most pure and chast as she was before and euer shall be Shee shall haue another spouse in heauen which shal be God himself to wit The Holy Ghost the third person of the holy Trinity He shall be her spouse and by him shee shall conceiue without losse or dammage vnto her virginity and hauing conceiued shall bring forth into the world our Sauior and Redeemer After we haue thus reioiced with Ioachim and Anna for that thy haue such a daughter borne vnto them we may also reioice with their other kinsfolke for that they haue gotten nowe such a kinswoman Let vs reioice also with the sinners for that nowe this day is borne their aduocate Let vs reioice with the Angels since that on this day is borne their Queene let vs reioice with God since on this day is borne his mother daughter and spouse And at the last let vs reioice with the virgin her selfe since God hath elected her to such gretnes and dignity And the occasion of this being for that we be sinners for if sinne had not bin God had not bin made man and if he had not bin made man shee had not bin his mother Therfore without doute shee being aduaunced to this gretnes by our occasion will remember vs and obteine for vs of the same God who is her sonne pardon and mercy for our sinnes transgressions and also his heauenly grace that we may be partakers of his glory The life of S. Adrian Martir THE worthy king Dauid speaking with God in one Psalme said Ps 118 I haue inclined my hart to do iust and good workes for retribution sake that is hauing regard vnto the reward which ariseth in doing them It is not euill to exercise and do good and holy workes in hauing regard vnto that which is gained therby in doing them The reason hereof is that the guerdon or reward which is expected is God himselfe In such sort that he who for that respect doth good workes doth them for the loue of God In the number of those may the glorious martir S. Adrian be accounted who by hearing of the greate guerdon the martirs expected did voluntarilie offer himselfe vnto martirdome His life was written by Ado. B. of Triers and it was in this manner THE Emperour Maximian commaunded that the Christians that were in the citie of Nicomedia a city of Bithinia should be diligently sought out Many were apprehended and after that the Emperour had admonished and willed them to adore the Idoll and sawe them constant and firme in the profession of the faith of IESVS CHRIST he bad them all to be chained vnto wodden postes and to be beaten with the rawe sinewes of beastes and when he heard them in they re tormentes to praise the name of IESVS CHRIST he caused their tounges to be cut out and theire mouthes to be beaten with greate stones The number of these martirs was 23. Adrian was present there as an officer to attend and see that the commaundement of the Emperour should be executed He was an Idolater and a man of good account with Maximian And when he sawe howe patiently the holy martirs tollerated those terrible tormentes wondering therat he said vnto them I coniure you by the God which you adore and for whom you suffer these torments to tell me truly what guerdon or reward you expect for I suppose it to be very greate The holy martirs though they had no tonges by the permission of God answered him thus The reward we expect is such so greate that eyes neuer sawe it nor eares haue hard it nor the hart of man cānot conceiue it for it is an vnspeakable good which God hath prepared for his frends Adrian hearing this desired not to heare any more but being inspired by God and shewing himselfe desirous to be partaker of so greate good entred into the midst of the martirs and said to the Register before whom the matter was handled write also my name with these soulders of CHRIST for I will be a Christian also as they be The Emperour was certified hereof and when the name of Adrian was read vnto him among the other Christians which were prisoners he caused him to be called said vnto him O Adrian what art thou become foolish that thou seekest to lose thy life wretchedly Adrian aunswered I haue been but nowe I am not a foole for that I am a Christian and no more an Idolater as I haue bene before time The'mperour being desirous to make him alter his purpose discoursed and conferred long with him but seeing his words did not preuaile in rage and fury he caused him to be chained and fettered and put in prison Adrian was about 28. yeares old had to wife a woman called Natalia who was a Christian When shee heard what had befallen vnto her husband shee went with greate ioy vnto the prison and fell at his feet and kissing his fetters wherewith he was gyued said vnto him Blessed art thou ô Adrian my husband and my Lord nowe thou hast found the riches which thy father left not vnto thee Passe securely vnto IESVS CHRIST in whom thou hast reposed thy treasure which thou shalt find herafter in the time of necessity when no man shall be able to deliuer from punishment the wretch which shal be condemned The father shall not be able to deliuer the sonne nor the mother the daughter nor the transitorie riches of the world nor the ambition to haue many seruants and a great patrimony the freind shall not be of ability to help the freind only the deedes which a man hath done shall do a man good and pleasure Thou my Lord hast IESVS CHRIST in thy company in whom thou hast deposed and laid vp thy treasures walk in the way thou hast begon be not wery therof to the end thou maiest enioy the promises Take heede let not the remembrance of earthly and momentary things moue thee to turne backward from thy way begon nether let thy kinsfolks nor the wailings of thy father and mother nor the flattery of thy freinds nor the menaces of thy enemies moue thee Let not the torments of the tirant put thee in feare but fixe thy eyes vpon the constancie patience of these holie martirs which be with thee Imitate them in life and thou shalt be rewarded with them in death The blessed woman hauing said these words went vnto the holy martirs one by one and kissed their gyues and fetters saieng I beseech you ô seruants of IESVS CHRIST to animate and encourage my husband gaine you his soule Be vnto him a father that by your meanes he may be regenerated vnto euerlasting life Adrian said vnto his wife Goe home from hence my deare and chast sister for when the time shall come that we shal be examined and iudged I will bring thee notice therof that thou maiest be present and see the end of this work Certein daies after S. Adrian vnderstood that they resolued to
countrey to conquer it why dost thou giue such forces to our aduersaries This shal be an occasion that others shall take courage and it shal be a hard thing to subiect them God answered Iosua that this happened through the fault of the people them selues hauing broken his precept in reseruing some things in the destruction of the city Therefore seeke out the culpable and offender and let him be chastised and my iust indignation shall cease Assone as Iosua had by enquiry found him out he caused him to be punished and the people did after that preuaile against their enemies By this you may see that when Catholiques are ouercome and vanquished it happeneth bicause God is offended with them for their sinnes we ought there fore haue this regard euer when warre is made against infidells if we intend and desire to haue victory that wee be in good estate and accord with God by confessing our sinnes doing penance and receiuing the B. Sacrament of the Aultar and without doubt then a fewe Christians wil be able to resist many Infidels As it befell to Pope Leo. 4. in the yeare of our Lord. 854. who being certified that there was disembarqued or landed at Ostia a great nomber of Infidels and that no captein durst affront them The glorious Pope assembled people and said he himselfe would be generall of the Army And that he might set on and encounter with his enemies more securely he enioyned all the souldiers to confesse their sinnes and to receiue the B. sacrament he also comaunded eache one in the one hand to cary their weapons for the warre and in the other hand the Rosary to say their praiers in the way Arriuing after this manner in the sight of the enemy notwithstanding the huge number of the Infidels and the small host of the Christians he discomfited them and droue them out of Italy to the great honoure of the valiant Bishop and good and benefitt of all Christendome All this may be fitly applied vnto that which befell in the time of themperour Heraclius for that the sinnes of the Cristians were many and heinous Phocas ruling the Gretian empire who was a vitious man and so he died for Heraclius depriued him of thempire of his life also God permitted a tirant called Cosdroes king of Persia as a greuous scourge to rise against them He being not content to haue taken by force of armes the holly city of Ierusalem and to haue sacked it caried away the holy crosse on the which IESVS CHRIST died which had bin there from the time of Helena the mother of Constantine who found it into Persia and put it in the temple of one of his Idols and againe he inuaded the lands of the Christians with a new army were he vsed horrible cruelties With fury he passed into Egipt wonne the city of Alexandria in which place he stayed certein daies for that he vnder stood Heraclianus father to themperour Heraclius came against him with a huge host but by the secrete iudgment of God Heraclianus died of sicknes and his army was vtterly defeated The proud Cosdroes proceeded and in fewe daies made him self lord of all the dominons themperour had in Africa he sacchegged Thunis and hauing vsed horrible massacres of Christians he returned into his kingdome of Persia The Emperour Heraclius all this wile remained in Constantinople spendnig the time in iollity and pleasures hauing taken to wife a beautifull lady called Martina who was his cosin but when he sawe things go a way to his greate reproch and discredit and fearing greater losse might ensue in th' empire first he tried to obteine a peace by lowly and humble embassages and vpon conditions no lesse reprochfull then disauantageous for his estate but the arrogant infidell proud of his victories would giue no eare to his peticions but sent a messenger to say that he would make no accord with him except he would deny the faith of IESVS CHRIST and become an Idolater as he him self was This proud answer and blasphemy did so exasperate the Christian Emperour that he became another man was altered from a negligent and careles person to a couragious and enkindled with a godly zeale And being desirous to take on him the defence of Gods honour he behaued himself as a valiant prince a Catholique and good Christian First he assembled his forces very diligently that he might come to try it with that proud pagan by dint of word and also amassed greate store of men engines and other prouisions for the warre and commaunded that in all the empire processions and praiers should be made to beseech God to take the defence of his church and to punish the proud blasphemy of the presumptuous tirant against his heauenly maiesty Heraclius departed from Constantinople toward this pious and holy interprise carying alwais in his right hand the Image of IESVS CHRIST our Lord and of his glorious mother as his Captein and the report was the the same Image was brought from heauen and passing from thence the sea with a goodly company he entred into Asia to affront the proud enemy who when he vnderstood that themperour with a mighty army came to seeke him was aduised to haue regard of his person so he retired to a strong and secure place and left his army guided by valorous generals to defend the countreis he had conquered and his owne also There happened in this warre which lasted litle lesse then sixe yeares many greate and notable feats of armes The summe of all was that they fought in three set battailes The first was in the passage of the mount Taurus and the ryuer Saron and in this Heraclius discomfited and put to flight Saluarus one of the chiefest capteines of Cosdroes The second pitcht field was in the next yeare with Satinus who was another valiant captaine the encounter was very terrible for the Persians fought stoutly to recouer the honour they had lost in the former battaile so that Heraclius was in great daunger The Christians were resolued to leaue the field and to fly when it pleased God to heare the praier of his champion Heraclius for vnlooked for there fell from heauen a greate shower of raine with a storme which driuen with a strong wind carried the raine into the face of the pagans and depriued them of their sight in such sort that they not being able to fight began to fly which the Imperials seeing tooke hart beholding God apparantly to fight on their side and thus they obteined the second victory which was more greate then the first Lastly in the yere following Heraclius returned into the field to encounter with Razatanes the most valiant captain Cosdroes had and therin themperour behaued himselfe so valiantly that he vtterly defeated and daunted the pride of the arrogant and cruell king Cosdroes who was enforced by these ouerthrows to retire himself vnto the most strong and secure places of his kingdome of Persia This his
of Cyprian Bishop and martir of IESVS CHRIST shall endure whilest the world lasteth for that he wrote so many eloquent and learned works yet requisite it is that beside this he should be registred for his famous and renoumed deeds and for his most holy life for the good of them that shall liue herafter And because many haue a care to describe the martirdomes that holy men haue suffered for CHRISTES sake making therby their name immortall it is very iust that the martirdome of S. Cyprian be also written that his eternall memorie may be conserued since he excelled in his life euen from the time of his conuersion lastly in his martirdome Wee need not to make any relation of his life before his conuersion because it was of no regard or estimation in the sight of God Cyprian was altogether giuen vnto worldly matters he studied humain letters in the which he came to be very learned He was a good retoritian and redd that science publikely in Carthage which was his natiue countrey but after he was conuerted vnto God and of an Idollater was made a beleeuer and of a painim a christian he gaue himself vnto the study of diuinity and thervnto he adioyned good works which be very acceptable vnto God He especially resolued to obserue chastity he sold his patrimony and distributed the mony arising therof vnto the poore and by this he obteined two things First he auoided therby worldly ambition vnto which worldly riches do drawe men that be welthy and secondly he was made perfect in vertue assoone as he had knowledg therof and knew what it was For our Lord IESVS CHRIST gaue this counsell vnto a yong man that in all his life had kept the commaundements of God and told him that if he would be perfect he must sell all that he had and giue the price vnto the poore S. Ciprian beginning to be good desired also to be perfectly good for as I haue said he sold all that he had and gaue the mony vnto the poore This was in him considerable and also stupendious because he that soweth gathereth not the fruit forthwith He that planteth a vineyard doth not forthwith gather grapes he that planteth a melon or a peare doth not by and by gather a peare or a melon This wonder was remarkable in Cyprian for he had not scarce thrown the seed out of his hand but he began to reap the corne the vineyard was vnneth planted and yet he gathered grapes of it So assone as the tree of the word of God and of faith was planted in his soule so soone were seen in him the fruits of holy and vertuous works And though that the Apostle aduiseth vs 1 Tim. 3. that the Neophite should not be made a Bishop to wit one that is newely conuerted from any sect what soeuer vnto true Christianity saying it is not fit to bestowe on him so soone a dignity of such account as it is to be a Bishop lest there should be any nouelty introduced by him into the Church of God which might smell or sauour of Paganisme yet this rule was not obserued in the election of Ciprian for that which is wrought in other men by time that did his great liuely faith operate in him presently and therefore he was made priest incontinent This function he exercised in all sanctity neither did the memory of the forsaking of his goods and to see him self poore any whit dismay or hinder him The flattering and guilefull words of his wife which he had when he was a heathen did not hinder him nor the preferments and reputation he had in the world no not his kinsfolks nor friends were any impediment or obstacle vnto him His vertue continued firme with him being in this state because it was well founded In such sort Iob. 2. that no temptation preuailed against him any whit yea rather like another Iob he blessed and praised God in the depth of his tribulations Being priest he dwelt apart from others in a house which was alway open for and to the needy Litle he could do because he was poore but for the litle that he could there neuer came widow orphan wounded or discomforted person that departed from him without help succour or good aduise He was a gret frend of a priest called Cecilius who was the man that with his liuely reasons and holy admonitions had wonne him from infidelity and had Baptised him and this is the cause why he called himselfe Cecilius Ciprianus allwaies esteeming this priest as his father Vnto this Cecilius S. Ciprian gaue and vsed meanes wherwith to sustein and maintain his wife which he had before his conuersion as also his children which he had by her that is to say one halfe of his patrimony for the rest he had bestowed vpon the poore Cecilius took this charge vpon him to the end Ciprian might better attend vnto the seruice of God and pious deeds for the which he grew so renoumed famous that shortly after he had bin made priest he was chosen Bishop by all the people of Carthage which dignity he refused as much as might be alleaging that in Carthage were many priests more auncient well lettred and of good life also which deserued the dignity much more then he who had bene an Idollater But the more he refused it the more earnest the People were in their opinion and said that Ciprian and none other should be Bishop and prelate of that city S. Ciprian seeing their resolution withdrew himself vnto his house and caused the gates to be fast locked All the People ranne thither in plumpes and enuironed the house in that maner that he repented that he had shut himself therin and then he wished he might get downe away from them as S. Paul did but it was impossible for all the waies were forelaid with multitudes of people There were some who seeing how vnwilling Ciprian was to accept the dignity grudged at them which in a manner forced him to accept it reciting some of his imperfections and saying also that it was not fit that one who was so lately an Idollater should be elected a Bishop so soone But S. Ciprian being Bishop vsed those persons that depraued him with gret loue and kindnes to the wonder of all men that knew it When he had accepted the charge and office of a Bishop he shewed that in such and like occasions the voice of the people is the voice of God No humaine toung can expresse with what sanctity and prudence he exercised himself in that office He was compassionate toward the brethren and the humble but toward the vaine glorious and hauty he was rigorous and austere He alwaies looked with a cheerefull countenaunce but yet with grauity in such maner that one could not know whether he was more to be loued or feared although he deserued both the one and the other His apparell was not very costly nor yet altogether course and
denied it with a valiant courage for which cause he put her into a more lothsome prison and after a fewe daies brought her to a publike hearing and then seeing her to be constant and resolute he commaunded her to be tortured The torments were such that they would haue bereaued the stoutest and lustiest man of his life and much more such a tender damosell as Euphemia was At the first they did beat her with wands of Iron then they put her on the torture called Eculeus which disiointed all her tender limmes Then an engin was made with a wheele full of kniues which being turned round about came to strike alwais in that same place where the holy saint was to be tied The wheele was in order and Euphemia was tied but bicause the torment was so dreadfull the holy saint made her oraisons vnto God and behold there descended from heauen an Angell who broke it to shiuers The maker of that engine died in that place with many other persons wherupon the kinsfolke and frends of the slaine men kindled a great fire to haue burned the holy virgin therin as though shee had bene the cause of their deaths but by the grace fauour of God she was freed from those fiery flames with out receauing any harme at all Lastly the proconsull commaunded shee should be giuen as a pray vnto the cruelty of sauage beasts She being already wearied of enduring so great torments besought God that this might be the last and so it was for there were let out vpon her two fierce Lyons which killed her but they did not eate her flesh at all and in this maner was finished the glorious conflict of S. Euphemia Of SS Lucy and Geminian Martirs SAINCT Lucy was a Romain matrone who had bin maried and her husband deceasing of infirmity shee continued widow from the age of 36 years vntill the age of 85. years Shee was a Christian and spent her time in pious vertuous actioÌ„s had a sonne called Eutropius who was fully as wicked as his mother was good And bicause his mother reproued him for his misdeeds shee grewe odious vnto him and he vsed a most enormous villany that so he might liue as he listed and liked and this it was At that time the persecution which Dioclesian and Maximian vsed against the Christians was terrible and executed with all rigoure the accursed sonne went to one of them accused his mother Lucy to be a Christian Themperour forth with commanded her to be apprehended so shee was And when Lucy continewed firme and constant in her faith he coÌ„maunded shee should be put into a great Cauldron full of pitch and molted lead but the holy saint was taken out this torment not doing her any harme Then the tirant commaunded that shee should be put to open shame and reproch causing her to be led gyued and fettered thorough the city which was not only a reproch vnto the holy saint but also a greeuous paine with the gret weight she carried and it was augmented in that she was so aged and moreouer the officers forced her to make hast to giue vnto her the more annoy S. Lucy being in this maÌ„ner euill entreated came nere vnto the house of a noble citisen called Geminian who kept certein Idolls in a priuate roome all which did fall vnto the ground when S. Lucy passed by This was the cause that Geminian with others that imitated him were conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST Geminian ranne vnto the place where S. Lucy was and kneeling on his knees before her said that he desired to be a Christian and requested her to pray vnto God for him that since God had giuen him that good desire that he would also giue him ability to performe and to accomplishe it The officers hearing this laid hold on him and led him vnto Dioclesian who commaunded that both Lucy and he should be beheaded and so they were The martirdome of these three saints Eufemia Lucy and Geminian was on the same day that the Church maketh coÌ„memoration of them to wit on the. 16. day of September about the year of our Lord 290. Zon in vita Copronimi the aforenamed Dioclesian and Maximian being Emperours Metaphrastes Zonaras an Euagrius make mention of S. Eufemia The life of S. Ianuarius and others AMONG other the great miracles which are read in holy writ wrought by our Lord God in his seruants in mine opinion that in the 3. cap. 〈◊〉 â—he prophet Daniell is the most principall and the cheefest The proud king Nabuchodonosor desirous to be accounted a God on the earth caused to be made that huge and most prodigious statua representing his person He iointly sent forth a publick proclamation that all and euery one of his subiects none exempted should adore it on their knees at the sound of sondry Instruments the three yong Hebrue gentlemen called Ananias Azarias and Misael otherwise Sidrac Misac and Abdenago being requested so to doe denied it they remained faithfull vnto God to whom principally and only apperteineth diuine worship not respecting the great fauours they had receued of the king not regarding his large promisses and offers of great welth not caring for his threats nor esteeming the losse of their owne lifes The king who more rightly might be called a tirant in a rage and fury caused a great ouen to be beat seuen times more then it vsed to be and those blessed yong men clothed as they were to be cast into the same but they by the merite of their faith and relligion toward God were not touched nor hurt by the fyer in their garments or bodies but walking securely in the midst of the fornace as if it had bene a hall or faire street did sing praises and lauded God merily ioyfully And that which more increased the wonder there discended an Angell downe from heauen who cast the burning flame violently out of the ouen which burned and consumed the Chaldeans and officers of the king that were nere vnto the mouth of the fornace It pleased our Lord to do the like thing in commendation and for the merit of the true faith and holines of S. Ianuarius the Bishop He for that he refused to worship the Idolls and to wrong the maiesty of God regarded not the threats of torments nor was moued by the flattering promise of temporall goods was after many torments endured by the commaundement of a president vnder Dioclesian that cruell tirant and other his diuellish ministers cast into a burning fornace made as hote as it could be and yet the blessed man remained without any hurt at all and he together with the Angels song praises and rendered thanks vnto our Lord and the wicked officers were all consumed and brent miraculously with the flame of the fire which came out of the fornace The life and death of this holy Bishop and his fellowe martirs as it is gathered out of the catalogue of saints the Romain
this he was driuen and banished out of the citty After this S. Telcla was taken and hauing beene examined and her intention found that she desired to be a Christian and determined to conserue her virginity she was condemned to be consumed with fire The fire was kindled and a huge multitude of people were assembled to behold that most beautifull yong damosell that would willingly go to dy such a cruell death The blessed damosell was set in the midst of the fire which did not any hurt at all vnto her persons And on the sodaine fell from heauen such a storme with thunderclapps with such aboundance of raine that it put out the fire and afrighted all them that were present in such sort that euery one departed and the holy virgin was left at liberty whereby she might go free And so she went to the house of Onesiphorus where she found S. Paul with some other Christians who had continually for sixe daies made their praiers for her and they were all exceeding glad of her comming The Apostle did Baptise her and instructed her fully in the faith but because they were assured that the Proconsull would send againe for her the Apostle departed from that house and citty also recomending much the virgin Tecla vnto all the Christians that were in that place Though all dilligence that might be was vsed to keep her secret yet within a fewe dayes Alexander a lewd person apprehended her and brought her before the Proconsull who seing her to preseuer constantly in that she would not marry her spouse but continue a Christian gaue sentence that she should be deuoured of wilde beastes in the citty of Antioch whether the Proconsull was to go An especiall daye was apointed for this spectacle and in the meane space S. Tecla was deliuered vnto the custody of a matrone called Triphona When the apointed daie was come S. Tecla was brought into the Theater and a fierce Lionesse was let out against her which drawing neere vnto the holy saint lay downe quietly at her feete without doing her any harme S. Ambrose wondring much at that which the wild beasted did to the holy virgin said these wordes The firstly onesse which was let out against the blessed virgin was mild lay downe at her feete and hurt her not and also gaue example vnto the other lyons Beares and fierce Bulles who hauing bin let loose against her stood round about her peaceably and licked her feete The people were seuere cruel and the sauage and wild beastes were tame and pittifull though they were kept hungry and almost famished that they might haue their fill and make their praie vpon the holy damosell And though they were prouoked and pricked forward by their keepers that they might deuoure the holy saint yet could they not make them to hurt or harme her in the least degree The Iudge seing that the wild beastes spared her she being taken out of the Theater cōmaunded she should be cast into a ditch wherein were many dreadfull and venimous serpents when S. Tecla was put into that deep ditch there discended from heauen a fierie cloud that slewe all the serpents and by this meanes S. Tecla remained free from this third torment euen as God had deliuered her from the other two to wit from the fire and the wild beastes The people seing such great maruailes and especially the matrone Triphona who had her in keeping and in that time had conceiued great good affection vnto her she beginning and the cōmon people following her cried out iointly together That the God of Tecla was most potent and most worthy to be adored that had deliuered her from such and so great dangers The Iudge fearing some cōmotion of the people set S. Tecla free and Triphona led her vnto her house adopted her to be her daughter The holy virgin Tecla departed from that citty and went to make her abode in Seleucia In which place many by her meanes receaued the faith of CHRIST Spanish addeth being 90 yeeres old and there she ended her daies blessedly There is extant a history of S. Tecla in the which be many fabulous and vncertaine things As that she clothed her self in mans apparell and would haue gone so in the compaine of S. Paul and that he would not permitt it but willed her to go in her ordinary and vsuall attire of a woman moreouer it saith that a great Lord in the citty of Antioche would haue giuen vnto S. Paul a great summe of mony if he would haue giuen that yong damosell vnto him to be his paramour and that S. Paul would not do it These and other such like things are read in the abouenamed legend but Pope Gelasius commanded that those stories should not be credited and put them among the writings apocriphall and of none auctority but that which I haue written of this saint is auowed by graue authors and is authorised and of credit the Church also giueth credit thereto who in the praiers which are said in the commendations of soules saith these words O Lord deliuer this soule euen as thou didst deliuer S. Tecla from three most cruell torments The Catholik Church maketh commemoration of S. Tecla on the day of her death which was on the. 23. day of September in the year of our Lord 90. as Canisius saith in the time of Themperour Domitian It is said that the body of this holy saint is in Spaine in the city of Tarragona in the prouince of Catalonia spanish addeth In the Cathedrall church of that citty dedicated to her name The life of SS Cyprian and Iustinia Martirs SAINT Paul to confound the wise men of this world writing to the Corinthians saith God hath chosen the foolishnes of this world This was especially said vnto the Apostles who being people vnlettred and by consequens were holden as folish in that intending them selues to teach a new doctrine would preach vnto people learned and full of knowledg and yet their preaching was the cause that many were conuerted vnto God and receued glaldy the Ghospell This same is verefied by S. Iustina a damosell vnlettered in humain Wisdome yet God made chose her for an instrument to cōuert a Pagan who was very lerned not only in Philosophy but also in magike and sorcery and had dealing and practise with the diuell and though he was such a one yet was he conuerted vnto the faith of IESVS CHRISTE by the meanes of S. Iustina was martired with her The life history of theise two holy saints was written by S. Gregory Nazianzen though he was deceiued in that he thought he had bin Bishop of Carthage well he venerable Bede and other Authors wrote of these holy saints in this maner EVEN as it is no reproch vnto S. Paul to say of him that he had bene a persecutor of the Church of God nor any infamy vnto S. Matthew to say of him that he had bene a customer or vsurer before that either
which was written by Nicetas a philosopher and recounted by Simeon Metaphrastes and their martir dome was written by Ado Archbishop of Triers SAINT Cosmus and S. Damianus were brethren and phisitions and were borne in Egea a city of Arabya in Asia Their father and mother were Christians and Catholiques Their father died when they were yet litly children wherfore their mother Theodora brought them vp with great care and dilligence And being a woman of good behauior and chiefly because shee was a good Christian shee would not permit them to comit any fault or offence but endeuored to enstruct and direct them in vertue and godlines So that they became good children like to their good mother and good schollers like vnto their good mistris Amongst the other good qualities of these two breathren the profession of the Catholique faith shined most in them for which cause they despised and contemned Idolatry and other wicked superstition They were chast and honest in life and fled from all sensuall delight and tamed their flesh with austere sackcloth disciplines and fastings which be the most certein remedies to ouercome that enemy euen as they ouercame it by the grace of God Also couetousnes that abhominable vice neuer entred into their hart but rather bicause they made small account of mony and liued in poore and meane estate they were called Anargeni which is to say Men without monie and in this sort obseruing the Ghospell they liued an Angelicall life And to auoid Idlenes which is the mother of vices and stepmother vnto vertue they vsed the science of phisicke euen from theire childhood became skilfull and expert phisitions They gaue and ministred phisicke vnto the sick without any expectation of temporall gaine but only for the loue of God When the infirmity was perillous and not to be cured by art they resorted vnto God by praier and making the signe of the Crosse they healed and cured them and heerein they followed the steps of the Apostles They imitated the Patriarcks in being benigne piâ—tifull charitable in liuing a life in simplicity without doublenes or hypocrisy They imitated the Prophets in that they were zelous of Gods honor in reproouing them that were stubborn and obstinate in euill deeds They imitated the martirs in the valiancy of their minds shewed against the common enemies of mankind the world the flesh and the deuill They imitated the preists in their religious life chastity and grauity offering their body and soule for an acceptable sacrifice vnto God to serue him withall humility and obediencence to obserue and keepe his holy commaundements They imitated the monks in obedience concinency and pouerty in silence and repose of soule And at one word they imitated all the saints as much as lay in their power Thus they ranne their race making the world to wonder at their sincerity so that the report of them was spred very farre The rumor of them being dispersed came to the eares of Dioclesian and Maximian those noted persecutors of the Christians who had decreed that all the Iudges gouernours lieutenants and other officers of the prouinces subiect to them should put to death all that denied to sacrifice vnto the Idols Lisias the gouernor in the city of Egeas hauing notice of the blessed phisitions Cosmus and Damianus caused them to be brought before him and demaunded of what countrey they were and their names They answered that they were Arabians and borne in the city of Egea and that their names were Cosmus and Damian and that they were both Christians The gouernour persuaded them to sacrifice vnto the Idols but seeing them coÌ„stantly to refuse it he commaunded them to be tied hand and foot and to be cruelly beaten and after he had giuen them other torments he caused them to be throwne into the maine sea bound as they were They were no sooner cast into the water but an Angell came to their aide who vntyeng all their hands brought them aliue and vntied vnto the shore The gouernor was certified of that wonder wherfore he caused them ageine to be brought before him and requested them to teach him their Art magicke and inchauntments wherby they were deliuered from the sea and then he promised to be their good friend They answered We be Christians and haue no skill in Art magike but were deliuered our of the sea by the power of our Lord IESVS CHRIST The gouernor caused them againe to be put in prison and the next day a great fire to be kindled then he threw the blessed martirs into the same but the flame was deuided into two parts and the holy saints remained in the midst at their praiers The gouernor was astonied to see such a wonder yet he did not repent of his wickednes but caused them to be hoised aloft and to be beaten againe with wands and stones and beholding the holy saints cheerefull in countenaunce and to contemne the torments he caused them to be lifted vpon two Crosses and there to be stoned to death The officers threw the stones and though they cast them with all their might yet came none of the stones so farre as the holy martirs but fell vpon them that stood by to see the spectacle and wounded many of them but especially them tha threw them The gouernour seeing this an beleeuing assuredly that it was done by inchauntment enraged with fury and indignation commaunded them to be shot to death with Arrowes and the same happened to the Arrowes as did before vnto the stones for they did light on them that shot them and none touched the bodies of the martires At last he commaunded they should be both beheaded and in this sort the holy martirs finished their lifes and obteined the crowne of Martirdome Their bodies were buried by some vertuous people with out the walles of the city Egea It is said that ioyntly with these holy martirs SS Cosmus and Damian three other holy martirs were beheaded whose names were Antimus Leontinus and Euprepius and were their brethren as some Authors write There is a booke of the miracles that God showed by the merits of SS Cosmus and Damian wherof this is one A clowne sleeping in the field a serpent crept into his mouth and so further into his body wherby the poore man was in great danger of death He with great deuotion craued the help of the holy martirs and they were seene visibly by his side and commaunded the serpent to come out of his body and so it did These holy saints also gaue him phisike which cured him and then they vanished away the second Nicen Councell in the third action maketh mention of the booke of the myracles of SS Cosmus and Damian The Church celebrateth their martirdome on the 27 day of September which was in the yeare of our Lord 301 and in the time of Dioclesian and Maximian The bodies of these holy saints be in Rome in a Church dedicated to their name The venetians say not
rehearse this story of my temptations yea I lament that I am not nowe as I was them I do remember that I haue sometime spent the night in praier calling on my LORD IESVS CHRIST neither did I cease to knock my breast vntill that my hart was at rest from those vnquiet thoughts IESVS CHRIST is my witnes that after all these trobles I felt great consolation and content teares as sweet as hony with such enkindled and louely desires of heauen that me thought I was transported beyond my self and that I was aboue the Quiers of Angells If the flesh make such warre against thē that afflict and torment it what will it do to him that liueth in pleasure delights It may be he shall not haue such terrible temptations But in that case I thinke there is no greater temptation then not to be tempted This same holy Doctour writing to Pammachius saith I exalt virginity but not for that I do enioy it but for that I highly esteeme them that do obserue it Out of these words of S. Ierome some take occasion to say that in his youth he liued lasciuiously but in this they are deceued for holy men vse this maner of speech to shew their humility and yet they did not ly as S. Paule saith of himself 1 Cor 15. eph Cassiā epist 22. that he was the least of the Apostles and the greatest sinner it semed to him it was so as he said hauing consideration vnto his humble mind S. Basile also saith of himself I neuer knewe any woman carnally yet do I not therefore account any self a virgin So speaketh S. Ierome with lowelines and humility reputing himself a sinner Yet as it appeareth by an epistle vnto Eustochium he neuer did actually commit and dishonesty and these be his words we do not only praise and commend virginity but do also preserue and keep the same Spa at the least after his Baptisme as sait Marianus Victorius After that S. Ierome had bene foure years in the afore-named desert in vit eius he thought he might nowe yea that he ought to go out preache vnto the people yet for all he did not vtterly renounce and forsake the desert but retired into the company of relligious men to liue among them It was not fitt such a light should be hid any longer but should be knowen for the relligious men with whom he conuersed and enioied his blessed company perceued the great treasure that God had safly kept vnder that course clothing in the brest of Ierome repleat with science and doctrine He had before that time written some works and published them These books were well liked of the readers who bare good affection also to the Author for the same and by this meanes S. Ierome came to be knowen in many places There liued at that time Epiphanius B of Salamina in Cipres and Paulinus B of Antioche These two prelats were at controuersy and to be agreed they were to go to Rome vnto the Pope Ep 16. in ep i. taph mar celle v. ep 27 in epitap paule In this their iourney they took S. Ierome with them in their company for the good opinion they had of him This was the occasion of his third comming to Rome At that time Damasus was Pope who knowing the worthines and sufficiency of Ierome aswell for his vertue and behauiour as for his wisedome and learning would needs reteine him stil in his company And because he was alredy made priest in Antioche by Bishop Paulinus Ep 65. ad pam D Aug ad fratr in Ere ser 24. the pope gaue vnto him the title of a church in Rome called Laurence which is the same as it is nowe to be a Cardinall though they did not then vse the apparell and the red hatte which pope Innocent 4. about the year of our Lord 1250. gaue vnto them So that to paint S. Ierome in the habite of a Cardinall hath this foundation that indeed he was a Cardinall in that he was a priest and Curate of a parish in Rome The glorious S. Ierome exercized this charge carefully and diligently and laboured to roote out publique offendors out of his parish and reprooued them sharply though they were of the Cleargy which caused him to be persecuted and hated for it is an ordinary matter for the wicked to abhorre and detest the good and the vertuous euen as the dogge doth hate the staffe that beateth him So those that in their lifes were like beasts and in their deeds were disordered and vnruly people hated S. Ierome for he was the staff and the scourge that whipped them Whervpon they awaited to espy out some occasiō to slaunder him and to driue him out of Rome as they did indeed at last Their meanes was this S. Ierome vsed when he preached thē to forsake vices to loue vertues to despise the world and to make none account of the pompe and vaine glory therof Alitle before this time were fled vnto Rome from the fury of the Arryans some Catholique priests of Egipt as S. Athanasius and others who told how in those countreis S. Antony other holy hermits had made monasteries aswell of men as women who serued God by liuing in obedience pouerty and chastity Some Romaine Ladies hearing this had a desire to do the same and because the priests who should haue animated them therin were gon back vnto their owne country for that thy heard the persecution was ceased they were hindered from building the monastery as they desired to haue done and finding S. Ierome to fauor their intent as a thing agreable to that which he preached and taught and also proffer to defend them from all that did depraue or backbite the act for they feared him much as also to speak in their behalf to pope Damasus who loued him dearely they builded vp the monastery they desired The ladies that began this laudable work were Sophronia Marcella Melania Paula and Eustochium and many others followed imitated them S. Ierome instructed them all in the way of perfection he willed them to read spirituall books to pray often to be humble charitable and chast but especially to frequent often the sacraments of Confession and of the Eucharist These and such like were the persuasions S. Ierome vsed to these deuout womē because he desired their encrease in holy life And though this caused in Rome some murmuring as being a thing vnusuall yet then seeing how these relligious women profitted in vertue and how some that were before gadders abroad delighting in gay and rich appareill in nouelties and vanities and idle talking were now quite changed from these thinge and seemed to be the blessed handmaids of God the murmure ceased yea S. Ierome was extolled and highly commended as the diuiser of this holy work When he passed by the streets the people kissed his garments and said openly that when Damasus died he should be his successor This was the
speache of euery one in generall yet some priuate persons wished him euill and sought to wreak their malice on him because he did publikely reprooue theire faults At last they took this occasion to slaunder him The religious women being many it was expedieÌ„r that they should be in diuers places and we may think that Sophronia Marcella Melania and Paula had them home to their houses and that in those places they vsed their holy exercizes S. Ierome visited them oftentimes and came vnto the houses where they remained for at that time they had no grates nor any such inclosures as the Nonnes of our time haue which is done with great discretion and wisedome let heretiks bark therat as much as they will for thereby are auoided and preuented many inconuenientes Well S. Ierome visited all these relligious women but he went more to the house of Paula then to any other place for there as it was apparaunt afterward was most vertue and good life to be found The enemies of S. Ierome at these often visitations took occasion to slaunder and murmure at him and said it was not well done as they thought for though Paula was old Ierome was not old being then but. 40. years of age and moreouer there was Eustochium the daughter of Paula and other yong women in the house They ment that by the other relligious women which were in the house of Paula and by her maides and waiting women for Paula and the religious women that remained with her were of the richest and chiefest Ladies in Rome These enemies of S. Ierome weare so voide of shame that they hired a man who as it is thought belonged to Paula who said much euill of S. Ierome and charged him and Paula with dishonesty These aduerâ—aries of S. Ierome led this naughty fellowe vp and down the towne to defame the holy saint and told it to euery one in maner of a scoffe and of a Ieast It may be it came to the eares of Pope Damasus but were it so or other wise the man was taken and tortured to confesse the truth and at last he confessed that all was vntrue and false which he had said of S. Ierome The holy saint seing the dealing of this man and perceiuing how his enemies had contriued to put him to vtter shame and reproch and also remembring the quiet repose he had in the desert and what fauors and graces he had receued there of our Lord and the time he had there to study and to write All these things vnited caused him to make a resolution to forsake Rome and to return into Siria as he saith himself writing to a Lady called Asella in this sort I know not nor cannot imagine noble lady what thanks I am to yield vnto you for the great affection you beare vnto me for our lordes sake God is able to render vnto thy soule the reward it deserueth although I am as some think a hatefull creature and very vitious yet doest thou well to account me for good though to thee be spoken much euill of me because thou notest who saith it and of whom they speak They that speak euill of me as is euident and apparant be deceitfull crafty and cauelling wicked people In three years I liued with them many relligious women followed me vnto whoÌ„ and vnto others with them I expounded the sacred scriptute I preached and taught them how they should serue God and do vnto him acceptable seruice let them say if they can if in all this time they sawe any thing in me not fit for a good christian They say I am a man and that I ought not to coÌ„uerse with women which indeed I would not haue done if I had not kowen the vertue and sanctity of the holy persons with whoÌ„ I coÌ„uersed If before time they gaue credit to the fellow that defamed me why do they not also beleeue him now since he hath denyed all that which he spake before to my reproach There was but one man that at the first condemned me and the same man saith nowe that I am innocent But ô the frailty of mans nature howe soone will they beleeue that which they desire be it neuer so false Before I knew the house of Paula all the city commended me and euery one said I was worthy to be Pope and also wished it they called me a holy man and compared me vnto s. Damasus I aske this question if euer they saw me go into the house of anie dishonest woman was I euer delighted to looke after women with sweet perfumed gloues or decked with gold or pearle There was neuer a lady in Rome that could get me to visite her or to come vnto her house but shee only who with lamenting and fasting had made her face wanne and pale her eyes litle better then blind shee that was so coÌ„tinually in praier that many times at the sunne setting and at the sunne rising in the morning she was still at her prayer Her ballers were hymness her words were the holy Ghospel her delights were chastity and her life a perpetuall fasting None could please me but she that I neuer sawe eating Assone as I began to honor her for her deserued vertues I straite was abandoned of vertue in the eyes of the enuyous O enuy that first doest bite and tear thy selfe O the malice of Lucifer who ceaseth not to persecute vertue and sanctity I haue written vnto thee these few words in hast being nowe entred into the shippe but not without teares grief at my hart yet do I render thanks vnto my God for graunting me this fauor that I am abhorred of the world Make thy prayers vnto our lord for me that when I am gone out of Babylon he would guide me in peace vnto Ierusalem lest that Nabucodonozor enthrall me Some call me inchaunter and so was our Sauior called but the seruant cannot be greater then his maister Others say that I am a deceiuer the same was said vnto S. Paule the Apostle My soule feeleth great coÌ„solation in this that we are to enter into heauen by good report and by infamy These and other things S. Ierome wrote in that epistle by which may be knowen the occasions of this departure from Rome to wit because his aduersaries ceased not to slaunder him Being departed thence he passed into Siria visited Epiphanius B of Cypres Paulinus B. of Antioche his two great freÌ„ds who had brought him to Rome left him there they departing assone as pope Damasus had accorded their variaunce S. Ierome visited also those relligious men with whoÌ„ he had bin before time desired to stay with them but importunated by his frends he went to Bethlehem where he built a monastery To defray the charges of it he sent autority into his couÌ„try as he himself writeth vnto Pammachius to haue all his patrimonie sold ep 26. and with the money made therof he caused the Abbey to be builded
Such being his life and deeds not only men and they which embraced his Rule imitated him but also women as S. Clara a maide of a worshipfull family in Assisium who went to the conuent of S. Francis accompanied with the people of her fathers house although shee had not said any thing to them of her intention and the glorious father S. Francis receaued her and gaue vnto her a Rule wherby to liue in a monastery And within few daies many other well disposed damosells came to her who all liued vnder the Rule that S. Francis gaue her which is called the order of S. Clara. So that this blessed father hauing also founded another order there were three Rules ordeined by him all which were confirmed by the popes The first was of the friers minors whose end is to exercise themselues in contemplations and in the actiue life by the exercise of preaching The second Rule was of Nonnes of the order of S. Clara who be of two sorts some haue reuenews and lands and liue in common Some other haue no reuenews and these are called of the first Rule and liue of almose The third is of the Penitents which are called of the third Rule and these also be of two sorts some haue reuenews and liue in colledges and in common and these be properly called relligious persons and the vowe they make is solemne be they men or women The women of this Rule do differ from the Nonnes of S. Clara in this that they were no veiles and be not bound but only to the obseruance of the three essentiall vowes vnder paine of mortall sinne as Pope Leo 10. declared The other of this third Rule liue in their owne house and haue reuenews and their vowe is not sollemne and these by consequence are not properly relligious persons but persons of honest behauiour and are called vsually in Italy Pizzoâ—cheri The seraphicall father S. Francis was not satissied with sending some of his relligious men into sondy countreis to preach the Gospell to coÌ„uert soules vnto God but he himself in person trauelled into diuers kingdomes and realmes as into a great part of France and then into Spaine and especially to the church of S. Iames in Galizia Then he imbarked and passed into Egipt and preached in Siria and in the countreis of the Souldan with whom the holy man talked and persuaded him to receaue the faith of CHRIST and ha gaue him leaue to preach vnto his moores but for that he gathered no fruit in that country he returned into Italy and went to Rome where Honorius 3. was pope after Innocent 3. in the year of our Lord 1216. There he found the glorious father S. Dominick who came too haue his Rule and order confirmed Whilest S. Dominick treated therof he had one night a reuelation in the which IESVS CHRIST displeased for the many sinnes of the world seemed to be redy to ruinate destroy it Then sawe he our blessed lady to kneele before him and intreate him to spare it And to moue him to mercy shee presented vnto him the same S. Dominick and S. Francis saieng to him by the meanes of those two his seruants there should be great reformation of life in the world At this our Lord was appeased In the said vision S. Dominick sawe S. Francis and when thy mett in Rome he knew him and embraced him very kindly and tenderly and conferred with him of the seruice of God and the profit of their religious orders and told him also of the vision he had seene This B. father being in Rome was presented to the pope Honorius 3. and talked with him of many things And the pope with the consent of the cardinalls confirmed his Rule and they all receaued sperituall ioy in hearing his diuine discourses For though his speech was lowely and familiar yet did it leaue such an impression in their minds that it made them euen melt and relent and though it made them lament their sinnes yet were they not therefore weary of his company but desired it the more His profound humility made euery one â—o wonder for though his life was so holy yet reputed he himself to be the vilest sinner in the world And if any said to him say not so for it is not true he would aunswer in this maner If God had shewed such fauors and mercies vnto any man as he hath to me how wicked and lewd so euer he had bin he would haue rendered greater thanks and haue kept his commaundements better then I haue done And if my sweet Lord should abandon and leaue me I should commit more euills then all the men in the world do good and therefore I am a greater and more vnthankfull sinner them they The holy saint bare a most reuerent respect to all priests and vsed to say that if he mett a priest and a saint of heauen he would giue the greater reuerence to the priest and that he would first kisse the hands of the priest and then he would do reuerence to the saint for wee are to giue most reuerence to him at whose hands we receiue the blessed body of our Lord. A great volume might be written of the particuler accidents that befell to him aswell with his relligious as with other seculer men he shewed in them his vertue and the great fauors and mercies God bestowed on his blessed soule and they be briefly written in the chronicle made of him for say or write neuer so much of him yet much more shall remaine to be said or writen I will speak only of the speciall mistery that God wrought in him when he imprinted his blessed wounds in his body a thing most certein For not only many relligious men who conuersed with him and among others S Clara who sawe them with her eies and touched them with her hands giue testimony of the truth therof but also Gregory 9. who canonised him affirmeth that he himself sawe them It fell out in this maÌ„ner The holy Patriarch being retired and with drawen into a solitarie place to fast his Lent of S. Michaell in the mouÌ„teines of Aluerne two yeares before his death one morning very earely about the feast of the Exaltation of the holy Crosse in SepteÌ„ber he sawe the likenese of a sixe winged seraphin burning with fire and casting beames glittering exceedingly which descended with great swiftnes and drewe nere to the place where S. Francis was betwene the said wings appeered the figure of a man crucified The vpper most wings he held aboue his head the two in the middle with which he flâ—we were spread abroade in the manner of a Crosse and the two other were gathered vp together couering all the body from the head to the foot The holy saint maruelling at the presence of this glorious vision felt in his hart an excessiue ioy mixt with liuely coÌ„passion caused by the signe of his deerely beloued CHRIST IESVS crucified He streight wayes fell into an
barbarous natured man to the end that he should draw them to offerre vp sacrifice or put them to most grieuous torments Besides that in this he also had another respecte to haue Sergius the more auiled and disgraced by hauing appointed for his judge Antiochus aman that in former times was one of his followers and had bin preferred to the dignitie of Gouernor of Prefect of the East by the meanes of Sergius The holie Saincts were brought before him and he committed them first to prison where they spent they re time in prayer and deuotion beseeching oure Lord to graunt them strength and affoord them succoure in they re battaile Afterwards Antiochus fending for them vsed all meanes to winne they re willes to offer vp sacrifice to his Idolls But they answearing that his Idolls were diuells and no Gods he commaunded foure lustie and merciless fellowes to whip and scourge Bacchus with the toughest and hardest finewes of Oxen. This torment was so terrible and the lashes so cruell tearing his fleshe and wounding him so deepely that heerewith the martyr ended his lyfe and yielded vp his spiritt to God He afterward appeered vnto Sergius shining with glorie ad heauenly brightnesse he declared vnto him the endless reward which he had receaued for those short torments and encouraged him to vndergoe what paine soeuer was prepared for him to the end that as in they re punishment they might be partners in they re victorie and triumph Antiochus earnestlie to make Sergius more plyant and reduce him to his opinion but seing all he could doe was in vaine led by his fierce and cruell nature and desirous to satisfie the Emperoure he commaunded a paire of shoes all bestudded and thick sett with points of sharp nailes to be putt on his feete so to runne before his chariott and after this manner he did driue him nine miles to the excessiue paine of the holie martyr our of whose feet ranne streames of bloud But the night next ensuing an Angell did come and cherish him and so healed his feet as yf he had suffered nothing at all The iudge attributed to Magicke this fauoure of God and being therewith more enhardened did commaund him to endure againe the same torment Then seeing nothinge would auaile nor worke the martyr to his will he commaunded that his head should be stroken of Sergius kneeled downe vpon his knees and made his prayer to allmightie God beseeching him to accept the loss of his lyfe as a sacrifice to pardon those that did persecute him and graunt them knowledge of his light and his trueth He heard a voyce which inuited him to the kingdome of heauē did congratulate his victorie wherefore stretching forth his necke he was streightwaie beheaded the 7 of october in the yeare of oure Lord 306. God did honoure Sergius from Heauen with miracles and on earth he was honoured with great gyfts of Princes For Cosroes king of Persia though a pagan and Infidell did send to his temple a most riche Cross of gold with other precious gyftes in token of preat fauours receaued at his hands as childen by his wyfe queene Sira and safetie in manie great daungers and perilles Iustinian the emperour built two fayre churches in his name one at Constantinople the other at Ptolemaida At Rome a churche with the title of a Deacon Cardinall is dedicated vnto them And the verie citie wherein S. Sergius was put to death was called by his name Sergiopolis Of these two Saincts there is mention made in the second Nicene councell actione 5. in the Roman martyrologe and manie famous authors The life of SS Marcellus and Apuleius martyrs ON this self same dai the 7. of Octob. the Churche doth make a commemoration of Marcellus Apuleius martyrs They had bin disciples of Simon Magus but seeing by his disputations with S. Peeter that he was nothing but a false deceaver they forsooke and left him astonied at the wondrous works miracles of the glorious Apostle receaued his doctrine were made Christiās followed him all the dai of his life After his death thei liued according to his heauenlie doctrine vntill they came to be so happie as to shed they re bloud for that Faith and religion which they had learned of so good a maister They were putt to death and martyred by the commaundement of a Consull called Aurelian in the raigne of Domitian and in the yeare of our lord 93. the 7. of October and were buried without Rome neere the walles of the cittie The life of S. Dionise Areopagite and others SALOMON in the booke of wisdome saith that God disposeth all things sweetlie ordaining most conuenient meanes to obtaine such ends as he intendeth This was the reason why in his birth he vsed a starre to guide the three Eastern Kinges to adore him For they being Magi that is men skillfull in Astrologie by seing a starre of so new a fashion so different in place in course and motion from all other starres would be the more easilie wonne and allured to seeke the author and cause of that starre as they did effectuallie finding and adoringe IESVS CHRIST To conuert S. Dionise the Areopagite a great Philosopher and Astrologer God vsed the like propertionable meanes and it was that rare and singular Ecclips which at the time of oure sauioures death happened beyond the course of nature For Dionise marking the strangeness there of and maruailing at such a neuer seene wonder noted the yeare the day and houre and after vnderstanding by S. Paule the true cause and misterie of that Ecclipse he was conuerted to embrace that religion which was established by his death who was principall author and only motiue of that wonder which surpassed nature The life of this Sainct with Rusticus and Elutherius his fellow martirs collected out of Michaël Singelus priest of Hierusalem out of Suidas and Simeon Metaphrastes is as followeth THE cittie of Athens was famous in all Greece for that it was the chief place of learning the wellspring of knowledge and mother of Wisemen Dionise the Areopagite was borne therein of a riche and honourable familie and of parents morallie iust and courteous louelie to strangers and liberall in his youth he gaue himselfe to learning wherein he became so eminent that aswell for his knowledge as for his Nobilitie he had the chiefe place amonghst the Magistrates which gouerned the cittie He was most eloquent in the Attick tongue a most skillfull Rhetorician a rare man in the doctrine of Stoicks Epicureans and other Philosophers But aboue all he was accounted a iust man and vertuous in exercising his office not fauouring the riche nor oppressing the poore not cōdemning the innocent nor leauing the culpable without due chastizement He went into Egypt to studie the better vnderstand the course of the heauē the force influence of the starres and all that knowledge of Astrologie Being about the age of fiue and twentie and residing in the cittie
is to be noted that S. Leo the Pope in his 8. sermon which he made of the feast of the tenth month speaking of the foure times of Ember saith It was a comaundement deriued from the Holy Ghost Gemb SuÌ„ma Comit. The Councell of Magunce held about the yeare of our Lord 813. in the 34. chapter speaking likewise of the foure Ember daies saith it was the institution of the Romaine Church and nameth not Callistus But the one and the other of these authorities is not against that which is here written for if S. Leo say that this fast was deriued from the holy Ghost we may say it is true and yet the introducing thereof into the Church was by the meanes of this good Pope Callistus And where the Councell saith it was instituted by the Romaine Church the meaning is that some Pope brought it in vse which of necessity must be a holy man and of a very auncient time The life of S. Luke the Euangelist THE Apostle S. Paule writing to the Romaines Rom. 1. saith of himself I am debter to the wise and to the foolish to the prudent and to the ignorant to the leâ—ned and to the vnlerned Into this debt fall all the preachers and masters that teach and preach IESVS CHRIST They be bound to satisfy the wise and the ignorant giuing to euery one of them meate agreable to their necessity that they may profit all by applieng themselfs to euery one in the matters they treat of in the busines they haue in hand S. Luke the Euangelist discharged very well this duety for he instructed the wise and the ignorant giuing to euery one books out of which to learn their dueâ—y The vse of Images in the Church is approoued by the Church as holy and profitable Among other the vtilities therof this is one that Images are the books of the ignorant and vnlettered for in them they see that painted which other men read in books So S. Luke writing the Ghospell did satisfy the learned wise and being a conning painter he painted some Images wherwith he satisfied the simple and the vnlettered By these two meanes he that before was a phisition and cured corporall infirmities did afterward cure and heale the maladies of the mind of many who were saued being turned to Christianity and the seruice of God by his meanes The life of this holy Euangelist was written by some graue Authors among others Simeon Metaphrastes whom I principally followe THe city of Antioch hath alwaies bene renoumed among the faithfull for that they took the name of Christians in that place whereas before they which professed the Ghospell and faith of IESVS CHRIST were called disciples In this city was S. Luke borne of noble parents Form his childhood he was inclined vnto vertue he loued chastity right wel for he obserued it all his life He was such an enemy vnto Idlenes that euen in his childhood because he would not be idle he gaue himself to study the Greek toung Then he passed to the study of philosophy and phisick and when he found himself dulled with study he vsed for his recreation to paint And though any of these studies require a mans whole atteÌ„tion yet had wit that he proued a good philsopher an excellent physition and a famous painter The report of the miracles of CHRIST coÌ„ming to Antioch S. Luke thought that if the fame was true he deserued that people should go and see him from the vt most parts of the earth but he especially being a phisition hearing it reported that IESVS healed the sick so easily peraduenture had a greater desire to see him then others and in case it was done by art and might be learned to be tought by him He went to Ierusalem and heard some of his sermons which made such impression in his mind that although he was very rich in posessions and worldly goods and that he sawe them that followid him forsook all and that other wise they were not admitted into his schoole desiring yet to be his disciple and to keep in his company he left and abandoned all his worldly goods and posessions as easily as one would haue shaken the dust from his feet when they are to be washed So he came into his B. company and IESVs receaued him to be his disciple and so he remained and was partaker of many misteries which our Lord wrought in the world He was sent to preach when the other disciples were sent by two and two into sondry costs He was in Ierusalem at such time as our B. sauior died And for that he had heard him say that he would rise againe the third day he staied till then on which day he according to the opinion of some Authors being accompanied with another disciple called Cleophas determined to iourney from Ierusalem vnto the castell of Emaus being 60. furlongs from thence Brocard in descrip tenae sancth Cap. 7.5 5. Which they did to secure themselfs of the inminent daunger and also to be informed by passengers of some euents They went in this iourney discontent talking together of the things which had befallen in Ierusalem and whilest they talked IESVS appeared to them in the shape of a traueller and kept them company In their communication and conference he reproued them for their litle faith and instructed theÌ„ in many things and reduced to their memory many sayengs of the prophets which showed that CHRIST must suffer and dy and then rise againe finally being come neere the castell he made as though he would go further but at their request he staied still with them And being set at the table they knew by breaking of bread that he was IESVS who was risen againe They returned speedily to Ierusalem to bring this good newes vnto the Apostles and there and in their company they sawe him ageine S. Luke was present likewise when our Lord ascended into heauen and at the comming of the holy Ghost After this he stayed in Ierusalem certein yeares with S. Iohn the Euangelist in the company of the mother of God vntill S. Paule was conuerted and came to Ierusalem S. Luke grew into great friendship is thought because they were both learned though they studied different faculties as likewise the cause of the frendship of S. Barnabas with the same S. Paule was because both of them had studied together in Ierusalem and had bene schollers vnto Gamaliel S. Luke being then in the company of S. Paule went with him in his long peregrinations and was partaker of his trauells Of S. Luke S. Paule maketh mention in his epistles to Tymothee Tym. 4. sayeng Luke only is with me and to the Colossians he saith Coloss 4.2 Cor. 9. Luke my dearly beloued saluteth you And to the Corinthians he saith I send to you Titus and a brother meaning S. Luke whose praise is in the Ghospell in the Churches not that only but he is deputed as a companion of
gotten with child and the author of that wickednes was not knowen She being vpon the time of her deliuery her father and mother vrged her to tell the man that had dishonored her that they might inflict vpon him some punishment agreable to his desert Shee to free her self from further reproache for that he was of so base a coÌ„dition and estate that she was ashamed to say who it was laid the blame vpon a deacon of the Apostles saing that he committed that villany The deacon was forth with taken and led before the king The Apostles vnderstanding therof and knowing he was innocent went to the court and requested the king that the parties and the child that was new borne might be brought before him and so it was done The Apostle asked when the child was borne and they said that the same day then they looked on the child and said vnto him we commaund thee in the name of IESVS CHRIST to tell vs if this deacon hath committed the offence that thy mother chargeth him withall The infant aunswered This deacon is good and chast and neuer in his life committed any carnall sinne and he is not my father His ennemies vrged the Apostles instantly to ask of the child who it was that had committed the offence they aunswered It is lawfull for vs to cleare the innocent but it is not fit for vs to disclose them that are faulty And at this the wholle company remained astonied and amazed The faith being well planted in that place they departed from Babilon went preaching through many prouinces of that kingdome and at last they came to a very rich city called Suamir in which place Zaroes and Arphaxat the two magitians told the ministers of the Idolls that the Apostles were in the city Wherfore many of them assembled and took the Apostles and imprisoned them and led Simon to the temple of the Sonne and Thadeus to the temple of the Moone for to adore them but at the praiers of the Apostles the Idolls and their statues fell in pieces and to dust and out of them went two deuills in the shape of Negroes with horrible roaring and houling The painims were moued therat with such indignatioÌ„ that in a rage and with infernall fury they ranne vpon the Apostles and cut them in pieces At that time the heauens and skie was cleare and calme and one a sodein it was couered with black clouds which powred downe a dredfull tempest and withall fell many thunderbolts which beat downe to the ground the temples of the Idolls nere vnto them and slew many of the Painims among whom were the two Magitians whose bodies were afterwards found beaten to ashes The king of Babilon who was a Christian was much grieued for the death of the Apostles and sent men to fetch their bodies vnto Babilon where he caused a Church to be builded vnto them in which place they remained for a while They were after ward caried to Rome and laid in the Church of S. Peter The martirdome of these holy saints was on the 28. day of October and on the same day the Church celebrateth their feast The Apostle Iude Thaddeus wrote one epistle which is numbered in the canonicall scripture God graunt we may be all written in the book of life Amen The martirdome of these two holy saints was in the yeare of our Lord 64. in the time of Nero the Emperour after the opinion of Onuphrius and Canisius * ⎠* The end of the month of October NOVEMBER The feast of all Saincts THe sacred scripture in the booke of Hester recounteth Cap. 1 that king Assuetus to shew the greatnes and majesty of his Empire in the third yeare of his raigne made a most solemne feast to the Lordes and Princes of his court and to all other the subjects of his kingdomes This feast lasted manie daies the tables were allwaies couered and richly furnished with most costlie meat and delicious wines and euerie other thing was in great aboundance No man was forbidden but euery man might eare when and of what it best pleased him Yet that in which the greatnes and maiestie of the king was showed was as said the text that there was great store of wine and that most excellent and such was giuen to euery one as pleased him best When the king made this feast Queene Vasti his wife made also another vnto her Ladies and the damosells of the court in which likewise her magnificence and bountie wasshewed being serued also at her tables with sundrie different dishes of most delicate viandes This feast is a figure and representation of that which passeth in the triumphant and millitant Church The great king Assuerus representeth our Lord God who to shew the glory and maiestie of his Empire in the third yeere of his kingdome made a most solemne feast unto the Princes and Lords of his court and all other of his kingdomes These three yeeres signifie the three estates and ages of the world to witt of the law of nature of the law written and of the law of grace That king Assuerus made this feast in the third yeare signifieth that in the third age and state of the world to witt in the time of the law of grace our Lord God opened heauen for before in the time of the law of nature and law written heauen was shut vp from men and they could not enter thereinto but in the time of the law of grace God opened his royall pallace and inuited all the great Lords of his court to participate and enioy the rich treasors he had therein as the Apostles Martyrs Confessors and Virgins do who sit continually at his celestiall tables and eate that which is most to their content For the viands or meaâ—es being variable to witt the delights and contents in heauen being sundrie euery one taketh and reacheth that which sauoureth best to him But aboue all the wine for that it is most excellent maketh the feast better and sheweth the greatnes thereof This wine signifieth the taste and suauity of the Holie Ghost which is bestowed among them in great aboundance the blessed being as it were inebriated of God are made partakers thereof and haue no mind ner thought of any thing that may bring discontent or anney but all things causeth vnto them vnspeakable ioye and delight This is the feast which the king made It is said also that the Queene made a feast to the Ladies and damosells of the court By the Queene is vnderstood the Catholique Church who maketh a feast vnto her women and damosells that is the soules trauayling in her affaires It is not altogether from the purpose if it be said that they that be in the millitant Church be called woemen and they that be in the triumphant be called men because as man is the more perfect creature then woman so there is found more perfection in them that be in heauen then in them that be on the
to celebrate the feast of the dedication of Churches as namely in Rome is celebrated the dedication of the Church of S. Saluator The historie thereof taken out of the life of S. Siluester the pope was this EVEN from the time of the Apostles there was alwaies amongst the Christians some especiall places dedicated vnto God which of some were called Oratories and by others Churches Thither came the Christians and met together especiallie vpon the Sundaies to heare the word of God to be present at the diuine seruice to pray to heare masse and to receiue the body of our Lord IESVS CHRIST in that most holie Sacrament But after that the Emperour Constantine was Baptised by S. Siluester and was healed by the meanes of his Baptisme not only in his soule of his sinnes but also in his body of his leprosie he as a person thanckfull to the deuine maiestie of whom he confessed to haue receiued this grace and benefitt made a lawe and published a decree through all the lands subiect to the Empire of Rome that euerie one might build Churches where it best pleased him And that by his example he might encourage others thereunto in the yeare of our Lord 325. he caused a Church to be builded in the honor of IESVS CHRIST Sauiour of the world in his owne palace of Lateranum adorning it with many rich Iewells and vessells of Gold and Siluer but aboue all he beautifyed it with an Image representing our Blessed Sauiour himself very liuelie and this place was deuoutlie visited by the faithfull beleeuers S. Siluester the pope consecrated that Church which was the first that had bene publiklie consecrated among the Christians for the celebration of the diuine offices In that place the same Bishop set the Altar vpon which S. Peter celebrated the holie masse and it was of wood like vnto an emptie chest The Apostle vsed this manner of Altar euen as the other popes his successors did compelled by the necessitie of the time For the persecution being very sharp the afflicted Christians flying from one place vnto another carried with them this portable Altar to celebrate thereon sometimes in the caues vnder the ground sometimes in the Churchyards where the bodies of martyrs were buryed and sometimes in the priuate houses of Catholiques The mind of S. Siluester was that this Altar should remaine for a memorie in the first Church of the Christians and comaunded that none but the Bishops of Rome should celebrate vpon it And that all other priests should celebrate not vpon an Altare of wood but vpon an Altare of consecrated stone And to the end the memory hereof should continew and be perpetuall he ordained that euerie yeare the dedication of this Church should be celebrated And this is the feast which is sollemnised on the 9. day of Nouember It is a thing very necessarie and conuenient that among Christians there should be some places dedicated vnto God as Churches and Oratories bee to the end they might resort thither to pray demaund help of God in their needes and troubles For if in citties and other townes be diuers shoppes for perticuler thinges and if in the house be seuerall roomes for sundrie offices it is also necessarie that among the multitude of Christians there should be some places where they may treat and speak with God And these being dedicated to such a worthie work it is also conuenient that they should be consecrated and also that all due respect and reuerence be giuen vnto them All this our Lord would giue vs to vnderstand by the example of the Temple of Salomon the workmanship whereof was of exceeding great Maiestie as may be seene in two things especially which the holie scripture reciteth to witt That in the Temple there was not a thing but it was of Gold or ingraued or set in Gold The other was that the fabrick or workmanship being so magnificent and stately yet in all the time of the building thereof there was not heard the noise of hammer or any other toole therein Some expound these words thus saing that this was a kind of speech commonly vsed when they would shew what speed a thing hath beene done withall as when it is said such a thing was done before it was seene or heard So although the work of the Temple lasted many yeares yet in respect of the hugenes and magnificence thereof it may be said that therein was not seene nor heard the stroke of an hammer Others say that euery thing was brought thither ready wrought from other parts and that they did nothing but lay and couch things in their due place And so this Temple was a figure of the B. Martirs who are hewed and squared in the Quarries of this world suffring heere diuers troubles and afflictions but then in heauen they suffer no more strokes nor feele more troubles but haue their reward for that which they haue borne and supported in the world In these things then is shewed the statelines and magnificene of this Temple In the which although it was the Temple of God yet was there only in it the Ark of the Testament and that not alwaies neither for at the time of the captiuitie of Babilon the Prophet Ieremy hid it in a hill and then they put into it another made like it and yet for all that it was greatly honoured not only by men but euen by God himself Then by greater reason ought we to reuerence and honour our Churches in the which resideth IESVS CHRIST true God and true man and that really in the B. sacrament of the Altare There are not sacrificed Bulles and weathers but the vnbloodie sacrifice of IESVS CHRIST vpon the Altar of the Crosse is there represented where he is offred in a liuely sacrifice to his eternall father for the saluation of mankind and the same doth the Priest daily in his name in the holie sacrifice of the Masse In our Churches be also the sacraments by which are healed and cured sundrie infirmities Some be weak to encounter and fight against the Diuell the world and the flesh and to make such men able and strong the sacrament of Confirmation is giuen vnto them To others for the same puâ—pose and to make them rich in vertue there is giuen the sacrament of the holie Eucharist And to the end others should be continent the sacrament of Matrimonie is giuen vnto them For others that be wounded hurt and ready to die of sundrie infirmities and they whose soules are already and whollie dead in mortall sinne are prouided the sacraments of penance and extreame vnction So that the Church is as an Apothecaries shop stored with spirituall medicines for all the infirmities and maladies of the soule and body also Besides these in the Catholike Church be the treasoâ—s of God For therein are pardoned sinnes in it are giuen the giftes of the holy Ghost in it the praiers of the faithfull are more meritorious and be sooner addressed and
sent vnto he Iudgment seat of the great God For in it in very deed is the ladder of â—acob Gen. 28. whereby the Angells go vp and come downe They go vp with the praiers and petitions of the faithfull and present them vnto God and then come downe with their dispatch for the good and profitt of the faithfull beleeuers In the Church is preached the Gospell the obseruation of the commaundments of God is taught vertue is comended and vices be reprooued So that in it some are stroke with feare some haue compunction these weepe others reioice some are comforted and others are inflamed with the loue of God In the Church the faithfull soule talketh with God there he is praied vnto and in that place he is honored In the Church the Angells are present because there is the heauenly court yea the very same God is there really and personally and hath promised to be there vntill the end of the world In all these things you may see how much our Churches be more worthy then the Temple of Salomon So then if that Temple be so much magnifyed by men and God also it is conuenient and most iust seing that our Churches be in so high manner honored with the presence of God himself that they be also honored and reuerenced by vs and that therein nothing may be said or done vnseemely or vnfitting of so worthie a place Let presumptuous people and the prophaners of Churches feare the like seuere punishment as God gaue to that wretched king Antiochus who prophaned the Temple of Ierusalem 2. Macha 9. God striking him with a most terrible and horrible infirmitie This wretched caitife knew that this euill happened vnto him for prophaning the Temple of God in Ierusalem and therefore he bewayled his sinne exceedinglie He prayed vnto God and craued pardon of him but the text vttereth there a terrible and dreadfull sentence viz. The wretch prayed vnto God of whom he could not obtaine mercy The sorrow of this man was like the sorrow and repentance of Esau Cain and Iudas Heb 12. Gen 3. Math 27. P. Orosius that is to say defectiue and vnprofitable and therefore he was condempned as they were also We read in auncient histories that Pompey the Great was victorious in all his enterprises and affaires before he did prophane the Temple of Ierusalem but after that time he was vnfortunate in all his businesses and finally he was vanquished in battaile by Iulius Caesar and escaping by flight repaired for aide to the king of Egipt as to his friend but in steed of help he found his death the king cutting of his head and sending it vnto Caesar the conquerour as a present For prophaners of Churches and holie places these two examples are sufficient and for those that vse small or no reuerence to Churches this one is inough That our Lord and Sauiour himself chastised them with rigour which caryed not due respect vnto the Temple of Salomon For he himself in person when as man he conuersed with men did driue the people our of the same Temple with whippes and scourges because they vsed to and in the same smalle or no reuerence Let them who prophane our Churches being of farre more excellency then that was imagine yea assure themselues that they shal be chastised with much more rigour Surelie we ought to beare great respect and reuerence to our Churches and to behaue our selues in them as Dauid counselleth in a psalme where he saith In the Temple of God let euery one speak of his glorie All that which is to be spoken of in the Church ought to be to the glorie of God and if it be to his glorie it will redound and arise to our profitt since in that place he will make vs partakers of his mercyes which shal be the beginning of our Beatitude God grant vs all to find in his Church mercy for his deare sonnes sake our Blessed Sauiour Amen The life of S. Theodore Martyr IT is written in the book of Iudges how Sampson that renowned souldier of God at his death pulled downe a temple of the Gentiles whereby manie of them were killed and the temple falling to the ground was vtterly destroyed Herein Sampson did worthy seruice vnto Almightie God who had determined by this meanes to chastice that treacherous and vnbeleeuing nation The verie like befell vnto another valiant souldier of CHRIST called Theodore who set fire to a temple of the Gentiles for which cause he was afterward martyred And in the one and the other of the these things there was done vnto our Lord God great and good seruice The life of this glorious martyr is taken out of an homilie or sermoÌ„ made by S. Gregorie Nissen which he preached on the daie of his martyrdome in the same Church where he was buried He reherseth it in this wise THE cause good Christian people why you be here assembled from diuers partes with trauaile and toile of your persons by reason of the sharpnes of the winter is onlie to celebrate the feast of the glorious martyr S. Theodore This is a thing iust and reasonable since we be all obliged vnto him for the great and many benefitts which we haue receaued by his intercession One of these is well knowne vnto all namely how the Barbarous Scithians this last yeere threatening to kill vs and hauing drawne their swordes to bathe them in our blood returned back vnto their countries in manner of flight not for feare of our corporall armes but being terrified with the Crosse of CHRIST with which this glorious saint our patrone chased the away I desire you all to be attentiue and I will reherse in what manner this holie martyr came to giue his life for CHRIST whilest he liued in this world for I do not know in perticuler the reward he hath in heauen And when we know this we ought to take profitt by endeauouring to imitate him I saie then that we haue his blessed body in this Church and although it be of the same matter and nature that other dead bodies be yet it is not to be likened vnto them for if you open any of their sepulchers the bodies appeere lothesome to the sight and be displeasing to the smell so that we turne our face from them considering the miserie of our nature and the frailtie of mankind But vnto this glorious martyr it falleth out otherwise For assoone as we enter into the Church where his blessed bodie is as all we haue done this daye the sight is pleased seing the sumptuous and cunning built Church where it seemeth the caruer and the painter contended to excell each other the one in the building of the same aswell in the pauement as pillers of the finest marble in which be engrauen sondrie pictures of lyuing creatures as in the rooffe and couering of tymber which is curiouslie wrought and cunningly ioyned The painter was not inferioure in his art setting forth liuely
the auncyent souldyers should be enrolled and serue in person in the warres By this occasion the father of Martin who disliked the holie desires of his sonne caused him to be enrolled and sent him vnto the warres being then 15. yeares old and in those warres of Constantius the sonne of Constantine the great and Iulian he serued He was in the ordinary garrison of Pauia a city of Italy and with him he had a seruant vnto whom many times he gaue attendance such was his humility They eate at one table and sometimes Martin pulled of his bootes and made them cleane yea it is said that once hauing a seruant of a good nature he dismissed him looked for another that should be stark naught that he might haue occasion to merite more He serued in the warres 3. yeres before he was Baptised yet he eschued the vices which be ordinary and vsuall amongst souldiers He was affable curteous and charitable to his equalles lowely among his companions he was sober and temperate in the cherishing of himself in such sort that he seemed rather a relligious man then a souldier and before he was baptised he did all that a good Christian should doe He took that wages which was giuen him and reserued no more therof for his owne vse then that which was necessary for the mayntenance of his person the rest he gaue vnto the poore for those vertues and charitable acts which were in him he was beloued of all men On a time as he entred the city of Amiens which is in Gallia Belgica he saw a poore man naked that craued almes of them that passed by It was winter and extreame cold S. Martin was at that time armed and had no other garment but his souldiers coate The holy saint seeing no man to bestowe any thing on the poore man cut his cote in two parts with his sword and gaue one halfe therof to the poore man and the other part he reserued for himself Many saw this deed and some laughed to see him with half a garment and others were ashamed to consider they had not done the like charitable deed in all their life and better might they haue done it since they might haue clothed the poore man and not haue vnclothed themselfs The next night S. Martin being in a sound sleep he saw in a vision CHRIST couered with the piece of the garment he had giuen vnto the poore man and drawing nere vnto him asked if he knew that garment Then he heard CHRIST say to his Angells Martin being yet a Catechumen hath couered me with this garment By this doth euidently appeare that which IESVS CHRIST said in the ghospell That which is done vnto the poore is done vnto me S. Martin was not proud of this but yelded thanks vnto CHRIST for it and was very earnest and diligent to obteine Baptisme and desired to leaue the seruice of the warres but at the entreaty and importunacy of his Coronell he staied vntill his time was expired He was Baptised at the age of 18. yeares and remained still a souldier for the space of two years after which time he lefte the warres by reason of a peace ensuing which seemed to be miraculous and was thus The armies being ready to ioine battell a peace was made vpon very honorable condicions for the side wheron S. Martin was yea it is thought that almightie God made it for his holy saints sake who being abused in words by his captaine who called him coward and base fellow saying also that he desired to leaue the souldiers life that he might not be indangered in that battell S. Martin offered to passe through the enemies squadrons with out any armor for which cause God to preserue him from that iminent daunger procured an honorable peace to be made for his side Then went S. Martin to S. Hillary Bishop of Poiters with whom he remained some certeine dayes enioying his holy company and was edified by his vertuous behauior Then desirous to returne into his owne countrey he tooke leaue of S. Hillary both of them weeping aboundantly at their departure at which time S. Hillary gaue vnto S. Martin the order of Acolite besought him to retorne back vnto him speedely S. Martin trauelling on the way was like to haue bene murdered for certain thieues lying in waite for him one of them striking a full blow with his sword to wound him and another bearing it of with his weapon S. Martin shewed no feare at all And being demaunded the cause he made aunswere I neuer had lesse feare in my life for that I serue a Lord who I am assuered will not abandon me in a greater daunger then this is Herof the holy saint tooke occasion to preach vnto them IESVS CHRIST and one of those thiefs was conuerted and entred into relligion and died a blessed man At last he came to his owne countrey and preached the faith of CHRIST vnto his father and mother His mother was conuerted but his father continued still in his Idollatry and after that many other persons were conuerted to the faith by his meanes At that time the Arrian heresy was spred very much in the countrey where S. Martin preached and because he only publikely resisted them the heretiks did persecute him with all extremity and on a time they imprisoned him and scourged him publikely so shamelesse they were and not content herewith they sent him into exile S. Martin departing from his natiue countrey returned into Fraunce and there he vnderstood that S. Hillary was also banished by the Arrians wherfore he passed into Italy and builded a monastery nere vnto Millan where some Catholiques assembling together liued iointly with him a monasticall life But he was there also greuously persecuted by a principall Arrian heretique called Auxentius who after he had done him many wrongs and abuses neuer ceased vntill he had driuen him from thence also S. Martin yealding to the time took sea and came to an Island called Gallinaria in the cōpany of a holy priest where they two remained a good space susteining themselfs with the rootes of herbes only Then newes came vnto him that S. Hillary was returned vnto his Bishoprique wherefore he determined to find him out and when he came thither the holy father receiued him very louingly S. Martin dwelling there built another monastery nere vnto Poiters vnto which place came a Catechumen to be instructed in the faith and holy behauior It happened that S. Martin being absent the yong man fell sicke and died and whilest the other relligious men prepared to bury him the holy saint came and made great shew of sorowe for the death of that his disciple and coming into the roome where the dead body lay he bad all the other depart out then he shutt the dore and remained there two houres in praiers and he that was dead began then by litle and litle to recouer his sences and returned to life and perfect health When theother
not tarry to be tempted by the deuill for they themselues seek occasions to offend God and especially at those times when we be most obliged to to serue him viz on the feast day or in their Octaues which were ordeined that we might haue more time to be emploied in the seruice of God and to solemnize them The reason then why a greater feast is kept on one holy day then another and more to one saint then to another is because one signifieth a more higher mistery then another The Resurrection and Ascension of CHRIST be two high and principall feasts yet there is greater solemnity obserued in the first then in the second for the cause aboue-mentioned The same reason is of the saints The Catholike Church maketh a greater holy day vnto one saint then vnto another for that the deeds of one haue bene greater then of the other or for that his estate and dignity was greater or els for that he had done more good in the Catholik Church And for this reason the feasts of S. Peter S. Paule of S. Iohn Baptist of S. Laurence and other like saints be higher and more principall feasts then others though they which haue the lesser feasts and they who haue the greater be all in heauen contented enioyng God in his glory vnto which he bring vs for his great mercy Amen The life of S. Pontianus Pope and Martyr GOD commaunded Moises that to snuff the lights that burned in the temple vpon a candlestick which had seuen braunches he should cause to be made snuffers of the most fine and purest gold These lights be a figure of the priests who are called light by IESVS CHRIST By the name of seuen is giuen to vnderstand the seuen gifts of the Holy Ghost Then he commaunding that the snuffers where with they must snuffe the said lights should be of gold would demonstrate that vnto them they ought to beare great respect And that the reprouing and chastising of them though they deserue it is not graunted vnto euery one but only to him that shal be of such perfection that he is likened vnto the most pure gold And he that knoweth of himself that he is not gold but that he hath some defect and imperfection Let him not touch the light to wit Let him not murmure or speak euill of the priests but leaue the matter to God or els to his superiors who haue the office from God to reprehend and chastise them But if they leaue the matter vnto God the reproof punishment wil be more seuere and worthily shall the priests deserue it if their life be not correspondent vnto the dignity and function they haue aboue other men The holy Pope Pontianus hauing in mind the respect and regard that ought to be giuen to priests maketh mention and giueth many aduises in one of the two epistles he wrote out of his place of exile vnto all the faithfull for he was banished into the Island of Sardegna not for any fault he had committed but for confessing the faith of IESVS CHRIST The life of this holy saint was written in this manner by Damasus and other Authors BY the death of Pope Vrbane the first of that name there was placed in the seat of S. Peter Pontianus the sonne of Calphurnius borne in Rome He liued peaceably in the Papacy a while and attended to the gouernement of Church to the good contentment of all the Clergy people At the end of that time Alexander Seuerus th'emperour who of his owne nature was milde and no ennemy to the Christians persuaded by the priests of the Pagan Gods banished him from Rome and with him a priest called Philip by some martirologes called Hippolitus Those two were conducted into Sardegna and commanded not to depart out of that Iland In that place the blessed Pope Pontianus endured very great troubles and afflictions yet for all that he forgot not to gouern his Church with good and holy aduises and counsells when he could not do any other thing In that Island he wrote two epistles vnto all the faithfull Christians In the first he commendeth as hath bene aboue said the veneration and reuerence that ought to be vsed toward priests in regard of the high mistery they deale in consecrating by their words and holding in their hands the most Blessed Body of CHRIST our Lord. In the other he exorteth them all generally vnto charity brotherly loue Some Authors attribute vnto Pontianus the vse which is kept in the Church of singing the psalmes of Dauid in the office of the Howers and that he ordeined that the priest before he began Masse should say the psalme Iudica me Deus but to conclude the troubles and molestations of the holy Pope were so extreme which he endured in this banishment that he died in the same Island of Sardegna on the. 19. day of Nouember when he had ben Pope fiue years 5. months and. 2. dayes He gaue holy orders twise in the month of December and ordered 6. Bishops 6. priests 5. deacons His blessed body was buried in Sardegna but some years after S. Fabian the Pope caused it to be brought vnto Rome and buried it in the Churcheyard of Callistus among many other Martirs And because he died in exile through the vexation and trouble he endured he was accounted among the holy martirs His death was in the year of our Lord 236 Maximinus being then emperour of Rome * ⎠* The presentation of our B. Lady THE great king Assuerus hauing depryued Queene Vasthy his wife of the royall crowne and hauing expulsed her out of his pallace because she would not obey his commaundements All the princes and great lords of his kingdome were assembled to seeke out another wife for the king which should not only be equall to Vasthy but should rather surpasse her in all fauour and beauty For this end all the choysest damosells were sought out through the realme to whom there was apointed a roome by themselues and an Eunuch called Egeus had the charge of them who sawe them prouyded of all things necessarie aswell for their dyet as also for their apparell and adornements There wanted no odoures perfumes or Iewells which might aggrandize and shewe forth their beauties This was done the more to please king Assuerus vnto whom they were led one by one as their turne was to the end he might choose one that lyked him best to be Queene in stead of Vasthy The prudent and beautifull Esther being elected out of the rest for that purpose the day came that she was to be presented before the king Assoone as the king sawe her he was so pleased with her fauour and beautie that he chose her out from among the rest for his wife and Queene and set the royall crowne on her head commaunding all his subiects to honor her and to regard and esteeme her as their soueraigne Queene and ludy This king Assuerus is a figure of our Lord God
of th'emperour Traian The life of S. Felicitas Martyr ONe of the affections which parents ought to conquer and bring to a meane is the ouer-great fondness of loue to they re children For though nature hath engrafted a loue vnto them and reason teacheth that loue is due to them yett is it due with such proportion and measure that the loue of they re children depriue them not of the loue of God which ought to be prized and preferred aboue all other Moreouer they ought to marke well and regard wherein consisteth the true loue of they re children For manie times parents desire and procure for they re children the false fayned fading goods of this world with such painfull endeuoure such vnquencheable thirst that euerie thing seemeth to meane and to little in repect of that which most they wish them and faine would haue for them And herein they bound the limitts of they re loue this they prefixe as they re only marke not regarding how to enrich they re children with vertues nor make them worthie of those verie goods which they painfully scrape and carefully heape vp together for them litle mindfull of instructing them how to purchase those euerlastinge vnspeakeble treasures of glorie in whose comparison all the good and riches of earth are only shadowed conterfayted goods To teache and instruct parents in this trueth and set before they re eyes a rule and patterne of they re duety the holie Churche makes this day a commemoracion of Holie S. Felicitas She was a most honourable Matrone of Rome where being lefte a widow with seauen sonnes she liued without blame or reprehension bending her greatest care and endeuoure to serue her selfe and make her children serue allmightie God And so much preuailed her good example and holie education that Gods loue was so deepelie rooted in they re harte as to make them holie martyrs of his in the time of the Emperoure Antoninus when before the eyes of they re blessed mother with cruell torments and sundrie kinds of death they bought one euerlasting lyfe as hath bin said in the month of Iulie But after those glorious Knights of CRHIST IESVS the sonnes of blessed Felicitas had manfully fought and wonne the victorie all the rage and furie of the Emperour was turned againste that holie mother whose woords had encouraged and giuen her sonnes weapons to fight the battaile The Tyraunt therefore commaunded that she should be cast into a loth some prison to the end that sparing for some time her lyfe he might make her grieue daylie more and more for her childrens death For though she reioyced as knowing that now they were cittizens of heauen yett could she not as a mother but feele some sorrow they being lost to her allthough she had gained them to God There he kept her foure months in prison to afflict her and molest her the more and at the length seing that still she perseuered constant in the faith of IESVS CHRIST he commaunded her to be beheaded Of this blessed mother the patterne of all christian mothers of this martyr or as S. Gregorie saith more then martyr for she was eight tymes martyred seauen in her children and once in her selfe the same S. Gregorie hath these words Let vs behold my brethren consider this woeman and be ashamed to see her so much surpasse vs. Often times one only word said against vs doth trouble and vexe and make vs breake all oure good purposes whereas neyther torments nor death it selfe was able to conquer blessed Felicitas nor make her yield or giue backe one foote Wee with a blast of contradiction are streight waies dismayed and shamefully fall she wrought a way thorough steele and flint to obtaine and euerlasting crowne We giue not the least part of oure goods to the poore for the loue of CHRISTE she offered him her flesh in sacrifize Wee when God calleth backe for oure children which he had giuen vs in loane waile euerlastingly without comfort she be-wayled her children vntill they died for CHRISTE and reioyced when she did behold them dead And Peeter Archeb of Rauenna saith B holde a woman whose children liuing were cause of her care dead of her securitie Most happie she that now hath as manie faire shining lights in heauen as heretofore she had sonnes on earth Happie in bringing them into this world most happie in sending them vp into heauen She was farre more diligent and industrious when the tyraunt commaunded them to be slaine and when she walked amonghst they re dead bodies then when she did rocke them in the cradle and gaue them milke with her owne brests she viewed full well with the eyes of her soule that as manie wounds as they receaued so manie should be the pretious jewells of they re victorie how manie they re torments so manie they re rewards the crueller they re combats the more glorious they re crowns what shall I say of this valerous woman only this that she 's no true mother that loues not her children as this loued hers Hitherto are the words of S. Peeter of Rauenna The martyrdome of S. Felicitas was on the 23 day of Nouember the yeare of oure Lord 175. There is mention made of her in the Roman and other Martyrologes * ⎠* The life of S. Chrisogonus Martyr GREAT was the ioje and content the holy man Ioseph conceiued when he was taken out of prison in which he had remayned a long tyme suffring therein many troubles â—fflictions especially being vpon his deliuery ouâ— made gouernour ouer all ihe land of Egipt No lesse was the content and spirituall ioye S. Chrisogonus had when he departed out of prison where he had continued two yeares and had endured the ordinary molestations incident to prisons though he was not taken out to be a prince on the earth but to be a glorious and happie Saint in heauen whether his soule presently ascended by meanes of his martyrdome The life of this holie Sainct was written by Venerable Bede and by Ado Archbishop of Treuers in this manner SAâ—NT Chrisogonus was borne in Rome of a noble and honorable family and was in all his cariage and behauiour no lesse worthie and gracious with all men He was apprehended by the comaund and apoyntment of Dioclesian the Emperour and was kept in prison two yeeres contynually being there releeued with all things necessary by a vertous woman his disciple called Anastasia wife vnto Publius a man great and potent in the cittie but an Idollater This Phlius hauing knowledg of that which this wife Anastasia did shutte her vp and locked her stronglie in a chamber of his pallace setting a guard and watch ouer her to the end she should not send any help or relief vnto Chrisogonus as also that the should not haue any sustenance for here self determining that both the one and the other of them might dye by famine Notwithstanding the blessed woman was shut vp in this sort yet she found meanes to
write a letter vnto Chrisogonus after this manner Vnto the holie confessor of IESVS CHRIST Chrisogonus Anastasia sendeth greeting Although my father which begot we was an Idollater yet my mother that bore me who was called Fausta was a Christian and a vertuous chaste woman She instructed me in the Christian faith euer from my childhood and after her death I was maryed vnto a sacrilegious and cruell man whose bed and companie I haue oftentimes refused excusing it with infirmities which I desired God to send me for that purpose I spent the night and the day in prayer desyring my sweet Sauiour that I might imitate his blessed example This most cruell man after he bath consumed my patrymonie amongst wicked and lewd company like vnto himself hath imprisoned me as if I were a malefactor or a detestable offender and forbiddeth any sustenance to be guieÌ„ vnto me that I may perish and dye for want of food Although I shal be glad to loose my life for CHRIST his sake neuerthelesse I find great grief that my goods be wasted in such lasciuious sort in such lewd company and in the seruice of the false Gods Therefore I beseech thee thou seruant of IESVS CHRIST to pray vnto God Almightie for me and that the either alter the mind of this my husband that he may be conuerted or els if he continew and perseuâ—r in his hardnes of hart and obstinacy that he take him out of this world And better it shal be for him to be taken out of this life then to adde daily sinne to sinne which will put him to double torments in hell I promise and vowe vnto Almightie God and to thee his seruant â—hat if euer I get cleere and freed from this affliction to spend all my time in the seruice of my Blessed Sauiour IESVS as my vse and custome was and in helping and prouiding fot thy necessities and to releeue the wants of all other holie confessors Our Lord keep thee euer thou B seruant of God Remember me and praie for me S. Chrisogonus hauing receiued this letter made his prayers and oraysons for Anastasia and then together with other confessors that were in the same prison he answered her in this manner Among the tempestuous stormes of this world in which at this present thou art enwrapped be assured that thou shalt be relieued by IESVS CHRIST who will easilie cast headlong into the bottomeles pitte the diuell that doth assaâ—le and torment thee Haue patience in the middest of thy troubles and put thy trust in him for he wild deliuer thee Cry out aloud vnto him Exalt thy voyce with the prophet and say why art thou so sad o my soule and why art thou so disquieted with in me Trust in God still for I will euer confesse that he is my saluation and my God Thinck Lady that it is his will to bestowe on thee the riches and treasures of heauen since he taketh away and depriueth thee of wordly comforts Be not too much troubled nor afflicted for that crosses and tribulation lighteth vpon thee that liuest vertuously God doth try vs but doth not deceaue vs. To trust in man is vayne and deceitfull an he that putteth his hope or confidence in him is accursed and euer deceiued but blessed is he that putteth his trust and affiance in God who neuer deceaued any Continewe in thy vertuous excercises and hope for rest and quietnes only in God whose comaundemers thou keepest when it shall best please him and thou thinkest least he will send thee traÌ„quillitie a calme tyme. The darknes shall flie away and the light shall appeere The frost and pinching cold of the winter shall passe and the ioyfull sweetenes of the spring shall succeed A quiet and comfortable tyme shall come that thou maiest cherish and relieue those againe that suffer persecution for the loue and profession of CHRIST God giuing thee heere meanes that thou mayst help other with temporall necessities and receiue thy self of him euerlasting rewards Our Lord be with thee good lady and pray for me With this Epistle S. Anastasia receiued great consolation endeavoring to equall if not to surpasse thereby the many complaâ—nts she had made of her hardharted and cruell husband Her persecutions encreased still he giuing to her now but the fourth part or one quater of a a smalle oridinary loaffe And she thincking verily that her death approached wrote another letter to S. Chrisogonus after this tenor and to this effect To the blessed martyr and Confessor of CHRIST Chrisogonus Anastasia sendeth greeting The end of my life draweth neere vouchsaffe to remember me and to pray vnto God to receaue my soule when it departeth from my body since for his loue and the profession of his holie name I suffer all this torment The holie man returned this answere Chrisogonus to Anastasia As darknes precedeth and goeth before light so after infirmitie ensueth health and life cometh after death Prosperities and aduersities haue the like and the same endes therefore let not the heauy and sorrowfull fall into desperation nor the happy and fortunate be proude or too much puffed vp Be of good comfort ô handmaid of CHRIST for thy peregrination which hath beene repleat with tempestuous stormes shal be finished with a prosperous and happy conclusion thereby desires shal be acomplished enjoying CHRIST by the palme of Martyrdome The further course and processe of her greeuous persecutions may be seene in her life on the 25. day of December Of S. Chrisogonus you are to vnderstand that the Emperour Dioclesian being in the cittie of Aquileya martyrising the Christians he sent to Rome to haue Chrisogonus brough thither to him who being come the Emperour said to him I will bestowe on thee high dignities I will make thee Prefect of the cittie that thou maiest so arise to be Consull And indeed such places and preferments are fittest for men of noble linage and such worthie partes as thy self hath but vpon this condition that thou wilt worship our Gods S. Chrisogonus answered I adore one onely God With my soule and hart I reuerence him and with all externall signes and tokens I confesse IESVS CHRIST to be the true God And as for thy Idolles which be habitacles of diuells and fiendes I detest and accurse them Dioclesian comaunded that he should be beheadded and that his body should be cast into the sea and so it was done A priest called zoilus found his bodie afterward and buried it honorablie His martyrdome was on the day whereon the Church celebrateth his memorie which was on the 24. of Nouember on a Tuesdaie in the yeare of our Lord. 302. Dioclesian being Emperour His name is in the Canon of the masse Of this holie saint wrote Suidas Ando venerable Bede Vsuardus and the Romane martyrologe The life of S. Catherine of Alexandria IN the Book of kings it is said of king Salomon that he had many wines It was the will of God that the Hebrewes should
of their coming The holie Bishop fetching a great sigh made them this answere Arrius is already dead in the sight of God for that he hath so grieuously blasphemed against the diuine essence denying that there is one naturality of all the three persons Peter then took the two priests aside and said to them in secret Although I be a grieuous sinner God out of his mercy hath called me to martyrdome and I will shew you part of mistery reueiled vnto me and I do it the rather for that you two are to succeed me in this dignitie wherein I now am the one after the other first Achillas and then Alexander I was at my prayers with great attention as my custome is and on a so daine IESVS CHRIST my Lord and God appeared to me in the likenes of a little infant The glorie of his face could not be seene so great was the splendour and brightnes that did proceed from it He was apparailed with a long harment which reached downe to the ground but it was rent from the toppe to the bottome and with his two hands he pulled it together to couer the nakednâ—s of his breast which when I saw I was in a great feare but after being somewhat reuyued I asked him Omy Lord IESV what is this that I see how petifully is this your garment torne And he answered me Thou talkest often hereof but doest not endeuour to know it But know thou that Arrius hath done this evill vnto me who seeketh to get away may people from me which be my heritaâ—ge and which I haue purchased with the shedding of my very deerest blood This which thou hast seene I wishe thee to shew to Aquila and Alexander which are to succeed the that they may as thou hast done Anathematize and excomunicate him that his soule may he saued This being saied and charging and enioyning them so to do it being the will of God he dissimissed them and sent them away in peace And it happened that people perseuering and awayting at the dore of the prison for the defence of the life of their Pastor to auoyd a tumult and the effusion of blood the tirannous ministers of the Emperour gaue direction and order that in the nigh at the officers should make a breach through the back side of the prison and take out of the same the holie Bissop Peter and to lead him to the place where S. mark had before time beene martyred and euen thus the cruell officers did and there beheadded him His body wad buryed in the same cittie of Alexandria by the Christians This was on a wedensday being the 26. of Nouember on which day the Church celebrateth his feast And it was in the yeare of our Lord 312. Maximinus being Emperour Of this holie saint maketh mention the Councell of Ephesus and the seuenth generall Synode S. Gregorie Nazianzene Eusebius in his 8 book 14. Chapter and 9. book 6. chapt Nicephorus The Tripartite historie Vsuardus Venerable Bede and Ado. The life of S. Saturnine Martyr OVR first father Adam hauing offended Almightie God in breaking his comandement God â—â—ioyned him in penance for his sinne to digge and till the ground Hereof it cometh that all men being partakers of his sinne for as S. Paul saith all sinned in him we be also partakers of his penance and punishment So it befell to S. Saturnine that glorious martyr who being old was condemned by the Emperour Maximian to labour about the building of certaine Thermi or hote bathes by carying sand morter and stones from one place to another though the cause why he suffred this slauery and drudgery was not for any sinne he had comitted but only for that he was a Christiane which this tyrant hold and accounted to be the most heynous offence of all other and therefore he layd on him these grieuous afflictions The life of this holie martyr with the life of S. Marcellus the Pope was written by the notaries of the Romaine Church and is rehersed by Laurence Surius in this manner The Emperour Maximian returning from Africa to Rome and being desirous to please Dioclesian that had aduanced him to high estate and made him his partner in the Empire and knowing that Dioclesian had comaunded certaine artificiall hote Bathes to be made was very dilligent to further and hasten the workes for which cause he comaunded all them that were conuicted of any grieuous or heynous oftences among which he held and accounted the Christians not to be the least to worâ—k and labour about that building vnder a saffe guard and watch hauing many ouerseers and masters ouer them Among other that were condemned to this slauery an honorable old man called Saturnine was one His work was to digge sand and to carry it from one place to another and for that through his weakenes and debillitie of age he fainted and tyred oftentimes and was not able to doe his taske as the ouerseers of the work required they often rated and reuiled him But he was holpen out very charitably by other Christian that were yonger and especially by one Sisinnius who carried those burdens that were apointed for himself and most of those that belonged to Saturnine and that so cheerefully that they went singing Hâ—mnes and psalmes in the praise of IESVS CHRISTE The surueiors of the work wondering at the same acquainted a Tribune called Spuriuâ— there with and he certyfied the Emperour Maximian thereof who comaunded they should be brought to his presence They being before him he said to Sisinnius what is your name Sisinnius answered I am a sinner and a seruant of the seruants of IESVS CHRIST and I am called Sisinnius The Emperour said vnto him what verses be those that you sing as you work Sisinnius answered If thou diddst vnderstand them or haddst notice of theÌ„ thou shouldest also know thy ceator who is the Creator said Maximian but the inuincible Hercules To vs Christians said Sisinnius it is a thing abhominable and detestable to speak such a word or to name him in such sort Choose one of these two things said the Emperour eyther sacrifice to our God Hercules or els assure thy self thou shalt be put to a terrible death Sisinnius answered I haue alwaies desired to dye in that manner and to be worthie to obtaine the crowne of Martiredome for the profession and loue of my Lord IESVS CHRIST Maximian chasing at these wordes deliuered him to Laodicio a prefect charging him either to compell Sisinnius and Saturnine to sacrifice to their Gods or els to put them to a cruell death He put them into prison where they remained a while and there they conuerted many Pagans to the faith of CHRIST Then were they taken out from thence loaden with giues and fetters bare foote and barelegged and so lâ—d into a Temple to do sacrifice when they were brought before the Idoll Saturnine lifted vp his voyce and sayd O lord confound the Idolls of the Gentilles At these wordes the
Idolls fell downe on the ground and broke to pieces Two souldiers the one called Papias and the other Maurus seing this cryed out and sayd Assuredly IESVS CHRIST whom Saturnine and Sisinnius do adore is the true God The prefect being in a great rage comaunded his officers to torment them they put them on the torment or Rack called Equuleus and hoysing them vp they scourged them very grieuously and rent and tore their bodies with yron bookes and scorpions They being in those torments song Himnes and said Glory be to thee O Lord IESVS CHRIST for that we are found worthie to be partakers of afflictions with thy seruans The tWo souldiers Papias and Maurus which were conuerted when the Idoll fell to the ground as is afore said were present and neere the holie martir These men being stiered vp with a desire of the crowne of martyâ—dome and repleat with holie anger against the excecutioners that tormented them with such rigor and cruelltie said to them with a loud voice How great is the diuell with you that he maketh you so cruell against the seruants of the liuing God When the Prefect Laodicio heard their wordes he was enraged against them and comaunded the officers to strike them on the mouth with stones and to carry them to prison from whence they were after taken and maâ—tyred After this he comaunded the officers to set burning torches to the sides of Saturninus and Sisinnius And when he saw all this would not make them yeeld and that they showed no signe of griefe or sorrow by their countenance he caused them to be taken from that torment and to be led two miles out of Rome into the way toward Numenium and there they were beheadded Their bodies were buried by a deuout man called Thraso in one of his posessions This was on the 29. day of Nouember and on the same day the holie Catholike Church maketh a commemoration of S. Saturninus His death was about the yeare of our Lord. 307. In the raigne of Maximian and Dioclesian Of S. Saturninus wryteth Ado venerable Bede Vsuardus and the Romain martyrologe The life of S. Andrevv Apostle THE sacred scripture saith of that proud captain Holophernes Iudith that as he went with his army and banners displayed against the city of Bethulia there happened a thing which did before neuer befall vnto him for the Hebrews shut the gates against him and fortified the city for their defence Holophernes wondered therat not litle wherfore he assembled all his captains to councell and said that the desired to know the cause why the people of that city did stand more to their defence then all the other thy had ouerpassed and desirous to know wherin they trusted he willed them to certify him what any of them knew TheÌ„ arose vp a captein of the Ammonites called Achior who said vnto him know you most poteÌ„â— Lord that in this city dwelleth a nation called Iewes who haue a God so mighty that if they haue his fauour and freindship neither the mighty army vnder thy conduct nor all the world if they should assault them can ouercome them But if perhaps they haue offended him as they do oftentimes it shal be very easy to vanquish them and to take this city let them fortify it as much as they can So that my councell is first to informe thy self whither they be in the fauour of their God and according to that relation if they be in his fauour to stay but if he be displeased with them to assault them Holophernes took great indignation against Achior for his words for he thought no force was able to resist his puissant army Vpon this he commaunded some of his souldiers to lead him vnto the city of Bethulia to the end that when he had taken the city by force of armes Achior should with his bloud and life pay the penalty of his rash vnaduisednes in taking vpon him the defence of the Hebrews The souldiers led Achior vp on the mountein neere vnto the city and there they left him tied vnto a tree The Iewes issued out found him and led him into the city where Achior in the presence of Ozias the high priest of all the people recouÌ„ted what had happened vnto him They heard his speech with great admiration and then feasted and enterteined him kindly because they thought he had defended the honour of God euery one embraced him and sheaâ—ed to him great tokens of loue But aboue all Ozias took him to his house and made vnto him a solemne banquet This figure agreeth very fitly to the gloryous Apostle S. Andrew who being figured in Achior defended the honouâ— of God as he did preaching the Ghospell among the infidells where Egeas the tirant figured in Holâ—phernes took him and deliuered him vnto his officers who led him vp on a mountein and bound him to a crosse where he remained a while vntil the Angells citisens of heauen vnbound him viz when his blessed â—oule departed from his body and leâ— him to the supreme city of God and there in the presence of the high priest IESVS CHRIST diuulging how he took the defence of his honour all the blessed spirits that illustrious and honored nation made him cheare and enterteyned him kindly embracing him as their brother And the priest IESVS CHRIST made him a feast apointing him a speciall seat in his celestiall beatitude The life of this gloryous Apostle collected out of the ghospell and the writings of his disciples who were present at his martirdome was in this maner SAINT Andrew the Apostle was borne in Behsayda a twon in the prouince of Galily and was the elder brother vnto S. Peter the Apostle and also disciple vnto S. Iohn Baptist With whom being one day he saw him when he pointed his finger at IESVS sayeng This is the lamb of God Andrew staid not a whit but ioyntly with another disciple left S. Iohn Baptist and followed IESVS CHRIST who turnyng his celestiall face and seeing asked them what they sought They answered that they desired to speak with him in his house Our Lord lâ—d them with him and kept hem one day in his company in which time thy talked together and they knew him to be the Messias Andrew departed then from our Sauiour and mett Symon his brother and said vnto him with great ioy O brother Symon that thou haddest seen that which I haue seene Knowe thou that the Messy as so much desired and so long expected by the Iewes is come My master Iohn Baptist shewed him vnto vs and I haue bene with him and I tell thee that his words and deeds confirme that he is that same Come thou and see him So the two brethren came together vnto IESVS who said Thou art SymoÌ„ the sonne of Iohn but thou shalt be called Caeâ—has that is Peter Another time those two brethren being a fishing in their barck IESVS CHRIST passed by the bank and called them saâ—eng follow me and
they came vnto Constantinople they found no diminution of their measure they had laden theother was that the wheat which the owners gaue vnto S. Nicholas although it was but a small quantity yet was it so multiplied that it sufficed all the people vntill haruest came These things brought S. Nicholas to that credit and auctority that the clergâ— and the laâ—tie of his city had a great respect vnto him and obeyed him as if he had bene the true owner of all their goods It befell also that the gouernour of the city called Eustathius being corrupted with mony gaue an vniust iudgment against three yong knights in sentencing them to death S Nicholas was at that time out of the city for he was gone to pacify the inhabitants on the sea cost which were vp in armes against certein bands of souldyers which were to passe into Africa by the coÌ„maundement of th'eÌ„perour Constantin These souldyers aggreued the people as souldyers vse to doe as they passe on their voyage and they were ready to fight it out S Nicholas went thither in person and all of them gaue vnto him great respect He talked with the three captaines whose names were Nepotian Vâ—rsus and Herpilion and brought the matter to a good passe and ended the quarell In that place he was certified of the vniust senteÌ„ce giuen by Eustathius wherfore he forthwith sped him home and came vnto the city at such time as the three wrongfully coÌ„demned persons had their eyes couered and awayted when the executioner would giue them the mortall blowe S. Nicholas being come vnto the executyon passed through the throng of the people and comyng to the executyoner pulled the sword out of his hand and then vntyed the three yong men and taking one of them by the hand lead them all three away none of the officers being so bold as to resist him Eustathius being ascerteined therof and hauing a remorce in his conscience went vnto S. Nicholas and kneeling before him asked him forgiuenes for that he said he perceued S. Nicholas knew certeinly that his sentence was vniust since he was so hardy as to take and rescue the prisoners and also for that he had at other times biddeÌ„ him do iustice and to chastice theÌ„ that deserued punishment S. Nicolas reproued him throughly for this faulte and menaced to certify all things vnto the emperour if he euer committed the like faulte againe At this the three captains of Constantin were present who being returned from Africa hauing archieued th'entreprise for which thy weâ—e sent were accused of some offence at their commyng home to Constantinople the issue was Th'emperour gaue iudgment they should be beheaded according to their deserts for their offences euidently proued against them though the matter was falsely contriued by a Iustice of the city who was bribed by the aduersaries to bring them to their end were it right or wrong When the three Capteins were certefied that on the next day they should dy they called to remembrance that S. Nicholas had freed and delyuered three innocent kinghts from death in the city of Myrea So they remayned all the night in prayer desiring God to be mercyfull vnto thé and beseeching S. Nicholas to help them in that daunger it pleased God to heare them and to honour the blessed man for S. Nicholas appeared vnto th'emperour in his sleepe and with a venerable aspect saluted him first and then with a sterne and grâ—m countenance sayd vnto him Aryse vp thou Emperour and delyuer out of prison Nepotian Versus and Herpilion for they be wrongfully accused and be cleare and innocent of those faults which be imposed vpon them If thou doest not so as I tell thee I denounce against thee as a messenger from God most deadly warre in which shal be destroyed thy nation and thou thy state and family shall come to vtter ruyne Th'emperour was woÌ„derfully afeard therat and said who art thou that doest menace me thus The holy saint aunswered I am Nicholas Bishop of Myrrea and withall vanished away and went vnto the Iustice called Ablanius and threatned him after the same manner On the morrowe th'emperour and the Iustice mett and conferred of their visions and causing the three capteines which were prisoners to be brought before them th'emperour said vnto them Tell me haue you any skill in art magick and they aunswered no and wondering at the questyon they demaunded of th'emperour why he asked such a question of them Th'emperour replyed Bycause this last night one Nicholas I knowe not what he is menaced me greuously if I do not ley you go and discharge you The captaines hearing this kneeled downe and kissed the ground and yielded infinite thanks vnto God and wept for ioy Th'emperour commaunded them to declare this secret and they told him to wit howe Nicholas saued the lifes of the three yong knights at Myrrea and how they had recommended themselfs vnto him and therefore he was come to help them Then they declared to feature of the holy saint and th'emperour perceiued that he was the same man that he had seen in his sleep These things moued th'emperour to reuiew their cause more dilligently and hauing found theÌ„ innocent he caused them which had accused them falsely to be punished and delyuered them out of prison and he gaue them a book of the Gospells written with letters of Gold and a thurible or senser of Gold and said vnto them Carry these things vnto Nicholas desire him not to threaten me but to pray vnto God for me and my empire The three capteins went vnto the holy saint when they came vnto him they fell at his feet and publiquely told the former history and delyuered vnto him the present which the Emperour had sent vnto him The holy saint was ashamed and blushed to haue these things told vnto him publikely wherefore he said my sonnes render thanks vnto God and not vnto me for I am a synner TheÌ„ he called vnto him aside the three capteins and told them that they fell into those perills daungers for certein secret synnes they had exhorted them to amend them lest God punished them with some more greuous punishment The end of this holy saints life drew neere and he fell into a greuous infirmity and being at the point of death he lifted his eyes toward heauen and he saw many Angells to discend vnto the place where he was wherefore he began to say this psalme In te domine speraui and when he came vnto that verse In manus tuaâ— domine commendo spiritum meum he passed from this mortall life vnto the eternall on the sixth day of December in the year of our Lord 343. His body was buryed by his citisens with great pompe and with no lesse sorowe for that they were deptiued of such a pastor and father Asso one as he was dead the Christians began to visite his sepulcher with great deuotion And it happened that certein Christians
him to say masse in her house The holy man being gone thither in the company of his sister there was brought to him a woman sicke of the palsy in a chaire and shee besought the holy saint to pray for her which when he had done the sicke woman kissed his priestly garment and was healed After this S. Ambrose returned vnto Millan where the Empresse Iustina persecuted him greeuously vsing also both requests and threats Then with rewards she laboured to draw the chiefe men of the Citty yea and the cleargie also as well as lay men vnto her opinion and partiality against S. Ambrose entending to send him into exile Matters were so prepared and wrought that a rich man and mighty called Eutimius but much more wicked had prepared a chariot in the which he purposed to set S. Ambrose by faire or by foule meanes and then to carry him vnto banishment This wicked man had so purposed but God disposed it otherwise for as Aman had made a gibbet whereon to hang Mardochey and was hanged on it himselfe so Eutimius was banished caried away in the same waggon he had made for S. Ambrose This holy saint found the bodies of some Martirs which were laid in places vncomely and vndecent therefore he translated them into other places where they were laid with more reuerence as the bodies of S. Geruasius and Protasius and of S. Nabor and Faelix In the translations of these saints were may miracles done and many sicke men healed The Arrian heretiks calumniated the miracles and moreouer said that Ambrose had hired persons to faine themselues blind or lame and that when they came neere to the bodies of the saints they fained to be healed It came to passe that one of the most malitious cauillers thereat was in the sight of them all posessed by the deuill who being within him by the iudgement of God caused him to confesse the truth which he denied when he was in health aswell in the miracles of the saints as also in the mistery of the B. Trinity the wretch yelling aloud and saying That which Ambrose preacheth is true and that which the Arrians teach is false and vntrue Then many of the Arrians who by reason should haue giuen credit to that apparant testimony came vnto him and adding euill to euill threw him into a pond of water wherein the man was drowned An other obstinate heretik which was one of the most principall was conuerted vnto the true faith And when he was demaunded why hee changed his faith so suddainly he answered he had seene an Angell speake in the eare of S. Ambrose when he preached and tell him what to say At that same time was discouered in France a tyrant called Maximus who by a stratagem murdered Gratian who gouerned Fraunce and Spaine all the life of Valentinian his father And not resting content therewith he marched against his brother called Valentinian sonne vnto Iustina who then ruled Italy The young man not daring to oppose himselfe in the field fled with his mother Iustina the mortall persecutor of S. Ambrose and came to Constantinople to demaund succour and ayde of the Emperour Theodosius S. Ambrose went vnto Maximus who tooke vpon him the name of Emperour and requested the dead body of Gratiane to be bestowed vpon him Strange it was that although the holy bishop went to talke with him that was a tyrant and also went for to obtaine a fauour of him when it seemeth he should haue vsed louely words yet did he with his accustomed and Christian boldnes reprooue him for his tiranny and for the vniust murdering of his Lord. He also bad him to do penance for his sinnes and because he would not obey he excommunicated him and gaue order in all places of his Archbishoprique where the Tyrant passed that he should not be admitted to heare the diuine office and commaunded all his priests vnder great paines none should be so bold to celebrate Masse before him nor to conuerse with him But aboue all he fore-told him saying that God would chastice him for his rebellion as afterward it befell for when Theodosius came against him he was slaine by his owne souldiours After the death of Maximus Theodosius went vnto Millan and there the Iewes complained of S. Ambrose vnto the Emperour for burning their Synagogue The Emperour thought S. Ambrose had done them great wrong and bad him to reedify it at his owne cost and charge After this S. Ambrose preached before the Emperour and reduced to his remembrance all his former life and told him he ought to remember how from a poore captaine who fled thorough Africa for feare to be slaine which was presently after the death of Valens the Emperour God had aduanced him to be Emperour and bestowed on him many victories and therefore he had reason to behold and marke well the reward he should render vnto God in restoring the Synagogue and causing it to be builded for the Iewes which were enemies vnto God and all Christians When the sermon was ended the Emperour said vnto him Art thou this day mounted into the pulpit to preach speake euill of me in mine owne presence Yea said S. Ambrose I haue done it but we will say well of thee in thy absence to the end that none doe murmure of thee for that thou wilt be partiall fauourable vnto the Iewes and build a Synagogue for them Thus S. Ambrose delt with the Emperour and it was so effectuall that he forbad the reedifying of the Synagogue It was a notable case and example worthy to be marked haâ— S. Ambrose did vnto the same Emperour Theodosius because of the cruelty coÌ„mitted in Thessalonica There was at that time a great Citty in Macedâ—ry inhabited by Christians called Thessalonica the vsage was in all Greece to haue pastimes and pâ—â—â—es called Câ—â—censes in which â—aâ—ne horses in â—ace some alone and some in wagons and great care men had to gett the prise which was giuen to the Victors because those playes were very delightful they which were skilfull in guiding the horses wagons were highly esteemed regarded The time of these pastimes being at hand it fell out that one of the waggoners which was to runne for the wager and was famous for his skill and beloued of all the people was imprisoned by Bulericus the gouernor of Thessalonica vnder Theodosius the cause was this the waggoner was accused to haue offended carnally with the gouernours page The Emperour was comming in person to be present at the pastimes which were to be made All the people thought the triumphes would be disgraced if the waggoner thus imprisoned were not deliuered Therefore with one voice they besought the gouernour that he would vpon their intreaty deliuer him He answering them arrogantly and vsing some opprobrious words vnto them with the which the people thought themselues wronged the raised a commotion and in a fury tooke armes and killed the Gouernour and some of the
the Virgin Mary Why then hauing bestowed so great a benefite on her should he deny her the grace of preseruation which was fitting and conuenient for her He exempted and priuiledged her from the paines of child-birth and from being turned vnto dust which be generall lawes was it not also reason that he should exempt and set her free from originall sinne Eua who was the cause occasion of all our euill as S. Anselme saith was created in grace is it meere then that Mary by whom we haue had so great good should be thought to be conceiued in sinne Moreouer they which be conceiued in originall sinne be called by the Apostle children of wrath and slaues to the deuill and to say so of the most B. virgin is a thing most inconuenient Further a good sonne ought to doe to his mother all the honour that he can and in not doing of it it seemeth he doth not intyrely fulfill the precept of God to honour his father and mother Our Lord IESVS is the true Sonne of the glorious Virgin and it is fit he should do that for his mother that any other good sonne would doe to his mother And though the B. Virgin was preserued from it therefore cannot we say that CHRIST was not her Redeemer for that in preseruing of her she was more deeply redeemed for there be two manners of redemptions one preseruatiue and the other subleuatiue or restoring The first is more excellent then the secoÌ„d for it is euident that one shall be more obliged and beholden to him that sustaineth him that he fall not into the durt and myre then vnto him that lifteth him vp out of it and then wipeth his cloths Likewise if God caused a Temple to be builded the most sumptuous and stately that euer any was in the world wherein to set the Arke of the testament which for that it was to conserue the Manna the table of the law and the wand wherewith Moyses did the miracles was to be couered with most fine Gold within without to be made of incorruptible wood more iust it was that God should giue rare and soueraigne perfections vnto the bowells and wombe wherein he would inclose his sonne and where his diuinity should inhabite in a manner ineffable If God commanded the children of Israel to be sanctified when they desired to come and talke with him it shall be then very iust that she who was to be the mother of God and cloth him with his humanity should be adorned with singuler purity God conserued the garments and shoes of the Hebrews in the desert for the space of 40. yeares so that they were neuer torne which thing he did for his honour much more fit was it he should preserue the soule of his mother to the end she should neuer fall out of his fauour or be without grace Ioseph made all the land of Egipt tributary vnto King Pharao except the land of the Priests signifying that our Lord redeemer ought to exempt from the tribute of originall sinne the B. virgin with whose flesh the true Priest after the order of Mâ—lchizedech should be clothed Our holy forefathers though they spoke many great commendations and praises of the B. Virgin yet said they not that she should not be conceiued in originall sinne neither hath any ancient Counsell made any decree or said their opinion in it This came to passe because God hath not declared all thing together at one time vnto his Church nor vnto the faithfull neither was it conuenient to be so Therefore he said vnto his Apostles after he had declared great matters vnto them at his last supper as S. Iohn writeth I haue many things to say but yet you are not capable of them your vnderstanding is not able to conceiue them the holy Ghost shall reueale them vnto you This was true for when the Holy Ghost came he declared all things that were fit for that time and continually doth declare and manifest things Those which are now laid open doe not contradict that which was discouered before yet are not all things which were before hidden and darkned with a cloud discouered and opened all together for some Counsels of our times doe declare some things belonging to faith which our forefathers did not And so the saying that the mother of God was conceiued without sinne was hidden and secret many yeares which was a thing not without cause The reason might be this That the common people was ordinarily so deuote to her that if it had bene published and affirmed in former times when things were not so well declared and when that they which had erred could not so well haue bene instructed and reformed as it is fit they should in such a case it might haue bene that the B. Virgin should haue bene adored for God To auoide this inconuenience it seemeth good reason this secret should be kept close At this present time the Church hath opened this secret in giuing leaue that we may hold and beleeue that the glorious Virgin was conceiued without sinne And when the Church graunteth this licence is it not necessary for vs which be so much obliged to her and trauell to serue her to seeke out such reasons and meanes how it should be And so much the more for that beside the former reasons alleaged there be many more which ought to enforce any curious person or man of an indifferent vnderstanding The first is that though the ancient fathers say not in plaine words that the B. Virgin was conceiued without sinne but rather seeme to infer the contrary for it was conformable to their time yet is it most sure that if they had written in our time they would haue said and written otherwise then that they now write for all that I say they all namely S. Bernard giue a note touching the Virgin saying that whatsoeuer is honorable and and can be said in praise of any saint ought to be attributed vnto her with surplusage and aduantage But being so as it is said that many saints after baptisme sinned not mortally as S. Nicholas S. Bernard S. Thomas Aquinas and others If it be said which is an Article of the Catholicke faith that S. Iohn Baptist and Ieremie were sanctified in their mothers womb it is apparant by the rule giuen that this and much more may be said and beleeued of the B. Virgin Then shee was not only sanctified in her mothers womb but also preserued from all sinne He spoke not much from the purpose that said That when IESVS CHRIST said by S. Iohn Baptist that among the sonnes of women there was not a greater arose then Iohn Baptist though the Greeke text saith no prophet yet the Latine text from which it is not lawfull to appele saith none borne of a woman theÌ„ the B. Virgin being greater and more holy then Iohn Baptist as all confesse and graunt when our Sauiour saith none arose she is excepted for she
to a Temple of the Sunne where was the statue of brasse and he willed him to adore it The Apostle fell on his knees and besought God to breake that statue that the people seing the small force of their God might be ashamed and forsake the errors wherein they were enwrapped The Apostle hauing finished his prayer the statue fell on the earth into diuers pieces The ministers of the Idols being present and seing all this enraged with furie they ran the Apostle through with Launces and killed him His bodie was buried in the same Cittie of Calamina and was after translated to the citty of Edessa in Syria where as S Gregorie of Toures saith was built a sumptuous Church in which God shewed many miracles by the merits of his holie Apostle The death of S. Thomas was on the 21. of December and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast This was in the yeare of our Lord. 75. in the raigne of Vespasian Beside the afore-rehearsed things there are recounted of S. Thomas many other which be taken for vaine and Apocripha and this is one that he was brought from Cesarea euen to India to build a Pallace and that great store of treasure was giuen him to build it The king departing from thence for two whole yeares and the Apostle giuing all the mony to the poore the king at his returne put him in prison that he might gâ—t againe the mony of him It is said also that S. Thomas being inuited to a mariage whilest he dyned an Hebrew woman song certaine verses in the praise of God and the holie sunt stayed contemplating the words which she said Wherefore one of them that wayted at the table seing he eate not but â—ate musing gaue him a buffet on the face whereat the Apostle being wroth said to them I will not depart from this table vntill I see the hand that strooke me in a dogges mouth which caine so to passe for the fellow going for water vnto a spring was deuoured of dogges and one of them came in with his hand in his mouth These thinges thus reported giue testimonie what they be as hauing no great foundation nor good authoritie for them Yea this especiallie of the hand and the dogge was inuented by heretiks who mingled this tale in the life of this saint and holie Apostle to the end reuenge cursing and wishing euill vnto our neighbour should be reputeda thing lawfull Anf if any should iudge this to be euill that then the Apostle should be accounted so also and by this meanes he should loose his credit and authoritie I maruaile that of this holie saint who was so slow in beliefe such vnlikelie and vnprobable tales should readilie be beleeued of him Also I do not know of what credit it is that is said in some Cronicles of him as of his being present with the Lord of the countrie that is now called Preter Iean where they say his bodie is kept till this day We read also of a thorne that beareth grapes on S. Thomas day of which as made muste or sweete wine and they celebrate Masse therewith I thinke he that will auouch this for true had neede to haue greater authorities then the places where they be written Howsoeuer these things be this which I now say is most certaine that S. Thomas was carried to the passage and death of the glorious Virgin aswell as the other Apostles And for that when he came thither it was the third day after the death of the blessed mother of God and that her bodie was alreadie buried God willing it so he was desirous to see it The Sepulchre being opened the bodie was not found therein for that it was raised againe and was assumpted into heauen as is said in the sollemnitie of the feast of her Assumption The Natiuitie of our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST AMONG the other marueilous histories of the sacred scripture 4 Reg Cap 4. we read one most notable in the book of kings of the woman Sunamite the hostesse of the prophet Eliseus Of her it is said that she had a little child an infant which she tenderlie loued This child being one daie abroad in the field with his father complained of a great paine in his head whereupon his father caused him to be carried home vnto his mother in whose presence the child dyed The woman felt as great grief as might be for the death of her child and going to the prophet Eliseus fell at his feet weeping and lamenting shewing by outward signes the inward sorrow of her hart The prophet hauing compassion on her sent with her his seruant Giezie and gaue vnto him his staffe to laie it on the dead bodie of the child which was cold as Ise The seruant did as he was apointed but the child by that meanes was not raised to life The afflicted mother returned vnto the prophet and so much her praiers and suit preuailed that she brought him in person vnto her house The prophet entred into the roome where the child laye and shut the dore close and after he lay flat on the bodie of the litle infant vsing this dilligence he laid his face on the face his hands on the hands and his feet on the feet thereof Then he cryed aloud seuen times and the child beginning to be warme opened the eyes and recouered life This being done the holie prophet restored him vnto his mother who receaued him with more ioye and gladnes then can easilie be expressed Though as it be said before that this indeed be a true historie which happened really yet was it a liuelie patterne of the high and maruailous misterie that God wrought in being made man For the woman Sunamite is a figure of the Church who hauing a litle sonne which is mankind ass one as he was created and put into the pleasant field of Terrestriall paradise felt a paine in his head for from thence issued fumes of desire to be like vnto God This was our forefather Adam who dyed of this infirmitie when he eate the fruit of the forbidden tree whereby mankind be came cold frosen and without the grace of God The miserable afflicted Sunamite went for help vnto the prophet for the holie Church did continuallie beseeche God to giue remedie for this great losse The diuine maiestie had compassion on her and sent Giezi with his staffe which were the two lawes the law of nature being figured in Giezi and the law written figured in the staffe of the prophet This yet raised not againe the dead child to life nor gaue remedie vnto the losse the world had as S. Paul saith wryting vnto the Hebrewes of the law writteÌ„ that the law reduced not things vnto perfection nor gaue not full remedie vnto our losses Yet the Church ceased not to desire God more instantlie vntill he came in persoÌ„ into the world was inclosed in the secret chamber of the bowells of the most blessed virgin He
In prol in Ioh. De pres cript as Tertullian S. Ierome say out of the which he came without any hurt and then he was banished into an Isle called Pathmos which is one of the Islands called Cyclades and is not farre from Rhodes There the Apostle stayd a whole yeare and on a Sunday he had a vision and a reuelation in the which was discouered the successes of the Catholike Church that should happen vntill the day of the generall iudgement and all that he wrot in a booke which he called the Apocalipse or Reuelation Apo◠2. Whilest that S. Iohn remained in that Island he conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST almost all the inhabitants thereof and such was their loue toward him that as Symeon Metaphrases saith When he was to depart from the backe vnto Ephesus they were like to dye with sorrow Procrus Cap. 49. He was released from the exile after the death of Domitian and succession of Nerua who did by the aduise of the Senate reuoque and abrogate all the lawes his predecessor had made The Islanders vnderstanding that S. Iohn would depart from the went all vnto him lamenting and wailing some called him father others Lord and all said with one voyce he was theire ioy and comfort They besought him with great affection saying Oh Iohn thou holy and admirable man wherefore camest thou into this Island if thou art to depart hence so soone Why was the knowledge of thee bestowed on vs if we were to loose thy company so soone Whither wilt thou go to be beloued as thou art of vs Where shall thou be obeyed as thou art heere Where shall thy words be so esteemed since we listen to them as if they came from God and do beleeue that God speaketh in thee Then ô father haue pitty on vs thy children behold that without thee we are left in danger and perill to loose our selues Oh Emperour Domitian thou hast done to none such euill as thou hast done good vnto vs thou hast sent hither the elect disciple of God whom we haue knowen and receiued Baptisme by his meanes Thou hast done right well but for that to do good was far from thee of this good ariseth this present euill that now we must loose him whom before thou mad'st vs to know They all came to the holy Euangelist and kneeled at his feere tooke his garments in their hands kissed his hands with great humblenesse and reuerent behauiour for that they thought to make him stay there more by prayers and entreaties then by force or violence They holy Euangelist sawe the griefe of this Islanders for his departure but hee promising not to forget them and to send them some that should take charge of them they remained somewhat pleased and satisfied And so he embarked and returned to Ephesus where he was receiued with great and incredible ioy As the holy saint was to enter the Citty they carried out to buryall a noble Matrone called Drusiana who had loued S. Iohn very dearely He vnderstanding the same by many persons that followed the corps lamenting and mourning for the losse of so vertuous a woman that was charitable and had done many good workes of piety toward all kind of persons and he remembring the same prayed for her and God at his request raised againe the dead woman to life and the holy Apostle went to lodge at her house Then he began to gouerne that prouince again and he vnderstood that two young men in a Citty had distributed much riches vnto the poore desiring to serue God in pouerty which life S. Iohn had commended and praised much in his sermons but after perceiuing themselues in great want of necessary things they repented of what they had done S. Iohn talked with them and badde them bring him two great branches of trees from a Hill he named and some stones and the young men did so Then the Apostle by the power of God turned the stones into most pretious Iewels and the branches into Gold and said to the two young men Behold now see you may be as rich as you were before but consider well that the riches of the world doe puffe men vp and doe not satisfy them Thinke also that there is but one paradise and he that will haue it in this life and enioy and posesse worldly riches delights and pleasures cannot haue it also in the other world The Apostle did also in their sight raist to life a young man sonne to a poore widow who with many teares besought him to haue compassion on her as he had on Drusiana The two young men hauing seene this strange miracles determined to continue still in poore life and besought the Apostle to pray vnto God for them and gaue him backe his Iewels and Gold and he threw it vpon the ground and they returned to their former nature and he prayed vnto God for them and they led a holy life euer after S. Iohn had a great controuersy and variance with a priest of the Goddesse Dyana called Aristodemus who said that the miracles the Apostle did were not by the power of God but of the deuill and if he would haue him to beleeue it was by the worke of God let him drinke a cuppe of poyson that he would temper for him without any nocument or hurt to his life or health The malicious villaine thought by this meanes to take away the Apostles life and to repaire the losse his false gods sustained thereby S. Iohn accepted of the match and tooke the impoysonned cup in his hand and made thereon the signe of the Crosse and drunke it of without receuing any hurt Some Authors say for this cause S. Iohn is painted with a cuppe in his hand out of which commeth a serpent and he seemeth to blesse it which signifieth that he destroyed the force of the venime Others say this is not the cause but that he is painted so vpon the words CHRIST said to him when his mother requested that hee and his brother might haue the next place vnto him the one on the right hand and the other on the left and the words of CHRIST were these Can you drinke the cup which I must drinke and they answered I and our Sauiour replyed I say vnto you in verity that you shall drinke my cup This cuppe as some say is signified by the cuppe which is painted in the hand of S. Iohn and it may be it is painted there for both the causes S. Clement of Alexandria S. Iohn Chrisostome and other Authors recount also a story which befell betweene S. Iohn and a disciple of his being a beautifull young man And it was this S. Iohn kept the young man very strait and would haue brought him to strict and a mortified life And hauing on a time occasion to visite one of his Churches commended him vnto the care and gouernement of a Bishop desiring him to haue good regard of him In the absence of S.
of the Church Afterwards kneeling vpoÌ„ his knees continuing his prayers his enemies crying out kill him kill him his head was clouen with many woundes all lighting in one place his braines were scattered about the ground his bodie did fall close besides the Aultar before which he had offered himselfe to God as a sacrifize The Monkes and cleargie men fearing to leese that precious treasure of their Prelats bodie assembling together did strippe him of his cloathes found all his bodie from the neck to the knees couered with a rough haire shirt and his breeches also made of hairecloth With this token of his santity the remeÌ„brance of his vertues they did shed many teares saying one vnto another how farre was he from affecting the Crowne and seeking after earthly honour that did so despise and chastize his owne flesh as if it had bin his mortall enemies They apparailed him in his Pontificall roabes and buried him before the aultar of S. Iohn Baptist and of S. Augustine first Bishop of that citty God that is wonderful in his sainctes working manie miracles to witnesse his santity and glorie This renowned champion of IESVS CHRIST Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of England Legate of the Sea Apostolique and glorious martyr suffered in the yeare of our Lord 1171. in the 53 yeare of his age scarce a moneth after his exile after he had bin Prelate 12. yeares 5. whereof he liued peacebly in his chaire and 7. in banishment Of him Petrus Blesensis a Frenchman by birth a great fauourite of Henry the 2. King of England and a graue writer of those dayes hath these words Thomas was the publisher of Gods word trumpet of the Ghospell friend of the spouse pillar of the cleargie sight of the blinde tonguÌ„e of the dumbe foote of the lame salt of the earth ornament of his countrie minister of the highest Vicar of CHRIST the annoynted of our Lord. All his conuersation was a schoole of vertue the rule of good manners a patterne of saluation He was vpright in iudging industrious in executing discreet in commaunding modest in speaking circumspect in his counsaile most sparing in his dyet most liberall in giuing peaceable in wrath in flesh an Angell meeke in iniuries fearefull in prosperitie well-assured in aduersity allmost lauish in almes giuing and euen altogether mercie the glorie of religious men and the loue and greatest delight of the people with many other prayses to the same purpose Neither is it only hee but all the most famous men of those dayes who extoll S. Thomas as the only patterne and myrrhoure of good Prelats King Henry himselfe did plainely declare how much he did lament his death For he not only swoare that he neuer so much lamented the death of father nor mother nor would haue bin so sorrowfull for the death of his owne childe but he also of his owne accord caâ—â— vnto Canterbury and going barefooted from S. Dunstans Church presented himselfe before the shrine of S. Thomas and bathing the ground with his teares stripped himselfe out of his Princely roabes and vpon his naked backe receaued â— stripes of euerie Bishop and 3. of euerie monke that was present and afterwards fasted all that day and night with great deuotion A rare example of pietie humilitie and deuotion in a Christian Prince such as scarce hath his match and paragon in all Ecclesiasticall Histories And surely God did manifestly declare how acceptable this penance of the King was in his sight For the selfe same day he by his Captaines obtained a glorious victorie wherein the King of Scottes was taken prisoner And manie other prosperous successes ensued this act of humiliation the holy Saint euidently ayding him from Heauen that humbled himselfe so much vpon earth and helping him that subdued and conquered thus himselfe to conquer subdue and gloriously triumph ouer all his enemies Moreouer his murderers notwithstanding they were men of knowen nobilitie and great possessions and in high estimation for their valoure and cheualrie yet forsooke they all riches and voluntarily crossed all the hopes of their preferments going in pilgrimage to Hierusalem where they did publique penance All of them dyed within three yeares after the facte committed verie penitent for their offence calling vpon the sainct desiring his patronage and intercession whose death they acknowledged to haue bin wickedly contriued and executed by themselues yet pretious in the sight of God and glorious in the eye of all the world That time which they liued was alwayes with a perpetuall trembling of bodie and soule like men astonied and distracted hauing euermore winde and weather against them acknowledging all to be the iust Iudgement of Almightie God for their heynous offence But especially he that gaue the saincte his first wound dyed with a consumption and rotte of all his limmes he himselfe casting away the flesh which rotted off from the very boanes and calling vpon the most glorious martyr for pardon and forgiuenesse God of his mercie and by the intercession of this holie Prelate graunt vs pardon and grace to follow his steppes The life of S. Siluester Pope and Confessor SAINT Paule writing vnto Tymotheus his disciple said a Bishop ought to liue sincerely and it is fit that in him be not any thing to be iustly reprooued And for to showe what ought to be in him he setteth downe some properties that a good Bishop ought to haue among other things he saith that he ought to giue good example to them that be without the Church which be the Pagans left he fall into reproach and into the snare of the deuill S. Iohn Chrisostome saith that one of the things wherewith the Apostles spred their doctrine through all the world and the Ghospell was receiued of all men was because they liued without reprehension and gaue good example to euery one and submitted themselues to great paines and desired no reward at all They fled from honours riches pleasures and embraced troubles tribulations and afflictions They did not complaine nor sought reuenge but pardoned and did good to them that did them euill wherefore the pagans said it was not possible for the man that liued so to be in any errour for that God as they said would not haue suffered it and so thereby they iudged the doctrine they preached to be true and veritable and so holpen by god they receued it On the other side those who by their office and function they haue are bound to giue good example and liue euill do very much hurt by their wicked life And these as S. Paule saith Fall into reproach and snares of the deuill for with their euill and wicked life they giue others occasion to do euill and chiefly vnto the painimes who as S. Iohn Chrisostome saith seing the Christians to steale murder commit fornication and other sinnes say that their God cannot chastise them or els that he is like vnto them And so by their fault the holy name of God is
them one by one and kissed the place where the eye wanted and where the hand beene cut of shedding the whilest teares for deuotion And said they were happy in that they had suffered such torments for the loue of IESVS CHRIST The Counsell was ended and Arrius was declared and denounced an hereticke and his doctrine also And because he was obstinate in his false and erronious opinion he with sixe of his followers were sent into exile by the decree of Constantine And because whilest the Counsell endured this great and potent Emperour did a notable thing worthy of eternall memory it shall not be amisse to write it in particular that other seculer Princes may learne to make account of Ecclesiasticall persons and not to intromit to iudge their lifes nor to breake their priuiledges and immunities Great was the resort of people frō sundry nations vnto the Counsell aswell for to dispute of the propositions of the Arryan heretiques as also to craue Iustice and to be remedyed of many aggreauances Euery day were brought vnto the Emperour supplications sceduls or billes of complaints against some of the Prelats Aswell of those present as of some absent yea the Prelats made complaints one of another The Catholike Emperour tooke all these supplications and kept them and neuer read any of them After vpon a day in a full assembly of the fathers he shewed them all their sceduls and supplications and said vnto them Our Lord God hath made you priests and hath giuen you autority and power to iudge all men and me also among others So then I must be iudged by you and you can not be iudged by me therefore awayt stay you for the iudgement of God Your variances and controuersies let them be of whatsoeuer matter they be shal be reserued vnto the iudgement of God I desire you earnestly yo leaue those priuate quarels and let vs all attend vnto the deciding of matters of faith for the which we are heere assembled When he had said thus he threw all the writings into fier to abolish and extinguish them for euer A worthy deed of a renoumed Emperour Nicephorus Callistus and Gregory a priest of Caesarea say that in this Counsell of Nice there died two Bishops the one called Grisantus and the other Musonius before they could subscribe vnto the decrees of the Counsel and that the other Bishops went one night vnto the place where the two Bishops were buried and one in the name of all the Counsell spooke vnto them requesting them that hauing before their death approoued in the Counsell that CHRIST is God which Arrius denyed that they would also subscribe thereto as the other Bishops had done hauing said thus they laid the paper vpon their graues and in the morning their names were found to be subscribed in that paper and many of them that were present and knew their hand-writing said that it was the hand of the deceased Bishops The Counsell being finished and ended all that had bene determined therein was sent vnto Pope Siluester to be approued and they also certified him how the Emperour Constantine had banished the wicked man Arrius and sixe of his adherents The Pope for the greater confirmation of the truth and for that he could not be in Nice being farre distant from Rome and the voyage long assembled another Counsell at Rome of 227. Spa 284. Bishops who being all of one opinion and with one voyce confirmed that which had bene determined at Nice by the. 318 Bishops and againe condemned Arrius Photinus and Sabellius and other Arch heretiks The Councell of Nice was holden and celebrated in the yeare of our saluation 325. and therein was declared and decreed that the Church of Rome is the head of all other Churchs And that vnto him the next is the Church of Alexandria which had bene gouerned by S. Marke the Euangelist The third in dignity is the Church of Antioch where S. Peter made his first residence and the fourth is the Church of Ierusalem where S. Iames was the first Bishoppe We read of many holesome statutes and ordinaunces made by S. Siluester viz That the priest hauing finished the Baptisme hee should anoynt his forehead with Chrisme though this was vsed before in some particuler Churches as for example in Aphrica for S. Cyprian who was Bishop of Carthage before this writing to Ianuarius saith It is fit and conuenient that thou anoynt with oyle the forehead of him thou doest Baptize So that Pope Siluester commaunded it should be obserued through all the Church vniuersally which before was done but in some particuler places He commanded also that the Corporals should be of white linnen cloth not of silke nor any other stuffe nor of any other collour That Bishops only should consecrate the Crisme and the same he might vse in the sacrament of confirmation He commaunded that the Deacons should vse the Dalmatica or Tunicle and the maniples on the left arme He forbad priests to goe to suite in law before seculer iudges for any occasion whatsoeuer In the time of this Pope was celebrated a counsell in Spaine in a city neere vnto Granada called Illiberis and therefore the Counsell was called Illiberitanum Though that others say that this Counsell was celebrated in another Illiberis to wit in Colybree Another prouinciall Counsell was celebrated in his time at Arlez in Fraunce and some others in other parts Whereby it is apparant that the faith and the Gospell was enlarged and spred very farre in many countries and had taken deepe root in Spaine In the same time the people of Scotia the most northerly parte of the Island Britannia receiued the faith of CHRIST IESVS It is said that Pope Siluester chaunged the name of the dayes of the weeke from the munday vntill the Saturday for that the Pagans called them by the names of the Planets viz. Munday of the Moone Tuesday of Mars Wednesday of Mercury Thursday of Iupiter Friday of Venus and Satterday of Saturne and appointed they should be called Ferias the first the second the third fourth fifth sixth and Saterday but this ordinaunce is not vsed at this present but in the diuine offices that which is commonly called Sunday Pope Leo. 1. called it the Lords day though some called it so euen from the time of the Apostles S. Siluester had very great care of the poore and needy and had many memorialls whereby he had alwayes the better meanes to know their needs to prouide for their necessities He had especiall care that the Reclused Nonnes should haue all things necessary prouided for them to the end they should not go wandering out of their monasteryes vnder pretext to seek their meat and drink or any other necessary thing S. Siluester liued in the papacy 23. years 10. months and 11. dayes and then died and was buryed in the Churchyard of Priscilla in the way called Salaria He gaue holy orders sixe times in the month of December and made 65. Priests and 26. Deacons The Catholike Church celebrateth his feast on the day that he died to wit on the last day of December in the year of our Lord. 333. in the raigne of Constantine the Great The end of the tvvelue monthes