there was no water at all or earth but à hollow rock from whence stones had been dig'd to build the Castle Simon Waterford Vicar who had Christened the Child John de Bois John Gyffen all sworn Witnesses took their Oaths upon the Gospel that they saw and handled the Child dead the Kings Crowners Stephen Ganuy and William Nottingham presently called for went down into the Mote found the Childs body cold and stiff covered with à little hoary frost stark dead indeed While the Crowners as their office required began to write what they had seen one John Syward à Neighbour not far off went down into the Grot gently handled the Childs body all over and finding it as dead as ever any was made the Sign of the Crosse upon it's forhead and earnestly prayed after this manner Blessed S. Thomas Cantelupe you by whom God has wrought innumerable Miracles show mercy upon this little Infant and obtain he may return to life again if this grace be granted he shall visit your holy Sepulcre and render humble thanks to God and you for the favour No sooner had Syward The dead Child restored to life spoken these words but the Child began to move his head and right Arm à little and forthwith life and vigour Came again into every part of his Body The Crowners and à world of other Standers by saw the Miracle and in that very place with great Admiration returned humble thanks to God and S. Thomas for what they had seen The Mother now overioyed taking the Child in her armes went that day to hear Masse in à Church not far off where prostrate on her knees she with à greatful heart Justly attributed the Life of her Infant to God and S. Thomas Her Devotions ended She returned home and the Child feeling no pain at all merry and joyful walk'd as he was wont to do up and down the house though à little Scarr Still continued in one cheek which after three dayes quite vanisht away All these Particulars with many more the lesser I omit were proved upon Oath before the Lords Commissioners who subscribed to the Miracle a Truth not to be doubted of Two great Miracles wrought by Saints Thomas 15. Robert Russel brought before the Lords Comissioners by the Procurator of Hereford was commanded to depose upon Oath what he knew true concerning à Miracle said to be wrought upon his Son Galfrid Robert depossed that three years past upon wednesday in the Passion Week he drove à Cart heavy laden with earth drawn by four Oxen and passed through à Court-yeard where Galfrid his son about à year and an half old lay sleeping upon the ground His wife Letice then present by chance espying the danger Galfrid was in cryed out though too late O Stop Stop or you kill the Child Robert not able to stay his Oxen soon enough the misfortune happened for one cart Wheel passed over Another great Miracle wrought upon à dead Infant the Child 's very head and Temples and downright killed him in so much that he neither groaned or ever made noyse The afflicted Parents fearing some trouble might follow in case the ill Accident were known abroad laid Galfrid on à bed in their house till Evening and often that day sought for Signs of life but found none neither Pulse breath nor Motion With in night they measured the Child as the custome was and piously addressed Themselves by earnest Prayer to S. Thomas Cantilupe still hoping that God who had very lately wrought many great Miracles by the Saint would hear their Petition and restore life to the dead Child And thus they continued in Prayer all night long when Behold at the break of Day they heard à small childish wailing as Infants use in pain or Sickness The Parents drawing neer with their Candles burning all night long saw the Child open his mouth draw breath and move his Eyes The Mother taking him into her Armes gave him her Breast to suck which he did and three dayes after was perfectly well Some wannesse remained about his Eyes bruised by the Cart wheel but that also in à short time ceased This Miracle attested upon Oath was approved by the Lords Commissioners as an undoubted work of God above the force of Nature A fourth Miracule 16. John Alkin brought before the Commissioners to give in Evidence of à Miracle wrought upon one John Holourton having first laid his hand upon the Holy Gospel and taken his Oath that he would depose nothing but Truth then Said He had known Holourton alwaies reputed an honest man ten whole years before the Miracle I shall now relate happened And that during so long à time he was much afflicted with à fearful Wen or red Bunch of flesh hanging down in his neck fully as big as à great goose Egg which not only he had seen and handled frequently but knew also that many more had done so He said more over that the distressed Patient hearing of the great Wonders wrought at S. Thomas his Shrine repaired to Hereford and lodged in the house of one Agnes de Port where he uncovered his Wen and Of à Wen or à great bunch of flesh Miraculously taken away upon Prayer Made to S. Thomas show'd it to many hanging at his neck The next day being munday in Easter week Holourton accompained with Alkin and others went to the Church and there with tears falling down before the Bishops Shrine petitioned the Saint to take away that troublesome Bunch and for that end like the poor Widow in the Gospel offered up à small piece of silver my Manuscript calls it Denarius that is à penny of English coin which Mr Gilbert who had then care of the Monument à sworn Witness also took from him in the Presence of Alkin and other Standers by That done Holourton put his whole head and neck into an open Passage close by the Tombe of S. Thomas and there held it while one might Say three times over Pater noster and Ave Maria thus old de Catholicks spake and so do I. Then in the Presence of all those VVitnesses twice or thrice Proetentans manu groping with his hand for the Bunch to his great joy found it not Next he sought for it in his Gap or Hood worn perhaps to cover that deformity but no appearance of it there neither in his Coat which he put of nor any where else In à word Holourton was perfectly cured and in that very place both he and all the other present very numerous rendred humble Thanks to Almighty God and glorious S. Thomas for à Miracle so palpable that malice it selfe strucken dumb shall never speak probable word against it 17. A world of People had seen this Deformity hanging in the poor Patients neck for many years together and many Ey-witnesses present at the cure in the Cathedral Church of Hereford saw it quite taken away there immediatly after Holourton had made his earnest Prayer to S. Thomas
Will he grant what I cite is true He is evidently convinced and must yeild that the Writings of Pope Calixtus stand firm upon an Authority which passes without exception amongst the best and wisest of Christians I wish the Dr were one of them 13. Now follow the two and twenty Miracles of S. James related by Calixtus in his second Book but I only touch upon five being most remarkable and above the force of nature 14. One is Chapter 3. of à young youth whom the Apostle found dead in à Wood and raised to life 15. A second Chap. 5. of à Pilgrim hanged up by Thieves 36. dayes dead and brought to life again by S. James 16. A third Chap. 20. of à Souldier by name William not in the least hurt though his fellow Souldier fiercely strook at his bare neck and endeavored with à sharp sword to cut off his head 17. A fourth Chap 21. is of one contracted or monstrously lame perfectly cured by S. James at Compostella 18. A fifth Chap. 22. of one and the same man Thirteene times sold and made Captive whom the Apostle so often released and set at Liberty These and the other 17. remaining are still preserved in the Manuscripts of the Vatican Library as we have related Show you Mr Dr. fraud in these particulars or grant them as they deserve to be reckoned of as true matters of Fact 19. Dr Still recount's five or six Miracles Dr Still pag. 474. more Written by Pope Calixtus will you hear how profoundly he refutes them and proves all Fabulous Anno Dom. 1090. certain Germans clad like Pelgrims were going on Pilgrimage to S. James it happened that in the City of Tholouse their Host by forceing upon them Variis potibus saith my relation gratiâ hospitalitatis inebriavit Scyphum argenteum in manticam eorum posuit several drinks made them drunk and in the night time thrust two silver cups into the Portmantues of two of them I read of one silver cup only Next morning the avaricious man following in all hast the Pilgrims now travelling on accused them of Theft They innocent Answered that he with whom the Cup was found should be held the guilty Person In fine upon examination it was found in the Portmantue belonging to à Father and his Son Both were brought before the Judge who mercifully gave Sentence that but one of them should dye and after much complementing between them saith our Dr the Son was executed By the way the complement was that the sorrowful Father offered himselfe to dy in place of his Son which the Judge not approving the Father held on his Pilgrimage and after thirty six dayes returning to the place where his Son Still hanged wept bitterly over him When behold on à sudden the young man Spake and said O Father weep not for me but rather rejoyce for all hitherto is well with me because S. James hath comforted me with Heavenly delights Whereat the Father overjoyed ran forthwith to the City called whole multitudes to behold the Miracle who took his son down from the Gallows and after à Juridical Trial made hanged up the wicked Host in his place This Miracle twice related in the VVritings I have on my Table is taken out of the Vatican Library N. 1198. Hear now in à word how manfully the Dr refutes it VVas saith he our Sauviours raising Lazarus after four dayes to be compared to this VVas ever à more simple Question proposed by à Dr I Answer A Simple question proposed by the Dr. Christ's Miracle was greater upon this Account that he wrought it by his own Power S. James did the wonder here mentioned by Power given from Christ for whom he dyed Ask therefore Sr no more such simple Questions but either prove the fraud or confesse the fact 20. Anno 1100. when VVilliam Count of Poictou reigned under Lewis King of France à great Plague raged in that Country in so much that whole Families dyed if it At which time Heros quidam à certain Gentleman much affrighted with the mortality purposed to make à Pilgrimage to S. James and set his wife with two small Children upon à horse or mule but comming to Pampelona his wife dyed in an Inn where the ungodly Host rob'd the Gentleman of all he had who notwithstanding that double losse of wife and Goods held on his Journey carrying one child in his armes and leading the other by his The Apostles singular favour to à distressed Traveller side Not far from Pampelona à Stranger decently cloathed met him with à strong Asse and bad him make use of the Beast for the help of his Children to Compostella which he accepted of with hearty Thanks Once in the night while he was devoutly at his Prayers in à corner of the Church at Compostella S. James very glorious appeared and asked him Numquid mi frater me nosti Dos't thou know me Brother The devout Pilgrim answered No. I said he am James the Apostle of our Lord who lent the Asse neer Pampelona make use of it in thy return home when thou shalt find that hard hearted Host who robbed thee dead And this he found verifyed VVith much joy the Gentleman went back to his own house and no sooner had he taken down the Children but the Asse disappeared This Miracle written by Pope Calixtus and recorded in the Vatican Manuscripts Dr Still P. 475. relates and all he has against it amount's to à meer nothing Prove the fraud or grant the fact This saith he is an Instance of S. Iames's kindness by land but Calixtus tell us he vvas as kind by Sea First to à Captain that tumbled with his Armour into the bottom of the sea and was brought safe to his ship again by S. James 2. To à Pilgrim that had the like mischance whom S. James held by the hair of his head and kept above water for three dayes till he came to his Port. Thus the Dr. 21. Shall we perfect the Dr's short Story à Quidam nauta little Both these Miracles Pope Calixtus relates The first happened Anno 1191. to à Mariner by name Frison who with his Ship full of Passengers went to visit the Holy Sepulchre at Hierusalem and was set upon by à Sarracen called Avit Mainon that endeavouvred to make him and all the Christians Captives While the Sarracens and Christians were close together hard at Fight Frison the Capitain laden with à Coat of Mail à Helmet and à Buckler by chance slip't between the Vessels into the VVater when in his heart he called upon S. James and implored the Apostles Assistance for himselfe and fellow Christians S. James appearing took him by the hand safely placed him in his own Ship and to the great Terror of the Sarracens conducted the Christians safe to the End of their Voyage The other Miracle concerning the pious Pilgrim that returned from Hierusalem happened Anno 1104. who casually thrown into the deep sea
Sacristy doore and desired another Masse to be said by way of Thanskgiving for the wonderful cure wrought upon her F. Peter Hullin said the Masse whereat she knelt the whole time though as the custome is rose up by her selfe without difficulty at the reading of the Gospel Masse done She left her Crutches in the Church and walked home as sound and strong as ever she had been in her life All these particulars Peronna deposed upon Oath as most true when she was most rigidly examined and obliged by Oath to speak nothing but Truth of the state and continuance of her malady as also of the cure whereunto she subscribed her name Peronna Roault 5. Now if any suspect Fiction or jugling in this Deposition made by the Gentlewoman though methinks it is very unlikely that one who stood in no need of any temporal reliefe should juggle so long or feign an Infirmity for thirteen years together I answer all fear of fraud is taken away upon the manifest proof of these two things 1. That the disease was such in the main particulars as the Patient her selfe deposed 2. That she was restored to perfect See these witnesses named in the first Tome of April already cited health as is now said But no fewer than 16. or 17. sworn Witnesses all named in the Processe or full information of this Miracle gave in Evidence of these main particulars To produce every one in order would be needlesse while hundreds yet living in Calais conscious of the Miracle are ready to Testify it These few therefore shall suffice One à maid Servant deposed she was present when Peronn'as Limbs were so violently rack't out of joynt that she heard à noise much after the like manner as if bones had been broken in her body and swore also she had often handled and seen one of her Legs much shorter than the other the like Attestation other Witnesses gave Fr. John Beaumont appointed to hear the infirm Gentelewoman's Confession at her own house the last Lent before her cure deposed upon Sworn Witnesses of this Miraculous Cure Oath that her voice by reason of the obstruction in her breast often intermitted by continual coughing was so low and inarticulate that though most attentive he had much A doé to understand her Others gave Testimony of her frequent Convulsion fits Others present when the Kings Physicians visited her after à long consultation had upon the disease deposed they heard those knowing Doctors say no Cure could be hoped for So Mons t Valet Judged and the Ordinary Physician then of Calais Mons t Crocque deposed that after many frequent Visits made he had often discovered Peronna so fearfully assaulted with sharp Accesses of her malady and the corrupt humours of her strange distempered Body that he Judged her incurable by humane Art and therefore left all to God's Divine Providence and assistance Now for as much as concern's the Truth of Peronna's speedy recovery perfectly wrought in the Church of the F. F. Minims by the Intercession of the glorious S. Francis de Paula not only the forementioned Witnesses but innumerable other Inhabitants of Calais can and will depose to this day So that if humane Faith be not utterly extinct or of no account among rational men the Relation here briefly set down is upon moral Certainty most indubitable 6. The whole Processe and Information of the Miracle the Original whereof is yet extant in the Convent of the FF Minims at Calais two worthy Priests Robert Feubre Bachelour in Divinity and Curate also in Calais and John Tiffaine Cantor in the great Church there by Commission of the most Reverend Lord Bishop of Bologne presented to his Lordship which done his Lordships Approbation is as followes 7. Having seem and examined the Information given by our command which Mr Robert Feubre Curate The Miracle approved by Episcopal Authority and Dean of Calais offered us concerning the cure of Madamoiselle Peronna Raoult wrought in the Church of The FF Minims this present year 1661. the 9.th of April within the Octave of S. Francis de Paula we willingly acknowledge the Cure to have been truely Miraculous and obtained by the merits of that great Saint And because God requires that his Glory be manifested for favours done above the ordinary course of Nature VVee to stir up Devotion in all faithful People towards the blessed Saints in Heaven and mereover to Convince the Heresy of those who forbid Saints to be invocated have permitted and do permit this Miracle to be made publick and thanks rendred to God and the Saint in what ever Solemne manner shall be Iudged meet and convenient In VVitness hereof we set our hand and Seal Given at Bologne April 29.th in the year 1661. subscribed ✚ FRANCISCUS EPIS BONONIENSIS 8. From Callais we passe into England once à happy Nation no lesse shining with innumerable glorious Saints and Miracles than now God knowes made dimne yea fearfully dark by Sin and Heresy Two monstrous Evils The Sinner want's goodnes and seldom cast's à thought on the Saints in Blisse But Hereticks want Justice and honesty who violently Rob the blessed in Heaven of those Wonders which God Manifestly works by them here on Earth While Heaven and earth abhor's this open Plagiary I call for Justice and due Restitution if any be found so gracelesse as to deprive one English Saint of those very many most certain and clear Miracles which God wrought by him in life and after death I mean our ever renowned S. Thomas Cantelupe Cambden in Britānia pag. 461. London print 1607. that worthy Bishop of Hereford nobly born saith Cambden speaking of Herefordshire who for his Sanctity was Canonized and publickly held so pious à man that he came not short of King Ethelbert Martyr in virtue Nay perhaps excelled him Thus Cambden who it seem's had heard of the Saints glorious Shrine or Monument but saw it not being before his time destroyed by impious hands 9. You have also an exact account of some Entituled the life and Gests of S. Thomas Cantelupe by R. S. printed at Gant 1674. Chap. 20. Surius de S. Tho Here. in à manuscript I have by me great Miracles wrought by the Saint in à late English Book with many excellent Observations made upon his admirable life I esteem the Book and shall hereafter make use of it I likewise much value what Surius recount's of our renowned Bishop's Miracles who made his Collections out of approved Manuscripts yet exstant in Rubrâ valle à Convent of Canon Regulars neer Bruxels where many learned Volumes are preserved and brings to light almost innumerable done after the Saints death He raised to life saith Surius threescore dead and restored sight to 41. blind He cured 21. strucken with Palsies I saw add's this Author in one Volume kept in the forenamed Monastery à Relation of other wonderful Miracles which altogether amount to 425. 10. But Reader the Records I most rely
avail to corroborate the Faith of Believers now The Churches Approbation impaires not in the least the Doctrin of the Church where they are wrought But of this more afterwards You will Say again if Miracles wrought in the Church make her Doctrin credible S. Austin did not well in omitting to plead by Miracles I answered the Saint proceeded most wisely in taking his recourse to Scripture For had he insisted upon Miracles not owned by those Hereticks The whole Contest would have been whether such as Optatus and S. Ambrose attested had been true or no which would have caused an endless Dispute and Therefore he falls upon an undoubted Principle The Testimonies of the Law and Prophets owned by the Donatists and upon that Ground strongly refutes them leaving Miracles to their own weight and Efficacy The Dr having very lamely cited this passage out of S. Augustine vainly Triumph's and thinks that never two more plainly contradicted each other in this Point than S. Austin and E. W. who saith he appeal's to Miracles for à Proof of the Catholick and infallible Church and such as are equal to those of Christ and his Apostles Of this Equality I have treated already and told Mr Dr wherein Church Miracles The Dr's vain brag as raising the dead curing the blind and healing the infirm are equal and how they differ from the like wonders done by Christ and his Apostles As for your Triumph Mr Dr before the least Shadow of Victory all I say is if it comfort your heart hold on Till you have better perused S. Austin and these my short Notes upon his Doctrin That done you will I am sure have little heart to brag the second time 10. The following Quotations our Dr gathers out of S. Austin are either not found at all in the Passages he cites or so wholly impertinent that I verily believe he never read S. Austin or set them down at random to the great vexation of à Reader For who would not be vexed to se an Author magnificently cited in different Characters and when he turn's to the Dr Still page 582. place pointed at find's nothing like it Thus the Dr Quotes S. Augustine to this purpose Viz. That Miracles are no Proof of the true Church for S Aug. trac 14. in Joan. cap. 3. though Pontius and Donatus might do vvonders and see visions yet Christ has forevvarned us not to be deceived by Miracles First there are no such words in this place or any thing like that Sence 2. Were the sence found els where you have thus much only Asserted and it is very true False Miracles are no Proof of the true Church 11. The Dr ' s next Quotation is nothing De verbis Dom. serm 18. to his purpose Briefly S. Augustine in that place compares the Miraculous cures wrought by our Saviour on Souls now with those which he anciently did upon Bodies here on earth and calls these the lesser cures grounding his Discourse upon this Principle As the Soul is more excellent than the Body so à cure wrought in that nobler part of man is greater than Miracles done upon à Body which our Lord did to draw men to Faith Now saith the Saint when Faith is spread all the world over He work 's those greater wonders in Souls And for Spiritual Cures esteemed greater than Corporal that cause shewed those lesser done on Bodies Now he open's not the Eyes of the blind yet open's the blind hearts of men by the Preaching of his Doctrin Novv he raises not dead Bodies yet brings à foul that vvas dead to life again Novv the deaf hear not yet the hearts of many shut to his sacred vvord are so opened that they Believe and live in obedience to his Lavves before neglective of that duty Thus S. Austin whose main Drift is not to deny Miraculous cures wrought upon the infirm for these he evidently own 's above but to give Preheminence to our Saviours own proper Spiritual cures dayly wrought in the Church of God by Divine Grace and the preaching of his word which the Saint deservedly esteem's greater wonders 12. To the End you may see this was the S Aug. l. 22 de Civit. c. 8. only thing S. Augustine aimed at Turn once more to his eight Chapter where you read of the dead raised to life of the blind restored to their sight and of desperate diseases perfectly cured You read moreover of one Martialis à Prime grave man most averse from Christian Religion Martialis cured in soul and body who by the earnest prayers of his Pious Sonin-Law made at S. Stephen's Altar from whence He took some Flowers and in the night time laid at his Fathers head With the successe he wished The very next morning He was found à Paenitent Convertite called for à Priest and was reconciled having ever afterwards S. Stephen's words in his mouth to his last breath Lord JESUS receive my soul Thus you see that both corporal and spiritual cures were wrought in those Dayes 13. The last Testimony our Dr Quotes out Quaest ex novo Testam c. 63. of S. Augustine may passe for one of the most famous or infamous rather That ever man cited You have the place pointed at in the margent where the Saint is supposed to Assert and he speaks fully to this Purpose saith the Dr that Signs and Miracles vvere vvrought by the Apostles to bring men from Insidelity to Faith c. No harme hitherto then followes this Addition for the Dr's purpose Amongst Believers Signs and Miracles are not necessary but a firm hope If this Author speak of an absolute Necessity it might be answered All latter Miracles are not so necessary though God of his great mercy hath pleased to show them for other Reasons and à main one is to distinguish the true Church from all Heretical Conventicles Yet I have not said all Know Reader 1 These Questions out of the old and nevv Testament full of grosse Errours are not S. Augustin's but the work of some Heretick as Bellarmin observes Perhaps of one Hilary à Roman Bellar. de Script Eccl. verbo Aug. Bell. verbo Ambrosins Deacon who wrote many Books and propagated the Luciferian Schism See Bellarmin cited Hence it is that these Questions in the Lovain Edition of S. Austin printed in à different Character are there also taxed of many grosse Errours the like you may se in Frobens The Dr's quotation not found at all Edition Yet here is not all Worse followes And t' is my greatest Exception against the Dr. Reader I have perused that 63. Chapter as the Dr Entitles it others call it the 63. Question which is very short and do assure you there is not so much as one word or syllable like that which the Dr imposes upon this Author Is this fair Dealing think ye 14. From these Testimonies of S. Augustin Dr Still page 584. saith our Dr laid together we observe