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
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
Prelate the onely of our Iland which has sanctifyd your Tuscany with a holy death and enrich'd it with his Reliques Another Saint and King also about the yeare 741. Richard by name Father of the Saints Willebald Wunnebald and Walburga Virgin renouncing both Crowne and Kingdome for the loue of Christ and a vertuous life after a long pilgrimage to holy places Settled in fine at Luca and there concluded the whole journey of his life with great opinion of Sanctity where he also was bury'd in the Church of S. Frigidianus his Tomb being afterwards illustrated with many miracles what euer memory may at this present remayne there of him and them So that great Sr. you see our fauours from Tuscany are not groundles wee hauing two such noble Pledges there of intercession and who more powerfull then they that is then the Saints when the Concern relates to the glory of God and aduance of Catholique Religion And giue me leaue Sr. to ascribe and I think not rashly these your present pious inclinations towards our Country and distressd Catholiques to this Originall source the Saints seeming to haue infus'd these noble Sentiments of a feeling ressentment which I mention'd before from your owne pen and cannot too often reflect vpon These pious inclinations haue already produced great and good effects of which we are most sensible and for which we shall hould our selues obliged euer to be most thankfull And now I haue sayd all as to the Apologizing part what remaynes to be sayd further is onely this that your Highnes will daigne to accept what is sayd in good part as also what is humbly offerd by so vndeseruing a hand If it be the first from an English pen the nouelty will in some sort recommend it in hopes it may draw more after it who will suppley for its deficiencyes and it is somthing to lead the way and break the yce If others haue preceeded and I wish they may it willingly for theyr better meritts beggs admittance at least for the Saints if for none of its owne As to him as humbly as hartily I wish you his Patronage and that he may be as fertile to you in heauenly blessings as he was heertofore to his country in supernaturall miracles and what miracle but imports a blessing And Sr. while you haue this Paper-picture before you if in the perusall of his vertues you find any thing for your aduance or aduantage in the same I humbly propose it to your imitation as I doe to others The world is wittnes of your endowments in this but they must be more then very good that cannot be better nor is it any disparagement to be still improueing in the science of Saints and Christian perfection to which each one in his degree and quality be he who he will by that Estote perfecti of our B. Lord and Sauiour is oblig'd What is there prizable in this lifes intercourse but piety and the seruice of God no body being more then he is in that and what imprints this truth more liuely in vs then the liues and examples of Saints wee seeing by what was done by them not onely what is to be done but what is fesible to and by vs. This is the thing I endeauourd to ayme at in this Narratiue by inserting reflexions to that purpose and chiefly of the 4. Cardinall vertues as both propper and common to all states and conditions And if your Highnes or any Reader may be benefitted therby to a due discharge of theyr incumbent duty in the same I haue my desyre which is no other then glory to God honour to the Saint and aduance of soules in vertu and piety A Table of the Chapters Chap. Â Page 1. THe time and Circumstances of his birth 11 2. Of the Parents and Discent of S. Thomas 23 3. Of his Child hood and Domestique Education 33 4. His first Studyes in Oxford 48 5. S. Thomas his Study of Philosophy 56 6. His Study of the Canon-Law at Oxford 63 7. He is made Chancellor of the Vniuersity of Oxford 72 8. He is made Lord High Chancellor of England 79 9. King Henry the 3. dyes his Son Succeeds S. Thomas with license giues vp his Seale and retyres 89 10. S. Thomas returns to Oxford proceeds Doctour of Diuinity the testimony giuen of him c. 97 11. He is made Bishop of Hereford 109 12. His Retyrement and Vnion with God 121 13. Of his Loue to the Poore 136 14. His Charity to all and detestation of detraction 149 15. His Courage in defence of Ecclesiasticall Libertyes 162 16. His journey to Rome and entertainment there 173 17. His returne homewards and death on the way 186 18. The Buriall of his H. Body and returne of his Bones into England 200 19. The Translation of them into a more eminent place 212 20. The multitude of miracles wrought by the Saint 230 21. His Canonization and generall Deuotion of all vnto him both Prince and people till this vnhappy breach 258 22 His Humility and Abstinence 270 23. His Discharge of Duty towards God and his Neighbour 286 24. His Purity of body and mind 301 25. His Iustice and Prudence 314 THE LIFE And Gests of S. THOMAS CANTILUPE Sometimes Chancellor of England and afterwards Bishop of Hereford in the same Kingdome PREFACE THe liues and memory of divers Illustrious persons seem to carry no small resemblance with those great Rivers Nilus Ganges Tigris Euphaates whose names and greatnes are as generally frequent in the mouthes of men as the particulars of theyr course and originall scarse kuowne to any Nor need we wonder it is so especially in the Saints of God for Sanctity is alwayes built vpon humility and with its mantle shrowds it selfe from the eyes of the world neuer better content then when conceald and the profounder it is like the same Rivers the less noyse it makes soe that none but an obseruing eye can discouer its course And if this were true in any it was I may say in our Glorious Prelate S. THOMAS CANTILVPE Bishop of Hereford who the greatest part of his dayes as he liu'd to the eyes of men a secular orderly but ordinary life nothing extraordinary to outward appearance so they knew no more of him then what could not be hid a great vprightnes singular innocency vertuous Conuersation set of with none of these surprising Commendatoryes Raptures Visions Miracles which vsually accompany sanctity True it is that the Common Legends haue left enough to conuince that he was a great Saint and wrought many Miracles Yett if we decend further to particulars we shall find that the greatest part of what we know oâ— him is the least part of what we are ignorant and all compriz'd in a leafe or two For though he were renownd both at home and abroad for his noble Extraction Learning Sanctity yet he was little knowne as to most particulars of his heauenly life and appeard rather visible to the world
the place besydes 14. Earles and Barons and 400. knights with theyr seruanâ—s horse and foot taken presoners This victory cutt the sinewes of the Barons confederacy and blew off all forraigne stormes from our English Coast the french Prince thinking fitt at last to look back vpon a safe retreat and to quitt anothers right not to lose his owne In fine our young king was so settled heerby in his throne that from this day no rebellion durst presume vpon the minority of his yeares nor attempt his Fortune And for the space of 34. yeares as long as William Lord Cantilupe S. THOMAS his father liu'd no man had the power or Courage to make head against him These happy tidings well-comd S. THOMAS into the world or rather he brought them with him these Laurells of victory crownd the Cradle of our holy Infant or rather he was giuen from heauen as a Crowne of his fathers loyalty and as a pledge of the diuine protection ouer the little king who though a child was better read then most men in that maxime of wisdome that crownes and kingdomes are disposd and swayd by the hand of God Prou. 8 19. And therfore seeing himselfe at the first stepp into his throne so strongly opposd or rather thrust out by the violence of a forraigne Aduersary and faction of his natiue people Could think of no other refuge but God And Henr. Kâ—ighten de euenâ—ib Anglia as an Authour of creditt writing of those times recounts he betook himselfe to little Iesus in his Virgin Mothers lapp and with as innocent as sweet a confidence presents his Petition in these words Rogo te puerum Regem vt me Regem puerum de caetero regas defendas I beseech thee who art a king and child gouerne and defend me henceforth who am a king and Child That this petition was not in vayne is sufficiently manifest by the euent and strange ouerthrow of such powerfull designes which could be onely contrould by the hand of God Neyther did the diuine mercy make a stopp heer but gaue a further assurance of his holy protection by the happy birth of S. THOMAS Cantilupe who was not onely a presage of better times but in a particular manner designd for a maine support and strength both to king and kingdome in the highest seat of gouerment and to be a mirrour of iustice in both Tribunalls of church and state II. CHAPTER Of the Parents and descent of S. THOMAS NObility hough in the most ciuilizd Nations it hath euer had a speciall prerogatiue in the generall conceyt of men yett with this abatement and restriction that the wiser sort neuer lookd vpon it otherwise then an extrinsecall and boriowd light shining more by the reflexion of others deserts then any worth in it selfe Which well interprets that ancient custome of the Romane Nobility who wore the sigure of a Moone vpon theyr shoe as a distinctiue mark of theyr rank and quality Neyther had that golden Grass-hopper any other meaning which the Gentlemen of Athens wore vpon theyr garments as a badg of honour but to admonish them that Nobility though it seemd a specious and glittering thing yett was but a meer ayry and idle fancy if like the silly grasshopper they contented themselfes to sing and chant theyr Ancestres renowne and greatnes and would not take the paynes to lay vpp store and make themselues a stock of true worth and honour by theyr owne industrious and noble actions Vertue like the sunn shines with its owne light and needs no supply from any other it liues not with the breath of other fame nor rakes vpp honour out of dead mens ashes It may seem therfore a very vnnecessary if not preposterous diligence to be inquisitiue of the pedigrees of Saints whose purity and holynes of life hath raisd them aboue all the hight of flesh and blood and by a strange adoption made them brothers and sisters and mothers of God himselfe Neuertheless if the wisdome of God allowes of a mutuall reference and Communication between the Parent and the child so as the shame and honour of the one reflects vpon the other if the eternall Prouidence hath a speciall and Mysterious designe euen in that lineall succession of nature as it appeares by the stile of holy scripture and remarkably in the Genealogy of the Word Incarnate where the fingar of God poynts out all particulars with such exactnes name by name both good and bad Infine if the excellency of vertue doth not seldome more appeare by a parallel of former times eyther in similitude and imitation of worthy actions or a generous renouncing and detestation of the contrary it cannot but conduce to the better knowledg and esteem of Saints to be informd of what stock and coÌ„dition they are If noble and of high extraction like a diamond bred in a mine of gold worthy to be obserued that by theyr owne vertue they surpass the glory of theyr birth and Ancestres and not by idolizing and adoring but treading vpon worldly greatnes they make it an ascent to raise themselues from earth to heauen If of a meane and low degree like an orientall pearle in a course and rugged shell the workmanship of diuine grace is the more to be admir'd that can raise children of Abraham from stones and frame such pretious rarityes of gross materialls As the happynes and glory of the Saints themselues is likewise more remarkable being they owe nothing of theyr greatnes to earth but receiue all from heauen In a word it cannot be deny'd but that nobility and renowne of Ancestres as an impartiall wittnes well expressd it is a visible light which Marâ— us in Salust makes the actions of posterity more Conspicuous be they good or bad Hauing vpon this occasion digressd thus farr giue me leaue to add one word more and let our nobility know that this busynes of descent be it neuer so noble is a meer ayry thing unles it be supported and illustrated with uertue and piety When it is thus mated it both giues and receiues great aduantages and the one sets off the other extreamly True it is that euery-wher euen alone it ought to haue its due respect and none that I know denys it besydes the Quaker but when any bragg of it they boast of what 's not theyr owne and shew therby rather theyr owne emptynes then its worth and themselues to haue more of the man then Christian For Christian Nobility deriues not its pedegree from flesh and blood but grace and sanctity according to the saying of S. Ambrose the linage of a just man is vertue and perfection for by it soules are ennobled and dignify'd as familyes are by antiquity of blood nor onely ennobled but deify'd to a participation of the diuine nature This is true nobility indeed and worth standing on and adds great lustre to the other as the mixture of a nobler mettall doth to another of an inferiour allay yett still
endeauour and he endeauourd it by employing to that purpose the 3. powers of his soule memory vnderstanding and will in a perpetuall presence of him His memory by recounting his great and dayly benefitts in a thankfullnes of hart his vnderstanding by meditating his diuine truthes perfections and attributes his will by louing him in all and conforming his to the diuine and this is the noblest employment of a rationall soule and an imitation of what the Saints doe in heauen The more straitly he vnited himselfe to God the more he did partake of his bountyes who scornes to be out-vy'd by any body in this kind and this participation increasd the flame of his charity which dilated it selfe both towards God and his Neighbour louing God for himselfe and his neighbour in and for God and as himselfe and this is the fullnes of the Law and Prophetts Hence he became soo Zealous both of the honour and House of God which is his Church and so sensible of the concerns of his neighbour both spirituall and temporall that he seemd to be borne for theyr reliefe and especially of the poore and needy of both which parts of charity we shall treat more amply in the ensuing Chapters and first XIII CHAPTER Of his Loue to the Poore TO think that one so groundedly maximd in perfection and the practise of all solid vertue as he was would rather impayre then improue by his Exaltation is a paradoxe Qui Apoc. 22. 11. sanctus est sanctificetur adhuc who is holy let him aduance in holynes sayd S. John and so sayes euery truly vertuous soule whose glory is to be allwayes mounting with the sunn to the topp of his Meridian All our Saints ambition and satisfaction was in a happy progress towards perfection knowing that as to its pursuit we are as it were in a streame where there is no standing still for the Rower not to ascend is to descend and to goe backward not to goe forward Euen while he was yett a Churchman or Canon he was very much deuoted to almes deeds and the reliefe of the poore how much was this pious practise aduancd when by the imposition of hands he had receiu'd the H. Ghost who is Father of the Veni Pater patiperum poore and made him such but whether before or after matters not the vertue being equally commendable in both states and we wil speak promiscuously of it in both Though good words giue but barren comfort to an empty stomack yett still it is true that out of the abundance of the hart the mouth speaks and then they are onely expressions of a willing mind and howeuer euen a Compassionate answer is in some sort satisfactory The poore were sure at least of that from him if nothing else though he seldome stinted his charity there and as he esteemd them the Patrimony of Christ so he spoke with all humility and respect to them as he would to Christ himselfe knowing that to be done to him which was done to the least of his members Vpon this account the esteem he had of them was such that he commonly calld them his Breethren a name of greatest loue and with his good will would haue had all his domestiques to haue calld them so too and chidd them that they did not Whence it is recorded that being sett at table with halfe a dozen such guests and finding yet place for more he sent one of the waiters to the Pallace gate te see whether any of his Breethren were there or no if there were that he should bring a couple of them along with him He returning told his Lord there were no Brothers of any Order what soeuer No sayd the Bishop not of this that sitts heer by me poynting to the beggars yes my Lord replyd he there are at least a dozen such goe then sayd he and bring 5. of the number along with you which was forth with done impletae sunt Matt. 22. 10. Nuptiae discumbentium But words be they neuer so good are still inferiour to deeds these latter being a better proof of charity as costing more and aftording more reliefe This was the substantiall part of his loue to the poore and he was not sparing of it he had to witt learnd the great lesson of his Lord and Master beatius est Act. 20. 35. magis dare quam accipere it is a more blessed thing to giue then to take and he was resolu'd to practise it in this behalfe The recommendation of his owne meritts and noble discent had furnishd him with a large proportion of Church Reuenues euen before the accesse of his Bishoprick which besydes a competency of maintenance beseeming his quality and the discharge of other incumbencyes he knew not how to bestow better then on the poore He knew that the goods of the Church are the Patrimony of Christ and where could he spend them better then on the liuing members of Christ eyther to his owne content of mind or satisfaction of conscience This is the way to grow rich in heauen and make friends of the Mammon of iniquity Luc. 16. 9. that when other meanes fayle these may receiue vs into the eternall tabernacles nay euen procure vs temporall Commodityes synce almes deeds layd vpp in the bosome of the poore this is the best way of honouring our Lord by Prou. 2. 10. them fill both the press with wine and barnes with Corne and the almes-giuer with other blessings He in deed had no great sinns of his owne to redeem by them as hauing probably neuer lost his baptismall innocence but he aymd at a treasure of meritts due to such works of Corporall mercy and was to be layd vpp in heanen against his reception there out of the reach of rust or moth Hence he took this vertue so to hart that it was very resplendent in his practise and the poore resorted to him as to a common parent from whome they neuer departed empty handed He found it no bad medium to work by the body vpon the Soule and true that to gaine this charity must be shewd to that an indisposd body is like an indisposd mind hard to be wrought vpon while necessitous fill the hand and you gaine the hart now flexible to any good impressions Our corrupt nature is more sensible of hungar then of deuotion and ressents want of sustenance more then want of vertue or grace It is as hard to hammer it to good as a piece of iron to a good shape vnles it be first made supple by the fire of a subuentiue charity this done you may forme it as you please Works of Corporall mercy must dispose for the spirituall Therfore his custome was to seek admittance to the mind by relieuing the body and made it a part of his care to order things so that while he refreshd this that should not also want its food partly by pious discourses and godly instructions partly by causing some good book
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
onely the foundation but also the ciment or mortar of this building which giues a combynement and both vnity and vnion to all the parts by making it one House and this vnion is both the order and beauty of the structure or whole And in this it squares very propperly for as the mortar not onely combynes but lyes conceald and is not seen so humility though it giue lustre to other vertues yett it conceales it selfe carrying for its motto „ ama nesciri „ loue to lye conceald What charity is in Theologicalls the same is humility in Moralls as that perfects the former so this the latter in so much that neyther the vertue of pennance nor mortification nor obedience of which S. Leo sayth that nothing is hard to the humble nor pouerty nor patience nay nor euen charity it selfe can subsist without humility synce this alone can ciment vpp the breaches of that according to S. Bernard Sola humilitas laeâ—ae charitatis est reparatio To build without this foundation is to build to ruine synce no other without this can sustaine the Stress of such a machine as is spirituall perfection who builds not on it builds on the superficiall sands of self conceypt or some such like and Consequently when a storme Luc. 6. 49 comes and the winds blow and the raynes fall great will be the ruines of that House as our Sauiour sayd because it is not built on this Rock or ground-work It is propper to this vertue to empty our selues of our selues that is of self loue and self ease a lazy humour which sowes a pillow to euery elbow and is allwayes leaning homewards that is not to seek God and his greater glory but it selfe hating to take paynes and vse diligence which is calld the mother of good success a good issue seldom fayling the diligent And humility is allwayes such nor indeed can it be otherwise synce the care and sollicitude of the humble man is not bent vpon himselfe whome he deems vnworthy of any good but on God whose beneplacitum is his sole ioy and to be accounted a good seruant his onely happynes Pride on the contrary allwayes seeks it selfe as prizing nothing but it selfe it being a meer lump of self loue and proceeds towards God as did that man towards Iupiter who giuing him halfe of all he had eat the kernells of his nutts and gaue him the shells As humility emtyes vs of our selues so doth it replenish vs with God and his graces for when we putt off our selues we putt on Alm. God and where the Creature ceases to be there succeeds the Creatour by a sequele morally necessary in the order of grace as in that of nature the ayre connaturally succeeds the substraction of another body to hinder a vacuity For God who is euery where by his immensity has his propper mansion house sayth S. Austin in the hart of the humble but then he will haue no inmate besydes himselfe he will not share Lodgings with any one no not euen with the Land Lord himselfe I make this short Elogium of humility to giue the less acquainted Reader a little knowledg of its worth it was one of the gloryes of our Saint rendring him as acceptable to men as gratefull to God and it is expressly noted in his life that it gott him the loue of all And no wonder for the humble man incurrs no body's displeasure synce he trencheth neyther on theyr profitt nor creditt he contents himselfe with what he is and deeming himselfe a meer nothing he rests in that and consequently is beneath enuy wher as the proud self louer is vngratefull as contemning all and caring for no body but himselfe because he loues no body but himselfe while the humble all besydes himselfe and to loue is the way to be beloued All his Comportment was seasond with this ingredient and carryd a strong rellish of it in his words his actions and behauiour so that it was a vertue as it ought transcendentall through all This gaue him that Candour of an ingenuous simplicity so propper to Christian Conuersation and the Spiritt of God in Vir simplâ—â— rectus Gen. Iob. 1. heritted from these ancient Patriarchs Jacob Job and the rest praysd by God in the first place for this a vertue so opposite to all duplicity or double dealing and consequently the Mother of integrity and vprightnes as well as all happynes making his tongue and his hart goe both togeather There is great difference betwixt simplicity and simplenes as the world takes it which is so ignorant of this vertue that it cannot distinguish betwixt in and folly wher as it doth not exclude prudence but craft and duplicity Prudence is its indiuduall Companion and therfore our B. Sauiour wishd his Apostles to ioyne the prudence of the Serpent with the Simplicity of the doue and how eminently prudent our Saint was shall be shewd in the last Chapter This humble simplicity made him so obsequious to all just Commands for what teaches obedience but tractability and tractability but humility the onely disposition to subjection and subordination as pride on the contrary is its opponent We haue shewd already in the 13 Chapter what a loue and respect he had for the poore how he calld them his breethren heard theyr Confessions before the Rich made his table so open and Common to them that it entertaynd somtimes 30. somtimes 40. 50. yea a 100. togeather who as he was as poore of spiritt as the most so he lou'd like byrds of a feather to sort with them and all this was a result of his humility which naturally branches into charity seeking others more then it selfe From this also was sourc'd his singular contempt both of himselfe and all that is specious in poynt of employment or preferrment hence he reioyced so much at his deposing the Office of Lord Chancellour as much to witt as others at its attaynment and was the cause that his promotion to the Bishoprick of Hereford cost him so many teares desyrous rather to lye hidd vnder a bushell then be sett in the Candlestick of the Church Hence he was euer ready to pardon any delinquent vpon poynt of due submission and pardon demanded and many times though the fault were theyrs he would preuent them by way of example seeking friendship when they had broken it but to the stubborn and incorrigible he was not easily reconcild This vertue taught him also patience which is soon lost admidst the Crosses of this world if it be not supported by humility which fitts our shoulders for euery burden and perswades vs we beare no more then our due whence it was that without repining he readily receiu'd all the personall affronts aboue mentiond in the 14. Chapter without so much as offering at a Retaliation euen in word To his humility we may ioyne his Mortification and these two suite well togeather and lend a mutuall hand to each other For it is the humble man that