deposition or death were on the 25. of August The fame of his sanctity attested so many yeares by a world of miraculous Cures of all Kinds to all sorts of people did not bound it selfe with in our owne Iland but working at Sea as well as at Land and passing our streights it filld both France and Italy as well as Scotland and Ireland and as all receiu'd a new access of ioy by this new access of honour so euery one striue to putt on a new feruour of deuotion suitable to his meritts and theyr obligation A new declard Saint is like a new Starr in the Pirmament he drawes as many harts as that doth eyes and if the influences of the latter be more visible the Communications of the former are more benigne and obliging A flame of deuotion which is continually nourishd with the oyle and fuell of successiue blessings need not feare a decrease of heat and such was the peoples towards our Saint One King and two Queens haue bin seen prostrate Pilgrims before his Tomb nor was theyr Majesty euer more gloriously great then when thus humble before Gods Seruant ther 's noe truer greatnes then that which accrues from a profound humility All the Princes and Nobles of the Land imitated theyr example with votaryes in theyr hands the greatest Prelates and theyr Clergy were the first in this Religious Worship nor was it then accounted superstition or idolatry to honour God in his Saints How happy was the people of this Kingdome in such a propitious Patrone where in theyr greatest plunges of necessity they needed onely as it were to ask and haue if the grace were fitt to be imparted and they disposd to receiue it his Shrine alone being a Pharmacopaea or Dispensatory of Receypts for the Cure of all maladys euen death it selfe And thus it continud many yeares to the Common Comfort of all and doubtles would longer had we remaynd still in the Vnion of Gods Church and Communion of his Saints members of that mysticall body which onely partakes of the diuine Influences of itts head Christ IESUS The breach of which vnion broke all our happynes and vs into diuision from our Mother the Church from whome to be diuided is an vtter disinheriting from the birthright of the Children of God synce he shall not haue God for his father who has not the Church for his Mother as wittness S. Austin and S. Cyprian A most vnfortunate breach which as it vnsainted Saints and demolishd the Shrynes theyr Forefathers Deuotion had erected to theyr sacred memory what wonder if it obstructed therby the streame of theyr fauours it being not fitt to giue holy things to doggs or Cast such pearles to swine to feed on Yett to sbew that the Saint is still in heauen and powerfull with Alm. God if we were but worthy to deserue his fauours euen in our time not many yeares agoe a furious plague sweeping all before it in the Towne of Hereford and threatning vtter distruction to the inhabitans that pestilentiall Contagion receiu'd such a check from our Saints Reliques carryd in a priuate Procession that it gaue a totall surcease to the same and so suddainly that it was ascribd to Miracle Such reserues of his ancient bountyes Alm. God is now and then pleasd to Communicate to keep our deuotion on foot and giue vs heerby a pledg that when he fees time he will restore both our distracted Country to vnity of fayth and the current of his graces to theyr wonted channell The generality of deuotion had to this Saint may in part also be shewd by the numberles Number of Donaryes offerd at his Tombe nor can I giue my Reader a more satisfactory account of them then by relating what I find specifyd in the Register of the Lords Commissioners As they were exact in all so in this particular also and what they found extant they causd to be listed in a schedule and to giue heer a reuiew of it will perchance not be vngratefull thus then it specifyes Inprim a hundred and 70. votiue Shipps in siluer and in waxe 41. Item diuers images of siluer some of the whole body others of seuerall parts in all 129. Of the whole body in waxe 436. of seuerall parts very neer vpon a thousand and among them figures of horses other beasts and birds 77. besydes innumerable of eyes eares teeth breasts c. Item Childrens coats some of silk some of linnen to the number of 95. Three little carts of wood which the lame vpon theyr cure left for a monument of the same and one of waxe Crutches 108. Great Waxen Tapers 10. Webbs of silk and cloath of gold 38. They found also many Pendants Earrings Braceletts and other Ornaments belonging to woemen many pearles and other jewells which were sayd to haue bin offerd out of deuotion among which there were 450. gold rings 70. siluer rings 65. necklaces of gold 31. of siluer and diuers pretious stones Nor must we omitt other chaynes though of iron anchors pikes arrowes swords fauchons c. instruments of hurts receiu'd and now monuments of miraculous cures And all these with in the space of little more then the first 20. yeares after his Translation and before his Canonization What may we conceiue of the whole age or two next ensuing to what a mass would they probably swell in two Centinaryes when by his Canonization and consequently increase of deuotion he came to be better knowne and more religously worshippd and consequently more profuse of his graces Those to whome the forfeyture of all did escheat when of Catholique worshipp all became Protestant profanation those I say could haue informd vs more exactly if they pleasd for though they loue not Saints nor theyr Shrynes yett they can both fingar and deuoure all the Donaryes which hang at them of what mettall soeuer they be without the least scruple of Conscience or indigestion According to the drift of my first designe heer should my Narratiue make an end it being no part of my intention to bulk it further with his Miracles and we haue touchd vpon all the chief passages of his life which haue come to our knowledg But because diuers particulars relating to his vertues could not be inserted in the sayd former passages and that part of his life his vertues I meane imports vs most for our instruction and imitation for why do we write or read the liues of Saints but that we many imitate them therfore I will make a briefe but fuller reuiew of some of the sayd his vertues and illustrate and confirme them with such examples as I find vpon Record with which I am furnishd by the forementiond Process it being great pitty to depriue them of light XXII CHAPTER His Humility and Abstinence I Will heginn with his humility as the foundation and preseruer of all vertue and sanctity the ground work on which all spirituall edification that is the House of Perfection is to be raysd Nor is it
And if sayd he you demand of me how I come to haue such a confident assurance therof I answere in the presence of God that I haue read it all along as clearly in his life and conscience by hearing his Confessions euen ftom his youth as any of you in a book legibly writt can read characters layd open to your eyes nor doe I feare but God a louer of purity who has thus long preserud him without spott will keep him spottles euen till death This was a rare Elogium of the virgin integrity of our Saint well worth our admiration and veneration I may also add imitation it falling especially from the mouth of one who might be accounted an Oracle as to truth and as free from flattery as interest by it Why then should any one suspect such a disinteress'd testimony of a sacred personage farr aboue censure and not rather censure those that censure him Euery thing is as it is taken I read this Elogium of a venerable Prelate and I think I doe prudently in framing ther vpon a most high conceyt of the Saints purity why doe I not he being one of vnquestionable credit another comes and he censures all both Primate and Saint both the testimony of this and the integrity of the other I hold this discourse because Doctour Godwin once pretended Bishop of Hereford and Recorder of all the English Bishops liues vpon the rehearsall of this very passage makes this reflexion by way of a prudentiall note „ Omnis homo sayth he mendax eyther Confessor or Confessed or the reporter ly'd I doubt not Whence may be seen what gloss this Historian putts vpon so graue an asseueration and how easily he waues any autority besides his owne What meanes the man by omnis homo mendax doth he ayme at the Saint or at the Primate or at himselfe for if all be lyars by consequence he too and how non-sensically is this thrust in What need he doubt but such a poynt of perfection may be asserted and neyther Confessour nor Confessed nor Reporter a Lyar by what Diuinity doth Doctour Godwin conclude this It may be a wonder beyond beliefe in the Protestant church that any one keep his baptismall purity in an integrity of body and mind but in the Catholique it is not at all and I doubt as little of this as he of the other How should we know the gestes of Saints synce we haue them not by Reuelation but by the Relation of creditable men No more Certainly is requird heer then suffises to ground a prudent beliefe if euery graue historian pretend to this euen Doctor Godwin himselfe how much more a Prelate a Primate But enough of such stuff he would onely haue shewd a piece of his Diuinity and confirmd it with an I DOUBT NOT and it suffises to haue taken notice of its strength I doubt not for all his doubt but the Primates testimony will stand good synce so many great vertues giue force and warrant to his veracity and vpon the same that our Saint as he deserues will be thought to haue preserud his vnblemmish'd integrity in the candour of its first innocency About this time it was while S. THOMAS was attending his Studyes that Gregory the to gaue a beginning to the 2. Councill of Lions and that an interruption to him from the sayd studyes The improuement which he found by the former would not let him slipp the opportunity of redoubling the same by the latter A Generall Councill is the Schoole of the age in which it is held the great mart of knowledg where one may buy wisdome at an easy rate and become acquainted with all the worthyes of all Nations An obseruant bee comes hither as into a garden of choysest flowers where it may pick and chuse the honey of all good improuement at pleasure whether it be in poynt of vertue or whether it be in poynt of science heer he may find patterns of the former and no less of the latter heer he may heare the Oratour perorate the Philosopher discourse the Diuine dispute the Interpreter expound the Antiquary impart his hiddenest treasures of rites customes traditions and the like In the yeare 1274. vpon the Summons of the chiefe Pastour of Gods church Gregory the 10. there mett 700. Prelats in the Citty of Lions Latine and Greek gatherd togeather from all the parts of the Christian world to Consider vpon the State of the Church not onely to seek a second time reliefe for the H. Land and its oppressions by infidells but also to Ciment vpp the breaches of the same church causd by that vnfortunate schisme of the Greeks about the Procession of the H. Ghost 13. times had that perfidious Nation sworne and subscribd in full Councell to an open Reuokement and disclayme of that schisme and as often had it relapsd to vomitt nor dit it now any whitt less as to both submission and reuolt Further account of this our Saints Iourney then meerley of his going I find none he went I suppose in the quality of a priuate person because the Record which mentions it specifyes no more and going as such Saints do not vse to carry any great noyse or clutter along with them he returnd when he thought good as silently as he went And this must probably haue happend after the time of his Studyes and Graduation because that past and he commenc'd I find he was immediately calld to a chayre in the same Vniuersity where hauing read and presided 16. months the fame of the indicted Councill calld him away not by any other Summons then those of his owne improuement For pretensions of aduancement were as farr from his thoughts as they were from his desyres or hart yett honours are like shadowes following those that fly from them and so they did him For shortly after this his returne from the councill he was chosen to shine in the Ecclesiasticall Magistracy as he had before in the Schooles and secular Tribunalls and how this came to pass must be the subject of the next Chapter XI CHAPTER He is made Bishop of Hereford VVE haue hitherto accompanyd our Saint through the priuate passages of his life and beheld him for the most part immur'd as it were within the walls of the Schooles attending chiefly to the perfecting himselfe not others Not but that he hath appeard and very illustrious too in the eyes of the world and gloryes of the Court when made Lord Chancellor of England he diuided justice with such an equall and satisfactory ballance to the whole kingdome that none besydes himselfe was glad at the resignment This was but a forc'd lending himselfe to what he could not with stand or a voluntary admittance of what was putt vpon him whether he would or noe otherwise if it had bin as much according to his gust as that of the rest of the world he would neyther haue so earnestly sought his owne release nor ioyd so much in obtaining it as
Prelate the onely of our Iland which has sanctifyd your Tuscany with a holy death and enrich'd it with his Reliques Another Saint and King also about the yeare 741. Richard by name Father of the Saints Willebald Wunnebald and Walburga Virgin renouncing both Crowne and Kingdome for the loue of Christ and a vertuous life after a long pilgrimage to holy places Settled in fine at Luca and there concluded the whole journey of his life with great opinion of Sanctity where he also was bury'd in the Church of S. Frigidianus his Tomb being afterwards illustrated with many miracles what euer memory may at this present remayne there of him and them So that great Sr. you see our fauours from Tuscany are not groundles wee hauing two such noble Pledges there of intercession and who more powerfull then they that is then the Saints when the Concern relates to the glory of God and aduance of Catholique Religion And giue me leaue Sr. to ascribe and I think not rashly these your present pious inclinations towards our Country and distressd Catholiques to this Originall source the Saints seeming to haue infus'd these noble Sentiments of a feeling ressentment which I mention'd before from your owne pen and cannot too often reflect vpon These pious inclinations haue already produced great and good effects of which we are most sensible and for which we shall hould our selues obliged euer to be most thankfull And now I haue sayd all as to the Apologizing part what remaynes to be sayd further is onely this that your Highnes will daigne to accept what is sayd in good part as also what is humbly offerd by so vndeseruing a hand If it be the first from an English pen the nouelty will in some sort recommend it in hopes it may draw more after it who will suppley for its deficiencyes and it is somthing to lead the way and break the yce If others haue preceeded and I wish they may it willingly for theyr better meritts beggs admittance at least for the Saints if for none of its owne As to him as humbly as hartily I wish you his Patronage and that he may be as fertile to you in heauenly blessings as he was heertofore to his country in supernaturall miracles and what miracle but imports a blessing And Sr. while you haue this Paper-picture before you if in the perusall of his vertues you find any thing for your aduance or aduantage in the same I humbly propose it to your imitation as I doe to others The world is wittnes of your endowments in this but they must be more then very good that cannot be better nor is it any disparagement to be still improueing in the science of Saints and Christian perfection to which each one in his degree and quality be he who he will by that Estote perfecti of our B. Lord and Sauiour is oblig'd What is there prizable in this lifes intercourse but piety and the seruice of God no body being more then he is in that and what imprints this truth more liuely in vs then the liues and examples of Saints wee seeing by what was done by them not onely what is to be done but what is fesible to and by vs. This is the thing I endeauourd to ayme at in this Narratiue by inserting reflexions to that purpose and chiefly of the 4. Cardinall vertues as both propper and common to all states and conditions And if your Highnes or any Reader may be benefitted therby to a due discharge of theyr incumbent duty in the same I haue my desyre which is no other then glory to God honour to the Saint and aduance of soules in vertu and piety A Table of the Chapters Chap. Â Page 1. THe time and Circumstances of his birth 11 2. Of the Parents and Discent of S. Thomas 23 3. Of his Child hood and Domestique Education 33 4. His first Studyes in Oxford 48 5. S. Thomas his Study of Philosophy 56 6. His Study of the Canon-Law at Oxford 63 7. He is made Chancellor of the Vniuersity of Oxford 72 8. He is made Lord High Chancellor of England 79 9. King Henry the 3. dyes his Son Succeeds S. Thomas with license giues vp his Seale and retyres 89 10. S. Thomas returns to Oxford proceeds Doctour of Diuinity the testimony giuen of him c. 97 11. He is made Bishop of Hereford 109 12. His Retyrement and Vnion with God 121 13. Of his Loue to the Poore 136 14. His Charity to all and detestation of detraction 149 15. His Courage in defence of Ecclesiasticall Libertyes 162 16. His journey to Rome and entertainment there 173 17. His returne homewards and death on the way 186 18. The Buriall of his H. Body and returne of his Bones into England 200 19. The Translation of them into a more eminent place 212 20. The multitude of miracles wrought by the Saint 230 21. His Canonization and generall Deuotion of all vnto him both Prince and people till this vnhappy breach 258 22 His Humility and Abstinence 270 23. His Discharge of Duty towards God and his Neighbour 286 24. His Purity of body and mind 301 25. His Iustice and Prudence 314 THE LIFE And Gests of S. THOMAS CANTILUPE Sometimes Chancellor of England and afterwards Bishop of Hereford in the same Kingdome PREFACE THe liues and memory of divers Illustrious persons seem to carry no small resemblance with those great Rivers Nilus Ganges Tigris Euphaates whose names and greatnes are as generally frequent in the mouthes of men as the particulars of theyr course and originall scarse kuowne to any Nor need we wonder it is so especially in the Saints of God for Sanctity is alwayes built vpon humility and with its mantle shrowds it selfe from the eyes of the world neuer better content then when conceald and the profounder it is like the same Rivers the less noyse it makes soe that none but an obseruing eye can discouer its course And if this were true in any it was I may say in our Glorious Prelate S. THOMAS CANTILVPE Bishop of Hereford who the greatest part of his dayes as he liu'd to the eyes of men a secular orderly but ordinary life nothing extraordinary to outward appearance so they knew no more of him then what could not be hid a great vprightnes singular innocency vertuous Conuersation set of with none of these surprising Commendatoryes Raptures Visions Miracles which vsually accompany sanctity True it is that the Common Legends haue left enough to conuince that he was a great Saint and wrought many Miracles Yett if we decend further to particulars we shall find that the greatest part of what we know oâ— him is the least part of what we are ignorant and all compriz'd in a leafe or two For though he were renownd both at home and abroad for his noble Extraction Learning Sanctity yet he was little knowne as to most particulars of his heauenly life and appeard rather visible to the world
the good wheat and spoyle the haruest To recommend this vertue rhe high Priest in the old law carryd an Amythist enchac'd in his Rationall as a symbol of watchfullnes the nature of that precious stone disposing much therto and nature inculcates the necessity of it both by the lions sleeping with open eyes and the crane with a stone in her talon not to ouer sleep themselues as the foolish virgins did but be ready for the least alarme which lesson is taught vs by the spouse and may serue for a Motto to all Ego dormio cormeum Cant. 5. 2. vigilat Vpon the same score he considerd himselfe not onely as the Master of a great family which he was to feed with the bread of the word of God and keep in good order as beseemd the House of God but also which touchd him neerer to the hart a Common farher of so many children whome as such he was to embrace with the armes of a fatherly charity and tender theyr Spirituall wellfare as much as any parent for each one wheroff he was to be accountable to him who entrusted them in his hands This made him putt on the bowells of Colos 3. 12. mercy benignity humility modesty patience and beare with the faults and frailtyes of others becoming all to all that he might winn all to Christ This humble condescendence gaue him a powerfull ascendant vpon the harts of the good to incline them much towards vertue and piety and gaind him so much esteem in theyr affections that his words were tanquam potestatem Matt. 7. habentis as of one that spoke with an awefull autority Yett he lou'd them as his Children and was so belou'd by them and feard accordingly for that feare is best and most effectuall to good which is grounded on and arises from loue when it is otherwise it is not so much filiall as seruile that is propper to seruants rather then children This Retyrement as it sequesterd his hart and thoughts from the world and its affayres so it gaue him a fayrer prospect of vertue and its anduantages to Christian perfection and the necessity therof towards the due ordering both of body and soule To haue all well there must be a right vnderstanding and subordination betwixt these two the soule must be Mistress and good reason why the body handmayd and subseruient Reason must command sense obey this will not be done but by a true subjection of the inferiour man to the Superiour nor that but by frequent pennance and mortification interiour and exteriour both in macerating the flesh and subduing our passions and appetites To effect this the seruants of God make warr vpon them 1 Cor. 9. 17. selues by chastizing theyr bodyes least while they preach to others themselues become reprobate and to this purpose embrace the hardshipps of fasting watching hayr cloath and the like to further and compleat the conquest of themselues And this was the practise of our H. Saint as the Recorders of his life and gests doe testify and had also bin through his former age wearing a rough hayr cloath next his body for many yeares togeather pennancing his innocent flesh with frequent fasts and watchings But now he frequented all these in so much greater perfection as he conceiu'd the need he had of theyr present support to be more pressing though not to suppress any rebellious mutinyes yett to obtaine greater supplyes of grace Yea euen in the houre of his death and amidst the incumbrances of a long and tedious iourny he was found shrowded in one of these as in a coat of male against the stings of death as if he intended according to the Prouerbe „ clavum clauo pellere to driue out one nayle with another or make a cordiall for his sicknes of that which seemd as ill as the sicknes it selfe But Saints esteem those cordialls which we doe Corrosiues And his feruour in this kind was such that by these and other the like austerityes he incurrd great infirmityes of body and was much pesterd with most sharp fitts of the cholique and paynes of the Stomack which with other sicknesses gaue him a full exercise of his patience for many yeares with no small increase of meritt But the vigour of his mind Masterd all these which seru'd onely to render his body or inferiour part more pliant and supple in a due subjection wher by his Soule perfect Mistress of the family yealded a rationall obsequiousnes to God its Creatour by dilating it selfe in prayer and meditating the diuine perfections with the repose of so much deuotion and sweetnes that he seemd to be there as in his Center And it is recorded of him peculiarly that his exteriour Capgraue Composure and recollection in the same was such that the very sight of him was sufficient to stirr vpp both fayth and feruour in the beholders as also that in celebrating the H. Sacrifice of Masse his hart and eyes were so dissolu'd into teares as if he had actually beheld the bloody Mystery of the Cross represented to them so liuely was his fayth so ardent his deuotion He carry'd a great loue to this exercise of prayer and deseruedly for by it all spirituall enterprizes are atchieu'd that being the Source from whence we deriue both light to discouer and strength to act and courage to attaque and perseuerance to Crowne our vndertakings By this a soule conuerseth with God and he with it Conuersation we know breeds familiarity and this friendship or vnion of harts and when one is arriu'd to that „ amicorum omnia Communia what needs he more by way of supply then the store-house of God himselfe Vnion is the result of loue that making the louer and beloued one and loue consists in a matuall Communication of goods and talents if we giue we need not doubt but we shall receiue his very essence being goodnes and bounty All these are the effects of Prayer and chiefly this vnion which who soeuer has attaynd what wants he of perfection Perfection consist's in charity which is consummated in vnity for then euery thing is deemd perfect when it attaynes its end and unites it selfe to that which is its vltimate Consummation the Consummation of a rationall Creature is God and God is in vs and wee in him by charity Being thus vnited to God by charity or as S. Bernard calls it marry'd to his Word Charitas maritat animam Verbo the sequele is that as two Spouses are two in one flesh by Corporall Espousalls so God and a soule become two in one Spiritt by a spirituall and all the consequences aduantages participations of honours riches ennoblement allyance c. which are Communicated by the other are after a much more diuine manner participated by this What wonder then if our B. Saint endeauourd so earnestly an vnion with God and took prayer so much to hart as the begetter of this vnion To maintaine and highten the same was all his
had of his sanctity were esteemd for such In the present circumstances that could not be conueniently done but care was thus farr taken that the bones being separated from the fleshy parts they togeather with his head and hart were transported into England and deposited as a most pretious treasure in the Church of Hereford These were receiu'd with much Deuotion by the people who went forth togeather with the Chapter and Clergy to meet them and were enshrynd in the Chapell of our B. Lady in the same Cathedrall that they might repose in her bosome after death to whome liuing and dying he was so singularly deuoted and where could his hart rest better then in her hands to whose honour he had sacrific'd both hart and hands Among others whome eyther deuotion or curiosity mou'd to meet this wellcome pledge one was Gilbert Lord Clare Earle of Glocester betwixt whome and our Saint as we insinuated heertofore there was no good vnderstanding vpon the account of some lands which the Earle detaynd and the Saint claymd as due to his Church and recouerd from him by force of law with much both cost and paynes He now approaching to the sacred pledge it was very remarkable and lookd on as a Miracle by all the Company that the dry Bones in his presence begann to bleed a fresh and in such a quantity that he and all might see the Cask in which they were carryd imbru'd with the same The Earle much amazd heerat was struck with compunction and acknowledging his fault made a full restitution of all to the Church expiating by pennance what he had rashly committed as the onely way to make the best of an ill bargaine In the retinue of the deceasd Bishop the chief mannager of affayres was Richard Swinfield his Secretary first in autority aboue the rest he was a Priest of great parts and vertuous conuersation for which he was afterwards promoted to succeed in that vacant See and in process of time chief sollicitour and informer in order to the Saints Canonization To him as such belongd the charge of conueying the Sacred Depositum and he tells vs in his deposition before the Commissaryes Apostolicall what happend to himselfe the night before he with it arriu'd at Hereford To the end all things might be the next morning in a better readynes he cast his journey so as to lodge with his Company that night in a village 2. miles distant from the Citty where weary with journeying and going late to bed he ouersleept himselfe beyond his time the next morning His chamber was remote from all Company and so high that without a ladder there was no access to the windowes and yett 3. knocks were giuen as with the knuckle of a bended fingar on the same and soloud that they seru'd for an alarme to awake and tell him it was time to rise And in that sense he vnderstood them and ther vpon calld vpp his Company concluding with-in himselfe that this was a fauour done him by the Saint towards the pursuit and furtherance of what they had in hand to witt the solemne Reception and placing of the same bones And what indeed could it be else synce humanely speaking no body without a ladder could come there and looking curiously about he saw there was none therfore he ascribd it to the meritts of the Saint and very thankfull for such an extraordinary fauour to his honour he recorded it to posterity making thence a conjecture that this piece of seruice the conueyance of his bones was acceptable to him synce he had bin pleasd to giue it such an vnusuall concurrence While S. THOMAS was yett aliue no body seemd to carry a greater respect and Veneration for his sanctity then Edmund Earle of Cornwall Sonn to Richard King of the Romans He it was that inuited the Saint to keep his Whitsontyde with him at his Castle of Wallingford where whilst he sung the „ Veni Creator Spriritus the strange Miracle of the birds happend which we shall relate heer after in the 23. Chapter Howeuer it was procurd this great Deuotist made meanes to gett his Hart a treasure he esteemd aboue any iewells and to testify this esteem thought he could not honour it sufficiently any other way then by enclosing it in a most costly shryne togeather with a parcell of our Bl. Sauiours Blood and founding a Monastery of Bons-Hommes at Ashridg in Buckingham shyre to its honour where it might be dayly and duely venerated to the praise and glory of Alm. God who had raisd his Seruant to such an eminency of perfection This deuout Earle had such a Confidence in his patronage and intercession that he was wont to profess he had not greater in those of our glorious Apostle S. Austin XIX CHAPTER The Translation of his H. Bones into a more eminent place THe neer approach of the most wellcome Treasure being knowne at Hereford stirrd vpp the Cittizens both Ecclesiastiques and laymen to ioyne as we sayd in a solemne Procession to fetch it in so shewing by theyr Veneration to the dead how much respect they had for him aliue and how deeply they ressented theyr incomparable loss It was done with as much splendour as the shortnes of the time would permitt and so amidst all the festiualls of deuotion it was brought into the Cathedrall a small parcell God wott of what they desyrd yett euen as such most wellcome They wishd him such in his returne home as they sent him abroad aliue and gouerning as theyr Pastour they wishd if dead not onely his Bones but whole body for a treasure the greater it is the better and more pretious but as it was content with what necessity imposd they lent theyr concurrence towards a solemne enterring it in the Chappell of our B. Lady the place designd for its Reception Heer it was layd in a Coffin of stone and a fayre Grauestone such as beseemd his quality plac'd for a Couer to the Orifice cimented on all sydes as close and handsomely as art could make it Heer it lay 5. yeares amidst the priuate veneration of deuout persons partaking of no more honour then theyr Deuotion gaue it each one according to the opinion they had of his Sanctity For though diuers things more then ordinary and such as begott much wonder and Veneration were related on seuerall passages as the fragrant oudour it exhald the blood it sweat morning call c. Yett formall Miracles none were wrought nor pretended to and the Catholique Church hath allwayes vsd a speciall warynes to preuent disorders of this nature that nothing may be publiquely ascribd before attested by legall autority and we need not doubt but the Saint himselfe among so many decrees as he made had left this enacted During this interuall of time the Vacant Chayre was prouided of a successour the party elected was Richard Swinfeld of whome we sayd somthing in the precedent Chapter the same that accompanyd our Saint to Rome and by his good
space of 9. yeares togeather All humane remedyes prou'd vnusefull to her cure and how to obtayne diuine she knew not the fame and name of S. THOMAS was then not blazd abroad though it happend after his death and while his sacred bones lay bury'd in our Ladyes Chappell Yett the charitable Saint had a kindnes for the poore Creature and appearing 6. seuerall times to her wishd her to goe to the Tomb of Bishop THOMAS which was in our Lady's Chappell at Hereford and there she should be curd She neyther knew what Bishop THOMAS nor Lady's Chappell meant but vpon so many warnings resolu'd to send her husband to Hereford to learne by enquiry what they might meane He went he informd himselfe he returnd yett the disabled wretch lay languishing a whole yeare before she could resolue to be carryd thither The bruit of the sollemne Translation quickned her deuotion a little and being carryd in a baskett was plac'd in our Lady's Chappell at the Saints Reliques there falling into a slumber he appeard to her againe bidding her rise and goe to the new Tombe she made what shift she could to gett to it nor had she sooner touchd it and sayd a few prayers but by leaning on it she rose found her selfe well and walkd thrise about it and the next day home without any help The baskett in which she was brought she left behind her at the Tomb but it being borrowd of a poore neighbour who demanded her baskett againe Iuliana the next morning sent for it and restord it to the owner But what much hightned the Miracle was this the baskett was no sooner taken away but the woman relapsd into her former Contraction it seems the Saint requird it for a monument of his charitable redress What remedy now she is carryd againe to his Tomb and in the same baskett remayning so amidst teares and prayers a whole day and night the next morning her good Benefactour mindfull of his patient restord her limms once more to a full and perfect vse of them and least she might incurr a second forfeyture she presumd no more to take away the baskett A publique Incendiary was taken in flagrante and deseruedly by the Lord of the Mannour who had legall power sentencd to the gallowes which was executed and he lay there a sad spectacle of justice with all the certain signes of a dead man in so much that now they thought of nothing more but his buryall The lady of the Mannour a very vertuous matrone and her daughter like herselfe hauing theyr charity not ty'd to meritt much beyond his deserts had a great mind to haue him thus as he was measurd to S. THOMAS in hopes of a reuiuall Confiding surely that the latter part of his life would be more edificatiue then the former In fine she did it and not once or twice but thrise with much deuotion seconded with the feruent prayers of all that were present Her fayth was equall to her hope and charity and all three so acceptable to the Saint that vpon this deuout petition as a prelude to what would follow the dead body mou'd first one foot then begann to breath the eyes which hung gastly vpon his cheeks fell back of themselues to theyr propper place and so did his tongue to its in fine there was a perfect recouery from death to life and he is sayd and no great wonder it should be so to haue mended his manners very much and behau'd himselfe through all like a good Christian It is not granted euery one to dye twice The palpablest of miracles or raising the dead was so ordinary with our glorious Saint that 40. such like resuscitations stand vpon a juridicall record Our Lord and sauiour has the sole Dominion of life and death keeping in his owne hands the keyes of both without controule yett so as that he lends them somtimes to his seruants who what they doe is by his power and dispensation as are also all the miracles which they work not done by theyr propper vertue but his Concurrence who communicates it and thus he wrought with our Saint who will say as did S. Peter to the Iewes Viri Israelitae quid admiramini Act. 3. 12. aut quid nos intuemini c. Ye men of Israel why maruell you at this or why look you vpon vs as though by our power or holynes we haue made this man to walk the God of Abraham c. In this kind a little Child scarse 3. yeares old playing with another of the same age on the bank of a fish-pond the other to frighten this made as if he would thrust her in and she out of feare fell in indeed and was actually drownd before the mischance knowne or help could be giuen This pond belongd and was neer to an Alehouse where store of Company was at the same time making merry and among the rest the Parents of the child so close many times and vnexpectedly doth sorrow follow myrth at the heeles dashing the wine of comfort with the water of teares suitable to that of the wiseman „ Extrema gaudii luctus occupat and thus many times is all the sport Prou. 14. 13. spoyld The Child is taken out lifeles and while they are all lamenting ouer it the Father who had heard much of the miracles wrought by S. THOMAS togeather with all the company recommended the matter with much Deuotion to the Saint and with his girdle measurd her to him according to custome Thus they all perseuerd praying and on theyr bare knees sayth the Record till next morning without any signe of life in the morning naturall heat came into her body motion of her limbs followd that and speech motion and so by degrees came perfectly to her selfe This miracle was among the first which Alm. God wrough by his Saint and it being noysd abroad people came farr and neer to behold the Child it was also the first which was solemnly examind and approu'd by the Lords Commissioners She liu'd till she came to womans estate but could neuer be perswaded by her Parents to marry though much urgd therto and therfore was Commonly calld by the name of S. THOMAS his Vingin A poore man by an vniust oppression of his Land-lord was cast into prison and so loaden with irons that the weight of them broke his left arme In this sad Condition both of want and torment all humane meanes fayling him he sought diuine and had recourse to our Saint making a vow that if he cur'd his arme and restord him to liberty himselfe would make a pilgrimage to his Tombe He found a propitious Patrone his arme was forth with Curd and he eerlong releasd from hold But alas a good purpose is sooner made then keept he that sayd VOUETE sayd also REDDITE which latter part was wholly neglected by this vngratefull Client who now hauing obtaynd what he desyrd thought no more of what he promisd and so it fares with a great
made him waue all humane respects when he was about it not admitting any interruption whatsoeuer not euen from the King himselfe though otherwise most obseruant and submissiue to his Commands It happend once that while he was ready to vest a Messinger came in all hast from the King to call him to Councell without delay vpon matters of great importance and it was his office to attend he being of the Priuy Councell What must he doe after a short pause he calls the Messinger who was a Priest wishing him to tell his Majesty if he pleasd in these tearmes That he was now engagd in the seruice of one greater then himselfe who requird his present attendance but when I haue sayd he dischargd my duty to him I will not fayle to wayt on his Majesty After all done and his deuotions ended he repayrd immediately to Court then keept at the Pallace at Westminster and receiuing a gentle rebuke for his delay the matter was proposd and discus'd in the handling wheroff he deliuerd his aduise so pertinently and suggested beyond the rest such expedients so patt and fecible that all without reply embracd them as sent from heauen And the King ouer-ioyd heer with is sayd to haue spoken to him in these words Many blessings my Lord light vpon you and euer praysd and magnifyd be that highest master whome you serue and long may you serue both him and vs. So true it is that if we seek in the first place the Kingdome of heauen and its justice not fayling of our duty in that all these secondaryes will be cast into the bargaine I will conclude the loue he shewd to God by the religious performance of these his Spirituall obligations with the deuotion he carry'd to his Saints and chiefly to the Queen of Saints the Virgin Mother The Prouerb sayth loue me and loue my friend and God sayth loue me and loue my Saints my dearest friends and deseruedly for how can they be sayd to loue him who loue not those that are one with him In his loue to our B. Lady I will comprize all the rest and although this were notedly great that is so great that he was publiquely noted for it yett we haue not much left vpon Record wherby to illustrate and amplify it This not withstanding if we may measure the Lion by his Clawe and guess at Hercules by his foot we haue sufficient hynts or grounds both to informe and inflame vs to his imitation in this particular I haue shewd aboue out of authentique Records that in his younger dayes he was wont to fast the Vigills of her feasts with bread and water which custome he continu'd till want of health disabled him therto and what greater expression of a tender deuotion could he exhibite The expression is as extraordinary as is the fast and the fast speakes as much deuotion as a fast can doe and ranks it with the tenderest He chuse her Natiuity as I noted aboue for his Episcopall Consecration receiuing that sacred Character vnder her patronage and diuers apparitions of her with him after death in a ioynt Concurrence of both to the cure of many shew how deare he was to her during life And I find that abroad he carry'd the Common esteem of one singularly deuoted to her and was poynted at as her particular client and this perswasion wrought so farr with some that they vsd it for motiue of mediation to obtayne what they desyrd beseeching him for the loue and deuotion he bore her to grant theyr request And to this purpose it is recounted of one who before had bin of his houshold and falling into a great fitt of sicknes for ten weeks space 3. wheroff he passd sleeples turning himselfe to the Saint he earnestly besought him for the loue he bore to the Mother of God that he would obtaine for him the benifitt of sleeping This sayd he fell into a slumber and in it thought he saw two men bring into his Chamber a very fine bed in which being layd by them he sleept soundly and quiettly till the morning when being awakd and missing the bed though he was more then a little concernd that it should be carryd away yett neuer the less he found himselfe quite Cur'd of his infirmity and vpon the score of the Saints deuotion to our B. Lady As for his loue towards his Neighbour I had rather waue then mention it as not able to treat of it in that due manner I ought and it deserues not but that it was mainly great in it selfe but time and records haue bin so injurious as not to conuey the particulars to our knowledg and in these things we must not goe by guess but certaine relation Who can rationally doubt but that he who was a flaming furnace of loue towards God was enkindled with the same towards his Neighbour for loue of God Or he that playd the good Sheapard for 7. yeares to geather in feeding his flock had not a tender loue for the same flock without which he had prou'd himselfe rather a Mercenary hyreling then good Sheapard Or if he were so zealously couragious for the maintenance and Recouery of his Church Lands and Libertyes would he not be much more sollicitous for her childrens soules and saluation If he took her dead Concerns so much to hart how much more would he her liuing if he were so charitably charitable after death in the cure of theyr bodyes how much more while he hu'd in curing theyr soules We know that he was assiduous in preaching and teaching in reconciling enmityes in hindering debates in administring justice in promoting piety in depressing vice in redressing abuses in administring the Sacraments c. but what 's all this to his boundles zeale which not contenting it selfe with obligatoryes would branch into supererogatoryes and none of these latter are come to our knowledg besydes what is already specifyd I cannot satisfy my selfe as to what I would and ought to say on this poynt and therfore I pass to the next XXIV CHAPTER Of his Purity of body and mind AMong all the vertues which like so many Starrs embellishd our Saint 3. seem Conspicuously eminent aboue the rest and as I may say of the first magnitude One was his zeale and courage in the vindication and maintenance of his Churches Libertyes and of this we haue treated in the 15. Chapter The second his parsimony and sobriety of dyett to such a degree of Sparenes and mortification of his appetite that he might be sayd as we mentiond a little before to haue obseru'd for many yeares of his life a strict Ecclesiasticall fast and of this in the 22. The third was a wonderfull innocency of life by which he is thought to haue preseru'd the baptismall garment of his soule pure and vnspotted all his life long at least from any mortall stayne a priuiledg granted not to many and this I call his Purity of body and mind and shall be the subjectt of
this Chapter This purity is that cleanes of hart to which our B. Sauiour affixd a beatitude and in its beames our B. Saint saw God so present in all his actions that he was ashamd as well as reuerentially afrayd to offend him whence it made him sollicitous to walk like a child of light and the Apostle tells vs that theyr Eph. 5. 9. journey and progress is in all goodnes and justice and truth Whence it was that the Royall Prophett desyrd so Psal 50. 62. much to haue a cleane hart created in him for such as is the hart such is the whole man and God who so earnestly Couetts our hart will eyther haue a pure one or none This is the eye of man which if it be simple the whole body will be lightsome if troubled and obscure darksome and if the light that 's in vs sayth our Sauiour be darknes Matt. 6. 23. how great and lamentable must that needs be This is the reason why the Wiseman aduises vs to guard our hart with all diligence because it is the Originall house of life as well Spirituall as Corporall the chiefe seat of life and the H. Ghost whose throne it is What is engenderd heer must be like that of pearles by the pure dew of heauen without speck or blemmish one dropp of salt water causes a miscarriage and as the Spouse feeds and lyes not but among lillyes so if we couett his Company at bed and bord this must be his entertainment euen a discomposd cast of an eye will make him quitt the Company for Diuine Wisdome will Sap. 1. 4. not enter into a maleuolous soule nor dwell in a body subject to Sinn To this due preseruation of the hart and maintenance of purity there must be a joynt Concurrence of both the parts of man body and soule nor will the one be able to effect it whithout the other it being a result of both One flaw spoyles the worth of a iewell one distorted limb or wenn a beautifull body perfection Consists in an integrity of the parts and whole and this was the care and sollicitude of our Saint to combyne both his in this respect into a Common interest nor did he endeauour it by fitts and spurts but was the constant practise of his life and who euer aymes at it his solid resolution must be like that of the Ermin Malo mori quam faedari rather dye then suffer a blemmish To effect this was the grand work of our B. Saint as it is of all those who intend to serue God in syncerity and purity and to Compass it the better he keept a strict eye vpon both and theyr proceedings by a due inquiry into them and sett for that end watch and ward vpon all the auenues which lead therto securing himselfe thus against all surprizes by a due intelligence of all that pasd admitting the good rejecting the bad By this diligence he enioyd a perfect peace both at home and abroad nor in his interiour did he find eyther mutiny or insurrection and whoeuer will imitate this his mannagement of such affayres shall experience the same By this wary watchfullnes and the assistance of a good Spirituall Directour in his beginnings or younger dayes he preseru'd himselfe so vnderild both in body and soule the grace of Alm. God Cooperating that he deseru'd from the same his Directour in his now declining age that publique Elogium of his integrity which I mentiond in the 10. Chapter which by aduancing from vertue to vertue he was still Consummating euen till death This was one reason why he treated his crazy body so seuerely both by abstinence and other chastisements knowing right well that to haue it a dutifull seruant it must be keept vnder and at task least through idlenes getting head it become vnruly and play the wanton debauching the soule to its licentiousnes to which our corrupt nature too much inclines it This flesh of ours is the worst naturd creature vpon earth a meer diuell to our and its owne vndoing it cares for no body but it selfe and that 's the propperty of self loue neuer regarding what woe it work the soule so it can Compass its desyres and please its appetites it is little concernd eyther for heauen or hell creditt or discreditt friend or foe and what doe we in pampering such a one but make much of a churlish curr which will one day doe his best to pull out our throat that is vndoe vs the way to cast out this Diuell is that which our Sauiour prescribes „ in jejunio oratione „ Matt. 17. 20. in fasting and prayer He added to this by way of preuention a shunning of conuersation with woemen occasion they say makes a thiefe and he that touches pitch shall be defil'd by it euen his owne Sisters as much as could stand with Common ciuility not permitting them to lodge aboue one night in his pallace and then his custome was to leaue it himselfe and diuert to some of his maunour houses He had a horrour of all speeches glauncing at leuity nor durst any in his presence scatter such smutty jeasts much less vtter broad ribaldry without the penalty of a sound check a language much vnbeseeming Christian Conuersation as made vpp onely of the dreggs of witt fitt onely indeed for the mouth of a bargman though not a little in vogue among many world lings The loue of this vertue made him conceiue a perfect hatred and horrour of the contrary vice and as both the impious and his impiety is abominable to God so had he not onely a loathing of the latter but also an auersion from the former and those he knew to be giuen to the same nor could he affect them further then Christian charity commanded though otherwise his neerest allyes This he made euident by his Carriage towards a nephew of his one for whome he had a great kindnes so long as he did well maintaining him in the Uniuersity making him his Confident and would certainly haue done very much for him But vnderstanding that he was become loose of behauiour and not so chast in his wayes he totally withdrew his affection and though much pressd to take him along in his journey to Rome no perswasion could preuaile on which subject he expressd himselfe to this effect These young men sayd he are not now adayes so bashfull and modest as heertofore for when I was such a one if a handsome woman had lookd me in the face I should presently haue bin putt to the blush turnd my eyes from her they are words of the Record or pulld my hatt ouer them that eyther I should not haue seen her or shee mee but now things goe farr otherwise nor could he euer be induc'd to receiue him into fauour or familiarity This vertue of Angelicall purity was so conspicuous in him that the Prayer vsd in the office of his feast petitions by it graces from God and that by its
meritts we may deserue to be associated to the quires of Angells and the first lesson of the same Office calls him Angelicus homo an Angelicall man And the loue and esteem he had for this vertue was not onely verball or from the teeth outwards but he made good in deed what he professd in word and Alm. God was pleasd to permitt Certamen forte dedit ei ut vinceret Sap. â—0 12. some trialls in this kind and to giue him a strong Combatt for the greater glory of his victory While he liu'd at Paris he like another chast Joseph was assaulted in the same as dangerously as impudently and he like him forc'd to flye and leaue his cloak behind him nor can that flight by deemd disgracefull when by it we gett the victory He gott it and in this was more happy then Joseph that he wonn not onely the Combatt but also the Tempter into the bargaine reclayming her to a chast life from her impudent lubricity and so deseru'd a double reward Such a chast body was fitt to be the consort of so pure a soule to make vpp an Angelicall Compound and it s but meet that such a jewell of purity should be keept in a suitable Cabinett that both parts might beare proportion and mutually correspond A Christian ought to trayne vpp his body to immortality and labour to leaue it such in life and death as he desyres to find it in the Resurrection such that it may be acknowledgd and ownd for a Member of Chtist as indeed it is and what a shame then is it as the Apostle argues to make it the member of a harlott Our B. Saint vnderstood this right well both as to proportion decency and other aduantages which thence accru'd and therfore he made it allwayes his busynes to procure and maintaine a good Correspondence betwixt both Now he that was so industrious in the Cultiuating and preseruation of his body what would he be for his soule and Conscience the other 's but the seruant this the Mistress that but the Shell this the Pearle and he knew very well how to giue euery one its due All he was to doe in this kind was to keep it to Christian duty according to his state to cultiuate it in piety and the seruice of God sowing in it the seeds of all vertues and how he did this euen in his youth and in what a nice and delicate temper he keept it maybe knowne by what we related in the end of the 5. Chapter of the vine-propp taken out of anothers vineyard and the 7. yeares pennance he did for the same Whence we may gather how Angelically pure that delicate soule was which checkd so feelingly at so small a matter and how farr it was from harbouring any great offence which deemd the least to be so great Nor yett was it one of those which flea a gnatt and swallow a Camell according to the expression of our B. Sauiour or stumbles at a straw and leaps ouer a block but pure illuminated soules in theyr quick-sightednes can espye a blemmish where a dimm eye of a grosser Complexion makes no discouery at all This was the Constitution of his mind and tenour of proceeding when he was now in the flower of his youth and nature pronest to lubricity where nothing but the speciall grace of God in an eminent sanctity could work such effects so opposite to nature and aboue it And as he went allwayes aduancing to Sanctity euen till death so did he also in purity sanctity as S. Anselme defines out of S. Denys being a most perfect and vnspotted purity free and entyre from all blemmish and to what a pitch of eminency must he needs arriue I shall conclude all in this that he liu'd and dy'd a pure Virgin both in body and mind XXV and last CHAPTER Of his Justice and Prudence BOth these are Cardinall Vertues and when I haue shewd with what a rich stock our Saint traded in them I shall haue made him Conspicuous in in all fower As for his temperance and fortitude I haue already giuen a character of them the former while I treated of his abstinence the latter of his courage and magnanimity in defence of his Church As to what we treat of at present he had great practise of the former to witt Iustice in both his Chancellorships and dischargd his trust with such integrity that all partyes concernd were abundantly satisfyd And he took the true way to doe it for he sought it not himselfe and made its advance his end not his owne nor the enrichment of his estate while others peruersly inuert true order by taking the quite contrary course The ordering of this depends much vpon the well or ill ordering of theyr owne Conscience which must be the beame of the ballance and to be right stand allwayes perpendicular inclining neyther to one syde or other but as the scales sway it in the one wheroff must be justice in the other the thing controuerted to the end an eeuen and vnpartiall hand may be keept It were much to be wishd that all distributers of justice did this more indeed to be wishd then hopd for while so many make a trade of selling what they ought to giue and gratis theyr honesty becoming venall to auarice and them selues imitatours of Iudas who as he sold his Master so they theyr Mistress for what are all in office but her Seruants and Ministers that which Captiuated the other Captiuates them peruerts theyr sense and misleads them from the paths of equity This proceeds from being not so well principled in poynt of Conscience and justice which goe allwayes hand in hand togeather and are attended by vprightnes and syncerity and thus our B. Saint walkd in them with the Common approbation of all guided not by the dictamens of this world but Diuine Wisdome by whose Prou. 8. 15 direction all both Lawgiuers and Administers of justice decree and execute just things Thus he purchasd that vogue of integrity which euery where accompany'd his proceedings growing vpp with him euen from his youth and so habitually rooted and relucent in all his carriage that it is noted as the prime Motiue why he was chosen first to the Chancelorship of the Vniuersity and then of the whole Kingdome And Certainly such an integrity of justice is an excellent Cemmendatory to preferment as giuing great aduantages to a full discharge of trust and strange it is that men do not take this way to Compass it when they seek so greedily after it If naturall abilityes be so much regarded how much more in all reason ought supernaturall if witt how much more vertue Witt without vertue and grace degenerates for the most part into Craft and turnes publique justice into priuate ends and selfseeking Euen those that are not vertuous are great admirers of it in others as being praise worthy in a very enemy and synce no body but loues to haue theyr things well done and