quier whereat being present with great attention as soone as he came to that verse of the 90. Psalme Clamabit ad me ego exaudiui cum cum ipso sum in tribulatione causing himselfe to be lifted from his bed he stretehed his withered and frozen members being mindfull of the Passion of Christ vpon the sayd Crosse and presently beginning the Canticle of Simeon very happily expired in the yeare of our Lord 1200. of his age 60. and of his Episcopall charge the 15. In this manner it pleased the Prince of Pastours to put an end to the trauailes of his most faythfull Coadiutour of whose passage into heauen some persons worthy of credit haue had vndoubted reuelation The body being spiced with Balme and other odours was in pontificall habit exposed in a Coffin ready to be carryed according to the order left by him vnto his Church but through the infinite concourse of people which pressed in to touch or at least to behold more neere that sacred Treasure there succeeding by turnes very Honourable personnages to carry the corps the way became to be so taken vp and stopt the while as it was there fayne to stay for no lesse then six dayes In approaching to Lincolne the two Kinges Iohn of England and VVilliam of Scotland who then were present came forth to meet them with a most noble trayne and both being desirous to submit their shoulders to the venerable Beer the Scottish King among others who loued him deerely powred forth a floud of teares After that in the Cathedrall were the solemne exequies celebrated with the pompe that became both the dignity of the deceased the quality of the standers by among which two crowned heads three Archbishops fourteene Bishops more then a hundred Abbots very many Earles and Barons drew the eyes of the people vpon them the diuine Prouidence so disposing that the promptnes and perseuerance of S. Hugh in taking so great care to bury the bodyes of others was thus recompenced with so magnificent and glorious a Sepulture To this were added for greater splendour new famous miracles which to recount throughout were a thing too long it may suffice for example only to add heere also that within few dayes at his monument were cured six Palsey men three blind receaued their sight and two dumbe men recouered their speach Moreouer the deposition customes and heroicall prowesse of the Saint were afterwards not only celebrated with a liuely voice by that age but by many Writers also registred with a faythfull pen to the glory of God the memory of him and the noble example incitement to posterity FINIS S. ANTONY OF PADVA THE ARGVMENT RIch LVSITANIA yields thee vitall ayre And first of others shines with such a gemme Thy countreyes Father thou dost her prepare Thou dost dispose her vnto Heaun's diademe By doctrine and example they declare How gratefull was such charity to them Thou Solons doctrine well dost ouerthrow Shewing the Countrey to her brood may owe. Padua adopts thee hers whose spacious Fanes Could not containe thy happy audience The larger fields and open spreading plaines Did seeme prepard for such a confluence Thy heauenly doctrine sweetly entertaines The hearers charm'd with golden eloquence A second Orpheus whose commanding Lyre Euen senselesse thinges do follow and admire THE LIFE OF S. ANTONY OF PADVA Taken forth of Laurence Surius Of the family and youthfull age of S. Antony and how he became be of the family of the Chanons-Regular Chap. 1. THE marueilous Mysteries of the diuine prouidence are discouered as it were through the whole pilgrimage of