thinges as I had from the mouthe of his owne scollers mentioned before in the beginninge of this booke A certaine man there was who had an enemie that did notably spite and maligne him whose damnable hatred proceded so far that he poisoned his drincke which althoughe it killed him not yet did it chaunge his skinne in such sort that it was of many colours as thoughe he had bene infected with a leprosy but the maÌ„ of God restored him to his former helthe for so sone as he touched him forthwith all that varietye of colours departed from his bodye HOVV A CRVET OF GLAS was throwne vpon the stones and not broken CHAPTER XXVIII AT suche tyme as there was a great dearthe in Campania the man of God had giuen away all the wealth of the Abbey to poore people so that in the celler there was no thinge lefte but a little oile in a glasse A certaine subdeacon called Agapitus came vnto him instantly crauinge that he wolde bestowe a little oile vpon him Our Lordes seruaunt that was resolued to giue away all vpon earth that he mighte finde all in heauen commanded that oile to be giuen him but the monke that kepâ—e the celler hearde what the father commaunded yet did he not performe itâ— Who inquiringe not longe after whether he had giuen that which he willed the monke tolde him that he had not adding that yf he had giuen it away that there was not any lefte for the Conuerâ—t Then in an anger he comaunded others to take that glasse with the oile and to throwe it out at the windovve to the end that nothinge mighte remayne in the Abbey contrary to obedience The monkes did so and threwe it out at a windowe vnder which there was an huge downefall full of roughe and craggye stones vpon which the glasse did lighte but yet continewed for all that so sounde as thoughe it had neuer bene throwne out at all for neither the glasse was broken nor any of the oile shedde Then the man of God did commande it to be taken vp againe and whole as it was to be giuen vnto him that desired it and in the presence of the other brethren he reprehended the disobedient monke both for his infidelity and also for his proud mynde HOVV AN EMPTYE BARRELL was filled with oile CHAPTER XXIX AFter which reprehension with the rest of his brethren he sell to prayinge and in the place where they were there stoode an empty barrell with a couer vpon it and as the holy man continewed in his praiers the oile within did so increase that the couer began to be lifted vp and at lengthe fell downe and the oile that was nowe higher then the mouthe of the barrell began to runne ouer vpon the pauiment which so sone as the seruauÌ„t of God Bennet behelde forth with he gaue ouer his praiers and the oile likewise ceased to ouerflow the barrel Then did he more at large admonish that mistrustinge and disobedient monke that he wolde learne to haue faithe and humilitye who vpon so holsome an admonition was ashamed because the venerable father had by miracle showne the power of almighty God as before he tolde him when he did first rebuke him and so no cause there was why any sholde afterward doubt of his promise seeinge at one and the same tyme for a small glasse almost emptye which he gaue awaye he bestowed vpon them an whole barrell full of oile HOVV BENNET DELIVERED a monke from a deuill CHAPTER XXX VPon a certaine tyme as he was goinge to the oratory of S. Iohne which is in the topp of the mountaine the olde enemy of mankinde vpon a mule like a phisition met him caryinge in his hand an horne and a morter And when he demanded whether he was goinge To your monkes quoth he to giue them a drench The venerable father went forwarde to his praiers and when he had done he returned in all hast but the wicked spirit founde an olde monke drawinge of water in to whom he entred and straight-waies cast him vpon the ground and grieuously tormented him The man of God comminge from his praiers and seeinge him in such pitifull case gaue him only a little blowe with his hande and at the same instant he cast out that cruell deuill so that he durst not any more presume to enter in Peter I wolde gladly knowe whether he obtained alwaies by praier to worcke suche notable miracles or els sometymes did them only at his will and pleasure Gregory Suche as be the deuoute seruaâ—ntes of God when necessity requireâ—â— vse to worcke miracles both manner of wayes so that sometyme they estecte wonderfull thinges by theire praiers and sometyme only by theire power and authoritye for S. Iohne saithe So Iohn 1. many as receiued him he gaue them power to be made the sonnes of God They then that by power be the sonnes of God what maruaile is it yf by power they be able to doe wonderfull thinges And that both waies they worcke miracles Act. 9. Act. 5. we learne of S. Peter who by his praiers did raise vp Tabitha and by his sharpe reprehension did sentence Ananias and Saphira to death for theire â—yinge For we reade not that in the death of them he praied at all but only rebuked them for that synne which they had committed Certaine therfore it is that sometymes they do these thinges by power and sometymes by praier for Ananias and Saphira by a seuere rebuke S. Peter depriued of life and by praier restored Tabitha to life And for prooffe of this I will now tell you of two miracles which the faithfull seruaunt of God Bennet did in which it shall appeare most plainlye that he wroughte the one by that power which God gaue him and obtained the other by vertue of his praiers OF A COVNTRY FELLOVVE that with the only sighte of the man of God was loosed from his bandes CHAPTER XXXI A Certaine Goth there was called Galla an Arrian he retike who in the tyme of kinge Totilas did with suche monstrous crueltye persecute religious men of the Catholike church that what Priest or monke soeuer came in his presence he neuer departed aliue This man on a certaine daye sett vpon rapin and pillage pitifully tormented a poore countrye man to make him confesse where his money and wealthe was who ouercome with extremitye of paine saide that he had committed all his substance to the custodye of Bennet the seruaunt of God and this he did to the end that his tormenter giuinge credit to his wordes mighte at least for a while surcease from his horrible crueltye Galla hearinge this tormented him no longer but binding his armes fast with stronge cordes draue him before his horse to bring him vnto this BeÌ„net who as he saide had his wealth in keepinge The country fellowe thus pinyoned and runninge before him carried him to the holy mans Abbey where he founde him sittinge before the gate readinge vpon a booke
the maÌ„ of God cam in base apparrell and a paier of shoes beaten full of nailes caryinge his sit he vpon his necke and beinge yet far of his man tolde him that he was the Abbot So sone as Iulianus behelde him attired in that base sorte he contemned him and deuised with him selfe howe to speake vnto him in the most crosse and crooked manner he coulde But when Gods seruaunt drewe nighe such an intollerable feare came vpon Iulianus that he fell a tremblinge and his tongue so faltred that he colde scarse deliuer the messag for which he came wherevpon he fell downe at his feete and desired that he wolde voutsafe to praye for him and withall gaue him to vnderstande that his Apostolical father the Pope was desirous to see him Vpon the receipte of which newes the venerable man Equitius gaue almightie God most The Pope highest bisshop hartie thaÌ„ckes sayinge that heaueÌ„ly grace had visited him by meanes of the highest Bishoppe and straighte waies he called for some of his moÌ„ckes commandinge horse to be made ready in all hast but Iulianus wearye of his iornye tolde him that he coulde not trauaile so sone but of necessitye must resâ— him selfe that nighte I am very sorie for that quoth the holy maÌ„ for yf we goe not to day to morrowe we shall not and thus by reason of the others wearines he vvas enforced that nighte to remayne in the Abbeye The next morninge about the davvning of the daye came a post vvith a tired horse bringing letters to Iulianus commanding him not to preâ—ume to molest or to dravve the seruaunt of God out of his monasterye And vvhen he required the reason of this countercommande the messenger tolde him that the next nighte after his departure the Pope vvas terribly frighted in a vision for presuminge to send for the man of God vvherevpon Iulianê° risinge suddainly out of his bedde and commendinge him seâ—fe to the venerable mans prayers spake thus vnto him Our father desireth you not to troble your selfe any further but to stay in your monastery which when Gods seruaunt hearde very sory he was and saide did not I tel you that yf we did not sett forward on our iorny by and by that afterwarde we sholde not Then vpon charity he entertained his messenger a little while with him in his Cloister and thoughe by all means he refused yet he enforced vpoÌ„ him a reward for the paines he had taken See therfor Peter how God doth preserue and keepe them who in this life do contemne them selues and how they are secretly honored of the citizens in heauen who are not ashamed outwardly to be litle estemed in this worlde and on the contrary in the sighte of God they be of no accounte who in the eies of theire owne frends and neyghbours do swell through desire of vaine glorye And therfor our Sauiour Christ who was truth it selfe saide to certaine Yow are they that iustisye Luc. 16. your selues before men but God knoweth your hartes for that whiche is highe to men is abâ—omminable in the sighte of God Peter I maruayle very muche howe so great a Bishopp colde be deceiued in so worthy a man Gregory VVhy do you maruaile Peter for the reason why we are deceiued is bycause we be men what haue yow forgotten hovv Dauid who vsually had the spirit of prophecy pronounced sentence against innocent 2. Reg. ca. 16. and cap. 19. Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathas when he gaue credit to the lyinge words of his seruaunt Siba which thinge notwithstanding bycause iâ— vvas done by Dauid we both belieue to be iust in the secret iudgement of God and yet by humane reason hovve it was iust vve can not perceiue what maruaile then is it if we that be not prophets be some tymes by lyinge tongues abused and otherwise transported then charity and iustice vvolde for it is muche to be considered that euery Bishoppe hath his minde troubled vvith a vvorlde of busines and it can not be vvhen the mind is distracted about many thinges but that it is the lesse able sufficientlye to examin those that be particular so muche the soner is he deceiued in some speciall case by hovve much he is busied vvith the multitude of many Peter It is most true that yowe saye Gregory But I must not passe ouer with silence that which the reuerent man Valentinus sometyme myne ab bot tolde me concerninge Equitius For he saide that his bodye beinge buried in the oratorye of S. Laurence the martir Churches dedicated to Sainctes a certaine countrye man set vpon his graue a chest full of wheate little coÌ„sideringe or respectinge howe worthie and notable a man laye there buried Wherevpon suddainlye a miraculous whirlewinde came ouerthrevve that chest and cast it far of all other thinges remayninge still in theire former places by which all did plainely perceiue of what worth and merit that man was whose bodye laye there buried To this must I also add an other thinge which I hearde of venerable Fortunatus a man that doth much please me for his yeres life simplicitye At suche tyme as the Lombardes cam into the prouince of Valeria the monckes of the monastery of the reuerent man Equitius fled from thence into the oratorie to the holy mans sepulchre into which place the cruell men entringe they began by violence to pull the monckes forth either to torment them or els with theire swordes to kill them Amongest whom one sighthed and for very bitter griefe cried out Alas InuocatioÌ„ of sainctes and there protectioÌ„ alas holy Equitius is it thy pleasure and art thow coÌ„tent that we sholde be thus miserably haled violently drawne forth and doest not thowe voutsafe to defende vs which wordes were no soner spoken but a wicked spirit possessed those sauage soldiers in such sort that falling dovvne vpon the grounde they were there so longe tormented vntill all the rest of the Lombardes which vvere without vnderstode of the matter to th ende that none shold be so hardly as to presume to violate that holy place And thus as the holy man at that tyme defended his owne monckes so did he likewise Pilgrimage to sainctes bodies afterward succor preserue manie more that fled vnto the same place OF CONSTANTIVS CLARCKE OF the Churche of S. Steuene CHAPTER V. THat vvhich I entende nowe to tell you I learned by the relation of one of my fellowe Bishops vvho liued in a monckes vveede many The distinct habit of Monckes yeres in the citie of Ancona and led there a goode religious life Many also of myne owne frendes vvho be novv of goode yeres liue in the same parts assirme it to be most true Nere to the foresaide citie of Ancona there is a churche of the blessed martir S. SteueÌ„ in which one called CoÌ„staÌ„tius a man of venerable life did serue there for clarcke vvho for his vertue and holines vvas famous far nere
in castinge out of deuils in so muche that sometyme he did cast out of possessed bodies whole legions and by the continuall exercise of praier he ouercam all thiere tentations Iulianus who had an office here in our church and not long since died in this city was familiarly acquainted with him by whose relation I learned that which I will nowe tell you for by reason of his great and in ward familiarity often was he present at such miracles as he wroughte and did diuers tymes talke of him to our instruction and his owne comforte A certaine noble matrone there was dwellinge in the hither partes of Tuscania that had a daughter in lawe which not longe after the marriage of her sonne was togither with heâ— mother in lawe inuited to the dedication of the oratory of the blessed martir S. Sebastian and the nighte before this Dedication of churches solemnitye ouercome with carnall pleasure she coulde not abstaine from her husbande and thoughe in the morninge her former delighte trobled her conscience yet shame draue her ProcessioÌ„ forth to the procession beinge more ashamed of men then fearinge the iudgement of God and therfor thither she went togither with her mother in lawe And beholde straighte vpon the bringing of the reliques of S. Sebastian Translation of â—eliâ—es the martir into the oratorye a wicked spirit possessed the foresaide matrons dawghter in lawe and pitifully tormented her before all the people The Priest of the oratory beholdinge her so terribly vexed and lifted vp toke a white lynninge cloth and cast vpon her and forth withe the deuill also entred into him and bycause he presumed aboue his strengthe enforced also he was by his owne vexation to knowe what him selfe was Those that were present tooke vp the yonge getle woman in thiere handes and carried her home to her owne house And for as muche as she was by the enemye continually and cruelly tormented her kinsfolke that carnally loued her with thiere loue did persecut her caused her caused her to be caried for helpe to certaine witches so vtterlye to cast awaye her soule whose body they went about by sorcerye for a tyme to relieue Comming into thiere handes she was by them broughte to a riuer and there washed in the water the sorcerers laboring a longe tyme by theire inchantementes to cast out the deuill that had possessed her bodye but by the wonderfull iudgement of almightye God it fell ouâ— that whiles one by vnlawfull arte was expelled suddainly a whole legion did enter in And from that tyme forwarde she began to be tossed with so many varieties of motions to shrike out in so many sundry tunes as there were deuils in her bodye Then her parentes consultinge togither and confessing thiere owne wickednes caried her to the venerable Bishop Fortunatus and with him they left her who hauinge taken her to his charge fel to his praiers many daies and nightes and he prayed so muche the more earnestly because â—he had against him in one body an whole army of deuils and many daies passed not before he made her so safe and â—ounde as thoughe the deuill had neuer had any power or interest in her bodye At an other tyme the fame seruant of almighty God cast forth a deuil out of one that was possessed which wicked spirit when it was no we nighte and sawe fewe men stirring in the stretes takinge vpon him the shape of a stranger began to go vp and downe the citye crying out O holy Bishop Fortunatus beholde what he hath done he hath turned a stranger out of his lodginge and nowe I seeke for a place to rest in and in his whole citye can finde none A certaine man sittinge in his house by the fire with his wife and his little sonne hearing one to crye out in that manner went forth and enquired what the Bishop had done and withall inuited him to his house where he caused him to sett with them by the fire and as they were amonge them selues discoursinge of diuers matters the same wicked spirit on a sudcâ—ain entred into his little childe cast him into the fire and forth with killed him then the wretched father by the losse of his sonne in this manner knewe full well whom he had entertained and the Bishopp turned out of his lodginge Peter What was the cause that the olde enemye presumed to kill his sonne in his owne house who thinckinge him to be a stranger voursafed him of lodging and entertaynement Gregory Many thinges Peter seme to be goode and yet ar not because they be not done with a goode mynde and intention and therfor our Sauiour saith in the gospell Yf they eye be naughte al thy Math. 6. bodye shal be darcke for when the intention is wicked all the worcke that followeth is naughte althoughe it seme to be neuer so goode and therfore this man who lost his childe thoughe he semed to giue hospitalitye yet I thincke that he toke not any pleasure in that worcke of mercye but rather in the detraction and infamy of the Bishoppe for the punnishemeÌ„t which followed did declare that his entertainement goinge before was not voide of synne for some there be which are carefull to do goode worckes to th ende they may obscure the vertue of an other mans life neither take they pleasure in the good thinge which they doe but in the conceipt of that hurte which thereby they imagin reclouÌ„deth to others and therfore I verilye suppose that this man which gaue entertainment to the deuill was more desirous to seme to do a goode worcke then to do it in dede to th ende that he mighteseme more charitable then the Bishop in that he entertained him whom the man of God Fortunarus had thrust out of his house Peter It is verilye so as you saye for the ende of the worcke declared that the intente of the doer was not good Gregory At an other tyme likewise one that had lost his eysighte was brought vnto him who craued his intercession and obtayned it for so sone as rhe man of God had praied for him and made A miracle of the signe of the crosse the signe of the crosse vpon his eies straighte waies he receiued his sighte Beside this a certaine soldiars horse became so mad that he colde scant be holden by many and so cruel he was that he rent and tare the flesh of all such as he coulde reach with his tethe at lengthe as well as they coulde they tied him with roopes and so brought him to the man of God who puttinge An other miracle of the signe of the crosse forth his hande made vpon his heade the signe of the crosse forth with all his madnes departed in such sort that he became more gentle then euer he was before Then the soldiar seing his horse so miraculously cured determined to bestowe him vpon the Bishop which because he refused and yet the other instantly entreated
of the spirit of all goode men Gregory The man of God Bennet had the spirit of the one true God who by the grace of our redemption hathe filled the hartes of his elect seruauntes of whom S. Iohne saith He was the true Ioh. 1. lighte which doth lighten euery man comming into this worlde Of whom agayne we Ibidem finde it written Of his fulnes we haue all receiued For Gods holy seruantes mighte receiue vertues of our Lorde but to bestovve them vpon others they coulde not therfore it was he that gaue the signes of miracles to his seruauntes who promised to giue the signe of Ionas to his enemies so that he Math. 12. v. 40. vouchsafed to dye in the sighte of the proude and to rise againe before the eies of the humble to the end that they mighte behoulde what they contemned and those see that which they oughte to worshipp and loue by reason of vvhich misterye iâ— commeth to passe that vvhereas the proude cast thiere eies vpon the contempt of his death the humble contrarivvise against death lay holde of the glorye of his povver and mighte Peter To vvhat places I pray you after this did the holy man goe and vvhether did he aftervvarde in them vvorcke any miracles or no Gregory The holy man changinge his place did not for all that chaunge his enemye For aftervvarde he endured so much the more grieuous battles by hovve muche he had novv the master of all vvickednes fightinge openlye against him For the tovvne vvhich is called Cassino standeth vpon the side of an highe mountayne vvhich contayneth as it vvere in the lapp thereof the foresaide tovvne and aftervvard so riseth in height the space of three miles that the toppe thereof seemeth to touch the very heauens in this place there vvas an auncient chappell in which the â—olishe and simple countrye people accordinge to the custome of the olde gentils worshipped the God Apollo Rounde about it likewise vpon all sides there were woodes for the seruice of the deuils in which euene to that verye tyme the mad multitude of infidels did offer most wicked sacrifice The man of God comminge thither beat in pieces the idol ouerthrewe the altar set fire on the woodes and in the temple of Apollo he built Dedication of oratories to Sainctes the oratory of S. Martin and where the aultar of the same Apollo was he made an oratory of S. Iohns and by his continuall preaching he broughte the people dwelling in those partes to embrace the faithe of Christe The olde enemy of mankinde not takinge this in good part did not nowe priuily or in a dreame but in open sighte present him selfe to the eies of that holy father and with great outcries complained that he had offered him violence The noise which he made the monkes did heare but him selfe they coulde not see but as the venerable father tolde them he appeared visibly vnto him most fell and cruel and as thoughe with his firy mouth and flaminge eies he wolde haue â—orne him in pieces what the deuil saide vnto him all the monkes did heare for first he wold call him by his name and because the man of God voutsafed him not any answere then wolde he fall a reuilinge and railinge at him for when he cried out calling him Blessed Bennet and yet sound that he gaue him no answere straighte-waies he wolde turne his tune and say Cursed Bennet Maledicte non Benedicte and not blessed what hast thowe to do with me and why doest thowe thus persecut me wherfore new battles of the olde enemy against the seruaunt of God are to be looked for against whoÌ„ willingly did he make warr but agianst his will did he giue him occasion of manye notable victories HOVV VENERABLE BENNET by his prayer remoued an huge stone CHAPTER IX VPon a certaine daye when the monkes â—ere buildinge vp the ceâ—les of the 〈…〉 bey there lave a stone which they ment to employe about that busines and when two or three were not able to remoue it they called for more company but all in vaine for it remained so immoueable as thoughe it had growne to the verye earthe whereby they plainely perceiued that the deuill him selfe did sit vpon it seeing so many mens handes coulde not so muche as once moue it wherefore finding that thiere own labours could do nothinge they sent for the man of God to helpe them with his praiers against the deuill who hindred the remouinge of that stone The holy man came and after some praying he gaue it his blessinge and then they carried it away so quickely as thoughe it had bene of no waighte at all OF THE FANTASTICALL fire which burnte the kitchin CHAPTER X. THen the maÌ„ of God thought good that they sholde presently before his departure digge vp the grounde in the same place which being done and a depe hole made the monkes â—ounde there an idoll of brasse which beinge for a little while by chance cast into the kitchin they behelde fire suâ—dainly to come from it which to all thiere sight seemed to sett the whole kitchin on fire for the quenching whereof the monkes by casting on of water made suâ—â— a noise that the man of God hearinge it came to see what the matter was and him selfe beholdinge not any fire at all which they saide that they did he boowed downe his head forthwith to his praiers and then he perceiued that they were deluded with fantasticall fire and therfore bad them blesse thiere eies that they mighte beholde the kitchin safe and sounde not those fantasticall flames which the deuill had falsely deuised HOVV VENERABLE BENNET reuiued a boy crusshed to death with the ruin of a wall CHAPTER XI A Gaine as the monkes were making of a certaine wallsom what higher because that was requisit the man of God in the meane tyme was in his cell at his praiers To whom the olde enemy appeared in an insulting manner tellinge him that he was now goinge to his monkes that were a worckinge whereof the man of God in all hast gaue them warninge wishing them to looke vnto them selues because the deuill was at that tyme comminge amongest them The message was scarse deliuered when as the wicked spirit ouerthrewe the newe wal which they were a buildinge and with the fall slewe a little yong childe Children receiued into religion a monke who was the sonne of a certaine courtier At which pitifull chaunce all were passinge sory and exceedingly grieued not so much for the losse of the wall as for the death of thiere btother and in all hast they sent this heauy newes to the venerable man Bennet who commanded them to bringe vnto him the yong boye mangled and maymed as he was which they did but yet they could not carry him any otherwise then in a sacke for the stones of the wall had not only broken his lymmes but also his very bones being in that manner brought vnto the
man of God he bad them to lay him in his cell and in that place vpon which he vsed to praye and then puttinge them all forth he shuâ—t the dore and fell more instantly to his praiers then he vsed at other tymes And ô strange miracle for the very same howre he made him sound and as liuelye as euer he was besore and sent him againe to his former worcke that he also mighte helpe the monkes to make an ende of that wall of whose deathe the olde serpent thought he sholde haue insulted ouer Bennet and greâ—tlye tryumphed HOVV BY REVELATION VEnerable Bennet knewe that his monkes had eaten out of the monastery CHAPTER XII AMonge other miracles â—hich the man of God did he began also to be famous for the spirit of prophecye as to foretell what was to happen and to relate vnto them that were present such thinges as were done in absence The order of his Abbey was that when the monkes went abroade to deliuer any message neuer to eate or drincke any thinge out of thiere cloister and this beinge diligently obserued according to the prescription of thiere rule vpon a certaine daye some of the monkes went for the vpon such busines and being enforced about the dispatch therof to tary somwhat longe abroade it fell so out that they staied at the house of a religious woman where they did eate and refresh them selues And beinge late before they came backe to the Abbey they went as the manner was and asked thiere fathers blessinge of whom he demanded where they had eaten they saide no where why do you quoth he tell an vntruth for did you not goe into such a womans house eate such and such kinde of meate and drincke so many cuppes when they hearde him recount so in particular both where they had staied what kinde of meate they had eaten and howe often they had druncke and perceiued well that he knewe all whatsoeuer they had done they fell downe tremblinge at his feet and confessed that they had done wickedlye who straight vvaies pardoned them for that faulte persvvadinge him selfe that they vvolde not any more in his absence presume to do any such thinge seeinge they novv perceiued that he vvas present vvith them in spirit OF THE BROTHER OF VAlentinian the monke whom the man of God blamed for eatinge in his iorny CHAPTER XIII A brother also of Valentinian the monke of vvhom I made mention before vvas a laye man but deuout and religious vvho vsed euerye yere as vvell to desire the praiers of Gods seruaunt as also to visit his naturall brother to trauaile from his ovvne house to the Abbeye and his manner vvas not to eate any thinge all that day before he came thither Beinge therfore vpoÌ„ a tyme in hâ—s iornye he lighte into the company of an other that carried meate about him to eate by the vvaye vvho after the daye vvas vvell spent spake vnto him in this manner Come brother quoth he let vs refreshe our selues that vve faint not in our iornye to vvhom he ansvvered God forbid for eate I vvill not by any meanes seeing I am novv goinge to the venerable father Bennet and my custome is to fast vntill I see him the other vpon this ansvvere saide no more for the space of an hovvre But aftervvarde hauinge trauailed a little further againe he vvas in hande vvith him to eate some thinge yet then likevvise he vtterly refused because he ment to go throughe fasting as he was His companion was content and so went forwarde with him without taking any thinge him selfe But when they had nowe gone verye farr and vvere well wearied with longe trauailinge at lengthe they came vnto a medowe where there was a fountaine and all such other pleasant thinges as vse to refreshe mens bodies Then his companion saide to him againe Beholde here is water a greene medowe and a very swete place in which we way refreshe our selues and rest a little that we may be the better able to dispatche the rest of our iornye which kinde wordes bewitchinge his eares the pleasant place flatteringe his eies content he was to yeld vnto the motion and so they fell to thiere meate togither and comming after warde in the eueninge to the Abbey they broughte him to the venerable father Bennet of whom he desired his blessinge Then the holy man obiected against him what he had done in the way speaking to him in this manner How fell it out brother quoth he that the deuil talkinge to you by meanes of your companion could not at the first nor seconde tyme perswade you but yet he did at the thirde and made you doe what best pleased him The goode man hearinge these wordes fell downe at his feete confessinge the fault of his frailty was grieued and so much the more ashamed of his sinne because he perceiued that thoughe he were absent that yet he did offende in the sigate of that venerable father Peter I see well that the holy man bad in his soule the spirit of Helizeus who was present with his seruant Giezi beinge then absent from him HOVV THE DISSIMVLATION of kinge Totilas was discouered and founde out by venerable Bennet CHAPTER XIIII Gregory YOu must goode Peter for a little while be silent that you maye knowe matters yet far more important For in the tyme of the Gothes when Toâ—ilas thiere king vnderstode that the holy man had the spirit of prophecyc as he was goinge towardes his monasterye he remayned in a place some what far of and before hand sent the father worde of his comminge to whom answer was returned that he might come at his pleasure The kinge as he was a man wickedlye disposed thoughte he wolde trye whether the man of God were a prophet as it was reported or no. A certaine man of his garde he had called Riggo vpon whoÌ„ he caused his owne shoes to be put to be apparrelled with his other princely roabes coÌ„maÌ„ding him to go as it were him selfe to the man of God to giue the better colour to this deuise he sent three to attende vpon him who especially were alwaies about the kinge to witt Vsiltericus Rudericus and Blindinus charging them that in the preâ—ence of the seruaunt of God they shold be next about him and behaue them selues in such sorte as thoughe he had bene king Totilas indeed that diligeÌ„tly they shoulde doe vnto him all other seruices to the end that both by such dutiful kinde of behauior as also by his purple roabes he mighte verily be taken for the kinge him selfe Riggo furnished with that braue apparrell and accompained with many courtiers came vnto the Abbey at which tyme the man of God satt a little waye of and when Riggo was come â—o nere that he mighte well vnderstand what the man of God saide then in the hearing of them all he spake thus Put of my good sonne put of that apparrell for that which thou hast on is none
ears OF TVVO HVNDRED BVSSHELS of meale found before the man of Gods cell CHAPTER XXI AT an other tyme there was a great dearche in the same countrye of Campania so that all kinde of people tasted of the miserye and all the wheat of Bennets monasterye was spent and likewise all the breade so that there remayned no more then fiue loaues for dinner The venerable man beholdinge the monkes sad both rebuked theÌ„ modestly for thiere pusillanimitye and againe did comforte them with this promise why quoth he are you so grieued in your mindes for lack of breade Indede too day some want there is but to morrowe yowe shall haue plentye and so it fell out for the next day two huÌ„dred busshells of meale was founde in sackes before his cell dore which almighty God sent them but by whom or what meanes that is vnknowne to this verye daye which miracle when the monkes sawe they gaue God thanckes and by this learned in want not to make any doubte of plenty Peter Tell me I praye you whether this seruaunt of God had alwaies the spirit of prophecye when him selfe pleased or only at certaine tymes Gregory The spirit of prophecy doth not alwaies illuminate the mindes of the prophetes because as it is written of the holy Ghoste that he breatheth where Ioh. 3. he will so we are also to knowe that he doth breathe likewise for what cause and when he pleaseth And hereof it commeth that when kinge Dauid demanded of Nathan whether he mighte 1. Paralip 17. builde a teÌ„ple for the honoure of God the prophet Nathan gaue his consent and yet afterwarde vtterly for bad it From hence likewise it procedeth that when Helizeus sawe the woman weeping and knewe not the cause he saide to his seruauÌ„t that did trouble her Let 4. Reg. 4. her alone for her soule is in griefe and God hath concealed it from me and hath not tolde me Which thinge almightye God of great pietye so disposeth for giuinge at some tymes the spirit of prophecye and at other tymes withdrawinge it he doth both lifte vp the prophetes mindes on highe and yet doth preserue them in humilitye that by the gifte of the spirit they may knowe what they are by Gods grace and at other tymes destitute of the same spirit may vnderstande what they are of them selues Peter There is very great reason for that you saye But I pray you let me heare more of the venerable man Bennet yf there be any thinge els that cometh to your remembrance HOVV BY VISION VENERABLE Bennet disposed the buildinge of the Abbey of Taracina CHAPTER XXII Gregory AT an other tyme he was desired by a certaâ—ne vertuous man to bulide an Abbeye for his monkes vpon his grounde not far from the citye of Taracina The holy man was content and appointed an abbot Prior with diuers monkes vnder them and when they were departinge he promised that vpon suche a day he wolde come and shewe them in what place the oratory sholde be made and vvhere the refectorye sholde stande and all the other necessary roomes and so they takinge his blessinge went there waye and against the day appointed which they greatlye expected they made all such thinges readye as were necessary to entertaine him and those that sholde come in his companye But the verye nighte before the man of God in sleepe appeared to the Abbot and the Prior and particularly described vnto them where eache place and office was to be builded And when they were both risen they conferred together what either of them had seene in thiere sleep but yet not giuing full credit to that vision they expected the man of God him selfe in person accordinge to his promise But when they savve that he came not they returned backe vnto him verye sorovvfullye sayinge vve expected father that you sholde haue come accordinge to promise and tolde vs vvhere eache place sholde haue bene built vvhich yet you did not To vvhom he ansvvered vvhy say you so goode brethren Did not I come as I promised you and vvhen they asked at vvhat tyme it vvas vvhy quoth he did not I appeare to either of you in your sleepe and appointed hovv and vvhere euerye place vvas to be builded Go your vvaye and accordinge to that plat-forme which you then â—awe builde vp the Abbey At which wordes they muche maruailed and returninge backe they caused it to bâ— builded in such sorte as they had bene taught of him by reuelation Peter Gladly wolde I learne by what means that could be done to witt that he sholde goe so far to tell thèm that thinge in thiere sleepe which they sholde both heare and knowe by vision Gregory Why do you Peter seeke out and doubte in what manner this thinge was done For certaine it is that the soule is of a more noble nature then the bodye And by authority of scripture we knowe that the prophet Abacuck was carried from Iudea with that dinner whiche he had and was suddainlye sett in Chaldea by which meate the prophet Daniel was relieued presentlye Daniel cap. 14. after was broughte backe againe to Iudea Yf then Abacuck coulde in a moment with his bodye go so far and carrye prouision for an other mans dinner what maruaile is it yf the holy father Bennet obtayned grace to goe in spirit and to informe the soules of his brethren that were a sleepe coÌ„cerninge suche thinges as were necessarye and that as Abacuck about corporall meate went corporally so Bennet sholde go spiritually about the dispatche of spirituall busines Peter I confesse that your wordes haue satisfied my doubtfull minde But I wolde knowe what maner of man he was in his ordinary talke and conuersation OF CERTAINE NVNNES absolued after thiere deathe CHAPTER XXIII HIs common talke Peter was vsuallye full of vertue for his harte conuersed so aboue in heauen that no vvordes coulde in vayne procede from his mouthe And yf at any tyme he spake oughte yet not as one that determined vvhat vvas best to be done but onlye in a threatnnige manner his speeche in that case vvas so effectuall and forcible as though he had not doubtfully or vncertainly but assuredly pronounced and giuen sentenceâ— For not far from his Abbey there liued two Nunnes in a place by them selues borne of vvorshipfull parentage vvhom a religious good man did serue for the dispatche of thiere outvvarde busines But as nobility of family doth in some breede ignobility of minde and makâ—th them in conuersation to shevve lesse humilitye because they remember still what superiority they had aboue others euen so was it with these Nunnes for they had not yet learned to temper thiere tongues and kepe them vnder with The habit of Nunnes the bridle of thiere habit for often did they by thiere indiscret speech prouoke the foresaide religious maÌ„ to anger who hauinge borne with them a longe tyme at lengthe he complained to the man of God and tolde him with what
that lighte which appeared to his outwarde eies the inward lighte which was in his soule rauished the minde of the beholder to supernall thinges and shewed him howe small all earthly thinges were Peter I perceiue nowe that it was to my more profitt that I vnderstoode you not before seeinge by reason of my slowe capacitye you haue deliuered so notable an exposition But nowe because you haue made me througlye to vnderstand these thinges I beseeche you to continewe on your former narration HOVV HOLY BENNET VVROT a rule for his monkes CHAPTER XXXVI DEsirous I am Peter to tell you many thinges of this venerable father but some of purpose I set passe because I make hast to entreat also of the actes of other holy men yet I wolde not haue you to be ignorant but that the man of God amongest so many miracles for which he was so famous in the worlde was also sufficiently learned in diuinitye for he wrot a rule for his monkes both excellent for discretion and also eloquent for the stile Of whose life and conuersation yf any be curious to knowe further he may in the institution of that rule vnderstand al his manner of life and discipline for the holy man coulde not otherwise teache then him selfe liued HOVV VENERABLE BENNET did prophecye to his monkes the tyme of his owne deathe CHAPTER XXXVII THe same yeare in which he departed this life he tolde the daye of his holy death to his monkes some of which did liue daily with him and some dwelt far of willinge those that were present to keepe it secret and tellinge them that were absent by what token they sholde knowe that he was deade Six daies before he lefte this worlde he gaue order to haue his sepulchre opened and forthwith fallinge into an agewe he began with burninge heate to wax fainte and when as the sicknes daily increased vpon the sixt day he commanded his monkes to carry him into the oratory where he did arme him selfe with receiuinge the body and bloode of our Sauiour Christ and hauing his weake body holden vp betwixte the handes of his disciples he stoode with his owne lifte vp to heauen and as he was in that manner praying he gaue vp the Ghost Vpon which daye two monkes one being in his cell and the other far distant had concerninge him one and the selfe same vision for thy sawe all the waye from the holie mans cell towardes the east euene vp to heauene hunge and adorned with tapestry and shininge with an infinite number of lampes at the topp whereof a man reuerently attired stoode and demanded yf they knewe who passed that way to whom they answered saying that they knewe not Then he spake thus vnto them This is the waye quoth he by which the beloued seruaunt of God Bennet is ascended vp to heauen And by this means as his monkes that were present knewe of the deathe of the holy man so likewise they which were absent by the token which he foretold them had intelligence of the same thinge Buried he was in the oratory of S. Iohne Baptist which him selfe built when he ouerthrewe the altar of Apollo who also in that caue in which he first dwelled euene to his verie tyme worketh miracles yf the faithe of them that pray requireth the same HOVV A MAD VVOMAN VVAS cured in his caue CHAPTER XXXVIII FOr the thinge which I meane nowe to rehearse fel out lately A certaine woman fallinge madde lost the vse of reason so far that she walked vp and downe day and nighte in mountains and valle is in woodes and fieldes and rested only in that place where extreame wearines enforced her to staye Vpon a day it fell so out that albeit she wandred at randon yet she missed not the righte waye for she came to the caue of the blessed man Bennet and not knowinge any thing in she went reposed her self there that nighte and rising vp in the morning she departed as sound in sence well in her wittes as though she had neuer bene distracted in her whole life and so continewed alwaies after euen to her dyinge daye Peter What is the reason that in the patronage of martirs we often tymes finde that they do not afforde so great benefits by theire bodies as they do by Sainctes relickes worcke miracles other of theire reliques and doe there worke greater miracles where them selues be not present Gregory Where the holy martirs lye in theire bodies there is no doubt Peter but that they are able to worke many miracles yea and also do worke infinite to such as seek them with a pure minde But for as much as simple people Sainctes in heauen heare our praiers Praier to Sainctes mighte haue some doubte whether they be present and doe in those places heare theire praiers where theire bodies be not necessarye it is that they sholde in those places shewe greater miracles where weake soules may most doubte of theire presence But he whose minde is fixed in God hath so muche the greater merit of his faith in that he both knoweth that they rest not there in bodye and yet be there present to heare our praiers And therfore our Sauiour him selfe to increase the faithe of his disciples saide If I do not departe Ioh. 16. the comforter will not come vnto you for seeinge certaine it is that the comfortinge spirit doth alwaies procede from the father and the sonne why doth the sonne saye that he will departe that the comforter may come who neuer is absent from the sonne But because the disciples beholdinge our Lorde in flesh did alwaies desire to see him with theire corporall eies very well did he saye vnto them vnles I do go awaye the comforter will not come as thoughe he had plainly tolde them Yf I do not with drawe my bodye I can not let you vnderstande what the loue of the spiritis except you giue ouer to loue my carnall presence neuer will you learne to affect me with true spirituall loue Peter That you saye pleaseth me verye well Gregory Let vs now for a while giue ouer our discourse to the end that yf we meane to prosecute the miracles of other Sainctes we may throughe silence be the more able to performe it The ende of the second booke THE CHAPTERS OF THE THIRDE BOOKE 1. OF Paulinus Bisshoppe of the city of Nola. 2. of Pope Iohn 3. Of Pope Agapitus 4. Of Datius Bisshoppe of Millan 5. Of Sabinus Bisshoppe of Camisina 6. Of Cassius Bisshoppe of Narni 7. Of Andrewe Bisshoppe of Funda 8. Of Constantius Bisshop of Aquinunt 9. Of Frigidianus Bisshop of Luna 10. Of Sabinus Bisshop of Placentia who by his letters made the riuer of Poe to retire into his channel 11. Of Cerbonius Bisshop of Populonium 12. Of Fulgentius Bisshop of Otricoly 13. Of Herculanus Bisshop of Perusium 14. Of the seruaunt of God Isaac 15. Of the seruantes of God Euthitius and Florentius 16. Of Martius the
sacrilegious a place for which cause thoughe he beleued not what we teache of the crosse yet he thoughe goode to arme him selfe with that signe About midnighte as he lay wakinge for verye feare of that forlorne and desert temple and looked suddainlie about him he espied a troupe of wicked spirites walkinge before an other of greater authority who comminge in tooke vp his place and satt downe in the body of the temple where he began diligeÌ„tlye to inquire of those his seruaÌ„tes how they had bestowed theire tyme and what villanye they had done in the worlde And when eache one told what he had done against Gods seruantes out stepped a companion and made solemne relation what a notable tentation of carnalitye he had put into the minde of Bishop Andrewe concerninge that Nunne which he kepte in his pallace where vnto whiles the master deuill gaue attentiue eare consideringe with him selfe what a notable gaine it wolde be to vndoe the soule of so holy a man the former deuill went on with his tale and saide that the verye eueninge before he assalted him so mightelye that he drewe him so far forth that he did merily strike the saide Nunne vpon the backe The wicked serpent and olde enemie of mankinde hearinge this ioyfull newes exhorted his agent with verye faire wordes diligently to labour about the effecting of that thinge which he had already so well begun that for so notable a pece of seruice as the contriuing the spirituall ruyne of that vertuous Prelat he mighte haue a singular reward aboue all his fellowes The Iewe who al this while lay wakinge and hearde all that which they saide was wonderfully affraide at length the master deuill sent some of his followers to see who he was and howe he durst presume to lodge in theire temple when they were come and had narrowlye viewed him they founde that he was marked with the mystical signe of the crosse whereat they maruailed and saide Alas alas here is an empty vessel but The signe of the crosse protected a Iowe yet it is signed which newes the resâ— of those helhoundes hearinge suddainly vanished awaye The Iewe who had seene all that which then passed among them presently rose vp and in all hast sped him selfe to the Bishop whom he founde in the churche and taking him a side he demanded with what tentation he was trobled but shame so preuailed that by no meanes he wolde confesse the truthe Then the Iewe replied and tolde him that he had cast his eies wickedly vpon such a one of Gods seruantes But the Bishop wolde not acknowledge that there was anye such thinge Why do you deny it quoth the Iewe for is it not so true that yesternighte you were broughte so far by sinfull tentation that you did strike her on the backe When the Bishop by these particularities perceiued that the matter was broken forth he humbly confessed what before he obstinately denied Then the Iewe moued with compassion to his soule and tenderinge his credit tolde him by what means he came to the knowledge thereof and what he hearde of him in that assemblye of wicked spirites The Bishop hearinge this fell prostrat vpon the earth and betooke him selfe to his praiers and straight after he discharged out of his house not only that Nunne but all other wâ—men that attended vpon her And not longe after he conuerted the temple of Apollo into an oratory of the blessed Churches dedicated to Sainctes Apostle S. Andrewe and neuer after was he trobled with that carnall tentation and the Iewe by whose means he was so mercifully preserued he broughte to euerlasting saluation for he baptized him and made him a member of holy churche And thus by Gods prouidence the Iewe hauinge care of the spirituall health of an other attained also him selfe the singular benefit of the same and almightye God by the same means brought one to imbrace piety and vertue by which he preserued an other in an holy and godly life Peter This historye which I haue hearde worketh in me feare and yet withal giueth me cause of hoope Gregory That is not amisse Peter for necessary it is that we shoulde both trust vpon the mercye of God and yet consideringe our owne frailtye be affraide for we haue nowe heard howe one of the cedars of Paradise was shaken and yet not blowne downe to the end that knowing our owne infirmitye we sholde both tremble at his shakinge and yet conceiue hoope in that he was not ouerthrowne but kept his standinge still OF CONSTANTIVS BISSHOP of Aquinum CHAPTER VIII COnstantius likewise a man of holy life was Bishop of Aquinum who not longe since died in the tyme of Pope Iohne of blessed memorye my predecessor many that knewe him familiarly saye that he had the gifte of prophecy And amongest diuers other thinges which he did religious and honest men then present reporte that lyinge vpon his death bed the citizens that stoode about him wept bitterly asked him with teares who sholde be theire father and Bishop after him To whom by the spirit of prophecy he answered sayinge After Constantius you shall haue a muletour and after a muletour a fuller of cloth and these men quoth he be now in the city of Aquinum and hauing spoken these propheticall wordes he gaue vp the Ghost After whose departure one Andrewe his Deacon was made Bishop who in tymes past had kept mules and post horses And when he died one Iouinus was preferred to that dignitye who in former tymes had bene a fuller in the same citye in whose daies all the citizens were so wasted some by the sworde of barbarous people and some by a terrible plague that after his death neither could any be founde to be made Bishop nor yet any people for whose sake he sholde be created And so the saying of the man of God was fulfilled in that his churche after the death of two that followed him had no Bishopp at all OF FRIGIDIANVS BISSHOP of Luca. CHAPTER IX BVt I must not forget to tell you what I hearde of the reuerent man Venantius Bishop of Luna some two daies agoe who saide that there was nighe vnto him a man of rare vertue called Frigidianus Bishopp of Luca who wroughte a strange miracle which as he saith all the inhabitantes of that place do speake of and it was this Hard by the walles of the city there runneth a riuer called Anser which diuers tymes doth so swell and ouerflowe the bankes that it drowneth many acres of grounde spoileth muche corne and fruite The inhabitants inforced by necessity seeinge that this did often happen went about by all means possible to turne the streame an other waye but when they had bestowed much labour yet coulde they not cause it to leaue the olde channell Wherevpon the man of God Frigidianus made a little rake and came to the riuer where all alone he bestowed some tyme in praier and then he commaunded the riuer to followe him
that when the deiull is expelled from our soule that he is so little of vs to be feared that contrariwise he is rather terrrified by the vertuous and deuout life of goode people OF A NVNNE THAT BY HER only commandement dispossessed a deuil CHAPTER XXI FOr the holy man olde father Eleutherius of whom I spake before tolde me that which I will nowe tell you and he was him selfe a witnes of the truthe thereof this it was In the citye of Spoleto there was a certaine worshipful mans daughter for yeres mariagable which had a great desire to leade an other kinde of life whose purpose her father endeuored to â—inder but she not respectinge her fathers Habit of Nuns pleasure tooke vpon her the habit of holy conuersation for which cause her father did disinherit her and lefte her nothinge els but six little peeces of grouude By her example manye Nunnes dedicated theire virginitye to God noble yonge maides began vnder her to be conuerted to dedicat theire virginitye to almightye God and to serue him Vpon a tyme the vertuous Abbot Eleutherius went to bestowe vpon her some goode exhortation and as he was sittinge with her discoursinge of spirituall matters a countrye man came from that peece of grouÌ„d which her father had lefte her bringinge a certaine present and as he was standinge before them suddainly a wicked spirit possessed his bodye so that straight-waies he fell downe before them and began pitifullie to crye and roare out At this the Nunne rose vp and with angrye countenance and loude voice commanded him to goe forth saying departe from him thowe vilde wretche departe yf I departe quoth the deuill speaking by the mouthe of the possessed man into whom shall I go By chance there was at that tyme a little hogge hard by into which she gaue him leaue to enter which he did so killing it went his waye Peter I wolde gladly be informed whether she mighte bestowe so muche as that hogge vpon the deuill Gregory The actions of our Sauiour be a rule for vs accordinge to which we may directe our life and we reade in the scripture how the legion of deuils that possessed a man saide vnto our Sauiour Yf thow doest cast vs forthe sende vs Math. 8. into the hearde of swine Who cast them out and permitted them to enter in as they desired and to drowne that hearde in the sea By which facte of our Sauiour we learne also this lesson that except almighty God giueth leaue the deuill can not haue any power against man seeing he can not so muche as enter into hogges without our Sauiours permission Wherfore necessary it is that we be obedient to him vnto whom all our enemies be subiecte that we may so muche the more be stronger then our enemies by howe muche throughe humilitye we become one with the author of all thinges And what maruaile is it yf Gods chosen seruantes liuinge yet vpon earthe can doe many straunge thinges when as theire very bones after they be dead doe often-tymes Relickes worcke miracles worcke miracles OF A PRIEST IN THE PROuince of Valeria who detained a thiefe an his graue CHAPTER XXII FOr in the prouince of Valeria this straunge miracle happened which I had from the mouth of Valentius myne Abbot who was a blessed man In that countrye there was a Priest who in the company of diuers other clerkes serued God and lead a vertuous and holy life who when his tyme was come departed this life and was buried before the churche Not far of there belonged to the churche certaine shepe-coates and the place where he laye buried was the way to goe vnto the sheepe Vpon a nighte as the Priestes were singinge within the churche a thiefe came to the saide place tooke vp a weather and so departed in all hast but as he passed where the man of God was buried there he staied and coulde goe no further Then he tooke the weather from his sholders and â—olde faine haue let it goe but by no meanes coulde he open his hande and therfore poore wretch there he stoode fast bounde with his praye before him willingly wolde he haue let the weather go and coulde not willinglye also haue carried it awaye and was not able And so verye straungely the thiefe that was affraide to be espied of liuing men was helde there against his will by one that was deade for his handes and feete were bounde in such sorte that awaye he coulde not goe When morning Singing of Mattens was come and the Priestes had ended theire seruice out they came where they founde a straunger with a weather in his hande And at the first they were in doubt whether he had taken away one of theires or els came to giue them one of his owne but he that was guilty of the thefte tolde them in what manner he was punnished Whereat they all wondred to see a thiefe with his praye before him to stande there bounde by the merites of the man of God And straighte-wayes they offered theire praiers for his deliuery and scarse coulde they obtaine that he which came to steale awaye theire goodes mighte atleast finde so muche fauor as to departe emptie as he came yet in conclusion the thiefe that had longe stoode there with his stolne weather was suffred to goe away free leauinge his cariage behinde him Peter By such factes almighty God doth declare in what swete manner he doth tender vs when he voutsafeth to worcke such pleasaunt miracles OF THE ABBOT OF MOVNT Preneste and his Priest CHAPTER XXIII Gregory ABoue the citye of Preneste there is a mountaine vpon which standeth an Abbeye of the blessed Apostle S. Peter of the monkes of which place whiles I liued man Abbey my selfe I hearde this miracle which those religious men saide they knewe to be verye true In that monastery they had an Abbot of holy life who broughte vp a certaine monke that became very vertuous whom he perceiuinge to increase in the feare of God he caused him in the same monasterie to be made Prieste who after his taking of orders vnderstoode by reuelation that his deathe was not far of and therfore desired leaue of the Abbot to make readye his sepulchre who tolde him that him selfe sholde dy before him but yet for all that quoth he go your waye and make your graue at your pleasure Away he went and did so Not many daies after the olde Abbot fell sicke of an age we and drawinge nere to his ende he bad the foresaide Priest that stoode by him to bury his body in that graue which he had made for him selfe and when the other tolde him that he was shortlie to followe after and that the graue was not bygge ynoughe for bothe the Abbot answered him in this wise do as I haue saide for that one graue shall contayne bothe our bodies So he died and accordinge to his desire was buried in that graue which the Priest had prouided
forthwith he sent his officers of execution to putt to death that most constant confessor in the verye prison where he lay which vnnaturall and blody commandement was performed accordingly for so sone as they came into the prison they claue his braynes with an hatchet and so bereaued him of mortall life hauinge only power to take that from him which the holy martir made small account of Afterwarde for the publishinge of his true glorye to the worlde there wanted not miracles from heauen for in the nighte tyme singinge was hearde at his bodye some also reporte that in the nighte burninge lampes were sene in that place by reason whereof his bodye as of him Worshippinge of martirs bodyes that was a martir was worthily worshipped of all christian people But the wicked father and murtherer of his owne sonne albeit he was sory that he had put him to deathe yet was not his griefe of that qualitye that it brought him to the state of saluation For althoughe he knewe verye well that the catholicke faithe was the truth yet for feare of his people he neuer deserued to be a professor thereof At length falling sicke a little before his deathe he commended his sonue Recharedus who was to succede him in the kingdome and was yet an hereticke vnto Bishop Leander whom before he had greatly persecuted that by his counsell and exhortation he mighte likewise make him a member of the catholicke churche as he had before made his brother Hermigildus and when he had thus done he departed this life After whose death Recharedus the kinge not followinge the steppes of his wicked father but his brother the martir vtterly renounced Arrianisme and laboured so earnestlye for the restoring of religion that he broughte the whole nation of the Visegothes to the true faithe of Christe and wolde not suffer any that was an hereticke in his country to beare armes and serue in the warres And it is not to be admired that he became thus to be a preacher of the true faith seing he was the brother of a martir whose Merit of martirs merites did helpe him to bringe so manye into the lapp of Gods churche wherein we haue to consider thaâ— he coulde neuer haue effected all this yf kinge Hermigildus had not died for the testimony of true religion for as it is written â—â—les the graine of wheat fallinge Iohan. 12. 〈◊〉 24. into the earthe doth dy it selfe remayneth alone but if it dy it bringeth forth muche fruite This we see to proue true in the members which before was verified in the heade for one died amongest the Visegothes that many mighte liue and of one graine that was sowne for the faithe a great croppe of faithefull people sprunge vp Peter A wonderfull thinge and much to be admired in these our daies OF CERTAINE BISHOPPES OF Africk who had theire tongues cut out by the Vandals that were Arrian heretickes for the defence of the catholike faithe and yet spake â—til as perfeâ—tlye as they did before CHAPTER XXXII Gregory LIkewise in the tyme of Iustinian the Emperâ—r when as the Vandals that were Arrian heretickes did grieuously perâ—ecute the catholicke faithe certaine Bishoppes continewing constant were opeâ—lye examined whom when the kinge of the Vandals sawe that he coulde neither by any wordes or rewardes drawe to imbrace his hereticall religion yet he thoughte that by tormentes he mighte doe it and therfore when he commanded them not to speake in defence of truthe and they refused to obey his precept least by silence they mighte seme to giue consent vnto wicked heresieâ— in a greate fury he commanded theire tongues to be cut out by the rootes A miraculous thinge and yet knowne to manye olde men they did as perfectlye afterwarde speake in defence of true religion as they did before when they had theire tongues safe and sounde Peter You tell me of a maruailous â—â—range thinge and greatly to be admired Gregory It is written Peter of the only sonne of the eternall father In the beginninge Ioh. 1. was the worde and the worde was with God Of whose vertue power it straighte waies followeth All thinges were made by him Why then shoulde we maruaile yf that eternall worde coulde â—â—eake without a tongue which made the tongue Peter What you say pleaseth me very well Gregory These Bishopes therfore flyinge at that tyme from the persecution came vnto the citye of Constantinople and at suche tyme as my selfe about the affaires of the churche was sent thither vnto the Emperor I founde there a Bishop of goode yeares who tolde me that he sawe them him selfe speake without tongues for they opened theire mouthes and saide Beholde and see howe we haue no tongues and yet doe speake for as he saide theire tongues being cutt of by â—he rootes there seemed as it were a deep hole in theire throate and yet thoughe theire mouthes were empâ—ye they pronounced theire wordes very plaine and distinctlye One of which falling afterwarde in that place into carnall synne was forthwith depriued of that supernaturall gifte and that by the iust iudgement of almighty God seing reason requireth that he which was carelesse to preserue the continencye of his body which he had shoulde not any longer vtter the wordes of truth without the tongue of his body which he had not But because I haue now spoken sufficient for the condemnation of Arrianisme therfore I will returne to entreate of such other miracles as haue lately fallen out here in Italy OF THE SERVANTE OF GOD Eleutherius CHAPTER XXXIII ELeutherius of whom I made mention before father of the abbey of the Euangelist S. Marcke which is in the suburbes of the citye of Spoleto liued longe tyme together with me in this city in my monasterye and there ended his daies Of whom his monkes doe reporte that by his teares he raised vpp one that was deade for he raised vpp one that was deade for he was a man of such simplicitye and compunction that no doubt but those teares comminge from his humble and simple soule were of force to obtaine many thinges of almighty God One miracle of his I will nowe tell you which him â—elfe beinge demanded by me did with great simplicity confesse As he was trauailinge vpon a certaine daye and not findinge at mighte any other place to lodge in he went to a Nunnery wherein there was a little boye which the wicked spirit did vsually euery nighte torment The Nunnes giuinge entertainement to the man of God desired him that the saide little boye mighte remaine with him all nighte where-with he was well content In the morninge the Nunnes diligently enquired of the father yf the childe had not bene sore troubled and tormented that nighte who maruailinge why they asked that question answered that he perceiued not any such thinge Then they tolde him howe a wicked spirit did euerye nighte pitifully afflict the childe and earnestly desireâ— him that he wolde take him home to his owne Abbey
be affraide when they dye and of the monkes called Anthony Merulus and Iohne 48. VVhether we oughte to obserue dreames and how many sortes of dreames there be 49. Os a certaine man who in his dreame had longe life promised and yet died shortly after 50. VVhether the soules receiue any commoditye by the buriall of theire bodies in the church 51. Of a certaine Nunne that was buried in the church of S. Laurence which appeared half burnt 52. Os the burial of the noble man Valerianus 53. Of the body of Valentinus which was throwne out of the churche after it was buried 54. Of the body of a dier buried in the churche which afterwarde could not be founde 55. VVhat thinge that is which after death hath force to helppe mens soules and of a Priest of Centumcellis who was by the soule of a certaine man desired that he mighte after his death be holpen by the holy sacrifice And of the soule of a monke called Iustus 56. Of the lise and death of Bisshoppe Cassius 57. Of one that was taken by his enemies whose irons at the tyme of the sacrifice were loosed and of the mariner called Caraca saued by the sacred host from being drowned in the sea 58. Of the vertue and mystery of the healthful sacrifice 59. How we oughte to procure contrition of harte at the tyme of the holy mysteries and of the custodye of our soule after we haue bene sorrowfull sor our sinnes 60. How we oughte to forgiue the sinnes of others that we may obtayne forgiuenes of our owne THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF S. GREGORIES DIALOGVES HOVV CARNAL MEN GIVE the lesse credit to those thinges which be eternal and spiritual because they know not by experience what they heare others to speake of CHAPTER I. AFTER that the first parēt of mankinde was for his synne bannished from the ioyes of Paradise he fell into the miserye of this ignorance and bannishment which to this yerie daye we doe all indure for his synne was the cause that he coulde not any longer see those ioyes of heauen which before by contemplation he possessed for during the tyme of his residence in Paradise he vsually hearde God talking with him and by purity of harte and heauenly vision was present with the quires of the blessed Angels But after his fall he lost that lighte of soule which before abundantly he enioyed From whom we beeing by carnall propagation deriued that liue now in this darcke ignorance of bannishmēt do heare indede of an heauenly countrye and howe it is inhabited by the Angels of God and that the soules of iust and perfect men do there keepe them companye But yet such as be carnall because they can not by experience knowe those inuisible creatures doubt whether there be any such seing with theire corporall eies they can not behold them from which doubt our first Parent was altogether free for althoughe he was exiled from the ioyes of Paradise yet did he still kepe in memorye what he had lost because he had before behelde the same but these men can not by any meanes call to minde such thinges as they heare others speake of because they neuer had of them any former experiēce as our first father Adam had For it is in this case as yf a woman bigge with childe sholde be putt in prison and be there deliuered of a sonne which neuer went forth but were there continually broughte vp for yf his mother sholde tell him of the sunne mone starres mountaines and speake of the fieldes the flying of birdes and running of horses her childe that had continually bene broughte vp in the prison and acquainted with nothing els but blacke darckenes might well heare what she saide but with a doubt whether it were true or no because experience taught him not any such thinge Euene so men that are borne in this darcke worlde the place of theire bannishmēt do heare that there be wonderfull strange and inuisible thinges but because they are not acquainted with any els but terrestriall creatures which only be visible they doubt whether there be any such inuisible thinges as are reported of or no for which cause the creator him selfe of all thinges both visible and inuisible and the only begotten sonne of the eternall father came into this worlde for the redemption of mankinde and sent the holy Ghost vnto our hartes that quickened by him and his grace we shoulde belieue those thinges which as yet by sence or experience we can not possibly vnderstande and therfore so many of vs as haue receiued this spirit the heauenly pledge of our inheritance make no doubte of Gods inuisible and immortall creatures and who so euer as yet is not setled in this beliefe out of all question he oughte of reason to giue credit to the wordes of them that be more learned and holy and belieue them that throughe the grace of Gods holy spirit haue experience of those thinges that be inuisible for he were a very foolishe childe that thoughte his mother lied when she spake of lighte in other places because him selfe where he was beheld nothing els but the darckenes of the prison Peter That you say doth wonderfully content me yet he who beleueth not that there be any inuisible thinges out of question in myne opinion is an infidell and he that is an infidell in that thinge whereof he doubteth seeketh not for faith but for reason THAT AN INFIDEL LIVETH not without faith CHAPTER II. Gregory I Speake boldlye yet trulye that an infidell liueth not without faith for yf I demaunde of him who is his father or mother straight-waies he will tell me such a man and such a woman and yf I presse him further whether he doth remember the tyme when he was first conceiued or the houre when he was borne into this worlde he wil answer me that he neuer knewe or sawe any such thinge and yet for all this doth he beleue that which he neuer behelde seing he beleueth without all doubt that such a man was his father and such a woman his mother Peter I must nedes confesse that I neuer knewe before this tyme that an infidell had any faith Gregory Infidels haue faith but not in God sor then they were not infidels but worthly are they by the former reason to be blamed and thereby also to be prouoked to imbrace true faith for yf concerning theire visible bodye they beleeue that which they neuer sawe why do they not also beleeue some thinges which with theire corporall eyes they can not beholde THAT GOD CREATED THREE kindes of spirites with life CHAPTER III. FOr that our soule doth liue after the death of the bodye reason doth teach vs assisted and holpen with faith for almightye God created three kindes of spirites hauing life One altogether spirituall without bodye an other with a bodye but yet which dieth not with the bodye the thirde that which is both ioyned with the body and also together with the body
they heard a noise as it were of many that came in and the cell dore shaken and thrust open as thoughe there had bene a greate presse of people and as they saide they heard a greate company come in yet they saw no body and that by reason of great feare and much lighte for both feare did make them to hold theire eies downe-warde and the brightenes of such plentye of lighte did so dazell them that they coulde not beholde any thinge Straighte after that lighte followed a wonderfull pleasaunt smell which did greatly comfort theire fearefull heartes Romula perceiuing that they coulde not endure that abundance of lighte with sweete wordes comforted Redempta that stoode trembling by her beds side saying Be not affearde mother for I shall not dy at this tyme and when she had often repeated those wordes by little and little the lighte vanished awaye but yet the sweete smell remayned still and so continued both the next and the thirde day after Vpon the fourth nighte againe she called for that her mother and when she was come she desired to receiue the Sacrament and so she did and beholde before Redempta or her other disciple departed from her beddes side suddainlye they hearde two quires singing before the dore without and as they saide they perceiued by theire voices that the one was of men that began the psalmes and the other of wemen that answered and whiles these heauenly funerals were in celebratinge before the cell dore that holy soule departed this life and was caried in that manner vp into heauen and the higher those two quires did ascende the lesse did they heare that celestiall musick vntill at length they heard no more and beside that sweet and odoriferous smell which before they felt vanished quite awaye OF THE DEPARTVRE OF the holy Virgin Tarsilla CHAPTER XVI SOmetyme also for the comfort of the soule that departeth there appeareth vnto it the author him selfe of life and rewarder of all vertue for proffe whereof I will here report that which I remember also to haue spoken of in myne Homelies concerninge myne aunt Tarsilla who in the company of two others of her sisters had for continuance in praier grauitye of life singularity in abstinence arriued to the topp of perfection To this woman Felix my great grand-father sometyme Bishop of this sea of Rome appeared in vision and shewed her the habitation of euerlasting lighte speaking thus Come with me and I will entertaine you in this dwelling place of lighte Shortly after taken with an agew she was broughte to the last cast and as when noble men and wemen ly a dyinge manye do visit them for the comfort of theire friendes so diuers both men and wemen at the tyme of her departure were come which stoode round about her bedde at what tyme she suddainlye casting her eies vpwarde behelde our Sauiour comminge wherevpon looking earnestly vpon him she cried out to them that were present Away awaye my Sauiour Iesus is come and so fixinge her eies vpon him whom she behelde her holy soule departed this life and such a wonderfull fragrant smell ensued that the sweetnes thereof gaue euident testimony that the author of all sweetnes was there present Afterwarde when her deade bodye according to the manner was made ready to be washed they founde that vvith long custome of praier the skin of her armes and knees vvas like a camels become harde and so her deade bodye gaue sufficient testimonye vvhat her liuing spirit had continually practised OF THE DEPARTVRE OF a yonge maide called Musa CHAPTER XVII NEither must that be forgotten vvhich the seruant of God before mentioned called Probus vsed to tell of a little sister vvhich he had called Musa for he saide that one nighte our blessed Lady appeared vnto her in vision shewing her sundrye yonge maides of her owne yeares doathed all in vvhite vvhose company she much desiring but yet not presuminge to go amongest them the Blessed Virgin asked her whether she had any â—ninde to remaine with them and to liue in her seruice to whom she ansvvered that willingly she wolde Then our blessed Lady gaue her in charge not to behaue her selfe lightely nor â—o liue any more like a girle to abstaine also from laughinge and pastime telling her that after thirty daies she sholde amongest those virgins which she then sawe be admitted to her seruice After this vision the yonge maide forsooke all her former behauior and with greate grauitye reformed the leuitye of her childish yeares which thinge her parentes porceiuing and demanding from whence that change proceded she tolde them what the blessed mother of God had giuen her in commandement and vpon what daye the was to go vnto her seruice Fiue and twenty daies after she fell sicke of an agewe and vpon the thirtith daye when the houre of her departure was come she behelde our blessed Lady accompanied vvith those Virgins vvhich before in vision she savve to come vnto her and being called to come avvaye she ansvvered vvith her eies modestlye cast do vvnevvarde and very distinctlye spake in this manner Beholde blessed Lady I come beholde blessed Lady I come in speaking of vvhich vvordes she gaue vp the ghost and her soule departed her virgins bodye to dvvell for euer vvith the holy virgins in heauen Peter Seing mankinde is subiect to many and innumerable vices I thincke that the greatest parte of heauen is replenished vvith little children and infantes HOVV CERTAINE YONGE CHILdren are hindred from heauen by theire parentes wicked education as is shewed by the example of a blasphemous yonge boye CHAPTER XVIII ALthoughe we oughte not to doubt but beleeue that all infantes which be baptized and dye in theire infancye goe to heauen yet no pointe of our beleefe it is that all little ones vvhich can speake do come vnto that holy place because some little children are kept from heauen by theire parentes which bring them vp wickedly and in lewde life For a certaine man in this city well knowne to all some three yeres since had a childe as I thinck fiue yeres olde which vpon too much carnal affection he brought vp very carelesly in such sort that the little one a lamentable case to speake of so sone as any thinge went contrary to his â—â—inde straighte-waies vsed to blaspheâ—â—e the name of God This childe in that great mortality which happened three yeres since fell sicke and came to the pointe of death and his father holding him at that tyme in his armes the childe as they saye which were then present behelde with trembling eies certaine wicked spirites comminge towardes him at which sight he began to crye out in this manner Kepe them away father kepe them awaye and crying so out he turned a waye his face wolde haue hidd him selfe in his fathers bosome who demaundinge why he was so affraide and what he savve O father quoth he there be black a mores come to carry me awaye after which wordes
contemplation of heauenly mysteryes Peter Is there any text of holy scripture to proue that carnall sinnes be punnished vvith stincking and bad sauours OF THE PVNNISHEMENT of the men of Sodom Gregory THere is for in Genesis vve reade Genes 19. that our Lorde rained fire and brimstone vpon the city of Sodom that both fire mighte burne them and the stenche of brimstone smother and kill them for seing they burnt vvith the vnlawfull loue of corruptible fleshe by Gods iust iudgement they perished both by fire and an vnsauory smell to the end they mighte knovve that they had by the pleasure of theire stiâ—cking life incurred the sorrovves of eternall death Peter Concerning those thinges vvhich before I doubted of I finde my selfe novv so fullye satisfied that I haue not any further question to moue HOVV THE SOVLES OF SOM men being yet in their bodies do see some spiritual punnishement And of that which happened to the boye Theodorus CHAPTER XXXVII Gregory VVE haue also to knowe that sometyme the soules whiles they are in theire bodies do beholde some spirituall punnishement which yet happeneth to some for theire owne goode and to others for the edification of them that heare thereof For there was one Theodorus which storye I remember that in myne homiles to the people I haue also spoken of who was a verye vnrulye ladde and more vpon necessiâ—ye then of his owne good will in the companye of his brother entred into my monasterye and so sittle pleasure he toke in spirituall talke that it was death to him to heare any thinge tending to the goode of his owne soule for he was so far from doing any goode worcke that he could not endure to heare thereof and he wolde openly protest sometymes by swearing sometymes in anger and sometymes in scoffing sorte that he neuer ment to take vpon him the habit of a religious life This vntoward â—he haâ—it of reâ—igious â—en boye in the late mortalitye which consumed the greatest parte of this citye was grieuously strooken whereof he lay sore sicke and being at last come to the pointe of death all the monkes repaired to his chamber to praye for the happy departure of his soule which semed not to be far of for the one halfe of his bodye was already deade and only in his brest a little life remayned and therfore the nerer they sawe him to his ende the more feruentlye did they commend him to Gods mercye Whiles they were thus busied suddainlye he cried out to them and with great clamor went about to interrupt theire deuotions sayinge Depart and away for beholde I am deliuered ouer to a dragon to be deuoured and your presence doth let him that he can not dispatch me My heade he hath alreadye swallowed vp in his mouthe and therfore go your waies that my tormentes be not the longer and that he may effect that which he is about to do for yf I be giuen him to deuoure why do you keepe me here in longer paine At these fearfull wordes the monkes saide vnto him why do you speake thus good brother blesse your selfe with the signe The sig of the hâ—ly crosse vsed against the deuâ— of the holy crosse to whom he answered willinglye I wolde but I can not I am so loaden with this dragons scales Vpon these wordes the monkes fell prostrat vpon the earth and in great zeale with teares they prayed to God for his deliuerye out of the enemies handes who mercifully hearde them for vpon a suddaine the sicke person began to cry out and saye God be thancked beholde the dragon that had me to deuoure is fled awaye and ouercome with your praiers here he could not tarry Now I besech you make intercession for my synnes for I am ready to turne vnto God and wholy to renounce all kinde of secular life and thus he that was halfe deade as before was saide reserued now to a longer life turned to God with his whole harte and so after he had put on a newe minde and was a longe tyme punnished with affliction then his soule departed from the miserieâ— of this mortall life OF THE DEATH OF CHRIsorius and of a certaine monke of Iconia CHAPTER XXXVIII BVt Crisorius on the contrarye as his kinseman Probus of whom I made mention before tolde me was a substantiall man in this worlde but as full of synne as of wealth for he was passing proude giuen to the pleasures of the fleshe couetous and wholy set vpon scraping of riches together But when God determined to make an ende of so many synnes he sent him a greatsickenes and when his last tyme drewe nere in that very houre in which his soule was to leaue the bodye lying with his eies open he sawe certaine cruell men and blacke spirites stande before him pressing vpon him to carrye him awaye to the pitt of hell at which fearfull sighte he began to tremble to wax pale to sweate and with pitifull outcries to craue for truce and often with faltring tongue to call for his sonne Maximus whom when I was a monke I knewe also to professe the same kinde of life saying Come away Maximus with all speede Neuer in my life did I any harme to thee receiue me nowe in thy faith His sonne greatly moued at these outcries came vnto him in all hast and his whole familye lamentinge and crying out repaired also to his chamber none of all which behelde those wicked spirites which did so vrge and vexe him but by his trouble of minde by his palenes and tremblinge they made no doubt of theire presence for he was so affrighted with theire terrible lookes that he turned him selfe euery way in his bed Lying vpon his lefte side he coulde not indure theire sighte and turning to the wall there also he founde them at last being very much beset and dispairing of all meanes to escape theire handes he cried out with a lowde voice saying O truce till to morrow ô truce till to morrow and crying out in this sort he gaue vp the ghost This being the manner of his death certaine it is that he sawe this feareful sight not for him selfe but for vs that his vision mighte do vs goode vvhom Gods patience doth yet vvith fatherly longe sufferance expect to amendment For vvhat prosit reaped he by seeing those fowle spirites before his death and by crauing for that truce which he coulde not obtaine There is also nowe dwelling amongest vs a Priest of Isauria called Athanasius who telleth a very fearefull storye which in his tyme happened as he saith at Iconium For there was in that place as he reporteth a Monasterye called Thongolaton in which there liued a monke that was had in great accounte for he was of goode conuersation and in his life verye orderlye but as the ende declared he was far otherwise then he outwardlye appeared for thoughe he did seme to fast with the rest of the monkes yet did he secretlye take his meate which vice of