the quantity and brightnes wherof while S. Antony wondered to the end so betwitching an obiect might not penetrate thâ—… mynd starting away from it as it were from fire he passed on his way with his eyes shut flying through the playnes neuer made stop till he had quite lost the sight of the place When taking some breath renewing his holy purposes againe he arriued at a MouÌ„tayne where was a Castle halfe ruined and inhabited with serpâ—… and hurtfull beasts insteed of men Which at the appearing of the Saint as if they had been chased went headlong away in al post he damming vp the gate with stone tymber remayned within with prouision of bread for six months hauing left order with his friends that twice a yeare for which space and more some Egiptians knew especially the Thebans how to bake breake make it last should supply be made him from tyme to tyme with which sustenance and with a little water only to be had in the same place continued he his admirable sobriety and singular abstinence There came many to visit him while he himself not withstaÌ„ding being shut vp saw them not nor would suffer himselfe to be seen of any and the bread I spake of was let downe to him by certayne holes in the roofe In the meane while his friends attending with great desire at the doore and passing that way many tymes by day and night might heare from tyme to tyme a very great noise within the roome with raylings and outcryes which sayd to him Get you hence out of our house What haue you heere to do in this desert You shall neuer be able to endure our persecutions The friends of S. Antony now hearing such quarrels and menaces without did verily belieue some ill disposed persons and enemies of the Saint had byn gotten in with a ladder from the top but afterwards looking in very curiously through a chincke they caused some to get vpon the roofe and by diligent search they could finally discerne no such matter It was presently knowne that those horrible clamours proceeded from none but infernall spirits Whereupon the poore people being now affrighted began suddenly to call vpon S. Antony by name to craue his succour Whâ—… regarding the good of these more then the menaces of those approching to the doore exhorted theÌ„ with fayre speeches to retire from thence and not to feare since the Deuill is commonly wont if you be fearefull to increase your vaine and needles feares Go home then on Gods name and do you make the signe of the holy Crosse. Go your wayes home I say in the name of the Highest leauâ—… them heere in fine to be illude themselues With this conge the visible friends giue backe and departed thence and he alone remayned behind to stand in contest with the inuisible Enemies although from henceforth in all bickerings he had not much to do with them partly in regard that they through so many losses became continually more weary feeble partly also because he felt himselfe euery day more couragious and stoute being very often comforted with diuine Visitations and with often triumphes ouer his now vanquished Enemyes In the meane time new troupes of people ceased not to resort from Cittyes and Villages to S. Antonyes Cell Who making accompt to haue found him allready dead beyond all hope did heare him sing Exurgat Deus dissipentur inimici eius fugiant qui oderunt eum à faciâ—… eius sicut deficit fumus deficiant sicut fluit cera à facie eius sic pereant peccatores a facie Dei And like wise Omnes gentes circumdederunt me in nomine Domini quia vltus sum in eos With such and other like darts the valourous Champion transfixed so the rebels of Christ as in all the encounters they had euer the worst S. Antony remaynes reclused His fame spreads through all parts whereby many come to renounce the world Chap. 5. IN this manner of inclosure the seruant of God remayned for 20. yeares continually without once seeing to yssue forth or euer being seen of any person Whereupon the fame of S. Antony was so spread and was in so great credit of more then humane vertue as day by day there assembled about him a greater concourse of diuers Nations and conditions of persons then euer Some came with desire to be instructed and trayned vp by him others to be deliuered from the Deuill and from sundry infirmities Others in fine desired to behold such an Hermit as he with their proper eyes and so rare and liuely example of perfection and to speake in a word such an Angell on earth Who by how much more through humility retyred so much greater thirst was excited in men of his conuersation And in briefe the matter went so farre as they being able no longer to endure the expectation pulling a way the obstacles by violency and breaking vpon him with boldnes and reuerence alike they intreated him so much as he was able to resist no longer but forth with he came out of a Sanctuary where he had beene as it were annoynted with the diuine hands consecrated and promoted for the gouernement of soules And it may well be conceyued the while what a plenitude of graet he receiued from Heauen since loc the very same redounding like wise to the body after so many yeares of pennance so great fastings and such meditations combats and vigils appeared to be of so good a coÌ„plexion as if in all that tyme he had attended to his health and had entertayned himselfe in pleasant pastimes With this was matched such a manner of composition modesty and grauity as well beseemed a foster-child of the supreme wisedome and Citizen of the supernall country In such wise as to haue met him after so long a retirement in so great a multitude of men applying themselues to him and euen profuse in his prayses renowne yet should you not haue seene any signe of perturbation in him or of vayne contenâ—…meÌ„t but was alwayes found with Reason in the Sterne most firme constant and equall He had so 〈◊〉 refull serene a couÌ„tenance as all men that looked vpon him were comforted therwith But what shall we say of the other Gifts of the holy Ghost The dispossest of euill Spirits may suffice to winne beliefe the infirme also whome he hath restored And the many besides aflicted and disconsolate through diuers occasions which with sweet efficacious words he hath recomforted How many emnityes and how many strifes hath he reduced to peace and concord He would exhort all with great vehemency of spirit noryâ—… lesse with the weight of reason and examples by no meanes to preferre any wordly thing before the loue of our Lord Iesus And he would also discourse of the future goods and of the excessiue charity of God towards miserable mortals since for their Redemption and Saluation he would not seeme to pardon his owne
concourse of freinds Parents and Neighbours who came suddenly to behold him to â—…ewayle him and to prepare his obsequyes Some lamented the â—…red of so heroicall actions should so beyond al opinion be cut off Others very bitterly deplored the losse of such a Father and Maister â—…nd perhaps there wanted not those such is the nature of men that â—…r lack of consideration would seeme to reâ—…rehend him of immoâ—…rate feruour foolish temerity The Euening being passed with â—…ch discourses while they stood about the Corps with many lights â—…fficiously expecting the Exequyes by little and little as it hapâ—…ens they fell a sleep And now it was about midnight when S. â—…ntony being returned to himselfe opening his eyes was aware â—…at all the Standers by were oppressed with a profound sleepe exâ—…epting his familiar friend who through his much sollicitude and â—…harity was continually in suspence and vigilant Which Antonyâ—…rceiuing â—…rceiuing coniured him so much partly with signes and partly with a low voyce as in fine he obteyned without any noyse to be â—…onueighed back into his cell againe Where being not able throgh â—…e many soares he had eyther to kneele or to stand on his feete â—…e was feyn first as he lay to make his prayer a prety while afâ—…er that with a greater courage theÌ„ euer began he with a lowd tone â—…o defy the infernall squadrons saying Behold me Antony heere I am I fly not your shirmishes how â—…ierce soeuer they be nor shal euer any thing in the world be able to â—…euer me from Christ and presently gaue himselfe to singing of Psalmes saying Si consistant aduersumme castrâ—… now time bit corâ—… wheÌ„â—…s the Authour of Priâ—… conuerting himselfe to his cursed Crew See you saith he this vntamed beast how after so many punishments â—…nd bitter woes he daies yet to prouok vs thus Take vp your armes fresh and assayle him now more sharpely then euer that he may â—…nce come to learne whome he hath to deale with Lucifer had yet â—…ow scarcely finished his commaunds when the foundation being â—…aken with a horrible Earth-quake and the foure sides of the poore Cell layd open There entred in a moment by those chincks a hâ—… multidue of vncleane spirits in sundry and dreadfull figures of Lyons Buls Leopards Beares Wolues Aspes Scorpions aâ—… Serpents beating the ayre and bestirring themselues ech one according to its proper forme and nature The greedy Lion roared ready to deuoure The Bull lowed threatning with his cruell hornes The Dragon hissed with the neck stretched forth and 〈◊〉 pestilent breath The rauenous Wolfe fell a houling with open mouth and sharp teeth and all the sauage beasts in fine with eyeâ—… enflamed and open iawes fell a brissling themselues being ech oâ—… power if not hindred from aboue to teare S. Antony into a thousand peeces But as they had no power vpon the lyfe of the Saint so on the person as farre as they had leaue they striue now agayne to worke him what domage and outrage they could At which very tyme the inuincible Champion though otherwise groaning amidst all those terrible blowes yet fayling not â—…whit of his courage reproachfully rebuked the malignant spirits saying If there were any force in you some one of you alone were inough I trow for so light a conflict but because God haâ—… taken away your forces from you therefore you do go thus aboâ—… to affright me with multitudes and with strange figures of beasts being surely an euident token of your misery And manfully infeâ—…red moreouer If you haue any power in you If God hath giuâ—… you any authority ouer me am I not now heere in your handâ—… Then do you swallow me vp glut your appetites vpon me bâ—… if you haue no such lycence why trouble you your selues in vaynâ—… See you not how the signe of the holy crosse the Fayth in Goâ—… serues christians as impregnable walls At these words the wicked fiends encompassed him round euen fretted and gnashed their teeth at him When the Seruant of God in lifting vp his eyes beheld incontinent the roofe to open it selfe and the ayre to appeare with a celestiall ray wherupon thâ—… roome was illuminated at once the Enemyes vanished the paynâ—… ceased and the building shaken and disioynted before came suddaynely now to be vnited agayne reduced to the former estate And from thence in a moment S. Antony was informed of the presenâ—… of God and sending forth a deepe sigh to the vision-wards exclaymed Where wast thou O good Iesuâ—… where wast thou Why wâ—… thou not heere from the first beginning to remedy my wounds 〈◊〉 answere whereof was heard this voyce Antony I was heere in presece with thee but stood expecting thee And since thou hast shewed thy selfe to be thus stoute daunted not awhit I will alwayes succour thee and shall make thy name famous through the world With this Visitation S. Antony rose vp from the ground with a great deale more vigour then before he euer receyued And was euen iust at that tythe of the age of 35. yeares S. Antony retires himselfe into more inhabitable places He meetes with the illusions of the Diuells and shuts himself vp Chap. 4. SAint Antony being now by this tyme enflamed to greater enterprizes determines to penetrate further into the more inhabitable places and most remote from humane society 〈◊〉 yet thought it not meete to conceale this determination of his from his first and deerest Mayster but rather communicating with him his whole designe inuited him also to be partaker with him of so illustrious a coÌ„quest But he excusing himselfe through his oldage with other difficultyes besides S. Antony doth put himselfe alone on the way And while he hauing confidence in God goes forward very suddenly he beheld a great siluer Bason on the ground At which sight making a stop and glauncing his eyes obseruing the apparition did presently perceyue the subtility of him that had forged the same and began to discourse with himselfe Whence might this siluer vessell seeme to come hither The place is quite out of the way heere are no steps of any passengers and when peraduenture one should loose it yet such is the greatnes thereof as suddenly he must needs be aware thereof or at least would he afterwards haue turned backe at leasure to seeke it out so as this is thy trick O Satha nor thinke thou thus to hinder my intention heerby Go thy waies then with thy mettall with a mischiefe This sayd the Plate immediately vanished like smoke when S. Antony pursuing his iourney but a little way off discouered a very great wedge of gold on the ground and that not counterfayte and phantasticall as the siluer was yet could not be discerned whether it were by diabolicall operation or els for the greater proofe of the Seruant of God by some heauenly power there put in that fort But this is well known the gold was not imaginary but true perfect At
most well-beloued Sonne but rather in satisfaction of our debts deliuer him ouer to so cruell and bitter a death With which discourses and adâ—…nishments S. Antony went mouing the people in such fort as many conceauing a like desire of the Eternity and contempt of the world determined themselues likewise to be sequestred from the vulgar to giue themselues to a solitary life From hence so many Monasteryes tooke their beginnings where with in a very short tyme were all those craggy mountaynes and champians of Egipt filled And he so long as he liued had the superintendency and sollicitous care ouer them all receauing with singular affect of charity such as for diuers occurences of good goâ—…rnement would be making their repayre vndo him and he himselfe also would no lesse be visiting them in person when tyme reâ—…ired without sparing any labour or respect of manifest perils haâ—…ing alwayes the heauenly custody with him which miraculously â—…efended him from all disasters As it happened once among other tymes in his visit of the couÌ„â—…y of Arsinoe whither trauayling with some of his and being to â—…ade ouer a branch of the riuer of 〈◊〉 full of Crocadills most â—…uell Enemyes Deuoures of men hauing made his praier a litle â—…tred into the water and passed quite through it both going and â—…omming without any manner of hurt at all of himselfe or his CoÌ„anions Being now returned to his Cell he gaue himselfe to his â—…onted labours and exercises as before and aboue all to his pastorall care by inducing alwaies the Monks to greater perfection with words and deeds full of holsome incite ments and holy doctrine Nor was it hard for him to assemble an Auditory so great was the â—…unger which euery one had of his words and so singular the grace 〈◊〉 his discourse vouchafed him by our Lord But especially one day â—…ere being 〈◊〉 together a very great â—…course of people to heare â—…im the venerable Abbot with accustomed modesty candour of â—…ynd in the Egyptian tongue began to deliuer himselfe as it followeth in the next chapter The Exhortation of S. Antony to the Monkes and people of the Disart Chap. 6. ALthough the diuine Scriptures my Children and most beloued Brethren are sufficient of themselfes for the instruction and erudition of men Yet is it a thing notwithstanding very reasonable and iust that euen Men no lesse knowing themselues with mutuall incitements excite one another to the execution of that which they haue well vnderstood and with pertaking ech one with the rest the inspirations and lights he obteynes of God they may all come to be euery day more wife and expert in his holy serâ—…ce Wherfore you my children whensoeuer you shall haue any good conceipt to propose vnto others to me your Father omit â—…not and I also as more ancient in yeares and most ready for the glory of God will participate with you in a much of that kind as I haue hitherto any wayes eyther by document of others or of my owne experience been able to comprehend The first then and principall aduertisement for all is 〈◊〉 that ech one of vs endeauour two things The one not to diminâ—… a whit of our labour or industry reputing our selues to haue doâ—… inough The other not to loose courage while the affayre seeme too prolix and tedious to vs but rather we are to make accompe that euery day is the first beginning and to be alwayes a conseruing and increasing our holy purposes Because that as the whole age of a man is very short in comparison of what succeeds so is al the created tyme as nothing being paraleled with Eternity And truly in this life things are ordinarily bought at a iust price in human traffiques is accompt made of so much for iust so much but in 〈◊〉 case it is not so while the Eternall Crowne seemes to stand vs 〈◊〉 deed but in a very little We read in the Psalmes Dies annorum nostrorum in ipsis septuagâ—… anni Si autem in potentatibus octoginta amplius eorum labor 〈◊〉 Whence put the case we do spend the same whole space of eighty or a hundred yeares in the diuine seruice thinke you the rewâ—… therof to be equal The trauaile exceeds not an age the guerdon endures foreuer the toyles are on earth the recompence in heauen the body comes to be rotten and consumed but recouers a glorious and vncorruptible one So as my Children let vs not go foulding oâ—… armes Let vs not thinke it to be ouer long or that we haue done already any great matter since according to the Apostle The Tâ—…lations of the present life haue not any proportion with the glory which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 manifest in vs. Nor casting our Eyes to the world belieue that we haue forsaken any great matter For as much as the whole roundâ—… of the Earth is but a point in respect of the vniuersall fabrique of the world and yet supposing we were Lords of as much as the Sâ—… warmes and should haue quite renounced such a Monarchy for the Loue of Christ yet for all that would it be nothing at all if we regard but the Realme of the Heauens which is proposed to vs. And who is he that would not willingly seeme to cast away a dramme of yron to haue for the same a hundred of gold Euen so a Man that should abandon for God all these earthly Signoryes should afford very little and receiue a hundred for one Now if all the Earth at once may not seeme to contest with the worth of Paradise it is cleere that for one to depriue himselfe of armes or houses or summes of money he should not yet seeeme take eyther any vayne glory or foolish sadnes for the same esâ—…ially considering that though we despoyle not our selues of â—…se things for the loue of Christ yet of force are we very soone to â—…go them when we come to dye and to leaue them very often 〈◊〉 such as we thinke least of as Ecclesiastes well notes Why then 〈◊〉 we not make a vertue of necessity Wherefore exchange we not â—…sitory patrimony for an incorruptible inheritance And if it â—…olly to be tenacious of that which we possesse much lesse beâ—…g once disentangled from the same should we be turning our â—…ought agayne vpon such a purchase but alwayes aspire to the gaâ—…ing of such things as follow vs after the departure of the Soule â—…m the body such as are the merits of Prudence Temperance luâ—…ce Wisedome Fortitude Humanity Liberality Fayth in Christ â—…eekenes Hospitality and other such like merchandise whereâ—… if we make vs prouision in tyme being once recalled from this â—…nishment we shall find them to haue gone before vs as Harâ—…ngers to prepare vs a Mansion in the Citty of the Blessed These things being well considered should surely shake off â—…om the mynd all negligence and weake pufillanimity but when â—…ey suffice not at least we ought to be moued with the
wayes home to fetch hither the Cloke which was once giuen you by Athanasius the Bishop to fold vp my carkas in and so to commit it to the Earth Which request the Blessed Paul made not that he cared much to be putrifyed eyther naked or clothed especially not hauing for so long tyme vsed to couer himselfe with other then with the leaues of Palmes being wouen together with his owne hands but he did it that he might not grieue him by expiring in his sight S. Antony remayned amazed at the thing which he heard particularly for the Cloke and with veneration acknowledging our Lord in the person of S. Paul without reply kissing the eyes and hands of the Saint went his wayes in hast to his Hermitage and at his approach his two disciples demaunding of him with great anxiety where he had been so long he answered Wo be to me Synner and false Monke I haue seen Elias I haue seen Iohn Baptist in the desart or to say better I haue seen Paul in Paradise Then holding his peace in knocking his breast he tooke the Cloke of Athanasi◅ out of the Cell when as his Companions importuned him yet to vouchsafe to speake more cleare but he differing the same to its time without more delay or affording any nourishment to his body so lōg fasting wel nigh spent went suddainly forth with his mynd wholy fixed on his sweet Host fearing as it fell out least in his absence he might giue vp the ghost And now by this tyme he had gone in great hast as it were half the way when as lifting vp his eyes aloft he sees among the happy troupes of elect spirits the blessed soule of S. Paul very glorious radiant to ascend vp to heauen And suddenly casting himselfe on the ground beganne to sprinckle his head with sand and to weepe and lament saying Why leaue you me O Paul Why go you away so before I had taken my leaue of you So lately knowne alas so soone parted S. Antony himselfe recounted afterwards that he had passed the ◅est of the way with the swiftnes of a Bird and so it was knowne in the proofe since entring into the Caue he found the holy corps yet kneeling and the necke vpright and hands lifted vp insomuch as notwithstanding the triumph which he had seen before he was almost of the mind that he was yet aliue but then not perceyuing any breath or signe of life he endeauoured with bitter playnts to kisse him and ◅olding him vp in the sayd garment of S. Athanasius he brought him forth with Hymnes and Psalmes But then not hauing any instrument to digg his graue with and with great anxiety thinking bethinking himself what to do Behold two Lyons with their hayre layd open to the wind to come running at that tyme. Whence he at first being somewhat affrayd and then taking courage in God attended their comming as so many Doues and they being arriued to the corps did humbly cast themselues at the feete thereof with fanning in their manner and bitterly roaring in signe of the sorrow they felt and presently began with their feete to plough vp the sands vntill such tyme as there remayned sufficient roome for a man Which being done and as it were for their hire receiuing the benediction of S. Antony they quietly went their wayes and he putting his shoulders to the sacred burthen did bury it in the trench After this surueying the Heritage of the dead for not to go thence altogether empty handed he tooke hold of the Cassocke of Palmes and being returned home agayne as long as he liued afterwards in the solemnities of Easter and Pentecost he would alwaies reuest himselfe therewith After these workes of charity were ended he was intreated by a great number of Monkes now comming in hast to him where he was to visit anew to recomfort the Cōuents He went then along with them and while they were on the way there fell out another notable meruaile That way was al very craggy and barren the heates excessiue so as it was not long ere prouision of water fayled them and the Monkes not knowing what to do letting their Camell go loose being scortched and afflicted lay downe When the holy old man not a litle contristate at so great a perill of theirs sequestred himselfe a little and kneeling on the ground lifting his hands to the starres began to beseech God with so much fayth and feruour as suddenly in the self same place of prayer sprung forth the desired liquour Whence all were reuiued and others being satisfyed as they anxiously sought for the Camell did suddenly find him by the cord of the headstall through a new miracle entangled in a rocke Loading him then to their great contentment they came very safe and found to their Cells agayne S. Antony is very wellcome to all at his returne and giues holsome Documents to ech one vpon good occasions Chap. 14. NOw it would be long and superfluous heere to explicate the ioy which the Disciples shewed at the comming of their most sweest Father and Mayster and he likewise reioyced as much to see them all to be so seruent with his presence and renewed in spirit He had besides no small consolation to find his Sister so perseuering in the diuine seruice being come to be Superiour of a most Noble and numerous Conuent of Virgins Now the arriuall of the Saint being knowne throughout all those Parts a great multitude of persons of all qualityes resorted thither to salute him and to visit him as they were wont and especially of the Religious to whome he for entertaynement sake insteed of presents and gifts would be giuing of precious aduertisements and aduises saying They should alwayes hold firme their fayth and dilection to God and the Neighbour They should guard themselues from vncleane thoughts and delights They should not not suffer themselues to be deceyued with Gluttony and should fly Vayne glory continue their prayers lay vp the documents of the holy Scripture in their breast be allwayes reuoluing the actions and manners of Saints in mynd endeauouring to reforme themselues through the imitation of them And principally he aduised them not to cease to meditate on those words of the Apostle S. Paul Sol non occidat super iracundiam vestrā and added therunto nor yet vpon any other sinne whatsoeuer it being a thing very fit and necessary that neyther the Sunne accuse vs of our diurnall malice nor the Moone of nocturnall sinnes For which end said he shall the preceps of the Prophet himself help you much Iudge your selues and examine your selues well Let ech one euery day take accompt from his proper soule of his actions words and thoughts And hauing erred let him amend hauing done wel not exalt himselfe but seeke to perseuere and not become negligen◅ and let him beware he iudge no man nor iustify himselfe as S. Paul said another tyme vntill such tyme as our Lord comes
suffered he himselfe to be drawne away with the concupiscence of the Eyes as without regard eyther of his Life past or present Degree or the speach of people he began to giue himselfe wholy to pleasures to maintayne horses and to buy very costly Slaues These things now pierced the very hart of the holy Pastour who after he had prayed to our Lord for him stuck not with much sweetnes and grauity both of words and countenance to set before him the enormous scandall that followed of so great a mutation of manners in him intreating him withall to be thinke himselfe of the ancient purposes and to consider how the state of the Clergy did not acquit him at all of the perfection of a Monke but that rather the name did seeme to oblige him to haue in horrour and contempt all the delights and pleasures of the world since thereby was vnderstood he had left to others their transitory things and with the Prophet had chosen for portion and inheritance God only With such aduises S. Martyn went about to awake that vnhappy maÌ„ from this deadly sleepe but as he was giuen ouer already in prey to sense found himselfe to be but little disposed to admonishments for the present he held his peace but feeling himselfe afterwards to be gauled with the truth and with this occasion also more enflamed by the Diuell he was so incensed therewith as that on the very next day turning the medicine into poyson with great fury he came to the Monastery where the Man of God was sitting neare vnto his litle Cell Heere Britius full of anger or full of phrensy rather with sparkling eyes and trembling lips changing often colour vents forth his rage conceyued agaynst S. Martyn in presence of many loading him with infinite contumlies and iniuries and hardly also abstayning from laying violent hands vpon him Nor yet was the sacrilegious temerity of this man any thing new or sudden to the Seruant of Christ hauing first before his arriuall seen on the top of the hanging cliffe two wicked Spirits who triumphing and ioyfull calling Britius by name with voyce and gestures stood egging him on to reuenge the affront and to handle the Bishop in that sort as he might not dare heerafter to molest him any more Whence S. Martin composing himselfe to all manner of Patience endeauoured with admirable dexterity and sweetnes to mitigate the Wretch the whilest he letting wholy the reynes loose to his Tongue ceased not to abuse him with extreme insolency and 〈◊〉 And now hauing suffered his tongue to range a liberty 〈◊〉 euery side with the 〈◊〉 fury he entred in he went forth 〈◊〉 when by the prayers no doubt of S. Martin the darknes expelled he began to be aware of his grieuous offence and was so comppunct for the same as that suddenly turning his steps backe agayne with blushing and shame prostrating himselfe at the feete of the holy Man besought him benignely to remit his fault Noâ—… was it any thing hard to obtayne this grace of him who was sory not for hâ—… owne abasement but rather for the precipice of the other yea and to help him more playnely expressed to him how he had seene thâ—… two infernall furyes that set him on In summe with all affection he receiued him into his friendship agayne Wherein he was â—…ound so constant that howbeâ—… he had afterwards many and grieuous complaints of him yet notwithstanding he could neuer be brought to depriue him of hiâ—… Priesthood least vnder the shadow of publique chastisement the priuate offence might seeme in some maÌ„ner to be punished by him And to persons of quality who seemed to wonder much at him not to like very well so much indulgence of his S. Martyâ—… would answere among other things 〈◊〉 was tollerated by Christ and shall not I beare with a Britiâ—…s In this manner went he still 〈◊〉 seuering in these most intense acts of Charity But who would say euer that so obâ—…inate and vnbridled a man as Britius was should come afterwards to be so gracious in the eyes of God as to become a Bishop and a Saint And yet so fell it out thankes be â—…o the diuine Goodnes for 〈◊〉 to the intercessions of S. Martin who on a tyme holding his eyâ—… fixed on Heauen for a pretty while and being therefore of 〈◊〉 taxed of madnes Know sayd he to him Sonne that I haue obteyned of our Lord that thou mayst come to be Bishop afteâ—… me Though thou must vnderstand that in the Bishopricque it selfe thou shalt want no aduersities Then Britius sayd Lo you now did not I affirme the truth how this man was meerely out of his wits But howsoeuer in tyme he vnderstood he was deceyued Because that S. Martin being once departed this life it pleased the diuine prouidence that Britius though vayne and proud before yet notwithstanding being held in high esteeme for Chastity 〈◊〉 without opposition elected by the people and Clergy to the supreme gouernement of soules In which office acknowledging â—…d amending the errours of his youth he most notably demeanâ—…d â—…mselfe And to the end the Prophecy of his Predecessour might 〈◊〉 verifyed with his great glory he suffered from the impious â—…d slaunderers most grieuous persecutions â—…ow a certayne Virgin refused to be visited by S. Martyn and how patiently he tooke it Chap. 10. TO returne now from whence we were digressed a like fortitude to this shewed S. Martin of an equall courage and serene â—…ind in another case though light in esteeme perhaps yet very difâ—…cult in practise there was in the Diocesse of Towers a Virgin aâ—…ong others of excellent fame and verâ—…uous behauiour who now 〈◊〉 these many yeares of her owne accord had made her abode in â—…ertayne farme of hers very streightly reclused and onely atâ—…ending to God did fly the conuersation sight of men Martinâ—…ow â—…ow being inuited with such an odour who otherwise was exâ—…eeding precise from spending any tyme with women yet chanâ—…ing to passe by those parts determined to honour with his presenâ—… so rare a vertue being a fauour so much more notable as known â—…o be more vnusuall with him but the matter succeeded not accordingly because the Spouse of Christ would not giue way to remit awhit of her rigour so much as at the request of such a Prelate to be â—…isited at all So as S. Martin with many of his company being â—…ow arriued where she was not doubting awhit of being admitâ—…ed to her presence hauing sent in a messenger to her and that in â—…ayne so repulsed he departed thence Now what would an ordinary Priest haue done in this case If â—…ot happily taken it at least in ill part and perhaps haue iudged â—…he Virgin to be taynted with heresy and worthy of excommuniâ—…ation But the diuine man was so farre from being offended therâ—… as reioycing at such a repulse receyued began with magnificall words to extoll the constancy and chastity of her who had so
Office he endeauours to proceed with all sweetnes and to gather the Imposts without exaction oâ—… the offeÌ„ce of any it was not long ere the weight of secular businesses appeared very grieuous and the vanity of pompe vayne felicity came to be tedious to him Wherwith he began to giue himselfe to prayer more then ordinary to the vse of dâ—…out bookes and to conuerse with Religious through whose conuersation he was well aduised that as transitory pleasures and delights are not there among them so are neither the disgusts nor molestations of the world he percâ—…iued them secure and free from calumnyeâ—… and with holy lâ—…e to be most conioyned within themselues he considered many yong men amongst them who with a glorious victory ouer their appetits coÌ„â—…erued perfect and perpetuâ—…l chastity With whose examples being moued he did finally breake forth with himself into these words Alas we wretches of the world to what end is all â—…his toyling without hope of eternall goods What shall the world be euer able â—…o afford vs If we like â—…oy though indeed better it were to mourne with safety then to laugh with danger how much more â—…cond â—…e these men that haue the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 setled quiet in God! Who haue nothing to do with these Sergeants or Prouost-Marshals hâ—… feare but of sinne who attend to nothing but to obserue the diuine Precepts nor are anxious a whit to loose their possessioÌ„s in gayning their lyuing with their proper hands day by day Let vs imitate so vertuous a people Let vs likewise vndertake so commendable a a manner of life and let not the light be in vayne which God hath giuen vs Change we our former customes and alter we our employments so farre forth as whereas hither to we haue contended with our friends about points of Nobility we may now striue no lesse in pouerty with the seruants of God If heeretofore we applyed our selues to sollicite debtours we may now attend to conueâ—… Synners Our Lord Christ is wont to frame holy Doctours eueâ—… of the profanâ—…st exactors FroÌ„ Custome-house it selfe was S. Maâ—… called to the Apostle ship Which is not yet spoken to make comparison betweene him and vs but only that if he hauing left the ministery of the Tole-howse haue receiued the office of preaching why may it not be lawful for me laying downe my Procuratour-ship 〈◊〉 take penance in hand Our refuge is God whence I am not to feare at the age I am of since he himselfe who affoarded the gift of continence to so many yong men that liue in the Monastery may likewise afford it me a Synner With such thoughts as these reuolued in mind at last he resolued to leaue wholy the delights of the world and to giue himselfe to a Monasticall life S. Fulgentius presents himselfe to Bishop Faustus to be his Disciple 〈◊〉 the difficultyes he had with his Mother Mariana Chap 2. TRue it is that not to passe with hazard from one extremâ—… 〈◊〉 another S. Fulgentius began first to â—…ast secretly then to shuâ—… by little and little his ancient acquaintance and now more 〈◊〉 euer to attend to his deuotions To which effect being reâ—…yred 〈◊〉 the country through diuine grace he went so farre as that being yet a Layman he seemed to be a perfect Monke His familiars in the meane tyme were astonished thereaâ—… nor wanted there some according to custome who attributed such abstinence retirement of the yong man vnto basenes of mynd or to some other sinister accident But he being enflamed euery day more more in the 〈◊〉 of perfection while it seemed to him he had made sufficient 〈◊〉 of himselfe being touched with a discourse of S. Augustin vpon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psalme he determined to put off no longer the change of his haâ—…t to discouer his vocation and to quit himselfe wholy of the danâ—…r of those secular commerâ—…es with further hope besides to be able 〈◊〉 helpe others with his example and not without reason For â—…hat man how meane a condition soeuer he were of would once 〈◊〉 ashamed or affrayd to become a Monke in beholding such a one 〈◊〉 S. Fulgentius was with so notable a contempt of all sensuality and 〈◊〉 greatnes so to walke by the way of abstinence and humility â—…d thus hauing great familiarity with the Bishop Faustus who for 〈◊〉 Catholique Fayth being put forth of his Church by the wicâ—…d King had built him a monastery in those confines and there â—…ued very holyly with others where it pleased Fulgentius to linck â—…imselfe with him and vnder his obedience to dedicate himselfe to â—…e diuine worship But he well vnderstanding the Parentage of the yong man â—…w deliciously he had beene bred began to suspect some manner â—…f fiction in the matter and said to him Wherfore my Sonne do â—…u iest so with the Seruants of God For aâ—… thou likely to be a â—…onke and to relinquish so on a sudden all thy delicacyes and exâ—…ange thy banquets into grosse fare and those sumptuous 〈◊〉 of â—…pparell into course and abiect clothing Thou hadst first need to â—…e a lesse dainety Lay-man and so perhaps we shall belieue thou wilt and mayst forsake the world But the yong man heerewith being more enflamed taking and reuerently kissing the hand of 〈◊〉 with his eyes fixed on the Earth replyed He is well able O Father to giue me power who hath affoarded 〈◊〉 the will do you but only giue me leaue to follow you Open me the doore admit me as one of your disciples and God shall I trust find wayes â—…ough to deliuer me from my iniquityes The blessed old man heaâ—…ing this had a scruple to resist the diuinâ—… inspiration and without â—…ore adoe consented to the yong man saying Remayne theÌ„ with vs my Sonne as thou wilt thy selfe Let vs try for some dayes if deeds will accord with words or no God graunt my feare may proue to be in vayne and thy desire stable And thus S. Fulgentius being receiued into probation the matter was sudenly diuulged to the ioy of the good confusion of the wicked noâ—… was there waÌ„ting some of his deerest companions that being prickt therewithal euen spurned like wise at the world and no lesse then he became religious But the forlorne Mariana as soone as she had vnderstood 〈◊〉 had passed as if she had presently lost her Sonne wholy anxiâ—… and troubled being full of teares and laments flew immediâ—… to the Conuent Where being halfe besides her 〈◊〉 with a 〈◊〉 of Outrages she began to exclayme agaynst Faustus to render 〈◊〉 Sonne agayne to his Mother the Maister to his Seruants and how it was no office of a good Priest so to ruine the howse of a 〈◊〉 widow Such words as these notwithstanding were not of 〈◊〉 inough to sting the prudent old maÌ„ but rather with a fayre seâ—… countenance compassionating the motherly affects hâ—…l so 〈◊〉 to appease her as he suffered her not yet to see her sonne Then
affoarded a large 〈◊〉 â—…o the holy man to manifest himselfe to 〈◊〉 alike inuincible in prosperity and aduersity which he was to â—…efull while in such a mutation of estate with so moderate a deâ—…rum of his personage he alwayes reteyned not only the same â—…eekenes and affability but euen likewise the monasticall habit â—…othing as before nor so much as in his diet he made any alteratiâ—…n at all saue only for age he was constrayned to vse the seasoning â—…oyle and when he fell â—…ick to mingle his water with a little â—…ine so as qualifying only the rawnes therof he felt no whit of â—…e sent or sauour of that precious liquour In the night rising alâ—…ayes before others he endeauoured to restore vnto study and â—…ayer those howers which the occupations of the day for the â—…ublique necessity had wrested from him He was neuer seen to â—…habit in any place without the company of his Monks But raâ—…er the first fauour which he demaunded of the Cittizens of Ruspa â—…as the commodity of building there a conuenient Monastery for 〈◊〉 rule In which many striuing to haue the merit therof it pleaâ—…d him to â—…ke vse of the charity of one Posthumianus a most principall Gentleman of vertue and of bloud from whome hauing a â—…yre scituation affoarded him some what neere to the Church with 〈◊〉 pleasant groue of Pynes which serued likewise very fit for the 〈◊〉 he conuayed the Abbot Felix thither with almost all his congregation leauing only some few Monkes in the other vnder the â—…are of one Vitalis yet in such sort he did it as both the Conuents â—…id liue with the same discipline and communicated together not â—…s guests and strangers but as Brothers and members of the same â—…ody And the blessed S. Fulgentius howbeyt most seriously busyed â—…n his Diocesse â—…ayled not the while to haue still a paternall care â—…ouidence of the one and other In the meane while the King of the Vandals hauing already â—…onfined the Catholique Bishops to Sarâ—…ia ordayned likewise â—…hat S. Fulgentius should be carryed thither Which succeeded to the great comfort of those innâ—…ent Prelates since they reaped not only 〈◊〉 notable help from the learning and conuersation of the holy man 〈◊〉 likewise in the publique acts of that sacred Colledge and in the â—…rticular occurences of their Churches they did greatly auayle theÌ„selues of the succour and charity of S. Fulgentius as being very eloquent in tongue and pen so as all the letters they had to send for matters of importance were dictated by him and if any were 〈◊〉 be reprehended or admonished or els to be reconciled vnto 〈◊〉 Church the charge therof was most commonly recommended 〈◊〉 him And for asmuch as according to custome S. Fulgentius had dâ—…parted from Affricke exceeding poore and without prouision and accompanyed only with a few Monks he perswaded two of the number of those Bishops to wit Illustris and Felix with their 〈◊〉 mestiques to lead with him in the Citty of Calari a religious and common life so as they being assembled togeather and sweeâ—… lincked with the band of charity both the Clerks and the Monâ—… had the same table and the selfe same prayers lessons and spiritual exhortations Whereby not only those of the Conuent but 〈◊〉 also the others of the Citty were greatly assisted There was 〈◊〉 person distressed and afflicted who in that holy place found not â—…fuge none desirous of the word of God who there might not freely heare the same to the doubts of Scripture and Cases of conscienâ—… continually answere and resolution was giuen Peace and concâ—… put betweene playntifes and enemyes Almes dealt to the needy 〈◊〉 necessitous And particularly besides S. Fulgentius would be euer â—…ding them not only by absoluing them of their sinnes but also 〈◊〉 lowing the Counsayles of Christ in not reguarding therin the 〈◊〉 or much substance they had to leaue but the affect they shewed 〈◊〉 voluntary and full renunciation King Trasamond seeks to entrappe S. Fulgentius with curious questiâ—… and the Arrian Ministers do exasperate him agaynst him Chap. 7. AT the same tyme King Trasamond had found out another more subtile way to subuert the faythfull in Affricke in pretending openly that he sought nothing els but truth in all things and sometymes proposing sundry demaunds and questions to simple Catholikes and howbeyt now and then neuerthelesse there wâ—…ted not men sufficient inough to coÌ„uince their heresies yet would the King seeme to make but light accompt of them still vaunting himselfe to haue had the vpper hand in the disputes and conâ—…uersies of fayth Wherin while he labored now with this man now with that he was put in mind of the blessed Fulgentius as of a person of rare learning and very able to solue all the knots and difficultyes occurring in such matters So as sending a Messenger with diligence for him he was conducted to Carthage where in a poore lodging the first thing he attended to and not without fruite was to confirme the Catholikes and to informe the Heretiques of their blindnes in prouing with liuely and pregnant reasons that one only substance in persons distinct was truly to be adored in the most holy Trinity There being afterwards a writing presented vnto him on the behalfe of the King full of â—…allacyes cunning quircks and demands he inserting there withall the words of the scripture it selfe answered from point to point with so much acumen perspicuity and breuity as the King himself though obstinate in his perfidiousnes remayned astonished at the doctrine and the people of Carthage diuulging the said answere continued more and more well affected to the Catholique faith After this the King not contented with the former demaunds proposed yet some others a new but without giuing leaue or scope to S. Fulgentius to answere with commodity that he might not quote his words as formerly he did and giue the world to vnderstand the impertinency of them but constreyned him rather hauing read the paper to help himselfe what he might with his memory and to answere out of hand without more adoe The which condition seeming as in truth it was full of iniustice the holy man for a while differred to make his reply but the King imperiously pressing him to it and attributing the caution to diffidence least the Arrian Ministers might likewise seeme to do the same diuulge with their accustomed vanity they had stopped his mouth Fulgentius disposeth himselfe to answere vnto it the best he could reducing to his mynd what was but once permitted him to read in three little admirable Treatises of the Incarnation of our Lord for the question of the King was of that subiect he apparantly shewed how the same Sonne of God equall in all and throughout to the eternall Father in clothing himselfe with our mortality tooke truly and really a reasonable soule With which wisedome and subtility of his King Trasamond being much astonished durst question him no more howbeyt
the fruites of human prayses and fly the purâ—…hase of solid vertues could by no meanes endure so much reputaâ—…ion so prosperous successes of S. Benet This vnfortunate wretch â—…eing stirred vp and excited through blind passion began first with â—…uill words to detract from the merits and actions of S. Benet and â—…hen to hinder by all meanes possible the concourse of people that went vnto him After which perceiuing how he trauailed in vayne â—…nd that by how much he endeauoured to vilify and depresse him â—…e was the more exalted by God and reuerenced of men he suffered â—…imselfe at last to be led into the same very deuilish plot whereinto â—…hose former traytours of the Saint had beene caryed True it is that whereas they hid the fraud vnder a cup of wine this vnder a loafe â—…f bread But as that was not able to deceiue the eyes of the Man of God so was this also reuealed vnto him Because Florentius vnder â—…he shew of charity hauing sent him in almes a Loafe of bread coÌ„â—…empered with deadly poyson the holy man stuck not to receiue it with thanks giuing But being soone certifyed through diuine power of the wicked deceipt at the houre of refection he threw it â—…owne to a Crow which at that tyme was wont to come to him â—…o take her meate at his hands said to her On behalfe of our Lord â—…sus Christ take you heere this loafe of bread cary iâ—…to some place where it may not be touched of any person lyuing At which words â—…he Crow spreading her wings and opening the mouth began to â—…oure with croaking and shewing a will and feare alike to touch â—…hat pestilent food but the Man of God vrging her to obey with â—…onfidence tooke it vp with her clawes and flew away with it and â—…hen after some three houres space returned agayne to her wonted â—…eate At such ill demeanours as these S. Benet was exceedingly sory â—…ot so much for his owne sake as for compassion of his aduersary â—…ut Florentius the while being full of gaul and obstinate in malice â—…nce he could not murder the body of the Maister endeuoured to â—…estroy the disciples soules And among other things he had the imâ—…udence to contriue in the very garden of the Monastery and in the â—…ght of the Monkes themselues a lasciuious daunce of naked womeÌ„ â—…t which spectacle the Abbot with reason fearing some notable disorder determined to giue wholy place to the fury of the 〈◊〉 and to abandon the Country and mansion there built vp by hiâ—… selfe with so great expences Setting then the affayres of the Coâ—…uents in order and exhorting the Monks to perseuere in the stâ—… of perfection with some of his companions he puts himselfe 〈◊〉 his iourney and through diuine instinct or rather through a cleâ—… voyce which came to him from heauen he trauayled towardâ—… Castle about some two dayes iourney from thence by name Câ—… with ful purpose to announce the true light of the Ghospel vnto tâ—… Country people that in habited there which miserably lay yet bâ—… in the darknes of Gentilisme and the shadow of death Hardly was the seruant of God departed from Sublacum whâ—… as vengeance from heauen appeared vpon Florentius because 〈◊〉 howse being otherwise safe and sound the roofe only of the rooâ—… where he then remayned falling downe on a sudden with a reâ—…dyles ruine burst all the bones of his body and for his soule 〈◊〉 went to the tribunall of the eternall iustice The accident was 〈◊〉 denly diuulged and one of the Monks ran immediately in hast aâ—… the holy Abbot to carry him the newes as he thought very glâ—… and welcome to him but S. Benet insteed of reioycing thereat sâ—… forth sighes vnto heauen for that soule with seuere words gaâ—… a sharpe rebuke to the Monke who therein had shewed in himselâ—… not so Christian a mynd as he ought From thence proceeding oâ—… his way he arriued at last at the foresaid Castle scituated on the sâ—… of a steepy and high hill in the top wherof was a Temple seene amid the thickest of the woods being dedicated to Apollo Where S. Benet wanted not matter to worke on or what to encounter But before he would enter into battayle he would seeme 〈◊〉 prepare himselfe for that purpose with especiall care by retyring him into some remote place and there for fourty dayes continually together remaynes he in prayer fastings and vigils After whiâ—… with the odour of so good a life and with the efficacy of his preaching being the fittest batteryes to Fayth he sets himselfe through diuine fauour couragiously to destroy paganisme and so brake the Idol demolisheth the Aultar hewes downe the woodes where before was the Oracle of the false God he erects an Oratory to S. Martin and in place of an Aultar builds a Chapell vnto S. Iohn Bâ—…tist through whose intercession obteyning alwayes new graces offering vp most pure and acceptable sacrifices to the Creatour he neuer left labouring to acquit and discharge poore mortalls from the â—…ruell seruitude of the Deuill The Diuell appeares to S. Benet He throwes downe a wall new built vp and kills one of â—…he Monkes in the ruines thereof who is restored to lyfe agayne with other illusions of the Diuell Chap. 6. THe ancient Tyrant no longer able to endure to foresayd enterprises of S. Benet besides the diuers difficultyes and impeâ—…iments which in vayne he stirred against the messenger of Christ â—…egan also to appeare vnto him not through in imagination or â—…reame but with open vision and with dreadfull figures casting â—…rth by the mouth and eyes infernall smoake and flames of sulâ—…hure and with a raging voyce howling and lamenting in such â—…anner as that the disciples though they were not permitted to â—…ehold him yet playnely might heare him to say among other â—…ings Benedicte Benedicte and while the Man of God vouchsafed â—…ot to answere him outragiously he added Maledicte and not Beâ—…dicte what hast thou to do with me Wherefore dost thou persecute me thus â—…nd heere with fell a vomiting of most horrible blaspemies and â—…enaces whereof though the Saint seemed to make but light acâ—…ompt yet the standers by euen the while feared grieuously That which increased his fury was a certayne building begun â—…y the Monkes for their habitation which in processe of tyme â—…om meane beginnings amounted after to the magnificence we â—…e at this present Whereupon being incensed more and more â—…ith anger he appeared one day to S. Benet in his Cell while â—…e Monkes were a labouring and fretting sayd openly to him that â—…e was then going to worke what mischiefe he could both to the â—…bourers to the worke in hand Whereat the holy Father sends â—…ddenly to aduertise his disciples thereof and to admonish them 〈◊〉 retire theÌ„selues without delay but the messenger arriued not so â—…one but that the diuell had already throwne downe to ground a â—…ery high wall which they had built and thereby
whole day togeather in sweet and deuout discourses and then after in the euening hauing giuen â—…ome refection to their body S. Benet being about to take his leaue of â—…er to returne to his Cell agayne the holy Virgin being then more taken with his sweet conceypts and discourses then euer began to intreate him with the greatest instance that might be he would please to stay with her and there passe away that night in such discourses and particularly in treating of the future life and of the glory of Paradise At which request S. Benet being angry as it were seuerely answered What say you Sister And know you not that by no meanes it is lawfull for me to lye out of the Monastery And thereupon being ready to arise and go his wayes Scholastica obtayning yet some delay and grasping her hands vpon the table put her head thereon powring forth a floud of teares made secretly her prayer to God A strange thing the Heauens before being so cleere as no cloud appeared in the skies on the sudden in the lifting vp of her head there followed such thunder hideous noyse thereupon in the ayre such a floud of rayne withall as it was impossible for S. Benet and his companions to put forth of doores that night Then the venerable Abbot perceiuing himselfe to be thus layd vp as it were being ful of sorrow for it God forgiue thee Sister said he what hast thou done When she answered I intreated you Syr and you would not heare me and I prayed to my God and he hath vouchsafed to heare me now then go forth if you can and leauing me returne to your Cell In the meane while the storme sâ—… increased as the holy old man was enforced to remayne there against his will for to satisfy the desire of the thirsty virgin to heaâ—… the word of God The morning being come she vrged no more but taking her leaue of S. Benet he returned to the Conuent aftâ—… three dayes remayning in a closet of his chamber and lifting vp 〈◊〉 eyes beholds the blessed spirit of his said Sister to go forth of her body in forme of a doue thence to fly vnto heauen For which he first gaue due thankes to God with psalmes and hymnes and theÌ„ like wise acquainted the Monks therwith to their extreme ioy so sent them without delay to fetch the sacred corps to carry iâ—… into the Church where he caused it to be layd in the Sepulcher which already he had prepared for himselfe to the end that as their mynds had beene alwayes vnited in life so their spoyles after death might not seeme to be seuered and disioyned This same was surely a notable vision and full both of iubily and wonder But yet wâ—… that other more straunge and admirable which he had in the Monastery of the Abbot Seruandus not farre from Mount Cassin A Notable vision of S. Benet together with Seruandus Abbot with diâ—… other admirable things Chap. 9. SEruandus was a person of a great spirit and very learned withal and as he often visited S. Benet to conferre with him about matters of the diuine seruice so S. Benet mutually from tyme to tyme would repayre to him one day among others after they had talked a prety while together of God thirsting after the heauenly couÌ„trey whither as yet they could not arriue the houre of rest being come S. Benet retires himselfe vnto the vpper Chambers in a tower where he then lodged and Seruandus rested in another beneath right ouer against the said tower the Monkes lodged in a great howse Now S. Benet arising by night according to his manner some while before the others to contemplate and treate with God standing at the window and looking vp to Heauen-wards espyes a sudden light to illuminate the ayre with so great a splendour 〈◊〉 it farre surpassed the brightnes of the day it selfe In which speculation of his happened an incredible thing if the Saint himsellfe had â—…ot reported the same which was this That the whole world was â—…epresented to his sight as gathered together through diuine power â—…der a beame as it were of the Sunne And while he fixeth his eyes 〈◊〉 the purest light he sees also by an inexplicable way the soule â—…f the blessed Germanus Bishop of Capua to be conueyed to Heaâ—…en by the Angels in a Globe of fire Then S. Benet that he might haue some companion of so gloâ—…ous and adnirable a spectacle with a voyce as lowd as he could â—…alled the Abbot Seruandus to him some twice or thrice who being waked and troubled with the noyse made extraordinary hast to â—…et vp to him but yet came but to a peece only of that great light Howsoeuer he was much astonished thereat so much the more â—…hen he vnderstood what first his holy Ghest had seen And howâ—…eyt the matter was such as there could be no doubt made of any â—…se imagination therein yet for the greater euidence it seemed not â—…isse to send that night a graue and pious Monke by name Theâ—…dosius vnto the Citty of Capua it selfe to vnderstand what was beâ—…ome of the holy Bishop And in effect it was found that he was â—…ead indeed and informing himselfe more punctually of the matter â—…e was certifyed his passage was iust at that houre or rather in â—…at very moment wherein the man of God had seene him to asâ—…end to eternall glory The blessed Gregory the Great relates other visions and proâ—…hesyes of him which to declare at length would seeme a superâ—…uous thing and farre from our purpose and much longer would 〈◊〉 be to vnfold one by one all the other merueylous works which 〈◊〉 diuers subiects are recounted of him While once he lamented â—…oretold a long tyme before the destruction of Mount Cassin which â—…llowed through the incursion of the Lombards and agayne of the â—…ine of Rome not by the hand of the armed Barbarians but through Earthquakes winds thunders horrible tempests from Heauen 〈◊〉 appeared to some Monks in sleepe who were sent to Terracina â—…o set vp a Conuent there and gaue them the whole modell and â—…rder of the building He threatned excommunication to two Reâ—…igious women of a naughty and slaunderous tongue if they amenâ—…ed not the same and after the menace giuen without more adoe â—…e effect followed since dying in that vice and buryed in the Church they were seene to go forth as often as Masse was celebrated there nor euer found any rest vntill such tyme as the Man of God with his owne hand had giuen an host to the Priest to offer for them A certayne yong Monke going forth of the Monastery withoâ—… leaue to see his Father and Mother was suddenly at his arriuall thither fallen dead in the house and there was no meanes to keep the body in the Sepulcher vntill such tyme as S. Benet had caused a consecrated host to be put on his breast when the earth being
the present calamityes shall cease and the wished redemption shal come to this peoplesince his eternal goodnes hath already destined a man according to his hart and wholy at his deuotion who being placed through my help in the royall Throne with the infinite consolation of the subiects shall abate the forces and bridle the Danish fury and who after he hath many wayes raysed and aduanced the Church being deere to God very acceptable to his friends and dreadfull to his enemyes shall termine his glorious life with a most holy end From this so benigne an answere together with the sight of him there promised the Bishop tooke new courage and stuck not to enquire of the Oracle it selfe of the posterity and successours of Edward To which demaund with obscure and dubious words the Apostle replyed no more but that God was Lord and after this he would prouide another according to his good pleasure Edmund with his Children are put to the sword Alfred is made away S. Edward prayes and makes a vow to God and S. Peter and Canutus with his children dying is recalled into England agayne Chap. 2. THe English troubles continuing still with ciuill discord among themselues being ioyned at last with externe warres came to be so mischeiuous and pernicious as that despising all law of fayth all vicinity of bloud all obligation of friendship al things were full of fraud factions and iealousies And euen malice proceeded so farre as that the Nobles themselues forgetting their oath shamefully renouncing their lawfull Kings and putting Edmond to the sword with his children at Nurse they continually prepared tragedyes Canutus with a wicked marriage possessing the Widdow the Wife of Edmond left nothing vntryed to confirme himselfe in the vnlawfull vsurpation of the Kingdome Wherein he had so fast a hold that Alfred for the quieting of tumults in some manner too boldly passing ouer from Normandy into his Country was with extreme cruelty made away as well by the Danes as English and at the same tyme the desolate Queene Emma dyed in her Fathers house Then Edward being depriued of all human succour on earth and fearing euery houre his last ruine from others amidst many troubles and anguishes prostrating himselfe most humbly before the diuine presence prayed in this sort Behold Lord how I haue now no more help in me and my neerest friends are farre of from me my friends and neigbours are all become my aduersaryes I haue neyther Father nor Mother in the world my Brothers and Nephewes are betrayd and slayne the widdow my kinswoman is become our aduersaryes wife So as I am left without all stay they seeke moreouer to take away my lyfe But I O Lord poore wretch am left to thee and thou shalt succour the orphan as heeretofore in a meruailous manner thou hast done to King Edwin enuironed on euery side Thou that madest S. Oswald the ornament of England of an exile to be King and by meanes of the signe of the Crosse didst subiect to him all those that hated him If thou shalt be with me and through thy protection remit me into my Fathers kingdomes thou shalt be alwayes my God and the blessed Apostle Peter shall be my especiall Protectour whose most holy reliques I do promise to visit in the Citty of Rome with his direction With this Vow S. Edward felt himselfe exceedingly reuiued and replenished with no vayne hopes For that Canutus in few daies dyed and his children also of tender age not long suruiued By occasion whereof the English as a wakened out of a dead sleepe very suddenly tooke vp armes and shaking of the yoke of intruding tyranny recalled the desired Edward into the land agayne and receyuing him with all the honour possible with one accord they placed him in the royall throne At the comming of S. Edward all good arts and Christian vertues did returne from banishment The vacant Seas were soone replenished Churches and Monasteryes repayred and the diuine seruice in short tyme brought to its auncient splendour agayne Hence through welcome peace ensued the tillage of the wast and desert champaynes and the Iudgeâ—… and Magistrats being kept in their duty more through example of the King then feare of punishments attended to administer vpright iustice to all sorts of persons The iubily and content of the present felicity was much augmented by the fresh memory of the miseryes past insomuch as not only the reasonable creatures with prayses and thankes-giuing but euen the land it selfe with extraordinary fruitfulnes the ayre with fayre and serene weather the sea with still and quiet waues and smiling countenance seemed to acknowledge him and the Cittyes daily to multiply in laudable customes riches and multitude of inhabitants Two notable examples in S. Edward of contempt of Riches With his vow of chastity maintayned in the state of Matrimony Chap. 3. IT was not long ere the fame of so great prosperity extended to the Prouinces beyond the Seas And from all the Potentates the Dane excepted for they left not their pride came very honourable Embassages from tyme to tyme to congratulate to make leagues of freindship and to establish some good correspondence with S. Edward And he the while not puffed vp with pride nor dissolute with vayne triumphs hauing alwayes the diuine Maiesty before his eyes with an euen tenour of life carryed himselfe very meeke to his domestiques reuerent to Priests gracious to the people compassionate to the afflicted and aboue all things a great Almoner a strange neglecter of money insomuch as once among the rest lying on his bed his priuate Treasurer Hugoline by name hauing vnawares left open a chest of mony in that chamber a groome of the place being inuited through the commodity of the purchase and the seeming sleepe of the Prince approaching boldly tooke away from thence a good quantity therof put it vp in his pocket and being glad of so happy a successe returned againe a second tyme and so a third When as the King who had feigned till then perceiuing Hugoline to be comming brake silence and with friendly voyce said to the wretch Get thee gone for the Treasurer comes who if he chaunce to catch thee once will not leaue thee a faâ—…thing of all thou hast At this voyce the fellow fled assoone and scarcely had got his feete forth of one doore but Hugoline entred by the other and finding so great a summe of treasure to be wanting he was euen ready at first to faynt for griefe then entring into a rage with himselfe began to rent the ayre with cryes and sighes When S. Edward arising from his bed still dissembling the matter quietly demaunded the occasion of so great a heauynes and hauing heard it Hold thy peace man said he perhaps he who hath taken it away had more need thereof then we Much good may it do him the rest I hope will serue for vs. With such quietnes he passed ouer that act Whence may
and at the same instant were the Deacons aduised that the vessell of Chrisme was not to be found for which there arising a great cry vpon good aduise and discreet coniecture the foresayd Clerke was immediately apprehended and the vessell being found about him vnder his cloake with menaces and rating he was brought to S. Anselme who being moued with compassion towards the wretch with cheerfull countenance reprehended him Fatherly for it and ordayned he should be let go forthwith without punishment and immediately the Man went directly home to his house This Dedication being finished S. Anselme was very suddenly recalled agayne to the Court of purpose to giue his benediction to the King before he crossed the seas He went then presently thither and for that the wind in those dayes was very contrary vnto him he thought it his duty in the meane tyme with all care and diligence to admonish K. William agayne of the great disorders many abuses introduced into the kingdome and to exhort him to relieue the afflicted Churches and to help to reforme the same He did it then in the best manner he could but the King being now troubled already and wholy vncapable of good counsayle not only slighted the man of God with the Fatherly correction he gaue him but euen also with great disdayne and contempt did banish him his presence Whereupon some wicked and insolent men present tooke new courage and boldnes agayne to offer wrongs and iniuries to Ecclesiasticall persons and their goods bearing but li◅le respect to the dignity and merits of S. Anselme himselfe who being much more seen and expert in the knowledge of spirits then in the manage of temporall affayres partly suffered himselfe to be deceyued not being able to persuade himselfe that any one for trāsitory things would willingly loose the eternall and partly also was enforced to yield hauing as we sayd the King for aduersary and his grieuous enemy So as now being wholy anxious he neuer ceased to bemoane himselfe for the quiet and peace of a religious state nor found he any comfort but when he could now then retire himselfe from company into Cloysters Nor would he neither within the Bishoprique nor yet without euer liue without the company assistance of some vertuous and approued Monkes to his exceeding gust and to the great edification of as many as knew him Besides which he fayled not to steale some tyme for meere contemplation and to remedy the troubles of the Catholique Church by meanes of his most learned writings Among which is that worke of his most worthily renowned which he wrote in the midst of so great afflictions vpon the subiect of the Incarnation of the Eternall Word wherewith the errour of the Greeks remayned discouered and conuinced being so audacious as to deny the Procession of the holy Ghost from the second person of the Blessed Trinity Not only thus in his Cell and studies but euen likewise at table when they had giuen ouer reading as a most excellent Deuine he would solue very intricate knots expoūd difficult passages of the sacred Scripture He likewise feared so much euery offence how light soeuer as he often affirmed with sincerity that if he had on the one side the horrour of sinne before his eyes and the paynes of Hell on the other with the necessity of being drenched or engulted in this or that he would doubtles make choyce rather of the infernall paynes then of the offence of God and sooner accept of Hell as pure and innocent then the heauenly mansion being polluted with sinne What occasions S. Anselme would vsually take of spiritual Conceyts How K. William returnes from beyond Seas and S. Anselme goes to Rome Chap. 15. THe Seruant of Christ was wont with the gift which he had of knowledge to gather spirituall fruitfull conceipts from the things which daily occurred as once certaine Seruants of his had a course at a Hare who after she had diuers wayes very nimbly tryed to escape from them by secret instinct came at last to squat euen vnder S. Anselmes horse who suddenly thereupon made a stop so as the dogs not daring to set vpon her stood aloofe baying at her expecting her starting agayne At which sight the company laughing and making much sport S. Anselme fell a weeping You laugh my Maysters sayd he but this poore little beast heere laughs not at all or finds any sport Her enemies encompasse her round about and she with the agonies of death recurres to vs for succour The same indeed succeeds very often to the reasonable soule of man which no sooner yssues from the body but the hunters malignant spirits pursuing her as long as she liueth in flesh by the diuers turnings crooked pathes of vices and iniquityes euen to the article of death do then cruelly stand ready to snatch her away and to cast her headlong to eternall perdition laughing making great sport thereat whiles the poore wretch lyes depriued and despoyled of all helps And after these words S. Anselme spurd on his horse and commaunded them not to molest the poore creature when by by hauing escaped the dāger she skippes againe into the meadowes woodes from whence she had fled Another day the holy Father seeing a boy in the stretes holding in his hand a certaine little Bird fast tyed by the feete with a long thrid taking much pleasure to let the thrid go and come now and then and in the midst of its flight to pull it backe on a sudden agayne and let it fall often to the ground Whereat S. Anselme tooke compassion on the poore creature and much desired to see the bird at liberty when behold on a sudden the thrid brake and the bird flew away and the boy cryed S. Anselme reioyced the while calling to his companions haue you sayd he taken heed to the sport of the litle Boy heere Whereto the others answering yea he then replyed And now such manner of sport for all the world the ancient aduersary makes euery day with many sinners he holds them so entangled in his snares and playing at his pleasure precipitates them now into this and then into that vice As for example some be giuen to auarice or els carnallity or to some other such like miseries To these will it happen now and then that being touched with pennance and compunction they make reflexion vpon the euill life which formerly they haue lead for which they are moued to teares for that time make good purposes to amend themselues And now it seemes verily to them they are loose already at full liberty but yet with the thrid or lyne of euill custome in the very loose and iumpe as it were of their flying away they are suddenly pulled backe agayne by the Deuill and made to fall as before into the same sinnes And this thing happens very often nor do they euer come to get forth of so abominable a seruitude till with some
remedy he suddenly called for cold water when putting his legges thereinto with one rigour he expelled the other and then besids the accustomed ceremonyes hauing deuoutly made his prayers and with the holsome signes with his sacred hand giuen his pastorall benediction to the people being tyred and spent at last retyred himselfe into his lodging After which the first and principall care of S. Otho was to render his vow and to giue due account of his actions to the Bishop of Bishops and generall Superintendent of the whole Church of Christ. And though he well perceiued the danger he incurred therein of offending Henry there being nothing that more touches Princes to the quicke then the point of Iurisdiction yet for all that preferring euer a good conscience and a chast feare of God before any other respect whatsoeuer he first reduced the Clergy and people of Bamberge to his opinion shewing them the obligation that was of acknowledging the supreme power of the Pope of Rome Then by letters hauing obteined leaue of the Pope himselfe to kisse his seete he went with an honourable traine of his followers and familiars and of the principall of his Church to the Court of Rome the Pope who was then Paschalis the Second then residing at Anagni a Citty in Latium Where S. Otho arriuing within the Octaues of the Ascension after the kisse of his holy feete very faithfully declared to the Pope the whole order and progresse of his promotion without cōcealing any thing of moment and to accompany his wordes with deedes without more a doe puts the ring and staffe at his feete and humbly craues pardon of the offence succeeding meerely by anothers violence rather then of his owne inclination demaunding withall pennance and Canonicall censure for the same On the other side the Procuratours of Bamberge do neuer cease to beseech the Pope he would daigne to confirme or to say better renew the election made by Henry not to depriue their Countrey of so exemplar and behoouefull a guide Maister Supporter To which speeches of theirs Paschalis giuing a benigne answere commaunds S. Otho to resume againe the deposed pledges he still shewing himselfe backward The feast of the Holy Ghost sayd the Pope drawing neere we will remit the controuersy to him And after some discourses the Bishop and the others returned to their lodgings with the Apostolicall benediction but yet with a diuerse disposition of mind and quality of thoughts The subiects with a firme hope of obtayning as much as they desired of the Pope and the Prelate himselfe with a purpose to relinquish the Bishopricke by all meanes possible And being all that night and the day following intensly fixt in contemplating the reasons that were of eyther part finally pondering the malice of the tymes the encombrances troubles and molestations and daungers of the Episcopall state the disobedience contumacy and insolency of the inferiours and in summe all the asperityes and difficultyes of such a charge he determined with a full and firme resolution to reduce himselfe to a priuate life and calling his companions and domestiques to him very plainely vnfolded to them his whole deliberation and without delay being dispatched of the Pope and Court put himselfe on the way towards Germany But scarcely had he made one dayes iourney when a Post ouertakes him from his Holynes who calls him back Which thing was an incredible disgust and extreme trouble to S. Otho while he prudently ghessed what was like to ensue therof But being thē ouercome by the precept and encouraged by the prayers and exhortations of his followers with feare and trembling he returned to the Pope agayne and without being able to resist any longer on the day of Pentecost while the Masse was sung with great iubiley of the Bambergians and vniuersall ioy of the whole Court among other demonstrations of charity and esteeme had likewise the priuiledge to haue caryed before Him and his Successours for euer the Crosse and Pall eight tymes a yeare Whereas his Predecessours had them caryed but foure tymes only Which fauour he accepted with great thankes-giuing not so much for his owne respect as for the loue of his Espouse whose exaltation for the diuine seruice was worthily most deare vnto him But yet more glorious to S. Otho and farre more fruitefull to Mankind were the guifts that befell him in the rites of the mysticall vnction being powred vpon him from the large and munificent hand of the Holy Ghost as a vessell well disposed and most capable of them Thorough which being fortifyed with new breath and agility and more enflamed continually to ech pious and holy worke without suffering himselfe by any meanes to be enticed by those obiects and allurements which like to Syrens detayne a man far from his home and residence taking his leaue agayne of the Pope as soone as might be he returned back to his beloued flocke S. Otho built and founded many Monasteries both little and great He was hospitable abstinent and zealous of soules and imployes himselfe in the conuersion of Pomerania Chap. 4. BEsides the singular wisedome which in all affaires S. Otho shewed as well temporall and profane as spirituall and Ecclesiastical were the great testimonyes of his singular piety and magnificence the fifteene greater Monasteryes and the fiue lesse of diuers orders which in sundry places of that Prouince were erected adorned and founded by hym With condition they should all remayne vnder the protection and direct dominion of the Cathedrall of Bamberge And in the same Cathedrall and those other Churches of the sayd Citty for ampliation of the diuine seruice he increased the rents recouered the alienated goods reedifyed the ruyned buildings and lastly on euery side made very notable emprouements being things without doubt so much more admirable as he was more sollicitous euen at that tyme also of the interiour progresse of soules and of the necessary prouision withall for mayntenance of the body Wherein expressing the figure of perfect Benignity he spared from himselfe whatsoeuer he could the better to supply the commodityes of others affecting as well parsimony in priuate as magnificence in publique and aboue all things farre off from any shew of superfluity and those sumptuous dishes which vnder coulour of state and decorum are cōmonly afforded the greater and richer Prelates Nor was he therefore in his dyet or in the ordinary expences of his howse any whit scarce or miserable but how well furnished soeuer his tables were with a rare noble habit of temperance he would rise often tymes from the table with an appetite distributing the while to the bashfull poore beggars and to sicke folkes the dainetyest meates which were dressed for him And to come to some particulers in this matter On a fasting day there being once set before him a goodly Pickrell and well seasoned he was not only not pleased with the dish but shewed himselfe disgusted and strange thereat Whereupon the louing Steward as taking
while the Count with others being seuered from the Catholike communion stood without at the gate When he Priest of God hauing finished the whole consecration and giuen the Pax to the people not now as a man but as one of the spirits of the heauenly squadron holding the most holy Sacrament ouer the Paten with flaming countenance and burning eyes not with a supplant visage but with a power more then humane going forth of the Temple with a terrible voyce thus thundred to the Count Haue we not intreated you and you despised vs Besides haue not this multitude of Gods seruants coniured thee and yet hast thou made no account thereof Behold the Virgins sonne is come into thy sight being the head and Lord of the Church which thou dost persecute Behould thy Iudge into whose handes that soule of thyne is sure to fall And now wilt thou seeme to contemne him like wise Wilt thou also affront his his person as thou hast his Seruantes At such a sight and such words withal the standers by being astonished and much amazed began to inuocate the diuine succours but the Count himselfe perceauing the Priest to come towardes him with the most sacred body of Christ in his hand being ful of sudden horrour and trembling fell flat to the ground and presently raysed vp by his Guard fell downe againe with quiuering nerues without speaking a word or lifting vp the eyes but only with deep sighes by the mouth and beard he put forth both foame spittle as he had been in a Epilepsy Then the Seruant of Christ approaching vnto him and touching him with his foot commanded him to stand vp and heare the diuine Sentence in the tenour following Let the Bishop of Poytiers come hither into this place whome thou hast banished from his Sea Goe thy wayes to him with the holy kisse hauing giuen the peace doe thou thy selfe restore him againe into his Church satisfying our Lord God giue honour to the good Prelate for the iniuries affrōts thou hast done him Moreouer in thy whole dominion do thou then regather and recall againe into a true vnion all those who are now in discord diuision Submit thy selfe to Pope Innocent as the other are obedient to him so do thou also affoard due obedience to his Holynes elected by the diuine Maiesty The Count hearing this and being conuinced and confounded as well through the worke of the holy Ghost as with the presence of the sacred mysteries he neyther could nor durst answere a word but seeing the Bishop of Poytiers present went speedily to salute him and receaue him with imbraces and signes of loue and peace and without delay conducted him and restored him to his Episcopall seate againe with the same hand wherewith he had deposed him and thrust him out After this the holy Abbot oftentymes looked more sweetly more familiarly on the Count aduising him to beware henceforth of so impious and temerarious actions and neuer more to prouoke the anger of God Nor were the admonitions cast into the wind since that Prince not only abstayned for euer after from troubling the Ecclesiasticall vnion and tranquility but euen rather in processe of tyme arriued to the termes of most excellent vertue Christian charity as the things that are written of him do sufficiently declare In this manner were matters in Gascony well pacifyed saue only the Bishop of Angolesme continued still fixed in malice Who yet soone after through the iust iudgement of God was found dead one morning in his bed with a terrible swelling without confession and the last rites And though for that tyme through the help of his deerest friends he was buryed in the Church yet after notwithstanding by order of the Bishop of Chartres were his execrable bones taken out of the sepulcher cast forth to the fowles of the ayre and the rauenous beasts Nor ceased heere the punishment for as much as euen his Nephewes also with the whole race and kindred of the sayd deceased being afterwardes banished out their countrey went wandring into diuers partes infamous and miserable S. Bernard is sent for to Rome againe by the Pope to pacify the troubles there with his ioyfull reception of all the Faythfull Chap. 16. IN the meane tyme S. Bernard hauing brought so noble an enterprise to a wished end with the exceeding consolation of his Monkes returned to Clareuallis Where while he was so farre remoued from worldly contemplation of diuine thinges and for the help also of others being seriously occupyed in expounding of the Canticles of Salomon behold new Letters and Couriers from the Pope who after the Councell of Pisa being returned to Rome was yet busying himselfe to allay the tumults to reduce that Church the Mother of all Churches to some tolerable state at least but finding euery houre new obstacles as well from Pierlonio himselfe within the citty as without from Roger King of Sicily who for priuate designes of his did secretly fauour the Antipope and Schisme he resolued to call the Abbot of Clareuallis once more for help and counsaile hauing knowne already by so many proofes of what auaile in such difficultyes was the valour and prudence and sanctity of the man of God He sends him Messingers then with Apostolicall breifs and in the same matter many Cardinalls likewise wrote vnto him he would be pleased once more to come to the Citty of Rome Wherupon S. Bernard though loth to leaue his study and Cell yet preferring prompt obedience before any iust respect whatsoeuer prepares himselfe for the iourney and causing his Monkes to be assembled togeather from diuers partes after he had a good while sent forth deep sighs and sobs from his breast at last tooke his leaue of them in this manner You see Brethren into how great disorders and tribulations the Church of God is now brought And to say truly the followers of Pierlonio are now as it were throughout by the diuine grace pulled away from that feygned Head and so pestiferous a sect And euen in Rome also a great part of the Cleargy Nobility in their harts do follow Innocent though otherwise throgh feare of some more potent and of the common people withall corrupted by the Antipope they dare not openly shew forth what they haue more secretly layd vp in their breasts So as the West being now subdued we may say there remaines but one Nation only to be vanquished and ouercome if you make but prayer with spirituall Iubily Iericho shall euen fall to the ground and you but lifting vp your handes with Moyses Amalech be put to flight Iosua victorious in the battaile to haue full space of a complete victory very bloudy commands the Sunne to stay its course and is obeyed And you likewise seeing vs in the heate of the battaile cease you not to affoard vs your ayde and succour with feruent prayers and in the meane tyme be you firme in the way begun and holy purposes
his head went by night to seeke out S. Bernard who hauing louingly reprehended him and made him to lay downe the ornaments vsurped led him with his owne hands to the feete of Innocent from whom benignly receiuing absolution he was admitted into grace And from thence began the Pope to giue dispatches without disturbance to attend to reformation and to take away the abuses introduced in tyme of the discord For so ioyfull successe next vnto God they all gaue the glory and honour to the Abbot of Clareuallis not without reason since trauayling in the enterprise into diuerse parts of the world for more then seauen yeares togeather finally in the Citty of Rome with the diuine helpe most happily concluded the same But the true disciple of Christ being not able to endure the human prayses applauses the extraordinary veneration wherein he was held of the whole Court and Citty within the tearme of fiue dayes and no more hauing got leaue of the Pope with all importunity he suddenly went his wayes towards Clareuallis And for asmuch as his Holines required some of his Monks to inhabite neere to Rome he made choyce of them and sent them at that tyme vnder the care of one Bernard of Pisa a good Religious man a person much honoured in the world who not long after Innocent being dead and his successours Celestin and Lucius was with much approbation made Pope by a new name called Eugenius and to him S. Bernard wrote those most learned bookes Of Consideration In this manner then did S. Bernard cary himselfe in repayring the torne coate of our Lord and reuniting to their head the members of the Church with most wicked example so seuered and disioyned And no lesse vigilancy and sollicitude shewed he in oppressing and rooting out heresyes which discouered themselues in his tyme as shall presently appeare S. Bernard refutes and confounds Abaylard a famous Heretike with other heresyes arising at that tyme. Chap. 18. THere flourished in those dayes with great fame of much knowledge one Peter Abaylard a person of an exceeding sharpe wit but proud and haughty withall This man as it happens often with the proud being deceaued by the Father of lying began to disperse writings full of new doctrine and of pestiferous opinions wherof S. Bernard hauing notice through his accustomed goodnes and benignity performed the office towards him of fraternall charity endeuouring that without preiudice and infamy of the writer those blasphemyes might be amended And truly Peter himselfe for the present through the words and Charity of the Saint shewed himselfe to be so changed and compunct as he promised to remit al to his censure and correction But a little after being vanquished through the blind loue vaine persuasion of himselfe he not only brake his word but euen also taking his aduantage of the tyme he went to the Bishop of Sans in whose Church was presently a great Councell assembled and before him very insolently complayned of the Abbot of Clareuallis as of a slaunderer and detractour and made instance the Councell being opened he might be cyted to yield account of the obiections and calumnies giuen out against his bookes shewing himselfe to be prompt and ready to defend in publique whatsoeuer was contayned therin Nor did the Bishop refuse him the tyme being come he cites the Man of God to the Synod to iustify the sayd oppositiōs There came likewise thither Peter full of pride founding himselfe in sillogismes and his dialectical art but well it appeares how vayne human meanes are against the diuine power Because the designed day being come for discussion of those articles S. Bernard in the presence of all those venerable Prelates and Doctours produced the volumes of Abaylard and with very strong reasons and cleere testimonyes of Scripture and holy Fathers went manifesting and refuting one by one all the propositions which digressed from fayth and the Apostolique traditions And such was the spirit which in that Session also spake in the mouth of S. Bernard as that Abaylard loosing in a moment his memory and discourse full of shame and confusion with the wonder of all was strooken dumbe There was giuen him space notwithstanding and election eyther to deny those writings or humbly to amend himselfe or els to answere if he coud to the obiections made But he very hard to repent himselfe to gaine as they say more tyme resolued with himselfe to appeale to the Sea of Rome howbeit that sacred Congregation stucke not to reproue the doctrine though forbore the person and a little after came the sentence of the Pope which declaring Abaylard to be a manifest heretike condemned him to silence and his workes to the fire This disorder being thus remedyed after some yeares againe there appeared another through the fault of VVilliam Perretta Bishop of Poytiers a man much versed in the diuine Scriptures but temerarious arrogant in so much as he had the boldnes to medle with the mystery of the most holy Trinity with many capriches subtlityes neuer heard of before and that with so much the greater common perill as he was more pregnant and dexterous to couer the senses with artificious and obscure wordes in such sort as the poyson had much spread it selfe before any could easily perceaue it To these snares S. Bernard did most valorously oppose himselfe in the Councell of Rhemes celebrated by Pope Eugenius wherein disputing continually for two dayes togeather against those impious dogma's what with quoating and comparing places one with another dispersed and disioyned heere and there with determining of equiuocations distinguishing ambiguityes inserting of consequēces and deducing of corolaryes he draue out of darknes caues that whole antiquity and exposed it so to the light as there remayned no more any place for doubt And because notwithstanding all this diligence some fauourers of VVilliam hindred that the processe could not he finished against him S. Bernard with his great authority caused a congregation to be assembled of purpose where with the consent and subscription of the Fathers of ten Prouinces and of very many Bishops and Abbots he framed and added a new symbole as opposite to the noueltyes of VVilliam with such means very easily wrought that these peruerse opinions should be vtterly prohibited though no chastisement otherwise were inflicted on the Authour since he was in the mind to enter into that dispute with this condition and protestation that in case his sayinges were not excepted and approued by the sacred Councell he would be ready without pertinacity at all to reuoke them quite and so being demanded if he gaue his consent to the sayd condemnation answered Yea and in full session retracting and detesting the etrours he obtayned mercy No lesse horrible and pernicious about the same yeares was the impiety of a certaine Precursour of Martin Luther called Henry a most vile Apostata also and euen possessed wholy with the like spirit of blasphemy so as he doubted not
Bernard with Gerard his brother Galdricus their vncle and much instance being made to the Abbot by the friends and kindred that he would be pleased to pray for the sicke man lifting vp his mind to God and touched by the holy Ghost he answered with all libety you know how much euill this man hath done and how much he holds of other mens goods let him and his children make restitution and renounce the wicked customes introduced and satisfy the wrongs he hath done to the poore and so doing he shall dye like a Christian. The standers by were all astonished at these wordes and at so firme a promise not knowing yet the mighty power which God communicated to S. Bernard and the brother and vncle were more affrighted then the rest for feare least being deceiued by some illusion or craft of the enemy he proceeded too farre to vndertake so much But immediately the successe shewed the contrary for that due restitution being made by the Gentleman and his sonnes that tongue so tyed before began suddenly to be vnlosed and G◅bert being confessed with much contrition not ceasing euer to ki◅ the Abbots hands deuoutly receiued the most holy Eucharist and adioyning thereunto the holy Oyle with all the other ceremonyes that belong to that tyme the night following with great edification of all and all with much hope of eternall saluation he dyed In testimony of the Catholike fayth S. Bernard cures all the sicke and infirme with holy bread and miraculously heales one afflicted with the Palsey Chap. 21. LEt vs now come to his Cures of which so great a number w◅ will take two examples only which to euery right iudgme◅ may suffice for a thousand When the man of God went his waye◅ into the parts of Tholouse to oppose as we sayd against the impious endeauours of Henry the Apostata it chanced that he preach◅ in a certayne place called Sarlat the sermon being ended those good people came and brought him bread to blesse which he lifting vp his hand and making the signe of the Crosse in the name of God blessing it sayd By this shall you see my Children how true are the thinges which we instruct you in and how false those which our aduersaryes seeke to let you vnderstand to wit if your sicke with tasting of this bread shall be all cured or no. At his word remayned the Bishop of Chartres there present in some suspence and with good zeale fearing the proposition might be too vniuersall modifyed the same with adding to the hearers you must vnderstand they shall be cured in tasting therof with a good fayth When the holy Father confiding and secure of the diuine power replyed bouldly My Lord I speake not in that manner nor do not add any such condition thereunto but I say in truth and as the wordes sound That as many sicke as tast therof shall be all freed of their infirmityes to the end at least that hence all men may come to acknowledge vs to be the vndoubted and true Embassadour of the eternall God According to the word the effect followed as many as did eate of that bread were all cured without exception wherof the same flew on a sudden through all the prouince and so great was the concourse of people desirous to see and adore the seruant of Christ as that in his returne from Sarlat to Tholouse to shunne the presse and to haue passage it behoued him to turne out of the way with all secrecy At the very same tyme and in the selfe same Countryes there lay in the Colledge of the Clarks of S. Saturninus one sicke of the palsey that was incurable called also by the name of Bernard so pined therewith and worne away as he seemed daily euen ready to giue vp the Ghost The Abbot of Clareuallis was besought now by the Superiour by the others of that place that he would daigne to go see that miserable wretch The Man of God did so he went in hast and benignely comforted the sicke man hauing giuen him the wonted benediction he went forth of the Cell with particular desire that the diuine Clemency in confirmation of the Catholike doctrine and confusion of the obstinate would affoard some not◅ble demonstration in this mans extreme and euident perill Our Lord accepted the good will of his seruant He had hardly departed thence when he saw himselfe ouertaken by the Clarke Who feeling his nerues on a sudden restored to him and his ioynts confirmed slipping out of his bed followed the Abbot apace vntill ouertaking him at last he casts himselfe at his feet kissing thē with much deuotion and with affectuous thankesgiuing Whereupon by chaunce one of his Collegues meeting with him who had left him the other day neere death and with one foote in the graue he was filled with so great horrour as he was ready to fly from him as it were from a Ghost nor to stay vntil he were certifyed secured by diuers of the truth The same had happened doubtlesse to many others besides but the fame of the admirable successe being sudenly spread tooke away all suspition quite and the people with the Bishop and Apostolicall Legate came striuing to behold and enioy so new a spectacle and after went altogeather into the Church to giue due prayses to Almighty God through whose power he atcheiued al these things the Clarke himselfe going before all singing with full voyce togeather with the rest Who being afterwards no lesse sollicitous for his spirituall health then glad of his corporall not only very willingly accompanyed the Saint to Clareuallis but likewise submitting himselfe to his Obedience tooke there the habit of Cisterce giuing good demonstration of prudence and of Religion was sent backe agayne by the glorious Father into his Countrey with title of Abbot of the Monastery called Valdacque This fact like wise was very famous and stopt the mouths of all the Heretikes there abouts S. Bernard dispossesseth two women very grieuously infected with euill spiritts in the Citty of Milan Chap. 22. LEt vs now passe to the power and command which the Saint had ouer wicked spirits and in this so ample a subiect we wil set downe like wise two only examples therof which shall serue for sufficient coniecture and consideration of the rest b◅ing able otherwise to say truly that no person obsessed or possessed through secret pacts by those malignant and vncleane Substances appeared euer before S. Bernard for help that was not quit and deliuered from the infernall tyranny And though on euery side and at all tymes there were occasions to vse the exorcismes of the Church notwithstanding during the schisme of Pierlonio it seemes the aduersary of humane kind had through diuine iudgment obtayned particuler licence in the citty of Milan to seduce as we sayd aboue the followers and ministers of the Antipope Heere then besides many other signes wrought through diuine power by meanes of this feruent Labourer
together an infinite number of people from all parts of Christendome as Greeks French Almans Spaniards English and of other nations by all which the blessed S. Antony was heard to preach at once ech one in their proper language as in the Citty of Hierusalem heeretofore the Apostles were heard on the solemne day of Pentecost that supernaturall effect being renewed with the astonishment of as many as heard the same In Arimini the Citty being full of Heretikes S. Antony endeuoured cheifly and not without much trauayle to reduce the Heresiarcke Bonuillus or as some would haue it Bonellus to a better mind who for thirty yeares continuallly had persecuted the Church of Christ and after his amendment notwithstanding many others yet remayning most peruerse in their obstinacy and shutting their ears vnto the truth after that S. Antony with many prayers in vayne had inuited them to a Sermon there being a great number of them as then forth of the wals where the riuer called Marechia discharges it selfe into the Sea with great cōfidence in our Lord he begins to call the Fishes vnto the word of God since men of reason redeemed with his precious bloud would by no meanes seeme to harken to him And incredible thing had it not been euident he had scarce giuen forth the commaund when an innumerable multitude of fishes of sundry formes and bignes were seene to appeare on the waters of the Sea and riuer which euen of their owne accord came in by sholes and with heads erected accommodating themselues to listen to him in so much as the lesser put themselues neer to the bancks side and then the greater and bigger in order with so goodly and fayre a dispose as a more pleasing sight could not be seen To these squadrons so well ordered the blessed S. Antony lifting vp his voyce began to vnfold vnto them the benefits vouchsafed them from the Creatour the guift of swiftnes and colours and of their beauty in particuler the medicine subministred from them by Toby the tribute and food of our Lord himselfe the mistery of the Resurrection represented in the Prophet Ionas For which reasons with many others besides did S. Antony exhort them to yeild God thanks To which aduise of his those Marine troups since they could not by words with sundry motions at least did signify their obedience stooping with the head sporting with iubily and shewing a will to honour the messenger of Christ. Nor would they depart from the place vntil they were licēced thence through his holy benediction And so in the meane tyme the concourse of spectatours being now continually growne greater the man of God taking then occasion vpbrayded those obstinate and peruerse men of their malice and impiety since in acknowledging the high Creatour admitting so his holy law they would so manifestly suffer themselues to be vanquished by beasts whereupon the Heretikes at last remayned confounded and the Catholikes continually more confirmed in the holy doctrine and veneration of the Sea Apostolike Other miracles which S. Antony wrought in the sight of Heretikes to the conuersion of many and confusion of others Chap. 13. MOst famous was that which happened in the exequyes of a certaine publike Vsurer now buryed allready at which exequyes it belonging to the blessed S. Antony to make the sermon he tooke for text that saying of our Sauiour Vbi est the saurus tuus ibi est cor tuum To which purpose with accustomed liberty he inueighed against the disordinate loue of gold and siluer and weighed the inestimable domages which grow from thence finally to let them see with their eyes themselues the truth of that sentence turning himselfe to the neerest parents of the dead Go your wayes sayd he by and by to the chest of the miserable wretch and there within shall you find his very hart it selfe which they did without contradiction and to the great terrour of them and of the whole land in the midst of his monyes they found the said hart as yet not wholy cold We shall now ad another of no terrour awhit but of meere consolation S. Anthony being Custos at Limoges after he had passed through France still preaching heere and there chaunced to discourse with the inhabitants of Burges But the presse was so great of such as came to heare him as that the Canons of the Church putting themselues in procession with the whole Auditory went forth of the gates of the towne into the open fields where while the man of God puts himselfe to discourse in an eminent place behold there gathered togeather very blacke clouds in the ayre which threatned a terrible ◅pest for feare wherof the people flying from thence beginning to shift for themselue S. Antony sayd with a loud voyce Bee of good cheere my maysters stirre not a foot there shall not a drop of water light vpon any of you The people obeyed and behold suddenly a mighty storme of hayle and rayne to fall from heauen which enuironing the Auditory as a wall did not wet the breadth of a palme in the whole circuit but left the people dry vntouched Whence followed many prayses vnto God and extraordinary credit and reuerence to S. Antony And now to speake something likewise of meruails succeeding in his disputations with Heretikes It is reported for certayne how the diuine man being at Arimini on a tyme or as others would haue it in the Citty of Tholouse a malapert minister of Sathan of the Sect of Berengarius being not able to maintayne himselfe in a controuersy of the most holy Sacrament agaynst the reasons alleadged by S. Anthony sayd finally vnto him Thou confoundest me with words as more learned then I but not because they haue more foundation of truth But let vs come to some more cleere experiences in effect Whence I may be certifyed indeed that God is really present in the consecrated host and I promise and sweare vnto you when it shall succeed that I will confesse to be vanquished and belieue this article in the manner as you teach it S. Anthony accepts the condition nor doubts awhit to put the quality of the tryall to his owne choice Let vs do it then in this manner replyed the Heretike This day will I beginne to keep my Mule without meate after three dayes againe shall I bring him forth so hungry into the market place togeather with a pecke of oats for the purpose And at the same tyme thou likewise come thither with thy azime or host and if the beast in presence of the one and other shall forbeare to eate the oats and turne to bow vnto thy bread I am content also to adore the same without more adoe In the name of God sayd S. Antony let the matter be published through the Citty The third day being come both parties repayre to the market-place with such a thronge of people as euery one may iudge Heere S. Anthony sacrificeth vpon an Altar set vp
thereof that to obtayne the same I promised and obliged with solemne vow to the seruice of the diuine Maiesty and to his most holy Mother the first Sonne that should spring from my wombe Thy Father also concurred in the same vow with me and with the same deliberation which I did Nor was the remedy in vayne The Conception followed now being neare to those pangs of child-birth I dreamed I was deliuered of a Beast which entring into the Temple in the figure of a wolfe was changed into that of a lambe The day following wast thou brought forth into the world What thou hitherto hast shewed thy selfe to the world thou knowst very well and that surely no rational creature but a sauage rauenous wild beast It were now high tyme thou conuertedst thy selfe and helpedst vs in good order to repay what we owe as debtours for thee For neyther to Nicolas nor Peregrina wast thou borne but rather to the Virgin Mary A wake then my Hart now once at last nor goe thou on so blotting that victime that should liuing and cleane be presented to the highest By these such other words full of iust disdayne and of most tender affect through diuine power that stony breast was mollifyed and compunct at last who casting his eyes with horrour on his actions past became on a sudden to be a bitter accuser of himselfe And finding no other remedy then to humble himselfe to craue pardon and to procure aduocates he went the next day to the Carmelites being a Family by an ancient Institute applyed to the honour of the most Blessed Virgin Heere then being prostrate before her Aultar as well for shame of his offences as feare of the punishments with a blush and palenes enterchangeably going and comming in his countenance without motion of his lipps and with deep sighes he remayned a good while begging of succour and mercy at her hands B. Andrew is conuerted frō his loose life and enters into Religion Chap. 2. VVHyle B. Andrew was in that agony aforesaid he was let see by diuine power his debts to haue gone so farre growne to be so great as there was no way to be acquit of them but to change himself to leaue the world to deale with some creditour so exact and rigid on the one side who should sift out al what possible he might without leauing a dram and so magnanimous and courteous on the other that for so vnequall a payment should giue not only a full acquittance but an Eternity moreouer The contrite yong man was not backward awhit to these heauenly consayls He goes in all hast to Father Hierome Migorato Prouinciall of the Order and beseeches him on his knees he would be pleased to accept him into the number of his subiects he being most resolute to leaue the world promptly to follow the Euangelical coūsails With this short manner of speach so accorded his gestures and actions withall as left no place of sinister suspitions to any The holy and discreet Superiour notwithstanding regarding the qualityes of so noble and delicate a subiect partly to assure himselfe the better of his vocation and partly also to auoyd all scandall giuing good words for that tyme to the suiter sends by an expresse messenger to certify Nicolas Corsino Peregrina his wife how their Sonne Andrew had made great instance for Religion and the habit More ioyfull tydings could not possibly arriue to the eares of the good and truly Christian couple But both full of ioy and iubiley alike giue infinite thankes therefore to the diuine goodnes after which without delay they went both togeaher vnto the Conuent where the feruorous Penitent anew was set to prayer at the same Aultar as before With this opportunity they likewise falling on their knees being quiet and all of one accord made the defired oblation of him and so performed their vow From thence the holy busynes being concluded with the Prouinciall the Father and Mother being wholy replenished with consolation returned home agayne while the sonne so altered now and quite transformed with the singular content and edification of the Fryars remayned in the Monastery nor cared he awhit to change his name while to him it seemed the name of Andrew would be a sufficient incitement for him to loue and embrace the Crosse of our Lord Christ. And he conuerted his thoughts applyed his whole mind by all meanes possible to suppresse the vices which infested him most and particulerly pride and a vayne esteeme of himselfe In which battayle besides the actions which he did of his owne accord in submitting himselfe to others and flying all shew and demonstration of vanity he was much furthered likewise by maisters skillfull in that Religious list Who exercised him in those occupations point by point which were most accommodate to abate pride and to subdue the appetite of disordinate excellency So as they deputed him to the vile seruices of the kitchin to wash the dishes to sweep the house to cary away the dust to serue wayte at the porch which things he discharged with so great simplicity and feruour as they were all astonished thereat and he remayned euery day more confirmed then other in his good purposes How B. Andrew was tempted by a kinsman of his to leaue his vocation but in vayne Chap. 3. TO come now to some particular of the soundnesse of his vocation he hauing one day the care of the Gate while the rest were at dinner behold on a sudden there arriued thither a Gentleman a kinsman of his with a good trayne with him very rich and gallant but exceeding subtile and practical in the world Who being let in when he saw the seruant of God with keyes in his hand so meagre in the face and so poorely clad discouering at once both wonder and scorne with a voyce full fraught of disdayne Is it possible sayd he this same should be that Andrew Corsino who but euen the other day flourished so among the noblest and gallantest of our youth of so royall aspect of sumptuous apparell and of so great acquaintances of all What madnes or what desperation most deere Brother hath brought thee into this Cloyster to loose thy best fayrest years and to denigrate with so base a habit and abiect seruitude the tytles and splendour of thy family Re-enter agayne into thy selfe Thinke on the irreparable losse thou incurrest and that while thou art as yet but new in the rule and mayst without note of leuity resume agayne to thy selfe the passed course of thy happy life Breake off these bands and render thy selfe to thy sweet companions agayne to thy deare bloud and particularly to me who thou knowest how deerely hath euer loued thee And if some respect peraduenture of Fathers or Mothers superstition doth retayne thee from going hence directly vnto their house stay with me vntill such tyme as things be accommodated betweene you there shall be no diuision or
Andrew should please to commaund him Then answered the seruant of Christ I will haue thee the first thing thou dost to relinquish this ill practise and conuersation of Gamesters and after that for eight dayes that thou attend to Fasting and to recommend thy selfe hartily to the most Blessed Virgin The conditions seemed hard to Iohn and yet notwithstanding to make some try all thereof vsing some violence to himselfe he dismissed and abandonned the euill companyes and with abstinence and prayer made the Mother of God so propitious to him as not without the amazement of the whole Citty and his infinite ioy he was cured both of the Vlcer which deuoured his flesh and of the greedy appetites which vnder a false shadow of good consumed his sensuall and vnwary soule Such then were the actes which B. Andrew practised with his neighbour full of simplicity truth by whose meanes we may well beleeue that many others at that tyme were weaned from vices and confirmed in vertue How B. Andrew was made Preist and then Superiour and of the guift of Prophesy which he shewed in a particuler euent Chap. 5. THough the modesty submission of the Blessed Andrew were now already well knowne he had notwithstanding new commodity to manifest with a noble document how much he sought to please God only and how be abhord all worldly glory It was in tymes past and is yet to this day a custome in Florence as in other places of Christendome also to make feasts at the first Masse of a new Preist with musique pompes and banquetes which demonstrations of ioy and gladnes as they are not to be blamed while they are kept with in the bounds of a moderate festiuity so when they exceed the same there is much danger incurred least Christiā ceremonyes degenerate into gentil prophane and that in operations of the spirit and mind the flesh and belly may intrude themselues and finally least in the seruice and worship due to God only the diuell a fearefull thing should haue his part therein Now the Blessed Andrew hauing passed ouer allready the gulf of youth and not being able to resist Superiours that he might not be promoted vnto sacred Orders as soone as he knew the matter to be diu◅lged and how the Corsinoes striued to celebrate the Primitia of his Priesthood with exquisite musique rich hangings and sumptous banquetes recollecting himselfe a litle and considering such pompes were not any thing conformable with his profession and worthily fearing some manner of abuse therein with leaue of the Prelate retired himselfe into a Conuent which is called by the name of the Sylua some seauen miles forth of the Citty and heere as without all noyse so with extraordinary spirituall sweetenes he offered his first sacrifice to the most holy Trinity which how gratefull and acceptable it was the Emperesse of Heauē her selfe did testify who ouer that same vnbloudy hoast appeared to B. Andrew encompassed with a troupe of Angells and with the words of Esay the Prophet very plainely sayd to him Seruus meus es tu in te gloriabor Which sayd by little and little mounting aloft she vanished quite With which fauours the prudent man not puffed vp awhit but rather attending to abase himselfe and to acknowledge all good to proceed from the meere benignity of the highest became euery day more worthy and more capable of new graces So as a little after the aforesayd vision being sent to Paris to giue himselfe more exactly to his studyes and thence afterwardes in his returne into Italy passing by Auignon where the Cardinall Corsino his neere kinsman was while there he entertayned himselfe for some space he gaue sight to a blind man who in the Church porch according to custome was publikely begging an Almes From thence being come into Florence he deliuered one Fryar Ventura a Carmelite from a dropsy And to the end that B. Andrew might not seeme to want the guift of prophesy also euen much about that tyme being intreated by a freind to baptize an infant which had beene newly borne into the world he did it louingly and in taking him out of the sacred Font had a reuelation from heauen of the vnhappy successe which that poore creature was to haue Whereupon being moued to compassion and being not able to hold from weeping he was demauded by the Gossipe what made him to weep so Then B. Andrew though vnwillingly made answere Know then how this Child is come into the world to the totall destruction of himselfe and his howse Of which prediction as then the secular made but litle recknoning but saw it at last to be too true Because the Child in progresse of yeares being giuen to an ill life and euen loaden with ◅mes and wickednes at last with some men of ill demeanour conspired against his countrey and the conspiracy discouered the miserable wretch by the hāds of a hangman finished his dayes with a due punishment and the vtter ruyne of his Family The excellent tallent and manner which B. Andrew had in gouernement Chap. 6. THough B. Andrew endeauoured what he could to keep himselfe from the eyes of mortall men obscure and vnknowne notwithstanding being now come into a singular opinion fame of sanctity he was chosen by the Pouinciall Chapter of the Carmelit Fathers to be Superiour of the Conuent of Florence to which charge he maynly opposed himselfe but yet the common consent of the Electours preuailed and the authority of him who of obedience might impose it vpon him In which office he let the world to vnderstand cleerely that it is not as others thinke that much spirit and good gouernement be incompatible in the same person B. Andrew through the habit of prayer and of other vertues now already confirmed in him conseruing that which he had so purchased for himselfe continually without loosing yet awhit of his authority the least of all and not affecting preeminencyes nor titles but endeuouring with all possible diligence that such as were vnder his care should wholy free from all temporall sollicitude attend to God only wherein without doubt consists the true and essenciall fruite of the religious and monastical life since otherwise for a man to be shut vp in Cloysters and to thinke continually of meat drinke and cloth and other such like necessityes is not formally to abandon the world but materially to change the dwelling only nor is it to leaue the old habits but only to alter the obiects and it is euen the same to be drowned in the Hauen as in the wide Ocean as much to be loaden and oppressed with iron as with lead Whereas on the contrary the mind being discharged of terren thoughts like a dry feather flyes lighlty aloft and then spirituall exercise◅ do neuer tire when the frayle nature neuer wants its due and conuenient sustenance Which charge for that it singularly belonges to him that gouernes others in the diuine seruice hence it is that
thing nor had as little auersion from any contenting himselfe euer with that which was set before him His family thus ordered he gaue himselfe to the reformation of the Citty beginning first from the Cathedrall Church which through others default and carelesnesse had great need thereof He set the Chapter on foot agayne the Order of the Chanons now brought almost to nothing and increased it with Priests and petty Chanons and Quiristers He reduced many other Churches to so good tearmes where hardly any Masse was wont to be celebrated before as they seemed to be Cathedrall and Pontificall Applying himselfe afterwardes to the censure of the Clergy he made very excellent Decrees Constitutions in this nature nor had he any great difficulty to procure them to be kept and obserued such was the grace benignity wherewith he obliged the harts of his subiects since he was helpfull to many and neuer imposed burden vpon any permitting them fully to enioy the fruites and their rents howbeit on the other side when the matter required he spared not to vse due seuerity With the same care and loue he dealt with the Monasteryes especially of Nunnes not suffering the frayle sex to suffer any thing neyther in the body or spirit He repayred the Parishes which were ruined and erected so many a new as that finding some 20. of them with good obseruance he left no lesse then 30. behind him at his death nor vsed he lesse diligence with all the rest of his flocke It is incredible what concourse there was euery day at his house of distressed persons who resorted to him for counsayle succour Notwithstanding he was more particularly vigilant vpon Curates and Vicars as they call them reducing often into their memory the strait accompt they are to make to our Lord God But how shall we expresse his great liberality He despised money as much as euer was despised of any His gate the dispense his chests stood euer open to all the poore He could not be brought by any meanes to take accompt of the mayster of his house while it seemed to him an vnworthy thing that a superintendant for the care of gaining souls should set himselfe of purpose to cast for farthings And tooke heed much more least in the m◅nage of Episcopall rents flesh and bloud might haue place knowing how much this imported for edificatiō for purchasing the minds of the Citty And therfore endeauoured he alwayes that the world might cleerely know how in temporall or oeconomicall matters he had no manner of commerce at all with his adherents So as a certayne poore man being recommended to him on behalfe of the Magnifice Leonard his brother Go thy wayes sayd he to him and bid him from me to do thee the fauour since God hath afforded him the meanes The good Bishop answered to a certaine kinsman of his not very rich who demaunded some succour to marry his daughter with Consider I pray good Syr that if I giue you but a little it is not that which you pretend and if I giue you much I shall wrong many to helpe one only Besides how litle or much soeuer I hap to giue you hath been commended to me by the Church for mayntenance of the poore and not for iewells other ornaments of women He more willingly gaue almes in bread wine wood garments and other such like then in money to take away I beleiue the occasion from many of spending it ill and when indeed he gaue any mony he would diuide it into many peeces that the greater number of the needy and necessitous might participate thereof Nor in examining their merits was he very scrupulous or exact but rather sometymes let himselfe be deceiued as chosing rather to benefit some vnworthy person then defraud in the least any well deseruing True it is that for the bashfull and shame-fac't poore towardes whom the holy man had perticular compassion he had certaine Matrons deputed of much confidence and of eminent vertue who by some good way or other might take faythfull and exact information of the secret necessityes of ech especially of those who from good degrees through diuine permission haue fallen into straits In summe he was farre from all tenacity as when with monyes he could not furnish others necessityes he would supply with suretyships for them or by charging himselfe with their debts And being demanded by his neerest domestiques vpon what foundation he layd vp his treasure He would say of my Lord who will pay me well for it Nor was he awhit deceaued of his hope since when others least thought of it there would come to him heere and there great quantityes of gold and siluer that he might dispend them on the poore at his owne pleasure With all these thinges went vnited togeather a peace and serenity of mind not easily to be expressed with wordes as seeming in a certaine manner he held the Moone vnder his feet and had his mind fixed and seated in a place where the clouds of sadnes or the winds and tempests of other disordinate passions could not reach And to this purpose I will not spare to touch some thinges not so light in substance as they will seeme perhaps at first if it be true indeed that by sudden accidents habits are knowne Two not able examples of B. Laurence his Patience and how welcome he was to Pope Eugenius Chap. 6. THe Blessed Laurence being one day set at the table one of the wayters deceaued as sometyms it happens insteed of wine presented him with vinegar when the good Bishop hauing tasted it without altering his countenance or speaking a word went on with his dinner and listened to the lesson read vntill at last the poore seruant aware of the errour ◅craued pardon for his offence The B. Laurence as we haue sayd aboue was exceedingly reuerenced and beloued of the Citty And yet neuerthelesse sometyms he had potent aduersaries One whereof taking by occasion a great disdaine at certaine Canons published against pompes assembling a great number of men togeather for the most part very noble honourable personages laboured of purpose to make an Inuectiue against the seruant of God tearing him as he was wont in his fame and exhorting all to oppose themselues mainly to the too much seuerity and the indiscreet seruours of the Monke In the like tenour spake some few of them but the others partly refented the same and partly derided such arrogancy nor was the conuenticle hardly dissolued when as one deuoted to the holy Pastour being exceedingly troubled at those blasphemies cast forth went presently in great hast to acquaint him with what had happened and that with words so liuely and with such ardour of the eyes gestures as had beene inough to haue set any one on fire though he had not beene sensible of the iniury But the Blessed Laurence not being willing to be further informed eyther of the fact or the persons made answere with a