rayse vp a dead man therby to proue his damnable doctrine but effected no such thinge The like disgrace befell Cirola a great Patriarch of the Arrians who vpon enuie to certaine catholike Bishoppes samous for miracles corrupted a certaine cast-away of his owne sect with gold to faine himselfe blinde that by restoring him his sight he might procure glory to him selfe and credit to his religion The wretched man accordinge to the lesson giuen him cryed out after Cirola Passinge by in the streetes adiuringe him by that power which he had to restore him his sight The hereticall bishoppe came and put his hand vppon his eies saying Accordinge to our fayth by which we beleeue God a right be thine eyes opened what sollowed Straight waies the miserable man became blinde in deede wherevpon he pittysully bewayled his wickednesse detected the damnable deuise and cried out to the bishoppe saying Behold thy golde restore me the light of mine eyes which through thy deceipt I haue lost The like prankes haue bene practised not only by diuers others but also by the new masters of our time which for breuitie sake I forbeare to prosecute But God is not mocked their designements by diuine prouidence were always defeated and shame to them selues and confusion to theire religion was the sinall rewarde of such gracelesse attempts This being so thoughe denied it cannot be but that many magicall miscreants by Gods permission haue done very strange things to the seducing of diuers as is euident in Simon Magus and that not only by the testimony of other authors but also of scripture it selfe yet Actor cap. 8. v. 10. 11. neuer did diuine prouidence suffer any such to be wrought sor confirmation of false doctâ—ine as the sore-alledged examples do abundantly testifie which is the reason why miracles especially in this kinde as being free from all cauilling exception proue infallibly that religion to be of God which is by such powerable signes first planted amonge Paganicall infidels or afterwards desended against the innouation of after-rising heretikes and thersore no Cont. epi. fundam cap. 4. maruaile though S. Augustin amongst diuers other things which he sayth kept him in the church as the very name Catholike the succession of the Bishopps of Rome numbreth also miracles And Richardus de S. Victore moued with such strange miracles as supernaturall grace had vouchsafed to worke for confirmation of the Catholike fayth with great zeale and confidence speaketh thus to God O Lord if it be error which we Lib. 1. de Trmit cap. 2. beleeue thou hast deceiued vs for these things haue bene confirmed in vs by those signes and woonders which could not be done but by the. Seing then S. Bernard wrought so notable and apparant a miracle to proue the necessity and grace of baptisme Prayer for the dead InuocatioÌ„ of Saintes Pilgrimage Festiuall dayes Conseâ—ration of chrisine c. VVhaâ— good Christian can doubt that these articles â—e any other then true sound and Apostolicall But let vs now heare the author him selfe whose words be these that fellow truly translateâ—t into our English tongue P. W. IN THE countrie of Tolosa one Henrie sometime a monke but then a vile Apostata of most wicked life taught pernicious doctrine and with plausible wordes had gotten the lighte hartes of the people in those partes and as the Apostle foretolde speaking 1. Timoth. 4. v. 2. â— Pet. 2. 1. 3. lies in hypocrisie with sained wordes made marchandise of them This man was an open enemie of the Churche speaking irreuerentlye boâ—â— against ecclesiasticall sacraments and also those that did minister them and he had greatly preuailed in that his leude course for the venerable father writinge of him to the Prince of Tolosa amongest other wordes saith thus Euerie where nowe churches were founde â—ithout people people without Priestes Priestes without due reuerence to concludâ— Christians without Christe The infantes of Christians were hindred from the life of Christe whiles the grace of Baptisme was denied Prayers and oblations sor the deade were derided inuocation of Saintes excommunication of Bishoppes Pilgrimage of faithfull people building of churches obseruation of festiuall daies hallowing of Chrisme and oile to be short all ecclesiasticall institutions were contemned In this necessitie the holy man trauailed into those partes hauing bene often before intreated by the church of that countrie and then finallie both perswaded and also coÌ„ducted thither by the most reuerend Prelat Albericus Bishoppe of Ostia and legate of the Apostolike sea Vpon his arriuall there he was receiued with wonderfull ioy by the people of that countrie as thoughe an Angell had come from heauene Long he coulde not stay amongst them because it was not possible to hinder the people from pressing vpon him so mighty a concurse there was of them that came vnto him day and night crauinge his blessing and earnestly desiring his helpe Yet did he preach for some daies in the citie of Tolosa and other places which that wretche had most frequented more daungerously infected instructing many that were simple in faith strengthningtheÌ„ that did wauer calling backe those that were gone a straye restoring the ouerthrowne pressing and beating downe with his authoritie the subuerters and obstinate in such sorte that they were so far from resisting him as they durst not so much as come in his presence And albeit that hereticke at that time fled awaye and lay close yet were his waies so stopped all passages so besett that afterwarde he coulde scarse remayne any where in saftye at length being taken and bounde he was deliuered ouer to the Bishoppe In that iorny also God was glorified in his seruaÌ„t by verie many miracles which he wrought recalling the soules of some from theire wicked errors and healing the bodies of others from diuers diseases There is a place in that countrie called Sarlatum where after he had made an end of his sermon they offered vnto the seruant of God as in all places they vsed to doe breade to be blessed which he lifting vppe his haÌ„de and making the signe of the crosse did blesse saying By this shall ye knowe that the doctrine which I preach is true and that false which hereticks do tell you yf those which be sicke amoÌ„gst you eating of of this breade do recouer their former health But the venerable Bishoppe of Chartiers that great Gaufridus being present and next vnto the man of God fearing the euent adioyned these wordes Yf they receiue it quoth he with a goode faith they shal be cured To whom the holy father nothing doubting of Gods power spake thus I saide not so but that those which eat thereof shall verilye be cured to the ende they may thereby knowe vs to be the true and faithfull messengers of God After which so greate a multitude of sicke persons that eate of that breade recouered and became well that the newes thereof ran through out all that countrie and the holy man in his
Monarches and Princes the sacking of cities the slaugther of men the triumphes of conquerors this describing the spirituall battles of the soule the voluntary forsaking of all temporal prefermeÌ„t riches and earthly pleasures the vertuous liues and happy endes of holy men and the triuÌ„phant crownes of martirs who sacrificed their bodies for the name of Christ and washed Apocal. 9 v. 14. theire robes and made them white in the bloude of the lambe that out of sundry prudeÌ„t obseruations giuing vs occasioÌ„ togather many politick notes moral lessons for the ordering of our life in this vale of misery this with diuine documents and examples of Gods seruants informing vs how to arriue to the toppe of all perfection and as it were with the arcke of Noe to escape the vast deluge of sinne which ouerfloweth the worlde and safely to arriue at the mountaynes of the heauenly Armenia Genes â— v. 4. These being the pleasant fruits and swete flowers which the caelestiall gardin of Saintâ— liues doth yeld in vaine I think it goode Reader further to commende this booke of S. Gregories Dialogues which now in our english tongue I present to thy viewe thy soule haply desiring as much to enioy the conuersation thereof as euer did the olde Patriarch Iacob Genes cap. 45. v. 28. 2. Reg. 14 cap. 14. v. 32. 2. Paralip cap. 9. v. 23. to see his sonne Ioseph Absalon to come vnto the presence of his father Dauid or the kinges of the earth to behould the face oâ— Salomon yet for thy better instruction and more to inflame thee I can not but add a worde or two Thou shalt therfore vnderstand that this booke hath in auncient tynâ—es bene so highly esteemed and thought so necessary that great Prelats and Princes though otherwise charged with the waight of their gouernment and occupied with the continuall flowe of newe busines yet were they so inamored with this pretious pearle and so much desired that the light thereof might be sett vpon a candle-sticke for the profitte of others that they found spare time to translate it into the language of their owne country Pope Zachary a Graecian Genebrard in his Chronicle borne who liued about an hundred and fourty yeares after that blessed Doctor for the benefit of the East church did turne it into the greke tongue And here in our country king Alfrede seauen hundred yeares agoe either traÌ„slated it him selfe or els as Ingulphus writeth caused In his history it by the holy Bishope of Worcester Werfredus to be translated into the Saxon tongue so highly was this worcke esteemed in former ages and thought so necessary for the goode of Christian people VVherefore seing continuance of time hath not abased the dignity thereof but rather made it more venerable and of greater authority no lesse reason nay sar more haue we to embrace it then our forefathers had and that not only inrespect of vertuous life none as I thinke making any doubt but that we are many degrees inferiour to them synne neuer so tyrannizing as in these vnhappy dayes of ours but especiallie in respect of faith and true religion whereof they had none or litle nede and we most of all seing we be fallen into the latter dayes in which as our Sauiour saith many false prophets Math. 24. v. 12. shall rise and â—seduce many and as the Apostle foretolde men will not beare sound religion but according to their owne desires heape to them selues masters and as experience teacheth newe religions dayly spring vp and multiply and therfore great reason we haue carefully to looke vnto our selues that we suffer not sâ—ipwrake about the faith and perish vpon the mutable sandes of late inuenâ—ions For auoyding of which perill what pilot more cunning can we desire in the tempesÌ„tuous sea and surging waues of these diuerse opinions to conduct vs to the secure harbour of the auncient catholicke and Apostolick church then blessed S. Gregory For if we wish an indifferent iudge and one that was longe before we fell at variance he is so auncient that he liued a thousand yeares agoe and so by common computation within the compasse of the primatiue church Yf we seeke for vertue he was therein so rare that both in his life tyme he was had in great reuerence and after his death honoured for a Saint Yf we desire learning he is so excellent that he is reputed for one of the fower princicipall doctors of the church and worthily surnamed the Greate and generally so famous that with his praise the earth is full ana his glory aboue the heauens S. Iohn Damascene a doctor of the greke church who liued not long after his time giueth him this commendation Prodeat in Orat. de defunctis medâ—um Gregorius Dialogus c. Let Gregory quoth he that wrote the booke of Dialogues Bishop of the elder Rome be brought forth a man as all knowe that was notable and renowned both for holinesse of life and learning who had as men report when he was at the holy mysteries an heauenly and diuine Angell present with him in that sacred action Isodorus also Bishop of Seuill in Spaine prosecuteth De scriptorib ecclesiasticis cap. 27. his praises in this manner Gregorius Papa Romanus c. Gregory pope of Rome Bishop of the Apostolicke sea full of compunction of the feare of God and for humility most admirable and so endewed through the grace of the holy Ghost with the light of knowledge that neither in our dayes nor in former tymes there was euer any doctor his equall And the Councell of Toletan 8. can 2. Toledo in this manner extolleth him Blessed Pope Gregory honorable both for merit of life and worthily almost to be preferred before all for his morall discourses To conclude such as desire more herein I referre them to our dere country man venerable Bede that liued within lesse then one hundred yeares after him as is euident out of the two last chapters of his history translated into our english tongue who in that saide story of our countries conuersion maketh Lib. 2. cap. 1. a briefe rehersall of his learned works among which this of his Dialogues is also mentioned There also he calleth him holy Pope Gregory and the Apostle of our country and recounteth many of his notable acts of piety and religion and diuerse zealous labours emploied for Christ and his church which for breuity sake I willingly passe ouer with silence Neither haue only Catholicke fathers and councels had this reuerent opinion of blessed Pope Gregory but Protestants also iudge him worthy of honour and commendation Among many to name two or three Master Iewell sometime of Salisbury thinketh him so sound for religion that for credit of his cause he thus cryeth out O Gregory ô In his challenging sermon Leo ô Austen c. Yf we be deceiued you haue deceiued vs. Thomas Bell also so magnisieth this father that he vouchsafeth him of this honorable title Saint Gregory Suruey pag. 187. quoth he
surnamed the great the holy and learned Bishope of Rome And master Coper not long since of Winchester In his Chronicle in the yeare of our Lorde 599 See also his Dictionarij in the worde Augustinus in his Chronicle intreating of the conuersion of our country from Idolatry and paganisme to the faith of Christ writteth thus Gregory sent Austen Melitus and Iohn with other godly and well learned men to preach the christian faith to the Angles which were first receiued of Ethelbert king of kent whom they conuerted to the faith with diuers of his people Finally his memory is continued in the church of England and him selfe enrold in the callendar for a Saint in heauen and I verily thinke fewe Protestants yet so far waded in malice that they dare condemne him of false doctrine and heresy or without blushing affirme him for infidelity to be damned in hell This being so what better vmpiere in this cause can be had then he what arbiter more indifferent to tell vs what religion florished not only in his time but also in the agesprecedent and so consequently which is the true faith of Iesus Christ For by common confession what religion was in those pure times by holy men taught beleued and practised is that which the only bogotteÌ„ Sonne brought from the bosome of his Father that which the Apostles planted in the world and registred in the writinges of the newe testament and that which euery one that desireth to come to heauen ought with his hart firmely to embrace and in his life sincerely and constantly to followe and professe Reade then and peruse ouer these his Dialogues and yf thou findest in them the platforme of that faith which the Protestants preach confidently in Gods name followe it for it can not be false which the holy Fathers in the pure time of the primitiue church taught nor disagreing with sacred scriptures which verneralle antiquity practised But yf on the contrary plaine euidence shall conuince that Pag. 11. 116. 358. Abbies and Nuneries were then vsual that the solitary life of Pag. 390 426. 445. Eremits and Anchorets was knowne to Christians that Pag. 28. 238. 385. 330. religious men were a differeÌ„t habit from seculare people that Pag 135. 18. young children were admitted into Abbeius and trained vp for a religious life that Pag. 500 religious men obserued monasticall pouerty according to their rule that it was Pag. 239 278. 291. 385. dâ—mnuable for virgins consecreated to God to marry that Pag 220 379. Eccleâ—â—asticall persons dedicated them selues to chasâ—ity and after holy orders were bounde to forsake the carnall company of their former wiâ—es that the Pag. 197 Saints in heauen knowe our praiers that Pag. 43. 68. 288. 338. inuocation of Saints Pag. 44. 86. 145. 266. 371. Pilgrimage and visiting of holy places Pag. 74. 300. 307. reuerent reseruing and translation of relickes were then in practise Pag. 197. 258. 264. 280. that they also wroughte miracles Pag. 300 that churches were then hallowed that they were also Pag. 744. 131. 328. dedicated to the honour of Saints and that Pag. 6â— holy dayes were likewise instituted for their memory and due veneration that the Pag. 11. 79. 109. 218. 2â—0 222. 321. 459. signe of the holy crosse hath sorce to driue away deuils and worke miracles that Pag. 83. 328. holy water was had in deuotion that Pag. 465 490. all sinnes were not mortall and damnable but some small and veniall that the Pag. 464. 503. fire of Purgatory was then taught and beleued that the Pag. 65. 213. 301. 432. 505. sacrifice of the holy masse was highly estemed that it was Pag. 165 499. 506. 509. auailable for faithfull soules departed yea that Pag 503 trentalles of Masses were not then strange or vnkneâ—â—ne to Christian people That the Pag. 213 510. reall presence was confessed that the Pag. 325 Sacrament was reserued that Pag. 286 298. burning lampes for reuerence were kept in the church that Pag. 92. 266. S. Peter was reputed Prince of the Apostles and his successour the Bishope of Rome pag. 467 superior ouer other Bishiops that Christs seruants might Pag. 274 402. meritt vpon earth and that according to the variety of goode work in this life pag. 443 diuersity of rewardes was founde in the next Yf thou doest finde I say as thou shalt finde these and such like articles so much detested of ProtestaÌ„ts so highly ebraced of all Catholicks to haue bene curreÌ„t in these goldeÌ„ ages beleeued of S. Gregory his predecessors then what doubt can be made which religioÌ„ is most true and of euery good Christian to be followed Here it may be that some to the discredit of antiquity and disgreace of S. Gregory will say that the stories reported in his looke be incredible and many miracles seme vtterly voide of all truth But answere is some returned that the authority of him that uâ—rote them and the testimonies before alleadged of Catholicks and Protestants in commendation of the author be of far more waight to iustify his relation then the light and vaine suspition of any to call the booke in question To this may be added that seing S. Gregory was a man of great learning and had by reason of his high place the best kinde of intelligence easily coulde he not be deceaued and being besides of great vertue and holines neuer woulde he willingly deceiue others Nay to free vs from all feare of any suspition him selfe was so carefull of truth that being about to write this booke of the miraculous lines and deathes of Italian Saints inuited thereunto by the vertuous importunity of his familiar friends he directed his letters to others for certaine information therein as namely to Maximinianus Bishope of Syracusis in Sicilie to whom he wrotte touching this matter in these very wordes My Lib. 2. epist 50. cap. 89. indict 11. brethren that liue familiarly with me do enforce me by all meanes briefly to commit vnto writing some miracles of those fathers which we haue heard done in Italy For the effecting wherof I stande in very great nede of your charitable assistance to witt that you woulde signify vnto me such things as come to your memory or it hath bene your chance to knowe For I remember See lib. 1. cap 7. well that you tolde me some thinges concerning Abbot Nonnosus who liued nere vnto Anastasius of Pentumis which I haue quite forgotten Wherefore I desire you to write vnto me both that and whatsoeuer els you knowe of like quality and spedily to sende them vnlesse you determine to be here shortly your selfe in person This was the great care and singular circumspection which he vsed in this heauenly busines by reason whereof he was the better able to performe that thinge which abundantly he hath done and that is diligently to sett downe howe and by what meanes he came to the particularities of whatsoeuer in his Dialogues he reporteth a greater thinge then which to giue credit to his writinges
the maÌ„ of God cam in base apparrell and a paier of shoes beaten full of nailes caryinge his sit he vpon his necke and beinge yet far of his man tolde him that he was the Abbot So sone as Iulianus behelde him attired in that base sorte he contemned him and deuised with him selfe howe to speake vnto him in the most crosse and crooked manner he coulde But when Gods seruaunt drewe nighe such an intollerable feare came vpon Iulianus that he fell a tremblinge and his tongue so faltred that he colde scarse deliuer the messag for which he came wherevpon he fell downe at his feete and desired that he wolde voutsafe to praye for him and withall gaue him to vnderstande that his Apostolical father the Pope was desirous to see him Vpon the receipte of which newes the venerable man Equitius gaue almightie God most The Pope highest bisshop hartie thaÌ„ckes sayinge that heaueÌ„ly grace had visited him by meanes of the highest Bishoppe and straighte waies he called for some of his moÌ„ckes commandinge horse to be made ready in all hast but Iulianus wearye of his iornye tolde him that he coulde not trauaile so sone but of necessitye must resâ— him selfe that nighte I am very sorie for that quoth the holy maÌ„ for yf we goe not to day to morrowe we shall not and thus by reason of the others wearines he vvas enforced that nighte to remayne in the Abbeye The next morninge about the davvning of the daye came a post vvith a tired horse bringing letters to Iulianus commanding him not to preâ—ume to molest or to dravve the seruaunt of God out of his monasterye And vvhen he required the reason of this countercommande the messenger tolde him that the next nighte after his departure the Pope vvas terribly frighted in a vision for presuminge to send for the man of God vvherevpon Iulianê° risinge suddainly out of his bedde and commendinge him seâ—fe to the venerable mans prayers spake thus vnto him Our father desireth you not to troble your selfe any further but to stay in your monastery which when Gods seruaunt hearde very sory he was and saide did not I tel you that yf we did not sett forward on our iorny by and by that afterwarde we sholde not Then vpon charity he entertained his messenger a little while with him in his Cloister and thoughe by all means he refused yet he enforced vpoÌ„ him a reward for the paines he had taken See therfor Peter how God doth preserue and keepe them who in this life do contemne them selues and how they are secretly honored of the citizens in heauen who are not ashamed outwardly to be litle estemed in this worlde and on the contrary in the sighte of God they be of no accounte who in the eies of theire owne frends and neyghbours do swell through desire of vaine glorye And therfor our Sauiour Christ who was truth it selfe saide to certaine Yow are they that iustisye Luc. 16. your selues before men but God knoweth your hartes for that whiche is highe to men is abâ—omminable in the sighte of God Peter I maruayle very muche howe so great a Bishopp colde be deceiued in so worthy a man Gregory VVhy do you maruaile Peter for the reason why we are deceiued is bycause we be men what haue yow forgotten hovv Dauid who vsually had the spirit of prophecy pronounced sentence against innocent 2. Reg. ca. 16. and cap. 19. Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathas when he gaue credit to the lyinge words of his seruaunt Siba which thinge notwithstanding bycause iâ— vvas done by Dauid we both belieue to be iust in the secret iudgement of God and yet by humane reason hovve it was iust vve can not perceiue what maruaile then is it if we that be not prophets be some tymes by lyinge tongues abused and otherwise transported then charity and iustice vvolde for it is muche to be considered that euery Bishoppe hath his minde troubled vvith a vvorlde of busines and it can not be vvhen the mind is distracted about many thinges but that it is the lesse able sufficientlye to examin those that be particular so muche the soner is he deceiued in some speciall case by hovve much he is busied vvith the multitude of many Peter It is most true that yowe saye Gregory But I must not passe ouer with silence that which the reuerent man Valentinus sometyme myne ab bot tolde me concerninge Equitius For he saide that his bodye beinge buried in the oratorye of S. Laurence the martir Churches dedicated to Sainctes a certaine countrye man set vpon his graue a chest full of wheate little coÌ„sideringe or respectinge howe worthie and notable a man laye there buried Wherevpon suddainlye a miraculous whirlewinde came ouerthrevve that chest and cast it far of all other thinges remayninge still in theire former places by which all did plainely perceiue of what worth and merit that man was whose bodye laye there buried To this must I also add an other thinge which I hearde of venerable Fortunatus a man that doth much please me for his yeres life simplicitye At suche tyme as the Lombardes cam into the prouince of Valeria the monckes of the monastery of the reuerent man Equitius fled from thence into the oratorie to the holy mans sepulchre into which place the cruell men entringe they began by violence to pull the monckes forth either to torment them or els with theire swordes to kill them Amongest whom one sighthed and for very bitter griefe cried out Alas InuocatioÌ„ of sainctes and there protectioÌ„ alas holy Equitius is it thy pleasure and art thow coÌ„tent that we sholde be thus miserably haled violently drawne forth and doest not thowe voutsafe to defende vs which wordes were no soner spoken but a wicked spirit possessed those sauage soldiers in such sort that falling dovvne vpon the grounde they were there so longe tormented vntill all the rest of the Lombardes which vvere without vnderstode of the matter to th ende that none shold be so hardly as to presume to violate that holy place And thus as the holy man at that tyme defended his owne monckes so did he likewise Pilgrimage to sainctes bodies afterward succor preserue manie more that fled vnto the same place OF CONSTANTIVS CLARCKE OF the Churche of S. Steuene CHAPTER V. THat vvhich I entende nowe to tell you I learned by the relation of one of my fellowe Bishops vvho liued in a monckes vveede many The distinct habit of Monckes yeres in the citie of Ancona and led there a goode religious life Many also of myne owne frendes vvho be novv of goode yeres liue in the same parts assirme it to be most true Nere to the foresaide citie of Ancona there is a churche of the blessed martir S. SteueÌ„ in which one called CoÌ„staÌ„tius a man of venerable life did serue there for clarcke vvho for his vertue and holines vvas famous far nere
that he wolde not reiect his poore gifte the holy man toke the middle waye and yelded so to the soldiars request that yet he wolde not take any rewarde for the doinge of that miracle for he gaue him first so muche money as the horse was worth and then receiued him for perceiuing that the soldiar wolde haue bene grieued yf he had refused his courteous offer vpon charity he boughte that whereof he had then no nede Neither must I passe ouer with silence that which I hearde almost twelue daies since for a certaine poore olde man was broughte vnto me because I loued alwaies to talke with such kinde of men of whom I inquired his countrye and vnderstandinge that he was of the citye of Tuderti I asked him whether he knewe the good olde father Bishoppe Fortunatus to which he answered that he knewe him and that very well Then I beseche you quoth I tell me whether you knowe of any miracles which he did and because I am very desirous let me vnderstande what manner of man he was This man quoth he vvas far different from all those vvhich liue in our daies for he obtayned at Gods handes vvhatsoeuer he requested One of his miracles vvhich commeth to my minde I vvill novve tell you Certaine Gothes vpon a daye trauailing not far from the citye of Tuderti as they vvere in thiere iorny to Rauenna carried avvay vvith them tvvo little boies from a place vvhich belonged to the saide citye Nevves hereof being broughte to the holy Bishop Fortunatus he sent straight vvaies desiryng those Gothes to com vnto him to vvhom he spake very courteouslye being vvilling by faire speche to pacifye thâ—ere fierce cruel natures and aftervvarde tolde them that they sholde haue vvhat money they desired so they vvolde make restitution of the children and therfore I beseche you quoth he gratifye my request in this thinge Then he vvhich semed to be the chiefe of theÌ„ tvvo told him that vvhatsoeuer els he commanded they vvere readye to performe but as for the boies by no means they wolde let them goe To whom the venerable man threatninge in sweete sort spake vnto him in this manner You grieue me good sonne to see that you will not be ruled by your father but giue me not any such cause of griefe for it is not good that you do But for all this the Gothe continewing still harde harted denied his request and so went his waye yet comminge againe the next day the holy man renued his former sute concerninge the children but when he sawe that by no means he colde perswade him in sorrowfull manner he spake thus well I knowe that it is not goode for you to depart in this manner and leaue me thus afflicted But the Goth not esteming his wordes returned to his inne sett those children on horsebacke and sent them before with his seruantes and straighte wayes him selfe tooke horse and followed after and as he was ridinge in the same citye by the churche of S. Peter the Apostle DedicatioÌ„ of churches to Sainctes his horse stumbling fell downe and brake his thighe in suche sorte that the bone was quite a sunder vp was he taken and carried backe againe to his Inne who in all hast sent after his seruantes and caused the boies to be broughte backe againe Then he sent one to venerable Fortunatus with this message I beseche you father to sende vnto me your deacon who when he was come vnto him lying in his bedde he made those boies which before vpon no entreaty he wolde restore to be broughte forth and deliuered them to him sayinge Go and tell my Lord the Bishop Beholde you haue cursed me I am punnished but I haue nowe sent you those children which before you required take them and I beseche you to pray for me The deacon receiued the children and carried them to the Bishop wherevpon the holy manforth with gaue his deacon some holy water sayinge Goe quickelye and cast it vpon him where he lieth who went his waye and comminge to the Goth he sprinckled all his bodye with holy water and o A miracle wroughte by holy water strange and admirable thinge the holy water no soner touched his thighe but all the rupture was so healed and him selfe so perfectly restored to his former helthe that he forsook his bed that verye houre tooke his horse vvent on his iornye as thoughe he had neuer bene hurte at all and thus it fell out that he vvhich refused for money and vpon obedience to restore the children was by punnishemeÌ„t enforced to do it for nothinge When the olde man had tolde me this strange storye ready he vvas to procede vnto other but because I vvas at that tyme to make an exhortation to somâ— that expected me and the day vvas vvell speÌ„te I coulde not at that tyme heare any more of the notable actes of venerable Fortunatus and yet yf I might neuer vvolde I do any thing els then giue eare to such excellent stories The next day the same olde man reported a thinge far more wonderfull for he saide that in the same citye of Tuderti there dwelt a good vertuous man called Marcellus togither with two of his sisters who fallinge sicke somwhat late vpon Easter euen departed this life and because he was to be caried far of he coulde not be buried that daye His sisters hauinge now longer respit for his buriall with heauie hartes ranne weeping vnto the Bishop where they began to cry out aloud in this manner we knowe that thow leadest an Apostolicall life that thou doest heale leapers restore sighte to the blinde come therfore we beseche you and raise vp our deade brother The venerable man hearinge of theire brothers deathe began him selfe likewise to weepe desired them to departe and not to make any suche petition vnto him for it is our Lordes pleasure quoth he vvhich no man can resist vvhen they vvere gone the Bishoppe continued still sad and sorovvfull for the goode mans deathe and the next day being the solemne â—east of Easter verye earlye in the morninge he went with two of his deacons to Marcellus house and comminge to the place where his deade bodye laye he fell to his praiers and when he had made an ende he rose vp and satt dovvne by the corps and with a lovve voice called the dead man by his name sayinge Brother Marcellus whereat as thoughe he had bene lightely a slepe and awaked with that voice he rose vp opened his eies and lokinge vpon the Bishop saide O what haue you done o what haue you done to whom the Bishop answered sayinge what haue I done Marye quoth he Yesterdaye there came two vnto me discharged my soule out of my body and carried me awaye to a goode place and this day one was sent who bad them carry me backe againe bycause Bishop Fortunatus was gone to myne house And vvhen he had spoken these wordes straighte waies he recouered of his sicknes
sacrilegious a place for which cause thoughe he beleued not what we teache of the crosse yet he thoughe goode to arme him selfe with that signe About midnighte as he lay wakinge for verye feare of that forlorne and desert temple and looked suddainlie about him he espied a troupe of wicked spirites walkinge before an other of greater authority who comminge in tooke vp his place and satt downe in the body of the temple where he began diligeÌ„tlye to inquire of those his seruaÌ„tes how they had bestowed theire tyme and what villanye they had done in the worlde And when eache one told what he had done against Gods seruantes out stepped a companion and made solemne relation what a notable tentation of carnalitye he had put into the minde of Bishop Andrewe concerninge that Nunne which he kepte in his pallace where vnto whiles the master deuill gaue attentiue eare consideringe with him selfe what a notable gaine it wolde be to vndoe the soule of so holy a man the former deuill went on with his tale and saide that the verye eueninge before he assalted him so mightelye that he drewe him so far forth that he did merily strike the saide Nunne vpon the backe The wicked serpent and olde enemie of mankinde hearinge this ioyfull newes exhorted his agent with verye faire wordes diligently to labour about the effecting of that thinge which he had already so well begun that for so notable a pece of seruice as the contriuing the spirituall ruyne of that vertuous Prelat he mighte haue a singular reward aboue all his fellowes The Iewe who al this while lay wakinge and hearde all that which they saide was wonderfully affraide at length the master deuill sent some of his followers to see who he was and howe he durst presume to lodge in theire temple when they were come and had narrowlye viewed him they founde that he was marked with the mystical signe of the crosse whereat they maruailed and saide Alas alas here is an empty vessel but The signe of the crosse protected a Iowe yet it is signed which newes the resâ— of those helhoundes hearinge suddainly vanished awaye The Iewe who had seene all that which then passed among them presently rose vp and in all hast sped him selfe to the Bishop whom he founde in the churche and taking him a side he demanded with what tentation he was trobled but shame so preuailed that by no meanes he wolde confesse the truthe Then the Iewe replied and tolde him that he had cast his eies wickedly vpon such a one of Gods seruantes But the Bishop wolde not acknowledge that there was anye such thinge Why do you deny it quoth the Iewe for is it not so true that yesternighte you were broughte so far by sinfull tentation that you did strike her on the backe When the Bishop by these particularities perceiued that the matter was broken forth he humbly confessed what before he obstinately denied Then the Iewe moued with compassion to his soule and tenderinge his credit tolde him by what means he came to the knowledge thereof and what he hearde of him in that assemblye of wicked spirites The Bishop hearinge this fell prostrat vpon the earth and betooke him selfe to his praiers and straight after he discharged out of his house not only that Nunne but all other wâ—men that attended vpon her And not longe after he conuerted the temple of Apollo into an oratory of the blessed Churches dedicated to Sainctes Apostle S. Andrewe and neuer after was he trobled with that carnall tentation and the Iewe by whose means he was so mercifully preserued he broughte to euerlasting saluation for he baptized him and made him a member of holy churche And thus by Gods prouidence the Iewe hauinge care of the spirituall health of an other attained also him selfe the singular benefit of the same and almightye God by the same means brought one to imbrace piety and vertue by which he preserued an other in an holy and godly life Peter This historye which I haue hearde worketh in me feare and yet withal giueth me cause of hoope Gregory That is not amisse Peter for necessary it is that we shoulde both trust vpon the mercye of God and yet consideringe our owne frailtye be affraide for we haue nowe heard howe one of the cedars of Paradise was shaken and yet not blowne downe to the end that knowing our owne infirmitye we sholde both tremble at his shakinge and yet conceiue hoope in that he was not ouerthrowne but kept his standinge still OF CONSTANTIVS BISSHOP of Aquinum CHAPTER VIII COnstantius likewise a man of holy life was Bishop of Aquinum who not longe since died in the tyme of Pope Iohne of blessed memorye my predecessor many that knewe him familiarly saye that he had the gifte of prophecy And amongest diuers other thinges which he did religious and honest men then present reporte that lyinge vpon his death bed the citizens that stoode about him wept bitterly asked him with teares who sholde be theire father and Bishop after him To whom by the spirit of prophecy he answered sayinge After Constantius you shall haue a muletour and after a muletour a fuller of cloth and these men quoth he be now in the city of Aquinum and hauing spoken these propheticall wordes he gaue vp the Ghost After whose departure one Andrewe his Deacon was made Bishop who in tymes past had kept mules and post horses And when he died one Iouinus was preferred to that dignitye who in former tymes had bene a fuller in the same citye in whose daies all the citizens were so wasted some by the sworde of barbarous people and some by a terrible plague that after his death neither could any be founde to be made Bishop nor yet any people for whose sake he sholde be created And so the saying of the man of God was fulfilled in that his churche after the death of two that followed him had no Bishopp at all OF FRIGIDIANVS BISSHOP of Luca. CHAPTER IX BVt I must not forget to tell you what I hearde of the reuerent man Venantius Bishop of Luna some two daies agoe who saide that there was nighe vnto him a man of rare vertue called Frigidianus Bishopp of Luca who wroughte a strange miracle which as he saith all the inhabitantes of that place do speake of and it was this Hard by the walles of the city there runneth a riuer called Anser which diuers tymes doth so swell and ouerflowe the bankes that it drowneth many acres of grounde spoileth muche corne and fruite The inhabitants inforced by necessity seeinge that this did often happen went about by all means possible to turne the streame an other waye but when they had bestowed much labour yet coulde they not cause it to leaue the olde channell Wherevpon the man of God Frigidianus made a little rake and came to the riuer where all alone he bestowed some tyme in praier and then he commaunded the riuer to followe him
for him selfe Sraighte after the Priest fell sicke and lay not longe before he departed this life and when his body was by the monkes broughte to the graue which he had prouided for him selfe they opened it and sawe that there was not any rome because the Abbots corps filled the whole place then one of them with a loude voice saide O father where is your promise that this graue sholde holde you bothe No soner had he spoken those wordes then the Abbots bodye which laye with the face vpward did in all theire sight turne it selfe vpon one side and so left place ynoughe for the buriall of the Priest and so after his death he performed what he promised aliue concerninge the lyinge of both theire bodies in that one graue But because we haue now made mention of S. Peters Abbey in the city of Preneste where this miracle happened are you content to heare somethinge of the S. Peter buried at Rome keepers of his churche which is in this citye where his most holy bodye remayneth Peter Most willinge I am and beseeche you that it may be so OF THEODORVS KEEPER OF S. Peters church in the city of Rome CHAPTER XXIIII Gregory THere be yet some aliue that knewe Theodorus keeper of that churche by whose reporte a notable thinge that befell him came to my knowledge For risinge somewhat early one nighte to mende the lightes that hunge by the dore and was vpon the ladder as he vsed to powre oile Burning laÌ„ppes in the churche into the lamppes suddainly S. Peter the Apostle in a white stoale standing beneath vpon the pauiment appeared vnto him and spake to him in this manner Theodorus why hast thow risen so earlye and when he had saide so he vanished out of his sighte but such a feare came vpon him that all the strengthe of his bodye did forsake him so that he was not able to rise vp from his bed for many daies after By which apparition what ment the blessed Apostle els but to giue those which serue him to vnderstande by that his presence that whatsoeuer they doe for his honour him selfe for theire rewarde doth alwaies behold it Peter I maruaile not so muche at his apparition as that beeinge before verye well he fell sicke vpon that sighte Gregory What reason haue you Peter to maruaile at that for haue you forgotten howe the prophet Daniell when he behelde that great and terrible vision at which he trembled speakethe thus of him selfe I became weake and was sicke for Daniel 8. verye many daies for the fleshe can not conceiue such thinges as pertaine to the spirit and therfore sometymes when a mans minde is caried to see somewhat beyonde it selfe no remedye but this earthly and fraile vessell of our not able to beare suche a burthen must fall into weakenes and infirmity Peter Your reason hath taken away that scruple which troubled my minde OF ABVNDIVS KEEPER OF the same churche of S. Peter CHAPTER XXV Gregory NOt verye many yeares since as olde men saye there was an other keeper of the same churche called Abundius a graue man and of great humility who serued God so faithfullye that the blessed Apostle S. Peâ—er did by miracle declare what opinion he had of his vertue For a certain yonge maide that frequented his churche was so pitifully sicke of the palsey that she crept vpon her handes and for very weakenes drewe her body vpon the grounde Longe tyme had she praied to S. Peter for helpe of this Praier to Sainctes her infirmitye who vpon a nighte in a vision stoode by her and spake thus Goe vnto Abundius and desire his helpe and he shall restore the to thine healthe The maide as she made no doubte of the vision so not knowinge this Abundius vp and downe she crepte throughe the church enquiringe for the man and suddainly mett with him whom she â—oughte for and askinge for him of him selfe he tolde her that he was Abundius Then quoth she Our pastor and patron blessed S. Peter the Sainctes knowe how our necessities Apostle hath sent me that you sholde helpe me of this my disease Yf you be sent by him quoth Abundius then rise vp and takinge her by the hande he forthwith lifted her vp vpon her feete and from that verie houre all the synowes and partes of her body became so stronge that no signe of her former malady remayned But yf I sholde recount all the miracles in particular which are knowne to haue bene done in his churche questionlesse no tyme wolde be lefte for the relation of any other wherfore I will speake no more of them but come to such holy men as haue bene famous in diuers other places of Italy OF A SOLITARYE MONKE called Menas CHAPTER XXVI NOt longe since in the prouince of Samnium there was a reuerent man called Menas who some ten yeares since led a solitary life and was knowne to many of our friendes and for the truthe of suche his notable actes as I shall reporte I will noâ— name any one author because I haue so many witnesses as there be men that knowe that prouince of Samnium This holy man had no other wealth to liue vpon but a fewe hiues of bees which a certaine Lombarde wolde nedes haue taken awaye for which cause the holy man reprehended him and by and by he fell downe before him and was tormented of a deuill vpon which accident his name became famous both to his neighbours and also to that barbarous nation so that none durst after that but in humilitye come into his cell Oftentymes also there came certaine beares out of the wood which was harde by to deuoure vp his hony whom he strook with a little stricke which he carried in his hande and the beares so feared his stripes that they wold roare out and runne away and they which little feared naked swordes were now affraide to be beaten by him with a small â—ande He desired not to possesse ought in this world nor to seeke for any thinge his maÌ„ner was by heauenly talke to inflame all such as of charity came to visit him with the desire and loue of eternall life And yf at any tyme he vnderstoode that others had committed any great synne he wolde neuer spare them but with true loue to theire soules reprehende them for theire faultes His neighbours and others also that dwelt farther of vsed vpon a custome euery one vpon certaine daies in the weeke to send him theire presentes and offringes to the ende he mighte haue somewhat to bestowe vpon suche as came to visit him A certaine man there was called Carterius who ouercome of filthy concupiscence violently tooke awaye a Nunne and Mariage of Nunnes vnlawful by vnlawfull matrimonye made her his wife which thinge so sone as the man of God vnderstoode he sent him by suche as he could that message which his facte deserued The man guiltye in his conscience of that wickednes which
so he will depart from you very well contented But they seeing no oile to runne forth and hearinge him yet for all that so earnest to haue his bottle filled fell into a greate rage and railed mightely vpon him Then the man of God seeinge that no oile came from the presse called for vvater vvhich he blessed before them all and vvith his owne handes cast it vpon the prâ—sse A miracle wrought by holie water and forthwith by vertue of that benediction such plentye of oile ranne forthe that the Lombardes who before had longe laboured in vaine did not only fill theire owne vessels but also his bottle giuing him thanckes for that comminge to begge oile by his blessinge he bestowed that vpon them which him selfe had demanded At an other tyme when a great dearth was in the countrye the man of God being desirous to repaire the church of S. Laurence burnt before by Churches dedicated to sainctes the Lombardes he hired for that ende many cunning workemen and diuers other labourers who of necessity were daily to be maynetained but so greate was the scarsitye that he wanted breade to relieue them where vpon his worckmen cryed out for meate because they were fainte and could not labour The man of God hearing this gaue them comfortable wordes promisinge to supplye theire want yet inwardlye verye muche was he grieued beinge not able to performe what he had saide Goinge therfore vp and downe in great anxietie he came to an ouen wherein the neighbours that dwelt by had the daye before baked breade and stooping downe he looked in to see whether they had by chance lefte any breade behinde them where he founde a loase both greater and whiter then commonly they vsed which he tooke awaye but yet wolde he not by and by giue it to his vvorckemen least perhappes it belonged to some other body and so mighte as it vvere of compassion to other haue committed a synne him selfe and therfore he did first shevve it to all the vvemen there about inquiringe vvhether it vvere any of theirs but all denied it sayinge that they had all receiued theire iust number of â—oaues Then the man of God in great ioy vvent vvith that one â—oafe to many vvorckemen vvishinge them to giue thanckes to almighty God tellinge them hovve his goodenes had prouided them of necessarye foode and forthvvith he sett that loafe before them vvhereof vvhen they had satisfied them selues he gathered vp more pieces of breade vvhich remayned then the vvhole loafe it selfe vvas before in quantitye The daye follovvinge againe he sett it before them and againe the pieces remayninge vvere far more them the former fragmentes so for the space of tenne daies together all those artiâ—icers and vvorckemen liued vpon that one loafe and vvere very vvell satisfied some thinge remayninge euerye daye for the next as thoughe the fragmentes had by eatinge encreased Peter A strange thinge and not vnlike to that notable miracle of our Sauiour and therfore vvorthye to be admired of all Gregory Our Sauiour at this tyme Peter voutsafed by his seruaunt to feede manye vvith one loafe vvho in tymes past by him selfe feed fiue thousande Ioan. 〈◊〉 vvith fiue loaues and doth daily of a fevve graines of corne produce innumerable eares of vvheate vvho also out of the earth brought forth those very graynes and more then all this created all thinges of nothinge But to the end you shoulde not maruaile any longer vvhat by Gods assistance the venerable man Sanctulus vvrought outvvardlye I vvill novv tell you vvhat by our Lordes grace he vvas invvardlye in his soule Vpon a certaine daye the Lombardes had taken a Deacon vvhom they kept in prison vvith a purpose to put him to death When eueninge vvas come the man of God Sanctulus intreaâ—ed them to set him at liberty and to graunt him his life but vvhen he savve that he coulde not obtayne that â—auor at theire handes but that they vverefully resolued to haue his life then he beseeched them that they wolde at least committ him to his keeping vvherewith they were content but with this condition that yf he scaped away that then him selfe should dy for him The man of God was very well content and so he receiued the deacon into his owne charge and custodye The midnighte followinge when he sawe all the Lombardes fast a slepe he called vp the Deacon willing him quickly to rise vp and to runne away as fast as he coulde and almighty God quoth he deliuer the out of theire handes To whom the Deacon knowing what he had promised saide Father I can not runne away for yf I do out of all doubt they will putt you to death yet for all this Sanctulus enforced him to be gone with all spede saying vp and awaye and God of his goodenes defende and protect you for I am in his handes and they can do no more vnto me then his diuine Maâ—estye shall giue them leaue Vpon these wordes awaye went the Deacon and he that had vndertaken his safe-keepinge as one that had bene deceiued remayned behinde In the morning the Lombardes demanded of Sanctulus for theire prisoner who tolde them that he was runne awaye Then quoth they you best knowe what is conuenient for you to haue yea marye that do I answered the seruant of God with great constancye well quoth they thou art a goode man and therfore we will not by diuers tormentes take avvay thy life but make câ—oise of what death thou vvilt to vvhom the man of God ansvvered in this manner Here I am at Gods disposition and pleasure kill me in such sort as he shall vouchsafe to giue you leaue Then all the Lombardes that were present agreed to haue him beheaded to the end an easy and quick death mighte sone dispatche him When it was giuen out abroade that Sanctulus vvas to dye whom for his vertue and holines they greatly honoured all the Lombardes that were in those partes repaired thither being glad such cruell mindes they haue to beholde him putt to death and when all the a â—mye was gathered together they brought him forth to execution and the strongest man amongest them was chosen out to cutt of his head at one blowe The venerable man besett with armed soldiars betooke him selfe to his vsuall weapons for he desired them to giue him a little leaue to praye which when he had obtained he cast him selse prostrat vpon the earth and fell to his deuotions in which after he had continewed for a goode space the executioner spurned him vp with his foote bidding him rise kneele downe and to prepare him selfe for death The man of God rose vp bowed downe his knee and helde forth his heade and beholding the drawne sworde readye to dispatch him these only wordes they saide that he spake aloude O Sainct Iohne holde that sworde Then Praier to Saint Iohne the foresaide executioner hauing the naked weapon in his hand did with all his force lifte vp his
Ghost sang the psalme Te Deum answering mutually one the other After in prayer writinge preachinge he so much profited the Church that his name is worthyly had in reuerence of all men and generally all Protestants so esteeme him as of no one Doctor more To this holy and learned Father we appeale for tryall of our cause They denye prayer and inuocation of Saintes as iniurious to Christ and sauoringe of idolatrye we defend it as Catholicke and Apostolicall They condemne pilgrimage and visitinge of Martyrs tombes for superstitious and abhominable VVe teach it to be goode and lawfull They detest shrininge of Saintes bones the reuerent touchinge and carrying their relicks in procession VVe imbrace it as highly redoundinge to the honour of God from whose diuine fountayne all their grace did flow and by such signes do praise God in his Saints and know their death to be precious in his sight Now whether in these pointes S. Austen doth fauor vs or helpe them that I leaue to the iudgment of all Protestants thoughe neuer so partiall in their owne cause aster they haue readd ouer this smal treatise for our cause is so clere and the auncient father so close on our side that most assured I am were his name suppressed and a title prefixed accordingly which spirituall stratagem with such as allowe the authoritye of this Father any that please may sone put in practise they would rather scoffe and deride them for phantastical newes sent out of the new world by the Iesuits and trim tales meete for dotinge old wemen to solace them selues then once imagin that such doctrine was current in the slourishinge time of the primatiue Church or so much as dreame that such grosse stuffe in their concept could come from the penn of that learned Clerck and worthy Father S. Austen VVhat salue then for this sore can be deuised will they haply say that the booke from whence this doctrine is fetched is some bastarde lipp and falsely fathered vpon that holy Doctor This shiste can not serue there being not so much as any colour to countenance such a cauill for all learned men confesse it not only to be his but also one os the most notable monuments that euer he published being made in his â—iper age against insultinge Pagans and infidels in defence of Christian religion and about which he laboured many yeares besore he brought it to perfection all which circumstances maturely considered make his authoritie in the foresayd articles far more great and wayghtye VVill they tell vs that he wrot a booke of Retractations and so not vnlikely that these opinions of his be there recalled willingly should I graunt it yf any such thinge were there extant but seinge no cunninge in searchinge can finde that out which is not there to be found they must needes graunt that this answeare bringeth rather corsiue then comfort to their cause sor yf in his latter times he perused ouer all his workes and yet neuer reuoked any one article of the Catholike faith then can not his booke of Retractations any wayes preiudice but rather giue them more creditt and make his authoritye more to presse them And what man of common sense that readeth his owne woordes will euer thinke that he could retract what he there writeth concerning prayer to Saints visitation of relicks and the like seinge they were not any priuate opinions of his owne but the common beleefe and practise of Gods Church as is euident out of the treatise followinge Smaller matters God knoweth they be which he speaketh os in his Retractations and two only things he retracteth in his booke of the City of God from whence these stories are taken The first is that he thought it a miracle that fire from heauen did runne betwene Abrahams sacrifice It should not quoth he haue bene put downe for a miracle Lib. 10. because this was showne him in vision The second is where he sayth that Samuel was not the sonne of Aaron I should rather quoth he haue sayd that he was not the sonne of a Priest because Samuels father is fouÌ„d amongst the sonnes of Aaron but a Preist he was not c. Such priuate opinions as these of smal importance as each one seeth he retracteth in that booke other mayne and many articles of diuinitye in controuersie betwixt them and vs he doth not retract which argueth playnly that they are sound and Catholike and were the beleefe of that time And this the Protestants that be learned be not ignorant of sor which cause when we obiect that S. Austen prayed sor his mothers soule Lib. 9. coÌ„fes cap. 11. 12. 13. Epist 99. ad EuodiuÌ„ 20. de ciuit cap. 15. Tract 118 in Ioan. Haeres 82. that he beleeued Christ to haue descended into that part of hell called Limbus patrum or Abrahams bosome and deliuered Adam from thence and the rest os the holy fathers that he thought it necessary to vse the signe of the Crosse that it was heresy to teach that virginity and marriage were os like merit and such like points in controuersie they neuer tell vs that he retracted these opinions knowing full wel that no such thing is there to be found and therfore though this deuise runneth vp and downe in corners helpeth sometimes amongest ignorant people and giueth a prety grace when his booke is not present yet most sure I am that not any of our learned aduersaries would be willinge to ioyne with vs vpon that yssue being not ignoraÌ„t that this answeare rather desireth darknes then loueth light which is the reason as I suppose that it coÌ„meth seldome in print sor except it were once yf once neuer did I se any such thinge though in common conserence it be the common refuge and sanctury The Protestantes of Magde burge destitute of a better answer help out the matter with flatte lying making S. Augustin to reprehende that which he doth Centur. cap. 6. co 699. highely commende Augustin say they in his 22. booke of the citie of God the 8. chapter concerning the relicks of Steuene writeth that a superstitious and greate coÌ„curse of multitudes was made vnto them euene into Affricke the people being become mad with certaine illusions which were reputed for miracles But this ouer-reaching libertie argueth their cause to be desperate and that no sounde answere can be found to auoide so irrefragable a testimonie they greatly iniurie that worthy father he neither calleth those miracles illusions nor censureth the people for superstitious or madde those termes be slippes of their owne planting nay what doth he els in that whole chapter but proue that the catholicke faith wanteth not miracles can any then beleeue that he would call them illusions by which he affirmeth our faith be proued Peruse goode reader the treatise followinge and I leaue it to thy iudgement whether they had the feare of God before theire eyes that entertayned so grosse and gracelesse an inuention
Glorious S. Austen then whom so much they admire notwithstanding these former shiftes is ours and the catholike Church the Apostles and Christe him selfe is oures for what doctrine he brought from heauen what the disciples learned of him and their posterity receiued from them that did this worthy Father and the Church of Christ in his time beleeue VVherof as no good Christian euer made doubt so doth himselfe affirme in these words with which I will here end That which the fathers and catholike Doctors found in the Church Lib. 2. con â—luliaÌ„ Peâ—agianum â—ap 10. they did hold that which they learned they taught that which they receiued from their Fathers the same they deliuered to their children P. W. A FEW SELECTED MIRACLES CONCERNING THE HONOVR OF SAINCTES Gathered out of S. Augustins 22. booke Of the citie of God Chap. 8. MANY miracles in these our dayes be wrought in Christes name eyther by his sacraments or by the prayers or shrines of his Saintes but they be not blazed out with fame as those be which are in the scripture and so lacke that publike glory in the eyes of the world which glory in the eyes of the world which those haue For the canon of the sacred scripture which requisite it was shoulde be published in all places doth make them euery where to be readd and remembred of the whole world but these other miracles are knowne where they were done and yet scaresly the whole city or all the inhabitans of that place For sometime very fewe do knowe them others neuer hearing any thinge especially if the city be great and when they be tould to others in other places the reporters are not of so great authoritye as that they can be beleeued without difficulty or doubtinge no although they be related to Chrâ—stiaÌ„s and that by them which professe the name of Christ That miracle which was wrought in Millan at my being there when a blinde man receiued his eye-sight might come to the knowledge of many because both the city is great and the Emperor at that time kepâ— his court there and infinite store of people were present when the miracle happened going in troupes to the bodyes of the martyrs Prothasius and Geruasius which hauing bene long time vtâ—erly vnknowne were in sleepe reuealed to Ambrose the Bishoppe and so founde where that blinde man leauinge his old darknes beheld the new and ioyful â—â—e naâ—of an â—er in â—amoÌ„gst â— Roâ—â—s light of this world Hesperius the * Tribune who dwelleth here amongst vs hath in the torritory of Fussalen a farme called Zubedy and vnderstandinge that the house to the trouble of his cattle and seruants was haunted with wicked spirits he requested in my absence that some of my priests would vouchsafe to goe thether that by their prayers they might be driuen away One of them The sacrifice of thâ— body of Christ commonly called thâ— Masse went and offered there the sacrifice of the body of Christ prayinge instantly for the quietnesse of that house and forthwith by Gods merciful prouideÌ„ce it was discharged from that former vexation The same man had also giuen him by a friend of his a peece of holy earth brough from Ierusalem out of our Sauiours sepulchre which he had hanged vp in his owne chamber least some harme migh also haue come to himselfe But after his house was deliuered from the foresayd trouble he begane to thinke with himselfe what was best to be done with that earth which now for reuerence sake he would not any longer kepe in his chamber It sell so out that my selfe and Maximinus Bishop of Sinicen were not far of whome he requested to come thither which we willingly did And after he had told vs all that which had happened he desired that the holy earth might be put in some place and so to haue a Chappell built vnto which Christians might re paire for the celebratinge of such things as belonge to God Content we were to satisfie his desire and so it was done accordingly There dwelt not far of a certaine younge man of the country sicke of the palsye who hearinge hereof desired his pareÌ„ts that without all delay they would carry him to that place which being done there he prayed and forth with departed from thence safe and sound In a certaine village called Victoria not thirtye miles distant from Kings Hippo there is a shrine of the blessed martirs of Millan Geruasius and Protasius vnto which a certaine young man was brought into whome the deuill had entered as he was a washing of his horse in the heates of summer Lying there almost dead or at least like a dead man the Lady of the place according to the custome came thither with her maides and certaine Nunnes to euensong they began to singe hymnes with which noise he was as it wer strooken and shaken out and roaring terribly he layd hould of the altar and not daring or not being able to stirr it yet let it go he would not but held it as fast as though he had bene bound or nayled to the same and pittyfully howling out he desired them to spare him confessing where when and in what manner he possessed the young man At length he told them that he would go forth and named all those parts of his body which he threatned at his departure to cutt of and whils he was thus speakinge out he went But the mans eye fell out vppon his cheeke and hunge there by a litle string cominge as it were from the inward roote and the midst of his eye which before was black became all white which thing when the people present did behould for many that heard him cry out so terriblie came thither all which prostrate prayed for him though glad they were to see him sound of mind yet sory for the hurt of his eye and thought it the best way to send for a surgeon but his brother in law who had brought him thither liked not of that for God is able quoth he by the prayers of his Saints who hath cast out the deuill to restore him likewise his eye againe Wherfore as well as he could he put the eye into his former place and bound it close vpp not thinking goode to haue it opened vntill seauen dayes were expired after which time he found it perfectly weell Others also in the same place were cured of all which to speake in particuler would be tedious and ouer long A certayne old man there was called Florentius dwellinge here in Hippo. one that was religious and poore and gott his liuinge by mendinge of garments who by ill chance lost his cloake not hauinge wherewith to buy an other where-vppon he went to Church and prayed to the twenty martyrs whose shrine at this day is here very famous that they would helpe him to an other cloake and he spake so loude that certayne mery companions that ouer heard him fell a laughinge iestinge scoffinge at him as