who spent all his life as it were in visiting of Villages and Parishes so seruing the Ghospell and by the Ghospell therefore susteyning himselfe according to the order and decree of our Lord. It is true that he and his companions because they would not be burdensome or put any to expences would mainteyne themselues oftentymes with the sweat of their browes and labours of their proper hands And when at such tymes he had need of some rest he would vsually be taking it in pious places dispersed by himselfe heere and there through Ireland and if he chanced to abyde any where he would allwayes so conforme himselfe to the customes and obseruances of the house as neyther at Table or elswhere would he seeme to haue any thing in particular nor euen at first sight could there any the least difference be discouered betweene him and the rest of the Brothers What more can be sayd of him Euen inough to conteyne many Volumes his life was so admirable a mirrour to all Mortals But my scope and intention is only to demonstrate those thinges which in his life are most imitable as I said aboue To proceed then although our blessed S. Malachy were now an aged man and Legate of the highest Bishop yet did he neuer giue ouer his ancient vse to go on foote to preach himselfe in person still causing such others as he lead along with him to do the like a forme very truly Euangelicall and so much the more recommendable in S. Malachy as it is found to be lesse in practice with others Whereas he who doth such things may worthily be called the lawfull heyre and Successour of the Apostles What wonder is it then if the diuine Man did worke such admirable things he being so admirable himselfe though he wrought them not of himselfe but God in him since we read Tu es Deus qui facis mirabilia By occasion of the loud acclamations of these his transcendent Vertues most notable working of Miracles his fame beganne to spread it self through out all the neighbouring places nay euen ouer the whole Country and there resorted dayly many to be cured by him of all kind of diseases and among the rest a woman extremely vexed with the deuill who dwelt in a Citty which is called Cultafin Her parents thereupon procured S. Malachy to be sent for Who comming into the house presently fell vnto his prayers and commaunds the vniust possessour in the name of the highest to go forth of that body he obeys but in stantly leapes into another Woman present S. Malachy perceiuing this spake thus to the accursed Enemy of Making I haue not so quit thee of her as that thou shouldst seeme to assaile that other Therefore I charge thee agayne in the name of the Highest that thou let her go also The Fiend being constrained thereto obeyes his behest but yet returnes to his former habitation When the Blessed Seruant of Christ obseruing the deceypt of our Aduersary expells him a new from thence he then flyes agayne into the second This bobb the peruerse spirit gaue to him for a pretty while in chopping so alwayes and flying from one into the other At last S. Malachy being stirred vp with a holy zeale and not without iust indignation to see him so mocked by all vncleane Spirit recollected himselfe a little and resuming more in tense forces from Heauen withall violence quite banished him from both leauing the cruell Serpent so full of fraude and deceipt enraged thereat thinking perhaps by that policy to make the Holy man desist from further troubling himself But peraduenture some will admire at this long delay heerein and resistance of the Aduersary attributing the same it may be to the power of the malignant Spirit To such persons I answere that it pleased the Diuine Dispensatour of all things Qui omnia ben◅ suauiter disponit to try the patience of his Seruant S. Malachy and to the end that by such delay and changes both the presence of the Enemy and victory of S. Malachy more cleerely might appeare Which thing is yet more illustrated and made to appeare to be true therefore attend heere a while to that which elswhere this great Seruant of Christ seemed to worke not in person as before is declared but in absence Which yet surely had been◅ great deale more easy for him to haue done at hand then so same asunder A man is dispossessed of euill spirits by the power of S. Malachy in his absence With diuers other miracles besides Chap. 18 IN the Northern parts of Ireland in a certayne howse where S. Malachy before had happened to lodge lay one afflicted and terribly tormented with Deuils Who on a night ouer heard some discourses they had among them Wherin they sayd to ech other Beware this wretch do not touch any of the straw there wherin that Hippocrit had sometymes slept least perhappes he escape out of our hands Frō which words the sick man did gather that those infernall Spirits meant it of S. Malachy and then taking courage began to approach by creeping thereunto as well as he could but being weake in body he could not get thither by crawling yet was he very strong in fayth for he desisted not to go forward as he was able Wherupon you might heare in the ayre certayne feareful cryes and perplexed voyces Hold hold him off or we loose the prey But he trāsported with hope and desire made so much the greater hast to reach thereunto through diuine Mercy being come to the blessed Litter of straw fell a stretching himselfe thereon and wallowing vp downe therin While the infernall furyes with howling la◅ most bitterly exclamed Alas alas we haue bewrayed our selues we haue deceiued our selues For loc he is euen now made sound And so he was indeed being whole in a moment of all his lymnes and freed of the diabolicall affrights and horrours which he suffered In Lesmor likewise did S. Malachy deliuer a Lunatike person made him whole and perfect in all his senses Moreouer our great Saint did restore another person to his former wits who dwelt in Praginia And in the same Countrey by causing a frantike woman to wash her selfe with a water which he blessed she was presently released of her chaynes and disease Another woman in like sort being enraged so as she would be a biting tearing her flesh with her teeth was by him through Prayer a simple touch only restored to health There was like wise a Man who in phrensy could seeme to foretell certayne things to come and so impetuo◅ and terrible withall as the greatest cords were hardly able to with hold him And yet this Man in a moment was freed also through the prayers of S. Malachy restored to his wits I could name the place where this fel out but because it happened in a place of so barbarous a name that as it happens often in many other words of that Nation
to flight and he not without the infinite ioy of the people was installed agayne into his Royall throne and from that tyme euer after did he loue and respect S. Malachy Who after he had for some tyme not without notable emprouement enioyed the familiarity and discourses of Malcus being by Letters and Messages recalled by Celsus and Imarius who could no longer endure his absence he accordingly made his returne backe into his Countrey How S. Malachy had a vision and deliuers his sisters soule from Purgatory with the noble resolution of his Vncle in surrending vp an Abbay to S. Malachy Chap. 5. IN the meane tyme his Sister was departed this life of whome we made some mention aboue Concerning her it behooues vs not to passe ouer in silence a Vision which the Man of God had Because that although while she liued in flesh he abhorred her behauiour in such sort as that after some yeares he made a vow not to see her any more yet now she being quit of body he himselfe remayned discharged of the vow and beganne to reuisit her in spirit whome he had no will to see euer any more aliue For so much as on a night it seemed to him in sleepe that he was aduertised by a Man in hast that his Sister attended without in the Church yard in a browne habit without hauing tasted any thing for these thirty dayes together At which voyce now S. Malachy being a waked he presently vnderstood what manner of famine tormented her and exactly casting vp the tyme he found it had been iust thirty dayes since he had said Masse for her And in regard the Seruant of Christ loued the soule as much as he hated the imperfections of his Sister without delay he returned to his suffrages so intermitted Nor was it long ere the dead Woman appeared to him vpon the thre shall of the Church but yet bard from entring in and apprelled in black But her Brother perseuering still in assisting her without euer omitting any morning wherein some Sacrifice was not offered vp for her he espyed her very soon in a grayish gowne within the Church indeed but not admitted as yet to the Aultar In summe he ceased not to celebrate for such intention vntill finally she appeared to him not only within the Church but euen likewise neare to the Aultar in a white garment amidst a most happy troupe of blessed Spirits who in like manner hauing now finished the purgatiue paynes were noted with the same candour Whence cleerely appeares how great is the valew and force of the Sacrâ—…d Masse to the cancelling of sinnes to vanquish the aduerse powers and to lead into Heauen the Creatures taken out of the earth and mire or rather from the mouth of Hell it selfe S. Malachy tooke exceeding contentment at so certayne a Deliuery of his Sister and felt no lesse ioy in himselfe for the pious and magnanimous resolution of an Vncle of his The which to the end it may the better be vnderstoood poÌ„dered this it was We must vnderstand that in a place of those parts called Benchor was anciently founded a Monastery by a certayne holy Abbot called Congellus with so prosperous increase as well of meanes as of subiects as that from thence as from a fruitefull Metropolis were sent as it were infinite Colonies into diuers regions And it is a constant rumour that one child only of that Blessed Congregation called Siluanus had planted alone in diuers countryes full a hundred Conuents From thence came also S. Columbanus into France and after into Italy and among other Monasteryes erected that of Laxonium so numerous and frequent as that the Quires succeeding by turnes there was no intermission had from diuine Offices perpetually night or day But that of Benchor as the origin and fouÌ„tayne of all retayned the chiefe dignity vntill such tyme as through the fury of the outragious Free-booters it was wholy destroyed yet withall enriched with a great number of venerable Reliquesâ—… since besids so many other bodyes of Religious Men who there reposed in peace there were by the same Free-booters in one day only marryred and slayne nyne hundred With so cruell a destruction that most noble Seminary though quite extinct yet the inhabitants notwithstanding ceased not successiuely to create by a certayne forme a Secular Abbot who without any thought of Religion attended only to the gathering vp of rents and conuerting them sacrilegiously to his proper vses In this tyme now S. Malachy had an Vncle of whome we spake before who had this rich Abbay in his hands who eyther prickt with a Synderisis or sting of conscience or moued with the Examples and Exhortations of his wise Nephew determined while he had space for holesome pennance not only to quit his hands of such administration but to renounce the world outright and to apply that huge benefice together with his person to diuine worship and to the institutes of S. Malachy who notwithstanding he were vnder the direction of Imarius had now begunne to haue many imitatours and followers The man of God being glad of such a Vocation did voluntarily accept of the care of his Vncle and the plot for some restauration of the building But as one tenacious of the pouerty of Christ would by no meanes admit of the possessions suffering the people to depute another to such affayres The which afterwards as we shall see in its place repayed the beneficence of the diuine man with abominable ingratitude The renuntiation being made in this sort and the possession taken of the holy place S. Malachy by commission of Imarius went thither with ten brothers and some Carpenters and immediately put himselfe to worke Nor was it long ere that in approbation as it were of the enterprize there happened vpon the fact a notable wonder S. Malachy workes a miracle and is made Rectour of the forsayd Abbay with one or two miracles besids Chap. 6. ON a day S. Malachy for the encouragement of others was labouring with his proper hands with great diligence hewing of certayne tymber Now while he stood with the axe suspended in the ayre as ready to giue the stroke behold one of the workemen improuidently putting himselfe betweene the arme of S. Malachy and the axe receyued the whole blow vpon the very ridge of the backe which should haue fallen plumpe vpon the designed â—…biect wheÌ„ presently being depriued of his senses he fell downe â—…r dead At the sight whereof euery one came running in with pitâ—…full cryes The wound was searched and the shirt was found to 〈◊〉 slit from the collar to the reynes but the flesh wholy entire and â—…ot hurt except that only the vpper skinne was only touched so lightly as the marke thereof could hardly be discerned so as the labourer arose suddaynely very ioyfull and lusty with so much the more gladnes of the standers by as more probably it hence was coÌ„â—…uded that their trauayles and paynes as we sayd were gratefull
cautious to beware the euill The iudgement of God shewed vpon a Monke S. Pachomius founds a Monastery and Palemon dyes Chap. 3. AN audacious Monke but ill founded in the knowledge of himselfe and human frailty came on a tyme to see Palemon and Pachomius while they had made by chaunce a very good fyre after he had sate downe with them a pretty while entertayning themselues with spirituall discourses arising on a sudden sayd to Palemon if you and your disciple haue true Fayth shew me heere some Euangelicall experience thereof and make your prayer heere barefoote vpon these burning coales Palemon reprehending him for it and aduising him not to suffer himselfe to be deceyued so by the enemy he puffed vp with greater pride and presumption went voluntarily vpon the Coales and the Diuine Maiesty permitting it so the Diuell had power to preserue him without hurt at all Whereupon that miserable Wretch with malapert insolency vpbrayding Palemon and Pachomius with saying where was their fayth went his wayes very proud from thence But it was not long ere he payd very soundly for it For first being deluded by the ancient Aduersary with lasciuious shapes and therupon very grieuously strooke and afflicted he repayred agayne after some dayes to Palemon with sighes confessing his errour saying Know that I am vndon for not hauing obeyed you and now I do pray you to succour me with your prayers for that I stand in great daunger to be slayne of the infernall Enemy The wretch was yet a speaking and Palemon and Pachomius a weeping for compassion when lo on a sudden the deuill assaults him takes him out of the Cell and like a sauage beast chà sing him a good while through the Crags and Mountaynes finally in the Citty which is called Pun tooke away his wits so as he cast himselfe headlong into a fornace of a bath where suddaynely he dyed S. Pachomius being admonished with these so horrible strauÌ„ge accidents from thence learned to feare the Iudgment of God and to re-enforce the guard vpon his hart by resisting the appetites brideling anger and the other passions and endeauouring to found himselfe by all meanes in true humility Besides when he read or recited any things of the sacred scripture he posted not in hast as many are wont but tasting and ruminating the sentences precepts one by one he sought to deriue profit from them and to serue the Highest with fit attention Being often sent barfoote to make wood in a certayne forrest very full of sharpe thornes while he â—…elt his flesh to be torne and wounded he would be suffering all the dolours thereof with alacrity in remembring the Nayles which pierced the sacred feete and hands of our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus continually treating with God in those solitary places would he pray for himselfe and for all human kind that he might be preserued from the snares of the common Aduersary In summe with these manner of Exercises was he arriued to such a point of perfection as the Maister himselfe remayned much comforted and astonished thereat It happened to him afterwards on a tyme by a certayne occasion to arriue at the Iland and Towne of Tabenna where being in a long and profound Prayer he heard a vovce to say to him Pachomius stay heere and set vp a Monastery in this place because many shall come vnto thee with desire to be saued whome thou shalt guide according to the instruction which I shall giue thee And with this an Angell appeared and gaue him a Table wherein the same Institute was conteyned which for many ages afterwards the Monks of Tabenna obserued Then Pachomius with the discretion of spirits which he had purchased very cleerely perceiued that as well the vision as the Rule was a heauenly thing and receiuing the same with great ReuereÌ„ce he went to his Mayster and communicated the whole with him beseeching him to be pleased to put to his helping hand in the execution of what had beene ordeyned him by the Angell And though Palemon otherwise would very vnwillingly haue left his auncient Cell notwithstanding to comfort so good and vertuous a disciple he was perswaded to go thither and they both set vp there a poore habitation in forme of a Monastery But it was not long ere Palemon being now spent partly with old age and partly with maceration of the body arriued to the end of his dayes and Pachomius as in life he had alwayes obeyed and serued him with exquisite diligence so after death with extraordinary feeling buryed him with his owne hands with a great deale of Lamentation but not without Canticles and Hymnes A Brother of S. Pachomius ioynes himselfe with him in his manner of lyfe and what followed Chap. 4. AFter this a naturall Brother of S. Pachomius becomming a Christian and called by the name of Iohn being likewise touched with a laudable desire of a perfect life came to seeke him and to inhabite with him They remayned full fifteene yeares together continually exercising themselues in acts of religion pennance At the end wherof while now it seemed to Pachomiuhs it would not be long ere that came to effect which had been promised him of the multiplication of Monkes he began anew to enlarge the dwelling to be able to receiue them all This fact of his was displeasing to Iohn and as he who was the elder in yeares and perhappes knew not or not fully belieued what was signifyed to Pachomius from Heauen esteemed such a building to be against Pouerty and therfore reprehended his Brother somewhat bitterly for it saying he should cease from committing such follyes so to seeke to enlarge himselfe more then needed To which words though he answered nothing yet did he in wardly thinke vpon the and after hauing some remorse at such a thought retyring himselfe at night in the new building he puts himselfe into bitter Laments and turning himselfe to God with great dolour cryed out in this manner Alas that the prudence of the world should be yet continually raigning in me I am still a carnall man and after so many yeares of Religious warfarre doe I yet suffer my selfe to be vanquished by wrath vnder a colourable pretext of good Mercy Lord least I vtterly perish because that if thou establish me nor in thy patience and that the Enemy come to find somewhat of his in me I shall be subiect to him since it is written That if any one but fayle in one he is made guilty of all I belieue thy benignity is exceeding great help me Lord I shall walke in the way of thy Elect aduauncing my self alwaies forward forgetting quite what remaines behind Euen as they likewise through thy grace haue done to their euerlasting prayse and crowne but to the great affliction and vtter confusion of the aduersary otherwise how shall I be able to instruct those whome thou saydst thou wouldst giue me in charge if first I shall not subdue the passions
S. Anselme in the meane tyme to make his prayer more attentiue and feruent retyred himselfe into a place somewhat a part from the others heer while with teares and sighs he begs of our Lord the saluation of that soule being oppressed with sorrow heauynes and his eyes now shut he fell into a slumber and in that repose beholds in spirit certayne venerable persons dressed vp in white garments to be entred in the chamber of the deceased and there to sit downe to iudge him But not knowing what sentence they had passed vpon him expecting with great anxiety to vnderstand the successe of that iudgmēt behold Osborn appeares on a sudden in face not vnlike to one that returns to himselfe againe after a traunce or fit of fainting Whereat S. Anselme sayd presently to him What is the matter sonne How it is with thee now The other answered The ancient Serpent hath risen vp thrice agaynst mee and thrice hath it fallen vpon his owne head the Bear-heards of God haue deliuered mee after which words S. Anselme opened his eyes and Osborn vanished This answere the dead man gaue and S. Anselme himselfe afterwards interpreted the same in this manner That thrice the ancient Serpent arose agaynst Osborne because first he accused him of sinnes committed after Baptisme before he had been offered vp by his Parents into the Monastery secondly for those which he had committed after his entry into the Monastery and before the making of his vowes in the third place for those whereinto he had incurred after his vowes euen to his death But thrice agayne was the accuser defeated because the errours of the world had been cācelled in vertue of the Fayth and oblation of his Parents when they presented him deuoutly to the diuine seruice those of the Nouiciate were remitted him in the new consecration of himselfe by meanes of his vowes The faults which he had committed after the vowes were pardoned him somwhat neere to his passage by meanes of confession and pennance So as the diuell finding all his quarrels frustrate being wholy confounded was quite defeated since all the instigations and subtilityes he had vsed to make that soule to fall into sinne had redounded to his owne more grieuous torment and greater damnation As for the Bear-heards of God they are said he good Angels for that as they tame the beares so do these restrayne the malignant spirits from the cruelty and impetuosity wherewith they vse to rush on to the destruction of soules After all these things to shew himselfe a true friend and father of his Osborne no lesse after his death then before he sayd euery day a Masse for him though the whole yeare following And if sometymes he were hindred from celebrating at all he would seeke for some other to supply the same promising to do as much for that Priest when he was requested Besides which he did send letters into diuers parts to procure sufrages and sacrifices for the same intention and thereby obtayned a great number of them Whence it followed that not onely the deceased party felt as is verily belieued eyther opportune refreshment or accidentall ioy but euen also the liuing tooke excellent example of so burning and continuall charity of S. Anselme yea euen his very enemyes tempered themselues who before could not looke on him with a good eye at last ouercom touched with the perpetuall tenour of such goodnes tooke so great an affection to the holy man as from murmurers and emulous they became followers and proclaymers of his rare vertues Although indeed to bring things to those termes a certaine strange accident of no small moment happened to one of those enemies of the blessed Pastour that immediately followes A certayne ancient Monke and great Enemy of S. Anselme at his death was tormented with a dreadfull vision which S. Anselme driueth away with the signe of the Crosse. And how he gaue himselfe to the trayning vp of Youth Chap. 5. THere was one very ancient in Religion who with implacable disdayne neuer ceased to bite and molest the good Father and by no meanes could neuer endure him much lesse reuerence acknowledge him in the place of Christ. Now then through the iust iudgment of God it happened this miserable wretch fell sicke to death and one night while all the Monkes were in bed he began to giue forth very dreadfull cryes to seeke as it were to shun the sight of some horrible figures became very pale of visage and full of trembling and great anxiety and would withall be turning his head on this side and that side to hide himselfe At these noyses his neyghbours being now awakened came suddenly in hast to aske what he ayled You behold mee sayd he afflicted and distressed thus within the pawes of two most rauenous wolues which are now euen ready to strangle me and demaund you of mee what I ayle One of them that was present hearing this by name Ricolfus who was the Secretary of Conuent without delay went running to S. Anselme who at that tyme was correcting of a booke and presently informed what passed with the sicke man At which newes the venerable Prior being touched with his accustomed clemency bad Ricolfus returne backe to the sickman and he in the meane tyme recollecting himselfe a litle ouertooke him in the Infirmary and lifting vp his hand made the signe of the Crosse vpon him saying In nomine Patris Filij Spiritus Sancti With which signe the Wretch was suddenly quiet and being somwhat cheerfull in face with most in ward affect of the hart began to giue thankes to the diuine Goodnes and added withall that soueraygne signe he had seene to come forth of his mouth as a fiery lance which being brandished agaynst those wolues had so terrified them as made them suddenly to fly away Then S. Anselme sweetly approching to him dealt with him seriously of matters concerning the saluation of his soule brought him to a great compunction and true confession of all his offences committed agaynst God and after he had giuen him the absolution told him playnely he should render vp his spirit about nine of the clocke and so indeed it fellout to the great astonishment of all From hence forward S. Anselme with a great deale more ease began to administer the office in which as one that sought to promote to perfection all those whome he had vnder his charge so with particular application he laboured especially in the help of youth and alledged this reason for it That euen as wax when it is too hard or too soft takes not very well the impression vpon it but if it be well tempered between the hard and soft it most faythfully receyues the print of the Seale so iust do we see it to happen in the age of a man Take you one who from his infancy to his old age hath been alwayes bred vp in the vanityes of the world and begin to deale
one morning as he was celebrating Masse in the Church of S. Ambrose with an exceeding great concourse of people there was presented to him by her parents a little Girle of tender age in whome the Diuell most tyrannically raigned and he was prayed with great instance to take pitty of that vnhappy Wretch and deliuer her from so cruell torments which appeared by the shreekes and cryes she gaue and in her coūtenance and in all the partes of her body with the exceeding horrour of the standers by The tender hart of the good Priest was moued with these prayers and such a spectacle who sitting neere to the Altar while the Quire was singing called for the Patten whereon he was to make the Offertory and with his fingar distilling some droppes of water thereon he gaue it to the possessed person to drinke and immediatly the Diuell not able to suffer that sacred Antidote and that blessed effusion by meanes of a foule and nauseous vomit very hastily departed and the Girle with infinit applause and admiration of the people was restored to her Parents safe and secure After this vpon another day in the selfe same place houre was a gentlewoman of mature age brought thither by many with mayne strength in whose breast now for many yeares Sathan had remayned and so disfigured and deformed her as that being depriued of hearing sight and speach in putting forth the tongue like an Elephants truncke seemed rather a Monster then a woman besides which the face all soyled and vgly to see with a stincking breath withal shewed well the quality of the Ghest that kept possession Being brought then into the presence of the Saint he knew at first sight through diuine permission that enemy was of an euill and cruell race and so inueterate and settled in her as he would not easily be got forth of so gratefull and so ancient a dominion Then the seruant of Christ turning to the people which were there in great number bad them all to pray very attentiuely commanded the Clerkes to hold the Woman there as firme and immoueable as they could but she with diuellish force resisting and kicking withall with her foot came to strike the Priest himselfe who not regarding the same entred into the consecration in such manner as looke how many signes of the Crosse he made vpon the hoast so many in turning himselfe he made vpon the possessed person with the incredible rage and dolour of that fiend as by the gnashing of teeth and sundry and those strange gestures and roaringes and struglinges she made most manifestly appeared After which the Pater noster being sayd the Priest began againe to giue a more shrewd assault to the aduersary with likewise holding the Paten with the body it selfe of our Lord ouer the Matrons head and sayng Behold heere O wicked spirit thy iudge behold the supreme power now resist if thou canst behold him who being to suffer for our saluation affirmed that then the Prince of this world was to be banished hence heere is that sacred body which being taken from the body of a holy Virgin extended on the Crosse put into a Sepulcher and risen from death ascended triumphant into heauen So then in the power of this Maiesty O malignant spirit I do commaund thee to leaue this his seruant not dare to molest her more That sayd and the hoast according to the vse being deuided into three partes he gaue the Pax to the Monster which peace and health diffused by him through all the congregatiō with particuler influence did euen penetrate into the soule and body of the possessed because the vniust and pertinacious possessour went forth immediatly from her declaring thereby of what efficacy and value the Sacrament of the Altar is especially being handled with the purity and fayth it deserues And it may be well belieued with good reason that this Diuell with whome so much tampering was vsed was one of the cheifest of the Hellish squadrons since others of a lower rancke not only vsed to fly away very fearefully from the coniurations vsed and presence of the seruant of Christ but euen also from his Stole though he himselfe had by◅ distant farre off as from an obiect intollerable to him and a most grieuous punishment Such and so great was the sanctity of S. Bernard S. Bernard with prayers deliuers a soule from paynes with other notable Visions besides that happened to him Chap. 23. IT followes now that we touch something of the Visions i◅ which either he appeared to others or others appeared to him And be that the first which himselfe afterwards was wont to tell vnto others A certaine Monke of a good intention but of harsh conuersation and lesse compassionate to his neighbours then he oughe to haue beene in the Monastery of Clareuallis came to the end of his dayes and a little after appeared to the holy Abbot with sad countenance and a miserable habit signifying that matters went not very well with him Being asked the particuler he added with dolourous accents that he was giuen vp into the power of huge and cruel Elfes he had scarcely sayd so much when being pushed with a fury and chased away from the face of the seruant of God he suddenly vanished Then the Saint with a sigh and compassion as behoued sayd calling after him with a loud voice I command thee in the name of the Highest to returne to me againe within few dayes to tell me how thou farest From hence applying himselfe to help that soule with prayers and sacrifices he neuer gaue ouer vntill such tyme as the dead himselfe appearing once more according to the precept giuen him did comfort him with the happy newes of his deliuery S. Bernard found himselfe on a certaine tyme in a strange manner to be grieued and oppressed with an excesse of cold humors so as a gush of fleame continually running from him soone brought that body nigh worne and spent already to a manifest point of death His children and other Deuotes doe gather about him as it were to prepare the exequyes and he being in excesse of mind seemes to himselfe to be brought vnto the Tribunall of Christ where the ancient aduersary was likwise present most outragiously accusing him The accusation ended and space giuen to the seruant of Christ to plead defend himselfe not shewing the while any signe of perturbation at all thus answered I do confesse I am not worthy of eternall glory nor of the heauenly kingdome but my Lord who possesseth the same by a double title that is by paternall inheritance and painefull purchase contenting himselfe with the one of the two titles of the other makes a liberall guift to me and in vertue of this deuotion I doe with reason aspire thereunto At which answere the enemy was confounded that forme of iudgement and tribunall vanished and the man of God without any more returned to himselfe againe Another tyme he beheld himselfe at the Sea
choice young men which as at the beginning we mentioned S. Bernard in the citty of Chalon purchased to our Lord were almost all of them in worldly wisedome the disciples of one Stephen of Vitreo a person very famous in those dayes and Country thereabouts Now being come to Clareuallis while they were yet kept by the man of God in an Inne as it were in their first probation and instructed by litle and litle in the rules of the diuine seruice comes in Stephen of Vitreo beyond all expectation and demaunds to be likewise receiued into monasticall discipline It is the manner of those who haue newly left and forsaken the secular hopes and affayres to feele incredible iubiley of hart when they behold some others to doe the like whether it be through that new zeale which the beginning of spirit subministred to them or els for that they take delight to haue their election approued by the iudgment and example of many so as at the vnlooked for appearing of no ordinary subiect but euen of their owne so famous a Maister it cannot be told what great contentment those good Brothers tooke and what ioy they made both priuate and publike But the mind and iudgment of the wise Abbot in this point was so farre otherwise Who by diuine aduise knowing suddenly the quality of his vocation first sighing held his peace then in the presence of all he sayd This man is sent hither by the euill spirit he comes without a companion and without a companion he shall goe his wayes againe At this speach of his they were astonished and amazed who euen now could not containe themselues for ioy neuerthelesse not to scandalize those tender plants S. Bernard was content to admit Stephen vpon tryall especially making large promises to obserue very punctually the rule and to execute with all promptnes whatsoeuer should be ordayned him But it was not long ere being ouercome with the tediousnes of silence and of solitude being affrighted with the rigour of the obseruance weary of the exercises and mentall labours he was seene to be drawne forth of the Oratory by a vile Black-more as heeretofore was that Monke of Cassin From hence after some six monthes were passed repenting himselfe of the good begun he endeauours to attempt and to stirre vp others according to the manner of Religious men ill grounded mutable who being resolued to leaue the banners of Christ and to returne to the leekes of Aegypt thinke to couer their shame with the multitude of companions and to diminish the infamy by communicating the fault but neither he nor he that set him a worke could effect the same Because all those soules through the preseruatiue infused into them by the faythfull prudent Steward still remayned where they were firme and immoueable and according to the protestation of the holy Pastour that vnhappy Stephen de Vitreo did but trauaile in vayne He entred alone and alone went forth againe Nor was the prophesy which followes much vnlike Three yong men hauing taken the habit together in Clareuallis one of them through instigation of the deuill within a litle while after returned to his vomit againe Whereupon the Fathers being so much more anxious for the health of the other two in their presence treated of this matter with the holy Abbot Then he looking in the face of both those Nouices answeared plainely This man shall neuer haue temptations of moment That other shall haue many but shall finally preuayle The one then with a prosperous gale went allwayes forward in religion The other being encompassed with tribulations and assayled with perillous assaults after he had wauered more then once and turned his back as it were yet being sustayned by diuine grace and through the memory of the Saints promises victorious at last was crowned with perseuerance Of these kind of Oracles this same that followes was so much more famous as it was published vpon a greater occasion and in a place more notable and with persons more illustrious Lewes the old King France being greiuously offended with some Bishops of that kindome suffered himselfe to be led so farre into p◅sion as to expell them by force from their Churches and Cittyes Whereupon S. Bernard wrote many letters to him to appease him whose coppyes are yet kept to this day It chaunced the while the seruant of Christ being present that many of those Bishops to mollify the Kings mind prostrate with all humility on the ground and imbracing his feet were not all able to moue him to pitty The man of God touched with this spectacle and full of a holy zeale stuck not the day following to giue a free and stout reprehension to the King himselfe for hauing in that manner despised the submission and prayers of the Preists of Christ and clearely made protestation of that which was reuealed to him that night This thy obstinacy shall cost thee the death of Philip thy eldest sonne and sworne Prince I haue seene thee in company of thy yonger sonne fall prostrate at the feete of those Bishops whom but yesterday thou madest so small accompt of Collecting thence that soone thou shalt loose Philip and for substitution of this other thou shalt sue to the Prelates whome now thou vsest so hardly Which was not long ere it came to passe Philip dyed and the Father being humbled wrought by al meanes with the Ecclesiastical state that Lewes the second borne might be accepted for Successour and be annoynted with accustomed ceremonyes And so much may suffice of matters sayd or done by this admirable man aboue all force or terme of nature of which subiect notwithstanding though perhapps by vs too sparingly and scantly handled yet it is much harder for vs to find an end then how to beginne The great Humility of S. Bernard in auoyding worldly prayses and hhnours and the pious shift he vsed to acquite himselfe thereof Chap. 26. OF all that which we haue hitherto written or left vntouched two things doe most astonish me The one how S. Bernard amidst so great variety of vniuersall businesses mainetayned himselfe allwayes as Lord and Maister of himselfe without neglecting euer the custody of his hart and continuall examine of his actions and alwayes walking therein so vigilant and prouident as if euen then from the shade of the Nouiciate he had past forth into the dust sunne of Christian warfarre The other wonder is how among so many fauours from heauen and applauses of men he neuer abandoned the confines and center of holy Humility and this seems to me to be the principall cause why continually from the diuine hand were showred vpon him so excellent guifts and so rare and incōparable graces because that euen as there is nothing which of its part more dryes vp the fountaines of the diuine benignity then Pride and Arrogancy in whose company Ingratitude goes hand in hand so is there not a nearer and more apt disposition to become capable of
in his functions and how he goeth to Maâ—…i Biâ—…op of Lesmoâ—… Chap. 3. BEhold how S. Malachy anon with his mystical tooles pâ—…ts himselfe to delâ—… vp stumps to breake vp lands to tread out pathâ—…aies to louell banks with a Gyants hart to be aâ—…haÌ„d now heere now there He seemed to be a flame amidst the Forrests a hooke among naughty plants In lieâ—… of barbarous customes he inserts Ecclesiasticall rites All ranke superstitious which were not few all diabolicall charmes finally whatsoeuer heeretofore he iudged to 〈◊〉 disordinate indecent or out of square endured not long in his fight but as fruite with the hayle or as dust with winds So before the face of this holy Reformer abuses and vices were quite defeated or dispersed But as on euery side he endeauoured to set down Lawes Rules full of iustice and honesty yet laboured he still with particular care to incroduce the Apostolicall Constitutions the approued Councells and aboue all the Traditions and Obseruances of the holy Roman Church And hence it grew that whereas at first noâ—… so much as in the principall Cittyes of Ireland were Diuine Offices celebrated with solemne harmony now not only in Cittyes but in Townes and Villages also were sung the Masses and Canonicall howers no lesse then in the rest of Christianity Wherto it helped not a little that S. Malachy from a youth had attended to his part in Musique But that which more imports he renewed the vse of the Sacraments and in particular of Confession Confirmation and of Matrimony things that eyther out of malice or ignorance had bene heeretofore as it were wholy forgotten and dismissed Amidst these labours and trauailes and many others which for breuity sake are letpasse we may belieue for certayne this Seruant of Christ had receiued great gusts and consolations from heauen and yet neuerthelesse being as he was of a most delicate Conscience thinking very lowly of himselfe for that to him it seemed he had neyther practice nor Learning sufficient for so high employments those same delights came to be much watered with a continuall seare which he had least through his imprudence any opinions or customes might be introduced in some points discordant to the Custome of Catholique Institutes So as to get out of these anxietyes for his better instruction he was resolued with the approbation of the Prelats to transferre himselfe for a tyme to Malcus Bishop of Lesmor being a famous Citty of Momonia in the Southerne part of Ireland Which Malcus being now surcharged with yeares as well for profoundnes of wisedome as for singular sanctity of life likewise for the gift of Myracles which he had was held in those Regions as an Oracle of Truth and a common refuge of the afficted S. Malachy being courteously receiued by this good oldman while he carefully ministers to him and likewise with diligence goes on obseruing the things appertayning to diuine Seruice to the cure of Soules through an vnlook't for accident was a noble field laid open to him to exercise Charity How Cormacus King of Momonia repayres to Malcus and being put out of his Kingdome is by friendly saccours restored againe Chap. 4. IRELAND in those tymes as it likewise ought to be at this present was deuided into certayne little kingdomes and by consequence subiect to warres seditions and tumults Now there being a great discord risen betweene Cormacus King of Momonia a wicked brother of his the King being vanquished in battayle and thurst out of his seate made his recourse in persoÌ„ to the Bishop Malcus to be succoured by him not for recouering his scepter but rather to saue his soule as being timourous of him who takes away the spirit of Princes as very much alienated from sheding of Christian bloud for temporall interests At the newes of such a Ghest did Malcus make preparation to receiue him with due honour but he would not consent thereto affirming his intention was to liue with him in a priuate and quiet manner and laying aside all memory of royall pompes to betake himselfe to the discipline and fare of the other Canonists Malcus at such a resolution by how much more astonished accepting the offer of a contrite hart assigned to the King a little howse to lodge in S. Malachy for his Maister with bread and water for his sustenance Nor did the Prince himselfe desire hence forth any cheere or delicates remayning in a place of all other sweetenes most satisfied with the incorruptible gusts and celestial viaÌ„ds ministred him by S. Malachy Through which notwithstanding remayning more mollifyed he rightly bewayled his sinnes and extinguished the incentiues of the flesh with baths of the coldest water with Dauid crying to our Lord Behold my â—…asenes and my misery pardon me all my offences Nor were the Soueraigne Iudges eares found deafe to such a prayer but rather heard he the supplication made not only in the sense he vttered it wholy spirituall and internall but euen like wise conformable to his infinite Goodnes in the materiall and extrinâ—…ecall And as he reserues not all sentences to the Tribunall there he was pleased to succour likewise in this life the depressed innocency of Cormacus by exciting the spirit of a certayne King neere vnto Momonia into so great an indignation for the iniustice offered as that coÌ„ming in post to the Cell of the poore Penitent he laboured to encourage him to a generous returne in setting the goodnes of the cause before him the perfidiousnes of the Rebels the fauourable right hand of the Highest this for the more efficacy with feruent exhortations mingled with large promises With engines thus addressed he sought to stirre vp prouoke that afflicted Prince but perceiuing the obiects of Soueraignity and motiues of selfe-loue were not of force inough to preuayle with him he turned himselfe with dexterity to those of Christian piety and the publique weales most liuely representing to him the miserable oppressioÌ„ of his subiects the insolencies and iniuryes of the intruding Tyrant and the obligation which a lawfull and naturall Lord hath to deliuer to his power his vassals from so great afflictions and miseryes In which point the friendly King dilated himselfe with greater vehemency then before as hoping sure with such a battery at last to make the mynd of Cormacus to render vp its hold But finding him to be firme notwithstanding all this in his determinatioÌ„ more fixed then euer at last as to a sacred Anker he made his repayre to Malcus the Bishop and to S. Malachy who both being voluntarily enclined therto as to be the greater glory of God without much difficulty was he won to their opinion In such sort as Cormacus enforced through the authority and commaund of both the one and other did finally accept the humanity promptnes of his Neighbour and with his ayde and much more through his presence Who can do all the impious and wicked Intruder was put
the quantity and brightnes wherof while S. Antony wondered to the end so betwitching an obiect might not penetrate thâ—… mynd starting away from it as it were from fire he passed on his way with his eyes shut flying through the playnes neuer made stop till he had quite lost the sight of the place When taking some breath renewing his holy purposes againe he arriued at a MouÌ„tayne where was a Castle halfe ruined and inhabited with serpâ—… and hurtfull beasts insteed of men Which at the appearing of the Saint as if they had been chased went headlong away in al post he damming vp the gate with stone tymber remayned within with prouision of bread for six months hauing left order with his friends that twice a yeare for which space and more some Egiptians knew especially the Thebans how to bake breake make it last should supply be made him from tyme to tyme with which sustenance and with a little water only to be had in the same place continued he his admirable sobriety and singular abstinence There came many to visit him while he himself not withstaÌ„ding being shut vp saw them not nor would suffer himselfe to be seen of any and the bread I spake of was let downe to him by certayne holes in the roofe In the meane while his friends attending with great desire at the doore and passing that way many tymes by day and night might heare from tyme to tyme a very great noise within the roome with raylings and outcryes which sayd to him Get you hence out of our house What haue you heere to do in this desert You shall neuer be able to endure our persecutions The friends of S. Antony now hearing such quarrels and menaces without did verily belieue some ill disposed persons and enemies of the Saint had byn gotten in with a ladder from the top but afterwards looking in very curiously through a chincke they caused some to get vpon the roofe and by diligent search they could finally discerne no such matter It was presently knowne that those horrible clamours proceeded from none but infernall spirits Whereupon the poore people being now affrighted began suddenly to call vpon S. Antony by name to craue his succour Whâ—… regarding the good of these more then the menaces of those approching to the doore exhorted theÌ„ with fayre speeches to retire from thence and not to feare since the Deuill is commonly wont if you be fearefull to increase your vaine and needles feares Go home then on Gods name and do you make the signe of the holy Crosse. Go your wayes home I say in the name of the Highest leauâ—… them heere in fine to be illude themselues With this conge the visible friends giue backe and departed thence and he alone remayned behind to stand in contest with the inuisible Enemies although from henceforth in all bickerings he had not much to do with them partly in regard that they through so many losses became continually more weary feeble partly also because he felt himselfe euery day more couragious and stoute being very often comforted with diuine Visitations and with often triumphes ouer his now vanquished Enemyes In the meane time new troupes of people ceased not to resort from Cittyes and Villages to S. Antonyes Cell Who making accompt to haue found him allready dead beyond all hope did heare him sing Exurgat Deus dissipentur inimici eius fugiant qui oderunt eum à faciâ—… eius sicut deficit fumus deficiant sicut fluit cera à facie eius sic pereant peccatores a facie Dei And like wise Omnes gentes circumdederunt me in nomine Domini quia vltus sum in eos With such and other like darts the valourous Champion transfixed so the rebels of Christ as in all the encounters they had euer the worst S. Antony remaynes reclused His fame spreads through all parts whereby many come to renounce the world Chap. 5. IN this manner of inclosure the seruant of God remayned for 20. yeares continually without once seeing to yssue forth or euer being seen of any person Whereupon the fame of S. Antony was so spread and was in so great credit of more then humane vertue as day by day there assembled about him a greater concourse of diuers Nations and conditions of persons then euer Some came with desire to be instructed and trayned vp by him others to be deliuered from the Deuill and from sundry infirmities Others in fine desired to behold such an Hermit as he with their proper eyes and so rare and liuely example of perfection and to speake in a word such an Angell on earth Who by how much more through humility retyred so much greater thirst was excited in men of his conuersation And in briefe the matter went so farre as they being able no longer to endure the expectation pulling a way the obstacles by violency and breaking vpon him with boldnes and reuerence alike they intreated him so much as he was able to resist no longer but forth with he came out of a Sanctuary where he had beene as it were annoynted with the diuine hands consecrated and promoted for the gouernement of soules And it may well be conceyued the while what a plenitude of graet he receiued from Heauen since loc the very same redounding like wise to the body after so many yeares of pennance so great fastings and such meditations combats and vigils appeared to be of so good a coÌ„plexion as if in all that tyme he had attended to his health and had entertayned himselfe in pleasant pastimes With this was matched such a manner of composition modesty and grauity as well beseemed a foster-child of the supreme wisedome and Citizen of the supernall country In such wise as to haue met him after so long a retirement in so great a multitude of men applying themselues to him and euen profuse in his prayses renowne yet should you not haue seene any signe of perturbation in him or of vayne contenâ—…meÌ„t but was alwayes found with Reason in the Sterne most firme constant and equall He had so 〈◊〉 refull serene a couÌ„tenance as all men that looked vpon him were comforted therwith But what shall we say of the other Gifts of the holy Ghost The dispossest of euill Spirits may suffice to winne beliefe the infirme also whome he hath restored And the many besides aflicted and disconsolate through diuers occasions which with sweet efficacious words he hath recomforted How many emnityes and how many strifes hath he reduced to peace and concord He would exhort all with great vehemency of spirit noryâ—… lesse with the weight of reason and examples by no meanes to preferre any wordly thing before the loue of our Lord Iesus And he would also discourse of the future goods and of the excessiue charity of God towards miserable mortals since for their Redemption and Saluation he would not seeme to pardon his owne
wayes home to fetch hither the Cloke which was once giuen you by Athanasius the Bishop to fold vp my carkas in and so to commit it to the Earth Which request the Blessed Paul made not that he cared much to be putrifyed eyther naked or clothed especially not hauing for so long tyme vsed to couer himselfe with other then with the leaues of Palmes being wouen together with his owne hands but he did it that he might not grieue him by expiring in his sight S. Antony remayned amazed at the thing which he heard particularly for the Cloke and with veneration acknowledging our Lord in the person of S. Paul without reply kissing the eyes and hands of the Saint went his wayes in hast to his Hermitage and at his approach his two disciples demaunding of him with great anxiety where he had been so long he answered Wo be to me Synner and false Monke I haue seen Elias I haue seen Iohn Baptist in the desart or to say better I haue seen Paul in Paradise Then holding his peace in knocking his breast he tooke the Cloke of Athanasi◅ out of the Cell when as his Companions importuned him yet to vouchsafe to speake more cleare but he differing the same to its time without more delay or affording any nourishment to his body so lōg fasting wel nigh spent went suddainly forth with his mynd wholy fixed on his sweet Host fearing as it fell out least in his absence he might giue vp the ghost And now by this tyme he had gone in great hast as it were half the way when as lifting vp his eyes aloft he sees among the happy troupes of elect spirits the blessed soule of S. Paul very glorious radiant to ascend vp to heauen And suddenly casting himselfe on the ground beganne to sprinckle his head with sand and to weepe and lament saying Why leaue you me O Paul Why go you away so before I had taken my leaue of you So lately knowne alas so soone parted S. Antony himselfe recounted afterwards that he had passed the ◅est of the way with the swiftnes of a Bird and so it was knowne in the proofe since entring into the Caue he found the holy corps yet kneeling and the necke vpright and hands lifted vp insomuch as notwithstanding the triumph which he had seen before he was almost of the mind that he was yet aliue but then not perceyuing any breath or signe of life he endeauoured with bitter playnts to kisse him and ◅olding him vp in the sayd garment of S. Athanasius he brought him forth with Hymnes and Psalmes But then not hauing any instrument to digg his graue with and with great anxiety thinking bethinking himself what to do Behold two Lyons with their hayre layd open to the wind to come running at that tyme. Whence he at first being somewhat affrayd and then taking courage in God attended their comming as so many Doues and they being arriued to the corps did humbly cast themselues at the feete thereof with fanning in their manner and bitterly roaring in signe of the sorrow they felt and presently began with their feete to plough vp the sands vntill such tyme as there remayned sufficient roome for a man Which being done and as it were for their hire receiuing the benediction of S. Antony they quietly went their wayes and he putting his shoulders to the sacred burthen did bury it in the trench After this surueying the Heritage of the dead for not to go thence altogether empty handed he tooke hold of the Cassocke of Palmes and being returned home agayne as long as he liued afterwards in the solemnities of Easter and Pentecost he would alwaies reuest himselfe therewith After these workes of charity were ended he was intreated by a great number of Monkes now comming in hast to him where he was to visit anew to recomfort the Cōuents He went then along with them and while they were on the way there fell out another notable meruaile That way was al very craggy and barren the heates excessiue so as it was not long ere prouision of water fayled them and the Monkes not knowing what to do letting their Camell go loose being scortched and afflicted lay downe When the holy old man not a litle contristate at so great a perill of theirs sequestred himselfe a little and kneeling on the ground lifting his hands to the starres began to beseech God with so much fayth and feruour as suddenly in the self same place of prayer sprung forth the desired liquour Whence all were reuiued and others being satisfyed as they anxiously sought for the Camell did suddenly find him by the cord of the headstall through a new miracle entangled in a rocke Loading him then to their great contentment they came very safe and found to their Cells agayne S. Antony is very wellcome to all at his returne and giues holsome Documents to ech one vpon good occasions Chap. 14. NOw it would be long and superfluous heere to explicate the ioy which the Disciples shewed at the comming of their most sweest Father and Mayster and he likewise reioyced as much to see them all to be so seruent with his presence and renewed in spirit He had besides no small consolation to find his Sister so perseuering in the diuine seruice being come to be Superiour of a most Noble and numerous Conuent of Virgins Now the arriuall of the Saint being knowne throughout all those Parts a great multitude of persons of all qualityes resorted thither to salute him and to visit him as they were wont and especially of the Religious to whome he for entertaynement sake insteed of presents and gifts would be giuing of precious aduertisements and aduises saying They should alwayes hold firme their fayth and dilection to God and the Neighbour They should guard themselues from vncleane thoughts and delights They should not not suffer themselues to be deceyued with Gluttony and should fly Vayne glory continue their prayers lay vp the documents of the holy Scripture in their breast be allwayes reuoluing the actions and manners of Saints in mynd endeauouring to reforme themselues through the imitation of them And principally he aduised them not to cease to meditate on those words of the Apostle S. Paul Sol non occidat super iracundiam vestrā and added therunto nor yet vpon any other sinne whatsoeuer it being a thing very fit and necessary that neyther the Sunne accuse vs of our diurnall malice nor the Moone of nocturnall sinnes For which end said he shall the preceps of the Prophet himself help you much Iudge your selues and examine your selues well Let ech one euery day take accompt from his proper soule of his actions words and thoughts And hauing erred let him amend hauing done wel not exalt himselfe but seeke to perseuere and not become negligen◅ and let him beware he iudge no man nor iustify himselfe as S. Paul said another tyme vntill such tyme as our Lord comes
the care of others as to be any whit vnmindfull of himselfe but rather assoone as could be in imtation of Christ leauing the multitude he would retire himself to prayer and solitude Nor was the sweetnes of friends or power of Princes able to withdraw him from such manner of obseruance To which purpose we are not to passe ouer in silence how a certayne Captayne after he had visited him being willing to entertayne him further in discourse he gently excused himselfe with that similitude of Fishes so renowned afterwards and brought into a Prouerbe that euen as those remaining on the land giue ouer and dye so Monkes abiding too much with Seculars do loose the feruour of the spirit with which comparison the Captayne was well satisfyed though much grieued the while to be seuered from him But what great matter may it seeme that S. Antonyes friendship should so be desired of Rulers or Prefects of some Prouinces only since we see it sought for no lesse of very Monarkes themselues and of the Emperours of the world It is a knowne thing how Constantinus Augustus and the Princes his sonnes Constans and Constantius sent him letters as to a Father intreating him to vouchsafe to send them greeting and good counsayle but he was so alienate from worldly fauours and so abhorred he euery least apparence of vanity as he was vpon the point not to accept the Epistles sent saying to the Monkes to whome it seemed to be some great honour to be so courteously greeted by the Caesars Why meruayle you that a King should write to a man Nay wonder rather the immortall God should write so his law to mortals yea euen speake to them face to face by meanes of his only begotten Sonne The magnanimous Abbot then as we haue sayd within a litle had refused to receiue the letters at least he was resolued not to answere them at all if through the prayers of his Monkes and scruple which would arise of litle Edification he had not been enforced in a manner to write backe as he did first with praysing those Lords for the sayth they professed then exhorting thē to make no great reckoning of their present greatnes but to haue alwayes the future Iudgement in mynd to acknowledge Christ only for the true and eternall King he concluded lastly in persuading them to be courteous and benigne and to haue speciall care of the poore and of Iustice. Which aduises were receyued of the Emperour and Princes with great ioy and confolation This was the credit and reputation whereto the Seruant of Chist euen in his tyme was arriued surmounting the Enuy and detraction of the world and the same not so much through same of great learning or of extraordinary Eloquence or of Bookes ◅ut forth to light or of any of those arts which are in price with ◅he world as through a sanctity of manners only and by the grace of God who is delighted to exalt the humble to manifest such as are willing to hide themselues and withall to giue the world to vnderstand how the diuine precepts and counsayles are not impossible to those that will disentangle themselus and walke couragiously in the way of vertues But be this sufficiently sayd for the present of the glorious acts and rare parts of S. Antony rather as intimated to the faythfull only then any wyse explicated as they deserue And now remaines it for vs to touch somewhat of his Death that to him was a sweet and blessed Birth-day S. Antony being now come to the end of his dayes presageth his death With his happy departure out of this life Chap. 22. THe holy Old man was now arriued to the age of one hundred and fiue yeares old with a great ability of body He wāted not a tooth though his gumms indeed were somwhat fallē He had his sight very excellent good hauing his eyes yet sound and quite without blemish his feete and armes he had still very actiue and that which is more to be merueyled at was this that notwithstanding he was so giuen from his childhood to Fastings Vigils Solitudes Cloysters with other of the sharpest penances that are without shifting as we sayd aboue his garments or euer bathing himself he had yet so fresh and fayre a skynne as if he had beene alwayes trayned vp in feasts and banquets stoues and baths and other addresses of human delicacyes In this state had he an interiour feeling in himselfe of the speedy approach of his last dayes Wherupon going forth againe from the in most part of the wildernes to reuisite and comfort the Conuents abroad and causing the Brothers to be assembled together as to a Congregation he cleerly spake to them in this sort This is the last visit and surely is it much that in this present life we haue enioyed one another so long But now it is tyme at last that I goe my wayes For I haue liued in the world my part already The disciples in hearing this beganne to weep and to giue very deare imbraces and holy kisses of peace to their Mayster Who being now very glad to go forth of this exile and to passe into his Countrey in the meane while he went about to put them in mynd that they would not suffer the trauayles of Religion to seeme tedious to them but dayly seeme to expect death that they endeauour to keep the soule from vncleane thoughts that they purpose to imitate the manners of Saints and wholy fly the cōmerce of Schismatiques and Heretiques not suffering themselues to bend this way or that way through feare of Magistrates or Princes whose forces are but little and not durable With these and other such like aduises making an Epilogue as it were of the rest he tooke leaue of his children who vsing all violence to reteine him there that they might be receiuing his last spirit they could not procure the fauour as well for many respects which he cōcealed as principally to auoyd a certayne abuse which the Egiptians had to conserue with some art or other the bodyes of persons of quality vpon certaine beds in performing their wonted Exequies indeed en wrapping them after their manner in sheetes but yet auoyding to put them vnder the ground as a thing wholy vnworthy of them Now was this abuse alwayes very much displeasing to S. Antony and he had been reprehending the people for it at sundry tymes and intreated the Bishops often to remedy the same alleadging that euen from the auncient Prophets themselues were seen to bee sepulchers extant yea that the body of Christ our Lord himselfe had beene put in to a Monument and was couered with a great stone who arose the third day With which examples howbeyt already he had reduced many persons to bury their dead yet neuerthelesse knowing the custome and inclination of that people he would not trust the multitude with his spoyles but retiring himselfe into his Cell from whence had he departed within few months
which by meanes of the flesh make warre against the spirit and if I shall not haue learned to obserue thy Law inuiolable But I hope Lord through the help of thy high and mighty hand I shall do that which may like thee best and thou pardon all my defects In such accusations of himselfe as these ioyned with bitter playnts with burning prayers and with solid purposes spent he all that night at the apearing of the day he found on the ground a certaine durt which was there caused through the continuall teares that streamed from his eyes as also with the excessiue sweat which tricked downe from all his body Nor let any one seeme to attribute this to an exaggeration of words for that besides the humour which contrition wrong from him and affliction of mynd it was then likewise the season of Summer and the place of its nature was exceeding hoat nor was the seruant of God then making his prayer in a carelesse kind of composition of body but eyther on his knees or prostrate or bolt vpright with the armes erected distended in forme of a Crosse without letting them once to fall or leaning himselfe to any thing vntill the tyme he had purposed to himselfe and this as well to suffer something with Christ and for Christ as by that meanes to keep his mynd more vigilant and attentiue With this sacrifice of an humble and penitent hart he obteyned so much fauour from heauen as for the tyme to come he perseuered with his Brother in meruaylous Peace and Patience and assoone as he passed into a better life he interred him with all due piety with the wonted Exequyes Frō hence remayning quite alone as he had but then entred into the Wildernes he gaue himselfe with a fresh vigour to his accustomed spirituall exercises not forbearing the while like another No◅ to be building the Arke for those that were to be saued therin according to the Angelicall prediction which howbeit slow in coming to passe yet was he certayne it would not fayle S. Pachomius is tempted by Deuils in sundry sorts He sees a vision many repayre vnto him to be admitted into his Institute Chap. 5. IN the meane tyme S. Pachomius was very grieuously molested by Hellish Monsters being all enflamed with Enuy against him desirous to put any obstacle soeuer to so great a good so as putting in practize whatsoeuer was permitted them with diuers apparitions and strange phantasmes they sought to affright the seruant of God Among other on a time being about to kneele to his Prayers the earth on a sudden fell a gaping before him in forme of a deepe Cesterne to swallow him vp At other times returning from the more remote deserts where sometymes through desire of greater solitude he was accustomed to retire himselfe vpon the sudden the same peruerse spirits were before him marching as it were in order of battaile and saying with a loud voyce Giue place to the Man of God They endeauoured likewise to shatter the new building in such sort as it seemed they would haue turned it topsy-turuy from the very foundations Besides sitting on a day at some handy worke after he had made his prayer there seemed a Cock to be represented to him of an vnmeasurable greatnes which redoubling very fierce and horrible crowings aduentured from tyme to tyme to fly in his face and with the clawes and spurs most cruelly scratched him These and other affrights and iniuryes S. Pachomius being full of a high confidence in God very easely repelled now with the signe of the most holy crosse now with some verse of the sacred Psalter Wherupon the malignant spirits perceiuing the way of feare succeeded not with them turned themselues by agreement to tempt him with laughter in shewing themselues very busy earnest to remoue certayne leaues of a tree therby tying them with great ropes and exhorting one another to pull hard with voyces and vnited forces much after the manner as Carpenters are wont to do when they lift some huge piece of tymber But this trick of theirs was not any whit sufficient to moue the grauity and constancy of the Christian Philosopher but rather sighing insteed of ◅aughter and setting his mynd on the Crucifix he attended to prosecute the exercise in hand in such wise as the powers of darknes being thus scorned by a mortall man and put to confusion went their wayes But yet for all this they ceased not afterwards to renew the battaile agayne by taking the habit and forme of beautifull women and endeauouring to sit downe at the Table with the Man of God in tyme of refection and to be impudently putting their hands into that poore fare which he had before him when seeing themselues to be howerly vanquished and despised chaunging their figures by diuine dispensation to the greater crowne of the Saint they afflicted him more then once with sundry paynes cruel torments Wherin as he through the help of Christ remayned alwayes victorious so according to the saying of the Scripture it often happened that he walked and that without hurt vpon venemous beasts and which is more being to passe the Riuer of Nilus when need was the Crocodils themselues insteed of a bark would securely be wasting him ouer With such proofes and so glorious victoryes S. Pachomius now being arriued to the highest degree of hope and charity the Angell appeared to him anew and sayd to him God is pleased O Pachomius with thy seruice and would haue thee reconcile the Gentils vnto him When not many dayes after some persons desirous to saue their Soules and glutted with the world beganne to repayre vnto him from diuers places who benignly receiued them all but yet gaue thē not the Monasticall habit till first he had proued euery one with a long and exact probation The manner he held in the instructing of all together and ech one in particuler consisted in keeping them free and farre off from all traffique and transitory cares and to vnite them first from the world then from the hauing of things proper and lastly from thēselues And forasmuch as to exhort others to the Crosse examples do moue a great deale more then words he was the first in obseruing of Silence in Edification Lessons Fasts Vigils and other labours and austerityes of the Monastery to prepare the Table to cultiuate the garden to answere at the gate to be seruing of the Sick both night and day and hence with louing aduices and remembrances withall would he afterwards very easely conduct others to liue according to the obligation of such a vocation It was not long ere the good odour same of this new Institute was spread euery where in such sort as the multitude of Monks came soone to ariue to the number of a hundred S. Pachomius highly regardeth the Clergy and visits the great Athanasius Chap. 6. AMōg these Monkes was not yet seene to be any Priest wherupon when they were to
while laying hold of the Psalter â—…egan to read the first verse as it lay before him being iust that same of the 8. psalme which saith Ex ore infantium lactentium perfecisti â—…udeÌ„ propter inimicos tuos vt destruas inimicum defensoreÌ„ the last word 〈◊〉 that Text being so translated insteed of vltâ—…rem At which word â—…o pronounced was lifted immediately a cry of the people vnto â—…eauen to the extreme confusion shame of the aduersary and S. Martin with out more resistance of any besides himselfe was elected â—…r rather forcibly constrayned to the Bishopricke In which administration it may not easily be explicated how fully or rather suâ—…er aboundantly he gaue correspondency to the full expectation which was had of him forasmuch as being disposed to that degree with the exquisite addresses of a most chast mynd in the sacred Vnâ—…ion besids he receyued so great aboundance of new graces and gifts of Heauen as continually outstripping himselfe he reteyned â—…oth the vertue of a priuate person further added to his singular prayse all the good qualtyes of a publique man S. Martin retires himselfe out of the Towne with his Monkes and their manner of liuing there Chap. 6. SAint Martin in the treating of his owne person would change nothing of his wonted manner his fare and apparell was still the same as before for habitation only he betooke himselfe into a litle Cell hard by the Cathedrall Church but euen likewise from thence through too much importunity of frequent Visits he suddenly retyred himselfe out of the Citty into a maruey lous commodious place to distribute his tymes vnto Martha and Mary since it was about two miles distant from the Towne On the one side it was girt in with a high in accessable rock on the other enuironed with the riuer Loyre in so much as there could be no entrance therinto but by a narrow path Within that enclosure S. Marâ—… had built him a litle Cell of boards a part of his Monkes who were some eighty in number had done the like and some agayne with instruments had digged them in the rocky hill certayne receptacles but narrow and more fit to medicate vpon Death then to coâ—… life withall Heere no man held any thing proper to himselfe all thingâ—… were in common To buy or sel was not there permitted To no manner of art applyed they themselues but to writing and to the only were the yoâ—…ger deputed Those of the more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 attended as it were to nothing els then to things diuine Very râ—…rely went any out of his Cell but when they all assembled togâ—…ther in the Oratory to pacify God besides they did eate all togâ—…ther in the Euening Wine was not affoarded to any except to 〈◊〉 sicke The greaâ—… part would be wearing of cilices clothes whiâ—… had any fineâ—…â—…sse in them were abhorred of â—…ch one 〈◊〉 manifest scandall A thing so much more admirable as many 〈◊〉 them were Noble of bloud and dainetily bred But for the louâ—…d Christ and the Crosse they did all very voluntarily submit themâ—…ues to such a peâ—…ance Of which number afterwards were many of them seen to be Bishops while Ciâ—…ties striued to be gouerned 〈◊〉 spirit by the Children of such a discipline Nor could it be oâ—… wise but needâ—… must succeed very excellent men vnder S. Mâ—… because not only with aduises and words went he alwayes 〈◊〉 them but euen with workes and liuely incitements also of all pâ—…fection and especially sincere humility togeather with an ardent â—…oue of the Neighbour Sulpitius Seueras declared who liued in those tymes knowing the Saint domestically as he did very diligently wrote his life how that going sometimes to visit him from countryes somewhâ—… remote he could neuer hinder him from washing his feet and â—…ing to sit downe at table from reaching him water as well â—…t his hands as for those of his fellowes The same man adds how after he had fed the bodyes of his ghests with moderate victâ—… 〈◊〉 would be afterwards affoarding them a most sweet food of â—…tuall discourses for their soules exhorting them with like modesty and efficacy to nothing more then to fly the sensualityes of the present life and to leaue the perilous trash of the world to be able tâ—… more â—…imbly and free to follow Iesus And to this purpose he would set before them the fresh example of S. Pâ—… Bishop of Nâ—…a who after he had distributed very â—…mple 〈◊〉 â—…or the loue of God and help of the poore did finally with an example of Christian piety neuer heard of before sell himselfe into a most cruell bondage for the ransome of his subiects who were held in Affricke slaues to the Saracens With such manner â—…f comparisons as this and moreouer with precepts taken out of the â—…red Writ went S. Martin exciting in spirit as many as came beâ—…re him Nor was it any great matter for him that he should haue 〈◊〉 much to giue to others who so continually treasured vp for himself remayning euen amidst exteriour actioÌ„s alwayes with the hart 〈◊〉 vnited with God as neyther in words nor deeds he would euer â—…o forth of his presence And as Smithes without other matter to worke on through vse for their pleasure only will sometymes â—…e laying on the anuile so S. Martyn not only in the tymes depuâ—…d to the Sacrifice and diuine worship but likewise at all houres â—…sides would eyther read or write or be dealing with men and â—…hrough the great habit he had gotten he would be continually â—…collected in the interious man conuersing sweetly with the heaâ—…enly Spouse and with the giuer of all Graces He would neuer loose tyme in the day and whole nights he would often passe ouer in labours and watchings To the body â—…e gaue that refection and that repose which extreme necessity reâ—…uired lying on the bare ground couered only with a sharp cilice He tooke heed with all caution from iudging the intentions of oâ—…ers interpreting what he could ech thing to the better part and â—…wayes very highly esteeming the reputation fame of the neighâ—…our the iniuryes detractions the enuyes of Persecutours which 〈◊〉 the whole course of his life were not wanting to him he would â—…compence with weeping bitterly for their offences and also as â—…ccasion serued with affording them benefits seruing them not â—…xcluding any what lay in him from his holy freindship He was â—…euer seen to laugh vainely or to be contristate at any thing conâ—…ruing alwayes the same tranquility of hart and serenity of counteâ—…ance amidst al the varietyes of human accidents eyther prosperous â—…nd cheerefull or how straung and aduerse soeuer they were Wherof those few actions which we shall tell you anon shall giue â—…rth a very euident testimony though in ech one of these preciâ—…s examples do shine withall as often it happens many other verâ—…es besides S. Martyn is much honoured by a miracle from God for a charitable
If thou hast such a confidence in this thy God we ourselues will cut downe this tree for thee and do thou but set thy shoulders thereunto and be propping it vp and if thy Lord stand for thee 〈◊〉 thou sayest thou shalt not suffer a whit The magnanimous Bishop accepted the Condition and all that barbarous company accorded likewise exchanging very willingly the losse of such a plant with the death of one that was so great a Persecutour of the Idols That Pine of its nature was bending in such sort as it cleeâ—…ly appeared in cutting it downe wherabout of necessity it must light On that very side did S. Martin suffer himselfe to be placed with his legs tyed by those rude rustiques where he stood as a statue And â—…e people presently vpon this diuided themselues very glad and â—…oyfull the while at so new a spectable and some with axes in hast began to cut downe the Pine-tree The man of God from thence â—…ad made his Monks to sequester theÌ„selues who laboured in vayne â—…o hinder such a proofe and being pale and full of sadnes with teÌ„der eyes ech momeÌ„t stood expecting the losse of their deere Maister â—…nd the tree now ready to toâ—…er with redoubled stroakes seemed to threaten the â—…al And yet stood S. Martin very firme and vndaunted when finally the ruine with a terrible noyse directly bended towards him now was eueÌ„ ready to oppresse him when he without being troubled a whit lifting vp his arme opposed thereto the signe of the Crosse and nothing els besides A thing truly very admirable that euen at the holsome signe so made was sudenly that great trunck as it were beate back with a violent Engine went with such a fury to the contrary side as it almost had crushed the very Infidels theÌ„selues who were hewing it downe What effect now this so sudden euent might cause in their minds may more easely be imagined then written The Monkes beholding now beyond all hope S. Martin to be safe and sound with consolation and iubiley giuing thankes to our Lord for it wept out right and the rude people being conuinced with so great a miracle holding vp their hands and voyces to Heauen did finally yield and acknowledge the errour of their life past and were willingly conuerred to Christ insomuch as where before there were no faythfull as it were to be seen thereabouts within a litle tyme by meanes of the vertue and diligence and the exemplar manner of the holy Bishop there remayned not a place that was not very full of Christians of Churches and Monasteryes Because the seruant of God was wont as soone as he had demolished any house of the Idols to erect in the same scituation some deuout Oratory or Religious Conuent or other S. Martin stayes the flames of fire from doing any harme With other wonders which he wrought Chap. 13. VVE may not seeme to let passe in silence a thing which if it had not happened in publique might perhaps haue seemed incredibie to some S. Martin hauing in those countries therabout set â—…ire to a very noble most ancient Temple of the Idols it happened that a wind arising did carry the flame to a house hard by not without manifest danger of dilating it selfe further and of stirring vp with the sense of their priuat losses the tender minds of that Community S. Martyn then being aware of the danger with the wonted courage of a liuely fayth mounted vp speedily to the roofe puts himself against the flames and it is certaine that at the only appearing of the Man of God the flames as timerous to offend him in a moment seemed to fetch about to be retorted and gathered within themselues in the sight of all in striuing against the violence of the wind to retire in such sort as the priuate buildings remayned very safe and S. Martyn with his only presence effected that which al the people with their instruments water could not so easily haue brought to passe In the Leapers Bourge as they called it likewise hauing attempted to ruin a temple very famous no lesse for the great richeâ—… therof then for the much superstition vsed about it he was repelled by the Gentils not without much outrage and iniuryes dâ—… him Wherupon retiring himselfe in to some place thereby he remayned in fasting for three whole dayes togeather and praying in 〈◊〉 and ashes and at last appeared two champions vnto him of the heauenly warfare being armed with speares shields saying how they came as sent from our Lord to succour him against that multitude of swaynes That therfore he might returne bouldly to the enterprize agayne and not feare any impediment whatsoeuer So S. Martin did and in the presence of all those Pagans who through diuine power stood the while immoueable he ruined the profane bulke from the very foundations destroyed the Aultars reduced the images vnto dust Whence succeeded another great benefit that the Gentils perceiuing themselues so bound and stupifyed without being able to rise against the Bishop knew the effect to be caused by a supreme power and they all as it were came to belieue in Christ exclayming with one voyce and confessing that the only God of S. Martin was to be adored and that for the Idols they were to make no reckoning of them since in such a necessity of theirs they were not able to helpe themselues Two other stupendious things are recounted in this matter one was that in the country of Burgundy there being a great number of country swaynes risen agaynst S. Martin in defence of a TeÌ„ple one of them drawing out his sword set vpon him when the holy man suddenly laying his cloake aside offered him his naked necke nor was that impious fellow any whit slack to haue giuen the stroake but lifting vp his arme in the presence of all fell flat backwards himselfe and cryed for peace and pardon The other was that from a like disdayne another wicked fellow being minded to kill him the very sword fell out of his hand in such wise as it was neuer seene more True it is that he rarely came into such termes because for the most part S. Martyn with meekenes and with preaching would be tempring and persuading the people in such sort as themselues vnderstanding the truth once would condemne their owne madnes destroying the Idols with their proper hands be conuerted to Christ. To which effect of conuersion of soules S. Martyn was wont very industriously to make vse of the great gift he had in curing the sicke and deliuering possessed persons of euill spirits as among others he did heere with a person of great quality by name Tetradius This man being moued to compassion for a deere seruant of his very cruelly oppressed and tormented by the infernall enemy with great instance intreated S. Martyn to vouchsafe so much as to cure him The holy man then willed him to be brought before him but the
himself at least on one side to take some â—…st but he replyed Let me alone Brothers and suffer me rather to â—…oke to heauen-wards then to the earth and to put my soule into â—…to the right way being euen now ready to passe to the Creatour After this seing the Deuil to appeare before him What dost â—…ou heere sayd he thou bloudy beast Thou shalt find nothing 〈◊〉 me O Thiefe Arahams bosome lyes open and ready for me And with these words he yeilded vp his spirit vpon Saturday about â—…idnight in the tyme of Honorius and Arcadius Emperours in the â—…eare of our Lord 397. or as others will haue it 402. hauing his â—…ce so resplendant and all those members and fleâ—…h of his so ill inâ—…eated before and mortifyed now so white fresh and sweete to â—…ehold as they seemed already to be transformed into the state of â—…ory At the very same tyme were heard most sweet haâ—…onyes â—…boue of Angelicall Quires and this not only in those parts but â—…uen likewise in the Citty of Colen where the blessed Seâ—…erinus Biâ—…op together with his Archdeacon was paâ—… of so gratefull acâ—…ents also and the same Bishop had reueâ—… besides how in that â—…und so continued in his eares the seuere ministers of the eternall â—…ustice were at his passage though in vayne withholding and â—…xamining S. Martyn Whence euery one may consider with what â—…gour sinners are there handled since so without respect the very â—…st are so strictly dealt with The newes being spread abroad of his desâ—…e who were â—…le to expresse the mourning of all and the solemnity of the Exeâ—…uyes there made When not only of Towers and all the Countrey â—…ereabous but euen from sundry other neighbour Cittyes likewise all the Inhabitants came forth to honour the body while the coâ—… trary affects at once then combated in their soules both of ioy 〈◊〉 nes notwithstanding the number of those was much greater 〈◊〉 moued with the losse of such a Father Pastour and Maister and 〈◊〉 their only refuge went sighing and lamenting bitterly amidst 〈◊〉 hymnes canticles But especially the assembly of two thoâ—… Monkes all trayned vp by the Sâ—…int and partly a chast and 〈◊〉 Quire of Virgins all eleuated in spirit diuine praises gaue foâ—… pious and noble spectacle to behold With such a trayne then a great deale more glorious thâ—…n 〈◊〉 triumphes of Emperours and of Caesars were the sacred spoyleâ—… 〈◊〉 posed in 〈◊〉 certaine place of that Countrey vntill it was throâ—… determined where it should be placed in a proper and stable 〈◊〉 pulcher Now there being in those dayes a great controuersy 〈◊〉 thereabouts betweene the inhabitants of Towers and those of 〈◊〉 tiers in the one of which places S. Martin had led a good while 〈◊〉 priuate life and in the other had gouerned the Church to his dyiâ—… day And they being not able in so great diuersity of minds by 〈◊〉 mane wayes to come vnto accord therin and both the one and 〈◊〉 ther people coÌ„tending with ech other about the same in strict 〈◊〉 and custody of the sacred treasure It pleased our Lord that 〈◊〉 of Poytiers about midnight should remayne all oppressed with 〈◊〉 profound a sleepe as that their aduersaries being aware therof 〈◊〉 the space to let downe the body quietly by a window into a Baâ—… there ready in the riuer Whereupon looke with how much ioy triumph for so great a purchase they went conducting it home 〈◊〉 the others became as sorowfull perplexed for the losse the next day morning There was afterwards by the Bishops successours to S. Maâ—… built to his honour in Towers a sumptuous magnificent Church where with great veneration was kept that noble instrument 〈◊〉 diuine wisedome vntill this vnhappy age in which the Sunne haâ—… not seen a worse deed then the impious scattering of those blessed Reliques in the riuer of Luâ—…ra by the hands of sacrilegious Heretiques But howbeyt through diuine permission they had the force to disperse the bones and ashes of the Saint Yet were they noâ—… able nor euer shall be to extinguish the memory of his manifold miracles nor the good odour of his excellent Vertues FINIS S. FVLGENTIVS THE ARGVMENT NAture and Art behold conioyn'd in one A Genius void of affectation Most affable Victorious grace to fight Agaynst rebellious sense and appetite The world orecome by â—…lighting it a Crowne Of glory got and by contempt Renowne See how although a thousand crosses band Agaynst the good in spite of all they stand Firme in their godly purpose mou'd no more Then rocks by waters forced on the shore Happy Selfe-will when Will it selfe subdues And for a guide and sternes-man Heauen doth vse THE LIFE OF S. FVLGENTIVS BISHOP OF RVSPA Written by a Disciple of his The Parentage Birth and Education of S. Fulgentius his Vocation to Religion Chap. I. AT such tyme as Hunnericus King of the Vandals tooke Carthage Cordianus Senatour of that Citty with all the others of the same Order being spoyled of his goods and driuen into Italy dyed there leauing Sonnes behind him wherof two of them with hope of recouering their Fathers estate returning into Affrick found their house to be giuen away already to an Arrian Priest so as they had no commodity to recouer the same and to inhabit in Carthage though they had the fauour to enter into some part of their substance with which they got themselues into the Citty of Leste where one of them by name Claudius hauing taken to wife a pious honourable Woman called Mariana by her had the blessed Fulgentius whose life we take in hand to write This woman hauing in her fiâ—… yeares lost her husband tooke â—…o small care to set her sonne to schoole And forasmuch as in those tymes was made great accompt of the Greeke tongue the suffered him not to attend to the Latin vntill such tyme as he had the workes of Homer by hart and was also well versâ—…d in the Poet Meâ—…ander and as the youth was of a noble wit and of a happy memory he so profited in that study as in the Greeke pronunciation and accent he seemed as it were a naturall Grecian After this he gaue himselfe to the Latin wherein likewise he made a happy progresse but as it chanceth in like cases very suddenly he was forced to leaue them both while the gouernement of the whole family fel vpon him but yet so as in that managâ—… of his estate he would neuer subtrâ—…ct himselfe froÌ„ the obedience of his Mother Who in her widdow-hood tooke meruâ—…ilous consolation from the good deportements of her prudent sonne perceyuing how dexterous he was in entertayning friends reasonable in opposing enemies how meeke towards seruants and seuere withal how diligent in the care of his patrimony and discreet in purchasing the grace of Princes whereby he came very soone to such reputation as he was made 〈◊〉 chiefe Magistrate of the Common wealth Now while in this
this he dispoâ—…ed of the monyes which as yet were left him as a most faythfull Steward as he had alwayes beene of the Ecclesiasticall rents and â—…ecounting by name all the widowes Orphans Pilgrims other â—…f the poore as well of the Lay as Clerks one by one he ordayâ—…ed what he had to be giuen by poul without leauing so much aâ—… 〈◊〉 farthing vnbequeathed Heereupon turning himselfe to prayer and tenderly blessing â—…s many as entred vnto him he remayned in his senses and iudgâ—…ent vnto the last breath which he rendered vp to our Lord towards the Euening in the yeare of our Lord 461. on the first day of Ianuary in the 65. yeare of his age which was the 25. of his Bishoprike In the meane space while the prouince of Bizacâ—…na was â—…acked and harrowed with fires and assaults of Moores the country â—…nd Citty of Ruspa through the merits doubtles of the holy Pastour â—…ad alwayes enioyed a secure and quiet peace His body was watched all the night with psalmes and spirituall Canticles Thâ—…n 〈◊〉 morning being come with an infinite concourse of people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 carryed and layd by the hands of Priests in the Church which 〈◊〉 called Secunda where himselfe had deuoutly placed the veâ—… Reliques of the Apostles and where for the reuerence of the plaâ—… till that tyme no man had beene buryed FINIS S. THEODOSIVS THE ARGVMENT DEare Saint The ancient Ages did esteeme Thy Country-men as Pigmyes so they seeme Compard to others yet thy Towring mynd Did ouerlooke the world which thou didst find A painted Harlot whose discoloured face Did maâ—…ke in faygned beauty borrowed grace Her thou discouering with a piercing eye Such base indearments quickly didst descrye And taughtst to others thousaÌ„ds didst thou free When her impostures blazond were by thee Both friend and foe one action doth auerre Thee to the world no friend no foe to her Might tyme but like the billowes of the maine Reduce it selfe into its spring agayne Oâ—… Eagle-like could once it selfe renew That we its ancient ofspring might reuievv We should confesse past Ages hardly saw One from the world the world more to withdraw THE LIFE OF S. THEODOSIVS ABBOT The Parents Country and Education of S. Theodosiâ—… His Vocation and how he met with Stelites With his aâ—… 〈◊〉 afterwards at Hierusalem Chap. I. THE great Father and Maister of Monks S. â—…dosius was one of the number of those who not receiuing from their Natiue Countrey eyther splendour or renowne haue yet through 〈◊〉 proper actions and eminent vertues enobled the same The blessed MaÌ„n was borne in Mâ—…assus of Cappadocia a place obscure and vnknown before but after by so happy a plaâ—…t deseruedly famous and illustrious His Parents were 〈◊〉 â—…gia both Christians according to the quality of the land there very honourable wealthy By these the Child being nurtured with great care both in the feare of God and in some knowledge of good literature assoone as he arriued to yeares of discretion as he was among other his gifts of a prompt and ready wit and of a cleare voyce and distinct proâ—…ciation he was 〈◊〉 to recite the â—…ine scriptures to the people assembled in the Temple on determinate dayes In which exercise while many examples precepts of sancâ—…y were presented 〈◊〉 him and while he notes in the old Testaâ—…nt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obedienâ—… of Abraham in going forth of his Country and â—…ing hâ—… only begotten sonne and in the sacred Ghospell considers the rewards proposed to such as leaue their PareÌ„ets or goods for the loue of God â—…his doctrine anon â—…unck very deepe into the hart of the prâ—…dent youth so as now generously contemning the delights of that age reiecting with a sterne brow the 〈◊〉 flatteryes of the Sensâ—… he determined to walke by the narrow and vnbeaten way vnto the glorious confines of the true Beatitude To which effect knowing what need there was of the celestiall grace to obtayne it more easily and in greater aboundance the first thing he did was that recommending himselfe to God he applyed his thoughts vnto the pilgrimage 〈◊〉 Palestine to see adorâ—… the Land so dyed with the bloud and printed with the steps of our Sauiour and through the liuely memory of his cruell torments to gather from thence aboundant fruite of spirit and perseuerance Such in summe was the Vocation of S. Thedosius while the Councell of Calcedon was then assembling And forasmuch as at that time the same of Simeon Stelites the Greater was very illustrious who â—…eare vnto Antioch standing day and night on the top of a pillaâ—… wholy exposed to the iniury of the elements to the great admiration of the world performed very shaâ—…pe pennance it seemed good to the deuout Pilgrime to go that way to take thereby the benediction and spirituall precepts of so worthy and admirable a personage Tâ—…yling thâ—… towards the same Countrey he no sooner approched to that strange habitation but that before he opened his mouth he heard himselfe with a lowd voyce to be called vpon and saluted by the holy old man by his proper name who hauing â—…otice from Heauen of the quality and intention of this new Traâ—…aylour thâ—… began to cry out aâ—… the first sight of him Thou art wellcome Thou man of God O Theodosius At which very sound the fresh Disciple of the eternall Wisedome being stooke with 〈◊〉 as it were and prostrating himselfe on the ground most humbly saluted him agayne and then recollecting himselfe from the feare he was in and with a set ladder getting vp the Pillar he was not only most deerely imbraced by Simeon but also fully certifyed of all his foture euents and aduentures of the numerous raâ—…nall stocke which in processe of tyme he was to assemble togeather and to seed and of the great multitude of soules which he through 〈◊〉 help was in time to take forth of the iawes of the internall 〈◊〉 as much also in summe as in the whole course of his present 〈◊〉 through diuine disposition were like to betyde him To this prophesy were adioyned counsayles and exhortationâ—… full of wisedome and truth where with S. Theodosius being much comforted very cheerfully proceeded in his way and safely 〈◊〉 at Hierusalem while the Blessed Inuenall did gouerne that Meâ—… Heere hauing visited with great coÌ„solation those most holy place he began to thinke with himselfe what manner of life he might choose to discharge himselfe of all terrene affects and to be vnited more easily with the eternall goodnes A consultation by how much more necessary so much the more dubious and perplexed it was vnto him as appeares in the Chapter following The conflict S. Theodosius had in himselfe about his vocation with his resolution thereupon And how searing Prelacy he flyes into a Caue Chap. 2. THeodosius heereupon on the one side felt himselfe to be 〈◊〉 with a vehement desire vnto solitude while to him it 〈◊〉 that therein without al impediment he might
giue himselfe wholy to Prayer and on the other he was not ignorant how dangeroâ—… it was with a mind not fully purged to depriue ones selfe of all human direction and succour since that in the desart the diâ—…nate passions like fire raked vp in the ashes or as wild beasts in the woods do lurke awayt occasion to wreake their natiue cruelty Whereas amidst human Society they being discouered through dayly encounters and thrust out of their dens are more eaâ—…ly destroyed insomuch as the Soule victorious of it selfe and dissolued from the bands of corrupt nature mounts vp very lightly 〈◊〉 high thoughts and to the free contemplation of celestiall things Theâ—… and other such like reasons on the one and other side this new Philosopher puts into the ballance and hauing poysed them maâ—…rely in the diuine sight at last takes himselfe to the securer side with resolution to become not a Doctour before a Scholler 〈◊〉 enter on the stage before he had learned the art of fencing So as being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that in Dauids Tower a place so called in thâ—… parts was an old souldiour of Christliuing by name Longinus growing into friendship with him he easily obteyned to be admitted â—…to his howse to be guided and instructed by him in all and â—…oughout Whereunto he disposed himselfe with so great submisâ—…n of the vnderstanding and with so much seruour of the will as â—…at through meanes of the dayly exercise of vertues and diligent â—…struction of the Maister with the noble strife of his fellow-pupils 〈◊〉 became very sudenly perfect in the rules of profitably taming the â—…esh of knowing and readily discerning of spirits of restrayning with a hard hand the motions of pride and finally to walke in the â—…resence of God with perpetuall recollection of the bodily senses â—…nd of the powers of the soule S. Theodosius in this wise hauing made in monasticall profession 〈◊〉 notable a conquest of himselfe as in the iudgement of all he â—…ight well be a Guide and Maister to others notwithstanding seeâ—…ed to himselfe only to be still but as it were in the beginning He had perseuered yet more yeares in the same schoole if an impeâ—…iment had not happened which heere we shall speake of A cerâ—…ine pious and honourable Matron by name Iulia hauing at her â—…ost built a magnificent Temple to the honour of the Queene of Angels not farre off from the habitatioÌ„ of Longinus obtayned with great â—…stance of him that he would appoint Theodosius by name to the â—…ustody of that sacred place while things were preparing about the â—…ll exercise of Religion with the choyce of Quiristers Clerks of all things els belonging to the splendour of diuine seruice therâ—… Theodosius was but vnwillingly drawne from his deere conuerâ—…tion and going thereupon to the said Church remayned there vntill such tyme as he thought he might well stay there without â—…rill but in processe of tyme being aware how busines went aâ—…out preferring him to the formall Rectorship of that Colledge he â—…ayed not till the matter might be concluded when he could not â—…e able to make resistance but in imitation of the Sauiour of the World who in the like occasion preuented before hand the inclinatioÌ„ of the people he fled away secretly vnto the top of a mouÌ„â—…ayne and got himselfe into a great caue where by ancient Tradition it is held the three Magi had lodged when as they hauing â—…dored the King of Heauen and illuded that King of the Earth they returned from Iudea into their country by stealth Heere now S. Theodosius being quite rid of all disturbance began that manner of life which a good while since he had designed where Prayer and Psalmes with order and deuotion seemed 〈◊〉 hold their turns the vigils often endured throughout the 〈◊〉 night and the eyes were become aperpetuall fountaine of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the habit which was a grosse and course Cassocke his food 〈◊〉 very well as being the rootes of hearbes windfall acorns the 〈◊〉 of palmes some pulse or when these fayled the shells of 〈◊〉 soaked in water In this manner the seruant of God spent 〈◊〉 dayes with so much the more consolation as he was further 〈◊〉 ued from al testimony of men that might put him into vayne glory and consequently diminish a good part of the merit With this 〈◊〉 rinesse concealed he himselfe to his power But the diuine clemâ—… enclining alwayes to the vniuersall good could not brooke so great a light should be shut vp enclosed so in that horrid rock Where assoone as some ray had appeared in those countryes thereaboâ—… there wanted not Louers of the chiefest good contemners of the world to shew themselues who to be guided securely to the 〈◊〉 proposed with all affection craued to be admitted and to 〈◊〉 the instruction of S. Theodosius To whome though he to maintaâ—… himselfe in his secret intention would willingly haue giuen a constant repulse yet remembring himselfe of the prophesy of 〈◊〉 Stelites weighing the great seruice which is done to the highest wisedome in cooperating with it to the saluation of soules after 〈◊〉 had excused himselfe to those suiters some while at last he perâ—…ted himselfe to be vanquished won to accept them for his discipline with reteyning alwayes in himselfe the interiour humility 〈◊〉 before and a vigilant care of himselfe Two notable signes of the Prouidence of God towards his Seruants in their 〈◊〉 ter necessities through the prayers and merits of Saint Theodosius Chap. 4. IT followed hence that S. Theodosius shewing himselfe such a â—…uely mirrour of all laudable actions increased day by day the coceipt was had of the sanctity of the Superiour being a thing of inestimable moment for the quietnes cheerfullnes and incitement of the subiects And God cherished this opinion of others with â—…uaylous signes now and then Among which was one that the Feast of Easter being come the Monkes hauing a desire to keep that day sacred and also very festiuall with some recreation of the body and spirit there was in that Hermitage no â—…yle or bread or â—…ny manner of food to be had for the purpose of such a Solemnity Whereupon being sad and disconsolate they stood as it were â—…eflecting thereon and exaggerating their great misfortune Theodosius heerwith notes their countenances to be changed and vnderstanding the occasion of their sadnes commaunds on the Saturday ouer night that an Aultar should be set vp and some forme of a Reâ—…ectory be put in order for the next day Which thing seeming very absurd to those who knew the want there was of all manner of â—…ictuals Do you make ready notwithstanding sayd Theodosius what I bid to be done and for the rest take you no care He that flourished so many thousands of Israelites in the desart and after satisfyed fiue thousand persons with fiue loaues of bread will surely likewise haue compassion of vs being now no lesse prouident nor â—…whit lesse potent then he
and glory to giue S. Theodosius a distinct accompt of all that dayes worke with immortall thankes Many other apparitions are recompted of this diuine Man 〈◊〉 heertofore of S. Nicolas By meanes wherof heere one at sea very happily escapes out of cruell tempeâ—…s and heere another in the land from sauage beasts and some from this perill and some from that There are likewise told diuers predictions of his whence 〈◊〉 appeares how eminent he was in the spirit of Prophesy But setting apart such like graces being common with men sometymes 〈◊〉 no good life my pen more willingly conuerts it selfe to the 〈◊〉 discourse of his religious Vertue The Humility and Patience of the Man of God especially in his extremity 〈◊〉 sicknes And how sweetly he gaue vp the Ghost Chap. 8. AMong the vertues of this Venerable man the sollicitude 〈◊〉 had of manteyning continuall peace and true concord between his Subiects not deserued the least place And this â—…are 〈◊〉 his so boyled in his breast as that when any of them by soâ—… accident had broken any friendship betweene them if by no other meanes he could not peece and reunite them agayne he would not stick to cast himselfe downe at their feeâ—…e and to pray and coniure ech part so long as that being mollifyed with tendernes and confounded with shame deposing all rancour they became reconciled to ech other From whence may likewise be gathered how great was the humility of the holy man most worthy of admiratioÌ„ were it only for this that by such acts he lost no reputation but rather how much greater contempt he shewed of himselfe he waâ—… so much the more esteemed and reuerenced by othes With this submission of his was the vertue of Patience seene 〈◊〉 march hand in hand with him being a safe buckler and secure 〈◊〉 of the souldiours of Christ against the hoat and furious assaulâ—… of the ancient aduersary Of which kind of aimes how 〈◊〉 the Man of God would be helping himselfe he notably 〈◊〉 in his extreme age Because that being oppressed throughâ—… most grieuous infirmity which made him more then a yeare to keep his bed with most sharpe dolours yet for all that he fayled not of his in ward peace nor yet for sâ—…ew his accustomed prayer and familiarity with God And they affirmed who assisted him day night â—…hat in the greatest extremity of all and fury of his fits he did nothing or sayd any word vn worthy of Christian magnanimity or of his former behauiour But euen rather the said assistants auerre That a certaine venerable old man being come to visit him and through compassion bidding him pray to God to deliuer him of so great affliction and he should easily be heard with no pleasing countenance contrary â—…o custome he answered thus Of charity Father speake not to me â—…ny more in this manner for as often as such thoughts haue come â—…nto my mind I euer held them as suggestions of the enemy with all endeauour haue expelled them from me discoursing in this manner with my selfe that to abate the pride that may arise in me from the credit which God hath plesed to giue me on earth these â—…gonyes and humiliations are to very good purpose And what share trow you are we like to haue in the consolations of the Eâ—…ernity if in this short space or rather moment of tyme we suffer â—…ot some manner of affliction In truth Father we needs must resolue to suffer at this present if we would not worthily be vpâ—…rayded with these words herafter Recepisti bona tua in vita tua Thus S. Theodosius spake and the Monke admiring and touched withal went his wayes In the meane tyme the Man of God feeling himselfe to decay more and more calling at last his sad disciples to his Cell with his owne and their great feeling he exhorted them to perseuere in their vocation and stoutly to resist all temptations and aboue all to maynteyne faythfull and prompt Obedience to whome soeuer with lawful election should come to succed him in the gouerment Moreouer very humbly calling for three of the Bishops of those countryes and communicating with them some things of importance for the publique seruice in the presence of them and of all the Monkes in teares he alone being ioyfull and glad hauing with diligence procured already all things necessary for such a presage did lift vp his eyes and hands to heauen and then decently â—…sting them on his breast without any difficulty yeilded vp his spirit being now of 105. yeares old And it pleased our Lord that a man possessed of an ill spirit who till that tyme could neuer be deliuered from so great a calamity now finally casting himselfe downe with many teares and bitter sighes on the couch of the Saint at the first touch of the venerable Reliques but yet more tormented then euer in the presence of as many as were there was freed and secure from that 〈◊〉 tyranny The blessed Pope Hormisda had the care of the Vniuersall Church at that tyme though others according to S. Cyrill would haue him to haue arriued to the tymes of Pope Agapitus that is to the yeare 536 and in particular of Hierusalem in the tyme of the Patriarch Peter who at the first aduertisement of the departure of S. Theodosius came in hast to the Monastery while an infinite number of people of all parts came likewise in to obtayne some shâ—…ed of the Garment or Capuch of the blessed man or at least to comâ—… neare him and contemplate more freely on those chast lymmes of his which had beene such efficacious instruments of the high Crâ—…tour Whereupon to satisfy the pious desire of the multitude the sacred corps of force remayned vnburyed vntill such tyme as the throng being somewhat ceased he was by his deerest most denoted friends with teares and sighes deposed in the bosome of the coÌ„mon Mother from thence to arise agayne at the sound of the last trumpet with the other Elect most glorious and resplendant for all Eternity FINIS S. BENET ABBOT THE ARGVMENT LOoke how the Rosy Daughter of the morne The Starre that glads ech mortall with its sight Leauing at first old Titans bed forlorne About the Spheres doth cast her Crimsom light Roses and Lillyes hurling through the skye Quenching the starres with rayes from thence that fly So glorious was thy morning so bright rayes Thy tender yeares did lighten and foretold The heauenly Sunshine of thy riper dayes Dispelling darkenesse and inflaming cold And senselesse hearts with fire of holy loue And drawing all to seeke the ioyes aboue Thou taughtst the way remouing obstacles That as they rise depresse our mounting soules Thy doctrine thou confirmdst with miracles And heau'n by thee both Death and Hell controules If Starre or Angell bring Heau'ns influence Thou art that Starre thou that Intelligence THE LIFE OF S. BENET ABBOT Taken out of the Dialogues of S. Gregory The Infancy and more tender yeares of
blacke Bird being called a Moore-hen which for a good space did neuer giue ouer from flying in his face with such importunity and so neare withall as he might easely haue taken her in his hand if he had listed But he chose rather to defend himselfe with the signe of the holy crosse Wherupon the bird flew away leauing notwithstanding a cruell temptation with an intolerable passion enkindled in the members of the yong man In such wise as the souldiour of Christ stood now vpon staggering deliberating as it were to returne back into the world agayne when being sudenly fortifyed with diuine Grace he reentred into himself agayne and beholding a bush of sharpe thornes and stinging netâ—…les at hand with a generous force pulling off his clothes on a sudden casts he himselfe therinto so long rouled his naked body theron as that being full of wounds and bloud all ouer with the external heate he extinguished the internall and through such a noble act remayned so victorious ouer the rebellions flesh as that from thence forth as himselfe reported to his Disciples he neuer felt any more trouble therof After this it pleased God that diuers persons of sundry places should repayre to S. Benet desirous not only of saluation but euen likewise of perfection And it was but iust that he now possessing so peacefully the kingdome of his proper mynd should be applyed to the care gouerment of others For that we see also in the wriâ—…ten Law how the Leuits in the seruour of their youth were tyed to labour to serue in the Temple nor before they were â—…ull 50. yeares old at which tyme it is supposed their passions are in quiet and the heart at rest were they made the Guardians and Sacristans of the holy Vessels which are interpreted the reasonable soules But among others who approched to S. Benet the seruant of God for his help were some religious of a neighbour Monastery thereby who in those dayes being destitute of an Abbot besought him to take the charge vpon him These men were accustomed to a large and more liberall life and litle disposed to conforme themselues with the manners of 〈◊〉 Benet And he being aware thereof for a while made a strong resistance to their request But being constrayned through the prayeâ—… and coniurations of the whole Family he accepted the gouerment at last and first with example and after with words endeauoured he to take away the abuses and then to bring in a forme of liuing worthy of the profession they made But soone it appeared how the good inspirations and desires they had had taken but litle roote in their soules because that shortly they were all aggrieued with the Rule and reformation made and the diabolicall instigations had gotten such power in some as that not being able to endure in their sight such a liuely and continuall example of extreme abstinence perfect manners they determined to take him away out of hand with poyson But the diuine iustice suffered not their wicked designe to take affect because that at the tyme of the refection while one of them was presenting the holy Father with a cup of poysoned wine it pleased God with the signe of the Crosse which S. Benet according to custome vsed to make thereupon the glasse as with the blow of a stone fell suddenly into peeces and the wine from the brothers hand dropt downe to the ground Whence the Man of God knew presently that drinke without doubt to be the potion of Death which could not enduâ—… the signe of life And thereupon with a mind composed and a faâ—… serene turning himselfe to the Monkes God forgiue you sayd he what a plot was this amongst you Did I not tell you at first my manners would neuer seeme to agree with yours Then rest you in peace and seeke you out some other that may gouerne you better And heerwith leauing them quite confounded and astonished he retired to his desired Caue agayne and there attended seriously to himselfe How two principall Senatours of Rome offer vp and dedicate their children to S. Benet and how a Monke was led away by a Deuill which S. Benet discouers and remedies Chap. 3. TRue it is that S. Benet was not suffered to enioy that estate any tyme because that the odour of such a sanctity continually spreading it selfe more and more there repayred to him a new coÌ„curse of people much touched with the holy Ghost and cloyed with the world With which multitude after a sufficient instruction had he founded in those countryes about a dozen Monasteryes appointing Lawes offices and an Abbot to ech So as diuers personages and Senatours of Rome began now to hold it a great felicity to haue any Children at such a tyme to send to S. Benet and to dedicate theÌ„ vnder the care of such a Father to the seruice of the diuine Maiesty Among which were two principall Eutitius and Tertullus Wherof one offered Maurus a yong man of so rare a wit and of such a spirit withall as in short tyme he became an assistant of the Maister himselfe The other greatly addicted to the same discipline with much veneration offered in person his eldest sonne Placidus to him yet a Child then after made likewise a free donation of a great masse of riches farmes manners and Castles to the Saint with cittyes both maritime and in land wherof the Catalogue would be heere too long surely to the great confusion of our tymes in which as the entring into Religion is ordinarily held desperatioÌ„ shame madnes so the taking away of subiects reputation and goods froÌ„ them is reputed and that euen of those who call themselues Christians to be good prudence valour and Iustice. But to returne to S. Benet vnto whome as well in the beginning as in the progresse of his administration there happened many notable things The vigilant Pastour with the greatest sollicitude that might be was wont to apply his subiects to the study of prayer as knowing well how necessary the succour of Heauen must needs be for the cutting off of disordinate affects and repressing of passions withall which euen from the mould whereof we are framed do continually spring For which cause besids the particular deuotions of ech one at certayne houres he would assemble them all togeather in a certayne place deputed for holy exercises Now it happened that in one of those assemblies while diuine office being ended the Monks were meditating conuersing with God one of them being vanquished with rediousnes weâ—… forth of the Quire and partly went idly vp and downe heere and there and partly busyed himselfe in some temporall matter of litle moment Which being known to his Abbot Pompeanus after he had admonished him thereof diuers tymes but all in vayne he brought him at last to S. Benet himselfe who with a good reprehension sent him backe againe But yet this auayled not much because after two dayes the Monke returned
crushed to peeâ—…a Monke vnderneath the ruines in so much as to shew him to 〈◊〉 Benet it was needfull to gather the peeces and to put them vp 〈◊〉 a sacke together When the man of God causing them to be layd â—…rth where he was wont to make his prayer and dismissing the â—…onkes shut himselfe in the Cell prayed with such feruour vnto God as euen at that houre he restored the yong man all whole and sound agayne and as able as the rest to continue and go forward with the worke interrupted Nor did the malignant spirit only in weighty matters thâ—… vent his choler but euen sometymes also in things that were halfe ridiculous in themselues as was that of a stone of no great bignes which being to be placed in the wall he sets himselfe vpon it insomuch as they did but labour in vayne to place it aright being not able to stirre it awhit vntill such tyme as the Man of God in person had giuen his benediction thereon Whereat the deuill aâ—… he is wont goes his wayes and the stone was suddenly lifted lightned as it had beene of wax only After which it seemed good vnto all to dig somwhat deep they found out an Idoll of brasse which after some houres casting by chaÌ„ce into the kitchin it seemed to send forth fire on all sides as it would doubtlesse haue burned vp the roome This sight put the Conuent into a hurly-burly all striuing to runne in with their buckets of water and calling for help At which noyse of theirs the admirable Abbot arriuing with one only cast of the eye was presently aware of the illusion and thâ—… bowing the head prayes awhile and bids the Monkes to make the signe of the Crosse vpon their eyes which done the flames immediatly vanished and so euery one vnderstood it to haue been only a fantasticall flame and not true fire Through these persecutions and troubles Lucifer did in fine effect no more then to affoard new occasions to S. Benet to illustrâ—… the name of Christ and to purchase to himselfe credit continually more and more as well with the faythfull as Gentills and that so much the more as to this so rare a grace of miracles was added an extraordinary Gift of Prophesy as by the following examples may cleerely be gathered A secular man but exceeding pious withall was wont euery yeare to go from home a good way off to the Monastery as wâ—… to take the benediction of the holy Father as also to visit a Brother of his whome there he had in religion And to the end the voyage might be the more meritorious he would make it on foote and remayne fasting vntill his arriuall vnto the presence of S. Bâ—… Now it hapened on a tyme that another trauayler kept him coÌ„pany on the way who had brought along with him good prouision of victuals and after they had gone thus a pretty way togeather while it grew somwhat late the trauayler inuited him very friendly to eate a bit with him and to refresh themselues as well as they might God forbid Brother said he since my custome is for to arriue fasting vnto Father Abbot With this answere as then the inuiter was quiet but yet after a space agayne he vrged him afresh that now it was ful tyme of dynner But the Man being resolued to keep abstinence still denyed him againe a second tyme so as the other was feigne to comply with him But not long after behold a goodly meadow with a limpid spring presents it selfe to them which opportunely inuited them to recreate themselues when he that caryed the victuals sayd O what water O what a pasture is this O what a place to repose in awhile and to take some repast rest and breath of our trauaile The sunne by this tyme was growne very forward on its way the meÌ„bers weary the sound of the Byrds very sweete to the Eares the flowers and hearbs as seeming to flatter the eyes besides which many fayre pretences fayled not the sensuality to excuse withall What more The deuout pilgrim at last was ouercome But then at the euening being come into the presence of the Man of God crauing his benediction as he was wont the Saint stucke not very dexterously to vpbrayd him with what had passed with him on the way saying How goes the matter brother The wicked enemy who spake to thee so by the meanes of that Trauayler there on the way neyther at the first nor second tyme could moue thee away whit till at last at the third he brought thee to his bent The poore man hearing this and acknowledging his great vnconstancy casts himselfe at his feere full of teares and confusion A fayre reuelation surely but yet is this that followes no lesse prety and admirable then it The Gift of Prophecy which S. Benet discouers by occasion of Totila endeauouring to abuse him by a tricke And how he discouers and chastizeth his Monkes through the same Gift Chap. 7. TOtila the King of the Gotes hauing heard of the wonders of S. Benet and measuring others manners by his owne perfidious mynd determined with a subtile inuention to informe himselfe better of the truth thereof Trauayling therefore to Mount Cassin he stayd a little way off sent to certify the worthy Abbet that he was now come to visit him and being answered he might come when he pleased he caused a Fauourite of his by name Rigone to be decked vp with his Princely robes and commaunded him to be accompanyed by his whole Court and attended by three principall Barons vnto the presence of S. Benet as if it had beene the person of Totila himselfe and gaue good order besides that no inckling of the fiction might come to the conuent Rigone trauayling with such Maiesty and so great a pompe was hardly arriued at the Cell but the Saint began a farre off to call vnto him with a lowd voyce Lay away my sonne put off those things thou wearest so for they are none of thyne At which words the Barbarian as strucken with thunder fell suddenly downe to the ground and feared worse for his great presumption in abusing and mocking so great a Man At which terrour likewise all fell humbly prostrate before him not daring to approach neerer returned to the King with pale countenances and with faltering speech related vnto him how sodainely the deceipt was discouered by the Man of God Then Totila himselfe went thither in person with so much submission and reuerence withall as that being come in the sight of S. Benet who was sitting a farre off he casts himselfe presently on the ground and howbeyt the Man of God some twice or thrice said to him Get vp I pray yet durst he not do it vntill such tyme as S. Benet with his owne hands went and lifted him vp And after this in few words in priuate he reprehended him shrewdly of his euill manners and acquainted him besides with what was
most secure that the Great God would both assiste him in so long a iourney and conserue his subiects in the peace and abundance which of his benignity he had graunted to them of late To this sense did S. Edward speake and scarcely had he finished but all those Counsellors and heads of the Prouinces began to complayne with a lowd voyce at such a resolution as not being fit the land should so be abandoned of its guide and the subiects exposed to the slaughters and outrages of the Enemyes who were ready at al occasions that should be offered them to returne againe into the Iland in armes His vow was laudable but yet coūterpoysed with too grieuous and manifest perils In this sort contended they a good while and after many answeres replyes to and fro he finally tooke resolution to remit all to his Holynes being at that tyme Pope Leo the Ninth of that name who being fully informed by expresse men and letters at large wrote back to the King in this forme Leo Bishop the Seruant of the Seruants of God to his deerely beloued Sonne Edward King of the English Health and Apostolical benediction Knowing thy good desires worthy of prayse and most acceptable to God we do yeild due thanks for the same to him through whose meanes Kings and Princes do rule and gouerne execute iustice but forasmuch as God in euery place is neere to those that call vpon his name in truth and equity and the holy Apostles are vnited with their head with one and the selfe same spirit and that he equally attends to pious prayers And that besides being euident the Kingdome of England would come to be in great daungers if thou shouldst leaue the same that with the bridle of thy power restreynest the seditious motions of the people We by the authority committed to vs from God his holy Apostles do absolue thee from the band of that vow for which thou fearest to offend the diuine Maiesty and likewise in vertue of that power which was graunted to vs by our Lord in the person of the blessed Peter when he said Quaecumque solueris super terram erunt soluta in caelis we do first absolue ◅ee as well from this band as from all other negligences and defaults whatsoeuer incurred in thy whole life then in vertue of holy Obedience and by title of penance we do commaund thee thou distribute the money assigned to this Pilgrimage to the poore and to erect besides a Monastery of Religious vnto the honour of the Prince of the Apostles yet leauing still to thy discretion eyther to teare it from the first foundations or to repayre or augmēt some other in ill plight and ruined already through iniury of tymes or other accidents furthermore that thou endow the same with rents sufficient to maynteine a good number of the Seruants of God to the end that while they there attend to prayse the diuine Maiesty the glory may redound to the Saints and pardon and indulgence to thee Besides we do will and declare whatsoeuer so conferred applyed eyther by thee or any others to be firme and stable and to be alwayes the habitation of the Monks and not to be subiect to any secular person whosoeuer except the King Moreouer we confime with most ample authority what priuiledges may seeme good to thee to be graunted so as truly they may be to the honour of God And for conclusion we do curse him with eternal maledictiō whosoeuer shall once seeme to haue the boldnes to violate or break the same This Briefe of the Pope though otherwise true and authenticall inough was notwithstanding by the diuine will confirmed with an admirable euent as followeth S. Peter appeares to an Hermit and bids him in his name to aduise S. Edward not to doubt of the Popes Briefe The ioy of the King heereat and what followed therupon Chap. 5. THere liued in those countryes a holy Hermit who hauing beene now for many yeares voluntarily shut vp in a deepe Caue with desire of Contemplation came at last to receiue the crowne of Iustice. To this man on a night S. Peter appeared and said to him K. Edward through anxiety which he feeles for a certaine vow that he made in the banishment from his Country for the care which he hath for the quiet of the Kingdome and necessityes of his Subiects hath taken resolution to seeke the pleasure of the Pope of Rome Let him know then that of myne authority he is dispensed of the same obligation with condition to found a Monastery to my honour and therefore he shall make no doubt of the Apostolicall Brief but shall endeuour to dispose himselfe without delay to performe what he commaunds him to do for that end Because the whole order proceeds from me being his ancient Protectour and perpetuall Aduocate And to the end he may see the better to resolue vpō the execution therof let him know that in the west side of London are yet to be seen the ruines of a most noble Temple and Conuent of the Monkes of S. Benet which heertofore hath beene fauoured with my presence illustrated with miracles and consecrated moreouer with my proper hands This place is called Thorney which for the sinnes of the Inhabitants there now for many yeares being giuen ouer into the hands of barbarous people of very opulent and famous is now become most poore and despicable This would I haue the King take in hand to renew adorne and endow with sacred pictures stately buildings and rich possessions that well may they say thereof Heere truly is the howse of God and the Gate of heauen Heere will I set vp a ladder by which the Angels may ascend to cary vp the supplications of Mortals and I will not fayle according to the dispositiō of ech one to open him the gates of heauen But do thou for the present put downe in writing what heere thou hast heard and vnderstood of me and without delay send the scroule to the King that so he may rest both the more secure of the dispensation and more prompt to obedience and stable in my deuotion Which sayd the Apostle vanished and the Hermits relation came into the hands of the King euen iust at the howre when the Apostolique Brief was deliuered and read Of which concurrence so together it cannot easily be expressed how glad S. Edward was thereat and how greatly astonished were all the standers by From hence he did wholy apply himself to the execution of the precept and the first thing he did was to distribute to the poore that whole summe of mony which was prepared for the voyage of Rome and then after hauing taken very diligent information of the place of Thorney he came to vnderstand how in the tyme of Ethelbert who reigned in the Country of Kent and was conuerted to the Fayth by meanes of the blessed Augustin being sent into those parts by Gregory the great to
and at the same instant were the Deacons aduised that the vessell of Chrisme was not to be found for which there arising a great cry vpon good aduise and discreet coniecture the foresayd Clerke was immediately apprehended and the vessell being found about him vnder his cloake with menaces and rating he was brought to S. Anselme who being moued with compassion towards the wretch with cheerfull countenance reprehended him Fatherly for it and ordayned he should be let go forthwith without punishment and immediately the Man went directly home to his house This Dedication being finished S. Anselme was very suddenly recalled agayne to the Court of purpose to giue his benediction to the King before he crossed the seas He went then presently thither and for that the wind in those dayes was very contrary vnto him he thought it his duty in the meane tyme with all care and diligence to admonish K. William agayne of the great disorders many abuses introduced into the kingdome and to exhort him to relieue the afflicted Churches and to help to reforme the same He did it then in the best manner he could but the King being now troubled already and wholy vncapable of good counsayle not only slighted the man of God with the Fatherly correction he gaue him but euen also with great disdayne and contempt did banish him his presence Whereupon some wicked and insolent men present tooke new courage and boldnes agayne to offer wrongs and iniuries to Ecclesiasticall persons and their goods bearing but li◅le respect to the dignity and merits of S. Anselme himselfe who being much more seen and expert in the knowledge of spirits then in the manage of temporall affayres partly suffered himselfe to be deceyued not being able to persuade himselfe that any one for trāsitory things would willingly loose the eternall and partly also was enforced to yield hauing as we sayd the King for aduersary and his grieuous enemy So as now being wholy anxious he neuer ceased to bemoane himselfe for the quiet and peace of a religious state nor found he any comfort but when he could now then retire himselfe from company into Cloysters Nor would he neither within the Bishoprique nor yet without euer liue without the company assistance of some vertuous and approued Monkes to his exceeding gust and to the great edification of as many as knew him Besides which he fayled not to steale some tyme for meere contemplation and to remedy the troubles of the Catholique Church by meanes of his most learned writings Among which is that worke of his most worthily renowned which he wrote in the midst of so great afflictions vpon the subiect of the Incarnation of the Eternall Word wherewith the errour of the Greeks remayned discouered and conuinced being so audacious as to deny the Procession of the holy Ghost from the second person of the Blessed Trinity Not only thus in his Cell and studies but euen likewise at table when they had giuen ouer reading as a most excellent Deuine he would solue very intricate knots expoūd difficult passages of the sacred Scripture He likewise feared so much euery offence how light soeuer as he often affirmed with sincerity that if he had on the one side the horrour of sinne before his eyes and the paynes of Hell on the other with the necessity of being drenched or engulted in this or that he would doubtles make choyce rather of the infernall paynes then of the offence of God and sooner accept of Hell as pure and innocent then the heauenly mansion being polluted with sinne What occasions S. Anselme would vsually take of spiritual Conceyts How K. William returnes from beyond Seas and S. Anselme goes to Rome Chap. 15. THe Seruant of Christ was wont with the gift which he had of knowledge to gather spirituall fruitfull conceipts from the things which daily occurred as once certaine Seruants of his had a course at a Hare who after she had diuers wayes very nimbly tryed to escape from them by secret instinct came at last to squat euen vnder S. Anselmes horse who suddenly thereupon made a stop so as the dogs not daring to set vpon her stood aloofe baying at her expecting her starting agayne At which sight the company laughing and making much sport S. Anselme fell a weeping You laugh my Maysters sayd he but this poore little beast heere laughs not at all or finds any sport Her enemies encompasse her round about and she with the agonies of death recurres to vs for succour The same indeed succeeds very often to the reasonable soule of man which no sooner yssues from the body but the hunters malignant spirits pursuing her as long as she liueth in flesh by the diuers turnings crooked pathes of vices and iniquityes euen to the article of death do then cruelly stand ready to snatch her away and to cast her headlong to eternall perdition laughing making great sport thereat whiles the poore wretch lyes depriued and despoyled of all helps And after these words S. Anselme spurd on his horse and commaunded them not to molest the poore creature when by by hauing escaped the dāger she skippes againe into the meadowes woodes from whence she had fled Another day the holy Father seeing a boy in the stretes holding in his hand a certaine little Bird fast tyed by the feete with a long thrid taking much pleasure to let the thrid go and come now and then and in the midst of its flight to pull it backe on a sudden agayne and let it fall often to the ground Whereat S. Anselme tooke compassion on the poore creature and much desired to see the bird at liberty when behold on a sudden the thrid brake and the bird flew away and the boy cryed S. Anselme reioyced the while calling to his companions haue you sayd he taken heed to the sport of the litle Boy heere Whereto the others answering yea he then replyed And now such manner of sport for all the world the ancient aduersary makes euery day with many sinners he holds them so entangled in his snares and playing at his pleasure precipitates them now into this and then into that vice As for example some be giuen to auarice or els carnallity or to some other such like miseries To these will it happen now and then that being touched with pennance and compunction they make reflexion vpon the euill life which formerly they haue lead for which they are moued to teares for that time make good purposes to amend themselues And now it seemes verily to them they are loose already at full liberty but yet with the thrid or lyne of euill custome in the very loose and iumpe as it were of their flying away they are suddenly pulled backe agayne by the Deuill and made to fall as before into the same sinnes And this thing happens very often nor do they euer come to get forth of so abominable a seruitude till with some
Prelate truly Apostolicall and that though full sore against his will with more exquisite honours and greater veneâ—…tion then euer and hauing with his presence and oportune exâ—…ortations comforted that people there and promoted or amended rather according as need required the publique discipline he returned very soone agayne to the tender plants of Pomerania And heere encouraging such as were running before prouoking the flow and confirming and rearing vp the wauering he attended more at ease with due meanes to establish the happy culture of those lands And hauing now reduced matters to good tearmes and being finally rich with merits and full of benedictions he returned agayne to his proper dioâ—…sse Where while he attends by all manner of wayes to represent in himselfe the forme of a faythfull vicar and seruant of Christ there occurred to him an accident worthy of feare and wonder as shal appeare in the next Chapter After a notable accident happened S. Otho dismayd desires to be discharged of the Office and to be receaued into a Monastery but he is denyed Chap. 6. IN a Church of a certaine village called Buchback which S. Otho visited he found that vnder the Aultar within a litle chest of leade were layd very many and most precious reliques sealed vp Which he not holding to be in so worthy a place as became them determined to translate them some other where with more veneration and decency to be kept by Religious persons There being then fasts and deuout prayers made for that intention he returned thither with an honourable troupe of Clercks about him and appointed some of them to breake the seale and to take forth the chest but none of them daring through their innated piety and reuerence they bare vnto it to lay hands thereupon he himselfe full of feruour couragiously takes hold of the mallet and hardly had giuen it two or three blowes when from the chest it selfe there flowed forth a manifest streame of bloud The standers by being amazed at the spectacle began suddenly to fall downe to the ground and with teares to begge mercy of God and succour of the Saints The Bishop himselfe giuing ouer the enterprise being full of confusion and feare for the matter retires to Bamberge where eyther for chastisement of his too much confidence or els for matter of new crownes being seized on by a grieuous infirmity and desirous to be assisted in spirit since for the body he cared not much he caused Father VVolfran Abbot of S. Michaels to be â—…nt for to come vnto him a person of rare qualityes and while this so great and faythfull freind of his sate familiarly by him and with the hopes of heauen and other sweet discourses sought to â—…itigate his dolours S. Otho one day hauing found some little â—…uce with his malady with an humble countenance turning himselfe to him Father sayd he you must vnderstand how I now for so maâ—…y yeares hauing beene suddenly raysed to Prelacy and from the â—…oyse and vanity of the Court being yet full of spots and dust without passing the purgatiue way hauing purchased the ensignes of perfection which is as much as to become a Doctour before one goes to Schoole And I though enforced in a manner vnto it by him who had reason to command me doe stand yet in some doubt whether then I made due resistance or no to such a charge and do verily belieue that besides those ancient remorses of conscience these new scourges of the eternall iustice haue thus light vpon me And now since the common Lord with equall benigâ—…ty seemes to punish me so and giue me space to looke backe into my former offences I am resolued to differ no longer the delibetaâ—…on I haue often made with my selfe to discharge me of the Pastorall office so much aboue my feeble and weake forces and in a priuate life to reduce me to Monasticall discipline And since among all the congregations which I know I find none more conâ—…rmable to my designes and behoofes then yours of S. Michael I doe therefore most earnestly beseech you Father to vouchsafe to accept me in the name of our Sauiour Christ into your family and â—…o present vnto him this small sacrifice of my selfe and being cloaâ—…ed though vnworrhy with your habit to admit me into your Conuent and ruling me in all and in euery thing as the other subiects to conduct me with diuine assistance to the glorious victory of my passions and to a full mortification of my proper will You know well inough the bands of streight friendship amity which are betweene vs and I do very well remember the charity you haue euer shewed me in all occurrences But now assure your selfe that in affoarding me this benefit which heere I request at your handes you shall farre exceed all the seruices and courtesies which you haue hitherto vouchsafed me Such wordes spake the Bishop with voyce and gestures well able to demonstrate they came not from any sudden fit of passion but from a resolute and stable purpose and the Abbot being astonished at so new a demand not to constristate the sicke man for that tyme would by no meanes deny him but rather with a cheerfull countenance commending the good desire he had made shew to accept of his prompt Obedience reseruing the execution of the rest to his better health In the meane while the feruorous Nouice finding himselfe to be somewhat better recouered and not seeing the houre of fullfilling his vow to come hauing disposed as secretly as he could the thinges belonging to him without delay requires the habit of Religion and makes new instance to be sent into the Monastery so conualescent and weake at he was But the discreet Superiour on the one side being edifyed at so great humility of his and on the other in much suspence for the importance quality of the busines calling after prayer some graue experienced men to consult he proposed the Bishops request and all hauing well examined the matter did answere it to be without doubt to the seruice of God that a man of so eminent vertue behoouefull to so great a multitude should go forwardes rather to shine on the Candlesticke of the Church as a burning and resplendant light then by aspiring to a priuate life to hide himselfe vnder a bushell within Cloisters though otherwise holy and laudable in it selfe With this answeare the Abbot being assured and confirmed in his former iudgment goes his wayes to S. Otho who like vnto a weight that approached neerer to its center longed so much the more for subiection pouerty and solitude as the confidence was greater which he had conceaued already of obtayning his intent and approaching to him with due reuerence demanded of him if he held still his purpose to maintayne the Obedience with deeds which he had promised him with words and he cheerefully answearing that for the loue of him who to the eternall Father had obserued it to death he was readily
side expecting a ship to passe ouer the ship came approached to him but being to leape therinto it suddenly gaue backe so did it thrice togeather and at last leauing him on the shore it went away without returning any more so as S. Bernard easily gathered that the houre of his passage was not yet come notwithstanding his dolours continued so much more sharp and irksome as he had lesse hope to be hastily rid thereof Now it happened in the euening that all the other Monkes going according to custome to the lesson which was made of the collations of the ancient Fathers the two only assistants of the Abbot remayned there and he being continually more afflicted and tormented with the malady bad one of them to go into the Church to pray for him There were three Altars in the sayd Church one of the Blessed Virgin and at the sides thereof two others to wit of S. Laurence and of S. Benet making prayer then at all three euen at the instant the glorious Mother of God accompanyed with those two Saints with such a suauity and serenity as may rather be imagined then described entred into â—…e sicke mans Cell so manifestly as he with full and perfect knowledge could easily distinguish ech person Thence she approaching to him and touching softy all the places of the paines immediatly all malignant qualityes vanished that rhew matique spring in the same moment being quite dyed vp whence grew the dolours Diuers examples where S. Bernard in his life tyme appeared to many remayning in places farre remote Chap. 24. THe foresayd apparitions were made by others vnto S. Bernard now follow some of him to others of which number one was to brother Robert of the order of Cisterce This man at such tyme as the venerable Abbot remayned in the Citty of Rome fell deadly sick at Clareuallis In that state appeared to him a yonge man like to the infirmarian commaunding him to goe along with him and so doing he was streight conducted to the top of a high mountayne where Christ was encompassed round with Angells who sayd to his guide looke well to that man there and withall he put a message into the sickmans hart to deliuer the Conuent of Clareuallis The morning being come he sits vpright in his bed whome euery one held to be quite dead and calling for Don Gaudfrid as then Priour that was afterwardes Bishop of Langres among other things sayd cleerely to him Our Lord commaunds you to erect great buildings to contayne the multitude of people which he is to send you and for the same end giue order that our Brothers who haue care of the possessions and tenements be mindfull of modesty and endeauour to giue good example to seculars for wo be to him through whose default any one should come to fall From hence twenty dayes being passed the sicke man still remayning quite forsaken of the Phisitians S. Bernard appeared to him in his cell in spirit paternally visiting him sung there the mattyns with a good number of brothers and passed all that night with him and the morning being come Robert without any more adoe arose vp sound and faithfully recounted the manner how he escaped so great a daunger A notable euent surely but this other is no lesse worthy of memory The seruant of God lay sicke in Clareuallis more worne and decayd with labours and infirmityes then yeares how beyt he ceased not to attend to the gouernement of his Monkes and to feed them with the word of God and to rise likewise euery day to celebrate Masse which he neuer omitted but of meere necessity reuiuing his afflicted members with the feruour of spirit In this while it so happened that he was fayne to send some person of quality into some more remote parts of Germany about matters of importance For which enterprise a German Monke was elected by name Henry whom with many other subiects the same holy Father some six yeares before in his returne from Constance had induced to the diuine seruice This man entring into so long a voyage especially in the midst of winter as one with reason indeed feared many disasters and aboue all he doubted least the venerable Abbot might come to dye in the meane tyme and he remayne defrauded and depriued of his last benediction But the holy Father blessing him for the present and saying Goe thy wayes in Gods name for thou shalt returne safe and shalt further find me as thou desirest and so sent him away full of comfort Being arriued in the territory of Strasburge as he was passing ouer a riuer all frozen with Ice his beast stumbled and he without remedy fell quite ouer head and eares in the water What could the poore wretch doe heere being plundged beneath in the waters aboue couered with Ice both back and sides being dashed with the current He had surely no comfort but meerely the promise of the holy Father by whom indeed he was not deceiued Because in that agony he saw him before him and was so full of consolation withall that now he selt not the violence of the riuer nor any difficulty of breathing nor finally feare nor any manner of disease at all Heereupon forsaking the beast he was on through diuine power he found himselfe to be pushed softly against the streame without any force of his to the same breach which with his fall he had made where taking hold with his hands on the edge of the Ice he escaped he returned very safe and sound to Clareuallis and for a full accomplishment of ioy and contentment had the wished fauour to see his most deere and desired Maister againe to whom he shewed himselfe very gratefull and obsequious not only as long as he liued but euen also after the death of S. Bernard in frequenting his sepulcher and there most deuoutly making his prayers Surely a large matter of discourse for him that would compare this with other such like meruayles But let vs leauing this artificiousnes to Oratours content our selues with the naked simple truth Besides what hath been sayd it is also reported for a thing most certaine that the vigilant Prelate in the gouernement of his order through diuers Monasteryes very farre asunder and remote from him gaue many commissions and precepts of things which through human meanes he could no wayes come to vnderstand in so much as though absent in person notwithstanding as it is read likewise of S. Benet and other seruants of God with the spirit he seemed to be present at the actions and proceedings of his Monkes The which reuelations albeit Deuines ascribe to the gift of Prophecy yet we restrayning the sense of this word and applying it only vnto presage and prediction of future things shall demonstrate that to S. Bernard also among other titles this same so precious a guift was not wanting Some examples of the admirable guift of Prophecy and discretion of spirit in S. Bernard Chap. 25. THat troupe of
deposed some two dayes after his departure with a litle case on his breast wherein the Reliques of S. Thadeus the Apostle were conteyned being sent him that very yeare from ◅rusalem the man of God so ordayning it with hope and intention to be vnited with the Apostle in the day of the Resurrection The mourning and concourse of people at so dolorous a new◅ the preparation of the Exequies which followed the intercessios made at his shrine were a matter more easy for the pious and p◅dent Reader to imagine then for vs to describe The holy Father as his most sweet writinges demonstrate had a perpetuall and most singular deuotion towardes the most blessed Virgin the Mother of God In so much as with reason it is belieued how from that inexhaustible treasure of celestiall riches he drew the talents and graces which made him so graue and composed in his person so acceptable to the diuine Maiesty so helpfull so wise and admirable to the world FINIS S. HVGH THE ARGVMENT PHysitians say Diseases faster grow Whose mouing causes our complexions feed Whome most we trust most dangerous is the Foe Spite is more fell atty◅d in freindships weed And sooner it procures our ouerthrow Then that which doth from open foes proceed For armes or lawes or friends preuent the one The other God himselfe must shield or none More dangerous are allurements which we loue And with our perills do like serpents warme Worldly delights neglecting those aboue Because most present most our soules do harme This I discouering plainely euer stroue To free my selfe and others from the charme Of that Enchauntresse whose endearments bring Eternall griefe paines euer torturing THE LIFE OF S. HVGH BISHOP OF LINCOLNE The Parentage and Minority of S. Hugh with his Vocation entrance into the Charter-house at Grenoble Chap. I. THe blessed Hugh whose life and manners we take in hand was nobly borne in the partes of Burgundy His Father was a valiant Captaine fearing God and liuing well contented with his Pay There was not farre off from a Castle of his a Monastery of Canon-Regulars to whome he was much deuoted Heere as soone as he was depriued of his Wife he placed his sonne who was about some eight yeares old that from his tender yeares vnder spirituall standarts he might accustome himselfe vnto Christian warfarre S. Hugh was very willingly receaued by those good Fathers and put ouer to a venerable old man who was to instruct him in learning and religious discipline This man with a reuerent grauity first premonished him to beware of licencious light sports and to endeauour to anticipate the benefit of tyme with maturity of manners and sometymes would say vnto him Hugh I trayne thee vp for Christ these sportes become thee not And his admonitiōs were not in vaine the holy Ghost found such disposition in him of wit and purity as he was soone replenished with wisedome and vnderstanding whence in short tyme he came to be very gratefull to God and most deare to men In the meane while the Knight his Father touched with heauenly inspiration leauing the world retyred himselfe into the same Monastery and there attended to the seruice of God vnto his liues end But S. Hugh as soone as he arriued to the nineteenth yeare of his age at the instance of the whole Conuent hauing taken all the holy Orders except Priesthood was applyed by Superiours to the help of a certaine Parish in which office he bare himselfe in such sort as euery one framed a high conceit of his sanctity prudence but our Lord willing to lead him to a life of stricter obseruance of greater merit disposed that his Priour going for deuotion as he was wont to visit the Charter-house of Grenoble tooke S. Hugh in his company who making his prayer and now entred in the Cloister in beholding partly the solitude and silence partly also the semblance and manners of the Monkes felt immediatly such an ardent desire of passing vnto the same Rule to enkingle in his breast as not being able by any meanes to conceale or endure the flame he began presently to make secret practises and to intreate the Fathers one by one to vouchsafe to admit him into their Institute His Priour was aware heereof and calling him aside with dolourous sighes and teares in his eyes O my beloued Sonne sayd he I see well now and perceaue too well I haue brought thee hither to my great mishap and the irreparable losse of my whole flocke And as soone as they returned home againe he discouered all to the Chanons and especially to the Father of S. Hugh intreating him with great feeling to put some remedy to so great a crosse This being once vnderstood they runne presently to the younge man and more fully informed themselues of the nouelty from his owne mouth and finally pressed him so hard as they made him to promise with an Oath that he would not forsake them To which purpose by how much S. Hugh condescended against his will so much more troublesome and sharpe prickes of conscience and scuples felt he in himself on the one side the touches of a more high vocation ceased not to molest him and with reason feared he to constrist are the holy Ghost in resisting so on the other he was opposed against by fraternall charity and the promise he had made with an oath S. Hugh being assaulted a good while with this contrariety of spirits after many prayers and considerations was satisfyed at last that he was not tyed to the obseruance of his word and promise which hindered him from the greater seruice of God and his own perfection With this resolution being now returned very quiet againe to the Charter-house he did so efficaciously a new expresse his desires as those Religious men admiring so constant a teruour of his without more delay admitted him S. Hugh is made Priest then Procuratour of the house of Grenoble and lastly sent for into England by the King there Chap. 2. THe souldier of Christ being now entred into a new warre beginnes to feele new battailes all which notwithstanding through diuine succour to him were a subiect to him of glorious triumphes Especially he was molested day and night by the concupiscible part neuerthelesse to conserue his Virginity he ceased not to macerate his flesh with abstinences vigils scourges other mortifications yet sometymes refreshed with consolations againe and with heauenly sweetnes with which meanes and with humble and continuall prayer at last the fiery shafts of the enemy were quite extinguished A midst these labours the tyme of Priesthood approaching a venerable old man whome S. Hugh according to the custome of the Order through charity submission deuoutly serued demanded of him if he were willing to be a Priest or no! Whereunto he hauing sincerely answered that for his part there was nothing in the world he desired more to whome the old man replying with a seuere countenance And how
shewed it selfe very shye and coy to the Bishop only it would be most domestike and giue forth infinite shewes of welcome it would take meate from his hand it would thrust as in a poole the head and neck within those large and ample sleeues of his and not contented therewith leauing the fresh waters and its accustomed haunts would stand all night a watching and keeping centinell at his chamber doore Moreouer it had taken vp a custome as often as the Bishop was to retyre thither to be very iocund to cry out and flap with the wings in so much as the keepers of the castle as they had been aduertized by some harbinger would be accited thereby to prepare the chambers and to put all things in order against his coming Now the last tyme that S. Hugh came thither the amourous Swan leauing its accustomed dauances would so hide it selfe with the head drooping and with other signes of sadnes and frowardly sequestring it selfe from his sight which it was neuer to behold more as the seruants were fayne to take it and bring it in by force And thus much of this new prognosticate The death and funeralls of the Venerable Bishop not without some miracles accompanying the same Chap. 11. IN those dayes was assembled at Lincolne a most famous nationall Councell and S. Hugh being then in the Citty of London vpon vrgent occasion with purpose to hye himselfe as soone as possibly he could to the sayd Assembly being there ouertaken by a suden vehement feuer was forced to keep his bed and yet in despite of the disease re-enforcing his prayers vnto God and to the most blessed Virgin and deuout colloquyes with his Angell Guardian and with the Citizens of Heauen he ceased not withall to afford gratefull audience with holsome admonitions to as many as came to visit him Being admonished to make his will It greiues mee said he for this custome of making wils introduced into the clergy I neuer had nor haue at this present any thing that is not wholy of my Church and yet that the Fiscall may not lay hand thereon let all be distributed to the poore as soone as may be whatsoeuer may seeme to others I possesse Heereupon the Feast of S. Mathew being come wherein he remembred he was consecrated Bishop he caused the celestiall Viatique and the Sacrament of Extreme vnction also to be ministred to him as thinking very probably that immediately he was to depart but it pleased our Lord to differre the same vntill the 17. day of the next moneth in which space he ceased not from deuotious for himselfe and exhortations for others and moreouer with the spirit of Prophecy very cleerely foretold the great disasters which soone after were to happen to that Kingdome and particulerly to the Clergy The foresayd terme being afterwards arriued the holy Bishop being interiourly certifyed of his departure caused besides his Chaplyns some Monks and Preists to be called to assist him and seeing them all to weep bitterly he sought with interrupted speeches but graue and affectuous withall to comfort them and laying his right hand vpon ech one he recommended them to the diuine custody And now his feeble voyce began quite to fayle when he willed that the flore being swept a crosse of hallowed ashes should be formed thereon and that a seruice should be sayd in manner of a Quier whereat being present with great attention as soone as he came to that verse of the 90. Psalme Clamabit ad me ego exaudiui cum cum ipso sum in tribulatione causing himselfe to be lifted from his bed he stretehed his withered and frozen members being mindfull of the Passion of Christ vpon the sayd Crosse and presently beginning the Canticle of Simeon very happily expired in the yeare of our Lord 1200. of his age 60. and of his Episcopall charge the 15. In this manner it pleased the Prince of Pastours to put an end to the trauailes of his most faythfull Coadiutour of whose passage into heauen some persons worthy of credit haue had vndoubted reuelation The body being spiced with Balme and other odours was in pontificall habit exposed in a Coffin ready to be carryed according to the order left by him vnto his Church but through the infinite concourse of people which pressed in to touch or at least to behold more neere that sacred Treasure there succeeding by turnes very Honourable personnages to carry the corps the way became to be so taken vp and stopt the while as it was there fayne to stay for no lesse then six dayes In approaching to Lincolne the two Kinges Iohn of England and VVilliam of Scotland who then were present came forth to meet them with a most noble trayne and both being desirous to submit their shoulders to the venerable Beer the Scottish King among others who loued him deerely powred forth a floud of teares After that in the Cathedrall were the solemne exequies celebrated with the pompe that became both the dignity of the deceased the quality of the standers by among which two crowned heads three Archbishops fourteene Bishops more then a hundred Abbots very many Earles and Barons drew the eyes of the people vpon them the diuine Prouidence so disposing that the promptnes and perseuerance of S. Hugh in taking so great care to bury the bodyes of others was thus recompenced with so magnificent and glorious a Sepulture To this were added for greater splendour new famous miracles which to recount throughout were a thing too long it may suffice for example only to add heere also that within few dayes at his monument were cured six Palsey men three blind receaued their sight and two dumbe men recouered their speach Moreouer the deposition customes and heroicall prowesse of the Saint were afterwards not only celebrated with a liuely voice by that age but by many Writers also registred with a faythfull pen to the glory of God the memory of him and the noble example incitement to posterity FINIS S. ANTONY OF PADVA THE ARGVMENT RIch LVSITANIA yields thee vitall ayre And first of others shines with such a gemme Thy countreyes Father thou dost her prepare Thou dost dispose her vnto Heaun's diademe By doctrine and example they declare How gratefull was such charity to them Thou Solons doctrine well dost ouerthrow Shewing the Countrey to her brood may owe. Padua adopts thee hers whose spacious Fanes Could not containe thy happy audience The larger fields and open spreading plaines Did seeme prepard for such a confluence Thy heauenly doctrine sweetly entertaines The hearers charm'd with golden eloquence A second Orpheus whose commanding Lyre Euen senselesse thinges do follow and admire THE LIFE OF S. ANTONY OF PADVA Taken forth of Laurence Surius Of the family and youthfull age of S. Antony and how he became be of the family of the Chanons-Regular Chap. 1. THE marueilous Mysteries of the diuine prouidence are discouered as it were through the whole pilgrimage of
malady with all deuotion he receiued the holsome Sacraments and with hands ioyned together and lifted vp not without extraordinary feeling he recited the seauen Penitentiall psalmes and a deuout hymne to the most Blessed Virgin whose protection with particuler seruice he had allwayes sought to rely vpon From thenceforth he begins suddenly to lift vp his eyes and to fix them on heauen being demaunded what he looked vpon I behold sayd he my Lord Iesus Christ and after a short repose among a thousand benedictions and pious teares of his deerest freinds he yeilded vp his spirit to the Creatour with all the tranquility and serenity that might be in the yeare of our Lord 1231. and the 13. of the month of Iune on a Friday he being then but 36. yeares of age whereof 15. he had spent in his Fathers house two in S. Vincents of Lisbone 9. at the holy Crosse of Conimbria and about some 10. in the Order of S. Francis After the passage that blessed flesh which through euill vsage was before so horrid to see so rugged dry and wrincked to be touched became in a moment so white soft and plump as if it had been of a tender and delicat child His beloued freind maister the Abbot of Vercells whom we mentioned aboue at that tyme was much afflicted with a disease of the throat And euen loe the same day when S. Antony dyed being in his chamber alone at prayer he saw him suddenly to appeare before him and after mutuall salutation imbraces Behold sayd he my Lord Abbot hauing left my Asse at Padua how I goe in hast to my Country And saying so with a light touch only he cured his throat and so vanished But the Abbot stedfastly beleiuing that S. Antony was really passed by to Lisbone going forth of his chamber began to enquire of hiâ—… familiars where he was from whom not gathering any thing at last returned into himselfe and coniectured by that vision the happy departure of the man of God whereupon making new diligence by letters he found the encounter of howers and moments to be iust the same as he himselfe did afterwards testify In the meane while the Fryars of Arcella fearing some tumultuous concourse would be at the body endeuoured to keep the departure of the seruant of Christ very secret but in vayne Because the very innocent boyes through hidden instigation of the spirit began in many troups to goe crying through the countryes The holy Father is dead the Saint is dead With which voyce the people being awaked on a sudden they shut vp their shopps and laying all other businesse aside put themselues in armes with great effusion of bloud while one part stood for retayning the sacred treasure in Arcella and the other to conueigh him into the Citty but after many and perilous bickeringes betweene them by the humble prayers of the Fryars the authority of the Magistrates it was obtayned that as himselfe being neere to death had requested he should be carryed to the Church of Sancta Maria Maior and so he was accompanyed thither by the Bishop the Clergy and by persons of quality in good order with such aboundance of lightes as the whole Citty seemed to be on fire Heere the high Masse being sung by the Bishop began continually new and stupendious miracles to manifest themselues in diuers infirmityes of soules and bodyes To which fame with incredible feruour continued a long tyme whole troupes of Pilgrims to resort thither not only of those confines but of Italy also and as it were of all Europe with such a number of large guifts and precious offeringes as they were fayne to appoint chamberlaines and keepers for the custody of them of the chiefest most honourable persons of Padua With the help whereof and with that moreouer which the Citty it selfe adioyned thereto changing the title of the Temple which was first of Iuno after of the Blessed Virgin Mary in honour and inuocation of the Saint was built in the same place one of the magnificent and sumptuous Churches of Christendome Lisbone it selfe being the natiue Countrey of the Saint concurred in a manner with the deuotions of the Paduans in making by command of the King of one part of the House where he was borne a fayre little Church as we sayd and of the other a Hall where the Ancients with the Senate vnto this present day are wont to assemble to deale about matters of the Common wealth But aboue all Pope Gregory the IX himselfe who before in Rome had with so choyce an Elogy commended the doctrine of the seruant of God concurred to the exalting of his glorious memory So as scarcely had a moneth passed ouer from the death or to say better from the natiuity of S. Antony but causing a most exact inquisition to be made of his life and miracles with the high approbation of all the Cardinalls and Prelats of the holy Church he canonized him solemnly and enrolled him among those spirits who arriued in the eternall country doe securely enioy the beatificall vision of God there making intercession for others who being on the way are yet doubtfull continually of their progresse and tearme Through which iudgment and approbation of the Sea Apostolike was enflamed in all Christendome a new desire to accumulate honours vpon the sacred depositum a liuely sayth in presenting supplications to that glorious soule the Paduans yet in this part shewing themselues most remarkable of all who being constant in their auncient piety follow in celebrating euery yeare the day of the deposition of the Saint with most exquisite pompes psalmes panygeriques other triumphs truly belonging to the immortall merits of the noble Confessour of Christ and particuler protection he affords that famous Citty whence he renouncing in a manner his proper Country hath been pleased to accept the perpetuall sweet Surname of Padua FINIS S. THOMAS OF AQVINE THE ARGVMENT THe Tree that beares the dainty Cyprian flower Vnles oft prun'd by skillfull workemans art Growes wild fruitlesse Loue doth loose his power And vigorous force vnlesse our Soules do dart And force it oft with often acts on high Or feeble soone it growes and soone doth dye The smiling leaues ech other seeme to kisse Giue heau'n thy Loue Loue shall from thence descend Cropt bruiz'd distill'd more sweet by farre it is Troubles make ours more gratefull in the end And oppositions nobly borne away Crowne our afflictions with a nobler Bay Oppos'd by Friends their force I ouerbore My wish at last obtayning to enioy Heau'ns Loue I found in me augmented more While more to gaine it I my Loue employ By painefull acts this Passion I dilate And keep my soule by weaknesse in her state THE LIFE OF S. THOMAS OF AQVINE Written by the Reuerend Fathers Preachers Of the Parents and education of S. Thomas with the signes of his futnre greatnes Chap. I. SAINT THOMAS Doctour for the excellency of his learning
making more instance he thought good to resist no longer and recommending himselfe first very humbly to our Lord God as he was wont he answered after with such acumen of wit and with so much dexterity withall as that Albertus being full of astonishment exclaymed at last Thomas thou seemest to me rather a Moderatour then a meere Respondent And thereupon turning to the Auditory My Maysters sayd he you call him a dumbe Oxe but certainely he shall one day giue forth such lowings as shall be heard throughout the whole world With his so cleere a testimony made so publiquely of him it was not possible for him any more to remayne eyther retired or silent but yet he alwayes conserued himselfe farre from any arrogancy at all whence he came euery day to be so much the more admirable to all and was by vniuersall consent held no lesse then a Saint Thus being in Colen for some tyme he was by the instance of Albertus Magnus recalled to Paris by the Generall of the order there to take the degree of Bachelour vpon him To which degree being promoted against his will they applyed him presently to expound the Maister of Sentences wherein hauing kept for this intention very strict vigils and fasts and made his prayer he came off with it in such manner as that the Rectour of the Studyes determined very soone to make him a Maister in Theology with all the solemnity that might be S. Thomas vnderstanding thereof and esteeming himselfe very farre vnworthy of that name began afresh to find excuses and to alleadge particulerly his age which as yet had not finished the thirtith yeare yet for all that he was fayne to obey And in such extremity of his recurring according to custome to the armes of prayer he begins to craue the succour of the Almighty God vntill such tyme as being once perplexed among other things about the Theme he should take in that publike act a venerable old man appeared to him in sleep and sayd to him What aylest thou Thomas that thou weepest and so afflictest thy selfe in this manner He answered they enforce me to take the name office of Maister vpon me wherto I know my selfe to be insufficient and being among other things at the beginning to make a discourse I know not what Theme to take Then replyed the old man Be of good cheer my Sonne It is the will of God that thou accept the degree For Theme thou shalt take that verse of the Psalme Rigans montes de superioribus suis de fructu operum tuorum satiabitur terra That sayd the old man vanished and S. Thomas yielded many thanks to God for being so benignly comforted by his immense goodnes Being now made Maister he went forward in explicating the sacred Theology with great applause hauing alwayes an eye to the profit capacity of the schollers rather then to his owne reputatiō or proper gust In his manner of interpreting he had an easy cleere and distinct methode He fled new opinions and the vnusualf manner of phrases and words In disputes he kept himselfe from moderate contentions and extranagant acts or clamors maturely yeilding to others obstinacyes or pertinacityes and choosing rather for the glory of God and edification of the Neighbour to appeare sometymes lesse learned then little modest Wheresoeuer he read but especially in Paris and in Rome he had alwayer his Schoole very flourishing both for number and quality of hearers Doctours Bishops Cardinals and it is a notable thing that with all the credit and authority he had gotten yet neuer slacked he his dilgence being otherwise one of so great a naturall wit as he had few his equalls and of so happy a memory withal that in a manner as often as he had but once seene any thing he would faythfully retayne it for euer and of such vigour of mind as that which is recounted of some Ancients for so admirable a thing he would yet doe more in dictating in diuers matters vnto three or foure Scribes at once yet that rich floud of wisedome would neuer be diminished Of S. Thomas his Speculations in studyes with his Rapts and Extasies in Spirit Chap. 8. IT would be too long and a superfluous thing to make heere a Catalogue of his workes so many and of so great note wherwith he confirmed the Catholike fayth rooted out and opprest many heresies partly increased already and partly new growne vp ech state and quality of persons he would instruct with holsom aduises and precepts and finally illustrated the sacred Thology and brought it againe to its ancient dignity reducing and submitting all other sciences to its Empire which through the fault of some impious Sophisters seemed heeretofore to dissent and rebell from it But as he would touch the point in euery matter so he seemed to haue a speciall grace in treating of the most excellent Sacrament of the Altar and not only in Prose but in Latin time also according to the customes of those tymes in so much as for the eminent doctrine and piety contayned therin the Catholike Church euen to this day singes no other Office or Masse on the day of the great solemnity of Corpus Christi then that which he composed at the instance of Pope Vrban the IV. And it is most certaine that in Naples being once much eleuated in mind and present in person before a Crucisix our Lord spake to him in that image VVell hast thou written of me Thomas VVhat reward then wouldst thou haue VVhen he answered surely nothing O Lord but thyne owne selfe Two notable parts concurred in the glorious Doctour which are hardly coupled together as quicknes in apprehension and patience in speculation Forasmuch as he not only acutely penetrated and distinguished at once but would also diue into the deeper inuestigations as that very often he would come to loose his senses When on a tyme being in such an abstraction a cole of fire lighting on his leg and agayne the flame of the candell which studying he held in his hand euen touching his flesh a prety while he stirred not awhit nor was moued any more thereat then a meere stone That same likewise was memorable which happened to him at a Feast with S. Lewys King of France at such tyme as he wrot that noble Summe against the Gentils in which matter he was then so absorpt as that amidst the Royall dishes of the King forgetting himselfe and the standers by he suddenly cryed out The Manichies are conuinced and seeming to him that he was in his Cell called to Fryar Reginald his companion to dictate to him as he was wont But after awaked by the Dominican Priour who sate by him and crauing pardon with some confusion he was comforted and excused by the wise King at whose beck one was suddenly called that might faythfully note those new conceipts Nor les◅e memorable was the excesse which he suffred towards the end of his life remayning in the
Castle of his Sister where he was for three dayes abstract as it were from his body and returning on the last to himselfe agayne he confessed to the aforesayd Reginald but vnder the seale of a secret vntill his death that he had notice of ◅ore things and of more excellent misteryes in that space only then euer he had in all the labours watches he had endured till that tyme. And surely is it not to be past ouer in silence that he being adorned with so great guifts by nature and besides that so great a friend to labour yet to make new profit euery day in sciences he depended so much on God as that before his entring vnto study he would allwayes recommend himselfe very ardently to the eternall wisedome as if he had expected all successe from heauen only and by no other wayes An industry truly very worthy to be imitated of ech Student Because that such as without hauing recourse to God more then so do confide in their proper guifts by how much they goe forward and proceed in learning so much are they puffed vp in their soules in such wise as being thence blinded whence they might haue had light they stumble themselues and draw others withall into their miserable errours and pepestiferous opinions But the Angelicall Doctour as I sayd did quite the contrary nor was he deceiued awhit of his hope since many conclusions being otherwise doubtfull and obscure by this only way he drew forth from the deep abysse as they say of truth as we shall cleerely make appeare by the example following The Saint explicated the oracles of Esay and being come vnto a passage whence by human help he could no wayes acquit himselfe according to his vse he recurred to diuine and gaue himselfe to fast and pray for that intention so many dayes taking besides S. Peter and S. Paul for intercessours as that those glorious Apostles at last one night appeared to him in his Cell and there sweetly conferring with him a prety while put light into him and so quit him of al perplexity In the meane tyme Fryar Reginald was in the ante-chāber as he was wont and though he heard the voyces yet nothing vnderstood what they sayd The vision then being vanished S. Thomas called him in to write and dictated the whole declaration to him so largely and without stop as if he had been taking it forth of another booke in order The dictates being ended Reginald who had heard confusedly the murmure aforesaid did most ardently thirst to haue a distinct notice thereof and therefore lying prostrate on the earth besought him not to hide or conceale it from him and that with so much affect and with so great instance withall as the seruant of God vnder the condition and seale as before ingenuously discouered it to him Besides that this so frequent prayer anailed him much to maintayne his spirit alwayes very cheerefull and fresh which of its nature with much speculation is wont to be arid and dry Howbeit the holy man togeather with the assiduity of prayer would vse also other potent and generous remedyes Whereof the principall was to approach to the foūtaine of all graces the sacred Eucharist wherto he was so deuout that besides his saying euery day Masse he would afterwards humbly serue another And as in preparing himselfe to that banket of the Angells he would add particuler study and attention so after in rendring of thankes he would suddenly be ◅pt into ex◅sies and being liquefyed in celestial sweetnesses ere he were once aware thereof would be wholy bathed in teares He was exceeding sollicious moreouer in procuring the protection and fauour of the Saints and especially of the glorious Virgin and Martyr Ag◅s whose reliques he had alwayes hanging at his breast with so much fayth as that one day touching Fryar Reginald therewith being dangerously sicke he recouered him straight He was wont also at tymes to help himselfe with the reading affectuous morall bookes especially the Collations of Cassian wherein he knew likewise the Patriarke S. Dominicke to be exceedingly versed and to haue gathered thence incomparable helps for discretion of spirits and solid vertues By which meanes in so great an abundance of heauenly guifts how he kept himselfe humble and magnanimous both through his whole life being qualities not so disioyned from themselues a◅ some thinke but deere companions rather and indiuiduall Sisters may be easily gathered by the acts that immediately follow Some notable Acts of Humility of S. Thomas with the like and particularly his deuotion for the soules in Purgatory Chap. 9. SAint Thamas now ripe for glory and age by this tyme passed to the Cloysters of Bologna addicting himselfe to most deep consisiderations when a certaine Fryar new come from forren parts hauing leaue of the Priour to goe forth into the Citty for some businesse with the first Companion he could meete with by chaunce lighted on S. Thomas not knowing him by sight and willed him in behalfe of the Superiour to goe a long with him at which voyce the Imitatour of Christ as sent from an Oracle not only obeyed without delay but also being after not able to go so fast as the other through a lame legge which he had with incredible patience he suffered some rebukes for the same vntill such tyme as being aduised by Seculars of the person whome he intreated so ill being wholy confounded thereat and excusing himselfe of his ignorance very humbly craued pardon of him for it Whereupon S. Thomas being demaunded of the same Gentlemen wherefore he had so abased himselfe he made answere with a graue countenance Religion forsooth consists in Obedience and obedience for one man to submit himselfe to another for God since God himselfe for our sake would subiect himselfe to Man From another thing we may likewise gather the loue which the Saint had of his owne proper subiection Which is that he not only in his owne Order abstayned alwayes from Prelacy and gouernement but euen likewise abroad being called by Pope Clement the IV. to the Archbishopricke of Naples he so refused the same as he supplicated withall and as much as he durst tooke hold of the chiefe Bishop beseeching him not to offer him any dignityes What shall we say then of the regard and caution he had not to attribute any good to himselfe In so much as to the honour of Christ and for the help of soules vpon good occasion he confessed sincerely being then of good yeares amidst so much celebrity and humane prayses so many Magistrall Chayres so many Preachinges lessons disputes and so many publique Acts maintayned and so great variety of compositions and labours he had neuer felt in his soule the least gust or complacence of Vaine-glory From this so chast a loue and feare of God and from this care which the Seruant of Christ had of himself sprung the fruit which he wrought with others and from his conuersation in Heauen