After their deaths the gouernor Almachius entended to get the goods of the two brethren into his hands but vnderstanding that Cecilie had distributed them vnto the poore he caused her to be brought before him She confessed vnto him the truth namelie that all the goods of the two noble gentlemen Tiburtius and Valerian were giuen vnto the poore The gouernour therefore seeking a quarrell and desiring to be reuenged on her said in a great rage I think we shall haue a Christian of you also but I will haue you to sacrifice vnto the Gods in my sight that I maie be witnes whether you deserue the same punishment that those brethren deserued and had The officers of the gouernour vrged her to sacrifice to whom she said Harken to me brethren You be the officers of the gouernour and you think it meet that I should obey his comandement but I on the other side think it verie vniust in him to comaund me to sacrifice vnto those Gods which be not such indeed and to leaue of to sacrifice vnto the true God that is IESVS CHRIST Be assured that I will suffer and endure and the torments that can be inflicted vpon me and at the end rather lose my life then do his cōmaundement The officers made shew of pittie compassion toward her seing a damosell so yong so discreet so faire and gratious readie to abandon and leaue all these yea life and all for her faith and religion They said vnto her Consider thy youth and beautie haue compassion on thy self and change not all other thy good parts in these tender yeares for vntimelie death The holie virgin said vnto them To change earth for gold is not to loose but to gaine Or to giue a cottage half-ruinated for a house built with perles and pretious stones or a life repleat with troubles and miseries which shall quiklie end for a life replenished with riches and treasure that shall endure for euer These and the like speaches vsed S. Cecilie and her words were of such force and wrought so that many that were present resolued to be Christians and were afterward Baptised by S. Vrban The gouernor was astonied to heare the holie virgin speak and viewing her angelike beautie asked what her name was for till that time he knew no other name but only that she was the wife of Valerian She told him that her name was Cecilie and then the gouernour replyed knowest thou not that the Emperours of Rome haue comaunded that the Christians either do sacrifice vnto the Gods or else that they be put to death I know it right well said the holie saint What wilt thou then do said the gouernour I determine to die said she For it is farre better to dye for confessing IESVS CHRIST then to liue denying him Consider said the gouernour that it wil be best for thee to leaue and forsake this thy oppinion and to sacrifice vnto our Gods S. Cecilie said It were better for thee to open thine eyes and to consider that those whom thou callest Gods be but stocks and stones If thou wilt not beleeue me touch them with thy hands or throwe them into the fire and there will come lime from the stones which maie serue to build with so shall there be no deceit in them as there is nowe Then said the gouernour How should I suffer thee to speak such words in my presence knowest thou not that I haue power to giue thee life or to take it awaie at my pleasure S. Cecilie answered thou thinkest my words void of reason and I know thy words to be false and no truth in them Almachius said doest thou saie Cecilie that I speak not truth The holie virgin said I saie it and auouch it in that thou saiest thou hast authoritie to giue and take awaie my life Thou maiest take life from the liuing but to giue life vnto the dead it is most cleere and certaine thou canst not So that I maie well call thee the minister of death I wil be such an officer vnto thee said Almachius if thou wilt not sacrifice So when he sawe she was constant and resolute and would not sacrifice he caused her to be put into certaine bathes which were in her owne house and hauing shut her in one of them being empty without water they made a great fire vnder which burned a whole daie and a night The holie saint receaued not any hurt thereby but it seemed to her a place rather of pleasure and refreshing then other wise when Almachius heard thereof he comaunded one to cut of her head in that place The hangman gaue her three blowes yet did he not cut of her head altogether but left it euen as it was hanging by the skinne The blessed virgin being thus wounded liued three daies many Christians coming to visite her Among these were some that had receaued the faith by her meanes whom she seing sorowfull comforted They dried vp the bloud that ran from her wound with napkins and other clothes with intent to keep them as reliques S. Vrban went also to visite her and she told him that she had desired of God to liue three daies that she might dispose of her goods and request him to consecrate that house of hers into a Church When the three daies were ended this holie virgin and glorious martyr being in prayer yeelded her blessed soule vnto God on the 22 of Nouember Her bodie was buried by pope Vrban in the Chruchyard of Callistus and her house was consecrated into a Church In processe of time pope Paschalis translated the bodies of SS Cecilie Tiburtius Valerian and pope Vrban into the Church of S. Cecilie The Catholique Church celebrateth the feast of this holie saint on the daie of her martyrdome At the end of the life of SS Tiburtius and Valerian on the 14. of Aprill is rehersed the saying of Canisius to wit that these saints were martyred in the time of Alexander Seuerus in the yeare of our Lord 225. the same he saith of S. Cecilie also and because mention is made there of pope Vrban the account cometh to be iust at that time But the Romane Breuiarie of Pius 5. putteth her martyrdome about 50. yeeres before in the times of the Emperours Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Commodus Her name is in the Canon of the masse The life of S. Clement Pope and Martir GREAT was the fame and credit which Moises the guide Exod. 27. and captein of the Hebrewes acquired and got when the said people being in the desert and at the point to dy for thirst he by the apointement of God strook a rock out of which issued water in abundance sufficient for them all to drink and to be refreshed and comforted No lesse glorious and worthy of fame was S. Clement the holie Pope and martir who did the like He liued in a desert banished thither with many other Christians for the profession of the name of IESVS CHRIST and they all
them though they shall suffer before thee thou shalt be crowned with the crowne of martyrdome With this the Angell vanished awaie and Catherine was led before the Emperour the great and famous philosophers of the gentiles being on the other side against her There resorted vnto this great meeting an infinite companie of noblemen and gentlemen The philosopher that was accounted more learned theÌ„ the rest turning toward Catherine and as it were in scoffing manner said disdainfully vnto her Art thou shee that with saucy and malapert words hast so wronged our Gods yea said Catherine I am euen shee yet I do it not with saucie and malapâ—rt words as thou saiest but with true and certeine arguments The philosopher replied If thou hast read the famous poets thou shouldest also haue noted the statelie and magnificent names that they attribute vnto them farre different and more honorable then those that thou giuest them S. Catherine answered what be those ports and what be the names they giue vnto thy Gods The philosopher said Homer is one of them who calleth Iupiter the most glorious and greatest Orpheus also a famous poet speaking of Apollo the sonne of Latona calleth him potent that seeth and comaundeth mortall men These by them honored and highlie esteemed and called Gods you cannot shew me that any of them said that a crucified man was a God To this S. Catherine answered It is true the poets that thou hast named giue vnto thy Gods names of excellencie yet with all thou canst not deny but many times they lay vpon them most hainous crymes and abhominable deedes Mark what Homer chieif of the poets saith of Iupiter Sometimes he calleth him a lyer and peruerse then a deceiuer and that the other Gods haue coÌ„spired to chaine him with fetters that if he had not bene certified thereof he had come into manifest daunger Orpheus also who is the other poet thou hast named saith of thy Gods that they know not the troubles and afflictions of men and when they do know them they cannot deliuer them out of them Sophocles also affirmeth that those that adore and do reuerence to the statues and Idolls of many Gods do euill and offend greeuously for saith hee there is but one true God which is none of these who created heauen and earth and all that is therein Where you saie that IESVS CHRIST crucified whom I adore is not famous nor knowne of the poets and ancient wise men this sheweth plainlie your small reading Know therefore that the Sibills were renowned for their excellent skill in poetrie being illuminated by the holie Ghost One of the Siâ—ills wrot long before it came to passe that IESVS CHRIST should be taken by enuy and slaine by his owne people That he should rise againe and ascend into heauen and that he should come at the last daie to Iudge the quick and the dead Another Sibill said IESVS CHRIST being God is made man conuerseth with men and doth great marueiles and miracles both on the sea and land But let vs leaue the Sibills The same Apollo not vsing his accustomed dark manner of speeche said in plaine words long before it came to passe He that is the light and splendor of heauen he that is God and man hath suffred not in the diuinitie but in his bodie he hath suffred reproaches and was buried he hath shed many teares form his eyes he fed 5000. men in the wildernes with bread by the power of God â—he was crucified and dyed on the Crosse was buried and after ascended into heauen These be the words of Apollo thy God and by his oppinion thou oughtest not to adore him but him whom he calleth God These and the like were the words of S. Catherine alleadging the sayings and sentences of the philosophers and wisemen who contemned the Gods of the Gentiles proouing how coÌ„trarie it was to good philosophie to saie there should be many Gods But yet if it were possible that there should be many Iupiter Saturne Mars the others which the pagans adored were not nor could not be Gods for certaine it is that they were men And if they had bene good for any respect or had done any notable proffit vnto the people by their industrie or new inuâ—ntion as of plowing and reaping graine of making armour of defence or offence and such like yet in some respects they were most bad and vitious The holie virgin prosecuted her speach and declated what IESVS CHRIST preached of his life his deeds his miracles and shewed how they were all conformable to the nature of God This holie sainte spake these things so discreetlie and eloquentlie and with such feruencie of spirite that is was most euident and apparant that it was the work of God and that within her was somewhat more then humane wisedome And in such sort that the philosopher which began the disputation was not only conuinced but also turned to her side whereof he gaue plaine proof by his words The Emperour perswaded the other philosophers to take the defence of the matter which the chief had giuen ouer as being ouercome and to dispute with the damsell but they answered that it was to no purpose For now their chief man being vanquished they were also ouercome And they confessed withall that the damosell had said truth and that themselues till that time had benâ— blind worshippers of those for Gods which were not so indeed and that there was but one God to wit IESVS CHRIST whom Catherine confessed and adored It cannot be expressed how these words caused the Emperour to storme and rage which he shewed by this for without staie or obseruing any order of law or course of Iustice or without any examination he commaunded there should be kindled a huge fire to burne them all to ashes The fire being kindled forth with the wisemen fell at the feet of S. Catherine and weeping besought her to praie vnto God for them that he would pardon the sinnes they had committed against him through ignorance and they said they were prepared and desirous to receaue the sacrament of Baptisme The glorious saint reioycing in spirite as we maie well think to haue gained so good a praie animated them saying Assure your selues that God will pardon you since that for his sake you leaue the earthlie king and loose your owne liues The fire which is prepared shal be in steed of Baptisme vnto you and shall cleanse your soules that they maie be forth with presented vnto God who will bestow vpon you a reward for the seruice you now do vnto him These words confirmed the wisemen exceedinglie and they often making the signe of the Crosse and naming IESVS CHRIST were in this manner cast into the fire where they yealded their soules vnto God on the 17. daie of Nouember Some Christians came in the euening to gather together the reliques of the saints and they found their bodies entire and whole and not a haire of their heads
heare and determine the causes of him and of the other prisoners which were with him wherupon he gaue a large some of mony vnto the keepers of the prison some of his acquaintance interceding and being his suerties that he might go home vnto his house promising to retorne back with speed Adrian was so well beloued of all men that they seemed not to desire his returne vnto the prison they let him depart and to escape if he would though they knew and sawe themselfes in apparant daunger of life And it is to be thought his suerties were in the same daunger Forthwith some ranne before him to giue notice vnto his wife that he came home Shee hearing this newes did not beleeue it at the first but said Who hath power to put of the gyues with the which I left him fettered herewithall came thither a yong man theire seruant who told them Adrian came home free and discharged She imagining that he had yeelded and now fled to escape Martirdome was much troubled in mind began to weep and when shee sawe him to approch the gate of the house shee threw her sowing work which shee had in her hands on the ground and running locked the gate fast and said I will not haue any thing to do with this vile base dastarly coward that hath returned back and forsaken the good way he had begon and much les will I see him with mine eies I will not heare him speak word vnto me neither will I listen to that tounge which hath dealt deceitfully in the sight of his Creator When he came some what neerer shee held the gate shut very close all the while and said vnto him O man of all men most miscreant and irreligious what hath enforced thee to begin that course which thou wilt not accomplishe who is he that hath gotten thee out of the society of the blessed men with whom I left thee who hath deceiued thee and made thee to depart out of the company of peace and perpetually ioy Tellme tellmee wherfore hast thou tourned thy back and fled before the conflict begin Wherefore doest thou cast downe thy armour on the ground like a dastard before thou sawest thy enemy come to assaile thee wherfore doest thou enroll thy name among the wounded men before there be a sword drawen or arrowe shot what shall I do wretch that I am who was he that ioyned me to a faithles person I haue not deserued to be the wife of a martir nay nowe I shal be called the wife of a Renegate A small time endured my ioye and gladnes and long shall last my shame and reproche S. Adrian staied with out the gate very glad to heare his wife say thes things wherfore he said vnto her Natalia my sister open me the dore for I do not fly to escape death as thou thinkest but come to call thee that thou maiest be present at our martirdome as I haue heretofore promised thee Natalia did not beleiue him but rather called him deceiuer He auerred earnestly vnto her that his words were truth and that if shee would not open the gate quickly he would returne vnto the prison that he might keepe his word and not be depriued of the crowne of martirdome Natalia gaue him then credit and opened the gate and fell humbly at his feet and he embraced her and then both of them returned back vnto the Iaile By the way S. Adrian said vnto his wife Natalia Tell me my dearest what order hast thou taken with thy goodes and patrymony lest after my death all be confiscated and taken from the Natalia made answere my lord and husband take no thought for the temporall and transitory goodes lest they do captiuate thy hart and desire Call to thy remembrance and reuolue in thy mind the goodes that be permanent and euerlasting vnto which thou drawest nere to be partaker together with the other holy men in whose company thou doest desire to dy for the loue of IESVS CHRIST They both being come vnto the prison all wondered that Adrian would returne for they were assured that he came back to his death Then did Maximian comand that all the Christian prisoners should be brought forth before him Some came with ther flesh wounded putrefied for in those places where their Irons and gyues had bene wormes were engendred as was apparant to be seene Natalia came close vnto her husband and said vnto him Be carefull my lord that thy soule be firme stable in God beware thy hart doth nor wauer when they present the tortures before thy corporall sight The present troubles shall endure for a small time but the guerdon and the beatitude shall endure for euer The Emperour looked first vpon Adrian and said vnto him wilt thou continue still in thy folly The blessed man answered I am prepared to giue my life for this which thou callest folly Maximian tooke such indignation at this answere that he caused him in his owne sight to be stripped out of his clothes and to be cruelly scourged The officere were tired and changed they were first one and then another but the tirant was not tired but bid them scourge the holy martir in cruell sort and no lesse the martir stroue to tollerat the torment with a resolute mind and greate patience Oh that one had then seene Natalia howe often the collour chaunged in her face sometimes shee feared that her husband should yeld and shrink at the cruelty of the torments and then shee was pale as a clothe but when shee sawe him endure all constantly and courageously her liuely and cherefull colloure returned into her face Sometimes Adrian looked toward her and though nothing shee said yet only by her countenance he vnderstood howe shee bad him be valliant and resolute and to haue consideration that the more the tormēts encreased so much greater should his reward be The holy martir was beaten with such cruelty that they hauing torne and rent his flesh and laid his ribbes open to the view might also see vnto his bowels The tirant nowe weary to see any more vsed on that fashion at that time commanded him into the same prison where he was before in which place he remained certain daies in the company of the other Christians who had endured the same torment and suffered the same molestation as he had done After this Maximian caused them to be ageine presented vnto him in the place of iudgment The martirs were taken out of the dark prison where thy were brought vnto that state that it affrighted men and moued them to compassion to behold them yet they remained constant as before in the faith of IESVS CHRIST The tirant commaunded the bones of all their legges to be broken to shiuers and one of the hands of St Adrian to be cut of The holy martirs in this torment passed from this vnto a better life euen as they made their prayers vnto our Lord. Then Maximian gaue commaundement
so honoring them and imitating their vertues we shall receiue help and benefit by their asistance and prayers in this world and be receiued into the glorie which they posesse in the eternall beatitude Vnto the which God bring vs for his great mercy sake Amen The commemoration of the faithfull deceased THE prophet Daniell being in Babylon discouered a fraud and deceyt which the ministers of a temple vsed in making men to beleeue that their I doll called Bell did cate vp those meates that were offred vnto it when as they themselues indeed did eate it vp Darius the king punished these men with death where vpon the people raised an vproare and commotion against the prophet and the king not being able to restraine their furie they threw him into a denne among Lions to be by them rent and torne in pieces In this wofull state the holie man remained sixe daies being grieuous aswell for the continuall sight of the lions as for that the place was filthie and stincking and beside all this honger afflicted him exceedinglie It fell out at that season that the prophet Abacuc being in Palestina and carying victualls to his sheapheards an Angell told him that God comaunded he should carry that Victuall vnto Daniell who was in the Lions denne in Babilon Abacuc excused himself saing that he knew not where Babilon was neither did he know Daniell The Angell said I will shew thee and with that he took him by the haire of the head and in a moment set him in Babilon in the Lyons den and shewed him Daniell readie to die with hunger Abacuc said vnto him Daniell eate of this meat that is sent thee by God Daniell did eate thereof and was some what refreshed and enabled thereby to support and beare the affliction of that place of punishment vntill at last he was taken out by the kings comaundement By this figure is represented liuely vnto vs the commemoration the Catholique Church maketh for the dead on the next day after the feast of all saints Daniell in the lions denne representeth the soules that be in the paines of purgatory It agreeth also verie fitlie that the lions did not rent nor teare Daniell in pieces also that the sight of them was grieuous in that place of paine and also hunger afflicted him very much So the soules that be in the paines of purgatorie be not tormented by the diuells which is very iust as not firt that they should chastice those that they could not ouercome The place it self which is allotted vnto them is painfull and grieuous for it is full of fire which is the same with the fire of hell as S. Augustine affirmeth Honger doth afflict them also which is the great desire and longing they haue to see God For though they be secure to see him at length yet it is a great grief vnto them that the time is prolonged The prophet Abacuc who caried meat vnto his sheepheards is a figure of euerie good and faithfull Christian which doth good vnto the soules in purgatorie For in the carying of meat vnto his sheapheards viz vnto his Curate or any other priest in bringing bread and wyne vnto the Church and the other almes which are done for the soules such as praiers and sacrifises bee an Angell cometh and bringeth it vnto Daniell in the denne And in deed it is an article of the Catholique faith that all those things that be offred for the soules in purgatorie by persons that be in the state of grace or else if the work it self doth merit and deserue it as the holie sacrifise of the masse both comforteth and helpeth the soules that be in purgatorie exceedingly THE vndoubted veritie that there is a purgatorie is an Article of the Catholique faith and he that denieth it shall thereby prooue himself an heretique This truth is prooued by the testimonies of the scripture as that excellent learned man frier Alfonce de Castro saith in his book he made against hereticks Esay saith Our Lord shall wash the vncleanes of the daughters of Syon and the bloud of Ierusalem in the spirit of Iudgment in the spirit of heat The prophet Malachy also threatning sinners with the coming of Almightie God to chastice them saith of him that he is a fire in which the siluer is molten and purified These two places are alledged by S. Augustine to prooue that there is a purgatorie after this life IESVS CHRISTOUR our sauiour saith the same viz that he that shall speak wordes against the Holie Ghost shall not be pardoned neither in this World nor in the World to come S. Gregorie vseth this sentence and so doth S. Bernard also as an effectuall proof of this veritie For they say if sinnes be not remitted in the other world this sentence shall not be remitted in the other world should not haue beene written And the truth beinge that in all holie writt there is not any superfluous word fot to say there were any as S. Basile saith in his Exameron were blasphemie it followeth then that there is a purgatorie for it is a cleare case that no sinne is pardoned in hell S. Paul also writing to the Corinthians saith 1. Cor 3. that the workes euery one hath done be they gold siluer or stones wood haie or strawe the fire shall try them And then he saith imediatly that he whose workes shall haue need of this tryall shall suffer detriment so that such shall not be saued but by fire hom 6 sup exod â— Origen alleadgeth this sentence to prooue this veritie There is another verie forceable reason for this point S. Iohn saying in the Apocalips speaking of the holie heauenly cittie of Ierusalem that none shall enter thereinto with any spot or staine of sinnes Cap. 21. yet manie meÌ„ dye with veniall sinnes others that haue mortall sinnes are coÌ„fessed haue not time to do their enioined penance Of these who are pardoned and absolued of their faults it is cleare that they shall do penance in purgatorie before they enter into heauen for thither they cannot come with any spot Therefore we must needs confesse that there is a Purgatory where the soules shal be purified refined from all their filth defects with which they depart out of their bodies before they enter into heauen Moreouer many holy persons of vertuous life who are worthy of credit herein haue had reuelations of this truth as S. Gregorie writeth in his dialogues But beside all these reasons alleadged I wil relate one which is of great authoritie and was as it is said the first cause and beginning that mooued the Catholique Church to ordaine Gui lâ—el in rationall ib 7. cap. 25. and institute the Commemoration of the faithful departed on the next day after the feast of all saints and this it is In the life of the holie Abbot Odilâ— written first by Peter Damian Cardinall of the Church of Rome and related by frier Laurence
and fury as Dioscorus did at the hearing of these words and he was repleat with indignation and choller and as a man posessed to see his daughter so much contrary vnto him in relligion Then he called to remembraÌ„ce that many times when he talked with her concernyng marriage shee had wished him not to take care for her for she had no thought of any husband wherupon he perceued that shee answered him so for that shee was a Christian and he knew that among them many obserued chastity It came into his head that th'emperour Maximian persecuted the Christians and that in the city was a gouernour that tormented and put many of them to death All these things together caused Dioscorus to be so much distracted that being ouercome with passion and forgetting that he was her father and taking on him the person of a tyrant and parricide he layd hands on his sword with a full intentioÌ„ therwith to runne through the breast of his owne daughter The holy damosell that shee might be reserued to a more glorious triumph departed away and fled from her fathers sight By this meanes Dioscorus had space to be aduised that by killing his daughter he might fall into some trouble and could not justify it if he did not declare and publish the cause and reason of his doing he staied not so much for any piety as to haue an occasion and meanes to be more reuenged on her and to shewe vnto the other Idollaters how great his zeale was to the honour of his Gods Wherfore he took order that his daughter Barbara should be brought before the gouernor Martianus whom he informed that she was a Christian and moreouer he humbly besought him to proceed against her according to the late decrees of th'emperour The gouernour much wondered at Dioscorus seeing him so cruelly bent against his owne daughter but he was much more astonied to see her Angel-like beauty which was so goodly that it seemed to him though she had done the greatest offence in the world the sight of her only would haue obteined her pardon And yet her owne father was the only man whâ— without any wrong offered on her part laboured all he might to procure her death The iudge spake vnto her mildly sayeng Babara I see thou art a tender delicate virgin and very beautifull therefore haue compassion on thy self sacrifice vnto our Gods for I cannot be rigorous against so beautifull a damosell The blessed maid answered I offer sacrifice vnto my God who created heauen and earth but of those whom thou callest Gods heare what a holy king and prophet called Dauid saith The Gods of the Gentills be gold and siluer the work of mens hands Psal. 130.113 and they who are represented by them be deuills but the true God made heauen and earth I say and confesse the same and therefore trouble not thy self to persuade me to adore them The gouernour was so vexed with this speeche that taking no pitty of this beautyfull damosell he caused her to be stripped and to be beaten without mercy with the sinewes of oxen and when all her body was wounded and made sore he commauÌ„ded the officers to rubbe her with a course heare-cloth which put her to a greuous paine and the bloud ranne aboundantly from her body vnto the ground then he caused her to be led back into prison that he might haue time to deuise some more greeuous torments for her On that same night there was a great brightnes in the prison where Barbara lay in the midst wherof appeared IESVS CHRIST who comforted and encouraged his handmaide and told her that he would alwais assist her and keep her in his custody and that the inuentions of cruell tyrants should not preuaile any thing against her These words were scant ended when the blessed damosell perceued her body to be healed of all her hurts and wounds which thing did excedingly reioyce her in spirite and for the same shee rendered infinite thanks vnto the highest God for that he vouchsafed to visite her as also for that he had healed her in this maner On the next day the holy virgin came againe before the iudge he seeing her hole sound was amazed therat and so were many other who had seene her the day before when she was led vnto prison brused and wounded The gouernor said vnto her See Barbara howe the Gods haue had compassion of thee and haue healed againe thy wounds they be so desirous to reduce thee vnto their seruice by mildnes Be not thou vnto them vnthankfull nor obstinate in thy errour lest thy do hereafter vse rigour and seuerity against thee To this the holy damosell answered They who be blinde as thou art think as thou doest but I will tel thee the truth how I was healed if thou desire to know it It was IESVS CHRIST the sonne of the liuing God whom thou canst not see thy soule being blinded and drowned in the profound darknes of iniquity The gouernour seeing he preuailed not with this â—light commaunded two lusty fellowes to take the sides and brest of the damosell with iron combes and then burning torches to be sett to her sides and many strokes to be also giuen her on the head with a hammer The holy damosell Barbara in the midst of these torments lifted vp her eyes vnto IESVS CHRIST sayeng Thou o Lord who seest the secrets of harts behold like wise I haue put all my trust in thee I beseech thee Lord not to abandon me but susteine me with thy pityfull hand for as without thee I cannot do any thing euen so with thee I can do all things The tirant not content with this cruelty but proceeding further bad them to cut of the nipples of her breasts which put her to much paine but much more was the loue that shee bore vnto IESVS CHRIST which caused her with patience to suffer the paine for all which respect shee said with the prophet Dauid Psal 50. O Lord my God turne not thy face from me and do not take a way thy holy spirite from my hart The very sight of her body so misused and bruised put men in feare wherfore the tyrant to do her the more shame and for to terryfie the Christians the more by her example coÌ„maunded her to be led through the high streets naked all the whiles to be beaten with staues When the holy damsell vnderstood the sentence of the tyrant perceuing they ment to put it in execution shee lifted vp her eyes vnto heauen and said O soueraigne king and my sweet Lord thou couerest the sky with the thick clouds and the earth with darknes of the night may it please thee to couer my naked body so that it be not seene of the vnbeleuers who if they see me will blaspheme thy holy name Our pityfull Lord who giueth care vnto his seruants who resort for his help in their tribulations heard her prayer and couered her boâ—y with a
morning verie earlie twelue more were serued by the Arche Bs. almoner about nine of the clocke a hundred poore men called Prebens on whome two monkes of the conuent attended The Bisshop hauing discharged his parte reposed a litle to refresh his senses bestowed all the time he could steale from his rest without great disparagement of his health in prayinge weeping and holie meditation When he was to celebrate the most dreadfull oblation then he did seeme to poure out his hart with teares and sighes and sobbes that cames as often as his words He was somewhat speedie in discharginge this office fearinge distractions yett all wayes attent recollected without vaine addinge of more then the churche appointed performing the communion with suche deuotion and teares as yf he did visibly behold the wounds of our sauiour IESVS CHRIST Not only his owne but also the hands of all his household were so free from receauing bribes that an Abbot comminge to his courte with important busines and desiring to winne his officers good will with gold and not findinge anie that would receaue it he himselfe notwithstanding receauing great satisfaction in his suite cryed oute at his departure I haue founde a court more golden then euer I could haue belieued or imagined for not onlie it walketh not after gold but also scorneth despiseth flyeth from gold Semblable to these were all his other vertues so vpright a Iudge that no might nor meanes could with-drawe him right so good a father to the poore that none departed from him without reliefe soe bountifull in giuinge almes that he twice doubled the vsuall allowance giuen to the poore by all his Predecessoures so zealous a prelate that no vice especially no schisme or errour could take roote with in his Iurisdiction so addicted to learninge that his conuersation at table vpon the way was allway of learning so prouident in giuing orders that he neuer impossed his hands vpon anie without mature and diligent examine whither he had sufficiencie enough in meanes in learninge and vertue least anie of these three being wanting priesthood should turne into scandall derision and beggerie so greate a fauourer and Patron of learned men that his moste especially be friended followers were the most especiall learned men of those dayes of English men Ioannes Salesberiensis afterward B. of Carnotum Robert Foliot afterward B. of Hereford William Glauile aftewards B. of Rochester Gerard Mayde afterwards B. of Couentrie of stranger Hughe Dantinant a Norman Archedeacon of Oxeford afterwars B. of Couentrie Herbert of Woscham afterwards Cardinall of Rome Arche B. of Beneuentum Humbert of Lumbardie afterwards Arche B. of Milan his natiue countrie and lastly Pope of Rome by name of Vrbanus tertius these were his followers of greatest name besides manie others of a lower ranke in dignitie though inferioure to none in learning and vertue Finallie his watching in meditation his teares in praying his puritie of life his modestie in speeche his vprighteousnes in his workes his trueth in his word his compassion of the poore care of the commons goode and welfare did spread his fame so wyde that it made the Kinges Maiestie hartilie to reioyce for the good election he made of so holy a prelate More ouer he was renowned in forraine countries where coÌ„ming to the Councell of â—owers in Fraunce he was so ioyfully receaued by Pope Alexander 3. all the Cardinalls and Prelates that all of them sauing the Pope and two Cardinalls who stayed to accompanie his Holines went oute of the towne to meete and well-come the Arche Bishop Hitherto he might seeme to haue had a prosperous course and nauegacion but God would haue him also tryed in aduersitie and therefore suffered a storme of persecution to be raised against him First certaine men of greate account oute of whose hands he had wrested churche-liuings which they had wrongfully vsurped began to calumniate him with his Maty alleaging that his royall fauoure emboldned the Arche B. to such attempts and wrongs which he had and did offer vnto manie yet they could not impaire the good opinion which the kinge entertained of the Arche B. Then followed his renouncing the office of Chanceloure which somewhat exasperated the Kinge next some resistance in a matter belonging to the Exchequer But lastly that which enkindled his Matys indignation was in this manner The friends of a certaine man that was slaine accused a priest for coÌ„mitting the murder he being apprehended and brought before his Bisshop so denied the facte that his aduersaries could not sufficiently conuince him by reason they re information was weake neyther he Canonically cleare himselfe He therefore remaining thus infamous and branded with suspicion his cause was referred to the Arche B who depriued him of all Ecclesiasticall benefice and shut him vp in a Monasterie commaunding that he should be perpetually recluded and made doe hard penance all dayes of his lyfe About the same time one Philip de Lidrois a Canon had contumeliously abused one of the Kings Iustices of peace the complaint being brought to the Archebishop he commaunded the Canon should be publiquely whipped for certaine yeares depriued of all Ecclesiasticall benefice and office These punishments esteemed rigorous enough could not quyet the rage of some of the laitie for laying some few mens faults vpon all the cleargie and pleading that priests and clearks presuming on their priuiledges that they were not put to death committed manie outrages offences and vilainies they made a great vproare and commotion in all the countrie The Kings Majestie as zealous of the peace and quyet of the commonwealth as the Archebishop of the Churches liberties and being informed by some of the cleargies enemies how their manifold offences daylie encreased presuming vpon their priuiledges he made an assembly of all the Bishops of the Realme and cleargie of London demaunding that all such Priestes as committed anie offence should enioy no priuiledge of the Church but deliuered ouer to the secular Iustice be punished with corporall paiue the only meanes as he said to stop the course of their wickednesse who building to much vpon their order stained shamefully debased the renoumne and glorie of their order For the higher one is seated in dignity the fouler is his crime and more exhorbitant the more scandalous his example and of greater consequence to draw meaner people into sinne and therefore such deliquentes ought to feele the smart of more heauie punishments To this demaund the holie Prelate mildly and constantly replied That sacred Canons and Generall Councels and holie Popes and glorious Kings Emperours had so ordained that cleargie men should be iudged and chastized by none but only their owne superiours and Prelates That when crimes were such as deserued death the Church did not winke at her ministers faults nor foster enormous offences with priuiledges but first degrading them from their order abandone and forsake them as none of hers and then turne them ouer