many The Saint sent him a Remembrancer and he fell into a grieuous fitt of sicknes and in it into a phrensey in a rauing transport wheroff his arme is broken againe and in the same place Being fallen a-sleep he seemd to see the most glorious Mother of God and heare her saying to S. THOMAS who stood by her friend help this poore Caytiff help him replyd he he made a vow to visitt me before this and has not bin so good as his word Ah sayd the sweet Mother of mercy he will come to you help him I pray Let him then come replyd the Saint on Whitsunday and he shall be curd in the name of our Lord. Which sayd they both disappeard and the sick man relating the Vision to the bystanders was carryd by them on that day to the Saints Shryne where he found redress of both his maladyes by the intercession of the most glorious Virgin and the meritts of the Saint One of Staynes not farr from London became so infirme that all present judgd he could not liue one houre to an end This extremity or infirmity was the least part of his misery for he found himselfe haunted and obsess'd ouer and aboue with multitudes of Diuells in most hideous Shapes which not onely besett him but some taking him by the head others by the feet they hal'd and pulld him almost to pieces The poore sick-man halfe distracted had recourse as well as he could to Alm. God beseeching him by the meritts of his deuout Seruant S. THOMAS of Hereford to afford some assistance in this dreadfull agony And behold while he silently thus recommended himselfe he saw the man of God forth with approaching him and clasping his head betwixt his hands stood in his defence against these wicked Spiritts the greatest part of that night About break of day putt to flight they all vannishd the Saint still holding the Sickmans head as before who suddainly awaking out of his sleep and his ayde or helper withdrawing at the same instant he found himselfe perfectly restord to health both of body and mind by the powerfull mediation of his heauenly Champion who came so seasonably to his rescue To whose Tomb therfore by way of thanksgiuing he with his Neighbours vndertook barefout a long pilgrimage and there in each ones hearing attested the cure To lett vs know how dangerous it is to meddle with edg tooles that is to jeast profanely with the proceedings of Saints making a piece of drollery of what we ought humbly to venerate if we do not vnderstand a youngman Flemming by nation and seruant to an English Lady of quality he was better fedd then taught being in a Cittizens house in Hereford among other Raillery began to speak scurrilously of our B. Saint saying that while he hu'd he was certainly of a couetous humour synce after his death he receiues so many pretious guifts refusing nothing that was offerd him While he presumd to goe thus on one of his hands suddainly shrunk vpp with such violence of payne that acknowledging his fault he was forc'd before all present to inuoke the Saint for redress which no sooner desyrd then obtaynd so charitable was he towards him the hand being presently restord and all as well as before But see the inueteratenes of an ill custome shaken off it recurrs againe and clings to vs like a second nature The vngratefull wretch thus curd attributes both the payne and cure to a naturall cause and neyther the latter to his benefactour nor the former to a punishment of his profane scurrility While he was vttering these words so violent a payne and Contraction seizd the same hand a second time that no stroke but one from heauen could cause it Affliction giues vnderstanding and so did it him he acknowledgd the hand of God vpon him for his ingratitude and now hartily penitent calld vpon the Saint and desyrd all the standers-by to doe the same Theyr prayers were presently heard his hand restord and he learnd more witt then to relapse the third time Let vs learne hence to detest atheisticall drollery and serue God and reuerence his Saints in whome he is so admirably admirable The next I will relate happend in the person of Bishop Richard the so often mentiond successour to our Saint He in the first yeares of his Episcopacy was so ill of the stone that both Physitians and others lookd on him as a dyingman nor for the space of 5. or 6. weeks did he stirr out of his Chamber His Chamberlane who deposd this cure sleeping one night in his Lords Chamber to be ready on all exigences seemd in his sleep to heare one say to him arise take the Relique which thou hast of S. THOMAS it was the first ioynt of his right thumb and no body besydes himselfe knew of it wash it in the wine which in a siluer Cruett stands in the window giue thy Master to drink of it and he shall be curd The Chamberlane eyther mistrusting the call and its effect or fearfull that the wine might not be good for his Lord dissembled the matter nor took notice of it chiefly indeed for feare of loosing his pretious Reâ—â—que which he deemd to pretious for him to keep were it once knowne to others The next night he heard the same call with a menace for his former neglect yett he out of the precedent motiues forbore also the second time the night following or 3. he seemd to behold our B. Lady accompanyd with many Virgins all which were clad in white and enuironnd with great brightnes entring the Chamber in which the Bishop and his Chamberlane reposd and coming neer to the latters bed who for some dayes before had with much deuotion besought her attistance by the meritrs of S. THOMAS for his Masters Recouery sayd to him in French sayth the Process Deynse that was the Chamberlains name art thou asleep he answerd no ryse then sayd she take the wine aboue mentiond and if thou doest it not at they perill be it This last threat made a deeper impression and as soon as it was light he Communicated the matter with the Bishops Confessour and Phisitian to know theyr judgment vpon the matter with theyr approbation and in theyr presence he washd the foresayd Relique and the Physitian gaue 3. spoonfulls of the sayd wine to the Bishop wishing him to drink it he making the signe of the Cross did so rise immediately went downe to the Chappell which he could not doe for so many weeks heard Masse and remaynd all that ensuing yeare as free as if he had neuer bin molested ther with I will conclude this present Narratiue with another deposd juridically before the Lords Commissioners by the party concernd then liuing who in his younger dayes had once bin a meniall seruant of the Saint but marrying afterwards liu'd at London and by trade was a Barber This man vpon the suddain without any visible occasion lost first one eye then the other and both
nothing Contributes more then it to theyr welldoing as they willingly Couet the former so they are forward in preferring the latter Besydes that Honours and Offices are Commonly at the disposall of the honorable or persons of honour and integrity and who stand more cleare in theyr eye or are deem'd better deseruing or lastly by whome are they like to haue more creditt and satisfaction then by the vprightly just and vertuous This vertue is particularly specifyd in the ancient Lessons of his Office where he is sayd to haue bin in justis operibus semper devotus allwayes much deuoted to the practise of justice and elswhere in the same Iura Ecclesiae suae viriliter defendebat indutus justitia ut Lorica he couragiously defended the Rights of his Church armd with justice as with a breast plate And this repute purchasd him such a name that it sett him as it were out of the reach of temptation and he in reality so abhorrd any thing in its administration which lookd like a bribe that he was a frayd euen of its shadow It is particularly recounted that certaine Religious men who had a suite depending at Law applyd themselues to him for his fauour and furtherance in the dispatch of the same and therto presented him with a jewell of value which he rejected not without indignation asking them whether they thought him to be wonn with guifts Theyr intention questionles was good and aymd at no more then a reedeming of the delayes of the Law not a buying of it which they knew could not be sold but a Iudge must auoyd euen suspicions in this kind chusing rather to sitt without a lawfull gaine then haue it with hazard of dishonesty better is a good name sayth the Wiseman then great Prou. 22. 1. riches One in that office who carryes himselfe so religiously where so many eyes are vpon him as not to be taxd by any it is a great euidence that he discharges his trust vprightly In the Vniuersity he had the same Character and that was a stepp to the other promotion where he gaue as ample satisfaction by a just performance of his office in promoting learning aduancing vertue exacting Discipline redressing abuses punishing offenders maintaining priuâ—ledges complying in fine with all poynts of duty so that he also might carry for his discharg or motto bene Marc. 7. 37. omnia fecit he did all well It was chiefly for the esteem they had of his justice and piety that he was made Chancellor of the Vniuersity and for these particularly was he praysd publickly in the same by Robert Arch Bishop of Canterbury affirming that in all his iudiciall Acts relating to the Students he was neyther swayd with fauour of feare but regulated himselfe meerly by justice and the meritts of the cause In administring justice what he did by himselfe the dictates of a good Conscience inusolably keept would not lett him swarue from a vertuous reason and in what he was forcd to entrust others with all he burdend theyr Consciences the onely tye to him that ownes one to a faythfull discharge as they would answere it at Gods tribunal When complaynts were made against his Bayliffs or other Officers he took the matter to his owne scanning and if he found them faulty he was not content with punishing them but reuok d and annulld what they had vnjustly done causing satisfaction to be made to the injurd partyes When euer he apprehended a concerne of justice in any cause he was so resolute for its vindication and maintenance that he wan'd all other considerations whence it was that in his Law-suites for the Recouery of his Church Lands mentiond aboue in the 15. Chapter though the power of his aduersaryes were formidable enough and the issue on that respect doubtfull yett he could neuer be brought to harken to any vnderhand composition though more perchance for his priuate interest The Earle of Glocester when he preceiu'd himselfe cast in Law offerd round summs of money to lett the suite fall Peter Corbett did the same on a like occasion and Roger Lord Clifford as knowing himselfe more lyable to the Law for he in time of warr had taken the then Bishop of Hereford prisoner meerly to extort a ransome from him labourd to redeem his publique pennance with a 100. sterling a great summe in those dayes but the Saint was inflexible to all such motions resolu'd to leaue all to the Course of Justice In the publique interest he as Counsellour had in affayres he obseru'd that the Jewes permitted then to liue promiscously were very pernicious to the State not onely for counterfeyting false Coyne but also by reason of theyr vsurarious extorsions by which they eat-out the estates of theyr debters to theyr vtter vndoing Wher vpon he preuaild with the King that some fitt men might be appoynted to preach to them and if they would still remayne obstinate that then they should quitt the Realme They vnderstood what was doing and 500. of them sayth the Record came in a body to him offering large summes of money if he would desist but they missd much of theyr mark nor found him like some others capable of a bribe his answere was they were enemyes to God and Rebells to fayth nor could euer gaine his good will but by becoming good Christians I will conclude this Corallary of our Saints vertues and Narratiue of his life with that which consummated all into perfection his prudence this deseruedly accompany's justice and is its associate synce this orders what that executes Prudence is stiled by the Wiseman the Science of Saints a Science without which the greatest learning is ignorance and Wisdome folly and it Consists sayth the Prince of Diuines in a due Election of Mediums and ordering them to our finall End the Compassing wheroff is our finall beatitude and consequently Consummate Wisdome This is its great Act or Master piece and from hence imparts its influence into the Common concerns and mannagement of all our proceedings giuing them weight and squaring them according to Christian vertue This part of Diuine Wisdome grew vpp with our Saint from his childhood and that it might not degenerate into Craft a hand-mayd Issue that will needs like Ismael stand in Competition with the Legitimate Isaac he ioynd simplicity with it to exclude all duplicity or double dealing the onely art by which craft thriues knowing right well the truth of that Common saying Prudens simplicitas densa felicitas Prudent simplicity fertil felicity and what a rich Cropp is to be reapd thence It is recorded of him that he was of an eminent prudence and had a deep insight into all sorts of affayres as well temporall as Spirituall and why not the light of grace doth neyther dazell nor ouercast but rather cleare vpp the sight of our judgment and when supernaturall light is added to Naturall it must needs perfect and improue synce an inferiour can neuer suffer an allay by mixing with a
in certain summary and compendious lineaments then in any exact and distinct expression of each seuerall part or perfection When a hidden Sanctity is scarce taken notice of till it be blaz'd abroad with a full noyse of Miracles these so convince the owner to be a Saint that no body needs to look after any other prooffs of his gests or vertues to attest it and therfore these latter are scarse lookd after or regarded And if a more diligent search by publique autority had not bin made and left on record in order to his Canonization wee might still have group'd in the dark as to many particulars which it tells vs and I recken it among none of the least providences that an authentique Coppy theroff came to my hands while I had thoughts of prosecuting what a devout Client of this Saint had to his honor rather scarce well designed then halfe finishd There was not a Saint of our English Nation whose memory was receiu'd with a more vniuersall applause both of Prince and people then that of this glorious Prelate though the times when he liu'd were most unquiet turbulent and the employments wherin he was engag'd were of highest dignity and necessarily combind with the publique interest which in such a condition of times can haue no more settlement then the waues of the Ocean in a raging storme In the which to steer such an eeuen course as to runn vpon no rock of offence argues a great deale of prudent dexterity in the Pilot nor indeed was there found an enuy which yet neuer spares vertue especially the highest which durst fasten tooth on this B. man Which may well be numbred among none of the least of his miracles wherwith it pleas'd Alm. God to honour him which were so conspicuous both as to multitude and quality that he may with rearson beare the name of Thaumatourge or wonder worker of the wersterne Church Now he being as I may say the Darling Saint of his age soe highly reuerenc'd by all conditions why no learned pen should set forth his vertues and interiour perfections as well as pencill paynt his exteriour Lineaments I can say no more but that those actiue times more employd with swords then books had not the Conuenience to performe this duty to so great a merit Or that they thought it not so considerable in those dayes to preserue his memory in ink and paper as in monuments of brass and marble Which honour was so fully payd our deseruing Saint by pious antiquity that one of these latter writers eyther out of a criticall or perhaps more moderate motiue speaking of his Tombe in the Cathedrall Church of Hereford affirmes Cambd. â—â— that in former times the place and our B. Saint Thomas was held in so high Veneration that it did almost eclipse the glory of the King and Martyr Saint Ethelbert in whose honor the sayd Cathedrall had bin built many yeares before and dedicated to him as to a titular Patrone and Protectour at the expenses of Milfrede a man of great Command and power in those parts But those zealous and Religious times were not more forward to sett vptrophees of piety then our unfortunate age hath bin to pull downe and ruine them Impiety and errour vnseparable twinns borne at one birth and which euer goe hand in hand togeather hate nothing more then light which makes them see what they most abhorr theyr owne Uglynes and the beauty of vertue to auoyd both theyr desire is to bury themselues and the world in darknes They haue not hands long enough to reach heauen yet doe theyr vtmost with as much folly as fury to blot out those names on earth which stand vpon record in the book of life In fine theyr malicious attempts haue no other effect but to make us digg under ruines for treasure and as they were wont to gather theyr gold in Spaine and Barbary they force vs to pick vp here and there a graine out of sand and grauell Howeuer what concerns the life of our glorious Prelate S. Thomas Cantilupe nothing shall be produc'd euen in the midst of this confusion and darknes which is not warantable both by Ecclesiasticall and profane history and especially by the vndoubted record of his Canonization Where besydes a large list of his Miracles an exact but short summary of his vertues is amply deposd by seuerall wittnesses which though it giue vs not a full narratiue of the same yet affords sufficient grounds as will be shewd heerafter in the 22. Chap. to build an indubitable humane beliefe of theyr truth If it be necessary to giue an account of my undertaking this task I shall onely offer for motiues first my deuotion to Gods Saints and one so vniuersally beneficiall and deseruing in the honouring of whome God is honoured and in this age especially in which many make it apart of theyr sanctity to vnsaint Saints 2. a desyre through respect to my friend to take vp a designe laudably by him begun and therfore I hope not vnlaudable in its prosecution But chiefly to vindicate the pious memory of the Saint and preserue it in a due veneration among the faithfull which by continuall Miracles preseru'd it selfe so long as they faythfully venerated him His Tombe then was a monument able to preserue the memory of him now we must endeauour to erect another able to preserue the memory of it the graces receiu'd requiring this gratitude hoping that as his honour and veneration fell with the last for it lasted as long as did the Catholique Religion in our Iland so it will rise with the first in its restauration when euer it shall please god in his mercy to send that happy houre I. CHAPTER The time and Circumstances of his birth THe Church of God since the primitiue times of Christianity scarce euer flourish'd vnder a happyer Constellation of Saints then in the thirteenth Age when conversation with heauen was not confin'd to caues and deserts but found admittance both in Cittyes and Courts When Christian humility sate as well upon the thrones of Kings as in Cells of Ermites and true pouerty of spirit knew how to vest it selfe as in sackcloath so in purple This was the age and it was a golden one in this respect when Virginity was preseru'd and florishd not onely in the Sanctuaryes and enclosd gardens of Religious Cloysters but like a lilly among thornes in the very midst of word'y delights Salomea Cune gundis Kinga Bzou Annal 1234. greatnes euen in the state of wedlock and highest fortune Then it was when Princes had no other interest of state but the Glory of God nor any other ambition but to dilate his Kingdome which they endeauourd at the expenses of theyr Crownes and liues and were more employd in fortifying theyr country with Religious Conuents then forts and Cittadells When they held it a greater strength and honour to theyr Royall Familyes to espouse theyr daughters to Christ Crucifyd in
Canonization calls her deuout noble and holy insomuch that euen togeather with his milk he suckd in Sanctity so in his childhood they were no less wanting to furnish him with fitt Masters for his instruction in these first rudiments and this was to be done vnder theyr owne eyes that they might be wittnesses of all Thy knew right well how important the first impressions are in Children and consequently how choyse they ought to be since that tincture is retaynd a long time and giues ordinarily a rellish to theyr proceedings His Parents were so chary in this poynt and sollicitous to haue the blessing of heauen second theyr industry that we may say they imitated dayly the anciente Illyrians who when they gatherd theyr sweet Flower-de-luces lifted them vpp as an offering to heauen from whence they had receiud them so these noble Personages looking vpon this theyr first fruit as a guift of God and acknowledging it to be more his then theyrs endeauour'd with all gratitude to make him a fitt present for the diuine hand and to raise him from earth to heauen by carefull and vertuous breeding Theyr vsuall habitation was at court by reason of the charge which the father of our saint bore and the obligation he had of personall attendance for the dayly seruice of the king The reputation of Courts hath euer bin as of a place where vertue is laugh'd out of countenance and denyd admittance as too Coursly cladd for such fine company Infamy is no where more in credit nor vice so Canoniz'd it is a Schoole of Aegyptian Hieroglyphicks where beasts and Monsters are supposd to signify heroique vertues What care therfore and vigilancy were these pious and noble Parents to vse in preseruing this sweet flower from blasting vnder so malignant a climate What caution and preuention to bannish all folly and vanity from the sight of those innocent eyes to stopp his eares from the least whisper of charming plasures What a perpetuall watch and ward not to lett a word fall not the least action or gesture appeare before this little one which might leaue any noxious impression in his tender soule Though to say the truth and to guie those happy times theyr due which is also to be obserud as a speciall prouidence of God towards the aduancement of our Saint in all perfection the stile of that Court was farr different from the vsuall Course of others and might well be tearmd a Sanctuary of Piety and schoole of vertue Such an influence hath the example of Princes ouer the harts of men drawing them whither they list with a kind of magnetique force eyther to good or euill We had then a king who thought it no vnderualuing of Majesty to visitt spittles and Almes houses to serue and feed the poore with his owne hands to embrace and kiss lepres Insteed of reuells and masques his chief pleasure was in his Chappell where he heard euery day three Masses with sollemne Musique and neuer omitted to be present at the rest as long as there was a Priest at the Aultar where he euer vsd this Ceremony in honour to the king of heauen to support the Priests arme whilst he eleuated the Sacred Host then with reuerence kissd his hand Insomuch as his neer kinsman and brother in Law S. Lewis then king of France obseruing that out of his deuotion to the holy Sacrifice of Mass he left no Considerable time for Sermons aduisd him to allow some part of his pious Exercises to the word of God to which he answerd that for his part he had rather see his friend then heare him spoken of Our Queen as long as this king her husband liud agreed with him as well in piety as in Coniugall loue and as soon as his death left her free to her liberty she retyrd to a Cloyster of Consecrated Virgins where the world might see her hart had euer bin The Consort of our Prince Sonn of Henry the 3. now king and after successour by the name of Edward the 1. was a daughter of Spayne who was so little read in the Platonique of our dayes that she knew not how to loue any thing but Christ and her husband whome she followd through all hazards and terrours to the holy land where the Prince being treacherously stabbd by a Saracen with a poyson'd knife when no skill of Surgery could preuaile the inuincible loue of this lady vndertook the cure and gaue her the courage to suck out the poyson and putrifaction of the wound with her owne mouth to make it good that loue is as strong as death Cant. 8 6. The piety of the whole court was answerable to theyr Souveraign's example which appeares euidently in that so many of the prime nobility deuoted theyr liues and fortunes to the seruice of the holy land and the greatest ladyes ended theyr dayes in holy monasteryes Neuertheless though that court then was such a Paradise the pious and prudent Parents of our saint knew well that serpents might lurk euen there Vipers creep into gardens of balsome poysons and antidotes often grow in the same bed They were not strangers to the infirmity of humane nature especially in youth which like a distemperd Stomack longs for that which is most hurtfull and in such variety of obiects as at a full table seldome or neuer feeds without a surfett They resolud therfore to place this pretious treasure which god had giuen them in a safe retreat as nature or rather the Authour of nature teaches the little Pearles when they are soft and tender in the shell to retyre under shady hollow rocks being otherwise not only exposd to violence of waues and weather but alsoe subiect to change colour and be truly sun-burnt if they float in the open sea They follow'd therfore the aduise of the holy Ghost giuen to all Parents if they loue the safety of theyr children to put them under the shade and protection of wisdome „ Statuet filios suos sub tegmine „ illius „ with a promise not only of security but also of glory „ Protegetur sub tegmine illius a feruore et in gloria eius requiescet „ This holy and Ibid. 27. prudent resolution of theyrs was it seems much furtherd by a neer kinsmaÌ„ frind Walter Cantilupe Bishop of worcester a person of mind and courage equall to his birth and of such zeale that to aduance the heroicall designe of Christian Princes in the holy land he went himselfe thither accompany'd with one of the greatest men of that age for piety and valour William Longuespee Earle of Salisbury whose happy death in that quarrell was sollemnizd with a triumph in heauen as it was reueal'd at that uery instant to his Mother in England who then led a Religious life in a Monastery of her owne founding The sayd noble Prelate Walter Cantiâ—ilupe being in familiar conuersation with William Lord Cantelupe father of S. THOMAS and the child being present the Bishop askd him what
who besydes other great parts wher with Nature had endowd him was so farr fauourd by grace as to be eminent in sanctity of life in attestation wheroff after death his sepulcher was gracd with many Miracles the blind lame and dumb finding there a present cure Now what wonder if one Saint giue another an honorable reception this is no more then to giue vertue its due and from whome may that be more justly expected then from Saints The legality of Appeales to Rome in Church affayres when a decision cannot be had in an inferiour court is ratifyd by the custome and practise of all nations and ages to her all fly as to a common and disinteressd Mother who holds the weights of the Sanctuary and without byass and partiality diuides a distributiue justice according to equity This is no more then to appeale from an inferiour court to a superiour which the course of justice deemes lawfull nor indeed in our present controuersy which was betwixt a Bishop and his Primate could any other court giue a finall verdict To it therfore our Saint appeald and in prosecution of it made his long journey and as he was allwayes happy in this that he undertook nothing but vpon mature aduise and circumspection grounded on the sound judgment of wise Councellors so he seldome or neuer miscarry'd in any cause but all being well digested the very laying it open prou'd its decision Yett a legall course of law was to be obseru'd and things by degrees brought to an issue and his was such as he desyrd that is an enioyment of the rights he was inuested in by the decrees of former Popes without suffering any infringment therin by his Metropolitane who had not power to explicate Papall Constitutions as our Saint objected to him in the fore mentiond Councell of Redding and vpon his owne explication to lay a clayme Where all proceeds according to rigour of justice fauour pretends no place nor did it heer further then to obtaine a quick dispatch and remouall of those delayes which render law-suites both costly and tedious This was all the fauour that was or could be shewd him and he took it for no meane one longing as he did after a speedy returne his hart being at home where was also the chiefest of his concerns while the rest of his body was at Rome He did t is true by an interiour vnion of mind enioy God euery where hauing long habituated himselfe in the same but yett his content was in Recollection he lou'd not the Ceremonious visitts of courts nor the loss of time that 's made in them they being toylsomly fruitles and fruitlesly toylsome while he was Lord Chancellor he felt the smart of that and the surfeyt causd then made him less able to disgest them all his life after Yett to omitt them would haue bin deemd a solecisme against ciuility and argu'd at the best a stoicall sanctity therfore who can blame a seruant of God if he indeauour to withdraw himselfe out of the concourse of such courtshipps He that touches pitch shall be defild by it XVII CHAPTER Of his Returne homewards and death on the Way HAuing thus obtaynd a fauorable dispatch and taken leaue of that great court he putt himselfe with ioy vpon the way as to himselfe though he left it in a kind of regrett for his departure and the priuation of the sweet odour of his sanctity causd therby What is admird as present is regretted as absent nor doe we ordinarily know the worth of things better then by theyr priuation It cannot be prudently doubted but that according to his settled practise of piety during the space of his abode there he left many monuments both of his Wisdome and Sanctity most richly worth recounting had they come to our knowledg But synce they doe not we must rather content our selues with a patient silence then discourse vpon less groundles conjectures contenting our selues that all is registerd in the book of life or Annalls of heauen to be publishd at the day of judgment Nor can I doubt but according to the vsuall strayne of sanctity which has for its motto „ ama nesciri loue Concealment he playd the silent Eagle not the talkatiue parrot and that the course of his vertuous actions the more profound they were the more silent like deep riuers and with less noyse did they imperceptibly flow and therfore no wonder if they escapd the record Hauing putt himselfe on his journey as soon as the heats would permitt all his endeauours now after Alm. God were to render it as speedy as he could much reioycing in the success of his negotiation and longing earnestly to make the concernd neighbouring Churches at home as well as his owne partake of the same Thus doe the Wisest many times project according to humane reasons and motiues while reckning as I may say without theyr host they propose and God disposes Little did he dreame that his journey was destin'd to a better home and himselfe design'd not for new labours but a fruition of the past the euening being at hand when the Master of the Vineyard was to call his Workman to receyue his hyre and inuite him into the ioyes of our Lord a thing if not sought for yett alwayes wellcome as being the much better home He was resignd for life and death putting both in the hands of God and hauing learnd to possess his soule in patience he was not sollicitous to dye soon or liue long but to liue and dye well which latter can be done but once and giues the vpshott to all He was now in the Clymactericall yeare of his age 63. and his crazy body was worne out with former labours and not onely what he now did but what he had done these diuers yeares was more by the vigour of his spiritt then Corporall strength This is a thing propper to holy soules who measuring theyr ability as indeed they ought rather by the former then the latter make this against its will keep pace with that as hath bin obseru'd in S. Basil S. Gregory and others and eyther by Communicating a new force or reiecting the sleeules excuses of self loue or by a speciall blessing of God they doe wonders in this kind This vigorous resolution had now brought him as farr as the state of Florence and in it to a place knowne by the name of Monte Fiascone but its stock or viaticum being spent could carry him no further Heer his debility destitute of vitalls for a reinforcement causd a distemper that was hightned to a feauer this in its accesses as a certaine fore runner of death by its symptomes told him that the dayes and wayes of his pilgrimage would shortly be ended and so they were in not very many houres Compass all its periods concluding in one poynt to witt Alm. God in whose sight the death of Saints is pretious Now we must look on him a while as deaths victime and learne of
his death and the precise time of it came to be knowne and that it and his dreame iumpt so patt togeather he could not but think it more then a fancy and that Alm God would intimate therby that as he dy'd though not in persecution yett in prosecution of the rights of his Church and in some sort lost his life for the same the Saint had not onely deserud but receiud the reward of a Martyr This Relation I haue Coppy'd out of the Process of his Canonization where it was juridically deposd before the Examinants and approu'd as suiting well with what I sayd aboue of the Common apprehension of all that God wrought Miracles by him for his actings and sufferings for his Church And the same Relation adds yett further to let vs know it was more a vision then dreame or rather a Vision by way of dreame as is not vnusuall in H. Scripture both old and new that after this first apparition the B. Saint was seen often to the same party not indeed sayth it as one in glory but yett such as that his ioyfull contentednes spoke him to be in a must happy Condition XVIII CHAPTER The buriall of his H. Bowells there and Returne of his sacred Bones into Engalnd THus much as to his sacred death and other Circumstances which accompanyd or related therto now we must pass to the other part to witt the sequeles that followd thervpon He dy'd a passinger in this lifes pilgrimage and in a Common Inn and indeed what other are all the lodgings in this world we take them vpp we bespeak supper we forecast our future journey we goe to bed and rest promising our selues like the man in the Ghospell many dayes of life when calld fooles for our paynes we are surprizd with a feauer and all the journey we make afterwards is onely to our graue Our B. Saint was too watchfull to be stolne vpon by that ngihtthiefe they onely are so surprizd who are found vnprepard that is keep no watch and ward and Consequently are vnprouided for the assault and therfore we pray togeather with the Church to be deliuerd not from death nor from suddain death but from suddain and vnprouided death for indeed to one that is prouided no death is propperly suddaine The Records tell vs that his sacred Corps lay exposd in the same place for 6. dayes togeather and this is but suitable to what is done to persons of his extraction and quality according to the respect euery where giuen them Though heer another reason occurrd which might more then probably autorize the same for no sooner was the sweet soule departed like the extinct flame of a stick of parfume but such a heauenly fragrancy filld the whole room that it was most dilitious to the sent and recreatiue to all that were present This to witt was a blessing redounding to the body for the ioynt concurrence that copartner afforded it in his vertuous excercises in the seruice of God and his Church and a testimoniall of the odour of sanctity of that holy guest which lodgd therin Such sensible wittnesses of an innocent integrity in his seruants doth Alm. God somtimes impart for theyr glory and our incitement wee being not easily mou'd but by our sences eyther to conceiue highly of them or be eggd on to imitation though the odour of vertue and sanctity in it selfe farr surpass what euer is of sense In the meane time the same heeroff together with his death being bruited abroad as vertue and nobility is euer in esteem with the noble and vertuous it made many great Personages resort thither and some Cardinalls among the rest who acquainted with him during his abode at Rome or the opinion that went of him had bin no strangers eyther to him or his perfections By theyr Concurrence chiefly an honorable funerall was prepard for his Enterrment the sunday following when he was burryed in the Church of S. Seuerus belonging to an Abbey of that name situate neer the old Citty of Florence at what time a funerall Sermon was preachd by one of the Cardinalls who could not want matter to dilate vpon while he commended him for his noble discent exquisite learning and eminent sanctity All these particulars are thus farr minutely specifyd in the Record but its warrant carry's vs no farther nor any other that I could meet with as to the sequeles of his Enterrment And consequently we are at a loss both as to that present and future times how to know whether any or what publique Veneration was there giuen at any time to his sacred Corps or whether graces and Miracles were wrought there at as in England at his Sacred Bones what memory remaind of him and how long all this must be left to Doomsday book and its Register when all will be publishd to the glory of God and the Saint and satisfaction of all In the interim we may know that in the Catholique Church not euery one that dyes with opinion of sanctity is forthwith honourd as a Saint the publique Declaration of the Church to preuent abuses and regulate all in an orderly way is therto requisite and nothing permitted but vnder this warrant He dy'd t is true a Saint but his sanctity was not autorizd he dy'd a stranger and an alien and how little notice is taken of such 5. yeares elapsd before any Miracles were noysd abroad euen in England it selfe and 25. before his Canonization what wonder if the memory of him not preserud by any speciall graces or signes grew cold and in that coldnes vannishd to obliuion Though God were pleasd at his mediation for the comfort of the people incitement of theyr deuotion and other reasons best knowne to himselfe to work such wonders at his Sacred bones yett he does this when and where and how long he thinks good and no body must presume to ask why do you so All these are the secretts of his Dispensations and he says to vs as he did to the Apostles „ Non est vestrum c. it is not for you Act. 1. 7. to know times or moments which the Father has putt in his owne power The newes of his death we may imagine brought heauy tydings to his flock at Hereford who as it was most happy in his gouerment during life so sustaynd an imcomparable loss by his death the sorrow of the priuation answering proportionably to the ioy of the possession But these are blowes which all must be content to suffer when God inflicts them nor is there any redress besydes an humble acquiescence in his holy will when we haue payd a little tribute to nature all the rest is a submissiue resignation who dare say to him why doe you soe Yet though his people could not haue him aliue it would haue bin some comfort to haue had him dead that is him in his Corps to the end they might haue enioyd him in his Reliques which euen then for the great opinion they
seruices there on his Churches behalfe as also by the safe Conueyance of his Reliques had much improu'd himselfe in the opinion and esteem of that Chapter And the prouidence of God as to this seems remarkable in the Election both that none could haue concurrd more to the glory and illustration of our Saint none knowing him and his meritts better then he and consequently could be more zealous in that behalfe as also because he was both a great Preacher truly vertuous and throughly versd in the affayres of that Bishoprick as bredd vpp vnder the Saint The profound respect and zeale he had for his H. Predecessour took little content to see his bones so worthy of greater Veneration lye so obscurely beneath theyr desert euen as he was a Bishopp not onely a Saint Wher vpon he determind a solemne Translation of the same to a more eminent and conspicuous place of the same Cathedrall where he resolu'd to erect a stately Monument of Marble and haue the action solemnizd with the greatest magnificence he possibly could The time pitchd on for this purpose was Mandate thursday in holy week the report wheroff blazd abroad inuited both court and country to honour it with theyr presence nor needed many motiues the opinion they had of him was sufficient It was made in the yeare 1287. the 6. of Aprill the Bishopp and Chapter ioyntly concurring therto and the place to which it was Translated sayth Godwin was the east wall of the North-Cross-Ile where yett is to be seen sayth he a tomb of Marble King Edward the 3. in whose Reigne it was made was then at Calais which he had not long before taken from the French King but purposely came ouer out of his deuotion to the Saint and to grace the solemnity with his presence He and his Nobles sayth John Stow were entertaind at the charges of Nicolas Cantilupe Baron Cosen to S. THOMAS Nor did the King miss of a due reward from the sayd Saint in recompense of his Religiousnes For while he was attending to that action he receiu'd priuate intelligence of a designe on foot for the deliuery of that Towne by a Genowayse Emericus of Padua who liu'd there and was a priuate Pensionayre of the French King to him he playd lack on both sydes being also in see to King Edward who suspecting nothing less keept him and his men there for the defence of the Towne Nor was heer an end of the blessing for the King hastning to its succour not onely forestalld the others treachery but with a handfull of men repulsd the numeros enemy took many prisoners and putt all in a posture of safety The sacred Depositum as we hynted before was putt into a stone Coffin shutt vpp vnder a fayre great Grauestone which was to be remou'd eer the Coffin could be taken out and how to remoue it so great and massy as it was gaue no small difficulty naturally speaking in that narrownes and situation of place While theyr witts were thus contriuing two of the Bishops Pages who stood by putt theyr hands to it as it were in sport to try theyr strength where 4. of the ablest could haue done nothing And heer behold a strange accident at the slender impulse of these two alone the massy stone yealded and gaue place as farr as was necessary for the present purpose as if it had bin a thinn bord not what it was All the Company cryd out a Miracle for they could ascribe it to nothing else wrought by the Saint to attest his Sanctity and shew how gratefull the Translation was to him But heer was not an end of theyr amazement yea it was much increasd when after the Masse of Requiem and solemnity ended tryall was made againe in the same manner to putt the sayd stone into its former posture which now thought they had the aduantage of the ground much more then before not these two but neyther teen more ioynd with them endeauouring with all theyr might and mayne were scarse able to sett in its place This was an essay or prelude to the manyfold Miracles which immediately followd for such was the wonder-working power of Alm. God to euidence the glory of his Seruant S. THOMAS that that very day of his Translation 5. Miracles were wrought at his Tomb and as many each ensuing day for diuers togeather Nay there was a perpetuall continu'd streame the source being once opend without surcease for many yeares of which we shall speake more in the ensuing Chapter Great was the Deuotion of the people in this solemnity hightned we may imagine nott a little by these fresh foregoing wonders and where there is Deuotion God is neuer sparing of his graces and mercyes that his Soueraigne Oyle ceases not still to runn so long as there are such fresh potts disposd to receiue it Why he reseru'd these extraordinary blessings for this feast let vs not curiously enquire of him in whose hands is the free disposall of times and moments but let vs take his dispensations when they come humbly and thankfully being assurd that he knowes better what and when things are to be done then we can tell him In the Translation it selfe and time of Masse of Requiem sayd at the new Tombe for the dead for as yett the Saint was neyther Beatifyd nor Canonizd a man who had bin two yeares blind and a Woman 8. both of them receiud theyr Sight in the presence of all the people who were spectatours admirers and wittnesses of the Miracle To giue a particular account of all the rest that were wrought though they be all vpon Record and attested would be too tedious and especially all that were wrought during the Octaue of the solemnity 40. in number but as Easter day by reason of its glorious festiuall claymd to it selfe a peculiar splendour aboue the rest so Alm. God seemes to haue keept a noted and particular Cure for it much redounding to the honour of our Saint as wrought vpon one both noble of himselfe and well knowne to all the Nobility of the land and consequently more fam'd abroad and divulgd then many others This was one Milis a famous Warryer renownd farr and neer for his exploytâ— in Tilting with frequent falls and bruises and other misfortunes such a weaknes came vpon him that he became contracted in his limbs and they all vseles to him And thus he remaynd 6. whole yeares all art of Physitians labouring in vayne now an obiect of compassion as much as he had bin before of Congratulation This man familiarly knowne to Bishop Richard was by name inuited to the Translation and particularly on Easter day when celebrated with greater Solemnity the good Bishop intimating with all that diuers great Miracles were then dayly wrought at the Saints Tombe and who knew but he might haue a blessing in store for him He like one in misery harkend willingly to any aduise that rellishd of redress he made himselfe be carryd to the Tomb on
Easter Eeue he prayd there deuoutly the whole night beseeching the Saint that as he was noble himselfe he would be propitious to a noble knight commiserating his present pittifull condition and vouchsafing him the gracious fauour of a Cure To render himselfe better disposd like a good Christian he frequented the H. Sacraments of Confession and Communion and at the time when in the sayd Church the Mystery of the Resurrection sayth the Record was that morning represented he found himselfe so perfectly cur'd at the sayd Tomb that the same day exulting in our Lord whole and sound he playd the Seruingman at the Bishops table wayting on him and his other guests For a conclusion of this Chapter I must insert a remarkable Cure which was wrought while the sacred Reliques remaynd yett in our Ladyes Chappell sixe dayes before the Translation that is the day before Palmsunday and therfore may deseruedly clayme to be heer inserted it is thus recorded in the forementiond Process One Edith wife to a Cittizen of Hereford in the beginning of that same lent was seizd with a furious phrenzey and all humane meanes falling short so she continu'd till the day before Palmsunday The recourse to S. THOMAS not being as then famd by any Miracles her husband causd her to be measurd to a Relique of the H. Cross much venerated in that Cathedrall at whose Aultar she was keept night and day bound and attended by two of her sexe though at the same time she were aduisd by a Priest of the Church to haue recourse to S. THOMAS and to be measurd to him giuing her great hopes of a recouery by his intercession All this was done at his suggestion and a Candle was made of the thread that measurd her and sett at her head as she lay bound hand and foot her ordinary Station being all this while at the Aultar of the H. Cross The friday before Palme sunday as she was there hearing Mass not onely the candles on the Aultar but all through the Church were on a suddain putt out no body knew how and a great noyse like the murmure of a great riuer was heard at the same time this lasting the space of ten Paters and Aue's visibly before them all fire came from heauen and lighted the Candle standing at her head whose week was made of the thread that measurd her to the Saint At the lighting of this she recouerd her senses and became well the Saint at that instant appearing to her and bidding her be well at the same time also the Cords which bound her of themselues became loose and she in the presence and hearing of all repeating it ouer and ouer againe sayd aloud where is this S. THOMAS that bids me be well She went to our lady's Chappell prayd before his Reliques a „ Te Deum „ was sung in thanksgiuing for the cure she continu'd as well and sensible as euer before and this was the first miracle which the Saint wrought in the Church of Hereford Upon the Relation of this Miracle it occurrs to mee that some peruser of the same may check perchance as it is allwayes easy to find fault at one or two passages mentiond therin the which to cleare vpp by way of preuention will happily not be vnacceptable One may be her leauing the H. Cross and its Aultar to betake herselfe to S. THOMAS in which if there were any fault it was was the Priests who aduisd her to it which could not be great it being warranted by the good miraculous effect immediately ensuing Neyther did he disswade her from the H. Cross whose efficacious vertue is venerable to all Christians but onely perswaded her whether by diuine instinct or the impulse of his deuotion matters not much to make her recourse to God and it by the mediation of the Saint His deuotion to S. THOMAS mou'd him to vrge this recourse which if vpon the opinion had of his Sanctity he aduisd where is the errour Nay it 's glorious to the H. Crosse as it is also to honour God in his Saints so farr is it from disparagement to see its seruants honourd and inuokd besydes that a new Starr may many times and without prejudice to the Sunn draw more eyes to it then the Sunn it selfe and haue its influences more cry'd vpp both deuotions were compatible and good nor doth the latter derogate from the former Another perhaps will be dissatisfyd yea euen a little scandalizd at this measuring to the Saint and ask what it meanes Truly I do not remember to haue read it elswhere nor is it any Ecclesiasticall Ceremony of any Church much less of the Catholique it seems to haue bin taken vpp by the deuotion of the people therabouts and as an innocent harmles expression of theyr deuotion and recourse to the Saint approu'd by custome and though frequently us'd yett not so of necessity but that it was and with equall succes as frequently omitted at least not mentiond This theyr recourse and application to the Saint was twofold and the miraculous effects as to both shew its acceptablenes to him eyther by bending a piece of siluercoyne ouer the patients head who sought redress to the honour of the Saint appropriating the party by this expression to him and his peculiar patronage for redress or else by measuring the sayd client by a thread or some such thing that is by taking his length and breadth with the same intention as in the former and depositing them at his Aultar or to his honour The manifold miraculous effects ensuing heer vpon vindicate the fact from all suspition of irreligiosity and superstition and if the Saint was pleasd to accept it let not vs harbour a prejudice against it When we see the Candle whole week was made of this measure miraculously and before all the rest lighted from heauen let vs take that Miracle for an approuement of its innocency all 's well when all 's meant well alius quidem sic alius autem 1 Co◠7. sic thus much I thought good to premitt for the scandall of the weake XX. CHAPTER The multitude of Miracles wrought by the Saint WE may indeed call them a multitude and of the greatest size for few Saints perchance in Gods Church haue wrought more and therfore he was not undeseruedly calld in the Preface the Thaumaturgus of that age And theyr quality is no less remarkable then theyr quantity it being such as renders them vnquestionable in theyr kind that is euident and patent like those of the Ghospell and such as our B. Sauiour both wrought and alledgd for testimonialls of his Reception as Messias by giuing sight to the blind healing the lame raysing the dead c. and these as well as others in great abundance For the Readers satisfaction and the Saint's greater glory I will summarily putt downe heer what the seuerall Authours of his life say in this behalfe that the autority of his Miracles may remayne as questionles as they
with such excesse of payne that it made him seek all humane redress though in vayne and try the skill of Chirurgery which not withstanding he remaynd 3. yeares stark blind faine to be ledd whither euer he went and he dayly did to S. Paules Church to heare Mass Much discomforted with this accident he calld to mind his old Patron and great well wisher S. THOMAS now Canonizd a Saint and working Miracles He recommends himselfe most earnestly to him and our B. Lady beseeching her by the deuotion he had to her to obtayne of Alm. God a cure of his misery and restorement of sight that he might againe to his comfort behold her Sonn in the Consecrated Host while it is eleuated for all to adore For this end he causd himselfe to be measurd according to custome to S. THOMAS and sent the measure and two Eyes of waxe with it to Hambleden in lincoln shyre the place where our Saint was borne and Christend Two dayes after he found some glimmerings of light so as to distinguish imperfectly motion and colour and ther vpon causd himselfe to be measurd the second time and that measure he sent to Hereford to the Saints Shryne and ther vpon found such help that with in 8. dayes space he could walk any whither without a leader and could discerne as he desyrd the eleuated Host at a Competent distance The cure he ascribd to the Saint as also in this respect the cause of his blindnes for that he in his youth when he seru'd S. THOMAS being of a loose life and wanton behauiour and chid therfore frequently by him for his amendment the Saint obtaynd of Alm. God this temporall affliction it many times giues vnsterstanding and such blindnes light to see our selues towards an amendment of his spirituall and he acknowledgd that he had reahd great benefitt therby and hartely thankd Alm. God and the Saint for the same It were as easy for mee to cite some hundreds as these few were it any part of my designe to swell this little Summary into a great volume It doth not ayme at a Rehearsall of his miracles but of his vertues which are the noblest kind of miracles for in this corrupt nature of ours so prone to vice I esteem euery soule eminent in sanctity so many miracles of Gods grace working in it And these miracles are more for our purpose that is for our imitation to which purpose if we do not apply them we swarue from the purpose the greatest honour and deuotion we can shew towards a Saint being to imitate his vertues as also the most beneficiall to vs. Miracles are good wittnesses of Sanctity ascertaning vs how high the Saint stands in the fauour of God and they stirr vs vpp also to a due recourse towards him in our necessityes but to profitt otherwise then by theyr imitation we cannot pretend synce being aboue the course of nature they are objects rather to be admird then imitated sett your selfe to a generous imitation of theyr vertues and you may probably work miracles your selfe XXI CHAPTER His Canonization and generall deuotion of all vnto him both Prince and people till this vnhappy breach THe multitude of extraordinary graces and fauours which Alm. God imparted to all sorts of people by the meritts of his glorious Seruant an Bishop S. THOMAS was the reason why the whole Kingdome sollicited the then Pope for his Canonization Now 25. yeares or ther abouts were elapsd synce the Translation of his Sacred Bones into his new Sepulcher synce which time the current of miracles neuer ceasd and the dayly Monuments theroff hanging at the same were so many Remembrancers minding them as much to glorify him as he was beneficiall toward them One good turne requires another if Saints obtayne vs temporall blessings let vs giue them the glory theroff glory is a celebrious knowledg with praise nor can this be better had in this world then from the mouth of the Church whose words in this matter are Oracles and her publique declaration in poynt of Sanctity a Canonization Hence it was that Prince and people Clergy Religious Secular all intereâ—sd alike in his fauours yett aboue others the Bishopp and Chapter of Hereford became joynt Sollicitours that as heauen had ownd his piety by so many prodigyes the Church would authentically declare it autorizing them to honour him as a Saint who had exhibited so many vndenyable prooffs of Sanctity The generalitty of the Bishops of our Nation Concurrd to this and I find a Transscript in the Processe it selfe exhibited by the Procuratour of the Chapter of Hereford to the LL. Commissioners which Transcript was subscribd by the LL. Bishops John Arch-Bishop of York Antony of Durham Godfrey of Worcester John of Landaff Iohn of Winchester Raph of Norwich Walter of Bath Aluian of Bangor Iohn of Carlile Thomas of Excester and was directed by them to his Holynes contayning theyr esteem and sentiment both of his life and vertues and the wonders dayly wrought at his Shryne Vpon this and other such Sollicitations it was that a publique Process of the Saints life and Miracles was instituted and Commissaryes Apostolicall deputed therto the two Bishopps and Arch Deacon specifyd in the precedent Chapter Procuratour for the Chapter of Hereford was one Henricus a Schorna and Bishop Richard who best knew the Saint liuing and dying as one that was bred vnder him Conscious to all his secretts was the first and chiefe Deponent The Commission took date the 13. of Iuly 1307. and was to continue but 4. months which limitation of time and multiplicity both of Wittnesses and Miracles was the reason why they could not insist vpon or pass through all but as many as were examind by them eyther in order to his vertues or miracles all Depositions passd vnder oath the H. Ghospells lying open before them and they swearing to speak nothing but truth Which depositions were duely Registerd by appoynted Notaryes reuiewd by the Commissioners and by them Consignd vpp to his Holynes and keept to posterity in the Vatican Library the perusall of an authenticall Coppy wheroff by the fauour of a speciall friend and diligent Searcher into the gests and Legends of Saints was Communicated to mee and therfore I can auerr much for the vndoubted truth of what I say The information being taken as aboue and a due returne made to the Congregation of Rites whome such matters concerne all being adjusted according to forme HIS HOLYNES Iohn the 22. at the instance of our King and Prelates proceeded to a Canonization which was solemnizd both at Rome with vsuall festiualls and to the vniuersall ioy of the whole Kingdome much more in England and chiefly in the Church of Hereford Though the day of its solemnization be not specifyd yett we may credibly think it was on the 2. of October on which day the Church celebrates his yearly memory though it be otherwise certainly knowne as we sayd aboue that the day of his