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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09859	The flowers of the liues of the most renowned saincts of the three kingdoms England Scotland, and Ireland written and collected out of the best authours and manuscripts of our nation, and distributed according to their feasts in the calendar. By the R. Father, Hierome Porter priest and monke of the holy order of Sainct Benedict, of the congregation of England. The first tome.	Porter, Jerome, d. 1632.; Rucholle, Peeter, 1618-1647, engraver.; Baes, Martin, engraver.	1632 (1632)	STC 20124; ESTC S114966	523,559	659

not to suffer them selues to be deceiued with those vaine illusions But the giddie multitude terrified with the apprehensiō of that fantastick dāger ranne allmost all out of the Church to quench those false flames which they could not doe allbeit they powred on true water vntill by the prayer of S. CVTHBERT the authour of those fallacies being putt to Is putt to flight flight his vaine flashes vanished togeather with him into the ayre Whereat the poeple much astonished and ashamed humbly on their knees acknowledged their follie demaunded pardon for that soe great lightnes and inconstancie Nether did he only commaund these fantastick fiers but allsoe true flames too which whē a whole Village could not quēch with great store of cold water were by the seruent streames of his teares and prayers vtterly extinguished and manie houses deliuered that at once were in danger to be deuoured by that mercilesse Element Whereby in these two miracles he worthyly imitated the vertues of two worthie auncient Saincts in chasing away the fayned fier that of our most holy father S. BENEDICT of whom S. GREGORY the Great reporteth the like and in the other the act of M●ircellinus the most venerable Bishop of Anchona who when the same cittie was all in fier by his prayers miraculously deliuered it Most fitly therefore vnto these holy men that of the prophet Esay may be applied When thou shalt passe Esay 43. through the fier thou shalt not be burnt and the flame shall not burne against thee VIII BVT LET vs now see of what power this holy man was against the open furie and warre of this hellish fiend Hildmer Prefect vnto A woeman possessed with the deuill King Egsrid had a verie deuout wife verie much giuen to religious and Catholick workes who one day being bufied in exercises of pietie giuing of almes to the poore at the same instant she was suddenly possessed with the deuill which made her roare out with such horrid cries and howlings that they gaue sufficient testimonie of the great danger she was in Her husband that was well beloued of S. CVTHBERT posted vnto him in great hast and tould him into what a perillous disastre his wife was fallen entreating him againe and againe by all the force of his affection to be mindfull of her in his prayers and to send a Priest to minister the venerable sacrament of the Eucharist vnto her who was now come to the periode of her life Thus he sayd meaning to hide her disease being ashamed to let him vnderstand that she was possessed by the deuill as supposing it to be a punishment for some secret enormious crime The holy man foreseeing the perplexitie of his soule and the torments of his wife Wherefore replied he hast thou conceaued soe bad an opinion of thy wife Not only the wicked and such as haue quite forsaken the seruice of allmightie God are in this life subiect to the tortures and racks of the deuill but the innocent allsoe and such manie times as are endowed with great sainctitie of life by the secret iudgment of God are tried and exercised in this world with such like torments But be of good courage I will goe my self along with thee and before we be there we shall find thy wife deliuered Is deliuered by to 〈◊〉 ching his bridle out of this distresse And as they drew neere to the house where that poore captife lay languishing sudainly the wicked spiritt being not able to abide the approach of the holy spiritt which inhabited his vertuous soule fled away and left the woeman released out of those deuilish bands who rising as it were out of a deepe lethargie ranne ioyfully to salute the holy man and taking hould only of his bridle she was presently as sound and perfect as euer which caused her to breake into infinite ioy and thanksgiuing testifieing withall that then first she was prefectly cured when she touched his horses bridle IX IN THESE and such like workes of vertue the holy man hauing spent manie yeares in the monasterie of Mailros his good Abbot Eata sent him to the monasterie of Lindisfarne to plant there allsoe the Rule of monasticall perfection and made him superiour thereof For Lindisfarne allbeit it were a bishoprick yet the Bishop and all his cleargie were monks from S. AYDAN their first Bishop who was a Monk but S. CVTHBERT was the first that reduced them to the rule and order of S. BENEDICT For coming sayth S. BEDE in his life to the Church or Monasterie of Lindisfarne he presently Here formeth the Monks of Lindisfarne to S. Benedicts rule deliuered monasticall institutions to the monks there both by word and work But there were some brethren in the monasterie who chose rather to follow their auncient custom then obey a Regular obseruance Whom he notwithstanding ouercame with the modest vertue of his patience and by dayly exercise conuerted them by litle and litle to a state of better purpose But disputing oftentimes in the cōuent of the Rule Which was that of S. BENEDICT since at that time there was noe other rule extant in the latine Church when he His great patience was toyled with most sharpe iniuries of those that contradicted him he would rise from his seate and without anie shew of discontent ether in mind or countenance depart and dismisse the Conuent for that time But on the morrow as yf he had endured noe resistance the day before he would repeate the same admonitions to the same auditours vntill by little and little as we haue sayd he had brought them to his owne desires For he was a man verie excellent in the vertue of patience and most inuincible in enduring couragiously all aduersities which opposed them selues against him ether in soule or bodie and noe lesse bearing a merrie countenance in all disastrous and sad mischances soe that he gaue the world to vnderstand that being armed with the internall consolation of the holy ghost he contemned all externe misfortunes Moreouer he His wonderfull was ching was soe wonderfully giuen to watching and prayer that sometimes for three or fower nights togeather he tooke no sleepe at all And yf perchaunce as mans nature is sleepe forcebly seised vppon him he was wont to shake off both it and teadiousnes in his prolixe prayers eyther with manuall labour or goeing about the Iland diligently searching how all things were caried and managed And when some others of his brethren did complaine and take it verie grieuously yf anie one chaunced to awake the out of their mightly or noonly sleepes he contrariwise was wont to say that such an one calling vppon him was farre more gratefull then troblesom For he is cause sayth he that shaking of sluggishnes I settle my self to some Rare exāples of goodnes good worke or meditation He was soe exceedingly giuen to cōpunction of heart soe ardently inflamed with heauēly desires that he neuer celebrated the holy solemnities of

But now perceauing him againe to come to himself their lamentation was changed into a fearefull admiration and their admiration bred ioy to see him aliue Then the holy man looking about him and finding noe man vnto whose wisedom he could committ the knowledge of the vision he had seene was verie sorrowfull choosing for that time rather to burie it within the secret of his owne heart then reueale it vnto such as knew not how to vnderstand it II. BVT the third day afterwards being againe taken with the like rauishment he beheld nor only greater ioyes of the blessed companie An other visiō most strange of heauen but allsoe the wonderfull warres which the wicked spirits raysed against him striuing to hinder his iourney towards heauen allbeit the protection of the Angels frustrated their malicious endeauours Manie false accusations they brought against him and layd diuers crimes to his chardge of all which by his guides the Angels he was freely disengaged And as he was lifted vp by these blessed spirits towards heauen they commaunded him to looke downe into the world Which done he saw like a darke and indeous The 4. fiers of vice that burne the world valley vnderneath him And in the ayre he beheld fower fiers not farre distant one from the other which they tould him were the fiers that should burne and consume the world The first they sayd was the fier of Liars which those fall into that neglect to fullfill their promise made in Baptisme in renouncing the deuill and all his workes The secōd was the fier of Couetousnes appointed for such as preferre the riches of the world before the loue of heauen and heauenly things The third was the fier of Discord prouided for those that sticke not to offend their neighbours euen in trifling and superfluous matters The fourth was the fier of Jmpietie allotted for such as care not how they spoile and oppres se the inferiour and weaker sorte of people He beheld these fiers to encrease soe by little and little till at length by spreading they came togeather and made one mightie huge and dreadfull flame which seemed to approach neere vnto him Whereat he cried out to his guide the Angel O Lord behold it cometh vppon me Feare not replied he that which thou hast not kindled shall not burne thee For allthough this seeme to be a mightie great and terrible fier yet it only tries and examines men according as their workes haue deserued the worldly desires of men shall burne in these flames For euen as one is enflamed in bodie by vnlawfull lust and pleasure soe released from his bodie he shall suffer his deserued torments in fier Then he beheld one of the three Angels his guides to walke before and diuide the flames and the other two conducting him on each side through the fier defended him from the danger thereof He saw likewise the deuils flieing through the flames making fierie warres against the iust then followed their manie accusations against him and the Angels defence in his behalf with a vision of a greater companie of heauenly spirits as allsoe of manie men of his countrey and acquaintance that he had knowne not vnworthily to haue behaued them selues in the sacred function of Priesthood of whom he learnt manie things verie profitable as well for him self as for all such as would heare them When these had ended their discourse and returned vnto heauen with the troupes of Angels there only remained with B. FVRSEVS the three Angels his guides with whom returned againe towards the foresayd fier the Angel diuided the flame as before but as the holy man entred into the way layd open for him the wicked spirits caught vp one of those wretched soules which they broyled in those flames and threw it at him at the verie touch whereof he found his shoulder and cheeke to be scorched and burnt The holy man well knēw the person and remembred that at his death he had giuen him a garment which he receaued But the holy Angell taking the tormented soule cast him againe into the fier whereat the wicked spirit cried out Why doe you cast him of now whom you receaued before For as you tooke the goods of that sinner soe ought you to partake of his torments Not out of couetousnes replied the Angel but to saue his soule did he receaue it and therewith the fier ceased And the Angel turning vnto the holy man sayd that which thou didest kindle now hath burnt thee for hadest not thou taken the goods of this man dieing in sinne the torment of his fier had not touched thee And speaking further he taught him what was to be done for the saluation of those that did repent III. BEING restored to him self againe he bore all his life time after a visible signe of the burning which he had endured in his soule vppon his shoulders and cheeke the Flesh euidently shewing to the wonder of all beholders what the soule had inwardly and hiddenly suffered But he retained allwaies his wonted care and diligence of following vertuous pious courses by word worke and example to teach and preach the way of truth and iustice vnto the world Yet he would neuer manifest the order and manner of his visions but vnto such only as out of a desire of repentance or compunction of hearth desired to know them There liueth yet saith Proofe of the foresayd vision venerable BEDE an auncient Monke of our monasterie who is wont to relate that a certaine religious and trustie man tould him that he had both seene S. FVRSEVS in the prouince of the East-Angles and heard the manner of these visions out of his owne mouth Adding moreouer that in the middest of winter when the frost was most sharp cold that sitting in a light and single garment recounting these visions eyther out of the greatnes of the feare he conceaued or of the sweetnes he receaued by the remembrance of them he would sweate as much as if it had bin the hottest day of sommer IV. HAVING therefore a long time preached the word of God in Jreland his owne countrey being not able anie longer easily to endure the great multitude of people that flocked vnto him he forsooke all that he seemed to enioy goeing out of his natiue countrey with some few of his brethren in his companie he passed the seas and came through Wales into the prouince of the English where he was honourably receaued and worthily entertained by Sigebert then King of the East-Angles But he that desired wheresoeuer he went allwaies to promote the seruice of allmightie God beganne presently to putt in practise his accustomed trade of preadhing labouring by the example of his vertues or the inciting forces of his speeches eyther to conuert the incredulous to the truth or to strengthn and confirme the faithfull more and more in the truth and loue of IESVS CHRIST Such were his daily labours such were the pious employments in which

wonted deuotions he went this round Masse and prayers for the dead and added to the end of his prayers Requiescant in pace he heard from the ground the voyces as it were of an infinite armie that answeared Amen Whereby he found his labours and prayers to be verie gratefull and profitable vnto the soules departed The same holy man being an ardent follower of our Lords example would euerie day without anie spectatours execute acts of profound humilitie in washing with his owne hands the feete of diuers poore people couering them a table giuing them sufficiencie of meate and at length His works of humilitie as their deuout seruant taking away what was left This seruice being finished and his poore guests dismissed he would remaine in the same roome the space of two or three howers at his prayers Vntill once entring according to custom to exercise these pions offices not hauing bene before troubled with signe of anie sicknes suddenly vnknowne to all his soule departed out of his mortall lodging The māner of his death leauing it void of all vitall spiritt His familie and seruants that had long bene acquainted with his customs thinking that then he was alsoe busied at his prayers let him lie there a whole day And the next morning breaking into his chamber they found a dead bodie starke and stiffe without anie signe of life Therefore with great cryes and lamentations they buried him in the Church of Winchester But the Citizens of the towne because they sawe him intercepted by a kind of suddaine death buried the worthie memorie of the holy man in the deepe caues of silence being ignorant that it is written The man that liueth well cannot die ill And by what Sap. 4. death soeuer the iust man shall be preuented and ouertaken he shall be in a place of refreshing and comfort But a long time after this their rashnes was corrected by the allmightie power of him that cannot erre for to Ethelwold Bishop of the same place as one night he watched and He appeareth to S. Ethelwold prayed according to his custom before the reliques of the Saincts in the Church of Winchester there appeared three persons which stood by him not in an extasie but fully awake The middest of the three spake these words I am BIRSTAN in times past Bishop of this cittie This on my right hand is BIRINE the first preacher and that on my left is SWITHINE the speciall Patron of this Church and Cittie And thou must know that as thou seest me here present with them soe doe I enioy the same glorie with them in heauen Why therefore am I depriued of the honour and reuerence of mortall men who am highly exalted in the companie of heauenly spirits Saincts are to honoured At these words they vanished and euer after by the commaundement of S. ETHELWOLD his memorie was celebrated with great veneration By this we may learne that holy men the prouidence of heauen soe disposing may sometimes be taken away by suddaine death and not without a speciall fauour in getting by a minute of paine that which others cannot obtaine but by manie yeares torments of sicknes This holy man was consecrated B. an 932. died in the yeare of our Lord 934. Thus much of him we haue gathered out of WILLIAM MALMESBVRY lib. 2. de Pontific Angl. and MATHEW WESTMINSTER ann 932. NICHOLAS HARPSFIELD saec 10. cap. 8. POLIDORE VIRGILL lib. 6. ARNOLD WION lib. 2. lig vitae and others mak● worthie mention of him The life of S. WILGIS Confessor and Monk of the holy order of S. BENEDICT IAN. 31. Out of S. Alcuinus in the life of S. willibrord THERE was in that part of the Brittsh Iland called Northumberland a househoulder named Wilgis by byrth a Saxon or Englishman who hauing bene naturall father vnto WILLIBRORD afterwards a Sainct and Archbishop of Vtreight as if he had perfourmed the whole dutie of his mariage resolued both he and his wife to leaue the world and vndertake a religious course of life which holy purpose how vertuously he accōplished was by miracles afterwards sufficiently testified and made knowne to the world For hauing left his secular garments he putt on the black monasticall habitt of the holy order of S. BENEDICT and made profession of a Monk not He taketh the habit of S. Benedict vppon a forced seruice but out of a true will and desire to religion And because in leauing his house and temporall goods enrouling him self into a spirituall warrefare in the campe of IESVS CHRIST he had vndertaken a perfect life he would not therefore be backward in what he professed but in all things shewed him self to be a most perfect seruant vnto the deare master he serued But when he had for a while giuen a patterne of his vertuous life in the schoole of the monasterie he became soe braue a souldier that the rudnes of the fearefull desert could not afright him for shutting vp him self within the limitts of a streight and narrow cottage that stoode between He leadeth an eremiticall life the Ocean and the riuer Humber dedicated to S. ANDREW the Apostle he laboured in the exercise of a solitarie conuersation and imitating his grand master S. BENEDICT he led a heauenly and angelicall life on earth in purenes exceeding the ruddie blush of the rose or the whitenes of the fayre lillie but delightfully shining with a more sweete varietie of vertues then doth a doue in the beames of the sunne with diuersitie of colours Within a short space his desire to lie hid was betrayed by the wonder of his frequent miracles and his name was blowne soe farre abroade with the trumpet IAN. 31. of fame till it arriued at the Kings Court and sounded such an alarum all ouer the countrey of Scotland that great store of people flocked vnto him whom he neuer sent away emptie but allwaies loaden with the sweet instructions and admonitions of his heauenlie learning The fame of his vertue drawes manie schollers being compelled herevppon to labour sometimes in a contemplatiue and other times in a practicall manner of life He became at last of soe great esteeme and honour with the King and Nobles of the Realme that they gaue him the possession of some lands neere adioining and bestowed manie other rich guifts vppon him by help whereof he built an honourable Church on the Sea side in honour of the B. Virgin MARIE and gathered togeather a Conuent of Beuedictine Monks small in number but great in the exercise of true vertue and religion These he gouerned as Abbott with all sainctitie of He buildeth a monasterie life doctrine vntill the diuine clemencie willing to set a period to the conflicts of his holy labours absolued this his worthy champion from the most painfull warrefare of this present life to raigne in his heauenly Court which soe long he had thirsted for and desired He was very honourably buried

present found at the self same time some poore leapers at the doore expecting an almes The Sainct bad her giue those apples vnto the wretches at the doore but the woeman whether of niggardlines or out of some horrour she conceaued refused soe as she thought basely to bestow them saying that she brought them for her and her religious sisters and not for such loathsom creatures This answere much displeased the holy virgin who sharpely reprehending her for hindering a work of charitie with a prophetick spiritt tould her that in punishment of this offence all the trees in her orchard should wither away neuer beare fruict againe the woeman departed and being come home found her trees which she had left well stored with aples to haue store of nothing but want and from that time they remayned drie barren and fruitlesse euer after VI. A NAVGHTIE woeman being deliuered of a sonne vnlawfully begotten the better to hide her offence layd it to the chardge of the holie Bishop Broon disciple to S. PATRICK But when he auowed the contrarie that he was most free from anie such wicked act S. BRIGITT sent for the woeman and asked her whoe was the father of Puni●●mēt of 〈◊〉 her child she answered verie impudently that noe man but the Bishop had to doe with it Wherevppon the Sainct making the signe of the Crosse vppon the mouth of that vile woeman presently her shameles tongue swelled in her head that she could not speake She allso made the same signe of life on the tongue of the little infant A new-borne child speaketh and demaunded of him who was his father A strainge miracle he that neuer spake word before answeared very distinctly that it was not the Bishop but a deformed and vile fellow the basest amongst all the common people and thus by the discouerie of the truth the holy Bishops reputation remayned vntouched that miserable woeman did penance for her slander and the people gaue thankes vnto the allmightie searcher of our hearts and secrets VII THE daughter of a great Prince hauing vowed perpetuall chastitie and chosen IESVS CHRIST for her only spouse was neuerthelesse forcibly sollicited by her father to marrie On the day appointed The vertue of the signe of the Crosse for her mariage when the banquet and all other rich preparations were in a readines she stole away secretly from her fathers house and fled for refuge into S. BRIGITTS monasterie Her father accompanied with manie horsemen pursued her meaning to take her out by force the Sainct seeing them come made the signe of the Crosse on the ground and at the verie instant the men horses and all stood flock still like soe manie statues Then the Prince acknowledging the strength of the mightie hand of God to hould him did penance for his rashnes and at the prayer of the Sainct both he and and his followers were sett at libertie and his daughter perseuered in the perfourmance of her sacred vow VIII THIS blessed Sainct hauing cured manie diseases the fame of her sainctitie was blowne ouer the countrey which made two leapers come vnto her with teares entreating to receaue their S. Brigitt cureth leapers health for whom hauing made her prayer vnto allmightie God she blessed a little water and bad them wash one and other therewith one of them being cured she commaunded him to wash his companion but he was soe rauisht with ioy to see him self recouered and soe fearefull to loose his health againe that he had not the courage eyther to wash or touch his fellow fearing thereby to repurchase his disease but he felt the punishment of God being suddenly couered all his bodie ouer with the same leaprosie when he saw his companion perfectly healed by the prayers of the holie Virgin IX IN THE monasterie of S. BRIGITT among her other Nun●●● there was one beautifull yong dame grieuously haunted with A N●nne grieuously troubled with lasciuious thoughts lasciuious thoughts which had entred into her heart at the gates of her eyes by impurely gazing on a dishonest person vnto whom she had promised a meeting at time conuenient The flame of her filthie affections encreased daily and the deuill according to his custom forgott not to blow those impure coales neuer suffering the poore soule to take anie rest soe necessarie a thing it is to keepe a close gard ouer the gates of our senses for feare we giue death an entrance into our soule soe that being neere vnto the vtter ruine and shipwrack of her chastitie whilst S. BRIGIT vnto whō our Sauiour had reuealed all that passed made her prayer for her she was inspired by Is cured by the prayers of S. Brigitt allmightie God to goe barefoot vppon hott burning coales which she performed and by the heate of one ●ier she quenched the flames of the other and by the sensuall paine of her bodie ouercame the eternall heate which did torment her soule On the morrow S. BRIGITT spake these confortable wordes vnto her Because sayd she thou hast fought couragiously this night and extinguished the flames of wantonnes which made warre against thee hereafter thou shalt be exempted both from them and the fier of hell then making her prayers vnto allmightie God for her she was cured of the burning of her feet and quite freed from the wonted temptations which did molest her X. A MAYD named Daria which was blind entreated S. BRIGIT to make the signe of the crosse on her eyes by meanes thereof she She giueth sight to a blind mayd not only recouered her sight but allsoe by an inward light in the soule she vnderstood that all whatsoeuer she could see in this world was subiect to corruption and vanitie and that that which we see oftentimes with our corporall eyes is but a barre and hindrance to the soule therefore she returned vnto S. BRIGITT and desired to be restored againe to her former blindnes The Sainct by her prayers shutt vp the windowes of her eyes in darknes which before she had opened to behold the light A Ladie of that countrey who had a daughter that was dumb from her verie byrth brought her at the age of twelue yeares vnto S. BRIGITT who taking the gyrle by the hand sayd Wilt thou for the loue of IESVS CHRIST keepe perpetuall chastitie Her mother answeared that her daughter forsooth She ●ureth a dumb gytle was dumb and could not speak Neuerthelesse replied S. BRIGITT I will not let her goe till she answeare me Then the gyrle spoke sayd she would obey her commaunds in all things In performance whereof she remayned a virgin euer after and spake as well and as distinctly as ani● of her sex XI NINE men conspired amongst them selues the death of one man whom they were agreed to kill at a sett day S. BRIGITT being She deliuereth a man from being slaine by his enemi●● aduertised hereof laboured as much as was possible by prayers and entreaties to auert them

on this history extreme follie and blindnes as to seeke to marrie his owne daughter and that a father should bath him self in the bloud of his daughter that resisted against such a gulph of filthines O what Cimerean darknes compasseth the Gentills in respect of the light that lightens the Christians the impetuous furie of passions is easily ouerthrowne by the force courage and grace the God bestoweth on his seruants He adorned this virgin with chastitie with an inspiration to dedicate it to his seruice he fortified her to ouercom that which of all terrible things is the most terrible death in summe he honoured her with an angelicall tombe and with the triumphant trophie which she gayneth ouer the wicked spirits by soe manie diuers miracles Let vs for euer prayse the authour of soe great wonders Amen Peter a chanon of S. Auberts of Cambray writt her life recited by Laurence Surius tome 5. which we haue followed The Roman Martirologe makes mention of her and Cardinall Baronius in his Annotations Iohn Molanus in his vppon Vsuard and in his catalogue of the Saincts of Belgia and manie others The life of saint BRITHVNE Abbot and Confessor of the holy order of saint BENEDICT May 15. Recited by John Capgraue THE venerable Confessor of Christ BRITHVNE whom S. BEDE calleth a most reuerend man borne of English parents was a long time deacon to the B. Bishop saint IOHN of Beuerley vnto De gest l. 5. cap. 2. whom for his great Sainctitie of life and holy conuersation of manners he was allwais deare and familiar and at length by meanes of the same holy man he was made Abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Deirwood now called Beuerley which S. IOHN had built S. IOHN being dead holy BRITHVNE following the stepps of his good Master perseuered as long as he liued in all puritie of life in watchings fasting prayer and other monasticall exercises For he was a louer of vertues a conquerour of vices a contemner of this world a desirer of the world to come a faythfull teacher of the flock committed A summarie of his vertues to his charge an vntired executour of pietie and iustice a great giuer of almes and hospitallitie whatsoeuer he knew to be pleasing to allmightie God in that he was continually busied Till decrepite old age hauing ouertaken him in the seruice of our Lord ending his holy life with an happie end the fifteenth day of May he went out of this world to enter into that which neuer ends His bodie was buried with great honour in the same monasterie till in processe of time the manie signes and miracles wrought at his tomb moued the monks and poeple to translate it out of the earth and place it in a shrine neere vnto that of his Master S. IOHN of Beuerley where it was kept with great veneration Thus much of him out of Ioannes Anglicus recited by Iohn Capgraue Venerable Bede de gest Angl. lib. 5. cap. 2. and Harpsfield hist. Eccl. saec 8. cap. 22. make mention of him S. DVNSTANVS ARCHIEPISCOPVS CANTVARIENSIS Monachus Benedictinus May. 19. Mart. ba● f. The life of S. DVNSTAN Bishop and Confessor of the holy order of saint BENEDICT MAY 19. Written by Osberne a monk of Canturbury an 1020. THE allmightie wisedom to make the worth and greatnes of this renowned Prelat bright ornament of the English Church and excellent Pillar of the Benedictine familie His parents S. DVNSVAN more famous and manifest to the world voutchsafed miraculously to foreshew his future glorie before he was borne and to engraffe in the minds of all men a wonderfull expectation of him which afterwards abundantly he repayed His parents were ●●rstan and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the estimation of the world but much more ennobled with the splendour of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 His mother whilst she 〈◊〉 DVNSTAN in her ●omb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at that solemne The ceremonie of offring candles feast of the Purification of the blessed Virgin 〈◊〉 when in remembrance of the true and eternall ●●ght b●●aking forth to the darkesom world by CHRIST and of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●● of aged S●●●n w● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at Gl●seenbury amongst the rest ●●●● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sud●●ine the 〈◊〉 mayning calme and 〈◊〉 all their lights 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With which accident the minds of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being strucken with a fearefull amazement presently with a new and woderfull miracle they were againe encouraged 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 admiration when they beheld 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with light from A strange accident heauen from whence all the companie lighted 〈◊〉 which made euerie owne deuine that the child she 〈◊〉 her wom● would be a light to lighten the world with the 〈◊〉 of his holy life and learning and therefore his mother was more 〈◊〉 and esteemed of all men euer after II. TIME at length brought to light that great light of the countrey signified by the former and in baptisme he was called DVNSTAN that is a Mo●●taine-stone As soone as he had passed the The vision of his parents yeares of his infancie his parents brought him to the Church of the Benedictine Abbey of Glastenbury and there for his good successe in vertue and good life they offered manie prayers and guifts where as they watched by night in their deuotions they vnderstood by reuelation from an Angel that that monasterie should afterwards be worthyly instructed reformed and adorned by the learning labour and vertuous life of their sonne DVNSTAN Being sett to He falleth sick schoole he applied him self soe eagerly to his studies that he fell into a grieuous sicknes which brought him euen to the last gaspe Neuerthelesse about midnight when all despayred of his life he was miraculously and suddenly restored to perfect health and to the great admiration of all he leapt out of his bed and went into He is miraculously cured the Church to giue God thankes for his recouery But the deuill enuying soe great pietie in the yong man endeauoured to hind●● 〈◊〉 iourney by appearing before him in the formes of a terrible ●●●panie of black enraged dogges When DVNSTAN calling on the He vanqui●heth the deuils name of IESVS-CHRIST armed him self with the signe of the ●●ly Crosse and with a little rod in his hand putt that engine of 〈◊〉 chief to flight and held on his way to the Church doore which he found shutt but climing vp a ladder that by chance stood reared ●● the wall he gott to the very top of the Church whence by the hands of Angelicall spirits he was miraculously transported into it and placed before the high Aultar On the morow all the doores being lockt he was found in a sweete slumber before the aultar to the great astonishment of those that the night before had followed him and seene him fayle to enter at the church doore which was shutt His greate humilitie III. NOW DVNSTAN had entred into the flower of his youth when his goodnes pietie and wisedom