Martyrs GREAT was the pride of that hauty king Pharao in persecuting the people of Israell Exod 1. seeking all meanes he could to hinder them from increasing But the blessed God of heauen ordained that the more dilligent the wicked king was against them so much the more he should remaine defeated in his enterprise and disgraced all things falling out contrary to his designes and entent for the people multiplyed and encreased the more The same befell vnto the diuell for in the first growing and spreading of Christianity he desired to root out the Christians and to that intent he stirred vp the tyrants to put them to death martyr them as indeed innumerable of them were But the more he laboured herein the more the number of the Christians encreased This may be seene by the example of three holie martyrs to witt SS Tripho Respicius and Nimpha The diuell began with one of them thinking to end with him but the two others seing his martyrdome offered themselues voluntarily and without compulsion vnto martyrdome and to dye in company with him for the loue of CHRIST their Lord. The manner hereof as it is extant in diners martyrologes was in this sort SAINT Trypho was borne in Rome in a street called Saxea He being verie yong exercised himself in good and holie works and God by his meanes did some miracles by healing persons posessed with the diuell and grieued with other infirmities In that sharp persecution of Decius this holie saint showed himself zealous of the honor of God by preaching IESVS CHRIST publiklie without fearing the Edicts of the Emperour or the cruelty that his officers vsed against the Christians He encouraged the feeble and animated the faintharted not to dread the torments which should quickly end and were meanes to attaine perpetuall ioye in heauen A gouernour called Quilinus being certified hereof and finding it to be very true for that S. Trypho himself confessed the same he commaunded he should be tormented The first was the ordinary torment that was to tye him vnto the Equuleus where his bodie being racked it was rent and torne with hooks of Iron Then set they burning torches vnto his sides and gaue him many blowes with knoâ—ted staues and lastlie his feet were burned through with hot burning nayles S. Trypho tollerated all this with a couragious mind and a cheerefull countenance so that a Tribune called Respicius seing it considered thus That a man of flesh and blood could not haue such strength nor tollerate so great and so many torments if he were not asisted and holpen by God And if God did help him it was certaine that he was very high in his fauour Whereupon it might be truly gathered that the God whom this holie man confessed and for whose sake he endured so many torments and by whom he was so much holpen was the true God and that all the other were false Gods In the time that Respicius stood in these considerations there came to him a gracious dewe from heauen vnto which he made no resistance but openly confessed that he was a Christian When the officers that tormented S. Trypho heard this they layd hands on him and began to torment them both together Then did they lead them into the Temple vnto the statue of Iupiter and S. Trypho kneeled downe not to adore it but to make the statue fall in pieces to the ground as appeared euidently by that which followed There was present hereat a damsell called Nimpha who seing this miracle said with a loud voice IESVS CHRIST is the true God and those which the Gentiles adore be false Gods and of no force seing the prayers of the Christians make them fall to pieces By occasion of these words Nimpha was likewise tormented with SS Tripho and Respicius The officers beat them with certaine whips which had pluÌ„mets of lead tyed to the end of euery cord This was giuen vnto them with such cruelty that they all three yealded their soules vnto God in that torment Which was on the 10. of Nouember in the yeare of our Lord. 251. In the raigne of the aforenamed Decius And on the same daie the Church celebrateth their feast The life of S. Martin Bishop and Confessor WE read in the first book of kings of that valyant and couragious yong man Dauid Cap. 17. that when he returned with victory from the battaile with that fierce gyant Golyas he made all them that came to see him to wonder He was yong well proportioned and talle of body as Caietan noteth well vpon this place and giueth this reason saying that Saul put his armor on him when he would haue sent him against the gyant and that Dauid refused them which was not for that they were to bigge but for that he was not vsed to beare armor Of Saul we know by the Scripture that he was very tall and then Dauid necessarilie must be so also 1. Reg. 9. He was beutifull and well sett and had also a comely countenance and went in leather like a sheapheared he carryed in the one hand the great head of the Gyant and in the other the blouly sword which had cut it of The sterne and grimme sight of the Gyants head made the beauty and comelynes of Dauid to seeme more The people came wondring and euers one was delighted with the sight of him In this maner came he before Saul with whom was Ionathas his sonne the heire of the kingdome who seeing the behauiour of Dauid as the text saith took such affection vnto him that euen there in the sight of them all he took of part of his garments and put them vpon Dauid Thus much of this figure serueth for our propose that Ionathas did shew his great loue vnto Dauid in bestowing his garments on him The same did the glorious S. Martin with IESVS CHRIST for with him he deuided his garmets wherein he shewed that he loued him much as is euident in the discourse of his life written by Seuerus Sulpitius which we haue abridged in this maner SAINT Martin was borne in Sabaria a towne of Hongarye His parents were of noble bloud but they were Gentills his father had bene Coronell of the horse in the army of the Romains and was retired to his house to rest and repose himself Martin being ten yeres old went to the Church against his fathers mynd and requested to be made a Catechumen which was to write his name in the rolle of them that desired to be Christians for after they were well instructed in the faith they were to be Baptised He spent his time in seruing of God and entended no other thing but to please him conuersing always with his seruaÌ„ts in the Church There he was enstructed in learnyng and good behauiour He had a great desire to goe and liue a solitary life in the desert if his tender age had not hindred him and also an edict that came from Rome which commaunded that the sonnes of
holy obedience to eate some He without any reply bad the meat which he should eate to be brought vnto him There was brought vnto him as it is said a boiled chicken or some other foule whatsoeuer it was and the blessed man hauing it before him besought our lord to do him that fauour that he might not eat of that foule and yet not to runne into the sinne of disobedience wherupon the foule returned vnto life and flewe away out of the platter leauing all them that were present astonished and the holy saint iocund and glad On the next night the B. Virgin Mary accompanied with S. Augustine visited him and the glorious virgin bad him to send for a loafe of bread into the market place and to put it in water and to eate therof in the name of IESVS CHRIST and he should be cured of that infirmity Herof cometh the vsage that the bread which is called the breade of S. Nicholas of Tolentino is blessed on that day in the conuents of S. Augustine that his feast is solemnised and this breade helpeth and cureth many infirmities as is to this day seene by experience especially the feuer tercian which was his infirmitie as is thought S. Nicholas being healed and cured of the aforesaid infirmity returned vnto his accustomed penance and austerity of life he vsed to fast three daies in the week which he had obserued from the age of seuen years He whipped himselfe in the night many times and his discipline or whippe was certein chaines of Iron his bed was made with a litle hay and his habite was of course cloth full of pieces he vsed to pray very much for he continued in his oraisons from the houre of the Complin vntill it was farre in the night and from the houre of mattins vntill masse was celebrated and from the houre of None vntill the euensong The blessed man spending his time in these and other like good exercises was much vexed and mollested by the diuell who endeuored to drawe him from these his holy imploymentes by scoffs and deceits and sometimes by the permission of God by tormenting and beating him in such sort that the friers hearing the noise came forthwith to defend him and they found him laid at length vpon the ground like a dead man and so they caried him back vnto his couch of hay and yet he for al this omitted not his prayers He visited sick men with great charity and endeuored to help and cherish them as much as he was able He had greate compassion vpon some sinners which had made their confession vnto him and for them he praied fasted and said masse with greate deuotion The like he did for the soules in purgatory vnto the which he had greate deuotion which was increased much more in him by a reuelation he had of the great paines they suffered in that place when there came any frier as a stranger vnto his conuent he shewed him all the kindnes he could possibly neither did he forget the state of prisoners but rather in his sermons and priuate communications which he had with rich men and men in autority he persuaded them to the works of mercy as a thing very acceptable vnto our lord This blessed Saint comforted the afflicted gaue consolation vnto men in tribulation set atonement betwene men that were at variance He was a refuge for them that were in affliction a helper vnto the needy and the raunsomer of them that were slaues and in bondage God shewed many miracles by the meanes of this glorious saint aswell in his life time as also after his death which be fell him in the afore said conuent of Tolentine and when he was now at the last gasp he called the friers and desired them all to forgiue him if he had offended them in any thing and after he had receiued the most holy sacraments he caused a crucifix to be set before him and in speaking vnto CHRIST his B. Mother and his holy father S. Augustine he yelded vp his soule vnto God on the. 10. day of September in the yeare of our Lord. 1307. Afterward Pope Eugenius the. 4. hauing made due diligence and hauing receued full information of his life and miracles put his name in the catalogue of the holy Confessors in the yeare of our saluation 1446. The life of SS Protus and Iacinctus Martirs THE Apostle S. Paule saith Rom. 1. that by the meanes of visible things we come vnto the knowledg of the inuisible things of God His meaning is that by the knowledg of the creatures we come vnto the knowledg of the creator Even so it happened vnto the glorious martirs SS Protus Iacinctus by the means of a holy damosell called Eugenia They studied philosophy and other humaine sciences and by that study they came to the knowledg that the Gods which the Gentils adore were false and that there was but one God onely After this by conuersing with some Christians they vnderstood that IESVS CHRIST is the true God and they were conuerted vnto his faith In collecting their life out of that which S. Isidore and Simeon Metaphrastes write in the life of S. Eugenia I say That SAINT Protus and S. Iacinctus were eunuches and attended vpon a noble Lady called Eugenia daughter vnto Philip a Roman senator who being elected Regent of Alexandria by the senate went thither with Claudia his wife Eugenia his daughter and all his family There went thither also with Eugenia Protus Iacinctus the two Eunuches And because in that city there was a study of diuers sciences Eugenia the two Eunuchs be stowed their time in study and they all three profited much therin Philosophy was their chiefest study and by speculation in the same thy came to knowe that it was a foolish and vaine thing to adore many Gods for reason did make demonstration that such wicked and lewd men as were Iupiter Apollo Mars and all the other which the heathens adored for Gods were not only vnworthy of the name of God but also of men since their deeds and actions were bestiall and abhominable After this beginning to frequent the company of christians they had vnderstanding of the misteries of our faith and so desired to be baptized To performe this the better Eugenia determined to put her self in mans apparell and in that sort to depart from her fathers house taking with her Prothus and Iacinthus the Eunuches to seek out a holy Abbot called Helenus to be by him Baptised and receiued into his society This Abbot gouerned a monastery of relligious men and had a reuelation that Eugenius so called was a woeman yet because he knew it to be the wil of God that things should proceed in that maner he kept it from her He Baptised them and gaue vnto them all three his religious habitt and they liued therin a godly vertuous life Afterward Helenus the Abbot deceasing the monks who thought Eugenius had bene a man chose hir
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
When it was diuâ—lged bruited in that countrey that Ierome had chosen his habitation in that place it cannot be expressed how people resorted thither from all parts especially from Rome The holy woman Paula with other deuour women went thither though the other returned and shee only staied there vntill her death Paula sold her lands and possessions in Rome and with the money comyng therof builded foure monasteries in Bethlehem three for women and one for men It may be that shee caused the monastery which S Ierome had built before to be enlarged and made bigger S. Ierome was the superior and gouerned the monastery of men and Paula gouerned the other three made for the women being so discreet and holy that she ruled those three in good sort dwelling now in the one and then in another There S. Ierome ended the writing of his admirables works which the church keepeth and esteemeth at this day He translated the Bible viz the old testament out of the Hebrew into latine thee newe testament out of Greek into latine and wrote commentaries out of Greek into latine and wrote commentaries on the greatest part there of and expounded it excellently His books being spread through the world beside the many epistles which he wrote almost with out intermission vnto sondy persons caused euery one to find and knowe his sanctity and profound doctrine and to accept and account him for a very good and sound Catholike for some had at the first doubt therof by cause of that which Ruffinus his aduersary wrote against him One of these was S. Augustine who at the first had a distrust in him but afterward he bare vnto him such loue and affection that being Bishop of Hippo he sent one of his trusty friends called Alipius and other of his priests to visite him on his behalf and to be instructed by him reputing it for a great honour and credit knowing as he knewe to be the disciple of the disciples of S. Ierome There went persons of great account from all countreys to visite him as Paulus Orosius did who was also sent by S. Augustine Seuerus Sulpitius Apodemius and other rare and renoumed men And though the voyage was long and the daunger great yet all that seemed a small thing to see thee venerable old man S. Ierome replenished with sanctity and learning This holy doctor wrote incessantly against heceticks and persecuted them with out any intermission and they were afrayd and trembled to heare him named Origen had written many books before the time of S. Ierome all which he read taking great delight in his delicate and fine witt and for affection called him his teacher but for all that he did not pardon nor spare the errors he found in his books yea he impugned them to the vttermost of his ability S. Ierome was subiect to many infirmities caused by continuall study and the hard austerity he had vsed to ward his body so that some times he remayned whole years bedrid yet ceased he not but endited to others that wrote so that he composed many books being occupied in that exercize 30. years as he writeth himself The countrey of Greece did much honour this glorious doctor by translating the works he wrote in latine into the Greek toung It is said by S. Ierome that as he red one day vnto his disciples wherof he had many in ordinary from many parts there entred into his schoole or place of lecture a lyon halting All the schollers ranne away but the holy doctor receued him without dread when the lyon came neere he lifted vp and shewed one of his forefeet wounded with a thorne which was runne into his foot and the holy man dressed it and when it was hole the lyon would not depart but attended in the monastery as if he had bene tame and domesticall This story I tell because he is painted with a lyon by him It is also said that S. Ierome apointed thereto by Damasus the pope set in order the office of the Church diuiding the psalmes for euery day of the week and apointing that euery one should end with this versicle Gloria Patri c. Sicut erat c. He apointed also the Epistles and Ghospells for all the yeare with the lectures and prophecies that are red in the office of the masse S. Ierome being employed in these holy exercises and such like in aunswering and assoiling douts which Bishops and other relligious persons sent vnto him from all parts of Christendome and also in giuing aduise to people that were in necessity he came vnto such perfectioÌ„ that he was rapt and translated some times in spirite among the Quiers of Angells and began in this life to tast the reward of his paine and traueill though there remained some other afflictions for his old age which was a feeblenes that he could not rise from his bed and as Sigibertus saith he had a corde tied to a piece of wood ouer his bed and he held by that when he desired to turne from one side vnto the other His infirmity encreasing and he knowing the hower of his death approched commaunded the B. Sacrament to be brought vnto him and then communicated with great deuotion which when he had done he yielded vp his spirite vnto God on the 30. day of September about the year of our Lord 422. Honorius and Theodosius the second being Emperours Marianus victorius in the life of S. Ierome saith that this holy Doctor dyed at the age of 99. years as some Authors hold for some others say otherwise It is most true and assured that he liued till his decrepit age as S. Augustine saith in the first book against Iulianus His blessed body was buryed in Bethleham and after ward in processe of time it was brought to Rome and laid in the Chuch of S. Maria ad presepe which at this day is called S. Maria Maior God shewed many miracles by meanes of this holy saint aswell in his life as after his death The Church accounteth him for one of the foure Doctors and maketh a great feast of him and especially in Rome for that there he studied there he was Baptised and there resteth his blessed body It is also very fit that fraunce should keep it festiuall for there he was a good space and sawe the principall places of that king dome Germany is also obliged in like maner vnto S. Ierome for that he wrote a book of it and made the countrey famous Greece is in the same debt for the commodity they reape by the books of this holy doctor which are traÌ„slated into their language Egipt is also deeply in his debt for that it enioyed a long time his company and blessed conuersation The deserts of Siria are in the same debt for the austere penance S. Ierome did there doth nobilitate and make them famous Bethlehem shal be reconed in this account yea and we may call it happy for two respects first and principally because
them was Clodoueus sonne to Childericus who was possessed of the greatest and best part of that Realme This Clodoueus was a Painim Idollater but had to his wife Clotidis a holy vertuous Christian woman of the house of Burgundy Shee had many times persuaded the king to be Baptised and to be come a Christian and he excused himself alleaging that the souldiers of his army would kill him if he did so On a time being in warre against the Allemans and Sueuians and fighting with them he fell into great danger not only to be discomfited but also to be slaine in the field Clodoueus had in his company a Christian the duke of Orleance who aduised the king to make a vowe vnto God to be made a Christian assuring him thereby the victory ouer his foes Clodoueus made the vowe euery thing succeeded according to his desire for he not only was victorius in that encounter but he also made that prouince subiect vnto his crowne Then he returned with victory vnto Paris his place of residence and made relation vnto the queen Clotildis of the vowe he had made who being ioifull of it sent messengers for S. Remigius to come and confer with the king The holy Bishop came and spake with the king and shewed to him such pregnant reasons that he was fully resolued to be Baptised The thing that staied him was the fear that his subiects would rebell against him To put that doubt out of the kings mind S. Remigius talked priuatly with â—he principall men of the kings host and some times he preached to them in publik These priuate and publik speeches of S. Remigius were of such force that all said they would be Baptised if the king was The day wherin the king should be Baptised was apointed and much people were assembled and all the chiefe men were in the Church where the blessed Sacrament was to be celebrated The king being vpon the fonte the priests by Gods permission had forgot to bring thither the holy oile and when the king should haue bene aniointed there with S. Remigius perceaued the want therof The throng of the people was so great that it was impossible to haue it brought so soon as was fit so that the holy saint was much perplexed but he had in his hart recourse vnto the father of mercies beseeching him to help him in this necessity lest ther should arise any offence among the people and behold a Doue carrieng in her bill a violl with holy oile therin was seene euidently to come and put it into the hands of S. Remigius and then to fly away againe The holy sainct after he had giuen thanks vnto God for this fauor receiued anointed the king with that oile after the accustomed vsage The sweet odour of that oile was so great that the king and others who had seene the miracle were astonied therat and rendered vnto God infinit thanks for the same Clodoueus was then named Lodouicus and vnto S. Remigius aswell the king as the other noblemen that were Baptised that day shewed many fauors and gaue him many possessions and other reuenews which he distributed among the Churches of his Diocess S. Remigius in his old age knew by reuelation from heauen that there would ensue a great dearth and scarcety of corne in all Fraunce and therefore he like another Ioseph gathered good store therof against that time of necessity and heaped and staked it vp in a village called Celtum This being done certein countrie clownes vpon a festiuall day hauing litle to do talked together of the great store of graine he had collected And one of them said This Lazie old man for so they called him for his great age will I think by his ingrossing become a merchant of corne Another instigated by the deuill said let vs set it on fier burne it and so he shall not gaine by his merchandize The others assented and so in an instant they sett fire to the stacks and burned much As it happened S. Remigius was not farre of and being told of this accident he speedilie got to his horse and went to see if he could remedy it but when he came he found it past recouery It was in a cold euening in the winter which also was a vexation to the holy man by reason of his age and so he alighted from his nagge and came neere to the fire to warme himself with out any alteration of his countenance and said God will not forget to punish him that hath done this euill losse vnto poore men and so it came to passe for the pesants that set fier to the corne became crook backt and al their children that came of them were so also The Author that wrote this life saith he hath sene some of their race crook backt To end the time long desired by S. Remigius the day of his death aproached by which he hoped to haue the rewarde of his trauell tollerated for the loue of his Church in gouerning the same by the space of 74 years for so long he had bin Bishop In all which time he neuer did thing that was not fit or conuenient neither did he omitt to do that which he ought to do Vnderstanding that the hower of his death approached first he set in order the affairs of his Church then he pâ—ouided to haue long oraisons made for him and desired to receaue the holy Sacrament and so finally he yielded vp his soule vnto his redeemer who had bought it with his pretious bloud being then 96 years old in the year of our Lord 545 on the 13. day of Ianuary But because the holy Church on that day solemniseth the octaues of the Epiphanie the feast of S. Remigius is put ouer vnto the 1. day of October because on that day his body was translated He was first buried in a Church of S. Christopher in the same city of Rheimes but bicause the Church was litle and the concourse of people which came to visite his sepulcher great it was made bigger and larger and of more curious and costly workmanship in especiall there was made a most beautifull sepulcher for the body of the holy sainct but when they would haue caried it thither they fouÌ„d it so weighty so heauy that no humain force and strength was able to moue it in such sort that all the clergy and people which were assembled to make that translation were pensiue and sorowfull yet staied in the Church singing himnes and spirituall songs Staieng in this maÌ„ner they fell in a fast sleep and when they awaked they found the blessed body caried into the new sepulcher by the hands of Angells wherupon it was ordeined in regard of this miracle that the feast of S. Remigius should be celebrated on that day which was the. 1. of October as nowe it is The life of the Seraphicall Father S. Frauncis WE READ of king Dauid that when he was persecuted by Saul 1. Reg 27.
the venerable and B. Prelat S. Dionise bad the headsman to do his office And he being ready began with him and then went to Rusticus and lastly to Eleutherius and cut of all their three heads in that order Although God permitted these his seruants to be put to death as is aboue said yet was not he forget full of them yea because he would the more glorify them and not suffer their bodies to be dishonored his will was to worke a wonderfull miracle in that place The headles body of S. Dionise arose on his feet and tooke vp in his hand his owne head and went as it were in maner of triumph untill it mett a vertuous woman coming out of her own house not farre distant from the place where the holy saints were martired The body of S. Dionise being come vnto that place where the woman was deliuered his head vnto her as a pretious treasure and shee also receued it as a most goodly Iewell The bodies of SS Rusticus and Eleutherius continued still in the place of execution and the headsman and the other officers talked and deuised to cast them into the riuer to be deuoured by the fihses and with all to bereaue the Christians of them who as they knew well would reuerence and esteem them very much A woman called Caâ—ulla who had bin a defender and helper of S. Dionise and his companions in this persecution heard of their wycked designe intention and inuited the headsman and the officers vnto her house to make good cheare and accordingly did sett meat and drink before them In the meane space shee sent for certain Christians secretly who conuayed away and hid the bodies of the holy martirs When the officers and headsman had eateÌ„ their fill they went out to looke for the bodies of the blessed saints to haue put in practise their lewd designe and not finding them they streightwaies made a tumult and threatned exceedingly such as had stollen them away but the discreet woman appeased them with gifts and with fair words and so they departed quietly away The Christians laid the bodies of the holy saints in a priuate house without the walls of Paris and after certein years there was builded for them a goodly sumptuous and stately Church where they now do rest They who do visite their holy relicks do obteine many graces by the intercession of these holly martirs The death of these holy saints fell on the same day that the Church celebrateth the same viz on the 9. of October in the year of our Lord. 96. in the time of Domitian or Traian as others say S. Dionise was 90. years old when he was martired as Trithemius saith He wrote certein books replenished with merueillous and profound doctrine viz De Ecclesiastica Caelesti hierarchia De mistica Theologia De diuinis moninibus and others out of which the faithfull beleeâ—ers reap no les fruit of his doctrine them the former had gathered by the good example of his holy life as the third Countell of ConstaÌ„tinople affirmeth in which place 6. Sinod CoÌ„staÌ„tinop they were acknowledged for his books and were highly esteemed The life of S. Callistus Pope and martir SALOMON saith in Ecclesiasticus cap. 37. The abstineÌ„â— man encreaseth the daies of his life This sentence is verified in Gallen the prince of phisike and medicine who liuing 140. yeares and being asked howe and by what meanes he liued so long answered I neuer rose from the table satiate and full More are they that dy by furfet and to much then by abstinence and too litle This being considered by the B. Pope Callistus he ordeined the fast called the Ember by commaunding the faithfull that in the foure times of the year viz the Spring Sommer Autumne and Winter they should fast three daies in one week in euery one of these quarters and likewise in those daies pray vnto God that he would giue and conserue the fruits of the earth and also that prayer maie be made vnto God for them that take holy orders at those times Also as the church saith in a praier fasting was instituted for the good of body and soule being vnto them bothe a holesome medicine oration Quadrag The life of this holy Pope was written by Damasus and other Authors in this maner BY the death of S. Zepherinus Pope and martir Callistus the first of that name was placed in the Chair of S. Peter He was borne in Rome and was the sonne of Domitius He builded a Church in the honor of the glorious virgin which is called Santa Maria trans Tiberim though as Plaâ—â—na saith it cannot be that which is so called at this present bicause at that time the Christians had not such large liberty as to build sumptuous Churches yea those which they had were litle meane and priuat as this was then because of the persecutions but Gregory the 3. enlarged it and before him Pope Siluester the first that builded publik Churches Pope Callistus at this owne cost caused to be made a Churcheyard in the way called Appia which is called the Churchyard of Callistus where many martirs are buried In this Churchyard was afterward built the Church of S. Sebastian therein are conserued many relicks and many alters and litle chapples are vnder the ground where masses were said in great secrecy for feare of the Pagans This same Pope as is afore said ordeined the feast of the Quaâ—uor tempora or Ember daies And bicause the giuing of holy orders was vsed to be done but once in the yeare which then was not sufficient for that the number of the faithfull was very much augmented it was also necessary to encrease the number of priests and Deacons and so it was permitted to giue holy orders at those foure times of fasting Callistus for bad all faithfull beleeuers to participate or conuerse with persons excommunicate and also commaunded that no excommunicate person should be absolued Cap. Consang 3 q. 4. except the cause was first heard and the party satisfied He also was the first who prohibited matrimony betwene kinsfolks and apointed the same consanguinity vntill the seuenth degree though it after was limited to the fourth degree as it is at this present This good Pope gouerned the Church of God vertuously 6. years 2. months and 10. daies in the which he gaue holy orders fiue times in the moneth of December and ordered 8. Bishops 16. priests and foure deacons and then was martired Vsuardus recounteth his martirdome in this ensuing maner saâ—eng That the Emperour AlexaÌ„der Seuerus hauing kept him long in prison caused many bastanadoes to be giuen him allowing him with all verie litle sustenaunce and lastly he caused him to be thrown out of a window of the prison and in that sort he yielded vp his soule vnto God The Church celebrateth his feast on the. 14. day of October which was the same day he was martired in the year of our Lord. 224. It
the hangman began to vntie him he lyfted vp his voice to IESVS CHRIST and said Lord I beseech thee for thy holie names sake permitt me not to be taken from the Crosse aliue Receaue me my master whom I haue loued whom I haue confessed whom I haue preached and of whom I hope to be rewarded Oh good IESVS receaue my spirit in peace for now is it time to come to thee whom I haue so much desired Whilest the Apostle said these wordes there discended from heauen a great brightnes in manner of a beame of the sunne which euerie one saw and couered the bodie of the Apostle that for half an houres space it could not be seene at which time it vanished awaye and then they perceiued that the was dead One Maximilla a deuout woman a disciple of the Apostle being of that cittie and verie rich went to the Crosse with some of her seruants and took the bodie of the saint and buried it anointing it first with pretious ointments When Egeas vnderstood what Maximilla had done he ment to complaine vnto the Emperour both of her and of many other that asisted her Whilest he was in the publique hall taking informations thereof tâ—e diuell entred into him making him to roare and crie out as a beast and tormenting him in the sight of the people made him to yield his soule to be tormented in hell This iudgment of God caused many to be conuerted to the faith of CHRIST The martirdome of S. Andrew was on the 30. of Nouember and on the same daie the Church celebrateth his feast His death was in the yeere of our Lord. 62. as Canisius saith in the raigne of Nero. In the time of the Emperour Constantine the bodie of S. Andrew was translated to Constantinople and from thence to diuers other places till lastlie it was carried into Italie to the cittie of Amalfy in the kingdome of Naples where it is at this present And it is said that out of this blessed bodie cometh a most pretious liquor that cureth and healeth diuers infirmities When Pius the second was Pope his head was brought to Rome and set in a tabernacle made for that purpose in the Church of S. Peter S. Gregorie of Toures recounteth many miracles done by the intercession of S. Andrew namelie the curing of diuers and sundrie infirmities He saith also that in the time of Clodoueus king of France in a warre he made in Burgundie and in the sacking of a countrie fire was set on the Church of a holie martir called Saturninus within the which were some reliques of S. Andrew The fire enereased and the people were much agreeued that the reliques of the holie Apostle should be so consumed There was a souldier borne at Toures who perceiuing the sorrow of the people entred resolutlie into the middest of the fire and went vnto the place where the reliques of the holie Apostle were and brought them awaie safe without hurt And God was pleased to shew how acceptable this pious deed was to him preseruing the souldier from the fire that it hurt him not at all We read also of other miracles of S. Andrew as of a Bishop whom the diuell in forme of a damosell would haue deceiued and the holie Apostle went to his house in the shape of a pilgrime and told him of the deceit but for that I haue not read it in any approoued author I do not auerre it yet God can and vseth to do those or the like things by the intercession of his holie saints And we ought not to doubt but he hath done many miracles by the intercession of S. Andrew who followed and loued him so that at last he died on the Crosse for his loue as himself had done It is iust therefore that we be deuout to this holie saint that by his prayers and meritts we maie obtaine of God eternall glorie Amen DECEMBER The life of S. Bibiana virgin and Martir MANY were the vexations and great were the tribulations the holy man Dauid suffered at the haÌ„ds of sondry persons who without any cause giuen on his part endeuored to do him all the mischief they could as amoÌ„g others his father in lawe Saul did yet he supported all these troubles with patience and myldnes but the insurrection of his sonne Absalon nipped him to the hart and mollested him aboue all the rest wherefore he said in one psalme If myne enemy had said euill of me and had persecuted me Ps. 54 I would haue supported it bycause that of an enemy no friendly kindnes is expected but I am aggreiued that this my sonne he who satt at my table and eate with me in the same dish should be the maÌ„ that should persecute me Oh how worthy was he and such as he was to descend aliue into hell Many were the tyrants that persecuted the Church and many more were they that put the Christians to death but S. Bibiana had reason to complaine of none more then of Iulyan the Apostata because the others were her professed enemyes in that they were Idollaters But this wicked and damnable man was a Christian and within holy orders who put her to very great sorrow and moued her to desire God to chastise him as indeed he did by depriuing him in a short time both of his empire and life it being not knowen by whom nor in what maner This is only certain that the lewd and wicked man being in the middest of his army was wounded with a speare wherof he dyed blasphemyng and reuiling at IESVS CHRIST his cursed soule falling as a pray into the diuells hands S. Bibiana was martyred in the time of this wicked emperour Venerable Bede and other Authors of martyrologes write her martyrdome in this maner SAINT Bibiana was borne in Rome and was daughter vnto Faustus and Drafosa who were both Christians and holy matâ—yrs S. Bibiana being very yong did exercise her self in holy and vertuous woorks Shee was taken in the time of th'emperour Iulian the Apostata a cruell foe vnto Christians and deliuered to the custody of Faustus the gouernour who was apointed to heare and determyne her cause He persuaded her to sacrifice vnto the Idols the souer to drawe her to the same he threatned to put her vnto grieuous torments if shee refused it But the holy saint answered with such godly reasoÌ„s that shee persuaded the Gouernour himself to forsake and relinquish the Idolls and to be made a Christian and consequently to endure torments and death couragiously for the same The holy damsell Bibiana was very ioyous that shee had made that gaine as to gaine a soule to her spouse IESVS CHRIST Then was shee led before the Emperour who exhorted her to sacrifice vnto the Idolls and shee aunswered him that the God creator and gouernour of heauen and earth was only worthy to be adored Th'emperour hearing this answer commaunded Bibiana to be beaten with cudgells which was done with such cruelty that shee
yielded vp her spirit vnto God in that torment on the second day of December on the which day the Church celebrateth her feast This befell in the year of our Lord. 364. in the time of Iulyan the Apostata The body of S. Bibiana was buryed by a priest called Iohn in the city of Rome in a place neere vnto the palace of Licinius The life of S. Barbara virgin and Martyr THE prophet Ezechiel recounteth a vision Cap. 40 saying that he sawe a man who measured the temple and the house of God who had in his hand a rod wand to measure which was sixe cubites long and one handfull The Gyant Golyas with whom Dauid sought and cut of his head was also sixe cubites 1. Râ—g 17 and one handfull hiâ— It is not without mistery that these two measures are alike It may be by the man whom Ezechiell sawe to measure the temple is signified our Lord God And by the Gyant Golyas is ment the deuill In that he was of the same measure that the rod of the other was sheweth that the deuill to the vttermost striueth to be likened vnto God And omitting many other examples I will speak of one seruing our purpose God commaunded Abraham to sacrifice his own sonne Gen. 22 who incontinent prepared himself to doâ—yt and had performed the same if God who bad him had not hindered and let him by an Angell Out of this act of Abraham redounded very much honor vnto God it being thereby seene hat he had such a faithfull seruant that to do him seruice he was willing to kill his owne sonne The deuill to be like vnto God in this persuaded one of his seruants called Dioscorus to kill his only daughter who was called Barbara a blessed damosell to do seruice to the same deuill The life of this holy saint was written in this maÌ„ner by Symeon Metaphrastes and Ado. Arch. B. of Treuers IN the time of Th'emperour Maximian there was in the city of Nicomedia a man very rich in worldly posessions and of a noble family but in relligion he was an Idollater and was called Dioscorus This man had one only daughter who was to be his heyre whom he loued dearely This damosell was very beautifull and witty and in religion which is the thing most to be regarded shee was a Christian and very vertuous though her father was ignorant that shee was Baptised Dioscorus doubted lest the yong woman lyuing alone in the house and being so faire should be sued vnto in some inconuenient manner by one or other which to preuent and auoid he inclosed her in a tower of his pallace It was no grief vnto the holy damosell to be so shut and mewed vp there since shee might bestowe her self wholy by this meanes in the seruyce of God as she did spending her time in prayers and meditations the inspirations of the holy Ghost recreating her soule There was in that same tower a faire hall and many chambers furnished shee might also goe downe from the tower into a garden for her recreation her father for her better contentment made therin a bayne or bathing house with two wyndowes to giue it light The work was not yet finished when Dioscorus was occasioned to go on a long iourney wherefore he gaue directions vnto the master work men and departed By happe Barbara went one day to see the labourers as they were working on the two wyndows and bad them make three The men sayd they durst not do so for Dioscorus had commaunded them to make but two Barbara said I would haue you make three in any case and if my father be offended therewith tell him that I bad you and I will yield him a reason why three be made So the workmen made three wyndowes as shee bad them The work being furnished Barbara weÌ„t vnto the Baine and in seeing the three wyndowes shee contemplated the mistery of the B. Trinity It befell one day shee meditating the misteryes of the passion and death of IESVS CHRIST and shedding teares from her beutifull eyes which like pretious perles drapped into the fountein and were mingled with the pure and christalline water shee came vnto a piller of marble out of which the water issued and on the same with her finger shee made the signe of the Crosse A merueillous thing to recount the marke made in the marble with the finger of the virgin continued as if it had bene imprinted by some seale into waxe The signe remayned there and after that the holy saint was martyred many came into the baine and looking on it deuoutly calling on the name of the holy Saint were deliuered from many infirmityes When the holy damosell had made the Crosse shee kissed it deuoutly many times casting aside her eyes shee sawe some statues of the Idolls her father adored which he had caused to be set there for the more ornament of the place It grieued her very sore and caused her to sigh and lament for compassion of them that adored such Gods and moued with indignation against them shee spit in their faces sayeng Let all them that adore you and seek for help at your hands be like vnto yow hauing done this shee returned vnto her tower and spent her life in fasting and prayer her mynd being always fixed vpon God Her father came home and went to visite his daughter and also to see his newe baine hauing the master workmen with him When he sawe they had made three wyndows and he had apointed them to make but two he asked them the cause therof and they told him again that his daughter charged them to do as they had done So he sayd no more at that time Afterward being alone with Barbara he said vnto her daughter what was thy meanyng to cause them to make three wyndows when I apointed theÌ„ to make but two The holy damosell without any feare answered father I caused them to make three because it was more conuenient and agreable to reason How so said Dioscorus Barbara replied for that three lights do illuminate euery man that cometh into this world The good virgin spake this with an intention to signify the high mistery of the B. Trynity Her father was somewhat troubled at her words and sayd Explaine these your speeches a litle better What is the meanyng that three wyndowes illumynate euery man that cometh into this world Then Barbara said Come with me and you shall vnderstand my meanyng They went to the Bayne and being neere the piller the holy damosell shewed him the signe of the Crosse which shee had made therin with her finger and sayd vnto him My father the thâ—re wyndowes signify the three persons viz the father the sonne and the holy Ghost by this light euery creature is illuminated to the end the high and souereigne mistery of the holy Crosse vpon which IESVS CHRIST dyed may be beleeued There was neuer bull bayted by dogges or wounded shewed such rage
as I haue said before who after Trithemius liued in the yeare of our Lord. 660. and adding the time this holy Saint liued after his death he died in the yeare of our Lord. 700. or there aboutes The Spanish originall saith 720. vpon a Sunday The tvvelue brethren Martyrs ON THE same day that the Church celebrateth the feast of S. Giles it also maketh a commemoration of the twelue brethren martirs The martirdome of these twelue holy men was written in heroicall verse by Alfan monke of Monte Cassin◠who liued in the yeare of our Lord. 1108. That which we can extract out of this Author and out of other martyrologes concerning the life of these holy Saints is That they were martirized in Beneuento in the time of Valerian Emperour of Rome in the yeare of our Lord. 258. The names of the holy martires were thes Donatus Faelix Acontius Honoratus Fortunatus Sabinianus Soptimius Ianuarius Faelix Secundus Vitalis Satyrus and REPOSITVS They were in bloud noble and all of them had bene well instructed in humanity diuinity They all preached the Ghospell of IESVS CHRIST and many were conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST by their doctrine They were all layed in most dark prisons Then were they taken foorth and brought into the high street where they thrust their handes hard into certain pieces of wood and afterward made fier vnderneth them Then in the presence of the same Valerian they bound them vnto certain cordes and ropes which ranne in polleis and so hoised them alofe into the aire then they let them falle on a soodaine and gaue them the most cruell strappado This sufficed not but they also scourged them and then tore and rent their flesh with hookes of Iron to the execessiue paine torment of the holy martires the officers herin displaying their cruell mindes Then they put them to the fier again and set the kindled torches to their bare sides but the holy Saints endured and abode all very constantly which the tyrant seing and awearied in putting them vnto so many torments did lastly cause all of them to be beheaded and by this martirdome their mortall liues ended and their soules went to the ioyes of heauen * ⎠* The Natiuitie of our B. Ladie THE sacred scripture in the booke of Exodus recounteth that Moyses Cap 2. being borne his father and mother knewe not howe to deliuer him from death for that king Pharao had made a decree that all the male children that were borne of the Hebrewes should be put to death The resolution of his parents was this They made a baskett of Rushes and dawbed it ouer with claye wherein they put Moyses and laying him thus in the Ryuer Nylus they let him go to take his aduenture By this inuention he escaped death for the daughter of Pharao seing him caused him to be taken out and to he brought vp as if he had bene her owne sonne After this he came to be the captaine of the Hebrewes Moyses was a figure of IESVS CHRIST who for that he was to be cast into the water of this world which is full of stormes there was made a litle basket wherein he was put which signifieth the blessed virgin his mother who is a basket annoynted ouer on the outside The holie virgin is like vnto the rushes for she had no bark of Actuall sinne nor no knott of Originall sinne She remained neere vnto the torrent of waters for that she enioyed those goodes that spring from that liuelye fountaine of God in great aboundancy for that she is neere conioyned vnto his maiestie This litle basket hath the claie without which was the grace wherwith God preserued and defended her that her soule could receaue no damage neither after she was borne into the world nor in the wombe of her mother Anna. God was put in this basket being made man in her sacred and holie wombe and for that respect that she was to be his mother God bestowed graces and fauours vpon her aboundantly And that we may see for what reason the church celebrateth the feast of the natiuity of this glorious virgin before that we recount the history therof it shal be well done for vs to consider the dignity for the which shee was borne the worthy and eminent estate shee ought to haue and her great familiarity with God I SAY then that though this virgin had diuers names and titles all maiesticall and stately yet are none to be equalized to the name of the Mother of God for this cause alweis when the euangelists name her in the discourse of the ghospell they call her the mother of God Math. 1. The Euangelist S. Matthew fetching the pettigree of her most noble linage from Abraham when he cometh to name her and her spouse Ioseph forthwith he addeth of whom Iesus that is called Christ was borne When he writeth of the commyng of the three kings or sages to adore Iesus Christ Math. 2. he saith they found him with Mary his mother S. Luke also writing howe the B. Virgin went to visitte S. Elizabeth her cosin Luc. 1. saith the good old woman resaluted her with thes words Howe haue I deserued this that the mother of my Lord cometh to visite me The same S. Luke saith that when Iesus was 12. Luc. 2. yeres old and staied behind her at Ierusalem and was found after three daies his mother said vnto him Sonne why hast thou done this vnto me Ion. 3. S. Iohn speaking of the wedding in Cana of Galilee where Iesus Christ and the glorious virgin were present he repeateth twise the name of the mother of Iesus The same Euangelist writing also of the mystery of the passion saith Ioan. 19. that Iesus Christ being on the Crosse there was his mother present in such sort that in this and the other places of the ghospel the Euangelist always giue vnto her this most noble name of the mother of God The same Christ our Lord as often as he nameth himself is called the sonne of man which words meane after the opinion of many holy doctors the sonne of the virgin The holy church hath alwaies had such care of that name that in the Ephesine councell which was one and the third of the same generall counceles which was celebrated in the time of Pope Celestinus and of thempeior Theodosius where Cyril the great was present and. 200. Bishops were assembled the principall thing that was determined therin and for which thy were assembled was that it should be helden for a Catholike verity and an article of faith that the glorious virgin Mary was Cyrill in tract pecul Dam. l. 4. c. 15. de side orthod Aug. in c. 2. Ioan. D. Tho 3. p. q. 31. ar 4. and is the very true mother of God as truly and verytably as other mothers are to their true and naturall children The same was confirmed in the time of Pope Leo the first Martian themperor
borne of whom would be borne IESVS that is called CHRIST By the things before rehersed you may know how reasonable it is to celebrate the Natiuitie of this Virgin for that her desarts and graces be so great as is aboue mentioned The Church in auncient time did not solemnize this feast which is proued by the words of S. Augustine Aug de sanct ser 11 tâ—m 10. who saith in one sermon that the Natiuity of IESVS CHRIST and S. Iohn Baptist be only celebrated By this you may vnderstand that this feast was not kept through the vniuersall Church at that time though it be thought that from the time of the Apostles it was celebrated in some particular Churches In the time of Pope Innocent 4. it was ordeined that this solemnitie should be celebrated vniuersally by all the faithfull in the Catholike Church about the yeare of our Lord. 1250. The occasion to celebrate this feast was in one yeare and 8. moneths space no Pope was chosen after the death of Pope Celestine 4. which was the cause of infinite scandals through all Christendome but especiallie in Italy for that the Emperor Frederick who rebelled against the Church euerie day vsurped and got some of the lands belonging vnto the Church The Cardinals who were in the Conclaue desired to make the election but they could not agree At last they treated among them selfs it being propounded by some deuout person vnto our Lady to make a vowe that if any of them were made Pope in a short space for a remedy of those great damages and losses of the Church he should ordeine the celebration of the Natiuitie of our Ladie and should make it a feast with octaues through al Christendome The vowe being made forthwith ensued the election of Cardinall Sinibaldus who was called Innocent 4. who ordeined the Natiuity of our Lady to be kept on the. 8. day of September through all Christendome This election reioyced the wholle world that had longed for a pope and for that the cause of this was ascribed vnto the newe feast of the most B. virgin he ordeined that in the office they should sing this Antheme which beginneth Natiuitas tua dei genitrix virgo gaudium annunciauit vniuerso mundo c That is to say Thy birth ô virgin Mary mother of God brought ioye to the wholl world Some Authors seeme to say Vine in spec l. 7. c. 119. that a relligious man liuing in contemplation hard euery yere on the. 8. day of September the Angels to make melody and triumph and demaunding of one of them what was the cause of such ioy in heauen he was answered that on that day was celebrated the Natiuity of the mother of God and that then vpon the credit of that relligious man this feast began to be celebrated It may be true that this relligious man had that before remembred vision but the occasion to promulgate the solemnity of this feast is that which I rehersed first And to the end some thing may be spoken concerning the history collecting it out of that which S. Ierome S. Iohn Damascen Gregory of Nissen and Simeon Metaphrastes write therof I say that the father of the Virgin Marie was called Ioachim and her mother Anna Thy were both of the tribe of Iuda and of the house and family of Dauid and this is to be holden as an Article of faith for there be many prophecies in the holy writ which say that the MESSIAS should be borne of the tribe of Iuda and of the house and family of Dauid And he being to be borne of glorious virgin it followeth that the father and mother of her were to be of that tribe Hier. de ort B. Vir. Luc. 3. and of that family S. Ierome nameth some patriarches which must of necessity be the same which S. Luke nameth in his Gospell He saith then that Iannes begot Melchi and Melchi begot Leui See Iohn lucid l. 2. de temp hebr and Leui begot Mathan and Mathan begot Heli who is also called Ioachim who as he saith was naturall father vnto the Virgin Marie and legall father vnto Ioseph Ioachim took Anna vnto wife and both of them dwelt in Nazareth a citty of Galilee They were very rich and bestowed part of their goods vpon the poore and other pious vses S. Ierome saith also that they continued together 20. years and neuer had children for which Issachar the priest not only would not receue the offering of Ioachim in the temple of Ierusalem vpon a feast which was kept there and was called Encenia but bad him to depart out of the temple for that assuredly he had some secret sinne for the which God punished him and did not graunt him the fruit of benediction So that Ioachim all afflicted and ashamed departed from the temple Gregory Nizen and Simeon Metaphrastes say that S. Anna vpon the like solemnity came from Nazareth vnto Ierusalem 1. Reg. 1. and like the other Anna the mother of Samuel lamented wept and sighed in the Temple desiring God to graunt her children and euen as Anna the mother of Samuel did shee vowed to offer in the temple vnto the seruice of God the sonne or daughter that God would be pleased to giue her They say also that afer shee had made the vowe shee lay with her husband Ioachim and conceiued and was deliuered of the Queene of Angells the Virgin Mary our aduocate And though vsually when daughters are borne the father and mother do not reioyce so much as if it were a sonne for that the daughters are troblesome to bring vp and to mainteine more chargeable to set forth in marriage yet when the B. virgin was borne the father and mother felt and tasted infinite ioy as of a thing they had long desired They also reioyced for that they had some kinde of knowledg that this their daughter should not be any charge to them for a dowry in mariage but also by her meanes God would showe many fauors and blessings vpon all the world S. Bernard made this speech vnto the B. virgin in these wordes Happy art thou O Virgin Marie more then any other creature since of thee in thee and by thee God hath recreated the wholle world which he hath created In that we haue said before we haue in part seen the great worth of the Queen newly borne the order of her birth her coming into the world Now it remaineth as the vsage is to gratulate reioice with her father and mother saying vnto them O Holy and happy Patriark Ioachim and Anna happy may the birth of your daughter be wee pray God yee may see her brought vp and well married without doubt it shal be so for God will giue vnto her for spouse Ioseph one of the holiest men that shall be in the world He shal be her guard and help he shall not take of her the pledge dewe vnto spouses but rather by thes espousalls shee shall remaine
that their bodies should be burned and whilest the officers hauing already gotten all their bodies together prepared to performe it and had laid wood on the top of them and put fire vnto them behold on a sodeine the sky was couered with dark and black cloudes and dredfull thunders were hard and thunderboltes killed some of the Pagans who were busied in burning the bodies of the holy martyrs and the other fled away to saue their lifes wherat the Christians took hart and gathered together the reliques of the holy Martirs taking them out of the fire which was alredy quenched and putting them into a bark sailed with them vnto Bizantium and there they buried them very honorably After a few daies the couragious matrone Natalia desirous to remaine in the same place where the holy reliques were passed from Nicomedia vnto Bizantium where shee made a blessed end in our Lord and was buried at the side of S. Adrian her husband whose body was in processe of time caried vnto Rome and buried in a Church builded to his name The death of S. Adrian was on the. 8. day of September and the death of Natalia his wife was on the first day of December in the yeare of our Lord. 306. vpon a munday as the spanish saith Dioclesian raigning iointly with Maximian on the earth and IESVS CHRIST with the father and holy Ghost in perfect Trinity reigning in heauen to whome be all praise and glory for euer Amen * ⎠* The life of S. Gorgonius Martir IESVS CHRIST speaking of his comming into the world Math. 10. saith as S. Mathew writeth in his ghospell Doe not you think that I am come to make peace in the earth for I am come to set warre therin Although that the Angels sang when I was borne Glory be vnto God in the heauens and in earth peace vnto men of good will Although I am become man to treate and conclude peace betwene mine eternall father and men and though my salutations when I rose from death were nothing but peace because I desire that euerie man should haue it neuertheles let not any man be deceaued for I am come to make controuersie and variance betwene the wicked and the good I am come to make a diuision betwene the father and the sonne the mother the daughter the stepmother and the daughter in lawe and I am come to make the houshold seruants and familier freinds enemies vnto the master of the house This is euident and apparant to be so for when the father and the sonne the mother and the daughter the stepmother and the daughter in lawe the master of the house and his houshold people and familiar freinds be wicked and vicious if God touch the hart of any of them and they be conuerted vnto him and the other continue in their wickednes forthwith discord and dissension ariseth among them and they make war one against another but this do the wicked against the good by persecuting them euen to the taking away of their lifes because they forsake and abandon their conuersation Of this we haue an example in S. Gorgonius the martir who was chamberlain vnto the Emperour Diocleasian who as long as Gorgonius was a Gentill and worshipped the Idols liued quietly with him and he shewed much kindnes vnto him but when he vnderstood that Gorgonius was a Christian forthwith he fell out with him and vsed him with great tiranny and lastly with greate cruelty put him to death l. 8. c. 9. Howe it came to passe Eusebius Bishop of Cesarea reherseth after this maner SAINT Gorgonius was borne in the city of Nicomedia and was chamberlein vnto themperour Deoclesian This man hauing receiued the faith of CHRIST IESVS by the meanes of Dorotheus his fellowe companion in the same office These two conferred what they might do to get others of the Emperours chamber to be made Christians It fell out that one day one Petrus that had receaued also the christian faith who was a man noble in bloud of high esteeme in themperours Court hauīg an honorable office in the same sawe in the city of Nicomedia in the high street and edict or proclamation set vp which was made against the Christians threatning death and torments to them that should be discouered This man vpon a greate zeale of our faith took downe the edict and in the sight of all the people rent it in pieces when this happened Dioclesian and Maximian whom the former had chosen to be his colleague and companion in the Empire and had giuen vnto him the title of Cesar were both together in Nicomedia and vnto them it was tould what Petrus had done wherat both enraged and mad with fury commanded he should be brought before theire presence When he was brought and the other two also being there present he reproched and reuiled Peter out of measure and gaue strict commaundment he should not be fauored in his torments which although they were excessiue yet did he neuer showe in his countenaunce any signe but of ioy and neuer spoke word but it declared a vallerous and inuincible mind Gorgonius was present at this spectacle for he and Dorotheus had bene instructors of Peter in the faith of CHRIST These two seeing the cōstancy of the B. martir there grewe in them also a desire to die for the loue of IESVS CHRIST this his example working much in them and by accord betwene them they spoke vnto the Emperour in this maner what meanest thou o Emperour that thou tormentest Peter only for that thing in which if it be in him any fault we also are culpable if thou puttest him to the endurance of these torments because he professeth the faith of IESVS CHRIST the same faith we confesse also The same intention he hath we haue also therfore reason willeth that thou puttest vs vnto the same torments which thou hast made him to suffer when Dioclesian heard them say this he grewe into gret choller The loue he bore towards them before was not so greate and the desire to do them good as was nowe the indignation he cōceiued against them and the determination he had to handle them euill and in his fury and rage he said vnto them Since you seek the way like fooles as this man is to be tormented you shall haue your minds satisfied Then he commaunded they should be scourged without pitty which was performed forthwith so that their flesh was rent and torne in diuers places Then the tirant commaunded the officers to lay salt and power vineger into their wounds and lay them on the gridiron and vnder it a fire to be made but not a greate one to put them to the more torment Peter was nowe dead by this martirdome and bicause Gorgonius and Dorotheus semed yet to liue and the tirant was wearied to see their torment vpon the gridiron he made them to be taken from it and with a rope tied aboute their necks to be hanged by
which meanes the two holy martirs rendered vp their soules vnto their Creator Their bodies being taken away were buried by some Christians But Dioclesian vnderstanding that the Christians came secretly to make their praiers at the place where the holy martirs were buried caused their bodies to be taken out of their graues and to be thrown into the sea At such time as Dioclesian commaunded it he said Let them be cast into a place where they may be no more seen least they be accounted for gods by the Christians who are so ignorant that they do think it better to adore them that haue been our seruants then those whom we adore for our gods God Almighty did not permit those blessed Relikes to ly hidden but rather his pleasure was to cause the sea to do them honour and to bring them vnto the shore When the Christians sawe them they tooke them vp with reuerence and buried them in a place vnknowen vnto the pagans Afterward in processe of time the body of S. Gorgonius was caried vnto Rome and was buried in the way called Lauicana betwen the two bay trees The Spanish book saith Via Latina After this Pope Gregory 4. caused it to be translated into the church of S. Peter The church celebrateth their feast on the day of their Martirdome which was on the 9. day of September in the yeare of out Lord 280. in the time of the afore named Emperour Dioclesian The life of S. Nicholas of Tolentine THE Apostle S. Iames in his canonicall epistle Iac. 5. admonisheth vs to pray vnto God one for an other because the cōtinuall praier of a iust man is of greate force But if it be so as it is indeed and that the praiers of the iust men that be here vpon the earth do help much notwithstanding that they be subiect yea rather falling as IESVS CHRIST saith seuen times a day Prou. 24. though they be slight faults howe much more may we beleeue the praiers of them who do alredy enioy the vision of God and the diuine Essence and be confirmed in grace and be certein and assured neuer to loose it nor neuer to sinne do help and do vs good The holy saints gaue vp their lifes for Gods sake some in effect as the martires and others by the way of goodwill as the Confessors and to be brief they all offered it vp readily in the seruice of God endeuoring all they might not to offend him by any meanes Such like as these without doubt be hard of God when they ask any fauour of him But omitting the examples and testimonies of the holy scriptures which make this thing an Article of faith we haue most euident examples in many holy saints vnto whom God graunted many fauors and graces which they requested of him not only in their life time in this world but also after their passing into heauen to possesse the euerlasting glorie One of these was S. Nicholas the Bishop and Confessor by whose praiers God graunted vnto a man and his wife a sonne who was also called Nicholas and was a holy man by whose merits God graunted many fauors and graces vnto them that deuoutly recommend themselfs vnto him His life was written by S. Antoninus Archibishop of Florence and by a relligious man of his order in this maner SAINT Nicholas was borne in the Marcha d' Ancona in a village called S. Angelo in the territorie of Fermo His father was called Compagnone and his mother Amata These two were borne of noble bloud rich they were and good Christians but they liued in some discontent for that hauing bene married together a good space they had yet no children They had a particuler deuotion vnto S. Nicholas the Bishop and Confessor and him they besought continually that he would of God obteine that fauor for them that they might haue a fruit of benediction With this entent they went to visite his church in the city of Bari in Puglia In that place the holy saint appeared vnto them and did assure them that they should haue a sonne whom thy should name Nicholas after him and also that he should be a blessed seruant of God Euery thing fell out iust as the Saint said for the being returned home Amata conceiued and at her due time brought forth a sonne whom they called Nicholas and as he tooke his name of S. Nicholas Bishop and Confessor by whose intercession he was obteined euen so he was like vnto him in many things From a child he was inclined to serue God he frequented the Church he hard masse and praied with greate deuotion moreouer he fasted gaue almes and followed his study so that as he encreased in age euen so he did in vertue learning and science and to be short he determined to be a man of the Church He was already made a chanon of the church of S. Sauiour in the place where he dwelt and it happened that a worthy and renowned father of the order of S. Augustine came thither to preach One day among others Nicholas was at the sermon in the which the preacher expounded these wordes of S. Iohn 2. Iohn Do not you loue the world nor the things that be therin The preacher spoke such good matter vpon that text that Nicholas resolued to abandon the world and to take the habite of S. Augustine in that same cōuent where the said preacher dwelt with whom he had bene acquainted before that time When he entended to execute in deed the resolution he had made before time he asked leaue of his father and mother who though they were aggriued to want the sight of their sonne yet did they giue him licence Nicholas went vnto the conuent of Tolentinum to craue the habite of S. Augustine which was giuen him readily for they had before then notice of his good life Hauing receiued the habite he proceeded from vertue to vertue labouring to atteine vnto perfection So that being a relligious man he was a mirrour for other relligious men and being a priest he was a looking glasse for other priests and when he was a preacher a spectacle for other preachers to behold their duety and function In this holy saint among other vertues his abstinence shined most clearly for in 30. years space that he continewed in the conuent of Tolentinum he did neuer eat flesh eggs fish milk nor any thing made with milk He fell one time into a greuous infirmity which brought him vnto deaths dore wherupon the phisitions told him that if he would recouer his health he must eat flesh wherunto he answered that in so doing he should by desiring to auoid one danger fall into another and that in flieng the infirmity of the body he should incurre the malady of his soule by giuing liberty vnto his sensuallity and appetite The prior of the conuent seeing the phisitions to affirme that it was necessary for the blessed man Nicholas to eate flesh commaunded him in the vertue of
for their Abbot Who was vnwilling to take the charge on her but the entreaty of the monks who were much pleased with hir holy life preuailed There was in Alexandria a matrone called Melantia who had bin cured and healed of a great infirmitie by the praiers of Eugenius who adiudged her to be a man Eugenius went oft vnto her house at her importunate inuitations The matrone was indeed ennamoured of her and they two being alone without any regard of her estate or credit laid open her loue imagining her to be a man Eugenius sharply reproued her and so departed and left hir alone Melantia seing her self contemned and refused like the mistris of Ioseph shricked out and said Gen. 39. that the Abbot Eugenius would haue forced her And not content with that did also accuse her falsely vnto the Gouernor who was the father of Eugenia The Regent hauing heard the accusation of Melania commanded the Abbot Eugenius to be brought in before him When the blessed Saint vnderstood the cause wherefore shee was called she tooke thhe Eunuchs Protus and Iacinctus in the habite of religious men with her being come before Philip her father he vsed rough words and asked them if CHRIST their God counselled them to force honorable Ladies The virgin with a modest and cherefull face said There is time to be silent and a time to speak Eccle. 3. If Melantia saith that I would vse force it is not true and thou ô Philip peraduenture doest but iest with me in asking if the God that I adore doth will me to do such things Now thou shalt see the verity of this womans acusation Hauing saith this she rent her habite before her breast and opened it that euery one might see by her breastes that she was a woman Then she proceeded and told him that she was Eugenia his daughter and moreouer she spake so well vnto hir father that he was conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST and so was Claudia his wife and all the rest of his family Philip gaue vp his office and place and not long after was chosen Bishop and afterward in the persecution raised by the Emperours Valerian and Gallyen he was martired Claudia Eugenia Prothus and Iacinctus returned vnto Rome where by the labour of the holy damosell Eugenia and of the two holy Eunuches Protus Iacinctus many were conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST Gallien being certified herof caused Eugenia to be apprehended after the indurance of many torments to be beheadded Then he caused the two Eunuchs Prothus and Iacinctus to be taken and hauing vsed sundry enducements to moue them to sacrifice vnto the Idolls which they refused to do shewing themselues very couragious and constant in the faith of CHRIST the tirant caused them to be cruelly scourged and after many other torments giuen vnto them he caused them in like maner to be beheaded Their martirdome and death was on the 11. day of September and on that day the Church celebrateth their feast It was in the yeare of our Lord. 263. in the reigne of the aforesaid Gallyen The exaltation of the holy Crosse ALMIGHTY God glorieth by the mouth of the prophet Ezechiel to haue done a famous work Ezech. 17. and indeed worthy of himselfe as he showeth by the maner of rehersing the saue saieng I the Lord haue humiliated and abased the lofty and stately wood haue enhaunced the lowly and humble wood S. Ierome saith that this humble wood is IESVS CHRIST and he saith very well for he being so humbled that at the last he died on the Crosse God for that cause did exalt him as S. Paule saith to such height that the Angells in heauen Phil. 2. the men on earth and vnder the earth in purgatory do bowe their knees at his name and do him reuerence And IESVS CHRIST was not exalted only to that height for that he was humiliated but the wood also which was the instrument of his humiliation was exalted and honored by God since as S. Augustine saith the Crosse which was alwaies before reprochefull bicause thieues and other malefactors were put to death on the same now Emperours and kings beare it on their heads for that IESVS CHRIST died vpon the same Themperour Heraclius honored and respected it especially wresting it out of the hands of Cosdroes king of Persia who had taken it from Ierusalem and carried it into his kingdome and putting it in the former place Nowe let vs see howe it passed framing a history therof out of a sermon that Andreas B. of Candia made of the Exaltation of the holie Crosse rehersed by Lippomanus and the lections of the Romaine Breuiary and diuers martirologes and historiographers yet first we will propound an important doctrine which is this OVR Lord God desiring to be serued and not to be offended by men seing their condition and seuerall estates and that some be noble and to be dealt with all mildly and that others be rude and are to be handled roughly he gaue premonitions vnto them to the end they should not lament nor complaine of him as if they had not ben warned He talking with the Hebrewes as we reade in Leuiticus said to them Leuit. 26. If you obserue my commaundements among other good and profit you shall reap therby one shal be this that if you haue enemies that molest and make warre on you five of you shall put a. 100. of them to flight and a. 100. of you shall put to flight 10000. of them But if on the other side you shal be disobedienr to me a fewe of your enemies shall make many of you to fly and that in dread and feare though none pursue you This which God said then vnto the people was apparant and seen as we read in the booke of Iosua where it is said Ios 7. that the Hebrues hauing beseiged Iericho certein daies finally they took it without drawing their sword bicause the walles fell downe and they which were within made no resistance all was put to the fire and sword not sparing any thing for so God had comaunded bicause his indignation was kindled against that nation as also to terrify his other enemies It came to passe in the pilling therof that there came to the hands of a souldier called Achan a scarlet robe some mony and a wand or rod of gold which things he kept against the commaundement of God And to be more secure he hid them all in the ground This being done part of the army dislodged and went to fight against Hay the citisens wherof issued out and encountred with them and preuailed killing many Israelites and fewe returned with this dolefull newes Iosua generall of the host seing the same fell on the ground and weeping said vnto God Howe happeneth it o Lord be these thy promises Doth it seeme to thee a iust thing to haue thy people so euil entreated by thine enemies Assoone as we be entred into this
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
fearefull retreate caused his vtter ruine For thinking he had left sufficient forces on the frontiers of his realme to keepe his enemies from entrance he made Medarses his yonger sonne his heire and successor in his kingdome and put him in possession therof and assigned him to stay on the frontiers for the more sure garde and defence therof and to keep the Imperialls from entring therin Cosdroes had another sonne elder then Medarses called Siricheus o Sirus as some call him who expected to succeede his father in the kingdome as his right and prowesse also deserued who took such indignation at his fathers doing that he diuised to depriue him of his crowne that he might with more facility bring his purposes to passe he determined to make a secret accord with Heraclius which was concluded vpon these articles That he should deliuer vnto themperour Heraclius his father and brethren either aliue or deade and also the Crosse of our Lord IESVS CHRIST and set free out of prison Zacharias the patriarch of Ierusalem That he should restore all that which Cosdroes had taken from thence And that he should haue the realme of Persia for himself and that he should keepe perpetuall peace with the Christians All these couenants were performed For by the aide of them of his faction and the aide Heraclius sent he was made king and put his father and brethen to death he restored the holy Crosse set the patriarch free and performed all the couenants comprised in the peace Th' emperor Heraclius desirous to render thanks vnto God for the benefits receaued and also to restore the Holy Crosse vnto the place where it ought to stand went on procession In the which Heraclius was clothed in most gorgeous apparell and with shoes embrodered with perles and pretious stones and in this manner he carried the holy Crosse as in imitation of IESVS CHRIST It happened that when he should enter the gate of the city to go vnto Mount Caluary I say enter Brocard de terra sancta p. 1. c. 7. §. 43. for that before the destruction of Ierusalem Mount Caluary was out of the city when it was reedified newely Mount Caluary was comprised with in the city gate where by he was to enter he stayed with the Crosse on his shoulder and could not sturre by any meanes He and all the rest of the people which were present were amased at the miracle not knowing what the cause might be The patriark Zacharias came neere vnto th'emperour and said I am in douâ—e that thou thy self giuest cause why thou canst not sturre and I will tell thee what it is Thou nowe dost carry the Crosse vpon thy shoulders as in imitation of IESVS CHRIST who bore the same this way But if thou mark it well thou doest imitate him but litle for thou doest not carey it as he did nor as it should be carried Thou art apparelled in most costly garments and he was clothed most meanely Thou hast on thy head an emperiall crowne and he wore one of pricking thorns he went with his feet bare and full of dust and thy feet are adorned with purple embrodered with Iewells and precious stones The words of the patriark seemed to th'emperour to be reasonable and true wherupon he caused a meane course garment to be brought vnto him He tooke the crowne of from his head and put of his hose and shooes and thus being barefoot and meanely apparelled he followed the procession vntill he set the holy Crosse in the former place froÌ„ whence Cosdroes had taken it foureten yeres before For this respect the Catholike church ordeined that euery yere the feast of the exaltation of the holy Crosse should be celebrated on the same day it was placed againe by Heraclius in the very same place it was set when IESVS CHRIST should dy theron This mistery befell on the day that the Church celebrateth it that is on the 14. day of September S. Aug. ser 17. de imoli Isac D. Amb. lib. 5. epist Epiph. in sine pana in the yeare of our Lord. 624. in the raigne of the abouenamed Heraclius S. Augustine S. Ambrose and S. Epiphanius say that in the place where the Crosse of CHRIST was sett Adam was buried and the dead nans scull which ordinarily is painted at the foote of the Crosse denoteth and signifieth the same The life of S. Nicomedes Priest and Martir RIGHT happy are they saith IESVS CHRIST Math. 5. which suffer for the loue of iustice This is not to be vnderstood of them that are punished by course of lawe for their trespasses All they who are whipped sent to the gallies and condemned to die are not happy but many of them may more iustly be called vnfortunate in that they know not how to reap profit by this chasticement which their offences deserueth but beare it impatiently and dye desperatly but right happy are those that hauing done any iust holy or meritorious act affiction cometh vpon them as it befell vnto S. Nicomedes the priest who lost his life for that he had buried a holy damosell martired by the pagans as may be seene in this story written by Marcelus the disciple of S. Peter the Apostle in this maner SAINT Petronilla the daughter of S. Peter being in Rome was seene by the gouernour of the city who was enamored of her And though that he was a man in chief autority yet went he vnto the house of the holy saint with a great troope of gentlemen and gaue her to vnderstand that he loued her and desired to marry her and make her his wife Petronilla seing Flaccus for that was his name to be a man of great power douted he would vse violence and therefore shaped him this answere me thinke it is not a thing conuenient to come and speak vnto a damosell liuing alone as I do with such a crewe especially in such a matter as of loue as though thou wouldst obteine me more by constraint then by loue I should be thought a foole and vnwise if I would forsak such an honorable person as thy self that sueth to mary me and take any other to my husband wherfore my Lord I beseech thee to send vnto me some matrone or damsells to stay remaine three daies with me after which time I will come vnto thy house and the wedding shall be made as thou desirest This her request contented the gouernour fully and so he departed with intent to performe her desire Petronilla had a maid seruant called Felicula who was a Christian and very vertuous and vnto her Petronilla vttered her mind in gret familiarity and besought her to assist her in her praiers vnto God that with in three daies God would be pleased to take her out of this life Felicula at the request of her mistris was content to do it So they two fasted and prayed all those three daies and did other works acceptable vnto God On the third day there
came vnto them a priest and seruant of God dwelling in Rome called Nicomedes who said masse and gaue them the B. Sacrament S. Petronilla hauing communicated began a long and feruent speech vnto IESVS CHRIST saieng that she had offered her virginity vnto him with a perpetuall vow and therfore desired him not to permit it to be violated against her will S. Felicula also as a true friend aided her importunating our Lord to deliuer his handmaid out of that danger though she desired not her death It was Gods pleasure to giue Petronilla remedy by that means for hauing ended her oraisons she went vnto bed and yelded vp her soule vnto God The matrones and damsells Flaccus had sent to accompany the spouse vnto his house on the wedding day came in god time to solemnise the funeralls of the holy saint When Flaccus was certefied and sawe Petronilla to be dead he cast his eies vpon Felicula who was very sorowfull for the death of her friend being very beutifull which drew the affection of Flaccus in such sort that he was enamored of her also and after many wordes he vsed to that purpose he finished his speach thus Felicula elect one of thes two things please thy self either to be my wife or els sacrifice vnto the Gods The good damsell made him this bold answere I will not be thy wife for I haue IESVS CHRIST to my spouse and I will not sacrifice vnto thy Gods for that I am a Christian when Flaccus hard the resolute answere of Felicula he deliuered her into the hands of the liuetenant to giue iudgment vpon her He kept her fast in a dark roome for seuen daies and beside other vexations he kept her from any sustenance Some women that belonged vnto the prison said vnto her Alas poore girle why art thou so fond as to dy willingly this euill death Take this great Lord vnto thy husband who is beutifull riche and in the flower of his youth and highly fauored of th' emperor who hath made him gouernour of this city other women would haue ben right glad therof and thou makest no account of him which may turne to thy damage and losse of life The blessed damosell replied I am the spouse of IESVS CHRIST and I will not mary any other but him After that seuen daies expired Felicula was led vnto the Vestall virgins where she remanied certein daies but she would neuer eate of the meat that they did eate bicause it was offered and sacrificed vnto the goddesse Vesta for if she had eaten therof she had giuen a signe to consent vnto their Idolatry and other Christians would haue bene much scandalised therat When the deputy vnderstood the constancy of Felicula he caused her to be taken out of that place and to be tortured with the torture called Eculeus and when she was tortired there with she said with a loud voice Now do I see my beloued IESVS CHRIST vpon whom I haue fixed my loue The excutioners said vnto her Say that thou art not a Christian and thou shalt be deliuered from this torture She answered I do not deny neither will I deny my beloued IESVS CHRIST who for my sake was crowned with thornes and had gall giuen him for drink and also died on the Crosse The executioners tooke her of from that torment and threw her in a gutter or sink in the which the blessed damosell yelded vp her soule vnto Almighty God Nicomedes the priest that had said masse giuen the B. sacrament vnto S. Petronilla on the day of her death and had laine cloâ—e and hidden in a caue for feare of the persecution was aduertised therof and one night he departed out of the caue and took the body of S. Felicula from thence and buried it a mile out of Rome in the way toward Ardea Flaccus being told what Nicomedes had done caused him to be apprehended for the same and being instigated by the fiend willed him to sacrifice vnto the gods The good priest said he would not sacrifice to any but to Almightie God that raigned in the heauens for that they whom they reputed gods were no other but stocks and stones which remained in their temples like prisoners The gouernour commaunded he should be whipped which was done with such vehemency that the good priest passed out of this vnto a better life in this torment and his body was cast into the riuer Tiber by the commandement of the cursed Iudge but one Iustus his seruant sought carefully after it and caried it being found vnto a garden of his nere vnto the walles of the citty in the way called Numentana there he buried it Vnto which place many Christians resorted and there by the merits of that holy Saint obteined many graces of God The death of S. Nicomedes was on the 15. day of September Spanish saith 52. vnder Clâ—â—dius and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast It was then as Canisius saith the yeare of our Lord. 90. in the raigne of the Emperour Domitian and the same he saith of S. Petronilla as is already said in her life But many think it was much sooner for if S. Petronilla died in the yeare of our Lord. 90. she must be of necessitie at that time 60. years old because she was borne before that our Lord gaue the chiefest prelacy or Papacy vnto S. Peter her father for froÌ„ thenceforth he obserued chastity And againe if she was so old it is not a thing likely that Flaccus should be ennamoured of her We reade also in the life of Pope Paule 1. that he translated from one place vnto another All this the Spanish hath not in this place the body of S. Petronilla and that he found an epitaph which S. Peter the Apostle had made at her death Which being so it followeth that before the yeare of our Lord. 70. in which S. Peter was crucified S. Petronilla was dead wherfore in mine opinion her death and the martirdome of S. Nicomedes was not in the yeare of our Lord. 90. as Canisius saith but in or about the yeare of our Lord. 60. in the reigne of Nero. The life of S. Cornelius Pope and Martir SALOMON saith in Ecclus Ca. 23. The man that sweareth much shal be full of iniquitie and the plague shall not depart from his house The wise man doth not say he that sweareth falsly but he that sweareth much For that speaking morally he that sweareth much sweareth false at one time or other This sinne displeaseth God so much that he deferreth not the chasticement till the world to come but punisheth it in this life sending plagues vpon the house where such poople be So then if the swearer be afflicted with necessities infirmities and other troubles of this life we may think he hath deserued it for his many oathes Those that be free from such miseries if they desire to be alwaies free let them abstaine from othes swearing The holie Pope Cornelius
considering this to auoide so euill am vse and custome among Christians ordained by a decree That lawfull othes as those that be made by order and before superiors and by the lawe should be taken fasting as a holie thing where of we should aduise vs well He would for the reuerence of the oath that they which should sweare should be fasting to the end they should doâ— it with more aduise and regard The life of this pope written by Damasus and other authors was in this manner SIXE daies after S. Fabianus the pope was martired Cornelius a man no lesse learned then holy was placed in the chaire of S. Peter who receaued that dignity agaist his will S. Ciprian saith he was a Romaine Lib 4. epist and sonne vnto Castinus When he was chosen pope the Church was in great troubles for beside the temporall sword where with the Christians were sharply afflicted they were encombred also with the treacherous heresie of Nouatus which they could not wholly root out yet this blessed pope Cornelius endeauoured with all dilligence to confound them by preaching and doctrine by which he reduced many of those hereticks to the vnion of the Catholique faith After this the pope being aided by Lucina a noble Romane matron determined to take the bodies of SS Peter and Paul out of the Catatumbae where they then were and to put them in a more comely and eminent place The bodie of S. Paul was caried vnto the posession of the aforenamed Lucina in the Via Ostiensis not far from the place where he was beheaded and there was built a sumptuous and magnificent church to his honour The reliques of S. Peter were caried into the Vatican where in like manner was built a church neere to the place where he was crucified For these good workes and many other which he did as also for that many pagans were conuerted vnto the faith by his meanes Decius the Emperour banished him from Rome and sent him to Centum-Celle S. Cornelius remaining there wrote oftentimes vnto S. Cyprian bishop of Carihage a holy man and very eloquent who in like manner returned him answeres and at this daie many of those Epistles be extant in his workes Decius being certified of the neere and priuate friendship of these two holy men took great indignation thereat and comâ—unded that Cornelius should be led vnto Rome and brought before his iudgment seate which being done Decius said vnto the blessed pope in great coller Thinkest thou Cornelius that thou doest well and that which thou oughtest to doe in doing no reuerence to our Gods nor obeying our Imperial comaundements nor fearing our threats yea thou writest vnto our enemies of the estate of the weale-publike both in disgrace of it and to the preiudice of the same To this S. Cornelius answered the letters that I haue receiued meddle not at all with the comonwelth neither treat of anything appertaining to the same but they be wholy written in the laud and honor of IESVS CHRIST and of matters only appartaining to the saluation of soules Decius was much more moued to indignation then before at this bold answere and commaunded that the blessed pope should be beaten in his sight After that he apointed that he should be led vnto the Temple of Mars and if he refused to sacrifice that he should be beheaded The holy Pope went with determination to suffer not one but a 1000. deathes rather then he would deny his faith his God By the way he met with Stephen his Archdeacon vnto whom he gaue in charge to distribute the Treasures of the church vnto the poore and he gaue vnto him also some records appertaining to the gouernment of the Church When the officers perceiued that there was no way nor meanes to drawe S. Cornelius to sacrifise vnto the Idolls they led him into via Appia neere vnto the Churchyard of Callistus and in that place they cut of his head After his death certaine priestes in the companie of Lucina took vp his bodie and buried it in a possession in the San-field The martirdome of this holy Pope was on the 14. daie of September about the yeare of our Lord 253. the aboue named Decius being Emperour He held the seat of S. Peter 2. yeares 2. monthes and 3. daies He gaue holy orders twise in the month of December and therein ordered 4. Priests 4. Deacons and 7. Bishops There bee in the decrees certaine Canons of this holy Pope as the afore said that he who is by lawfull order and authoritie to take an othe should do it fasting Also 22. q. 5. cap. honest that Priests be not enforced to sweare Also that he that is vnder the age of 14. yeeres should not be compelled to take an othe Some hold this holy Saint for an especiall aduocate against the falling sicknes but the occasion thereof is not knowen It sufficeth that the praiers of the saints are of great force and valewe with the maiestie of God for all humaine infirmities aswell spirituall as corporall We maie well think him an aduocate for the palsey for as they led him vnto martirdome he healed a woman that had the palsey which woman was called Salustia who with her husband Cereall was also martired the same daie This holy S. Cornelius is one of the fiue Popes of whom mention is made in the Canon of the masse The life of S. Cyprian Bishop and Martir THE Apostle S. Paul lothing the world Ca. 1. and all the things therin desired much to go vnto heauen to enioy IESVS CHRIST and to that purpose in the epistle vnto the Philippeans he saith I desire to be freed vnloosed from the bondes of this flesh and to be with CHRIST The notice he had that to come to enioy his desire must be by beheading did not hinder this his longing The glorious martir S. Cyprian seemed to haue the same desire who when the iudge pronounced the sentence of death vpon him aunswered ioyfullie Deo gratias as if he would say that he did not appeale from this sentence but gaue God thanks that it pleased him to call him by that meanes When he came vnto the place of execution to shew that he was beholding to the officer for the good turne in taking away his life he requested some of his freinds who were present there to giue him some mony which he bestowed vpon the headsman as a recompence of his labour Pontius his Deacon wrote the life of this holy Saint faithfully and in an eloquent stile Of Pontius this testimony is giuen by S. Ierome in his book of ecclesiasticall writers Pontius Deacon vnto Cyprian wrote a worthy booke of his life vntill the day of his martirdome for he was familier with him and also his companion in banishment For which testimony of S. Ierome which giueth him auctority I thinke best to followe Pontius and to leaue other authors that wrote that life of this holy Sainâ— THOVGH the memory
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
and being aprehended he remained one night in the house of one of them that had taken him To that place resorted much people euery one desiring to see their prelate aliue for they were assured that right soone they should see him dead Thither came also many deuout women but he caused them to depart to auoid occasion of offence On the next morning the holy Bishop was brought before the Proconsull Galerius Maximus apparellend in pontificall vestures which made a goodly maiestical shewe when the Proconsull sawe him he said Art thou that Cyprian that hast the title of Pope or gret Bishop I am Cyprian said the good Bishop Tell me said the Proconâ—ull if thou knowe what our Emperours haue commaunded which is that thou must either sacrifice vnto the Gods or els thou must loose thy life Cyprian answered I am a Christian and I cannot nor may not sacrifice vnto your Gods wherefore do whatsoeuer hath bin coÌ„manded vnto thee The proconfull waxing wroth said Thou hast liued sacrilegiously and hast drawen many vnto thy deuotions you all haue made a confederacie against the Gods whom the Romain Emperous adore thou wouldest neuer obey their decrees But because thou art the author of this euill my will is that thy doctrine be writteÌ„ with thy bloud to the end thy adherents may take example by thee and be aduised by thy death Hauing said thus he pronounced the sentence that Cyprian should be beheaded The blessed Bishop said then I render infinite thanks vnto God who is pleased to deliuer me from the prison of this body The officers of Iustice inconâ—inent led him to be executed according to the sentence Much People followed him euery one lamenting and all of them saieng with a loud voice Cut of all our heads together with his When they came to the place of martirdome the B. Bishop put of his pontificall attire and wrapped and foulded vp the same agein and gaue it vnto his deacons and remained only in his last linnen garment He then requested one of his frends to giue him some mony who gaue him 20. pieces of gold all which he gaue vnto the headsman in recompence of the seruice he expected to receaue of him His frinds and the cleargy that were in the place lamented bitterly and laid their garments on the ground that his blessed bloud might fall on the same He himself put the napkin ouer his eies and being on his knees the headsman performed his office Assone as S. Ciprian was beheaded the priests that were in that place very reuerently took vp his body and caried it vnto the graue But they fearing lest the pagans would take it out of that publike place and vnbury it and pull and dismember it in pieces the same priests by night took it out of that place and caried it vnto the field of Macrobius Candidus S. Cyprian was the first prelat that was martirized in Africa Of him his life and death much mention is made by many holy men and graue Authors As S. Augustine S. Ierome S. Gregory Nazianzen Prudentius Maximus B. of Turine Paulus Diaconus Lactantius Firmianus and Eusebius Cesariensis You must note that S. Gregory Nazianzen saith that S. Ciprian was a magitian or inchaunter who tried by his art to gett the loue of a yong woman called Iustina and that hauing sent the euill spirits to bring her vnto him they could not bring her no not come neere her And this he saith was the occasion of his conuersion and that the yong maid Iustina was martired with him Marcus Marulus saith the same They the others that say thus ar deceued for they make but one Ciprian of two that were Ciprian B. of Carthage a most holy doctor and martir was one and Ciprian the sorcerer or coniurer was another The times wherin thes two Ciprians liued were diuers and the Church celebrateth their feasts on seuerall daies The feast of S. Cyprian B. of Carthage whose life we haue written at this time is celebrated on the same day that the feast of S. Cornelius the pope is vnto whom he was a great frend and many letters were written from the one vnto the other and they were martired on the same day but in sundry places and not in the same yeare as S. Ierome and Ado of Vienna say The day of the martirdome of S. Cyprian was on the. 14. day of September in the yeare of our Lord 259. But the Church translateth his feast vnto the 16. day of the same moneth because that on the 14. day is celebrated the feast of the Exaltation of the holy Crosse and on the 15. day is celebrated the octaue of the natiuity of our Lady The Spanish Dioclesian about 300. The feast of S. Cyprian the sorcerer who was martired with Iustina the virgin is celebrated on the. 26. day of September This S. Cyprian liued in the time of the Emperour Claudius 2. And S. Cyprian B. of Carthage was in the time of Valerian and Galien One was borne in Carthage and the-other in Antioche God some times permitteth the saints to erre in some matter for if they should not erre in some one thing they might be thought to be more then men The which be fell vnto S. Cyprian whose life we haue written for he was in an opinion that those which had bene Baptised by heretiks although they had obserued the forme which the Church obserueth in Baptisme should and ought neuertheles to be rebaptised and herein he erred but as S. Augustin saith the spot of this error was washed away with the bloud which he shed in his martirdome Venerable Bede saith that the reliques of S. Cyprian were brought from Africa into Fraunce and that they be in Lyons The life of S. Euphemia Virgin and of SS Lucy and Geminian Martirs IESVS CHRIST speaking vnto his Apostles of the persecutions that thy were to suffer for his sake as allso others Math. 10. which should come after them said thes words The sonnes shall arise against their owne fathers and shall procure their death by accusing them vnto tirants This was accomplished acording to the letter in a Romain matrone called Lucy who was accused by her owne sonne before a tirant that shee was a Christian for the which shee was allso put to death The church celebrateth her feast together with that of SS Geminian and Euphemia for that thy were martired all three on one day by the ordinance of one and the same tirant though in sundry places Their martirdome was written by venerable Bede Vsuardus wrote the same and like wise Ado Archbishop of Triers in this maner IN the time of the Emperour Dyocletian there was in the citty of Chalcedon a Senator called Philophronius he had only one daughter named Euphemia that being a Christian was as much ennobled for her vertue as for her bloud Shee was put into prison by a Proconsull called Priscus who commanded her to sacrifise vnto his gods The holy virgin
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
honorable memorie of him in celebrating the feastiuall day of his martirdome Yet most stupendious is the miracle straunge the wonder that to this day is seen in the same city of Naples which is this His bloud which is kept is in a violl of glasse congealed and hardened very much yet let it be put right before and against the head of S. Ianuarius and it doth melt and dissolue in such sort that if seemeth to boile or seeth as if it were liuely and did issue and spring euen then out of the veines The passion of all these blessed Saints was on the 19. day of September vnder Dioclesian and Maximian Romain Emperours in the yeare of our Lord. 305. Our holie father Pope Sixtus 5. in the first yeare of his papacy by a Bull commaunded that the said blessed Saints should be put in the Calendar and their office and masse should be celebrated by all faithfull Christians on the day of their Martirdome * ⎠* The life of S. Eustachius and others WE READ in the book of Numbers Ca. 22. that Balac king of Moab douting the Israelits would come and make warre vpon him in his realme sent messengers for Balaam the prophet that he might curse them imagining by that meanes to haue the victory against them The prophet went at his request which displeased God and rode on an asse It fell out that the Asse after a litle trauell staied and would not go forward The prophet rated and bet her and stroke her without discretion or iust cause and as the scripture said God opened the mouth of the beast who also speak vnto him Then did an Angell also speak in the defence of the Asse vnto the prophet and moreouer tole him what he should do This history may be fitly applied vnto S. Eustachius who wandering in the paths of Idollatry and heathenishe errors a thing abhominable in the sight of God was admonished of his errors by a wonderfull meanes God vsed toward him to wit he made a hart of stag to speak vnto him and to instruct him what he ought to do The life of this glorius saint and of his fellowe martirs was written by Symeon Metaphrastes and by S. Antoninus Bishop of Florence in this manner IN the time of Traiane Themperour there was in Rome an honorable and noble Lord called Placidus who was Generall of the horse And though he was a paynim yet did he works in them selues good He was charitable pitifull iust and faith full vnto his Lord. On day as Placidus went on hunting he spyed a goodly harte and pricked his horse with the spurres in pursuite therof The â—art or stag made a stand on a high eminent place and when Placidus approched nere it seemed vnto him that the hart had the signe of one crucified betwen his hornes and withall he heard a voice which said why doest thou persecute me Incontinent he alighted from his horse and kneeling on the ground said who art thou Lord that speakest vnto me The voice replied I am IESVS CHRIST the sonne of God who discended from heaven vnto earth and was crucified for the saluation of mankind and rose ageine to life on the third day Placidus replied againe Lord what is thy pleasure I shall do In what sort wilt thou haue me to serue thee It was answered vnto him My will is that thou thy wife and all thy family be Baptised and so thou shalt find the true way to go vnto heauen and when thou art Baptised my will is that thou be patienâ— and tollerat willingly the afflictions that shall be fall vnto thee and this do for my sake This being said the hart ran swiftly away and departed out of his sight Placidus wondered excedingly and at that instant God touched his hart and so enlightened him that he beheld the blindnes and misery in which he then was by giuyng diuine worship to stocks and stones He went home without delay and conferred and shewed his intent vnto some Christians and to conclude he was Baptised wherin he chaunged his name from Placidus and took the name of Eustachius his wife called Theopista and his two soÌ„nes Agapitus Theopistus were Baptised also After a few dayes Eustachius being well instructed in the Christian faith the deuill began God permitting it to persecute him Iob. c. 1. as he did Iob. The first thing was he slewe all his beasts and cattail wherof he had great store then did all his slaues and bondmen dye and briefely he lost all his goods became so poore and was so abandoned of the world that he was forced to depart out of Rome and lead a priuate life in a poore village In that place the fiend did also persecute him for he incited some wicked persons to take his wife from him and he had not power to resist and withstand them but God did always so preserue her that shee was neuer dishonored He lost also his two sonnes and he remained alone in so great necessity that he was faine to dwell with a rich citizen who made him his baily and ouerseer ouer one of his farmes in the countrey Although the good Eustachius sawe himself brought into this great misery yet euidently appeared in him a generous mind and Christian resolution to tollerat euery thing with patience God proued him like another Iob but when he was in this hard case he thought of him and restored him vnto his former estate For the Emperour Traian hauing designed to make a warre of much import and considering that to bring it to the wished end he must haue an expert generall he called Placidus to his remembrance whom he iudged a man fit for that charge After diligent enquiry he was found and madegenerall of the forces which charge he hauing receaued as he was carefull in mustering men for this gret seruice he came to the knowledg of his two sonnes Agapistus and Theopistus who were among the other souldiors of the army He also found again his wife who in poore and mean array was a seruant to an Inholder The ioy Eustachius had and the infinite thanks he yelded vnto God to see him self deliuered and freed from his former miseries and to haue found again his wife and two sonnes cannot with words be expressed After he had accomplished his entreprise committed vnto him he retorned vnto Rome with great honor and found Traian dead and Adrian installed in the empire Eustachius was receued into Rome with gret pompe and triumph aswell by the Emperour as by the wholl senate And because the custome of the Romain Capteins was that when they entred Rome with Victory they went vnto the temple of Iupiter there they sacrificed Eustachius excused himself saieng he could not do it bicause he was a Christian Themperour the Senate and all the people thought that if the accustomed sacrifice was not done they should neuer after haue any victory for which cause thy were very earnest that Eustachius should sacrifice Eustachius
confidently denied to do it saieng he was a Christian and that he would not sacrifise vnto any but vnto IESVS CHRIST Themperour being wroth at this answer commaunded that Eustachius his wife and two sonnes should be put to death and to effect it he bad that they should be put in a place where a fierce Lyon should tear them in pieces The Lyon was let out against the holy martirs but he lay downe at their feet and did them no hurt at all Themperour seeing the same commaunded to make a gret bull of brasse hollowe inward With in this concauity he caused S. Eustachius his wife and sonnes to be inclosed and then to sett fire vnder it and in this torment the glorious saints rendered their soules vnto God The Bull was opened and their bodies were found with out any blemish but that they were dead and had not burnt one heare of their head which astonished the Pagans and much edified rhe Catholiks who tooke those blessed bodies and buried them honourably The martirdome of these holy saints was on the same day the Catholik Church celebrateth their feast to wit on the. 20. day of September in the yeare of our Lord. 118. The seuenth generall Sinode Dam. l. 3. de imag Nicep lib. 3. ca. 29. S. Iohn Damascen and Metaphrastes make mention of S. Eustacius Nicephorus Callistus recounteth his life in particuler and the mistery of the Hart and the Crucifixe also Beside the sayieng of this Author the vniuersall picture of the wholl Church is an important proof for that this holy saint is alwaies painted on his knees before of Harte which hath the Crucifixe between his hornes which was that which spake vnto him The life of S. Mathevv Apostle WE READ that the prophet Elias considering howe few the men were that serued God in his time 3. Reg. 13. Eccles 48 Iac 5. and the multitude of them that offended him being desirous to to correct them that they might amend prayed that it might not raine God graunted his request and in three years and a half there fell no raine The people dyed of famine and yet they did not amend their wicked lifes Helias also remained firme in his purpose that God should not permitt it to raine God said to him as S. Iohn Chrisostome supposeth Behold Helias it troubleth me to see so many peâ—ple dy with famine if thou wilt that all be good get thee into heauen for there be all good and let me remaine here vpon the earth that I may make prouision for the necessities which my people and creatures suffer and endure I would not haue thee think that they haue vtterly abandoned me for I haue yet 7000. men who haue not bowed their knees vnto Baal Among others there is Heliseus 3 Reg. 19. who is following twelue yoke of oxen go and call him bid him leaue all and come with thee and be thy disciple Elias obeyed strait and went to the place where Eliseus was and said to him Come and followe me Heliseus also obayed incontinent only he requested 3 Reg. 19. to go and take leaue of father and mother kinffolk and frends The Prophet was content went with him wher vpon Heliseus made a solemne banquet took leaue of them all entending to followe the prophet Elias Perhaps his father and friends said this to him Heliseus mark well whom thou meanest to followe consider that he is a poore man hath no cloths to his back but only a garment of camells skinne he fasteth much he is much persecuted by Queen Iezabel and many others who desire his death These words were in vaine for he was resolued to followe Elias and it was euident that this his resolution was good for afterward being his disciple 4. Reg. 2. when Elias was taken away from him he did more greater miracles then euer Elias had done This figure fitteth and agreeth to S. Matthew the Apostle and Euangelist for Elias being a figure of IESVS CHRIST was much displeased to see so many offend God and so few to serue him Elias praied God that he would not let it raine that men might dy but IESVS CHRIST did not so Math. 9. for he was by nature mercifull and full of compassion and to see his creatures perish was vnto him a most greuous torment yet went he to seeke out some that might serue God who though they had not done it before time yet might they doe it in the time to come Elias found Eliseus while he plowed so IESVS CHRIST beheld S. Matthew with the eyes of his mercy not plowing but at a worse trade for he lent monie vnto vsurie yet the plowing and sowing hath some similitude with lending to vsurie He that soweth alwaies gathereth more then he soweth So the vsurer alwaies receiueth more then he lendeth out Helias called Eliseus and he fellowed him but he would make a banquet to all his kinsfolke and frends Luc. 5. Marc. 2. So also when CHRIST called Matthew and he fellowed him he made first a banket in his house where IESVS was present with his fellow publicans and toll-gatherers frends vnto S. Matthew These men might say to S. Matthew the same that the kinsfolke of Eliseus said to him or in this maner Matthew wilt thou forsake and leaue all thy goods and money and go with a poore man one that is persecuted as this man is what thinkest thou to get in his company it may be if the Scribes and Phariseys determine once to put him to death they will do the same to thee also for his sake for ordinarily the disciples speed as bad as their maister These words sturred not S. Matthew froÌ„ his good purpose to giue ouer al follow CHRIST The going in CHRISTES company was fortunate to him for he made him his Apostle and Chronicler and gaue vnto him an admirable spirite like the spirit of Eliseus and after the Ascension of our Lord into heauen he did many miracles The life of this glorious Apostle is collected out of the Ghospell and other good Aucthors who do make mention of him SAINT Matthew was a Galylean Iohn 3. borne in Cana where IESVS CHRISTE conuerted the water into wine He was a PublicaÌ„ tollegatherer a vsurer which was the most infamous trade that could be among the Hebrews Math. 9. they reputing it the most heinous oppressioÌ„ that could be Luc. 5. Marc. 2. for the Emperour of Rome to enforce them being the elect people of God to pay tribute and tolles And all though they paied yet they alwais protested that vyolence and force was offered to them their aggreeuances were encreased by the letting out the tributes and tolles to farme which is the cause that the publicans who were they that rented them and moreouer lent money vpon vsury were counted by the Iewes worse then the Pagans and heretiks for which cause the sonne of God conformable to their opinion when he instructed
mention of this miracle of raising the kings sonne from death to life by S. Matthew and also of the two dragons and of other miracles and admirable acts the Apostle did in Ethiope although he do not particularize the same he saith also that much people came vnto the place where S. Matthew lodged and would haue done sacrifice to him as if he had bene a God and presented many gifts vnto him and that the Apostle said vnto them I am not a God but a mortall man and the seruant of IESVS CHRIST who is the true God Then he requested them to bestow those presents and gifts which they would haue giuen him vpon the building of a temple to the same IESVS CHRIST for he whom he preached and by whose power he did those miracles was the true liuing God exhorting them to be Baptised in his name for that was the true waye and meanes to obteine euerlasting life To conclude the Apostle said such words and confirmed them so with miracles that the king with all his court and a great number of other people were Baptised The king had a daughter called Iphigenia who was very beautifull but much more commended for her wisedome who hauing heard S. Matthew oftentimes in his sermons to commend and extoll virginity conceiued a good liking of him and vsing his aduise was closed in a monastery with 200. other damosells desiring to do the same S. Matthew staid in Etiope 23. years continually conuerting soules to our Lord IESVS building Churches ordering priests consecrating Bishops gaining many soules and augmenting the faith of CHRIST and that which he preached with the mouth he performed also in deeds to the edification of others lib. 2. pedagog his life being holy and exemplary Clement of Alexandria saith that S. Matthew neuer eate flesh and that he liued only with herbes King Egippus afterward deceasing his brother Hyrtacus succeeded in the kingdome This newe king to establish himself more suerly in the kingdome and also moued with the rare beauty of Iphigenia intended to marry her To bring this his purpose to effect he acquainted the Apostle with his intent thinking it a good meanes to drawe the mind of the yong woman to his will The Apostle aunswered the king that he would giue notice vnto Iphigenia of the good that ariseth of matrimony and howe it is a holy thing and that then he might come and talk with her himself The king thought this would be a very good course and for that the Apostle said he would declare this matter in a sermon the king said that he would also be present therat Sonday came and the Apostle in the presence of Iphigenia and the other relligious women the king being there also and all the cheifest Lords of his court began to discourse of matrimony and to shewe howe necessary it was for the conseruation of mankind and gaue it other commendations He also said that matrimony was ordeined and instituted by God and howe good it was to haue children All this pleased Hirtacus very well and he awayted to hear the Apostle say that Iphigenia might forsake and leaue the estate of a relligious woman and take a husband and be made Queene of Ethiope But the conclusion of Apostle was farre otherwise then Hirtacus exspected for then he fell in hand to treate of the grieyous punishment that adulteres deserued out of which he seemed to inferre that if the seruant of any king was so bold as to take away his wife from him he did not merite only to be put out of fauour and to be disgraced but also he deserued to dy an euill death though he did not effect but only attempte it Therefore ô king I giue thee to vnderstand said Apostle looking vpon him that Iphigenia is the spouse of IESVS CHRIST the king of heauen and if thou seek to take her away from him thou shalt fall into his heauy displeasure When Hirtacus perceaued the conclusion of the Apostles words and wherunto they tended he was moued to great indignation which he vttered in his countenance and so threatning him he departed out of the Church Iphigenia was heereat surprised with great feare and with the other relligious women kneeled at the feet of the Apostle and asked his aduise what shee and they should do to be quit of the persecution and assault the king had begon against her virginity The Apostle incouraged them all with good words and put a veile vpon euery one of their heads making them hereby and by their vowing the three vowes of Pouertie Chastity and Obedience true Nonnes and these were the first Nonnes the were among the Christians This being done the Apostle said Masse and hauing ended the same there came thither a cruell fellow sent by Hirtacus who gaue the Apostle many wounds with a speare so that the Altar was all stained with bloud and his body lay dead in the place The grief and compassion of the people for the death of S. Mathew was so great that they made a commotion and rose in armes entending to kill the tyraunt and had effected it if some priests had not intromitted themselues and said them sayeng that God would not be pleased there with and that therefore he commanded Peter to put vp his sword into the sheath Then Hyrtacus laboured by the meanes of some ladies to persuade Iphigania to be his wife but seeing that this way would not remoue the holy virgin from her good purpose in a diabolicall rage he caused the monastery to be fired but S. Mathew was seene in the aire to quench it The sacrilegious tyraunt escaped not this deserued punishment for God strook him with the leprosy which was so sore that he killed himself for paine and the kingdome came to the brother of Iphigenia sonne to Egippus who was a Christian ruled that prouince many years to the honour and glory of God which was spred through all Ethiope where the body of S. Matthew was kept and holden in great veneration and reuerence vntill the time of pope Gregory 7. when it was translated ro the city of Salerno in Italy where it is holden in great veneration to this day by all good Christians Great reason there is to doe so for that this glorious Apostle hath three honorable titles for euery of which he meriteth to be honored The first is of Apostle the second of Euangelist the third of martir His death was on the 21 day of September and on that day the Church celebrateth his feast and in the year of our Lord. 90. in the raigne of Domiâ—ian after Canisius It is not with out mistery that among all the other Euangelists whom the Church vseth in her seruice S. Matthew holdeth the first place as likewise doe S. Paule and Dauid of the one of which almost euery day the epistles be red of the other the psalmes be song The mistery may be for that all three were great sinners to giue hope to all
Emperours seruice that they should not think much to offer it for the seruice of God for that their death and torment should haue an end very shortly and tollerating it for such a cause they should afterward possesse the ioies of heauen cuerlastingly These such other words that Maurice said made such an impression in the minds of those seruants of CHRIST that euery one endeuored to be the first martir and to enter into heauen before his fellow souldier The legion being tenthed the second time the other which were left were demaunded if they would obey the Emperour Maximian and they answered Tell Th'emperour from vs that we do acknowledg our selfs to be his souldiers and withall that we be the seruants and worshippers of the true God we be bound to obey Maximian in things apperteining vnto the warre but much more bound vnto God in matters of religion from Maximian we haue pay for our seruice but of God we receaue our being and our life we may not nor will not deny IESVS CHRIT to obey Cesar Maximian receauing this answer finding the martirs resolute and seing the double decimation of them was to small auaile be commaunded the wholl army to set on them and to cut and hew them to pieces without reseruation of any this quailed not their noble courages but rather their death being occasioned for so good a cause they kneeled on the bare ground and lifting vp their hands and harts vnto heauen yealded to the butchery and slaughter their Coronell Maurice continually and incessantly incouraging and chearing them vp and in this maner they were all massacred Many of the bloudy villans were so fleshed herewith that not content with death they stripped them and put on their apparell and at mour and sat downe to eate the prouision the martirs had It happened a Christian souldier called Victor who was not a Theban but of another nation came by and beholding so many dead bodies ly in that plaine not knowing howe it came asked why those that eate thereby shewed such mirth and gladnes and did not loth and abhorre to eat and drink among so many dead bodies One related vnto him point by point what had befallē they bade him come eate and be mery with them for ioy they had done such pleasing seruice vnto themperour when Victor had heard all their speech he said aloud Oh wretch that I am I wishe I had bene partaker in their death By these words of Victor they which sat at the bloudy banket gathered that Victor was a christian wherefore leauing their banquet and taking their weapons they incontinent cut him in pieces as they had done the Thebans and by this meanes Victor merited the same reward that the Thebans had deserued This was the martirdome of S. Maurice and of his Theban souldiers and the holy church celebrateth it on the. 22. day of September in the year of our Lord 301 in the time of Dioclesian and Maximian After certein years passed the same holy martirs reuealed vnto a Bishop called Theodore where their bodies were and commaunded him to translate them to a place more conuenient The good Bishop was not slack or negligent in fulfilling it for the people of that countrey hauing made many pits and hauing put the bodyes of the holy martirs into them the good Bishop caused them to digge them out of them and out of theother places where those blessed bodyes were as he vnderstood by the diuine reuelation and sent them into diuers countreis where many Churches were builded vnto their honour and in them God graunted many fauors vnto such as being in tribulation and affliction did recommend themselfs vnto these blessed martirs In the vestry of the church in Toledo in Spaine is shewen the head of one of these holy martirs and they say there it is the head of S. Maurice * ⎠* The life of S. Linus Pope and Martir AMONG other precepts which S. 1. ep Paul gaue vnto the Corinthians there is one in especiall for Christians to vse when they go vnto the Church to pray He saith that men must stand vncouered when they be in the Church O holy Apostle shall this be vsed both by men and women shall the women also stand with their head vncouered in the Church The Apostle answereth and saith for the women we haue another lawe which is this that women must be in the Church with their head couered for as it is an vnseemely thing for a secular woman to be shauen and without long haire so is it an vnseemely thing for women to be in the Church with their head vncouered S. Ambrose yealdeth a reason of this and foundeth it vpon these wordes of the Apostle to wit that the man is the image of God and the woman is the image of the man of whom she is formed This glorious Doctor saith also that it was the ordinary vsage that slaues had their heades couered or bound with certaine bandes And the difference that was betweene the slaues and freemen was this that the salues had the head bound or couered and the freemen had it vncouered we may perceiue hereby that God would haue vs when we be in his presence to acknowledg our quality and condition The man that is superior in house and that hath authority to comaund therein must haue his head vncouered and bare as a free man and a master but the woman who is his inferior and who is obliged to obey in the house ought to haue her head couered by that meanes confessing her quality of obedience That the man do comaund and the woman do obey is a matter of such importance that not only S. Paul doth comaund it as is aforesaid but S. Peter also as chief and highest Bishop ordeined and comaunded the same But for that he left it not in writing S. Linus who was his disciple and successor in the Papacy comaunded it and left it written that it might be obserued and kept perpetually and in deed it is not read that he left any other order then this which yet if it might be obserued among all faithfull Christians were very comendable and praise worthy Now let us see the life of this holy Pope collected on of that which Damasus and other graue Authors write of him yet first I think good to admonish you that S. Peter being neere to his death thought it conuenient to nominate a worthy and weldeseruing sucessor to be in his place after him who might take care and charge of the Catholique Church To this entent he named Clement his disciple who for his great humility willed that Linus and Cletus who had bene coadiutors vnto S. Peter should haue that dignity before him So Linus had the Papacy vnto whom Cletus succeeded and after him the same S. Clement was Pope Returning vnto our purpose the life of S. Linus was this SAINT Linus was borne in Vol-terra a citty of Hetruria and was sonne of Hercolanus of the noble
family to the Mauri Being fully 20. yeeres old he was sent by his father to Rome to study where he remained in the house of Quintus Fabius his fathers friend vntill S. Peter the Apostle came to Rome to preach the Gospell Then this S. Linus was of his first disciples who followed him asisting him alwaies in his preaching and in the administration of the hely Sacramēts S. Peter seing in him many good partes as his holines learning and curteous affability he made him his coadiutor in the dignity to the which he was also elected after the death of the Apostle So that first he was coadiutor then Pope and head of the Church for the which with great care and prudence he prouided all thinges necessarie for the good gouernement thereof He comaunded in particuler that women hould not enter into the Church with their haire loose and vntied but bound vp and couered as S. Peter had comaunded and S. Paul had left written He gaue holy orders twise in the month of December and at them he consecrated 15. Bishops and ordered 18 Priests with some Deacons In the primitiue Church there was great care had in giuing holy orders and in receiuing any to the office of a priest or the other orders and therefore they kept a reconing and conserued the memory of the times when holy orders were giuen and how many were ordered Those ancient fathers did this for that this office was so reuerend holy and so hard to discharge that many deputed and apointed to take orders refused it yea some there were that cut of some member or other as their finger eare nose or the like to make themselues incapable to receiue an office so great and waighty as Priesthood is Moreouer the Christians at that time were fewe in number so that there was not such need of so many Pastors If the same were done at this present it would surely be a notable benefit aswell for the one part as for the other if that prelates were not so liberall and ready in giuing holy orders nor secular Christians so bold and hasty in procuring to receaue the same the Priests should not be so litle esteemed nor the seculars haue such occasion to murmure of the Ecclesiasticall state S. Linus wrote the deeds and doctrine of S. Peter the Apostle his maister and especialy his martirdome S. Linus being a most holy man cast out diuells and raised the dead to life He deliuered from the diuell a yong woman daughter to the Consul Saturninus who in recompence of that receaued benefitt by the handes of the good Pope comaunded he should be put to death and so he was made the martir of IESVS CHRIST It is no smal honour to S. Linus that the Catholike Church hath put his name in the Canon of the masse among other holy martirs there mētioned The feast of S. Linus is celebrated on the daie of his martirdom which was one the 23 of September in the yeare of our Lord 81. in the time of Vespasian the Emperour This holy Martir held the Papacy 11. yeeres 3. monthes and 12 daies was buried neere vnto the body of S. Peter the Apostle Shortly after his holy reliques were translated vnto the citty of Ostia and laid comely in the Church of S. Lawrence by Gregorie Bishop of that citty S. Paul maketh mention of Pope Linus in the second Epistle he wrote vnto Timothie his disciple in the 4. chapter The life of S. Tecla virgin THE Apostle S. Paule writing vnto the Corinthians saith 1. Cor. 7. that the virgin sinneth not in taking a husband but doth a good work though it should be better not to take a husband but to remaine a virgin I may be that the Apostle preached this doctrin in a sermon and that a yong woman named Tecla who had determined to take a hushand was present therat Who vnderstanding that it was better to conserue her virginity left and forsooke her earthly spouse taking IESVS CHRIST to her heauenly spouse for whose loue she tollerated very great afflictions and torments which were procured vnto her by him that thought to be her husband The life of this glorious saint gathered out of the writings of S. Ambrose Ado Arch of Triers and out of other graue authors was as followeth ON a time S. Paule departing from Antioch went vnto a city called Iconium in the prouince of Cilicia There had bene there before that time Titus his disciple and had giuen notice and signes of him vnto Onesiphorus who was a very vertuous man and dwelt in that city He had related allso vnto him the doctrine which he preached his life and behauior and informed him of the quality of his personage to wit that he was a man litle of body and that he had a hooked nose and faire in the face like an Angell When the Apostle came vnto the city Onesiphorus knew him by the signes before told him wherefore he led him to his house where some people of good intention and desirous to finde the true way to eternall life and happines were assembled The Apostle preached vnto them to the great profit of them that gaue due attention vnto him In the next house to the place where the Apostle preached there dwelt a damosell very beautifull but much more vertuous called Tecla This damosell had a mother liuing who had made a match and apointed to marry her to a yongman called Tamirus It hapened on a time that Tecla standing in a windowe of her house heard from thence the preaching wordes of S. Paul which made very great impressiō in the mind of the yong damosell She being not content to haue heard him this one time endeauored and made meanes to heare him sondry other times and so long that her mother came to the knowledge thereof how the wordes of the Apostle had made her daughter to alter her intent and purpose to marry Yea the virgin Tecla her self who was a pagan before said now boldly that she was a Christian and she that before was resolued to take an husband said now that she desired rather to loose her life then her virginity The mother made report of these things vnto the spouse of her daughter who finding the same to be very true because Tecla her self told him her mind freely and what she entended to do which was that she would not marry but remaine a virgin went vnto the Proconsull of the citty and gaue him notice that there was a forreiner come into the towne who took wiues from their husbands and brought in new and strange Gods to the notable preiudice and damage of them all as being contrary to that their fore fathers had beleeued This information was the cause that the Apostle was apprehended cruelly scourged and put in danger of his life had he not made it knowne vnto them that he had the priuiledge of a citisen of Rome by being borne in Tarsus a citty of Cicilia yet for all
of them were conuerted since their heroycall vertues and famous deeds did couer and hide yea rather did wholly cancell and blot out their former defects So in like maner it is no reproch vnto S. Cyprian to say what he was before his conuersioÌ„ for though he had many faults yet did he deface and abolish them all with the holy life he led after it There was in the city of Antioche a yong damosell noble of bloud and faire of face who was a Christian and much addcted to vertue and deuotion There dwelt in the same city one Cypâ—ian yong in years a great Philosopher but a greater magitian who was ennamored on her At the first Cyprian sollicited her with messages letters presents and promised but the holy damosell resisted thes assaults with a mind determinat making small account of his profers and least of all of him Cyprian perceuing this way would not preuaile thought to obtein his purpose by the help of his magike So he coniured vp the deuills and made sacrifice vnto them promising to be perpetuall frend vnto them and that he would not worship any other God but them if they put him in posession of that damosell The deuills his familiers hauing gotten this promise of him went to Iustina and put into her mind filthy thoughts and dishonest imaginations which they nourished in her hart Euery one of the fiends did what they could to bend and bowe the hart of Iustina to the loue of Cyprian They represented vnto her cogitations a yong man faire rich of courtly behauior and deeply ingaged in her loue They recalled also many times vnto her mynd the pleasaunt and amorous words which he had spoken vnto her of the which she had before made small reconing The holy damosell perceued the storme that was raised against her and resorted vnto God for succour and kneeling in her closet made a deuout praier beseeching his heauenly maiesty that as he had deliuered Susanna from the accurse Elders Dan. 13. and S. Tecla from her importunate spouse and other holy saints both men and women from other and the like perils so it would please him to deliuer her from that daunger wher in she was at that present She also besought most humbly the glorious Virgin Marie that she would help her in that manifest perill Vnto her continuall praiers she added and adioined fastings hair-cloths and sleeping on the ground and in the end by these means she ouercame the temptation she remained victour and the deuill vanquished The fiend repleat with confusion returned vnto Cyprian confessed that he had not the power to do any thing against Iustina the virgin he told him also that the cause therof was because she was a Christian and that the deuills haue not any power ouer any of them if they them selues do not giue it vnto them When Cyprian heard this the griefe of his hart cannot be expressed but that was not so much for the loue of Iustina because in such like cases to despaire wholly of good successe sometimes proueth a manifest help and remedy but because he perceaued his error in that he had worshipped the deuils who had so small power force Studieng on this he determined to abandon and to forsake for euer the deuils together with their cursed art and to receaue the Christian faith He conferred his determination with a Bishop who was in that city called Antimus who instructed him to the full in the Christian faith and Baptised him but first and before all this he made him to burne all the books of Magick that had Being Baptised he made it knowen vnto Iustina telling her that vnto her he was much bound for that by her means he came to the knowledge of the truth and of the faith of IESVS CHRIST When Iustina heard this strange alteration she reioiced excedingly and would confer some times with him in the which coÌ„ference they comforted the one the other to perseuer in the seruice of God and many by their means were conuerted to the faith and were Baptised At that time Claudius 2 was Emperour of Rome who had sent a certein Count called Aurelius Spa Dioclesian or Eutelmius as venerable Bede calleth him as lieutenant into the Orient He persecuting the Christians as Themperour had apointed had notice that Cyprian and Iustina were Christians and that many others had receued Baptisme by their inducement wherefore he caused them both to be apprehended When he had examined Cyprian and found him constant and firme in the faith he caused him to be stripped naked and his body to be rent torn with rakes and hooks of Iron he caused Iustina to be buffetted on the face and then scourged with the rawe sinews of beasts After he had put them vnto these seuerall torments he laid them both in prison where they continued certein daies when he sawe them to perseuer stedfast in the profession of their faith he caused them to be taken from thence and cast into a huge big cauldron seething with pitch tallowe and such other matter Iustina was some what troubled when they went about to put her into the Cauldron but S. Cyprian comforted and animated her and so they were both put into the Cauldron and by the fauor of God they felt therin no paine at all for the which they rendered him infinite thanks Being taken out they were led backe vnto the prison and Aurelius hauing occasion to go vnto Nicomedia tooke order that the holy martirs should be brought thither in which place afflicting them with sondry torments he lastly caused them to be beheaded Their bodies remained sixe daies vnburied because none was so hardy as to take them away but then certaine Christians conuaied them away in the night and put them into a bark and brought them to Rome where at the first they were buried in a farme place belonging to a noble lady called Rufina and in after times they were translated into the city and buried in the Cathedrall Church of Constantiniana nere vnto the Fontestone It is said that at this present their bodies be in Placencia a city of Lombardy The Church doth celebrate the feast of these holy saints on the day of their martirdome which was on the 26 day of September in the yeare of our Lord 272 the abouenamed Claudius 2 being emperour Spa saith Dioclesian about the yeare 300. The life of SS Cosmas and Damianus martirs SALOMON saith in Ecclesiasticus that the phisition deserueth to be honored Cap. 38. Psa 138. Dauid saith also in a psalme that the freinds of God deserue to be and are much honored S. Cosmus and S. Damianus were phisitions and great frends of God since for to be such they gaue their life and therefore they deserue to be honored euen as the Catholique Church in generall and many faithfull people in particuler honor them and haue deuotion vnto them Such men desire to know their lifes and martirdome which they suffered
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
in the Spanish that the bodies of the aforenamed holy saints were brought vnto their city in the yeare of our Lord. 1154. The spanish saith That Procopius in the first book saith that these holy saints healed the Emperour Instinian recomending himself vnto them of a greenous infirmity and that in gratification thereof he built a sumptuous temple vnto their name The Dedication of S. Michael the Archangell THE sacred scripture reciteth in the first booke of thing that the reputation and credit of king Saul was in great perill when that proud Philistean called Golias defied him and all his army It was not fit the king should accept the battaile and yet there was not any found in his court whose hart did serue him to encounter that proud giant who was reputed valiant and strong and aunswer the challeng King Saul studied and devised howe to be freed from this dishonour and daunger At last he made a proclamation that if any man ouercame the Phylistean he should be made a noble man and be exempt from all tribute and that he would giue him an honorable office in the court and also his daughter vnto wife These promises of the king were very great yet there was not a man in all the army that was so hardy as to behold the face of the giant only the lowly litle shepherd Dauid zelous of the kings honour and of the peoples also tooke on him the enterprise to combat with the Philistean which he did and shewed such valour that with a stone which he threw he hitte him on the forhead and felled him to the ground then he ranne speedily vnto him and out of his head and returned with the same euery one making triumph for his victory but especially the damsels declared his prowesse in a song After this king Saul obserued his promise he made him a noble man and a great officer in his court and gaue vnto him his daughter Michol vnto his wife This is a perfect portraict of the battell which was in heauen between the Angels of which it is good the memory be celebrated as often as their feast is solemnished for that which they did was a famous and rare work The Philistean Golias is a figure of Lucifer who was the highest Angell and seing himself endowed with grace and guifts aboue other Angel was puffed in pride and came into the field against God pretending to be like and equall to him in some things It was not fit God should come into the field against him for then the victory would haue bene of farre lesse estimation but S. Michaell figured by the lowely shepherd Dauid tooke on him this entreprise and entred boldy into the field against Lucifer in the defence of Gods honor and behaued himself so well that with one stone which was his profound humility saieng who is as God he cast the giant to the earth that is threw Lucyfer into hell Lucifer being ouercome with all his followers S. Michaell returned victoriously from the conflict euery one making ioy and triumph for it but especially the damsels who sang of his prowesse which happeneth euery time this feast of him and the Angels is celebrated for that many blessed soules singing the victory of S. Michaell do reioice at his honorable enterprise God also performed his promise vnto him he made him a noble man and gaue him an honorable office making him Chief Iustice in his kingdome for which cause he beareth the Ballaunce and the sword in his hand when he is painted and gaue vnto him an honorable companion which was his diuine grace confirming him in the same and all the other blessed spirits also EVERY time the Catholike Church celebrateth the feast of the Angels there is red in the office of the masse a ghospell which treateth howe controuersy arising amongst the Apostles which of them should be the greatest the sonne of God called a litle child and set him in the midst of them and said If you be not humbled as this child you shall not be great in the kingdome of heauen but more then that You shall neuer come thither The vse of the Catholike Church guided by the holy Ghost is to reade this Ghospell in such like solemnities because there is mention made of the Angels for in the end therof it is said That None should contemne the lowely and humble as children be bicause their Angels see alwaies in heauen the face of God Some Authors though not in the literall sence will drawe this history to the Angels saieng that assoone as God created them he gaue theÌ„ notice of the mistery of the Incarnation and set before their eies that B. child IESVS who should giue remedy vnto the world and then said vnto them uerily I tel you if you be not humble lowely as this child and imitate him therin if in this small space in which you be viatores or trauellors and haue time to merite or demerite yee do not imitate him and be likened to this child If you do not honor and adore him you shall not be confirmed in grace you shall not enter into my glory But Lucifer seeing him felf so faire beutifull and honoured iudged it would be an abacement and vility to imitate a man and much more to adore him And labouring to drawe the Angels vnto his opinion said vnto them it would be a great basenes and shame vnto them to be humbled to adore a man and with these speechs drew the third part vnto his opinion S. Michael together with all the other holy Angels obeied God and adored the litle child IESVS and tooke vpon him the defence of Gods honor against Lucifer and the Angels that followed him The fierce warre betweene them was not of materiall weapons but of different willes and S. Michael and his company were so potent that they cast Lucifer and all his followers out of heauen Assoone as Lucifer was cast out of heauen fallen into the world there was heard a great voice which said wo vnto the world because Lucifer is fallen into it and will giue occasion of offence but more wo vnto him by whom such scandals shall come it were better for such a one to haue a millstone tied vnto his necke and that he were throwen into the sea This befell vnto the deuill because there was tied vnto the neck of his will a greate stone which was their obstinacy with which they were drowned in the bottomles pitt Then said God take heed that none make small account of these humble Angels Spa as lactan l 2. c. 9. D. Berâ—â— ser 17. super mis est Alex. 3. p. q. 74. memb 8. Nacl deoper sex dier which remaine in heauen but honor and reuerence them for I tell you true they alwais see the face of the father eternall This is that which some doctors say and I had not rehersed it here if it had not a good ground that the sinne of Lucifer was for that he
would not adore IESVS CHRIST for he thought he lost much of his reputation if he that was an Angell had abased himself to adore IESVS CHRIST a man though he was God also It is the common opinion of the doctors founded vpon holy writte that the sinne of Lucifer was pride and disobedience S. Paul seemeth to say so writing to the Hebrewes where he saith Let all the Angels of God adore him S. Iohn Chrisostome saith that this was a precept giuen vnto the Angels Hereof riseth the great malice and enuy of Lucifer against IESVS CHRIST for that he was cast out of heauen for his sake Ad hebr cap. 1. and because the cursed wretch cannot reuenge himself against him there fore he laboureth to wreak his malice against men wherupon S. Basill saith D. Bas 1. tom hom in lai that Lucifer doth after the manner of a bull who seeing a man to cast a snare or cord about his hornes is chafed and enraged against him and whilest he is in his greatest fury they vse to set before him the shape of a man against which he vttereth all his rage though it put not the cord aboute him In like sort Lucifer doth who because he cannot be reuenged on IESVS CHRIST who tied him and was the cause he was throwne out of heauen and also of his torment he hath in hell striueth to reuenge himself on men who are made to the image and similitude of god On the contrary the Angels do loue men entirely bicause they see CHRIST who is both God and man for whose cause they enioy the heuenly glory and also because they behould the deuils to persecute and make cruell warre against them Hereof it commeth that God commaunding them to be the keepers and guardians of men and to be their guides they do not scorne it yea they esteeme it honorable and take great content therat Therfore in this warre which the deuill maketh against men assisted by two lusty fellowes his seruants the world and the flesh the Angells hold on our sides helping and ayding vs As it it happened to Iudas Machabeus 2. Mach. 11. who being ready to incounter with a great army of his enemies two Angels went by his side and aided him and caused him to obteine a famous victory These holy Angels deliuer vs from many daungers into which we fall oftentimes as it befell to Loth when the Angels pulled him almost by force out of Sodome Gen 19. that he should not be consumed with fier among the other people of Sodome These Angels hold vs back and with drawe vs if we go sometimes headlong into sinne as happened to the prophet Balaam who being on the way entending to curse the people of God Nū 22. an Angell met him on the high way with a naked sword in his hand and though the prophet did not see him yet the Asse on which he rode such was the pleasure of God sawe him and afterward the Angell told him what to do and spake vnto him These holy Angels comfort vs in our troubles as befell to IESVS CHRIST in that great agony Luc. 22. which he had in the gardē when he sweate bloud CHRIST had no Angell guardyan for that he needed none yet an Angell descended from heauen which comforted him reducing vnto his mind the great good proffit that would arise of his death These B. Angells keepe vs company in all our voyages and iourneis Tobia 3. as it befell to yong Tobyas who was accompanied by an Angell in a long iourney and receued by him many graces and fauours They do defend vs and stand on our side daunting our enemies as happened to the prophet Heliseus 4. Reg 6. when the Assirians besieged him in mont Carmelo when many Angels enuironed him round in his defence These Angels guide vs in the way we are to walk as befell to the Hebrewes when they departed out of Egipt Exod. 14. for an Angell went before them as a cloud and guided them in the day and in the night directed them in the forme of a piller of fire These B. 3. Reg. 19. spirites comfort vs and prouide vs sustentation as befell vnto the prophet Elias for an Angell brought him sustenance before he went a long iourney These Angells present our praiers our sobbes and teares before God as befell vnto the beutifull Sara Toby 3. the daughter of Raguel who was widowe seauen times the diuell killing her husbands an Angell presented her praiers and teares before the face of God and shee was deliuered from that affliction These Angells finally when the soules are seperated from the bodies if they go vnto purgatorie keep them companie and comfort them with their often visitations if they go vnto heauen they go before them making triumph and ioy For which cause it is fit and iust that men who receaue these great benefits by the Angells should make great estimation of them and also honour them and be prompt and ready to do them seruice Pope Boniface the 4. who sate in the chaire of S. Peter about the yeare of our Lord 614. cōsidering seeing that in Rome there were many Churches dedicated to diuers Saints caused a Church to be builded in the honor of S. Michaell the Archangell the which was builded in Rome in a place called Circus Maximus which building was fully ended and finished on the 29. day of September And in remembrance of the building of the Church the Pope willed the feast of S. Michaell the Archangell and of all the other Angells to be celebrated through all parts of Christendome It is our duety to reioice on this day especially with them shewing our selfes to be gladsome of that they enioy the eternall felicity in heauen of which God make vs partakers for his mercies sake Amen The life of S. Hierome WE READ of the great friend of God Moises guide and captaine to the children of Israell that when he took the same people from the hands of Pharao and conducted them out of the land of Egipt the Red sea stopped him but when he stroke it with his wand it deuided into two partes so that all the people passed through drie foot the water seruing them for a wall and a defence against the Egiptians their enemies that pursued them Moyses is not only a figure of IESVS CHRIST our Lord the guide and captaine of the Christians whome he deliuered from the hand of Pharao to witte the deuill opening the way by the sea of his death passion with the wand or wood of the Crosse but also representeth the holie Doctors though not so properlie who in some sort are guides and captaines vnto the Christians Amonghst other Doctors figured in Moyses one is glorious S. Hierome for that this Doctor like vnto another Moises is the guide and meanes whereby many that were slaues and subiect to vices haue freed themselues from their miserable bondage by the
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
our lord and Sauyor IESVS CHRIST was borne therin when he came to liue in this world and also but in farre lower degree for the S. Ierome dyed there to liue in heauen But aboue all other prouinces Spaine oweth an especiall duety vnto S. Ierome for the many epistles he wrote to particular persons therin as also for that after many hundreth years that he dyed in Bethlehem it seemed he was raised to life in Spaine not he in person but his name and religion for in the time of Pope Gregory II. the king Don Alonso the. II. raigning in Spaine there came out of Italy two holy hermites into the kingdome of Toledo in Spaine and by their good example of life and holy admonitions others were conuerted vnto that holy religious order Don alonse Peccia Bishop of Iaen and Petro fernandez Peccia his brother and Hernando Laguez chief chaplen of the kings Chappel Chanon of Toledo who being elected Arch-Bishop therof refused that dignity beside these many other noble men of marke and quality Many of the before named chose that life for that they had conceyued a great dread and fear of the king Don Pedro who at that time reigned in Castile after the death of the king Don Alonso his father because he had a delight to shed mans bloud so much that if the offence or fault were neuer so small he caused very rigorous punishment to be inflicted vpon the delinquents which seuere kind of Iustice was not vsed to be excuted in Spaine Wherefore the king gained thereby the surname of Cruell to this day I cannot tell if the doing of his Chronicler who did smally befrend him as it seemeth for some priuat respect did not help forward to settle confirme that odious name of Cruell vnto him from that time vnto this All these liued together certein years in the desert then they besought Pope Gregory to giue them a habite and a rule vnder the name of the hermitts of S. Ierome but the Pope gaue vnto them the rule of S. Augustine the name and habite they haue at this daie This order was confirmed in the third yeare of the Popedome of S. Gregorie on S. Lukes daie in the yeare of our Lord 1373. The order which is called in Spaine of the Isidori which is also of S. Ierome was instituted in the time of Pope Martin the 5. by frier Lopes de Ouiedo professor of the monasterie of Guada Lupe who out of S. Ieromes workes tooke a rule which is printed with his other workes and with the helpe of some that desired to followe it and with licence from the sea Apastolike he founded certaine monasteries in Italy which are called Isidori or the congregation of frier Lopes Of the first named relligious men of the order of S. Ierome there be in Spaine many worthie monasteries but in especiall fifteene which are called Royall because alwaies they haue bin fauoured by the kings They were especially fauoured by the Catholique king don Phillip the second of that name who built them a monastery an college in the Escuriall vnder the title of S. Laurence the Royall and the rule institution of the glorious S. Ierome In which place be many rare singular reliques of saints many pictures Images the workes of famous painters and caruers manie bookes of great vale we much riche stuffe for the church Challices Crosses and other things for the seruice of the Altar and there also is buried the corps of the mightie Emperour Charles the fifte of that name and other of the blood Royall By these and other the great and costlie things in this Royall house euidentlie appeareth the deuotion of the said king Don Phillip toward the glorious Doctors S. Ierome and his blessed religious order wherefore we maie hope that the same saint wil be his good aduocate vnto God that his Royall person and also his Realme shall encreasein temporall and wordlie goods and also that he shall inioye the celestiall kingdome of heauen by the intercession of this blessed saint To the wich God bring vs also of his infinite mercy Amen The end of the month of September OCTOBER The life of S. Remigius THERE shall spring a fountaine saith the prophet Ioel Cap. 3 and come from out of the house of God and passe by water the brooke of thornes in which words the prophet doth fortell us what shall happen after the latter iudgemeÌ„t The bodie of a mortall man is fitlie resembled in a brooke for it runneth swiftlie to death and perdition nay further it is a brooke of thornes for that of it selfe it produceth nothing but euill desires and worser deedes shat wound and pierce the soule like thornes But a fountaine after the latter day shall spring from out of the house of God and water these thornes whereby are deciphered those streames of glory which shall ouerflow the bodies of the elect and adorne them together with they re soules The Gloss saith this text may be well applyed to the primitiue Churche when the Apostles and preachers of the Ghospell did in the manner of a fountain spring from out of the house of God from the Catholicke Churche to water wich they re heauenlie doctrine the thornie brooke of Paganisme In this sence it fitteth that glorious Archb. of Rhemes S. Remigius who was indeede a fountaine of lyfe that springing from out of the house of God with the sweete and pleasant streames of his lyfe and doctrine watered that riuer of thornes Clodoueus who being a king and worshipper of Idolls was conuerted to the faith by S. Remigius and with him all his court and armie of men The lyfe of this glorious Saint was written by Hinc marus Archbishop of Rhemes in this manner following VVHEN the hand of our Lord did chastize the Frenchmen for they re sinnes with along bloudie warre which the Vandalls a fierce and cruell nation did wage against them there dwelled in the desert a holy Monk called Montanus who had lost his sight by continuall bewailing the sinnes of his nation For knowing that all they re afflictions and scourges were caused by they re many fold offences he coÌ„tinually prayed and with teares beseeched allmightie God to redress all they re miseries and graunt them pardon for all they re sinnes and be coÌ„tented with that punishment he had allreadie inflicted vpon them God vouchsafed at length to heare his prayers and graunt his request where fore he did reueale vnto him that shortlie there should be borne a child whose name should be Remigius that comming to be Bishop should with his preaching and good example with draw men from vices conuert them to God appease his wrath and stay his punishment He reuealed allso to this holie man the parents of this Childe Emilius and Ciliâ—ia people of great religion and charitie of noble bloud and great reuenews liuing in the tertitory of Laudum Montanus went and acquainted them whith his reuelation whereof both
he neuer staid long but continuallie trauailed from one place to another to escape his handes Once he came to the court of Achis king Geth who was a Phillistin being knowen of the courtiers he was led vnto the king that he might also see and knew him that had killed in the field the most valiant Champion of all the Philistians Golias the Giant Dauid feared that comming before the king he might incurre danger of his life wherefore to free himself of that perill he vsed a kind of pollicy in which he shewed himself as wise as he had before time valerous His craft was to faine himself foolish mad make faces and diffigure his countenance in diuers strange fashions to pulle at one and after at another and yf any catched at him againe to slip away from them as allso to let spiâ—tle fall on his beard and such like frantick toyes The king seing and thincking this to be done for nought but meere foolishnes scoffed at him and said to his courtiers To what end haue you brought this fellow hither want I fooles in my house take him away By this deuise Dauid was deliuered from the danger of death and out of the hands of the Phillistims O blessed Patriarch and Seraphicall Father holie S. Frauncis howe well and how perfectly wast thou pictured in this patterne Thou like a newe Dauid being yet verie yong wast persecuted not by Saule but by the deuill that endeuoured and laboured to depriue thee of the life not only of bodie but allso of soule Achis the king of Geth is this world in whose court thou wast and continuedst for a time in companie of other worldly men These made thee knowen to the world and the world did fixe his eyes vpon thee But thou fearing dauÌ„gers which hong ouer thy head to deliuer thy life out of his handes didst like a wise man faine thy selfe a foole Thou didst alter thy countenance when forsaking all that the world esteemeth thou didst embrace that which he most dispiseth When flying from all pleasures and delights thou didst make choice of contempt and afflictions Thou sometimes didst cherish one sometime another therby seeming to catche hold of them but if anie beganne to lay hold on thee to make the liue in sinne as others thou didst auoide and flye away from them Thou diddest many other things as a foole according to the iudgment of the world as in louing and seeking pouertie in appareilling and vsing of thy body not only meanely but also rigourously whereby the world reputed thee a foole and a verie dizard But thou like Dauid by this dilligence wast deliuered from out of the hands of Philisteans the hands of this world that so thou mightest fight and make fierce and cruell warre against him not only by thy owne person but also by thy sonnes and by thy daughters the religious people of thy holie order who continually waging warre against this enemie obteine many glorious spoiles and victories I haue taken the life of this blessed Saint out of the writings of S. Bonauenture S. Antoninus of Florence and others SAINT Frauncis was borne at Assisium a city in the valley of Spoleto in Italy in the yeare of our Lord 1182 and his father was a marchaunt called Peter Bernardo At his Christning he was named Iohn which name was after at his Confirmation chaunged into Francis for so was the will and pleasure of his father He was brought vp well and had good education as being the eldest sonne of his father who set him to learne both Latine and French intending to make him his factoure in marchandise whereunto the knowledge of many languages was as he knew well verie necessary S. Frauncis being come to years of discretion began to help his father in his trafficque aswell within as without the cittie And for that by this meanes he was as chiefe master and much money was returned thorough his hands a thing most perillous and pernitious for yong men he spent verie prodigally in what he liked This wrought many yong men of his years and of euil behauior into his company whoe moued him to liue as they did drowned in lasciuiousnes in ryot and youthfull vanities Thus he gaue himself wholly to delights to feastings and vaine company and yet alwaies in this euill behauioure he shewed some tokens of what he should then and what he woud be after ward On the one side he omitted not to commit all sinnes with out any feare yett on the other side he did some good deeds as giuing of almose in liberall sort for naturally he was very compassionat to the poore One day it fell out that a poore man asked an almose of him and he because he was verie busy gaue him none The poore man departed assoone as Francys perceued it he reproued himself and ruÌ„ning after him found him out and not only gaue him almose but also very lowely craued pardon of him and forthwith he also made a vowe that from theÌ„ceforth he neuer would deny to giue any thing that was demaunded of him for Gods sake if it lay in his power And perseuering in the obseruation of so worthy a vowe euen vntill his death he receaued manie especial great fauours of God one was that as often as euer he heard these words for Gods sake so often he felt a great tendernes of hart the cause of great consolation In regard of the Almose and other good deeds S. Frauncis did God sent him many good inspirations which serued as meanes to pull him out of that euill course of life in which he liued One of these meanes and motions was a whole yeares imprissonment in the city of Perugia among other citisens of AssisiuÌ„ caused by a controuersie between these two cities Francis in this prison shewed himself a man of great courage in aduersity as being always mery and comforting other his fellow prisoners that were pensiue and sad Peace was concluded between these citties the prisoners were discharged and Francis fell againe to his former courses prodigally spending his fathers goods among his companions in feasting gaming and carnallity and this life he led vntill he was 25. years old Comming to that age God did call him againe by a long and grieuous infirmitie the booke wherein man learnes manie good lessons First he learneth a liuelie and feeling knowledge of this trueth that he is mortall and that his health is not of himselfe He learneth moreouer to know his sinnes seing that sicknes is often times caused by them He learneth allso to feare hell fire as more neerely threatning deserued punishment which feare doth more earnestly stirre him vp to desire and thirst after eternall ioyes He learneth to despise all worldly riches as things that cannot restore him to health He lerneth to prepare himselfe to dye seinge infirmitie the harbinger of death in his lodginge He learneth to feare the iust iudgements of God making this discourse if in time of Mercie he chastizeth
vpheld the Church of S. Iohn Lateran with his shoulders And considering the purity and sincerity of his hart howe he despised the world and loued pouerty his constancy in this purpose of following that Euangelicall life written in his Rule according to which he desired to liue and regarding also his great zeale for the saluation of soules his feruent desire to imitate IESVS CHRIST he said without doubt this same is the man I sawe in my sleep I suppose that this man with his good example of life and doctrine will help to susteine and vphold the Church of God and with all he graunted vnto S. Francis his request and desire and confirmed his Rule Viuae vocis oraculo viz by word of mouth Then the holy man made a solemne profession in the hands of the Pope so did all his company promising to liue after that Euangelicall Rule when this was done the Pope ordeinted S. Francis Generall of all the order These things happened in the year of our Lord 1209. But because there was no Bull made therof at this time therefore the confirmation of this order of Friers Minors is not accounted but from the time of Honorius the Pope who 15. years after this confirmed the same by a particuler Bull and other Popes since haue confirmed and illustrated the same with speciall graces and priuiledges S. Francis returned to Assisium and with his brethren withdrew him selfe into a litle house nâ—ere to the city and there continued in praier and meditation From this house they went to a litle Church or chappell belonging to the Benedictine monks who bestowed it freely vpon S. Francis This chappell was called S. Maria de Angelis or by another name S. Maria de Portiuncula This was the first house or formed monastery of al the order The first time S. Francis came thither he seemed to be very ioifull and said to his Friers that this place should be the head of all his order S. Francis then departed from thence and so did all his brethren and went preaching not only in the city of Assisium neere vnto them but also in other places especially the Seraphicall father becoÌ„ming an Euangelicall troÌ„pet passed thorough cities castles and townes preaching the word of God not with eloquent words or worldly wisedome but with feruour and power and spirit of the liuing God The people who sawe and heard him speak thought him to be a man of a higher and another world for his hart and visage was euer â—rected toward heauen and he laboured to direct euerie one in his company to think of the world to come many were conuerted by his wordes and many did keepe him company who for the desire they had to imitate IESVS CHRIST followed the footsteps of the holy saint whom they took for their guide despising all kind of worldly goods and embracing holy pouerty It would be tedious to recount all the things this holy father did as his godly exercises and the holy life he led when he began to found his relligious order First he was most abstinent in eating and drinking his ordinary diet was bread and water with some pulse and sodden herbs If at any time he was forced by sicknes to eat flesh when he was recouered he would for a requitall repaire the abstinence brokeÌ„ with double austerity on his body He so diuided the yeare into lents that he fasted almost all of it eating but only once a day His first lent began at th end of twelftyde vntill Easter Another he kept after Easter for the coÌ„ming of the Holy Ghost Another for the Apostles S. Peter and Paul Another against the Assumption of our Lady and when that feast was gone he fasted tille the feast of S. Michaell tharchangell and then at the blessed feast of All Saints he began his Aduent vntill Christmas The bare earth was the ordinary bed for his weak and feeble body and for a pillowe he laid a stone vnder his head He slâ—pt very litle but watched almost all night in praier His apparaill was one gowne with a hood and a rope was his girdle he went some times vnto the desert places and mountains to pray the more quietly It happened on a time that S. Francis being in the night in the desert Sacianum in a litle caue the deuill called him by his name and the blessed man answered him not knowing who it was that called him The fiend said to him There is not so great a sinner in the world but God will pardon him if he be conuerted but they that will shorten their daies with rigorous penances shall find no mercy before the heauenly maiesty The seruant of God hearing these words was astonied and studied whither he did well or no in doing such and so austere penance But that he might know who it was that talked with him by the permission of our good God he was surprised with a greuous temptation of carnallity assoone as he perceaued it he threw of his cloths and gaue him self a very sore discipline and bicause it did not repell the assault he hasted out of the caue naked as he was and tumbled vp and downe in the snowe of which there was much in that desert When he had so done he made seuen heapes of snow in a round compasse and coming into the middest of them said to himself Thou my body yonder great one thou seest is thy wife these four be thy children two boies and two girles the other two be thy seruants nowe thou must take paines to maintein them and prouide cloths for them all least they dye for cold But if thou thinkest it chargeable endeuor thy self to liue chast and to serue God only which is a great deale better and more easye In this sort the holy saint ouer came the tentation and the deuill with shame departed away The glorious father aduised his friers to be abstinent and to auoid Idlenes if they would be freed from such tentations The great loue S. Francis bare to CHRIST may be knowen by this that there was neuer any so much desired to liue as he did to dye for CHRIST his sake this moued him to go into Siria among the Infidells that he might obtein the crowne of martirdome but he returned for that he could not obtaine his desire Also the glorious father bare great loue vnto his neighbour helping euery one in their necessities aswell of the body as of the soule It was his ordinary vsage if he sawe any poore man with ragged clothes to exchange with him he vsed to all of them great respect and reuerence for he thought he sawe CHRIST in euery one of them The wonderfull miracles he did worke as casting out of deuills healing of the sick and raising of the dead be so many that only of them a iust volume might be made many of them are mencioned in the Bull of his Canonisation which is a sufficient proofe that they be of good credit and Authenticall
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
extasi as vsuallie he accustomed in the meditation of the passion of CHRIST to the which he was deuoted more then can be expressed And at this time he was transformed into the similitude of CHRIST crucified the figure of his blessed wounds remaining imprinted in this flesh his hands were pierced through the middest with nailes of flesh the heads of which nailes appearing in the palmes of his hands were round and black and the points long and crooked the like appeared in his feet and vpon his right side he had a wound as if it had bene with a speare the wound being both red wide S. Bonuaenture affirmeth that he heard them say so that had seen them with their eies and touched them with their hands When Ionathas desired to shewe kindnes to Dauid 4. Reg 4. he gaue him his garments and when IESVS CHRIST would shew his fauour to S. Francis he bestowed on him his wounds 1. Reg 18. when Eliseus would resuscitate the dead infant he lay ouer the child and it may be he said to God Lord ioine these my eies to him that they may see in him and these my hands that they may haue feeling in him so CHRIST lay ouer S. Francis and gaue his wounds to him CHRIST visibly ascended in to heauen and for that his will was to haue in his Church a perfect pourtraiture of him for a small time he made S. Francis one for considering his holy life streight after his conuersion it seemeth that S. Francis did set down his foot in the steppe from whence CHRIST took vp his foot And to the end he should be likened vnto him in euery thing he imprinted his wounds also in his body Sometimes one that is vitious or one that is good is bidden to imitate God and if perhapps he thinketh he can not do it God giueth him a patterne or a modell which he may imitate when he will S. Francis preached the despising and contempt of the world and it seemeth that many men did not giue credit vnto him Wherfore to the end he should be credited CHRIST gaue him his wounds like an instrument which is written sealed for that is should be of sufficient creditt S. Francis is like the keeper of the common standard of measure vnto which all the other keepers of measure resort CHRIST on the Crosse got many children some were martirs some Confessors and some were virgins The children are likened vnto the father some had his similitude in their patience others in their humility and others in other vertues but for that none had the similitude of him in the wounds God elected S. Francis for that purpose and gaue them vnto him imprinted in his flesh The courtiers that be fauored of the king are apparailled in his liuery and because S. Francis was highly fauored of IESVS CHRIST he was therfore cloathed in the liuery of his wounds Iacob wrastled with God and remained lame S. Francis wrastled with God and he was made lame also for the wounds of his feet suffered him not to trauell but he was compelled to ride on a litle Asse The death of this glorious patriarch drawing nighe he was much diseased with a grief in his stomack and in his eies as also with the paines of his wounds sixe moneths before his death he fell sick of the dropsy which thinge persuaded him he had not long to liue The citizens of Assisium doubting that if he died in any other place they should loose the pretious treazure of the holy maÌ„s body sent for him to Sienna where he remained and conducted him to their city and lodged him in the Bishops house The holy saint being there and knowing that the hower of his death approached commaunded them to cary him to the Church of Sancta Maria de portinncula other wise called dy Angeli Being come thâ—ther he made his testament in which he left his friers heires of his holly pouerty which he much recommended vnto them to keep and obserue ioyntly with charity and obedience and gaue vnto them his benediction On a saterday in the euening on the. 4. day of October in the time of pope Honorius 3. and of Fredericque 2. themperour in the year of our Lord. 1226 twenty years after his conuersion and in the. 45. year of his age this holy father heard the voice of God who called him out of this life vnto him And because he would make a true demonstration that he had not any thing common with the world not the world any thing with him The holy father with feruor of spirite did arise stark naked out of his bed and lay on the ground He had before receued the sacraments of Confession Eucharist and extreame vnction and hauing at the reasembly of his friers who wept and lamented pitifully remenbred them and ageine commaunthem to loue pouertie and to be subiect and obedient to the Church of Rome He gaue them his finall benediction aswell to the absent as to the present saieng to them My children remaine in peace and feare of our Lord and continew alwais in the same for I depart hence to God vnto whom I commend you all Then he willed them to read vnto him the passion according to S. Iohn After which the holy saint said the psalme of Dauid which beginneth thus Voce mea ad dominum clamaui and went vnto the last verse which is Educ de custodia animam meam ad confitendum nomini tuo me expectant iusti donc retribuas mihi and with those words his blessed soule vnloosed from the bands of the flesh and went out to enioy the euerlasting felicity His body continued so beutifull that only to behold it would moue a man to celestiall desires There resorted to his buriall innumerable people He was caried to the city of Assisium by the way the laid it in the Church of Damian at the instancy and petition of S. Clara for there was her monastery to the end shee and the other Nonnes her daughters might see him The sight of him caused them to shed aboundance of deuout teares especially when they sawe the wounds of his hands feet and side which might be seene of euery man From thence he was caried into the city and buried in the Church of S. George vntill that foure years after A sumptuous Church was builded for him into which he was translated and therin buryed Pope Gregory 9. hauing first vsed the accustomed diligences canonized him vpon a sonday one yeare mine months and a half after his glorious death Spa Marius Antonius Sabelliâ—â—s saith that in this time which was in the yeare of our Lord. 1494 there were Franciscan friers to the number of 60000. in forty prouinces The life of S. Placidus and others THE hautie pride and boldnes of Pharao with the help of the praier of Moises was the cause that he was drowned in the red sea the people of God escaped out of his cruell handes But
contrariewise the humillity vertue of Placidus fauored by the praier of S. Benedict was the cause that he safe aliue came out of a riuer wherinto he fell was in iminiment daÌ„ger of drowning His good successe was very profitable beneficiall for all Christians to whoÌ„ his good example was a light direction in the way of vertue God did shew them many fauors by his praiers merites His life was written by Iordano a houshold dweller with the same saint and at the commaundent of the Emperor Iustinian Laurence Surius rehearseth it in this maner THE Gothes hauing conquered made them selues Lords of Italy Theoderik the secoÌ„d being their kinge Iohn sitting in the chaire of S. Peter and Iustinian being Emperour in Constantinople there came to Rome an honorable man of the order of Senators called Tertullius surpassing all others in posessions and allied to the Emperour in bloud Moreouer he was a iust man and vertuous which made euery one to loue him and manie call him father of the countrie He had a wife of an equall degree vnto him and by her three sonnes and one daughter The eldest sonne was called Placidus the second Eutichius the third Victorinus the name of his Daughter was Flauia they were all holy people for so good a tree did bring forth good fruite From their child hoode their father and mother instructed them to serue God to loue patience humility temperance and charity And though Tertullius was continually emploied in the affaires of the Emperour yet omitted he not to spend much time in visiting Churches and monasteries seeking in what he might the good of his soule and the seruice of God At that time the most blessed father S. Benedict liued in Sublak shining with sanctitie and miraculous deedes Much people resorted vnto him from all parts with a desire to saue their soules to be of his holie religious order so he builded 12. monasteries placed in euerie one of them people of a pure holy and vertuous life who should instruct in the seruice of God those that came newlie to his order yet some of those nouices he kept with himself to be their teacher All these things related in the presence of Tertulius the Senator in Rome moued him to go and visite the saint being nobly accompanied as his state required appareled with scarlet gold and precious stones Assone as he sawe the holy maÌ„ he fell downe with greate reuernce and humility at his feete and with sobbes and teares requested him to pray vnto God for remission of his sinnes S. Benedict beholding the great humillity of this noble Senator raised him vp and conferred long with him about things apperteining to the good of his soule the obtaining of eternall life aduising him to regard thes aboue all thigs At this Tertulius tooke great consolation and left his sonne Placidus being vij yeares old with s Benedict which happened in the yere of our Lord 522. he recomeÌ„ded the charge of the child vnto him and besought him to bring him vp and teache him in his rule so crauing the blessing of the holy man he returned to Rome Placidus staied with his Mr S. Benedicte profitted so in the way of vertue and gaue so good hope what he would be therafter that the holy Patriarch shewed him especiall fauor very carefully instructed him how to a void be freed from tentations and howe to vse them to his profitt Placidus loued abstinence kept his vigills fastings and austeritie and with great care was attent to all things belonging to the seruice of God were it day night or any time whatsoeuer And all though he endeuored to adorne his soule with many vertues yet was he so compleat in obedience that the father S. Benedict wondered therat considering how to shewe himself obedient he did those things that were vnseemely for one of his birth of his linage As he was obedient so he was humble for these two vertues goe alweis together without humlity obedience is rather forced then voluntarie On a day there wanted water in the cell and Placidus went to dippe a paile in the riuer the vessell fell out of his hand into the water as he dipped it and as he would haue reached it he fell in allso and was in daunger to be drowned but in the instant that he fell in God reuealed it to S. Benedict who said to his disciple Maurus that was neere him Sonne Maurus runne speedily for the â—â—hld Placidus is fallen into the water he gaue him iointly his benediction S. Maurus ran apace and behoulding a far of the child ready to sink not thinking whither it was land or water but transported with charity and obedience ran vpon the water and tooke him fast by the heare of his head came out with the same speed he went in Being come to the bank he was astonied to see he had walked vpon the water as if it had bene vpon dry land neuer sinking nor being as much as wette Hauing returned he told hather Benedict the case and the blessed Patriarch said I cannot attribute it to my merit but to thy prompt obedience And Maurus he said that it be fell so for that he had commaunded him that for his part he had no interest in this miracle as done with out foresight delay or reflection Of this same holy and humble contention Placidus was the iudge and said when I came out of the water I sawe ouer my head the habite of the Abbot wich you father do nowe were and so you be the man that hath deliuered me from this great dauÌ„ger and this was a signe of the great vertue and merite of Placidus since he merited to see that which Maurus could not Of the aforesaid 12. monasteries built by S. Benedict in Sublake some were set on the toppe of the hill and therefore the monks were much troubled to fetch water for their necessary vses for they were forced to goâ— farre for the same They requested S. Benedict to remoue theÌ„ to some other place auoid this trouble He coÌ„forted theÌ„ saieng thaâ— yâ— they would returne to their monasteries God would prouide no doubt water for them On the next night the blessed father accompanied with Placidus only went vp to the hill and remained there all night in praier and laid three stones one vpon another and returned to his Cell The day ensuing the monks came to him for water the holy Abbot said vnto theÌ„ Goe to the toppe of the mounteine and digge where ye find three stones lieng one vpon another for God is able to furnish yee in that place with water to ease you of your trauell They did so and went to the toppe of the hill and found as he said In that place they digged making a piâ—t or well deepe and wide like a litle bath which was filled with water and rose in such quantity that it was not only sufficient
for the vse of the aforesaid monasteries but also ranne vnto the bottome of the mounteine and endured a longe time Though this miracle was done by S. Benedict yet Placidus was a party therein for that he went with him and praied with him was a testimony therof Vertue is alwaies enuyed and maligned and the good doe ordinarily suffer persecutions So one Florentius spiting S. Benedict his neighbor resolued for to persecute him He did it first presenting to him by a messenger bred impoisoned but the holy man knowing what was with in it gaue it to a crowe coÌ„manding him to cary it and leaue it in the desert where it should hurt no man The wicked man seeing he could not accomplish his intent by this deuise agreed with a woman to enter all naked into the garden of the monastery and by dishonest behauiour tempt the moÌ„kes to lewdnes This villanous trick against his monks displeased greatly S. Benedict especially fearing lest Maurus and Placidus being yong youths might thereby susteine some wrong be annoied but God spake to him in his sleep with sweet amiable words bidding him depart out of that country and go and build a monastery in Monte Cassinâ— The holy man obeied and in his iourney visited the holy places and monasteries he had built in that countrey in that seasoÌ„ the house fell vpon Florentius that wicked persecutor and killed him which thing Maurus wrote vnto his father seeming to be glad that their order was freed froÌ„ that persecutor but he reproued him sharply for the same Hauing then set all his conuents in good order in the yere of our Lords 529 he with his two disciples Placidus and Maurus iourneied toward Mont Cassino and as they passed by a village called Aureola nere the city Hercularia it was reuealed vnto him that in thaâ— place was to be builded a famous monastery of his order for which cause he commaunded his two disciples to stay there certain daies to lay the fouÌ„dations that being done to go on to Monte Cassino where he would be They obeied the glorious father S. Benedict proceeded on his iourney and came to Monte Cassino where for the space of 40. daies he continued in praier not farre from a temple of Apollo after which time inspired and fauored of God he destroied the Idoll threw downe the Altar and defaced the foundation and all signes of Idolatry which he could finde Then came his two disciples and began to founde the monastery which was after the head of all his order and built a Church vnto S. Martin in the place where the Idoll before had bin He made an altar to S. Iohn Euangelist and this being done he also preached vnto the people of that countrey and conuerted theÌ„ vnto the faith of CHRIST These doings of the holy man enraged the deuill wherfore he persecuted him all that he might appeared to him ougly in dreadfull shapes Placidus Maurus heard the roaring and howling that he made all though thy did not see his shape He did them also all the harme he could by endeuoring to disturbe the work and the building of the monastery makiÌ„g the stones verie weighty casting downe the walles raising fantisticall fires but by the praiers of S. Benedict they were deliuered from all these mischiefs Monte Cassino all the territorie had bin the possession of Terâ—ullus father vnto Placidus who vnderstanding how S. Benedict built there a monastery reioiced much therat and went thither to visite him accompanied with many other noble Romans as Boetius Simmachus Vitalianus Gordianus and Equitius When the blessed man vnderstood of their comming he went with Placidus to the doore of the monastery to receaue theÌ„ Terâ—ullus seing S. Benedict whose body was feeble and withered with great fasting alighted froÌ„ his horse and decked with riche and gay apparrell as he was fell on the ground to kisse his feete The holy patriarch lifted him vp and embraced him both of them weeping for tendernes of heart The whole company went into the Church of S. Martin in the which were many relligious men Tertullius did embrace them all and incontinent in the presence of those noblemen Consuls and Senators which came with him offred to God and to S. Benedict the monte Cassino with all the lands and villages thereunto apperteyning and because it was his patrimony which he enherited from his father he made a publick writing therof after the Romaine vse and maner In like maner he made a deed of guift of other posessions villages and castles and of a house in the which his sonne Placidus was borne being within Rome vpon the mounte Celius in which place was after made a Church called S. Erasmus And Equitius the Senator made a donation vnto the Abbot in the name of him self and of his sonne Maurus of some of his lands and posessions lyeng in Naples Gordianus in the name of himself and of his wife Siluia offered some villages and arrable grounds vnto the blessed Abbot theÌ„ they returned back to Rome The posessions that Tertullius the father of Placidus gaue to S. Benedict were 18. villages in Sicilie with hauens woods ryuers and parks When it was know in the Is'land that Tertullius had giuen those things vnto the monks diuers persons iniuriously inâ—â—uded themselfs into theÌ„ and kept theÌ„ by force The ouer seers and bailiues of them certefied S. Benedict therof who assembled his monks to treate of a meanes to remedy the same it was determined that Placidus should go thither who should be respected as being sonne to Tertulius and that he with his discretion would bring all things to good passe He as an obedient sonne was content to go thither and accompanied with two of his houshold friends Gordianus and Donaâ—â—s departed from Monte Cassino on the 20 day of May in the yeare of our Lord 536 and came vnto Capua where Germanus B. of that citie receaued them courteously At that time Zoffa chief secretary to the Church of Capua was grieuously troubled with the headache and hearing of coÌ„ming of Placidus disciple of S. Benedict whose miracles were renowned in all places came vnto him and said I beseech thee ô Placidus seruant of God by the name of thy maister Benedict which is worthy of all reuerence to lay thy hand vpon my head for I stedfastly belieue that if thou doest I shall be healed Placidus was aggrieued that he made such a request desired him to depart in peace for it was not fitt to request such things of him but of his Mr S. Benedict or of such other holy meÌ„ for he was a greeuous sinner needed the praiers of good men himself The B. Germanus hearing his wordes esteemed him to be very humble and besought him to performe the request of the sick man Placidus thought not good to gainsay the request of so holy and famous a prelate and so he laid his hand vpon the sick man and
they came to the sea shore where they were for to loose their heads Placidus made his prayer in that place and lifted vp his eyes and sayd My lord IESVS CHRIST sonne of the liuing God which didst descend from heauen vnto earth for our saluation didst abyde death vpon the Crosse haue mercy on vs ô lord and by thy merits and intercession of Benedict thy seruant our maister wee beseech thee to giue vnto vs the vertue of constancy to the end that passing this cruell passage of death without any impediment or stay layd in our way by our enemy the deuill we may come to enioy the eternall felicitie of thy heauenly kingdome let thy holy Angell S. Michaell receaue oure soules in peace and present them before thy heauenly tribunall This we request and beseeche of thee who art our God blessed and gloryous for euer Placidus hauing said these words all the other auÌ„swered Amen And as they kneeled they were beheaded forthwith in Sicilia in the hauen of Messina and their bodies remayned foure dayes vnburyed The Barbaryans not content herewith destroyed the monastery so that they left not one stone vpon another and though the Church of S. Iohn Euangelist stood very neere it whether it was for deuotion for the moores do reuerence him highly or whether for Gods pleasure it was not touched nor defaced And for that the stormes and roughnes of the sea was now ceased Mamucha comaunded euery one to be embarked to goe vnto Reggio in Calabria As they were passing the Faro there rose such a tempest that they could not goe forward nor returne back and by the iust iudgment of God they were drowned and sunke all of them being 100. vessells and 16800. men The bodyes of the holy martyr Placidus and of his brethren were buryed in the Church of S. Iohn Baptist by Gordianus his familier freind who came with him froÌ„ Monte Cassino The same man buryed the other 33. martirs in the same place where they were beheaded And in the one place and the other God did for them many myracles many sicke men recoueryng from all diseases by theyr intercession S. Placidus at his death was 26. yeares old for when he was 7. years old the blessed father S. Benedict receaued him into his company he remayned in Sublacque 5. yeares and vpon Monte Cassino 9 years in building the monastery he spent foure and there he was Abbot one year All which make the somme of 26. years He was borne in the yeare of our lord 515. and he was martyred in the yeare 541. on the first day of October being saterday The life of S. Marke Pope and Confessor BY the death of that holy Pope Siluester was chosen to succeede in his place in the chaire of S. Peter Marke a cittizen of Rome sonne of one Priscus endued with rare and excelent vertues The churche of God enioyed in his dayes great peace outward tranquillitie being fauoured freed by Christian Princes from all forreine enemies Yet inwaâ—dly the Arian hereticks infested the same as spitefullie as they could They had wonne them selues fauoure and wrought an entraunce in to the Emperours house and familie and inueagling one of his verie sonnes drawen him into the snares of they re heresies which was after a cause of great persecution in the churche of God and manie afflictions layed vpon Catholiks The old Emperour continued sound and allwayes a good Catholique and accordinglie affected and fauourâ—d S. Marke asmuch as he had before honoured S. Syluestre Wherefore this holie Pope furthered and cherished with the Emperours countenance employed his care and best endeuoures in resisting these Arrian hereticks and setling and ordaining such good orders as for the gouernement of the Churche were adiudged necessarie Amonghst which one was to prescribe that on Sundayes and chiâ—fe festiuall dayes the Creed or beliefe should be said in the masse to the end that the hearers might the better learne it and be more strengthned in they re fayth by this publique profession made thereof He moreouer builded two churches one in the way to Ardea three miles from Rome the other in the cittie called by the name of him that built it both which churches Constantine endowed with great reuenues and possessions and adorned with vessells of gold and syluer He graunted the Bisshop of Ostia leaue to vse the Pallium by reason it was his auncient priuiledge to consecrate the Pope of Rome He gaue holie orders twice in the moneth of December wherein he ordered 8. Bisshops 25. Priests and 6. Deacons And hauing liued 2. yeares 8. moneths 20. dayes in the chayre of Peeter he dyed the 7. day of october on which the churche doth celebrate his feast and in the yeare of oure lord 340 and was buried in the churchyard of Balbina in the same churche he made in the way to Ardea Spa S. Ierome saith he dyed in the yeare 334 Onuphrius 336. * ⎠* The life of SS Sergius Bacchus Marcellus and Apuleius Martyrs THE holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus liued in the time of the Emperoure MaximiaÌ„ serued him in an honorable office the one being Primicerius the other Secundicerius that is Sergius principall and Bacchus second secretarie of staâ—e both for their vertues especiallie beloued and honoured by the Emperoure ignorant as yett that they were Christians Being in the cittie of Augusta in the prouince of Eufratesia he came to haue some knowledge heereof by reason of certaine accusations layd against them And desiring to be further certefyed he called them to waite vpon him to Churche wither he was going to sacrifize vnto his Idolls The holie Saincts accompanied him and gaue they re attendance yett in such sort that hauing brought him to the churche doore they stayed without when the Emperours went in When the time came to offer sacrifice Maximian looked about for them and not seeing them commaunded others to looke where they were The messengers found those holie Saincts at the gates of the temple making they re prayer vnto God who vnderstanding the Emperouâ— did send for them came to his presence He shewing himfelfe displeased dimaunded of them why they came not in whith him and offered sacrifice to the great Iupiter They answeared boldly bicause thei were Christians and thought that sacrifice was due to none but onlie him who was the true God that made heauen and earth The Emperour all in a rage coÌ„maunded to plucke of they re golden chaynes from they re neckes and strippe them out of they re rich apparail the tokens of rheyre nobilitie then to cloathe them in woemens garments lade them with yrons with gyues and fetters leade them with open reproache and ignominie through out all the cittie and soe cast them in prison And hauing tryed that all his cruelltie and craft could not make those noble spiritts relent nor swarue in in the least thing from they re Religion he sent them to Antiochus gouernour of the East a fierce cruell
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
our peregrination by all the Churches S. Matthew being among the Hebrews had written his Gospell in the Hebrew toung and S. Mark remaining in Rome among the Romaines in Latin S. Luke wrote his in Greek because he preached among the Greeks It is said that at all times that S. Paule saith in his epistles After my Gospell Ierom. de scri eccles he meaneth of the Gospell of S Luke for that he wrot it being in his company S. Dorotheus B. of Tyrus saith that S. Luke wrot his Ghospell by the apointment of S. Peter not of S. Paule because he saith in the beginning therof that he wrot it by the relation of them who sawe it from the beginning S. Paule did not so This holy man wrot also another treatise which is called the Acts of the Apostles In the beginning of which he speaketh of the Ascension of CHRIST into heauen and of the coming of the holy Ghost Then speaketh he of the miracles and preachâ—â—g of the Apostles of their persecutions the death of S. Stephen the conuersion of S. Paule the death of S. Iames the Great and the imprisonment and escape of S. Peter After this he goeth on with 〈◊〉 peregrinations of S. Paule his persecutions and trauells of all which he himself bore no litle part and goeth on till he leaueth S. Paule in Rome Then S. Luke departing from thence returned into the Orient traueled ouer a great part of Asia arriued in Egipt He visited Thebais the higher the lower in all places preaching the faith of CHRIST sand conuerâ—ing soules in euery place where soeuer he went At the end of his peregrination he came to the great city of Thehais and was the prelate and pastor therof and as such a one laboured to destroy the Idolls and to build Churchs Which he might the better doe by reason of the great multitude that receued the faith of CHRIST and were Baptised by hearing his exhortations S. Luke remained there many years ordered bishops and priests whom he sent into diuers countreis to preache In such sort that this prouince brought forth many good plants worthy of the eternall life This holy Euangelist catied alwais with him two Images he had made himself the one of our B. Sauiour and the other of his B. mother which were good means to conuert the Painims for that not only he did miracles with them but all they that sawe them were moued to great deuotion These two Images were so like the one to the other that he which did not know whose pictures they were might yet easily know that there was some neere kindred between the two persoÌ„s represented by them To conclude the holy Euangelist being 84. years old passed froÌ„ this mortall vnto the eternall life Nicephorus Callistus in his ecclesiasticall history saith that S. Luke died a martir in Grecia and that he was hanged on a Oliue true lib 2. Cap. 43. but it is commonly holden that he died a naturall death The same Author and others with him say that Constantin the sonne of Constantin the Great by the meanes of one Artemius who whas after ward a glorious martir brought to Constantinople the bodies of S. Andrew from Patrasso a city of Achaia though at this time the body be at Amalphi a city of the kingdome of Naples in Italy of S. Timotheus from Ephesus in Asia and S. Luke from Thebes where it remained and that he builded a sumptuous Church to lay in all the said blessed bodies Nowe the citisens of Padoa say that they haue the body of S. Luke the Euangelist in their city in the Church of S. Iustina The Church celebrateth the feast of S. Luke on the day wheron he died which was on the. 18. day of October in the yeare of our Lord. 90. and in the raigne of Domitian as Canisius accounteth * ⎠* The life of S. Hilarion the Abbot THE Apostle S. Peter Cap. 4. in his fiirst Canonicall epistle hath one sentence fear full for the good and dreadfull to the euill viz If the iust shall scant be saued what shall become of the sinner If he that hath serued God all his life doth tremble at the hower of death what shall he do who hath bin a wicked man and is a sinner at that dreadfull hower This was verified in S. Hilarion the Abbot who being at the point of death felt a great fear in his â—oule but he incouraging it said Depart my soule out of my body of what art thou afraid thou hast serued CHRIST 70. years and dost thou nowe fear to dy The life of this holy Abbot was written by S. Ierome in this sort SAINT Hilarion was borne in Tabata fiue miles from the city of Gaza in Palestina His father and mother were both Idollaters so that he grewe as a rose among thornes Being a litle child he was sent to study in Alexandria in which place he made demonstration of his rare towardlines and inclination vnto goodnes rare witt morall vertues which caused all men that knew him to loue him But he was much more beloued of God for in that place he atteined vnto the knowledge of the Christian faith which he receiued and was Baptised So that he who before was only accounted a vertuous man was now such a one in verity and in deed and delighted in nothing but in vertuous actions and the seruice of God spending the greater part of his life in the Church and in the company of godly priests and by meanes of them he came to the knoweledg of S. Antony who dwelt in the desert and amazed all worldly men to see and heare of his strict life and his sanctity in confounding the deuills in which he reioiced the heauenly court Hilarion had a great desire to see him in the desert which when he had done he chaunged his ordinary clothes and put on such weedes as the moÌ„ks that were in the company of S. Antony wore with whom he also staied two months In this time he marked the order of his life his grauity in behauior his incessant praier his humility in the entertainment of straingers his seuerity in correcting offenders the austerity he vsed toward his body in diet apparell and sleeping he sawe the multitudes of people which came from all costs vnto him to obtein remedy and help for all maner of necessities by his intercession and praiers Hillarion thought that this was the beginning of the reward of the long endured trauels of Anthony and that he should do well to follow his steppes This being determined he returned into his country where the found his father and mother deceased wherfore he diuided his patrimony and bestowed part on his brethren and part on the poore hauing in mind these words of CHRIST He that doth not renounce all that he posesseth cannot be my disciple At that time Hillarion was 15. years old and by this means being poore yet accompanied by CHRIST he went vnto
passed into Africk and from thence into Cycile where he made his stay vpon a cragey mountein In the day he made a bundle of wood and laid it on the back of one of this disciples to cary vnto the next towne to be sold and with the mony arising therof they bought bread with the which those few that were with him liued and sustenied their lifes He could not liue vnknown in that place nether for a man posessed with euill spirite in Rome cried out and faid Hilarion the seruant of God is in Cycilc So that many diseased people came thither to recouer their health by his meanes By cause he perceiued himself honoured in that place also he departed and went into Dalmatia where was a dragon that destroied all the countrey deuoured the oxen and other beasts and killed the husband men and the shepheres The blessed man hauing compassion on the people caused a great stack and pile of wood to be made and when he had praied he commeunded the dragon to go vpon the stack of wood and when he was on it he bad the people set fire ther vnto and thus the dreadfull dragon was brent and consumed with fire in the sight of all the people Then he determined to depart from that place also for which cause he was embarked and being on the sea he was assailed by pirats His disciples with the others that were in the shippe doubted they should be slaine but the good man reprooued them for distrusting in God And Then standing on the deck he praied and stretchinh out his hard against the pyrats said Come no further this way O straunge and wonderfull thing at the saieng of these words they turned aside and returned back as swiftly as though a strong gale of wind had caried them away The sea was also obedient vnto him for at such time as he was at Ragusium the sea swelled and rose out of measure and so much that the people of the country feared all of them should be ouerflown and drowned The blessed old man took land made the signe of the Crosse in the sand and held vp his armes against the storme and the sea was asswaged and ceased incontinent to the great admiration of all the country who kept this deed in memory and the fathers vsed to tell the same vnto their children Another time as he sailed and not hauing any thing to pay for the fraight he would haue giuen vnto the owner of the bark a book in the which he had written the foure Ghospells with his owne hand which he alwais carried about him because he had cured before time the sonne of the master of the bark he would not receiue the book of him but he gaue him his fare and rendered vnto him infinite thanks for his former benefit Finally this blessed old man remaining in Cypres and hauing sent Isichius his disciple to visit the ashes ruines of his distroied monastery and to salute the monks remaining in that prouince staid in the city of Papho vnto which place many sick men and men possessed came out of all parts of the Island and the holy saint by praier healed them Isichius being returned from Siria the reuerend father conferred with him of his departure from thence which he did not vpon inconstancy but only to fly from credit and honour which was bestowed vpon him in that place So hauing found out a place not far distant from the city which stood out of the way and was vnhabitable for the craggines knowing that the going vp vnto it was very difficult for they must go vp creeping with their hands and that at the toppe therof was a plesante and delightfull place furnished with many trees and cleare founteins and that as the fame went many euill spirits haunted and vsed in that place and therefore none was so hardy as to dwell there the holy man resolued to make the same his habitation There were some that came to visite him yea many diseased persons and among others one sick of the palsy who was the owner of the place Great were the conflicts and encounters the seruant of God endured in that place by the deuills who did incessantly disquiet him because he was come to thrust them out of their long continewed habitation The blessed man took thereat great consolation for that he had there some enemy with whom to contend and striue S. Hilarion being nowe come to the age of 80. years Isichius his disciple being absent fell sick and perceuing that the hower of his death drew nere he wrote a schedule or note of his hand in which he left by his testament Isichius his disciple to inherite all his treasures the book of the Gospells written with his owne hand his long relligious weede the sackcloth or hoode with which it was couered When it was known in the country that the holy saint was sick some came to visite him and he charged them deeply that assoone as he was dead they should bury him in the same place where he dwelt and that they should not keep him aboue ground the moment of an hower When the pangues of death came all things failing but his sences which were perfect looking with his eyes open he spake to his soule and said Depart forth nowe depart feare not thou hast serued CHRIST 70. years and doest thou nowe feare death In speaking these words he ended his life His body was buried incontinently as he had apointed so that his death and buriall was reported in the city both at one time His disciple Isichius being certefied of his death returned into Cypres and faining that he desired to dwell in the same place where is master did dwell and was buried after ten moneths passed he stole away the blessed body of his master venturing his life for the same for if the Cypriots had knowne it he had bene slaine by them and caried it into Siria and buried it in his auncient monastery an infinite company resorting thither to see it The blessed body was found hole perfect and entier and so were all his cloths and garments euen as he and they were when he was aliue casting a very sweet pleasant smell S. Ierome saith that vntill his time there had ben variance and controuersy for the Syrians say they haue his body as they haue indeed and the Cypriots say they haue his spirite but aswell in the one as in the other place are seen many miracles done by the intercession and merits of this glorious saint but much more in the place of Cypres for in that place the blessed father took great delight The death of S. Hillarion the Abbot was on the 21. of October and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast It was also in the yeare of our Lord 379 Valentinian being the Romain emperour Nicephorus Callistus wrote of this holy saint in the 11. book cap 14. The life of S. Vrsula and the eleuen thousands Virgins ON the selâ—e
their blood for the faith of Christ and their virginity were accordinge to Adon S. Vrsula guide and theife leader of all the rest and Sentia Gregoria Pinnosa Mardia Saula Britula Saturnina Saturnia Rabacia Palladia Clementia and Grata On That day in with they suffered Christ their sweet and beloued spouse triumphed in these holy virgins ouer infidelity and carnality ouer sinne and hell and declared of what greater force the vertue of a Christian is in sufferinge death then the crueltie of the diuell and his ministers in inflicinge it for that his soldiers by their fall arise by their death ouercome and thereby receane a nowne of eternall glorie The bodies of these holy virgins were gathered together by the Christians with great deuotion and carried to the citie of Collen which is seated vpon the same riuer of Rhene where was erected a famous monastery of Nuns and euen vntill this day many heads of these holy virgins are to be â—eene and are reuerenced with singular deuotion although they be distributed into many parts of Christendome Some are of opinion that the place in which the holy bodies of these virgins now remaine is the verie same in with they were martirized because the earth on which that Church is built will not retaine any dead bodie although it be of a child newly baptized but by niâ—ht it casteth it forth as Lindanus Bishoppe or Ruremund recounteth giuinge this as a token that God will not haue any other body to be buried where the bodies of these so many virgins and martirs his spouses lie who there shed their purest blood for the confession of his faith and defence of their chastitie It is recounted also that S. Vrsula and her holy companions fauour and assist them at the hower of their death who in their life-time haue been deuoted vnto them The martirdome of these virgins was accordinge to Baronius in the yeere of our Lord 383. Baron tom 4. Annal an 383. Graetian and Valentinian and Theodosius the elder rulinge the Empire whome Gratian had made his compartener in the Empire seeinge himselfe to be straightened on euery side by the warres of so many barbarous people and standinge in neede of the assistance of so valourous a Captaine It was also vpon the 21. of October vpon which day the Holy Chuch celebrateth their feast Of these 11000 virgins besides those authors we haue already rehearsed haue written wandalbertus Vide Baron in Annâ—t Martirol 21. Oct. Claud-Rota Cap 134. Bonfin decad â— lib. 5. Petrus de Natal lib. 9. cap. 87. Polid lib 3. Surius tom 5. who florished in the yeere of our Lord 850 Sigibertus Moncke of the Monestery cald Gimblacense who liued almost 500 yeeres since Rogerius Cisterciensis Richardus Praemonstratensis Claudius de Rota Bonfinius in his Historie of the affaires of Hungarie Petrus de Natalibus Polidore Virgill in his Historie of England and aboue all the rest more copiousely Laurentius Surius in his fift tome of the liues of Saincts * ⎠* The life of SS Chrisantus Daria martirs SAINT Chrisantus was borne in the cittie of Alexandria he was sonne to an honourable Gentleman of the order of senators called Polemius who together with his sonne and the rest of his familie came to dwell at Rome where he was most graciouslie and friendlie wellcomed and honourablie aduaunced by Numerianus the emperoure Being once setled at Rome the greatest care of Polemius was to haue his sonne Chrisantus that was of a quick and piercing witt and great capacity trained vp in learning As Chrisantus was turning ouer manie bookes and seeking out suche as were most for his purpose it happened by the especiall prouidence of God that he mett with one wherein were written all the foure ghospells He did peruse them attentiuely and read them from the beginning to the end he plainely perceaued the steppes of darknesse and shade of death wherein he had walked and that our soules had no other light sauing online CHRIST IESVS And being desirous to haue the riches hidden in that booke more disclosed vnto him and vnderstanding how a famous clearke in holie writte named Carpophorus lay secrett in a caue for feare of the persecution he went vnto him and with teares besought him to instruct him in the faith and the ghospell of CHRIST Carpophorus did willingly accomplish his desire he instructed him first and then Baptized and lasty so confirmed and strenghthned him in oure faith that seauen daies after he openlie auouched and taught in Rome that IESVS CHRIST was the onlie true God Polemius came to haue notice heereof and partly for zeale of his blinde religion parely for feare of the cruell lawes and punishments established against the Christians he was greatly enraged with his sonnes proceedings whom he therefore committed to a darke and close prison assigninge him his meate with a scant and verie hard allowance But findinge this punishment was to litle purpose and wrought no other effect in Chrisantus but online to strengthen him in his faith he tooke another course of kinde vsage and gentleness and pamperinge seekinge by the meanes of certaine bond woemen of his owne yonge beautifull and gallantly attired to peruert him and allure him to naughtiness that leesing his chastitie he mighe the more easilie loose faith They brought him out of prison they apprailed him richely they lodged him in a goodly chamber most costly furnished and hanged the woemen came in to performe theire lewd and wicked intent but Chrisantus fearinge his frailtie and feebleness lyfted vp his eies to heauen crauing helpe and succoure of oure Lord. Metaphr in vit Chrisanti And he did affoord it him so boundantly that as Simeon Metaphrastes writeth a heauie sleepe and drousiness so deepelie possessed those woemen that none could awake them except they were caried out of the chamber and by this meanes God preserued his seruaunt from so great a daunger Polemius did iudge it more conuenient for his purpose to seeke our some faire yonge gentlewoman wise louely discreet and gracious and matche her with his sonne and make her his heire to the end that she as his lawfull wife might work his minde and make it more pliant which the others being seruants could not bring to pass Amonghst the virgens of Minerua they found out one called Daria endued with all the rare gifts and qualities that might be desired wished in a woman They acquinted her with all theire designes and purposes yet hardly could perswade her to marrie Chrisantus and vndergoe that taske of healinge him from that which they called madness Not withstanding at length the teares of old Polemius and a strong imagination that heerein she did her Gods great good seruice did make her relent and win her to doe it She aparailed her selfe most goregeouslie she came into the place where the yonge mau was with a comely behauioure yert some what streigning it to a light wantoness aad heedeless demeanure she assailed him with
after this manner iomtlie martired and buried Manie Christians had gathered themselues once together in a caue to celebrate the feast of these holie martirs Numerianus the Emperour vnderstanding this sent a companie of souldioures commaundinge them to stop vp the mouth of the caue and let not one escape with life There was amonghst them a priest whose name was Diodorus he said mass and gaue them all the B. sacrament encouraging them to suffer that death with ioy and constancie for the loue of CHRIST they did according as he did exhorte them and ended theire lifes gloriouslie in that place The Churche doth celebrate the feast of SS Chrisantus and Daria the 25 of October and theire death was in the yeare of oure Lord God 284. in the raigne of Numerianus Emperoure The martir dome of these saints was written by Verinus and Armenius priests of saint Steuen Pope and martir Metaphrastes enlarged it some what more S. Damasus made certain eloquent verses in praise of these saintes In annot and 2. to annal de glor mart â— 38. and set them on they re tombe There is mention of them allso in the Romaine Martirologe and in that of Vsuardus as allso in the 5 tome of Surius in Cardinall Baronius and Gregorius Turonensis The life of S. Euaristus Pope and Martir OVR Sauior saith in S. Mathew Mat 7 that none can gather grapes of thornes nor figgs of thistles This cometh to passe because a mans power is bounded and limitted but the power of God is infinite without bounds or measure he can therefore if he please gather figgs of thistles and grapes of thornes as it appeareth he did by S. Euaristus Pope who was made a sweet and delicious fruite being in his life holy and in his death a martir God gathered this grape from a thorne viz from a Iew that was his father The life of this holy saint collected by Damasus and out of an epistle decretall of the same Euaristus and out of other Authors was this EVARISTVS was sonne to a Iewe called Iudas and was borne in Bethlehem and when then holy Poper Anacletus was dead he was chosen to succeede in his place He was a verie learned and holie man and the first that diuided the parishes of Rome into sundrie titles among sundrie priests which were after-ward called Cardinalls The same Euaristus ordained that seuen deacons should accompany the Bishop where soeuer he went and should stand by his side whensoeuer he preached to the end his ministery should be honoured his doctrine wittnessed and also that he might shew some kind of autority be defended if any Gentill made shewe of violence against him He also prouided that matrimony should be publikly solemnized and not in secret and that the spouses should go vnto the Church to haue the nuptiall benediction Tertull lib 2. ad vxor Ca siour vir 7. q. 1. 2. q. 7. si quâ— sunt though as Tertulian saith the espousalls and marriage were made in the Church euen from the time of the Apostles Moreouer he commaunded that Bishops should not leaue of forsake their Churches to go vnto others which thing is agreeable with the condition of maried folks who may not abandon their own wifes for other women He also ordeined that the accusations of the people should not be receued against their owne Bishops if they had not notice before or els some pregnant suspition of fault in him It is not knowen how S. Euaristus died but that the Catholik Church hath doth account him in the nomber of the Popes which were martirs In such sort that hauing holden the Papacy 9. years 10. months and 2. daies and hauing giuen holy orders three times in the moneth of December and at them ordered 5. bishops 6. priests and 2. deacons he exchanged this temporall life for the eternall and was buried in the Vatican nere vnto the supulcher of S. Peter chief of the Apostles on the 26 day of October and on that day the Church doth celebrate his feast The death of this holy saint was in the yeare of our Lord 120. in the time of the Emperour Traiane The life of SS Symon and Iude Apostles HOLY writ in the first booke of Machabees speaketh of Mattathias who hauing done noble acts in the defence of the people of Israel and finding himselfe now tired old and neere his death called to him his sonnes kinsfolke and freinds and the chief of them that had serued vnder his standard When they were all come he made vnto them a large speech exhorting them earnestly to perseruer in the seruice of God and in his holy faith for that he was able to deliuer them though all the world was against them as he had done in former times when they put their trust in him He to this purpose recounted vnto them the examples of Abraham Phynees Dauid Daniel and his three freinds After this he concluded his speech with these words Behold Symeon your brother is a man of wisedome giue eare to him as to your father Iudas Machabeus also is valiant and corragious euen from his child bode let him be the captein of your hoast This history agreeth much for the B. Apostles Symon and Iude for that Mattathias is the figure of IESVS CHRIST our Lord who hath done worthy acts in the world for the defence of all Christians which haue serued vnder his banner and speaketh thus to them Behold you Christians Symon my Apostle is your brother and a man of wisdome listen to him and esteeme him as your father and imitate him in his holy and vertuous life Iudas also his companion in martir dome is valiant euen from his youth let him be your captein in the battle take him for your Aduocate and commend your self to him for that will help you much to obtein the victory The life 's of these two Apostles taken out of that which is written of them in the holy Scriptures and out of diuers Authors was in this manner SAINT Symon and S. Iude were the sonnes of Alpheus and Mary Cleophae and brethren to S. Iames the lesse and Ioseph the iust Symon was called Cananeus for that he was borne in Cana of Galyly and S. Luke calleth him Zelotes in the Greeke toung for that Cana by interpretation is zelous He was thus surnamed to be knowne from S. Peter who is also called Symon as Iudas was surnamed Thaddeus to distinguish him from Iudas Iscariot It is not written when or howe they were called to the Apostle ship but there is mention made of them in the Ghospell when the names of the twelue Apostles are reconed As also when IESVS CHRIST in the sermon of the supper Ioan. 14. said He that loueth me shal be loued of my Father and I will loue him and manifest my self to him Iudas answered him How is this to be done that hout wilt manifest thy self to vs and not to the world CHRIST spake of his death and 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
earth though they be all holie persons the reason is this they which be in heauen cannot fall any more but they that be holie on earth may fall againe and so do many and often tymes Before Queene Vasty kept this feast she gaue vnto her damosells to eate sometimes of one kind of meat sometimes of an other yet moderately and in measure but on the festiuall daye she gaue them all kind of delicacies most freely So also the Catholique Church maketh ready her table daily for all faithfull beleevers yet diuersly some dayes with one ind of meat somedaies with another Sometimes she maketh a feast and giueth meat to all them that haue been good all the time of their liues and this she doth in celebrating the feast of S. Iohn Baptist Another day she dres seth a dinner for great sinners presenting vnto them a Mathew a Marie Magdalene which for a season offended God by their wicked liues She also maketh a feast for religious men on the day of S. Benedict S. Dominik S. Francis and such others as they be She maketh a feast to the religious recluses on the day of S. Clare of S. Catherine of Siena and such others To the maried people when she celebrateth the feast of S. Ioseph Vnto Kings and great Lords on the daie of the Epiphanie when the feast of the three kings is celebrated vnto Bishops and Prelates on the daie of S. Ambrose S. Martin S. Nicholas of such like Vnto virgins and damosells on the day of S. Agnes S. Lucy and many others But the day of all Saints signifieth the day that Queene Vasty made the feast and prepared the royall banquet vnto all her ladies damosells because on this day the Catholique Church doth prepare and dresse meat for all manner of people when she celebrateth the feast-day of all the saints in heauen who be a patterne and example for all men in the world that by imitating them they may reforme their liues and amend all loose and lewd behauiour DIVERS and sundrie reasons haue been diuersly alleadged why the Church of God doth celebrate a feast of all the saints together One reason is the dedication of a temple which was consecrated in Rome in the name of all the Saints Ado Bishop of Vienna and those authors that write the liues of the popes and Emperours relate it in this manner In chro aetat 6 ano 604. About the yeare of our Lord 608. Boniface the 4. being pope there raigned in Constantinople Phocas the Emperour who though he be noted to be couetous and cruell yet was he a Catholique prince very affectionate to the Church of Rome and a priuate friend vnto Pope Boniface There had been built in Rome a most sumptuous temple in honour of Cybele that false goddesse mother of all the Gods and in the name of all the other Gods also This was built by Marcus Agrippa a noble man of Rome who called it by a greek name Pantheon that is to say the habitation of all the Gods The temple is round and hath no other windowe but one great hole in the top thereof which giueth light to all the temple It is said Agrippa caused it to be built in that fashion for that he would not shew himself partiall toward the Gods in setting one in a more honorable place then another but to make them all equall and by the iudgment of those that haue skill in Architecture it is held the most artificiall building that is in our knowne world Of this temple with the consent of the Emperour Phocas because he had iurisdiction and comaunded in Rome and a great part of Italy Boniface made a Church consecrated it to the mother of God and of all saints His reason was that euen as the pagans in this temple had adored the diuells and all the crew of their heathenish Gods with Cibele their mother so from thence forth there should be honored in the same place the Blessed mother of the true sonne of God and all the whole court of heauen with the holie martirs also For at that time they did not so ordinarilie celebrate in the Church the festiuall daies of the Confessors The Pope called this feast S. Mariaad Martires and willed it should be kept on the ninth day of May. Afterward Pope Gregorie the 4. who liued in the yeare of our Lord 827. after the opinion of Onuphrius Panuinius translated the feast vnto the first of Nouember because of the infinite number of people that resorted to Rome to sollemnise that feast Wherefore he thought it more conuenient to transferre it vnto a season wherein the fruits of the earth were inned and brought into the barnes that there might be sufficient store therof and no scarcity for the pilgrimes and strangers as there was wont to be and is ordinarilie in the month of May. At this present that Church is called S. Maria Rotunda the daie is called the daie of all saints On the first of Nouember it is celebrated with great sollemnitie and marueilous concurse of people to the honour of the B. virgin Mary and all saints And this may be one of the reasons why the Catholique Church celebrateth this sollemnity Another reason is for that the Church endeuoureth to satisfie in honoring all saints in common since it is not possible so to do in particuler feastes The holie Ghost by whom the Church is ruled and gouerned apointeth some feast daies of saints to be kept festiuall besides those daies which are kept holie in the honour of CHRIST his B. mother and the Apostles The reason why feast day of one faint is celebrated more then another may be because they were martired in Rome which is the head of the world and the perpetuall sea of the vicar of CHRIST as long as the world endureth as S. Laurence S. Agnes and others Or for that their bodies haue been translated thither from other countries as S. Anastasius and S. Gorgonius Or else for that they haue been renowned martirs as S. Vincent of Valentia the Spaniard and S. Catherine of Alexandria or it may be for some other such like cause The reasons of them all are not knowne but secret As of the saints which the same Church putteth into the Canon of the masse Sup Canon Leâ—â— 32. lit K. for though they imiâ—ate liuely as Gabriell saith the passion of CHRIST yet it seemeth there be saints of more fame which might haue beene set in that most rare singuler place as well as other that be there as S. Sebastian S. Georg many others Yea as the same Gabriell saith it hat beene knowne that some men in particuler Churches haue taken some saints out of the Canon put others in their place it hath beene found that they that haue beene blotted out haue beene put in againe and they that were newlie written were cancelled and blotted out So that it seemeth there is in it some misterie
had vsed him courteously and he had despised and contemned them in which rage the Iudge commaunded he should be put on the Crosse The executioners were not slowe to execute the cōmandement of the ludge Forthwith the Crosse was brought and Agricola was stripped naked Then layd they him at length vpon the same piercing his handes and feete with sharp nayles they crucifyed him lifting him vp a loft In that place was to be seene a wonderfull and liuely representation of the Lord in his seruant that is to say of CHRIST in Agricola The holie martyr being thus raised on high shewed that he made smalle account of earthlie thinges but desired heauenlie He hauing bene on the Crosse a good space on the same daie that his seruant Vitalis yealded vp his soule vnto God by scourging he rendred vp also his spirit on the Crosse And so the maister and the seruant were equall in theire martyrdome and in theire reward Their bodies were buried in a Churchyard where the Iewes were buried and in that place they remayned as Roses among thornes and light in darknes vntill the time of S. Ambrose as he saith himself writing the story of their martyrdome But he hauing notice of the place where they were at the request of a holie widowe called Iuliana who had particuler and speciall deuotion to these holie saintes took them out of that place and translated them into a Church which the same Iuliana had builded vnto them where their bodies take their repose and rest and their soules expect to be reunited vnto them at the last daye of Iudgment The martyrdome of these holie saintes was on the 4. of Nouember and vpon that daie the Church maketh of them a commemoration This befell in the yeare of our Lord. 298. in the raigne of the Emperour Diocletian Spanish saith The bodies of these holie saintes are said to be in the Roiall monasterie of S. Maria Naxara in Spaine The foure Crovvned THe Apostle S◠Paul writing vnto Timothie his disciple saith None shal be crowned but he which fighteth lawfully which is asmuch as if he had said He that fighteth acording vnto the apointement of his captaine such a one moriteth the crowne and to triumph Amongst the Romaines in their warres some did worthy and very notable exploites but because some were against the apointement of the captaine they did not only depriue them of the crowne of victorie but chasticed them seuerely Some fathers there were which put their owne sonnes vnto death for that they went out to answere a challenger on the contrary part in single combate although he returned with victory and slew his aduersarie honorablie And this because he had bene forbiden Vpon paine of death not to issue out to any such incounter without speciall license Hereby wee se that that souldier only deserued to haue the crowne of triumph which fought and got the victory by the apointement of his Captaine It is conuenient that we imitate IESVS CHRIST euen as these holy martirs imitated him which are called the foure crowned because their names were not knowen These verily did merite the crowne for that they imitated IESVS CHRIST and as he gaue his life for their snakes in like manner did they giue their lifes for his sake The life of these holy martirs and of other fire whose bodies are buried in one and the same Church within the citty of Rome was this taken out of the Martirologes of Venerable Bede and Ado Archbishop of Treuers THe vnsatiable hunger of Dioclesian and Maximian those two great and professed enemies of IESVS CHRIST and his holy saints was not satisfied although by their order and apointement and of others which were their Iudges and presidents there was shed much Christian blood daily through most partes of the world but the more they put to death the more their cruellty encreased It was told vnto Dioclesian that there were in Rome foure citisens Christians whose names were Seuerus Seuerianus Carpoforus and Victorinus The Emperour commaunded that they should be forth with apprehended and led vnto the Idoll of Esculapius and if they refused to worship it that they should be scourged to death and acording to his apointement it was done They were led and conducted vnto that diuell and they made account of him as he was refusing to adore him wherevpon they began to torment them They pulled of their clothes and bound them vnto seuerall pillers The scourging which was giuen them was such and so great that in that torment they yealded vp their soules vnto God The tirant commaunded that their bodies should be cast into the street that the dogges might dououre them and although they remained there fiue daies yet they were not touched by any beast whereby it euidently apeared that men were more cruell and bloody then the very beastes The Christians took vp their bodies and buried them in the Arenarium three miles out of Rome in the Via Lauicana It is said that pope Melchiades who liued shortly after their martirdome put them into the Catalogue of holy martirs and because their names were not knowne he called them The foure Crowned But afterwardes it was reuealed to a holy man that their names as is said before were Seuerus Seuerianus Carpoforus and Victorinus Of the fiue Martirs SS Claudius Nicostratus Simphorianus Castorius and Simplicius NEERE vnto the place where the foure martirs last spoken of were buried there had bene laid two yeares before but on the same daie the bodies of fiue other holie saints who in like manner had bene put to death for the faith of CHRIST by comandement of the same Emperour Dioclesian Pope Melchiades who ordeined the feast of the foure crowned to be celebrated entended that together with them there should be a commemoration of these fiue martirs which were called Claudius Nicostratus Simphorianus Castorius and Simplicius These holy saintes were caruers and remained in Hungarie by the apointment of the Emperour and wrought together with many other of their trade in the quarries of marble which the Emperour vsed in his buildings in diuers places of the world Foure of these blessed men were Christians and Simplicius was an Idolater As the wrought together the Chizells and other tooles of Simplicius were oftentimes broken and the tooles of the others did neuer break Simplicius being much amased hereat demanded of Simphorianus how it fell so out and he made answere my tooles break not for that euery time I take any of them into my hand to work I call vpon IESVS CHRIST my God vpon this occasion Simphorianus vsed such perswasions vnto Simplicius that by the help of God he was conuerted vnto the Christian faith and was Baptised It fell out afterward that Dioclesian gaue the charge vnto these fiue blessed saintes of a building in which they should set the statues of diuers liuing beastes and in the midest of them an Idoll of one of his heathenish Gods The holie saintes made vp
the work very cuÌ„ningly and placed the statues of the beastes orderly but for the statue of the Idoll they would neither set it vp nor so much as ingraue or make it The Emperour who was then in that prouince seing this building finished admired the artificiall workmanship thereof but he was much displeased for that they had not set vp the Idoll as he had comaunded The fiue blessed saintes were not present when the Emperour viewed the work but the other master workmen were And for that one arâ—ificer oftentimes enuieth another especially â—he ignorant who are most malicious against the most skillfull in their misteries the Emperour demaunding to know the cause why the Idoll was not set vp the other surueyors chief workemen answered that the other would not do it for that they were Christians and refused it not only in that Idoll but allso in all other of that kind The Emperour hearing this dissembled the matter some fewe dayes demaunding of the workmen if there were any other caruers in stone that were as cunning as these fiue And when it was aunswered him that their like were hardly to be found he called them before him and said vnto them If you will make the figure of this Idoll you shall do me very acceptable seruice and I will reward you liberaly for the same The holy saintes made this bold answere we had rather suffer death then giue men ocasion to comitt Idolatry Then you be Christians said the Emperour They answered resolutely In deed so we be And if in that art or mistery our knowledge or skill passe in excellency other workmen it cometh to passe for that euery time we begin â—o work we call vpon the most holy name of IESVS The Emperour being loth to loose such excellent workmen gaue in charge to Lampadius atribune that by mild wordes and offers he should perswade the holy saintes to renounce the Christian faith and to worship the Idolls Lampadius vsed all dilligence herein but seing the holie saintes constant and firme in their faith he certified the Emperour thereof who comaunded him to put them to the torments The tribune caused the holie saintes to be brought before him withall the sundry instruments belonging to those engines that Dioclesian as a fâ—ll and cruell beast had inuented to torture the Christians But this spectacle quailed not the resolute seruants of CHRIST whereupon the tribune caused them to be cruelly beaten and their flesh to be torne with crookes of Iron which had keene sharp pointes like vnto the clawes of Scorpions It is said that when the Tribune had tormented them in this cruell manner and had spoken many blasphemies against IESVS CHRIST the diuell entred into him and killed him The wife children and kinsfolk of the tribune went vnto the Emperour complayning and saying that the fiue workmen were inchanters and that by their art they had killed the Tribune Dioclesian being enraged hereat commaunded they should be enclosed in coffins of lead and cast into the sea and so it was done Fortis daies after a christian called Nicodemus accoÌ„panied with certaine other Christians sought out the Râ—â—iques of these fiue holy mattirs Claudius Nicostratus Simphorianus Castorius and Simplicius and carrying them vnto Rome buried them in the Arenarium before named in the way Lauicana The martyrdome of these fiue was as the other of the foure crowned on the 8. of Nouember on that day the holy Church maketh of them a coÌ„memoration though it be alwaies vnder the title of the Foure Crowned Their martirdome was about the yeere of our Lord. 300. In the time of Dioclesian two yeeres before the other holie martirs as is aboue specified The Dedication of the Church of S. Sauiour in Rome WE read in the sacred scripture that the wise king Salomon hauing finished the most famous work of the Temple apointed a day to consecrate it at which day there assembled an infinite multitude of people of his realme aparailed all in festiuall garments The priests and leuites were ready in most rich or naments The singers and musitions stood also prepared for their office There was a huge company of bullocks and sheep sloyne to be offred on the Altar for a burnt offring King Salomon was vpon a Throne in the middest of the Temple three cubitts high from the ground and kneeled toward the Sancta Sanctorum making his prayer vnto God and in humble and lowely speeches offred the Temple to the diuine maiestie saying by what meanes shall I presume to giue a thing vnto thee on earth if the heauens be too litle for thy habitation Then he made certaine requests saying thus Lord I beseech thee that euerie one that shall come into this Temple to make their prayer for any affliction or trouble thou o my God vouchsafe to help him and â—omfort him I beseech thee also that this fauour may not only be shewed vnto the inhabitants of this cittie and countrie but also vnto strangers and those that shall come hether from farre countries If they shall want rayne and the earth be barraine and drye if the people come into this place and make their praier vnto thee I beseech thee Lord to send it them forthwith If there shall be pestilence or mortallitie amongst thy people and they shall resort vnto this Temple and desire thee to turne thine anger from them â—hou mercifull Lord veuchsafe to heare and deliuer them If they go vnto the warres be the enterprise neuer so dangerous and the souldiers come first into this Temple to pray I beseech thee Lord to grant them victorie If at any time thou be incensed against the sinnes of thy people although thou shall threaten to punish them rigorously that thy hand be lifted vp and aduanced to strike theÌ„ yet if they that be in fault resort to this Temple and craue mercy of thee thou ô mercifull Lord be mercyfull vnto them I request this said Salomon for thy infinit mercy for the loue thou bearest to Dauid my father and for the seruice that I the king and guide of thy people haue done to thee in building vnto thee this Temple This Salomon said and for a signe that God granted all his requestes as after in the night God told him there descended a great fire from heauen that consumed the sacrifice and the glorie of God fiâ—led all the house with brightnes and resplendencie so that euerie one lifâ—ed vp their voyce and shouted in signe of ioye and admiration The priests and the leuiles and those that had the charge of the musike of voices and instruments sounded and praised God and they all ioynâ—lie gaue him thancks that he would vouchsafe to haue a house amongst men vnto which they might resort to aske for mercy and grace The feast lasted eight dayes in the which the king and the priests offred many sacrifices and the people were in all that time in continuall tryumph and ioye Hereof the Catholique Church taketh the custome
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
of his determination in the time that was giuen him for aduise Great was the vproare and tumult that the pagans made searching for the kindler of the fire entending to punish him with the greatest torments that might be imagined There was no great difficulty in finding him for S. Theodore himself confessed that he had done it and in his words and countenance he shewed himself to be well pleased with the act and the rather for that an Idoll of the same Goddesse had bene burned therein This on the other side was as dispeasing to the pagās who held that Idoll in high estimation They took S. Theodore and haled him vnto iudgment howling and yelling generally as if they had bene beastes or out of their wittes The iudges demaunded of them if he had kindled that fire The holie saint forthwith confessed that he had done it and willed them to make readie torments for he was prepared to endure them The desire and willingnes which the iudges beheld in S. Theodore to suffer torments made them haue the lesse will to torture him wishing to themselues the like couragious stomake as the yongman had Wherevpon without regard of the complaints exclamations of the common people who fearing their Gods would chastice them all for this trespasse that Theodore had committed against them besought them with great instancy to put him to death In this rage and furie of the people the iudges said to S. Theodore notwith standing thou hast deserued death yet we will pardon thee and make thee high priest of the Idolls if thou wilt sacrifise vnto them and leaue and relinquish the name of a Christian The blessed youngmā deriding them said In deed you promise me great preferment and that which may mooue a man to follow your counsell For the priestes of your Idolls I hold them to be accursed wretches and if I be made chief of them I shal be made the most accursed wretch of them all Long since haue I laughed at this folly and madnes of many great men that sometimes the Consulls yea the Emperours of Rome themselues would take the office of the high priest which you promise vnto me vnder a shew of religion and they which were first clothed in purple were clad after in the habite of fooles or madmen And many times they cut in pieces liuing beastes for their sacrifice putting some part thereof to seethe and some to be consumed with fire Such a blindnes is not committed but by them that be blind as they bee since by leauing the adoration of the God of heauen they adore Gods made of wood stones and mettall The Iudges hearing the reasons perceiued they lost their time and could not preuaile with Theodore wherefore they called him a sacrilegious blasphemous and wicked villaine and commaunded he should be tormented They bound him vnto a post and whipped him then rent they his flesh with crooks of Iron and put burning torches vnto his sides The more dilligēt the execucioners were to torture him so much the more cheerfully the blessed martyr as if he had bene in a pleasant garden song this verse of Dauid I will alwaies blesse our Lord his praises shall euer be in my mouth When the cruell officers were tyred they took him from the post and cast him into a dark dongeon in the which were heard all that night voyces which song sweetly and the roome was filled with an admirable brightnes and those that were without were partakers hereof When the keeper of the prison perceiued it he called some companie vnto him and went into the place where S. Theodore was finding no more persons there but the holie saint the rest that were prisoners as he was who were all a sleep The next daie they tormented him againe and seing him firme and constant in his faith they gaue sentence that he should be burned and the iudgment was put in execution As the holie saint stood in the fire praising and glorifying God the fire indeed took his life away but spared his bodie for it did not consume nor scorch one haire of his head Wherefore a religious woman called Eusebia wrapped it in a cleane sheet and enterred it that we might enioy this pretious treasure which hath caused this assembly of people to honor him and celebrate this daie of his tryumph where euery one is holpen for his sake Out of this man he casteth diuells another he deliuereth from infirmities vnto others he releeueth the infirmities of the bodie vnto others the necessities of the soule There those that be tossed with the tempests of the world find a safe port secure hauen There the Orphants find a father the pilgrins an Inne the afflicted a comforter and help for them that are in necessitie O thou holie saint and glorious martyr Theodore that art among the quiers of Angells vouchsafe to go vnto the presence of God and praie before the throne of his maiestie for vs that be in this place assembled to celebrate the tryumph of thy blessed martyrdome Encline to vs that call vpon thee honor thee and be present at the sollemnity of thy feast And though our corporall eyes cannot see thee yet cast downe thine eyes vnto our sacrifises and bowe thine eares vnto our prayers make present hereof we beseech thee vnto the maiestie of God desiring him to harken vnto vs and to heare thee that vnto him may be recommended thy country which is also ours thy brethren kinsfolk friends and they that vnto thee be religiously minded who be here present and that he would defend vs from all our enemies in generall and in especiall from these barbarous Scithians Thou as a valiant souldier fight for vs as a holie martyr praie for vs. Obtaine for vs a perpetuall peace that we may imploy our selues in the seruice of him whom thou seruest And if perhaps there needeth greater help speak vnto thy brethren to acompany thee Call vnto Peter head of the Church speak vnto Paul doctor of the Gentiles and vnto Iohn the beloued and famous diuine that the Churches which these men haue founded and the soules whom they haue conuerted may remaine constant in the holie and Catholike faith which they once receiued That they may be also freed from heretiks and heresies from tyrants and their tyrany and by confessing IESVS CHRIST boldly and faithfully seruing him they may afterwards posesse and enioye him eternally being partakers of his grace in this world and of his glorie in the kingdome of heauen The holie Church maketh commemoration of S. Theodore on the daie of his martyrdome which was on the 9. of Nouember about the yeare of our Lord 300. Diocletian and Maximian being Emperours The body of S. Theodore is in the Church of S. Sauiour in Venice whether it was brought from Constantinople And it is certainly belueeued that it is he whose life we haue heere written though there were more martyrs of this name The life of SS Trypho Respicius and Nimpha
vpward being so painfull and he said Let me look vp toward heauen since that very shortly my spirit is to go that way which I behold When the agony of death came he saw the deuill the ennemy of mankind and said vnâ—o him what doest thou heere thou cruell beaâ— Thou shalt find in me nothing for which I shall eâ—damned and hauing said thus he rendered his spirit to our Lord being 81. yeares old His blessed soule was borne into heauen accompanyed with many Angells who made much ioy and song melodiously This musique was heard by sundry persons that were in places farre distant as of seuerinus Arch B. of Collein and by S. Ambrose Arch Bishop of Millan Who sayeng of masse fell a sleep from the which he awaked after three howers and then said to the standers by know you that my brother Martin B. of Towers is departed out of this life and I haue bene present there to bury his body S. Martin liued on the earth poore and humble and intred into heauen rich and with great maiesty His death was on the. 11. day of Nouember and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast and it was in the year of our Lord. 399. in the time of the Emperour Honorius This holy saint did many myracles in his life time and also after his death Whilest he liued he was the meanes that many were conuerted vnto God by his good example and excellent doctrine and after his death many were holpen by his merites and in tercession God of his great bountie and infinit mercie graunt that we may be in the number of the chosen to the end we may enioy his glory in the company of S. Martin Amen Many Authors write of S. Martin beside Seuerus Sulpitius as S. Paulinus Bishop of Nola Fortunaus the priest Gregory of Towers Odo the first Abbot of Cluny Hebernus Bishop of Turen and many others The life of S. Menna Martir OVR sauiour CHRIST saith vnto his seruants in S. Mathew Ca. 30 WheÌ„ you shal be brought before kings Iudges take no thought what you shall speak for at that time you shal be tought howe to answere This sentence is verefied in a holie souldier called Menna who haning spent his time in the warre among swords and lauâ—ces being brought before a tirani that did examine him of the faith of CHRIST which he professed made some answeres as if he had bene exercised in the studie of the holie scriptures all the daies of his life Of this holie saint Metaphrastes writeth as ensueth IN the second yeare of Caius Valerius Dioclesianus and in the first yeare of Caius Valerius Maximianus after the death of Numerianus who had gouerned the Empire before them there was raised a sore persecution against the Christians through all the lands subiect to the Empire Into which were sent publike proclamations conteining the will of the Emperours and the punishment that should be inflicted vpon those that disobeied the same There was in the cittie of Cottieum which is in the prouince of Phrigia or in Asia minor a president calsed Pirrhus Arginiscus who had the gouernement of that prouince had also authority ouer the men of warre which were resident in the same as a garrison for defence therof Notwithstanding they had a generall captaine ouer them called Firmilianus Among the souldiers there was one in the regiment of Rutilus called Menna by nation an Aegiptian and by profession a Christian whose vertue shone among the rest as the sunne doth aboue the starres The Emperours edict came vnto this cittie the tenor whereof was this Dioclesian and Maximian Emperours to all their subiects seÌ„deth greeting Forasmuch as we acknow ledg to haue receaued many fauours and graces of of the soueraigne Gods for which we thinck our selues obliged and bound to procure all honour and seruice to be done vnto them and their Temples We therefore coÌ„maund all magistrates and captaines of our Empire that assoone as they haue notice of this our Edict that they endeauour with all dilligence as a thing that concerneth the saffetie of our estate the honor of the Gods our benefactors that all our subiects aswell men as women of what estate or condition soeuer they bee do worship and adore them and do offer sacrifice in visiring often their temples And those that be disobedient and rebellious against our comaundements that they be tormented in the most cruell forte that may be inuented This was the tenor of the Edict Assoone as the president receaued it he caused it to be proclaimed through all the cittie other places of his prouince CoÌ„maunding withall that presently after the proclamation all men and women should go vnto the Temples to the end the disobedient persons might be knowne In most places where the proclamation was made there were great murmurings amongst the people for that it was thought both vniust and cruell yet the greatest part of people went of force vnto the Temples to obey the Edict When the valiant souldier so Menna vnderstood hereof he was not able to endure so vniust and vnrighteous proceedings as to haue the veneration and worship of the true GOD IESVS CHRIST to be abolished and that in stead thereof reuerence should be done vnto the fiends Because he would be free and not be partaker of this wicked transgression nor so much as see it he departed from the armie and withdrew himself into a desert where he remained fiue yeares leading a sollitarie life in continuall fasting and works of penance which was as an exercise and an entrance into the warre and battaile which he expected shortly to make At the last inspired by God he returned into the cittie vpon a day which was kept very sollemne as the birthdaie of one of their Godds The people of the cittie were generally assembled into a Theatre expecting certaine martiall exercises as Iusts and turneis And there was also the president Pirrhus for the same purpose S. Menna entred into the middest of the show and with a loud and cleere voice he rehersed a text out of the Pophet Esay Ca. 65. which saith I haue bene found of them that sought me not and manifested to them that asked not after me At these words all the standers by fixed their eies vpon him and seing him to be a rude plaine man meanely apparelled they know not what to make of his words nor what he ment by them The president Pirrhus causing him to be brought neerer vnto him demaunded of him who he was He aunswered I am Menna the seruant of IESVS CHRIST who is Emperour of heauen and earth The president enquired further Art thou a stranger or a citisen that thou seekest to disturb our feastiuall showes in this manner what is thy meaning herein One of them which stood by said vnto Pirrhus I know the man well He is a souldier of the regiment called Rutilica whose Coronell is Firmilianus and it is about fiue yeeres since he abandoned
rather to die then to deny my Lord CHRIST I am a Christian and therefore expect not that I will sacrifice vnto the diuells The Iudg was so wroth with this answere that he caused calthropes to be set thick on the ground the blessed martir to be dragged and haled ouer them In this torment the holie saint said Seek out other tortures for these be of too smalle force to make me worship thy diuells Pirrhus being now more enraged said Beat him with cudgells and knotted thongs of leather and buffet him on the face till he cease to call our Gods by the names of diuells But all these things preuailed not to make the valiant souldier of CHRIST shew any signe of feare or yeelding There was present a noble man of the court called Eliodorus who said vnto Pirrhus my Lord these Christians be a people which regard no torments yea death is more welcome vnto them then life Do not vexe nor trouble thy self any more with this man but giue iudgment of death vpon him as he hath well deserued for that he hath abandoned his captaine and refused to serue in the warres Thâ—n Pirrhus said vnto Menna If thou wilt resolue to sacrifice vnto the Gods I will cause thy captaine to pardon thy former offence and to giue thee more honorable office and degrees Menna said God forbid that I should desire such offices and honors I desire to haue them in heauen where true honor is to be had not those of the world which be vaine and transitorie The president seing the constancy of the blessed martir by the aduise of the other courtiers coÌ„demned him to die with these words Because Menna the souldier doth not obey the proclamation of the Emperours and because he followeth the religion of the Christians and will not sacrifice vnto our Gods we comaund that he be beheaded that others by his example may feare to comitt the like trespasses The blessed martir was led by the officers vnto a place called Potemia vnto which all the cittie was assembled The holie saint with a cheerefull countenance though meanely apparelled as making smalle account of any worldly thing went comunicating with some of his acquaintance as if he had not bene going vnto death Recomending them vnto God and taking leaue of them he lifted his eies toward heauen saying I blesse and praise thee o father eternall for that thou hast hitherto kept me and hast not turned thy face from me Thou hast giuen me strength that I should not loose my soule with this treacherous and faithles people but that I might confesse constantly thy blessed name and thy holie lawe I beseech thee through IESVS CHRIST thy sonne that thou wilt help me at this houre of death and deliuer my soule in granting it victorie in this last assault that it may appeere free before thy iudgment seat and there worship thee Saying this he came to the place of execution where falling on his knees and looking toward heauen the hangman cut of his head Then they cast his bodie into a great fire but the fire consumed it not so that some deuout persons took it and buried it in a place conuenient whither many Christians resorted crauing mercy at Gods hands by the praiers and merits of this his faithfull seruant Menna Who was of Egipt honorablie borne iust faithfull mild and vertuous and replenished with the grace of the Holie Ghost He was martired in the cittie of Cottieum in the prouince of Phrigia on the. 11. of Nouember in the yeere of our Lord 301. Spa saith 296. And on the same daie the Church maketh of him a commemoration The bodie of this holie saint was after ward translated vnto Constantinople The life of S. Martin Pope and Martyr THE noble king Dauid would not giue leaue 2. Râ—g 2 nor permit one of his souldiers to kill his father in lawe Saul when he might easily haue done it and theother well deserued it coming to pursue and search him out with an army and a full intention to kill him if he could haue gotten him within his daunger And though Dauid found him fast a sleep in his pauilion and in like maner all his guard who should haue watched in his defence yet would he not once touch him The reason which Dauid alleaged was because Saul was the anointed of the Lord. It happened farre otherwise vnto the glorious S. Martin Pope and martir who being annointed and consecrated and moreouer the vicar and lieutenant of CHRIST in earth yet some Christians in name but in their deeds worse then Pagans were so bold as to take him and vse him villanously as may appeare by his life collected out of the book of Poper lifes called Pontificall and out of other good Authors SAINT Martin the first Pope of that name was the sonne of one Fabritius and borne in Todi a city in Tuscane a very holy man and vertuous Assoone as he was elected to the gouernment of the Church he emploied all his vttermost dilligence endeuor to extirpat roote out some heresies about the person of IESVS CHRIST already condemned in former Councells The man who did bring them againe out of hell where they had bene a good space buried into the world was a Patriarch of Constantinople called Paulus who had some other prelaâ—s that abbetted him and were wrapped in the same error These wonne th'emperour Constans the second of that name to be of their sect and opinion such sleights and deuises they wrought with him The legats of the Pope who resided there certefied him of the proceedings of Paulus the Patriarch The Pope incontinent apointed by his letters what order should be taken therin and wrot vnto the same Paulus louing letters beseeching him not to be so determinately stubborne in ruynating the peace of the Church and in patronizing of his errors so many times condemned by the holy prelats ingreat assembles and generall Councells Paulus being by nature proud and obstinate to shew what small accouÌ„t he made of the Popes aduertisements caused an Aultar which the legats had set vp in the Church founded by Placida vpon which they said masse after the Roman vse to be cast to the ground and defaced The malice of Paulus was so much augmented that because the legats on the Popes behalf required him when they sawe his obstinacy to amend his fault and reforme his errors or els they would proceed against him as a contumacious person by the censures of the Church he made meanes to th'emperour to cause the legats to be restrained of their liberty and euill entreated and afterward he sent them into banishment into sondry parts of Christendome which was as if he had sent trompets to sound and publish the malignity of the Patriarch the tiranny of th'emperour and the misbelief of them both being obstinate in the error condemned by all the Catholike Church when Pope Martin had vnderstanding thereof he had recourse vnto the ordinary remedies in the
like occasions and assembled a Councell of 105. Bishops in the Church of S. Saluator neere vnto S. Iohn La'eranne And the question of the aforementioned errors being againe disputed certein Canons were published by which all the auncient heresies and this also being lately reuiued were condemned and anathematised and with them Peter Cirus and Sergius their Patriarchs deceased accursing detesting and depriuing Paulus the Patriarch now liuing and all his followers and adherents of what state condition dignity or function so euer and depriuing them also of all offices and benefices ecclesiasticall And to the end this holy Councell and all the decrees and Canons of the same should be diuulged and published through the world Pope Martin caused many coppies to be sent into most parts thereof Th'emperour CoÌ„stans vnderstanding what the Pope had done in the Councell tooke such indignation therat that he determined to apprehend if he did not kill the Pope in reuenge of this iniury as he estemed it For this purpose he sent into Italy in which at that time the Emperours of Constantinople had some cities and countreis one Olimpius a noble man of his chamber but an heretike as he himself was and gaue vnto him the title of Exark or Regent with secret instructions what to do Olimpius arriued at Rauenna which was the ordinary place of residence of the Exarks and hauing amassed and gathered huge forces as he could went toward Rome where he endeuored to make a schisme in the Churche of God But not being able to compasse and effect it because the Bishops of Italy and the Clergy of the city were of one accord and held together in the defence of the faith and of the Pope he then diuised meanes to entrap the Pope and to take him prisoner But finding it hard to be effected because he could not get him out ' of Rome where he was well beloued and had many frends he lastly determined to kill him For the effectuating of this deuise he agreed with one of his seruaunts an auncient souldier and told him he had procured the Pope to say Masse the day following in S. Maria Maior where he would require the Pope to giue him the B. Sacrament and as he communicated this desperate fellow should come nere and stabbe the Pope with his dagger The souldier promised so do The next day came and the Pope said Masse and Olimpius like another Iudas came vp to communicate yet lingered till his man came that should do this treacherous deed but our B. God altered all this for he caused the man to loose his sight and though he was hard by the Pope yet he sawe him not which thing he confessed many times after with solemne oths By this meanes this infernall sacriledg was not committed and the holy Pope escaped free from this trecherous inuention Aftetwadrs the Sarracens inuaded the Island of Sycile in the which they made great spoile and by cause at that time it was subiect vnto th'emperour Olimpius was obliged to go and defend them and so he did being first reconciled to the Pope and making vnto him a relation of the true causes of his comming into Italy Olimpius fought with the Saracens in a pitcht field vanquished them yet so great was the toile he took in the battaile that a few dais after he deceased When th'emperour was aduertised of his death he sent in his place as Exark Theodorus Calliopa who had bene there before and had behaued himself so well that he was beloued in Rome and all Italy Euery one reioiced at his coming but at the end euery one was deceiued and deluded for th'emperour had drawne him vnto his opinion and had enioined him that assoone as he had imprisoned the Pope he should send him vnto th'emperour with a strong guard And because he had no assured confidence in him he ioined with him in commission for the affaires and busines with the Pope only one Paulus Pallurius a seruant of his of whom he had this opinion that he would not faile to performe what soeuer he should command him Calliopa and his associate arriued at Rauenna and with outlong stay went vnto Rome where he staied some fewe daies treating with the Pope about many and seuerall businesses but all that he did was in deceit The Pope who was a plaine meaning man had no conceit of the treachery which Calliopa entended toward him So that Calliopa one day fained being in the lodgiing of S. Iohn Laterane to go and visite the Pope but in steed thereof he laid blowes on him and the Pope being vnable to defend him self from that violence was put in prison Calliopa sent him incontinent in bonds vnto Paulus Pellarius who conueied him withall speed vnto Rauenna and from thence vnto Constantinople The wicked emperour Constans reioiced exceedingly that he had gotten the Pope into his hands and endeuored with flattery and faire promises to drawe the good Pope to fauor his error but finding him stedfast in his faith he banished him vnto the city of Chersona which is in the outmost borders of the sea Euxinus a very cold country almost inhabitable There the good Pope was so afflicted and euill entreated that within fewe daies he died very patiently as a glorious martir of IESVS CHRIST Pope Martin the first of that name after the most certain account died in the year of our Lord. 654. on the. 12. day of Nouember and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast His body was after this brought to Rome and buried in the Church dedicated vnto him and S. Siluester God did many miracles by the meanes of this saint who was his vicar in earth 6. yeares one moenth 26. dayes He gaue holy orders twice in the month of December in which he ordered 11. priests 5. deacons and 33. bishops The life of S. Gregorie Thaumaturgus HE that beleâ—ueth in me saith CHRIST Iohn 14. shall do the works and miracles that I do and greater also This sentence was most plainly verified in S. Gregorie Bishop of Neocaelarea which is the same that is now called Trabisonda Of him it is written that by his prayers he made a huge great rock as bigge as a hill to go from one place vnto another And also that he made a lake which caused discord betweene two brethren to drie vp and he stayed a great riuer that it should not ouerflowe to hurt the inhabitants by the bankes thereof We do not read that our Sauiour CHRIST did any of these thinges we doubt not but he could haue done them yet he did them not that his words might be fullfilled when he said that his faithfull seruants should do greater miracles after a certaine manner then those that he did And because it was euident in this holie saint he had the surname of Thaumaturgus that is a doer of marueilous things giuen vnto him His life was written by S. Gregorie Nissen in this manner SAINT Gregorie surnamed Thaumaturgus
they sought for them found them out aprehended them put them in prison and at the end vnto some cruell death Notice was giuen by some informers that Gregorie laie hidden in the mountaine whereupon officers were sent forth with to aprehend him for the iudges thought that if they put him to death being the cheif the inferior Christians would be discouraged to make such bold profession of their faith S. Gregorie being on the mountaine comaunded his deacon to make his oraisons So both of them kneeling with their hands lifted vp to heauen somewhat distant the one from the other they besought God if it were for his seruice that he would deliuer them from the persecution but if his will was that they should dye for his sake and loue of his holie Gospell they did like wise desire that his will might be done The souldiers arryuing at the mountaine went vp and downe all the hill searching for them and returned vnto the Iudge telling him that they had found noting but two trees somewhat distant the one from the other The Iudg knew for certaine that Gregorie was on the mountaine and therefore he went thither in person alone finding those that seemed to the souldiers to be trees to be Gregorie and his deacon at their praiers When the Iudg saw this wonder God so touched his hart that he went vnto S. Gregorie and fell at his feete confessing IESVS CHRIST to be the true God And he that before persecuted them from thenceforth was one of them that fled from the persecution Another time the holie saint being in praier and with him some of his disciples with his deacon he lifted vp his voice on a sodaine saying these words of Dauid Psa 123. Blessed be our Lord who hath not suffred vs to be taken in their teeth His disciples asked him why he said these wordes and he answered that in that very instant of time was finished in the citie the martyrdome of a Christian who had valiantlie ouercome his persecutors by cōtinuing firme and constant in the faith of CHRIST and said he was called Troadius The deacon asked leaue of the holie saint and went secretlie into the cittie finding all that the blessed man had said to be verie true The persecution then ceasing S. Gregorie returned vnto this Church and recollected together the faith full beleeuers that were dispersed by flight into sundrie partes setling himself againe vnto the preaching of the faith By which meanes some that shewed themselues weak in the time ef persecution were reduced againe to a good estate and many Gentiles were Baptised He vsed great dilligence to know them that had bene martyred and apointed that their feasts should be kept euery yeare on the same daie on which they had beene put to death The good father was now verie old and knowing that his death aproached he desired to be certifyed how many Idolaters and vnbeleeuers remained in that cittie It was told to him there was left but 17. that continewed obstinate in their Idollatrie I am much agreeued said the holie faint that these continew in such an error but yet I yeeld infinite thancks vnto God because I leaue behind me vnto my successor but so many vnbeleeuers in the Bishoprike as I found beleeuers when I was consecrated Bishop Then made he his praier for the Catholique Christians desiring God to giue them grace to continew in his seruice and he besought those that were present that they would bury him amongst others and not in any peculier graue of his owne For I would haue it said of me when I am gone that I had not in my life time an house of mine owne nor after my death a sepulcre This glorious saint rendred his soule vnto God on the 17. daie of Nouember and on the same daie the Catholique Church celebrateth his feast His body was buried as he had apointed all the people making great lamentation but especially his disciples and houshold seruants for loosing so louing a father and so good a master although they were comforted knowing for certaine that they had him for their patrone and aduocate in heauen His death was in the yeare of our Lord. 267. in the time of the Emperour Gallien Nicephorus Callistus writeth the life of this holie saint in the 6. book and 17. chapter The Dedication of the Church of SS Peter Paule THE wise king Salomon was not content to build a house and temple for the great God but hauing finished that work He entended to do another which was to build a lodging for his chiefest Queene among all his other wife 's who was the daughter of king Pharao In like sort also our Lord God would not only haue Churches builded by the Christians for himself to inhabite and dwell and therin to be honored reuerented but his pleasure was that there should be also others builded for his saints whose soules were his spouses by faith For this cause the holy Church of Rome celebrateth the feast of the building of the Church of our Sauiour and of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paule The which I haue gathered out of the lessons of the mattins of this solemnity out of some particulers which are redd in the liues of the Popes and Emperours which was in this manner IT was a custome in the Primitiue Church for the Christians to assemble together in priuar and set places to celebrate the diuine office to hear masse to receue the B. sacrament to heare the word of God preached and to make praier They were assembled to do these things especially in the places where the martirs had bene buried and among other one part of the Vatican was highly regarded which they called the Confession of S. Peter for that his B. body had bene in that place enterred and thither resorted people from all parts of the world to giue honor and reuerence vnto it To that same place came th'emperour Constantin the Great 8. daies after he was Baptised where he made his praier and shed many tears Then he took a mattock and digged vp 12. baskets of earth which he himself caried away in honor of the. 12. Apostles in which place they should build a Church vnto S. Peter the head of them Hauing thus begon the work was continewed finished and S. Siluester the Pope consecrated it on the 18. day of Nouember in the year of our Lord. 325. euen as he had consecrated the Church of S. Sauiour on the 9. day of the same moneth He made there an Altare of stone and consecrated it ordeining that from thensforth the Altars should be made of stone The same Emperour Constantin caused another Church to be builded in the honor of the Apostle S. Paul in the way to Hostia and enriched the one theother with reuenewes and adorned them with vessells and iewells of great value Great was the feruour and desire this Prince had to raze to the ground the temples of the Idolls through
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
who being offended with mankind for the first man many damosells were sought who were kept inclosed in the Temple of Ierusalem to the end his iust indignation might be mitigated and asswaged In that place were the damosells furnished of all things necessarie to make their soules faire and beautifull by adorning them with vertue and perfuming them with the holie excercises of prayers and meditations Thither was brought the most faire and prudent Esther to witt the soueraigne Quene of the Angells Mary the virgin who was elected to be the mother of God and who pacified and appeased the wrath of the heauenly father This is the solemnitie which is this day celebrated in the Church that is to say when the most blessed virgin was presented in the Temple There she remained for a tyme vntill she was presented to the heauenly Father who was pleased with her fauour and beautie and crowned her Queene of heauen and earth The eternall Father elected her for his daughter the Sonne for his mother and the holie Ghost for his spouse This historie is recountéd by Simeon Metaphrastes German Archbishop of Constantinople George Archbishop of Nicomedia and the Bishop Lippoman reherseth it in this manner THE most blessed virgin being come vnto the age of three yeares her father Ioachim conducted her vnto the Temple of Ierusalem and there offred her vnto God leauing her in a colledge of damosells where they being most of theÌ„ of noble blood were brought vp and especiallie the first borne daughters of the royall tribe of Iuda and of the priests tribe of Leuy and there they stayed vntill they came vnto the age to be marryed In this meane space they were continually imployed in holie excercises as prayer and working spending the time in all vertuous occupation and to that purpose they had many mistresses who taught and instructed them without intermission We may very well beleeue that Anna the propheâ—esse of whom S. Luke the Euangelist maketh mention that she spake of our Sauiour IESVS the same day that he was presented in the Temple we may beleeue I say that she had friendship and familiarâ—tie with the B. virgin they liuing both together in the Temple in that vertuous manner As also that her loue was exceeding much towards her as expecting that God should work the great misterie and benefitt of our redemption by her When the glorious virgin was brought vnto the Temple shee was placed on the first ascending step of the fifteene while the offring was prepared that was to be offred with her The Priests went to meet her and the B. infant leauing the hands of them that brought her thither and without the help of any person only fauoured and susteined by the grace of the holie Ghost began to climb the steppes and went euen to the Altar without other help as if she had beene of perfect age so that the priests of the Temple and they that were with her wondred but yet they reioyced much thereat hauing knowledg thereby that God began to shew maruaillse in the childhood of her that should be his mother The litle holie virgin remained in the Temple because her capacitie vnderstanding were excellent she profitted exceedinglie in such things as the damosells learned in that place which was to read write sowe weaue sing the Himâ—es of Dauid and to pray at certaine times and houres The blessed virgin surpassed all others in these excercises and in all vertue In her shone cleerly Charitie deuotion and all other vertues which made her beloued of euerie one This B virgin remaining there made a vowe to obserue virginitie yet some doctors say that her vowe was conditionall and not absolute so that we may pyously beleeue that she kneeling on her knees with her hands eyes and hart lifted vp vnto heauen might say these or the like words Oâ—ny God maker of heauen and earth who of thy only goodnes and bountie hast created my soule and body I promise withall integritie asmuch as is expected of me and as shall please thy maiestie to serue thee with them both to obserue virginitie and neuer to know man carnallie but to applly my self whollie in thy seruice This we may beleeue to be the vowe the holie virgin made When by the prouidence of God she was espoused vnto the patriarch Ioseph she gaue him notice of the vowe she had made and that â—â—er desire was to obserue it He reioyced and was well content there with for that as it is thought he also had made the like vowe though conditionate in such sort that both of them by inspiration of the holie Ghost had made a like vowe of virginitie This noble guiâ—t virginity was alwaies highlie esteemed both of God and men both of beleeuers and vnbeleeuers All the time Eue stayed in paradise she was a virgin but assoone as she went out she lost her virginity The high priest of the Hebrewes could not marry one that was not a virgin The Gentiles did nor permitt any woman that was not a virgin to inhabite in the Temple of the Goddesse Vesta If woemen desire to keep this pretious treasure it is requisite that they liue apart from the world and retyred Dyna the daughter of Iacob by her walking abroad to see the country whereunto she was new come with her father and brethren and to see the woemeÌ„ of that country lost both her virginitie and honour and was also the cause that all the men of that place lost their liues If the mother of God contynued withdrawen and shutt close vp let not yong damosells be grieued to be kept in and to liue retyred For if they remaine retyred and shut in they shall be out of daunger in security but if they will walk abroad gadding and gasing they shall incurâ—e great perill and danger and oftentimes come to reproach as some find by experience who to late perceaue their error when there is no remedy For as S. Ierome saith the losse of virginity cannot be recouered and being once lost it is without remedy Concerning the feature and corporall disposition of the B. virgin I will say that which S. Epiphanius said as Nicephorus Callisthus reherseth it which doth also agree with the Image S. Luke painted who sawe her and drew her picture whilest she lyued The virgin Mary was of a middle stature her collour was of the wheat her face was some what long her eyes great and of a good collour the eyeliddes black her mouth little lippes of a liuely collour her teeth white and little her haire yellow her hands and fingers long all her other lyneaments well proportioned She was surpassing faire and gratious of countenance her look was very graue and her speach delectable Shee neuer wore any cloth that had bene died She couered her forhead somewhat with her mantle Pope Pius 2. who sate in S. Peters chayre in the yeare of our Lord 1461. gaue lycence that the feast of the presentation of the glorious
After their deaths the gouernor Almachius entended to get the goods of the two brethren into his hands but vnderstanding that Cecilie had distributed them vnto the poore he caused her to be brought before him She confessed vnto him the truth namelie that all the goods of the two noble gentlemen Tiburtius and Valerian were giuen vnto the poore The gouernour therefore seeking a quarrell and desiring to be reuenged on her said in a great rage I think we shall haue a Christian of you also but I will haue you to sacrifice vnto the Gods in my sight that I maie be witnes whether you deserue the same punishment that those brethren deserued and had The officers of the gouernour vrged her to sacrifice to whom she said Harken to me brethren You be the officers of the gouernour and you think it meet that I should obey his comandement but I on the other side think it verie vniust in him to comaund me to sacrifice vnto those Gods which be not such indeed and to leaue of to sacrifice vnto the true God that is IESVS CHRIST Be assured that I will suffer and endure and the torments that can be inflicted vpon me and at the end rather lose my life then do his cōmaundement The officers made shew of pittie compassion toward her seing a damosell so yong so discreet so faire and gratious readie to abandon and leaue all these yea life and all for her faith and religion They said vnto her Consider thy youth and beautie haue compassion on thy self and change not all other thy good parts in these tender yeares for vntimelie death The holie virgin said vnto them To change earth for gold is not to loose but to gaine Or to giue a cottage half-ruinated for a house built with perles and pretious stones or a life repleat with troubles and miseries which shall quiklie end for a life replenished with riches and treasure that shall endure for euer These and the like speaches vsed S. Cecilie and her words were of such force and wrought so that many that were present resolued to be Christians and were afterward Baptised by S. Vrban The gouernor was astonied to heare the holie virgin speak and viewing her angelike beautie asked what her name was for till that time he knew no other name but only that she was the wife of Valerian She told him that her name was Cecilie and then the gouernour replyed knowest thou not that the Emperours of Rome haue comaunded that the Christians either do sacrifice vnto the Gods or else that they be put to death I know it right well said the holie saint What wilt thou then do said the gouernour I determine to die said she For it is farre better to dye for confessing IESVS CHRIST then to liue denying him Consider said the gouernour that it wil be best for thee to leaue and forsake this thy oppinion and to sacrifice vnto our Gods S. Cecilie said It were better for thee to open thine eyes and to consider that those whom thou callest Gods be but stocks and stones If thou wilt not beleeue me touch them with thy hands or throwe them into the fire and there will come lime from the stones which maie serue to build with so shall there be no deceit in them as there is nowe Then said the gouernour How should I suffer thee to speak such words in my presence knowest thou not that I haue power to giue thee life or to take it awaie at my pleasure S. Cecilie answered thou thinkest my words void of reason and I know thy words to be false and no truth in them Almachius said doest thou saie Cecilie that I speak not truth The holie virgin said I saie it and auouch it in that thou saiest thou hast authoritie to giue and take awaie my life Thou maiest take life from the liuing but to giue life vnto the dead it is most cleere and certaine thou canst not So that I maie well call thee the minister of death I wil be such an officer vnto thee said Almachius if thou wilt not sacrifice So when he sawe she was constant and resolute and would not sacrifice he caused her to be put into certaine bathes which were in her owne house and hauing shut her in one of them being empty without water they made a great fire vnder which burned a whole daie and a night The holie saint receaued not any hurt thereby but it seemed to her a place rather of pleasure and refreshing then other wise when Almachius heard thereof he comaunded one to cut of her head in that place The hangman gaue her three blowes yet did he not cut of her head altogether but left it euen as it was hanging by the skinne The blessed virgin being thus wounded liued three daies many Christians coming to visite her Among these were some that had receaued the faith by her meanes whom she seing sorowfull comforted They dried vp the bloud that ran from her wound with napkins and other clothes with intent to keep them as reliques S. Vrban went also to visite her and she told him that she had desired of God to liue three daies that she might dispose of her goods and request him to consecrate that house of hers into a Church When the three daies were ended this holie virgin and glorious martyr being in prayer yeelded her blessed soule vnto God on the 22 of Nouember Her bodie was buried by pope Vrban in the Chruchyard of Callistus and her house was consecrated into a Church In processe of time pope Paschalis translated the bodies of SS Cecilie Tiburtius Valerian and pope Vrban into the Church of S. Cecilie The Catholique Church celebrateth the feast of this holie saint on the daie of her martyrdome At the end of the life of SS Tiburtius and Valerian on the 14. of Aprill is rehersed the saying of Canisius to wit that these saints were martyred in the time of Alexander Seuerus in the yeare of our Lord 225. the same he saith of S. Cecilie also and because mention is made there of pope Vrban the account cometh to be iust at that time But the Romane Breuiarie of Pius 5. putteth her martyrdome about 50. yeeres before in the times of the Emperours Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Commodus Her name is in the Canon of the masse The life of S. Clement Pope and Martir GREAT was the fame and credit which Moises the guide Exod. 27. and captein of the Hebrewes acquired and got when the said people being in the desert and at the point to dy for thirst he by the apointement of God strook a rock out of which issued water in abundance sufficient for them all to drink and to be refreshed and comforted No lesse glorious and worthy of fame was S. Clement the holie Pope and martir who did the like He liued in a desert banished thither with many other Christians for the profession of the name of IESVS CHRIST and they all
their labour being very painfulle yet wanted they water to drink and that lirle which they had they were compelled to fetch it two miles of The holy Pope Clement moued vnto compassion with their intollerable paine and toile made his praier vnto God beseeching him to haue pity on his people His praier being finished he lifted vp his eies as Metaphrastes saith and sawe vpon a litle hillock a lambe who held vp his right foot as though he shewed where the Water was S. Clement was fully persuaded that the lamb was IESVS CHRIST because none saw it it but himself only so he went to that place and said In the name of IESVS CHRIST digge heere Some began to digge on the one side and some on the other and to cast vp the earth not in the place where the lambe shewed but in a place hard by S. Clement himself took a spade and making a litle hoale where the lamb had showen there sprang out incontinent a veine of pure and cleare water which gaue great consolation vnto the holy saint and to the other Christians who were much confirmed in the faith by the same This miracle moued also many of the Painims to go and heare his doctrine by which they were conuerted vnto the true faith Because the number of Catholiks increased and the report of that which happened in the IslaÌ„d was so spread abroad that it came to the eares of TraiaÌ„ he was enraged therat and sent thither a Gouernour called Aufidianus who put many of the Christians to death But when he saw they died willingly for the profession of their faith he thought the best way would be to put Clement only as their guide vnto death wherupon he caused him to be apprehended When he sawe him to be firme and stable in his faith he gaue sentence against him that he should be caried into the mayne sea and throwne into the same with an anchor tied vnto his neck The sighes the sobbes the lamentable voices of those afflicted Christians cannot be expressed when they sawe them selues depriued of Clement in whom they found refuge and comfort in their laboursome and discomfortable life hauing him they thought they had a father and a master euery one found him to be their faithfull frend and their louing brother he made much of them all he instructed them all he gaue help to all by all the meanes he could The Christians being in this tribulation seing then that if they lost Clement they lost all these things besought God with great instancy to deliuer him out of that perill and daunger or els that they might end their life 's with him The holy Pope also aggrieued to leaue them in this tribulation lamented for them and yet comforted them in the best maner he could At the very instant that he was to be cast into the sea the people standing on the shore lifted vp their voices and cried aloud Lord IESVS CHRIST saue him and the blessed Pope said Eternall father receaue my soule This being said he was cast into the sea where he ended his life and all the Christians were very pensiue and sadde Among others there were two desciples of the holy saint the one called Cornelius and the other Phaebus who said to the rest of the Christians Brethren let vs make our prayers vnto God and beseeche him through his fauour to shew vnto vs the reliques of his holy saint This counsell pleased them all very well and so they went vnto prayer they had not yet finished the same when the sea began to decrease and to depart away for the space of three miles from the shore and was so firme that men might passe all that way dryfoot where they found a chappell builded in the middest wherof was the body of S. Clement in a sepulcher and there was also the Anchar which had bene fastened vnto his neck This myracle did not only happen at that time but also did befall euery year for seuen daies continually in that place beginning on the day of his martirdome and enduring for sixe dayes following Thither resorted much people from sundry quarters to see the myraculous sepulcher of the holy saint at the time of the annuall discouery which endured and continued many years as affirmeth Symeon Metaphrastes who auerreth that in his time viz about the year of our Lord 620. this myracle was seene And it is also affirmed by Ephrem B. of Chersona venerable Beda Gregory B. of Towers Ado. Arch B. of Tryers l. 3. 〈◊〉 28. and Nicephorus Callistus yea all these Autors writing the life of S. Clement make mention of this myracle Ephrem B. of Chersona and Gregory B of Towres report another strange and admirable myracle as that a woman going with her litle infant a pilgrimage to this place and being in the Church where the body of the blessed martir lay The infant fell fast on sleep and the seuen daies being passed and expired the sea encreased and returned to the wonted place in such hast that the mother of the child which slept whether fearing the speedy flowing of the water or els vpon forgetfulnes saued her self and left him there behind her When shee was escaped all daunger and the sea was risen to the shore remembring then that shee had left her litle sonne behind her shee showed great signes of dollour and grief yet she knew not what to do but ranne now hither now thither by the seashore and looked about that at the least shee might see the dead body of her litle infant but shee could not so shee returned home to her house sadde pensiue and discomfortable and passed all that year in continuall lamentation When the yearly day of the martirdome of this holy saint came againe she made another iourney vnto the sepulcher and comyng to the same shee found her litle sonne sleeping sweetly euen as shee had left him the year before Shee took him in her aâ—mes and kissed him ofte and weeping for ioy and tendernes asked him what had become of him all that year The infant answered her that he knew not that a yeare was passed for he had slept all the while Then in the time of Pope Nicholas 1. being in the yere 860. the body of S. Clement by the ordynance of God as it may well be beleeued was taken out of that place in the sea by a holy man called Cyrillus and was carried vnto Rome buried in a Church builded vnto his name The same Pope caused also another Church to be built in the Island where the fountayn sprang vp by the prayer of S. Clement and intituâ—ed it also to his name S. Clement was Pope 9. years 2. months and 10. dayes He gaue orders twise in the month of December and ordered 15. Bishops 10. priests and 21. deacons The Catholike Church celebrateth his feast on the day of his martirdome which was on the. 23. of Nouember in the year of our Lord 102. In the time
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
things go in this manner in a great rage commaunded the Empresse should be put to death And for that Purphirius the captaine spoke in her behalf and the Emperour vnderstood he was a Christian and 200. of his souldiers also he gaue charge they should be all put to death fullfilling herein that which this holie saint had said before namelie that many should be saued by her meanes As the Empresse was led vnto her death she met S. Catherine on the waies and they embraced affectionatly requesting eache other to praie vnto God which they both promised hoping they should shortlie meet together in heauen The Empresse was beheaded on the 23 of Nouember and so was Porphirius and his souldiers The Emperour being in a manner beside himself to see the constancie of Catherine and not knowing what to do more commaunded to behead her also The holâ—e virgin was led to the place of excecutioÌ„ where was a great concourse of people as well men as women many of the companie weeping for compassion Before she was beheaded she prayed vnto God and yeelded him thancks for many graces that she had receiued at his hands but especiallie for this which she was at this instant to receiue to wit the loosing of her life for his sake which she took for the greatest signe of his loue toward her could be She besought him also that after her death he would not permitt her bodie to come into the hands of the perfidious Infidells least they might reproach or abuse it Moreouer she besought him that those that in their necessitie remembred her might be deliuered from their afflictions so farre forth as was conuenient for them This praier being finished one of the souldiers cut of her head and out of the wound came milk in stead of bloud Then were Angells seene to lift vp her bodie from the earth who caried it in the ayre vnto the mount Synay and there the same Angells buried it The Emperour Iustinian in processe of time caused a sumptuous Church to be built in the same place and a monasterie also in which the holie saint is honored and reuerenced Her death was on the 25. of Nouember and on the same daie the Catholique Church celebrateth her feast with great sollemnitie which is done with good reason for God hath three crownes with which he croweeth some of the faintes in heaven One is of red coullor which is for the holie martyrs The second is of skie-coullor wherewith the preachers be crowned and the third is white which is agreable vnto the virgins It seemeth all these crownes were due vnto S. Catherine For she was a Martyr and both before and at the time of her martyrdome she conuerted many person vnto the faith of CHRIST and she was a virgin also And for that she hath such rare prerogatiues beside as she said of her self that she was the especiall spouse of CHRIST with great reason deserueth shee to be honored and reuerenced of all Christians especially of students who by her meanes do receaue as we maie beleeue many graces and wisedome also infused by God This blessed martyr and virgin S. Catherine suffred martyrdome about the yeare of our Lord 310. in the raigne of Maxentius and Maximianus SPanish The ordinarie painting her with a sword in her hand and setting her foot vpon the head of an Emperour deuoteth that she conquered victoriously the tyrant that martyred her * ⎠* The life of S. Peter of Alexandria Bishop and Martyr THe prophet Zacharie sawe in a vision IESVS the high priest sore beaten and wounded his handes were all bruised and pierced through being demaunded who had vsed him so he made answere I haue receiued these stripes and woundes in the house of them that loued me This is spaken figuratiuely by IESVS CHRIST who being of his heauenly father loued infinitely yet he willed him or permitted him to dye This may also very well be sayd of them that haue receiued greater fauours and benefitts of Almightie God hauing higher and more eminent dignities and functions as he hath done vnto priests And if they offend or transgresse his lawes he is more displeased at their offences then he is at the faultes of others And through he be highly displeased with sinners yet he complayneth of them more then of all others This very same befell to S. Peter of Alexandria who sawe IESVS CHRIST with a coate rent and torne to pieces He demaunding who had vsed him in that manner answere was made Arrius the heretick The sonne of God shewed himself much displeased that that accursed man had set his toung against his honor in deprauing and touching him in his deitie it being his dutie to defend the same more then others for that he was a priest The life of this holie Bishop and martyr Peter collected out of Eusebius of Cesaria venerable Bede and other authors of Martyrologes is in this manner SAINT Peter of Alexandria was borne in the same cittie of Alexandria and thereof he took his surname For his great vertue and wisedome he was elected Bishop after the death of a holie man called Theonas And as some authors say he was the 16. prelate of that cittie after S. Mark the Euangelist In the persecution of Maximinus the Emperour great were the troubles he suffred in so much as many seing and beholding his patience and perseverance were stirred vp to imitat him neither did they quaile in the confession of theyr faith but perseuered in the same euen to the losse of their temporall liues Although the cruelty and tyrany of the ministers in the persecution encreased daily against the Christians yet the hoâ—ie Bishop left not of to look about and to prouide for the good and vtillitie of his Church And whereas the accursed heretick Arrius continued in the sowing of his cockle and infernall heresie he not only resisted him but excomunicate separated him from the congregation and comunion of the faithfull Hauing done this he was by the commaundement of the Emperour apprehended and put in prison And assoone as he knew that he was taken he sent a comaund vnto the officers to cut of his head This sentence being diuulged through the cittie it was a thing very remarkable to see all the people runne to the prison to defend him from death asmuch as lay in their power so great was their loue vnto their Pastor The accursed Arrius hauing a desire to be Bishop after Peter if he happened as he hoped to be put to death laboured guilefully and dâ—câ—â—tfully to be reconciâ—ed vnto Peter To that effect he spake to many Catholiques desired them to entreat him in the peoples name to absolue him and to signify vnto him that he was willing ready to submitt himself to his will and correction There were chosen two priests the one called Alexander the other Achillas to go on that Embassade or message who comming to the prison where Peter was propounded vnto him the cause
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
brightnes in maner of a loÌ„g vesture euen to the ground so that the paynims could not see her The holy saint was let thorough all the city and brought back vnto the gouernour who seeing her constancy gaue sentence that shee should be beheaded The cursed father of the blessed damosell who had bene present at this dollorous spectacle and was not any thing mollified but rather more incrudelized desired the gouernour to shew him the fauour to execute the sentence pronounced by him against his daughter which request was easily graunted The glorious saint was led out of the city vnto a hâ—lâ—e where was the ordinary place of execution and there kneeling on her knees shee made a deuout prayer vnto God rendering him thankes for bringing her to that passage Then bowed shee her head before her father who voide of pitty lifted vp the sword and cut of her head Then returned the cursed wretch vnto the city vaunting he had done a memorable act for the seruice of his Gods saying he deserued to be honored by th'emperour and to haue his name eternized But God almighty was not pleased with his boasting of so inhumane an act for vnexpectedly it thundered and therwith a thunderbolt fell which strook and killed him out of hand So that at one time the daughter ascended to heauen where shee was receued with ioy and triumph of the heauenly citisens and of the celestiall king and the father descended into hell where he is and shall be perpetually tormented by the deuills The body of this glorious damosell and martir S. Barbara was buryed by a holy and religious man called Valentinian with musique songs to the praise laude of God of S. Barbara his spouse The martirdome of this blessed damosell was on the. 4. day of December in the year of our Lord. 288. in the time of Diocleâ—ian and Maximian This holy saint is a speciall aduocate against tempests thunder and thunderbolts Petrus Galesinus the Apostolique protonotary wrote the life of S. Babara and saith that he collected it out of S Iohn Damascen out of Arsenius and out of other Grecians and it is conformable to that which is here written The life of S. Sabba Abbot SAINT Theodoret writeth in his relligious history that holy Abbot called Publius congregated together many hermus and builded a conuent On a day conferring with them among other things he said That as one going to the high stret or market place to prouide things necessary for his house and at one shop buieth cloth at another shoes out of this is furnished with bread out of another is prouided of wine euen so the relligious man in the conuent is from one man to lern patience from another humility from an other chastity and he like of other vertues For this cause in ancient timme some seruants of God although it was pleasing and to yous for them to like in the desert and wildernes yet did they gather many disciples together and make conuents to the end that some being instructers of others and some lerning of their superiors or betters all might be saued One of these was S. Sabba the Abbot whose life collected out of Cyrill the monck and some Authors of martirologes was in this manner SAINT Sabba was borne in the prouince of Cappadocia in a city called Mutalasium his fathers name was Iohn and the name of his mother was Sophia and it was in the time of Theodosius 2. th'emperour of Rome It fell out that the father of S. Sabba went to serue in the warre that was then in Alexandria and recommended his sonne vnto his brother called Ieremy whose wife hated the child and could not abide to see him but vsed him hardly This was in part the cause that S. Sabba went vnto a monastery in the which Gregory a holy man was Abbot He receaued Sabba into the monastery and gaue him the relligious habite where he liued a holy life exercising himself alwayes in vertue but his abstinence was most remarkable and his mortification was admirable and so was his humility and patience wherfore God shewed by him some myracles and one in especiall which befell in that monastery and this it was The baker had one day put his cloths into the ouen which was somewhat hotte to dry and forgetting them put in fire which already flaming thorough all the ouen he remembred the cloths but could not gett them out by any meanes The poore man made moane for his mis-happe and by chance Sabba was there present who made the signe of the Crosse in the ouen and then he went into the ouen flamyng as it did and took out the cloths whole and without any hurt Then he asked leaue of his superiour to depart from that monastery and to go into a desert where he liued a solitary life certaine yeares and endured many terrible tentations of the deuills He went also vnto Ierusalem to visite the holy places where the misteryes of our redemptioÌ„ were wrought And being one day in that city neere vnto the Church of S. Iohn Baptist he healed a woman that had a bloudy flixe he cured another that was cruelly tormented by the deuill Whiels S. Sabba was in Ierusalem there was exceeding scarcity of water and there was not any to be found not to be had to drink in such sort that the people were ready to dye for thirst The good father Sabba fell to praier prostrated on the earth with his body but his soule being lifted and fixed in heauen in that manner he continued in praier all night the teares which bathed the place on earth where the holie saint was gaue testimonie with what efficacie he had requested God to succour and relieue his people in their necessitie It pleased God to shew fauour vnto his seruant for there fell a verie great shower of raine that filled the cisternes and satisfied the people euerie one yielding infinite thanks vnto God that had showen compassion vnto them though many of them did not know who had been the meanes to obtaine so notable a fauour Then did this good father collect and assemble toger her many disciples and founded some monasteries and liued a holie relligious life and finallie died in Ierusalem in the yeare of our Lord. 424. being 94 yeares old His body was buried between two Churches was afterward caried vnto Venice where at this present he â—eth in the Church of S. Antoninus The life of S. Nicholas Bishop and Confessor WE read in the book of kings that God talking of the noble king Dauid 2. Reg. â—3 said of him that he had found a man according to his owne hart and herefore made him captaine and ruler ouer his people These words though at the first said of Dauid may be very well applied vnto the glorious S. Nicholas for he was a man according to Gods owne hart They were verified of Dauid because he was pitifull and myld and the same may be said of S. Nicholas
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
departed from the port of Tanais in a shippe to go vnto Myrrea to visite the sepulcher of the holy sait When they wâ—re embarked that deuill who had dwelt in the temple of Diana which S. Nicholas had demolished being wroth that he was expulsed out of his habitation laboured all that he might that the holy saints should not be honoured nor visited by the pilgrimes This cursed fiend tooke on him the shape of a woman caryeng a great vessel of oyle and comyng to the passengers said vnto them I knowe you go to visite the body of S. Nicholas I desire also to go in this voiage but now I caÌ„not conueniently I pray you therfore carry this vessell of oyle to burne in the lampes vpon his sepulcher They imagyning the deuill to be a deuout woman took at her hands the oyle and sailed with a prosperous wind one day on the second day there rose a great storme in such sort that they all feared they should be drowned and when they were out of hope they sawe a venerable old man came close to the shippe in a litle bark who said vnto them The feare and danger you abide in this storme is for your faults Throwe into the sea that vessell of oyle that the woman gaue you and you shal be delyuered for it was the deuill Assoone as the oyle was cast out into the sea in the place where the oyle fell was kindled a fâ—er which made a great noyse and a filthy stink that they might easily perceue it came from hell The auncyent old man told them he was S. Nicholas and then vanished out of their sight Memorable is the history of a child sonne vnto Ceâ—rone and Euphrosina two deuout persons vnto S. Nicholas who celebrated his feast euery year This their sonne was stolen away by the Agarens people wholy giuen to robbing and spolying who carryed him prisoner to Babylon where he was giuen vnto the king on whose table the child attended On an euening the child remembred that it was the day of S. Nicholas on which day his father and mother made great feast and then he began to weep The king demaunded of him why he wept he told him the reason The king vnderstanding the cause of his plaint said vnto him in scoffing maner If this Nicholas be so mighty bid him carry thee away out of thy captiuity The child had in his haÌ„d the kings cuppe wherin he vsed to drink and behold in an instant one took him by the hayre of his head and lifted him and he vanished quite from the sight of the king and of all the rest and within a litle time after he was found in the Church of S. Nicholas where his father celebrated the feast of the holy saint also that year with sighes and sobbes for the losse of their sonne but when they sawe him sett free they renewed their ioy and deuotion toward the holy saint The same Authors that write the life of this holy saint Nicholas write this story that ensueth An army of pagans being vandalls passing from Africa into Calabria made great spoile in the counâ—trey and carryed away a great pray and booty An Image of S. Nicholas among other things fell to the share of one of them and when he came into his countrey he asked of certein Christian slaues what that picture represented They told him that it was the picture of a holy saint called Nicholas who though he was dead did many miracles and holpe them that were deuoute vnto him This paynime was a vsurer who had taken a good some of mony out of his chests and hasty and important busines calling him suddâ—inly away he had not time to put it vp in the places apointed for the saffekeeping therof wherefore he said vnto the Image of S. Nicholas in this maner Nicholas be carefull looke well to the mony that lyeth here When the paynime was gone forth certein thiefs got into the roome and stole away the mony when the vsurer was returned and sawe his mony stollen he said vnto the Image of S. Nicholas Thou hast kept my mony well indeed Nicholas look to it and see my mony be gotten againe or I shall cast thee into the site and burne thee The thiess were gone into a secret place to part the mony they had gotten among themselfs S. Nicholas appeared vnto them and threatned to punishe them except they did restore the mony vnto the true owner againe which they fearing to be discouered and punished did euen to the value of a peny When the pagan sawe this myracle he was conuerted to the Christian faith and diuulged this wonderfull work abroad and herupon all the Christiansin Africa took great deuotion vnto this gloryous saint To this end did God permit the pagan to do such a thing which if it had bene done by another he had bene punished by God for his foole hardynes for the saints are to be intreated not with brauing words and menasses but with teares and submission knowing that for the one we may be chastised and for the other we may obteine mercy as God vseth to do by their meanes The Venetyans say that they haue the body of S. Nicholas in their city and recount a long history how it came thither if it be so they haue good reason to esteeme highly the grace and fauour of God shewed vnto them in grannting vnto them the posession of such a rich treasure It is said that the translation of S. Nicholas was in the yeare of our Lord God 1086. The life of S. Ambrose doctor of the Church SAMSON that valiant captain departing from his home vnto the countrey of his wife who dwelt among the Gentills being gone a litle out of the highe way found a dead lyon which he himself had killed a fewe dayes before and the scripture saith he found bees had made hony within him Samson approached thervnto and toke some of the hony combe and eate the hony and carryed part to his spouse This lyon signifieth S. Ambrose of whom it is said that when being a child he lay in the cradâ—ll there came aswarme of beeâ— and entred and came out of his mouth as though they would haue builded there It is said the lyon was dead for that when this happened Ambrose was not yet Baptised for he was not Baptised vntill his consistent age The hony of his mouth signifieth his doctrine which was assuredly sweet and mellifluous which IESVS CHRIST signifyed by Samson gaue vnto his spouse the holy Church appointing him one of her doctors The lyon of Samson remayned always dead but it happened not so vnto S. Ambrose for when time came he roared like a lyon in taking the defence of God and his Church not only against the Aâ—ryan heretiks her deadly enemyes but also against th'emperour Theodosius who was Catholike whom he excommunicated and cast out of the Church because he committed a cruelty would not suffer him to enter into
heauen gate also You may go all to the Church to celebrate the feast of the natiuity of our Lord and I wretch being debarred will remaine here and lament and weep alone Ruffinus vnderstanding the cause of th'emperours sorowe sayd My Lord if it shall please you I will talke with Ambrose and entreat him to permit you to enter into the Church for the sorowe you haue had the teares you haue shed for the euill of which he reproued you is sufficient Theodosius aunswered Thy words will do no good for I know very well his constancy in vertue he is not a man will omit any matters belonging vnto God for feare or dread of emperiall maiesty or might Notwithstanding these words Ruffinus assayed how it would proue And when he treated with S. Ambrose he found him so constant and resolute yea so ready and prepared to dye if violence were offred for the defence of the autority of the church that he forthwith sent word vnto th'emperour to stay but he trusting vpon the former words of Ruffinus was comyng toward the Church When Theodosius heard this message he stayed not but went forward saying I will goe vnto the Church and there the Bishop shall tell me my fault and enioine me penance if he will as I deserue S. Ambrose stayed for him without the Church and when the Emperour came he besought S. Ambrose in most lowly wise to absolue him alleadging the example of Dauid who sinned and yet God pardoned him S. Ambrose replied If thou settest Dauid that sinned for an example consider also that he lamented and did penance for his sinne The Emperour said againe I haue sorrowed very much for the same The said S. Ambrose This is not ynough for thou hast committed a publique offence and thou must also doe publique penance The Emperour said I will so that shall suffice S. Ambrose said I would haue thee doe another thing which shal be a remedy for thy wrath and indignation for the time to come viz. That thou make a law that when thou or any other Emperour commaund any offendor to be put to death forthwith that the execution be staid vntill thirty dayes be expired Theodosius was content to doe all as the holy Bishop willed and did the penance with great sorrow and humility and also made the law which is extant to this day in the Codex Iustiniani when this was done he went to the Church I haue stayed some what long in recounting this accident aswell for that it appertaineth vnto the story of S. Ambrose as also for that Theodosius was a Spaniard and it is fit that the Spaniards should haue knowledge of a man that was so worthy to be Emperour as Theodosius was who though hee sinned did receiue with such lowelines the correction and penance imposed vpon him by a particuler Bishop Another notable thing happened vnto S. Ambrose with Stilico Gouernour of Millan for the Emperour The case was this Certaine publique baiting of beasts being made in the high streetes the Gouernour thought the time fit to apprehend one Cresconius who was fled vnto the Church for he much desired to punish him for certaine faultes he had committed To effect it he sent his officers who came into the Church and tooke out Cresconius pulling him by force from the Altar to which place he was fled for succour S. Ambrose saw it but could not help it for he had but a few Priests with him at that time wherefore he fell on his knees and wept bitterly for the violence offered to the Church not being able to remedy the same The officers led the man away and hauing put him safe in prison came to see the sports where they found Stillico and certified him of that they had done They had not yet told all their tale when two Leopards set vpon them and for all the rescue and defence that could be made to saue them they tore them to pieces and put the Gouernor to great feare who incontinent commaunded the prisoner to be restored vnto the Church and to be set free and he made satisfaction for the violence committed Many other things God did by this glorious saint for with his prayers he healed many sicke men deliuered many men that were posessed many were by him conuerted to the faith and attained vnto saluation The fame of this holy saint was spred ouer all the world and people resorted from farre distant places to see him as did Fridigildis Queene of the Morauians who was a paynime and hauing heard marueillous things spoken of S. Ambrose and desirous to be a Christian went to visite him and to craue of him a rule which she ought to beliue and how also she ought to liue The holy saint conuerted her and satisfied her in euery point and especially he appointed her to procure that her husband should keep peace and be in league with the Romans And so she departed after she was Baptised into her countrey very well pleased The end of the life of S. Ambrose approched whereof he had a reuelation long before so he had found that he should dye about Easter Being sicke in his bed Stillico the Gouernour of Millan said that the death of this man menaced the ruine and destruction of all Italy then called he some of the chiefe men of the Citty and bad them to speak vnto S. Ambrose and to exhort him to pray vnto God for the prolonging of his life for the great good they receiued by him The Cittizens went vnto the holy saint and did their message and hee answered I haue not liued so among you that I should be ashamed to liue and I haue not serued such a Lord that I should be a feard to dye and therefore I put my selfe wholly into his handes His holy will be done S. Ambrose was now at the point of death and two deacons that were in the same chamber although a good way from him talked to themselues in a low voice who should be Bishop after him One of them said Simplician should be Bishop for that he was a man of very good behauiour and an Abbot of a monastery vnto whom S. Augustine was a verie deare friend Whilest they talked S. Ambrose said aloud He is old but very good The deacons were much astonied seing him to heare their speeches and after his death by the relation the two Deacons made of those his words Symplician was elected Bishop When the holy saint was at the last point of death there was in another roume Honoratus Bishop of Vercellae who heard himselfe called by one that said to him Runne for it is time now He hearing these words went to the place where the holy saint was and gaue vnto him the B. Sacrament which he receiued with very great deuotion Then laid he is armes acrosse and said his prayers and in saying of them he rendered vp his soule vnto God on the fourth day of Aprill about the yeare of our Lord
neuer arose because she neuer fell The other reason is the holy Catholicke Church celebrateth the feast of the Conception of the B. Virgin not with the title and name of sanctification but of Conception which was on the 8. day of December And this is not instituted for particuler Churches to celebrate but it is instituted to be kept generally in all Christendome since the breuiary of Pius 5. which is receiued by all the Church Finally I conclude that among all the feasts solemnised of the B. Virgin none is so solemnely celebrated by the faithfull as this is and that is done to shew her vertue nobilitie the more thereby and in respect of the great good which beginneth this day for vs all Let vs also consider what a great mayne we should haue had to haue wanted the glorie that we shall receiue by her company in heauen And though that the essentiall glory of the saints proceed from God yet receiue they also a very great accidentall glory from the company of the B. Virgin for though the estate of the kingdome dependeth of the King yet alwayes or for the most part particuler feasts and triumphes as iusts torneys daunces maskes and other pleasant shewes are made for the honour of the Queene and of her Ladies and damosels So also is it in heauen but in another manner it is cleare that there is accidentall glory with ioyes and triumphes continually made for the mother of God But we wretches heere in the world what should we doe without the glorious Virgin to whom should we haue recourse in our troubles and necessities Who should comfort vs who should giue vs helpe who will shew themselues so pittifull and mercifull as this glorious Virgin when we call vpon her deuoutely how great our lost and dammage should be without this gratious mother may be known by the great ioy we ought to make this day of her conception in the which she began to haue her beginning in this world Let vs then reioyce and solemnize this day confessing our selues deuout to this B. mother and her pure Conception that as many haue beene fauoured by her that haue done so some being deliuered from most dangerous perills and others hauing obtained particuler fauours So wee also being deliuered by her meanes from our offences faults may merit to obtaine euerlasting life Amen Spa Cesar Baronius saith in his martyrologe that this feast was first celebrated in England and after at Lyons and then in other countries The life of S. Melchiades Pope and Martir WE read in Leuiticus that God commaunded that salt should be put in all their sacrifices if that any offred sacrifice and did not put salt therin it was not gratefull vnto him neither did he accept in In ihis our Lord would giue vs to vnderstand that in all our works though they be good in themselfs yet must they be done with prudence for if they be done otherwise in steed of seruing him they shall offend him Almese is a good thing yet of one giue almose vnto a strager and let necessaryes in his owne house and for his children be wanting this pleaseth not God Good and holy is prayer but if one kneele on the ground to say his prayer and shall leaue vndone something vnto which he is bound this his work shall not be altogether good One cannot deny but the Communyon is a very holy thing neuertheles if one that is wycked hath a conscience clogged and burdened with mortall synne will â—et comnunicate he doth loose more thereby then he gayneth Fasting is a good thing but he thaâ— will fâ—st as do the Iewes and the moores in stâ—ed of doing the action of a Christian he shall giue a signe to be a painime And therefore we should do well to put the salt of prudence in all our works The holy pope and martir Melchiades considering this made a decree by which he commaunded that the faithfull should not fast vpon the sonday and thursday for that on one of those dayâ—s the Iewes fasted and the moores on the other and a Christian ought not only auoid to be a moore or a Iewe but also to make any shew to be such a one The not fasting the sunday remaineth in generall vse but that of Thursday is growne out of vse The Christian wâ—eÌ„ he fasteth ought to haue the intention pure not to do inwardly as the Iewes and moores do though be doth the same thing outwardly that they do The life of this holy saint was written in this maner by Damasus and other Authors Melchiades the pope was an African and succeceeded Eusebius in the papacy From the time of S. Peter vnto his popedome there had bene 20. popes which had bene martired for the faith of IESVS CHRIST There is extant an epistle of Melchiades written vnto the Bishops of Spaine in the which he sheweth himself to be a godly and lerned man In that epistle he saith that all the Apostles acknowledged S. Peter to be their superior And by cause those Bishops bad moued a question which was the greater sacrament Baptisme or CoÌ„firmation he answered sayeng that Baptisme is of greater necessity for that without it none can be saued but that confirmation was of greater dignity for that none giue it but a Bishop And then he reciteth vnto them the effects of the one and the other sacrament Moreouer he treateth of the great profit the Apostles receaued by the comming of the holy Ghost and how great the goods be Christians attaine by receauing the holy Ghost in Baptisme and then in Confirmation In the same epistle he ordeined that which is already aforesaid viz that Christians should not fast on the sunday and thursday to avoid the imitation of the Iewes and the paynims Melchiades found in Rome many heretiks of the Manichees against whoÌ„ he ordeined many things apperteinyng to the offerings and other dueties to be done in Church Some Authors say that in the time of this pope was celebrated the prouinciall councell of Neocesarea which is at this day called Trapezunda in which be ordeined some things perteyning vnto the state of the Church conformable vnto that time Lastly Melchiades hauing gouerned the Church as Damasus saith 3. yeares 7. months and 8. dayes hauing giuen holy orders one time in the month of December and ordered 6. priests 5. deacons and 11. Bishops was martyred in the tyme of the emperor Maxentius about the year of our Lord 304. Some say that Maximinus did put him to death but in my opinion they are deceiued for that Maximinus persecuted the Christians in Alexandria and Egipt and not in Rome for there Maxentius always remayned and vsed intollerable cruelty vntill the time that Constantine depriued him of his Empire and of his life also The Church celebrateth the feast of this pope on the 10. day of December and his body was buryed in the Churchyard of Callistus in the Via Appia The life of S. Damasus
verses at the sepulcher of the Apostles SS Peter and Paule and another work in the which he wrot the lifes of the Popes who were his predecessors He also ordeined that the psaâ—mes of Dauid should be song one part of the quier sayeng one verse and the other part another verse which is obserued vnto our time through all the vniuersall Church though it was vsed before in some particuler Churches by the notice of S. Ignatius vnto whom it was reueiled that the Angells in heauen song in this maner as he sawe it himself being in a traunce Also Damasus Councelled thereto by S. Ierome commaunded there should be said at the end of euery psalme Gloria patri filio spiritui sancto sicut erat in principio nunc semper in secula seculorum Amen He ordeined also that the priest before he began masse should say the generall confession He also gaue authority approbation to the translation of the holy Bible made by S. Ierome for before the translation of the 72. interpreters was commonly vsed This good Pope ended this life on the 11. day of December in the year of our Lord 380. in the time of Theodosius being 80. years old of which he was Pope 18. years 3. months 11. dayes He gaue holy orders 5. times in the month of December and ordered 32. priests 11 deacons and 62. Bishops His body was buryed in the Church of the Apostles which he had buâ—â—ded in the same where his mother and sister were buried He was afterward translated vnto another Church which he had builded called S. Laurence in Damaso The life of S. Lucy virgin and Martir AT such time as Gedeon was captaine of the people of God Iudiâ— 7. they were in great danger and feare because their enemies were neere them and verie potent and strong themselues being but fewe in number and weak God commaunded Gedeon to do some enterprise and the people trusting in God hoped to atchieue victorie yet they conceiued not any meanes how it should come to passe For to fight hand to hand they might seeme rash and foolish to run headlong on their owne deaths The people remaining thus in doubt God spake vnto Gedeon and bad him to diuide his people which were 300. into three parts and when night came euerie souldier should haue in one hand a Trompet and in the other hand a vessell of earth and within it a burning light In this manner they should assault their enemies on three sides and when they came neere them they should sound the trompetâ—s and break the vessells of earth knocking one against the other that the burning lampes might be seene on a sodeine and then all of them should make a great shoute As God apointed so it was done The souldiers sounded the Trompets which awaked the Madianits who seing on a sodeine so many lights and hearing such a noise remained astonied and full of dread and knew not how to defend themselues or to offend their enemies but in steed of striking the Hebrewes they wounded one another By this straâ—ageme the madianites were ouerthrewne and quite discomfited and the Hebrewes obtained a notable victorie By this figure we learne that when the vessels of earth are broken the lights are discouered and the enemy ouerthrowne which thing noteth that in the warâ—e which IESVS CHRIST figured in Gedeon maketh against the Madianites which are the diuells vessells of earth are vsed hauing within them burning lampes that shine most clearlie when the vessells of earth be broken These earthen vessells signifie the holeâ— martyrs for their bodies were of earth which being broken when they were diuersly tormented their burning and liuelie faith did shine more gloriously It is seene by experience that holy men are most knowne and reputed the light of the world by the meanes of their death Then is laid open their constancie fortitude and patience their liuely faith and other vertues where with they were adorned whilest they liued their vertues were couered as the torch is in the earthen vessell but when the vessell is broken that is to saie when the holie person dyeth the light is discouered and their death weakneth the diuell vtterlie Though this figure maie be apropriated to all the martyrs yet in perticuler it agreeth verie fulie vnto S. Lucy who by her death showed the light and discouered the brightnes of her liuelie faith and other vertues which were in her soule Moreouer she is the aduocate for the sight the obiect of which is the light Yet we will not saie that she had her name Luce of the light The life of this glorious saint was written by venerable Bâ—dâ— Ado Archbishop of Treuers and other approoued author SAINT Lucy was borne in the Cittie of Syracusa in the is'le of Sicilia of honorable parents and of a great familie She was a Christian from her infancie and so instructed in the faith that shee perswaded her owne mother to exercise her selfe in all vertuous workes and especiallie in giuing large almose and relieuing the necessities of their neighbours The holie damosell finding a fit opportunitie distributed to the poore all her patrimonie which was verie great to set her selfe free from a rich Nobleman who by the consent of her mother and kinsfolke should haue beene her husband though she neuer consented to it An occasion fell out in this sort The mother of S. Lucy called Eutitia had bene sick foure yeares of the bloodie flixe no worldly helpe could be had to cure her At that time the report of S. Agatha was spread ouer all Sicilie who a little before had beene martired her bodie being in the Cittie of Catanea where many miracles were done and many sicke persons of sundrie infirmities were cured by visiting her sepulchre S. Lucy perswaded her mother that they might goe together and visite the reliques of the holie saint not doubting but that by her meanes she might be deliuered from her infirmitie Eutitia was content and went with her daughter vnto Catanea attended in such manner as was fit for their degree and estate When they came vnto the sepulchre of S. Agathata Lucy fell to prayer requesting the glorious Martir to obtaine of God by her intercession health for her mother Lucy being thus in prayer S. Agatha accompanied with many Angels appeared vnto her and with a familier pleasing countenance said vnto her Sister Lucy wherefore doest thou demaund that of me which thou thy selfe maiest giue vnto thy mother Aske thou this fauour of God for if he loue me he loueth thee also and if he will heare my prayers he wil also heare thine and where I haue giuen my life for his sake so shalt thou also giue thy life for his loue And if I be the cause that the cittie of Catanea be famous and and renowned for that it is washed and bathed in my bloud and posesseth my bodie so shall the citty of Syracusa by the same meanes be famous and
it well deserueth The Church beside all her other merits holdeth and accounteth her for aduocate of the eyes and for the sight It is therefore requisite that we all haue particuler deuotion and recommend our selues vnto her that God may by her merites and intercession preserue our corporall sight and grant the light of our soules that we may be able and worthie to see his diuine maiestie in heauen Amen The Catholique Church celebrateth the feast of S. Lucy on the day of her martirdome which was on the 13. of December in the yeare of our Lord 305. in the time of Maximian and Dioclesian Spanish Her name is in the Canon of the Masse One of the handes of S. Lucy is shewed in the vestrie of the Church of Toledo Of S. Lucy write Sigisbert the Breuiarie and the Romane Martyrologe The life of S. Thomas Apostle WHEN it happeneth sometimes that the predestinate and iust man falleth by negligence into a heinous sinne cap â—4 God vseth the words of the Prophet Esay vnto him and saith A little moment will I hide my face from thee and in euerlasting mercy will I remember thee haue pittie on thee Which is as if he had said I will turne my face from thee because thou hast offended me but for that thou didst quicklie acknowledge thy sinne and the vnhappie estate in which I found thee and didst not continue long in thy fault but forthwith didst craue pardon I will turne my face toward and thee and will behold thee with the eyes of my mercy I haue made peace with thee and will take thee into my fauour wherein thou shalt continue for euer This sentence fitteth and agreeth with S. Thomas the Apostle who offended God in not beleeuing the article of his resurrection wherefore God turned his face from him yet he returned forthwith when he remembred his error and touched with his hands the wounds of his maister which caused him to become as softe as waxe and to say My God my Lord I confesse my sinne and I confesse that thou art true God and my Lord. I confesse thou art him whom I saw dead naâ—led on the Crosse and I confesse that thou art risen againe For this cause God looked wildlie and louinglie vpon him renewed friendship with him and tooke him againe into his fauour in which he continued till his death The life of this blessed Apostle is gathered out of the Euangelistes S. Isidore Simeon Metaphrastes and Gregorie of Toures in this sort SAINT Thomas the Apostle was a Galilean but it is not knowne how or when he was called to the Apostleship S. Iohn the Euangelist maketh of him particuler mention when Mary Magdalene and Martha sent to IESVS CHRIST to tell him that their brother was dead And when he talking with his disciples told them that he would returne into Iudea and the Apostles sought to stay his iourney saying to him Maister they would latelie haue stoned thee and wilt thou yet returne amongst them he answered there be twelue houres in the day Giuing them to vnderstand that so many times their harts might be changed and altred from that they intended to doe S. Thomas seing he was determined to go said to the other disciples with a stout resolution Let vs go also dye with him S. Thomas in these wordes shewed himselfe to be of a good courage and that he loued IESVS CHRIST sincerelie At the euening after the last supper which our Sauiour made with his disciples S. Thomas was present also and was made Priest and communicated as others did When our Sauiour made that sweete and louelie sermon saying among other thinges that he went to prepare mansions for them and that they knew whether he went S. Thomas said to him Ioan 14. Lord we do not know whether thou goest how is it possible for vs to know the way After the death of our Lord and after his resurrection yea the verie same day he rose againe late in the euening the Apostles being assembled in the dyning parlour none being wanting but Iudas that had hanged himselfe and Thomas who was gone forth vpon especiall busines Ioan 20. IESVS CHRIST appeared vnto them and shewed them his wounds letting them know that he was the same that had conuersed with them dyed for them and that he was raised againe When Thomas was returned the other Apostles said to him O brother whilest thou wert absent we haue seene our Lord and Maister the very same whom we saw taken in the garden the same that was beaten and crowned with thornes nailed and dead on the Crosse whose side was opened with a speare that was taken downe from the Crosse and laid in his sepulchre This our Lord we haue seene risen againe glorious and immortall We haue seene the signes of his woundes which seeme not as they were all stained with bloud but they be adorned wonderfullie they shew as Diamonds and Rubies set in Gold and but euen now he departed from vs. S. Thomas answered It is assuredlie some fantasticke vision and for my part I tell you plainlie that before I shall see him with mine owne eyes and put my hands into his wounds and my fingers into his side I will not beleeue that you haue seene him or that he is risen againe Thus S. Thomas remained in his hardnes of heart eight dayes Iohn 19. v. 27. without relenting We may piously beleeue that the Apostles the Maries and perhaps the Mother of God also said thus vnto him As it is the signe of a light-headed person to credit and beleeue all things he heareth so is it the signe of a stubborne and peruerse mind not to beleeue that which so many affirme especiallie such people as these be How shall the Iewes which be enemies to my Sonne beleeue that he is risen againe if thou which art an Apostle wilt not beleeue it Doest thou not remember that he said oftentimes with his owne mouth that he must suffer yea he named some of the torments which he was to endure withall he said that he should arise againe the third day Now if thou hast had triall that he said truth in these things why shouldest thou thinke that hee lyed in the other If thou thinkest that the Apostles and the Maries be deceiued and that he whom they saw is another be assured that at least I am not deceiued but that I know him perfectlie well For I haue brought him forth I haue attended and borne him companie this thirtie and three yeares Although the rest should be mistaken yet I cannot be deceiued And I tell thee againe that my Sonne and thy Maister is raised to life and I beseech thee not to be obstinate or incredulous any more These and the like words we may well suppose that the glorious Virgin said to S. Thomas who neuertheles remained in his hardnes and vnbeliefe saying If I do not see him I do not beleeue it I know not the
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 clothes and laid in a manger O thou blessed Angell these signes that thou giuest are more like to make one misse God theÌ„ to find him How is God an infant God wrapped in clothes God in a manger Haue regard what thou saiest thou glorious Angell for all these things denote and shew basenes contrarie to the state and maiestie of God The Angell replyed beleeue me it is as I haue said God without being changed hath made a wonderfull mutation He being eternall is now a little infant newlie borne He whom the earth cannot containe and for whom the heauens are too little is now in a poore small chamber wrapped in course clothes God who hath his seat aboue the Cherubins at this present is laid to rest in a manger of beasts O great misterie O strange wonder All yee that be full of curiositie and loue to heare things the like were neuer heard and to see strange maruailes the like were neuer seene see and consider this marualie Go to the stall of Bethleem with the sheapheards to see God a little infant newlie borne to see the Virgin Mother that hath brought forth a child and that in so strange admirable a place Let me aduise and counsell you that you goe not thither with emptie hands since the poore sheapheards brought presents vnto him Let vs carry that which is most agreeable for our profit He was found in a base place let vs bring vnto him humillitie He lamented let vs come vnto him shedding teares for that we haue offended him Let vs beseech him to vse vs fauourablie and to shew his mercy toward vs since he was borne for that end and purpose And in especiall let vs beseech him that among all others he will do vs this fauour that is to giue vs that grace that we may be worthie to enioy his glorie Amen Nicephorus Callistus saith that the Emperour Iustinian commaunded that the feast of the natiuitie of our Lord should be celebrated Before the time of this Emperour this festiuall day was celebrated in some particuler Churches But he hauing as we may assuredlie thinke conferred the matter with the Pope the Bishop of Rome ordained it to be celebrated vniuersallie through all Christendome on the 25. of December and on the same manner as it is kept at this present accompanying the same with other festiuall dayes as of S. Stephen S. Iohn and of the holie Innocents The aboue-named Iustinian gouerned the Empire in the yeare of our Lord. 565. The natiuitie of our Sauiour CHRIST was in the yeare of the world 3962. by the most common receaued opinion The life of S. Anastasia Martyr KING Dauid talking with God in the person of the martyrs saith We be passed by fire and water and thou hast brought vs into a place of refreshing This maie be well applyed to the glorious martyr S. Anastasia who after a long imprisonment suffred martyrdomes the one of water the other of fire and being deliuered from the one by meanes of the other her blessed soule obtained the place of refreshing which she enioyeth at this present in heauen The life of his holie saint was described in the manner that ensueth by venerable Bede and Ado Archbishop of Treuers SAINT Anastasia was borne in Rome and was maried vnto Publius a noble man of great account but yet a pagan He hauing knowledge that his wife gaue much almose vnto the Christians which were in prison iudged that she was a Christian also And fearing to loose his goods though he had the greater part thereof in mariage with her he determined to accuse her the persecution of Dioclesian and Maximian being at that season very sharp and rigorous And least any other should accuse her and so gâ—t his goodes he determined to do it first him self This cruell man shut her vp in a chamber where he kept her many daies giuing her meaâ— by stint and measure and entending to famish her he did euerie daie dâ—minish it Whilest the holie saint remained thus in prison she wrote certaine letters to a holie martyr called Crisâ—gonus who was likewise in prison and returned her answeres whereat she receiued great consolation Shortlie after Anastasia was freed of her imprisonment but she fell into other troubles for she was taken by a gouernour who kept her two months in prison where shee was relieued by a good and vertuous woman called Theodora who was martyred also afterward The two months being expired the gouernour put her in a Bark together with 270. Christians men and women that they might be cast into the sea The officers performed the decree of the gouernour yet the water pardoned and did not drowne them but cast them on the shore in saftie in the Iles called Palmaria To that place came the gouernour of Illiria or Sâ—lauonia with his souldiers who had in charge also to put the Christians to death He put them againe in prison and tormented them after diuers manners S. Anastasia was bound to foure postes somewhat high from the ground and when they had racked her by the hands and feet in most cruell sort they kindled a fire vnder her which by litle and litle depriued her of her mortall life whereby she obtained life euerlasting Among these holie Martyrs there was one called Eâ—titianus a man verie rich plaine and void of mallice From this man they took all his goods of which he seemed to make no regard and if any thing had bene spoken to him thereof he would answere thus Take from me what you will yea all that I haue to lose you shall take my head before you take CHRIST from me The bodie of S. Anastasia half consumed was buried by a matrone called Appolonia after she had dressed it with costlie oyntments And when she had many times embraced and kissed it she wrapped it in most pure white linnen and buried it in a garden she had where shortlie after she caused a Church to be builded after the name of the saint This glorious martyr is one of the saints named in the Canon of the masse which is no small priuiledge Her martyrdome was about the yeare of our Lord 300. Dioclesian and Maximian being Emperours on the 25 of December And because on that daie the natiuitie of CHRIST is celebrated the commemoration of this saint is only made in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Masse of the three which on that daie are 〈◊〉 Some write that Pope Telesphorus ordeined that three Masses should be said on that daie And some Authors saie that the first Masse signifieth the Gentiles who were in a manner blind in their Idollatrie and therfore it is said at midnight The second is said at break of day when the light is seene although but a litle and this signifieth the Hebrewes who had some light from God which was but litle for they had all things in figures and shadowes The third Masse which is said at the cleare daie signifieth the Christians who haue the cleare light of
Iohn the young man began by a little little to fall vnto lewdnes and at the last to be a Captaine of robbers and murderers by the high way S. Iohn being returned and vnderstanding what was become of the young man was aggrieued for the same and went vnto the desert where the young man kept and haunted in fine he met him He at the sight of the Apostle began to fly and S. Iohn followed him saying My sonne why doest thou flye behold I am weary and euen tyred in coÌ„ming to seeke thee in this desert and vnhabited place doest not thou perceiue that it is euill done of thee a young man to flye from me an old man If thou doest it for feare of the account thou hast to render vnto God for thy sinnes I offer my selfe to answer for thee at the day of iudgement The hart of the young man relented at the words of S. Iohn and at the teares he saw to fall on his white beard so he fell at his feere bewayling his sinnes S. Iohn tooke him home and the young man amended his life and serued God with great feruour after that time Sometime this seruant of God shewed indignation against them whom he knew would not amend their faults S. Policarpe his disciple writeth of him that being one time in a bayn Cerinthus the heretike came in and then he made hast to get out saying with indignation Let vs get hence quickly lest the filthy and corrupt water of Cerinthus infect vs meaning by the water the false doctrine of the heretike His disciples importunated him to write that which he preached that they might haue it in continuall remembrance The Apostle condiscended to their request and commaunded a generall fast and continuall prayers to be kept by all the people Then went the vpon a mountaine and tooke only with him his disciple Procurus Metaphrases saith they heard thunders and thunderclaps with whirlewinds which put Procurus in great feare and dread but these tempests being aleyed S. Iohn began to say In principio erat verbum and so Procurns wrot and continued the Gospell after his enditing wherein he laboureth to destroy the errour of the heretiks called Ebionits who held that CHRIST was not God and the principall entent of S. Iohn was to shew and proue that CHRIST is true God And because he flew so high the figure of an Eagle which is a foule that soareth aloft is attributed vnto him The holy Euangelist was now farre in yeares and when he talked with his disciples he had allwayes in his mouth these words My sonnes loue one another and they said Maister let vs heare some other words for we haue heard this very often And he answered them I say this thing vnto you for that this is sufficient and he that doth this doth all Hauing then had reuelation of his death being 99. yeares ald he assembled all his disciples and led them vpon a high mountaine where a Church stood In that place he caused his sepulcher to be opened and stripped himselfe of part of his cloths and put off his shoes and so aliue he went into his sepulcher his disciples making great lamentation and then there came from heauen a cleare brightnes vpon that place enuironing the body and the holy place And they that were present remained in a traunce as it seemed for great dread and being come to themselues they saw S. Iohn no more but the graue couered with earth which seemed to boyle vp a pretious liquor that cured many infirmities This was the passage of S. Iohn and as S. Ierome and venerable Bede affirme his death was without any griefe and his body neuer felt corruption Of which words S. Thomas Nicephorus Callistus and many other Authors take occasion to say that S. Iohn was raised againe and ascended into heauen both in body and soule where he hath an eminent place since the titles he had in the world were so honourable He had the title of Virgin Apostle of Euangelist and of martir at lest in will and desire yea S Augustine S. Iohn Chrisostome and Ruffinus call him martir for when he was put into the vessell of oyle he should haue dyed if God had not myraculously deliuered him and his will was always prompt and ready to dye for the loue of IESVS CHRIST Beside the said titles he had another rare and singular name of the Disciple beloued of CHRIST of his brother and sonnes of the same mother by the will and appointment of the same God This glorious Apostle did spend 70. yeares in preaching and conuerting of soules all which time he continued busy in the seruice of God alwayes louing him and alwayes perswading others to serue him But all this which we haue said is but little to equalize the great glory that he enioyeth in heauen although that which he hath and what place he possesseth there God and he best knoweth Let it suffice vs to recommend vs to him by taking him to our Aduocate and imitating his life asmuch as lyeth in vs And so ayded by him we may be rewarded by God and see S. Iohn in heauen yea God himselfe enioying him in his glory for euer Amen The Catholike Church celebrateth the feast of S. Iohn Euangelist on the. 27. day of December And his death was in the yeare of our Lord. 100. or there about in the time of Traian the Emperour The feast of the holie Innocents THERE is mention made in the booke of Kings of a most cruell woman 4. Lib. Cap 11. called Athalia who was the mother of kâ—â—g Ochozias This woman her sonne being dead vpon ambition and desire to raigne got into her hands the children which were of the bloud royall and put them all to death One only escaped heâ— hands who wâ—s called Ioas. This child was saued by the care and diligence of the nurse that brought him vp and of Ioiada the high priest who hid him so that Athalia could not get him into her possession and power and in processe of time Ioas was king of Israell This crâ—ell Arhalia was a figure of Herod who holding the kingdome of Israell by violence for that he was a forrainer and of a strange countrie to assure himselfe of that kingdome he killed many innocent children as Athalia had done before out of whose hands escaped Ioas by the industrie of his nurse and of Ioiada which kept him secret So IESVS CHRIST figured in Ioas fled from Herod by the care and industrie of his most B. mother and of S. Ioseph who deliuered and kept him free out of Herods furie when they carried him into Egipt Ioas was afterward king of Israell IESVS CHRIST was and is King of heauen and earth and the vniuersall redeemer of all mankind The historie of these holie Innocent infants was written by S. Mathew the Euangelist in this manner AFTER the birth of the sonne of God into the world Luk. 2. and after his circumcision on
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