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
his blessed bodie was found I refer you vnto the feast of his Inuention which the holie Church keepeth on the third of August in which place you may read some more of them At this time we will speake only this That seing this saint made prayer for them that stoned him we which desire to honour him in celebrating his feast may hope that he will be a good meanes to obtaine mercy for vs of the heauenlie Maiestie and that by his especiall fauour we may haue the guift of perseuerance in his seruice vnto our death that afterward we may be worthy to see him in his glorie Amen Eusebius saith the death of S. Stephen was in the yeare of CHRIST 34. in the raigne of Tiberius Caesar Durandus in his rationall saith that the death of S. Stephen was on the third of August when his Inuention is celebrated which as he saith in the same booke was on the 26. of December being the day whereon his principall feast is kept The Chruch changeth it as the same Guilielmus saith to haue the Martyrdome more festiual adioining that rather then the Inuention vnto the birth of Christ The life of S. Iohn the Euangelist THE holy and valiant man Mardocheus the faithfull Chronicler of the King Assuerus and Esther recounteth that he being aduised and attent and hauing continuall regard to the health and welfare of his King and Lord heard one day that some seruants of the King had made a conspiracy to kill him and resolued to put it speedily to effect Mardocheus noted the words and taking knowledge of the men made a memoriall wherein he wrote all their conspiracy and wrought so that it came to the Kings hands who caused the affendors to be imprisoned and after they had confessed their offence to be punished according to their deserts There was no reward giuen to Mardocheus for discouering this treason but there was made only a noâ—e in the Annales of the Kings of Persia Some dayes after it happened that the King commaunded that booke to be read vnto him that he might reward the seruices done vnto him whereof in that booke the memory was conserued and when he came to that place where mention was made of Mardocay the King perceuing that he had bene the cause of a great and manâ—â—est deliuery from a danger of his life studied what reward to bestowe on him At last he determined that Mardocay should be arrâ—ied gorgeously and led thâ—rough the Citty vpon a goodly Horse and that before him should go trumpets sounding and declare that iâ— was the Kings will and pleasure that Mordecay should be hounoured and euery man was charged to do him honour This history agreeth and fitteth well S. Iohn Euangelist figured in Mordâ—cay For as he was Croniâ—lâ—r to the King of Persia so S. Iohn was a faithfull Cronicler of IESVS CHRIST The one was holy the other most holy Mardocay discouered the conspiracy made against the King whereby he auoided a greiuous hurt S. Iohn hauing notice also of another conspiracy that the Ebyoniâ—es heretâ—kes plotted against IESVS CHRIST denying that he was God wrote his Ghospell against them whereby their iniquity was disclosed the damage preuented and they confounded This writing was written in the memoriall of God and then came the day wherein the memorials are read and seing what S. Iohn had done for IESVS CHRISTS sake not only for this seruice but for diuers others worthy of rewarde it pleased his Lord to honour him euen as it happened to Mardocay To this end was giuen vnto him a gorgeous and rich vesture the like whereof is hardly to be found for the tittles that do agree vnto this holy saint do not ordinarily concurre in any other at one time He was set vpon a horse which was the speciall fauour bestowed on him by God The horse was that which Dauid meaneth in a Psalme saying O Lord thou shalt saue both men beasts In some sence you may vnderstand by beasts the bodies as by the names of men we may vnderstand the soules as if he had said that at the day of iudgement the holy saints shall goe to heauen both in body and soule Vpon this Horse viz. his owne body it pleased God that S. Iohn Euangelist not staying for the day of iudgement should rise againe assoone as he dyed and go vp into heauen as many great authors hold who yeeld many strong arguments to proue that S. Iohn Euangelist is in heauen both in body and souâ—e whereunto be entred like another Mordecay triumphantly with trumpeâ—ters before him who proclaime all his heroicall acts and declaring that God will so honour him and that he would haue him honored of all The life of this holy Apostle and Euangelist ensuyng is collected parâ—ly out of the Gospell and in part out of diuers good and graue Authors SAINT Iohn the Euangelist was the sonne of Zebedee brother of S. laâ—es the greater who was beheaded by Herode S. Iohn after Onuphrius was borne in the third yeare of CHRIST Lib. 1 â—a 28 He was of a noble house as Nicâ—phorus and S. Ierome say And they be of that opinion for that S. Iohn was familier in the house of the high priest as appeareth in the night that CHRIST was taken for S. Peter was suffered to come in by meanes of S. Iohn as one whom they respected Though he was a gentleman yet for to auoid idlenes the nurse of many vices he vsed the trade of fishing ioyntly with his father and brothers and the rather because their house was nere the sea of Galily This sheweth they were not so poore as some make them in that they had a barke of their owne wherewith they fished They being then one time busy at their fishing CHRIST called them and bad them follow him and be his disciples They knowing him to be their kinsman and reputing it happy that he would accept them into his schoole forsooke their father the barks and the nets and went to IESVS CHRIST S. Iohn was now abouâ— 28 yeares old and a virgin as he was all his life of a good nature beautifull in countenance very amiable and wise Whervpon the sonne of God tooke vnto him an especiall affection and made him his fauorite among all the Apostles This same Euangelist esteemed this prerogatiue so highly that when he recounteth any thing in the Ghospell where he is to name himselfe in steed thereof he vseth this phrase The disciple whom Iesus loued IESVS CHRIST shewed often to him particuler kindnes of the which one was that when he was to be transfigured vpon mount Thabor in the presence of three Apostles one of them was S. Iohn he was one of them that was present when our Sauiour raised the daughter of the prince of the Synagogue in the presence of two other Apostles he being the third S. Iohn gaue notice to his mother of the great affection CHRIST bore to him who guided by motherly affection or
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
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
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
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
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
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
our of our hearts and to direct our loue vnto celestiall things This is quite contrary vnto that which the world teacheth for CHRIST saith Blessed be the poore and the world replieth Blessed be the rich CHRIST saith Blessed be they that weepe and the world saith Blessed be they that laugh Our souiour saith Blessed be they that suffer hunger the world saith Blessed are they that are allwaies full Hereby we may see of whose schoole euery one is and whose disciple he is Some are troubled vexed and tired neuer taking repose nor rest to get ritches together to vse delights and pleasures of the world which are hurtfull vnto their soules and yet they seeke after them so earnestly that they could not vse more dilligence if they should haue heard CHRIST say They that seeke riches delights and pleasures of the world be happie and blessed What folly and blindnes is this to professe thy self a Christiane and to liue like a Pagan Either liue as thou beleeuest or beleeue as thou liuest In times past there were in Athens many schooles of Philosophers different one from another as the Stoicks Academicks Peripateticks Pythagoreans Epicureans and Cynicks euery one liued conformeable vnto the opinion of his sect You needed not aske of them whose disciples they were for by their habite and behauiour it was forth with knowne vnto what schoole they belonged You should see in a stoick a graue maiestie an honest behauiour quietnes temperance constancy in one state and stabillitie like a rock in aduersitie In a Cynick an Epicurean yee might haue seene the inconstancy and vanitie of a dissolute person a scoffer pratler and taunter so that euerie one showed in deed what doctrine he professed It were well if euerie Christiā would do so also to witt that euery one in his countenance his words and workes would shew himselfe to be a Christian and the disciple of CHRIST That great Philosopher Picus Mirandula saith very well Not to beleeue the faith of CHRIST IESVS and his doctrine preached so plainly and confirmed with so many miracles is great obstinacy Then to haue receiue and to beleeue the same and to liue contrary to that which it teacheth is folly in the highest degree Is it not extreame folly as that excellent and famous preacher Thomas de villa noua saith in a sermon for vs that fight as we Christians do vnder the banner and standerd of CHRIST Crucified to labour and striue for riches for delights and pleasures of the world CHRIST our captaine is nailed on the Crosse naked poore shamed and reproached and we that be his souldiers will forsooth be rich well apparelled honored and enioye all contentments and pleasures we can procure Is it not a very folly for vs that haue alwaies enioyed in the world consolations recreations and all kind of temporall delights and yet make account to be receiued into the societie of the Apostles and company of the Martyrs S. Paul speaking aloud to all men saith 1. Cor 1 If we suffer as the Saints haue done if we imitate them and their liues we shall raigne with them Which is as if he had said If we do not imitate them we may be well assured we shall not haue their company S. Iohn Euangelist saw a great company of the Saints in heauen and wondering much to see them so bright and beautifull demaunded of an Angell who they were The Angell aunswered Apoc 7. These be they which be come out of tribulation and haue endured in the world many troubles persecutions and death it self How can they that be nice delicate drowned in worldly pleasures come into their cōpany The Saints sit at the table of CHRIST and they all weare the signes and tokens of their torments as CHRIST himself carieth the signalls of his woundes Some carie those markes they receiued in the world hauing beene beheaded stoned boyled or flaied Others how they were broiled killed with clubbes or the like How can those people that were euer rich and laboured to be tenderly cherished honored whollie posessed of worldly delights appeere among them that were flaied boiled to death killed with clubbes stoned or beheaded The same IESVS CHRIST which said Mat. 8. Blessed be the poore Blessed be those that waile Blessed be they that be hungrie Blessed be they that be persecuted saith presently after that Wo to you that be rich Wo to you that haue your content in this world Here you haue it and in the next you shall faile of it As if he had said Remember that there be not two paradises There were two before time but because man was rebellious against God he lost the terrestriall Paradise and was cast out of the same to the end he should not thinck of it nor labour to obtaine it againe And if he should striue to obtaine the same he should be assuered neuer to haue the celestiall paradise for he that hath his paradise heere let him not look to haue the other hereafter So was it said to the vnfortunate rich man who being in the flames of hell lifted vp his eies and seing Abraham and Lazarus asked for one drop of water to coole his tong in that flame but he was answered Remember thou hast had prosperitie therefore look not to haue it any more All these things we are taught by the feast of all Saints and the Catholique Church doth celebrate it to the end we should imitate them If we cannot imitate the Apostles let vs follow the examples of the Martirs If not the martirs yet of the Confessors And if not of the Confessors let vs be ashamed at least that eleuen thousand weak and tender damsells hauing giuen their liues to enioy that which the holie saints in heauen enioy any man should be such a coward or recreant as not to do that which feeble woemen virgins haue endured This is the last reason why the feasts of all saints is celebrated to wiit because we should imitate and follow their steppes both in life and death For all these reasons before mentioned it is iust and reasonable that on this daie we should do honour vnto them all And as S. Iohn Damascene saith Lib 4. de side or-th o◠cap. 6. we are to honour the most B. virgin for that she is the mother of God And we ought to honour S. Iohn Baptist for that he was a prophet the precursor a Martir We should honour the Apostles as the brethren of IESVS CHRIST and witnesses of his life death We are to giue honour to the Martirs as to the souldiers and partakers of the cup of CHRIST We must give reuerence of the Confessors for the conflicts they had within themselues liuing in continuall penance and mortification We must beare reuerence vnto the virgins as vnto the spouses of CHRIST and vnto the other holie saints and all the Angells of the Hierarchies as citisens of heauen enioyeng the presence of God And
which others would haue raken as a reproach th'emperour and all they that were at the table commended Th'emperour Valentinian the second being restored vnto th' empire after the death of Maximus who put him to flight did not behaue himself so for 5. Martin commyng one day to visite th'emperour who had a wife infected with the heresy of Arrius and therfore an ennemy vnto S. Martin shee requested th'emperour not to doe him any honour and he yeelded ro her desire The blesled prelate came into the roome where th'emperour was who stirred not from his seat The holy saint came neerer vnto him yet th'emperour stirred not nor made any signe of kindnes or curtesy It was surely the will of God that the seat where th'emperour sat fell a fier of it self and burned and flamed out When Valentinian felt the fier he rose in hast and stumbled hauing already burned his clothes and scorched his skinne and considering what the cause was he went toward S. Martin and did vnto him very great reuerence and before the holy saint sayd any thing graunted vnto him what soeuer he came to demaunde Another time S. Martin went to visit a holy damosell and it is good to make memory of her for the example of others to the end the may be aduised that if they shutt their gates against apparant wicked men they should not always open their dores vnto them that seme to be good There was in a litle village a damosell who hued secret and priuat whose good report was diuulged thorough the chiefest cities of Fraunce aswell for her beauty as for her verruous liuers so that their house seemed to be a monastery S. Martin being told of her was desirous to see if the report made was true and though he was estranged from the conuersation and visiting of women yet one day passing neere vnto the village he desired to see that yong woman All the people as the vse was in all places where the holy man went came out to meet him as if he had bene one of the Apostles so much they reioiced to see him The holy saint turned out of the way to go to the house of that vertuous damosell who being certified that S. Martin came to visit her and being fully resolued not to alter her determination she sent one of those women who kept her company vnto s. Martin to excuse her and to alleadg a reason why shee came not out to meet him The blessed man accepted it for very good as well done and praised exceedingly the yong woman and said that her vertue surpassed the report that went of her S. Martin being gone vnto anot her towne the damosell sent vnto him a present which the holy saint receiued with a cheareful countenáce though it be not knowne that euer he receiued any guift of any woman but that in all his life and when he receiued it he said it is not fit a priest should refuse the present sent by a damosell that was more vertuous in her life then many priests This good pastour went sometimes to visite his diocesse and at one time among others he came vnto a samll village Because it was wynter they prepared his lodging in the vestry of the Church in which place they made him abed and a fire also They holy saint went to rest yet because he was not vsed to lye but on the ground the bed was trouble some vnto him And being desirous to throw the couerlet of him by chaunce he cast it on the fire and perciued it not at last he fell on sleep and the couerlet began to burne and set fire on the roome The flame being now gotten to the toppe of the house S. Martin started vp and ran to the doore but he was so troubled that he could not open it His priests and monks were without in great care and grief for that they knew not how to help him or saue the house At last the holy saint determyned to fall to his prayer as the generall remedy in all his daungers and so he did wherby it came to passe that the fier was extinguished and he was deliuered from all daunger in a moment He was often in daungers by sondry persecuitions of the Arryans who neuer permitted him to be attepose or quiet as appeared in many Councells in which the holy saint was present wherein they outfaced menaced adn vsed reprochfull and opprobrious words of him yet the holy man preuailed and continued a constant and valyant defender of the Catholique Romane Church vnto which he was always subiect as an obedyent sonne ought This good prelat bare such a reuerence in the Church that he was neuer seene to sit therein but either did kneele or stand on his feet and being asked the cause he said know you not that God is present in this place Finally being nowe old and tired with these conflicts with the deuill and his mynisters the fiend oftentimes appearing vnto him and sometimes by threats and other whiles by craft and surrlery seeking to do him harme and the time of his death approaching which he knowing by reuelation being at Candacense a place in his dyoces he asembled his disciples together and certefied them that the hower of his death drew neere This newes putting them in great sorrowe and grief they said vnto him deare father why wilt thou leaue vs vnto whom doest thou recommend vs behold the hungry wolfs will assaile thy flocke and there wil be no meanes to repaire the losse when then shepheard is gone we knowe thou defirest to be with CHRIST and we know also that thy reward remayneth sure and certein in he auen and that it is not lessened though thou stay with vs a litle space Haue pitty on vs that shall be left alone and abandoned S. Martin heating these words was moued to pitty and compassion and shedding teares his eyes fixed also toward heauen said Lord if thy people haue yet need of me I refufe not the paine and the trauell but thy will be done Thus this glorious father was distracted bettewne loue and hope and knew not which to elect It greued him to leaue his disciples and he was not willing to stay any longer from enioying the presence of God vnto whom he remitted all O man rightly to be called valliant who was not ouercome by trauell and paine much lesse by death he feared not death and refused not to liue His feuer encreased and his disciples seing his end to approach and that he lay on the earth and ashes which was his vsuall bed requested him then to permit cherishing and comfort to be done to him And he aunswered A Christian should not dye but on haire cloth and ashes then it is more fit that I doe so who am your master and prelate and am therefore obliged and bound to giue you good example Then they requested him to turne his head a litle on the one side and not to hold it always vpright to looke
all the world and to build Churches to the honor of CHRIST his saints but especially in Rome where beside the aforenamed he builded in the field Sossorium the Church of the Holy Crosse that is called in Ierusalem and in the field Veranius without the walles he built the Church of S. Laurence and in the way to Lauico he built a Church to the holy martirs SS Peter and Mâ—rcâ—llin Hither to we haue seene the occasion of the feast the Church celebrateth the which is The dedication of the Church of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul Nowe it wil be good to see the reason why the Church maketh such account of these holy Apostles and of all theother martirs and saints that it buildeth Churches vnto them in which the faithfull do assemble to celebrat their feasts Moreouer it shal be good to see what is the signification of the Vigills and Octaues and for what cause there is a greater feast kept of one saint more then of another These may be thought by some to be but curious questions yet they may be profitable and it is very good in my oppinion that euery Christian should know the reason therof First I say that the Catholik Church hath had many respects to celebrat the feasts of the saints On was for that in the primitiue Church they desiring to extirpate totally the adoration of the Idolls wherin the Painims were drowned the holy Bishops brought in this vertuous custome of worshipping the holy saints to the end the memory of Iupiter Saturn Apollo Venus Mars and Diana and of the other Gods might be abolished by substituting in the place of them S. Peter S. Paul S. Iames S. Iohn S. Stephen S. Laurence S. Agnes S. Agatha S. Lucia and theother saints Theother reason that moued the Church was this that in honoring and making feasts to the saints there is feast made and honor done vnto God himself that made them saints The Church had also another regard viz to satisfy the obligement and duety we all haue and owe vnto the saints They reioice in heauen and make triumph when we conuert our selues vnto God and therefore it is reason we should make feast and reioyce in that day that they begin to enioy the sight of God in heauen viz the day of their death Moreouer the feasts of the Saints are celebrated because of the great neede we haue of them that they may pray vnto God for vs the he may truly conuert vs vnto him that he may giue vs perseuerance that he may deliuer vs from tentations that he may teach vs to do his will that he may giue vs things necessary for the sustenaunce of our life All these things many other such like God doth giue vs by the praiers of his saints And therefore it is reason that in some part we do satisfy our great obligement that we owe vnto theÌ„ by celebrating their feasts Another motion the Church hath to celebrate the feasts of the saints was for our example for when we consider that the saints were men as we be formed of flesh and bone and subiect vnto the same frailty and misery of our natures yet that they did such famous acts and heroicall deeds supporting and enduring such outragious paines in their martirdome such cruell persecutions horrible reproches lastly death by which they came to be so honored and rewarded by God in heauen we also moued by their example should striue to imitate them To this purpose saith S. Augustine they do truly celebrate the feast of the martirs who followe their examples for he who doth not followe them in what he can 2. Cor. 1. can not enioy beatiâ—udâ— in their company S. Paul saith also If we shall be partakers of their troubles and passions we also shall haue part of their consolations Concerning the Virgills of Saints Isay that a Vigill properly is not a day of fasting but of watching And so it was vsed in the feasts of IESVS CHRIST of the B. Virgin of the Apostles and of some other saints especially of the patrons of the Church when all the people the night before the day of the feast came vnto the Church and remained there all the night in praier and other holy exercises This holy and good custome began some what to be corrupted for the people who kept the vigills if they spent a litle time in praier they spent a great deale more in eating and drinking and sometime in gaming lewd talk vncomely behauior yea it came to such a passe that many foule and grosse abuses were vsed in the Church To remedy this mischief S. Ambrose who was enformed therof by S. Monica the mother of S. Augustine at her being at Millaine did in his Church as other Bishops in their diocesses the Pope through all Christendome change the vigills and watchings into fasting the day before the festiuall day and yet it reteineth the auncient anme of vigill still The vigill signifieth also this present life in the which we must be vigilant and must support troubles as the body doth endure troble by fasting that we may haue the feast in the next life But he that on the contrary side will first haue the feast before the fast and wil be mery and take his pleasure in the world let such a one know that he must make a long and greuous vigill in theother life for he shall abide in hell fasting for euer For the Octaues the Church began to celebrat them in imitation of certain feasts the hebrews had which lasted seuen daies as the Pascha of the vnleuened bread the feast of Tabernacles and the Dedication of the Temple So the Church ordeined that some of her feasts which are worthy of all honour and reuerence as well as they were should haue Octaues to the end the solemnity should be greater and in the office of these daies are many things read of those solemnities that the faithfull might heare and consider the same and take profit thereby We read that the Idollaters assaulted the Macchabeis on the day of the feast and that they because they would not violat it for they thought it was a work to defend themselfs and so a breach of the feast though after ward they resolued to do other wise suffered themselues to be killed rather So do the deuills also they do assault the faithfull on the festiuall daies especially with more and greater tentations then on the other daies which is the cause that sometimes the sinnes which are comitted on the feast be more heinous then theother of all the week coÌ„ming of frailty For some be so fraile and feeble that assoone as tentation coÌ„meth they confent vnto it and know not howe to resist or with stand it Let the tentations be of gaming murmuring of losse of time of vnseemly words and of sensuality they yield streight and resist them not yet there be some worse then these who do seek tentations and do
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
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
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