of Heliopolis in companie of one Appollophanes an Athenian and a famous sophister he did behold that strange Eclypse which happened at the death of oure Sauioure when viewing the creator of al things the author of lyfe and fountaine of all light so darkned soe ecclypsed so ignominiously suffering death the Sunne as one ashamed to behold that spectacle did hide an whollie loose his beames in the midst of the day S. Dionyse as a man that was skillfull in learning did quicklie perceaue this Ecclypse was against the course of nature by reason it lasted aboue the naturall periode but much more bicause the Moone was at the full and whollie opposite to the sunne so that supernaturallie running a violent course she alltogether couered the sunne and keeping him so for the space of three houres returned againe to her former place of opposition He wondered at so rare a miracle that neither was heard nor seene before and being amazed said to Appollophanes and others Either the God of nature doth suffer or els the wholle frame of the world doth perish and is dissolued He noted the yeare the day and the houre in which this strange noueltie and wonder succceded which was so deepelie imprinted in his minde that he neuer forgot it all his life He returned to Athens and liued in his owne cōmon wealth with great moderation and reputation the Athenienses honouring him as a most wise Philosopher and vprighte Iudge They made him president or chiefe of the highest courte of Iustice that was in all Athens This courte was called of the Areopagites who tooke theire name from a place where the court was kepte which was in a streete or litle hill called in Greeke Pagus dedicated to Ares that is to say Mars and the Iudges of this court were so graue vpright that in ancient times to call a Iudge vnspotted seuere vncorrupted vnflexible either for loue or feare or flatterie or briberie they would call him an Areopagite It came to passe that about this time S. Paule did preache the Ghospell in Athens He disputed sundrie times with the Epicurean Pithagorean Academicall Stoicall Peripateticall philosphers and laboured to reduce them to the faith of IESVS CHRIST and draw them from theire Idolatrie He told them of an other life of resurrectiō of the bodies of a generall Iudgement of a supernaturall reward or punishment according to eache mans good or bad works These Philosophers hearing a matter of such consequence and fearing the daunger of new religions and thinking it a thinge of greatest importance brought him before the chiefe court of Areopagites and theire supreme Iudge Dionisius For allthough the Romaines were in actuall posession of the wholl world in a maner and Lords of all Greece yet the Lacedemonians and the Atheniens were permitted to liue in their auncient liberty gouerned by theire owne Lawes officers magistrats freely elected by themselfs When S. Paule was brought before Dionyse the other magistrats in the presence of the philosophers who had before giuen informatiō of him he with a Retorique more diuine then humain meaning not to exasperat so wise and learned a nation by telling them he was come to teach them a thing wherin thy were ignorant and to giue them notice of gods that they knewe not of all which they would hardly haue disgested or els taken in euill part said thus vnto them You men of Athens I haue sene by experience that you be a very superstitious people more addicted to your gods then the other Greeks for you labour to haue more honoure them more then all the rest as you haue more knowledg and be more learned thē the rest Now I walking through your city and beholding the many temples which be therin I sawe one vpon whose altar there was this Inscriptiō To the vnknowen god That same God whom you doe honor vnknowen is he whom I doe preach vnto you and wish you to honor carefully He is not for from you nor from any mortall man since as one of your owne poets said very well we liue in him by him we moue and remain in him of him we gaue oure being oure motiō lyfe Then speaking against the multiplicitie of God he tould them at last of the day of iudgement and of the resurrection of the dead The answere they gaue him was this that they would giue him audience some other day and so dismissed him These fewe words of the Apostle were so full of misteryes that they put all these wise lerned mē to silence yea and astonied and amased them The Apostle departed but not empty handed for he caught in his net the chief magistrat Dionise with whom he had conferēce in priuate and in the end the Apostle gaue him prefect and full notice of our faith He preached vnto him IESVS CHRIST God and man his death passion resurrection and ascēsion vnto heauen And bycause the Apostle made particuler mention of the eclipse which happened at the time of our Sauiours death S. Dionise was desirous to know that wonder assone as it was laid open vnto him he yielded forthwith and said he would be a Christian It might seeme a lightness in S. Dionise to giue creditt so soone vnto a strāger in a matter of suche importāce as it is to renoūce the gods so lōg time adored by his forefathers and to receue a newe God that was crucified and the more for that he was so lerned and was therefore more obliged to consider very well thereof before he altered his opinion in a matter of such cōsequence Vnto this I aunswere by the same reason S. Dionise because he was wise and learned resolued vpon an honorable and worthy matter so soone For euen as he and all other wisemen of the Paynims were reprouable to adore them for gods whom thy knew had bene infamous wycked men so they desired to find some that should giue them knowledge of another God more worthy to be worshipped then they were They knew likewise by the light of nature that there ought not to be many gods but one God only So that Dionise hauing this desire and S. Paule coming to incounter him he fled not from the combat but did rather holpen by God follow the Apostle with out resistaunce and by Baptisme was made a Christian There were others also conuerted but S. Dionise did surpasse them all in vertuous and holy works for which cause the Apostle made him priest and also Bishop of that city S. Dionise was the first Bishop that Athens had and that was great glory vnto the city bycause it had brought vp and giuen learnyng vnto her first pastour This holy saint had priuate frendship and conuersed a long time with the Deuine Hierotheus a Spaniard borne after the opinion of many Autors who was instructed in like maner by S. Peter in deuine letters and ther vpon he was called Diuine S. Dionise confesseth that he was his instructor and that of
breuiary and martirologe is as followeth SAINT Ianuarius and his coÌ„panions that is to say Festus Sosius and Proculus Deacons Desiderius the lector Acatius and Eutiches were martired nere vnto the city of Pozzuole vnder the persecution of Themperour Dioclesian Tymotheus gouerning that prouince for him This gouernor being sent by Themperour vnto Nola in Campania with commission to root out the Christians apprehended and improsoned Sosius Deacon of the church of Messina and Proculus deacon of the church of Pozzuolo and Acatius and Eutiches cittizens of Nola and laymen But he commaunded Ianuarius the B. of Beneuentum accused a fore that time to be a Christian to be layd hold on and brought before him And when he nether for much entreaty nor for sharp threats would be drawen to the sacrifice of the Idolls the gouernour apointed a fornace to be heated three daies together with continuall fire and that then Ianuarius who in the meane space was kept in prison vnder a sure gard should be cast therinto in the midst of the burning flames with out any release or fauour to be shewed He entred the same hauing with gret humility made his praiers vnto God where singing together with the Angels he went vp and downe without any hurt at all vnto his body The souldiers made relation of this miracle vnto the gouernour who bad them open the mouth of the ouen wider that it might be seen more apparantly if it was so as they said which when they did the flame broke and rushed out violently and consumed a huge number of the pagans that stood about it But Ianuarius came forth of the ouen so that there was no shewe or apperaunce that any thing was burned no not so much as the heare of his head or his garment he had on The gouernour attributed impiously this thing vnto sorcery and comitted him againe into fast prison but on the next day he called him to appeare before him and in a raging fury made the officers to scourge him which they did vntill the sinewes were separated from his body and then he returned him back to the prison in which time he deuised and inuented new punishments and torments for his further affliction Vpon this Festus the Deacon and Desiderius the Lector of the city of Beneuentum went vnto the gouernour and complained vnto him of the great torturs the holy prelat had endured but the tirant not disgesting their words and reprofes they were by his commaundement staied and laid in Irons in the same place where Ianuarius was This being done Timotheus the gouernour determining to go vnto the city of Pozzuolo commaunded all the aboue named martirs to be driuen before his chariot in fetters to the terrour and example of other and that they should be put into the Amphitheater of that citie where the Beares should be put out against them But the sauage beasts forgetting their naturall fiercenes laid aside all their cruelty and became mild tractable like lambs lying downe at the feet of the martirs The Gouernour not knowing what to do more vnto them at the sight herof gaue sentence that they should be beheaded The which sentence being read forthwith and the holy Saints being led to the execution therof the gouernour miraculously became blind of both his eyes Wherfore he instantly sent back for Ianuarius and besought him to make his praiers vnto his God for him that he might be deliuered from this miserable darknes which Ianuarius doing his fight was restored incontinently The pagans seeing this euident miracle 5000. of them were conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST but the gouernour was no lesse vnthankfull for the benefit receaued then obstinate in his euill purpose but was more enraged for the conuersion of so many people and sent back Ianuarius and the others also to be put to death according to the sentence A certein old man requested Ianuarius to leaue some thing of his vnto them that should be a witnes or remembrance of his martirdome and of his death avowed that he would keep it as a Iewell vnto whom the Bishop promised to giue his napkin after his death To conclude the holy martirs were beheaded to wit Ianuarius Bishop Festus and Proculus Deacons Desiderius lector Acatius and Eutiches afterward Sosius who among the rest shewed himselfe most couragious and prompt to dy though kept in prison some fewe daies before he died S. Ianuarius did appeare vnto that same old man after his martirdome and according to the promise he made vnto him in his life he gaue vnto him his napkin or scarfe wetted in his bloud wherwith he had couered his face when he was beheaded The same scarâ—e or napkin the good old man shewed vnto the officers that came back from the execution And at the same houre the holy martirs were put to death the gouernour was haled by the deuill and by him long vexed and in that misery died The mother of S. Ianuarius being then in Beneuento where her dwelling was sawe in her sleep her sonne in the sky vp toward heauen and shee noting the hour the day of the vision so I call it rather then a dreame found that at the same time he had receiued the crowne of martirdome There also befell in this his martirdome another considerable accident which was when the martir of God Ianuarius was beheaded and that the napkin or scarfe was bound ouer his eys there fell vnto the earth together with his head one of the fingers of his hands also And whilest the Christians attended and waited oportunity to burie his bodie by night as also the bodies of the other martirs Ianuarius appeared vnto them willed them to search for his finger to bury it with his head that was cut of which they diligently and speedely did and buried all these blessed bodies nere vnto the citie with great honour religion and deuotion Then did euery one of the cities there about of a good pious desire elect and choose some one of these glorious martirs to their protectors and patrons The Neapolitans caried away the body of S. Ianuarius which had bin first at Pozzuolo and after at Beneuento and then came to the goodly monasterie of Monte Virgine and lastly in the time of Alexander 6. Pope it was translated vnto Naples and entombed very honorably in the Cathedrall Church In which place may be continuallie scene very great miracles And this also shal be worthy of eternall memorie that when there came from the hill Vesuuius nowe called Mount de Somma balles of fire and ashes in such aboundance that not only the inhabitants dwelling nere thereunto but also they which dwelt further of were in great dread and feare that all the country there about would be consumed and destroyed by the fire the same was wholly and vtterlie extinct quenched by the merits and patronage of this blessed Saint Wherfore the Grecians haue put him in their Kallender and do likewise euerie yeare make an
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
be increased therefore it was tollerated at that time for a man to haue more wiues then one Salomon took benefit of this leaue that was giuen desiring in this also to shew his magnificence and state and therefore he took more wiues then Dauid his father euer had or any of the Patriarchs before him some of which had more wiues then one at once as Abraham and Iacob vnto whom it was lawfull in like manner for the reasons which the doctors alleadge But for that those reasons haue no vse for our times it is not lawfull for any now to haue any more then one wife The wiues which these auncient fathers had either in the law written or in the law of nature were of 〈◊〉 sortes Some were called wiues or Queenes if their husbands were kings and the other were called Concubines and though they were called so yet were they as true and lawfull wiues as the others and their matrimonie aâ— trew and lawfull The difference betweene the one and the other was this first in name For some of them were as mistresses and comaunded in the house the other which were called Concubines did giue attendance and had lesse authoritie and reputation Salomon had 300. Concubines and 700. Queenes or wifes call them which you will Among these he had one whom he regarded and esteemed more then all the rest and that was the daughter of king Pharao who as she passed all the other in nobillitie so she was of more excellent beautie and of more discretion then the rest and therefore for her only Salomon built a house and seuered her from the others It maie be he did so in respect that she was a gentile and an Idollaeter and all the other were of his owne religion It is most assured that of her he made great account as appeareth by the sumptuous house he built for her and by the seruants and attendants he apointed for her And this is the cause that she is absolutlie called Queene and wife of Salomon This historie fitteth and agreeth very well to the glorious virgin and martyr S. Catherine of Alexandria For as Salomon was the figure of CHRIST so also he had many holie damosells his spouses some of which be of lesse name and these be they which remaine in this world in his grace and fauour doing him seruice Others be of greater name which be they which already raigne in heauen Therefore the figure of this historie toucheth both the one and the other Among all the wiues of Salomon the most fauoured was the daughter of Pharao king of Egipt who is a figure of S. Catherine For as the other was so she was also of the bloud royall of Alexandria a cittie of Egipt She was aduised and discreet of excellent beautie and to conclude she was such a one as maie absolutlie be called the spouse of CHRIST We read of her that before she was Baptised she had a reuelation in a dreame in which she saw the most blessed virgin Mary with her child IESVS in her armes as a most beautifull infant S. Catherine seing this was enamored on him Blessed IESVS hid his face and she desirous to behold it went to and fro but the infant made signes as being displeased that she should looke on him The glorious virgin his mother said vnto him my sonne seest thou â—ot bow this yong girle is enamoured of thee why wilt thou not see her behold how faire wise and discreet she is The blessed infant replyed you know right well how many damosells I haue in my pallace more faire and more wise then she is nay she seemeth to me verie disgraâ—ious for that she is not Baptised IESVS saying this Catherine arose conceiuing the cause of her vnworthines to behold the face of CHRIST to be for that she beleeued not therefore she determined to be Baptised When she was a Christian the same IESVS apeared vnto her in the former manner without any signe of discontent in that she beheld him but he shewed himself and looked vpon her with a gratious countenance And before his blessed mother the Angells saints and all the court of heauen he espoused her and gaue her a ring as vnto his true spouse when Catherine awaked she found the same ring on her finger These things we maie piously beleeue of this blessed saint coming in this sort to be fullie the figure of the daughter of Pharao and to be the Queene among the other wiues of Salomon and to haue a house seuered from others So also IESVS our blessed sauiour gaue vnto her a perticuler house bestowing on her many doctors and learned men who by her meanes were conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST and passed before her vnto heauen by the crowne of martyrdome to make ready a lodging for her The life of this glorious saint was written by Simeon Metaphrastes who saith that Maxentius the Emperour put her to death and the same saie all those that make mention of her martyrdome But herehence riseth a doubt for Eusebius Caesariensis which was in that time saith that Maxentius all the time that he raigned contynued in Rome vsing great cruellties vntill the Emperour Constantine came against him who was called in by the Romans being not able to support the same Maxentius any longer He standing to defend himself was drowned in Tyber as he went ouer a bridge of boates which he had made neere vnto Rome and it is not said of him that he was euer at Alexandria where S. Catherine was martyred Some dilligent and curious authors haue noted this and Iudged that the name should be altred and that he that martyred S. Catherine should be Maximinus and not Maxentius This maie easilie happen in writing of latine for when they would write the proper names they vsed in auncient times to set the first letter or beginning of their names And Maxentius and Maximinus hauing the same letters at the beginning it might well come to passe that the name was changed And so much the more likelie for that at that time that Maxentius was in Rome Maximinus resided in Alexandria and other citties of the East shewing great cruelties against the Christians This is sufficient by waie of aduise but I will call the tyrant that martyred her Maxentius as the Author that I follow doth He recounteth her life in this sort AT such time as the Emperour Maxentius was monarch of the Romane Empire being on a time in Alexandria he set out a publick edict in fauour of his false Gods and to the greatest damage he could of the faith and profession of CHRIST For therein he commaunded that euerie one should sacrifice to them and those that disobeyed or denied should be put to death people flocked in great numbers to Alexandria from all parts to obey the Emperous comaundement euerie one bringing one beast or other acording to their abillitie for the sacrifice The beastes were of such great number that the Altars smoaked continuallie
the eight daie After he had bene visited and adored by the three kings on the thirteene daie and after he had bene presented on the 40. daie in the Temple of Ierusalem S. Ioseph and the B. virgin with their litle child being returned vnto Nasareth the Euangelist S. Mathew saith that an Angell of our Lord appeared to S. Ioseph in his sleepe and said vnto him Arise and take the child with his mother Mat. 2. v. 13. and flie into Egipt and staie there vntill I bring thee word for Herod will seek to kill the child God hath great care of his friends vnto whom he sheweth the remedy before the hurt God being omnipotent was able to haue made Ioseph and the virgin with the litle child to haue remained saffe in Nasareth by miracle but he doth not alwaies miracles where prouision may be made by mans help This you maie perceiue in Abraham who feared to be murthred in Egipt for his wiues sake who was very beautifull for the Egiptians if they had knowne she had beene his wife would haue killed him and taken her awaye bad her saie that she was not his wife but his sister He might well saie she was his sister for the neere kinred that was betweene them The holie man Ioseph did not staie long to execute the commaundement of God but gaue notice of his reuelation vnto the blessed virgin and without staie they trauelled with their infant into Egipt and there they stayed in secret manner vnto the time of Herodes death The old Adam broke the commaundement of God Gen 3. and fled from him but the new Adam to fullfill the commaundement of God went to hyde himself and laye hid as a stranger for certaine yeeres in Egipt This was done for the consolation of the saints that they should not wonder if they were forced sometimes to flye and if at any time they lye hidden or secret it is no great matter since they be in a strange land But if they will be in all places happie and secure let them haue the child IESVS in their companie though it be in the land of Egipt as Ioseph and Mary had who were well intertained and much made of by that barbarous nation for the child IESVS sake who they had with them A delinquent or offender flyeth often vnto the Church for succour and some times he will take a litle child if he can and get with him vpon some steeple or tower The people will shoot no harquebuze or arrow at him least they might kill the child but they will rather giue him victuals to eat least the inocent child should dye for hunger So also if a iust man seing himself persecuted take IESVS CHRIST which is the child with him in this life he shal be secure and saffe but if he staie to take him in the other life then he shal be potent and strong and then it will litle help to seek to take him vp as it is to smale purpose for them which be in hell to praie vnto God CHRIST in this life maie be taken vp as a litle child and he that shall haue him in his companie maie be secure and assured to haue meanes and remedies to be deliuered out of all dangers and perrills that can come vnto any man Lib 16. Cap 7. though all the men on earth and diuells in hell make warre against him Iosephus saith in his book of Antiquities that Herod had bene busied with controuersies that he had against his owne sonnes for the succession of his kingdome and had bene enforced to go to Rome to defend his allegations before the Emperour Caesar Augustus And when he had ended that varyance he began another with the children of the citizens and inhabitants of the territorie of Bethleem Herod called then to his remembrance the three kings which came to seek the new borne king of the Iewes If they had said he had bene in a stable and layd vpon a litle haye it might be he would not haue regarded it but the wisemen told him that they sought the king of the Iewes who was latelie borne Herod kept that kingdome by tyrany and force not comming to it by kinred or bloud for he was a stranger borne yet he had receiued the religion of the Iewes obserued their lawe He knew that people looked for the Messias and king which should set them at libertie and deliuer them from all opression which he vnderstood temporally when he heard the three wise men saie that this king was borne he grew into a great suspition and sought by all meanes to know of the law where this king should be borne and he being told by them that he should be borne in Bethleem he sent the kings thither apointing them to returne vnto Ierusalem and to certifie him where the new king was to be found because he also would go to adore him The cursed wretch said this in deceit because he would haue murthered him The mallice of man cannot preuaile against the wisedome of God for he was so blinded that he had not the reason to send a messenger of his owne with them to certifie him of their doings It happened after that the kings warned by God returned vnto their owne countries by another waie Herod seing that the kings had mocked him and douâ—ing vtterlie to loose his kingdome he called all his captaines and men of warre and as Basill Bishop of Seleucia saith who is alleadged by Simeon Metaphrastes he spake to them in this manner I haue oftentimes had experience my louing seruants and friends of your courage and valiant harts in the affaires which haue happened in my kingdome though they haue bene many and of great difficultie in which you haue not refused to aduenture your liues in my seruice At this time is fallen out a most important busines vnto which if I giue not remedie I shall remediles loose this my kingdome and you your king who hath alwaies shewed you many fauours and graced you and studieth still to do you many more Now it shall appeere if you be as desirous to serue me and if you account your selues valiant souldiers now is the time to shew your valour for euen in mine owne house is a great mischief readie to oppresse me Know then that my royall estate is secretlie threatened yea the vtter subuersion and ouerthrowe thereof There is no open warre proclaimed or made against me neither am I assailed by any publike enemie but a child who is not yet two yeeres old threateneth to depriue me of my crowne and of the scepter of the kingdome of Israell He is borne in the cittie of Bethleem and there he remaineth at this present time and of this child haue the prophets said that he shal be king of Israell and that he shall set my crowne on his head and shall take the scepter of the kingdome out of my hand I feare the prophets because I haue not seene their words
of the plagues that he sent vpon them was when he slew all their first borne So also when IESVS CHRIST departed from Bethleem the Bethleemits remained also in lamentation For a sure thing it is that in the place froÌ„ whence God departeth there remaineth nothing but sorrow and wayling Let vs praie vnto his diuine majestie that he alwaies remaine in our compaine that we maie alwaies be glad and ioyfull in him and that our ioy may be true and perfect enjoying it in this world by grace after in heauen by glorie Amen The Catholique Church celebrateth the feast of the holie Innocents on the 28. of December and their Martyrdome was in the time of Octauian Augustus in the beginning of the second yeere of CHRISTE according to Ioannes Lucidus The life of S. Thomas Arche Bishop of Canterbury and Martyr THE lyfe of this holy Prelat and famous martyr collected out of foure Historiographers of his tyme Wilhelmus Cantuariensis Ioannes Carnotensis or Sarisbeâ—ens Alanus Abbot of Teukesbyrie Herbert of Hosâ—ham clerke Petrus Blessensis Archedeacon of Bathe and manie epistles of Popes kinges and Bisshops is in this manner SAINT Thomas vsually called of Canterbury B. and martyr was borne in London the head cittie and royall seate of great Britanie His father was one Gilbert surnamed Becket a man inferioure to none of his cittizens for kindred and riches and superioure to most for a singular good carriage and holie conuersation This Gilbert being in the flower of his youthe voluntariely receaued the holy cross an ensigne of suche as enrolled they re names to serue against Infidells and trauailed into the holie land where as he returned from visiting those sacred places of Hierusalem he together with others was taken by his enemies that lay in ambush made prisoner to an Admirall a Prince of great account amonghst the Infidells There he remained in captiuitie the space of one yeare and a halfe wherein the only daughter of the aforesaid Admirall was so wonne with the carriage and excellente good partes and qualities of Gilbert with his discreet and weighty reasoning of matters that concerned Christian Religion and also with his noble and stoute resolution to dye for Gods honoure that he afterwards by flight hauing obteined his libertie she wounded with his loue and led with desire of being a Christian forsooke all her wealth abandoned her fathers house her countrie followed him secretly into England There being first well instructed in Christian religion and baptized in the Churche of S. Paule by the Bisshop of London with greate solemnitie in the presence of sixe Prelats she was marryed to Gilbert all but especially the Bisshop of Cicester wondring at this heauenly vocation and admirable prouidence of God and prophecying that her wombe should beare a childe whose sanctitie and holie laboures would make Gods Churche renowned and glorious Not long after was Thomas borne and brought vp by his vertuous mother in all good manners and excercises But he learned of her especially the feare and loue of allmighty God with a greate deuocion to his B. virgen mother Marie next after Christe reposing in her his greatest confidence and making her Patron and Protectriss of all the wayes and steppes of his lyfe He was first brought vp in a religious howse of Merton after was instructed in liberall sciences then sent to studie in the vniuersitie of Paris from whence returninge home he discharged with honoure and great good satisfaction some publicke offices of the cittie of LondoÌ„ And hauinge now for the space of three yeares attended vnto temporall affayres and followed courte-businesses shewing himselfe therein quicke discreete and well aduised and thereby attained greate creditt and learned much prudence and experience hauing also been carryed with affection to youthfull sportes of hawking hunting yett euer without staining or blemishing his good name with anie vice or imperfection led by the instinct of the holie Ghost more then by anie friends persuasion he retired weaned himselfe from secular affaires and betooke himselfe to Theobald Arche B. of Canterburie where his industrie diligence and well aduised managinge of matters wonne him a chiefe place and greate reputation amongst the Arche Bâ— most familiar trustie friends After his admittance into the companie of Theobalds counseloures and chiefest followers he studied at Bolognia and at Alâ—isiodorum was greatly imployed in Church affaires of greatest importance oftentimes sent for decision of weightie controuersies to Rome from whence he euermore returned with good dispatche in his busines lastly he was made Archedeacon of Canterburie a place in those dayes of highest degree in the English cleargie next vnto Lord Abbots and Bissh Muche about that time Henry duke of Aquitaine and Normandie succeeded kinge Stephen in the crowne of England Theobald fearing least the kings good nature might be abused by some of his craftie counselours and by such as vnder the cloake and pretence of publicke autoritie thirsted after the Churches reuenues and the commons spoyle drawen to some ouer sharpe course and rough proceeding desirous also that the bond of loue and amitie might encrease betweene the Prince and his Prelats and the kings gracious fauoure shine vpon his cleargie a thing most necessarie for the good and well fare of all the kingdome and well assured of his Archeadeacons sufficiencie to doe all faithfull seruice to the kinge good offices to all manner of people brought him to the courte and wrought him into the fauoure of his Maiestie from whome he receaued the office of high Chanceloure of England It might seeme in outward shew and apparance that Thomas had now forgotten quite that euer he was an Archedeacon His retinue was greate his followers men of good account his housekeeping such as might compare with yf not surpasse the greatest Earles of the kingdome his stuffe verie costlie and full of brauerie so farre forth as bridles of beaten syluer his principall care to retaine his Princes fauoure and winne all mens good will which care did also compell him sometimes to shew himselfe plyant to this Maty in his fare his discourse in hauking in huntinge and sporting aswell as in his serious affaires A table that daylie and Honorably intertained Barons Earles a house that wellcomed all needie afflicted persons a hand that bountifully bestowed large gyfts in howsehold stuffe apparail prouision plate and coyne Finally fortune did seeme to haue made him her darling and all things so flowed according to his wish his desire that one would haue Iudged him to haue laide cleane aside the verie thought of a cleargie man But this was only the outside of Thomas for inwardly he was humble and abject in his owne eyes much addicted to praier and deuotion a greate tamer curber of his owne body in so muche that manie times he would chastize himselfe with a cruell discipline lashing himselfe vpon the bare backe his zeale was greate for the good of the churche and reliefe